Starscream takes the spectral weapons carefully from Auspex and studies them intently. "Well done, priestess!"
//Human mortality being what it is, they have a much greater obsession than we do with probing the boundaries of death and what lies beyond.// Starscream replies to his counterpart. There's something uncertain in the tone of the next thought from Starscream. //The worst of what was done to Blackstar... I have seen that procedure described in a book, the Kitab al-Azif. Though compiled and transcribed by humans in one of their languages, the knowledge is not of human origin. The mindset of the author is too alien to that short-lived race.//
Starscream lays the ghostly laser cannon alongside Blackstar's arms. "Now let's see about getting you repaired. You missed out on the happy fun time that was our marooning on Earth, but back before Shockwave got the space bridge operational and Megatron got his precious Constructicons back--I was the main repair technician for the entire Earth force. Rather fortunate for them that I was
Now Starscream is concerned. //We should talk about this when there's time on our journey,// he replies.
The other Starscream's mention of his repair experience is met with, "Funny, so was I. Along with Soundwave, but people didn't like being repaired by him for some strange reason." Starscream's inflection and smirk convey the idea of distrust towards Soundwave without outright speaking of it.
Blackstar had hoped that Starscream might have some recognition of the weapon that had bound him long enough for the Autobot to... He shudders. But Starscream's rather vehement and vocal reaction is a little more recognition than Blackstar had been expecting... and much more than he finds comfortable. Insofar as anything about this entire slagging mess could be considered with any level of comfort at all, that is.
Human lore. Human powers did this. Blackstar hasn't had much to do with the humans yet, but this requires a significant readjustment of perceptions if their powers are capable of affecting him this significantly.
It is, perhaps then, a good thing that he is not privy to Starscream's comments about the ritual used on him. It would be the height of adding insult to injury for Blackstar to know that this very ritual had been detailed in the very book he'd accquired for Starscream from Mindbender's properties
( ... )
Echoshift remains where he is, arms folded across his chest and standing just off to one side; but still close enough that he can see what's going on. He's not unobservant enough that he isn't able to guess there's a conversation going on somewhere that he's not privy to, and part of him can't help but feel annoyed at that. He didn't ask to be dragged into this whole mess, and he's already wondered whether it wouldn't have been better if he'd simply stayed at Terradessa-1. But now that he had been dragged in and now that he was involved... was it really so much to ask just to be clued in on what the slag was going on?
The half-puzzled, half-frustrated frown on his face deepens as he attempts to follow what is happening.
Starscream considers the weapons carefully, and then deploys his arm tools. It's not the material ones he's doing the work with--those simply look useful. The tools he's using can only be seen by himself, Blackstar, and his other self.
With almost exaggerated care, making sure Blackstar is aware of what he's doing every step of the way, Starscream begins to reattach the left arm cannon--splicing torn wires, re-shaping and welding the fractured swivel. Only when that's complete to his satisfaction does he re-mount the gun on Blackstar's arm.
"Ignoring everything else that's wrong, how's that gun and the mount point on your arm?" Starscream asks Blackstar.
It feels damn good to have that gun back in place. Less like a newly sparked turbofox kit could take him and more like he could actually do some damage. Not that he's likely to be strafing any servants of Chaos until the rest of his repairs are complete, but he's not so helpless anymore, and that feels better than almost anything else he can imagine.
He peers at the mount, lifting his arm to rotate the weapon a little as he feels it reconnect with him. A sliver of the pinched look leaves his features and he looks up at Starscream, nodding again.
"Solid. Clean. 'S good," he replies, a stronger note in the terse answer than he'd been able to muster before.
*Auspex moves to where Echoshift is, and pats his shoulder reassuringly* I'll explain what I can, when Blackstar's been put back together... for the rest, you will have to ask Starscream. *he may or may not answer questions about his own nature, but it's certainly not her place* But you came to Blackstar first, and I'm glad you did... it saved him that much more pain. Thank you. *With a little smile of reassurance, she turns to approach the berth*
*She watches for a moment; she still senses Blackstar's reaction to the chaos energy, and the memory of it. She can do something about that, but it won't do to get in the way of his arms, where Starscream is reattaching the guns. She finally settles for resting her fingers against one of his feet, giving him a somewhat apologetic glance, before resuming her commune with Primus; through her, he communicates soothing to Blackstar's spark, and continues to draw the darkness away.
It's probably a good thing that Auspex is giving attention to Echoshift, because Starscream certainly doesn't. He is absorbed in attaching Blackstar's other arm gun, his skillful movements almost eerily resembling that of the other Starscream.
The hint of increased strength in Blackstar is met with a brief approving look.
Auspex's work doesn't go unnoticed, but Blackstar is more preoccupied now with the return of his cleansed cannon. He offers her a brief look of relief before turning his attention back to the other Starscream and the work on his second weapon.
It's a curious sensation to feel that same deft touch completing the repairs on Blackstar's second arm-gun - if things weren't so dire, it might even feel almost decadent to be the recipient of such dualed attention. As it stands, it's primarily a relief and something deeper, more firey than relief to feel that second weapon slide back into its mount.
Crimson optics flare brighter as they study the second weapon, watching as it rotates smoothly on its mount. Even Blackstar's colors seem a fraction firmer, a hair less faded and more real as the cannon reconnects and sings through him. More subtle, something only a Decepticon is likely to note, the last of the pinched quality of his expression, the hunched angle of his wings, fades - no longer the vague air of a victim now rather than more
( ... )
Starscream studies Blackstar carefully, almost dispassionately, as if he were an experimental weapon that the red and blue Seeker needed to tweak to maximum power. He lays one hand on Blackstar's wounded chest.
"Priestess... Auspex, do you know the procedure for sealing a small area from unwanted external influences? A small area such as this room, to be specific," Starscream says.
//Sky, open a radio channel to myself and my other self--and keep it open. When you do, give me and my other self a streaming tactical feed. I'll return the favor. Starscream, you do the same. Sky is our anchor.Within seconds, Skyfire has opened the voice/data channel between the three of them, and started streaming tactical data to both Starscreams. It's pretty boring at the moment, reporting Skyfire's position (right there), velocity (none) and status (fine) on a continuous basis. Starscream sends the same tactical information back to Skyfire; it's a continuous reminder of each to the other, linking them--as they would be linked in exploring dangerous
( ... )
//Understood.// Starscream replies, and likewise opens a channel. There is nothing more said - when one has to rely on another in combat, the time for discussion is over, and this will be a battle of sorts, if not one that's fought on the material plane.
Trusting the other Starscream like this feels natural because that Starscream is him, his mirror image altered by but a few strokes; and trusting Skyfire feels natural because to do so is old habit, and as comfortable as only the familiar can be.
It's not exactly like the millions of years of separation are forgotten and Starscream simply falls back into relying on Skyfire like he'd never done anything else. No, it's knowing that even after that separation and the errors of judgement that followed it, he can rely on Skyfire. It's as comforting as that, though the word "comfort" seems too warm and cushy to describe that sense of trusting-each-other in all its simplicity. The connection between Starscream and Skyfire just isThe spectral once-Air Commander knows that if what his
( ... )
*Auspex looks thoughtful for a moment, trying to think of the best method for doing that* I think so, yes.
*She approaches the wall, but pauses as Starscream comms her, turning to stare at him warily* //What are you planning? I'll warn you that Primus only has limited influence over the Allspark. He was not at liberty to stop the imbalance before. There may be little I can do, if you attempt too much.//
"I am planning," Starscream says impatiently, "to restore Blackstar to his 'normal' self. To do that, I have to channel more of what was taken from him, back to him. And since that is not the sort of thing you just message Logistics and ask them to send over a few tankersful, I have to open a channel and ask nicely." Starscream's tone is very dry; he gives Auspex an impatient look.
*She just looks at him, for several moments. He might cause enough damage to the Allspark that it can imbalance again? And doesn't he risk merging Blackstar with the rest of the Allspark, effectively banishing him from this plane again? He and his counterpart... have Skyfire to hold them here, and she doubts he'll let them go easily, or vice versa, for that matter. But Blackstar..? She sighs. She doesn't know.*
*She turns to the wall, touches it, optics darkening, as she confers with Primus. All this doubt, anger, fear, sadness, she gives to him; he reminds her that she can trust him, even though she remains very much unsure of Starscream's planned procedure. She asks for protection on this room, as well as the people in this room, and protection for the Allspark, if possible
( ... )
Starscream exchanges glances with his counterpart, and then spreads his hands over Blackstar's immaterial torso, neatly bracketing the hole over his lasercore. Ruby optics narrow; that will have to be repaired before they are through--will the restoration of Blackstar's essence patch it, or will they have to find something to patch it with?
It's still there, that thread of the Allspark in his own spark--stronger, if anything, since his near-translation with the other Starscream. Starscream reaches into it, reaches for Blackstar's own bit of the Allspark--
And hits a barrier. Blackstar is resisting the touch of the Allspark or anyone through it. Starscream has a good guess as to why.
His turbines sigh. He's going to have to do this the hard way.
//Human mortality being what it is, they have a much greater obsession than we do with probing the boundaries of death and what lies beyond.// Starscream replies to his counterpart. There's something uncertain in the tone of the next thought from Starscream. //The worst of what was done to Blackstar... I have seen that procedure described in a book, the Kitab al-Azif. Though compiled and transcribed by humans in one of their languages, the knowledge is not of human origin. The mindset of the author is too alien to that short-lived race.//
Starscream lays the ghostly laser cannon alongside Blackstar's arms. "Now let's see about getting you repaired. You missed out on the happy fun time that was our marooning on Earth, but back before Shockwave got the space bridge operational and Megatron got his precious Constructicons back--I was the main repair technician for the entire Earth force. Rather fortunate for them that I was
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The other Starscream's mention of his repair experience is met with, "Funny, so was I. Along with Soundwave, but people didn't like being repaired by him for some strange reason." Starscream's inflection and smirk convey the idea of distrust towards Soundwave without outright speaking of it.
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Human lore. Human powers did this. Blackstar hasn't had much to do with the humans yet, but this requires a significant readjustment of perceptions if their powers are capable of affecting him this significantly.
It is, perhaps then, a good thing that he is not privy to Starscream's comments about the ritual used on him. It would be the height of adding insult to injury for Blackstar to know that this very ritual had been detailed in the very book he'd accquired for Starscream from Mindbender's properties ( ... )
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The half-puzzled, half-frustrated frown on his face deepens as he attempts to follow what is happening.
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With almost exaggerated care, making sure Blackstar is aware of what he's doing every step of the way, Starscream begins to reattach the left arm cannon--splicing torn wires, re-shaping and welding the fractured swivel. Only when that's complete to his satisfaction does he re-mount the gun on Blackstar's arm.
"Ignoring everything else that's wrong, how's that gun and the mount point on your arm?" Starscream asks Blackstar.
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He peers at the mount, lifting his arm to rotate the weapon a little as he feels it reconnect with him. A sliver of the pinched look leaves his features and he looks up at Starscream, nodding again.
"Solid. Clean. 'S good," he replies, a stronger note in the terse answer than he'd been able to muster before.
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*She watches for a moment; she still senses Blackstar's reaction to the chaos energy, and the memory of it. She can do something about that, but it won't do to get in the way of his arms, where Starscream is reattaching the guns. She finally settles for resting her fingers against one of his feet, giving him a somewhat apologetic glance, before resuming her commune with Primus; through her, he communicates soothing to Blackstar's spark, and continues to draw the darkness away.
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The hint of increased strength in Blackstar is met with a brief approving look.
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It's a curious sensation to feel that same deft touch completing the repairs on Blackstar's second arm-gun - if things weren't so dire, it might even feel almost decadent to be the recipient of such dualed attention. As it stands, it's primarily a relief and something deeper, more firey than relief to feel that second weapon slide back into its mount.
Crimson optics flare brighter as they study the second weapon, watching as it rotates smoothly on its mount. Even Blackstar's colors seem a fraction firmer, a hair less faded and more real as the cannon reconnects and sings through him. More subtle, something only a Decepticon is likely to note, the last of the pinched quality of his expression, the hunched angle of his wings, fades - no longer the vague air of a victim now rather than more ( ... )
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"Priestess... Auspex, do you know the procedure for sealing a small area from unwanted external influences? A small area such as this room, to be specific," Starscream says.
//Sky, open a radio channel to myself and my other self--and keep it open. When you do, give me and my other self a streaming tactical feed. I'll return the favor. Starscream, you do the same. Sky is our anchor.Within seconds, Skyfire has opened the voice/data channel between the three of them, and started streaming tactical data to both Starscreams. It's pretty boring at the moment, reporting Skyfire's position (right there), velocity (none) and status (fine) on a continuous basis. Starscream sends the same tactical information back to Skyfire; it's a continuous reminder of each to the other, linking them--as they would be linked in exploring dangerous ( ... )
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Trusting the other Starscream like this feels natural because that Starscream is him, his mirror image altered by but a few strokes; and trusting Skyfire feels natural because to do so is old habit, and as comfortable as only the familiar can be.
It's not exactly like the millions of years of separation are forgotten and Starscream simply falls back into relying on Skyfire like he'd never done anything else. No, it's knowing that even after that separation and the errors of judgement that followed it, he can rely on Skyfire. It's as comforting as that, though the word "comfort" seems too warm and cushy to describe that sense of trusting-each-other in all its simplicity. The connection between Starscream and Skyfire just isThe spectral once-Air Commander knows that if what his ( ... )
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*She approaches the wall, but pauses as Starscream comms her, turning to stare at him warily* //What are you planning? I'll warn you that Primus only has limited influence over the Allspark. He was not at liberty to stop the imbalance before. There may be little I can do, if you attempt too much.//
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*She turns to the wall, touches it, optics darkening, as she confers with Primus. All this doubt, anger, fear, sadness, she gives to him; he reminds her that she can trust him, even though she remains very much unsure of Starscream's planned procedure. She asks for protection on this room, as well as the people in this room, and protection for the Allspark, if possible ( ... )
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// Don't worry. He's not doing this for himself. That makes all the difference. //
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It's still there, that thread of the Allspark in his own spark--stronger, if anything, since his near-translation with the other Starscream. Starscream reaches into it, reaches for Blackstar's own bit of the Allspark--
And hits a barrier. Blackstar is resisting the touch of the Allspark or anyone through it. Starscream has a good guess as to why.
His turbines sigh. He's going to have to do this the hard way.
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