A/N: Again, I apologize for making the chapters short. There are just points where my mind needs to recharge. I'm sorry if you'd rather wait for an indefinite amount of time before I get something up.

Chapter 35

Right now, Jack couldn't believe what had just transpired in the last hour or so. He'd slaughtered an entire gang of punks only to wind up injured in the process. Agent Fowler saw fit to take him back to the Autobot base for medical treatment. He'd been reunited with his mother, only to discover the body of his partner, Arcee, who he thought was dead for the last five months. As it turned out, he was wrong.

Standing before was a woman claiming to be Arcee; a human woman, but she knew enough about the two of them that there was no point in denying it. Arcee was alive and well inside a human body while her own was being repaired. While Jack listened to her explanation, he let his eyes roam over her figure. She had the build of an average woman, a little more muscle (no doubt from training). Her skin was a snowy pale and looked as if she would melt if he touched her.

Her fingers were as slender as any woman and her lips were pink and looked like a candy that any man would be happy to suck on. Her electric blue eyes were soft, but still held the look of a battle hardened soldier. Her hair matched her body's color; blue with pink highlights. Arcee's human body looked like something that could only be seen in a dream. But still, Jack had a hard time believing what was happening.

When he left, everyone hated him for allowing the Liege Maximo to manipulate him. They turned their backs on him when he asked for forgiveness. Jack had to struggle on his own for Lord knows how long before the Ninja Tribunal found him. But soon enough, they were gone and he found himself on his own again. That's when he met Sunny.

Despite seeing her parents get killed and watching Jack slaughter their murderers, the young girl still maintained a realm of innocence. Jack really didn't know how to react to that, so he kept the girl at relative distance emotionally, not wanting to risk getting close only to lose her too. She was an oddity, that girl. But still, her often cheery attitude made for good company. But what would happen to her now that she was in the U.S.?

Since she is an orphan, Fowler will most likely suggest sending her to foster care and that was something Jack couldn't allow. He heard enough about foster care to know that they'd just be sending Sunny from one nightmare to another. He wouldn't let her go through with that, even if it meant breaking a few of Fowler's bones to get his point across. At the moment, he felt that he needed Sunny. For what, he had yet to determine, but he needed her.

"Jack?" Arcee interrupted his thoughts. "Were you listening?"

"Half-listening, but yes," he looked over her body again. "I guess the Thirteen have good taste in appearances. Most women would kill for a body like that." Arcee's snowy pale cheeks were tinged with pink at his comment.

"I see you've gotten better at your operating skills," she smiled.

"So it would seem," he smiled back.

"Alright you two," June broke in, reminding to her presence. "I think it's best that I leave you to catch up for a while. By the way Jack, put on your shirt." Jack looked down to find that his torso was bare, revealing his new physique. Realizing this, Arcee looked away, her cheeks slightly redder.

"So much happened in the last hour, I forgot about how cold it was in here." He grabbed the shirt that his mother had left for him. It was the first clean cloths he'd worn in the last few weeks. He grabbed two chairs so he and Arcee could talk. "What's happened while I was gone?"

"Nothing of note," she said. "The 'Cons have been pretty quiet for a while. You'd think they'd want to take advantage of us while we're so disorganized. Well, it's their loss."

"So it would seem," Jack said. "How has everyone been doing?"

"It's hard to say. You leaving affected us all, even if it wasn't at first. Things have been odd without you."

"I doubt everybody missed me," he replied.

"We all did. Sure, Bulkhead was mad for a while about you hitting Miko, but she calmed him down. Raf and 'Bee have been burying themselves in games, probably not wanting to get caught up in all the drama. Ratchet's kept himself busy while still working on repairing my body's systems. Fowler had a task force out searching for you. Of all of them, June and Optimus seemed the most worried about you."

"They did?"

"Of course, June's your mother. It's her job to worry over you, especially since discovering you after school activities. Optimus is going on the usual about how we, or he, couldn't protect you."

"He puts too much on himself," Jack sighed. "And what about you? Don't tell me my partner didn't miss me."

"I knew you'd come back?" she crossed her arms and smirked.

"And what if I found a new bike while I was gone. You know, one that isn't so 'used and abused'?"

"I'd dismantle it," she said plainly. "I don't like to share."

"Touchy," Jack teased. "I never figured you were the jealous type." In the back of his mind, Jack really didn't know why they were being so casual after being apart for six months. One would think there would be an awkwardness between them, but their partnership didn't seem at all effected. Perhaps it was because he was so relieved that she was alive all this time. And like that, he flashed back to that night.

"I-I-I love you more than life itself."Those were the words he'd said to her when he thought she was going to die. When he was wrapped up in his own guilt. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" she asked.

"For everything," he replied. "For letting Liege Maximo control me, saying those things to you. And you almost…"

"You don't have to apologize," she said. "Most of what you said was true. I do let revenge dictate my actions and I tend to take advantage of you. I'm the one who's sorry."

"You've been through so much in this war," he said. "You have every right to want revenge."

"Not if it ends up costing me what I'm trying to protect."

"We're not gonna agree on this are we?"

"Not a chance," she smiled, placing her hand on his. He visibly tensed; her hand seemed so much softer than his. After a while he relaxed and they said nothing for a while.

ShadowStrike Rising

Jack and Arcee walked down the corridor to the command center where everyone was waiting. Jack knew it was a matter of time before he had to face everyone so he thought it would be better to do it sooner than later. Still, he was nervous; it wouldn't be as easy as falling into the usual banter with Arcee. Despite what she said, Jack knew it wouldn't be easy for the others to forget what he said or forgive him for what happened. But he was prepared for whatever they had in store for him.

As they neared, Jack glanced and a saw a look of concern on Arcee's face, like she was reading his mind. She knew that it wouldn't be easy for all them to readjust after everything that's happened, but they had to try. It was only a matter of time before the Decepticons resumed their usual attacks and the Autobots needed to be there when they happened. Being distracted by internal issues would compromise their mission. Arcee inwardly chuckled; her thoughts were something Optimus might say.

As they neared the command center, Jack saw fit to remove his hand from Arcee's, not wanting to give the others any implications. He knew he would have to come to terms over his feelings for her, but right now he needed to focus. Talking about this with her wouldn't be easy, especially since Jack knew he would have to tell her about Chikara. Jack wasn't ashamed for loving Chikara, even if it was born from loneliness. His love her was as genuine as it was for Arcee.

It sounded wrong, even to him, but that was how he felt and he would tell Arcee when the time is right. Hopefully, she would listen and accept both his explanation and his feelings, but for now, Jack had to concentrate. The command center was just around the corner and Jack could hear voices. He stopped for a moment to gather his thoughts one last time. He caught Arcee's worried expression and gave her a reassuring smile.

With one final breath, he walked forward and turned the corner to find everyone going about their business. Miko and Raf were playing video games while Bulkhead and 'Bee cheered them on. Optimus and Ratchet were discussing something by the monitors. Fowler and June were talking with Mizuki and Sunny about something. Jack was half tempted to go back and hide in med bay, not wanting to interrupt everyone's activities, but he had no choice. With another deep breath, Jack motioned for Arcee to stay here and walked forward.

He walked until he was in the center of the base, earning everyone's attention. Miko and Raf paused their video game and the room was deathly quiet, save for the monitors. Jack kept his gaze on the floor, but he could feel everyone's eyes and optics on him. He waited for one of them to make a move, whether it be to talk to him or beat him like punk. He heard large footsteps approach him and glanced up to see Bulkhead staring down at him.

The Wrecker had an unusually calm expression on his face, but Jack could see the anger in his optics. Jack knew he was still angry about him hitting Miko and he couldn't blame her. While the girl needed to be taught that running into a battlefield is perhaps the stupidest thing you could do, hitting her was not a good way to do it. Right now, Bulkhead was between tearing Jack to pieces or slamming him into a wall. Either, Jack felt he deserved what was coming to him.

However, the Wrecker simply smiled at Jack, "Where have you been the last five months? You're ripped!" Jack looked up at the 'Bot in surprise. A comment on his new physical appearance was not what he was expecting.

"You're right Bulk!" Miko said, running down from her spot with Raf. She ran up to Jack and poked his chest. "Dude, you've been hitting the gym or something?"

"Not exactly," Jack said, still surprised by the reaction he got. Before Miko went back to the Bulkhead, she turned around and slapped Jack in the face. The boy looked at the girl in confusion.

"We're even now," she stuck her tongue out at him and ran back to Bulkhead. "Come on, Bulk, let's go dunebashing!" The Wrecker chuckled and transformed. Once Miko was secure, he drove off, leaving behind a confused Jack.

"Hey Jack," Raf said. "Did you bring me a souvenir?" Jack looked up at the twelve (and a quarter) year old in surprise. Raf just shrugged, "Guess not."

"Right," he said, finally finding his voice. "Anyone else want to welcome me back?" He turned to where Ratchet and Optimus were, only to find the Prime gone. The medic was working on something, but Jack didn't seem to care. It seemed like Optimus didn't think this was a time to speak at the moment.

"Sunny," he walked over to where the girl was and sat down. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," she said. "Where is this place?"

"Just outside of where I was born," he said. "I told you I was from here the U.S., like you."

"But you didn't tell me your daddy was a robot."

Jack looked at her for second before responding, "What makes you think that he was my idea, and who were you talking about?"

"The red and blue one," she said. "You and he are a lot alike."

"I doubt that," Jack said.

"Don't be so modest," Mizuki said. "After speaking with him for an hour and remembering how you are, it's easy to see the similarities." Jack looked rather uncomfortable. He'd always been told by the others how he was like Optimus when he was Orion Pax, but it wasn't until recently that he began to see the Autobot as something akin to a father. But he was certain that any thought of Optimus reciprocating that feeling was lost now. Still, he had to speak with the Autobot leader about a variety of things. He knew it would be harmful to the team to leave things as awkward as they were now.

ShadowStrike Rising

In his quarters, Optimus sat as his desk mulling the events of the last twenty-four hours. After five months of searching, the Autobots (more so Agent Fowler) had found Jack. He had somehow made his way to Japan and had taken refuge in the city of Tokyo. Hours after Agent Fowler contacted them with the news of his discovery, he called for a ground-bridge to base so Jack could receive medical treatment for his wounds. While June treated her son, Optimus took the time to go over his thoughts and emotions.

Optimus remembered the night before the Autobots first encountered Oroku Saki. He remembered Jack wandering into his quarters because he couldn't sleep. They talked about why he couldn't sleep and Optimus felt guilty. He knew more than anyone how cruel Megatron could be to those who crossed him. Killing those closest to Jack in retaliation for bringing the Prime back to his senses was not beyond the Lord of the Decepticons.

If such a thing happened, Optimus would have only himself to blame for giving Jack the Key in the first place. He continuously reminded himself that it was only meant as a sign of his maturity, but it somehow ended up putting him in position he didn't think he was ready for. Jack held not only Optimus' fate, but the fate of the Autobot army itself. From what he learned from the others, this caused a change in Jack. The awkward and nervous by who was reluctant to help the Autobots disappeared and Jack became what the Autobots needed him to be.

Ratchet compared it to Optimus just after he became a Prime; all trace of nervousness and doubt in one's own abilities vanished and was replaced by a strong confidence in not just his own strength, but in that those around him. It was Jack who thought of using the Decepticons newly built space-bridge to go to Cybertron and access Vector Sigma. Since that experience, Jack had displayed a newfound sense of maturity. In fact, many of the others said he was a lot like Optimus now, something the boy still disputed.

"Optimus," Jack called as he entered the room. "Is it okay if you and I talk?"

"Of course," he said. "But don't you think you should rest at the moment? From what Agent Fowler has told us, you have endured quite the ordeal."

"Believe me," he said. "A burning building is nothing compared to what I've been through these past five months." He caught Optimus' guilty expression, "And don't go on your usual rant about how it was all your fault because I hold the majority of the blame."

"I disagree," Optimus said. "Had I not given you the Key in the first place, none of this would have happened."

"But you'd be part of the Decepticons, your head being filled with all kinds of lies about the Autobots. How long would it have been before Megatron sent you out to hurt one of them or worse? No matter what, it seemed fate gave us two options and I chose the one where we have you on our side where you belong."

"At what cost? You have been through more emotional trauma than any human adolescent your age should. You may be able to hide from the others, even your own mother, but I can see that something happened during these five months and it weighs heavily on your heart."

"Perception of a Prime," Jack smiled.

"You would not have undergone such ordeals had I defended you that night," the Prime said guiltily. "I am sorry for abandoning you when you looked to me for help. There is no excuse I can offer that can justify that."

"Things got a little hectic," Jack said. "None of us saw it coming, but now we can only move past it. Dwelling on the past can make the future a bleak place."

"Wise words," Optimus said, allowing a small smile to adorn his face.

Jack turned to leave, "You know, Sunny said your demeanor made her think you were my dad. Funny, huh?"

"Indeed," Optimus said as Jack left, a slight sadness coming over him.

ShadowStrike Rising

A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Next time: As Jack readjusts to life among the Autobots again, he must figure out what to do about Arcee. Meanwhile, Oni-Kage's patience begins to run thin as he meets a potential ally.