And another chapter!
This one is sort of a break from the team, or at least, most of them.

Hope you enjoy!


Chapter Seven - A Different Seeker

The young seeker paused from his game when he received a comm request.

He recognized the code instantly, even if they hadn't talked in a long time.

"Hey," Skywarp said happily, answering the comm. "What's up?"

After a short silence, an achingly familiar voice replied.

"Hi Skywarp."

Immediately noting the sad tone to his friend's voice, the young seekerling frowned.

"What's wrong, Sky?"

Another short silence.

"It's nothing. It's fine. How are you?"

Skywarp furrowed his optic ridges, wings twitching.

Skyshadow had never lied to him before, but now he felt like she was.

She sure didn't sound fine.

"I'm doing good," the black and purple mechling said, a little less cheery than he had been before.

"Should I try and make her tell me what's wrong?" he wondered to himself.

"That's good," Skyshadow said, tone still quiet. "How are your brothers?"

"They're still Starscream and Thundercracker," Skywarp muttered with a roll of his optics. "Which is good I guess."

Skyshadow made a humming noise, one that he had come to know meant agreement.

"How's your brother?"

Another pause.

"This is getting weird," thought the seekerling.

"He's alright," Skyshadow said, a hint of anger in her tone. "Haven't seen him for awhile though. Too busy in Iacon I guess."

"What'd he do?" hissed Skywarp, frowning again. "If he's been mean to you-"

"Skywarp-" Skyshadow began, interrupting him. "You don't have to go and yell at him, it wasn't really his fault."

"What wasn't?"

Skyshadow, realizing she'd let something slip, let out a muttered curse. Skywarp couldn't help but smirk.

"Learn that one from me?" he asked impishly. "Ya know, Sky, you're good at hiding things from mecha."

He paused, then continued in a more sober tone.

"But not from me."

Skyshadow sighed quietly, signalling to the seekerling that she was going to tell him whatever it was that was bothering her.

Whatever it was that had prompted her to call him.

"I'm just annoyed with him cause he didn't come back to Kalis for-" Skyshadow's voice caught, stopping mid sentence.

"For what?" Skywarp felt a feeling of dread creep up his spinal strut. His wings flicked in agitation.

"Carrier was offlined, Skywarp."

The black and purple's spark dropped.

"No wonder she's upset."

"I'm- I'm sorry, Sky," Skywarp finally managed to say. "What- What happened?"

"The Decepticons," returned Skyshadow with a growl. "They attacked the borders of the city; Carrier was there for some reason.

"Only I could make it for the funeral."

Skywarp now recalled the orn one of the Armada captains, one of his mentors, had apparently collapsed to the floor holding his hand over his chest.

How after the apparent excruciating pain had passed, told the surrounding mecha that his sparkmate had just been offlined.

The young seekerling hadn't been told which captain.

Now he knew.

It had been Skyshadow's sire.

"Your sire and Bumblebee couldn't come?"

Skyshadow replied instantly, and shortly. "No. Neither could get leave.

"Neither could come."

Another silence, both younglings not knowing what else to say.

Skywarp frowned deeply. His friend, one he had once been so close to, was hurting deeply. And he didn't know how to comfort her.

His wings drooped, touching the floor of his room he was sitting on.

He never had been very good with words. Even though he talked a lot, he never knew what to say at times like these.

"I would have come," he finally said quietly. "If I had known."

"Why would you want to be there?" Skyshadow asked, confused. "Carrier almost hated you. Why would you want to come?"

Skywarp shook his helm, even if she couldn't see him. His expression changed from one of sadness to one of determination.

"I wouldn't have come for her. I would've come for you."

"They wouldn't let you," Skyshadow said quickly, as if she didn't want to believe him.

Skywarp knew she probably didn't want to hope that she'd see him.

It had been a while since they'd seen each other faceplate to faceplate. Ever since the Armada had all but joined the Decepticons.

Under the direction of one of his own brothers.

It was a wonder that Skyshadow even talked to him still.

Forcing a grin, Skywarp answered. "Are you kidding? I'd like to see them keep me here?"

"Why? Cause of your fancy warp drive?" Skyshadow asked, a hint of sarcasm to her tone.

"Naw," replied the seekerling, a real grin on his faceplate now. "Cause I'd just leave anyways if they said no. Kalis is just across the border, I'd be back before they knew it.

"Remember? I used to do that all the time."

Back before Vos had been mostly destroyed.

Skyshadow snickered quietly. "And my creators almost caught you several times when you were sneaking around our house."

"But they didn't," grinned Skywarp mischievously. "And those were only the times I didn't tell you I was coming. Otherwise you snuck out and they never knew."

"Sire knew sometimes," corrected the femmeling. "But he likes you."

"I know he does. Says I'm one of the best junior Armada members," boasted Skywarp proudly.

He'd never gotten praise like that from Starscream. His older brother thought he was just an idiot.

"I'm sure you are," Sky said softly. "I wish I could come and watch you practice, like I used to."

"I know," Skywarp replied sadly. "Me too."

Another silence.

Skywarp was starting to hate that they had them. The silences. It was starting to drive him nuts.

It shouldn't be like this.

Both were thinking, he was sure, about how they couldn't visit each other due to being in opposite factions.

Both understood the others reasons for choosing their side, despite not agreeing with it.

Mostly Sky didn't agree with his decision.

But they both had brothers that they had followed. And couldn't leave.

"Maybe-" Skywarp started, knowing already that his friend would right out refuse the idea. "Maybe I could come, just for a tiny visit. We could meet somewhere and- "

He was not expecting to get shot down so quick though.

"No," Skyshadow said quickly and firmly. "You can't, Skywarp!"

Immediately realizing and regretting her harsh tone, she sighed.

"I'm sorry, Skywarp. But you know why we can't. Even this is risky."

"I know," the seekerling said sadly. "But we could make it work, couldn't we?"

Skyshadow paused for several astrokliks before answering.

"Skywarp, most seekers that still are in the Armada are fully with the Decepticon cause. The Autobots know this, we've seen it.

"If you came, if someone saw you flying over Autobot or maybe even neutral territory, they may not hesitate to shoot you down."

"Don't you have seekers on your side?" Skywarp protested.

"We do. But not many. And we have to tell some groups of mecha to let them pass unharmed. Very detailed descriptions of us have been passed around so we don't accidentally get shot.

"Some Autobots are a bit trigger happy when it comes to seekers."

Noting that Skyshadow was including herself in the group, Skywarp felt especially bad for the Autobot seekers.

Were the Decepticon ones really that bad as to have created such a bad reputation for Vosians?

"It would be too dangerous, Skywarp. I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt."

Skywarp sighed. "Same here, Sky. You can't come here either."

"No."

Skywarp heard other voices faintly from Skyshadow's end of the comm.

"I have to go before someone finds me and asks who I'm talking to," she said urgently. "Thanks for listening, Skywarp. I really do mean it."

"You're welcome," the seekerling said, trying to keep the sad tone out of his voice. "I'll call you next time."

"Okay."

Skyshadow stopped for an astroklik, likely listening to the approaching mecha.

"I miss you. Goodbye, Skywarp."

Before Skywarp could answer, she'd cut the comm.

Sighing deeply, he picked up his game controller, turning back to his holovid screen.

But he didn't resume the game.

Sitting on the floor, leaning against his berth, he stared at the paused screen, not really seeing it.

Instead, he was replaying memories in his helm, ones he had so many other times.

"I miss you too," he whispered.


Just two kids who used to be best buddies separated by warring factions. You know.. They don't even know how bad the war will be, and how it will effect their friendship. I have a chapter written of sorta how they met/became friends, but I'm just unsure of where I'll put it.. Either this story or Lost Chapters probably..

Not sure how often Skywarp will pop up in either this story or SF, but we'll see.

Thanks for reading! I'd love to read any thoughts or comments you have :)

Until next time, stay safe!