Short chapter this time around. But I felt this scene deserved its own separation from the rest of the story. While shorter in length it took me much longer to write than expected, mostly because I wanted to get Starfall and Skyfire's reunion after such a long time just right. I'm still not sure if I'm completely satisfied with it, to be honest…
Now that we're moving into the new story arc of Starfall/Starscream and Skyfire's budding relationship I wanted to address something that's already come up in several different reviews.
Yes, there is a bit of an age difference between Starfall and Skyfire, but I imagine Transformers aging in a much different way than humans. Because they live so long (literally billions of years!) after a certain point I think age kind of loses its meaning in a way that we, as humans, understand it. I see Transformer ages not so much as actual years tallied on a board, but more like levels of maturity and experience. For the majority of their lives, I imagine "age" being kind of a blurry concept. That said, I've made a short list of some of the main character's "ages" to help give you a better feel for what their ages/maturity levels are translated into human years.
Starfall: about 25 years old
Skyfire: early 30's
Optimus: mid 30's
Ironhide: mid/late-ish 40's
Ratchet: early 40's
Prowl/Jazz: mid 30's
Kia: 19 or 20 years
Cloudbreaker: mid 30's
Slipstream: about 75
That being said, yes, there is an age difference between Starfall and Skyfire, but it's not as horrible as some of you might think. Starfall is a full gown adult now. He is no longer a child.
However, Skyfire is going to have to get over some old hang-ups he has towards Starfall before anything really develops between them.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Old Acquaintances
Skyfire stood in mulish silence in line at the bar. Several bots stood in front of him, none of whom he remembered well enough from the war to make an effort to say hello to. His arms were unconsciously crossed in front of his cockpit. If Skyfire had been more aware of himself he would have recognized it as a defensive gesture.
Optimus' and Jazz's observations at the table had affected him more than he wanted to admit. He doubted the other mechs realized what they were really saying when they suggested he didn't need to keep such a distance from Starfall anymore. For vorns he had remained a close friend of the Prime family – taking Starfall for flights and spending time with the little seeker whenever Starfall demanded it. But when Starfall received his youngling upgrade Skyfire no longer felt comfortable spending so much unsupervised time with the Prime's son. Even as a coltish youngling Starfall had already begun to show signs of the devastatingly handsome mech he would one day grow into.
While Skyfire would never take advantage of a child or even think of doing so, he did not want to give anyone the opening to even suggest the possibility of any untoward behavior. So it was with a heavy spark around the time Starfall celebrated his seventy-fifth creation day that he had decided it was time to place self-imposed restrictions on any future interactions with the Prime son's. Ever since, he had limited his meetings with Starfall to public events and rare visits to the Prime's residence – and even then only when he was sure that Optimus or Ironhide would also be there. Skyfire had no desire to become the center of a scandal, nor did he want to drag Starfall into any unnecessary drama that would haunt him for the rest of his function.
No matter what his connection to Starscream in Starfall's previous incarnation had been – no, more accurately because of his connection to Starfall's previous incarnation - Skyfire had decided it better for all involved to just keep his distance from the younger mech. Starfall did not need him hanging around trying to relive the past. Skyfire had made peace with himself being nothing more than a peripheral figure in Starfall's life long ago. Why Optimus and Jazz felt it was a good idea to suggest anything else Skyfire didn't understand. Why would Starfall have any interest in spending time with him after all this time? He had nothing to offer Starfall anymore the younger mech couldn't find in someone else his own age. Starfall was no longer a lonely seeker sparkling enraptured by the mere thought of someone else with wings. He was part of his own trine now and was commonly surrounded by friends and other fliers. He no longer needed Skyfire to fill that void in his life. He was his own mech now with a promising future. Whatever came next in the younger mech's life, Skyfire knew he was not meant to be part of it. It didn't make sense to try and delude himself with false hopes or force his way into Starfall's life where he was not wanted.
Optimus and Jazz might think they were helping, but all their suggestions did was make the reality of Skyfire's lonely outlook all the more painful to quietly bear.
"The drink menu can't be that bad to make a face like that," a playful voice said beside Skyfire. A light touch against his elbow startled the giant mech out of his thoughts.
Skyfire turned to the voice. His engine momentarily sputtered at who he saw.
Starfall stood beside him, smiling up at him. His turquoise optics shined bright with an emotion Skyfire couldn't accurately name.
"S-Star," Skyfire dumbly said, shocked by the younger mech's uncanny appearance. It was almost as if Starfall had heard his thoughts and come to investigate.
Starfall's smile widened. "I wasn't sure if you were going to be here this vorn, Skyfire. I'm so happy to see you! It feels like forever since we last talked." His hand still lightly rested on the side of Skyfire's elbow as if he'd forgotten to pull it back. Skyfire didn't know if Starfall felt anything but the gentle touch of his fingers against his plating made the diodes in Skyfire's arm tingle.
Skyfire groped for something to say. Starfall's sudden appearance seemed to have robbed him of intelligent speech. The sheer color of his optics was enough to make Skyfire's processor malfunction. No one should have the right to be so handsome. "I'm glad to see you as well. It's been a long time," he awkwardly fumbled. As soon as the words left his mouth he mentally kicked himself. What blunt things to say after only just reminding himself he shouldn't even dare to think about talking to Starfall. But it was true. As much as he knew it was better not to get close to Starfall, Skyfire couldn't deny the warmth that spread through his chest at just the sight of the younger mech. Starfall looked so much Starscream. It made his spark ache for a time long since lost.
Starfall grinned wider. He sidled closer to Skyfire and claimed his own place in line beside the larger mech. "What are you getting? I was just thinking about getting a drink when I saw you across the room. We must be running on the same wavelength right now."
"Um… I'm not really sure," Skyfire admitted. When he'd said he was going to the bar he'd mostly just wanted to get away from Optimus and Jazz. He hadn't really been thinking about getting a drink. He rarely ever drank anything stronger than energon. The menu posted above the bar boasted an extensive selection of drinks Skyfire had never even heard of.
"Next!" the bartender called as the mech in front of them moved aside with a colorful drink now triumphantly held in his hand.
Skyfire panicked slightly as he followed Starfall up to the counter.
With an easy elegance that belied his age, Starfall said, "A Tarnian Sunrise, please, with an extra dash of engex on top.
The bartender nodded and glanced at Skyfire for his order. For lack of any better idea Skyfire said, "Uh… same, please."
As the bartender turned away to make their drinks, Starfall turned his attention back to Skyfire. A smile slid across his facial plates. He leaned closer – enough so that his wing tip lightly brushed against Skyfire's side. "How have you been? Are you still working at the Science Institute?"
Skyfire nodded. "Yes. I actually just returned from an extended deep space mission not that long ago."
Starfall's optics brightened, his expression sharpening with interest. "Really? Where did you go? How long were you away for? Did you discover anything exciting?"
For a split second Skyfire flashbacked to Starfall as a child. He remembered very fondly how excited the little seeker could get when something piqued his interest and how the questions would rush from him like water from a faucet. It appeared that almost two hundred vorns hadn't changed that endearing trait.
What struck Skyfire the most, however, was not so much Starfall's questions, but rather the fact that his interest seemed so genuine. Such enthusiasm was hard to fake. Skyfire's spark did a fuzzy little flip in his chest. It made him slightly embarrassed and proud at the same time to momentarily have the attention of someone like Starfall. He was used to being the quiet observer in the back of the room. Despite his physical size, Skyfire was someone who was usually overlooked and blended into the background unless he specifically requested someone's attention. In the company of veteran Autobots the role of scientist was not the most exciting occupation.
So to have the Prime's son of all bots not only seek him out in a crowded room but also seem genuinely interested in what he did made Skyfire's spark pulse warm. It was a nice feeling he hadn't experienced in a very long time. Not since he and Starscream had worked together in the scientific field at least…
"My team and I explored a small planetoid called LV-5 in the dark zone of the Keiber system. The planetoid is so far away from the system's central star that it is suspended in near pitch darkness for 98% of its orbit. The 2% of the time when LV-5 is in its closest ellipsis to the star, it appears to only be very early dawn or late dusk. We specifically went to study the organisms that live on LV-5. They live in near complete darkness yet they survive by means of bio-photosynthesis."
"That's fascinating," Starfall murmured, enthralled. "How do the local organisms see if they live in total darkness?"
"The different creatures we catalogued had no optical organs, but rather used forms of echolocation and bio-electrical sensing organs to hunt and evade predators. It was a fascinating place. If my department's grant allows for it, my team would like to return to LV-5 within the next vorn or two to continue our observations. The possibilities of bio-photosynthesis being reproduced in a lab could lead to some interesting breakthroughs for alternative energy sources here on Cybertron."
It was at this point the bartender returned with Skyfire and Starfall's drinks. Skyfire eyed the cube of colorful liquid suspiciously. The drink appeared to be made of different distillations of high grade that were artificially colored. The different distillations produced different viscosities to allow the bartender to layer the liquid in an ascending pattern of yellow, orange, and red. Skyfire now understood why it was called a Tarnian sunrise. A flamboyant purple straw twisted into several whimsical loops topped the concoction.
"Don't judge it or me until you try it," Starfall said with an embarrassed duck of his head as he took one cube and gave it an experimental sip. He smiled at what he tasted. "I first had one of these before I left Cybertron for my internship on Earth. Convoy took me to this bar in the western quadrant that specializes in over-the-top drinks like this. You probably won't believe me but this was one of the least strange things they had there."
"I'll have to take your word for it," Skyfire chuckled as he took his own cube and followed Starfall to the side, out of the way of the line. He eyed the drink again before taking a tentative sip. His optics widened in surprise. "That's actually… really good," he admitted with a smile. "I'm glad I decided to copy you."
Starfall returned his smile. "Let's find a table and sit down," he suggested. "I want to hear more about what you found on LV-5."
Skyfire initial response was surprise. A part of him had been expecting Starfall to get his drink and make a polite exit to find more interesting company, not actively look to spend more time with Skyfire than what social niceness dictated. Skyfire's spark gave another unintentional flutter of warmth.
He knew he shouldn't, but what harm would it really do? Starfall seemed so eager to hear about his exploration. It would be rude to say no.
"Alright," he nodded.
"Over there," Starfall said, pointing to the far back corner of the ballroom. "I see a couple empty tables."
Skyfire followed Starfall as he wove a path for them through the sea of full and semi-occupied tables. As they passed, several voices called out greetings. Starfall raised his hand in answer and shouted back several salutations of his own but he didn't stop to engage in any conversations. Skyfire would have been lying if he said he wasn't secretly happy. He knew it wouldn't last for long, but he wanted to savor every nano-klick he could with Starfall before the younger mech inevitably was drawn away to someone else more interesting.
The two took seats next to each other at an empty table. The tables around them were mostly empty. Whether it was the acoustics of the room or their distance from the dance floor, the throb of Blaster's DJ-ing was nothing more than a background murmur. They wouldn't have to shout at each other to talk.
Starfall took another sip of his drink and leaned back in his chair. His wings flared gracefully out behind him. Skyfire had to force himself not to stare. Starfall really was too handsome for his own good. The unconscious grace of his movements was utterly captivating. He tried to distract himself by taking another pull of his drink. Despite it's ridiculous appearance it really was delicious.
Oblivious to Skyfire's thoughts, Starfall leaned towards him. His optics once again speared Skyfire. "What else did you find on LV-5? Tell me all the details."
Skyfire chuckled. "Lots. But nothing I think you'd actually find interesting. My team and I were only there for about six lunar cycles but we've already been able to collect enough data to make a presentation. Our exploration's team leader, Brainstorm, is going to be presenting our findings at a scientific seminar later this lunar cycle. If we're lucky we'll be able to get an extension on our grant to go back."
"Really?" Starfall said. A strange wistful look came into his optics. "I wish I could see that presentation. I'm sure it will be fascinating."
Skyfire quirked an optic ridge at him. "You're interested in science?"
"Of course!" Starfall laughed, as if the thought he wasn't was ridiculous.
"But… I thought your studies were in political science."
Starfall took another sip of his drink. "They were. Growing up as the son of a Prime tends to sway one towards the field of interstellar relations. Given my frame-type and my father's position, I guess you could say I was always natural diplomat material. I love seeing how Vos, Iacon, and other city-states interact with each other within the High Council given each city-state's own governing style within their own borders. While I was still in school, though, I was always fascinated by science. I tried to take science classes whenever my course load allowed it as electives, but it was difficult to do once I declared interstellar relations as my intended major. I try to stay up on recent breakthroughs and stories through newsfeeds and private publications."
"Really?" Skyfire murmured.
Starfall laughed at Skyfire's stunned expression. "Don't act so surprised! I suppose I could actually blame my interest in science on you. I was always fascinated by your stories when I was younger." Starfall shifted his gaze to the tabletop as though suddenly shy. "For the longest time I actually thought about going into science and becoming a deep-space explorer like you."
To say Skyfire was surprised would have been an understatement. The son of the Prime becoming a deep-space explorer? Like him? The thought was beyond flattering.
"What made you ultimately decide against it?"
Starfall gave a small shrug. "I guess an unspoken sense of duty. I know if I had decided to go into science my fathers would have both supported my decision. But…my dad is the Prime. I've been going to High Council functions and visiting foreign heads of state since I was a sparkling. One of my trinemates is in the royal line of succession for the Vosian Emiracy. Half of my classmates growing up were children of senators and other High Council members. Politics was just kind of expected of me, you know?"
Skyfire solemnly regarded the younger mech. "Do you regret your decision?"
Starfall was quiet for a moment, as though weighing his thoughts. He stared into the colorful depths of his drink. "No," he finally said with firm resolve, looking up to meet Skyfire's gaze again. "Like I said before, I am genuinely interested in interstellar relations. I do not regret going into political science. I... just wish there was a way I could have done both."
As if to make up for the melancholic turn of conversation, Starfall forced an apologetic smile onto his face and took a quick sip of his drink. "That's why I love hearing about what you do!" he chuckled. "You're the only bot I know besides Wheeljack and Perceptor who are interested in science." He abruptly leaned closer to Skyfire and in playful sotto voice added, "Don't tell anyone I said so, but if we're being completely honest Wheeljack and Perceptor are too focused on theoretical lab-based science for my taste. What you do is much more interesting. You visit unexplored alien worlds. You're an adventurer! How much more exciting a job can you get?"
Skyfire ducked his helm. An unbidden rush of mech fluid warmed his facial plates. "I think you have a very overinflated idea of what I do," he chuckled, slightly embarrassed to receive so much praise.
"Hardly," Starfall insisted. "You're one of the most interesting bots I know."
Startled, Skyfire met Starfall's gaze. He saw nothing but sincerity in the younger mech's turquoise optics. Another rush of emotions swept over Skyfire, some of them so complex Skyfire couldn't accurately name them all.
Surely this all must be some sort of joke. Why would someone like Starfall – someone so high and well connected in society – think him so interesting? It didn't make sense. Even if Starfall was interested in the study of science why did he seem to think Skyfire was so worthy of his attention? Skyfire felt like he was overstepping his place just by sitting at the same table as Starfall. He was the son of a Prime. What was Skyfire? Just a scientist. He wasn't rich. He did not have power or position. He was not exceptionally handsome or skilled except for his intelligence. What made him so special to earn Starfall's attention?
But… there was still no denying the gleam of earnest excitement in Starfall's optics as he held Skyfire's gaze. It mystified Skyfire as to why it might be so, but the seeker was sincere.
Swallowing back his doubts and lingering skepticism, Skyfire hesitantly cleared his throat line. "If… if you are really interested in science and want to learn all the details of what my team found on LV-5, I can get an extra ticket for the scientific conference we're presenting our findings at. I'd be honored to bring you as my guest."
Starfall's reaction was instantaneous excitement. "Are you serious?" The young seeker leaned forward, his hand darting out to touch the side of Skyfire's elbow. "You'd do that for me?"
"Of course."
Starfall's facial plates broke into a blindingly beautiful smile. "I'd love to go! It's a date!"
The word made Skyfire momentarily pause. A date? No. Surely Starfall did not actually mean that how it came across.
"Oh my god, Skyfire, you don't know how excited I am!" Starfall continued, oblivious to the other mech's startled surprise. "I can't wait. Here. Here's my personal contact info." The open-air transmission hit the back of Skyfire's processor like a physical slap. "What's yours?"
"I… um… here," Skyfire stammered, startled by the suddenness this was all happening. He sent his own contact information out to Starfall in an open-air data burst.
The seeker grinned as he received it. "This will be so amazing. I haven't been to a scientific seminar since I was in the Academy. Are there any publications or research articles I should read beforehand so I'm up to speed on what's being presented?"
Skyfire was momentarily taken aback by the question. "Um… Not really. Although if you have a chance, I would recommend Professor Quark's paper on bioluminescent organisms that was published about two vorns ago. It would give you a good background on what my team and I were studying."
"Do you mean the Scientific Journal's publication 'A Study on the Xeno-Bioluminescent Properties of the Dinoflagellates of the Planet Earth'?"
"Ah… yes, actually."
"Oh, I read that when it was published. I thought it was fascinating. When I was on Earth I made a point of going to one of Earth's last two bioluminescent areas to see them myself. I was told the plankton don't shine as brightly as they did several thousand years ago though. Something about pollution and climate change changing their bio-rhythms."
"You did?" Skyfire said, stunned.
Starfall smiled. "I told you. I try to keep up on the latest scientific research through private publications. I have a subscription to the Scientific Journal. That's where I try to keep up on your publications too."
"Oh," Skyfire lamely murmured. He should have known. The more he talked to Starfall the more and more he was reminded that Starfall was the reincarnation of Starscream. Starscream used to do the exact same thing. When they had been at the Science Academy together, Starscream had followed no less than five different publication sites at any given time.
"Hey, maybe after the conference we can go somewhere and catch up more," Starfall abruptly suggested.
"Isn't that what we're doing now? Catching up?"
"Well, yes," Starfall awkwardly agreed. "But... I guess I mean it'd be nice to see you more than just go to a scientific conference together and that's it. I've barely seen you in the last hundred vorns. I miss when we used to go flying together. Remember that? One of my favorite memories is when you took me out once just before nightfall. We went flying over the eastern hills. The sunset was so beautiful that day."
"It was," Skyfire agreed. "That was sometime right before you got your youngling upgrade if I remember correctly."
"That's right," Starfall nodded, smiling. "It'd be nice to do that again sometime, don't you think?"
"I…"
Skyfire hesitated. Go flying with Starfall again? That would be nice. It would actually be more than just nice. It would be like reliving a time when Starscream was still his best friend and lover. Or the very least a time when the Prime's son was still young enough that Skyfire didn't feel like an intruder in the younger mech's life.
"That would be nice. But won't you be busy with your new job at the High Council?"
"Not busy enough not to make time for a friend," Starfall smiled.
Skyfire still hesitated. Optimus and Jazz's words once again rose in the back of his processor, like an unsettled ghost to haunt him. Maybe his offer to take Starfall to the conference was a mistake. He had to maintain a respectful distance from the younger flier. He'd already reconciled himself to being nothing more than a side figure in Starfall's life. He shouldn't do anything to draw himself closer and stir up old feelings for Starscream that had no place in either of their lives now. That wouldn't do either of them any good. Starfall might be an adult, but he was still so much younger than Skyfire. It would be improper to try and see Starfall as anything more than a friendly acquaintance he could think of fondly whenever the loneliness of Life got the better of him. But nothing more. After all, it wasn't like Starfall would ever even be remotely interested in him that way either. Starfall already reminded him so much of Starscream. How would spending even more time with him bring old memories and feelings rushing back to the surface?
"Come on, Skyfire," Starfall cajoled. "Let's make an evening of it. It'll be fun."
The more logical side of Skyfire knew it was a bad idea. But Starfall was looking at him so insistently. And Skyfire was nothing if not helpless under the younger mech's turquoise gaze.
"Alright," he finally agreed. "If that is what you'd like to do."
"Excellent," Starfall grinned. He seemed to physically radiate victory. His wings flared proudly out behind him. "Then I can grill you on any questions I have after the conference."
Despite his lingering concerns, a small smile slid across Skyfire's face. He would be lying if he said he wasn't already looking forward to the science conference later that lunar cycle.
"Enough about me," Skyfire announced. "Tell me about your internship on Earth and this new position of yours at the High Council. It's my turn to hear all the details."
Starfall chuckled, leaning back his seat. He casually kicked one pede up to rest on his other knee. "Oh Primus, where to begin?"
As Starfall began his recount, Skyfire couldn't help but feel an almost forgotten sense of contentment steal over him. He hadn't felt this way in ages, he realized in some distant corner of his mind. Not since… well, not since he and Starscream were still together. He knew it wouldn't last, but for the moment it was nice to bask in this sense of almost effortless camaraderie that came from being in the presence of another bot he could connect with.
It would hurt when Starfall inevitably decided Skyfire really wasn't as interesting as he originally thought. But for now…
For now, he would enjoy his reincarnated lover's attention while he still could.
To be continued…
Thoughts? Do you have any thoughts of your own concerning Transformer ages? Let me hear them!