Knight in Borrowed Armor 2
A Transformers Prime FanFiction
A sleek, midnight blue motorcycle cruised easily along the worn desert asphalt. Arcee couldn't remember feeling this good since, she thought hard as the glittering black road rushed by underneath her wheels, when was the last time she'd enjoyed herself this much? It wasn't as if she never had a chance to just flat out race but this was different. Probably the company she decided.
Jack Darby let out a shout as they shot over a small burm and went airborne for a few seconds. He crouched into the landing and Arcee put on another burst of speed. Dirt and gravel flew as they left the pavement behind. Every bump and ripple in the old road was magnified at this speed. It took all of Jack's concentration to stay in the saddle. The Cybertronian only slowed when they passed a battered wooden sign declaring all land past it property of Jasper Mine. Arcee skidded to a halt and just sat there a moment letting her circuits cool down. Jack was laughing from the adrenaline rush, from the joy of being alive.
"Well partner, should we head back now?" she asked.
Jack didn't answer immediately. He leaned back in the saddle and removed his helmet. The young man shook out his hair and took a deep breath of the mountain air. The sun glinted off the metallic tattoo that ran down his face and neck. Arcee angled her mirrors to get a better look at them. The name Defensor could be made out before the markings disappeared under his shirt. She felt a warm glow as she mused on how appropriate that was.
"If we go any further Old Man Green will catch us again," he said with a sigh, thinking with a wince of the last time they'd encountered the crusty old security guard. "But I have the day off and you don't have patrol. When the choice is between listening to Ratchet grumbling back at base and more riding…" The human looked down at her beseechingly.
"Hey, why do I have to be the one hauling you around all the time?" she asked. The blue fem didn't want to return any more than the human did, Ratchet was in one of his moods, a little teasing never hurt though.
"Sure," Jack said, hopping off, "you just climb on my back and I'll carry you around the desert."
Arcee let out a laugh. The joke wasn't that funny. It was joy rather than humor that prompted the rare rolling laughter from the warrior; joy at being alive, at sharing this moment with a friend. She spun out and ran a few tight circles around her partner, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Hey! Stop that," Jack protested laughing and coughing.
To his surprise the Autobot suddenly stopped dead. Her headlights suddenly dimmed then flared. The laughter died in his throat as he watched her in concern. She was trembling now; the delicate mechanisms within her armor vibrating as she strained to hear something far out of his range of perception.
Suddenly she leap to his side and leaned against him without speaking. Jack rested a hand on her frame in reassurance, confused, knowing only that she was seeking comfort.
"Up," she said suddenly.
Jack was back in the saddle instantly.
"Base, Arcee, groundbridge to my location immediately," Arcee called out, her voice taut with emotion.
"Roger that, Arcee," Ratchet's voice came over the connection.
Jack could hear frustration and anger in the medibot's tone. He leaned down and stroked Arcee's side soothingly. Sometimes the best and only comfort he could offer was the human touch. Seconds stretched out painfully as they waited for the bridge in silence.
When the green portal finally appeared Arcee bolted through it. On the other side Bulkhead and Optimus Prime were leaning over Ratchet who was working frantically at the main consol. The human leapt off the Autobot as she transformed and joined them. He noted his mom's white sedan in its usual place but he didn't see her. Jack stared intently up at the screen, the scientist was trying to establish a lock on a signal, from the looks of things a signal that had lasted only seconds.
Not wanting to intrude Jack waited in silence and studied the bot's faces. Ratchet wore the look of fierce determination he always did when working on something critical. Optimus, always the hardest to read looked alert and intense. Bulkhead had a look of cautious hope in his optics. Arcee; Jack walked forward and leaned reassuringly against her leg. She looked devastated, terrified. The fembot smiled weakly down at him and rested a hand on his head.
Jack's suspicions were confirmed when Ratchet spoke up a minute later.
"It is Cliffjumper's personal signal; a portion of it at least."
"What do you mean a portion of it?" Arcee demanded.
"It was as if someone tried to send it out but it got cut off in mid-transmission." Ratchet growled.
"Were you able to trace the source?" Optimus asked.
"Partially," the medibot replied. "It originated from this landmass but I can't be any more specific than that." Ratchet indicated a glowing spot on the screen.
"England?" Jack said in surprise. "What would Cliffjumper be doing in England?"
"It's NOT Cliff," Arcee suddenly snarled. "Cliff died before I met you. That thing could only be some sort of Dark Energon monster. We need to destroy it."
"Hold on Arcee," Ratchet said. "I'm not reading any sign of Dark energon from the signal location."
"Is it possible that someone just got ahold of Cliffjumper's codes?" Jack offered. "Maybe M.E.C.H. or the Cons and are using it to bait a trap?"
"Possible but unlikely," Optimus explained. "The signal in question is generated by the specific biorhythm of an individual Cybertronian. To duplicate it is possible but extremely difficult."
"So the dark stuff has brought him back again?" Bulkhead demanded. "I thought he was at the bottom of the mine when the whole thing blew."
"As did we all," Optimus said grimly.
"Yes," Ratchet muttered, "But there was no Dark Energon signature associated with the signal this time."
"So what does that mean?" Jack asked.
"At this point we can assume nothing," the Prime said firmly. "Ratchet you need to be here to monitor for any further signals. I will contact Agent Fowler about beginning a land search in that area. Jack."
"Yes sir?"
"What do you know about the country in question?"
"England? Well it's part of the United Kingdom. A constitutional monarchy. But you can get all this information off the net."
"Indeed, but there are things that aren't covered. Such as how much would our current forms stand out if we need to perform an extensive ground search? The island looks well populated. And do you know if Fowler would be in a position to speak for us if we have to break cover?"
"Oh," Jack thought for a moment, "As far as I know that country is this one's closest and oldest ally. If anyone else knows about you they do. Fowler shouldn't have any trouble covering for you. There are physical differences between vehicles here and there, but they are minimal and cars from one side show up on the other often enough that you shouldn't turn too many heads as long as you can tweak your license plates to match."
The Autobots suddenly stiffened.
"Good news," Ratchet said. "Because there's the signal again. Confirmed; it is Cliffjumper's signal, complete this time, and there is no trace of Dark Energon."
A bright blue dot pulsed in the center of the island.
"Cliff," Arcee whispered.
"It appears to be stationary in a relatively unpopulated area," Ratchet continued. "There are no other signals in the immediate area."
"Still, it may be a trap," Optimus said. "Bulkhead, you're with me. Ratchet, keep trying to contact Agent Fowler. If all goes well we will not need his assistance. Arcee," The Prime locked optics with his second in command and spoke firmly. "Remain here and await Bumblebee's return. We may require backup."
Arcee nodded mutely. Jack was surprised to see relief in her optics.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered as he led Bulkhead through the bridge.
"Jack," Ratchet looked over his shoulder at the young man. "Please assist your mother in preparing my lab for their return while I work here. She should be in the biological decontamination unit."
"Right!" the human gave Arcee a quick pat on the leg and trotted over to the boxcar tucked in one corner of Ratchet's lab. A middle aged woman stepped out. She wore her dark hair tied back in a ponytail and the arms of her navy blue long-sleeved tee were rolled up to reveal yellow work gloves.
"Mom! Ratchet wants us to prep the lab," Jack called out.
June Darby straightened immediately and nodded.
"What's going on?"
Jack gave her a quick rundown. She listened and headed for the Cybertronian sized berth.
"Jack, I can handle this myself. Go stay with Arcee."
"Thanks Mom," Jack said gratefully.
He headed back out to the main silo. The human stopped short of his partner as the ground bridge opened again. Time seemed to dilate again as they waited. Jack realized he was holding his breath.
Steady footsteps sounded as a form materialized out of the groundbridge mist. It was too small to be Bulkhead or Optimus. Jack heard Arcee let out a small sound.
"By the Allspark," whispered Ratchet. "Cliffjumper."
A battered mech strode proudly into the base. As soon as he cleared the bridge Jack felt an odd glow of warmth. It was as if he instantly wanted to trust the stranger. He was about the same size as Bumblebee but a somewhat blockier. Innumerable injuries covered his frame and rusty red armor. One side of his head sported a horn; the one on the other had been broken off. A thick scar ran diagonally across his chestplates from his left shoulder to his right thigh and there was a mass of scar tissue just left of his spark chamber . He paused and looked around the base in confusion, bright gold optics seeming to search for something.
"How is this possible," the medibot muttered. "There is no energon signature?" Ratchet leapt to his side and began scanning him. The strange mech took the poking and prodding in good humor, although he seemed rather bemused by the process.
"Cliffjumper!" Arcee finally found her voice. She approached the mech hesitantly; as if afraid he would disappear at any moment.
"Is it really you? I tried to come back for you but the mine had collapsed. Cliff?" She took his massive hands in hers. The fembot's servos appeared small and delicate against his. Arcee searched the mech's face for any sign of recognition.
In turn Cliffjumper's face stared down at her, but not his optics. There was compassion in those gold orbs, and deep wisdom. He gently tightened his hands around hers and gave a comforting smile.
Something within the fembot began to die. She barely hear the groundbridge closing on Optimus and Bulkhead. Twice now she had had hope revived after everything seemed lost. Twice now she had been forced to face the death of her partner. Her spark shrank from the truth she saw in those soft optics. She knew, but held on to hope desperately. The warrior couldn't stand to lose him again, wouldn't admit it was a stranger staring down at her.
Suddenly something behind her caught the mech's attention. He smiled and touched her shoulder reassuringly, before stepping around her and kneeling in front of Jack. The human suddenly started. He glanced quickly around the silo as if looking for an escape route.
"Jack, what's? Oh."
Everybot turned to look at the woman who had walked out of the lab. The mech stared at her intently and walked over to kneel in front of her. Optimus quietly onlined his weapons and prepared to intervene if the mech made any attempt to harm the humans. But the whatever was using Clifjumper's body only let out a few harsh sounds before speaking in a strange language. Optimus quickly searched through what he knew of earth languages and recognized it as a Romance language. June ha started at the first words.
"Optimus, he's speaking Latin. Do you understand him?" she asked.
"No, I do not currently have that language uploaded," he admitted. "Do you understand him?"
"Yes, mostly. His accent is difficult and it's been quite a while since I took that Latin class, but I think I can translate."
"Then by all means, please."
Jack had moved back to stand beside a shaking Arcee. She calmed a bit when he rested a hand in hers. They watched his mother address the mech.
"Tu quis es?" she asked.
"Ignosce mihi, domina. Ego miles sine nomine. Porto Epistulam ad posteros imperium," he said urgently.
"English loqueris?" she asked, having understood perhaps two thirds of what he had said.
"Hoc nescio loqui Latine lingua est, qua fortasse manuscript Id Linguam? Agitur enim de vita et morte."
"He says he is nameless soldier, and is on a mission of life and death importance for the empire," Mrs. Darby finally said.
"Empire?" Optimus asked, arching an optic ridge.
"I would assume the Roman Empire given his language, but that makes no sense," the woman said shaking her head.
"None of this makes any sense," muttered Ratchet.
"He would like access to an English/Latin translation manuscript," Mrs. Darby said.
"Ratchet," Optimus nodded towards the secondary consol.
The medibot nodded and June and the strange mech followed him to the machine.
"You'd better demonstrate how this works," June pointed out.
Ratchet nodded curtly and proceeded to do so. The mech who appeared to be Cliffjumper stepped up and copied the medibot's movements. He shuttered his optics briefly. When he opened them he turned back towards June Darby and spoke.
"Good Lady. I thank you for your assistance. I am in your debt."
"You are welcome," she replied with a pleased smile.
"But now there are things I must attend to."
The warrior turned toward Optimus. He gracefully dropped to his knees and clasped his hands behind his neck, bowing his head before the Autobot leader.
"Noble Warrior, please accept my most humble surrender."