Sky Dancer

By: PhantasmBabeIvory

Chapter Four

Much as Starscream would have loved to take Alexis back to their new home to see her reaction, the fact that she had taken some minor damage during the fight demanded that she be escorted to the med-bay in Ocean City so Red Alert could have a look at her. Nevertheless, he and Starxis never left her side, and Alexis was quite comforted by the fact that she could hear Starscream's thoughts the whole time.

Currently, Alexis was laid out on her stomach, doing her best to stay still as instructed, on one of the metal slabs, her head angled so she could focus on Starscream (seated in a chair beside the table) and her left arm stretched out so they could hold hands. Her jet wings had been detached and set aside for the time being to better allow the medic to repair the dents and/or scorch marks lining her back. She wasn't overly familiar with the medical tools that Red Alert was using to work on her, but she decided that so long as she got fixed that it didn't matter.

Unaware that Starscream was masking his thoughts so she wouldn't learn about the surprise he had in store for her, Alexis smiled warmly at him and mused, It feels weird to be undergoing medical treatment when you're essentially naked…

Starscream really had to fight to keep from laughing out loud at that one. It was very amusing to hear her reflecting on the differences between humans and Transformers. Reaching out with his free hand to stroke the russet-colored metal filaments at her head, he responded with, You're not exactly naked, Alexis, given you're now among a race that has no need for clothes. And there's no reason to feel threatened. Red Alert's notorious for being strictly professional.

Alexis chuckled very softly, drawing a brief curious stare from the medic. I'm glad you're here. Aside from making this easier… She paused, feeling an unexpected touch of melancholy. I've missed you and Starxis so much! Until I saw the two of you, it didn't hit me as to how lonely I've been the past two months.

Starscream tilted his head to one side, a flash of sadness appearing in his own optics. Gently, he raised her hand to his lips, planting a kiss against her metallic skin. I've missed you too. Provided you're being here is only temporary, it's going to hard to say goodbye once more.

Alexis gave a very light sigh, then responded with, Somehow, I doubt that Optimus would have assigned Ironhide and I to work as a team, along with Kicker, if we weren't staying on Earth. But I guess we'll see what happens at the briefing.

Starscream nodded, bringing to mind the fact that Optimus and Hot Shot (and any concerned humans) were currently reviewing the data gathered from the attacks. Before he could say anything, telepathic or otherwise, Red Alert cleared his throat to grab the attention of the two jets.

"You're good to go," Red Alert stated once Starscream and Alexis turned to look at him. "However, your wings also need a little work, so if you wouldn't mind leaving them here temporarily, I can get to them after I'm done with the other patients."

Having maneuvered into a sitting position during the medic's speech, Alexis nodded, sparing a glance towards the other occupants in the med-bay. Demolisher was the only one she recognized, sporting what looked like bite marks on the side of his face. Near as she could tell, all the injuries sustained seemed to be minor and could be fixed in no time if her own case was any indication. "That'd be fine, Red Alert," she responded, hopping off the table and letting Starscream escort her from the room, his arm wrapped tightly around her.

As soon as they were out in the corridor, Alexis surprised her companion by softly saying, "I'm sorry to have to say this right now, but I need to talk to Optimus… After that, I'm all yours." She reached up to touch his face, instantly knowing by his conceding smile that he was in agreement. After a few seconds, she added, "So, you were watching me in action for several minutes. What did you think?"

Starscream gave her a warm smile, though his words suggested he was offering an impartial view. "You did fine," he said evenly. "Other than freezing up when Kicker's life was on the line and seeming to grow tense when you realized Starxis and I were there, that is." He paused, then added, "For the most part, emotions have no place on the battlefield, especially if they end up putting you and those around you in jeopardy. You'd do well to learn how to distance yourself from them."

Alexis looked downwards briefly, appreciating the affirmation of conclusions she'd drawn on her own, even though it was probably cheapened by the fact that he could read her mind. In answer to this, Starscream stopped in his tracks, turning her so she was facing him and tilting her head upwards with one finger placed underneath her chin so their optics met. "Even if I couldn't hear your thoughts, I would still be saying this," he stated. "It just might save your life, or someone else's, one day."

When Alexis nodded her agreement, she and Starscream were shortly continuing on their way to the command center. Once there, he tentatively knocked, then opened the door to let himself and Alexis inside once Optimus called for them to do so.

The Autobot leader seemed to relax a little when he saw Alexis, and he proved to have no problem when it came to guessing why she had sought him out. Turning away from the console and leaning against it with his arms crossed in a peaceful manner, Optimus said, sounding slightly guilty, "I hope you realize why I had to issue that mandate the way I did."

Guessing that he was having second thoughts about having laid this responsibility on her shoulders, Alexis bowed her head slightly, the light in her powder blue optics displaying her understanding. "I do," she said in a serene tone. "And I'm okay with it, don't worry about that." She looked back up, earning a laugh from each of the bots around her with her next statement. "If I can single-handedly coerce a ruthless dictator into a peace treaty, then handling two unruly young men should be a cakewalk, right?"

When none of her companions said anything by way of an answer, Alexis felt free to go on with, "It's as you said, Optimus. Ironhide needs to learn how to be a team player. And Kicker… Well, maybe this is just the thing he needs to grow up and to diminish his hatred of us, because Primus knows that having us reprimand that boy for his acts is leading nowhere. We just need to make him understand that we're not his enemy and that we only have his best interests at heart." She hesitated just long enough to look at the impetuous bot seated to Optimus' right. "And no offense, Hot Shot, but intimidation is not going to work in this case."

Hot Shot felt somewhat awkward even as he weakly responded, "I didn't threaten him that much…"

Alexis knew that wasn't entirely true, having witnessed Kicker's escape attempt of two months ago. But she wasn't about to announce in front of Optimus that Hot Shot had aimed a laser rifle at the kid in an effort to get him back in line. Clearing her throat, she set about changing the subject by saying, "I'm also concerned by the actions of the bots that attacked us this afternoon… They seemed to be making every effort to go after Kicker…"

Optimus' optics narrowed slightly. "I noticed that as well," he said thoughtfully, in a low tone. "And given that their primary goal was to steal from our Energon deposits… I'd have to wonder if the instigator knows that Kicker has the ability to detect this energy source." He paused momentarily. "Which might suggest that whoever's behind this is going to try again." He looked up at Alexis. "All the more reason for him to have a set of guardians to keep him safe… In the case that Ironhide can't be counted upon, I hope you're up to that challenge, Alexis."

"I am," she answered, putting the commander at ease. Before she could say anything more, Hot Shot drew her attention by clearing his throat.

"Maybe you could also ask Kicker about something for me, Alexis," the impetuous bot said. "Aside from being aware that these things were coming straight to Ocean City, he also seemed to know in advance that they were dangerous. I'd like to know how, and I kind of doubt he'd tell me."

Alexis smiled. "I'll do that," she promised. In the next instant, she was taking a step towards the console, a look of curiosity washing over her face. "In the meantime, what have we learned so far?"

At Optimus' order, Hot Shot arranged for one video feed after another to be put up on the main monitor. Even as Alexis and Starscream viewed the documents of the attacks, they were provided a commentary by their impetuous friend. "There's evidence that some sort of portal was opened up in the vicinity of the Asteroid Belt, and then another appeared some distance away from Mars. That's where these things came from."

Hot Shot turned to face Alexis and Starscream, allowing the feed of the attack on the asteroid base to run unedited. "Tidal Wave had been assigned to guard the first colony that was hit; he was just days away from being relocated," Hot Shot said, referring to one of the biggest Transformers in existence. A Decepticon formerly under Megatron's direct command, Tidal Wave was three times as large as many of his fellow soldiers and had the distinction of not being very bright. "Despite the amount of firepower he has at his disposal, he couldn't hold up under their numbers."

Starscream let go of Alexis and stepped towards the screen, seeming to be in shock. He and Tidal Wave rarely socialized, but there was enough of a rapport between them to warrant this reaction. "They killed him, didn't they?" he asked softly, and recoiled when Hot Shot shook his head; perhaps Starscream hadn't held out much hope that there would have been any survivors.

With a few keystrokes, the image on the main screen was altered to display a close-up of Tidal Wave in the aftermath of the battle. The colossal Transformer looked to have sustained some heavy damage, judging by the cracks in his armor, but the fact that his optics were dimly lit (suggesting he was on the edge of consciousness) showed he still lived.

Just as Starscream was about to ask if anyone had been dispatched to help Tidal Wave and any other potential survivors, he saw something odd occurring. A number of the raptors and jaguars came to rest on Tidal Wave's massive frame; the falcons soon lifted the colossal bot off the ground through sheer effort, their talons undoubtedly hooked into his chassis.

Alexis looked towards Hot Shot, feeling a chill. "What is this?" she asked, echoing the thoughts in her beloved's mind. "Where are they taking him?"

Hot Shot looked back at her with a solemn expression. "I don't know. They all disappeared from sight roughly five minutes later as the satellites were tracking them. My guess is they used another of those thresholds to return to their place of origin." His gaze moved on to the jet beside her. "I'm sorry, Starscream… For all intents and purposes, Tidal Wave is gone."

Starscream remained silent for a long while, then looked up, seeming to get ahold of himself. "I don't believe that… They wouldn't go to the trouble of taking Tidal Wave if their intention was to kill him. Which means they must want something from him." He gave a sigh. "If these attacks persist, it may give us an opportunity to locate our missing comrade. Make sure you let Demolisher know that when you relay this to him… With that said…" He turned to look at Optimus. "Permission to be dismissed, sir?"

Optimus sighed, throwing a brief glance towards Alexis before focusing fully on Starscream. Hot Shot had made him aware of the construction project in passing, and he had no doubt as to what Starscream was hoping for. "Agreed," he said. "But, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I'd like the both of you back here first thing in the morning… And don't worry about the surveillance detail you've been assigned, Starscream. You're officially relieved until further notice."

"Thank you, sir," Starscream replied, and moved to escort Alexis from the room. From there, they returned briefly to the med-bay, where they milled around until her wings had been patched up and given back to her.

If Alexis hadn't gotten the impression over the past several hours that Starscream was hiding something, then his sudden proclamation that they take to the skies and that he had a surprise for her was a sure way to clue her in. Nevertheless, he refused to give her any hint, subtle or otherwise, while they were en route, much to her chagrin.

Even viewing the oversized house (in place of where her cottage had once been) from the air would have been enough to reduce her to tears, once it registered what she was looking at. Struck speechless, Alexis soared towards the ground as closely as she dared before converting to her bot mode to complete the landing. Slowly, she drifted down to the Earth, her optics locked on the structure all the while, before lifting both hands, held as in in prayer, up in front of her face.

Starscream was asking if she liked it and saying that Miranda and Sally had collaborated in the design, but Alexis was so lost in an emotional onslaught that she was barely aware that he was speaking to her. Her optics roved over every inch of the steel and concrete art-deco property built specifically for their convenience. She delighted in everything, from the open kitchenette surrounded by solid, curved panes of glass on three sides, to the second story balcony with the jumbo futon positioned in the center.

Feeling a rush of love, Alexis turned towards Starscream, startling him slightly by leaping at him with a cry, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "This is beautiful!" she said in an overly joyful tone, pulling away after a few seconds to gaze at him. "I can't believe you did this! It… It's so perfect." A warm look came to her optics, bringing a smile to his face. "Thank you," Alexis said softly. "This is like a dream come true."

Starscream drew her towards him so her lips were touching his. Had Starxis not cut in with a comment about being hungry, he didn't know how long this kiss might have lasted.

With a small laugh, Starscream pulled away from her, shifting his gaze to the youngling perched on his shoulder. Though he (and Starxis) knew that the drones lying dormant in the kitchen had been programmed to obey commands that came from any one of their three masters, it seemed that the little guy was just impish enough to ignore this fact. Or perhaps Starxis was just eager to see his mother's reaction to the mechanical helpers.

In either case, Starscream guided Alexis inside with a cordial smile to continue with the tour of their new home. The interior was just as fantastic, even if a little sparse in terms of furnishings and personal belongings. Everywhere she looked, she saw furniture (constructed of both wood and steel) and electronic equipment built in accordance with her and Starscream's heights; it made her regard her companion with a questioning look.

With a gentle smile, Starscream said, "The team that Hot Shot assembled for me helped to build everything you're seeing here. The only thing that didn't get done were a few of the upstairs rooms -- we were getting ready to paint when the message came in from Ocean City."

Alexis softly laughed at the mental image of Starscream in a paint smock with a roller in his hand, even as she extended her palm over one of the drones on the island counter between her and her companion. He had to laugh as well upon picking the thought from her mind, the picture was so silly.

Stepping around the counter and shimmying closer to him, she said, "Everything's wonderful as is, Starscream. All that means is that we get to finish our dream home together." Alexis flung her arms around his neck, lovingly stroking the back of his head with one hand. "Now, how about you let me show you just how thankful I am?"

Starscream grinned, his mind adrift with all the implications her words suggested. Raising one hand to touch her lips, he answered mischievously, "Since you put it that way, then maybe you'd be interested in exploring some more personal activities…"