Continuity note:Cartoon timeline, around 1975 earthen time CE Disclaimer:Autobots, Decepticons, Shockwave and probably Cybertron are trademarks of Kenner, Hasbro and possibly some other companies. Firestar, Chromia, Moonracer and Elita-one are the creations of the TF TV show of the 80s. Twilight is the intellectual property of someone else, used with permission. TWILIGHT A fanfic by Mischa Gelman Firestar drummed her fingers against the table, waiting. It was Chromia's turn for watch. Watch. A fitting term. All they ever did was watch the same security camers, year in and year out, century in and century out. The turns on watch were originally only a lunar cycle long, but as nothing ever happened they got longer and longer. And all they did was watch security cameras that never changed. How did someone like Moonracer stand it? Of course, if she was caught not watching the cameras when Chromia or Elita did a surprise check, she'd be in big trouble. So she kept her optics on the dull monitors, waiting till she could go back to stasis. Primus, life was boring. The footsteps sounded in the hall. Finally. Chromia was coming to take her turn at the endlessly dull watches. How long could their energon keep up, even just simply to maintain one of them at a time. She looked back as Chromia entered the room itself. Might as well ask her about my idea now, thought Firestar. "Chromia...?" The blue robot looked down at her and said in a rather emotionless voice, "Yes, Firestar?". Despite the flat tone to the voice, Firestar knew Chromia would give her life to save any of the others. It was odd how one so concerned with protocol and one so calm could also be capable of great caring. "Well, I was thinking...we've been here millions of cycles...the war could be over for all we know...or more likely we're the last Autobots left." Noting Chromia's expression, she hurried on, "And we can't keep remaining here, just monitoring outside, slowly using up our energon supplies. We're probably going to have to raid the Decepticons, wherever they are now, for energon...if they're even on-planet. Our resources are not going to replenish themselves. Maybe if I go out, I can find something. We're going to waste here, doing nothing." Firestar counted her blessings as she awaited a reprimand. Surprisingly, none was forthcoming. Chromia nodded, "A short search mission may find us something, at least news of what's going on outside. I know you won't try to start up anything if you see a 'con, and you'd go out of your way to avoid getting sighted. I'll wait two cycles and if you don't return, I'm going to look for you. If your life's in danger, you may radio...but otherwise we'll get your report when you return. If you somehow find something the Decepticons missed, better not let them know till the rest of us do." Hiding her surprise and slight joy to herself, Firestar transformed and exited the base. She just hoped she had made a good decision to venture out. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The ride was uneventful so far. No sign of life. Decepticon or Autobot. Basically the same wreck she remembered when they went underground millenia ago. Same damaged buildings. No sign that anything had been done to repair them. Maybe the Decepticons were gone now, having looked for another planet to pillage and suck dry of energy. If so, things might be able to be rebuilt. By less than ten Autobots, with a decreasing energon supply. Might be able to be rebuilt. Off to one side, Firestar spotted a collapsed building that she had remembered as whole. Maybe someone was around after all. She drove closer to get a better view of things. Under the rubble, she noticed something odd. An arm. A silver and black arm that fit in well with the rubble. Obviously part of somebody. She transformed and started digging. Slowly, she started making out the form. A black robot, almost entirely, though silver made up some of its color scheme. A female robot too. No insignia. Seemingly the building had collapsed on her, as she was terribly damaged. Still, the Autobot insignia should have shone out. All female robots were Autobots..that is how it was. Unless this was put here as bait by a Decepticon. Something to tell them the location of the Female Autobot base or to give them a metallic plague. No. They didn't even know the female Autobots still existed. Still, you could never be too cautious, Chromia always told her. This robot's existence may depend on her though. The base was secret - even from the other Autobots. If they still existed. Desperate times called for Desperate measures. She'd have to decide soon...a Decepticon scout may spy her. If they still existed too. No, it made no sense for a Decepticon to place this robot here, even if they existed. Well, not enough sense as for it to be a likely trap. Firestar lifted the black and silver body..surprisingly light..and transformed, the other robot lowered into her cargo bay as she drove off. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "You *WHAT*?" shouted the voice over the communicator. It sounded tense and angry, two things Firestar was not used to from it. From anyone since she last saw a Decepticon millenia ago. "I found a robot..badly damaged..we need to repair it, at the least, Chromia. We cannot let the wounded suffer so. It is our duty to help her. If she is a Decepticon spy, she will be dealt with. Maybe we can even gain some information from her..." A pause on the other end. Chromia was obviously taking her time to think this over. Maybe even alerting Elita-One, bringing her out of stasis. Firestar looked up. In case any Decepticon scouts did still exist, this would be a bad place to be spotted. C'mon, Chromia..make a decision at least. I'll go by whatever you say. Even drop off those wounded robot for scavengers and abandon a life... that is how much we trust your judgement. If the odds say, to you, that she's a spy possibly, I'll believe it...I just won't like it. After what seemed like ages, Chromia's voice came up again, sounding resigned somewhat. "Bring her in, Firestar. We will not let anyone die when they can be saved, until they have proven they cannot be trusted." A sigh of relief. One last glance at the sky, checking for any sign of life. Then the red robot carried the light black one into the female Autobot base. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A bright light. That was the first thing that came to her. Closing her optics in reflex, she slowly opened them again, making them adjust to the light. A yellowish face appeared before her. Not familiar in the least. She tried to stand, but found her movement restrained. Maybe this place and this robot weren't friendly to her. A quick glance around the room..just see where she was. A small room. Several other robots were there, suddenly coming towards her as she looked about. And tools. Tools she remembered from before. A similar room. A medbay it was called. It was bigger than this. Yet it still collapsed. Collapsed. The light went out on her...didn't they see the same thing could happen here...were they so blind? She tore at the restraints, but they didn't budge. She had to get out..had to get out... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Well, that was interesting..just further proof she's a spy, if she's so uncomfortable around Autobots" "No. She didn't become uncomfortable, as you put it, until she looked around more. When she first saw me, she did not seem afraid..inquisitive, rather. It was only after looking around more that she panicked...interesting, yes. Not the approach of a spy. I think she may have actually broken the restraints if we hadn't subdued her so.." Elita-one looked back at the two arguing robots, "Firestar seems correct. Something else in the room caught her attention and made her try to break out. And her babble..it sounded like 'I don't need repairs...'Perhaps we can try another room, empty of outside objects that may affect the response. We can proceed from there." Both of the other Autobots nodded. Chromia added, "Just make sure she is always guarded. If she is a Decepticon spy, she will try to contact them at first oppurtunity. She doesn't look like she could break out past any of us. Our scanners did pick up the presence of bladed weapons in her forearms as well as a sealed container inside her lower body. The scan didn't pick what wasn't inside, but it could be something dangerous. She was obviously designed for combat to some >extent. And the weapons-the kind of thing a spy *would* use." "Of course we shall take precautions. Just don't make her feel she's a prisoner..then she may turn against us no matter what her original thoughts were." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This time the light wasn't as bright. Her optics also adjusted quicker and she made sure to see if the room wasn't totally rubble. No, a different room. They had moved her out before the collapse this time. Same robot standing by her though. She showed no signs of being damaged from the collapse. Looking down at herself, she saw they had gotten her out basically in time. Just a few scratches. Not as bad as before probably. Amazing she had survived. The other robot was talking, she noticed. 'Wonder how long she's been going on for...doesn't she have anything better to do?' "...and I hope you're doing okay, because our repair staff is rather limited." Maybe I'll just play dumb and make them think I can't talk. Sure to learn stuff. And a nice joke to boot. Nah, they're too serious..look at her face..she probably wouldn't get the joke. Oh well, if I don't say something soon, I'm going to die from total boredom. Besides if there 'cons, I can have some fun. Though these restraints are a major bad thing..."Gawd, where like are we?" The yellow-faced robot looked down at her and blinked. Surprised she could talk probably. What did they think she was? Some sort of animal to tie up, something that couldn't communicate? "We are in an Autobot base." The other robot looked even more closely at her, weighing her reaction probably. Gawd, these folks had no subtlety. "Like kewl, we're like in Iacon right? That's like fully cool.. I was told I'd like be there like some day..." This sure doesn't look like what they told me of Iacon; its so completely boring. How old was this junky equipment they used anyways? And did they just sit around all day? When the other robot spoke, it was with a tinge of regret in her voice, "No, we are not in Iacon. Iacon may not even exist nowadays, let alone be in our control. Who told you you would be in Iacon someday? And what is your name? I am Firestar." Firestar. What kind of a silly name was that..didn't mean anything. Names should mean something. Whoever made this one must have drunken too much energon definitely. "I am Twilight. So like if we're like not in like Iacon, like where are like we?" "I inquired who told you you'd visit Iacon..." No real sound of irritation in her voice, surprisingly. "Oh, like the builder guys did. They like said I'd be stationed like there in a few years, you know? Fully like bossy aren't ya?" Bossy?, thought Firestar. Well, wait till she met Chromia...this robot was in for a surprise. Better let it slide..she's seeing life for the first time in ages. She's bound to be annoyed about something upon being rudely awaken. Though some sign of kindness for being repaired would be nice. What did she say? Supposed to be in Iacon? Interesting.. "So you are an Autobot?" asked the one called Firestar, "Why do you have no symbol then?" She looked down. There was supposed to be a symbol there. Odd. They told her she'd be getting one. She thought back. That was what they had been going today. When she was in the medbay. Right before the room collapsed. Right before her world had gone black. She shook her head, trying to forget the past. "I..I...was..going to...they said so..." She tried to maintain her voice, but her panic was still there. "Who? Who said? Who are these builder guys?" "Like, the ones like who like put me fully like together." Gawd, why am I saying this, wouldn't it be so much more fun to annoying them but she seems honest and nice... "I was gonna be, like, a spy and a like computer specialist. Like for the Autobots. Gawd do you like know nothing? Then..I, like, err, um, the building sorta like came down on?them ..like how did I like get here though? Like where are they?" The yellow-face looked away. Not good news. Talking slowly she said, "We found you under a ruined structure. You were the only living being in the area. It seems like you had been there quiet a while. Odds are you were the lone survivor of the accident." Strange..I should feel sad about that I guess. Without them, I wouldn't exist... The other robot still wasn't looking at her. Geez, this was gonna be a dull day if she keeps that up. Standing, Firestar headed out of the room. Well, she was dull. But without her here, things were even more boring. The black and silver robot slowly entered a self-induced rest cycle. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A few rooms away, several Autobots watched a monitor. "See, if she had wanted to escape she would have tried now..not just gone to rest" "It was a good idea of yours to check her response in such a situation. It still doesn't prove how loyal an Autobot she is or if she is even one at all. We need some test. Any ideas, Chromia?" "She says she is a computer specialist and spy, Elita. How about have her find a Decepticon outpost. There probably is one out there somewhere. I can't imagine them having given up on Cybertron ever. Once we find one, have her break in. Have her destroy their information systems. That'll prove her resolution." "Perhaps it is time to returned to the war. We can't stay down here forever. Let us see what this robot is made of." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It was amazing, thought Twilight. They actually had decided to do something interesting, stick it to the 'cons. These old female Autobots didn't seem *that* bad. Of course, if they claimed they were doing this for excitement, rather than strategical goals, she could accept it alot more. Still, a raid is a raid is a raid. Why complain when you can have fun? The black hoverracer drove along, above and ahead of the slow other cybervehicles. Gawd, they were slow. Oh well, once they got to the Decepticon outpost this Moonracer had located things would speed up. There it was in the distance, just becoming visible. A small outpost definitely, at least from what her builders had told her. Oh well, still likely to be some fun. She stopped outside the entrance, lowering herself onto the ground and transforming. Might as well check out their defenses while the slowpokes made their way here. SOMETHING to do with all this free time at least. Simple computer system. Should be able to disarm it relatively fast. "What the heck do you think you're doing?" came the voice from behind her. Turning she noticed Chromia had finally arrived. Just in time to pester her while she was working on something requiring precision. "Gawd, how stupid are you? I'm shorting out their defences. Or I like was till you had to like show up and start yelling." "And you were ordered to short them out?" "Naw, I was just like tired of waiting for you." Heh, this'll show her. Just a bit longer.. there... "And I coulda finished sooner if you hadnt bugged me..they coulda like seen us in that time" The other Autobots were finally arriving. Gawd, they were slow. The pink one turned to the others, "Okay, Moonracer, see if you can knock out the defense mechanisms before the Decepticons can realize we're here." The green robot drew her gun and pointed it at the control panel, carefully aiming. "Um, I like wouldn't do that if I were you" Oo, the pink robot was starting to look angry. Heh, I didn't know she showed emotion. "And why not?" "'Coz it might turn on a secondary security alarm and I like already deactivated the primary defense computer, m'am" That oughta make her feel better. Those by-the-book types always like fancy title and formal junk. A look of surprise on the face of the pink robot. She underestimated me, huh? Well, better show her how valuable I could be to them. Not that their trust means anything to me. Or does it? Naw, of course not. "Well, time to head in then, Autobots." The boss-type one drew her gun and blasted open the door. Okay, now let's just hope there're some 'cons inside to pound. Rushing in before the others, Twilight looked about. No Decepticons visible. Geez, had they found an empty place to raid. That would be just like those incompetement 'bots. Then again they had found her..saved her..bought her back to life. She owed them sorta. And they were nice. She felt sorry for them more than looking down at them, really. She should help them. They needed it so much. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This Twilight needed help so much. Insulting Elita. Getting Chromia to raise her voice. She definitely needed someone to keep an eye on her. Guess that's up to me. I found her, I look after her, I keep her in line. If I can just catch up with her. Geez, she's fast. Darting down corridor after another. Got to make sure we don't lose her. She might be helpf...oomph. Firestar looked up and saw a Decepticon warrior. First one I've seen in ages..heh. And I can't even strike back at it. I shoulda seen it coming. But I was too busy following Twilight. And now I'm basically helpless to fight back, pinned. What a way to die. She could hear another Decepticon, nearby, loading his weapon. Maybe she could push this Decepticon back into the fire if she timed it right. A quick glimpse to each side showed no other Decepticons. A good sign at least. 2 on 1. She might make it. She had to keep faith in Primus. And hope her timing was on. The Decepticon had stopped loading..about to fire..time to move. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Where had Firestar and this Twilight gone off to? As soon as they'd entered the building, she'd lost sight of them. Probably finding all the fun too, from what she'd gathered about this Twilight. Unless she was a Decepticon spy. She might lead Firestar into an ambush then. In which case it was even more important to find them. Plus this base's outlay wasn't helping things. Tons of tunnels put together randomly. Amazing, considering the size of the place. Here I thought it'd be a few rooms. I should really ask Elita and Chromia to let me get out more. I'm of no use if I can't make my way around an outpost well. What was that clunking sound? Better head towards it..might be this trap of Twilight's. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Geez, where were all the others? Oh, yeah, they were slow. Well, not as much fun beating up 'cons by myself even if to show up that stubborn foolish by-the-book Chromia. Might as well go back and look for them. Gawd, who knows what kind of trouble they could get into without me there. Better backtrack. The black robot, without an Autobot or Decepticon insignia, rushed backwards, hardly making a sound, an expert in stealthful tactics and silent movement. Around one bend she suddenly came to a halt. The red Autobot, the one who seemingly had found her..saved her..was being held down, a prone target for another Decepticon. She saved my life and now she was going to die and she wouldn't even get to wipe the floor with the Decepticon creeps here. That is, unless I save her. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There. Firestar was in trouble. Two Decepticons were way too much. Seemingly they had taken her by surprise, since she was pinned to the ground. That must of been the loud crashing sound. That Twilight must have set up an ambush. So she must be about too unless she had gone to warn other Decepticons. She blends in too well to see anyways without a search..and I gotta act now if I want to save Firestar. Moonracer drew her laser pistol from subspace. The Decepticon with the weapon drawn had finished loading it and was aiming. It was time to act. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a form appear though. Twilight! That scum. Take her out or the 'con about to destroy Firestar... Twilight could be next. Aiming her pistol at the con, she quickly prepared to fire. Twilight lunged at the Decepticon though..trying to defend her comrade from my shot, is she? Firestar shoved the other Decepticon away suddenly. No clean targets ...dagnabbit..well I didn't spend all that time practicing my targeting for nothing. A cry of pain from the Decepticon Twilight had bought down. Blades were sticking out of his body..from the black female robot's knees and arms. Maybe she's on our side after all. The one still standing was running. Smart Decepticon, that one. Of course, we can't let him warn the others. One well-placed shot and that beam should fall on him..and aim..and fire. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Where in Primus had all these Autobots come from? Hear they're supposed to be dead and one rushes by, unmarked for some reason. Then another. At least we almost had her destroyed. Then the first returns..another comes..guess we got ambushed instead of them. And now my arm is burried under a heavy beam and I can't radio boss to tell him about this and Skullcracker is dead and they're walking up to me and they all have weapons drawn and please Primus save me..I never meant to harm those Autobots...I just had no other choices...I swe.. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "Good job, Twilight. You saved an Autobot's life. You broke into a Decepticon base, singlehandedly shutting down their defense systems. While you still haven't grasped exactly what it is to be an Autobot, I think..blah blah blah blah blah" Gawd, didn't this Elita lady ever shut up? All I did was try to have some fun. And help someone who needed it. Nothing much. Oh well, I finally have that Autobot symbol I was promised so long ago. It looks nice over the black armor. ZEH HAKOL. C'EST FINI. THE END IT IS. I realize this as a bit outdated, as Twilight died on TF2 a few months back. I had started this idea when the PCC was fairly new, but didn't start writing it till the winter. I guess it's sort of a monument to one of my favorite PCCs ever, a char I had great fun RPing with. Lots of thanks goes out to the char's creator, for making such a wonderful creation, for editing this story and fixing up the speech and thoughts. Without her, this story would have never been.