14.Jan.06 

Beast Wars Symmetries:

Curse of The Metal Beasts

By: Michael

Disclaimer: Beast Wars is property of Hasbro.

Lowland looked up. For the past hour, the dark-haired human had been staring at him through black lenses. Instinctively, Lowland could tell that this human was nothing like the other humans that surrounded him. Something seeping from his smell just didn’t seem right.

He had had enough. Standing up on both his feet, Lowland roared a challenge at his observer while pounding his chest. The other gorillas gathered around. They also sensed that something was not right.

The crowd was quite shocked at this display. Usually, the mountain gorillas did not display this much aggression. Today, however, something was bothering them.

Lowland beat his chest further while howling at the mysterious man.

“Whoa there, Lowland!” exclaimed his keeper. “What’s bothering you?”

Lowland turned around to see his keeper, Mr. Caney. Luckily for Mr. Caney, Lowland had formerly been a circus performer before retiring at the Crimson City zoo. He was more tolerant of humans than the other gorillas. Lowland especially liked his keeper, Mr. Caney who had over 25 years of experience being around dangerous animals in both the wilderness and in zoos. Finally, the dark-haired human amongst the humans outside their keep walked away.

Lowland grunted and decided to calm down.

“You could break me in half without trying,” commented Mr. Caney. That remark, however, went way over Lowland’s head.

Mr. Caney breathed a small sigh of relief as Lowland went back to courting the females in his group.

“Maybe I should go have a drink tonight,” he thought to himself, stroking his long bushy mustache.

After ruminating about it, he decided not to. After all, he was a notoriously honest drunk when he did get intoxicated. He didn’t want the boys getting embarrassing secrets out of him while inebriated.

Mr. Caney, unfortunately, took no notice of the man who was bothering Lowland.

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The gorilla’s section of the zoo was not the only place Tarantulas stopped at that day.

Other pit stops included the rhinos and the cheetahs. He glared derisively at the animals, observing their movements. It had taken him over two mega-cycles but he had finally documented the specimen he needed. The gorilla known as Lowland had been the blueprint for Optimus Primal’s beast mode.

In the cheetah’s enclosure, Tarantulas had singled out a young male named Yambo as Cheetor’s original “outline.”

While in the rhinoceros’ enclosure, Tarantulas immediately pin pointed a large, territorial male named Cerato. He was the design for Rhinox’s beast mode.

Megatron, curse him, had been right. These creatures were not native to the surrounding lands. It had taken Megatron’s quick deductions to realize that the Axalon crew’s beast modes had been gained from this very zoo. Tarantulas mentally cursed himself for overlooking the details of animal life on Earth’s ecosystems while Megatron had realized it before he had.

I must stay one step ahead of Megatron in everything! thought Tarantulas. For the moment, he was working for Megatron since the purple tyrant required his assistance.

And now, he realized which three beasts were the originals that the Axalon crew based ¾ of their members’ beast modes off of.

“Tarantulas to Megatron,” he said into his com-link. “I’ve found your animals and marked each of the three with a faint signal from my arachnid drones hidden within their enclosures. Come nightfall, they will be knocked out with a powerful dose of tranquilizers. I leave the rest to Waspinator and Terrorsaur.”

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Two weeks later.

Optimus Primal was flying home after a day of exploration. He found the people of this city to be interesting but he did not want to get too involved in their affairs. After all, he did not belong in human society. It was his job to explore and learn, but only within his limits.

He tilted his head to the side, observing a large sports complex, which was currently under construction. The dome was complete and as for everything else, paint jobs were not yet finished. What attracted his attention, however, was the sign pointing towards the large complex.

Coming Soon: Optimus Primal Sports Complex

Optimus flew down and looked around. There were no humans around. Quietly, he opened the door and snuck in. He surveyed the area for any signs of a possible Predacon ambush but so far, there was none to be found. Tiptoeing quietly, Optimus went towards the office.

 “We are still currently under construction, sir,” said the recreational director inside the office, “How exactly may I help you?”

Optimus was startled by suddenly being discovered. Shaking off his surprise, he transformed to robot mode and looked at the human.

“If you don’t mind,” said Optimus. “Where did you get the name for this building?”

An evil smile crossed the director’s face. “Come with me to the basketball court and I’ll show you.”

Soon they were inside the court. It was a very impressive place Optimus had to admit.

A cart of basketballs lay nearby.

“Let’s go a few rounds, shall we?” asked the recreations director.

“Err, sorry, I’m afraid I haven’t played ball for years,” lied Optimus, hoping to avoid any form of Earth activity that would expose his identity. He knew almost nothing of the sports on this planet.

“Oh, I wasn’t proposing a simple ball game,” replied the director as he immediately threw a punch to Optimus’ face that struck. Optimus was caught off guard completely and was even more surprised when the blow knocked him back 10 feet. The Maximal leader looked up. That punch actually hurt. He got to his feet warily.

“I’m not through with you yet!” cried the director as he dribbled a ball in his hand.

Aiming with inhuman precision, the director threw the ball straight at Optimus’s head.

The Maximal leader step sided it just barely. The ball grazed his shoulder and sent him spinning to the floor.

How can any human be so strong? wondered Optimus. He had no further time to think.

The recreational director struck him with a flurry of punches that sent Optimus smashing against the wall. He grabbed Optimus by the wrist and flung him over his head, slamming the large Maximal to the floor.

“I know who you are, Optimus!” yelled the director. “Megatron wishes to have your head!”

“The secret’s out!” growled Optimus as he spiraled around to grab the director by the collar, throwing him away. But the director landed neatly on his feet. Optimus turned off his hologram projector as well.

“Megatron wants your head on a silver platter, Optimus Primal,” explained the director.

He aimed at Optimus with his left hand. In a flash, the skin that seemed to cover his hand ripped open to expose a nasty looking machine gun. “Megatron’s orders were to bring you in either dead or alive. He prefers you alive.”

“Come get some then,” goaded Optimus. It was all clear to him now. The recreations director was an android!

The machine gun opened fire. From his training on Cybertron, Optimus Primal knew a thing or two about avoiding the lines of fire.

Running to the side as fast as his legs would carry him, Optimus ducked behind the bleachers. Bullets from the robot pursuing him ripped through wooden benches.

Quickly, Optimus went from one side of the benches to the other. The director was still on the opposite side.

Optimus Primal aimed carefully and fired. One shot from his wrist-mounted shotgun blew the director’s machine gun to pieces. Burning shrapnel now littered the ground.

In an instant, Optimus was onto the director. With one powerful uppercut, Optimus sent the director flying. The android soon smashed into the ground with a dislocated jaw.

Optimus grimaced seeing the synthetic skin hanging off the robot’s now tattered face.

“Who sent you?” he demanded. “Was it Megatron?”

The director no longer seemed functional. His eyes glowed however and turned into a holographic projector, flashing an image of Megatron’s face.

“What do we have here?” smirked Megatron’s unfettered visage. “Could it be that a spark-less robot actually gave the great Optimus Primal trouble?”

Megatron took the moment to look around the gym, rotating his holographic head 360 degrees. “I knew the name of this gym would attract your attention sooner or later.”

“We don’t have to be at each other’s throats, Megatron,” urged Optimus. “Surely we could find some peaceful resolution instead of blasting each other to bits.”

“You’re right, we could have a peaceful resolution,” smiled Megatron. “Help me take this planet and we will divide it into two kingdoms, one for yourself and the other half for me. For the time being before we go back to our galaxy, I’m more than willing to share with someone competent enough.”

“You know I can’t accept your proposal,” replied Optimus, shaking his head.

“It’s a shame, Primal,” said Megatron. “You are quite a brilliant commander. I will give you that much credit. Think of it… we could have the universe if we combined our wits and our know-how!”

Megatron, nevertheless, was the practical type.

“However, the years of brainwashing the Maximal Elders drilled into your core is quite too much for me to simply undo with mere words,” sighed Megatron. “For now it seems that we are locked into conflict… a conflict in which I have the upper hand.”

“I can see that,” remarked Optimus dryly.

“Right now Damien Enterprises, soon to be re-named Megatron Industries is under my control,” explained the hologram. “Every bit of this company belongs to me, be it legal or illicit. As an entrepreneur, I believe in starting small. In time, however, I will expand my control over this nation. Once the United States has fallen under my reign, I will expand to neighboring countries. In the future, a new iron curtain will fall over this world.”

“And I’ll be right there to stop you!” declared Optimus.

“Don’t make me laugh, Primal!” scoffed Megatron. “I’ve downloaded nearly every piece of practical information needed to thrive here. I know how its businesses, its legal systems, its infrastructures, its banks, and its people operate. You, with your lowly and mundane little existence hiding from the humans, can’t possibly stop me!”

As much as Optimus hated it, Megatron did have an advantage over them. It was anyone’s guess how much Megatron knew about operating on this Earth. Chances were, Megatron could easily back up any threats he made at this point.

“Should you ever change your mind, Optimus,” smirked Megatron, “I think you have my number.”

The hologram vanished and all was left were the remains of the broken android.

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“I was afraid of this,” said Rhinox. He had been examining the remains of the robotic director aboard the Axalon, which was now under the lake.

“Yes?” urged Optimus gently.

“Human technology has the potential to create robots and drones nearly as powerful as us,” explained Rhinox. “The one you fought wasn’t too advanced but knowing Megatron, he’ll create more powerful ones to replace it.”

Both Maximal scientists stared at the director. All the synthetic skin had been stripped off so that Rhinox could examine its technology more observantly.

“Lucky for us, humans don’t seem advanced enough to know how to break past their own evolutionary mental limits to create robots as powerful or as advanced as us,” said Rhinox. “So we can breathe easy for about a few earth centuries or so.”

“Still, Megatron’s ingrained himself deep enough into Earth’s society that it’s going to be quite a while before we can root him out,” sighed Optimus. “I’m not even sure our distress signal can break through the warp hole to contact Cybertron.”

“Hey!” came Rattrap’s voice from down the hall. “I think you’re gonna wanna see this!”

Optimus and Rhinox hurried to the screens in the main room to see what going on.

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“I don’t believe this,” grimaced Cheetor. He was sitting next to Jack and Luna watching the News 2 channel.

“In today’s news, Damien Enterprises’ management shifted as Charles Damien gave control of his company to someone else.”

On the screen, an unusually large man was standing besides the reporter and Charles Damien. Little did anyone know that the Charles Damien on-screen was really an android covered in perfectly duplicated synthetic skin.

“Mr. Michael A. Troy, do you have any comments on your new ownership of this company?”

“Megatron Industries is only a step in a natural direction,” said Mr. Troy, “I have designated many improvements in our robotics industries. It is time that we bring its technology up a notch.”

“That voice!” exclaimed Luna. Jack shivered next to her.

“Megatron!” growled Cheetor.

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The nightmare had not stopped for Yambo. Besides him, a gorilla and a rhinoceros were held. Hour after hour of agonizing tortures followed. Yambo did not know what was being injected into him but it gave him several hours worth of agony. He howled in pain as another electrical surge went through his body.

Several clips of film was played before his eyes… not that he knew what film was anyways. However, he was smart enough to deduce the images that were projected. He knew the picture of his tormentor.

It was another male cheetah just like himself. At this point, Yambo was not intelligent enough to know that the cheetah WAS in fact a duplicate of himself. Slide after slide flashed with the cheetah on the screen transforming into a mechanical creature of unknown properties. Yambo howled as more electricity racked his body. The cheetah in the picture transformed yet again into the metal monstrosity that haunted the mind of Yambo. It didn’t help matters that his eyes were being sewn open for this.

Anger overrode fear quickly as Yambo cried out. He would one day kill his oppressor given any chance.

He was not aware of it, but the gorilla named Lowland and the rhino named Ceratos were experiencing exactly the same thing as he was.

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“The surgery will follow shortly after the mutations,” explained Tarantulas.

“Excellent!” commented Megatron. “Soon, the Metal Beasts will be at my command!”

“Is this wise?” asked Tarantulas. “Even as cyborgs, they will be partly organic. Perhaps you’d prefer it if I constructed even more powerful androids for you?”

“A weakness in your eyes, perhaps,” explained Megatron, “but with their nervous systems intact, their bestial instincts combined with their new metallic components will give them even more heightened senses and reflexes!”

“Very well,” sighed Tarantulas. “I will not roboticize them completely.”

“Good,” said Megatron. “But continue their torture even before mutation. I want their rage to culminate before facing Optimus and his crew.”

Megatron strode away coolly as Tarantulas turned to the screens.

“Now’s when the real fun begins!” he chuckled sadistically.

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Three days later…

“Yesterday proved most disturbing,” said the reporter. “Sightings of strange animals roaming the area have increased. Yesterday, our local janitor from Crimson City High School reported being attacked by three animals. Reportedly, they were a rhinoceros, a cheetah, and some sort of ape, all of which showed uncanny intelligence for animals.”

Optimus’ eyes narrowed. “We need to have a midnight stroll.”

The three other Maximals agreed with him unanimously. The news they had heard was undoubtedly disturbing. When they heard that a cheetah, a gorilla, AND a rhinoceros were stolen from the zoo, they knew immediately that Megatron was behind this.

“I’m hurt! How come he didn’t take no rat?” wondered Rattrap loudly enough for everyone else to hear… perhaps a little too loudly.

Optimus and Rhinox glared him into silence.

“Okay… shuttin’ up now,” squeaked Rattrap.

“This is serious business,” said Optimus. “I don’t know for sure if the attacks relate to the three animals, but I have a feeling that they do. We have to beat Megatron and return those animals safely to the zoo.”

“Agreed,” said Rhinox. “If anything, I think Megatron expects us to do this.”

“Which is why we have to be prepared,” said Optimus. “It’s only a few more hours before sunset. I want you to get all your weapons ready. Hope for the best but expect the worst.”

“No problem, big bot!” exclaimed Cheetor. Rattrap gave a thumbs-up in agreement.

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It was a dark night. What made it darker were the clouds in the sky. An eerie silence pervaded the air as Optimus, Cheetor, Rhinox, and Rattrap trekked their way across the woods to reach the school secretly from the back.

“Be ready for anything,” warned Optimus. So far, there was a deathly silence. The only things they heard were the howling of the wind and the rustling of the leaves.

The moon was full. Cheetor looked up. He had read books on Earth that gave account to many inexplicable things happening during a full moon. From humans transforming into wild animals… to serial killers on the loose…

It’s a real Hunter’s Moon thought Rhinox. Something did not seem right. A gut feeling told him that things were not as they seemed.

Now they were in the middle of the football field. In the distance, they saw the police lines implicating a crime scene that happened. Luckily, there were no police around at this time of night.

But… there was Megatron. Standing before the four of them in the middle of the field, he smiled devilishly. He looked even more sinister under the glow of the full moon.

“Megatron!” snarled Optimus. Why is he still in beast mode?

“You must have a real death wish coming here without reinforcements,” spoke Optimus calmly. Megatron’s grin only widened. Optimus decided not to transform to robot mode unless Megatron made the first move.

“I gave Scorponok and those two idiots the night off,” replied Megatron coolly. An eerie roar was heard echoing across the field.

Before Optimus realized what was happening, two large hands smashed him to the ground. As he looked up, his head was stomped into the dirt.

“Big Bot!” cried Cheetor who was assaulted next. A huge clawed hand raked him across the face, tearing off the synthetic fur that covered his face. In a split second, gleaming fangs found their way around his neck.

“AAAHHHH!” roared Rhinox as a large horn slammed into him from the side, causing sparks and machinery to soar out. He was thrown violently to the ground.

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Cerato glared at the other rhinoceros before him. This was his tormentor… the reason for his pain! He would have his revenge NOW!

He stomped the ground, huffed violently and charged once more. This time, however, the other rhino transformed into the gleaming metallic monstrosity of his tortures. That hideous metal creature latched both arms around Cerato’s neck in attempt to hold him down.

Cerato roared and fought back violently. There was no way that he would lose, especially after everything he had been through.

Lowland roared a challenge as he launched himself at the silverback gorilla before him.

He threw the other gorilla to the ground and charged fiercely once more. But now… just as Lowland feared, the other gorilla began changing. He was no longer the gorilla that had caused his pain, but the grotesque fiend made of dark alloys. Lowland howled in pain as the monster twisted his arm behind his back. Lowland fought the pain in desperation, trying his best to break loose.

Yambo was thrown back as the cheetah under his jaws transformed into the golden anthropoid hunter that he so feared and despised. He was no exactly sure what happened but his tormentor produced fire from a strange weapon that burned the ground near his feet.

Yambo was thrown back momentarily but regained his balance. He charged once more.

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“My Metal Beasts don’t seem to be performing too well,” noted Megatron. “Perhaps it is time I utilized Tarantulas’ weapon.”

A small floating orb floated next to Megatron.

“Time to test your mettle,” chuckled Megatron as the orb acknowledged the command by flying towards the battle scene.

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“This ain’t good!” observed Rattrap.

The three creatures before him battling his comrades were hideous indeed. The small Maximal immediately deduced that these three were the animals stolen from the zoo. Now, they were nothing more than cyborg monstrosities mutated beyond recognition. They were nearly twice as big as they had been before. Armored plating covered patches of their bodies and their eyes glowed with an unnatural mechanical radiance. Rattrap noted with interest that the cheetah of the group was more anthropoid in appearance, standing on his two hind legs with crushing jaws that surpassed even that of a hyena’s.

“I can think about this later,” he thought as he transformed to robot mode. He had to help his friends now.

That was not to be, however. He was no sure if it was a malfunction but… now he was back in beast mode again.

“What the slag?” he cried. A large metal boot via Megatron struck him from the side and sent him flying into the air.

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Optimus had the cyborg down for good it seemed. In a second, however, he was forced to loosen his grip as his internal systems hissed and forced him back into beast mode.

He stood in shock for about two seconds. His opponent took the chance to bash him furiously across the face. Optimus tried to battle back but was soon overwhelmed. He was not used to fighting in beast mode and it was proving his undoing right now as the mutated gorilla began pounding him.

His attacker reached forth and grabbed Optimus by the skull with both hands, intending to crush it. What was once flesh and bone was now Cybertronian metal as Lowland used his hands to squeeze the Maximal leader’s skull with all his might.

Optimus Primal’s vision cracked as he strained to throw off his opponent. He saw in the distance Cheetor in beast mode being thrown around relentlessly. Rhinox hardly fared any better for lasers erupted from the mutant rhinoceros’ eyes and struck him on the side.

Rhinox cried out in pain but was helpless against the onslaught. He could not transform back into robot mode either.

The orb returned to its master after doing its duties. Megatron was pleased that night.

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Lowland howled as a high-level sound pierced his ears. He let go of his quarry to fight the torture. Soon, the same was happening to the other Metal Beasts.

Megatron’s orb was emitting this radiowave, stimulating the circuitry within the minds of the Metal Beasts. Only they could hear it, of course. The four injured Maximals fell back.

“Haha! The Metal Beasts are only a sample of my power, Maximals!” laughed Megatron. “Henceforth, you should heed my advice and surrender yourselves!”

Cheetor was panting hard. He had lost a lot of mech fluid. Deep cuts aligned his body from the injuries inflicted upon him by his Metal Beast counterpart. He looked at Optimus and Rhinox. They were hardly doing any better as indicated by the wounds they had received.

Megatron chuckled. He had the Maximals exactly where he wanted. Tonight, however, he was in a better mood than usual. After forcing the Metal Beasts to withdraw, he smiled at the four Maximals before him.

Perhaps I should replace those three buffoons with the Metal Beasts considered Megatron. Tarantulas is really the only Predacon I need.

“I give you one more day to consider joining my side, yeeessss,” declared Megatron. “Without a CR tank, you cannot replenish your robotic forms! I have more power and influence now than you can imagine! Make the right choice and we shall ALL be better off!”

Megatron continued to hold back the Metal Beasts as he watched the wounded Maximal team limp away.

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3:00 AM…

“What was that sound?” cried Mr. Caney. He heard something crashing through his lawn. He put on his nightcap and walked outside with a flashlight. His shock was immediate and rapid.

“LOWLAND! YAMBO! CERATO!” he cried. Sure enough, these were the missing animals he knew from the zoo sprawled out across his lawn. There was also an oversized rodent with them…

“So those are the names of the missin’ animals, eh?” spoke the large rat. Mr. Caney was taken aback. He had NOT expected this.

“Lowland… you… you can talk?” he stammered.

“Yes… but we’re not the animals you’re looking for,” said the gorilla that looked like an exact duplicate of Lowland. The large rhino that looked like Cerato carried an unconscious cheetah on his back that looked like a carbon copy of Yambo.

“Yeah, mind if we crash at your place?” asked the rat. “It’s gonna be mornin’ soon and we’re kinda injured right now.”

With his mouth still gaping in shock, Mr. Caney opened the door to allow the four Maximals inside.

As he got a closer look, Mr. Caney realized that these creatures were injured. Not only that, but steel and wirings shown on their wounds instead blood and flesh.

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Over the next two hours, Mr. Caney’s shock managed to subside somewhat. Everything he heard was very far-fetched, from how the Maximals and Predacons landed on Earth to the story of how the original three animals had been basis for the Maximals’ beast modes to how the original three had now been transformed into nightmarish parodies of what they once were.

“The nanites in our bodies take much longer to repair such extensive injuries,” explained Rhinox. Mr. Caney could still not get over how much he looked like Cerato, from the ridges on his eyes to the shape of his figure.

“And right now, we’re stuck in beast mode since it’ll be well past mornin’ by the time we get back to base,” said Rattrap. “Especially as injured as we are now.”

“I’ve studied animals all my life,” murmured Mr. Caney. “I never thought my childhood fantasies of talking animals would come true… in a way.”

“Right now we need your help,” pleaded the leader known as Optimus Primal. “We want to free the animals from Megatron’s grasp and we’ll need your help.”

The four Maximals looked at Mr. Caney, awaiting his reaction. Finally, after a few minutes had passed by, Mr. Caney spoke.

“Very well,” he sighed. “I’ll call in sick today at the zoo. If there’s anything I can do to help Yambo, Cerato, and Lowland, just tell me.”

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“Like all rhinos, Cerato is most likely marked by poor eyesight,” explained Mr. Caney.

He had brought out all his books and notes on the subject of zoology. The physiological descriptions he gave were the best he could do to help. He told the Maximals everything he knew about their species, from eating habits to conservation statuses. Optimus listened as intently as he could, absorbing all the information as quickly as efficiently as a computer processed documents.

Optimus, Cheetor, Rattrap, and Rhinox stayed within Mr. Caney’s house the whole day, learning not only about their animal counterparts but human society as well. Mr. Caney described to them how human society functioned. Rattrap and Cheetor were most interested in the subject.

Towards the afternoon, they were shown videos of gorillas, cheetahs, and rhinos in the wild. Rattrap stirred a bit next to Optimus.

“Call me crazy,” said the older Maximal, “but we haven’t learned any of these animals’ weaknesses though. Ain’t we gonna need that when facing them again?”

Rattrap did have a point, Optimus had to admit. So far, they had learned about the habitats, behaviors, mating rituals, and eating habits of these animals… but little to no actual information on how to pacify them. Optimus didn’t want to put their host in danger either. There had to be something that would help them in their goals to take down the Metal Beast while inflicting minimal damage…

By now, after several hours, their wounds were, for the most part, mended by the nanites within their bodies. It was going to be dark in only a few minutes.

Optimus looked at his crew.

“Any suggestions on our next move?” he asked.

“Umm, we could just shoot ‘em,” suggested Rattrap jokingly. That did not sit well with the people around him.

“Shut up, Rattrap,” glowered Optimus. Rattrap did as he was told for once.

“The problem is,” said Rhinox later on. “These animals have been mutated from their original forms to the point that they may no longer have any weaknesses we can ascertain. It looks like we can’t beat them the way we are right now. Our bodies have healed but our systems are still locked and we can’t transform to robot mode. Transformation is our only hope now.”

“Ya know guys…” commented Rattrap. “I did notice something about yer’ fights with the Metal Beasts before Mega-jerk kicked the slag outta me…”

“Yes?” asked Optimus. Rattrap smiled.

“Let’s start with the fight with your double, boss monkey…”

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“I’m sorry we’ve caused you such trouble,” said Optimus. He shook hands with Mr. Caney in goodbye.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Mr. Caney, smiling. “Just make sure to bring Lowland and the other two back safe and sound.”

“Optimus has that kind of effect on people,” chuckled Cheetor. Rhinox nodded in agreement.

It was midnight now and Optimus waved goodbye to Mr. Caney as they headed off through the woods back to base.

“Remember,” said Optimus. “Just in case we do get assaulted, you all know what to do.”

“Affirmative, Big Bot!” declared Cheetor. Ideally, the four Maximals wanted to make it back to base before any unpleasant situations occurred.

They walked for half an hour past a stream or two before an eerie mechanical roar unhinged them. Several growls followed.

“It’s them!” cried Optimus. “Run!”

All four Maximals bounded away from the sounds, which pursued them. The Metal Beasts were closing in and fast.

“On my back!” cried Rhinox as they neared an abandoned research facility within the deepest parts of the woods. In truth, it was not really abandoned. Megatron had this facility set up specifically for Tarantulas and his experiments. Tonight, however, Tarantulas was not even there.

Optimus and Rattrap immediately leaped onto Rhinox’s back as he smashed open the gate that stood before them. All four Maximals bounded in.

Rattrap was the first to leap off. As he accidentally leaned his right leg against Rhinox, he felt something strange. The small Maximal looked down to see a small, barely discernible device fixed on his side.

“A trackin’ device!” exclaimed Rattrap. “No wonder they found us!”

He threw the chip down and Rhinox stomped on it. Carefully, the other three Maximals examined themselves to see if they had any tracking devices. They had none.

“Megatron must’ve gotten it on me when he kicked me,” concluded Rattrap.

Optimus got off Rhinox and looked at the door. With one punch, he smashed the wooden door to pieces.

“Come inside!” he said. All four Maximals entered the large facility.

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Scorponok was ecstatic. The Metal Beasts were still thirsting for violence. And they would have their violence tonight. He controlled the Metal Beasts via radio transmitter, which hung on top of his head like a crown. Megatron had allowed him the great honor of controlling the Metal Beasts tonight.

He looked up at the research facility before him and the Metal Beasts. It was pathetic how the Maximals were now trying to hide. He had previously lost track of their signals but it was obvious enough that they were hiding in the building now.

“Come on!” he ordered. The Metal Beasts followed him within.

 “You might as well come out, Maximals!” shouted Scorponok. “Megatron said that you had one last chance to surrender or else the Metal Beasts will be unleashed upon you!”

Silence.

“Okay then! Spread out and find ‘em!” commanded Scorponok. In that instant, a heavy wrench was thrown from out of the darkness and struck Scorponok on the side of the head. While it didn’t hurt much, it still stung. It did, however, anger the Predacon sub-commander. Scorponok took a stop back only to step on something with a light crunching sound.

“Alright, Metal Beasts, seek and destroy!”

The Metal Beasts did not obey. Scorponok was puzzled. Why were they not obeying?

Then it was all clear to Scorponok. He looked down. The wrench thrown was not aimed at his head, but the transmitter ON his head. It managed to loosen the band enough that it fell down and he stepped on it. Now it was broken.

“Uh, oh,” muttered Scorponok.

Lowland and Yambo attacked him simultaneously with Lowland punching him across one side of the face while Yambo slashed with all five claws on the other. Scorponok slammed into the wall from the attack, dazed and in enormous amounts of pain. Cerato’s eyes glowed as two powerful laser beams fired out and struck Scorponok in the chest, sending him through the wall.

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“Even in beast mode, I’m still the best shot!” Rattrap congratulated himself. With a savage unifying roar, all four Maximals launched themselves at the Metal Beasts.

Lowland beat his chest, growling at Optimus Primal. The Maximal leader merely ran by him. This surprised Lowland who cried out in surprise and frustration. Lowland turned around to see Optimus Primal tackling Yambo. As soon as he turned around, however, Rhinox slammed into him, smashing him against the wall. Rhinox was careful not to use his horn to impale Lowland, however.

Yambo squeaked in surprise. He had not expected the gorilla to attack him. Lucky for Optimus, Yambo, although strong, was not as strong as Lowland. Optimus lifted Yambo off the ground and threw him against the wall.

Cerato stomped the ground aggressively.

“I’m your dance partner for the night, big guy!” snarled Cheetor as he leapt in front of Cerato. Angrily, Cerato charged only to have Cheetor leap over him easily.

Cerato turned and blasted at Cheetor with his optical lasers. Cheetor, however, zig-zagged everywhere, making himself a very hard target to hit. The young Maximal ran off down the halls, leading Cerato away from the other combatants.

Yambo, in desperation, bit down on Optimus Primal’s neck. Now that he had stronger jaws than a hyena, he made good use of the power of his bite. Optimus howled in pain and pried Yambo’s jaw off. Grunting, Optimus put Yambo in a headlock. Yambo struggled in vain, even clawing at Optimus from the side. Soon, however, Yambo felt his breath leaving him more and more.

Finally, when Optimus felt that he had done enough, he let go of Yambo. The mutated cheetah fell to the floor gasping for breath. Optimus took the opportunity to bind Yambo’s hands from behind him with a titanium crowbar he found on the floor. Taking another crowbar from the identical stack and twisting it around, he did the same to Yambo’s feet.

Rhinox, in his battle, was fighting fiercely as well. Lowland smashed his metallic fists together and punched Rhinox viciously across the face with both. The pain was agonizing but Rhinox ignored it and came back with a vicious face butt to Lowland’s side that sent the cyborg gorilla skipping across the floor.

Lowland fell on his back and tried to get up again but Rhinox stomped his foot down on the gorilla’s robotic chest. Lowland fought back still but soon, Optimus Primal came in to help Rhinox restrain the cyborg.

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Cerato did not know where Cheetor led him but soon, the cheetah would pay with his life.

The mutated rhinoceros huffed angrily as he saw the cat in the corner of his eye.

He shot another optical blast from his eyes but Cheetor leaped on top of him instantly.

Cerato roared in anger and tried to shake Cheetor off to no avail. Cheetor took the chance to bite down on Cerato’s ear, which was still soft and made of flesh.

Cerato’s bellowed in pain and rolled over, intending to crush the Maximal. Cheetor, however, leapt off before he could be smashed. As soon as Cerato got up, his horn immediately hummed to life. Spinning violently, his mechanical horn turned into a drill as he charged, fully determined to gore Cheetor.

The cat merely stood there as Cerato charged closer… closer…

In the last second, Cheetor leaped aside as Cerato smashed into the large machine that he stood before. As the horn drilled into the console, Cerato felt electricity surging through his body’s mechanical and organic components, causing him to cry out in pain. Finally, an explosion consumed part of the machine, throwing Cerato back. He groaned weakly and his head slumped to the floor as he fainted.

Cheetor breathed a sigh of relief. The third and final Metal Beast was defeated.

A goofy smile eventually found its way across Cheetor’s face.

“Wow, in a way, I just beat Rhinox,” chuckled Cheetor.

“Don’t get cocky, kid,” said Rattrap as he came out to congratulate Cheetor on his victory. “The REAL Rhinox would still turn your head into pudding.”

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“I’m afraid that for the moment, there seems to be no way to reverse their mutations or their robotic implants,” said Rhinox sadly. He and the rest of the Maximals stood before Mr. Caney in robot mode on his ranch out in the countryside.

“How could Megatron do this to a bunch of innocent animals?” asked Cheetor forlornly.

“In a way, it is our fault,” sighed Optimus. “We were the ones who had gotten our beast modes from the Metal Beasts. “The only thing we can hope to do is pray that they’ll one day find it in their hearts to forgive us.”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Mr. Caney as he patted Optimus on the shoulder. “For now, they’ll stay on my ranch which is miles away from civilization. Out here, they’ll have plenty of room to run around and more freedom than they would have at the zoo. And you don’t have to worry about my safety either. The three of them still remember me and are treating me with as much love as always.”

Mr. Caney shook hands with each of the Maximals and said goodbye to them as the Maximals switched on their holographic disguises and walked off.

“And kick Megatron’s butt real good for me!” he called out from the distance.

Those words helped to brighten the Maximals’ day.

“I still feel a little bad about the Metal Beasts,” said Cheetor. “Do you think we’ll ever find a cure for them someday?”

“Don’t worry,” assured Rhinox. “I’ll do my best to create something that can help them out. We’ll restore them to their former selves sooner or later.”

“I admit, Rattrap,” confessed Optimus. “That was some strategy you came up with to save us!”

“Yeah!” agreed Cheetor. “Without your advice, we’d have been cat chow!”

Rhinox said nothing but only smiled and patted Rattrap on the back.

“Well, if you’ve lived as long as I have with all my veteran’s experience, you tend to know how to get outta sticky situations more,” smiled Rattrap proudly.

“Veteran’s experience, huh?” smiled Optimus, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“I figured that you, boss monkey, were much stronger than Yambo with enough mobility not to be slowed down by him,” explained Rattrap. “As for Rhinox, he was strong enough to take down Lowland as long as he overwhelmed the big ape and held him down. As for you, Cheetor, Cerato was too big and bulky to move around like you do. Wit’ your speed, you turned his brawn against him!”

Optimus had to admit, Rattrap was quite a brilliant strategist… when he wasn’t being a sarcastic smart aleck.

“And all I pretty much have ‘ta say is… good job, guys!” beamed Rattrap.

The Maximal leader turned to look towards the most diminutive of his crew.

“Rattrap, how do you feel about becoming second in command?” asked Optimus Primal slyly.

“Oh no, Optimus!” came the now sarcastic and snide response. “You ain’t gonna pin responsibility on THIS rat!”

The End.