A/N: Oh my gosh, thanks for all the reviews and views! As promised, more action and stuff you guys will like. I do want to say thanks for all the help you dudes have been, and I hope you keep enjoying!

Chapter 4: Transformation

Optimus blinked groggily. The last thing he could remember was that strange Energon shard piercing his chest...

Fumbling to get up, the Autobot was restrained by something. He briefly offlined his optics before turning them back on. The blue glow from the pool surrounded him, as well as the cool feeling of water. Trying to shake his helm, Optimus realized he couldn't because he was underwater. Making an alarmed gurgling sound, the Cybertronian struggled up to the surface.

He hauled himself out onto land and lay panting on the stone. Water could corrode armor and make cooling vents fail. They spluttered to expel all the water, causing the mech to tremble as all systems worked overtime to open and shift every piece of plating.

After another cough, Optimus tried to stand, only to slam back down on his servos. He offlined his optics again, allowing time for the water to drain away before onlining them again. What he saw shocked him into thinking that he still had water in his optics.

Razor-sharp digits scraped at the ground connected to thick, metal plated arms. Optimus looked down at his chassis, only to see that it wasn't one anymore. Armor-like plating covered his chest area and in the center was a Energon-blue, glowing indent, much like the Predacon's. He strained to see his long, serpentine neck and whipped his head around to see down his elongated back. His legs were now bent into a crouched position with feet that ended in wicked sharp talons as well as a tail, coming to a sleek ending, resembling that of a whip.

A whir of alarm escaped the mech and he stumbled backwards.

What had happened? He thought back to what had happened before he fell in the lake. The ceiling had shifted, then the hunk of quartz crystal had fallen and pierced his armor.

Optimus attempted to open the plates covering his chest, but they refused to move more then a few inches. A huff of annoyance emerged from his ex-vents. So this is what Bumblebee had felt like when MECH and stolen his T-Cog? He felt awful, exposed.

The large mech, or Predacon, he wasn't distinguishing, began to pace, his new claws clicking over the stone floor. Taking a guess, the Prime figured that he wasn't as huge as the Predacon that belonged to the Decepticons. But his head probably was now taller then Megatron's, at least. A snicker left his fanged mouth before he scolded himself. He shouldn't be thinking like that, not in a dire situation like this! What if his team had been captured? What if Megatron had returned to the mine? That had been a purple blast, and the only two mechs he knew of with that energy signature were Shockwave and his master.

Stop thinking what if! Right now, I have to focus on escaping this place! Optimus scanned the rock walls for an exit. Even a weak point would be nice, since he could probably just blast it open.

Finally, a crumbling spot on the far wall caught the Autobot's attention. Plodding over, he gently prodded at it with a claws. Tail swishing in relief, he backed up, considering the wall. The easy route would be to pull a Wheeljack and just detonate a path. Then again, the caves were unstable and could collapse at any minute. And Primus only knew when Decepticon guards would discover the rubble and begin to search for any infiltrators.

Growling in annoyance, the Prime sat back on his haunches and absentmindedly rapped his talons against the floor. It took him a second to realize that he had picked up this habit from the Autobots' human friends. For the first time, the Cybertronian thought about where he would go after this situation was over. Certainly not the Decepticons, even with their science knowledge they would just use him as an experiment or something. But could he go back to his companions in this state? What would stop them from shooting? He didn't know if his armor was as blast-proof as the Predacon's, and he didn't want to test that out now.

Shaking his helm, Optimus forced himself to try and remember the Predacon blast sequence that all of the Autobots were way too familiar with. After all, everybot seemed to have been shot at by the beast.

A click in his chassis and a sudden glow drew Optimus' attention. The blue radiance coming from the crater in his chest was reaching blinding as the mech's neck reared up. The cyan flames licked at his dagger-like fangs as they surged forward and easily blasted through the weakened stone.

The mine began to rumble as cracks raced over stone. Optimus flung himself at the opening and burst through into the snowy night. No Decepticons were in sight, but that didn't stop the Autobot from sprinting off through the rocky outcroppings and boulders. If there was something in his path, the Prime just sprang and cleared it easily.

Fleeing mindlessly from the mine, Optimus didn't even slow down until he was far off, snow covering his claws and hindering his pace. He jogged to a standstill and all but collapsed into a panting heap. The ice helped to cool down his overheated frame, but his pipes burned fiercely. The Prime reached up to feel his plated neck, gingerly touching the metal. He was going to have to find a way to cool his throat pipes before they completely overheated, resulting severe damage.

Glancing down at the snow below him, Optimus cautiously took a mouthful. The second he swallowed, the ice melted and cold water rushed through his throat pipes. The new Predacon opened his mouth and allowed the steam to escape and spiral up into the night.

Now that he had time to think, the Autobot leader considered what to do next. He could try to get back to base, and...

Opening his mouth, the mech tried to speak aloud only to hear a series of whines and screeches. Optimus' ex-vents let out a stalling sigh. Unfortunately, that confirmed his suspicions of the fact that he didn't have a way of communicating.

A shiver ran through the Prime's circuitry and he realized he should fine shelter for a quick recharge. He was still wet from falling in the water and lying in the snow. He wouldn't be any help to the Autobots if he didn't have the energy to make it back to them from... wherever he was.

Optimus shakily got to his feet and arched his back. He swung his head, looking for shelter, but he couldn't see a few pedsteps through the snow. He padded blindly over the snow, looking for shelter.

A gaping hole appeared out of nowhere, large enough to shelter a decent sized Predacon. Optimus gratefully entered, taking a deep breath of the air. Satisfied that nobot had been there, his chest glowed again as flames lit up the cave. It heated the dirt floor as the autobot curled up on the warm patch, curling his tail over his snout before falling into a restless rechrage.

Meh, this could've turned out better. I really wanted to post this!

Optimus is a Preda-bot! Or Autocon! Your choice

Hope you enjoyed ;)

REVIEWS PLEASE