Fort Bragg Military Reservation

North Carolina

Wow… this planet is amazing.

That had been the first thought Hound had when he had climbed out of the hole. He'd come down near a forest. The first thing to do was to scan an alternate form. He'd done that, and then got back onto the Internet thing that Jazz had filled him in on.

Oh… so this form has variations… okay… let's do this…

He checked on his internal computers. Perfect. He transformed, and then began to make his way down the road, looking over the maps. Okay, he could take Route 24, and then check out the Outer Banks. That could work – that would work very well.

Hound noticed a second form coming in. Cliffjumper had said he would be trying to land near him.

Maybe I should link up with him so we aren't alone…

Hound then stopped. A large four-legged animal had bounded in front of him. He'd stopped just in time. His sensors scanned it, and he checked. What he had seen was odocoileus virginianus. A male of the species – that would be a buck, with eight points… a beautiful creature. Typical of his species?

He pulled to the side, and began looking over the Internet.

Amazing doesn't even begin to describe this planet, he thought as he watched a scurius carolinensis climbed up a tree.

Wow. I'm going to keep checking this place out.

And so he did… completely forgetting the part in the transmission where Optimus had told him to check in.

Autobot Base

Hoover Dam, Nevada

With the dissolution of Sector Seven, the base in Hoover Dam was offered to the Autobots. Major William Lennox, military attaché to the Autobots, was talking with Ambassador Banachek, the former director of Sector Seven.

"How have some of them been getting along?" Banachek asked.

"Pretty well. Prowl's arrived, and is getting along – he's a 2004 Impala police car. Bluestreak chose a blue Impala from the same year," Lennox said. "They expect some more arrivals. Wheeljack, who they describe as an inventor – although Ironhide says mad scientist is more accurate. Mirage, a sniper and surveillance expert is also due in the next week, as are Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. Cliffjumper just checked in, he chose a 2007 Chevy Cobalt."

"What about Hound?" Banachek asked.

"Nothing. There was an impact at Fort Bragg. A patrol discovered a crater that is about the size of what would be expected from a protoform impact," Lennox said. They stopped as the sound of an Autobot walking came closer.

"Any word on Hound from your people?" Ratchet asked.

"No," Lennox said.

"Just great," Ratchet said.

"He wasn't damaged, was he?" Banachek asked.

"No, but there could be a first time," Ratchet said. "We really do not know the effect that an energon leak could have on your local ecology, or if he landed in a building and got trapped in the rubble."

"By the way, Ratchet, the mayor of Las Vegas wanted to thank you for your efforts after that building collapse," Banachek said. "The ceremony is in ten days, and everyone is invited."

"It was just my duty as a medical professional," Ratchet said. "No more, no less."

The humans exchanged a glance.

"Sounds like you do," Banachek said to Lennox, referring to Lennox's Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Mission City and in the wake of the attack on SOCCENT.

"Chromia says the same thing," Lennox said. Chromia and Elita One had been the first to arrive. Chromia had chosen the form of a Saturn VUE. Elita One's choice had been a Subaru Baja.

"How are she and Sarah getting along?" Ratchet asked.

"Sometimes, I think too well," Lennox said. "Ironhide and I went off-roading last week before her cousin's wedding, and came back muddy. It's bad enough with an angry Sarah alone… but when she teams up with Chromia, it isn't a fair fight."

"Hey, little bitches, what's kicking?"

Ratchet soon turned to the voice. A 2008 Pontiac Solstice was there, and in a very stylish transformation, became Jazz.

"Jazz!" Ratchet said, aghast.

"C'mon, Hatchet, I feel great. I'm ready to start illin' if I have to spend one more joor on recharge rest," Jazz said.

"Back to your quarters, now, or I'll have Optimus confine you to medbay!" Ratchet said, waving a tool for emphasis, much to the amusement of Lennox and Banachek.

Tranquility, Nevada

Bumblebee had been keeping a frequency open, just in case someone called in. He had already heard the news that Hound had not called in yet – even when he had apparently landed. He had twice gone driving in the middle of the night to get his mind off worrying. It had been two days.

Hound, what is taking so long?

Sam walked out, mostly because his best friend needed someone to talk to.

"How's it going, Bee?" he asked.

"No word from Hound," the Autobot said.

Just then, some beeps came over the radio.

"Cliffjumper! Have you heard from Hound?" Bumblebee asked.

"No. I'm looking all over this place called North Carolina for him," Cliffjumper said. "Any word since he radioed his landing coordinates?"

"None," Bumblebee said. "But Powerglide and Warpath did report in. Both are going to land there and look for him. Perceptor also signaled, he and Skyfire will be coming here – they made an interesting find, and want to fill us in."

Outer Banks, North Carolina

Hound had learned that his alternate forum did draw reactions from the humans. They were fascinating creatures – had one really killed Megatron? There was much more to them… and he was only getting a slight glimpse as he was. If he truly was to experience this planet – the only way to do so was to be a human himself.

He did have the means to make holograms – and had used them to interact a little. He had to find his way carefully, at least until he and Jazz could talk things over some. Jazz was very good at picking up alien cultures. For instance, what was with that car behind him flashing those blue lights?

Hound quickly accelerated out of sight, and then he activated his holograms – making it appear he had vanished into thin air. The car – with DARE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE on it – still looked around. Hound thought things over. Maybe he needed to use his holograms. The visible weapons might draw attention. Take those out – and look like one of the civilian models. He called them up on the Internet, modified his hologram projector, and went to work. It would at least get him out of this area.

The departure was far too soon. This was a beautiful part of North Carolina, but he needed to let things cool down a little. Well, the Appalachian Mountains would be worth exploring. He'd head there while avoiding highways. Hound checked Google for driving directions. The trip, via a few cities, would take eleven hours.

What could go wrong?