Welp, that took a lot of time. Took more than a month due to Genshin's new update. Had to give it my all to gain Zhongli and I just got him last night. Okay, then. On to the fic.

Just a little note, there's an addition that some of you may be familiar with. But you'll get to that later on.

Ezequiel Goni - Uh...no. This is why I stopped writing that fic altogether. They ask for updates of that story in my other fics and that's just insulting.

Guest - Wait, I've been doing that. Never noticed, but okay!

Warlus999: Yep, I read After the Fall and I long for the day that it would be updated again one day. Because it's getting so good that I want to see how it goes, especially when Jack and Arcee finally reunite to save Optimus. That is one of the reasons why I decided to draft out the concept of Protocol, because I want to explore the mental and physical challenges of being some sort of giant robot and on the power fantasy.

I felt that Barricade, Blackout and Lockdown would have been awesome additions to TFP if they decided to put them. There's just a lot to add with those three around. I'm not going to spoil too much, but yes, Lockdown would play the role of a villain here.

MarioDS01 - Yep, Airachnid would have had to work a bit more closely with them if she wanted to have something from them too.

LongingResider: I might be one step ahead of you man, because I just plan to have them have numerous experiences. And this is just one of them!

Psudocode Samurai: While Airachnid is portrayed as a sadistic and nihilistic killer, I imagine she is also cultured at some degree.

Chapter 8: Outings

"Well, we're here you two", the Sedan skidded to a stop as it parked near at the entrance of a sizeable complex, with numerous other vehicles parked outside and people lining up at the entrance.

Arcee looked out of the car window and gazed at the building in mild awe, even though this wasn't the first time that she saw the 'mall' herself since she would occassionally patrol the area prior to her transformation. "I'll be having a night shift, so I probably won't come back until tomorrow morning", she advised them, something that the two passengers took in stride before she handed Arcee a thin rectangular object, quickly surmising it to be a card of sorts. "So feel free to get dinner and maybe a few essentials as well"

Arcee stared at the object momentarily. "What am I going to do with this?", the bluenette inquired to the nurse.

June pointed a finger at the object in question. "That Arcee, is a credit card", she explained to her. "By courtesy of Agent Fowler if you'd like to have a few essentials from there. Jack could help you in using it since he's doing errands in what we need back at the house"

The former two-wheeler looked at the object before she inserted in into her pants pocket, just as Jack exited the front seat. "You might need to get cleaned up at the shower once you're back at the house", the nurse further added. "If you need help at that, don't think twice in asking Jack"

"I'll keep that in mind", Arcee assured her with a nod, leaving the backseat and closing the door behind her. "Thanks, June"

Jack passed a wave to his mother. "We'll be careful, mom", he added with a smile. "We'll give you a call if we need anything"

The nurse smiled at them and waved goodbye before the Sedan sped off towards the hospital, leaving the two to their own devices as they watched the building before them. "Well, partner, guess we're on our own here", she sighed, uncertainty evident in her tone. "Anything I should know before we get inside?"

"Not really, actually. Other than just a short checkup by security to see if you have anything illegal like drugs or weapons, I'd say we're good to go", he simply said to her, giving her the green light. "Do you guys have malls back at Cybertron?"

"I wouldn't call it like that exactly but we do have places like trading hubs", she recalled, a few short memories coming through her mind. "But not as bustling like this one right here"

She wasn't exactly sure what to expect. For the past three solar cycles, or years in Earth terms, she had limited contact with other humans as a means to keep her cover at all times unless they were meeting Agent Fowler as a team. That is until she met Jack, Raf and Miko. And it just felt surreal she would have to do the same this time, albeit blending in with other humans in their activities that she may participate although she never really had a particular interest in. From the countless cycles she could remember while Cybertron, she had no time for activities such as this, not when the Cons are still wreaking havoc beyond their planet.

The pair lined up at the entrance, with the security guard using a baton-like object acting as some sort of scanner before allowing the two to enter the premises. As she did, she was met by what appeared to be a gust of wind falling down on her through the form of an air conditioner above them, shivering as she passed through it.

Really need to get used to other human sensitivities, she took a mental note at that before she looked at the spectacle before her. Countless outlets, vendors and stalls were all around the building alongside built-in escalators going to the upper floors and humans scattered around like nanobots in the premises in their own devices. All in all, busy is quite an understatement. "So, where do you like to go first?", the silence between the two broke when she heard her partner's inquiry to her.

"Can't say", she admitted, not that she minded. "Anything you'd call interesting, I guess?"

Jack gave her an assuring smile at that. "All right, let's get going"

Achoo!

Airachnid frowned as she wiped her nose once again with a tissue as the room was returned with a familiar silence, broken only by the soft fluttering of the soft-tipped broom Airachnid wielded in her hand and occasionally of the dust pan in the other.

Ever since being confined in what both the Autobots and the humans referred to as her 'cell', she often looked at her surroundings in disgust seeing how disorganized and decrepit her room was. Her skin often made contact with the dust-covered objects all around the room had made it less appealing, and the component above her mouth and between her eyes that the humans refer to as the nose had a phased reaction involving involuntary movement within her body of expulsion of sticky substances like an automatic airlock before being replaced by immediate relief.

Labor like this is more suited for the Servant Class...Her thoughts were scattered as the footsteps of the Autobots were heard outside her room. Its abruptness was deafening, and the base seemed to silence itself, absorbing the noise into its walls and wooden floors and creaking beams. Airachnid paused in her cleaning, the very air seemed to hum with a distinct tension. It was them, no doubt, and she peered outside to find two unfamiliar Autobots entering the premises, causing her to sigh in frustration now that she had two more problems to deal with.

It has been an hour and a half since Arcee and her partner along with his mother had left for their personal ventures. Their so-called "outing" that that kept them away, and thus kept the base quiet, calm, and... lonely? She quickly dismissed the thought, such a word was not in her vocabulary when it came to that forsaken trio of whom she swore to bring their heads in a new collection she had envisioned once she is done here.

The former Decepticon took a seat for a moment, staring off into the ceiling above her, her lips pressed together into a thin line and her defined brows furrowed. She absent-mindedly twirled the broom in her hand, likely the result of both the boredom and the fatigue she had been getting along.

The magenta-eyed woman thought about the situation, ponderously considering her options. A part of her wanted to ignore the Autobots altogether, leaving them to her own devices and disregard Plan E for a more straightforward method, among them involving Arcee's human partner. She was not his responsibility, but try as she might, she could not justify it to herself for some reason. Her inner voice urged her to check up on him, make sure he was still intact so she could snuff his life herself once the time comes, even if it meant cooperating with them, but then she found herself gritting her teeth.

Why should she even care? At least from her own perspective, he never seemed to care about her beyond the obvious history together, or at least actively avoided her out of both fear and concern on what she would do to him and his mother. As he should when she would never forget what he did to her that day in the forest. And the moment she had given the coordinates that she had gathered from the Decepticons pretty much put her in a point of no return in carrying out Plan E.

But now was trapped in the cramped prison of the Autobots, unable to flee or fight back due to her own physical limitations. If she is going to remain here for the time being, then she would rather stay in a less decrepit environment to the one she's dealing with, hence her recent activity in cleaning up the place whenever she could.

And it was boring her to no end. Is there anything else that I would find to be a convenience?, she stretched her back, feeling a 'click' had happened inside her frame as she loosened the weight over her shoulders. The former Decepticon re-arranged some of the stray boxes around the room and to the corner, before her elbow struck one of them just as she was about to carry on her work.

It made a metallic sound as it thudded down the floor, and curiosity quickly came upon her when she knelt down to examine the box. It lay hidden beneath a pile of discarded papers, its surface coated in grime and neglect. Intrigued, she carefully wiped away the layers of dirt. Opening it, a small device with a rubber cable attached was inside, along with another container that have several rectangular objects inside of it.

She felt the organic substitute of her Spark's beats steadily increase as hope dawned over her as she began to think of a possibility of using the device to make communications with anyone outside or anything that she could think of that may help in her predicament as well as something to use against the Autobots.

Of course that would be too good to be true.

It was to be replaced by sheer disappointment as she pieced out what the device was all about. Because of what she knew about this, it was from a bygone era where technology was very primitive for human standards of the present day, and it only had a one primary purpose; to play recordings of any kind.

She felt like banging her head against the other dusty boxes, but she didn't want her hair to be covered by unwanted substances or risk having those sensations involving her nose. And she settled on giving a hard rub of her face with her palm instead.

But still, it was worth trying something with it and she hummed in deep thought, plugging in the the device in one of the outlets needed for it to be operated. Opening the main compartment, she picked one of the cassettes that labeled 'Moonlight Sonata' before closing the lid.

With a mix of curiosity and skepticism, Airachnid fumbled with the cassette player, her fingers trembling with anticipation. She found an old tape nearby, its label barely legible. Uncertain of what she might discover, she inserted the cassette into the player.

Perhaps an audio recording of any sort?, she wondered, before she pressed the 'play' button, watching as the rings of the cassettes began to spin

As the room filled with a soft crackling sound, a soothing symphony began to play. It was very new to her, and its tune pierced through the silence of her quarters. Almost in a trance, Airachnid paused as she intently listened to it, allowing the tune to wash over her weary mind.

With each note, the weight of her confinement seemed to lighten. The lilting melodies of the alluring tune resonated with her own hidden longing for freedom, stirring a dormant resilience deep within her.

Airachnid's fleshy hands, once heavy with fatigue, now moved with purpose as she continued her work. The rhythmic strains of the music became an accompaniment to her tasks, infusing her movements with newfound grace and determination.

As the music played on, her mind wandered beyond the prison walls. Her head slightly tilted from left to right at the slow tone and rhythm of the music. In spite of the wretched circumstances that had befell upon her, the things that could be remotely referred to as the 'good' one still happen. Right now, all she could do is continue to listen of the music made by the fleshlings themselves.

Standing up, she continued her work in cleaning her quarters, having found the gist to carry on.

"All right, tools are set and all receptors online!", Que announced as he had finished unpacking his 'luggage' as Miko would say, walking over to Ratchet near the examination table where the medic was already working on the broken relic. "So, what do we have here?"

His colleague shifted his attention from the shattered object to the inventor. "An old relic forged by one of the first Primes", Ratchet explained to him. "But a scuffle between Arcee and Airachnid led into its sorry state"

The inventor's optics widened in surprise. "Airachnid?", Que repeated the name with caution, which made his colleagues give him a rather surprised look at his rather anxious familiarity. "The Decepticon Head-Hunter?"

Ratchet raised an optic at the newcomer's less-than-optimistic reaction but didn't see it necessary to ask him about it. "The one and only. And she was currently in our custody when Bumblebee moved in to retrieve them from the site"

Que pondered for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. "I suppose you have prior history with her?", the medic further inquired.

He 'cleared' his throat in response. "Let's say that I haven't had the best of times with her ever since the expedition at Eukaris", the inventor stated, lightly scratching his repaired faceplate with his servo. "Old wounds aren't so easily patched"

"I've heard of that of mission", Bulkhead spoke up from his spot. "Arcee's old partner Tailgate was sent to investigate rumors of Cons trying to make friends with the Fateweavers"

Ratchet decided to change the subject for the meantime, especially when time itself is a luxury they can't always afford. "But as with Arcee, the relic have resulted of them being turned to humans. And due to the extent of the damage, we may need your assistance to see that it would be fully repaired"

Que observed the fragments for a moment, his glasses activating for three additional lenses to enhance his visibility and bringing up one of the pieces for further analysis. This went on as he looked at each fragment before he deactivated his glasses.

"It's a long shot, but we might just make it work. Luckily, I still have the schematics to re-create the nanobots that could function as a sealant to put them back together", Que stated to the team. "While I'm at it, I would be able to configure equipment you might need if you're going on a mission"

Bulkhead was rather quick to agree with the proposition. "We'll take what we can get", he said. "Since we can't exactly use the relics we have in the field or might risk losing them"

"Speaking of relics, when are we going to move out, doc?", the three heard Wheeljack's voice as he went over to the briefing room. "We can't say when the Cons would make their next move"

"You can make your way to the coordinates our prisoner had given us now", the medic then gave Bulkhead a scanner. "Bumblebee and Optimus are already on their way to one of the locations Airachnid had given at Griffin Rock near the ocean."

Bulkhead took the device from Ratchet's servos, and the medic triggered the Ground Bridge to their next destination. "Come on", Wheeljack egged on his fellow Wrecker, giving him a friendly backhand on the chassis.

"And try not to damage the relic, Wheeljack", the Wrecker heard Ratchet's exasperated advice.

"You worry too much, Doc", Wheeljack assured him with a stupid grin on his faceplates. "We got this"

Arcee wasn't sure what to make out of all this.

It had been at least an hour since they entered the building, spending the time to explore interiors she never would have normally entered by any circumstance or be filled with human activity. So far, there's nothing really that has interested her that much, but she was not willing to express that to her partner. Not that she disliked it, but she was expecting some kind of activity that would get her off the rails for the moment.

Only for her to end up pushing a cart of groceries as Jack gathered the things that June asked him to buy for the house as one of his errands. And so far, she felt the fatigue building over her back as she leaned over to the handle and was careful not to fall over.

"How are you holding up, partner?", Her ears perked up when she heard Jack's voice hailing over her as he put a loaf of bread onto the cart. "You looked like you're gonna black out at any second"

She shook her head. "I'm fine, Jack", she stated. "But mind telling as to why June asked us for this to be our first stop?"

The teen clicked his tongue at that, thinking as to how to explain this one to her. "For starters, it's always bound to have a lot of people come over to get supplies, so it's best if we grab what we need as much as possible before stock runs out"

She raised an eyebrow at that. "Are humans really that demanding when it comes to their needs?", the former two-wheeler asked.

"Just as Cybertronians are for Energon, yeah", Jack simply replied with a chuckle.

Arcee made no argument at that, and she gazed upon the numerous stalls where people moved to purchase for their sustenance. And numerous glances she gave had resulted in her system in need of it. "We'll grab some food after we get through this, How about that?", the teen asked her.

She felt relief soaring through her. The thought of food was already starting to get the best of her but she wasn't easily convinced at the offer. "But I have a feeling that there's a catch for that", she snarked at his statement.

Her partner chuckled at that before he looked over at a small line of at least seven people waiting. "Well, you're gonna have to fall in line to check in with the stuff we brought. Just needed one more to clear the list that Mom gave us"

She sighed. At least it was better than nothing. "Fine", the former two-wheeler relented. "Just don't make me come and hunt you down if you don't come back"

He raised his hands up in defense at the friendly threat dramatically. "I will"

The waiting didn't really take long. After having dealt with the groceries (Although Arcee would never tell him how she was becoming worried as she neared the clerk and he hasn't known it yet), they needed to make a few detours by buying clothes that were suitable for Arcee's size, even though doing so is questionable since she's going to remain as a human temporarily and could simply use June's old clothes. Not that he minded anyway.

So right now, he and his partner walked around and explored the complex, with his partner asking him about places that interest her in the slightest.

"What's that over there?"

Jack looked over in the direction where Arcee's finger was pointing, towards a spot where heavy equipment was displayed alongside a few people already performing their exercise routines.

"That over there is the gym", he explained to her, as the two stopped in front of the establishment. "That's where people would work out to get some big guns if you know what I mean"

Arcee looked over at the establishment, intrigued, watching as the other humans lifted otherwise heavy objects meant to improve their overall physical strength and their speed via repeating platforms. "So in essence, how humans would gain organic upgrades for their frames?", she curiously asked.

"Sounds about right, except you literally have to work for it", he affirmed her queries. "Why do you ask?"

She looked over him, from head to toe as if she were analyzing him for any defects. "From the looks of it, I'd say you'd need upgrades too", the former two-wheeler cooly replied. "Given how you managed to barely outrun the likes of Airachnid and Sylas, I always thought on how to get you some improvements along the way without involving the technological insertion of your frame"

Jack smiled at that, looking at himself on one of the transparent glass of one of the shops beside them. "Maybe, I do", he agreed with her, noticing the height difference between them (She had to be at least nearing six feet). Not only that, but how thin he looked compared to her physically. "But never really had the time if school and work are talked about"

The pair continued their walk, hearing the combination of music and vendors trying to attract customers along that way which signifies how busy things were going on for them. Jack looked over his wallet, grimacing at the object's lack of contents inside. "Aw, man..."

Noticing her partner's mild frustration, Arcee nudged him by the elbow. "Something wrong, Jack?"

"I'm just out of cash in hand, so I'll have to head over and withdraw from the ATM over there", he explained to her, handing her his load. "Can you hold these for me?"

Arcee grabbed the two shopping bags he had been carrying, watching as he lined up behind a few people waiting for their turn at the station.

I wonder how Optimus and the rest are doing..., she thought to herself. While she was out having her own leisure, she couldn't help but worry for her team, especially given the Intel that Airachnid gave them during her interrogation. Naturally, she didn't trust a single word from her claims, but she elected to follow her trust in their leader, praying that Primus would watch over them.

But still, why would Airachnid willingly help them? Of course, there is the possibility of her gaining the trust of the Autobots in order to strike when the time was right. Not only that, she had given them a scope of what the Cons had been doing. She might have only been cooperating because she may be thinking that there might be something in it for her in exchange for her help. But what? More leisure? Activities? Or even full exoneration?

It was a laughable joke. For all the crimes that Airachnid had done, she deserved to be locked up indefinitely and not see the light of day. And if she had her way, she would have had Fowler detain her in the most secure prison that his government would offer, and let her fall apart from the circumstances surrounding her.

She shook her head. She refused to think in a mindset befitting of a Con. Breathing out, she allowed her mind to relax from the memories she had been inflicted with and something that'll clear her head. But what?

Her eyes wandered off toward another establishment within the mall, and she walked inside to find numerous furry creatures being adored by the people inside. It was a pet shop, and it wasn't the first time of her seeing them, but she never had an actual interaction with any of them.

She didn't have much experience when it comes to animals, even after landing on Earth following the exodus three years ago. As much as she could, she would have allowed strays in the form of cats and dogs to cross first before she would move on when on patrol since they aren't necessarily threats that would blow their cover or even prove a risk for the Autobots as a whole.

Except when dogs would urinate at her wheels whenever she was parked or when birds from the sky popped out excrement onto her vehicle form without any care of the world.

She could recall Cliff and Bulkhead laughing at her misfortune that one time before smacking him right in the helm and having him fetch a hose to get them off from her chassis.

Arcee looked over at the cages the birds were holding as they fed on seeds, not aware of the fact that she had bumped over one of the customers inside. "S-sorry!", she politely said to the person she bumped into.

"Sorry!"

She looked over at the white and yellow parrot, raising an inquisitive eyebrow as she did. "Hello?"

"Hello!"

Huh, I guess humans aren't the only ones with features of their own, she thought, fascinated at the variety they've shown. She shifted forward, watching as numerous four-legged animals looked over the customers indifferently and some were just straight up sleeping. But a pair of eyes received her attention.

A red male Golden Retriever puppy stood with its hind legs and stuck out its tongue as it breathed out excitedly towards the tall woman with its front legs leaning over the fence. Arcee knelt down in one knee to meet the small animal head one where she held up a hand. The puppy's head quickly leaned over as her fingers softly scratched his fur and through his skin.

"All right, Arcee", he walked over to the spot where she was last standing as he stored the withdrawn money to his wallet. "Let's go for some lunch, I'm buying-"

Only to find her inside the pet shop, having left their bags outside where he quickly scooped over and thanked that no one had taken them. He was about to enter the premises and tell her that they were done.

That is until he saw how she treated one of the puppies and the face of both joy and delight that he hadn't seen for quite some time.

It just felt wrong for him to interrupt the moment and he patiently waited as Arcee lifted the puppy by its front legs, earning a flurry of licks from its small tongue on her nose, tickling the bluenette. The former two-wheeler giggled at the affection it gave to her unconditionally, gently stroking the tiny animal's back as she caressed him.

He only watched as he put his hands on his waist, brightly smiling as he watched a new bond grow before him

If she's happy, then he's happy too.

Meanwhile...

"We got one lead, Bulkhead. Right now, we're at the middle of nowhere with no Cons in sight, and we don't even know if Spidey's intel is any good"

Bulkhead looked over the sword-wielding Wrecker as he held his scanner, waiting for a new signal. "It's still worth investigating, Jackie", he reasoned out. "Besides, I'd rather not have her laughing at us for not believing her. Last communication I have with Optimus and Bee shows that they've already found the relic at Griffin Rock"

"Now that's a first", Wheeljack commented, impressed that they're now making progress. "Any Cons they're meeting along the way?"

"A triple-changer", Bulkhead replied in uncertainty. "Likely made from Shockwave experimenting on the procedure. But also damaged his mental system in the process"

His scanner began to flicker mid-sentence, looking over at the area before them. "Hang on, I'm getting a reading". With haste, the two kept their cover, watching as a familiar hammer- Decepticon was already mining the area, and it was Breakdown, with right optic having been covered by a metal piece.

And that he wasn't alone.

Another Cybertronian punched the ground as he searched for the relic in purple and metallic green colors. He was a head taller than Bulkhead and Breakdown, and his body bore parts resembling that of the human military's bombers, with the front of the vehicle acting as the chassis of his body. But his most defining feature was his face; it had five optics where the middle is the largest, reminding them of those who had undergone the Empurata process.

"We must hurry!", the purple Con exclaimed as he punched the cliffside once more. "We will not sully the glorious name of Decepticons with our delays!

"Yeah, yeah...", Breakdown only commented in mild annoyance as he smashed another rock with his hammer. Why am I being paired with this glitch again?

The sword-wielding Wrecker looked over the con and frowned as he recognized him. "Eh, Lugnut...", Wheeljack uttered the Con's name as the two remained hidden from their view.

Bulkhead looked over at his partner with a shocked expression. "From the Mayhem Squad?"

"Yeah, butted heads with him more than a few times", Wheeljack recalled, his tone having gone distastefully when recalling a few memories. "He and his twin Clobber were the squad taking down Autobot outposts that aren't supposed to be punched through"

"Guess the relic will have to wait for then", Bulkhead then stood up, with Wheeljack following suit. "Your call". Wheeljack only activated his battle mask in response, readying his signature swords at the same time.

They creep over the two Decepticons from their spot, only to hear a homing sound coming closer to them at every nanocycle that passed by them. The white Wrecker's optics widened in alarm at what he saw and quickly moved in next to his partner.

"GET DOWN!", With all his strength, Wheeljack forced Bulkhead onto the surface as a volley of missiles hailed over them, causing numerous explosions to occur at their location.

Lugnut's middle optic glowed as it shrunk, closing the hatches of the launchers located at his back. His fist glowed like metallic heat, designed to pulverize those who dare oppose the Decepticons as a whole.

"Keep looking for the relic!", the bomber ordered the blue Decepticon beside him, intending to deal with the two interlopers. "Lord Megatron's prize must be secured!"

Yep, only a couple of additions will be put from that series and I'll also show what's happening on Optimus and Bee's part. We'll continue on with the next once I've dealt with some school work. Rate and review!