00:00:36 Aftermath

Skywarp let loose a howl into the sky that would have shattered the audio receptors of any hundred humans within hearing distance; alone as they were, however, only Thundercracker was there to hear his cry; what a horrible cry it was.

Within their sparks they could feel the instant loss of their trine-leader.

Despised as he may have been among the Decepticon ranks, they were trine, and trine meant forever. And now the loss of one of these three... the pain was almost too great; indeed it seemed too much for Skywarp, as he began to fall towards the very ocean that had just swallowed his leader.

Thundercracker, however, knew- even through his own terrifying grief- that he could not let another of his trine off-line, not if he could help it. So instead of allowing Skywarp to follow in his leader's pede-steps -so to speak -he gained control of his own shakey vocal cords and spoke aloud. "Warp... don't do it, Star... Star wouldn't have wanted it..."

Furoius, the wailing seeker turned on him. "How could you TC? Barely a quarter of a breem, and you're already ready to move on? Were you part of this... this... this plan? Why? Why would you do this?"

Thundercracker knew deep within his spark that Warp just didn't know what to think, and was just trying to figure it out; he himself didn't understand why Starscream would kill himself, just to kill Megatron. The whole reason Starscream kept trying to destroy Megatron was so he could gain the throne, right? That was how it always seemed to be...

"Warp... I'm just as lost as you, I really don't know why Star would do something like this... But you-we-have to remember that Star wouldn't want us to die... not if he just... sacrificed himself for whatever cause... We have to tell Soundwave, the anouncement must be made.

"...fine."


00:05:59

Soundwave was sitting at the monitors, tracking the Autobots scout trails through Laserbeak. A request for communication appeared, Thundercracker.

Intrigued on why the large, blue seeker would be contacting him in such a way, he opened up the communication. ::Request: Permitted. Query: Problems?::

An extremely low voice echoed back at him. ::Soundwave... we have bad news...:: Thundercracker didn't sound eager to continue.

::Command: Continue. Query: What happened?::

::Starscream...:: The Communications Officer winced inwardly, that seeker... ::Starscream isn't... he's not... Star...::

Soundwave frowned behind his facemask, this behavior of Thundercracker's was uncharacteristic; before he could demand the other continue, however, Skywarp broke in, anger evident. ::Starscream's off-line slaggit! He's dead!::

Silence surrounded Soundwave. Not the usual silence, but shocked silence. Finally... ::Starscream: ...not functioning? Damage: Mortal?:: One could almost detect his hesitation.

::Oh no... Screamer's just sitting on the bottom of the ocean. His spark is perfectly fine.:: The warper replied sarcastically.

::Sarcasm: Not required to answer query. Thundercracker: Report.::

::Soundwave sir... Um, Megatron isn't... either.::

::...query... query...:: Soundwave repeated himself several times over before he managed to get himself straight. ::Sarcasm: Not appreciated. Thundercracker: Report.::They were just being ridiculous now.

::I'm not being sarcastic, slaggit. Megatron's dead, Soundwave. Starscream killed him. But he killed himself in the process. I don't... know why.::

::Starscream. Reasoning: Illogical.::

::... yeah. It was. Can we just come... home?:: Skywarp's voice echoed over the link, small and scared.

The comm. expert almost replied with a 'No' and the order to find the reason of the attack, but he stopped himself and realized what they were going through. If he were to lose one of his casettes... ::Affirmative. Request: Come to Nemesis.::

::But Soundwa- wait, what?:: The seekers had been fully prepared to beg the officer, and thus were thrown off by this permission, ::Uh... Thanks Soundwave- Sir!::

::Affirmative. Signal: Cut.:: Soundwave leaned back in his seat. Losing all normal composure, he sagged forward and leaned his helm in his servos.

What was he supposed to do now?


00:31:00

Thundercracker and Skywarp arrived at base, to find everybot quietly sitting in the rec. room in silence. Soundwave was standing at the front of the room, mask blank and posture stiff; as usual.

The silence seemed to deepen as the two trinemates entered the room.

~Did Soundwave tell them what happened?~ A nervous Skywarp asked through their trine-bond.

~I don't know, Warp. It looks like they know something, what that is, I'm not sure. But be proud. Hold up your wings, we're seekers.~

~Yes TC.~

The two walked further into the room, wings hiked high, masks in place.

Thundercracker nodded at several other cons, before grabbing some energon from the dispenser, and taking Skywarp over to their usual seats. ~Just pretend everything's normal. It's up to Soundwave - or anybot, really - to break this silence.~ He could feel Skywarp's understanding through the bond.


00:35:17

Finally, after they were settled and trying to not pay any mind to all the curious gazes that followed their forms (the attention was really getting to them), Soundwave spoke up.

"Order: Listen. Silence. Fact: This is important." After the silence continued to stretch out, Soundwave nodded his helm in thanks. "Statement: Thundercracker and Skywarp have discovered interesting news. Information: Will be supplied by myself. Details: Given by the seekers. Now: Listen."

All of the cons gazes were now fixed upon their Third-in-Command.

"Due to unexpected reasons, both of our two highest Commanders are offline." Outraged shouts and shocked drivel started up. All of the cons in the rec room either babbling in confusion, or sitting in stunned silence. "Information: Starscream has effectively offlined Megatron. Unexpected: Starscream destroyed his own life in the process. Explanation: Unknown."

Silence rippled out from Soundwave, faceplates scrunching up in confusion as each con tried to understand that statement. Granted, the fact that Megatron's demise was at the servos of Starscream, wasn't even that surprising. No, it was the fact that Starscream was willing to destroy his own existence in order to offline Megatron.

None of it made sense.


00:43:08

"So... where does that leave us?" Frenzy asked, after the silence had stretched for too long. "I mean, Megatron was the leader. And Starscream... well like it or not, he handled a lot of stuff." Thundercracker and Skywarp stared in shock at Frenzy; what on cybertron was he talking about?

Next it was Vortex who spoke. "It's true. Soundwave?"

A chorus of "Yeah!" and "What's gonna happen now?" echoed around the room in agreement, for once everybot was agreeing on something.

"Soundwave: Will become current leader. Thundercracker: Temporary Second-in-Command. Third-in-Command: Remains unknown. Process: Retrieve Megatron's frame. Furthered:-" Soundwave hesitated slightly, seeing Skywarp's darkened optics, "Also: Retrieve Starscream's frame. Furthered: Proper Cybertronian Burial will commence. Respects: Will be paid. Accomplishments: Will be intoned. Currently: prepare for retrieval of frames."

Finally given something to do after this bit of surprising news, mechs scampered to complete their tasks. The war must continue... right?


01:13:23

All fliers had come to the main deck, in preparation of the retrieval. Thundercracker and Skywarp were at the head of the fleet, optics darkened with worry and sadness. Soundwave was off to the side, making sure the lot of them were here, and reminding the ones left at base, to keep their optics open for the return of the Air Fleet.

Turning from his reminders, Soundwave stood before the troops, until silence reigned once more. "Orders: We must be quick and careful. Fact: The Autobots are not to know that Megatron is offline. Upon Interaction: Immeadiate retreat is required. Troops: Understand?"

A chorus of "Aye!"'s reverberated throughout the room, before Soundwave nodded, and deployed the bridge.

"Order: Complete commands." He turned to the blue seeker, "Thundercracker: Supply coordinates of attack."

"Coordinates are as follows... Latitude: N 69° 24' 40.4725" and Longitude: W 6° 40' 46.875" As recorded upon time of impact, Sir."

"Understood. Command: All troops head towards exact coordinates. Lazerbeak: Watch for Autobots."


01:19:07

Red Alert stared at his monitors in confusion. The cons were on the move, but they weren't moving anywhere; at least nowhere that made sense. They couldn't be searching for energon, for there weren't any human settlements in the area, let alone oil refineries. And, well, the humans had said there wasn't any left in this area of the ocean.

So what were they doing?

He turned around and pushed the intercom button. "Prime, Prowl, Ironhide. Your presence is required in the Security Hub." Nodding his helm in finalty, he turned back to the screens to further track the cons movement.


01:21:16

Hovering above the tempermental, dark waters, Skywarp could feel his weakened spark begin to crumble more. It had been barely a quarter joor since both of his leaders' deaths. Yet it felt like goorns had passed. He was growing older and older, as each klik passed. His spark was weakening, his frame was trembling... Skywarp couldn't. He just couldn't.

He had been shattered the klik Starscream entered the deceptive depths, his willingness to survive had shriveled the very moment Starscream said farewell.

He couldn't.

All around him, flyers were searching, scans were being done, heavier cons were dropping into the crushing liquid to begin their searches, others flew several degrees off course in case currents had swept the frames away; even then, others set up patrols, prepared to call the alarm should any Autobots be sighted.

There was not a single noise being made, for every con there knew that finding those two frames would prove that yes, their two highest commanders were off-line.

Not a single con wished to find a single frame.

True, Skywarp just couldn't, but then... he wouldn't take the other option. TC still needed him. And frag Unicron if he was going to leave his only remaining mate when he was needed, when he could help...


1:45:00

"Sir," Vortex addressed Soundwave, "No frames have been detected. Perhaps Thundercracker and Skywarp are... deceiving us?"

Another seeker, having heard Vortex, sneered and completely denied the idea, "No seeker would ever deny their mate's existence. It is not within our power. Even to keep each other safe, we cannot claim their offlining. Thundercracker and Skywarp would not deny Starscream's shutdown. It is not possible, we are programmed to always acknowledge them, it is against our coding." That said, the seeker returned to his patrols.

"Statement: Correct. Seekers: Extremely loyal to one another. Trine: Comes before all." Soundwave agreed. "Vortex: Continue as commanded. Forecast: They will be found within one vorn."

Nodding his head in understanding, Vortex left to continue as he was ordered to, brief thoughts about seekers and this sudden knowledge of their loyalty to one another. If they all trusted each other with all their sparks, then perhaps Starscream had a larger motive behind his actions? Could it be... he saw Megatron as a danger to his mates?


2:19:09

"Sir! The frame of Starscream has been found!" A seeker flew over, gesturing to Astrotrain lifting something from the water."

"Acknowledged. Order: Proceed to take frame to Decepticon base. Further: Continue searching in location of Starscream's frame for Megatron."

"Understood sir." The seeker saluted and relayed the orders to the surrounding cons.


2:35:00

"Megatron's frame has been found." This phrase echoed all the way back to Soundwave, even before the fastest seeker could speed back to Soundwave to give him the information. "There is a massive hole, right through his chassis, completely surrounding the spark chamber and any other internals in the way. His insides have been completely ripped out. He is offline without a doubt."

"Order: Return to base."


2:40:19

::There's no point in continuing, Prime. The cons have moved on from their former positions. Whatever they were doing out there, we'll have to figure through Jazz's net.:: Red Alert's voice spoke over the .

Reluctantly, the Autobot troops returned to base.


2:53:38

The recon squad landed heavily upon the Bridge, somberly staring at Astrotrain who, as per Soundwave's commands, awaited their arrival.

::Order: Bring us down.::


2:54:37

Cons gathered around the bridge, stretching their neck cables to see the frames that had been retireved. Soundwave quickly brought order to this chaos. "Statement: The frames have been found. Verification: Both Megatron and Starscream are offline. Order: Prepare for proper funeral. Dismissed."


3:00:00

"Lord Megatron," Soundwave stood above the trembling troops. "Our Lord: Powerful, strong, at times overeager. Offlined: Within the midst of battle, as he would have wished. Our Lord: Proud leader, good leader, will be misssed. Comment: He stood for our freedom. Decision: We will do what we must to retrieve that; through either peace or war. In remembrence."

A raucious cheer went out from the Decepticons, servos raised in the air. Their cries hiding their fear of the future and what it would hold.

"Starscream." Thundercracker stood up. "Although despised by many for his conniving ways, was, undoubtedly, a genuine leader. Many of you, at battle plans, heard his ideas for changing certain points in Megatron's plans. Many of you, would agree with me, that if our Second-in-Command had not fought so viciously with our leader to make those changes, we would be far worse off right now, than we currently are.

"His lust for power may have clouded his vision at times, but the officers have noted that he seemed to distract Megatron's rage from his own troops. In his own way, Starscream protected us. And for that, I raise my wings in pride, for he was my Trine Leader, and even in death, thought of his trine, releasing us from the bond."

Every seeker and flier surrounding bowed their helms for a klik, before raising them again, along with their wings in respect.

The two seperate rockets, each holding a frame, were set to ignition. Silently, the only sound being the take-off, the troops watched them extend into the sky, quickly disappearing into the space beyond.

A deep silence consumed the troops.

With their two leaders gone, a new beginning was to come.


Well there you are. It's been forever. But it is finished. Hope you enjoyed.

Just so you know, all thanks is owed to my mother, whose present for me on my birthday (Dec. 15) was my motivator to write the last 2,313 words within five days (and a whole lot of last minute christmas shopping).

I got an Optimus Prime birthday card with six awesome stickers inside! You know, the type of card a 6-yr-old boy would usually receive. Yep. And then there were my two brothers... Older: Two flat brimmed hats, one with Decepticon Symbol, one with Autobot Symbol (I'll admit, I've worn the con one more). Younger: Two Transformer Wii games.

So here's my belated Christmas present to you - just to keep the theme going.