Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers

Summary: Abandoned by the Decepticons until she can prove herself again, Alice decides to go against Megatron to find a way for peace. To do so, she accidently enlists the help of Leo Spitz. Can they put the past aside and find a way to attempt to end the Cybertronian War?

Rating: T

Before It's Too Late

Prologue: Banished

The pain. That was the first thing she remembered, after Sam Witwicky had escaped from her, with his girlfriend and his nerdy roommate. Afterwards she had made a quick getaway – NEST had been on their way to rescue Sam. Sometimes it seemed that they needed him more than they needed the Autobots. Alice regained her human disguise and stumbled through the campus, pretending to be caught up in the hysteria like everyone else – pretending was what she did best. That was why she was a Decepticon. She deceived people. As she ran through the campus, every step a strain on her circuits, Alice's mind raced – would this war ever be over? Would she ever be able to return home to Cybertron to live out the rest of her days in peace? What if this war consumed her life, as it did so many before her? She had tasted humanity in these short days she had spent trying to capture Sam Witwicky, and, although she did not know it yet, she did not want to give it all up.

"So... does this mean we will be leaving Earth soon?" Alice asked, standing before Megatron and Starscream. She had made it to Egypt too late to be a part of the battle, but the Decepticon leader and his Second in Command had not yet left the area – they needed repairs before they would be able to return to the Nemesis and plan their next attack.

"Only to head back to the Nemesis and co-ordinate our next attack." Megatron growled. "I will not let Optimus Prime humiliate me again!" He struck the ground with his fist, leaving a large crater.

"How many times have you said that now?" Alice asked, trying to hide a smirk.

"How dare you speak to Lord Megatron like that!" Starscream spat.

"Starscream, I believe that's how you talk to him all of the time." Alice snarled. "I'm just saying that maybe we should start looking for peace. This war has raged for a stupidly long time and what are we even fighting for anymore? The All Spark is gone and so is the Star Harvester. We would be better to return to Cybertron and look for new energy sources there. Our technology is so much more advanced."

"If I wanted your opinion, I would've asked for it!" Megatron roared and flung Alice away in disgust. She bounced and rolled to a stop a couple of feet away. "Why are you still in that stupid human disguise anyway?"

"My circuits were damaged in my escape... and when that bitch hit me with the car." Alice growled. "I can't transform. I'm stuck in this stupid form until I can get someone to fix me. I thought it might be useful, me being like this."

"What use would a human be to us?" Starscream asked. "You're what we're trying to eradicate. We do not care for this race or their planet. We're here to sustain ourselves however we can, no matter what the cost is to the planet's original inhabitants."

"I could help you get into NEST. Even though they probably know what I look like, thanks to Witwicky, I'll be less noticeable than anyone else you might want to send to... where did Soundwave say it was? Diego Garcia?"

"We don't need you to go into NEST. We have Soundwave attached to a satellite and he gives us all of the information we need." Megatron said. He turned to look at his SIC. "Starscream, I think she may have out served her purpose to the Decepticon cause. What do you think?"

"Oh, I agree, Lord Megatron." Alice could see the eager gleam in the Seeker's optics. Starscream had never been fond of her, and she had returned his spite in equal amounts. "What are we going to do? Are we going to deactivate her?"

"No." Megatron said.

"What?" Starscream exclaimed.

"If you can get yourself fixed up –" Megatron looked down at Alice. "– You may rejoin the Decepticon ranks, and you need to get these ideas about peace out of your head. I am not going to deactivate you today, as you are young and do not understand the extent of the war. You are banished from the Decepticon ranks until further notice. Do not try to contact us until you have made yourself worthy of our time."

"You mean – you're not going to kill her?" Starscream exclaimed in outrage.

"No Starscream, I am not going to kill her." Megatron growled. "I am showing her the mercy I showed you when you were young and made mistakes."

"I may be young compared to you and Starscream, but I know the history of our race better than most, Lord Megatron." Alice growled.

"Is that supposed to be a threat?" Megatron asked.

"It depends how you take it, Lord Megatron." Alice replied darkly.

"Starscream, let's go!" Megatron ordered. "We have to get repairs and depart to prepare our army." The two Decepticons took to the sky, leaving Alice standing alone in the Egyptian desert. She watched them go – she was going to find a way to form peace, even if it meant creating an even bigger war.

A/N: That was short, but it was only a prologue to explain why Alice wants peace. After writing "One Last Time" and "One More Time", I really wanted to explore Alice's character some more and her relationship with Leo.

I'd love to hear what people think about this and your comments are always welcome – they make me feel as though I'm being appreciated, and I'm sure it's the same for other writers. Please, leave me a comment and I'll try and get back to you :)

I Caught Myself.