It Took Webbing

'Hi!'- Thoughts "Hi!"- Speech

Screaming dragged Jackson Darby out of bed this morning. He was no stranger to waking up to screams. The sergeant over his troop in Boot Camp seemed to take particular pleasure in waking them up in such a fashion. The bunker would be practically dead- everyone deep asleep- until the sergeant charged in, bellowing a the top his his large lungs. After the first couple seconds of panic were over, bodies would reluctantly force themselves up and into formation, only to get yelled at some more. But the shouts that yanked Jack into the land of the living were different. There was edge to them that wasn't unfamiliar.

Panic. Panic with a lot of fear. Normal for a battlefield, but in a peaceful neighborhood in the middle of Wyoming, screams of fear could not be called common. It was with this thought in mind that Jack rolled out of bed and staggered over to his bedroom window. He groggily twisted opened the blinds, holding out a hand to block some of the sunlight. After a moment, his eyes adjusted and got a clear view of the outside world. He gasped, dropping both hands to grip the window sill. He could almost feel the morning fatigue burn away from the adrenaline as he took in the situation that greeted him.

Everyone was in a panic. The neighbor from across the street, Carl Jimonge, was desperately trying to break into his own car. Someone close was screaming loudly. One of the young girls from next door- Lily, he remembered, her family brought him cookies when he first moved in- had sunk to the ground in the middle of the driveway, blank eyes taking nothing in as she slightly rocked in place. A purse was on the ground next to her, perhaps on her way to something when she realized what the outside world looked like. Jack briefly recalled her mother mentioning that she had an intense phobia spiders and anything related to them.

'And this definitely is spider-related' Jack thought sourly 'One spider in particular'

It had to be. Nothing else could thoroughly cover an entire neighborhood in webs during the night. Each object outside was wrapped enough that it looked like a cocoons littered the neighborhood. Not even children toys escaped. Everything was drowning in the unnatural stuff. Really strong stuff, as Carl could attest to as he attacked the sticky substance trapping his car with a absurdly large pair of pliers. A car was useless though. Jack could see a tall web barrier rising above the houses. The entire neighborhood was probably surrounded.

Just to be sure he wasn't having a nightmare, Jack blinked, rubbed his eyes, blinked a couple more times, then dropped his head into his hands and let out a low groan. "Of course", he muttered, "Something had to happen during my release period. How did she even find me? No good, slaggin', scrap-filled, glitched-in-the-processor-"

He had many more choice words, but was interrupted before any could be said. It was a heavy droning sound, followed by several earth-shaking thump, accompanied by shrill shrieking and loud wails of terror. Jack instinctively ducked down as an beetle Insecticon landed in front of the window. He peeked over the bottom of the window and eyed it warily, watching the Con as it switched to bot mode. He counted two from what he could see.

A street over an Insecticon gave one of it's piercing shrieks and- based off the loud wooden crunch followed by loud screams- stumbled into a house. Jack grimaced as Carl gave up freeing his vehicle in favor of running into his home at the sight of the giant transforming robots. The area was clear of human life within seconds.

'Fowler is going to have a hayday trying to cover this. Hope he hasn't run out of believable excuses'

The Insecticon in front of his house moaned and started to slowly lumber away. Jack frowned as he watched the Con sluggishly stagger with a destination in mind. There was something off about the Insecticon. They didn't move like they should. Insecticons had always been clumsy, but never like this. This Con shuffled around like it didn't have full control of its limbs, about to fall over any second. Complete opposite of any Insecticon he'd seen before today.

Jack wasn't left with much time to ponder over the reason as he finally spotted the Insecticon's objective.

Lily, still out on the driveway while the Con determinedly teetered it's way towards her. He could see her family screaming at the girl from the inside of their house. Jack let out a low swear and bursted out his bedroom. He was out of his house in seconds, trying to forget the fact that he'd just run outside without shoes and in his pajamas.

He caught up to the Insecticon quickly. The Con was moving at a worryingly slow speed. The robot bug stiffened as it sensed his movement and slowly swung to face him. By the time it actually turned all the way around Jack had zoomed past and dragged a unresponsive Lily up her driveway. The house's door opened invitingly, and Lily's mom poked her head out. She waved them over frantically, casting nervous glances at the towering robot. The woman ducked when the Insecticon let out a thundering roar and fixed it's glare onto the two humans.

Jake could feel the glare burning into his back even as he shoved Lily up the cement steps. The sensation brought back uncomfortable memories that made his skin crawl. The Con growled and took a sluggish stride forward, moving faster than it had moments earlier. Crap. Jack thrusted Lily inside into anxious hands and stepped off the front porch, ignoring the voices offering shelter. Voices that became panicky as he scooted farther away. On the next street, the other Insecticon screeched and shoved itself between two buildings.

'If I did hide in your house, then the Insecticon would demolish it trying to get to me. Can't risk lives.', Jack mentally apologized as he made a break for his own home. He was positive Fowler had said something about a reinforced bunker in the basement when Jack was first given the house.

Crunch!

Nevermind. Jack swerved, avoiding the wreckage that had been his residence. The Insecticon who'd destroyed it bellowed triumphantly and joined its brethren in chasing the human. Jack had a feeling that it was the same Con who'd stumbled into the other house earlier.

Jack scurried down the road, avoiding servos sweeping at his head from a Insecticon that appeared from behind a house. He tore down the webbing-covered cement lane, heading to the small park at the end of the street. He wasn't sure what he could do against three Insecticons, but by Primus he was not going down without a fight. 'Especially if they're working for her', he mentally tacked on. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

When the kiddie park was in sight Jack went over his options even as he spun to avoid another servo. He could use the playground equipment to his advantage. An Insecticon could have a hard time trying to reach him from under the slide. It might provide cover for a moment, especially with all the webs draped over it. The balance beam looked tall enough to trip one of the Cons. Maybe he'd get lucky and it would stab itself when it landed. If he was lucky. Despair rose inside him.

'That's it', he mourned, 'I'm dead. Hope they break the news to Mom gently.'

Suddenly there was a Groundbridge, opening only feet in front of him. The Insecticons halted in surprise at the sight of the military man didn't have it so easy. He wouldn't be able to get out of the way of arriving troops. With no time to think, Jack reacted instinctively as the first Cybertronian stepped out of the swirling portal. In the cloudy adrenaline rush, some part of his brain took in the towering robot and thought 'obstacle course'

So that's how Jack's body treated it.

A small hop made the Cybertronian's knee an excellent foothold to help Jack scramble up the rest of the orange bot. The robot froze instantly, too stunned to react even as Jack climbed onto his chest. The human used this pause to go up and over the bot's head and launch himself from Orange's back. Jack landed on the face of a red Cybertronian, who'd not expected to be attacked by a flying human and was sorely unprepared for the short assault. The red bot stumbled and lost his balance, flailing spectacularly as he fell backwards.

Something was already poking out the bridge, slightly higher than Red's head. Instantly Jack jumped, using the falling motion of the mech to throw himself higher. He reached the peak of his jump as a giant black dinosaur burst out of the Groundbridge and rushed right under him. Jack landed in a roll halfway down the dino's back. A high pitched shriek erupted from underneath him. The man instinctively raced forward, towards the tail of the robotic behemoth. The girlish shrill continued and was accompanied by a sudden jerking action as the dinosaur bucked. This included the tail Jack was on, hurling the military man upside-down in the direction of the glowing portal.

Jack intuitively flipped himself right side up in time to land on another Cybertronian. This one didn't react until Jack had already bounded off the white and blue head in one motion, only letting out a confused "Huh?" as the bot jolted to a stop.

The next bot that walked out the the Groundbridge was yellow and black. Jack aimed for the door wings, planning on the grabbing one of the doors as a brake to slow down and then drop to the ground, when giant hands wrapped around his stomach.

Air bursted from his lungs as he was jerked to a halt and Jack let out a pain-filled gasp. He went limp in the yellow and black Cybertronian's grasp, a part of his brain reminded him to take deep breaths as he started to recover the lost oxygen.

Jack's mind cleared the cloudy haze and he stared at the sky. All the action only lasted ten seconds at the most, but it felt like longer. His legs burned, fingers screamed in protest, and his heart felt ready to burst out of his chest, like he'd run a hundred miles. Despite this, the man's mind was racing. His neighborhood was covered in spiderwebs, had at least three Insecticon pus one spider-con after his head, he'd used four other bots like a jungle-gym, and was captured by a fifth Cybertronian, while still in his pajamas. Jack's face burned at the thought.

"Jack?"

Caught off guard, Jack focused on his eyes on the yellow bot's face. Silver faceplates, surrounded by the cheery yellow on the helm, brown eyebrow-like things, and blue optics. Blue optics. Blue optics meant Autobot. Autobot meant he was safe. Even if he didn't know the Bot, an Autobot wouldn't let Arachnid or any Insecticons take him.

But Jack couldn't look away. Mostly because the Autobot hadn't looked away either, even when his companions came stumbling over and started complaining. It was like the human and Cybertronian were stuck in an eternal staring contest. Jack didn't recognize the Bot- though it certainly knew him- but the voice was immensely familiar. He cast his mind back, going over memories of any Autobots- the Cons wouldn't bother remembering the Autobots' pets- that could have known him.

It took a couple seconds for everything to click into place. But when it did, Jack's jaw dropped. He blinked and managed to stutter out part of the Bot's name.

"Bee?"

The crowd around them instantly shifted uncertainly. Then the blue and white bot spoke, surprising Jack with her decidedly female voice, "Lieutenant, you know this human?"

"Yeah!" , the red Autobot shoved himself in front of her, "I thought we weren't suppose to show ourselves to any other humans!"

Lieutenant? Jack barely had time to ponder over that before the massive Dinosaur pounded over, transformed into bot mode, and examined Jack with one optic. He looked the human up and down, 'hmm'-ing the entire time. Then the Dinobot broke into a giant grin and reached excitedly for the human in Bee's grasp, like an hyperactive child about to be handed a puppy.

"Oo! Oo! Does this mean we have to bring him back with us? Can I watch him? I'll take good care of him! I promise! Let me watch him! Please? Please? Please? Pleeease!"

Bumblebee jerked Jack away from the greedy servos as the red mech snorted, "Yes. Cause we all know how careful Dinobots are."

Jack's eyes widened as he inspected the black and green robot. "Bulkhead was right. Dinobots are completely different.", he caught himself muttering under his breath. All optics turned on him, and he cursed Cybertronian enhanced hearing.

"Bulkhead?", the femme repeated, "The ex-Wrecker Bulkhead. The War-Hero? The same Bulkhead one who snuck onto and grounded the Decepticon warship by himself? The Autobot that-"

"Yes. That Bulkhead", Bee interrupted. He took a deep breath then said "Team, this is Jackson Darby. He was a close friend of ours when Team Prime was on Earth."

Jack gave a small wave, "Just call me Jack."

The only one who returned the motion was the Dinobot, the others too busy in examining the human to wave back.

"Jack. This is my team. Grimlock, Strongarm, Sideswipe, and Drift, along with his two minicons Jetstorm and Slipstream.", Bee pointed to each bot as he named them. Jack was only mildly surprised to watch two smaller Bots pop off the arms of the Autobot named Drift. One of the minicons waved excitedly at him until the other minicon knocked him in the head.

"We actually have another minicon, but we had to leave Fix-it back at base", Bumblebee added. Then he grinned at Jack, "So how are you doing? It's been a while."

"You have a base? That means you've been here for a good amount of time and never once visited", Jack folded his arms and sent a glare at the yellow mech, "I can't believe it took my entire neighborhood to be covered in webbing for a visit."

Bumblebee shrugged sheepishly, "Sorry about that, been a little busy."

"Wait, wait", Strongarm stepped forward, "How exactly do you know Jack? According to records, Team Prime only had contact with the native government. He doesn't look like he could be older than twenty-five, so he would have been around sixteen when you were on Earth last. Earthen military doesn't allow adolescents into their ranks"

"I think I remember reading something like that.", Sideswipe mention.

"Yeah", the femme sniped, "The War was the only time you paid attention during school."

The two bots shared scowls. Jack gave the yellow bot a face that screamed, 'Are they always like this?'. Bumblebee nodded and Jack sighed.

"We lied.", Bee answered. The two stop scowling to stare at their leader in horror.

"What!"

Bumblebee shrugged off the explosive reaction, "It was on Optimus's orders. He didn't want any ex-Cons with revenge plans going after the kids."

"Interesting I'm sure", Drift cut in, speaking for the first time, "But it does not do any good to forget the reason why we are here."

"Oh yeah! We're here to punch someone!", Grimlock pounded his own palm in anticipation.

"And I know who exactly whose faceplates you're going to bash in.", Jack said. The friendly banter had brought back a sense of familiarity, something that he could work with. He could feel himself relaxing as he adjusted to the new bots.

"Who?", Bee asked.

"Look around", Jack gestured to their surroundings, "Should be obvious."

The Autobots finally removed their optics off the human and took in the scene. Drift and Bumblebee stiffened at the sight of the web, but the other three bots seemed clueless, if not a little grossed out.

"Eeew. What is this?", Stongarm lifted a pede to look at the sticky white substance stuck to it.

"Webbing", Drift's servos strayed to the hilts of his swords, "Made by only one type of Con. And if it is indeed the one Decepticon I'm thinking of, then we are in a more dire situation than I previously thought."

"It's her.", Bee confirmed with a confident nod of his helm.

"How certain are you of that?"

"Well, Jack is here. So a hundred percent."

Drift blinked in surprise while the other three visibly started. Optics that weren't on the human now fixed themselves on him.

"What's that suppose to mean?", Sideswipe asked.

Bumblebee started to explain, but was interrupted by Jack before he could say anything.

"Can I give them the short version, Bee? The Insecticons chasing me earlier have disappeared and it's making me nervous."

"Insecticons?", Bee blinked.

Then there was a new voice, smooth as honey as it spoke behind the yellow bot, "No need to worry Jack. I brought the Insecticons back."

Bumblebee spun around, keeping himself between the voice and Jack even as he moved. The other copied him, Drift drawing both swords as he did so. Bee's optics narrowed when he caught sight of the owner of the voice, a femme spider-con surrounded by three Insecticons. He gave a curt acknowledgment.

"Arachnid."

Strongarm gasped, followed quickly by Sideswipe and Grimlock. Then the Dinobot's face collapsed into confusion, "Wait. Why are we gasping?"

"Look at that, you brought some friends", Arachnid ignored Bumblebee, continuing to refer to Jack. She tapped a single digit against her faceplate twice contemplatively, "I don't recognize any of them. You did call the yellow one 'Bee' though. But he can't be Arcee's little bug friend. His vocalizer was crushed beyond repair vorns ago."

"My vocalizer is doing fine, thank you very much", Bee retorted. The spider-con was silent for a moment, then gave a short dry laugh.

"Interesting"

Arachnid let out a couple more menacing chuckles then held out an open servo, "I'll be taking Jack now. It's been a long time since we last met and he's been dying to see me again."

Hello! How's this drabble for ya? I liked it. The cliffhanger part is on purpose. If the drabble is liked enough then I could write a second part for anyone interested. I don't remembered how this was inspired, but I'm pretty sure it came from either a dream or a daydream. Eh. Either way it was dream-inspired. Sorry if Arachnid or anyone was OOC. Bound to happen, found her hard to write. Wasn't quite sure on how to write my portrayal of her. Anyway, Thanks for reading!