Author's Note: Sorry it's been forever since my last update! I made this chapter extra long to make up for it! Happy St. Patrick's Day! :D
I'd also like to thank Misgel for being my beta on this.
Chapter 12
Knock Out gleefully sped away from the scene with the unconscious boy held securely within his alt mode. He opened a com to the Decepticon warship.
"Knock Out to base! You'll never guess what I'm packing! Arcee's human pet! To be used as a hostage, slave, a bargaining chip, well anything you see fit really…so go on Big M…tell me you love me more than Starscream!"
Silence answered him.
"Umm…my liege? Uh…too familiar?"
Static answered back and the shiny red Aston Martin snarled in annoyance.
'Alright, is ANYONE up there receiving me?!" Knock Out realized a moment too late that his com-lines were being jammed. A loud, thundering honk broke the still silence of the night, the large frame of a familiar blue and red Semi cab rolled up right beside the flashy sports car, slamming into Knock Out with such force that he lost control and veered off the road and into a ditch.
The vain Decepticon medic heard the sound of a transformation and felt the Earth tremble at the large, clanking pede-falls of the Autobot leader. Knockout screamed in agony when his driver's side door was ripped off its hinges and his human captive was stolen from him! He hastily transformed, escaping the rough grasp of his assaulter and sneered angrily.
"ARGH! Do you have any idea how hard that is to REPLACE?!"
Knockout's optics widened when he saw the vehicular forms of Bulkhead and Bumblebee pulling up behind the Prime. With a defeated growl, the Decepticon transformed and peeled out, escaping with what was left of his dignity.
He almost leaked lubricant when he thought about just how exactly he was going to report his failure to Lord Megatron. He ignored the pain as he sped out of range of the Autobot's jamming frequencies and hailed Soundwave.
"Soundwave…I lost the boy. PLEASE tell me you had greater succe–ARGH!" Knockout swerved and nearly went off the road a second time when the silent, sleek aerial form of Soundwave hovered just above him. "ARGH! Don't do that!" Knock Out shrieked in alarm. A groundbridge vortex swirled to life directly in front of the duo and they sped through.
Knock Out felt his plating rattle as he transformed in the hallway leading to Megatron's command deck on the Nemesis. Oh scrap… he was in for it now.
Soundwave transformed beside the medic and held a limp form in his lithe grasp. Knock Out's optics widened in surprise.
"W-what?! How in the name of Unicron did you manage that?!"
Rather than answering, the spymaster walked past Knock Out with a purposeful stride to the bridge with his newly acquired captive held gently in servo. Megatron was standing near the forward viewport with sharp talons clasped behind his back. He turned when he heard his two subordinates approach and partially turned with a raised optic ridge.
"Well?" the sterling titan demanded expectantly, optics blazing with crimson fury.
Knock Out had to stop himself from shivering at his Lord's frightening visage. He opened his mouth to speak but Soundwave merely opened his servo, palm up to give Megatron a clear look at his prize. The dark Lord's face lit up with a wicked grin.
"Excellent work, Soundwave! You have served me well," Megatron glanced down at the unmoving human. "Take the prisoner to sick bay. I want a full diagnostic before sundown, Knock Out. Inform me the moment it awakens."
"Y-yes, my liege," the vain mech bowed before his master, carefully taking the human up in both of his hands, careful not to damage it. He left the bridge to do as ordered with a grumpy ex-vent. Great. He did most of the work and it was Soundwave who got all the credit and praise! He really wanted to know how the mech had saved their mission from a complete failure.
Upon thinking further on it, the medic supposed the fact the human was rendered unconscious at the scene may have aided Soundwave in such a quick retrieval. No doubt Soundwave's symbiotes aided their master in dealing with the MECH humans. Knock Out huffed silently to himself as his pace quickened.
Automatic doors slid open and Knock Out allowed himself to relax as he entered the familiar domain of his medical bay. He scanned the unconscious human for signs of damage and took quick note of its biology before placing their new captive in a round, cylindrical glass container. He screwed on the lid after punching a few holes through it in order to keep the human alive, very much like human younglings did to bugs. Knock Out hummed to himself as he rummaged through his tools. The tranquilizing effect on the human was already wearing off according to the pulse and respiration rates. He estimated about a breem before the prisoner awoke.
A soft moan graced his audios and the mech glanced up from his work to see the human slowly stirring. Light blue eyes snapped open and the miniature figure shaikly crawled up to its feet. It took in its surroundings curiously and frowned when it realized it was trapped like a lab rat in a bottle. Suddenly an annoying sound came from it, making Knock Out's audial fins flatten.
"LET ME OUT OF HERE! DAMMIT! You have NO RIGHT to keep me locked up like this!"
Knock Out rolled his optics at the annoyed screeching and glanced down at the small figure with a smirk.
"Actually I do, little lady. You aren't going anywhere. So get comfortable…"
The frightened creature's blue eyes widened when she heard Knock Out com his Master.
"Lord Megatron, the human femme is awake."
"Excellent. I will be there shortly."
The line clicked ending their communication. The human femme banged her fists fruitlessly against the glass.
"LET ME OUT! NOW!" she demanded in an authoritative tone.
"Pfft…you are in no position to make demands," Knock Out lazily drawled as his face neared her containment unit.
A slender finger popped out of her fist, sending him a rude human gesture. It made Knock Out snicker.
"Do that to Lord Megatron and he will REMOVE that finger…"
Knock Out straightened up when his medical bay doors slid open, admitting the Decepticon Lord. The silver titan slowly ambled at a leisurely pace and glanced first from the cowering human and then to his medic.
"Report."
"The human femme has no injuries and is in perfect health."
"Excellent. I'm certain that with time, that prognosis may very well change…" the silver demon sneered as he once again eyed his captive almost hungrily. "So…what do we call you?"
The human female huffed and crossed her arms, choosing to look down and away from the Decepticon leader.
"You would be wise to answer me…" Megatron growled dangerously with a heated glare.
The female remained silent, provoking a dark chuckle from the tyrant.
"Now I can see where that foolish boy gets it from. No matter, you WILL answer me." Megatron snarled as he brought his terrifying faceplates within an inch of the glass, red optics burning with hellfire.
"June. My name is June," Ms. Darby finally snapped, fearlessly meeting the monster's frightening, demanding gaze.
It intrigued Megatron…her defiance and her fiery spirit.
"How interesting…" Megatron all but purred. As clawed talons suddenly seized the cylindrical prison. "Let's see just how brave an insect like you can be."
Blue eyes widened in fear when the lid of her prison was screwed off. A scream escaped her throat as her world tilted, forcing her body to slide right into the awaiting claws of the Decepticon leader himself.
June gasped as cruel, metallic fingers squeezed all of the air out of her lungs. Despite how frightened she felt, she forced herself to remain level-headed. Unable to speak, she wheezed for air, squirming in the monster's grasp. June beat her fists futilely against the unrelenting metallic hand with a grimace. She greedily sucked in a mouthful of air as the grip around her slender waist loosened marginally. With a defiant glare she met the demon's optics dead on.
"I should just kill you for all the trouble you and your spawn have caused me."
"Just get it over with then," June hissed angrily, refusing to beg and plead.
Megatron chuckled darkly.
"You're brave for a pest. You aren't at all what I expected," the silver titan growled softly with a wicked leer.
"And you're about what I expected…" June huffed.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes," the human continued with a glare. "You are an asshole, just like my ex-husband."
Knock Out's optics widened in disbelief, guessing what would happen next. NO one… EVER … insulted his liege and got away with it. He braced himself, waiting for his master to squish the human into a disgusting paste within his palm. To his surprise, that outcome didn't happen as predicted. Rather than being angry, her comment elicited an amused, grating laugh from the Decepticon Lord.
"Oh, my dear…you have no idea…" he growled softly with a leer. He then turned to his medic and began speaking rapid Cybertronian, an electronic sounding language that June couldn't hope to follow. Her heart began to hammer within her chest when Megatron snarled at the cringing red mech before roughly depositing her in Knock Out's awaiting hands. The medic shoved her back into her containment unit and replaced the lid.
June watched with dread as he began to fiddle with a wicked looking purple cable with black stripes. He pulled out tools and began to tinker, ejecting his saw to slice one end off. He took the severed piece, June frustrated when he turned his back, blocking her view of his 'project'. Megatron stood patiently with silver claws clasped firmly behind his gargantuan back, while that sense of pure dread began to sink into the pit of her stomach.
About an hour later, Knock Out made a sound of triumph, raising the new end of the cable into the air. It had a very long, thick looking needle jutting out of it.
"Viola!"
The Decepticons conversed further in that weird electronic sounding language, both admiring the red mech's handiwork and then two pairs of red optics bore maliciously into June. The silver form of Megatron lumbered over to a nearby examination berth and proceeded to lie down. June watched with perturbed fascination as the bulky end of the black and purple cable was plugged into either the bottom of the berth or into the back of the silver mech himself. She cringed as Knock Out cheerfully approached her, reaching a clawed servo into her container and lifting her out.
"NO! Put me down!" June shrieked angrily. "Get your evil mitts off of me!"
Knock Out gave her a disciplining squeeze, effectively silencing her. He placed her on the countertop beside Megatron's medical berth, pinning June down with one hand.
"W-what are you doing?" June questioned with wide eyes as the red mech picked up the other end of the cable, the one with the big-ass needle.
She began to squirm underneath her captor's servo.
"Oh, HELL no! Keep that thing away from me!"
The red mech didn't grace her with a response although her demanding albeit shaky tone elicited a raised optic ridge from the Decepticon leader.
"Is that fear I sense, fleshling?"
"It depends…" June snarked as her squirms intensified.
"On what?" the Decepticon Lord questioned with amused curiosity.
"On where he's planning to STICK that thing!" June shrieked as the red medic rolled her over onto her stomach, pinning her back down. June's squirms intensified and she ignored his 'tsk-tsk'ing'.
"A shame you humans have no medical port," the vain mech whined as he examined the back of June's neck. "This will have to suffice," he grinned wickedly as he lowered the large needle.
"N-NO! No-no-no!" June wailed, her body tensing as she sensed rather than saw the needle coming down. A scream ripped out of her throat when she felt an intense pain pierce the back of her neck. The last thing June was aware of before her senses were completely robbed, was the feeling of the needle slipping into her brain. White hot pain pierced her mind and what sounded like white noise filled her ears as she was robbed of all of her senses..
The world disappeared and was replaced with a white light.
Oh shit…I'm dead! They killed me!
Show me the Autobot base
The Autobot base? Why, it was out in the middle of nowhere, out in the desert beyond the Jasper city limits. June Darby had to take her sedan every time she wanted to visit. She remembered the first time she met Optimus, when– NO. Something about this was wrong. This wasn't right! Something dark pressed against her mind, dominating and demanding. June immediately began to think of her baby boy. The day she first got the news…
A doctor handed her the latest ultrasound of her unborn baby.
"Congrats, it's a boy."
June beamed with happiness. She always wanted to be a mother but she felt a twinge of guilt. Demetri, her husband…believed the child was his. June placed a hand lovingly over her swollen belly as she stared at the ultrasound picture.
A soft frown crossed her face when the doctor wasn't looking. She couldn't tell Demetri the truth. NEITHER of them. Her husband was not the same man she once married. His abusive tendencies began six months after their marriage. He demeaned her, complained about her cooking, and wanted her to dress like a total harlot. She refused to change for him and chose to remain her own person. It angered Demetri.
She remembered the first night he laid a hand on her…
Show me the Autobot base! NOW.
June ignored the arrogant demand, allowing her memory stream to continue.
"You call yourself a cook?! This is SHIT!" Demetri took his plate and tossed the whole thing, food and all, into the trash bin. He turned blazing eyes on June and before she could work up a response, he back-handed her with a loud 'SLAP'. One of her hands immediately went up to touch her stinging cheek and for the first time since their marriage day, she felt afraid. She took a step away from him but he grabbed her wrists.
"Let go of me!" June snarled defensively.
"SHUT UP!" Demetri screamed right in her face. The grips on her wrists tightened to an unbearable level that would no doubt leave bruises later on.
"If you don't like my cooking, then get the hell out of my house!" June dared to argue.
Demetri's eyes gained a crazed look and his nostrils flared like an angry bull's.
"Don't you EVER…talk to me like that, you stupid bitch! Who do you think you are talking to?!" Demetri growled as he pushed the woman away from him. June stumbled and fell, crying out in pain as her ankle twisted at an awkward angle with a loud 'crack'.
With hot tears brimming in her eyes she snarled at him, "A complete ASSHOLE, that's who!"
With an enraged snarl, he began to kick her, forcing the slight woman to curl up on herself. She sobbed and shook, holding in her cries of pain. Eventually, the man tired himself out because the abuse suddenly stopped. June watched him stomp away, most likely to go out with one of his slut girlfriends, uncaring that she knew he was cheating on her. It burned within her heart, the rage and the heartbreak. A part of her desired retribution. She hated the man Demetri had become. She HATED him!
You harbor Decepticon traits. How interesting…
June sobbed brokenly to herself, eyeing a nearby kitchen knife. It was tempting…to want to end her own life. She desperately needed someone to love her and for her to love in return. That's when she met him. A ruggedly handsome soldier with a charming smile, at the emergency room of all places. He treated her with politeness and respect. The way a man should. He listened, in a way Demetri never did. He bought her flowers from the gift shop before she left, hobbling on her crutches, her ankle broken. He was a true gentleman and for June, he was like a breath of fresh air.
He corresponded with her over the next few months. They even met in person a few times.
A month later, the soldier said his final good-bye. He was shipping out overseas and wouldn't be returning to the States for another three years. Leland Bishop professed his love for her that night. But June never saw him again.
Where is the Autobot base?
Nine months later, she held a squalling baby boy in her arms. The moment she saw her newborn son's face, tears flowed down her cheeks. He was like a little angel! A part of her was glad that Demetri wasn't the father…the other part was appalled. Appalled that she committed a scandal despite the fact she was married. It went against her own moral code. Yet, when she remembered the good times spent with Sgt. Bishop and how respectfully he treated her, it took the edge off the guilt. Her son wasn't the result of a one-night stand, no. He was born from the love of two people, the way it was always meant to be.
Knock Out! Explain!
Her will is strong. She's putting up heavy resistance.
"Jackson…my sweet, baby boy," June cooed, smiling softly as the sound of her voice calmed the wailing little thing. She felt pride and for the first time in a long time, she was truly happy. Now she had her little one, to love her and for her to love in return. It was picture perfect while Demetri spent a year overseas on a business trip.
Her child grew rapidly.
She remembered when he first learned how to walk. He babbled like any cute toddler, standing on shaky legs on his own for the first time. June knelt on the other side of the living room with her arms and hands outstretched to him.
"Jack! Come to mama!"
"Ma-ma…" the boy repeated saying his first word with a happy giggle. He wobbled and nearly fell but managed to take the last few steps into his proud mother's arms. She knew, since the moment he was born, that she would protect him with her life…
Just how much would you sacrifice?
June would do anything. ANYTHING to keep Jack safe.
Anything?
Even if it meant surrendering her own life and her own freedom to ensure her son remained safe. Arcee was currently Jack's Autobot protector, but as a mother, June was fiercely protective of her only child. There would be hell to pay if Demetri or any other asshole dared to touch him! The Decepticons especially! There was no telling how far June would go if pushed to the absolute extreme.
June gasped like a fish out of water as the connection within her mind was abruptly severed. What the hell? What happened? It took a moment for her to remember or even recognize where she was. She felt something slide out of her neck and winced at the pain. Her entire body felt heavy and sluggish. An exhaustion she couldn't understand washed over her then. June softly moaned as she heard the loud clanking pede-falls of a large mech nearing her position.
"Nghh…go 'way…"
If she were more lucid, June might be horrified that she shared so many secrets about her personal life with the Autobot's enemies! Things that not even Ratchet knew about. Things that she'd never tell another soul.
And yet the Decepticons had seen them. Their leader had seen them. Megatron had been inside her head.
The realization seemed to increase June's nausea tenfold. With another moan, she rolled onto her side, a hand worming its way to her mouth. One of her captors must have recognized the motion, as a shrill voice sounded overhead.
"Nah-uh! You are not puking all over my examination table! I just cleaned that!"
"W-would you prefer if–" June dry heaved and slapped a hand over her mouth again as if that motion alone would halt her stomach's rebellion and continued with a short gasp "-I puked on YOU?"
The red Decepticon made a look of disgust, going so far as to reel back from the woman.
"Don't you dare!"
June swallowed back bile and shakily attempted to crawl to her knees. The weakness she felt in her limbs prevented her from performing such a simple action, making the woman's head spin.
"Ohhh…I just might…" June grimaced.
Yet despite how miserable she felt, the prisoner couldn't help but feel a sense of sadistic delight at the Decepticon's discomfort. These monsters had threatened her life, threatened her son. To just have an ounce of payback was enough to satisfy her.
"She's teasing you, Knock Out," a gravelly voice suddenly rumbled, so deep it rattled June's bones. It was enough to make the woman's smirk vanish, and her blood went cold at the sound of gears grinding against each other.
Megatron rising from the metal slab from which he lay oddly reminded the paramedic of the patients that would attempt to get off the gurney right after a major accident. Rigid and slow, gaze swimming with disorientation. June wondered if he felt as bad as she did. However, his voice didn't show it.
"Well, as fun as this has been, I have work tomorrow. Just drop me off at the front door and I'll find my own way home." She sarcastically stated, although she had a feeling they weren't just going to let her leave so easily. Deep down, June was terrified but she sure as hell didn't want her captors to know the truth. She hid her fear with false bravado, but of course. June didn't realize that she couldn't con a Con. The way Megatron was eyeing her, it sent chills down her spine.
The warlord remained even toned as he growled out, "Secure the prisoner."
Knock Out was reluctant to approach, not convinced that the human wasn't going to purge on him. His hesitation was costly as Megatron rounded on him.
"What are you waiting for?!"
The shiny red mech didn't need any further prompting and immediately sprung into action. He cautiously scooped the woman up into his palm and then quickly deposited her back in her makeshift prison. June felt her stomach lurch and had to bite back another wave of nausea. She moaned weakly, choosing to slide down the glass of the container she was in to sit down. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she chose to ignore the two Decepticons above her as they briefly conversed in Cybertronian.
June heard a sharp 'tap-tap-tapping' against the glass and she raised her eyes to meet the hellish optics of the Decepticon leader. He said nothing, simply staring at her. It irritated June and she finally snapped.
"What?! What do you want?"
"You're afraid," it was a simple statement.
June frowned unwilling to admit to her fear.
"What do you want, Megatron?"
"A little cooperation from you, my dear," he purred with an odd look in his optical sensors. It sent chills down June's spine. He looked like a lion eyeing a downed gazelle. "Rest. You're going to need it." With those final words, the titan left the medical bay, the red medic following his master.
June lowered her forehead to her knees and fought back a sob as she was left completely alone. She was a Decepticon prisoner and chances were, the Autobots had no idea she'd been taken. The hope for a rescue quickly dwindled as the cold, harsh reality of her circumstances were like a cruel slap to the face.
Optimus Prime gently held Jackson in his servo, narrowing optics at the retreating form of Knock Out.
"Autobots! Return to base!"
Rafael opened a groundbridge portal for the 'Bots using his laptop. The Autobots looked solemn as they regrouped, Ratchet especially looked more irritable than usual. He turned to look at Optimus sternly with a servo on his hip armor.
"Optimus, in all likelihood, either MECH or the Decepticons have June. We must find her!"
"We will, old friend," Optimus rumbled serenely as he placed a comforting hand on Ratchet's shoulder guard. He glanced down at the unconscious Jack and spoke, "For right now, you must tend to our patient."
Ratchet's stoic demeanor softened when his optics beheld the unconscious teen. With the tender gentleness of a physician, the old 'Bot took the boy from Optimus's servo and placed him on a human-sized gurney. He activated his hologram and set about checking Jack over for any injuries.
In the meantime, Optimus went over to the computer terminal and began to tap furiously away at the keyboard, optical sensors scanning the screen with critical scrutiny. He managed to pull up video footage of what actually occurred from a neighbor's security camera from their front porch. MECH did not get far with an unconscious June. Soundwave, Ravage, and Lazerbeak appeared on scene, the small minicons giving the humans hell while Soundwave awaited the perfect opportunity to pluck the woman up.
"It's confirmed, Ratchet. The Decepticons have June," Bulkhead intoned gravely.
Ratchet's hologram fizzled from view and the 'Bot's optics brightened as he returned to full awareness. He snarled angrily, going so far as to throw a wrench across the room. Bumblebee had to duck to avoid getting struck in the helm as Ratchet rounded on his leader.
"Where did they take her?"
"In all likelihood, they returned to the Nemesis."
"A ship we can't track," Arcee piped in with a frown.
"Maybe they are leaking a trail like last time, and Ratchet can find the right frequency thingie?" Miko suggested semi-hopefully.
Ratchet sagged as though in defeat and groaned.
"The Nemesis is no doubt shielded. We got lucky last time. I doubt Megatron would allow such a costly mistake to happen again."
"It's a place to start. Ratchet, scan for any variations in the Decepticon's wavelength frequencies. It would also benefit us if we were able to eavesdrop on their communications network," Optimus ordered.
"Very well." Ratchet stepped up to the computer and began to work seconds after the red and blue mech stepped out of the way. He couldn't give up hope…not yet. Not when June was counting on them! He shuddered to think what the woman was going through. He sent up a silent prayer to Primus, begging for a miracle…
Jack awoke with a groan, a hand immediately flying to his temple. Oh, scrap. He had the worst headache right now…
His eyes fluttered open to meet the concerned gaze of the Autobot leader himself.
"O-Optimus, what happened?" Jack winced as a particularly painful throb erupted behind his eyelids.
Optimus turned serious and had an expression that Jack knew all too well.
"Jack, I'm afraid your mother is currently a prisoner of the Decepticons."
"She's WHAT?!" the boy yowled, bolting upright on the gurney. He hissed in pain, shutting his eyes again at the ache in his head.
"What is the last thing you remember?" Optimus questioned softly.
Jack had to think on it for a minute as hazy and vague images slowly pieced themselves together. His eyes widened.
"Oh, crap! MECH was at our house! Demetri was there…he was trying to get to me and mom but she told me to run… so I-I climbed out the window, but Knock Out grabbed me and–" Jack's eyes were as wide as saucers as he looked up at Optimus. "Y-you saved me…didn't you?"
A small smile lit up Prime's flawless features.
"Yes. I was able to stop Knock Out and retrieve you from him."
"Retrieved as in…?"
Optimus's optics spiraled and soon next to Jack a small holographic video played out. The teen winced when he saw how Knock Out's door was ripped clean off.
"Was that really necessary?" Jack raised an eyebrow. Optimus's response surprised him.
"Yes. He refused to relinquish you. So I took action."
"Remind me… to never get on your bad side." Jack quipped.
Optimus transformed into his vehicular mode and opened his door inviting the teen in. Jack gingerly stood on wobbly legs before making his way over to his guardian. He stepped onto the running board and used the door handle to pull himself up into the passenger seat. The door closed on its own as Jack buckled himself in.
"So…where are we going?"
Jack nearly gasped in alarm when Optimus's hologram fizzled into existence beside him in the driver's seat. The blue-eyed man gave him a fatherly smile.
"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you."
The groundbridge yawned to life in a swirling blend of blues and greens. Arcee gave Jack a knowing grin and waved farewell to him as Optimus drove through the vortex. When they rolled out of the other side, Jack gasped with wide eyes.
"NO WAY!" Jack exclaimed excitedly as he earnestly unbuckled. He all but flung the door open and stepped down onto soft sand. He took in a breath of salty air and exhaled. Before them spanned a beautiful beach and beyond that, the Atlantic Ocean. It was a clear, sky-blue day with not a cloud in sight! Optimus's hologram stepped down beside Jack, the elder of the two wrapping an arm around Jack's shoulders with a warm smile.
"I figured today, was as good a day as any to visit."
"But Optimus, shouldn't we be looking for my mom?" Jack questioned hesitantly, a feeling of guilt stabbing him in the gut.
"The Autobots are doing everything in their power to locate your mother. As am I. We will find her, Jack. This I vow, with all my spark," The Autobot leader rumbled solemnly.
Jack subconsciously leaned further into Optimus's one-armed embrace. He felt the Prime's gentle hold on him marginally tighten in a fatherly squeeze. The teen knew that Optimus was not the type to make promises lightly. So if he made one, he was sure to keep it. It made Jack feel better and for the first time in his life, all the responsibility that he'd been burdened with, seemed to fall off his shoulders. He wondered if the Prime felt the same way coming here with him. The beach that Optimus chose was deserted. They were far from civilization so that the two of them could experience Jack's first trip together in relative peace.
"So…what are we supposed to do exactly?" Jack eyed the landscape apprehensively. As a first timer, he was unsure of what people normally did at the beach apart from sun tanning.
"Take off your socks and shoes. From what I understand, the sand is pleasing to the touch."
Jack complied with his suggestion and sat on the warm sand so he could tug off his shoes. He peeled his socks from his feet and tucked them within his shoes and then stood back up.
"Oh wow!" Jack grinned broadly as his bare feet touched the sand. About ten seconds later, he winced and began to hop from one foot to the other. "Oh, ow! Hot! Hot!" The teen began to comically hop around on the scorching sand and made a run for the water. He laughed, as the salty breeze ruffled his hair and the spray of the ocean waves misted his face. The wet sand was much cooler. Jack was hesitant enough to only take a couple of steps into the warm ocean water, allowing the small waves to lap rhythmically against his ankles. It felt surprisingly good! He released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, as his rigid body began to relax.
Optimus joined him a moment later, his hologram unable to experience the same sensations that Jackson did. He was, however, pleased to see Jack smiling. It warmed his spark. He watched Jack for a moment before turning his gaze on the distant horizon. He loved coming to the beach himself, it was peaceful and the gentle lapping of the ocean waves were pleasing to his audio receptors.
A few seagulls cried overhead before landing in the nearby sand to warm themselves.
Jack noticed something in the water and like a curious child, he waded further into the water to retrieve the object. It was a beautiful conch shell!
"Optimus! Look what I found!" Jack eagerly showed the Prime his prize with a grin.
Optimus smiled himself as he examined the shell in his human looking hands. He held it to his 'ear' and listened intently. After a moment he pulled the shell away and handed it back to Jack with a soft grin.
"Hold the shell up to your ear, like I did."
Jack obeyed and after a moment, his eyes widened in awestruck wonder.
"W-woah! I can HEAR the ocean in this thing! Amazing…"
"Keep it. It's a piece of the ocean you can always carry with you,' Optimus lightly encouraged.
Jack sat down on the ground where dry and wet sand met. He sighed in contentment as he closed his eyes, listening intently to the comforting sounds all around him. The Prime took a seat beside him and began to build something out of the wet sand. When Jack opened his eyes, he was greeted with a small sand replica of a semi-truck.
"What are you doing, Optimus?"
"Humans that visit the beach like to make 'sand-castles'. This one is mine."
"But it's not a castle…"
"No. It is not," Optimus agreed. "That is where you come in."
"M-Me? I don't know where to start…"
"You can create anything you desire. It doesn't have to be a castle."
"Would…would you help me build one?" Jack questioned almost shyly as he gathered a fistful of wet sand in his hand.
"It would be my pleasure," Optimus smiled affectionately at the boy as they worked together as a team to build a rather detailed structure. By the time they were finished, the tide was coming in, the waves threatening to destroy their rather ingenious creation.
"Oh, crap! Uhh…here, I have an idea!" Jack excitedly exclaimed as he began to dig a deep moat around the castle. It effectively stopped most of the water from immediately destroying it so that Jack could take a picture of the sand castle and then take a selfie with Optimus. The picture that came out was perfect. Jack smiled as he looked at it on his cell phone.
If anyone saw it, they would guess that Jack had gone to the beach with his father. Jack sat next to the sand castle with a lopsided grin, while Optimus had a hand on his shoulder with a smile of his own. It was definitely a keeper.
They stayed a little while longer, enjoying each other's company and the beauty that nature had to offer them. When it was time to go home, Jack slipped on his socks and shoes and climbed back into Optimus's alt mode with the gorgeous white and pink conch shell in his lap. They drove through the groundbridge, hoping that some good news awaited them on the other side.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Author's Note: What did you guys think? Did anyone catch on to who Jack's biological father is? I wrote the beach scene based upon my own experiences as a child at the beach. It's been like 15 years since I've been to the ocean. :( I miss it. I hope Optimus didn't seem too OOC. Please review! *Begs with puppy dog eyes*