Jack keeps thinking to himself about why exactly he agreed to go on this "no risk" recon mission with Arcee. Why didn't he listen to her when she told him to stay near the ship? Why didn't he just stay back at the base and do his homework like a responsible teenager would do? He then thought back to what he did over the last weekend, and how he borrowed Bumblebee to take him racing, resulting in Vince getting kidnapped by a Decepticon. It's not exactly the image of responsibility Jack wants to hold himself to.

Brushing aside those thoughts and focusing back on what was in front of him, Jack ran—leaping over small logs, and weaving through the trees trying desperately to put as much distance between himself and that large Decepticon spider. He kept looking back, checking to see if she was still behind him, hoping Arcee had managed to free herself already. His legs are burning and he doesn't even know if he's managing to put any real distance between-

"Woah!" Jack yelled as he skidded to a stop in front of a large crevice.

'I recognize this, Arcee and I jumped across this earlier. Arachnid's ship is back in this direction.'

Jack quickly began crossing, climbing down, and watching his footing to ensure he didn't fall. He had barely finished climbing over the edge when he spotted her; slowly walking toward him using her spider-like appendages.

He dashed into a sprint, cutting through the forest and looking over his shoulder to watch Arachnid leap over the crevice that took him a full minute to cross. She'd done that with such ease, this was just a game to her. Jack kept running, but his legs were still burning and his lungs felt like they couldn't get enough air. God, he was out of shape. He couldn't keep this up for much longer he thought as he leaned against a tree to catch his breath and gather his thoughts, maybe figure out a plan.

Jack pulled out his swiss army knife, hoping that it would have something that could help him.

'Screwdriver, knife, bottle opener, and a corkscrew.'

Jack sighed in desperation "Oh who am I kidding? What am I going to do with this?" He perked up the sound of one of Airachnid's many legs, meaning she was nearby. He shot up and quickly started moving on his feet again.

He'd hoped she hadn't seen him, but it was futile, she called out to him as he continued to flee. "You're making this too easy Jack! And I do not enjoy being bored."

Jack did his best to ignore her, making his way down the crater and sprinting toward the ship. He didn't stop until he was hidden near the ramp to the ship's entrance. Not soon after, he could hear Airachnid as she steadily approached the ship, her limbs slicing into the dirt and muttering to herself. Jack held his breath as she slowly stepped away from him and climbed onto the top of the ship.

Staying out here would be a death sentence, she'd eventually find him out here. He needed a diversion, something so he could put more distance between himself and her. Jack grabbed a rock and threw it into the ship, its loud clangs echoing around inside. He prayed she heard it and got his confirmation when he picked up the scuttling of her legs across the top of the ship, towards the entrance.

"If you wanted a tour, Jack, all you had to do was ask. Did you spot the empty space? I hope you like it, it's where you'll soon hang your head!"

Jack began making his way around the ship, reaching the rear as he heard a splat and felt something wet. He looked down to see the familiar blue liquid soak his shoe. 'Energon. It's everywhere, and the ship is leaking a whole lot of it. And it's flammable just like gasoline!'

Jack quickly took out his fire starter kit and grabbed a nearby stick. Striking the flint against the magnesium bar, sparks flew, but none of them started the vital ember he needed. He could hear Arachnid exit the ship, running on the top of its hull towards him.

'Come on, come on, this has to work!'

A spark finally caught, a burning ember now visible. Jack blew onto the stick, giving it vital oxygen and igniting the flame. He quickly threw the burning stick into one of the engines and began running for his life.

Arachnid arrived just in time to see him throw a small object into her ship, only to suddenly realize that the pools of energon were now aflame, leaving her with only a second to scream bloody murder towards him.

"Jack!" KABOOM!

The resulting explosion launched Jack off his feet, throwing him upwards toward the edge of the crater. Smashing his shoulder into the side before flipping over to lie face down. He moaned in pain, picking himself up and sitting up straight for a moment to ease his aching body. He eased himself back up, shaking off the pain, and began jogging his way back toward where he last saw Arcee.

He slowed down after a minute, believing that the coast was now clear. He quickly realized he was wrong when his foot was immediately stopped in its place by a white sticky substance. Jack looked up in the direction it came from and found himself cursing the universe for nothing going to plan that day.

The spider-like Decepticon stood atop a tree branch, covered in soot and burning flames, creating an intense glow around herself at the tops of the tree line. She snarled at him angrily before shooting another web at him, pinning him to a nearby tree. Arachnid hissed as she jumped down, "You annoying little insect! I wanted to capture you so I could gut you right in front of Arcee, but I think she'll have to do with finding your mangled corpse!"

She took a venom-covered digit and cut it into Jack's cheek. Burning the flesh and drawing blood, causing him to hiss in pain, but refusing to scream. Arachnid sneered as she relished in his pain, "And what should I start with? Your optic? Or maybe your legs so you can't get away again?" Her attention was drawn away from Jack by the sound of a loud engine and bright headlights.

"Arachnid!"

Arcee came speeding in, getting air time and transforming mid-air, smashing into the Decepticon. Arcee didn't give the Con time to recover, quickly sprinting forward and kicking her in the chest. Arachnid stumbled back from the blow and attempted a jab at Arcee, but in her weakened state, the move was slow and predictable.

Arcee easily countered it, blocking the attack, and quickly jabbing Arachnid in her midsection, followed immediately by another quick jab. Arachnid had no chance of countering the subsequent uppercut, right hook, and second sidekick that day from Arcee, who watched as Arachnid was flown back, pulverizing trees along her path. Satisfied with her work, she quickly turned back around to check on her charge.

She ripped the web bounding him to the tree, looking over him for any injuries when she noticed the cut on the left side of his face. "Jack? What happened? Are you hurt badly?"

Jack shrugged it off, not wanting to worry her more than he already did. "I'm fine Arcee, it's just a scratch. Tripped while I was running. Although my survival kit sure did come in handy!"

Arcee narrowed her optics, not liking the way Jack had just tried to brush off his injury or his attempt at changing the subject with his light humor. She was about to ask more questions when she heard a loud noise catch her attention in the direction she had left Arachnid.

She turned her helm to see Arachnid drilling into the Earth, making her escape. Arcee sprinted, trying in vain to stop her, firing her blasters until she reached the hole, already too late to capture the Con. "So much for closure," she mumbled.

"Yeah," Jack replied as he walked up to her. "Now Arachnid is stuck here on Earth. I'm not so sure if that's a good thing"

"Sorry, you had to face my demons today. You were pretty fearless there Jack."

"Actually I was terrified. Mostly for you."

Arcee grinned, putting her servo to her helm, comming the base. "Ratchet, requesting ground bridge." She looked back down to see Jack smack an insect that dared fly near him after what he had just gone through. "I need to get my partner away from any oversized insects."

Jack immediately picked up on his guardian's word choice. "Partner huh?"

"Junior partner. I can still pull rank, and don't think I'm not going to have Ratchet look at that cut."

Jack groaned in disagreement just as a swirling green vortex of light appeared behind the pair. Without another word, the two began their walk through the portal.

This was not good, contact with Arcee had been lost for almost an hour. No matter what Ratchet tried, the blasted human tech just kept failing him. He was considering comming Optimus to have the two of them personally investigate the situation when he suddenly received a ground bridge request from Arcee. "Ratchet, requesting ground bridge. I need to get my partner away from any oversized insects."

He obliged, pulling the lever as he sighed in relief and watched the pair walk through the bridge while continuing whatever discussion they had started before walking through the ground bridge.

"I told you already Arcee, it's nothing, I'm fine," Jack grumbled as he made his way toward the human area of the base.

"You're wounded, just have Ratchet look at you for a moment." Arcee shot back.

Ratchet quickly protested, "Arcee, need I remind you that I am a licensed medical officer for Autobots, not humans."

Arcee shot him a look as Jack reveled in his victory before Arcee turned her attention back towards Jack. "Don't look at me like that, I just want to make sure you're alright after what she did to you."

"Hey! I said I tripped, it's not anything serious.", Jack quickly retorted back.

Arcee scoffed, "Please. You expect me to believe you got that wound from a simple fall? I saw her holding you captive. What did Arachnid do to-".

"Arachnid!? She's here on Earth, and you fought her alone?" Ratchet quickly interrupted.

No sooner was this asked, heavy pedefalls were heard as Optimus entered the main hangar of the base. Clearly, he'd been able to hear everything that'd just been said from the hallway. "Arcee, would you mind explaining what happened during your reconnaissance mission?"

"The signal Ratchet picked up earlier turned out to be Arachnid's ship, she crashed landed." Arcee promptly replied, "The ship must've been sending out a signal jammer, I couldn't call the base or call for a ground bridge."

"And how did you deal with Arachnid and the signal Jammer?" Optimus inquired.

"I attempted to apprehend Arachnid but she restrained me," Arcee then looked down in shame, "and started to hunt down Jack in her own twisted game. I managed to escape and rescue Jack just as Arachnid had him in her grasp. She managed to escape, but I don't think she'll be running back to Megatron, she made it clear she wanted to remain a solo act."

"Good, she should take her ship and leave this planet. We have enough Decepticons to worry about." Ratchet snarled.

"Uh.." Jack decided now to speak up, "That's going to be difficult for her to do. I kind of.. blew up her ship."

Ratchet stared at him blankly as he mustered a response, "You what?"

"I blew it up. It made her pretty mad afterwards but Arcee swooped in to save the day. I'm fine now."

"Jack, were you harmed in any way by Arachnid?" Optimus asked, noticing the cut on his cheek. "I notice that you have a small scratch on your face."

"I'm fine Optimus, thank you for asking. I just tripped and fell while trying to get away. It's nothing to get worked up about. Seriously I mean it." Jack lied, ignoring the slight burning on his face. He brought out his phone to check the time and his heart dropped with dread. He felt more fear now than the entirety of the time he spent being chased by a large spider.

"Scrap! Arcee it's past ten pm. Mom's going to kill me for breaking curfew again."

Arcee snickered in her partner's misery, transforming and turning her front wheel towards him. "Hop on, maybe we can make it back to your home before your mom gets back from work to notice." Jack quickly sprinted down the stairs with his helmet in hand and jumped onto Arcee, who wasted no time to speed out of the base into the Nevada desert night sky.

Ratchet stood where he was, looking at the spot where Jack was once standing, and thinking over the events that had just transpired. "That boy survived being hunted by one of the top Decepticon assassins, and he's afraid of his carrier?"

Optimus seemed just as puzzled as he did. "I believe there is a human saying, something about human carriers being bears."

"I know I said that we needed to get home fast, but maybe slow down a bit Arcee?" Jack commented from atop Arcee as they sped through the empty streets of Jasper. "If today is any indication, it'd be our luck to get pulled over by one of the few cops in Jasper. Mom would make me sell you and I'd be grounded for life."

"Don't worry about that Jack, I'd see them way before they could get a chance to see me," Arcee said smugly as she turned a corner, careful to make sure her charge didn't suddenly fall off. "What excuse are you going to tell your mother this time?"

"That I was doing a study group with Raf and Miko, over at Raf's house and just lost track of time. Got to keep it simple and believable." Jack said.

"You're only going to be able to use that same excuse so many times Jack." Arcee scoffed as she turned another corner and began slowing down.

"Maybe I should walk you up to the garage right now," said Jack as the pair arrived at his home. "I've already broken curfew this month, and maybe my mom already went to bed, wouldn't want to risk waking her up."

"I doubt you'll get off that easy but go ahead," said Arcee as Jack grabbed the handlebars and began walking her up the driveway toward the garage door.

Arcee watched as the garage door rolled up, and as she expected, there was Ms. Darby staring daggers at the pair, although it was only meant for one of them since the other wasn't supposed to exist.

"Jack, it's nearly an hour past curfew, what were you doing?!". June stood there, arms crossed and waiting as Jack struggled to remember his excuse.

"I was just uh, hanging out with Miko and Raf. Study group you know?" said Jack as he continued to walk Arcee to her place in the garage. "Raf is really good with math so me and Miko went over to his house to study. Just lost track of the time, I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

Jack shifted his feet uncomfortably as his mom continued to stare daggers into his very soul as if she could sense the lie from a mile away. He was just about to break down and apologize for lying, thinking the jig was up when she finally spoke.

"Fine, but you're getting your last warning. Don't let this happen again, Jack. Now go wash up and get to bed, you have an early shift-", she stopped mid-sentence as she took notice of the cut that ran down the side of her son's cheek.

"Jack, what happened to your face?"

"Um, I tripped," said Jack, repeating the same lie that day, nervously rubbing his neck. "I wasn't watching my step, I tripped and fell."

June looked at her son questioningly as she thought about what he just said. "A trip caused that long of a cut and not a bruise?" Jack merely nodded in response. "Okay then. Get inside and I'll clean that up so it doesn't get infected. Straight to bed right after mister."

"I get it, Mom," said Jack as he followed his mom into the house, casting a glance back at Arcee. She turned her front wheel to follow his direction inside, watching as he shut off the light and closed the door.

'He's a terrible liar' Arcee thought as she put herself into recharge for the night.

Hello! This is the very first story that I've ever published on not just this site but anywhere! So feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I've been a long-time lurker on this site and have only fairly recently made my own account. I've been inspired by many fics here on this site that deal with Jack and/or his friends becoming Cybertronians and have had this idea rummaging around my head for a while.

I just wanted to get the idea out there and see how it goes. I've got a few ideas on where I may want the story to go if this does work out and people enjoy what I'm writing.

I'm not the best writer so again, feedback on any errors or critics of the story would be appreciated to help me improve.

And just to get this out there, I don't own Transformers or any of the characters that appear in this work.

4/11/23

*If you're reading this after 5/14/24, I have edited this chapter. Lots of grammar and editorial fixes. I will be doing this for pretty much the rest of the chapters.