Disclaimer: Hasbro and probably a few other people own the Transformers, I own . . . well, the plot . . . maybe.
GamaFox, thanks, and you're right – you can deal with what you know, after all, but not if there's nothing to deal with . . . thanks for the review!
To ckret2, many thanks- um, look, I updated *holds up fic nervously* Look, ficcie! Now you don't have to lock me in with the Almighty Banana Split, see? He's sooo boring, too, he just goes on and on and on . . . thanks for checking up on The Truths. *grins* Gotta' keep an eye on the buggers – in this case, Laserbeak's lens . . .
My gratitude to Naphtali Phoenix- feedback is, as always, appreciated.
To Shade, I can take a hint, or two, or three . . . you're very much welcome- no, wait, thankYOU for the review!
CodeRed 73, thanks! Red knows what he's doing, all right . . . not that that's half as far as his potential lies. Ah, the possibilities . . . someday I'll get around to planning further fics to inflict on him. I think so, anyway.
Thanks to MarinBlue; and he did, more perhaps than even he knows . . . um, but I'm not of the same opinion as Hasbro apparently has in 'Cramp'. Starscream took it a bit too far, there . . . er, anyhow, thanks again!
Zeheria, thanks; Alexis will have her part, yessss . . . *grins* which reminds me, I need to ask how we should work that other fic . . . for now, thankyou!
To Nurannoniel T.I.M.E., my thanks. I've tried to keep the 'bots IC, more so because I find them trickier than the 'cons . . . glad to know you like the fic!
KatDrama, thanks: I try . . . regarding Starscream's softer side, he claims strongly that he doesn't have one, bar perhaps the inside of his cockpit. He maintained this even after it was pointed out that the side in question was emotional. I give up. *Sigh* Still, I'll weasel it out of him, sooner or later . . . did I say thankyou?
To Haley Macrae, new perspectives are the idea – I'm gratified to know I've succeeded in that respect. Oh, and keep up on your own work – I'm somewhat behind with my reading, but from what I've seen, you're doing well.
Ah, right- on with the fic! And stuff!
The Final Say
By Pivot.
Fresh scorch marks showed on the walls as the Air Commander passed. He made no note of them; minor damage was a common sight around the lunar base. On the other hand, this last attack had been unusually fierce.
Starscream thought he knew why.
Somehow, it was beginning to feel as though his return had been something of an 'own goal', or whatever that human boy . . . Carlos . . . had called it. Trying to explain human sports to the Seeker hadn't exactly been a waste of time, but it did seem a foolish training method in comparison to combat simulation. Starscream's optics narrowed slightly; something inside him was disgusted at the remembered references, at having been able to recall the term at all, much less the name . . .
In an effort to ignore the memories, he turned his attention instead to his fellow Decepticons. Thrust he mistrusted almost as deeply as he did Sideways, and Demolisher was anything but on good terms with him. Cyclonus just didn't care.
Oh, Megatron was well aware of the fact that the Seeker's return was, essentially, a point to the Decepticon side. He hadn't even had to mention it in battle; every bot was well aware of the unspoken score that seemed, at times, to hang above their heads. Right now, the Autobots felt it keenly, and Megatron seemed to find this highly amusing.
And he was probably right. The whole string of events was coated in irony and almost stank of apparent contradictions that, in fact, made perfect sense. For a given value of sense. The whole thing was a laugh, Starscream guessed; he just wished he could see the funny side of it.
Right now, he could use one.
He'd been as good as his word, (if no more) hadn't he? The arrangement had only been temporary. The Autobots, then, would have to learn that Decepticon warriors meant what they said.
Even, said part of him, if what is actually said isn't what they think it means.
They were his enemies. He'd made a short-term agreement with them; that they had allowed it to harm them was their folly and a victory for him. Yet, for some reason, Starscream didn't feel as though he'd won.
Stalking into his quarters and irritably hitting the door (it was jammed again, the jet noted with a growl), he sat down by the console, facing into the room, and tried to organise his thoughts. The door came unstuck as he stepped away from it and sat, rattling closed despite the sound of protesting metal. Starscream ignored it in favour of trying to analyse what had been so distasteful about the last skirmish.
The Autobots had been . . . angry, some of them, and he recalled one expression of hatred in particular . . . at this the red flier grinned to himself, sitting back; he was familiar with hatred, comfortable in dealing with it.
What else . . . oh, yes, betrayal. This, too, was not new; some things never changed, and Autobot wisdom was one of them. He paid this no heed, as a rule; their emotions tended to be misplaced, and in this instance, they had a tendency to forget that there was no betrayal without trust. Well, they had trusted him, sometimes, but only slightly, and he'd never done anything to encourage it.
Ah . . . disappointment. Starscream snorted; he hadn't been the cause of that. Again, it was their own folly that raised impossible hopes; he could hardly be expected to take responsibility for that, could he?
Shaking his head, the Seeker tried again to pinpoint this aggravation, this elusive factor that had robbed him of his victory and left him devoid of triumph. He found only the definite impression that he was missing something.
Lost in thought, he turned to face the console, and was at once dragged from his musings. How had that gotten there? That wasn't any file of his! Furthermore, Starscream noticed in shock, it was stored directly onto the computer, rather than having been sent by another unit.
He opened it, annoyed and keen to find which of the others had dared to invade his computer. As soon as the message began playing, he became very still. The silence blended with the recording until they almost counted as one.
Finally, the voice fell silent, too.
For a few cycles, the Decepticon jet sat, staring at the console, his expression unreadable. If anyone had looked for it, though, they might have seen his quaking – with an emotion far removed from fear. Or so they might have thought.
Then, bending over the keys, Starscream called up a new screen and began, as it were, to compose.
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Poor, foolish Red Alert. I almost hate to disappoint you, but sadly for your blindly faithful alliance, I must inform you that you are once again playing out your noble Autobot role, and looking for evidence where there is none.
I would have thought you, of all bots, would understand that problem. Perhaps logical thinking is not such a great component of scientific training, as its teachers would have us believe, then.
Water takes the shape of its container, but pour it out, and doesn't it lose its shape for whatever form it pools into? Just because I had to play by your rules at one point doesn't alter the fact that I am free of them now.
And I intend to make the most of it. You were right on one count, at least. I do indeed know you better for the time we worked together. Knowledge is power, especially in war.
What, did you expect me to respect your privacy? To refuse to use such knowledge against you, through honour or some other such whimsical concept? Yet again, Autobot, you let hope cloud reason. I may as well remind you of this: it will destroy you.
Yes, now I understand you. So? Understanding is NOT the same as agreement. Just because I can comprehend your 'logic' doesn't mean I subscribe to your philosophy.
Although it DOES have an influence on MY behaviour. After all, appreciation of your thinking allows me to predict your actions, and now… now you have and enemy who empathises with you, but doesn't sympathise. A foe that understands you perfectly… and doesn't give a slag.
Can you think of anything more dangerous, Autobot?
You can wait all you want, but I care nothing for your folly. Returning to the side where I belonged is a choice beyond regret – there was no other possible outcome, in the end, and I-
It was a choice, it- it had to be made . . . What you fail to grasp is that, whether I had stayed or not, regret would have plagued me. Decisions must be taken every day of our lives: that is life, and wondering what might have been is something that we must deal with. Regret is hardly a deciding factor.
I ADAPT. Learning isn't necessarily the same as changing. Just because I found ways to cope among you doesn't mean I liked it, or that it will have any influence on me now that I am free of such ties.
It seems you misunderstand my intention. Red Alert, surely a science officer can grasp such a simple concept as this: for once, in sending you that message, I was being perfectly honest and straightforward.
Reassuring myself, hah . . . Stop reading too far into it!
And what makes you think I'd change myself? Why should I wish to change? I am who I am, Starscream, Decepticon warrior, and no pathetic, quibbling Autobot: that is all that is important. My identity happens to be that of your adversary. Deal with it.
. . . The only betrayal I could commit would be to remain with you, to deny whom I am merely to strike at Megatron. My judgement was impaired when I joined forces with you; yes, I'll admit that my emotions were in control. And there's the difference between us: I learned my lesson.
You, on the other hand, persist in your own course of denial, refusing (rather childishly, I believe the term is) to accept the facts. While you pander to your fantasies, then, I will move on. I, after all, have a life to lead.
Think of me as you will, then. Continue to pine for the comrade you deluded yourself into believing was there. But when you see who is about to deliver the killing blow, well . . .
. . . Don't say I didn't warn you. Please.
A whining target puts me off.
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Please review and comment! Starscream, as ever, likes to think he has the last word on the matter . . . but we, of course know better . . . ^_^