Thank you for the reviews and fabulous responses to the first two chapters to this story. I know what I want to do with it, and am going to finish this story, but updates will not be quick. I am hoping for one a week as real life does have a tendency to interfere. Thank you for your patience. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
The revealing of the Autobots to the parents of Miko and Raf went about as expected. The shock and fear were the instant reactions, then was replaced with the reality that their children were important pieces in a massive drama involving beings from another world. Fortunately they understood the necessity of being under protection and for the time being living at the base.
Jack, though, had a lot to do and a lot to learn in a short period of time. The Autobots worked on sharing the technology with him and informing him of all the activities that they were involved in. Most of it had to do with strictly Cybertronian related matters, but there were also some obligations that had been made in order to be given the needed human assistance when they first came to this world. He and Arcee worked on making sure those obligations were met, but the majority of their time was spent trying to figure out how to get Optimus back, including his memories.
"Hey, Ratchet?" Jack asked when he went into the main control room where the Medibot worked most of the time.
Ratchet, who had been looking over the latest sensor readings to see if he could detect any inconsistency in the Decepticon cloaking technology, turned to look at Jack. "Yes, Jack?" he asked. He'd been impressed at how well Jack had been holding up and shouldering the responsibilities he'd accepted.
"Is there any information on the Key that could tell me more about it?" Jack asked. "I don't know why, but I think maybe it holds the answer somehow."
Ratchet looked thoughtful. "Our databanks hold the basic information on the Key, but not the kind of information you are looking for," he said finally. "I do know, however, that Optimus spent a great deal of time looking into the Key and it's history. There may be information in his quarters that may be of assistance. I can unseal the quarters if you like."
Jack didn't like the idea of invading Optimus' private quarters, but the feeling he had about the Key wouldn't go away. He nodded. "Let's do it, but I want Arcee with me. Whatever I find out, I want to make sure she knows, too."
"Ratchet to Arcee," Ratchet said into his commlink. "Meet me and Jack at Optimus' quarters."
Five minutes later Jack and Ratchet were there and Arcee joined them.
"What are we doing here?" Arcee questioned. She looked down at Jack curiously.
"I think that we need to learn more about the Key," Jack told her. "Ratchet thinks that Optimus may have had more information in his quarters."
Ratchet punched code into the keypad next to the door and it slid open. The three of them entered and the room lit up. Immediately they noticed a sophisticated computer setup along one wall. Ratchet went over to it and began manipulating the control panel. It came on and a sensor sweep went through the room. The holographic projector came on and in a shimmer Optimus' head floated in the air in the middle of the room.
"I will assume that since this is being played back that I did not return from the mission to destroy Unicron," Optimus' image said in the deep, warm voice he had. "It should be known by now that I gave the Key to Vector Sigma to Jack. I do not expect to return from this mission, and even if I do, I do not expect to retain much of what has made me Optimus Prime. A coalition with humanity is necessary for our survival, and I feel that Jack is the best hope for making that a reality. If you are listening to this, Jack, I am sorry for placing you in this position. Arcee is your partner, and more. She will help you in the task you now have, and the two of you will lead the Autobots well. Remember one thing. The Key to Vector Sigma is much more than simply a symbol. It is also the key to the future. Utilize the Key, Jack."
"Well, that was cryptic as best," Arcee said with a hint of frustration marring her features.
Suddenly it came to him. "He was giving us a clue!" Jack smiled. "He said utilize the Key. If it can't help us then why would he say that?"
"And he had this message to us here in his quarters and not in the main control room," Ratchet said musingly. "That means it is somewhere in the computer system. Optimus wouldn't have been any more discreet than that with so much at stake. Jack," Ratchet looked down on the already overburdened teenager. "I believe that you will have to search the system for it as it will likely be something only you will recognize. Prime is very observant, much more so than you may think. The clue will most likely be something that you said or did that caught his attention and meant something to him."
"But I don't read Cybertronian," Jack looked somewhat worried.
"I'll help you," Arcee told him, her Spark wanting nothing more than to speak with him privately, but her mind knowing that such conversations needed to be carried on privately, and when not so much was at stake. Since her short conversation with him nearly two weeks before when she gave voice, in a vague way, to her feelings for him, she had given it more and more thought. Her feelings were becoming firmer in her mind and Spark. She was scared, but at the same time was comforted at such thoughts and feelings. She would have to speak to June about it soon. Perhaps the human woman would have some insight.
"After dinner tonight we can work on it," Jack told her. "I'm starved and I want to unwind a little."
"Unwind?" Ratchet asked, not having heard that particular colloquialism before.
"I'll explain it to you," Arcee told him as they all three left Optimus' quarters. She stifled a grin when she saw Ratchet shake his head and muttering about humans as he walked back down the corridor. She looked down at Jack. "How about a short ride after you eat and spend time with your Mom?" she suggested.
Jack smiled. It was a great way for them to bounce some ideas off of one another and not be interrupted, and he knew that there whereabouts were closely monitored by Ratchet so it was easy to avoid Decepticons. "Sounds like a plan," he told her as they walked down the opposite way along the corridor. He didn't mention that it was also a great way to spend some alone time together. That kind of thinking was going to have to wait until they got Optimus back. For now it was work related alone time, but he could live with that.
A/N: I am trying to keep chapters about even in length. The pacing is going to be about like this as I want this to be more character driven as opposed to action driven. It will allow me to explore the characters a bit, but also build on the relationships between Autobots and humans, especially Arcee and Jack. I hope you enjoyed this update. Gregg.
