14. Battle
"Remind me again why we have to do this?"
"Would you harden up?!" Starscream snarled, more than finished with my pestering. "You're a Seeker, and Seekers come in trines. You should be praying to Primus that we haven't fallen even; I haven't designed maneuvers for four."
"And flying solo is no fun," Skywarp added from behind me. Thundercracker wasn't with us as we headed towards an upper hall. I'd scarcely seen him since the night several decacycles ago when I had terminated my first mech.
I had sent two more Sparks on their way since. One I had gunned down as he tried to flee; the other had run at me headlong, determined to get past me in any way he could. He'd come at me with an energon blade, but I'd managed to turn his own weapon on him. Neither had been easier than the first. They'd all hurt me in the same way.
They said it would grow easier with time. Part of me wanted to get used to it. The other part hoped I would never grow desensitized to death.
I couldn't help but wonder about each mech I'd killed. Had he owned slaves? Did he leave behind a sparkling or a bondmate? Who had he been, and who could he have been if his Spark hadn't been snuffed before its time?
Skywarp was still talking. "With a trine you've got both of your wings… you're whole. You see the sky and you can take it. You can't do that with one or two… but three?" He grinned at me, warmth in his optics. "Three can get you anywhere."
The hallway ended abruptly before us. For a moment I was confused, but Starscream soared up through a Seeker-sized gap in the ceiling. We followed him and I found myself in the most unusual structure I'd ever seen. It was a tower, perhaps three hundred astrometers tall, but without stairs or lifts of any sort. Different levels consisted of rings running around the inside of the tower, each about twenty astrometers apart. The occasional walkway spanned the tower's diameter, but most of the area was open air. No windows broke the walls, but the top of the structure had been shattered, letting the sky show through.
And there were Seekers. Primus, they were everywhere. There couldn't have been more than thirty, but it was still more than I'd ever seen in one place. They came in all colors of the standard spectrum. Their chatter drifted into my audios, snatches of indistinct phrases from all manner of vocalizers. All shared the same haughty bearing. As we entered, the closest optics regarded us and the odd salute was thrown.
"What is this place?"
"This is where the Seekers stay," Skywarp said.
"But it's open. Wouldn't the Autobots—"
"In case you didn't notice, there aren't many Autobot fliers," Starscream said.
Thundercracker landed gracefully before his trineleader. "There's only one left out," he reported. "Acid Storm's third."
"There's been no word from the other Rainmakers?"
"Nothing. They were separated under the Axis Decree."
"Hm. He'll have to do, then. Lead the way."
We followed Thundercracker to the second level. A Seeker, painted a lighter shade of blue than Thundercracker, waited there for us.
"Designation and function," Starscream demanded. The blue Seeker saluted.
"Hurricane, Rainmaker third, Decepticon warrior."
"Acknowledged. Correction: Rainmaker trineleader."
If Hurricane was affected by this, he gave no sign. Instead he responded, "Correction noted. Hurricane, Rainmaker trineleader, Decepticon warrior."
Starscream nodded, then summoned me forward with a flick of his hand. "This is Nova, trineless, Decepticon cadet."
/Not warrior?/
/Not until you've seen battle and done something worth it,/ Skywarp supplied helpfully.
"He is your right wing now. You will teach him to fly with a trine. In battle, he is your responsibility, and whether he is a strength or a weakness depends upon your training."
"Understood, Commander Starscream." There was audible reluctance in Hurricane's voice. Without warning, Starscream grabbed him by the throat, dragging him forward to hiss into his face.
"If you fail to bring him back, I will personally tear off your wings before throwing you off the Tower. And I'll make it slow. Understood?"
Again, this time rasping through the dangerous grip on his vocal processors, Hurricane answered, "Understood, Commander Starscream."
Starscream let him go and the blue Seeker stood to attention as though nothing had happened. Next Starscream's optics focused on me. I flinched, half-expecting him to lash out at me, too.
"Designation and function."
Taking the format from Hurricane, I answered, "Nova, Rainmaker second, Decepticon cadet."
Starscream nodded approvingly. "Acknowledged."
"Technically they're not really Rainmakers anymore," Skywarp pointed out. "Not without the others."
Closer to Hurricane, I saw my new trinemate twitch.
"That's irrelevant. Trineleader Hurricane, I leave this in your hands."
Starscream spared the blue Seeker one last warning glare before taking to the air, his wingmates right behind, and re-entering the base. I looked back at Hurricane in time to see him droop. His expression looked more sad than angry. He scanned me, then pulled a face.
"You're hardly more than a protoform," he said. Now that he wasn't using his crisp military tone, his voice was gloomy and slow. "I'm a sparkling-sitter now."
I took offense. "For your information, I've been out of my protoform for a centivorn and a half."
This only seemed to amuse him. "I've been out of my protoform for about ten million vorns. I fail to be impressed." He paused. "A centivorn and a half? Is that all? Then you were Sparked a slave."
I didn't want to correct him. "I was Sparked after Axis."
Hurricane drooped even further. "A sparkling. And I'm supposed to teach you how to work in a trine…? The commander has a very cruel sense of humor." He sighed. "Everything's cruel now… the entire world is cruel."
"What…?"
"You wouldn't understand," Hurricane answered glumly.
The Stealth Unit's activities were pared down to a minimum, so I had plenty of time to work with my new wingmate. Starscream had taught me some maneuvers back in Iacon, so now it was simply a matter of testing them with Hurricane.
Hurricane and I weren't well-suited to each other. He wasn't hostile, but neither did he seem very interested in being my wingmate. I always felt out of place. It was plain that he didn't want just any wingmates, he wanted his own.
I was no psychologist, but Hurricane was of a morbid turn of mind. His frequent references to death and his melancholy demeanor weren't lost to me, but I had to bear with his oddness. If Starscream and Thundercracker flew with Skywarp without murdering him, then I could surely adapt to working with Hurricane.
As if the endless preparations weren't enough, I discovered that the door that linked my quarters to Starscream's and his trine's was glitching and occasionally failed to close all the way. Rather than say anything, since Starscream didn't seem to have noticed, I didn't mention it. This way I could hear things that Starscream hadn't intended. Some of this I'd rather not have heard—what had I expected from a trio of bondmates?—but I could always close the door manually to save myself some mental scarring.
But every so often, I caught words that weren't meant for my audios. My training with the Stealth Unit let me stand perfectly still and silent beside the slightly-open door, audios tuned to their finest.
"—should take him with you. It's important that he knows what's happening." That was Thundercracker, and Starscream's distinctive rasp answered him.
"He knows no more than every other common soldier."
I knew instinctively that they were talking about me.
"But he's not a common soldier, Screamer." Skywarp, of course.
"Don't call me that, and why shouldn't he be?"
"Because he's yours. Because he's—"
"I can't show favoritism. If he's seen to be getting help, the rest will never accept him. Let him prove himself. Until he does, I can't do anything for him."
"Starscream is right. If he earns his way, the rest will respect him." Thundercracker again. "But don't forget, Starscream, he has proven himself competent. I know that you don't wish to help him, but that doesn't mean you should hinder him, either. Any other recruit with his potential would have gotten your attention by now. At least give him the opportunity. If he's anything like his creators, he deserves a command position."
"We'll see how he does in battle," Starscream allowed. "After that… we'll see."
The conversation ended and I retreated to my berth, sipping a cube as I sat. It warmed my Spark to know that Skywarp and Thundercracker believed in me, but I understood Starscream's logic. The best way to win respect from my comrades was to earn it through hard work. There were no shortcuts. Starscream had brought me here, and now I was on my own.
Several orns later, Starscream and his trine appeared in the Tower.
"Fall in," the red Seeker barked. I followed Hurricane to the Tower's base, lining up with the others in a pattern that was clearly well-rehearsed. As I had learned, Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp were the Command Trine, those of the highest rank – in addition to being the Decepticons' leader, Starscream was his own Air Commander. The rest of us assembled in order based on our trine's rank. The specifics of this measurement were still a mystery to me; it seemed that the "Rainmakers" had been a higher-ranking trine and stood close to the front.
"Brethren," Starscream said, his voice amplified to reach all of us. "This orn we take back the city. Once we emerge from hiding, we will be at open war with our Autobot oppressors once more." He smirked coldly. "And this time we will succeed."
"A simultaneous attack from air and ground," Starscream continued, laying out the battle plan. "Our objective is to destroy the Autobot Headquarters in Kaon and rout the force stationed there. Once the primary objective has been accomplished, cause as much destruction to the Autobots as you see fit. Try not to destroy our own city."
Starscream paused, optics dimming. "Soundwave informs me that the others are ready. Decepticons…"
The anticipation sharpened, all optics on Starscream, every 'con waiting, absolutely still. Starscream relished it.
"…transform and rise up!"
The sounds of transformation and then of engines reverberated around the Tower, growing into a tumultuous roar. I locked onto Hurricane's energy signature as he'd taught me, ensuring that I wouldn't lose him in the chaos.
/Just follow me./ Even Hurricane's signal was gloomy.
Lacking true optics in my alt-mode, I could only imagine the sight: Decepticons pouring from the secret entrances to our underground base, fliers exploding from hidden ways designed solely for their use, Seekers erupting from the Tower in a deadly swarm. Even in this form I could tell the difference between Autobot and Decepticon through signals in their energy signatures.
Hurricane's engines screamed like gale-force winds as we arrowed towards Autobot Headquarters. Below us there were brief smatterings of combat as Autobot patrols encountered more than they'd bargained for. The main force would be completely unprepared for our sudden assault.
I gave the Autobots credit: in the thirty kliks or so of warning they'd had, they were halfway prepared to fight. But halfway would not be enough.
/Open fire!/ came Starscream's general command to his Seekers. I followed Hurricane exactly through a gyro-spinning attack run, firing as we went.
Just for a moment I wondered how many Autobots would offline in the collapse of the now-fiery structure. How many more Sparks would be extinguished? But I wouldn't see their faces fill with horror, their optics go dark, their bodies fade to grey. I wouldn't even hear their screams.
I couldn't think about that right now. I continued to fire on the building alongside the other Seekers and other flier models designed for firepower. The Autobots now had an idea of what we were up to and turned the automated cannons on us, trying to save their base. A Seeker nearby was hit and began to tumble from the sky; his wingmates dove to catch him.
/Follow me,/ Hurricane signaled. He flew straight towards a cluster of the guns.
/Are you crazy?!/ I commed back, but he gave no answer. I followed him even so and we fired on the cannons together. A stray shot grazed my nosecone and I had to pull up. My wingmate didn't even pause to plan or reconsider as he screamed past again, straight into the line of fire.
I had no choice, so I followed again, relying on what Starscream had taught me, Primus, and luck. Two of the Autobots' guns were rendered nonfunctional. I caught the tail end of a faint transmission unconsciously sent by Hurricane. /Acid Storm!/
He made another pass, ignoring it when he was hit, this time broadcasting /Sunstorm!/
As he prepared for another run, I transformed and, lacking other options, grabbed his wings, pulling him back. /What is wrong with you?!/ I demanded. /Leave it! We're needed elsewhere!/
Hurricane transformed and threw me off. /You wouldn't understand!/
/This isn't the time. If you're going to attack those guns, at least do it so that we won't both get ripped to shreds!/
/Am I the commanding officer here or are you?/
/Our orders are to destroy the Autobot Headquarters, not get ourselves terminated by attacking blindly! Do you want to die?!/
/Yes!/ He drew away. /You wouldn't understand! Go blow up the building, for all I care!/
/I don't leave my trinemates. Now stop being stubborn and we can—/
/That's an order, cadet!/
I didn't hesitate. /One I have to disobey, sir./ I rocketed over his head, flipped over, and aimed a blow at the back of his neck as I had with Dent-Nose. It worked, especially now that Ramrod had taught me where to aim. Hurricane nearly fell from the sky, but I grabbed him beneath the arms and flew to where a greater concentration of Decepticons was gathered. I landed and shoved his limp frame at a clump of mechs. "He needs a medic." Then I took off again, heading back towards the Autobot base.
The Seekers didn't stop their attack until the building was well and truly demolished. Only then did I pay much attention to what was happening on the ground. There had been fairly even numbers to begin with, and fairly even numbers remained. But the tide was about to turn.
/Fliers, provide air support,/ was the new order. Devoid of a trine to work with, I improvised. I stayed in bipedal mode for easier aim. I didn't want to gun down any of our own mechs. In some places there was enough space between combatants to see, but for the most part Autobots and Decepticons were tightly locked in battle.
Most upsetting to me were the unmoving heaps of grey metal. I thought of Undertaker and shivered. If Hurricane really had intentionally allowed himself to be terminated, he'd have fallen on the Autobot side. When we found him, he would have been only a stripped, wingless shell…
I lost count of the shots I fired, and at times I flew too fast to see how many mechs fell in my wake. Perhaps that was for the best. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I'd known exactly how many Autobots I'd killed. It all blurred into one long stream. Once a shot punched through my wing, barely missing the primary fuel line. I managed to remain airborne, and that was the only serious wound I sustained throughout the battle.
The Autobots fled after holding their position valiantly for two megacycles. They carried their wounded and as many of their dead as they could. I had the terrible certainty that, had we not been in such a state ourselves, Starscream would have had us run them down and slaughter them all. But many of our own were deactivated or injured.
I should have sought a medic, but instead I wandered between grey corpses, observing the dead and praying that I wouldn't find a familiar face – from either side – among them. Perhaps I was searching for survivors, though I wasn't sure what I would do if I found a living Autobot.
Sobbing drew my attention towards the body of a mech who looked vaguely familiar. I approached cautiously, raising an arm-rifle as I stepped around the shell. I saw yellow-green plating and my optics widened in surprised recognition. "You?"
Dent-Nose looked up and his face looked much the way I felt. "Y-you!" He scrabbled backwards on his aft, cowering against his terminated friend. "D-don't terminate me, p-please!"
"I'm not going to terminate you," I answered, lowering my arm-rifle and glancing around. Nobody else was nearby.
"Y-you're not?"
"Get off your aft," I said, reaching out to help. He jerked away, terrified.
"Don't t-touch me!"
I sighed and dropped my arms. "Get up," I repeated. He complied shakily.
"What are you going to d-do to me?"
"Nothing," I said. "The rest of the Autobots ran north. You should follow them before someone who won't be so merciful sees you."
Dent-Nose hesitated. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you're not worth deactivating. Get running."
He turned and fled, stumbling and tripping but still making good time. I sighed, turning away… at least I'd never have to deal with him again.
The orange Seeker who I'd seen hit had offlined. His wingmates huddled together over his body-shell, their anguished keening making me shiver as I passed.
Even Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp stood a bit closer together than usual, though they didn't do anything so tender as embrace each other.
"Where's Hurricane?" Skywarp asked.
"With a medic." I think. "Um, Starscream? Do you want to think again about pairing me with the suicidal maniac?!"
Starscream arched an optic ridge. "No. Why?"
"Hurricane's mental state has been called into question before," Thundercracker reminded him. "The loss of his wingmates has been hard on him."
"We made at least five undefended attack runs on the Autobot cannons," I told them. "He's trying to get killed, and I'm not too keen on the idea."
"Just stay alive, and sooner or later you won't have to worry about him anymore," Starscream unhelpfully advised.
I sighed and excused myself. Now that we held all of Kaon, mechs were already taking over the buildings, regenerating the old base. Unsure what to do or where to go, I instead returned to the underground facility, heading for the training grounds. No sooner had I entered than a familiar black hand seized my arm and pulled me back into the hall.
"Ramrod! I was looking for y—"
"Come with me," he interrupted, already tugging me down the hall. I'd never been in this area before, but from the looks of it, it was another barracks. Ramrod keyed open a door. His quarters were bare of personal items; a few cubes of energon were stacked beside one of the berths.
"I was looking for you," I finished as the door hissed shut.
"Me too," he answered quietly. There was a brief silence. Then, unexpectedly, Ramrod reached out to grab my shoulders. "Primus," he whispered. "I'm glad you're all right. I was getting worried."
He sounded shaken. I realized that it had been Ramrod's first battle too. It was easy to forget that, for all his prowess in training, he was actually younger than I. On the ground things must have been ten times worse than in the air. My job had been easy; down there, it must have been a different story entirely.
"I don't want them to see me like this… don't want them to think I'm vulnerable. But I trust you. I was scared out there, fragging terrified. It was… Primus, it was a nightmare. We could hardly tell who was who, couldn't tell anyone apart. It was like the Pit: everyone was shouting or screaming or dying…"
"But you made it," I said. "You got through it."
"It was horrible."
What would Optimus say? I always felt awkward in the face of someone else's emotions. Finally I settled on, "I know."
He sighed, shook his head, and looked up with brighter optics than before. "I'll be fine," he said, sounding more like his usual self. "It was just a shock. Some recharge and I'll be fine. Hey, get some help for that wing, it looks painful."
I'd completely forgotten, though now that Ramrod mentioned it, I could feel the ache spreading from the wound. I nodded, bade him farewell, and began to leave.
"Hey, Nova?" Ramrod called. I paused, looking back. "Thanks for listening. It... helps." His smile turned into an embarrassed grin. "Primus, now I'm sounding mushy..."
"Anytime," I answered, glad that he was in better spirits. Something nagged at me, something I had to thank Ramrod for... oh. Hurricane.
Something in my face must have tipped him off, for he tilted his head. "What's wrong?"
"I, ah, well..." I explained about my confrontation with Hurricane. He snickered, then grew serious.
"I hope Hurricane's in a better mood when he wakes up," he said. "And that Starscream's happy with what you did today... otherwise, well, you did attack a commanding officer."
"I hadn't looked at it like that."
Ramrod shrugged. "Well. Whatever that nut says, I'll back you up, Nova."
"Thanks. But it'll be all right." I hope.