Chapter 3
One Decacycle Later:
Loud, fast paced music resounded from the large speakers spread around the club as bright, multicolored lights flashed. Skinny femmes wearing no armor and practically no outer plating twirled, spun, and climbed on the poles protruding from the stage as lustful mechs cheered them on while tossing credits. Other femmes danced provocatively on table tops or on the laps of other mechs, their servos touching their frames suggestively, their helms tossing back, and mouths held slightly open as they cycled air for their heating systems.
Mech bartenders prepared and served numerous concoctions of colorful high grades to the obstreperous mechs, most of them Decepticons. Some of the mechs had a femme on their lap, kissing or boasting about their abilities in berth, while others snuck off into the upper levels of the bar to have some "private time" with the femmes.
Several femmes approached their targets in hopes for some extra pay, amorously touching the fine wings of the selected mechs.
"And what brings some fine Seekers like yourselves to such a place like this?" One of the femmes sexily inquired, her faceplates drawing near to the center Seeker's.
"High grade, fine femmes. Simply the high grade." The Seeker replied with the sexiest smirk ever to grace a mech's faceplates.
"Mmm, only high grade?" She whispered erotically in his audio receptor.
"Only." He repeated.
"I may have come for something 'more.'" The Seeker to the left giggled as he placed his purple servo on a femme's aft and pulled her closer to his frame.
"Oh, I know you." A third femme said as she stepped where she could see the middle Seeker's face. "Air Commander Starscream. It's been a while. I last saw you here about twenty-nine stellar cycles ago. Hmm, I suppose 'seeing' isn't an appropriate term. More like 'feeling.'"
Starscream looked at her from the corner of his optic, a smirk still on his faceplates. "I recall you as well, Amethyst. How many times have I used your services?"
She gave a coquettish smile. "Eighty-seven sessions. Would you like to make it eighty-eight?"
His smirk only grew. "You are wonderful in the berth, Amethyst. A truly well-trained whore who is worth every credit. But," He paused to take a sip of his high grade. "I am afraid I won't be able to use your services ever again."
The prostitutes all looked at him for a moment before Amethyst spoke up. "My lord, surely we have not done anything to wrong you."
"No, you are free of guilt."
"Then, why not enjoy yourself this night?"
"Because, beautiful femmes, my spark now belongs to someone, and I will not be unfaithful to her." He then took another swig of his high grade.
"Oh, she doesn't have to know." One femme almost whispered the words as she reached down to grope his codpiece.
"We are very good at keeping secrets. Especially from Conjuges Endurae." Amethyst said so softly in such a seductive voice, her lip plates almost touching his.
"I believe every word of it." He replied, causing the femmes to smile. "But, my Conjunx Endura is the most gorgeous, intelligent, clean, and incredible femme to ever be created. And unlike you, she can be amazing in berth and out of it." The prostitutes' smiles all vanished, but the Air Commander wasn't finished. "She also is not a filthy, lying whore and is as beautiful inside as she is outside." He paused to finish his cube before setting it down on the bar before him. "Now, these two idiots here, on the other servo, don't have anyone. They would be more than willing to provide you with extra overloads to make up for my absence."
Skywarp giggled like an idiot. "Oh, we will certainly be more than just willing!"
"Enjoy your time, slaggers. I must go check on Dawn." The Decepticon SIC said as he stood up and brushed by the femmes.
"Don't worry, Star. We will." Thundercracker grinned as he grabbed a femme by the waist and pulled her closer.
The Air Commander simply exited the loud club, transformed, and flew back to his house.
Dawnstar lied on her front as she read a datapad. She was on a couch in the entertainment room, her wings folded behind her back and peds in the air as they crossed at the ankles. She jerked her helm up when she heard the front door opening and saw her sire entering.
"Hey, daddy!" She called as she turned off the datapad and sat up.
"Hello, princess." He smiled at her as he approached.
"Done with work already? I thought you said it would be longer?"
"I said it 'might' be longer. What, do you not want to see me?"
"No, I love seeing you!" She said as she hopped up and gave him a hug.
Starscream returned the hug, holding her close. "I love seeing you too, sweetie."
Dawnstar pulled away from him and glared at him. "You smell like high grade."
"It was one cube." She kept glaring at him. "Alright, you caught me. It was two. I swear!"
"You're lucky mom isn't here for me to tattle to." The Seeker femme stated sternly as she placed her servos on her hips.
"Yes, but I'm sure you'll snitch on me the moment she returns."
"Or save this for blackmail purposes. I still haven't told her that you let me try high grade when I was only, like, four stellar cycles old."
"And if you ever do I'll lock you in the brig."
"If I ever do you won't be able to throw me in the brig because mom will be kicking your aft."
Starscream opened his mouth to say something, but paused. "Touché."
"See, this is why I feel like you're the weaker member. You always let mom push you around." She giggled.
Starscream's jaws clenched, his faceplates an enigma. "Well," He paused to make a sound as if he was clearing his vocalizer. "Why don't we call her and see how she is doing." He said in a normal voice, his smile returning.
Dawnstar eyed him for a moment before nodding. "Okay, daddy."
She held his servo with her much smaller one and skipped alongside him to the upstairs. The two Seekers entered the master berthroom and Starscream proceeded to contact the Nemesis at his desk while Dawnstar playfully bounced on his berth. It didn't take long for him to see the faceplates of Bonecrusher on the vid screen.
"Bonecrusher, pass me on to my Conjunx Endura." The Air Commander ordered.
"Sure thing." The Constructicon turned his helm and called for her. "Hey, Moonie! Your hubby is on the line!"
Starscream rolled his optics at the human term. Bonecrusher was practically shoved out of the way when the excited femme forced her way to stand before the vid screen.
"Oh, hello, my precious hunk of a mech!" She squealed as her wings fluttered.
"Hello, my perfect love." He smiled at her.
Dawnstar was suddenly on her sire's lap and eagerly leaning forward to see her carrier. "Hi, mom!" She exclaimed.
"Oh, hi my little femmling. How is everything going?"
"Dad just drank high grade, again." Dawnstar blurted out quickly before her sire wrapped a servo over her mouth to silence her.
"Starscream." Moonstar said threateningly.
"This femme is full of lies, Moonstar. I honestly don't know where she gets it!" He had that sly smirk of his as he defended himself.
"You know I don't like you drinking around Dawn."
"It was two cubes. Barely enough to get me tipsy. Besides, what else am I supposed to do when I'm missing your beautiful self?"
Moonstar smiled sheepishly. "You could work in your lab."
"Not set up here, yet. Besides, you will be here soon."
"Yes, I already have my crate packed and just waiting for these Constructicons to finish up with their work. So, we apparently are taking two ships to get there since so many of the crew are being brought back to Cybertron. One for passengers and one primarily for cargo. I think I'll sneak onto the cargo one just to avoid all the crazies."
Starscream smiled. "Good idea. I rather you not be around all of them without a Seeker guard, anyway."
"Oh, before I forget." The black and purple femme paused to summon a datapad from subspace, which she held to the vid screen. "That's our newest sparkling, Star."
Starscream leaned forward to see it better. He swallowed as a servo reached forward to touch the screen. The fuzzy, black and white image of the sparkling still inside of Moonstar revealed that it was fully formed and simply growing now. It looked just like Dawnstar, the little wing stubs and limbs visible as it curled in the safety of its carrier's gestation tank.
"Did you find out the gender?" Starscream inquired, his vocalizer a little softer.
Moonstar pulled the datapad away and subspaced it. "No." She smiled. "Figured we let it be a surprise. Just like we did with Dawn."
"Looks awesome, mom. How soon before I'm a big sister?" Dawnstar excitedly asked.
"A decacycle and a half to two decacycles depending on whenever the sparkling decides to arrive. But within that time frame." Moonstar replied.
"Hopefully it won't hurt you this time." Starscream grunted.
"Ugh, thanks for reminding me. Now I remember why it sucks to have a sparkling." Moonstar groaned.
"We'll make sure the pain dampeners have enough time to work this time. And maybe Skywarp won't panic now since he has seen that you can survive such a horrifying event."
"Next time, it's your turn."
Starscream snorted a snicker. "No, no one is sparking me. Not now, not ever."
"You guys are weird." Dawnstar commented with a roll of her optics.
"I'm not weird. I'm just stuck with weirdoes." Starscream said matter-of-factly.
"I think your sire would cry his optics out if he were to ever give birth."
"Alright, let's change the subject. That topic is gone. No more. Dead." He said as he gestured his servos as if he were making it disappear.
"What do you think of Cybertron, sweetie?" Moonstar inquired of her daughter.
"It's kinda sad. Like, it's cool and all, but everything is just… blech." She tried explaining as she gestured with her servos. "I bet it would have looked awesome before the war, but now it's all destroyed, and like, dust and debris and homeless people."
Moonstar nodded her helm slowly. "Yes, the war did horrible things to our home." She said softly.
"You have the Autobots to blame for that." Starscream grunted.
Moonstar swallowed at his words.
"So, when will you arrive?" Dawnstar asked.
"In a couple of orbital cycles." Moonstar managed to smile at her daughter.
"Can't wait to see you!"
"So, what have you two been up to?"
The little family continued with their palaver for nearly three joors before finally saying their farewells.
"I love you two and will be seeing you soon." Moonstar smiled at them.
"Love you too, mom! See you when you arrive."
"Love you, my perfect Moon. I'll be there when you land." Starscream said as he touched the vid screen with one servo.
Moonstar kissed her servo and placed it on her vid screen so it was "touching" her mate's. "Love you, my perfect Star."
They ended the call.
Starscream hugged his daughter and kissed her on the brow. "It's late. You probably should go get some recharge in."
"Okay, daddy." She said softly before hugging him. "I love you."
"Love you too, princess."
She slid off his lap and made her way out of Starscream's berthroom to her own. Starscream silently watched her leave, venting a soft sigh when the door hissed shut behind her. He tiredly rubbed his temples, smiling faintly at the thought that soon his Conjunx Endura will be here with him, and in no time the newest member of his precious, little family.
Dawnstar onlined the next orbital cycle on her own berth. She checked her chronometer and smiled. As swiftly and silently as a ninja, she jumped out of her berth and out of her room. She palmed open the door to her sire's berthroom and rushed in.
"Daddy!" She shouted as she leaped into the air and pounced upon his still recharging form.
"Argh! Ah, Primus, you are way too big for this!" He groaned as she sat upon him.
"I couldn't wait for you to wake up. Come on, lets do something!" She bounced excitedly.
"Recharging sounds great to me." He moaned, trying to go back into recharge.
"But, daddyyyyy!" She drawled.
Suddenly, Starscream shoved her off and over the edge. She squawked in surprise, but grabbed his arm and brought him down with her. The two landed ungracefully on the cold floor with loud grunts. Dawnstar kicked at him to get off her, but he grabbed her legs and twisted them around so that she lied on her front. She powered on her thrusters, forcing him to release her peds before she quickly stood up.
"Think about what you are getting yourself into before you try anything else." Starscream warned her as he also stood.
"One of these orbital cycles I'm going to kick your aft." She smiled as she held her fists up, ready to continue with the mock battle.
"That orbital cycle is very far away." He replied as he turned and started to walk away.
Dawnstar ran after him and tackled him from behind. Well best she could. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, so tightly that if he had been organic she would have been strangling him. He reached up and grasped her arms, trying to pull them away but she used her entire bodyweight against him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, so that he was forced to carry her in the awkward position.
"Give up yet?" She demanded.
"This is sad if this is the best you can offer." He grunted, a small smile on his faceplates.
"Say 'uncle.' Say it!"
He reached his servos back and tickled her abdominal plates eliciting loud squeals of laughter, but she stubbornly clung to him.
"Th-that's ch-cheating!" She managed to gasp out between guffaws.
"I didn't realize we had rules for our wrestling matches when Moonstar isn't around."
She removed one servo to reach down and grab his wrist, pulling it away from her torso. He took the opportunity and grasped her arm still around his neck, yanked it away, reached back, and grabbed her shoulder vents. In one swift movement he threw her over his helm and onto the berth.
"I win." He smirked.
"Not until I'm down for the count!" She exclaimed as she quickly sat up on the berth.
"What?"
"Human thing. By the Allspark, what the slag is that!?" She suddenly screamed, pointing behind him.
"I'm not falling for that." He grunted.
"Well, at least I get points for trying." She shrugged.
"Are we done now or am I still in immediate danger from your unprovoked attacks?" He asked slowly.
"You're always in danger from my unprovoked attacks." She giggled.
"True, but, is it over for the next joor, at least?"
"Nope!" She proclaimed with a large smile.
"I have work to do."
"That won't keep me from tackling you."
"I'll lock you in the brig."
"You will never do that, daddy. I'm your greatest accomplishment in life!"
He smirked. "Keep telling yourself that. I obviously failed if my 'greatest accomplishment' insists on attacking me while I recharge."
"Could be worse. I could be like Skywarp."
"Don't give me those mental images. I have enough to stress about."
"I love you, daddy." She giggled as she made a heart with her servos.
"I love you too, princess."
"Peace hug?" She smiled as she held her arms out.
He raised an optic ridge before replying. "Peace hug."
Dawnstar leaped off the berth and embraced him in a tight hug. He hugged her back, kissing her on the top of the helm.
"Sneak attack!" She suddenly exclaimed as she punched him in the abdominal plates and then ran away.
"Oh, hell no!" He shouted, a smile still on his faceplates as he chased after her.
Skywarp lied on a berth with six femmes, three on either side, all cuddled against him as they recharged. They didn't hear the Air Commander enter the room and approach. He held a bucket and proceeded to dump the brownish liquid that it carried onto the faceplates of his trinemate.
"Ahh!" Skywarp shouted as he leaped up, startling all the femmes out of recharge as well. "Screamer! Primus, what the slag?! What is that!?"
"Don't know. Found it in your room." Starscream replied as he nonchalantly tossed the bucket aside.
"Ugh, you fragger…" Skywarp mumbled as he sat in berth, the femmes all doing the same.
"Enjoy yourself last night?" Starscream inquired as he crossed his arms.
That lopsided grin of Skywarp's spread over his faceplates as he reached out and pulled the femmes against him. "Heh, yeah, sure did. Wanna how many times I overloaded?"
"Undoubtedly a ridiculous number. Get cleaned up. I don't want you smelling like that when Moonstar arrives." Starscream grunted before he pivoted on a thruster heel and left.
The tri colored Seeker made his way through the brothel to another door, ignoring the prostitutes that looked at him and the sounds coming from behind the closed doors that he passed. He hacked the door lock for his selected room and stepped in, another bucket of the nasty liquid in his servos.
"Morning, TC." He said as he unceremoniously poured the liquid onto the blue Seeker's visage.
"Ahh! Primus! Stop!" Thundercracker exclaimed as he startled online, nearly hitting the four femmes in berth with him.
"Really, Thundercracker? You allowed Skywarp to outdo you again?" Starscream remarked as if he were talking about the weather.
"What time is it?" Was the less than enthusiastic reply.
"Time for you to get clean and prepare for Moonstar's arrival." Starscream said before walking out of the room.
The Decepticon SIC marched out of the whorehouse and transformed, flying to the command building where he will watch for Moonstar's ship.
Moonstar stood on the landing platform of the lift tower looking over the vast, blue ocean for the last time. This ship she had called 'home' for so long would now only serve as an outpost on this beautiful, alien world with only a few Decepticons which would be regularly rotated every few stellar cycles.
This ship that held so many horrible memories; of the beatings, the rapes, the pain, and the suffering of being an Autobot slave to a cruel Decepticon master. But, it also had its good times. Some of the best times of her life took place within the bulkheads of the sunken vessel: Dawnstar's emergence, her Conjunx Endura Ceremony, Dawnstar's life stages, and falling in love with the greatest mech to ever exist.
Despite mixed feelings, she would definitely miss this place. Where her life was forever changed… for the better.
"We're ready to leave, sweetspark." Scrapper informed her as he approached.
Moonstar gave him a small smile. "Alright, I'm coming."
"Riding with us?"
"No, I'm going on the cargo ship. Less people on that one."
"Moonstar, if anyone tried to touch you we will tear them apart. You're safe riding with us."
"I know. You guys are the best. But, I would like to be by myself. Last time I went to Cybertron it was in chains and tears. Last time I walked on Cybertron I had a collar around my neck and was being led around on a chain by someone who hurt me greatly." She paused to swallow. "I'll just be more comfortable on a quiet ship."
Scrapper silently watched her for a moment before speaking, his vocalizer a little softer. "Understandable, Moonstar. Better get on your ship then. We're about to take off."
Moonstar looked out at the sun for the last time, soaking in every detail before turning and entering the ship to take her away.
Starscream entered the Control Room of the command building, his discernible clacking alerting everyone in the room to his arrival. He approached Soundwave and stood beside him, his arms crossing.
"E.T.A.?" He abruptly inquired.
"Three joors, two breems, and seven kliks." Soundwave intoned.
"Good. If she gets here early enough we can surprise Dawnstar." The Air Commander said with a smirk.
Moonstar sat in the shuttle taking her to her home. It was her and only four others in this ship, but she felt as if she was the only one as she hid in the back. She wasn't afraid of the Deceptions aboard, no, it was simply she wasn't sure if she could control all the emotions welling up inside of her. She would see her devastated homeworld and possibly will suffer flashbacks of the horrors inflicted upon her last time she was there.
Hopefully with Starscream and her daughter being with her it will lessen the pain, but she wasn't feeling too confident.
Her servo lowered to touch her abdominal plating, just over her gestation tank. The little one had been kicking more during the trip, perhaps from the change in the air pressure, but it was making her a little uncomfortable. She just needed to cycle air and keep her systems calm, and not worry about the condition of her newest sparkling.
"We're coming into the atmosphere." The pilot informed over the speakers.
Moonstar looked down at the deckplates. Soon she will see her beloved Seeker and little femmling. She smiled faintly at the thought. Her small family was growing and she couldn't wait to see how big she could convince Starscream to get it.
The ship suddenly jerked violently forcing Moonstar to grab onto the crates around her. Her optics widened, recognizing that sensation and the horrible words to follow:
"We're under attack!"
Starscream was pacing in the Control Room, his servos clasped behind his back and wings raised high. The ship carrying the Constructicons had just arrived, but there was no sign of the ship with his mate.
"Starscream: Second ship to depart from the Nemesis is under heavy fire." Soundwave informed.
The Air Commander's optics widened and he quickly approached Soundwave to look at his vid screen. "Where? What's happening?"
"Autobots: Ambushed vessel as it entered-"
"WHERE THE SLAG IS IT?!"
"Sector 96-6724." Soundwave said quickly, taken by surprise from the sudden shriek in his audio receptors.
"Seekers, assemble at landing platform 117 and head to sector 96-6724, now!" Starscream shouted through his comm. link as he rushed out of the Control Room.
Moonstar grabbed at the bulkheads, trying to support herself as the ship was viciously shaken from missiles striking it. The shuttle was heating up from most of it being on fire now, causing Moonstar's systems to reach dangerous temperatures for her sparkling. She yelped when the ship suddenly jolted so hard that she lost her footing and fell. Smoke was cycling into her systems now, and she clutched her abdominal plating as the unborn sparkling kicked harder. She managed to get herself to stand back up, just trying to get to the cockpit.
"Starscream, please, where are you?" She pleaded to herself, terror engulfing her now.
Starscream flew at his top speed, leaving his brigade of Seekers behind, except for two, but they were beginning to have trouble keeping up with him. His systems were beginning to overheat, but he didn't notice. His focus was solely on getting to his Conjunx Endura. To saving his Moonstar.
::It's almost out!:: Slingshot exclaimed as he and the other Aerialbots flew around the Decepticon ship shooting at it.
::Remember, we are not murderous monsters. If we can take prisoners, do so.:: Silverbolt instructed.
::Yeah, yeah. I'm just gonna take out the engines now.:: He replied nonchalantly.
::Slingshot, don't! You'll only make it-::
The Aerialbot didn't listen. He simply fired his missiles at the engine thrusters and watched it explode.
Moonstar was violently thrown forward by the explosion, painfully landing on her front. She screamed in agony, clutching her abdominal plating as the sparkling continued with struggling. Energon was leaking from cuts all over her frame, her paint ruined and coolant pouring from her optics.
"Starscream… please… help us! Please, where are you?!" She cried, clawing at the deckplates, just trying to get away.
"We need to get out! We need to-"
She heard one of the Decepticons shouting, but never saw him. She shrieked again from pain in her lower body, curling in herself as she let out loud sobs. She gasped for cooler air, but only black smoke entered her intakes. The femme carefully, and in complete agony, used the bulkhead next to her to get to her peds, only fire and destruction before her.
"Starscream! Starscream, please!" She cried, not knowing what else to do.
::Aerialbots, fall back! Decepticons coming in fast, and a lot of them!::
::You heard him. We need to get out of here.:: Silverbolt said quickly as he banked away.
The Aerialbots made their hasty retreat just as the Seekers arrived.
"Oh no…" Skywarp gasped when the sight of the wrecked shuttle came into view.
The ship had crashed into the ground, splattering over a large distance while fire and thick, black smoke covered much of it.
Starscream quickly descended and transformed, landing on top of what used to be a wing. His Seekers landed behind them, all nervous about the Conjunx Endura of their commander. Starscream looked back at them, his optics wider than usual and frame tense.
"Search for survivors." He said quickly in a voice they had never heard from him.
The Seekers immediately did so, knowing what he really meant. Starscream didn't wait any longer, running through the smoldering remains of the ship to somewhere. He didn't know what it was, but something was telling him to go this way, something was guiding him along this path to find his mate. His trinemates were right behind him, almost slipping over leaking fuel as they tried to keep up.
The Air Commander finally stopped at a pile of scrap metal, grasping the bent sheets and throwing them aside. He just desperately dug, not caring about anything else, but getting to the bottom of this pile. Something was telling him to do this. He just had to get to the bottom of this particular scrap pile. He shoved the last metal slab away and stopped.
All the Seekers ceased their work and looked up when they heard his cry. The scream like nothing they had ever heard before from him or anyone else. The scream of one who had just lost everything.
They all knew what he had found.
His optics widened, servos trembling as he dropped to his knees and reached down. Slowly, he pulled her out and onto his lap. Her optics were offline, mouth open, and helm limp, as was the rest of her frame. His servos were quaking now as he touched her faceplates. He didn't notice his trinemates beside him, nor did he hear Skywarp's wails. His optics traveled down her beaten frame to rest on the thick, metal rod protruding through her spark chamber, the casing clearly visible, but nothing within. His designation, that he had written during their ceremony, barely visible from the scorch marks.
"No," He whispered. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Please, no! Primus, please." He held her helm closer as he pressed his brow against hers. "Please, don't do this. Please, don't leave me! Please, Moonstar, please, don't. Please, please, come back. Please, don't go. Please, I love you. Please, don't go!" He kept frantically saying, rocking her lifeless frame in his arms.
He didn't notice the other Seekers gathering around, didn't hear their own cries, didn't acknowledge the world around him except for his Conjunx Endura's limp body. It was almost two breems later when he finally stood up, carrying her bridal style as her limbs dangled loosely, and walked away. His optics looking ahead and his faceplates an enigma.
Starscream sat in the waiting room holding a small piece of metal that he continuously bent, unbent, then repeated the process. A trinemate was on either side of him, both wiping away coolant from their optics.
"Starscream," The mentioned Seeker didn't look up when the soft vocalizer of Hook spoke.
The Constructicon stood before the Elite Trine, a datapad in his servos and his own sad expression. He swallowed before continuing. "Starscream, I completed the autopsy." He said in a low voice. "She was subjected to intense heat from fire severely damaging her before she was stabbed through the spark by a metal rod. Most likely shrapnel. The markings on the rod indicate that it was not an immediate deactivation. She was alive for several kliks and in excruciating pain. She also received multiple penetrations to her frame from other bits of shrapnel. To add to that, her systems were going into emergency emergence. It was trying to expel the sparkling in order to save them both, and it was also horrifically painful." He paused to swallow. "The sparkling was a mechling. He was perfectly formed and if a medic had been nearby an emergency c-section could have been performed and the sparkling would have been able to be saved. Premature emergence, but capable of surviving. The scratches on the inside of her gestation tank indicate that she had deactivated first and the sparkling was trying to free himself, but ended up deactivating from lack of fuel and overheating."
Starscream never looked up, never ceased in bending and twisting the metal piece he held. His trinemates just kept removing coolant from their optics, barely able to contain their sorrow.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Starscream. I truly am." Hook said in almost a whisper. "You may see her now, if you wish."
Starscream nodded his helm slowly before tossing the piece of metal down and standing. Without looking at anyone or saying anything, he walked past the medic and into the room where her frame was.
He walked through the morgue until he arrived at the examination table where she lied, his unborn son beside her. Her faceplates had been reset to appear relaxed, her mouth now shut, as her dainty servos rested over her broken spark chamber. Her frame was clean now, and all the shrapnel removed, making her appear as if she was simply resting. His servos began to shake as he reached forward and touched her faceplates, somehow unharmed. He just stood there, his wings lowered and vocalizer tight.
"I messed up." He said so softly. "I should have had you come with me. I should have never left you alone." He swallowed. "You shouldn't have been the one to die from this war." He paused, his servo holding her jaw-line as his thumb caressed her cheekplates. "I can't do this alone. How am I supposed to raise Dawnstar without you? I don't know what I'm doing. She needs you. We both do… How is she going to handle hearing that her carrier will never be there for her? I can't-" He swallowed. "Why did you have to go? I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I hurt you, I tortured you, I raped you, and now… I wasn't there. I wasn't there to protect you like I should have been." His optics lowered to the tiny, frail frame of his unborn sparkling. He offlined his optics for a moment before speaking again. "I'll never hear you laugh, or see you fly, or get to know you. You should have never become a casualty of this conflict. I'm sorry." He looked back at her faceplates. "I'm sorry, my love. I should have never hurt you. I should have loved you since the first orbital cycle. There are so many things I wish I could go back and redo. So many things I should have said. Why did this have to happen?"
He leaned forward and pressed his brow against hers for the last time, his servo still holding her faceplates. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I'm sorry, my love. I just-I'm sorry." He paused to swallow once again. "I'll do my best to raise Dawnstar. I promise you that. She won't share your same fate. I'll-I'll make sure of it. She'll see the end of this Primus-forsaken war and will live a long, happy life with no pain or suffering. I'll keep her safe. I'll-Primus, why did this have to happen? Why did you have to leave me?!"
He just stayed there, saying his last words to her for nearly a breem before moving her frame and that of his unborn son onto a mortuary storage shelf. Slowly, he pushed the shelf into the storage container where they would remain until he could properly bury them in Vos, where they belonged.
The Elite Trine silently made their way to their home, Skywarp and Thundercracker following their trineleader in formation. Their wings were lowered, optics watching the ground, and Skywarp softly sobbing.
Starscream put in the code to the house and they entered. Starscream didn't pause or slow his pace as he walked to his room, his trinemates unconsciously following him. For the first time Starscream slammed the door shut before his trinemates could follow him inside. They stood there, uncertain of what to do, and that's when they heard it.
A sound that many assumed simply did not exist, while others believed that Starscream did not possess the ability. A sound that never made itself known no matter how harshly Megatron punished the Air Commander or how terribly he was injured in battle. A sound that even his trinemates doubted they would ever hear. A sound that made Skywarp hug his blue trinemate and wail into his chest plates.
They heard Starscream crying.
Please, don't persecute me.
Moonstar's death was always planned. She was created for this sole purpose. I planned for her to die before I even got the basic outline of Ancillam done, before I even named her. So, the entire time I was writing Ancillam and all the happy stuff happening, her death was playing in the back of my mind. That is why Ancillam is filled with so much foreshadowing.
Her death and Starscream's reaction is the scene I have thought about most for this trilogy. I wanted it to be as traumatic as possible, all the while still being believable. I hope Starscream's reaction was perfect. It's how I imagine he would be if something so awful happened to him.
Starscream no longer sees prostitutes or brothels the same way as he did now since he had Moonstar and now has a daughter.
When the body is under extreme stress/shock it will go into emergency labor in order to save the mother and/or the fetus. I'm a vegan/animal rights activist and have seen it when animals are being abused so horribly or slaughtered in the factory farms that the mothers will give birth whether their baby is ready or not, just because of the intense stress.
I listen to music while I write and during the death scene I only listened to sad music. I hope it helped!
Sorry for this chapter being so short. I wanted it to end on that sad note.
Things are only going to get worse.