(Untitled)

[midnightspook]

In the undersea Decepticon base known as Terradessa-1, room C-136 lies empty and still, like many other rooms along this corridor. The whole of the base is more deserted than inhabited, and this room, like it's neighbor C-135, though technically assigned, usually stands empty

Comments

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing's wings seem to hunch up, and he sits abruptly on the other berth.

"Wasn't exactly posted to the Nemesis because I was that good," Duskwing says, scowling. There's embarrassment shading his voice, and he doesn't meet Blackstar's gaze.

"The Autobots launched before everything was quite ready, see, so Megatron had to grab whoever was available to fill out the crew, right then," he says. "That was one crazy-aft launch--they hadda pump fuel and run supplies in and finish bolting parts on and get troops on board all at once, stuff you don't do 'cause it ain't slaggin' safe, but there wasn't no time to do it right, 'cause Prime had already launched the Ark..."

"Was amazing luck somebody didn't drop a spanner and spark off all the rocket fuel!" Duskwing shakes his head. "Would have been a lousy way to end the war--Megatron and all of us goin' BOOM 'cause Scavenger dropped a spanner or somethin'."

"So my unit had been pulled back to the shipyard for refitting after the last attack on Iacon, and I was all refitted already, and right there, so I got drafted. And that is how I ended up flyin' on the Nemesis." Duskwing's wings droop a bit more. "Megatron didn't actually know me from Maccadam, to tell the truth. I don't usually admit that, though."

Duskwing looks up as Blackstar talks about friends, and then the Allspark. Something brightens a tiny bit in those spectral optics; he regards Blackstar wistfully.

"I don't know how to get there," he says forlornly... but somewhere in the depths of his spark, there's just the faintest hint of hope.

[midnightspook]

Blackstar is... frightened.

Perhaps it's the natural solidarity inspired by sharing the same relative state, however, he has come to think of the other spirit as his friend. Duskwing's depression pulls at him, all but demanding to be rectified. Blackstar is certain that he could show Duskwing the way, he just isn't sure he could resist returning there himself.

He knows this loneliness, though, in his own way, and it... it hurts to see Duskwing like this.

// Commander? Are you busy? //

[attair_al_fada]

// That depends on your definition of busy. I'm busy watching Skyfire run data sets through a computer, and busy having my fried electronics put back together. Other than that, not very. Why? //

[midnightspook]

// Fried electronics? // there's a moment of quiet confusion, before memory reasserts itself and Blackstar sighs. // Ah. So that's what he was doing up there. //

He's silent for a moment as he tries to organize his thoughts. Duskwing won't thank him for giving too much away, he guesses, but some xplanation is due, and Blackstar didn't trust anyone else either to understand this, or... well, to just trust them.

// Duskwing needs a guide, I think. He's... drifting. //

[attair_al_fada]

A long silence. //What's happened?//

( And what is happening in the long silences at Starscream's end? That will be recounted elsewhere )

[midnightspook]

// We're talking, Commander, and he's... // Blackstar's voice trails off as he looks for the words.

// Look, you've got Skyfire and the Decepticons to look after. I've got Strata, // he observes, trusting that Skyfire would have passed on the night's events from his own perspective. // He's got a statue of his own slagged shell named "Stupidity in Blue". And it may be a pain in the aft most of the time, but we've still got the Allspark. //

// He's lonely and he's drifting, Commander, and I don't know if I'm strong enough to show him the way. Not without help. // Maybe not even with help, but wingmates shouldn't leave their own behind.

[attair_al_fada]

//I see. I'll be right there. //

( And Starscream looks over at Skyfire with an expression of both regret and longing, for what he must do is going to grieve the shuttle immensely... unless Skyfire can believe.

Skyfire. His vocalizer is still under repairs, but not that other voice no mortal force can touch.

The strained tone of his spectral voice catches Skyfire's attention immediately; he steps over from his computer and looks down at Starscream, concern in his face. "What's wrong?"

Take care of me, Skyfire. I'll be back--I promise you that! I have to go for a bit; the Air Commander is needed; duty and more calls.

Blue optics widen; "Starscream! No!"--but it is already too late as an empty shell collapses to the berth.)

The spectral form of Starscream steps out of the ether in C-136; Blackstar's compartment has a full trine now.

I'm here! Skyfire is going to have seven kinds of fit over what I just pulled, though.

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing stares blankly at Starscream for a long moment, then gives him a puzzled scowl.

"Commander?" Still, there's that hint of hope in his voice.

[midnightspook]

Blackstar glances at the rather disembodied form Starscream is sporting and covers a wince; Skyfire isn't going to be pleased, no. Probably no more than Strata would be, if she had any idea what hare-brained ideas are percolating in the memory of Blackstar's CPU.

I'll apologize to him for calling you away when everything's sorted.

"I called him. I thought he could help," Blackstar replies simply.

[attair_al_fada]

Starscream takes a long look at Duskwing, seeing more than the spectral Seeker form. He sees the wan, faded spark of a lost spirit, a loner who has been alone too long. Duskwing is weaker than he knows.

He feels the fear constricting Duskwing's will, holding him back--Starscream knows that fear too well. It was his, once upon a time. Fear of ending, fear of everything being done and over, fear of his life's efforts wasted in a futile flight to oblivion.

In losing that fear, and everything it drove, all the lesser fears, and the anger at everything that thwarted him from staving off that oblivion--

It changed him. Irrevocably and drastically. Many of the Decepticons he fought beside would not recognize him now. They'd wonder who dared to re-program the infamous red and blue Seeker. Starscream would not know this Air Commander.

"You are correct. I can help. Duskwing... you've been away a long time. I know the way. Are you ready?"

Megatron would lock up a CPU if he saw me like this! When did I get so responsible? ....I am the Air Commander. I lead.

[midnightspook]

Blackstar lacks the depth of Starscream's perception, or perhaps he just lacks the experience to understand it yet. He'd just known that Duskwing was hurting in a way that he could almost fix... more assuredly if he'd been prepared to have been finished here.

Which is why he bites back a swift protest as he turns to regard Starscream.

Commander... I know the way, too, and you're stronger than I am. You don't leave the weakest part as your anchor, and Skyfire won't thank me if... if I call you away to there.

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing looks from one to the other, his mouth set in a puzzled scowl.

"What do I need to do to be ready?" he asks suspiciously. He stares at Blackstar--what's the black Seeker getting all tense about?

[attair_al_fada]

Starscream stares at the back of Duskwing's head for a while before giving up and drumming his fingers against his other arm to get the other ghost's attention. As insubstantial as they may be to the living hereabouts, the three ghosts are quite substantial to each other--though shapes are mutable.

This is not like calling the air command to assist; there is no anchor, just a journey--a journey we have both made before. Duskwing should have made it on his own, but he got stuck and went astray. Someone has to lead him back. I am Air Commander; it's my job to lead. He gives Blackstar a wry smirk. Besides, I promised Skyfire I'd be back.

When Duskwing finally turns his head to see why Starscream is so silent, Starscream tells him, "Not much. Just pay attention."

[guardianseeker]

//Commander?//

There was the soft, somewhat confused voice of Jet, who had just found himself in one of the halls of the Undersea base and who was currently staring at one of the ventilation ducts that quivered as something skittered through and then shook as something bigger gave chase.

The Allspark needed to give him some… y’know, instructions when he got called out. Doing things on the wing was all well and good but the young Seeker would appreciate a little guidance once in a while.

//Is there anything you need me to do for you, sir?// Jet wandered towards the grouping of spirits, intently looking out for anything that could be amiss and explain why he was summoned to this place. //The Allspark’s telling me that there’s someone here that needs a hand.//

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing's head suddenly turned and he looked past the doors of the closed compartment at the bright presence stalking down the hall. He gave it a puzzled, wondering look.

"Whoa, who's that?"

[0ut_of_sight]

Poor Jet. First time aboard the Undersea Base and he didn't have a map with him. Perhaps it's just as well that the mech who now considers himself to be in charge of said Undersea Base happens to wander around the corner at exactly that moment.

Echoshift pauses on his way back to his room, having spent the last few hours laying waste to imaginary targets in the simulator room. (It wasn't quite the same as the real thing, but in these times of Truces and so on, a Decepticon had to make do with whatever outlet is available to him if he wasn't to go crazy from sitting around all day and doing nothing.) He blinks at the white and blue semi-transparent shape standing in the middle of the corridor. A white and blue semi-transparent shape who looked like he could use directions.

"Hey. You been here before? You look kinda lost."