Warrior Star had reached Earth, and she studied the blue and green planet curiously as she input a set of landing coordinates that Optimus had sent in another data burst. She zeroed in on the coordinates, coming through the atmosphere in a shower of flame and sparks as her landing pod shuddered under the strain. She wasn't concerned; Cybertronian landing pods were built to take a beating. A few seconds later, her proximity sensors beeped a warning.

Brace for impact, she thought.

Even with the warning to brace, Warrior Star still felt her dentals slam together when her pod hit the ground. She vented harshly as the pod tumbled several times before bouncing off some sturdy object and slamming to a halt.

Ouch. Not my best landing… She thought as the landing pod broke apart and fell away around her. She rose to her feet, cautiously stepping out and putting a paw on the Earth's surface for the very first time.

Instantly, she looked at the dirt beneath her paws, finding herself amazed by how soft and fertile it was.

Such a rich and beautiful planet, she thought as she raised her cobalt blue optics to the brightest, clearest sky she had ever seen. She could feel her spark lifting in her chest, spinning rapidly out of joy and excitement.

Is this…really my new home?

After hearing what he had heard about the still unidentified femme, Will had insisted on going with the 'Bot assigned to retrieve the new arrival. Optimus actually had a closed session with his most trusted Autobots to determine if any of them were even willing to voluntarily retrieve the femme, or if he would actually have to order one to go get her. Over an hour later, the 'Bots finally emerged, and a rather nervous looking Hound approached Will.

"Colonel Lennox, Optimus has informed me that you are going to be accompanying me to retrieve our…new femme." The human raised an eyebrow at Hound's tone as the mech transformed into his alternate mode, popping open the passenger side door for Will once he was finished. The soldier hopped in, unable to keep from asking a curious question as he did so.

"Hound, did you volunteer for this assignment or were you told to retrieve the new Autobot?" The silence that greeted his question was answer enough as Hound quietly closed the door while Will buckled his seatbelt. Hound pulled away and headed for the main gate, and he and Will began their journey in silence.

Warrior Star had spent some time snooping around but had stayed close to her landing site, knowing that Optimus was sending the retrieval team to those coordinates. She had hacked the World Wide Web while she was exploring, and was currently examining geographical studies and information on the Earth. The more she saw of the planet, even in pictures, the more she liked it.

Wide open, rolling prairies, mountains that reach for the skies, oceans that stretch as far as the optic can see and beyond…this is a beautiful place. She thought as she checked some pictures of the Rocky Mountains, her spark spinning in excitement as she studied them.

Another ping echoed through her processor, indicating another data burst, so she paused in her studies to listen carefully to the contents of the transmission.

So, Hound has been sent to retrieve me…I never did interact with him much. Always off exploring, he was. Optimus says that I also need to find an alternate mode…hmm… Turning her attention back to the internet, Warrior Star pulled up several archives of different vehicle makes and models that she could choose from for her new alternate mode.

Primus…this could take awhile… She sat down, studying her results critically as she eliminated some choices just due to the size requirement on the vehicle. Some were just too small for her frame, and others were far too big. She didn't like the look of the sedan type vehicles, and found that she was not a fan of the heavier SUVs.

I want to look good, even if these…humans…have no idea what I really am… She thought, then she stumbled across a vehicle that instantly caught her attention. She smiled slightly to herself as she uploaded the vehicle's manufacturing specifications before tweaking them slightly and transforming.

Hmm…I like it. She thought as she rolled forward a few feet, getting used to the feel of tires instead of her legs and paws before she began driving in circles, liking her new alternate mode the more she played with it. She froze suddenly when her proximity sensors sent a warning flashing through her processor, indicating the presence of another Cybertronian. She spun in the direction the signal was coming from, her defense routines activating and coming fully online.

Please, let it be Hound…

Hound and Will had made good time, reaching the landing site not long after Optimus had informed them that the femme had landed safely. The mech slowed as they approached the coordinates, and Will could tell that he was very uneasy, nearly bordering on fear. The soldier reached forward, patting the dash gently as he spoke as calmly as possible.

"Easy Hound…let's just find our girl and get on home, eh?" The human's touch and the soothing tone of his voice made the mech relax slightly, then they came over a small rise, finding themselves staring down at a long furrow in the dirt that led to a massive crater.

Hound halted, allowing Will to hop out before he transformed, both of them making their way down into the crater to look for signs indicating where the 'Bot had gone.

"Well Hound, where is she?" Will asked as the mech knelt to examine a massive pawprint in the soft dirt.

"She's nearby, Will. Probably just checking the surroundings…" When Hound's voice trailed off, Will looked up at him, instantly noticing the frozen tension in the mech's frame. Will followed Hound's gaze, turning around to see what the mech was staring at. The human froze as well when he saw what had caught Hound's attention.

Sitting on the opposing rise, almost like it was staring down at the two of them, was a Ford F-150 Raptor edition. The big truck's engine rumbled almost menacingly as its bronze paint gleamed under the bright sunlight.

Will's mouth hung open, his mind blank as he stared wide-eyed at the impressive vehicle. Behind him, Hound came to his senses long enough to say one thing.

"Warrior Star."

A/N: For those readers of mine that read of Warrior Star in the previous version of this story, or even in At What Cost or Dark and Stormy Night Challenge, you have most likely noticed that I changed a couple things on her...first off, her alternate mode is no longer a Chevy Tahoe (still love that vehicle, just like the image of the F-150 Raptor for her better) and she's now a bronze color instead of blue. Might end up tweaking the color a little more...not sure yet.

As always, love if you will, hate if you must. I will take anything you care to dispense.

Until we meet again...

Kani