Transformers: Prime: Smokescreen's Destiny

Chapter 16: Prejudice

Smokescreen had just finished recharging and he went to check on his surrogate father when he came face-to-face with Soundwave, the Decepticons' communications officer. 

"Soundwave! Do you know where Megatron is?" Smokescreen asked. Soundwave had nothing to say, except he nodded 'no' to the young ex-Autobot. Smokescreen wished that he would communicate with Soundwave easily despite him being mute for some reason, though he could communicate with Bumblebee even though his voice box was crushed by Megatron. 

It was then that Smokescreen decided to keep moving as he figured that Megatron needed some time alone in his quarters. Meanwhile, Megatron was having a breakdown after The Fallen spoke to him telepathically from the other dimension and the warlord knew that his master still wanted him to complete his quest to destroy Optimus Prime, claim the Matrix of Leadership, rebuild Cybertron, and then find a way to bring The Fallen back from his imprisonment to rule the galaxy with him. But what could he do? Megatron knew that he had grown fond of Smokescreen, especially after he adopted him when he decided to accept his offer to join the Decepticons, but he didn't want to force him to reveal the location of the Autobots because he knew that Smokescreen would only resent him if he did so.

Meanwhile, Smokescreen was walking across the halls of the Nemesis and he passed by the Vehicons and Eradicons who glared at him with hate, even though he's joined the Decepticons. They talk amongst themselves and start badmouthing about Smokescreen and how they're jealous of him.

"How come he gets to be Megatron's heir instead of someone who is more fit and way better qualified to lead the Decepticons one day? Not to mention he looks nothing like us." a Vehicon said in disgust. "He may be on our side now, but I still don't trust him. I do agree that he is unfit to be our future leader and that young bot doesn't even have the ability to fly. It's absurd!" the other Vehicon said.

"Just because he's Megatron's favorite adopted son, doesn't mean that he should inherit the throne in his stead in the future. Besides, if anyone should succeed our lord and master, it should be someone who is good if not better fit to lead us one day than Starscream or even that spoiled brat. Once an Autobot, always an Autobot!" said the Vehicon. "Be quiet, you two! Lord Megatron will have our heads if he hears us." an Eradicon told the two Vehicons. "It doesn't matter! We never asked for an Autobot to be Megatron's heir to begin with, let alone an Ex-Autobot who has like zero experience of leadership and not to mention, unqualified to be Megatron's future successor." the Vehicon said. "And besides, there are some bots who are far more capable of fitting in and being one of us. While others...weren't born that way." the other Vehicon said harshly.

Smokescreen eavesdrops on the Vehicons and their words of jealousy and prejudice were enough to make him tear up. He rushed over to his room, and he locked the doors to cry onto his berth in tears. Megatron walked down the hallway as he passed by Smokescreen's room, and it sounded like he was crying in his quarters. "Smokescreen? Is everything alright? What's wrong?" Megatron asked.

"N-Nothing's wrong," said Smokescreen. Megatron knew his adopted son was lying, "I know you're crying in there. Can I come in?" he asked. Smokescreen paused for a bit before he replied, "Sh-sure." Megatron opens the door to Smokescreen's room, and he sees the young Ex-Autobot curled up in a sitting position on his berth. Megatron could see that he looked sad about something, and he wanted to know why. He closed the doors behind him and turned on the light before gently sitting next to Smokescreen.

"Care to tell me what you're upset about? Why are you crying?" Megatron asked Smokescreen in a comforting tone of voice. "I'm crying because...they said some harsh things about me." Smokescreen said in a cracked voice as he tried not to cry. "Who? Was it Starscream?" Megatron asked, feeling angry at whoever harmed Smokescreen's feelings. "No, it was one of the Vehicons. They said mean things about me, saying how I'm not fit to lead the Decepticons one day, how I'm still an Autobot even though I'm a Decepticon now, and how I am nothing like them." the young Autobot-turned-Decepticon explained. "Ohhh...Ohh, I see. Do not worry, son. I'll teach them not to harm you with such words like that again." Megatron promised.

Smokescreen lowered his head down in defeat. "They're right about me though. I'm nothing special and I'm nothing like the Decepticons. I don't have red optics or claws or a different color scheme. I can't even fly! I'm just...different." he said in an unhappy tone of voice. Megatron comforted Smokescreen as he told him, "It's okay to be different. So, pay no attention to what they've said about you. To me, you're special and you are special. I know you have great potential." he said. "But...I'm not fit to become the future leader of the Decepticons. I have no experience. I'm just..." Smokescreen was about to finish when Megatron interrupted the young mech and took him to where he could see his own reflection in the mirror.

"Smokescreen. Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. What do you see before you?" Megatron asked his adopted son. Smokescreen looked at his own reflection in the mirror and he began to say harsh things about himself that aren't true. "I see a dumb, naïve sparkling, and a reckless Autobot-turned-Decepticon with no purpose and no future," he said. Megatron disagreed, "That's not what I see. I see a brave and noble young warrior with a pure spark, and I also see a kind and handsome young bot who is destined for great things." Smokescreen looked at Megatron, "Is that all true? Or are you just saying that to make me feel better?" he asked suspiciously.

"I'm serious," Megatron told Smokescreen. Smokescreen was surprised, "Th-thanks. But why are you being so kind to me?" he asked.

"Because I adopted you. You're my son and I don't care what they say about you. I love you just the way you are." Megatron told Smokescreen in a kind tone. "I'll send Soundwave to teach those bots a lesson. But for now, I want you to wipe those tears away, keep your chin up, and just be kind to yourself," he said.

Later, the Vehicons who badmouthed about Smokescreen bump into Soundwave who was sent by Megatron to make those Vehicons pay for hurting his adopted son's feelings, and the noodle-armed Decepticon forced the mean Vehicons to mop the floors in the Nemesis as punishment for saying mean things about Smokescreen. A smiley emoji appears on Soundwave's face as he seems satisfied with giving the mean Vehicons their just desserts for being mean to someone his master cares for.