Thank you for the extremely generous responses to the first chapter of this. I don't know how well the whole story will be received, but I am glad that it is already building an audience. I hope you enjoy this second chapter. Gregg.

Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

June Darby watched as her son walked away with Arcee. Her fears for his safety had never been so pronounced, yet at the same time she could see the man her son had become. The way he walked. The way he considered his options before acting. The manner in which he respected those around him, yet was able to express his displeasure with tact and without ill-will. Those observations and more had surely been made by Optimus before having made such a grave choice as to hand that key to Jack. She turned to Ratchet.

"What is your opinion of what has happened?" she asked the battle hardened, war weary Medibot.

Ratchet focused on the woman he had come to respect in such a short period of time. It was too late in the day for him to deny his view of these special individuals. He also knew full well what she was asking. Not for his interpretation of Prime's actions, but what his own view was of Jack having such an awesome responsibility thrust upon him.

"I believe Optimus was right in giving Jack this responsibility," he told her, allowing his optics to take in the full color spectrum so he could see what kind of reactions such a statement would produce in the woman. He saw her color spectrum change to a deeper reddish orange, telling him she was anxious, and his statement was increasing that anxiety to a small degree, but she was accepting of it.

"Why?" she asked, unsure of her feelings, but more than anything wanting to have some assurance that her original statement of support for Optimus' actions was the right one.

Ratchet noticed that everyone seemed to be listening in right at that moment. He could see the curiosity etched into the very face plates of Bulkhead and Bumblebee, and the nervousness in their young human friends, and now full allies and partners. He mentally cursed Optimus for leaving him to fill in the details so casually and without any warning.

"Optimus and myself have seen far too much destruction at the hands of Megatron and the Decepticons to risk anything like that happening on Earth," he began. "I will admit to having less than charitable feelings for humans at one time, but when we had our infestation of Scraplets Optimus said something that changed my thinking. He said that our young friends may be small, but they were strong. He was right. Jack has demonstrated that he can be trusted to make the right decision, and remain calm, in a crisis. His worry over Arcee during the Scraplet infestation did not interfere with his doing what needed to be done in order to ensure our very survival."

Ratchet paused and saw that Bulkhead and Bumblebee were nodding in agreement with that initial assessment. He continued his explanation.

"If we are to truly succeed in defeating Megatron, and also come to accept that Earth is now our home, then we need to be able to form bonds with humans. That also means we need to be able to work with humans and have a deep level of trust with those we work with to continue keeping Earth safe. Agent Fowler has been a trusted ally, and knows the ways of Earth's political processes, but he has not developed the kind of bond I am referring to. You, Mrs. Darby, and Agent Fowler, are our friends and we will always consider you such. But Jack, Miko, and Rafael are, for lack of any better term, our family. If we are to have a true alliance with humanity, then both Cybertronian and Human in the Autobot ranks need to be seen as equals. I think that Jack shows that more effectively and with genuine wisdom, than any of the three. I believe that humanity will come to see that, and recognize we mean for a peaceful coexistence, as well as protecting humanity."

"Huh?" Bulkhead tilted his large head and scratched his head in a human gesture of confusion.

"He means that Jack's the one to get the job done, Bulk," Miko simplistically translated. She saw the usual frustration on Ratchet's face. "Sorry, Docbot, but you gotta learn to keep it simple."

"What about us?" Raf asked, unsure of his own feeling about all that was happening.

"That is up to Jack and Arcee," Ratchet looked down the corridor where the two had gone.

June Darby joined everyone in looking down the corridor like Ratchet. She was still unsure, but Ratchets words had managed to reassure her, despite the Medic's long winded explanation, only some of which really made sense to her.

Arcee keyed in the combination sequence on a large door that slid aside and then entered the room, Jack following close behind. The room lit up instantly, and the various display screens came on, Cybertronian script filling them along with sensor readings and images. She went over to her chair and then swiveled to look down at Jack.

"I'll have Ratchet install a chair that fits you and raises to the level of the control panels," she told him.

She reached down and easily picked him up, placing him on the leading edge of the panel in front of her so they could talk somewhat face to face. She wasn't horribly taller than Jack, but having to crouch down like she did to be on a level with him wouldn't do.

"What is this place?" Jack asked. He looked around and like any human would be was very impressed with the technology he was seeing.

"This is a computer control center made from the computer technology of our ship," Arcee informed him. "We try and use Earth tech as much as possible so as not to waste the Energon as this technology uses a great deal of Energon since the power plant is so primitive and inefficient compared to what was on our ship. Sometimes, though, we need the computer capabilities that this system has in order to keep track of specific problems."

"Agent Fowler doesn't know about this place, does he?" Jack asked, as a sudden insight came to him.

Arcee noticed how quickly Jack figured that one out. One more piece of the puzzle in explanation of Prime's giving the Key to Jack. She nodded.

"Optimus has always been worried about humans gaining access to Cybertronian technology," she told him. "Agent Fowler is trustworthy and reliable, and our ally, but his allegiance is to someone else at the end of the day. We felt it was unfair to make him choose who to back if this tech were found."

Jack thought about that one. He could see the sense in it, but something rankled him. "If we want Fowler to trust us, then aren't we showing him the exact opposite when it comes to us trusting him to really be our ally?" he asked.

Arcee sighed. "That's a discussion we can have another time soon," she assured him. Jack had a say in that now, and she could see the point, though she still felt that their original decision of secrecy was correct. "For right now, I wanted to talk to you about something important before we get into the information Ratchet was talking about."

"I'm all ears," Jack quipped.

Arcee chuckled. "I actually know that one," she told him, pleased that she was recognizing more and more of the odd human colloquialisms. It made talking with Jack easier and easier all the time. Then she got serious. "You know I don't doubt you at all, don't you?" she asked. She watched him carefully for any sign that she may have hurt his feelings when she had protested his being a co-leader with her.

"I know, Arcee, and you don't have to worry," Jack assured her. "I have enough doubts of my own right now, so nothing you may or may not add would give me any grief."

"You scared, Partner?" Arcee asked, relieved that he wasn't angry with her.

"Petrified," Jack admitted. Then he got that demeanor he had earlier, and he had felt coursing through him. "But this is too important to let that keep me from doing what Optimus wanted. I'm not sure, but I think he knew this was going to happen when you guys went to Unicron."

"I agree," Arcee nodded. "Before we really begin the search and try to get Optimus back, I want you to know something. You're much more than a partner to me, and much more than just a friend. I can't explain it, and I can't put it into words, but you are very important to me, Jack. I may not be able to say it, or show it because of all we have to do now, but this has crystallized a lot for me when it comes to you."

Jack, still being the teenaged boy he was (despite how adult he normally acted), blushed. "Are you saying you like me?" he asked, heavily emphasizing the word like. He smiled at the unlikely appearance of an embarrassed expression on Arcee's face.

"Scrap," she muttered. She looked him squarely in the optics. "Yes, Smooth Operator. But the first hint I get that you're having thoughts like those films I saw once on you humans internet I will slice you into ribbons."

"TMI, Arcee," Jack told her, a chuckle coming out. "We can work on the details of our mutual liking each other later. For now how about we get on with getting me up to speed?"

"Good idea," she told him, a smile coming to her for the first time since this whole nightmare about Optimus came about.

"Arcee, Jack," Ratchet's voice came through the comm link. "Rafael's parents and Miko's host parents will be arriving in five minutes."

"On our way," Arcee replied. "Time to let them in on it. Ready?"

"Yeah," Jack told her as she lowered him to the floor. "Let's hope they're not too freaked out."

The computer control center went dark when they left the room, the door sliding silently shut and the locking mechanisms and force fields coming online.

A/N: I decided to write out the second chapter and post it. I added small bits of humor in Jack and Arcee's conversation, and while I want to make it clear in the above that they are figuring out their real feelings for one another, it isn't the primary focus for the story, but it is important. I hope you all enjoyed this one. Gregg.