Showdown: Duel
"Greetings Mighty Megatron. Safe journey I trust?" Starscream smirked at the image of Megatron on the view screen.
"Like you care." Megatron growled. "I'm sending Mixmaster, Scavenger, and Longhaul back home with Astrotrain. I will be going over the major plans with Shockwave, and I will return within two earth days. If I find there has been disaster at the base you'll wish I'd blasted you after the Bruticus incident, and where the blast is Soundwave?!"
On cue the door opened to reveal Soundwave and Aviator. Soundwave shook his head and walked over to his seat at the command computer.
Megatron and Starscream looked at the cassette deck, and then back at Aviator, who drew out an energon saber from subspace.
"Commander Starscream! I challenge you to a duel, utilizing non-projectile weapons. Do you accept, or are you afraid to fight with out your precious null ray?" Aviator smirked pointing the Saber at the Air Commander; he was determined not to show Starscream's words had affected him in the slightest.
Starscream smirked back. "Why Aviator, this so sudden. I don't know what to say."
"What's this about?" Megatron look to Soundwave, who gave him an 'I tried to stop him' look, then turned back to Aviator.
"I'm going to perform my function, what I was built for. I challenge you, Starscream. What is your answer?" Aviator answered firmly.
"Aviator. You know you're not ready for this, so why are you throwing your life away?" Megatron raised an optic brow.
"I accept." Starscream spoke before Aviator could answer Megatron's question.
"Wait a minute! I haven't approved this yet!" Megatron demanded.
"Oh mighty Megatron, surely you would not undermine the Decepticon rebellious, fighting spirit." Starscream said in a mock-valiant voice.
"No, but I also don't want my Air Commander and a member of my best construction team beating the living slag out of each other while I'm on Cybertron." Megatron shot back.
"Look at it this way, Starscream and I are the latest thing, it'll keep everyone entertained in your absence Megatron." Aviator spoke calmly.
"He's got a point." Starscream smirked again.
"Yes he does." Megatron paused and thought. And it would keep Starscream busy so he can't do anything behind my back.
"Very well. I Approve." Megatron announced. "Have your fight."
Starscream nodded and turned to Aviator. "After you."
"You first." Aviator replied.
"Clever boy." Starscream smiled and walked toward the door with Aviator following close behind.
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"Guys!"
Skywarp burst into the Decepticon lounge where, The Stunticons and the Combaticons were watching Brawl and Dragstrip duke it out.
"Aviator's taking on Starscream! Let's go!"
Skywarp dashed down the Hallway with the two gestalt teams running close behind. Aviator vs. Starscream was much better than Dragstrip vs. Brawl.
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Since Aviator had made the challenge and set the rules, Starscream got to choose the battleground. Aviator watched, almost mesmerized by the changing landscapes they flew over. From blue water, green grass, to red earth and rock. He'd only seen a little bit of earth on his outings with Longhaul. Sure he'd been to Cybertron too, but once and it was only for a short time. He only went there when he heard about the mining accident from Longhaul, and once he was there he was so worried about Mixmaster, he had not taken the time to look around. However, he had noticed how different they were. Cybertron with its cool grays and glowing lights shimmering, and glistening almost identical to the sky above it. The same kind of sky that hung above the planet Earth. Earth with all of it's changing colors and environments, in some ways, Aviator found it much more exciting than beautiful Cybertron. Though it was not like he would not respond to an order to destroy everything. Still, both Cybertron and Earth had their good points.
Aviator was snapped out of his thoughts when he saw Starscream veer down toward the earth, transformed into robot mode and landed on a rock tower just below. Aviator followed suit. Starscream drew out his energon saber, as did Aviator.
"So this is it." Aviator said coldly.
"So it is." Starscream smirked.
The two opponents were about to move to attack when they heard voice call from above.
"Wait!"
Aviator and Starscream looked to see Onslaught, followed by the other Combaticons and about half the Decepticon army. The Combaticon leader landed beside the Air Commander and the Constructicon seeker.
"Come out to watch the fun Onslaught?" Starscream inquired amused.
"Of course, you two are the most anticipated fight of the year, next to you vs. Soundwave, and the ultimate battle you vs. Megatron. But this is still a special event and it must be done properly." Onslaught said matter-of-factly.
Starscream sighed as he watched the other Decepticons land around them, and noticed the fact that Aviator did not seem too unnerved at the idea of having an audience. "Might as well."
"All right. Gentlemen to me." Starscream and Aviator step to either side of Onslaught." Now let us go over the rules: no biting, no scratching, and no transforming. You may not throw your blades, and this being a non-projectile match you may not use any other weapon than the sabers you have out of subspace now. Body parts don't count as weapons. Now if quarter is asked--"
"No quarter will be asked." Aviator interrupted coldly.
"Or given." Starscream smirked back.
"Then move ten paces away and commence on my mark." Onslaught finished and stepped out of the way of the combatants as they backed away from each other for ten paces.
A clap from Onslaught's hands broke the silence. Then came the sounds of rushing air and dust, then the clash of energon sabers as the Air Commander and the Constructicon Seeker met in battle.
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Astrotrain landed in the cargo bay where Scrapper, Hook and Bonecrusher were waiting. The second Astrotrain's hatch was open; Mixmaster dashed out faster than a photon charge from a blaster, followed by Scavenger and Longhaul.
"Scrapper, Hook, where's Aviator? I must talk to him." Mixmaster looked frantic.
"Good question. We were looking for him when we got the message you guys were coming back." Bonecrusher answered. "Figured he'd be here already."
Horror etched across Mixmaster's face at hearing this.
"Mixmaster?" Scrapper placed a hand on the chemist shoulder.
"Oh Primus, what-what have I done?" Mixmaster whispered.
"Mix, what happened?" Scrapper asked quietly, but urgently
"I-I-I told him the truth." Mixmaster said a little louder. "He asked me why we had built him, and I told him the truth, I did. Oh, Primus, his face. His face when I told him, such sorrow, such sorrow there was."
"Why would he ask that?" Hook raised an optic brow.
"He might have overheard our conversation earlier." Scrapper's visor widened slightly.
"Then he would have heard that he should not become part of Devastator--"
"What?!" Mixmaster practically screamed out.
"--Until we figure out how to do it without destroying his mind." Hook corrected.
"But what if he only caught part of what we said...." Bonecrusher trailed off.
"He would think he means nothing to us." Scavenger finished, his voice quavering.
Hook jaw dropped slightly.
"We gotta find 'im!" Longhaul shouted.
"But where could he be?" Scrapper worried.
"Taking on Starscream."
The Constructicons swiveled to look at Astrotrain. The triple-changer was surprised himself; he'd never seen such alarmed looks on all of the Constructicons' faces.
"Blitzwing just contacted me, he says if I don't get my chassis over to him quick, I'm gonna miss out on the big duel between Starscream and Aviator." Astrotrain said calmly.
"You must take-take us there now, you must!" Mixmaster ran toward the triple-changer
"Okay, okay don't get your cables in a knot." Astrotrain transformed into space shuttle mode. The triple changer figured it would be wise to help the distressed Construction crew. It was always wise to be on the good side of the mechs in charge of repairing you. "Hop in."
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It was no use. Aviator knew it. Wherever he struck, wherever he attacked, Starscream always blocked or dodged, he predicted every one of the younger jet's moves. This ability, Aviator thought, must come with the Air Commander's accumulated experience. Soundwave was right; challenging the infamous Starscream was suicide. However, Aviator had no regret, none whatsoever. If he died, so what? He wouldn't be missed; he was just a tool after all. At the very least he'd die challenging the legendary Starscream.
Just a tool.
Tools don't become part of Devastator.
Wouldn't be missed.
So far, Starscream had just been defending against Aviator's attacks. Aviator was beginning to wonder when the Air Commander was going to start going on the offensive. It was then Aviator came to a realization that made him seethe inside.
Aviator pushed away from Starscream. The Air Commander tilted his head in surprise, but he was still smirking. The two combatants were just levitating in midair, even though they were in bipedal mode; all transformers were flight capable whether they were jets or not. Aviator looked down at the Decepticon spectators and knew exactly what Starscream was pulling.
"You're making a fool of me!" Aviator shouted. "I challenged you to a fight, so fight me!"
"Whatever do you mean? I was just--" Starscream purred.
"Giving me more of your slag! Always twisting what's true and what's not. Stop it!"
Starscream frowned and his optics narrowed, voice turning colder than ice. "Too bad, I had hoped of giving our fellow Decepticons a good show, but if death is what you want, so be it!"
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"Mixmaster? Are you all right?" Scavenger touched the chemist's shoulder plate.
"No. I-I'm not!" the chemist hissed.
Hook and Scrapper exchanged worried glances, as did Longhaul and Bonecrusher.
"Astrotrain how much longer?" Scrapper demanded.
"Look if I go any faster I run the risk of blowing something, which I might add will stop us dead in our tracks. Give me a break I just brought you guys back from Cybertron."
"Take the risk!" shouted Mixmaster. "Get us there and we will give you any upgrade you want!"
"Now you're talkin'!" Astrotrain's enthusiastic voice came over the com. The Constructicons were jolted back when the triple changer kicked on his thrusters to full blast and took off.
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He is so fast. He knew everything.
Aviator at the same time feared and marveled at Starscream's attacks. He was just barely keeping Starscream's sword point from piercing his vital systems. Even still by the calm amused expression Aviator could tell Starscream was still holding back. The young jet couldn't imagine what the Air Commander would be like if he put his full capabilities into the mix.
The youth saw the Air Commander's weapon coming at his core. He pushed himself to the right but he had not seen the attack coming soon enough. The sharp blade glanced his left shoulder, but it stabbed direct on target through his left wing.
Aviator let a small gasp escape his lips. Getting hit in the wings in a battle like this was not particularly maiming, but it was as painful as the burn of a smelting pit. Starscream pulled the blade back as quickly as he'd stabbed it in and smirked.
"And that's only the beginning." Starscream sneered, looking for the cowering fear in Aviator's visor. He found none.
"Come then!" the younger jet spat.
Starscream frowned and felt his anger flare at not finding what he was looking for.
"Stupid! Stupid! Child!" Starscream snarled and blasted just past the young seeker, swung his arm around, sword in hand and slashed across the child's back.
While his opponent was trying to recover himself, the Air Commander raised his sword again, then slashed it downwards, slicing Aviator's right wing clean off. Before Aviator even realized this had happened, the left wing met its twin's fate. Aviator's flight systems shorted out and he began to fall. He clawed at the air hoping to find something to hold on to. Surprisingly enough, something caught him.
Starscream had hold of Aviator's left arm, whose sword was still clenched in his right hand. Starscream smirked down at his doomed opponent.
"Tell me. Where are your precious Constructicons?" The Air Commander sneered. Then there it was, the fear he had been looking for, revealed itself from behind Aviator's visor. "They didn't even come to see if you would succeed or fail."
"Stop it."
"Now why would they do that?"
"Stop it!" Aviator fear turned to anger as he screamed and brought his sword-laden right hand up and slashed at the Air Commander, who easily blocked the strike with his own weapon.
Starscream frowned, cold and sinister. The games were over. "That was the wrong answer boy."
Aviator felt horror then shock as Starscream brought the saber around and sliced right through the young jet's left arm, severing the only thing keeping him in the air.
Aviator fell.
There was no hope.
He had failed.
Just like in his dream.
Rejected.
Just a tool that was no longer needed.
Aviator didn't even feel the pain as his chest smashed against the ground. The pain he felt in his spark drowned out everything else.
He had failed.
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Mixmaster shivered.
"We have to get to him before...before..." Mixmaster trailed off, while Scavenger petted him on the back.
"I don't get it, Mix." Bonecrusher spoke up, " One minute you're Jack Frost to the kid; the next you're nearly having a nervous breakdown over him."
"When I was Jack Frost, it was before Aviator saved my life." Mixmaster said barely above a whisper.
"What?!"
"Oh Primus!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"When?!"
"How?!"
"After-after Longhaul and Scavenger went home I...I...St-st-stop look-look-looking at me like that!"
"Like what?" Scrapper spoke with both surprise and concern.
"Like-like-like you are now." The chemist put his hands on Scrapper's shoulders. "Like Starscream and Motormaster your optics, ever acknowledging and reminding me of my-my-my "problem.' It hurts. It hurts so-so much to see it coming from you, all of you. Your gracious, unrelenting pity. I love you…and yet I hate you for that."
Mixmaster gently rested his head on Scrapper's chest. "Forgive me I know you mean well, but-but-but it still hurts so much. Then Motormaster and Starscream, their jibes finally broke me. On Cybertron, it-it-it was so easy. The smelting pits, I wanted to throw myself in."
"Oh Mixmaster." Scavenger said, placing a hand on the distraught chemist's head.
"I did. I was falling, but he pulled me back." Mixmaster whispered, his voice quavered, but surprisingly had stopped stuttering. "Aviator pulled me back. His optics they don't, they don't look at me with that pity. They don't constantly remind me of the terribleness in me. That's all I've ever wanted, just for someone to look at me like that. Just once. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I said, but I had to say it. Do you hate me for that?"
"No." Scrapper said placing a hand on Mixmaster's back. "I understand. Don't worry we'll get him back."
"I take it Aviator has become your sanity?" Hook more asked than said.
"He is." Mixmaster replied quietly, straightening up.
"Glad somthin' has." Longhaul almost chuckled as Bonecrusher nodded in agreement.
Surprisingly enough, instead of looking insulted, Mixmaster only smiled at Longhaul's remark.
"Me too."
"You guys better knock it off or I'm gonna regurgitate my energon." Astrotrain's voice came over the com.
"I think I have ta' go with the triple-changer on this one." Bonecrusher grunted.
The Constructicons let out a simultaneous chuckle, relieving some of the terrible tension, but then they fell into a serious silence.
"He did defend me." Scavenger broke the silence. "We should do so for him. And I've gotten used to having him around. He is always so happy. I miss it him already just by the thought of him not being here."
"He's the only one who can convince me my job's not so bad. I'm not complainin'," Longhaul offered.
"I say we keep him just for that." Bonecrusher smirked.
"He's a quick learner and he's not sloppy. It would be nice to have an extra pair of dexterous hands like mine." Hook stated calmly.
"His mind is indeed a lot more stable than I could have imagined." Scrapper said gravely. "Though I don't know how stable it is now."
"It will be when he knows we're with him again. I'm sure of it." affirmed Mixmaster.
"I hope we get there in time." worried Scavenger.
"Primus, I pray so." Mixmaster leaned back against Astrotrain's hull.
"Aviator..."
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Aviator's visor flickered.
His mind woke up.
Aviator...
I failed. They have no reason to keep me.
You don't make me nervous.
Huh?
I've lost my stutter. I can speak.
Mixmaster.
You were so brave.
Scavenger.
You're so delightfully innocent.
Scrapper.
Don't worry about your willpower. I'm part a' you too, remember?
Longhaul.
Damn right he's a Constructicon!
Bonecrusher.
Just remember boy, it's good to fight, but do it in moderation. You'll save yourself a lot of pain and grief.
Hook.
Why am I doing this? Why did I doubt? Hook is right. Maybe, it was all a mistake. Maybe I heard wrong. I didn't even talk to them, I read their private words, I doubted them...
Oh Primus may they forgive me. I have to tell them. I have to tell them how sorry I am.
Aviator heard footsteps coming toward him.
"Hey Starscream! How about you let me finish him off?" Motormaster sneered.
"No way! You had your chance! You might let him escape again." Starscream spat with a smirk upon his face. All of the Decepticon spectators burst out laughing at Motormaster's expense, who growled murderously at everyone.
"What a shame. So young." Thundercracker sighed after his chuckles at Motormaster had died down.
"So what? Many die younger than him." Skywarp shrugged.
"Yeah, but those are drones." Thundercracker pointed out.
"True." Skywarp watched Starscream walk casually over to the fallen Aviator.
"I wonder what made him do it? He didn't seem like the stupid type." Thundercracker pondered.
"Oh well, too late now." Skywarp shrugged again.
"Still, it seems like a waste."
"Hey kid! Only 20 seconds until you die!" Ramjet called out in a singsong voice. "Serves you right!"
A disgusted look came across the Thundercracker's face for a microsecond when he glanced back at Ramjet, but said nothing.
Die?! No I can't die yet! Not until I've seen them again. I have to live!
The young jet shivered.
Everyone was clearly surprised when Aviator, despite the gaping gash in his back, his smashed up chest, and the leaking stump where his arm used to be, managed to slowly pull himself to his feet.
"Starscream, you asked why the Constructicons did not come, I betrayed them, that's why. Now I ask that you refrain from killing me until I can see them, and ask for their forgiveness."
The Air Commander smiled. "Neither asked nor given. That was the agreement, you came to your realization too late."
Aviator's visor widened. "But--"
"A deal's a deal."
"Please, I must!" Aviator's voice was turning angry.
"Life's not fair, is it?" Starscream smirked.
Aviator's optics began to glow as his right hand clenched around the hilt of the sword he was holding.
"Get out of my way!" The young jet growled dangerously.
"No."
"Get out!" Aviator screamed and launched himself toward Starscream, sword out in front, wielding it by the one arm he had left.
Starscream was clearly surprised at the sudden burst of speed from his terribly wounded opponent, considering he barely got out of the way of the attack. However, he soon felt a sharp pain in his cheek under his right optic. It was then he realized the child had caught him. Few knew that if you were quick enough, and angled a sword, or any other pointy ended non-projectile weapon, just right at the right time you could drive it right through Starscream's head. Fortunately for Starscream, Aviator was greatly slowed by the lost of energon, but the kid still had figured it out. The blade cut.
Starscream growled when he heard Aviator coming at him. Starscream whirled around, moved out of the way of the attack, grabbed Aviator's arm with one hand, and with the other brought up his sword and ended the fight...
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Mixmaster gasped, his hand immediately going to his abdomen. He looked down. Everything was intact; his internal diagnostics indicated everything was nominal. He didn't feel pain really; he just felt something.
"Did you feel that?" He whispered to the others.
"I felt something." Scavenger shivered.
"Me too." Scrapper placed a hand on his abdomen as well.
"I did." Hook spoke up.
"Now that ya' mention it I felt somethin' too." Longhaul admitted.
"Yeah." Bonecrusher added in a whisper.
"Maybe you're all getting air sickness. No worries though, we'll be there in about thirty seconds, prepare to unload." Astrotrain called.
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Aviator felt the horrible pain flow through his body as Starscream's blade pierced his abdomen and came out through his back. His own sword dropped from his hand.
Starscream pulled his sword back from its barely living sheath. Aviator staggered back and probably would have fallen over had he not backed into a rock first. Aviator had his hand over his abdomen feebly trying to keep his energon in. He slumped to his knees leaving a trail of lost energon behind him. He used his now energon stained hand to stable himself against the rock, to try and stand, but it was no good. He had lost too much. What little was left was being diverted to his vital systems, taking it away from his lower body motor relays.
"Poor deluded child." Starscream frowned. "Don't you get it? Once you make a mistake, once you do something incredibly stupid, once you betray, you can never go back. You can say you're sorry all you want, but life isn't like that!"
Aviator looked up at Starscream; there was no fear written on his face, just confusion.
"They never come back you understand! They never stand by you. The minute you show any kind of difference they curse and abandon you!" Starscream shrieked. "Don't you get it!? They will never come back!"
"This isn't about me anymore is it?" Aviator choked out, "what happened to you?"
Starscream's optics widen at this, and even more so when he saw Aviator's visor melt from confusion to not fear, sorrow or even hate, but to a look of pity, almost understanding. The Air Commander felt his anger flare, Aviator was pitying him? Him?! Starscream the mighty!
He backhanded the young jet across the face, leaving a good-sized dent. Aviator shuddered as he leaned on the hard surface.
The two jets were so engrossed with their actions toward each other; they failed to notice Astrotrain land.
"Normally I would consider killing you a mercy, but under the present circumstances it seems it wouldn't be. That's good, because I don't feel like being merciful today." Starscream sneered, raising his sword above his head, clearly aiming to slice it right down through Aviator's brain module.
Aviator shut off his visor. Waiting for the deathblow, praying silently to Primus, wishing he could see the Constructicons one last time.
He heard the clang of metal against metal and a sharp gasp of pain, but it wasn't from him. Aviator turned his visor back online and looked up. Instead of seeing Starscream, he found himself looking into a face he never expected to see again.
"Mix-Mixmaster?" Aviator whispered. Mixmaster had his hands on the rock for support and his body arched protectively overhead, and the young jet soon saw why he was not dead. Starscream's sword lay embedded in Mixmaster's shoulder, where his head would have been.
"Hey, Star Traveler." Mixmaster whispered, smiling back, his injured shoulder shaking terribly.
By this time the other Constructicons came up.
"All right, Flyboy! Step away from the Loony Bin and the kid right now!" Bonecrusher pointed his blaster at the space right between Starscream's optics.
"How dare you threaten me? This is totally and completely an act of treachery!"
"And we will totally and completely shoot ya' in the head." Longhaul brought up his blaster to Starscream's temple.
"This is getting pretty good." Brawl smirked, while the other Combaticons nodded in agreement. They wouldn't kill Starscream, but they wouldn't mind seeing him get threatened by the usually stoic Constructicons.
"All right, ready Mixmaster?" Hook took hold of the sword.
The chemist nodded, and with a grunt, Hook pulled the blade from his brother's shoulder. Mixmaster slowly got to his feet; while the Constructicon surgeon knelt down to examine Aviator's injuries. Scavenger hovered worriedly, waiting and watching for any sign for him to do something to help. His visor widened when he finally saw the full extent of what the battle had wrought.
"Longhaul, help me pick him up." Hook called.
"Holy Primus." Longhaul rasped when he saw Aviator.
"It wasn't through the core, thankfully, but he has sustained other major damages. He's losing energon quickly. I can save him, but we have to get him back to base within the hour." Hook stated urgently. "Astrotrain, get your chassis over here!"
"Damn kid, you look like slag." Longhaul said gently cradling the young jet in his arms.
"You-You came.... Forgive me?" Aviator choked out.
"For what?" Scavenger had Aviator's hand in his own.
"I...I.... I read your journal entries." Aviator sobbed, oily tears spilling down his cheeks. "I'm sorry, I know it was wrong, but after what Starscream said I was so afraid, I---"
He was interrupted when Hook placed four fingers over his lips to hush him. "We don't want you to die, but you are wasting your energon on words that make no difference to us now."
Aviator smiled in relief, then the light faded from his visor as he fell into stasis lock.
"They do make a difference. I knew Starscream had a hand in this! I-I-I knew it!" Mixmaster hissed, clutching his leaking shoulder. "But I will ensure he never does again!"
"All right people, fight's over, there's nothin' ta' see here," Bonecrusher yelled at the Decepticon spectators. "Ya' heard me! Scram!"
"Starscream, this is your last warning: leave now and we will overlook what has happened." Scrapper pointed at the Air Commander.
"No!" Mixmaster pushed past Scrapper raising his blaster. "He's not getting away with this!"
"Mix! Stop!" Scrapper knocked the chemist's arm up just as he pulled the trigger, and the blast went harmlessly over Starscream's head.
"Enough tragedy has happened today. Don't add yourself to it. I beg you!" Scrapper wrestled with Mixmaster for the blaster and managed to pry it out of his hand.
"Can't you keep your people under control, Scrapper?!" Starscream shrieked.
"You shut your mouth!" Scrapper screamed back. "Your poison tongue has nearly driven both Mixmaster and Aviator to get themselves killed! Don't you ever do this again to us or, superior officer or not, you will be crushed."
With that Scrapper led Mixmaster to Astrotrain where Longhaul, Hook and Scavenger had already carefully loaded Aviator inside. Bonecrusher in the mean time was walking back to the shuttle with Aviator's wings, and amputated arm.
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First, Big thanks to Lady Shera for being my beta reader.
*Phew!* sorry about the long wait folks, college suddenly got really, really hard. Just one more chapter after this and Aviator's origin story will be complete.
Anyway, I'm really curious as to the reviews to this chapter. I want to see if people want Aviator to live or die. Look forward to hearing from you. If he does live, he will most definitely appear in future stories.
I just want to say that I never had any intention of having Aviator win this fight with Starscream. That was the point of my story. The Constructicons eventually didn't care about Aviator being better than Starscream. They liked Aviator for Aviator.
However once "Aviator" is completed, I will switch my focus completely to "When We Were Young," and get that finished.
Till Next Time!
-Vega Sailor