A.N.: Yes, yes, I know I shouldn't be starting a new story when I've got so many others to finish, but I can't help it! The bunnies just won't leave me alone. I've even got a livejournal account to try and give the durn things away, but so far there aren't any takers. If anyone is interested, I'm there as lady_threarah. Please, help a writer out.

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Transformers. If I did, the humans would have far less screen time than the 'Bots and 'Cons.

Chapter 1

Optimus Prime stared down at the blue planet so much smaller than his home, Cybertron. Smaller, but no less important. Somewhere on that little planet, was the Allspark. And, hopefully, his missing creation, Bumblebee.

His plan had been successful, at the time. Launching the Allspark into space had prevented the Decepticons from obtaining it. Unfortunately, it had also prevented the Autobots from retrieving it. Optimus had gathered his forces and left Cybertron in search of the relic that had brought life to his race, secretly sending teams out in different directions to investigate planets for its location. As of yet, all results had come back negative.

Except for Bumblebee. The scout had set out alone, hoping to slip unnoticed under the Decepticons radar into a chunk of the galaxy they had claimed as their own. It had worked, and for many vorns Bumblebee had traveled from planet to planet without alerting the Decepticons to his presence. And then it had come; the transmission the Autobots had been waiting for. Bumblebee had found the Allspark on a tiny planet deep in 'Con territory and needed help retrieving it. Once the coordinates had been relayed Prime had ordered the Ark to proceed with all speed and caution. They could not tip their hand now, not when they were so close.

"Sir! There's a satellite in orbit!" the voice of his Chief Scientist brought him out of his thoughts.

"Any signals, Perceptor?"

"None, sir. It is also in need of repair. Perhaps the satellite has been abandoned?"

"Perhaps. We will need to make planet fall to be sure. Any sign of the 'Cons?"

"None, sir."

"Good. First team, roll out."


Entry was a strain. Thank Primus for war-grade armor to protect their internals from the heat, as well as the transformation cog that allowed them to fold up so tightly that the dirt from landing was unable to penetrate either. The team landed near a city, but something was…amiss.

"It's way too quiet here. This is a city. You need sentient creatures to build a city, right? So where are they?"

"Jazz…" Prime didn't bother to look at the saboteur, still keeping a lookout for life as they walked. Nothing but vegetation and insects.

"I'm serious! There aren't even any bodies; just these drones, and they don't have enough processor space to hold a single command. What in the Pit happened here?"

"Perhaps we will find out. When Bumblebee sent his signal, there was no indication of problems in the code. Something must have happened between now and then." Ratchet speculated out loud, noting the way the vines were burying the buildings around them. Some had even collapsed, now nothing more than piles of rubble.

"It doesn't help that the signal took half a vorn to reach us. Anything could have happened between the sending and our arrival here." Weapons Specialist Ironhide didn't say it, but he agreed with Jazz. It was way too quiet here. Not to mention the planet itself was putting him on edge. Few planets in the galaxy had as much plant life as this one, and fewer still were above water.

Prime murmured his agreement as he continued to lead his team through the city streets. He had never mentioned to his team that, in the transmission Bumblebee sent, he had sounded excited about something. Something other than the Allspark.

"And has anyone else noticed that the green stuff is seriously messing up our scanners?"

"Yes, Jazz, we've noticed."

None of the Autobots picked up on the small pair of eyes watching them from a partially collapsed building.