TRANSFORMERS: CYBERTRON SAGA

AERIALBOTS #3: DOGFIGHT! THE MOURNING GLORY.

byline: Anubis C. Soundwave

Scene: 1

Outside the Ark, Skyfire waits patiently along with four of the Aerialbots: Air Raid, Fireflight, Skydive and Slingshot; as their leader, Silverbolt, listens to the last of Optimus Prime's orders.

Scene: 2

"...a simple, routine patrol. I've got it, sir," answers Silverbolt.

"I know. Do you and the others have any problems with Skyfire tagging along?" Optimus asks.

"No more than the usual, sir." Silverbolt glances at Slingshot, letting a teasing smile form on his lips. "He always comes around in the end."

Optimus studies his young lieutenant. "Starting to understand him a bit better?" he asks.

"A little. I know he's a good guy at his core," continues Silverbolt. "We just have a hell of a time getting past his walls."

"Give him time." Optimus places a hand on Silverbolt's shoulder.

"I will." Silverbolt salutes Optimus.

"Good hunting." Optimus nods. "And good luck."

Silverbolt leaves Optimus to join the other Aerialbots and Skyfire.

Scene: 3

The Aerialbots and Skyfire patrol the skies.

"No need to worry, Skyfire. If the Decepticons ever decide to show themselves," says Slingshot, "stand back! Just watch me work."

"Will you please quit lying to our new friend?" Air Raid slides over to the white Harrier. "Not even five minutes in the air," the black F-15 teases, "and you're already wound up."

"That just means he's excited," states Skyfire, laughing. "His class lives for combat."

"Are you speaking from experience?" asks Skydive.

"Not that experience, thankfully," answers Skyfire. "This was before the War."

"Ah. Back when Starscream was sane and rational."

"Yes."

"Ah, he was probably still a creep," counters Slingshot.

"You're right." Skyfire chuckles, almost to himself. "But he was a good friend."

"Oh. Sorry. I know how that can be." Slingshot veers off from the formation.

"It's not like that, Slingshot," says Skyfire. "Starscream and I," he continues bitterly, "burned those bridges before you five came online."

"Copy that. I have my own experiences; that's all."

"Up go the walls again," quips Silverbolt.

"You ought to worry less about any walls of mine," scoffs Slingshot, dodging a wandering Fireflight, "and more about our Flying Red Anvil."

"Not again!" Silverbolt pulls up. "Watch it, Flight!"

"Sorry. There's a lot of cloud cover," says Fireflight.

"You were looking for a nice patch of meadow to crash in," Skydive mocks. "Stay focused," he continues curtly. "We don't want to end up merged in the wrong way--like we did last time."

Fireflight pulls up to join Air Raid. "Don't lecture me. I said I was sorry."

"Sometimes, that just isn't good enough," Silverbolt mutters.

"Give it a rest!" says Air Raid. "Everybody in our unit's got problems."

"That in itself is a problem," notes Skydive.

"Calm down," says Skyfire. "You shouldn't snipe at each other like that."

"It's okay," Fireflight sighs. "Slingshot started it--as usual."

"Standard emotional deflector shield," adds Air Raid.

"What is this: an Air Unit or a group counseling session?" scoffs Slingshot.

Air Raid and Fireflight transform.

"Grab him!" orders Air Raid, diving after Slingshot.

"We'll hug the jerkiness out of him!" adds Fireflight, joining Air Raid in the group hug.

"No!" roars Slingshot jokingly as he transforms, absorbing his teammates' embraces. "Hugs and tenderness--my one weakness. I'm melting, Skyfire--melting...! What a world...."

"Quit quoting Earthian movies, or I'm joining that pile on," quips Skydive.

"I'm tempted to join in the fun myself," adds Silverbolt, "but I need all three of you back in formation."

"Aw...." Pouting, Fireflight transforms.

"You're no fun, Bolt," adds Air Raid as he and Slingshot transform.

"Yes, I am. I just know better ways to have fun." Silverbolt chuckles, laughing at a mysterious, private joke.

"Like what?" asks Slingshot.

"I'll show you someday. Hopefully soon."

"Hey! If you share with him, then you share with us all," quips Air Raid.

"I get the feeling," muses Silverbolt, "that you already know what my idea of fun is."

"Really?"

"He's right, Raid." Fireflight coasts over to Air Raid, aligning their wingtips.

"He is?"

"Yeah." Fireflight's voice hits a low-frequency. "Remember...?"

Air Raid responds to Fireflight in the same frequency. "Oh...."

Scene: 4

For all their griping, muses Skyfire as he and the Aerialbots continue their patrol, their unit coordination is superb. Fireflight has some focus issues, but that's the duty of a flight instructor.

Skyfire pulls up to dodge a drifting Fireflight. ...a patient flight instructor. Keeping it all in perspective: it must have taken Starscream many M-cycles to get to the Aerialbots' level--with a wingmate like Skywarp.

No...it's not really surprising that I'm thinking of Starscream. These five were brought together to match the Decepticons in the sky. Along with Powerglide and myself--as well as Blades, Cosmos and the Dinobots--they are the Autobots' air power on Earth.

Also...they remind me of other friends of mine. I have yet to see Algol flying after me with denunciations of "Traitor!" and the applicable death threats. It's likely he died during this war, along with the others. Why else would Starscream fly with Thundercracker and Skywarp as wingmates?

Starscream may be a treacherous, duplicitous son-of-a-glitch; he was like that even back then, judging by some of the rows he and Algol had. I can now infer that most of those fights were about Megatron, based on Starscream's continual efforts to overthrow our favorite Decepticon leader.

If Starscream would quit dragging the Autobots and Earth into his power struggles with Megatron, we'd be happy to let him fracture the Decepticons with infighting. Hell, I'd personally help him--in order undermine the Cause.

Universal conquest: how stupid, how pointless! It's such a waste of our lives, our talents, our resources. Yet...is the Autobot effort any better? Is their cause worth fighting for, or are they just reacting to the Decepticons' actions?

Never accept anything at face value. That's the first thing I learned from my father when I first came online.

"Watch your six, Skyfire!" Slingshot...just saved my life. He fires a mortar volley at...

...Starscream. "Damn you, you worthless little Autobot!" My former friend always did know how to liven up a humdrum day.

Scene: 5

"What the fuck is going on!?" demands Silverbolt, dodging Ramjet. "Dive?"

"I'll throw this one to Slingshot, as I don't have a damned clue," says Skydive as he eludes Thrust and Dirge.

"They're the enemy--who the hell cares!?" Slingshot continues to unload a weapons salvo at Starscream and Thundercracker; the two Seekers barely escape Slingshot's barrage. "Damn it!"

Scene: 6

"Slagger! Get off my cockpit!" spits Skywarp, trying to shake off Air Raid; the Autobot jetwarrior had reverted to root mode.

"You're a nut, Raid!" laughs Fireflight, even as he dodges a furious Thundercracker.

"I can't help it if Warpy needs new material," Air Raid quips.

"Oh, yeah? I'll learn ya, runt!" Skywarp teleports out of Air Raid's grip.

"We need to regroup!" Skyfire dodges Starscream's cluster bombs.

"Agreed!" Silverbolt heads into the clouds. "Let's get a move on, Aerialbots!"

"Aw--it was getting fun!" Grinning, Air Raid transforms. He, Fireflight and Skydive follow Silverbolt into the clouds.

"Get inside," Skyfire orders Slingshot, opening his cargo hold..

"I can handle 'em--there's only six!" Slingshot shifts to his root mode. "I don't like to cut and run."

"Your wingleader already gave the order!"

"So?"

"You saved my life," spits Skyfire, grabbing Slingshot and forcing the Aerialbot inside his cargo hold, "so I'm saving yours. Stubborn fool," the super jet adds in a lower frequency.

With Slingshot on board, Skyfire disappears into the clouds.

Scene: 7

"Insufferable traitor!" Starscream transforms, red optics ablaze with fury.

"This again, Screamer?" Skywarp snorts.

"Oh, you think this is a joke, Skywarp!?"

"Hey, what happened to your usual 'Quit calling me--'?" Skywarp sustains a hit to his jaw before he could think to teleport. "Watch it! I was--*"

"You want to cheer me up?" seethes Starscream, his vocoder several octaves lower than normal.

Skywarp scratches his head. "Uh, somethin' like that...."

"Then find the Traitor and those five. Now! I want the six of them destroyed!"

"Starscream's not acting normal," says Thrust. "Since when does he start a fight--*" Thrust escapes a shot from Starscream's null ray.

"Quit firing at Thrust," barks Ramjet, "or he will be of no use to your objective...whatever it may be." Ramjet glares at Starscream as Thrust hides behind the white Seeker.

"Then obey me, if you value your lives!" glowers Starscream.

"Very well." Ramjet nudges Thrust away. "Wings of Chaos: we seek and slay!" The white F-15 transforms, then flies off.

Scene: 8

"We're dead, aren't we?" mutters Dirge as he and Thrust transform and follow their wingleader.

"We will be if we don't do what Starscream says," counters Thrust. "He has murder in his optics."

"Do not be cowards!" orders Ramjet. "We are equal to the Archangels, if it comes to that." Privately, Ramjet agreed with with Thrust's assessment; Starscream's behavior was erratic, odd.

I will kill young Slingshot myself, he muses, nursing a carefully-hidden attraction to the warrior Aerialbot, rather than allow Starscream to dishonor him.

Scene: 9

"Look, Screamer: I know you're in one of your scary moods," spits Skywarp, "but you know I'm the worst at following somebody blind."

"Yes; though I'm well aware of your incompetence," says Starscream, "I won't tolerate your insubordination! Go!"

"This can't just be about ol' Skyf--huh?" Skywarp notes Thundercracker's hand on his shoulder. "What?"

"We're on it, Starscream." The sky-blue jetwarrior nods, nudging Skywarp. He and Skywarp shift to jet mode and streak away to find the Aerialbots and Skyfire.

Alone, Starscream takes out a private possession: a holoimage of himself, smiling with Skyfire and five other equally-cheerful jet mechs.

"I will see you die, Skyfire. And when we send those Autobot abominations with you to hell, my stars will be avenged...." Returning the holoimage to subspace, Starscream transforms and follows after his jetwarriors.

Laserbeak emerges from a cloud; unseen, he follows Starscream.

Scene: 10

Skywarp aligns himself with Thundercracker. "It's about them, ain't it?" the black-and-purple jetwarrior asks.

"Yep. I feel sympathy for the Aerialbots," continues Thundercracker, "but orders are orders."

"If it doesn't have much to do with the Cause, I'm lost, Thunder. Ain't we supposed to be on a scannin' run?"

"Let's put it this way. As much as I hate Starscream at times--"

"--which, honestly, is most of the time the three of us have known each other," quips Skywarp.

"Ugh. Nine M-cycles of this scrap. Even with four of those in stasis, it's still too long. With that said," continues Thundercracker, "not even Starscream deserved to lose his wingmates. You know that's one of the reasons he's the way he is."

"I'm not much for logic, but it wasn't Traitor Skyfrag's fault either."

"I have no sympathy for him." Thundercracker glowers. "If he was Starscream's friend, he was their friend. Skyfire was a science geek; the moment he saw our Autobot flyboys, he should have steered clear of 'em."

"Air Raid is kind of like Rigel," muses Skywarp, "but Algol would spit nails at bein' compared to an Autobot. Class Fives hate Autobots."

Thundercracker transforms. "The Aerialbots aren't Autobots. They're a set of confused Arwings, as far as I'm concerned."

"This is part of your elitist blind spot for things that fly." Skywarp transforms.

"Call it what you want. If those five had the mentality of Autobots, they would never have escaped us."

"You're itching for this dogfight?"

"Yeah, stupid!"

"But what's the--?"

"You outrank me. You tell me!"

"I don't know why I outrank ya."

Thundercracker allows a bitter smile to play on his features. "Politics."

"Quit thinkin' about your slaggin' doubts! Ya nerd!" Skywarp taps his wingmate's face. "The Cause is absolute and all that."

"That much I know. Strategically," continues Thundercracker, "it's win-win. If we win the dogfight, they and Skyfire die. If we somehow lose, we still know their strengths and weaknesses."

"I dunno...."

"Now who has doubts?" smirks Thundercracker.

"I don't hate that cat-eared runt. He's too much fun," Skywarp admits. "Starscream's out for Autobot fuel--and plenty of it."

"Even on this primitive alien backwater of a planet, the sky is our domain. If the Aerialbots die from a little dogfight," continues Thundercracker, "then they never had a right to be here."

"A message to the Autobots, then?"

"Yep."

Starscream arrives, transforming. "You've made it clear to this dunderhead, right, Thundercracker?" he scowls.

"Yes, Air Commander." Thundercracker salutes Starscream.

"Spare me the ceremony. I want them dead! Archangels of Destruction: we search and destroy!" The three Seekers transform and search for Skyfire and the Aerialbots.

Scene: 11

Skyfire, with all of the Aerialbots within his cargo hold, flies several thousand feet above the Seekers of Vilnacron. "All clear, guys," he says. "Now get out of me."

"Oh, don't deny it," chuckles Silverbolt. "You love having me inside you."

"Knock it off, Silverbolt. I'm not used to mass-shifting at this stage. You're all too big."

"I like it in here," Silverbolt continues. "So nice and tight."

"He's not talking to you," says Skydive as he exits Skyfire.

"Haven't you noticed how quiet our trip was since the rest of us hitched a ride?" adds Air Raid slyly.

"Don't you have a unit to lead?" asks Skyfire wearily.

Slingshot adds an irritated--yet muffled--agreement, his mouth occupied with Silverbolt's lower torso.

"Lick it, slag-off, or I'll drive my cable straight down your intake valve." Silverbolt grins crudely, amused at Slingshot's embarrassment.

"It'll be nice to know Slingshot overloaded you when the Seekers kill us," notes Fireflight.

"If I've gotta go, I'm going happy."

"Get out!" orders Skyfire. "Take that back to your recharge berth at the base."

"Fine, Skyfire." Silverbolt nudges his crotch out of Slingshot's mouth.

"About damn time." Slingshot stands and rights himself, then exits Skyfire's cargo hold.

"You always this much fun, Skyfire," asks Silverbolt, "or should Slingshot and I fool around inside you all the time?"

"This ain't happening again, chief." Slingshot scowls, wiping a bit of excess lubricant from his mouth.

"Yeah," says Silverbolt exiting Skyfire. "Next time, it won't be your own lube trickling down your chin.."

"Finally!" Skyfire reduces his jet mode to its standard size, then transforms.

Silverbolt's optics twinkle as he smiles, even as Skyfire narrows the distance between them. "What...?" he asks in an incredulous tone.

"I don't care how warm and lubed Slingshot's mouth may be--don't ever put me through that again. Especially," Skyfire continues, "when all of our lives are at stake."

"Sure...." Silverbolt looks around. "If you don't mind me asking," the Aerialbot leader continues, "what's your altimeter readout? I turned mine off."

"Just turn it back on."

"...if I do that, I'll panic and be worse than useless up here."

"Higher than normal. Do we wait until the Seekers lose interest?" Skyfire asks.

Silverbolt shuts his optics tightly, not liking Skyfire's vague altimeter reading. "Options," he orders his teammates. "I need them, now."

Several minutes pass; the Aerialbots and Skyfire continue to argue different options.

"Again: in order to minimize collateral damage, we need to return to base," says Skyfire.

"No!" counters Air Raid. "These jack-afts are itching for a fight; I say we give them one."

"Are there any dogfighters in this unit?"

"You're looking at one!" Air Raid leans into Skyfire's personal space. "We don't run from a fight!"

"I never said we should run. We have to think about the native inhabitants of Earth in addition to our own goals," says Skyfire calmly.

"If that's the case," says Slingshot, "then heading back to base with Decepticons on our six is just asking for a high casualty count. A bunch of diplomats are at the Ark today--it's one of the reasons we're up here." Slingshot allows a scowl to appear.

"The others were probably just worried that I'd mess things up," smiles Fireflight sheepishly. "Remember, the Dinobots were sent out too."

Slingshot places a hand on Fireflight's shoulder.

Silverbolt looks at his wingmates and Skyfire. He turns to Skydive. "What's your take?"

"We have three options: one, to return to base without the Seekers' knowledge, two, extended aerial combat; and three, Superion."

"Swatting the six of them out of the air as Superion does sound interesting," muses Skyfire. "I can keep them from tagging the gestalt's weak points, and serve as a distraction."

Air Raid and Slingshot snort at the Superion option.

"It's the fastest way--if it's a fight you want to take to them," continues Skyfire.

"If we--military-encoded jetwarriors--can't handle six enemy jetwarriors without Superion," spits Slingshot, "then we may as well hang up our wings now."

"Slingy said it better than I would have, damn him," adds Air Raid. "I'm sick of their high-and-mighty attitude."

"Which differs substantially from your own 'high-and-mighty attitudes' how?" asks Skyfire, smirking.

"Our wing leader's down-to-earth," smiles Air Raid, "so he tries to keep us out of trouble."

"I see." Never mind that Silverbolt's the worst of the lot of you. Skyfire shakes his head. "What objective would be acheived by engaging the Seekers of Vilnacron--the Decepticon Imperial Battle Fleet's top jetwarrior squadron?"

"We'd finally knock Starscream and his goons off their pedestals!" answers Air Raid.

"It may create a crisis of confidence in the six of them. As they are the elite of the Decepticon ranks," continues Skydive, "it could have a ripple effect throughout their whole army."

"The up-and-comers in the Decepticons will come in droves to 'prove' that the Seekers' defeat was a fluke, or that they're bad-afts," muses Silverbolt. "We'd then take them out as they come."

"We'd have ultimate bragging rights," adds Air Raid, grinning.

"Allow me to present an alternate scenario: we all die," says Skyfire, scowling, "and none of your speculations come to pass."

"So what's it gonna be, wing leader?" asks Slingshot.

Silverbolt locks his optics onto his wingmates and Skyfire. "We take the fight to them."

Scene: 12

Twenty minutes later, the Aerialbots and Skyfire finalize the battle plan.

"Does everyone know their position?" Silverbolt asks. Skyfire, Air Raid, Fireflight and Skydive nod; the four transform and fly out of the cloud bank.

Silverbolt is alone with Slingshot. "Hey," asks the Concorde, "what gives? Having second thoughts?"

"...no! I understand what I'm supposed to do," scowls Slingshot. "I just never thought I'd be a wing leader."

"What are you complaining about now? You've got a pair of highly capable pilots, and you're a master ringleader," notes Silverbolt wryly.

"Ah, you know I don't mean half that stuff," Slingshot pouts, trembling.

"Nervous?" Silverbolt takes hold of Slingshot's hands.

Slingshot frowns. "I might be...."

Silverbolt smiles, knowing Slingshot's answer was as close to an admission of frailty as the Harrier would get.

"I mean...we've got to take these guys out!" continues Slingshot, tense. "We need to know where we stand--once and for all. So much is riding on this; we--we can't.... We can't lose."

"I don't want to blow this either." Silverbolt places his hands on Slingshot's shoulders. "I've got an idea."

Slingshot gives his wing leader a confused pout.

"We'll use Superion to our own advantage." After pulling a small cord from subspace, Silverbolt reaches behind his head and plugs one end of the cord into his primary neural jack. The Autobot wing commander grabs the other end of the cord, presenting it to Slingshot.

"You want to create a neural LAN," notes Slingshot.

Silverbolt nods.

"I don't know...it's too much like a dive to me."

"Trust me; those programs won't be accessed. Now lower your head guard so we can network."

"But why?"

"It's the best way for us to coordinate our movements." Silverbolt winces. "You feel comfortable up here--at home. I know how to command. I draw strength from you, and vice-versa."

"I'm just a little leery about opening myself up." Slingshot winces, but complies.

Silverbolt starts to plug into Slingshot's neural jack, already sensing his wingmate's carefully-guarded impressions. "You've never kissed anyone?" Silverbolt asks.

"Not that it's your business," says Slingshot curtly, blushing, "but...no."

"If it'll take your mind off this battle...." Silverbolt presses his lip components onto Slingshot's, the larger mech sliding his oral sensor array into Slingshot's mouth. While Slingshot is distracted, Silverbolt plugs the cord into Slingshot's neural jack, completing the LAN circuit.

Silverbolt breaks the kiss just as the LAN connection is established. As the Aerialbot leader transforms, Slingshot touches his lip components.

"Hey," asks Silverbolt. "You ready?"

"I guess...." Slingshot transforms and flies off.

Hm.... I've got to do more of that to him. Often. Savoring the thrill of both the kiss and his new link with Slingshot, Silverbolt flies after the Harrier, for once unafraid.

Scene: 13

"I see them!" reports Thundercracker. "It's almost like they're expecting us."

"Good. Let's not disappoint them. But first...." Starscream turns and fires at a flying object.

"...Laserbeak?" balks Skywarp as Laserbeak leaves the Seeker formation. "Why'd you fire at him?"

"This is our battle--I'll brook no interference from the likes of him. Now let's go!" Starscream resumes the chase, followed by his squadron.

Scene: 14

Laserbeak abruptly returns to Soundwave, silently reporting that Starscream rejected his help. Soundwave studies the condor, then flies into the six Seekers' path.

Starscream, at the head of the pack, transforms to avoid crashing into Soundwave; startled by the communicator's abrupt appearance.

The lead Seeker turns to the others: Thundercracker, Skywarp, Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge. "Find the Traitor and those Aerialbots."

"Whatever you say, Screamer," Skywarp quips as he flies off with the others.

"I'll let that slide for today," scoffs Starscream to Skywarp.

Starscream turns to Soundwave, blocking the blue mech's punch. "I will not have your interference in this," the Seeker hisses. "They are mine."

Soundwave snatches his fist out of Starscream's grip. "Why did you fire at Laserbeak?"

"I just gave you my answer, you dolt."

"Unacceptable. Megatron has authorized no attack on--*"

"Have you forgotten," asks Starscream quietly, "the day that the Autobots first turned your dead against you?"

Soundwave is silent, an abrupt turn of his head the only answer.

Starscream notes the act; for Soundwave, even an oblique mention of his sister's death amounted to a slap to the face. "I didn't think so. You have your Autobot abominations to destroy. I have mine."

Soundwave faces Starscream a moment, then nods. Starscream shifts back into jet mode and rejoins his squadron.

"Megatron shall be informed," Soundwave intones. He stops Laserbeak from flying off. "Only if Starscream fails...."

Laserbeak nods in understanding. Both he and Soundwave follow after Starscream from a discreet distance.

Scene: 15

The Seekers of Vilnacron, again locating the Aerialbots and Skyfire, chase the Autobot squadron and the super jet through the skies.

"Autobot cowards!" spits Ramjet. "Face us!"

"Ah, we'll face you when we're good and ready to kick your afts," quips Air Raid. "So when are we gonna give Rammy and his pals what they want?" the Autobot F-15 asks Silverbolt through their gestalt link.

"When Fireflight finds a good spot for us to take them out. We have to stay within Slingshot's range," continues Silverbolt, "or our plan is shot."

"We're at the Grand Canyon," reports Fireflight.

"That's as close to uninhabited as we'll get," notes Skydive.

"But, there's a--*"

"It's now or never, Flight; Starscream's nosecone is dangerously close to my exhaust valve." Silverbolt pulls up to elude the red-and-silver Decepticon.

Skywarp notes the Autobot formation's change in trajectory. "You guys ready to fight now, eh?" he quips. "Then let's get this party started!"

"Ah, shut your yap!" spits Slingshot. He and Skywarp trade weapons salvos as the dogfight begins.

Scene: 16

"A planes!" Raleigh Newcastle, a three-year old boy, points up to the sky.

Leader One smiles at the small boy, General Newcastle's younger grandson. "That's right. There are lots of planes here, Raleigh."

Dewey joins his younger brother and the Guardian leader outside UNECOM. "They're fighting!" Dewey notes after cleaning his glasses.

"A dogfight? Here?" Leader One looks up, and notes with irritation the dogfight over Guardian and UNECOM airspace. Seven Eagles, a red Phantom, a white Harrier-II, a gray Falcon, a Concorde SST...and a Cybertronian super jet--all of whom endanger human lives. This is fragging swell.

"I like the black F-15," says Dewey, eyes shining.

"There's two." Raleigh shows two small, chubby brown fingers to his older brother.

"The one that's not popping in-and-out--the Autobot."

"Go, Autobot! Go Op-amus!" Raleigh mispronounces the now-famous Autobot leader's name.

As far as I'm concerned, seethes Leader One silently, "Op-amus" can go straight to hell.

He gently picks up the two boys. "Let's go inside so we can tell your grandpa about this," says Leader One.

"I wanna watch," Dewey protests.

"See the planes," adds Raleigh.

"It'll be even better on the big screen inside Guardian Headquarters." Leader One reenters UNECOM with the Newcastle brothers.

Scene: 17

Slingshot howls as he takes Ramjet down. "Decepti-clown goin' down!"

"Nice!" Silverbolt congratulates Slingshot with a soft EM pulse over the Harrier's hull. "Fireflight," continues the Autobot air commander silently, "are the Wings down for the count?"

"For a while, at least," answers Fireflight.

"Good. Let's shift to Phase Two. Slingshot: you up?" relays Silverbolt.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Slingshot slides over to Skyfire. "Dive, just like we planned."

"Roger." Skydive buzzes Skyfire's internal radio as the Aerialbot tactician joins formation. "We're at Phase Two."

"Understood." Skyfire moves into position.

Scene: 18

Leader One maneuvers himself into the dogfight over the Grand Canyon. "Attention unauthorized aircraft: you are in United States and Guardian airspace. Land immediately," orders the Guardian commander "or you will be forced down."

The nine jets respond with weapons fire.

"Silverbolt, Slingshot: take this fight of yours elsewhere--preferably over Optimus Prime's head."

"Not now, old-timer--I'm trying to keep this teleporting jack-aft pinned!" hisses Slingshot.

"Zark off, Leader None!" adds Skywarp, trying to outmanuever Slingshot. "This is Decepticon business."

Leader One transforms, unsympathetic to either side. "Then get it the hell out of my airspace, Skywarp."

"Silence, Guardian," spits Starscream, "or you shall share the same fate as these miserable Aerialbots and the Traitor!"

"There are civilians below!" counters Leader One. "I won't let you endanger their--what the hell!?" Leader One evades a new attack...

...from a Mitsubishi Zero? "Leave them!" demands the Zero. "Theirs is a duel of honor, Leader One." The Zero leaves the dogfight, baiting Leader One to chase him.

"I'll deal with you guys later. Right now I have a Renegade named Zero to dispatch." Leader One follows Zero away from the dogfight.

"Where were we?" muses Starscream. "Oh, yes--we were disposing of Autobot trash!"

"Not likely, Screechy!" Air Raid fires missiles at the Decepticon Air Commander.

Scene: 19

Ten minutes pass, and Starscream considers the skillful coordination between the two Autobot air formations.

They're good...too good. Thundercracker, Skywarp and I have flown together for over nine M-cycles; yet even we aren't in flawless sync as they are. This pathetic Autobot team was cobbled together by Optimus Prime one cycle ago, Starscream continues thinking, and Skyfire only flew with them today--that much I can tell, judging by his pitiful showing here.

In particular, Silverbolt and Slingshot.... Ah. I see the scheme. Time to break up their little duet!

Starscream attacks Silverbolt relentlessly. "Thundercracker," the Decepticon wing leader orders silently, "focus all attacks on the weakest point in their little formation."

"Done." Thundercracker hammers Skyfire, and Skywarp follows suit.

Scene: 20

"Coverage, guys, coverage!" spits Silverbolt, even as his flying becomes shaky. I'm starting to panic! I shouldn't be panicking...! Slingshot, where are you..!? Why can't I...? Silverbolt realizes the goal of Starscream's barrage. No...it's gone. The link!

"That's right, usurper!" crows Starscream, triumphant. "No aid from Superion. You must earn those wings you wear."

Air Raid fires several torque missiles at his red-and-silver F-15 counterpart. "Slag off, Screamer!"

"Hey!" spits Skywarp, still trapped in the other Aerialbot formation. "Only I get to call Screamer 'Screamer'!"

Slingshot blocks Skywarp. "You have to get past me first, guy."

"With pleasure, Autobot!"

Scene: 21

On the ground, Leader One scowls at Zero. The dark green Renegade uses his fire suppression systems to prevent himself from exploding.

"Why the hell did you do that?" demands Leader One.

Zero's optics brighten. "Nijuugo-kun, wasn't this exhilirating?"

Leader One winces at the old nickname, which brought back several painful memories of betrayal. "...no."

"You're a terrible liar." Zero smiles knowingly at his former Guardian pupil. "Would you rob them of this, their lifeblood?"

"Energon."

"Fuel then, damn you. So literal. Or are you still--deep within--ever the smart-aft?" asks Zero flippantly.

"Time...has passed between us." Leader One tenses a fist, thinking of Zero's betrayal of Gobotron, which eventually led to the other....

"To our kind," says Zero, standing, "time is meaningless. Struggle is eternal. That is the legacy of our forefathers."

Leader One chuckles. "Two of them are still alive."

"I'm running out of wizened sayings here," pouts Zero childishly, reminding Leader One of Pocket.

"Then shut up. This fight won't end by my interference--I get it." Smiling bitterly, Leader One resigns himself to observing the--admittedly-exciting--dogfight.

Scene: 22

"Skyfire! Stay in the damn game!" roars Slingshot, driving off Thundercracker.

"We should never have engaged them," counters Skyfire. "This battle is pointless. Innocent people are endangered below."

"Listen. I need your help. I actually do understand what you're really dealing with--even more than you," Slingshot continues, "and even more than you'll know."

"Did you betray your friend?" asks Skyfire, his voice laced with self-loathing and doubt.

"No, because I never had friends. I do have wingmates, now, who need us to hold this damn line--and we will hold it."

"...you're that determined?"

"If you don't fight this battle, these Suckers will always bludgeon you. They're counting on you to lose confidence and die; I'm counting on you to help us win this thing, thus making me look good to Optimus and the old-timer."

"All things considered, Slingshot is the lesser of the two evils," Skydive teases.

Skyfire mulls over Slingshot's words, then joins in the ribbing with Skydive. "I can't argue with Skydive's logic."

Scene: 23

Sixty minutes later, Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust complete their repairs on the ground; preparing to reenter the dogfight.

In the sky, Fireflight notes Thrust testing his wings. "Not good...." The red Phantom relays the images to Silverbolt.

Like I don't have enough problems. "Guys," radios Silverbolt, "if they get in the air, we're fucked."

"They've had time to rest and fix themselves. We've been in the air with the Archangels for over sixty minutes," continues Skydive. "The most logical course is to retreat."

"Starscream won't let us do that," counters Silverbolt.

"Even if we do," adds Skyfire, "in Starscream's state of mind, he'd probably follow us to Autobot headquarters--with every Decepticon that can fly."

"Hey, I'm tired," says Air Raid, firing at Starscream, "but we can't let these guys push us out of the skies."

"Return to the ground, worthless Autobot. You have no place here in the heavens!" hisses Starscream, firing his null ray at Air Raid.

"Starscream, you've gone cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs today, huh?" quips Air Raid, dodging the lead Decepticon jetwarrior's laser fire.

"You will die!"

In the other Autobot formation, Slingshot, Skydive and Skyfire amplify the sound of their own and Thundercracker's engines; while Skyfire fires on the Wings of Chaos.

Panicked, Thrust and Dirge flee.

Ramjet pursues his craven wingmates. "Come back, you miserable cowards! It is twice now that Slingshot has used Thundercracker's foolish trick!" The Wings of Chaos fly off into the distance, and out of the dogfight.

Irritated, Skywarp transforms and kicks Thundercracker's hull, forcing the sky-blue jetwarrior to transform.

"Cut your slagging engines--the little shocks are using your trick!" radios Skywarp.

Thundercracker levels a murderous glare at the white Harrier. "...I have other tricks," he hisses to Skywarp over their comm frequency. "Time to teach them a lesson!"

Thundercracker attacks Slingshot directly. "Break their fucking line!" he bellows.

"When did this idiot learn Earthian expletives?" mutters Skyfire as he and Skydive dodge Skywarp.

"Who knows," says Skydive dourly, firing at Skywarp, "and who the hell cares?"

"Your strategy is flawless," says Thundercracker, begrudging the compliment, "but you're a rookie. Get out of my air!"

Slingshot transforms, attacking Thundercracker via neutron rifle. "Oh, frag off!"

"Language, Slingshot," counsels Skydive.

Skywarp fires at the Aerialbot tactician. "Go zark yourself, egghead!"

Scene: 24

On the ground, Leader One and Zero continue to watch the Cybertronian dogfight.

"What a relief," says Leader One in a whisper. "Slingshot's no longer trying to hot-dog it. He won't be so sloppy."

"Eh?" Zero gives Leader One a quizzical look.

"It's still not looking good for his ad hoc squad up there. Honestly," the Guardian leader continues, "who was he trying to impress up there?"

Zero slaps Leader One on the back of the head. "You, bakayarou."

Scene: 25

In the sky, Silverbolt's formation begins to break up.

"How's he doing this to us!?" balks Fireflight, panicking. "We've got the advantage!"

"Stay calm, Fireflight. He's about to fall." Silverbolt's measured response underscores his inner panic, which echoes Fireflight's. Damn. We've got to finish Starscream--that's the only way this stupid dogfight will end.

Silverbolt notes Slingshot's own flagging formation. If those two aft ports break Slingshot's triangle....

Starscream transforms, attacking Silverbolt. "So, Autobot: you've finally realized the truth," says the lead Decepticon jetwarrior, smug. "When my wingmates break that pathetic mockery of a battle formation, you and the other fools are finished."

"Don't underestimate me or my wingmates. We've kicked your can before," counters Silverbolt.

"True, but we aren't going easy on you this time. If you value your life," continues Starscream, "then go back to the earth, where you belong!"

Silverbolt transforms and grips Starscream's neck, granting the lead Seeker a savage glare.

Starscream stares at the Autobot wing commander in mute, near-strangled shock.

"You know what?" Silverbolt smiles thinly. "I'm going to give you a piece of my mind."

Ordering Air Raid and Fireflight to widen the formation, Silverbolt--with Starscream's neck column still in hand--plunges into several cumulus clouds. The clouds darken, heighten and solidify into a cumulonimbus cell.

A thunderstorm breaks, frightening most of the jets in the air.

"What the...you seeded the clouds, Silverbolt?" balks Skydive.

"Are you insane!?" adds Skyfire.

Fireflight trembles at the storm. "We and electrical storms from hell don't mix--we need to leave," he advises.

"No! We break these slaargs, now," spits Silverbolt, releasing Starscream's neck, "or they break us!" He attacks Starscream relentlessly.

"You think a bit of rain will bother me, Auto--ah!" Starscream succumbs to a bolt of lightning, then to Silverbolt--who sends the lead Decepticon jetwarrior into another fork of lightning.

"He...really can fly!" marvels Skyfire.

"Don't back Silverbolt into a corner," quips Skydive.

Skywarp transforms, optics wide. "What happened to his zarkin' fear of heights!?"

Slingshot knocks Skywarp into another thunderbolt. "That."

"When the weather's like this, Starscream," hisses Silverbolt, "I'm a damned god in the air; and you're an arrogant angel, meant to be cast down below and forgotten!" With that, Silverbolt finishes Starscream off, using a double-fisted overhead slam to send Starscream hurtling to the earth below.

Scene: 26

Starscream hits the ground hard, struggling to a seated position.

Silverbolt lands, facing the prone red-and-silver Seeker; a fierce, intense fury burns in his optics. Lightning strikes behind the young Aerialbot leader, adding to an already-fearsome impression.

One that was not lost on an addled Starscream. "M-Megatron...?" he gasps.

"What?" spits Silverbolt.

Starscream's optics widen; he then winces, shaking his head in realization. "No...you're not him."

Silverbolt scowls, fixing his optics on the Decepticon jetwarrior. "Listen to me carefully. I'm a patient guy. I don't start fights. But no one--no one--tells me what to do, or where I belong. Now go fuck yourself!"

Starscream stares in muted shock at Silverbolt as the Aerialbot leader backs away.

Silverbolt tilts his head to the sky, looking up at his wingmates and Skyfire. "We're done here!" he spits. "Aerialbots, let's jet!" Joining his wingmates in the sky, Silverbolt leaves for Autobot Headquarters, followed by the other five Autobot jetwarriors.

Scene: 27

Thundercracker and Skywarp land beside their wing leader, hoisting him to his feet.

"Who knew they'd put up such a fight?" marvels Thundercracker.

"Who knew they'd win?" Skywarp grins.

Starscream gives a wry smirk. "...not too bad, for their first dogfight." With thst, Starscream goes offline.

Megatron arrives with Soundwave and Laserbeak. "When Hook is done repairing the damage you all sustained in this unauthorized battle," says the Decepticon general, glaring at the three Seekers, "I want your impressions on the Aerialbots--now that you've fought them seriously...and lost."

Leaving Thundercracke and Skywarp with their inert wing leader to shudder at the prospect of the surgical engineer's painful repairs, Megatron and Soundwave fly away.

END ISSUE 3