melodiesofeternity | The Final Loop

Starscream never had been one for large celebrations, even if it were something directed at him. They were usually full of annoying people. And all the overly happy people in the Curti Center? Highly annoying.

He stifled a sigh, ignoring most everyone around him and staring at the sky instead. A lot had happened during all the loops that just repeated over and over. In a way it was rather maddening. Oddly enough Starscream was used to being near death due to circumstances over the course of his life. But here? This was all different. The world was different.

And Starscream still wasn't sure how to deal with it all.

The only two Cybertronians weren't even from his universe and that made things difficult. It was too strange and he didn't understand them. Especially Megatron.

Everyone else? Mostly organic of varying species and while he had traveled to various planets during his time as an explorer he really wished he was back on Earth simply dealing with the humans. But even back home was complicated. So many things happened back then that his spark felt like a scrambled mess and being here didn't help one bit.

So instead of dealing with the happy events going on all around him he did his best to just ignore everything.

"You know Starscream, if you're so set on being left alone you could have just stayed in your habsuite." A voice-probably the one Starscream least wants to hear-says from off to one side.

Megatron stands there, holding two drinks of Energon in his hands. He offers one to Starscream, albeit somewhat stiffly; he's still a bit sore about the time during one of the early loops the Air Commander murdered him, after all. "But since you're here, you might as well avail yourself to some refreshments, no?"

Starscream was lost in his own thoughts. Ones that he attempted to directed towards the sky and the color differences between how it looked now and before that he didn't even notice Megatron approach until he heard the voice.

"I could. But that would also be boring," he responded, turning slightly to look at Megatron and the offered Energon.

He briefly wondered if it were somehow poisoned and that would somehow be Megatron's revenge.

He took the energon anyway.

"Besides the more time I'm there, the less I'm out here doing something that might annoy your little friend." Not that he actually was currently doing anything that would cause Minimus to hunt him down and declare that he's breaking the law again.

The energon isn't poisoned, though given it has been converted from native materials it might not quite be the caliber Starscream is used to.

"And this is better?" Megatron asks before following Starscream's gaze to the clear blue sky above them. "What do you see up there?"

Starscream's comment about annoying Minimus causes him to frown, however. "You waste your talents on such trivial matters, you know. These...pranks and games you insist on playing." He regards the other 'bot out of the corner of his optics. "You could be so much more." He knows it's possible for Starscream to do more, be more than this; he's seen his own universe's rise far higher than anyone would have ever expected him to, Megatron included. "Here especially, where the old factions and grudges are meaningless."

Megatron's comments sort of hit a nerve, but probably not for the reason he would think. Starscream shifted his gaze back at the former warlord.

"You sound like someone I know," he responded, his optics briefly glancing at the Autobot symbol on Megatron's chest.

But to answer Megatron's other question ...

Starscream gestured towards the sky.

"The sky up there is an illusion created by light reflecting off particles in space. A normal illusion compared to what we saw before but one nonetheless."

That was followed by a bit of a smirk.

"Not my counterpart, I take it." Megatron replies. From what he's gleaned of his other self from his conversations with Starscream, the Megatron of his universe is much like he once was; violent, megalomaniacal, cruel to both enemy and ally alike. And without even the noble intentions he'd had starting out, of equality for all, the right to self-determination. Even if those had quickly been cast aside once things started moving after he ended up in the gladiator pits of Kaon, at least they'd been there to begin with. It seems the other Megatron had never had any illusions other than simple conquest for conquest's sake.

Was he truly so much of an outlier in that regard? Not just for his attempts to atone but for the reasons he'd formed the Decepticons to begin with? Was there no version of him anywhere that didn't invite such death and destruction? And if not, how many of them ever experienced his own change of Spark? And if they did, did it stick?

Chilling thoughts to be having, so for the moment he pushes them aside, following Starscream's gaze to his Autobrand. "An Autobot?" He asks.

He follows Starscream's gaze up to the sky and nods. "Yes, that's true." He says. It's basic scientific stuff and yet to hear it coming from Starscream of all people is still somewhat startling. "But this illusion is one I much prefer to what we had at the start of all this. It means we are succeeding; we are saving this world." It's a feeling he's come to treasure far more than he ever did the sight of worlds burning.

Starscream almost laughs. "No, your counter part doesn't think I have any talents beyond being an instrument of destruction. Nothing he'd ever admit to anyway. He would have called me an idiot and we would not be having a civil conversation."

And Starscream probably would have ended up in many pieces scattered across the city by now. All in all it was probably a good thing he was stuck here with a different Megatron.

Not that he enjoyed any of this one bit. If anything he wants to go back. He has stuff he needs to deal with. Important things.

"But yes, an Autobot. It's kind of ironic now that I've had time to think about it. Almost everyone I knew before the war went on to join team good guy. No wonder I thought they were all boring."

"Then he's an idiot in that case." Megatron replies, bluntly-perhaps surprisingly so. "I admit I've not known you long but even I can tell dismissing you as a mere blunt instrument is foolish." Though he'd once felt the same about his Starscream, and while at the time he hadn't exactly been wrong to think that, Starscream had risen far higher than Megatron had ever expected him too. Of course having the prophecy of an ancient Prime to prop him up helped, but it hadn't entirely been that either; his Starscream had learned. It took four million years and the entirety of the Great War to run its course, but he'd learned. Perhaps something similar was true of this version as well. "I suppose that's why I find myself disappointed, Starscream; you could be so much more than you are now, but you channel all your efforts into trivialities instead...your pranks and games."

He takes another drink. "I'm curious." He says finally. "Before the War I didn't know my Starscream to have any friends, certainly none who had joined Optimus' forces. Who was the Autobot? I'm curious if the identity matches up with my world." Assuming Megatron can even put a face to the name, of course.

Though Starscream would never openly admit it, that might have earned Megatron a few more points on the respect scale. Something very few ever managed. Starscream's visible smirk at least gave away that he's amused.

Well that is until Megatron asks who it was he knew. The seeker visibly stiffens and takes a drink to mask his slight hesitation in responding.

"Jetfire. We met at the science academy. He used to frown at my attempts at terrorizing half the school's population. But I was so good at it. Especially at not getting caught."

Good news, Starscream! Your latest annoyance isn't a human. Granted, it's organic, but you should probably take what you should get in this instance. After all, your only other options for Cybertronian company are Minimus Tightass and the wimpy Megatron.

Tyzias saunters onto the balcony, hands jammed deep into her pockets. Sweet Sufferer, Sharas was being so fuckin' annoying that if Tyzias had to spend another minute near her, she would cause an absolute scene on the dance floor with the inevitable hate makeout. She doesn't even know how any human-adjacent being could have such an intricate understanding of pitch romantic dynamics. Fuck, Tyzias doesn't even know a spades pail from a hearts pail compared to Sharas.

Gog, Tyzias hates her kismesis so much.

Still simmering, Tyzias leans against the railing, grinding her teeth as she attempts to calm down by staring at the sky. That's when she notices who she's sharing the balcony with. Ah, yes. Him.

Tyzias was curious about Starscream. There was clearly history between him and Megatron, but considering how sometimes she wanted to toss the other Cybertronian off an airship, she has no idea what kind of relationship they have. Tyzias studies Starscream to get a better read on him so she can tell whether he's lying, then says bluntly, "So you're the one who kept murdering Megatron during the loops."

"That was one time," Starscream turns sharply at the sound of the voice and probably would have said more but got slightly distracted by her appearance.

Though that was mostly just scientific curiosity.

"Besides, technically since time keeps repeating it doesn't count." No matter what Minimus thought. "And he'd just keep coming back anyway and making my life difficult."

No matter what world he's in. No matter how many times he does it. Megatron always seems to come back. Starscream often wondered if it was some sort of cosmic joke against him.

The Final Loop

Starscream | OTA

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