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Description
Jack was surprised when Bulkhead came to pick him up and the others up from school.

"Hey Bulk, where's 'Cee? We were gonna go riding this afternoon"

Bulkhead's spark broke at the ignorance of the teenager.

"Everyone's commin' with me. I have something I need to speak to you all about, especially you, Jack"

Jack felt something in his chest drop. He new something was very wrong.

-------------------------------------

"........what?"

The hushed whisper seemed to resonate through the cab.

"Oh my God! Jack! I'm so sorry!" Miko said, hugging Jack, giving him small comfort.

"Dreadwing was her killer?" Raf asked.

"Yeah, the con bastard stabbed her through the spark, she had no chance."

Jack winced at Bulkhead's unsubtle confirmation. Bulkhead noticed this and tightened the seat belt around Jack, in an imitation of a hug.

"Jack, Arcee died a warriors death, she wouldn't want you-"

He was cut short as Jack, who was the strongest of their human companions, burst into tears. This caused Miko and Raf to also weep.

Bulkhead was at a loss. He didn't know how to deal with emotions, wreckers would just punch you on the shoulder and get you a drink of high-grade if you had problems, but this, this was different. Most humans couldn't just brush something like this off. Bulkhead couldn't think of anything to do, so, they solemnly drove to the base, the silence broken only by the sobs of Jack.

-------------------------------------

Jack couldn't remember arriving at the base, or the condolences of the bots. He couldn't even remember his mothers comforting embrace. The only clear thing was seeing the lifeless body of his guardian, who was like family, a sister. The sight was the most painful thing in his life, even more so than the vague memory of his father walking out of his life. Throughout the funeral, he could only see Arcee's dead face.

Memories of their time together swirled through his mind, their meeting, becoming family, their arguments and their great moments of friendship.

To say he would miss her was the greatest understatement ever.

-------------------------------------

Optimus looked over to Jack, who was sitting on the edge of the Mesa, watching the sun fade over the desert.

"It's so beautiful, the sunset." Jacks voice had a far away tone.

Optimus approach but Jack didn't even notice as he eased himself down to the ledge.

"Life is like the sun. We are born, with the rising sun and, when the sun sets, so does our life." The prime answered.

Jack continued to gaze at the darkening sky,

"I should of been there Optimus, should of been there to warn her."

He hung his head as emotions started to take over.

"You would not of been able to do anything Jack. War is an ugly affair. If blamed is to be placed, it should be placed on myself."

"Optimus, no-"

"No Jack, Arcee's spark was extinguished because of my actions. I intended to convince Dreadwing to see reason and join the Autobot cause, but I misjudged the level of anger he had over the demise of his twin."

"His twin?" Jack looked up at Optimus in confusion.

Optimus was silent for sometime before answering Jacks question.

"Dreadwing's twin brother was a mighty warrior by the name of Skyquake, they shared a split-spark, and as such, had a closer relationship than any other Cybertronians. Skyquake was a fiercely loyal soldier of Megatron, sent to earth to guard Energon stockpiles. He was awakened from stasis by Starscream, but soon exhibited that he would not take his orders. I tried to reason him to help me end the war but he would not betray the decepticons. Skyquake and I, along with Bumblebee fought him, until he was defeated, brought low by Bumblebee. We burried him in the canyon he awoke, and died in. It was the same canyon you and the others where trapped in"

"So, the zombie that was in in the shadow zone was..."

"Skyquake."

"So that's why Dreadwing wanted you dead."

"Yes. I should not of brought Arcee. It is my fault that she died."

Jack put a hand on Optimus's giant servo.

"It is not your fault, Optimus, Arcee wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

Optimus's solemn blue optics looked into Jacks equally blue eyes.

"Jack, I made a promise. I promised to protect you until the end of days, be they yours, or mine. Will you accept my offer?"

Jacks was humbled. Here was Optimus Prime, the wisest person he knew, leader of the Autobots, the last of the Primes, asking HIS permission to be his new guardian.

"Optimus, I wouldn't want any other." They shared a small smile,

"Thank you, Jack."

The sun turned her face on the world and the stars kindled in the sky as two beings, worlds apart but similar in so many ways, shared a brief moment of comfort, before the weight of the world returned to their lives.

Description
Jack was surprised when Bulkhead came to pick him up and the others up from school.

"Hey Bulk, where's 'Cee? We were gonna go riding this afternoon"

Bulkhead's spark broke at the ignorance of the teenager.

"Everyone's commin' with me. I have something I need to speak to you all about, especially you, Jack"

Jack felt something in his chest drop. He new something was very wrong.

-------------------------------------

"........what?"

The hushed whisper seemed to resonate through the cab.

"Oh my God! Jack! I'm so sorry!" Miko said, hugging Jack, giving him small comfort.

"Dreadwing was her killer?" Raf asked.

"Yeah, the con bastard stabbed her through the spark, she had no chance."

Jack winced at Bulkhead's unsubtle confirmation. Bulkhead noticed this and tightened the seat belt around Jack, in an imitation of a hug.

"Jack, Arcee died a warriors death, she wouldn't want you-"

He was cut short as Jack, who was the strongest of their human companions, burst into tears. This caused Miko and Raf to also weep.

Bulkhead was at a loss. He didn't know how to deal with emotions, wreckers would just punch you on the shoulder and get you a drink of high-grade if you had problems, but this, this was different. Most humans couldn't just brush something like this off. Bulkhead couldn't think of anything to do, so, they solemnly drove to the base, the silence broken only by the sobs of Jack.

-------------------------------------

Jack couldn't remember arriving at the base, or the condolences of the bots. He couldn't even remember his mothers comforting embrace. The only clear thing was seeing the lifeless body of his guardian, who was like family, a sister. The sight was the most painful thing in his life, even more so than the vague memory of his father walking out of his life. Throughout the funeral, he could only see Arcee's dead face.

Memories of their time together swirled through his mind, their meeting, becoming family, their arguments and their great moments of friendship.

To say he would miss her was the greatest understatement ever.

-------------------------------------

Optimus looked over to Jack, who was sitting on the edge of the Mesa, watching the sun fade over the desert.

"It's so beautiful, the sunset." Jacks voice had a far away tone.

Optimus approach but Jack didn't even notice as he eased himself down to the ledge.

"Life is like the sun. We are born, with the rising sun and, when the sun sets, so does our life." The prime answered.

Jack continued to gaze at the darkening sky,

"I should of been there Optimus, should of been there to warn her."

He hung his head as emotions started to take over.

"You would not of been able to do anything Jack. War is an ugly affair. If blamed is to be placed, it should be placed on myself."

"Optimus, no-"

"No Jack, Arcee's spark was extinguished because of my actions. I intended to convince Dreadwing to see reason and join the Autobot cause, but I misjudged the level of anger he had over the demise of his twin."

"His twin?" Jack looked up at Optimus in confusion.

Optimus was silent for sometime before answering Jacks question.

"Dreadwing's twin brother was a mighty warrior by the name of Skyquake, they shared a split-spark, and as such, had a closer relationship than any other Cybertronians. Skyquake was a fiercely loyal soldier of Megatron, sent to earth to guard Energon stockpiles. He was awakened from stasis by Starscream, but soon exhibited that he would not take his orders. I tried to reason him to help me end the war but he would not betray the decepticons. Skyquake and I, along with Bumblebee fought him, until he was defeated, brought low by Bumblebee. We burried him in the canyon he awoke, and died in. It was the same canyon you and the others where trapped in"

"So, the zombie that was in in the shadow zone was..."

"Skyquake."

"So that's why Dreadwing wanted you dead."

"Yes. I should not of brought Arcee. It is my fault that she died."

Jack put a hand on Optimus's giant servo.

"It is not your fault, Optimus, Arcee wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

Optimus's solemn blue optics looked into Jacks equally blue eyes.

"Jack, I made a promise. I promised to protect you until the end of days, be they yours, or mine. Will you accept my offer?"

Jacks was humbled. Here was Optimus Prime, the wisest person he knew, leader of the Autobots, the last of the Primes, asking HIS permission to be his new guardian.

"Optimus, I wouldn't want any other." They shared a small smile,

"Thank you, Jack."

The sun turned her face on the world and the stars kindled in the sky as two beings, worlds apart but similar in so many ways, shared a brief moment of comfort, before the weight of the world returned to their lives.