"Rafael, are you there?" Ratchet called through the comm link.
"Right here, Ratchet." Raf responded back.
"I've got Jack and heading to a safe spot for a bridge. Be ready for my call."
"Great, I was getting worried." Raf said. "Um, Ratchet?"
"What's wrong?"
Raf looked over his shoulder and saw Arcee right behind him. She had just come back minutes ago and was very unhappy about the trip Jack took.
"You may want to get here fast. Arcee is back from patrol and she's not happy."
Ratchet sighed on the other end.
"We'll be there shortly. Tell her not to worry."
Raf cut communications and waited for Ratchet's call back. Arcee still looked angry about the whole thing, but worried as well.
"Arcee." Optimus said as he walked up. "Ratchet will bring Jackson home safe and sound."
Arcee was as angry with Optimus as she was with Jack and Ratchet.
"Optimus, did you know about what happened to him six years ago?" She asked.
"I did."
That seemed to only anger her even more.
"Then, with all due respect, why would you let him go back to those alleys?"
"Because I saw that the incident was still affecting him after all these years. I believed that returning to where it began would bring him closure."
Smokescreen walked up to the two to join the conversation.
"What happened to Jack six years ago?" He asked.
"That is not for us to say, Smokescreen." Optimus answered.
"All I know is that when he gets back, he has a lot of explaining to do." Arcee added.
"Rafael, we're ready." Ratchet said through comms.
Raf opened up a ground bridge for he and Jack to return through. Jack was greeted by the sight of Team Prime looking worried, except for Arcee, who just looked mad. At least his mother wasn't there. Jack had calmed down from earlier, but he was still feeling pretty low after the incident with Spawn and Chapel. He did not have to energy to deal with any of this right now.
Jack got out of the ambulance and was immediately approached by Arcee.
"Well?" She asked sternly.
"Arcee, I'm really not in the mood."
"I could care less, Jack."
Optimus stepped forward and took the gentler approach.
"Jackson, you were told to be no longer than fifteen minutes. You had told Ratchet that you only wished to light a candle for the other victims and to pay your respects. You were there for two hours and did not answer your phone when Ratchet tried to contact you multiple times. Please, understand that we were concerned for your safety and want to make sure that you are alright."
"I'm fine, Optimus." He lied. "I'm just ready to head home now."
Optimus and Arcee could tell he was lying, but Optimus decided to give him some reprieve for now.
"Very well, Jackson." Optimus said.
Arcee, however, was not done by a long shot.
"I'm going to get my energon intake for the day and then I'm taking you home." She said very sternly. "When we get there, you're gonna tell me what you were doing in Rat City. Got that?"
"Yes, Arcee."
"I'll be back in a click. Don't wander off."
Arcee was so mad that she was talking to Jack like he was a child. But Jack understood. It was anger born from worry. There was no way that he was going to tell her what happened back there, or else she would go into June Darby levels of panic. Jack took a seat at the foot of the steps as he waited for Arcee to return. Both Ratchet and Optimus saw that his hands were shaking.
"Jackson, are you alright?" Optimus asked.
Jackson didn't even have the strength to lie.
"No."
"What troubles you, my young friend?"
"I can't talk about it right now, Optimus."
"Did something happen in Rat City?"
Jack wanted to end this conversation.
"Please, just...Just let it be for now. I'll tell you what happened tomorrow."
Jack was almost pleading to drop the subject.
"Very well."
Miko had other plans.
"Okay, but answer me this." She began as she walked past Optimus. "Why didn't you tell us that you got kidnapped by that ice cream freak when you were a kid?"
"What?!" Bulkhead and Bumblebee said in unison.
"Ice cream freak?" Smokescreen asked in confusion.
Jack had really hoped that Miko didn't find out.
"Miko." Jack began while rubbing the side of his head.
"How did you find out about that?" Ratchet asked.
"The news, duh." She said. "My host parents were watching it when I went home last night and I heard Jack's name come up. Plus, everyone was talking about it in school today."
Jack looked up in surprised. Great, now everyone knew his secret, including Sierra and Vince.
"What, didn't you notice? I was waiting to see how long you'd keep this from us. So what's the big idea, huh? Why you keepin' secrets from your friends, Jack?"
Miko was practically interrogating Jack, which made him think about Chapel, which made him wonder if he was still in front of the alleys going insane.
"Back off, Miko." Arcee said as she returned. "He's obviously had a rough night."
"Uh, weren't you just on his case five seconds ago?"
"Jack's allowed to have his secrets and he doesn't have to tell us if he doesn't want to."
Jack was surprised to see Arcee suddenly so understanding. But she looked back to him harshly once again.
"But that doesn't mean I'm letting you off the hook for today, Jack. I still want an explanation when we get home."
Arcee transformed and Jack walked over to hop on. The pair drove out of the base, leaving the rest of Team Prime for the night. Both Ratchet and Optimus were worried about the way Jack was acting. Optimus couldn't help but feel something dark coming from him. He couldn't put his digit on it, but Jack felt...tainted for some reason.
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Arcee had cooled down during the ride home, but was growing more worried about her partner. Jack was even quieter than he was the day before. The femme pulled off to the side of the desert road to have a talk with him.
"Arcee, what are you doing?"
"Jack, listen. I...I worry about you, okay."
Jack knew that Arcee was going to ask him about Rat City, but he wasn't sure of what he should tell her. She would not believe anything that happened.
"I know your Mom worries enough for the both of us, but I'm your guardian. It's my job to keep you safe. I'm not saying you're helpless without me, but after those two incidents with Airachnid, I have become a little more protective of you. You know? And I'm not mad about you not telling me about Billy Kincaid or getting kidnapped because I understand why you didn't. I wouldn't want to revisit something like that either."
It's funny, hearing Arcee talk to him was helping him relax about earlier.
"But after finding out about it, you can't blame me for being even more protective. And then I find out that you went back to the alleys, what am I suppose to think?"
"I know, Arcee...I shouldn't have gone back there."
"Fragging right, you shouldn't have, at least not alone. Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"I'm sorry. Really, I am. I just...I don't know. I don't know what I was looking for back there."
Arcee took a moment to let Jack collect himself.
"Jack, tell me what happened?"
Jack closed his eyes, still not ready to talk about it.
"Arcee..."
"Jack, I've ridden with you enough times to tell when something's off, no matter how subtle it is. You've been shaking since we left the base."
Jack lowered his head in defeat.
"C'mon, Partner, just between us. I won't tell June about this, I promise."
That was a worry lifted, but he was still unwilling to recap the things he saw Spawn do.
"Arcee, I...I saw something tonight that...that doesn't make any sense."
"What do you mean?"
"I just...I shouldn't have gone back. It would've been better if I stayed away."
He was shaking again and now Arcee was even more worried.
"What did you see, Jack?"
"I...I can't say, not now."
"Jack."
"Please, Arcee, don't make me talk about it right now. I just really wanna go home and...forget all about tonight."
Arcee didn't have the spark to press further.
"Alright, Jack. I'll go easy on you this time. Just don't do anything stupid like that again."
"I won't, 'Cee."
"And if you're not gonna talk to me about it, talk to someone, anyone. Promise me, you will?"
"I promise."
"Alright then, let's go home before your Mom has a panic attack."
"Yeah, we definitely don't want that."
The pair proceeded to the Darby home, Jack feeling a little better after talking with Arcee. But he knew that he wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight. He could still hear Chapel's screams when he saw Spawn's fa-...Jack had to stop himself from thinking about it. The look on his face was not unnoticed by Arcee.
The femme was willing to let Jack off the hook for now, but she was still very worried. What bothered her most was what Jack had vaguely mentioned to her. He said he saw something that didn't make sense, making her think of what June had told her. Jack spoke of a "Sad Man" in the alleys who possessed some kind of strange power. Even though the authorities were dismissive of the then ten year old boy, Arcee couldn't help but believe him. She believed that there really was a red cloaked being with glowing eyes that rescued him from Billy Kincaid. Was that who Jack had seen when he went back? If so, why was he so scared this time around. If this was the same person or thing who saved him, what did he do that would frighten him so much? Now, she wanted to get to bottom of this. She was even thinking about going to those alleys herself and finding this Sad Man. But before she did anything reckless, she needed to make sure her partner was okay. Maybe tomorrow, he'll feel better and talk to her. She just had to wait and see.
June hadn't come home yet, much to Jack's relief. She would've picked up that something was wrong and Jack could not lie to her. She would've put bars on his windows if she ever found out that he had gone back to those alleys. Jack closed the garage door, removed his helmet, and prepared to head inside.
"Jack?"
Jack looked back to Arcee. She transformed to show him her face.
"Whatever you saw today, it can't get to you as long I'm here. You're safe with me."
Jack then did something Arcee wasn't expecting, he hugged her. He hugged her as best he could with his smaller size. The femme was taken completely off guard by Jack's action.
"Thank you, Arcee. I really needed to hear that."
Arcee was not the most affectionate femme out there, but she didn't push Jack away. If this made him feel safer, she would let him hug her for as long as he needed to. Though, she did feel very awkward by the act. Jack let her go, smiling up at her when he did. Arcee returned it, happy that she made him feel less afraid.
"Goodnight, Arcee."
"Goodnight."
Arcee let herself stop worrying for now and went into recharge. Jack, however, didn't even try to go to sleep. He got in front of his computer and opened up his messenger.
-Cyan, are you there?
Jack waited for Cyan to respond, but minutes went by without one.
-Kinda' late, isn't it?
-Cyan, I have to ask you something really important.
-Okay?
It was a bit of a stretch, but Jack remembered the way Spawn acted towards Cyan. He gave her a ring when he sent them off to their families, but Jack didn't know why. When she gave it to her mother, she seemed like she had seen it before. Jack always wondered if Spawn knew Cyan.
-You ever hear the name Al Simmons?
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"Ten of ours to bring in one guy? What is he, dusted?" Detective Sam Burke said to his partner Twitch Williams.
The pair were walking up the stairs of the local precinct to see particularly off perp that was brought in earlier. He was found on the street by one of the patrolman.
"No drugs in his system." Twitch explained as Sam sipped his coffee. "The doctors seem to feel that there is some sort of brain damage."
"Shit, where'd they pick this guy up?"
"The alleys where we're investigating those murders, Sir. Coincidence?"
"I don't believe in coincidences."
"Neither do I, Sir...not down there."
Sam and Twitch had been investigating those alleys for years now. They seemed to be an attraction for all sorts of scumbags and sick minds, mob hitters working for Tony Twist, a serial child killer, a priest gone mad. Bad shit happened in those alleys and the two detectives were determined to find out why.
The pair walked into the main office of the upper level, where the perp was being guarded by several uniforms. He was chained down tightly to a wooden chair, looking like hell had worked him over. It was Jess Chapel.
"Shit." Sam said when he got a good look at him. "Well, there's the problem right there. He uses too much make up. That can drive a guy nuts."
Twitch crouched down to get closer look.
"Ritualistic markings, very primal." He said. "Yes, African warriors use similar markings. The skull signifies death."
Chapel didn't even seem aware of anything going on around him. Had hadn't spoken or moved much since the pair entered the room.
"Looks military." Sam noted. "Special forces training."
Twitch went behind him and examined his hands.
"No tags." Sam added. "Mercenary, maybe."
"His fingerprints have been burned off." Twitch said.
Sam lifted his head from under his chin.
"It'll be hard to make a positive ID." Sam followed. "Looks like we got ourselves a real pro."
Sam accidentally stepped on one of the chains, causing it to pull down on Chapel.
"Al?!" Chapel said suddenly.
Chapel's mood flipped instantly. He began sweating and panning his eyes nervously, breathing harder by the second.
"Christ." He said.
Memories of his encounter with his deceased former partner came back in full force.
"No!" He yelled.
Chapel then managed to rip the chair out of the ground and throw in over his back, screaming at nothing as he did. Two of the uniforms had there guns drawn in seconds.
"I Killed Him! You Hear Me?! I Killed'em! Do You Hear Me?! I. Killed. Him!"
Chapel continued to rant like a lunatic as the officers approached to get him under control.
"Confessions of a fruitcake." Sam commented. "Probably nothin', but check the alleys for another body anyway."
Sam and Twitch watched as Chapel kept on rambling about the murder of his best friend.
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Gunfire
"Tell me where the guns are."
"I don' know"
Glass Breaking, Screaming, Gunfire
"I Remember You"
Yelling, Smashing Noises
"Jess Chapel From Joliet, Illinois"
"Al?"
"You Took Everything From Me."
"You're Not Him."
Screaming, Explosion
"You're Not Him!"
"Touch It, It's Real. Feel It, You Made It."
Horrified Scream
"You Can't Be Alive"
"I'm Not."
"You...Don't...Belong Here."
"You really shouldn't be here."
"There are no heroes in this place."
"Help Me."
"I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream."
"Kill'em. Kill'em. Kill Him. Kill Him. Kill'em. Kill. Him."
"Let Them Go."
"HELP DADDDDDDYYYYYYY!"
Jack rose from his bed like he was spring loaded. His skin was cold with sweat and his heart was thumping in his chest. Even wide awake, the events of the night before and the night six years ago were frighteningly easy to remember in vivid detail. Jack was out of breath and he tried to control himself and settle down. He rubbed his face to pull himself together, sitting up in his bed in silence for a solid five minutes. He went to the bathroom and washed his face. The nightmare he just had was still replaying in his head.
"I should've stayed away." He said to himself.
Jack went out into the hallway and saw that his mother's door was open, meaning she had left already. The sun hadn't come up yet and it was still early. But Jack wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon and he really didn't want to stay in his room until it was time to leave. But he knew Arcee was gonna want to know why he was leaving early again and he was not in a state of mind to talk about what happened yesterday.
Jack brushed his teeth, got changed, and went into the garage. Arcee must've still been in power down because she didn't seem to react to him when he entered. When he shut the door, she powered back up. Arcee made noises that kids sleeping in class made when the bell rang. Jack found it funny to know that Cybertronians weren't morning people either. Arcee sounded like she was clearing her throat when she noticed her partner.
"Oh hey, Jack." She groggily said.
"Sorry I woke you, Arcee."
Arcee made another noise that kind of sounded like a yawn.
"Is it time to go?" She asked. "It's still dark out."
"I couldn't sleep." Jack said, expecting the appropriate reaction.
Arcee was silent for a few seconds.
"Is everything okay?" She asked with a fair amount of concern, considering yesterday.
Jack took a moment to choose his words.
"Just one of those mornings."
He knew Arcee didn't believe him, but thankfully, she didn't shake him down for answers.
"Alright, let's hit the road then."
Jack grabbed his helmet and mounted the two-wheeler. He mirrors were already on him.
"You sure you're okay, Partner?"
"I just...have a lot on my mind, that's all."
The two left the garage and headed for Jack's school. The ride was as quiet as it had been for the last two days. Neither really had much to say. Jack didn't forget his talk with Arcee yesterday and Arcee wanted to give Jack some space until he was ready to talk about whatever happened. But she was still very worried about him and she knew that her partner could easily tell. She was glad that she didn't tear into him like she intended to before he came back. If she had, he'd probably be too nervous to say anything to her.
They pulled up to the school which was, once again, practically empty in the early hours. Jack sub-spaced his helmet and got off Arcee. She could tell that he wasn't lying about having a lot on his mind.
"We heading to your job after school or straight to base?" She asked.
"Can't afford to miss another day. My boss is already gonna cut my hours just for calling out."
"Alright, I'll see you later, Jack."
"See ya, Arcee."
Jack turned to leave, but Arcee felt a need to keep him there a little while longer.
"Jack?"
"Yeah, 'Cee."
She was tempted to ask Jack to skip school and go to base with her, just for today. He still looked very tired, meaning he didn't get much sleep last night, and she hoped that taking a day to collect himself would help him feel better. That and she still felt more protective of him because of yesterday. But she knew he wouldn't do that and risk the wrath of June Darby for his truancy. But she called his name already and she didn't want to sit there with nothing to say and feel like an idiot.
"Listen..." She started. "Be safe, okay?"
Jack stayed in place, looking at Arcee as if he understood, which he did. He knew that he made her worry yesterday. He felt very irresponsible and ashamed for that and knew that it was his fault for her still be being worried right now.
"It's okay, Arcee. Not a lot can happen to me in school."
Jack walked back to Arcee and put his hand on her handlebar.
"But thanks for being concerned. I'll be careful."
"Thank you, Jack...See ya."
Arcee really didn't want to leave Jack alone, even in school where there was at least a few teachers there already. She waited until he was in the building before she pulled off to base, keeping her mirrors fixed on the entrance. She never worried about Jack this much, but between the way he was shaking yesterday and the silence of this morning, she knew she wouldn't feel better until she got him to base where it was safe. Primus, she really was turning into June. But then again, knowing what she knew now, she had as much reason to be worried as the single mother.
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Jack may have occupied the desk he was sitting in during algebra, but mentally, he was still stuck in his conversation with Cyan. He asked her if she had ever heard the name "Al Simmons" before. Cyan claimed to never have heard the name Simmons, but she had heard her parents mention an Al many times before. However, she never thought to ask who they were talking about and didn't know who he was.
Jack didn't tell her about last night, as if she'd buy that he somehow got to New York from Nevada and back in a single night. But with everything he learned about Spawn in the alleys, he needed to know if there was a connection between Cyan and him. And as grasping at straws as it seemed, Jack had to believe that this "Al" that Cyan's parents spoke of was the Al Simmons that Jess Chapel had killed.
But that little bit of information was next to nothing to go on and Jack was left with only more questions. His only options were to ask Cyan to find out more or go back to the alleys and get the answers from the "man" himself. Of course, Jack was never going back to those alleys. He learned his lesson after last night. But he wasn't sure if he wanted to get Cyan involved in this either. He knew she had to have as many questions about the "Sad Man" as he did. But she didn't see what he saw last night and he was glad for that. She was no doubt still haunted enough from Billy Kincaid. There was no need to scar her any further. If only he had been smarter and stayed away like he was supposed to.
His first class finally ended, but now it was time for art history, a subject he loathed. Nonetheless, he pulled himself from one boring period to the next. But as he walked the halls, he noticed the odd behavior of the other kids as he passed. They were all looking at him, mumbling and whispering under their breaths. Being so tired, Jack didn't remember what Miko had said to him yesterday. He stopped by his locker to store away his heavy algebra book when he noticed Vince and his crew. Jack sighed, knowing what was coming next. Sure enough, one of the smirking idiots began walking up to him with his chest puffed out. As if this day wasn't long enough already. But then...
"Forget it, man."
That was Vince's voice. Jack looked to his left and saw that his high school bully had stopped the kid.
"Huh?" The nameless jock questioned.
"Leave'em alone." Vince said.
"What?" The jock said in shock.
"I said, leave'em alone. C'mon, let's go to class."
Despite the dumbfounded look on the jock's face, which was almost mirrored by Jack's, the group of bullies left him in peace. Jack had no idea what just happened and left his locker in a state of confusion.
When he got to his next class, he saw Sierra sitting on top of his desk. She had the class before him, but he didn't know why she was waiting for him.
"Sierra?" He questioned.
"Hey, Jack."
"Hey." Was his confused response. "Shouldn't you be going to your next class?"
Sierra seemed different from the last time they spoke. She was acting cautious for some reason.
"So..." She said with no real idea what to follow.
"So?" Jack responded.
"Um...I heard something about you last night."
That's when it all came back and smacked Jackson right in his face.
"That thing the night before last, you know, the sixth anniversary of those dead kids?"
"I remember."
"Well, the alleys where it all went down, something happened there last night...and the news was talking about two kids who got away from that ice cream guy..."
Now, she knew too. Everyone knew, in fact. Everyone in school now knew his secret. Sierra just looked at Jack as if she couldn't believe it herself.
"Was that really you, the little boy who was kidnapped?"
Jack looked away, hating every news channel in the country.
"Yes." He said lowly.
He looked at Sierra who was staring at him with wide eyes, no doubt wondering why he never told anyone.
"It's not something I like to talk about."
"Well shit, I don't blame you...I just can't believe that...Jeez, that must've the most terrifying thing to ever happen to you."
But it wasn't. Last night was the most terrified he had ever been.
"Are you...Are you alright?"
Jack couldn't be mad at her, she meant well. But he really didn't want to have this conversation.
"It's been six years, Sierra. I'm fine, really."
"Oh, okay."
Sierra decided to remove herself from his desk and leave him be.
"Hey." She said as she lightly squeezed his arm. "If you ever wanna talk, you can always come to me. I'm a really good listener."
Again, she surprised him. Sierra was not only looking to spend time with Jack, but she was also willing to help him get through some troubles he was having. As much as he appreciated the concern, this was not the kind of attention he wanted from her.
Jack smiled politely and she returned it in kind before she left. Jack sat at his desk and began thinking about everything that was going on. He looked around and saw that a few people were throwing glances his way and holding conversations that were obvious he was the subject. Jack really didn't want this to be happening right now. He didn't want to be the center of everyone's attention. He looked up at the clock and saw that he still had three minutes before class started. Deciding that he couldn't be there for a minute longer, Jack quickly got up and left the classroom before the teacher could walk in. He made his way back to the court yard just in time to hear the final bell.
He sat up against the wall, stressfully massaging his forehead. He had never skipped school in his life, but right now, he needed to be anywhere but there. He pulled out his phone and made a call, rubbing the side of his head with his free had as if he had a migraine. After a few rings, the other end was connected.
"Jack?"
"Hey, Arcee."
Arcee paused before responding.
"Hey...Aren't you in class, right now?"
"Listen, 'Cee...Um..."
He had already raised a flag by calling her when he was supposed to be in class, but if he went through with this, he knew she would want some answers.
"Jack, you there?"
"Can you come pick me up from school?"
He felt like such a child asking that, but the pause on the other end was a sign of Arcee's concern.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"I-I just..."
Jack released his breath. There was no point in lying.
"Yeah...Yeah, a lotta things."
"I'll be there in a click. Hang tight, Partner."
"Thanks, Arcee."
Jack hung up and waited for Arcee to come get him. He didn't know if he was going to work today or call out again, but he couldn't take being in school where everyone knew about what happened. If his Mom found out, she'd be disappointed, but she'd also understand. Within the next minute, Arcee pulled up and Jack went to her.
"Thanks again." He said as he mounted her alt.
"What's up, Jack? Are you okay?" She asked in concern.
"Just...not having a good day."
"Wanna talk about it?"
He'd hoped it wouldn't come to this so soon, but with everything that's going on, maybe today was the day to be straight with his partner.
"Right now, no...But later on, there's a lot I need to tell you."
Arcee didn't say anything for a few seconds, but Jack knew she was able to figure it out.
"Alright, Jack. Just don't make a habit out of this, okay?"
They headed off to base, once again, in silence. Arcee didn't like to ride quiet like this, but Jack had always given her space when she needed it and she would do the same for him. She just hoped that him talking to her later would help him get over these demons that were clearly still haunting him.
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Jack and Arcee arrived at base to the surprise and confusion of the others. None of them were expecting any of the children to be there so early on a weekday.
"Jackson." Optimus greeted politely.
"Hey, Optimus." He responded nervously, knowing that they were wondering why he was there.
"We were not expecting you so early. Why aren't you in school?"
Jack was about to say something, but couldn't manage to form a response. Arcee stepped in on his behalf.
"Optimus, Jack isn't feeling too great today so I decided to bring him with me instead."
Optimus didn't seem to completely approve.
"Are you sure that was wise?" He asked Arcee.
"I'm sorry, Optimus." Jack said without looking up. "I just had a rough morning."
Optimus noticed that Jack was guarded and distant and it wasn't hard to figure out the cause.
"Then perhaps Arcee made the right decision to bring you here. However, for the sake of your education and to avoid your mother's discipline, I would not recommend you do this again in the future."
"I won't, Optimus. This is a one time thing, I promise. I'll stay out the way while you guys do your normal thing."
Jack made his way up the steps and everyone noticed how tired he looked.
"Jack." Arcee called, stopping him halfway up the steps. "If you need anything, come find me, okay?"
Jack nodded with half opened eyes and continued up the steps. Optimus looked to Arcee for clearer answers.
"What is the real reason you have brought him here, Arcee?"
Arcee sighed and looked up to see if Jack was listening. She could sense his heat signature moving towards the couch.
"I dropped him off and then he called me about an hour later to pick him up. He didn't tell me why?"
Now, Optimus was concerned.
"Is this about last night?" He asked.
"I think so."
Ratchet decided to step in.
"His mother doesn't know about that, does she?" He asked.
"Of course, she doesn't. He wouldn't be here if she did, Ratchet."
The medic exhaled in relief, safe from June Darby's wrath for now.
"Look, I'm trying to get Jack to tell me what happened. Until he comes around, don't bring up anything about yesterday or six years ago. Jack really, really, doesn't want to talk about that."
"Very well, Arcee." Optimus said. "But you must keep close watch over him. If whatever is troubling affects him too greatly, you have to intervene, regardless if he asks you to or not."
Arcee didn't need Optimus to tell her that, that was something she was prepared to do from the beginning. She looked back up and scanned for Jack in the living area. She was relieved to find him sleeping on the couch. However, if she had scanned his vitals, she would've picked on his elevated pulse and increased heart rate. He had only fallen asleep minutes ago and already, a nightmare was haunting him.
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"Why?"
Jack opened his eyes and found himself in the heart of the hellish alleys where he was the only soul. The voice he heard came from nowhere, but he recognized it. It was the old man who brought Jack to Spawn.
"Why did you ignore our warnings? Why did you come back?"
Jack didn't come back. He didn't even know why he was there.
"I don't know what I'm doing here. I didn't wanna come back." He nervously said.
"You are here...And now, you are alone. No one will come for you this time." The old man's voice said.
"No!" Jack cried. "Don't leave me here."
"You should have never come back."
"I didn't want to! I don't even know how I got here!"
"You came back." A familiar voice kindly said behind him.
Jack turned to see the monster that set him in this path in the first place. It was Billy Kincaid, smiling devilishly at him.
"Do you still want to dance?" He asked.
Jack was taking very panicked breaths as Billy stared at him with that creepy smile he remembered. He stood between two burning trashcan fires, casting both light and shadows upon him and giving him a demonic appearance.
"No one's gonna bother us this time. We can play as long as we want."
Suddenly, Jack was a ten year old boy again and any of the bravery his sixteen year old self possessed had vanished with his age. The scared child ran away as fast as he could down the other end of the alley.
"Come back!" Billy cried, but Jack ignored him.
Jack shut his eyes and kept on running, but then he opened his eyes and saw that he had ran into a darker part of the alley where there was almost covered in blackness. Every corner was obscured by shadows and Jack feared that something would jump out at him at any moment. He heard something shuffling nearby and turned to face whatever was coming.
"Who's there?!"
He was a teenager again, but no less afraid.
"he couldn't have come back. the dead don't come back. but he's back."
Jack thought he recognized the mumbling voice from what little he could hear. From the shadows came the man that Spawn had driven to madness, Jess Chapel. He was still rambling as his white eye shifted rapidly in every direction. His clothes were torn to shreds and his was bleeding from his head. He saw Jack and moved towards him.
"Why didn't help me?!" He cried.
"I'm sorry." Jack said like a frightened little boy.
"You could've saved me from them!"
"There wasn't anything I could do! I swear!"
"I needed your help...And You Left Me!"
"I'm just a kid! I couldn't have helped you!"
"You left me in the gutter!"
Chapel grabbed Jacked by the arms.
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOOD! YOU LEFT ME TO DIE! WHY! WHY!"
Jacked pushed Chapel away and ran for his life. Chapel began crying out for him as he did.
"No! Don't Leave! Please! No!"
Jack felt streams of hot tears flow down his cheeks as he heard Chapel descend into a hysteria.
"I'm Sorry. I'm Sorry." He kept saying to himself.
Jack suddenly heard machine gun fire and hit the deck for cover. When he opened his eyes and stood up, he saw the alleys were littered with the corpses of vagrants and children. Some were shot to death, others were butchered like raw meat, all of them had their eyes wide open and staring at Jack.
"This isn't happening. I'm having a nightmare. Wake up, wake up, wake up."
But the nightmare wouldn't end. Jack was still in the alleys with Billy Kincaid, Jess Chapel, and God knows how many dead bodies. Suddenly, Jack heard the sounds of chains rattling above him. He looked up and saw Spawn. He was up high, hidden away in an opening of an abandoned building. He was almost invisible in the shadows, safe for the outline of his cloak and his glowing eyes.
"Spawn." Jack said with the faintest hint of relief.
"I warned you, didn't I? I warned you about comin' back to these alleys."
Jack grew scared as Spawn didn't move from his spot.
"I told you never to come back. You shoulda' listened."
"Please, I don't know why I'm here. I didn't come here on my own."
"You're here because you didn't stay away. You should've never come to find me, Jack. Now you're stuck here."
Jack's heart dropped at those words, the thought of being in the alleys forever.
"No...no." Jack said in panic.
"Now you're stuck here with skull face and fat boy. Enjoy your stay, Jackson."
"No, don't! Please, don't leave me here!"
Without saying another word, Spawn disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jack alone. Jack fell to his knees and his whole body began to tremble. The alley was cold, but he was afraid more than anything else.
"Oh, God. Someone help me." He said too low for anyone to really hear. "Arcee, Optimus, anyone."
But no one came. Jack was alone and stuck in the alleys for the rest of would could be his short life, or eternity, for all he knew. Jack then noticed something he was holding. He held it out and saw that was a revolver.
"What? Why do I have this?"
He felt something behind him and looked to see Chapel slumped over on his knees.
"Please...help me." He pitifully said.
Jack looked at him with no idea of what to do, but then it became clear to him.
"They keep coming back. I can't kill them...They won't leave me alone." Chapel sobbed.
Jack stood up and face Chapel, realizing what he had to do. But of course, he didn't want to do it. Jack had never killed anyone before and as much as it was not only what Chapel deserved, but also what he wanted, Jack felt sick at the thought of taking another life.
"Please...Make them stop." Chapel begged without looking up at Jack.
The teen raised the gun, his arm shaking so hard that it threatened to drop it by accident. A lump formed in Jack's throat and the tears kept flowing from his eyes. he then heard an evil voice from somewhere in alleys.
"Kill'em. Kill Him. Kill'em! Kill'em, Kill'em, Kill Him, Kill'em, Kill. Him. Kill Him! Kill Him! KILL'EM!"
"I'm sorry." Jack said. "I'm sorry."
"Kill. Him. Kill Him! Kill Him!"
He looked away and he began to pull back on the trigger.
"I'm sorry." He said again.
"Jack" Another voice called for him, one he might've recognized if he had heard it clearly over the first voice.
"Kill'em. Kill Him. Kill'em! Kill'em"
"I'm so sorry."
"Jack." The voice called again.
This time Jack heard the voice clearly.
'Arcee' He thought.
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"Jack. Jack, wake up." The nervous femme said to her partner.
Arcee and Ratchet had heard Jack from below the platforms and Arcee had rushed to see if he was okay. When she got to him, she saw him tossing and turning and covered in sweat, all while speaking barely comprehensible words. That's when Arcee tried to wake him up.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Jack kept repeating those words as tears fell from down his face.
"C'mon, Jack. Snap out of it."
With a loud and sharp breath, Jack's eyes shot opened. They fixed themselves on the ceiling of the silo as they tried to adjust to the sudden light. Jack was gasping with each breath as he struggled to catch it.
"Jack." Arcee worriedly said.
When he looked to his startled partner, Jack realized where he was.
"Arcee?"
"Easy...you were having a nightmare."
Jack sat up and rubbed his head, trying to make sense of his half forgotten dream. Arcee knelt beside the couch and put her servo on his back.
"Are you alright?"
Jack was able to catch his breath, though he was taking long drawn out breaths.
"Yeah." He lied with a nod. "I'm-I'm okay."
He was calming now, but the nightmare was beginning to come to memory in more detail
"You scared me, Jack." Arcee said.
"I'm sorry."
"About what?"
Jack rubbed his face and groaned to get the nightmare out his head.
"Nothing-I mean...nevermind."
"You kept saying that before you woke up. Who were you saying sorry to?"
"Just forget it."
"Jack..."
"I don't want to talk about it."
Jack got up and walked over to the railing. But when he looked over, he saw the other Autobots staring up at him with looks of concern. They must've all heard him in his sleep and came to see what was going on. Jack always hated being the center of attention and he didn't like to make people worry about him. He felt the same way he did at school and he needed to be out of everyone's sight right now. He quickly descended the steps and walked the corridor with no destination in mind. Arcee had followed him down and watched as he left, unsure of what she should do.
"Arcee." Optimus called to her.
She looked over as he walked up to her.
"Now is the time to intervene." He said.
Arcee nodded and went after Jack down the hallway. It was worse than Optimus thought. Whatever happened last night in the alleys might have scarred Jack as badly his ordeal with Billy Kincaid. Once again, Optimus thought about what he had read in the Jack's statement about the red cloaked figure that save him. Did Jack have another encounter with him? If so, what did he witness this time?
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Arcee had looked in several storage room in search of Jack, but didn't find him. However, she heard his voice coming from one of the rooms for the Iacon Relics. As she got closer, she heard Jack talking to himself. She peeked in and saw him pacing back and forth in front of the Apex Armor.
"Stupid, what the hell was I thinking? Why did I go back? What was I looking for? I was doing so well with it. I just had to deal with it for one day a year. I should've just stayed away from there like Cyan did. I'm such an idiot."
"Jack." Arcee said to get his attention.
Jack turned his attention to Arcee, suddenly and startled. She entered the room looking very concerned and Jack just stood there as if he had been caught doing something he wasn't suppose to be doing. He took a few deep breaths and seemed to look everywhere except at Arcee. He looked so tired and was still visibly shaken. Arcee looked on with pity.
"Let's go for a ride." She suggested.
Jack paused and then shook his head.
"No." He said quietly.
"No?" She questioned.
Jack seemed to be wrestling with something in his head, as he still wasn't looking at Arcee.
"I'm sorry, I'm just...I'm not up for it right now."
Jack was never not up for a ride with Arcee, so now, she was really worried. It'd be like Miko not wanting to dune bash with Bulkhead or Rafael not studying for his next test. Between this, the silence, the nightmare, and him skipping school, Arcee thought it was time to step in. The femme stepped out into the hallway for a moment to see if anyone was listening in on them and shut the storage room door when she saw that they were alone.
"We need to talk, Jack?"
Jack knew what she wanted to talk about and at this point, he didn't have it in him to fight her on it.
"I know." He said as he sighed.
"Look, I know I said that I wouldn't make you talk about yesterday, but at this point Jack, I need some answers."
She walked up to Jack and knelt down to be able to see his face more closely. She needed to be able to read his expressions to see if he was hiding something.
"What happened in Rat City?"
Jack was hesitant though, unsure if Arcee would believe what saw.
"Did you see him, the sad man?"
He looked at Arcee is total surprise.
"How do you..."
"Your mom told me what you said to the police and I also read the report. I believe you saw what you saw back then."
Jack looked even more surprised.
"You do?"
Arcee nodded thoughtfully.
"The question is, did you find him in the alleys again? Is he what's got you so scared?"
If Jack was being honest, Spawn did scare him. Even though he didn't think that he would intentionally hurt him, he saw what he was capable of, both of his powers and his cruelty. Jack took a deep breath and exhaled to give his answer.
"His name is Spawn."
"Spawn?" Arcee asked. "Odd name, for a human."
"I don't...I don't think he is human, Arcee."
It didn't escape that Jack looked off when he said that.
"So, what happened?"
Jack closed his eyes to work up the will to tell the story as it happened.
"I went back to light a candle, just like I told Ratchet...But I also went there to find him...so that I can thank him. But when I got there, a few of the vagrants kept trying to warn me off, saying it wasn't a safe place...I should've listened to them."
Jack's look of regret told of how much he wished he did listen to these vagrnats he spoke of.
"There was this old man...didn't seem like the rest of them. He was very...sage like, I guess. He came off like a wise man or something. He knew who I was and remembered me from back then. He warned me more than the others, but I insisted on seeing Spawn. He took me to him and when I spoke to him...he wasn't who I remembered."
Arcee was tense now, wondering if this "Spawn" character had done something to Jack.
"The guy who saved us, he was scary and dangerous...but only to Billy Kincaid. To me and Cyan, he was kind, gentle, but also very sad. That's why Cyan called him the sad man. But Spawn, he was cold, told me to beat it, didn't seem to care that I was still alive. He wasn't anything like I remember. I asked him why he saved us and he said it was out of pity. He said he should've just let Kincaid have me."
Arcee balled her fist at someone treating he partner that way.
"Anyway, after that conversation, I lost my admiration for the guy and I went to leave."
Jack's face became grim.
"What happened after that?" Arcee asked, cautiously.
"That's when Chapel showed up."
"Chapel?"
Jack's breath were shaky now.
"Some psychopath with a pair of machine guns, came in and just started spraying the alleys."
Arcee couldn't believe what she was hearing. This had all happened while Jack was gone?
"He shot seven people and killed six. Said he was there looking for weapons or something. Some poor guy named Amos had got shot and survived. He was a vagrant that wasn't all there. Chapel beat the man almost to death. He didn't know anything about the weapons, but he just kept torturing him...and there was nothing I could do to save him."
There was a look of powerless frustration on Jack's face, a look he had whenever one of them took a bad hit and he wished he could something to help. Jack then took a seat and ran his hands through his hair. He was bracing himself for the next part of his story.
"Get ready, because this is where things get crazy. I don't even know how to describe what I saw and heard but...Spawn eventually showed up and confronted Chapel...Spawn knew him and he knew Spawn. He called him Al Simmons."
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Sitting in the backseat of a luxury car, being chauffeured by his personal driver throughout the dark city that is Rat City, a sharp dressed man answered his ringing cell phone. It was from Tim Banks, the Chief of Police.
"Yes." He answered.
"We picked up one of your boys last night. Triggerman with a skull painted on his face, sound familiar?"
The man was not happy to hear that.
"Why am I just hearing about this now?"
"I'm sorry. But there were complications with processing."
"I want him cut loose."
"I don't think you do. He looks like he's been through a war. Guy's a fuckin' time bomb. He was found outside the alleys. You know the ones I'm talkin' about."
"Will there be an investigation?"
"Considering where we found him, Detectives Burke and Williams are already on the scene, lookin' for another body."
"I need to be kept up to date with every new development. Do you understand?"
"Of course, but what about the triggerman?"
"I handle the matter myself. Don't mishandle this, Banks."
"I'm on top of it, Mr Wynn."
Jason Wynn, the man who had sent Chapel into the alleys to find his stolen weapons, was very unhappy about this new development.
"Chapel, another disappointment."
Indeed, he had hit another dead end and once again, it lead back to those alleys. That's where that "thing" resided, the one he had seen in Overtkill's video feed, who used Wynn's stolen weapons to kill the cyborg. He knew it lived in those alleys and had brutally murdered anyone who dared trespass into his domain. This creature had already caused enough problems for Jason Wynn and now he was unsure of how to deal with the matter.
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Arcee stood with her back to Jackson, who himself, sat with his head down. Talking about what happened took a lot out of him and it had shaken Arcee to her core. Apparently, Spawn or Al Simmons or whatever his real name was, wasn't just not human, he wasn't living. Jack spoke of a burned and decayed face, as organic corpses tended to do the same way offlined frames rusted. He also spoke of a green substance in place of his blood. The being was able to withstand and heal an attack on his body that would've killed any normal human being and possessed to ability to drive another human mad. Jack was clearly haunted by the shooter, Jess Chapel, begging for his help and him being unable. Then again, Arcee wasn't sympathetic at all towards a man who would betray his own partner and burn him alive.
But the thing that disturbed her the most was that Spawn, or Al Simmons, claimed to be a resurrected being. Megatron had raised the dead of Cybertron using dark energon, but this wasn't the same. The Terrorcons were mindless killing machines who served Megatron. This being had a mind of his own, memories of who he was, and was brought back with unexplainable powers. How was something like this possible and for what purpose was a Human allowed to return from the dead? Was this also the work of dark energon? Was Megatron behind it? So many questions that left Arcee afraid to guess what the answers might be.
It was no wonder that Jack had been acting so frightened since then. Just hearing the story had stirred some fear inside of her. The only comfort she could take was that Jackson had escaped without any physical harm. Unfortunately, it had left yet another mark on him, mentally, and Arcee didn't know what to do to help him get through it.
She looked down at her partner who was still sitting and looking at the ground. He didn't look any better than before. Talking hadn't helped him like she had hoped. She didn't know what to say that could make him feel safer. Jack seemingly shut everything out as he sat there, taking controlled breaths through his nose and out his mouth. He was trying to calm his nerves. As much as she hated being powerless this way, all the femme could do was sit there and watch over him. Hopefully, her presence was comforting him, if only a little.
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When Jack finally decided to head back into the main hall, he avoided everyone. Optimus had made sure that others didn't crowd him or make their concern too obvious. The teen did nothing except sit in the same spot of the couch in complete silence. More than once, Ratchet had forgotten he was there.
When Miko and Raf got out of school and arrived at base, Miko bombarded him with question.
"Dude, you were MIA in school today. What happened?" Miko asked quite loudly.
Bulkhead had tried to get her to leave Jack be, but she ignored him. Arcee was doing something elsewhere and wasn't there to stop her from interrogating Jack again.
"I talked to Sierra and she said you were there this morning, but then you were gone the rest of the day. What gives and since when do you ditch class?"
Jack was so tired that he didn't even attempt to give Miko and answer.
"Uh, hello? Earth to Jack, didn't you hear me?"
"I heard you Miko."
"Okay, so what's the deal? You're like a celebrity in school now and suddenly, you don't wanna be there?"
Raf stepped in to voice his thoughts.
"We were both worried about you, Jack. You were acting so weird yesterday and then we didn't see you in school today. Even Sierra was worried about you. Are you okay?"
Just knowing that Sierra knew the truth made Jack's stomach hurt. He really hated that everyone in school, and for all he knew, the whole town knew the truth. Thinking about it made his head hurt and caused him to rub his temples.
"Yo, Jack, are you even listening?" Miko questioned. "Sierra, your goddess, was worried about you. Why aren't you back flipping with joy?"
"I didn't feel good today, guys, so I just ditched. I'm sorry if I worried you."
Having enough of this conversation, Jack got up and began walking down the steps. Raf just stayed there, looking more worried than before. He knew that Jack was lying and that whatever was wrong with him, it had something to do with him going back to Rat City. Miko, however, was following Jack down the steps with more questions.
"Hey, we're not finished here. I know there's a lot more to it than that."
"Miko, please."
"No way, dude. You kept us in the dark about you being kidnapped, went back to Rat City without us, and now your cutting class and avoiding everyone. You owe us an explanation, buddy."
"Get off his back, Miko." Arcee said sternly as she came from the corridor. "Jack doesn't owe you or anyone else any kind of explanation. He's just not having a good day and doesn't need you attacking him with 101 questions. So just leave him alone, okay?"
Arcee kept a stern look on Miko until the teen huffed in annoyance and went back up to the platform. Knowing that she probably got under Jack's skin, Arcee went to check on her partner. Jack was sitting on top of a metal crate against the wall, under the human area. He looked awful, exhausted and emotionally drained.
"Jack, why don't try to get some sleep. You look like you could use it."
But after the nightmare he had earlier, Jack was too afraid to go back to sleep. His dreams had always been too realistic and this instance, it did him no favors.
"I'll be alright, Arcee. I just need some peace and quiet."
"Good luck with that now that Miko's here."
Arcee didn't get the laughing response she wanted from Jack. The events of last night were really taking its toll on him and Arcee was desperate to help him in any way. The thing was, she knew he wanted answers. He wanted to know what Spawn really was, who Al Simmons was, and how did he end up the way he saw him. A google search might get him half the answers, but he needed more than that and the only way get those answers was to go back to the alleys, which of course, Jack was not going to do. Even if he wanted to, Arcee was never letting him go back to Rat City, much less the alleys.
And then, Arcee had an idea. She took a look at Jack and saw that he was still in his own thoughts. She went over to Ratchet and tried to speak with him in a hushed tone so that no one else could hear them.
"Ratchet, I need to ask you for a favor. Can you help me out?"
"That depends on the favor, Arcee."
"It's to help Jack."
The medic looked up from what he was working on and took a glance at Jack on the crate.
"Alright, I'm listening."
"After Jack turns in for the night, I'll be coming back to base."
"What for?"
"I need you to send me to the same coordinates you sent Jack to yesterday."
Ratchet was flabbergasted by Arcee's request.
"What?" He almost shouted.
"I need you to bridge me to Rat City."
"You're not serious, I hope. Why in the 'verse would you want to go there?"
"Ratchet, just take one look at Jack."
"I see him. He looks unwell."
"Yeah well, after what happened yesterday..."
"Wait, he told you what happened?"
"Yeah, he did...And I wasn't ready for it. The whole thing left Jack with a lotta questions and he's too scared to go back and get them, so I'm going to the alleys to get them for him."
Ratchet understood, but he was not totally on board.
"I don't know about this, Arcee."
"Ratchet, there's nothing in that city I can't handle. But if I don't get the answers Jack's looking for, he's not gonna get better anytime soon. He needs my help and this is the only way I how to."
"And what about Jack? Who's gonna watch over him while you're searching for these answers? Optimus would attract far too much attention in his alt, Bulkhead and Bumblebee will be watching over Miko and Rafael, Wheeljack is in the wind again, and I need to be here to monitor for 'Con activity. Surely you don't plan to leave Jack unprotected, do you?"
Ratchet was right. If Arcee went on this solo mission of hers, it would leave Jack exposed. The only other Autobot she could ask for help was...
"You can't be serious, Arcee." Ratchet stated.
Arcee had been looking at the newest Autobot, Smokescreen. The rookie was not her first choice, given his track record for stupid decisions, one of them involving Jack. She stopped for a moment, trying to think of an alternative. But aside from tracking Wheeljack down, she didn't have any other options. She was going to have to roll the dice if she wanted to help Jack.
"Smokescreen." She called.
Smokescreen turned and gave her his attention, no doubt confused and maybe a little nervous, knowing that Arcee didn't think too highly of him.
"You want me to put in a good word for you to Optimus and maybe end your probation?" She asked.
Smokescreen dropped his hesitance and was willing to do anything Arcee asked. As much as she didn't want to trust him, she was going to put Jack's safety in his servos.
"Be at Jack's place at this time and not a click later. I need you to watch over him while I go out on a mission."
Smokescreen obviously didn't know what was going on, but didn't voice his confusion, not when Arcee was offering to help him out with Optimus.
"Sure thing, Arcee. I'll keep an optic on your partner."
"Don't be late, Smokescreen. Do this right and I'll talk to Optimus and try to convince him to let you back out on the field."
"I won't, don't worry."
Arcee wouldn't trust Smokescreen to protect Jack in a real situation, but so far, nothing has happened to Jack or his mother while they slept. So now, she had a way back to Rat City and someone to watch over Jack while she was gone. The final step was finding Spawn and getting some answers. By the time Jack woke up tomorrow, he will have some real closure.
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It was 11:00 at night. June had just gotten home and was already fast asleep. Her job tended to take a lot out of her. Guess her son got his work ethic from her, Arcee thought. Jack had fallen asleep about an hour ago, but he had trouble doing so for a while before that. She checked his vitals and didn't see any signs of distress, meaning he wasn't having another bad dream...yet. Hopefully, this mission would put an end to that.
Arcee suddenly heard the sound of a horn outside of the garage. She growled in annoyance. Jack had given her a remote to open and close the garage door and Ratchet had connected it to her frame. She used it to meet Smokescreen, who was the one honking his horn, outside.
"Are you dense?" She asked harshly. "People are sleeping and you're hitting your horn in the middle of the night."
"Sorry." Smokescreen said in embarrassment. "I was just tryin' to get your attention."
"Robots in disguise, rookie, meaning we don't attract attention to ourselves. Next time, hit me on the comm link and let me know when you're nearby and I'll listen for you. Got it?"
"Yeah...my bad."
Arcee didn't have time to school the youngling any further so she pulled out of the garage and allowed Smokescreen to drive in.
"Listen closely, your job right now is to protect the two people in this house."
"I gotcha', Arcee."
"If they're not in any immediate danger, you maintain your alt form and you stay put. No matter how bored you get, you don't leave your post."
"I got it, I got it."
Arcee needed Smokescreen to know how important this was.
"Smokescreen, I am trusting you with the lives of two humans who are very important to me. I've lost two partner already and I don't want Jack to be the third. His mother is just as important, they're both under my protection. If you let anything happen to them while I'm gone..."
Arcee stayed where she was and let Smokescreen's imagination finish the rest of that sentence. Though he was in his alt form, she could tell her words had stuck.
"D-don't worry, Arcee. I won't let you down. Your partner's in good servos."
Arcee kept her sights on Smokescreen for a few more seconds and then rode off, back to base.
"Man, she is scary." Smokescreen said to himself. "Don't frag this up, Smokey."
Arcee rode back to Outpost Omega One in a third of the time she would on any normal day. When she entered the base, Ratchet was waiting for her. She transformed once she pulled in.
"Alright, Smokescreen is with Jack. Let's do this."
The medic was still uncertain about this mission.
"Arcee...I feel it's only right that I warn you about this place."
"Ratchet, we don't have time for this. I can handle myself."
"I know that, but what I'm saying is...I don't know what you're going to find in those alleys, but when I went to Rat City, I saw things that made me afraid. Not more myself, of course, but for Jack. There were so many things that were wrong with that place and I couldn't stand the sight of it. I saw children as young as Rafael out on the street with no one watching over them and people prowling around like Decepticons. I wanted to help them, but obviously, I couldn't. It was an...uncomfortable experience. I'm just letting you know what to expect when you get there."
Arcee wasn't too crazy about the mission as is and Ratchet's warning was of no comfort. Ever since meeting the children, the femme grew a soft spot for human younglings. All the Autobots did, in fact. Seeing them exposed with no one to protect them, or worse yet, seeing them in trouble, might make her want to do something about it. This was why Ratchet was warning her, to prepare her to not do anything. That was one of the huge drawbacks of maintaining their secrecy, they couldn't help humans who really needed it, unless they were in trouble with Decepticons.
Ratchet reentered the coordinates of Jack's trip to New York and opened the bridge for Arcee.
"I'll be back before dawn, Ratchet."
"Arcee." Ratchet called.
Arcee stopped and turned to him.
"I know you're doing this to help Jack, but there's a part of me that hopes that what he saw as a child was all in his head. But if it is as he said, be careful. We've never encountered anything like this before. Remember, getting answers for him won't mean a thing if you get offlined in the process. You get in over your head, you get out of there."
Arcee considered Ratchet's words and mentally prepared himself for all he warned her about. She transformed, activated Sadie, and drove through the bridge. Ratchet was left in the main hall, worried for Arcee's safety. As a man of science, everything Jack described should've seemed preposterous to him. But Megatron was able to raised the dead and put them under his control. He and Optimus fought almost to their last breaths in that valley. Who was to say that humans couldn't find ways to do the impossible and touch powers that went against the laws of nature?
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Ratchet was not lying when he told her about this place. The moment she rode out into the open, she saw the decay of the city. It was dark, darker than any slum she had ever rode through. It was late enough that only those with ill intent were out at night. Some people looked to just be trying to make the best out of a bad situation, looking for something to eat or a warm place to sleep, but others were looking for someone to prey on.
Through Jack, Arcee learned about society's underbelly. She knew about drugs and drug dealers, gangs and gangbangers, pimps and prostitutes, stick up kids, and every criminal element in between. It wasn't as if crime hadn't existed on Cybertron, but never to this degree that whole empires could be built on criminal activity and that task forces had to created to take them down, and that was when law enforcement wasn't a part of the very element they were suppose to be protecting the people from. Arcee hated this place and she'd only been there for a few minutes. She wanted to find those alleys, complete her mission and get out of there.
After driving around for a few more minutes, she came upon an alleyway entrance that had been decorated with candles, flowers, and photos of children. This was the place, but then she got a good look at it.
Aside from the assorted offerings by the entrance, it looked no different than any other alley. But Arcee felt something off about it. It seemed darker than all the others, like a shadow had been cast over it or a black cloud loomed above. It felt less like an alleyway and more like the entrance to the Pit of Unicron, or as humans would say, the gates of hell. For the first time, Arcee was reconsidering the mission. But if this is what she felt just from sitting at the entrance, what did Jack feel when he went in? She strengthened her determination and proceeded with the plan.
Her holoform had gotten off of her alt, but kept her hands on the bars. She couldn't ride through the alleys and not raise more suspicion than she already would just by being there, so she would appear to be a rider walking her bike through. As she was about to enter, she felt something behind her. Sadie turned to look, but Arcee didn't see anything. She knew she felt something. Whatever it was, it had a dark presence...and it watching her. Arcee braced herself and walked into the dark alley. Her intuitions were right because she was being watched. The clown faced short man who had been watching Jack was hiding in the alleys across the street, looking none too happy about this new intruder.
"Now, who hell is this bitch comin' into these alleys. I don't know what the hell you are, lady, but your pretty ass don't belong here."
The clown man crushed the can of old corn he had been eating out of and tossed it on the ground.
"This is all because of that little choir boy, ain't it? I knew he was gonna be a problem. What the fuck did he bring to our door step?"
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Been a while since I updated this story.
Okay, so some of this may feel familiar to you if you've been reading Old Nightmare. Once again, I've got Jack wrestling with some demons and Arcee worrying about him. Like I said in my previous chapters, this story will go to some dark places. But as far as the angst goes, I won't be going as deep as I did in Old Nightmare with Jack and his father. But Jack went through some shit last chapter and he's just dealing with it now. On top of that, more people know about his past than he wished.
Throughout the chapter, I've made a lot of references to the Spawn series and a few characters in the comic. Don't worry, you're not missing anything important yet. If I do write these characters in, I will explain who they are for those unfamiliar with Spawn. Oh, and the stupid decision that Arcee spoke of with Smokescreen and Jack was what happened with the Star Saber. It's something of a "noodle incident" we won't really learn any more about.
So, I introduced Sam & Twitch properly this issue along with Chief Banks and Jason Wynn. I'm not sure about Banks, but Twitch, Sam, and Wynn will have a part to play in the story, just not right now. I brought them in because I was following what happened in the show after Chapel's encounter with Spawn. I have plans for him in the future as well.
So with Jack going through his troubles, Arcee's ready to take things into her own hands. Now she's in Rat City, ready to confront the man himself in his territory. How do you she's gonna handle seeing a Hellspawn's power up close? And to make matters worse, Clown is still watching, knowing that Arcee's connected to Jack. What's gonna happen when those two eventually cross paths?
So, this story is updated sporadically, so I can't say when I'll get the next chapter up. But I won't go too long without returning. Lost Nightmare and ASOG are my priorities now, but I'm also nearing the last act of the former. Anyways, thanks for the read and I will see you folks later. Peace out.