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fandomweekly2021-03-22 04:25 pm
misplacedpoetry) wrote in fandomweekly2021-03-22 04:25 pm
[#088] Candles On The Other Side Of No-Mans-Land (Transformers: Cyberverse)
Theme Prompt: Regrets
Title: Candles On The Other Side Of No-Mans-Land
Fandom: Transformers: Cyberverse
Rating/Warnings: PG, Spoilers for Transformers: Cyberverse Season 3
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 648 words
Summary: Ratchet and Shadowstriker come to terms with the war's legacy in their own ways.
It was dusk and the wall cast a long shadow that enveloped Ratchet as he walked along it.
It wasn't the wall that cut an ugly line across the whole of Cybertron, a monument to all the things they had fought for and lost.
Though this wall was smaller and far, far shorter than the border wall, it was no less a memoir of failure.
"How very... Autobot."
Ratchet didn't bother to look up at Shadowstriker's comment. As clear as the border wall made it that the war could spring up at again at any time, no one actually ever seemed to be on their respective side of it.
"I take it Decepticons aren't much for honoring the dead?" he asked as she walked up besides him.
"We do, in our own way. But I doubt anyone's just got a list of everyone who ever died laying around."
From the corner of his eyes Ratcher could see Shadowstriker looking up and down the rows of names carved into the surface of the memorial.
"Although it looks to me like you missed someone."
Ratchet knew who she was talking about "We didn't miss him. He wasn't an Autobot."
"Mm, you know, no one on our side knew he was a spy, we all thought he was a traitor to the Decepticon Cause."
"So?"
Shadowstriker shrugged "Well, I guess there's plenty of people who won't be getting their names on lists either."
Ratchet huffed "You should get going before someone decides to report you."
"Like you?" She rolled her eyes "Give me a couple more minutes, then I'll go."
"What are you even doing here anyway? Aside from harassing tired old bots."
Shadowstriker started walking, her eyes still scanning up and down through the names "I told you, Decepticons have their own way of honoring the dead."
"Yes, but these are all Autobots, I thought that was clear," Ratchet trailed after her, partially because he wasn't supposed to just let a Decepticon run loose though Autobot territory, mostly because he wanted to hear the answer to his question.
"Dead ones."
"I don't understand."
Shadowstriker didn't stop walking but she slowed a bit "I have eyes you know, I can tell the difference from one bot to the next and as dented as I may look, my memory still works. I remember the names and the faces of the bots who gave me a run for my shanix, and I didn't hate them for that. I still have plenty of reasons to hate them, but not for that."
"That's what you're doing? Commemorating people who tried to kill you and failed?"
A bitter smile twisted at Shadowstriker's mouth and she came to a stop, her eyes lingering on a handful of names "And what are you doing out here, doctor? I'm sure you were friends with many of these bots, why are you out here at sunset when you already know who's dead and who isn't?"
"Because..." Ratchet hesitated "Just wanted to be alone, I guess."
Shadowstiker finished reading whatever names she had come to see and turned away "I imagine this place isn't exactly buzzing with activity at the best of times."
"I guess I'm here for the ones who didn't get their names written down."
"Someone has to remember them," if that was agreement, Ratchet couldn't say, but before he could decide whether or not he wanted clarification, Shadowstriker transformed and sped off.
"Bye," Ratchet said to the trail of dust she left behind "Hope whatever it was you did helps you recharge."
He looked towards the horizon where the sun left only fading streaks in the sky, then back towards the memorial. If he stood there are stared at the space where a name had been omitted, he wouldn't be able to somehow manifest something the fill the gaps.
Knowing that didn't make him feel any better though.
Title: Candles On The Other Side Of No-Mans-Land
Fandom: Transformers: Cyberverse
Rating/Warnings: PG, Spoilers for Transformers: Cyberverse Season 3
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 648 words
Summary: Ratchet and Shadowstriker come to terms with the war's legacy in their own ways.
It was dusk and the wall cast a long shadow that enveloped Ratchet as he walked along it.
It wasn't the wall that cut an ugly line across the whole of Cybertron, a monument to all the things they had fought for and lost.
Though this wall was smaller and far, far shorter than the border wall, it was no less a memoir of failure.
"How very... Autobot."
Ratchet didn't bother to look up at Shadowstriker's comment. As clear as the border wall made it that the war could spring up at again at any time, no one actually ever seemed to be on their respective side of it.
"I take it Decepticons aren't much for honoring the dead?" he asked as she walked up besides him.
"We do, in our own way. But I doubt anyone's just got a list of everyone who ever died laying around."
From the corner of his eyes Ratcher could see Shadowstriker looking up and down the rows of names carved into the surface of the memorial.
"Although it looks to me like you missed someone."
Ratchet knew who she was talking about "We didn't miss him. He wasn't an Autobot."
"Mm, you know, no one on our side knew he was a spy, we all thought he was a traitor to the Decepticon Cause."
"So?"
Shadowstriker shrugged "Well, I guess there's plenty of people who won't be getting their names on lists either."
Ratchet huffed "You should get going before someone decides to report you."
"Like you?" She rolled her eyes "Give me a couple more minutes, then I'll go."
"What are you even doing here anyway? Aside from harassing tired old bots."
Shadowstriker started walking, her eyes still scanning up and down through the names "I told you, Decepticons have their own way of honoring the dead."
"Yes, but these are all Autobots, I thought that was clear," Ratchet trailed after her, partially because he wasn't supposed to just let a Decepticon run loose though Autobot territory, mostly because he wanted to hear the answer to his question.
"Dead ones."
"I don't understand."
Shadowstriker didn't stop walking but she slowed a bit "I have eyes you know, I can tell the difference from one bot to the next and as dented as I may look, my memory still works. I remember the names and the faces of the bots who gave me a run for my shanix, and I didn't hate them for that. I still have plenty of reasons to hate them, but not for that."
"That's what you're doing? Commemorating people who tried to kill you and failed?"
A bitter smile twisted at Shadowstriker's mouth and she came to a stop, her eyes lingering on a handful of names "And what are you doing out here, doctor? I'm sure you were friends with many of these bots, why are you out here at sunset when you already know who's dead and who isn't?"
"Because..." Ratchet hesitated "Just wanted to be alone, I guess."
Shadowstiker finished reading whatever names she had come to see and turned away "I imagine this place isn't exactly buzzing with activity at the best of times."
"I guess I'm here for the ones who didn't get their names written down."
"Someone has to remember them," if that was agreement, Ratchet couldn't say, but before he could decide whether or not he wanted clarification, Shadowstriker transformed and sped off.
"Bye," Ratchet said to the trail of dust she left behind "Hope whatever it was you did helps you recharge."
He looked towards the horizon where the sun left only fading streaks in the sky, then back towards the memorial. If he stood there are stared at the space where a name had been omitted, he wouldn't be able to somehow manifest something the fill the gaps.
Knowing that didn't make him feel any better though.
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