Rated T for War and Movie Violence

Transformers belongs to Hasbro and Paramount Pictures

Follows Movie-verse and Movie-verse comic lore

These Characters belong to KeepingThemAtBay

Autobots: Captain Seal Off, Groundblazer, Jez, Ricochet, and Ativi

Decepticons: Sawsand, Terrorjack, and Scrap Case

Humans: Cody and Shia


Chapter I: Dark Corners


[Communications link inbound… access prevalent]

The war has raged on for many years, and I see no end to it. It goes on in an endless cycle that eradicates peace. Leaving just the calm between storms. For years, word from Optimus Prime, or even Megatron's plans have not reached us.

I'm beginning to wonder if we are all that is left in the galaxy.

Sentinel Prime has been murdered, Megatron's been missing for millennia, and Optimus Prime left to search for the AllSpark cycles ago. The Decepticon head-honchos are leaving each cycle by the score, meaning something's up and they're getting word about it. Or they have lost hope just like we are close to doing so. The planet is dead, there's nothing left. And I'm beginning to think there is no AllSpark to rebuild our home with.

The Wreckers are demanding we leave in the Xanthium soon and find the Autobots in the galaxy. We need more fuel before we fly into space and leave our home behind. And I've made the decision that we will look at the one place that could have another fuel source.

Though, it may be very risky. I'm sending my best team to recon it, along with myself. The daunting role of leadership is hard, and I hope I have made the right decision, or lives will be on the line.

Captain Seal Off, signing off.

At the small Autobot outpost in Tyger Pax, the Wreckers, and Sideswipe were running amok. Roadbuster, and Topspin bellowed with laughter as they dashed down the halls with the silver frontliner in the lead. The base's floor rumbled under their stampeding pedes, causing the doors to rattle on their tracks. They dashed into the loading bay and skidded on the metal floor, sparks flying from beneath their feet.

"Quick mates, this way!" Roadbuster pointed to a stack of crates, the perfect place to hide.

Silent Topspin, and a grinning Sideswipe dove behind them and they waited for their latest prank to go off. "If Prowl comes to scrap our hides, it's on you," Sideswipe said, glaring at the Wreckers.

"You're as guilty as us, you nanny walker," smiled Roadbuster, his blue visor flashing.

"Did you just call me old?" asked Sideswipe blankly in his rough-voiced whisper.

Topspin's visor glinted when he looked at Roadbuster, demanding him to answer. The green armored Wrecker had a pondering look on his faceplates as he debated how to answer Sideswipe's question.

"Depends on how you see it mate," he said off-handedly. "Pipe down you slagger, or he's going to find us!"

The group of battle-hardened mechs hid behind the crates like a bunch of girly schoolgirls, not exactly the pristine image of an Autobot. Sideswipe counted down the seconds for their prank to go off. He heard an Autobot walking down the hall where the prank was set up, and he hoped it was the right mech. Or they'd be in trouble.

3…2…1…

BANG-ZITZZZ…Crash!

"Primus! Jolt, are you okay?"

Sideswipe stared wide-eyed at Roadbuster and Topspin. The green Wrecker cursed and they slid down further behind the stack of crates. Topspin glared at his fellow Wrecker and Roadbuster rubbed his helm sheepishly. Sideswipe dimmed his spark monogram and he hoped that their unintended suspect would not send them to the brig.

Jolt, the electric blue medic, had fallen on his faceplates when the frontliner's prank went off. It was a simple over charged "popper" grenade for droids; it was reengineered by Topspin so that it'd only short-circuit a mechs circuits for a second though. Sideswipe had also thrown in a miniature paint cannon for the popper, and it just topped it off with a cherry on top.

Ricochet tried to hold back a laugh as he viewed his friend's ruined armor plates. The bright blue metal was splattered with a shade of painful-to-look-at orange. A dire contrast to the blue that was beyond hilarious.

"Wh-w-what was that?" asked Jolt, his vocal processor fritzing out. He looked down at his usually clean, medic standard, and pristine armor plating to find it – for better word – blotched.

Ricochet couldn't hold it anymore. He crumbled forward in laughter at Jolt's facial expression. The medic was shell-shocked, and it didn't help that the discharge of electricity had zapped him. Jolt frowned, and then he huffed, a deadly look entering his faceplates. The young medic and electrical specialist jumped to his feet and ran into the loading bay hangar.

"I am going to kill who ever ruined my armor!" he roared. Jolt swept back and forth, looking for hiding places for the culprits who ruined his paint and temporally shorted out his whips. He grumbled loudly about looking unprofessional for an important meeting, and personally skinning the mechs' aft plates with his buzz saw.

Ricochet continued to roll on the floor with laughter and the Wreckers stayed hidden. Jolt was touchy about his paint when on duty, and his electric whips. The medic normally avoided mechs who caused a ruckus (even though he looked for trouble at times), but he could take a prank and just laugh it off. But today, he was looking for a way to impress the ladies, even though he might not realize it but Ricochet noticed. He wanted to make a final impression for them before they left in the Xanthium.

The junior medic continued prowling around; electric whips in hand and buzzing with electricity. The blotched orange paint also seemed to buzz and scream. When the medic couldn't see the culprits - even though he could sense them with his scanners - he stopped for a second, listening to his surroundings.

Then Jolt snapped his whip, and it lashed against a piece of green metal sticking out from behind the crates. Roadbuster jumped with a femme-like yelp and he toppled over the boxes. The Wrecker scrambled to his pedes and held one hand up in surrender while the other rubbed his zapped shoulder. Topspin and Sideswipe, once deciding staying hidden was a mistake, appeared at his flanks.

"Hey mate, it was just a little joke for someone else," Roadbuster tried to explain, but he stopped short at Jolt's glare. "It wasn't just me, mech, it was these bucket heads too."

Roadbuster pointed over his shoulder to the other frontliner's, but they quickly stepped to the side with a whistle, letting him take all the blame. "Thanks for the support you nanny walkers…" Roadbuster grumbled.

Jolt charged up his whips with anger. But Ricochet quickly sobered up and he moved to intercept him before the medic actually injured someone. "Jolt. That's enough mech. Remember the rules apply to you to, even if you are a medic. Autobots are to not engage in a standoff –under: pranks, disputes, or boredom -unless on the training field with clearance, compute?"

The medic huffed and shared a glare at his friend. He discharged his whips and let them retract back into his wrists. "Put aside rules, just let me take him on this one time. He's caused enough trouble for me, and I've had to fix his dents when he gets in a quarrel."

Ricochet rolled his optics. "Maybe next time toolbox," he then clapped Jolt on the shoulder. "We're late for the meeting. No one's going to care what you look like, Pit, Prowl's came in pink before too."

The mech started to push Jolt towards the door. "Besides, it just a base meeting. No Optimus Prime, no Metrotitan reporting. You'll be fine."

Jolt protested under his breath, but let his friend lead him away from the frontliners. Roadbuster visibly deflated when the agitated medic left with the black and orange soldier. Topspin up slapped Roadbuster in the back of the helm and glared at the boisterous green Wrecker while yelling at him over the radio waves. Roadbuster glared back and then the two Wreckers engaged in a quick stand off.

"I swear, some day's he worse than Ratchet," Sideswipe said, referring to Jolt and being oblivious to the commotion behind him. Roadbuster and Topspin were rolling on the ground, throwing punches in a brotherly matter. "The Hatchet rubs off on his apprentices a little to much…"

Ricochet and Jolt made their ways towards the debriefing room. Ricochet constantly reassured his friend that he looked fine. He even tried complimenting Jolt's new orange blotches, but they both knew that it wasn't pretty, at all. The electric specialist was still upset and angry, but duties were calling and he could not go and retouch his paint. They entered the debriefing room and stood at attention until the meeting commenced.

Prowl stood in front of everyone. First-Aid, Leadfoot, Seal Off, Smokescreen, Bluestreak, Jolt, and Ricochet, along with a few other mechs, listened intently as Prowl directed the meeting. Seal Off stepped forward at one point and proposed that they would soon be leaving in the Xanthium to head after Optimus and his team. Prowl was reluctant at first, but First-Aid and Leadfoot also said it was the best tactic at the time.

The small base at Tyger-Pax had a variety of mechs, ammunition, resources, and ships hidden away from the war. And having the crewmembers of the Xanthium leave would only be a slight diminishing in the ranks at the Autobots hideout. Seeing how the Decepticons were leaving by the score, and the battles heading towards other planets – which the Autobots wished would not have happened - Prowl agreed that the Xanthium could disembark.

Then the meeting ended with all business concluded. Seal Off quickly organized his team of Skids, Mudflap, Groundblazer, Ativii, and Ricochet to head to Simfur where they would pick up additional fuel. The Wreckers – Leadfoot, Topspin, and Roadbuster – with Sideswipe and Jolt were to tend to the spaceship.

"Stay out of trouble Ricochet, because you're a magnet for trouble," Jolt said smugly as he observed his friend.

Ricochet turned to his friend and smiled. "You say that as if you know it's true?"

The young medic scoffed and shook his helm. "You and I both know that I know it's true. You're a magnet, both literal and physically. Keep safe, mech."

"You too toolbox. Don't let those Wreckers throw you in the deep end, they're anxious to head to battle again. It's been to quiet and tense around here."

"I'll watch my back, just make sure to watch yours."

"Will do Jolt, will do."

Little did the two friends now, that this would be their last goodbye. Ricochet stepped on the hover transport, and then he was off with the recon team to the temple of Simfur.

The transport touched down.

Clouds of dust and debris blew up from beneath the broad deck of the transport and its thrusters. The lights on deck flashed as Seal Off piloted the craft to rest in the opening space before the temple.

Simfur, the once hidden city where the All Spark was uncovered, stood in ruin. The tossing possession between Decepticon and Autobot forces did not treat it well, a consequence because of war. The sloped metal walls of the temple were charred with blaster fire and broken in through impact. Glass and dead mechs were scattered across the torn plaza, broken and lifeless. Dried energon stained the ground beneath the transport, the records of the battles and prisoner executions that had taken place.

The metal spires of Simfur no longer gleamed, and the life giving influence no longer pulsed; all power to the city was cut off and silent. Like the grave it was.

Seal Off was a tall mech with silver and gray platting. His icy blue optics were shrouded under the brim of his helm, but they still casted their bright light. He powered down the open-top transport and faced his crew.

Groundblazer was a small, but well built mech with silver and black armor. His helm bore a large scar through the metal that matched the one on his chassis. His optics were hidden behind a visor band also, a result from a battle injury. The intimidating mech was actually quite kind and fun when you got to know him, regardless of appearance.

Skids and Mudflap, the split spark twins, stood at attention. They were a bright green and an orange red colored mechs. The small minibots goofed around a lot, but they were useful in battle when it came down to distractions and tight spaces. Or distractions in tight spaces, either way.

The last members of the recon team were Ricochet and Ativii.

Ricochet was standard height, with black and orange paneling. He had long limbs and wide servos. His bright blue optics cut through the dark and a set of powerful headlights rested on his chest. Ativii was the second smallest of the group, just a few feet taller then the twins. She wasn't the curviest femme, but here frame was built to be strong and slightly stocky. It made her stronger than the slender femme models and more disguisable as a small mech in battle. Her coloring was an aqua green also. Ricochet was her teammate, and they were ready for this mission.

Seal Off clasped his servos behind his back and addressed the crew. "You all know the mission, we're here looking for fuel cells and anything else out of the ordinary. Take what you need for the Xanthium, and the Xanthium only. Personal mission get you killed by the Decepticons, sorry to say, but it's logic."

Groundblazer and Ricochet chuckled at their commander's statement, trying to ease the tension. Seal Off then produced a holographic map of Simfur and began pointing out locations. It was out dated, but it held the basic layout of the place.

"Skids, Mudflap, you are with me. We'll be checking out the corridors. Groundblazer, you're with Ricochet and Ativii, and in charge. Keep comm link systems open and dispose of any 'cons as quickly as you can. If you're overrun, hit tail and ride the wind faster then Blurr, compute?" The crew nodded. "Well then, disperse!"

The group scattered and formed their triangular recon formations. Groundblazer entered before Seal Off with his team members. His chest lights blazed with white light as they entered the deserted temple. Shimmer of white dust outlined the beams as they cut through the broken walls and debris. The temple was in good shape, somewhat. The halls were scattered with broken wires, toppled boxes, and twisted metal. But it still was maneuverable and appeared to be safe from crashing down on them.

Groundblazer activated his shoulder mounted cannon and a one servo pulse cannon. Ricochet onlined his arm mounted combat gun while Ativii pulled out her gleaming cybertanium short swords. The edges glowed a blue orange, like a flame. They moved forward, ready and alert.

Seal Off's group followed behind them and then headed off to the other direction. The commander had to bark at Skids when he started to poke at a delicate pillar of glass and wires, and the mech jumped away when Seal Off threaten that it would squish him like an insectacon. The commander grumbled to himself and they moved down the corridor, his weapons ready and alert.

Groundblazer moved forward softly, Ativii and Ricochet behind him and in position. Their lights illuminated their path and they ghosted along the dark halls in tandem. "The All Spark room should be this way," he said quietly.

The moved down a maze of corridors that was wide and spacious, meant for mechs bigger than themselves. A shaft creaked suddenly, echoing all around them. The Autobots moved as one, ready and alert, their backs pressed together. When the sound stopped, and no attack followed, they relaxed somewhat.

Ativii vented as she tried to cool her frame. "This is going to kill me, I know it. The suspense, I mean," she said quietly in a mere whisper. Ricochet nodded his helm and they continued in line with Groundblazer.

Then they came across a huge doorway. The large sliding doors had been thrown off their tracks and the metal panels convexed in the middle. As if someone, or something, had tried ramming through them to get what was inside.

The silver and black mech squeezed past the hole in the door and scouted out the room. When his headlights rested upon a square spiral staircase, he paused in his searching and beckoned his comrades to come forward. Ativii stepped from behind Groundblazer. Her shoulder-mounted searchlight outlined his frame then what was in front of him. She paused and paid reverence to the sight and bowed down to one knee.

This was the AllSpark room, the place where their life-giving source had rested for many millennia.

The large room was at the center of the temple. The plateau shaped temple's walls soared overhead with cracked and broken skylights in the roof. The bronze walls gleamed a sickening bronze-blue because of the night sky's blue nebula that surrounded Cybertron. The thick metal ring in the center of the room shined a rich brown beneath the turning staircases. Power cells and other mechanisms were lined together inside the ring, but they were dark and quiet with the absence of its life source. The AllSpark was no longer providing energy to Cybertron, and the planet was dying because of it.

"Do you hear that?" asked Ativii.

"Hear what?" countered Groundblazer. The setting had him on edge, a feeling he did not like, and he didn't want to take any chances. The mech glanced at the dusty femme from the corner of his optic hesitantly.

"The voices. They're saying something…" she gazed off, looking at the vacant lot where the AllSpark once stood. Her swords lowered towards the ground when she concentrated harder to hear the whispers in her audios.

"I'm not hearing anything," huffed Groundblazer. "It's just the wi-"

"I hear it too." Ricochet cut in. He unconsciously dimmed his headlights as he listened too. The mech and femme moved closer, leaving Groundblazer behind and looking confused.

The team leader shrugged it off. Groundblazer moved towards the bronze ring on the floor, searching for a fuel cell that was left behind or still active. The warrior lifted a warped piece of metal to reach the energy source his scanners were picking up. Groundblazer shoved the piece to the side and a dim red glow casted his faceplates. He smiled to himself when his scanners recognized the item in front of him; it was a fuel cell and a large one at that. The sucker was packed tight, meaning it held enough energy to power their ship alone.

Groundblazer pulled out the fuel cell and carried the large black and red lined canister in his servos. "Hey guys I found one!" he shouted. He stopped when he noticed his comrades were no longer staring and mumbling, but their armor was bristled and tight with fear… concern… hesitation…?

Ativii turned to him and called to him through the comm link to be quiet.

:What is it this time? More voices?: commed Groundblazer sarcastically. One of these ghosts must have said something to spook the bots. Eh, they were always weird.

:No, it's a Decepticon.:

Groundblazer paused, not expecting that answer. :A Decepticon? Are you sure, you haven't exactly been up on you're a-game lately.:

A deep, rolling chortling filled the room, causing all the Autobots to freeze. It was sinister and sent chills through your stocks and shafts. Ricochet powered up his combat gun and Groundblazer whipped out his cannons. He dropped the fuel cell to balance against the rim of the bronze metal ring and he planted himself in front of it, Groundblazer was not going to let this Decepticon have it.

"You Autobots are really dumb. Microchip and rust riddled processor heads," the jeering evil voice rolled in the room. It was dark and rough, the tone made the simple insult come out viler than it should be.

The Decepticons large, pointed, and winged silhouette appeared in the doorway, blocking out the dim nebula light. Vermillion optics flashed and highlighted the sharp edges of the mech's face.

"I'll make this quick, for my sake." The Decepticon said like he was bored. Then the sound of a charging up cannon filled the room and a yellow glowing barrel fired at the bots.

"How many times do I have to tell you, you nut filled processor glitches? Stay in line!"

"But Seal Off, we're just practice our moves."

"Yeah, there ain't any Decepticons around here. So why can't we just play ninja for a bit?"

Seal Off vented harshly and grumbled under his breath. He just had to be stuck with these two bolt-for-brains. He was going to bring a Wrecker, Sideswipe, Groundblazer and Ricochet. But no, Sideswipe literally threw these two at him for him to take, grumbling about a medical check-up. The Wrecker's simply were "busy" fixing the Xanthium, again, and Ativii demanded that she was to come with them. Against his orders for the others to come, Seal Off still ended up with the dumb bots (the twins). What else was he to expect with being appointed the noncommissioned leader and captain of the Xanthium?

"One things for certain, I can beat you anytime at being ninja."

"Can not!"

"Can too!"

"Can not!"

"I sure can too! And I'll prove it to you!"

That's it he'd had enough. Seal Off whipped around and fired a shot down the hall, right between the twin's heads. They ducked in cover at the cannon shot and peered behind their servos, hoping this time he wouldn't hit them. "I said: Shut. Up. Or you're going to give away our positions!" The captain huffed and glared at the two of them. "I'm surprised you haven't gotten yourselves killed yet."

"Well, it's just our mad ninja skills Sealy. There ain't no stopping us," said Mudflap then he struck a pose with Skids right behind him.

Seal Off grumbled under his breath again, this time about nicknames. The sound of gunfire suddenly caught his audio. He held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. The blind Twins didn't see the signal and promptly bumped into Seal Off, but he ignored their idiotic-y this time so that he could pinpoint the sound.

Suddenly, another wave of sound came crashing from the center of the temple. Close to where Ricochet, Groundblazer, and Ativii should be in the temple. Seal Off pulled his sword out and looked over his shoulder, "Come and prove to me that you are these 'ninjas.'" He then loped down the hallway, flying around corners to head to the fight.

"Should we follow him Skids?" questioned Mudflap when Sealy charged off. It wasn't really a standing order, so they could ignore it.

"What do you think Mud'? I'm not going to stand here looking like a bunch of rollie pollies!" The green twin transformed his servo into a cannon with a comical sound. He then charged off down the hall with Mudflap right on his tail.

"For the Autobots!"

"Woo-hooo!"


[6-1-13]KTABay: Here's the first chapter to The Rising Spark. The timeline takes place about a couple decades after Optimus has left to go find the All Spark on Earth. Since they are traveling in their transition pods, it'll take them a while to cross the vast expanse of space. And it would be about four decades before the Autobots reach earth, so near the time the All Spark is discovered by Sector Seven. Even though Cybertron is far away from Earth, the second wave of Autobots will get there extremely quickly because they will already be basically en route. Thank you for reading and stay tuned for the next update. :D