I do hope you are prepared to absorb the information I will give you once you've asked your questions.

Optimus sat down in his office with the data pad laying on the desk. It felt a bit awkward sitting alone, talking to a device as if it were another being. The Prime could just imagine the look his dear Elita-One would be giving him right now.

"I am prepared."

Very well, ask.

"How did you come to be?"

I was created by Project Teno a few millennium ago by a great scientist called Amelia Teno.

"Why were you built?"

AI units are built for many reasons but our common use was battle. With our heightened intelligence and processing speed, fighting wars seemed the logical choice.

Theta looked at the Prime from behind the pitch black screen. Cybertronians today truly were ranked low on the intelligence scale. It would have been easy to lie to the fool but the mech must have found out a good amount from the creature when it was being held here. If he asked a question too personal, it would have been discarded.

"So is it true that Beat is not Cybertronian?"

In her original form, no.

Original form? What did that mean? Beat was capable of transformation? The slimy alien said that she was a machine used to house AI units so maybe she was. He pondered on how she came to touch a protoform then end up living on a completely other planet.

"Why did you leave the ones who created you?"

Question: Deleted.

"Why Cybertron?"

Question: Deleted

"...How are you going to locate her?"

My Teno and I are a set. As long as I am still operating then so will she. Each war machine is built with a silent signal once it is separated from the AI. This planet is a decent size, I need to hack into a satellite in order to track it.

"How do you know if she on the planet?"

I won't know until I attempt to find a signal. If she has been taken into the stars then I suppose I will have to pursue.

"And how exactly do you plan to pursue?"

I have my ways.

"I have one more question."

Yes?

"Why can't you show me the real you?"

None can see me unless Beat allows it. Protocol dictates that I kill all those who see my form without permission. Your allies have arrived.

The last Prime looked up from the screen just as his office door slid open. Jazz, Ratchet and Prowl were all accounted for. Beat's former mentor wasted no time in sitting down across his leader, "What is the plan?"

Theta internally scoffed at the Cybertronian, what pests. Pity that the AI needed their aid since processing each one of their frames would be too taxing.

"Theta, enlighten us."

I can find Beat but I need to locate a satellite strong enough to find the signal. Her SOS signal is very difficult to locate.

"But you can find her right?"

As I said before, yes. However, it will take some time. I have not read ancient Knight language in a long time.

Prowl chose to ignore the nonsense this tablet was spewing. All he cared about was finding where his student had been taken.

Now Theta said it needed a satellite to begin but which one? He had no clue which one had the strongest signal. Finding that out is bound to cause problems. "How long will it take you to analyze the satellites?"

I have already began. With all this noise, chatter and information it may take a few seconds. Apologies for that.

"Ok what the hell are you? A few seconds? Explain. Don't give us any of that AI foolishness either."

Theta looked at Ratchet, such a grumpy one no? How can a being have such gentle servos when preforming medical tasks yet have a distasteful personality? Mortal creatures sure are odd. Anyway, explaining in detail would be too much for their weak processors to handle.

You would not understand.

"You'd be surprised Theta. We are a heavily advanced race."

Is that so? Then please explain the countless civil wars your planet tends to have. Your lack of unity. Countless squabbles over power and politics. You may have mastered space flight, portals and advanced weaponry but Cybertronians are FAR from advanced.

"We all make mistakes! That's how species evolve. Learning from past failures."

Not you. Not anymore.

"Wh-what?!"

I found a satellite, belongs to a group called NASA?

Optimus narrowed his optics in thought. NASA's satellite was a powerful piece of equipment by earthling standards. Would it be capable to detecting Beat?

"Oi, so what happens now?"

Now? Now I take my leave.

"Where are you going?!"

To NASA of course, it won't be difficult.

"Not alone you're not!"

Prowl snatched the tablet and shook it a couple times with a scowl on his faceplate. There was no way in Primus that he would let this thing go alone. Reeking havoc on poor NASA. Not to mention he deserved to know where Beat was! What has become of her. Theta would likely find her then just leave. No! That was not an option.

"I am coming with you!"

If you wish to join, I will require a vessel. Shall I use you as one?

"Vessel? Don't be an idiot! Like I would trust you. Stay in that tablet."

Very well then. Shall we be off? The sooner I reach my Beat the better.

Prowl rolled his optics as he grabbed the tablet then looked at his leader for confirmation. "Optimus?"

"Take Jazz with you."

The smooth mech smirked at Prowl's frown. He still didn't understand why he bothered Prowl so much. The only way they truly interacted was during missions or when he decided to bother the boring ninja. Jazz really did not mind at all. He knew Prowl didn't hate or dislike him, more like tolerated him. Whatever, it was funny either way!

"Ready Powler?"

"Don't get on my nerves. Let's go."

Ratchet shook his helm as the two left. He turned to Optimus with a wrench twirling in his digits. Where did he get those from?

"You think they will be fine?"

"I hope so."

"So Theta, wanna tell me a little bit bout yerself?"

No.

"Aw come on! You can tell me anythin, better ta be friends than enemies right?"

Prowl sighed in annoyance as he walked ahead of Jazz and that AI program. They had been speaking for an hour now, well, more like Jazz was talking and Theta was listening. How could that mech be so calm around the one thing that tried to kill them? Jazz was too carefree and Prowl knew it would be his downfall.

"Where in this base is the satellite Theta?"

Two hours walking around a space dedicated station. Who knew this place was so huge?! He was sure that the program wasn't focusing due to that blasted Jazz.

We passed it long ago.

Jazz drooped a bit at the words he read on the screen. "Uh Prowl, we passed it a while back..."

The Ninja Master turned around with a mixture of frustration and shock. Stomping over to the duo, he snatched the data pad out of Jazz's servos and glared into the screen. "Why didn't you say anything before?!We are wasting time!"

Do not worry, I began the scan when I noticed the satellite. Jazz is gifted in keeping one's attention.

"Where was it anyway? Why didn't we see it?"

Not everything that is powerful must be large in size.

Beat's former mentor sighed and handed the tablet back to Jazz then rolled his optics when the second in command laughed at the screen. Jazz usually tended to make friends quickly, even with enemies. It seemed like he was the only one worried about finding Beat. Theta and Jazz were either busy talking or distracted.

"Do you both not care about finding Beat?! It's like you don't understand the grave situation!"

Jazz ceased his conversation at Prowl's outburst. Didn't care about finding Beat? Was he mad? Jazz was all about finding the sweet femme. "Seriously Prowl? I care about Beat just as much as you do."

"Hard to tell with the way you are acting right now!"

"And you think stressing is going to get us any closer to findin her?"

"That's not the point! You are always too carefree and easy going!"

"And? Being carefree and easy going hasn't let me down yet."

Theta left the two to argue amongst themselves while it worked on the satellite. It wasn't far enough to reach the entire world but it would have to do. Seems as though Beat's SOS signal was not around this part of the plane- Wait. There.

Tilting the satellite towards the left, Theta noticed a faint but familiar signal. Could it have been? The chances of that actually being the Teno was 78.95% not the greatest percentage but what choice did the AI have?

Theta could have upgraded the satellite for a stronger range but why give humans something they would no doubt use for evil? Rather take the 78.95 chance.

Refocusing on the two Cybertronians, the AI expected to see them still arguing but only saw Jazz chuckling and Prowl growling. Fools.

I found her.

"You did?!"

Let me rephrase that claim. May have found her. This satellite has limited range. Beat is not in the stars but rather on Earth. In the air. In the middle of nowhere. Floating around.

Both mechs looked dumfounded at the tablet's words. So Beat was floating in the air? That didn't make sense. The femme couldn't transform, could she?

She must be on some sort of vessel that cannot be detected using standard earthling technology.

"Camouflage?"

Correct.

"That's not good..."

Agreed. Aren't the Decepticons able to use that technology?

"Yeah-wait-how do you know that?"

I do my research. Your database was full of information.

"You hacked into our personal information?!"

Yes. Now let's refocus.

"How dare y-"

The Decepticons would have no use for a Teno. They don't even know what that is. Unless...

Jazz and Prowl looked at the screen with anticipation. Theta had not finished it's statement and left them on a cliffhanger. Did that mean the Decepticons were somehow involved with this? If so, how did they learn about Beat in the first place? Prowl's optics narrowed, could the informant on Cybertron be the enemy?!

"Theta?"

We should return to your base of operations.

"What are you thinking?"

Beat will come to us.