Rubs servos together.
Let the magic... begin!
Thank you to Son_Of_Optimus_Prime for naming this chapter.
Thank you to Labana for being a demo reader.
________

Gudrat, India, Earth
Cycle: day

A human walked through the warm marsh like territory of India. Gudrat was warm and a predator was hungry, she was hunting the human.

Wildcard pounces and pins the human on the ground, crushing his skull under her servo before he can really scream. Her dermas pierce his chest so that she can drain his blood. She hasn't had a meal in weeks.

She finishes her meal with a slight groan of pleasure. After a second of thought, she wonders what to do with the body. She picked it up and walked a slight distance, then set the human down. She began to dig a small trench. She carefully slides the body in and covers it with the dirt.

Even some monsters have compassion.

She looks around and wipes her faceplates with a small smile, delicious.

It was the animated urge to feast that controlled Wildcard. Yes, it resulted in a search for a body every few weeks.
The pitiful human authorities thought they were facing a serial killer rather than a vampire-istic cybertronian, but why cross hairs?

____________________________

Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Cycle: day

A mysterious young girl was walking through the small festive centre of the newly civilized Nashville. She looked at everything around her, taking in as much as she could. She was fitted with a stylish country outfit and a western hat.
The girl, Stone, bought a quick snack before going back to walking around.

Across the road from the girl, a young gentleman with a gravelly voice was talking with a group of people at an outdoor standing table.
His short cut hair with a streak of red along the side stood out from the rest as there were no accessible barbers in town. His torn up leather country jacket hung loosely as it adjusted every few seconds to accommodate for his over exaggerated hand gestures.
Stone glances over towards the group. Her ears caught glimpses of their obnoxious but secretive conversation. She tilts her head and tries to listen to what they were talking about.

"You saw what-"

"Hell! Even we don't kill that many-"

"Oh, shut it, they aren't real-"

"I ain't got any credits. You?"

"Meh, we have a few pot loads-"

After a few minutes, the conversation died down. Around the table, each person threw in their money to share the bill. Three members walked away in sync, anger was written all over their expressions.

The gentleman leaned against the table, his other hand held a concealed bag. He started whispering to the woman beside him, taking glances every now and then at a few other people at the table next to them.

"Good. You better keep 'em safe, our kingdom relies upon it's delivery."

____________________________
Exterior Outposts, New Order Kaon, Cybertron

Mirage stood back to back with his partner Arcee as Sharkticons surrounded them.
(Season four fans be like: (シ_ _)シ
(/——)/(シ_ _)シ(/——)/)

"Well! It's now or never!"

The Sharkticons lunge at them. Mirage phased through them as Arcee jumped up into the air and fired blasts at the slower ones.
Arcee landed on top of one and engaged her blades. Slicing through two at a time, she slipped past all their attacks and returned them with kicks and slashes. Her agility shined as she did a triple flip and took out three of them. Mirage didn't have a chance to get more than three downed before all the aggressors littered the ground with their bodies.

"Holy scrap... you sure you joined the military for the training?"

Arcee was panting and a deep laceration on her hip caught Mirage's attention.

"You're hurt."

"It's nothing, " Arcee waved him away before looking back at their outpost station, "Just be glad it was only brainwashed minions."

Mirage tilted his helm,
"Brain?"

Acree shook her helm.
"Sorry, it's a human term."

"Right." Mirage crosses his arms as his servo glitched out furiously.

Arcee raised an optic ridge.
"Are you okay? You're glitching pretty bad."

Mirage looked at the malfunctioning servo.
"Yeah, I guess we both need repairs."
He winked before walking back to the outpost. Acree followed him smirking.

____________________________
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Cycle: day

Stone watched as the gentleman gently patted the woman he had been whispering to. The woman looked terrified as she watched the man walk away from the outdoor club. Stone got curious and decided to follow him. Volt discreetly follows him, oblivious to Stone's presence.

The gentleman made his way towards the railroads. In the blink of an optic, a western hat appeared in his hand and he placed it on his head.
Volt smiles a little and tries not to chuckle. Stone smirked as she saw that and kept following him.

Voltera Storm is dressed in long cagey bell bottom pants with a red and white checkered shirt, tall brown boots peak out from under them.

As the man neared the railroads, a small stable came into view. It could only be considered a boarding stable by it's spectacular structure and marvellous decorations.

In front of the stable, a quarter horse gelding stood hitched to the fence. Restlessness evident by his head tossing, his owner hadn't done more than throw the reins over the fence and leave. it seemed slightly strange that the horse hadn't run off.
The gentleman unhitched the quarter horse, undoubtedly his, and began to climb on.

Volt reaches out a hand and calls out
"Sir! Might I have a word?"

From a little ways away, Stone sneaked into a barn. She decided to deactivate her holoform, the helm of her Cybertronian form peaked out of a nearby barn as her holoform fizzled out of existence. She watched them curiously.

The gentleman is in the middle of adjusting his seat but looks over at the woman.
"Ah, of course me lady."

Volt smiles a little bit and holds her hand out towards the mounted man.

"I'm searching for the others like me. I don't know if you can tell but I am rather out of place. "

His horse starts to get anxious and he tugs lightly on the reins, successfully calming his steed down.
"What do you mean? I ain't any different than you. We are all humans, are we not?" His voice grew tight.

Volt looks up at the red jet and nods.
"Ah... I must have the wrong person, I must go... My holoform is taking its tole on me."

Stone slowly walked out of her hiding spot, grinning as she approached them, "Finally, someone Cybertronian."

The man looks at the Cybercat, he is trying to look as confused as possible but he is not doing a very good job at it as he thinks of all the possible things he could have done to blow his cover. He stayed quiet despite his gelding's anxious behaviour.

Volt jumps a little. The red jet that was above them dives into the near by woods.
"Primus sake keep it down and get in your holoform! We are almost in the open! What faction are you?!"

Stone rolled her optics, " I am a Decepticon, miss "

The horse shakes it's head, a hot mist blows from it's nostrils. It is trying to remain calm for it's master but it's flight instincts threaten to take over.

Volt jerks a little, "You need to go! This is Neutral territory and I won't hesitate to get rid of you!"

"Faction? Decepticon? What the hell is goin' on?"

The man is attempting to keep up his confused persona but it begins to fade away.

Volt looks back at him "You didn't have the hat five minutes ago. Name's Voltera Storm, you are safe here."

Stone, again rolled her optic's, sighed and lashed her tail, "Whatever, I'm just glad to see actual bots like me."

Volt looks at Stone, "As for you.... you have to leave"

The horse tosses it's head and begins to prance in place. The gentleman pats his neck and sends reassuring body language. Like his holoform, the gelding wasn't actually a real organic life form.

"Fu- I don't know what you are talking about. You can take anything in the saddlebags but don't hurt anyone."
He tosses the saddlebags to the ground.

Volt smiles up at him and nods "I just want to talk to you in an alt."

Stone huffed, "I only wanted to talk"

Volt looks back at Stone again, "Listen, I only take in Neutrals. You can tell the cons to stay out of here, this is my land."

"I haven't even gone to Megatron yet, in fact, I don't know where the hell he is, " Stone said as she held her ground.

Volt huffs, "I'm talking about all your kind... even Starscream if he's still alive... and if he is you can tell him I'm still mad,"
(Hey! That's racist)
She paused,
"Cause I know he'll ask you."

Stone froze...all HER kind. She was one of the nicest Decepticon's. She huffed and lashed her tail angrily, "you know what? Tell him yourself, " she said.

Volt snorts, "Nah, I'll let you Cons deal with your ranks. I'm staying away from all of you."

"Next time I won't be so nice. I was trying to be kind, but, oh well " she shrugged then took off before they could say anything more hurtful to her.

Volt snorts a little and turns back to the man, "I've heard rumor that someone was undercover here."

He dropped the confusion act. His horse pawed at the ground.
He sighed "Fine, I am undercover but I am not alone. If ya trust me, I'll show you where we're based."
He reached out his hand and silently signalled for Voltera to take it.

____________________________
Oral Mountain, Siberia, Earth

A small village of Russian human survivors was the only thing that broke up the white and grey of the eternal winter raging on the mountain. In the village, a little shop was at full capacity as the villagers celebrated their survival with a feast.

In the back, away from the dancing floor, two men with arctic fox fur coats sat at a table.

"My trine have been working hard for days on end to harvest those last veins. When are we going to get our pay?"
The shorter of the two pounded his hand without much force against the table.

"You will get your pay soon, comrade, we are all trying to survive this. We just need to get the package before the dark portal opens again. In order to do that, we needed the Energon and I am grateful for your trine's help." The white-haired man replied.

"You know, we didn't need to help you, but my sister insisted... She said we could finally go home. Is that true?"
The shorter man tensed up.

"If we successfully receive the package, all the kingdoms will be saved."

"Hey! Care for some drinks?" The two were interrupted by the booming voice of a villager.

"Uh, no thanks, comrade. We were about to leave."

The tallest of the men got up and headed towards the door.

"Oh. Why leave so soon? The party has barely begun."

"He's had a pretty rough day. Thank you kindly good sir."

The shorter man tipped his insulated hat to the villager before following his ally.

They exited the shop, the streets were empty except for a few kids running around playing.

"It is safe for us to go back now."

"Uh, what about them kiddies?"

"Their parents would never believe them. Let's go."

The taller man fizzled out of existence, followed by his ally.

Closer to the edge of the village, two jets rised to the sky. They took off towards the flat lands beyond the mountain.

A woman with white hair, pale skin and ruby red eyes peeked around the corner a little ways away. Snowdrift had been following them in her holoform, only watching and listening from a distance.
Surprise was written all over her expression. She was shocked to see that they just kind of disappeared, but it had confirmed her suspicions of what they are.

Should I follow them or will they come back?

____________________________
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Cycle: day

Voltera takes the man's servo with a grin. "I'd be honored!"

He pulled her holoform up on the saddle with him. His horse went from anxious to calm in a mere second. Voltera seems to know how to ride a horse because she throws her leg over the side of the saddle and gets comfortable.

The gentleman is impressed by this but thinks no more of it as he asks his horse to walk on. The loyal steed doesn't seem to mind the extra weight and goes straight into a purposeful walk, then a jog, then a lope.
As they sped up Stone chased after them, she is careful to activate her holoform and stay out of their sights.
They rode out of the rebuilt town and into the rubble of what was once a beautiful city. Most of the buildings had collapsed during the great earthquakes and destruction that ravaged their planet not too long ago. Some of them were rebuilt, they scattered the area.
The horse continued along a somewhat clear trail as the destroyed buildings began to space out. They didn't stop until they were in a clearing.

The gentleman's horse slowed to a halt. It's nostrils flared as it anxiously waited for them to dismount.

Stone stayed to the shadows, watching them.

He pats the steed's withers in gratitude and slides off his back.

Volt smiles and her fingers brush the steed.
"Where are we?"

"This is home!"

He throws his arms up and his holoform fizzes out of existence. The sudden exclamation doesn't seem to startle anyone. Volt smiles and gracefully slides off the steed.

From a demolished ruin, a Cybertronian mech with a bulky grounder frame jogs forward and jumps over a massive crack in the earth's surface. He walks smiling towards Volt, he is much taller than her but not for long. The steed phases out of existence.

The holoform of Volt phases out and a seeker steps from the trees. Her vibrant red frame catches his optics. He hides his thinking with his smile as he tries to place where he remembered her from.

"It is nice to show myself to one of my own." Volt says, her smile is prominent and compliments her appearance.

A Cybertronian equiniod twice the size of Volt walks up to her and starts sniffing.
The mech rushes forward slightly.

"Oi! She just got here, you don't need to be up in her space, Carmen."

Voltera puts a servo on her hip and glares at the new cybertronian, "That's rather rude you know?"

The equiniod Carmen stops and stares intensely at her. He is on guard and his protective plating lay flat against his protoform in a defensive manner.

Volt stares back with the additude of a scolding mother.

"I apologize for my friend's behaviour. They don't trust new Cybertronians easily. Especially fliers."

Volt nods, "I don't trust walkers but you don't see me acting so rude."

He pats Carmen's side.
"Yeah, about that... I am Razor Wing. This is Carmen. It is a pleasure to have you in our presence-" Carmen huffs, interrupting Razor Wing.

Volt nods and gives a slight bow, a common seeker greeting of respect. "Voltera Storm, Seeker, assassin, neutral."
Her wings flick slightly.

Razor Wing finds himself trusting her more than he should. Her soothing voice and precise phrasing are pure indication of said trust.

"I have a feeling you two are going to have a tough time getting along... anyways, the others are not here right now as they are out scavenging. Is there anything you would like?"

She shakes her helm and smiles, "I am just grateful to be with my kind."

Razor Wing smiles in return.
"Of course. Then you will be delighted to meet the others. We only have one human charge and one Roboid. The others are grounders."

Volt nods and sighs slightly, "I am grateful."

"So, do you have anyone else accompanying you?"

"No, I am by myself now..."

Stone flicked her tail as she continued to listen in on their conversation from her spot in a shaded bush.

"But that's okay, I can do good things by myself."

Razor Wing thought for a moment, nearly spacing out, but Carmen broke his trancelike thinking by pushing their helm against the mech.

"Well... I guess after everything that has happened on Cybertron we have all wanted to be alone at some point. Please, allow us to talk in a more private area. Humans can still come around that destroyed building and see us, even if they're blind."

Volt nods, "A lot has happened"

Razor Wing returns the nod and climbs onto Carmen. He whispers something in Maximal to the equiniod.

Volt follows, her wings keep flicking up and down.

Carmen huffs but continues onwards. First at a slow walk and then speeding up as the ground began to flatten out. Volt dases after, very quickly for running.

Stone followed them quickly and quietly. She is careful to remain hidden but to keep them in view.

Razor Wing shouted a phrase in Maximal to Carmen and the equiniod immediately halted, nearly causing the mech to fly over top of him. Before them, an almost completely intact building stood proud among the devastation around it.

Voltera looks up at it and admires it, "It looks strong"

From the building, a Cybertronian grounder emerges. They looked tired and miserable.

Volt has a look on her face that looks like she wants to make sure they are okay, but she holds back.

"Who's that, Razor Wing?" The new Cybertronian inquired.

"Voltera Storm, Aqua Charger, Aqua Charger, Voltera Storm."

Volt flicks her wings with a smile, "Please, call me Volt, Voltera is what my sire used."

"Nice ta meet you, Volt." Aqua Charger says quietly.

Razor Wing nods. He will need to remember that.

Volt smiles, "The pleasure is mine Aqua Charger."

Aqua Charger barely shows any body language to portray happiness, not even a smile.
Volt's wings flick slightly.

She looks at Razor Wing, "Have any other seekers been found around here? A red and black mech or a white and black femme?"

"I am sorry to say no one else other than us and a few stray Cybercats have stayed here. I do, however, know of a trine staying in the tundra with my old friend. I am not sure if that helps you at all."

Volt nods and gives a worried look, "We will have to see... I was separated from my trine and am searching, " She brightens up abruptly, "Or rather seeking!!!" She laughs a bit.

Razor Wing laughs slightly at the pun.
Aqua Charger perks up upon hearing her find humour in her past. Hope of having someone else to give advice on how to recover fills his mind.

Volt chuckles again, "Okay that was the best joke I've made in years"

Carmen huffs and trots around them. Tossing his head as he went. He is trying to mock his own species to get a reaction out of Razor Wing. Aqua Charger walks in front of the equiniod hoping to have himself run over but Carmen jumps over him. Razor Wing tried his best to ignore the beast.
"Well I hope you make more soon. Amber 'll love 'em once she meets you."

Volt smiles, "I am sure that I will enjoy my stay here."

Aqua Charger jumps when the loud ring of his comm interrupts the conversation. Carmen stops trotting and walks over to his depressed friend. Razor Wing turns towards them as he receives the same ping.

Volts wings jerk up with anxiety, "Is everything alright"

Aqua Charger began to shake, his door wings flicked up and down as he tried to calm himself. It only served to concern Carmen of his condition.

"Oh I feared this day..."
Razor Wing whistled to Carmen, who in return run over to him and prepared for him to climb on.
"When you arrived on earth, you didn't happen to come through a portal, did you?"

Volt shakes her helm, "N..no! I've been here as long as Megatron.... I was his mate and when the war... We came here and then I left to strike on my own"
It is obvious that she is leaving a large chunk of the story out.

"So you don't know where to go..." It was Aqua Charger that mumbled.

Volt looks over with a pitiful look on her face, "I've never known"

"I see. Well, you have been kept in the dark. Climb on, Carmen may look like he can't hold much weight but he can hold the two of us, "
He looks at Aqua Charger.
"You know where to go, let's move!"

"Wait, Razor Wing, what about Amber?"

"She must have gotten the comm too. Amber will catch up."

Volt is nervous and confused. Her wings dropped.

"Look, I'll spill everything I know on the way."
Razor Wing says as he pats the spot behind him on Carmen. Volt nods with a hesitant look.

Razor Wing shouts a phrase in Maximal and Carmen takes off at a canter.

Aqua Charger transforms, forgetting about his work placement all together and speeds past them. Volt holds on tight as Carmen's steady pace quickens.

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So, dear readers, that was the first chapter.
Feel free to leave your opinion in the comments as I am sure everyone who participated in this collaboration would love to hear it.
More updates are to come.
-OpticsEdge