Hello dear readers! Here is the chapter I have found hardest to write throughout this fic, this chapter is a tribute to my favourite shuttle-former Skyfire. As he had to die in order for this plot to move on I felt I should give him a proper goodbye. Tissues may be needed (I know I needed them!)
Disclaimer- I own nothing! Rythm is mine though! Jetflare belongs to Prowl-and-Jazz-fan while Satelyte belongs to nightwing123.
The mood on base that morning was solemn, no one was willing to smile or show any form of happiness, the only one who smiled was Rythm. None could accuse her of being disrespectful, after all she was only a sparkling and didn't know any better. Satelyte however was the worst affected of them all, the little femme had sat in the Med Bay the whole morning silently looking at the large tarpaulin across the room. Ratchet had tried to move her but she had simply screamed at him and curled up into a ball, with a defeated sigh Ratchet had given her a cube of energon and left her where she was. The medic looked over at her noticing she had indeed drunk the energon but was still looking in the direction of Skyfire's body. Walking over to her he sat beside her on the berth, she blinked and looked up at him.
"I know you don't want to go but you can't stay in her Satelyte. Let me finish" he said when she opened her mouth to reply "I need to finish up a few things before later, I promise you can go to his burial." with a defeated sigh Satelyte looked down to the floor. "Jazz is outside waiting for you"
"Can I say bye to him?" she asked quietly looking back up to Ratchet
"Of course you can" Ratchet gently picked her up and crossed the Med Bay, he set her on Skyfire's berth and moved forward. Looking at Satelyte he made sure she definitely wanted to see him, once sure she wasn't leaving without seeing Skyfire one last time he pulled the tarpaulin back. Pulling it down to Skyfire's shoulders he adjusted it so Satelyte couldn't see her guardians wounds.
"Fire" she whimpered, crawling forward on the berth she sat by his shoulder. Tears started to flow freely as she whimpered and wrapped her arms around Skyfire's neck, sobbing into his shoulder she continued to hug him. Ratchet just stood off to the side allowing her to cry and say her own goodbyes to Skyfire. "Love you Fire" she whispered quietly nuzzling him, Ratchet watched as she laid down beside Skyfire still hugging him. Deciding to give her some space Ratchet went across the room to organise some tools, looking across the room every now and then when he heard Satelyte talking to Skyfire.
"Ratchet?" her quiet call of his name had the medic walking over to her as fast as possible. She held her arms up to him and he immediately scooped her up into his arms, wrapped her own arms around his neck she continued to cry quietly. Holding her to him with one arm Ratchet used the other to pull the tarpaulin back up covering Skyfire once more, walking out of the Med Bay he saw Jazz. The silver mech was leaning against the wall looking up at the ceiling, the TIC turned to face Ratchet and his features softened when he spotted Satelyte.
"Satelyte" Ratchet said softly pulling back slightly to look at her, she lifted her head and allowed Ratchet to wipe away her tears. "Are you going to be ok with Jazz for a while?" she nodded sadly and allowed herself to be passed to Jazz, the silver mech held her close to his spark.
"Come on kiddo" he said softly walking off down the corridor towards his quarters, Ratchet watched them walk away. He turned around and walked back into the Med Bay and walked over to Skyfire, pulling the covering back down he completely removed it. Sighing he placed a hand on Skyfire's shoulder.
"You went before your time my friend. I promise I will take care of Satelyte for you" Ratchet said quietly picking up some wax from a table beside the berth, "I am sorry I was not able to save you" taking a cloth Ratchet began the slow process of cleaning him up and making him look his best.
Jazz hummed to Satelyte as she continued to cry, pacing his quarters he watched Prowl who was feeding Rythm. Their daughter was happily drinking her morning energon from her bottle, her tiny hands grasping the edges of it. Satelyte eventually stopped crying but was still clinging onto Jazz, the two sparkmates shared a look and Jazz moved to sit beside Prowl. Rythm looked over at her friend and once she had finished her energon reached a hand out to her, Satelyte sniffed and took Rythm's hand in her own.
"Lyte" Rythm cooed crawling from Prowl's lap to Jazz's, wrapping her small arms around her friend she cuddled against her. Accepting the hug from her friend Satelyte curled up against her, clearly even though Rythm didn't understand why her friend was sad she just wanted to make her friend happy. Jazz gently rubbed his finger up and down Satelyte's back in a comforting gesture, the little femme's wings fluttered enjoying the feeling.
Sniffling Satelyte fell into a light recharge and lent against Jazz, Rythm too snuggled up to her friend before falling into recharge in her parent's arms. Gently and carefully Prowl lifted the two femmes up and walked into Rythm's room, he gently placed the two of them down on the berth and watched them curl against each other. Walking back out Prowl sighed his doorwings twitching unhappily, seeing this Jazz pulled him into a hug.
"She's already lost so much in this war" Prowl whispered, sighing he placed his forehead against Jazz's.
"I know babe, we've just gotta look after her" Jazz replied "And ya know Ratch is gonna look after her as much as he can"
Jazz and Prowl walked out of their quarters Jazz carrying Rythm while Prowl was carrying Satelyte, the young femme flyer was curled up against his chassis. Tears were rolling down her face as she cried silently, upon walking out of the building they saw the other Autobots slowly making their way to one of the few hills on Diego Garcia. At the very top stood a lone tree surrounded by lush green grass.
Whimpering Satelyte curled up further against Prowl, he cooed to her gently rubbed her wings to calm her down. Walking up the hill the two mechs made their way over to the large hole dug into the ground with a frame resting on top of it. The human members of NEST had gathered all wearing their full military uniform, both Lennox and Epps were stood next to one another looking incredibly solemn. Looking to his sparkmate and daughter Prowl noticed Rythm was recharging thankfully, looking back to Satelyte he tried to comfort her to the best of his ability. All of the Autobots were now present and had gathered around, a few of the humans were standing off to the side holding trumpets. Elita was standing off to the side along with Barricade, Jetflare, Smokescreen and Bluestreak.
"Prowl" Jazz said quietly putting a hand on his mate's arm, the Praxian looked at him and Jazz indicated towards the hangers. Prime, Ironhide, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were making their way towards the burial site carrying a large metal coffin. Satelyte looked over Prowl's arm and whimpered when she saw it, Prowl hugged her closer and rubbed her back.
As the six mechs got closer to them the humans with the trumpets began to play something Prowl recognised as being called 'The last Post', something that had been played at the burials of all of the NEST soldiers who had perished. Reaching the top of the hill the six mechs carefully lowered Skyfire's coffin so it was resting on the frame built over the hole. Optimus moved so he was standing beside the tree and in front of Skyfire's coffin, Ratchet took Satelyte from Prowl and held her against his own chassis.
She latched onto him immediately as her frame shook with sobs, several of the men including Epps and Lennox looked at her in sympathy. Everyone remained silent as the music continued to play for a few minutes more, when it finally finished Optimus stood up straighter. The Autobots turned to look at their leader.
"We are here today to pay our respects to a dear friend of ours, Skyfire was a brave mech and one that we shall never forget. He was known among us all as a kind and caring mech, as such many of us thought of him as a friend. We ask Primus to watch over Skyfire's spark as he becomes one with the matrix. We can gain comfort in the thought that he is finally free from this war and among our fallen comrades at peace. While we mourn the loss of a great mechs and a truly great friend we can be thankful for knowing such a kind sparked mech. We thank Skyfire for all that he did for us as a faction and as individual bots. Until all are one."
"Until all are one" The rest of the Autobots replied in unison, Optimus then moved forward placing a hand on the small plaque on Skyfire's coffin.
"Goodbye my friend" he said before moving backwards, Ratchet moved forward and allowed Satelyte to place her small hand on his coffin. Her tears were flowing freely, holding in her sobs long enough to say a final goodbye.
"Bye Fire, love you" copying the actions of a human female she had seen on the television, she kissed two fingers and then touched Skyfire's coffin once more. Several of the humans looked away from the scene to hide their own tears, Ratchet then proceeded to say his own goodbye. Once all of the Autobots had said their farewells Optimus lowered his hand to allow Lennox to climb on his hand. Lifting him up Optimus put him close to the coffin, Will put his hand on the coffin.
"It was an honour to have served alongside you Skyfire, you will always be remembered by us all" Placing the man back on the ground Optimus stood up, looking to Ironhide he nodded. The black mech tapped Ratchet on the shoulder, Prowl put his hand in front of Ratchet.
"I'll do it" he said quietly, nodding his thanks Ratchet watched as Prowl joined the previous five mechs. Each mech took a strap from the frame underneath and lifted the coffin up, Bluestreak moved the frame. Carefully the six mechs lowered Skyfire down into the ground below, both Autobots and humans alike gave a final salute to the offline mech as he was lowered into the ground. A group of five men and five Autobots raised their guns, on Epps' command they fired a shot. A total of five shots in total.
Other than the sound of the shots only Satelyte's sobbing could be heard as she clung to Ratchet, her head buried in his shoulder as she shook. After lowering the coffin Optimus, Prowl, Ironhide, Wheeljack and the twins stood back and gave their own salutes to their comrade.
"Rest in peace Skyfire, we shall never forget you." Prime said as he moved out of the way allowing Hoist and Grapple to fill in the soil once more.
Later that evening when the sun was setting across the horizon and jet landed on the other side of the hill, it transformed and slowly walked forward. Checking his energy signature was successfully hidden and the residents of Diego Garcia were on the other side of the hangers keeping him hidden, he walked forward cautiously. Getting to the newly marked grave he knelt down, placing a hand on the plaque put there he ran a finger over the name. Wiping away a lone tear he sighed.
"Goodbye Skyfire" he paused for a moment before speaking "I love you"
