A/N: There IS a logical explanation for this fic, I swear... somewhere... I promise...

My first (and hopefully the only for a while... I'm too eager to start ambitious projects and never finish any of them) long Transformers fic. It's a prequel that won't completely fit with any of the official continuities, for reasons which will become obvious (hopefully) within the first two chapters. Probably even this one. But I hope that it will prove enjoyable for you as well as for me, because I HAVE actually done my homework and have even started drawing up character designs. (There will be links because I think it would benefit the reader to have some visuals to work with, especially... later on.)

The Spark of inspiration came from Xahtonnoj... otherwise this wouldn't be a fic.

Enjoy.

The technological singularity is a theoretical future point of unprecedented technological progress, caused in part by the ability of machines to improve themselves using artificial intelligence.

It hovered in midair by its own energy, unsupported. How long It had floated there undisturbed was the subject of much debate. Archaeologists placed the Temple at around 20,000 D.E., but it was possible that the Temple had been built around It at Its first discovery, just as Iacon had blossomed around the Temple over two thousand years ago. No written records had been kept, or if they had, they had long since vanished into time.

No one knew who or what had created the mammoth cube. The strange symbols on Its surface had never been decoded, the dull golden metal that formed It never identified. No ancient legends told of It. Whatever It was, whoever had created It, whoever had found It in 20,000 D.E., It had been kept secret. The archaeologists who rediscovered the Temple and the artifact had never learned exactly what It was or what powers It contained. But in discovering the Temple and its inhabitants, human or otherwise, they had introduced It to the idea that there was other life on this planet, outside of the Temple walls.

And It had been eager to spread Its power.

After a brief period of chaos, Cube and humans came to an agreement of sorts. Under these conditions, the humans were granted the gift of advanced technology and their civilization flourished. Their greatest city sprang up around the It and the two fed off of each other in a symbiotic relationship. But It was both patient and subtle. Deep beneath the planet’s surface, great changes occurred slowly but surely. On the surface, Its chosen few… evolved.

Iacon, 292 G.E. (known in later calendars as 44 P.W.)

The Speaker called Snowstar stared unblinkingly at the Allspark, his lips moving silently as he communicated with It. Other Speakers surrounded the great Cube, all in a similar state of entrancement. The Allspark Itself glowed softly, humming. This unusual behavior was certainly what had prompted this immense gathering of Speakers.

Snowstar was the first to beak contact with It, his chest heaving and his odd, solid-blue eyes wide and panicked. “The second!” he cried. “The second is born!”

“Calm yourself, Snowstar,” the First Speaker said soothingly, drawing near. Her lined face was calm. “We should not be surprised. The first was over a year ago, and they are always close in age.”

“Brothers,” Snowstar said, as Speakers began to awaken en masse. “It said that they are brothers.”

“It told me as much,” the old woman answered, nodding sagely. “Such a thing has happened before, Snowstar. Put your mind at rest. We will seek out the brothers when our present rulers make their departure.”

“But that may be soon,” Snowstar said, still frantic. “And these two will be so young when they are introduced to It!”

The First Speaker nodded, her blue eyes vacant as she watched the Allspark. Its glow reflected oddly off her skin, almost as though it were somewhat metallic. “Always the young,” she murmured. “It prefers them. The curse takes easier hold on a body that is not as… set in its ways as a mature human. Our leaders are getting younger every time It makes Its choice…”

“Soon we will be ruled by children,” Snowstar said. “But doesn’t It understand that humans can’t live like that? Rulers must be trained, taught. They must be mature.”

“The Cube doesn’t understand our government, nor would it particularly care if it did, I imagine,” the old woman said, then gently chided, “and neither should a Speaker. Our concern is not with the affairs of our world as it is with others. The Cube wishes only to extend Its blessings. We are fortunate that It is willing to extend them only to very few. The Cube’s chosen may be honored as our planet’s rulers, but we Temple folk know the sacrifice that they make for us, to satisfy the Allspark’s hunger so that the rest of humanity may live on in peace and prosperity.”

“You make It sound… evil.”

“No! No, it isn’t. The Allspark is older than you and me, older than humanity itself. If anything, all It wants is to give Its gift. Humanity is not ready to be changed. The Cube doesn’t mean to frighten us, doesn’t mean to transform us. All It wants is to make us more like Itself.”

“It doesn’t understand.”

“Perhaps,” the First Speaker mused. “Or perhaps we do not understand.”

She turned away with a sigh, and Snowstar heard the grinding of gears as she walked away.