((And now for the "official" version to commence...))

[prankster_femme]

((This takes place as roughly the same time as this arc*Wingblade fumbles as she inputs the access code Steadfast gave her. She's shaking and the air is hitching in her cycling systems, though she's physically undamaged. Once the door slides open she throws herself in and onto the berth, then opens a comm to Steadfast, her voice breaking

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[lavender_wings]

Receiving the message, Steadfast instantly knows what Wingblade means by 'gone'. This is what she's been dreading - Wingblade's parents' fate catching up with them. That it's not her universe's Skywarp and Thundercracker this time doesn't make it any less real, but despite the shock that's spearing her spark, Steadfast is oddly calm. As fatalistically calm as one can only be when a long-expected catastrophe arrives. The wait is over.

//Stay where you are, I'm coming!// is the only thing she comms back to Wingblade. All else, she knows she'll have to deal with in person. She hurries to her quarters as fast as she can, having a hunch that Wingblade would be there.

And there she is.

[prankster_femme]

Mama! *When she catches sight of Steadfast, she throws herself at the other femme, clinging for all she's worth as sobs wrack her body.*

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast takes hold of her in an almost painfully tight embrace, not speaking at first - she suspects that Wingblade wouldn't be in any condition to answer. Instead, she tries to comfort and anchor the Seekerling through her physical presence, as if tying something to a firm object to keep it from getting blown away in a storm.

[prankster_femme]

*She clings to Steadfast like a lifeline. With both her Daddy and Fathy gone, Mama is the only parent she has left. She continues to sob--the pain is too fresh, to intense.*

[lavender_wings]

It's still not the time for words - or for much at all other than letting Wingblade weather out this barrage of grief. Steadfast continues to hold Wingblade close, very tentatively stroking her shoulders and air intakes in an attempt to soothe her.

[prankster_femme]

*It does no visible good, the young Seeker continuing to sob so hard it shakes her entire frame.*

[lavender_wings]

Seasoned Decepticon warrior or not, stoic or not, a part of Steadfast is becoming decidedly scared, fleetingly wondering if it was possible to sob oneself to death. She grabs Wingblade by the arms, a harsh grip born not from cruelty, but from sheer desperation. "Wingblade! Wingblade, look at me!"

More gently, she adds, "I'm here. I'm here."

[prankster_femme]

*Unable to disobey, she looks up at Steadfast, her pain practically etched on her face* I know you're here Mama, but they aren't! *Sobs continue to wrack her body, even though she tries to keep optic-contact with Steadfast.*

[lavender_wings]

Now that Wingblade is looking at her, Steadfast asks, in a firm, calm voice that she hopes will get through to Wingblade, "I know. What happened?" She has an idea, of course, but she wants to confirm a few things, not to mention that speaking about it might help Wingblade to get on the path to dealing with it.

[prankster_femme]

*Air hitches every so often as it cycles through her systems, and she begins to talk.* M-Megatron took them an' the other Elites to attack the Autobots on Earth an'... an' they just got back an'... *her voice cracks* Daddy an' Fathy were gone!

[lavender_wings]

"So you came here just after they got back, yes? Did Starscream... has he already been crowned?" If what Steadfast is gathering from Wingblade's answer is true, the young Seeker hasn't yet faced Unicron. And if she has any say in it, Wingblade never will. At the mention of Starscream, Steadfast finds it hard to keep a surge of emotion out of her voice - just because she found a kind of closure with one Starscream, doesn't mean she doesn't feel an instant, fierce flare of hate at this other Starscream. Assuming a basic similarity of events between universes, he is to be held to blame for the pain Wingblade is now going through.

[prankster_femme]

*Sniffles* I dunno, Mama... I was in class, 'cause they just started up again, an' class was halted for the announcement an' they only got through saying Megatron an' Daddy an' Fathy were dead when I left. I dunno any more. *Shakes, clinging to Steadfast.*

[lavender_wings]

That did mean 'no Unicron yet'. Steadfast holds Wingblade tight, as if wanting to protect her from all the world. "Stay here, Wingblade. Whatever else you do, stay here with me." If Wingblade's clinging is any indication, she would do just that even without being told to, but Steadfast says the words anyhow, so important is the matter to her.

[prankster_femme]

I don't wanna go, Mama! *Whimpers, nestling close* Daddy an' Fathy aren't there...

[lavender_wings]

Steadfast makes a pained noise somewhere in her throat. "I know," she chokes out. "I know." She gathers Wingblade close, cuddling her frantically, both to comfort her and to help herself hold back what wants out... to no avail. Clutching Wingblade to her chest so hard that her cockpit hurts from the pressure - and barely noticing that pain - Steadfast looks up and shrieks out a cry of anguish and rage, like she did on that day in the Summer of 2005.

[prankster_femme]

*Wingblade mimics Steadfast's cry with one of her own, clinging just as tightly to her. After it, she starts to sob once more, not even noticing the pain from being held and holding so tightly.*