Transformers Prime: A Sparkling Issue

The bridge of the Nemesis was draped in its usual low sinister light. The door slid open and a long thin shadow stretched across the floor from the slightly brighter glow of the hall as Starscream entered. His scouting party also followed just behind. A few of the vehicons working the numerous control panels below looked up as the seeker strode by across the catwalk above. Small whispers began to spread among them as they nudged and pointed in wonder at the strange sight that met optical receptors.

The group of four vehicons paused a few steps back as Starscream went forward to the large silver frame that stood in portent silence, gazing through the warship's bow viewing windows.

Starscream bowed at the waist in a showy display to the back struts of the Decepticon leader. "Lord Megatron, I have returned from the scouting mission."

The silver mech made no movement, continuing to stand with servos clasped behind. "I had expected you to take longer." It was almost said with a note of disappointment. Starscream frowned slightly but said nothing to it. "So, have you find any signs of energon deposits?"

"No, my liege, but I have found something much more interesting."

"Oh really?" came back a bit flat. The massive frame turned to face the seeker commander. "And just could you have possibly found that would be so interesting to me?"

Starscream grinned. "Oh believe me, Master. This you will be." He stepped to one side, a long arm sweeping around in gesture for his party to come forward.

The vehicons approached; each held a tiny figure in their servos which they held out, presenting them to the warlord. Four sparklings looking about with frightened optics, curled into themselves.

Megatron's optic brow quirked up in surprise. "Sparklings? Here? On earth?"

"Not just any sparklings, my liege."

"Explain."

"If you examine them closer you will see that they are indeed the Autobot members of Optimus Prime's team."

The red optics widened; first surprised, then skeptical, then curious. Megatron looked again. The sparklings cringed back with frightened whimpers as the giant frame hovered over. The colors, the features, the optics; young as they may be, there was no mistaking them.

"Fascinating!" hissed in a whispered vent. "How could this have been done?" A claw-like digit came up to stroke at the warlord's chin. "Since our last encounter with them, we have not seen any trace of the Autobots. Therefore, it must have happened during that time. But how?"

Starscream gave a mild shrug. "I'm afraid there was nothing unusual in the vicinity to account for such a drastic change. Perhaps they've developed a new type of serum?"

The silver mech's optics narrowed at the stupidity of the question. "And just why would the Autobots create such a formula? It would not be to use on Decepticon, as it wouldn't be their style."

A shadowy presence could suddenly be felt and Megatron turned to find Soundwave beside him. The screen on the surveillance chief's face booted up. On it a replay of recorded video footage began to show, ones from the battle in the canyon nearly a week before. From Soundwave's point of view, images of parts of the battle as the Autobot's fought for control of an object. He paused, the image of his own servo holding what the battle had been all about.

Megatron's optics lit with understanding. "Of course. This must have been caused by the relic. That flash of light perhaps when it fell ... manipulating time through living matter. There's no other explication for it." He gazed long at the paused image of the pyramid shaped relic on the silent Decepticon's face screen. "If this device can do this to such a team as Optimus's, it could prove to be a powerful weapon indeed."