Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Tip of a Feather. Enjoy the 3400-word chapter. I do not own Transformer, Hasbro does.
Contrail and Airazor landed on a cliff away from the others, he looked over at her while transforming into his robotic form.
"Megatron… MEGATRON!?" Airazor heard from Contrail as he paused.
He was too interested in the fact that the Predacon commander was based on the Decepticon ruler now.
"That is not the Megatron you are used to, Contrail." Contrail heard from Airazor.
"Maybe, but we need that other half of the key before either of them gets the half of the key," Contrail stated.
"We have one half, we can afford to wait," Airazor stated.
"This is Cybertron all over again. I have been getting into stupid fights and screwing up… If I had just taken out one of them." Contrail muttered.
"What do you mean? You fought as valiantly as the others." Airazor stated.
"I didn't fight well enough," Contrail said, walking away as Air Hammer landed next to her.
"The Predacons will go after the key as well. Megatron will plot to use us against them." Air Hammer stated before he sighed to himself.
"We will fight them as we always have," Airazor stated before he clicked his fingers and then paused, knowing what was happening if they did not fail.
There were a lot of things to figure out… Like how the rest of the enemy was going to fight them tooth and nail for the key.
He sighed, knowing what was going on. Airazor paused to look over at Contrail as the two hummed and looked down at the destruction caused by the four sides fighting.
It reminded her of the invasion of their home planet. They had been torn down by the enemy and the enemy had struck deep, she remembered tearing apart dozens of Freezer and Scorponok units.
But it had done nothing when Scourge arrived, he had killed Apelinq and at least two other Maximals who served under him.
Still? They did not relent, they could not relent, not until the enemy was dead or they lay shattered in pieces.
"How is Banthor?" Airazor asked.
"I do not know… I am not Rhinox, my repair skills are subpar." Airazor heard.
"I will speak to him, find the other Autobots, we must regroup," Airazor stated before she sighed as her warrior did so.
"Ain't the first time I screwed things up," Contrail muttered as she landed next to the Autobot.
"We did all we could be asked. Nobody could have predicted the Predacons would come. I had thought Scourge had wiped them from the galaxy years ago." Airazor said.
"Yeah, well I could have taken one out if I was not a coward. Air Hammer goes in and what do I do? I turn and run; I take off towards the mountains like a chump." Contrail stated.
"We have all made mistakes," Airazor stated.
"Mistakes don't always get people KILLED, lady!" Contrail hissed before he leaned on the wall. "It's Fuselage all over again," Contrail said.
"The war on Cybertron…" Airazor stated.
"How do you know about the war? You were not on Cybertron you said." Contrail stated.
"I have told Prime we are from their future and past and I do not lie about this," Airazor stated before he seemed to think of it.
"So what? Your future Autobots?" Contrail asked with a snort. "Cool, how about you tell us when we don't get butchered every damn day?" Contrail asked.
The barb did not hurt Airazor. She had seen comrades die in combat, some victims of the Predacons and Terrorcons… Some bad luck. It was not directed at her and she could tell of it.
There was more to it at the end of the day, something that she could not understand.
Yet? Death in combat was something she knew very well. It was something a soldier came to consider close to their heart.
It had not been something that needed to be dealt with just yet.
"I got cocky and ran into a fight I could not win… And then the others had to come to bail me out… And then what? I get to watch Starscream blow their spark right out of their chest." Contrail said.
"Enough!" Airazor stated.
"You have suffered, we have all suffered… You have my sympathy but I know your comrade would not wish this… We can discuss it later." Airazor added to which he sighed.
He would say something but he could tell how much it had bothered him to have admitted it at all. The idea struck a chord within him at that very moment, it would not be something she could solve.
Perhaps that was the point. Something about it rubbed her the wrong way but she was prepared, willing to cut through them even if it broke them in half.
"Who is this Megatron anyway? This one, not the one leading Decepticons and beating us down." Contrail asked.
"A warlord, much like his predecessor… Though he took his name stake to strike fear into those who remember the old Megatron." Airazor stated.
"And those guys were his buddies?" Airazor heard.
"The Predacons. His army. They worked with Unicron for a time only for the deal to turn sour… Unicron does not honor deals, he only takes." Airazor stated.
"What about our deal with you? You guys ain't us, you don't want to get off this planet…" Contrail said.
"I only wish Unicron did not have the key. Whoever holds it does not concern it… I have no intention to leave Earth, do you?" Airazor asked.
"Don't know yet to be entirely sure, Airazor… I've been here years, I don't want to, not yet." Contrail stated.
"We could always use the help of the Autobots…What few Maximals remain." Airazor stated.
"Do I need to grow feathers?" Contrail joked.
"I would hit you if I was not amused," Airazor stated as Contrail chuckled.
"Commander, I need you and the others now." He heard from Air Hammer as Contrail hummed.
"Sounds like your buddy found something," Contrail stated before he sighed.
He would not be able to think now. He cared a lot about the humans, the few he had met on the base he had hidden at had shown him at least a little about how caring humans cared about each other as Optimus had said.
But so had they about their group. They had been soldiers and he acted as one for his group.
He had been a soldier now but he felt less like one and more like a group of people as he lived amongst them.
He had been unable to think, and to act, knowing what was all said and done… There was chaos which had been done and dusted with it for now.
The chaos which he held within it. There was something else to it, a lot more to it for now and it was crystal clear such things would be harder to figure out when push came to shove.
All she could do was relax, confound it, to begin with, and know that things might get better.
(5 minutes later)
Airazor felt an urge of a jolt through her body, knowing what was going on. She was happy in the best way possible to know that the Maximals were back together, despite Bantor being like him. It was enough to make her happy, knowing that her friends were returned.
They could regroup and she could allow to let her friends regroup as an entire faction. There was so much on her mind that she almost did not notice Contrail land next to her and Optimus glancing at her.
Contrail did not take more than a single glance over at her to notice she was happy, far happier than she looked before now. It made him want to speak but he could think of nothing that would make it better for now.
Such was life. It was clear that both sides were regrouping and now was not the time to focus on their previous battle, knowing that the battle would not define them either way.
Now was the time to focus, they had to need to relax. That and that alone would not be enough to fight back… Not without a skilled fighter.
Contrail looked over at Optimus as he led the Autobots alongside the Maximals deeper and deeper into the jungle for the moment.
"Your friend, ok?" Contrail heard from Wheeljack as they looked at Bantor. "He looks ready to keel over," Wheeljack said.
"Bantor… What happened, old friend?" The gorilla asked to which the tiger/mandrill Maximal shrugged.
"I… I just need some body work at the moment, boss." Bantor stated.
"Maybe we can have Wheeljack look at you, there's more than some chipped paint," Contrail stated.
"I am fine… I will be ok. I've been through worse." Bantor stated to which he sighed.
Contrail looked at Airazor who shared a similar sentiment, he was focused on the battle and so was she… But she didn't know what was going on at the end of the day.
The group continued to be thrown off. They had neither half the key and they had bloodied the enemy but Optimus and Airazor knew that their war was not over by a long shot. Scourge would come and they still had to deal with Megatron and his small group.
That left them a small advantage to try and figure something out for their victory at the end of the day was annoying them to the end of the day.
Contrail looked up at the sky. They had a flier; despite the fact she could turn into a car. She could fly. Either she was a triple changer and he did not know… Or being a Terrorcon was cheating more than it should have been.
The flying Autobot guessed that there was more to this issue than before.
"Airazor?" Contrail asked to which she glanced at him. "How dangerous are these Terrorcon guys? I got a good idea of how strong the Predacons are… But not the Terrorcons." Contrail stated.
"They are a far more dangerous enemy than the Decepticons if you ask it… I do not believe we can defeat them without uniting." Contrail heard.
"No offense? But we've junked plenty of Cons and these Terrorcons are tough but I've seen them get hurt. I think all your legends about them are overdoing it." Contrail stated.
"Do you think the threat of losing the planet is a myth?" Airazor said.
"No. But if these guys were so unstoppable? They'd never retreat, they'd never back off… They can be scrapped and all we need is one good hit." Contrail stated.
Airazor was silent. Scourge had shown no weakness in the face of being beaten down but it was clear he feared the Predacons at least enough not to fight both groups at the same time.
Perhaps there was at least some grain of truth. However? she was tired of today and they had only clashed twice, such was not enough to determine the battle.
She sighed and flew towards the village where Primal awaited. They would rest and tomorrow? They would fight, beating down the Terrorcons at the end of the day.
Airazor guessed that Megatron was plotting just as well to gain both keys. He wanted both halves and he knew that he needed to get the key for now, knowing what would come next.
Airazor seemed to be thinking of what was growing on their minds, she didn't wish to relax. Prime still acted off-put as she looked to the side before, she thought of Primal.
"Hmm, you, ok? Big guy." Contrail asked Rhinox who chuckled.
"I am…" Rhinox stated as Contrail looked to her for help.
"Rhinox… His name is Rhinox, this is Contrail. He is one of Prime's soldiers." Airazor stated before she hummed.
"I can tell, Airazor… It is good to see you." Rhinox stated to which Contrail hummed.
"As it is you, Rhinox," Airazor stated with a chortle. "Please, be nice to them. He is far too young to know what you have been through." Airazor said.
"I'm not a kid," Contrail said as Prime hummed.
"Stay with the older Maximals, Contrail. You could learn something." Optimus stated as the Maximals chuckled.
"Was that a joke, sir?" Contrail stated to which he blinked. "When the hell does Optimus joke?" Contrail asked as they walked.
"He is… Different, than what I expected the leader of the Autobots to be." Rhinox stated.
"I don't think anyone expected you either," Contrail stated.
"This feels like a fight I missed…. The carbon scoring on your armor, you look dinged up." Contrail heard.
"Just hit some traffic on the way here." Contrail joked.
"That was bad… Even for you, Trails." Mirage stated.
"What, like you being incognito?" Contrail joked as Arcee chuckled.
"Everyone's a critic, man," Mirage stated.
"Are when you're the one trying to make jokes. I turn into a plan and drop bombs on people, you can turn into anything you want… No, got to turn into a fancy race car. Shifter or not? You're acting a bit silly." Mirage heard.
"Get off me, man." Contrail heard.
"Children, please… There will be time for jokes when we don't die. Well, your dignity did." Airazor joked to which the two smirked.
"I kinda want her as an Autobot now, she can fight and she's got jokes," Contrail said.
"You remind me of Cheetor when he was younger." Primal said.
"Sir, I was not THAT irritating, was I?" Cheetor said as the few Maximals snorted.
"Where are Silverbolt and Armordillo?" Airazor asked.
"I do not know; they haven't responded to my signal but I am still questioning what they would do if they did show up." Primal stated.
"You got a Predacon infestation," Mirage stated.
"Predacons… On Earth?" Primal asked.
"Megatron himself has searched for the key… He engaged us and Scourge for the key… We must find the other half and make certain that they cannot find a single piece of it." Airazor stated.
There were a few seconds of silence from the Prime. He knew what she needed and yet? He did not trust it, not entirely, he had been thrown through a loop, and yet? He knew they had to get the other half of the key or else they would not have a planet left to save.
It was an act that made him sigh but it was clear he had been wishing to let it all end.
There was something else to figure out, what happened when Scourge found him? Their combined numbers outmatched the Terrorcons but with Megatron here? It was clear things had been thrown to the side.
"This way." Primal stated as he paused to think of what was going on before now, he sighed to let himself come down the wire with it following it.
There was a long amount of silence as it had been done and dusted with it all coming to an end sooner or later.
It would be dealt with for now and for a good reason at the time being, they could all agree on that.
They came to a clearing, the beginning of a lush and vibrant and lush valley with stone and tree carving through the landscape like that of a sword.
Contrail had never seen a landscape like this upon Cybertron. they were so advanced, so… Alien, that the very simplicity of beauty of nature seemed to be lost upon them.
The sight of such a peaceful landscape seemed to calm even Optimus's fire within his spark if only slightly. This was the peace that he had wished to have brought to Cybertron, this was what he had worked with others to try and bring.
If Bumblebee could see this…
Contrail, Arcee, Mirage, and Wheeljack all watched as the Prime slowly clenched his fists before pausing and slowly walking after Optimal.
They and the Maximals were left in silence.
"Is Optimus usually this…?" Cheetor asked to which they paused.
"We lost someone fighting them," Arcee stated. "It's getting to him," Arcee stated.
"It's getting to all of us. We all want to go out there and rip them up." Contrail stated. "I only just got to the fight. We need a plan to go fight Scourge and them because marching up to him isn't going to work." Contrail stated.
"Look who sounds like a boss now," Mirage stated.
"We do need a plan, however. We very much do if we are to stand against their army. Megatron will bring every Predacon, every single soldier he has to kill us and Unicron has an army without limit." Airazor stated.
"Then we go through them," Rhinox stated.
"All of you sound like Autobots… You sure you ain't long lost cousins we didn't run into?" Mirage stated.
"We are not," Airazor stated. "But we know you as friends and legends," Airazor stated.
"That means I get a statue?" Mirage asked.
"Spare us the thought of him getting a further ego boost," Arcee stated as the others chuckled. "I'll check on Optimus, how about we all settle in for tonight? We have work to do tomorrow." Arcee said.
"K. I'll go with purdy birdy since that's who I've been following since then. Night, guys." Contrail stated before he hummed.
"Follow us," Cheetor stated as the others followed him, Rhinox and Bantor.
Airazor watched them before she paused to look over at their commander before returning to Contrail and Mirage who followed her.
"I haven't seen you since home, Contrail… Why'd boss haul you out of storage?" Airazor heard.
"He needed someone to back up Stratosphere since he's the only flier we have and well… He flies." Contrail stated. "I got the short end of the stick," Contrail stated.
"Well, Airazor? You look like the only flier Primal has besides that Air Hammer guy." Contrail heard from Mirage.
"There are others who can fly. I am simply the only flier within the main group… Who has lived besides Silverbolt." Airazor stated.
She looked downwards at the group, guessing that they were safe only for a few hours. The Terrorcons would rip the planet apart to get the damn key and it was clear to them that something was afoot.
"So, this is your team and he's the big boss," Contrail stated before he sighed. "These Predacons of yours? You talk like they're some super soldiers we can't fight. I looked at Scourge, he had some of their emblems on him." Contrail stated.
"Scourge kills anyone who defies him, friend or foe? He has not killed a single person who has not once bowed to Unicron." Airazor stated.
She knew him and she knew more and more with each passing second that he wanted answers. They all did, years of waiting on Earth only for it to be broken by more problems when it comes down to it.
He had been able to think of it once more as he clicked his fingers. The Autobot and Maximal seemed to share even a few seconds of silence before she broke the silence.
"You were talking about a friend who had perished on Cybertron?" Airazor asked.
"We were fighting during the battle to escape Cybertron…" Contrail said. "But yeah, I did… And I blew up because this feels like Cybertron all over again, fighting against the wall with the enemy trying to cut us all done." Contrail stated.
Airazor hummed, she had known warriors on their side who had been falling in the line of duty. Apache, Sonar… There was even the warrior Tigatron who had served under Apelinq, now all gone.
Though, she supposed they had taken a fair number of Predacons as well with them. She supposed death in the name of self-sacrifice would have happened with it all.
There were a lot worse deaths than that.
"Your friend died in the name of aiding the Autobots, there is no dishonor in that," Airazor stated before she paused.
"There is when he shouldn't have needed to make it. I could have helped but I had to charge in, I couldn't have just waited and let Starscream have one victory." Contrail stated.
The Maximal was silent, he sounded like Cheetor but she did not know what to say, Cheetor had been willing to die for the cause and she knew even he could have respected it.
'The Autobots are very run down for heroes… Though, all the death? The sacrifice? They could have turned out very differently.
Author Note
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be 900–6500-word chapter and will show the night at the camp and the set up to the final battle with the Terrorcons. Until then, Lighting Wolf is out!