The sunset in Jasper looked more beautiful than he remembered. Jack Darby, now in the twilight years of his life, mused internally to himself as he gazed out the window of his room. A beeping from the computer on his nightstand gave him an all too short of warning before he fell into a painful coughing fit. Terrible, stabbing pain racked his ribs as he blindly reached for a washcloth on his bedside table. He held it in front of his mouth as droplets of blood scattered across it, the metallic taste a familiar acquaintance of his for years now. A pair of nurses rushed into the door of his hospital room, opening cabinets and preparing to administer his treatment, which now was three or four times a day depending on how his condition was doing.

In the steel medical tray they set on his table in front of him, Jack caught a glimpse of his appearance between the medical tools and devices. The top of his head was barren of hair. His beard was now patchy and thin, when only a few months ago it was full and vibrant. Before his health took a turn for the worse. His face was shallow and gaunt, a result of his appetite and sleep having suffered greatly over the course of the last thirty years. Now at the age of forty-seven, he has reached a turning point.

The needles went into his arm without a wince. He had hardly any feeling left, and he didn't have the energy to care about the pain anyway. He tried his best to sit straight as the nurses fitted an oxygen mask over his face before they promptly left.

Jack closed his eyes to rest, but was roused once again by a knock on the door. With a frail, cracking voice, he bid welcome to his guest. "Come in."

The door opened, the dim light washing over the visitor. With a blue tailored suit, white, short trimmed hair, and brown cane, Jack's old friend and mentor, William Fowler, sat in the leather chair by the foot of the bed. Voice stern and commanding as always, but ridden with sympathy as well. "Hey there, soldier. How are you holding up?"

Jack gave a grin. "Like usual. How about you?"

Fowler sighed, placing an envelope marked with the presidential seal in Jack's hands. "Look Jack, Don't worry about me. I'm not looking like a ghost. I was able to pull some strings and our boys at NASA were able to fulfill your request. What you're holding is the message we sent, including your recent health reports. It details everything our friends have missed."

Feeling the most excitement he had in a long time, Jack perked up. "Did… we hear something back?"

"Not yet, son. Cybertron is a long way away. The message needs time to travel."

"How much time?" Silence was all the older man had to give as he looked away. A grim understanding befalling Jack even as he hoped otherwise. "Please Fowler, how long?"

"About seven months." His answer was given hesitantly. Rightfully so considering the frequent mood swings that Jack was subject to.

The sickly man settled back in his bed, closing his eyes as he felt the flicker of bitterness and anger appear and vanish in an instant. Disappointment, however, persisted within him. The pair sat quietly, waiting for the other to speak. Fowler broke first, his voice tainted with guilt. "I'm so sorry Jack. you, of all people, didn't deserve this. I'll be the first to admit that we failed you Jack. We didn't protect you, We can't cure you, we can't slow it down, and we can't-"

He stopped right as his voice broke. The patriotic retiree on the verge of despair was not a sight anyone had ever seen, nor should see. Jack looked at him reassuringly. "It's not your fault Fowler. It isn't anyone's fault. No one could've known what was on that planet."

Jack's thoughts rewound to that extra-terrestrial adventure. When he had to go to Cybertron itself to save Optimus. He remembered how desolate the planet looked and how his partner, Arcee, was so somber. Little did they know at the time, but the toxic atmosphere at Cybertron rapidly deteriorated the exterior protective layer of Jack's space suit. Since the war on the planet gave rise to a variety of powerful and advanced weapons, the surface had been left heavily irradiated. Though his suit was intact enough to protect him from the brunt of it, his extended visit had let him soak up enough radiation to make sure his life from there on out was a living hell. In his mid twenties, a few strange medical examinations clued them in on what was going on, and soon after the government, At Fowler's behest, stepped in to take care of him. Essentially, his cells were dying. Whatever Cybertron did to him, it caused his body's ability to generate new cells to falter as time went on. Now, it was hardly generating any at all. He didn't have seven months left, and both he and Fowler knew it.

Jack took a shaky drink of water to help keep his mouth wetted. He studied the envelope, not bothering to open it since he already knew by heart what was in it. "Even if I had known what that trip would do to me, I still would've gone. I got to help them for once, after everything they did for us."

"Hero's don't deserve what you're going through. Even now, I just wish we could do more." Fowler said defeatedly.

Jack gave him a smile. "You strong-armed the whole government into helping me. Raph is now the best surgeon in the medical industry because of helping me. Miko constantly puts her music career in jeopardy just to drag me around. I swear she won't allow me to not have a good time. You guys are doing everything you can. That is more than enough."

Fowler looked Jack in the eye, a smile now adorning his face. With a deep melancholy, and more than a hint of pride, the man responded. "The world- Worlds everywhere, could use more people like you, son."

They chatted with each other until the sun finally disappeared below the horizon. Fowler, despite Jack's insistence otherwise, left to give him his 'much needed rest'. Right on time, the room lights dimmed and Jack was alone with his thoughts. With every stab of pain, with every coughing fit, he never regretted what he did, nor the time spent with the bots. He would choose to do it again and again if he were given the opportunity, even if the outcome was the same. As much as he missed her, He was glad his mother wasn't there to see him like he was. She would be devastated beyond measure. His only regret was that he didn't ask to send his message sooner, then maybe he could've gotten to see his friends one last time.

Even though he hadn't left his bed at all today, he was terribly exhausted. Miko was informed last month that it was no longer safe to take him anywhere because his body wasn't strong enough to support itself anymore. He remembered fondly, the day that Miko broke him out of the hospital. Her days dune bashing with Bulkhead gave her exceptional offroad evasion skills. Even being chased by an entire police department, helicopters and all, they both were laughing like maniacs. It took four hours before they cornered her, and she donned the handcuffs with a smile on her face. He couldn't believe how mad Raph and Fowler were. Now he needed an array of machines and a whole team of nurses and doctors to simply keep his heart and lungs pumping.

He was ready.

It took him weeks to convince Raph to go on vacation, but now he was on a weekend getaway. Jack knew he'd never forgive him for what he was about to do, but he hoped he'd understand. He grabbed all the machines he could reach around him and brought them close. He learned a thing or two from his mom, putting that knowledge into practice as he switched them off one by one, careful to make sure they wouldn't set off the alarm. He carefully pulled every needle stuck in him out and undid the mask on his face. With a small amount of determined strength, he reached into the drawer of his nightstand and retrieved his final will he had finalized a week prior. Holding it together with the envelope Fowler gave him, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

His final thoughts were of his family, as that's what everyone had become to him. Not an ounce of trepidation for what was awaiting him in the great beyond.

Darkness had long since washed over the land, and the warehouse acting as sanctuary for the ragtag group of drifters was entirely unaware of its unwelcome guests. With a waved gesture, two figures, concealed by shadow, silently made their way down the catwalk high above the jubilant criminals. The three of them were in position, their sister squad on the catwalk at the other end taking their places soon after. With a final signal, all six of them dropped below. As soon as they touched the ground, they sprung into action. Several of the bots let out cries of alarm before being wrestled to the ground, restraints placed on them before they even knew what was happening. The more nimble of the bunch had gotten to their feet and had weapons drawn. Though their reflexes were on point, they were outnumbered two to one.

One of the drifters, a big bot with a black and orange construction paint scheme, wielded a heavy mining hammer and towered over everyone else. He smiled maliciously and spun the hammer in his hands. "You're a lively bunch of guards. If you wanted in, you could've knocked."

"And spoil the surprise party? Where's the fun in that?" The spunky response came from the newest recruit. A white and blue bot with a sleek build by the name of Slapshift. His blue visor hid his eyes well, but his jokester's grin shone clear.

The big bot swung the hammer with surprising speed, the overhead arc ending with the hammerhead lodged in the ground where Slapshift was standing a nanosecond ago. With a heave, the hammer came up and rested on his shoulder. "Oh we'll still have plenty of fun, but we gotta teach ya some manners first."

"You can lecture us all you want from the slammer. You are all under arrest! Surrender your weapons!" The order came from Garrison, the biggest bot among the guards. His unshaking confidence and intimidating presence made him an excellent officer.

The other two drifters took up wide positions beside their boss, a known crime lord named Bombardier, an ex construction demolitionist. One was a bot named Snapcrack, clad in all black, his weapon of choice was an electrically charged whip, making him a major threat despite being the smallest of the bunch. The third was Dicer, with an acid green paint scheme, she held dual short swords about the length of her forearms, both of which had lazer edges. The ease and comfort with which she twirled them suggested she was very familiar with using them. The drifters were about ready to pounce but paused when a feminine voice spoke out from the smallest of the guards. "Formation D sir?"

The other guards gave her a confused look, surprised that she would suggest the maneuver. Garrison raised a brow and questioned her confidence. "Think you can handle it rookie?"

The femme looked back up with a determined look. "Affirmative."

With a nod from him, the guards rearranged. Garrison took one guard as backup to face Dicer, Slapshift and the other two guards went off to face Snapcrack. Leaving the small femme to face off with Bombardier by herself. The big bot laughed jubilantly. "This really is a surprise party, isn't it. Thanks for the laugh pipsqueak, I'll try and make it quick."

The Femme stepped forward, now properly in the light, her blue and pink color scheme stood out, and was noticeably unmarked compared to her compatriots. "Funny, I was gonna say the same thing."

If there had been anyone standing outside the warehouse that night, they would've been able to recount how there was a sudden battle cry bellowing from a very loud bot followed by the sound of fierce combat and blaster fire. It would only last a minute or so however, as the large door slid open to reveal the three drifters in restraints and covered in all manner of dents, scrapes, and cracks, as well as a non-minimal amount of leaked energon. Bombardier was the worst off by far, and was also the only one unconscious. A pair of detainment transports flew in and landed in front, their ion engines making a steady hum as the fat, rectangular ships touched the ground. The tails of the craft folded down to make a ramp and a detachment of bots emerged from both of them to swiftly load the criminals. The guards who conducted the raid watched over the process in case they needed to intervene.

When the suspects were on board, Garrison and Slapshift started to argue about who fought better. While Garrison detained two of the drifters on the initial ambush, as well as did most of the work in taking down Dicer, He took a number of hits from the femme. Slapshift on the other hand was able to take down Snapcrack without getting hit. The pairs' different ideologies on fighting a common topic of conversation for the whole team. Their current antics served as entertainment for the rest.

Sidewinder, the sole aerial unit they had, juggled his various stun and smoke grenades he had, a practice that still put the rest of them on edge, even though they'd never gone off before. His alt form was a gray helicopter and his specialty was in non-lethal combustables, whether he threw them by hand or launched via guided missile, his accuracy earned him his name.

Then there was Dyna, with a red and teal paint scheme and a hot temper to match, she was the most aggressive of them. She graduated from the Crystal City High Academy with a mastery of seismic understanding and manipulation. She would typically use tremors from the ground in accordance with echo-location to determine how many bots were in a building before going in guns blazing. With the form of a heavy truck and all her scientific gear, she had a very sturdy stature.

Finally there was Triage, the only other veteran of the Cybertronian war in the group. She bore the standard orange and white color combo befitting of a medic, though the orange was very sparse as to prevent being identified as a medic. Even though she had seen some of the worst of what the war had to offer, she remained a surprisingly chipper personality. Her alt form was actually of a large car, a station wagon in human terms, a sight smaller than that typical of ambulances. She still had enough room to store her equipment though, and the smaller size allowed her to have greater speed, making her an indispensable member of not only the team, but the whole force.

They made up Alpha Team One of the Iacon General Public Guard. As they were starting to wind down, one of the units from the transport marched over to Alpha Team One. "Captain Arcee. We have secured the prisoners ma'am."

Arcee, the leader of AT1, An Autobot veteran who had fought alongside the legendary Optimus Prime. She gave a short nod to the bot. "Good work. We'll report back to the station for debriefing. Beta Team 4 is on their way to give you an escort."

The Bot offered a small salute and boarded his transport. Now out of everyone's earshot, Triage excitedly stepped into Arcee's view. "Another flawless operation for the record Captain! It's a real shame that you don't want a promotion, I bet you could earn a position in the high Guard."

Arcee shot the girl a stern look. "I didn't realize you wanted to get rid of me that much."

"That's not- I didn't mean it that way." The medic stumbled over herself as she flushed with embarrassment. Despite being the second oldest of them all, she was vastly younger than Arcee by leaps and bounds, and still had some childishness in her.

Slapshift chipped in, teasing her further. "Don't be too hard on her, Captain. She's in charge of our examinations when we get back. She'll put the hurt on you if you get on her bad side."

"Hush it Slap! You only think she hurts ya cuz you're about as tough as a pane of glass. Triage is the best medic out there." Dyna put the unaware loudmouth in a headlock, earning a chuckle from them as he swung his legs as she picked him off the ground. "Put me down!"

Garrison crossed his arms and stared at them both, his professionalism giving even less humor than his boss. "You do realize that the detainment ships haven't left yet, right?"

"So what. They weren't the ones busting their bumpers to catch all those rust buckets." Though she piped back at him, she did drop Slapshift. As much as she hated to admit it, Garrison was the only one who could kick her tailpipe every time in a fight.

Garrison faced Arcee, and offered his own compliment. "Once again, your plan worked quite masterfully."

Sidewinder followed up with his own remark. "You'd think they'd figure out the trick by now."

Arcee smiled, shifting her weight to one leg while placing a hand on her hip. "They never do, and never will. As long as the baddies believe strength wins all, they'll never suspect a thing. Now, let's get out of here."

Arcee transformed, taking on the form of a sharp two-wheeler. It was a sight different from what she had on earth, but it was still fast and aesthetically pleasing. The rest followed her lead, Garrison turning into a six wheeled armored van and Slapshift turning into a wedge-like sports car. Sidewinder tossed his grenades in the air before leaning forward and having them land in their storage compartment on his back. Instead of transforming, he hopped aboard Garrison and laid leisurely on his back, much to the bot's annoyance. "Couldn't you be a bit more mature? You'd do us a favor by scouting the route ahead from the air."

Sidewinder locked his hands behind his head as he stared upwards with a sigh. "Yeah, but that's a lot of work. I think I'll take a nap, you'll hardly notice I'm here."

Garrison growled like he was about to say something when Arcee stepped in. "Good to know you'll be well rested, I'll make sure you get extra drills to burn off that saved energy."

With a slightly panicked quickness, Sidewinder jumped upwards and transformed into his alt mode. With Arcee in the lead, they all made their way back to their station. Merging onto the Iacon highway, they got an excellent view of the capital of Cybertron, The towering metal buildings stretching to nigh inconceivable heights. Every single one made Arcee think of her good friend Bulkhead, While she and Bumblebee went into security, Arcee performing while he did training, Bulkhead went back into construction like he was before the war. He had a hand in nearly every building that was erected or restored since Cybertron's revival.

As if he heard her thinking of him, Arcee heard the comm connection reach her ear. It was the same channel that their little family used. "Hey Cee, Can you come to Ratchet's place? It's urgent."

"Not the best time Bulk, we just did a huge bust and are heading back for debriefing. Can't you tell me what's going on?" Arcee questioned.

"We got a message from Earth." Bulk said stiffly.

Arcee was shocked to say the least. They would typically only get regular transmission every year or so from their second home. Mainly because it took so long for the message to get through. If they had contacted again so soon, it must've been bad news. "What's happening? Ex Cons show their faces?"

Bulkhead was silent, The way he was acting was unlike him. Usually nothing shook him, but now he seemed almost hesitant to speak. When she was about to ask again, he finally spoke with a grim tone. "It's Jack."

If Arcee could've tensed in her alt form, she would have. "I'll be right there."

"Everyone, head back to base, I have something I gotta do." Arcee commanded her squad. She didn't need to see them to know they were on edge, she rarely strayed from protocol. Slapshift, being the newest recruit, didn't catch on to her 'serious' tone. "Uh oh, some fanbot leaving gifts on your doorstep again?"

"If I don't show up back at HQ, don't be worried, I'm going to visit a friend." Arcee responded coolly, she then activated her turn indicator and took the nearest offramp, ignoring the whispering between them. When she hit ground level, she put the metal to the pedal. Being a high ranging I.G.P.G officer meant that she had to be an upstanding example to everyone, so her speeding wasn't exactly a good thing, it could cost her position, but this was an emergency. She raced through the streets of Iacon, knowing which roads had thin security and less traffic. She approached a more populated part of the city and could no longer risk her dangerous driving. For the first time ever, she had a serious problem with speed limits. After an hour's drive or so, which was still painfully too long, she transformed into her bipedal mode and ran towards a stout housing unit that stood out. It was odd because it rested at the junction of several major medical and scientific facilities. It was in the shape of a dome with a rectangular box running through it, and it was three stories high. She didn't even need to open the door, the sensor recognized her biometric signature and the door opened of its own accord.

Inside, she turned left, running past the main living space right into Ratchet's workshop. She found Bulkhead and Ratchet, as well as Bumblebee and Smokescreen crowded around Ratchet's data terminal. The four of them turned to face her, their expressions filled with worry and sadness. Arcee marched forward, tense as she's ever been. "What's going on? Is Jack in danger?"

Wordlessly, Ratchet stood aside from his keyboard and allowed her to step forward. Confused, she did as was suggested and soon was able to see what was on the screen, Her optics going wide with only the first glance.

Dear Friends,

Or Family rather, Is the more accurate word. I would like to start by saying that All is well here on Earth, I know this sudden message may be alarming. Miko, Raph, and Fowler are all doing great. The only thing that this message concerns is myself. It's time for me to be completely honest with you. I didn't want any of you to be worried about me, so asked the others to withhold this information you're about to hear, so please don't hold it against them. Do you remember the time Arcee and I needed to go to Vector Sigma? As it turns out, the toxic atmosphere ate away at the protective layer of my suit, exposing me to radiation. No one had any clue until long after you guys started rebuilding Cybertron. I won't go into the details here, I attached every report of my condition to this file in place. There is no easy way to say this. I'm dying.

Arcee went cold at that line. She felt her arms grow heavy and her knees weaken, but there was more to the message. She had to read the rest of it, maybe there was some hope to save him.

It's been a slow process, and everything we could do has been done to try and stop it. I wanted to write this letter so you would all know. You all have a right to. Please don't take this as me blaming you, because there is nothing further from the truth. Even if I had known what would happen, I still would've done it. I'm glad I was able to help you all, even if it was a minor thing. The main purpose of this letter is to tell you the truth and that I miss you all dearly. My only regret is that I didn't tell you sooner. By the time this message reaches you, I will already be gone. So there's no need to haul yourselves over in a panic. My only wish is that you don't grieve my passing. My memories with you all are the fondest I have and I hope that your memories with me are nothing but happy ones.

To Arcee, my partner. There is a lot I want to say to you, but no proper way to put it. I feel nothing but guilt to have held this from you. I know you would've come rushing back to Earth the moment you found out, but I didn't want you to have to watch me wither away. Cybertronian lives are so much longer than that of Humans. I know time flows a little differently between us, but I want you to know how much of an impact you have on me. I would rather you be with those who can help you once I'm gone. Thank you for everything, you were the best thing to happen to me in my life.

I love you all

Sincerely, Jack

Arcee was clutching the sides of the terminal so hard the metal frame was bending. Her spark ached terribly. She began to shiver uncontrollably. With a reluctant hand, she switched the page to the first report. It was written when Jack was twenty seven years old. He was still healthy, with only the early signs of deterioration present. From that point on, every week of his life had its own report, detailing everything he went through. Though the signature confirmed it, she could tell it was Raph because of the way they were written, and he was thorough. As Arcee read on, she grew increasingly sick. The pain, the vomiting. Jack, her partner, was going through the scrap heap. Worst of all were the pictures. They were far more effective in representing what was happening to the human. She skipped past to the very last image and report. She had seen corpses that looked more lively.

Beside her, Ratchet spoke to her. "Arcee, I-"

"WHY RATCHET!? WHY DIDN'T YOU CATCH THAT?" She had spun to face the old medic. Lubricant streaming from her eyes. Sobs breaking apart her sentences. "How did you miss it!? How could- How could we leave him alone?"

She had cast her gaze to the ground, only looking up when the medic spoke to her again. "Arcee. I know."

Bumblebee rested a hand on her shoulder. "Jack was a hero, through and through. He's going to a good place, I'm certain of it."

Arcee knew he was trying to comfort her, but she didn't want to hear it. "He didn't deserve that. Not after all he's done. It's my fault, I should've been there, I would've been-"

Ratchet cut her off this time. "Arcee, there is nothing we could have done. I've read through Raph's reports time and again. Radiation doesn't affect us hardly at all, but humans? They're a sponge for it. And once the damage is done, it's irreversible."

"We could've at least stayed with him. He shouldn't have been alone." She countered.

Bulkhead took his turn to console her. "Jack already said, he didn't want us to worry over him. Heck, I know if I were in his position, I'd feel the same. And don't forget the messages from Raph and Miko, They helped him live life to the fullest."

"I'll miss the guy." Smokescreen said simply, when he got a few odd stares from the rest of them. He started to panic a bit. "Really. Look, I'm not the best about talking through my feelings. Jack showed me what Earth life was all about. I had nothing but a good time when he was around. I really will miss him, something fierce."

Arcee took in all her friends' words. She now felt even more guilt. She knew they were hurting just as much as she was, and yet they were consoling her. In fact, she knew Ratchet in particular was hurting quite a lot. After all, he was the only one who decided to remain on Earth. He was only here now to assist the hospital with training for a short while. "I'm sorry for lashing out."

"No no, there's nothing to apologize for. We know how close the two of you were." Ratchet pointed out. She knew the part he wasn't saying was that she would take it the hardest.

"I'm going for a drive." Arcee let out softly, already making her way towards the door. No one tried to stop her. They all knew her well enough to understand that some time alone was the first part of her grieving process. She left Ratchet's home, finding that it had begun to rain. She found it fitting, comforting, even. Transforming back into her alt form, she took off down the road. As she drove, she thought about all her memories with Jack. Although they had been through a lot together, she realized they had not spent nearly enough time together. Once Cybertron was revived, she could've easily taken a hiatus from her responsibilities. They could've done more things together, without missions or crises getting in the way. As she thought about everything that could've been done differently, she lost track of where she was heading. She found herself on the outer edge of Iacon, not knowing how much time had passed or how far she'd driven.

Self loathing welled up inside her, and she started picking up speed. The rougher roads sped below as she took turns with increasing risk. She remembered the music they'd listen to on drives, the cartoons they'd watch in the garage. But for every good memory, the image of him lying frail in some white washed hospital alone flashed through her mind. On one particular turn, she overdid it. Her wheels slipped out from under her, and she went skidding painfully across the ground. When she finally came to a halt, she transformed. Sitting on the ground, she pounded her fist down and wailed.

Even after it was over, the war still took from her. She had lost partners before. Tailgate, Cliffjumper, both their losses hurt her, but they were killed by Decepticons. Jack, He was killed simply by being on her home planet. She didn't know if it was peacetime making her soft, or that she wasn't expecting it, but losing Jack hurt more than she could've ever imagined. More than losing Optimus did. Not only was it because Jack had suffered so much for no reason at all, but because she had never met anyone who understood her as easily as he did.

So Arcee sat there in the rain. She cried well into the sunrise, crying until nothing but emptiness remained. She was content to remain there, but she knew she had a job to do. Sluggishly, she got back to her feet. She held her arm and limped back towards the city. The crash had hurt her more than she thought it did, but she cared little about it.

It was nothing compared to her pain internally.

Jack felt light. As if not affected by gravity at all. It was an odd sensation. He had always felt so heavy. Rousing from what he felt was a long slumber, he went to yawn, only to find he couldn't breathe. He panicked, his eyes shooting open as he tried to inhale air. It took some time for him to realize that he wasn't suffocating. He calmed down, but was greatly confused. He looked around him and realized he wasn't anywhere. Not as in, he didn't know where he was, but that there was, quite literally, nothing around him. It was black, like darkness, but he held up his hands and could see them clear as day. As he stared at them, he realized something was off. If he focused really hard, his arms shifted from being normal, to glowing a light blue color that reminded him of energon. He put all these discoveries together and came to the only conclusion. "Oh, I'm dead."

His voice echoed around him, yet he didn't hear it coming from him directly. It was akin to hearing a recording of himself in a cave. This was surely not what he expected death to be. He hoped he'd go to paradise, was scared that he'd go to hell, yet this seemed like neither. Purgatory, maybe. It also occurred to him that he was a lot calmer than he should've been. It seemed like he was under the influence of some mysterious soothing presence.

Suddenly, a deep voice began to laugh as a blow glow appeared behind him. "My my, quite a remarkable being, aren't you. You caught on to me almost immediately. No wonder Optimus held you in such great regard."

Jack was beholden to the ethereal image of a Cybertronian, except he looked remarkably different than Jack had ever seen. He was incredibly humanoid, even aged, with a beard of white cables to boot. He looked as if he were wearing human armor. Jack was suspicious of the newcomer, despite the strange urge to trust him. "Who are you? Where are we?"

The Cybertronian gave him a smile. "My name is Alpha Trion, And we are currently one with the Allspark."

Jack thought it ridiculous at first, but for some strange reason, understood that the bot wasn't lying. The elder bot chuckled. "It's because we are two souls conversing with each other. Here, there is no reason to hide our thoughts, or rather, our emotions are plain for all to see."

"Why am I here, I'm not Cybertronian." Jack questioned, earning another bout of amused laughter from Alpha Trion.

"Ever the curious one. You two are more alike than you realize. You are correct, you are not Cybertronian, and no human has ever become one with the Allspark, besides you, that is." Alpha Trion approached Jack, studying him with interest and… sympathy? He continued his explanation, sensing that Jack wasn't satisfied yet. "Primus, however, has taken pity on you. Ever since you made contact with Vector Sigma, Primus, as well as the Primes themselves, have all watched your story with great interest."

"That still doesn't explain why I am here." Jack countered.

Alpha Trion hummed to himself, silent for a while, as if distracted by something. He eventually turned his focus back on their conversation. "You are here because Primus deems it so. He is thankful for your heroic deeds. Though momentarily, the fate of all Cybertron had rested on your shoulders, and you had the will to save it, at the risk and eventual detriment of your own life. There are no words to describe the sorrow of all who knew of your fate. You, who has done so much, dealt so poor a reward. And Primus wishes to correct that."

Jack was shocked by the revelation. A literal god, not even a human one, was apologetic to him? "I don't understand, what can he offer me in death? This doesn't exactly seem like paradise to me."

The wizened bot considered his words. "Perhaps I should be more transparent. We are currently not with the rest of the Allspark, rather, we are in a secluded part of it. Primus has decreed that it is not your time yet."

Jack barely had time to process the implication of what he was saying before they were joined by another being. The blue mist formed first, followed by the shape of a Cybertronian Woman. Her plating was elegant, and artistic. He could almost see what she looked like in life, as if her real form could only be seen from the corner of his eye. She shone gold and silver. Almost like one of the relics the bots had… "Solus Prime?"

She smiled warmly at him, her voice a higher pitch than he expected, but very joyful. "What is the saying you humans use, bingo?"

Jack blinked, he wondered how much of his life they had paid attention to. "Bingo."

The Prime laughed happily, which made him want to laugh in turn. Her good mood was infectious. Jack didn't even think his joke was that funny. The femme moved closer to him and began studying him, much to his worry. "What are you doing?"

"Planning, designing, brainstorming, call it what you will." She answered.

Jack turned to Alpha Trion, as he could guess that getting a straight answer from the girl was going to be a challenge. The Bot looked at him, his expression turning stern for a split second. "Just because you know I can sense your question doesn't mean you don't need to speak it. It's hardly a polite practice."

"I'm sorry. What exactly is happening?" Jack responded.

Alpha Trion softened again, his expression turning somewhat melancholy. "You really are just like him, It's almost unnerving. Very well, It looks like your quick wit refuses to make the connection. You're being granted life, the reward for everything you sacrificed."

Jack's shock was immeasurable. He had trouble picturing it. "You mean like, reincarnation?"

"Of a sort." He answered.

"I can see my friends again. I can be with Raph and Miko, and Fowler?" Jack asked excitedly.

He must've been catching on to this 'soul sensing' thing, for both Alpha Trion and Solus Prime became pitying of him. Solus was the one to answer him in a regretful tone. "I'm sorry, Jack. Because of the nature of your situation, we can't send you back to Earth."

Those words hurt him, but he was half expecting the answer. He had hoped for a moment that he could've been able to relieve some of his friends' grief. Solus continued, giving him the full explanation. "The only reason this is possible, the only reason we even could bring your spark here, is because you came into contact with the Allspark. It may have been brief, and it may have been faint, but Primus sensed you, and your plight."

Jack was trying to figure out when he would've done so. When she said that Primus sensed his plight, it finally clicked. "Vector Sigma."

Solus nodded approvingly. "Vector Sigma isn't simply a computer where the memories of the Primes are stored, Jack. It's a spiritual artifact that bridges the physical and metaphysical planes. It makes a direct connection to each of our sparks. When you came into contact with it, it was akin to making yourself an anchor in our afterlife. That's why you're here, and not in the afterlife of humans."

The two Cybertronian spirits became startled as rage and bitterness washed over them, originating from the human. Jack, gritting his nonexistent teeth, now felt robbed. "You mean I can't see my mother? I can't thank my friends for how much of their lives they dedicated to me!? Well I refuse! Let me go back!"

Solus waved a hand, and Jack's anger diminished, but still lingered. She reasoned with him in an unnaturally soothing tone. "Please Jack. Hear us out. If you truly desire eternal rest, then you may have it, but it would be within the Allspark. We do not know if it's even possible to separate your connection to Cybertron now. Even Primus himself is unsure. However, I think you may change your mind after hearing what we have to say."

"Fine then, spit it out." Jack spat.

He ignored the disapproval coming from Alpha Trion, focusing on Solus who didn't protest his behavior at all. She held up her palm and a pool of light shimmered above it. It was an image, or window, looking over present day Cybertron. From what Jack remembered the last time he saw it, it was now almost finished being rebuilt. The surface was teaming with lights and signs of life. Solus zoomed into the largest city near the northern pole of the planet. He recognized it as Iacon. She focused on a tall building covered with balconies and windows. When the image switched to the interior of the building, specifically an apartment. When Jack realized he was viewing someone's living space, he became uncomfortable, until he saw who it belonged to.

Sitting at a table, gazing out the window at the passing air traffic, was Arcee. It had been so long since he'd seen her, but he knew without a doubt it was her. The rest of her apartment was dark, but the light from the window allowed him to see the general disarray it was in. Many small energon storage crates were scattered around. He noticed that Arcee had a strange device on the table beside her, as well as a cup of glowing blue liquid that looked suspiciously like energon. Even though they were completely different species, it seemed that depression was the same for them. Jack was simply hung up on the fact that Cybertronians could drink. "What is she doing?"

"That device is an energon condenser. There are many ways energon can be taken in by consumption, and drinking the liquid form is one of them. The condenser makes a special type of liquid energon that is made for overcharging. It allows a bot to take in more energy than they can hold, it makes one's senses dull and offers the feeling of elation. It's often enjoyed during celebrations and… This." Solus explained.

Jack couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Worry began to gnaw at the edges of his mind. "Oh no, She's drunk?"

Solus nodded. "Indeed. And she has been for quite some time."

Jack looked at Solus alarmed. "What do you mean?"

"Time flows differently here, Jack. What may have been a few simple minutes for you can be any length of time in the living world. It has been a number of Stellar cycles, or Cybertronian years, if you will, since you're passing."

"Why would she do this? She's stronger than this. Why not go to the others for help?" Jack said, half trying to plead with Arcee through the image.

Solus looked at him. "You tell me. You've known her far longer than I have. Would she have gone to them?"

"No." Jack answered honestly. "For all her strengths, she doesn't handle loss well. She was like this before, and she is really good at hiding her pain. Scrap. This is my fault. I should've reached out sooner, she wouldn't be like this now if I had given her time to prepare."

"Maybe, but there's nothing to do about now, unless you accept our offer." Solus let the image go, somehow spinning his ethereal form to face her. She looked him in the eye. "I'll be completely forthcoming. While this is recompense for your suffering on our behalf, We do have one request. Please help this daughter of Cybertron. She's one of the heroes of the world, and if further suffering can be prevented, I would like to see it done."

It all clicked now. As much as he felt cheated from his own peace, he couldn't in good conscience leave his closest friend in her time of need. He thought retrospectively and understood that if he had known this in the beginning, he would make the choice without any hesitation. It wouldn't have mattered if his accidental soul napping was reversible or not, He would've made the same decision, and a part of him was angry that these two understood that. "Yes. I'll do it."

The two beings smiled. Solus stepped back to stand beside Alpha Trion. Jack, now resolute, needed to make his plan. "Well, I know me being human complicates things, I assume you have a solution for that?"

Solus laughed joyfully. "Look down."

Jack did so and found his human body replaced with a Cybertronian form, It was reminiscent of his build as a human, except slightly skinnier with several angular designs protruding from here and there. His color scheme was pale blue and gray, with white highlights. A shimmering mirror appeared in front of him, allowing him full view of his soon to be new body. His face looked similar to his old one, just without a nose. The top of his head was a dome shape with vented ridges running front to back. The primary plating reminded him of a boxer's head gear. His torso had a small glass windshield akin to an aircraft cockpit in shape, which was contradictory to the two full size bronze wheels that formed his ankles. Solus answered his question before he even voiced it. "I have prepared your spark to take this shape once you cross over. I hope you like it, it's some of my finest work."

Alpha Trion sighed and tsked the woman. "You say that about every creation of yours. I will say, you do make for a sharp bot. Now for a name."

As crazy as the situation was, he hadn't even considered that he wouldn't be able to keep his name. His panic must've been evident, for Alpha Trion studied him critically. "It should be something simple, but fitting for your personality. How about Beneplex?"

Jack shook his head frantically. Solus laughed, waving the old bot off. "Far too old fashioned Alpha Trion, even for you. The new generation follows a different naming scheme. RoadSurfer, for example, would be more fitting."

Again Jack was uncomfortable with that one. "I was more worried about being named Ben, but RoadSurfer is definitely off the mark. Couldn't I have something closer to my own name?"

They both thought over his request carefully. Alpha Trion hummed with an idea. "Well, instead of Jack, you could use Jax, but you would need something in conjunction with it. Unfortunately, Darby is an outright foreign name, and would easily garner strange reactions. How about Jax Terragen?"

"Terragen?" Jack asked incredulously. Alpha Trion raised a brow. "It'd be awfully fitting, it means Earth-born. I was thinking of giving you a name that would remind you of your origins."

When put that way, Jack wasn't as opposed to it, but it still sounded funny. Solus placed a finger on her chin. "No, that won't do, it's too feminine. How about Jax Terraplex? It means Earthen-parts, or part Earth"

Alpha Trion seemed approving of it. Jack, however, thought it was too different. He realized they were using root words from Latin and Greek, or perhaps those languages were passed down from Cybertron, but either way, he thought of something that he thought was better. "Jax DuGen."

The pair of Cybertronians went quiet and looked at him. Again, he repeated it. "My name is Jax DuGen."

They both smiled proudly at him. Solus took a special liking to it. "Twice-born. Very fitting indeed, if a bit dated."

"Nothing wrong with tradition, Solus." Alpha Trion quipped.

Jack was reminded of something when he heard the word. "Right, how am I supposed to blend in? I'm not familiar with Cybertronian customs."

Alpha Trion beckoned him forth. Jax approached him, and the elder bot rested a hand on his shoulder. Jax felt a sudden dizziness as Alpha Trion did something to him. After a minute or so, Alpha Trion released him, leaving Jax to try and sort his confuddled mind. "Worry not Jax, I have given you much of my own experience, which should be more than enough for you to navigate the more nuanced aspects of Cybertronian society. I would be surprised if you have a need for it, however. This new Cybertron is far more like your world than it has ever been before. You will find countless influences from your home planet, many of them thanks to your friends, and many just occurring by themself. Now, it's best you be off."

Jax spooked at that last bit. "Wait, are you sure? Don't you have any tips for me?"

Solus laughed heartily. "We have given you all the help we can, tarry any longer and you might get cold feet."

Before he could say anything else, she placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back. At first, you only stepped back like it was a light shove, but he started to reel backwards at alarming speed. Soon, he was no longer on his feet and instead falling. Though a part of him was terrified, he was having trouble staying awake. Something was forcing him to sleep, and soon, the fall no longer concerned him.

I'm coming, Arcee.