"Hey, this is Smokescreen. I know. Strange. As if I already don't have enough things to fill my memory banks nor enough things for my spark to agonize over, but I think I'm getting the hang of talking to thin air and pouring out my thoughts… sorta. I've gotta admit, it's hard as slag actually being honest, but I think whatever the past few… months I think? I'll ask Roland later. Whatever cycles have passed have made it easier to get through this kind of thing. I'd never admit this out loud, not even to Ro, but I need this kinda thing if I'm gonna stay sane in a planet like Earth and whatever else the 'Cons throw at us. Shouldn't be surprised that the war keeps finding new ways to surprise us all even at the best of times.

"I feel odd recording this too 'cause there's always one thing I say. Heh, you'd think for a 'Bot like me, I'd have already accomplished my original goal a long time ago and not look back. The other thing about Earth is that it always surprises ya in ways good and bad. I thought for a while I'd be battling with the best of the best and call Optimus Prime my commander in wherever the hell Tranquility is. Turns out… I decided to say 'frag all of that' and stay with Roland even when I was bent to Primus telling him I needed to help. Was sure I gave him a spark attack when I made my choice, but it was the only thing that made sense to me after that 'Con got me… and slag, I still don't know what to make of even that.

"Back to Ro, there was no way in Pit that I was going to leave him alone in a city where I know there would probably be more 'Cons like that one. Second, and this is something I'm still working through, but… ugh, I've never felt more determined or even strangely alive until I actually made good on my promise to defend Ro from the 'Cons. Doesn't feel great to know I basically failed, even if that 'Con had every chance to get rid of us both. Should call ourselves lucky, but when I very nearly got the upper hand, and when I thought I had him… hey, the glory felt great, but defending the first human I ever met?... Well, it made listening to what my spark was trying to tell me make a lot more sense than before. It somehow felt better than trying to impress a superior, and it certainly came close to the pride of getting into the Elite Guard.

"It's weird to think about how one human has this much of an influence on me. Dangerous as all slag even, but somehow I wouldn't have it any other way? On paper, I shouldn't even want to be anywhere near the little dude. I know in my spark back then, I would've ditched someone like him when I was training in Iacon… But here, his push to keep going for what he dreams is somehow inspiring me? For Primus' sake, he gave his life in Chicago just to go along with me. After researching more of what human lives entailed, only after recovering from that 'Con attack was where I realized what Ro willingly gave up to both help me and chase for his aspirations. I know he desperately wants to be a professional singer, something I would've scoffed at vorns ago. Yet… the more time I spend with him, the more I learn that there is nothing more that he wants and yearns to do. This human breathes wanting to be a singer almost every hour, so long as he's not trapped thinking about the 'what ifs.'

"Dropping the whole decision on him wasn't easy. He was insistent I try to find Optimus, just as I insisted that I stay with him. I knew why he was saying what he was saying. I said to him that I idolized our leader, but I… didn't want to just drop Ro so quickly either. When I pointed out that there wasn't a lot for him in Los Angeles in terms of finding a place until the talent show he wanted to compete in, that seemed to be the thing that got Ro to being in favor of the idea of us sticking together. To be selfish, I was honestly kinda gunning for the idea. Enough time spent together on that road trip made me realize that I'd miss him too much… and in a way, this was the one chance to actually put that feeling out there before I tried to forget that I even felt it.

"Primus, I am getting too sentimental.

"I'd find a way to better myself as a soldier, even if I knew working as a team would mean I'd be less prone to being offlined. Still, Ro became my priority, so my focus was making sure he had some place to stay and a job to work in those first few weeks after that 'Con encounter. So, that meant our road trip never ended if you consider going in circles around Los Angeles to be one. Luckily for us, I didn't catch wind of that fragging 'Con while Ro was going through the process of finding and getting some easy job while waiting for that talent show of his. He was still as frantic and flustered as ever even when his life wasn't in danger, but actually seeing him looking forward to something honestly made my spark happy. He'd told me all about the process of the show when we settled into a routine and when we were on a road to actually get Ro to sign a lease that wasn't so expensive that I don't think even valuable energon would cover it.

"So apparently, what Ro signed up for was to audition with the 'producers.' Apparently, the whole thing was even more convoluted than what was shown on television and from what I was able to gather on my own. There's multiple steps to get onto television, which in itself was something pretty gnarly and fascinating to me. Additionally, they also made Ro sign some horribly strict contract, and that I'm technically not even supposed to be told about the details of it? Not that I didn't want to discourage him, but I can't deny that I was beginning to worry for him and what this whole gig implied. Still, I've never seen him so focused and slag… even so willing to sing all the time.

"I'd always wanna hear him sing and I can tell he's getting stronger the more he practices. Frag… I hope he never stops being him. He's betting his entire life on this and I fervently hope by Primus that if one thing does go right for him, it's this.

"Should sign off now… of course I'd talk more about Ro than myself. This has been Smokescreen. Ro, if ya somehow see this… Love ya, little dude. More than you'll ever know."


This was far from any vision of the future that Smokescreen had ever envisioned for himself.

He hadn't imagined that within a few months of landing upon an alien planet, desperately following the signal that Optimus Prime had sent in hopes of any tide that could end the bloody stalemate of this forever war that he knew stretched an uncountable amount of cycles, that he would be waiting to pick up one of its many inhabitants from a day of work. He hadn't expected to make the choice to want to stay for that particular human being, practically abandoning his own goal when his spark of all things all but desired to undertake a new one that had that same human at the center of it all. It was a ridiculous thing to think about, especially as Smokescreen hesitated to attach himself to the one word that would tie the proverbial bowstring in the bond that had all but been cemented between himself and Roland. Neither did he expect to be waiting in a Long Beach parking lot nearby a small dine-in restaurant, knowing he was the nicest looking vehicle by a longshot in this section of town.

As he waited for Roland to emerge from a shift that ended squarely in the evening, Smokescreen's processor wandered off to the past few months since that fateful encounter with that Decepticon. The actual excursion was something he'd rather forget, but it was in the months where he had a taste of what that day to day living looked like concretely rather than just dreaming about it. Well, to be fair, he wasn't sure if it was truly that kind of downlow existence everyday, especially considering he was often running surveillance day and night to make sure that there were no 'Cons that would encroach on him and Roland. In the days where he was able to turn his processor away from the threat of more Decepticons, then simply spending quality time with Roland was itself its own source of joy for the Autobot.

Of course, that was complicated by the talent show itself, and the simultaneous job of setting up their lives in a terribly expensive Southern California. That Roland had a job at this very moment was something of a miracle, especially because the application phase would soon turn into Smokescreen waiting with Roland in those horrific queues of many would-be singers in packed convention centers that wanted to have one shot of impressing the producers of 'America's Next Big Star.' Smokescreen remembered the day of the producer auditions themselves, staggered by the crowd of humans all lined up in various queues awaiting just the opportunity to have a shot for a chance to appear on television.

"They get at least 40,000 people a year… It was something close to that for the previous season of the show."

"I… wow. And… you're competing with all of these people?..."

"In a way… yeah. I'm at least competing for a chance to appear on television. That's not even a guarantee 'cause remember from when we last talked, there's at least two more rounds of producer auditions before I even have the chance to get to the celebrity judges."

"You'll be alright? Ugh, wish I could be there for you when you have to walk in. I swear my holoform will work. Any solar cycle now…"

"I'll… I'll survive. Hey… do you think you can listen to me sing Over the Rainbow again? Just one last time before I have to step out and line up… Might as well get the practice in."

"Always, Ro."

That conversation was so quaint from the vantage point of the present, especially because it was punctuated and framed with endless amounts of practice sessions with various songs. When had he not heard Roland singing so many cover songs at this point? He was sure that the singer gave him some bootleg form of music history education. However, the time to reminisce would be cut short as his sensors detected movement in his vicinity. Optics within would quickly focus to be greeted by the sight of Roland himself approaching the driver-side door, looking visibly exhausted from what Smokescreen assumed to be a long working day. He unlocked the door to the driver's seat for the sake of making things a touch easier for the singer, and it would not be long until he felt Roland seat himself in the driver's seat with an exhausted sigh. The Autobot tried to remember this was for the sake of rent and for taking care of the stratospheric expenses of trying to make it as a professional singer. Still, it didn't make it any easier to have to get used to a routine of seeing Roland so perpetually exhausted and tapped out, evidenced when he saw Roland slump a sweaty head against the steering wheel. It was far from a pleasant sensation, but he hesitated to call the singer out on such an action.

"Ro, good to see you. Long day?" he would say as he eased out of the parking lot and towards the direction of the cheap (well, 'cheap' for California) Long Beach apartment that Roland was able to sign during the strange, interim 'waiting' period of 'America's Next Big Star.' On that, the Autobot had more to ask on what exactly was going to happen for the next few months, but he figured he could wait a bit.

"Very," he heard Roland respond. "I'm glad they let me out a bit early… means I get to catch a brief nap before potentially practicing and maybe catch what's airing tonight."

"What's… on the TV tonight?" Smokescreen was better able to grasp the concept, though he kept his processors and optics focused on the road back home. The traffic here was something to marvel at even if they'd had a few months to get used to life around these parts. Roland's question had a part of Smokescreen's processor scrambling. He was so engrossed in fretting over the 'what ifs' of Roland potentially traveling to other places, more Decepticons popping up, and feeling like he can't even properly protect the singer that some of the more basic details of everyday things began to be lost on him.

"You forgot?... well, to be fair I almost did. It's the season premiere of America's Next Big Star tonight."

"Slag… you're right. Slag we gotta see if they actually put you on that television thing."

"Hah… I doubt it. They can always just put me on a montage." Roland tiredly responded. "I don't know if how far I've made it already means anything… but at least I'm heading to Miami next week to record more things for the show, could be a decent sign something could come out of this, right? The whole judges' houses thing…"

"Ro, I believe so. Now, go get yourself some recharge and we'll watch the show together. A thing at a time before you get too anxious again. We'll focus on Miami and more practice for you, got it?"

"Okay… okay."

This was another thing that Smokescreen should've foreseen and remembered. What was going to air tonight, and Smokescreen's curiosity was far too deep in to not tune in, had already been done and dusted months ago. Auditioning for the producers was only the first hurdle, and it was to his understanding that Roland had already cleared a lot of the hurdles to actually be shown on live television in what looked to be at least a months' time from the last time he talked to Roland about the innards of the show without the glamor and magic of editing. In fact, what Smokescreen would be watching would be something he would already 'know' depending on what was going to be shown for the public tonight. He tried to understand the whole show as best he could, but his first interactions with it being the very processes that no one but the production and the contestants were ever meant to see only sowed more confusion than clarity.

The other thing was processing the fact that Roland had already made it so far in, and that the path to even exposure entailed a lot of broken dreamers going home. Each step seemed far more dramatic than the last just from how Roland described it, but Smokescreen had no doubt actually going through it was another matter entirely. In all honesty, the more Smokescreen learned about America's Next Big Star and its rather clandestine operations, the more he was confused as to how Roland was supposed to navigate the whole competition into a career as a singer. All of this jumping through many hoops for a chance to have a career as a singer that was not even guaranteed? It seemed as if every 'yes' and every jump through the proverbial hoop should be cause for celebration, something that the Autobot's processor couldn't quite shake off as he merged into a boulevard that was a direct line towards Roland's apartment complex.

"They actually said yes, Ro? Like… the actual celebrity judges?"

"They did, Smokescreen! They actually did… they were being so nice, I almost wish you were there in the audience and everything. It all seems so real and I know I'm into the next phase of the show. This is like my first and real 'yes' in years. It was such a moment, describing it over the phone really doesn't do it justice. It's just…"

"What is it?"

"Maybe I'm just being paranoid because of the nature of these shows, but I wonder if this whole thing might be too good to be true. I haven't seen how they would edit me yet or anything, but… from the producers and hell now even the judges… I've gotten some of the nicest comments on my voice in years. I just… I don't wanna think I'm being set up or something, or maybe they want to break my heart in the next phase of the competition."

"I… I can't say much on how y'all do the shows, but you know my feelings on how you sing. Even if those judges end up being like two-timing 'Cons, it doesn't change what I think or most importantly, what you already got. I've seen and heard ya practice man and I know how much time you've put into this… and if they don't think it's good enough, well frag them anyway."

"Thank you… god every singer should have someone like you around. I… just don't want to squander this chance, you know? This might actually be the best shot at my first big breakthrough or something close to it. It's weird that I can even say that it could happen."

"Well there's only one hotshot like me to go around, heh. Oh don't pull that face on me, Ro. Anyway, what comes next after this? Gonna be honest, the more you talk about this show before it's apparently 'aired' on television, the more confusing it gets."

"I wish it gets easier to compete in and explain, but it does not. There's a lot more hoops after this because this is where they whittle down to the final 12 for live television. You've already seen me pass through auditions for producers, that's what they won't show. The ones in front of the celebrity judges, they might show mine depending on a whole bunch of things I only barely understand. After this, it's something called boot camp and then after, the judges' houses."

"...They're not about to start treating you like soldiers, no? You're lucky I'm still a rookie, little dude. Dunno how the older 'Bots would take to what you're saying."

"God no, Smokescreen. From what I remember watching, this show's boot camp is really more of an intense testing ground of all the singers the show has said 'yes' to, and they change it a bit year on year. I'll have to sing again to make the cut, of course. Both on my own and apparently I might be singing in groups too? I know they have an entire weekend planned in some theater in Los Angeles specifically for this whole thing. I just have to wait for news as to what they want from us in terms of song selections and also what they're able to clear though."

"I… and all of this just to make it to live TV? How many people are they expecting to get rid of during this?"

"Something in the hundreds down to a final 24. That many people, yeah…"

"Then half of y'all gone after?"

"Also yeah."

"Primus, now I know what you mean when you say the chances are astronomical."

Smokescreen wondered if some intervention from Primus was going to be necessary for something like this, even if he knew such efforts were so much better served for the war. It was also strange just how intensely life and death it felt when Roland would talk about the show in-depth, each cliff and hurdle seeming to exponentially increase to dizzying heights. He couldn't linger in those thoughts any further, however, when he saw that he was approaching the apartment complex that Roland resided in. He quickly pulled into the parking spot closest to his companion's unit, having gotten painfully used to the fact that his own alternate form would likely be the most ostentatious one in a sea of more modest vehicles. As much as he prided himself in appearing flashy and stylish, this was a gentle reminder of how he needed to blend in far better than he was now.

As soon as Smokescreen pulled into the space, he saw that Roland was still fast asleep. His head was still lazily pressed against the steering wheel, leaving the Autobot wondering how the authorities did not catch them at all for something that was probably a blatant offense of Earth law. He tried nudging Roland awake by shaking the seat lightly, garnering a bemused and exhausted groan from the singer. However, it didn't do the trick, given that he was still asleep. He thought about more desperate measures, even if it meant expending precious energon that he didn't have easy access to without a team or a base that he could easily navigate and pool resources from. Enough time had passed for most of his functionalities to become more operational since his crash landing in Illinois, even if he knew that he wasn't going to be meeting Ratchet's standards for peak battle-readiness. He sighed at the prospect of activating his holoform, something that he had only scarcely done a few times since he and Roland settled into this strange new life in California.

Still, if it ensured Roland would be awake enough to get into the safety of his apartment, he would do it. Smokescreen began the protocols to activate his human holoform, concentrating what he'd been able to schematize as the most proper appearance he would have as a human being and manifesting a 'real enough' human form in the passenger seat. He was sure that the shimmering, haunting blue glow of energon-esque energy would be enough to stir the human awake, but chemical readings indicated the signs that the transition to deep sleep was an awfully fast one. Smokescreen shuddered to think what the outcome would be if Roland had driven a 'regular' car, but he shook his 'head' from those thoughts in his processor. As strange as it was to sometimes see the world from the perspective of a human being, there was something also invigorating about the fact that this new form meant that he did not have to worry about the vast size difference.

So long as he didn't stray too far from his true form.

"Come on, Ro. You gotta wake up," he reached out a hand on Roland's shoulder, still trying to get used to the atomically smaller scale of human anatomy, and began to gently nudge the singer awake. As amazing as it was to have another chance to interact with his friend in such a manner, he needed to get Roland awake lest he stay in his vehicle form.

"Ro. Ro! Roly poly!"

With some more nudging, what amazed Smokescreen was that it was him uttering the rather ridiculous nickname that had Roland finally stirring awake. He could hear the groans emanate from the human being as well as a shift in his chemical balances that indicated he was finally awakening from this sudden, but not unexpected, slumber. It took a moment for the singer to come to, eyes widening in visible surprise when he laid eyes on Smokescreen's holoform. The Autobot couldn't resist the urge to flash a cocky grin towards Roland's way, and the rookie couldn't hold back his laughter the moment he saw Roland finally be jolted fully awake. This was the one good thing about needing to use his holoform sparingly here and there; he could always utilize it to surprise his companion.

"Oh my god, Smokescreen. I thought you were somebody else entirely." Tired as he still was, Roland had enough energy to get out of the car. That exhaustion also did not stop the incredulous glance that Smokescreen received, leading him to bear a sheepish expression as he too also went outside to assist Roland to his apartment.

"You forgot my party trick?" weird as it was to literally exit himself, it was part of the territory of wild technologies such as this. Smokescreen bore the appearance of a human male just a year younger than Roland, bearing fair skin and a face that screamed that he was young. By most standards, he appeared as a conventionally attractive human, his holoform having been made of a composite of other human pictures that he thought were appropriate. If one were to peer closer, one with astute eyes could pick up an uncanny valley-esque nature to the way Smokescreen's human disguise would manifest. Still, there were no other humans outside but Roland, and he would walk over his way. "This was the only way I got to wake ya up from the drive without putting on something loud on the radio. Sure you'll be okay?"

Roland was looking a bit more awake as Smokescreen saw him nod. That was some measure of reassurance, especially as the last thing either of them needed was for the human to plant himself in concrete.

"I'll be fine," it was reassurance enough as they both started walking into the apartment. "Definitely need a bed rather than your car seat or a couch… and my god, it's surreal to see you like this. I thought you couldn't do this all the time?..." ah, there it was, the worry.

Smokescreen only flashed him a smirk as Roland fumbled for the keys and opened the door.

"Still can't. But man, when it works, it works. Now I can actually get to have some fun like ya and maybe you can even introduce me to your work friends? Now they'll know who your sweet as pit ride is."

Flustering Roland would never get old, no less the eye rolls that he could elicit from his companion. He could hear Roland utter a 'damn it Smokescreen' as they both walked into the apartment. The human flung the lights open to reveal what still looked to be a relative mess on the process of a much longer deep clean, though progress still needed to be made before the apartment itself was truly tidy. The apartment itself was fairly spartan, with not enough income being made to fill it with more furniture or decorations. However, what was there was definitely the makings of someone who was desperate to enter the music industry. There was a stereo, some recording equipment, a microphone, an opened laptop that needed to be charged, CDs of artists that Roland desired to emulate, blank CDs likely filled with recordings and demos, and all manner of music sheets new and old that were marked by Roland during practice sessions. He could visibly remember some of the days where Roland had some of these items delivered to the apartment. As he ascertained the apartment, he could see Roland eyeing the main living space with a degree of worry.

"Shit… I really should organize this before heading to Miami. If only work didn't tire me out so much."

"Recharge, my man. I can help ya with the cleaning tonight or tomorrow. You need me to wake you up?" Smokescreen asked.

"I have an alarm set for when the show starts. I should be able to get an hour. Thank you, though. I'll see you soon, alright? Don't… get in too much trouble if you decide to like… go back in your true form or something."

"Heh, I'll be careful, Ro. I'll stick around here like this for a while. You go and get your beauty recharge, even if it's not even for a full solar cycle."

Primus, what would the other 'Bots think of the kind of new life he was living? Would even one know of him somehow?

He couldn't exactly shake off those thoughts from his processor as he waved Roland off to his bedroom and with some fiddling, was able to lock the front door to his companion's apartment. At this point, should he be calling Roland his charge? Smokescreen felt that was being far too presumptuous, even though everything his spark was feeling was indicating that he may as well have ordained himself as Roland's autobot guardian. As strange as that notion felt… Primus, his spark was a confusing one to decode sometimes. Pit, did Roland even need a guardian? Was Smokescreen himself even cut out for this kind of protective vow? Vorns ago, he would've been horrified at such a notion, afraid that it may have tied him down or that it was beneath him to lay his life down for another being specifically.

This was one of the downsides of taking things slow. His processor had become incredibly fond of wrapping itself in these needless and unhealthy dioramas of thought.

He figured settling down for the evening and sating his curiosity for what exactly was going to be on television tonight before America's Next Big Star would be a way to pass the time. It wasn't the most graceful thought of resembling the humans that would twiddle their thumbs over a remote and mindlessly flip through the channels in some half-hearted attempt to find some modicum of entertainment. As much as he knew this was going to generate a profound amount of boredom, he had a feeling this would beat being at the very heel of a 'Con with every intent in offlining his spark. If he was going to stick around Roland for the long term, this kind of calmer living without the glamor and its warts in full-display was something he was going to have to get used to. He sat himself down the extremely cheap, worn, and secondhand couch that Roland was able to afford not too long after the lease for this unit was signed. To his surprise, despite the obvious discomfort, his holoform was able to make contact with the furniture and reacted as it 'should,' treating him like any other human being. He could get used to something like this, though he wondered if he should be getting this comfortable in a planet and especially with a race that could teeter into extinction if this forever war swung in brutal directions.

The war… that Decepticon from months ago was the sign that he couldn't forget about its clarion call entirely. Though he and Roland hadn't really discussed that encounter with each other in much depth, Smokescreen couldn't escape the guilt he felt in his spark that he had been outmatched by that 'Con. Even if the singer was more concerned for his welfare, he knew it was hardly his finest hour as a warrior. Setting his pride aside, what clawed at Smokescreen was that Decepticon was still alive, and that seeming mech wasn't one he recognized from any data or memory bank. He had rushed so easily into battle that he hadn't even so much as tried to gather some intel. A rookie mistake… Even though he escaped with his spark still online, there remained a chance that another encounter could occur, and Smokescreen had been vigilant about such a prospect ever since then. He and Roland had been lucky thus far that they've been able to evade Decepticon attention for this long, but he wasn't sure how much more luck Primus could grant them before everything went to the pits again.

As odd, sedating, and perhaps even humiliating as it felt, he turned on the television set in an attempt to place these thoughts in some other nook of his processor. He would cross these bridges in the future should life decide that more chaos needed to be sown. For now, Smokescreen would try his best to bide the time before he would actually see a broadcast of the very talent show that Roland uprooted an entire life to compete in. As he flipped through the channels, the Autobot had to admit there really weren't too many things that caught his interest, though it was also down to the fact that he knew that Roland needed more money if they were going to have more channel options. For now, Smokescreen was stuck with evening news broadcasts from the local news stations as one source of possible background noise. Spinning his wheels somewhere around Long Beach seemed a halfway tempting option, but he knew he would just be fighting boredom against traffic.

As he watched some bits of the news, Smokescreen couldn't help but wonder again at how humans were such a strange, eclectic bunch to his eyes. He wondered how the other 'Bots were faring on this planet, whether or not they were fond of the human race and if they found a sense of companionship with them. He had a feeling, if he got their names right, there would be some certain suspects that would take a liking to these human beings. If Optimus Prime was willing to stay here and rally additional troops… As strange as humans were, as violent as they could be and based off what he's seen when he is with Roland, sometimes comparable to 'Cons, he also loved the best of what humanity had to offer too. Their idiosyncrasies, their culture, their art… It was strange to think that an even younger version of himself would've hardly cared, instead chasing to prefer the glory and renown of battle above all else.

He thumbed through enough channels at this point that he settled on another news broadcast that seemed to cut to a commercial break. Scarily enough, the first advertisement seemed to blurt out the very show that he and Roland were waiting for, 'America's Next Big Star.' That caught his attention, his synthetic eyes and his holoform body easing up to focus for the fleeting time this ad had to make an impression on the viewer. The thoughts that he had in his processor were paused as he took in the rather flashy graphics and the quick-paced nature of the advertisement, definitely meant to hook viewers into believing in the premise of the title. If they tune into the show, dramatic orchestral with gibberish latin music in the background punctuating the exaggerated stakes, they too could join the show's journey in unearthing the next music sensation from someone who was ostensibly a normal, everyday person. He tried to see if there were any snippets he could gleam, and he swore for a microsecond that there was someone that looked like Roland. However, before he could closely analyze the footage, the commercial would end and cut to another ad about some unhealthy fast food chain.

Enough time had passed that the show proper itself began, with Smokescreen finding that he had more than settled in for the night. He was surprised that his holoform was lasting for as long as it did, but he did not want to question any streak of good fortune. Watching the beginnings of the show itself was interesting, especially as the promo from earlier didn't really do justice to how dramatic the proceedings were. There was only so much Roland could describe on his end about how the show worked, but he was trying to square that with what seemed to be intricate editing work and a painful insistence of the show's main title and premise. He was sure that by the end of whenever this aired, he was going to be sick of the booming announcer voice and the overdramatized declarations of 'WE. WILL. FIND. AMERICA'S. NEXT. BIG. STAR.' The actual first few minutes of the broadcast seemed to be just a glorified introduction.

However, he almost sprung into action akin to a Decepticon suddenly being in the living room when he swore that the introductory montage about the 'possible new greats' had a half-second where a person that looked a lot like Roland would appear on the screens for a very brief moment before fading to another singer. Just as the show transitioned into another brief montage of teasing the 'bad' auditionees, Smokescreen turned his head to the direction of Roland's room. He had half a processor to try and see if he could wake the singer up. Timing seemed to be something of a mysterious enigma tonight, as he saw Roland emerge from the bedroom looking a little bit more awake and refreshed than before.

"Ro!" Smokescreen would quickly pat the space next to him, unable to fight the grin when he saw his companion. "You had an okay recharge?"

"Yeah… I did," Roland's voice was still a bit hoarse as he sat down next to Smokescreen, leaning his back into the couch. The Autobot could see the singer smile when his eyes gazed into the television to see the intro to the talent show finally finish. "Good to see you watching the show. I'm sorry if I was crabby earlier… Did I miss too much?"

"Ro, you weren't. You're tired, you needed the recharge." Smokescreen raised a hand to make sure Roland didn't go down a path of feeling too much needless guilt. He gently squeezed his companion's shoulder as the singer sat down, Smokescreen still finding it surreal that he could actually experience the world in the scale of someone like Roland. He was always cognizant of the fact that he was going to be vastly larger than the average human, but this reinforced the vast difference in size between the species. "Ya didn't miss much. Swore I saw ya in one of those brief montages they showed during the introduction. Or someone like ya."

He heard Roland chuckle in response to that.

"Could be anything. We'll see though. I doubt they will show me, but it should be a night of seeing who this show likes or who the singers are this season."

"Aren't you like… part of the final 24 still?"

"I… I am. I know. I just don't wanna take it for granted. It… could mean a lot of things, to be honest."

"Just remember ya made it that far, Ro. No matter what the show thinks. Slag, we shouldn't be talking over it."

"Thanks, Smokescreen… and we shouldn't. There's some pretty interesting things going on and I'll explain it to you. Don't believe everything you see in TV after all."

The broadcast was… interesting to say the least.

Smokescreen remembered Roland mentioning in the past that in a certain point of the process, the producers had began to grill his companion about what kind of life story he had. It was more than just merely asking about his interest in music, with Roland describing it as the producers seeming to interrogate him to try and see if there was something they could exploit for television for the sake of a sensational narrative. Smokescreen hadn't really understood the whole point of it, but seeing how the show was editing its contestants with Roland pointing out some of the familiar faces in montages was a rather telling indicator of the kinds of tactics America's Next Big Star was willing to pull for the sake of telling much wilder stories of these seemingly regular folk. Hearing Roland say, 'oh, she's meant to be the funny jokester they don't take seriously' or 'a really good singer, but it's concerning he's not having his entire audition be aired.'

However, the rather cloying and manipulative nature of the show was laid bare at the first proper audition that was shown on screen that was an actual full-length segment. The auditionee on screen was named Elaine Madison, a singer in her mid-40s on tough times facing a death in her family who was using the show as a last ditch effort to both fulfill her dreams to be a recording star and to also support her family. Her segment was framed with incredibly sorrowful-sounding background music, with deliberate edits that emphasized just how much she needed to succeed in the show. In fact, the build-up to her audition even saw footage directed at places she lived and worked.

"This… what you mean by the editing? Did you see her audition?" Smokescreen asked, to which Roland nodded with an almost sad nod.

"Yeah… see how much they interviewed her and the fact that they even went right to her apartment? I remember her audition because it was in the same shooting day as mine. I think she's in the final 24 or close. Incredibly talented, but I didn't know what was going on with her and I don't wanna assume anything except the show probably wants her around. You'll see when she sings… she's really good."

Whatever the editing, Smokescreen saw what Roland meant when it came to the talent on display. Elaine, on the television, would begin the proceedings with Mariah Carey's "Hero," an uplifting song that was suitably performed with a technically imperfect yet passionate vocal that exuded power and potential. Elaine was emotional when she sang, seeming to draw from the power of the crowd supporting her. The ending to her performance was a triumph, shots of the crowd cheering hungrily for her and willing for the judges to say yes leading into the segment where the four celebrity judges would decide her fate.

"Primus… I see what you mean," Smokescreen knew he was talking over the judges' tense deliberations, where they all seemed to agonize if she was ready. Somehow, the Autobot felt incredibly nervous for her. "Ro, I don't know her, and I know you know where she lands, but frag I'm still kinda scared for her. That's normal? And how much of this was real? And did they make her sing that song or did she have a choice?"

And somehow, he felt a strangely strong relief when Elaine got four enthusiastic 'yes' votes from the judges, though he was not sure how to take the overbearingly uplifting music even though he knew how much this chance could mean for one person. He craned his head to see Roland's expression curl to a smile, before seeing the Autobot's 'human' face reminded him of the questions that needed answering.

"Wish I had better answers, Smokescreen. I can't say much without knowing Elaine personally," Smokescreen peered his attention away from the broadcast as it transitioned to some montage of other auditionees that made it to the boot camp phase of the competition. "I know she's aware she's being presented like this, but off-camera she's kind of a funny force of personality. No one ever really speaks about themselves throughout the process, but yeah I can't deny that there's… a lot of editing going on with a lot of this.

"And it's normal you feel that way too. I felt the same way when I was just once a fan of the show. I'm fairly sure that song was part of her list, but the producers have their own ideas sometimes. I know they had their ideas for mine…"

Smokescreen didn't fail to notice the darker tone his companion's voice took at the end of his statement. He tried giving the singer as much of a comforting smile as he could, knowing the song that Roland was compelled to sing at the behest of the producers. The Autobot hoped, if what Roland had implied was correct, nothing horrific would arise and the show's machinations would just be for the sake of harmless entertainment.

"As I said, if this show screws you over, frag 'em. I think you'll be okay. 'Sides, think they'll show your audition?"

"Thanks Smokescreen… and my god, I hope I'm just relegated to a montage. It's easier that way."

The rest of the episode progressed without any obvious sign of Roland. As much as that relieved the singer, Smokescreen still had some latent desire to see his friend appear on television. However, that desire was tested when the show would showcase the 'bad' auditionees, which left a much more proverbially 'bad' taste in the Autobot's glossas. Watching the show stitch up and villainize people whose singing capabilities were clearly not meant for television was akin to drinking unprocessed high grade. It's technically possible to do, but one was left with a horrible feeling right after. A brief glance towards Roland's way revealed that this was a part of the show that the singer also didn't like, having gone silent and was instead on his phone with a bemused expression.

The question of how Roland was going to be presented would appear right in the final ten minutes or so of the broadcast. The human was vehement that he was simply just going to be montaged and forgotten about for the rest of the audition episodes. However, he was silenced when Smokescreen saw the incredibly familiar face and form of his companion appear on the TV.

"Roland? Ro, that's you. Slag, that's…" he would exclaim as he heard the show's host begin to introduce his companion. As excited as Smokescreen was, his energy would be neutered slightly when he saw Roland in the corner of eyes just gazing at the broadcast with widened, shocked eyes.

"Meet Roland Morrow, someone who's wanted to be a singer since his early 20s," the host's voiceover would say as footage of Roland in various places was being played on the television, the singer looking thoughtful if anxious. "He hails from Chicago but just very recently moved to Los Angeles to audition for the show. However, there was just one problem…"

Any doubt that Roland was going to be framed as a joke contestant was washed away when his introductory segment was accompanied with an emotional piano instrumental. Soon enough, Roland was heard speaking, and footage of him speaking to the cameras was now shown on the television. The basic details of Roland's move across the states was largely right as far as Smokescreen was concerned. Any worries of the Autobot's existence were quashed as soon as the show began to emphasize the primary things that Roland was saying.

"For a long, long time. I have had a lot of people say no to me or not like the way I sound," there were clear cuts after each line, revealing a splice in the statements that Roland was saying in the broadcast. "I've spent so much of my life believing I wasn't good enough to be a singer. After so many years… I just lost the confidence to even compete, and a couple of things in my life happened to cause some anxiety I haven't been able to shake away."

Smokescreen's eyes darted over to the Roland next to him, who only seemed to be lightly trembling in what looked to be sheer terror at the broadcast. This only intensified Smokescreen's confusion as he saw what looked to be a narrative, albeit an overwrought one, of a singer who wanted to regain their confidence back. He wasn't sure how much truth that held, especially because confidence wasn't exactly something they talked about in regards to his singing. The part about being rejected many times was true at least. However, where Smokescreen began to get alarmed was where the show was happy to present some of Roland's nervous tics, but these tics ended up becoming exaggerated qualities. What Smokescreen could recognize as Roland's hands lightly shaking were presented as signs of a mental breakdown, and he honestly was not sure how to take the editing, making an already emotional narrative even moreso. He glanced back towards the broadcast, which thankfully cut away from footage of Roland having a clearly vulnerable moment that should not have been shown for the cameras.

The moment of truth began when the broadcast showed Roland sauntering on stage with a nervous, trembling smile.

"Well hello, what's your name sweetie?" One of the celebrity judges asked.

"Roland. Roland Morrow."

"Nice to meet you Roland. Where are you from?"

"Ah, I'm from Chicago, but I just recently moved to LA."

The brief conversation turned out to be friendly, the judges being edited to clearly seem like they were on Roland's side. It wasn't long until the question of what song he was going to sing was asked. Smokescreen tried to remember what song it was from past conversations, but the pace of the broadcast was quick enough to answer what his processor reached for.

"I'll be singing "Over the Rainbow."" Roland on screen would say with an earnestly nervous smile, before the cameras would cut to a wider view of the stage.

Knowing the significance of the song to his companion, Smokescreen was gobsmacked that that was the chosen song. He recognized the instrumental of the song, with it being a higher quality version of the recording on that tape recorder. As soon as Roland opened his mouth to sing, Smokescreen was taken back to the moment he and his companion shared at the grave of Joanne Morrow. He'd always enjoyed Roland's singing, but there was something about the way Roland sang this particular song that gripped his spark. Whatever kind of artifice, editing, and narrative that the show was trying to attach to his friend were things he could forget. Not even television editing could erase how committed Roland was to the song, slowly singing each word as if he had inhabited them for his entire life, interpreting them with a tragic weariness that still kept the innocent whimsy of the song.

He didn't care if this was making him nearly leak. Maybe it was hearing Roland acknowledge that dreams can come true through song. Maybe it was seeing his friend believe in what singing and art can do, and in turn made Smokescreen believe so fervently in things he would normally not even care about. He didn't care that this maybe moved him too much. There were cuts to other parts of the performance clearly meant to have Roland reach the glory note of the song, much to the delight of the audience that was in the broadcast themselves and to the cutaway excitement of the judges. It was ridiculous that he felt disappointed that Roland needed to cut his performance short, even though that too likely was an edit to fit whatever broadcast standards the show needed to meet.

The ensuing comments being 'very nice' from a long past conversation were understatements. He wasn't sure how much of it was real, but the show was certainly happy to present the audition as a rousing triumph. After some time to let the Roland on-screen take in the rather huge cheer, it would not be long until Roland would receive the judges' comments.

"Roland… that was incredible. Actually, genuinely incredible. Easily the best audition we've had today. You are such a class act. I know you were a little bit nervous, but I believed every word you sang."

"I don't think I've ever heard anyone sing that song like that. You made such a classic song your own, like you wrote it. That, to me, is the sign of a real artist in the making. I think you have so much more to give us."

The broadcast exuded joy as Roland received a unanimous slate of yes votes to advance to boot camp, a result that didn't surprise Smokescreen given what he already knew. Yet still, he was caught up in the jubilation of the moment, unable to help the grin as Roland's victory was made to be the parting note of the season premiere. Not long after his audition, the broadcast would announce its conclusion by airing a quick tease for next week.

"Smokescreen… I…" now, he finally heard Roland speak for the first time since his audition aired. However, the fear that was in his eyes was now evident in his voice. "Excuse me… I…"

"Ro! That was fraggin' awesome! Ro-" he quieted when Roland seemed to only respond to him with silence. Soon, the singer would stand up, still trembling in absolute fear.

Worry began to flare through Smokescreen's instincts, the Autobot slowly walking over towards him. He turned off the TV, having a feeling that hearing the show was probably not helping matters. The Autobot still did not understand what was causing such a strong fear that he hadn't seen from his companion in such a long time. As he walked closer, he could hear the broken whispers of a singer still in disbelief, and it was a disbelief fueled by terror.

"This can't be happening… this can't be happening… this can't be happening."