A/N: Foxbear: Reactions like that are why I enjoy doing cliffhangers. Gold Testament & MELeeSmasher: I apologize for the shortness of my chapters recently. I hope to rectify it soon. Dark Shade 75: I'm sure whatever you were doing in the hospital was more important than this. Ultimate10: We all update at our own individual paces. Nightking1998: Not epic brutality, epic Animality! (five points if you get that reference).

Chapter 34

Fowler, Mizuki, Mikoto, Rei, Akio, and Sunny drove towards the warehouse in Mizuki's van. She knew something like this was bound to happen if they allowed ShadowStrike to do as he pleased. Still, part of her wanted Tokyo to be rid of the Hollows and if the police wouldn't do anything, someone had to. She knew it might get bloody, but she didn't think it would end up in an explosion. She had to get there fast if she was going to beat the fire department.

She pulled up to the now flaming building, the fire dancing in the night. They all piled out of the van and began searching for any signs of life. They quickly came across the prone forms of ShadowStrike and Sosuke, the latter dead. His eyes were wide, but they were glazed over in a perpetual stare. Had she not been so used to that look, Mizuki would have shuddered.

Rei kept Sunny's attention away from Sosuke's body, not wanting the young girl to see such a sight, but she was unaware that Sunny had seen much worse. Mikoto simply shook his head, not knowing what to say. Yes, Sosuke terrorized and killed several of his friends for no apparent reason, but that didn't mean he got any satisfaction from seeing him lying there in a pool of his own blood. Akio just stared, torn between vomiting and spitting on the bastard who killed his friends. Fowler ignored the dead gang member and tended to ShadowStrike.

He knew the boy would need medical attention and taking him to hospital in a city where there were few allies was out of the question. The special agent didn't have time to deter the witnesses away (besides, he knew that Mizuki and Sunny would follow them anyway), so he got out his phone and dialed the number in.

"Agent Fowler," Ratchet's voice replied from the other line. "Do you need something?"

"Yeah," he said. "A ground-bridge back to base. Jack's been hurt and he needs medical care and don't tell me to take him to a hospital, because we don't know how many doctors are under Saki's payroll." Without another word, the ground-bridge vortex opened in the middle of the area. Everyone was stunned by its appearance as Fowler hoisted Jack on his shoulders and stepped forward, "Agent McCloud, if you want to know what's on the other side, then follow me and bring the girl too."

"Wait," Mikoto said, but Fowler didn't understand.

"You can't come with us," Mizuki said, still not sure where they were going.

"I know," he replied. "It's just… when he wakes up, tell him I say thanks." Mizuki nodded and turned toward the vortex where Fowler and Sunny were waiting. With a deep breath, she walked toward the portal and disappeared along with the others. The bridge disappeared, leaving Mikoto, Rei, and Akio to wonder about what they had just witnessed.

ShadowStrike Rising

The Autobots watched as Fowler stepped through the ground-bridge carrying Jack on his shoulders. The boy had reverted back to his human form, revealing his skin was slightly burnt. He was still unconscious as Fowler placed him on a gurney. June nodded to the agent and wheeled her son towards med bay, having already told the others to wait in the command center until she had successfully treated her son. As everyone turned away from the corner where June had disappeared with her son, they noticed the two newest visitors to the Autobot base.

"Oh for Primus' sake," Ratchet groaned. "I would think dealing with four humans would be taxing enough, but now there are seven! Care to explain, Agent Fowler?"

"Jack was too badly hurt for me to look for some remote place. Besides, they're the only ones who know." He swiftly avoided eye contact with Optimus, knowing the Prime could easily tell he was lying. "Anyway, it's not like the 'Cons know about them, so it's no big deal."

"Sure," Bulkhead scoffed. "When you bring humans, it's not a big deal."

"Enough," Optimus rumbled, kneeling down to speak with the two humans femmes. He noticed the smaller of the two hid behind the older femme. "I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots."

"Mizuki McCloud," the older femme introduced herself. "Special Agent for the Japanses Security Defense Force. I was aware of your existence, but didn't have the clearance to meet with you whenever you made a trip to Japan."

"You guys have been to Japan?" Miko chirped. "When? Were you seen? Did you stop by my house without me knowing?"

"Miko," Bulkhead said. "Calm down. We haven't been to that part of the planet in years. And I doubt we'd be any more welcome with us being on Saki's hit list."

Ignoring the two talking, Optimus continued, turning his attention to Sunny, "And may I ask who you are?"

"S-S-Sunny," she stuttered, taken back by the large being's soft tone. He looked like he could easily hurt her if she made him mad, but there was an aura around him that made him seem almost fatherly. Still, she wouldn't do anything to upset him.

"While Agent McCloud may be able to take care of herself, her daughter will-"

"She's not my daughter," Mizuki replied. "We found her with Jack. He might be able to tell you more about her when he heals. But then again, he didn't seem too eager to come back. Why is that?"

"I am afraid it is a long story," Optimus said.

"It's gonna be a long night then," Mizuki crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

ShadowStrike Rising

Once again, Jack found himself in darkness not knowing where he was or what was happening. He remembered dealing with the Hollows, narrowly escaping the bomb Sosuke set up, killing the leader of the Hollows, then nothing. He must have fallen into unconsciousness from the injuries he suffered. He had to wake up and get back to finding out what exactly Shredder was planning. He willed himself awake and looked around.

His body ached, but the pain was numbed by shock; he was surrounded by rock walls, meaning he was in a silo, or more importantly…

"Jack," a voice called and he immediately recognized it. The young man hesitantly turned to face his mother, June Darby. She had a small smile on her face as she came over and reached out. Jack instinctively backed away, confusing her. "Is there something wrong Jack?"

"Why am I here?" he asked, still trying to get his head together. How did he end up in the Autobot base? Did Fowler follow him to the warehouse and find him unconscious? If so, then why would he take Jack back here, knowing everything that happened?

"Honey, you were hurt," she said softly, placing her hand on his bare shoulder. She had been surprised when she saw how much muscle Jack had put on. He had definitely changed, both physically and emotionally, in these past five months. "Agent Fowler found you and brought you back here for treatment. He said we couldn't trust the hospitals in Japan since the doctors might be working for Oroku Saki."

"Where's Sunny," he shook his head. "Did Fowler leave her behind?"

"No. She and Agent McCloud are talking with the Autobots right now. Knowing Optimus, he'll probably want them to stay here for a while." Jack simply shook his head and stood up needing to stretch his legs. His mother kept her hand on his shoulder, ready to balance him if he fell. Finally shaking off the cobwebs, Jack looked around med bay, his eyes landing on something that both shocked and angered him. On the other side of med bay was the prone form of Arcee, her face still looking as peaceful as if she were asleep.

Shock and anger flooded Jack's mind, more so the latter than the formed, "What is Arcee's body doing here? Isn't she…"

"Oh," she said softly. "You see, Jack-"

"Why is her body here!" he shouted. "She's dead! I should know since it's all my fault!"

"Jack, please calm down," June said.

"Are you trying to punish me or something!" he ignored her pleas. "I get it! I messed up! It doesn't matter that I was being manipulated by the Liege Maximo, it was still my cross to bear. But why is Arcee's body still here after all this time."

"After you left-"

"I didn't have much choice!" he growled. "You all made it perfectly clear you didn't want me here anymore."

June felt a pang of guilt; she had expected this, but she had to get her son to calm down before he hurt himself. "Jack, Ratchet's been working on Arcee's body."

"For what! To make her into some kind of mindless fighting machine! A soldier who can't feel pain anymore!" June placed her hand on Jack's shoulder again, only for him to pull away. There was so much anger building up inside him at the moment. There was nothing that could possibly justify keeping Arcee's body, not even the possibility of having a weapon that could feel no pain. Arcee deserved better than to have her body treated in such a manner.

"Jack, please just listen," June pleaded. "It's not what you think-"

"Then what the frag is it! Are you going to stand there and tell me that's not Arcee's body? Are going to tell me that it hasn't been lying here for the past five months while Ratchet works on it?"

"No, but-"

"But nothing!" Jack turned over the gurney he was previously laying on, a familiar feeling of anger taking over him. This time it wasn't the Liege Maximo, but his own anger fueling him at the moment. He would expect Megatron to do something underhanded like this, but not the Autobots. His head began to hurt from all the anger inside of him, but he didn't care, "Why would still be here knowing there doing this! Knowing how much I cared about Arcee! Do you hate me that much?"

"I don't hate you, you're my son!" June said. "But you have to listen."

"I don't have to listen, the proof is right in front of-"

"Jack," a new voice entered the room. One he hadn't heard in so very long. One he never thought he'd hear again. He turned toward Arcee's body, but it remained still, her face still peaceful. He heard a chuckle, "I'm over here." Heart beating, Jack turned to find a young woman staring at him with a familiar smile on her face.

"Who are you?" he asked, taken back by her beauty.

Her soft smile grew slightly, "Five months and you don't recognize your own partner?"

"Partner?" he repeated the word incredulously. He'd never seen this girl until now and she was calling herself his partner. He'd be angry right now, but this girl's voice and that smile were throwing his brain for a loop. "What are you talking about?"

"It's me, smooth operator," she laughed lightly. "It's Arcee."

"No," he said, trying to convince himself more than anyone. "Arcee's dead."

"I thought I was too," she walked closer to him. "But the Thirteen put me into a new body while Ratchet fixes my Cybertronian one."

"I think someone should explain this from the beginning," Jack said.

ShadowStrike Rising

A/N: I apologize for cutting it short once again, but I'll try to make it up to you with the next chapter. Next time: Jack reunites with his friends and family. He then talks with Optimus about all that has happened. Again, sorry for the shortness.