Sniper

Magnus, have you ever had to feel yourself die? Come on, you're a warrior. Think back. You can remember. Some thing brought you back, but for a moment, you were floating around in that black spacey nothingness. It's all very real, Magnus. The pain. The sorrow. The release. The love. You can tell it's real. You can feel it, savor it, hate it. But no matter what these feelings are always here. I came in your dream last night. You were not dreaming of me of your own accord. I was there. I met Primus, Magnus. He is a sight to behold. I told him I thought that he didn't take Decepticons. He doesn't. I know he doesn't. But he only put his hand on my shoulder and said that I was not a Decepticon. I was a Sutoraipu inu fighter. And that it was something to be proud of. I went to my half brother first.

Prowl, I have seen Earth's beauty through your dream. It must be astounding. The rest are wrong to disagree. I hope you know that,no matter what, there are friends you can turn to. Some one to help. Be it someone live or dead. Your team, father, your mother, and, yes, even my mother.

Magnus, then I went to your dream. You sat with me, inside your head. You told me how much you missed me. It sounded ridiculous coming out of your mouth, but all the same, it was your thoughts you were speaking. Not what would please others but what would please you. Keep things that way. We sat in silence the whole time. There was nothing to say. It is because we told each other everything. It was a good thing we had. I was never an Autobot, but I was on your side. Morning came, and I had to flee your dream. I kissed you. But as I did, I also faded. Out of your mind. But not out of your spark.

Ultra Magnus

The ship just docked, and I am in Minia's office. She promised to keep Sniper. I wanted to see her before we put her into space.

I place a servo on the side of her faceplate. It is cold. I remember when it was warm, when she leaned into my hand and closed her optics. I let my servo slide down to where her spark should be. The spark she once told me I had touched. And healed.

"Ultra Magnus" Magnus. That is my name. It does not feel like my name. It is new and foreign and awkward in my ears. It seems like I should have waited longer for such a name. I stay silent. I feel like I am across the room. I am not next to the cot that is next to the door. I am in the corner, trying to will the universe to bring Sniper back. I hear Jazz's words. They sound like fuzz in his mouth. Barely coherent, then clear the next. I hear him say my name again. I don't want to, though. I am busy making Sniper live. He is no longer at the door way. He has entered. He stands next to me at the cot I have convinced my self I am not next to. His shoulder brushes my fore arm. He doesn't mean to. He swayed his balance. He has not seen some thing so dead. I see it happen, but it is several moments before I feel it. Like every thing is in slowmotion. It is because I am in the corner, somewhere where my spirit can float. Remember?

"It's hard, isn't it?" He says. This question is worth coming back to my body. It is worth coming back to reality to realize Sniper is never going to live again to answer. All I can say is yes. It sounds pitiful. Jazz tells me it is 'time'. I know what it means. This is when I pick up Sniper's body, lifeless, and follow Jazz out of Minia's office, out of the hall way. Out of the building. Out where hundreds of bots are waiting. I hate this part. The part when you convince yourself that this is not a dream. None of it is a dream. That the one you love really is gone. This is real. This is the part where I walk into the ship and set Snipers body inside next to Bantu and Fante, who didn't make it because they were sick and weak with their mother dead and their father on some random organic planet. I wish I was still Ultra Prime. I wish this so that I would have never kissed her, never watched her have my children. The children that killed her because she wanted them to live, but they didn't in the end any way. It would have been worth living with out her if she could have lived. But she cant. I get off the ship. The door closes. The ship sets off. Off, never to be seen again. Now is where I say goodbye. Because it is the only thing to say.

EL FIN

AN: Please note that losing over half his family is making Magnus' imagination do funny things. He is NOT on acid. R&R!