Jasper
Everyone in base was immediately worried when June Darby stepped out of her car, tears staining her face.
"Ms. Darby, is everything alright?" Optimus asked, concerned about her.
June simply held out the paper.
Arcee moved forward, gently taking the paper in a hand.
Optics adjusting, she looked over the paper, then gasped.
"Wh-what? No...This...This can't be..."
The femme began trembling, handing the note to Optimus as the Prime moved over.
The Prime looked over the note. He then looked away, optics shutting.
Cyber-Jump Mansion
Jack remained silent as he and the other two males walked through the mansion.
"Well, this is the training room." Liam stated, opening a large door.
"Jay-Jay!"
Jack yelped as he was tackled by an energetic Tori. He then laughed.
"Hey Tori, what's up?"
The small girled smiled up at him as she continued to hug his legs.
"I'm training with Blaine!"
Jack smiled.
"Really? That sounds sooo cool!" He replied with fake enthusiasm.
Tori giggled, clinging to his legs.
"Are you going to train with us, Jay?" She asked eagerly.
Jack smiled, ruffling her hair.
"Not yet. I still need to get my cybernetics in."
"Aw man!" Tori exclaimed in dissapointment, pouting.
Jack laughed, lifting her up in his arms.
"But then I'll train with you and everyone when I get them in."
He locked his pinky with hers.
"I promise. And trust me, I never, ever break a promise."
The others all exchanged looks while Tori giggled happily, hugging him around the neck.
Jack smiled before setting her down and letting the little human femme run off.
Jack then looked at the older people of the group.
"So, do you guys mind if I watch you all train for a bit? I haven't seen any of you use your cybernetics, so..."
Adam smiled.
"Well, I don't have a problem with that. What about you guys?" He asked, looking at the others of the group. They all agreed with him, turning back to their training.
Jack watched in awe as they began to run through a simulation mission.
Tori really was able to control water! The little girl actually splashed the twins (which made everyone laugh). It was amazing to see each person use their own ability.
They continued training for a good hour and a half, before Liam smiled and spoke up.
"Alright, why don't we wrap up training for today? It's about time for dinner, afterall."
Matt and Luke were already out the door, the others hot on their heels.
Jack laughed as Tori grabbed his hand, trying to drag him behind her.
Jack allowed her to, following.
Later
Jack was contentedly eating, listening to the others talk when he was suddenly pulled into the conversation.
By Allen of all people.
"Hey, kid."
Blue-grey eyes flashed.
"Hm?"
"Your file didn't say about your family. They must've been pretty bad if you agreed to the project."
Jack blinked in surprise, then shook his head.
"No, nothing like that. My mom's great, and in my view, the Autobots are my family."
Tori looked up at Jack.
"What about your daddy?"
Jack hesitated for a moment, gaze going back to his plate.
"Well, Tori. I don't exactly have a dad."
"Why?"
Jack pondered how to reply for a moment.
"My dad...let's just say he wasn't a good person. He left a long time ago."
Everyone looked at Jack, pity and/or surprise in their eyes.
Jack looked up, and seeing this, forced a fake smile onto his face.
"Oh c'mon, don't look at me like that! Look, it all happened, now it's over with. My mom and I moved on, yeah?"
Liam nodded, setting his glass on the table.
"Tomorow Mrs. Silverford and the other medics will be implanting your cybernetics. Are you ready for that?"
Jack was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah. Fowler told me everything from the beginning, what I would happen. Good or bad, I'm in this project, I agreed to it. I'm not going to back out."
Everything was silent for a long moment.
Allen finally snorted.
"Alright, maybe you aren't a whimp." He stated, standing abruptly. His chair's legs squeeked across the ground as it was jerked back, and everyone winced at the sound.
"I'm goin' to bed. Night all." Allen stated shortly.
Everyone gve their own forms of 'goodnight'.
Soon, everyone else followed, leaving Jack in the room with Liam. The teen had decided to take dish duty and was at the sink.
Liam watched him in silence for a moment, then finally spoke.
"I wasn't aware that your father left your mother and you. You have my condolences."
Jack glanced back, then shrugged as his gaze returned to the sink.
"Like I said before, he wasn't a good person. His loss, not mine."
Liam nodded, folding his hands together.
"Yes, but it still must have been hard."
Jack shrugged again.
"Yeah, well..."
Liam stood.
"Mrs. Silverford will be coming by your room in the morning to get you. Goodnight, Jack."
"Night Mr. Liam."
Next morning
Jack was up already by the time Mrs. Silverford came. He'd easily adjusted, and gotten back into his age-old habit of rising with the sun.
He opened the door after the first knock.
"Hey Mrs. Silverford."
The woman blinked in surprise, but then smiled.
"Well, you're up early! Are you ready to get to the lab?"
Jack nodded.
"Yeah, ready when you are."
The woman nodded in return.
"Alright then, let's go."
Later
Jack followed the doctor into the medical room.
Several other doctors were in the room, prepping for the installation of the tech. A metal table waited at the center under a large light that was not yet on.
"Alright, hop up on the table and lay down. Just warning you now it's going to be freezing."
Jack laughed, nodding.
"Sure thing, doc."
The teen lay on it, wincing slightly at the cold that radiated from the table.
"Alright, Jack. This is your cybernetic." She said, showing a strange device to the teen. "We're going to first figure out where it wants to be implanted, once we have your okay, we'll put you under and implant it. Sound good?"
Jack smiled, nodding.
"Yeah, sounds fine. Let's do it."
The woman laughed lightly, then began to slowly wave the device over his body.
It came to rest above Jack's heart, and Mrs. Silverford's brow furrowed.
"That can't be right..."
"What?" Jack asked, looking to the tech she held.
The light was flashing frantically.
Mrs. Silverford moved it away, and it stopped, but then began again when it was placed once more above his heart.
This action was repeated several times only to have the same result.
"Jack...The cybernetic wants to be implanted here. It coud be dangerous, I don't know if we should-"
"Just go ahead and implant it."
The woman looked at him in surprise.
"Well...If you're sure...?"
Jack gave a single nod.
"I'm positive."
The doctor sighed, then looked at one of the other medics.
"We'll need him out longer than we planned. Double the dose."
Jack sighed, settling in and preparing himself.
He was scared...But he was also ready.