A/N: Hello my good readers! Its been awhile since I last update! So, yes I know its not February but over the holidays I realized in my heart of hearts I wanted to release it on this day. Why you may ask? Why did I do a DOUBLE UPDATE ON BOTH OF STEEL AND MAGIC AND BORN ON THE BATTLEFIELD? Well simple, today, on January 23 of last year my Dad passed away. Now its been a year, a very hard year, but a year nonetheless and what better way I could think of to do for him was this. He always encouraged my artistic and writing passions and was always interested in what my mind could come up with! So, today I release these two chapters, one for each story, in honor of him.
Love you Dad, RIP
Anyways...enough with the sappiness, you came here for the story...I hope.
So please enjoy this new chapter, in a new year in a new decade and...
Enjoy the show.
Chapter 13-Aligning Oneself
Megatron's POV
I sat in silence, in the warm oil bath, staring at the black liquid. Several hours ago we came back from that forest, in our true forms. I couldn't return to my post, I needed time, time to process everything. But...I couldn't.
Every time I tried, I felt the darkness take hold. A creeping sensation crawled on my protoform and a dark presence whispered and glided through my spark and mind. Never before have I noticed it, never did I sense it before, but now I know it was always there.
A dark force, something unspeakable that laid there in my blind spot.
I wondered how long it was there, how long I unconsciously listened to it's ideas, thoughts and desires? Were my decisions my own? Were my actions my own? And when did it appear? Was it there at my creation? When I became a gladiator or when I faced the Council?
So many questions ran through my helm, and I wondered...was this her reasoning? Did she do this purposefully? And did she also have this...thing in her as well?
Thing...monster?
That sounds right, monster, a monster is what it is. But whenever I try to see it, to visualize it, it's always not in line with my sight, always in the corner, blurry and unimaginable. It was infuriating, I wanted to kill it, destroy it, seal it.
"What are you…?" I asked out loud, frowning with no response came I got out of the bath. I stared at a reflective surface in the washracks, my protoform bare and clean. My scars littered my form, and even though I stood strong and large with my armor, without it, I was small and weak. The only way I survive is my armor and the fact that I feel no pain.
My armor gave me my silhouette, it made me taller, and more bulky.
And it was something I never let anyone know. It was a defense, but looking at it, the armor near my peds, it was covered in darkness but not. It gave the monster power and though I hated it, I had to wear it. Even my helmet hid my true form, under it was a unique feature to Cybertronians.
Metallic tendrils, moving on their own, like snakes with no heads that went down to my mid-spine strut. Sometimes I can control them, sometimes I can't. But it made me an outcast by birth, and thus why I wore the helmet, for fear of rejection.
Maybe that's the monster, fear.
I placed my armor back on, my height raised again and my horrible silhouette returned. The invisible darkness clung to it and me, and under it, on my protoform I was now aware of the invisible blood of innocence, and of those deserving death.
What I experienced in that forest tore open a door I didn't want to open.
And I had Nerium to thank for that.
Maybe...I should talk to her, she may hold my answers ultimately, but that will have to wait until the Solar.
No One's POV
The little girl, of golden eyes and green short hair awoke with a start to screams echoing through her home. The little girl was scared, she knew those were the screams of her Mother, but she didn't understand what was going on. She looked to her sister who shared the same room, as loud noises and screams came from the lower floor.
The peasant girls clambered together out of their beds, there simple garments not giving them enough heat as winter was currently ongoing. The younger one, of golden eyes and short messy green hair led the elder, of dark brown eyes and long tangled black hair.
They stared down the hatch that led to their room, a ladder the way up only to stare at a gruesome scene. Blood was scattered everywhere, creatures known as orcs and half-orcs were either dead and nearly dying in the room and near the ladder was their parents.
Their Father, a man born for the life of adventuring and a skilled fighter held their Mother in his arms, weeping openingly. Their Mother, a simple woman who lived as a weaver was covered in blood, she was horribly mutilated and her dead, cold golden eyes stared at the girls, devoid of life.
The elder sister screamed in horror at the scene, their Father looked up with shock and despair.
"Girls! Get back into your rooms until I say-URGH!" A spear pierced through his chest, stopping him from ending his sentence.
The elder sister screamed in horror and backed away from the hatch, screaming and crying. But the younger couldn't look away, couldn't scream. She simply stared in fascination as her Father's light faded from his eyes before the spear was pulled out with a sickening sound, her golden eyes lock onto those who killed her Father and Mother, an Orc with tattoos and skins on it, a dark glint in it's eyes as it smirked in victory.
He looked up in time to see the young girl, her stare piercing straight through him and it made him stop for a moment.
That hesitation, was all she needed.
She pounced on him, the small gnomish girl clinging to his face as he screamed and walked backwards, tripping and falling. The girl snarled like an animal, clawed and racked his face with her nails. She bit and tore at his ears and eyes, he tried to throw her off but her little legs were locked around his neck, slowly crushing his pipes.
He screamed again, his eyes taken but the girls fingers and a sicking SNAP echoed throughout the home and the Orc went limp. She breathed heavily, staring at the now dead and bloodied orc. She didn't register anything, she just stared into the now bloody sockets were his eyes were once, hissing and growling like an animal.
Her older sister stared in horror at what the younger had done. She dared not speak a word, for fear that that monster would kill her in blind rage as it did the orc. She always knew her sister was strong, she was like that since birth, but she had no idea she could take down a 10 times larger and meaning foe by snapping its neck with her legs….it was indeed monstrous.
More screams ripped out from outside, the sounds of combat making their way through the broken down door. The younger peered out angrily looking to see other Gnomes running and dying, from Orc raiders that now pillaged her home.
The desire to kill once more rose, she darted into the bloody night, killing anything that stood in her way. The girl didn't know when it stopped, or how long it was. All that she remembers was blood, gore, screams and shouts.
And when she awoke the next day to that burnt out village, she awoke to be surrounded by the dead.
Not just Orcs, but Gnomes too fell at her might.
She stared on in horror at what she had committed and when a neighboring monastery of Druids came by after seeing the smoke from high up on the mountain, she didn't struggle nor did she speak as she was taken there.
Nor did she have too, they all knew what she was and thus began to make her into the greatest Druid that monastery would ever know.
Nerium's POV
I awoke, gasping for air to stifle the heat coming off my internals. That dream, always hated it. That day was something I never forget no matter what I did. It was the origin, the day I found out I was a host to a monster. I never wished to commit such heinous crimes again and I was glad my sister lived, even though I never saw her again after that night.
I sat up, sighing as I knew it was time to get up.
Wendigo, who had been sleeping soundly in her little nest awoke as well and muttered through our bond.
'Momma..it's early…' She whined through the bond, I sighed and shook my head in a light chuckle.
"Get up, we need to see how Megatron is doing." I said, climbing out of bed.
She got up and glided down, transforming and attaching to my chassis.
'You know Momma, I think you should hang out more with the others.' She said as we walked out of our room.
"I know, but first we must check up on him, it was his first time after all." I said, making my way to the Bridge.
As I made my way, everything seemed normal, drones were walking about and I saw Skywarp and Thundercracker heading out for a patrol. Silently nodding to them, I did realize that Wendigo was truly right, I needed more than Moonfall and Megatron, I needed allies.
I don't know, but I think of that later.
I entered the Bridge of the Nemesis, but I didn't find Megatron, instead I found Soundwave and Astraea. The femme looked to me with disgust and asked, no, demanded.
"What are you doing here, shapeshifter?" She sneered.
I frowned, "Looking for our Lord, where is he?"
Soundwave answered with a voice clip of Starscream, :Energon mine.:
"I see, did he seem ...alright? I am concerned for his mental state." I said, looking past them to the screens showing a map with Energon mines mapped out on the continent of North America, one was highlighted with Cybertronian text next to it, I was unable to read it.
Astraea looked at me with suspension, "His mental state? What are you, a shrink?"
"No, just a concerned follower. He experienced something no Cybertronian experienced before, and I fear it could warp his mind. He needs someone to guide him, and why not the person who understands best what he went through?" I asked, walking past the femme and the silent mech staring more directly at the map.
"What did you do to our Lord?" Astraea hissed with poison.
I kept my back to her and frowned while staring at the map, "There are things we all need perspective on. Megatron deserves all of them, but if he lets them consume him, he shall be lost. And that is something I will not allow, now, bridge me to him." I turned back to them, a darker expression gracing my cold mask.
Astraea snarled, "H-How DARE YOU! You don't command me! Soundwave, don't let her through, she may damage his mind more! Tell him of her treachery!"
Soundwave was silent, turning his helm slightly to Astraea, then back to me.
Suddenly, a groundbridge opened behind me, I looked back at it in surprise then back at the mech.
"Thank you, Soundwave. I shall be back soon." I said, looking to Astraea with a small smirk of victory, she was shocked and furious and as I walked into the groundbridge I heard her screeching at Soundwave.
On the other side was a tunnel, filled with small Energon crystals. Miners all around worked in silence, the only sound was the movement of their frames and their tools. Some stopped, looking at where the groundbridge was and me, before returning to their task.
Quickly, I began to head deeper into the mine, searching for the Warlord. It seemed like these tunnels went on forever. They reminded me of the Underdark, the world beneath the surface, where dark creatures, Drow and Duergar, Illithids and Beholders and many more lay. It's where dark gods are restrained and where the light never touches the land of dark, where portals to dark planes come and go.
It was a place I never personal visited but I knew of others who did, and who nearly didn't come out alive, or sane. So, to be underground in these tunnels, it made me uneasy with the feeling of dark and evil eyes on me always.
I finally arrived at the main chamber of operations. Larger crystals were being mined her and standing above it all was Megatron, across the chamber from me, discussing something with the head drone of the mine.
Without thinking, I activated the onyx stones creating a square glyph made of grey magic, slamming it down onto the ledge in front of me I shoved my hands forward and springing from the rock was a stone platform that stretched in segments towards the other side. The stone molded into a large bridge connecting us both, Megatron now watched in amazement as I finished stabilizing the connection before standing straight, but my palms never fading in the grey color.
I began walking across the bridge and as I came closer he asked.
"What spell was that?" He asked, curious as ever.
"Wall of Stone, the fact that it is made of segments allows me to use it as a bridge." I said, "But I must concentrate on it for ten minutes or it will crumple away."
"What happens afterward?" He said, looking at the bridge.
"It becomes permanent." I simple said, before asking, "My Lord, I wish to have a word with you alone."
He nodded, "I as well, come." He said before turning and walking into the tunnel behind him leaving the drone to his work.
We walked in silence, the crystals become more numerous as we walked further and further until we came to a small room. It was like a geode, the Energon crystal lined the circular room completely with only a small path through it as it went on.
"Nature never seems to fail to astound me…." I muttered, taking in the room.
"And that is what I wish to talk to you about." Megatron said, turning to me.
"Right, I was wondering how you were handling it?" I asked.
The warlord sighed and turned his back to me, "I don't know Nerium, what happened...I can't even but it to true words."
I frowned, "Why's that?"
"Because you did something no one has done before, you made me see where I was blind. And I have you to thank, but I want to know something...did you see the monster when we first met?"
I stopped, my processor rehearing those words. My mask fell from its place and I openly stared at him with a sense of dread.
"Did you say...monster?" He said nothing, "I don't-I mean...Is this what you came to the conclusion that you have a monster within you?"
"Yes, before I didn't notice it. Now...that darkness crawls and weaves in me, and it's never seen but felt. I also wondered..if you had the same monster within you and you wanted to show it to me?"
My optics widened, "I didn't expect this...I thought you would be disgusted or somehow broken over the fact that you were turned into a beast. I didn't think that your monster would be unleashed!" Guilt racked my body as I gripped my helm.
He frowned and knelled before me, "Nerium, you didn't unleash the monster within me. You cured me of my blindness, it was always there when I now think on it. I was just too blind to see it, and the fact that this is how you react gives me the answer I was looking for. You have a monster within you too."
My guilt didn't wash away, and I shut my optics and gripped my helm harder.
"No...what have I done?" I questioned quietly.
"You have done nothing wrong, Nerium." He said sternly.
I looked back up at him, my optics blazing in fury, "BUT I HAVE! Always, I bring out the worst in people, why did I do that? Why do I always do that!? Why do I bring suffering to others?! Why am I always suffering!? WHY!? It doesn't make any sense…"
I collapsed to the ground, a wetness dripping down my face as I gripped the ground with my sharp claws.
"...why am I evil incarnate…?" I quietly asked.
There was a deep seeded silence, I stared at the ground like it had wronged me and the scimitar stained in red on my back burned against my metal. It reminded me of the pain and suffering I caused and what suffering I bring onto myself.
Then I felt a digit come under my chin and raised my face to met with Megatron's, his face stern and hidden behind his ruby optics, was sorrowfulness.
He said in a resolute and soft tone, "I find myself asking the same question you do now. Before I met you or Moonfall, I never wavered in any decision, never in any act be it violent or not. But now, I find my spark torn, and questioning everything. You are not to blame for my monster, for it is my own creation.'
He sighed, his large talons wiping away the tears.
'I believe we all have monsters within us, be they Decepticons, Autobots or Landers. We all struggle with demons, but those who understand what their demons are and what they cause...well I believe they are more equipped to handle it than any other. As Sophocles once said; 'Every man can see things far off but is blind to what is near.' That ancient human was wise beyond his years, all of us are blind to our monsters and demons, but now, I can see and so can you.'
He leaned down over me, his servos caging my smaller frame, his dark ruby optics mixed in the glow of my golden ones.
'We know our monsters, we know what they do and that means we can fight back, together. I know my monster well, I know what it craves and what it distains. I believe you do too, hence why you hate yourself when you give into its desires. But now, you have someone who truly understands, and who can actually help you. You are no longer alone."
I stared with wide optics, my mind swirling in a mixture of emotions.
I stuttered, "I-I...never had anyone before...who understood." I said quietly.
"Now you do." He answered with a soft smile.
I didn't know what to say anymore, my mind was slower than my spark and I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck and burying my face into his shoulder.
I muttered, "Thank you, Megatron."
His claws raised up and held me there, trapping me against him, his claws were so larger than my entire form, they could easily rip me apart but I felt somewhat safe in his grasp.
"Of course, Nerium." His deep voice resonated through my entire frame, sending a shiver down into my spark at which it leapt in excitement.
Pushing to calm it, I just simply basked in the moment and in his warm clutches, as well as his strong yet fast sparkbeat.
Starscream's POV
I watched over Moonfall's sleeping form in the Med-Bay. I know I can easily talk to her anywhere, but I sometimes liked to visit her physical frame to ground myself in reality. My mind was always on Moonfall, the others became secondary and Astraea was a threat to my Moonlight.
But I left that thought for now.
I was getting tired of waiting, for that Unholy Mistress. Every minute that goes by, makes me more angsty for something, anything to call her arrival. This Unholy Mistress, sounds something sinister but if she could aid Moonfall then I don't question it.
Why do I not question Moonfall? Why are others only secondary to her? Why...do I devote myself to her, what are these emotions and why...do I care for someone I barely know?
All these questions went unanswered, even by Moonfall.
And it was strange...how did she come to be shunted into his crystal? And what was this crystal? Who did this to her?
"You will wonder yourself to death if you do that…" Moonfall's voice called.
I kept staring at her sleeping form, "I don't know why I wonder, but I must ask...when will it end?"
She was behind me, but she didn't move as she answered.
"The end, to what end do you mean?" She asked.
"To this," I gestured to her silent frame, "When will you awaken?"
She hummed, "Even when you find the Unholy Mistress, it'll not herald my return for six events must occur, the first which is being fulfilled on this day."
I raised my brow, "Six events? What are they and how is one being achieved today?"
She laughed, "Today, is the day for only the Autobots, let them deal with it."
I looked down to my servos, "Moonfall, I have to ask, why are you so open to me now more so than in life?"
She was silent and for a moment I thought she was gone again, but then she sighed.
"I have lied to you...and I am sorry…" Her voice fell to a whisper and scratchy.
Confused, I stood and turned to her only freeze in horror.
Her form was destroyed and withered, resembling when she was found but with a large purple crystal stabbed through her spark chamber and purple burning dots were her optics, she was unnatural and deformed and wrong.
I stepped back, for once in fear of her.
Her face softened in sadness, "I am sorry...but I have lied to you...I am not perfect in death for I hate it. And as such, I was made into this horrible visage by that damned Queen. It is my curse, to be pained as much in life as in death."
"What…?" I was so confused.
"Starscream, my inhibitions, the things that stop a normal being sharing their true feelings are lost on me...my thoughts and emotions are laid bare...and I fear that when I come back, I will not remember this, I will fear this and I will reject you out of embarrassment and shame."
Her optics looked to her true form, "I am afraid...always afraid…"
I looked at her frame as well and said, "Don't be...I'm afraid as well. All of this, do you know why this happened?"
"Yes, and it is time you learned the whole truth, but not here. It is time to meet the Unholy Mistress, go on, I shall guide you to her."
I nodded and her form changed back, and disappeared. But I didn't mind and headed out towards the Flight deck.
No One's POV
Astraea sat alone in the rec room, drinking her Energon. She sat there alone because she currently couldn't stand any other bot in this ship. Soundwave dismissed her after she yelled at him for letting the little glitch go to their Master.
She didn't understand, how could the other Decepticons be so open to all of this? Why were the Landers the exception to the rule that all Decepticons had to earn their place through loyalty and battle?!
Then, she realized something, Shockwave.
She hadn't seen hide nor hair of him on the ship and that in itself was strange. Where could he have possibly gone too? She got up from her seat, slamming down the rest of her Energon and making her way to the nearest terminal.
Searching through the files she could get her claws on, she finally came upon a redacted file, with only a few notes on it and it's title.
"Project: Predacon?" She began to read what little notes there were on it. "During the years of the War for Cybertron Shockwave purposed a weapon to be used against the Autobots to take Iacon this weapon was given the clear by Lord Megatron and the work began; it is unknown if the Project was ever completed as both Cybertron and Shockwave died before it's completion."
She stared at it with curiosity, clearly this note states that Shockwave was dead so how did he survive no less on a dead world all this time? And those others who attempted to come across along with him, how did they survive up until that point?
Whatever Project: Predacon was, Astraea knew it could be used to benefit her somehow. If this weapon boosted about taking the city of the Autobots, Iacon, then surely she could use it to not only gain favor with Megatron in the Autobots destruction but also to rid the world of the two Landers that made her life a misery.
Now, all she had to do was find Shockwave's off-site lab and the true fun could begin.
"If you are thinking of stealing that weapon, you should really think twice about it." A cold and mechanical voice call from behind her.
Swifted she turned to the mech in shadow, only to lower her guard a little.
"Makeshift? When did you get here?" She asked, the strange mech was a good friend of hers back on Cybertron.
He chuckled, "I was away on a secretive mission, sent to Earth to spy on the populace, I've only recently returned after hearing chatter of our Lord's return."
She crossed her arms, "So, is that the only reason?"
"No, I also heard chatter of this 'Landers' and wish to see them for myself. The rumors around the ship are quite interesting." He said, striding up to her and looking at the screen. "I've worked with Shockwave on this Project back on Cybertron, I suggest not going after it, it isn't worth it. You'll never control it."
She looked skeptically at him, "Hmph, I'll see that when I believe it. But if you want to see the Landers, follow me, I'll lead you to one who can't talk back."
Astraea and Makeshift made their way down the halls and came across Starscream, who seemed to ignore them both. And if only for a moment, they swore they saw someone floating behind him, but it was gone before they could ponder it more.
They entered the Med-Bay, where Moonfall rested.
"This Lander calls herself Moonfall, she was the first and she's the one I hate the most." Astraea growled.
Makeshift came up next to the two-wheeler and asked, "Why's that?"
"She whispers into Megatron's audio and has weaved her oily claws around the Decepticons. She didn't earn her place and is an outsider, not even Cybertronian. Then there is Nerium, she follows Megatron like a turbo-puppy and has done something to our lord, I know of it."
He hummed, placing the back of his hand down the femme Knight's face.
"Such a pretty thing is really so bad? I think you don't have perspective, Astraea."
She scoffed, crossing her arms and shifting to one of legs, "Oh please, it is you who doesn't have perspective, you were gone for this whole time!"
He smiled, "Then we both don't have the right to speak."
Makeshift and Astraea fall into silence, and both stare at the femme Knight. Both were thinking on their words, Astraea didn't understand how Makeshift couldn't be disgusted right away with them, but then he himself was a strange mech. Makeshift on the other hand saw only a beauty from an unknown land, and how she described Nerium didn't say enough about the other Lander, he was intrigued.
The silence however was destroyed when Breakdown and Knockout entered the Med Bay. The two mechs stopped in their tracks, staring at the shifter mech and the explosive femme.
"What are you doing here, Makeshift?" Knockout asked, ignoring Astraea in favor of the strange mech near the defenseless femme.
Makeshift smiled and stepped away from Moonfall, "I came to see what a Lander is like, it is intriguing, her black protoform is almost like my armor."
Breakdown narrowed his optics, "I think Lord Megatron might want to speak with you, after all, you've been out of communication range for sometime."
"Of course, I will see you later than." Makeshift made his way out of the room, smiling slyly.
Breakdown and Knockout watched him leave, before turning to Astraea.
"You can just get out." Knockout said with a frown.
Astraea just huffed, "Why do you defend her? You barely know her?"
Knockout looked to Breakdown then back to her, "She's not in it all for the continuation of the war. She wants to help end it, and not through the traditional way either, so leave her alone."
Astraea looked to Moonfall than back to the mechs with a snarl, "I hardly believe that...I know when I see a liar and killer and she is one of them."
She took her leave, and Knockout and Breakdown made sure Moonfall was not harmed by those two scoundrels of Cybertronians.
Nerium's POV
We returned together, and Megatron took his leave as he was summoned by someone else. I returned to the halls of the Nemesis, pondering all that just happened. My spark and mind raced, never before had I met someone quite like him and it made my spark soar.
'Momma, I think you've finally found someone worthy of your time.' Wendigo said through our bond, I smiled.
"Yes, I think so too. But enough of that, we need allies, remember?" She happily agreed and we made our way to the rec room.
But, on our way someone stepped in our way. I stopped, realizing Soundwave had stepped out a shadow and had come into my path.
My mask slipped back on, "Soundwave? What is going on?" I asked.
He tilted his helm, an indication to follow the silent mech.
Suspicious though it was, I went along with it, "Alright, lead the way."
He turned and began walking to the lower decks until finally we came up to a locked room. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but he unlocked the door and entered the dark room. I looked apprehensively at the darkness beyond the room.
I walked into the darkness only for the lights to flicker on and blind me for a moment. Silently I hissed and rubbed my optics, resetting them and adjusted to see my surroundings. It looked to be an office, with a large computer on one wall and nothing else. The many screens displayed a dizzying array of things.
I looked to the silent mech who stood next to the computer confused.
"What is this about Soundwave?"
He was silent for a moment before my own voice played back, :Wendigo.:
I raised a brow, "Yes, what of her?" She shifted in confusion and worry through our bond, I placed a servo on her where she was connected to my chassis to soothe her.
Several voices came at me now, :Minicon...has she...meet anyone like her?:
I frowned, "No…"
He nodded, :Apprehensive in approach...didn't know ...if you are trustworthy?...now I know everything ...you are worthy.:
"Worthy? What are you getting at Soundwave?" My annoyance was starting to show past my mask a slight bit.
He stood completely facing me, there was a slight nod to his helm and suddenly the front part of his chassis detached and reformed into a raven like bird that landed on Soundwave's shoulder after looping around the room.
I stared surprised at the minicon now resting on the silent mech's shoulder.
"You...huh." I looked down at Wendigo, "Go on, don't be rude and say hi."
Wendigo eagerly detached from my chassis, both birds landed on an empty desk nearby. First it was a little distance between them, as they inspected each other with care. Their heads bobbing with curiosity and them slowly circling each other.
Even though Wendigo was based on her original eagle form, she was actually smaller than the other minicon, so she had reason to be careful.
As those two scoped each other out, I looked up to Soundwave.
"What's the Minicon's name?" I asked, now more relaxed than before.
:Laserbeak...they are my last...other's...lost to the war.: Soundwave, even though speaking through recordings sounded sad but happy nonetheless.
I looked sadly at the raven-like bird as both of the Minicon's got closer.
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I guess that's just how it is." He silently nodded and we continued to watch in silence at the two's interaction with each other.
Before long, both Laserbeak and Wendigo were close enough to either attack each other or pluck at the other. After a tense moment of stillness from both, each khawed happily and jumped around, before almost giving a bird equivalent to a hug.
Through my bond I could tell the emotions she was feeling, happiness, excitement, curiosity and utter joy at finding a new friend.
"It seems those two will be great friends…" I said aloud.
:Affirmative…: an awkward silence filled the air, I could tell that he was also unsure of how to continue, so I asked a question.
"Soundwave, what prompted this...meeting?" The word sounded almost wrong for some reason.
He was silent again before answering, as hesitantly as recordings could be, :Laserbeak...interested...and...lonely since...loss.:
My optics dimmed in an understanding, "I get it...hells just earlier this solar Wendigo said I needed to make friends, ha." I laughed dryly.
:I get it.: My own voice came back at me, :We don't have...many...either.:
"Really? No…" I said with a sarcastic tone, but I softened a little, "...but I get it, I assume it's because of your job?"
He nodded.
"I see. Well then, maybe we could change that?" I asked, cringing at myself at how...AWKWARD...this was. I was never really good at the whole friends and feelings and sharing thing.
He looked down at me with a cocked helm, I could almost feel the questioning look of his unknown optics...I wondered if he even had optics? Questions for another time perhaps.
After what felt like an eternity, Laserbeak squawked at their companion, and fluttered. It seemed like they were also speaking through a bond, I waited patiently, Wendigo hopped next to her new friend and through our bond she said.
'Momma, if we do become friends with these two, lets have playdates!' She asked hopefully.
I quietly chuckled, 'Sure, but first this has to turn in our favor before that!'
Soundwave finally turned his attention to me, :Accepted.:
I took that as best as I could, honestly this felt more like a business deal rather than the beginning of a friendship, but I'll take what I can get.
Even though I didn't drop the mask, I gave a small smile.
"Great." I said, "So...uh...what do you do for fun around here?"
He silently considered it, before showing me to the many screen littered with videos and documents and pictures of the randomest things, but I did notice something tying them all together though.
"Wait, this from what the humans call the internet?" I asked, he nodded his helm and brought up a video of cats jump up walls to catch a red dot only fail spectacularly.
I burst out laughing only to stop myself, I stared up at Soundwave who was silently laughing by his shaking frame.
I glared and playfully said, "Not. A. Word."
Starscream's POV
I soared over and through the clouds of a descending night. I'd be flying for a couple of hours now and I still had no idea where I was going. But, I felt like I was getting closer to answers. Even though Moonfall had lied, sort of, beforehand I wasn't mad at her. I was...understanding?
I don't know the word, but I knew I wasn't mad.
In fact, it made me feel like we were actually getting closer, not only to our goal but to, us, I suppose.
I adored her for her strength and honesty, something I could learn to have.
Maybe...I did like more than I wanted to think about.
She was different from the rest, she was strong, wise and...beautiful. Her voice was soothing yet commanding and she seemed to know more than anyone our struggle in the war. Moonfall is unique, and that uniqueness must be protected at all cost.
Suddenly an energy signature entered my scanners and snapped me from my thoughts. I now noticed it was night and I found myself over a lush jungle. Scanning my location using the Nemesis's systems I found myself over what humans called Central America.
"Is this it?" I quietly asked.
The gem warmed in affirmation, with that I banked down towards a clearing in the jungle where the signal was the strongest. Up turning before transforming and landing, I glanced around my surroundings. At first, it seemed normal, the animals were everywhere, screaming and crying out into the night.
It seemed normal, until I noticed a large black spot in the trees and vines. Then I noticed it, two light violet optics higher than my own helm staring down at me with delight and sinister gleam.
I gasped and stepped back, "W-Whose there?!"
The optics seemed to shift to my right, before alighting even more as a delightful and deadly laughter, feminine, bubbled from the bot.
The femme finally stepped into the moon and starlight, and I became even more terrified.
This femme stood at the Prime's height, her protoform was pale white with almost 'runic' tattoos going down her face and neck. Her audios were rounded and were attached by a band that surrounded the top of her faceplate with metal sticking out from the top with a vent almost in the center of the band, her lower lip was completely black and she had black cords coming out behind the band going to lower back. She had a clasp going over her shoulders with an eclipsed sun in the center, she wore a soft metallic dress of black and a white and gold corset.
On her forearms were the only armor on her with a triple moons at the wrist and more 'runic' symbols on her bare protoform before disappearing behind the bracers. A purple cloak hung from her clasp and on her hip was a book bound by straps to her.
In her servos she held a metallic staff of white with a moon on top and two floating crescents beside it.
She grinned with a sweetness that was most definitely fake, "Ah Starscream, so you've finally come."
I narrowed my optics for a moment, before my optics caught a detail I missed earlier.
There on the eclipsed sun was a fresh Autobot brand but it bore wings...like Moonfall and Neriums.
My optics widened at the sight of the brand, "Y-You ...are an Autobot!" My blaster transformed and I aimed at the femme, who remained unfazed.
"Oh?" She called out, "But I thought you wanted my aid? Or is that spirit clinging to your spark something you just had since you were made?"
I stopped for a moment, stunned by her words.
She...knew that Moonfall was with me? And she's clinging to my spark!? I shook my thoughts away and focused back on the femme that somehow knew about Moonfall.
"H-How…" I asked, lowering my weapons slightly.
"I am what you seek, Starscream, Moonfall. I am the Unholy Mistress, I am Cenotaph." She proclaimed proudly, a smirk adorning her sinister features. Her light violet optics surrounded by darkness shone brighter.
I transformed my weapons away and hope filled my spark.
"You are ...so you can help then?!" I asked, my spark swelling in joy and relief.
She nodded her helm, "Of course, but first you must help me. I need you to give a message to the Lander Gnome."
Now, I was confused.
"Wait, you mean Nerium? How do you know her?"
Cenotaph's expression became darker, "Don't ask questions that you don't want answers too."
She raised her staff and slammed it into the ground creating a gust of wind which pushed me back slightly. I was surprised, it seemed like this femme possed magical abilities like Moonfall.
Then she was deathly calm once more, "Now, for the message; tell Nerium to open up her mind and the stars shall align."
Again, I was confused.
"What kind of message is that?"
She looked more and more annoyed as this went on, "Tell her this and she will understand, and since you are so involved as well...do the same."
Cenotaph then turned and began walking away.
"Involved in what?" I asked, my curiosity into what I was exactly what I was walking into overrode me.
She stopped and without looking back, she said.
"You will soon know, you will see the true reason for us being here. You will see the stars align and when you do, you shall align with them too. In the process, you will betray your own faction and join a great cause, with others; the Apprentice, the Wrecker, the Hacker and the Saved One will be traitors like you, and together we shall build the greatest constellation this world has ever seen."
She started walking away again, and once more I called out.
"When should we be ready?"
Again she stopped and this time she slightly turned to me, her deathly light violet optics piercing my own.
"Always be ready, never be not ready."
And then she was gone, walking back into the forest and disappearing. For such a large femme, she moved quietly throught the jungle, I didn't even her animals being startled or things snapping from her steps.
I stood their, in silence staring at where the femme used to be.
It seemed like I was getting answers, but I still didn't have them all, including the ones pertaining to the spark. But, I knew I was on the right path.
I looked up at the moon and stars, I sighed tiredly and transformed, making my way back to the Nemesis.
As I went, I pondered a thought.
When I found out the whole truth, will I still stay true to her? And if I do, does that really mean I'll betray the Decepticons, is this...devotion really that strong already? Would I do anything for her? Why would I do anything for her?
Did I?….Was I?...Am I…?
…
…
Am I really in love with Moonfall?
