7 years earlier…

"So… it's been quite a ride huh...?" Jack asked.

"Keep in touch Jack..." Arcee stated mournfully.

Jack stood stoically as he stared into his guardian's optics, wishing that she had stayed, praying she would rather make Earth her home than return to her original one. Arcee stared back with a heartbreaking look dawning on her face, her spark yearned to hold him, to tell him she would come back.

"Don't make me hunt you down..." Arcee stated slyly.

Throughout all of their close encounters, neither wanted to admit that this day was upon them. Allies in a war brought together in a time of crisis, turned into partners that bonded through challenges and personal exchanges. Arcees' spark cried out as she began to walk away, to the place she called home, not once looking back.

Jack never forgot her absence, nor the way she left.

Present Solar Cycle (Day)...

Arcee was walking around the rebuilding city of Iacon, seeing the sights being brought back to life teaming with other Cybertronians. She quickened her pace as she had to get to a landing port for an important meeting.

Arcee arrived at the port rather early and quickly grew impatient as she had waited for far longer than it seemed.

"She better be arriving soon" Arcee stated impatiently.

She had been in contact with her sister for quite some time, wondering when they would finally meet each other again. As she stood there, she saw the makings of a ship finally begin their landing sequence. Once the shuttle touched down the doors slowly opened as Arcees' sister began walking out of the ship.

"Chromia!" Arcee practically announced.

"Arcee!" Chromia yelled back as she ran over to her sister.

They both met each other and hugged one another tightly as it had been eons since they had last met up. As they let go of one another Arcee exclaims, "I've got to show you around the place, a lot has changed since the war."

"It seems a lot more than just infrastructure has changed, sister." Chromia remarks as she realizes how happy Arcee is. "Gotten us a Sparkmate, have you?" Chromia giggled.

Arcee stared at her, rolling her eyes, "Oh please... Who has the time...?" she waved off.

Chromia gives a sly smile paired with a quick laugh as Arcee pulls her by the arm, "Come on now! We've got a new city to explore!"

The pair went around Iacon for two hours, going to all manner of shops, visiting tourist spots, and speaking to every new cybertronian they could find. They would end their journey by sitting at a table that belonged to a cafe-like establishment and talk about their previous adventures during the war, when suddenly Chromia would beg to know what made Arcee change so drastically.

"So Arcee… What did you do during the end of the war?" Chromia questioned.

"Well... for starters I was with team prime during the end, I even got to watch the dark lord himself get scrapped." Arcee stated while taking a sip of higher quality energon.

Chromia looked at her sister in a more serious tone, "Well then, when are you gonna introduce us?" Arcee just stared at Chromia puzzled. "I know you've got feelings for someone you met during the war," Chromia put her servo over her chassis while exclaiming, "We share emotions if you recall."

"Well, it's not that simple." Arcee stated as she looked down slightly.

Chromia chuckled slightly before saying, "Yes well, I believe a key saying he told you was "We'll meet again~" am I right?"

Arcee, taken aback by her sudden mention, had remembered a certain moment shared between her and her partner before they had vacated their previous home base.

A Deca-Cycle (Month) Before the Autobots Abandoned Omega Outpost One…

Jack was driving atop Arcee when suddenly they took a detour that Jack hadn't expected. When Arcee noticed Jack's inquisitive expression she stated, "I wanna show you something." Jack's expression calmed itself as he simply replied, "Understood partner."

They drove through the desert until Jack saw a dirt path that appeared to be traveled often by a certain two-wheeler. Arcee continued along the path, slowing down gradually as she neared the end of the path, which led to the top of a mesa outcropping.

The two partners arrived at their destination. Jack dismounted Arcee allowing her to transform into her bipedal form. They walked over to the edge of the outcropping and sat down to admire the setting sun.

"Now this, this is a view." Jack sighed as he leaned back, placing his hands on the floor behind him.

Arcee stared at the view longingly, "That it is Jack, that it is." She looked over towards Jack with a similar expression and exclaimed, "I often come here to part the stresses of my day to day."

Jack looked back into her optics, "I can understand why." their eyes couldn't part from one another's gaze. Jack slightly blushed before turning away towards the sunset with Arcee following his action. Jack sighed, "You know, this sight reminds me of a song."

Arcee looked at Jack while raising an optical ridge, "Oh really? Which one would that be?"

Jack chuckled before saying, "It's an old classic, symbolizing how two people will never be away from each other for very long." Arcee's spark pulsed lightly as she heard him finish.

"Well," Arcee crossed her legs as they dangled over the edge of the outcropping, "Would you mind singing it?"

Jack looked over at Arcee, realizing how much of a beauty she was. "Of course, just know that... It's been some time since I last sang for... Anyone." Jack nervously exclaimed. Arcee looked back towards Jack, "As long as it came from you, I wouldn't mind whatever you sang." She paused, looking down then back up towards Jack before continuing, "As long as it's not rock."

Jack blushed at her nonchalant, almost teasing, tone when she finished. "As long as you're fine with participating in duets every now and again." Jack teased back.

Arcee leaned back onto one servo, looking towards Jack. "We'll see about that, smooth operator." she said while looking at Jack.

"Alright then," Jack started, looking away from Arcee to hide his reddening blush, "I guess I'll start now then."

"Go ahead," Arcee teased.

Jack sighed, bracing himself before he began to sing, readying his voice, and searching his memory for the lyrics.

Jack looked at the sunset with its vibrant violet hue, "We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when~" Arcee stared at Jack, trying to read his body language as he sang. "But I know we'll meet again, some sunny day~"

Arcee's spark pulsed rhythmically to Jack's soothing voice as he continued, "Keep smiling through, just like you, always do~" Arcee chuckled slightly. "Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds, far away~"

Arcee closed her optics, turning her audio receptors up in order to completely concentrate on Jack's singing while imagining that the song he sang was his admission of the feelings he had towards her, the same emotions she did for him.

Present Solar Cycle (Day)…

Arcee was startled upon realizing Chromia was practically shaking her violently in order to get her out of her current trance.

"Arcee! Are you still with me?" Chromia questioned as she continued to shake her sister.

Arcee quickly grabbed Chromia's arms to prevent further shaking before stating, "I'm still here Chromia." Arcee glared at her, trying to understand what drove her to such rash actions. "What made you think that shaking me was such a good idea."

Chromia released Arcee and quickly put her servos on her hips before saying, "Well I had to try something to get you to snap out of your daydream." Chromia raised her servo with a digit pointed at Arcee, "You were practically offline for five cycles (Five minutes) and completely unresponsive."

Arcee, although flustered by the remark, stared at Chromia, "We'll next time don't shake so hard, or I may permanently go offline."

Chromia adopted a sly smirk across her face, "Maybe I wouldn't have needed to had you not been lost in thought over this sparkmate you've found~"

Arcee looked away slightly, "Oh hush you... Let's see if we can find my old team." Arcee grabbed Chromias' servo and began to lead her, "It would be nice to introduce you to them."

As the duo started to walk, there was a concern Arcee had not addressed in some time. One that would plague her very spark throughout the stellar cycles she had spent on Cybertron. She was curious about her partner. What had he been up to in all this time? What crazy stories would he have for her upon her return to Earth? All she could think of, while they searched for her team, was Jack.

30 Cycles (Minutes) Later…

Arcee and Chromia had walked around searching everywhere for Team Primes' old members. As they were about to search another section of the city, a familiar voice sounded off near them.

"Hey! Arcee!" the sound of a mech with enthusiasm filled the sisters' audio receptors.

Arcee turned towards the voice she heard before exclaiming, "Bumblebee," they walked towards each other before meeting one another with a servoshake, "Been a while, hasn't it?"

Bumblebee smiled at her remark, "Yea, the rest of the crew has been wondering what you've been up to for the past Stellar cycle (Year)."

Arcee smirked slightly, "Well... among other things, I've been catching up with this one," She gestured towards Chromia, "She's proven to be a handful." Chromia spat back, "Well I am your sister!" All three cybertronians chuckled at the remark.

Arcee looked at Bee before elaborating, "This is my sister Chromia." Bee looked over towards Chromia examining her for possible weapon similarities before stating, "So it would seem."

The three of them had begun conversing over what they had done over the war with Arcee and Bee telling Chromia about their adventures on Team Prime while Chromia talked about her servitude to a spec ops team.

"So... Bumblebee..." Chromia remarked with a sly but serious tone, "Do you happen to know who Arcees' sparkmate is?~"

Bumblebee gasped, "She has one!?" Then he felt a cold daggered stare being given. He looked over towards Arcee who was giving him a 'talk and you're dead' look. "As I don't want to poke the predacon," Bee started, "I believe it would be best to keep quiet."

Chromia pouted then looked at Arcee, "C'mon! You know I'll find out eventually!"

Arcee looked back towards Chromia, "Only if I want you to"

Then suddenly, both Arcee and Bumblebee received a transmission. They began to read it, despite its poor quality coming from Bulkhead. "Hey guys! Ratchet just contacted me and wanted me to inform you about a problem happening on Earth that requires our assistance. I'll send you all the coordinates."

Bee and Arcee looked at each other, understanding they both were needed away from Cybertron. Arcee looked towards Chromia as she started, "What's going on, did something happen?"

Arcee sighed before putting her servos on her hips, "Do you want to see where team prime was holed up for the war?"

Chromias' optics went wide before exclaiming, "Frag yea!" She braced herself back to reality 'there's a possibility to meet the one you loved so much; how could I argue?' she thought.

With that the three of them began their journey towards the area Bulkhead had mentioned as a rendezvous point, with Chromia giggling in anticipation.

Arcee led the way with Bee and Chromia lagging behind. Bee kept a servo over his mouth before whispering to Chromia, "I think I may know who Arcees' love interest is," Chromia giggled softly as Bee continued, "However, I think it'd be best if she explained. Watching her try to describe him is gonna be the funniest thing to watch." Chromia pouted slightly but nodded as the trio continued walking.

2 Mega-Cycles (Hours) Later…

The trio had finally arrived at the rendezvous point, and were met by other members of team prime, both old and new. Amongst them, Arcee recognized Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and Smokescreen. 'So, destiny's child wishes to go back, does he?' she thought as she recounted Smokescreens' prior actions on Earth.

Arcee looked around and recognized a couple of new faces that would be tagging along, such as Moonracer, Windblade, Hound, and the ever so impatient Knockout.

Arcee walked towards Bulk, who was currently busy taking inventory of the equipment they meant to bring with them, "So Bulkhead, think you've gotten enough members for the trip?"

Bulkhead turned towards Arcee in an almost carefree tone, "Hey if it were up to me, I would've just brought the essentials; a wrecking ball and some energon. It was Ratchet that requested all of this" he gestured towards the other autobots and the equipment before returning to keep track of his task.

Arcee turned and walked back to her other two companions, "Well it seems Ratchet must be in some deep scrap."

Bumblebee nodded as Chromia stared at Arcee, a confused expression drawing her face, "Ratchet? Who's that?" Both Arcee and Bumblebee looked at each other before explaining.

Bumblebee started, "Well, he was our medic, one of the reasons most of us are still here."

Arcee continued, "He was both a medic and scientist, he aided us one hundred percent, without hesitation."

Chromia crossed her arms as she began, "So he's a close friend of yours?" Arcee glared at her, "Yes, but he has no reservations for compassion towards others, he's more of a practical bot."

"Alright everyone! Let's load up and move out!" Bulkhead roared in order to catch everyone's attention.

As Bulkhead finished issuing his order, a space bridge opened close to the bot's location which signaled them all to pitch in to carry an equal amount of the load. Knockout carried pieces of scientific instruments, both medicinal and experimental. Smokescreen, Hound, and Windblade assisted in carrying weapons such as grenades, rifles, and external melee weapons like maces, swords, and spears. Moonracer, Bulkhead, and Wheeljack carried cubes of energon that could last the crew a few deca-cycles (months). Arcee, Chromia, and Bumblebee assisted in carrying some of the excess research equipment. Arcee was the last to go through the space bridge before it closed.

As she walked through, she examined where everyone had headed to set their respective equipment down. She followed Knockout in order to set the tools he requested to be brought over down with the rest of his equipment. Once she finished her task she began to walk over to the main area where the other bots stood.

"Welcome back new and old friends!" Ratchet exclaimed. "Now, as we do have newcomers, and things to discuss…" He looked over at the old members of Team Prime, "I suggest the newcomers take a look around the base and familiarize themselves with the facility."

As ratchet finished his speech, the newer members of team prime; Moonracer, Knockout, Windblade, Hound left, leaving Chromia behind with the team. However, Ratchet took notice of this and quickly tried to remedy the situation.

"You should go too." Ratchet stated while glaring at Chromia.

Arcee quickly replied, "It's ok Ratchet, she's family." Ratchet looked towards Arcee for a few kliks (Seconds) before nodding and turning his attention towards the team.

"Well, we're in deep scrap here. M.E.C.H. has returned and already we are suffering from their offensives." he stated as he looked towards a platform. Everyone looked over at the platform to see their old comrades leaning on the guard railings, however, their expressions were dawned with sorrow and pain stricken. Arcee, upon further examination, realized that her previous partner was not among them.

She put up a slight smile as she thought he must be at his job or the like. However, she wanted to know where he was regardless and quickly asked, "So, where's Jack?" As she finished her question, the humans looked away from her gaze while Ratchet slowly closed his optics while sighing. Only Miko remained unfazed, but her movements didn't share the same emotion they once did.

Ratchet spoke up before anyone said anything more, "I believe Miko would have the most experience on this matter." He firmly stated while looking at Arcee sympathetically.

Arcee looked at Ratchet, confused about his actions. She then looked back towards Miko before asking, "Miko, where's Jack?" The bots glued their optics on Miko, waiting for her answer until they saw a single tear fall from her eye.

Miko had a stare that went through everything, she wasn't on Earth anymore. "H-He's..." she slowly sobbed out, "He's... dead."

Every bot stood still, trying to process this information. Chromia looked over to Arcee only to hear the sound of her sister falling to her knees. The bots looked at Arcee as her optics went wild, before she let the most gut-wrenching screech echo through the halls of the base. She lost her closest partner, the one she loved, the only person that warmed her spark.