IDW - Robots in Disguise #20

Title: Three Monologues

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

In the aftermath of the battle in Iacon, Starscream visits the corpse of Metalhawk, and apologizes to him for killing him, but says he did it, as it was the only way to save Cybertron in the end, and by martyring Metalhawk he made it possible for the Autobots and Decepticons to be forced out of the city, so they could rebuild, and reveals that he truly liked him as a friend.

Starscream meets with Blurr, who is rebuilding his bar, and wants him to help him reach the "Common Cybertronian" in his bar, which leads Blurr to laughing in his face. Just as he's showing him the way out, the power goes out. Blurr tells Starscream that if he wants the people to like him, then he needs to fix the city, and earn some respect, as the only reason he's in charge is because he was the lesser evil at that moment.

Elsewhere, Circuit interviews Scoop, who vows to, with his team, rebuild Iacon and repair all the injured battlers, like Superion. Starscream goes to speak with Dirge, as he's the last Seeker left in the city, and wants him to help him out as he was one of the heroes in the battle, but Dirge refuses by just punching his former commander. Starscream threatens to kill him, but is reminded that the eyes of Iacon are always on him now, as he's their leader. Just as Starscream is making his excuses for "assaulting a hero" the power in the city is turned back on, with Scoop being responsible, and gets more popular with the people, which just annoys Starscream.

Soon, Rattrap appears to him, and reveals that the power system Wheeljack made couldn't have failed so easily, and shows a power coupling that's been burned with Phosphex, suggesting it was sabotaged. Rattrap also reveals that Scoop's always been jealous of other engineers etc who got flashier jobs and always wants attention.

Starscream goes and meets with the disabled Megatron, and mocks him, that he's finally in charge, and Megatron's loyal followers have been cast into the wilds of Cybertron. Later again, Starscream goes to the communications array, that was damaged in the battle, and sees SCoop about to climb it to repair the thing. Scoop sees Starscream, and bows to him, and reveals to him that he and his team are religious, and believe that Starscream is some sort of messiah after what the Metrotitan said to him.

After this, he meets with Rattrap, who starts pestering Starscream about his "theory" that Scoop is causing incidents just so he can fix them, before long Scoop has finished fixing the array and climbs down to a cheering crowd. Rattrap however trips him up, and forces his tool box to fall open, and a used can of Phospex to be revealed to the crowd.

Starscream reveals that an investigation into the blackout revealed Phosphex damage, and accuses Scoop of sabotage, and has him taken away and arrested until a trial can be set up. Scoop is dragged away screaming his innocence. Starscream then promises into the cameras that he'll fix everything.

Later, Rattrap returns to his home in the sewers and finds Starscream waiting for him. Screamer reveals that he knows Rattrap framed Scoop for this whole thing, as Scoop was truly just trying to help, and he can tell a liar when he sees one, as he's one himself. Rattrap asks what he wants, and Starscream offers him a "government job"

Later again, Starscream is looking out to the early-rising sun and talks about how he's going to need a lot of good help in the rebuilding of Cybertron, and reveals (to the reader) that he's placed Wheeljack into a CR tube, and he's in fact still alive and being repaired!

Characters

Cybertronians

Starscream - Jet

Scoop

Rattrap - Z'Verein Mole-Rat

Circuit

Longtooth

Dirge - Jet

Flatline - Van

Cloudraker

Fastlane

Blurr - Race Car

Sky Byte - Flying Shark

Tappet - Car

Swindle - Van

Landfill

Boomer

Ricochet

Quickmix

Takedown

Groundpounder

Metalhawl - Jet Corpse

The Injured Being Repaired

Metrotitan (Mentioned) Dead

Cybertronian Civilians

Autobot

Wheeljack - Car In CR Chamber

Superion - Aerilabot Gestalt Being Repaired

Aerialbots (Mentioned) Being Repaired

Optimus Prime (Mentioned)

Metroplex (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Car (Mentioned)

Prowl - Car (Mentioned)

Autobot Forces Exiled

Decepticon

Megatron Paralyzed by Fore Field Bubble

Seekers (Mentioned) Disbanded

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt (Mentioned)

Decepticon Forces Exiled

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story is taking place at the same time as the story that follow's Arcee (as shown by the early sunrise), and is still set the night/morning after the battle of Iacon
• Metalhawk's body is being kept in a light-cage with a photo of him and Starscream on display.
• Blurr's the only character shown to still have his Autobot insignia here, but this is probably because it'd be too difficult for him to safely remove it (and considering it's been just hours since the battle, he might not have had a chance yet)
• Flatline seems to use the new Generations Skids toy as a basis, apparently just as an artistic nod to the toy, but you know, I can hope!
• Flatline mentions that Starscream has a new body being made (likely because of him having to tear off his canopy to get rid of his insignia). It's probably just a coincidence, but there's a new Generations toy based on Armada Starscream coming soon....
• Circuit seems to know that Starscream's full of crap, as he points out when he starts making a speech that the microphone's not on, making him stop
• Rattrap's body is based on his original Beast Wars body (even with a beast mode).
• Megatron is still in his forcefield bubble prison
• The communications array being damaged could be an explanation for the Lost Light's messages not reaching Cybertron from MTMTE
• Scoop and his team apparently only joined the Autobots because Optimus raised Metroplex, and left when the Titan told Starscream he was the chosen one.
• VERY confusingly one of the guards to take away Scoop at the end looks like a blue version of Circuit, who is also in the scene too!!
• Wheeljack's alive!! (Well in a CR tank, being repaired anyway)