First thing's first; Here's a big Thank You to the people who reviewed the story! Thank You sooooo much! I'm so happy :D! Regardless of the number! And also, a Thank You to the people who just read it! All y'alls are awesome! :D!
AN/ Hey y'all! I got another chapter out! Ya! And on time too! :P
Hmm, well, to be terribly honest, I do need to edit it a bit (a lot) so...
Please forgive any grammar mistakes! I'm super tired, but yes, I will go over these three chapters that I have out- I found some of the mistakes in the second, and marked'em, so now I just need the find the time to fix'em.
But anywho, I know I go on too much, so without further ado, here's the chapter... But hey, I did say "There will be time for panic tomorrow..."
Chapter 3
Hopeless Travels
~Nightbird~
His warm breath on my cheek. His arm slung around my waist. His frame pressed against mine... I must be dreaming. But I don't want to wake up.
I don't move from our position, but gently tilt my head up, and only take a moment's hesitation before gingerly brushing our lips together.
A moan sounds and my optics snap open!
My optics widen and my body stills.
We're close to each other. Very close. Our frames might as well be touching. And they are. In one particular place.
My helm whips back, and I try to move away from him. But then I feel my back hit something rough. I wince, and twist my frame so I can look at the wall. It's not really a wall, but some kind of curved stone. I turn back and look around, and then it takes a surprising amount of time for me to realize, that we are in a cave. A cave. How did we get in here? Why is it so tight in here, too? To a human, this space would probably be rather large. But we're not exactly human, are we? I shake my helm, then lift my gaze to return it to him. He moans again, and his optics come to life with a few flutters.
Starscream sits up, and looks about. "Wh-what-" He stops himself, and his optics widen. Suddenly he's alert, and his hem whips around to glare at me. "You!" he hisses, his expression dark and his gaze growling. I cock my head to one side, taken back. "You!" he repeats. "You were the one that- I mean- how could you be so stupid!? What-what- how did we- I mean- why in Primus' name did you-!?"
He shuts up the moment my hand swipes across his face. "I didn't do anything!" I grumble in my scratchy voice.
Starscream appears taken back, panic dominating his expression. He trembles as he looks at the ground. "Oh no..." he finally vocalizes. He covers his face with his servo's, and allows his emotions to take over. He doesn't cry, but his breathing is rapid, and his frame shakes. He's terrified. To be honest, I think I should be the one scared out of my wits, and this should be the other way around, but I extend a servo and place it on his shoulder. I expect to be shoved off, but he does nothing, and finally succeeding in slowing his quick ventilations, stares off into the distance, a look of defeat on his faceplate.
I give him a slight shake, as if to make sure he hasn't left me, and his mind hasn't wondered off into some far, far away land- and he responds with a slight shudder. I swallow my distaste, and grip his helm with both my servos, forcing him to look at me. It's hardly a gentle gesture, but I don't believe it was in a sense that promoted unkindness. I need him to tell me exactly what happened. What was in the vial and how in the Pit we got here. For a brief moment, I reminded about the feeling of when my lips touched his, but I push the sensation back. He probably doesn't know, and I can't afford to think of such things at the time. Later, I'll consider it, and try to figure out what happened and what was going through my possessor, but I can't consider any of that now. It was just a kiss.
Star' sighs, and looks down for a second. He looks back up, and I release my hold on him. He always understands what I'm trying to say. "We went through that gate," he starts to explain, "I took us though, and now we're here." He looks down again, "but I have no idea where we are." he finishes, his voice practically a whisper.
Normally, I'd smirk. It's usually funny to see him all panicked and what not. But I don't. Because on the inside, I'm sacred, too. Sitting back, I casually look out at the world. I stare at the beautiful scenery, before clearing my throat. It hurts but I manage to get out clearly enough. "W'at happ' en-d" I cough, realizing that I'm putting too much strain on my voice box. A servo places itself on my throat, and I try to swallow the distasteful sense to purge.
Starscream looks at me, and he starts to back track. He explained on how we went through the gate, before that though there was the strange meadow (in which he has no idea how we got there) and then before that, the darkness. I shudder at that. I remember feeling terrified and exhausted. I felt so much strain on my body that once I did actually pass out I was glad to rid myself of any feelings of the world. I just wanted to rest. But he didn't let me, and I'm thankful, too. I have the bad feeling I would have never awoken if he did not wake me when he did. But then there is the matter of...the stuff. I mean, he looked like a star. A real, living, breathing star. Shinning and bright, his scarlet-ruby optics were wide and gleaming. I almost wanted to inch away from him, but i found myself trapped and unable to pull away. And that's when I woke up in the meadow. Star' had awoken me again. I looked around, totally confused and I was unable to process. The concept of 'The Blue Gate' didn't appear, and it still doesn't now. I wonder what it was...but I know better than to bother to ask. It's obvious. He doesn't know any more than I do.
As the time passes, (as he explains,) Starscream has slowly begun to pull himself back together, and his usual arrogance returns purely through just the tone in his voice. He seems a little more confident in himself, and less panicked. For a reason I can't really explain, I'm happy about that. Good to know that we haven't lost ourselves yet at the very least. We might not know where we are, but at least we're not dead.
And that's when finally he turns to me and his gaze lowers. He scowls and says. "But before any of that, I ended up jumping in after you..."
I cock my helm to one side. The water?
He frowns deeply and nods, "do you know what that was that you broke?" I shake my helm and he surprises me by rolling his optics. "Of course you don't," he says in a rather annoyed tone.
My happy mood suddenly begins to drop and I frown. I fight the urge to slap him, and just stare, hopefully sending the message. Then what the frag was it?
The Seeker then looks out at the world outside the cave. He stares at it for a long, long time, and simply allows the silence that chokes us to echo about the darkened cave. I try to turn my thoughts to keep myself from getting overly-frustrated with boredom and the unavoidable silence, but I can't even manage to look away from him. His frame is both relaxed and tightened. His expression is unreadable, and the complex deepness in his gaze is...unsettling. He is a very strange mech. Unpredictable. But immensely intriguing all the same...
I look away.
No. No I can't start. All he is to me is a mech who wants me dead, and all I am to him is a school girl who better behave. I give an annoyed sigh, turning back into my less determined self. I'm going to have so much math to do once we get back. If we get back, I think, rolling my optics.
"The liquid substance in that vial was a sample collected from an unknown source. We stole it an age back, but only recently has Megatron ordered that I study it." Starscream's voice brings me out of my thoughts and I turn to him. I cock my helm to one side, and he repeats what he just said.
"Why-?" I start to ask.
He shrugs, "I don't know. But it contains- or at least, contained, some kind of fragile energy. That energy was unstable, and none of us had the slightest clue how to pressure it so it could be put to good use." He says it all like I'm a scientist and actually understand this all. I try hard to process it all, but I can't bring reason with it into what happened to us. Starscream knows this, of course, and says. "Look, whatever happened, wasn't supposed to happen. I'll ask you this once; did you break the vial?"
What?
"Did you, or did you not brake it?"
I stare at him, puzzled; But then his words sink in. I remember spinning around after it had just shattered, and I shake my helm. "No." I whisper, unsure if he heard me.
He frowns and looks out at the scenery again. That frown says quizzingly to me. "It would have been better if you had." I don't understand what's going on, and I don't think he does at all, either. After another long, drawn out pause, he says. "We need to get moving."
I stare at him in shock. Get moving? To where!? Where can we possibly go!? Wouldn't it be better to wait and- He looks at me, and nods at me confused, probably panicked expression. "This isn't a game, Nightbird." He starts, more serious and grown up sounding then I thought he could be. "We need to find out where we are in order for us to get back. I don't know how we got here, but I do know we can't stay. Understand?"
I nod, even though I don't want to. The slagger is treating me like a sparkling.
He stands, and steps out of the cave. I hear him groan and watch as he stretches quickly before turning to me. He looks as impatient as always. "Well? Come on now."
I frown, but do as he says. The wind hits my face at a surprising speed. Strange. I didn't feel any wind in the cave. And then I remember that my mask is down. I snap it back into place, and put my hands on my hips. I look around. The landscape outside the cave is simply gorgeous, and I feel my wings itch as they beg to be let free. I want to fly, so, so badly. I guess it must be in my improved programming, but whether it's that, or just simply the desire to soar high and free in the wind, I know that it will probably be a long time before I'm flying anywhere.
We look around, and after a moment, Starscream points to a few ledges that could lead us down the cliff-side. He of course could just fly down, if he so wishes (and I know he does) but I don't have that option and so it appears that we'll be walking for...well, I'm not sure. I wonder then if he'll abandon me. For surly once we get to the mountain range across on the other side of the forest, walking will become much more difficult. And, besides, does he really have much reason to keep me around? He could leave, and find his way back on his own. I am just a burden.
The daylight is dropping quickly, and by the time Starscream again comes down from another quick scout he says it's about time we call it a day.
"We'll reach the mountainside tomorrow." He starts, causally. "From there on-" he shrugs, and allows the sentence to trail off.
You'll abandon me. I finish his words in my head as I settle down. I look away out into the darkening sky and wonder if it would be wise to try and drag out this short journey. Perhaps then I could figure out a way that I too could be useful, or I could figure out a way to get home on my own, before he abandons me to the mountains.
I sigh and shake my helm. What could I possibly do to make him want to keep me around? I'll just slow him down, and I can't really make use for myself...what can I do? I'll probably end up offlining in that mountain patch. Alone and unwanted... Just a drone...
These doubts and more have been circling through my processor all day. I'm unable to rid myself of them. All I could do today was just keep moving forward. Just keep moving forward. I paid no mind to the unusually sized trees, or some of the strange animals that danced along them. I only kept moving.
On occasion, Starscream would transform and fly up for a quick calculation on the distance from us to the mountain's back. Each time he landed, his frown deepened, until finally he scowled. This last time he just looked tired and I didn't bother to ague. I'm tired as well. Clearly this forest is thicker than we thought. But besides that, we walked in silence... I never thought I'd miss the sound of anyone's voice right now. Even Skywarp and his crudeness...
I bite my lip. Wonderful. One day away from home and I'm already wishing I could crawl back to my comrades... Well, they are the only people I could say give a damn about me... Perhaps not in an all love-y dove-y family Autobot stuff, but on a reasonable amount due to our circumstances. There, I feel at home. Here, I feel lost.
I shake my helm and adjust my position so my wings are free to twitch about in sleep. I close off my optics, and I don't pay attention to the Seeker across from me as he settles down and keeps watch out at the woods. At first I wonder why he is doing this, and then I remember. Right, were soldiers fighting in a war. It would be plane disgraceful to forget precautions. What if something or someone were to show up in the night? And we were both deep in recharge? Well, I doubt either of us is going to be sleeping too well tonight. Sort of comes with the whole not knowing where the frag in the galaxy you are, you know.
I allow my body to relax, but once I do I open my optics again. I sit up fully and look at him.
Starscream looks at me and raises and optic ridge. "What's up?"
Oh, I don't know, maybe that you'll just take off in the middle of the night and leave me here to rust!.. I think with a suppressed scowl. Thankfully, I don't believe he read that thought.
He pauses for a moment before saying, "I'll keep watch for half the night, and wake you in a few hours. Sound fair?"
I nod. Yes. Yes that is fair. So I need not worry, for now. He probably doesn't want to fall into recharge without someone watching his tailpipe. He won't leave me in the midst of darkness.
Letting out a light sigh, I lean back against my tree, and let my optics flutter closed.
The night is all but cool and quiet. It's warm, hot, boiling, and the animals toot and hoot. But that is not the thing keeping me online. I fight the urge to toss and turn frightfully.
"Nightbird?"
My optics snap open and I jerk up to look at him. "What!?" I snap, even though my voice aches more then usual.
My companion's scarlet optics widen slightly and he backs off. "Uhh," he tries to pull a few words together, but fails.
In frustration of myself, I stand to my full height, and now looking down upon Starscream, I gesture quickly for him to lie down. Go to sleep! I'll take over! I'm scowling, and I want to hit something. I feel exhaustion straining on every corner and joint in my frame. Damn it I want to recharge so badly.
"Nightbird?"
I turn and glare at him. But he doesn't back off. Standing, he takes a step closer to me before taking me totally by surprise as he says.
"Why are you upset?"
The question is too sincere to have come from his intake. I look away and rub my optics, trying to awaken myself from this nightmare.
I feel a hand on my shoulder.
I look up, and he passes me a weak smile. I'm frozen by it. His gaze is too kind, his smile too natural, the look on his face too welcoming, his stance too relaxed. This isn't right. This isn't him! "Who-"
He raises an optic ridge, and expression I'm half familiar with, but he stills smiles. And it's so bizarre that I'm taken back.
Star' cocks his head to one side, and asks slowly. "Are you...unwell?"
I stare at him, unable to speak, even if I wanted to.
"Look," he starts slowly. "You don't need to freak out." He crosses his arms and looking out at the glowing sky, says. "If you're worried, don't be. I've been stranded on other planets and such, plenty of other times before. And with our line of work?" He looks at me, optic ridge raised, and half smirks. "Well, you'll get used to it eventually. Don't worry, we'll find a way back so don't get too stressed about it. Go on, get some rest."
His words are gentle and kind. I feel a bit better because of them...but they just aren't like him at all! Why be nice to me now? Why be nice to me at all? Why offer any comfort? Why be so...different...from what you usually are? Or... I sigh. Guess I don't really know you at all.
Looking up at him, I discover his gaze is tracking up at the stars, as if searching... The Seeker is seeking...good for me. I roll my optics, but as I look to him again, see longing in that gaze... But longing for what? To fly? Well, he can certainly do that whenever he wishes! Especially tomorrow.
I shudder at the thought. Tomorrow. What shall it bring? Hope? Abandonment? Pain?.. The possibilities are endless. And only one thing is clear. It is unpredictable.
I glance back at him, before swallowing it all, and lying down.
I watch the night sky for a time, my thoughts slow and uncoordinated. I feel like a slug. Unable to process what may not and what may be the terrors of tomorrow. My system is slowly shutting down, whether I like it or not. Not even the worries of how we are going to survive trouble my mind. I am slowly slipping into unconsciousness.
But before I fade, I take my last moments to steal a glance over at my companion. His wings are drooped, optic's sill longing, and his smile still in-place. But it's a different smile. One that speaks of better days. One that looks so forced yet so natural. One that looks so sad. One that stands tall and declares that, I'm still happy. One that says, I miss you... Starscream looks down to the ground, and stares at it for a long while. But then his gaze rises towards the heavens and again his smile changes. Now it looks familiar. Like a stranger to the world saying, hello, with all the longing 'til past forever. So sweet and so kind...
And I wonder, if once open a time, he used to smile like that at someone. Someone neither I nor anyone could ever replace.
Damn it...stairs! Why Primus, why? I complain to myself as I drag up the rock. These are stairs. I know what stairs are, and these are them. Frag it.
I look up at the sky. It's a little past midday and we've been traveling for hours! I give a huff and turn back to the rock. It would make things much easier if we could just fly up the mountainside but of course we can't! Or at least I can't! Starscream is perfectly capable of flying up and ahead.
Suddenly dread swooshes in my tank.
What will he do once we reach the top of these long steps? (I mean, yes, these aren't purposely carved rocks, but they do resemble a staircase) Will he just leave me here? He said- I mean, no, wait; he didn't say anything like that. He said I should stop worrying, but that doesn't mean he won't leave me here... What if-what if- I ground my denta, optics flashing. Pull yourself together, Nightbird!.. I snap in my head as I start to remind myself. This isn't like me... I can't freak out like some scared little girl. I'm better than that. I sigh, and shake my helm.
Looking back up the long steps, I give a huff and keep pushing after the sleek jet who seems to be a mile ahead of me. I put aside thoughts of my aching body and concentrate on moving forward. I don't let other thoughts in, and pull all my attention on my immediate task.
The air is painfully hot, and the sizzling rocks make my quick climbing brisk. Grip hold of one rock too long, and you can bet your servos will be stuck with some permanent burn through or something.
I let out a breath, and stop for a moment. I sit down on one of the few rocks that have been spared the heat by a drip of shade, and take a deep breath.
I hear the climbing stop for a moment, and then it coming down towards me.
A moment later Starscream then shows. He frowns and snaps. "What the hell? Come on! We have to keep moving!"
I glare at him, I'm exhausted!
He gives me a hard look, "come-on." He practically growls.
My left optic twitches. I tighten my tired frame, heart surging with anger. I think it's the heat, but who the frag cares? I bite my lip under my mask, and try just to keep myself from lashing out at him.
He scoffs and says bitterly. "Look, we don't have time for games! So get off your lazy aft and come on!" He stands and turns away from me.
I clench my fists, my optics narrowing. That damn mech, I want to tare him apart! He turns then, and gives me a flat look. "So are you just going to stand there all day?"
I snap. I jerk my frame up, and I don't have time to think before my fist has swung itself inwards and has connected with his cockpit.
He snaps in a breath, his optics widening as the blow is struck. But then I see my mistake. Without warning, I'm gripped by the neck, and slammed back against the wall. "Ahh!" I hear myself scream. I wince, the jagged rocks digging into my frame as he pushes me against the rocky wall.
Starscream glares into my optics, an unsettling glow flashing from his own. And he's so close to me, I can feel his hot breath on my face. "Don't. Do. That. Again." He growls and shoves me one last time before carrying on, and leaving me there. "And hurry up!" He calls over his shoulder as he again scurries up the mountain side.
I stare at him, all ideas of him being somewhat of a nice person melting. He's just angry. Angry and hurt. I could see it in his optics... Whatever happened last night is clearing not of consequence to him or any one...
I ground my denta and keep moving. I push the thoughts back and just focus on getting up behind him. I try to turn my concentration elsewhere, but I find I'm only looking back to the heat again. If it weren't so hot I'd climb up on the cliff side. That would not only be easier, but safer as well. Well, at least to me, anyway. Any of the others wouldn't be so quick to decide to take that rout, but hey, it's a little more my style.
Time ticks by slowly, and it seems like a life time has passed by the time I finally hear, "Okay, stop."'
I look up, and see Starscream standing just a little bit away. To my surprise, he no longer appears angry. Frustrated perhaps, but still he holds out a servo, and I don't bother in considering it. I grip hold of him, and I get pulled to my pedes. He doesn't let me go for an odd reason, and I find myself being slowly helped along a hillside of chucked gray gravel-y-stuff. We work to get to the top, not allowing our conjoined servos to let free of each other's grasp. This takes longer than either of us expects, (well, at least I) and when we finally do stop, and he lets go of my servo, I find myself doubled over, and finding it difficult to take in breaths or whatnot. A minute passes, then two, and then three. Finally though, I look up. And I gasp.
The rocky mountainside dances off in every direction. The roaring cliffs seem to rip into the un-seeable ground, and claw out to the sky. I stand fully, and stare at the magical site. My yellowish optics have been widened in awn. I pull down my mask, and discover my mouth gaping. Closing my gaze, I shut my jaw, and take a moment to breath in the fresh blowing air. It seems as if all of a sudden the heat has been blown away, and now I stand on cool, fresh stone, that I would be happy to lay on and stretch out in the warmness.
I give a half smile, but then brush off, and roll my shoulders. This is going to be a long walk... I look over at Starscream and give a huff. Well? What are we waiting for?
He looks to me, and raises an optic ridge. "You seriously think we're going to walk through that?"
I don't say anything, but merely stare at him, curious.
Palm-to-the-face. "Wow. Your more narrow minded then I thought." He mutters, rolling his scarlet optics.
I frown, you're one to talk.
He places his hands on his hips and, glancing back at the road of mountains behind him, pauses for a second, before turning to me an announcing. "Nightbird! It's about damn time you learned how to fly!"
AN/ Yeah...heh heh heh. We'll be having a bit of fun next time! *Big smile* But hey, as for a quick note. Yes. I did intend for there to be some actual traveling in this chapter, but it ended up being too long, and really it wasn't anything I couldn't say in a few sentences (so I did) And since I tend to drag the notes on at the chapters to much, I didn't wan't to drag on about nothing in the chapter.
But anywho, for those of you who are wondering. Yes, Nightbird was just dreaming at the very beginning. I bet y'all figured that out from the first line, but meh, felt like doing it anyway. And also, I am very tired, and parts of this chapter is written rather lazily... Well, I promise I'll put more effort into this with the up coming chapters, but I needed to get these first few out of the way. Now we've seen a more determined/scared side of Nightbird as well as a- well, I'm not sure what to say for Star'... I didn't plan on the 'nice' seen, when he was 'nice' to her and all... It just kinda...happened. :/. Sorry 'bout that, I will very much try to keep him as he naturally is, and not so much...well, whatever I am doing. (That is, if you don't like it...) Cuz if you do that's grate :D!
Okay, so last note You know the little preview I did in the last chapter? Yeah...at first that was cut out, but at the last second it was throne back in, so that's why that seen was so quick and kinda crappy. But hey, the heat was getting to them, it made sense to do something.
Anywho, next time~
Chapter 4
Take To The Sky!
Make sense now? Hehehe XD.
The wind whips past my wings, as I twist and turn. My frame has circled into a spiral and I soon find myself spinning down, down, down, towards the cliffs...
":Uhh, Starscream?:"
":You're doing grate. What's up?:"
":How do you land?:"
Until next time, dear reader! Please Leave A Review Before You Go! :D I love reviews :3
~Master Smiley Face :D... No, just Scarlet XD! Have a good week!
