"Gotta… find... him"

"There's …nothing …here"

"Where…are…you…"

"Decepticons, ATTACK!"

"AHH!"

Optimus Prime woke with a start, and sat bolt upright, panting heavily. There was a beep from beside him, and the Autobot looked down. The yellow Minicon, Sparkplug, was standing on the edge of Optimus' recharge platform, looking up at him with concern in his blue optics. The smaller robot beeped again.

"No, I'm alright Sparkplug. It was… just a nightmare."

Beep, beep, beep.

"Yes, I'm sure."

- - - - - - -

Ah, the sounds of battle. Is there any other sound like it?

As Optimus and the other Autobots hid from the Deceptions' fire behind several large rocks, he figured that there probably wasn't.

"Damn!" The young Autobot beside him cursed, grasping at a burn on his shoulder. "Lousy Decepti-rats!"
"Take it easy Hot Shot." Optimus urged. "It's only a small burn."
Hot Shot pouted. "Still bloody hurt…"

Optimus sighed and shook his head. "There has to be something we can do here. The Decepticons obviously haven't gotten the Minicon yet, but they don't even seem to be looking for it either…"
Optimus peered over the top of the rock as there was a pause in the attack. The Autobot leader frowned. Megatron was not there.
"Where is he?" he mused.
Optimus realized what was going to happen about a moment too late. The Autobot heard Hot Shot gasp, then a soft 'tink' as Megatron pressed the barrel of his cannon against the back of his head.

"Greetings, Optimus Prime." Megatron hissed gleefully.

Slowly, Optimus turned around, and looked up at Megatron.

"So." Megatron cooed. "Ready to die, old friend?"
Optimus frowned. He hated it when Megatron called him that.
"Not just yet, Megatron."
"Too bad." The Decepticon said with a sneer, cocking his weapon and preparing to fire.
Not now… Optimus thought desperately, trying to find a way out. I can't die now…I can't leave the other Autobots just like that…

The sky rumbled.

"Goodbye, Prime." Megatron hissed, pulling the trigger.

The air crackled, and a flash of light tore between the two leaders, sending them flying apart.

After coming to a dusty stop and sitting up, Megatron looked back at where Optimus had been cowering moments before.

He saw the Autobot sitting a short distance away, looking about him curiously. He almost looked like… no… Megatron shook his head. He must be mistaken. The Decepticon leader gat to his feet and moved closer. He blinked. His optics hadn't been deceiving him! Optimus was… fading away!

Optimus looked around. Everyone was looking at him strangely. He looked down at himself. He was see-through! And, becoming more so by the second! Optimus winced as a massive pain chose that moment to well up behind his brow. He tried to stand up, but found he didn't have the strength. So, he just sat there, until, finally, he passed out, and vanished.

There was an eerie silence.

Megatron looked around. The Autobots still seemed to be trying to figure out what happened.

What I wouldn't give for a good reason to withdraw right now… The warlord thought.

Suddenly his comm. crackled to life.

-Megatron!- It was Demolishor. -We have located and secured the Minicon sir!-

Perfect.

-Then let's withdraw at once.-

And then, that's just what the Decepticon did.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And lo, that was Chapter 1.
As you may be able to guess, this is an Optimus fic. I wub Optimus -

The chapter isn't very long... yeah, sorry about that. I'll write the next chapter real soon. Now, I know those people who follow my stories are all like "RAR! Why are you not updating your other stories! We've been waiting forever!" right now, but I have just a wee bit of a block. And then I had this idea, so I went for it. Can you blame me? I really wanted to have the next Cybertronian Alliance chapter up before Christmas, but alas, it was not to be. At least you can all take solace in the fact that it's going to be longer chapter than the others. (It's not finished and is ALREADY heaps longer. )

I don't own Transformers, but it's be cool if I did. -