Animated-Verse. :)
Timeline is not established, but Starscream and Megatron are on Earth. And Sari hasn’t found out about herself yet.
Pairings are only hinted at or touched upon. They could be taken in a sibling way or something.
No OCs.
My mind-canon makes OP and Megatron brothers like they were in the movie and in one of the older continuities, so I’m sorry. :(

Characters not mine and yadda yadda yadda. Roll film!

X.x.X.x.X

The Neverwar
Prologue: Unsuspecting
Loco the Exclaimer

X.x.X.x.X

It was a day just like any other for the group of Earth-bound Autobots and their human friend. None of them suspected what would come to pass in the space of only twenty-four hours, or where it would take them from there.

Evening was coming. The sun was just touching the horizon, signaling the ending of the day. The younger Autobots and Sari were just becoming tired, while Optimus Prime left for night patrol and Ratchet began to finish his work for the night. Prowl was sitting up in the peaks, relaxing after several hours of Circuit-su training.

Time was passing normally for the Decepticons, as well. Megatron was planning for the Autobot’s demise, or something of that nature. Lugnut was loudly worshiping his leader, and Blitzwing and Blackarachnia were trying to shut him up.

Perhaps the only one who foresaw anything foresaw something completely different that what was going to happen.

For in a cave not too far from the Decepticon’s base, hidden just on the outskirts of Detroit, Starscream was building, working, tinkering, planning, an evil plot forming in his twisted Decepticon mind.

He had, in his spare time, taken to the scientific activities he had once practiced for a living. These were things he hadn’t done in a long time, but he was still confident in his movements and touch, unknown substances and forms building under his hands. At the moment, the object in question was some kind of small machine; small, but deadly.

Almost done.

There was a quiet noise, and Starscream spun around with his guns ready. However, he put his arms down when he saw it was only a small black cat, his only companion since he was separated from Megatron. Not that it was in his character to take in a small animal of any kind and not kill it, but it was something to talk to besides himself. It wasn’t like he ever petted it or gave it a name or something mushy like that.

As a matter of fact, if he could have shot it without risking his precious and irreplaceable equipment, he probably would have.

But seeing as he couldn’t, and how the damn thing refused to be caught, he’d taken to talking to it; to give his underused voice some exercise, to gather his thoughts, and to express how much he hated Megatron and how Megatron was going to suffer.

Mostly the third one.

“Oh, cat.” He said with contempt, turning back to his work. “It’s you.”

The cat said nothing but hopped up onto the worktable, still well out of arm’s reach. Not like he’d expected it to say anything, but it would be nice if it would get off the table. He swung his arm at it, and it leapt down with a hiss.

“Oh shut up. Like you have anything to complain about. You act like your life is horrible.” Hands moving quickly and skillfully, his thoughts wandered away from the feline even as he spoke.

“I’m working on something new.” He had almost forgotten about the cat, and was now more or less talking to himself. As usual. “This will destroy Megatron and those wretched Autobots, and I will take my place as the rightful ruler of all of Earth and Cybertron.” He paused to puff out his chest vainly, imagining what it would be like to have so much power.

The cat meowed, cutting off his train of thought, and he swung another blow at it. This time, he missed again, but nearly swept some glass vials right off the table.

“This is why we don’t attack the cat.” He grumbled, steadying the vials.

He turned back to his work, which was by now almost complete. A devious grin crossed his features. There was only one part missing. A certain kind of robot… often called an Autobot.