Arcee sat silently in one quiet corner of the base, checking out her arm and twisting and turning it to feel any discomfort she may have. After her recent fight with Jack, her blaster was damaged and Ratchet had to fix it up. Luckily, Ultra Magnus had a spare one in the storage of his ship, and Ironhide, their weapon expert, helped Ratchet with the procedure to reinstall it in Arcee's frame, after taking out her damaged one.
As she sat there, Arcee couldn't help but think about her recent encounter with Jack. His words swirled in her mind. She still remembered how he spat out those words to her, his voice full of hate and rage. It pained her to hear those words.
Especially when he told her she had abandoned him. The pain and hurt in his voice broke her spark, and remembering those words even now made her spark ache.
And the worst part, he was right. She truly did abandon him.
Arcee was snapped out of thoughts, as she heard someone call her name. She glanced down, towards the source of the voice, and saw June calling her.
"Oh, hey June." Arcee greeted her, trying to hide her emotional state.
"Hey," June greeted back, taking a seat beside her,"You okay Arcee?"
"Yeah June. I'm fine." Arcee quickly replied.
June didn't look convinced. Her eyes narrowed, her voice laced with gentle scepticism,"Mm mmh. You sure?"
"Yeah," Arcee replied, trying to brush it off,"Why do you ask?"
Despite Arcee's insistence, June remained sceptical. Her motherly instincts were practically screaming at her, telling her of Arcee's discomfort. And no matter what it was, June wanted to help Arcee through it.
Silence lingered between them, as June stared at Arcee. She looked to be lost in thoughts, while tracing her fingers over her arm.
June's voice finally broke the silence. "Arcee,... Are you really okay?" she asked again,"I know you encountered Jack on the last mission."
This time, Arcee couldn't keep up her mask any longer, and she crumpled into herself.
"No, June….. I'm not…" She said, her voice cracking under the strain of her emotions,"The Jack I knew has been twisted by MECH. They made him into a monster." Arcee sniffed, as if holding back a sob,"A-And I can't blame anyone but me for it…"
"Arcee…." June gasped.
"I should have been by his side,….." Arcee rambled, her words coming out in a desperate whisper,"I-I should have protected him…."
"Arcee!" June yelled.
This finally snapped the femme out of her state, as she gazed down at the human woman. "This isn't your fault." June said,"What happened to Jack isn't something you are to blame for. MECH, they are the ones responsible for what Jack has become." June took a deep breath before continuing,"I know you all worry about him just as much as I do. And I know that you all are trying your best to bring him back. And I have faith in you all."
June looked at Arcee with a bright look in her eyes and a smile on her face.
"I have faith in you, Arcee." She told her.
Arcee was left stunned at the woman's proclamation, as her spark fluttered, warmed by her words. "June,..." She gasped,"Thank you…"
"You're welcome, Arcee." June smiled back,"Now stop moping. I want to see the strong girl my son was so proud to call his partner."
Hearing that made Arcee giggle, much to June's joy.
On the other side of the base, Ratchet was working on his computer, with Raf helping him. His eyes narrowed as he analysed something.
"Optimus. You might wanna look into this." He suddenly called out.
"What is it, old friend?" Optimus asked, approaching the medic.
"I'm receiving signals of a homing beacon from these coordinates." Ratchet informed.
"It looks to be a hilly area, along the borders of the states of Oregon and San Francisco." Raf further informed,"And it happens to be a landslide that happened in that general area some time ago."
"Yeah. That thing even came up on the news." Miko butted in, from her spot on the couch.
"Prevailing theory is, some relic must have been buried in that area long ago, but its homing beacon was silenced after getting buried deep in earth and dirt. But due to this land slide, it must have surfaced up enough to let out some weak signals." Ratchet added.
"In any case sir, we should check it out." Ultra Magnus said,"In the case it really is a relic, we cannot let Decepticons get their servos on it."
"Very well." Optimus said, making a decision,"Ratchet, prepare the ground bridge. I will take some of our teammates and go check it out."
…
Darkstriker and Airachnid navigated their way through the forest, twigs breaking and leaves rustling underneath their feet as they went on their path as silently as possible.
Darkstriker had his mask up, covering his face up to below his eyes, while Airachnid followed after him on her bipedal mode. The femme was in a more casual mood, while Darkstriker was in a more reserved manner, his eyes scanning the surroundings as they went.
"What is this thing we are looking for this time?" Airachnid asked, glancing towards her partner.
"I am not sure. MECH detected signals emitting in an unknown frequency from this region. It's sort of like a homing beacon. They suspect it might be something useful and want us to recover it before it falls in the hands of someone else." Darkstriker replied, looking back at her.
Airachnid nodded at his response, before a sly smile crept on her face. "Hey partner," Airachnid called out, causing Darkstriker to stop in his tracks and look back at her. "After this, why don't we sneak off somewhere and explore each other some more?" She suggested with a seductive look on her face, her grin hinting at mischief.
Darkstriker's eyes widened, his demeanour breaking slightly as he heard those words. "I will hold you up on that." He replied, smirking under his mask. And with that, he turned around and continued on his path.
Behind him, Airachnid giggled to herself and followed after him, wanting to get done with this mission as fast as possible.
They made their way through the forest, looking for the exact location of the object emitting the signals, when suddenly, Darkstriker stopped in his tracks, gesturing for Airachnid to halt too.
"What's wrong?" Airachnid asked, crouching down, noticing how tense her partner got all of a sudden.
"My sensors are picking up movements." Darkstriker said,"Someone, no, not one, a whole group, is out there. And they aren't human sized."
"Decepticons or Autobots." Airachnid realised.
"Yes." Darkstriker nodded in confirmation,"We have to scout them out to confirm."
Airachnid nodded and they stealthily went forward. And soon, they found them. A group of Decepticons, about 2 squads of Vehicons, all lead by the infamous Decepticon warrior, Dreadwing.
"They must have come here looking for whatever we're after." Airachnid noted.
Darkstriker just sighed at their situation. "It seems trouble finds us every time we go out in the field." he groaned.
"This can be a good opportunity partner." Airachnid said to him.
Darkstriker looked at her, his eyebrow raised, as he questioned. "What do you mean?"
Airachnid's face twisted into a predatory grin. She told her plan to Darkstriker, and as he listened to her, he couldn't help but grin behind his mask too.
…
Dreadwing walked through the forest, leading the troops behind him. Soundwave has recently found a homing signal coming from this area, and Lord Megatron has entrusted him to locate it, and find out what it's about.
As they made their way, he suddenly heard some noise coming from the treeline, causing him and his troops to come to a halt.
"Well, well, well, look who is here. I sure wasn't expecting such a company." A familiar feminine voice said.
Dreadwing's eyes narrowed as the owner of the voice finally revealed herself.
"Airachnid." Dreadwing hissed.
"Dreadwing." Airachnid smirked, her eyes glinting in amusement,"Long time no see."
"Surrender, and Lord Megatron may show you mercy." Dreadwing commanded.
Airachnid just laughed at his proclamation. "Sorry, can't do that. I have to prioritise what's best for me." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"That wasn't a request." Dreadwing growled, narrowing his eyes.
"Is that how you talk to a lady? Rude. Didn't expect such manners from you, Dreadwing." Airachnid mocked,"Maybe from Breakdown. It's a shame, things between us got,….. Ripped apart."
Dreadwing let out a rage full yell as he brought out his cannon, pointing it at Airachnid. "You will not dishonour Breakdown like that." He roared, his eyes blazing with fury,"This is the last chance, Airachnid. Stand down and surrender."
"You think you can take me away forcefully?" Airachnid narrowed her eyes, as she got into a stance,"I will tear you apart."
The Decepticons drew their weapons. They were about to open fire on Airachnid, when suddenly a series of bright lights shot around them, like an explosion, blinding them. And then followed a series of explosions, throwing them in disarray and chaos and injuring some of the Vehicons.
That's when Darkstriker rushed in from behind them, his sword glowing red, as he slashed through some of them, dropping them injured, and some even dead, as he joined Airachnid.
Airachnid was quick to do her part. Shooting her webs and energy bolts at the Decepticon group, pinning some of them to the ground and trees, and injuring some others.
With their plan in fruition, Darkstriker and Airachnid quickly ran off from there, making their way towards their original target. They ran and ran, while Darkstriker's built-in systems looked for the target. They finally came into a clearing, with a hill on one side.
The signal was coming from some spot on the hill.
They looked up, and after a few moments of searching, they noticed it. On top of the hill, what looked to be a giant white pot with bluish details seemed to poke out from the dirt and earth.
They both knew what it was. It was a vessel, in which a relic is kept. The signal must have been emitting from that vessel.
They were about to go up the hill and retrieve it, when another group came out of the forest.
Darkstriker's eyes widened as he saw the group. This group was of Autobots, consisting of Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee, Smokescreen and Tailgate.
A faint growl emitted from both Airachnid and him as they noticed Tailgate.
"Jack…" Optimus gasped, seeing him. His eyes locked onto their former friend, filled with a mix of concern and guilt. "We've been searching for you," he said, his voice laced with concern.
Darkstriker's gaze turned cold, his voice dripping with venom. "You're a little late, Prime. You abandoned me, left me to the MECH."
Optimus's eyes widened at the accusations. "Jack, we thought you were… "
"Dead?" Darkstriker finished, his tone bitter. "That's what you hoped, wasn't it? Easier to forget the human who got caught."
"Jack, no! We would never-" Arcee tried to say.
Darkstriker's laughter cut her off mid sentence. "Leave me to be tortured?" His laughter was laced with pain. "You did. And now, I'm making my own way."
Hearing that laughter sent shivers down Optimus's strut. And the others could do nothing. Their words died in their voice box, and they could only watch the conversation between Jack and Optimus.
"Jack,... Please try to understand…" Optimus tried.
"Understand?" Darkstriker's voice rose,"What is there to understand? You chose to leave me."
The tension between them was suddenly shattered as energy bolts struck the ground near them, snapping them out. Darkstriker looked at his side and noticed the Decepticons have finally caught up with them.
"It was a good meet up, Prime." Darkstriker said,"But we have a relic to claim."
The Autobots, left with no choice, charged into battle, facing off against Dreadwing and his squad of remaining Vehicons. Optimus led the charge, his sword flashing in the sunlight as he clashed with Dreadwing's sabre.
"Stand down, Dreadwing," Optimus declared.
"Silence, Prime!" Dreadwing retorted, pushing the Prime back.
As both warriors are facing off against each other, they soon realised sword fighting isn't gonna lead them anywhere.
Dreadwing threw one of his explosives at Optimus, which he barely dodged before it exploded, throwing dust and debris everywhere. This gave dread wing the opportunity, as he pulled out his cannon and started firing, forcing Optimus to back off as he activated his own blaster to fire back while running for cover.
On the other side Arcee dodged and weaved, taking on the Vehicons with swift kicks and blaster shots, while Bumblebee and Smokescreen worked together, using their speed and agility to outmanoeuvre the enemy as they protected her flanks. Tailgate, meanwhile, provided cover fire, pinning down Vehicons, showcasing his skills as a marksman during the war.
As all this was happening, Darkstriker and Airachnid moved quickly, and stealthily towards their objective, the relic vessel. But as the battle raged on, they found themselves drawn in.
"Time to take care of some unwanted guests," Airachnid said, unleashing webs to ensnare nearby Vehicons.
Darkstriker's sword sliced through the air, taking down the Vehicon in one swift move, before leaping to engage several more. "Let's keep moving." He commanded.
However, their progress was halted when Dreadwing broke through the Autobot lines, focusing on Airachnid.
"Airachnid, you treacherous spider," Dreadwing snarled, firing a cannon blast at her. The powerful red energy bolt of his cannon struck the ground near her, causing a mini detonation, as Airachnid was thrown back.
Darkstriker immediately attacked Dreadwing, managing to disarm the Decepticon commander with his first attack, but before he could do more, Dreadwing hit him away.
Darkstriker crashed on the ground far away, and before he could recover and move back to protect his partner, multiple Vehicons were on him, keeping him engaged in a fight.
Airachnid sneered, summoning spider-like legs, as she lashed at Dreadwing.
"I will avenge Breakdown's death, and follow through lord Megatron's orders, by taking you down." Dreadwing roared as he pulled out his sabre, using it to block Airachnid's attack and push her back.
Airachnid skidded back, before regaining her balance. She grinned at him walking sideways, while keeping her eyes locked onto him. "My, my, so much ambition you have." She snickered mockingly,"Too bad, it will remain just ambition."
And with that they charged at each other again.
The two enemies clashed, his blade against her talons, their weapons ringing out as they exchanged blows. Airachnid's agility and cunning pitted against Dreadwing's brute strength and skills.
Optimus and the Autobots meanwhile continued to battle the remaining Vehicons, while Darkstriker held back a bunch by himself.
"Take this," Airachnid hissed, landing a critical hit on Dreadwing.
Dreadwing stumbled, giving Airachnid an opening. She attempted to deliver a swift kick, but Dreadwing caught her leg before it could connect, and threw her by her leg, sending her crashing to the ground.
Airachnid didn't have any time to recover, as Dreadwing leapt at her, bringing his sword down onto her, but she managed to leap out of the way, just in time. She sprang back onto her feet, and rushed at her opponent, as he too charged forward with his sword.
Airachnid dodged Dreadwing's attacks, her swiftness and agility on full display as she weaved her way through his attacks, landing her own hits on the Decepticon commander. But eventually, Dreadwing's relentless assault broke through her defences. He swung his sword down, striking her hard as she was thrown back, and severing two of her spider-like legs, as she crashed on the ground several metres away.
Airachnid screamed out in pain, her voice strained, as she layed on the ground, raising her upper body up and supporting herself on her arms, as she looked up, seeing Dreadwing approaching him, brandishing his sword.
She wanted to get away, but her body was in too much pain to move.
On the other side, Darkstriker heard her screams. He whipped his head over to the direction, and his eyes widened as he saw her state.
Seeing her in danger and pain, something snapped inside him. No longer the mission mattered to him as he yelled out,"Airachnid!!" and without another thought, ran towards her.
Dreadwing loomed over Airachnid as he raised his sword high. Beneath him, Airachnid looked up with bated breath, her eyes widening in fear, but no words could come out of her mouth. The Decepticon commander enjoyed the look of fear on her face.
He was finally going to make her pay for her crimes, and with that thought, he brought his sword down. Just as his sword descended, Jack appeared, his body transforming into his cybertronian form, as he punched Dreadwing in the face as hard as possible, while midway through his transformation.
Dreadwing was thrown aside by the sudden and strong blow, he would have toppled over and crashed on the ground, but managed to remain on his feet, as he turned around to face his new adversary.
Jack rushed at him, his transformation now complete, his combat training taking over as he engaged Dreadwing.
"You dare to hurt her!" he yelled, punching Dreadwing in the face again. The blow was so fast and so strong, that the larger Decepticon was pushed back without a chance to defend himself.
But that wasn't enough for Jack. Rage blinded him as he delivered a flurry of punches and jabs. Dreadwing, despite his skills and experience, was unable to defend himself. Jack's hits were too fast, too strong, pushing him back with each punch and jab that struck his body.
"You won't hurt her!" Jack screamed delivering a punch to Dreadwing's lower abdomen, causing him to cough up some energon.
"Never again!" he kicked Dreadwing, throwing him back.
Suddenly Jack's arms began to transform. He slapped his arms together, as they merged together forming into a giant cannon. Energy channelled through the cannon, causing a glow along its path as Jack fired a powerful blast at Dreadwing.
The Decepticon's eyes widened as the blast struck him square in the chest. He was thrown back with an explosion, as he crashed onto the hillside, the impact so strong that rocks and dirt broke apart and fell on top of him, burying him underneath, his body crumbling underneath the rubble.
Jack gasped, his arms transforming back into their regular form as he knelt on the ground in exhaustion. The attack had drawn too much of his energy.
He transformed back into his regular form, and rushed by Airachnid's side, checking up on her. "Airachnid, are you okay!?" he asked worriedly, their mission forgotten as Airachnid took priority for him.
"Yeah, I am." Airachnid replied, getting up on her knees,"Thanks for the save," she said, offering him a sly smile.
Jack smiled back. "Anytime."
But as they stared at each other, their eyes gazing into each other's, they felt something. The battlefield and conflict around them disappeared as their desire and affection for each other resurfaced.
Unable to control herself any longer, Airachnid leaned down, brushing her lips against Jack's. Jack didn't reject her advances, and leaned further into the kiss, showing her his own affection for her.
Just a bit far away from the, Arcee zipped through the battlefield, fighting off Decepticons on her way, when she suddenly stumbled upon them.
Her eyes widened, her spark dropping as she saw them in a lip lock. She felt like she had been stabbed into her spark as she saw the scene.
The kiss was brief, but its impact on Arcee was crushing.
Airachnid and Jack broke apart, sharing a tender and loving smile. "Time to leave, partner." Airachnid whispered, her voice husky.
Jack nodded in agreement, and helped Airachnid up, before dashing out of the battlefield as they vanished into the trees of the dense forest.
Arcee remained frozen, her processing mind reeling. She had thought…, hoped…, that Jack felt something for her. But her hopes were all crushed now. And that too by Airachnid.
She felt like screaming as her spark ached with sparkbreak. Airachnid had won again. She took Jack away from him, and there was nothing Arcee could do.
"Arcee, we have the Decepticons on the run!" Optimus's voice crackled over comms.
Arcee tried to compose herself. "Roger that, Prime. On my way." She replied, her voice cracking and her emotions barely restrained.
