In the week since his last restless night, he'd been able to sleep peacefully. Figures that wouldn't last, especially since he knew the reason for it. Jack vented as he rubbed his brow, night vision taking in the darkened medbay.

Venting again, Jack made his way out of the room and tried to keep his footsteps quiet. The lights in the hallway were dimmed low enough that his vision adjusted. Not surprisingly, the hallway was empty since even the late-night personnel were gone.

His optics glanced to the other wall, where he usually went out of the base, but then his optic gazed toward the garage. Jack vented deeply, and made sure his steps were even quieter as he walked inside. The night vision readjusted, and Jack made sure to steer clear of Ratchet's vehicle mode and made for the truck on the other side. Jack bit his lip, and his spark pulsed. He felt very foolish now and-

"Why are you not in recharge?"

It was just above a grumble, but Jack flinched anyway. He must have looked like such a creep just standing here. Jack rubbed his arm, careful to avoid the welding along his elbow. "You said if I ever had another restless night, I should come to you than break curfew." Jack hesitated, tail wrapping around himself. "Is that still on the table?"

Ultra Magnus was silent for a long moment. "Why would we need a 'table' to speak with each other?"

Jack flushed. "Sorry, it's another figure of speech. I just wanted to know if it was okay to speak to you?"

The mech transformed, and stood up straight. His expression was stoic as he nodded. "Yes."

"If you two," Jack jumped, his pedes echoing through the room at Ratchet's peeved tone, "are going to be yammering, leave so I can get the rest of my recharge."

Jack pulled himself taut, and crossed his arms. "Come on, let's leave the old bot to his nap."

"I swear to Primus I will throw the nearest wrench at you." Ratchet growled.

Jack decided not to test that, and followed the red and blue mech out of the garage. The most comforting thing so far was how the sky remained beautiful with its inky dark blue and twinkling stars and silver moon. Ultra Magnus stopped once they were not likely to be overheard, and he turned around to meet Jack's optics.

An awkward silence followed, and Jack flushed when he realized the mech had taken him at his word quite literally.

No pressure, except a lot. Jack vented softly, and tried not to falter under that unreadable gaze. "First off, I want to apologize for hurting you."

"It was a spar; injuries are to be expected." The other mech replied calmly.

Jack bit his lip. Ratchet certainly didn't act like it was normal. "It still got too…intense, and out of hand. If Miko and Lennox hadn't interrupted us, I think it might have been even worse."

Ultra Magnus was silent for a moment. "We would have fought until it was over."

Now things felt like Jack expected their last conversation to go. Like talking to a brick wall, he thought, and decided to be blunt. "I overheard Ratchet yelling at you, about the beating you got from the Predacons on Cybertron." The mech stared at him in stony silence, his frame tense. Jack vented again, and softened his voice. "Why did you want to spar if you were still recovering?"

"I was declared fit for duty."

"That's not what I meant."

Ultra Magnus' mouth pressed into a tight line. "There were no other options, as the senior most officer and supervisor, the responsibility fell to me. Personal matters should not be a factor."

Jack narrowed his optics in thought. It sounded so familiar. His mind drifted to his previous life; bits and pieces of memory weighing on his spark. He bit his lip. "I understand."

The other mech's expression opened. It was as if the stoic mask cracked for that moment, and let Jack see the shock and bafflement. And just as quick, Ultra Magnus tightened his features back into its mask. "Explain."

Jack stalled. To agree was one thing, to explain something likely foreign to the mech was different, or even if their types of panicked responses could be comparable. He'd give it a try though. "I can't say I know what it's like to be at war for a millennium or even close to it, but I can understand taking on more and more responsibility as time goes on."

The mech wasn't interrupting, but that didn't mean much, so Jack hurried on, "Before, I just needed to worry about making sure my mom and I could keep our house," which was gone anyway no thanks to Knock Out, "by doing a job I hated while being harassed for it. Then it was looking after Raf and Miko when we learned about the Autobots because I was the oldest of us three and what's one more thing to pile on everything? And then it became going on a dangerous mission to Cybertron to search for Vector Sigma to get Optimus' memories back while almost being killed again. As if that weren't enough, all of it just ended up with me captured and turned into this against my will." he gestured to his body.

Finally, Ultra Magnus' optic ridges furrowed. "Are you insinuating I'll be turned into a different species as well?"

It was said so straight-faced and serious that Jack burst out in laughter, the tightness in his frame bleeding out slowly. Of all things to focus on. Miko would have a field day if she heard him barking. Jack snickered and coughed to calm himself down. "Okay, that last part was just me being bitter about it. My point is that while our situations are very different, I can understand why you felt the need to rush into a spar with me to prove something to yourself."

"I did not 'rush into' anything." Ultra Magnus said stiffly. "I took a calculated risk, one Ratchet believes I failed in, but this has no bearing on my personal feelings towards the Predacons."

Jack's optic ridges rose, but he bit back the retort of When did I mention them? He was getting closer, even if he wasn't sure where that closer would lead him. It was either going to be a breakthrough or get blown up in his face. "When is our next training session going to be?" The mech was silent. "You are going to continue these lessons, aren't you?"

"Of course," a hint of offence crept into Ultra Magnus' tone, "Miko needs to learn how to defend herself."

"And me?"

Here there was hesitance that colored the mech's voice, "It will be...suspended until further notice."

Jack nodded. "We both still need to recover."

Maybe he said it too meaningfully, because Ultra Magnus' optics narrowed again. "You are using conjecture. There is no other meaning to it."

Jack vented slowly, and rubbed his arm carefully. "Then at least believe me when I say I mean it." The other mech stilled. "I'm not expecting everything to be perfect, but I want us to get along. We're all stuck here, so we might as well, right?"

Ultra Magnus was silent for a long time, before he nodded stiffly. "A highly inappropriate way of phrasing it, but I concede your point. It would be...bad, were things to escalate."

Like our fight did, Jack thought. He held out his hand. "Shake on it?" The mech's ridges furrowed, and Jack flushed. "Never mind."

This went…perhaps as well as he could have hoped, honestly. At least we're still talking.

Jack didn't notice anything different until two days later. Sure, in between then and now Grimwing made offhand remarks that Ultra Magnus was cooped up alone somewhere and gave him more of the reports to file. Grimwing was so pleased to be trusted that Jack didn't want to burst his bubble. Ratchet's irritation was more expected, though Miko's grumbling was more to do with how Ultra Magnus suspending her training as well for the time being and Lennox refused to budge on defying orders.

"Let's see, between you throwing a hissy fit and a giant robot with a stick up his ass-yeah, I'd rather not get on his bad side." Lennox had said, and Jack got the earful with all the colorful things Miko called the blond.

Now though, Jack tilted his head when the red and blue mech stepped into the mess hall. Not everyone was present-Cinder was still in recharge and Grimwing was off speaking to Fowler-but the mech nodded at him and Ratchet.

The medic immediately scowled at him. "What the slag have you been doing that was so important to neglect your energon intake?"

"I have been developing a new protocol for us to follow." Ultra Magnus said calmly.

Ratchet rolled his optics. "Aren't we under enough restraint as it is? You want to add more rules to it?"

"Yes." Came the blunt reply.

The medic looked about ready to blow a gasket, so Jack stepped in and tried to keep things calm, "Let's just hear him out. Maybe it's not as bad as we think. Go on, sir."

Ultra Magnus nodded. "I have been going over the agreement we made with the Government, and that our restriction to the base can only end poorly." he said seriously. "Tensions will only continue to build-you, Ratchet, have become much more irritable-" The medic scowled at him, "and something has to be done. Therefore, I spoke with Agent Fowler about the current supply of energon we still have. Much is still unaccounted for on this planet, but with Cybertron newly revived it will be producing more.

"The new protocol I have enacted will allow us travel to Cybertron to aid with the rebuilding, and use energon stores there to bring back and keep the space bridge functioning while more is discovered here."

Ratchet sputtered. "What? Do you know how inefficient this will become to burn all our resources up?"

"Of course," the red and blue mech said calmly, "which is why we will enlist one of the scientists on Cybertron to create a fuel-efficient plan to reduce the amount of energon required. This will be beneficial to both us and Cybertron."

Jack's optics were growing wider. "Why this though? Wouldn't it be easier to get more time out of the base?"

Ultra Magnus glanced at him for a moment, before he vented slowly. "I considered doing such, but there is still too much of a risk to our secrecy. This way, anyone who chooses may be allowed to go to Cybertron. The rules for such as followed; once per these earth weeks, time must be clocked for going to and back from Cybertron, and strict set times for how long the stay will be for the group overall."

Ratchet stared at the mech for a long time, before he shook his head with a heavy vent. "Frag, you really just can't make anything not difficult, can you?"

"Visitation must be kept orderly; both to preserve energon and maintain good standing with the humans. One of them will have to activate the space bridge for the return trips." The red and blue mech said. "Random trips would only cause chaos in the long term."

"It makes sense." Jack said, and Ratchet shot him a sharp glare, optics cycled wide. Jack held his servos up in placation. "He wouldn't be able to get us more time outside, but you get to go to Cybertron. Sure, the energon thing is probably going to be difficult to fix, but with so many more bots returning, there's gotta be someone who can do this, right?"

Ratchet muttered something under his breath, before he scowled at both of them. His optics narrowed. "Fine, I'll bring it up with Optimus." He turned that glare on Jack again. "And you can explain this slagging plan to everyone else." he finished off his energon, and stormed out the room.

Jack's fins twitched as he waited for the medic's footsteps to fade away. He coughed and the other mech furrowed his optic ridges. Jack only smiled at him. "This is a really nice thing you're doing. I'm sure the other Predacons will enjoy seeing everyone, and even grumpy Ratchet might like the trips."

Ultra Magnus frowned slightly. "You are aware this includes you, correct?"

Jack blinked, and he smiled just a little bit more. His fins twitched again. "I know," then his smile faded when reality set in, "but Cybertron still presents a danger to me. As long as Shockwave is alive, it won't be safe for me to go there."

The mech's expression hardened. "Shockwave would not dare to try and attack with his resources so depleted; Optimus is still tracking down the rest of Shockwave's lab. Rest assured, you will be safe."

Jack hesitated even as his spark pulsed in his chest. It buoyed him that the mech was trying even now. That's why he replied with a tentative, "I'll think about it. When is the first trip scheduled for?"

"I believe your Earth 'Saturday' is what it's referred to, and the return will be 'Sunday.'" The words were odd in the mech's mouth, as if he'd never actually said them before.

Far as Jack knew, he may not have. Though he did furrow his optic ridges. "You said these were day trips, why is it two days?"

Ultra Magnus' expression was set in consternation, before he vented slowly. "Time is different here than on Cybertron. Given the Predacons have likely grown used to Earth time, I believe setting the schedule to Earth's time zone would be more understandable to them."

And yet he'd spoken to Jack and Ratchet as though they already understood what he meant. Well, Ratchet likely knew what the mech was talking about. Jack flushed as he probably just revealed his ignorance. Did he just think I knew what the Autobots used for times because I knew them for a while? It was a good a reason as any. "I see. That's very...considerate of you."

"Then I will leave you to think on it."

"How is it fair you all get to go adventuring on Cybertron and we can't?" Miko grumbled. She was leaning against Jack's leg, and picking at her fries while Raf was sitting at the table offered.

Ratchet eyed the food with disdain, and Jack hoped Miko wouldn't get ketchup on his plating either. Jack glanced up at the ceiling, venting slowly. "Not everyone will be used to organics, or they might have bad experiences. If anything's going to happen, better safe than sorry."

Miko huffed, but Raf said, "He's right. Just because the Autobots we know like us, doesn't mean the others probably will."

"Which means no running recklessly through the space bridge again." Jack warned her. Miko scowled up at him, and stabbed a fry with her wooden pick. She stirred the fries around the carton, and Jack stiffened. The crispy and fried smell was nauseating after working in a burger joint, but now it left a hollowness in his not-stomach.

The realization he'd never be able to eat again... Jack's jaw clenched. The scent of fries made him want to be sick all over again for a very different reason. Miko grunted when Jack began to move away. She held herself up right, and Jack held his breath despite how useless it was.

"I'm going to go make sure everyone else knows it's almost time." Jack carefully side-stepped Miko and Raf, before he hurried down the hall. The few other people in the base steered clear of him, and Jack turned the corner while looking for the other Predacons.

Grimwing and Blackbeak were easier to find; the larger mech was cloistered away in an empty room, focused on his datapads while Blackbeak was growling and stalking around with irritated wing twitches. The smaller Predacon noticed him first, and Grimwing glanced up. "Yes? Is there something the matter?"

"No, just wanted to let you know it's almost time to leave."

Grimwing's optics brightened. "Ah, yes. Thank you, Jack." Blackbeak squawked.

Jack nodded, and dipped out to look for Cinder. It was more difficult to locate a giant land shark, unbelievably enough. A crash resounded ahead of him, along with familiar cursing. Ah, there she was. Jack briskly made his way down the hall. Cindersaur was standing in a room, scowling down at her tail while energon cubes were scattered on the floor.

"You alright?"

Cinder jerked up, optics blinking before she grinned. "Hi there, Jack! Why wouldn't I be alright?"

Jack glanced at the cubes, but decided not to comment. His tail still twitched and moved despite trying to control it. "It's almost time for the trip to Cybertron."

Cinder nodded. "I know, I was just bringing in some cubes so the space bridge won't break."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Cinder." Jack said sincerely. "Do you need any help?"

Snorting, Cinder scooped up a handful of cubes into her arms. "No offence, but do you really think I need any help, little bro?"

I wish Miko didn't teach her that, Jack thought, and rolled his optics. "I see your point." he paused, and furrowed his optic ridges. "Wait, did you remember to sign out on how many cubes you were taking?" Cinder stiffened, and Jack vented. "Never mind, I'll do it for you." he quickly counted the amount in her arms, before he waved her off.

Jack listened to Cinder's footsteps fade as he looked for the datapad that held the inventory for the energon on base. He scrolled through the categories before landing on 'standby' and scribbled off the amount and usage. Jack's optics lingered on the remaining cubes, and he vented deeply.

The scent of energon filled his sensors; it was hard to put a name to the smell, but metallic was definitely one. It tasted about the same, with some bitter flavor he never did figure out. Even his mother's tofu though tasted better-had tasted better. Jack's tail flicked, an emptiness in his not-stomach. And this is what I'm stuck spending the rest of my life drinking.

It wasn't fair to complain, not when he knew the lengths the Autobots went to in order to get the energon before the war ended. How it needed to be rationed and digging through every abandoned Decepticon mine for it. Here I am thinking it just tastes bad, he thought and his shoulders slumped.

One of his helm fins twitched as he caught the tail-end of footsteps outside the room. "Jack?" The wolf Predacon glanced over at the red and blue mech. "What are you doing? Why aren't you at the space bridge with everyone else?"

Jack blinked slowly. Ultra Magnus thought...he was coming with them? Sure, the week had passed without Jack giving a decision, but would it really be any better if he went? Then again, I didn't actually say whether or not I was going, he thought. "I'm not going. I-I have an appointment with Dr. Keen, very last minute." He didn't understand why it gnawed at him to lie, or avoid the mech's optics as he stared at his pedes.

The other mech was silent for a moment. "Very well, perhaps next time. Will you be available to operate the space bridge?"

Relief and gratitude flooded through Jack's systems. He smiled. "Of course."