*Chapter 12: The Truth of Darby*

"Why can't you just tell me what you want from me?" Jack asked in the backseat of Barricade. He can see Barricade's holoform in the driver's seat. The red eyes look up at the rear view mirror. "I don't have anything." Jack told him.

"You don't know it yet." Barricade said. "Once Starscream speaks to you about it, you will know. You have more than that Witwicky boy."

"We got all night to talk about it." Jack said. "Since I was forced to go with you. If it has something to do with bringing back Megatron, I don't know how to-"

"Oh no. It is not that at all, boy. Yet, we do need our leader back." Barricade said. "Starscream is an idiot. He is no leader." He hears Jack scoffed at the back. Barricade couldn't help but to chuckle along with him. "You think that too, boy?"

"You should've heard what the Autobots say about Starscream." Jack said with a smirk. Barricade smirked back. Before the Decepticon says a word, he sensed something. He looked at the rear view mirror again and see two cars following him in full speed. Barricade cursed in his language and his holoform disappeared. Jack turned back to see Mudflap and Skids on their tail. "Well, looks like I'm in for a rough ride." He said.

"You better buckle up, boy." Jack heard Barricade speak from the radio. The seatbelt is on Jack. The teen look to his right to see Skids as Mudflap is on the other side. They are going to save him, but Jack doesn't feel safe when he is strapped in. "You shoot, the boy will die!" Barricade roared at the twins who drove by him.

"Don't make us scratch your paint now!" Skids yelled, slightly nudging the side of the police car. Barricade had no choice but to hit the brakes. Jack almost lunge forward. The twins swerve and face Barricade. Jack waited for something to happen. The seatbelt was unbuckled and he was thrown out of the car as Barricade transformed and aim a gun at him. Jack remained on the ground as the twins transform with their guns.

"Drop your weapons!" Barricade demanded.

"What the hell is your deal, man?" Mudflap asked. "What do you want this kid for?"

"That isn't your concern! This boy will not be harmed if you surrender your weapons! Or else there's gonna be trouble..." Barricade threatened with a glare.

"We ain't gonna drop our guns! You scared to fight the both of us?!" Skids taunted. Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head at the twins. They have no idea who they are up against. Bumblebee can easily fight off Barricade, but not the twins. They are cocky. Barricade is annoyed by them. He aimed his gun at Skids and start to shoot. Skids barely avoided the bullets as he jumps out of the way as Mudflap took cover behind the building. Jack got on his feet and make a run for it. There must be other Autobots on the way than Skids and Mudflap. A giant foot appeared in front of Jack. He looked up to see Starscream.

"Going somewhere, boy?!" He spat. Jack was about to go another way, but he was grabbed by Starscream. Jack struggles in the hand. "Barricade! Keep those twins busy! I've got the human!" With that, Starscream took off with Jack who is screaming for one of the twins to help him. But, no one could hear him. All he hears is a fight. Jack is captured for good. No one could save him.

Jack was strapped to the table as Starscream's holoform is studying him. They are in the warehouse. Why is Jack here? And why would they be in a warehouse? It can't be the Decepticons' new hideout, can it?

"Hope you are comfortable, Darby." Starscream said with smirk. "I just need to look through your body. Relax."

"What do you guys want?!" Jack yelled. "I don't have anything! Let me go!"

"Quiet!" Starscream slapped the boy in the face. "I said 'relax'!" His red eyes started to scan over Jack's body. From feet to head. Jack's cheek stings. He looked up at Starscream with a glare. The man hummed in interest. "Hmm. Just as I suspected. You are the son of Kirk Darby." He said. Jack blinked at the name. Kirk Darby. That's his father.

"...How do you know my dad?" Jack asked. "How do you know?!" Starscream looked at him.

"Let's just say, he and the Decepticons had a little history. Not just him. His father." He said. Jack doesn't know if he is lying or telling the truth. Jack wanted answers.

"My...family had something to do with you guys?" Jack asked.

"Not your mother. She was never involved." Starscream told the boy. "Be grateful she wasn't aware of her own husband's secrets. She'd be dead. And you wouldn't be born, Jack."

"...What happened to my dad?" Jack asked.

"Long gone. Let's just say he and the Decepticons had a little disagreement. He only wants to protect you." Starscream said. "Such a foolish man he was."

"Protect me? From what?" Jack asked. "From you guys? He knows about the Autobots too?"

"Kirk holds the dust of the Matrix. The very thing that could bring back the dead." Starscream replied. "Of course, he hides it somewhere. And it seems to me that you don't know about the Matrix. You have nothing in you after all." Starscream got Jack out of the restraints. "But remember this, Jack. You are not off the hook! We are not finished! You and your friends will die...one day! This planet will bow before me! Lord Starscream!" Jack didn't say anything. He couldn't stop thinking about the truth about his own father. He left for protecting him and his wife, June. From the Decepticons. That's why the Decepticons wanted Jack here to find out where the Matrix was held. June should know about this. She deserves to know.
Before Jack could take a step, two cars broke through the warehouse and transformed. Mudflap and Skids. They are fine and dandy. Starscream's holoform disappeared when his jet transformed. Mudflap started to shoot at him while Skids transformed to let Jack jump inside.

"Hang on, Jack! We're outta here!" Skids spoke from the radio and floor it as Mudflap shot Starscream in the left optic before transforming to follow his twin. Starscream held his head, blinded with one optic.

"My eye!"

Jack never said a word to Mudflap or Skids when they took him back home. He is like a zombie. The twins were told to stay in the driveway in case the Decepticons come back for Jack.
The teen sat in his room in dead silent. His father worked for the Decepticons before, until he decided to back out. He was killed because he didn't want to do their dirty work. Jack can't blame him. Now he knows the truth. The Decepticons were following the bloodline of Kirk's and aware of Jack's existence. June had no idea. Should the base know about Jack's father? And should the Autobots know about this Matrix? It must be important to both Autobots and Decepticons.