Spectre: Never thought this would earn quite a following. Finished Fall of Cybertron and it was a masterpiece. Really wanted to replay Grimlock's mission but it feels so long to replay. All right then, here goes.

Regarding the possible new additions in the story, I'm putting four Autobots and four Decepticons. Don't really want a bloated cast because handling their personalities is hard.

Also watched Galvatron's Revenge as an analysis. Can't believe he did Onslaught so dirty that people refer to him as Goonslaught.

RockHord: I'll try and keep it up!

Th3FOOL: A bit taller, due to the nature of the vehicle form I have in mind for him.

Arch-Angel-Writer: Feel free to post it in the reviews!

Vitalfire: Thanks! I always like the idea of 'flipping the script.'

Mgl206: Exactly!

Yaethe: Would flip a coin to see how it would go. But we'll see!

Chapter 3: Diagnostics

Puttng her cup of coffee down on the table, June could only hold her head in frustration owing to the lack of sleep from yesterday. Her eyes were evidently puffy, as she had waited all night long to know where her son had went.

He had told her that he was going straight to the Autobot base right after his shift from work, with Arcee picking him up to go there. But when night came in and no sign of Jack, she initially didn't worry since she was confident that Arcee would watch over him as usual but after calling him several times, she didn't receive any reply from him or his friends. She waited. And waited until she fell asleep without knowing what happened to him. Her recent phone call to the Autobot base haven't yielded any results either, and she was seriously considering calling Agent Fowler to know what happened to her son.

She heard her door being knocked a few times. Could it be, Jack?, she thought to herself. prompting her to briefly wash her face to at least try and get the bags off her eyes before rushing in to see if her son had gone home.

But it wasn't him. And in his place, stood the Autobots' liason who patiently waited for her. "Agent Fowler.", the nurse warmly greeted the official. "How can I help you?"

Fowler's gaze remained solemn as he inquired, "Mrs. Darby, have you heard from Jack tonight?"

June's heart skipped a beat. "No, I haven't," she replied, the worry clear in her voice. "Is something wrong?"

The agent nodded gravely. "I'm afraid so. We need you to come to the Autobot base with me," he said, his voice low and serious. ""All I can say is that he's fine. But it's best if you come along with me to talk to Prime about him"

Her anxiety spiked, but she knew better than to argue. "Okay," she murmured, getting ready herself. "Let's go."

"Auditory sensors, balanced...and optic circuits online."

Lying on the berth of the late Cliffjumper, the protoform looked over his metallic arms, realizing he had woken up. It had felt like he was still dazed and in need for more rest, something that he would feel whenever he had to wake up from sleeping. But it only lasted for a few moments, before he began to feel being up and running for the day once more. "It seems your systems are functioning well, if you could call that a good sign from someone who had been different not long ago"

Jack's optics blinked. "Ratchet?", he looked over to the medic inputting something onto his datapad before he shifted his attention to him. "How long have you been there?"

Ratchet put down his datapad, then carefully scanning him. "Not long. I have just told Arcee to get herself some rest while I have to run a few diagnostics into your systems. Optimus felt that you are in need in close supervision while the Module is currently being repaired"

Jack felt a bit surprised at that. "Arcee's been watching over me?", he asked. He didn't know that she had been with him all this time, and assuming she returned to her own quarters once he had powered down for the night.

"She felt that she needed to because your newfound form may prove...detrimental to your well-being", the medic informed him, looking pleased that Jack's demeanor was cooperative to make this easier for him. "At least on how you feel while you were asleep. The others felt that she wouldn't get you off her side until Optimus convinced her to.."

The protoform felt gratitude for his partner sticking up to him, even if his condition was caused by his own curiosities. "I guess I should thank her for that...", he laughed a little, but then beginning to feel his weight weighing him down when he tried to get up from his berth, causing Ratchet to glance over him inquisitively.

"Is there something wrong, Jack?"

Jack rubbed his metallic head, still trying to get used to his new body. "Yeah, jus felt a little weak...", he groaned, shaking his head before he shook his right arm. "If that's how you're supposed to say it if a being little heavy would add up to it"

The look he gave him indicated that the medic immediately knew what he needed. "It seems you're low on power", he pointed out to him before he turned to the door and looked back at him. "Come on, you are in need of Energon before I would have to conduct a few check-ups to see if you're working well enough"

Jack agreed with the notion, lifting himself up from the berth and his feet touched the floor below him, feeling unbalanced when he finally stood straight with his two legs. "Can you walk by yourself?", Ratchet quipped, preparing to help him if need be.

The protoform shook his head response, taking a few steps to show him that he didn't need to. "Yeah...it really felt like having your first steps again as a baby", Jack admitted, signalling Ratchet to go on ahead while he followed suit.

Steadily, he went over to find Bulkhead and Bumblebee having their ration of Energon, with the latter waving his hand at him as he was happy to see that he was alright. "Hey, Jack!", the Wrecker called out to him, finishing the injection of Energon into his systems. " How are ya holding up?"

The protoform didn't know what to say, other than a subtle nod. "I guess I'm fine, but Ratchet said that I need to take what you guys are having if I'm going to function."

Bulkhead gestured Jack to come over. "Knock yourself out, Jack! We got plenty from the last mission, so take what you need."

Jack stood by, looking at the medic bringing up a container of the blue liquid being prepared for him. "So how do you guys take Energon?"

"Depends on how with the bot", Bulkhead explained to him, having already gotten his ration for day. "We could eat it raw as a crystal after harvesting it or have it refined to be drank or injected into our systems."

"And at this case, refined liquid Energon is best injected since it goes directly into the inner functions of the frame", Ratchet brought up the container into the protoform's arm. He went over to Jack, taking his arm where he found a compartment that would allow the flow of the liquid inside him.

"Didn't know I had one of those...", Jack commented with uncertainty.

"There are plenty of things that you have yet to learn regarding your temporary body, Jack.", Ratchet told him, putting the container and connecting it into his arm. With a slight turn, Jack could feel within his new systems that he was rejuvenated, watching as the last drop of Energon was inserted within his systems.

"Huh, I guess that's how cars and devices feel when you powered them up.", Jack wondered in fascination, moving his limbs and finding that they feel lighter than before.

Ratchet nodded, satisfied that went smoothly. "Now we have taken care of that, I would need you to lie on that berth so I could perform diagnostics to your systems"

Jack did as he was asked, placing his arms onto a holder as Ratchet began to scan his body for any issues while Bumblebee and Bulkhead watched him closely to see how he was taking it. Ratchet was scolling down for every succesful scan, nodding in approval for every clear that appeared before him.

"Audio receptors are working. Voice box operational...processors in functioning capacity...and Energon flow stable", Ratchet recounted his scans onto the Protoform, something that Jack took as good news. "But I recommend some trigger time to check the calibration and so see if your limbs are performing as expected."

"Let me check your sensors. Try looking left, right, up then down.", the medic instructed. Jack did what was asked, hearing a few whirs that came in moving his body. "Okay, perform any gestures using your fingers...", Ratchet instructed next. Jack's fingers did an 'okay' sign, followed by a thumbs up then a peace sign. "Are you sure your joints are working as expected? Because I'd rather not deal with malfunctioning parts."

Jack responded by raising his middle finger slowly at him. "Well, my finger can transform like usual."

Ratchet looked at him with a deadpanned expression. "Now that's just rude, Jack."

"Sorry, Ratchet", Jack chuckled. "Thought it would be funny"

"How's he hanging, Ratchet?"

The two looked over to find Arcee approaching them, having taken her ration of Energon for the day. Her blue optics met Jack's, coming over to his side to make sure he's okay. "Basic systems are working as expected. Typical functions for Cybertronians are stable. But we do have to at least help him practice his movements in order to improve his overall functionality."

Arcee looked pleased at that news. "All right then, Jack. Try it out by punching Ratchet in the face."

"I recommend that you don't do that.", Ratchet commented while his optics never left the datapad he was holding.

Optimus approached Ratchet on his station, as Arcee had taken Jack out to help him into his new form. The leader's visage was stoic was usual, but he held hope that Jack would soo return to his original form as he did not feel it to be right to change another being's genetic code. "Ratchet, how goes the Reformatting Module's progress?", he asked the medic.

"For someone who is a human just about a day ago, I would say he's somewhat adapting into his new body, but needs more experience if he is to function properly", Ratchet replied, checking Jack's overall frame onto the console before them.

The leader went over him, leaning over . "Share what you have learned, old friend.", he requested.

"Oh, did we miss something already?", the pair looked to find Raf and Miko approaching them with Bumblebee and Bulkhead behind them. "Hope it's something that helps Jack!"

Optimus gestured Ratchet to proceed with his explanation, where he then began to tap in a few buttons detailing the Protoform's structure. "As you are aware, Cybertronians all have a Spark that gives them life", he began. "So when Jack had interacted with the relic..."

The screen zoomed in where Optimus, Ratchet and the rest had gotten a better view of the protoform's internal workings, zooming in to feature something unusual that is located where his heart was supposed to be. "It's a Spark. But as to how that changed is anyone's guess."

"Regarding other properties within Jack, his functions are identical as with other Cybertronians such as Energon consumption and other basic procedures that our kind are able to do"

"Any damage to this core of his would mean dire consequences", Optimus grimly finished for the medic. "It is best that we minimize his contact from the Decepticons as much as possible."

"Of course, since he's a bigger and easier target for the Cons to shoot at.", Bulkhead agreed with the leader.

Miko had other ideas. "Since Jack is like Bulk and rest, does that mean he's able to turn into cars like you guys?", she asked, eager for an answer.

"Analysis into his protoform body made that a possibility", Ratchet replied, observing him. "Because a T-Cog is also part of his functionalities since he is a Cybertronian except in origin."

"Sweet!", Miko swooned at the idea. "Maybe he could give us a ride home or show that jerk Vince who's got the better wheels!"

"I don't think becoming a car is part of his bucket list, Miko...", Raf reminded her in a deadpanned tone then turned to Ratchet and Optimus. "But he's gonna be okay, right?"

Bulkhead stepped forward. "From what we could see, he's doing well for himself. But the kid's still got a life outside of ours, so we need to work on that relic, stat!", the Wrecker said with determination.

The base's ringtone came, and Ratchet asnwered to find Agent Fowler at the other side of the end. "Ratchet? Prime? Are you still there at the base?", his tone was clearly urgent.

"We are here, Agent Fowler.", Optimus answered him, while the rest listened carefully.

"Good, because I need someone to explain to June as to what happened with Jack, and I sure as heck can't explain that in human terms!", Fowler replied from the line, causing everyone, except Optimus, to look at one another with uncertainty as to how they're going to deal with that next.

"Can't you just tell me what's going on with Jack or I swear I'm gonna have a heart attack if it's something bad!", June's voice can be heard at the call. "He wouldn't tell me what happened to him!"

"We'll get there when we get there!", he haphazardly told her in urgency and worry. "We'll be there shortly, okay?"

The line went dead. Immediately, the rest were concerned as to how would they explain it to June. Bumblebee spoke up using his 'voice'. Maybe we can just tell her the truth right away?, he beeped.

"I mean, there's not really a point in trying to lie your way out of that.", Bulkhead agreed with him, but he wasn't too keen in hearing out what she may think as to what happened with Jack.

Ratchet only grunted in exhaustion. "Primus help us..."

Next chapter would focus on June discovering as to what happened to Jack and finding his vehicle form. Leave a review!