Based on something I saw in the Allspark Almanac II.
The Decepticons dragged Silverbolt from the ruin of the Darkstar. It exploded- his old friend exploded behind them, and the roaring of the Decepticons filled his comm-bands. His right arm dangled by shreds of metal, his right leg was down to bare struts. His optics were only working intermittently.
When one of the two 'cons carrying him ripped his arm off, he didn't even have a vocoder undamaged enough to scream.
He wondered why they were taking him alive. Then he remembered- The purple-blue skies over Gillanan III, the way he'd carefully shot off Starscream's wings to keep from focusing on his own fear. Decepticons held grudges, but that one nursed them from protoform to death-launch then went back to retrieve them from space.
Silverbolt offlined his optics and marshaled his strength. He'd need every ounce of will to goad Starscream into killing him quickly.
***
"Silverbolt Major." Starscream stalked towards him, grinning in anticipation. "A bit worse for the wear, but I think you'll look back on this moment with fondness before I'm done with you."
"Yeah," Silverbolt agreed. "I won't have heard too much of your mouth."
Starscream snarled and back-handed him across the room. Something broke inside Silverbolt's head, and coolant began to fill his mouth.
"You have no idea how much it disgusts me to know you, a mere pilot, shot me down. Then the Autobots put you into that accursed Supreme before we could have a proper rematch."
Silverbolt said nothing as the Decepticon stalked closer. Damn, but Starscream was big. He'd known that in his head for a long time - all Decepticons were huge - but he'd never had a chance to compare like right now. Silverbolt was tall for an Autobot, but Starscream made him feel like a minibot.
The Decepticon yanked him up by the throat, arm-gun whining as it charged. "When I'm done with you, Autobot, there won't be enough left to make an oil can!"
Silverbolt spat coolant in Starscream's face.
***
He wasn't entirely clear on what happened next. Just that he was a long way from the floor and he hurt a lot. A lot.
Then he heard Megatron's voice, and a different hand was holding him. He thought the warlord was- scolding? Starscream. For what, Silverbolt wasn't sure. He was too busy pulling up the dregs from his electro-static battery.
His special ability supposedly collected electrical charges from the universe, so he would never run out of energy. During this war, he'd learned a much more dangerous use for it.
He laid a hand against the arm holding him and unleashed lightning.
***
"Well," someone said a long time later. "They did an excellent job on you, Silverbolt."
He awoke on an exam table, doctors bustling around him. He felt- strange. Young. ... His body was new, he realized after a moment. Brand new. Practically factory-fresh. All the aches and pains of his old body were gone- But so were the wheels. Instead he had-
He had wings.
Oh, slag no.
Megatron stepped into his line of sight. "I was impressed, Autobot. Ex-Autobot. Let us hope that your impressiveness continues."
Silverbolt bared his teeth. "Silverbolt Major, serial number-"
"Silverbolt Major died aboard the Darkstar," Megatron said mildly, something in his tone saying he could become unmild very, very quickly. "I believe Hot Spot Major gave you a moving eulogy. But the War has moved on, Silverbolt. Moved on drastically." His smile cut. "The Decepticons lost. The Autobots won. And now... Now, my sources on Cybertron tell me the Autobots have created a bold, new society. Now it is the Autobots who are the military protectors of Cybertron, and everyone else are just... civilians."
Animated Aerialcons: further taking (1/2)
The Decepticons dragged Silverbolt from the ruin of the Darkstar. It exploded- his old friend exploded behind them, and the roaring of the Decepticons filled his comm-bands. His right arm dangled by shreds of metal, his right leg was down to bare struts. His optics were only working intermittently.
When one of the two 'cons carrying him ripped his arm off, he didn't even have a vocoder undamaged enough to scream.
He wondered why they were taking him alive. Then he remembered- The purple-blue skies over Gillanan III, the way he'd carefully shot off Starscream's wings to keep from focusing on his own fear. Decepticons held grudges, but that one nursed them from protoform to death-launch then went back to retrieve them from space.
Silverbolt offlined his optics and marshaled his strength. He'd need every ounce of will to goad Starscream into killing him quickly.
***
"Silverbolt Major." Starscream stalked towards him, grinning in anticipation. "A bit worse for the wear, but I think you'll look back on this moment with fondness before I'm done with you."
"Yeah," Silverbolt agreed. "I won't have heard too much of your mouth."
Starscream snarled and back-handed him across the room. Something broke inside Silverbolt's head, and coolant began to fill his mouth.
"You have no idea how much it disgusts me to know you, a mere pilot, shot me down. Then the Autobots put you into that accursed Supreme before we could have a proper rematch."
Silverbolt said nothing as the Decepticon stalked closer. Damn, but Starscream was big. He'd known that in his head for a long time - all Decepticons were huge - but he'd never had a chance to compare like right now. Silverbolt was tall for an Autobot, but Starscream made him feel like a minibot.
The Decepticon yanked him up by the throat, arm-gun whining as it charged. "When I'm done with you, Autobot, there won't be enough left to make an oil can!"
Silverbolt spat coolant in Starscream's face.
***
He wasn't entirely clear on what happened next. Just that he was a long way from the floor and he hurt a lot. A lot.
Then he heard Megatron's voice, and a different hand was holding him. He thought the warlord was- scolding? Starscream. For what, Silverbolt wasn't sure. He was too busy pulling up the dregs from his electro-static battery.
His special ability supposedly collected electrical charges from the universe, so he would never run out of energy. During this war, he'd learned a much more dangerous use for it.
He laid a hand against the arm holding him and unleashed lightning.
***
"Well," someone said a long time later. "They did an excellent job on you, Silverbolt."
He awoke on an exam table, doctors bustling around him. He felt- strange. Young. ... His body was new, he realized after a moment. Brand new. Practically factory-fresh. All the aches and pains of his old body were gone- But so were the wheels. Instead he had-
He had wings.
Oh, slag no.
Megatron stepped into his line of sight. "I was impressed, Autobot. Ex-Autobot. Let us hope that your impressiveness continues."
Silverbolt bared his teeth. "Silverbolt Major, serial number-"
"Silverbolt Major died aboard the Darkstar," Megatron said mildly, something in his tone saying he could become unmild very, very quickly. "I believe Hot Spot Major gave you a moving eulogy. But the War has moved on, Silverbolt. Moved on drastically." His smile cut. "The Decepticons lost. The Autobots won. And now... Now, my sources on Cybertron tell me the Autobots have created a bold, new society. Now it is the Autobots who are the military protectors of Cybertron, and everyone else are just... civilians."