A/N: Thanks for reviews! MELeeSmasher has asked to make Arcee human should I add romance to the story. Let me know what you think. Also, Negima Uzumaki has asked that I bring in Hamato Yoshi to the story. Gold Testament: I haven't heard from you in a while. Yes, I watch Power Rangers but so do most adults nowadays. And yes, Oni-Kage is based on Deker. This chapter takes place after "Crossfire" and before "Nemesis Prime". Before I continue, let me know if I should let Breakdown live or not.
Chapter 13
Jack was training in the S.A.F.E., honing his skills as he thought about how quickly new enemies were making themselves known to him. The first was the Shredder, the Prime Minister of Japan, Oroku Saki. He was as deadly as they came, not caring about who was killed as long as his goals were reached. He may have looked like a human cheese grader, but he was no push over. He could have easily killed Jack, but seemed to have some sort of plan.
Next was his daughter (whose name Jack had yet to learn), who seemed to be his loyal student. She followed her father's command without fail, executing it with extreme precision. She appeared to be around his age, but he could tell she'd killed people by the how she swung her sword. She appeared to be very flirtatious, given the back and forth they shared when they last met, and Jack was certain from what he saw of her figure, she was very attractive (not quite as attractive as Arcee, but attractive nonetheless). Jack was certain that she would be out to get him after the last battle.
Then there was Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. If he didn't want to skin Jack alive for restoring Optimus' memories, he was certain that he did now. ShadowStrike had stolen the Forge of Solus Prime right from under him. Given how easily the Decepticon leader lost his anger, Jack was certain he was seething after this latest humiliation. Jack had to keep up his guard when the Decepticon leader put two and two together.
Then there was this latest threat; the ninja named Oni-Kage. From the looks of him, he meant business and now Jack was his business. He said that ShadowStrike was to be his greatest challenge, though he didn't know why. From the looks of his sword, Oni-Kage would be giving him a run for his money. Jack stopped training to examine the body he had built up.
His arms were definitely larger than before and his torso was more toned. His leg muscles were larger, meaning he could move faster and keep his balance in battle. He picked up his sword and began slashing at the air. Twirling his blade around his body, Jack kept at it until a voice pierced his thoughts.
"Training is pointless," the voice rasped. "You fight for a cause that is not your own. The Autobots are using you."
"Who's there?" Jack asked. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember who. "And what do you mean the Autobots are using me?"
"They send you to their planet with no training for the harsh environment. You ventured through Cybertron and were nearly killed by a sentry. You restore Optimus Prime's memory and they don't even thank you for it."
Jack realized who the voice was; the Liege Maximo, "Where's Zangetsu?"
"Busy," he spat. "I will be 'guiding' you this day."
"What are you trying to pull?" Jack hissed. "The 'Bots didn't force me to go to Cybertron, I went there because we owed to Optimus."
"Did you?" he chuckled. "How do you know his memories would have restored themselves given time?"
"Time was something we didn't have! Who knows what lies Megatron was feeding him!"
"But why you? Why not that special agent or your mother? Surely, two adults would have been suitable candidates. More so, why not choose the Autobots? They could have braved the perils of a dead Cybertron all their own without your help."
"Shut up," Jack tried to block out the Liege's voice.
"They used you to get their precious leader back without a second thought as to your safety. What would they have done if it came between you and the charged Key? Would they sacrifice perhaps the only chance they had to get their leader's memories back or save you, a human?"
"They wouldn't have to choose," Jack said. "I'd sacrifice myself if it meant helping them."
"And how they would accept such a sacrifice without thought. All they've done is take from you and give nothing back. You have located the artifacts of old and given them an advantage in this war and what have they given you as thanks?"
"You're wrong!" Jack cried. "I've got Arcee! She'd never betray me."
"Ah yes, the femme. She uses you to ease her guilt over the losses of the ones called Tailgate and Cliffjumper. She does not care about you. You are only a temporary host for her emotions."
"Stop!" he clasped his hands over his ears as if to block out the Liege, but nothing worked. What he was saying was true. It couldn't be; the 'Bots may not have thanked him for bringing back Optimus' memories, but they didn't need to. Besides, no one ever thanked them for risking their lives every day for the Earth.
"You still deny the truth," Liege snickered. "Then allow me to show you." Jack's eyes were closed shut as a memory flashed before him. It was Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Ratchet, the latter two were explaining how they'd gotten information from Stascream about Airachnid and an Insecticon that somehow arrived on Earth. The seeker had apparently lost his T-Cog to MECH after damaging Bumblebee's and leaving it for scrap. While it was certainly sad, Arcee wasn't the least bit sympathetic.
"Hold up," she said. "So you just patched up Starscream and let him go?"
"What were supposed to do?" Bulkhead asked. "Bring him here?"
"Not that I wouldn't give anything to settle the score with Airachnid, but she isn't the only one who robbed me of a partner."
"Oh joy," Ratchet rolled his optics. "This again."
"What do you mean 'this again'?" she growled.
"You know, revenge won't solve all of our problems," the medic replied. "Killing Airachnid and Starscream won't end this war. It won't restore Cybertron. And it certainly won't bring back Tailgate and Cliffjumper."
"It doesn't matter," Arcee hissed, her optics darkening. "They killed them, not because of orders, but because they're depraved monsters. They deserve to rot in the Pits for what they've done!"
"Even if it's at the expense of information that could win us the war?" Ratchet asked. Clearly, he was reminding Arcee of how her thirst for revenge had cost them.
"Yes," she growled.
"And what if it were a choice between saving Jack and going after revenge?" the medic asked.
"Leave him out of this!" she yelled. "I'm talking about my partners!"
Jack watched the memory in shock; Arcee had actually said that? That couldn't be. She cared about him, didn't she?
ShadowStrike Rising
"Oni-Kage," the Shredder spat as he stared at the man in question. "Why have you come here? Do you expect a reward for saving my daughter?"
"I didn't need to be saved!" she hissed. Oh, how wrong she was. During her battle with ShadowStrike, in which he gained the Spear of Triam, he'd nearly finished her off until Oni-Kage arrived. Not much was known about the young ninja other than his uncontrollable nature. He sought out an opponent powerful enough to fight him, but none ever showed themselves.
Sure, there were powerful warriors in the world, but none that appeased his sword, Uramasa. Said to have been forged from what ancient texts describe as 'a stone of pure evil', the sword appeared to have a mind of its own, choosing who was worthy to be its master. Sometimes, the Foot wondered if the sword was controlling him.
"I seek no reward," he replied, "only words."
"Then speak them and take your leave," the Shredder rested his head on his hand.
Oni-Kage walked over to a window and stared down at the city below, "I want to go after ShadowStrike."
"Oh?" he raised an eyebrow. "And why have you such an invested interest in him?"
"He is the one I have been seeking. The one person who can provide me with a challenge. I will fight him, but I do not wish to interfere with whatever plans you have in play." He turned to face the Shredder, "I warn you. Send another to fight him and I will have no choice but to interfere."
"Do as you will," the man waved him off. "Now get out of my sight."
"Heh," he nodded and left, disappearing into the shadows.
ShadowStrike Rising
ShadowStrike was practicing his ParKour in attempt to relieve the anger surging through him at the moment. The words of the Liege Maximo still echoed in his mind. His taunts about how the Autobots used him to achieve their goals. About how Arcee only used him as a shoulder to cry one and didn't see him as her partner.
"I'm talking about my partners!" Her words to Ratchet still echoed in his mind slid over the obstacles. He jumped from one to another, trying to keep the words of the ultimate evil. Jack knew he was only trying to get under his skin, but still… Jack would be lying if he said didn't feel that way sometimes. It certainly felt like the 'Bots took advantage of him sometimes, but never to an extreme.
ShadowStrike kept trying to keep his thoughts straight as he traversed the obstacles in front of him. He thought about why Optimus had given him the Key and never got an explanation as to why. Sure, the Prime said it was because of his maturity, but now he wasn't so sure. He didn't know why, but he couldn't help but question the Prime's choice. Then, there was Arcee.
She said they were partners but from what he heard, she forgot about him whenever a chance to kill Airachnid and Starscream. Sure, she had right to want them dead for what they had done to Tailgate and Cliffjumper, but there were more important things to deal with . Arcee had a tendency act as if the war only affected her.
'This is nonsense, Darby.' Jack scolded himself. 'If she didn't care about you, then she wouldn't have said she needed you.'
"Years of war can make one a master of their emotions," Maximo's voice slithered back into his mind. "She could have easily faked the hurt in her voice when she spoke those sweet words to you."
"You're wrong," Jack growled. "I know she meant those words."
"Just like how your father meant it when he said he loved you and would be there for you?"
"How do you-"
"We have seen your memories. We know how he spoke such sweet words to you and your mother, only to abandon you both in the end. If your sire can say such words without meaning, then what's to stop the femme?"
ShadowStrike Rising
ShadowStrike entered the silo's command center and found his mother, Agent Fowler, Raf, and Ratchet all waiting by the ground bridge. From the vortex, the rest of the Autobots and Miko emerged, all covered in soot. The ninja growled, his anger building; it was clear from the 'Bots' faces that she had followed them without permission. When would this girl learn that her presence only distracted the 'Bots?
"And how did the energon search fair?" Ratchet asked.
"Well, Ratchet." Optimus replied.
"It would have gone better if someone didn't follow us," Arcee glared at Miko. "We could have focused all our attention on battling the 'Cons when the made a grab for it."
"Miko," June shook her head. "Why do you insist on following the Autobots when you know how dangerous it it?"
"Because seeing them smack down the 'Cons it totally worth it!" she bounced. "You should have seen how Bulk took out those Vehicons! It was-" Miko was cut off when a loud 'SMACK' echoed throughout the silo. Miko's head was turned the other way and her cheek stung. She turned to find an irate ShadowStrike, his red eyes glaring at the girl. The ninja had slapped her; she touched her hand to her cheek, which stung.
Tears brimmed in her eyes as Bulkhead stomped forward, "Who the frag do you think you are! "
"Bulkhead," Optimus tried to calm him.
"I don't care if you're some 'human Prime'! You don't lay a hand on Miko!"
"Well obviously, talking to this girl doesn't work!" the ninja snapped. "We tell her over and over again about the dangers of following you in battle, but she doesn't listen. If her ears don't work, then maybe a little force is necessary!" He turned his glare back to Miko, who was crying now, "Tell me something. Do you even stop to think that you being on the battlefield distracts the 'Bots? That it causes them nothing but trouble?"
"I didn't think-"
"Of course not!" ShadowStrike interrupted, his anger flaring. "Thinking doesn't strike me as your strong suit!" Fowler walked over and placed a hand on the ninja's back.
"Look, son. I think you need to just-"
"Don't call me 'son'!" he turned his anger on the special agent. "I'm not your son! You don't know the first thing about me!"
"Enough," Optimus rumbled.
"No!" the ninja yelled. "You're not just gonna shut me up! I might not be as smart as Raf, but I'm not stupid! I'm only speaking the truth! You let Miko run into a battlefield and don't even scold her afterwards! What's it gonna take for you to actually put your foot down; her nearly dying like Raf almost did?" Optimus' optics widened slightly; Rafael's near death still affected him and the others greatly.
"Now see here," Ratchet growled.
"Or you'll what?" the ninja glared at the medic. "Just sit back and let the others do the work while you do nothing; also like what happened with Raf!"
"That is quite enough, Jackson Darby, " June called. ShadowStrike merely growled and turned to leave, "Oh no. We are not done yet." She grabbed his shoulder and was met by a venomous glare that threatened to hurt her seriously. He pushed her away and stalked down the corridor, leaving everyone stunned. Raf was doing his best to comfort Miko while Ratchet and Bulkhead seethed with anger.
Optimus and Arcee exchanged worried expressions, the former nodding toward the latter to pursue her partner. She walked down the corridor and quickly caught up with him, "Jack, wait!"
He looked over his shoulder, his red eyes narrowing, "What do you want?"
"Calm down," she said. "What was all that back there? I know Miko can be trouble, but there's no need to hit her."
"Like I said, talking doesn't work on her."
"But violence isn't an alternative."
ShadowStrike scoffed, "So you're gonna tell me that there's an alternate path to violence. Why don't you go say that to Starscream and Airachnid?" Normally, the femme would have torn him a new one, but she could see that something was wrong. This wasn't her partner; this wasn't her Jack.
"Jack," she said softly. "If something's wrong, you can talk to me about it. After all, we're partners."
"Only when it suits you!" he shouted, red eyes burning with anger and maybe a little hate.
"Jack…"
"You say we're partners, but when Airachnid and Starscream show up, you forget about me and go after them without another thought. And don't say it's because of Tailgate and Cliffjumper. I don't know them and I never will!" He stormed off again, leaving a stunned Arcee.
ShadowStrike Rising
A/N: I hope you enjoyed. Next time: the next artifact is located and a seething ShadowStrike realizes he's been tricked by Liege Maximo. Once again, if you want Breakdown to live, say so!