Lost in the place between conscious and dreaming, Starscream's thoughts tangled into each other like a nest of snakes. Tails lashed, fangs bared and snapped as half-conceived ideas were considered and either tossed or pondered for later. In his mind, the snakes shifted as they hissed at one another. Masses on their backs grew until wings opened and legs sprouted from their sides. The tiny dragons writhed and turned on their brethren, heavy splashes of blood decorating their scales in shining drops of energon pink.
"Starscream."
It was like hearing someone while being submerged in a pool of water. Even drifting, the mech's mind was fast though. Only a second passed before he opened his optics.
Thundercracker stood before him solemnly, not looking nearly contrite enough for disturbing the air commander. "Megatron has been trying to comm you. I told him you had turned them off and were deep in a project."
Ah, Megatron. The source of most of his problems. Sure, there were other things and people he'd like to make disappear (or destroy, that was fun too), but Megatron was the worst. He couldn't very well tell off Thundercracker for disturbing him either. A sneer crawled across his face as Starscream stretched and stood. He'd been sitting in the corner of their shared quarters that he'd claimed for himself, floor and lower wall hidden behind scavenged, hoarded and stolen pillows. It was for him to relax and plan, and even Skywarp knew better than to dare take a nap there.
"Did our oh-so-glorious leader say whyhe wished to talk with me?" He didn't bother to thank the other seeker as he flexed his servos and wings to loosen the cables and wiring.
Starscream never asked for his trine to cover for him (okay, almost never. On a very rare occasion when he needed an alibi, then maybe). But he didn't ask for aid and Thundercracker never offered. Sometimes he just helped for reasons neither of them really understood. The trine leader wasn't about to make things awkward by saying 'thank you'.
A shrug as the bulkier mech turned away to pick up his datapad, "No."
Of course not.
Sighing deeply, Starscream stalked from their room and towards the command center. Concerns over what the warlord could possibly want swarmed his thoughts. Most of the crew wandering about were smart enough to stay out of his way, the mech's quick stride giving away his limited patience. Unfortunately, some people could not be dissuaded from stirring up drama.
"Hey Screamer." "Where ya going'?" "Is there gonna be a fight?"
Melting out of what seemed to be blank walls and empty air, Soundwave's little pests started barraging him with questions. Ones he did not have the time or inclination to answer, "Beat it, brats."
"Ooooh, someone's in a mood."
"Isn't he always, Rumble?" Snickers and chitters erupted on either side of him as the small mechs scrambled to keep up with his longer strides.
Their elfin small faces curved up to him, flashing teeth and pale yellow optics. So pale they almost seemed to fade into their oddly plated faces and helms. The metal overlapped like flower petals, twisting at random points and leaving jagged edges poking out at intervals almost too organized to be completely without thought. While other Cybertronians looked like puzzle pieces fit together, nephren were roughly carved figures of strange layers and proportions.
They also didn't follow logic, which ticked off Starscream on a regular basis.
Ravage leaped out of the empty space behind the mech's right shoulder, the angle all wrong to have dropped from the ceiling or come from the wall or floor. It was as if the feline-creature had been perched on a ledge hovering in the hall. Which there wasn't. Which meant the quadruped shouldn't have been able to do that. Most species had their own set of rules and such. Nephren did not. They flouted the laws of physics as if they were things only stupid people followed.
Neatly leaping over Starscream's shoulder, Ravage landed in front of Frenzy and swatted his sibling into the shadows in the corner. Frenzy had barely had a chance to form a protest before he disappeared as if he'd never been.
Rumble scrambled around Starscream's legs, trying to use him as a shield and forcing the bigger mech to a stop lest he fall over. "Hey Ravage! What gives?"
"We have work to do." Starscream didn't have time to kick the pest grabbing at his legs before the most responsible of Soundwave's group snagged Rumble's arm with his teeth and they both disappeared. They were neither camouflaged nor invisible. Just gone.
Snarling loudly, not wasting any breath on the idiocy of others, Starscream continued. One of these days those brats were going to get themselves into trouble they couldn't just run or hide from. And Starscream was going to sit back and watch. Glitches. The lot of them.
In a mere moment or two, the air commander stalked out onto the bridge like he owned it. Which he almost did. Except for one person in his way of course. Otherwise it would be his. Seated idly on the throne, Megatron lifted one optic ridge slowly as the corner of his mouth twitched up. It was as if the dragon's appearance amused him, although Starscream wasn't sure how. He hadn't done anything lately to slag off their leader. There wasn't anything he could think of that could be pinned on him. But the amusement made him wary. A scowl lit his face, nasal ridge pointed high as he surveyed the other mechs in the room. As if he'd let Megatron play mind games with him!
"Ah. You took your time." The manticore didn't bother to address his subordinate, knowing it was a slight. He was almost difficult to see in the dim cavernous room spanned with walkways and lit by the glow of terminals.
Ignoring the jab, Starscream planted his hands on his hips and leaned on a leg. A harsh rasp clawed it's way out of his throat into an almost mocking response. "I heard you wished to speak with me, my lord?" There. Waiting for orders but still defiant and unapologetic.
Apparently growing bored with their game, Megatron gestured at the hologram of the planet to his right. "A Cybertronian signal was detected near the Northern side of the planet. It isn't an Autobot signal. Go and find out whatever it is or who else is here."
A scouting mission...A fragging scouting mission?!
"My lord!" Sputtered the seeker, "Surely you can send the Coneheads or someone lounging around-"
"Ah yes, you were busy working on a project. Weren't you?" Glee and smugness lit deeply within the jeweled crimson of Megatron's optic as he tapped a servo against the arm of his chair. Starscream realized the boredom had been a feint. The game wasn't over. "Anything useful for the Decepticons?"
'One round to you,' the dragon thought bitterly as only a mild distaste made itself apparent to everyone watching, "No, my lord. Nothing important." None of the mechs working at the terminals needed to say anything. The near silent hiss of laughter that could be attributed to a leaky pipe above spoke for them.
Stretching out to get more comfortable, the Decepticon leader smirked, "I do hope you find something good then, Starscream. Don't waste any time."
"Yes Lord Megatron." A sullen and practiced response as the furious air commander swept out of the room and away from the bigger mech's mocking red gaze.
'You better hope it's nothing good. Or I'll use it against you, oh-so-glorious leader.' Starscream hissed in his mind.
Ice crystals scratches against his plating as he shot through the clouds high above the planet's surface. Wings dipped, flaring out to catch the air currents before folding neatly as he dived. A whistling shriek characteristic only to the seekers pierced the empty brilliant sky, created by wind rushing past his plating.
It was cold and sharp. As he fell, Starscream twisted to move faster. He was the fastest. Faster than his trinemates, faster than any other flier and any other seeker he'd ever flown with. No one could match his skill in maneuvers and speed.
He didn't want anyone to fly with him this high anyways.
The upper atmosphere was his domain. Megatron didn't like to have that much space between himself and the ground. Manticore's were lower level fliers and ambush predators. The skies though, the skies were for the dragons.
And all the fliers on this planet knew that when Starscream went up this high, he wanted to be left alone. Rarely would Thundercracker or Skywarp dare to try and join him at this height. On occasion, the purple and black seeker would gather up the audacity and usually be left behind for his trouble, teleporting abilities notwithstanding.
Spreading his wings and rising, Starscream sighed. He liked being away from the ground. Up here, all was wind and air, a world he moved in so easily. And it was cold.
The cold reminded him of a friend he'd lost in ages past. An explorer who'd gone off long ago and not returned. And no amount of searching on Starscream's part had turned up anything. No trail, no signals or distress calls, no trace. It was as if the universe had swallowed him. The cold was always a reminder. But there were more important things to deal with, so the seeker never allowed himself to think about Skyfire unless he was high in the air.
Heading north toward the European continent and the wintered countries of Siberia and Russia, Starscream sped toward the signal he was to scout out. But he wasn't in a hurry. And there was enough time to stretch out his limbs.
Once again falling, the crystal dragon performed a simple dive all seekers learned early. A whistling song echoed off his plating. With a barrel-roll, he transitioned into a more elaborate flight pattern. A loop, a spin, twisting sideways and jackknifing sharply upward in a dance that would win him any aerial dogfight. Starscream flexed his claws and shrieked at the alien world, he was here and he could take on anything it threw at him.
Almost.
A deep engine rumbled on the horizon ahead of him. Turning his narrow head so the sun wasn't in his optics, Starscream searched past the mountains until he spotted an odd shape standing out from the clouds. It was a ship.
A Cybertronian ship.
Screeching defiance, Starscream rose with a couple large flaps of his wings and then dived. Catching the wind, he leveled out and zipped right toward the target. Claws extended. He reared back his head and bared his teeth as he came in close and fast. A startled shout over open airwaves to disengage burst from the explorer vessel.
The dragon spun, his claws sliding harmlessly against the underside of the mech without digging in. A warning that he could go for a kill strike if he wanted. And then Starscream's world flipped right side up as he righted himself and sharply looped back around. Mid-air, the seeker transformed and hovered on his thrusters. A habitual sneer crossed his face as he gazed arrogantly at the newcomer.
"Surrender! State your designation and faction-" His words faded out as the other flier transformed and also hovered, engine rumbling loudly while Starscream took in the familiar form.
Oh Primus. How...
"Starscream! You're here!" In a rush of giddy disbelief and clattering plating, the mech pulled the seeker into a near crushing hug. A noise surprisingly similar to a squeaky toy loosing air (one Starscream would completely deny) was lost under the excited exclamations. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again! Or anyone else for that matter! But I heard a seeker song and flew over. How did you get here?! Wait! When did you get here?!"
He pulled back long enough for Starscream to wobble for a moment, forgetting they were a couple thousand feet in the air and yes, he still needed his thrusters and wings working to keep him up. The shipformer put a servo under his elbow to steady him as the dragon continued to stare. A hushed whisper shattered the world around him.
"Skyfire."
Smile growing even wider, the mech replied cheerfully, "Starscream."
"How..." Too bewildered and shocked by the most unexpected occurrence, the seeker shook his helm. His wings flattened themselves against his back for a few seconds. "I am awake. You're alive."
"You are and I am." Skyfire rumbled, merriment lighting up his nearly colorless optics. When a strangled and hysterical laugh escaped from his throat, Starscream allowed himself to be pulled into another hug. The other grinned, "Perhaps we should land before one of us falls out of the sky."
Nodding in agreement and still moving like his limbs were not quite his own, mind struggling to push past the rampant thoughts, the dragon transformed and dived. He didn't move nearly as fast as he normally would have, going so far as to keep even with the big mech as they landed on a mountain clearing dusted with a faint layer of snow. Frozen vegetation and frost crunched underfoot as Starscream landed and settled on his belly, tail curling across his front paws. Skyfire landed gently and crouched, seating himself down next to the dragon's side. "I suppose you want to know what happened."
"I was supposed to be with you. I was going to join you on that exploration, except I didn't..." Starscream's voiced cracked but held, crystal plating showing off soft reflections from the muted sunlight. An unhappy whistle from Skyfire tried to comfort him, face twisting into sadness.
"It wasn't your fault. I didn't expect you to come with me on every venture and neither of us could have known. You were called away." He rubbed his face, optics gazing into the distance and mind lost somewhere between Cybertron and the stars. Somewhere in the empty darkness that lead to isolation and loneliness with no one else to talk too, not another similar spark to find company in. "I... I miscalculated the gravity when landing. It was a rookie mistake. But it was enough."
"Even small things can become big problems." Starscream listlessly intoned one of the explorer's rules that he'd learned long ago.
"Yeah. It was a big problem. I damaged some things," he tapped the metal frame he wore, rough and dull from time, "and my temp regulator. When I tried to leave the atmosphere again... I started to burn up. I couldn't leave the planet."
"So you've been here."
Starscream's tail flicked back and forth in agitation, wings shivering in tension as he gazed up at his lost companion. "You've been on this backwater organic planet for millenia."
"Yes."
"I searched for you."
"Starscream..."
"I searched for you!" The dragon screamed suddenly, leaping to his feet. Wings opened into an aggressive pose, claws out and head down as if ready to lunge forward. "I searched every waystation and trading post within the known galaxies. I wandered through cities and traveled strange planets and couldn't find any trace, anyone who recognized you. And you were HERE!"
The flier drew his knees up to his chest, gaze softening into regret. "I was farther than civilization. You know that."
"A ROOKIE MISTAKE!" Starscream howled. "How could you do that?! How could you do that to me?!"
Whirling on his clawed feet, the dragon screeched and snapped at empty air. Better to howl at the too blue sky, to bite the snowflakes gently starting to fall, to lunge and spin at invisible targets and tire himself out than to set his sharp denta on his lost companion. It did little to push away the screaming agony in his tank. Shoulders heaving and panting hard, Starscream stared at the silent mech. He ignored the way his wings visibly shivered. It was the cold, the dragon told himself firmly even though the drop in temperature had never really bothered him before. It was so so cold out here and that's why his traitorous limbs shook.
A forlorn whisper that held way too much emotion and weakness for his liking curled out, "How could you do that to me?"
"I'm sorry. Starscream, I'm sorry. I... I didn't think I'd ever see anyone else again. I figured my core would fade out before any other Cybertronian came to this planet." Skyfire's voice cracked while his face twisted into grief, the armor plates of his shell pulling apart enough that wisps of cold drifted out. Frost flowers bloomed in perfect radial symmetry.
Silence hung heavy between them as the frozen flakes drifted down to collect on the mountainside. Finally, Starscream heaved a shuddering vent and slowly stalked over. There was no point in being angry at the mech. He'd not wasted so much time and effort grieving for him just to push him away now. Transforming, he knelt.. Where to start? How could he explain to Skyfire how much had changed? How much he had changed? Starscream wasn't nearly as kind or forgiving as he once had been. Dread coiled it's scaled body around Starscream's spark and bared it's fangs as if to mock him.
"Skyfire... There's a reason I'm on this planet now..."
It wasn't easy, the explanation. Skyfire could not believe that Cybertron was dark and abandoned. The home he'd left behind, the one he'd pined for during his long imprisonment, had been left behind by all others in his absence. And war... the word itself was tasted foreign and small on his glossa.
War. How could such a simple word encompass all that had happened, all that he'd missed? How could a word, of all things, personify the destruction of a civilization, a world, a species?
Reading the rejection in his optics, Starscream laid a clawed servo on the mech's arm. "I know it's hard to believe but sometimes the truth is difficult. Come back with me." To where there was a medic to fix him, where there was energon. Skyfire had survived without it so far by only using the metal shell sparingly, stretching his expedition supplies as long as he could and wandering the world in his true form, an ice winds elemental.
Come back to civilization, of a kind. Come back to people, energon, supplies so Skyfire would no longer be stuck on this Pit-spawned planet that had doomed him to millenia of solitude. Come back to the Nemesis...where Megatron ruled.
It was a near silent flight. Skyfire didn't comment on how slow Starscream flew, lost in his own thoughts. And Starscream tried to draw it out. Just a little more time to glide through watery clouds and light winds. Only a few more moments to fly together, before the world came crashing down around him again. Before Skyfire realized the friend he knew was long gone, disappearing when he had. Before Starscream had to stand before the other Decepticons and somehow hope that his companion would understand why he'd changed. What he'd sacrificed to come this far.
Just awhile longer to pretend everything would be alright, like it used to be.
He would stand up to Megatron. He would convince him to let Skyfire stay in the lab and work on science projects that would benefit the cause, so he wouldn't have to fight. Starscream would watch his back and Skyfire's so everyone learned not to mess with the shuttle-mech. The dragon would fight anyone who targeted him. Vicious, when the explorer vessel wasn't looking, still an always curious scientist when he was.
Slag, who was he kidding? Not even himself. There was no possibility of this turning out okay.
When the top of the base came into view above the ocean, like the fin of a giant slumbering sea beast, Starscream started a slow gliding descent. No dramatic show-off twists, no transforming midair, or even hovering an extra few seconds to let his wings blow heavy gusts of air at the awaiting mechs.
No. None of that. He landed gently and quietly before slowly transforming. The crystal dragon raised his helm in the way that allowed him to look down his nose at the others and crossed his arms. Skyfire landed with a dull thud behind him. Squeezing his spark, dread wound tighter and tighter when Starscream took in the smug grin lighting up Megatron's face.
"Well well, Starscream. I wasn't expecting anything so useful from you. And here you've brought someone to our door," Fingers flexing in anticipation, Megatron didn't even bother to look at his air commander as he studied the newcomer up and down. Greed for a new pawn sparked delight in his face. A hunger showed itself in the manicore's broad smile. "Do introduce us."
"Lord Megatron," he intoned flatly, "This is Skyfire. I knew him before the war. He's a great scientest who was...lost during an exploration. He would be invaluable in the labs, if you would be so gracious as to allow him to aid in our scientific projects. I'm sure Shockwave would be delighted to have someone to compare notes with." Sugar practically dripped from his words as he stared the warlord in the optics, watching for some sign of aggression, a signal that things were going to go bad.
"As much as Shockwave's ever delighted." Someone behind their leader muttered. Starscream didn't look. He didn't care to see all the optics staring at him and Skyfire, judging.
He also ignored the mech behind him, the sensors in his wings telling him that Skyfire had startled at the sweet venom in his words. There was a pause, as everyone waited to see what Megatron would do. With the slightest tilt of his helm, deep crimson optics bore into his own. Megatron knew he was hiding something, keeping something to himself. It was apparent in the curve of the warlord's mouth. But would he call him out now or wait?
The latter it seemed, as Megatron turned a lazy gaze back to the silent elemental. "How could I turn away any who wish to be so useful to us?" He smiled, a row of teeth on display and raised a servo to gesture at their wave-battered ship and the small crowd around the trio. "Welcome to the Decepticons Skyfire."
Poor Skyfire was still quite lost on all that was going on, struggling to understand the subtle conversation underlying their almost friendly words. But he was still polite as always. He raised his servos out, palm up and empty in greeting. Normally the other mech would lay his empty servos on top, as the Cybertronian version of shaking hands. Megatron however, openly sneered.
"Bow." Starscream stated, the regular saccharine disdain absent.
"What?" The other glanced at him confused before obeying, trust that Starscream knew what he was doing helping the action along. Thankfully, Megatron let the slight pass.
Starscream internally vented in relief. It would be okay. Skyfire would stay with him and he'd manage to keep everything under control-
"Before the war, eh?" Smirked the gray titan, "Things have changed. But don't worry. After we drain this planet, we'll have enough energon to return to Cybertron and rebuild! We will return it to glory! I'm sure you're eager to see your home again." A heavy triumphant fist was raised into the air. His words were charming, so full of passion and charisma. The same that had drawn so many to his side to start a revolution.
And yet, Skyfire didn't seem to feel it at all. If anything, he became distraught. "Drain the planet! But you mustn't!"
What.
No. No! Don't argue with him!
"Oh?" A predator's gaze settled on Skyfire, "And why mustn't I?" The gathered Cons openly gaped at the newcomer's audacity, several faces lit up with the prospect of a good show or shaking slowly in scorn.
"There is a sentient species on this planet!" The shuttle-mech explained, assuming they didn't know. "And thousands of different natives species that coexist here! If you drain the planet, it will kill them."
"Why do you care?!" Starscream couldn't stop the sharp question from leaving his mouth, incredulous optics on his friend. He couldn't screw this up. They had made it, safe for the moment. Skyfire couldn't just throw it all away! "They're organics!"
Oh. That look. That was what Starscream had been so afraid of, even more so than what Megatron might do. That look that stared at the seeker as if he didn't know who stood before him, didn't recognize the mech that had gone on so many expeditions with him. Then he turned to Megatron, unafraid. He didn't realize he needed to be afraid. "I've been stuck on this planet for millenia." The elemental explained. "I've watched life start here. I've seen species grow and go extinct in time. I've watched the humans evolve, gain sentience, and conquer. And while at times, I think it would be best if there were less of them, it would still be a mass killing of a species. There are millions of younglings that would die. That is wrong. I can't abide by that."
'No Skyfire', the seeker thought in shock. 'Don't argue with him. Don't throw this away! You left me once, don't do it again!'
"Really? That's too bad." All the pleasure of having another mech added to his army drained from the warlord's face, leaving only annoyance and slow burning anger at being told off. "I'm afraid I can't have you standing in my way."
Starscream's spark plummeted. This was worse than he'd imagined. He hadn't thought Skyfire would go so far as to speak against the Decepticon leader. Back on Cybertron, the big mech had always allowed Starscream to be the harsh one to win the arguments for them both. Skyfire himself had always tried to soothe with words and work things out. And yet now he stood against one of the most dangerous Cybertronians alive and held his ground.
Perhaps Starscream wasn't the only one to have changed.
"I haven't watched over this planet for billions of years just for you to show up and destroy it."
"Very well then. Motormaster." The demon stalked out of the crowd, looking eagerly between the manticore and Skyfire. The other hellhounds followed in his wake. A tense susurrus from their audience started, all knowing this would end only in bloodshed. Skyfire startled, recognizing the demons for what they were and not comprehending how beings such as them could be here. Slow dawning understanding bloomed across his face. He was finally starting to realize what kind of people were around him, the danger he stood in.
Skyfire looked to his friend for aid, but the dragon merely stared back with a hollow look. The slightest tilt of his wings and blank optics were the only answer. He wouldn't give up all he'd fought for, every plot, every plan, thousands of years of manipulation and hard work. Not when Skyfire had thrown away the chance he'd just managed to grab. No amount of intervention could save them now. Betrayal flashed across Skyfire's face. He turned slowly toward the approaching monsters.
"Show us why the Decepticons are superior." Megatron crowed, fusion canon on his arm gearing up. He would apparently join the beat down.
Popping claws out of his seeker heels, Starscream dug them into the metal he stood on. He knew what was coming. Skyfire may be a gentle giant but he wasn't a pushover when threatened either. Motormaster lunged forward first, shifting into a beast with a gaping maw of fangs and fiery breath. Everyone tensed, expecting the shuttle to be torn apart. As Skyfire's armor parted, Starscream was the only one fast enough to drop to the ground and dig his servos into the roof of their base, holding himself in place.
Tremendous gusts of freezing winds slammed into them all. The smaller mechs at the edge of the crowd were almost thrown from the base, a few falling over the sides into the waters below. Mechs were knocked into each other, frost gathering on their armor as the temperature rapidly dropped and the patches of liquid around them froze in a split second. Ice held their armor plates together, sprouting along their lines and cables like bursts of flowers suddenly blooming. Shouts of surprise were lost under the howl of a winter storm, anger and betrayal tearing at their frames.
The hellhounds screamed agony, the cold dissipating the Pit fire in their cores. Ice grew along their limbs and locked them into place. Megatron roared.
In seconds it was over. As the winds fell silent, only groans and pained howls to be heard, Starscream opened his optics and straightened.
He was the first standing. As he looked over the discordant pile of mechs struggling up and the demons frozen to the metal where they stood, he saw that Skyfire's place was empty. The elemental had fled. His lost companion was gone as quickly as he'd been found. When Megatron stood to bellow rage at the sky and turned to Starscream, the seeker only gave a rictus grin in return. He was going to be in so much trouble for this. At the very least, he could make sure Megatron never realized how close he and Skyfire had been. Never realized that he actually cared.
"It seems he wasn't useful after all." The tri-colored seeker stated with a sardonic chuckle. He couldn't feel his spark any more. Only sharply scaled coils winding along his insides.
To the east, five pegasii foals galloped around in an empty field, testing out their wings. As Prowl tried to take a nap for the first time in weeks and Hound stood watch, a shadow fell over them. The Aerialbots scrambled back to the sphinx's side while the adults stood and waited.
Skyfire landed solidly, footsteps causing small shudders in the earth below him. The Autobots traded looks and narrowed their optics.
"I am Skyfire." The giant rumbled, a heavy emotion making his voice deep and loud. Cold and colorless optics studied them. "What do you plan to do to this planet?"
.
.
Seekers: Some crystal dragons can roar, but not seekers. They can, however, shriek and it is usually incredibly painful to listen to.
They all have thrusters with turbines in them in bipedal mode for hovering. They force large amounts of air out from under a mech to hold them up. In dragon form, the turbines are relocated to the back just behind and under the wings to give lift for quick take offs.
Skyfire is an ice winds elemental, so his true form is difficult to be around for others because most tend to freeze. His name translates to something along the lines of "Ice winds so sharp they feel like fire."
He was on the other side of the planet when their ships crashed millions of years ago and wandering near the Arctic when they woke up, so he hadn't yet caught up to the news that there were other Cybertronians about. He'd just been heading back south when he heard Starscream's seeker song and flew over. Starscream explained the Decepticon vs. Autobot thing to him, but Skyfire doesn't really trust one group over the other right now. Especially with how meeting the Decepticons went.