I have no blade, I’m more like a feather

Keywords: lab rat
Comment: credit to freevo @ livejournal, fanart from here at http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=18806496



distortedscream: (Default)
Keywords: I WILL END YOU
Comment: credit to weegeebob.tumblr.com


distortedscream: (Default)
Keywords: seeker geek
Comment: credit to in-sideunder.deviantart.com/insideunder.tumblr.com



distortedscream: (Default)
Keywords: uh huh
Comment: credit to in-sideunder.deviantart.com/insideunder.tumblr.com

















distortedscream: (Default)
Keywords: notgoodnotgoodnotgood
Comment: credit to gapykim.tumblr.com

Thinking of roleplaying Kate Austen too.

changing fonts:

http://www.tizag.com/htmlT/font.php

http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/getting_started/article.php/3479591/So-You-Want-To-Change-Your-Font-Huh.htm

http://nullrays.dreamwidth.org/icons

☞ Player Information;
Name: Fan
Player Journal: greedyslayer
Age: Remember that you must be 17 or older to apply here.
Contact: privatewing@gmail.com
Other characters currently played at Ryan's Gulch: N/A

☞ Character Information;
Character Name: Starscream
Canon: Transformers Prime
OU or AU?: AU
Canon point: Some time after the fighting's gone to Earth, after Starscream's killed his universe's Cliffjumper, and his universe's Airachnid has joined the Nemesis crew.


Setting:

Cybertron. A world where what humans would consider machines and robots are living and sentient creatures that are the main controlling power on their planet. So, really, it's all there in the name. ('cyber' being connected to 'technology' being connected to 'machines and robots') Really, the planet's ruling species is called Cybertronians. (Not unlike how Earth has its Earthlings.) By nature, Cybertronians are not physically static creatures either--they are essentially shapeshifters with one or more set alternate forms, and even those can be tweaked. For example, a Cybertronian can transform into a jet mode, while the other robot mode is more conventionally human, typically bipedal and with arms and a face--though again with the Cybertronian aerial Transformer example, he'll probably have wings sticking out of his back. Now, the jet mode can be tweaked, such as when operating on Earth--tweaked so that instead of looking like a normal Cybertronian jet and thus being more conspicuous on Earth, it can resemble a human military jet like an F-16.

Cybertronians aren't invincible, they can die, and they need sustenance. Energon is their lifeblood, fueling their bodies and technology, etc. Cybertronians have an equivalent to a human heart, and something like a concrete soul--the spark in their torso, as long as it functions, they live; should it flicker out, they die.

The exact origins of Cybertron and Cybertronians are shrouded in myth. One of that being that there were two great beings, Primus and Unicron, that were gripped in a great conflict. Primus won when he spawned the 13 Primes that tipped the scale in his favor in the battle against Unicron. Primus went on to become the core of Cybertron, while from the 13 Primes descended the rest of the Cybertronian race. 'Prime' goes on to become the term for the ruling leader of Cybertron, armed with such artifacts of power as the Matrix of Leadership and the Key to Vector Sigma.

More concrete and less mythological information is Cybertron's very real caste system, strictly controlling Cybertronian lives, and essentially dividing them into the 'haves' and 'have nots' with no possibility of upward mobility into a better class. It's a system filled with corruption on top of this, and with a ruling body called the Council with the most power.

Miner D-16, who became more commonly known as Megatronus when engaging in illicit gladitorial matches, was one of the lower classes who proved most successful at demanding for change in Cybertron's caste system. He drew the attention of and inspired an archivist of Iacon, Orion Pax. The two became allies and even struck a friendship, working together to change Cybertron for the better. Some time during this, Megatronus sees fit to shorten his name to Megatron. Eventually their efforts bring them before the Council. Megatron gives a fiery and even violent speech before the Council, demanding immediate change and that the power and rank of a Prime be conferred to him to initiate that change. Orion Pax intercedes, exercising more tact and calling for a more peaceful resolution between the corrupt caste system and the actual Cybertronians who suffer under it. The Council, apparently moved by Orion, wish to make him Prime.

Now at this point, some would say a divergence happens, but it all depends on what dimension you're from.

While in another dimension, Orion is shocked, and Megatron is consumed by envy, and perceives betrayal from Orion, and it's from there that they are estranged, and their estrangement is essentially a major factor in Cybertron descending into all-out civil war.

But in this dimension, even Megatron is moved in a certain way. His thoughts of revenge against the Council and the corrupt system they perpetuated, his thought to make sure that system was abolished and Cybertron bettered by any means necessary, were shaken as he was reminded that an all-out fight may risk what had truly motivated him from the start--to help Cybertron. Too much fighting would end up endangering Cybertron in the end. And Megatron trusts Orion, and believes his friend has a point, and has proved to be more worthy of a Prime, and thus supports and encourages him.

But this Orion...is a very convincing actor. It probably helps that he had believed in a more peaceful resolution. But that was before. At this point, Orion's witnessed enough of what the caste system does to make him drop all thoughts of mercy against those who perpetuate it...even worse, it's started to twist him in other ways, to even doubt just a little the value of right and wrong.... In any case, Orion intends to play the innocent, believing that luring the Council into a false sense of security and then assassinating them will be more efficient. Orion thinks it an unfortunate necessity to keep his friend Megatron in the dark about this, and even planning for Megatronus' lack of tact to make him look more appealing to the Council. But Orion does feel particularly concerned how Megatron seems to be more willing to listen to the peaceful solution after all...but Orion figures it is a minor detail and that he has better things to focus on, such as best plotting murder.

At least both Megatron and Orion see the Council's offer as still probably given with the intention of making Orion a figurehead, but both work together to ensure Orion is actually in charge. (Though Megatron is actually thinking more negotiation, Orion more along the lines of Kill them All and hide the bodies and evidence.)

So this Megatron never protests Orion being seen as the better Prime, and Orion was never genuine in wanting a peaceful resolution to the caste system problem. Orion Pax becomes Optimus Prime, and names Megatron as his High Lord Protector--essentially his Second-in-Command. And for a time, things seem to be going well. Then the Council starts dying one by one. Optimus has started his assassinations, and quietly and anonymously so, even having Megatron investigate their deaths. Optimus miscalculates in thinking Megatron will find nothing, and underestimating how skilled Megatron's friend, Soundwave, has grown. Megatron confronts Optimus, they talk...and at first Optimus can persuade Megatron to do nothing and let this happen. Optimus argues that at this point, it would cause too much scandal if Cybertron knew what their Prime was doing, and to take out the Council that still more often than not made their work more difficult than it had to be was much more expedient, and did Megatron still not loath them for what they had done?... Megatron is disturbed, but reluctantly goes along with Optimus.

But the power is steadily going to Optimus' head and unhinging him further, and rather than taking Megatron's compliance as loyalty and friendship from Megatron, and Megatron still trying to put a peaceful and protected Cyberton first, Optimus sees it more as him having power over even Megatron. Megatron will let him get away with it. So Optimus decides for a more bold assassination that will take out the rest of the Council at once, an explosion at some public gathering--what of any personnel there that may get caught up and die? The greater good is more important. Optimus' power and efficiency is more important.

Megatron catches wind of this plot and quickly stops it. Then things start going downhill fast. Something snaps in Optimus, perceiving Megatron's emergency response to thwarting his scheme as betrayal. Things quickly escalate into violence--Megatron hesitates to strike a killing blow against his friend, fighting against gladiator instinct and believing his friend could still be reasoned with. Optimus takes advantage, severely injuring a caught off guard Megatron and ending the fight. Optimus orders Megatron to be quietly locked away, and tries to come up with a plan to cover up what just happened with his High Lord Protector and still eliminate the rest of the Council without anyone realizing he's the culprit.

Megatron escapes, Optimus kills the Council, Megatron brings Optimus' less-than-clean schemes to light, and Optimus essentially freaks out even more, declaring Megatron a traitor of the highest deception to Cybertron, and Public Enemy #1, and clamping down hard on Cybertron and tightening his control over the planet. So, the civil war between Optimus' Autobots and Megatron's Decepticons still break out, though it's more about the ruling Prime's forces versus the rebels.

The war escalates, eventually claiming the life of literally an entire planet. Cybertron becomes a dead world, unable to function or produce Energon to sustain Cybertronian life. The Autobots and Decepticons leave Cybertron on a mass exodus, but the war is not entirely abandoned, the conflict shifting even more to other planets.

Eventually the main leaders and even the originators of the war, Optimus and Megatron, wind up on Earth, one of the many alien planets they've been stockpiling Energon on, and continue their eons-long stalemate.

Please provide all information concerning your character's home world or original setting as it relates to them. While we would prefer this section to be written out, providing links will be acceptable in the case of fandom characters.

History:

Starscream and his trinemates Skywarp and Thundercracker were born lower caste, but their ancestry and the rank of their birthplace, the Crystal Sector, used to be higher. The Crystal Sector was once better off, and with a ruling lineage that Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker are descended from, but after getting on the wrong side of the Council, Crystal Sector and its ruling lineage fell, far before Starscream and his trine were born. The Crystal Sector ran rampant with crime lords fighting for control, while Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker struggled to survive and maybe reclaim their lineage's former security. The trinemates subsisted on thievery and mercenary work.

For a client, Starscream tried to infiltrate a science lab in one of the higher sectors and steal some data for the right price. Starscream did manage to succeed in that, though along the way he met and befriended a scientist named Skyfire, a generally kind Cybertronian that sparked Starscream's scientific interests. But Megatronus' (later shortened to Megatron) and Orion Pax's calls for a more equal Cybertron and an abolishment of the caste system enflamed the fighting back in the Crystal Sector, and Starscream left Skyfire's side to return home and help his trinemates. The Crystal Sector continued to fight even as Orion Pax was declared Optimus Prime, and essentially ignored the entreaties of him and his High Lord Protector Megatron's. The Crystal Sector still focused on their own fighting even when Optimus Prime had labeled Megatron an enemy of the state and condemned his Decepticons. Optimus Prime approached the Crystal Sector again; their answer was a refusal to ally with Prime's Autobots and claimed they would remain neutral and stay out of the Autobot-Decepticon conflict. Refused for the last time, Optimus Prime declared a siege on the Crystal Sector. Finally with a common foe, the Crystal Sector called for a truce among all their internal competing interests and focus on defending against Prime's forces.

Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker led one of the Energon Seeker squads looking for resources to sustain their beleaguered home while under siege. They and their squad are captured by Prime's Autobot forces and given to Ratchet's labs for experimentation in Dark and synthetic Energon. The experiments at the space station left all but Starscream as the only survivor, and Ratchet tested out the reanimation properties of Dark Energon on the dead. Eventually the reanimated fliers, the so-called Terrorcons (including Starscream's trinemates) overran the labs, and Starscream was left behind and trapped as the facility was abandoned and locked down. Megatron crash landed in the abandoned lab, and teamed up with a very traumatized Starscream to escape. But the Terrorcons escaped in the process. Starscream learned the Crystal Sector had been razed to the ground on Optimus' orders. Without many options left, thirsting for revenge against Ratchet and Optimus Prime, and given that Megatron saved his life and was the first figure in a long time to show him any sort of care at a point in time where his mind was very vulnerable and fractured, Starscream swore allegiance to Megatron and his Decepticons.

Starscream reunited with Skyfire, who had also joined Megatron after what Optimus had done to the Crystal Sector, and believing Starscream had died. Meanwhile, the freed Terrorcons attacked indiscriminately, not distinguishing between Autobot and Decepticon targets. Eventually normal Energon was weaponized in such a way that it could cancel out the Dark Energon reanimating the fliers and leave them truly dead. Eventually they were neutralized, Starscream essentially forced to watch his trinemates and squad die again.

Eventually, Starscream was captured by another Autobot, Cliffjumper. Unaware that Starscream was one of Ratchet's experiments, Cliffjumper only interrogated Starscream for intel as originally intended. Though Cliffjumper mocked him for vocally living up to his name, Starscream wouldn't actually give him anything useful under the torture. Eventually Cliffjumper brought in a captured Skyfire, who had been looking for Starscream. Then Starscream started talking, admitting he knew nothing. Cliffjumper, skeptical, killed Skyfire. Finally the rest of the Decepticons found Starscream, and Cliffjumper fled.

Some time after Skyfire's death, Megatron made Starscream his Second-in-Command. And a longer time after that, the Cybertronian civil war had escalated to the point that their planet was unlivable, and Autobot and Decepticon alike left on a mass exodus, still carrying their war to other alien planets. Currently Starscream stands by Megatron's side on Earth against Optimus Prime. Recently, Starscream avenged Skyfire's death by killing Cliffjumper. Not long after, Airachnid joined their ranks.


Personality:

Deep down, many people harbor contradictions, conflicts within their character. Starscream is particularly contradictory and conflicted.

The aerial Cybertronian takes his job as Megatron's Second-in-Command very seriously. To the point where he's rather tightly wound up about it, something that at times doesn't suit an emotional creature like him. Stresses of the job can add to him at times being generally irritable with everyone and everything, complicating residual bitterness over the entire war. But despite making him rather caustic at times, such emotion still helps make Starscream approachable to the Nemesis crew, when the emotion is more positive rather than negative. When not in a particularly foul mood, he's generally friendly and caring with his crew, though not without an occasionally sarcastic sense of humor. But that emotion can get the best of him when he witnesses his crew or leader in danger and can't retain his composure over it, risking a mission's larger goal to ensure their personal safety, or crossing moral lines to, at best, protect them--at worst, avenge them. And Starscream does have a vengeful streak against those who've hurt or killed those he's cared about, and will sometimes impulsively pursue revenge against his better judgment.

This revenge and ruthlessly protective streak stem from Starscream's previous failures: he could not save his trinemates Skywarp and Thundercracker or his friend Skyfire, nor countless others, and he knows damn well that their murderers are still at large and haven't paid for what they did. In the face of that possibly happening again with someone else he cares about, Starscream is willing to do whatever it takes to remove the threat. The unresolved issue of past hurts only makes him more vicious in situations reminiscent of them.

But that revenge and ruthlessly protective streak still doesn't fit him that well. In the heat of the moment, Starscream is willing to dirty his claws and unleash great violence, but afterward he'll tend to feel a certain dissatisfaction and even disgust with himself. Starscream is rather neurotic deep down. He is able to plan and calculate his actions--such thoughtfulness can manifest itself as brooding and perhaps overly critical assessment of himself and the world around him. Though Starscream is too determined to quit entirely, he feels he's only had a string of failures, and as a result he's deeply insecure, though often times he's able to recognize situations where it's better to hide such weakness and put up a more confident, prideful front. Starscream is fearful, but part of that is the fear of inflicting pain on others. It was a fear amplified during Ratchet's experimentation, where Starscream could hear his trine and the rest of his squad being tortured, and that proved more unbearable for him to helplessly listen to rather than withstand his own torture. Not that Starscream is stoic under torture, even if he remains tight-lipped; it's that witnessing others in pain can be more triggering for Starscream. But again, even that trigger is overriden by other triggers of comrades in danger and seeing chances for revenge.

Without those triggers, Starscream's first instinct despite of (or more because of weariness and bitterness with the war) is to try to nonviolently resolve any situation by words of negotiation or trickery, or to neutralize it as painlessly as possible. Doesn't mean he won't fight brutally, and he has done that before as the war demands. Of course for him to even attempt such negotiation or guile, equalling the times when Starscream has been impulsive are the moments when he's been able to bide his time and weigh his options, something he's better able to do when less emotional or making a concentrated effort to block emotion.

The losses Starscream has suffered haven't convinced him to close himself off from others, but rather seek others to try to fill those losses. Part of this unconscious outlook is due to the fact that Starscream was isolated for a rather long time with only Terrorcons hunting him for company in the abandoned and locked down labs. When Megatron crash landed and didn't attack him, and actually treated him well, the first person in a long time to do such things, Starscream immediately latched onto to him. And in that environment, Starscream and Megatron had to work together to escape, further discouraging Starscream from thinking he had to isolate himself, but rather encouraging him to seek others out...eventually. Even after escaping, Starscream's instability was at its zenith and he only trusted Megatron; gradually he regained some stability and opened up more to other Decepticons that reached out to him: medical officer Knock Out in charge of him and his assistant Breakdown, Megatron's closest comrade Soundwave. And so Starscream grew attached to them, as he had done so with Megatron, and they are attachments he'll fiercely defend and be influenced by. But Starscream's loyalty doesn't mean he's subservient to Megatron, he can be very defiant with his leader. He'll speak his mind to Megatron--and that's part of why he was made Second-in-Command. Some of Starscream's defiance with Megatron is not only due to disagreements between the two, but a deep-seated accusation; though mostly loyal to and affectionate with Megatron, Starscream can't entirely shake the idea that Optimus Prime is Megatron's fault.

Normally with complete strangers, Starscream tries to be polite and observant and cautious, but it's not that difficult to make an ally or even friend of him, as he's more interested in being that rather than an enemy, much more interested in avoiding more fighting. Starscream's curiosity is another handy gateway, he enjoys gaining new knowledge. The regard and empathy he has for his Decepticons can be extended to virtual strangers who've not done harm as far as he can see, i.e. he does agree with keeping the humans out of the Cybertronian war as much as possible, not just for logistics reasons, but also since he thinks it deeply unfair to involve them in a fight they had never been involved in at all before. But this can be pushed--Starscream could be willing to harm even innocents if the Decepticons' safety depended on it, though he'd still be trying up until the very last second to find a way that would save both interests. But the Decepticons will remain Starscream's higher priority.


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Abilities: Please detail whatever abilities your character has in their original setting and how they might affect your character (or how they might use them) in Ryan's Gulch.

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Player Info
Name: Fan
OOC Journal: greedyslayer
Over 18? yes
Email/IM/Plurk: privatewing@gmail.com
Current characters: n/a

Character Info
Name: Starscream

Canon: Transformers Prime

Age: Very old by human standards, thousands upon thousands of years.

Canon/AU/CR AU: Player-made AU

Reference:

http://transformersprime.wikia.com/wiki/Starscream

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Starscream_(Prime)

http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Starscream_(Prime)

http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Shattered_Glass

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Shattered_Glass

History:

Please see the first three links above.

Canon Point: Some time after the fighting's gone to Earth, after Starscream's killed his universe's Cliffjumper, and his universe's Airachnid has joined the Nemesis crew.

World Information:

Cybertron. A world populated by living and sentient robots, where organic life is unheard of. By nature, these Cybertronians are not physically static creatures--they are essentially shapeshifters with one or more set alternate forms, and even those can be tweaked. For example, a Cybertronian can transform into a jet mode, while the other robot mode is more conventionally human, typically bipedal and with arms and a face--though again with the Cybertronian aerial example, he'll probably have wings sticking out of his back. Now, the jet mode can be tweaked, such as when operating on Earth--tweaked so that instead of looking like a normal Cybertronian jet and thus being more conspicuous on Earth, it can resemble a human military jet like an F-16. Other vehicle modes can be similarly tweaked, though in general, it seems to come down that a Cybertronian is either a flight mode or a ground mode, and within those are even more subcategories (i.e. flight mode, either a jet or a helicopter; ground mode, either a four-wheeler or a two-wheeler). This transformation ability is due to their T-Cog, a biotechnological organ they carry. Without that T-Cog, they cannot transform. Cybertronians have an equivalent to a human heart, and something like a concrete soul--the spark in their torso. As long as it functions, they live; should it flicker out, they die.

Yes, despite the fact that a Cybertronian lifespan far outstrips a human life (they can live hundreds of years easily), Cybertronians aren't invincible. They can die, and they need sustenance. Energon, a native mineral substance that must be refined into a liquid state to be useable and edible, is their lifeblood, fueling both their bodies and technology. Energon can be particularly dangerous to humans, but its raw states can be volatile to Cybertronians too. There are different varieties of Energon, though only one truly safe one. Bright neon blue Energon is typically the usable Energon, and is why Cybertronian blood appears blue. Dark Energon, on the other hand, is violet, and can trace origins back to Unicron. Dark Energon is not good for use as it had the unfortunate side effects of either debilitating weakness to Cybertronians or increased aggression, instability and vulnerability to Unicron's control. Dark Energon can also reanimated the dead, and does very weird things to even inanimate metal, able to turn truly lifeless machines into chaotic and dangerous creatures. There is one instance of Dark Energon having healing properties, where it is the only thing to revive Megatron from his coma, and to probably protect him from dying in a previous explosion. Dark Energon not only makes the blood of those it infects violet, but also turns their eyes violet. Then there is Synthetic Energon, which is pretty self-explanatory: an attempt to create Energon, instead of mining for naturally made Energon. In a fight over resources, making one's own Energon would be groundbreaking. But Synthetic Energon or SynthEn similarly causes aggression and instability in those who use it, and also turns their eyes and blood green. So, SynthEn isn't that different from Dark Energon.

Unicron's been mentioned. Who is Unicron? At first thought to be one of the myths of Cybertron, Unicron is actually real. With Unicron being real, this "myth" may be true as well: eons ago, there were two great beings, Primus and Unicron, that were gripped in a great conflict. Primus won when he spawned smaller robotic beings--the 13 Primes that tipped the scale in his favor in the battle against Unicron. Unicron is banished, and essentially put into a seemingly endless slumber. But a prophecy was made (though who made it is anyone's guess) that Unicron would return when certain planets aligned at a certain time. Later it is confirmed that Unicron went on to become the core of Earth, and should he fully awaken, the Earth would be destroyed. Similarly, Primus went on to become the core of Cybertron, while from the 13 Primes descended the rest of the Cybertronian race. 'Prime' goes on to become the term for the ruling leader of Cybertron, armed with such artifacts of power as the Matrix of Leadership (the collective wisdom of the Primes) and the Key to Vector Sigma (a supercomputer on Cybertron that could recharge the Matrix). Primus and Unicron went on to become something of deities in Cybertronian culture, i.e. phrases such as 'Primus!' being the Cybertronian equivalent to 'God!', Unicron as the Chaos Bringer.

In daily life outside of the realm of battles between veritable gods, Cybertron organized itself into a caste system, strictly controlling Cybertronian lives by function and class. Essentially Cybertronian society was divided into the 'haves' and 'have nots' with no possibility of upward mobility into a better class. It was a system filled with corruption on top of this, and with a ruling body called the Council with the most power and none of the inclination to help their fellow Cybertronians. It was a system that allowed gladitorial blood sport among the lower classes, exemplifying the ruthlessness the society harbored toward those at the bottom and their willingness to use them for their own benefit, even their entertainment. Miner D-16, who became more commonly known as Megatronus when engaging in illicit gladiatorial matches, was one of the lower classes who proved most successful at demanding for change in Cybertron's caste system. He drew the attention of and inspired an archivist of Iacon, Orion Pax. The two became allies and even struck a friendship, working together to change Cybertron for the better. Some time during this, Megatronus sees fit to shorten his name to Megatron. Eventually their efforts bring them before the Council. Megatron gives a fiery and even violent speech before the Council, demanding immediate change and that the power and rank of a Prime be conferred to him to initiate that change. Orion Pax intercedes, exercising more tact and calling for a more peaceful resolution between the corrupt caste system and the actual Cybertronians who suffer under it. The Council, apparently moved by Orion, wish to make him Prime.

This caused a rift between Megatron and Orion, later Optimus Prime. Their rift eventually exploded into a civil war between Megatron's Decepticons and Optimus Prime's Autobots that not only toppled the Council in the process and the caste system, but effectively 'killed' the planet, so ravaged was it by the fighting that it could no longer naturally produce Energon. From there, the surviving Decepticons and Autobots did a mass exodus from Cybertron, yet still continued the war. A number of the Energon resources left were hidden on alien planets, such as Earth, which now hosts the battle between the main leaders of the war, Megatron and Optimus Prime. On Earth, the Cybertronian war isn't entirely a secret: the U.S. government and a native rogue organization called M.E.C.H. are in the know. While the U.S. government is aligned with the Autobots and oppose the Decepticons, M.E.C.H. ultimately plagues all Cybertronians, regardless of function.

Personality:

Deep down, many people harbor contradictions, conflicts within their character. Starscream is particularly contradictory and conflicted.

The aerial Cybertronian takes his job as Megatron's Second-in-Command very seriously. To the point where he's rather tightly wound up about it, something that at times doesn't suit an emotional creature like him. Stresses of the job can add to him at times being generally irritable with everyone and everything, complicating residual bitterness over the entire war. But despite making him rather caustic at times, such emotion still helps make Starscream approachable to the Nemesis crew, when the emotion is more positive rather than negative. When not in a particularly foul mood, he's generally friendly and caring with his crew, though not without an occasionally sarcastic sense of humor. But that emotion can get the best of him when he witnesses his crew or leader in danger and can't retain his composure over it, risking a mission's larger goal to ensure their personal safety, or crossing moral lines to, at best, protect them--at worst, avenge them. And Starscream does have a vengeful streak against those who've hurt or killed those he's cared about, and will sometimes impulsively pursue revenge against his better judgment.

This revenge and ruthlessly protective streak stem from Starscream's previous failures: he could not save his trinemates Skywarp and Thundercracker, his squad, his home or his friend Skyfire, nor countless others, and he knows damn well that their murderers are still at large and haven't paid for what they did. In the face of that possibly happening again with someone else he cares about, Starscream is willing to do whatever it takes to remove the threat. The unresolved issue of past hurts only makes him more vicious in situations reminiscent of them.

But that revenge and ruthlessly protective streak still doesn't fit him that well. In the heat of the moment, Starscream is willing to dirty his claws and unleash great violence, but afterward he'll tend to feel a certain dissatisfaction and even disgust with himself. Starscream is rather neurotic deep down. He is able to plan and calculate his actions--such thoughtfulness can manifest itself as brooding and perhaps overly critical assessment of himself and the world around him. Though Starscream is too determined to quit entirely, he feels he's only had a string of failures, and as a result he's deeply insecure, though often times he's able to recognize situations where it's better to hide such weakness and put up a more confident, prideful front. Starscream is fearful, but part of that is the fear of inflicting pain on others. It was a fear amplified during Ratchet's experimentation, where Starscream could hear his trine and the rest of his squad being tortured, and that proved more unbearable for him to helplessly listen to rather than withstand his own torture. Not that Starscream is stoic under torture, even if he remains tight-lipped; it's that witnessing others in pain can be more triggering for Starscream. But again, even that trigger is overridden by other triggers of comrades in danger and seeing chances for revenge.

Without those triggers, Starscream's first instinct despite of (or more because of weariness and bitterness with the war) is to try to nonviolently resolve any situation by words of negotiation or trickery, or to neutralize it as painlessly as possible. Doesn't mean he won't fight brutally, and he has done that before as the war demands. Of course for him to even attempt such negotiation or guile, equaling the times when Starscream has been impulsive are the moments when he's been able to bide his time and weigh his options, something he's better able to do when less emotional or making a concentrated effort to block emotion.

The losses Starscream has suffered haven't convinced him to close himself off from others, but rather seek others to try to fill those losses. Part of this unconscious outlook is due to the fact that Starscream was isolated for a rather long time with only Terrorcons hunting him for company in the abandoned and locked down labs. When Megatron crash landed and didn't attack him, and actually treated him well, the first person in a long time to do such things, Starscream immediately latched onto to him. And in that environment, Starscream and Megatron had to work together to escape, further discouraging Starscream from thinking he had to isolate himself, but rather encouraging him to seek others out...eventually. Even after escaping, Starscream's instability was at its zenith and he only trusted Megatron; gradually he regained some stability and opened up more to other Decepticons that reached out to him: medical officer Knock Out in charge of him and his assistant Breakdown, Megatron's closest comrade Soundwave. And so Starscream grew attached to them, as he had done so with Megatron, and they are attachments he'll fiercely defend and be influenced by. But Starscream's loyalty doesn't mean he's subservient to Megatron, he can be very defiant with his leader. He'll speak his mind to Megatron--and that's part of why he was made Second-in-Command. Some of Starscream's defiance with Megatron is not only due to disagreements between the two, but a deep-seated accusation; though mostly loyal to and affectionate with Megatron, Starscream can't entirely shake the idea that Optimus Prime is Megatron's fault.

Normally with complete strangers, Starscream tries to be polite and observant and cautious, but it's not that difficult to make an ally or even friend of him, as he's more interested in being that rather than an enemy, much more interested in avoiding more fighting. Starscream's curiosity is another handy gateway, he enjoys gaining new knowledge. The regard and empathy he has for his Decepticons can be extended to virtual strangers who've not done harm as far as he can see, i.e. he does agree with keeping the humans out of the Cybertronian war as much as possible, not just for logistics reasons, but also since he thinks it deeply unfair to involve them in a fight they had never been involved in at all before. But this can be pushed--Starscream could be willing to harm even innocents if the Decepticons' safety depended on it, though he'd still be trying up until the very last second to find a way that would save both interests. But the Decepticons will remain Starscream's higher priority.

Abilities, Weaknesses, and Power Limitations:

Vehicle mode is that of a jet that he takes full advantage of, exercising great skill in flight and aerial combat in terms of sheer speed and maneuverability.

In bipedal robot mode, his claws can sharpen to dagger-like quality; arms can transform into additional blasters; has pre-set rocket launchers on his arms that require no additional transformation after the shift from jet mode to bipedal mode. Accuracy in bipedal form is fair; accuracy in jet mode better.

Fair martial combat abilities, but not as good as his aerial combat prowess. Better at speed than brute force. Despite appearances, can actually take a hit, but there's a limit to that. Wings are particularly sensitive.

Skills in scientific investigation and process. Can maintain and figure out new machinery and technology, even invent and construct it.

Though can endure temperature of space, arctic climates combine with moisture can be problematic.

Inventory: only a few Energon rations

Appearance:

This....




...With the only indicator of alternate dimensions at work in his different colored optics:



(Image credit to velinthesky.tumblr.com)

And this is his jet mode:




Height reduced to 8 feet.

Alternate Universe Info
If AU, how is your version different from canon, and how will that come across?

Going back to Megatron and Orion facing the Council.

Now at this point, some would say a divergence happens, but it all depends on what dimension you're from.

While in another dimension, Orion is shocked, and Megatron is consumed by envy, and perceives betrayal from Orion, and it's from there that they are estranged, and their estrangement is essentially a major factor in Cybertron descending into all-out civil war.

But in this dimension, even Megatron is moved in a certain way. His thoughts of revenge against the Council and the corrupt system they perpetuated, his thought to make sure that system was abolished and Cybertron bettered by any means necessary, were shaken as he was reminded that an all-out fight may risk what had truly motivated him from the start--to help Cybertron. Too much fighting would end up endangering Cybertron in the end. And Megatron trusts Orion, and believes his friend has a point, and has proved to be more worthy of a Prime, and thus supports and encourages him.

But this Orion...is a very convincing actor. It probably helps that he had believed in a more peaceful resolution. But that was before. At this point, Orion's witnessed enough of what the caste system does to make him drop all thoughts of mercy against those who perpetuate it...even worse, it's started to twist him in other ways, to even doubt just a little the value of right and wrong.... In any case, Orion intends to play the innocent, believing that luring the Council into a false sense of security and then assassinating them will be more efficient. Orion thinks it an unfortunate necessity to keep his friend Megatron in the dark about this, and even planning for Megatron's lack of tact to make him look more appealing to the Council. But Orion does feel particularly concerned how Megatron seems to be more willing to listen to the peaceful solution after all...but Orion figures it is a minor detail and that he has better things to focus on, such as best plotting murder. Still, the offer of Prime is a surprise, but it's something Orion quickly adapts to--he can use this for his plan.

At least both Megatron and Orion see the Council's offer as still probably given with the intention of making Orion a figurehead, but both intend to work together to ensure Orion is actually in charge. (Though Megatron is actually thinking more as a chance for negotiation and a resolution that will diminish bloodshed, while Orion more along the lines of Kill them All and hide the bodies and evidence.)

So this Megatron never protests Orion being seen as the better Prime, and Orion was never genuine in wanting a peaceful resolution to the caste system problem. Orion Pax becomes Optimus Prime, and names Megatron as his High Lord Protector--essentially his Second-in-Command. And for a time, things seem to be going well. Then the Council starts dying one by one. Optimus has started his assassinations, and quietly and anonymously so, even having Megatron investigate their deaths. Optimus miscalculates in thinking Megatron will find nothing, and underestimating how skilled Megatron's friend, Soundwave, has grown. Megatron confronts Optimus, they talk...and at first Optimus can persuade Megatron to do nothing and let this happen. Optimus argues that at this point, it would cause too much scandal if Cybertron knew what their Prime was doing, and to take out the Council that still more often than not made their work more difficult than it had to be was much more expedient, and did Megatron still not loath them for what they had done?... Megatron is disturbed, but reluctantly goes along with Optimus.

But the power is steadily going to Optimus' head and unhinging him further, and rather than taking Megatron's compliance as loyalty and friendship from Megatron, and Megatron still trying to put a peaceful and protected Cyberton first, Optimus sees it more as him having power over even Megatron. Megatron will let him get away with it. So Optimus decides for a more bold assassination that will take out the rest of the Council at once, an explosion at some public gathering--what of any personnel there that may get caught up and die? The greater good is more important. Optimus' power and efficiency is more important.

Megatron catches wind of this plot and quickly stops it. Then things start going downhill fast. Something snaps in Optimus, perceiving Megatron's emergency response to thwarting his scheme as betrayal. Things quickly escalate into violence--Megatron hesitates to strike a killing blow against his friend, fighting against gladiator instinct and believing Optimus could still be reasoned with. Optimus takes advantage, severely injuring a caught off guard Megatron and ending the fight. Optimus orders Megatron to be quietly locked away, and tries to come up with a plan to cover up what just happened with his High Lord Protector and still eliminate the rest of the Council without anyone realizing he's the culprit.

Megatron escapes, Optimus kills the Council, Megatron brings Optimus' less-than-clean schemes to light, and Optimus essentially freaks out even more, declaring Megatron a traitor of the highest deception to Cybertron, and Public Enemy #1, and clamping down hard on Cybertron and tightening his control over the planet. So, the civil war between Optimus' Autobots and Megatron's Decepticons still break out, though it's more about the ruling Prime's forces versus the rebels.

The war escalates, eventually claiming the life of literally an entire planet. Cybertron becomes a dead world, unable to function or produce Energon to sustain Cybertronian life. The Autobots and Decepticons leave Cybertron on a mass exodus, but the war is not entirely abandoned, the conflict shifting to other planets.

Eventually the main leaders and even the originators of the war, Optimus and Megatron, wind up on Earth, one of the many alien planets they've been stockpiling Energon on, and continue their eons-long stalemate.

As for Starscream, he and his trinemates Skywarp and Thundercracker were born lower caste, but their ancestry and the rank of their birthplace, the Crystal Sector of the city-state Vos, used to be higher. Vos and its Crystal Sector was once better off, and with a ruling lineage that Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker are descended from, but after getting on the wrong side of the Council, Crystal Sector, Vos and its ruling lineage fell. This happened far before Starscream and his trine's time, and thus they were born as essentially disgraced and impoverished royalty. Vos and its Crystal Sector ran rampant with crime lords fighting for control, while Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker struggled to survive and maybe reclaim their lineage's former security. The trinemates subsisted on thievery and mercenary work.

For a client, Starscream tried to infiltrate a science lab in one of the higher sectors and steal some data for the right price. Starscream did manage to succeed in that, though along the way he met and befriended a scientist named Skyfire, a generally kind Cybertronian that sparked Starscream's scientific interests. But Megatronus' (later shortened to Megatron) and Orion Pax's calls for a more equal Cybertron and deconstruction of the caste system intensified the fighting back in the Crystal Sector, and Starscream left Skyfire's side to return home and help his trinemates. The Crystal Sector continued to fight even as Orion Pax was declared Optimus Prime, and essentially ignored the entreaties of him and his High Lord Protector Megatron's. The Crystal Sector still focused on their own fighting even when Optimus Prime had labeled Megatron an enemy of the state and condemned his Decepticons. Optimus Prime approached the Crystal Sector again; their answer was a refusal to ally with Prime's Autobots and claimed they would remain neutral and stay out of the Autobot-Decepticon conflict. Refused for the last time, Optimus Prime declared a siege on the Crystal Sector. Finally with a common foe, the Crystal Sector called for a truce among all their internal competing interests and focus on defending against Prime's forces.

Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker led one of the Energon Seeker squads looking for resources to sustain their beleaguered home while under siege. They and their squad were captured by Prime's Autobot forces and given to Ratchet's labs for experimentation in Dark and Synthetic Energon. The experiments at the space station left Starscream as the only survivor, and Ratchet tested out the reanimation properties of Dark Energon on the dead. Eventually the reanimated fliers, the so-called Terrorcons (including Starscream's trinemates) overran the labs, and Starscream was left behind and trapped as the facility was abandoned and locked down. Megatron crash landed in the abandoned lab, and teamed up with a very traumatized Starscream to escape. But the Terrorcons escaped in the process. Starscream learned the Crystal Sector had been razed to the ground on Optimus' orders. Without many options left, thirsting for revenge against Ratchet and Optimus Prime, and given that Megatron saved his life and was the first figure in a long time to show him any sort of care at a point in time where his mind was very vulnerable and fractured, Starscream swore allegiance to Megatron and his Decepticons.

Starscream reunited with Skyfire, who had also joined Megatron after what Optimus had done to the Crystal Sector, and believing Starscream had died. Meanwhile, the freed Terrorcons attacked indiscriminately, not distinguishing between Autobot and Decepticon targets. Eventually normal Energon was weaponized in such a way that it could cancel out the Dark Energon reanimating the fliers and leave them truly dead. Eventually they were neutralized, Starscream essentially forced to watch his trinemates and squad die again.

Eventually, Starscream was captured by another Autobot, Cliffjumper. Unaware that Starscream was one of Ratchet's experiments, Cliffjumper only interrogated Starscream for intel as originally intended, never transferring him to the Autobot scientist. Though Cliffjumper mocked him for vocally living up to his name, Starscream wouldn't actually give him anything useful under the torture. Eventually Cliffjumper brought in a captured Skyfire, who had been looking for Starscream. Then Starscream started talking, admitting he knew nothing. Cliffjumper, skeptical, killed Skyfire. Finally the rest of the Decepticons found Starscream, and Cliffjumper fled.

Some time after Skyfire's death, Megatron made Starscream his Second-in-Command. And a longer time after that, the Cybertronian civil war had escalated to the point that their planet was unlivable, and Autobot and Decepticon alike left on a mass exodus, still carrying their war to other alien planets. Currently Starscream stands by Megatron's side on Earth against Optimus Prime. Recently, Starscream avenged Skyfire's death by killing Cliffjumper. Not long after, Airachnid joined their ranks.

This AU is different from canon due to the moralities of the Autobots and the Decepticons being flipped, which in a way center on Megatron and Optimus' flipped moralities. This is an AU where Megatron didn't lose it, but Optimus did. Optimus' cruelty inspires the same in the Autobots, which damage Starscream. Any ambition he had or could've had was crippled by the varied amount of loss and torture he faced during his time as a test subject. The damage leaves him vulnerable, and prone to latching onto Megatron's kinder approach to him, something he absorbs and inspires him to be moral rather than entirely corrupt. The main effect on Starscream's characterization is that he has more of a moral center and more of a capability to care about others, while the rest of his personality persists in some form or another (loyal, but can be ruthless when upholding that loyalty; crafty to avoid unnecessary violence; still so very insecure and willing to hide it depending on the situation).

Samples
Log Sample:

Starscream decided Omega and its denizens that grew ever so twitchy in his presence could frag themselves as he transformed and blasted around the place in his jet mode. He was tired of trying to be careful around their, to put it mildly, delicate sensibilities about a 'machine' like him. Still, he didn't entirely go at the speeds or do the reckless loops and twists he dearly wanted to do. Cutting entirely loose in flight always cooled his temper, it was not unlike Knock Out and his street racing--

Growling at remembering his crew's medic, Starscream transformed back to bipedal mode, landing on a rooftop--it was either that or he would lose too much control and push Omega's denizens too far and possibly cause undue panic, not to mention make himself even more of a target. He began to pace, claws folded behind his back and wings twitching irritably as he ran through every swear word he knew in his native tongue. He'd glance once or twice at Omega's buildings, then finally stopped to again observe the place he was trapped on. (At least it wasn't Ratchet's labs.)

Worst of all, it reminded him of home--his ancestral one, his first one, the Crystal Sector. Rather underground and chaotic, squabbling--but not entirely. Less so. There was Aria. Starscream would wait and observe first, but he couldn't shake his first impression that at least there seemed to be someone competent in power. But could the same be said of Optimus Prime if he ever--Starscream stopped that train of thought and reminded himself he would wait and see.

Just wait and see.

Network Sample:

[Initially apprehensive, then curious over the new device, Starscream has figured out how to use it on its audio-only setting. He's already gotten an unpleasant idea of the majority's wariness of creatures resembling him.]

This is Commander Starscream, looking for any fellow Decepticons stranded here. Please respond immediately. [His voice lowers to an even more guttural growl. It being audio only, no one can see him scan a grim optic over his bare quarters.] If you are injured, send me your coordinates. [Should that come up, Starscream would just have to make do.]

Player Information

*Name/Alias: greedyslayer/fannishcodex

*Your Journal: greedyslayer

*Age: over 16

*Contact Information: privatewing@gmail.com

*Characters already in the game: Korra/not_halfbaked



Character Information

*Character Name: Starscream)

*Character Canon: Transformers Prime -- Original AU (specifically Mirrorverse version of TFP!Starscream)

*Age: Cybertronian equivalent to middle-aged human. But still considered fairly young by Cybertronian standards, though old enough to have real rank and assume command. [but Cybertronian ages can really confuse me at times ^^;]

*Race: Cybertronian

*Timeline/Pull Point: from Mirroverse AU of mid-season one, some time after Airachnid arrives on Earth and essentially joins the Nemesis crew, but before Unicron begins to stir

*History: (also includes some history on this Starscream's mirrorverse dimension) Cybertronian 'birth' or the equivalent to it was even monitored by the Council and the caste system. There is something of a quota system, with Cybertronians required to contribute one or a certain number of new, productive Cybertronians to the planet's population. Either a procreation partner is assigned, or something of a free choice is permitted. When summoned, physically mature Cybertronians must go to one of the stations tapping into the planet's Allspark, the catalyst for new Cybertronian life and what creates each individual Cybertronian's spark. The equivalent to Cybertronian DNA is extracted, and this is where less control is maintained. Once the Allspark acts as a catalyst, it starts a certain randomization when pulling material from the planet to construct the new Cybertronian, who may or may not inherit frame type and caste type from its Cybertronian procreators. Another type of randomization in this 'birthing' process are twin sparks or trine sparks or more, suddenly getting more than one new Cybertronian from an individual set of procreation partners. Even with their current technology and despite all attempts, the generation of twin or trine or more simultaneous sparks could not be predicted. What more control can be exercised over this process is simply building the incubation tube to contain said process. Once the process is done and the new Cybertronian effectively 'born,' either their biological procreators are allowed to be its guardian, or the 'infant' Cybertronian is assigned to another mature Cybertronian; the caste of this new Cybertronian is a factor in deciding who its guardian will be.

This Starscream was pretty much born to the lower castes, but even that's rather complicated. Birthplace and long-time home was the Crystal Sector, which is where the complication starts. Crystal Sector was once better off, and with a ruling lineage, but after getting on the wrong side of the Council, Crystal Sector and its ruling lineage fell. It was then mostly low class, deprived, crawling with crime, everyone essentially out for themselves and throwing their lots in with competing crimelords when trying to get ahead. The ruling lineage still existed, but in name and record only. Crystal Sector's current ruling lineage's descendants were born just as poor as the rest and fighting on relatively equal ground with the rest for control. Starscream was born to this formerly in-control ruling lineage, the youngest of his trine--his trinemates being Thundercracker and Skywarp. While their guardian and biological procreator moved to get back on top as her ancestors had been, she placed Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp in the role of stealing whatever the highest bidder wanted. (The trine's other procreator died while they were being constructed in their incubation tube.) Assuming she and her trine progeny were successful, Thundercracker, Skywarp and Starscream would all be next in line and expected to rule cooperatively together.

Despite their low class, poverty, and not really being in charge but rather struggling to regain that control, Starscream and his trine were trained as much as possible to lead, and lead in concert with each other. Starscream went along with such preparations, but it was science that really caught his interest. If he could pick his caste, he would not go with his currently disgraced ruling lineage, but the scientist caste. He taught himself scientific practice, doing his own experiments and tinkering with machines and studying when he can, and from what contraband materials he could gather in his unstable home. Knowing that, Starscream was sent to case some research labs at another high class sector, even acting undercover if need be. Pretty much the only reason it was Starscream sent out to steal from the labs, as he wasn't as stealthy as Thundercracker or Skywarp (Thundercracker and Skywarp had some scientific interest, but as intense as Starscream's). There, Starscream crossed paths with Jetfire, and despite everything they end up bonding. It was in Jetfire's nature to be a bit relaxed like that; he responded to Starscream's genuine passion for science; and he recognized that Starscream was sort of reluctant and not that much of a brutish thief. After making friends with Jetfire, Starscream was pulled away, even though he was empty-handed--fighting had gotten more intense back at Crystal Sector, inflamed by Megatronus and Orion Pax's talk of breaking down the caste system and true equality. Starscream's guardian and trine came out on top, their lineage finally in control after generations going without such mastery.

Crystal Sector was being cleaned up. Orion Pax had been made Optimus Prime, Megatron as his Lord Protector and Second-in-Command, and were similarly cleaning up Cybertron. Starscream began formal training in science with Jetfire. Everything seemed to be looking up. Then horrible rumors started of Prime's connection to Cybertronians that had gone missing, the experiments, his betrayal and execution of his comrade-friend and Lord Protector Megatron...and then the Prime turned harsher. Megatron resurfaced. The Autobot-Decepticon split began. Crystal Sector was one of those declaring themselves Unaligned/Neutral. This was unacceptable to Optimus Prime. He proceeded to make an example of the Crystal Sector, ordering a siege against them. Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp joined Energon Seeker squadrons to find more resources when the siege began to deplete their home's reserves. Their squadron was ambushed and captured, only their squad leader killed. They were taken to the Omicron space station for the Protoform X Project--experiments in spark **indestructibility via infusions of Dark Energon and Synthetic Energon and other techniques, chiefly done by Ratchet and Elita-One.

Initially when Starscream survived the (agonizing) experimental procedure, proved by the fact that he survived lethal damage inflicted on his spark, he was thought to be mostly a success. He didn't have a quick healing factor along with the indestructible spark as was part of the original objective, but the indestructible spark had been more of a priority for the research project. Starscream's trine was naturally selected to undergo the procedure next, thinking they too would respond just as well as their youngest trinemate. But Thundercracker and Skywarp died. Starscream's whole squad died after being experimented on. Ratchet, Elita and the other scientists came to realize that Starscream's spark was naturally mutated, apparently for genetically inclined for indestructibility--difficult to confirm now after doing the procedure on him and infusing his spark with Dark Energon, hard to determine if Starscream's spark was indestructible to begin with, or his mutation combined with the Dark Energon procedure acted as a catalyst for the indestructibility. Ratchet and Elita found uses for the bodies of Starscream's trine and squadron--experimenting in Dark Energon reviving non-sentient, undying creatures of great violence. Experiments of their behavior and combat possibilities were undertaken when pitting them against Starscream and drones under controlled circumstances (also testing Starscream's indestructible spark in combat). When Ratchet and Elita were away to more pressing battles in the growing war, something went wrong at the Omicron Labs. The facility was locked in, the occupants trapped. The reanimated Dark Energon-infused Seekers took over the space station, slaughtering the other scientists, personnel and guards. Then it was only Starscream and the crazed reanimated Seekers left behind at the Omicron Labs.

Eventually Megatron himself crash landed at the station, stranded and seeking to repair his ship and escape. Megatron and Starscream teamed up and escaped, but ended up freeing the reanimated Seekers in the process. Starscream learned the Crystal Sector had been razed to the ground, his guardian and everyone else he knew most likely dead. Fueled only by sheer rage, Starscream made an ill-fated attempt on Optimus Prime's life for ordering the siege on his home in the first place. Prime handily beat him, and only the combined efforts of Soundwave, Breakdown and Knock Out saved Starscream from being thrown back to Ratchet and Elita. After all of this, Starscream was rather unhinged. It didn't help that the Dark Energon infusions gave him visions and the sounds of Unicron, which included images of a planet exploding. It simply made him seem delusional to everyone else, the visions never taken seriously. Given that Megatron was the first in a while to be anything approaching kind to him and helped him escape, Starsscream became fiercely loyal to the Decepticon leader. Megatron had Knock Out figure out a way to drain the extra Dark Energon out of Starscream, which was successful, if a painful process for Starscream to endure. Starscream wanted his spark's indestructibility removed, as immortality did not seem all that appealing to him in the long run. It became a hope; Megatron told Starscream it was possible, and when Starscream could stand it, Decepticon scientists had tried to figure out ways to remove Starscream's indestructibility. But Starscream steadily grew to gave up hope that his spark would ever be mortal, while Megatron persisted to believe it could happen.

The Decepticons worked to weaponize the Dark Energon draining process, to deal with the crazed reanimated Seekers/Terrorcons that had been released from the Omicron labs during Megatron and Starscream's escape. Starscream himself ended up draining his reanimated trine of their Dark Energon, effectively terminating them, 'killing' them a second time. Starscream's stability took another blow after that. The Terrorcons were gradually taken down during the war. Eventually Starscream mostly recovered, despite a set-back to his morale when Cliffjumper killed Jetfire during the war. Eventually Megatron made him Second-in-Command and convinced him to accept the role. And eventually the Exodus from Cybertron happened, and the Nemesis and Prime's crew ended up on Earth where they fought over Energon. And now the Decepticons tried to keep Earth's people from being completely dragged into their war. On Earth, Starscream finally avenged Jetfire by killing Cliffjumper. See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starscream#Beast_Wars for full reference to the inspiration for the mutated and indestructible spark. Also http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Starscream_(Prime) for any other ref.

**Mortal spark: Can be killed, or die of old age. Spark equivalent to a human's heart. The spark can be physically harmed, and is one of if not the most fragile and critical part of Cybertronian anatomy. If the spark suffers enough physical trauma, it will flicker out and die.

Indestructible spark: Can withstand any physical trauma without dying. This does not mean the Cybertronian body it powers is granted a heightened healing factor. And if the mental processor or mind is taken out, if its connection to the indestructible spark is severed, it can still go on, but it can no longer control the body.

*Personality:

Similarities to the other Starscream:

This Starscream is a still a volatile personality.

He can switch from civility (though mostly genuine rather than falsified) to unbridled rage, to frantic panic, to stinging sarcasm, to an almost paralyzing fear, to ruthless action, to cunning manipulation, to rash impulsiveness, to determined fervor, to loud rebellion against authority, to reluctant or persuaded obedience, to snapping out his own orders all within his own nature, rarely sticking to any one emotional range for very long. He is still just rather emotional, finding it difficult to keep his composure all the time, though it's not completely out of his reach.

He's not entirely above manipulation or ruthless action. He can still act rashly and follow impulsive action. A crippling fear can still mess with his decision-making skills and general composure. His biting remarks and sarcasm are still present. He's still prone to violent rages. He still has a volatile temper. He still defies authority and questions it. He still has a connection with science. He still has a inclination toward avoiding serious conflict to an extent, in favor of talking his way out of a crisis. He still harbors, at the very least, that apparent preference for flight, rather than ground modes. He is still very talkative.

Differences from the other Starscream:

His motives and deepest nature provide a stark contrast. Starscream has a moral core and compassionate streak. Such traits were nurtured with the close bond he had with his trine and the relatively close relationship to his procreator; they were family, and supported each other, and Starscream's sensitivity and fond, protective regard to his family was able to expand to others in a general compassion for life. Such traits endured despite the experimentation and trauma he experienced; they were salvaged after Megatron rescued him and provided him with medical care, giving Starscream the first scrap of any sort of kindness he'd received in a long time, and encouraged him to retain his own--if only because it inspired great loyalty to Megatron, who bore his own particular moral code. Besides that, the experimentation and trauma also changed him, amplifying and lessening certain aspects of his character. Such as making him even more sensitive to the pain of others and actually increasing his compassion; though that same trauma also helped make him more ruthless to those he regards as particularly vile enemies, and more ruthless in safeguarding those he cares for/considers under his protection (i.e. he does not wish to lose/fail someone like he did with his trine). And that same trauma did contribute to his sense of fear and apprehension.

Fear more often makes him take action, since the thought of what will happen if he doesn't act frightens him more. But ultimately that fear and desire to talk his way out of conflict is pretty much pacifistic, rather than fear for his own safety--he'd rather talk his way out of a fight, distract, evade, or compromise and negotiate with an enemy, practically anything but actually cause someone physical harm, let alone kill them. It's more a fear of causing pain and death that freaks him out, rather than harm to his own person per se. That inclination was only amplified during the experiments, where it got to the point that hearing the pain and death of others was more distressing to Starscream than pain to his own person, which was something he actually grew more accustomed to. But that pacifism is a deep-seated desire overridden by the trauma of experimentation and the fact that he's been surviving a war, and he can and will cause harm in defense of others and himself when necessary. It's even more overridden with certain individuals he does thirst for revenge against (i.e. his world's Ratchet, Optimus Prime, etc.). And so his volatile temper and bouts of violent rage are more motivated by pure revenge against Autobots who've harmed those he cared for or himself, rather than pure malice in his character or attempts to assert himself and gain power. Though currently he now struggles with the idea of taking revenge after successfully doing it with Cliffjumper, because Starscream feels worse. He didn't expect to feel better, but feeling worse is an unwelcome surprise. Revenge against Cliffjumper had a lot to do with Starscream's loyalty and affection for his friend, Jetfire, whom Cliffjumper had killed before his optics. Starscream can be loyal unlike his other counterpart, and that loyalty can be a fierce and strong thing when given to people--but given the revenge he took in the name of someone he'd both given loyalty to and was unable to protect, even that loyalty can be twisted. Starscream's ruthless streak crops up more when in the middle of protecting those he's loyal to or whom he feels are under his protection, rather than during times when he wants to advance himself. To betray his loyalty and trust is to provoke his utter rage.

Starscream loves science. Nothing like exploration or new knowledge to brighten his day, though a good flight does the same, he loves flying. And he has a love for all sciences, the 'hard' ones and the 'soft' ones. He just generally loves learning new things, he's a very inquisitive creature. Starscream's pretty civil, friendly even, and can be helpful. He does have a sense of humor, even able to mock himself (though that can be self-deprecating). But that humor can mock others as well as himself. Again, quickest way to his good side is feeding his lust for new knowledge. He does have a deep sense of responsibility that can be triggered under the right circumstances, learning a more positive aspect of leadership than his counterpart. That tendency for responsibility has only been further honed while serving as Megatron's Second-In-Command. He knows his manners and employs them the most when trying to negotiate, but Starscream can be pretty volatile. The loyalty and all the revenge and ruthlessness connected to it speaks to him being pretty passionate, and those passions can get out of hand. He can be caustic and sarcastic and downright angry and lose his temper, even with his comrades. This volatile nature speaks to the fact that he is at the very least slightly unstable, or functionally dysfunctional. Starscream's been severely traumatized by the Protoform X experiments and the war that cost him his trinemates, guardian, home sector, Jetfire, a number of other friends and comrades and eventually his entire planet (though he knows much of that embodies his entire people, except for the experimentation). So he can lose his temper in spectacular ways, can act more conspicuously unhinged at times, will go without sleep to avoid nightmares which only messes even more with his head.

Starscream has less pride than his counterpart; he has some pride, in his flying skills at least. But he's rather more cognizant of his flaws, self-deprecating. He's cognizant of his self-loathing, too. Like his counterpart, he has a high level of determination to keep going, but he takes loss hard, perceiving that what was lost was his fault, i.e. the deaths of his trinemates, Jetfire, etc. But he's not about to really advertise his weaknesses to strangers per se (he'd only share them with close companions he could trust with spilling his metaphorical guts out to); he'd still try to cover them up, actually, not unlike how his counterpart tends to do. Besides the self-loathing, ultimate disregard for his own life stems from his indestructible spark--something like that messes with his head. For one, there's some depression over the thought that he'll probably outlive anyone he connects with, an almost eternal survivor's guilt ('probably' and 'almost' hinge on the possibility he can find others who are essentially immortal too, it's pretty certain that he'll won't die of old age and definitely not mortal attack). But also knowing his spark will survive the experience, his nature has grown more reckless (despite his Megatron ruthlessly training him not to rely so much on his indestructible spark). Starscream is very talkative and a motormouth, much of that stemming from his enthusiasm and eccentric, quirky social skills, but also anxiety. The more excited or panicked he is, Starscream tends to ramble on more. His social skills aren't perfect; they can be really good for negotiating at times, and then other times it's just rambling and awkwardness; sometimes he can be really observant, and other times he can be truly dense, the seriously absent-minded scientist. Ultimately he feels uncomfortable with leadership, but can do better than first perceived. Much of that discomfort stems from his trauma and guilt over his trinemates' death inspiring doubt in him and making him perhaps too cognizant of his flaws and weaknesses and general imperfection; even as a leader he could not save them, what could he really accomplish as one? Starscream failed in probably what he ended up wanting most, to protect his trine. If he couldn't do that, Starscream doubts he can lead successfully. Also, Starscream's training in his ruling lineage heritage was very specific--Starscream was trained to lead with his trine, in concert. To lead as three, not one. That training and instilled expectation further increases his doubt over his solo leadership skills. And it does even go to a spark level--trines are sparks generated simultaneously, it is just painful in every way imaginable to lose any trinemate, and the loss of that can still leave the survivor(s) very unbalanced. The responsibility of leadership is not his first choice, but loyalty to Megatron and the Decepticons spurred him to accept the Second-in-Command position (not unlike how loyalty to his procreator made him go along with leadership training rather than try rejecting it). The only type of leadership he feels comfortable with is leading a flight squadron, because he trusts himself better in the air, if only because he still loves flying, and that joy relaxes him better and lessens doubt. It's just if everything were perfect, he'd be a scientist and exploring, not Second-in-Command in a war. And like his counterpart, Starscream just can't stop himself from speaking his mind--it's part of what landed him the job as Megatron's second. But then Starscream can be pretty defiant and reckless and impulsive with his leader or any authority figure, losing control at times. He is a very adaptable creature.

*Powers/Abilities:

Spark mutated to be indestructible, once affected by Dark Energon; now dampened to some extent after interdimensional travel, becoming a sturdier spark than most, but no longer indestructible, instead mortal.

Scientific ingenuity, skill and passion.

Really is a skilled flyer, especially in aerial combat.

Fair martial combat skills, but again not as good as his aerial combat prowess.

Speed makes up for lack of great physical force.

Leadership and negotiation skills. Strategist.

In bipedal form, his claws can sharpen; arms can transform into additional blasters; has pre-set rocket launchers on his arms that require no additional transformation after the shift from jet mode to bipedal mode. Accuracy in bipedal form is fair; accuracy in jet mode better.

*Inventory: nothing but himself

*Starting Polarity: not sure where to align for now (and it's all sorted by mods now, right?)

If AU, how does your character differ from canon?: This Starscream has his share of differences and similarities with his counterpart, and at first glance he can even be mistaken as pretty much the same. But there is a more open spark. He is kinder, more empathic, more responsible and caring. Likes to focus more on science. Generally the main differences include a kinder, more empathetic moral code and less ambition (if only because he's more uncertain and focuses more on his failings; though determination's the same). Though there are a few similarities, Starscream's history differs from canon too. Specifically his kidnapping vastly changes him. Under the weight of everything that happened at the Omicron labs, Starscream did break, his self-worth shattered and any ambition he had or could've had crippled by the varied amount of loss and torture he faced.

Writing Samples

*First Person Sample:

Attention fellow refugees. [sigh] I am well aware this is not the first 'missing persons' broadcast you've probably heard. [crosses his arms] I seek my leader, Lord Megatron. I need to know if he's here, injured or functioning, or...not. [pinches the area between his eyes--which snap open and his clawed hands fall back] I don't mean if he's dead! [His clawed hands flail around a bit.] I mean, it would be good, to know if he's...but only for closure's sake, but it's not like he could really--no, that very last part, I meant just if he's geographically here, not existentially.... [snarls, closes eyes, reopens them] Anyway, I seek my master. Lord Megatron is another Cybertronian, twice my height and width--probably more, not like I've ever exactly measured him--

[Starscream shakes himself, realizing he's rambling, tries to do it less and...doesn't exactly succeed....]

--anyway, he's very well built, and also a flyer model. His optics are a bold red, his helm like an Earthling gladiator's and much of his plating is sharp-edged. A cannon is mounted on his right arm, and his feet are cloven like an Earthling goat's...does everyone know what that is...or what an Earthling gladiator would look like...? [grumbles to himself, rolls his eyes] His feet end in two divided prongs. His helm closely frames his face. I believe his brow ridge is bigger than mine. [points to his brows] His voice is deep and gruff, if that helps. [inclines his head] Thank you for listening.

*Third Person Sample:

Starscream groaned, slowly opening his eyes. He stared up blankly at a sky that was strangely foreign and familiar at the same time. Then he bolted straight up, spark pounding.

"Megatron?" He called, twisting about, searching. "Soundwave? Knock Out? Breakdown? Airachnid? Anyone?"

The Seeker stood up, but in any direction around he found none of his comrades. He continued to scan his surroundings. The terrain was rocky, but no Jasper.

Anxiety growing, he transformed and flew off, already feeling slightly better with the rush of air and burst of speed. But his anxiety returned as he flew and still found no sign of his fellow Decepticons or real familiarity in the landscape. It was nothing like Earth or any other alien planets he'd been to, except maybe....

Starscream swore in his native tongue as he wildly swerved. Cybertron?! But that was impossible! He wasn't near any spacebridge when he lost consciousness, how could he have even...?

And the terrain still looked different. Where were the traces of civilization?

The Seeker tried his comm link. Didn't function at all. What the Pit was going on?

For a moment Starscream wondered if he was dreaming--but no, he was awake. He ran a self-diagnostic. Other than the disconcerting comm link glitch, he found no indication of foreign chemicals infecting his body, that could possibly cause delusion--something that would not be beyond Ratchet. (But stranding him on someplace like Cybertron did seem like something beyond even the mad Autobot scientist. So Ratchet was only left with the possibility of mind-altering chemicals. Fun.)

Finally, Starscream came across something that broke up the monotony of the terrain--a junkyard of nonsentient parts and probably a graveyard of formerly sentient parts. Starscream flew over the area first, trying to get an idea of its borders, how far it stretched. He circled over the junkyard once, twice, three times, before finally flying in low and transforming. Perhaps if he got a better look at ground level, he could find a better hint of where he was exactly.... And he needed to be at ground level to find any useful supplies.

On edge and ready for an ambush, either to fly away or attack with his blaster, Starscream searched the junkyard.

Final Notes: So it's mostly my Mirrorverse idea of TFP!Starscream, but some Beast Wars was mixed in with the mutated spark thing, and taking some inspiration from the canon SG!Starscream, and just trying to parallel/twist TFP canon.