Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers

Okay, it says genderswap-ish because only a few characters are genderswapped. This takes place in the Prime and RiD (2015) continuation.

Thanks for all the reviews and favorites on my previous story. You inspired me to go ahead and start posting this. I'm glad I managed to make you all laugh. This story is more serious, focusing more on the determination and love of the Autobots and various Decepticons.

Enjoy

Jack smiled at Arcee as she set down next to him. She was breathing hard from her mock battle with Wheeljack. While Transformers had the ability to appear as any species, hence the name they had been dubbed, they tended to stay human as much as possible as that was the easiest species from them to maintain as it was practically their natural form.

Arcee was dressed in dark blue flannel shirt that was unbuttoned to expose her gray undershirt. She was wearing skinny jeans and a pair of dark blue running shoes. Her golden knives were in her hands as she had yet to put them back on her black belt. As guns were not allowed in practice fights at the base, her handguns were still on her belt. Her black hair was tied up in a ponytail with a gold string.

"So, you lost?" he asked.

Arcee glared at him. At this range, he could see the purple ring in her blue irises. "On purpose. Wheeljack is no match for me."

"Sure, sure," Jack said with a smile. He laughed when Arcee gave him a shove. The sixteen year old turned his attention to the other occupants of the room.

Wheeljack had retreated to the other side of the room. She was wearing a white tank top and black pants. She had on green bracelets and black tennis shoes. Her brown hair had a red tint and was curly and unruly, reaching down to her shoulder blades. A grenade was clipped to her waist and her two swords were on her back.

Standing next to her was her teenage son, Smokescreen. Smokescreen had brown hair cut in a messy style. He was wearing jeans, blue tennis shoes, a blue shirt and a yellow jacket. His skin was a warm tan color, darker than Wheeljack's own skin tone. He was the same age as Jack, though he had survived many battles firsthand, so Jack sometimes took Smokescreen out into Jasper when it was allowed.

Walking toward Wheeljack and Smokescreen were Bulkhead and his human charge, Miko. Bulkhead was Wheeljack's husband and Smokescreen's father. Bulkhead had warm, chocolate colored skin and his head was shaved. He was wearing a dark green T-shirt that showed off his muscles, jeans, and black combat boots. Miko looked just the same as ever and she gave Jack a thumbs-up from across the room.

The last three Autobots walked into the training room, followed by Fowler and Raf. Optimus Prime, the leader, came in first. He was tall and muscly, though not as bulky as Bulkhead, with black hair and intelligent blue eyes. He wore a red shirt, a blue jacket, jeans, and blue shoes. His gun was strapped to his back and he had a sword were on each hip.

Behind him walked his second in command, Ultra Magnus. Ultra Magnus had dirty blond hair and a stern face. Unlike the other Autobot males, he had a neat and tidy beard. He wore a crisp button-up blue shirt with gold buttons and some gold lines on his sleeves. His jeans weren't frayed and his red and gold running shoes didn't have a single smudge on them. On his back was strapped the largest hammer in the universe, glinting a dull gold in the artificial light of the base. He had a gun that was too large to be handgun but too small to be a regular gun with a short barrel on his left hip.

Behind Optimus and Ultra Magnus came Optimus's wife and the Autobot medic, Ratchet. She had strawberry blonde hair that was ramrod straight and reached just down to her shoulders. Her blue eyes had a green tint. The lenses of her red wire-frame glasses flashed as she looked around. She was dressed in a red blouse with sleeves that went to her elbow and a black skirt that went to her knees. Her outfit was completed with black flats and two silver daggers strapped to her waist.

Fowler stopped just inside the door. He seemed pretty relaxed, which meant that there wasn't any current issue with the Decepticons. Jack smirked when he realized Fowler was eating a donut. Ultra Magnus drifted toward Miko, Bulkhead, Wheeljack, and Smokescreen, apparently deeming them as the group most likely to start something. Jack had to admit the general had good reason to believe that. Raf ran over to Jack, grinning. He set down, straightening his glasses.

"How'd last night go?" Jack asked.

"I won the spelling bee," he said proudly.

"How'd Ratchet react?" Arcee asked. Ratchet was Raf's guardian.

"She was really happy for me," Raf said.

Jack gave the twelve year old a brotherly punch on the arm. "You're like the only human she could be proud of," he said.

"I don't know about that," Raf responded uncertainly.

Optimus Prime stepped into the center of the practice room, pulling out one of his silver swords. Blue lines in the metal gleamed. He spun the sword around and then took a fighting stance. He looked around, one eyebrow arching slightly in a questioning expression.

"Would anyone like to spar with me?" he asked in his deep rumble.

Jack was startled. He'd never seen Optimus participate in any spars before. Across the room, Ultra Magnus looked just as startled, so he figured it wasn't a common occurrence. Wheeljack and Smokescreen both took a small step back. Neither looked anxious about sparring with their leader.

"I would like to," Ratchet said, stepping forward. She pulled out her daggers.

Arcee made a surprised noise in the back of her throat. Jack thought she was about to jump to her feet, but then she relaxed. Raf looked at Jack, his jaw dropping. Across the room, the others looked just as mesmerized, and Miko was pulling out her phone in case she needed to snap any photos. Fowler looked like he was in danger of dropping his half-eaten donut.

Optimus and Ratchet circled each other, clearly looking for the best opening. Jack used the lessons Arcee had given him to assess the two before the spar officially began. Optimus was only using one sword, while Ratchet had two daggers, but he could reach farther than Ratchet. Ratchet's daggers were better for defense, but she'd have a harder time getting through Optimus's defenses, especially since they were a shorter weapon.

"Just because you're my wife doesn't mean I'm going to take it easy on you," Optimus told her.

"I would be insulted if you did," Ratchet responded, her lips twitching in the beginnings of a smile, which was really all Jack had ever seen of her. He wasn't sure if she ever really smiled.

Ratchet began twirling one of her daggers, perhaps trying to use the flash to distract the Prime. Optimus took that as his opening and dove toward that side. Ratchet deflected the blow with her other dagger. The two went at it, attacking again and again. Sometimes they blurred when they moved, a reminder that Cybertronians were stronger and faster than humans.

Jack had forgotten that Ratchet was actually just as trained in fighting as the other Autobots. She usually stayed at base and out of the fights, but she was holding her own against Optimus. As far as he could tell, it didn't seem like Optimus was taking it easy on her.

A silver dagger was flung across the room and impaled the wall beside Fowler. The government agent actually did drop his half-eaten donut with an exclamation about Uncle Sam. Then he frowned at the dropped pastry before walking out of the room, grumbling about irresponsible Autobots.

Metal clanged as Optimus swung his sword down at Ratchet, but she parried his strike with her dagger. Now it was dagger against sword with their hilts against one another. Optimus and Ratchet twisted their blades and Optimus's sword skidded across the floor at the same Ratchet's dagger did. Jack thought that would end the spar, but they kept going.

Ratchet kicked Optimus in abdomen and away from her. While he was recovering, she swept his legs out from under him. The Prime went down, but as he was falling, he lashed out an arm and caught Ratchet on the side, throwing her to the ground beside him. Before the medic could recover, Optimus pinned her down by putting his knee on her chest, snatched the dagger he had disarmed from her, and put the point under her chin.

"I win," he said.

"Get off me," Ratchet grunted. She didn't seem upset about her loss.

Optimus stood and smiled. He turned away to face Ultra Magnus, who looked like he was about to give the Prime a huge lecture about how it was not protocol for a leader to spar with his wife, especially in front of his troops. Or maybe he was going to lecture Optimus on the proper treatment of women and how pushing them to the ground was unacceptable, though Jack found that unlikely.

Jack didn't realize something was wrong until he sensed Arcee tensing up. Raf pushed his glasses up his nose nervously, rising to go to his guardian. Looking at the practice room, Jack realized the Ratchet had rolled over onto her side, but made no move to get up.

As if sensing something was wrong, Optimus turned back to Ratchet. Concern began to mask his features, though he kept it in check so well it was hard to tell. Ultra Magnus made a face, clearly deciding that his lecture could wait.

"Are you alright?" Optimus asked.

Ratchet set up, nodding. "Just fine."

Optimus made the slightest change to his expression, but Jack thought he understood what it meant. Ratchet and the Prime had a staring contest that ended with Optimus helping Ratchet to her feet, but not asking anymore questions.

"What was that about?" Arcee asked. She was better at stabbing people than reading them – except for June. She and his mother had all sorts of silent conversations that were continually frustrating him.

"I think Optimus didn't believe her," Jack whispered. He was aware of Raf listening in, though he was still looking at Ratchet as she snatched her dagger from Optimus. "And Ratchet knows he doesn't believe her. I think they'll talk about it later – when they're alone."

"Humans – you seem so stupid, but you see and understand so much," Arcee mused. Jack decided to take that as a complement.

"Seventy percent of communication is nonverbal," Raf put in. "I think I'll ask Ratchet if she wants to do anything in the lab today." He turned to go, but paused and added, "Miko is going to get Bulkhead and Smokescreen to play guitar with her, so you guys might want to find some earplugs."

"Thanks for the warning," Arcee said to him as he walked toward Ratchet. The medic was currently heading for the dagger that had flown toward Fowler. "I think I'll stay here for another rematch with Wheeljack."

Fowler came back in, throwing his arms around dramatically. "By my stars and garters, my car hates me! Why in the blue blazes does the engine never work right?"

"I can look into that," Wheeljack said, stepping forward. The engineer grinned in an almost disturbing way as she flipped some curls over her shoulder with a hand. "Do you want it fixed in the human way or Cybertronian way?"

"Human. You Cybertronians like to use explosives too much in your engineering," Fowler grumbled.

Wheeljack pouted. "That takes the fun out of it, but whatever." She walked toward Fowler, her green bracelets jingling. "Let's go, Agent."

"My name is not Agent," Fowler muttered, turning back toward the door.

"Optimus introduced you to me as Agent Fowler," Wheeljack said. "Therefore, your name must be Agent."

"You're impossible," Fowler said.

Wheeljack laughed, flashing perfect white teeth. "I try."

She and Fowler exited the room. Miko was talking with Bulkhead and Smokescreen, playing an air guitar while she explained how to use her guitar. Ratchet and Raf made their way toward the door, followed by an Optimus who looked in no particular hurry to get anywhere.

Arcee sighed. "Guess I won't stick around for a rematch with Wheeljack."

"You could always spar with Ultra Magnus," Jack said, gesturing to the second in command.

Ultra Magnus was now standing with his arms crossed. He scowled at the floor as if it had done something to offend him. If Ultra Magnus had tripped, the floor would probably be receiving a lecture on how it was unprofessional to trip generals. With a faint hum of disappointment, Jack decided that the chances of Ultra Magnus tripping were one to thirty thousand. As if sensing Jack's gaze, he looked up, his scowl only deepening. Jack quickly looked away.

"I'd rather not," Arcee muttered, picking at her fingernails. The dark blue paint was chipping, Jack noticed.

"We could play that racing game that Raf installed in the television in the main hanger," Jack suggested. He was aware of Ultra Magnus slowly stalking toward them.

Arcee was too, apparently, because she said, "Sounds absolutely fantastic!" Jack knew she hated that game.

After an afternoon of playing videogames to avoid Ultra Magnus, Jack and Arcee prepared to go home. Technically, it was Jack's home, but as Arcee was his guardian, she lived there too.

They were standing outside the mesa. Jack pulled his bike into a standing position, straddling the seat and keeping his feet pressed firmly on the ground. It was nearing five in the afternoon and the Nevada sun was still hot. On the handle bars of his bike was a basket, where Arcee rode when they were in public.

The Cybertronians were sometimes referred to as Transformers because they could change their appearance to look like other species – like literally transform into that species. They shifted into other species to pass off as the human kids' guardians.

Ratchet transformed into a large white, fluffy dog with a red collar. Bulkhead took the shape of some sort of green lizard. Raf's parents had been unsure about the dog at first, but now they fully excepted Ratchet as Raf's pet. Miko's host parents absolutely hated the lizard, but they were too scared to tell their host daughter to get rid of it.

As for Arcee, she transformed into a black cat with a gold collar. However, Jack's mother, June Darby, knew the truth about the Cybertronians and what Jack and his friends did to stop a Decepticon takeover, so Arcee could take on her natural human shape when indoors. She still had to ride through town in the basket on his bike as a cat, though, to avoid any questions from the neighbors.

"We should leave before Miko and Bulkhead decided to ride home with us," Arcee said, glancing back the mesa.

She quickly shifted into a cat before Jack could remind her that Bulkhead had vehicle of his own and that Miko and Bulkhead were therefore not be riding home with them on Jack's bike. Arcee scratched behind her ear with a hind paw and then sprang into the basket. Cybertronians had the ability to communicate telepathically with other Cybertronians. Unfortunately, that didn't work with humans and they could only communicate in English while in their human form. Therefore, to tell Jack to go, Arcee pointed at the road with one front paw and hissed. When he didn't move right away, she lashed her lithe tail and her claws glinted suddenly in the sunlight.

"Alright, alright," Jack said with a laugh.

When he got home, Arcee shot into the house and quickly shifted back, stretching. "Ah, I hate being cramped up in that tiny species."

"Cats are cute, though," Jack said, walking past his Cybertronian guardian.

"Don't you ever call me cute," Arcee warned.

"Jack, Arcee, I'm in the dining room!" June called. "There's some macaroni-and-cheese in here for supper!"

Arcee grinned. "Well, it's got to be better than Ratchet's cooking."

"Ratchet doesn't cook," Jack pointed out. "She gives you medicine and Energon so you don't die."

"My point exactly," Arcee said with a sharp nod. "Nothing tastes worse than medicine. But Energon has a sweet flavor. I wish your species could consume it without burning up."

"I'll just take your word for it, 'Cee," Jack said, waving a hand dismissively at her. "And I assure you that Mom's macaroni-and-cheese tastes way better than medicine."

The three set down at the table, June cheerily asking about their day. Jack grabbed his fork, his mother watering as the smell of the macaroni-and-cheese fully hit him. He loaded up his fork. Someone pounded at the front door. June sighed, setting down her fork.

"I'll get it," she said.

The pounding resumed, followed by someone shouting. Jack was curious, but he was more concerned with his dinner. Arcee slapped his arm, making him drop his fork full of cheesy heaven, and then indicated the direction of the door. Sighing, Jack got up to follow his mother. Arcee transformed into her cat form and then followed Jack. He noticed that her tail was fluffed up, but decided against pointing it out.

June opened the door and Jack could only glimpse fiery red hair. For some reason, the color made him nervous.

"Please, you've got to help," the young boy said. He sounded like he'd been crying. "My father and mother were attacked. They're hurt. You have to help!"

Jack knew something was wrong then. He recognized that voice, unfortunately. He pushed past June, ignoring her yelp of protest, and looked down at the boy.

He was eight, with fiery red hair and red eyes. He was wearing jeans, a red long-sleeve shirt, and black running shoes. He looked scared, nervous, and was still crying a little. Jack didn't care.

Arcee shifted behind Jack, taking her natural shape, her gold knives flashing. "It's a trick!" she snapped. "Where are your parents?"

"I told you," the boy said, bursting into more tears. "They were attacked. Mama told me to get help – go to lights she said. You had lights. I didn't know you were an Autobot!"

"What is going on?" June asked.

"This is Sideswipe, Mom," Jack said. "The son of Breakdown and Knock Out."

"The Decepticons Knock Out and Breakdown?" June asked, blue eyes wide.

"Yes," Arcee growled. "I didn't think the Decepticons would stoop low enough to use a child in their traps."

"It's not a trap," Sideswipe sobbed. "The men in the armor came and attacked. Mama was just trying to get off the ship for a while because Megatron was mean. Father found us. And then the humans came – the one with the scars stabbed Mama. And…and they were attacking my father."

"Scars? That sounds like Silas," Jack said. "The men in black? You don't think it could be…"

"M.E.C.H.," Arcee spat. She sighed. "Optimus always says that Decepticons and Autobots are in it together when it comes to M.E.C.H. I suppose we should check it out. Knock Out was injured, you say?"

"Stabbed," Sideswipe cried.

"That's an injury," Arcee muttered. Jack got the feeling she was refraining from rolling her eyes. She turned to Jack and June. "You two stay here. I'll go with Sideswipe and contact the Autobots so they can back me up if it is a trap."

"It's not!" Sideswipe wailed. "I just want to help Mama!"

"Okay, let's go then," Arcee said harshly. "Take me to where Knock Out and Breakdown were."

Sideswipe turned and jogged off. Arcee took off after him, shifting back into a black cat so that she ran along beside him like a small shadow. Jack figured she was already contacting the Autobots.

June closed the door. "Jack, what do you think about this?"

Jack looked at the door. He really wished Arcee hadn't gone. His mother was still awaiting an answer.

"Sideswipe seemed pretty legit," he said. "And the Decepticons have never used him before to lure Autobots into traps…but they are called Decepticons for a reason."

June looked at the door. She made a half-hearted grab at the door like she was going to open it again, perhaps to see if she could summon Arcee back, but then she let her arm fall to her side.

She looked at Jack, hiding away her worry, for which Jack was grateful. Sounding a little too cheerful for the situation, she asked, "How about we finish that macaroni-and-cheese before it gets cold?"