Arcee was the first to respond. Instantly shifting into her towering humanoid form within a few loud clangs. Jack was immediately behind her, concern in his features. "That's gotta be them." He said softly.
"Le's hope it's nothin' ser'us nuh." Rolltide grunted, turning into his alt-form as well to join her.
"Woah," Came Raf, causing Jack to look up at the Transformers as well. He too was surprised with Rolltide's appearance. Entirely nothing that he could have imagined. He was very serpentine in appearance, minus the tail. He was hunched, with two long and thin plated blades swinging slightly from either side of his lower jaw. Angular steely eyes burned with a determined blue just has the rest of his kindred, and a segmented neck that was attached to a rounded upper torso. His back, more appropriately his 'spine' was lined with about a dozen spikes like Jack had seen on a Dragon in a fantasy book, each differing in size till they shrank out of existence on his lower back.
"Miko would have a hey-day with you! Ironically you look like Godzilla." Raf chuckled, smiling wider when Rolltide angled his elongated head to look at him.
"Godzilla? Idn't 'e that dinosa' creature from some corny old moveh?" The mech cocked his head.
"Yeah!"
"Oh at's nice of you." Rolltide smirked at the still smiling boy, turning back to the monitor as shrouded face appeared on screen, his audio stream next to it.
"Figure to base!"
"We read you bud!" Rolltide began, his grin falling as he became serious from the tone in Figure's voice, he was straining for some reason.
"Bumble Bee and I have found the remaining Autobots, however so have the Decepticons, four are badly wounded. We are being pursued just outside the Jasper cityline by a group of Decepticon drones, too many for us to handle! They got air units! We need-WOAH!" The sound of skidding tires on the freeway cause everyone to bunch. "Need help out here!"
"You got it Figure, we're on our way!" Shouted Arcee, now tense.
"Thanks!" The young male voice shouted, cutting out before Arcee could close her end of the channel. She spun to Jack who was already in the motion of nodding. He was used to it by now, yet she still had a habit of ensuring he got the point.
"We'll be back. Hang tight. Dove, Dredge, Coldwave, let's go. Rolltide, stay with the kids." Her words were partially inaudible with the loud banging sounds of her form processing into a crotch-rocket.
"You got 'et young lady." Rolltide affirmed, standing close to the children on the stairwell as others hadn't bothered to change, following Arcee for the base door closely. Dove was the last to leave, having just been hit by something.
"Rolltide?" She asked in a nervous tone.
"Aye, Dove?"
"Wavebuster, Miko. They're still about, contact them, get them home!" She called as she began to screech her tires to catch up with the others.
"Yes ma'am!" He cried over the resounded screams of rubber on metal, glancing to the children who had their ears covered and gave them a smile. "It'll be alright boys. Dun worreh."
"Optimus?" The worry in Figure's voice caused the large Autobot leader to slow on the gas slightly.
"Figure, what is it?" He addressed him in his usual quiet tone, this time laced with concern at the distress in his voice.
"You got Bulkhead and Rachet with you? We're gonna need all the help we can get! Decepticons on our tail man! A couple of us have been injured, this- Massive thing! It's been chuckin' chunks of ground at us! Did I mention the shooting? WAH!" The sound of gunfire in the background made the final Prime grunt lowly.
"Seems like we aren't the only ones to get reinforcements…." He said under a breath. "Hang in there, I've pin-pointed your location! We're ten miles out, I'll try to save time by cutting across the desert!"
The young Autobot shouted, pained and wheezing, having been shot. "Scrap! Arcee's on her way too, with the others, I don't care which one gets here first! Screambox has taken a lot of damage! Bottom Out and Abandon are taking hits tryin' to- Damn it!" His audio stream cut short, the small explosion they heard in the back ending with it.
"Let's get to it, Optimus!" Bulkhead huffed, his engine roaring with anticipation.
Optimus swerved into the nearest ditch, racing as fast as he could haul himself across the rocky terrain, Bulkhead and the medic close behind. "We can only hope one of us arrives in time."
Alexis sat back in the pilot's seat, fingering the uncomfortable over-head straps that pressed against her bare shoulders. They'd been in the air for at least 20 minutes now, for the most part the ride was smooth, bonding for the two really. She hardly had the chance to sit in and fly with him. "Really Starscream? Can you make this a little looser? It's gagging me here."
The Decepticon sighed, doing as he was 'ordered'. "Anything else?" He hissed crossly.
She giggled. "No, thank you though."
"Good." He sniffed.
"So…. Before this turns into an awkward silence… What all has happened?" She laid her head back, which she found to be rather comfy, even for a pilot's seat.
"Well obviously we've not gained any progress against the Autobots in the past three years. Megatron has gone… Wherever, not that it concerns me, and for the moment, we seemed to be harvesting large energon deposits here in this desolate dust bowl."
"So basically good things." Alexis smiled, uncaring of his bitter reaction.
"Call it that as you wish." He finally groaned.
"Screamer, what exactly are you afraid of?" She sighed. "You think Megatron's going to kill you if you leave?"
"Think, Alexis?" He began on a sharp note. "I don't think, I know."
"Sheesh. The big bad Air Wolf scared of Megatron…. Seems like you've lost more than your reputation after Unicron's emergence…" She crossed her arms, biting the inside of her cheek lightly. She bunched as he slowed abruptly.
"What are you getting at?" He asked derogatively.
"I remember what Optimus told me, about your final stand… He told me you finally spoke your mind to Megatron, and ratted him out to be the horrid leader he always was… You forget that too?"
Truth was, he hadn't. He remembered what he said word for word… While his memory indeed remained patchy, excluding the resurfacing affections for Alexis - which he did cherish - a small part of him was indeed lost. As if his spark had been shattered. He now seemed more cowardly than ever, blatant to show any emotions beyond his usual rage and irritability. He had become a cowardly snake. He recalled the attacks he made on Megatron, including taking the saber to the chest…. Many times did Alexis flash in his mind, along with the others, two who he couldn't recall which was Rad and which Carlos.
"Star?" Alexis quipped lightly.
"… Egh. Yes?" He seemed to moan out.
"Just… Forget what I said. I want you to head somewhere, if you can…" She ran a hand through her hair, shuffling about with mild embarrassment.
"Where would that be?" He seemed to have a devious smile in his voice, feeling the increase of her heart rate and her movement. "Some place more romantic? You're being hormonal."
She nearly screamed out of simple frustration. "No! And I am not…" She almost sounded juvenile. "I was going to ask, how long would it take for you to head to Arizona? I have a private house out that way…"
He chuckled. "Not far. It's only a few hours away… From Las Vegas it's a three hour drive to Arizona. But for a flyer like me, less than an hour and half."
"That's good to know… I guess I don't have to worry about it today." She sent a longing glance out the side view window, plopping her hands in her lap to fiddle with the skirt of her dress.
"Something you need to see there?" He began to tilt to wrap around the large uprising of rock they passed seconds before.
"I have a vacation house there, built by my father before he died. It's got a built in private aircraft hangar. I just wanted to make sure the plane inside is alright, but since I know I can get there with good time, it's not much of a worry." She shook her head.
"If you want, I can take you there tomorrow should I be able to free some time… As of now, we're expecting company aboard the Nemesis…" He said hesitantly.
"… I'm not going to ask." She sounded suddenly angry, her heart rate thumping harder in her chest. Indeed she was angry, she knew what that company was.
"Look, Alexis…" He began, his words pure. "Our intentions, may be-"
"Evil? Cruel? Stupid? Pointless? Ruthless?" She pressed tersely, glaring at the control panel in front of her as if she were looking him in the face.
"You're not giving me a chance to speak out…" He growled back, his hull quaking.
"Frankly Starscream, I don't know what to make of you anymore. I know it's only been a day, but you were never so dishonorable. I don't know what saddens me more, knowing you died, or finding you after nearly 30 years and you've turned into some… I don't know! A… Tool!" She swore with her arms, crossing them briskly afterward.
He snarled, nearly bringing himself to a halt mid-air. "I am not a tool. I can admit to my cowardice and other indignant ways with you, Alexis, but I am by far anything but, a, tool!"
She huffed vocally. "Just let me down here. I'll walk it home."
"Don't be stupid Alexis, we're in the middle of nowhere." He objected.
"I don't care." She retorted. "I think this ride's over with." She began to feel her eyes grow hot and the familiar pressure in her nasal passages.
"And I…." He tightened the straps on her shoulders again, causing her to squirm in discomfort. "Think not. You just come out of nowhere to ruin my day, and expect to just leave without a proper departure? Not very kind of you, Alexis."
"Please." She wrapped a hand around her mouth when she realized her voice was breaking.
"I'm sorry, I must deny that request. You and I are going to have a little talk aboard the Nemesis…"
Her head hanged low, a saddened sigh slowly whizzing from her lips as she closed her eyes. "I'm no longer a child, Starscream, I can leave if I want to."
"Dear Alexis, you approached the Decepticons… I'm afraid there is no leaving by choice." He replied curtly, now having wrapped around to fly himself ship-bound. Alexis quieted afterward, retreating into the seat with a slight pang of regret, finding that a sharp of possible miss-placed trust in Starscream seeded itself in the back of her consciousness. She hoped that it would disintegrate with time, instead of grow.
The beast that Figure described truly was something to fear. It barreled towards Optimus again, warbling a feral war cry that was customary among Decepticons, swinging the wrecking ball from it's tail. He was able to score several hits to the giant's face, finding it unsurprising that the massive robot hardly flinched to the tiny blue bullets pelting his hide. Somewhere from the right and above his head, he could hear the pained cry of the helicopter-guised Decepticon who introduced herself crudely as Nightlite. She had taken something rather personal to Figure minutes into the battle, cat-calling him once he transformed into his bipedal mode. He was similar in structure to Rolltide, a giant 'lizard'. Fierce in appearance, he made up for it in prowess, having grounded her in minutes. Capable, potent, an admirable warrior who showed mercy when the time was right.
Optimus hurled himself onto his side, allowing the shrieking creature to tumble onto his side after a sloppy attempt to capture the Autobot in the process. Not far from where he lay, Bulkhead and Coldwave worked to offline the finely structured female who called herself Sugar Ray. She was quick on her feet, dodging their fire with tireless ease. It was only when Acree made a successful kick to her side and ground her was she fired upon ruthlessly.
The trumpeting cry of the Giga-grade Predacon caused Prime to raise his gaze, watching as he crumbled to his side, flames licking from an impact to the side of his head.
"Hahaaaah! That'll teach you to mess the Autobots you overgrown mutt!" Hollered Bottom Out from atop a cliff face, his cannon still smoking from the blast. "Get him now Dovey!"
"Already ahead of yuh!" Replied the pink and black mech, the doors on her back flaring as she slung a sizeable solid black pipe to bare from a compartment on her shoulder. Indication lights flickered along the barrel in segments, the ensuing blast nearly knocking her off her feet in a bright blue light. Beneath them, the grounded trembled and an intense pressure seemed to suck everyone in towards her slowly. Surprising even Optimus at the power of the weapon.
Excavator screamed as his right arm shattered like frail glass upon impact at the joint. Wires, fuses, cords, various other internal elements, sparking and exploding as the detached limp sailed for yards until it slammed into the bone-dry earth. The behemoth roared hatefully in her direction, attempting to move as she recollected herself to fire another shot. This time aim for his head. It wasn't long before the long whining sound resumed, and the Decepticon attack dog attempted to throw himself out of the way.
"Take this ya terrible beast!" Jakknife yelled, tracking the giant's movements and blowing out a hole in his side, casting metal shrapnel every which way.
Optimus braced himself, only ducking when the small female Decepticon, Nightlite, screamed as she was sucked into the percussive blast over his head, bouncing off the giant's faceplate with a sickening splat.
Figure began to slip during the aftershock, to which Bulkhead quickly yanked him into cover where he and the rest had treated behind a few sturdy boulders. Behind them, Rachet had covered Screambox's battered frame along with Bottom out and Coldwave who'd retreated during the charge of Jakknife's second round.
Sugar Ray let a shrill cry of infuriation at their damage. "Nightlite, Excavator, retreat! Retreat!"
Excavator was well on his way into his Vehicle-Mode before she could say anything more, rolling past a still dazed Nightlite.
"Scrap! We'll be back you Autotwits!" She shouted childishly with fisted servos, gaining a limping start in the other direction, taking her airborne form gracelessly and nearly shaving off the top of Sugar Ray's hood before she stabilized enough to escape.
Jakknife smiled, tossing her head to cast back the tell-tale strand of metal curled against her forehead. "Tat'l be all then eh?" She looked over at her emerging companions with a chuckle, approaching Optimus to offer him a hand as the dangerous weapon tucked back into her shoulder. "Two trucks are better than one, as I always say. Apologies Optimus, everyone. I hardly use that gun fer a reason. I'm hopin' non of ya got hurt…?"
"No, Jakknife" Optimus shook his head, taking her head and groaning as she pulled him to his feet, offering her a thankful nod to which she returned. "I'm fine…"
"We're all good, except Screambox over here…" Figure replied tiredly, hoisting a near-disabled white Autobot between him and Coldwave.
"Oh, Screambox…" Jakknife sighed in grief at the sight of her comrade's condition.
"His wounds are indeed extensive, but I'm not sure if they're entirely fatal…" Rachet began gravely, stepping out from behind him, having only been able to do so little without the help of the tools at base. "It's hard to say how long he'll last at this rate. And the impending weather system about to hit isn't exactly in our favor. We have maybe an hour before the storm arrives."
Optimus stepped forward, his optics now set on the dark border of clouds that approached, audio receptors picking up the faint sound of thunder. "It was not my intention to carry on the battle for that long… They were more difficult to dispatch that I'd first thought."
"No sweat Optimus, nobody knew 'Cons that stupid could be so tough." Bottom Out peeped, appearing at his side. "Lets get a move on though, those clouds give me the rumbles."
"Agree'd." Jakknife heaved into her vehicle-mode, shooting a chain off the back of her cabin. "Here, I'll drive Screambox to the base, tie him in, carefully. The rest of ya, get goin'. I'll be right behind you… If he's secured enough, I can go full speed, so make it as tight as you can."
Coldwave, Figure, and Bottom Out went to do just that.
"Oh yuh got ah' be kiddin'!" Rolltide swore, the wire he'd plugged into the back of the TV wiggling around in his distress. "'at's twelve times naoh that ah've lost to ya kids!" His sharp-shapely jaw etching into a grin at their laughter, Wavebuster joining them.
"Seems like somebody's gone rusty on their driving skills~" Wavebuster teased, ducking when the red ex-Con swiped at him playfully.
"Shut yer energon-hole ya punk!" He smirked aggressively, collapsing back on the wall and dipped his head over the railing to peer down at his charge. "As fer you three, we've got a score tah settle."
"Bring it!" Miko huffed at him, her hands on her thin waist as she leaned in to bring her face closer to his. "You'll just get owned again and again. It's really helping my rep on this game." She waved the controller teasingly. Jack and Raf behind her laughing quietly.
"I'll be tattlin' on you to Bulkhead, you're a mean one you 're." He chuckled, quieting when the weering of the base entry gathered their attention.
"Oh man…" Jack said quietly when Jakknife was the first to appear, a white Autobot settled unconscious on her trailer, sparks occasionally shooting from unseen damage within his armor.
Rachet was second to race in behind her, instantly taking his alt-form and directing her to back and park near the medical table.
"Woah… That must've been one intense battle." Miko commented quietly from over the railing as she watched the morbid sight.
"Eh, thar'll be no watching that for you." Rolltide intercepted her gaze, waggling a pointed finger.
"Awh! Oh, Bulkhead! Bulkhead!" Her short attention span became more evident upon seeing her Autbot guardian, waving her arm widely. "Was there some major aft-kicking?" She pumped her fists outward in a punching motion, causing Jack to roll his eyes when the rotund green Transformers headed their way.
"Easy Miko…" Bulkhead said quietly, his tone none-to-happy as he cast a glance over to the fallen Autobot. "Screambox took some bad hits, let's keep it quiet so Rachet can work…. This isn't a simple scratch repair we're talking about."
She sighed, her abrasive attitude on knotty situations still in check. "C'mon, the doc-man's got things under control! Dontcha Rachet?"
"Miko," Rachet looked over to her with a vindictive tone. "Right now, the chances he even make it to a stable stasis is questionable, slim-to-none as you Humans say. And the more you disturb me with your irksome behavior, the more likely his chances of being offline for good escalate!" He shook his head as he turned back around, swearing under his breath.
Her cheeks swelled, feeling foolish for being scolded at trying to brighten the undergoing circumstances. "Sorry." She bit out, slumping down on the couch with a stressed sigh. Bulkhead only shook his head at her simultaneously with Jack and Raf.
"Miko, can you never just, do as you're told?" Jack questioned grouchily, crossing his arms as he spoke. "Back in Japan, yeah, you got told to do everything, but here, especially in serious situations like this, it's wise to listen. These guys aren't fighting because it's fun, this is not a video game or some science fiction movie. They're fighting for their lives, our lives, this planet. I've already told you this over and over. When are you going to take that seriously? When one of them actually dies? You said it yourself when we first met them! They get dizzy, they have emotions, they die. They are not your personal playthings!"
Miko had begun glaring across to the far nearest wall, her elbow buried into the arm of the chair, chin on the ball of her palm. She twirled her phone in her hand, fuming.
"Just keep those words in mind, Miko. If Bulkhead or one of them dies, this won't be so fun for you anymore. Nobody around here's trying to crush your dreams of, I dunno, seeing a giant robot fight, pounding zombies- whatever!" He tossed arm in the direction of the Transformers to exaggerate his words. "Fact of the matter is, we don't have to be your parents to tell you to do something, we say it to keep you safe, not because you're stupid. I mean, jeez, you backtalk Optimus of all guys, Bulkhead, your own host parents who are pretty much wasting their time trying to let you have an experience most kids will never be as lucky to have, scrap, you even talk to my mom like she's trash. What gives?" His voice had become harsh, crossing his arms and shaking his head. It was irritating, even insulting to listen to her and how she crossly affronted his mother. Only now did he realize exactly how much it'd actually gotten to him.
"Easy Jack…" Raf said softly, peering up at the older boy with worry, grabbing and tugging on his sleeve. "Please don't fight…"
"Yeah… Sorry Raf." He patted the shorter boy's head, giving him the most reassuring smile he could manage at the moment. He then made for the stairwell, jogging down it roughly and hopping off the last step. "I'll be back, gotta call mom before the storm hits… If anybody needs me, I'll be outside." He mumbled the end of his sentence, running his fingers through his sweaty hair, mostly due to the humidity from outside.
"Poor lad…" Rolltide murmured from somewhere behind Bulkhead, who was also watching the Human leave. "Ehy Arcee, try talkin' to 'em huh? He's ya boy after'll…"
"You try reasoning with Jack when he's like that. He often means what he says, especially if he feels like he's going to leave." She raised a hand, her palm outward as she shrugged. "I'll see what I can do." She then leaned up off the rocky wall, sauntering out after the boy.
"Man, that was some tense stuff there." Wavebuster rubbed the back of his head, looking over at Screambox who remained still, his vitals now stable as Rachet worked to piece him back together. His optics then flicked to the pile of unusable parts that the medic had removed from him already, shaking his head. "Hey doc, sorry to bother, but you want me to go see if I find replacement pieces? Possibly lend any of my own?"
Rachet sighed, his shoulders sagging. "I… Am not sure. If there's a junkyard in town… Some of these pieces I do have to replace… But… Augh, going to a metal waste of all places…"
"Hey come on, the guy needs help doesn't he?" Dredge stepped forward, glancing to Jakknife who agreed with a hum.
She folded her hands to her front, resting her weight on one leg. "Make us a list, we'll go get the items you need."
"Huaagh…. You're going to need a list with images…" He turned to face them now, rubbing his chin in thought. "It'd be suspicious, having so many vehicles surrounding a site like that… Perhaps, Jakknife could go it alone. Paint job aside, her status as a work vehicle will fit in better than any of you."
"Rachet, you think you transfer a digital list to my laptop?" Rafael peered between the rail bars, smiling softly at the Autobot.
"Possibly." He nodded in agreement.
"I'll take the wee lad with me then," Said Jakknife cheerily, she then turned to Optimus, smiling at him lopsidedly. "If that's alright with you, of course."
"So long as Jack and Miko accompany the both of you, it serves as a positive idea." He said simple, ignoring Miko's distant snort, turning when the soft footsteps of Jack and Arcee approached from behind. Jack lifted his head, a brow arched upward in inquiry.
"Something I did?" Jack suddenly looked worried, remembering the first time he left base, Optimus had ignored him when he returned. Possibly disappointed in the boy.
"Jack, will you join Raf and Jakknife in heading to the junkyard that lies beyond city limits?"
The black-haired boy shrugged slightly. "Sure, why? Needing parts?"
"Yeah, well, Rachet does." Raf's voice quivered as he trotted down to the ground-level. "For Screambox." He gestured with a look to the disabled Transformer sadly.
"You bet." Jack nodded, resolute. "When do we leave?"
"One moment," Rachet raised a finger. "Before you go, let me download a list of what I need, and we must hold out the possibility that even that grave yard of machines may not carry. So I ask that you bring back the most important items, I pray the place has them."
"Christian keeps everything you can think of, he charges a ridiculous amount of money for them sometimes, but he's open to barter's." Jack shrugged.
"You've been?" Ref inquired.
"Yeah, back during my School project… My old motorcycle, hence were I got it and the parts of it." He watched as Rafael ascended the stairs, having retrieved his laptop from his tucked away backpack and carefully set it down to allow Rachet to transfer the data.
The dark interior of the Nemesis was more foreboding than Alexis first recalled, especially now that her trust with Starscream had been shaken.
Then again… She thought shamefully. I did just make the assumption he was going to be as noble as he used to be. I noticed he was far more devious than he was before, but never did this level to what I'd imagined. He's surpassed that… I wonder if he even told the truth about Demolisher and Cyclonus. Or if he's even playing this whole reunion thing up with me thinking I know something about the Autobots… She scratched at a spot on her head shakily, eyes gliding across the room to track the workers aboard the bridge, Starscream standing yards away in front of the main command panel, hovering over Soundwave's shoulder. It reminded her all too much of the incident back on the Autobot's space station they'd set up as a preliminary guard against any incoming Decepticon threats. She then rubbed the dark scar across her back self-consciously, feeling exposed in her dress for wearing it this long. She'd removed her sneakers, setting them neatly against the wall she leaned on, wishing she'd worn socks now that her toes had gone chilly. Soundwave nearly killed her that morning on the station, a result of her defending Smokescreen against him when the Decepticon had gained the upper hand in their physical battle. She hadn't heard anything from Rad about Sandstorm, the little mini-con who helped her disable Soundwave to begin with. Sureshock remained with High Wire, their outcome unknown to her as well. If she memorized correctly, Rad said they'd returned home. Where was home? Cybertron too? She couldn't recall it all. It had been nearly 30 years after all. She felt a tingle in her two outer fingers on her left hand again, then it faded. It wasn't a common occurance, but it was the outcome of lasting damaged nerves from the deep slice on her back. Truly something minor considering what she could've suffered.
"Growing tired?" Came Starscream's grinding voice, causing her to raise her head to him. It was third time he'd asked in the past two hours.
"No. Slowly going insane from being cooped up in this bat cave, but I'm hanging in there." She mumbled sourly, turning her gaze away from them. Somewhat, she wanted to just flee as he she heard his boots clang on the metal floor towards her. Yet her trusting and affectionate side got the best of her again, and she allowed him to pick her up like a rag doll. He was still as gentle as she remembered to be, cupping her carefully as he peered down at her with those menacing red eyes.
"Surely by now you must be hungry." He raised a brow plate.
"Yeah, it can wait… I'm fine. Just very… bored." She waved him off lightly, dropping her head to rest it in her palm.
"I could always send you to someone for amusement. Care to try reconciling with Soundwave again?" He smiled crudely.
"Just to fight again?" She huffed up at him.
"It's entertaining to say the least." He raised to eye-level.
"Yes I'm sure. Stressing Humans out is just so fun!" She waggled her fingers with the roll of her eyes before her expression changed to one of being unenthusiastic.
"Quite." He replied lightly, turning to carrying her towards the doorway out. "Come… I still need to hold my favor, to speak with you in private, my dearest Alexis."
She swallowed quietly, her eyes switching to every shadow as they traversed the corridors, which began to get maze-like and dizzying for her after a short period. Momentarily forgetting her shoes, ah, she didn't need them.
"Where are we going?" She finally spoke up after several minutes, turning her head up from the floor to his face. Having been watching his legs pop into her vision hypnotically till now.
"My personal quarters. I'm promise you, this'll be short." He replied emptily, his voice distracted, which gave Alexis the impression he'd been thinking their entire walk. Another left, two rights… It wasn't until they reached the first door down another hallway to the right that they had come to their destination. The doors were plain, unmarked from what she could see, how could they figure out who's room was who's? It baffled her how anybody could go about this ship without the slightness confusion. Then again, she was puny organic, she certainly couldn't comprehend what they're internal navigational systems were like. Or how complex they were to begin with.
He stood motionless, a small red line appeared cast-over his optic lenses, blipping softly in confirmation before the door whooshed open. He grinned as they entered the room, it smelled metallic inside to her, more so than outside in the halls. Did Transformers really give off an odor? Not that she could recall, they always smelled like machine lubricants and rubber so far that she'd known.
"It's rather decorated, but there are perks to being Second in Command. Such as having a private ID Optical Scanner to keep all but the head of command out." His body language rather flamboyant now as the lights in the room flickered to life when he motioned his arm over to the wall, over a scanner. It almost making Alexis snicker. He had changed more than she first suspected, then again, when she noticed the heels, it grew questionable what they'd done to him during the rebuild. He set her down on a stainless steel free-standing counter, which she figured - by visual inspection - was a desktop.
"Seems cozy enough…" She rubbed her arm and shivered briefly to the cold breeze he cast when he strolled by to wrap around the desk, seating himself in a chair that became buoyant to his presence. Her vision wandered about the room, not much she could have guessed to be a 'bed' in sight, nor a couch or anything that a Transformer could use to 'relax'. Why is people always look to see what kind of bed other people sleep in when they come into a bedroom? She squirmed at herself.
"Oh it's cozy for my liking… Seems rather bare, but I prefer to keep my quarters roomy until I need something. The recharge bed and such, tuck away." He flicked his fingers to the wall insouciantly, a crook in his upper lip for a moment. "Now then, our little exchange…"
"Star…" She looked to him, begging in her voice. She didn't want to be hurt, she made that clear.
"Let me speak." He hushed her with the tip of his claw, which she leaned away from when she noted it's sharp tip. "Sorry," he quipped, pulling his hand away when he noticed.
"No, it's okay." She waved him off with an awkward smile that dropped near-instantly.
"Alexis, let me begin by saying this… I've come to suspect in the past several hours since we were groundside, that you have grown wary of me. Knowing you, your keen senses are still quite prevalent."
Ya think…? She couldn't help but blurt in her head.
"Quite understanding," He continued. "However… Might I say? The gravity of my actions I know affect you, and it very much pains me to see your face fall when we bring up such miserable recollections. Even if it has been 24 years to mark since the events that separated us. I see you've hardly changed, your personality is still… As charming as I found it during my stay with the Autobots." He leaned against the desk, dropping his head down to bring his face to her level. "I… Do recall things from my time in Unicron's wakening, and I'm sorry I cannot shape myself to be who I was…" His hand had snaked around just outside her vision, a finger running along her back with the utmost ginger. She had almost automatically leaned into the rubbing. He was being far more affectionate in displays now that they were away from prying eyes. She felt herself becoming comfortable with him just as she used to be.
"I want this little affiliation between us entirely separate of my work life, as you Humans call it. Be as it may, really Alexis, I don't want what I do bothering you so severely. The last thing I want is for you to come to harm after all this time. I am closed to all reason, I will make that clear. Decisions will be made in their own time, by me. And only me." He watched her brows fall at his words into a disappointed frown, yet she didn't appear on the verge of crying. Her lower lip sucked into her mouth, she was biting it gently. In thought? To bottle her emotions? He wasn't sure. He removed his finger from her back, tipping her chin with it. She shook to it's icey touch, unpleasant.
"Depends Starscream… If there's really anything to rekindle. This all comes down to you, whether you think it's appropriate at this time." She said quietly, pulling her chin from his finger to resist the nagging urge to cling to it.
"Appropriate? Hardly. Though it's not impossible to juggle subjects of particular interest." He smiled at her softly, it was first time he'd done it without the dangerous glint in his optics. And had actually meant it. "Granted I wouldn't be able to see you daily, the word 'often' treated with scarcity."
"I wouldn't expect visits, 'Screamer. Not with things escalating the way they are…" She shook her head, the small smile on her face instantly falling, as if her face struggled to hold it there. Slowly, she stood, drawing her palm across her eye to wipe away the back building tears on one, failing to catch the others that fell from her other eye. Starscream's brows raised, then quickly arched downward as she clambered to his faceplate almost as a newborn fleshling would, gripping his face as tight as she could. Her face remained turned away from his, a moist cheek pressing painfully hard into the side of his jaw as her shoulders quaked in silence. "God, I-I missed you…"
He let a whine that sounded like an injured puppy, a part of him didn't care whether she missed him or not, yet the remaining fragments in his un-wiped spark felt guilty. He sighed, resting his chin atop the counter with clink, having gone cross-eyed to watch her go through her emotion throws. His shoulders slumped, wrapping a hand around her slightly, but not prying her off. "I'm sorry, Alexis."
