Jack knew Dr. Keen was there to help him, but he doubted even she would be able to comprehend the whole of what occurred on Cybertron. He didn't, and he (unfortunately) almost experienced his worst nightmare. Both the assault and attempted one weighed heavily on his mind, and added was the fact he'd killed someone. Yes, Skystalker was an awful mech he didn't shed a metaphorical tear over, but he hated him even in death for causing him the restless nights.

Jack didn't know if bots even could have insomnia, but there was no other word to describe how 'sleep' never came easily now. He'd always wake up, expecting to find the energon on his hands, or that freedom was the dream, and he'd be in Skystalker's clutches, in...Shockwave's clutches. That terrible red optic flashed in his mind, looming over him and Jack grimaced.

It was against the rules to go out unsupervised, but Jack supposed Miko was a worse influence than he realized, as he snuck out during the dead of night. Tonight was no exception; he sat against a building, and gazed up at the sky. The lights were turned off on base, and it let him see the twinkling stars and bright, silver moon above him.

Sadness and longing filled him; when he was human, he'd look up and wonder how many galaxies there were, if other planets held life - now those answers seemed all too clear. Cybertron was out there, and in just a blip of a space bridge, travelling millions of miles was laughably within reach.

How was he supposed to explain any of this to Dr. Keen? She'd helped him with the pains of reconciling his human self and Predacon form, but the rest...they hadn't even touched upon the really fucked up stuff Shockwave wanted to do to him, and even in the dark of night he didn't want to think about him. Why was everything such a mess?

Footsteps caught his attention, and Jack stiffened. They were too heavy for a human. He hesitantly glanced around, before his night vision found the source. A tall form (though still shorter than him) passed the corner of the building, but didn't look at him. The red and blue plates glinting under the silver light, highlighting the chips and cracks, along with the hook which replaced a servo.

Jack's tail wrapped around himself. He wasn't sure whether the mech truly saw him, or if he could slip away before getting caught breaking the rules.

"I don't understand the appeal of gazing at the moon," he said, and Jack froze; stealthily sneaking away was out, "nor why Miko was insistent you'd be compelled to howl at it. That seems rather odd, though I still find much strange about this planet."

Despite his unease, Jack snorted. Of course Miko would make a wolf joke. "Wolves don't howl at the moon, they do it to communicate. Although in my case that would be bad, given I'd fry every electronic and bot in sight."

"Yes, there is that." The mech still didn't look at him. "You're aware of the curfew, correct?"

Here it comes, Jack thought. "Yeah, but I couldn't sle - recharge. And, well, it's not the moon I'm looking at, but the sky - it helps me relax, takes the edge off." he explained, and it struck him there was one of two reasons the other mech was out as well. "Did...did you have trouble recharging too?"

"No." Came the measured reply, and Jack's helm fins twitched. "I have been staying up late going over the reports about the necessities for the added presence of the other...Predacons." his voice caught on the word, reluctance souring his tone.

Jack furrowed his optic ridges. "That...is there really so much?"

Finally, the mech looked at him, but his expression was unreadable. "Yes. We need to continue searching for the energon stores on this planet, which will require additional support from the government, as it would be impossible to hide the other Predacons existence to more than just the general area. I argued that," his mouth pressed into a firm line, "given the Predacons were capable of tracking energon, that they could be used to find any stores."

"But they said no, because we're not exactly friendly looking cars." Jack finished dryly.

Ultra Magnus stared at him for a moment, before he nodded curtly. "Agent Fowler said it's," his brow ridges knitted together, "been hard enough to contain the destruction the Decepticons caused to the state level."

Jack suspected even that was impossible. If there were no more reports of people trying to film them, it was likely because things were now in an 'open secret' kind of situation. No one wanted to talk about it, but everyone really knew what happened when that looming tower had been raised. Jack grimaced, and he tried not to remember his own stay there.

"It's better to give it time for things to settle down, before everyone can freak out again over robot aliens. You don't want people thinking you're Decepticons." Jack said.

The other mech nodded, this time more slowly. "True, but Miko and Cindersaur are testing my patience in a way only Wheeljack had. Today, I caught them enacting a scene from," his ridges furrowed again, "'Jurassic Park' where Cindersaur was chasing Miko in a jeep."

Jack bit his lip to keep the chuckle in. Of course that's one of the first things Miko would do, even though she didn't have a license or permit to drive a car in the first place. Then again, he'd frustratingly found rules were just 'suggestions' Miko often ignored. "Has she been taking your training seriously though?"

Ultra Magnus stilled, his expression unreadable once more. "I have not started yet." he admitted quietly. "I have been attempting to get my reports finished first."

"You realize you don't have to do all the reporting yourself, right?"

The other mech narrowed his optics again. "Ratchet does not have the patience nor interest for it, and I'm sure you're aware he is not the most diplomatically minded mech here. Of course, there are those who would say the same about me, but choices are few. These are our concerns, so matters should be handled by a Cybertronian."

"What about Grimwing?" Jack asked, and the mech's ridges rose.

"The...Predacon?" he asked, voice halting with surprise.

Jack nodded. It felt wrong to give Shockwave any credit for what he'd done, but Grimwing was intelligent and perceptive with a will of his own; how else would he have independently chosen to move against Shockwave? "Grimwing's been reading up on human culture and sciences once we got back. He's fascinated by the planet and I think he'd be a big help to you. I know he isn't that old, but I think it's safe to say he's been a quick learner."

It was hard to say what the other mech was thinking. He was silent for a long time, gazing up at the sky and Jack began to grow nervous. Had he just touched a, well, not nerve, but a sensitive subject? He didn't know the mech, so it wasn't easy to read him like the others.

"I will...take that into consideration." It wasn't an affirmative, but at least it wasn't a rejection. When Jack nodded, Ultra Magnus straightened further. It only caused Jack to notice that Miko's derisive nickname for the mech was more noticeable. "If you're processor is charged, perhaps Ratchet may fix it."

Jack snorted. "This isn't something that can just be fixed." Oh boy, did he wish there was though. A switch that erased all his memories of Shockwave and Skystalker and the rest of the unpleasantness. Then again, that wasn't really going to help him. Like slapping a band-aid over a pipe which sprang a leak kind of useless. "I know Dr. Keen means well, but she...doesn't really understand...everything that's happened. How can I explain that I was turned into this because you all-" he stopped himself, but Ultra Magnus finished for him.

"-destroyed the Predacons?" Jack closed his optics for a moment, venting deeply. He nodded. "I am aware that I didn't know you, but...I am sorry this happened to you."

It was strange, because Jack understood from what he did know about this mech, that it was perhaps odd to be conciliatory. He certainly gave off an aura of no-nonsense and had a humorless air to him. Jack tilted his head. He'd take what he could get. "No one could have expected this. Predaking acted in anger and desperation." Didn't mean either he or Knock Out were off the hook just yet. It was still too raw. Maybe he'd have time to reflect later, but he'd settle for their contrition to be real at least.

"You are brave." Jack looked up at the mech, startled and surprised. Ultra Magnus though still had a measured expression. "Even the hardiest of bots lost something under Decepticon captivity. Optimus believed humans to be resilient and adaptive; from your experiences, I see his point."

It didn't change that he'd lost so much though, and for what? A boatload of issues and the crushing certainty he'd outlive all his loved ones? "I don't feel brave." Jack muttered.

The other mech sat down, which startled Jack into almost leaning away. It let him see the stiffness in the other mech's frame, but the resolve in his features. "I have only heard of your human self through what the others have told me," He said, "but I see no difference between that human, and what you are now." he glanced at his hook. "I thought you were merely a beast, a creature driven by instinct like...Predaking," his claw flexed as his mouth hardened into a grimace, "but I see now that was unfounded. What the Decepticons did to you, it did not change who you are in your spark."

Jack absorbed the information, and his tail wrapped tighter around his waist. It had never occurred to him that Ultra Magnus could be wary of him; Predaking for sure because of the servo incident, but then he remembered the hesitance just a few minutes ago. He'd been...uneasy over Grimwing helping him, Jack thought, and his spark pulsed wildly in his chest. Was the mech still uncertain of the rest? Did he only come around to Jack sooner because what he'd been told matched up with his personality?

All these 'what if's and 'maybes' and conjecture caused his optics to strain, but it did leave him with a minor breakthrough. If he can see I'm still myself, then it means I haven't lost everything that was me. Dr. Keen would be so proud. Too bad he was still having trouble believing he was actually in this current situation. The other sitting next to him, wary but sure and Jack blinked slowly. "You're nothing like what I expected either."

That caused the other mech's optics to cycle, widening just briefly in surprise, before they narrowed again. "I suspect Wheeljack had much to say about me while he was on Earth."

"He didn't talk about you, actually." Jack said, and that got him another wide-optic stare. There must have been tension if it caused such a reaction. "I speak from what I see of you; you're no-nonsense, you aren't very easy-going or empathetic, and you seem to be very fond of rules, structure and authority. In fact, I also thought you were kind of sycophantic because you always followed Optimus' orders without question."

The other mech didn't reply, his features once more inscrutable.

Jack vented as he continued, "And none of that is lining up with what you've just told me. I cannot say if you are the type of bot who would comfort someone when they're having a bad time, but...thank you. It...it does mean a lot."

"I do have a spark," Ultra Magnus said, "much as Wheeljack may be surprised to learn. I am also a soldier though, and there is a level of professionalism to keep." he paused, and glanced back up at the sky. "Though now that the war is over, there is still much to be done even now on Cybertron."

"At least you have some kind of plan." Jack grimaced, and crossed his arms. "I can barely hold myself together."

"Perhaps that is something Ratchet would be able to fix."

Jack stared at him, and his lips curled into a grin before a laugh burst out of him. The other mech stared back, optic ridges raised and Jack tried to calm himself enough to speak. "Sorry, I didn't mean that literally. I meant there is so much going on that my attention is split between everything that I can't focus on one thing." Now the humor drained away completely. "Even on how to speak with Dr. Keen. She's trying so hard, and I want to talk to her so badly too, but...ah, crap, look at me, I'm starting to repeat myself." he rubbed a servo over his brow.

"I do not have an answer for you," Ultra Magnus said honestly, "but should you have another restless recharge cycle, I...would be willing to...listen." And it came out every bit as awkwardly as the twitch and grimace on the mech's face conveyed.

Is he trying to smile? That looks like it hurts. It must not have been a common offer, or something the mech did a lot to begin with. Jack tilted his head. "Are you sure?"

The mech nodded, his features once more severe and reserved. "Wheeljack has made it very clear that my social skills require more refinement." A frown twitched at his mouth. "I fail to see though how he finds Ratchet's sourness charming."

Jack hummed. He was the last person to speculate about the feelings someone might have for another, and that the likely reason was the mech was Wheeljack's direct superior and not someone he could tease so easily. Setting that aside, Jack focused back on the original matter at hand. "I'll keep that in mind, but thank you." he rose to his pedes, the paw-like feet softer on the gravel than the mech's heavier steps. "Have a good night."

Ultra Magnus' brow ridges furrowed in confusion, but he simply settled for a nod as Jack made his way back to the medbay. What a strange night this turned out to be.