Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Tip of a Feather. Enjoy the 2600-word chapter. I do not own Transformer, Hasbro does.
"Hey… OW!" Contrail stated as Airazor held his arm so Rhinox could properly weld the parts of it.
She glanced at him in a way that made the flying Autobot shut up. He knew damned well she was very angry at him for getting hurt by Scourge, to be fair? He had zero ability to say he hadn't acted as an Autobot would.
She gripped his arm with anger… And a protective tenderness he didn't think the falcon Maximal would have.
"You are lucky I do not break it off," Airazor said as Rhinox hummed.
Rhinox could see the protective nature of her leaking through. It was clear beyond all doubt that she cared for him… Even if she would not admit it, that and that alone would be harder to figure out for now.
It was a tenderness she had not shown since home. She had been a warrior for so many years it was clear that those years had changed her for better or worse.
"I would listen… You are lucky you didn't lose too much energon." Rhinox stated.
"Trying…." Contrail said as he looked over at her. "You promised to tell me… What's the deal with you guys if we lived… And for now? we kinda did win." Contrail stated.
"It is a long story," Airazor stated.
"Well, I have some time." Contrail joked to which she hummed.
"We are from the future…" Airazor stated.
"What, we all turn into animals in the future?" Contrail asked.
"No… There are very few Autobots or Decepticons in our time… If that time still exists. We have been too eager and defined by our hubris." Airazor stated.
"You guys don't seem that different from us," Contrail stated.
"We are not as different as you might believe, brother," Cheetor stated.
"Well, excuse me for not seeing it as different," Contrail stated.
"You guys talk about those Predacons as if we've been fighting them for years…." Contrail stated.
"They are our version of the Decepticons," Airazor stated.
"Ah… Hence the Megatron." Contrail stated before he relaxed and then paused to think. "So… What's the game plan now that the bad guys are down for the moment? I doubt Megatron is just going to give up." Contrail stated.
"Same with Scourge… Unicron has more servants than just Scourge… And I doubt that Scourge will command the Terrorcons any further." Cheetor stated to which there was a frown.
There was a moment of silence, an idea of what was to come and none of them liked it. There was a lot more to see and do now and a very long way to ensure that this might come to pass.
"We will be ready… As we always are, Cheetor." Airazor stated before she frowned, knowing it was a lot easier said than done to try and do at the time being.
And there was a very off chance they might be out of their depth soon.
"And if you aren't?" Contrail asked in a tone that suggested it was a bad question to ask.
He didn't know, he didn't wish to know either way.
"Airazor, you can stop holding his arm… I'm almost finished." Contrail heard.
"Yeah…." Contrail said before she clenched it, making the Autobot wince in pain.
"Ow…." Contrail stated before Rhinox chuckled.
"You should know she's quite protective of those who she gets this mad about… If she's so willing to yell at you? She cares a lot." Rhinox stated.
"Do not give him ideas…" Airazor muttered as she huffed. "We lost Bantor and if Armordillo didn't act? We might have lost Air Hammer as well… That is as far as I am concerned… The worst-case scenario." Airazor stated.
Did she know more and more about that if anything? They'd all be suffering sooner or later. If Scourge was correct? There was to be more violence on Earth, killing two of Unicron's servants was nothing, he had plenty more, very many more henchmen and ones he could and would replace sooner or later.
That and that alone bothered her in ways she shouldn't have been capable of anytime soon… It hurt more for her not to know than for her to know what was going on and still demand more.
(Within the Hudson River)
The body of the Decepticon Transit was one of a few dozen… Optimus had shown zero amount of care for dumping them like trash into the bay… Mainly because of him? They were trash. They were nothing more than toys to throw away and enemies to disembowel.
"Transit! Have you eliminated Optimus!?" Starscream yelled before he snorted. "Your plans fail us again, Soundwave… I told you another worthless assassin would win against the Autobots… Trace his signal!" Starscream roared from the body's transmitter.
He knew that Transit had failed. None of their assassins could kill a foe as mighty as Optimus. He had been content to leave them to their fate as he finally ruled Cybertron… But no, he had to share leadership with two of Megatron's flunkies.
It vexed him, he should have been the ruler of the Decepticons… He had helped drive the Autobots from their world, HE had given them victory and HE had destroyed their only way off-world. But no, he had been content to share power only until he could kill them both, taking the throne he deserved.
If he could? He'd let Soundwave and Shockwave leave and then blow their pods to atoms, killing them both with zero resistance.
He wished he could, but he couldn't let it come crashing to the ground more and more annoyed with it all at the very moment, this and that wouldn't win them the war.
"Damn them…" Starscream stated before he sighed for now.
(With Airazor and the Maximals)
"Ok, you are done," Rhinox stated before stepping back before he slowly sighed.
He paused to look at Contrail and sighed, looking to the side before now. Contrail hummed and flexed his parts, his arms and legs twitching with each little second, looking downwards before he clenched his fists and looked to the side. There was a lot more to try and figure out as he clicked his fingers.
He was silent as he clenched his fists, his thrusters fired and then powered off as Contrail turned, trying for a second to do something like this for now as he sighed.
He looked… Tired, very tired, and thrown off for now as he paused to let it all sink in. He seemed to grasp it for now.
"What did you do? I feel… Better." Contrail stated before Rhinox chuckled.
"I used plenty of the spare parts from the previous battles to try and fix your systems…. That and some of the raw energon Unicron awakened when he arrived… As you noticed? It fixed your friend Bumblebee." Contrail stated before he sighed.
"So… I'm back to normal?" Contrail asked.
"Not entirely… I would give some time for your systems to reboot lest you as humans do… Reopen old wounds. Your body is going to take some time to adjust, maybe a day or two." Rhinox stated.
"Cool… Guess I'll stick around then." Contrail stated as Airazor snorted.
"Great…" Airazor stated, trying, and failing to hide a smile from her face as she looked to the side. "Perhaps we should look over the remains of the last battle. There is bound to be plenty that was left behind… And whatever Unicron can reclaim from the battle will be something we need to deny him." Airazor stated before they looked over at him.
He said nothing but guessed it would be prudent to do so, prudent to relax… If only for those whom they would need to fight, a lot of thoughts ran through his mind as the Autobot paused. He guessed that it would be harder to figure it all out.
Perhaps to him? That would be easier said and done.
He had a lot more to see and to do, knowing what would come from it at the end of the day. Their battle was over but it was simply one battle of an entire war, for now, they had to deal with it one way or another.
Plus? He had nothing better to do, he could return across the sea to the other Autobots eventually… And he knew more groups would eventually find their way here, it was going to be something he didn't dare.
Not once would it end anytime soon, there was a lot of chaos to undo and he held no idea they'd win, not now at least… No, not within reasoning for now would they get any work done anytime soon?
Yet? That soothed him, it meant their war could wait, it was at least at a point where they had been driven into the ground, knowing what was going on in the mind.
"I'll… Stay here, I guess." Contrail said as Primal hummed.
"Cheetor, Silverbolt, Air Hammer? You survey the battlefield… I and Airazor will stay with Contrail." Contrail heard from Primal as the trio did so.
He was silent, very silent, knowing what was going on at the end of the day. He looked to the ground and then watched as the Maximals departed, knowing what was at stake for now.
He looked over to Airazor for a second then to Primal.
"How dangerous is the key in that state?" Contrail asked.
"Not much… But you saw what it can do in the wrong hands." Primal stated.
"Yeah… I'm sorry about your friend. It isn't the first time I've seen a soldier die…" Contrail stated.
"Bantor knew what the risks were…. I honored his sacrifice as best I could." Primal stated.
"I hope I did as well…" Contrail stated.
"Fuselage would be proud of you… We cannot hate ourselves over the soldiers we cannot protect, our friends know their deaths are for a cause greater than ourselves." Airazor stated. "We Maximals know this better than anyone," Airazor stated.
"Apelinq won't be avenged until Scourge is dead and gone. There is nothing else besides that to worry about that… Unicron cannot reach Earth without him." Primal stated.
"Megatron." Both Airazor and Contrail said as the two fliers looked at each other.
"Right…" Primal stated as Contrail hummed.
"Purdy birdy had some nice tricks… I didn't know you turn from a bird into that…" Contrail said.
"I do not transform often… There is very little reason to when I do not fight on the ground often." Airazor stated.
"It's nice… You tore through those guys, made me feel like I didn't do anything." Contrail stated.
"She is our best flier… It is one reason I made her a lieutenant… That and she is… Protective of her warriors." Primal said.
"Heh," Contrail said.
"I did not require you to protect me… But thank you, I am glad our two families are united." Airazor stated.
"Yeah, Earth isn't so bad now that we have backup," Contrail said. "So… Primal? I'd hate to ask… But mind if I ask about this little team, you guys have?" Contrail asked.
"I heard you ask Rhinox… So yes." Primal state.
"You guys have been fighting Terrorcons as long as we have Autobots," Contrail said.
"Almost… We have tried to end the war with Megatron. Yet? his reach is long and dangerous. He controls the entire Predacon army and yet? They did not come close to equaling our army under Apelinq." Primal stated.
"You had a boss beyond you?" Contrail asked.
"Apelinq was my mentor… And I had no intention of taking his station. I was nothing compared to him for now." Primal stated.
The trio paused, thinking of what was to come and knowing that it was not going to be easy if this was how hard it was already, there was so much violence already. Yet? it had not stopped them at all when push would come to shove.
Primal looked at the two before he smirked, they cared for one another. He could tell that very clearly, it was due to them that they cared for one another.
He could tell that both cared in their way, both protected one another simply due to being peaceful or having their own goals.
"You both fought well together… That sort of teamwork is what ensures we are going to win against any coming darkness." Airazor and Contrail heard.
"I merely considered him nice enough to partner with… A calculation I see was correct." Airazor said.
"I wouldn't mind flying with you when I need to again…" Contrail said.
Airazor looked away, her metallic feathers brimming with Energon… He had been willing to help her without even being asked and she would be lying if she said she did not care about the Autobots. they had been willing to become family the second they were asked to try and figure it out for now.
There was more to this, more to their team up… Yes, it was clear that it would continue to grow. That their team-up would grow.
Both were enough. They would be enough for now and everything else had been for such an issue, this sort of thing was enough to amuse them for it.
Then again? What else would they celebrate? What other great marvels would they find to be equal?
There were a lot of things that both Airazor and Contrail could tell… But one thing was how close they were as a team and how close their teams should be in it for now.
'Whatever goes on next? We are going to fight it together. The only problem? We do not know what it is bringing. I know damn well both Megatron and Scrouge are not going to let us own the planet like this. The longer we are here?' Contrail thought.
He knew damn well that Optimus did not wish to endanger Earth. he knew damn well to which they would deal with.
To be fair? He had been willing to fight and he would gladly do it, he would gladly fight through the war and oil to help others. It was who they were to fight, to sacrifice what they were for the sake of others, it was clear they would throw away what little skill they had to win.
That and that alone would not happen to put them together for their little game, this was going to be chaotic enough to deal with now as it came to it for now as he clicked his fingers.
This all seemed to be dealt with for now and for a good reason, it a very hard thing to imagine it being over at this very moment.
All of it hurt and had been for a while at the end of the day for now, there were a lot of things that needed to be addressed.
He sighed, pausing… Pondering for now, knowing what was at stake.
Even they knew more and more that had been done and dusted for now. It was enough to slam them into the ground, knowing what had been done and dusted.
Something was bothering the two now, knowing damn what was going on at the end of the day.
Perhaps their war would throw them aside for now as it seemed to be dealt with for now and for good reason, it had not been something that had been stomped into the dust.
There was a lot more to try and figure out, something that had been ground into the dust.
Perhaps then? It would end. They were soldiers, they acted as soldiers had and would fight in the way soldiers would. The only problems were what was coming down the road. They had known the score…
He looked at Airazor, pausing only to wrench his metallic body upwards slightly. The pain in his body wracked him with anger… And yet he felt at peace, he was tired, exhausted…
It had been a while since he had been like this. Despite that stuff being a problem for them now? it would be far weirder for now.
"I… Like this." Contrail stated before he seemed to look at the sky. "Being surrounded by friends, it reminds me of Cybertron." contrail stated.
Primal hummed and looked to the sky, optics narrowing. He could understand how the young soldier felt, knowing that he had been once like that. He agreed this planet felt like home, it felt a lot like it was going on before now.
Whatever was growing on the mind? There was a storm coming, a plan to end this planet in fire. It would not stop with them, would not end on this sort of plan.
"It reminds me of home, he is right. I like this world; it is a gem to be protected." Airazor stated as Primal hummed.
"It is home, Airazor." Primal stated before crossing his arms across his chest. "It is home. This planet has been home for centuries. I want to protect it as you and the Autobots do." Primal stated.
Airazor hummed and then looked to the side, her feathers spreading as the trio all paused and then prepared for another day on Earth.
Part of her hoped more Maximals heard their call to Earth and came. If Megatron had survived Scourge? She held hope their group had been able to survive, to be relaxed upon a new stone.
Yes, it was clear such a thing would be harder and harder to figure out for now at the end of the day when push came to shove as of now when push would come to shove.
It was clear whatever came next. This was going to suffer for them.
Author Note
Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show more of Airazor and Contrail bonding, more of the next arc. Until the 900–6500-word chapter, Lighting Wolf out!