#37 - Before the Storm Comes Their Dawn
A pachycephalosaurus stood on the invisible barrier between the Maximal and Predacon territories. It was the middle of the night, but he couldn't sleep. He just couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong here, that he nor Moonscope or Deltasurge or even Inferno and Blackarachnia didn't belong. He didn't know why he felt this way, but he did. He heard a sound like a branch creek with the burden of the wind only there was no wind. He glanced around on alert and saw a ghost white figure with glowing yellow eyes. G-Force frowned.
"You followed me?" It was more of a statement than a question. The snowy owl nodded once.
"I am still concerned about you hoo," she said. "What is on your mind?"
He snorted and turned away. He didn't like busybodies, but he figured that he might as well tell someone. Perhaps Moonscope felt the same way.
"I... I feel something is amiss," he began carefully. "I don't trust Megatron, yet..." He trailed off.
"You're afraid to hoo leave his cause?" she finished. He growled.
"I'm not afraid of Megatron," he grumbled. "I could beat him hand to hand if the occasion presented itself."
"Hmm, but that is beside the point," Moonscope said thoughtfully. "I will admit that the feeling is mutual. I also have my doubts about Megatron."
G-Force finally gave the owl a glance.
"Then perhaps... we must do something about our similar feelings."
"I agree." Moonscope nodded.
-x-
He had done his research on the Axalon's computer files about human culture. It had been very limited, but he hoped it was enough. For the past few weeks, Terrorsaur had been working secretly in one of the equipment storage bays during his free time. He had been slowly and carefully molding some spare gold wire that was used in the circuitry in the computers and other devices. He had carefully heated then braided the strands until they were long enough to make a loop. He had subtly figured out the size he needed to make the ring and now all he needed was a gemstone of some sort.
A diamond was the obvious choice, but he didn't want to use something so stereotypical. Maybe something the color of her optics... No, there was no stone to match it. Her favorite color? Hmm... orange wasn't exactly the easiest color to find and he was going to ask her sometime by the end of the week. He didn't feel he could wait longer than that. Then, an idea struck. He snapped his fingers.
"Of course!" He put his tools and other things away before leaving the base to find the last thing he needed.
-x-
About a week later, almost everyone, Maximals and Predacons included, were shocked about the latest turn of events. Megatron and Optimus had met face to face, but not to fight. They had met to discuss a ceasefire. Everyone had their own thoughts and suspicions on the matter. Terrorsaur thought this was the perfect opportunity. He had managed to find and crudely carve the stone of his choice and firmly attached it to the little braided loop. For what seemed like the millionth time that day, he took the ring from his subspace and turned it over and over, watching it glint and shine in the dim light. He had poured his spark into making this ring. He wanted it to be perfect. It had to symbolize his boundless devotion and love toward Starfeather. She meant more to him than anything else in the universe.
Terrorsaur gently closed his fingers over the ring before putting it back in his subspace. He would ask her tonight.
-x-
Now that there was peace, everyone had considerably less real work to do other than base maintenance. However, Optimus still ordered light monitor duty in case the Predacons grew restless. Starfeather was stuck with this duty today. She let out a loud sigh, her head resting on her fist. She was tapping through the camera visuals with her other hand.
"Boring forest, boring rocks, boring swamp, boring grassland, boring snow..." Her list of 'boring' locations went on for a little while until she started the cycle through again. She had to continue this for another hour. She sighed again.
"I hate monitor duty," she growled under her breath.
"Who doesn't?" a voice asked from behind her. She nearly jumped out of her mainframe, but laughed at herself when she registered who it was.
"Terrorsaur, you scared me," she said, turning in her seat to face him.
"Sorry," he replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Was there something you wanted?" she asked. At that question, he suddenly became uneasy. She looked at him for a second and when he didn't say anything audible, she asked, "You okay there?"
"No, I'm fine. It's nothing. Well, not nothing, but it has everything to do with you. I mean me, kind of. No, I mean-" he stuttered, tripping over his words. She tried not to giggle. That would only frustrate him more. She just stayed quiet and waited patiently for him to get his thoughts together. Finally, he managed to say, "Could we meet later? I can't say what I need to say here... Not here."
"Okay, where would you like to meet?" Starfeather was confused. Terrorsaur already had a place in mind, the perfect place.
"Tonight, at our special place."
Meet me after dark again and I'll hold you
Hold you...
"Which one?"
"Our old one. It's far enough out that Megatron won't notice us, I hope... Well uh, I have to... go do something, I guess... I'll see you then." With that, he transformed into beast mode and left her scratching her head.
I yearn nothing more than to see you there
Hold you...
"What was that all about?" she wondered out loud. There was nothing she could do about it for now, so she went back to staring at the monitors. However, her mind was elsewhere for the rest of her shift until Rattrap took her place.
And maybe tonight
We'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn
That night, Starfeather was waiting under the trees at the edge of their special clearing. It was raining. She could also see lightning in the distance and hear the rumble of thunder more than ten seconds afterward. She knew she shouldn't really be under the tree canopy, but her scanners said it was improbable that the lightning would come this far. Besides the lightning flashes, it was mostly dark. She fluffed her feathers and shook her body, folding her wings closer around herself as water dripped from the branches and leaves onto her. She would shiver when the wind would gust, blowing more drops onto her hoelessly drenched body.
Finally, she saw the one she had been waiting for. The pteranodon landed on the largest boulder closest to her and transformed. He gazed through the darkness with piercing crimson optics to search her out. She hopped over the fence, smiling cheekily at him.
If only night could hold you where I can see you my love
Then let me never ever wake again
"Finally!" she said, obviously pretending to be upset. She tapped her foot in the soggy grass and continued her 'rant'. "Why on earth would you want to meet on a godawful night like this? I'm cold and wet and just want to go to bed."
And maybe tonight
"Believe me, I didn't expect the storm to pass this close," Terrorsaur replied with a chuckle, narrowing an optic playfully. "Anyway, antics aside, there are some very important things I... I need to say to you."
At that, she also transformed into robot form and put on a curious look. She wrapped her arms around herself against the rain and took another step forward.
"For you, I've got all night."
We'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn
He slid off the rock and went to stand in front of her, taking her hands in his. The rain pelted their armor, making a rhythmic clattering noise. He looked into those beautiful pools of aqua green light. So peaceful, so welcoming... He shook his head to clear it from distracting thoughts.
"S-starfeather," he began, doing his best to keep his voice even. "I've never been one to really put my feelings to words... but I'm going to try for you tonight."
She gazed steadily up at his smooth white face. It never ceased to amaze her at how human like the transformers were, but she listened closely to what he was had to say.
"...e-ever since the day I met you, I felt something stir in the very depths of my spark that I had never felt before. At first, I just ignored it. It made me do and say things that I thought I didn't want to. Then, as time passed, the feeling wouldn't go away and I... I wasn't sure what to make of these feelings. I began seeing you differently. Not just as another femme or even a friend, but something more that I couldn't explain. Then, when you would continually stay by my side and stand up for me, I realized what it was... I... I-I loved you."
At that, Starfeather flushed and smiled shyly, looking down and rubbing her thumb bashfully against the back of his hand.
"Are you finished?" she asked quietly when he didn't continue after a few moments. Terrorsaur shook his head and regained his courage once again. He wished that this wasn't so hard to say.
"No... Ever since Starscream first mentioned it, I've been wondering about this prospect for a long time, but... the final call is up to you."
That said, he reached into his subspace and brought out the object that he had poured all his time and effort into making for weeks to make it perfect for this moment, to make it perfect for her. A flash of lightning struck, lighting up the sky and the clearing for a brief second. Starfeather saw what Terrorsaur was holding and gasped, her optics widening. She covered her mouth with her hands and took a disbelieving step back. She had hoped this would happen someday, but to actually have it happening right now was unbelievable.
Somehow I know that we can't wake again from this dream
Terrorsaur proceeded to get down on one knee, presenting the ring to her.
"Starfeather... will you become my bondmate?"
Her surprised expression turned to one of utter joy as she fell down to tightly hug him around the neck as the thunder rumbled.
"Yes! Yes, I will!" she exclaimed, tears of pure happiness accumulating in her optics.
It's not real but it's ours
Starfeather knew that this was possibly one of the biggest decisions of her life, but she was positive that it wasn't a mistake. She would stay by Terrorsaur's side no matter what. She would love him unconditionally for as long as they lived. She would follow him wherever he would lead her, even to the ends of the universe.
Terrorsaur hugged back, standing upright now. This had to be the best night of his life so far. He had found someone to love him and spend the rest of his life with. Someone to always be there for him, even if the universe turned its back on him. Someone he could always count on when he needed it most.
Maybe tonight
We'll fly so far away
We'll be lost before the dawn
Starfeather pulled away from him, her arms still around his neck, and beamed up at him like the brightest star he'd ever seen. Her tears trickled down her cheeks mixing with the rainwater. Terrorsaur smiled back at her, taking her left hand and slipping the golden ring on the proper finger. She gazed at it adoringly, gently touching the garnet stone's smooth surface with her fingertips, before looking back to him. He nodded ever so slightly to her and brought her closer. They dimmed their optics and came together. Slowly, as the lighting blazed and the thunder rolled and the rain fell all the harder, they lowered to the soaked grass and kissed deeper. They didn't care in the slightest where they were or what was going on around them. They had entered into their own domain.
As their passion grew, she clung to him all the tighter, wrapping her legs around his waist and trying to pull him as close to her as physically possible. He gave a raspy rumble in his throat, trailing his hands up her body. She curled her fingers, digging them into his back. He groaned in pleasure at the slight pain, but he longed for this. He was so hungry for her love. There was nothing else in the universe that she wanted more. Not even to go home to her family and friends. Sure, she missed them dearly, but Terrorsaur was all she needed now.
Then, his searching hand found its target, her spark chamber covering. He opened his own and yanked hers open. Starfeather gasped and opened her optics. She loosened her grip and stared at him.
"What are you doing?" she managed to ask breathlessly. He caught her gaze and touched their foreheads together.
"Trust me," he husked and pushed his spark into hers, moaning with possession.
Starfeather gasped again and her optics widened. She could feel a strange energy rushing throughout her body and through her spark. She shuddered violently. What was happening? What was Terrorsaur doing to her? She could never in a million years explain the bliss she felt at that moment. Then, memories that were not her own began flashing through her mind. She saw places and people she had never seen before. She heard voices and sounds and disjointed phrases. She could almost feel what was being felt by the person she was seeing through: pain, sadness, excitement, fear, anger, regret, pride. What were all of these things?
The energy now coursing through both of them was reaching its peak. Suddenly, it hit her. This must be the bond part of bondmate. That's what they were doing right now, binding one to the other to become one forever. 'Til death do they part. She was seeing Terrorsaur's memories, hearing his thoughts and the voices of those that he had known, feeling what he had felt. Now she understood him just a little better.
He too was seeing and hearing things that were in her memories. He saw her family, her best friend, her life before being brought here. He didn't understand everything he saw and heard, but it didn't matter. He felt like he knew a little better now.
There was a great flash and roar of thunder as if to dramatically conclude this special moment. The rain was coming down in torrents, beating against their metal bodies. They barely noticed.
This is too much! she seemed to shriek. She could hardly contain herself. She had to do something to let all her bottled up emotions free. Terrorsaur felt her try to scream.
No, don't end it yet, he pleaded. Before she could pull away, he held behind her head and she screamed into his mouth. The space between their chests shown brightly for a second, then it was all over.
Maybe tonight
Gradually, Terrorsaur drew back to look at her, his spark back in its own chamber, still visible and pulsing rapidly. Starfeather's optics slowly came back on and her body relaxed. She was breathing heavily as her spark calmed down. She smiled tiredly up at him and he down at her.
"What did you do?" she asked softly. She had to make sure it was real and not just a trick of her imagination. It was too good to be true.
"I think you know perfectly well what I did," he replied in a hoarse whisper, moving in to kiss her again.
We'll fly so far away
They spent the whole night there in the soggy grass, just the two of them. The rain drizzled to a stop and the clouds ran away to reveal the shimmering stars and glowing moons in the velvet sky. Shafts of the silvery light illuminated the clearing. The due and raindrops on the grass and leaves of the great oak above them glittered like tiny diamonds as if to symbolize their bond for eternity. They fell asleep together under the inky blue sky, forgetting that they should have gone back to the base, but they wouldn't have cared. They slept until the sun arose at dawn and warmed their damp bodies.
We'll be lost before the dawn...
Starfeather awoke to the sensation of her new mate brushing his fingers down the side of her cheek. She smiled, her optics still closed.
"'Morning Screechy," she murmured.
"'Morning Star," he replied, then leaned over to kiss her forehead then her lips. She responded by snaking her arms around his neck and kissing back.
"The others are probably missing us by now," she reasoned after a while, between kisses.
"So what?" Terrorsaur muttered. "I've finally got you all to myself."
"Oh c'mon... Tell you what, let's go home and we can do whatever you want," she promised with a sly smile.
"Whatever I want?"
"Whatever you want."
"Well then, let's go." He growled playfully as he stood up and pulled her up with him.
"You perv," she giggled. They both transformed and took to the air. They told no one of what they done yet. They would wait for a more appropriate time. However, someone had witnessed some of their banter. It nearly made him sick, but he knew it was now too late to do anything about it... For now.
"Have fun while you can, silly girl," Tarantulas hissed then cackled quietly to no one in particular. "But you'll always be in my shadow! Bwahahaha!"
-x-
Finally, Optimus presented a plan to his troops on how they could find out about what Megatron was planning. He had Airazor and Rattrap pose as a distraction while Tigatron was the one to sneak inside and hack the computer. The plan worked until Deltasurge caught the white tiger. He managed to escape, but a brief battle, if one could call it that, ensued afterward. Tigatron was able to get away with the information.
Now, Starfeather was lying beside her sleeping mate in their quarters, but she couldn't sleep. She felt restless and agitated and deep down, she was afraid. It was like a nightmare that she had first dreamt long ago and had forgotten, but something was said or done to rouse memories of it. She suppressed a shudder of fear as she snuggled closer to Terrorsaur.
The aliens who had made Stonehenge, the floating island, and who had put energon on the planet, were coming...
Everyone was considerably nervous about this, but Starfeather dreaded it. These aliens obviously weren't happy with them. They were unpredictable and powerful. Who knew what they would do to them? They could kill them all. The raven whimpered and buried her face in Terrorsaur's chest. His grip around her tightened reflexively for a moment then relaxed in his state of recharge. She sighed. There was nothing she or anyone could do but wait.
AN: Song: Before the Dawn by Evanescence
