Well, all good things must come to an end. This story has been a great deal of fun to write, and the response has been much more than I ever expected. Thank you everyone who took the time to read this story. I may or may not do a sequel. I hope you enjoy this end chapter. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Arcee was sitting in vigil over the sleeping Jack. She knew he would be alright, as June had quickly diagnosed that he had suffered no concussion, only knocked unconscious when hit by Optimus. That still did not ease her feelings, though. She was worried about him, and knew it showed. She heard Optimus coming up behind her and stood up from where she was sitting on the floor.
"How is Jack?" Optimus asked, his optics glancing quickly at the young man.
"Sleeping," Arcee replied, her gaze never wavering from Jack.
"And you?" was the next question.
"Fine," she said tersely.
"You are angered that I gave the Key to Jack to safeguard," Optimus surmised.
Arcee turned to face her leader/mentor. "He was not ready for that, Optimus," she said firmly. "He had no idea what it was you were handing him, and what it meant."
"True," Optimus admitted. "Yet was I ready when I was given the Matrix and the Key? I was not, and yet I somehow was able to accomplish what was necessary. Jack is a unique person, Arcee. Like myself when I was Orion Pax, Jack is unhappy with his place in life. I gave him the opportunity to find his true inner strength, and we now have a firm ally who is also a leader."
Arcee turned her gaze back to Jack. "I can't lose him, Optimus," she said, giving voice to her feelings.
"Does Jack know of your feelings for him?"
"I'm not sure," she replied. "We've talked a bit, but nothing specific. I'm also concerned about the difference in life spans."
"Be honest with him, Arcee, and in doing so you will be honest with yourself," Optimus told her. "Please let me know when he awakes."
Arcee sighed. "We really have to talk," she said to the sleeping Jack.
On the other side of the med bay Miko was sitting and watching Ratchet work on Bulkhead. When Bulk had been helped through the ground bridge, a bot on either side, she'd thought the worst. Ratchet had assured her, though, that it looked much worse than it was. The deep wounds had looked vicious, and he had been leaking energon heavily.
"That should do for now," Ratchet said as he stepped back, looking once more at the readings on the console.
"For now?" Miko questioned. She glanced at Bulkhead's face and back at Ratchet.
"Until he has some more energon in him, and I can put him safely in stasis, I can't deal with some of the injuries," Ratchet told her. "I have, however, dealt with the more problematic ones. He'll be alright, Miko."
"I told ya not to worry, Miko," Bulkhead said a little weakly.
"Too late for that, Bulk," Miko told him.
"I'm going to be laid up for a while," Bulkhead told her. "Why don't you go spend time with your parents and host family?"
"I'll get you before I put him in stasis, Miko," Ratchet told her.
"Okay," Miko said reluctantly. She got up and walked out of the med bay.
Bulkhead groaned when she was out of hearing. "I hope I never have to go up against someone like Megatron again," he said in a tired tone. He looked up at Ratchet. "You okay, Doc?"
"I will be," Ratchet told him. "I took a life, Bulkhead. Necessary, but I became a medic to help, not kill."
"Sometimes, Doc, it's kill or be killed," Bulkhead told him a bit philosophically. "That spiderbot had her optics set on offing Jack. Then where would we be?"
"It doesn't make it any easier, Bulkhead," Ratchet told him. "'I'll be back shortly and place you in stasis."
"Thanks, Doc," Bulkhead replied and then let his head fall back.
The families were accepting of the need for secrecy, and agreed to whatever terms Fowler told them were necessary. They also understood that their kids were targets, and that the best protection for them was for the Autobots to continue being their guardians. Fowler broke with the formality a bit, though, and told them that as odd as it may seem, the kids were a big help to the 'Bots, and that the Autobots considered them part of the team.
When Fowler finished with the families of Miko and Raf, he went over and grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down with June Darby. He liked her a lot, and respected her.
"How you holding up?" he asked.
"Good," she admitted. "I'll be better, though, when Jack's awake."
"From what I understand, he did a great job out there when it came crunch time," he told her. "There's something very special about him."
"But I still just see my son as he was when he was a lot younger," June told him, taking another drink of her coffee. "I'm not angry with the Autobots. They came into their lives with the best of intentions, and their safety in mind. But I still don't understand how Optimus could have given Jack that Key."
"I may come across as a real hard ass at times, June, but one thing I have learned is that Prime knows what he's doing," Fowler offered. "He also listens. If you're that bent out of shape about all this, then ask him. I'm pretty sure he'd give you an answer."
Back in the med bay where Jack was, Arcee had been thinking on what she needed to discuss with Jack. They had hinted at their feelings, and acknowledged that something needed to be discussed when the time was right, and it seemed that now was that time. When she sensed a stirring from him, she focused her attention on him and saw the first signs of waking. She smiled.
"You back with us, Smooth Operator?" she asked, a light chuckle in her voice hiding the worry she'd been feeling ever since the mission began and ramped up during the battle.
"Arcee?" Jack groaned. Damn his head hurt! "What happened?"
Arcee smirked. "Optimus backhanded you when you inserted the Key." she informed him.
Jack suddenly remembered, the memory slamming into his head almost painfully. He had been allowed by Orion Pax to place the Key in the slot at the juncture of his neck and shoulder. Everything had been alright until he had slid the Key halfway in. Suddenly Orion had flailed against the action and just as he slid the Key the rest of the way in he felt a powerful hit and went flying. He didn't recall anything else.
"Did it work?" Jack asked.
"We got Optimus back," Arcee told him. "And Megatron and Airachnid are dead. Ratchet killed Airachnid and Prime killed Megatron."
"Well that's two less 'Cons we have to worry about," Jack sighed, relieved that everything had worked out.
"We need to have a talk, Jack," Arcee continued after she let the news sink in.
Jack opened his eyes and squinted at Arcee. "Am I going to like this?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied honestly. "Do you know how bondings work on Cybertron?"
"No, no one's ever said anything," Jack shrugged.
"Cybertronians bond for life, Jack," she told him. "Even after one in the bonding goes offline, the other remains faithful to that bond for life. You know that the physical side isn't an issue for my species, but the emotional level is very intense."
Jack thought through the implications of what she had just told him. Then he thought of human lifespans compared to Cybertronian lifespans. He shuddered to think what Arcee would go through for perhaps millenia after he died if they were bonded.
"It's not a good idea for us, huh?" he asked, his tone of voice letting it be obvious that he was disappointed.
Arcee could tell he understood the implications of what she was talking about. "Maybe not, but it doesn't change the fact that the feelings I have for you are what would be felt in any true bonding," she let him know. "The only question is, what do you feel for me? Friend, partner, more...?"
"A whole lot more," Jack told her honestly.
Arcee sighed in relief. She had been unsure if she should even broach the deep topic, but Optimus had been right. It was time she was honest with him and herself.
"But do you think we could date for a while and work our way to a bonding?" Jack asked. He looked up at her, a twinkle in his eyes. "I think Mom will be able to handle it a little better if we go out on at least one date."
Arcee laughed. "I think that can be arranged," she told him. She gave him an amused smile. "Just nothing like those films on the internet, though. Our plumbing doesn't work the same way, after all," she teased him.
Jack groaned. "I am definitely going to put parental controls on the internet here," he sighed. "That was way more information about your viewing habits than I needed."
Arcee laughed again. "I think Ratchet would have something to say if you tried to alter the computer settings. He likes watching soap operas," she told him. She took Jack's hand in her larger one. "I'm going to go get your Mom. She's been worried."
"Thanks, Arcee," Jack told her. "Is this where we kiss now?"
"We'll work our way up to that on our date, Romeo," she told him, then stood up. "I'll go get June and then come back later."
Three days later Jack and Bulkhead were released from the med bay. Bulkhead looked much better, and was completely recovered. Jack still felt some discomfort from the concussion, but he was well enough to leave the care of Ratchet and his Mom. Now they were all in the main control room, the families as well as the kids and Autobots. Optimus stepped forward.
"A year ago three youths came into our midst. At first it was our intention to protect them due to the Decepticons knowing about them, but it quickly became apparent that they were much more than just protective charges. Jack, Miko, and Raf have become our friends, our allies, and most importantly a part of our family. They now work beside us to ensure the safety of this planet, and we are grateful for their friendship and support.
"During this latest crisis, my actions placed a greater responsibility on all three of them, and one in particular, than perhaps had been wise. I am impressed that all three rose to the challenge, and the result is that I am here with you today. I owe you three, as well as my team, my life. It is a debt I shall never forget.
"As for the families of these three individuals, know this. I pledge myself and my team to your protection. I also pledge our continued friendship. Thank you for being the supportive families that you have shown yourselves to be."
Optimus turned and took a small metal box from Ratchet. "I also would like to bestow official recognition on five individuals. Jack, Miko, Raf, June Darby, and Special Agent Fowler, I would like to bestow upon you the honorary title of Autobot. These medallions are engraved with the symbol of the Autobots. You will always be one of us, regardless of what our future paths are."
He leaned down and handed each of them a medallion, which fit neatly in the palm of their hands. When he had done so, he nodded at everyone and then left the control room. Everyone else mingled for awhile and then the families began to gather their things and eventually left the base. Fowler went back to Washington, DC to meet with his superiors, while June Darby went home. Jack, Miko, and Raf stayed as they wanted to spend time with their friends. The nightmare was over, and Optimus Prime was now back among them.
A/N: I ended it there as I have decided to do a sequel dealing with Jack and Arcee, but also dealing with the question of what happens with the Key now. I hope you enjoyed this story, and thank you everyone who has taken the time to read it all. Gregg.
