"It's Roller, right?" Brains tried to start the conversation again. Roller ignored him, and spun out of his corner. "I saw ya watching those humans, and I'm just kinda curious." Brains said. Roller halted and rotated to look back at Brains. Roller finally attempted to verbally communicate with Brains. He spoke in almost silent beeping noises. It was the best he could do for having no vocal processors. Brains didn't understand one word of Roller's sentence and couldn't detect any emotion in his beeping at all. Roller expected this, and accessed comm. link connection. He never talked through the comm. links, because the only mech he ever talked to was Optimus Prime, and Optimus understood Roller's 'language' perfectly.

:The human life forms are intruders on NEST property.: Roller said in a dull inexpressive tone. Brains blinked in surprise.

:Whoa! You can talk like this?: Brains questioned.

:Clearly.: Roller replied. Brains smiled. He was sure he almost heard some attitude in that last statement.

:So there's hope for you yet.: Brains remarked, referring to Roller's current lack in sentience. Roller beeped once and then responded again with comm. links.

:Clarify.: Roller said blankly.

"Never mind that. Um... and 'bout those two humans. They're no trespassers. Ya don't need to keep watch on them." Brains said out loud, deciding that Roller could understand him both ways.

:Explain the human strangers.: Brains sighed.

"See, those two aren't strangers. You know the mech human, right?" Roller didn't respond to Brains' question. "Well he's Sam Witwicky. The boy who saved Optimus Prime's life twice." Brains couldn't believe he was actually gloating about Sam, when he really didn't care much for the human.

:Master.: Roller said. Brains figured he was referring to Optimus Prime.

"Right... So anyway, Sam has just as much right to be here as any Autobot. Like I said, Sam and his mate... Don't worry 'bout them." When Brains was finished, Roller didn't make a single beep or send a comm. link message. Walking away now would just be embarrassing and awkward. So Brains figured he might as well keep talking. "Roller? Where were you when Megatron offlined Optimus?"

:Offline.: Roller answered.

"Well yeah... wait, what?" Brains stuttered.

:Drones, not built with individual life forces. I function as Master functions.: Roller said. Brains was hit with mixed emotions. Surprise from the shocking fact that Roller offlined when Optimus Prime did. Curiosity of how or why Roller suposivly onlined again when Optimus was reserected. But mostly annoyance of Roller's 'Soundwave' personality. 'Did I ever talk like this to Shockwave?' Brains wondered.

"Don't you think it would be easier if ya had your own spark? That way you'd have your own life to look out for." Brains suggested. Roller let out a phrase of super fast squeaks. Brains could have sworn he'd just been insulted."You are extreamly advanced for having no spark, ya know that?"

:A drone's job, to serve their master, does not require a spark. A spark is unnecessary for my function.: Roller said.

"Maybe it isn't. Take it from someone who knows. There's a lot ya can't understand until you're sentient." Brains sensed he was going to far. But he dared to go farther. His new objective was to give Roller sentience one way or another. It really wasn't his buisness, whether Roller was sentient or not. But now that Brains had gotten himself involved, he refused to turn away.

:Function, understood. Loyalty being the only standard, to serve Master.:

"Well I don't mean to get on your nerves..." 'What nerves?' Brains thought to himself later. "...but I don't think Prime would like ya calling him your master."

:It is the truth.:

"I don't think so. He's not your master, because you guys are partners. Right? He told me drones are equals with other Autobots. Not slaves or servants." Brains argued while raisning his voice.

:Optimus Prime is a compassionate and understanding master. Not a cruel slave overseer.: Roller growled. Brains was sure he'd reached success when he heard Roller's expressive tone. It was so obvious now. If Roller could ever really care about someone, it had to be Optimus Prime. So all Brains had to do was use Roller's loyalty to Prime to give him full sentience. He was half way there. Now Roller just had to accept it.

"Listen to yourself, why don't ya? If Prime's such a great master, then what are you afraid of?"

:Clarify.: Roller said in his usual dull way. Brains facepalmed.

"What are you afraid of?" Brains repeated. "Optimus Prime accepts you for who you are. He is your partner and friend! And you don't even know what that means."

:The concept of friendship is difficult to put into logical words.: Roller replied.

"You know how happy you'd make Optimus if you could really understand?"

:Master... Optimus Prime would be pleased if I were sentient?: Brains wondered if he was asking too much from Roller. It really wasn't his business to be concerned about. 'Eh well. It's what's best for him.' Brains comfirmed.

"He would be pleased. He'd be proud of you too, I bet." Brains said. Roller was quiet again. Brains figured Roller didn't understand pride either.

:How do I please him?: Roller's voice that Brains recieved through the comm. links changed again. This time Roller almost sounded anxious. But Brains didn't have an answer for Roller.

"I guess you just have to think of it on you own. Wheelie became sentient the first time he stuck up to another Decepticon who was beatin' on him. That's what he told me. Me? I figured out I could think n' act on my own when I was running for my life from the Decepticons. It just came to me. I knew that I mattered, I cared that I mattered, and I didn't wanna die. Wheelie and I got sparks because of survival." Brains was distracted by the sound of Wheelie's toy truck honk behind him. He turned around and saw Wheelie in truck mode, waiting for him. Brains shrugged to Roller. "I dunno how you're going to do it. But I hope ya figure somethin' out." Brains started walking away, but then he added, "By the way this is all your choice, y'know. If you think I'm steering you wrong, just forget I was ever here." Without another word, Brains hopped in the back of Wheelie's alt. and they drove off to leave with Sam and Carly.

That evening, Roller couldn't stay foccused on his every day dutties. So he went to his and Optimus Prime's quarters and turned in for the night. Roller had a habbit of recharging in Optimus Prime's trailer. But tonight he felt like staying closer to Optimus. He also hoped to be able to express some sort of 'feeling' towards Optimus that would require sentience, some time before Optimus recharged that night. Roller parked next to the head of Prime's berth. He spun his wheels and thought for hours about what it ment to have sentience. But no matter how much he thought about it, he just didn't know how to have that awareness of that mental state. He was sure he was on the virge of processing the emotion: frustration. But he didn't know like Brains said he did. He had the potential to care and feel. But he just couldn't get it straight in his head. Not like Optimus could.

Eventually Optimus Prime came back to his quarters. He smiled when he saw Roller parked close to his berth. Optimus kneeled in front of Roller.

"Are you accompanying me tonight?" Optimus Prime asked gently. Roller didn't respond. Optimus suspected something right away. "Is something wrong Roller?" Roller scooted forward and nudged at Optimus Prime's hand. Optimus scooped the tiny drone up in his hand and sat down on his berth. Optimus rubbed his finger over Roller's side instinctivly. But he doubted it would do him any good, since Roller knew no sadness and could not be comforted. To Prime's amazement, it actually did something, though.

Roller had been thinking critically about every battle he and Prime had ever fought. In his memories he took note of every time Prime did something to protect Roller. He learned it was out of friendship. And then, the instant Optimus stroked his finger over Roller, he realized something amazing. He cared! He cared that Optimus Prime saved his life so many times. And Roller knew that he felt thankful! Roller suddenly burst out into squeaks of joy. He nuzzled into Prime's hand and repeatedly squeaked.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Optimus Prime had never heard Roller make a noise so loud. At first he thought Roller was hurt. But then Optimus felt a strange sensation inside of him. His spark didn't internally sense Roller's pressence. Optimus took a scan of Roller and then took a double scan. It was a miricle. Roller no longer relied on Optimus Prime's spark, and he'd created his own.

"Roller? What have you done?" Optimus asked in surprise. Roller suddenly realized a new emotion. Prime did not seem pleased, and that made Roller feel guilty.

"I'm sorry. I did it for you. You're my best friend. Are you angry?" Roller beeped quietly. His beeping changed in pitches nervously.

"No Roller. I am glad. Now that you know this mental state, I am confident you'll feel much happier. You made a great choice, friend." Optimus assured him. Then Roller made his first laugh. It was nearly muted because of his lack of voice processors. But Optimus understood the laugh loud and clear.

"It wasn't all my choice." Roller beeped, remembering his persuasive new friend, Brains.