#or maybe its Thundercracker or Skywarp who do something like that

[renard-dartigue]

transformers is with skybound comics now 😞 but yeah I need that comic asap

WTF IVE BEEN OUT OF THE LOOP.

Welp, somebody call Skybound ASAP!

[revelboo]

May I request a part 2 to “Skin and Bones: Megatron x pet reader”? Maybe megatron is stuck taking care of the reader again. Skywarp’s a d*ck who forgot to feed the poor organic that morning. And maybe there’s another incident where the human doesn’t think anyone is in earshot and megatron hears them singing and/or frees-stying poetry because they are bored. Bonus points if the human gets a bouncy ball as a gift from some con (if you’re choice I’m thinking Starscream or Soundwave but maybe Megatron? Whoever you feel is most likely to do it) for entertainment and just as said con of your choice turns around to address a concerned con to say “Oh don’t worry they aren’t a human sparkling they won’t try to eat it and choke, it’ll be fine.” The human pulls an Andy from parks and rec by throwing the ball against the nearest metal wall and it bouncing back to hit them in the face making them fall to the ground. 😂

Skin and Bones pt 2

Megatron x reader- pet

• A day without drama. Without putting out fires, dealing with whatever abominations Shockwave has created, or handling poorly thought out take over attempts by his SIC. Megatron’s not quite sure what to make of it as he rounds a corner and nearly steps on the human. Because it’s somehow loose and unsupervised and it definitely shouldn’t be.

• Yelping, you throw yourself backward as you nearly run right under the huge foot of Megatron in your hurry. Falling back on your butt, you stare up at him with dread. Especially as you hear your pursuer’s heavy steps. Oh, you’re dead. The leader of the Decepticons stares at you before looking back the way you came. Because you can both hear Skywarp threatening to weld you to a wall when he catches you. Very dead.

• Megatron frowns as the human darts toward him, having apparently decides its pursuer is scarier than he is and he’s not sure what to make of that. That he’s the safe harbor in the storm. Hearing the snarling profanity before the Seeker darts into the hallway, Megatron bends and scoops up the human, once again surprised by how light it is, insubstantial skin and bones. Aside from a sharp intake of breath, it’s silent. Those big eyes stare pleadingly up at him from that oddly almost Cybertronian face. Aside from the softness of it, he can almost pretend it’s a particularly tiny minicon.

• “Lose something?” He asks, dragging his optics from the human to Skywarp as the Seeker freezes.

• “It got away from me. Won’t happen again.” Baring his denta in a smile that promises pain, he holds out a hand. You shrink back, pressing tighter to the hand holding you.

• “Why aren’t you on patrol?” Shifting his cupped hand closer to his chassis, Megatron huffs as those little hands hold on to him. Clinging to him for safety. That shouldn’t warm his spark, but it does. He’s not soft on the hapless little creature. Of course not.

• “I’m not scheduled for-“

• “Allow me to rephrase that, go patrol,” he says, noting the way the human’s shoulders slump in relief as it looks up at him. Skywarp stiffens and for a moment, he thinks the mech might argue, then he turns on his heel. But not before shooting a filthy look at the human in his hand. He waits until Skywarp is gone before rumbling. “Want to explain what you did to make him so angry?”

• Breath hitching, your lips part, because he’s asking you a question. And he expects an answer. Starscream, Thundercracker, and Soundwave treat you so much like a badly trained, but loved puppy that you forget that they know you’re intelligent sometimes. Those red optics are burning a hole in you as you debate how much trouble the truth will get you in before you start talking.

• It wasn’t really your fault anyway. Thundercracker had given you the dodge ball like you were a little kid not an adult. How old did they think you were? Turning the hard rubber ball in your palms to test the weight of it, you’d offered Thundercracker a smile because he meant well at least. He was always bringing you weird stuff and when you thank him, he does that weirdly adorable wing flutter just like Starscream does when you agree with him.

• No sooner has he left, you’d become aware of Skywarp- your skin had prickled in goosebumps as you’d tried to not panic. Because this one had made it his goal to mess with you. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking, your skin still crawled because he’s there behind you. You could feel him behind you, watching with cruel predatory interest. You’d tossed the ball up and caught it to get a feel for it, then turned and lobbed it right at Skywarp’s face since it was right there. And when were you going to get a better opportunity?

• After admitting what you’d done as revenge for an earlier attempt by Skywarp to drown you that he’d generously called a bath, you fell silent and waited for Megatron’s judgement. Really, it’d been Skywarp’s fault for leaning so close to you- what had he expected? And a lot of the anger was because, by sheer luck, you’d nailed him square in the optic.

• Your tension drains away when Megatron actually laughs, his other hand coming up to ruffle your hair a bit too roughly with a servo and declare you tiny but fierce. Sure. He can call you whatever he wants if he keeps Skywarp from murdering you. You relax in his hand as he carries you back to the throne room to wait for Soundwave or Starscream to notice you’re missing. Previous Next

[zeropro]

So I’ve seen you draw and tag a couple of different ships, just wondering which are your favorite???

Love your art btw :D

Thank you!

I don’t have a specific ship i'm particularly loyal to, so I guess I’ll rate them and also provide my own headcanons:

(disclaimer i dont know ship names so imma just try my best)

Trine-shipping: yes, put the three of them together, I don’t care. familial, sexual, romantic, platonic, its all good. I go crazy seeing them stand next to each other in the cartoon what do you want from me.

thunderwarp: I see this one a lot and I quite like it. these two being mates with starscream doing his own thing kinda makes sense considering starscream has a bunch of other ships. also makes it fun when something happens to one of them and starscream is left in the awkward position of having to deal with that.

thunderstar: been thinking about this one more lately. they’re like foils to each other. thundercracker’s a good boy to starscream’s bad boy, and he does such a concern about all the morally dubious stuff starscream gets up to. but at the same time, he admires starscream’s ambition and rizz and starscream the kinda bot that would pull you so high if you followed him. I think out of anyone, starscream is the closest to actually trusting thundercracker. 

starwarp: i had this thought one time of what if skywarp is like the horniest asexual and starscream is the most traumatized aromantic, and how would that even work XD nothing solid in the works just an idea that I had. ive seen these two less often outside of trine shipping but it can be pretty hot. I like when they are being protective of each other. I always see skywarp as more emotionally open than his trinemates and starscream can use some of that open and honest emotional love and care. someone to forcfully make him accept being loved. someone who will actually push back when he’s being stupid. and with skywarp being loyal to megatron, so much angst potential for both of them.

starbee: im a sucker for the whole ghost bee starscream dynamic. I already made a post about these two, and after all this time I still really enjoy this ship. I think characters that don’t actually like each other at first but grow into a mutual respect is so tasty. I think some people don’t like the ship because they headcanon bee as too young? well, starscream is actually younger in my fic lmao, but also they’re like 6 million years old and are born with full adult processing capabilities, I don’t think age matters here :P its less about intimacy for me anyway. I like them together because of how much it takes to get there. 

starwavewave: okay this one is 100% fueled by tfone but guyssss guysss theyre married and megatron is their son and im just aaaagh dont seperate them! such a kookie dynamic, the cool headed soundwave, the emotionally volatile shockwave, the arrogant yet cowardly starscream, all being fail dads to their little scamp leader. hahaha. high command polycule 

megastar: gasp, rated above skystar. yes, I just find this dynamic more interesting. I like an abusive ship sometimes for the angst but I also enjoy seeing megatron when he isnt abusive? kinda catharsis maybe. I read a fic once where the war is over and starscream invites megatron to one of optimus’ high profile parties and is appalled at megatron showing up in robot equivalent of underdressed, meanwhile megatron the working class miner is like “I washed, what else was I supposed to do” XD and I just love that haha. theres just so many ways to take it. I wont be doing any megastar in my au, I just tag anything that has megatron and starscream interacting with megastar cuz thats the dynamic to me

skystar/jetstar: iddkkkkk i know this is the most popular ship but it’s just!! idk! its not as interesting to me haha. I love this as a past ship, they were roommates in college, starscream opened himself to someone, chose to become close and then was hurt by it. just another wound on starscream’s spark before he ever even meets megatron. I don’t think theyd get back together after the ice. idk how well I can write this so I’ll just explain how it happens in my au here: skyfire died and starscream created this version of skyfire in his mind that was perfect, he memorialised him because he was dead! you just cant live up to how someone remembers you. I think that was part of the reason why starscream reacts so badly when skyfire “betrayed” him. unlike thundercracker, skyfire knows how to set healthy boundaries. not to mention he’d been on ice for four million years, lost his entire life, everyone he knows, and his entire civilisation, planet, and culture to a war he had no part in. bot’s gonna be upset. pissed off even. skyfire shouldnt have to be some soft sparked punching bag for starscream, he’s kind and a pacifist but he’s also going to get upset and have feelings. I think starscream’s betrayal would hit pretty hard, he’d gonna be upset about how much starscream’s changed, how much damage starscream helped cause during the war, and also starscream shooting him in the back for wanting to protect the native wildlife! when they properly talk to each other again it’s going to be heated on both sides, and I think after some hard work from both sides they could end up in a place where they are willing to be friends again, but I don’t think they’d conjunx. skystar isnt end game to me, but it is canon and an important part of the story

starop: I think ive read one fic where I really liked this ship. it’s just such a random pairing. my initial reaction is just noooo optimus prime?? but that guy’s everyone’s dad! Ive been told a big part of it is they’re both megatron’s ex’s and that’s pretty funny. not for me sadly haha (opxmegatronoldmanyaoiotpfrfr)

starjack…wheelstar? whatever the starscream and wheeljack one is. I’m not into this one. I see where people are coming from with it, but wheeljack isnt an interesting character to me. they can be science bros tho

starscream and windblade: ive seen this like once or twice. not for me. windblade is like, starscream’s daughter or something idk XD 

soundstar: uuuh i dont see it. sorry! i legit have no thoughts on soundstar. theyre coworkers XD. ive seen fics where the seekers are really young and soundwave moms them, and that’s really cute. okay, I like soundwave as a caretaker if the seekers are young, but yeah I don’t think I understand this one. 

shockstar: nooooooo. tho ironically theres more canon content there to fuel this one than soundstar (is this emotion?) but still no XD I don’t even hate shockwave! let him be sunstorm’s dad, that’s cute. but no, shockewave too creepy. no ship. they are also coworkers

what other ship is there even? oh yeah

starprowl: this is apparently a really popular ship?! I guess in a way prowl is sort of like the autobot’s starscream, undermining his leader, arrogant, willing to do the dubious play. they’re both ruthless. I like this one better than starjacked, but its still an odd pairing to me.

oh! knockout and starscream, i can kinda see it? like, as a rebound after breakdown? I like knock out and breakdown, so I’d only see these two as like friends or if something happened to breakdown. they’re a LOT of fun when they interact tho heh heh, perfectly clashing personalities

on the topic of tfp, I guess starscream and arcee is a ship? I can see this similar to my enjoyment of starbee, they’d have to work reeaally hard for this one to work but they have had potentially positive interactions in the show (before starscream screws it up) so its possible in a better world where starscream doesnt suck they could become friends. him killing cliffjumper is gonna be a huge hurdle tho! 

dont talk to me about airachnid

do people ship starscream and ratchet? I don’t ship it, but I do really like interactions between them. starscream is so terrible but he also gets hurt a lot. ratchet is grumpy and prejudice but he’s the best doctor and he’ll fix him up! I like when something terrible happens to starscream and ratchet cant help but feel bad for the guy. that’s the good stuff.

lastly i have been asked a few times on trinebee. im assuming this is bumblebee and the trine. i hadnt thought about it but it makes sense! if youre a starbee shipper, but you also support trine propaganda, then it only makes sense to bring bee into the trine. also bee and thundercracker are friends! the only ones who havent really had any interaction is bee and warp, and honestly idk if I see those two getting along but bumblebee is everybody’s friend so XD I’m sure it’ll work out!

and i think those are all the thoughts i have on the ships! 

no hate on anyone who ships any of these!!! you all do what you do, these are just my opinions, and honestly I’m just not a huge shipper to begin with haha. I am…unsure if there will be any shipping content in my au, I write my scenarios very much “canon but to the left” and so it comes out very sex-less because romance and intimacy is just not the type of content I’m in the business of writing. but, idk, i think about it sometimes. sometimes I think about the end of chapter one of thundercracker’s origin, the night starscream took thundercracker out on a not-date. i think, who knows, in some version of the story maybe they shared a kiss? maybe they went back to the apartment and things went further? maybe. but of course, in every version of the story, starscream is gone the next morning. 

happy valentrine’s day!

[quill-firefly]

A Reflection of Nothing in You (SG TFOne Fanfic)

Sort of a prequel to this and also based off of my other post because the holiday prep has slowed down a bit and I felt like writing something otherwise I might explode. I really should probably focus on the games I'm playing but I just love writing too much lmao

So have this, more of my SG TFOne!Megatron being a Medic for the Decepticons propaganda /j (okay the reason he's in this role is cause I don't think he would have had a reason to take the leadership from SG!Starscream and well the Decepticons might need a scientist/medic cause they all seem to be military mechs - though I'm sure they probably do have a medic among them... surely).

“Is that your cannon, or are you just excited to see me?”

If that question had been posed before the procedure, Megatron may have been agitated enough to shoot the mech in the chassis. The words themselves were enough to send disgust through his processor, but it was because of the question rather than who had asked it. The lack of reaction in his blue optic must have caught the other mech’s attention since he froze, giving Megatron the opportunity to slam the end of the cannon against that purple helm. With the other mech stunned, he quickly moved away.

There was a tense silence, even with the ongoing chaos around them. Megatron took a moment to turn his optic away, catching a glimpse of Thundercracker and Skywarp as they attempted to carry an unconscious Starscream from the battlefield. Truthfully, Megatron had been prohibited from entering the battlefield after his recent stunt. However, as the medic, he found that disobeying Commander Starscream’s order was necessary if they wanted to keep more Decepticons alive. Besides, how could he have stayed inside the base when the communication lines were blaring the same message over and over?

‘Commander Starscream has fallen! Fall back!’

He genuinely thought his wings would crack at how fast he had flown over. Fortunately, it had merely been a misreport. The axe had taken most of the chassis off, but the spark was still intact. If he had been a second later, maybe the Decepticons really would have lost their leader. Luckily, as per usual, his presence on the battlefield was always enough to distract the mad Prime from pursuing who he had been fighting. His relief for Commander Starscream was short-lived though as he was left alone with the Prime. No other mech would dare to intervene now.

“Your optic…” It was whispered so quietly that he’d nearly missed it. Megatron trained it back towards the mech before him, a sort of indignation rising in his spark. But not at the Prime, no, it was only a reaction to the audacity of this mech to mention his optic when he was the cause why one was missing in the first place. Even now, it was difficult to look at the other without focusing on the singular blue optic on the Prime’s faceplate. His optic that the other mech had torn from its socket. “Do you recognize me, Dee?”

Although he knew the carnage around them was because of the Prime’s inability to relinquish power, Megatron could almost understand what his old self saw in Optimus Prime. Maybe there was still a part of the Prime’s spark that was Orion Pax. Surely there was, because why would he have created reprogramming to rid himself of the feelings he’d held for the other mech? If Orion Pax had truly died, then his old self would have had no reason to hold on. He would have had no reason to commit such an unethical act to free himself from the sparkbreak.

“My memory circuits are intact, Prime. I know who you are.” He kept the cannon trained on the mech in front of him. The emotional part of him was aware that there was something inherently wrong about the emptiness in his spark. He was missing a crucial component inside him. The memories of their past were still there in his processor, but there was nothing to feel - as though the memories were merely flashing images. “You were once Orion Pax, maybe you still are, but that doesn’t matter anymore. You are nothing more than the enemy of freedom to me.”

There was a tense silence before the Prime began to stomp his way towards him. He didn’t hesitate, firing off a singular shot that the other mech immediately dodged. The Prime didn’t dare get any closer, instead, his mouthplate opened - showing how hard the other mech was venting. The Prime’s red and blue optics had softened, even if they still held lingering traces of anger. They flickered to the rest of the Decepticons still left on the field, as if searching for someone to blame. Then, his gaze was drawn back to him. “Dee… what have they done to you?” 

“According to my memories, you always insisted we should not be afraid to do what we want. That it is our right to… be more than what we are and that we should make our own choices.” His tone was even, unable to feel a hint of guilt despite shooting at a mech his old self had once loved. The emptiness in his spark was unbearable, but Megatron had no way of reversing the procedure - not that he wished to do so. “Why do you try to deflect the blame instead of believing that I made this decision myself, Prime?”

“Because you wouldn’t dare—” The Prime growled out through gritted dentas. A disbelieving smile appeared on the other mech’s faceplate, his servos twitching by his sides as though he wanted to pull Megatron closer - either to keep him in his arms or shake him, Megatron was not quite sure. His memories of the other mech were confusing. At some points, Orion Pax had been rather clingy. In others, he was rather pushy. “You wouldn’t dare… Come on, Dee. A mech like you? We both know you wouldn’t do something so cruel to anyone. I thought that was my job, remember?”

“I distinctly remember calling you cruel.” He nodded. His old self must have been desperate if he had resorted to reprogramming technology. If the emptiness in his spark was unbearable, Megatron had to wonder what the sparkbreak must have felt like. He wondered if it was the same reflected pain that was on the Prime’s face, as though he had lost something he could never get back. “Understand that the me before you feels nothing for you, but I believe my old self loved you very much. He must have if he was willing to break his own moral code.”

The Prime had closed his optics, letting Megatron’s words wash over him. Then those optics opened, and the mouthplate was back on. “A new technology you created then?”

“I created it, yes.” Megatron started to back off, seeing from the corner of his optic that most of the Decepticons were beginning to retreat. He could hear his own communication device beeping rapidly, an order to fall back.

The Prime followed slowly after him, those optics trained on his faceplate. “Care to share?”

A rueful smile found its way to his dermas. “So you could use it for your own selfish gains? I’d rather you take out my other optic than ever give you the blueprint.”

“Oh Dee, I wouldn’t use it for selfish reasons.” The other mech had the audacity to laugh. “I only want to fix you.”

“You’d only make me worse.”

He turned while indiscriminately taking a singular shot at the mad Prime again. He didn’t know if he hit his target, having already transformed into his alt and flying away.

Now that he had properly met the Prime after the procedure, Megatron couldn’t help but worry that his apathy would only make the other mech more wrathful.

[in1-nutshell]

Ironhold meeting MTMTE Megatron (Longer version)

SFW, Platonic, Familial, Romance, Cybertronain reader

G1/MTMTE

Since they could remember, Ironhold was told that they had exceptional luck.

Ironhold didn’t believe in luck.

They thought that ‘luck’ was a type of way to shift the blame on their own actions. They hated when bots would try and shift their blame onto ‘unexplained’ things. Things happened for a reason and those reasons were based off the bot. If something bad happened, it wasn’t ‘bad luck’, it was the bots fault in the end.

But right now, Ironhold was willing to make an exception to that rule.

For the past month they had been trying to get their schedule aligned with their soon to be (hopefully) Conjunx’s schedule. It had been cycles since they had properly had time together and they really wanted to be with him right now.

They wanted to talk about their day with him, hear his tall tales and horribly cheesy jokes, they just wanted to hold him tight in their arms without fearing the alarm clock would sound off in the few nanoclicks they had in between.

“Yeesh. What crawled up your tailpipe and died?”

Ironhold looked unamused as they passed by Thundercracker with their datapads. They didn’t have the energy to deal with him today. Heck, they didn’t have much energy to deal with most bots today. Grimlock could come ramming through the wall and they wouldn’t even bat an optic.

They just wanted to turn in today’s datapads and move on with the day.

“Ironhold. Recharging well?”

The red visor of the third in command flickered a bit ending the sentence.

“Not too well Soundwave, but I’ll live.”

“You’re not recharging well? How come?”

“I’m fine Thundercracker. The business of me recharging is not anyone’s concern.”

Soundwave crosses his arms at that statement.

“But can’t you like, asks Megatron to take a load off?”

Ironhold vents deeply.

“It’s not about sleep.”

“Correction. About Rumble.”

Ironhold was once again glad that they could not ‘blush’ like humans could. If they did, they might as well look like one of those ‘tomatoes’.  Clearing their intake they spoke.

“What is between Rumble and I—”

“None of your concern. Yeah, not so much Hold. Wait! I bet you two haven’t had any alone time and that’s why you’re angry!”

Maybe Ironhold had underestimated Thundercracker after all, and if he could figure it out Skywarp would find out by the end of the month. Or two. Okay maybe four if they were being honest.

“And if this were true… what would you suggest I do?”

“Are you asking for help?”

“…Yes.”

The Seekers optics widened a bit. He hadn’t expected that they’d actually ask for HIS help. Hopefully he wouldn’t screw it up.

“I mean, if trying to plan around schedules hasn’t worked, then maybe ask for favors or ask Megatron to give you two some time. Maybe say its for, what was the human term ‘sick day’? Do we have those?”

Ironhold ignored that last comment, mainly because they didn’t know either, but did consider asking Megatron if one more revision didn’t work out. Or perhaps the favors, they did have many bots owing them favors… it could work.

“Maybe you’re right Thundercracker. I’ll give it a try.”

They nod at him and begin to go to the door before stopping and turning to Soundwave.

“Do you know where Frenzy and Starscream are?”

…

“I can’t believe we finally have some time together! How long has it been? A millennia?”

“It’s been one month, 10 days, 5 hours, and 30 minutes but who’s counting?”

Turns out asking Frenzy was a lot easier than expected. Maybe it had something to do with Rumble’s constant ‘moaning and whining’ about not having any time with Ironhold. He practically dumped Rumble at their pedes when they asked him to take the shift.

Starscream was a bit trickier to get a hold of.

But no one ever denied some wax on the wings with a sane mind.

So now it was just Ironhold and Rumble walking down the halls of the Nemesis. Ironhold had these plans to go out for a while and they were going to make the best out of it. The nearby drive-in movie theater had the slasher film that Rumble had mentioned maybe seeing and today was the last day they were showing it. If they got there on time, they could also find a nice shady spot to watch from.

“Hello? Earth to Ironhold? Hello? Anybot home?”

Ironhold snapped out of their train of thought and looked down at a slightly amussed Rumble. He was holding their servo. Even after a while of dating, Ironhold still marveled at the size difference between their servo and rumbles. His was practically engulfed in theirs. They squeezed a bit.

“So, what movie do you want to see this time?”

Ironhold made a face pretending to think.

“Hmm… don’t know…”

Rumble gives them a look.

“Aw, c’mon Hold, you always have a movie on your processor. I’m sure you can think of one that doesn’t stink. Unless…”

The minicon slides in front of them giving them a teasing smirk.

“You DO have a movie in mind.”

Ironhold playfully scoffs and continues to walk.

“Excuse you—”

“Yes?”

Ironhold lets out a chuckle before patting his helm.

He swats it playfully before taking the lead again.

“Ironhold we’ve talk about doing that!”

Ironhold gives him a loving smirk.

“Well, My Spark, you were asking for it.”

Rumble stammered a bit before angrily stopping in front of them. It wasn’t actual anger, just a little fit that would fix in a few minutes on its own.

But as it turned out, it would take less time to completely ruin their plans. Especially when a colorful portal came and started dragging everything in that wasn’t nailed to the ground. Like a minicon.

“Hold!”

That was all Rumble needed to say before jumping in after him. Holding onto the ledge of the portal didn’t seem possible, yet they were doing it. One servo holding onto Rumble’s servo while the other was gripping the ledge.

“What is going on over there?!”

Never had Starscream’s shriek given them this much joy. Joy that was short lived when they felt the smaller servo slip out of theirs.

Ironhold didn’t think.

They just let go.

The pink and green swirl soon turned into darkness once their entire frame hit something cold and wet.

…

When Rumble woke up, he half expected to see Ironhold’s disappointed face hearing the clocks alarm. Except he was in their arms… or in their semi shared berth… or in their room… The minicon jumped up, pillars up and ready to plow down the next bot who touched him. And boy were there a lot of Autobots around. There was something strange about them too. The looked… off. He couldn’t exactly say what was wrong, but there was defiantly something new from the bots he was used to. But a familiar looking felicon approached him.

“Ravage? Is that you? Where is Soundwave and the others?”

The felicon raised his optics a bit.

“You’re not Rumble.”

“And you’re not Ravage! You can talk!”

“Of course I can talk! And Rumble is with Soundwave right now.”

“If I may.”

The tall turquoise bot stepped closer to the minicon. His servos tightly around a yellow briefcase.

“This Rumble is not from our universe.”

This was certainly something.

Rumble pointed at the bright yellow suitcase.

“And what’s with the suitcase? You gotta bomb in there?”

A larger figure came through the crowd. This had to be one of the biggest mech on the ship, Rumble was sure of it. There was no mistaking the grey paint job and aura of authority.

“Not a bomb, it does however travel through time.”

Rumble was definitely going to ask about that later, but right now he was taking in the sheer size of this Megatron. Primus did this universe make everyone taller and bigger?!

“Megatron!”

He nods at him and then at the bot.

“I am Brainstorm, the smartest—”

The red bot next to him, that strangely looked like Perceptor (maybe he was?), nudged him on the side. Brainstorm grunted a bit at the hit before clarifying.

“One of the smartest scientists on the Lost Light. I may be the reason why you and your companion are in our universe. You see, I created a machine of sorts in my recharge, still wonder how I did that, and as it turns out it opens to different universes. Now this would be better on a mass scale and—”

The red bot interrupted.

“Brainstorm, the topic.”

“Oh yes, thank you Perceptor. To keep things short, anyone who came through that portal is now in our dimension somewhere on the ship.”

Rumble’s optics widen under his visor. What did this bot mean by ‘universe’? As far as he knew there was only one… or maybe there were more out there. He really needed to stop hanging around Skywarp, as the humans said, his braincells were dying faster with him around. But the last sentence finally registered in his mind.

“Wait you said someone else came through? But who would…”

The realization sends his pillars back and replaced with his servos, now making home on his helm. This made many of the bots around him look surprised if not borderline shocked. The Rumble of this universe would never act out like this. Who or what was this minicon so worried about.

“Oh of course that dumb, selfless, stinkin’, loveable scrap for brains would jump in after me! Primus that dumb bot is going to be the death of me!”

Did… did Rumble have a Conjunx? Maybe Amica? Nah, that was not how Rumble was…

Right?

“Loveable?”

Rumble looked up at Megatron.

“Ironhold jumped in after me!”

“Who is Ironhold?”

The minicon stopped in his tracks and stared in disbelief at the war lord.

“What do you mean—Ironhold! Hold! My Hold! Ringing any bells up there?”

Another red bot steps forward.

“I don’t think anyone’s heard that name before. Maybe they are exclusive to your universe only?”

Megatron and Perceptor give him a surprised look.

The red bot looked slightly offended.

“Hey, I’ve watched these kind of things during movie night. I know some things.”

Megatron clears his intake.

“Thank you for your insight Rodimus, and he is right Rumble. No one we know goes by that designation.”

Rumble sees the flash of red on his chassis.

An Autobot insignia.

…

“Megatron… what is that Autobot badge doing on yer’ chassis…?”

Megatron instinctively touches the insignia and looks slightly ashamed.

The red bot, Rodimus, answered his question.

“The war’s over. Megatron here surrendered.”

“…”

“Rumble—”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SURRENDERED?!”

Megatron and most bots winced at the sudden yelling.

The Ex-war lord looked at him.

“It means I surrendered. I am not going into more details.”

Rumble almost sneered at the autoboot badge on his chassis.

“No wonder you lost the war. Ironhold wouldn’t have given up so easily.”

Megatron just vented tiredly. Rodimus, having a bit of pity for his fellow Co-Captain. He smiles a bit at Rumble.

“Listen, we’ll find Ironhold. Might be a bit difficult looking for a minicon—”

“They aren’t a minicon.”

Rodimus looks at him.

“They aren’t?”

“No. Why did you think they were?”

“I just assumed they were another cassette on the team.”

Rumble huffed.

“They aren’t a mini and you aren’t going to find them either.”

Rodimus huffed a bit at the comment.

“And pray tell why?”

Rumble gives him a smirk.

“They don’t do that whole ‘getting found’ thing. They find you. The only reason you’re gonna find them is if they want you to find them. And believe me pal, it takes a lot to get them to—”

The doors swing open revealing a red minibot with a blue visor.

“Something just came out of the oil reserves like the Creature of the Black Lagoon and is shooting everything!”

“That’s Ironhold for ya.”

The chattering stopped at the sudden thud sounds coming from above.

A large pede kicked the opening lid and a rather large bot dripping with oil and two large blasters aimed at the group. Their optics shift and scanning each bot until they spot Rumble. The bots could see the brief flash of relief in their optics.

“Rumble?”

“Ironhold!”

The larger bot clicked their blasters at the group.

“I swear to the Allspark, if you don’t hand him over, there will be no medic alive who would put you back together—Megatron? Ravage?”

They lowered their blasters a bit.

“What is going—”

The red Autobot badge catches their optic.

“…on? Primus, did I hit my helm. What is this?!”

Rumble just races up to them and jumps. Ironhold expertly catches him with one arm while the others still had the blaster in servo. Rumble hugged them best he could, he swore he felt a shudder coming from their frame. The minicon took both his servos and grabbed their faces making them look at him.

“Listen Hold, just put down the blasters and they’ll explain things.”

Ironhold gripped the blasters a bit tighter.

“Hold…”

The larger bot slowly put down their weapons but still held Rumble in one arm. They glared at the ex-war lord.

“Explain. Now.”

…

This was definitely a new for them both.

Ironhold had never really considered there being another universe or universes out there. But this ship, this crew proved them wrong. To hear that this universes war was over was… strange. There had always been a war, without fighting what were they going to do? They looked down at Rumble, who was rambling to ravage about something and something clicked.

The reason why they fought.

A better future for them and all Cybertronains to live equally.

For them to have a life with Rumble.

To live in peace.

“Its going to take some time, but we should have a way to get you two back home.”

“Thank you Brainstorm.”

Rodimus walked up to them and Rumble.

“As long as you two are here, you are honorary members of the Lost Light! I don’t know if you caught the name, but I’m Rodimus Prime. Co-Captain of the Lost Light.”

Ironhold and Rumble’s optics went wide.

“What happened to Optimus?”

“Co-Captain isn’t a rank.”

Rodimus waved his servo off handedly.

“Long story short, Optimus was dead, I became a Prime, Megs here shot me in the chassis, Optimus came back and I’m still here.”

Ironhold looked like they were going to slap someone.

“And Megatron is our other Co-Captain.”

“Whose bright idea was this? Skywarp? Nah couldn’t be him. That’s like saying Starscream is the Ruler of Cybertron.”

Ironhold chuckled a bit at Rumble’s joke.

“How do you know that?”

Both Cons looked at Megatron in disbelief.

“…Say sike right now…”

“Rumble—”

“Say sike right now!”

“Starscream?! Why? Who? What…?”

The red and white sword mech behind Rodimus chuckled.

“That’s another long story.”

Rumble pouted a bit.

“Is there anywhere on this ship were we can get some rations? Bots starving here.”

The red and white minibot, Swerve cracked a wide smile.

“We got something better, we gotta bar!”

“A bar?!”

…

Even after a couple of days on the ship, Rumble couldn’t remember having so much energon and not having to be told to save it for later. He is seriously considering moving to this new universe with Soundwave and Ironhold. The pair still hadn’t even met half of the ship, but that was probably for the vest. Speaking of which, Ironhold was taking in the engex slowly, like they did back home. Always savoring it and keeping it in as long as possible to make it last.

The tall purple bot, which Rumble was sure was a con at first glance, placed a servo on their shoulder.

“We are no longer at war. There is enough for everyone here.”

“… old habits die hard…”

“I understand.”

Ironhold smiled a bit.

“And you are?”

“I am Cyclonus—”

“And I’m Tailgate!”

The three of them nearly had whiplash when the white and blue minibot popped out of nowhere and began spitting out questions almost as fast as Swerve had been doing when they first stepped foot in the bar. Rumble still doesn’t know how Ironhold didn’t sock him in the mouth.

“—and then I woke up here in the med bay with Whirl, he’s that bot over there,let me introduce you to him! Whirl! Hey Whirl!”

A turquoise empurata bot walked up to the bar were the group was.

“What is it Panic Button?”

Tailgate didn’t seem to be bothered by the nickname.

“Have you met the honorary members yet?”

“You mean the ones that will be out of our helm in a few hours from now? I heard Brianstorm saying something about the finishing touches on the portal gun.”

Ironhold smiled and turned to the bot.

“Really? Is it true?”

Whirl snapped his claws.

“Are you and Rumble Junxies?”

He knew the tone was a teasing one, he knew that it was a code for yes…

But that didn’t stop the warm feeling in his chassis from blooming.

“Whirl, Rumble and I aren’t Conjunx Endura.”

Whirl looked at the taller bot with a squint in his optic.

“Amica?”

“No.”

“… Will you be though or…”

Ironhold sighs a bit.

“We haven’t done that yet.”

“Unless you want to.”

The words spilled out so quickly Rumble had to take a few seconds to realize what he said.

He said he wanted to be bonded to Ironhold.

In public.

Millions of what ifs and scenarios, both good and bad bloomed. If he couldn’t even keep his helm straight, why would he even attempt to bond with them?

“Cause if you’re free… I can show you how we do things in this universe~”

Whirl’s claw found its way near Ironhold’s servo.

Sod it.

“GET YOUR FILTHY CLAWS OFF THEM! THEY ARE MY FUTURE CONJUNX AND—”

“Really?”

Ironhold held a look of… hope and love.

Yes, this was definitely the right decision.

“Ye-yeah, if you’d have me?”

What came out next was something that Rumble would never think would happen to him in real life.

One, Ironhold picking him up and spinning around in a bar.

Two, squealing ‘YES!’ over and over again.

And Three, Megatron in the background once again frozen in place while the phrase ‘You are the father!’ played in the background.

Suddenly a familiar looking portal appeared on the bar’s floor.

Brainstorm running in.

“Fixed it!”

Ironhold pulled him closer giving him a smile.

“Time for us to head home?”

He smiled back.

“Yeah! Let’s blow this pop stand! Later losers!”

Together they waved goodbye to their new friends and jumped into the portal.

…

“What do you mean they fell through the floor?!”

“It means, THEY FELL THROUGH THE FLOOR!”

Soundwave sighed for the 300th time this hour.

The search for Rumble and Ironhold had yet again reached a dead end, and at this point Soundwave was considering talking to the Autobot’s to help widen the search.

“Starscream nothing that you just said made sense!”

“But it’s true Megatron!”

The Second in Command stomped the floor.

“Right here! Right here is where they just vanished—”

POP!

Rumble and Ironhold fell through the portal and landed on a screaming Starscream.

Megatron and Soundwave helped the two up.

Rumble suddenly stood up and jumped up.

“THEY SAID YES!”

“Rumble: Location. Explanation.”

“Later Boss! I gotta a Conjunx ceremony to plan with Hold!”

Megatron froze in place, something many Megatron’s seemed to have.

“Wha—”

“You’re right! We need to make sure the location is set.”

“And don’t forget the placements!”

The pair eagerly walked back to their habsuite leaving the three mech’s dumbfounded.

“What.”

“The…”

“BEEEEEPPPPPPP!”

“Soundwave! My audials!”

“Quiet Starscream!”

[amorphous-binary]

Snippet; “ELITA-1”

My second draft for a chapter of Idyllic— it was much more Starscream focused than my final draft (and published vers.) was!

This version is still very rough ... I was going to edit it when I decided to just spruce up the initial draft haha

I haven't posted the vers. I settled on, but I’ll update this post with a link when I do pspsp

EDIT: Chapter 2 is up :D

— binary

*

*

*

The seekerling liked knowing things. It made her feel safer.

“This is actually pretty thorough,” The blue seeker scrolled down, his digit gliding across the screen. “You're missing some information, but it's still really good.”

The praise made her feel bubbly, but Aphelion rose a brow at T.C.’s latter statement. “How can I be missing something?”

Thundercracker zoomed out, and the spreadsheet in its entirety came into view. He tapped the empty slot marked ‘3 p.m.’.

“Uncle Starscream has his craft club from 3 to 5.” He scrunched his face, and then corrected himself. “Well, 3 to 6 if the tea and gossip’s good,”

Aphelion gave a nod of understanding, and slid a box of rust sticks over to the blue seeker; his payment for being such a good help.

“I think I’ll ask if I can go with him. Skyfire says I need to meet new people,” She opened a smaller box of energon goodies, popping one into her mouth. “Does that sound like a good idea?”

“Do whatever.” Thundercracker shrugged his shoulder struts. “Miss Elita’s nice, anyways— you’ll be fine no matter what you do.”

The other seeker nodded, though she had no clue who Elita was. Aphelion rose to her pedes, figuring that Starscream would know; the aerial knew a lot.

***

She found Starscream in his craft room.

“Is Miss Elita nice?” Aphelion asked quietly. The last thing she wanted to do was disturb Starscream, who seemed to be busy with choosing what supplies to bring. To his credit, his craft room was very well-stocked. Most fabrics were not produced on Cybertron, but rather imported from organic races or Cybertronian colonies— in other words, fabrics were expensive.

And Aphelion supposed that professors were paid very well, if Skyfire could afford to keep Statscream's craft room as well-stocked as it was. In any case, if she were in Starscream’s heel struts, the seekerling would have trouble choosing what to bring along to a club meeting, too.

“She's nice, almost sickeningly so.” came Starscream’s reply, and the youngling nodded, satisfied with that answer.

***

“Well, well, well, if it isn't Starscream.” Chromia sat closest to the kitchen door, and was the first to see the red seeker approach. The blue femme snorted, “You're so late that I almost forgot you lived next door, you know.”

Starscream rolled his optics, but the smile on his face betrayed his true feelings— for all of her bantering, he did consider Chromia a friend. “The star of the show never arrives first, Chromia.”

As he spoke, his optics scanned the kitchen. Seated at the table was Chromia of course, but also Esmeral. And, if he looked beyond the archway, and into the sitting room, he could spy a few other mechs and femmes in their own groups. But, there was no sign of Elita-1.

Esmeral must’ve seen the mech’s eyes wander because she piped up quickly, “Our gracious host went to fetch a bottle of engex for us though, there’s regular energon in the fridge, too, I’m told.”

“Wonderful,” Starscream took a seat, “Our guest can't drink high-grade, after all.”

Chromia nodded, “Brought Skywarp with you this time? Or, did you switch things up and rope Thundercracker into coming?”

But the aerial shook his helm. 

“Do you have another nephew stashed away somewhere?” Chromia quirked an optic ridge, servos folded firmly over her chassis in legitimate confusion. 

“Oh! Oh! Maybe there was a buy one, get two free deal?” Esmeral laughed. But, she quickly straightened up. “No really. Was there such a sale going on?”

At that moment, Elita-1 stepped into the kitchen, cradling a transparent bottle of engex. Her blue optics grew even more vibrant when she caught sight of Starscream.

“I was wondering when you’d get here!” She set the bottle down, and it gave a soft clink as it connected with the table. Esmeral’s sangria optics traced the label, then glowed with satisfaction– the Eukarian knew a good wine when she saw it.  “We almost had to start without you!”

“Such a tragedy has been averted; let’s not linger on it.” The seeker trailed off, sparing a glance behind him, towards the kitchen door. He could make out the tip of a white wing, and tsked beneath his breath. “Aphelion, stop lingering by the door.”

“Aphelion?” Elita-1 murmured. She looked over at her amica, but Chromia merely shrugged her shoulders. The blue femme was in no position to explain; Chromia didn’t understand what was going on herself. And, well, if Esmeral knew anything, surely she would’ve said something by now. 

“Ladies,” Starscream’s voice was a purr, and his servos rested delicately yet firmly on the newcomer’s wings. “this is Aphelion.”

The femmeling’s optics never met the kitchen table, and really, the white seekerlet appeared content to look everywhere else but where the other femmes were seated.

At the same time though, her wings spread high and wide behind her. It was a tactic that fliers used to make themselves appear both larger and more confident. On the youngling though, it only made her more endearing than she already was.

For a short while, there was an awkward silence as Chromia, Esmeral and Elita ran their eyes over their new arrival. 

Esmeral broke the silence, “She doesn’t take after Windblade or Slipstream very much, does she?”

“Not all younglings take after their creators, Esme.” Chromia reminded gently. “We aren’t on Eukaris, mind you.” While Esmeral ruminated on her friend’s words, Elita cleared her throat, and shot both femmes a look

“Let’s not talk about someone who’s right in front of us,” The pink Cybertronian said this pointedly.

Then, she lowered herself to a knee. She didn’t try to meet the seekerlet’s eyes, nor did she attempt to make the child look at her. Aphelion swallowed, and took a pede step backwards. Or rather, she tried to. Starscream tightened his grip on her wings, anchoring her in place. So, Aphelion directed her gaze upwards, brows furrowed, and lips fixed into a frown. 

“Use your words.” Starscream mouthed. At once, Aphelion shook her head, her frown only growing deeper. “Just once, Aphelion. That’s it.”

The seekerling risked a look at Elita. “Just once?” She asked quietly.

“Just once.” Starscream affirmed. The youngling reset her optics, as if mentally preparing herself. Her guardian quickly added, “You don’t need to say anything after this.”

Aphelion supposed that was better than needing to keep up a conversation she didn’t want, and she nodded. She would have preferred to observe, but at least the older seeker had given her an out of some kind. She was grateful for it.

“My d-designation is,” She took in a sharp intake, trying to shake the nervousness out of her voice. She tried once more before she opted to simply say,”I’m Aphelion.”

Elita beamed, and rested a hand against her chassis. “It’s very nice to meet you, Aphelion. I’m Elita-1.” Her powder-blue optics flitted over to Chromia, who offered a smile. “That’s Chromia, and the other femme is Esmeral,” The Eukarian threw up an awkward wave.

They seemed nice enough.

***

With introductions out of the way, Aphelion was content to stay seated on her guardian’s lap and observe. They were all occupied with their own projects, but made light conversation as they talked. But Aphelion was less interested in their gossip, and more intrigued by the different methods each femme employed.

“Starscream …” She lightly knocked against the mech’s cockpit, trying to get his attention. “What is Miss Esmeral doing?”

The seeker barely looked up from his needle felting. “Ask her.” 

Aphelion ex-vented in annoyance, “You said I wouldn't have to talk…”

But Starscream was not budging. “I said you wouldn't need to talk. Truth be told, you only need to introduce yourself. Anything said after that is purely optional.”

Aphelion wouldn’t argue with him, but, Certainly, if she had come with Skyfire, the shuttle-mech wouldn’t have made her talk so much. No, Skyfire would have held her close to his spark and assured her that she didn't need to talk at all.

Aphelion ex-vented, one part annoyed and one part nervous. But she was a curious creature, and her lips moved almost on instinct. 

“What are you doing?” Elita, Chromia and Esmeral all looked up, trying to figure out which of them Aphelion referred to. The young seeker felt her faceplates grow warm.

“S..sorry..” It came out quieter than the white youngling would have preferred. “I.. I meant Miss Esmeral,”

From her end of the table, Aphelion could see that the femme was doing … something with a plastic square. The square had holes all over it, from what the seekerling could tell.

 

Thankfully, Esmeral was more than happy to explain. “It's called a plastic canvas.” She said.

“See this? The thread goes into these little holes. Would you like to try? It’s not difficult at all!”

Not difficult at all? Aphelion liked the sound of that, and it would give her something else to do other than sit and observe.

***

“Aphelion’s very good with her hands.” Elita-1’s took short sips of her energon wine, her head turned so she could peer into the sitting room.

Chromia and Esmeral had long since abandoned the kitchen table, in favour of moving with Aphelion to the living room, where there was more space. And of course, the new face attracted all kinds of attention.

Starscream looked up for a nano-klik, before he returned to his craft. There was a datapad in front of him, with an organic avian creature on screen. He was using it as a reference.

“Of course.” The red seeker responded. “She learns best through imitation. But, I have an ulterior motive for coming today.”

“And here I was thinking that you enjoyed the tea and excuse to gossip,” Elita-1 chuckled, pouring herself another cube’s worth of engex. “I'll bite— what's this ulterior motive of yours, Star?”

Her fellow Cybertronian was quiet a moment, as if deciding how to best phrase his next words. He drummed his digits against the table, optics flicking towards the ceiling in thought. 

Finally, the aerial spoke. “I shouldn't say ulterior motive. I … You’re a good mother, Elita. Sky and I-” He clasped his servos on his lap, squeezing them together tightly. “-we don't know how long Aphelion will be with us. But, while we're her guardians, we were wondering if you would be willing..”

The gynoid held a hand up. “I can't believe you’d ask something so silly— the answer's yes to whatever it is!”

Starscream ex-vented in relief. He detested asking for help, but, he figured that the Prime’s cinjunx would have useful information. And, as always, Elita had proven that calling her “sickeningly nice” was more than apt.

[END OF DRAFT]

[grayseekerswritinglife]

Tricks & Treats (1/5)

Chapter One: Smoke-Bombs

Starscream locked his lab door behind him and took a long, hard look around. He was alone. There was no telltale ‘vop’ of teleportation, nor was anyone perched on his work-bench, feet swinging idly as they babbled a string of increasingly nonsensical questions.

Hey, Starscream! What about exploding snakes? That’d be cool, right? No—wait! What about sparklers that turn into snakes and then explode? I mean! One second you’re wavin’ a sparkler around, and next it turns into a snake and explodes! Wouldn’t that be nifty?

“It would not,” Starscream growled, stalking through his now-vacant lab. “It would not be the least bit ‘nifty.’ It would be a puerile, pointless waste of my time and intellect.” He yanked open a supply cupboard, grabbed a sturdy trash bag, and began clearing away the mess. There was glitter. A lot of it, in varying shades of orange, black and purple. Also various accelerants, types of fuses, scraps of hollow, articulated cable meant to resemble snakes, globs of sticky orange resin designed to bond to one’s exo-structure and look… well, gross, and—last but not least—a pumpkin-shaped mold for making inflatable gourds.

Once the last bit of ‘snake’ tubing had disappeared into the bag, Starscream allowed himself a sigh of relief. While he’d accepted long ago that the only sure way to get any uninterrupted lab-time was to appease Skywarp’s need for ever more creative pranking supplies, this event that humans called ‘Halloween’ was testing the limits of his fragile patience. He tossed the bag in the trash receptacle and trudged to his workstation where he paused, one hand on the power-switch.

“Now, where was I?” His gaze settled idly on the holocube that sat beside his workstation. It showed two explorers about to depart Cybertron on a deep space mission. Neither of them had heard of Halloween, which was probably why they both looked so optimistic. “Ah, yes,” he said as he sat down. The screen flickered to life, and the project he’d been working on three days ago, when Skywarp had first invaded his lab, appeared. Within moments he’d re-immersed himself, and was in the throes of some highly sophisticated mental calculations when someone pounded on the door.

“Go away!” Starscream shouted. “I’m busy!”

The knock came again. Louder this time, and more urgent. So much for uninterrupted lab-time. Starscream pushed his chair back with a growl, pausing just long enough to switch off his monitor before he stomped to the door. Whoever his caller was, it couldn’t be Skywarp. Skywarp wouldn’t have knocked; he would have teleported right in and started nattering about his latest prank idea. The only other likely choice was Megatron, who sometimes knocked, but wasn’t always in the mood to respect a locked door. The last thing Starscream wanted was for Megatron to see what he’d been working on. Unlike Skywarp, he might actually figure out what it was.

“I’m coming! Hold on to your trigger-guard, and—” Starscream broke off as the next round of knocks were accompanied by… yes, it was: a faint boom of thunder. A sonic boom, just strong enough to rattle the chemistry glassware on his shelves. He yanked the door open.

“Thundercracker?” Starscream stared at his Trinemate. He wasn’t used to seeing Thundercracker by himself. Normally, Skywarp was at Thundercracker’s side—when he wasn’t haunting Starscream’s lab—and his presence provided a certain buffering influence. Alone, Thundercracker looked… dangerous. Especially with his wings hiked to such an aggressive angle and his fist raised to batter the door again. Or, possibly, Starscream’s face. He looked angry enough to try it, and Starscream took an involuntary step back. “What are you doing here?”

“Is he here?” Thundercracker demanded, peering into the lab. “Please say he is.”

“Is who here?” Starscream asked, irritated at his own reaction. He was the Trineleader, for frag’s sake. He had no reason to feel intimidated by an underling. Thundercracker shoved past him and stalked into the lab, raking his gaze over the shelves, the monitors, the small berth upon which Starscream occasionally slept, and the cabinets filled with supplies and scientific apparatus. “Wow,” he muttered. “Geek Central.”

“What do you want?” Starscream demanded. It occurred to him he couldn’t recall the last time Thundercracker had set foot anywhere near his lab. His presence here seemed ominous. It also occurred to him that he had more to hide than just his secret project. The holocube on his desk was rather incriminating. Normally he shoved it well out of sight before entertaining the few visitors he got down here, but this time he’d forgotten. He edged in front of it, trying to block Thundercracker’s view. “What are you looking for?”

Thundercracker let out a sigh. “I was hopin’ he’d be with you, but…” he reached into his subspace and drew out a plain black metal box. “You know what this is, right?”

Starscream nodded. He’d recognized it instantly. Originally designed to hold specimen-jars, it had recently been repurposed to house smoke-bombs. “What about it?”

“I found it on his berth.” Thundercracker raised the lid. “It was empty. He also cleared out the compartment where he was stashing his other Halloween junk.”

“So?” Starscream adjusted his wings as he spoke, mentally gauging the optimal angle to keep the holocube from Thundercracker’s line of sight. “He’s probably commenced this… Trick-or-Treat nonsense he keeps going on about.”

Thundercracker shook his head. “Nah. He was saving all that for Halloween, which isn’t for a couple days. I checked.”

“Thirty-six hours,” Starscream corrected automatically. “But what about it? Maybe he’s getting an early start.”

“Maybe.” Thundercracker sounded doubtful. He started to pace, forcing Starscream to turn in his direction to keep his wings in the right position. “But I don’t like it.” He stopped and leveled a glare. “You couldn’t just let him have his fun, could you?”

“What?” Starscream flinched at the note of accusation in his Trinemate’s voice. “You think this is my fault?”

“Who else? You got him interested in human traditions in the first place!”

“Me? I beg your pardon?”

“You encouraged him to go looking for Santa Claus at the North Pole!”

“Just to prove there’s no such thing!”

“Well, he didn’t take it that way! He took it as encouragement.”

“But—”

“He’s also decided he’s the Easter Bunny.”

“What?”

“He’s gonna… I dunno, hide a bunch of eggs in the Command Center or… something.” Thundercracker swept a hand over his forehead, as if trying to push the thought aside. “Human traditions are so bizarre. Anyway, when he got interested in Halloween, you encouraged him.”

“I did no such thing! I merely—”

“Helped him build smoke-bombs? Yeah, exactly.” Thundercracker shook the empty box. “And all that other nonsense, the… fake snakes and stuff. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talkin’ about.”

“If you know so much, how can you claim I wasn’t letting him have his fun?”

“Because!” Thundercracker slammed the box on the nearest table. “Halloween isn’t just about playing tricks!”

“It’s not?” Starscream had been rather under the impression that it was, considering how thoroughly Skywarp had latched onto it.

“No. Apparently it’s also an excuse for humans to gorge themselves on whatever disgusting food passes for sweets in their weird, organic diet. Well, guess who else likes treats?”

“I…” Starscream’s mind raced. “Wait. Are you talking about the gold? I couldn’t let him keep that!” Earlier that day, Starscream had discovered a sizable bag of gold ore in Skywarp’s quarters. Primus only knew where he’d gotten it from. Starscream allowed his fliers to consume some of the rich, sweet metal, which could be healthy in small quantities. It could strengthen one’s frame by improving flexibility, for example, but in larger quantities it could soften one’s armor and add excess weight, ruining a flier’s aerodynamic performance. "I am the Air Commander,” Starscream pointed out. “I need my fliers combat-ready, and Skywarp was taking on too much ballast.”

“It was just until Halloween,” Thundercracker argued. “You could have waited a couple extra days instead of takin' away all his goodies. Now he’s…”

“What?” Starscream felt a twinge of unease. “What’s going on, Thundercracker?” He realized that in his rush to defend himself, he’d neglected to ask. He’d also forgotten about the holocube, which was now in plain sight if Thundercracker cared to glance in its direction. He didn’t. His gaze was on the empty box which had contained the smoke-bombs.

“I dunno,” Thundercracker said heavily. “He’s not answering me. He’s run away somewhere—probably to get more treats—but hell if I know where.”

“More treats?” Starscream mused. “If gold is what he’s after, I might have an idea.”

~~~~~~~

This was written for @darkstarofchaos for the @transform-or-treat Halloween gift exchange. There are five chapters of it in all, and I will be posting a chapter a day until Halloween! Many, many thanks to @justawayninja or being my awesome beta. Your suggestions helped me get the story to the next level.

[shikai-the-storyteller]

WFC: Siege watch!

Part 1: Episodes 1, 2, and 3

[Part 2] (Linking because Tumblr isn’t even showing the post on my blog or on my dash 🙄)

As a side note: every single person in this fandom is horrible at tagging their spoilers, you guys really need to do a better job at that because I’ve got a bunch of blockers on and I was STILL almost spoiled multiple times. Come on you guys...it literally came out today, be better about this.

Alright going to try and keep expectations low because I feel like the target audience for this is G1 dudebros who take a series about transforming cars way too seriously, but I’m still cautiously optimistic because a friend vetted for the dudes working on this show so WE”LL SEE

Episode 1

Aw man there’s only 6 episodes??? Bummer, I wonder if they’re already working on Season 2 or if they’re going to see how this does and let it die in the water if it’s not popular enough.

Things I know going in: Skyfire / Jetfire is in this, Megatron has big lips, and Elita is in it. That’s literally it, I’ve managed to avoid spoilers thusfar (though a few of the promo images implied Skyfire’s a Decepticon, so you KNOW that’s gonna break bad eventually)

WHEELJACK Wednesday THURSDAY

OH MYG OSH IS THAT SKYWARP??? EXPECTATIONS ARE NOW SKY-HIGH

The transformation sequences look so reminiscent of those stop-motion videos people do of their Transformer toys transforming. This isn’t a dig at the animation style, I think that’s rather charming and I wonder if it’s intentional.

Wow Bumblebee sounds like a jerk. I’m instantly on-edge, please don’t make all the characters ~hyper-masculine mean guys who don’t know how to have fun or talk about their emotions~

“The Autobots aint paying you for attitude” YOU TELL HIM WHEELJACK

Yooo Velocitron exists!

Ahh so Bumblebee IS just a mercenary, not an Autobot

OHOHO HERE”S JETFIRE

Wow Jetfire you’re really going the bad dude route huh

Ayyyyyy there’s Starscream

YOOO THERE”S THUNDERCRACKER

Thundercracker I appreciate that you’re using fancy tech to identify wheeljack but his Autobot badge is literally Right There

WTF

WELL THAT DIDN”T LAST LONG HUH...that’s a bit disappointing

OH NVM THAT WASN”T A HEEL-TURN THAT WAS JUST A STRAIGHT UP “I”M THE BOSS” MOVE

huh so they’re making Skyfire the target of Starscream’s desire for power. hmm

WHY ARE YOU GUYS RUNNING JUST TRANSFORM INTO CARS unless they’re too low on energon to do it??

There he is...Mr. Big Lips

Well that’s a surprising take Megatron

Isn’t that Cybertron and Luna 1 in the sky though?? Are they on Cybertron rn or not??

Megatron’s voice is really throwing me off, if it weren’t for his helmet and color I’d really think that was Overlord

ITS TRUCK DAD

OHOHO HE SAID THE THING!!!!

Why does bumblebee have lips too

“What do you know of slavery?” Alright that line did make me go “OHHHH”

“Alpha Trion would be ashamed!” “Of us both, I think” ouch, but nice to see Alpha “Grandpa” Trion back in a series

Megatron PLEASE don’t say “I’m enjoying this, Prime” in that voice while I can hear Optimus groaning in the background

AYYY ELITAAAAAA

Why are the Seekers chasing these guys, who are running on foot, ON FOOT??? CHANGE INTO YOUR DANG ALT MODE

WHEELJACK SWORE

man I’m only like a few minutes in and I’m already bored. I’m going to watch the whole thing, but I feel like this is really lacking soul or personality so far. It very much feels like the script was written by people who aren’t familiar with these characters, so they’re writing them how they EXPECT them to sound, not writing them as they actually are. It’s more than a little disappointing, but this is only the first episode, so I’ll keep going and see if this is consistent throughout the series.

Oh man, just listening to Elita you can tell she was written by a dude. Oof.

There’s the Ark!

Dang everyone’s running low

Jeez Optimus and Elita wouldn’t just walk by all these injured Autobots!

And Optimus wouldn’t brush off his officers!! Agh!!!

YO Ultra Magnus!

Chromia!!!!!

oh my gosh is THAT Red Alert??

Hey where’s Ratchet though

Gosh the writing is so STIFF!!!! I can’t stand this, if I wasn’t a die-hard Transformers fan I would’ve bounced a few minutes ago

 It might also be the way the VAs pause between words, please speak normally, these constant pauses between words are frustrating

Ok but where the frick is Soundwave

“His arrogance I actually like” pfft

Annnnd here comes Ultra Magnus to accept the treaty on Prime’s behalf, where he’ll get held hostage and probably wind up beefing it.

Episode 2

SOUNDWAVE!!!! BABY

And Shockwave!!! 

YO SKYWARP ACTUALLY GOT A SPEAKING LINE

I want to know where Megatron got all this fabric for those stupid flags and where Ultra magnus got that cloak

Is. Is that Prowl with a weird paint job

Wow bad aim dude

Ultra Magnus you dummy....

Ok but if it was a battle then who were they fighting against???

Wow you’re really just gonna stand there and take that Magnus?

I know they’re on a time-crunch because they only have 6 episodes, but they have to do more to make me care about the characters. I’m inclined to care about them already because I’m familiar with the series and because as a stand-alone, even I’m like “Ok. So?” whenever new problems come up for them. I’m not invested!

Not to compare the two, because I feel like this entire liveblog will turn into a comparative essay, but Cyberverse got me invested in characters within the first episode! They were on an even TIGHTER time-crunch because their episodes were only 10 minutes, and yet they did a great job weaving a tight narrative and making good use of their time to tell a story and have characters charm the audience.

Optimus: Til All Are One Rodimus, coming out of nowhere: TIL ALL ARE ONE

WELL THAT”S NOT THE VOICE I WAS EXPECTING FOR SHOCKWAVE he sounds a bit reminiscent of his TFA version

What does de-rez mean

Ok but that’s assuming that this thing will automatically reprogram them?? Reformatting doesn’t automatically mean someone will turn into a Decepticon!

You know, there’s a lot of talking in the show but the dialogue doesn’t actually say a lot. It doesn’t reveal much about the characters or tell me who they are.

YOOO THERE”S SOUNDWAVE

AUDIO BOOB

It really annoys me that characters always pause after saying “I”. It’s always “I.........[long pause] rest of their sentence.”

what do you mean “Teams” Optimus there’s like 5 of you guys

I love you Soundwave!!!

Whoa wait was that Impactor in the background?

ughHHHHHH I HATE THAT MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE IS “what have you done?” SAID UTTERLY MONOTONE WHEN IT’S NOT EVEN A BIG DEAL!!! YOU CAN”T FLIP THAT LINE OUT WITHOUT ACTUALLY PUTTING IN THE FOOTWORK TO EARN IT!!! AGH!!!

Again, it feels very much like the writers read the wikipedia page for Transformers and maybe the first sentence of each character’s bio page and then wrote the entire script from there. It’s frustrating. I hate being so severe in my reviews because I hate dunking on my fellow writers because they don’t always have final say in what happens, but this is astonishingly poor writing.

Like, I can see what they’re TRYING to accomplish, but it feels like they whiff so badly.

YO IT IS IMPACTOR

oh thats Barricade that’s why I thought that was Prowl

Chromia!!!! My darling!!!! I can’t believe there’s only two girls in this show so far

Oh that’s Cog, I wasn’t sure if that was Beachcomber or what

Nice one Chromia

Oh is that Mirage?

Ugh ANOTHER WRITING PET PEEVE: Constantly having characters start to say something but then then their dialogue gets cut off. It’s fine if it’s once in a while but over and over it’s annoying

I also feel like a lot of the VAs lack...emotion. They don’t emphasize the lines. Like, “Get him into the repair bay” is one example. Depending on how you emphasize certain words in that sentence, you can infer a lot! Emotion, the state of mind of the character, etc. But when it’s delivered in such a bland way, it’s a bit like “ok whatever”, which is how I’m starting to feel about this whole show. This doesn’t go for all the VAs or all lines, but it’s consistent enough that my mind’s wandering.

RAVAGE??? RAVAGE???? RAVAGE?!?!?!??!?!

It was probably Bumblebee.

Not to be nitpicky but it should be “Neither we nor the Autobots”

The idea of reformatting is so stupid!!! It implies that Autobots and Decepticons are inherently different, which is stupid!! It’s so dumb WHY DO YOU GOTTA GO THAT ROUTE IT”S SO STUPID (ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY”RE TACKLING THE TOPIC OF OPPRESSION??? THEY”RE SAYING THEY”RE LITERALLY DIFFERENT SPECIES AND USING IT AS A PLATFORM TO SAY ONE GROUP IS INHERENTLY BETTER THAN THE OTHER. THAT SUCKS)

Episode 3

RATCHET!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lmao love your lipgloss Megatron

Ohh is Ratchet going to fix Impactor??

PROWL??? HE”S SO SHORT

Gosh please, please don’t have humans in this show

lmao Skyfire called Starscream a tool

RATCHET!!! :D

I’d like to see who was on the writing team of this show

Isn’t that Mirage?

YEAH THAT IS MIRAGE

Again with the sentences consistently being cut off....

Is that Sunstorm?

Points to Chromia and Mirage for showing the first bitof personality in this show.

Yooo Ratchet! Oof he’s not chummy with Prime huh

YOO CAMINUS EXISTS TOO

LMAO FEISTY GRANDPA

Oh Mirage come on

Actually no, don’t shut Impactor up he’s right

“I didn’t patch you up just so you could blow a valve here” *snorts*

Wouldn’t it be frickin hilarious if Magnus just popped open a panel and Minimus came out and just dipped outta there

lmao nice lightsaber Jetfire

LMAO “PULL THE TRIGGER MAGNUS”

JEEZ JUST PUNCH HIM RIGHT IN THE FACE WHY DON”T YOU 

Ratchet is the ONLY character they’ve given personality in this show so far.

Jeez Mirage cool your jets

Oh for frick’s sake Optimus be cool

Megatron please stop torturing your ex boyfriend

Ok but who did they rise against??? Were there Quintessons in this universe too?

oh come on you guys

Oh boy something tells me Skywarp isn’t going to survive the rest of this episode

Oh jk, Skyfire just let him go. Well alrighty then

I’m not sure how they found the Autobot base, they implied that it was because of Impactor but that doesn’t make sense

This post is getting long so I’m going to spit it between two posts

[afterspark-podcast]

Let’s Play Transformers War for Cybertron, Chapter 2 Transcript

Episode

[This can also be found on AO3!]

[Intro Music]

O: Hi guys!  Welcome back to our Let's Play of War for Cybertron.  We're gonna be doing Chapter 2 today, and playing as the Jets.  I’m gonna take Starscream cuz he's got a sniper rifle.  (This is literally the only reason.)

S: [snickers]

O: If you remember, last time, uh, Megatron went full crackhead on us and was trying to get Dark Energon to snort- I mean to take over Cybertron.  And was basically arguing with a giant holographic [hologram] Starscream the entire time, and then at the end Starscream's like, [screechy voice] “Teach me how to control Dark Energon it'll work for you!” [normal voice] Um, so now we're being Megatron's bitch.

S: Pretty much.

O: Does that pretty much sum it up?

S: Yeah… yeah.

C: I mean, speak for yourself, uhhh…

O: [laughs]

C: Yes, master.

O: You’re just like, Skywarp- Skywarp, is nobody's bitch, thank you!  [laugh] Um, Specs is gonna be doing Thundercracker and Chezni is gonna be doing Skywarp, sooo…

C: That sounds like a drug.

O: [laughs] Uh, yeah, so Chezni's gonna be doing the Bojack?

A: [laugh]

O: I can’t remember what the chapter’s called... we are in Chapter 2, Fuel of War.  Uh, so, we ready to start then?

C: Oh yeah.

S: Sure.

[OS: Character selection screen.  Characters are assigned as follows:

Chezni - Skywarp

Specspectacle - Thundercracker

Twilight-Owls - Starscream]

O: The cool thing about the jets is we can fly!  This is the only good thing I have to say about this.

[OS: Owls selects “Start Game.”]

C: Now it really sounds like a drug.

O: [laughs] With Thundercracker, you too can fly!

C: [laughs]

[The game starts and the volume jumps for the players.]

O: [muted] Oh, dammit, I know it’s coming!

[A cinematic opens with a text crawl being narrated by Steve Blum.

Narrator: Anxious to prove themselves worthy of the Decepticon name, Starscream and his minions fly to Cybertron.

The screen flickers slightly.]

C: Woah.

[Narrator: There, they must reconnect the energon bridge that will enable Megatron to manufacture more Dark Energon and conquer the Autobots once and for all.]

O: Space crack.  And conquer Optimus Prime once and for all- got it, got it, got it, I’m tracking.

[OS: The game swaps to gameplay and the volume spikes again.]

O: [muted]  Noooo, dammit.

[(COM) Megatron: Your orders are clear Starscream!  Infiltrate the Cybertron underground and reactivate the Energon Bridge.  I want that power online!

OS: All three seekers fly down into an enclosed area, and shoot missiles at a giant fan to gain access to another underground area on Cybertron.  The area they enter has various metal platforms rising out of what looks to be a sea of blue energon in the bottom of the area.

The screen reads, “New Objective: Find the Hidden Underground Entrance.”

Starscream: Megatron, Thundercracker has detected several Autobots up ahead.  Jetfire must have warned Zeta Prime and moved to intercept us already!

(COM) Megatron: Enough of your whining!  If the Autobots try to stop you, crush them!  Report back to me when you have found the Bridge.  Megatron out!]

S: Oh.  Yay.  I get to fly, don’t I?

[SS: Thundercracker rocks slightly back and forth in jet mode.]

O: Yup!

C: Yeahhhh.

O: Don’t- don’t uh, touch that blue stuff, you will explode if I remember properly?

[Starscream: That imbecile thinks I’m expendable.  ME!?  He’ll soon learn to never underestimate Starscream!

OS: Starscream looks down at the blue energon visible on the floor of the level, and then uses his thrusters to continue on ahead.]

S: Blue stuff, uhhh?

O: On the bottom there.

C: The ocean below us.

O: Maybe I’m wrong.

S: Ahh.  Okie dokie.

C: Maybe- maybe she's wrong Thundercracker, go try it!

S: [laughs] No, thank you!

C: [high pitched voice] Come on Thundercracker!

[CS: Thundercracker and Skywarp are still back at the beginning of the level, flying around slowly trying to get their bearings.]

O: So- my damn headphones cut out again.

S: Ohh.

C: Are they not working?

O: I can hear you guys it's just it's really, really annoying cuz it's only in one ear.

C: Okay.  Well, if we ever need to solve puzzles using stereo we'll let you know.

O: [laughs] Hey, I didn't say we needed it for recording, I said it's annoying.  Now catch up with me, will you?

C: I don't know how to do this!

O: You’re just a jet!

[SS: Thundercracker continues moving slowly forward.  Starscream turns around and comes towards the other players before using his thrusters to speed off again.]

S: How do you go fast?

O: Well, um-

C: If you hold right- right-click, you move super fast.

S: OH.

[SS: Starscream disappears off into the distance, Skywarp activates his thrusters and proceeds to fly around erratically, and Thundercracker follows shortly afterwards.]

C: Yeah, I know, I wish I would have known that when we were doing Escalation [game mode].

S: I’m good at-

O: [quietly] Oh, this is not the right way.

[OS: Starscream flies into a dead end and turns around to go back the direction he came.]

S: Where are we supposed to go?

O: Over here.

[OS: Starscream heads towards a doorway, transforming and landing on the platform.  Some sort of round machine detaches itself from the wall up ahead.

Skywarp: What is THAT?

Thundercracker: An Autobot probe.  We should avoid it to prevent detection.]

C: Can I shoot it?

[Starscream: Like that puny probe could stop me.  Blast them and get on with it!

CS: Skywarp flies forward in jet mode and shoots the probe, destroying it.]

C: Ha!  What do they mean, ‘avoid it’?

S: Ahh!

[CS: Thundercracker flies by, bouncing off the floor.]

C: You can just blow it up!

S: -up!

O: Sorry guys, once sec. [Owls makes another attempt to get her headphones working.]

C: Sure, let’s take a quick pause.

[SS: All the jets stop, and Thundercracker begins looking around at their surroundings.]

O: You like, cut in.

C: Let's have storytime!  Thundercracker, tell Skywarp a story!

O & S: [laugh]

S: Life is short, and then you die!

C: Holy crap!

A: [laugh]

O: Okay-

C: But we're late millions of years old, built from naturally-occurring gears and levers!

O & S: [laugh]

O: And naturally-occurring thrusters, apparently.  Anyway, let's go, I'm just gonna have to live with this.  That’s annoying.

[SS: Everyone begins moving forward again.]

C: And naturally occur- occurring combustible fuel sources.

S: Ah!

[OS: Starscream flies ahead, and a drone begins draining his health with a blue beam.  Shortly after, it is destroyed by Thundercracker.]

O: Thank you.  Far more polite than Starscream would ever be, but that's fine.

[CS: Skywarp is being targeted by another drone.]

C: Ah!  Ah!  This one’s draining my brain!

O: Where are you?

[Thundercracker: I have never traveled this deeply into Cybertron’s interior before.

Skywarp: [groans] You are as boring as ever, Thundercracker.]

C: Half dead.

[SS: Thundercracker moves slowly ahead leaving the other two behind.  The location marker for their next objective is ticking done off to the right of the screen.]

S: Oh, I think we’re supposed- I think we’re working on a timer?

O: Uh, I don’t think so.

[OS: Starscream takes out the last of the drones.]

S: Ohh~

O: That’s not a timer, that's how close we are to a thing.

S: Oh.

[OS: Starscream flies towards the opening the other two Seekers have disappeared through but transforms before he actually reaches the platform, falling down.]

O: Oh no!  Okay, that was dumb.

[OS: Starscream lands on some convenient pipes and transforms back into jet mode.]

S: Shit, was I not supposed to do the thing I did?

O: I don't know, I'm not there yet!

[SS: Skywarp is standing on a platform off to the left shooting at some moving pods on the other side of the large room he and Thundercracker are in.  The pods are being moved up a wall and into a large door that is opening and closing.]

C: Huh.

S: Or are we supposed to go in there?

C: I have no clue.  Let's do it!

S: [laughs]

[CS: Skywarp jumps up and transforms, attempting to enter while the door is open, but is stopped by an invisible wall.

Skywarp: Hey!  I don’t make a habit out of blowing you up!]

C: Oh nope, apparently that's bad.

[OS: Starscream flies upwards in a jerky motion.]

C: It really bothers me that there's not just like a, ‘fly up’ button.

Note: There is- we just didn’t realize it.  It’s a bit more obvious in Fall of Cybertron, but it is the same button in both games.

O: Right?  It's very annoying.

[OS: Starscream transforms and lands in a hallway, walking over to the nearby door panel and activating it.]

S: Yeah.

S: I'm just gonna be a plane.

A: [laughs]

[SS: The door opens, revealing an Autobot who fires on the party.

Autobot: Decepticons!

The Autobot runs off camera, leaving the Seekers in front of some sort of laser grid that is keeping them from advancing.

Starscream: What is this?  Some kind of Autobot trap?

Thundercracker: It’s an enemy detection barrier.

Skywarp: So it’s a trap!]

O: [snorts]

[CS: Starscream moves back and forth in front of the barrier and Skywarp and Thundercracker fire on the edges of the barrier.]

O: [quietly] Alright… how do we get around this?

[Thundercracker: The power conduits along the floors should direct us to its power source.]

O: I got stuck here last time and then felt like a dummy.

[OS: Skywarp transforms and shoots a glowing spot on the wall the power conduit was leading to, deactivating the barrier.

Starscream: Stupid Autobots.  To think their measly tricks could ever fool Starscream.]

S: Oh, how did you…?

O: He shot something.

C: I just shot- I just shot where the power conduit went.

O: Yeah.

S: Oh.

C: It was this big thing with all-

O: You know, the smart thing.

[SS: Skywarp walks over to the destroyed power conduit, and as he walks away Thundercracker shoots at it.]

C: [laughs]

[Thundercracker: The power core has to be somewhere in this room.]

C: Alright Starscream, what's our mission?

O: Ugh, to kill my headphones with a greasy spoon.

[OS: Starscream walks up to another barrier and uses the scope of his Null Ray to get a better view at the room on the other side.]

O: Uh… we need to kill the power conduit.

S: Oh-

C: Do more power conduit stuff-

[OS: Skywarp shoots at the doorframe in jet mode and Starscream walks away, seeing an open area off to the right that Thundercracker is floating in front of.]

S: Uh…

O: Or maybe we go over here?  Can’t remember.

[OS: Starscream transforms and flies through a narrow hallway, over the same blue energon substance as before.]

C: I don’t know.

[OS: Starscream navigates the narrower hallway and lands on in front of another barrier on the platform at the end.  He transforms and shoots the power conduit visible on the other side, deactivating the barrier.]

O: Aha!

[Starscream: Pathetic machinery.]

O: [snorts]

[SS: Thundercracker follows behind a running Starscream, while still in jet mode.]

O: [laughs] I'm sorry, I just love you guys following along as jets, it's hilarious.

S: [laughs]

[SS: The group exits the hallway into a small room with a health box and an ammo box off to the left.]

O: Uh, who needs health?

S: Uh, I need ammo?

O: Go ahead and take it.

C: I have two things of health.

S: Oh-

C: I’m gonna grab it.

S: Someone take health.

[CS: Thundercracker takes the ammo, and Skywarp grabs the ammo.  They both move over to the ledge Starscream is standing on.  Below, there is a group of 4 Autobots standing next to each other with their backs to the party, listening to a large Zeta Prime hologram in the middle of the room.

Zeta Prime: Autobots, this is Zeta Prime.  Be on high alert!  The Decepticons are planning to re-activate the Energon Bridge.  This would grant them access to an unstable energy source powerful enough to jeopardize the entire planet.  Any Decepticons activity must be reported immediately, and all Decepticons are to be shot on sight!  Zeta Prime out!

OS: Starscream watches the Autobots through his scope until Zeta Prime finishes speaking and then he immediately destroys a few of them before backing away from the ledge to reload his gun.

Starscream: How boring!  I’ve read more entertaining maintenance reports.

Autobot 1: Alert!  Alert!

SS: Thundercracker is shot by the remaining Autobots.]

S: [distressed noises]

[Autobot 2: Focus your fire on that Decepticon!

Starscream: None can resist us!]

C: I guess there are missiles?

[SS: Skywarp and Thundercracker take out the last Autobot.  Skywarp and Starscream begin flying around the room exploring and Skywarp shoots the remaining explosive canisters on the ground.  The hallway leading out of the room is blocked by another barrier.

Skywarp: That was easy!

Thundercracker: The others will likely be tougher.  I suggest we proceed with caution.]

O: Who was actually suggesting caution there?

[Skywarp: My neural circuitry is stinging.  Getting past this thing is impossible!

Starscream: Keep looking you fool.  The answer is here somewhere!]

O: [snorts]

[CS: Skywarp finds a door up near the top of the room that is being held shut by some clamps.  He shoots the clamps and enters the room, where another power conduit is visible on the wall.]

C: So, I guess there’s a door up above?  And I found a conduit.

[CS: Skywarp shoots the conduit and exits the way he came.]

O: Sweet.

S: And I just shot the door that the Autobots were in front of or something?  Or someone just did?  I don’t know.

[OS: Starscream and Thundercracker enter the hallway that was previously blocked.]

C: Well, it is polite to knock.

O: What? [laughs]

C: It's- she shot the door.  So she was knocking.  That's how Transformers knock, right?  With their gun?

[OS: The party enters a room that is divided in half by a drop across the center of the room.  On the other side of the crevice, several Autobots run into view.

Autobot: [shouting]

Skywarp: Rockets!

Starscream: Quickly, get to cover!]

O: I mean, that sounds right.  I don't know why that wouldn't be right.

[OS: Starscream takes several shoots at the opposing Autobots using the Scatter Blaster (shotgun), which isn’t very effective at his current range.

Thundercracker: My scans indicate that door should lead us to the next canyon.]

O: Oh my god, why?

[SS: The group takes out most of the Autobots visible on the other ledge.

Starscream: They fall so easily!

SS: Everyone flies over the gap to reach the other side, where Skywarp and Thundercracker take down the remaining Autobot from the group prior.

Starscream: Let all that see Starscream tremble in fear!]

S: Mmm.

C: The best part about being a jet is infinite ammo.

S: Mmm.

O: I forgot about that, that is pretty nice, right?

C: [laughs]

S: What do you mean infinite- OH!

C & O: [laugh]

C: That was the best! [laughs]

[SS: The group takes out another group of Autobots around the corner.  Thundercracker staying in jet mode to take advantage of the infinite ammo.]

S: That's nice.  I appreciate that.  Ohh~

C: Yeah, somehow I'm still getting hit though.  I'm still down to half health.

[OS: The groups another corner to find a third group of Autobots.  The group fires on them.

Autobot: Launching rockets!

Skywarp: I got another one!]

C: I think it's cuz the missiles come after you if you're in jet mode.

S: [distressed noises]

O: Down here?  Or do we go the other way?

S: Um-

[OS: Starscream flies over to what looks like a hole in the floor and looks at it before turning around and spying some ammo.]

O: No, that’s not the right- BULLETS!

[OS: Starscream runs through the ammo, but doesn’t pick it up.]

O: Maybe?  Why can't I pick it up!?!

C: They aren't flak bullets, are they?

[SS: Activates a console opening the nearby door.]

S: I just opened a door?

[SS: An Autobot charges forward from a small group, activating a glowy blue shield on their frame.

Autobot: DIE!]

S: Oh, whoops, sorry.

C: This is what happens when you don't knock!  People get very angry.

[Autobot: Decepticons!  Seal the door!

CS: The rest of the Autobots run out a doorway behind them and seal the door.  The party takes out the lone Autobot.

Skywarp: Those punks locked us out!

Starscream: Stop whining and find another way in!]

C: So wait, what are we doing here, exactly?

O: Uh, we're trying to turn the space crack bridge back on.

[OS: Starscream walks over to an opening in the floor and jumps down.

Thundercracker: My scans show an energon deposit beneath us.]

C: The space crack bridge?

O: The space crack bridge.

[Starscream: Perfect!  There may be a cave below!]

C: Okay.  Because-

S: It's cave time!  I don’t like caves.

[Skywarp: Where are we?

Starscream: We’re NOT where we NEED to be, Skywarp--so keep moving!

SS: Thundercracker and Skywarp follow Starscream down through the floor and into another underground room in their jet modes.  The underground room is crisscrossed by pipes and flowing energon.  The energeron is significantly closer to the party than in previous rooms because the ceilings are lower.

C: Because we need to get our new Lord and Savior, Megatron, his fix.

S: [laughs]

[Thundercracker: Crude energon is highly volatile, and flying this close to it is very dangerous.  We should proceed with caution.

OS: Starscream transforms and the group flies forward]

O: No, no, no, no, no, not Lord and Savior, Starscream's new squeeze.

C: Right.

O: [laughs]

[Skywarp: Tighten your logic circuits, would you Thundercracker?  It can’t be THAT bad.]

C: This is-

S: His new boy toy.

C: -just one big, complicated booty call for Starscream?

O & S: [laugh]

O: YUP!  The last level was a drug run, this is a booty call!

A: [laughs]

[SS: The party reaches an area where they can go up.  Starscream activates his thrusters and bumps into the ceiling before maneuvering his way out.  Skywarp zips past flying erratically, as Thundercracker brings up the rear flying slowly.]

C: Oh my gosh, I’m flying drunk!

O: [laughs] So you’re Skywarp, got it.

C: It’s hard to fly when you move fast!

[CS: Skywarp continues to fly erratically.]

S: [laughs]

O: That’s why you do it in little bursts!

C: I'm sure there's an innuendo in there somewhere.

[CS: Starscream flies past, USING HIS THRUSTERS CORRECTLY.]

O: [screechy voice] “Some of us know how to use our thrusters, Skywarp!”

C: [laughs]

S: I-

O: Sound about right?

[OS: Thundercracker bumps into Starscream.]

C: I'm sorry, boss! [laughs]  Oh no.  Boss, Thundercracker is lost.

O: [laughs]

[SS: Thundercracker is flying in the middle of a room, turning around slowly.  Skywarp zooms over.]

S: [laughs] Yes, I am where- shoot

C: Things got too steamy for ‘em.

[OS: Starscream is in a different location than the other two, shooting at a bunch of turrets and Autobots.]

S: Where are you- where the fuck are we supposed to be going?

C: Through the-

O: Uh, just through the cave, that’s all I got.

C: Through the waterfall.

S: Oh.

[SS: Thundercracker moves down lower and enters a cave behind the waterfall.  Skywarp flies ahead of him.]

C: You, no, you wanna go down.  There you go.

S: Yes, I- I did see that but it- when you guys are going- when I can see your names through the walls it's not very... cohesive for me, okay?

[OS: Starscream is continuing to shoot Autobots and turrets.]

C: Makes sense.

S: Sorry, I am NOT drunk flying.

[CS: Skywarp activates his thrusters and catches up with Starscream, turning to shoot at the remaining turrets.]

C: [laughs] Sure, sure.

[Skywarp: No hard feelings, right?

SS: Thundercracker catches up with the other two and joins in the fray.]

S: Ah, fuck.

[OS: With the Autobots vanquished, Starscream lands and transforms.]

O: Oh, I desperately want ammo, I'm like completely out [of non-jet ammo]. [laughs] I can't shoot worth shit as a jet, apparently.

O: Also, I need health.

S: There's ammo here, and heals.

[OS: Starscream runs over to a health chest, destroying it and grabbing the health.]

O: Okay, where’s the am-

[OS: Starscream turns and sees the ammo box, running over and destroying it as well.]

O: Oh, there’s the ammo.  Oh sweet god, I have sharp- uh, I have a sniper rifle shit again, okay.

[Starscream: We’re getting close!  The next entrance is just on the far side of this canyon.

A cinematic starts, as the party enters a large empty area, and a large ship with a whole bunch of Autobots inside drops down from above.]

S: Oh, goody.

C: How does Starscream know that?

O: Scans.  Bullshit.  It's a very complicated booty call, honey.

S: I don't know, he worked here?

C: [laughs]

O: I don’t think he did…

C: It’s like his old office?

[The large ship generates some sort of barrier to keep the party from advancing, and then begins firing mortars from several large cannons on it’s topside.]

O: [laughs before continuing in a screechy voice]  “This’ll show them for kicking me out!  Sleeping with the boss, HA!”

C: “Should have installed a coffee machine!”

[OS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the shield generator.

Thundercracker: The Autobot ship is generating an energy shield over the entrance!

Starscream: I can see that for myself, Thundercracker.  Enough babbling--destroy it!

Thundercracker: Target the mortars first!

CS: Skywarp flies over to the drop ship and transforms, hitting the mortars with his physical attack before swapping to his guns.]

S: [sighs]

[Skywarp: This thing is as crazy as I am!]

O: [snorts]

[Starscream: Just blast it!  It breaks, like everything else!

SS: Thundercracker is shooting at the mortars, swapping targets as they are destroyed.]

C: I think I did this in Super Star Wars once.

O: [laughs] I mean, probably?

[OS: Starscream is shooting at the mortars.  Autobots are seen flying in close proximity in the background as well as the remaining mortar guns shooting rounds up into the air that disperse and rain down.]

C: What is shooting at us!?

O: Uh, probably the Autobots.

S: Yeah.

[SS: Thundercracker destroys another mortar.]

S: The ship?

O: I tried to take out the motors- the mortars I could see.

[Starscream: Excellent!  Now, target the Aerialbots!

Skywarp: I’ll show them some REAL flying!

CS: Skywarp flies into a group of enemy Autobots, destroying a target, but his health dropping below 1 bar, before he flies out of range.]

S: Ah.  Oh, sorry.

[OS: Starscream is destroying enemy Autobots, when the downed ally icon appears off to his right.]

C: Oh no, I'm down.

[Skywarp: Here comes another wave!

OS: Starscream transforms into bot mode and begins to fall before transforming back into vehicle mode.]

O: Oh shit!  Why did I do that!?

S: Oh, hold on.  Uh…

[SS: Thundercracker flies over to Skywarp and begins to revive him.  Several Autobots are hovering around above Skywarp, and Thundercracker begins to take fire.]

S: I'm holding ‘E’ to revive!

C: Thank you.  I'm very bad at staying alive in the air.

[OS: Skywarp is revived and the whole party resumes firing on the Autobots.]

S: So am I?

[OS: Starscream takes heavy damage.]

O: Oh my god!!!

[SS: Thundercracker goes down.]

S: Sorry, I'm out.

C: Alright, I'll come get you.

[CS: Skywarp flies towards Thundercracker but overshoots and has to stop and turn around.]

C: Oh no, there’s too many of them!

[CS: Skywarp is still trying to maneuver his way over to Thundercracker, but several Autobots are firing on him at the same time.]

C: There’s too many, I can’t revive you!

[CS: Another downed ally icon appears to Skywarp’s left.]

O: I’m dead too.

C: No, no, why!?

S: [snickers]

C: THERE’S TOO MANY!

[OS: The Mission Failed screen appears.]

O: Goodbye cruel world. [sighs]

S: Well, hopefully, it's not gonna toss us too far back from where we were?

[OS: Owls selects, “Restart from Last Checkpoint”.]

O: I think we spawn right before there, because I kept dying there, uh, on- when on my one player playthrough.

[OS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Find the Hidden Underground Entrance.”

Starscream: We’re getting close!  The next entrance is just on the far side of this canyon.

The same cinematic from before starts, with the drop ship dropping down into the canyon from above, generating the shield, attacking the party with mortar rounds, and releasing Aerialbots to attack the Seekers.]

C: This part is hard!

O: Yeah!  I know, it sucks!

C: Like, there’s no negotiating.

O: And you have to be in the air, because like, landing on the plane does not- or wha- landing on the ship doesn't make things ton easier for ya.

C: I think we're gonna have to focus on taking out the little guys.

O: Well, we need to take out the cannons [mortars] too - otherwise you'll really get fucked over.

C: Is there a finite amount of guys though?

O: I think so?  But I don't remember.

[OS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the shield generator.]

C: Alright, well I guess we'll rush the cannons then.

[Thundercracker: The Autobot ship is generating an energy shield over the entrance!

Starscream: I can see that for myself, Thundercracker.  Enough babbling--destroy it!

OS: The party moves forward and begins shooting at the mortars.]

O: Either that, or if you guys want to focus on the little ones I’ll focus on the cannons?  Either works.

[Thundercracker: Target the mortars first!]

Skywarp: This thing is as crazy as I am!

C: Alright, I'm gonna swap over to just focusing on the little guys now.

[CS: Skywarp zips off towards the back of the ship.]

C: There they are, they're coming out of the back of the ship.

[Starscream: Excellent!  Now, target the Aerialbots!

Skywarp: I’ll show them some REAL flying!]

Skywarp: Here comes another wave!

OS: Starscream continues shooting the mortars.  A downed ally icon appears to his left.]

S: Ah, well, I’m out.

[OS: Starscream transforms into robot mode, dropping down before transforming back into vehicle mode and zipping towards Thundercracker.]

C: Oh crap.

S: Sorry.

C: I can't find you.

S: I am towards the rear of the ship.

[OS: Starscream overshoots Thundercracker and has to turn around, while taking heavy fire from the multiple Autobots hovering over Thundercracker.]

O: Oh dammit!

S: You’re out too?

O: No, not yet yet.

O: Ugh, I’m try-

C: I- there- there you are.

O: Now I am.

C: Nooo!

[CS: Skywarp is downed and the Mission Failed screen displays briefly, before loading at the checkpoint again.]

O: Try to stay more towards the middle, because it's really, really hard when like, everybody's spread out everywhere?

[CS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Find the Hidden Underground Entrance.”

Starscream: We’re getting close!  The next entrance is just on the far side of this canyon.]

C: Um, they spawn in at the rear of the ship and they're sitting ducks while they run out.  So I'm still going to stay in the rear.

O: That's fine.

[CS: The same cinematic from before starts, but is skipped.  The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the shield generator.”]

O: Yes, can we-? There we go. [laughs] I was like, do we need to watch this again?  The answer is no.

C: But it’s so pretty!

[Thundercracker: The Autobot ship is generating an energy shield over the entrance!

Starscream: I can see that for myself, Thundercracker.  Enough babbling--destroy it!

Skywarp: Target the mortars first!

CS: The party flies in and all target the mortars, taking out three of them in rapid succession.

Skywarp: This thing is as crazy as I am!

Starscream: Just blast it!  It breaks, like everything else!

OS: Starscream and Thundercracker continue to attack the mortars.  Starscream is fired on by Aerialbots and his health drops to under 1 bar before he flies out of range.]

O: [quietly] Godammit.

[Starscream: Excellent!  Now, target the Aerialbots!

CS: Skywarp is at the rear of the ship shooting Aerialbots as they run out of the ship, before they’re able to transform into vehicle mode.

Skywarp: I’ll show them some REAL flying!

OS: Starscream transforms and lands on the ship, taking out one of the Aerialbots with his Null Ray.  He’s then fired on and transforms and flies off.

Thundercracker: Here comes another wave!]

O: Oh, dammit!

[Starscream: The blast doors are open!  Quickly!]

S: Uh…

[SS: Thundercracker hovers around the front of the dropship looking around.]

S: So, I’m-

[Skywarp: Watch out for those rocket snipers!

SS: A downed ally icon appears in the distance.]

O:  Dammit!  Dammit!  I’m down.

S: Oh shit.

C: Alright.

[Starscream: Enough of this nonsense!  We'll bring this annoyance down from the INSIDE.  Fly in and target its power core!

CS: Skywarp and Starscream take out an Aerialbot and Skywarp flies over to the downed Starscream.]

C: You can shoot while you’re down, so try and cover for me.

O: [quietly] If I can find them…

[CS: Starscream sort of scoots away from Thundercracker and Skywarp while firing on some of the Aerialbots still on the drop ship.]

C: Hey!  No, don't move away from us!

[OS: Skywarp revives Starscream.]

C: There we go.

O: [screechy voice] I LIVE!

[OS: The down ally icon appears on the left side of the screen.]

S: I'm out.  Shit.

[CS: Skywarp turns around and flies back over to where Starscream is reviving Thundercracker.

Starscream: None can resist us!  For glory!]

C: [laughs] For glory!

O: For getting my ass kicked.

S: [laughs]

[CS: Skywarp flies over to the opened portion of the drop ship and continues shooting at the Autobots inside.]

O: Okay, there we go.

S: Thank you. Oh!  Apparently I was not by the rear of the ship, I was by the front!

C: I think the ship just opened up.

O: Yeah.

[SS: Thundercracker enters the ship behind Skywarp as they both transform into robot mode.  Thundercracker picks up some health while Skywarp fires on Autobots.]

C: Alright, there’s health on my right, or my left, rather.

O: There's some on each, I'm gonna take this one.

C: I have two bars so I'm probably good for now.

[Autobot: Close the blast doors, and seal the ship!  We’ll trap them inside!]

Skywarp: Trap us?

Thundercracker: Orders, Starscream?

Starscream: Hahahaha!  Those idiots locked in here with their power core!  Plant a detpack on it!

OS: Starscream runs around shooting at Autobots before going down.]

O: Ugh!  I'm down, help.

S: Oh shi- shoot.

[CS: Thundercracker is off to the side reviving Starscream.  Skywarp chases down Autobots with a combination of gunfire and melee attacks, before going down as well.]

C: Ah, I'm down as well.

S: Uh, where are you?  Oh.

O: ARGH!

S: How am I not-

[SS: Thundercracker walks over to Skywarp and begins to revive him.  Another downed ally icon appears on the right hand side of the screen.]

O: I’m down again.

[SS: Thundercracker continues to try and revive Skywarp but also goes down when an Autobot walks up and shoots him at point blank range.]

S: Well damn it, so am I.

O: At least we start from here [after the ship has opened up].

S: Well, I mean we’re…

O: Oh fucking rockets!

S: Oh, the audio seems like it’s gone for me?

C: Oh, you lost audio?

S: I don’t know why, but I can’t hear the game anymore-

O: Did you accidentally turn it down?

S: -or you guys.

[Autobot: Close the blast doors, and seal the ship!  We’ll trap them inside!]

C: We can’t get into the ship anymore!

S: All my stuff is...uh, muted?  Why is my stuff muted?

[The video disappears and some white text is visible on a black background.]

Note (from sound editor, which is also Chezni):

Unfortunately at this point, we had a SNAFU with Specs' audio and had to restart the game.

Due to the restart, Specs' audio and footage became unusable due to a spike in her game volume that she corrects in about 16 minutes.

Don't worry!  You can still see and hear her in Owls' and Chezni's footage until the correction, which will be used until then.

Sorry for the interruption!

[OS: The game loads back at the checkpoint before the battle with the drop ship started.  The screen reads, “New Objective: Find the Hidden Underground Entrance.”  On the lower left the text, “Chezni has joined the game,” and “Specspectacle has joined the game,” is visible.]

O: [singing]  Dada dat dat dat dada da da.

S: If we don’t- mm.

C: Ah, hey, we’re back!

[Starscream: We’re getting close!  The next entrance is just on the far side of this canyon.

The same cinematic from before starts, but is skipped.  The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the shield generator.”]

C: Oh no!  We gotta do this again.

S: Ah, pfft.

[Thundercracker: The Autobot ship is generating an energy shield over the entrance!

Starscream: I can see that for myself, Thundercracker.  Enough babbling--destroy it!

Thundercracker: Target the mortars first!

OS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the shield generator.  The party flies forward and attacks the mortars.]

Skywarp: This thing is as crazy as I am!

Starscream: Just blast it!  It breaks, like everything else!]

S: Oh.

[Starscream: Excellent!  Now, target the Aerialbots!

Skywarp: I’ll show them some REAL flying!

CS: Skywarp continues to fly around and shoot the mortars before swapping to the Aerialbots.  A downed ally icon appears on the lower left of the screen.]

S: Oh.  Sorry, I’m out guys.

C: No worries.  I’m always amazed at the fact that while you’re flying, at like, light speed the enemies still hit you.

[Skywarp: Here comes another wave!]

S: Uh…

C: I’m sorry, I can’t, there was too much fire power.

O: Oh!

[OS: Starscream flies over to Thundercracker but is taken out along with Skywarp and the Mission Failed screen appears.]

O: I’m dead too.

S: So am I.

O: Oh my god, I hate this checkpoint!

[OS: Owls selects, “Restart from Last Checkpoint”.]

O: I hate this level, I hate this-

C: Shake off the rust.

[The screen reads, “New Objective: Find the hidden underground entrance.”]

O: Uh, no, there is no rust!  This part just sucks, it sucked it one player!

C: Shake off the rust!

[Starscream: We’re getting close!  The next entrance is just on the far side of this canyon.]

O: OH MY GOD, you’re a jerk.

C: The space rust.  What's the super rust called?

[OS: The same cinematic from before starts, but is skipped.  The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the shield generator.”]

O: Cosmic rust, dear?

C: Yeah, shake off the cosmic rust!

O: [screechy voice] “Only if you're Megatron!”

[CS: The party flies forward and attacks the mortars.

Thundercracker: The Autobot ship is generating an energy shield over the entrance!

Starscream: I can see that for myself, Thundercracker.  Enough babbling--destroy it!

Skywarp: Target the mortars first!]

C: Cosmic rust, it's coarse, and rough...

O: And gets everywhere.

C & O: [laugh]

[Skywarp: This thing is as crazy as I am!

Starscream: Just blast it!  It breaks, like everything else!

CS: Skywarp swaps over to attacking the Aerialbots.]

O: Oh my god!  Go away!

[Starscream: Excellent!  Now, target the Aerialbots!

Skywarp: I’ll show them some REAL flying!]

C: Oh my gosh, I'm definitely gonna die here.

[OS: Starscream continues to shoot at Aerialbots.]

S: Oh, I'm out, sorry guys.  I’m in the worst spot.

[OS: Starscream transforms into bot mode, dropping down and grabbing some energon before transforming back into vehicle mode and flying over to Thundercracker… who is awkwardly hanging in the air nose first into the drop ship.  The area is slanted, so it’s more difficult to maneuver around, but Starscream manages to get underneath him and revives him, while taking fire from nearby Aerialbots.]

C: That is a pretty bad spot!

S: [laughs]

C: I don't think I can…

S: [continues laughing even harder]

C: Like, those guys are just right there.

S: Oh.

O: Oh my god!

[Thundercracker: More reinforcements?

OS: Starscream flies off to get out of firing range of the Aerialbots, but another downed ally icon appears behind him and he turns around midair.]

O: I can't get everyone!

S: [laughs]

C: Well, you've got 700 seconds for me.

[OS: Starscream flies over to Skywarp and revives him.  Yet another downed ally icon appears to the left.]

O: Oh my god, GUYS!!

S: [continues to laugh harder]

[OS: Starscream zips over to Thundercracker and revives him, while already on low health and taking even more fire from Aerialbots.]

O: I need you to not!  I’m gonna die!

[Starscream: The blast doors are open!  Quickly!

Skywarp: Watch out for those rocket snipers!]

C: We did it!  We did it!

[Starscream: Enough of this nonsense!  We'll bring this annoyance down from the INSIDE.  Fly in and target its power core!]

S: Mm-mm.

[CS: Skywarp flies into the drop ship, transforming into robot mode and shooting at the Autobots inside.]

C: Oh my goodness.

S: Shit, shit!

[Autobot: Close the blast doors, and seal the ship!  We’ll trap them inside!]

O: I am inside, I cannot help.

S: Um.

[Skywarp: Trap us?

Thundercracker: Orders, Starscream?

CS: Thundercracker returns to jet mode.]

S: Shi- uh.

O: Where are you?

C: Where are you are you, Specs?

[CS: Skywarp turns around and sees that the door he and Starscream had entered through is no longer open.

Starscream: Hahahaha!  Those idiots locked in here with their power core!  Plant a detpack on it!]

S: [laughs]

O: If you're outside, we can't help, we’re stuck inside!

S: I’m outside!

C: Oh my god.

O: Of course you are!

S: [laughs] I’m sorry!

O: Oh well, at least we got the stupid door open, right?

C: That’s true.

S: Uh.

C: You're good- don't worry Skywarp- er, Thundercracker, you're completely safe out there!

O & S: [laugh]

C: No harm will come to you!

S: [laughs]

[CS: Starscream and Skywarp continue to maneuver around inside the ship taking out Autobots.  Skywarp goes down, while at the same time another downed ally icon appears offscreen to his left.]

C: Oh gosh, I’m down.

S: So am I, sorry.

O: Oh my god.

S: [laughs]

[CS: Skywarp takes out an Autobot while downed, and Starscream runs over and begins to revive him.]

C: Please save your poor little jet.

S: [laughs]

[CS: Skywarp is revived, he then transforms and follows Starscream into another section of the ship.]

O: You're so tiny and adorable.

[CS: Skywarp fires on yet more Autobots.]

O: [laughs] Seriously, you’re like a little itty bitty little jet when I’m in uh, robot mode, it’s great.

S: I blew up.

[CS: Skywarp is in a fire fight with an Autobot when the screen suddenly goes dark and the Mission Failed screen appears.]

C: Wait, what!?!

O: Well, she was outside!  She was outside and she was- and we couldn't get to her.

[OS: Owls selects, “Restart from Last Checkpoint”.]

S: [laughs]

Note: Apparently, there was lone Decepticon still outside that killed poor Thundercracker in cold blood, unfortunately, Specs footage was still unusable at this point, hence no visual.

[OS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the shield generator.”]

S: Sorry.

[Starscream: The blast doors are open!  Quickly!

Skywarp: Watch out for those rocket snipers!]

C: But how!?  What hurt you?

White text is overlaid on top of the screen: *Specs makes weird noises because her ears are starting to hurt…*

[Starscream: Enough of this nonsense!  We'll bring this annoyance down from the INSIDE.  Fly in and target its power core!]]

S: Mm.

C: Alright I got-

S: I’m inside now!

C: Hooray!

[Autobot: Close the blast doors, and seal the ship!  We’ll trap them inside!

OS: Starscream has entered the ship and transformed, taking out an Autobot with the Null Ray.  A down ally icon appears to his left.]

S: But I’m also dead!

C: Uh, un-hooray.

[OS: Starscream makes his way over to Thundercracker.

Skywarp: Trap us?

Thundercracker: Orders, Starscream?

Starscream: Hahahaha!  Those idiots locked in here with their power core!  Plant a detpack on it!

CS: Skywarp walks over to the power core and plants an explosive on it.]

S: Ah shoot.  Gosh darnit, who am I supposed to- gah!  I don’t like you.

[Autobot Ship: Warning!  Warning!  Warning!

The dropship begins to come to pieces around the party.

The screen reads, “New Objective: Escape the Autobot Dropship.]

S: I’m down.

[CS: Skywarp walks over to the downed Thundercracker.]

C: I got ya.

[Starscream: Unbelievable!  These Autobots are dumber than Skywarp!]

S: Thank you.

[Thundercracker: Perhaps, Starscream, but have you considered an escape route for US?]

S: Ah.

[Starscream: Try the upper deck!  Hurry!

OS: Thundercracker is revived, and Starscream transforms into jet mode and flies up to the second level of the drop ship.]

S: Uh.

C: I think we need to- yeah, go up.

[OS: The doorway in front of the party is sealed.

Skywarp: They sealed it off!]

S: Yeah, yeah, I kind of figured.

[OS: The front part of the ship falls away, and the part transforms into jet mode to make their exit.

Starscream: Now’s our chance!  Fly through the hole!]

O: [snorts]

C: No comment.

O: [laughs]

C: No comment.

[Skywarp: Dumber than Skywarp?  I’ll show YOU dumb, Starscream!

Starscream: You always do.

The screen reads, “New Objective: Continue your search for the underground.”

OS: The party flies forward, transforming and landing on the platform the shield generator was blocking.  Starscream runs forward and smashes an ammo chest before turning around and seeing some grenades in the corner.]

O: Okay, we've got ammo, grenades…

S: Uh…

O: Where's- where's- there's a Chezni.

[CS: Skywarp flies up and lands on the platform Starscream and Thundercracker are already on.]

O: You're always lagging behind Skywarp.

C: You know what?!

O: [laughs]

C: You know what?!

[CS: Skywarp starts running away from Starscream.]

C: ...I don’t know what.

[OS: Starscream chases after Skywarp.]

O: What are you- what are you gonna do?  You gonna run away?  We are the only two that will have you, and you know it!

C: [laughs]

O: Get back here Skywarp!

[CS: The party runs into a hallway, a shield chest is visible off to their right.]

O: [laughs] Does anyone need heal-

S: Uh, is that heals?

O: Yes.

S: Cuz I could use-

O: Go ahead.

C: It’s a shield not heals.

O: Well, it’ll still help.

S: Thank you.

O: I also thought it fully healed you, but perhaps I’m wrong.

[CS: A cinematic plays of the Seekers running into a room where a creepy looking Autobot is standing, before it jumps off the platform, disappearing in a flash of electricity.]

S: Oh!

O: What is that?  Oh right, I remember this.

C: That's not a real transformer.

[Skywarp: Did you see that?

Thundercracker: You mean that creepy looking that that just jumped over the side?

Skywarp: Yah.

Thundercracker: Nope.  I didn’t see anything.

Starscream: I should’ve left you two on the station.]

O: Uh, I’m gonna take this unless you guys want something- want it.

[OS: Starscream walks over to a Plasma Cannon (Charge) and swaps out his Scattershot for it.]

O: I dunno if I’ll like it, but we’ll see.

[Skywarp: Now this is some serious bang for our buck!]

S: Are we jumping?

C: What is- oh, nothing.

O: Yup.

[OS: Starscream walks over to the ledge and jumps down.]

C: We’re jets!  Jets don't jump, St- Thundercracker, they fly!

O: They fall with style! [laughs]

[OS: Starscream walks into a dark room, and the screen shakes.]

S: Wahh!

C: With- yeah, we don’t fall, we fly with style!

[OS: Starscream and Thundercracker are looking around the room.

Skywarp: I think I saw something.

Thundercracker: You think you saw what?

Starscream: SILENCE!  It could be an Autobot cloaker--keep your optics sharp!

CS: Skywarp walks over to an ammo chest before transforming and zipping over to a health chest and running into the energon inside..]

C: There's some ammo over here if anyone needs it.

O: There's a scatter blaster over here?

S: Uh…

C: I already have a scatter blaster.  It's horrible.

[OS: Starscream and Thundercracker are attempting to target one of the cloakers as it becoming visible when charging it’s attack.  Starscream tries to use the Plasma Cannon and charges it up, but the Cloaker disappears again.]

O: Where are they?

[OS: The Plasma Cannon goes off automatically, not hitting anything.]

O: Ugh.

S: Ohh~

[OS: A cloaker shoots Starscream from above.]

O: What the fuck!?  Right…

S: There's-

[CS: Skywarp flies around the room in jet mode, finally seeing one of the cloakers charge up an attack and shoot.]

C: Oh, it's invisible!

S: Yes, it's invisible, man!  Thank you.

C: You got to look for the shimmers.

O: Yeah, I need- oh, where was that other gun?  I need it. [snorts] This is bad.

[CS: Skywarp continues flying around, targeting cloakers with his jet mode’s machine guns when he spots them.  Starscream and Thundercracker are running around on the ground.]

S: Um.

[CS: Skywarp tries to shoot a cloaker but it runs away from him and disappears.]

C: Ah man, they're fast!

O: Ugh.

[OS: Starscream runs around the room trying to shoot things with the Scatter Blaster, with limited success.]

S: God, it’s a fast sucker!

O: It really is.

[OS: Starscream turns into vehicle mode briefly to destroy a cloaker with his machine guns before returning to bot mode.

Starscream: I’m ready to lead!

OS: A downed ally icon appears to the right.]

S: I'm out, sorry!  God, there’s so many of them!

C: Yeah, there's like, a ton all of a sudden.

[OS: Skywarp attempts to revive Thundercracker but is unable because Thundercracker is in vehicle mode and awkwardly angled away from a platform behind him.  Starscream transforms into jet mode and is able to begin reviving Thundercracker.]

O: I got her.

S: Thank you.

[OS: Skywarp runs out from underneath Thundercracker.  The party continues fighting the cloaked Autobots.]

C: I can't move.  I was like, stuck underneath her.

S: Mm.

C: When they- when they attack they charge up a ball of light.

O: Yeah, that's how I've been aiming at ‘em.

[OS: The party takes out the last of the cloakers.

Starscream: Hahaha!  Feel the power of my wrath!  Now, get the power back online so we can move on!]

S: Uh.

O: I didn't realize I could swap weapons [in vehicle mode].  I mean, I kind of figured it out earlier but thank god, I hate machine guns.

[Starscream: Get moving, Decepticons.  We must be getting close.]

S: Is there like-

O: Any health or ammo left in here?

C: I didn’t see any.

[CS: Skywarp flies around the room a bit before zipping through a door into the next room over.  The room is narrow with two openings to a larger area that is swarming with Autobots on a platform in the middle of the area.  There is a gun on the ground in front of the party.

Thundercracker: There it is.  The entrance to the underground.

Starscream: Another shield generator?!  These Autobots are getting on my nerves.]

O: I don’t need- there we go.

S: There’s a Null Ray scope?

O: Oh, I already have one, I can’t pick up another one.

[The screen reads, “New Objective: Deactivate the forcefield.”

Starscream: Bring down those shields!]

C: Uh, I’ll take the Null Ray scope.

[CS: Skywarp walks over and picked up the Null Ray, dropping his Scatter Blaster.]

O: It a sniper rifle.

S: Oh.  Um.  Well, nuts, I’m out!

[OS: Starscream is sniping Autobots when the downed ally icon appears to his right.]

S: Sorry, I’m down.

C: It’s fine, uh, I’ll cover.

[OS: Starscream walks over to Thundercracker and revives him.  Lines coming from the Autobots across the gap show that a large number of them are equipped with sniper rifles, explaining why Thundercracker died so quickly.]

S: Okay, mmm.

[OS: Starscream gets back behind cover and Thundercracker transforms and flies out of the small room the party is in, before being taken out almost immediately.]

S: Mmm, I'm out again.

[OS: Starscream transforms and flies over to Thundercracker to try and revive him.]

O: You need to not fly in here! [laughs]

[OS: Starscream also begins taking heavy fire from the enemy snipers.]

O: Dammit.

C: Shoot.

[OS: Starscream goes down and Thundercracker explodes.]

S: Sorry.

C: No, it's a fine.

[CS: The mission failed screen comes up briefly before restarting at the checkpoint in the room with the Null Ray.  The screen reads, “New Objective: Deactivate the forcefield,” upon loading.

Thundercracker: There it is.  The entrance to the underground.

C: Skywarp suddenly became Italian, “It's a fine!”

[Starscream: Another shield generator?!  These Autobots are getting on my nerves.  Bring down those shields!

CS: Skywarp transforms and enters the large room, flying around the edges, but inevitably takes heavy fire from the enemy snipers.]

S: Umm…oh, jesus- ugh.

[CS: Skywarp is down to 1 bar of health.  The down ally icon appears in the distance.]

S: Shit.  Well, I'm dead again.

[CS: Skywarp lands on a platform and transforms, heading towards a health chest.]

O: Chezni, do you have her?

C: Ah- I’m- um, no. [laughs]

[CS: Skywarp turns away from the chest and transforms, flying over to where Thundercracker is floating.]

O: Uhh…

S: Well, I’m-

C: I’ve got her now, but I’m probably gonna die.

[CS: Skywarp begins reviving Thundercracker but he quickly goes down too.]

C: Yeah, I died trying to do it.

[CS: Thundercracker explodes, and the “Mission Failed,” screen appears.]

S: Sorry.

C: Ah, that's alright.  So that part is probably better if we all stay in that enclosed area.

S: Okay, and then just snipe?

O: YES.

C: Ah, more or less.

[OS: Owls selects, “Restart From Last Checkpoint.”  The screen reads, “New Objective: Deactivate the forcefield,” upon loading.

Thundercracker: There it is.  The entrance to the underground.

Starscream: Another shield generator?!  These Autobots are getting on my nerves.  Bring down those shields!

OS: Starscream snipes 4 Autobots before ducking behind cover to reload.

Starscream: Ahahaha!  For glory!

CS: Skywarp snipes 3 Autobots before looking around at the lessened quantity of Autobots...]

C: I think we're good.  Maybe.

[CS: ...And is then shot at by yet more Autobots.]

C: Ah, I spoke too soon!

[OS: Starscream takes out two targets but the next two are shot by Skywarp.  He then tries to shoot another Autobot higher up on the middle area but misses, needing to reload again.]

O: [quietly] Come on.

S: Ohh~

C: Is that all of them?

O: Almost.

[OS: Starscream takes out the Autobot he previously missed.]

S: Mmm.

[CS: Skywarp transforms and flys over to the middle platform, taking out another Autobot.]

O: At the very least I think it’s most of them.

[OS: Starscream transforms in midair, and uses his energon mace on the enemy below as he’s falling, but doesn’t kill the Autobot.  The Autobot backs up and begins firing on Starscream, dropping him to 1 bar of health]

O: Dammit!

[OS: Starscream attempts to shoot the Autobot with his Null Ray but misses.  He then transforms into vehicle mode and takes him out with his machine gun.]

C: Ah, I’m down.

[OS: Starscream flies over to Skywarp, transforming and beginning to revive him.]

O: I am NOT gonna live through this.

S: Mmm.

[CS: Skywarp is revived and he hops back up.]

C: Thank you.

O: There you go.

S: Mmm.

O: Uhh, you okay?

Note: Keep in mind that Specs can barely hear us, or quite frankly herself, because her game volume is so loud at this point.

C: [Nasally voice] Starscream you're my hero.

[CS: Skywarp dodges fire from an enemy Autobot before running over and taking him out with his physical attack.]

O: [laughs] Now THAT seems like how they- the ways they would tease each other.

[CS: Skywarp uses one of his special moves that allows him to begin spinning the upper potion of his body around in a circle while holding his energon mace and takes out an Autobot.]

S: Mmm.

O: Specs, what’s wrong?

[OS: Starscream takes out an Autobot with the Null Ray, and when he exits the scope mode, Thundercracker is right next to him in vehicle mode.]

C: Yeah, I- where is Specs, actually?

O: She’s with me.

S: I'm right here.

C: Ohh, gosh darn-!

[OS: Starscream continues to snipe Autobots.  Skywarp goes down in front of him.]

C: I’m down again.

S: Mmm.

[OS: Starscream runs over and revives Skywarp.]

S: Ahh.

[Skywarp: The battery casing is opening.]

S: Ahh, okay...

C: This is quite chaotic!

O: A little bit, yeah.

S: No duh!

[OS: Starscream is running low on Null Ray ammo, and not seeing any immediate Autobots runs out from underneath the platform he was under, getting fired on from above immediately.]

O: Oh come on!

C: Come on Decepticons!

[Thundercracker: The shield batteries are exposed.  If we destroy them, we can lower the shield.

OS: Starscream is still under the platform, having swapped over to his Scatter Blaster and trying to take out some nearby Aerialbots (it’s not working terribly well).]

C: Are you... mice bots or are you car bots?!

[OS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Destroy the armor plating.”]

S: We’re fighting planes!

O: Uh, we’re jets? [laughs] We’re fighting jets!

S: I'm out of- shit.

[CS: The party continues fighting the Aerialbots.]

S: Mmm.  Mm.  Mmm.

O: [laughs] I’m sorry!  You're making very, very, many noises though.

[CS: The party takes out the remaining Autobots.  Skywarp flies over to the platform the other two Seekers are on/nearby and heals himself with a nearby health chest.

Starscream: Look out for those sentries, you bumbling idiots!]

C: These are- these are Specs’ concentrating noises.

S: [laughs]

O: [laughs] Is that what we’re calling it?

C: These are Specs’ magic words, do not steal them!

O: [laughs]

[OS: The party is able to destroy the plating on the giant door that was blocked by the shield generator.]

S: I can’t hear you guys very well!

O: [laughs] These are Specs’ magic words, do not steal them!

[OS: The screen reads, “New Objective: Re-route power to the energon bridge.”

The large round door in front of the party opens up and bridge forms from the main platform over to the door.  Starscream flies through the door, and the party enters was looks like a dilapidated tunnel with a bunch of piping and equipment scattered throughout.

Starscream: Move, Decepticons.  Into the tunnels!  We have a Bridge to activate!]

C: Well, whatever they were, seemed like it worked.

S: What?  I can barely hear you guys.

C: Really?

Skywarp: This place gives me the creeps.

Starscream: These tunnels were decommissioned long ago.  We’ll have to activate the power terminals to get the station back online.]

S: Yeah, the game is overpowering everything for me.

C: Did you- is it-

S: OHH!  Because it [the volume] went up to like 50 and I didn't realize it.

C & O: [laugh]

O: All we-

C: That would explain SO MUCH RIGHT NOW!

S: [laughs]

O: We just kept hearing you make noises and I kept asking you what was wrong, and I wasn’t getting a response, and I was like, “Okay…”

A: [laugh]

C: Like, we kept- we kept commenting, we were being like, “Oh hey Specs, how are you?” Like- like no response.

S: [laughs]

[SS: The party moves forward, further into the tunnels.

Skywarp: Incoming!  Take cover!  Wait?!  That’s not Autobot weaponry?!

Thundercracker: Interesting.  I’ve never seen these life forms before.]

C: That’s hilarious.

S: [laughs harder]

[Starscream: Who cares--if they get in my way, BLAST THEM!]

S: But I got things done!  It got- I was helpful, I was useful.

O: Yes!  Yes!

C: True, you died fewer times than I did.

O: Chezni died twice.

C: That’s pretty awesome.

O: If anyone should be ashamed of themselves it should be Chezni.

C: Yup.

O: I don't know what blowing these up does?

[CS: Starscream shoots an object that explodes near Skywarp.]

S: Oh~

C: You're a Decepticon, you love blowing things up, right?

[CS: Some strange mechanical tentacle things pop out of the walls and fly towards the party, but Skywarp destroys them.]

O: [screechy voice] Excuse me, I'm Starscream, I don't waste my ammo on something so trivial.

C: You have people do that for you.

O: [screechy voice] Uh, yes, those people are you.

C: [laughs]

S: Like, I think my performance in the last round is not uh, like, par for the course, probably.

[Starscream: There, just as I told you!  The Energon Bridge Terminal.  Find a way inside and activate it!

OS: The party continues onwards, before arriving in a large room with a large oblong structure in the center.]

S: Egh!

[Skywarp: I thought this place was deserted!

OS: Thundercracker and Starscream fly to the right side of the structure and begin shooting at the nearby sentries.  Multiple probes are also deployed and attack them both.]

C: Well, you thought wrong!

[Starscream: We must’ve tripped the station’s automated defenses.  Open fire!]

S: Uh…

O: Uh, help!

[OS: Thundercracker goes down.]

S: Nuts, sorry, I’m dead.

[OS: Starscream goes down.]

O: Ah, crap!  We're both dead, honey.

C: Yes, so am I.

[OS: The, “Mission Failed,” screen appears.]

O: We're all dead, honey. [laughs]

[OS: Owls selects, “Restart From Last Checkpoint.”]

C: I’m not sure what killed us?

O: Uh, I think it was things that came out of the middle there.  That better be a damn checkpoint.

[OS: The party starts in the same room they previously died in.  The screen reads, “New Objective: Re-route power to the energon bridge.”

Starscream: There, just as I told you!  The Energon Bridge Terminal.  Find a way inside and activate it!]

S: Sentries.

[OS: The party moves towards the door in the right side of the oblong object, shooting at the probes and sentries.

Skywarp: I thought this place was deserted!

Starscream: We must’ve tripped the station’s automated defenses.  Open fire!]

S: It’s sentry time!

[SS: Thundercracker destroys several sentry guns.]

S: Oh, there’s... thingies.

[Skywarp: More cloakers?  These guys creep me out!]

O: What the fuck is shooting at me?

[Thundercracker: What’s the matter, Skywarp--afraid?]

C: They're- they're like inside this big room.

[Skywarp: At least I’m not ugly.

Thundercracker: Ugly?  You and I look the SAME!]

S: I’m dead.

[SS: Thundercracker is killed by the last remaining sentry gun.]

O: I’ll try to get over there, I need to kill that thing first though.

S: Mmm.

[CS: Skywarp is inside the oblong structure exploring it, swapping back and forth between his robot and his vehicle modes.

Skywarp: Okay, let’s take off!]

S: Ah.

[CS: Skywarp is still flying around by himself in the structure.  He destroys two probes that move in front of him.]

S: Thank you- WAAAA!  Screw you!

O: Crap!

S: Oh shoot, are you behind me?

O: Yes I'm trying to- there, I killed it.

S: Oh, thank you.

C: Did anyone’s screen go dark, or is that just me?

[OS: Thundercracker and Starscream have finally entered the structure as well.  Overall, it is darker inside but everything’s still visible.]

O: It is a lot darker, yes.

C: Okay.

S: Yeah, it is.

C: I was a little confused.

O: Oh my god, I would kill for some damn health.

S: Same.

C: Last-

S: I mean, there's guns.

C: There's a plasma cannon.

[OS: The group walks over to some guns on the floor.  Starscream is at one bar of health.

Starscream: I still require medical attention!]

O: I did not like the plasma cannon at all.

C: Specs, you want it?

[SS: Starscream and Skywarp are running around in their bot modes, but Thundercracker is still in his vehicle mode.  He approaches the Plasma Cannon, but the prompt to pick it up doesn’t appear.]

S: Uh, mm, I can’t interact with it.

C: [laughs] You’re just scooting around as a jet.

S: [laughs]

C: You need to stop being a jet.  Stop being a jet, right now! [laughs]

S: I’m out of ammo.  Alright, okay, fine, I can pick that up.

[SS: Thundercracker transforms into bot mode and picks up the Plasma Cannon.]

C: Alright.

O: Okay…

S: Where are we supposed to go?

O: We should go down here, maybe?

[OS: Starscream is walking around when an energy blast charges in midair and is shot at him.]

O: Oh cripes, there are more of those invisible guys.

S: Oh.

C: Ah, so that’s what it is.

S: Where are you guys?

O: Ugh!

C: I’m on the bottom floor.

O: I am too, and I do not have a lot of health... so, help?

S: Ah.

C: I’m trying!

[CS: Skywarp chases around a clocker trying to shoot it before finally taking it out with a physical attack.]

S: I didn't realize there was a bottom floor, uh.

[CS: The party is near each other, all shooting at cloakers.]

S: Sorry, I am utilizing the spray-and-pray method of..

C: Hey, with infinite bullets you’re totally allowed to do that.

O: You can pray and spray as much as you want.

[SS: Thundercracker is assisting the rest of the party while in vehicle mode and spamming his machine guns.  He shoots something in the distance, causing an explosion.]

O: That was an explosion.

C: I think we got ‘em.

[SS: Starscream walks over to a console and activates it.  The lights come on and prompt to look at the ‘Ambush’ appears on the screen.]

O: We got ambushed?

[Thundercracker: Detecting Autobot energy signatures!]

O: [groans]

C: Nice to have lights again.

[Starscream: More fools rush to their death.  Destroy them!]

O: I can only destroy them when I have ammo, dipshit!

C: The melee button is a wonderful thing.

[Megatron (COM): Starscream, report!

Starscream: Megatron!  We are encountering significant Autobot resistance but…

SS: Thundercracker shoots a barrel of explosives and takes damage, he then shoots the other closer barrel and dies.]

S: I'm down.

[Megatron (COM): I will not suffer excuses.  Do not fail me!]

S: I am also not entirely sure how, unless I was too close to the explosion?

[CS: Skywarp engages some Autobots in combat but takes damage and goes down.]

C: I am also down.

[CS: Skywarp begins to slowly move through a nearby doorway.  In the distance Starscream can be seen reviving Thundercracker.

Skywarp: You really told him, Starscream.

Starscream: Silence!  Soon the Decepticons will be mine to control and Megatron will serve me!]

C: I'm trying to scoot to safety.

[OS: Starscream transforms and flies over to Skywarp.  He begins to revive him.]

O: [laughs] Scoot to safety?

C: [laughs]

O: You're so cute, and yet you keep dying.

S: We all need the heals.

C: I don't know who's killing- ow!  What the-?

[SS: Thundercracker continues to shoot at Autobots while in vehicle mode.  A downed ally icon appears to Thundercracker’s right.]

O: Just gonna start singing, ‘You're Welcome,’ from Moana, in- here in a minute I swear to god.

[SS: The downed ally icon disappears.]

C: I don't remember the lyrics.

O: [singing] You’re welcome! [laughs]

C: Yeah, that’s the only part I can remember.

C: Oh by the way I’m down again, no wait…

O: I remember it being the Rock and being awesome.

[CS: The party is running/flying around continuing to take out Autobots.]

C: I’m not down, I thought I was.

S: No you’re not.

O: [laughs] “No you’re not.”

S: [laughs]

C: You almost sounded like- angry like, how dare you tell me you were dead!?!

S: [laughs]

[CS: Skywarp uses his spinning ability in and empty room, steadily heading towards where Starscream and Thundercracker are.]

O: Thundercracker got hopeful, you can’t do that to him!

S: [continues laughing]

C: Oh, wait, I can turn invisible, right?

[CS: Skywarp uses his other ability and turns invisible.]

O: Yeah.

S: Yes?

C: Oh my goodness!  I should have been using this.

S: Well, yeah.

[OS: The party has moved up to the upper floor and are fighting more Autobots.]

S: [sighs]

O: Are you gonna-

[Skywarp: Watch where you point that thing!]

O: [snorts]

[SS: Thundercracker and Skywarp take out the last Autobot, and the objective icon appears above a nearby console.

S: Okay, we gotta do a thing with this, so…

[SS: Starscream walks over to the panel, activating it.  A shield blocking a large tunnel in front of the party drops.  The party runs/flies on ahead.

Starscream: My wounds remain unrepaired!]

O: Seriously, is there health anywhere?  Because I think we all need health.

C: I haven’t seen any.

S: Yeah.

[Thundercracker: The station is only showing power levels at 50%.  There must be another terminal deeper underground.

OS: The tunnel is full of robotic arms and big lasers that appears to be running automatically.]

S: Ack!

O: Oh, christ…

S: Um.

[CS: Skywarp pulls ahead of Starscream, and another tentacled thing flies into the tunnel before being taken out by Skywarp and Starscream.]

C: Oh, there's more sentries.

[Thundercracker: I’m reading Autobot energy signatures up ahead.]

S: Yes, you guys are rather in front of me.

[CS: Thundercracker comes to a bend in the tunnel, where he finds a lone Autobot standing on a raised platform.]

C: Ah, there’s missiles!

[CS: Skywarp takes out the Autobot.

Skywarp: I do enjoy sniping!

Starscream: Afraid to take them head on, Skywarp?]

S: Uh, I don't know where you guys are.  I think I’m lost.

C: It’s- it’s a-

[SS: Thundercracker flies down the tunnel arriving at the end and turning to his left, when he sees Starscream and Skywarp shooting at Autobots.]

S: Oh.

[SS: Skywarp turns around.]

C: You’re right behind us.

S: Okay.

[Skywarp: I’m the fastest thing on two wings!

SS: Thundercracker takes heavy damage from the enemy snipers.]

S: Aw, nuts.

[OS: Starscream is standing on a platform shooting at the Autobots on the far side of the room with a Thermal Rocket Launcher.]

O: Somebody said I needed a rocket launcher, and I got one.

S: Oh!

[OS: Starscream transforms and flies over to another platform inside the large room where the Autobots have been attacking them from.  Thundercracker hovers over an energon cube.]

O: You should grab that.

[OS: Thundercracker grabs the health and flies off while Starscream ducks behind cover to avoid enemy fire.]

S: Thank you, health is helpful.

[Starscream: The destruction can begin!]

S: Oh.

[CS: An invisible Skywarp comes up behind an Autobot hiding behind a shield and hits him multiple times with his physical move, taking him down.]

S: Ahhhh!  I don’t like this!

C: [laughs]

S: [laughs] But when do I like-

[SS: Thundercracker flies forward towards the remaining Autobots on the far side of the room, but is downed at a nearby Autobot.]

C: You sounded like Monsters Inc.

S: [laughs]

C: [singing] Take that thing back where it came from-

C & O: [singing] Or so help me!

C: [singing] So help me!

S: S- s- sorry-

O: AMMO!  Sweet fucking god, ammo!

S: Sor- sorry, I’m dead.

C: I'm gonna try to get to you, I don't know if I can with all that firing going on.

[OS: Starscream takes out two of the nearby Aerialbots in rapid succession with his Null Ray.]

C: I could turn invisible and resurrect you, and they don't shoot me!

[OS: The downed ally icon disappears and Thundercracker and Skywarp fly on ahead, Starscream transforming into jet mode to follow them.]

S: Nice!  That is-

O: Well, I did kill them too, but sure.

C: No, but I mean they don't shoot at me while I'm going in for the rescue.

S: Well, yeah.

C: Sorry, this is rev- this is a revelation for me!

O: There’s ammo back there, by the way, if anybody needed it.

[OS: Thundercracker flies over to the platform indicated by Starscream and retrieves ammo.]

C: I don’t need it.

O: It’s over here.

C: I've been punching things to death.

S: [laughs]

O: Good to know.

C: It's an effective-

[OS: Starscream flies straight ahead through a waterfall, arriving in a small cubby with an Autobot symbol flanked by two shield chests.]

C: Oh!  There's an Autobot symbol and two shields back here!

[OS: Starscream runs forward, using a physical attack on the Autobot symbol before taking one of the shields for himself.]

O: I’ll take that, and THAT!

C: There was an Autobot symbol, and there was two shields!

S: [laughs]

C: Now there’s one shield.

O: But- but ah, Specs, you can have the other shield.

C: Yeah.

S: Okay, I’m just not entirely sure where you guys are?

[SS: Thundercracker is slowly flying towards a door the objective icon is indicating.]

O: I have my sniper rifle-!

C: Behind the-

O: Behind the waterfall.

S: Um.

O: I have my sniper rifle back, I’m so happy!

[SS: Thundercracker lands in front the door where a console is sitting.]

S: Oh, I found a thing to interact with, do you want me to interact with it?

C: Wait- wait- wait- wait, if you're not gonna take the shield I will.  Alright, interact-

S: Well-

C: Interact away!

[SS: Thundercracker looks to his left, and runs over and picks up some nearby health.]

S: Well, actually I'm gonna- there's health, do you guys need health?

C: No, cuz I got a shield.

[Thundercracker: That’s much better.]

S: Okay, there’s also ammo, and then interaction time.  I think I'm opening a door.

[SS: Thundercracker runs back to the console activating it.  The door opens on another large room, where an Autobot is standing directly in front of Thundercracker with his back to him.]

S: Oh shit.

[Autobot: Alert!  Alert!]

S: Ohhh!

[CS: Skywarp turns invisible and him and Thundercracker rush into the room and begin engaging with Autobots.]

O: Shit, where- what happened?

S: It opened-

O: I like, teleported or something.

S: Sorry.

C: Yeah, you were too far behind.

[CS: Skywarp walks up behind an Autobot while invisible and takes him down with his Energon mace.]

S: Alright, shoot, what is… there- there is a point here somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is?

C: It is to murder all of the Autobots scum.

[OS: While Thundercracker and Skywarp continue to run around the room, Starscream stays behind cover, sniping various Autobots, including the ones at the two turrets.]

C: Look what you've done to me, Specs and Owls.

S: [laughs]

O: What?

C: Turned me into a Decepticon!

[OS: Starscream takes several shoots at an Autobot chasing Thundercracker but misses.]

O: Yeah, you're playing with me.  I don't know what you expected here, sweetie.

[SS: Thundercracker continues to fight with the Autobot chasing him, dropping below one bar health.  Starscream runs over and shoots him before running back to cover.]

S: Oh sorry, I think I am... oh no, I'm not dead.  I am just... damaged?  Ohh~

[SS: Thundercracker sees one of the explosive items and walks backwards trying to shoot it, but doesn’t realize he’s using one of the healing guns so it does nothing.]

C: You know, the phrase, “What's your damage?” takes on a whole new meaning-

[SS: A downed ally icon appears, and Starscream flies through the nearby door in jet mode.]

C: Oh, I'm down.

S: I don’t know what this thing does…?

C: Uh, game’s gonna get it ended-

O: Um, where are you?

C: I went into some weird room, and the door closed behind me.

[CS: Skywarp is down, and the timer continues to tick down...]

S: [laughs]

[OS: The Mission Failed screen appears.]

O: [groans]

S: Well, I’m dead.  Chezni, was dead-

O: No, that was Chezni, that was all Chezni’s fault.

[OS: Owls selects, “Restart from Last Checkpoint.”]

C: Yeah.

O: I was still alive!

[OS: The party restarts right outside the closed door Thundercracker had previously opened, the screen reads, “New Objective: Re-route power to the energon bridge.”  Starscream walks forward and activates the console, opening the door.]

C: I didn’t know the door was gonna close behind me!

Note: There was no door, he just got lost lol ~O

C: I was just flying around minding my own business.

[Autobot: Watch out!  Decepticons!

OS: Starscream walks over to his right and picks up some ammo.  A Neutron Assault Rifle is right next to it.]

O: Oh guns!  Hello ammo.

C: There's some health here.

[OS: Starscream runs back over to the door and takes cover, aiming at the Autobots inside the room.]

O: I'm actually good.

[SS: Thundercracker runs forward trying to attack an Autobot.  The Autobot is destroyed by Starscream but Thundercracker hits an explosive barrel with his physical attack and goes down.]

O: Headshot, motherfucker, headshot.

S: I'm dead.

C: There's a turret up here!

[OS: Starscream takes out two Autobots near the fallen Thundercracker, then transforms and flies over, transforming back to revive him.]

S: Ohh~

[OS: Thundercracker is revived.]

S: Thank you.

O: You're welcome!

[OS: Starscream transforms back into vehicle mode and flies back to the boxes he’s been taking cover behind.]

S: Oh~

C: I'm definitely taking this turret with me.

[CS: Skywarp rips off a turret, jumps down from the platform he’s on and immediately shoots the two Autobots he’s landed in front of.]

S: Oh~

[SS: Thundercracker is in jet mode, shooting at some Autobots with sheilds at close range, but is shot and goes down.]

S: Oh.  I'm dead.  I found... a thing, that I guess is a- one of the things we're supposed to interact with but I'm also dead, and yeah, Autobots.

O: If I can find you.

[SS: Thundercracker blows up.]

S: Nope, I blew up.  That was me.

[OS: The Mission Failed screen appears and Owls selects, “Restart from Last Checkpoint.”]

O: [sighs] Everybody just wants to blow up today and obviously I'm not cool because I don't understand why people find it fun.

[OS: The party spawns back in the same room as before.  The screen reads, “New Objective: Re-route power to the energon bridge.”  Starscream walks over to the console and opens the door.]

S: I did not want to blow up!

[Autobot: Alert!  Alert!

CS/OS/SS: The party runs in and begins to fight with the various Autobots.  Starscream remains behind cover sniping, while Skywarp and Thundercracker get more up close and personal with the enemy.]

S: Oh, it's a plasma cannon.  Oh, I'm out.

[CS: Skywarp is fighting with two Autobots with shields.  A downed ally icon appears to his right, before Skywarp goes down as well.  Skywarp begins to slowly float towards an opening to get back into the main room where the other Seekers are.]

C: Shoot, so am I.

[OS: Starscream is in the middle reviving Thundercracker.]

O: You two are killing me.

S: Sorry!

[OS: Starscream transforms and flies up to Skywarp to begin reviving him.]

S: Ah, nuts to you Autobot.

C: I'm trying to fly down.

[OS: Starscream’s thinking “Help me, don’t help me!” as Skywarp flies past him while he’s trying to revive him.  But Skywarp is successfully revived.]

O: You’re lucky I still have a shield left.

C: [laughs]

O: Are you alive?

C: Yep.

[CS: Skywarp continues to fight Autobots.]

O: Okay!  Everybody's still alive!

[SS: Thundercracker is fighting two shield Autobots and goes down.]

S: Sorry, I'm dead.

C & S: [laugh]

O: You’ve gotta be kidding me!

[CS: The Mission Failed screen appears and Owls selects, “Restart from Last Checkpoint.”]

C: Ah, so… I need to stop dying

O: I'm doing nothing wrong, got it?

[CS: The party starts at the checkpoint.]

C: [laughs]

O: I'm doing nothing wrong, that's what I thought!  Also, I'm taking this fucking ammo, okay?

[CS: Starscream runs past Skywarp and picks up some ammo.]

C: Okay!

[CS: Starscream opens the door.

Autobot: Alert!  Alert!]

O: [laughs]  We're just gonna call this in the chapter were Specs did nothing wrong.  Not a single thing! [Nothing like saying the wrong name for MYSELF, I meant Owls here ~O]

[CS: Skywarp immediately shoots the Autobot on the other side of the door before he can even turn around.]

C & S: [laugh]

[OS: Starscream shoots at an Autobot at one of the turrets, missing the first shot but getting him on the second.]

O: Oh my god, I'm hitting you, fucker!

[OS: Starscream continues to shoot at Autobots with his Null Ray from behind cover.]

S: Oh.

[CS: Skywarp rips off one of the turrets.

Skywarp: If Skywarp wants it, Skywarp takes it!

CS: He destroys multiple Autobots using the turret.]

C: Oh my goodness, are we alive?

[OS: Starscream continues to shoot at Autobots, heading into some of the narrower hallways connected to the main room they’ve been fighting in, following Thundercracker.]

S: Yes... somewhat, sort of.

O: Do you need that health?

[SS: Thundercracker walks past an energon cube.]

S: I've got three bars.

O: Take it because I still have a shield.

S: Um.

[CS: Skywarp is fighting several Autobots with shields, taking damage from various grenades that are being lobbed around the room.  He runs over to take out one of the Autobots with his physical attack, but goes down after killing them.]

C: Oh, ah, man I fell.  I'm on the left top room.

[SS: Starscream runs past Thundercracker and over to Skywarp and revives him.  Thundercracker walks over to a console.]

S: Oh.  It looks like, uh, do you want me to interact with this thing?

O: Uh, just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything in here, then yes.

C: I want this turret first.

O: Okay, let him take the turret.  Skywarp wants a souvenir turret!

[SS: Skywarp runs over to a turret and rips it off, while the other two Seekers stay near the console.]

S: [laughs]

O: That’s what I’m calling it, okay.

C: All right, this is my new toy.

O: Okay, now that everybody's happy-

[CS: Thundercracker activates the console, opening the door right in front of them.  Skywarp runs over and the party begins to shoot at the Autobots on the other side of the door.  Thundercracker is using a gun that shoots blue energy out of it, and it doesn’t seem to be affecting the enemies.]

S: Ahh!  Hi, Autobots!

C: [laughs] I don’t know why, but the way you said that was funny.

[Starscream: Nothing will stop me!  Blast those locks!

OS: The party continues shooting Autobots, as well as some locks on a door to the left.]

O: Did you pick up a healing gun!?!

C: What?

S: Me?  No?

O: I saw it healing things!  I don’t know where it was coming from, maybe it was an Autobot…

S: Uh, it's some sort of plasma thing?

O: Huh.

[SS: Thundercracker walks up to a closed door, it starts to open and he backs up.]

S: Uhhh!

[SS: The door opens, revealing no Autobots inside.]

S: Ohh!~

O: Health, thank you.

[SS: Thundercracker shoots the blue ray again and Skywarp walks up beside him..]

C: Actually, yeah, Specs has some kind of weird... I don't know what it is?

S: I don’t know, it’s a plasma gun, I don’t know.

O: Can you show-

[SS: Thundercracker swaps his gun from an Energon Repair Ray to a Plasma Cannon.]

S: Well, that’s a plasma-

O: Yeah, that one.

[SS: Thundercracker swaps back to the Energon Repair Ray, and backs away from Starscream and Skywarp.]

S: Oh, I've got an Energon Repair Ray, oh.

O: Yeah!  You’ve got a healing gun.

S: Okay, you’re- Owls you’re fully healed.  Lemme-

[SS: Starscream backs away from where Skywarp is standing.]

O: I’m fully healed.

S: When the hell did I get that?

O: I don't know.

[SS: Thundercracker heals Skywarp not quite to full health before swapping to his Plasma Cannon, which has no ammo left.

Skywarp: Now we’re talking!]

S: Sorry, but I'm all out of ammo, so I need to be a plane.

[SS: Thundercracker transforms into vehicle mode.]

C: [laughs]

[Starscream: All right… this station seems to funnel power directly to the Energon Bridge.

Thundercracker: Those are the Energon Bridge’s power control panels.

SS: The door closes in front of Thundercracker, locking him out of the room Starscream and Skywarp have walked into.]

S: Oh, um, I'm sorry, I'm on the wrong side of the door.

C: It’ll probably-

O: Hopefully, you’ll teleport?

C: -yeah.

[OS: An in-game cinematic starts, with the three Seekers walking around a large room full of various boxes, equipment, and tubes.  A door opens in front of Starscream, revealing a console, in front of some pod-like machine things behind glass.

Skywarp: Wow, Starscream--that WAS impressive.

Starscream: Silence, fool!  We need to supply these side terminals with their energon power cells.]

S: Oh yeah, good.

[OS: Starscream activates the console, but nothing moves.  Two red targets appear on either side of the glass panel.

Thundercracker:  Looks like the Autobots have locked these power cells down.

Starscream: Quickly--destroy the locks!]

S: Uh..

C: Destroy the locks?  Alright.

[CS: The party shoots at the locks, destroying them.]

C: Welp, we destroyed the locks!  Now what, fearless leader?

O: [screechy voice] Oh, don't ‘fearless leader’ me!

[CS: An in-game cinematic starts, and the three pod things behind glass move downwards, under the floor before getting destroyed.

Skywarp: What happened now!

Starscream: The Autobots have booby trapped this room.  Fools!

Skywarp: Wait--are you calling US fools, or the Autobots fools?]

O: [laughs]

[Skywarp: Because--I’m not getting the sense that you respect me!]

C & O: [laugh]

[Starscream: Silence!  Fool!

Skywarp: That’s EXACTLY what I’m talking about!]

O: [snorts and then laughs] I mean...

C: “Starscream!  I’m getting the distinct impression you don't respect me!”

[Starscream: This is almost too easy.  Quickly, find the other power terminals.

SS: Thundercracker flies around the outskirts of the room, but doesn’t see anything unusual.]

S: [laughs] Okay-

O: [screechy voice]  Respect?  What is that?  Some sort of Earth TERM?

C: ...Yes.

S: Umm, I'm not entirely sure what I should be doing?

C: Nah, I’m pretty lost too.

O: Uh, there's probably a power cell that we need to destroy- er, I destroyed one of them.

[Skywarp: Now we’re talkin’!]

O: Maybe?  ...Maybe not.  Maybe they just want to fuck with us.

[OS: Starscream is flying around near the floor, attempting to follow a glowing red conduit.]

O: Is that-

C: Oh, there's- no, we’ve got to follow the conduit.

S: Oh, the-

C: So follow the red glowy thing that's running along the floor.

S: Okay.

C: And then it goes up?

O: Cuz like, I killed one of them…

[CS: Skywarp continues to fly around the room.]

O: Hmm, no.

[CS: Skywarp follows a conduit that loops behind some of the boxes and other piping and finds one of the power cells.]

C: Oh, it's up here, hang on.

[CS: Skywarp destroys the power cell.

Starscream: Excellent, now keep looking--there should be just one more.

SS: Thundercracker shoots the last power cell.

Thundercracker: Energy barriers are 100% offline.

Starscream: Perfect!  Now--get these power cells into position!]

C: Wait a minute!  Can something not be a hundred percent offline? I mean, it’s- it's either on or off, you can't be in the middle.

O: [screechy voice] Shut up Skywarp!

C: [laughs]

O: [laughs] I'm sorry I can't resist.

C: Oh, I love it.

S: Alright, er-

O: Cool, where do we go now, dum-dums?

[OS: Starscream is walking around on the bottom of the room looking around for another console or something to activate.]

C: Right- right!?

O: [screechy voice] Fools!  Which way do we go!?

C: I don’t know what to do!

[OS: Starscream transforms and begins to slowly fly around the room looking for what they’re supposed to activate.

Thundercracker: The side terminals are showing power levels at maximum.]

S: I don’t know.  I mean, this looks like a door but...

[Starscream: Hahahaha!  We are but one click away from activating the full power of the Energon bridge!]

O: Cool.  How?

[OS: Starscream transforms, landing next to the now visible console, activating it.]

O: There we go, this one. [mutters something unintelligible]

[CS: The equipment in the room lights up, and begins transmitting energy.]

C: WOAH!  What the- ?

[Starscream: I did it!  Look at all that power flowing!  Onward, Decepticons!]

S: To where?

O: Space crack.  We have sup- supplied or booty call with space crack.

S: [laughs] Ah.  Okay, yes, out the door.

[CS: Activating the console has opened a door to a tunnel leading downwards.  The party enters.

Thundercracker: I am detecting an unknown energy signature nearby.  Off the scale…

Starscream: Then we are close - the Energon Bridge must be nearby.

OS: The party arrives in a large circular room.  A machine stands in the center, with flooring that is a mixture of metal frames and glass radiating from the center.  Above the machine there appears to be another glass platform of some kind going around the edge of the room.

Starscream: The device must be inside that machine.  Plant a Dark Energon Det-Pack on its power cable to activate it.

Thundercracker: My scans indicate that--]

S: Uh…

[Starscream: I’ve had enough of your readings!  Use Dark Energon and corrupt the machine!

OS: Starscream flies forward and transforms, landing in front of the device indicated by the UI, and plants a detpack on it.]

C: [laughs] Your READINGS!

S: Uh, I got locked out again.

[OS: The detpack explodes, and, “New Objective: Destroy the Energon Bridge Guardian,” pops up.

An in-game cinematic starts, the machine activates, with the upper portion lifting up and firing its guns at the party.

Skywarp: Whoa… what’s happening?!]

S: Okay, yay, it teleported me.

[Thundercracker: Precisely what I was afraid of.  Cybertron is trying to purge itself of contamination.]

C: Wait.  We're on Cybertron?

O: Yeah.

S: I guess.

[Skywarp: What contamination?

Starscream: He means US, you idiot!

OS: The Seekers all dodge a blast from device’s guns.  The camera focuses on Starscream as he flips into the air, transforming into jet mode.]

C: [laughs]

[Starscream: Quit blabbing and destroy this nuisance!]

S: Mm.

[SS: The upper portion of the device begins to rotate as it continues shooting.  Thundercracker hovers, shooting the machine.]

S: Alright, by- ?  Okay?  What am I supposed to be shooting?

[CS: Skywarp is shooting at the devices guns.]

C: Uh, if your reticle turns red it means you're hitting something.  I think it's the big- the big red circles is what you want to be aiming for on the machine, but not-

S: Um.

C: Oddly enough, not the big one in the center.

[CS: The device stops shooting and drops its guns, but other portions of the machine open up and begin generating wide pink laser beams that begin rotating.  There is an upper beam and lower beam, they are currently rotating in opposite directions to each other.

Thundercracker: Evade those beams!

Skywarp: Move!  Move!  Move!]

S: Oh.

C: I know that doesn't make a lot of sense but…

S: Sorry, I'm not entirely sure…?

[OS: Starscream and Thundercracker are flying around trying to avoid the beams.]

C: Well, right now we just need to be dodging the beam.

S: I'm... doing very badly at that!

C: Now shoot the small red circles.

[OS: The machine stops and the center opens up revealing a power core.]

O: Oh, no, shoot the Power Core!

[Starscream: The machine is vulnerable!  Focus your fire on the core!]

C: Yeah, now we need to shoot the power core.

S: Oh.

[OS: The party shoots the power core, and then the machine closes up, raising it’s guns and beginning to shoot again.]

S: Well, nuts.

C: Now go back to shooting the red- the red lights on the guns.

[CS: Skywarp circles around the machine, shooting at the guns.

Skywarp: Are we even hurting this thing?

Starscream: Not with your pathetic aim!  Focus fire on those guns!]

S: Oh sorry, I’m dead.

C: Uh, where are ya?

[CS: A downed ally icon appears on the other side of the room.  Skywarp begins flying around the machine to get to the other side.]

O: I see ya.

[CS: Another downed ally icon appears next to the first.]

O: I am also dead.

C: No!

O: Help?

C: I'm coming!

[CS: Skywarp zips towards Starscream and Thundercracker but overshoots.]

C: Shoot.

[CS: Thundercracker explodes as Skywarp turns around.]

S: Sorry, I'm dead.  Possibly we're all dead?

[SS: The game over screen displays.]

C: Well the show can't carry on without Skywarp!

S: [laughs]

[SS: The party spawns in the boss room.  “New Objective: Activate the Energon Bridge,” appears in the right hand corner.]

O: You mean Thunderacker!

C: Or Thundercracker, which one are you?

S: [laughs]

[Thundercracker: My scans indicate that--

Starscream: I’ve had enough of your readings!  Use Dark Energon and corrupt the machine!]

C: Jet A and Jet B.

O: I'm gonna make you build one of my model kits so that you'll remember which one- like, which one we're talking about.

[OS: New Objective, “Destroy the energon bridge guardian,” displays in the bottom right corner of the screen.]

C: They're both the same!

[OS: The same cinematic of the device activating from before plays.

Skywarp: Whoa… what’s happening?!]

O: [gruff voice] You're ugly! [normal voice] WE LOOK THE SAME! [laughs]

[Thundercracker: Precisely what I was afraid of.  Cybertron is trying to purge itself of contamination.]

C: And then there's red whiny jet, but at least I remember him.

S: [laughs]

[Skywarp: What contamination?

Starscream: He means US, you idiot!]

O: [screechy voice] Excuse me! I'm white, and red, and blue.  If you're going to insult me, at least have the decency to do it right.

[Starscream: Quit blabbing and destroy this nuisance!]

S: Mm.

C: Yeah, I'll let Megatron take care of that.

O: Shut up. [laughs]

C: [laughs]

[CS/OS: The party targets the device’s guns, until it drops it’s guns and activates it’s beams.

Thundercracker: Evade those beams!

Skywarp: Move!  Move!  Move!

SS: Thundercracker gets hit by one of the beams, taking away an significant portion of his health.  He attempts to fly higher, to where the upper glass platform is clearly visible, but is stopped by an invisible barrier.]

S: Uh, shit.

[SS: The machine stops and the center opens up revealing a power core.  The party shoots at it.

Starscream: The machine is vulnerable!  Focus your fire on the core!]

S: Why would they design it like that?

C: [laughs]

O: It has to cool off, I don't know.

[OS: The machine closes up, raising it’s guns and beginning to shoot again.  The party targets the guns.

Skywarp: Are we even hurting this thing?

Starscream: Not with your pathetic aim!  Focus fire on those guns!]

C: [laughs] That’s a perfectly valid question!

S: It's a shitty ass design!

C: It would be like if you created a giant weapon, but like, every two minutes it had to open up and expose its weakness.

S: [laughs]

[Skywarp:  Ha!  He’s not so tough!

SS: The device stops and drops it’s guns, preparing to generating the beams.]

O: What?  That's like, what video games do, isn't it?

C: Yeah, yeah, video games.

[SS: Thundercracker banks to the right to get away from the part of the machine that will generate the beams.]

S: Oh shit, woop.

O: Uh, you okay?

S: Yeah.  Okay, it’s just now it's time to fly.

[Megatron (COM): Starscream!  What is taking so long!

Starscream: Just a slight delay…

SS: The spinning beams start up again.  Thundercracker again tries to pull upwards but is still blocked by the invisible wall.  He is hit by a beam, but not destroyed.]

C: Oh no, I got cut in half.

S: Same…

[SS: The game over screen displays.]

A: [laugh]

O: Woooow.

A: [continue to laugh]

O: I just-

C: That’s unfortunate.

[SS: The party spawns in the boss room.  “New Objective: Activate the Energon Bridge,” appears in the right hand corner.]

O: You’re, like, required, when you edit this, honey, to like, go back and forth between me being a badass... and you two.

C & S: [laugh]

[Thundercracker: My scans indicate that--

Starscream: I’ve had enough of your readings!  Use Dark Energon and corrupt the machine!]

S: Look-

O: I mean that is the most loving way possible.

S: Look, I've been useful, sometimes!

O: [laughs]

[SS: The same cinematic of the device activating from before plays.

Skywarp: Whoa… what’s happening?!]

C: “I’ve been useful!”

O: [laughs]

C: “...sometimes!”

[Thundercracker: Precisely what I was afraid of.  Cybertron is trying to purge itself of contamination.]

O & S: [laugh]

O: I’m just saying, it’s very funny when it’s like, um-

[Skywarp: What contamination?

Starscream: He means US, you idiot!  Quit blabbing and destroy this nuisance!

CS: The party fires on the guns.]

O: Oh, I got cut in half and here I am flying like a badass, and I’m like, “Cut in half!?”

[SS: The device drops it’s guns and activates it’s beams.]

S: Ugh..

[Thundercracker: Evade those beams!

Skywarp: Move!  Move!  Move!]

S: Oh, shit.  Shit.

[SS: Thundercracker is flying around trying to avoid the beams, but nicks them several times before running into the center of the machine, which apparently is an insta-death.]

S: I hate... these pink things!

[SS: The game over screen displays.]

A: [laugh]

[Starscream: The device must be inside that machine.  Plant a Dark Energon Det-Pack on its power cable to activate it.

SS: The party spawns in the boss room.  “New Objective, activate the energon bridge,” displays in the right hand corner for disappearing.]

O: Death!  Pink horrible death!

S: [laughs]

[Thundercracker: My scans indicate that--

Starscream: I’ve had enough of your readings!  Use Dark Energon and corrupt the machine!

OS: Starscream flies forward, transforming and planting the detpak.]

C: Your ‘readings!’

O: [screechy voice] Your ‘readings’!

[OS: The same cinematic of the device activating from before plays.  New Objective, “Destroy the energon bridge guardian,” displays in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Skywarp: Whoa… what’s happening?!

Thundercracker: Precisely what I was afraid of.  Cybertron is trying to purge itself of contamination.

Skywarp: What contamination?

Starscream: He means US, you idiot!  Quit blabbing and destroy this nuisance!]

S: I got to be Sky- Thundercracker... the scientist.  For some reason.

[OS: The party target the guns.]

O: I mean, honestly, I think- I think I love it?  Skywarp’s [Thundercracker’s] the one that's like, “Oh my god, I fucking told you so, asshole!”

S: [laughs]

[SS: Thundercracker has destroyed the front portion of the guns directly in front of him, beams are no longer shooting  from that part.]

S: Ohh~  That was… helpful.

[CS: The guns drop.]

C: Okay, so I would recommend if you have trouble avoiding the blades-

[CS: Skywarp attempts to fly up to the secondary glass platform, but is also blocked by an invisible wall.  The machine activates the laserbeams.]

S: Yeah.

C: Oh, they won't let you.  They don't let you fly up!

[CS: The party dodges the laserbeams.]

S: Yes, I'm trying to fly up!

C: That's ridiculous!

O: Just fly in the same direction as one of them.  Whether it’s the top or the bottom.

[CS: The game over screen displays.]

S: I know.  I had tried that and they kept catching up to me.

O: You've got to speed up.

C: Oh yeah-

S: I’m using the thrusters!

C: You are?

O: Okay, if you stay more near the middle you have to travel less distance.

[CS: The party spawns in the boss room.  “New Objective, activate the energon bridge,” displays in the right hand corner for disappearing.]

C: Yeah.

O: Don't go all the way out.

[Thundercracker: My scans indicate that--

Starscream: I’ve had enough of your readings!  Use Dark Energon and corrupt the machine!

CS: Skywarp flies up to the glass platform that’s inaccessible during the fight.]

C: But yeah, look!  I'm totally up here!  You can fly up here before the boss battle starts, but then when it starts it won't let you fly out, that's ridiculous.

[CS: Skywarp flies over to the device in the center of the room and lands on top of it.]

C: Look, I'm on its head!

[CS: New Objective, “Destroy the energon bridge guardian,” displays in the bottom right corner of the screen.  The same cinematic of the device activating from before plays.

Skywarp: Whoa… what’s happening?!

S: [laughs]

C: I was!

[Thundercracker: Precisely what I was afraid of.  Cybertron is trying to purge itself of contamination.

Skywarp: What contamination?

Starscream: He means US, you idiot!]

S: I saw that.

C: And then it's like, oh no, you're fighting it you can't do the smart thing and you know fly away!

O: Even though we're fucking jets.

C: Right!

[Starscream: Quit blabbing and destroy this nuisance!

SS: The party targets the guns.]

S: [sighs]

[SS: The device drops it’s guns, and begins generating the laserbeams.

Thundercracker: Evade those beams!

Skywarp: Move!  Move!  Move!

SS: Thundercracker hangs close to the middle, but accidentally touches the center of he device, dying instantly.  The game over screen displays.]

S: Okay, I don't know what the hell killed me, but I died.

C: We're gonna have to figure this out.

S: I guess I was too close to it?  I touched it, I didn't touch the pink stuff.

[OS: Owls selects, “Continue from Last Checkpoint.”]

O: Yeah, don’t touch it.  Don’t touch it.

[Starscream: The device must be inside that machine.  Plant a Dark Energon Det-Pack on its power cable to activate it.

OS: The party spawns in the boss room.  “New Objective, activate the energon bridge,” displays in the right hand corner for disappearing.  Starscream flies forward and transforms, dropping to the platform below, and planting a detpack on it.]

C: So how much health do you have coming into this fight?

S: Full hel- full health.

C: Okay

[Thundercracker: My scans indicate that--

Starscream: I’ve had enough of your readings!  Use Dark Energon and corrupt the machine!]

C: When- when we activate- when it activates the blades one of us needs to find Specs and guide her.

S: [laughs]

[OS: New Objective, “Destroy the energon bridge guardian,” displays in the bottom right corner of the screen.  The same cinematic of the device activating from before plays.

Skywarp: Whoa… what’s happening?!

O: Or- just maybe follow Chezni, and see if that helps?

S: Uhh… I’ll try.

[Thundercracker: Precisely what I was afraid of.  Cybertron is trying to purge itself of contamination.

Skywarp: What contamination?

Starscream: He means US, you idiot!  Quit blabbing and destroy this nuisance!

CS: The party targets the guns.]

C: All right, I'll try and keep an eye on you.

[CS: Skywarp looks to his left and sees Thundercracker off in the distance.]

C: All right, there you are.

[CS: The machine drops its guns and Skywarp flies over next to Thundercracker.]

C: All right, Specs, come down here!

S: I'm following you.

C: All right.  Now we're just gonna fly in this direction.

[SS: Skywarp takes off as the beams start, Thundercracker stalls and gets hit by one of them before angling himself upwards and hitting one of the upper beams.]

S: Well, shit.

[SS: Thundercracker drops to the lower level and begins flying in the same direction as the pink laserbeam.]

S: Yes I'm flying in the direction of the pink…

[SS: The beams deactivate.]

S: [quietly] Shit, god.

C: That worked!

S: Thank you.  Ugh.

[SS: Thundercracker flies over to a glass cage thing with multiple energon cubes visible inside.  He destroys the cage and picks up some health.]

S: Oh, there's health.

[Starscream: The machine is vulnerable!  Focus your fire on the core!]

O: By all means take it.

C: Yeah, I don't need it.

[OS: Starscream and Skywarp take aim at the device’s power core.  Once the health drops a bit, the machine closes back up and raises its guns.  The party targets the guns.

Skywarp: Are we even hurting this thing?

Starscream: Not with your pathetic aim!  Focus fire on those guns!]

S: Hmmm.

[Skywarp: Ha!  He’s not so tough!

S: Ugh.

[OS: The machine drops it’s guns and activates it’s laserbeams.  The party flies around to avoid them.

Megatron (COM): Starscream!  What is taking so long!]

O: [snorts]

[Starscream: Just a slight delay...]

O: [laughs]

[Megatron (COM): I’m beginning to question your ability to deliver, Starscream.  Do not disappoint me!]

S: The booty call.

O: The booty call is being a jerk! [laughs]

C: “Just freshening up, boss!”

[OS: The machine drops the laserbeams and exposes its power core and the party shoots it.]

O: [laughs, before continuing on in a screechy voice] I'm TRYING to not be cut in two right now!

C: Okay, one more round!  One more round, right!?

[CS: The machine closes off the core.]

O: I do not have a ton of health left right now.

S: Um.

[Skywarp: What is it doing NOW?

Starscream: Who cares?  Just be ready for it!

CS: Lava is visible rising through the glass floor portions of the room.  Everything takes on an orangey-red glow.]

O: Oh dear.

[Thundercracker: Evasive maneuvers!]

S: Uh, shit.  I don’t know what’s happening.

[SS: The glass floor panels begin to explode.]

C: Lava.  Lava is happening.

S: Oh, goody.

[SS: The entire floor is covered with lava, except for a slightly raised ring around the base of the device.]

C: And missiles.

[SS: Fireballs come up out of the lava and target the party.]

S: Whilst I fly randomly, because I don't know what the hell I'm…

O: I mean, look, that's pretty much what we're doing.

C: Yeah, to be honest, I think that's to your benefit.

S: [laughs]

[OS: The machine generates the laserbeams again, but this time, both the upper and lower portions are stacked on top of each other and there’s easy way to move past them.]

S: Ah!

C: You’re kidding me.

S: Crap.

O: No, no-

[OS: Starscream hovers in place and is downed by fireballs.]

O: Oh damn it!

C: Are you down?

O: Uh, I’m down, I'm down.

C: All right, I…

[OS: The laserbeams begin moving and hit Starscream, cutting him in half.  The game over screen displays.]

O: And then I got cut in half.  Cool beans.

C: [laughs]

S: Okay.

O: I hope there was a checkpoint in the middle!

[SS: The party spawns in at the point of the fight where the lava starts to rise through the floor.]

C: [sarcastically] “I did nothing wrong!”

O: Uh-huh, up until that point I had not!

[SS: Thundercracker points towards the glass cages filled with energon.]

S: So- so- so you see the things that are down at the bottom? Those all have health in them.

[Skywarp: What is it doing NOW?

Starscream: Who cares?  Just be ready for it!

Thundercracker: Evasive maneuvers!]

S: Those cages, with cubes.

C: Gotcha.

S: There's cages with cubes!

[SS: The lava begins rising.]

C & S: [laugh]

[CS: Skywarp stops flying and turns towards the cages.]

C: Oh, those things!  I see, she's right there totally health in them.  That’s a lot of health!

[CS: The glass floor panels begin to explode.]

O: I plan on- yeah.

[OS: The party flies around, trying to avoid the fireballs.]

S: I don't know what I'm supposed to do right now?

C: Just fly away.

S: [laugh]

C: We're waiting for the machine to open up.

 C: Essentially we're just dodging the fireball missiles.  Cuz, you know, Cybertron decided (logically speaking) the best way to purge viruses from its core-

[SS: The machine generates the double laserbeams, Thundercracker flies right though the center and takes damage but doesn’t immediately die.  But then he accidently transforms and falls into the lava.]

S: Goddammit! [laughs]

C: -was to have fireball missiles!

[SS: The Mission Failed screen appears.]

S: I- I’m sorry. [laughs] That was me.

[SS: The party spawns at the battle midpoint.]

O: Hey, at least- at least we have a checkpoint, okay.  At least we have a checkpoint.

[CS: Skywarp shoots some of the energon cages and picks up some health.

Skywarp: Now I’m all shiny again!]

C: [laughs] I’m all shiny again.

[Skywarp: What is it doing NOW?

Starscream: Who cares?  Just be ready for it!

CS: The lava rises and the glass panels begin to break.

Thundercracker: Evasive maneuvers!

CS/OS/SS: The party flies around the machine, avoiding fireballs.]

C: Evasive maneuvers, otherwise known as flying around in a circle.

S: [laughs]

C: These are top-tier strategies right here.

S: Yeah, just fly randomly and- [laughs]

C: [laughs]

O: Pray.

C: It’s genius!

S: [laughs]

C: Wait, who are we praying to?

O: [attempting to imitate Skywarp] “Hey, boss!  I’m a genius!”

[OS: The laserbeams activate.]

C: Uh, isn’t- who is it, Drift?  Is Drift a god?

S: No…

O: No, Primus- Rung is, dear.

C: Rung, yeah.

[OS: The laserbeams begin to rotate.

Megatron (COM): Starscream!  What is taking so long!

Starscream: Just a slight delay…

OS: Thundercracker is visible in the distance running into one of the laserbeams and getting cut in half.]

S: Oh, shit.  Shit, AHHH!

[OS: The game over screen displays.]

S: I got cut in half.

O: [laughs] I saw that.

A: [laugh]

[OS: Owls selects, “Restart From Last Checkpoint,” and the party spawns at the previous checkpoint.]

C: Okay, so Specs, I'm sure you know this but just to go over it strategically.

S: [laughs]

[Skywarp: What is it doing NOW?

Starscream: Who cares?  Just be ready for it!

CS: The lava rises and the explosions start happening.  The party flies around avoiding fireballs.

Thundercracker: Evasive maneuvers!]

C: You're doing great dodging the fireballs, but eventually when those blades come out they start very slowly.  You need to-

S: [still laughing] I knoooow!

C: Okay.

O: “I knoooow!”

C & S: [laughs]

O: What I’m getting from this is that Thundercracker is like, the worst flyer out of these three?

C: [laughs]

S: [laughs] Thundercracker is a scientist!

O: [laughs] So is Starscream, supposedly!  Apparently, his flight is affected by how much he wants a booty call.

O & S: [laugh]

C: I mean-

S: Granted, you know, probably part of my issue is that my mouse is, you know, a rollerball one.

[SS: The laserbeams come up just as Thundercracker is flying, and he manages to fly through the middle, only taking minor damage.  He stops once on the other side of the beam.]

C: Oh right, she's playing with that crazy rollerball- rollerball mouse.  That would be pretty hard.

[SS: The dual laserbeams begin moving.

Megatron (COM): Starscream!  What is taking so long!

Starscream: Just a slight delay...]

C: All right, now they're gonna start moving you need to slowly-

S: Yes! I am- I am zooming! [laughs]

O: I think you mean, “NYRMING”.

[Megatron (COM): I’m beginning to question your ability to deliver, Starscream.  Do not disappoint me!

O: Oh shit!

[OS: The laserbeams stop, and Starscream goes through the middle of them.]

S: Oh shit!  I can’t turn around!

[OS: The laserbeams begin moving in the opposite direction from before.  Starscream turns around but off in the distance Thundercracker goes through them.]

S: Oh, it didn’t kill me.  Shit!

[CS: Skywarp is attempting to get health from one of the energon cages but one of the laserbeams hits him and kills him.]

C: Are you kidding me?

[CS: The game over screen displays.]

O: ARGH!  Which of us died!?

C: That was me.

O: Oh my god it was you!

C: Yup.

O: I blame you!

[CS: The party restarts at the checkpoint.]

O: I went through the middle of them and didn't die, earlier!

C: Yup.

O: I was so proud of myself and this is what I have to deal with!

C: [sighs] I am so sorry.

[Skywarp: What is it doing NOW?

Starscream: Who cares?  Just be ready for it!]

S: And be aware that there is, in fact, Energon, or heal.

[OS: The lava begins to rise and blow up the glass panels below.  The party flies around avoiding fireballs.

Thundercracker: Evasive maneuvers!]

C: Yeah, no, that’s actually what got me killed.

O: That doesn’t help when you just get cut in half.

C: Um, I went in for the Energon and then, uh...

S: Then you died.

C: Yep.

S: [laughs] That happened to me.  That was like, not the most recent death but…

O: I did not need to get hit by the fireballs, thank you!

S: Good-bye, fireballs! [laughs]

C: [laughs]

S: [laughs] Sorry, for some reason I always find it really amusing when- when I die.

[SS: The laserbeams come up and Thundercracker isn’t able to stop in time and goes through them and then turns around and goes through them again, dropping his health below one bar.]

S: Ahhh!  Shhhit.

[SS: The laserbeams start moving as Thundercracker shoots one of the cages and grabs some energon.

Megatron (COM): Starscream!  What is taking so long!]

C: Okay, so they're gonna go clockwise and then when they turn off they go counterclockwise.

[SS: One of the laserbeams hits Thundercracker, but then stop.  Thundercracker turns around and starts heading the other direction.

Starscream: Just a slight delay...]

Megatron (COM): I’m beginning to question your ability to deliver, Starscream.  Do not disappoint me!]

S: Oh, okay, that happened.

C: Now turn around and go the other way.

[CS: The laserbeams begin moving in the opposite direction.]

C: And I don't know what they're gonna do after this you're on your own.

S: I’m gonna follow- ah!

[CS: Thundercracker runs into Skywarp.  The two turn around and begin to head the other direction.]

C: This isn’t bumper jets!

[OS: The beams split up again, with the top and bottom moving in different directions.  The two halves line up when they stop, Starscream tries to bank but accidentally transforms instead, falling into the lava.]

O: Oh shit- ARGHHH!

[OS: The game over screen displays.]

O: Dammit.

C: WELL-

O: Wait-

[OS: Owls selects Load from last checkpoint.]

C: Look who died!

O: Shut up.

S: [laughs]

O: Just shut up.

[OS: The party restarts at the checkpoint.]

C: Ahh, this is fun, isn’t this fun?

O: Shut up.

C: It is fun, I’m gla- I’m glad to be a part of this!

O: Shut up! [laughs]

[OS: New Objective, “Destroy the energon bridge guardian,” displays in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Skywarp: What is it doing NOW?

Starscream: Who cares?  Just be ready for it!]

S: I’m-

C: [laughs]

S: Pre-destroying shit now.

[Thundercracker: Evasive maneuvers!

SS: The lava rises and begins to destroy the glass panels.  The party flies around, avoiding fireballs.]

C: You gotta admit though, if these three guys were just normal scientists who decided to wake up one day and do all this, that's pretty badass.

S: Decide to just be evil.

O: Oh no!

[OS: Starscream is flying around near the lava with very little health.  He shoots an energon cage and picks up some health.]

C: No, well, that and fly down here and do all this crazy stuff.

S: Yeah.

[OS: The dual laserbeams appear.]

S: Oh!  Shhhit.

C: Oh crap!

C: I flew right into those blades.

S: Uh, shit.

[Megatron (COM): Starscream!  What is taking so long!

S: Okie dokie.

[OS: The beams begin moving.

Starscream: Just a slight delay...]

O: [snorts]

Megatron (COM): I’m beginning to question your ability to deliver, Starscream.  Do not disappoint me!

OS: The blades reverse direction.]

O: [snorts] I'm sorry, I don't know why I find that funny, but I do. [laughs]

S: Egh!

[SS: The top and bottom blades begin moving in opposite directions.]

S: It's like, I must now move!

[SS: Thundercracker boosts forward as the blades stop, narrowly missing them.]

S: But not too fast!  Shit!

[SS: The blades disappear and the machine exposes it’s core.]

C: We did it!  We did it!  Shoot that core!

[Starscream: The machine is vulnerable!  Focus your fire on the core!

OS: The core is destroyed.]

O: Oh thank freakin’ god!

S: Phew.  Fuck!

[OS: The machine folds in on itself and a black claw like mechanical things come out of the middle, seemingly infecting the lava with dark energon.  One of the arms goes up through the ceiling creating a hole.

Skywarp: Wait!  Something’s happening!

Starscream: YES!  It’s crumbling before the MIGHT of STARSCREAM!]

O: Is that what we're calling this?

[Starscream: To the surface, Decepticons!

OS: New Objective, “Escape to the surface,” displays in the bottom right corner of the screen.]

S: Uh, I guess we're supposed to go up there?

[OS: Starscream enters the tunnel from the created hole.  Dark energon appears to be causing black spikey structures to grow up through the tunnel as the party flies upwards.]

S: Uh, okay.

[Skywarp: The machine is out of control!

Thundercracker: It must be a side effect of the Dark Energon!]

C: Great shot kid, that was one in a million.

O: [snorts]

C: [laughs]

C: I can’t remember any of the other lines.

[OS: The party continues to fly upwards.]

S: Sorry, I only- I only sorta know where I’m-

O: Where you’re going?

C: Just fly up.  It's the Death Star, we're getting out of this thing.

[OS: An in-game cinematic plays, as the 3 Seekers exit to the surface of Cybertron, the black growths continue to grow into a platform below.  A large machine on 4 spider like legs begins to move.

Skywarp: We’ve done it!  The Energon Bridge is activating!]

S: It’s elephant toothpaste.

C: What!?

S: [laughs]

[Note: If you are as confused as we were this is elephant toothpaste. ~O]

[OS: The Seekers transform, landing on a nearby platform.

Thundercracker: Incredible.  The Energon Bridge is active once more.]

C: That's a bridge!?  That looks like a giant spider!

S: Kind of.

[Starscream: Quiet!  You’re ruining my moment of Glory!  Soon, my Orbital Station will be at full power!]

O: [screechy voice] Shut up twos!  A ten is talking! [laughs]

C: [laughs]

[Megatron: YOUR orbital station, Starscream?  Surely you mean MINE.

O: [snorts]

[Megatron: I see you have finally succeeded in the simple task I gave you.  Perhaps you’re not as worthless as I thought.  Report back to base--at once!

OS: The spider device activates, bringing energon up from below and sending it upwards towards the orbital station.  The three Seekers take to the air flying back to base.]

O: [volume has been reduced] Oww!

[A cinematic plays - the beam of energon bounces around between what appears to be multiple satellites before reaching the orbital station from the first chapter.  Soundwave gestures to the now online machinery.

Soundwave: All systems online.  Dark Energon manufacturing at optimal efficiency.]

S: Okay, so is that the end of that map?

O: I think so, but…

[Megatron walks up beside Soundwave.

Megatron: Now I can introduce Dark Energon into the planet’s core...and as it spreads throughout Cybertron, my power shall travel with it!

Soundwave: Entrance to the planet core is heavily shielded behind the Omega Gate.

Megatron: I will acquire the key.  We launch a full scale assault of Iacon IMMEDIATELY.  And wipe Zeta Prime and his pathetic Autobots off the face of the planet.

Megatron takes a holographic Cybertron in his hands and then crushes it.

The chapter ends, bringing everyone back to the main menu.]

C: I don't want to be a jet anymore!

O: Well, you don't have to be that's the only chapter with jets in it.

[Note:  Except the Autobot chapter later, whoops. ~O]

C: Okay, good, I like my feet on the ground.

O: Um, I-I think probably after this you'll be Soundwave.

C: Wait, I'll be Soundwave and not you?

O: Uh, no, because uh, Soundwave’s the healer.  Do you want me healing?  The answer is no.  I want my fusion cannon. [laughs]

C: Oh, right, right, right.

O: [laughs] I want my fusion cannon, hello!  Which is funny, because I actually prefer Soundwave in this game.  Like, character wise, to Megatron.

C: I make a good healer. [indignantly] I'm a- I'm a good healer!

O: [snorts] I didn't say you weren't, I said I was a bad one! [laughs]  So, to summarize thus far:  We've had a crack addict take over a space station to get to space crack.  We have had the crack addict’s new booty er, you know, boyfriend uh, arm candy?  I don’t know.  Uh, going into the planet’s core for a booty call in order to get that space crack running through the entire planet.  Does that sum it up? [laughs]

[Note: The Seekers were underground but not truly in Cybetron’s core. ~O]

C: I believe it does.

S: Scientist wants to impress his new booty call, so off he went with his two most dearly detested buddies.  Or something.

O: Apparently?  Co-workers, that were apparently down for this?  I don't know.

A: [laugh]

C: They’re his literal- eh, hold on- wa- wa- wait, no.  They’re his wing-men?  Aha!

O: ARGH!  I’m gonna go in the bedroom and throw something at you!

C: [laughs]

O: Okay, well, um, I think that rather nicely summarizes it.  Uh, next time we’ll do chapter 3: Iacon Destroyed.  Till next time, I'm Owls.

S: I'm Specs.

C: I'm Chezni.

O: And thanks for watching, bye!

S: Bye!

[blacknpurplewarpster]

[IDW Skywarp Headcanon]

More about his awful comments/attitude towards others

I know I’ve written about this before but I cant seem to find it anywhere on my blog. I was rereading the original comic series and thought I’d elaborate a little bit more than what I had previously wrote. I was going to include a snippet from Unicron #2 

Skywarp: “Among others. Could you try bumbling into trouble a little closer to the mainland next time? This was decidedly inconvenient.”  Helix: “I think he means ‘Glad you guys are okay. Sorry it took so long to reach you.’ Isn’t that right, Skywarp?” Skywarp: “I suppose. I would have been more annoyed if we had come all this way and they were already dead.” Helix: “Do you actually know when you’re being awful?” Skywarp: “Almost always. Fortunately, showing up and being remarkable are more important to being a G.I. Joe than unnecessary human pleasantries.” 

Skywarp mentions that he knows when he is being awful with his comments and just overall to others when Helix calls him out on it after just saving part of his team. This team he has been with for a few years and is close to them, even Rock. Going through the comments, he makes snarky ass comments towards Rock and doesn’t give a shit about what his friend thinks either. I’ll come back to Rock in a bit here. Some of his comments towards Rock are rather hilarious in the way Skywarp is portrayed doing them. Not to say Rock deserves his shitty attitude. But later on, they become better and closer friends. 

Even though he is no longer a Decepticon, he still puts duty above everything else, even if it means stepping on others toes or hurting others feelings. Thing is, Skywarp doesn’t care. He feels being blunt is better than beating around the bush or sugarcoating things. He will tell others straight up what he feels and doesn’t give a shit about what it might do. 

Another example is he even says this to Thundercracker, whom he hasn’t seen in a decade or more. 

Thundercracker: “Last time I saw you, you shot me in the face.” Skywarp: “Eh, you deserved it.” 

Like jeezus straight to his face. I think it was like the second sentence he said to Thundercracker after not seeing him for YEARS. Like harsh much? 

So pretty much no one can hide from this. The one thing I have noticed, his snarky comments seem to back off once there’s a tighter bond between himself and whomever else. This happens once Skywarp has a change of heart once he realized how Rock and himself are a lot more similar than he thought. Rock repeatedly tells Skywarp about being alone but he finally realizes this at one important moment. Rock decides to own up to his mistakes of paralyzing Grand Slam and wants to sacrifice his life to blow up the Fatal Fluffies in hopes to get rid of his guilt but its also a sense of pride from him. Skywarp decides to stay back with Rock and decides to stay even when the detonator goes off--surprise surprise, he saves Rock and their bond grows close. 

Here’s some of their conversations between one another just to show you: You can skip all the way down to see my final thoughts. 

---------------------------------------------------------------- GI Joe #1: Rock: Hey, uhh, Skywarp… I was wondering… seeing as we’re teammates… you think I could ride back with you? Skywarp: Are you asking me…to open up my cockpit… and allow you to climb inside of me? Rock: Umm.. yes? Skywarp: Jets off Rock: Looks like I’m with you again.

GI Joe #4

Skywarp: “Look at them. Squabbling in the dirt like… like insects! They can’t do anything. They can accomplish nothing… without me!” Rock: “Hey Skywarp… Instead of waiting for transpo, I was thinking that if you don’t mind, maybe we could.. you know.” Skywarp: Squints hard and jets off Rock: “Jerk.”

Gi Joe #5 Skywarp: “Tell me… you geeks got your data…?” Skywarp: “This isn’t working! I’m tired of you insects leaning on me! Why am I the only one— GAAAH!” Covergirl: “Don’t worry, Skywarp…the calvary’s arrived!” Skywarp: “Now you cowards show up, after sending me ahead.” Rock: “Hey now… I offered to ride with you.” Skywarp: “You know my feelings on that.” Skywarp: “Are you even helping at all?!” Rock: “Honestly? Not really. But if you’d let me ride with—ooofh-!” Skywarp: “Gahhh!” Covergirl: “Skywarp! Come in! Do you read us?!” Skywarp: Khhkkthhhkkt Rock: “Skywarp! Are… are you ok?” Skywarp: “kkhkt No…But I will be there once we will that thing. Were you getting emotional, you sentimental insect?” Rock: “What? I was… No…”

GI Joe #6 Skywarp: “Hrmph. I’ll be the judge of that. Crude ugly thing. If this is the best you can do, no wonder you can’t fix me.” Roadblock: “Four Joes. Skywarp counts.” 

Rock: Turns into this monster from the Fatal Fluffies Skywarp: “I know what this is really about...” Rock: “Hunh?” Skywarp: “...You’re sad I wouldn’t give you a ride. But don’t worry, you’ll get what you want...When i carry you out in pieces.”

GI Joe #7 Skywarp: Is fighting mega-Rock and knows to be gentle and junk. “You are as arrogant as the rest of them! Even enlarged! even with horns and claws! You are nothing but an insec--Urlkh--!” Is being choked out.

Skywarp: “Hey! You watch your mouth!”

Rock: “I know. That’s why I’m volunteering. I’ve done enough damage more than enough. Let me redeem myself please.” Skywarp: “Sure but you aren’t going alone. Someone needs to defend your position while you set up the bomb.” Rock: “But I.. I threw you into the mole pod. the explosion was..” Skywarp: “Yeah, so another one doesn’t scare me much, besides...as soon as the bombs in place, before you hit the button... I”m getting out of here.” 

GI Joe #8 Rock: “Almost read! You gotta jet!” Skywarp: “You’ll be overrun before you can hit it! Besides...It’s an honor to stand by your side. You are a true warrior.” Rock: “No...I’m a Joe. We both are.”  Skywarp saves Rock by letting him ride inside of his cockpit in order to get away from the blast.

Gi Joe #9 Rock: “He wouldn’t let me use the radio.” Skywarp: “You haven’t earned the privilege!” Rock: “Whatever. You ready for the blast beat?”  Skywarp: “Do we have to call it that?”  Skywarp and Rock: “Yoooooooo Joooooooe!”  Rock: “Thanks to Skywarp! Hes letting me ride with him!” Skywarp: “Once! Only once!” 

GI Joe First Strike #1

Skywarp: “You need to get him his own jet!”

Scarletts Strike Force 1 Rock: Skywarp, I”m serious! Seriously! Doc: You know he’s the only one who can put up with your grouchy metal butt.. Skywarp: I thought you liked-- Doc: Nope Skywarp: .... Fine Rock: Hey! Piggyback ride! Skywarp: Start using that shotgun or I’m doing barrel rolls!

---- This is where Skywarps attitude really changes. -------

Rock: And they were chanting this name...glub? golob..goolub? Hey! Are you even listening to me? Skywarp: Its a boring story about something that didn’t actually happen! Why would I listen to it?! Rock: Because it’s stressing me out, man. It felt...different.. Skywarp: Different from your other dreams? Rock: Yeah dude Skywarp: Different from your Jem dreams? Rock: Come on man.. Skywarp: A holograms fan. You’re not metal. Rock: They have some serious riffs, alright!?

Scarletts Strike Force #2

Skywarp: Can you fix my teleportation? Or are you techgeeks just as worthless as everyone else in the Lemuria? Rock: Dude, I’m standing right here. Hey man can I help? Grand Slam: I’ve got it Rock. You only ruined the bottom half of me. Skywarp: Getting m teleportation fixed is the only reason I threw in with you insects! why havent you fixed it yet? You’ve been trying and failing since the EDC!  Grand Slam: Like I told you: We don’t have the tech, or the knowledge. or the materials.

Scarletts Strike Force #3 Skywarp: Yeah. Me. And you’re welcome. Don’t act so shocked. you insects think a giant robot doesn’t know his way around a rudimentary geothermal generator? You’ve been recruited. We’ll rendezvous in DC. You have three minutes to find yourselves a ride before surveillance is back up. Helix: Aren’t you letting people ride inside of you now? Skywarp: Only Rock ‘n Roll! 

Unicron #2 The first set of quotes goes right here in events wise. 

----------------------------------------------------------------

This is the end of their interactions. I know I didn’t show everything but it shows a huge chunk of how you can see how Skywarp is only “nice” to Rock really because in his optics, he isn’t respected by some of the others, especially Grand Slam. So in his mindset, why does he have to be nice if he doesn’t have the respect? 

He figures he lost his respect towards Thundercracker (or rather TC lost respect for Skywarp) because of what he’d done to him so he resets back to being an ass. He thinks their history doesn’t matter anymore, so he resorts to just tell him straight-up. Perhaps he was always straight up before their meeting with Starscream and he’s resorting back to his normal or preset attitude/maturity. That all of what has gone on from him shooting TC out of the sky onwards, smacked him so hard it woke him up from this “fantasy.” If that makes sense?? I’m tired and rambling. 

Deep down, I truly believe he cares but he isn’t going to show that side. He needs to put duty before anything else because that’s the motto Skywarp lives by. You can see a lot of this change in him throughout the entire series but it really sets out from AHM series onwards. His whole attitude flips and starts to really develop his character and we see this. I have a feeling he didn’t used to be like this but what he’s done in his life has shaped him to act in this way. Perhaps its a way of not letting others get close to him. It might very well be a defense mechanism. Who knows, we truly won’t know canon wise since the series ended. 

THANKS FOR BEING HERE FOR MY HEADCANON AND RAMBLE OF THOUGHTS. 

[selanaris]

Wake Up a Vehicon Story(Pt.III)

“I will not ask again. What happened here?!”

The vehicons shook in fear of the commander and his trine, “Uh...t-the Autobots attacked, and s-stole the energon supplies of the lower level. Uh, sir!” shouted one of the drones, fearing for his short life.

“Did any of you see it happen, or even try to fight back!”, the drones flinched at the commander’s tone.

“No, sir, we did not see what happened, we only just arrived after they got away. We came to look for survivors, only to find just this one here-” said the other drone before the first one elbowed him.

“A survivor?” questioned Starscream, walking around the two drones to see the barely online drone, “And did you not think to try to keep him online, he could have valuable information!”

“But…” the first drone hesitated, weighing his options, “He is online, just in stasis.”

“Then what are you waiting for, get this drone to the Nemesis for immediate repairs, they just need to stay online long enough to get the information out of its processor.” Starscream watched as the drones did nothing, “That is an order!!” The two drones rushed to pick up D-8311 and darted to the upper level as Thundercracker called for an upper-level ground bridge and update Soundwave on the situation.

The three seekers stood in silence after the drones departed, all three frowning, thinking. Then the youngest, unable to take the silence any longer, spoke up, “I know you felt it, we all felt it.”

The biggest member sighed, “It’s faint, very faint, near unnoticeable.” Thundercracker looks at his trine mates, “It’s far, it feels as if they’re galaxies away, but we didn’t feel it until we came to this planet, in this specific mine.”

Starscream, who has been silent throughout the conversation, starts to growl, surprising the other two, “The feeling is gone! They were right there and now they’re gone!!” he now begins to outright yell in rage. “Our sparkling is here and I never noticed!!! How could we have never noticed this before?! How could they just disappear like that?! Why is their spark signature very faint?!”

“Our bond.” whispers Skywarp, barely catching the attention of his trine mates, “When we are together our bond becomes stronger, and so does the bond between our sparkling. This means we can find them, they are on this planet!” he beams with joy at the thought of finding their lost sparkling.

“We can’t.” Thundercracker says mournfully, destroying the youngest’s joy, “Megatron has forbidden us from searching for our sparkling.”

The area goes into a somber silence, “Then we don’t tell,” Two helms look up at their leader, “We search, but we have to be discrete, we fly together on patrols and report anything we feel in our spark and remember where you felt it.” Starscream smiles confidently and looks at them, “We will find our sparkling.”

Later on the Nemesis…

The two drones carried D-8311 to the med bay, both grumbling on the way, “You should have just said he was offline, then we would be saved the trouble of actually saving him.”

The other one laughed, “He won’t be online for much longer. You heard the commander, they’re just keeping him online long enough to extract the information out of his processor. Anyway, let’s just drop him off and get out of here, you know vehicons are no longer allowed on the ship.” Both of the drones stop in front of the med bay before hesitantly walking in.

They quickly pause at the sight of the medic sitting on the lap of his assistant gently stroking his chin. The doctor and his assistant froze at the sight of the two drones walking in and are about to shout at them to leave before they noticed the injured drone they brought along. Knockout quickly goes into medic mode as he gets off Breakdowns lap to set up the medical berth, “What are you waiting for, put him on the berth, I need to know his barcode, what happened, and what are the orders.” commanded the doctor as Breakdown gathered the necessary tools for basic repairs.

One of the drones sets D-8311 on the berth and Breakdown starts plugging him into the support machines while the other drone explains the situation, “We were attacked in the mines by the Autobots and this one got shot in the chassis, but he is the only one to survive the attack. So Starscream has given the order to stabilize him and to extract his information about the attack.”

“Yes, yes.” Knockout said dismissively typing into a datapad, “And his barcode designation?”

“D-8311”

This answer caused both medics to freeze and Knockout almost dropped the datapad he was working on. “Get out,” stated Knockout. When he noticed the drones not moving he said it again, this time in a form of a command, “I order you to get out!”, now with their command protocols activated, they quickly left the room, unable to disobey the order.

“Knockout,” started Breakdown, sighing before dropping the news of the patient’s condition, “the damage is very severe. The outer casing of the spark chamber is broken and energon is leaving faster than we can put in.” Breakdown handed the doctor the datapad with the basic scan of the drone.

Knockout looked over the information quickly before his optics widened and he looked from D-8311 to his assistant, “He should be offline by now, it’s impossible for an artificial spark to last this long with this kind of damage.” he paused to look over the damage, “Breakdown, you work on doing the basic repairs and start the processor download, then send the download to Soundwave. I refuse to just download and let D.Bell offline like that,” Breakdown nodded slowly.

“We are disobeying an order by saving him you know”, he sighed looking to Knockout to ensure that this is what he wanted to do.

Knockout began collecting the needed materials to fix the drone’s spark chamber, “I know, but we both know that there is something special about D.Bell, and the point he is still alive proves that.” Breakdown plugged in his processor for download, “With the extensive damage, there is a possibility for him to lose his memory from the download, after all, drones don’t have processor backup software.”

Knockout moves to work on his spark chamber while breakdown begins on the legs. For a while they worked in silence before the doctor gasps, “What is it?” asked his assistant.

Knockout lifts something out of the drones chassis, a boxlike object with a wire connected to the spark chamber, “Why does a drone need a spark inhibitor?”, he starts to inspect the inhibitor before his optics go wide, “This is Shockwaves work, that I know for sure, but….why does a drone...need it?” Knockout moves quickly to the spark chamber, checking his patchwork, ensuring that it is stable enough for further spark inspection. He then moves to the middle seam of the chamber and goes to open it with breakdown watching intently on the side.

The doctor opens the spark chamber wide to allow visage of the artificial spark, only for both the medic and his assistant to freeze. For what seemed like hours, they stood there staring at the chamber, then Breakdown finally broke the silence, “Maybe that’s why…”

Inside the chamber where an artificial spark was supposed to be was a large, bright, real spark. Both medical officers were stunned, unsure of how to proceed with this, and only one thing was said by the doctor, “It’s a femme?!”

Meanwhile…

Soundwave had access to all the cameras through his visor to watch for any sign of Autobots, unwanted guest, rouge Decepticons, Starscream, etc. But at the moment he was focused on one specific camera. The med bay.

He watched the entire scene play out. From the drones arriving, to the doctors starting repair and download, to the discovery of the drone un-artificial spark.

This discovery led to many questions. How did this happen? Was it on purpose? Does the drone know? Who does know? And, how many drones have real sparks?

He knows for a fact that there cannot be many drones with real sparks, he has seen many drones artificial sparks before, and it’s a possibility for this to be the only one.

Soundwave stood there trying to figure out this new discovery, completely ignoring the information download sent from the medics. He ran every possibility through his processor, running constant simulations through his head. He wanted to know more about this mech….femme, but he knew Megatron’s new order for all vehicles. Perhaps he can use his rank and loyalty to ask for this drone specifically as a personal drone. No, he’ll want to know why, and Soundwave doesn’t feel like sharing this information, or his drone. Yes, his drone.

He ran another scan, this time over the spark signature, trying to identify the spark. He found nothing in the primary database, so he began to run it with all other collected databases, old, new, stolen, recovered, he went through each one before stopping at one database. The late doctor, Hook’s database. He found a match with a very vague file, his last entered, and uncompleted file. Starfall. The sparkling to none other than the command trine itself.

This was an issue. Seekers are very, very, protective of sparklings, whether they’re their own or not, and with all the seekers now on board, his plans will be much harder to complete. They will try to take away his drone. He won’t let some weak seekers with caregiver programming take away what belongs to him. They can’t take them away, if they don’t know about them, or can tell which one is which….

He looked back at the med bay camera and watched them repair the drone. What was it that they said, memory loss. That means the drone will be set back to basic drone programming and will be needed to given core settings. That is when he will enter. Drones physically cannot deny orders from higher-ups set during core settings, but if only one mech was entered during that phase. They will only listen to him and only him.

Soundwave began to move, and plan. The moment the medics leave, that will be his chance. A simple reprogramming and processor hacking will ensure this drone will belong to him.

He has been sure about many things, but he has never been more sure about anything before.

Drone D-8311, D.Bell, Starfall, belongs to Soundwave.

[revelboo]

Not me about to impulsively splurge on some familiar gen 1 figures (cough cough starscream cough cough) thanks to this lovely brainrot I’ve been nursing with these nuggets of your stories ❤️

Do it!

Everything is Alright pt 15

Starscream x Reader-MIA

• Gone. Venting sharply, Starscream stares at his desk and its complete lack of one small, helpless human. Moving slowly, he checks around the desk, spark constricting. As angry as you were with him, surely you wouldn’t have jumped just to spite him. Not finding any trace of you should have been a relief, instead it just spins that panic tighter.

• Because that means someone took you. Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Soundwave are the only three who know about you and he’s sure his trine wouldn’t dare. Not after he’d explained in very clear terms how displeased he’d be if you’re touched again. Soundwave then. The mostly silent mech is unusually interested in his pet’s well-being. It has to be Soundwave. Any other Decepticon and it’s already too late. Moving quickly, he strides down the hall as a very real fear he doesn’t want to touch begins to build.

• While Soundwave is easy enough to track down, the mech just stares at him when he hisses under his breath, demanding to know where the human is. And then spreads his arms, palms up as if to ask why did he think he’d know. It’s like being sucker punched in the denta. Soundwave doesn’t have you. Neither does his trine.

• Now his processor runs wild. A lot of the Decepticon ranks would squash you on sight. Some would toy with you first. A few might dissect you out of scientific curiosity or boredom. He catches the side of the console, startling Soundwave as his wings flick with faint tremors and his servos dig into the metal he’s bracing against, warping it. Just one thing. That’s all he’d wanted. One little thing that was his. Someone glad to see him.

• And he can’t stop that awful, betraying trembling in his wings. Hates that Soundwave is seeing it as he grits his denta. Because whoever took what’s his is going to pay so very dearly.

• They’re absolute gremlins, you decide as you run along with Soundwave’s cassettes through the huge halls. Or maybe they’re more bored teenagers, because their chief source of entertainment seems to be pranks. At least Frenzy and Rumble’s. The other two seem content to watch whatever chaos the disaster twins, as you’ve privately dubbed them, come up with. Including industrial strength adhesives, paint bombs, and stealing energon cubes.

• There’s something so freeing about being turned loose. Even if you’re sure that if you try to sneak off, you’ll be stopped. But for now, you can just, well not forget, but allow yourself to be distracted. The hall your happy little group has wandered down is quiet and they take turns devouring smaller energon cubes they’d thieved. Snacks maybe? “What happens to a squishy if you ingest energon?” Rumble asks, visor glinting as he studies his cube.

• “A horrific, agonizing death?” You venture, shying away from the brightly colored cube as big as your head that he’s holding out, the contents sloshing. Because finding out the answer to this particular mystery? No, thank you. Anything that pretty was probably very poisonous.

Previous Next

Might I suggest the Flame Toys Starscream if you don’t mind assembling models, because their builds are lovely.

[minimus-ambus]

so i had an idea for a fic idea centering around starscream and an incident with a truth serum, and i thought i’d write down a rough outline of it but whoops it’s five pages now

anyway here u go 

so like, Starscream (still leader of Cybertron) is making a public announcement when there’s a sudden movement at the edge of the crowd. A second later, Starscream feels a sting on his neck. He pulls out what hit him immediately: it’s a long capsule with a needle at the end. It’s then that his tanks churn and his processor starts throbbing, and he curses himself for being so stupid, for not reacting fast enough, for... At this point, the scene has devolved into chaos: the crowd is panicking, and bots are trying to run away from something that they can’t see. That’s when the guards tackle a bot at the front of the crowd: a bot with a mod on their arm that now clearly is a gun. As they hit the ground, the bot cranes their head to look up at Starscream, who’s two seconds from transforming and flying away. They’re wearing a mask, but their optics are clearly smiling as they wheeze, “My *lord*.” Starscream, not one to lose his composure in front of a crowd, straightens up as much as he can and growls, “An attempt on my life? Disappointing.” But the bot just laughs, something made hard by the guards putting them in stasis cuffs. “No, that’d be too kind.. you, you deserve so much-aghk-worse!” They’re hauled to their feet, but the bot’s glare never leaves Starscream. “Truth serum. Compulsively answer every question asked of you- truthfully.” The bot is grinning now, but there’s an edge of desperation in the expression. “Scared?” Starscream looks at them as if they are crazy, opens his mouth to scoff, and- “Yes.” An eerie quiet descends as the world stills. The crowd is frozen in their rush to run every way, all optics turned towards their leader. The masked bot’s grin has lost its desperation. Starscream blinks, the sound of his own voice repeating in his audials. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t. A servo moves to his throat, still sore with the injury made by the needle. For a minute, everyone absorbs what just happened. And what it means. In one movement, Starscream stumbles back- the crowd rushes forward- the guards lose the masked attacker in the rush- and Starscream’s engines tear through the sky as he flies up and out of the crowd, drowning out the shouted questions of the bots below. So basically after this Starscream is constantly trying to avoid everyone cause almost everybody wants to ask him something and actually get the truth- which in most cases he’d rather die than do. Starscream can’t think of anywhere that would be safe... until he remembers something: Thundercracker is staying on Cybertron for a few months. Dreading the prospect of facing his old trine mate but knowing TC is the best option he has, Starscream goes there. Of course Thundercracker is really surprised to see Starscream standing outside his apartment, and asks him what he wants. Starscream’s optics go wide, and for a second he chokes- before he says “I was hit with a truth serum in front of everyone and nowhere else is safe.” TC is dumbfounded by this... honesty? But then he processes what Starscream said and goes “oooohhhhhhhhhhh” and then he goes “awww” because Starscream feels safe with him??? So TC agrees to let him stay cause he’s nice like that TC doesn’t really take advantage of the truth serum to ask Starscream questions, if he does it’s usually by accident (“Hey Star do you mind if Buster stays in here?” “Yes I absolutely do mind, that four legged insect is not allowed within 50 feet of me”) Thundercracker talks most of the time, cause Starscream’s too nervous to even speak. TC tells him about Buster, and Marissa, and his screenplays, on and on and on. Starscream pretends like he’s not listening but at some point actually becomes just a little bit interested.   Eventually, Starscream actually speaks of his own volition, probably to say something like “your organic insect is gross and I don’t want it to touch me ever, but I suppose I could maybe understand why you like it...” “Heh, that’s progress in my book.” “Shut up.” “No way, this is the first time in vorns you’ve actually let me speak at length without interrupting to insult me!” Then there’s a vworp and Skywarp appears in the apartment, startling Starscream who screeches and then promptly shuts up Skywarp’s like “oooh hey Screamer!! I just knew you’d be here with this dirtlover.” Thundercracker grumbles “it’s called Earth and it’s not that bad, you guys are just mean” “Pssh whatever, anyway, I came here for Screamer, not you” Skywarp grins at Starscream, who is glaring sharply back at him. “Soo, I heard you can only tell the truth, huh?” Before Starscream can stop himself he says “yes I can, also I hate you so much” Skywarp’s grin gets even wider and he asks “then tell me, how sexy do I look when I pose like this???” and he strikes a ridiculous pose that gets Thundercracker laughing and Starscream for once wholeheartedly telling him how terrible he is Thundercracker thankfully gives Starscream a bedroom for the night, but it surprisingly takes a while for the former trine to actually part and go to bed. Starscream thinks about this as he sits on the edge of the berth. The ache in his processor that’s been there all day has lessened and lessened over time, and he’s actually kind of calm. Then, Bumblebee sits down next to him with the strangest little smile on his faceplates. They start talking in quiet voices, and at some point both of them realize that despite the truth serum still in Starscream’s system, he’s talking and acting just about the same to Bumblebee. Starscream’s always been truthful and open to Bee, at least for as long as he’s been a ghost. Bumblebee’s silent for a bit, until he says very softly, “I’m sorry about this.” Starscream is like “What are-“ but Bumblebee cuts him off and says with his optics locked on Starscream’s: “Do you think I’m real?” Starscream freezes, his vocal processors working. But he tries to stop the words about to escape him, so intensely he devolves into a small coughing fit. Bumblebee is immediately concerned, about to speak again- when Starscream looks up and with a crystal clear voice, says “I don’t. But god, I wish more than anything that you were. ” Bee feels stunned. His spark (or ghost spark, whatever it exists as now) is pulsing, and now more than ever he wishes he could be solid if only for a second. Then, Starscream swallows. And lies down on the berth, staring up at the ceiling. He lets out a dry, bitter laugh. “But you’re not. I’m just a guilt-ridden glitch who hallucinates and talks to himself. Leader of Cybertron... Pathetic, really.” Bee stands next to him for a few minutes, and Starscream begins to fall slowly into recharge. The minibot rests a hand on the edge of the berth. “If I was just some hallucination. Or a figment of your imagination. Then... why were you forced to answer my question?” Starscream only blinks. One of the hands lying at his sides curls into a fist. He closes his optics. The room is silent. In a whisper, he says, “I think you’re the best thing to happen to me in a very long time.” Bumblebee smiles. Very slowly, very carefully, he leans down and presses a kiss to Starscream’s cheek. Starscream doesn’t react, so Bee sighs, but still with a small smile. “I love you too.” Not fully in recharge, Starscream feels the strange tingling electricity dancing on his cheek die down. It does nothing to calm the flutters if his spark in his chest. The next day Starscream’s back to normal, so he bids farewell to Thundercracker (actually he just leaves a note on the door that says Thank You and sneaks out) and flies home.  Mustering up his strength, he goes to the council, who are just like “aw dang you’re fine now?? man, we really missed an opportunity there" Starscream is just incredulous cause someone ATTACKED HIM??? IN A PUBLIC SPACE????? AND THEY LET THEM GET AWAY??????????? he’s a very angry birb, his wings get all poofed up But I gotta add something in about Wheeljack, maybe he shows up after Starscream’s back to normal and jokingly says “oh you’re better? Dangit, I really wanted to study that serum’s effects! that, and- heh, no offense but I kinda wanted to ask a few questions myself. oh well..” but instead of being annoyed, Starscream looks at him, glances at Bumblebee in the corner (who’s gesturing vehemently at Wheeljack and whispering “go on you idiot”), and takes Wheeljack’s hands in his own. Wheeljack was *not expecting this* and tries to pull back, but is cut off by a “Wheeljack.” Starscream’s looking him right in the optics, something very unusual for him. The seeker seems to be struggling to keep eye contact, and it takes him a few seconds before he actually speaks: “...Wheeljack. I could.. I could never lie to you. I-I can’t. I don’t know why. But I can’t.” Wheeljack blinks. The room is quiet for a minute, and Starscream begins to get nervous, which isn’t helped by Bumblebee muttering “come on you idiots” over and over again in the corner. Then, Wheeljack finally seems to have gathered his thoughts. He smiles (maybe, the mask makes it hard to tell). Withdrawing his hands, he squeezes Starscream’s own, and says quietly, “...yeah. I think I’ve- ...I know.” And then, he steps back, and walks out the door. Starscream just stands there with his hands still out in the air, feeling the ghost sensation of Wheeljack holding them. He probably has a dumbstruck look on his face, but for some stupid reason, he can’t make himself feel embarrassed about it. Outside, Wheeljack is similarly stunned, but it’s showing in how he’s holding his face in his hands and quietly screaming at himself. Bumblebee is smiling in the corner, shaking his head as he mutters, “Idiots...”

[brandxspandex]

TF IDW reread: Megatron Origin

I think Megatron Origin as it stands alone is a…ok villain origin story. Yeah, having your livelihood taken away by the people in power who clearly don’t give a shit about you, then watching them murder one of your colleagues in front of you, before finding yourself what’s basically Sin City where you’ve gotta kill to survive, is a pretty fair reason to flip your shit. That being said, I don’t think it’s a good enough backstory on its own to explain the sheer extent of Megatron’s evil, which lasted over millions of years and killed billions of people. I also don’t think it does enough to explain the underlying rage and bloodlust it presents Megatron as having; his first kill feels like the boiling point of something that has been bubbling away inside him, then the progression of the story feels like we’re watching that emerge to become his dominant personality, but it doesn’t properly explain where this darkness inside him comes from. Sure, it establishes that the Senate doesn’t think much of the miners, and that there’s certainly severe problems with Cybertronian society overall, but we don’t see how it effects Megatron directly until the moment it finally becomes too much and flips his shit. Fortunately, these problems are all addressed by flashbacks in later series that further flesh out Megatron’s backstory and all fit really nicely into the story Megatron Origin tells to create a very compelling villain backstory.

So Megatron Origin works much better as a piece of a puzzle (even though it contains numerous things that are inconsistent with these later puzzle pieces, like Cybertron having two moons and Cybertronians bleeding blue energon). After being subjected to torments such as Whirl’s prison beating and Trepan’s attempted shadow play, on top of the general oppressions of being a miner under an uncaring and greedy Senate in a society that reduces one’s worth to one’s alt-mode, Megatron Origin provides a the tipping point where it all becomes too much. This suffering laid the seeds of the hate and rage that we finally see bubble to the surface when he takes his first life. There are still signs of the pacifist Megatron was established to have once been when he snaps out of his first murderous rage and is horrified at what he’s done, and when he later says that his actions were unintentional. It comes across as though Megatron had felt this darkness percolating inside him for some time, so his horror when he realises he’s killed someone is horror at the realisation that the monster growing inside him has finally been let loose.

Once it’s loose, he quickly falls for its seductions and allows it to take him over as he grows rapidly more violent over the course of the series. When rifling through his mind, Trepan commented on Megatron’s pride, which we see plenty of further evidence for throughout the series, and this incident itself is one of multiple very horrible moments in Megatron’s life where he’d been made to feel helpless. In the gladiatorial pits, Megatron is given the recognition his pride makes him crave, and is able to fight back against his helplessness and achieve power and dominance, all through dealing out violence and death. While his suffering laid the groundwork for the hate and rage inside him, the gladiatorial pits rewarded the violence they brought out of him (with his Point One Percenter spark helping him survive so long and rack up such as impressive win/kill streak no doubt) with the pleasures of glory and power.

Megatron starts out as a pacifist wanting to build a better, more equal society, but in the pits his motivation changes; he falls in love with inflicting pain, humiliation and death, and when he finally rallies his revolutionary movement it is not about making a better world, it is about the thrill of the fight.

He gathers his revolutionaries from the criminals of the most depraved city on Cybertron and builds the culture of his movement on the culture of death match gladiators to whom life is cheap and violence and dominance are valued.

He outright says to Sentinel that the peace he promises to bring is actually destruction and desolation; by the time Megatron has an army, he is already off the deep end.

Also, I think Megatron Origin fits in nicely with the idea of Megatron being a poet, since he sure does have a way with words in this.

Megatron Origin also lays down one of my favourite aspects of Starscream’s characterisation: him having been a raging Megatron groupie. Something I do worry about is that this aspect of his character may be retconned at some stage, because while there are a number of moments to support it, there are even more moments hammering home the fact that Starscream is manipulator who lies even to himself, so I could see it getting retconned as an act to gain Megatron’s favour. I really do hope it was genuine however because the thought of someone as cynical and self-centred as Starscream having at one point been willing to genuinely and passionately pledge his undying allegiance to someone else makes him a much more interesting and emotionally rich character to me. It also makes the degradation of his relationship with Megatron all the more tragic.

What Megatron Origin does make me question is why Starscream was pledging his allegiance to Megatron in the first place. Was he interested in Megatron the revolutionary, or Megatron the gladiator? There were bots in the crowd that looked like Starscream during Megatron’s first fight, although I don’t think they were clear enough to be taken as definitive evidence that Starscream was there at the time (especially given that we’d have to accept that Elita One was on Cybertron at the time if we were to take all Megatron Origin cameos at face value). When he was recruited by Soundwave for Megatron’s cause he thought that he and his Seekers were being recruited to fight alongside Megatron in the arena, and is visibly disappointed when he learns this is not the case. This certainly seems to suggest that he was interested in Megatron the gladiator, but it also raises the question as to why he was so eager to fight in deathmatches. Starscream’s a glory seeker sure, and he’s certainly willing to engage in deadly combat, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would elect to so dramatically risk his life without a more distinct and sizeable reward. Furthermore, Starscream has repeatedly said that he looked up to Megatron as a leader who could bring about change, only to be betrayed when Megatron turned out to be more interested in violence. That seems more like something someone interested in Megatron the revolutionary would say. I suppose it’s possible that Starscream allowed himself to be recruited into Megatron’s revolutionary cause, but wanted to fight alongside him the arena for the honour of fighting along Megatron himself, because he was that much of groupie.

Speaking of Starscream, now that we know a little more about his backstory, particularly that he was a senator who went on the run for conning his taxpayers, some of the charges against him make more sense, but I want to know how many of these applied after he joined the Deceptions, because christ:

Also gotta add his reaction:

I swear, one of the most frustrating things about the fact they’re ending the IDW continuity is the fact that we probably won’t get much more info about Starscream’s backstory, and there’s clearly a lot left to tell.

On another note, this series was written prior to Functionalism being conceived of, so the story is just about the Decepticons arising in reaction to the upper echelons screwing over the lower classes. I think this is quite the waste, since that’s a story you can tell with humans, and has been told with humans, many, many times. I think the later introduction of Functionalism retroactively makes the story way better because it takes the powerful narrative of one group of people oppressing and (for the lack of a better word) “dehumanising” another, and presents it in a way that you can only do with Transformers. After all, why tell a story you can tell with pretty much any other type of characters, when you can instead tell one that ties the central gimmick of a story into one of its most major and emotionally resonant themes?

One thing that really bugs me about the backstory of IDW, which Megatron Origin is mostly responsible for, is the fact that we see so many characters in more or less the same state at the start of the story that they’re in 4 million years later. The series establishes Megatron, Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Soundwave and pretty much all his cassettes, the Constructicons, and even Swindle as major players in the Decepticons right at the start of the movement, in basically the same roles they have 4 million years later (then further series go on to add Shockwave and Overlord to that list, among others I’ve no doubt forgotten). It just seems utterly ridiculous that over the course of something as stupendously lengthy and turbulent as a 4 million year war, none of these characters died, or got significantly demoted/promoted, or deserted, or switched sides, or underwent some other sort of dramatic change. Sure, once they built up a significant army of expendables the core command team of Decepticons perhaps didn’t spend much time on the front lines, and maybe the only reason we see them fighting a lot in the modern comics is because they’ve got no cannon fodder left and had to return to fighting the war themselves. But even if they only took part in a tiny percentage of the actual battles of the war, over 4 million years that’s probably still going to be a lot, and there are so many other ways they could die or otherwise change over that time, so it seems silly they are still so much the same.

In summary, I think that overall Megatron Origin is something that got a lot better retroactively once it was contextualised in a number of flashback stories that added further character and plot details. It established a number of things that ended up working really well in the overall story, but was also responsible for some frustrating things.

I will now leave you with my favourite quote from the series:

[chrismcfeely]

‘CON IN THE OVEN! All is not as it seems as Scorponok reveals the full extent of his plans, and the Scavengers are confronted with a choice... that proves to be the easiest they’ve ever made! The future of the Decepticons, the fate of Grimlock, and a wee little purple babby, all in LOST LIGHT #15 - the end of the Scavengers as we know them... or the beginning of something new? Now annotated on TFWiki!

ALSO THIS WEEK!

SOUND AND FURY! As Onyx Prime meets with the Council of Worlds behind closed doors, Soundwave finds the past and the present blurring, as the specter of the Primes’ tyrannical rule of old rears its head once more. Will it fall to the Decepticons to once again rise up in opposition... or is that just what Onyx wants them to do? “The Falling” continues in OPTIMUS PRIME #16! 

PLUS!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ‘CRACK-TION! After years of toil in obscurity, it looks like Thundercracker’s finally getting his big break when Starscream hires him to write a movie about... Starscream, of course! Follow the journey of “Starscream: The Movie” through development hell as we get a taste of Cybertronian cinema, learn how the Seekers first met, and witness Thundercracker and Skywarp’s first reunion in nearly ten years, all in the OPTIMUS PRIME ANNUAL 2018!

AND!!

KNIGHT AND THE CITY! Allegiances are changing with New Prysmos as Virulina takes control, and the Autobots and Leoric’s renegade group of Spectral Knights find themselves with a new ally who might hold the key to taking down their enemy and saving Cybertron. Plus, Waspinator gets thrust into overdrive in TRANSFORMERS VS. VISIONARIES #3!

If you enjoy my regular detailed write-ups of IDW titles and other Transformers media for TFWiki and its sister wikis, please consider showing your support on Patreon, or maybe you could buy me a coffee or donate through PayPal sometime! Also check out my YouTube series, TRANSFORMERS: THE BASICS - the newest episode is all about JETFIRE!

[verbumincarcerem]

Fealty

Fealty

Parts: I., II., III., IV.

V.

Be careful. The words rattled around Starscream's head, more glaringly obnoxious than a drunk Knockout and Breakdown cavorting all around the Keep. Be careful. Be careful. Just what had that blasted woman meant when she'd told his ward to be careful? Be careful of what? It was driving him mad. The idea of a very real unknown intending harm to his ward was driving him insane. And the only thing she did for the rest of the day was stroll around the palace, making small talk with the other lords and ladies, all with that infuriating smile on her face. All without a single damned care in the world.

Starscream almost welcomed the break they took to go back to the stables. Until he realized she intended to take them riding. His ward, on the back of a wild animal. Being flung to the ground and breaking her neck because of a wild animal.

His hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her from entering the stables, before he realized what he was doing. "I must insist that you postpone this." Both of her dark brows lifted as she looked at him in confusion. "Whatever for?" "It isn't safe." "Isn't—" Lady Westfire broke off with a laugh. "Listen, Sir Knight, I have been around horses all my life, and these are my father's. I've known them since they were foals." She tipped her head to the sky which was just beginning to dim towards orange. "Besides, we couldn't ask for finer weather. Now let's go before it gets dark." She made to pull away. Starscream tightened his grip. "We're going back." Lady Westfire turned to him in outrage. "We most certainly are not." Starscream wanted to shake her, wanted to drag her back to the palace kicking and screaming. But the bond wouldn't let him, wouldn't allow him to do anything that would harm her, including strengthening his grip any further. "I have absolutely no qualms about throwing you over my shoulders, so decide. Do you want to walk back with some dignity, my lady," he sneered, eyes gleaming, "or do you want to be a sack of potatoes?" "Neither, you ignorant, selfish boar!" Then, quicker than he would have ever expected, the lady, his ward, had the hand he'd gripped her with trapped in place between her hand and her wrist. With a single step forward, she brought his trapped arm down and curled. Sharp pain traveled all the way up his arm, and he instinctively dropped to one knee to try to escape the pain. It followed, and he released her before she could break his arm or wrist. By the time Starscream realized what had happened, she had already marched inside the stables. Fiery damn! What kind of a lady knew how to break out of a wrist lock!? His long legs carried him quickly inside. Stray bits of straw and horse dung littered the floor, which the stable boy, Todo, was attempting to rake up. The boy looked up as the Blade approached and nodded over his shoulder. "She's over there." Starscream tore around the stable corner, ready for round two. Ready to just scoop her up by the middle and be done with it. But the sight of her already atop her dapple gray mare, snapping on a rider's hat, her dress bunched up around her calves--her very shapely calves--drew him up short. When he found his voice again, he screeched, "You don't ride side-saddle!?" "No, Sir Starscream." Her tone was chilly like she was speaking to a child she was deeply disappointed with. "That's not safe." She took the reins and nudged the horse into a brisk walk out the stables, leaving Starscream scrambling for the last waiting horse, a palomino mare. Todo whistled. "Wow. She's mad." "No one asked you, boy," snapped Starscream before taking off after her. The ride was utterly miserable, not the least of which because he had never been much for riding. Lady Westfire didn't say a single word to him, nor he to her. His mare seemed more inclined toward roaming and smelling the flowers (or eating them) along the path than Lady Westfire's mare, which kept at whatever pace the lady set, as business-like as her mistress. Whenever Starscream managed to get his horse to catch up to Lady Westfire's pace, she pointedly ignored him. The horses seemed to pick up on the tense atmosphere. His kept throwing her head back and neighing shrilly while his ward's horse kept leading her away from him. They took a few laps around the roads surrounding the palace. Even though the sun was setting, it was so humid that not even the riding breeze cooled Starscream enough to keep him from sweating under his clothes, and there weren’t many trees to provide shade this close to the palace walls. The horses showed signs of fatigue, too, their coats shining with sweat. After the fourth lap, Starscream had had enough. But before he could call out to or reach his ward, she snapped her reigns, and her horse plunged into a full gallop, curving off the path. And Starscream felt his heart stop when he saw her target: a flat, grassy field with three bales of hay lined in a row. "You bleeding idiot!" He kicked the sides of his horse, which reared up before deciding that, yes, she would run. But at that point, it was too late. He would never catch up to Lady Westfire. All it would take for this whole thing to go wrong would be for the horse to stumble or refuse to jump over that hay, and his ward would go flying. He'd be free, but the price was too much to pay. He'd go mad, a Blade who'd let his ward die. Of her own stupidity, no less. But Lady Westfire's horse didn't stumble or fall. Didn't hesitate to jump over the nearest bale of hay in her path, horse and rider soaring through the air as one, the setting sun making both appear like firebirds in the sky. Lady Westfire crowed in exultation as the wind picked up her hair that had fallen out of its braid—where was her hat? The evening sun turned her dark hair orange and golden, the strands streaming behind her like liquid fire. The horse landed with little trouble, well used to the exercise. Lady Westfire was laughing, reaching over to pat the horse's neck as the two swung back around, trotting towards him. Starscream didn't know when his horse had stopped. He was too busy remembering how to breathe. "Ready to go in?" asked Lady Westfire when she was alongside him, blue eyes shining with mirth. She laughed to herself again and made for the stables, not waiting for his response. Just like that, all his annoyance and frustration with her snapped back into him, his panic utterly forgotten. Starscream gnashed his teeth, grumbled insults that she was too far away and amused with herself to hear. Insufferable chit. Crazed lunatic. A damned minor noble who was far too full of herself. Who was an utter pain in his ass. Who he'd gladly strangle if the magic would let him. And gods help him, it was only the second day. Fiery damn!

Skywarp took his place that night.

Thundercracker escorted him and a few other Blades to a local pub a few miles from the palace. Starscream knew it was Thundercracker's way to introduce him to the more veteran King's Blades, but the realization that he was the odd man out—the only private Blade—soured his mood further and made him deeply broody and antisocial. All they wanted to talk about was his blasted ward. How they were getting along. What she was like. If she was unattached to both suitor and fiancé, which he couldn't fathom why anyone would care to know. She was insufferable and would probably become an eccentric spinster, and he told them so. It was maddening. He felt like they were all laughing at him, asking such trite questions about some nobody noble when they served real power. Starscream hated being laughed at, and he hated talking about his ward even more. He'd snuffed Cliffjumper for gods' sakes and saved the king by doing so! Did anyone else know or care about that but him!? 

Even when the conversation turned towards the war, Starscream remained recalcitrant. What did the war matter to him anymore? He would never see combat, would never save the king’s life again. He would never be rewarded or recognized for any of his efforts. His life and service had become meaningless. Soon enough, Thundercracker and the others left him alone to nurse his drink. His mind foggy with ale, he nearly fell into bed with a local whore who was fairly pretty in the dim light. Until she laughed. Then, her whole face lit up, became something shining, radiant. Like a firebird. Starscream practically tripped down the stairs getting away from her, his stomach finally souring to match his mood, but whether it was from lingering rage, disgust, or the alcohol, he didn't know and didn't care. But he never lost his drink. Never veered close to hangover sickness. Eventually, he made his slow, weaving way back to the palace. Frustrated that he couldn't get well and properly drunk. Frustrated that he didn't find any decent girl to sleep with. Thundercracker was crocked about that being the best pub in town. Everything from the ale to the whores were complete disappointments. Maybe he would have better luck the next… Night. Tonight. The king's gala was tonight. Where he'd have to guard his ward while she danced and socialized until the wee hours of the morning. Just standing there, more obedient than a dog, as useless as a cat lazing about the house, with no particular purpose. Fiery, flaming damn.

Melody stared at the dress June had brought her, marveling at the detail. "I've never worn a dress by you before, so this may not be true," she told June, "but I believe you've outdone yourself."

The woman beamed. Pride in her work shone in her dark eyes despite the circumstances. "Do you really like it?" "I love it. It's beautiful." Melody rose a hand to her temple, massaging the headache that was blooming there. "And I hate that I love it." The dress hanging from the wardrobe was a deep royal purple, though light enough to never be mistaken for blue. With no straps or sleeves, sheer or otherwise, the bodice was tight and cinched at the waist with the sweetheart neckline that was in vogue this season. A vine of silver flowers made up the only garnish on the dress, but it was enough. Melody told herself they weren't comprised of diamonds and pearls but rather some convincing imitations. They teased a diagonal trail from the right side of the bodice, across her chest, and down the left side of her abdomen, before stopping at the layered skirt. This beautiful skirt. Four layers with the shortest on top, the other three drifting down one after the other, evenly spaced apart, until the final layer just barely brushed the floor. Elegant, modern, sensual. The dress was utterly gorgeous, a dream of silk organza and the right amount of ruffles. One of the finest things she'd ever beheld, and all she wanted to do was rip it to shreds and burn the remains. Instead, Melody let June slip it over her corset and stood in silence as the woman quickly laced the back. She didn't know whether to be amused or irritated when June presented her with silver shoes and jewelry to match. Irritated not at June, but at Megatron. But if this was her new role now, if it was useful to pretend to be the king's latest doll to hold his attention, then she would play it. For now. "There, now, let me see—oh, it looks even better than I thought it would!" June clapped her hands, delighted. Melody smiled wryly. "I told you, you've outdone yourself." June examined her, from sparkly shoes to her dark hair pinned up in loose ringlets. "You look beautiful, but—" Melody waited for the damning verdict, the same one she was thinking. June plucked the top layer of organza and smoothed it between her fingers with a hesitant regret. "Wearing this is going to send a message, to everyone." "Only royalty may wear the royal colors," replied Lady Westfire with a solemn dignity, "and though nobility I may be, I am not royalty." "Yet the king wished for you to wear it." June rubbed her forehead. "I have a feeling the court games are about to get vicious."

"If they want to include me, they'll have to pay me a visit at my estate. They can help me with my gardening." June grinned. "I would pay big, big money to see Lady Katherine elbows deep in the dirt." "You and me both.” Melody’s smile fell into a sigh. “I wish you could come tonight. You're doing wonders for my nerves." June waved a hand. "Alas, I'm but a humble seamstress, too lowborn for frivolous activities like dancing." "I hope you don't truly believe that. That you're lowborn, I mean." June shrugged. "Not much I can do to change it. I've got Jack to think about. But I'm happy to help you when I can." June curtsied to her, not for any kind of show or out of consideration for rank, but out of genuine regard. "My lady." Hands clasped in front of her, Melody crossed toward the parlor, skirt swishing with her steps. "And I take it my message was well-received?" June spotted Melody's self-satisfied smile and poked her in the side. "You know it was, you terrible thing." It was that same smile that greeted Starscream's impatient form pacing inside the parlor.

"Finally! How long does it take to—" Starscream stopped mid-snap, his train of thought completely breaking apart. Lady Westfire threw a smirk at the seamstress. "See, your work even rendered him speechless. Well done." The seamstress' dark eyes darted to Starscream's sneering face, her smile uncertain. "I'm flattered." Starscream marched forward, lips curling. "Seeing as you're finally presentable, lady,"—his glare turned from his ward to the seamstress—"we no longer need you here. Take your leave." As if she meant to infuriate him more, the lady shot the seamstress an apologetic look, took the seamstress' arm, and patted it while escorting her to the door herself. "If anyone asks tonight, I'll be sure to tell them I'm wearing a June Darby original." "You're too kind." "Nonsense. Besides, nothing wrong with earning a little extra income." The women continued to exchange goodbyes at the door, and Starscream felt that if he gritted his teeth any harder they would shatter. "Are you quite finished?" "Yes, yes," Lady Westfire said, shutting the door at last. She examined herself in the hall mirror, checking to make sure her hair and jewelry was in place. "You're so bossy. Don't tell me you're secretly eager to arrive just so you can dance." The Blade didn't dignify that with a response. He merely studied her, preoccupied at the mirror, his eyes sweeping her from head to toe, taking in the dress, how it transformed her figure from something unremarkable to…

Perhaps you’d feel better about your fate if you took a good look at your ward.

Alright, so maybe Knockout had been onto something when he'd implied Lady Westfire was attractive. That was an annoying realization. But then again, anyone would look at least mildly fetching in a dress like that, even Breakdown. But she hardly looked like this all the time, and any illusion of beauty was shattered the second she opened her mouth, which was, it seemed to Starscream, every moment he was close to achieving some peace. Even her smile infuriated him. Therefore, it wasn't the woman who was attractive but the garments that clothed her. Easy enough distinction. Knockout was a fool who thought too much with his other brain. "You look nice," she said simply, turning towards him at last. Starscream, wearing the single dress garments he owned which she'd seen over the past few days, glowered thunderously. "Before we go, I wanted to address what happened yesterday evening." Primus help him. "What about it?" "You tried to stop me from riding a horse," she said bluntly, "and I want to know why." "It was…" Fiery damn, he would not say it. "Was it something to do with the magic?" She searched him. "Starscream, I need to know." "You don't need to know anything," he snapped. "Not about the magic or about me." Her eyes turned to shards of ice, all trace of a smile gone. Starscream expected to feel proud of himself. Instead, his hand rose to make sure his saber was still strapped to his waist. "Is that so? Very well, then. I'll try something else. If someone attacked me, you would be forced to protect me, whether you really wanted to or not, yes?" "Astute of you." "Even if that someone was, say, another Blade or even the king?" Starscream huffed through his nose. "Yes, the ward's safety comes first, always. Even if my innards were spilling onto the ground, I'd have to try to save you from getting so much as a papercut. Happy?" "But that's only if you see the threat in front of you, isn't it? The magic doesn't react to supposed threats or suspicions?" She raised a brow. "And it won't allow you to do anything that could hurt me yourself." "Obviously." Damn… She had already figured this much out in just two days? No. She'd talked to Thundercracker, too, hadn't she? Bleeding traitor. "Then let me make one thing perfectly clear." Lady Westfire stepped right into his personal space. Though easily a foot shorter than him, she held him in place with nothing but a cool look as she said, "I will allow you to protect me from people you know are trying to hurt me. But don't you ever try to stop me from living my life the way I choose again, just because you're afraid I might get hurt. I will not become a prisoner in my own body. Do you understand?" The sharp fierceness in her eyes, the steel behind every word stabbed right in the heart of him, and some small part of Starscream raised its head curiously at its coming. The rest of him had him looming over her, leaning his head down to hiss in her face, "Oh, yes, I understand perfectly. Go ahead and do your worst, see if I give a single flaming damn." Only the ticking clock above the mantle interrupted their glaring contest. Lady Westfire finally stepped back, slightly relieved though her tone was still frosty. "Good. Now that's dealt with, ready to make our grand entrance?" "I'm ready to get this over with," he grumbled, extending his arm. Then immediately retracted it. His ward was a lady, but he wasn't her escort for the evening. He was her damned guard dog, and he was supposed to let her live her perfect little life. Lady Westfire either ignored him or pretended not to notice as she swept forward. The vengeful part of Starscream hoped she would trip on her skirts and either embarrass herself beyond compare or rip the blasted dress and call the whole thing off. But she didn't. Merely glided along, not even bothering to lift the skirt up even slightly for easier maneuverability. She didn't seem to need it, her back enviably straight and her eyes facing forward, not watching her steps in the slightest. Starscream took up his usual post to her right just behind her and tried to school his features into anything that wasn't sheer boredom, simmering fury, or total misery. There would be at least some important people at the gala to impress.

The ballroom was opulent as far as ballrooms go. Gleaming marble floors, lavish decorations, crystal chandeliers. All of it was lost on Starscream who couldn't give less of a damn that purple verbenas were used in the bouquets instead of hydrangeas, and wasn't that so in this year? After Lady Westfire had been announced to the court—Blades were not announced unless they were of particular renown, and he was reminded again that he was no one—Starscream followed her down the steps into the grand ballroom. Not seeming to care who else was left to be announced, King Megatron rose from his throne, resplendent and imposing in a silver combat dress uniform and a dark purple cape. The mingling crowd swiftly parted and retreated to the edges as he made slow, deliberate steps to the center of the ballroom. Starscream surveyed the gathered nobles with a surreptitious eye, anticipating any threats to Lady Westfire. He would kick himself for continuing to do so, but he didn't really have much choice. His mind was so occupied with fighting off the itch on his skin, the paranoia, that it took him far too long to realize. Purple, silver. Unicron's balls, she was wearing the king's colors. And the only people in attendance wearing purple and silver were King Megatron and his ward. Even Princess Airachnid, still seated upon a smaller throne to the left of Megatron's, was excluded, favoring black and pink in place of silver. And by the whispers behind fans and gloved hands and meaningful nods, everyone else had noticed, too. Starscream had never taken much care to learn about women's fashions. The most important thing about women's clothing was how to take them off. But it didn't require a trained eye to realize the difference in quality between Lady Westfire's dress and the other noble ladies', of which most now appeared hopelessly dated. The king raised his hand, palm up, the intensity of his gaze focused solely—unquestionably—upon Lady Westfire. Eyes as round as the full moon, Starscream gaped as his ward crossed toward the king to begin the first dance, wearing a dress fit for a princess—no...  A dress fit for a queen. An idea, small and rough, the barest skeleton of a plan, formed in Starscream's mind. If Megatron wanted her this badly, then did that mean he wanted her to be…? Not an eccentric spinster after all but queen. And if Lady Westfire became queen, then that would mean he would be… A Queen's Blade. Only one bare step away from the throne. And Megatron would assign her other Blades, surely, like he assigned himself. Which meant Starscream could do what the other King's Blades did. Go on adventures, fight wars, achieve untold glory. Yes. Yes, it was perfect! He wouldn't grow old and fat and slow in the country, a forgotten page in the history books. He would be somebody great, remembered for centuries! The page would announce him at the damn door! If Megatron was as big of a fool about her as Knockout, well, Starscream would just keep that opinion to himself. All he had to do was get the king to marry her before he realized just how troublesome she was. His ward didn't seem to host especially warm feelings towards his king, though. A minor issue. She was wearing the dress willingly after all, was seconds away from dancing with him. This must merely be her version of playing hard to get. And perhaps, now that he looked at her intriguing image in said dress, it wouldn't take much effort on his part to convince Megatron to act. From the edge of the crowd, Starscream's shrewd gaze found the king's face, his regal attention honed upon Lady Westfire curtsying near his feet. Blessed, impulsive fool. No, it wouldn't take much effort on Starscream's part at all.