Sorry for the delay in getting this one out. I have been rather busy with real life for a time, so I hope that you enjoy this small offering to keep this story going. One note pertaining to a review on this story in the last chapter by way of explanation. I had Crystal City destroyed by Starscream and his fighter wing, while in the novel Exodus, I believe, it was the Constructicons that destroyed the city. I was unaware of the novel when I wrote the chapter, and have since read it. Thank you to medafan 53 for pointing that out, and while I will be keeping the original chapter as is, I will use the novel in looking at other cities when the need arises. Gregg.
Disclaimer: I don't own, or profit from, these characters or franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Jack walked right beside Arcee as they entered the building where she had trained and been taught the Cybertronian martial arts. It was a massive edifice, full of color and angular wall and ceiling metal works. It was a stealth fanatics dream come true, and yet he was certain that each cubby or corner held specific purposes and all were practical, in an elegant sort of way. What was amazing to him was the statuary.
"Who were they?" he asked.
Arcee looked around, the memories flooding into her conscious mind. "The Great Masters," she replied. "The greatest martial artists in Cybertronian history. Each one had a unique style and form."
Jack looked all around again and further admired the place. It was massive, of course, but also somehow beautiful. "How did you end up training in the martial arts?" he asked.
Arcee looked down at her partner. She always loved his questions, especially when they were about her past, despite the fact that he usually asked them at awkward times.
"My size more than anything," she admitted. "When you are small compared to others in a war there are advantages and disadvantages. My units were usually fighting some of the fiercest combat units of the Decepticons and I was one of the smallest Autobots. Look at me compared to someone like Megatron, or Soundwave, or Dreadwing. Without some sort of edge, the fight is very one sided and likely deadly. Martial arts allows the battlefield to be much more level. Prowl was assisting my unit during a mission once and suggested that I train in the martial arts. I received permission and became very adept at it. It's saved my life many times."
"How long did you train?" Jack asked curiously.
"About a century of your time," Arcee replied. "Not too long in our lifespans. I miss it sometimes, to be honest."
"A century of training?" Jack marveled. And he had thought a few years for some moderate skills development was a long time. "Can I ask you something about the war?"
Arcee took a seat and then reached down and placed Jack on the bench beside her. "Sure," she replied. While there were some things about the war she did not want to remember, she had long since ended any secrecy between her and Jack.
"When we were on Cybertron you said that when the fog lifted there wasn't much left to save," Jack reminded her. "How did it get to that point? It seems so..." he trailed off.
"Crazy?" she said softly.
"Yeah," Jack said, not wanting to offend her.
"You'd have to ask Optimus that one for an answer that makes any sense," she replied finally, recalling the days, months, and years when it became all to real that Cybertron was truly going dark. "For myself, it was because the alternative was losing to the 'Cons, and Megatron would have torn the planet apart anyway in his crazed lust for power."
"I can't imagine having to abandon my planet," Jack shuddered.
"Even with all the destruction and dwindling levels of energon, it was hard to leave, and even harder for Optimus to give the order," Arcee told him. "I really am sorry you had to see my home like that, Jack."
"I'm not," Jack told her. "It made what is happening on Earth more real somehow, and makes me want to help keep what happened on Cybertron from happening here."
"You're my partner, Jack, and that won't change," Arcee told him. "But I had always hoped that you would never have to see the real horrors of this war. A dead, energon depleted hulk in space. Sentinels in stasis protecting a lifeless planet. And a partner who is burdened by hate and anger from centuries of war. You may be an adult in mind and spirit, Jack, but you're still a teenager and shouldn't have those kinds of burdens."
"But I did see Cybertron, Arcee, and I saw what had happened," Jack replied. "I won't say it wasn't horrifying, but at the same time this war isn't just about Cybertron. Call me naïve, or just too young and idealistic, but it really is one of those few battles worth fighting since it's without a doubt good versus evil. And trust me, Arcee, if I looked at you as someone filled with hate and anger we wouldn't be friends. I like to look at the inner person."
Arcee checked her internal chronometer and was surprised to find that they'd been in the holoroom for over three hours. She didn't want to monopolize the room at the expense of the others.
"It's time to let the others spend some time in here," she suggested as she stood up and placed him on the ground.
"We can come back, though, right?" Jack asked.
Arcee smiled at her partner. "It's a date," she told him, letting herself observe his reaction to that loaded statement.
Jack was stunned at the phrase, and looking up at her he saw she was feeling him out about the possibility. He decided to take the plunge. "Cool," he told her. "Just name the time and I'll be there."
Arcee began walking to the door of the building. "Next Saturday 5AM," she told him. "And be ready for a long day on Cybertron."
Jack grinned. 5 AM sucked, but a whole day with Arcee and in this kind of place? Definitely worth it.
Fifteen minutes later they were in the main control room of the base where the others were waiting for them.
"Well?" Ratchet practically demanded. He'd spent a lot of time on the project and wanted a first hand report on how well it worked.
"It was like being back there," Arcee told him, her optics glowing with the delight of having seen her home as it used to be. "We took a long route towards Kaon, but ended up spending most of the time at Master Prowl's dojo."
"I am pleased that you have been able to see our planet as it once was, Jack," Optimus said calmly. "In the future I hope that you take the time to explore even further. Perhaps even visit Iacon."
"Seeing Cybertron like this showed me why you fought the Decepticons, Optimus," Jack told the leader of the Autobots. "It also makes the war here on Earth all the more understandable."
"Then you have learned something quite valuable," Optimus told him, pleased that this human above all others understood. He turned to Ratchet. "I believe that it would be appropriate that you be allowed to spend time in the holoroom next, Old Friend. After all, you did resurrect this long ago technology."
They all watched as Ratchet made his way deeper into the base, heading to the holoroom. Bumblebee and Bulkhead transformed and left to go on patrol. Arcee looked down at Jack.
"How about a ride, Partner?" she asked as she transformed. Once Jack was seated on her she sped off. It had been a very nostalgic time in the holoroom and she was glad that she had been able to share it with Jack. Now she had to work through her thoughts and feelings about the idea that in a week they had a date to do it again. It was going to be a long week.
A/N: Next will be them actually getting to see Kaon as it was before Megatron took in and made it the Decepticon capitol. They will also begin discussing their feelings about each other and how their experiences of the last few months had been bringing them closer. I hope you enjoyed this one. Gregg.