'Their planet is- it's gone… Just- wow.' Things were starting to make sense. Deeper inside his processor, his 'logical side' spoke.

[Analysis… Incomplete.] If an AI could sound frustrated, this one did, [Data: Required.]

Error ignored the 'voice' in his head, being too busy proverbially sweating bullets at his realization.

These very dangerous and very emotional sentient alien robots had, essentially, taken him hostage and there was jack all he could do to stop it or get away.

The red and blue mech with an aura of authority - probably that 'Optimus' fellow, but he couldn't be certain - knelt before him, clearly having gotten used to talk to those shorter than him. He spoke in a deep voice that Error would probably have found comforting had it not been on a combat-trained warrior that could easily punt him to the moon if he so wanted. "What is the designation of this planet?"

Error had to take a moment to process exactly what was being said to him and how to properly respond. "You mean Earth?" Error asked in surprise, cycling his optics. At the slight confused tilt of the warrior's helm, Error realized his mistake and said the question again, this time in Cybertronian.

It looked like 'Optimus' was trying the word before he spoke again. "This planet is known as Er-th?"

"Add an 'a' there, big guy." He said quietly to himself, forgetting his situation for a second. When the mech with combat training raised a brow, Error reiterated with a stutter, "P-Pretty much, just add more of an 'ur' sound."

This time Optimus managed to say "Earth" correctly and Error gave a faint ghost of a giggle that died as he reminded himself where he was. It wasn't a good idea to laugh at a guy a good twenty or so feet taller than you.

"Very well, then. What else do you know about this planet?" This mech clearly was the leading officer of this group, as the rest of the group seemed more than trusting in Optimus' abilities by leaving him alone with Error, an unknown factor.

[Warning: Entity has been identified. Chosen of Primus. High Command. Practice caution.] "Chosen of Primus", seemed like a religious title almost, and by what his battle computer was telling him, this mech was deserving of respect and fear. His battle computer, as rudimentary as he could use it, was telling him that there were no visible weaknesses to exploit. That fact alone made Error quake in his armor.

And so, Error didn't lie to him. "Quite a bit. I've been here all my li-function, sir." His vocalizer wanted to switch back to English mid-sentence, but his processor caught up before it actually did, "I've never been anywhere else." The mech trailed off with a nervous fizzle of static.

He was starting to get uncomfortable on his knees, so he sat down fully on the ground. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, as his knee joints sloshed into the rising mud and puddles underneath. [Reminder: Abstain from threatening postures. Entity Threat Level: High.] 'Sitting is fraggin' threatening? You're kidding me!' He mentally groused.

The large red and blue mech looked somewhat surprised. "You have truly never seen Cybertron?" There was a melancholy way to how the leader spoke those words, as if not really processing part of what he said. Maybe it was just the rain's dreary effect on the leader. Maybe because they had just recently lost Cybertron.

Error didn't quite know what to make of it, so he just shook his helm. "No sir."

Optimus gazed down at Error thoughtfully. Before Error had the chance to feel uncomfortable, Optimus stood up. The black mech half expected the leader to offer a helping hand like a human would.

[Warning: Caution advised. Distance necessary. Threat Level: High.] Error immediately jerked back his wayward servo and got up on his pedes, also taking a step back if only to satisfy the voice.

The leader was still looking down to Error as he said. "I will be honest with you, youngling, I do not trust you. The Decepticons are numerous and vary in size," He vented lightly. "But you have the necessary skills we will require to contact this planet's government."

[Translator: Required.]

Yeah, he figured.

"You need a translator, right?" Error would've never thought he would be an Alien Translator when he was human. 'It'll look amazing on my resume.' The black mech thought bitterly.

'Optimus' - he still didn't know his actual name- gave a pause to think about it before agreeing, "Essentially, yes."

Error gave him a look. "I'm not exactly in a position to say no." He finished, splaying his servos out to the side for emphasis.

Optimus shifted slightly in his armor even as his faceplates were neutral, Error's battle computer noted. [Entity: Chosen of Primus. Status: Uneasy.] It seemed almost amused, as if the military leader who took you hostage being uncomfortable was funny.

"I… suppose so." Without any warning, the large mech transformed into what almost seemed like a big-rig, but not quite. It had sharp edges to it that human vehicles simply didn't have. "Please do not try and run. I would prefer not to use violence." Error recognized it as the thinly veiled threat it was and shivered accordingly.

Absolutely aware of how scared and small he was, Error just nodded meekly, shifting back into his vehicle mode. He almost whimpered at the spike of pain that followed. 'Right; I got shot.' The thought and injury only enforced the threat. The 'Chosen of Primus' started off back the way the Cybertronians had come from and Error followed a respectful distance behind, though not enough to make it seem like he would run away. Again, rocks and other things pinged and scratched his undercarriage. Some of it even stuck. Overall, it felt disgusting for the youth.. He was sure that even if the ground wasn't so muddy he would still be caked in dirt.

He was really starting to hate off-roading.

They had been traveling in relative silence, weaving through trees before Error decided to ask the golden question. "Who are you mechs?"

"We are Autobots." The truck-but-not-really said, as if it explained everything. Well, maybe for him it did, but for a youth that had only stories from his sister, it didn't explain anything.

"So… the good guys?"

The mech said nothing. 'Touchy question then.'

"...What's your designation? I said mine, so it's kinda only polite to say yours back." He immediately gave himself a mental slap. 'Good manners don't apply to kidnappers!'

By some miracle, the leader actually entertained him with a response. "Optimus Prime."

Silence again, leaving Error only with the sounds of the rain and bird calls until they reached a clearing. Blinking again, Error realized that it wasn't actually a clearing, but a really long trail of destruction. [Analyzing…] Scorched and ground-up earth were all that remained in the wake of something huge. Nature tried to coat over the damage with puddles, but even this seemed too much to recover from. There was a great crackle of lightning, as if mother nature was mourning over the loss of life.

Error suddenly slammed into the bumper of Optimus. "Ow! What the-"

"What was that light?!" The mech honestly sounded concerned, going so far as to transform and scan the sky, his frame rigid and tense. His optics darted around the open sky and thankfully empty sky.

Error transformed as well, looking at Optimus as if he had grown another helm. "U-um, what do you mean by 'that light'?" The black bot looked around, not seeing what Optimus was so clearly concerned about, "I don't see any lights-"

Lightning roared once more, striking across the sky with the ferocity of a pouncing wildcat.

"That!" Optimus' rumbling and dignified voice sounded anything but dignified in that moment, something Error was sure he would not hear again in his function.

Realization set in and laughter threatened to spill out his mouth. But, thankfully, Error managed to hold it in, as the leader would definitely not find the situation as amusing as Error did. That urge to laugh instantly died off when Optimus changed his arm into a blaster.

He hurriedly lept to explain. "M-Mr.Optimus, that's 'lightning'. Y-You don't need the, uh, blaster." When Optimus didn't put away his blaster, Error continued. "It's really not needed."

His sister had never told him of an incident where a bot was zapped by lightning before.

Then again, he didn't talk with her much anymore.

[Threat level: High.] His internal voice chirped.

"A-ah. Alright then." Optimus paused, faceplates not revealing his thoughts before he transformed and drove on, surprisingly deciding to trust Error on this strange matter. Error was easily able to catch up with his faster and smaller frame, only faltering from the slight pinches of pain from his offlined door sensors.

Error's optica caught sight of a large structure at the end of the blackened path. 'Must be it.' The small amount of amusement circling in his circuits moments earlier vanished completely, anxiety quick to take it over. Error had no idea what that thing held, but that blue femme was probably nearby it if that was their base. He didn't want to face her again if she was going to hurt him.

"I-is 'Arcee' there?" He wanted to sound confident, but his vocalizer changed that of its own volition, leaving the question as a meek plea.

Optimus gave a pause before answering. "I… apologize on Arcee's behalf. We have all been under a great deal of stress, but that does not give us the right to yell at another bot for our problems. Arcee herself will most likely come to you herself and apologize - she truly means well, but she, nor anyone else, is quite stable yet," The leader sighed deeply, "...Myself included."

"Ah…" That did not spell good things for Error.

They were quiet until they arrived at their destination.