#16 - Victory: Complicated

Starfeather had finally been able to get a hold of Terrorsaur, all thanks to Waspinator, who had stalled the pteranodon while she caught up. Over the past week, he had avoided her and her gaze completely. She was tagging along behind him as he was trying to walk stiffly away from her.

"C'mon Screechy, what do you have against me?" she asked with a pleading tone. "What did I do that made you mad?" He didn't stop. He didn't even glance over his shoulder.

"Leave me alone," he growled. She stopped, staring hurtfully at the back of his head for a second before catching up again.

"Why? Please tell me your problem so we can solve it."

"There's nothing you can do except leave me alone," he snapped, turning a corner. She growled with frustration and continued to follow him. She felt really bad now about upsetting him. The last thing she wanted was for him to have a grudge against her. She just didn't know what his grudge was.

"Please, I'm begging you to tell me! What did I do?" That got him to stop. He did it so suddenly that she nearly ran into him. She waited for him to answer or do something, her face twisted into a concerned and inquiring look. Terrorsaur clenched his fists as he glared at the floor.

"You laughed at me," he finally answered, though barely audible. This made no sense. Why was he hurt over a little thing like that? He was laughed at all the time by others. Why her? Starfeather took a tiny step back, not remembering at first. "You laughed at me when Waspinator cracked that air-headed remark," he said a little louder when she didn't respond.

"That? Oh no, I wasn't-" She stopped. He was right, she had laugh at him but not seriously. She was just laughing at the way he reacted and the realization that he just might like her too... That look on his face had been priceless. She looked down at her feet. "I didn't mean anything by it."

"Well, it meant something to me," he grunted.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to hurt you like that. I really, really didn't... Will you forgive me?"

He was quiet for a long moment. He was turning over what she had said and thinking. In all his life, he had never truly forgiven anyone. Then again, he had never had true friends before either and she was being sincere enough if he knew her.

"Okay," he murmured and slowly turned around to face her. "I forgive you." Her smile brightened.

"Thank you," she nodded. "What are friends for?" He couldn't help but return her smile. Either she had a way of talking with him or he had gained a way of listening to her. He felt strange, opening up to her like this, but it felt good in the end.

"So," she said. "Have anything mandatory that Megatron wants you to do?"

"Not really," he answered with a shrug.

"Then maybe you and Waspy could show me again how to do that J dive... without me getting sick," she added.

"Yeah..." He shook his head at the memory.

"Alright then, but first-" Starfeather narrowed her aqua green optics and took a subtle step forward. "You're it!" She punched his shoulder and ran down the hallway, giggling.

"Not for long!" he called and went after her. He could hardly believe that he had ever been upset with her for a meager thing only a few moments before. They ran through several passageways until-

"Whoa- rwaak!" Terrorsaur tripped over something and fell. Starfeather looked over her shoulder to make sure he wasn't faking a fall so that he could tag her. She skidded to a halt.

"You alright?" she asked. He got on his hands and knees and shook his head to get rid of the static.

"Yeah, just- Hey, what's that?" He had looked to see what had caused him this minor irritation and spotted an unfamiliar cable. However, Starfeather knew what it was.

"It's probably just something Tarantulas or Blackarachnia are working on," she said, walking back to him and holding out her hand to help him up. "Now, where were we?" He took her hand and stood up.

"I don't think so," he said, grabbing her wrist before she could run off. "They would inform us so that we wouldn't get in their way and ruin it."

"You sure? It's probably nothing to worry about," she urged, trying to pull him away from the spy cable while he had her wrist clamped in his hand.

"We should report this to Megatron. He will decide if it's nothing or not," Terrorsaur concluded, giving the cable a final glare. Anything sounded good to get rid of that thing.

So much for that plan, Starfeather thought dejectedly. Oh well... Big Bot knows I tried. She shot an apologetic look at where one of the camera lenses was hidden. Unfortunately, no one was currently watching at the other end. Rattrap had fallen asleep during his shift of monitor duty.

-x-

All of the Maximals stared stunned in pure astonishment at the viewscreen that now only displaying static. Everyone's optics were wide at what they had witnessed. It was possibly the most bizarre thing that just about all the Predacon subordinates had ever done, including Starfeather. Yet something had seemed not quite right...

Suddenly, the shockwave from an explosion whipped through the ground and shook the base. The only one who could say anything after that was Cheetor.

"Are... are they all...?" He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

Optimus then looked to Rhinox and the rhino immediately left to get the needed equipment for this rather unexpected situation. On his return, everyone transformed to beast mode and filed silently out of the base, heading for the Predacon base. Everyone was further stunned at the actual sight of said base. It looked exactly how Cheetor put it next.

"That place looks... totally slagged," he murmured and looked back at the others. "Any sign of her?" Everyone knew to whom the cheetah was referring. Rhinox had been scanning before the question was even asked out loud. Slowly, the rhino shook his head.

"I detect no signs of life... Not a Pred energy signature anywhere."

"Can that be confirmed?" Dinobot asked skeptically. He didn't quite believe that his old comrades were gone just like that. It would be too easy. This got a certain rat's attention.

"His sensors don't lie, lizard lips!" Rattrap retorted, shaking a rat finger at the raptor's nose.

"Are you sure? She could still be in there and need our help," Cheetor stated with a hint of defensiveness.

"We may have to accept a rather unexpected development, friends," Optimus spoke up and everyone looked to him. "It looks like the Maximals have won the Beast Wars."

"But Starfeather-"

"Is gone, spots. And that's what she gets for hangin' with the enemy," Rattrap broke off Cheetor, but the cat hissed and pounced on him, baring his teeth.

"You can tell that to her when we find her!" he growled.

"Cheetor! Stand down," Optimus ordered sternly. The cheetah reluctantly obeyed and Rattrap stood up and brushed himself off, glaring at Cheetor. Without another word, they all cautiously entered the scrapped base. Rhinox put his scanners to work again but still nothing.

"No life forms," he said solemnly. "But the energon field dampers are still functional."

"Good," Optimus murmured as he turned to look at a transformed Rattrap when a faint crash was sounded.

"Alright, let's pillage and plunder," the rat said, swinging a metal rod like a pirate sword.

"Only for space drive parts. It is a Predacon ship and still very dangerous," the Maximal leader cautioned.

"Yeah? Well then let's say we make ol' chopper face go first, eh?" Rattrap suggested pointedly, smacking the rod on Dinobot's hip.

"Yes, that would be logical. I will take point," the raptor replied, rather calmly taking the rod from Rattrap's grasp and tossing it aside. He then moved to check that the coast was truly clear. Rattrap was puzzled about Dinobot's responses to his remarks.

Meanwhile, Cheetor was still in beast mode. He was sniffing about the Predacon base for any signs of Starfeather. He soon found her quarters and slowly entered. There wasn't much damage done here except some things had fallen over and a wall was slightly bent inward from the force of the explosion. On the floor near him was a stuffed purple crocodile. He transformed and went over to pick it up. It was extremely soft and squishy in his grasp and the raven's scent was very strong on it. He set it ceremoniously on her bed and stepped back. He looked around the room again and saw a single shiny black feather on the floor. He picked it up and stared at it for a long time before carefully placing it in his subspace pocket.

He couldn't believe that she was gone. Probably not much her body was left. He didn't understand why he had taken such a fondness for her over the past few weeks. He had been mistrustful of her allegiance and her intentions at first. Though, as he got to know her, he found that she was really quite a character. She was cute, stubborn, and she could sing wonderfully. What wasn't to like about her? But she was gone... and she had liked Terrorsaur and Waspinator anyway. How could she like them? What was to like about them? They were scheming, evil, low-life, criminal slaggards! What was it that she thought she saw in them?

He was about to leave her room after giving one last glance around when something caught his optic. He looked and saw a dot of turquoise in one corner. He went to investigate and saw it was a strange device. It was a thin rectangular cube that could neatly fit in the palm of his hand. It had a screen and a circular button panel below it. He picked it up and turned it over to see a glittery sticker in the shape of a red star bordered with silver. If he had asked Starfeather about this interesting object, he would've known that an old friend of her father's had given her that sticker and that there was a little story about it... and the object...

-Flashback-

Emily gasped with pure delight as she tore the wrapping paper off her last present; from her boyfriend.

"An iPod!" she squealed.

"I hope the color is right," her boyfriend said as he pulled out his pocket knife to help her open the box. Once the mp3 player was released, she squealed again.

"It's perfect! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" It was turquoise, her favorite color. Clutching the gift in her hand, she threw her arms around him and kissed him briefly on the cheek. "You're the best!" she whispered.

"If you two are kissing, you're in so much trouble!" Ken, younger her brother, called from behind the corner of the house. Emily was celebrating her fifteenth birthday and was having a party in her back yard. Her boyfriend had pulled her aside to give her this special gift alone.

"Then I'll tell mom about all those times you didn't brush your teeth and snuck cookies in the night!" Emily yelled back. Her boyfriend laughed as Ken growled and stalked away.

-x-

"Aunt Alexis, what's this?" Emily asked, holding up a small, square piece of paper she had found on the floor under the couch while looking for a dropped cracker. Alexis looked over at the fifteen-year-old, her stunning jade green eyes studying the object. A sad smile came over her face.

"Oh, that's just one of my stickers I've kept around since I was about your age," she answered.

"You collect stickers?" Emily wondered. She knew that her favorite babysitter loved jets, specifically F-15s. She never asked why. It could be something along the lines of her own fascination for dinosaur toys and Hotwheels.

"Only certain kinds," the brunet woman replied. "They have to be stars with red, white, or silver for me to be interested in them."

"Any reason why?" Emily asked absently, looking closer at the glittery sticker in her hands.

"Oh, they just remind me of someone I used to know..." Alexis trailed off.

"Hm..."

"You can have that one if you like. I have another just like it," she offered.

"Really?" Emily looked up.

"Sure," Alexis said. "Think of this as a late birthday present," she added with a half smile.

"Wow, thanks! And I think I know just where to stick this..."

-End Flashback-

Cheetor decided to hold on to this weird thing since Starfeather wouldn't be missing it... and he wanted something to remember her by. He gently placed it by her feather and left the room. He nearly bumped into Rattrap as he exited the hallway leading to the quartering bay of the ship.

"Hey, watch where you're goin', kid!" the rat snapped.

"Sorry," the cheetah mumbled.

"Whatever. Big Banana says it's time to head home. And where's dino breath?"

Dinobot was still wandering around the confines of his old base. He could hardly wrap his processor over the cold, hard fact that his ex-comrades were gone. With the war now apparently over and won, what was left for him to do? He didn't much care for any of the options that came to mind. Upon returning to Cybertron, he most likely would be arrested and imprisoned for crimes that he committed.

Wait, what was that? He looked closer and sniffed. No, it couldn't be... Rhinox's scanners didn't pick up any signs of life.

As Dinobot entered the room where the Predacon rebellion had taken place, he saw everyone's parts strewn about. He also saw that one body was whole but badly damaged and covered by a large portion of the fallen wall. He heaved the rubble aside and kneeled beside the body to check and see if his effort was in vain. He was shocked to find that she was just barely hanging on. He activated his comm. link.

"Optimus, it appears the vermin and Rhinox's scanners were incorrect."

"What do you mean, Dinobot?" was Primal's response.

"I have found our spy and she is still alive, but I fear not for long," he answered.

"Then we must get her out of here and back to base as soon as possible for repairs," Optimus ordered, relief fighting into his tone.

"No, that would take too long. Are the CR tanks here still functional?" the raptor asked.

"Good thinking," the Maximal leader replied. "Bring her here, quickly."

Dinobot grunted in acknowledgment and closed the link. He turned back to the raven and carefully picked her up. The feathers left on her from her beast mode were charred and no longer carried a sheen. He wondered how she could have survived the energon blast and the wall falling on top of her.

-x-

Her aqua green optics slowly opened. The shapes around her were fuzzy, but her vision soon cleared. She tensed when she saw all of the Maximals around her, then relaxed when memories of past events flooded her mind.

"Hello Starfeather," Optimus was the first to speak. "It's good to see you're still with us. You have Dinobot to thank for your rescue." She looked over to see the raptor standing indifferent from the others.

"In that case, thank you." He simply nodded at her.

"And I have something to. return to you," Cheetor stepped forward. He removed something from his storage space and held it out to her. She lightly gasped.

"My iPod." She took it from him and looked curiously at him. "Why did you have it?"

"Well, I thought that you were gone so..." She immediately understood.

"You wanted something of mine to remember me by." She then got off the platform of the CR tank and smiled. "That's sweet. Thanks for giving it back though, because when I do finally kick the bucket, I want this thing buried with me." Starfeather put on a more serious air and looked around.

"Where are the others?" she asked. "The last thing I remember is shooting at Megatron after Terrorsaur gave the signal." At this, just about everyone turned solemn. Dinobot was the first to speak.

"I regret to inform you that in the energon explosion you and your Predacon comrades caused destroyed them. You yourself were barely online when I found you." She gasped, but she knew that this was not so. Her Predacon "comrades" had actually been androids Tarantulas had built to look and sound like the real ones for that scene. She hadn't had any time to go tell the Maximals about this plan and she decided that she was going to continue to keep it a secret for now. She didn't know why, but didn't want them to find out about her friends yet.

"They're... they're gone?"

Rattrap went to say something disrespectful, but Cheetor and Dinobot smacked him. Starfeather was forcing tears to show. She had to make this look real. She choked back a sob and ran out of the room. Cheetor glared at Rattrap before following.

"Femmes," Rattrap muttered but shut up when Optimus gave him a look this time. Meanwhile, Starfeather had exited the base she called home and kept running, despite Cheetor's calls which were growing louder. He caught up with her just several yards away from the base and grabbed her shoulders.

"Starfeather?"

"Lemme go!" she cried. "You don't even care about them!" She was right. He didn't care. In fact, he was downright glad they were gone.

"But you aren't one of them Starfeather, you joined our ranks as a spy, remember? You're a Maximal. Why do you keep acting like you're just a fair-weather friend to us?"

"Some of them were like family to me! Waspinator was like a brother to me!" She didn't want to shout about this but if that was the only way to make him see.

"I just can't see why you would stay when Megatron wanted you. He tried to rape you for crying out loud!" the cheetah growled. He just didn't understand her stubbornness about staying. Like he had just said, she was a Maximal!

"He hadn't tried again since I fought him off!" she argued. She knew that an argument like this would come around with just her and Cheetor eventually. He seemed so determined to get her to leave the Predacons. Why? "What is with you?! Why the hell did you want me to leave so badly?!"

"We're just concerned about you," came a new calmer voice. The two turned to see Optimus with the others beside him. Starfeather took this chance to run. Cheetor was going to follow her again but Optimus stopped him.

"Let her get it out of her system." The golden mech was going to protest but went silent and lowered his gaze.

Starfeather was running to a spot where she could contact the Predacons and report that she had been accepted and would give the signal just before the Maximals were ready to try and leave the planet. She came to the edge of a forest and hid behind the biggest tree.

"Can you hear me, sir?" She spoke quietly through her comm. link, not wanting the Maximals to hear if they had tried to follow her.

"Loud and clear, Starfeather. Go ahead," Megatron replied, annoyance evident in his voice.

"The Maximals have found me and brought me to their base. I surrendered, just like you said, and they bought it. It may be several days before they'll attempt to repair their ship and try to take off so you guys better get comfortable, wherever you are." There was a pause before she got a response.

"Very well, inform us as soon as they are about to start the launch sequence." In the background, she could hear several voices bickering and whining about wanting more room or to get certain body parts off of other body parts.

"Aye, sir. Starfeather: out," she answered with a hint of uncertainty as she closed the link. She could only wonder where they had hidden.

-x-

The next morning, Starfeather was still asleep in her new quarters at the Maximal base, facing the wall her bed was attached to. She had Squishy hugged securely under her chin. After a few minutes, she let out a big yawn and half opened one optic. Both shot open and she sat up, looking all around her. She then laughed at herself, remembering where she was and what had happened.

"I wonder why no one came to wake me," she mused, setting her purple sleeping buddy aside. "Guess I better see what I missed." She hopped off the bed and stretched her stiff joints and heartily flapped her wings. She couldn't help but look back at them in awe every so often. She had always wondered what it would be like to have wings.

She brushed away her thoughts and exited her new room. No one was in the hallway so she jogged her memory on how to get to the main control room. She got there fairly easily and only found Dinobot. He appeared to be deep in thought so she decided to check the atmospheric scanners to see the weather. The Maximal's system was a little different from the Predacon's, but she figured it out. There was a storm system moving in slowly and, according to the diagnostics, would arrive within the next couple days.

Dinobot was considering what he should do now that the war was over. He knew that he couldn't go back to Cybertron because he was a convicted criminal for stealing the golden disc but what were his other options? He would have to think on this carefully...

Starfeather sighed and looked over at Dinobot. "So..." she started. Dinobot snapped his attention to her.

"Yes?" he responded, crossing his arms.

"Well, uh, I was wondering what I could do around here," she said. "I don't want to just sit around like a dead weight."

"I'm afraid you're asking the wrong person," he replied. "Optimus or Rhinox would be the ones to speak to."

"Oh, well thanks anyway," she said and went to leave but stopped in the door and looked over her shoulder. "Just... wait a while before you decide to leave the Maximals or anything." He stared at her suspiciously.

"What makes you think I would leave?" he demanded. She gave a tiny grin and touched the Predacon insignia still on the top of her helm.

"Just wait," she murmured and continued on her way. Dinobot stared after her, his thoughts stirred again. What could she mean… As she walked down the hallways, she couldn't help but wonder what Terrorsaur and Waspy might be doing without her.

-x-

"Wazpinator mizz Bird-bot," the green mech complained, slumping where he sat.

"We all miss Bird-bot," Blackarachnia replied sarcastically. "Especially since she technically betrayed us."

"Hey! This was all planned out so she technically didn't." Terrorsaur retorted but soon clamped his beak. He was doing it again... whatever it was.

Megatron sighed to himself from where he sat as he listened to his men bicker. He wasn't blind or deaf to what was exchanged between his lackies, no. He could tell that there was something for than simple companionship forming between his dearest and that scheming traitor. That was a bad combination for him. If they were to get Waspinator with them to also rise against him once again, it just might spell his downfall or even his demise. It nearly did the last time.

He would have to make his move soon before Terrorsaur could somehow find the gall to claim her before he could. This wasn't the only reason he needed to pluck her from where she stood in her wingmate's shadow. If she was taken by the pteranodon and the original plan Megatron had for her was continued, it could spell defeat for the Predacons if the red mech did what Megatron calculated he would do afterward.

-x-

As Starfeather neared where the rest of the other Maximals were located, working on the ship's warp drive, the feeling of guilt for not telling them about the hiding threat to their voyage home was rising in her spark. She had already dropped Dinobot a hint and wondered if he would tell Optimus about what she had said. If he did figure it out and tell the others, what would they do with her? Would they punish her for not speaking up right away? If so, how? And what would they do with the Predacons once they found them? Kill them? Imprison them?

There were so many unanswered questions.

"Hey there."

"Eek!" Starfeather nearly hit the ceiling and spun around to see who spoke to her.

"Whoa, take it easy," Cheetor soothed, raising his hands in a harmless motion. "Man, living with the Preds sure made you jumpy." She glared at him for a second before smirking.

"I've always been jumpy, but I forgive you for your ignorance."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He narrowed an optic.

"It means you don't know enough about me to make certain assumptions," she answered. "Now can you please tell me where Optimus or Rhinox are so I can get to work?" Cheetor raised an optic ridge.

"Work? You don't have to work right now. We think you've been through enough for now." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Besides, I was looking for you anyway." She stiffened at his touch and forced her vision to stay on his face, but not in his yellow optics.

"Why?"

"Well, I figured now that the war's over and all that you and I could, you know... hang out for a while," he said and smiled crookedly, almost nervously. She looked at him before the words finally formed meanings in her head.

"Uh, sure, why not," she finally replied.

"Great! So uh, where do you wanna go?" he asked. She shrugged.

"Where ever you want, I guess." Starfeather wasn't clueless. She knew that Cheetor had basically just asked her out and that she had accepted. She didn't have a crush on him so why was she doing this?

I know there's something in the wake of your smile

I get a notion from the look in your eyes

The two transformed into beast mode and left the base. They went a little ways, Starfeather a few feet in the air and Cheetor on the ground, before he looked up at her and grinned playfully.

"Race ya!" He then took off faster than she could reply.

"No fair!" she laughed before speeding up so she was just above him. "I don't even know where we're going!"

"Then you better keep up!" he called and ran faster, laughing through a purr. She narrowed her optics and swooped down just above him. She lightly pecked him on the top of his head with her beak and soared up and out of his reach. She smiled on hearing him laugh through good-natured threats. She was having fun with Cheetor, yet she couldn't help but wondered if Terrorsaur missed her... She shook her head to clear it.

Stop thinking like that. You shouldn't even have a crush on him in the first place because he is technically the enemy. She sighed. Why did everything she wanted have to be so complicated?

You've built a love but that love falls apart

Your little piece of heaven turns to dark

They eventually ended up in a savannah terrain. Starfeather gave Cheetor a coy look.

"This is a savannah, and you are a cheetah. Coincidence? I think not." He smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

"What can I say? Besides, it looks awesome around sunset."

"I've seen enough nature shows to know that." She nodded in agreement.

"Let's go explore," he suggested and began to walk down the hill, but Starfeather stayed where she was. She looked back the way they had come as if looking back at her friends, wondering if she was really doing the right thing.

"Hey Star, you comin'?"

Listen to your heart when he's calling for you

Listen to your heart

There's nothing else you can do

"Y-yeah," she answered, shaking her head, then went air born once again and followed. How could she have made it work between her and Terrorsaur anyway? He probably didn't really want to be anything more than friends...

I don't know where you're going and I don't know why

But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye

The two traveled to a river and stopped to watch the wildlife flocking to it. They transformed and sat in the shade of an acacia tree. A pride of lions lazed around several yards away in another shady spot. Herds of zebra, wildebeest, and gazelle roamed around and drank occasionally. Hippos sunned themselves in the shallows of the river while some were grazing.

Starfeather sighed in contentment as she leaned against Cheetor's shoulder.

"Oh look, there're some elephants." She pointed just up the slope over an achier away. Several elephant females and their calves were lumbering down the rise toward the water.

"Yeah," he mumbled and paused. "Y'know, I used to think only Earth had animals like this."

"You've been to Earth?" She looked at him.

"No, just read about it." He shrugged. "But I've always wanted to go there and explore it."

"Yeah... I've always wanted to see Madagascar and play with the lemurs."

"That would be fun," he replied. They both looked when there was a tiny growl and crash of brush and two lion cubs tumbled into view. The baby animals didn't notice the two robots as they continued to play and wander closer. They finally stopped at their feet and looked up curiously.

"Hey there, little guys," Starfeather cooed and gently held out a hand for the cubs to sniff. The braver of the two stepped forward and sniffed and mouthed her fingers. She smiled and rubbed its chin. The other cub wanted what its sibling was enjoying so pawed at her other hand. As she giggled and crooned at the lion cubs, Cheetor watched with growing adoration and smiled. Starfeather sure had a way with animals. And she certainly was easy to get along with. He wondered how long it would be before he could find the chance to tell her how he felt. He also wondered if she would feel the same way.

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worth while

The precious moments are all lost in the tide

Starfeather played with the cubs until the mother called to her babies. They left the raven and stumbled on towards home. She sighed and leaned back where she had been.

"Cute little things," she said. "But I don't like kitten slobber." She pulled a face, holding up her spit covered hands.

"Well let's go wash it off," Cheetor chuckled. He stood and helped her up and they carefully made their way to the river bank. She knelt down and rubbed her hands together in the murky water. When her hands were free of saliva, she continued to watch the slowly flowing liquid swirl by. A blade of dried grass was swept passed and she watched it float out of sight.

Was it really that easy, she wondered, to let someone go like that? Especially after all that they had been through: battles, new experiences, fun and games... She sighed. She just wanted things to go back to normal, for her to be living at the Predacon base and going through with her daily routine of work from her waking moment and late into the night.

They're swept away and nothing is what it seems

The feeling of belonging to your dreams

A voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"You okay?" Cheetor asked.

"Yeah, just... I got a lot in my mind," she muttered as she stood and folded her wings tighter against her back. She put her hand above her other arms elbow and massaged the area uncomfortably.

"Why don't you let it out. I can take it," he said and eased an arm around her waist. She stiffened. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but she wasn't sure she liked such physical contact from him... but at the same time, it did comfort her a little bit. Perhaps that was all he was trying to do. She shook her head.

Listen to your heart when he's calling for you

Listen to your heart

There's nothing else you can do

"You wouldn't understand. Even I don't really understand," she almost whispered.

"Tell me anyway. I might be able to help," he said. She hung her head and shut off her aqua green optics.

"No... you might tell Optimus..."

"Is this about Megatron?"

"No."

"Then what's bothering you?"

She brushed him off and walked away down the river bank, her arms around herself. She couldn't tell him about her battling emotions and thoughts. She knew he wouldn't be any help. He would just say that Terrorsaur wasn't worth her time. That thought caused a frown to appear on her face.

I don't know where you're going and I don't know why

But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye

He watched, stunned, as she removed herself from his embrace and walked away. What had he said? He went after her.

"What did I say?" She stopped. She didn't know how to answer. There were so many things she could say, so many things she could do to respond. But nothing would come out. Not even tears.

And there are voices that want to be heard

So much to mention but you can't find the words

The scent of magic

The beauty that's been when love was wilder than the wind

She felt him take her shoulders and gently turn her around to face him.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked. Her mouth opened slightly. That's when she realized, he really cared. Cared about her. He could even feel the same way about her as she thought she felt about Terrorsaur.

"No... I hurt myself," she finally answered. "My spark has torn in two and... I don't know which piece I should heal." Cheetor paused before holding her closer.

"Then let me help you decide," he murmured. "I want to be there for you." Starfeather lightly gasped. Cheetor wanted to love her and wanted her to feel the same. She blushed as a smile played on her lips. And yet...

Listen to your heart when he's calling for you

Listen to your heart

There's nothing else you can do

I don't know where you're going and I don't know why

But listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye

No matter how flattered she was... she couldn't find it in her to feel the same. He, not being able to read her mind, curled a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. He began leaning closer to her. She allowed him to do so, even dimming her optics. But just before they met, she put her hand between their lips.

"N-no, I... I-I can't, I..." she stuttered. He looked at her with a mixture of confusion and hurt.

"Why?" was all he said. He didn't understand what was wrong. She had gone along with him just up until before it even began. What was holding her back? Memories of what Megatron had done to her? She should know that he would never do anything like that to her.

"I..." She couldn't get it out. Her spark beat more rapidly as her mind swam.

"Starfeather? Please, talk to me."

Listen to your heart

I don't know where you're going and I don't know why

But listen to your heart before...

"I... No!" she cried and shoved herself away and started running. She couldn't do this. She just couldn't find it in her to feel something for him. It wasn't that she didn't like him. He was a nice guy; fun, loyal, even cute for a robot... But she didn't love him.

You tell him goodbye

"Starfeather!" he called and ran after her. What had he done? He just knew this would happen. He rushed things and now he might have lost her. She didn't listen. She simply transformed and flew high into the clouds, leaving Cheetor far below. She hated leaving him to hang like that, but she would return to base and straighten it all out when she had had some time to herself.

-x-

It was growing dark when Starfeather finally returned. During her time in the clouds, she had changed her activation code and symbol. She figured it was about time that she did so, for the sake of realism. She had to admit that saying or thinking 'Maximize' rather than 'Terrorize' had a nicer appeal to her. She also thought of all the possible reasons Cheetor would think she had fled. She hoped he didn't get the wrong impression.

She transformed to robot mode and landed. She went inside and looked around for Cheetor. He wasn't in the control room, only Rhinox and Rattrap. The rat gave her a dirty look and went back to what he was doing. She quickly stuck out her tongue when he wasn't looking and went down the passageways. She managed to find Cheetor's door and knocked. When he opened it to see her there, he looked like he was trying to hide a frown.

"What?" he demanded. She finally did frown at him, but kept her voice level.

"Would you at least hear what I have to say before you start acting all snippy?" He flinched but relaxed his stance.

"Fine."

"Okay, I'm sorry that I ran out on you like that," she began. "It's not because you tried to kiss me or even that I was afraid of what you would do or even because of the memories of how Megatron treated me. You're a really nice guy, but I just... It's just not there and... I don't feel anything other than friendship. I'm sorry, but I just don't. Please, please don't be mad at me for that."

He studied at her for a long time, neither knowing for how long. At last, he replied, "I guess I should say sorry too... for rushing you. And I forgive you."

"Thanks, and I forgive you too. Friends?" she asked with a smile, holding out her hand so they could shake on it. He smiled too.

"Friends," he confirmed and shook her hand. He was disappointed that she didn't want to be anything more, but maybe, given time, she would come around. She surprised him by pulling him closer and hugging him. It took him a moment before he hugged back.

-x-

Dinobot was in his beast mode and looking out across the storm that was approaching. You could already see the lightning and hear the thunder. He had just decided on what he was going to do. Now all that remained was to inform the others and take action. He took a deep breath and headed for the base entrance.

Meanwhile, Starfeather was awake and helping the others to get the warp systems ready for takeoff. She still hadn't told them of the waiting Predacons, but she would say something today. That she was certain, but not around Rattrap. She didn't feel like putting the pressure too hard on Optimus. As a matter of fact, the rat was arguing about why they should do something about the raptor.

"But we still can't trust Dinobot," he was saying.

"Before we decide where he's going, we better decide where we're going," Rhinox said. He had just about had enough of Rattrap and fixing stuff here, there, and everywhere. "I'm almost done with these drive repairs."

"Our first order of business is the stasis pods still in orbit," Optimus stated. "They must be recovered and our comrades rescued. We also have to alert Tigatron."

"Okay, but after that, we start exploring the galaxy again, right?" Cheetor said as he helped move the transwarp cell into place.

"Don't I need some sort of qualifications for that or something?" Starfeather asked as she also helped with moving the cell.

"Whoa, what're you talkin' here?" Rattrap protested. "Have you taken a good look at this scrap heap lately? If we even make it to space, and the only place we're headed is back to Cybertron."

"I'm afraid Rattrap's right," Optimus agreed as he came up to the three. Starfeather sighed. She was waiting for the right moment to speak out and say they couldn't leave just yet. However, the rat made a triumphant whoop.

"And about time too. Ooh, I can just hear the dames cryin' for me!"

The raven rolled her optics as she crossed her arms indignantly. Yeah, right. And a certain raptor had witnessed this little bit.

"Perhaps it is the thought of your return that causes their unhappiness."

"Haha, hey Choppa Face, an actual comeback. A little lame, but I can tell you're feelin' better," Rattrap said, turning to face him.

"And for good reason," Dinobot continued as he stepped forward to look the rat in the face. "I shall not see you again."

"Whoa! Another dig!" Rattrap said, giving the raptor a thumbs up, but everyone else was confused. Optimus told Rattrap to be quiet and stepped forward.

"What are you saying Dinobot? You will not be returning to Cybertron with us?" the Maximal leader questioned. Dinobot shook his head.

"No. On Cybertron, I will merely be a Predacon criminal. However, on this planet... I have no equal. I shall remain." Starfeather bit her lip. If Dinobot stayed, he might happen to find the Predacons and she would become a traitor. She didn't want that. She had to speak up before it was too late.

"I understand. None the less, let the records show that I highly advise against this action. It will eventually lead to your destruction." Optimus nodded solemnly.

"Eventually," Dinobot repeated thoughtfully. "Eventually can be a long time Optimus Primal."

She found her chance. "Wait! Don't leave, any of you, before you hear me out!"

Everyone looked at her.

"Why?" Rhinox asked.

"Because... b-because the Predacons aren't really gone! We faked it," she admitted. "I know I should've told you all sooner, but I didn't becau-"

"You didn't wanna betray your Pred buddies," Rattrap piped up, marching up to force her back against a stack of equipment. "It's like I always say, "once a Pred, always a Pred"," he spat, shoving a finger at her face.

"Did anyone ask you, rat face?" Cheetor growled.

"Cheetor, Rattrap, stand down," Optimus ordered. When the two backed away, he continued. "The important thing is she told us now. Starfeather, where are they hiding?" The raven regained her composure, but shifted her weight.

"Well, that's the thing. See, Megatron didn't tell me where they would be hiding. He planned for when you saw on the camera, that you would come to the base and find me there. I was to surrender and once you guys were ready to leave, I was to call him and tell him when to strike. He wants to use the ship to get the stasis pods in the atmosphere to bolster his forces before making a trip back to Cybertron, using you all as hostages."

Dinobot wouldn't put it passed Megatron to do something like that, but... He had truly believed that his old comrades were gone. Now that he knew they were still alive, what should he do now the real last battle was inevitable?

"Then tell him to strike," Optimus replied. Everyone gaped at him, but Rhinox got the idea.

"And when he comes, he'll find us waiting."

"Exactly," the Maximal leader said. "Starfeather, go outside and contact the Predacons and tell them that we are ready to leave."

"Do I stay outside?" she wondered.

"Yes," he nodded. "Make them think we are clueless inside the ship. Rhinox, get some systems up and running for realism and radio Tigatron. Alright Maximals, let's head out."

-x-

Somewhere several yards underground, a little white rat had fallen. It was now climbing up the way it fell, scrabbling up the rocky ledges. It just might succeed, it thought... right up until it was grabbed roughly by the tail and pulled into the hungry mandibles of a large purple spider and swallowed whole. Tarantulas chuckled evilly as he wiped his mandibles clean of fur and blood. Saliva dripped from his mouth and onto the individual below him.

"Eeyuck!" Terrorsaur shook his head to shake off the spit. "Stop slobbering on me Tarantulas!"

"I am feasting," the tarantula retorted. However, behind him, someone else was having issues with him.

"Give Wazzzpinator more room!" the wasp grunted. "Zzpider-bot fat enough already!" The spider hissed in annoyance and effort as he turned to face the other.

"If Waspinator doesn't stop cuddling me like a stuffed toy when he sleeps, I'll eat him as well!"

"Wazpinator like to see you try!"

"Yes I will!"

"No Zpider-bot won't!"

"Will so!"

"Stop, stop, STOP! I can't stand this any longer!" Terrorsaur cried, bouncing anxiously in place, putting a stop to the bugs' bickering. "I gotta get OUT! Bawk!" he screeched when Scorponok whacked him particularly hard with a claw to shut him up.

"We wouldn't even be here if you didn't trip over that spy cable," Scorponok retorted.

"You are correct, Scorponok," Megatron said. "And thanks to Terrorsaur and Starfeather's inadvertent discovery of our enemy's spy cable, we were able to pull off this little deception, yes."

"But what if they detect us?" Blackarachnia questioned and waved a limb toward a line of circular devices just above them, red lights on them flashing on and off to show that they were functioning. "Don't forget that my signature damping device is only experimental." The Predacon leader turned to regard the black widow.

"We have only to wait until Starfeather reports that the Maximals have repaired their ship and attack when their guard is down." He then turned to look at each of his men. "With the Maximal ship in our possession, we will be able to recover the orbiting stasis pods containing protoform Maximals eager to become Predacons." He chuckled evilly before approaching Terrorsaur heavily, causing the ground to shake. "So no one leaves!" he growled, shoving his face in the pteranodon's. Terrorsaur glanced around nervously.

"Leaving? Wh-who said anything about leaving? Oww!" he stuttered before a small rock hit his head. His leader's stomping had vibrated the stone out of place hence causing it to fall. Waspinator snickered. Terrorsaur glared at him. "Who're you laughing at, bug face?"

"Starfeather to Megatron. Do you read?"

"Yes, Starfeather. Your report, please," Megatron sighed with annoyance.

"I've been informed that the ship is ready for takeoff any time now. Where ever you guys are, you can get out and head this way for the attack. Primal said I could take one last walk around outdoors before they go so I'll be waiting for you."

"Understood. Well done, my dear." After Megatron said this, Terrorsaur felt a stab of something that made him want to kick the tyrannosaurus in the gut, hard. Everyone heard a slight growl from the other end of the link.

"Thank you, sir." Starfeather's voice sounded spiteful and sarcastic before she cut the link.

"You heard her! Predacons: Terrorize!" Megatron roared. Terrorsaur and Waspinator were the first to obey. They soared up and out of the crack in the earth and transformed.

"Rawk! Freedom!" the red mech shouted.

-x-

Starfeather, in beast mode, was waiting for a signal from Megatron to get into formation with her wingmates and begin the attack. Tigatron nodded to her as he passed and entered the ship. She nodded back and looked back to the horizon. She wondered how this fight would turn out. Would the Predacons survive this fight yet the Maximals left? And if they left anyway, would they leave her behind? Certainly not, but how could she leave? She didn't get a chance to try and answer her own question before she saw Terrorsaur and Waspinator come into view. She smiled widely.

"Starfeather: Maximize! Cawcaaaw!" she yelled as she jumped into the air and flew towards them.

"Bird-bot!" Waspinator cried and crashed into her, crushing her in a hug. She was somehow able to keep them air born and hugged back.

"Take it easy Waspy, we have a battle to win," she laughed.

"Maximize?" Terrorsaur repeated with a speck of disbelief.

"I had to make it look real, alright? I'll change it after the battle." Depending on how it turns out, she added to herself. He nodded and helped to pry Waspinator off of her. She was forcing herself to appear eager about this last battle. She knew that if the Maximals won, she would have to reveal her allegiance. Maybe she should now…? No, she couldn't just quit them. That was a wimp's choice. She wasn't a wimp... was she?

The fliers took their positions, along with all the other Predacons, and waited for Megatron's signal. A few tense minutes passed, and he gave the first shot. His men followed suit. Most of them were surprised to see Optimus, Cheetor, and Dinobot exit the ship immediately and come out to meet them, especially with the sound of engines powering up.

"It's almost as if the Maximals knew we were coming," Megatron mused to himself. "You never cease to surprise me, Primal."

The three Maximals separated to form a barrier in front of the ship. Shots were exchanged and some were hit, but not severely. At least until Scorponok hit Dinobot in the back and he was further damaged by Megatron. Dinobot had been front and center so it would be difficult for either Optimus or Cheetor to get to him. However, Optimus was closest and radioed for Cheetor to cover him. He approached the fallen raptor and hauled him over his shoulder. Terrorsaur decided to capitalize on the Maximal leader's distraction and shot him down. He laughed triumphantly before he himself was brought down by Cheetor. The raven clenched her fits and fired at the cheetah. Nobody shoots at her friend and gets away with it. No matter what. She knocked him down.

"They're finished!" Megatron called to his troops when Cheetor fell. "Head for the ship!"

All those who were able, Scorponok, Tarantulas, Blackarachnia, and Starfeather, including Megatron, headed forward on foot. The raven knew that this was going to be useless because of the ship's outer guns, but obeyed, prepping herself for a hit. And just like that, they were all blasted back.

By now, Optimus was experiencing an energon surge. He reverted to beast mode and picked up Dinobot, who was barely conscious. Cheetor had dragged himself to the rising platform that led into the base. He collapsed and waited for his commander to get there with the raptor. He did, but it was a tight fit as the platform rose up.

Scorponok had managed to get up from where he fell. He glared back at the Maximals, clenching his jaw, and slammed his claw down on a rock. I will not fail Megatron completely! he thought and fired. He hit his target, Optimus Primal. The Maximal leader tried with all his might to stay on and not knock anyone else off, but he failed. He fell to the ground and Cheetor and Dinobot were brought into the ship. Cheetor tried to lower the platform, but it was locked. The ship was preparing for a real takeoff.

"Rhinox! Open the doors!" Cheetor's voice was high with panic. "Optimus and Starfeather are still out there!"

"They're locked tight and they ain't respondin'!" Rattrap was typing and retyping the command, but the doors wouldn't respond.

"This thing is barely hanging together as it is and I can't shut it down!" Rhinox stated.

-x-

Back on the ground, Starfeather was shaking the blackness from her vision. Her audio receptors were ringing with the sound of the Axelon's engines at full power and the thrusters lifting it from the ground. She looked up and saw it rising and heading away. Her shoulders sagged a little. She figured that at this point, she would never see Cybertron or the Maximals again. Why did they leave her behind? Did they mean to? Was this punishment for not talking for so long? She was literally pulled from her wonderings as someone roughly grabbed her by the wings and yanked her to her feet. She cried out with pain and stared into the face of her leader who was anything but happy.

"Get the others up! This battle is not over yet," Megatron barked. He threw her aside and took a running start to jump and grab hold of a support rod beneath the ship and get inside. Starfeather picked herself up and glared after him.

"I don't know how you expect me to want to get with you if you keep TREATING ME LIKE SHIT!" she spat after him, but did as she was told and looked around for the others and one in particular. She didn't spot him right off so she went to help Tarantulas up. Once he was standing, they went around getting the others. She finally found who she was looking for in a small cavern between some boulders. He looked rather dazed still. Cheetor must have hit him hard.

"Screechy wanna aspirin?"

"Aspirin…?" Terrorsaur shook his head with dizziness and looked cluelessly up at her.

"Nothing," she muttered, waving the question aside. That was a dumb thing to say anyway, she thought. "Here, let me get down there."

"Nah, no, I can do it," he grunted as he tried to haul himself into a sitting position. When he failed, she smiled and held out her hand.

"I missed you," she murmured. He looked up at her again and slowly took her hand.

"I... missed you too." She beamed brighter and helped pull him up and out. If she was stuck here for the rest of her life, she was glad she wasn't stuck alone.

"Megatron!" they heard Scorponok shout in dismay. They snapped their attention in the direction all the others were and saw a glimpse of their leader before he disappeared into the lake below where the Maximal base used to be.

"So," the raven said. "Who's going to go in after him?"


AN: Song: Listen to Your Heart by Roxette feat. DDR (Dance Dance Revolution)