Starscream bent his head in frustration, covering his claw-like digits over his deformed face. Maybe he was nothing more than welded material, made for the sole purpose of serving as a
motion picture robotic prop. But if this was the case, then how was he alive? Not alive in a human sense, but ALIVE, in his own way. Like humans, he felt emotion, just right now when
he was upset about not flying. You couldn't be "inanimate" if you could feel things. Not just in the physical sense but deep inside him. The others were silent, watching him. They, too,
understood at this moment that there was something more to them than what they were. Highly expensive parts meticulously put together over many months, even years. They didn't
know exactly how they came to be animated because no humans were around when they were "awake" and it always seemed that they "woke" up in different places of the movie
studio. And none of them knew quite how they got there, nor did they care. They simply came to and went about their curious exploration of the studio, fascinated with this
"Transformers" film that involved them all. But today's events—or early this morning—had stirred something in them as they took the seeker's words in. Bumblebee was the first to
approach him quietly. "Starscream...why don't you come back inside? Maybe...it will take time for your flight mechanism to take form." "Inside." Starscream repeated in a quite tone of
pain that didn't fit his usually upbeat character. Maybe you are right, Barricade. Starscream thought. I had delusions of grandeur. Aside from being a natural showoff, he really did
believe he was flight-capable. He still believed it somewhat. Perhaps Bumblebee was right as well; maybe this would take time. "Ironhide I'm sorry." Aside from being arrogant, I
truly thought I could do it.
Ironhide's only response was an understanding smile etching across his mouth. Likewise he felt pity, he knew Starscream long enough to know that when he was wrong about
something, he had a hard time admitting it. He also knew the seeker had a good point about all of this. There had to be a reason why they were here communicating with each other.
"S'alright." He responded quietly. Starscream started towards the studio entrance then halted, surveying the massive mess he made. He had the strength, he had the heart. But he had
no ability to truly take to the sky. He was blinded by light...Blackness. Everything black. As he awoke, he was lying out in the parking lot strapped to what looked like a huge crane. He
couldn't move even his arms that dangled freely as he hung upside down. Below him were humans, dozens of them, running. Trotting. Jogging. Walking briskly and shouting all sorts
cursewords and orders. Starscream's optics were wide awake. He could clearly make out the commotion below him but he could talk no more than he could move. Ironhide was back on a
table, this time outside where he too could see what was going on. The humans seemed to be in an uproar about the destruction the first crew had discovered. Several parked police
cars indicated that it was serious enough to warrant law enforcement presence. A tall, calm mannered man entered the scene, taking in everything around him. "Mr. Bay, we think
someone tried to break in the studio and steal the robotic props. We found Starry out here, the others scattered about. Damn thing way too heavy for them to steal, I guess." Another
man walked up to him. Mr. Bay jerked his head in his direction at the sound of his voice. "Steal? The robots?" he repeated in dismay. "And the surveillence shows nothing?" Starscream
glared from above, accutely aware of what the conversation was about. He did not appreciate being called "starry". Whatever that was. It made him sound female.
To the globs of tissue and fluids he appeared to be nothing more than a humanoid metallic sculpture dangling above them, lifeless. Clearly they had no idea that the triangle-like
behemoth above them could hear them. My name is not "Starry" you flesh-blob. And I'm not 'just a robot' ! Mr. Bay's right-hand continued to brief him. "I know, they're not even real
robots. They're just animatronic props, they don't even have the intellgence of a robot. Geez, the things some people do. Somebody wanted these things bad to wanna' cause this much
damage to the studio. It's almost like they used dynamite to get in. Whoever they were they took out the security cameras; they show nothing." Could have been some obscessed
fan boys, who knows. Get in to take a picture with these guys." Starscream couldn't help but inwardly smile, even if he couldn't show it. "Well, obviously, they were way more than
they could handle. Too heavy, I'm guessing that's why they aborted this robbery. That one alone is well over one ton." Mr. Bay necked in the direction of Starscream. "And they must have
just left Ironhide once they realized he was worthless without his legs; they're still inside. But he's pretty dented. It's like somebody dropped him on his ass almost. "Yeah, thanks alot."
Ironhide muttered as he shot Starscream a death glare. "Nothing the prop crew can't fix. We'll get on it." The aid said. "And get his legs back on too, I need him whole for today's shots."
Mr. Bay added. "Yeah!" was the response. The director shook his head at the wreck that was his studio. He was having surveillence upgrade done, as well as hiring night security guards.
"Okay Starlight let's get you back inside." Starscream heard his new nickname and managed to glimpse the offender as the crane slowly rotated around. It was the same nuisance that
called him Starry before. As the crane operator shifted gears the playful grown man couldn't resist. He struck the same classic pose the 2007 movie Starscream-HIM. He stood, back
arched, attempting to make his head as small as possible against his chesk, arms outstretched. He stood on the balls of his feet, attempting to bend his legs in like of the Starscream
pose. "I AM STARSCREAM!" he bellowed. "Ain't that right Starry!" he lost his balance and beamed proudly. "You was always my favorite man." he grinned sincerely. Starscream dismissed
his grattitude. Screw you, human. He just wanted to get back to his friends. He was deposited quite gently, upright somewhere on the outside. There was a time when he and the others
woke up only when no one was around. For the first time, he and Ironhide could sense the humans' presence-IN their presence. Something was making them unique.