Chapter Text
For as long as anyone could remember, Cybertron was besieged by conflict between two factions of its dominant species: the Autobots and the Decepticons. The war would eventually lead to the complete devastation of their home planet.
The conflict reached a new stage with the emergence of the Mini-Cons, a mysterious faction of diminutive Cybertronians that possessed untold power. The Autobots and Decepticons clashed over control of the Mini-Cons and their valuable special abilities, forcing them to flee to an unknown planet called Earth. There, the Mini-Cons made contact with Earth's own dominant species, the humans, thus cementing their part in the Cybertronian battles.
As the benevolent Autobots sought to protect the humans and Mini-Cons from the ruthless Decepticons, a darker force arose in the background: the Mini-Cons' creator Unicron, an ancient, planet-eating titan driven by suffering and destruction. With neither side willing to focus on the existential threat posed by Unicron, one Cybertronian rose above his personal desires and sacrificed everything for Autobots and Decepticons alike, ending the war once and for all.
His name was Starscream.
"It's so tall..."
Alexis Thi Dang stared in solemn wonder at the thin sheet of metal protruding from the iron surface. It resembled the wing of a fighter jet, detached from the rest of its chassis and wholly out of place in the midst of its surroundings. But to her, it was a great sword, one straight out of legend, standing upright and proud, its shadow casting itself over the freshly charred crater before it. The smaller metal rod at the end was its hilt, inviting anyone to pull its blade from the iron that it was embedded in.
But no one did. No one budged from their positions on the other side of the crater. Every last attendant simply stood firm and stared at the sword with respect.
Hot Shot looked the most somber of them all; he stared at the sword guiltily, and his eyes were the bluest Alexis had possibly ever seen them. Red Alert gave the crater the occasional nod, and his lips were pursed with regretful discomfort all the while. The uncharacteristically quiet Hoist and the grim-faced Scavenger both had their right arms raised to their foreheads in a grand salute. Blurr and Sideswipe stood on each side of Hot Shot, with each of them laying a hand on their fellow Autobot's shoulder in consolation. All of the Autobots' Mini-Cons were sitting on their owners' shoulders or standing beside their legs, joining them in their grief.
Demolishor also stood in grim silence, taking in the sight of the crater with a heavy Spark. Cyclonus stood beside him, hauntingly voiceless himself but looking uncomfortable and restless. The gargantuan Tidal Wave looked to be the least attentive of all the attendants, instead keeping his gaze directed to the stars, longingly so. Wheeljack also stood near Hot Shot, and though he gave his former fellow soldier a few glances, he did not join Blurr and Sideswipe in consoling him. Just like the Autobots' Mini-Cons, the Decepticons' own partners were just as awkwardly but respectfully still as they were.
There were more in attendance. Dozens upon dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Autobots, Decepticons, and Mini-Cons had gathered before the crater and the embedded sword. Despite their allegiances, all of them were united in sober mourning and commemoration. Alexis had never seen so many Cybertronians in one place before.
Finally, there were her friends. Carlos Lopez, whose gaze was empty and listless as it stared ahead. Billy and Fred (even to this day, she never did ask the simple-minded bullies-turned-friends for their surnames), who had their arms locked over each other's shoulders in a boyish gesture of solidarity. And Rad White, who had his face lowered into shadow and his fists clenched until his knuckles were marble-white, like he believed that he could've done more to solve the situation.
She didn't blame him the slightest. After all, she felt the same way.
Then, the Cybertronians parted, like the sea being split into two, allowing two of their own to pass through.
One of them was Jetfire, tall and mighty as he always was. Even then, he was just as morose as the rest of the gatherers; the gusto and bravado that he usually exuded was now a relic of the past. Draped over his arms, its tail fluttering loosely in the wind, was a cloth that Alexis vaguely recognized.
The other was Optimus Prime, the one Cybertronian that she had come to view as a father figure. Stern but fair, wise and strong. His presence commanded the attention of those around him as he passed by, regardless of their allegiances. Some nodded at him, while others saluted. But Optimus did not return any of the kind gesticulations of loyalty. Instead, he kept his yellow, robotic eyes trained on his destination: the embedded sword.
Eventually, Optimus and Jetfire reached the sword, the stomps of their metallic feet fading into the melancholic atmosphere with finality. Each of them took their places on either side of the sword, just as the stars seemed to glitter brighter above them all. Optimus somberly gazed at the sword, while Jetfire's grip around the cloth visibly tightened.
Then, Optimus's gaze swept across the entire gathering, taking stock of everyone in attendance. At that moment, he spoke, his voice a gentle thunder that sharpened everyone's attention in an instant.
"Autobots and Decepticons..."
For an infinitesimal moment, his voice trailed off, as if he was suddenly speaking a foreign language. Yet, the gravity of his words sunk into everyone's Sparks.
Then, he corrected himself. "My fellow Cybertronians..."
The space between everyone suddenly seemed to close off.
"For so long, we were fighting a war that had no end. We can't even exactly remember how that war even began. All that we knew...was fighting. It was all that we could do. Because of that, our planet, once home to peace and harmony, to life and prosperity, has now been destroyed."
The winds emptily blew across the barren landscape of metal. In unified shame, the Cybertronians, Autobot and Decepticon alike, bowed their heads.
"And because of that, because of our strife and our desire to settle our differences with violence, we made victims out of the Mini-Cons. Cybertronians who had no stake and no investment in the war. And for that, we are truly sorry, Mini-Cons."
The diminutive Cybertronians beeped softly in response. Some of the Autobots comfortingly patted their partners.
"But just last month," the Autobot leader continued, "that war that had no end...has now come to an end. At long last, our fighting has ended. All thanks to one Decepticon." He placed a hand on the embedded sword beside him, an act that magnetized everyone's stares. "His name was Starscream."
One by one, Demolishor, Wheeljack, and even Cyclonus respectfully bowed their heads at their fellow Decepticon's name. Other Decepticons nodded and murmured in approval at their colleague's heroism.
And Alexis lifted a hand and put it over the cracked pendant that she fashioned and was now wearing.
"We were so consumed by our differences and our hatred that we turned a blind eye on the greater threat looming over us this entire time." Optimus's eyes darkened. "Unicron."
At the sound of the name, a deep, foreboding shudder swept across the entire gathering. But then, the darkness retreated from the Autobot leader's eyes, and he spoke more powerfully and thunderously, commanding everyone's focus once again.
"But not Starscream. It is because of him and his noble sacrifice that we joined forces, that we worked together to gain the upper hand on Unicron before it was too late. That Unicron is now defeated. Starscream..." Optimus's grip around the sword tightened insignificantly. "He could've turned a blind eye too. For the longest time, he was a torn, wayward Spark, driven by a need to prove himself and be appreciated by others. A need that neither Autobot nor Decepticon could give, but a need that he kept striving for, even if it meant the bitterest of ends.
"Starscream could've turned a blind eye on Unicron too...but he didn't. He saw what Unicron was capable of, what destruction Unicron could wreak upon our planets and our galaxies. And he chose to ignore his destructive desire for acknowledgment in favor of something greater. Something that was once considered unthinkable. An alliance between the Autobots and Decepticons, waged for the greater good. It is...truly, deeply a shame that he had to take his own life for that final, virtuous goal to be realized."
Alexis inaudibly sniffled and held back a choked sob. She could feel the tears leaking down her face at Optimus's words, like droplets in a waterfall. But she knew she couldn't risk removing her space helmet to wipe them away. She could only keep her eyes trained on the sword and her eardrums focused on Optimus's speech.
"Starscream sought out the best in all of us in his final moments," Optimus thundered passionately. "He sought for a time and a world that seemed bygone for so long. He sought for the friendship and cooperation between Autobot and Decepticon, between Cybertronian and Cybertronian, that had been lost to us. And now that the greatest enemy in the history of our race has been vanquished, I do not see it fit to resume our fighting, to bring dishonor to Starscream's final wish. Not when he overcame so much and threw away so much for all of us. And I know that his rightful leader Megatron, Primus rest his Spark, would feel the same way."
Many Decepticons straightened in attention at Megatron's name, especially Tidal Wave. The feeling of somberness deepened amongst their camp.
"So, my fellow Cybertronians, let us cast aside our differences and our allegiances and our flags!"
The crowd of Autobots and Decepticons let out a singular roar of agreement.
"Let us stand under the renewed flag of Cybertron!"
The Autobots and Decepticons roared again.
"Let us continue the process of healing and repairing this planet!"
Again, the Autobots and Decepticons roared their agreement.
Once the jubilation died down, Optimus's voice was softer now. "Let us mark the one-month anniversary of this momentous occasion, one that would be highlighted in the annals of Cybertronian history forever. For Starscream." He looked at the sword again. "For the one who sought out the best in all of us. For our..." His eyes shone with finality, as if he had just decided on his last words on the spot. "Our Seeker."
Almost on instinct, the Cybertronians roared in unity, "FOR STARSCREAM! THE SEEKER! FOR STARSCREAM, THE SEEKER! FOR STARSCREAM THE SEEKER!"
Every chant was louder and more determined than the previous one. It got to the point where Carlos, Billy, and Fred joined in on the yelling. As everyone hollered around her, Alexis gasped when Jetfire, silent for the entire speech, finally unfurled the cloth that he had been carrying.
"The chamois that we gave to Starscream... I thought it was lost when he betrayed the Autobots?"
Forlornly, Jetfire wrapped one end of the chamois around the hilt of Starscream's fallen sword. He then allowed the Cybertronian winds to carry the rest of the cloth. With that, it blew and fluttered around like a flag. The sight of it quelled the chanting, and the former soldiers saluted it, one after another, until everyone was united in their show of respect for their fallen comrade. Alexis sniffled and hiccupped.
Eventually, Optimus announced, "Know this, my fellow Cybertronians: the road to recovery will unfortunately be long and tedious. We will need to scour the stars for any Energon reserves that are out there, and we will require troves of additional resources from various roots. But as long as we are united under Starscream's example, there is nothing that we can't do. So..." He turned towards the makeshift flag and saluted it, an act mirrored by the ever-loyal Jetfire. "Let us move forward into this bright future, the future that Starscream gave his life for. A future without ceaseless fighting. A future...for all of us! For Starscream the Seeker!"
"FOR STARSCREAM THE SEEKER!"
"FOR STARSCREAM THE SEEKER!"
"FOR STARSCREAM THE SEEKER!"
"FOR STARSCREAM THE SEEKER!"
"FOR STARSCREAM THE SEEKER!"
"Alexis! Hey, Alexis!"
The familiar voice pulled the girl from her reverie. She looked up and saw that the flag was continuing to fly at full-mast. Up close, it was taller, mightier, and grander than from a distance. Even so, the sight of Starscream's memorial, likely the first of many, did nothing to lift her spirits. Her grip around the pendant tightened just a little, and she subconsciously grazed her thumb across the cracked gem.
"Alexis!"
She looked over her shoulder and saw Rad approaching, trailed by the Mini-Cons Swindle, Sonar, Jetstorm, and Runway. Sullenly, Alexis took a deep breath and forced a smile upon her face.
"Oh," she said halfheartedly. "Hey, Rad."
"Come on, the Axalon is about to leave at any minute!" warned Rad. "I'm pretty sure our itinerary for our second trip to Cybertron didn't call for it to last years and years!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming..."
But Alexis didn't move from her spot. Instead, she looked back up at the flag with longing, and her grip was still on the pendant. Rad followed her eyes, and his own gaze softened in realization.
"You really cared for Starscream," he said, his whisper only being carried by the Cybertronian breeze. "Didn't you, Alexis?"
At first, she didn't say anything. Her eyes remained locked on the memorial, almost memorizing every inch of the chamois and the sword that it was now securely attached to. Then, Alexis slowly looked at him, and he could feel an invisible force slicing his heart in half with the sharpness of the Star Saber.
Her entire body was shaking, and there was no mistaking the wetness on her face.
"He was my friend, Rad," she said between sobs. "He was my friend. I...I loved him..."
Rad moved on instinct. He strolled up to her and hugged her tightly, just as he did when they first heard the news. Once he did, Alexis broke down into his shoulder again. Even though they could barely feel each other through their spacesuits, the embrace was just as tender and consoling all the same. And as they continued the embrace, Swindle and the Air Defense Team ran up and joined them, coiling them closer with a linked hug from all around.
"I know, Alexis," he said while fighting back tears of his own. "I know. And I know that Starscream knew that too, all along."
"I just...I just can't understand...why he...he would-"
"Because he took everything that you taught him to heart." He began consolingly patting Alexis's shoulder. "You helped him through so much, Alexis. No matter what, you were his friend as much as he was yours."
As his friend's weeping started to die down, Rad looked up at the makeshift flag himself. On his face, he wore a mixture of pride and sullenness.
"Even if he was too proud to admit it to anyone."
"But Rad..." Alexis parted from his shoulder and stared intensely into his eyes, taking him slightly aback. "If the reward for someone like Starscream is a terrible, terrible fate, then...then what faith could I possibly have in the universe?! I've...I've always believed in helping others and letting them see the true worth in themselves! That's what I've always wanted to do! And now, the first being that I actually get to help is...is..."
Rad's grip tightened around her shoulders. "Don't say that, Alexis!"
His snap was so compassionate and so forceful that Alexis hitched her breath, while the Mini-Cons were stunned and broke away from them.
"Don't say that!" he repeated. "You helped Starscream so that he could help others. And he made his choice in the end. He knew he wasn't going to leave a dent in Unicron by himself; you know that! You had nothing to do with that part! Starscream made his choice, and I don't think he would've wanted it any other way! So please, Alexis, don't blame yourself for what happened!"
Alexis sniffled and shrugged herself away from his grip while looking away. "Just when did you start caring, Rad? You didn't bother to get to know him like I did."
Rad's eyes softened, and he took a deep breath. "Well...you said he was your friend, right? And I'm your friend, Alexis." He lifted a clenched fist over his heart. "And no friend would want to see each other get hurt. Especially by what they think their decisions have caused."
This finally got Alexis's attention again. She silently, tenderly stared at him, and he stared back with as much passion as he could muster.
"So please," he continued, "don't blame yourself for what happened to Starscream. Please, Alexis."
"Well, whaddaya suggest I do...?" she asked, deflated and hopeless.
"You keep helping others."
A faint light seemed to shine again in Alexis's eyes at his words. She kept listening, her attention increasingly piqued by the gentle moment.
"Keep helping others, Alexis, in Starscream's memory. For Starscream." Rad's voice started to become just as powerful and thunderous as Optimus's was. "It's killing me, watching you tear yourself apart like this over his own choices! You were his friend, so I know that if he were standing here, right now, I know that he'd be feeling the same feelings as I am!"
For perhaps the first time, Alexis realized that she was still holding onto the pendant. She unclasped her hand and looked at it while it rested on her palm. Once the rays of light from the closest stars made contact, its polished yet imperfect surface began to gleam and glitter at her. A particularly bright flash shone from the crack adorning the green gem.
"Rad's right," she thought. "Starscream wouldn't want me to mope around over him like this. I just...have to keep seeking out what I've always sought out, just like he did. And that's a future without ceaseless fighting. A future for all. A bright future."
She clasped her fingers over the pendant again, with a completely different emotion this time, and she held it over her heart. With a deep breath, she opened her eyes and looked straight into Rad's. He smiled after a moment, knowing that his words of comfort had sunk in.
Alexis smiled back, fondly and resolutely. "Thank you, Rad. For being my friend."
He nodded. "Hey. That's what friends are for."
And with that, together, the two children and the four Mini-Cons turned their united attention towards the newly planted flag. It continued to fly proudly and mightily, a signal for the new era that Starscream had ushered in.
The Axalon began to lift off, and the five youths looked out of the window to bid Cybertron farewell once again. Carlos, Billy, and Fred were now in more wistful and joyous moods, choosing to talk more with some of the Autobots about all the sights and sounds of the alien planet than about Starscream's memorial service. However, Alexis stared out of the window with a more determined stature. She could feel Rad's gaze trained on her, but she could care less right now.
She could see the flag and the crater before it, both of them now a permanent marker of the spot where Starscream had his last stand.
"It's easy."
"The only thing you have to say is thank you."
"I believe in you, Starscream."
"Starscream may not have felt like he was making the right choices all the time," she mused. "But he made them nonetheless, and now the Autobots and the Decepticons are united after so long. There's no more fighting, no more hatred. Now comes the hardest part: paving the future that's in store for all of us. It will be a long, hard road ahead. And if I'm gonna be as strong as he was in his final moments, then I'm gonna have to be my own Seeker. For him and his memory."
She placed a longing palm upon the windowpane, right beneath where she could see Starscream's memorial.
"Goodbye, Starscream," she said from the bottom of her heart. "And thanks. I'll never forget you."
As the Axalon initiated its journey back to Earth, Starscream's flag continued to fly on Cybertron's surface, almost waving the spaceship goodbye. A breeze continued to blow, carrying the chamois gracefully and carefully. The flag's shadow towered over the crater where the christened Seeker once stood.
Then, once the Axalon was almost out of sight, three beings stepped out from the dark, grimy corners of the war's wreckage and ominously approached. Their shadows consumed the flag's as they began their work, undetected by all.
TRANSFORMERS: ARMADA
Legacy of the Seeker