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Falling to Darkness -SG

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Starscream's mission to find a tactical advantage against Optimus Prime encounters a turn he had hoped to prevent in the Shattered Glass universe.


Falling to Darkness



Small mechanical insects rummaged through the dirt on the plains. Although of a lower intelligence than the dominant species on the planet, the insects greatly outnumbered their Cybertronian superiors. Dawn had broken across the plain and a new day had begun. However, as they gathered energy from discarded components and unfurled their solar panels, the ground began to tremble. They retreated underground when the rumble grew to a deafening scream.

The formation of Cybertronian aircraft skimmed the surface, full throttle, completely unaware of the simple life they had interrupted. Mere meters above the ground,  they flew below the canyon walls in the ravines to avoid detection while their engines screeched on the threshold of mechanical failure. Breaking radio silence, Starscream prepped the squadron, "Decepticons, we have reached the Altihex data library. Transform and take cover near the outskirts of the complex."

As they did so, the largest member of the group broke away and sped past them, nearly clipping another's wing. "You cowards!" he gloated as he transformed and landed at the entrance of the enormously tall landmark. Bringing his weapon to bear, he did not look back at the group he had left behind.

Starscream had become increasingly frustrated by his actions but recently the Decepticon had become more blatant in his insubordination. Using the comm-link, Starscream ordered, "Jetfire, fall back to position." He only heard static in return. Switching to long-range opticals, he watched Jetfire enter the data library, gun drawn, and disappear. An infuriated growl escaped his modulator.

Dirge blurted, "He's going to blow the whole operation!"

Starscream sighed, lowering his head. In an effort to learn what had shattered the processors of Optimus Prime, Megatron had ordered investigations of every data library on Cybertron. Their war against the Autobots was faltering and they desperately needed an advantage. The Prime had been able to anticipate their movements and often they found only rubble upon arrival. From Nova Cronum to the Sonic Canyons they had found nothing. Jetfire had been assigned to study Autobot philosophy to find possible clues but had become erratic in the process. Dangerous. With each day that passed, he seemed to fall further away from Decepticon ideals. Altihex seemed an obscure objective but no area could be dismissed and Starscream had nearly burned out his afterburners reaching it.

Clenching his fist, Starscream directed, "We're going in as planned. We've come too far not to.  Consider Jetfire hostile but we must investigate. Thundercracker, Dirge; take the south entrance. Ramjet, Thrust; the west. Skywarp, you're with me." He checked his chronometer and turned up the sensitivity on his sensors before waving the mechs under his command to move forward.

The data libraries were ancient monuments.  As tall and magnificent as they were, two thirds of the structure was underground. Starscream and Skywarp approached the north entrance with weapons hot. Skywarp ran a sensor sweep and entered the building. Dimly lit inside, they carefully proceeded carefully around corners and down stairwells, floor by floor. There were so many dark rooms and corridors for mechs to be hiding in that it put each team member on high alert. Using the comm-link Starscream checked in on the other team's status, "Thundercracker, this is Starscream, report."

Static.

"Ramjet, Thrust?"

Nothing.

A brief scream pierced the air from above. It was Dirge! Scrambling up the narrow stairs Starscream shouted, "We're coming, Dirge! Tracking your position!" Then inot the comm-link he added, "Jetfire where are you?!" The slate material of the stairs made it hard to scramble up them quickly without slipping. Pressed against the outer circular wall, the steps were barely wide enough to accomodate the Seekers as they ascended single file.

"I've found him," came a garbled response.

"Jetfire?" Starscream asked.

"We're not alone, Starscream."

Barreling through corridors, Starscream and Skywarp entered a chamber where the other Decepticons were being held at gunpoint by Autobots. Locking onto a rifle trained on him with his optics, Starscream retracted his communications gear and lowered his weapons. Dirge was prostrate on the black marble floor, damaged. Concerned for his comrade, Starscream jumped to his aid asking, nearly screaming, "Dirge, are you functional?!"

From the shadows a violet figure emerged. His footfalls echoed off the chamber floor. Larger than the other Autobots, he spoke with a deep vocal processor, "He'll be fine. I would never kill a Cybertronian who may be willing to serve me."

"Release us, Optimus Prime. He needs medical attention," Starscream pleaded.

"I assure you he will be fine. He'll be tended to soon but it depends on you."

"Me? We're only here to find information we need to survive."

The Prime shook his head, "You run a fool's errand, Starscream. There's nothing to find here but the truth, but will you allow yourself to see it?"

"Cybertron was a planet of peace before you perverted our ideas and started murdering innocent mechanoids!"

"Innocents? You dare speak to me of innocents?" A mechanical insect flittered into the room and landed on a shelf, its antennae investigating the properties of its new perch. Optimus stepped over and plucked it up, allowing it to crawl on his alloy digits. He looked to the Decepticon Air Commander and continued, "I'm curing the cancer of this planet, Starscream. Our fallen leaders were innocent? With the economy faltering, education systems sub-standard and the emergence of new embers slowing to a trickle under them? They were murdering our people by not lifting a digit. Could no one see the maliciousness of their complacency? They would rather form alliances with off-worlders who would only soon subjugate us under their own terms when our own embers would be near to being extinguished. They would fill their coffers while the number of Empties grew. Would you rather see our society fall to attrition than demand a better world?"

"We had a better world, Optimus Prime!"   

"How can one so intelligent as yourself be so blind, Starscream? I just couldn't stand idly by any longer. Not one more astrosecond!" He clenched his fist, crushing the insect. Small metal fragments fell to the floor, their impacts forming a distorted, chaotic musical chime.

"You're mad!"

The Prime turned and stepped to the oval window of the chamber and continued, "You have followed Megatron's deviance for too long, commander. It is too clear now that he has purged all sense of reason from you. However, I am going to give you the same opportunity I give every Cybertronian. The freedom to choose. You will see the errors of your ways if-"

"Never!"

"-you join me." Optimus Prime turned around and met Starscream's optics. Walking over to him he kneeled so he was optic level with the white and red Decepticon, "It may be too late for you Starscream, but perhaps your subordinates are not so blinded. I will show them what Megatron doesn't want them to see. Let them speak for themselves. Are you afraid of how they will answer?" Standing again, he gave Starscream one last look before turning on his heel. Gesturing toward the captives, Optimus proceeded, "Decepticons, this offer goes to any of you in this room. If you are ready for the veil to be lifted from your optics, if your audio receptors will listen to what I have to tell you, I will accept you. Who among you is ready to join the Autobot Imperium? Who among you are ready for the truth?"

Silence crushed upon each mechanoid's audio receptors as they contemplated their choice.  The light breeze coming through the balcony manifested itself as a howling wind. Moments stretched to eons as Optimus met each prisoner's gaze. One Decepticon stepped forward, his Autobot captor eager to squeeze the trigger of his pistol. Prime motioned for the Autobot to lower his weapon and allow the Decepticon to come closer. The Autobot leader watched the prisoner, closely monitoring his body language.

  Reluctantly at first, the hulking robot took a few more steps forward, his confidence in his decision becoming more apparent with each footfall, and kneeled before the Prime. His knuckles on the floor, he kept his head low until the Prime placed his palm on the Decepticon's shoulder in acknowledgment.

The Prime looked down upon his new disciple and praised, "Yes, I suspected there would be one brave enough to heed the call of truth. To look through the mask of lies. The only shame is there are not more of you."

Raising his head and glaring at Starscream, Jetfire announced, "I will join you, Optimus Prime."
Falling to Darkness by G. Donaldson

Starscream's mission to find a tactical advantage against Optimus Prime encounters a turn he had hoped to prevent in the Shattered Glass universe.

Okay so it's typical Jetfire fare, but it's still fun.

More Shattered Glass stories here- [link]

Transformers copyright HasbroTakara.
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Hi! I like your SG!Starscream and SG!Skyfire, Would you mind if I translate it into Chinese? I promise I never use it for any business purpose, and your right are all reserved, you can demand me delete your story from my blog and bbs anytime you like.
Thanks a lot!