Meanwhile, Ariel Renard was out taking pictures in a lakeside meadow with her dog Samson sniffing around curiously. 

“I think we’ve taken enough pictures for class, boy.” she said as he put her camera away into her single shoulder backpack before heading back into the forest. 

They got to the path which would take them to the parking lot, when through the trees she could see the road and saw a big pickup truck. It stopped a few feet away, but as soon as it did, it transformed into a giant robotic man with a mask and a blue helmet resembling a trucker’s cap. Ariel hid behind the tree as the robot walked into the forest looking around. Ariel wanted to rush towards her car, but she realized that Samson was not at her side. She looked around and saw him following Optimus. Thinking that only her dog would hear it, she took out the dog whistle and blew it. 

“Huh?” Optimus jerked his head around prompting Ariel to hide “...  Oh well.” 

He then resumed walking with Samson still following. Ariel stealthily followed while trying to signal to her dog to come over. When Optimus got to the clearing where they were before, he was even more mesmerized. 

“This world... what beauty...” Optimus walked up to the lake and put his hand in “So clean. I can see my hand even when in the water.” 

He gave a soft chuckle at a rabbit running across the grass. Listened intently at a bird singing in the trees. He closed his eyes and listened to everything with a look of peace. Ariel noticed how docile and sweet he was. He was not predatory. Just curious. An eagle flew overhead and circles while crying out which captivated the bot. 

Optimus looked up while walking “So majestic. Everything here is so beautiful. It truly is a para-” 

“STOP!! MY DOG!!” Ariel screamed. 

Optimus was about to put his foot down but then froze and looked down at the terrified bulldog who whimpered loudly in fear. In a panic, Optimus jumped back with his foot still raised in shock. 

“Oh! Oh! Ohhhh! Ohhhhh! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” the Prime fell backwards right into the lake as Samson covered his head with his forepaws. 

Ariel ran over and knelt to her dog, checking to see if he was alright before looking at Optimus was now sitting in the lake. 

“Oh...” he then noticed the human woman looking at him “Oh dear... this isn’t how I wanted my first meeting with a human to go...” 

They both looked at each other in silence before Optimus felt his cheeks get hot, and he got out of the lake shaking his feet. 

“Ahem! Pardon me. I didn’t harm your ‘dog’ you called it?” he asked. 

“You didn’t. Are you alright? And uh... what are you, aren’t you?” Ariel was fascinated. 

“Well, I'm not from here. I am from the planet Cybertron.” he explained. 

“Cybertron? You’re from another planet?! Wow! Never heard of that planet. Then again, maybe our satellites did and we call it another name though... We ever went past the Milky Way. That’s our galaxy by the way.” Ariel went on. 

“Milky Way? Sounds more like what I would call a cake.” he raised a brow. 

Ariel laughed out loud “Actually, there is and there’s even a candy called “Milky Way”.” 

“Speaking of names, I am Optimus Prime. Leader of the Autobots.” Optimus tipped his helmet just slightly. 

“Ariel Renard. You’ve met Samson.” she gestured to her bulldog “So what brings you to Earth, Mr. Prime? Are you an astronaut?” 

“No. We are seeking a... I must take this, sorry.” Optimus’ decals on his right forearm were lighting up and beeping before he lifted it up and spoke into it “This is Prime.” 

“Uh, Optimus, we have a situation. Ironhide is suffering from some kind of affliction.” Hound’s voice echoed. 

“What kind of affliction?” Optimus’ eyes widened. 

“He has this really bad and itchy rash all over himself. We’re not sure if it’s contagious, so he’s been quarantined for good measure. We’re at the medbay now.” Hound continued. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it, Optimus! We tried sonic showers, every ointment in the archive and even weird home remedies. Nothing is working. According to the big galoot, it all started when he waked into a field full of some kind of cutesy plants with shiny leaves that bunch in threes.” Ratchet added. 

“Leaves that bunch in threes? Leaves of three! That’s poison ivy!” Ariel gasped out loud. 

“Who’s there?” Ratchet heard her. 

“It’s Ariel Renard. We met by chance. Ariel, are you familiar with Ironhide’s affliction?” Optimus knelt so Ratchet could hear too. 

“Yes. That plant you just described is poison ivy. Hence its name, it’s a poisonous plant that causes you to break out in a terrible rash. He got it from that.” Ariel explained. 

“Ugh... And Lifeline insists on bringing all kinds of weeds back here... Please tell me that there’s a cure.” Ratchet lamented. 

“There is and luckily, there’s a shop nearby that sells it.” Ariel informed him. 

“Well, then, go get some!” Ratchet urged. 

“On it!” Optimus nodded and then outstretched his hand to Ariel “Well, Ms. Renard, Lead the way.” 

“Of course. We need to get back onto the road.” she instructed and ran forward with Samson eagerly following. 

Once on the road, Optimus stopped and took a moment to see if the coast was clear before stepping out. 

“Come on, Mr. Prime. My car is this way.” Ariel pointed and then realized the situation “Oh... right. Right.” 

Optimus chuckled “Yes, but we can still go together.” he then transforms into the pickup truck “Like this. Shall we, miss?” 

Samson jumped in as soon as the door was opened and Ariel followed “This is amazing and strange at the same time.” 

“Now, which way do we go?” Optimus face appeared on the screen dashboard. 

Back in Antarctica, Dr. Arkeville was completely mesmerized by the inside of the Nemesis like a child at a theme park. 

“Incredible.... INCREDIBLE!! And to think that I am the first to see it all!” he laughed while dancing. 

Shockwave’s avatar looked at the human scientist “Lord Megatron, while reaching out to a human to begin enacting our plan was necessary, was HE truly the logical choice?” 

“I know what you’re thinking, Shockwave, but trust me. He is exactly the kind of person I want working for me after seeing his profile.” 

“Did we read the same profile?” a red bot sneered upon reading it. 

“Now, now, Knockout. Our guest is right here.” Megatron turned to Arkeville “I can see you love technology, doctor.” 

“I do and you say you come from a planet full of this?!” the scientist grinned wide. 

Megatron looked sad “Came from a planet full of this. I’m afraid that my planet is dead.” 

“Oh... But then, why would aliens as advanced as you come to a planet as primitive as Earth?” Arkeville raised a bushy brow. 

“My thoughts exactly.” a winged gray and red bot snarked while another gray, purple and teal lady bot with wings shushed him. 

“Because a literal prophecy guided us here.” Megatron replied. 

“... That’s it? You picked THIS planet of monkeys that even I would leave if I could just because someone dreamed about it?” Arkeville frowned. 

“This planet is much more special than you realize thanks to this. Energon.” the Decepticon leader held out a shard. 

Arkeville picked it up and observed it with one eye “You mean quartz? Pardon me, Megatron, but unless your culture places a high importance on old fashioned watches, I’m REALLY lost now.” 

“Your people have yet to discover it, but energon, as we call it, is the ultimate source of power, and THAT is what our culture is based upon. Power. And it makes all the tech you see around you possible. This planet is overflowing with it and has the means to even create it thanks to all its natural resources. My kind has the means to help yours finally come out of the dark age, your planet has the power to make it happen. Help us get settled here and we will help you.” Megatron grinned wide. 

Arkeville crossed his arms “What’s the catch?” 

Megatron was stunned. 

“I'm not stupid, you know. There’s always a price beyond you're asking, so what is it?” Arkeville looked at Megatron straight in the eyes. 

Megatron laughed out loud “You really ARE a genius. Like I said, my planet is gone and we need a new one, so we don’t just want your energon. We want your planet.” 

“Well, what do you know? Science fiction gets that fact right about aliens. They come here to invade. I know most people would feel threatened, but after being under thumb after thumb of leaders who I wouldn’t trust to run a dishwasher, let alone a nation and less so a planet, how much worse can you be? I honestly don’t think you’ll be any less or more corrupt, dishonest or egotistical than anyone I voted for before.” Arkeville waved with his hand. 

“Ah, he knows you well.” the winged red and gray bot chuckled, but then everyone covered his mouth. 

“Shut up, Starscream!” Knockout looked frightened. 

“You’re more than welcome to be the master of this world. What I want is to be the master of all technology in this world and have the freedom to do what I please with it!” the scientist raised his fist while grinning. 

“Deal. Now.... Take me to your leader.” Megatron smiled wide.