Connections of Steel, part 1 by Suzanne M. Ferree (suz@cyberspace.org) May 1992--Earth (On a desert cliffside overlooking a crater sits a solitary Decepticon w/ his hands holding up his chin. He continues to stare into the black-smoked wreckage below.) Swindle grumbles: "I should have *known* this was going to happen. It doesn't matter how much Megatron figures out his plan in advance. Every time Megatron commands a shuttle, the Autobots always end up destroying it. How could I have expected things to end differently this time?" (Curious, Starscream slowly approaches Swindle's turned back.) While trying to peer over Swindle's shoulder, Starscream asks: "Are you angry with Megatron about something?" (Swindle takes a quick glance over his left shoulder to peek at Starscream and then returns to his meditation.) Slowly Swindle explains: "It's not what you think. I'm not angry at Megatron himself. He borrowed my shuttle... *that* shuttle. You wouldn't understand." Starscream slyly retorts: "So? One of his plans failed, which ended up destroying a shuttle. It's nothing out of the ordinary. He does that type of thing all the time." Swindle reluctantly pauses for a while: "It wasn't exactly the shuttle *itself*. It's hard to explain." Starscream drops his smile & lowers his voice: "Oh, you had something *expensive* on board the shuttle when it crashed." Cautiously Swindle explains: "No...I named the shuttle after someone who isn't w/ us. Someone who's no longer on Cybertron anymore. I...I called it the Gleaming Gem II. I told you that you wouldn't understand." Starscream's face suddenly bursts into a broad smile: "On the contrary, I understand perfectly. She told me all about that little nickname." Surprised, Swindle finally turns around in complete attention: "Starscream, you couldn't *possibly* have known her. What are you talking about?" Starscream gloats: "Of course I knew her. Did you think I *randomly* chose you and your friends out of all the possible Decepticons that I could have freed from energon prisons? I chose you and your friends because she knew you." Swindle raises his voice: "You're just making all this up. She was a *neutral*. How could you have known her?" Starscream grins broadly: "Wouldn't *you* like to know!" Relieved, Swindle relaxes: "Oh. This was all just a ploy. You never *really* knew her. You're just playing off the one bit of information I gave & are *guessing*. I've played this game myself before. You really had me *going* for a moment." Starscream casually replies: "Believe what you will, but she's now a Decepticon and she's alive." Shaking his head, Swindle: "I'm not going to fall for it." Starscream: "I can even *prove* that she's alive." Swindle: "I'm not even listening..." Starscream: "What if I told you that *Rosestar* wanted you to listen..." Swindle pauses, looks around to make sure no one is spying, and then whispers: "Ok, Starscream. You've had your fun and you've proved that you know her name. What are you looking for? Are you trying to blackmail me? I know you... You *didn't* come here just to reminisce about *her*." Starscream: "Obviously, I'm looking for more than that, but my request is simple. Whatever revenge you're planning, I want 'in' on it." Puzzled, Swindle asks: "Revenge? What revenge?" Starscream: "Don't play stupid on me. As we speak, you're planning a way to make Megatron feel just as awful as you're feeling right now." Swindle: "No plans like that would work well enough. He's never cared about a female before." "That's what he *wants* you to think." Starscream draws in a little closer and lowers his voice: "Have you ever heard of the female, Nightbird?" (Some time passes as Starscream relays the facts--and suspicions--about Nightbird to Swindle.) Swindle: "Let me get this straight. A newspaper article mentioned that she'd been sealed w/in a cylinder and that was early in the Earth year 1986? That's quite a cold trail to follow..." Starscream: "It'll be worth it. Just picture it: Rosestar is w/ a group of Decepticons in deep space right now because of *Megatron's* orders. If you had Nightbird, Megatron would have no choice but to order Rosestar's shuttle back & swap Rosestar for Nightbird." Swindle: "What's in this for you?" Starscream: "I'd have the satisfaction of seeing Megatron in a tough spot." Swindle: "And?" Starscream: "...and, Rosestar is my twin sister, so I'd have her back." Swindle: "Really? That explains a lot..." Starscream: "Do we have an agreement?" Swindle: "I think I can live w/ that." (That was the last time Starscream heard or discussed anything related to either female until...) August 1997--Earth (Autobots, mostly mini-bots, stand outside the open windows on the east side of a power station while 5 short stacks of energon cubes lie uncollected inside.) Bumblebee: "If we don't stop the Decepticons soon, the energy drain will cause a blackout!" Cliffjumper: "Do you mind moving to my left a little bit? You're in my line of sight. I want to shoot Starscream clear back to Cybertron." Bumblebee scoots: Sorry about that. (As usual, most of the shots miss the 'cons. However, also as usual, the Autobots greatly outnumber the small 'con squad.) Thundercracker: "But Starscream, even *Megatron* has already left." (Starscream replies, but the noise from the battle drowns out his voice.) Thundercracker: "What? I couldn't hear you. Speak up." Starscream: "I *said* 'That's because Megatron and *his* squad took most of the cubes. He's sending the Stunticons to back us up. We either need to grab the stacks and run now, or hold out until our back-up can arrive.' *I* think we should *stay*." Brawl: "I don't care *what* you think, Starscream. There are five piles left and six of us. The cubes are only half way across the next room. What's the big deal?" Starscream: "You forgot about the twenty Autobots all firing from the East windows." Brawl: "I did *not*." (As Brawl and Starscream continue to bicker, Skywarp starts to dodge fire & moves toward a pile of cubes.) Thundercracker: "Quit it! Skywarp needs cover!" (As the 'cons provide cover along their north flank, Skywarp reaches the stacks.) Thundercracker: "He's almost got one..." (Skywarp lifts a pile and blinks out of the room with it.) Rumble: "It's days like today which make me wish *I* could do that." (Brawl scans around their "cover place.") Brawl: "I thought there were supposed to be six of us here." Starscream: "Right. Skywarp just left, leaving us with four piles and five of us." Brawl: "Now I only count *four* of us." Starscream panics: "But *Megatron* said he was leaving *Onslaught*! *Now* what are we going to do?!?" (Luckily for the 'cons, the Stunticons arrive.) Starscream: "It's about *time* you Stunticons got here!" Thundercracker smiles: "Don't mind him--he just finished panicking." Dead End: "Why bother panicking? We'll all end up as Autobot-fodder some day, regardless of what we do." Brawl: "Shut your yap and shoot. Rumble, you're next to grab a pile." Rumble: "Me? Why can't you send someone taller?" Dead End: "Don't you realize that they're going to throw you in there?" Starscream: "*I* wasn't going to order anything of the sort." Rumble: "What a relief! I thought..." (Thundercracker smiles as he stares down at Rumble.) Rumble pleads at Thundercracker: "Come on. Trust me. I can run quickly enough." Thundercracker: "I hope you're *right* about this." (Rumble scurries to one of the remaining four piles, but on his way back, he receives a slight singe to his right arm, causing Thundercracker to stand.) Rumble: "No! It's just a scratch. I can make it on my own." (Rumble returns to the safety area, while Thundercracker sits back down.) Thundercracker: "I'm going next." Wildrider: "No way!" (Before Thundercracker finishes standing again, Wildrider has raced almost half way to the cubes.) Brawl: "What a show-off!" (Wildrider barely avoids driving into one of the remaining piles.) Dead End: "What stupidity!" (Wildrider transforms, grabs one of the trio of stacks, and races for safety.) Rumble: "Nah, blame it on dumb luck!" (Wildrider returns w/o a scratch and triumphantly displays the stack of cubes to Starscream, who barely glances at it.) Frowning, Thundercracker marches up to Wildrider & sarcastically asks him: "Do I have your permission to go?" Still firing at the 'bots, Starscream innocently replies: "Permission granted." (Thundercracker storms out, shaking his head.) Brawl: "These mini-bots couldn't hit the broad side of an asteroid." Rumble: "That's not true. They hit *me*, didn't they? Maybe we should have *Starscream* grab the last stack." (All the remaining pairs of Decepticon eyes in the room suddenly target Starscream.) Brawl: "You're always claiming you'd be a better leader than Megatron and *he* grabbed a pile..." Starscream: "*He* had half the army backing..." (The eyes continue to stare at Starscream, as the wounded Thundercracker stumbles in w/ his pile.) Thundercracker: "Some great cover *you* guys gave... They shot me in the left leg! I'm not even sure I can transform. Why are all of you staring at Starscream?" Suddenly, Starscream shouts: "Fine! I'll go!" Thundercracker: "Wouldn't it be smarter to order another *Stunticon* to go? They're less tired than we are." Starscream: "Cover me, Thundercracker, and whatever happens, don't stop shooting!" (Starscream races out to dodge the eastern shots. However, as soon as Starscream reaches the last section of cubes, Starscream's familiar 'Decepticons retreat' sounds as clearly as if he were standing in the room. The Stunticons and Rumble instantly scatter, but Thundercracker grabs Brawl's arm and throws him back a little.) Thundercracker: "No. Keep firing." (Thundercracker returns to the cover fire duty.) Brawl sits with his arms crossed: "Why? You heard his order." Thundercracker: "That wasn't him. I'll explain later." Angry, Starscream returns w/ only a few minor burns: "Where did everyone else go? Why did they *desert* us?" Brawl: "We'd better follow them. Thundercracker, you'll have to fly in robot..." Thundercracker: "I know!" (They take off.) Thundercracker: "Starscream, someone imitated your voice & ordered the rest to retreat." Starscream: "What?" (Thundercracker & Starscream fly low in robot mode, as Brawl fires shots randomly in the direction that they came from in the hopes of preventing 'bots from following them.) Brawl: "How'd you know it wasn't really him." Thundercracker: "The battle was too loud to be able to hear him that far away. Besides, I've known Starscream my entire existence. With all the talking *he* does, I'd *better* be able to recognize an impostor!" Starscream: "Hey!" (Back at the Underwater Decepticon base, Megatron continues to ask questions.) Megatron: "Let me get this straight, Starscream. You didn't order Onslaught *or* the others to retreat? Thundercracker, you say the voice was a forgery? Thundercracker: "I'm one of the last ones who would lie for Starscream." Starscream: "Maybe Blaster did it." Thundercracker shakes his head: "The Aerialbots and Powerglide followed Megatron & the others. We would have noticed Omega Supreme or Cosmos. There's no way the Autobots could have reached the north side w/o flying or entering through the building." Megatron: "In that case there's no other choice. Starscream, you'll have to take a few days off, so we can make sure that the Autobots didn't do this & so we can prevent it from happening again." Starscream whines: "But *Megatron*, what will you do w/o me?" Megatron beams: "We'll manage to find a way." (Starscream & Thundercracker leave Megatron's office.) Starscream points to Thundercracker: "This is all *your* fault." Sarcastically, Thundercracker replies: "You're right. If I'd fallen for the voice, not only might you have been destroyed, but Megatron would have thought that you'd ordered the retreat." Starscream stares at the floor: "Maybe I actually *need* the downtime..." Thundercracker: "Don't look for *my* opinion. *I'm* no expert on you." (Starscream returns to his own quarters. Some time later, Swindle drops by). Swindle: "Brawl told me about what happened today. I think I have your answer..." Starscream: "Would twenty energon credits be enough?" Swindle: "Yes, but you wouldn't be able to meet the voice's creator face-to-face." Starscream: "Any more than thirty would be insane." Swindle: "Thirty would work. While I'm telling you all this, you should keep this in mind: what they heard was his real voice, not a recording of your voice or some, uh, artificial imitation." Starscream: "How could our voices be that close? It fooled everyone except my brother, Thundercracker!" Swindle: "You'd be amazed how much you two have in common. Since you have a few days off, you'll have plenty of time to get to know him." (That day, not only did Starscream meet Swindle's stranger, but Starscream revisited him several other times, In fact, after a while Starscream almost considered this "stranger" a friend...) ---