Author's Notes: Just a silly little one shot that I thought up after watching some of G1 with a friend of mine. This is not meant to be serious at all, but just a lil bit of fluff. Enjoy!

The Question

No Autobot knows who first asked the question. It should have been a simple, straightforward answer, but no one had that straightforward answer, so the question remained unanswered for vorns. There was plenty of speculation, and the guesses ranged from logical to farfetched. Each Autobot had his or her version of the truth, but to their knowledge only two Autobots in the entire universe had the real answer they sought.

What exactly was underneath Optimus Prime's facemask?

They called it the Unanswered Question.

Spike smiled at Carly. "I think you'll like Raoul. He's a nice guy once you get past all the street punk stuff."

Carly's returned smile was stiff. "If you say so. And you've already told me that Astoria takes getting used to."

Spike grimaced at the memory of Powerglide's human girlfriend. "Oh yeah."

The two young humans were standing in the cleared area just outside of the Ark's main hatch. They were waiting for Tracks and Powerglide to drop off the newest members of the Honorary Autobots, (as Sparkplug had taken to calling the kids) Raoul and Astoria. Raoul's use was in his knowledge of the urban underground and Astoria's fortune and business connections were invaluable to the Autobot cause. Chip was being brought by Bumblebee, and they were due to arrive with the others.

Carly's eyes brightened when she saw a familiar yellow shape. "There's Bumblebee and Chip!"

The yellow Bug stopped in front of them and Chip rolled out. One of the things he loved about the Autobots was their ability to accommodate his wheelchair easily. "Hi guys! The newbies here yet?"

"Nah, we're still waiting." Spike answered cheerily. "But they should be here soon."

It was at that moment that they heard the roar of a familiar jet engine. Powerglide swooped down and landed not far from them. Astoria climbed nimbly down from his cockpit and gave the assembled humans and Autobots a big smile. "Hi! I'm Astoria Carlton Ritz!"

She held out her hand and Chip accepted it. "Chip Chase."

Astoria glanced over at Carly. "Carly. Nice to meet you Astoria."

Astoria nodded. "So you must be Spike's girl! You've got yourself a good catch." she said with a wink.

Carly blushed and giggled. Spike looked vaguely uncomfortable while Bee and Chip laughed. They then heard the approach of another car. Tracks moseyed into the clearing, and the newest human jumped out of the passenger seat. "Man Tracks, I coulda run faster than you move."

"I didn't see you complaining on the way here." came the faintly upper crust voice of the Autobot. He transformed and nodded at the other humans and Autobots.

Raoul walked over to the group of humans. It was not lost onto any of them that he was possibly the oldest one there. He didn't know if he liked the whole idea of getting together with the other kids who helped out the Autobots, but after this chick Carly's nicely worded letter, he was curious to meet the others like him who had been adopted by an Autobot. "So, which one of you is Carly?"

The pretty blonde girl stepped forward. "Hello! You must be Raoul."

He grinned. "Yeah, that's me." He shook her hand and then turned to the other three. "Hi." he said as he took each of their hands in turn.

The five human children were still taking each other's measure when they all moved over to the area where Carly had set up a picnic. They sat down in a loose circle with Chip settled in his wheelchair next to where Raoul was perched on a rock. They were making inane small talk when Optimus Prime walked outside and spotted them.

"I'm glad to see all of you enjoying yourselves." he said. "It is nice to see you all acquainted."

"Yeah, it's pretty cool." Raoul said.

Spike laughed. "Yeah."

"Well, I will have to see you later." Optimus said. "There is something that requires my attention."

"Alright Optimus." Chip said.

"Be safe!" Carly called after him.

"I will!" Optimus said with a chuckle as he transformed.

The kids watched Optimus drive off in silence. It was Raoul who finally broke it. "You guys ever wonder what's underneath his mask?"

"What?" Astoria asked with a dainty sniff.

"What's underneath the Big Guy's mask! I can't help but wonder, ya know?"

The Autobot escorts gave each other looks. "Well, the thing is Raoul, no one knows." Tracks replied.

"We Autobots have been asking ourselves that question for years." Powerglide agreed.

The humans shared looks of disbelief. "He's never taken it off?" Astoria asked.

"Nope." Bumblebee answered. "We've seen Wheeljack without his, but no one's ever seen Prime without his."

"Well, except for Elita One." Tracks pointed out.

"Who?" Chip asked.

The Autobots realized that no one had ever told the humans about the lady Autobots. "Elita One is Optimus Prime's mate. She's a real nice lady." Bumblebee explained.

"She's also probably the only one to ever see Optimus without his mask." Powerglide added.

The five humans' jaws dropped. "There are girl Autobots?" Astoria asked.

"Yeah. There are quite a few actually." Tracks answered.

"There's Elita, Chromia, Arcee, Moonracer, Firestar . . ." Bee said.

"Ah Moonracer. I miss her." Powerglide stated.

Astoria turned on him. "What?!"

He realized his mistake. "Not what you think! She was my old partner back when we were on Cybertron!"

"That better be all that she is." Astoria growled.

"Settle down Astoria, last I heard Moonracer was head over heels for Prowl." Bumblebee confided with a snicker.

The humans didn't know this Moonracer, but they knew Prowl, and the idea of him having a lady friend made them giggle.

"So, what do you think is under the mask?" Carly asked Bee.

"I dunno. I always thought it was just a fashion choice." Bee said.

"I think it's because he's hiding a scar." Tracks put in.

Powerglide shook his head. "Nah, it's totally because he wants to look cool."

Spike wrinkled his nose. "So, do any of the other Autobots have ideas?"

"Really, bots tend to fall into one of three schools of thought: because he's hiding a scar, because he likes it, or because he's making a statement." Tracks explained.

"Making a statement?" Astoria asked.

"You know, fashion statement, trying to scare Decepticons, stuff like that." Powerglide explained.

Raoul nodded. "I think it's because he's making a statement. Scare the Decepticons with the expressionless mask."

"Nah, his eyes give him away all the time." Chip disagreed. "I think it's because he just likes it a lot. Maybe it's even welded on and he can't take it off."

"Totally to cover up a scar." Astoria stated. "He could be that vain."

Carly shook her head. "I agree with Chip. Spike?"

"I'm with Raoul. He would want to intimidate some Decepti-creeps!"

The humans were still embroiled in their friendly bickering when Optimus arrived back on base. The other Autobots barely gave him a passing glance, but then they did a double take. Optimus Prime was being escorted by a pink Corvette. "Prime, who's this?" Bee asked.

Optimus transformed, as did the Corvette. The humans were confronted with what had to be a female Transformer. Her shape was markedly different from a male's and her face was much more feminine. "Hello Bumblebee, Tracks, Powerglide. It has been a long time."

"Elita One!" Bee cried. "Good to see ya!"

"Elita! What are you doing here on Earth?" Tracks said.

The humans all stood and followed Bee over to where Optimus and Elita were standing. Optimus gestured to them. "Elita, meet our human allies, Spike, Chip, Carly, Astoria, and Raoul."

Elita knelt down. "Hello, I am Elita One."

Spike stepped forward. "Hi! Bee was just telling us about you!"

Elita smiled at the yellow Bug. "He was?"

"Yeah, he said you were Optimus' mate." Carly spoke up.

Elita laughed and stood back up. "I am." she stated and took Optimus' hand.

Astoria and Carly cooed while the boys looked uncomfortable. Raoul stared at the two of them for a moment before deciding to just go ahead with what he was planning. "Hey, Prime, we were also talking about something else."

"Yes, Raoul?"

"What's underneath your mask?"

Every soul in the clearing stopped breathing, and those that didn't breathe in the first place froze. All except Elita, Optimus, and Raoul. "You wish to know what is underneath my mask?"

"Yeah."

Optimus looked over at Elita and she smiled. Optimus then detached his mask from his helm.

Optimus' face was unscarred, and it was as handsome a face as a Cybertronian could have. His upper lip was slightly fuller than his bottom, and his face had the sharpness of age to it. "Why do you wear your mask all the time?" Raoul asked. "Bee said that no one ever sees you without it."

Optimus shrugged. "I've never seen reason to take it off except to consume Energon, and I usually do that before recharge. Although, several Autobots have seen me without my mask."

"Who?" Raoul asked.

"Elita, Prowl, and Jazz. Ironhide has seen me. So has Ratchet."

"Then why didn't they tell anyone?" Tracks asked.

Elita laughed. "I believe none of us have ever seen the need to."

Raoul nodded. "Okay, thanks for satisfyin' my curiosity."

"It was my pleasure Raoul. Now if you'll excuse me, Elita and I need to go talk to Prowl about something." Prime said as he turned. Elita nodded to them, and the couple walked inside the Ark.

This left the humans and the small group of Autobots to stare after them. None of them really knew what to say to that. "Well, I guess we finally know what's under there." Bee murmured.

"Why didn't anyone ever do that before?" Astoria asked.

"Do what?" Powerglide retorted.

"Just ask."

The Autobots shared looks, each one feeling more like a complete dupe than the others. "Uh . . ." Bee said.

"I guess no one ever had the courage to." Tracks muttered.

The kids laughed long and hard at the three embarrassed robots. In the Ark, Optimus Prime and Elita were chuckling for an entirely different reason. "Did you see Tracks' face when Raoul asked?" Elita snickered.

Optimus chuckled. "As the humans say, if I had a dollar for every time one of the Autobots finally asks me the Unanswered Question . . ."