Sideways
Armada Soul flyer
The group was gathered in the main control room, as Starscream and Raptor straggled back in. Obviously, much more relaxed than when they had left. Knowing glances and quiet snickers passed around the Autobots, with the kids looking up questioningly. Raptor just smiled at Rad. "You'll understand in a few years.."
Jokes about the recent battle, compliments to Raptor for the 'training games' – and a general sense of satisfaction purveyed the group. Yes, she'd turned out to be a rather good decepticon to rescue!
Then the main computer screen went black, the swirl of Sideways came into the room. As a group the Autobots threatened him, but he simply laughed in his confidently conniving way. He solidified in front of Raptor, with Starscream jumping in front of her – threatening the 'virus' with the Star Saber.
Calmly, Raptor put her hand on Scream's arm and told him to stand down. The Star Saber would do nothing against this foe! She faced Sideways unafraid, her expression that of stone. "It has been a millennium – my 'old friend'" She greeted the virus, sarcasm dripping off every word.
"I see you have woken, Queen." Sideways growled, laughing as he noticed the surprise on the faces of the group, his reference to her rank had caused. "Ah, I see the Queen hasn't bothered to tell you who she is!" He snickered as she snorted derisively. He turned to Optimus and gloated. "Megatron is nothing compared to the great mistress of manipulation and devastation that you've brought into your ranks! Or hasn't she bothered to tell you about the Autobots she conquered, the Decepticon leader she assassinated and the masterful job of manipulation she did on both Decepticons and Autobots! Truly, she is – every bit a decepticon warrior!"
Raptor leaned up against the wall, her stance that of sarcastic humor at Sideways. "If you call me 'the mistress' of manipulation – then you are truly the 'god' of manipulation. To bad you didn't cease to exist in our last little 'party'" She smiled, slightly gloating. "Your master must still be in shock at what one mere femme did to him – isn't he?" She said rather sweetly.
Sideways glared at her. "There will always be war, Queen. And nothing you can do will stop it this time!" With that, he dissolved.
Decision..
As a group, they stared at her, not wanting to believe what the virus had said – but bothered that she had denied none of it. Starscream looked at her in shock. "You were the decepticons queen?" He said in awe.
"You conquered – us?" Side Swipe said – not wanting to believe that this female he had played so many fun games with – could've coldly commanded troops to conquer the Autobots of her dimension.
She slowly smiled, an almost regal confidence spreading through her. "Yes and yes." The Autobots expression was changing to that of quiet anger. She looked into each of their optics as she continued to talk. "As you know so well, War is never pretty. And to build a nation – you must first reduce the old ways to ashes – so that new ways can be created. To change a society as violent as the decepticons, you must manipulate them carefully. And to finally piece the new nation together, you must find a way for both groups to learn to work together." She sighed, noticing that Optimus and Scavenger had looks of understanding – and Starscream was looking at her in awe. "Yes, I was their queen, whom led them to victory, whom chose two kings – one from each camp – to piece the nation together. I used whatever means necessary to accomplish the final goal – and yes, I assassinated that dimension's 'Megatron' – just as I was originally created to do."
Optimus looked at her carefully. "So do you intend to do the same here?"
She shrugged her shoulders dismissively, "I came to this dimension for another reason entirely – but one never knows the path that fate will put her on."
"So what reason did you come here for?" Alexis asked.
Raptor looked at her with sadness in her optics. "To fill the emptiness that is my soul, child."
"But why didn't you tell us the truth? Why'd you lie?" Hotshot challenged, he pushed her down in rage. Scavenger grabbed the enraged mech and pulled him off of her.
She slowly got up, warily looking from mech to mech. "I never 'lied' – I was a squadron commander once."
"Ya, long before you assassinated your leader and conquered the Autobots!" Smokescreen insulted.
Blur looked coldly at her. "You conveniently forgot to include the rest of your history. To make us trust you."
She matched his gaze. "If you had known, would I have been welcomed as a mere Medic?" She challenged.
"So that's why you wouldn't fight on our side – you're nothing but a damned decepticon through-and-through!" Side Swipe yelled, anger filling his voice.
"All of you stop right now!" Optimus ordered. Grudgingly, his troops silenced their comments, though the hate in their optics stung Raptor's fuselage.
Prime strolled up to her, locking her crimson optics. "If you really came to this dimension to change, to leave your past behind; then prove it to us, swear your loyalty and put Autobot insignias on your wings."
She stared into his optics, understanding that if she did not – she was no longer welcome. But in her human soul, she had to refuse – for it meant for her to swear to fight – to choose one side over the other. This is what Sideways had made her do, those eons ago, because of her; Ancient Cybertron had almost been destroyed. She had sworn, as she had realized her error, and gone into what she had thought would be her final battle – that if she were to live – she'd never choose sides again! To always find the middle ground! Keeping her expression calm, while her soul was torn in half, she replied. "I'm sorry, I cannot.."
Then she winked out of sight as she teleported away.
Remorse..
"Raptor!" Starscream screamed. "No! Take me with you!" He pushed past the Autobots and ran towards the warp gate.
Optimus put his hand on Side Swipe's arm, as the mech started to run to stop Starscream. "Let him go.."
"Sir, do you think she'll go to the decepticons?" Blur asked.
Red Alert shook his head; he had worked more closely with her than any of them. "No, I don't think so." A rare expression of anger crossed the tough mech's face. "And Sir, if I may comment."
Optimus nodded.
Red Alert looked at each of his comrades. "I think all of you made a very big mistake." With that, the medic left.
"Wow, I think Red Alert's mad!" Carlos mumbled. Having never seen the medic show any anger before.
"Sir, I agree with Red Alert. Raptor had every opportunity to go to the decepticons; she could've easily taken all the minicons with her. She saved your life; she saved the Star Saber and Skyboom Shield. In her own way – she supported us. Giving us no reason to treat her like that! Regardless of whom she once was." Scavenger glared at each mech, disgust for the quick judgment showing in his face.
Hotshot snorted. "But she refused to fight with us!"
"Ya bro, she even refused to join us!" Side Swipe added.
Optimus looked steadily at Scavenger. "Maybe we were quick to judge, but she did omit much of her history. And she flatly refused to join us."
Scavenger met Prime's optics with his own. "If we'd known who she was, we would've expected her to fight for us a long time ago, and that's obviously not what she wants to do, in this dimension! Sir." And then he also left the room.
Gone…
Starscream was gone for days, searching the globe for Raptor. But she had simply vanished! He finally came back to the Autobot base when his power cores were drained. Moping around and no longer caring to be part of the Autobot team.
Next series..
This now leads into my " Armada Soul-flyer: Next Generation" Book, yet more intriguing twists and turns, though a bit more tragic.. Hope you continue to enjoy!