Transformers: Vapour Trails

By Violetlight

Author's Note: Updated edition. Thanks to the Good Idea Writing Club for your critiques.

Thanks also to Gelendra, for her advice on Starscream's personality.


Chapter 2: I'm Still Here

Stay here, Scorponok.

Those had been the last words the arachnid-shaped symbiote had heard from his partner, a simple order to stay in the desert wilderness while the giant helicopter mech went to help the Leader. The Leader was back, and that had made Blackout happy, and when Blackout was happy, Scorponok was happy. Scorponok had obeyed, as he always did, and waited patiently, buried beneath the Nevada sand, for his partner to return.

He waited as the cycles dragged on, as this strange planet's sun sank beneath the horizon and as unfamiliar constellations filled the night sky. Even though a dull ache in his Spark suggested something that Scorponok did not, would not consider, still he waited. Blackout had said to stay.

He did not move even when he heard jet engines roar overhead, followed quickly by the Transformation Song. Blackout had said to stay. He did not move when he heard something buzz as it hovered over his position. Blackout had said to stay. He did not move even when two arms gently pulled him out of the sand or when those arms cradled him to their owner's chassis. Even within that warm, comforting embrace, Scorponok did not move. Blackout had said to stay.

A soft, Cybertronian melody filled his audios, a calming, familiar sound in this strange, alien world. As he was held, as the Singer continued her soothing song, the ache in his Spark started to subside. As the lullaby continued, his optics blinked once, twice. He slowly drifted offline, but still, he did not move.

Blackout had said to stay.

Cycles passed. The strange planet Scorponok was stuck on continued its never-ending rotation on its axis. Soon, the sun reappeared above the opposite horizon, its first morning rays shining softly onto Scorponok's faceplate, the growing brightness apparent even through his optic covers. He opened his optics slowly. He was still cradled in the larger Decepticon's arms as she slept peacefully in a sitting position, Waspinator curled up around her feet. The insectoid's wings randomly fluttered with in time with some dream, emitting a quiet buzzing with each rapid beat.

She came online, and looked down at Scorponok with gentle, ruby optics. She carefully placed him down on the sand, her wasp-shaped symbiote awakening as she shifted. Waspinator flew back carefully, giving his partner room to Transform. The Song sang again as the space-black Decepticon femme became a wedge-shaped, matte-black jet.

The doors to the stealth fighter's bomb bay at the bottom of her fuselage opened, and Waspinator flew towards them but did not go inside. Instead, he turned and buzzed at his fellow bug-bot curiously.

For an astrosecond, Scorponok did not move. Blackout had said to stay.

But Blackout was not coming back. He knew this for certain now, even though it still hurt his Spark to think about it.

Slowly, uncertainly, he made his way towards the stealth's fuselage, stopping at the bomb bay doors and chirping inquiringly. The jet started her engines expectantly, as Waspinator flew inside and settled down on the floor. He buzzed encouragingly to his "brother".

With one last, hesitant chirp, Scorponok climbed inside the bomb bay. As the doors closed and he felt the jet take off, Scorponok let out a sad chirp. He did not quite understand what had happened, but he could no longer deny that his former partner would never return for him. He missed Blackout; he probably always would.

But Nightbird said it was time to go and Scorponok always obeyed.