Chapter Text
(10 years later)
On the technorganic world of Cybertron, dawn was slowly breaking across the sky. In a modestly sized home between the cities of Iacon and Paradon, Jack and Miko Darby were curled up together on their berth, fast asleep. The peace wasn’t to last much longer however as the door to their bedroom slowly opened, letting in a ray of daylight. The soft light hitting their faces and the patter of small feet caused the husband and wife to stir.
“Hmm, your son’s awake.” Miko muttered into Jacks’ chest.
“So’s your daughter.” Jack countered as he felt their youngest children join them on the bed. “Morning Akiko.” He greeted his daughter.
“Morning daddy.” Akiko June Darby said cheerfully as her twin hugged their mother.
“Hey Ginrai.” Miko laughed as her little boy hugged her good morning. Little Ginrai Bulkhead Darby smiled at his mother. When the twins were born, there was some concern that Ginrai was born mute until they were nearly two. Apparently, he just didn’t talk unless he genuinely needed to and having a highly talkative mom and sister and an intuitive dad made being nonverbal easy for him.
“I see Kibo decided to get an early start to the day.” Jack added, hugging his daughter to his chest. Usually, their eldest kept his siblings' company until their parents got up.
“Moon came by to visit.” Akiko replied, unknowingly ratting her big brother out. Miko swatted Jacks shoulder at the slight growl of irritation he gave at that fact.
“Enough of that.” Miko scolded her husband. “If Kibo wants to get breakfast with his boyfriend before work.”
“I just don’t know why he won’t introduce us to him.” Jack admitted, releasing Akiko to hug Ginrai. The only way they even knew about Kibo and Moon being more than friends was because Akiko saw them kissing and told them after accepting a bribe from Kibo not to.
“Maybe he’s afraid of introducing him to the great Leo Primal.” Miko teased, reaching across the bed to kiss Jack. This caused Akiko to ‘ewww’ while Ginrai covered his eyes.
In the background, the family clock (a Whirl line Rolex) struck the hour.
“Come on sweet sparks.” Jack laughed at the kids’ usual reaction to their parents kissing. Miko promised to tease them about it when they were older. “Let’s have breakfast.
A few minutes later, three of the four Darby's were seated in their combined kitchen and dining room while Jack cooked up breakfast for his family. Miko adjusted the height of the twins’ chairs while said twins flipped through the channels. Off to the side, Tonebot watched the family alongside Astroscope, Payload, and Skyblast from their (as Miko put it) Mini-Con Tree.
“I’m Brainstorm. I’m Nautica. And these are Smart Homes.”
Click.
“Tonight, on Diners’ Drive-Ins and Dives, we’ll be Swinging by Swerve’s for the best of bot cuisine.”
Click.
“Today, Autobot leader Rodimus Prime will be meeting with former President Trump to.”
Click.
“Agents of M.A.S.K. have launched a raid on.”
Click.
“More unrest on Eukarus overnight.”
Click.
“Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger!!!”
“Yay.” Akiko cheered as Ginrai’s face lit up at their favorite show. Apparently, the Darby kids had inherited their parents' interest in Tokusatsu.
“Still can’t believe they made a bug themed Sentai.” Miko grumbled but watched alongside her kids all the same. Apparently, a sudden surge of helpful Insecticons in recent years as Scorponoks’ hive hatched had spiked an interest in insects as a whole.
“Don’t let mom hear you say that.” Jack teased as he brought their breakfast over to the table. “So, are you two ready for kindergarten orientation today?” He asked.
“Bring it on!” Akiko yelled, thrusting a hand in the air as Ginrai nodded excitedly. Since the two had just turned five the month before, they were ready to be enrolled at school.
“Inside voice Akiko.” Miko scolded before shooting a look at her smirking husband. The fact that their daughter was as much a chaos gremlin as her mother brought no end of amusement to Jack. “Alright then, make sure to get cleaned up after breakfast.” Jack announced. The twins replied by trying to eat as fast as they could.
“Not too fast you two. Don’t want to choke.” Miko cautioned. “Don’t even.” She added in a whisper to her husband. She was aware she was sounding like her mother-in-law. Said husband simply chuckled and leaned over and gave her a one arm hug while nuzzling her face.
“Overprotectiveness looks cute on you.” He teased, enjoying the pout Miko gave as she couldn’t directly refute that statement.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Looking at the newly completed Starscream Memorial Academy. Arcee allowed Tasmania Kid to climb down from her back before transforming back into bot mode from motorcycle. Taking a deep breath, she looked down at her son.
“Okay Kid.” Arcee Began. “I need to stay out here and greet the other students. You know where to go?” She asked.
“Yep.” Tas replied. Holding up a wrist a hologram map of the school appeared. On it were several routes to help him get from class to class.
“And?” His mother added, giving him the same stern look his aunt June would give his cousin Jack.
“No practical jokes.” Tasmania Kid grumbled. He’d gotten in serious trouble the year before after he put a heat sensitive adhesive on the teachers’ chair. Come on, he was just putting uncle Wheeljacks’ chemistry lessons to good use.
“Alright.” Arcee smiled before turning to see various students arrive (both Cybertronian and human). “You better get to homeroom.” She added. As her son ran up the steps to the school, Arcee turned to observe one father sending his daughters off.
“Okay girls, show me war faces.” Grimlock ordered. Before him, four femmes transformed into different variants of Velociraptor. One large and lizard like, two small and feathery, and one that seemed to be a mix of the two types. Together Gnash, Slice, Shred and Thrashclaw gave an open-mouthed hiss to their adoptive father. Nodding in approval, Grimlock transformed to raptor mode as well. “Now get in there and kick butt.”
“Yes Grimlock.” The four sisters chorused. A moment later, the four leaned forward and licked the Dinobots’ muzzle together before running into the school. This caused Grimlock to splutter.
“Blech, me Grimlock not kisser!” He yelled, wiping his muzzle as his retreating daughters giggled.
Arcee shook her head fondly at her comrades’ antics. Who knew the four sparks Grimlock had died saving from Hun-Gurr would view the Dinobot Maximal as their father. And despite his current antics, he loved the four Raptoricons deeply.
“Hello miss Arcee. Me happy to see you again.” Another voice spoke from behind her. Turning around, she came face to face with an acid green and purple copy of Optimus Prime. Controlling her initial reaction to the purified Nemesis Prime, Arcee smiled. She had to remind herself that he only looked like Optimus and Nemesis.
“Hello Toxitron.” Arcee greeted. She’d forgotten the former avatar had been transferred to the new school with her. The new name and paint job had been decided upon to help him create his own identity. However, she did question the logic in letting Miko pick the color scheme.
“We having a fun lesson today?” Toxitron asked in his typical child-like tone. Honestly, he wasn’t that out of place among some of the newly forged bots. Afterall, she’d been his primary teacher for the last few years.
“Mostly talking today.” Arcee answered. At his disappointed look she smiled. “But we can do a history act tomorrow.”
“Okay.” He said a little disappointedly before walking up the steps. Arcee shook her head fondly after him. Looking around again, she got another surprise at both another father and daughter. Specifically, the fact the daughter looked like she did before she became a Maximal.
“Are you sure you’re ready?” Magmatron asked Transmutate. For the anniversary of the day they met, the former Decepticon leader had taken his daughter to the Golden lagoon for a chance to upgrade her misshaped frame. He’d gotten the surprise of a lifetime when a tan and aqua motorcycle raced out of the lagoon and transformed into his daughter. For some reason he’d expected a dinosaur skeleton.
“I’m ready.” Transmutate answered. It had taken a while, but her grasp on speech had improved greatly even before her dip in the lagoon. All she really needed was someone with the patience to help her the rest of the way.
“Very well. I’ll be here to pick you up after school.” Magmatron agreed. It looked like he’d have time to meet Orion and his wife at Maccadams’ after all. “Be careful.” Smiling, he watched Transmutate climb up the steps.
“Hello.” A femme that looked like she transformed into a bat greeted her. “My name’s Nyx, what’s yours?”
“Transmutate.”
“Cool name.” Nyx replied. “Hey Skold, come here and meet Transmutate!” She called to a turtle that transformed into another femme and joined them.
Magmatron smiled and turned away. His daughter would be all right.
Arcee watched Magmatron leave as others began to arrive. Raf greeted her with a wave before heading to the medics’ office. He’d been hired on at Arcees’ recommendation in both tech support and school medical professional.
Near the statue of Starscream at the front of the school a purple and aqua seeker femme was hiding just out of sight of the door. She was nervous about her first day of school and was wondering if she just stayed out of sight of the main doors, would she even be noticed as absent?
“You don’t have to look so nervous.” A voice from behind her made her jump. Turning, she was met with an orange and silver mech with glasses. “What’s your name?” He asked gently.
“Sli-Slipstream.” She answered nervously.
“Hello Slipstream, my name is Rung.” The mech answered. “Would you like to tell me why you’re hiding here?” He asked.
“I’m not hiding.” Slipstream rebutted. “I’m just, gathering reconnaissance.”
“I see.” Rung replied, seeing all too clearly. He’d originally been asked by Rodimus Prime to observe the arriving students to look for signs of abuse or behavioral problems. Hence why the openings were staggered the way they were. This was rather unexpected. “You could actually get better recon inside the school than out here.”
“I, uh.” Slipstream began, trying to think up a convincing lie.
“Look.” Rung cut her off. “School is a place where you can learn and grow into the best version of yourself.”
“But what if nobody likes me?” Slipstream replied voicing the concern she was reluctant to admit to.
“Hey.” Rung said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Speaking from experience, just be yourself, and the right friends will find you.” He said with a smile.
Slipstream didn’t know why, but something about this bot made her want to trust him. Giving him a nod, the seeker turned and left her hiding place before ascending the steps. As he watched her go, the reborn Prima whispered.
“You can do it Maximo, good luck.”
----------------------------------------------------------
Walking into Maccadams’, Magmatron looked around, scanning the Cybertronian and human customers for the couple he was supposed to be meeting up with. Out of the corner of his optic, he spotted the two at a table. They were cuddled up next to one another watching a Cybertronian football game. On said screen, Blitzwing was yelling something about defense to the technorganic Predacons.
Making his way over to the two, Orion Pax caught sight of him first. Waving to Magmatron, the former Decepticon made his way over to the two. Kumara kept her eyes on him the whole way over. Understandable, considering his history with her family. He knew that, reformed or not, June Darby would never fully trust him.
He also noticed something else.
“Orion.” Magmatron greeted his old friend. It was strange that in the intervening decade he found he could call his former enemy that again. “I see congratulations are in order.” He added, pulling up a chair.
“What do you mean?” Pax asked as June looked at Magmatron in shock. How could he have known?
“I’m guessing you didn’t tell him yet?” The ex-warlord asked the Maximal.
“I just found out.” She replied, going red. “How did you?”
“I read the book Ratchet wrote about Technorganic anatomy.” After the war ended and people began returning to Cybertron, there was a wave of people flocking to the golden lagoons discovered across the planet to reformat themselves. In particular, there were many sick and injured humans using them to become technorganic Maximals. However, with these new bodies, there was not much knowledge of their inner workings. This led Ratchet to branch out his research and ultimately publish a book on the subject. Including.
“June?” Orion asked, looking to his wife. “What’s going on?”
“I’m pregnant.” June Pax admitted, giving him a shaky smile. “Surprise.”
“What?” Orion asked, wide opticed. “How?”
“Correct me if I’m wrong Orion.” Magmatron asked, giving his old friend a look. “Are you both not technorganic?”
“I know the mechanics.” Pax countered. “And how did you?”
“Her abdominal plating has shifted slightly since we last saw each other.” Magmatron supplied. “However, since you two see each other every day I can believe you’d miss it.”
“I had wondered how you didn’t notice it.” June asked her husband.
“I could tell you some stories.” Magmatron laughed. “Orion may be a good military leader, but he could miss some very obvious social cues.”
“Oh really?” June asked, catching Orion's sudden embarrassed expression. He hadn’t had that problem since they’d started dating. “Like what?”
“Go easy on me.” Pax pleaded. During the early days of their friendship, he’d told his friend some of the embarrassing things he’d said and done around Elita-1. The then warlord even witnessed a few of them. Magmatron smirked at his former nemesis.
“Why should I start now?” He asked as Orion Pax groaned.
--------------------------------------------------
Rodimus Prime sat down at his desk with a groan. He had had a full day. Between the Council meeting with the colony world delegates as well as meeting with that blowhard of a former president, he was tempted to down the bottle of Engex in his desk in one go. Thinking better of it, he ran over the events of the meeting that morning.
Most of the colonial delegates had appeared or attended via hologram in the case of the Gigantions. However, the worst problem came regarding Eukarus. Somone was inflaming tensions between the three tribes just as they were coming close to a deal that would allow for equal representation on the Council. Each world and country on the planet had two delegates each, but the tribes had insisted on having two per tribe which led to even more arguments among the assembly. The Problem was no one seemed to know what was actually happening on the beast planet. The only communication they had was of the battles being fought, not their causes. And any meeting with its’ leaders quickly devolved into verbal spitting matches before they’d inevitably walk out.
Closing his optics for a moment, Rodimus considered his options. A moment later the door opened again.
“Having difficulties?” Came a familiar voice.
“A little bit Alpha Trizer.” The Prime answered, turning to see the spiritual bot entering his chamber. “I’m sure you already know.”
“You know it’s just Smokescreen when it’s just us Rodimus.” The second-generation Prime replied. “And indeed, I do.” The young sage added.
“I think it’s time to consider an intervention.” The current Prime admitted at last.
“I believe that you need something less of an intervention and more like a revolution.” Trizer announced cryptically.
“I’d hoped to allow them to come to an agreement on their own.” The diplomat sighed. “But a regime change may be exactly what they need. The how however, eludes me.”
“We need only look to the past for answers in the present.” Alpha Trizer commented.
“Smokescreen, please.” Rodimus moaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ve dealt with enough cryptic words today.” Days like these were what made him wish legalese was illegal.
“We both know who can cause a revolution.” Trizer continued, seeing his friends’ exasperation. “And I’m sure he’d be willing to do so for the right reasons this time.”
Rodimus turned to look at him.
“You don’t mean.”
--------------------------------------------------
That night, Jack Darby sat on his sofa and scrolled through the family photos over the last decade while adding a new one to the album.
The twins’ last birthday where uncle Bulkhead had taken them dune bashing in the rust sea. Of course, Miko neglected to tell Jack this, and he had a near meltdown thinking their kids had been kidnapped.
A Christmas picture from a few years ago. The twins were held securely in Jacks arms in front of the tree as Miko took a picture with a selfie stick. This turned out to be a good idea because the kids managed to wiggle their way free and into the presents not even two seconds later.
A wedding photo from his mom and Orion's’ wedding. Rodimus Prime had officiated it and Miko and Jack had served as bridesmaid and groomsman respectively. Next to it was one where his mother had shoved cake in her new husbands’ face with Orion just looking confused.
The next page showed a family trip to the beach with Akiko and Ginrai sitting next to a large sandcastle with their young cousin Vincient Edmund Raider Jr. The newest addition to the Raider family. Beside it was a picture of a pregnant Miko and Sierra. The then mothers to be both holding baby blankets that Jacks’ mother had made from her own spider silk. All of which were now safely stowed away with their other baby things.
Turning the page again, Jack smiled at the picture of the twins’ birth. Both he and Miko looked exhausted as they held the babies and if you looked closely, you could see the marks on Jacks’ neck where Miko tried to strangle him after the birth. Fortunately, Raf had pulled Jack out of her grasp before he could black out.
Then came the picture of their own wedding.
He and Miko stood at an altar with Amalgamous Prime acting as the officiant. Bulkhead had been given the honor of walking the bride to the alter. Vince had been given the role of best man while Sierra got the role of maid of honor. Adorning the new husband and wife was a single crystal made from a drop of the others’ innermost energon. Jacks’ crystal was settled on his beast modes’ forehead in his chest while Mikos’ was set in the back of her left hand.
As he turned the page again, Jack felt his wife settle on the back of his seat, resting her chin on his head.
“Well, the twins are in bed.” She began. “I think they really like the idea of starting school.”
“Until they realize what a bore fest it is?” Jack teased. He remembered his Wifes' opinions about school when they first met.
“Oh yeah.” Miko replied. Looking down, she saw another pair of pictures One was a group shot of the Maximals taken just after they’d raised Fortress Maximus. The other, was a shot of the two of them and Raf back in the original Autobot outpost as humans.
“Wow.” Miko laughed, lifting her head off Jacks’. “Such small beginnings.”
Jack let out a laugh of his own as he loaded the latest picture in the album. A family photo of them, Kibo and the twins, Orion and his mom, Arcee and Tasmania Kid.
“And who knew that it’d lead to such big dreams?” He smiled as his wife ducked down to kiss him. They were interrupted by the sound of two sets of feet walking up the steps.
“Ready to officially meet our sons’ boyfriend?”
“Ready to give our son some grief for trying to hide it from us?”
“You’re on.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The End.