Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He looked out a window inside the classroom.Apparently being in the eleventh grade meant that they could be outside the school during the fourth period.It was a shocker really even he hadn't noticed that rule as he glared daggers at a pink strand of hair outside.Sometimes he wished he got paid for practically babysitting his friend, it would help out with the bills.Not mentioning hazard pay..

Jack got side tracked as he thought of what exactly he would be paid, when an unexpected knocking sound came to his right.Miko slowly peaked her head up as she stared towards the now less lanky boy.Well not really, but fortunately he had gained some weight over the summer.He now weared something a bit different from his usual wardrobe, sporting a black jacket with baggy pants and a blue toned gray shirt, it was finally something a bit more acceptable in Miko's eyes.Waving him over as she crouched low and pointed toward the end of the school she shuffled back fully expecting the older teen to follow.And who was he to disappoint?

He rolled his eyes fully expecting some sort of weird excuse as to why she wanted them to sneak out in middle of class.He could only sigh.He raised his hand looking straight into the demon born teacher he had and with a confident voice he asked "May I go to the restroom?".If he truly thought about it there may have been a sword in her hand instead of a ruler with how she held it."Fine be quick."Ms. Marcell replied.

And so he quickly got to his feet shoving the chair behind with his legs,grabbing his backpack as he calmly strut up to the door exiting coolly. It truly was a miracle that his teacher was to busy strangling some poor kids paper out of there hand to notice him take off with his backpack.Don't get him wrong its not like he wanted a detention or notice home about him skipping school but it truly was more rare when the girl did skip out on school this year.

Most likely calming down abit since the giant alien war was over...At that reminder while he walked down the hall into the library he grimaced.It was still a sorta sore spot for them all,after all there makeshift team that they had closely bonded with, leaving ,hit hard ,but with what hit harder over the next couple of months? No communication across all different platforms after Ratchet had left, it stung with no matter how hard they tried to reach out to them they never got a response.With even the government kicking them out of the new base and promptly shutting down the portal.Even going as far as to deconstruct it."Its for the earths safety."they said.If there was one thing he could agree with miko heck even raf could was this:It was fragin bullshit!

They most probably wanted to reverse engineer it, they hadn't even been given a warning from Fowler as they were banned.Though there was one good thing in this hellish situation.The three could laugh as they pictured the engineers and scientist try but ultimately fail in understanding both the science and cybernetic coding behind the space ridge.They would first have to understand cybertronian, then pry the schematics and functioning's of the space bridge off decepticon scientists and engineers servos.Jack darby quietly smirked to himself as he went out the backdoor to the library that lead outside.There he could see the two friends he had admittedly grown close to over the two years.

Raf though he was a bit taller now, was still short with his usually laired clothing the same.The only thing to really change about him was his hair.He now had more curly hair than he had before, being alot less spikey.It still puffed up though with what miko called a ahoge hair strands popping up.He didn't really think it suited raf with the meaning and all but it still looked nice on him.Then there was miko, she was the same more or less still styling it the same as always but her style in clothing changed quite abit.With more accessories on her wrist and a different lair of jackets or a t-shirt ,he didn't know what to call it actually.

"Hey Jackrabbit took you long enough to get here!"She said.

"Ya, ya miko,now what exactly was so important to call us in the middle of class?".

Raf nodded in agreement "My Mama will kil- be mad at me for skipping classes."

Jack eyed Raf, he knew his mom from a few interactions they had in past but never in a million years would he expect her of all people to be that strict.She acted pretty sweet whenever he had come over,but he guessed from the phone calls raf would get when the womans voice echoed over even megatron would have a hard time facing her.

Miko grinned"Okay so this might seem a little crazy but Jack I need your motor cycle,nylon rope,cool ski masks, cammo gear and gloves preferably two... "she looked down at her phone listing some other items before looking up and finishing with"Okay and thats it!Trust me jack,raf its totally going to be worth it!"

Raf simply looked down in defeat already fidgeting with his hands.

Jack sighed, face palming himself and slowly inhaled before exhaling "Miko we are not breaking into a military compound."

"How do you even know that, i hadn't even told you yet!"she hissed

"Because miko every time you propose to storm a military base or more specifically the auobots now former hanger you always include "cool ski masks" as an item. "Jack looked her straight in the eyes.

"Damnit.."she grumbled something else he didn't hear."Please can we?! Its important!"

"No! Miko we already talked about this we can't just steal the autobot's left behind tech! I mean I doubt we could even drag a single component without alerting the entire base.I mean we would literally need a crane just to drag some of the bigger parts,left alone hide them! I mean do you even think about what your saying!?"Jack was already starting to regret even following along with miko's request to go outside and risking his grade in English class.Let alone skipping the rest of the periods.

"But I promise see look!I got it on camera last night while stalk- stargazing near the area!There doing something fishy I know it! "Miko had then proceeded to fiddle with her phone ,presenting her phone with a video now playing.

Both Jack and raf squinted moving their heads to where she placed her arm in the air.The background of the video was almost completely black with a few shapes looking familar.Zooming in he could see an eerily familiar yet foreign glow-well more so how it seemed to cycle swirling into a point,the glow having an almost purple hue to it yet with light blue whirling at edges of it.It was strange as he mulled it over at whatever could have been causing the light. Noticing it slowly fading when the video cut to black but without of course miko making a rock sign at the camera before the video ended.

"Miko that could of been anything honestly ,it could've just been some new tech for lights the military was trying out or maybe energon experiments,we know that they have been trying."He recalled how he and Raf had been trying to monitor what the military was doing with energon back when they had access to the hangar.(With some help from Miko ofcouse ).

"Really light experiments? "She asked with a eyebrow raised.But before Jack could respond Miko cut in.

"Dude common, I mean they have access to literally all of Ratch's files, he never even let me touch the ground bridge console once, while they get to have all the fun dismantling the joint?Common Raf side with me,we should go check it out!- "

But Jack cut in. "Oh no, do not drag Raf in and make him vouch for you!-"

"I wanna to go"Raf said calmly.

That stunned them both.

"Wha- raf" 'You too?'.He could only think.

"Yess!Go raf!"Miko grinned in absolute victory looking over to jacks distraught face.

"I have umm... been actually monitoring the military over a week ago after a strange surge of power that happened at night throughout the town, from what I observed after digging is that there energy usage doesn't match up with the previous month or so."

"Huuhh"He could only hold his head as miko celebrated.Her eyes seeming to hold stars as she looked at jack with her arms at her hips.

"Soooo"miko dragged on.

"Fine we'll go,but only for recon were not taking anything. "Jack said.Miko huffed and crossed her arms.

"So whats your plan?"He asked miko.

"Well we would have to go right now and grab your motor cycle-"

"Oh to buy the stuff right? "He wondered again why this couldn't wait until after school.

"Huh?Oh no were going right now I already bought the stuff,we just need to pick it up.Then we'll storm in right now! "She said enthusiastically.

"Miko I said do you have a plan not do you want us all to die. "

Raf chuckled quietly.

"Huuu..Lets discuss the plan in the group chat when we get home. For now school."He gestured back with his hand.He could only wonder whether it was a better thing that bulkhead wasn't here to encourage her or to maybe stop her from hurting herself.

Chapter Text

Jack was understandably in over his head when he agreed to basically spy on a military base.

Why?Why did he even agree to this?And yet he had none to blame but himself when he’d gone along with miko’s plan.

He looked to his right as the sandstone he was sitting on scrapped at his knees.Raf had ended up setting up both his laptop and backpack near the edges of their “hideout”,if you could even call it that.He was doing something with his computer that Jack had nope hope of understanding.

It was then that he realized it was too quiet.Thats not right.Theres never quiet when mikos around.

He started to dart his head and eyes around frantically ,and looked up and above the shallow rock that covered them from sight.The terrain around them was filed with rocks and sand,with dried up plants scattered throughout and large cactuses poking through the night.It was there about a mile away was the base they once walked through as if they owned the place.It seemed much more different than he had remembered,seeming to have upped their security with giant concrete walls ,outpost towers and more guards, seeming more a like to a prison.

And their, halfway towards the concrete wall was miko,hiding behind a cactus and snapping pictures like they weren’t out here because of her and she was looking at some sort of exhibit.

He turned to Raf.”Raf stay here.”

Raf had turned toward him already,looking like he was about to object but Jack cut him off.

“I mean it!”He had already jumped out of their hide out and hid behind another rock nearby.

Raf could only sigh,he watched as jack had started jumping from hiding place to hiding place.Rushing towards where miko was,Raf was thinking he could’ve probably told Jack before he went off that he was finished with his setup and phase two was a go.But maybe this was better,he couldn’t keep a grin off his face as he unzipped his backpack and pulled out his project for the last year.

…………………………………………….

Jack couldn’t believe miko!Well actually he could believe she would do something as stupid as sneaking right up to the military compound.

From where he was now he could see her more clearly, only a few feet ahead,with the only problem being the guards on the tower.He couldn’t move too quick and risk getting caught or every thing there doing right now would go up in royal flames.

She was only afew steps ahead now so he called out to her in a low voice down in a small ditch.

“Miko!Miko look back!”

She turned around just now having heard jack and responded.”Dude what are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here what you doing here!?We were supposed to stay back!,that was the plan!?”Jack said feeling incredulous.

“I’m getting proof duh,since your doubting they are doing anything sketchy.”

“I’m not doubting it I just.. Ugh miko,common we have to go its not safe.”Jack began to move closer holding out his hand as he was crouched down.

“I wanna see for myself!It going to take forever for Raf to set that thing.”She shifted away from jack but Jack had grabbed her shoulder.

“Miko common we can’t just strom into a military base okay!?”

“Let go!”Miko shoved jacks hand away.

“Hey stop fighting!”

Both miko and Jack nearly screamed before they rightly shut themselves up before they were heard.

They quickly turned towards the source.

“Laserbeak?! What the heck?”Jack quickly raised his arms ,bracing to defend himself.

“Wow, but he tiny”Miko said surprised.Even though he arms were raised like jacks but more in a pose to punch.

“What ”Jack took a double take.

It was true,it looked like laserbeak but way tinier,like a standard drones size.

“So how much did it surprise you?,I had been working on it for awhile now.”

“Wait Raf?!”Jack said confused.

“Sick.”Miko said with her eyes expanding wider.

“Yeah!,Hi ,This was the drone that I said that would be doing the spying for us,I had designed him to look like laserbeak for obviously being kinda cool but also with some adjustments for practicality .”

Now that jack wasn’t startled ,he did notice some things that were off from the original laser beak,with the fans now coming into view hidden nicely in the front and back.Along with some minor details being the width and some parts here and there.

“Cool?,I guess”Jack could only hold a smile that was stifled because he could not really remember a time where cool fit into any descriptions of the giant spy drone/minicon in their encounters .

“Awesome !”Miko said quietly almost in awe.

Though Jack wanted to object with that statement he couldn’t get distracted from their mission.They were already making so much noise now with all this talking.

“Alright Raf since you've already deployed the uh the drone move to the second phase and start scouting,me and miko will meet back up with in the hide out.”

“On it.”Raf said.

“Alright miko lets head back,everything will be on tape anyways .”

Miko sagged her shoulders and head back before dramatically saying “Finnnneeeee .”

She watched as the drone flew back into the night sky seemingly trying to go around the wall and guard towers.

*snap* Jacks foot snapped a branch ,out of all the things that got them noticed why of course did it have to be this one?

“Hey anyone out there ?!”

“Shi-”Jack looked back as a large light seemed to shine near them.

Jack slowly looked back.He mouthed to Miko with a stern expression ‘Get low’

They shifted down low onto there elbows and slowly started shifting back in the sand.

Miko pointed to a small ditch in the sand.Jack nodded.They moved towards and dropped into it waiting a few minutes.

Both their eyes trained onto the light,which thankfully landed onto a large lizard,with the guards turning off the light they made their way back towards Raf.

……………………………………………………………………………

They were already back to where Raf was as they bunched up together looking onto Rafs laptop which held grainy footage of the drone moving swiftly through the air.It looked almost as if Raf was playing a computer game on his laptop with the modified controller in his hands ,completing the look.

“Soo you beat the final boss yet?”Miko smiled next to Raf.

“About too just gotta get past this guard ”Raf grinned right next to her while holding the controller out like he did when he was playing those racer games they did back at base.

Jack could only raise an eyebrow up at them as he returned his focus back to the screen.

They were in.