The Next Life.
By Kaimaler.
Well, I wanted to add more to this chapter but found that it wasn't the right place or time to do so.
Eventually, we'll be seeing the skeleton of the Corsair Escion and Gaia's heartbreaking reaction. I think it is, maybe... possibly. :)
I'm looking forward to writing it, I know what to do, flashbacks, moments, quiet ponderance, etc. etc. It's simply that I want to involve the reader to Gaia's dispair as much as I physically can.
Review Replies:
Great Diabla Assassin: Yessss? You did? You like it that much? :D I'm so surprised and thrilled!
LAWL. I believe the last chapter had the second-most words in a chapter ever. 7,974 Words. It was a big one, but I thought you all deserved it after such a long wait. For which I apologize yet again!
I know. I would lose everything. That cannot happen. This story I'm Beta-ing is difficult because there are so many little words that go wrong that the human mind naturally overlooks. I have to scold the paper until something appears! It hurts my eyes. :O
YOU are my Minion! Some are, like GrimlockX4 and people like that. You are so totally my number one right now though! Keep reviewing... I have nothing to give but my thaaaaaaaankkkssssss.
And a chapter or two. :D
Smoltwire: 1. Awesome name, I wish I could come up with cool usernames; but alas I am "Kaimaler."
At first when I read the beginning few words I thought "Oh noes! A flaaaaame!" But then I was so surprised when I found out you were actually loving my story! :D
By the way, I tend to jump to conclusions. Is it obvious? x)
Gaia is my personal best I believe, there is so much I want to do with her but so little I posses the ability to do. So, I just go with what I can until I learn better, more useful writing skills then I'll work on revising this.
I want that! I mean, for readers! I hate. H.A.T.E. how people depict women as damsel's in distress. Helpless little girls. The vulnerable lesser-gender. I can't stand it anymore. So I wrote Gaia.
Strong, fierce, and would rather die a slow death then surrender for a quick one. I can only imagine her giving her life willingly for a teammate, relative, or just a friend. Gaia De Mercurio is a character who I wanted others of the female gender to recognize as how things should be. Men aren't the dominant gender, sure they do have more strength due to their natural body build, but that sure as hell doesn't mean a woman couldn't kick a body-builders ass. Male or female that is.
Strength comes from within, it's a passion that needs more attention I believe. So, Gaia's passion is those around her; Orion, her husband, her crew.
Sorry, but here's more! I'll keep writing until this story is done, yet for now; this is all I got. Soon, I will publish another and another until you see that little piece of paper with the symbol "C" on it. :)
crystalfeathers: Ooo, my hopes to immerse my reader is working? I'm so happy! I wanted readers to feel the planet, the alien aura is sends off, the towering city that's abandoned. I'd have a fear of them falling down, but hey; Gaia's not me. :)
Corsair Escion will show up here soon enough! And so will a certain someone who's name I'm not mentioning yet... :D
A few things upcoming will force this story to branch out through Cybertron; but for now, let's just get Gaia to the Corsair! Then we'll enjoy the stress that comes along with it.
Orion will be... different so to speak, by the end of this story if not sooner. Much different. Woot woot!
Orion woke her up first, she noted that humans needed longer time to sleep then Cybertronians needed to recharge apparently.
He was still intrigued by her skin, how it dented and reformed under the pressure and release of his hand shaking her awake. He wasn't sure how she'd react to being woken up so quickly, she was an alien, and beforehand they had at least enough time for her to rise at her own pace. Somewhat, he remembered a few times where Gaia groaned in protest but marched along anyways.
"Gaia, we are preparing to leave Iacon, you must put on your armor so no one else sees you." The door was locked, but it wouldn't stop Autobots from forcing the two residents awake.
Waking up was never pleasant on Cybertron. Gaia had to refresh her memory every time without a single flaw; else she and Orion's entire plan would crumble. She needed to remember what she had already said about her world, about humans the day before, about herself when she first met them, and specifically about her plans.
Corsair Escion was a distance away, Gaia wanted to know how long it would take before reaching her downed craft, but it felt best to leave her internal mumblings to herself.
Slipping on her armor, her latched on the outer armor before closing the airtight helmet and waiting for the pressure to rise; all the while Orion waited patiently by the door, anxious to join his team outside.
Gaia walked over to the mech, placing a hand on his shoulder before opening the door. It was time to march and time to meet a very large group of Autobots she'd never seen before. Orion was close behind her, he wasn't directly giving her support yet Gaia was relived that he stood by her; she felt guarded just enough to have freedom of movement while offering an invisible shield.
"Gaia," He stopped her before they left the building. "May we speak for a moment? I promise it will not take up too much time." He asked nervously, interested, Gaia turned around and nodded for him to continue.
"I do not want to tell the others yet I do not think I can calm myself." He sighed dejectedly, "I am... concerned about our mission to stop the Decepticon forces from arriving at Iacon's gates. We've been in this war too long and with too little success; we have lost so many to the war... I fear we will fail due to overwhelming odds."
Gaia lingered, how she did comfort the nerves of a rookie aboard her ship? Was it the same with this organic metal alien? How could she ever possibly tell him honestly the odds of victory when she didn't even know the numbers of Decepticons against Autobots? She had to answer fast; Orion was beginning to believe she couldn't give him the courage he needed to go through with this battle.
She looked to the side, "Orion, sit." She led him to the chairs, pulling the other chair closer before taking a seat in front of his chair.
Orion was looking down to his hands, as if searching for the answer there. Gaia leant forward and took his hands into hers, "Orion. I'm not going to lie or tell you the Autobots will emerge victorious. I don't know the odds, I don't know the Decepticons." Orion nodded; she knew less of the Decepticons then he did when the war started.
"I will tell you that success doesn't come from victory or from outside." She knew the Autobots had a spark instead of a heart; she could bend her words like she was a Cybertronian herself. If she wanted to. "When I was first aboard the Corsair Escion, I was scared to death. I knew the risks I'd be undergoing on the Corsair, but it was difficult just functioning properly when I was order to fight my first battle."
Orion looked to her; her helmet distanced her too much. Releasing his hands a moment to remove it, she let it hang on her shoulder as before and reclaimed Orion's hands in hers and pulled closer to the mech. "Yet you are alive now, you won that battle. This is different Gaia; we are more likely to offline then survive."
She shook her head lightly. "You don't know about the Revolution when all Nations agreed to a peace; a group of extremists who believe their country or people were better then others and threatened the United Nations' civilians. We were striking a newly discovered base they hid on a moon." She explained further to give him the idea what her crew was actually up against. "These people would kill themselves if it meant stopping outsiders from hindering their plans."
A strange thing to register, yet Orion made no mention to the opposite, he still knew very little about Gaia's universe. "I lost; we didn't expect what we found. Our radars were jammed, giving us false readings repeatedly, then our HUD wouldn't respond and we'd have to leave our helmets and visors." She remembered her old Captain well, he was more fierce then her in a battle.
"After we reached the lower levels, we found interrogation rooms for UN soldiers and VIP's we had thought killed in battles." She sighed, It happened far too fast. "It was probably because I was the rookie; the new kid on the Corsair that got me in the end. I was inexperienced and while walking ahead of my superior I failed to... examine the area closer."
Gaia pulled down the flexible, but tight material around her throat revealing a scar. "What is that?" Orion hadn't been told what scars were; sure Cybertronians were hurt in battle, some injuries more repairable then others. But no one was left with a scratch after their armor was replaced or cleaned. Scars didn't generally exist unless a dent counts and even then they're easily fixed.
"When a human sustains a deep enough wound, when it heals a mark is left. If it's a gash, they'll be a long line where the gash once was. If it was a bullet wound, they'll be a circle with thin lines from the inside out. If it was a fire, the flesh would heal poorly; usually leaving the skin sensitive for years on end, but it won't heal properly it has to be professionally graphed to heal." The burn scar down the left side of her neck told Orion it went further down then just a piece of the neck and shoulder.
"What happened?" He leaned forward to see the details even more, his processor was already filling up with strange facts of humans, this beat them all so far.
"Like I said, I did do my job. I cam around a corner without checking, a classic rookie mistake, and an extremist said something I didn't understand, in a language I don't know." She shrugged, trying to act indifferent about the mess on her neck down to her shoulder blade. "He had a bomb; he was one of the last people in the entire structure they built. He knew he wasn't going to win, his side lost. So, instead of surrendering in the face of inevitable defeat, he decided that he was going to sacrifice himself for his people's goal. I say, even though we cleared out the building and excavated the sight; he won."
Orion turned his attention from her scar to her eyes, "He wasn't an extremist; he was a soldier like me, but a veteran. He was convinced of the UN's choices being morally wrong. In the end, the UN investigated him and the extremists." She lightly shook Orion's hands, "In the end, a truce between the factions was made. Even if the Autobots don't win this battle Orion, what is symbolizes may end the war."
"How will I know?" He was insistent in a desperate way, he needed proper comforting. "You don't, if you remain strong at the end, fight 'til the end. Your sacrifice will mean more then anything to your teammates and to you. You said you had a God, imagine what it would mean to him."
Orion sat back in the chair, his arms lax on his lap while Gaia rubbed his hands smoothly with her thumbs. "I... understand." And he meant it. He understood the meaning, death can be more important then life. If he falls in battle, being remembered for his determination and spirit would define her perhaps more then his position as a soldier.
It was a dark truth, but a truth nonetheless. He would prefer his life mean something even if it means dying for it to be noticed, more precisely, the cause he fought and died for to be noticed.
The Autobots were more important that one Cybertronian, their purpose needed to be realized; by any and all.
Orion secretly held the wish that he and his bothers in arms would receive aid from Gaia's people, somewhere, someday, her alien race would appear. She managed to land on Cybertron, albeit it was an actual emergency landing, but if she found Cybertron how long would it take for her people, her military to find and explore Cybertron.
Perhaps Sentinel could prove they weren't a threat, but the Decepticons were.
It was a foolish wish, he knew, though it didn't stop him from hoping. With Gaia, he felt a pain in the pit of his internal functions for the alone, lost human who had nothing but him on an alien world. Her bravery to march on despite the anguish she no doubt felt at the loss of her crew, her soldiers, just like Sentinel would if his Autobot's were offlined in battle.
Her will to move forward made him want to walk with her, to be as close as a friend possibly could to her. She was a powerful femme, or woman, in his optics; he wanted to have the same confidence as she did.
But how did she get up and move forward, how could she have hope, why would she allow more pain into her life when it was obvious nothing was going to bring her crewmates and bond mate back from the dead.
"Gaia," He glanced around, almost worried someone was listening. If they were, they'd probably have reported Gaia's alien heritage before they even knew it. He didn't want to be vulnerable, but in sight of a battle that could decide the victor of this exhaustingly long war; he couldn't help it. "How do you keep functioning?"
Caught off guard, Gaia could only assume he was asking about her health. It didn't make sense after such a talk, but she'd go along with it. "Orion, I'm fine." Her brow raised, he was misinterpreted.
"I mean after all that has happened here, to your crew, to you; how do you keep functioning, how do you have the will to live when every one has offlined in the crash?" He wanted specifics, he wanted to know.
Gaia bowed her head, "Ah, I see."
There wasn't a chance in hell she'd lie and say something inspiring even though that's what he needed so badly. Lies would hurt him worse in the end then telling the cold, hard truth on the matter.
She missed everyone, her crew, the smell of her mechanic after he finished for the day, the aroma of a military grade meals, her pilot bursting in her door after asking Hye Kwan to hack it when Gaia was angry at him for one reason or another. When she had to train new recruits for Corsair model crewmates she'd have to act tougher then normal, make them work harder then others; it built character and the ability to do those difficult tasks is ever required.
Gaia couldn't wait to just have dreams about exiting the elevator to come face to face with a rushed crewmate. The flashing red lights even, just before her crash, before an attack, when the Corsair Escion was damaged. Those thrilling, blood pumping moments when she thought she could die or her crewmates could die.
It was glory.
"Some escaped; the shuttles they escaped on took them to military controlled space." She answered finally; Orion was beginning to think she didn't want to answer. "I survived the crash; I have to know if the crew on the shuttles made it back safely or not. I... can't explain how much it aches not knowing if my crew's sacrifice actually saved them."
Orion smiled sadly to the hurt human, "Thank you Gaia, you helped more then you know." She chuckled, shaking his hands in a friendly manner. "Don't thank me just yet Orion, I am prone to ruining meaningful moments." She jokingly threatened, rising from her seat.
"Come on metalhead, let's go meet up with the others." She pulled him from his seat, patting his back and ushering him forward. "They are probably worried by now." He let out a nervous laugh, "I do appreciate you being so understanding of my dilemma Gaia, it does mean a lot to me."
"Oh," She play punched his shoulder... before deciding punching anything metal without her gauntlets on is a bad thing. "Don't get all soft on me now; I need that hardened soldier who pulled me out of fire the other day."
The Autobots were gathered nearby the hotel-like building Orion and her took shelter in. It would always astound her the strange, but enchanting lights of Iacon. It was such a change from the dark, gun metal grays she had seen so far on Cybertron. Oddly enough, the bright neon lights and strong tones gave her eyes rest; it almost hurt seeing all the lights when she first entered Iacon.
At the very moment Orion was seen with Gaia not three feet behind him, everyone greeted him then her. It wasn't the same though, somehow the Autobots changed. Gaia trusted her instincts; it was the looming battle they geared up for.
For her, it was the trek to her Corsair, the only spacecraft she gave a damn about in the known galaxy. She was tense, rigid almost from her own eagerness to make a bee line for her ship.
This time, Sentinel didn't speak out before they left. No one said it, yet everyone knew why. The dangers they were to face wasn't the normal patrol groups or spies they had dealt with in the past; this was a full scale official battle to end the war... or just another milestone of destruction and death.
Gaia wouldn't speak against anything, she didn't belong here and that was that. She was the black sheep, a title she took on in this group proudly. Though no one knew it or would know it if mentioned; that's exactly what she was to any other human if any had witnessed her joining the Autobots.
Orion had newfound confidence in his step, no one noticed it, the mech often carried himself faultlessly; only he knew it wasn't the same reason.
Gaia followed the group as normal, she wasn't a part of them so for her safety and of others; she'd keep her distance. Walking ahead to the right of the group, she kept to herself while traversing the long streets and brightly lit passageways. Her own attraction to the golden dome of Iacon would remain with her.
Sentinel knew exactly why Gaia stayed away from the Autobots during travels. He feared for her safety, though his concerns need not be opened to his men lest he loose their faith in him, she was unguarded; a sniper could take her down easily at this distance. Of course, a mech familiar with long range battles could take any one of them out, but with Primus' help; they could look out for each other and not be sitting away from his team.
Sure, she wasn't an Autobot; he wasn't convinced she even knew Cybertron though she claims she does. Her wandering questions, confusing terminology, and smooth gait told Sentinel's logic processor that she was more then she seemed or in theory, that's what she appeared to Sentinel.
As they exited the massive gates of Iacon, Sentinel caught her turned around and walking backwards, taking in the sights of Iacon's gates granting her leave before spinning back around as if it never happened.
She pulled out her rifle, holding it as if a Decepticon would jump out from a wall and attack them. Sentinel could see her stature tense though she was covered in a suit; he pondered how he could see her physical form tighten when it wasn't visible at all.
It was her suit. The crossing patterns and weaving would shift and take form at the very minimal movement. Her armor would tract and retract based on her movements. Upwards they loosened, downwards they tightened. When her chassis underneath the suit would react, so would the armor. It was as if her armor responded to her emotions and density.
He felt less concern for the mysterious femme, yet he wasn't about to let his processor wrack itself with queries about her. She must want to be apart of the group marching onward, there were many following his lead and she was an outcast of the people; being set away from the group meant she couldn't be relaxed on her own. So, he decided it was best not to let her alone.
"De Mercurio." He called, her head instantly snapped to face him. By his calling her name, she figured there was danger about or they picked up Decepticon's on their radar; it didn't make sense though, she'd always be able to catch a foreign object on her HUD radar quicker then they would.
She had raised her rifle, beginning to aim it down the street whilst looking around the buildings separate from the road they travelled on. "Sentinel?" She questioned, meeting his side he gestured her to calm. "There is no danger; I simply thought it best for you to remain with us. We will not be seeing any Decepticon activity for some time."
Her rifle hanging in her left hand, Gaia looked back to the Autobots watching the two converse. Sentinel still marched on, like he never spoke a word, and Gaia followed suit. No desire to be dead weight, she heeded his invitation.
Now, walking with the Autobots had gotten her some more respect out of the group. Or trust. Kup still stayed near Sentinel, Orion near Gaia, the twins locked to each others sides, Wheeljack with Ratchet and Ironhide, while many other Autobots stayed with their preferred company. She was fine alone, set aside from the group, but being with Orion made her feel considerably more secure.
While musing this fact, Gaia was barely aware of the hushed whisperings of the Autobots nearby. Orion made her completely aware. "They cannot stop speaking about you," He chuckled, watching his teammates throw the idea of an outsider amongst the group. "You are somewhat famous it seems."
"It's the same as when Sunstreaker and Sideswipe kept chatting about me." Gaia shrugged, "Nothing serious, I'm not concerned about it any more."
Orion looked back to her, "I know. It does not mean it is any less amusing to listen to my brothers in arms speak nonsense about my newest friend." He nudged her lightly, Gaia laughed in return. "I'm kinda' happy Sentinel invited me to join you. I like talking with you."
He acted like she was lying, with a scoff and a half-hearted wave. "You are just saying that to make my feel better."
"Am I that transparent?" Gaia looked at her hands. Orion laughed louder and playfully shoved her. "That was mean, I was joking." She wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "As am I, friend."
"I do not wish for you to leave, yet I am anxious to know you returned to your home safely." Orion admitted, looking upwards to the skies. "I would give anything for this war to be over and join you in space. I can only imagine what it muse be like traveling planet to planet, skimming the stars and outsmarting Scavengers." He went on wistfully, explaining his minds eye images of space. "To be a whole again would be nothing short of fantasy."
"You'll get through this Orion, you'll see." Gaia pulled him closer, pointing to a shinning star. "You see that star right there?" Orion glanced to her before following her pointed finger. "Yes." He squinted, staring directly at a bright star.
"That's Nuevo Polaris." She smiled; her helmet hid her own love of the unmoving star. "Before we advanced to mechanical transportation, the Northern Star would guide sailors and travelers to the right direction. It was always North, no matter what, people would look up and see the star; they'd never be lost with it. After we found a way to travel in space, the star was no longer useful to lost Wayfarers."
"Sailors?" Orion looked questioningly to Gaia, "On Earth, most of the surface is covered with water. The Seven Sea's they're called. In the early days of our civilization, the only way to get certain supplies was by sea and it stayed like that for a long time. After we discovered flight and cold fusion, we no longer had requirements of sailors except to gather food from the sea or to go on vacations."
Orion nodded, an alien concept of the Seven Sea's, but just another fact about her specie that differed from his. "Well, after leaving Earth to explore the galaxy humans couldn't use the Northern Star to guide them safely." She sighed; the stars led her through many trials on board the Corsair. "Instead, many other stars were discovered to replace the old, as they were called; Pole Stars. Nuevo Polaris is now our greatest ally when we risk loosing ourselves in the vastness of space. I will always show us where we need to go."
Orion stared at the bright star, now seeming to stand out from the others. All stars looked alike, spotting one in the millions of others required training, but to Gaia it was well worth it. The Nuevo Polaris stood as a symbol to the new peace Earth met once the UN finally welcomed all Nations to their truce.
Gaia had her Space Marine tattoo when she was first admitted into the ranks. Even as a private, she'd wear the symbol of the Space Corps proudly. The Nuevo Polaris being the center piece of the permanent ink on her left bicep.
"I will miss you, though I do expect to know if you return safely." Orion took the star into his memory banks; he wanted to remember it for the future. "If I do not receive word of your functioning, I will find a way to reach you." He pointed threateningly at his friend, "No worries Orion, I plan on sending word."
"Good, you know what is best for you." He laughed with her until they noticed the many interested gazes from the other Autobots. "Perhaps we should keep it down?" Gaia giggled, "Perhaps."
Errrrrk! Stop right there! Review replies will be posted at the top! :)