A/N: Yeah, I've been gone for a while, sorry about that. Life just got in the way.
Quick note, information about a poll that will be important for this story is in the bottom A/N.
Anyway, here's chapter 7. Enjoy :)
Arcee had been waiting in this 'parking lot' for four of this planet's cycles now. This planet's rotational cycle was exactly if not very similar to the that of Cybertron's. Another similarity between this alien world and her home. It was an oddity that Arcee couldn't make sense of.
Though, fighting for survival against a seemingly never-ending enemy didn't really leave too much time to think about what alien civilizations would be like. Maybe the universe was just smaller than she thought. Besides, she had other matters to attend to.
She was in some kind of military base. The place was well guarded as soldiers and androids stood and walked by constantly and as more small ships flew overhead every now and then. It gave off a sense of invincibility and security from any threat.
But if their military was as powerful as it looked, that town wouldn't have fallen to begin with. Arcee knew that looks weren't everything. She could use any Decepticon city as an example. The Junkions could craft architectural masterpieces compared to those places, yet they had the most hardened defenses imaginable just be design alone.
Many good Autobots lost their lives in vain trying to take those places.
Her thoughts turned back to the situation at hand. She still had at minimum just above 80% of her energon reserves, but she felt like she couldn't wait much longer. She had a fear that someone might mistake her for a civilian vehicle and relocate her someplace else, where leaving could possibly be more complicated.
After they arrived, Jaune was taken to the medical building and she was parked in front of it. Knowing the boy was in good hands, she wanted to leave and find out more about the world and get back to the ship. But in addition to the heavy ground security, Arcee noticed what looked like cameras on the buildings and on some tall polls scattered about.
Even if she wasn't spotted, someone on the cams seeing a vehicle that needed someone to operate leave on its own would definitely raise questions and draw attention, something she did not need. Staying in the compound did have a silver lining though. As soldiers walked by and stood guard near her, she was able to overhear some of their conversations and pick up on certain pieces of information.
From what she could gather, the natives called their planet 'Remnant', a name she found rather odd. There were at least two places of authority, The Kingdoms of Atlas and Vale. Arcee couldn't figure out just what exactly a 'kingdom' was, but she was able to piece together that it was a ruling government body, like Cybertron had before the war started.
Another word mentioned a lot was 'Grimm'. From the context of the conversations between the soldiers, she deduced that it was the name of the monsters she fought at the town she now knew was called 'Rorke's Drift.' The name 'Grimm' was unsettling, but felt appropriate from what she saw. 'Beowulf' and 'Ursa' were also mentioned with 'Grimm'. She concluded that there were different types of Grimm, but she didn't know what was what. She made a mental note to find out when she could.
She also heard other things and phrases mentioned, but she could only wildly guess at what they meant, and she didn't want to assume things in case she was wrong. She'll have to find out what they were later.
"-st be mindful of your injuries and take it easy for the next few days and you'll be back to normal in no time." Arcee heard the specialist's voice come from around the building corner.
"Don't worry Winter, I'll make sure he's ok." Joan's voice echoed as Arcee heard multiple footsteps now. As Arcee saw them as the round the corner, her spark skipped a pulse when she saw Jaune with them. He had a small limp to his step, he has some white cloth wrapped around his left arm with a strap wrapped around his neck. He was leaning against Joan for support and his eyes looked a little darker.
But he also had a soft, small smile on his face, and the injuries on his head looked to have mostly healed. She felt more relaxed seeing him alive and ok.
'He didn't die because of me.'
"-o unless there's anything you two need, you're good to go and can return home." The Specialist told the two as the stopped right by Arcee. "I would offer an airlift for you two, but I'm afraid Atlas won't be willing to spare transport for two random civilians."
"But wait, what about the Grimm?" Jaune asked. "Is it safe to travel?"
"Do not worry Mr. Arc, if it wasn't safe to travel out there we wouldn't let you and your sister leave." After the specialist finished addressing them, Arcee pondered on something. She thought his name was 'Jaune', not 'Mr. Arc'. Did they have two names? Did certain people address others differently? Was 'Jaune' just a nickname, just like how she sometimes called Bulkhead 'Bulky'?
The Specialist continued. "Standard protocol during a Grimm incursion is to halt all traffic that's not military, Huntsman, or civilian evacuation. Normally I would advise against traveling on a motorbike this far out from the kingdom, but with the sweeps we've been making the Grimm presence here is now practically non-existent. I'll be surprised if you run into anything from here to your home."
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Jaune nodded.
"Besides, if we do find any Grimm, I'll protect you, little brother," Joan smiled as she formed a fist and rubbed along the top of Jaune's head. He squirmed under it and tried to get away, but Arcee could see the small smile he had on.
'Maybe it's a social thing?' Arcee thought briefly before pushing it aside. Understanding these creatures social behaviors wasn't her priority.
Winter softly chuckled at the display. "Alright, unless there's anything else, you're good to go."
"Uh, just one," Jaune raised his hand briefly. "Are you one hundred percent sure about the bike?"
"Ok now you're just being paranoid," Joan smiled and shook her head. Hearing the conversation turn towards her made Arcee give them their undivided attention.
"I know she said it was fine, but it still feels like stealing."
'Wait, what now?' Arcee thought.
"While it is indeed not your bike, the serial number was scratched off completely and there's no license plate on it," Winter said.
'Scrap,' Arcee realized she messed up on that. But to be fair she didn't know what they were and took the form of the bike as is. It wasn't her fault, but that was something she had to keep in mind for the future.
"And according to Vale intelligence, local bandit tribes that have vehicles in this area take off any form of identification from them," The specialist then turned towards Arcee. "And while I don't encourage theft, I'd rather it not fall back into bandit hands, and you do need a way home." She then turned back to Joan and Jaune. "Besides, we have no use for it and would have just scraped the bike. At least this way it has a use other than junk."
Arcee's optics would have widened if she were in her bipedal mode. That definitely would have been bad. She definitely could have escaped before she could have been processed, but depend on where it was and how well guarded it was, she definitely would have been spotted. And since beings like her didn't seem common on this planet, it definitely would have drawn heat on her.
But that still left her effectively being handed off as property. Though hopefully, that could be easier to escape from. She could form a plan later.
"Well look at you Jaune," Joan smiled and ruffled his Jaune's hair again, "only thirteen years old and already have a motorbike. You'd be the coolest kid in town."
"Joan..." Jaune moaned as he tried to move away.
"You might actually get a date now," she teased with a smirk.
"Joaaaaaannnnnn..." he moaned again, but Arcee could see a small smile on his face. They really did remind her how some of the younger Autobots would act around one another. Though, she wondered what a 'date' was.
A chuckle escaped Winter's lips. "Specialist Schnee," Everyone turned their attention to the soldier walking up to them. This one had a red flat hat on the top of his head instead of a helmet.
"Lieutenant Lennox," Winter stood straight with her hands behind her back while Lennox walked up and saluted her by putting his hand on his forehead.
"The Colonel just gave us new orders. Scouts spotted Grimm to the south, we're going to clear them out," the man named Lennox explained. A ping noise filled the air and the Specialist picked up her scroll.
"I just got the message. Tell the rest of your platoon to be ready by the south gate, we leave in five."
"Yes ma'am," Lennox said. He dropped the salute and gave Joan and Jaune and walked away.
"Take the exit to the East", Schnee said as she typed something on her scroll. "The gate will know to let you go. Then take a left and follow the dirt path to the main road. You should be good from there."
"Alright, thank you," Jaune said.
"Thanks again ma'am," Joan said as she held out her hand.
"Just part of my job," the specialist said as she reached out and gripped Joan's hand and shook it before doing the same with Jaune. Arcee immediately figured it was some kind of kind gesture for them. "Take care you two." With a smile, Winter turned and walked the way Lennox went.
They wasted no time in getting out of the base and on the road. Joan drove since Jaune was still somewhat injured. Other than having Jaune point out some controls, Arcee found that Joan had better balance than Jaune did. She still had to assist with speed and turning control however, something Jaune was better at.
Arcee didn't know where exactly their home was, but she couldn't deny that she was enjoying the trip. The road they were on took them back through the forest. Though she only initially walked through it for an hour when she first arrived, she didn't realize how much she missed it. Once again she was surrounded by the colorful... plantlife was the word, right? Regardless, they were now back in the tranquility of forest life. Small creatures scurried on the side of the road and a there were even some small ones that flew through the air that filled Arcee with more curiosity about this planet's life. Even Joan and Jaune seemed to be doing better if their smiles were anything to go by.
The only complaint Arcee had was that she now had a hatred for 'dirt,' as Joan and Jaune called it. It remined Arcee too much about a mission she took in the Sea of Rust. Why they couldn't make it a paved road like in the town and the base was beyond her. The dirt was getting picked up by her wheels and thrown everywhere. She could feel it getting on and clogged in her, yet thankfully it didn't feel as corrosive. Cleaning it all out was going to be a nightmare, but bearable.
Despite that, she was enjoying this. It was peaceful.
"Wait!" Joan gasped as she hit the brakes, making her and Jaune wince at the sudden jolt.
"Joan, what's wrong?" Jaune asked. Arcee took in her surroundings and saw nothing that could pose a danger, nor did she hear any of those Grimm.
"I forgot," she said as she reached into her pocket and took out a scroll. "Because of the lockdown and dad getting deployed to another area, mom and everyone else could only get news of you through me. I didn't get a chance to tell them you were up yet." The scroll expanded and Arcee noticed Joan wince at it. "Crap." She then quickly tapped a few buttons and started typing quickly on it before slamming her finger on one final button. "Come on… come on..." The scroll pinged and Joan sighed in relief before the scroll emitted a jingle and turned off.
"Joan, what's wrong?" Jaune asked, unintentionally voicing Arcee's thoughts as well.
"I may have forgotten to charge my scroll last night and the battery just died," she turned to her brother and chuckled nervously. "All I was able to tell mom was that the both of us were on our way home before it died."
"You could have borrowed min-... oh." Jaune said before cupping his forehead in his hand for a moment, causing Joan to chuckle.
"And knowing mom, she'll message me back, and message me again when I don't respond, and she'll just grow more worried about us. She was already a nervous wreck wait for news on you." Jaune frowned at this. Joan seemed to realize her mistake and quickly put a hand on his shoulder. "But I'm sure everyone will be happy to see you somewhat well again… I know I was."
Joan immediately followed with a hug, which Jaune gladly returned.
Meanwhile, Arcee struggled not to 'awwwww' at the organic sparkling's interactions.
"Oh my god finally!" Jaune cheered, It took several more hours, but Jaune and Joan finally reached their hometown. I was so happy to finally be home and see his family again. Away from Rorke's Drift, the Grimm, and-
"You're more happy to get off because you think I'm a bad driver, don't you?" Joan asked, voicing Jaune's thoughts.
"I don't think you're a bad driver, I know you're a bad driver," Jaune corrected, trying to sound like an intellectual.
"Oh really, like you're any better?" Joan's lips curved upwards.
"I know I didn't zigzag as much as you did," Jaune retorted, "and I definitely didn't feel motion sickness when I drove it."
"Not entirely my fault," Joan retorted. "This motorbike seems to be fighting me sometimes, like its got a mind of its own."
"Yeah yeah, keep telling yourself that," Jaune with a grin. "You're just jealous that I'm finally better at you at something."
"Pfft, as if," She snorted.
"You totally are," Jaune's smile grew.
"At least I don't need cheat codes to beat my little sisters at Smashing Bros," Joan said. Jaune smiled dropped and his eyes widened.
"I-I have no idea what you're talking about," Jaune lied, but his stutter and facial expression betrayed him as Joan's sinister smile grew.
"My oh my, I wonder what would happen if that little information managed to reach some certain sister's ears," she said.
Jaune's face would have paled and he would have pleaded with her not to, but he had a trump card. "You wouldn't dare," he challenged.
"Oh, and why is that?"
"I'm your only brother, and you love me," Jaune said as he hugged Joan's back. Joan slowed the back to a stop and turned and stared back at him. She gave him a glare, but the longer they stared into each other's eyes, the more she failed to keep her serious expression up and soon she crack and started laughing with Jaune joining in.
Jaune could have sworn he heard another feminine chuckle come from nearby, but since they were literally out in the open and no one was nearby he just wrote it off as a phantom noise from the motorcycle's engine.
After their moment they set off and arrived back at their house several minutes later. From the outside, it looked like your ordinary two-floor house with a chimney and a gravel path leading to a shed in the backyard, like most of the other houses here in Camaron. But Jaune and Joan knew that it was a lot bigger on the inside that one would assume.
It had to be to hold a family of ten people. At least the backyard was very spacious.
Joan then pulled right up to the front steps and turned the bike off. She put the kickstand down and hoped off. She gave Jaune a hand and helped him off the bike, but he winced and rubbed his left arm through the sling.
"You ok?" Joan asked with concern but too afraid to try and helpless she make it worse.
"Yeah, just a little sore," Jaune reassured as he massaged his injured arm. "I'll just be glad to get this off in a few days."
They both walked up the few front steps and just before could Joan knock on the door, it opened. Joanne, their mother, stood at the open doorway and gasped. Her eyes turned to Jaune as she looked her one and only son over. She gasped and covered her mouth when she saw the bandage on his head and his left arm in a sling.
"Hi m-" before the words could leave Jaune's mouth, Mrs. Arc rushed forward and wrapped her arms tight around her son, bringing him close to her in a hug while being mindful not to crush his injured hand. Jaune then wrapped his arm around her and a moment later she brought her hand out and dragged Joan into the group hug.
"I'm so glad you two are safe," Joanne said as she pulled away to look each of her kids in the eyes before focusing on Jaune and looking him over. "I've been watching the news about Rorke's Drift a lot. And from Joan's messages… it sounded bad," she whispered out. With tears threatening to fall from her eyes, she brought Jaune close and cradled his head as she placed a kiss on top of it. "I'm just glad you're ok."
Before Jaune could say how much he missed her, one of his sisters still inside shouted, "Jaune and Joan are home!" Moments later, the rest of his six sisters charged out. Jaune and Joan were practically swarmed and Jaune almost fell over but luckily his mom helped him keep his balance.
They were met with smiling yet concerned faces. His sisters talked a mile a minute, asking if they were alright and what happened, with Jaune and Joan trying their best to answer their concerned sister's questions. Eventually, the questions stopped and soon everyone was silent in a group hug.
Jaune looked around as he held his youngest sisters, Jade and June, close to him. He took a look around to see everyone's smiling faces. He had no idea how much he missed them until now. Their voices, their smiles, their warm embraces…
All things he thought of when he put the gun to his head when he wanted to…
He shut his eyes tight to suppress the tears and held his sisters closer. That didn't matter and they didn't need to know that. He was ok, he was home, and he was with his family again. That's all that mattered.
Everything will back to normal soon.
A/N: Spoiler alert, nothing will be normal for Jaune anymore.
Ok so, that poll I mentioned earlier:
It's come to my attention from reviews and in PM's that this story's pacing is... slow as fuck. This arc took longer than I thought (originally it was suppose to be only 4 chapters long), but now the story will be picking up. However, Arcee's true nature won't be a secret forever, it will be revealed eventually.
So, my question for you is: Should Arcee's true nature be revealed to Jaune in the next chapter, or should it stay a secret for a little longer?
I can make it logically work both way, but I want to know what you guys want.
The poll is up on my profile, (but keep in mind that the poll is shared with another story).
Thank you for your time, have a wonderful day:)
