A/N: So I just saw the movie, and this fic hit me at once. I had to write it, just had to. So I've been developing it in my head, and now here it goes. You'll have to work with me on this, as I'm still developing the idea. But I have enough that I think I have a good story and basic start to work off of. :) So be warned: there are some MAJOR spoilers. So if you have not yet seen the movie, heed my warning. Stop reading now until you get to see it.

A/N #2: My bad for the delete and repost. I put this in the cartoons section and not the movies section. That's what I get for posting it at 2AM.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Transformers, only Mark Savoy, and any other original characters who may appear.

PAIRINGS: Mentions of OptimusxElita, Mentions of HoundxCybertronian OC, eventual OCxOC (Mark and a female human), Mentions of SideswipexArcee

...

CHAPTER 1
The Aftermath

"I'm sorry for your loss."

It was all that anybody could say to young Mark Savoy following the death of his mother. But he had hoped it would have been a much longer time before he ever had to hear it about his father. Perhaps it wouldn't have hit the fourteen year old as hard if everything about Cemetery Wing hadn't come out, from a speech from the President himself no less. It was needless to say that he could not comprehend his fathers actions. To kill the Autobots, a group that Mark had idolized for their awesome nature when he was a child, and use them the way he did.

Mark closed his eyes, trying his best to push the thought of what he did to the back of his mind. He pushed his chestnut brown hair from his face and squinted his dark blue eyes towards the distance. He'd been on the run ever since that day, just him, a backpack with a few cherished possessions, and the clothes on his back. It was all he needed, he didn't need his father's secrets and lies, and he definitely didn't need the sympathy of a world that didn't truly care. He only needed himself, the number one in his life now.

The only person he knew couldn't lie to him.

Stuffing his hands into his worn jean pockets, he stared around quietly. He wasn't at all sure where he was, though according to the bus he'd taken to get away from his latest run-in with the cops, he had read it was somewhere in Texas. He sighed, he had certainly put more than enough distance between himself and Washington DC, and he was truly thankful for that. He sighed a bit, making his way down the sidewalk and staring around for the local eatery, spotting a small diner before he checked his pocket again for what little money he had.

It amounted to little more than his last five dollar bill, and some loose change. He grunted to himself, and carefully settled it back into his pocket. "Hey, kid." Mark turned his head to see an older man, by the looks of it, homeless "There's a soup kitchen about a two blocks walk down that way." He pointed in the right direction "If yer looking for something to eat, I'd head that way."

Mark was silent, frowning at the thought of eating in a soup kitchen of all places. "Who says I am?" He asked.

"You look and smell like you haven't showered in a month." The man replied, starting toward him "You don't think I know a runaway when I see one?" He asked, taking in the form of the young teenager "Kids like you don't last long on the streets, yer too scrawny." He reached forward, running a hand along his hair "Of course, supposing you get yourself a job..."

"If you even go near there I will kick you in the balls old man."

As if for emphasis, Mark kicked the man in the shins. He groaned, backing up a bit and staring into the eyes of the young boy. "What the hell?"

"You're probably a pimp, right? This is how you pick up new merchandise." Mark clutched his strap "I've run into a few of you on the streets, man. And I'll tell you what I told them. I'm packing heat, if you come near me, I'll make sure you won't get "pleasure" again." He stated, the man seemed to bumble a bit "So thanks for the information, but I'll find somewhere else to get my meal."

Mark left the bewildered man as he stuffed his cash back into his pocket. He let a chill run up his spine as he looked over his shoulder to make sure that the man was not following him. To his relief, the man had turned around and walked off. Mark was thankful that most creeps that were on the streets were stupid, or he might have not bought the same imaginary "gun" threat again. If there was one thing he definitely owed his father for, it was for teaching him to stand his ground and not let anyone take advantage of him.

He tried not to grimace at the very thought that his barbaric father had taught him anything. Making his way down the sidewalk again, he looked down at his feet and thought it over. Was there really a soup kitchen nearby? He doubted it, after all, the town seemed too small for homelessness to be much of an issue. But it didn't matter to him, what mattered to him was eating, and if his stomach got any emptier, well... It wasn't looking good. "Come on, big guy." He looked up at the sky "A little help or guidance here would be nice."

As usual, the big man upstairs didn't shine anything down, or offer him what he was asking for. Mark had a feeling that he had bigger things to worry about then some "lost cause" of a kid whose maniac father had committed mass genocide to a race of peace-loving robots. But he did keep hope, and at the end of the day, if he had hope, at least it was something.

...

"Like this?"

"A little to the left."

Hound leaned back as he watched the humans at work at the Yeagar's soon-to-be new residence. It had only been a few weeks since the battle in China, and Optimus Prime's departure from Earth, but it was still felt by all. In particular, the older mech worried for his adopted creation, Bumblebee, who seemed to spend most of his days in their new home base of sorts in Texas sulking. Yet time went on, and life did too. Joshua had gladly agreed to build the Yaegar's a new home which was coming along adequately while they had, of course relocated to Texas. It was their attempt to do as Optimus wished: looking after the family that protected them.

To be frank, with Galvatron on the run, and Lockdown gone, Hound found the whole situation boring. Quietly turning to Drift, who sat beside him on the hill just beyond the Yaegar's new home, Hound sighed. "So..." He stated, flicking his missile "cigar" slightly "What do you suppose we do about this whole situation?"

"We wait for Prime." Drift noted "He'll return someday."

Hound frowned, he had to admit, he had his doubts. If he knew anything about Optimus, until the bounty on his head was lifted, he was not coming back. And to talk to these so-called "creators" would most certainly be an issue all of its own. "I suppose it is all we can do, eh?" Hound noted "We're a gang without a leader, a home..."

"The government has promised to reinstate NEST." Drift replied "Without a doubt, we will soon find a home once again with the human military." He then added, opening an eye from his meditative state "No doubt you will get your taste of "action" once again soon."

"Like I'm going to trust the government again after all of this."

Drift stood from his stance now, and stared towards his comrade slowly. Hound knew it was a harsh sentiment. But given all they had been through, and all of the allies they had lost, he wasn't sure how he could trust the humans. "Give it time, Hound. Our foe, Attinger is no more." Drift told him wisely "The humans wish only for peace, as should you."

Hound flicked his "cigar" once again, before tossing it away. "We'll just have to see about that, won't we?" Hound replied, his optics lifted a bit "Hey, Drift, you getting that?"

Hound frowned a bit, the signal was weak, but he could still feel the signal. A new arrival? Already? Had Optimus not taken the time to warn any other Autobots that this was not the time to come to Earth? "Who do you think it would be?" Drift questioned, his own optics lifting "Surely, Optimus would not return so fast. Having only just departed."

"Of course not." Hound replied, running his internal scanners "But whatever it is, it's heading our way." He was silent for a moment "I'm gonna go check it out. I've got just enough ammo to take 'em on if they're a 'Con." He noted "You should stay here and make sure nothing happens to the family while I'm gone. Ye never know if they'll make their way back here."

"Of course." Drift replied "But why you?"

"Because I've got an arsenal and a bad mood." Hound snorted "I don't think any Decepticon stands a chance against that if it comes to that."

"Try not to do anything... Unwise."

Hound merely rolled his optics slightly as he transformed down into his large tactical vehicle form. He gave a calm rev of his engines, and tried his best to make a pinpoint of the location on his internal radar. "Don't wait up."

As he took off from the hill and onto the main road, Hound sighed quietly. Perhaps it was blind loyalty that made him wish that Optimus would be the one he was going to find. But even so, he did wish it. The Autobots needed their leader, and quite frankly, he needed his old friend back. He'd lost too much to the war already: his family, his home, and even his creation. To have Optimus figuratively lost to it too, well, to say the least it bothered him. "Ah, Hound, you sentimental old mech." He murmured to himself "Optimus wouldn't want this for you."

But it didn't keep the older mech from his sadness. It only increased it as he thought of what Optimus may be going through out there, in the stars. Had he found the creators? Had he already found out what it is they wanted? Or better yet, who they were? He tried his best to push his thoughts into the back of his processor as it drifted. Maybe all of this really was just a sign that in his older age, Hound was starting to think way too much. if the last option didn't make him feel like an old coot, he might have gone for that.

"Yeah, a little excitement might do me good." Hound muttered to himself as the town, and a large flying object came into view "Slag, where is that fragging thing headed?"

As he followed it, he could only hope his trajectory was off. Because if whoever it was landed in the middle of town, well, they were going to have serious trouble on their hands.

...

A/N: And so begins my first post-TF4 fic! Hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter. :)