It was a mid evening day, Jack Darby worked on his pedal bike while his Guardian Arcee was getting what she jokingly called "A tune up". The breaks on his poor neglected bike had seized and tires had gone flat in the near year he was with Arcee. It was a fun ride with it's ups and downs of course. He wasn't in the exact mood to deal with the chain and decided just to replace the damn thing given how worn out it was. The rest of bike fared better condition. Patting the seat he pulled himself up and walked over to the spare parts locker. Opening it a knock sounded from the garage door. Looking over towards the noise he had both wonder and fear in his heart. Grabbing the bike chain and wrapping it around his knuckles he sucked in a breath.

"Who is it?" He called, his heart had been slightly elevated as he waited for a response.

"It's me Jack please open the door" The voice of James Zahn; an old friend who he knew for well over 10 years. Letting the chain loose in his grip he walked over the the door and clicked the open button.

James was wearing a red shirt with brown pants along with dark shoes. His hair was dark brown with traces of red and blonde all around. The young man stepped in, both he and Jack were the same age just with a few months in difference. Hands folded into his pockets James looked to be in a sour mood.

"My cars fucked and I was...Where's your motorcycle?" He looked dead confused as he didn't see the blue bike jack was known for around school. Jack waking back to his original bike gave a response.

"In the shop getting a tune up. So what's wrong with your ride?" James shook himself from the funk and looked at Jack.

"Just a spark plug. That's all really" James said as he did a quick look around.

The garage even with what was already here looked empty and lifeless without his signature motorcycle. Just something about it screamed to him that it was in a way important. James shook the idea off as Jack pulled a spark plug from the spare parts locker. Tossing it to James he caught it and looked down as it rested in his hands. Jack began with replacing the bike chain and suddenly felt a shift in temperature. He looked to James who was checking the thermometer. Surprise came over James as he did a double take.

"Is it just me or did it get colder?" Jack said as James shook his head.

"No it did, by a whole 8 degrees. Must be the storm that's coming" James replied with a logical reaction to the situation.

Patting his pockets he found his phone on his right and began to breath a tad easier. Given the circumstances it was best to keep it on him at all times. Jack felt a shiver take over him as he finished up with his work. James watched the needle on the thermometer as it remained still ever since the sharp temperature drop only 2 minutes ago. Weird. He mused as he pocketed the spark plug.

"So how's your mother?" James asked as he did know June thanks to his mother who lived next door.

"Fine, she's on her feet most of the time and so am I these days" Jack commented as he truthful.Thanks to all the running from cons I could probably out class the guys in cross country. Jack mused with a smile as he and James broke into more of as casual conversation.

Out in the distance just on the outreaches of the the town Airachnid with her long spider like legs tunnelled through the ground with absolute precision. Months of sleepless nights in an effort to track him down...she had found Jack the one who had stranded her here on this rock of a world in the middle of space. Tearing through the dirt and rock she barrelled past 3 streets till she reached the mother load she'd been waiting for. Stopping she keyed up her infrared vision and looked above her towards the surface. 2 figures, both male and no Arcee...it was too good to be true. Cracking a long smile she moved over towards the driveway. Gonna have to do this quickly. She thought as she saw all humans where inside their homes for the moment. She would need to cut the chatter and take off, especially before Arcee arrives. Letting out a light sigh she wished she'd had more time to toy with him but the situation simply didn't allow it. There's plenty of time afterwards. She reassured her self as she began upwards towards the two males.

The sound of concrete cracking caught both of them by surprise as they looked towards it. Jack rose to his feet and fumbled for his phone only to drop it. James grabbed him and yanked him back making Jack scream out a curse. Jack dove for it and looked up to see his worst fear fully realized, Airachnid right before him. Eyes wide he popped the phone open as he launched back away from her. Clicking speed dial on his number one contact it picked up. Suddenly Airachnid webbed his legs and began pulling. Jack dropped the phone in sheer panic as he reached for the blow torch. James was in deep shock as he looked on in terror. Just what in hell was he looking at!. He saw Jack reaching for the blow torch and ran for it and grabbed it. Lighting it he torched through the webbing easily. Jack scrambled to his phone and screamed for help as he saw James being grabbed by the con and webbed from hands to feet screamed violently in both fear and panic. Airachnid smiled wickedly as she reached for jack and plucked him from the ground and did the same as she did to his friend. She leapt into the air with a bone chilling laugh as helicopter blades soon drowned out her laughter. Jack suddenly saw the ground get further and further away as James was screaming for dear life much to his ears dismay. Jack guessing he and James were about 5,000 feet up and he guessed Airachnid knew she couldn't fly any higher without putting Precious cargo at risk of early death. Which would I prefer? Falling to my doom or Airachnid...falling. He relented as he knew falling would be a brief pain compared to what the psychotic con could do to the both of them. With his arms the way they were it would take some serious effort on his part to begin his decent.

"James just keep it together, do you have your phon-" He trailed as he saw the boy grasping his left pocket like hell. Jack breathed a bit easier as he gained a sliver of hope. We just might get outta this. He mused as he saw the ground below move on by. Hopefully they would think to track it instead of his phone. Hopefully Arcee heard James too.

Arcee keyed her comm and suddenly heard screaming, but suddenly a voice filled her audio receptors.

"Airachnid's here get over here!...OH Shit!" Suddenly the audio went dead from Jack but a sickening laugh she knew began as helicopter blades faded into the distance. Her optics were wide as Ratchet saw the look of absolute terror on her face. He immediately knew something was amiss and waved prime over.

"Was that Jack?" Ratchet asked as he wanted a full picture to work with. She nodded as she was holding back an emotional outburst unlike anyone had seen in her time on earth. Optimus winched as he knew where this was gonna led to.

"James zahn was in the garage with him before she snatched them" Arcee said as she did everything in her power to remain as clam as Optimus but she didn't have near the experience or willpower capable of pulling it off. Ratchet nodded as he began running the number through the tracker. Optimus rested a hand on her shoulder and tired to ease her mind.

"We shall find them, hopefully we can track them to where ever she's taking them" He soothed as she only scoffed at his attempt. Casting a cynical but fearful glance towards the prime she saw how calm he was...it was almost unnatural in a way.

"By the time we find Jack she'll have his head around her neck!" She spat back with bitterness in her tone. Standing sharply she caught the attention of both Miko and Raf who now watched her along with their guardians. "If I do get my servos on her it's gonna be a energon bath for the ages!" She exclaimed as she now wanted nothing more than Airachnids head. Optimus understood Arcee's feelings to an extent but kept a cool head, panicking really never got anyone anywhere.

"Arcee's old 'Old friend' got jack?" Miko asked as she put the term old friend in a heavy sarcasm that rivaled Arcee. Arcee looked at the overly energetic girl and gave one of the nastiest glares she had ever given. Miko backed up knowing she crossed a line big time. "I take that back" She added which kept the femme from going on a tirade against her.

"Sweet lord can we track them?" Bulkhead asked Ratchet and the doc nodded.

"10 minutes ago they stopped at an old underground warehouse just 78 miles from jasper. Signals too faint to get the exact spot but I can get you all inside" Ratchet said much to the pleasure of Arcee. Ratchet began the ground bridge cycle as he primed the trigger. Optimus looked down at arcee and heaved a sigh.

"If you do find her, remember that humans come first" He reminded her as she nodded as she was focused on her goal. Safety of Jack and the death of Airachnid.