Part 14 – Epilogue
The next few weeks past swiftly and silently by the Transformers. The Decepticons had conducted several raids, two of which they were successful on, and the others they were not, to the annoyance of the fraction. But there was something that surprised them all, even the Autobots – Starscream and Megatron were working together.
The battle raged, and not even the great Optimus Prime was prepared for what his nemesis was about to pull. While they grappled on the ground, the Decepticon leader gave the signal to his Air Commander, and he jumped into the air and transformed, flying overhead and then dropped a cluster bomb straight at the two leaders. Optimus looked up and his optics widened, and in that brief moment of distraction, Megatron grinned evilly and grabbed onto the chain that Starscream had thrown down at that moment. He gave an arrogant wave to Optimus, who had by now turned back to him before he was wrenched up by the chain and pulled out of the firing range of the cluster bomb. But Optimus had not.
BOOM!
The flames spewed over the now drained oil plant, and the Autobots quickly grabbed Optimus up (who was badly injured by the bomb blast) to head out of there, while in the sky Megatron had let go of his chain to fly along side the red jet, who transformed back to robot mode to grin at him. The Decepticon leader grinned back, and everyone had noticed it.
***
That night, the last of the dying sun spread golden energy over the sea and shore. Underneath in the great base a party was being held for fun. They had got a huge amount of Energon from the raid, and they were happy indeed. Unlike the Autobot parties, which consisted of sissy talking and a few little drinks, the Decepticons had a wild spree in the lot of them that could not be quelled. While some sat and had a chat (very few) some cheered on the tussles on the small battle area. Others danced to the music, and a smaller number sat around the bar and got totally cratered in.
However, being as aloof as he was; liking to be alone for times to think, was Starscream. He sat outside in the golden rays, absorbing the warmth into his body for later. The light made him appear to glow on the cliff, and he loved the feeling of the space and tranquillity of the land around him. He always hated being indoors, like any flying creature would, but unlike his other flying comrades, he liked senary too. His optics were off as he sat with one leg swinging over the edge, while the other was tucked under his left thigh. His hands rested behind him, and his wings were folded back a bit.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned. He got a surprise when he saw it was Skywarp.
“You’re bloody crazy, you know that?” He said by way of welcome.
“Why Skywarp,” The red seeker started with a sly grin. “If I didn’t know that I would be one very strange individual.”
“You’re telling me.” The teleported replied, and sat down next to his leader, looking over the waters and observing the surrounds. “But I never give up hope that you might turn sane one day.”
“Oh really?” Starscream mocked. “I would hate to think what a real crazy person was like if I’m crazy.”
Skywarp chuckled, and they both lapsed into silence. They watched over the rapidly falling sun for a while before Starscream turned to Skywarp and said, “So how come you came out here?”
The black seeker looked at his feet for a moment, and then said in an aggravated tone, “Thundercracker made me come out. He said I needed to talk to you.”
“About what?” Starscream inquired.
“He said that …” He paused. “He said you have really made yourself to be someone to admire now. The way you sorted out your problems! And that fight … it’s really changed a lot of people’s opinions of you.”
But Starscream could sense that there were more reasons than that.
“And he also said that he really considered you a seeker now.” Skywarp finished with some amusement.
There was a moment of puzzled silence before both seekers were rolling with laughter.
***
Journal Log
September, ‘86
There
are some things in this world that are still puzzles to me even now. Even after
over ten million years of existence. Its true proof that no matter how long you
live, there are still some things that surprise you, baffle you, make you cry …
I
always looked on both sides of the argument when the time came, either as a
hobby or as a habit. With that in mind I came to realise many new things about
this world and myself, as well as the people around me. But nothing could’ve
made me learn more than this month. Nothing could’ve prepared me for the long
slog of tears and pain I endured to this moment had I had known it was going to
happen beforehand.
There
are some things that will never be changed, and there are some things that
will, but as I have learned from my time here on this tiny planet called Earth,
that the unexpected can be both a blessing and a curse. In this case, I think
it’s a mix of both …
I
don’t know what will happen between Megatron and myself,
or with Skyfire if peace were to ever return. Would I be able to cope with the
change? Yes, I believe I would. I love peace, but I also love war. I love the
peace from the olden times on Cybertron, but I also love the pains that I have
caused the Autobots in war.
And
then there’s them too …
My
brief stay, if it did anything at all, taught me one thing; there is still hope
for peace, and that one day Cybertron would become the civilisation it once
was. I know that someday I will be able to go back to my old ways, but there
will always be a time that I will go out and do some target practise to make
sure I had not lost my touch.
But,
even so … I wonder how some of the more war-bound Decepticons and Autobots
would cope?
And
more importantly … how would the great leaders cope?
Starscream sat back from the screen, and then archived his new entry. Someday soon he wanted to go home … be able to lay on his back and watch the stars he knew so well move slowly across the night sky … to be able to hear the sounds of the planet echo though the crust of metal …
If there was one thing about Starscream that - no matter how many hurts or changes prevailed over time – would change, it was his ability to dream.
***
May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home
Mornie utulie ([Quenya:] Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantie ([Quenya:] Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
May it be the shadow’s call
Will fly away
May it be your journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun
Mornie utulie ([Quenya:] Darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantie ([Quenya:] Darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now
Song – Enya – May it be (from the Lord of the Rings)
Continued to 'Journey'