Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy my second Transformers story, an alternate mix of the Prime and Unicron Trilogy. This story includes another species of mechs, although they're not entirely machine and are biomechanical, and made from scratch by me. This is mostly a romance between Starscream and Alexis, with no species changes, as in Mech to Human or Human to Mech evolution. Nothing against people who like that sort of thing, but everybody's already stuck their finger in that pie, some double-dipping. The pie is abused, moldy, and old now. So I'm going to toss it for something better. The rating will rise in later chapters for violence, gore, death, and increased romantic situations between the star pairing. He and Soundwave are the only who get a female here, with Soundwave getting one of my OC's created specifically for this story. There are other pairings as well, however they take place between my OC's. Reviews for this would actually be appreciated this time around. So I can make it better. Apologies for grammar errors as well.
~ Fruity Sangheili
The stuffy warmth of the airport did little to relieve the weighing stress over Alexis' head, pounding headache included. She worked her way through the bustling lobby, ignorantly being bumped about brusquely. Behind her, an overfilled bronze duffle bag clacked rhythmically over the tiled floor, reminding the woman to keep track of her belongings. She wasn't looking forward to stepping out into the Jasper, Nevada heat. Although the calls of her group had begun to fall weary over her ears, she pressed forward in her promise to make the world a better place, hence why she moved to Fukuoka's inner city limits. The wide distribution of simple filtering systems for cleaner drinking water to provide the poorer outer limits of Africa with technological advancements, collaborations to make her product more efficient. Shakily stuffing her flopping bucket hat over her rustled amber hair, she traversed into the parking lot, grimacing with the blast of dry, summer air. She could openly admit, it wasn't close to the heat brought on in Texas, but it was sure close enough to near do her in, especially in her weathered state. Her time off was short, with only three months leave left, she decided to reasonably take a month and a half from her busy work life. The sound of bustling left her ringing ears and her head swam as she flunked into the seat of the awaiting bus than idled curbside for interstate travelers. She leaned on the window frame eyes boring dully out at the sky.
I wonder if the base is still operational… How is Optimus and the gang anyway? I've missed so much, and haven't seen them in years… It's only been, what? Fourteen years since they moved the Nevada canyons? Unconsciously, she fingered the chain around her neck that held a small greenish gem. A necklace made from the rock gifted by a certain Transformer nearly 24 years ago. Even now her heart sank when her thoughts of childhood occurred with his haunting face and chilly but secretively kind disposition. A gruesome memory…
The bus driver said something as he entered from rounding the vessel on wheels, having stored her luggage in the trunk. It didn't fully register until she forced herself to focus on the overweight man.
"I'm so sorry, say what?"
"You alright lady?" He removed his hat to scratch his bald head beneath.
She let a tired smile press her thin lips. "Yeah, I'm fine. Once I get to the hotel to crash, I'll be good as new."
"Sure thing lady. It's a six hour drive to Jasper, just so ya know. 'Butcha relax now, there's TV available and a blanket in the overhead compartment to make 'yer travel a bit more relaxing. The seat reclines as well and at any point you're welcome to close 'yer cabin door." He gestured to the lock switch on the door to her personal seating compartment, a crooked smile on his woozy features. She nodded her thanks, waiting till the bus was in motion before taking up on all the amenities the cruiser had to offer. An hour in she was feeling better enough to collapse under the darkness of her soft but thin blanket. Head drooping into the crook of her shoulder before she allowed herself to drift off.
Alexis was roused by the subtle knocking of the bus director, to which she promptly shot a dirty look at when she pulled her face from the hood she created. He only smiled apologetically, instantly making her feel worse than she did. Like a Sunday morning hang over. Technically, Alexis was a weak drinker, having always stuck to a single glass of wine for obvious reasons. Even then she became tipsy.
As she sat forward in her seat, her body in a much more refreshed state, she accounted her items with soon brought satisfaction as they were all accounted for. Her eyes were drawn to the unusual silence around the vessel, and raised a brow at the town she was bound for. Rad lived here? He wasn't kidding when he called it "The Town of Brown". The city seemed quaint, with slight appeal to the average adventurer. Beyond the city limits she could see the faint trim of various greens. Beyond that, towering Nevada canyon ways. Her heart leapt faintly, her imagination unable to conjure the pleased reactions she'd receive from the Big Man himself and his companions. Although being distant, through Rad she kept in touch with the Autobots. For the past 24 years, a generous portion of news she'd gotten was saddening. What with the departure of the original crew, especially Hotshot, whom the kids with played a lot during their stay with the Autobots. She wondered if Optimus kept contact with him.
"Damn." She allowed herself to slip upon dropping to the sidewalk, flushing when she earned a few odd looks from the party of travelers who also departed the bus cabin.
I hate it when my head feels heavier after sleeping in… Alexis groaned at her alarm clock sourly, hand smacking the radio off for the day. "Yeesh… At least I won't go insane today." She winced at the bitter flavor in her mouth and sat up to go about her day. The shower refreshed her worn muscles, awakening the strong yearn to eat as well. Going about brushing away the knots from her damp hair, she approached the outlook from her hotel window, green eyes dropping from the dead skyscape to the daily commuters. Rad had moved to Nevada with his wife Odele some time ago, any chance of visiting him was out of the question for the day, he was nearly 3 hours from her current location anyway. She had big bots to visit first. Though it hadn't slipped her mind to call her childhood friend first, knowing that he was unaware of her arrival to the town, planning to surprise him.
"Mm…. I could always wear that." She paused at herself in the mirror on the bathroom door, mulling over her figure critically. She was healthy, fit, a fine example of a female Human being. Her hair much longer than it was when she was 13, having decided to keep the feminine look with the development of her personal tastes. The clothes hardly changed, still tomboyish as ever. Today, she would make an exception and wear a dress for once. It only seemed right to present herself tastefully to them when she visited. Her mouth shrugged in satisfaction, it shifted into a smile with her wandering into the main portion of the hotel room to dress herself in the midnight blue sundress she brought with her. It was something she planned to wear for dinner with Rad and his wife. Shrugging it off, she figured to buy something around the local shopping areas when she could.
Such a relief, to be outside the dreary city limits. Cool air supplied from the wealth of foliage surrounding the unpaved roadway blew her hair about wildly. Her rental 4x4 quaked with the ravaged texture beneath it's tires and it's whining engine partially subdued the rock music blaring from her speakers freely. The beat-up army-vague wasn't the most presentational ride the nearby lot rental could provide, but so long as it got her to her destination, she didn't care. Many of the clerks warned her about the area she was headed, the wildlife known for their nasty demeanors and mostly comprised of Coyotes. Had they the slightest idea of her real intentions for visiting the valley, they'd have swallowed their tongues and gone whiter than the sun. Resting above the valley of her breasts, her necklace swayed nonchalantly with the turns and resonating disturbances in the ride, casting emerald glares about the jeep interior. A mismatching piece to her wardrobe, what with the silver earrings and all, she refused to take it off. Having reached a bend in the road, she glanced to her cell that had vibrated into the crevasse of the vinyl seat. A string of worry gnawed at the back of her mind.
Should I call to make sure they didn't move? …. I wouldn't think Optimus to just abandon the base without reason, after all, it took so long to move all that equipment from Nebraska without getting caught by those conspiracy loonies. A lot of diggers come around here too… She whined under her breath with the building uncertainty, eventually shrugging it off with the reassuring fact that if they had indeed moved, she could always call him anyway. The waste of gas replaced with the thought of it being a comforting countryside drive.
"Oh!" She piped up sharply and yanked the jeep to the right onto a secluded and overgrown pathway. Having nearly missed her turn.
Why is it so choked up with plant life? Something that instantly concerned her. This was always the path the Autobots used to head into town… Why was it so poorly maintained now? The grass crept over the dirt twin-trails carved by vehicular activity, packed dirt from repeated use cracked apart with the growth of tree roots, and branches hung low, not been clipped back for years. Maybe they… Directed a new route instead? It was deteriorating after all…
Noticing the sizable cracks beneath the tires, she decided not to best it, exiting after parking the jeep within the foreshadow of the brush. She exchanged her flatly soled dress shoes for her favorite sneakers, mouth scrunching at the combination. "Oh I'll come back for them when I need them…" She sighed with hands on her hips, turning to scour her optional paths. With such unleveled ground to work with, things were going to get hairy no doubt. She set on her brave face, a face that hadn't changed from when she was young, near-marching through the grassy route.
"Not that bad…" She heaved, glancing over her shoulder at the proposed 'mountain' she nearly fell off of a number of times on the decent. Indeed it was steep, the terrain consisted of smooth inclines and jagged cracks hidden from definitive view beneath the clumps of dusty crabgrass. Several times she nearly sampled the 'not-so-tasty' vegetation, and frowned at the skid marks on her dress when the gravel gave way. Grumpily dusting them from the material, she continued onward to the secretive passage way within the freestanding canyon rise. This newer base was sealed with a door painted to resemble the same color tones found in the grains of the mountainside. She bit the inside of her lower lip when she caught no sign of activity, especially with the recent cave in around the base entry, it's door obviously too damaged to proceed any further without the risk of getting crushed if she disturbed it too much. From an open bend in the doorframe, she spied nothing, not a whisper of their being there. The base had been offline coming onto years now.
"Don't tell me they jumped states again. Stupid, I should've called Rad first…" She grumbled before calling out into the eerily dark hall, noticing the panels unceremoniously hanging loose from the walls, bent and broken. Wires strewn across the floor like it had been raided. Possibly. Especially with notable Decepticon activity reported in the Nevada area. "Red Alert? Optimus Prime! Are you in there? It's me, Alexis! They doorway's all banged up over here! What in the world happened?"
"…" The echo of her own voice was all that replied, feeling rather silly now that she found she was talking to herself. With a disappointed sigh, she shuffled down to safer ground and followed the path she climbed in with, out over the rocky pile.
Well, this sucks… Now I gotta climb all the way…. Her mental bumbling fell short when the faint hum of a Jet engine overhead caught her attention. Pressing herself into the face of a boulder, her eyes sharply pierced the clear the sky. The hum evolved into a steady scream, and several seconds passed until the culprit, a darkly colored Jet, passed not above, but below the mountain's flat top. It was too close for comfort, and Alexis felt her skin grow cold even as she slid around to hide beside the massive chunk of land matter. Her eyes instantly glued to the familiar purple and foreboding Decepticon insignia on the underside of the Jet. She bristled.
Not many Jet Deceptions around anymore… I wonder who that is. Obviously up to no good…. I need to follow it, call Rad, have him contact Optimus about this activity… I hope I don't get caught. He's obviously looking for something to be that low to the ground… She grimaced at the thought of being caught, careful to remain undetected as she hiked her dress and bolted clumsily for the hillside by her jeep. Tensely, she made it across the open valley, albeit being small, she was still very much vulnerable. Surprisingly, she found herself up the steep incline faster than she did on the way down. Basing it off the fact she now had something serious to pursue, against her better judgment. Quickly, she hammered in the keys, revving the engine to life with a lump in her throat. She nearly tipped it with the speed of her take off, scared to lose to seeker before she could follow.
Part of her wanted to run back to the hotel, call somebody, anybody, about the Decepticon activity. As she stuck to the hillside for cover, eyes darting between the jet and the ground before her, her mind jumbled soon with questions she found herself answering as soon as they came up. Part of it was if this was rather an idiotic thing to do, double-checking the wing over and over to ensure she wasn't seeing things. The more she saw the hateful icon, the more she wanted to rip her phone from it's newfound place in the cup holder. None the wiser to do as her cell signature would surely be picked up and she'd found, termination to surely follow. Her brows creased heavily upon catching a glimpse of the Jet hovering, then falling into the canyon way.
Stopping, she cut the engine, hearing that distinct sound…
Churr-err-err-ah-eh…
"Here we go…" She grabbed her phone upon exiting the vehicle, the least she could do was take pictures of the Transformer if she could.
The ground quaked as she neared the drop off, instantly grounding herself behind the nearest rise in the gravel. Try as she might, attempting to slow her breathing was near impossible, and her pulse thundering in her ears wasn't helping. Blowing the pesky strands of her red hair from her face, she couldn't help but feel a sense of morbid adrenaline. She hadn't felt this kind of action for what seemed like eons. It reminded her of the darker days, yet something that gave her a taste of adventure and danger, no matter how grave the situation. Usually, she was the one scolding the boys for this behavior and their lack of value on the word "Safety". Time having taught her that she couldn't hide behind glass and walls all her life, right now, she felt needed more than a burden. Surely she'd have been scold for this if Optimus was here, no matter her matured physic he was always there to look out for everyone. Sometimes much like a father figure to the children, whether he was aware of it or not. With the memory of his warm demeanor giving her newfound courage, her eyes crept over the rocky barrier to glimpse the Transformer. He wasn't facing her, rather, he was staring at the ground with his back to her. Ill expression on the softer parts of metal on his face, which was elongated. As he turned his head she noticed vents, almost like sideburns, poked out from beneath his facial plating. Upon his forehead was a slim red horn. Streaks of dark peered out from the lighter silver plating on his head, angling to the back of his dome with an aerodynamic design. Rather than open optics with visible equipment, his eyes were two dark screens, red blaring irises projected onto them. His neck was rather long, thin, the piling cables and wiring disappearing into a barrel of a chest which made up nearly a third of his body. Most of his shoulder lay hidden beneath two dull blue-gray guards, where thin arms appeared below. Under each forearm sat red rockets, highly potent Alexis assured.
His middle was rather abnormally thin for something of his statue, with small hips to boot. A double set of wings occasional flicked on his back, reminding her of a Dragonfly. His comical build continued downward to his legs, where she couldn't help but double take at his feet.
He cannot be wearing HEELS. She nearly snorted a laugh, obviously still tired and delirious from the travel. It was then she glanced down to a faint vibration from her chest, inhaling sharply when she discovered it was her necklace. Glowing dimly, rattling as if it wanted to get away, it died soon after. She lifted her head to watch the Transformer meander into the ravine further, following silently, mouth agape subtly. There was no way in hell it could have been him. Countless times Rad mentioned seeing a Decepticon that sounded, acted, and looked like Starscream. If this was him, rebuilt, it fit his occasionally slimy attitude. If she confronted him, what were the chances he'd remember her? That is, if such a chance for it to be him existed. He was… Demolished, by Unicron so many years ago. She felt her chest ache at the sharp stab of the memory.
Snapping a shot of his back as she went, she dropped down when he stopped abruptly, afraid she'd been heard. Much to her relief, he remained oblivious to her presence. Instead, she listened in as he opened a communications line to…
"Soundwave," He began. "Send down an excavating crew immediately. I've found yet another deposit of pure energon…" He had a smile in that gravelly voice. "A rather large one at that… Make it quick. I want this on board before those Autobots pick up our activity!"
She watched as he cut the line, his gaze scanning the landscape for what she assumed to be more energon.
"Megatron may live on dark energon, but unfortunately… Not all of us can be oh so lucky to have such conveniences." He crouched to scratched at the wall face, examing the dust on his claws.
Again, Alexis captured a picture, resting her phone against the ground and leaning around the wall where she'd settled. Swallowing her nausea, she brought her hand to her mouth. "Starscream!"
"GYAGH!"
She watched as he nearly scurried up the side of the canyon like a frightened cat, freezing when it registered that the voice was organic in nature, and initiated no real threat. He whirled around just as she ducked away out of sight to keep from getting shot, heaving furiously for being made a fool and startled so.
"Who called my name! Come out fleshling, I know Human voices when I hear them…" His voice dropped into a rolling, grinding, trill of displeasure. Optics instantly zeroing on Alexis when she finally stepped from cover with a defiant posture. He tilted his head slightly as it dropped down below his hunched shoulders. "Well now…. What this nonsense?"
"Don't even talk to me that way, you…." She snapped back sternly. His brows raised, blinking with no real response to her tone.
"And who…" He snarled upon approaching the Cliffside with fisted hands. "Might you be, dear…?"
Alexis crossed her eyes, glaring still even as his shadow fell over her. "All these years… You're still up to selfish trouble…" Her shoulders fell gradually, and her voice grew soft. "Would you even remember me if I told you my name?"
He leaned down to her, growling from the corner of his mouth.
"How on earth did they manage to rebuild you, after you died to Unicron…?"
"How…" He reeled back, a small flash of fear on his face. "Who- How did you know about that?"
"Starscream… Do you recall three kids who followed you everwhere? Human children…"
He eyed her warily, still stunned by the fact she was aware of his death. True it be, that he was subsequently destroyed when Unicron obliterated his body… He never did see if his attempted attack made contact with the beast. The blast site searched, a scout brought forward a dormant portion of his spark, fragments of brain…. Ultimately they crafted him a new body, sleeker, less bulky, crafty, sturdy… Everything he was as Starscream. From time to time, he would get images from his recharge bed. Flashes of three Humans, one female in particular. Yet her face always seemed to be dark. He could hear her, just not see her. Numerous times did he try to give her a name, hoping it would reveal her more to him and why she was such a pest to his systems. "…. Not really."
That hurt. She sighed deeply, tucking back her hair to shorten it's appearance, licking her lip as she flicked her eyes up at him with a sad expression. "You still can't remember me?"
"… No. Ergh! Get to the point you little filth!" He snipped.
"Seems you really don't remember me then do you?" She sounded genuinely sad, which confused him more than the whole fiasco underway here. "I was with you, during Unicron's assault… We were inside him, remember? I dropped my necklace, and I went to get it…. I caused you more trouble than I was worth…"
His mouth shrugged downward as he listened, all the while trying to match audio snippets to his logs. "…"
"You had your little Mini-Con, Swindle! And Sureshock was with us! I asked you to stay with us, Starscream! Why didn't you?"
He lifted his head when a notification sounded that the troops Soundwave ordered out were inbound. "… I know you. You plague my dreams…"
"…?" She lifted her necklace for him to see. "You gave this to me Starscream, you brought it back as a gift for us… Me, Rad, Carlos, the idiots Billy and Fred! I made mine into a necklace, even Rad kept his piece."
"Alexis…"
"Yeah?" She stepped forward with a familiar hope in her eyes that made the mech shudder. The sudden gunfire around her caused her to fall back, screaming as dust stirred around her and superheated projectiles disrupted the ground around her, pelting her with debris. All around her it grew dark and the sound of bullets pinging off metal caught her attention. She peeked through her fingers to see that Starscream had covered her with his hand.
His voice was strained as he regarded the fighters. "Gargh! Stop firing you idiots! Isn't it obvious this Human has some kind of importance if I've not killed her yet myself! Primus!"
She didn't struggle as he suddenly grabbed her in his needle-like claws. Almost instinctually, she wrapped herself around his fingers, peering up at him when he held her below eye level. "Duly noted, we must take this conversation further." He lifted his head as the working-class bots landed around him, all awaiting their orders. "Get to work mining this rock base! I want it cleaned out as soon as possible."
"Sir, the Human?" A warrior-class, possibly the one responsible for nearly killing Alexis, pointed at her. To which she responded by sticking her tongue out at him and blowing a raspberry.
"She, is with me. I'm afraid we've some unresolved matters to discuss." He bounced his hand to hint her not to push it, she responded by giving him a strict glare. A look that sealed it for him. Alexis… You've grown… He hissed in his mind, deciding to walk instead of fly, towards the ship's lift.
"Do you recall anything I've said?" She mumbled up at him.
"I remember you…" He finally confirmed, optics giving her a much calmer vibe than before. "How did you find me?"
"Actually… I wasn't looking for you. I was just out for a drive to see the Autobots, but they've long gone. I heard you fly by, and decided to follow to see if it was anything serious…." She bit her lower lip and averted her eyes. "I thought you were gone for good… My… Necklace cracked when it happened. And Optimus, confirmed it." She found her eyes growing hot, blinking rapidly.
"They salvaged parts of me, though my body was entirely devastated from the blast." He said quietly, glancing up at the streaks left by the fighters, cupping her in both hands. He raised a brow down at her. "'Anything serious'? What do you take the Decepticons for exactly, Alexis?"
"Morons." She shrugged, ignoring the thundering in her chest as her temper flared at the memories of the Decepticons ravaging everything on Earth.
"I see… I suppose I'm among the 'morons' then?" He inquired shrewdly.
"Don't start Starscream." She gave him one of her motherly looks, one he admired. She was never one to be stupidly immature about something, nor unreasonable. That was one trait that he found so appealing about her. Her maturity. "You may not like to admit it, but you-" She paused as the loud rumble of a ship approached her ears and looking back at the massive ship that cast a dark anomaly over the flats.
"As you were saying~?" He pressed deviously, raising her to meet his gaze.
She decided to ignore his persistence. "Who's ship is that?"
"Megatron's…. Or more appropriately, was. He hasn't been seen for days now…." An obvious lie. There was no telling when Megatron would be back from his quest for dark energon. Nearly half the ship's occupants had gone to an established excavation site. "As Second in Command, I'm ultimately left to care for the ship and her quarry… If he does not return soon, it's mine." His mouth curved into a slanted grin.
"I see…" Alexis said quietly, all the while wondering if Optimus was aware of this. After all this time, he still lusted for control. Still the same as ever… "Something's missing…"
"Oh?"
"Where is… Everybody?" She looked up at him with green eyes wide.
"Who is everybody?" He mused.
"That Whirly Bird, Cyclonus. Demolisher… Where did they all go?"
"Oh my…" He began with a grind. "That idiot Cyclonus returned to Cybertron to oversee a few… Plans, and Demolisher was sent with him. Thrust and Sideways are both dead… That little cone-headed pipsqueak!"
"Hey easy." She piped up with a nervous laugh. "Don't squish me thinking about him…" She rested a hand on his finger once she noticed his joints rattling.
"Sorry." He heaved a semi-dramatic sigh. "Nothing much else has happened, Soundwave still remains, and our current medic is KnockOut. Needless to say, we do have a few unwanted occupants in our ranks, alas, nothing I can do to remove them until Megatron dies…"
"You want him dead don't you?" She asked upon stroking his thumb a manner than he couldn't help but to relax under. Secretively, the action got to him. He never relaxed in the presence of a fleshling. She still had the same stress-reducing effects, yet they induced a whole different kind of trouble for him.
"With utmost hasten." He answered in a tone with spat particular bile.
"Screamer…" There was that nickname again. "Why… Didn't you join the Autobots when you had the chance?"
"…" He stopped, blinking down at her with a distasteful expression at the subject.
"With the Autobots, you would've been treated with care and respect. Everybody would've loved to have you if you didn't try to betray us… Optimus knew you had potential, you still do. You know that right?"
"Really, Alexis. And how long would I have remained the underling even on their side?" Starscream asked with a snark.
"… You can always go solo. Be who you want to be. Just because you'd be ranked below Optimus, doesn't mean anything. He treats all of the Autobots like superiors. He gives respect, provides reason and praise… Even when things go wrong."
"I don't want to hear it, Alexis." He said in a hushed tone, his temper brooding. The last thing he wanted to do was yell at her after this long.
Those affections had already made themselves apparent? Oh Heavens, why did she find him now? Why couldn't she have stayed out of his life like she had for all this time? Under normal circumstances he wouldn't have cared if he frightened a Human. In fact, he enjoyed it.
"But Starscream-"
"I said enough!" He caused her to jump, catching himself too late. "I already tried. If I didn't join the first time, the likelihood that I'll attempt to integrate myself with the Goody-two-shoes Group again is slim-to-none. Are we clear?" He hated watching her face drop despite the understanding nod she managed. "Now, why cause a debate when it's so truly unneeded. We should endeavor to make light of situation, since it's so pleasant to see you."
"Are you even really happy to see me?" She asked him bluntly, sitting back in his palm and closing her legs off to the side. He nearly tripped at the question.
"H-happy?" Truth be told, he was delighted to find her alive, to hear her again, and to finally put the pieces of his recurring memories together. As dually aggravating as it was. "I am pleased to see you're alive and well, Alexis. To be honest. Though given the current situation, I would say this rather bad timing to reunite."
She couldn't but smile. "Yeah, I suppose…" She quieted once he stepped onto the platform that ferried supplies into the very depths of the sinister-looking ship. "Don't you think it's a bad idea to take me in there?"
"No one will touch you so long as your with me." He stated with confidence once the platform began rising at a sickening speed, making Alexis hunker in his hand to keep from getting dizzy, she gripped his fingers tightly.
"I don't think Soundwave will be happy to see me. That is if he remembers." She said quietly.
"Oh assure you. He will."