25.Nov.06
Beast Wars Symmetries:
By: Everblue
“Report,
Lieutenant Thrust.”
“We gotta be
so formal?”
“Not really,
but standard protocol calls for it, dear,” the yellow and black colored femme-bot
answered through the shadows.
“Do as she
says, Thrust,” encouraged a large menacing Cybertronian with a hefty red visor
covering his optics. “We may have all graduated from the same academy
together, but that doesn’t give us reason to skirt our duties.”
“Screw you,
Tankorr.”
The femme-bot
sighed. “Just give me the report, Thrust.”
“Very well,
Lieutenant Tankorr… Captain Shiva,” Thrust began. “The experiment on the
crew of the Axalon has gone splendidly. Thanks to careful calculations on the
direction of the Predacon ship, we were able to convey to the Axalon precise
directions on altering their course with the right amount of firepower aimed in
convenient directions.”
“Right into
the black hole,” Shiva finished with a smile. “Now it seems that the theory
on alternate realities is true.”
“Can you
imagine that?” Tankorr shook his massive head. “A universe without any of
us?”
“Don’t be
so hasty, Tankorr,” Shiva reprimanded. “There could be more realities with
more alternate versions of ourselves. We only need to concentrate on the reality
we’ve been assigned to.”
“Sure
will,” Thrust agreed.
“Remember our
orders from the Maximal Elders?” Shiva reminded.
“Oh yeah,”
Tankorr’s visor gleamed maliciously.
--------------------
“My
heightened stress level has not been alleviated,” Megatron groaned.
“Nooooo….”
At the very top
of Mt. Oberon, the day had not progressed as Megatron had originally hoped.
Scorponok and Terrorsaur had gotten into two fights already. At the moment,
Tarantulas was yelling at Waspinator to insert the correct circuitry.
Blackarachnia, on the other hand, was sitting on the sidelines as aloof as ever.
“Can’t any
of you perform basic menial tasks?” Megatron asked aloud in frustration.
“Waspinator
do better job if Spider-Bot will stop yelling at him!” the overworked Predacon
scout buzzed.
“I am above
such chores, Megatron,” Tarantulas replied. “I merely supply the blueprints
to your plans. It is up to your more baser followers to complete the tasks.”
“Hey!”
Terrorsaur cried out. “Who you calling baser?”
“Don’t
shift to the left, Terrorsaur!” Scorponok growled. “You’ll drop the
support beam!”
As mentioned by
Scorponok, the two of them were indeed holding on to a large support beam that
would be used for their satellite. Originally, Megatron had intended for the
satellite to emit low-level frequencies designed to brainwash the entire city
through their neural interfaces. Now, unfortunately, his invention appeared to
be little more than a failed attempt at installing cable.
Megatron
grunted angrily. “Can any of you even complete this project?”
He received no
answer.
“We’re at
the top of the highest peak in all these surrounding areas!” he raged. “You
should have minimal distractions! Why is it that you still persist in
dithering?”
“Maybe it’s
because we don’t like you, Grape Face,” Blackarachnia muttered under her
breath.
“What was
that?” Megatron demanded as he glared towards her direction.
“Uh, what I
said was that we could probably use a break right about now,” she responded
quickly.
“Hmm, an
excellent suggestion,” Megatron, to everyone’s surprise, agreed.
Terrorsaur and
Waspinator looked at each other cautiously before sitting down, unsure as to
whether or not Megatron meant what he said. Tarantulas merely transformed to
beast mode and scurried next to Blackarachnia’s side.
“Now then,”
Megatron said conversationally. “I’ve come to the realization that we, as a
team, are not properly functioning. Have you wondered why?”
Terrorsaur was
the only one who looked like he had something to say. A few seconds later,
however, he decided to keep his mouth shut. Not surprisingly, he was afraid that
Megatron would beat him senseless for saying anything at all.
“We lack
coordination,” Megatron explained. “We also lack solidarity and camaraderie
as a team.”
“Your point
is?” Tarantulas asked.
Megatron made a
mental note to himself to scrap Tarantulas ten times over when the day arrived
that he would no longer need to rely on the scientist’s abilities.
“My point is
that we have two options,” Megatron finished. “We can either steal all the
Maximal stasis pods to triple our numbers… or we can work together cohesively
as one team under my command.”
“Um…”
“Yes,
Scorponok?” Megatron looked over.
“Don’t take
this the wrong way, Megatron,” Scorponok told his leader nervously. “But I
don’t even like my teammates… outside of you, that is!”
“It’s good
to see that your honesty has not been curtailed under pressure, Scorponok,”
Megatron commented. “However, we need more practice. Yessss…”
“Then it
looks like practice has arrived,” Blackarachnia pointed the sky.
In the
distance, Optimus Primal was flying through the air towards their direction.
“Hold your
fire,” Megatron ordered. “I wish to converse with our Maximal guest
first.”
By the time
Optimus had flown close enough, Megatron’s troops lowered their weapons
completely.
“Greetings,
Optimus Primal!” Megatron exclaimed. “Have you finally come to your senses
and realized that groveling before me would be in your best interests?”
“Hardy,
Megatron,” Optimus replied. “I just wanted to check out your science
project.”
“I assure
you,” Megatron smiled. “This satellite is merely being built for the
purposes of research.”
“Is that
so?” Optimus cocked his eye up.
“Absolutely!”
Megatron replied. “Today is such a beautiful day, is it not? Would you really
be willing to spoil it through another skirmish?”
“You of all
people should know that I prefer fighting as a last resort,” Optimus gazed
into the optics of the Predacon leader. “I’m just here with a message.”
“Oh?”
With the
Predacons’ attentions being concentrated almost completely on Optimus, none of
them, save the Maximal commander, noticed the small shadowy figure creeping
towards the satellite. Silently and covertly, Rattrap attached a small explosive
charge beneath it before slipping away without a sound.
“You’ve
made your intentions on conquering Earth clear on more than several
occasions,” Optimus warned. “Just know that whatever you have planned,
Megatron… we will be there to stop you.”
Immediately at
hearing that, Megatron burst out laughing. Soon, the rest of his troops followed
suit and cackled wildly.
“This
is what you flew all the way here to tell me?” Megatron sputtered loudly with
laughter. “You really do need work on your speeches, Primal!”
“Nevertheless,”
Optimus said, unconcerned with his audience reaction. “My warning still
stays.”
“Yes, very
well, Optimus,” Megatron chuckled sarcastically. “You have my word that I
won’t harm your precious fleshy-bots, or so Waspinator likes to call
them.”
“Ooh,
Megatron now adopt Waspinator’s trademark!” the Predacon wasp beamed.
“Waspinator may even get promotion!”
“Don’t
flatter yourself, antenna boy,” Terrorsaur smirked. “He was only saying it
to make fun of Optimus.”
“Yeah,”
Scorponok chimed. “Besides, I’m second in command! No way is Megatron gonna
promote you!”
Waspinator’s
shoulders slumped in defeat as he sighed. And they almost got his hopes up too.
“I believe
you were leaving, Optimus?” Megatron winked.
“Figure I
was,” Optimus replied before blasting off into the sky.
“Now!”
Megatron turned his attention back to the Predacons. “Break time is over!
Return to your posts!”
Several
collective groans could be heard from the reluctant Predacons. Having to go back
to work was not something they were anticipating.
“Hey,
Megatron…” Scorponok announced nervously.
“Hmm?”
“When did
this show up?”
Sure enough, as
Megatron stared down at the anchor of the satellite, a small explosive charge
carefully implanted there was winding down to the number zero.
“5…”
“4…”
“3…”
“ALL UNITS…
SCATTER!” Megatron bellowed.
“2…1…”
--------------------
“You
should’ve heard it!” Rattrap laughed. “Ol’ Megsy’s bellow echoed for
miles!”
“Sentinel,”
Rhinox asked. “How long do you think it’ll take for Megatron to regain his
strength?”
“Unfortunately,
this latest incident has incurred Megatron’s wrath far more than I could have
calculated,” the supercomputer replied. “I predict that his actions shall
become more… irrational.”
“I suppose
this means we’ll have to call in Airazor and Tigatron,” Optimus nodded.
“It is a
suggestion that I concede to,” Sentinel agreed. “With Units Tigatron and
Airazor, Megatron’s next incursion contains a 78 percent chance of being
quelled.”
“Besides,”
Cheetor added. “It would be nice having Big Cat and Bird Lady around base more
often.”
“My
sentiments exactly,” Rattrap nodded. “Pickin’ on you and the Boss Monkey
gets old after a while. I gotta have a new audience to play to.”
“I’ll go
call them in,” Optimus agreed. “Hopefully they should be able to make it.”
--------------------
“Megatron?”
Scorponok inquired carefully. “Are you okay?”
“Of course
I’m not fine, imbecile,” Megatron replied harshly. “An entire week’s
planning is gone thanks to that fool Primal.”
“Anything
Waspinator can do to make things better?”
“Heaven
forbid that you do,” Megatron retorted angrily. “You’re the most useless
of all!”
Waspinator’s
shoulders slumped yet again. “Waspinator only trying to help…”
“Why didn’t
we just blast Optimus?” said Terrorsaur. “He was right there.”
Megatron looked
down at Terrorsaur disdainfully. “Yes, why didn’t we just ‘blast’ him,
Terrorsaur?”
“I mean,
it’s a no-brainer,” Terrorsaur spoke to Megatron almost defiantly. “We
could’ve had the ape and you let him go!”
For his candid
yet brutal honesty, Terrorsaur received a vicious backhand from the Predacon
commander that knocked him clear across the room. His body slid rapidly across
the floor until he slammed head first into Megatron’s T-Rex jaw that sat in
the corner.
“And I was
hoping he’d goad me into doing that,” Megatron smiled sadistically.
Waspinator and
Scorponok kept silent. Neither of them dared to speak out of fear that they’d
receive the same treatment as Terrorsaur. Meanwhile, Megatron slipped on his
tail vise with his left arm.
“And you,”
Megatron glared down at Waspinator. “What have you ever contributed to this
team aside from your incessant buzzing?”
“Waspinator…
is good scout?”
Directly, the
very tip of Megatron’s tail vise jabbed Waspinator in the stomach harshly to
silence him. The next thing Waspinator felt was being thrown into the nearby
mirror, shattering it in the process.
“Have you
anything to say, Scorponok?” Megatron’s face turned around.
“Um, I…”
Scorponok muttered uncertainly. “That is… we could try something new.”
“I’m
listening,” Megatron said in a low, dangerous voice.
“We, um,
could just take over the city with the drone army you commissioned over the past
few months,” Scorponok recommended, being as careful with his limited
vocabulary as possible. “We’ve got enough power at this point to at least
take over a country.”
“A feasible
suggestion,” Megatron nodded.
As Scorponok
breathed a sigh of relief, Megatron quickly responded with a loud, vicious smack
to the face of the smaller Transformer. The Predacon leader then stepped over
the unconscious body of his second in command.
“But I
don‘t want to do it just yet,” Megatron scowled.
--------------------
Finally,
Tarantulas was soon done with his field scan. So far, nothing had shown up on
the sensors, no Maximals… or Predacons. Now was a perfect time.
Quickly, he
pulled the lever to his satellite, triggering a low-key sub-harmonic wave that
traveled into the night sky. After several nano-kliks had passed, Tarantulas
felt satisfied enough to turn off his machine.
“Now for you,
my pet,” he whispered. “Your goal is to destabilize the warp hole.”
Below him,
Scorponok’s Cyber Bee sat. More precisely, it was a reprogrammed Cyber Bee
that Tarantulas had recently stolen from Megatron’s sub-commander.
After a few
more attachments were made, Tarantulas activated the drone. With a loud humming
sound, it flew off into the sky.
“What’re
you doing up this late?” a voice behind him yawned.
Tarantulas
turned around to face Blackarachnia. “It’s none of your concern.”
Blackarachnia
feigned distress. “You weren’t this way when I asked to come over and spend
the night.”
“Heh, that
was different,” Tarantulas chuckled.
“You’re not
going to tell me, are you?”
“I have no
reason to, witch.”
“I’ll give
you a reason then,” Blackarachnia winked.
“And what
would that be?” Tarantulas sneered.
“Come inside
and I’ll tell you,” she purred.
--------------------
“Have you
received the message?” Shiva demanded.
“We got
it,” Thrust assured.
“So what’s
the deal?” Tankorr demanded. “You gonna make us get new modes or
something?”
“I think
not,” Shiva declared. “Gaining the form of an inferior specimen on this
planet is beneath us. We are strong and evolutionarily superior with our current
vehicle modes.”
“That’s
good,” Thrust said. “I’d hate to lose my two-wheel drive.”
“We have
information on the Preds already,” Tankorr looked up. “How are we gonna deal
with the Axalon crew?”
“I will
handle Optimus Primal,” Shiva told her two companions. “Tankorr, you will
engage Rhinox.”
“Cool,”
Tankorr smiled. “So I get the heavyweight of the group, eh?”
“Precisely,”
Shiva replied. “Rhinox’s body has been streamlined in the process of
acquiring his beast mode. He is slightly faster but your strength should
overwhelm him.”
“I take it
I’ll get the cat and the rat, huh?” Thrust asked.
“Yes,”
nodded Shiva. “You have the speed of Cheetor and the skill of Rattrap.
You alone will handle them easily.”
“What’re we
gonna do about the other two Maximals?” Tankorr asked. “I didn’t think
they’d be awakened from their stasis pods yet.”
“Ah,
yes…” Shiva muttered thoughtfully. “Tigatron’s strength and skill is
comparable to that of Optimus Primal’s. I want you, Thrust, to incapacitate
him. As for the flier, Airazor… I want you to blast her out of the sky,
Tankorr.”
--------------------
“First time
you’ve been here?” Airazor asked.
“Not
exactly,” Tigatron replied. “Although I wouldn’t say I’m as familiar
with this place as I am with the wild.”
Soon, after
their entrance, a small mechanical orb floated before them.
“Greetings,
Tigatron and Airazor,” it said. “I am Sentinel, primary supercomputer of the
Axalon.”
Airazor and
Tigatron exchanged incredulous glances.
“Should I use
that thing as target practice?” Airazor whispered.
“Hello,
Tigatron… Airazor,” Optimus greeted them. “I trust you’ll be willing to
stay here for a few days?”
“My
schedule’s not too tight,” Airazor replied. “You can count on me, guys.”
“I should be
able to stay until things get cleared up,” said Tigatron. “Could you brief
us again, Optimus?”
“Megatron’s
activities have been getting more and more dangerous,” Optimus explained.
“We’ll need the entire team together just in case he does anything big.”
“Yeah, so
we’ll need all of ya’s here!” Rattrap pointed out as he appeared behind
Optimus.
“Please,
Rattrap, I can handle this,” Optimus insisted.
“You can give
a speech like a fish outta water!” Rattrap pushed past Optimus. “I, on the
other hand, have saved all of you lousy bums dozens of times with nothin’ but
my wits and experience!”
Optimus took
Rattrap by the shoulder and led him away privately.
“Just because
I appointed you my second in command doesn’t mean you can start acting like
you own the place.”
“No offense,
Optimus,” Rattrap brushed his hand aside. “But you ain’t got what it takes
to put down a sick puppy like ol’ Megs so I’m gonna give ‘dis team what it
needs.”
Optimus sighed.
“And that is?”
“PARTY!”
Rattrap shouted as random confetti was thrown into the air.
“Sorry,
Optimus,” Rhinox said as he appeared with a party hat visible on his head.
“Rattrap suckered me into it.”
“Things have
been so gloomy lately,” Cheetor walked up on all fours. “We need a little
celebration every now and then.”
“I suppose
you’re right,” Optimus smiled as dark lenses appeared over his optics.
“One night of fun can‘t hurt.”
--------------------
“My
brethren!” Megatron’s voice thundered across the stadium. “We stand on the
threshold of a new era!”
Across the
football field under darkened skies with brightly lit stadium lights, over fifty
cybernetic raptors watched intently as their master spoke with the skills of a
fiery orator unlike any other.
“It’s
official,” Terrorsaur whispered to Waspinator and Scorponok. “He’s lost
it.”
“Once we have
cowered before the power of Maximal tyranny,” Megatron continued. “Tomorrow
is when we make our stand! They will oppress us no more when we, as individuals
and as Predacons, take back what is rightfully ours!”
Behind Megatron,
his three lackeys displayed varying opinions over the speech.
“Wow,”
Terrorsaur rolled his optics. “I can see now why Megatron couldn’t get many
followers back on Cybertron.”
“Shut up,”
Scorponok ordered. “I think his speech is brilliant!”
“Hmm,”
Waspinator buzzed skeptically. “Megatron promise many things… almost never
deliver.”
“He’ll
deliver, alright!” Scorponok growled. “You two just don’t have the
dedication to our cause!”
“I should be
the one in charge,” Terrorsaur muttered bitterly.
“Just shut
your beak and do as you’re told!” Scorponok told him.
“Whatever,”
Terrorsaur yawned. “I’m outta here. Come on, Waspinator.”
Scorponok shook
his head as the two fliers walked away from the stands. For all their conniving,
couldn’t they see that Megatron was indeed the one who’d bring the Predacon
race out of Maximal bondage? Right now, he was the only one on the team who
really believed in their leader..
“My fellow
Predacons!” Megatron thundered. “We will triumph and take back what truly
belongs to us!”
True to form,
Scorponok cheered wildly.
--------------------
“You’ve
gotta be kidding me,” Terrorsaur’s beak gaped. “And why’s he dressed
like that?”
Besides him,
Waspinator seemed equally hesitant. Morning had come and neither of them could
really believe the sight before them. Scorponok, on the other hand, seemed to be
overjoyed.
“As I saw
saying,” Megatron glared at his two scouts harshly. “Our game plan is
relatively simple. Our energy signatures will betray our location while the
Maximals rush in to stop us. Afterwards, my new pets will make short work of
them.”
It was not
Megatron’s ‘game plan’ that bothered Terrorsaur and Waspinator so much. It
was, in fact, the ridiculous referee uniform that Megatron had adorned across
his body.
“Afterwards,”
Megatron’s eyes gleamed. “We shall prove to this world that we are its true
masters!”
“You said it,
Megatron!” Scorponok beamed.
Both Terrorsaur
and Waspinator, on the other hand, seemed to be lost in thought. With one
glance, Megatron could immediately tell that his plan hadn’t exactly gone
through the minds of certain Predacon minions.
“Terrorsaur,
rephrase our entire plan again,” Megatron ordered.
“What?”
Terrorsaur stammered. “Repeat what you…?”
“Terrorsaur
in big trouble,” Waspinator murmured quietly.
“Three
hundred push-ups!” Megatron growled. “NOW!”
“Are you
serious?” Terrorsaur shouted. “I can’t do that much!”
Megatron opened
the massive T-Rex jaw located on his right arm to reveal the mega cannon within.
After one quick glance, Terrorsaur gulped and immediately got on the floor.
“You too!”
Megatron glared at Waspinator.
“Yes,
Megatron,” Waspinator whimpered.
--------------------
“I have
detected Predacon activity within the Tengu sector,” Sentinel announced.
“The
coordinates?” asked Optimus.
“Sector
234.65432,” replied Sentinel. “Megatron and his Predacons are locatedin
those coordinates along with over fifty unspecified units.”
Optimus’ eyes
widened. “He couldn’t have found all the stasis pods!”
“No,”
Sentinel confirmed. “The units within that area are neither Maximal nor
Predacon.”
“Any
precautionary measures we should take?” asked Rhinox.
“It is
suggested that you lead an assault with all Maximal units,” Sentinel advised.
“I highly recommend this measure against the six Predacons and whatever else
they have in store.”
“This could
be our chance to shut Megatron down for good,” said Rhinox. “With the Preds
captured, we could go home again.”
Optimus closed
his optics briefly. What Rhinox had said was indeed a palatable suggestion. How
long had they been on this planet again? Almost a standard human year?
Finally he made
his decision.
“Alright
then. Sentinel, make sure defenses are on full alert.”
“I will be
sure to,” the supercomputer replied. “It is my function after all.”
“I pray to
the Matrix we can finish this as quickly as possible,” Optimus said.
“Megatron won’t hesitate to pull out all the stops on us.”
--------------------
Even the
rustling of leaves helped to amplify the feeling of dread that gnawed at the
Maximals.
So far, there
were no traces of Megatron or any of his servants. Noon was fast approaching in
the forests and so far, not a single clue was given as to where the Predacons
were hiding.
“I knew it
was a bad idea to come out here like this,” said Rattrap.
Above them,
Airazor flew down and perched on top of Optimus Primal’s shoulders.
“Still no
sign of any Pred activity,” she said.
“I sense
strange properties in this area,” Tigatron growled in a low voice. “It would
be best not to transform to robot mode for the time being.”
Rhinox gave
pause. “My scanners show that the amount of raw energon in this place is off
the charts… along with something else.”
Tigatron looked
at Optimus. “You’ve lost few of your Maximal features even in beast mode.”
“Still got
the opposable thumbs,” Optimus smiled wryly.
With a deep
breath, Tigatron transformed to robot mode, took out his weapon, and handed it
to Optimus.
“The
Predacons won’t be able to transform either if they’re here,” Tigatron
said as he switched back to beast mode before a violent surge of raw energon
could overtake him.
“He’s
right,” Rhinox added. “One advantage like this can make all the
difference.”
Optimus held
the gun carefully. “Thanks, Tigatron. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Just
remember ‘dem shootin’ lessons I’ve been giving you,” Rattrap smirked.
“You
haven’t given me any shooting lessons,” Optimus frowned.
“Don’t be
so humble, Pop Op,” Rattrap chuckled. “You’ve trained with ‘da best and
now’s ‘yer chance to prove it!”
Optimus rolled
his optics while the rest of the Maximals laughed. Their joyous moment, however,
was short-lived as broken twig was heard behind them.
Tigatron
growled fiercely as the hair on his back rose.
“Relax,
Tigatron,” said Cheetor. “It’s just a twig.”
An earsplitting
roar erupted as a large reptilian creature leaped out of the undergrowth,
lunging at Cheetor. Immediately, Tigatron tackled it from the side and knocked
away.
The creature
then rose. Its feral red eyes complemented its metallic hide as razor sharp
fangs gleamed through its mouth. The claws on its feet clicked in excitement,
ready to tear its prey apart at a moment‘s notice.
“What is that
thing?” Airazor exclaimed as she and the Maximals readied themselves for
action.
“Maybe
Megatron’s Mini-Me?” Rattrap offered.
The small
Maximal was indeed correct about one thing. It did resemble Megatron’s beast
mode in many ways. The only two notable differences on it included the long
talon extended on its big toe and the sleeker body mechanics.
“I’ve seen
this thing in some old movie before…” Cheetor examined it closely. “I
think it’s called a velociraptor or something.”
The cybernetic
raptor steadied itself as it charged with its jaws agape. Before any of the
Maximals could react, Tigatron slammed into it and pinned it down forcefully
before tearing out its throat mercilessly and viciously.
“It’s as I
suspected,” said Tigatron as he took out the controls that had aligned itself
carefully within the creature’s artificial jugular.
He batted it
towards Optimus. The Maximal leader immediately picked it up.
“This
creature is programmed to hunt down and kill each and every one of us,”
Tigatron explained. “They’ll show us no mercy.”
Several
fearsome roars echoed throughout the mountains.
“There’s
more of them,” Rhinox looked up.
“They truly
are Megatron‘s hounds,” Tigatron snarled. “We should be on our guard.”
--------------------
Though he
eagerly anticipated victory, Megatron was wise enough not to gloat too loudly in
front of his followers. Terrorsaur and Waspinator were preparing themselves for
an aerial assault on Airazor while Scorponok, Tarantulas, and Blackarachnia
steadied themselves for any underhanded tactics involving cyber-venom.
His cybernetic
raptors, however, were the ones being sent in for a direct assault against the
Maximal team. On top of the wide cliff, the remaining saurian drones leered down
with glowing eyes like ravenous dogs of war.
Megatron,
himself in beast mode, felt a small burst of pride as five of his cyber raptors
ran downhill to confront the Maximals.
“To think
that they’re growing up and leaving the nest so soon,” Megatron sniffed.
“Want us to
do anything?” asked Scorponok.
“Not yet,”
Megatron smiled. “My pets will do our bidding for the time being.”
“Master!” a
breathless cyber raptor quickly ran up to the Predacon commander. “The
Maximals have already destroyed Unit 03!”
Tarantulas
snorted. “You’re certain that relying on these cybernetic fossils is
prudent?”
“You created
them, Tarantulas,” Megatron spoke with an edge to his voice. “You tell
me.”
Sensing the
dangerous tone to Megatron’s voice, Tarantulas decided not to say anything
further.
“Not only are
the Maximals outnumbered,” Megatron said. “They cannot transform either
thanks to the raw energon in these forests combined with the naturally occurring
magnetic fields that surround this area.”
“They’ve
walked into a death trap,” Terrorsaur sneered.
“Precisely!”
Megatron grinned.
--------------------
“I hear
them,” Tigatron growled. “They’re closing in on us.”
“I can smell
‘em too,” Rattrap said. “Looks like they ain’t gonna let us get away
‘dis easy.”
The grinding
footsteps could be heard several feet away from the Maximals. Though the
stalkers could not be seen, their growls and snorts were more than pronounced.
Finally, an
enormous raptor leaped out and slammed into Optimus from behind, knocking the
gun out of his hand. Before any of the other Maximals could react, four more
cyber raptors burst out and attacked.
Nimbly, Cheetor
leaped out of the way as a powerful slash aimed for his head tore several chunks
of bark out of a nearby tree. He spun to the side and leaped onto the back of
the cyber raptor, sinking his claws into its scaly hide. Quickly, the raptor
slammed his back into another tree, knocking the wind out of the young Maximal.
Cheetor only barely regained his senses before a tail swipe from the raptor
smacked him across the face and sent him sailing through the air into a nearby
rock.
Rhinox, on the
other hand, was not so fortunate as to have Cheetor’s speed. Almost
immediately, another cyber raptor leaped onto his back and began tearing into
him.
Grunting in
pain as the creature’s sickle-like claws dug into his back legs, Rhinox rolled
to the ground, crushing the raptor beneath him.
In the
meanwhile, Optimus and Tigatron stood back to back as three raptors closed in on
them. Airazor quickly grabbed Rattrap by the shoulders and flew him to safety.
Suffice to say, neither of them would have been a match for the fearsome
creatures in their current beast modes.
As Tigatron
pounced on top of one of them, Optimus quickly leaped into the air, grabbing on
to a branch. With one swing, he kicked both raptors, sending them crashing to
the ground.
--------------------
“My pets are
doing a better job than I could have hoped for,” Megatron said while looking
through the telescope.
“Oh, can I
see?” Scorponok hopped up.
Megatron handed
the telescope to Scorponok. The rest of the Predacons looked hopeful, waiting
for their chance to see through the battle.
From the
faraway distance, Scorponok viewed the battle eagerly as Optimus struggled to
hold back the two cyber raptors who were tearing into him violently.
“How long do
you think they’ll last?” Scorponok asked.
“Oh, Optimus
and his happy band of Maximals will most undoubtedly last against the first
batch,” Megatron replied cheerfully. “However, once I sent the rest of my
hounds, they will most assuredly fall!”
“Shall we,
master?” asked one of the cyber raptors that stood nearby.
“Of course,
my pet,” said Megatron. “Once the Maximals have defeated your brothers, you
are to engage them and render them limp enough so that I may have the
satisfaction of finishing their leader!”
On cue, the
reserve cyber raptors charged down the hill, running at full speed towards the
site of the battle. Like hellhounds from the underworld, their roars filled the
air as they prepared themselves for the ultimate kill.
“I can just
taste the aromatic flavor of victory!” Megatron exclaimed.
“Um, Megatron?”
Waspinator began.
“Silence,
bug!” the Predacon commander growled without turning around. “I want to
watch this!”
“Actually,
Megatron,” said Scorponok. “I think you need to take a look at this.”
“What is
it?” Megatron huffed after putting down his binoculars.
“What’s
that big ship doing hovering above us?”
“Oh my,”
Megatron whispered.
As the rest of
the Predacons looked up in awe, the mega-blaster from the ship took aim and
fired.
--------------------
Against their
better judgment, Rattrap and Airazor dove down from the trees to enter the
melee.
Now the battle
seemed to have taken a turn for the worst. Cheetor had been knocked out
completely while Optimus and Tigatron were fighting by the edge of their teeth.
Rhinox charged
blindly, leveling an entire tree in the process. His intended target swiftly
leaped out of the way while slashing him across the side again.
Panting
exhaustively, Rhinox glared at the cyber raptor. While he was indeed stronger,
the mechanical reptile was undoubtedly more agile than he was. He had to think
of something before the little dinosaur simply wore him down to nothingness.
“Take ‘dis,
Chopperface!”
A batch of mud
was instantly slung into the eyes of the surprised cyber raptor. Using this
momentary distraction to his advantage, Rhinox charged and impaled the raptor
with his horn, throwing the lizard into the air from the force of the blow.
“Thanks,
Rattrap!”
As Cheetor
groaned, his vicious attacker stood poised to tear the young Maximal limb from
limb. He managed to open his optics but unfortunately, his body was in too much
pain to respond to his powerful assailant.
A shrill cry
was heard as powerful talons raked the cyber raptor across the face. Howling in
surprise, the raptor raised his head and snapped at his attacker. All he managed
to bite down on was a single feather, which he immediately spit out again.
Airazor shrieked and dove down for another assault.
The cyber
raptor was more prepared this time, whirling around and catching her from the
side with a powerful swing of his tail that knocked her against a tree.
“You fight
bravely,” the raptor said. “It is unfortunate that we must rend you apart
like we would cattle or any other prey!”
Immediately,
Rattrap leaped onto the cyber raptor’s back, biting down as hard as he could.
With little effort, the raptor shook him off and slammed his foot down onto the
smaller Maximal.
“You dare
attack me, vermin?” he hissed. “Your death will be the most delicious of
all!”
“Lay off!”
Optimus shouted as he bounded forward and smashed the cyber raptor across the
face with a powerful roundhouse punch that snapped the creature’s neck.
“Optimus!”
Tigatron shouted. “Watch out!”
Optimus Primal
didn’t need to be told twice as he immediately rolled aside to avoid a leaping
slash from the final cyber raptor. Grabbing Tigatron’s gun which lay on the
ground beside him, he took quick aim and fired.
Instead of the
gun destroying the raptor as he expected, its blast struck the target, incasing
it in several blocks of ice.
Optimus’ eyes
widened. “Well… that’s just Prime.”
“I must have
accidentally set the weapon to its freeze beam,” Tigatron coughed. “Still,
it works charmingly.”
“Please tell
me we’re through,” Rattrap moaned.
This time,
Optimus didn’t blame him for complaining. The injuries they had sustained
weren’t mortal but just severe enough so that they wouldn’t last through
another major conflict. Cuts and slashes lined his body along with that of
Tigatron’s, Cheetor’s, and Rhinox’s. Primus forbid there were anymore of
Megatron’s pets out there.
As he hoisted
the wounded Cheetor onto Rhinox’s back, Optimus detected further movement
through the undergrowth.
“Don’t tell
me there’s more of ‘em,” Airazor groaned.
“Stay close
together,” Optimus told his teammates. “It may be our only chance.”
As expected,
several more cyber raptors appeared from the woods and surrounded the hapless
Maximal team. From the looks of it, there were about thirty to forty of them.
“What do we
have here?” one of raptors growled. “The Maximal team… injured and
cornered!”
“We won’t
hesitate to pick your corpses clean,” his companion snapped.
All six
Maximals drew closer together as Optimus held the raptors at bay with
Tigatron’s gun.
Rattrap looked
around and measured the odds.
“Yup,” he
said. “We’re all gonna die.”
To be
continued.