Here is a new chapter of this story, finally.. I must thank to Naphtaly Phoenix who had beta-readied this f or me wonderfully in grammar, spelling and plot holes over all the later episodes. Thank you!
HOWEVER, she had give it up due several personal reasons. Therefore, I'll need a new beta for the coming chapters. I write in English fine enough but usually I mistake prepositions, verbs and spelling. Certainly I'll need the new beta will be able to deal with those mistakes. Please, let me know who is about to beta this story for coming chapters.
On the other hand, this part of the story happens on Canary Islands; When I wrote this, the island in question, Tenerife, was suffering a heavy fire that deleted many forests. I've tried to portrait these islands as they truly are.
Well, go ahead with this story...
Chapter-11
"Speaking of Primus"
When Skyfire let go, Starscream, the ruby-eyed one, collapsed to his knees in front of Optimus, while Wheeljack and his namesake remained behind the seeker, as well as the big, white mech. Starscream didn't have the will to fight, beg, cheat, swear… or anything else for that matter. First, he had discovered how powerful a Transformer could become thanks to one of those Minicon pet from another universe. Then he found out that his counterpart didn't want to share/give such a powerful resource with him…and the reasons his counterpart had given to the Air Commander were painful to hear. His counterpart had been able to see further into him than any other Transformer (ally or foe) had in vorns, and his counterpart had said things to Starscream that he had never been able to admit to. And finally, just when matters were about to be settled, Optimus had appeared right out of nowhere and slagged everything…with the help of that traitor Skyfire, who had managed to catch him off guard.
In spite of himself, he was now at their mercy and he could do nothing about it except to stare at the dusty ground beneath his azure hands.
"Skyfire, disarm him," ordered Optimus in a serious voice.
"Yes, Prime." answered the big mech before looking to Starscream with a sad expression as he removed Starscream's rifles from his upper arms.
"I sorry, Starscream," he said softly.
"Go ahead, traitor." Was Starscream's response, his weak voice titled with hatred; and then he laughed humorlessly. "I--I never expected to finish my days like this, surrounded by Autobots and traitors without mercy."
"Starscream, I don't mean to hurt you," explained Skyfire. "Just listen to what we have to say."
"Listen? … Funny how you say that with all your Autobot friends nearby, traitor."
The big and white mech sighed heavily but said nothing; he just held the Air Commander's rifles tightly on his hand.
Meanwhile, the other Starscream watched his counterpart with a mix of relief, curiosity and sadness. He was pretty sure that Optimus and his 'Bots weren't going to hurt him or his counterpart so long they wanted to talk with him. Still, Starscream felt sorry for his counterpart: he knew the Air Commander was having a rough time, even though his life wasn't in danger, and curiously he wouldn't stop calling Skyfire a "Traitor". Suddenly, he remembered the long chat he had with the white jet back at the Russian Tundra; as far he knew that Skyfire mech was another case of an Autobot/Decepticon friendship broken by the war or some other misunderstanding. It was a lot like Wheeljack and Hot Shot, back in his universe… Could Skyfire's lost friend be his counterpart? Didn't he say he had a seeker friend awfully similar to him? It was a big assumption to make, but it seemed to make sense, judging from their behavior-.
However, his thoughts on the matter were cut off when Optimus addressed him with the same authoritative voice. "You too, Decepticon. Drop your weapons," he ordered.
The other Starscream turned towards Prime and responded as if he was used to addressing the Autobot's Prime.
"I sorry Optimus, but I can't …My circuits are frozen and I cannot move any mechanism in my arm or my sword." He explained.
Optimus looked a little surprised at him: the seeker spoke fearlessly to him, but his tone also polite and what he seemed to be telling the truth.
"I think it's the effect of Starscream's Null Ray, Prime." suggested Wheeljack. "He might have been hit by one when they were fighting."
"…Of course it is, you idiotic Autobot," exclaimed the Air commander, still on his knees. "But don't worry; the effect of my null ray will fade away soon."
The other Starscream looked to his namesake seriously; the Air Commander seemed totally broken and his callous words only served as a cover to hide his current mental status. Knowing he could do nothing for his commander, he turned towards the Prime and spoke. "Optimus… I know you want to talk with me because of what I told Skyfire. We both know it's very important, but--"
"What!?" exclaimed Starscream suddenly, raising his head in alarm. "What is this!? Were you talking with--with this traitor? This an arranged meeting by the both of you!?"
"Yes," answered the other Starscream immediately. "I met this Autobot when I was abandoned in the Russian Tundra a few days ago and we talked for a while. But I didn't plan on this."
Starscream, the dark-faced one, turned towards his former friend in wonder and gapped like a fish. Skyfire knew that look so he nodded. "That's right, Starscream," answered the big, white mech, cautiously. "He told me some very important things… that's why we're all here now. Prime says this also concerns you, so you must remain here, too."
"…And I promise you won't be hurt," added the other Starscream, trying to calm his counterpart down.
The Air Commander' shoulders and wings shook softly, and a raw, sad sounding laugh emerged from his vocalizer. He let himself fall on his back, laughing all the while. "Really? Hahahahahahaha!… How ironic!" he exclaimed, but nobody seemed to catch the full meaning of Starscream's laughter, except for perhaps his namesake.
"Enough!" exclaimed Optimus and he turned towards the Air Commander. "Starscream, I don't want to know why the both of you were fighting. I don't care about it… but, as Skyfire stated, what we're going to talk about here is a matter of vital importance, even for you. I don't trust in you, but this Decepticon…" he said gesturing towards Starscream's namesake, "…knows it, so for all Transformers' sake, I ask you to listen carefully. Your fellow seeker knows how important is it."
"Of course, Prime…" answered Starscream in his usual irreverent manner. "What else can I do?"
Optimus sighed. He was used to hearing his soldiers joking comments, and even Starscream' sarcastic ones every time they met in battle. Still, he wondered if he had the patience to deal with that now, after all, the Air Commander was on his list of hated people. He had no desire to learn how to deal with those people. Luckily it seemed like he was going to cooperate.
"We have a lot to learn from what I'm about to tell you, Prime." Said the other seeker, and as he did so, Optimus realized how similar the two seekers voices were. They sounded very much alike, the only difference was the attitude each seeker spoke with.
The Prime stopped to take a closer look at the other seeker and realized that there were many odd things about this seeker. First of all, the foreign seeker was certainly strange, with an uncommon body structure and a face more slender than usual… besides, there was that wing of his turned into a sword. As far Optimus knew flying types were very sensitive about their wings and here this seeker was holding, and using, his own wing like a weapon. But most of all, he had blue optics! A characteristic Autobots trademark…How could this seeker have elements of both Autobots and Decepticons? Besides that, there were all those things the other seeker had in common with the Air Commander: their voices were similar, so were their colour schemes, as well their flying skills. In certain way, this seeker was like some short of bizarre clone of the Air Commander himself mixed with Autobot's elements.
He thought all of this not realizing it would be explained shortly.
"Ok, Decepticon." exclaimed Optimus as the rest of the Transformers there listened to him. "I'd like to hear what you have to tell me… If I remember correctly, " he said while gesturing to the Skyfire, who was still keeping an eye on the fallen Starscream in front of him. "You told him, 'there are things far more important than winning the War, and one of them might success in the coming days or years.'…Is that true?"
"Yes, Optimus." answered the odd seeker as his counterpart blinked. "It's a warning for every Transformer of this universe."
"A warning?" questioned Wheeljack, "About what?"
"I think… it's the time you finally tell us what is so important, Decepticon." added Optimus.
Before he replied, Starscream looked at all people there, even his counterpart, who had finally managed to raise himself to his feet-. He found himself struggling with what to say, or rather, how to say it.
On the other hand, the Air Commander had made up his mind about the situation. He couldn't help but listen to his counterpart; he figured that whatever his namesake had to say was important because he had gathered a "fine" collection of Autobots for the event… When he finished his speech, then Air Commander would know what to do, but meanwhile he couldn't afford to look battered in front of his enemies (especially not that traitor). Unaware of his counterpart's thoughts, the white-faced seeker finally spoke:
"I didn't think I would have the chance to talk with you so soon, Optimus… But I know you're somewhat aware of what I'm about to tell you." The Prime nodded, but still muted about the whole matter, "I'll explain it to all of you all as simply as I can."
At this point, Starscream opened his cockpit and caught something that fell from inside; he showed the "item" to the rest of the Transformers.
"What are you doing!?" exclaimed his counterpart in alarm. "Why are you showing it to them!?" The Air Commander so nervous that he couldn't keep his vocalizer shut, revealing that thing was something very important. However, the Autobots just tilted their heads in wonder: on the odd seeker's hand- was a very little Transformer with a blue paintjob and an alternative form than resembled a race car… In fact, the Air Commander's reaction was the Autobots' only hint that this little guy was something special.
"Let me introduce you somebody…" Starscream began and the Autobots returned their attention to the seeker. "He's Swindle, my Minicon."
There was a general blink; the Autobots exchanged looks of wonder. Why was this little mech, who posed in front of them shining prominently so important? And why was he named like that?
"What is this?" asked Wheeljack, almost annoyed. "Another one of Soundwave's cassetticons?…How can he have the same name as our ol' Combaticon friend?… Transformer names cannot be repeated!"
"Really, can't they?" muttered the dark faced seeker sarcastically, still upset that Swindle's presence had been revealed.
Skyfire looked at his counterpart out of the corner of his blue optics; he knew Starscream so he could tell this little mech was something important, but he knew Starscream wouldn't tell him what he knew. In another time, the silver-white seeker would not have hesitated to explain the situation to him, but now Skyfire could only watch him closely.
"That's true. Transformers names cannot be repeated, and this is not Swindle… Wheeljack is right." answered Optimus.
"What!? Wheeljack!?" exclaimed the odd seeker suddenly, forgetting about everything to do with Swindle. The seeker turned towards the Transformer in question, "Are you really him!?"
Of course, nobody had expected such a reaction as that. From the look the seeker was giving him, the engineer felt as if he were being studied as the oddest thing in the universe. The seeker gaped at Wheeljack as if he were seeing a ghost or something. To make matters worse, the so-called Minicon was shouting some sort of beeping noises like crazy, they seemed to be curses. The only one who was getting some fun out of the situation was the Air Commander.
"I'll be dead… But at least I'll have some fun beforehand!" He exclaimed in between laughs.
"Obviously you know something," said Skyfire as he watched how Starscream laughed. "Don't you?"
"Oh, yes, I know." answered Starscream in a nasty voice. "But I won't collaborate with this."
Skyfire sighed. In spite the meeting with the Air Commander was being quite peaceful, nasty comments aside.
"Ok! What's going on here?" exclaimed Wheeljack in an irritated voice, which was quite surprising coming from him. "We don't know each other, Decepticon… and quite frankly I don't care to know you… But could you stop to looking at me like that?"
The other Starscream could only exclaim absent-mindedly, "…You are not like him at all… and certainly you're still an Autobot here."
"Of course I'm an Autobot!" replied the mech with shining ears, feeling uneasy. "What were you expecting? I am an Autobot and an engineer."
"…That's really different." was Starscream's answer.
"Enough!" interrupted Optimus. "Later, we'll talk about Wheeljack's identity… Now, explain this."
"Sorry, Optimus…" the white faced seeker apologized. "I was really surprised."
"…So am I." added his namesake. "What's this 'you're still an Autobot here'?" he demanded to know, but nobody else seemed to care about it, not even Wheeljack.
Swindle continued to make beeping sounds, which didn't make sense to anybody. Starscream became serious again and lifted his Minicon to his optics' level. "Stop that, Swindle!" he demanded. "They don't know that yet."
"I think you should explain yourself at once, seeker." spoke Skyfire. "If you tell us everything, then we can settle this quickly."
"I agree, Skyfire." answered the white faced seeker, while his namesake grunted. He didn't like the way Skyfire and his counterpart talked to each other.
"Go on." encouraged Optimus before adding , "It's the first time I heard a Transformers talk like that."
Starscream looked at Swindle, who despite himself, seemed to be calmer, then he gazed at Optimus and his namesake.
"Swindle, my Minicon, is not the Combaticon you know… He's a Minicon, a very different class of Transformers, so his language is different from ours. As far I know, there isn't anything like him in this universe."
"Except for him, according with you." added Optimus. "Why is he so different?"
Starscream sighed, thinking of how to put it. After awhile, he spoke. "--We, the Transformers, are the Children of Primus…Minicons aren't related to Primus like us. Their creator was somebody else."
Everybody hesitated,
"…Who?" asked Wheeljack, who was still trying to direct the conversation away from himself.
"Unicron." answered Starscream. "Minicons are the Children of Unicron…They aren't Cybertronians like us, but Unicronians."
"Megatron, attention required." exclaimed Soundwave as he evaluated some of data sent by Laserbeak.
"What is it, Soundwave?" asked the Decepticon Leader.
"There is alarming information." Intoned the Communications Officer.
"About our Starscream?" wondered the big, grey mech.
"Indeterminable."
"Show it." Megatron ordered with his rough voice.
"As you command."
When the indigo mech typed up Megatron's request, the images sent by Laserbeak came up. The little cassetticon wasn't able to match either of the Starscreams in the air, and since his mission was to spy them, Laserbeak hadn't been able to fly close to either one of them, but rather he kept a prudent distance between them. Still, the images showed something that made Megatron's jaw drop…in spite he managed to regain his usual coldness, eventually.
"What…In the name of Primus--is THAT!?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with worry .
On the screen both mechs could see a very strong plasma blast shooting off into the sky, it seemed to be originating from someplace near the horizon; Megatron knew well that it wasn't any of his weapons… Therefore, the only explication was the blast was an Autobots' whereabouts.
"Laserbeak has informed us that the blast's coordinates are the same as Starscream-B's location." explained Soundwave, a bit off because Megatron's reaction and the whole phenomenon.
"The same place?" the Decepticon leader wondered aloud, his usual cold attitude was returning. "Do we have any information on Omega Supreme's current location?" he asked, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Negative." answered his Communications Officer. "Omega Supreme is no longer on Earth, according to our information. He's back on Cybertron." even Soundwave seemed confused now. "Shockwave informed us so."
"He isn't…?" exclaimed Megatron with a low grunt before turning to face the image. "What's that supposed to be, then?"
"Laserbeak has reported that the place of origin is an archipelago off Africa's west coast." informed Soundwave; who also worried about what had happened. "According to the information available, Starscream-B is there." he tried to cover his surprise
"…And that means our little jumping-between-universes friend is involved with that big blast." Deduced Megatron, "Is there any more information about the blast?"
"Negative. Apparently it's only a high energy discharge."
"Damn-it." grunted Megatron, and for first time in long while, he felt uneasy about something. He paused as he reflected about something, till he shouted: "Bring Thundercracker here! Now!"
The Air Commander had used a convincing argument about what could happen in this universe if his counterpart did something unusual, mostly about the Minicon because there weren't Minicons on his universe and its existence could create an existential paradox. That was the kind of argument that Starscream would have formulated had he been able to think calmly; but currently his wishes, beliefs and fears clouded his usual rational judgment.
"Unicron!?" exclaimed Starscream after he heard his counterpart's explanation for Swindle's origin, something the -dark faced seeker never would have figured out. "That's the biggest load of nonsense I've heard in a long time!" he said indignantly.- "Unicron, the Fallen and all those stories are just legends, an invention of Primus' priests to keep Transformers under their control…. I refuse to believe in Unicron's existence. It's just idle gossip."
"I agree." added Skyfire. "I can accept that many Transformers are believers of Primus and Unicron… But personally I cannot believe in any religion without proof."
Starscream, the white-faced one, looked at his counterpart and Skyfire, a helpless expression on his face. For once, those two were agreeing on something and they didn't seem to notice it, but now Starscream knew he had to try harder to try to convince them of the truth.
"..Optimus?" asked Wheeljack, feeling confused. A Decepticon's name had been given to a Unicronian and apparently the odd seeker here swore the evil entity existed.
The Autobot leader sighed; he didn't know why the Air Commander refused to believe in Unicron, but Optimus had already figured that Skyfire didn't because he was a scientist, or at least he was agnostic. Even though Optimus was the Matrix-keeper, he knew many other Autobots didn't believe in Unicron, but just in Primus. It also seemed like everyone had their own interpretation of their god.
"Unicron is real." He answered, finally. "I know it for a fact."
"Really?" exclaimed the dark-faced Seeker, who was regaining his usual bravado. "C'mon, Prime! That's the last thing I thought I'd heard from the great Optimus Prime!"
"Shut up your vocalizer, Starscream," warned Optimus. "I won't tolerate anymore interruptions or nasty comments."
The seeker realized he was walking a fine line, and stepped back till his wings touched Skyfire's cockpit; Starscream felt like a child once again realized he was surrounded by foes and remained still, feeling uneasy. However, Skyfire lowered his view and sighed; in spite Starscream's rough behavior, he knew why he acted like that.
"I suggest that you be quiet, Starscream." he suggested in a low voice the big, white mech in a confident tone. "Even if we both don't believe in Unicron, something important is happening here. We should listen."
The dark faced gazed at his lost friend, and grunted in disappointment. "I thought you wouldn't believe that tale, Skyfire," he replied with harsh voice.
"I know, but here there is something more important…there's more to this than you know, I think." answered Skyfire, knowing Starscream was aware of certain facts the Autobots didn't know… yet.
"That's right. Unicron is real." the odd seeker said finally. "I, myself, didn't believe in his existence beforehand. I can understand you all don't …except for Prime, who surely is aware of it because he's the Matrix's Keeper." He pointed out.
"Is that true, Prime?" asked Wheeljack, who had listened all them carefully. "Do you know about Unicron?"
"Yes, I do." answered Optimus gravely. "And you wanted me to know about him too, right?" he asked the odd seeker. "You wanted to make sure I knew about Unicron so you showed me the Minicon in order to convince us."
"What??" exclaimed the Air Commander as Skyfire gasped.
"The warning you were trying to give us is about Unicron?" added the big mech.
"Yes." answered the white faced seeker. "I know about Unicron' existence…because Swindle and I met him."
"What!?" was Optimus' sudden and frightened exclamation. "So soon?"
"You knew already?" inquired the seeker.
"Of course." answered Prime, still worried. "As I just said, I knew for a while because of the Matrix. I felt it warn me about Unicron's presence. When Skyfire gave me your message, I knew it was about Unicron and that he was near. I just wanted to meet the one that already knew about the Chaos Bringer and hear what he had to say." Optimus sighed heavily, "Even if your warning is alarming, I'm glad you risked yourself to let me know."
Starscream was about to make a sarcastic comment, but wisely he choice to remain silent. His counterpart seemed to believe everything he was saying, and in spite of Starscream's personal beliefs and scientific background, he found the whole thing was…worrying.
"Thanks. I'm glad you knew about him, already." smiled the odd seeker. "I was worried because I thought nobody here would believe me."
"Eh, Decepticon…" exclaimed Wheeljack. "How did you know about Unicron?…You said you saw him already." In certain way, the Autobot engineer couldn't believe he was asking a Decepticon such a thing and was talking with him politely no less.
"I know him… because of Swindle's nature." The Minicon posed dramatically. "And because I saw it getting closer to Cybertron."
There was a general gasp, even Starscream and Skyfire, the two skeptical ones, did so.
"To… To Cybertron?" asked Optimus, truly worried. "How? When?"
"Sorry, Optimus. I didn't want you to worry about this." answered the white faced seeker. "I didn't see him now."
"Then, why do you try to alert us about—it?"
"Because I'm trying to warn all Transformers in this universe about Unicron's existence. I'm trying to…"he hesitated and glazed glanced at his counterpart,"… I'm trying to convince you that the whole Autobots' and Decepticons' war is just a nuisance if it's compared with the threat of Unicron."
"' The existence and preservation of the Transformers species itself is more important…'… that was you told me," paraphrased Skyfire. "So, that was what you tried to tell me when we met… The existence of our people is more important because Unicron is threatening us, according to you, right?"
"Yes. That's my conclusion." affirmed the blue eyed seeker.
"I cannot believe anything you just said …" exclaimed Starscream in awe. "This is the most… the most amazing excuse I've heard for stopping the war."
"This is not an excuse." answered his counterpart in a serious tone. "I truly would like you believe me for once!"
The Air Commander just glared at his counterpart, his ruby optics glowing dangerously. "I would need some serious proof to believe you."
"Stop it, Starscream… This also concerns you too, Decepticon." ordered Optimus and once again, the Air commander shut his vocalizer. "But, I see what you mean, Decepticon." answered Optimus looked the blue eyed seeker with a great sight.
Starscream tried to control his laughter and sarcasm because Optimus' presence discouraged him; however, the whole thing about Unicron seemed stupid in his optics , he couldn't help but think- his namesake was a total moron that jeopardized the outcome of the war because of such a superstitious belief. But, unfortunately, his counterpart's moronic behaviour had gotten the Air Commander his current situation, and he couldn't do anything than remark the "holes" in his namesake's explanation. It was part of his job, after all.
"You're daft!" exclaimed the Air Commander. "Certainly if Unicron were near our home planet, we'd have seen it!"
"Unicron is a God, Starscream… Or at least it's something too big for our understanding. Surely you know the stories about the Fallen, too." replied Optimus. "I don't think we could see it easily using our sensors, or any other aspect of our technology… I can feel it because of the Matrix, but common Transformers can't."
"Yeah, well, whatever." spat back the Air Commander with a dramatic shrug.
"You're wrong, Optimus." interrupted the white faced seeker. "Actually, Unicron has a physical shape…He's like a gigantic robotic planet, almost as big as Cybertron itself. That's how I saw it." He answered drawing a circle in the air with his dark blue forefinger.
"Where?" asked Wheeljack. "You keep talking about Unicron…and you certainly seem to be worried about…him. But we don't know anything about the details, and we don't know anything about you or how you found out all those things."
"It's true." added Optimus. "You're a wise Decepticon- for all things you've done and said…" Both Stascreams looked shocked, they could barely believe what the Prime had just said. "But we don't know anything about you or how you learned about Unicron."
Every one watched the seeker's face darken before he looked at the so-called Unicronian, who, despite being such a nasty creature, seemed to be truly linked to his "master". Starscream felt uneasy, a feeling he hated because it made him remember how insecure he had been feeling recently. It's hard to go from wanting to be respected as a Decepticon warrior and as a person (much like his counterpart)… to suddenly learning everything you believed in lacks of importance because a god of chaos has threatened to destroy it all: your life, your people and your world. It was quite ironic that Optimus here was calling him "wise."
He also had learned enough information about his counterpart--his namesake's connection with Skyfire had only been a guess, though, even far more than the Air Commander himself would admit to… That it was easy for him to guess that none of the Autobots would believe him. Certainly he had warned Optimus about Unicron, but he also had to convince his namesake, and for some reason the Air Commander (and Skyfire) refused to believe him.
Then, the big and white mech spoke up. Apparently he had something to say, too.
"Frankly, I don't understand, seeker." He began, and then he glanced to his lost friend before continuing. "When we both met up, certainly you weren't convinced about the war than involves Autobots and Decepticons. You even admitted there were things far more important than just this war. I have to say I respect you for that affirmation." He paused." and noticed everybody has their optics (blue and red both) on him, "…Now you say the war doesn't matter because a god-like creature is going to destroy all of us, just like our old legends prophesied… And you say this because you have an odd Transformer with you that you call a "Minicon", and even you say you have met Unicron itself." he paused. "But you still refuse to give us information about your identity or how you came across the information you just gave us."
"Right. That's what he said." added Wheeljack.
"Sorry to say this…but in spite of Optimus' beliefs," Skyfire started to say, "I think your story has many holes. I think you're still acting like a Decepticon by hiding information from us in order to make us believe you; but really you have some ulterior motive in mind. Even if you affirm such things so passionately, I just cannot believe you so easily, not even after you said the war is a lost cause."
Starscream gasped, and instinctively he looked at his namesake.
"Oh, yes… Go ahead and reveal your true identity," he smiled. "Let's see how much sense your story makes then." Then, he turned towards Skyfire and said with a naughty smile, "You still analyze everything scientifically, don't you?"
"Of course," replied Skyfire in a serious voice. "And it works."
The Air Commander's answered with a nasty laugh.
"Skyfire is right," affirmed Optimus, all the while ignoring the Air Commander's sarcastic comments. "I know the warning is real…but we don't know why you're doing this, and who you are really." His blue optics darkened, "You are a very uncommon Decepticon, but that isn't going to be enough to convince us. I'd like to know who you are, at least."
The white-faced seeker winced, feeling cornered, he glanced to his counterpart again.
"I know the truth." answered the dark faced seeker. "But it doesn't help me to believe you. It's a lame excuse for trying to sabotage the Decepticon cause."
"This is getting tiring, seeker." added Wheeljack, who had kept quiet the whole time. "First you tell us all that story about Unicron, you wonder why I am an Autobot… and you refuse to tell us your identity, or why you know what you do. Explain yourself at once!"
Starscream hesitated; he didn't know what to do. A week ago, when he was introduced to the rest of the Decepticons of this universe, it was far easier to explain himself, mostly because he was supported by Megatron himself. Now, on the other hand, revealing his true identity to a bunch of Autobots was quite hard to do. He thought that disclosing his real identity would make his warning seem less credible, given his counterpart's behaviour, but now even the Air Commander insisted on Starscream revealing his identity. Starscream just hated not knowing what to do.
But then again, it was Swindle who convinced him to this…
"Ok, I will tell you …" he said, feeling defeated. "But just believe me."
He hated it. He hated not knowing what to do and always being a follower because he was too ambivalent to make his own decisions… Which was funny coming from an elite seeker like him, just under Starscream's command. But that's the way Thundercracker was and now he was facing a very compromising situation.
Thundercracker, the blue and white seeker, was in the middle of the main war room standing in front of the Decepticon leader, Megatron, and the Communications Officer, Soundwave. Just behind him was his wing mate and friend Skywarp, who wore a serious look on his normally laughing face; the conehead seekers waited further back. Thundercracker cursed his bad luck that brought him here, on trial by Megatron's orders. For the Decepticon leader to go through such measures meant he was nervous about something and when he was nervous his temper grew short and anything was liable to happen then. Thundercracker himself was about to become the next target of Megatron's fusion cannon, it made Thundercracker realize that begging for one's life the way his Commander did wasn't such a bad idea, after all.
"…Thundercracker", began the Decepticon Leader in a harsh tone, making the blue seeker to shiver, "You were working with the new Starscream in the energon hangar after the Russian Tundra mission, correct?"
"Yes, Leader." answered the blue seeker, trying to sound calm. "I was working with him as you ordered. The reports were completed and handed in."
"Good," the Decepticon Leader smiled. "And, what happened?…I am aware my Decepticons troops like to chat when they work together." The blue seeker gulped some oiled energon, "Did he say anything interesting to you?"
Again, Thundercracker cursed his bad luck, and Skywarp looked worried as well; the black and purple seeker was torn between his friendship with the blue jet and his loyalty towards Megatron.
"…You better tell them everything , TC." muttered the black and purple seeker. "Even if it's something unimportant."
"We did, Leader." answered the blue seeker trying to sound calm. "I noticed he's good with handy work and he seems to enjoy common tasks."
"Nothing else?" inquired Megatron in an odd voice that sounded like an attempt to purr.
"…Yes…He mentioned this universe and his were different in certain ways, and he was confused by that." answered Thundercracker cautiously.
"What ways?"
"He was very reserved, so he didn't mentioned anything specific. Apparently he was surprised because our mission here is collecting energon." The blue seeker tried to sound sincere.
"Thundercracker is telling the truth, Megatron." intoned Soundwave in his usual monotonous voice.
The Decepticon leader looked at Soundwave out of the corner of his red optics, he seemed to be disappointed by the indigo mech's affirmation; Thundercracker had the feeling Megatron wanted some reliable target for a scapegoat, and this time it was him. Despite the fact that the blue seeker found Soundwave really creepy and untrustworthy , Thundercracker had to admit that his speech had saved him.
Then Megatron typed something on the main keyboard and an image showed up on the big screen. The seekers, all them, looked at the image in awe; there they could see two very powerful plasma blasts shooting off towards the upper levels of Earth's atmosphere, it was the same image than Megatron had seen previously. Finally, he turned back to his troops and wanted for his reaction trying to get some new clues.
"What is that!??" exclaimed Thundercracker, who hadn't been expecting anything like that.
"Don't ask me, TC," answered Skywarp. "I have no idea."
The coneheads behind them had similar reactions, although there were some slight differences between them: Dirge had the most fearful expression; Ramjet tried to look calm while Thrust looked like he was going to jump behind a pile of slag and hide there. Compared to Thundercracker's and Skywarp's scared looks, their wing mates seemed like a bunch of morons.
"What…What is that?" mused Ramjet.
"Is it a new Autobot weapon?" added Dirge, the blue conehead, "If so, we're doomed."
"SILENCE!" roared Megatron. "Keep yourselves together and quit acting like cowards!"
"Megatron, they don't know anything about the energy blast" Soundwave stated suddenly.
"Of course we don't." exclaimed Skywarp abruptly, feeling hurt because he thought he was being accused of hiding information or worse, betrayal. "Megatron, we don't know anything about that blast… If I knew, I'd tell you. It's reckless not reporting such a thing!"
The Decepticon Leader glared at Skywarp and the rest of the seeker team; Megatron knew the black and purple seeker was highly loyal to him and that the seeker wouldn't backstab him...the rest of the seekers lacked the courage to betray him. The only exception was Thundercracker; not that the blue seeker was traitorous, but rather Megatron had the feeling that the seeker didn't entirely agree with he had to do. And Megatron didn't like to be questioned.
"…Megatron, my leader." said Skywarp, who apparently had forgotten his leader hadn't requested him, but Thundercracker. "We don't know anything about that blast, or a secret super-weapon."
"That's true" added Thrust with chill, "If any of us knew about it, it'd be Starscream."
Megatron smiled, that's all he needed to know.
Starscream realized the effects of his counterpart's null ray had faded away and once again he could move his arm, hand and wing-sword, just as he had expected. Then, in front of astonished Autobots optics, he pledged his sword into his left wing and placed it back in its usual place. All of them were quite amazed because even though some of them had seen the seeker use his wing as a weapon, it just seemed odd that a flying type would treat his wing in such a reckless way. Even the Air Commander seemed slightly disgusted disgusted by the gesture. However, despite Optimus' original order, the Autobot Prime allowed this Starscream to keep his wing-sword in its place instead of taking it away dropping it; to him, it was clear this Decepticon wasn't a threat.
The blue eyed seeker sighed heavily as he tried to put his thoughts in order, after a moment or two he looked back to the Autobots.
"…I have been a warrior since the day I was activated for first time; I don't know do anything else but warfare, so I can't explain all details." He began to say, forgetting that he was also good at other sorts of tasks.
His speech was uninteresting to everybody except for the Air Commander, who gasped noticeably: had his counterpart truly been a warrior since he was activated? If they truly were the same individual, his counterpart should have other skills besides fighting; it could be he that was lying, it didn't seem to be his nature, though.
"Which details?" inquired Prime.
"I… You see, there are parallel realities, Optimus." The seeker answered trying to explain himself. "I don't know how or why, but apparently it happens."
"Parallel realities? What re you trying to say?" asked Skyfire, who obviously was caught by his speech. "Why are you talking about that now?"
The seeker looked at him; he wished the Autobots were sharper so he could avoid such bothering explanations, but they didn't seem to understand and his namesake just keep glaring at him distrustfully.
"I don't know… As I said, I don't understand that." Starscream answered, "But as far I can tell, a reality is mirrored in other universe, causing several parallel realities than aren't the same but the have similar traits." The Bots looked at him, trying to figure out where he was getting at. "I come from one of those," he finished.
"What!?" exclaimed Optimus when he realized the seeker was trying to say this wasn't his… universe. "Another universe? Is that possible?"
"I am afraid it's true, Prime. I don't know if he's telling the truth about his origin, but certainly there are other realities," answered Skyfire after reflecting upon the matter. "I am a scientist, an explorer, a biologist, and a cosmologist with other specialities of that sort, so I don't know how it works…but it's a fact there are multiple realities. But I find this is a very over-elaborate argument to explain what's going on here." That's what his logic was telling him, but for some reason Skyfire had the feeling it could be true, it would explain a lot of things about this weird seeker.
"So… are you saying there is another Transformer universe…Out there?" exclaimed Optimus turning towards the blue eyed seeker.
"Yes, Optimus," answered the seeker, trying to sound convincing. "The Decepticons here also found it hard to believe, although they did eventually; the fact is I come from a parallel reality and in my reality there is another Optimus, like you, and another Megatron. In my universe, Minicons also exist, but apparently they don't here, though."
The Prime did something most people weren't used to seeing him do: he sighed very heavily and passed his azure fingers over his also azure optics, trying to remain calm.
"It's hard to believe… I cannot believe so easily you come from another reality."
"Perhaps you should, Optimus. What he's saying is totally feasible, although I admit I don't like the idea; as Skyfire said, this too incredible." exclaimed Wheeljack and his Prime looked at him "… I remember learning about alternative and parallel realities." Wheeljack said with a sigh. "Once Perceptor spent two cycles giving us a full lecture about the matter to Skyfire, Beachcomber, Ratchet and me… I remember Ratchet fell asleep at some point, but Perceptor didn't even notice."
"So… It's true that they exist," deduced Optimus, ignoring the comment about his medical officer.
"Yes, that's right," answered Skyfire. "It isn't my strong point, but it's a fact."
The Prime turned towards the big and white mech and their optics met, both wore serious expressions. Then Prime saw Starscream's red optics wore the usual smug look of somebody who's totally sure about himself. Optimus loathed Starscream, but over the millennia he had learned how to interpret some of his gestures and he knew the Air Commander didn't try to stop the red and blue seeker because he thought nobody would believe the other jet's real story, so it could totally true; if the seeker had told them something more credible, Starscream would have tried to stop him. Finally, Optimus turned back towards the blue eyed seeker.
"I believe you. It's even said that Unicron itself can jump from one universe to other, so there is that possibility," he explained. "But it doesn't explain your identity. Even if you affirm there are another realities where Transformers also exist like here, it doesn't explain who you are, what you are doing here and why are you here."
"I know, Optimus," replied the white faced seeker. "In my universe, things aren't exactly like this…As far I've seen, there are significant differences, and our identities and roles can be really different."
"You just told us there is another Megatron and another version of me, too."
"That's right," the odd seeker smiled ironically. "And you both are very similar… at least, in your looks."
Optimus felt uneasy, he never thought of the probability of another version of himself running around; the last time that happened, it was a bizarre drone created by Megatron and it had been quite troublesome. But the seeker' speech made sense since it was a fact there was another Swindle, in spite he was a bizarre mech of doubtful origin.
"Primus, I don't think I would like to meet my counterpart from that other universe," exclaimed Wheeljack, Skyfire gave him a curious. "Just look at how he reacted when he found out who I am! He suggested I could be an Empty, or worse! One of those Minicons or even a Decepticon." the mech with the shinning ears explained, his pride hurt. "I don't want to know what kind of freak I am there."
"I think you're exaggerating," Skyfire said with a smile.
"Then, who are you?" interrupted Optimus. "If all our existences and lives are mirrored in your universe, even Megatron's and mine, then that means you have a counterpart here, too."
Everybody turned towards the odd seeker, the Air Commander couldn't suppress a gasp; since the Autobots had learned and accepted that alternative realities were a fact and that this seeker came from one of them, the idea of Starscream being discovered like that sounded bad. But he couldn't do anything other than wait and see what was going to happen; if he did anything now it would put him in danger. Despite his personal beliefs about Unicron, Minicons and the War, he knew the rest of people there care that everybody was rambling on about a god-like creature and a counterpart of his from another universe.
Meanwhile, the Autobots were looking at the white faced seeker, trying to figure out his identity and waiting for him to explain himself..
"… I" he began, "I think I'm not too different from my counterpart here." He mused.
At this point, Skyfire gasped and his blue optics widened in amazement; slowly he turned his gaze towards the Air Commander as the revelation sunk in: everything made sense now. The odd seeker had been red and silver (according to him) and now he was red, silver and blue; his voice was screechy, perhaps very much alike the one he remembered from before the War, before the dark faced seeker would be so different the one he knew now; his flying skills were top notch, his temper switched from one end of the spectrum to the other with amazing speed, and he had refused to give his name when they met for first time… It was SO obvious.
The Air Commander felt Skyfire's gaze on the back of his dark grey helmet and turned his gaze towards him; oddly, his expression was almost… guilty.
"And that's you isn't it, Starscream?" exclaimed Skyfire softly. "You're both the same person from different universes, right?"
"WHAT!?" exclaimed Optimus and Wheeljack loudly.
The Air Commander grunted and gazed back to his counterpart, before looking at the others, who had their blue optics glued on the two jets.
"Yes, we are both the same person," the Air Commander. admitted reluctantly.
"Indeed," answered the odd seeker. "I am the Starscream of the other reality, his counterpart." He confessed while pointing to his namesake.
"Prowl, Teletran-1 has informed us of an energy anomaly in the east Atlantic Ocean." Exclaimed Bumblebee, who had been interrupted from playing some videogames on Teletran-1 while waiting for something more interesting.
In the past Prowl would have scowled at the minibot for using Teletran-1 for such a thing, but after he found Jazz doing the same thing despite his ranking, Prowl had to shut his vocalizer. Now Bumblebee, Hound and some of the other Autobots played videogames on Teletran-1 when they didn't have anything else to do; according to them, playing on a super-computer like Teletran-1 was a challenge, almost like training.
The Autobot Second in Command, as much Jazz also was, stepped closer to the little, yellow Bot. "This may be the signal we were waiting for."
"What signal?" asked Bumblebee, not understanding what Prowl was talking about.
"Bring Jazz here to me, Bumblebee," ordered the Autobot Commander with his usual seriousness.
"Why me? I don't know where is him," complained the yellow minibot, but immediately regretting what he had just said. "Ok, ok!… he's probably playing around with Blaster and Tracks."
"Go on," urged Prowl as he typed something on Teletran-1's board.
"Why am I always the errand boy?" muttered Bumblebee as he left.
Shortly afterwards, Jazz arrived at Teletran-1's place where Prowl was waiting him. The "policeman" scolded him.
"You're late and negligent."
"What's up?" answered the Autobot with the big, blue optic. "I needed to take a break… Waiting for something can be really boring if the only thing you can do is stare at the walls. I need something else to spend my spare time on."
"Yeah, but at least you could pay more attention to others, Jazz," replied Bumblebee. "This is the second time this weekthat you didn't notice me because you were too immersed in Blaster's music."
"Ok, ok! I sorry, you're right…" exclaimed Jazz waving his black hands "Now, let's see what's so interesting," he said as he approached Teletran-1.
"Look," ordered Prowl.
Just like happened in Decepticon's HQ, Prowl, Jazz and Bumblebee looked amazed at the purple beam than fired by Starscream'; next to the screen image the three Autobots could also read all the information that Teletran-1 had gathered about the strange phenomenon.
"Wow!" exclaimed Jazz, truly amazed. "What is this? Megatron's latest ultimate crazy plan?" he asked no one in particular.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it were that," answered Bumblebee. "But it's still worrying."
"'Bee, buddy… Megatron's always worrying," answered Jazz absently as he read the information on screen.
"We have no information about those plasma beams' origin," answered Prowl, ignoring the other Autobot's chat. "But this is worrying because its coordinates are the same Skyfire's last location."
"Well, certainly it's alarming…But 'Fire is a very big guy; he knows how to take care of himself. And if something bad happened, he would inform us about it," smiled Bumblebee. "He may be upset because that fiasco the other day, but I don't think he still angry."
"That's not the problem, Bumblebee," responded (No question was asked in the previous sentence, hence the change.) Prowl, coldly. "The problem is some hours ago he departed carrying Prime and Wheeljack."
"What!?" exclaimed the yellow minibot turning his rounded helmet towards the police car. "But, why?…I thought Prime was here or making a visit to humans' governors somewhere."
"No, 'Bee." answered Jazz, getting serious as he used to do in these cases. "The problem is Skyfire, Prime and 'Jack are near the place where those beams appeared right now. And that's worrying all right."
"I see," mused Bumblebee. "But, what do we do? We don't know what's going on."
"And those readings are amazing," added Jazz as his big blue optic flashed. "Certainly if there were be a problem, we already would know, but if they're dealing with such firepower, I think we should move first."
Prowl and Jazz exchanged looks; after working together for vorns, they both had learned how to tell what the other was thinking, so they needn't long chats to know what to say.
"We are going to that archipelago, the Canary Islands," announced Prowl, "So, Bumblebee…"
"Yes?"
"Gather the twins, Ironhide, and Perceptor and Ratchet here. We'll need them." ordered the "policeman".
"And me?" asked Bumblebee.
"Youcan come too, but after you bring them here, buddy." smiled Jazz mischievously.
"I knew it." breathed the minibot as he walked off into a corridor, waving his arms and muttering something under his breath than seemed to be some Iacon dialect.
When Bumblebee was gone, Jazz turned towards Prowl with an unusual serious look, and said, "I can see why you requested Perceptor's presence, surely he knows something. But I don't know if gathering scientist and warriors in the same team is a wise idea."
"Neither do I," answered Prowl turning his gaze to Jazz for first time since his arrival, "But obviously this is related to the blue seeker, and such powerful beam may be the thing than worried Prime so much. We need them both."
"Ok, let's go ahead." sighed Jazz, "But, how can we get there?… Omega Supreme isn't here, neither is Skyfire and the Aerialbots aren't going to carry us on their backs." Jazz made a face, "I wouldn't allow Silverbolt carry me."
"TC, wait!" exclaimed Skywarp as the rest of the Decepticons prepared for a new.and improvised, mission after Megatron ordered the Decepticons forces to move out because the recent events.
Skywarp knew he wasn't as smart or as clever as Starscream, but he had a sharp mind and he noticed things that perhaps others didn't; it had become a quite a useful tool for playing pranks on others because Skywarp knew exactly what to do and what to say to tease them. He was also among Megatron's most loyal followers, and since he was an elite seeker, it kept others from messing with him. That was one of the reasons why he enjoyed teasing Starscream that much; that and the fact that the Air Commander was very sensitive about comments of his persona.
But now he was worried. He knew Thundercracker, perhaps his closest friend in the Decepticon Army, was involved in something worrying; and he also had the feeling thanks to his tendency to observe others, he was hiding some facts. Skywarp was aware of the blue seeker's doubts regarding Megatron's procedures and even the Decepticons' cause itself… something the black and purple seeker couldn't understand because he believed that Megatron was always right. But over the vorns Skywarp had learned that Thundercracker wouldn't dare to oppose anyone outright, Skywarp's presence also helped Thundercracker to keep himself in line. The proof of his influence was Thundercracker belonged to the seeker elite force, just like Skywarp and even that yellow-eyed coward called Thrust.
So, what was wrong with him now?
"TeeeCeee!" he called him again in a hushed voice.
The blue seeker stopped to recharge his sonic bombs and turned towards his friend, who rushed towards him, discretely. Finally, Skywarp was close enough for speaking confidentially.
"Ok, TC…" he began, "I know you told them the truth…. But I also know you're hiding something. What is it?"
"Is it so noticeable?" inquired the blue seeker; trying to speak in a low voice in spite his was really strong.
"For me, yes." answered Skywarp. "For Soundwave it probably is too… but he's hiding something too."
Thundercracker sighed, put a new pack of sonic bombs into his torso's compartment, and glanced around trying to look carefree. Then, he grabbed Skywarp by one of his shoulders shoulders and dragged him out of the armaments room; his gesture would have been more dramatic if the blue seeker had grabbed Skywarp by his wings but that was a quite an offensive gesture and the seekers avoided doing it. Whatever the reason, Skywarp wasn't offended because Skywarp was hoping TC would pull him aside so they could talk
Once Thundercracker was sure he and Skywarp were alone, he began to talk. "Yes, I hid information," he confessed.
"I know… but why?" asked Skywarp, confused.
"Because I've noticed something is wrong here," explained the blue seeker. "I don't know about that scary plasma beam, and frankly… I don't like the idea of having to deal with such firepower. But I know the new Starscream, or 'Starscream-B' as Soundwave calls him now… isn't what we think he is."
"…What we think?" inquired Skywarp, "TC… don't tell me he got you involved up in one of his schemes!" snorted Skywarp.
"Me?.. Of course not!" replied Thundercracker. "We all know the ol' Screamer, I don't think he can lie to us as he did in the past, and I think he's pretty sure of that and he knows his crazy schemes don't work anymore. Haven't you noticed he's has been very quiet lately?"
"Perhaps…except for the fact that he never stops teasing Megatron almost as if he were suicidal." agreed Skywarp. "But that doesn't explain why you're listening to him."
"I'm not listening to him. I just think 'Starscream-B' is not like 'Starscream-A'" spat back Thundercracker.
"Which one is which? They're the same," teased Skywarp with an innocent look.
"You know what I mean!"
"Precisely… that's why I don't understand what's wrong with you and that Screamer," reasoned Skywarp. "Why do you put yourself in danger by covering for him?"
"I'm not covering for him at all…" Thundercracker responded, feeling offended. "I'm just saying he isn't like the ol' Screamer we all love and hate."
"Ok, ok!...but why?" replied back the purple seeker, unable to understand his friend's reasoning.
"I talked with him… and I noticed some of his personality traits," answered Thundercracker patiently. "Certainly he is like our Screamer: he has a temper, he's a fast flyer and he can barely keep his vocalizer shut."
"But…?"
"He has an honour code, 'Warp," affirmed Thundercracker. "I've been observing him all these days, and I've noticed he doesn't like hurt humans, for example."
Skywarp's optics widened, "That's nonsense, even if it's true." The purple seeker never thought a Decepticon could pity humans.
"Perhaps… but apparently he has a thing for humans," answered the blue seeker. "Perhaps humans are different in his reality and he values their lives because of that," he ventured.
"But that's not a reason for being honourable," replied Skywarp.
"'Warp, is not that… I mean he doesn't lie, or cheat, or get his wing mates involved in crazy plans. I could see he was truly impressed and disgusted when I told him his counterpart here has tried to blow up Earth several times."
"In short you're saying you don't like that Megatron is bringing us to stop the foreign Starscream from whatever he's doing," snorted Skywarp. "You like this Screamer and you think he's a nice guy because he doesn't act like our Commander."
"I don't mean that!" snorted Thundercracker, "I'm not going to puss myself against you… I just think Megatron is being unfair to him just because of an assumption about that plasma blast's origin. And the only thing we're going to do is getting all us slagged." He prophesied.
"And a supposition is what moves you right now, TC," replied Skywarp softly. "Listen, TC… even if the 'Starscream-B' is nothing like our Commander, the fact is, as far as Laserbeak can tell, they're both playing around on those islands, and you already saw the consequences."
"…The plasma blast," announced Thundercracker.
"Indeed…. And it's our duty to find out what's going on," Skywarp paused. "If we find that the new Starscream isn't a threat but that he was acting for the sake of the Decepticons' cause, then Megatron will go easy on him."
Thundercracker sighed at Skywarp's blind loyalty towards their leader; he wasn't able to see the truth or even understand that perhaps there were other possibilities. Thundercracker questioned Megatron's sense of justice because, as far as he was concerned, the Decepticon Leader only wanted some lame excuse to impart "justice", and that usually meant blowing people up. In spite the blue seeker didn't like his Commander, he knew the beating he got from Megatron any days ago was totally unfair: it wasn't Starscream's fault Megatron got shot by that Skyfire mech… and he also knew Starscream's counterpart thought the same and he felt revolted by what he saw. For the blue seeker, it was amazing how simple things were for his wing mate.
"Now, let's finish reloading our weapons, and then let's go." He smiled, patting one of the Thundercracker's blue wings softly with a purple hand, nothing serious just a friendly gesture.
"Perhaps you're right," sighed the blue seeker. "But before grounding him or something… I think I'd like for him to tell me about my counterpart in his universe."
"What?" exclaimed Skywarp, turning towards his friend.
"I think he knows my counterpart," answered Thundercracker. "I noticed his reaction when we were introduced… Perhaps I'm a good boy there."
"TC… we need to settle down this once and for all." Skywarp sighed as they both came out the little corridor. "You're too interested in that universe's stuff."
"…Maybe."
Unaware of his two seeker officers' discussion, Megatron had a meeting with Soundwave in a recharge room along side the one his troops were using.Usually this room wasn't used and it was small, on one of the walls was ornamented with a little communications terminal. Megatron had cornered Soundwave there, the Decepticon leader wasn't use to questioning his Communicators Officer, but that was exactly what he planned on doing. The big silver-grey mech knew nothing here was coincidental. Megatron was a smart warrior, although his ego could easily blind him, so he had figured out Soundwave's motives in keeping an eye on the new Starscream wasn't something casual, but that the indigo mech had some powerful reasons because he knew something no one else did. Even if it was out of loyalty to the cause, Megatron didn't like the idea of his ranking officers making decisions without informing him…. especially if they were related to very powerful plasma beams.
"Don't lie to me, Soundwave," he said menacingly. "What do you know?… I am quite sure you have been spying on this Starscream since he arrived here."
"Affirmative," answered Soundwave, his monotone voice hid his fear of Megatron's fury. "Events needed a closer observation."
Megatron snorted in disappointment; he didn't normally scowl at Soundwave, his officer was loyal and pragmatic, but Megatron had hoped for more of a response from him, even if it was fear. Soundwave was very much alike Shockwave in that sense: they both used logic too much, it made it hard to read their reactions... was frustrating.
"And why didn't you inform me?" he demanded to know.
"Events were a hypothesis I formulated." answered the indigo mech, knowing he was safe if he kept his mind cold. "More information was required to make a reliable evaluation."
Megatron meditated on what the cassette host has just said, "What do you know?" he asked, finally. "What do you know aside from what the new Starscream explained to us?"
Soundwave felt uneasy and his big and red optic flashed oddly; he evaluated what to say, none of the answers was convincing enough to calm Megatron' suspicions towards him, or for making the hypotesis interesting.
"He isn't alone," he answered finally. "There is somebody else with him."
"What?" exclaimed Megatron, "I haven't seen anybody else with him… Are you trying to make up a story?"
"Negative. His companion's identity is unknown…this was found out because he talks with somebody else when he's alone."
"So… He is in contact with somebody else, right?"
"Affirmative," answered Soundwave. "And Starscream-A knows his contact, too."
Megatron step back as he reflected on Soundwave's explication; even if Soundwave had acted non his own, he had a good reason so Megatron couldn't punish the Communications Officer for it, in fact the Communications Officer might be the only one who had noticed Starscream-B's unknown friend, and the indigo mech had tried to persuade him of keeping an eye on the new Starscream. Now, the problem was finding the new Starscream's friend, somebody who surely his Air Commander also knew.
In Megatron's mind, this could only mean treason.
Suddenly the screen on the wall switched on and both Decepticons turned their attention towards it, waiting for some image or a transmission from one of his troops, but nothing happened. Transformers' technology was far more advanced than humans' technology so it wasn't likely that the screen was malfunctioning, somebody had to turn it on.
"Megatron here," the Decepticon Leader said to the screen terminal in rough voice. "Respond!" he demanded.
But nothing happened; there was only static, then a ghostly face started to appear on the screen.
"What is this?" exclaimed Megatron. "Is Shockwave trying to contact us?" he wondered aloud voice.
Soundwave, however, felt uneasy. He couldn't read a person's mind by image alone, but when that face appeared on the screen, he felt a very strong and nauseating presence. Megatron, meanwhile, waited for a clear transmission and he typed something in the console trying to tune into the image; the screen flickered a few times before the finally image became clear and they both gasped: it was an unknown face, not Shockwave's.
Megatron remained quiet, a scowl on his face as he looked at the unknown mech on the screen, waiting some explanation. He noticed that Soundwave's big, red optic flashed nervously and he step back, a very uncommon reaction from his Communications officer. What was wrong with him? The Decepticon Leader turned back towards the screen, even if the image wasn't totally clear, he could see the mech's facial features and they weren't anything unusual: it was a masked mech with red optics and big horn-like structures at both sides of his helmet (which were surely related with his alternative form.There seemed to be resemblance to that Ninja Robot he used once some years ago, Nightbird, but this face was masculine, not feminine.
"Megatron," said the mech in an unpleasant voice, which was as distorted as the speaker's image. "There is an urgent matter you must take care of."
"What?" exclaimed the Decepticon Leader, he didn't like the way that mech addressed to him.
"You must stop him," said the unknown mech.
"Who are you?" the big, silver-grey mech demanded to know, he felt like he was being ordered to do something and he didn't like that. Besides that, it seemed like Soundwave was trembling?
"No time for explanations," said the masked mech. "You must stop Starscream, both of them."
"I know that!" sneered the Decepticon Leader. "But who're you and how dare you to talk to me like that?"
"No time for explanations," the mech replied again, "the Autobots are there, too."
Megatron growled, torn between acting on the urgency of stopping both Starscreams and the Autobots and of rebuking this soldier for such an unceremonious warning. "I'll do it… But later, you will answer me. That's an order."
"You have my word," answered the mech, his voice loaded with joy, his image faded away as fast as it had arrived.
THUD! Megatron's fist hit the console when the screen turn off.
"How can I win a war if my own troops still acting freely?" he wondered with harsh voice. "I'll find that trooper and I'll teach him some manners… How dare he order me like that?" Then, he turned towards the Communications Officer, "What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"Megatron… Events are worrying."
"I know, but what happened?"
"The unknown mech is…." He hesitated, making Megatron feel even more uneasy, "Untruthful."
"You know him?" asked Megatron, confused by Soundwave's unusual reaction.
"No. He doesn't register in my data banks," answered Soundwave, trying hard to seem calm.
"And you know we cannot trust in him from an image transmission alone?" asked Megatron, confused.
"Affirmative," answered Soundwave, still feeling uneasy. "I could sense his mind from his image. It isn't among my skills."
Megatron's mouth opened when he realized what his Communications officer was trying to say: if Soundwave was unable to read minds from an image only, then…how could him to feel this unknown mech's mind? It didn't make sense, but it also explained why Soundwave seemed to be in a state of shock, even if the indigo mech was trying to cover that fact up. Whoever hat masked mech was (a Decepticon judging by his red optics); he seemed to be really unusual.
"Let's settle this once and for all," ordered Megatron turning towards the room's entrance. "Later, I'll deal with that foulmouthed mech, whoever he is." He swore as he exited the room.
Soundwave had to use all of his willpower to remain on his feet to keep from collapsing on his knees until Megatron left the room.
"Unicron…" he murmured.