(A Transformers RID short story)

         "What do you mean the signal just disappeared?" Bumblebee asked Fixit, who was rapidly typing away at the keyboard. 

         "Look, I know I clutter... flutter... STUTTER! But I'm pretty sure I was very clear earlier. It was a Decepticon signal, but it just vanished!"

This caused much concern as the young leader began to pace. No one had escaped, Megatronus had been defeated, with the help of Optimus of course (currently standing by, allowing the leader he left as a warrior to figure things out himself), so what on Cybertron could this odd signal be?

         "And you're sure it was nearby?"

         "Unfortunately," the minicon sighed as he tapped a few more buttons, "and I can assure you that all captives aboard the Alchemor have been subdued, I can go over the list if you'd like."

Bumblebee stated that it wouldn't be necessary, since the quirky bot triple checked each time he had the chance.

         "We should check the perimeter," Strongarm suggested, stepping forward.

         "Shouldn't we all stay here though?" Sideswipe countered, "We don't know what 'Con this might be." 

         "For once I agree with the most reckless of us all," Drift admitted, "We do not know how strong our foe may be."

They all looked to Bumblebee, who heard them, and was deep in thought, wondering what his next decision could be. He looked to Optimus, who simply shook his helm, a silent word that it was not his place to interfere.

     A simple deduction could be made to know that setting guards would at least be a smart idea, and that going into a fight blind could be suicide. If this bot was smart enough to completely hide their signal, they might be smart enough to get into the junk yard. They couldn't risk the lives of Russel and his dad. 

         "Let's set guards on each side of the junk yard," Bumblebee ordered, "That way we have optics on all sides."

         "Brilliant plan!" 

They all looked to the main walk up to the Alchemor, finding a bot they didn't know.

         "And who might you be?" Fixit questioned as the rest of the bots drew out their weapons of choice, but the femme simply sauntered up to the group, a smirk on her scarred faceplate.

         "This s'posed 'Con you're look'n for," she snickered, "Sorry 'bout that, my signal's been on the fritz of late," she hit the sparking Autobot symbol, aware of the wary gazes from the main group that didn't know her right off the bat, but was glad that they at least put down their weapons, that meant that she didn't have to pull out the plasma pistols on each side of her hip plates, partially hidden by a long tan trench coat, complimenting her dusty pink armor colors.

         "It's good ta see a familiar faceplate though," she looked to Optimus, and tipped the cowboy hat towards him.

         "It's  been a long time, Shadow Wrangler." Optimus smiled.

         "Wait, the Shadow Wrangler?" Bumblebee looked back at the femme, who merely nodded as she looked back to Optimus.

         "Been a long time, half-pint." 

Everyone looked to Optimus, this new bot obviously being several helms shorter... The Prime merely smiled.

         "I didn't think I would be able to see you again, Care Taker."

         "Care Taker?" Sideswipe marveled at this little fact, "Wait, that means she's older than you?!"

Strongarm punched him in his side, and the mech grumbled at the sudden pain, Shadow Wrangler merely laughed at the sight, having to straighten her cowboy hat as she let the sound of her mirth simply roll out.

         "Yes indeed-ee, this big lug here was j'st about the rowdiest spark you'd ever seen! Wouldn't listen, always hassl'n the other care takers b'fore his frame was complete, then I came along."

     Soon the entire team was enthralled with the new comer's stories, Bumblebee the most considering he had obsessed over the legend of Shadow Wrangler. Taught the old ways of living, similar to that of the human's Cowboy days, Shadow Wrangler was known for her wild adventures hunting down outlaws on Cybertron, being offered the title of Prime several times, and each time she turned it down, claiming that it was an honor, but also a huge weight she didn't want on her shoulder plates. But most weren't interested in this part of her story, they wanted to know of what Optimus was like as a spark, fresh from the Well.

         "There was this other time he decided ta' use up all ma' energon," the older femme looked to Optimus with a smile, faint, but it held much emotion, "poor tike was spin'n for days! When his energy craze was up, he was fine'ly placed in his body, and I'm sure ya'll know the rest."

         "But, how did you go from as rowdy as Sideswipe to... well, you?" Russel asked, having been introduced to Shadow Wrangler earlier, "No offence..."

         "It is quite alright, Russel," Optimus assured, "but I'm afraid that wasn't the end of my shenanigans. Shadow Wrangler left out that I was still with her for many a cycle before I became the mech most know me to have been."

         "Come on now, half pint, some stories are meant ta' be kept as sweet mem'ries, not the usual fodder the kiddos throw around."

Optimus nodded his helm as he went quiet, and the older femme seemed to remember something as she bolted from her sitting position onto her pedes.

         "Oh shucks, I fer'got 'bout ma' dogs!"

         "You mean the Unicron Hounds?!" Bumblebee's optics lit up, and bounced on his pedes like some kid.

Shadow Wrangler ignored him, and put her digits to her intake, making a sharp whistle that made most everyone there cover their audio (ears for the one human present), except Optimus, who smiled as the shrill sound stopped, and for a moment, all was quiet.

         "Did-"

Shadow Wrangler shushed the yellow leader, and the silence lingered for another minute, before trees in the distance began to shake, some being pushed out of the way, but not knocked down as eerie howls filled the air, making the circuits of the team prickle. 

         "Come on, ya varmints!" the femme hollered, and there was no need to open the gate as three mechanical beasts leaped over the wall, creating the ground to shake as they landed, and Russel had to be held up by Fixit on the platform. One dog-like creature had a whip made of large barbed wire in his metal maw, his build looking like that of a Great Dane, Shadow Wrangler took it, and attached it to her hip plating, below the plasma pistol, before bending on her knee joints to pet the creatures, the second being the twin to the first, and the third resembled that of a Greyhound, all having deep purple optics, that of Dark Energon. She pet their heads as they seemed to smile, large teeth as sharp as Drift's blade, made to cause damage. She pointed at Optimus, and all three dogs recognized the Prime, though he had changed much, but they saw differently then any normal creation. Optimus had to use most of his strength to keep them from knocking him over as he chuckled.

         "I've missed you too, old friends."

They stopped their attack of dog kisses when Shadow Wrangler had made a short whistle, and they all sat in front of her, faced toward the group who were more or less terrified, though Bumblebee was a little braver, since he was inching forward, smile wide.

         "These two here be Bot-crusher, an' Bot-muncher," she placed a servo on each of their helms, both mechanical beasts lolling their glossa's out as they mimicked panting, "and this here little one goes by Bot-hunter," the Greyhound like bot wasn't smaller by much, but the other two could still easily over power it, "And here ya see the infamous Unicron Hounds."

     Bumblebee once again marveled at the fact that he was able to see, in real life, one of his idols, as well as her ever feared Unicron Hounds, the only known creations that have direct ties to Unicron since their creation, and the only proof the crazed demon had any want to create life. Shadow Wrangler was famous for many things, but taming the once feral hounds was one she was most famous for, having been offered the title of Prime for this endeavor. 

         "So," Grimlock started, trying to get what he wanted to say to sound right, "You're some kind of legend, right?" Shadow Wrangler nodded, "How come I've never heard of you then?"

         "Yeah, me too," Sideswipe announced.

         "Oh come on, you had at least learned about her in Cybertron History," Strongarm folded her arms across her chassis, looking to Sideswipe. Shadow Wrangler was given the title equivalent to Sheriff back on Cybertron, so she had learned the stories twice going through her training as a peace keeper.

         "And that is why I've never heard about her." he shrugged, earning another hit to his side.

         "I do believe you are the only ones who are in the dark on the matter," Drift told the two bots, "even I have known her stories, albeit some are rather far fetched."

         "If ya want I can fetch ya some proof," Shadow Wrangler cackled, "but you've fergotten lil' bits over there." She pointed at Fixit, who froze on his way down from the computer area of the Alchemor.

         "Uh, I'm sorry Sideswipe and Grimlock, but I do recall several of her adventures... e-especially the one where Shadow Wrangler fought against Motormaster."

         "Ah, sweet mem'ries," said femme chuckled.

         "What adventure brings you to Earth?" 

Shadow Wrangler looked to the excited young leader, her expression turning to a small frown, but the enthusiastic mech didn't seem to notice.

         "I mean, why else would you have come here?" he chuckled, scratching the back of his helm as he slowly realized her demeanor had changed upon his questioning, "Where ever you go, trouble always finds you, right?"

         "Perhaps you can help us if any more danger arises?" Russel said, becoming as excited as Bee was at the prospect.

     Shadow Wrangler's optics looked to the ground, seeing the three hounds she loved dearly, and shook her helm.

         "I'm sorry, kid," she sighed, "but I came ta' Earth hoping ta' retire."

Bumblebee's excitement left him, replaced by disappointment as a deep frown covered his faceplates.

         "Retire?" Grimlock questioned, "What for? From what everyone else says your adventures are fantastic!"

         "I agree," Russel climbed down from the computers, standing just a short distance away from Bot-hunter, who stooped down to take a closer look at the human, "Why end the fun?" He managed to pet the giant hound on it's snout, and the mechanical dog sneezed, sending dust everywhere.

         "There's a time in your life, where ya get old," Shadow Wrangler stated, "Ya can't do as much as ya want, yer joints are ache'n and your processor slows. Unlike ya'll, I ain't no spring chicken anymore. Ma' frame is outdated, ma' ways as well. I haven't returned to Cybertron for a reason, 'cause I have no place 'sept maybe talks at a museum or some-such thing. I'm noth'n but a dusty ol' relic to all them newer models. Like your Dinobot pal said, Grimlock right? I'm a legend."

Optimus set a servo on the older femme's shoulder, and she smiled up at him, patting the welcomed gesture as she sighed, and a melancholy atmosphere settled among the bots as they realized just how much this broke her spark.

         "That's not gonna happen here though, obviously," she gave a sad smile, "but, I guess, while I am here, I can give ya this." 

She opened a subspace, and took out a small glowing orb, something on the inside zipping to and fro, lighting the green container so that it looked yellow in certain places.

         "Remember this?"

He took it from her servo, and smiled at the simple toy, it's zig-zag pattern changing to show the beat of his spark, a steady rhythm that showed that he was very much alive, and under no stress.

         "Yes, indeed I do." he reminisced, "This was the only thing you could occupy me with when you were my Care Taker."

         "You'd stare at it for hours, reaching a little tendril of your spark to make it react to you." Shadow Wrangler chuckled, "I was hop'n I'd see ya sometime so I could give it to you. Now I have."

Bot-muncher pushed at his owner's stabilizer as he whined, and the other two looked to her with saddened optics, and she smiled sadly.

         "Welp, I best be on my way," she announced with a small smile, scarred faceplate changing from one of sadness to one of contentment as she took in the Earth's breeze that sang by, "Off ta find a better planet ta find my retreat."

         "At least let me repair your tracking symbol," Fixit offered, "I can do it tick... slick... QUICK!" Russel had hit the minicon on his back, and Fixit smiled at him shyly in thanks.

         "Naw, thanks though. My next destination shouldn't be anywhere near no one, least no Cybertronian, anyway."

         "Won't that be dangerous? What if an old enemy finds you?" Bumblebee asks, "You'd have no one to help you."

To this, Shadow Wrangler smiled, the first smile directed to Bumblebee, and he stood their, somewhat confused. Why would she smile at the thought of meeting an old foe that may overpower her if she's becoming to old to fight?

         "Like ya said, wherever I go, trouble always finds me. But I reckon it finds you as well," she clicked at Bot-hunter, and the hound went racing down the walk and jumped over the wall of the junk yard, only to come back from some unknown destination, a cowboy hat in his metal maw. The Unicron creation let it go so his master could take it, and she looked to the helm covering, a distant look in her optics, "This here hat was the first thing I ever owned, earned it ma'self. It's been with me for cycles. I've been look'n fer the right bot ta' give it to, as the next Wrangler." She offered it to Bumblebee, who took it in awe as he stared at the helm covering, "this one here was given ta me by ma' teacher when I was just a wee protege." she flicked the hat still on her helm.

         "B-but... Shouldn't an honor like this be given to Optimus? You barely know me..."

         "Aw, but I know yer spark," she smiled, "you worry for your team, your enthusiastic, a good leader, and ya know yer history," she chuckled at this, "and you weren't afraid ta point out that I might need help in the future, so you would protect those you know to be good as well. Optimus has his title, the title of Prime, that their hat gives you the title of Wrangler."

         "Wait, I thought that was her actual name..." Sideswipe mumbled, and Strongarm hit him again, making Shadow Wrangler chuckle.

         "There's a space there, short stuff, Wrangler's an old title, you're title is given ta you by what you do, or wrangle, in my case, I wrangled what lurked in the shadows: these three varmints." She pat their helms, bending down, but they only whimpered at her, and she frowned.

         "Then what were you called before your fame threw your designation into darkness?" Drift asked, and Shadow Wrangler stood back up.

         "That's a story for another time," she smiled sadly, "I best be shove'n off," the femme sighed, "don't wanna be here 'till the night comes." 

         "Will we see you again sometime?" Bumblebee asked, hat in his servos.

Shadow Wrangler had turned by that time, three hounds behind her, who looked back to the leader as she stopped, prancing in their worry for their master. She looked back to him with a sweet smile.

         "In another place, yes, 'Con Wrangler."

     The group bid their 'fair wells' as the femme went off into the distance, past the gate, and through the tree line, leaving nothing but her tracks in the dust, three sets of large paw prints just behind her. Bumblebee looked to the hat in his servos and placed it on his helm, hesitantly, a smile growing on his faceplate.

         "It fits you well, sir," Strongarm smiled.

         "Uh, that's 'Con Wrangler to you," Sideswipe snickered, and Strongarm hit him for the ump-teenth time.

They all looked to Optimus, who held the green orb in front of him, the yellow light going up and down, up and down in time with his spark beat. 

         "What's wrong Optimus?" Russel came to his pede, touching it, and the Prime looked down to the young human.

         "Nothing," he stated, "I'm just surprised that Shadow Wrangler wouldn't tell me of her condition..."

         "What do you mean?" Fixit questioned, "She seemed healthy enough, especially for a femme her age!"

Optimus took his attention away from the minicon, and back to the orb in his servo as he set it down on the ground. When he took his servo away from it, the yellow light made it's zig-zag pattern again, random and choppy.

         "Isn't that what it did when it was in Shadow Wrangler's servo?" Strongarm asked, and Optimus nodded, looking back to where the femme had disappeared off to.

         "Her spark has become to weak for it to pick up even a single beat. That's why the Unicron Hounds were acting up. They can see any bot's spark, and they saw hers start to fail before she left. Most likely she has a cloaked ship somewhere, with medical supplies for her condition."

With this in mind, the team looked back to where Shadow Wrangler had left, all with a new found respect for the femme, showing strength, when she was at her weakest point.

         "Optimus... what was her designation?" Bumblebee asked, his optics glued to the vanishing path as the wind blew by, covering the tracks.

The Prime was silent once more as he looked to the orb, and picked it up, the device finding his spark beat once more, and he too, looked to where his long time friend had vanished.

         "Some stories are meant ta' be kept as sweet mem'ries."

He smiled, remembering the first time she told him her name.

         "Call me Elita. Elita-1."

(I hope you all get it, cause I just about cried writing this. I also drew Elita-1 for the TFRID. The song above is what inspired her design. Thanks for reading!)