Chapter 3 – Sleeping UFOs
"Many space voyagers before you had attempted to venture across the eastern quadrant. And none of them ever returned. How can you be certain that a similar fate will not befall your expedition?"
"I am the last of my kind integrated with the technology and navigational systems required for spatial exploration. While previous spacefarers relied on ships to traverse the universe, I possess foresight and superior flight capability. Needless to say, I am destined by the AllSpark to do this."
"The fact remains that we cannot allow any Cybertronian explorer to embark on space expeditions alone."
"Esteemed members of the High Council, have I not contributed enough of my findings to improve on your space bridge technology? Have we not taken advantage of the abundance of mineral resources harvested from planets I discovered? Without my knowledge and expertise, our home planet would not have progressed exponentially."
"Dr. Starscream. As you are one of Cybertron's most prolific scientists, the Council is highly concerned of your insistence to embark on this mission alone. Who knows what danger lies ahead? You cannot possibly journey through uncharted territories without any assist!"
"Grant me this chance to prove that it can be done. Past expeditions have proven my need for a partner to be...pointless."
.
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The searing sting in Starscream's newly engraved wings still lingered after his departure from the Academy two solar cycles ago. Upon arriving at planet Hexlion, one of Cybertron's off-planet military bases, he, along with expedition partner, Skyfire, had been under the close watch of Thundercracker, a soldier assigned to escort duty by the High Council.
Like Starscream, he was a flier, although slightly taller, with deep-set optics and a burly frame integrated with energy weapons and missile launchers. He noticed, through peripheral vision, the soldier's sombre gaze fixated upon the glyphics on his wings. Perhaps Thundercracker was wondering why a scientific aristocrat like Starscream would bear such primitive tribal markings. Perhaps he was in awe and had been inspired to get his own wings engraved. Whatever it was, Starscream had grown used to the blatant scrutiny of his embellished self and could not care less. The markings held no other significance than its connection to a cherished friendship.
"I'll have you know, goodbyes have never been my strong suit," Starscream told Knock Out shortly before leaving for Hexlion. The engineer had been in the middle of discussing topics for the upcoming mid-term exams to a large group of students in the lecture hall when his colleague showed up.
They stood facing each other in the hallway, with Knock Out flashing a knowing smirk and arms loosely crossed over his chassis. "You'd rather not have me seeing you off at the runways. Is that what you've come to tell me?"
"Please try to understand. It's not that I don't appreciate—"
And without warning, Knock Out pulled Starscream into a hug. "I do understand," he said, spreading the warmth of his embrace around his colleague's cold, rigid frame.
Starscream felt his spark throbbing with embarrassment at the sight of curious faces peeking out from behind the glass in the doors.
"Safe travels," Knock Out whispered into his colleague's audial before pulling away.
The students began expressing their well wishes and farewells through a mixture of cheers and applause. "Don't forget to bring us some souvenirs!" one of them bellowed, igniting a roar of laughter and their professor sternly gesturing for them to return to their seats.
Knock Out managed to snap a quick salute at his friend just in time before the doors of the lecture hall slid shut, leaving Starscream to walk down the quiet hallway alone. Thank Primus, he thought, as he made his way to the runways with a ghost of a smile and sadness welling up in his optics.
"We'll be reaching Velocitron in a few breems," informed Thundercracker, stirring Starscream out of his reverie. "Have your passes ready for security clearance."
"Finally," Starscream vented, dropping his shoulders in relief. Passing through Hexlion's space bridge with their sullen escort had felt like an eternity.
He turned his head to the side to look at Skyfire, who was treading closely behind them with blue optics wandering inquisitively over the inner mechanics of the vortex. The bot was so massive in stature that his helm almost touched the ceiling. Skyfire was a self-funded scientist, a hobbyist whose interest in minerals and rocks had made him an expert in the field of natural sciences. While he came highly recommended by the High Council, Starscream had no interest in establishing friendly ties with his assigned partner. "Do not be impressed just yet," he said, in a tone laced with sarcasm and contempt for the giant bot. "There's still a lot more to see and our journey hasn't even begun."
"It has been vorns since I last left our planet," said Skyfire, who seemed oblivious to Starscream's snarky demeanour. "Cybertronian technology has certainly come a long way."
Starscream shifted his gaze straight ahead. "Yes," he replied in a low drawl. "It certainly has."
The conversation ended abruptly, leaving Skyfire to wonder about the rest of their journey in apprehensive silence.
.
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Without space bridges, it would have taken a lifetime to reach Velocitron, a world 35 light-years away from Cybertron, colonised by bots speeding through meandering race tracks and highways in their vehicular alternate forms.
It was no place for a flier, thought Starscream, while looking through the glass windows of his temporary recharge quarters located in the centre of the bustling metropolis of Delta, its capital city. There were more roads than skyscrapers and illuminated billboards celebrating famous racers and their respective sponsors.
Nothing seemed to be slowing down, even after the sun had set joors ago. The sense of urgency never wavered as the coming and going of vehicles melded into a blur, straining his already weary optics.
He remembered Knock Out expressing his interest in joining the Speedia, a racing event celebrated by Velocitronians and speed enthusiasts alike. As a bot with wings, he never really understood his colleague's fascination with ground vehicles. What had shocked him the most was when he learnt Knock Out, by origin, was once a flier.
"You had your wings removed?" Starscream couldn't believe his audials. He wasn't sure if it was the high-grade that was causing Knock Out to speak such nonsense. "Why would you do such a thing? How could you renounce the freedom of flight Primus has bestowed upon you?"
Knock Out snorted in derision. He and Starscream were spending the evening on an office balcony at the top floor, marvelling at the beauty which was Crystal City with its architectural extravagance and city lights flickering from a distance.
"This has nothing to do with some mythical deity of yours." Knock Out dropped heavily to the surface amid several empty high-grade energon cubes. "I just like," he sighed, "staying grounded."
Starscream knelt closer to look at his colleague whose optics were glazed over with inebriation. "Ah, Knock Out. How it pains me to know how stupid you were then. Now tell me: do you miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"Being a flier."
Knock Out shook his head. "Nah. If I ever felt like being one again, I could always get a ship, or build one myself."
"You're a bodywork specialist. Not an aerospace engineer."
"Alright, then," the engineer said, his mischievous grin growing even wider. "I'll build a ship with seeker wings."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Shut up."
They burst into quiet laughter.
"I'm glad the Council decided not to listen to you, Starscream," said Knock Out. "Skyfire may lack the experience, but I think he would make a great partner for you."
"You don't even know him," replied the winged scientist as he claimed a spot beside Knock Out on the balcony floor and began stacking up the empty energon cubes around him.
"Only by reputation; He's been called by others a gentle giant, a bot who's resourceful and well-equipped with contraptions even an engineer like me would be envious of." Knock Out turned to look at Starscream. "And he likes rocks."
Starscream's neatly stacked cubes tumbled noisily to the floor.
"Do you like rocks, Starscream?"
"What I would like is for you to stop your nonsense and help me stack up these fragging cubes again."
Knock Out ignored him. Starscream then decided to leave the empty cubes as they were before joining the drunken engineer in an aimless stare at the night sky lit up by two moons. It was the first time he had ever let himself overindulge in something so intoxicating as unrefined energon. Starscream would have felt uncomfortable if he had been sober but tonight, all that mattered was slipping into the void of calmness.
"You never did tell me what happened to your previous partner," said Knock Out.
Starscream sighed in dejection and quietly told him, "I lost her to an alien virus."
"I know why you returned to the basement. You couldn't stand being up here without her. The spaciousness seems too much to bear..."
Starscream had nothing to say to that and would rather let the veil of silence fall between them.
"What was her name?" murmured Knock Out, while resting his head against the winged scientist's shoulder.
Starscream retreated into the darkness of his quarters, activating the cloaking shield as he stepped away from the windows to block out the hectic scenery of Velocitronian city life. The port on the back of his head finally connected to the charger as he lay on the berth to rest. He tried shutting his optics, hoping to succumb to the lull of an ongoing defragmentation process.
But there was still so much going through his cerebral processor that he remained wide awake, unflickering.
Her name was Hybrid, he remembered whispering to Knock Out who had long drifted off with the high-grade into blissful oblivion.