A/N: I apologize for not updating sooner but with school getting out, I should be able to update at the same speed I had when I first joined Fanfiction. Thanks for the reviews.

Chapter 32

"I found Jack," Agent Fowler's words caused everyone in base to stop what they were doing and focus their attention on the monitor. Fowler's image coupled with an audio receptor to let them know when he was talking remained still. Meanwhile, everyone was trying to sort out their feelings on what they had just heard. After a five month long absence, Jack Darby had been found. Everyone was filled with a sense of happiness, but also a sense of grief.

June was so glad to hear that her son was safe after all this time. She had to lie to her friends and Jack's teachers and managers that he was away due to family business. She couldn't tell them the truth; if the police found out, they'd be looking for Jack and might run into trouble. She wanted nothing more than to go to Japan right now and hug her son, but she knew better. After all, she couldn't forget her part in his disappearance.

That night continued to replay in her mind; the look in her son's eyes when he looked to her for help. And she just avoided his gaze. She was no different than Jack's father; abandoning her son. She knew it wouldn't be easy for him to forgive him. She still had to forgive herself.

Arcee felt her breath catch in her throat (another disadvantage of being human). After five months of worrying, being unable to do anything, her partner, her friend, her Jack had been found. She wanted so bad to go to him right now, but she couldn't forget the anger in his eyes and voice when the Liege Maximo manipulated him. He accused her of taking advantage of their partnership. The worst part was that he was right.

During the months in which she had finally accepted him as a partner, Tailgate and Cliffjumper's ghosts failed to leave her alone. She couldn't shake the guilt she held over their deaths and felt it was her duty to avenge them. That's why whenever Airachnid or Starscream would show themselves, she would disobey Optimus' orders and pursue them. She felt it was the only to exorcise their ghosts from her spark. But she never thought of how it affected Jack (or she never cared, being blinded by anger and all).

She wanted so badly to apologize and explain, hoping he might understand given their bond. But part of her was afraid that he wouldn't accept her and would just discard her and leave. She felt her heart ache at the thought. She wouldn't know what to do if Jack rejected her. Not because he was her partner, but for another reason (one she had yet to come to terms with). While everyone sorted through their feelings, Optimus Prime could feel several emotions swirl through him at once.

Happiness that Jack was safe and that he had not been harmed by the Decepticons, MECH, or this Shredder. Guilt that he didn't prevent Jack from leaving like he should have. Had he just helped Jack when the boy looked to him for help, all of this could have been avoided. Optimus knew that he would have much to atone for when Jack returned. But for now, he was happy to know that Jack was safe after all this time.

ShadowStrike Rising

Within the JSDF safe house, ShadowStrike had lowered his blade from Agent Fowler's throat and stared at the man in shock. Why was he in Japan and, more importantly, why was he here? He had been perfectly hidden from the view of any government for the last five months; how could they have found him. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind at once. First and foremost; the Autobots.

If he hadn't been so lost in thought, he would have noticed Fowler talking to them, but he couldn't shake the feeling surging through him at the moment; guilt. After five months, all the pain from that night came back. He didn't want to remember, but it was so fresh in his mind, that it seemed like yesterday. He could still see Arcee lying on that berth, a large hole in her stomach and a peaceful look on her face as if she was sleeping. He'd cry if he had any more tears to shed.

"Okay Prime, I'll let him know you want to see him," Fowler ended the call and turned to the ninja, chuckling a bit. "You've caused us all quite the scare, Jack. We're glad you're safe."

"I'm guessing you two know each other," Mizuki eyed them both suspiciously. "Mind letting me in?"

"Of course," the special agent said. "This is… codename: ShadowStrike. He's an operative working with me and the 'Bots who went MIA a few months ago."

"You let his name slip," she pointed out.

"Even so," Fowler shrugged. "So…Agent ShadowStrike, report on your activities for the last five months."

"I've got nothing to say since I'm not a government agent," he replied. Fowler glanced at Mizuki, whose eyebrow was raised in suspicion. "Agent Fowler is merely trying to cover up the fact that I left the Autobots' protection."

"Protection?" she asked.

"I'm one of the humans who discovered their existence," he replied. "After an 'incident', I left and have no intentions of coming back."

"Jack-" Fowler started.

"Enough," the ninja said. "I didn't come here to wait for you to hold my hand. I'm here for some 'other' business. Currently, it involves the Hollows."

"The gang in this area?" Mizuki asked. ShadowStrike nodded, "You can't expect to take them on and live. They've got some real nasty fire power and they're not afraid to use it."

"I've got some 'fire power' of my own. I'll take whatever they throw at me and return it tenfold."

"You got some kind of vendetta against them?" she asked.

"We do!" Akio stepped out from behind the wall. "Those fuckers killed our friends!" Mikoto, Rei, and Sunny stepped out and the young girl quickly hid behind ShadowStrike.

"You're the Shinigami," Mizuki stated. "I'm sorry to hear that, but we've got more important things to tend to."

"This is what I will 'attend' to."

ShadowStrike Rising

Aboard the Nemesis, Megatron walked through the halls of the warship, intent on learning Soundwave's progress in decoding the Iacon database. The last five months they had spent digging out Cliffjumper's corpse had taken up much of their time. Megatron still questioned whether siding with the Shredder was a wise move. The ninja warlord had aided the Decepticons in gaining the energon they had lost to the Autobots during their excavation and Baxter Stockman was currently working with Knock Out on the synthetic energon formula. Nonetheless, the Lord of the Decepticons remained wary of their alliance, knowing full well that Shredder was also supplying MECH will resources.

Thanks to Soundwave's expertise in surveillance, Megatron discovered the triple alliance Shredder had forged. While most of the Decepticons objected to continue working with the ninja, Megatron kept their alliance alive. He begrudgingly respected the Shredder's tenacity considering he would prove to be just as manipulative.

ShadowStrike Rising

(Sorry for the short 'Con screen time)

The Hollows leader, Sosuke, (five points if you get the reference) and his men entered an abandoned warehouse in search of the ninja who attacked them earlier. He'd put his right hand, Kaname, in the hospital, not that he cared (right hands were so easily replaced). He'd gotten a tip that the ninja had been spotted entering the warehouse. He gathered his men and whatever firearms they could get their hands on and marched down to the building.

"Okay, we're here," one of them said. "So where do we find this punk?"

"Yeah," another said. "I can't wait to fill him full of led."

"Patience," Sosuke replied. "Our contact saw him entering the building. He's been keeping tabs on the place and no one's walked in or out. He's in there." Sosuke readied his weapon and signaled his men to walk in. They entered the warehouse and quickly covered all the exits to ensure no escape. They stormed the area, looking for the ninja (forgetting that he's a ninja). They kept in radio contact with talkies they "borrowed" from an electronics store.

"This is Alpha," one radioed. "No sign of this bitch just yet."

"Beta here. This side's all clear."

"Delta, no activity."

"Charlie?" Sosuke radioed. "Charlie group, report." Silence. "Report!" Still no response. "Everyone, converge on the lower left area of the building, now."

Without another word, everyone stormed the halls towards the lower left area. They stomped their way toward the door and shoved them opened. The sight before them looked like something out of a Wes Craven movie. The walls were lined with their friends' blood as their bodies were strewn all over the room, claw-like marks all over them. They all looked on in horror, unable to believe what they were seeing.

One of them threw up his lunch at the sight while Sosuke's rather calm demeanor dropped for a moment. He looked at the sight of his comrades with both disgust and revulsion. Sure, the Hollows had left people in some horrifying states, but they'd never done anything this cruel. This wasn't even human, "Alright, spread out. No one goes anywhere alone. Find this ninja punk and kill him, no matter what." Everyone nodded and split up, still shocked by the sight of their friends.

Alpha and some friends stepped in the upper right corner of building, their eyes searching for any sign of the ninja. Their heart rates were off the charts when they heard a feral growling. Stopping in their tracks, they searched the room in search of any signs of life. The growling continued, causing their hearts to beat against their rib cages.

"Show yourself, you son of a bitch!" one of them rapidly fired in random direction. He swore he could see something moving in the shadows, some kind of form. Whatever it was, it didn't appear to be human. He knew Japan had a history of being in the middle of the supernatural, but this seemed impossible.

"Stay calm," the other said. "There's no point in wasting out ammo on this-" He was cut off by a large wolf descending on him, ripping his flesh from his bones. The creature animalisticly attacked, tearing flesh with its fangs and splattering blood on the walls.

"What the fuck!"

ShadowStrike Rising

A/N: I apologize, but I've got to leave it here for the time being. Next time: After a brutal slaughter, Sosuke is left to confront the animalistic monster. When ShadowStrike is injured, he is taken back to the Autobot base. What he finds there will shock and anger him.