I warn you all now: this does not fit in with my other Transformers stories, this is a completely new timeline. These are not necessarily the characters you know and love, they are going to be different. Darker, if you will. Possibly scary. If any of this fic frightens you, I'm doing my job.

~Ten Thousand Years Ago~

"Prowl, I'm trusting you to lead of this team. After being in charge of most of the Autobot Army, and the entire Office Staff, you should be able to handle this group."

Prowl nodded, looking over his new scout team. Ember, Blurr, Blades, Cosmos, Hound, Glyph, Hot Rod, Arcee, and Cliffjumper. All volunteers. All experienced. All worthy soldiers.

"Take charge of your team, Prowl," Optimus said.

Prowl saluted him and turned to his unit. "Listen up! I am your commanding officer! You answer to no one but me, Primus, and my second-in-command!" He looked to the dark female at the front, who slipped up beside him. "You do not even answer to Death himself, because Autobots are not allowed to die without permission!"

"Sir, yes, sir!" the team replied.

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!" Prowl bellowed.

"SIR, YES, SIR!"

Prowl turned back to Optimus. Prime smiled a little under his closed battlemask. "What is your order, commander?"

"Sir, the commander's order is to scout out Neutral Territory and eliminate any Decepticon infestation in the area! Upon confirmation that the territory is clear, the unit is to report back to base!"

"Move out, then."

Prowl saluted a final time and turned to his team. "You heard him! Move out!"

"SIR, YES, SIR!"

"LET'S GO, ROBO-MAGGOTS!" he barked again. "YOU'RE SOLDIERS, NOT DANCERS! LEMME SEE YOU MARCH!"

"SIR, YES, SIR!"

The unit began to move out, and Optimus watched after them. Prowl glanced back for a fleeting nanoklik, but then faced front and continued on with his soldiers.

Neither mech knew then that the unit wouldn't be coming home.

DISCLAIMER: Transformers is owned by Hasbro, only one character belongs to me, and if you know my work, then you know who that is.

Rating will start at T, and depending on what my twisted little mind comes up with, it might go up to M, but I'm gonna try to avoid that best I can.