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Ambrosia	By : CGH Category: Transformers > Beast Wars Views: 4288 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers: Beast Wars, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Part 1
- 2-Part 2
- 3-Part 3
- 4-Part 4
- 5-Part 5
- 6-Part 6
- 7-Part 7
- 8-Part 8
- 9-Part 9
- 10-FINALE
- 9
- 10
Cybertron hadn't changed much in a century, but Starscream wasn't paying attention to the view. He stood in a darkened room barely large enough to accommodate a recharge berth, let alone the desk wedged into one corner. A figure was slumped over the desk, which looked crammed with archeology equipment and data pads. Everything had been arranged in piles, so while the desk was full, it wasn't messy.
One data pad held a partially composed personal log entry. Starscream picked it up.
Day 43 - 500, 0100 hours--
Unbelievable news! The tunnels beneath Cybertron's surface aren't just a legend! I walked one myself less than an hour before I sat down to write this. It's fantastic...the walls are covered in ancient texts that I can't wait to translate. I'm sure the remains of the first Cybertronians are located somewhere within those tunnels.
I also wonder, foolishly, if the texts contain answers to the mysterious Mini-Con rapture I witnessed yesterday. I have never seen anything like it! Every Mini-Con stopped in their tracks, looked towards the east and sang a mysterious song…and then they all collapsed in the throes of a sexual overload. All at once at exactly the same time. Now they seem to be waiting for something. But what?
Bah, I'm not sober enough to think about this. I know, I know, habitual over energizing on cheap energon is bad for the fuel cells...but if I don't drink, I think, and if I think I fall back into depression...Optimus can keep me away from the cubes, however, when he isn't here, I have no desire NOT to drink. So here I am in my own personal Pit, drowning my sorrows. I can't even decide yet whether or not I want to participate in Cyclonus and Demolishor's ninety-ninth bonding anniversary party. They are so happy together--my presence is more likely to spoil the celebration than add to it. Perhaps I shouldn't go. I'll send an apology--say that I'm mired in work. They'll understand.
...I can not stop thinking about how walking that underground corridor made me feel closer to Primus. And, as preposterous as it sounds, I prayed while I was there. A silly, stupid part of me thinks Primus might hear me if I'm right in his proverbial ear.
It has been a century and I can't let it go. I work so hard to prevent myself from thinking about it, but working can only distract me for so long. It's those annoying hours right before dawn that I often relive the moment I found his body. He was just lying there on that ridge on the moon. My best soldier...I destroyed him. I--
Starscream winced inwardly at the pain woven into the last paragraph. He let his gaze shift to Megatron. The sleeping mech's gray face was pulled in an expression of unease, as if the past tormented his dreams. He slept with his head cradled on one folded arm. His other hand rested next to the energon container he was drinking from when he fell into recharge. He poisoned himself with the cheapest energon--high on tar and no nutritional value at all. Yuck, his innards were probably coated in sticky black engine sludge.
Reflections of fangs peeking through relaxed lips flickered across Starscream's optics. Megatron always had a beautiful mouth.
Bots with full lips like Megatron, Cyclonus, Demolishor and Unicron, were often stereotyped as more virile than the "average" population. Smaller mouths like Starscream's or even Optimus had the opposite connotation--attractive, but innocent and virginal. Of course, Starscream knew now that these stereotypes weren't always true. And, for one idle instant, he wondered if Cyclonus and Demolishor learned how to really kiss.
Megatron's optics flickered.
Casting his thoughts to the dark, Starscream reached out and touched his former leader's hand. "Hey."
Megatron jolted upright. "What the--who...?"
"You're dreaming," Starscream whispered. A lie, but one more likely to spare Megatron's sanity.
"...Starscream?" Megatron stared at him. His red optics glowed dimly in the dark. "You look like..."
"I know," he held his former leader's gaze, happy, but not smiling. "Megatron, stop punishing yourself."
Pain etched itself into Megatron's tired features. "I can't just forget what I've done! Primus, Starscream, most of your life I--"
"I'm not saying it was okay, but I want you to stop dwelling on it. I--didn't die alone. I died in the arms of someone I love." Starscream spared a glance at the horned figure standing silently behind Megatron's chair. "I forgive you."
Megatron's eyes misted over and relief blossomed in his expression. Like Unicron, he'd been trapped in a single hiccup in time--a prisoner dying for someone to open the door and break his chains.
"Are you...happy?"
"Yeah," this time Starscream did smile. "And I want you to be happy, too, so stop drinking yourself into stasis and focus on what you have now. Heh...archeology..."
His former leader cast a sidelong glance at his desk and nudged one of the tools with his thumb. He didn't notice the shadow Unicron cast over his arm. "The subject always fascinated me. Now that I'm not locked in my old programming, I'm free to study it. Optimus has a teaching position in Cybertron City. History--we both love history."
Starscream didn't miss the way talking about Optimus made Megatron's eyes glow.
Megatron sighed, wistful, "I still don't know what he sees in me. Sometimes I feel like he could do so much better than--"
"No," Starscream cut him off, "He could have taken another lover any time between the war's beginning and end, but he didn't. He waited for you. And I have a sneaking suspicion your first kiss after so long felt sinfully good..."
Megatron's smile became a fanged grin, "It certainly did."
Boldly, Starscream brushed his fingertip across Megatron's lips. "You're beautiful now, Megatron. This is how I want to remember you."
He felt Megatron clasp his hand and move it slightly away from his mouth. "Can Primus forgive what I've done, Starscream?"
Starscream grinned and the low light caught his silver optics, "He already has."
The corners of Megatron's eyes grew misty. He squeezed Starscream's hand, stood up and suddenly embraced him.
"You were my most beautiful soldier. You--you were more worthy to be in my army than I was." Megatron whispered, his voice as soft and insubstantial as a shadow, "I respected you. I was terrible to you...I was horrible and jealous...but I always respected you. And I never realized this until..." he cupped the back of Starscream's head, shivering, "I held you just like this for hours, asking Primus to forgive me. You were so cold and lifeless..."
"Sometimes you have to lose something to realize what it means to you."
Megatron held him tighter. "Your companionship meant everything, Starscream...I'm so sorry."
The sun came up. Its first rays burst through the window and shone across the embracing mechs. Megatron was dull and dusty in Starscream's polished, brilliant arms.
Something in Starscream's Spark--his last glimmer of hatred towards Megatron--dwindled to nothing so fast that it left a hot, aching tightness in the middle of his chest. There were still scars, there would always be scars, but the wounds themselves were healed.
"Megatron..." Mech fluid welled in the Seeker's optics. Millennia ago, he would have done anything for a moment like this from his leader...except at that time he never knew Megatron's Spark already belonged to another. And, back then, he didn't have Unicron. He smiled over Megatron's shoulder at the golden god by the window. Unicron's optics softened almost imperceptibly, as if he, too, found peace in the same instant.
"Stop living in the hour of my death, Megatron. Remember me like this. If I said to do it for me, would that make a difference?"
He felt Megatron smile and kiss his audio input sensor. "Fine, I'll do it for you."
Then the moment was over. The sun continued its march skyward and the light it cast moved to the floor.
Starscream stepped gingerly from Megatron's embrace. He looked straight into his optics, gentle silver reflecting warm red. "Good...now, wake up."
"Wake--"
Unicron gently touched the side of Megatron's neck. Megatron slumped back into the chair, his expression no longer troubled.
"That went easier than I expected," Unicron remarked.
Chuckling, Starscream joined him behind the chair.
Megatron sat up and looked around--everywhere but behind him. He snatched up the data pad and erased the last paragraph, replacing it with hurried strokes:
...and Primus answered my prayer. I can go on. I can let it go--for him.
Tires squealed outside. Megatron craned his neck to see out the window. There was no question as to who just arrived, judging by how his optics lit up. Nothing in the universe was more stunning than seeing someone greet the love of their life. He got up so fast the chair spun completely around and waited anxiously by the door.
Starscream smiled up at Unicron. Everything is okay now.
Unicron arched an optic ridge. You don't want to visit the museum?
Nah. Who wants to go stare at pictures a dead guy painted?
The dark god rumbled in amusement. People with good taste.
Just before Unicron whisked him away, Starscream saw Optimus pull Megatron into a fiery kiss.
"You've been drinking again," Optimus chided gently.
"Mm, I'm going to quit right now." And, pointedly, Megatron cemented his rebirth by reaching behind him and knocking the energon container into the rubbish bin. "Say, Optimus...can you spare any wax?"
"Wax? Why?"
"I feel like going to a party."
.o
Silent music cascaded like waves through his body. He did not move with it--it moved him. It compelled each emotion bubbling as color from his fingertips. Every atom of his being told him this was right.
Starscream worked for days on his most precious project. He loved it so much that he was a little sad when he fingered in the last drop of color. For him, the joy came in the process, not the actual finished product...though sharing it offered its own reward. Like oil filling in a truffle, or grease on a flux cake.
But the moment he finished was an empty one, like saying goodbye to a friend who promised to write a letter every day. There were no missed shadows, no blank spots, no misplaced highlights--the painting was complete and needed nothing more from him.
Standing back, Starscream hung in awed silence to enjoy his last few seconds alone with his project. Did he really paint that? Where did he find it in him to create something so...beautiful? A selfish part of him wanted to hide this labor of love away again and not let anyone see it, because people seeing it meant it was done, the mystery was dashed. He snorted and quickly cast that foolish notion aside. Jewels like this were meant to be shared.
He was about to call Unicron's attention, but Unicron spoke first.
Starscream, something incredible is happening.
He sounded breathless, like he was looking at something he couldn't believe.
Starscream sensed Unicron's bewilderment through their bond. What's going on out there? Where are we?
In the comet belt surrounding Earth's solar system. Stand still, I'll bring you out.
Nodding, Starscream let Unicron nip him back into reality. He raced down the corridors until he emerged outside. Unicron was in planet mode, his massive ring array stretching horizon to horizon like a shiny metal rainbow in the blackness. The gravity his mass generated pushed the icy comets out of his path.
"Unicron, there's nothing here! What gives?"
The ground rumbled like an earthquake. Panels shifted, artificial mountains shot up and metal canyons broke open.
"Hey!" Starscream jettisoned himself a safe distance from the controlled chaos. It took a few minutes, considering the mech changing shape was the size of Jupiter. Who did Unicron think he was, initiating his transformation sequence without warning...rude! "Do you MIND?"
Unicron didn't answer. Starscream sobered--he hadn't watched Unicron transform in a long time, and it was truly an awe inspiring sight. It took seven minutes for Unicron to attain his robot form.
"Unicron, what in Primus' name is going on?"
"Their song..." Unicron's optics were haunted. "They've been searching for us ever since we left Cybertron...all of them..."
"Huh?" Starscream's frustration level rose like compressed steam. If it built up much more, it'd blast out through his vocal processors.
Then he heard it; a faint, distant aria in the back corners of his mind. Another tone joined the first, then another...then millions. Green light glinted off the icy blue comets until, all at once, a swarm of glowing emerald baubles rushed out of the emptiness. They filled the area like fireflies, all of them singing an exquisite melody.
"My children," Unicron whispered. He closed his mouth and answered their song. His true Mini-Con voice, un-processed, chimed out a rapid succession of notes. Starscream realized he was calling each Mini-Con's name--there were millions and he knew them all by name.
Unicron...?
They sensed our bonding process, Starscream. Each of them felt it as if they were the one having the experience. They saw what really happened that day... He rang out the final note and the Mini-Cons all rushed at him, a glowing tornado that brought light to the darkness.
Starscream felt out of place in the moment. He hung back, silent, trying to wrap his motherboard around the situation. He retreated to sit on a nearby comet--far enough to be out of the way, yet still close enough that Unicron's back filled most of his view.
The Mini-Cons converged into a glowing replica of Unicron just long enough to clasp his hands and embrace him. Those that didn't join the swarm landed on his head and shoulders, coating him in light. For several seconds Unicron went rigid, his arms stiff at his sides...but slowly, almost timidly, he returned the hug. He cupped the back of the clone's head and kissed its cheek.
Tight, aching warmth flooded the bond. Starscream hugged himself as he watched some of Unicron's most painful wounds heal over.
At the height of the moment, the green replica glowed until it gently dispersed like pollen on the wind. Half gathered into an irregular ball and took off in the same direction from which they came. The other half coalesced again--this time into an image of Welder. It did a handstand on a nearby comet, giggled and flipped over to land on its aft.
Starscream covered his mouth so he wouldn't laugh and ruin the moment.
Unicron clapped his hands and held out his arms. The image jumped right into them, unafraid. Unicron pulled it to his chest--his eyes were so soft...a look of complete adoration...and his huge, powerful hands were transformed into instruments of paternal gentleness.
Welder's image sang something that made Unicron's optics light up. Unicron grasped the replica under its armpits, faced away from Starscream and gently tossed it upwards, much like human fathers did with their children. Welder's image laughed and burst into a green Mini-Con cloud that spun away to join the others.
Starscream's laughter died. The Mini-Cons were leaving?
Where'd they go?
They have lives now--they don't need me. One of them is a wheelchair for a little human girl, three are instruments for a Cybertronian band...I told them not to leave those lives on my behalf. My children...
Unicron remained still until the Mini-Cons' glow disappeared in the distance. Then he turned slowly around. As his face slipped into view, his full lips parted and curved, softening his angular cheeks.
Starscream stood up and stared in awe. The image hung in his optics. It took hold of his Spark, tugged it loose and sent warmth crashing through his processors. He would never forget what he beheld as long as he existed.
Unicron was smiling.
Smiling.
Love flowed across their bond. It was a white light, a warmth, a melody without lyrics, an open book with no final chapter.
Starscream... Unicron whispered, You did this.
I-- how?
The dark god's avatar joined him on the jagged comet's surface. Starscream witnessed his smile up close. Its softness looked a little out of place on his angular features--yet seemed so perfectly right. "You exist, Starscream."
It took a moment to sink in. Unicron mentioned their bond--and then it clicked. The Mini-Cons came all this way just to offer their forgiveness. Unicron was no longer a huge, hulking monster...he was once again their god, their father.
"See?" Starscream leaned on Unicron, "Welder would have done the same."
"You're right," Unicron said. Primus, that smile was so beautiful...it lit his face up like a silver sun. "He would have led the charge...and then he would have attached himself to your leg and asked a million questions about why you're blue."
Starscream chuckled, traced Unicron's smile with his lips and brushed his glossa across the dimple it created on his left cheek. Then he reached up and placed his hand over Unicron's optics, lightly kissing him again. "Take us to the holo-room...and no peeking through your array."
Their environment slowly melted from space to blackness illuminated by blue and gold. Starscream turned Unicron towards the light source and gently uncovered his optics. Twin reflections of the painting shone in them.
Unicron stood utterly still, as if he, too, became part of the art. The smile slipped off his lips and reappeared in his eyes, which shimmered around the outer edges. "Oh, Starscream..."
The Seeker grinned, "Like it?"
"You--you have painted love, Starscream...I-I can feel it. I can feel how you see me. I can feel--us." Unicron took Starscream's hand and held on as if his touch alone kept him corporeal. "I can feel..." His voice remained steady despite the warm, tear-inducing bursts bombarding their bond like fireworks. "This is--without a doubt--your best work. It pleases me, Starscream." And he turned, looking straight into Starscream's optics, "But it pleases me more when viewed this way."
It ached, seeing Unicron so open, so transformed from the way he was when they met. A god of nearly infinite power and equal fragility. They had faced the worst life had to offer, survived their wounds and found each other--the odds of such a thing happening were the same as two sand grains drifting together from the opposite ends of Earth's oceans. But drift together they did. Now they swam in the sea of life as two parts of a whole.
"So," Unicron rubbed a maddening finger across Starscream's left wingtip, "Why?"
Starscream shivered as soft lips pressed to his throat. "Why what?"
Fangs glided over his jaw. "Why are we here?"
"Fate?" Starscream gasped. "Ooh..."
Hands pawed his chassis. "What determined that fate?"
"I-I dunno...m-maybe it just--mmh--happened..."
Lips against his audio sensor. "Or maybe..." the flick of a tongue, warm and tingling, "...we are a story being written in another universe."
"Yeah, right!" Starscream couldn't stand the teasing anymore. He grabbed Unicron's horns and devoured his mouth. His lips tasted so good. "Stop being so damn nonsensical."
Unicron grinned again and moved behind Starscream, wrapping his arms around his waist and directing his eyes upwards. Starscream relaxed into his lover's embrace. The painting floated like a glowing ghost in the blackness. Its reflection danced through Starscream's optics as he bid a silent farewell to the hard work he put into his creation.
His likeness hadn't changed at all. It was still there, still reaching for the stars just beyond his grasp. He spent all his life wondering what to do with the other hand, which extended forward, purposeless and empty, until now.
Freedom became Unicron holding Starscream's hand while he pulled the stars close enough to touch.
- 9
- 10
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Ambrosia