The
Nightmare Lives
Continuing on.
...
Quick recap...
Ratchet berated Raf for spending the weekend with Selena. The Autobots understand the relationship, but do not approve given the situation.
Miko calls Selena, scolding her for not talking about Selena being engaged, Starscream overhears, the two argue then laugh, making up.
Starscream then leads an expedition into a canyon and Roland revives Skyquake. A loyal Decepticon - to Megatron. Selena intervenes before Skyquake could level Starscream. Luckily, Optimus and Bumblebee arrived, and now a battle ensued with Optimus and Bumblebee being chased into the gorge.
...
Raging tires skid on loose gravel dirt. A cloud of dust consuming the narrow gorge. Cars charged in a sharp turn, pristine paint nearly scraping the coarse canyon wall as Optimus and Bumblebee rocketed further in. Selena barrel rolled into the turn, flying low to the ground. Her scouter visor deflected kicked up rocks and dust. Bumblebee and Optimus swerved manically, hoping to give Selena the slip in anyway. What they didn't realize was Selena didn't follow by sight, but by energon heat signatures. She'd be able to follow them through a blizzard. Picking up the pace behind her was Skyquake. His thunderous, stampeding feet shook rocks free of the wall. Tiny shockwaves deterred Selena slightly but she never lost pace.
"Our previous escape was chance!" Optimus forewarned Bumblebee, not wanting the scout to take their minor victory for granted. "We must separate those two if we are to have a chance at victory." Bumblebee beeped excitedly. "It will be foolish to challenge both together. We must use the terrain." The gorge is more rock than metal. Particulates aside, Selena's powers are at a great disadvantage without metal to aid her. At least that is what Optimus prayed was the case. Previous battles supported his theory. However that did not make Selena any less dangerous.
A fork in the road was on approach. "Bumblebee! When I give the order-" Selena twirled her staff and swiped up. The dust ripped in half. A sharp pop tore a graze in Optimus's front rim. A shard blew the tire. A huge rock tripped the wheel. Optimus's hind veered up, the front bumper grated the sand. Optimus stumbled out of vehicle mode, rolling and bouncing painfully at 100 miles per hour. The curved fork in the road stopped him, almost splitting him in half. "Ugh...ERGH!" Selena drove her feet to the small of his back. Bumblebee cried out, but couldn't stop. Skyquake was hot on the scout's tail, chasing him to the east side trail.
Selena broke from Optimus, crossing her legs with a smirk as she let Optimus collapse to the ground. A dazed groan escaped the Prime. The world spun. Selena hovered over him tauntingly. Optimus thought he saw double. "Goes without saying, Prime, I enjoyed that." Selena bore daggers into his chassis. A reason, beyond her comprehension, Selena detested the sight of the Prime. More so than she did Ratchet's. Ratchet...at least...makes her smile in dark desire. Optimus...just irritates her. Why? Why does he aggravate her? "Skyquake will hate me if I offline you. So I'll just tenderize you until he's done with Bumblebee."
"For one...who seeks the death...of Autobots...you procrastinate far too often." Optimus forced between pain filled breaths. "Do you prolong our deaths for joy? Or is it for the sake of the children?"
Selena gritted her teeth seethingly. Raising her staff she stabbed it into Optimus's chest, barely missing his spark chamber. "SHUT UP!" A rabid hiss forthed venomously. "YOU DONT KNOW ANYTHING!" Optimus's hand shot up and grabbed Selena. He ripped her off, freeing the staff from his armor, and threw her into a wall. The staff bounced to her side. Selena growled animally, massaging the bruise to her back. And ego.
"I know you care for those children!" Optimus declared strongly. "And so long as you do, you will never destroy us!" Optimus began scaling the wall, scrambling to the ledge and heading for Bumblebee.
"That malignant-" Her insult was halted by an alert detecting an incoming aircraft. A human aircraft. "Hmm..." Selena tapped her scouter several times, triangulating the position of this human craft. Reinforcements for the Autobots? Or perhaps just a standard flight? "An F-16 fighter of the American Special forces..." Selena recited the message. "Clearance..." Any craft requires clearance. And that clearance is scanned into the jet. The name that appeared brought a smile to Selena. "Special Agent William Fowler. Only five minutes out."
...
Starscream was shaking in his stiletto clad boots. Soundwave pinpointed a Decepticon energy signature near-in the site of the destroyed space bridge. Not just any energon signature. The signal belonged to none other than the lord and master of the Decepticon. Megatron. An impossibility at best. It had to be a mistake! However unlikely in Soundwave's case. Nothing could have survived that wreckage. The explosion was so devastating, Selena saw a brief aurora radiate from the sky.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Starscream howled. Breakdown and Knockout swallowed anxiously. Megatron? Alive? They were going to be scrapped for sure. Unless they kiss up and claim undying fealty. He has to be mistaken! Starscream thought fluid would burst from hiss tank. Megatron can't be alive! Because if Soundwave is correct, Starscream will be added to the wreckage in space. A dead lifeless husk if Megatron ever learns Starscream took advantage of his death to rule. And Selena..."He was microns from the detonation point! Nothing could have survived that blast!"
"Well apparently it did!" Knockout challenged scathingly. He scoffed menacingly, "And it would also seem Selena is going to have to perch on THE TRUE MASTER'S shoulder from this day forth!" He taunted. Knockout felt like a feather just landed in his cap.
Starscream's spark prickled. "SILENCE!" Breakdown jumped. Knockout knit his brow. Starscream wriggled his talons. The razor edges coveting the spill of Knockout's energon. "Selena will not be sitting on Megatron's shoulder! Nor will Megatron be returning!"
"But..." Breakdown pointed to Soundwave who was still locked onto the coordinates, "Soundwave-"
"HIS SENSORS ARE FAULTY!"
"You really don't want Selena sitting on anyone else's shoulders, do you?" Knockout sniggered. Breakdown winced. Talons swiped Knockout right across the face. No marks were left, but the blow scarred Knockout's ego. He grit his teeth, glaring at Starscream.
The Jet wriggled his razor claw, savoring the sensation tingling his fingers. "This matter holds no consequence toward Selena! My main concern is the crew being given false hope due to a hoax!" Knockout scoffed, rolling his eyes. I'm sure I'd delude myself too.
In truth Starscream fretted over what Selena will do if she learns of Megatron's survival. After all it is Megatron's fault she was forced to join the Decepticons. Because of the uranium fragment embedded in his palm, Megatron had - forgive the pun - the upper hand against Selena, and used it to keep her in line. His death freed her. Inadvertently brought Starscream and Selena...closer. If he survived...
"Soundwave! Ignore the transmission! Delete the coordinates!" He commanded venomously.
Soundwave ignored the command. Her amplified the sound of the distress signal, further emphasizing the precedence of the matter. "GAH! UH! What am I saying?" Starscream sputtered. At present, Soundwave is the worst wrath you could invoke. "O-of course this...must be...investigated! IF," And he used the term loosely, "Lord Megatron is up there, I shall bring him home!" Soundwave lowered his head, sharpening his accusing - vacant - glare. "You three remain here to monitor the outcome. When Skyquake and Selena snuff Prime's spark, I must bear witness." Starscream ran and dove from the ledge. He folded into jet mode, fired his engines, and rocketed into the sky, vanishing beyond the clouds.
"Must bear witness." Soundwave replayed. Breakdown ogled the recon Con strangely. Laserbeak detached from Soundwave and flew after Starscream.
"You ever get that feeling like you missing a huge chunk of the schematics?" Breakdown grumbled irritably.
" A chunk?!" Knockout spat. "Try half the blueprints!" And it all comes back to Starscream and Selena.
...
A fighter jet roared across the vast land of canyon and desert. Agent Fowler was implementing a self routine scouting mission for any unidentified crafts, technology, or beings. Given recent events, Fowler has had to double his recon efforts. Selena, the Decepticons and Autobots, and now the bold group that abducted Selena whom he has yet to identify.
A transmission came through in regards to a communication between unidentified technology. The Alpha team was prepared to depart to intercept. Fowler belayed their plans and ordered them to strike their report from the record. He soon received the coordinates to the transmission, and was surprised as to how close he was.
"I'm only two minutes out..." He murmured, peering out in every direction, "Where-" The jet suddenly jerked, veering off course. "JOSE CAN YOU SEE!" Fowler inadvertently cried. He reeled the jet back on course, shaking off the attack. "THE HELL WAS THAT? GYAH!" He plastered his back to his seat. A sinister grin outside the cockpit sent shivers down his spin.
"Long time no see, Agent Fowler." Selena giggled maliciously. Fowler tensed, preparing for the magnetic kinetic to crush him in his own cockpit. "To cut to the chase," She sat Indian style, leaning on her palms, "I have a friend down below who could use a pair of wings. Mind lending him a pair?"
"Say wh-AAAAHHHHH!" Selena drove the jet for the canyon. Fowler pulled at the wheel so hard the prongs were ready to give. Selena laughed crazily, dividing for a rampaging Skyquake.
"Huh?" Something strained Selena's attention to the sky. A jet was flying beyond the clouds. "Scream?" A smaller drone chased after him. "Beaky? Where are they going?"
...
"Hey! Starscream!" Selena barked. Starscream panicked, jerking off course. "What gives? Where are you going?"
"There is a...matter I must see to immediately."
"Is everything alright?"
NO! NOTHING IS ALRIGHT! Starscream's position as Lord and Master - though sketchy from the beginning - was in jeopardy. And Selena's position...it won't be with me. "Yes! Yes! Just a...a life signal just outside the planet's orbit. Likely a hoax. No cause for worry."
"Are you sure? You sound-"
"UH SORRY! Skkshkshkksh! CAN'T HEAR YOU NOW! Skkshkkkshkk LEAVING ORBIT!" He forcefully crashed the call.
...
There was a click followed by a protracted dial tone. Selena blinked confusedly at her phone. "He just hung up on me." Her brow bounced, "He hung up on me...WITH FAKE STATIC?" She shoved her phone into her pocket.
"You and your boy-con friend sure are cute on the phone." Fowler chortled snidely.
Selena plastered a palm to the windshield. Her glare scarred the glass. "Do I need to point out how unwise it is to aggravate someone who can crush a jet to the size of a ball?"
"If you do that," Fowler met her glare defiantly, "Then those kids will see you for the monster that you are."
A crimson glow consumed her eyes, alighting the apprehension lining Fowler's sweating brow. "What makes you think they already don't?!"
...
Three miles of sharp turns, passages growing narrower further in. Bumblebee slid on the dirt, just barely making a turn. Skyquake whirled around thee same corner, throwing a hand out. Bumblebee skipped along when the hand missed. Skyquake got back on course, sprinting after the bug. Bumblebee must have been driving at 100 miles per hour. Rounding corners at 90. Dust smoked like a wild fire. Pebbles fired by the raging tires like darts at the oncoming Con.
Skyquake stampeded after the little scout, right on his tail and gaining. Bumblebee veered sharply down the right fork in the road. Skyquake didn't falter. Were it he had wings, the scout would be road kill. But the suspense of an on foot chase rejuvenated the still in stasis lust for destruction.
Bumblebee was starting to gain ground. He lost Skyquake around a turn. He took one last detour, hoping to lose the Con. Then hit the brakes. The loose gravel provided no traction. He morphed out of robot mode, and dug his feet, slowing to a halt. He pressed his hand to a sheer rock wall to stop himself. Bumblebee panted and looked up. A dead end. Emphasis on dead. Skyquake stomped leisurely into view, corning the poor scout like a lamb to be slaughtered. Bumblebee squared off. He wasn't going down without a fight.
"It will be a shame to crush you, Bug. But it is my duty." Skyquake primed to strike. HONK HONK! Skyquake turned to the horn. Optimus came charging for him at full speed. Skyquake drew his machine gun and fire excitedly. Bumblebee rolled out of the way. Optimus rolled into robot form and delivered a devastating punch to Skyquake. The Con was planted painfully in the wall. A pile of rocks gathered at his feet.
"Excellent strategy, Bumblebee!" Optimus commended.
Skyquake groaned, falling from the wall. Out of reflex he braced himself, stopping his head from taking anymore damage. The circuits in his processor felt scrambled, jerked loose. Vision in his optics were blurred. Gurgling muffles rang the audio receptors. "Ugh..."
"Skyquake..." Optimus curled a fist, "Stay down!" The fist drove Skyquake's jaw askew. Chunks of faceplate broke off. Once again the rock wall rebound his head, rendering him disoriented.
"Ooh! Nicely done!" Bumblebee and Optimus twisted around. Selena hovered on a jet right over their heads. "How's about we even the odds?" She pat the jet.
"FOWLER!" Optimus cried in dismay. Fowler pounded hysterically at the cockpit window. The soundproofing silenced his cries, but the gestures spoke - demandingly - for themselves. "Release him, Selena!"
"One second!" She shifted attention to Skyquake who was struggling to even lean on his hands. "Hey! Hey!" Skyquake shook the dizziness away. "Scan these wings and get airborne! I'm tired of covering your ass!" Skyquake ogled the jet. The engines popped, wings flapping. Fowler desperately sought to regain control. Selena's grip was rock solid. Skyquake grinned victoriously. A green flash beamed from his optics.
"AGENT FOWLER! RETREAT!" Optimus implored, knowing escape was impossible.
The beam rolled over Fowler's jet. The systems malfunctioned right at Fowler's fingertips. The jerking startled Selena, but she quickly paid it no heed. The inner workings and schematics of Fowler's jet logged in Skyquake's banks. A 3D graph of the ship rotated in his optics. Selena smirked. Skyquake leapt off the ground. He tucked in. Wings unsheathed at his said. A tail wing sprouted. A cockpit and black tip nose formed.
"AIR SUPERIORITY ACHIEVED!" Skyquake boasted. He rocketed off into the sky, testing out his new jet engine.
"Good to know!" Selena flew under Fowler and bronco kicked Fowler's jet back to the air. "You boys have fun." She knit her brow to the sky. "I have a jet to catch." Selena took off. Bumblebee beeped angrily at her, daring her to come back.
"Leave her to me, Bug!" Fowler flew after her. Bumblebee bleeped in disbelief. They were just ditched by fleshies! How rude!
"BUMBLEBEE! LOOK OUT!" Optimus tackled Bumblebee. Two torpedoes exploded where the scout stood. Skyquake chuckled, loving the aerial advantage. Optimus picked up Bumblebee and the two dove into vehicle mode. Skyquake launched volleys of bullets after them. Little pops coming close to blowing a tire. Bumblebee and Optimus wrenched their hind wheels side to side. Bumblebee beeped urgently. "Agent Fowler will be fine. Selena's powers - as Skyquake stated - are immature. Moving targets are difficult for her to...manage..." An idea occurred to the Prime. When he and Bumblebee thrust out of Selena's grip they wounded her. Plus she has resorted to close quarter combat for 90% duration of the battle. "AGENT FOWLER! The key to defeating Selena is sharp maneuvering! Do not remain still! And keep your distance!"
...
"Will do, Prime!" Agent Fowler activated the missiles. The targeting system locked on Selena who was soaring just above the canyon. "I have the bogie in my sights."
...
"So which one of you wants to tell me why Scream and Beaky left so suddenly?" Selena snarled into her scouter. More importantly, why did he lie through his grill
"They left?" Knockout feigned ignorance. "No wonder it was so quiet."
Selena rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised you hadn't. Given Scream broke the stratosphere at sound braking speed." Wait. When Selena thought back, Starscream was flying at break neck speed. Like he forgot incriminating evidence in space. Laser Beak was flying casually, keeping a huge distance. Out of sight. Was Scream being followed? Why? What's up there? "WHOA!" A missile roared inches past her, exploding on the canyon edge. "WHAT?!" She flipped to her back. Fowler's fighter jet stalked overhead. "I'll call you back." She hung up, gritting her teeth. Fowler prepped another missile launch. His target was locked. "You were curious as to the type of monster I am!" The missile fired. Selena curled her fingers,pirouetted, looping the missile around as if on a lasso, and let it fly back at Fowler. He yanked the controls up. The missile grazed the back end. It exploded. The backlash jolting Fowler forward. Selena glared at him with glowing eyes. "That curiosity will cost you."
...
"Why not just tell her where Starscream went?" Breakdown scolded, growing impatient with Knockout's obvious immaturity. "You afraid she won't ever sit on your shoulder?"
A mad blush flushed Knockout's lustrous chrome cheeks. "You saw how Starscream reacted!" Knockout panicked. Breakdown shrugged, not sure what he meant. "CLEARLY when Lord Megatron was alive Selena was his right shoulder, hand, person, thing!" He mentally cursed his tripping over his words. "Selena gets testy on her own! If Lord Megatron gets his claws in her-"
"Couldn't she just leave?" Breakdown suggested half heartedly. "Nothing says Selena has to stay if Megatron comes back."
"OH PLEASE!" Knockout howled with laughter. "Do you really think he'd let her leave without fuss? Hardly!" Knockout needn't say it. Selena was trapped. "Face it. Megatron is going to take his crown back, and Selena's going to be his bird." Resentment salivated from his tone.
'I'd sooner go offline than let Selena leave.' Knockout was frantic. Ironic, given he just derided Starscream for the very same thing. Then again, Knockout and Breakdown weren't there when Selena joined the Decepticons. They weren't even briefed on how this partnership began. 'What did Starscream do to get his title and Selena?'
...
Selena cast a kinetic wave. Fowler flipped the jet, coming full circle and aimed for Selena. Hundreds of bullets ripped through the air. A barrage of casings cast rained. Selena flipped back and dove, zigzagging between the line of fire. Fowler aimed a missile at a rock formation and fired. The missile whisked by Selena. She pulled a hard stop. The missile exploded on the rock. The aftershock sent Selena flying back. Pieces of rock bounced off her.
...
"Urgh..." She massaged her light head. "Off day."
"Not so tough without a pile metal, are you?" Fowler mocked, unleashing another barrage of bullets. Selena threw her staff up and let it twirl freely. The bullets pelted the staff relentlessly. The pressure forced her back. Selena crossed her arms, rushing back with as much strength as she could muster. Scorching the metal as they poured on. A couple made it past. One grazed Selena's cheek, burning it. Selena furrowed her. She touched her fingertips to the graze. Bullets don't burn. Lasers do. Selena's eyes widened. "That's right, sweetheart! No metal for you! The air is my turf!"
"GRR!" Selena flipped back, hooking her staff with a foot, and dove for the canyon.
Fowler pursued her like a ravenous beast chasing its prey. Selena sharply curved, flying the ledge of the canyon.
...
"HEY! WHAT GIVES?" Knockout scolded scathingly over the comlink. "Why aren't you turning that human and his toy to scrap?!"
"What? A girl can't have an off day?"
"You don't have off days."
Knockout paused. Thinking back, Selena had a few. Uranium burning her skin, later blinding her. Then those humans abduct and torture her. Who could forget Prime wounding her shoulder with Knockout's staff? But Selena isn't the one to give in to trauma. She feeds off it. Uses it to excel.
"Listen to me, Selena." Knockout sighed heavily. "I don't know what's going on. But I do know this. Either you get your head in the game now, or you'll be responsible for the shameful extinction of your race at the hands of a human in a tin toy!"
...
Selena growled. Her entire race perished in. An explosion so devastating, everything and everyone was reduced to nothing by dust. To be killed by a human?
...
There was silence on the other end. Wafts of wind puffed on the microphone. Selena needn't speak in order to confirm that the message was heard. "This terrain doesn't suit your previous means. I understand."
...
Selena's throat clenched.
...
"You had less to work with in the Himalayas and still prevailed. Do it again." He cut the call.
...
Selena was in awe. Knockout just gave her sound advice to live by. Rather unusual. However...it made Selena...smile. Her heart warmed.
"PRIME LET ME IN ON YOUR SECRET, KID!" Selena glanced out of the corner of her eye. "AREAS WITHOUT METAL LEAVE YOU WEAK AND DEFENSELESS! YOU DON'T STAND A CHANCE!" Damn! Selena seethed. I had hoped no one would notice! She touched her head. Then again...I should have prepared.
To assume one has the upper hand over Selena because there is no metal for her to manipulate was not only foolish, but arrogant. True, metal gives Selena an edge. Close combat was a strong forte as well. But a few shortcomings have nagged Selena to no end. Moving targets, numerous targets, areas with no metal - these contingencies hinder Selena. Thus far fear of her powers and strength, plus cautionary maneuvers, have attributed to her victories. Selena was foolish to believe Prime wouldn't notice weaknesses beyond uranium. Now she was being undermined and hunted by a human in a jet. All because of her own arrogance.
Selena laughed derisively at herself. Funny. I'm the arrogant one. Fowler readied another two missiles. "It wouldn't surprise me if I am defeated by an Autobot or Decepticon." One aimed for her and the other was aimed for the rock. Selena opened her eyes. Pure white lit up her rage, then faded back to glossy red. "But I'll be damned if I lose to a human!" Selena stopped on a dime.
"Whoa!" Fowler pulled on the brakes. It was too late. Selena listlessly turned. Fowler cowered behind his arms. This was gonna be messy. Selena opened a palm. The nose of the jet stopped right in her palm. Fowler rebounded off the wheel, jolting him. He shook off the jitters. That was a rush. "AHH!" Selena's face contorted demonically. Her expression was empty. Yet the hue of an animal veiled her. Fowler shuffled back in his seat, pressing as far in as he could.
"The children. The terrain. The uranium." Selena droned with a hint of aggravation. "Typical arrogance. Gain an inch, take a mile. You took too much." The metal condensed. Nuts and bolts ground shrilly. Cracks splintered the windshield. Fowler panicked, twisting as the jet space shrank. "Luckily for you I have a use for you."
"You what?" Fowler whimpered.
"Whether you believe it or not, you're the only one keeping Raf, Miko, and Jack at the proverbial arms length." She strolled to the window, crouching to Fowler with the most sincere plea in her face, "I need you to ensure that they stay there."
"How can I?" Fowler snapped. "Those kids, for whatever reason, adore you! Raf spent the weekend with you!"
"I didn't ask them to like me! Nor did I ask the Bots to bring them into this mess!"
"But you aren't keeping them out, either!" Selena was taken aback. She subconsciously leaned away. "Rafael ended up in the hospital because of you! Jack and Miko made a dangerous contact with the Cons to save you!" Selena swallowed. She meets with them outside of work. In the end it may not be enough. But what can she do? "THINK ABOUT IT! The weekend, the museum, your kidnapping - anytime you're involved, they become involved! They are joined at the hip to you!"
"Then sever it!" She barked. Fowler fell silent. Optimus, Bumblebee, Breakdown - everyone says the same thing. Those kids hold Selena back. Starscream nearly lost faith in her because of her ties to them. Soon they will be targeted. The Autobots can prolong that inevitability. If it keeps them safe, then she'll chase them away. Far away. To the region where they hate her. So long as she gets her revenge. They won't be used like tools. "Use any means necessary! Convince them of the monster I am! Make them cut the ties! Because if you don't," She walked backwards, literally stepping on air, "I'll be forced to. And you've seen how depraved I can be." Selena shifted the side. Pent up power erupted from the engine. Fowler's jet launched at lightning speed. Selena touched her scouter. "Soundwave, open a portal to the ship. I'm done."
"Hey! What about Skyquake?" Breakdown worried.
Selena almost forgot about him. Glancing in the general direction of where the bout used to be, Selena was surprised to see Bumblebee riding a burning Skyquake plummeting to the ground.
"Scream's not going to want this archived in the historical record." Selena flew to a ledge inside the gorge. Her bike awaited her idly. A little airborne dust. Nothing that can't be cleaned. She drifted to the flat ground, easier accessibility. "Now about that transport." On cue a vortex opened. Selena walked her bike through, leaving Skyquake to his fate.
Coarse dirt became smooth metal. The canyon gorge vanished, taken place by the Nemesis Bridge. A cool wall of air washed over her. Beads of sweat dried to her brow. Selena breathed in relief. She ripped her hat off, running the sweat over her hair. The breeze to her underarms felt heavenly.
"Welcome." Starscream greeted, sauntering onto the bridge. Selena stared blankly, unsure how to react to his sudden appearance. "By your dower persona, am I correct in assuming Skyquake failed?"
"At least he didn't fake static!" She snapped harshly.
Starscream bobbed his head guiltily. "Not very convincing, was it?" He scratched his cheek bashfully. A boot stepped to his collar. Selena scrunched her nose, glaring him straight in the eye. "Yes. Not convincing at all." He wheezed.
"I hope your space Odyssey turned up something good!" Starscream cleared his throat, shying his attention to the ground. Selena gaped in dismay. She floated back, stunned by Starscream's reaction. "Scream?"
"There is something..." He trailed off, choking on his words. He kept turning from Selena. She only reared to him. No matter the direction he twisted, Selena forced him to look at her. Starscream sighed resignedly. "The life signal." He shakily answered. "It was...at the site of...the destroyed Space Bridge." Selena shook her head confusedly. The Space Bridge site. She saw an after explosion of colors at the Jasper City border. Beautiful. Devastating. Everything and everyone near it should have been to reduced to dust. Megatron's greatest-
Selena's blood ran ice cold. The sweat returned. Her heart sank so far it was prepared to implode in her stomach. It's impossible! She screamed mentally. Nothing should have-COULD HAVE! Panicked breaths seen her into a frenzy. She fidgeted, searching for some sort of closure to make this a lie. One look at Starscream. A somber glower made her want to throw up.
"N-no! No! That's not-it can't-NO!"
"Selena-" He reached for her
"NO!" She slapped the hand. She clawed clumps of hair. "I SAW the explosion from Jasper! YOU swore he was as dead as a door nail!" Selena shouted curses in her native tongue left and right.
It was clear to Starscream words will not pierce the denial. With a sigh he opened the bridge door. The loud thud attracted Selena. Starscream motioned his head. Selena fortified her nerves and flew after him. Starscream stopped by the door to the infirmary. A grim expression plastered to his flat face. Selena stared at the door. Her neck tensed. Just imagining the door opening. Daunting metal doors never were so intimidating. Just behind it...no way.
"Are you ready?" Starscream tested. Selena hugged her elbows. That was an answer. Starscream stood in front of the door and opened it. Selena immediately dropped her head. She couldn't look. Tethered by an invisible line Starscream led Selena in. Placing a hand to her back he guided her forward.
Selena squeezed her eyes closed. She couldn't bear to look. Hydraulic pumping. Controlled wisps of air. Beeps coming from a monitor. Never has she been so terrified. Her shivers made the floor vibrate.
Cold talons wrapped to Selena's shoulders. She gripped her shoulders, squeezing the fingers. Starscream moved his lips to her ear. "Look." Selena's eyes opened. Her back pressed to Starscream's chest. Her entire body went limp. Were it not for Starscream she would have hit the ground like a weight.
There, on a slab like a decimated shipwreck, hoses connected to every life supporting port - Megatron lived and breathed.
To be continued