A/N: Welcome to the final chapter of IdF: Kaleidoscope, and thank you to all who shared this little journey with me. This is the 2nd post-Intorqueo idea I had for this series, and which, in a way, brings the story full circle. This has been one heck of an AU to write, and I could not have done it without my faithful readers' support. Thank you all again.


"The hardest part of ending is starting again." - Linkin Park, Waiting for the End


Summer, 2015

::I have to go now, Wheeljack's gotten himself in a scrape again. I'll have to continue our chat another time.::

::That's fine. I'm getting close to my destination now and need to run the checks anyway.:: A pause. ::How bad do you think it was this time?::

Starscream laughed ::With Wheeljack, one never knows. Stay safe.::

::You too, Starscream.:: Starscream rose from his seat as Skyfire ended the call. It was good to hear from him again. Have to admit, I didn't think he'd follow through as often as he has. Even after that first call, Starscream had continued to harbor doubts about Skyfire's sincerity. Yes, he had considered it a good start, but then more than an Earth year went by before he heard from his old friend again. It had hurt, and for a short while, he'd thought Skyfire was falling back into his old habits of avoidance, but after the second call, he'd started doing it a bit more frequently, and eventually Starscream's concerns were laid to rest.

But the one thing he'd never been able to do, Starscream reflected, was convince the Valkyrie to come for a visit. He'd tried sundry times in the years following, making the invites more frequent after moving to Autobot City, but Skyfire always declined. He never gave his reasons, but Starscream thought he could guess. Given the treatment given to him in his last days at the Ark the first time he'd come to Earth, he was probably not willing to risk a repeat of the same. Most had eventually come to reconsider their attitudes, especially as Starscream made it clear they'd worked things out, but Skyfire was still a bit..."gun-shy", Starscream thought the term was.

And really, Starscream thought, shaking his head at the memories, I can't really blame him. Most had been cruel, even crueler than they'd been to him in his early time with them, and Starscream had let it go on for too long, in great part due to his own injured pride and feelings. Skyfire didn't really have good memories of the Autobots due to the treatment, and his own cold attitude prior hadn't helped when things had exploded.

Still, Starscream had given Skyfire the coordinates of Autobot City anyway during his first comm. call after arriving there, figuring he could get the stubborn slagger to relent one day. Hadn't happened yet, but Starscream could be as stubborn as the shuttle. He grinned at the thought.

As he passed by a large window, Starscream caught a glimpse of something moving in the sky. He stopped to look, squinting his optics a bit. Ah, looks like the supply shuttle is returning. About five years before, the Decepticons had left the planet, apparently retreating back to Cybertron. Soon after, some of the Command element had followed, setting up outposts on two of the planet's moons to keep an optic on them. Every so often, a shuttle would be sent to Earth to obtain the supplies the bases were short on. So far, the Decepticons had seemed quiet, according to all reports.

Starscream watched the shuttle approach for a minute or two. It would be good to see Prowl and Ratchet again, he reflected. Those two were usually the ones who did the runs, as it was considered they'd take the responsibility more seriously than Sunstreaker or Cliffjumper would. Ratchet had always been good for a "discussion", and he'd come to enjoy the human chess game Prowl had taught him; so did Prowl, who had said once that he had never had anyone push him so much in the game before. The jet wondered who they'd brought with them as their guards this time. Brawn, maybe? Or perhaps Sunstreaker would be assigned as a guard...Both were good for muscle...Ironhide maybe?

The black jet was broken out of his thoughts by another anxious ping from Perceptor. Starscream spared one last glance out of the window before he started walking away. Prowl and Ratchet could wait until later. Right now, he had to pull Wheeljack's aft out of the fire.

As he reached the stairs leading to the lower levels, the first series of explosions rocked the city. A moment later, the alarms went off and an announcement blared over the city's loudspeakers:

"All hands to battle stations! Autobot City is under attack!"


Three Days Later

Skyfire could only stare.

Around him, smoke was rising from what remained of buildings. Holes were in others and there were what appeared to be only foundations. Mechs were wandering around in a daze, as were some of the planet's dominant species. They all looked somewhat shell-shocked, as though they couldn't believe what had happened.

He shook his head in disbelief. What the Pit happened here?

This hadn't been what he was expecting when he was chatting with Starscream only a quarter orn ago. His friend had sounded like he was in a very good mood, no indication of trouble of any kind. It had been that which had decided Skyfire that his idea to surprise the jet and not let him know that he was indeed on his way to visit was a good one. It had been something the shuttle had been considering for a number of orns now, but he'd felt a bit uneasy over the reception he would get. Starscream had assured him that things had calmed down with the troublemakers and they were all aware that the two were no longer quarrelling. Even so, Skyfire was uncertain about returning, especially since he knew that a very large chunk of the Command element were no longer on Earth, and those who were now in charge of running the city that Starscream now lived in had no idea who he was, making it unlikely they would support him in case the jet turned out to be wrong.

But the memory of his promise, along with Starscream's pestering, finally convinced him to return. Impulsively, the shuttle decided to make it a surprise visit, altering his path and heading for the coordinates that Starscream had supplied him. He'd had to resist temptation very hard not to give away how close he was at the time of the conversation with Starscream.

Now, looking at the destruction around him, he wondered if making a surprise visit had been the correct course of action after all...

"Well, well, well. Look what the turbofox dragged in," came a harsh sounding voice from behind him.

Skyfire turned around to see a silver mech with a cold expression standing next to one of the half-destroyed buildings. His posture, from what Skyfire could tell, was tense. He was just about to ask what had happened when the mech spoke again.

"What're you doing here, slagger?" he growled. "Thought you were gone for good."

Skyfire replied in an even tone, "I came to see Starscream." He was not going to let himself be dragged into an argument, no matter how great the temptation.

The silver mech barked out an unpleasant sounding laugh. "So now you want to see Starscream. Where were you three days ago, then?" His optics hardened. "Playing coward again?"

Skyfire's optics narrowed, and his hands started to clench into fists. On second thought...

If the mech noticed, he didn't seem to care. "Not surprised. Wouldn't be the first time you abandoned him, after all. That seems to be all you know how to do, just run away and stay away."

Skyfire growled. The mech smirked. "Oh, did I hit a nerve?" he asked snidely.

Skyfire responded coldly, "No. Just showed your lack of intelligence in baiting a mech larger than yourself."

The smirk faded from the mech's face at the insult. He growled and clenched his hands into fists. Just as he began moving forward, an unexpected voice called out: "Sideswipe! Stand down!"

Both mechs looked down the street to see another mech who had just arrived on the scene. A black heavily built mech with a strange looking device on his right shoulder. Skyfire thought he seemed as tense as this mech, only this one seemed to be wearing a stern expression.

The mech began striding towards them, and said once more, "Stand down, Sideswipe. That's an order."

A flash of recognition hit Skyfire at the mention of the name. Sideswipe. That was the desigation of one of the mechs he'd escorted here nearly twenty stellars back. Also one of Starscream's friends, too, if he recalled correctly. Starscream was always regaling him with tales of his and his brother's antics.

Skyfire was slightly puzzled, however. While he could understand Sideswipe being angry at him at the time everything hit the fan, it didn't make sense why he would be angry now. Starscream had said Sideswipe had been among the first he'd managed to talk sense to.

As he was trying to figure this out, Sideswipe spoke up: "Why should I?! You heard what he said, Trailbreaker!"

The mech called Trailbreaker replied tensely. "Yes, I did, and I heard your goading just before that." He sighed. "He had nothing to do with this, Sides. I know you're angry about the whole situation, but don't take it out on someone who wasn't even here when it happened."

As Sideswipe opened his mouth to speak again, Trailbreaker raised a hand, cutting him off. "Springer asked me to help find someone to help him with the heavy lifting. We've still got a lot of debris to clear out."

Sideswipe snorted. "I'd rather kick 'Con aft."

Trailbreaker gave a small, cool smile. "So would we all right about now. But until everyone's injuries are repaired and the funerals are over, it's not going to happen." As Sideswipe still seemed reluctant to move, he continued, "It's either that or help prepare the dead for interment."

Sideswipe stiffened, but didn't argue any further. He gave a short nod and stalked off, although Skyfire could swear he heard him muttering about how he wasn't worth the trouble anyway as he headed towards wherever this "Springer" was.

Once he was out of sight, Trailbreaker lifted up his head to look Skyfire in the optics, and held out his hand. "I saw you back when you were last here, but I don't believe we were ever formally introduced. As you heard Sides say, the name's Trailbreaker."

Skyfire forced a smile, and took the offered hand. "Skyfire."

After exchanging a handshake, Trailbreaker asked, "So what brings you back here, Skyfire? Didn't think we'd be seeing you again, not after what happened."

Skyfire smiled a bit uneasily, unsure what to make of that phrasing. "I actually came back to visit with Starscream. Thought it would be a good idea to make it a surprise visit." He gazed around again. "Only now, I'm not so sure that was a very good idea."

Trailbreaker sighed. "Actually, he probably could use it right about now." He turned around. "Follow me. I'll take you to him."

Skyfire followed. As they walked, he saw a lot more of the same damage. The fact that some buildings still seemed to be standing only made the holes and half-fallen buildings seem more prominent. Finally, he got the nerve to ask what had happened.

Trailbreaker didn't answer at first, giving him a wary backwards glance. Skyfire could understand why; he wasn't an Autobot, and a stranger for the most part. But apparently Trailbreaker seemed to decide that some things were harmless enough to share. "A few days ago, roughly a quarter-orn, the 'Cons attacked. Hijacked a shuttle of ours which was on a supply run. Didn't even see it coming. Had been pretty quiet lately." He shook his head, giving a bitter chuckle. "Lost some good mechs..."

Skyfire felt a jolt of shock. Just one-quarter orn ago, he'd been talking to Starscream, and there'd been no hint of any problems, so the attack must have occurred shortly afterward. Skyfire glanced down at Trailbreaker. "Is Starscream all right?" he asked worriedly.

Trailbreaker was quiet for a moment. "Guess that depends on how you define it," he finally answered, remembering the shell-shocked mech they'd pulled away from Wheeljack's gray frame.

Neither of them spoke another word the rest of the way to the medcenter.


Trailbreaker hadn't been exaggerating.

Skyfire just stood in the doorway of the medcenter room, staring at his friend. Starscream was sitting on the medberth, facing away from the door. Silver welds were a stark contrast to the black wings, which were trembling. Starscream was just staring seemingly into space, hands on legs, apparently oblivious to the world around him.

Tentatively, Skyfire spoke. "Starscream?"

No response. It was like Starscream hadn't even heard him.

Skyfire walked into the room and over to the berth. He tried again in a slightly firmer voice. "Starscream?"

Still no answer, though this time, he thought he saw the jet twitch at the sound of his name.

Skyfire decided to keep trying. "I heard about the attack. I'm sorry."

Starscream still didn't answer. Skyfire sighed, unsure of what to say next. He decided to leave and see if he could find someone in charge to find out if there would be a place for him to stay for the time being.

As he turned to leave, he was startled by a soft voice. "I couldn't help him, Sky."

Skyfire stopped and turned back to look. Starscream was still staring at the wall, but now the shaking seemed to have subsided a bit. "Couldn't help who, Starscream?"

"Wheeljack." The name sounded strangled, as though Starscream was trying to keep from crying. "I ran into Skywarp and Skywinder as I tried to get to the lab." He touched a weld on one of the wings. "I somehow got past them, but I wasn't fast enough to help him or Windcharger..." His voice trailed off.

Skyfire walked over to the berth and sat as carefully as he could on the small edge available. Carefully, he laid a hand on top of his friend's right wing. He wasn't sure what to say. The names meant nothing to him, but Starscream had known and lived with these mechs for nearly a quarter vorn. They'd been there for him when he hadn't been.

Starscream began speaking again. "Prowl, he taught me how to play a game called chess. We also used to drink high grade and complain about Jazz together. And Ratchet...he was always good to have an argument with. It was fun having someone who could give out insults as well as I could. And Brawn..." He looked up at Skyfire. "I saved his life when we first met, and later he helped defend me against the minis who bullied me. He didn't like scientists or Seekers, but he liked a good fight as much as I did. We were friends, Sky..."

His wings began to tremble again, and he looked down at the floor. "Optimus Prime is gone, too. He was injured by Megatron while trying to help another mech called Hot Rod, and died soon after," he finished in a whisper.

Skyfire was stunned by the mention of the Prime's death. While he hadn't exactly been friendly even towards the Prime, the Autobot leader had not let his cold attitude stand in the way of trying to reconcile he and Starscream after their quarrel. Skyfire thought that in time he may even come to respect the mech, but now that wouldn't happen.

He shook his head grimly. So much pointless death and destruction, and for what?

"Sky?"

He glanced down to see Starscream looking up at him, red optics bright with grief. "What is it, Starscream?"

"Will you...Were you planning on staying awhile?" There was a slightly hopeful tone in his voice.

Skyfire was slightly surprised by the question. He'd only been planning to stay for perhaps a few solars, really. But as he opened his mouth to say as much, Sideswipe's words rang through his processor again: "That seems to be all you know how to do, just run away and stay away."

The fragger was right, he thought wearily. That was all he'd ever done, just left when things got difficult. Not to mention he had been willingly avoiding returning to Earth since his last departure. He may have been communicating with Starscream, but it had taken a while for him to do so, and had been infrequent at first. He also had never made good on the other part of his promise: coming back to Earth. Not until now.

Skyfire looked at his friend, and came to a decision.

He wasn't going to run away, not anymore.

"Yes. Yes, I was planning on doing just that."

At his words, Starscream's optics went wide with surprise, then a shaky smile appeared on his face. Skyfire gave a small smile back, a brief thought going through his head as he did so:

Perhaps the surprise visit was a good thing after all.


Final A/N: And so ends this AU. Yeah, I know it seems kind of awkward, but I had a better ending in my head a couple of days ago. Unfortunately I just couldn't get the chance to put it down for a while, by which time the better ending had faded away. Sorry 'bout that. Again, I hope those of you who followed enjoyed.