Pausing in the street, Skyfire peered down the darkened alley. At the far end, he could just make out the door and the faint, blinking sign that identified his destination. Maccadam's.
Since his return to Cybertron, he'd been intending to visit the bar but had not found the time. He still didn't have the time, but this wasn't a pleasure visit. As he made his way to the door, he went over in his head the message that had brought him here. Blitzwing wanted to meet him at the bar. Nothing else would have brought Skyfire here.
Ducking through the small door, Skyfire entered Maccadam's and looked around. He'd not been here in 9 million years, probably more, and it hadn't changed. Well, it was less crowded but that was no doubt due to the time. It was early. The war had reduced the number of the bar's clientele, as well. Skyfire was the only mech in the place.
Picking a seat in the back, as his message had suggested, the jet sat down in the shadows. Soon, a decrepit femme came out from the back and plunked a cube of mid-grade Energon in front of him. He started to protest but she ignored him and disappeared as quickly as she'd appeared. Sighing, he took a sip, then a longer swallow. It was good quality Energon. No sense letting it go to waste.
The time for the meeting came and went and Skyfire, feeling like he'd been stoodup, rose to his feet to leave. Before he could take a step, the door opened. The jet sat down again as Blitzwing entered. Skyfire watched the triple-changer scan the room looking for him and was surprised at how well the mech looked. He carried himself much better than any mech who'd been on the run should have.
Their optics met and Blitzwing…smiled. Taken aback, Skyfire nodded in greeting, and the mech cross the dark room to his table. Skyfire frowned as he watched Blitzwing walk. He bore himself with a confidence and moved with a swagger that reminded Skyfire of someone else. Someone he knew was dead.
"Blitzwing," the jet greeted the triple-changer as he pulled out a chair. He settled down opposite Skyfire and leaned forward on his arms.
"Skyfire," Blitzwing responded, his voice quiet but pitched too high.
Skyfire's optics brightened in surprise.
"You came," Blitzwing continued. "I didn't think you would."
Before Skyfire could respond, the old femme returned and served them both more mid-grade. Blitzwing immediately downed the entire ration like a starving empty and then stared hungrily at Skyfire's untouched cube.
Skyfire stared. Blitzwing spoke and moved like someone else but acted like the starving mech he had to be.
"May I," Blitzwing said, indicating the second mid-grade in front of Skyfire. "He is starving and I'm finding it difficult to control him."
Skyfire nodded numbly and pushed the cube across the table. He recognized the voice now.
"Starscream," he whispered.
"Hello, Sky," Blitzwing answered in Starscream's voice. "It's been a long time."
"I…I heard you'd died. I don't understand."
Blitzwing/Starscream chuckled softly. "Surely you've heard of the ghost of Starscream?"
"I had. I just dismissed it as fantasy."
"Not fantasy though even I don't understand the whys or hows. My body was destroyed but my Spark continuned to live. Most distressing until I learned how to…possess others." He gestured at Blitzwing's body.
"Unbelievable but …I'm glad," Skyfire said quietly. "I'm glad you're not dead. I couldn't properly mourn you, you know. Maybe this is why. Maybe I suspected you weren't dead."
"I'm touched," Starscream smirked.
Skyfire grimaced. "Stop it. You didn't come here to torture me. What do you want and why bring Blitzwing?"
"Why do I have to want something?" Starscream asked innocently.
"Don't give me that. I know you," Skyfire growled.
"I'm wounded," Starscream moaned mockingly. "Believe it or not, I wanted to see you again; maybe for the last time. I knew you'd come if the message was from Blitzwing." He held up his hand to stop Skyfire from answering. "Plus I want to save Blitzwing as much as you do. Two birds with one stone, to use the Earth phrase. I deliver the triple-changer into your hands as perhaps my last good deed, thus I'm vindicated in your optics. Life goes on." He spread his hands in a "there you go" gesture.
"Why?"
"Why save Blitzwing? He may be stubborn, nasty, and vicious but he's honorable. He did the right thing. It's not his fault that Galvatron is even more stubborn, mean and vicious and insane on top of everything." Starscream grinned at some private thought. "Plus, I'm always looking for some way to antagonize the slagger. Afterall, look what he did to me."
"I see. Does he," Skyfire nodded at Blitzwing, "know what's going on or will I have to do some fast explaining?"
"I can't make everything easy for you. I'd recommend having plenty of Energon on the table when I depart."
Skyfire rubbed the space between his optics tiredly. "I appreciate the warning." He caught the ancient femme's optic and ordered more Energon and then studied Blitzwing/Starscream silently for a moment. "What are your plans?"
"To get a new body of my own, of course. I can't tell you how or you'd try to stop me."
"I don't see how I could do that, but you're probably right. I'd try to figure out a way to stop you." Skyfire sighed. "So this is good-bye, then?"
"I'm afraid so."
"I'm sorry you had to 'die.' And just so you know, I didn't hate you."
Starscream started to smirk again but stopped himself. "I know," he said.
The Energon arrived and Starscream reached for one. Holding it with both hands, he blinked an optic at Skyfire. "Have fun," he smirked and abandoned Blitzwing's body.
Blitzwing jerked suddenly, surprise written all over his faceplates. He looked around frantically before he saw Skyfire sitting opposite him. He started to push himself up but Skyfire grabbed his arm.
"Drink," the jet said calmly. "Then we'll talk."