Back to the Basics [Starscream]

[Twister & Blackfire]

January 31st, 2024 // Location: Hawaii Volcanos National Park ((Big Island)) // Time: 4:00 pm local

Twister was alone as usual today, out enjoying somewhere new. As she had so promised the Autobots, she gave them their space, though kept in contact with Prowl and Ratchet periodically. She was still content with her decision, and did not fear Megatron's anger. She had enough trust in the others that she might get help if she was suddenly ambushed. So far, it appeared she didn't have to worry about that, as she presumed it would have happened already.

The femme was listening to local Hawaiian music while listening to the local air traffic frequency as well, first passing over the Hawaiian Islands at a rather high altitude for a helicopter, though it wasn't the performance ceiling. She was at 5000 feet MSL, and descending very slowly and turning about a wide radius to get a full perspective of the beautiful sea and islands before her.

So obviously she was out exploring and merely seeking a good time. Twister needed time to herself to think after all, and reflect on what she had discovered from her little spar with Prowl. She was proud that her latest interactions had gone so well and that she was able to maintain control of her programmed Decepticon urges.

The black Eurocopter made some radio calls to nearby small aircraft as she descended through a few small clouds in the stratosphere. The warm and welcoming sun beat down on her alternate mode. This was a REALLY nice place. She was not expecting anyone to be out here either, which made it all the more enjoyable. So far, no one curious from either faction followed her, and she was glad she didn't have to leave the US without fights.

[Starscream]

Oh what a bright and cheery place. It almost made Starscream sick. The silver seeker was sitting off on his own near the ocean. It was quiet here and it seemed people hardly came here and so it was the perfect hiding place. A lot sure had changed. Starscream was at once the top of the pedestal and now he has fallen to an all-time low, or so he felt. Neither the Autobots accepted him and he had been pretty well exiled from the Decepticons. Sometimes he felt this meant that there was no place for him on this planet and he wished he could just go back to Cybertron.

This was unusual for him, but he had been sulking since he lost his rank among the Decepticons. It also infuriated him since he still believed that neither Megatron or whoever on Earth was leading the Autobots now, were fit to rule. With a growl he grabbed a rock and threw it out toward the ocean, "Pah!" He said with some sort of finality in his voice before sitting down. His knees were bent and Starscream draped his metallic arms over his knees as he sat and simply fumed in his silence and solitude.

[Twister & Blackfire]

Twister was moseying along over head, circling the island as she descended. Her radars picked up the Decepticon jet quite quickly. She unknowingly slowed a bit as she descended to 3000 feet in her wide circle, wondering why he was there.

She had not heard about what happened to Starscream -- or rather, as some might say - what Starscream got himself into. Naturally curious, Twister wanted to investigate, even if she had to control her rage in the process, there could be valuable information to the Autobots here. She had undeniable rage building inside of her for some reason, something about the signal reminded her of something from her past, a time which she hated remembering now that she had discovered the truth about herself.

Twister was generally good about keeping her calm composure unless something absolutely extreme came up. She tried to hold it in as she descended. Cruising along a chain of Volcanoes, her Decepticon signal closed in on his location. The rotor beat could be heard well in advance, from over a small ridge behind him near the coast. This would give him a chance to flee if he really wanted to.

<"You are alone?"> Twister asked over the comms, her voice filled with distant confusion as she tried to control her anger when she remembered just who Starscream was.

[Starscream]

The other voice came over his com and Starscream sprang to his feet and turned to face the female. His red eyes were trained upon her. Where had she come from? He did not even bother to check his signals, so it was no wonder she had sneaked up on him. <"Perhaps."> Was all he had responded to her question and glanced over his shoulder as though waiting or looking for someone. Well, she would probably be able to tell that he really was alone, but he was not about to admit it because who was to say she was alone? His untrusting gaze was locked upon her as he knew that one movement could mean the difference between termination or survival. He was a traitor and so he knew what to look for in others who held daggers behind their backs. <"What is it to you?"> He asked after a few moments of more silence. He was more like a dog with it's hackles raised, trying to make himself look like someone not to be messed with and hoping to ward off any hostilities.

[Twister & Blackfire]

Only until she was flying along the ridge could she easily see Starscream. She didn't transform into her Bot form until the last possible 50 feet from Starscream after gracefully dipping down over the ridge. She settled into a hover just a few feet above the sand, a good distance from the Decepticon, though sand still flew up everywhere in large vortexes that fanned out from either side of her form. The dust settled as she parked herself there, the rotors shutting off quicker than normal because of what she was.

"Curiosity. Was rather surprised." she replied while cooling down, the dark form of her alternate mode shining. "This is a weird location for a Decepticon to hang out." Particularly a higher-up, she wanted to add.

[Starscream]

It was here Starscream felt rather flustered. Could he not go anywhere without being questioned by someone!? Well, he supposed he was the type that if he was somewhere, to question the motives, but could not an ex-Commander wallow in his sorrow in peace!? He gave a scowl to her as she spoke of a weird location for a Decepticon to hang out. Did it ever occur to her that perhaps this was not a Decepticon hanging out here? Well, he did not want to announce it to the universe that he was no longer an ex-Decepticon. Still, trying to let her think he was would only end in disaster, but when did Starscream ever really care about the long-term consequences of anything?

"Perhaps, or perhaps I am simply scouting. There are underwater Autobots you know." Starscream said this as his gaze looked out into the sparkling blue. Well, that was a stupid lie, "I could ask the same of you though. What are you doing here? Were you looking for a fight?" He inquired as his gaze snapped back over to her. His voice sounded as dangerous as ever, but it was more equivalent to a warning growl than anything.

[Twister & Blackfire]

Twister would have agreed with Starscream's initial statement about Autobot swimmers, but due to her messed up past, she was unable to remember (for now) that one of her best friends was one of those swimmers. "Oh you know me rather well I think, in that I'm ALWAYS up for a spar." she replied as she transformed, her arms expanded out at either side in a mildly flirty yet defensive pose, though it was sort of taunting at the same time. If Starscream remembered this femme's earlier history with the Decepticons, she was well equipped for battle and was capable of taking on most of the males, even the ones bigger than her because of her alternate mode and agility - she was rather difficult to intimidate, especially now when she was so angry.

"I simply find it surprising that there are actually others out here. I'm just out here to explore and have some personal time off." The only sign of possible aggression or irritation was her twitch of her rotors. If Starscream said one snide thing to her or talked down to her, she would lose it all together. So far so good though, so far.

[Starscream]

Typical Decepticon attitude it had certainly rubbed off on him while he was with them, but he often preferred not to fight when he could. He had a feeling that she would not say no to a spar, but again, he just did not feel like doing it. He gave another sigh before looking out towards the ocean, "I'm here for that too." He finally said, not being snide or sarcastic yet and he did not really feel like it right now. He was far too busy sulking over his poor position. Of course, groveling back to either side was out of the question right now. He was far too prideful to even let it cross his mind for very long. Starscream glanced to the femme again as he waited for her response. Perhaps a little company could be uplifting to his spirits, or just make him irritated even more. Even with company, he had to pick them carefully since the Decepticons would have a mark on his head for being a traitor, and the Autobots may not be informed enough to know that he is on neither side now and no longer a Decepticon Commander.

[Twister & Blackfire]

Twister abruptly sat down right where she stood. "Good, then we will have no issues. I don't need any more right now." she felt a little weird saying that to the Second in Command - Twister hadn't heard the latest and greatest news that Starscream was a neutral as well now though she had noticed he wasn't around as much. "That's one main reason why I'm out here." Her optics uncontrollably squinted at him once she sat down, studying him warily with scrutiny. Her rotors twitched as well, not sure if she would stick around too long. She didn't trust Starscream, and she didn't particularly like him. But perhaps this could be a good way to vent, by interacting with someone - even if they were the one that had changed your life forever.

[Starscream]

Right now, the ex-Decepticon and ex-Autobot was not sure what he wanted to do. Really, he just wanted to be by himself, but it seemed that was not to happen today. The silver mech gave a nod to her and noticed how warily she was watching him. For now, he decided to just ignore it and look out towards the ocean, "One main reason? Is there more?" He asked, looking to her and seeming rather wary of her now. Of course, with what she said earlier about always being up for a spar did not help things either. If anything abandoning the Decepticons and being kicked out from the Autobots had made him more wary than ever. It was very frustrating actually and Starscream had thoughts of just watching the two factions destroy each other, and probably the earth too.

[Twister & Blackfire]

Twister's right receptor twitched, resisting from going into a blind frenzy the best she could possibly manage. It was a very subtle sign she was currently unstable - but since he was looking away, it would go unnoticed. The twitch of the receptor could indicate a couple other things, so it wasn't likely it would be noticed unless she lost control of her tone of voice. "Yes, I'm trying to find out more about my past. Was looking for somewhere inspirational to think. Turns out this place is pretty good for that, and it's not far from the main continent." she replied. "Apparently there are things about myself I don't know -- rather, have forgotten. It is no wonder why I never felt in place. Do you know anything about it? I will graciously avoid a fight if I can get some newfound information to feed my overworked processor. I want to know what happened to me before the war."

She knew those visions weren't a lie, they had to do with something and her being part of the Decepticons when she was evidently not formerly, according to Prowl. Twister had to try to find out more, even if they were just little hints. If she could get away with it, it was worth avoiding a fight, even if she was seething internally. {"Focus and be calm, violence is not always the answer. That's what Prowl and the others would want...right?"}

((you might need to check her profile, if we need to alter something or you need to ask me something, we can arrange that))

[Starscream]

Everything was going fine so far, until Twister had asked him the question about her past. Starscream felt a twinge of discomfort take hold of him and it was enough to bother him. Thinking for a moment, the silver-bot finally looked at her and said, "I'm not sure if I do. So many things have happened that it is difficult to keep track of them all." He added. Well, he could have made her give him something in return for the information, but decided more that he did not really want a fight today, so he had left it at that. It was a lie, but he did not want to tell her the truth. It was difficult to erase sins from the past, and with him, the old ways of his were still causing him trouble.

[Twister & Blackfire]

"Slag...guess I hit a dead end there. I'll just go with what I know for now." The femme shrugged and shuddered a bit as she tried to stay calm, heaving a metallic growl as the shudders followed. "My apologies, the last few days have been...interesting." Interesting and difficult were probably the two words that could sum up the experiences. She was just glad she hadn't exploded yet.

Something about Starscream seemed different now. This was the first time she'd seen him since her arrival earlier this month - had something happened? She was curious, but she didn't want to make him mad either. An angry Starscream could lead to some new problems for her.

[Starscream]

Starscream just watched her, hoping she would not see through his lie and attack him. It seemed she believed him, which was almost a relief to him. Suddenly she seemed to act like she was about to erupt, and Starscream felt himself becoming uneasy, ready to bolt and fight should the need call for it, but she suddenly calmed down and so did he, at least a little. "Than can go for the both of us..." He murmured as his red eyes looked somewhat to the ground before looking out to the ocean again. Ever since he had left the Decepticons and Autobots, he was not sure where he was going to go now. He knew what he wanted to do, but he needed a base before he could do it. His red eyes looked over to the femme as he wanted to say something, but was not sure what. Her problems were her own, and he was certainly not about to tell her about his. Many would love to mock the fact that the great Starscream has lost his position and his dignity. He certainly was not sure if she would be one of them, and did not want to find out.

[Twister & Blackfire]

"Sometimes I wonder how things got so screwed up...this War...will it ever end?" she wondered aloud, wanting to hear Starscream's answer if he was willing enough to give it to her. "Evidently, we have issues that need to be resolved regardless." she finalized with a snort. "I have interesting luck. I even lost my rotors to a slaggin bird not long ago." she complained. "Damn birds." As if that was the worst thing that could happen! Of course not, she knew that. But it was still one more reminder that definitely made her rotors twitch reflexively.