A/N: Thank you thank you reviewers! 15 reviews in a single chapter! You made my Saturday morning/evening/night! Quick update from being completely inspired! Four sentences ending in exclamation points. What is life coming to?

Please, please keep reviewing with suggestions/comments/criticisms. I'd also like to know if you want any characters in here ex. Bulkhead or Motormaster (Already have plans for Blackarachnia). More characters will come in as the story starts gaining momentum.

In the movie novelization, Mudflap and Skids were killed by Sentinel. They will be referenced here.

Also, I'm basically making up the early history of Cybertron, paying for movie tickets has made me unable to purchase comics. If you have any questions/comments about it, please review/PM me.

Optimus used his time in the air to scan the deserted streets for any signs of life, Autobot or otherwise. He wasn't sure resurrecting Starscream was the best idea he'd ever had, but the seeker could fly and command troops at the same time; something Optimus had trouble with. And he listened to Megatron, which would come in handy when the more rebellious Decepticons decided they didn't want a truce.

Starscream began making the descent to the edge of the river. Optimus followed. His processor had been assessing the threat levels since they had found the Seeker, and he didn't suspect Megatron would try and kill him. This time, at least.

The Prime spotted Bumblebee standing above the body of Wheeljack, codename Q. He looked up as they landed and nodded morosely in greeting.

"Is he alive?"

Bumblebee shook his head grimly. "Put a gun against his head, pulled – the—trigger now he's dead."

"Here."

Optimus pulled out the Matrix and held it out to the Scout, spark brimming with the hope of rescuing at least one Autobot. He half expected Megatron and his minions to try and make a grab for the Matrix while it was in the servos of the smaller bot. Instead, they all stood a ways back and just watched.

Bumblebee knelt at the scientist's side and plunged the Matrix into his chest. A brief glow illuminated the old Autobot's features, but quickly died out. A warm breeze blew across the area, ruffling Wheeljack's 'hair'.

The Scout wordlessly handed the Matrix back, looking completely and utterly dejected. Optimus wrapped an arm around the smaller bot's shoulders. "It was his time, Bumblebee. He is one with the Allspark." It was an empty saying now, since they had no idea what happened to the actual Allspark.

Bumblebee nodded. "Permission…to…accompany?"

"Yes."

A cry not unlike that of Starscream's filled the air. Optimus and Bumblebee wheeled around to see Rumble kneeling on the ground beside the body of Soundwave. Starscream and Megatron watched with apparent indifference as Rumble mourned his progenitor.

As the two Autobots approached the body, Optimus became aware of images flickering inside his processor. Images that could not be his own, simply because he didn't watch himself speaking…nor did he watch Decepticon strategizing meetings.

"Optimus?"

"Hmm?" Optimus was looking at Soundwave, wondering if the Matrix could repair a truly severed head.

"What's going on?"

"I'm getting a very bad feeling. Coupled with the fact that Soundwave knew there was going to be a truce…I think something's coming." He began maneuvering the Matrix before a glimmer caught his eye.

"He's not dead." Optimus said.

"Everywhere you'll find pieces of Cupid and Comet…" Weird Al wailed from Bumblebee's speakers.

"That's not him," Rumble muttered. "It's me."

"Soundwave's spies have just a fragment of spark while in combat," Megatron explained. "They are mostly contained in Soundwave to minimize casualties. Barring decapitation," he gave Bumblebee a look, "They won't die."

Shrugging, Optimus sent the Matrix into Soundwave's chest. A whirlwind of images smashed themselves into Optimus's processor, freezing him to the spot.

'Dylan…Witwicky'

'Counter the offensive Starscream…I will have Driller'

'Chernobyl'

'It's coming, Soundwave. Get back to Earth and warn Megatron.'

Optimus had a vision of Egypt and a blinding flash of pain as he was suddenly and violently pulled apart. Then he was in a ship of some kind, looking up at Soundwave.

'Autobot Scout. Bumblebee. Hunt but do not engage. I will not have another death by his servos. Understood?'

'Gotcha boss.'

Then space, littered with stars, empty save for a planet-sized ship making its way toward…Cybertron. Decimated as it was, Optimus strained for a better view of its beauty, but he couldn't disprove what he saw approaching the planet as much as he wanted to. The stuff of the horrors, the enforcement of slavery on Cybertron before Zeta Prime liberated the home world of Cybertronians.

'Unicron.'

Soundwave grabbed his gun and pushed himself up in a flash crashing into Optimus, nearly knocking him off his feet.

Optimus backpedaled to a safer distance, ready to attack if the Decepticon continued. Soundwave did not seem to be pursuing him. Rather, he stood perfectly still save for the tremors shaking his frame. He had even dropped his weapon.

"What's he doing?" Starscream asked, noticing the Matrix seemed to be overheating, if its ruby red exterior was anything to go by.

None of them had an answer. Liquid metal seemed to be rolling off of the spymaster, falling into pools on the charred earth. Rumble stared at his creator in utter disbelief.

"It's bringing them back." He realized.

Optimus looked at the smaller Cybertronian. "Bringing who back?"

One of the pools at Soundwave's pedes drew itself up off the ground to hover in midair. It began chattering in Cybertronian, a language Optimus hadn't heard spoken in almost four years.

Soundwave gave one final jolt, filling Optimus's optics with a blinding light. The Autobot adjusted his lenses in less than a second, but when he opened his optics Soundwave and three other, smaller, bots stood apart from the rest of the group. There was a cat-like thing Optimus had seen before was curling itself around Soundwave's legs. Hurriedly, Optimus pulled the Matrix out of the Decepticon's chassis in case even more of Soundwave's spawn decided to appear.

His optics met the Decepticon's and the images Optimus saw were abruptly cut off. The Autobot had felt more than seen Soundwave's intentions toward Bumblebee. No matter what his reasons, it was not going to happen.

A small crash forced their stare-off to cease. Optimus looked down to see that Rumble had tackled his counterpart and both were wrestling on the ground, speaking Cybertronian so quickly Optimus couldn't translate. He wasn't even sure if it was Cybertronian.

Soundwave inclined his head slightly and the two bots immediately stood up.

"Orders?" he asked.

Megatron glanced at Optimus. The Autobot shrugged.

"What happened?" Optimus asked, unsure if Soundwave knew what Optimus had seen.

"Shockwave informed me of Cybertronian airspace being invaded before the battle. I came down to tell Lord Megatron but was delayed." By delayed, Optimus guessed 'death' fit into the category.

"Summary: Airspace invaded nearly eighteen joors ago. Guardians and Arielbots forced back the threat but Cybertron cannot withstand another assault of any magnitude."

"You're sure it was Unicron?" Optimus asked. Not good. Not good at all.

"Affirmative."

"Uni…cron?" Bumblebee asked, watching Soundwave's panther-thing warily. "What is it?"

"In Cybertronian lore, the evil side of Primus who seeks the destruction of every planet in the universe. In reality, Unicron was the enforcer for our time of slavery under the Quintessons, built to destroy an entire world if need be. Zeta Prime, the first Prime and his army managed to defeat Unicron and chase him to the reaches of known space." Optimus paused. "But would he go back to Cybertron?"

"There must be a Quintesson alive out there ordering it to." Starscream said plainly. "Why else would it return?"

"In any case," Optimus continued, "We must prevent Unicron from destroying Cybertron. No matter the cost."

"So now what?" Rumble (or his twin) asked. "Sirs."

Optimus looked at Megatron.

"Your call."

Megatron sighed. "Is there any way to trace the signals from Unicron to the Quintesson? Or to contact Cybertron?"

"Possibly. Nemesis capabilityrequired." Soundwave droned, picking up his weapon and adjusting it.

"I thought the Nemesis was lost." Optimus tried to protest. "When you-"

"It's on Mars. Or Saturn, or whatever they call it on this planet." Megatron replied easily. "You didn't think I'd let that ship just crash and burn?"

"Master, it is crashed." Starscream said. "And partially buried."

"Silence Starscream!" Megatron's reprimand echoed in the oppressive near-silence. "Well Optimus? Is this going to be a mixed-faction thing?"

"Yes. If we're going to start this truce then we'd better start now." Optimus decided, watching the cat-thing eye Bumblebee with its one optic. Well, the thing only had one optic, so the point was moot. "Who should go?"

"Autobots are not equipped for long-range space flight with perhaps the exception of you, Prime," Starscream said shortly. "Unless it's someone small enough to be dragged along by Soundwave. Couldn't you lose that tiny form?" he asked the spymaster.

"Negative."

Optimus considered the problem. Bumblebee was the only bot small enough to be 'dragged along' simply because Mudflap and Skids had offlined at the hands of Sentinel, but he certainly wasn't equipped to deal with Soundwave if the Decepticon decided to avenge his spies' deaths. Optimus certainly wasn't going to leave Megatron's side merely hours after their half-discussed truce.

His contemplation was interrupted by a ping from Ratchet.

"Ratchet?"

"The body count is just in. Where are you and Bumblebee?" though Optimus had known he was alive, it was a relief to hear the medic's voice.

"I'll explain in a minute, but we have more pressing matters to deal with."

"Such as…"

"Unicron has tried to attack Cybertron."

"WHAT?" Ratchet must have shouted that, because Optimus could hear humans scrambling around in a panic.

"Just a minute." Optimus paused and decided. The repairs to the Cybertronians cultural splits might as well begin now. "Soundwave, take Bumblebee with you."

"What the slag are you thinking?" Ratchet nearly screamed, choosing to ignore the topic of Unicron to address their youngest officer's life. "Sending Bumblebee with the Decepticon third in command?"

"All repairs must begin sometime," Optimus explained vaguely. "Rendezvous at that Health and Human Services building or whatever it's called that's serving as our base now. Optimus out."

"Optimus…"

"Yes?" the Prime turned to face the rest of the ragtag group. Megatron had been the one to address him, but the Decepticon just pointed to the spymaster and Bumblebee.

Soundwave's spawn circled around both of them as if they were highly agitated, hissing or cawing respectively. Or chattering in some strange language.

"Soundwave." Megatron snapped. "Control your beasts. Repair the communications console and establish contact with the Autobot's base."

"Apologies." The spies immediately settled down, albeit in a rather reluctant manner.

"Are you sure about this?" Megatron asked. Optimus nodded grimly. His 'feelings' had been wrong before, but this time, there was no other choice but to let Soundwave go by himself. And that, Optimus felt, would end very, very badly.

'Kill me now!' Bumblebee wailed. 'Already caught in a trap!'

Soundwave must have made some kind of silent order once again, because the two minibots headed toward Optimus. The bird-thing and the cat-thing compressed themselves into two little capsules and leapt into Soundwave's chest.

Without further ado, Soundwave grabbed Bumblebee by the shoulder and shot into space.

"Megatron."

"Yes?"

"I think I just sent Bumblebee to his death."

Cliffhanger for you all…if you want it to be. I hope you all liked this chapter; please review!