Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Armada. Period.
I'm actually doing a Tf fic for once! I've always been wanting to write one, but I haven't been able to thanks to my Sonic fic I like as much as my Tf fiction I'm going to create… oi… if only I could finish my sonic fiction… eh, I'm ranting, again. I'm hoping it turns out the way I would want it, be it that I get flamed, or cheered for it. –Shrug-.
Setting: End of Armada.
Time: After the end of Armada, two months after the Transformers' departure from Earth back to Cybertron.
Faith in You[Earth]
"Aw, man, that's a bummer." Mumbled Carlos, when Rad told him previously of having to do his chores. The Chicano merely passed a sigh out of boredom; just standing on Rad's porch in front of his home doorway didn't help much to subdue his absolute monotony. However, an idea came to light. Brightly looking to his ever-vigilant friend, Carlos suggested a thought.
"Hey, why don't I help you get it done faster?"
Rad, who seemed busy for a moment with the doorway open, heard what his buddy had to say. Well, that can't be a bad idea…
"Sure. Come on in and make yourself at home… for a moment. Then you can help me with the trash that's kind of… accumulated. Heh, mom and dad have been busy lately, so I thought I'd help them out when they're not home."
It was so thoroughly boring, having nothing else to do. Their best friends, the minicons, had left with the Transformers back to Cybertron. Knowing that there was peace was good, but … it just didn't go very well with Carlos… and especially, Alexis. She hadn't been fairing well. Not after the event that rocked the foundation to her heart.
"Ya know… we could invite Alexis over and-"
"Don't think about it, Carlos," Interrupted Rad. "She's kind of depressed. I've tried to help her, but it doesn't help much to talk about it, or try to forget it. Nothing seems to work. It's as if she was very attached to Starscream."
"Dude, I don't know how and why girls and women work like that. I mean, yeah, we were pretty upset when Starscream died, but don't you think she's pushing it too far with the whole depression stuff?"
"No. It's common… from what I hear from dad, when you lose a loved one; you tend to feel… uh… well, like, having a piece of yourself missing. Yeah, that's it."
"You sure? I've lost a lot of pets and I loved them all, but I don't feel like I'm missing anything."
Rad made a face at Carlos, carrying a box load of junky items. While they were discussing their female friend's condition, they also happened to be listened in on by none other than Alexis. From a distance, she seemed hurt by what Carlos was even saying. How could she even think of coming over to Rad's house, especially at the wrong time?
"No, not like that," He seemed confused for a moment, but continued on. "I mean, when you really love someone. You're attached to her/him/it, and you just won't let go... No matter what. It's like my grandfather. I liked him and my grandmother so much; I wished they would never go away. Time is never fair…" He sighed at the end of his sentence.
"Uh, dude, don't look now," Carlos nervously pointed out as Alexis approached the box-filled boys; disappointed and saddened to overhear what just happened to be a gossip. "Err… Hey Alexis. What's up?"
"What's up? … what's up?? I'll tell you what's up!" She got really defensive of herself. Just hearing what he said made her absolutely mad and infuriated. Never mess with a woman and her inner workings of her mind and matters… "What's up with you complaining about me? I heard your talk. So, don't worm your way out of it."
"Hey, whoa. I did mean to, Alexis. Sheesh, chill out! I'm just worried about you, that's all. I mean, uh… well, you being depressed and all, it kind of makes us worried."
"Nice to know someone even cares," She added a sour attitude, but gradually she let go of her anger. They were just talking about her, so why even bother getting angry, to spook them out of conversing about her behavior? Or press them to gossip more of her attitude? She didn't know what to even do at this moment. "Wait. Guys. Sorry, I'm just concerned you guys were dissing me. That's all. I came by to cheer up a bit. It's not helping, but I'm trying to… at least."
What a relief, Carlos thought. I thought she was going to murder me for it…
"I'm glad you came by, want to help out?" Rad asked, turning the conversation around in a different direction.
"Well, okay. I don't mind. What are you guys doing, anyway?" Alexis inquired wearily at the sight of the boys carrying boxes around to the front of the curb.
"Eh, Rad asked me to help with chores, so I did."
"Carlos… you lent your help because you gave the idea," He gave Carlos another face. "The idea to go out to the skate park afterwards."
Carlos made his own embarrassed face, with a nervous chuckle.
"Oh… I see. Well, you two can go have fun after we're done. I'm going to be heading back home… my computer's got this weird bug on it just recently, nothing serious, but I've got to erase it."
"Hey, sounds good to me. Head towards the back of the kitchen, you can't miss the boxes, then."
"Alright."
The two boys finished placing the cardboard boxes down to the curb. Only a few more to go for now, but with Alexis' help, things sure would be a lot easier for them. Usually, though, Alexis doesn't get viruses on her computer, unless someone planted it there on purpose. Rad shrugged it off, figuring it might have originated from e-mail online, while Carlos didn't think a thing about it.
[Evening]
Alexis opened the door to her mother's home. It was pretty much quiet except for the fact that the dog was barking insanely to where, if she had gone to sleep, she would have thrown a shoe at it. Pacing herself, she opened the backyard doorway open for the little terrier her mom got a year ago. Alexis doesn't mind dogs, as long as they don't go into her room and tear a shoe up or two.
After shutting the door, she heads down the hallway. Pictures of many people hung on the white walls. Pictures when she was little, of her entire family together, her mother and father, them individually, and her cousins and relatives, Alexis couldn't remember when she saw them last. She gave a smile to her dad and mom's picture. However, the frown appeared and turning away in an instant, she vanished into the dim-lighted portion of her room where her laptop lay on a wooden furbished desk. Losing her father when she was little was painful for her heart, just like she lost the one she truly cared for the most on Cybertron.
The little green stone pendant, the one she had as a good luck charm, laid next to the computer. Even with the light dimmed, it still glittered, like a star would shine so brightly in the dark night skies. Taking a seat at the desk, the laptop opened as she pulled the screen away from the keyboards, and began to hook up connections within the back. Once finished, she switched it on.
Right… gotta work on that bug that's been nagging at my computer… but, I wonder. Why would I have a bug? I have the latest anti-virus software with the highest quality, yet, this one got though, Alexis pondered.
The screen lit up. It had a username and a password port within a small box.
She types in the Username. [Nightfire]
The password. [1093SN78]
Bingo. She had her password memorized from day one. Now, to search out that bug that's been bothering her computer's normal system operations. Alexis thought it was nothing, so she attempted to use the anti-virus software, but it detected no viruses or bugs anywhere on the hard drive. Not even her floppy or CD drive, which were separate.
"I'll try again, this time. It always seems to come back when I'm on. I'm going to catch it and identify the bug, then delete it."
Alexis looked pretty determined to seek out the problem.
Double clicking on the icon she used for the anti-virus software, she clicked on 'SEARCH DRIVES', and a process began. It sifted files and every contained data that was stored in the programs, and the computer itself. Well, so far… it's been ten seconds and almost a third of her memory has been checked. This was frustrating. Why isn't it showing up?
Something on the desktop caught her attention on the screen. Something, at the side that was showing up in the space background she chose was moving. One of the stars was shifting to a different spot on the screen! Alexis minimized the software down into the taskbar, and watched the moving star. Her screen wasn't supposed to do that… or was it that late that she was getting drowsy?
Curiously, she chased the moving object down with her pointer and clicked on it. Whatever it did, it opened a plain window. It was nameless at the title bar. At the bottom, it appeared to be some sort of chat-like device, but… why? And what sort of virus would open a software if this was the bug that was attacking her computer?
A screen name appeared with dialog, and she read it.
Xyrodawn: Alexis…
Surprised, she moved the pointer into the text box, and typed in a few words. Getting mad to think that one of the boys might be pulling a prank on her, since there are computers at the library. And they do have access to chat software.
Nightfire: Carlos? Rad? If it's either one of you, I'm soooo going to KILL the both of you for scaring me!
A response.
Xyrodawn: I am neither.
Nightfire: Then… who are you?
Xyrodawn: Help me… please, I beg of you.
Alexis backed away from the computer for a moment, scared shit that this person or thing knows her name, and even probably hacked into her computer systems.
Xyrodawn: I won't hurt you. I promise.
Nightfire: …Help you? Who are you?
Xyrodawn: My name is of no importance. You're in danger of being eliminated, flee while you can… that is how you can help me.
"Flee while I can? And what danger?!? This isn't making any sense!"
Alexis shouted in confusion, throwing herself away from the computer in confusion and fear. The user responded again, as if it knew how she was feeling. …but, that's impossible!
Xyrodawn: I will not let harm come to you. You're the reason I'm trying to save you. Flee while you can. There will be someone willing enough to protect your life. Trust her.
"I… huh? Wait a minute, can you hear me from here?"
Immediately, a response appeared on the computer screen again.
Xyrodawn: Yes.
"Oh… my god. I'm going nuts. I have finally gone wacko. I'm talking to myself, Alexis. You're imagining it! I've just got to be! The next thing I know, I'll be going to the loony bin for sure."
Xyrodawn: Unfortunately, you're not going crazy, Alexis.
"H-how do you know my name…?" She shakily questioned, hiding behind the side of her bed. However, she cautiously came out from her hiding spot and slowly sat down back to her chair again, shaking like she's been totally spooked by the entire thing.
Xyrodawn: We've met before…
"Met… before? You won't even tell me who you are, yet you're saying we met before?! I…I-I-I don't believe you!"
She accused the stranger on the computer of lying, however… if this is true, then…
Xyrodawn: Alexis. I will see you again, soon… but not here.
"Hot Shot? Optimus? Red Alert? Blurr? Hoist? For god's sake, Cyclonus? Who are you?!?!?" Alexis demanded. She got sick at the thought of it being Megatron, and he's dead… but… wait a darn second… no… it can't be.
Xyrodawn: I wish I could say. It would be too easy for me to tell you so much, but, then again… I even wish I could see you.
How this even occurred was beyond her control or thoughts, because when she thought of Starscream, the only one who even cared enough about her, she let her emotions run wild and with that, she fell to her desk and cried as hard as she could. Just gone from being depressed to extremely upset in an hour was sure surprising.
"Starscream… don't leave me again…"
Xyrodawn: Don't cry… please…
"No, I'm the one who should be saying please, don't leave me…. Don't you dare leave me… I don't know what I would do without you… you're like…"
Xyrodawn: I'm sorry Alexis… I will see you soon… farewell, …friend.
"Wait! ….Why do you want me to flee? What am I in danger of? Tell me… please, just don't leave me like this… and who's going to protect me?" She remembered the part about someone willing to protect her life.
Xyrodawn: It will not happen now. Not in the past, but in your future… I must go. She will see you in the future, as well.
It was very hard for her, to even discover that this was Starscream talking to her on the computer. Warning Alexis of imminent future danger? Could he see what was going to happen? The confused girl didn't know. She had to let him go… for now. Her cheeks were tear-soaked, and if anyone took a good look at her, they'd say she'd probably look a little on the sickly side.
"A-alright, then… S-s-starscream…"
She cared enough to let him go, even as she did put her hand to the screen, trying to let him know she cares.
Xyrodawn: I feel your pain, your sorrows, joy, and happiness. Thank you, Alexis… Thank you.
The window containing the entire text messaging closed in an instant, and the star that had moved had gone back where it was originally. Removing her hand from the screen, she covered her face with her hands, weeping silently as her mother watched her from behind… without Alexis knowing.
"I promise to remember. I'll remember what you said to me."
"Alexis, sweetheart, are you alright? I saw you talking to the screen."
She whirled around to see a confused mother standing in the doorway to her bedroom.
"Mother! I… I wasn't doing anything, uh, um…"
"Huh… I didn't see anything on that screen while you were talking to it for the past half-hour."
"What?…" She stared at her mother in total disbelief. Her mother saw nothing on the screen?! That's… impossible! There was something on the screen! She was talking to Starscream a few moments ago, but he had to leave…
"Dear, I think you have a fever. Lay down for a while and rest up, I'll go get some medicine from the cupboard."
Worried sick about her child's recent behavior streak, she didn't hurry as much as she wanted to, but because she felt that this whole robots and outer space and a planetary-sized planet-eating robot thing was getting to her head quite a bit. Well, it was a scare for her child to be missing for a few weeks. Alexis had come back from her outer space trip shaken, but not down… until recently, when she started to suffer from depression. Why would such a lovely young girl suffer from this? Is it because of this Starscream she was murmuring about earlier?
"Oh, goodness me, Alexis… Sometimes I think you're in pain from the loss of your father when you aren't yourself."
Her mother whispers to herself, as she retrieves the medicine and returns to her daughter's room.