Bumblebee's POV~ It started out as a typical Saturday afternoon back at headquarters. Smokescreen, Cliffjumper and Arcee went out for a drive, Jack was on the laptop messing around on that conspiracy website a lot of photos of me are uploaded, Miko and Bulkhead were watching monster truck rallies, and I was watching Raf race his miniature race car.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Ratchet conversed by the monitor, trying to figure out the reason why Megatron, or any Decepticon, hasn't appeared on the screen for the last few days.

The Decepticons have been quiet lately; I guess that's good and bad. Good because we won't have to worry about losing one another, and bad because we have no idea what they could be planning for their next attack.

I mean, it's not the first time Decepticons have laid low, but it still raised worry and suspicion. Especially, and understandably, for Optimus Prime.

I can always see the worry on his face, despite his excellence in hiding his emotions. Even now, looking at him, I see it.

He is a very strong leader who is respected, feared, hated, and loved. He hardly ever lets his emotions show, even for an instant.

I can understand that being a Prime can actually be very difficult; it's difficult sometimes for me to be a scout. But with being a Prime, you had to set a good example for those around you. You had to be an immovable stone in the face of a raging river. You could never falter, for one mistake could cost an ally their life. And we all know he's done exquisitely well in protecting us; aside from others, who have perished by Megatron's hand.

But I can't help but feel Optimus still takes responsibility for their deaths. The way it usually goes, when a team member perishes, the leader is at fault, but no one believes Prime is responsible.

He never openly claimed responsibility, but I guess he doesn't need to. I heard Raf speak to me and took my attention away from Optimus to my human companion.
That's when Jack got our attention.

"Guys!" he exclaimed. "Check this out!" He pulled up a photo on the main monitor, and we were all astonished at what we were shown. "I think it could be another escape pod."

Now, normally, one would think we were getting excited over nothing, but seeing a pod always raised our hopes of gaining a new ally.

From the photo, it appeared to be nothing more than a meteorite entering the Earth's atmosphere, but when Ratchet zoomed in on the photo, we could distinctly see the shape of a pod.

"Autobot or Decepticon?" asked Arcee, Cliffjumper and Smokescreen.

"From the photo's resolution, we cannot tell," Ratchet said, "We'll need to examine it to be certain."

Raf examined the area within the photo.

"That's a lot of swamp. Those are the Everglades in southern Florida! The pod must've crashed in the swamp."

"How long ago was the photo taken?" Ratchet asked Jack.

"Uh, a few hours ago," Jack answered.

"Knowing how barren the Everglades are, I'm sure it'll still be there."

"Ratchet," said Optimus, "lock onto the coordinates and activate the ground bridge." Ratchet did so and powered up the bridge.

"Just be careful," said Miko, "there are lots of gators and snakes in the swamp!"

"We will be just fine," Optimus informed her as we all stood in front of the bridge. "Autobots, roll out!" We all raced through the portal and landed in a wet, mossy, humid terrain.

Looking around, all I can see is water, tall grass, muck, and more water. The sky was a soft, bluish purple with a tint of orange and pink; the sun was setting, and the stars were coming out. The sound of buzzing, croaking and chirping filled our audio receptors; it was both peaceful and annoying. The insects known as 'dragonflies' constantly buzzed by my face. The feeling of muck underneath my feet wasn't very pleasant, but it beats walking over the fallen remains of your comrades.

"Be sure to watch where you step, Autobots," Optimus said.

"Don't have to tell me twice," Bulkhead groaned as he lifted his foot, which was covered in muck.

"Ugh!" I can't help but laugh a little as we journeyed towards the part of the Everglades the pod had landed.

Along the way, I noticed several, glowing eyes looking at us, and scaly bodies would emerge from beneath the muddy water. Some had thick bodies with muscular limbs and powerful jaws filled with massive teeth. Others had no limbs and were just a long muscular body with wide heads.

These creatures must be the gators and snakes Miko spoke of. The hard part was deciding which was the snake and which was the gator.

After a long walk through the marshes, we noticed a rag in the grass and muck that lead to a swampy forest nearby; several trees were pushed aside, as though something had plowed through them.

"You think it leads to the pod?" asked Arcee and I am fairly surprised she isn't bothered by her surroundings.

Optimus checked the tracks then looked onward towards the forest. Getting to his pedes, he headed in that direction and we followed. Luckily the muck wasn't as wet and slimy. Stepping over some of the fallen trees, we journeyed deeper into the forest until the tracks came to an end. We realized we had entered a clearing, and there at the end of the trail was the pod.

We were all baffled at what we were looking at.

"Uh...Autobot, or Decepticon?" Smokescreen asked.

I watched Optimus narrow his optics.

"Neither," was his reply. I concurred with him; the pod appeared to be made of pure steel, not Cybertronian metal. From the tip to the tail, it was covered in dents and dings. It must've taken serious damage throughout its journey. It must've entered a meteor cluster and got struck repeatedly. It was an awfully large escape pod, large enough to fit the entire team aboard. Outwardly, it appeared to be nothing more than a capsule with strange markings that ran along the side. None of us knew what they meant, leaving us unable to say where the pod came from. Optimus approached it, caution and curiosity shining in his optics. I can see he's very intrigued by this discovery, but he kept his fascination at a down-low so none of us could see it. He rested a hand on the surface and pulled it away.

"The pod is still giving off heat," he said. "It has only been offline for a short time period."

"Do you think someone could be inside?" I asked, but to my comrades' audio receptors, they only hear buzzes and bleeps, but I'm pleased to know they can understand me easily.

"Only one way to find out," said Wheeljack.
Optimus signaled up stand back and searched for the hatch; once it was found, he pulled it open. A loud hiss was heard as steam erupted from within. From what I could see, the steam didn't come from any damage, no doubt the air inside the pod reacting with the Earth's oxygen. Once the smoke cleared, Optimus leaned in slightly to get a closer look.

We watched him step into the pod, and what he carried out and held in is arms when he returned shocked us all.

◊◊◊◊

Optimus's POV~ I cannot hide that I was anxious to know what could be inside this strange escape pod. The fact that its origin remains unknown to us all and the strange inscriptions embedded into the metal only peaked my interest.

As I approached the pod, I held my hand back, signaling my teammates to stay where they are in case anything unexpected were to happen. Once I found the crease to where the hatch lined up with the wall of the pod, I gripped onto it tightly and tore it away. Steam hissed and poured out of the pod; my first intention was that there was a system malfunction, but from what I can see as the smoke dissipates, everything seemed in perfect order.

Cautiously looking around inside, I can say that the pod was safe to enter. Stepping inside and checking my surroundings as I ventured deeper into the somewhat large escape pod, I neither saw nor sensed any life forms. I then decided to check the cock pit. Making my way towards the front of the vessel, I noticed the cabin door was slightly ajar. Carefully nudging it open, I entered the cock pit, where two chairs faced the glass shield. I checked one chair and found it empty, then I checked the other.

That's when I froze.

There, sitting in the pilot's seat, was a very small femme, slumped down and unconscious. Her armor was a bright blue, white and golden. She had scars on her her neck cables, her back and her left optic. Examining the rest of her body, I noticed she had several wounds across her abdomen, her helm, back, arms and legs; thankfully, none appeared life threatening. Her body is coated in Energon. Most likely from heavy leakage due to her injuries. Examining her further, I came to discover, like the pod, she is neither Autobot nor Decepticon, for she bore no insignia. But I can say for certainty she is Cybertronian.

I needed to get this femme out of here. Very carefully, I wrapped my arms around her and cradled her. She felt very cold to the touch, meaning her pulse rating was faint. She needs medical attention and fast. In a slow, yet hurried pace, I headed back to where I first entered the pod and stepped out. My Autobots seemed surprised at what laid limp in my arms.

"Is that the only survivor?" asked Arcee.

"This femme was the only passenger on board," I replied.

"The only one?!" Bulkhead, Wheeljack and Smokescreen exclaimed.

"That's an awful lot of pod for just one femme. But just who is she anyway?"

The longer my teammates spoke, the colder I can feel this femme's body become. I needed to get her to Ratchet.

"Save your questions for another time, Autobots. We need to get this femme treated or she will perish." I activated my comm. link and messaged Ratchet to open up the ground bridge. Within a matter of seconds, one appeared.

"What about the escape pod?" Bumblebee asked.

"The pod is much too large to fit through the bridge," I replied, "We have no choice but to leave it here. The humans will think of a way to dispose of it."

"Dispose?" said Bulkhead. "Shouldn't we at least let Ratchet take a look at it, see if he knows where it came from?"

I sighed. There was absolutely no time for this.

"Autobots, move the pod out of the clearing and into the forest. We will decide on what to do with it later. I need to get this femme to Ratchet, now." And with that, I entered the bridge, leaving my teammates in the clearing, and stepping foot into our base.

Ratchet had the same expression on his face as the others when he first laid eyes on the femme I carried.

◊◊◊◊

Ratchet's POV~ When I had received Optimus's request for a bridge, I did have a hunch that they would return with something. Hopefully a survivor. I just never expected a survivor this small. But I was shocked for other reasons.

I can see the young femme needed immediate treatment and told Optimus to lay her down in the sickbay. I positioned her to where she'd be comfortable, even when unconscious, and did a brief examination.

"I need to clean this Energon off of her body so I can see how serious these wounds are," I said.
Optimus was courteous enough to find me a bucket and wash rag. I gingerly scrubbed away the dried up Energon, revealing the wounds they covered. They're mainly minor cuts and singes; the most serious injuries were to her abdomen, where a large gash stretched from one side of her body to the other, and the back of her helm, as if she took a heavy blow. I figured it was caused by the crash. I know it'd be best if I put her in stasis so there would be no interruptions during her recuperation, so I did just that.

"So, is she the only one you could find?" I asked Prime.

"She was the only one aboard the escape pod," Optimus informed, and I nodded.

"Will she be alright?"

"Her fuel reserves are at a critical low, causing her spark rate to deteriorate, but once I get fresh Energon pumping through her systems and she has plenty of rest, she should be fine when she awakens. Where are the others?"

"They are keeping the pod hidden from sight by hiding it in the forest. The pod itself is of unknown origin, we do not know where it came from."

This was most intriguing, indeed. A faction-less Cybertronian femme aboard a mysterious escape pod...Oh how it raises suspicion and the questions build up.

Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, Cliffjumper, Arcee and Bumblebee entered the base.

"We've successfully stashed the pod, sir," said Ultra Magnus.

"Excellent." Optimus looked down to me. "Whenever you get the chance, old friend, I would like you to examine the pod to see what information you can pick up from it."

"I'll do my best, Optimus," I replied, "but I'd like to wait and see what the femme has to say when she emerges from stasis, such as where she first came from?"

"Aren't you also curious about who she is?" asked Smokescreen.

I turned to them and glared. "And just look at the mess you three are in! You're tracking mud and water into the base—and whatever that is on your leg, Bulkhead!"

That thing, I'd been told once, was known as a leech, and the second Bulkhead laid his optics upon it he flipped out and panicked.

"Now, you lot get yourselves cleaned up! You, too, Optimus. I want you all spotless by the time you get back!"

Thankfully, they headed for the wash racks without question, leaving me alone with the young femme. I inserted an IV, allowing pure Energon to begin flowing through her starving body. I checked her vitals every once in a while, and each time I checked, they became more and more stable.

Once her systems have normalized, I sat her up in a comfortable position so when she awoke, she didn't have such a hard time trying to sit up. I wore a sad smile and shake my helm.

"Now, what are you doing all the way out here, young one?" I said in a whisper, resting my servo over hers.

◊◊◊◊

Optimus's POV~ I decided that I will watch over our new young friend through the night. Ratchet argued with me saying he should watch her, but I managed to persuade him in letting me take over. Sitting myself on the berth beside the femme's, I keep a constant surveillance. Her vitals remained normal, and the only movement I noticed were her pedes slightly twitching.

From where I sit, I watched her chest slowly rise and fall, her pedes occasionally moving slightly. She appeared so peaceful asleep. I, myself, have many questions for her, but the last thing I want to do is pressure her with them. She had just arrived, after all. I felt a growing compassion toward the femme spread throughout my spark, and yet I do not even know her. Well, that shouldn't seem surprising. I usually show compassion and concern towards any lost or injured life forms, especially towards young femmes and children. But this femme...I can feel she needed it most.
Reaching out slowly, I rest a hand on her shoulder; her core temperature is much warmer than it was when I found her. That is a good sign. Ratchet did an excellent job in treating her injuries. I have confidence she will be just fine when she awakens. Hopefully she won't be too startled by waking in a completely different place.

I suddenly feel the need for sleep overwhelm me; I've become exhausted just by watching this femme rest. But I know I must remain active in case there are any sudden changes in her vital signs, or if she awakens early. Any other possible situation, I need to be awake for when it happens.

◊◊◊◊

Arcee's POV~ I kept myself hidden from Optimus's sight, watching him looking out for the femme laying in the sickbay. I can't help but frown as I look at her; I can tell just by looking at her, she was strange.

A Cybertronian, neither Autobot nor Decepticon, in a bizarre pod of unknown origin. Wherever she came from, how she got there, and how she found her way to Earth are my main interests, aside from who the heck she is. I am certain many secrets are hidden behind those scars of hers.

I'll be honest, I thought for sure she was offline when Optimus carried her out of the pod. She had taken serious damage to critical parts of her body. She's lucky to still be functioning, even though she's currently in stasis and is barely moving at all. Despite her small size and timid appearance, I did have a slight caution towards her. Wherever she came from, could she be a spy? Plotting to steal information from us and take it back to her masters? I know it sounds ridiculous, but I can't just assume she is perfectly safe to be around.

I watched Optimus rest a hand on the unconscious femme's shoulder. Guess he is giving her sympathy? He's known for doing that a lot. I can easily see the need for sleep growing on Optimus, and I do my best not to laugh. Guess watching her sleep had made him sleepy, too. It is getting late, but Optimus had never given in that easily before. The femme must have a charm or something. Whatever. I did enough spying and headed towards my quarters before I was discovered.

◊◊◊◊

Ratchet's POV~ I smiled as I watched Optimus resting his head against the femme's berth, falling instantly asleep. I shake my head; Prime, you still got that soft side you've had since you were Orion Pax. That's the first time I've seen him do that in many, many years. Briefly glancing at the femme, I smile with a sigh. I cannot deny that I am just as eager as everyone else to hear all that's happened to her.

Turning away, I slowly make my way to my private quarters. My smile slowly faded as I journeyed to my berth in the darkness.

I do look forward in hearing your story, young one, but at the same time...I don't.