literature

As Soft As Iron

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Literature Text

It was only when the third outpost stopped responding that the Decepticons realized there was no turning back.

Starscream's luminous red eyes narrowed as he read the latest missive from Central Decepticon Command.  "Very interesting."

He pulled his wings back slightly but immediately straightened them again in case anyone should notice his nervous gesture. "Well!" he quipped in a slightly sarcastic tone. "It seems that we can finally get up to something interesting rather then waiting around and twiddling our thumbs."

Behind the young Astro Commander there came the muffled sound of appreciative snickering. Starscream turned and, clasping his hands behind his back, smirked at his crew. Out here away from the prying eyes of the Elders of Decepticon High Command they could all relax and let their guard down a notch. But just a notch - too much sloppiness and failure could take them by surprise. Starscream had now lost count of the times he had to slink back to Lord Megatron and report yet another mission gone bad. But now… Starscream spread his wings wide and made a show of strutting across the bridge from the science station to the command seat. Perhaps other Cybertronians would scoff at such posturing but this was how Seekers behaved amongst their own kind. Anything less from a winged leader was considered weakness.

With a flippant expression on his face Starscream sat down in the Commander's chair and called for the latest recon scans. One could never be too careful as this area of neutral space was littered with pirates.  However, this ship was big. Very big. Starscream and his astro command of one hundred Seeker warriors was not exactly afraid of piddley space pirates. But just as he thought of this reality Starscream felt a cold shudder ripple through his frame - to be entrusted with such a large ship and an equally large mission meant that even the tiniest mistake could bring scathing damnation from their Leader.

Starscream quickly shook the nervousness from his wings and focused his optics on the main view screen. He began to call for all of the usual checks prior to diving head first into an unknown and possibly dangerous situation.

This is when the call came. The most humiliating, degrading and soul-sucking call that Starscream had yet endured as a Decepticon warrior: Lord Megatron himself appeared on the main view screen and curtly recalled the Astron Commander and his ship.

"Return to Cybertron immediately." the Decepticon leader ordered in his level, deadly tone. "You are not suited to this mission."

And that was it. No explanation. No chit chat. Just "return at once" and the main view screen went blank.

The voyage home was long and painfully silent. Every Seeker present on the bridge was aware of Starscream's shame and humiliation even as their Astro Commander sat erect with his chin held high and his wings spread wide.

Starscream maintained his unflustered air as he marched through the gleaming purple corridors of Decepticon High Command. He strutted through the wide double doors of Lord Megatron's throne room and stood firm and strong.

Until those great armoured doors hissed shut behind his wings. Those same wings, now trembling, drooped and then Starscream rushed forward and threw himself into a profound bow at his master's feet.

Megatron gazed down at the Astro Commander with his usual scowl. "What is it now?" he growled with obvious impatience.

Starscream began to tremble. "Please, my lord, tell me what it is that I have done to make you lose confidence in my ability to lead a successful mission to the third outpost."

"Starscream, I don't have time for this…"

"What have I done?!" Starscream rose to his knees and sat back on his heels. "Why did you recall me to base? The least you can do is offer me an explanation…"

Starscream met his master's hard gaze and beheld, quite suddenly and only for a nanosecond, a softness there. The young Astro Commander was stunned.

"It is only that you are far too inexperienced for such a matter." Lord Megatron replied but then his expression returned to the hardness of a sword's edge. The Decepticon leader turned his attention elsewhere.

Starscream knelt in silence, baffled and yet … Was it even remotely possible that he was not as despised as he had feared for all of these vorns? Did he dare entertain such an idea?

Bowing low again, Starscream excused himself and quietly withdrew from the throne room.
Where exactly does he stand in Lord Megatron's estimation?

(My 750 word writing comp entry for the Transfiction competition utilizing the assigned opening line.)
© 2011 - 2024 SheepSlave
Comments8
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JZLobo's avatar
:star::star::star::star-empty: Overall
:star::star::star::star::star-empty: Vision
:star::star::star::star-half::star-empty: Originality
:star::star::star::star::star-empty: Technique
:star::star::star-empty::star-empty::star-empty: Impact

First off, I loved your descriptive language. You really managed to visualize not only the characters, but their body language. That really adds to the narrative. Equally impressive, you did not neglect their more robotic body parts, and using Starscream's wings to convey his mood was a really nice touch that I think made this story.

That said, I had some issues with the characterization. I know that you're doing your own thing, writing your own continuity here, but sometimes I feel you change too much. Starscream and Megatron have a wonderful antagonistic relationship in canon, so much so that it's what Starscream is famous for and he even has a Trope named after him. It feels like you're trying to reinvent the wheel here, which automatically creates a disconnect not only from the Starscream everyone knows and loves, but from Megatron too. Having Megatron feel concern for Starscream and looking out for him... just doesn't feel right.

I applaud you for experimenting and having the courage to do your own thing, but at the same time I feel there are just some things that should stay consistent.