SoundFire Prime presents TFA: Season Four

Sari is sitting on her bed. Professor Sumdac is out on Sari’s balcony, looking up at the starry night sky. No one is paying attention, so Frenzy quietly slips out of Sari’s bedroom by crawling through the air duct. Sari is rocking Kremzeek back and forth in her arms. Kremzeek is looking up at Sari, trying to keep his eyes open as best he can. Sari is smiling peacefully with her eyes closed. She is humming a soothing lullaby. Kremzeek yawns and fights to stay awake.

Kremzeek: “Sari, please…don’t. Kremzeek…no wanna go…sleepy.”

Sari: “Shhh…”

Kremzeek: “Kremzeek no…sleepy.”

Sari: “Its sleepy time for Sari’s little cutie.”

Kremzeek: “No…sleepy time. Kremzeek…want to play.”

Sari: “Shhh…”

Kremzeek: “Kremzeek…sleepy.”

Sari sings a soothing lullaby.

Sari: “It’s time to go to bed. Rest your sleepy little head. Tomorrow will be a brand new day. Then we can go out and play. Good night and sweet dreams, my little friend. I'll always love you ‘til the very end.”

Kremzeek gives in to Sari’s lullaby and falls fast asleep. He snuggles up to Sari and sucks on his thumb. Sari keeps rocking Kremzeek back and forth a little longer just to make sure he’s really asleep. Sari opens her eyes and gently sets Kremzeek down on her pillow.

Sari: “Good night and sweet dreams, my little angel. I love you.”

Sari gives Kremzeek a kiss on his cheek and gets up off of bed. She quietly walks over to her balcony door and joins Professor Sumdac outside. Sari and Professor Sumdac look up at the stars together.

Professor Sumdac: “Is he sleeping now?”

Sari: “Yeah.”

Professor Sumdac: “That’s good. You know, I heard that lullaby you were singing to him. I thought you might want to know that I used to sing the exact same song to you when you were a baby.”

Sari looks at Professor Sumdac.

Sari: “Really?”

Professor Sumdac looks at Sari and nods his head.

Professor Sumdac: “Every night since I first found you.”

Sari: “Cool. I never knew that.”

Professor Sumdac sighs.

Professor Sumdac: “Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?”

Sari takes a deep breath.

Sari: “Listen, I wanted to tell you this a whole lot sooner, but I just never had the heart to bring it up to you.”

Professor Sumdac: “Okay…”

Sari: “To tell you the truth, I still haven’t really gotten over you hiding the truth from me for so many years.”

Professor Sumdac: “……I know.”

Sari: “You do?”

Professor Sumdac: “Sari, every day I didn’t tell you the truth about who you are, I hated myself. I really did. I would always ask myself why I didn’t tell you and reminded myself that there was a window of opportunity I blatantly avoided. I always knew that one day, it would all just blow up in my face, and it did. I always knew you would be anything but thrilled.”

Sari: “……”

Professor Sumdac: “When you looked down at your elbow and saw part of what you really are, I will never forget the way you looked at me for as long as I live. You looked at me with a mixture of fear and confusion that made me die inside. After that, you weren’t afraid or confused; instead, you looked at me with sheer hatred. I couldn’t blame you one bit for that. I knew I had no right to ask you for forgiveness, but I was just so terrified that you would never want to speak to me again. When you finally forgave me, I was so relieved that I finally had you back, but even then I felt like I didn’t deserve it. Then I thought I lost you again after you lost control of your powers, and Ratchet had to…”

Sari: “Dad?”

Professor Sumdac chokes back tears.

Professor Sumdac: “I felt like I was being punished for all the years I lied to you. My punishment for betraying your trust was that you were going to be taken away from me forever.”

Tears form in Sari’s eyes.

Professor Sumdac: “I’m so sorry I never told you the truth. I’m sorry you had to find out the way you did. I broke your heart. I betrayed your trust. How could you ever forgive me for being so heartless?”

Sari: “Because you’re my daddy.”

Professor Sumdac embraces Sari.

Professor Sumdac: “I’m a horrible father. I’m so sorry.”

Sari: "Dad, you're not a horrible father. I told you before, you're the best dad anyone could ask for. I know you never wanted to lie to me. You were scared. You didn't know what to do. Sure, you could have handled it a little better, but still, you did what you felt had to be done, even if it went against what you believed in. I see that now. I'm just sorry I was so hard on you. You know I would never hate you, right?"

Professor Sumdac: "Yes, I do."

Sari: "I'm not gonna lie though, it still hurts sometimes. It really does."

Professor Sumdac: "I know. I'm sorry you feel that way."

Sari: "What hurts the most is that sometimes...sometimes I feel different."

Professor Sumdac: "What do you mean?"

Sari: "When I first found out I was half Cybertronian, I thought it was the coolest thing ever, but now...now I'm not so sure anymore.”

Professor Sumdac: “Not sure of what?”

Sari: “I’m not sure if I like it that much anymore. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m not normal. I don’t feel normal either. In fact…”

Sari chokes back tears.

Sari: “I feel like…”

Professor Sumdac: “Like what?”

Sari: “I…I feel like I’m…a freak.”

Professor Sumdac’s heart stops.

Professor Sumdac: “……What?”

Sari narrows her eyes.

Sari: “I’M A FREAK!!!”

Tears begin streaming down Sari’s cheeks. Professor Sumdac looks back at Sari’s bed and sees that Kremzeek is still sound asleep. He turns to face Sari.

Professor Sumdac: “…A freak?”

Sari’s face turns bright red. She transforms her hands into energy projectors and extends them towards Professor Sumdac.

Sari: “…Look at me.”

Professor Sumdac looks at Sari’s hands. Sari growls and shoots energy bolts up into the night sky. Tears stream down Professor Sumdac’s cheeks. Sari transforms into full robot mode.

Sari: “LOOK AT ME! IS THIS NORMAL?! IS IT?! I’M A ROBOT, DAD! I SHOULDN’T BE A ROBOT! I SHOULD BE A HUMAN LIKE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE ON EARTH, BUT I’M NOT!”

Amazingly, Kremzeek appears to be quite a heavy sleeper. Sari drops to her knees and transforms out of her robot mode. She bursts into tears.

Sari: “I’m a freak. I’m a half human, half robot freak! I don’t want to be this way. I just want to be normal.”

Professor Sumdac gets down on his knees in front of Sari. Sari and Professor Sumdac embrace each other. Sari continues crying.

Professor Sumdac: “Sari, why didn’t you ever tell me that you felt this way?”

Sari: “Oh, like you would know how to handle it. You’re a normal human being, and I’m just a…sideshow attraction!”

Professor Sumdac: “You don’t really think you’re a freak, do you, Sari?”

Sari: “What do you think? I’m half robot, I have no human friends, I’ve been tutored and practically raised by robots, and officially, I don’t even exist! Of course I think I’m a freak! I don’t just think I’m a freak, I know it!”

Professor Sumdac looks at Sari and speaks in a stern tone of voice.

Professor Sumdac: “Now Sari, I want you to listen to me, and listen good. I may not know what it’s like to have those kinds of feelings, but I do know that I can tell you one thing.”

Sari: “What?”

Professor Sumdac: “You are not a freak, Sari. You’re not a freak now, you’re not a freak when I found you eight years ago, and you will never be a freak. I don’t ever want you to let anyone, not even yourself, tell you otherwise. Do you understand me, young lady?”

Sari snivels and looks down. Professor Sumdac sighs and smiles reassuringly. He gently tilts Sari’s head up so her eyes can meet his own.

Professor Sumdac: “You’re not a freak, Sari. You are a sweet, caring, lovable, intelligent, and very beautiful girl, and I’m not just saying that because I’m your father, either. No, I’m saying because I mean it from the bottom of my heart. You have no Idea how grateful I am to be the father of a girl as wonderful as you, my little princess, my daughter, and that’s the truth.”

Sari gasps softly and smiles tearfully.

Sari: “Really?”

Professor Sumdac: “I don’t care who or what you are. All I know is that you’re my daughter, Sari, and I love you very much.”

Sari: “Oh, I love you too, Daddy. Thank you so much.”

Sari kisses Professor Sumdac on his cheek.

Sari: “And I don’t care if you’re not my actual father. I love you all the same, and that’s the truth.”

Professor Sumdac kisses Sari on her cheek. Professor Sumdac and Sari embrace each other.

Professor Sumdac: “Are you feeling better now, Princess?”

Sari wipes a tear from her eye.

Sari: “I’m feeling much better now, Daddy. Thank you.”

Sari and Professor Sumdac stand up and put their arms around each other.

Professor Sumdac: “Are you ready for bed yet?”

Sari shakes her head.

Sari: “No, I’m just really thirsty.”

Professor Sumdac: “Well then, how about a nice tall glass of water from the kitchen, my treat?”

Sari giggles.

Sari: “That depends, is it that gross tap water, or can we get it from the fridge?”

Professor Sumdac chuckles softly.

Professor Sumdac: “Whatever my little girl wants.”

Sari: “Come on, Dad, I’m not a little girl anymore. I’m a young adult now.”

Professor Sumdac groans.

Professor Sumdac: “Please, don’t remind me.”

Sari: “Hey, I’m just saying, is all. In fact, I’m probably gonna have to learn how to start driving soon.”

Professor Sumdac: “I’m not listening.”

Sari: “By the way, am I old enough to start dating now?”

Professor Sumdac: “That depends, are you trying to give your father a heart attack before he even gets to walk you down the aisle? Not that I’m actually going to allow you to get married, or date for that matter.”

Sari: “Daddy!”

Professor Sumdac: “Oh, I’m just kidding…or am I?”

Sari laughs softly.

Sari: “Love you, Dad.”

Professor Sumdac: “Love you too, Sari.”

To be continued…