Sanctuary TFP/RB

Chapter 4

Jack watched Heatwave type something on the Cybertronian sized console, periodically fussing with an odd silver box next to the keyboard. "Come in, Optimus."

An alert was visible on the screen, but Optimus hadn't answered yet. The firebot gave him a backward glance, looking a little awkward. "He...doesn't always answer immediately." Dots of static flickered across the screen, making him groan.
"C'mon." He growled, lightly smacking the box. "This thing is more trouble than it's worth. Why did Doc Greene build it again?"

Jack gave a half-hearted nod, not really listening. He couldn't help getting a little distracted. A Cybertronian ship was not at all what he'd been expecting to find. Or at least, not an Autobot one.
"How long have you been here?" He asked softly, looking around at the little room inside the Sigma.

"On Earth?" Boulder said. Jack turned to look at him. "Optimus never mentioned any other Autobots. Have you been here the whole time?"
Heatwave slowly looked back from the screen with a frown. "Optimus hasn't mentioned us?" Jack was sure he could detect a hint of hurt in his voice.

He thought back to yesterday, as he'd first woken up on Griffin Rock. Everyone had been surprised to see him, a human from Optimus's team. But Blades had mentioned Bumblebee...how many of the Autobots knew? Did Arcee?
"Well, not to us humans at least." He muttered under his breath.

But why? Optimus had trusted Jack to go to Cybertron. What was one more secret?

Heatwave grumbled. "Optimus thinks we can't handle getting our hands a little dirty? Has he been to Griffin Rock?"
Jack eyed him curiously. Heatwave made it sound like he'd never faced a Decepticon before. But how was that possible, with a war going on?

"Well..." he began, not sure what to say. Something was different about these bots. But he couldn't put his finger on it...
Thankfully, he was saved from having to respond by the Sigma's alert.

Optimus's face appeared on the screen, and Jack's hurt instantly melted into relief and joy. He felt himself involuntarily smile. He still had questions, but for the moment, he was just happy to see a familiar face. "Optimus!"

Jack had learned by now to look very closely at Optimus's face when talking to him, as many of his expressions outside the battlefield were subtle. So he didn't miss the slight softening of his optics, or the half an inch he leaned forward closer to the screen.

"Hello, Jack." The Autobot leader allowed himself a rare smile.
"Jack?" A certain feminine voice broke in from somewhere behind Optimus.
Jack's smile grew. "Arcee!"

Arcee stepped out of the shadows and stood next to Optimus. She looked at Jack as if she couldn't believe it was actually him. "Jack!" She said again, utmost relief in her voice. She gave a little gasp as she noticed the bandage around his head.

Jack had almost forgotten about it. "Oh, that. It's not as bad as it looks, Arcee. I don't think I need the bandage anymore. It's just a little cut."
Arcee stared intensly at him. "We're going to bring you back." She promised. Jack wondered if she was trying to reassure herself as much as him. Either way, it would be best not to push it, and risk her wrath. "Is the GroundBridge still down?"

Optimus gave a single nod. "For the time being. We do not know how long it will take to repair."
Jack's heart sank a little. As exciting as it was to meet a new team of Cybertronians, he just wanted to go home. He swallowed and met Optimus's optics. "Is Miko okay?"

"She's fine." Arcee said quickly. "She came back unharmed." Unlike you. Her optics seemed to add. Jack breathed a sigh of relief. "And Mom?"
The corner of Arcee's mouth twitched into a ghost of a smile. "Exactly as you'd expect. Every second of free time she gets, she's back here, pestering Ratchet." In the background, Ratchet's voice grumbled in agreement. "Every waking moment."