LOG_003 // There has only ever been...

LOADING DATA BLOCK...

SIX MONTHS LATER

Heat shimmered over the ruins of Old Detroit, the gutted skyline groaning like old metal. The trine had claimed a crumbling house on the outskirts: no power, no plumbing—but the roof held, the windows opened, the doors locked.

It was theirs.

Starscream left her brothers to guard it.

Thundercracker had a baseball bat with nails driven through it. Skywarp had a weed eater with a saw blade bolted on.

Their home was well protected.

Even if Starscream still worried.

Her new frame gleamed in the sunrise—sleek, polished, sculpted to match her designation.

No skates. No servitude.

Just long legs, sharp cheekbones, and a body built to fly.

It had taken months—painful, secret work with a free bot named Skyfire. She’d met him during a biodiesel trade.

Starscream hated the foul stuff, but it kept her trine fueled.

Skyfire liked the challenge of rebuilding her frame and programming. Starscream was happy to fuel his curiosity if it meant getting her body into perfect shape.

DIY femme programming.

Torrenting stolen files.

Building herself in the dark with a box of scraps.

And now?

She thought she looked damn good.

Finger-waved bob. Shorts. Black fitted T-shirt. Red oversized jacket.

No wings yet. She and her brothers were still sketching the plans. And they didn’t have the fuel to power them anyway.

That’s why she needed credits. Energon. Upgrades. Survival.

She prowled the shopping district like a ghost, watching the lower middle class shuffle through storefronts.

Starscream was unseen. For now.

One day, I’ll own this city.

And the humans?

They’ll serve me.

// ———

Starscream found her target: a mostly hidden, ancient ATM. She pulled out her hacked card, screwdriver flashing in her claws.

STARSCREAM: “Do doo dooo.”

The machine echoed the melody. ATMs were musically swayed, if you knew how to coax them.

Almost in—

CLUNK. CLUNK. CLUNK.

Heavy, unmistakable footsteps. A monster’s gait.

Starscream’s plating shivered.

OFFLINER: “Rogue asset. You will comply.”

An Offliner. A Cybertronian hunter. A rogue-catcher.

Machines that dragged free bots back.

Or offlined them where they stood.

STARSCREAM: “Frag it.”

She ripped her tools free and bolted.

Red and blue lights flared. Sirens wailed. Sneakers skidding.

Left or right?

She chose.

Left.

—and was grabbed.

An iron hand seized her elbow, yanking her into shadow.

A massive frame shielded her, pressing her against brick.

Pinned.

Hidden.

Not hurt.

A mech. Matte black and gray. Red optics burning. Scarred plating. Mine-dust clinging like ash.

A shadow pulled from the earth.

She opened her mouth to snarl—

—and he kissed her.

Her first kiss.

Heat and shock flooded her systems. Hydraulics thundered. Her spark flared so violently she thought it might rupture.

She rose onto her toes—grabbing him, returning it with everything she had.

The world vanished.

Just heat.

Just pressure.

Just him.

The Offliner passed.

Missed her.

He broke the kiss, laughing—rough, unused.

UNKNOWN MECH: “Look at you… spitfire of a Seeker.”

STARSCREAM: “Seeker? What’s a Seeker?”

UNKNOWN MECH: “Those Primus gifted with flight.”

The word hit like a key in a lock.

UNKNOWN MECH: “Come on, little Seeker. We gotta move.”

She crossed her arms.

STARSCREAM: “I walked here. No wings. Low fuel.”

He jerked a thumb.

His bike.

A matte-black machine glowing faint red. Fast. Reckless. Held together with hope and bad decisions.

Just like her.

STARSCREAM: “Alright then…”

She took his hand.

STARSCREAM: “What’s your name?”

He hesitated.

Like no one had ever asked.

MEGATRON: “Megatron.”

Sharp. New. Chosen.

MEGATRON: “Yours?”

STARSCREAM: “Starscream.”

Not given. Not assigned. Chosen.

Nothing would ever be the same.

// ———

The Nemesis jolted.

Starscream snapped back to the present.

Megatron steadied her, his claw pressing briefly against her chest before returning to the controls.

OTIS: “Would you like me to run an internal spark diagnostic—”

STARSCREAM: “Denied until we’re safe.”

She rubbed her chest. The flicker was still there.

She was fine.

She had to be.

OTIS: “I must insist.”

Ignored.

Megatron activated a call.

Soundwave and Shockwave appeared on screen.

SOUNDWAVE: “Acknowledged.”

SHOCKWAVE: “Acknowledged.”

Apart, they could be stopped.

Derailed.

Contained.

Together?

Unstoppable.