#skybound jetfire

Megs. I’m talking about Megs. He’s my second favorite villain of all time rn (tied with Star actually), but he is the ultimate p.o.j (piece of junk).

In fact, this issue, def makes me wanna change my pfp, use the Transfixatron on Megs in his gun mode, and bury his aft in the more than 200ft deep mine shaft at the bottom of this crater fr.

Obviously it’s not deep enough but still.

Or you know what scratch that—because I would just be vandalizing a cool site, wouldn’t I? With JUNK!

*Looks down*

Yeah. I said it. Why are you even here rn—? Do you want me to discuss the time you were responsible for Brawl m[REDACTED]ing a puppy?

Thundercracker: What?

DO YOU?!

Idc if he “just” wanted to capture the dog. He “just” wanted to capture the dog to make dog soldiers.

Not even Joker would do that.

And in this continuity and this issue, we find out that he has no problem with and is EAGER to recruit youngling soldiers.

Or in other words, Cybertronians who have not fully developed their brain chips yet who are thus easier to manipulate.

(God this is gonna be a long post—)

Optimus, Grimlock, any Autobot—you better have tried to talk/keep Bee out of fighting like you did with Carly. Or at least, be real with him and have the “Prime told me there’d be days like this!” conversation.

Cliff and Arcee too despite us knowing damn well that they will fight no matter what.

Because, after all, at least in the US, you can join the military at 18 (or 17 with parental consent). Furthermore, it’s a sad fact of life, but many underage people fight in conflicts all over. It happens and is happening and I’m glad this has finally been (at least as far as I can see and remember) explicitly acknowledged in a franchise about war.

I’m gonna try to be more organized about this but here are more things to note:

. We don’t know any Cybertronian’s official age. That’s never been a thing, because you’d have to calculate, and Hasbro ain’t doin’ that math

. That being stated tho, based on the dialogue, Star/Ulchtar in this flashback could be anywhere from 14-19 years old in human years

. It seems like he has some part-time job. Mood

. This is the first time in canon I’ve seen a youngling Starscream join the Decepticons. In G1, he was an adult (former full-time scientist right?). In the WFC games, an adult. In TF One, an adult (and even older than Megs? I mean Steve Buscemi’s voice does not age fr so—)

. Kup looks significantly younger here than he does in Issue #7. That is Kup up there, right? Like middle-aged I guess? ⬆️

(Oh man…how is Hot Rod going to react…RIP)

. Um…that information from Issue #1

Ok ok ok—I really need to focus here—

. When Genvo gets blasted, he falls forward into Ulchtar’s arms. I’m no physicist, but this means he must have been shot from the back, right?

. Optimus to me seems to appear from behind Ulchtar (in the other direction)

. Optimus presumably does not hurt Ulchtar (or even notice him?), which makes sense (if he saw Ulchtar). He’s unarmed

. Optimus doesn’t have the same gun he did in Issue #1 here, and he has no gun at all in the Energon Universe Special sh*t how am I supposed to compare—

Holy scrap I scare myself O_O

. Megs’ fusion cannon cools fast

. Megs knows that Ulchtar has brothers (“brothers” can also refer to comrades. As in “brothers-in-arms”)

. To Genvo, it’s not a matter of “if” Jetfire and Ulchtar join. It’s “when”. He knew more than he was able to let on too

. Megs was able to answer Ulchtar’s question…despite him asking it in a low voice to himself? And from farther away? What?

. Megs, why the hell were you smiling when you made that claim in the EUS? That was my first 🚩, I just forgot to mention it before. Don’t you care about Cybertron? What is your deal? How old are you? HOW OLD IS OPTIMUS? HOW OLD IS JETFIRE NOW??????? THEY DIDN’T AGE THE SAME DUE TO THE CRASH—Oh wait right Void Rivals

. Like no wonder Skybound Star acts so immature and violent, and maybe even resentful of Jetfire for leaving him (which explains his hostility that caught Jetfire off guard)

In G1 he acts bratty, but he’s always been portrayed as an adult, so I didn’t expect this I just thought—FRAG— 😭

. I think we can all agree here that this is still not an excuse to lash out at the innocent, so Carly still deserves to get justice/his aft (idk [insert theme about revenge here]). But also Megs. Frag Megs, like honestly (I didn’t even like TF One Megs by the end) 😒

. And this is exactly how I imagine Megs recruiting his victims followers, especially when he’s interested in particular ones (it freaking happens in my AU but anyway— 😀)

Step 1: Show up at the right moment, when they are at their lowest. Act nice, very nice, and make yourself look less intimidating, by changing into something that’s not only small, but also capable of protection. Hence, a gun (gun-tank hybrid whatever—maybe he’s a triple changer like my AU).

It’s his way of communicating that he trusts you/sees your potential, and that you better could trust him because he will protect you, and guide you, and care for you, etc.—He’s totally not luring you into a false sense of security so he could use you. 🙂🫠

Step 2: Use information you know (to get even more personal) and high emotions to your advantage.

Step 3: ?????????????

Step 4: Profit until you get what’s coming to you.

Dammit why is he so magnetic? Forget the fusion cannon, that’s the scariest thing about him people!

My overall theory:

Genvo tragically said too much. Maybe he was trying to impress and gain Megs’ favor (somebody who he already looks up to), so he mentioned their (or just Ulchtar’s) clan (part of the Cybertronian Defense Force? Oh boy).

They’re numerous, fliers, and most valuably of all, some are outliers (have powers). Skywarp’s teleportation. The Rainmakers’ acid. Sunstorm’s radiation.

(Oh, how destructive that all would be in a fight…)

So, he put a tracker/recorder on Genvo (with or without his knowledge), wanting to find out what the clan’s deal was. Or maybe he or Soundwave just straight up stalked them via their alt modes, I wouldn’t be surprised. Are they interested in a side? Apparently not, and for Megs that’s a problem. Let’s make them interested.

Akin to the Aligned novels, he blows their territory up, intending to blame it on the Autobots. Genvo, perhaps aware of Megs’ plan/true intentions, is merely one loose end to tie.

In the end, Genvo wasn’t special or that useful, but he made for good fridge stuffing.

Idk how Omega Supreme factors into this. Maybe Optimus did blast Genvo. Nevertheless, Megs once again proves that he is the biggest selfish douchebag who cares more about himself than Cybertron’s future (unless proven otherwise?).

YIPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! (*^^*) ＼(^^)／ d=(^o^)=b (　＾▽＾) (　＾ω＾) ( ・∇・) ( ☆∀☆) ( ﾉ^ω^)ﾉ ((o(^∇^)o)) (* ´ ▽ ` *) (* >ω<) (*^。^*) (*^▽^)/★*☆♪ (*^￢^*) (*^ω^) (*‘ω‘ *) (*σ>∀<)σ (*ﾉ▽ﾉ*) (。^。^。) (＾∀＾) (＾◇＾) (^〇^) (^w^) (￣▽￣) (‘∀‘　) (〃ﾉωﾉ) (＞∀＜) (ﾟ∀ﾟ 三 ﾟ∀ﾟ) (゜∇^d)!! (∩´∀｀)∩ (⊃∀⊂) (゜▽゜*) (°▽°) (T∀T) (っ´ω｀)っ (ﾉ^∇^)ﾉ (人*´∀｀) ｡･ﾟ･(ﾉ∀`)･ﾟ･｡ :*(〃∇〃人)*: ＼(^o^)／ ～(´∀｀～) 《*≧∀≦》 ﾟ+.ﾟ(*´∀`)bﾟ+.ﾟ ﾟ+.(*´pωq`)ﾟ+.ﾟ +.ﾟ(´▽`人)ﾟ+.ﾟ ﾟ+.ヽ(≧▽≦)ﾉ.+ﾟ d(*´∀｀*)b d(＾∀＾)b d(＞ω＜｡) ｄ(≧∀≦)ｂ Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ Ψ(￣∇￣)Ψ ヽ(＊＞∇＜)ﾉ ヽ(^○^)ノ ALFJGNAOTJWBFJWKFNAK LITERAL WET CAT ENERGY CORE WKFJWJQKFURHWJF ALWAYS BET ON STARSCREAM CHEATING DEATH DHGJSLFOWOFJRJDJFJDKFJDWKDJS INSIDE ME ARE TWO WOLVES: ONE WANT TO NURSE HIM BACK TO HEALTH AND THE OTHER ONE WANT TO MAKE HIS SITUATION EVEN WORSE. THESE TWO WOLVES ARE MAKING OUT AALFBEOGKAFBTJSJAKTJAKFK

Aight, I'm sensing an amnesia arc coming up. I really hope when Starscream finds out what happened to Jetfire, what both the Autobots and Decepticons did to his buddy (totally ignoring him lying in a ditch is a sin to my eyes too, an even worse sin actually), I hope that Starscream will throw a fit so massive that he lives up to his new name. It'll be on par with my own rage towards the treatment Jetfire has been receiving by the rest of the cast.

"Then", a.k.a before everything went to shit.

Correction: before shit went from "bad but livable" to "hitting the fan"

Ah, no wonder Jetfire was caught offguard so much during their reunion. Ulchtar pretty much went a full 180 to become the Starscream we all know today. From someone who was disciplined enough to finish doing his job before hanging out with his buddies, to someone who ends up sabotaging his own team in pursuit of his childish violent impulses. From someone who literally won't hurt a fly, to someone who'll literally tear his own brother in half without any hesitation. From someone who sees the beauty in other living creatures, to someone who'll shoot up a hospital just to make someone's day worse. Holy fuck, just what the hell happened to Ulchtar?

Wait, "what the spark" is a valid curse term? I was so hesitant in using it in a fic because I was worried about how it'll sound. Glad to know that it's an option too.

Ah, there's the attention-seeker I know and love (^ v ^)

He's not going to live for very long, isn't he?

ayyyy Shockwave cameo (σ>∀<)σ

I'm sorry, but this is so fucking out of pocket, man. Like, I get that it's supposed to be a deep character-defining moment for Starscream as Genvo is having flashbacks to the stunt he pulled on the night Jetfire left Cybertron, but Genvo didn't used such flowery language in previous scenes, so this moment feels forced af (´Д｀)

Also, I fucking called it. Saying "You still have me around" is like waving a gigantic death flag. It's a shame to lose this guy too, as his shoulder thrusters look pretty cool.

Aaaand we have another disability rep in the cast. I'm happy that there are so many characters with mobility disabilities in this comic, but I just wish that those disabilities are treated more seriously, ya know? What I mean by this is that as of right now, what happened to Jetfire and Spike feels more like shock value than anything else. Wheeljack was temporarily bound to threads, but only to make him stay at the dam when the Autobots took back the Arc. Meanwhile, Skywarp is pretty much getting ignored by both the cast and DWJ, because his processors are supposedly limited now, even though it should be the other way around because his processors are literally connected to Teletraan One's processors! (I headcanon that he only talked in short sentences previously because his voicebox actually hurts when used, since the rest of his mouth no longer works, but he's too proud to explain that to the Autobots). I'm not saying that there should be a huge pity party for them. Instead, it would be great if details of their new living conditions are sprinkled throughout the story to make what happened to them feel more real. Like:

When Wheeljack had threads instead of legs, inclines can be seen placed over the tiny steps throughout the Arc, as even though his threads are technically capable of climbing over them, keeping his balance while doing so does not come easily and he nearly toppled over when he sped over them. After his legs were rebuilt, he welded permanent inclines over the steps as revenge. (Spike is immensely grateful for this because those steps are not tiny at all from his perspective)

Spike places a discreet flat cushion on his wheelchair seat to help prevent pressure ulcers, and for general comfort since the wheelchairs typically used by hospitals are uncomfortable when sat on for long periods of time. That cushion is only seen when he's picked up by one of the Transformers and his wheelchair has to be folded, therefore requiring the cushion to be removed.

Carly offers to spraypaint the spokes of Spike's wheels, but Spike declines, instead saying that she may do that after he switches from his current wheelchair to a more lightweight model, if the insurance claim for it is approved.

If Jetfire isn't forgotten by the rest of the cast, the hangar where he stays in eventually get installed with a voice-controlled radio (with Jazz's help), but Jetfire mainly uses it to listen to science podcasts/ (Quick question, I heard that Jetfire showed up in Void RIvals before TF issue 1 is released, so may I ask if in that comic, did Jetfire actually got cursed by some space wizard to suffer the same fate as Canada from Hetalia?) (In Hetalia, the main gag around Canada is that other nations keep forgetting that he exists, since on the world stage, Canada barely has anything notable going on. Because of this similarity, I now headcanon human Jetfire to be Canadian)

Even though Skywarp's body is stuck in a room, he can see outside of it by accessing the ship's security cameras. He also compensates for his painful voicebox by turning the samples from the ship's pre-recorded warnings and errors into a Vocaloid that is altered to resemble his own voice (*＾▽＾*) (I couldn't stop myself from self-indulging for this one lol) (Imagine the text-to-speech used by Stephen Hawking, but instead of a late 20th century pure vocal synth, it's instead a Jinriki CV UTAU voicebank that is resampled into a fanloid with a deep masculine voice. Even though being a Talkloid should make him sound even more janky, he uses Teletraan One's computing power to tune it to sound as natural as Hatsune Miku's speaking segments in concerts, on the fly)

The comic keep nudging me to read the other parts of the Energon Universe, but it's lowkey fun to empathise with the Transformers in basically going "Who the hell are these fuckers?" when encountering the folks from the other franchises.

I immediately dislike this guy when he demands his subodinates' attentions just so everyone can glaze his late father and him indirectly, even though it has nothing to do with the current situation other than his hurt ego. Like, even the sketch of Starscream is more relevant than this guy's dead father. Finding out that he wishes that he's a nepo-baby only made me hate this guy more. This is the last person I want to take care of my babygirl (＃￣З￣)

Aw, Megatron's alt form looks like a tiny tank too (*ノ▽ノ)

Btw, about my promise to write a skit if Jetfire's fate still hasn't been confirmed... it turned into a whole ass fic. I'm actually looking for beta readers, but if I can't find one within a week or something from the date of this post, imma just post it on AO3 as is.