Everlasting Darkness-Chapter One
Content. It was such a foreign word to Rachel Simmons, considering her position. Her father had lost his government job. Rachel had decided he was schizophrenic from his anger, because he would mutter all the time, and it sounded like an argument. She had taken what little solace she could in a giant robot, and she thought she might be crazy.
Rachel's heart was in the right place, but her life was just terrible. Her father came in at four in the morning, and all his banging around would wake her up in the night. Her heart would pound, and she'd rush to lock her door in fear. Nothing ever happened, and, in the morning, she would escape to see her friend.
Rachel dashed through the trees, making her way to the clearing. He wouldn't be there yet, but she knew her father wouldn't follow her. He had almost hit her when he came in, and she fled. She sat heavily on a tree stump, and tilted her head back. The once-starry sky was now covered in smog and ashes, a painful reminder of the way human life was now.
It had been two years since the Decepticons had taken over, and the Autobots had been forced into hiding. She knew her father had been able to keep his house by divulging the location of the Autobots' base to the Decepticons, if only in a last-ditch effort to protect himself. He hadn't been thinking about his daughter when he had betrayed the human race.
Rachel knew her friend was an estranged Decepticon, but she didn't care. As long as he didn't let his temper-and mental state-get the best of him, he was a true friend. She sometimes wondered if it was only his mental state that gave him motivation to be her friend, but she didn't like to think about that.
He had spent too much time in space, alone, then had gone back to his planet. He was obviously out of his mind, and therefore was estranged.
The sound of a jet's turbines reached her ears, and she looked up. The F-22 circled once, then landed. Rachel smiled when he transformed, and walked over to her.
"You shouldn't b-be out right noww," he told her. His damaged vocal processor crackled as he spoke.
"I know. But...he almost hit me. I couldn't help it." Rachel patted his leg comfortingly, and he settled next to her. His red optics looked her over, and she felt disconcerted-his left optic was shattered beyond repair, marring him for life. A faint glow emitted from it, a shocking contrast from his other burning, ruby red optic.
"He shhhouldn't do th-that." He sounded very angry.
Rachel frantically shook her head. "He's just a schizophrenic. He has no idea what he's doing. He wouldn't notice if I hit him, even. Don't get yourself worked up, Starscream."
"I c-can't help it. He shouldn't hhit you, Ray." His optics turned in the direction of the house.
Rachel's temper flared at his stubbornness. "Well, we could always leave," she reminded him.
"Nno. The only r-reason you want tooo leave is to f-find Autobotss."
"Well, they can help!" she shouted. "They can't do anything without an aboveground ally, though! With their help...it just might be possible to coordinate an effective resistance." Her eyes sparkled, and her mind ran ahead to a world without Decepticon control.
"Th-there aren'tt enough Autobotss to defeat the D-Decepticonss," Starscream told her blatantly.
"Doesn't matter," Rachel countered. "Blitzkrieg...also known as Lightning War. Strike hard, fast, and suddenly. Don't give your enemy time to coordinate an effective defense. Toss in guerrilla tactics...surprise attacks, ambushes, and there's a chance. Decepticons are straightforward fighters, for the most part, and the only real deviation is ambushes. Boost the motion trackers though...and it's possible to defeat them."
"You b-bring upp an interessting point, Rayy," Starscream relented.
Rachel smiled grimly. "You know this means allying ourselves with the Autobots, right?" she asked.
The estranged Decepticon nodded. "And you knnow thiss makes yyou a target?"
"Yes, I do. But I'm already a target. It's be nice to be a target who has big friends who can scare the bejesus out of a Decepticon by aiming at them." She glared angrily when Starscream's optics flashed. "Puh-leze, you can handle me mentioning them. And you know your cannons are offline."
He remained silent.
"So...are we going or not?" she asked, standing up.
"Yyou're going?" he asked.
"Yes. Let me get some stuff together, and I'll meet you here," Rachel told him.
"No," he replied firmly. "I willl meet y-you at your housse."
Rachel shrugged, and walked back. She was conscious of Starscream following her in robot mode, and made herself not comment on it. If a Decepticon were to come upon him... She shuddered to think of what would happen.
They made it to her house, and he sat down to wait. She dashed up the stairs, ignoring her father passed out in the hallway. Her room was a mess. Then again, so was the whole house. She hunted around for a little, finally finding a usable duffel. She stuffed it full of any clothes that weren't stained beyond recognition, or torn to shreds. Rachel had salvaged a hairbrush, and she hurriedly picked that up as well.
After finishing, she ran back down the stairs, bumping into her father. Oh crap...he's gonna kill me, she thought.
"Wha're ya doin' with tha bagg?" he asked, slurring his words terribly.
"I wanted to see if there were any washing machines I could find. I don't have any clean clothes." The lie came too easily to her lips.
"Ohh...ya won' find any washhhhing machhhiness anywheh," he replied hazily.
"I can hope." Rachel made for the door, and was almost there before he grabbed her arm roughly.
"I'm nah done wih yeh yet!" he growled.
She tried to jerk her arm free, but failed miserably. "Let me go!"
"Neh...git ovuh here." He began pulling her to the sofa. Her heart skipped a beat.
"No! Let go of me!" she screamed. Simmons ignored her, and continued pulling with surprising strength. He threw her down onto the sofa, and lowered himself onto her. Rachel sobbed in fear as his hands fumbled with her shirt.
"Starscream!" she cried. Her voice broke off, cracking from the intensity of the scream.
"Shaddup," her father ordered. She thrashed beneath him, slapping anywhere she could. He punched her in the face, and pulled a dirt-encrusted rope from his pocket. He tightly bound her hands, forcing them behind her back.
Rachel screamed for the ex-Decepticon again.
There was a loud crash above them, and bits of plaster and wood fell onto them. Simmons was suddenly yanked up, and she slid to the floor. She looked up, and saw Starscream holding him up by the collar of his shirt. His optics burned with hatred. The left was considerably dimmer, but brighter than she'd ever seen before.
Rachel screamed a third time. A large piece of the roof fell down, and hit her. She blacked out. Starscream let out a cry, and tossed Simmons away. He picked up his friend, and cradled her to his chest protectively. He transformed, settling Rachel in his cockpit as he did so. He flew off, unsure of where he was going. He just knew he wanted her to be safe.
Rachel's first conscious thought was that she was dead. She then realized she was moving, and therefore couldn't be dead. She groggily opened her eyes, and saw the cockpit of an F-22.
Starscream had saved her.
She smiled at the thought, and leaned back in the seat. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I don't want to think about what would've happened if you hadn't been there."
"It'ss alright. Y-you're with me now." He paused, and she sensed the indecision. "W-will we beee going to find the Autobotsss now?" he asked.
"Yes. Where else can we go? We don't even know if any humans are still living." Her heart suddenly leapt in her chest. "Oh God...I could be the last human alive. S-Starscream? Did you...kill...my father?" she asked quietly.
"I donn't know. I d-didn't loook," he replied. "Mmaybe."
Rachel was silent, contemplating this. She realized the implications of being the last human: as soon as she died, the Decepticons had won. They had accomplished what they set out to do. Her heart skipped a beat at this thought. It was unacceptable that the human race be eradicated. She couldn't let this happen...but how to stop it? The ideas that swirled around in her head were sickening, and she forced them out.
Starscream suddenly veered to the right, into a steep nose-dive.
"Starscream? Everything ok?" Rachel asked, concerned.
"Yess. I just s-saw an Autobot," he replied.
"Yes!" she cheered. "Can you open a comm link to them?" she asked, feeling her heart speed up.
"Mayybe...I donn't know." Static filled the cockpit. Starscream muttered something, then said, "Okayy, talk."
Rachel took a deep breath, steeling herself. "We aren't going to harm you, I promise. We're here to help, I promise. I have an idea of how to defeat the Decepticons...I need to talk to Optimus Prime!" Her voice rose dangerously.
"I'd l-let her," Starscream interjected.
"Starscream?" The voice crackled through the speakers.
"And a friend. Who's this?" Rachel demanded.
"...Bumblebee."
"Ok. Bumblebee, you have to trust me...trust us."
"Why?" he asked sharply.
"'Bee...you don't recognize my voice?" she asked quietly.
"No, I... Holy Primus! Rachel Simmons!" he yelped.
"Thank you."
"Still in this for the loosing side, I see," he said bitterly.
"Maybe not the loosing side forever." Her heart pounded at his words. His changed attitude really showed what this war had done. Gone was the fun-loving Bumblebee who could make anyone laugh. He didn't laugh anymore, and was a battle-hardened warrior.
He chose not to reply to her comment. "Starscream, you can land if you want," he told the Seeker. Starscream carefully landed, and Rachel clambered out. She dropped to the ground, breaking her fall with a roll.
Starscream transformed, and warily eyed the Autobot in front of him. Rachel looked him over, though as a friend would. She noted all the dents and scrapes he bore, and the other numerous small injuries he retained. "'Bee...why are you covered in dents?" she asked.
Bumblebee shrugged. "You tend to ignore the small things when Ratchet needs to work on a dying mech," he said emotionlessly.
"Yes, but too many 'small things' can make one big thing.
"Now, on to business. I have a good idea for how to defeat the Decepticons, but I need to tell Optimus and the others. Can you lead us back to the base?" Rachel sighed, hating every minute of this. Granted, she was ecstatic to see her friend again, but she wanted congenial conversation. Starscream wasn't really a conversationalist, as he hated his vocal processor.
"...I suppose. It's not really my place to let Starscream in...but I don't really have a choice in the matter," Bumblebee relented. Rachel walked over to him, and patted his leg.
"Thanks, 'Bee."
He nodded, and transformed into an equally battered Camaro. "Just follow me," he ordered. Rachel went back over to Starscream, and climbed into his waiting hand. The Seeker transformed, and flew off after the retreating form of the Camaro.
"H-he doessn't like me," he commented dryly.
"'Bee's been through a lot...give him time." Rachel stared at the ash-filled sky, and tried to keep her mind off the situation at hand. She didn't know what horrors awaited her at the Autobots' base... Bumblebee could do some repairs, but what about those who couldn't? Those who decided against going to see Ratchet, and kept away from the medic. She knew that if he was busy in a life-or-death situation, nobody would be especially eager to send a mech to see him.
Her train of thought stopped as she felt Starscream land. She climbed out, using the same method as before. Bumblebee stood in front of them, and motioned them on. The odd group made their way through a dense forest, finally reaching a rocky outcropping. The yellow mech pushed a large boulder out of the way, revealing a thick metal door. He keyed in an immensely long entry code, and the door slid open.
The base looked fairly ordinary, all things considered. Perhaps there was less of a sheen, less of a comforting feel, but Rachel pushed those ideas away. They passed the rec room, and she averted her eyes from the once-filled-with-life room. She was dragging behind, and Starscream put her on his shoulder. Rachel leaned onto his head, and shut her eyes.
Bumblebee's voice woke her up. "Here...we're at Optimus's office." He keyed in another entry code, and gestured for them to go in. He followed, shutting the door. Rachel looked at the Autobot leader, and saw that he too bore damage. Even more than Bumblebee, she figured.
Optimus looked up from what he was doing, and surveyed the three.
"Optimus, Rachel says she has an idea for defeating the Decepticons," Bumblebee said quietly.
"Indeed? I would be glad to hear it." His voice was weary. "And it's very good to see you again, Rachel." His tone became instantly warm; the voice she remembered from six years ago.
Rachel gently tapped Starscream's head, and he set her on the desk. "Optimus, my idea is to use both Blitzkrieg and guerrilla tactics. The Decepticons are straightforward, with the exception of occasional ambushes. They won't expect an old tactic like Blitzkrieg. It's where you strike suddenly, and don't give your enemy time to coordinate an effective defense," she explained.
"It's a good idea. I'm willing to try anything, at this point." The weariness was back in his voice. He nodded at Starscream. "Starscream. I welcome your presence... Perhaps you should go see Ratchet," he suggested. Starscream nodded, and left. He glanced at Rachel, who nodded. All three others in the room knew he understood that the ex-Decepticon Seeker was here to help.
Optimus turned his attention to the human girl sitting cross-legged on his desk. "And Rachel...maybe you should make your rounds," he said gently. Before the Decepticons took over, Rachel would make up excuses to stay at the Autobots' base. Every morning when she woke up, she would go around the base, and find out how everyone was. She cared deeply about her friends. She had developed a good knowledge of their body language when they weren't fine, and they couldn't lie to her about how they were.
Rachel nodded, and Bumblebee picked her up. Before he was even out of the room, she asked, "'Bee…what's happened to you? To everyone?"
He sighed. "I know you'd ask that…I just wish you hadn't asked me. The Decepticons destroyed us…they arrived before more Autobots could. They crushed us, with both superior firepower and greater numbers. We had no choice but to hide. We barely managed to survive…"
"That's horrible…" she whispered.
"Don't trouble yourself over it. You had a good idea, from what I could gather, and you can't undo the past," he told her gently.
"Don't patronize me! I'm almost seventeen years old. I could've done more…could've stopped my father from telling where the base was… Crap!" she yelled. Bumblebee's optics flashed.
"Your father told?' he spat disgustedly. Rachel nodded miserably, turning her head. "He told…which is how we kept our house." She laughed bitterly. "I don't want to know where he got the alcohol."
"He was an alcoholic?" Bumblebee asked, shocked.
"Yes…after the Decepticons took over."
The yellow mech stroked her back as tears formed in her eyes. "I'm so afraid, 'Bee. Afraid that my father isn't dead, afraid that the human race will die out…afraid that you all might…die," she whispered. The tears spilled out her eyes. "My entire world came crashing down two years ago…now I'm worried it'll do it again."
By now they had reached the rec room.
Bumblebee held her close to his spark, showing emotions he hadn't shown in two years. "Shhh…it's alright, Rachel. Everything'll be alright," he whispered. She sniffed, and wiped her tears.
"Maybe. 'Bee? Will you do me a favor? Go check on Starscream for me…he's really not a bad mech…you don't know what he's been through. Physical and mental abuse, estrangement…the works." Rachel looked hopefully up at the yellow bot, who nodded.
"You'll be fine here by yourself?" he asked, setting her on the floor.
"Yes. Go on," she replied. Bumblebee walked off, and she slipped inside the rec room. Sunstreaker was slumped on a couch, conspicuously alone, and her heart skipped a beat. She averted her eyes, and looked over to the rest of the room. Bluestreak, Prowl, and Wheeljack sat at a table, talking quietly.
Other than that, the room was empty.
Rachel made her way over to the table, and tapped Bluestreak's leg. He jumped, and looked down. A smile broke out onto his face, and he picked her up, setting her on the table.
"Hi Ray!" he said brightly.
"Hey Blue."
"Rachel," Prowl said, by way of greeting.
"You're always too formal, Prowler," she retorted.
"Come to help, Ray?" Wheeljack asked congenially.
"I take it the explosions haven't stopped?" She chuckled quietly.
Bluestreak lifted her to his face. "Ray, I think you should go talk to Sunny," he said gently. She nodded, understanding. A quick glance over her shoulder let her know the others agreed with this. The gunner set her on the floor, and she walked over to the yellow Lamborghini.
"Sunny?' she called, just loud enough for him to hear. He visibly flinched, and searched for the source of the quiet call. When he spotted Rachel, his facial expression softened a little. H reached his hand down, and she climbed in.
His optics were dim, and she placed a gentle hand on his head after she'd been set on his shoulder.
"Sides is gone," he whispered. Rachel choked audibly, and stared at him. The usually vain mech was just as scuffed up as everyone else, which he usually wouldn't be able to stand.
"He went out on a mission and…" Energon tears formed in his optics, and he angrily brushed them away.
"Oh no… God…that's just terrible…" she said, just as quietly.
"Stop it!" he exploded. "Just stop…I don't need this."
Three sets of optics turned to look at him.
"Sunny…we're all here for you," Bluestreak said gently.
"Shut up! Why does everyone act like I need all this sympathy?" he roared, anger building. Rachel scrambled off his arm, landing on the couch
"Sunstreaker, Bluestreak is right. You don't need to keep things from us," Prowl said calmly.
More Energon tears formed, and he desperately tried to wipe them away.
"Sunny, please. You're just hurting yourself…" Wheeljack began.
"No! What about everyone else who lost someone they cared about? Bumblebee lost Sam and Mikaela! I don't see everyone ganging up on him with sympathy!" he yelled. "Optimus has suffered the worst! He's had to lose his two best human friends, and before them Jazz! What about Ironhide? Or Hound? Mirage? He's dealt with them! Yet we're not all crowding around him, oozing sympathy!"
"Sunstreaker, you need to calm down," Prowl told him gently. "Bumblebee and Optimus have showed their feelings, and come to us for solace even. But you distance yourself from everyone, and make yourself more miserable. I understand that you miss Sideswipe. But you need to open up a little. We can't afford to be fighting amongst ourselves…"
Sunstreaker's hands shook, in rage and sadness.
Rachel sat down, and looked up at the golden yellow mech. "Sunny…if you won't talk to them, at least talk to me," she pleaded. He looked down at her, indecision written all over his face. He finally scooped her up, and quickly went back to his quarters. His half of the room was normal, but the other half seemed terribly empty.
Sunstreaker plopped down on the bed, lying on his stomach. Rachel settled in front of him, and looked into his tortured optics. "Sunny…why won't you talk to the others?"
"They never cared. Not like you or Sides," he said harshly.
"That's not true. If they didn't care, they wouldn't bother trying again and again to comfort you.
"I-I really hate what I'm about to say next, it's so low but…what would Sideswipe want you to do?" she asked reluctantly.
Sunstreaker glared at her. "Don't ask me that," he said darkly.
"I'm sorry, but I do want to know."
"I'm not answering you."
Rachel reached out, and touched his cheek gently. "I think I know…he'd want you to do anything to be happy again. He wouldn't want to see you tortured like this."
"Shut up! I just…go away."
"Sunstreaker, please-"
"No! Get out of this room!" he shouted. Rachel scrambled away. She slipped away, into a storage room. There she sat down on a crate, and put her hands together. "Sides…why? Why'd you go?
"All of you who died….why? Why torture the Autobots like that?" She broke off, and hugged herself. Sunstreaker had closed himself off to her, and they had always been such close friends. She was one of the very few people with whom he was truly comfortable with.
The door opened, but she didn't hear it.
"Ray? Ray, I'm sorry."
"S-Sunny?" she asked hopefully. The mech turned to her, and gently picked her up.
"I'm so sorry…I just… I really miss him," he said quietly.
"It's alright. I just wish you'd talk to the others. They can help too, you know," she said, gently scolding.
"Well…maybe I will. But it's so strange, 'cause I never got close to them before. I don't know why they'd want to help me. I'm not the most social mech out there." He sighed, and his vocal processors crackled. Rachel gave him a strange look, but he chose to ignore it.
"Let's go back to the rec room…"
"No. Not yet."
"Well…can we go to the medbay then?" she asked sweetly.
"Why?" he demanded.
"Because I want to relieve 'Bee from talking to Starscream. He can be…difficult sometimes. …Oh crap."
"Starscream? Why's that slaghead here?" he growled.
"For your information, he saved me from…" She choked over the word, before repeating it, very softly. "Rape…"
Sunstreaker's optics glowed a bright, pale blue. "I'll kill the slagger who tried to do that to you!"
"He might already be dead. Starscream doesn't know if he died."
"Who was it?"
Rachel looked away, and tears formed in her eyes. "I-I'd rather not say," she whispered.
Sunstreaker gently picked her up, and held her close. "Ok."
She snuggled against him, curling up. She hadn't realized how tired she really was. The golden yellow mech's surprisingly warm hand closed comfortingly around her, and she sighed. Thank you for being my brother, Sunny.
Ummmm...please don't kill me? I know that I've killed a lot of characters but...bear with me, and keep reading. Also, I know that Starscream's dialogue doesn't show his mental state, but it actually just comes up in sudden, powerful bouts. Like I said, bear with me. R&R...it makes me want to get chapters out faster!