CHAPTER 8. WAR & PEACE
AUTHORS NOTE:
Well, it's been a long time in coming but here it is, the next chapter of my epic saga. I probably guess some of you thought I'd given up on this endeavour. Rest assured I'm still working on it. What your currently reading is page 57 out of currently 102, and I'm probably only halfway through what this will be when it's ended.
Firstly, may I thank everyone who wished me all the best for my GCSE results. Here's how I scored;
4. A+ 6. A 1. B
GREAT!
Secondly, at the festival I mention (Greenbelt), I've dug up a lot of material for further fanfics.
Now then...What you may find interesting is that since I began it I've believed that this fic was destined to happen, that there is a connection between GW and TF. Well, on Sunday night, I found this link on the internet.
Nearly all the GW actors have loaned their voices to the recent Transformer TV shows, mainly Armada and Beast Wars. For example, the actor David Kaye, voice of Treize Kushrenada, has also voiced every Megatron ever, with the exception of the original, done by the great Frank Welker (300 roles to his name and still growing).
However, in the GW cast, the role of most TF voices goes to Scott McNeil, who gave life to the following in Beast Wars;
Waspinator Silverbolt Dinobot Rattrap
...and in Armada he's the voice of Jetfire. Who is this Scott McNeil. Well, run any line of Rattrap's through your mind. Who else can it be, but DUO MAXWELL! He also voices Wolverine in the X-Men: Evolution Show.
Also, Relena's adoptive father shares the same voice as Armada Starscream!
Yes I know. Odd isn't it. There's far more links between these shows and others. For more info and pictures of the actors who breathed life into our favourite physcopathic suicidal teenagers and their enemies (some of them bear a striking resemblance, except for being about twenty years older. Give David Kaye those neat eyebrows and the right costume and he could act Treize in a live action movie!), try out this link.
www.gundamvoices.com
DISCLAIMER:
Sadly, I don't own this or the characters. All I own is this lame-ass excuse for a plot. Because if I did own GW and TF, I'd take Endless Waltz and TF: The Movie and make them into blockbusters. Try searching for the original script of Transformers; the Movie on the internet, it's far superior to the final product.
And now! On with the show!
CHAPTER 8. WAR & PEACE.
Sparkplug Witwicky wiped his hands, not noting the oil and grease that coated the rag he was using. He was a mechanic, and cleanliness has never been a top priority to someone who has a love affair with machines.
They'd done it. It had taken two months of hard labour, but himself and a small group of engineers had managed to work out exactly how the mystery suits operated, and siphoned enough fuel from the tanks of the inactive mechs to fully fuel one of the two largest machines. There had been quite a debate on which of the two suits would be fuelled. He himself, was quite interested in firing up the truck, but that was his interest in historic motor vehicles talking. As a mechanic, his interest was most piqued by the massive grey suit. Also, on an engineering level, the truck was a risk. The upper chest area had refused to open to any tool, despite the fact that it seemed hinged to open outwards. They'd even tried to get an engineer to crawl up through from the lower chest area, with no avail. He'd nearly died when he got wedged between two massive capacitor banks. The grey machine though, was much easier, as if the design was older and simpler than the others. Though they had not found a cockpit, they had been able to install the mobile doll system to the giant mech and jury rig a transmitter to broadcast data to it. Speaking of broadcasts...
He turned to a tech behind him.
"You still couldn't raise the Genesis with the news we were ready to roll?"
"Nah. Either her radio's down or they don't wanna' hear."
"Fine. Well we'd best go ahead before that fuel loses the charge."
As Sparkplug watched, a thick pipe that had been pumping the mystery fuel into the giant pulled clear and the last engineer jumped off the suit from testing the connections on the doll hardware. He rubbed his hands in barely concealed glee.
"Right, it's time."
*
It was impossible to bring Genesis more than five miles to shore. The continental shelf rose sharply at this point of the coast of Oregon, and the high waves that had appeared as a result of this and the sudden high- winds that plagued the Pacific Northwest threatened to swamp the already- ailing Typhoon if she came any closer to the coast.
Looking through binoculars, Howard could just see Mt. St. Hillary from the conning tower. He suddenly ducked as with a thunderous roar, six metal titans flew over the sub and darted towards the shore. As they passed, he waved, and the jet leading the group dipped it's wings in response.
"Thanks Howard!"
He cocked an eyebrow at the radio signal. All of the Gundam pilots had quickly accepted Starscream, even though he had tried to blow them up two weeks ago. In particular he had formed a rapport with Wufei and Zechs, and the three had spent many hours sealed in the missile bay discussing the nature and philosophy of war and peace. He quietly prayed they reached the mountain before the mechanic running the show did something rash. Genesis' had lost her broadcast ability on the radio and satellite com systems during the attack and the signal they'd received from the site only an hour before indicated that something bad was about to happen.
*
"Crank it up Frank!"
"Right Sparkplug!"
Frank Cullen, a young pilot, was sitting in the cockpit off a scrapped Leo which had been wired to the grey suit via the mobile doll system. He reached out and, with one hand, flipped the activation lever.
TIME TILL FULL SYSTEM REBOOT: 5 MINS 0 SECS
*
The bizarre aerial formation neared the coast. Leading the way was Zechs, who surprisingly, had no problems in returning to Starscream's cockpit, who was flying in his jet mode, which he had very quickly displayed a liking for. Behind came Wing Zero in bird mode, then the other Gundam's, including Heavyarms with a reconstructed head. Bringing up the rear was the Tallgeese 3 in place of Deathscythe, which was wobbling slightly.
Zechs noticed the Tallgeese's erratic flying in his rear view display and flicked on his radio.
"Duo, you having trouble with the Tallgeese."
The reply back reeked of nervousness.
"Heck no! Just like riding a bike," Duo made an attempt at a wisecrack, "are you telling me this gave you a heart attack when you first flew it!"
Shaking his head, Zechs' flipped off his radio and cast his eye's skyward.
"Some things never change."
Noin leant over from the cockpit's rear seat and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Can you please watch where you're going?"
Zechs smirked and took his hand's off the controls.
"Noin, I'm not flying, Starscream is and may I say, you have a remarkable aptitude for being a back-seat driver."
As Noin sank back into her seat in a black mood, Zechs and the jet chuckled together.
*
2 MINS 30 SECS
Sparkplug calmly munched a doughnut as the suit's red optics began to glow slightly. Spaying crumb's everywhere, he jumped for joy.
"Yes! It's alive. It's alive!"
He looked like some strange reincarnation of Dr. Victor Frankenstein.
1 MIN 45 SECS
"Eh! Sparkplug. I think you'd better see this."
"What?"
Cullen beckoned him over to the pieced together cockpit. All of the displays were flashing,
"SYSTEM OVERRIDE. SYSTEM OVERRIDE. SYSTEM OVERRIDE."
Sparkplug tapped at the console. Nothing happened.
1 MIN 00 SECS
"Shit! Everyone get out of here. Now!"
As the engineers evacuated the chamber, he paused a brief second.
"What have we done?"
*
As the six metal shapes flew over the compound, the three Gundams and the Tallgeese touched down by the main shaft, while Starscream and Wing Zero circled the mountain to bleed off speed.
*
0 MIN 00 SECS. FULL SYSTEM REBOOT COMPLETE.
A massive black hand twitched. The lips broke apart and gasped as if taking a first breath.
"I. still. function...ARGH!"
With a gasp of what seemed like pain the massive mech leapt to his feet, clutching his chest.
"Cold, alone...I feel..."
His head snapped up, red eyes staring into oblivion.
"CYBERTRON'S DESTROYED!"
*
As the two aircraft circled the summit of the mountain for the last time something rumbled beneath the surface, like a massive sliding of rocks. Even from the air it was audible. Heero frowned in his cockpit as Zechs and Noin pressed their faces to the orange glass of Starscream's cockpit.
"Was that an earthquake."
"No," was Starscream's grim reply. "He's awake. I can feel it. His energy signature'sSHIT!"
The red seeker banked away from the mountainside suddenly.
"What..."
BA---DOOOOOOOM!
With a titanic roar of released energy the whole northern flank of the mountain burst outwards, as if impaled on the streak of raw purple and white energy that spewed from the core of the volcano. As the displaced material slid to the foot of the slope, an agonised cry could be heard crying from the dark cavern that had just been formed.
"IT'S DESTROYED! MY DREAMS...I DEVOTED MY LIFE...DECAVORNS OF WORK...GONE!"
Still screaming in mental agony, a monstrous figure rose from the ruins of the volcano, hovering on a tower of purple energy that was flowing from the massive cannon that adorned the right arm.
His silver armour was no longer coated with dust, but gleaming with new life, the black detail on his body shone, and his red optics blazed like the eternal fires of Hades. Proudly adorning his chest was the purple sigil of the Decepticons. Starscream recognised the figure, but to the other observers, it was a new and awe-inspiring sight.
"Megatron."
*
'Gone...and with it, my dreams.'
Megatron hovered over Mt. St. Hillary, chest heaving deeply.
'and without it, my life no longer has meaning.'
A small, cynical grin flickered across his face.
'so I might as well join it in oblivion...'
He reached deep within himself, and flicked the mental switch.
PARTICLE ACCELERATOR ACTIVATED. ANTIMATTER CRITICAL MASS IN 1 MIN 00 SECS.
*
A monitor within Starscream's cockpit began to flash alarmingly.
INCREASED PULSE CYCLE SEQUENCE DETECTED.
"Starscream, what does this mean?"
"Shit!" Starscream murmured to himself more than anything, "he's charging it."
"Charging what?"
"The cannon, his fusion cannon."
"You mean he's going to ATTACK US!"
"No, he's going to destroy himself."
"What! Why?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
*
'WHUM-WHUM-WHUM-WHUM-WHUP!'
"WHAT!"
Megatron spun at the familiar transformation harmonic, only to see a red blur charging at him. The said blur slowed and formed into a familiar form.
"Starscream, you live!"
"MEGATRON! WHY!?"
"Why, why do I wish to destroy myself? Simple. The thing I devoted my life to...IS DESTROYED!" Showing surprising manoeuvrability for his size, Megatron darted around the red seeker, who spun to follow. The cannon on his arm was beginning to pulse alarmingly, white light gleaming between the seams in the barrel.
*
"What in the smeg is that guy doing!"
Duo was leaning so far forward out of seat his nose was touching Tallgeese's main view screen.
Heero's grim voice came in over the intercom.
"Starscream mentioned this. That fusion cannon has the ability to charge massive amounts of antimatter before releasing it in a single pulse. But if too much antimatter collects together, it reaches critical mass and..."
"And what?"
"Detonates with the force of a small sun going nova."
"WHAT!"
*
ALARM! ALARM! CRITICAL MASS IN FIFTEEN SECONDS.
The two adversaries continued to circle each other, throwing back comments to each other, gradually rising higher into the sky.
"Destroyed? But how can you know?"
"DON'T QUESTION MY WORD YOU SNIVELLING WEAKLING!" With that, Megatron thrust the cannon towards his former air commander, releasing the charged antimatter, seconds before it went critical.
Instead of the purple blast they had seen before, a blue/white beam of blinding energy burst from the cannon's barrel, shredding the metal, while a backwash of glowing white plasma burst from the gun's rear ion intake. Starscream, quickly leapt out of the path of the blast with a neat somersault, before shooting into the air, eclipsing the sun. The blast shot straight and true, cutting the height of a near mountain by several hundred feet in a titanic blast of rock and plasma.
"NEVER AGAIN MEGATRON!"
In a graceful arc, he soared back down, slamming into the massive mech's barrel-chest feet-first with a stunning force. Megatron tumbled backwards through the air, pulled out of his fall and rocketed towards Starscream, a new weapon crackling and sparkling in his hand. The energy mace.
"You've improved Starscream..."
He struck the shocked seeker in the chest with the mace, shattering the cockpit glass.
"...but I'm still better..."
As Starscream's cockpit suddenly de-pressurised, Noin and Zechs were sucked from their seats and tossed out into the blue void. Both quickly pulled the ripcords on their parachutes and drifted towards the mining complex. Megatron stared after them in surprise, before wheeling on Starscream with a new fury blazing in his eyes.
"YOU ALLOWED ORGANICS TO CO-HABITATE YOUR BODY! YOU DARE CALL YOURSELF A DECEPTICON! ARGH!"
His cannon suddenly projected an energy shield, bringing it up just in time to block a thrust from a beam sabre Starscream had produced. Despite the stunning impact, both held fast, Starscream's thrusters straining against the shield's resistance with all their force, spewing blue fire and roaring with a fury that reflected the two robots rage.
Starscream stared through the shield's purple haze, glaring into his former friend and leader's red optics.
"Those organics have more honour in their frail bodies than you EVER POSSESSED!." With that scream, he kicked in his afterburners, pushing Megatron aside, before spinning and coming back towards the silver warmonger with dazzling speed, only to come up short on Megatron's own laser sword. As the two warriors bounced off each other's thrusts, he continued to rant.
"I THOUGHT...THE DECEPTICONS STOOD FOR HONOUR...FOR JUSTICE...AND YOU...ARE NONE OF THOSE THINGS!"
*
The Gundams still watched in awe, pilots standing in the open cockpits. Starscream's rants could be heard over the clash of the sabres, and the resulting battle was lighting up the sky like a fireworks display.
"Come on. We've got work to do."
Wing Zero touched down beside the other mighty suits.
"You got those canister's ready."
Each Gundam held up an arm, displaying the canister each carried strapped to their arms. Heero nodded approvingly.
"Then let's go," he looked skyward, where the two mechanical titans continued to wage war.
"Those two are going to destroy each other, unless we take action...NOW!"
With that, Wing Zero leapt into the sky, followed by the other Gundams which followed him towards the hole Megatron had blasted to exit the mountain. Below, Tallgeese continued to monitor the fray in case things took a further turn for the worse.
*
"Honour, Justice? Those thing's mean nothing to me Starscream, not for vorns. All that matters to me is Cybertron, and without it...I AM NOTHING!"
Megatron paused in the heat of the battle. His body was scarred and beaten, the shining finish dulled and blackened. Starscream gave him a single, piercing look.
"You are nothing Megatron, only because of yourself. You were something. I only stayed with the Decepticons because you were the hero of Skorpinok's war. You were a legend, I idolised you, as did everyone else. You stood for something. AND YOU THREW THAT ALL AWAY TO CHASE A DREAM!"
Once again the two Decepticons lay into each other, but it was clear that Starscream was beginning to fight a loosing battle. Megatron was drawing power from something other than electricity, years of pent up anguish, regret, and loathing were being released in this one battle.
*
"Hook up those lines!"
The four Gundam's each produced a pipe from the canisters on their arms and linked them up to the two fuel tanks on the legs of the massive mech they were grouped around. Each pipe began to convulse and writhe as fluid began to surge through them. Quatre lifted the goggles he customarily wore from his eyes and blew his bangs out of his face.
"Starscream said this guy was the only one who could possibly make Megatron see sense. I hope he's right."
Pale blue light flickered in the awakening juggernaught's eyes.
*
"I ONCE RESPECTED YOU MEGATRON, AND I WAS MY FAULT THAT OUR FRIENDSHIP ENDED- I REGRETTED IT EVERYDAY FOR VORNS!"
The two robots rebounded off each other, but Starscream's swings were becoming weaker and slower. Megatron paused briefly, surprise registering on his face.
"You did?"
Starscream faced him. The height they were at suggested a deep gorge dividing them. He breathed heavily. He had taken a much heavier beating than Megatron, his cockpit was shattered, one of his air intakes was twisted out of shape, his portside wing tip dangled on a few wires, his body was streaked with burn marks, and he leaked fluid from numerous places.
"Yes, I did. I regretted each time I stabbed you in the back, because it made it less likely we would ever settle that feud, but now..."
"What?"
"...I'm slightly glad that I didn't become a mirror image of you."
Megatron's face twisted in rage, becoming a grotesque gargoyle like image.
"SO BE IT!"
With that, he thundered towards Starscream, who seemed resigned to his fate, blade extinguished in his blue palm.
Megatron raised the sword, preparing to drive it home to the hilt.
"NOT TODAY MEGATRON!"
A massive pain erupted in his side, and spread to every extremity of his chassis as he tumbled out of control, colliding into Starscream as he fell.
*
The massive red and blue mech lowered the smoking weapon from his hands as Megatron was engulfed in a giant fireball.
"I had hoped that it would be over, if there was nothing left for us to fight over."
A massive hand clutched the truck-like chest.
"If cybertron is gone, why should this war continue..."
From the shadows, the Gundams watched as the leader of the Autobots cast aside his weapon.
"Maybe there is hope for peace."
*
Megatron had heard that on the verge of deactivation, your whole life flashed before him. Instead of that he saw a few choice images from his life as the fireball consumed him, the pain strangely distant. His harsh early life as a gladiator, his even harder military training, the pain and suffering of the battlefield.
'All my life has been dedicated to fighting...but there was a time...a while...'
A new image flashed briefly from his memory, an image of a young seeker cadet, driven by revenge. The cadet who had been for a long time his only friend, the person who had always been for him in the low he suffered after a lost battle.
'Starscream...he was the only other thing I cared about along with Cybertron...that was one thing that had kept me going during the latter days of the war. The promise that when the battles were over, those good times would be relived, that the feud would end.'
His eyes flicked open.
"I'LL END THIS WAR NOW IF I COULD HAVE THOSE TIMES AGAIN!"
As if some deity had heard his words, the pain faded. He looked about him. He lay in a smoking crater in the ground, and for the first time he looked around at the alien surroundings which were strangely familiar.
"So this is Earth."
Staggering, he pulled himself to his feet. He looked around slowly; a second crater had been punched in the earth only a few feet away. Inside, Starscream lay, unconcious, his face frozen in a smirk of defeat.
Megatron kneeled and stared at that face, hand rubbing his chin.
"You've always been an enigma to me Starscream, and know, you've changed again just when I thought I had you figured out."
"Is he alive?"
Megatron turned. A massive white mech towered over his crouched form. He noted with some surprise a similarity to his own design, from the wide, deep chest to the massive black weapon carried on the right arm. Something clicked in his memory.
"The Tallgeese 3?"
"That's right." The massive mobile suit trained its weapon on his head.
"Tell me why I shouldn't do this right now. Tell me why I shouldn't destroy a monster."
Megatron stared up, resignation in his eyes.
"Nothing but your conciense at striking down an unarmed enemy."
A new voice cut in.
"Like that ever stopped you in the past."
Megatron's eyes widened at that familiar voice.
"Prime?"
*
'I stand here, on the edge of this clearing. This machine has Megatron at his mercy, yet does one who is without mercy deserve it?
Yes. I've never cut down an unarmed enemy in my life, and I cannot see someone else do it, even if the target is Megatron.'
*
Megatron's eyes went wide as the ground shuddered beneath him to massive footsteps. Prime rested a hand on the Tallgeese's shoulder.
"Stand down soldier.'
The Tallgeese stared at Prime.
"Why should I? I don't know you."
"Do it Duo. This is their battle."
Another massive mech had entered the clearing, one that Megatron identified as the Wing Zero. Slowly, the Tallgeese lowered its weapon.
*
Prime knelt down before his age-old nemesis.
"I can feel it too Megatron. The pain, the cold, the suffering inside. I know that Cybertron is gone." He stood and held out a hand.
"But I'm partly glad, because it means our battle is over, Why should this war continue if the thing we fought over is gone."
Megatron was chuckling quietly, shaking his head.
"Always the realist Prime, rather than the dreamer. Very well"
Megatron grasped the proffered hand and the massive Autobot pulled him to his feet. He clasped the hand.
"Our war is over."
The two massive machines faced each other, red optics staring into blue, hands squeezing each other. Suddenly, a chuckle rent the air. The grouped mechs spun their heads towards the second crater.
Starscream was sitting up in the crater, leaning on one arm, an ironic smirk on his face.
"I was hoping Prime would talk some sense into you Megatron but you caved in earlier than I expected. You've gotten soft."
Megatron's face split into a massive grin.
"Some things never change,"
He walked over and helped Starscream up, supporting him.
"old friend."
As the three transformers chuckled slowly, the four Gundams and the Tallgeese watched on. Heero and Trowa grunted in approval, Wufei gave a small smile that Starscream had started to rebuild his shattered friendship.
"Celebrate good times. Come on! Oh Yeah! Celebrate good times..."
Duo had lapsed into rambunctious singing. If there was room in the Tallgeese's cockpit he would be dancing around it.
Quatre was slightly more subdued in his celebration. He wiped a small tear from his eye.
"Old adversaries meet. It's so beautiful;."
TO BE CONTINUED...
NOTE:
Not very good I know, but now I'm getting into my stride. Expect the story to begin developing at a more rapid pace, with betreyal, battle, sacrifice, romance, comedy, and a great evil that draws ever closer...
And once again, thanks for all the e-mails wishing me the best in my exams. You all did a great deal to steady my nerves.
See ya'.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Well, it's been a long time in coming but here it is, the next chapter of my epic saga. I probably guess some of you thought I'd given up on this endeavour. Rest assured I'm still working on it. What your currently reading is page 57 out of currently 102, and I'm probably only halfway through what this will be when it's ended.
Firstly, may I thank everyone who wished me all the best for my GCSE results. Here's how I scored;
4. A+ 6. A 1. B
GREAT!
Secondly, at the festival I mention (Greenbelt), I've dug up a lot of material for further fanfics.
Now then...What you may find interesting is that since I began it I've believed that this fic was destined to happen, that there is a connection between GW and TF. Well, on Sunday night, I found this link on the internet.
Nearly all the GW actors have loaned their voices to the recent Transformer TV shows, mainly Armada and Beast Wars. For example, the actor David Kaye, voice of Treize Kushrenada, has also voiced every Megatron ever, with the exception of the original, done by the great Frank Welker (300 roles to his name and still growing).
However, in the GW cast, the role of most TF voices goes to Scott McNeil, who gave life to the following in Beast Wars;
Waspinator Silverbolt Dinobot Rattrap
...and in Armada he's the voice of Jetfire. Who is this Scott McNeil. Well, run any line of Rattrap's through your mind. Who else can it be, but DUO MAXWELL! He also voices Wolverine in the X-Men: Evolution Show.
Also, Relena's adoptive father shares the same voice as Armada Starscream!
Yes I know. Odd isn't it. There's far more links between these shows and others. For more info and pictures of the actors who breathed life into our favourite physcopathic suicidal teenagers and their enemies (some of them bear a striking resemblance, except for being about twenty years older. Give David Kaye those neat eyebrows and the right costume and he could act Treize in a live action movie!), try out this link.
www.gundamvoices.com
DISCLAIMER:
Sadly, I don't own this or the characters. All I own is this lame-ass excuse for a plot. Because if I did own GW and TF, I'd take Endless Waltz and TF: The Movie and make them into blockbusters. Try searching for the original script of Transformers; the Movie on the internet, it's far superior to the final product.
And now! On with the show!
CHAPTER 8. WAR & PEACE.
Sparkplug Witwicky wiped his hands, not noting the oil and grease that coated the rag he was using. He was a mechanic, and cleanliness has never been a top priority to someone who has a love affair with machines.
They'd done it. It had taken two months of hard labour, but himself and a small group of engineers had managed to work out exactly how the mystery suits operated, and siphoned enough fuel from the tanks of the inactive mechs to fully fuel one of the two largest machines. There had been quite a debate on which of the two suits would be fuelled. He himself, was quite interested in firing up the truck, but that was his interest in historic motor vehicles talking. As a mechanic, his interest was most piqued by the massive grey suit. Also, on an engineering level, the truck was a risk. The upper chest area had refused to open to any tool, despite the fact that it seemed hinged to open outwards. They'd even tried to get an engineer to crawl up through from the lower chest area, with no avail. He'd nearly died when he got wedged between two massive capacitor banks. The grey machine though, was much easier, as if the design was older and simpler than the others. Though they had not found a cockpit, they had been able to install the mobile doll system to the giant mech and jury rig a transmitter to broadcast data to it. Speaking of broadcasts...
He turned to a tech behind him.
"You still couldn't raise the Genesis with the news we were ready to roll?"
"Nah. Either her radio's down or they don't wanna' hear."
"Fine. Well we'd best go ahead before that fuel loses the charge."
As Sparkplug watched, a thick pipe that had been pumping the mystery fuel into the giant pulled clear and the last engineer jumped off the suit from testing the connections on the doll hardware. He rubbed his hands in barely concealed glee.
"Right, it's time."
*
It was impossible to bring Genesis more than five miles to shore. The continental shelf rose sharply at this point of the coast of Oregon, and the high waves that had appeared as a result of this and the sudden high- winds that plagued the Pacific Northwest threatened to swamp the already- ailing Typhoon if she came any closer to the coast.
Looking through binoculars, Howard could just see Mt. St. Hillary from the conning tower. He suddenly ducked as with a thunderous roar, six metal titans flew over the sub and darted towards the shore. As they passed, he waved, and the jet leading the group dipped it's wings in response.
"Thanks Howard!"
He cocked an eyebrow at the radio signal. All of the Gundam pilots had quickly accepted Starscream, even though he had tried to blow them up two weeks ago. In particular he had formed a rapport with Wufei and Zechs, and the three had spent many hours sealed in the missile bay discussing the nature and philosophy of war and peace. He quietly prayed they reached the mountain before the mechanic running the show did something rash. Genesis' had lost her broadcast ability on the radio and satellite com systems during the attack and the signal they'd received from the site only an hour before indicated that something bad was about to happen.
*
"Crank it up Frank!"
"Right Sparkplug!"
Frank Cullen, a young pilot, was sitting in the cockpit off a scrapped Leo which had been wired to the grey suit via the mobile doll system. He reached out and, with one hand, flipped the activation lever.
TIME TILL FULL SYSTEM REBOOT: 5 MINS 0 SECS
*
The bizarre aerial formation neared the coast. Leading the way was Zechs, who surprisingly, had no problems in returning to Starscream's cockpit, who was flying in his jet mode, which he had very quickly displayed a liking for. Behind came Wing Zero in bird mode, then the other Gundam's, including Heavyarms with a reconstructed head. Bringing up the rear was the Tallgeese 3 in place of Deathscythe, which was wobbling slightly.
Zechs noticed the Tallgeese's erratic flying in his rear view display and flicked on his radio.
"Duo, you having trouble with the Tallgeese."
The reply back reeked of nervousness.
"Heck no! Just like riding a bike," Duo made an attempt at a wisecrack, "are you telling me this gave you a heart attack when you first flew it!"
Shaking his head, Zechs' flipped off his radio and cast his eye's skyward.
"Some things never change."
Noin leant over from the cockpit's rear seat and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Can you please watch where you're going?"
Zechs smirked and took his hand's off the controls.
"Noin, I'm not flying, Starscream is and may I say, you have a remarkable aptitude for being a back-seat driver."
As Noin sank back into her seat in a black mood, Zechs and the jet chuckled together.
*
2 MINS 30 SECS
Sparkplug calmly munched a doughnut as the suit's red optics began to glow slightly. Spaying crumb's everywhere, he jumped for joy.
"Yes! It's alive. It's alive!"
He looked like some strange reincarnation of Dr. Victor Frankenstein.
1 MIN 45 SECS
"Eh! Sparkplug. I think you'd better see this."
"What?"
Cullen beckoned him over to the pieced together cockpit. All of the displays were flashing,
"SYSTEM OVERRIDE. SYSTEM OVERRIDE. SYSTEM OVERRIDE."
Sparkplug tapped at the console. Nothing happened.
1 MIN 00 SECS
"Shit! Everyone get out of here. Now!"
As the engineers evacuated the chamber, he paused a brief second.
"What have we done?"
*
As the six metal shapes flew over the compound, the three Gundams and the Tallgeese touched down by the main shaft, while Starscream and Wing Zero circled the mountain to bleed off speed.
*
0 MIN 00 SECS. FULL SYSTEM REBOOT COMPLETE.
A massive black hand twitched. The lips broke apart and gasped as if taking a first breath.
"I. still. function...ARGH!"
With a gasp of what seemed like pain the massive mech leapt to his feet, clutching his chest.
"Cold, alone...I feel..."
His head snapped up, red eyes staring into oblivion.
"CYBERTRON'S DESTROYED!"
*
As the two aircraft circled the summit of the mountain for the last time something rumbled beneath the surface, like a massive sliding of rocks. Even from the air it was audible. Heero frowned in his cockpit as Zechs and Noin pressed their faces to the orange glass of Starscream's cockpit.
"Was that an earthquake."
"No," was Starscream's grim reply. "He's awake. I can feel it. His energy signature'sSHIT!"
The red seeker banked away from the mountainside suddenly.
"What..."
BA---DOOOOOOOM!
With a titanic roar of released energy the whole northern flank of the mountain burst outwards, as if impaled on the streak of raw purple and white energy that spewed from the core of the volcano. As the displaced material slid to the foot of the slope, an agonised cry could be heard crying from the dark cavern that had just been formed.
"IT'S DESTROYED! MY DREAMS...I DEVOTED MY LIFE...DECAVORNS OF WORK...GONE!"
Still screaming in mental agony, a monstrous figure rose from the ruins of the volcano, hovering on a tower of purple energy that was flowing from the massive cannon that adorned the right arm.
His silver armour was no longer coated with dust, but gleaming with new life, the black detail on his body shone, and his red optics blazed like the eternal fires of Hades. Proudly adorning his chest was the purple sigil of the Decepticons. Starscream recognised the figure, but to the other observers, it was a new and awe-inspiring sight.
"Megatron."
*
'Gone...and with it, my dreams.'
Megatron hovered over Mt. St. Hillary, chest heaving deeply.
'and without it, my life no longer has meaning.'
A small, cynical grin flickered across his face.
'so I might as well join it in oblivion...'
He reached deep within himself, and flicked the mental switch.
PARTICLE ACCELERATOR ACTIVATED. ANTIMATTER CRITICAL MASS IN 1 MIN 00 SECS.
*
A monitor within Starscream's cockpit began to flash alarmingly.
INCREASED PULSE CYCLE SEQUENCE DETECTED.
"Starscream, what does this mean?"
"Shit!" Starscream murmured to himself more than anything, "he's charging it."
"Charging what?"
"The cannon, his fusion cannon."
"You mean he's going to ATTACK US!"
"No, he's going to destroy himself."
"What! Why?"
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
*
'WHUM-WHUM-WHUM-WHUM-WHUP!'
"WHAT!"
Megatron spun at the familiar transformation harmonic, only to see a red blur charging at him. The said blur slowed and formed into a familiar form.
"Starscream, you live!"
"MEGATRON! WHY!?"
"Why, why do I wish to destroy myself? Simple. The thing I devoted my life to...IS DESTROYED!" Showing surprising manoeuvrability for his size, Megatron darted around the red seeker, who spun to follow. The cannon on his arm was beginning to pulse alarmingly, white light gleaming between the seams in the barrel.
*
"What in the smeg is that guy doing!"
Duo was leaning so far forward out of seat his nose was touching Tallgeese's main view screen.
Heero's grim voice came in over the intercom.
"Starscream mentioned this. That fusion cannon has the ability to charge massive amounts of antimatter before releasing it in a single pulse. But if too much antimatter collects together, it reaches critical mass and..."
"And what?"
"Detonates with the force of a small sun going nova."
"WHAT!"
*
ALARM! ALARM! CRITICAL MASS IN FIFTEEN SECONDS.
The two adversaries continued to circle each other, throwing back comments to each other, gradually rising higher into the sky.
"Destroyed? But how can you know?"
"DON'T QUESTION MY WORD YOU SNIVELLING WEAKLING!" With that, Megatron thrust the cannon towards his former air commander, releasing the charged antimatter, seconds before it went critical.
Instead of the purple blast they had seen before, a blue/white beam of blinding energy burst from the cannon's barrel, shredding the metal, while a backwash of glowing white plasma burst from the gun's rear ion intake. Starscream, quickly leapt out of the path of the blast with a neat somersault, before shooting into the air, eclipsing the sun. The blast shot straight and true, cutting the height of a near mountain by several hundred feet in a titanic blast of rock and plasma.
"NEVER AGAIN MEGATRON!"
In a graceful arc, he soared back down, slamming into the massive mech's barrel-chest feet-first with a stunning force. Megatron tumbled backwards through the air, pulled out of his fall and rocketed towards Starscream, a new weapon crackling and sparkling in his hand. The energy mace.
"You've improved Starscream..."
He struck the shocked seeker in the chest with the mace, shattering the cockpit glass.
"...but I'm still better..."
As Starscream's cockpit suddenly de-pressurised, Noin and Zechs were sucked from their seats and tossed out into the blue void. Both quickly pulled the ripcords on their parachutes and drifted towards the mining complex. Megatron stared after them in surprise, before wheeling on Starscream with a new fury blazing in his eyes.
"YOU ALLOWED ORGANICS TO CO-HABITATE YOUR BODY! YOU DARE CALL YOURSELF A DECEPTICON! ARGH!"
His cannon suddenly projected an energy shield, bringing it up just in time to block a thrust from a beam sabre Starscream had produced. Despite the stunning impact, both held fast, Starscream's thrusters straining against the shield's resistance with all their force, spewing blue fire and roaring with a fury that reflected the two robots rage.
Starscream stared through the shield's purple haze, glaring into his former friend and leader's red optics.
"Those organics have more honour in their frail bodies than you EVER POSSESSED!." With that scream, he kicked in his afterburners, pushing Megatron aside, before spinning and coming back towards the silver warmonger with dazzling speed, only to come up short on Megatron's own laser sword. As the two warriors bounced off each other's thrusts, he continued to rant.
"I THOUGHT...THE DECEPTICONS STOOD FOR HONOUR...FOR JUSTICE...AND YOU...ARE NONE OF THOSE THINGS!"
*
The Gundams still watched in awe, pilots standing in the open cockpits. Starscream's rants could be heard over the clash of the sabres, and the resulting battle was lighting up the sky like a fireworks display.
"Come on. We've got work to do."
Wing Zero touched down beside the other mighty suits.
"You got those canister's ready."
Each Gundam held up an arm, displaying the canister each carried strapped to their arms. Heero nodded approvingly.
"Then let's go," he looked skyward, where the two mechanical titans continued to wage war.
"Those two are going to destroy each other, unless we take action...NOW!"
With that, Wing Zero leapt into the sky, followed by the other Gundams which followed him towards the hole Megatron had blasted to exit the mountain. Below, Tallgeese continued to monitor the fray in case things took a further turn for the worse.
*
"Honour, Justice? Those thing's mean nothing to me Starscream, not for vorns. All that matters to me is Cybertron, and without it...I AM NOTHING!"
Megatron paused in the heat of the battle. His body was scarred and beaten, the shining finish dulled and blackened. Starscream gave him a single, piercing look.
"You are nothing Megatron, only because of yourself. You were something. I only stayed with the Decepticons because you were the hero of Skorpinok's war. You were a legend, I idolised you, as did everyone else. You stood for something. AND YOU THREW THAT ALL AWAY TO CHASE A DREAM!"
Once again the two Decepticons lay into each other, but it was clear that Starscream was beginning to fight a loosing battle. Megatron was drawing power from something other than electricity, years of pent up anguish, regret, and loathing were being released in this one battle.
*
"Hook up those lines!"
The four Gundam's each produced a pipe from the canisters on their arms and linked them up to the two fuel tanks on the legs of the massive mech they were grouped around. Each pipe began to convulse and writhe as fluid began to surge through them. Quatre lifted the goggles he customarily wore from his eyes and blew his bangs out of his face.
"Starscream said this guy was the only one who could possibly make Megatron see sense. I hope he's right."
Pale blue light flickered in the awakening juggernaught's eyes.
*
"I ONCE RESPECTED YOU MEGATRON, AND I WAS MY FAULT THAT OUR FRIENDSHIP ENDED- I REGRETTED IT EVERYDAY FOR VORNS!"
The two robots rebounded off each other, but Starscream's swings were becoming weaker and slower. Megatron paused briefly, surprise registering on his face.
"You did?"
Starscream faced him. The height they were at suggested a deep gorge dividing them. He breathed heavily. He had taken a much heavier beating than Megatron, his cockpit was shattered, one of his air intakes was twisted out of shape, his portside wing tip dangled on a few wires, his body was streaked with burn marks, and he leaked fluid from numerous places.
"Yes, I did. I regretted each time I stabbed you in the back, because it made it less likely we would ever settle that feud, but now..."
"What?"
"...I'm slightly glad that I didn't become a mirror image of you."
Megatron's face twisted in rage, becoming a grotesque gargoyle like image.
"SO BE IT!"
With that, he thundered towards Starscream, who seemed resigned to his fate, blade extinguished in his blue palm.
Megatron raised the sword, preparing to drive it home to the hilt.
"NOT TODAY MEGATRON!"
A massive pain erupted in his side, and spread to every extremity of his chassis as he tumbled out of control, colliding into Starscream as he fell.
*
The massive red and blue mech lowered the smoking weapon from his hands as Megatron was engulfed in a giant fireball.
"I had hoped that it would be over, if there was nothing left for us to fight over."
A massive hand clutched the truck-like chest.
"If cybertron is gone, why should this war continue..."
From the shadows, the Gundams watched as the leader of the Autobots cast aside his weapon.
"Maybe there is hope for peace."
*
Megatron had heard that on the verge of deactivation, your whole life flashed before him. Instead of that he saw a few choice images from his life as the fireball consumed him, the pain strangely distant. His harsh early life as a gladiator, his even harder military training, the pain and suffering of the battlefield.
'All my life has been dedicated to fighting...but there was a time...a while...'
A new image flashed briefly from his memory, an image of a young seeker cadet, driven by revenge. The cadet who had been for a long time his only friend, the person who had always been for him in the low he suffered after a lost battle.
'Starscream...he was the only other thing I cared about along with Cybertron...that was one thing that had kept me going during the latter days of the war. The promise that when the battles were over, those good times would be relived, that the feud would end.'
His eyes flicked open.
"I'LL END THIS WAR NOW IF I COULD HAVE THOSE TIMES AGAIN!"
As if some deity had heard his words, the pain faded. He looked about him. He lay in a smoking crater in the ground, and for the first time he looked around at the alien surroundings which were strangely familiar.
"So this is Earth."
Staggering, he pulled himself to his feet. He looked around slowly; a second crater had been punched in the earth only a few feet away. Inside, Starscream lay, unconcious, his face frozen in a smirk of defeat.
Megatron kneeled and stared at that face, hand rubbing his chin.
"You've always been an enigma to me Starscream, and know, you've changed again just when I thought I had you figured out."
"Is he alive?"
Megatron turned. A massive white mech towered over his crouched form. He noted with some surprise a similarity to his own design, from the wide, deep chest to the massive black weapon carried on the right arm. Something clicked in his memory.
"The Tallgeese 3?"
"That's right." The massive mobile suit trained its weapon on his head.
"Tell me why I shouldn't do this right now. Tell me why I shouldn't destroy a monster."
Megatron stared up, resignation in his eyes.
"Nothing but your conciense at striking down an unarmed enemy."
A new voice cut in.
"Like that ever stopped you in the past."
Megatron's eyes widened at that familiar voice.
"Prime?"
*
'I stand here, on the edge of this clearing. This machine has Megatron at his mercy, yet does one who is without mercy deserve it?
Yes. I've never cut down an unarmed enemy in my life, and I cannot see someone else do it, even if the target is Megatron.'
*
Megatron's eyes went wide as the ground shuddered beneath him to massive footsteps. Prime rested a hand on the Tallgeese's shoulder.
"Stand down soldier.'
The Tallgeese stared at Prime.
"Why should I? I don't know you."
"Do it Duo. This is their battle."
Another massive mech had entered the clearing, one that Megatron identified as the Wing Zero. Slowly, the Tallgeese lowered its weapon.
*
Prime knelt down before his age-old nemesis.
"I can feel it too Megatron. The pain, the cold, the suffering inside. I know that Cybertron is gone." He stood and held out a hand.
"But I'm partly glad, because it means our battle is over, Why should this war continue if the thing we fought over is gone."
Megatron was chuckling quietly, shaking his head.
"Always the realist Prime, rather than the dreamer. Very well"
Megatron grasped the proffered hand and the massive Autobot pulled him to his feet. He clasped the hand.
"Our war is over."
The two massive machines faced each other, red optics staring into blue, hands squeezing each other. Suddenly, a chuckle rent the air. The grouped mechs spun their heads towards the second crater.
Starscream was sitting up in the crater, leaning on one arm, an ironic smirk on his face.
"I was hoping Prime would talk some sense into you Megatron but you caved in earlier than I expected. You've gotten soft."
Megatron's face split into a massive grin.
"Some things never change,"
He walked over and helped Starscream up, supporting him.
"old friend."
As the three transformers chuckled slowly, the four Gundams and the Tallgeese watched on. Heero and Trowa grunted in approval, Wufei gave a small smile that Starscream had started to rebuild his shattered friendship.
"Celebrate good times. Come on! Oh Yeah! Celebrate good times..."
Duo had lapsed into rambunctious singing. If there was room in the Tallgeese's cockpit he would be dancing around it.
Quatre was slightly more subdued in his celebration. He wiped a small tear from his eye.
"Old adversaries meet. It's so beautiful;."
TO BE CONTINUED...
NOTE:
Not very good I know, but now I'm getting into my stride. Expect the story to begin developing at a more rapid pace, with betreyal, battle, sacrifice, romance, comedy, and a great evil that draws ever closer...
And once again, thanks for all the e-mails wishing me the best in my exams. You all did a great deal to steady my nerves.
See ya'.