Thank you for continuing to read on. Forgive the death by information in the previous chapter. I tried to summarise the best I could that wasn't so droll.

As usual the Disclaimer: Transformers, the transformers franchise and its characters are the shared property of Hasbro and Takara and are being used under the creative use act. I do not place claim on the transformers nor the established characters of the canon.

I do however own the various Original Characters that will be used in the Seeking Solace Saga, as well as the story line and I most definitely own the subgroup the Sparkmasters, they are a product of my own imagination and are not a part of the establish canon. Please do not use any of my characters, subgroups, and fictional location names without my permission. (Basically assume any unrecognisable name, place and thing is one of mine)

Please enjoy.

Seeking Solace - Ashes to Ashes

Prologue

"Nothing is more frightening than a fear you cannot name."

Silence draped over the barren world of Charr in a blanket. The thin and barely breathable air was still, almost as if a breath was being held in suspense. The Decepticon city fortress of Tartarus sat embraced in the shadows of a canyon. Within the central sector, a crowd had gathered. Dozens of Decepticons stood in clusters. None dared make a sound, nor even move. Risking not even to shutter an optic.

The echo of laser fire cut through the darkness as flashes of light danced across the walls of the citadel. It was a battle, one of life and death. The Decepticons stood on the side lines watching, waiting. Yet there is no cheering among the crowd. Entranced by two combatants as they squared off against one another. This was no means of entertainment. Nor that of a subordinate being put in their place. This was a challenge.

An unknown black mech, his optics glowed with an unnerving violet light, stood before his opponent. This mech came but for one thing. An army.

It was a challenge, Galvatron could not ignore.

The Decepticon leader unfortunately underestimated the strength of the other mech. Purple plating marred with scratches and dents. Even the acrid smell of burnt wiring wafted into the olfactory sense. Galvatron growled, angered, spitting out the energon that began to collect within his mouth. While he was battered from a hard fight, the stranger barely had a mark on his dark armour. It had not been long into the battle when Galvatron had lost his arm cannon. It laid several metres away the barrel having been crushed under foot and completely unusable. Losing a weapon is an embarrassment to any Decepticon and a grave mistake for the Decepticon leader. Galvatron charged at his opponent, left with the only weapon he had not been stripped of; his own hands.

The black mech seemed unimpressed by this action, barely placing any effort as he landed a solid punch to the approaching Decepticon's face. The two grappled for control of the fight. Only it seemed Galvatron was the only one putting effort into it. Again the purple mech growled, his anger rising. The stranger looked to have grown bored, as if it were all a child's game he was playing. Almost as if he was entertaining Galvatron. Though his lack of enthusiasm in the fight was a miscalculation he would later admit. Letting his guard drop for but a moment, yet long enough; grunting as Galvatron managed to connect a kick to his gut.

Galvatron gloated his small victory, having forced the other mech to his knee. The fight had not ended and to Galvatron it seemed he did not care. The black mech glared at the Decepticon, who had dared to turn his back. With arms stretched upward in victory enticing the onlookers to break their silence. The crowd responded in force, cheering for their leader.

Some of the cheering ebbed away as optics widened. One or two had tried to call out, but vocalisers locked up. No sound was made. The fight still was not over.

Galvatron's smug face contorted in pain, shock and disbelief as metal groaned and fire erupted. He was left frozen in place. The crowd was instantly silenced, as the Decepticon leader's knees buckled forcing him to the ground. Red optics flickered to black as smoke billowed from what had been his chest. No one moved. Behind the fallen Decepticon leader the unnamed mech stood; wisps of smoke trailing from the still hot barrels of the gun in hand. Violet optics burning with a dark, eerie light. "Arrogance."

No one spoke.

The black mech stepped over the smouldering corpse of the Decepticon leader. Walking through the shocked silent army. None stopped him. There was no retaliation. No avenging of Galvatron. Then the mech stopped, all optics on him. He stared back, his optics seeming to burn through the sparks of those before him. He unnerved them, unable to look directly at him, and unable to look away. Fear filtered through the crowd. His very being giving off an infectious aura of darkness and corruption. The mech eyes the army. He gave his first command.

"Bring me the Matrix."