THIRTY-FIVE: OPEN HATCH
With the awe of a hatchling he looked around him as he took in the sounds, the sights, and the other senses brought to him by the city. As he made his way dazedly along the causeway he looked up at another causeway above his head. As they got further away from the prison, an elevator shaft went down. There were only now a little over two thousand Cybertronians on Cybertron and they were most of them in this small capital, but it truly did look like a slice had been taken out from the old city in its glory days. Although there were not millions of Cybertronians, those two thousand sure made it feel lively enough.
He turned to the voices of some of the Cybertronians around them on the way to Capital Hall. Of course, he did not know any of them. They were all very young and part of the first or second generation. He could tell very quickly which Cybertronian was from the second, as the younger ones were hardly a year past hatchling-hood and revealed with naivety tremendously. Yet Starscream felt intimidated by even them somehow, especially as many of them noticed as he and Vasteffect passed. By the awe in their faces, he knew pretty well that they knew who he was.
He felt very small and very alien in this world of happily busy people, most of whom seemed to Starscream to not have a care in the world, as more likely than not they did not have a care in the world, and their contentment in this abundant society was something that Starscream had never truly experienced before.
It made it all the more real somehow too when he heard a jet overhead and someone flew past high above the city. It was not Jetfire or Skywarp. He did not know who it was, of course, but he felt his wings ache to join him up there, and they sunk longingly behind him as he gazed upward.
"Hey, c'mon, Starscream, we're almost there," urged Vasteffect.
It almost felt strange to be called by that name so candidly in such a place as this. Certainly it had always been his name, named after the sound of a jet engine screaming to life, but it felt so out of place that he jumped. It had for so long been a name synonymous with creepiness and misery and frustration for most people. He felt rather guilty.
Though, this Cybertronian in particular had no true personal experience with Starscream, he no doubt he had been told plenty about him.
"Alright, alright, I'm going," said Starscream. "I've never seen Cybertron like this before."
"Oh. Right. Sorry."
Starscream shook his head. "Don't be."
He made his way at a faster pace to the great hall, and fear struck him all over again as he found himself stepping inside the cool, spacious circular entryway, far darker than the causeways outside, but no less vibrant or interesting. He had little thought of looking about now, however. He was led to the meeting, and he knew he would have to face all those he had hurt.
"I have Starscream, Mr. President," said Vasteffect with a respectful bow as they stepped into the meeting room, which matched the main entryway in style, but had broader windows to the outside.
"Thanks, Vast."
They nearly looked like different people, Starscream saw as he found himself standing in the middle of them. They were not a rabble of silly and emotional survivors as they had ever appeared to Starscream when they were refugees on Earth. He was not sure if it was his own vision that had changed them or if the change that had overcome them was truly they themselves. Perhaps it was something in between. They had a noble sort of air, not in a condescending sort of way as had the old council: stuffy decadent, self-important. The new council standing together looked truly wise and truly responsible and truly worthy of honor like a council of Primes from the elder days—the true glory days of Cybertron. Even at his trial they had not seemed like this. Even Knock Out, had Starscream not known him from before, carried a strange sort of regality that Starscream could not quite explain despite his still rather silly expressions.
It struck Starscream to think that although he had ever considered Knock Out his inferior in all respects, he now felt the complete opposite. He felt downright like a foolish hatchling in comparison to him, and it was that much more for the original members of Team Prime or even the magnificence he felt looking upon Jetfire. Bumblebee looked about the same as he had when he had come to visit him, and yet it was as if his full ambiance was given now in this grand palace where he stood at the a place of honor as leader.
They almost seemed to be glowing to Starscream as though some sort of grace was upon them. Now certainly his fancy was a very strong one, and it certainly made this overwhelming situation even more overwhelming, but he could not help but feel the presence of Optimus Prime in all of them. He merely stood there for a moment shrinking into himself as much as he could and still stand. He winced as though someone were about to strike him with some deadly weapon, but all the council did for a moment or so was stare at Starscream with optics wide with disbelief, except for Bumblebee who had already seen this strange phenomenon.
It was one thing to be told that Starscream had proved himself trustworthy enough for a last chance, quite another to see him standing before them with his huge optics now glowing as clear blue as freshly processed energon as he cowered and rubbed his claws together. He still even bore the Decepticon symbol on his chest. His body was exactly the same as when he had been put into prison. It was only that one difference that made the whole thing almost impossible to believe despite being before their vision.
"Starscream," said Bumblebee, the first to break the spell of either party being so in awe of the other.
Vasteffect as the only outside witness aside from a secretary recording the proceedings, watched this spectacle in wonder at how the old world Cybertronians stared as he looked from one side to the other. The secretary did the same and hers and Vasteffect's optics met inquiringly before returning to the scene.
"Master," Starscream found himself saying with a cowering bow of his head. "Ih—What is it you wish?"
"First I would like to ask you," said Bumblebee, "to tell us all what you wish to say."
Starscream's wings stiffened. He was taken aback. "Ih—! I…" he squeaked.
His optics met Arcee's; he cringed and she returned him with a look of sincere expectancy and she gave the slightest urging nod. Starscream looked away.
"I suppose…" he said with care, "that I wish to formally apologize before anything else."
He paused and glanced at Knock Out queerly who gave him a funny sort of look— not a bad look, but certainly strange, though not entirely unusual for Knock Out. Starscream did not try to decipher it however to mean anything more than that he should go on, but it was also then that he noticed that Skywarp was present too even if he obviously was not really part of the council. Starscream glanced at him briefly too, but Skywarp showed little recognition. He was studying Starscream carefully though as if he was trying to figure him out. Skywarp blinked slowly and minimally otherwise.
At least he's still somewhat himself even if he had to start over, thought Starscream.
Starscream sighed again and stared down at his clawed digits.
"Well," he began with care, "I know that I've made a lot of empty apologies in the past, so I don't know if this one will do any good, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused. I know it was War, but I made it my own war on everyone who was happier than me, and I took pleasure in every bit of cruelty I inflicted."
He had thought long and hard about what a formal apology should sound like, for he had since his decision to reform under Optimus' example, often formulated such speeches in his mind. Now that he was speaking one for real he found it difficult to decide which planned words should be kept or not.
He hesitated then went on: "The humans of Earth, especially your four human companions Miko, Jack, Raf, and Agent Fowler. I'm sorry about anything I did to them or their planet. The esteemed President Bumblebee, I also apologize to you specifically for everything I have done to you personally and for Cybertron—yes, and, uh, Optimus Prime as he is no longer online for me to tell him face to face." Again he paused. "To Arcee." He dared to turn to her again. This time she looked very grim as their optics met and again Starscream looked away. "Especially in regards to the dearly departed…Cliffjumper…who I did terminate in a most unfair fight even to go so far as to say that it was not a fight, though you all probably guessed as much, for he was so mortally wounded that only a coward would have done it …and I apologize to Bulkhead and Ratchet. I know I abused Ratchet's view on the value of life for my behalf. And…to everyone else that has ever been considered worthy to be a member of Team Prime—or well, everyone else in general…I'm truly and utterly sorry from the bottom of my miserable spark. I don't deserve your time or your pity."
Bumblebee opened his mouth to speak, but Starscream went on without realizing this, but Bumblebee forced himself to be patient.
"I'd also like to say," said Starscream perhaps a little overly dramatic, "that I understand that this meeting is mostly about what to do with me because of my changed optics in hue from red to blue. I don't know how much it means as far as virtue so much as just not as unsettled. But this is about whether or not I should be given a less severe sentence anyway?"
Bumblebee nodded slowly.
"Admittedly," said Starscream, "I can't imagine ever living among you as a true deserving citizen of this rejuvenated home of ours. I have no doubt that this era will become known as the Silver Age of Cybertron. But I will humbly accept being your servant." He bowed again with a most respectful sweep low and self-effacing before his lords. "I am willing to do whatever you wish of me in whatever way you're noble counsel believes is best suited for Cybertron." He paused briefly twiddling his fingers as he looked upward in thought, then returning to the president he said, "I don't believe I have anything further to say, if you please, Mas—Mr. President."
Again Bumblebee nodded and then said, "You've spoken very eloquently, but more importantly, you spoke honestly, Starscream. I hope I speak for everyone when I say we do accept your apology." He looked around at the others who seemed to agree, and he crossed his arms. "What do you think should be done with Starscream, based on his original trial and these new events?"
There was a pause, and Starscream fidgeted.
It was Arcee who spoke first. "Mr. President."
"Yes, Arcee?"
"I think he should be given an experimental chance under the command of Jetfire where he will be carefully watched for continued sincerity once he's out and free again," she said, but it surprised Starscream that she said this not without sympathy on his behalf. "It won't take long to know, I don't think."
"Now that the hatchlings have grown, yes, I could have Starscream under me as a secretary or assistant for a time if it is the will of the council," said Jetfire sagely.
"If he's going to do that," said Knock Out equally as sagely in tone even if his expression was a little exaggerated in comparison to Jetfire's, and he lifted a finger, "I suggest he gets a new alternate mode. He can't go around Cybertron looking like that. He's got to get rid of that frontal plating."
Smokescreen couldn't help his amused smile, but he quickly suppressed it and returned to his look of seriousness as he cleared his voice capacitator.
Starscream made a face, and involuntarily he looked down at his Decepticon symbol embossed as a sort of medal or badge of honor in the middle of his upper chest. His chest plating and a few of the jet-mode accessories' tucked away around and beneath formed into a pair of fangs and leering dead eyes.
"That would hardly be a delay," said Ultra Magnus. "He can change his casing before he leaves Capital Hall. He wouldn't need to change modes."
This experimental chance should be monitored really carefully, though," added Bulkhead. "This is Starscream. I'm not against it, but we should be careful."
"I agree with Bulkhead," said Quickshift quickly nodding.
"He'll be with me," said Jetfire. "He won't leave my sight."
"And if he tries anything, he can't really go anywhere," said Arcee.
Bulkhead nodded slowly.
"At least be careful with him around the younger generations," said Ratchet. "I think that's far more important than worrying about him escaping." He turned to Starscream himself. "You have taken advantage of us many times, Starscream, and you are right, you don't deserve this chance you're getting, and yet…I do hope you mean it this time."
After a more discussion it was then decided that Starscream would be definitely allowed this chance, but as Bumblebee said at the end of the meeting, "Remember, Starscream, should you ever cross us or take advantage of us or do anything that I find contrary to your promise to continue working towards reforming your ways, you'll go back to prison. If that happens, you will not be given any more chances."
"I understand, and I am most grateful for your benevolence, Mr. President," said Starscream with a bow. "I never guessed it would be any other way."
Bumblebee smiled. "Then good luck."
Starscream returned him with a nervous little grin. "Thank you."
"Oh!" said Knock Out holding up another pointer digit; his smile was rather cheeky, but he meant the sentiment sincerely. "And don't think that you're going to be treated any different from the rest of us, Starscream. You're part of the family now. It's just community service you're going through. It won't be forever."
Starscream only stared blankly at him for a moment.
"Thank you…" he said with a wince. "I'll…keep that in mind."
"You're welcome!" chirped Knock Out.
#
And thus Starscream, after getting rid of his Decepticon symbol and chest-face (otherwise he stayed pretty much the same even in color) and cleaning up a bit, was taken by Jetfire out into Cybertron again. Skywarp was with them.
Out on the causeway, Jetfire turned to Starscream and said, "I'm taking you to our sector."
Starscream nodded hesitantly, and his optics grew wide as Jetfire took to flight mode and dashed upwards. After glancing with mild curiosity at Starscream's surprise, Skywarp took flight after his boss. Violently Starscream turned to him too and watched him take flight.
"We're going to fly?!" he gasped.
"Yes," muttered Skywarp hovering just under Jetfire.
"Ahem!" said Starscream now somewhat embarrassed. "Yes, yes, of course we are!" he then declared boldly, and took flight-mode on himself quite thrilled.
It had been so long since he had flown that he could barely believe he was doing it now and that this was not some sort of dream that he would wake from miserably after some recharge or from stasis. He tingled with delight as he propelled upwards after the others.
Admittedly, his transformation was a tiny bit stiff, but he soon became adjusted again, and it was as if he had never stopped flying, except that he was more grateful for flight than he had ever been before. Even had he been now a slave, he would have been glad if only he would be able to live out slavery with the ability to fly. But as it was, he was not a slave but part of Optimus' family now. It was a funny sensation, but flight buried it for now.
Just as he was so miserable in his cell that he felt he would explode, he felt so elated now that he might do the same thing. He hardly looked where he was going half the time, as he let the wind whip past him and the sun glisten on him. The clouds whisked past him and the updrafts caught him here and there.
Jetfire sometimes would say things to him, but Starscream found it difficult to concentrate on them. After all, he was so caught up in the beauty of flight and the beauty of Cybertron from aerial view that he almost ran into Jetfire.
"Are your flight capabilities secure?" Jetfire demanded gruffly after he had just barely gotten out of his way.
"Yes, yes, of course they are!" Starscream exclaimed quickly. "Excuse me. Forgive me, sir!"
But this incident did nothing to dampen his spirits. It only made him pleased with himself that there was nothing wrong with his flight capabilities.
Jetfire's sector he picked out quite easily, for the aeries were indeed quite impressive and tall and stood out from the rest of Cybertron like glistening spires from the buildings or cliffs they were attached to.
He and the others landed neatly on one of the ledges of these aeries. Some moments after Starscream landed he still felt the rush of flight. He closed his optics with a most satisfied smile.
He looked out over the planet as far he could see and nodded in agreement to himself. Then he turned to Jetfire and Skywarp and asked merrily, "So! What do you wish me to do now that I'm here? I'm ready! I do hope there's a lot of work to be done because I've been cooped up forever!"
For the first time since Starscream had seen Skywarp again, he smiled, a slow minimal smile but with some amusement.
"I remember something about you now," he said.
"You do?" asked Starscream with some surprise.
Jetfire turned to Skywarp with interest.
"I remember your hyperactivity," said Skywarp simply. "I think it used to amuse me or annoy me. I can't remember which."
Starscream waved a hand aside and sniffed. "Oh, don't try to, Skywarp."