Yes, it is true. I am finally updating Origin with a true new chapter.
Starscream's wings lower in sadness when he hears the door into the medbay close behind him. Staring back over his shoulder at the obstacle now separating him from his creator, tears begin to slowly fall from his optics. He can hear the faint sound of First Aid's raised voice through the door and sympathizes with the younger medic's panic. It is an understandable reaction to Thundercracker's ultimatum. Skywarp caresses his right wing gently to get his attention and Starscream startles out of his teary daze.
/It's going to be okay, Starscream. Don't worry./ Skywarp reassures softly, seeing the tears and sadness in his tricolored mate's optics.
Starscream stares silently into Skywarp's optics, seeing so much care and understanding there. It nearly breaks him, but instead of giving voice to his internal turmoil, he turns around and silently follows Thundercracker down the narrow corridors leading towards the exit of the Autobot base.
Skywarp follows suit, warily watching Starscream's lowered wings. It is obvious that something is wrong with his tricolored mate, and he had hoped Starscream would have opened up and told him what it is that is bothering him. Looking towards Thundercracker, he senses a distance coming from the blue seeker as well, but suspects that it has something to do with the dominant's current mental instability.
::Thunder?:: He inquires to get Thundercracker's attention, but nothing happens. It takes several inquiries before he finally gets a reaction from the blue seeker.
::Yes, Skywarp?:: Thundercracker responds curtly. His strict tone is a clear warning to Skywarp, showing that Thundercracker clearly isn't his usual self.
::Nothing. It's nothing.:: Skywarp decides to not bother Thundercracker with Starscream's distress. Thundercracker has enough to fight with already. He shouldn't burden the Winglord further.
Silence is Thundercracker's only response.
When they pass by the door into the recreational room, Starscream hesitates. He stares inside for a few kliks, but looks away in anguish at the sight of his former family gathered at their tables, enjoying their free time.
They don't know it yet, but their world has come undone.
He doesn't notice the moment when Sideswipe and Sunstreaker looks up from where they are sitting together with Optimus and Prowl in the center of the room. The twins are being debriefed about their nightly escapade with the seekers and what caused them to be where they were this morning. Seeing him standing in the doorway, their optics brighten, but when they notice the sadness displayed by his wings and stance, they share a worried glance.
::Are you okay, Starscream?:: Skywarp asks worried, yearning to ease the sudden distressed tautness in the tricolored seeker's wings. He notices Starscream's diverted attention and takes a look through the doorway. Seeing the grounders gathered in small groups around their tables, his worry eases a bit and his spark fills with even more care for his mate.
::I don't know, Sky. I don't know anything anymore. Ratchet I can understand, but everyone else? I can't handle seeing them be killed because they won't change. I can't! What am I going to do? Why is Thundercracker doing this to me?!:: Starscream despairs, shaking violently. The sight of his former family enjoying life, while unaware of the fateful cataclysm wrought upon them, finally breaks him and all of the conflicting feelings within him surfaces uncontrolled. In fear of reprisal from Thundercracker, he only just manages to block the dominant from sensing his flood of affronted and panicking feelings.
Skywarp closes the distance between them, reassuringly touching the taut wings, relieved that Starscream finally reveals what it is that is troubling him. With a gentle nudge, he motions for Starscream to move away from the doorway and the sight of the Autobots inside the rec room. Starscream is reluctant to move too far away and stops a few steps further down the corridor. Accepting Starscream's reluctance, Skywarp begins to rub soothing motions into the taut white wings, trying to ease their stiffness and relax their owner.
::I know it is hard for you, Starscream. But our god is interfering in everything that is happening right now, pulling us towards a greater goal. You have to trust that The Sky Above knows what he is doing, and focus your attention on the here and now. We need to merge with Thundercracker to stabilize him. We need him strong and capable in the time ahead. That is our current goal.:: Skywarp gently murmurs as he meticulously works to get Starscream to relax.
::I completely forgot…:: Starscream sobs guiltily, his wings lowering in shame. He had promised Thundercracker that they would merge and he had completely forgotten it, everything else overshadowing it. If Skywarp hadn't reminded him, if they both had forgotten what he had promised Thundercracker… In the dominant's current state of mind, it could have destroyed Thundercracker completely. Everything would have fallen into chaos.
::Your worry is understandable, Starscream. These grounders are still a part of your family and you care greatly about them. They saved you, raised you, and when the time came, they let you go to be with your true people, but they will always be a part of you.:: Skywarp murmurs soothingly, gently lifting the lowered wings.
::Thank you for understanding, Sky.:: Starscream sobs, grateful that Skywarp understands his peril.
::Of course I understand, Thundercracker does as well. We have seen the memories from your time among them and felt the feelings connected to those memories. We know what these grounders mean to you. It is the reason for Thundercracker to state the ultimatum, despite how merciless it might seem. He can only protect them from harm if they become seekers. If they refuse this gift from our god, then he can't do anything to protect them from their fate. The Sky Above might be manipulating us by pulling strings here and there, but in the end it all relies on Thundercracker to pull this through without the loss of lives.:: Skywarp explains, his voice deadly serious, as he resumes the soothing strokes along Starscream's wings.
::Gift from the god?:: Starscream inquires confused. He turns to face Skywarp with a deep frown, silently demanding further explanation.
::Yes.:: Skywarp nods, meeting Starscream's inquiring gaze. ::It is very rare for our god to intervene directly in our lives. Only certain circumstances allow him to do so without grave consequences. One of them was when he healed Thundercracker's ruined coding. Another is the way he is manipulating us now. I know you have little knowledge of our heat, and that your first heat was spurred on by the god. Ratchet being sparked is not normal, not with the radical changes happening to your creator's frame. It isn't possible for us to be sparked during such an extensive strain on our frames. The fact that it did happen, tells me that The Sky Above is interfering directly, and that he will do so with everyone that accepts Thundercracker's demand. Turning them into carrying seekers is our god's way of protecting them by forcing Thundercracker's coding to naturally defend them against harm.:: He elaborates calmly with a small smile.
::Primus!:: Starscream stares with wide optics, lips agape in shock, at Skywarp's revelation.
::Now you are doing it again.:: Skywarp admonishes with laughter before he continues, ::That is why we need to merge and stabilize Thundercracker. He is the key to their survival. If he is seen as weak by his challengers, then no one is safe.::
::Sky Above, you are right, Sky.:: Starscream agrees, correcting his utterance with a little shameful smile. He has learnt it the hard way that the seekers' society doesn't take lightly to him addressing their god by the designation given by the grounders. Thundercracker has had to defend him a few times in challenges issued because he tends to forget to use the god's true designation.
The next moment the smile fades as he refocuses on the serious matter at hand.
Thundercracker.
Looking down the corridor leading to the exit of the Autobot base, he expects to find Thundercracker standing there impatiently waiting for them, but it is empty and his spark fills with worry. Apparently Thundercracker hasn't noticed that they stopped following him and moved on towards the exit.
/Teleport us outside the exit./ He urges Skywarp, grabbing hold on his mate, while he prays to The Sky Above that Thundercracker hasn't realized their missing presence. In his instability, their missing presence is bound to fuel the spark-deep fear and uncertainty filling their mate and complicate the process of reassuring Thundercracker about their continued affection. However, in his hurry, Starscream doesn't realize that he is still blocking Thundercracker in his spark.
Thundercracker attacks them the moment they materialize outside the entrance into the buried spaceship. With a roar, the blue seeker forcefully slams Starscream up against the nearest wall enclosing them down in the crack, knocking the air out of him, before pinning him forcibly with his massive frame.
/You blocked me from the bond, closed me out! Why?!/ Thundercracker roars in anger, but his optics shows anguish and fear. Starscream remains silent while he slowly recovers from the painful impact with the wall, and Thundercracker withdraws forcefully from him, turning his back to both of his mates, realizing what he had just done. The large blue wings trembles violently with distress, showing for the first time how unstable the Winglord truly is.
Opening his bond with the blue seeker, Starscream is flooded by the intensity of Thundercracker's feelings, and nearly chokes on them as they assault him. A spark-deep fear of rejection pulses through the bond, followed by an even deeper fear of losing their love and affection. Horrible images flitter through his awareness, Thundercracker's emotions so strong and chaotic that they manifest in ways usually only possible during a merge. He sees images of love and happiness turn to moments of hate and anger as Thundercracker's fear and uncertainty distort them into his worst nightmares.
::No, Thundercracker. That will never happen.:: Starscream states softly, optics welling with tears at the root-deep fear inside his blue mate.
::We will always love you, Thundercracker.:: Skywarp fiercely supports Starscream's statement and walks up to the blue seeker to affectionately caress along the trembling wings. However, all it does is causing Thundercracker to wrench away from the touch with a weak piteous whine.
::You don't want me.:: Thundercracker murmurs weakly, slowly withdrawing in the bond, closing it off.
/Yes, we do!/ Starscream insists, moving to follow Skywarp's example. Soon they have Thundercracker between them, lavishing the large powerful frame with gentle touches and caresses, slowly coaxing Thundercracker to relax and accept their touch.
/You aren't angry at me for not telling you?/ Thundercracker hesitantly asks several breems later. He is still sandwiched between his mates with Skywarp caressing the back of his wings, stroking the sensitive areas in comfort, while Starscream is in front of him, massaging his chestplates and nuzzling into his frame.
/No./ Starscream answers, looking up into his blue mate's optics. /You have your reasons for not telling me, and I think it is for the better that Ratchet and First Aid found out on their own./ he adds with a little reassuring smile.
/And the ultimatum?/ Thundercracker adds timidly, his look into Starscream's optics still showing his lingering uncertainty.
/I appreciate your attempt to save them from their fate, but I'm not sure that an ultimatum is the right choice. You saw how they acted when they saw Ratchet. I fear it will be impossible for them to accept that they need to change if they want to survive./ Starscream answers, venting his inner despair.
A wisp of encouragement from Skywarp has Starscream straining to reach for Thundercracker's lips, to kiss the blue seeker affectionately. Noticing Starscream's attempt to reach for his lips, Thundercracker crumbles and kneels to allow his tricolored mate to show him affection. Thundercracker reciprocates willingly when their lips meet, and Starscream offlines his optics, savoring the calm the kiss fills him with. When Starscream onlines his optics again, Thundercracker's are still offline, and he takes it as a good sign.
/We need to merge./ He murmurs against the dominant's lips and Thundercracker's optics onlines, staring deeply into his own. /I have the perfect spot for us to initiate it, somewhere I know both you and Skywarp are going to love. Will you allow me to lead?/ Starscream asks with a little smile.
/Yes./ Thundercracker breaks the kiss completely and turns around, offering Skywarp the chance to show affection as well, and the black and purple seeker kisses him passionately.
/We love you with all of our sparks, Thunder. Never ever doubt that./ Skywarp states affectionately, nuzzling his helm against Thundercracker's cheek and neck when the kiss is broken.
/Are you ready?/ Starscream asks, his optics full of happiness and excitement. He brings his thrusters online and lifts-off to hover a bit above the ground, patiently, yet impatiently, waiting for his mates to move out.
Thundercracker answers with a curt nod while Skywarp flashes him a wide eager smile. They mirror him a moment later and shoot up from the crack in unity. Circling the volcano several times, enjoying the air under their wings, it takes a few kliks before they settle into trine formation with Starscream in the lead and flies away from the Autobot base.
Their departure doesn't go unnoticed.
Hiding in the lush green foliage surrounding the volcano, Ravage watches the three seekers closely as they interact before taking off. As they gain flight and overfly his hiding spot, the felinoid crouches further down in the bushes and stills all systems to prevent any detection from the sensitive sensors littering the flying predators' wings. When the seekers are out of detection range, the spy resumes his position, watching as Teletraan informs the Autobots about the seekers flight away from the volcano.
With a hiss, he retreats to make a report to his master.
Inside the Decepticon base located at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, Soundwave silently receives the felinoid's report. With a few tabs to the main console, he taps into one of the humans' satellites he has hacked into a few cycles prior, and begins to track the three seekers in their flight.
It is imperative for his plan that the three seekers are far enough away to not risk an unexpected ambush from the flying predators.
Their trajectory and speed indicate that they are going on a longer trip, and he follows them for a few breems as they fly south across the continent. Satisfied that the annoying seekers are out of reach, he sets the systems to inform him about their further movements. Then he turns around in his chair to stare at the few Decepticons working with him in the command center.
"Attack commencing. Primary objective: obliterate Autobot medbay and kill remaining medic. Secondary objective: eradicate the Autobots." He drones, before turning to face a tiny mech sitting off to his right.
Pace, once a lowly assistant tutoring under Shockwave, meets his gaze warily. "I'm not yet done with upgrading all the scramblers, Sir. But I have managed to complete the work on roughly 69%. You will have to decide who gets the full protection, and who doesn't." Pace nervously answers Soundwave's wordless inquiry.
Soundwave nods in silent acknowledge and Pace visibly relaxes at his leader's acceptance. There are so few scientists left and they are all doing what they can to support the fighting. He returns his attention to the device in front of him and the unfinished scrambler. He is almost done with it, and if he can fix it before their departure, one more of their warriors can get full protection against being detected by seekers.
He absentmindedly listens to the murmurs around him and hears as the order to move out is issued. No one disturbs him, knowing that his work is invaluable, and he welds the last wire as the last of the warriors leave the command center to report to their assigned officer.
Closing the cover to the delicate inner workings of the device, he hurries after the others, scrambler in hand. Handing it off to the first unprotected warrior he meets, he heads towards the main group gathered at exit G, and dutifully reports his presence to Gearshift, his assigned officer.
Joining up with the few other scientists present, he joins in on their small talk as they wait for the final call to arms. During a battle, they are acting as medical support, and don't participate directly in combat. Their frames are too small and fragile to withstand damage, but have the delicate specs needed for a field medic.
"ATTENTION!" Gearshift yells above the noisy chatter among the troops in his group, gaining their full attention as all talk silences. Moments later the final order is given with a repeat of the battle's main objectives, and they all begin to file out. Pace follows his group of scientists to a medium sized vessel and straps himself in while looking at the warriors transforming into their powerful vehicles and taking off.
This is it.
The final battle and it is going to be a bloodbath.
With an uneasy feeling in his spark, he offlines his optics as the vessel comes to life with a mighty roar.
"Primus save my spark should I die, but please let me live." The prayer unwarranted escapes his lips as they begin to move, and he stares out into the dark depths of the ocean as they are carried towards their destination.
I don't want to die.