This has actually been stewing in my brain for a while. It started as a drawing and it just grew. I hope I kept Blue' in character. Oh, well. On with the fic!

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers in any way, form, or fashion. Please don't sue me. The only things in here that I own are the plot and the one femme.

"Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die." –Herbert Hoover

Bluestreak walked through the wasteland that had been the site of another battle. 'This time was different though,' he thought to himself. 'This time I was a soldier instead of a civilian.'

He was heading toward a particular set of coordinates. There was just one thing he had to see before they left. No one questioned his comings or goings, nearly everyone was trying to locate and help the wounded.

In a way he was too, but instead of wounded friends he was looking for an enemy.

Flashback

Bluestreak's whole frame trembled. This was just like the attack on his city! The acrid air, the smoke billowing all around, and the screams of dying or injured mechs and femmes.

"Blue'! Look online, kid! Ratchet needs some cover fire!" Ironhide yelled through the comm. as the medic in question ducked behind some debris.

The mech raised his rifle to fire…and found he couldn't. 'Slag it, I'm a merchant, not a soldier!' His arms were shaking even more. 'I can't do it!'

"Down!"

He felt a hand on his back before he was forced to the ground. A thunderous roar sounded overhead as the gray mech shuttered his optics. 'Why won't this stop!'

"Are you okay?" His optics snapped open and he looked into the visored face of a femme. "Well?"

"I-I guess so."

"Well you won't be if you don't start shooting." They ducked their heads as something exploded nearby. "And neither will they." She motioned to the others before looking him straight in the optics. She patted his shoulder before running towards the medic's aid.

'I know…' That's when he saw it. A brown seeker jet, heading straight towards Ironhide and the small group of mechs he was with. Bluestreak lifted his rifle again, aimed, and pulled the trigger.

Less that a second later, the seeker went down in a whirl of smoke and flame.

End Flashback

Bluestreak didn't know why he remembered where the jet had crashed. He didn't even know why he was going there. Certainly the last thing he needed to see was another body. But, before he could turn back, he was there.

The gunner kneeled by the dead seeker. Part of him was horrified by what he'd done, but…another part was almost satisfied. He had killed another being, but said being had been a Decepticon. It might have been one that helped destroy his city. Did that make this right? Or was he now no better than them?

Gently he shuttered the black optics and closed the mouth of the other mech. As he moved his hand away he saw it was covered in the fluid that flowed within each mech and femme in this war. A simple mixture of nothing but Energon, oil, and coolants. 'We're all equal in this…' he thought as he gazed at his hand.

Ironhide's voice went through the comm. again, this time calmer. "Bluestreak, we're gonna start headin' back to base." There was a brief pause. "Fer what its worth kid…ya did good out there today."

He frowned a bit. "Thanks Ironhide. I'll be there in a nano-click." He stood and looked at the mech's face, still slightly contorted with pain. "I'm sorry…" Transforming to his speeder-mode, Bluestreak sped back to the group.

A/N: Well, I hope you liked it. Now I'm off to try and write something non-angsty...