Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Of Earth & Seed
It was a typical Saturday morning in Jasper, Nevada, a backwater town smack dab in the middle of the desert. Only seven a.m. and already a whopping ninety-degrees. Arcee watched from inside the Darby’s garage as convection currents danced from the pavement. Today was predicted to be a scorcher; not uncommon for this arid climate, of course. However, that wasn’t about to deter her and Jack from taking part in an unusual town-wide event.
The first annual Jasper Car Show.
Rumor has it, the event was a high-dollar gimmick strung together by the mayor to boost both revenue and, hopefully, population. Regardless of politics, hearing her favorite human talk about such a unique affair got her engines revved and raring to go. Model cars. Auctions. Raffles. People. Food—not that she cared, but Jack did. It took all her restraint to power down and kick back when she had reached the house.
Allowing her mind to wander, Arcee imagined all the fun that she was about to have with Jack, just seeing the sights together. It would be like a small adventure, but without mission objectives or Decepti-freaks interrupting them. Looking forward to Jack’s undivided attention, she was eager to learn more about this world from his perspective. Quality bonding was sure to pass by like a breeze, but she wouldn’t forget it. While her optics had long stared off into the morning sky, Arcee’s daydreams were soon interrupted. The drawn out whine of the door leading to the garage quickly coaxed her back into reality as the hinges protested from open-to-close. Priming her engine into ignition, the two-wheeler felt the rush of fuel and air filling her cylinders.
“Morning, Jack.”
“Morning, Arcee.”
“Ready to go?”
“Just about…still waiting to hear back from Raf and Miko.”
“Oh…,” She hummed, “were they planning to go too?”
“Not sure,” he mumbled. “But—uh—word around school is that Sierra is supposed to show up.”
A spike of jealousy pricked at Arcee’s processor at the mention of his friends and adolescent crush possibly being there. Having originally been under the impression that this would be their long-overdue getaway, she didn’t calculate this outcome. Nevertheless, Jasper was a small town. It would be naïve to think that they wouldn’t run into anyone. Diligently stifling an exasperated sigh, the Autobot brushed the matter aside. Even though she was his guardian, and while they didn’t always get to hang out one-on-one, some time was better than no time.
“Well, we can always meet them there, right?”
“Yeah, well…”
“Hey! If anyone asks, you only have room for two—not three.”
Jack chuckled, “Fair point.” Playfully revving the throttle, Arcee’s exhaust roared with infectious enthusiasm. Grinning ear-to-ear, the teen shoved his cellphone into his front pocket before palming a nearby helmet. Placing it on his head, he joked, “Twist my arm, why don’t ya?”
Arcee didn’t bother to respond for as soon as Jack seated himself, she peeled out of the driveway, earning her a prompt “eeek!” of concern.
“Slow down, Arcee. The car show isn’t until eight, we’ve got plenty of time to kill.”
Engines purring down the street, she chuckled, “All the more reason to get a little joyride in. Wuddya say?” His response came in subtle cues as he leaned forward, hugging her body with a tight squeeze of the knees. Charging forward, they quickly exited the neighborhood and found themselves cruising down the highway. It was good to feel the asphalt beneath her tires, the smell of nature, and musky…cologne. Wait—cologne??? Oh, boy! Jack was certainly laying it on thick.
She sputtered.
“Everything good, Arcee?”
“Peachy,” she deadpanned.
“So, where we headed?”
“Just the usual stroll in the canyons.”
“Sweet,” he quieted.
“Yeah…”
“Can’t remember the last time we went out just the two of us.”
“Yeah, well, enemy activity has decreased from the norm in this past week. Kind of oddly quiet for our unwanted, next-door neighbors, but I guess I’ll take it.”
Their conversation died out as soon as they hit the city limits, coming due south into the ridgeline. It wasn’t uncomfortable silence, just their mutual norm of sharing the moment, but without excessive words. Perhaps that’s why they got along so well. They understood when to share and when to step back. They were happy to talk and also be close in nearness of approach while giving the other space. Sure, they both came with their baggage, but they didn’t pry unless the other was willing.
Sometimes it amazed her how complex Jack could be for someone so young.
Even his mother—June Darby—could be quite intriguing.
Putting these things aside, Arcee cleared her mind, taking in every lull, curve, and bump in the road. Before long, they ascended the steep grade of a nearby butte, which eventually petered out onto its tabletop plateau. As far as the eye could see, everything was washed in morning sunlight as they came to a stop at the tourist pullover spot. The terracotta earth was in a war of light and shadow, the lackluster city far below glinting ever so slightly. Just as Jack hopped off, the two-wheeler reverted to her humanoid form.
Taking a seat at the cliffside, Arcee sat by a small patch of Prickly Pear cacti which dared to grow in the infertile, sandy soil. While it was wasn’t necessarily a secret, the Autobot loved observing these very strange specimens. An eclectic assembly of large and small spikey paddles, their unique colors were an amalgamation of melon-green, canary yellow, and rich purple. Some sported new bulbs while others had only begun to blossom in shades of gold, peach, scarlet, and cerise. Smiling fondly at them, she thought about how much they reminded her of herself. Not in a conceited way, of course, for she and they were beautiful, but dangerous.
If anything, it was a confidence booster.
Even a plant that was prickly and rough around the edges could be worth it to the right person.
After a while, Jack settled alongside her, kicking his legs over the cliff side. “Hey, Arcee…?” She flicked her optics toward her fleshling ward, his stormy blues starring back at her inquisitively. “What happens when the war is over?”
“You mean ‘if’?”
“No, I mean ‘when’.”
She hummed thoughtfully, “That’s a…depressing…question. I guess we go back home to Cybertron.”
“You wouldn’t stay? Even if you got the choice?”
“Isn’t there a commuting option?”
Propping his head in his hands, Jack sighed. “You and I both know that’s not really happening.”
“Even if I got the choice?”
He shrugged.
“To be honest, I don’t know… Hard to say, but one way or another, the day may come when I have to make a choice.”
“Will,” he corrected.
“Why are you asking about this now?”
He shrugged again.
Arcee nudged Jack with her elbow. “You concerned I’m gonna leave you?”
Silence.
She sighed. “Whether I do or don’t—let’s not ruin a perfectly good day by thinking ourselves into the ground, okay? It’s not good for you.” Pause. “I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m not about to start making you empty promises. While I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.”
Jack scratched his neck. “Yeah, I guess…that’s enough.”
“Hey,“ she nudged him again.
For a small moment, Jack glanced at her before gazing off into the horizon, signature poker face cemented in place. Arcee tended to view this stoic manner of his to be something of a shield. While he appeared untouchable—undefeatable even—she knew it was all a facade. Deep down, the boy craved connection and unwavering constants in his life. Something that seemed to be rare in his upbringing, outside of his parental unit.
“When your Mom goes to work, does she stop being your Mom?”
“I don’t know what this has to—”
“Just answer the question, Jack.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
“When Raph or Miko go on a trip, do they stop being your friends?”
“No…”
“When I go out on missions to the far reaches of this planet, do I cease to be someone who cares about you?”
“No.”
“There’s a season to all things, Jack. Not everything lasts forever. And while time and experiences tend to make individuals grow together or apart, learn to think on the good times.”
“I know, I know,” he answered, fending off her answer waspishly. “I’m not a broken little kid that you have to explain this to me.”
“Oh no you don’t!” Arcee chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Don’t get all macho on me. You started this conversation, so toughen up and hear the answers. Even if you don’t like them.” Jack grumbled at her shortly before playfully mocking her last statement in childish falsetto. Under normal circumstances, she would have hated it. Right now, it artfully cut the tension between them, making her laugh. “You’re a good kid, Jack. Resilient too. Even if I’m gone, you’ll do fine like always.”
“But…what if…I don’t want you to go?” Jack stated, rubbing his neck. Arcee stared at him, pondering such a simple declaration of appreciation. He wanted—her –to stick around? One astro-second turned-to-ten, turned-to-twenty. Before she knew it, he hopped to his feet and turned away from her, completely embarrassed. “Way to leave me hanging.”
“I—,” she paused, feeling a warmth fill her chest. “You caught me off guard. I don’t know what to say, but…it made me happy to hear it.”
“Yeah, well, remember the good times Arcee. You’re never hearing me say it again.”
The two-wheeler grinned mischievously, pulling him in with the crook of her arm. “Think you’re hilarious, do you?” Rubbing her pointer-servo joint across the top of his head, she scrubbed as gently as she could manage. Jack giggled as he desperately attempted to fend her off, arms flailing, to no avail.
“Alright, alright! Uncle!” he shouted.
Arcee conceded with a winner’s grin and playfully shoved him away. “ I guess we should probably head—”
Hesitating, the Autobot quickly quieted as a billowing dirt cloud just beyond Jack’s shoulder caught her acute attention. Internal sensors scoping in on the strange sight, espied a singular muscle car rounding the highway’s steep grade, heading toward their current location. Wordlessly, she transformed into an unsuspecting blue motorcycle, propped up on its kickstand. The young teen didn’t ask her questions, long used to their incognito style of song and dance. She heard him kick the dirt as soon as he palmed his helmet, the metal cinches on the chinstrap clinking quickly together.
Jack mumbled hurriedly, “Oh, great, it’s Vince.”
“Easy now, Jack.”
“Easy for you to say, you don’t have to deal with him.”
Not airing her grievance, Arcee sighed. “Oh, yes I do! Every time he bothers you!”
With a quick jerk of the handles, the Autobot felt her frame shift upright as Jack swung a leg over. Just as his weight depressed her suspension shocks and the kickstand popped into place, her engine quickly ignited with a loud whine. One she had diligently perfected for when obnoxious meatheads—like Vince—decided to come around. No sooner had she done this, than the muscle car’s exhaust roared behind them, brakes squealing, and tires rushing to a stop upon the loose gravel.
“Oy, loser! You’re blocking the view.”
Arcee immediately tensed as her cooling fans suddenly expelled a burst of frustrated heat . “Play it cool! This is just juvenile delinquency at its most annoying.”
“You’re not the only one in town who likes to visit this spot, Vince!” Jack clapped back. Her tires slowly rotated as he turned them both roundabout to face their bungling obstacle half-standing outside of his driver-side window.
“Yeah, well,” Vince hemmed and hawed as the familiar whine of a lowering window filled the stress-filled air between them. “You’re the only one in town who didn’t bring a date up here. Now, amscray!”
With the window now completely lowered, Arcee took in one of the most regretful sights she had seen in quite a while. The term “caught red-handed” came to mind, but she never realized the phrase could be reinterpreted as “caught red-headed” until now. Practically melting into the black leather, passenger seat was Memorial High School’s star cheerleader—Sierra. The two-wheeler felt her lines freeze over with instant horror, knowing full well that Jack wouldn’t take to it kindly.
“Sierra, you’re…”
“Hi, Jack,” the girl waved weakly as her freckled cheeks flared cherry pink. Barely able to maintain eye contact, she looked down into her lap. The word “guilty” hung over her expression as she seemed to squirm uncomfortably in place.
“W-why are you here?” Jack asked, defeat heavy in his voice. “And with him?”
“Reality check, nerd!” Vince chuckled. “Sierra would never go out with a freak like you!”
“S-shut up, Vince! Quit teasing him,” the cheerleader shouted . “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Well,” Jack sniped, “apparently he does.”
Arcee felt the pull of her throttle and in astro-seconds flat, shot down the road. Doing her due diligence, the two-wheeler did her best to kick up gravel in the dirt cloud that trailed after them. Neither spoke as they sped back to town in awkward silence—joyride officially over. Empathy stirred up the motorcycle’s tank in a worried frenzy for the next several miles. She felt consumed with regret and frustration, strands of self-loathing weaving it all together.
If it hadn’t been for Arcee’s earlier bout of jealousy-laced excitement, neither of them would have been in that gut-wrenching situation. They wouldn’t have even gone up to that stupid butte either! They wouldn’t be peeling down the highway at mach five, running a half-joor late to the car show. Most importantly, they wouldn’t have known of the cheerleader’s misdeeds, nor the jock’s prideful machismo.
In short: THIS. WAS. ALL. HER. FAULT!
“Jack, do you want to—”
“No, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Look, I’m s—"
“Arcee!” he yelled irritably. “That’s the last thing I want to hear right now.”
She quieted just as a small part of her died inside.
Unsure of what else to do, she sent a message to Miko for backup.