"Redemption"  Part 11
By Ivy Bohnlein


     Firestar's relaxed posture at the shuttle's command console barely 
  disguised the impatience rising within her with each passing minute.  She and 
  her crew were in the vanguard of the small exploratory fleet, directing the 
  Autobot and Terran shuttles in their search for Sky Lynx.  So far, they'd 
  found no traces of his passage, but Firestar wasn't surprised.  With the 
  technology available in this time, she figured they'd probably trip over 
  their quarry before they actually detected him.  Still, it was best to go 
  into the inevitable conflict with all eyes open. 
       As much as it irritated her to wait for a glimpse of the Primitive, she 
  was even less pleased about the suspicious gazes that she could feel drilling 
  into the back of her neck.  Most of the Autobots in her crew, even the 
  Technobots, seemed to accept her command in stride.  Scattershot, on the 
  other hand, had been hovering around her since liftoff.  It was starting to 
  make her wonder if he knew who the real enemy was. 
      She knew that many of the Autobots were skeptical about their story.  
  She'd heard accusations that she was everything from a spy to a paranoid 
  lunatic chasing some illusory enemy. 
      I'll show you illusions, Firestar grimaced.  When everything you 
  thought was real or safe goes slipping through your fingers, and you can do 
  nothing but fight to survive... she released a deep breath and calmed 
  somewhat, adjusting one of the antique scanners to get a better view of the 
  planetoid they were approaching. 
      She had already seen a dozen like it on today's search.  It wasn't a 
  planet so much as a haphazard collection of debris cemented by crystals of 
  frozen gas.  The irregularities of its surface and the hollows within made it 
  nearly impossible to scan properly, but nonetheless she kept her optics alert 
  for any sign of movement. 
      The radio on the console crackled to life.  "EDC Team Alpha reporting.  
  No sign of activity on this asteroid." 
      Firestar smiled at the sound of a human voice.  It had been nothing short 
  of a miracle to see them assembled beside their ships this morning.  So 
  fragile, yet so fearless...  She flipped the radio on.  "Good work, Team 
  Alpha.  Proceed to your next objective and continue scan." 
      "Understood.  EDC Team Alpha moving to coordinates Delta Minor 355," the 
  human reported, then broke off the contact. 
      Firestar wondered briefly if they had noticed that she had assigned each 
  human ship a route along the periphery of the area, or that most of their 
  objectives were small asteroids too small to hide Sky Lynx.  If the humans 
  has the pride that she remembered, it might make them angry to realize that 
  she had deliberately tried to keep them as far from danger as possible. 
      Well, better to be responsible for hurt feelings than dead humans.  
  Firestar returned her optics to the monitor, but some of her attention 
  lingered on the humans in her party.  They could probably defend themselves 
  much better than she expected, but she couldn't stand the idea of more blood 
  on her hands.  Her people had returned to this time to make the violence stop 
  --  no matter how they had to kill to do it. 
      "Scanners show that this area is clear," Nosecone reported.  "Everything 
  on the planetoid appears inert, and there's no indication of life signs." 
      Firestar swept the monitors once more with her suspicious gaze, then 
  nodded briskly.  "All right.  Let's move on to the next one." 
      "Bringing her about," Lightspeed reported.  Firestar took a moment to 
  stretch her servos and glance behind her at the rest of the crew.  Lightspeed 
  was happy just to be up here in space, enjoying the sensation of spaceflight 
  even though he had not yet achieved his lifelong goal of being reconfigured 
  for it.  Strafe sat at the weapons console polishing his rifle and looking 
  sullen about the lack of activity.  Their teammates Nosecone and Afterburner 
  were patiently watching the scanners, though they, too, had taken a little 
  break to look around the cabin.  Clearly, this team wasn't cut out for 
  surveillance duty.  Scattershot stalked the floor restlessly, glancing at 
  readouts and monitors while keeping the bulk of his attention on Firestar – 
  probably waiting for her to make any suspicious moves. 
      Firestar sighed.  This investigation was dragging on much longer than she 
  would like, and each moment gave Sky Lynx more time to plan, more time for 
  his virulent rebellion to spread, and more time for him to escape them 
  completely.  Still, it was better than doing noth... 
      A sudden explosion behind her interrupted her train of thought and 
  pitched her forward against her seat restraints. 
      "What in the inferno was that?" Firestar demanded heatedly.  Oily, thin 
  smoke was trickling into the cabin as flames back in the engine room 
  attempted to burn in the shuttle's sparse atmosphere, and the alarms were 
  ringing loudly in her ears. 
      Strafe's shout had no problems cutting through the miasma.  "I see 'im!  
  I see 'im!  Can I shoot now?!" 
      Another tremor ripped through the shuttle as laser blasts scored hits 
  along its starboard side.  "Fire at will, Strafe!" Firestar shouted. 
      "Yeeeeeeee-HA!" the enthusiastic Technobot howled, then set about his 
  business with great relish. 
      "All sensors confirm that we're being pursued by Sky Lynx.  I don't know 
  how we could have missed him..." Nosecone shouted, a note of guilt tingeing 
  his voice. 
      Nevermind that!  Inform the rest of the fleet and assume your battle 
  stations! I'm going to contact Rodimus!" Firestar ordered, "And turn those 
  alarms off before they drive me insane!"  The infernal ringing ceased just as 
  she finished punching in a sequence of keys that (she hoped) would open a 
  channel to Iacon. 
      Scattershot suddenly appeared from the thickening haze to loom over her.  
  "I'm goin' out there.  Better t'have two targets for Lynx to worry about." 
      Firestar paused to study him.  "Are you sure? You might be just as likely 
  to be hit by Strafe as by Sky Lynx." 
      Scattershot's face cracked into a grim smile.  "Strafe's a bit excited at 
  th' moment, but he still knows better'n to hit me.  I'm goin'." 
      "Good luck," Firestar nodded, then turned back to her console.  "Firestar 
  to Iacon, come in, please, Iacon..." 

  ***** 

       "Relaying message."  Soundwave's modulated voice informed his comrades. 
       After Soundwave's outburst had incurred Galvatron's ire, it would have 
  been futile to send him among the other Decepticons or to bring him along as 
  Cyclonus attempted to make Galvatron understand their mission.  So it was 
  only logical to have him monitor the transmissions among the fleet searching 
  for Sky Lynx, correct?  It had been the best use of their meager resources.  
  It had nothing to do with any overprotective desire to know that Firestar was 
  safe.  Absolutely not.  Or so it had seemed at the time. 
        But then Soundwave had radioed Cyclonus and told him that a distress 
  call had been made to Iacon from Firestar's flagship.  As Cyclonus reflected 
  on his hasty reaction, he began to question his true motives for having 
  Soundwave monitor the fleet.  Fortunately, he was never one to allow 
  reflection to obscure action, so he called his group together to hear what 
  Soundwave had detected. 
       As Soundwave began his playback, Firestar's voice entered the room: 
  "Firestar to Iacon, come in, please, Iacon... we've found Sky Lynx, or maybe 
  you could say he's found us.  We're under heavy attack.  I've notified the 
  rest of the fleet, but we're taking a pounding up h... *fzzt* ... may need 
  reinforcem... *fzzt*... capture Sky Lynx.  Transmitting coordinate... 
  *crackle*... hold out as long as ...." 
  With a roar of sound, Firestar's voice was overcome by static. 
        "End of transmission," Soundwave reported. 
       Cyclonus leaped to his feet.  "Did you capture those coordinates she 
  transmitted?" 
       Soundwave lowered his head in a barely perceptible nod.  "Affirmative." 
       "Give them to me.  I'm going up there," Cyclonus said firmly. 
       Ramjet got up to block the door.  "Are you crazy?  Galvatron already 
  doesn't trust us, and if you fly off there to help the Autobots now..." 
  Cyclonus' red eyes flashed. "I will attempt to evade detection by Galvatron, 
  then." 
      "If he shoots you first, you won't be any help to Firestar," Flamediver 
  pointed out.  "I'm sure she and the fleet can take care of themselves... 
  maybe they've already captured Sky Lynx by now." 
      Cyclonus tried to weigh their arguments logically, but failed.  After so 
  many centuries protecting her, to have Sky Lynx take her from him in the 
  past.... 
      Somewhere out there, she was hurt.  She needed him.  He would answer. 
      "Soundwave.  You will give me the coordinates." 
      Something in his voice told the others that discussion was at an end.  
  Soundwave transmitted the coordinates into Cyclonus' data receptors, where 
  they were automatically translated into a heads-up display of space 
  surrounding Cybertron. 
      "Ramjet, Flamediver, you must carry on this mission until my return.  
  Soundwave, continue monitoring.  I will be in contact with you." 
      Soundwave, Flamediver, and Ramjet all agreed, "Yes, Cyclonus," and Ramjet 
  embellished his response with a grin and a salute. 
      As Cyclonus passed out of the door, he heard Flamediver call after him, 
  "Good luck!"  The second-in-command of the Cybertronian army reflected on 
  just how much he would need it, and his footsteps broke into a run. 
      By the time Cyclonus reached Darkmount's landing pad, Galvatron was 
  waiting for him. 
      "Reports told me you were in quite a hurry, Cyclonus," the Decepticon 
  Emperor hissed, his powerful arms crossed over his chest.  "I have never 
  known you to race through the corridors before, so I thought I would witness 
  this strange behavior for myself."  Galvatron's optics sparkled dangerously 
  as he awaited Cyclonus' response. 
      "Sky Lynx has been found, my lord.  My assistance is needed in his 
  capture," Cyclonus reported impassively. 
      "Don't be absurd," Galvatron snapped.  "I know very well the size and 
  specifications of each ship in that 'fleet' the Autobots and fleshlings 
  cobbled together.  If that fails to capture one rogue Autobot, then they all 
  deserve to be wiped out." 
      "If Sky Lynx goes free, it will spell your doom and the end of all the 
  Decepticons," Cyclonus insisted. 
      "Your presence is required here."  Galvatron unfolded his arms and flexed 
  his hands at his sides.  "You will remain." 
      Cyclonus raised his head to gaze directly into Galvatron's optics.  With 
  a quick jolt of surprise, he realized that his eyes were level with his 
  commander's. 
      "I am leaving." 
      Galvatron inhaled sharply, a hiss of surprise provoked by Cyclonus' 
  statement.  "You dare? You, Cyclonus, defy me?" 
      "My lord, in this you are wrong.  By expecting me to defy common sense to 
  display my loyalty, you force my hand.  My mission is more important than any 
  one of us as an individual. Even you."  Though he allowed no emotion to enter 
  his voice, there was a surge of conflicting feelings racing through Cyclonus' 
  mind. 
      Fear for Firestar, concern for his mission, pride in his own defiance, 
  wonder that he had never raised his head high enough to look into Galvatron's 
  optics, and... pity. 
      Pity for Galvatron, who had never foreseen that Cyclonus might someday 
  say 'no'. 
      The lance of Galvatron's hatred stabbed into him as the Decepticon spat, 
  "The centuries have not been kind to you, Cyclonus – and I will be even less 
  gentle!" 
      As the orange cannon was leveled at him, Cyclonus leaped into the air and 
  transformed, quickly folding his wings into liftoff position.  The air 
  beneath him shrieked as its molecules were rent apart by the beam of 
  Galvatron's fusion cannon, and wave of heat crossed his frame from the 
  near-miss. 
      "You are going nowhere! Do you hear me, Cyclonus?! *Cyclonus*!" Galvatron 
  howled, firing wildly. 
      More blasts scorched along his surface, but Cyclonus kept his course true 
  and kicked in all the thrust he could manage.  Galvatron screamed in fury as 
  the purple spaceplane rose into the air and moved further and further away 
  from him.  "Let Rodimus Prime protect you from the coming storm, then, if he 
  can!  But he cannot protect you from me!"  Galvatron folded down into a squat 
  cannon and leveled his barrel at the retreating figure. 
      With a thundering howl that reflected Galvatron's rage, a beam of 
  destructive energy leaped out at his target.  Cyclonus' flight faltered 
  briefly, but he continued to rise out of sight. 
      He didn't fall. 
      He didn't come back. 
      Galvatron transformed back to his robot form and stared at the spot where 
  Cyclonus had disappeared.  He remained there, waiting, as the stars turned 
  through an empty sky. 

                                    ******

      Cyclonus reduced his throttle to about half-speed as he neared his 
  objective, feeling a painful jolt lance through his side as exposed wiring 
  sparked and popped.  He was fortunate that Galvatron had only hit him 
  indirectly – anything more than a glancing blow would have left him a 
  crumpled heap on the landing pad at Darkmount.  It was fortunate that he had 
  no need to go faster than light, however, because he doubted that he would 
  have the strength to make it. 
      The first sign that he was nearing the battle was a criss-crossing dance 
  of laser blasts ahead of him.  He engaged his radar cloaking and swooped 
  around the battle, approaching it from Sky Lynx's rear right flank.  As he 
  came closer, he could see that Sky Lynx's claws were dug deeply into the skin 
  of the shuttle.  Its sides were scored with blasts and its engines belched 
  weak clouds of smoke.  Whole panes of its armor had been torn off and floated 
  in a cloud of space debris that surrounded Sky Lynx's dragon-like form in a 
  halo of destruction. 
      Cyclonus scanned the frequencies to get some idea what was occurring in 
  the fleet.  The other assembled craft were exchanging fitful laser fire with 
  Sky Lynx as they tried to determine their next step. 
      "If we hit him any harder, he could crush the people in that shuttle!" 
  argued a voice that he did not recognize. 
      "He'll crush 'em anyway if we don't do somethin' right now!" 
  Scattershot's voice broadcast. 
      A human cut into the discussion.  "We're just supposed to capture him, 
  not kill him.  Remember that." 
      Scattershot's snarl was audible despite being carried solely on audio 
  waves.  "He's got some of my Technos in there! If he hurts 'em, he's dead!" 
      That confirmed Cyclonus' suspicions.  Firestar was on the captured 
  shuttle.  Quickly, he analyzed Sky Lynx' position.  The giant gryphon was 
  attacking everyone in sight with a mixture of glee and rage, and he knew they 
  couldn't exchange heavy fire because of the danger to Firestar... Firestar 
  and the others. 
      So.  Someone just had to get him away from the shuttle. 
      Cyclonus engaged his radio.  "Be prepared to attack," he warned.  As the 
  others erupted in confusion and demands, he swept around Sky Lynx and began a 
  dive toward the monster's head.  Trusting his cloaking and the gryphon's 
  distraction to keep his attack unnoticed, Cyclonus angled for Sky Lynx's 
  optics. 
      At the last moment, twin lasers shot out from under the aircraft's wings, 
  stabbing through the Primitive's golden optic band and shattering it.  Sky 
  Lynx howled and whipped his head back and forth in agony.  His claws spasmed 
  as he reflexively withdrew, setting the shuttle free. 
      "Now!" Cyclonus roared as he banked hard to the side.  The strain on his 
  damaged armor sent waves of pain stabbing into his side, but he kept his 
  sights on the crippled shuttle. 
      The vacuum of space erupted with weaponry as the fleet moved in on the 
  convulsing form of Sky Lynx.  Scattershot peeled off from the attack and bore 
  down on the same target as Cyclonus.  The Cybertronian groaned, not relishing 
  the inevitable conflict to come, but stayed on course and swept in through 
  one of the holes ripped into the shuttle's side. 
      After transforming back to his robot form, the pain in his side grew more 
  intense.  Most of his waist was nothing but exposed circuitry which jolted 
  painfully with each step.  Cyclonus stopped to look around the broken cabin, 
  his glowing eyes piercing the gloom all around him. 
      If I know her, she’ll be up in the front of the shuttle... he thought, 
  staggering toward the main console in the prow.  His optics narrowed in 
  concentration, then he spotted her slumped form in one of the chairs.  
  "Firestar!" he shouted, quickening his steps toward her, despite the fresh 
  agony it caused. 
      "Stop right there, 'Con."  The gravelly voice was low with implied threat. 
      Cyclonus stopped and turned.  "I am here to help, Scattershot." 
      The Technobot's optics narrowed.  He radiated anger that was searching 
  for a target, and Cyclonus had just made himself conveniently available.  
  "Why should I believe you?" 
      "Because I was the one who destroyed Sky Lynx's optics so you could press 
  the attack," Cyclonus said levelly, his hands raised in the air to show he 
  was unarmed.  He was unable to keep his gaze from returning to Firestar's 
  crumpled body repeatedly, seeking some motion; some sign of life. 
      Scattershot's optics snapped open in surprise.  "That was your voice on 
  the radio!" 
      "Allow me to help you.  We must get her... all of them... to a medic as 
  soon as possible.  Please, or..." Cyclonus trailed off, uncomfortable with 
  this Scattershot who looked so familiar and yet didn't know him at all. 
      "Slaggit," Scattershot swore, lowering his weapon.  "Fightin' against Sky 
  Lynx and havin' Cyclonus beggin' to help.  Everything's gone nuts." 
      Cyclonus moved to Firestar's side and sighed in relief as he detected 
  weak, but stable life signs.  "This is only the beginning, Scattershot." 
      "Hmph."  Scattershot looked around the torn remains of the shuttle.  
  "Then I ain't sure I want t'know how it's gonna end." 

    
[TBC]

*Note: Some of the lines from this and the previous part of "Redemption" are based heavily upon RP
 between myself and Rodimus Prime@2k5, whom I thank for the permission to use/modify poses and quotes.*

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