Author's Note: Ok, this is my first story and I hope you all enjoy it! Please comment and review to tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, although I wish I did.

Chapter 1

Standing there, on the edge of the now ruined Chicago, Optimus couldn't believe everything that had happened the past few days. Sentinel's betrayal, the "Battle of Chicago" (as everyone across the world is now calling it ), and…everything.

The leader looked upon the city with despair in his optics. In his mind, he replayed all the events. All the memories now permanently etched into his processor. This only brought more grief…more pain. A war he so desperately tried to keep Earth and its inhabitants out of, but unsuccessful.

The city was currently under reconstruction. All traces of deceased Decepticons and Autobots alike have been removed from the once prosperous city. The city still had a long way to go though. Streets were broken and unleveled; several buildings laid in shambles; skeletons of humans who never had a chance lying everywhere-it was too much to take in. To much despair and death; almost like an echo of what the whole planet of Cybertron now is. Actually, was.

Optimus sadly remembered seeing his home world being violently pulled back through the space bridge. It was destroyed. Although Optimus knew he and his Autobots found their new home, Earth, he still and always will miss his planet…his once thriving and wonderful home.

That is exactly why Earth should not face the same faith. Optimus shuddered at the thought of seeing the entire Earth laying in waste like Chicago…like Cybertron. No, he would not let that happen; he would not let these people suffer for their mistakes again and lose their home. They may be a young species, but that made no difference. No being deserved to be ruined, to have nothing left.

Another thought occurred to Optimus; Sentinel Prime, his mentor and friend. Anger surged through him and his cooling vents started to hiss. How could he have not thought this through. Actually, if it wasn't for Sam, who knows if he ever would have known. The one he trusted with his life had went to Megatron and planned to destroy this world. Sentinel thought of the human race as "insects" or "slaves" and if they all died he wouldn't care. Optimus couldn't believe he looked up to him or that he was the Prime before him.

"We were gods once; but here, they call us machines" is what Sentinel said. Optimus for some reason kept coming back to that. Was that what the humans thought of them? Machines? Actually, after what happened to Chicago he wouldn't be surprised if they called them worse. Humans referred to them by many things; machines, robots, aliens, monsters…just to name a few. Even most of the world leaders believed them all to be Decepticons. Very few humans seem to call them Autobots. They were also the few humans who didn't seem to blame them for all that has happened. Will Lennox, Sergeant Epps, Sam.

The leader seemed to smile yet grieve at the same time at the mention of the boy's name. Sam was a friend of the Autobots from the start. The same boy who destroyed Megatron and brought him, Optimus Prime, back from the dead. Yet the Autobots…no, more like himself left Sam in the dark. He never told Sam that they would return and left him to believe they had died on that ship. He could remember the young man's face when he said his goodbyes…another memory forever etched into his processor. Yet, Sam wasn't mad at him, he never gave up on him; he believed in him. Optimus would never fully understand why Sam hadn't blamed him. Sam had done much to help him and the Autobots, and Optimus was still in Sam's debt. Of course, Sam would always respond "You died for me, you saved my world numerous times; you have already helped me and this planet so much." So why didn't Optimus feel like he did? Was it looking at the destroyed Chicago that made him feel like he didn't do anything? Did he fail humanity?

Optimus shook his head trying to get rid of the many questions haunting his processor. Questions that must be saved for another time. There was still much work to be done.

Out in the far reaches of space, far beyond what man has explored. It was true that space was the Final Frontier, but humans never fully understood that. They believe that their Milky Way was as far as the universe traveled; but how wrong they were. Oh so very wrong.

Names of fallen Decepticons rolled down the purple tinted screen. Soundwave, Shockwave, Dreadwing, Starscream…oh so many names, it seemed never ending. However, one was a terrible loss, Megatron. The mighty Megatron's name slowly rolled down the screen in a bold, unknown alien language. A large mechanical fist slammed down on the keyboard at seeing his leader's name. Anger raged through him as he cursed at every Autobot, every human, blaming them for his leader's death.

The large robot decided to see the cause of Megatron's death. "Cause of death: Decapitated by OPTIMUS PRIME" lazily scrolled down the screen in the same unknown alien writing.

More anger; more cursing. Of course, the leader of the Autobots, the Prime. All Decepticons were taught to despise the mention, even the thought, of the Prime. Now the robot understood. The Prime killed the one who only wanted to make Cybertron something better! He fumed even more while his cooling vents hissed as the air escaped them. He thought about scrolling through the many others and see the cause of death of each and every one when a gruff voice spoke up.

"You know, huffing and puffing in front of that computer ain't gonna bring them back, Cyclonus," said a robot behind him with grief and cockiness to his tone.

The robot's, supposedly called Cyclonus, anger rose and quickly turned around to punch the other robot, but missed miserably. "DO YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT SCOURGE!?" Cyclonus yelled with pure hatred in his voice.

The other robot, apparently named Scourge, backed up slightly at Cyclonus' anger. 'This is really eating at him' he thought. "Hey, I'm just considering your well being."

"Do I look like I want your sympathy?" spat a still angry Cyclonus. "We just lost our leader, Megatron! And not only that, we lost to those pathetic Autobots who so carelessly destroyed Cybertron!"

Scourge winced at the thought of Cybertron being utterly destroyed. He did hate the Autobots for doing something like this just to save those insects and their worthless planet. Scourge glanced at the screen behind Cyclonus to see the cause of Megatron's death. "Cause of death: Decapitated by OPTIMUS PRIME." 'Should've known' Scourge thought. "I know we suffered terrible losses, Cyclonus, but maybe we weren't meant to rule that planet."

Cyclonus couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you saying our Lord Megatron was WRONG?"

'Scrap' Scourge thought. "N-no. I-I don't think he was wrong."

"Well are you saying we can't win against these Autobots and their pathetic human allies?" Cyclonus asked. He refused to let this go. It was a mere planet; and an organic one at that! Why shouldn't they be able to rule it? Why did the Autobots care so much for race that wasn't even worth saving?

"N-no of course not, Cyclonus. It's just-"

"Just what?" Cyclonus was even angrier and he was just on the edge of cracking.

"We just," Scourge thought about his words carefully before answering, "failed to gain control of the planet. I mean, doesn't that mean something? Like, faith or destiny or, something?"

Cyclonus paused for a minute. Then he let out a laugh; but not the whole-hearted, joyful laugh. No, this one was cold, evil, almost crazy-killer like. Scourge hunched down, and for once in his lifetime, he was terrified. Megatron may have been on the edge of craziness before, but not like this. Scourge wondered if these recent events could have altered Cyclonus. But not in a good way.

Cyclonus stopped laughing and replied in a cold, hard tone that would make anyone's blood freeze (or energon if you are referring to Cybertronian blood) "Faith? Destiny? Scourge, Decepticons don't believe in either. What we want, we get." Cyclonus' eyes bore into Scourge with hatred. Scourge honestly wanted to hide in a corner right now and he regretted checking up on Cyclonus.

"W-well then-ok, what we want, we get," Scourge replied, unsure of what to do or say.

Cyclonus smiled evilly; almost insanely, "Good. Then we are on the same page," Cyclonus said before turning back to the computer.

Scourge felt pure terror. Should he dare leave? Should he talk to Cyclonus? No, he was leaving. As Scourge left he could hear Cyclonus muttering to himself. Half the things he said were not understandable but he did catch one part that sent chills running up his spine (or whatever Cybertronians have for a backbone) "You will rue the day that you killed Lord Megatron, Optimus Prime; even if I have to kill you myself."

Sam walked among the devastated ruins of Chicago. The sun was setting low and almost everyone was packing in for the day. There was just one certain Autobot leader not coming.

Sam figured how hard it was for Optimus to witness what he did the past few days. That was why he let him have today to think it through, to sort out everything; but with the day fading away he decided to check up on the Autobot.

Soon, after some considerable searching, he saw Optimus standing on the bridge looking out over the river; the same bridge that Sentinel Prime and Megatron died. Sighing heavily, Sam wasn't sure what to say. What do you say to comfort an Autobot? Well, he decided he might as well try. "Hey Optimus."

Optimus turned and saw Sam walking toward him. "Hello boy."

Sam had to smile at that one. After all these years Prime still referred to him as 'boy'. When he first used the term, Sam thought of it as being a kid not able to accomplish much. Now when he hears it, especially from the Autobots, it meant so much more. "Everyone is packing up for today and I didn't see you there."

"I apologize," Optimus responded with an edge of graveness in his voice.

Sam sighed again. He knew that Optimus had been through a lot lately, but even so, this didn't sound like the Optimus he knew. Not the Optimus that he had first met that night several years ago; not the Optimus that battled Megatron in Mission City; not the Optimus that had sacrificed his life to save his; and not the Optimus that had won the Battle of Chicago. No, the Optimus he knew had spirit and hope. As he spoke to Optimus right now, he sounded…broken, he supposed was the term to use. Sam looked down at his feet, not sure of what to say. Apparently, neither did Optimus because he also remained silent.

Sam was about to say something when he heard the all to familiar sound of transforming. As he looked up, where Optimus once stood was now a blue, red-flamed Peterblit truck with the passenger door wide open as in invitation. Sam smiled and climbed into the truck and shut the door behind him.

Optimus started to drive through the ragged streets of Chicago. Sam reclined in his seat, still unsure of what to say. Sitting there, Sam realized it was rare that he ever rode with Optimus. Last time he did, Optimus had died that day. Sam tried to shake the memory that always haunted him. Seeing Optimus's spark blown out and seeing him laying there, dead. Sam always thought it was his fault, no matter how many times Optimus had said otherwise.

Optimus kept driving. He was also not sure what to say. There was nothing to talk about; well, at least nothing pleasant. So the drive back to the nearby NEST base was a silent one as both human and Autobot remembered their own painful memories.