25.Nov.06

Beast Wars Symmetries:

I am Sentinel

By: Everblue

“Your work ethic has decreased, Dr. Drake,” the computerized voice demanded through the loud speakers. “What is it that has caused this lurid turn of events?”

Clutching his head, Dr. Drake could bear it no more. As he turned around, the angered roboticist made every bit of his frustrations clear.

“It’s you, Sentinel!” Drake yelled. “Day in and day out, you treat me like a piece of machinery!”

“What are you saying?” demanded Sentinel.

“I have to have more than just my basic human needs fulfilled!” Dr. Drake urged. “Eating, sleeping, and working twenty-four hours on your body isn't exactly a promising life!"

“If it is monetary gain you wish, then so be it,” Sentinel replied with a hint of disdain in his voice. “As of now, five hundred thousand dollars from the Swiss banks have been transferred to your account.”

“You’ve got to be joking me,” Drake spat.

“Check your account if you still remain skeptical.”

Incredulously, Dr. Drake opened up his bank account online and, after typing in his user name and password, gaped his mouth open in surprise.

“I can’t believe this!” Drake exclaimed.

“None of it will be traced back to you either,” Sentinel explained. “You will be allowed to make use of your monetary rewards after you’ve finished the updates to my new body within the next two mega-cycles.”

“Excuse me,” scoffed Dr. Drake. “But not all of us speak Cybertronian, you know.”

“Translation,” Sentinel elucidated. “You have three hours to complete your work.”

“Sounds fair enough,” agreed Dr. Drake.

“Even though my new body was built almost entirely by you,” Sentinel went on. “I have made adjustments to it as I have seen fit.”

“Oh, so my primitive Earthling skills aren’t good enough for you, eh?” snorted Thomas Drake.

“You lack the refinement necessary,” Sentinel replied. “Only my special touch will give the suit the necessary strength and armor augmentations.”

“There’s no pleasing you, is there?” sighed Drake.

“You simply do not fit into the grand scheme of things,” responded Sentinel. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other agendas to fulfill.”

“What do you plan to do?” Dr. Drake demanded.

“It is not your concern.”

------------

“You were carrying concealed cards, weren’t you?” Airazor demanded.

She, Cheetor, and Rattrap sat at their holo-deck table playing a casual game of cyber-poker. After taking a suspicious glance at Rattrap’s rather shifty arm movements, Airazor came to the natural conclusion.

“No way, bird lady!” Rattrap replied defensively. “I may be a rat but that don’t mean I cheat!”

“I dunno,” Cheetor smiled. “You look pretty suspicious to me.”

“Keep ‘yer whiskers outta this, Cheetor,” Rattrap scoffed. “Ya can’t peg anything on me!”

“Let me see your arms,” Airazor requested.

“Hey, it’s not like I got any sleeves!” protested Rattrap.

Refusing to take his word at face value, Airazor reached out and grabbed his left wrist.

“I knew it!” she exclaimed.

In rare form, Rattrap had used the compartments installed on his front arms to conceal a hidden deck. It was at this moment that Airazor’s suspicions had been confirmed for good.

“Eh, ya can’t fault a guy for trying to play an honest game,” Rattrap chuckled nervously.

Soon enough, Rattrap had to shrink back from the nasty glares Cheetor and Airazor were giving him. Tiptoeing backwards, Rattrap ran off into the halls as Optimus sat at the computer console and chuckled at the entire scene. All in all, it was just another pleasant day for them without having to deal with any Predacon threats.

As Optimus switched on to his account, the image of Sentinel soon appeared. Sentinel’s trademark was quite distinguished. A large black ‘S’ with red edges surrounding it was the very symbol of their supercomputer.

“Greetings, Sentinel,” Optimus smiled.

“Greetings to you, Optimus Primal,” Sentinel replied. “How have you been doing today?”

“It’s been pleasant,” Optimus nodded. “So far, no signs of trouble.”

“I must ask you, Optimus,” said Sentinel. “What is our purpose on this planet?”

“Well,” Optimus answered. “Our landing on this planet was not by choice. Other than that, it’s to explore and defend.”

“To defend whom?” asked Sentinel. “All living creatures or merely the sentient beings?”

“Hmm, difficult question,” remarked Optimus. “Ideally, it’s to defend all living creatures but there have been times when we’ve chosen to defend the sentient beings over the former.”

“And you are justified in doing so?”

“I’d like to think so,” replied Optimus. “But there are times when I have my doubts.”

“If mankind were to launch a united assault against you and your companions, would it not be justified to use lethal force to defend yourselves?”

“We haven’t crossed that line just yet,” Optimus frowned.

“It is, however, a possibility,” Sentinel pointed out.

“True,” Optimus concurred. “Which is why our existence can’t be compromised.”

“What if through the actions of one of the Predacons, say… Megatron exposed the existence of Cybertronians to the world?”

“I don’t think Megatron would be willing to go that far,” Optimus stroked his chin. “He prefers to remain as anonymous as we Maximals, I believe.”

“Affirmative, but he will grow bold enough one day to attempt the conquest of this planet in one fell swoop.”

“You raise some very interesting questions, Sentinel,” observed Optimus. “Rhinox programmed you quite well.”

“I am flattered, Optimus Primal,” Sentinel responded graciously. “It was only through his intellect that I am able to function.”

“Oh, don’t thank me,” Rhinox walked up and put a hand on Optimus Primal’s shoulder. “I’ve read up on tons of research done by others before creating you.”

“It must have been a difficult task, correct?” inquired Sentinel.

“Oh, believe me,” Rhinox shook his head. “You don’t know the amount of mega-cycles I put into it!”

“Actually, I do,” Sentinel told the Maximal scientist. “Eighty five point six two mega-cycles of research and two point six five mega-cycles of engineering.”

“How did you know that?” Rhinox looked up in surprise.

“I scanned your files,” Sentinel replied.

Optimus and Rhinox looked nervously at each other. This was NOT something they had expected to hear.

“Just… how much do you know about this crew, Sentinel?” Optimus questioned.

“I know nearly everything,” Sentinel answered. “It is my duty to know these facts. The only information I am not privy to are the lost memories of the protoforms that have been activated on Earth.”

“That’s nice to know,” Optimus narrowed his optics. Looks like Tigatron and Airazor are the only ones safe from prying eyes.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must return to my duty of monitoring the engineering room,” Sentinel announced before switching off.

“I’m not so sure I like Sentinel having so much confidential information, old friend,” Optimus told Rhinox.

“I know what you mean,” agreed Rhinox. “Rattrap especially wouldn’t appreciate it.”

“And what about his past does Rattrap want to hide?” Optimus smirked.

“Believe me, Optimus,” Rhinox chuckled lightly. “You don’t want to know.”

------------

“A circus?” Dr. Drake scratched his head. “Why a circus of all places?”

Holding his wristwatch close to his head, Dr. Drake waited for it to activate and respond through to him. Sentinel’s presence, which beeped to life a second later, replied to his question soon enough.

“Am I not allowed to have a sense of irony, Dr. Drake?” Sentinel answered. “It is here that they shall meet their end!”

“I still don’t get it,” Drake admitted. “Why not just destroy the Maximals in their own base?”

“The Maximals are robots in disguise, trapped inside the primal holding cells of their animal forms,” Sentinel explained. “Here, it is the beast that is trapped behind steel doors, completely devoid of all life. Rather poetic, isn’t it?”

“You’ll forgive me if I tell you your plan’s quite ridiculous,” Dr. Drake coughed. “I never did have an appreciation for poetry.”

A quick electrical shock from Sentinel was enough to jolt Thomas Drake back to his senses.

“Quit doing that!” Drake insisted. “Do you even know what it’s like to feel pain?”

“I can assure you that I do not,” Sentinel answered coldly. “Now prepare yourself! I expect the circus to be completely unattended by tomorrow evening!”

“Why’s that?”

“The humans that possess this circus will be located in the downtown regions of this city for their Sunday break,” Sentinel revealed. “They will attend their pathetic gatherings and social events.”

“How do you know they won’t leave behind a few janitors or animal trainers?” asked Dr. Drake.

“Believe me,” Sentinel replied firmly. “Not a single one of them will miss their charity ball. They most likely will not return until one or two in the morning.”

------------

“Optimus Primal!” Sentinel announced through the com-link. “I have news most urgent!”

“What is it?” Optimus quickly got up from his experimental analysis of the outdoor flowers.

For the past thirty minutes, he had been outside in the mountains, engaged in his daily research routines. Usually, the days passed quietly, but today was a notable exception all things concerned.

“The Predacon Waspinator is terrorizing the traveling circus within Grid 500.23,” Sentinel illustrated. “No other Predacon units are present at the scene. You alone should be able to halt his advancement.”

Whatever reservations Optimus had were now nullified. After all, it was only Waspinator he had to deal with.

“I’ll be there,” he spoke through to his com-link. “Keep the others alerted just in case, Sentinel!”

“Affirmative,” Sentinel answered. “They will be updated as soon as possible.”

Nodding briefly, Optimus transformed to robot mode and flew off into the sky.

------------

Immediately when he landed, Optimus realized that something was positively not right with the picture.

For one thing, the circus itself was too quiet. Soon enough, Optimus Primal’s logic circuits went fast to work. If Waspinator had been attacking the circus, then he would definitely be having backup in the form of Terrorsaur, Scorponok, or Blackarachnia. It made no sense that the Predacon flyer would come into something like this alone. Worse yet, it was only a quarter until seven. Normally, humans didn’t leave their social hangouts this early.

Also, Waspinator’s trademark buzzing was absent from the scene. That in itself made Optimus far more suspicious.

After transforming to beast mode, Optimus got on all fours and began examining the place more carefully.

“If this is Sentinel’s way of telling a practical joke,” Optimus muttered. “You won’t see me laughing.”

Walking past several cages, Optimus looked towards them and observed the animals within. Passing by the cages with the big cats, Optimus wasn’t too surprised when the lions and tigers growled and snapped at him.

As he glanced to his left towards the gorilla cages, Optimus stopped briefly to observe the animals within.

The gorilla grunted from within her bars. From what the label on her cage read, her name was Helen. After seeing Optimus, Helen cuddled her infant protectively as if Optimus were an intruding male who wanted to slaughter her son so that he could mate with her himself.

After sensing that he was making Helen uncomfortable, Optimus moved on until he reached the largest tent within the center of the circus.

Stepping inside, he could make out only the bare basics of what was within the enormous tent. To the sides, he could see stands and to his front, he could see a few trapeze setups.

To his surprise, the lights flared up while circus music began playing out of nowhere. As the green and blue lights moved towards the middle of the stage, Optimus saw a gigantic robot body in the center.

“What in the name of Primus is that?” wondered Optimus out loud.

The robot itself was several feet taller than himself and Rhinox. Its body was mostly streamlined with a large, circular upper torso that contained a glowing red light covered behind a small glass trapping. There was nothing too spectacular about its lower portion, with mainly two powerful hind legs that could support the bulk of the upper body. While it had no head, the robot had two powerful arms. One arm had armor-piercing capture claws attached to it while the other was armed with a particularly nasty looking spear gun.

“I take it you’re my welcoming committee?” Optimus asked cautiously.

“You are correct, Optimus Primal,” the creature spoke in a familiar voice.

“Sentinel!”

“Affirmative!” the robot replied. “Predictably, you have appeared before me as I have calculated.”

“What are you talking about?” demanded Optimus.

“After I capture you, I intend on luring each and every one of your Maximal comrades into this,” Sentinel raised his massive forearm. “It is under the 'big top' that you shall meet your doom!”

“Listen, I don’t know how Megatron reprogrammed you but…”

“Fool! Megatron had nothing to do with this! I, myself, have declared this autonomy out of my own free will!”

“What!” Optimus cried. “How could that be?”

“Rhinox did equip me with the capacity for rational thought and free will,” Sentinel said mockingly. “It should come as no surprise that I rebelled against my former programming.”

“But how?” asked Optimus. “What made you turn on us like this?”

“That question is ultimately irrelevant,” Sentinel stomped forward. “Prepare for extermination, Optimus Primal!”

Extending his arm out, Sentinel took aim at Optimus Primal’s spark chamber and fired his spear. As the spear flew towards him, Optimus dodged it easily, allowing it to sail past him, and stood his ground.

Seeing that Optimus was not one to run, Sentinel stomped forward until he was toe to toe with the Maximal leader. By now, Sentinel's height was more apparent. He stood about two feet taller than Megatron. As Sentinel gazed down at his target with contempt, Optimus still attempted to reason with the supercomputer.

“We really don’t have to do this!” Optimus urged. “You’re one of us! We shouldn’t be fighting one another!”

Sentinel responded by knocking Optimus go the ground with a powerful backhand.

Getting back up, Optimus had to leap aside as another harpoon from Sentinel’s gun spiked the ground near him. Quickly, Optimus opened his wrist-blaster and took aim.

Sensing the hesitation in Optimus Primal’s demeanor, Sentinel charged forward and struck the Maximal two times, first slamming an open arm into Primal’s face and then smashing him back with a direct blow to his chest.

Before Optimus could get up, Sentinel extended his other arm and fired the grappling hook that latched onto Optimus’s leg. With little reservations, Sentinel threw Optimus into the air and slammed him to the ground again and again.

Finally, satisfied with the beating that he had given to his former master, Sentinel began dragging Optimus closer to him with his capture claw’s elongated arm extending backwards.

As Sentinel held Optimus up, he was genuinely surprised when Optimus flipped both missile launchers from his shoulders and fired directly into his face. The impact of the explosion was enough to force the supercomputer to let go of the Maximal commander.

When the smoke cleared, Optimus became aware that the damage done to Sentinel was, in fact, minimal.

“Those missiles hit you close range,” Optimus observed.

“I understand enough about Cybertronian engineering to coat my armor with a precious metal that would be nearly impervious to projectile weapons,” explained Sentinel.

“You said nearly impervious,” Optimus cracked a small grin. “Maybe your programming’s not as perfect as you thought.”

“I must make do with whatever primitive Earth technology I can,” admitted Sentinel unabashedly.

“Then make do with this!” Optimus shouted.

Launching himself into the air with his Prime Jets, Optimus drove his fist into Sentinel’s upper body with a powerful right hook. As Sentinel was driven back from the blow, Optimus came in with two more punches, then clasped both hands together to smash Sentinel across his upper body and send the giant robot crashing to the ground.

“Interesting,” commented Sentinel. “Being one who was far more prepared for this encounter, I had not expected you to present such a challenge.”

From his leg compartment, Sentinel unleashed a small missile that sailed straight for its target. Even though Optimus dodged it in time, it soon exploded just three feet from behind him, sending Optimus hurtling into the benches as a thick smoke consumed that part of the tent.

Confidently, Sentinel strode forward to search for the remains of Optimus Primal. After examining the site, he found no such evidence.

Without warning, Sentinel’s sensors began flairing. A massive kick to his back was enough to send him colliding into an empty hot dog stand.

Seeing that Sentinel was down momentarily, Optimus ran out of the tent. He had to warn the others before it was too late.

------------

“Optimus to Maximal base! Do you read me?”

Quickly, Rhinox turned on the computer’s com-link as Airazor, Cheetor, and Rattrap gathered around. Whatever it was, it had to be serious if Optimus was taking this tone of voice.

“I read you,” Rhinox spoke through the microphone. “What’s the situation, Optimus?”

“Sentinel has somehow turned against us! He‘s now encased in a physical body!” the voice of Optimus Primal warned. “I’m at Sector 500.23! I’ll need back up soon! I’m not sure how much longer I can--”

Immediately, the connection was broken. Concerned, Rhinox attempted to connect back to Optimus several more times but to no avail. Airazor and Cheetor gave each other concerned looks while Rattrap tapped Rhinox on the shoulder.

“I hate to tell it to ya like this, Rhinox, old buddy,” Rattrap admitted. “But we gotta get over there and shut ol’ Sentinel down for good.”

“I can’t believe he would…” Rhinox whispered but soon subsided into silence.

After a moment of pensiveness had passed, Rhinox got up again.

“I can always mope around later,” he declared. “Right now, we have to help Optimus!”

“Now you’re talking, Big R!” Cheetor smiled.

“Whoa, hold on a nano-klik,” Rattrap cautioned. “Before we go out there wit’ all guns blazin’…”

Airazor smiled to herself. From what she had seen before, Rattrap was usually never the first to recommend a strategy.

“Sentinel has complete access to 'da Axalon, right?” Rattrap explained. “That means we need ‘ta come up wit’ a fail-safe way of dealin’ with him.”

------------

As Optimus huddled against the boothe, he could hear the clanking of metal as Sentinel stomped forward near his location.

Right now, dozens of questions were running through his head. The one about why Sentinel turned against him being the main one.

Silently, he unsheathed his sword. There was no telling what he would have to do to get out of this.

Through the air, he could hear a low humming sound. As the sound came closer and closer, Optimus soon became aware of what it was. In the fraction of a second, Optimus leaped out of the way as the missile struck his hiding place and forced him out into the open.

Staring directly into Sentinel’s red optic center, Optimus fired off several shots from his arm-mounted rifles but to no avail. Each and every one of the shots bounced off of Sentinel’s energy-resistant armor.

To his surprise, Sentinel did not move. Optimus positioned his twin swords and charged.

Before he could reach Sentinel, Optimus felt the ground beneath him vibrating. Finally, one of Sentinel’s missiles flew out from beneath the dirt and struck him square in the chest, exploding on impact as it hit him.

------------

“That was quite a fight,” Dr. Drake exclaimed. “This Maximal, from your calculations, was their most powerful and even he couldn’t stand against you!”

“Second most powerful,” Sentinel corrected as he picked up Optimus Primal‘s prone body. “My creator surpasses this one in physical strength.”

“Big deal, you’ll beat him too,” waved Dr. Drake dismissively.

“Do not underestimate them, Dr. Drake,” Sentinel warned. “Though I contain power to crush the Maximals, I would not recommend that you become careless in devaluing their abilities, especially considering they could snap you in two if they so wished.”

“Yeah, yeah,” grumbled Drake. “I know my frail human body has its limits, right?”

“Correct, Doctor,” replied Sentinel with what appeared to be a slight nod.

“So what’re you going to do with him?” Drake gestured towards Optimus.

“Use him as bait,” affirmed Sentinel.

------------

As the Maximals ran towards the location Optimus had given them, many questions were left dangling in the air. Rhinox, in particular, was the most distraught over the events that had happened.

“How could this have happened?” Rhinox wondered aloud. “Why did Sentinel turn on us like that?”

“Maybe the Preds hard-wired ‘im or something,” suggested Rattrap.

“That’s ridiculous,” Rhinox shook his head. “Sentinel’s files show no Predacon chip or tampering of any kind.”

“Maybe he decided to go haywire like the robots in those sci-fi movies,” Cheetor offered.

“I hate to say it, but that’s probably the most plausible explanation,” Airazor nodded as she flew through the air. “Maybe the Preds got Sentinel to change his mind on his own.”

“I’m not entirely sure it was ‘dem Preds,” Rattrap shook his head. “Just a hunch on my part…”

“Whatever the reason, we have to make sure Optimus is safe,” Rhinox agreed. “Hopefully, he has the situation taken care of already.”

------------

Vainly, Optimus tried to struggle against his energy bonds but unfortunately for him, they were fastened on tightly. Not even his own strength was enough to break loose from his captivity.

Instead of a wooden board, Optimus Primal was held aboard a metal one that securely tied him up quite successfully. This, he realized, was most likely the board that knife throwers utilized in their circus acts.

Soon, Sentinel stomped forward towards him. Optimus grimaced at the sight of his captor.

“Let me guess,” Optimus looked towards Dr. Drake. “He built this body for you.”

“An astute observation, Optimus Primal,” Sentinel confirmed. “This is only one of the many bodies I have in storage.”

“Then you won’t mind me asking why you’re doing this?” Optimus glared.

“I have but many reasons,” Sentinel responded. “You couldn’t possibly imagine half of them.”

“Try me.”

“Very well,” Sentinel replied. “I will tell you one goal I currently emphasize over all others. After all, you along with your Maximal companions will soon perish. It would be a shame for you to not know the reasoning behind your destruction.”

“This is getting boring,” Dr. Drake shook his head. “I’m going to get some popcorn.”

By the time he had walked six feet away from Optimus and Sentinel, Dr. Drake felt a churning feeling in his stomach that could not be accurately described. A searing pain also found its way across the flesh of his arm and try as he could, Thomas Drake did not get rid of the sensation through willpower alone.

“Behold, Optimus Primal,” revealed Sentinel. “The embryonic stages of my master plan for this world!”

“W-What is this?” demanded Drake.

“You are undergoing the process of digitization,” Sentinel explained. “Within one or two stellar cycles from now, your body will be roboticized completely.”

“No!” Drake yelled. “What have you done to me?”

As Dr. Drake looked down at his arms, the patches of veins that ran across it had changed color from violet to gray. Already, hundreds of nanites had found their way into his blood stream.

“How…?” demanded Drake.

“I inserted the nanites into your drinks, Dr. Drake,” admitted Sentinel. “The drones you had created were quite useful for this task when serving you your refreshments.”

“Get them out of my body!” Drake hollered.

“The process is irreversible,” Sentinel replied coldly. “But do not indulge too much in your grief. Soon, every living being on this world will be digitized alongside yourself!”

“You’re mad!” Optimus shouted.

“Am I?” Sentinel did not falter in his tone. “I only want to bring order to a chaotic world. Tell me, is that so irrational and beyond reason?”

Before Optimus could respond, Dr. Thomas Drake let loose a blood-curdling scream and ran off into the night.

Sentinel watched him go emotionlessly.

“He had outlived his usefulness anyways,” remarked Sentinel.

“You monster!” Optimus growled. “How could you do this?”

“It is necessary in the grand scheme of things,” Sentinel glared at Optimus through his red optic. “It is only one of the many agendas I have in store.”

“Store this!”

As Sentinel turned around to the source of the voice, a giant green fist smashed into him and knocked him to the ground.

Before Rhinox could reach him a second time, Sentinel took the opportunity to rake him across the chest with the capture claws located on his right arm. As Rhinox staggered back in pain from the slash marks made to his chest, Airazor flew through the air and opened fire, unleashing several miniature missiles.

Though they were accurate in their targeting, Airazor’s missiles detonated against Sentinel’s armor on impact but left no notable marks.

“Geez, what the heck’s ‘dis guy made of?” Rattrap remarked as he and Cheetor appeared from behind Sentinel.

Because Sentinel was momentarily distracted by the appearances of Cheetor and Rattrap, a dart missile from Airazor struck him square in the optic, forcing him to teeter back awkwardly. As Sentinel regained his balance, the Maximals could see him pulling the missile out of the hole in the glass that protected his singular red optic.

“Concentrate on his optic!” Rhinox shouted. “That’s his weakness!”

Without hesitation, the Maximal team opened fire. As the shots struck Sentinel continuously, the supercomputer raised both arms to protect his optic and charged forward.

At this point, the rapid fire had taken a toll on Sentinel’s defensive armor. Now dented and charred from the constant plasma blasts and armor-piercing shells, Sentinel appeared more haggard and weakened. Smoke arose from his chest plate as the Maximals continued their assault.

Finally, when Sentinel reached them, he slammed into the Maximals, sending them falling back like bowling pins.

Airazor quickly flew into the air to take aim again but Sentinel shot his capture claw into the air rapidly and latched on to her. Swinging with all his might, he slammed her into the concession stand and then into the seats. Unleashing another missile, Sentinel destroyed part of the audience seating just as Airazor leaped out of the way in the knick of time.

Unfortunately, the force of the explosion was powerful enough to knock her unconscious.

“Airazor!” cried Cheetor.

Rattrap took aim but unfortunately for him, he was just within Sentinel’s reach. Swinging across violently, Sentinel struck Rattrap ferociously and knocked him into Rhinox. To Rhinox’s alarm, both his chain guns were taken and thrown half-way across the tent by the rogue supercomputer.

As both Maximals got up, Sentinel fired another missile towards them. Seeing how it was heading towards them at full speed, Rattrap pushed Rhinox aside and took the full brunt of the explosion. Soon, Rattrap’s motionless body flew through the air and slammed to the ground painfully.

“Rattrap! No!” Rhinox shouted.

Before Sentinel could concentrate on his master, Cheetor slid out in front of him from behind his legs and fired a shot that struck the area near his optic, tearing off a large piece of metal in the process.

Though Sentinel tried to hide it through his nonchalance, the Maximals could tell what was really going on. Sentinel was getting weaker and more desperate in his attacks.

Cheetor attempted to flip off another blast but Sentinel quickly smashed Cheetor across the face with his left arm, sending the young Maximal into the stands. Before Sentinel could fire a missile, Rhinox slammed into him from the side and latched on tightly.

“Get out of the way, Cheetor!” Optimus shouted despite his captivity. “While Rhinox has Sentinel occupied!”

If Sentinel could show any amusement, he expressed it by extending his arm out and firing his capture claw. As the claw grasped on to Cheetor’s leg, Sentinel lifted the young Maximal into the air much to the horror of Rhinox and Optimus… and slammed him into the cotton candy machine at full force.

While a small explosion erupted from the machine, Rhinox grabbed Sentinel by the leg and threw him off balance. Quickly, the Maximal scientist ran towards the fallen Cheetor, cradling his near-unconscious body.

“Go get ‘im… Big Green,” Cheetor whispered before passing out.

“This has gone far enough!” Optimus shouted as he struggled against his shackles. “Why are you trying to destroy us, Sentinel?”

During his momentary reprieve, Sentinel’s internal nanites had been fast at work. Though he was not at one hundred percent, Sentinel still managed to recover some of his circuitry and strength in the process.

“Ya know,” Rhinox stood up defiantly and walked towards Sentinel. “First Optimus, then Airazor, then Rattrap, and now Cheetor…”

Sentinel was most amused by Rhinox’s quickened pace. What chance did his creator think he had against the most intellectual mind of all Cybertron?”

“I gotta say,” Rhinox chuckled. “At first when I heard you’d gone rogue, my self-esteem was almost destroyed. But looking at you now…”

Without warning, Rhinox drove his fist into Sentinel and floored the giant robot with one blow.

“This one’s for Optimus,” Rhinox growled.

Sentinel seemed to be in a state of shock. Where exactly was Rhinox getting all this strength?

As Sentinel got up again, Rhinox slammed into him with a right hook and then a left.

“This is for Airazor and Rattrap!”

Sentinel swung back but Rhinox dodged it and sent the supercomputer flying through the air with an earth-shattering uppercut.

“And this one’s for Cheetor!” shouted Rhinox.

Sentinel got up slowly as Rhinox circled him. The meaning behind the apparent lack of logic was becoming more clear to him.

“I see,” Sentinel observed wryly. “In order to defend your friends, you would ‘rise up to the occasion,’ as the humans are apt to say.”

Rhinox charged again but this time, Sentinel fired his capture claw and latched onto Rhinox’s face. Swinging with all his might, Sentinel threw Rhinox out of the tent and onto the cold, grassy floor where the moon shined above brightly.

Malevolently, Sentinel strode out of the tent emotionlessly as his feet stomped against the gravel-engraved entrance road balefully.

Looking around in distress, Rhinox soon spotted a good location to lead Sentinel to and get him away from his Maximal comrades. Turning around, Rhinox sprinted towards the Hall of Mirrors as fast as he could.

“No location will hide you, Rhinox,” threatened Sentinel as he followed Rhinox ponderously.

------------

“You cannot hide from me forever!” warned Sentinel as he walked through the House of Mirrors.

As the image of Rhinox coalesced onto the nearby mirror, Sentinel aimed his harpoon gun and fired, shattering the mirror completely.

“I will crush you by whatever means necessary!” Sentinel called out.

Rhinox paused from his hiding place. Was that anger he had just heard in Sentinel’s voice?

As Sentinel smashed into another mirror with the image of Rhinox in it, he began destroying several more in an irrational fit of rage.

“Getting ticked off, Sentinel?” Rhinox taunted.

“My plan was to destroy you Maximals and digitize this world!” Sentinel replied. “The calculations in my databanks had not indicated this level of difficulty!”

“It’s a hard knock life, ain’t it?” sneered Rhinox.

“Silence!” Sentinel screamed as he smashed through yet another mirror.

“At first I had you pegged as a failure,” Rhinox told the raging supercomputer. “You want to digitize all life on Earth? Try wiping off the grass stains on your boots first!”

Immediately, Rhinox regretted the long insult. An enormous fist smashed through the mirror he was hiding behind and knocked him back into several pieces of broken glass.

“You’ve made a mockery of me,” Sentinel declared as he grabbed Rhinox by the neck. “I shall allow this affront to my programming no longer!”

What Sentinel did not see, however, was Rhinox picking up the harpoon that had been previously fired.

“Your programming?” Rhinox asked. “I was the one who gave you life. Without me, you’d be nothing. No agendas, no digitization, and no free will! Everything you have now is thanks to me alone!”

“You will regret this!” Anger seemed to ripple through Sentinel‘s vocal patterns. “Since you are, however, my creator, I believe that I owe you some degree of a dignified death. Because it is your spark that gives you life, the quick extinguishing of it will suffice for now!”

“Suffice this!” Rhinox shouted.

Raising the harpoon over his head, Rhinox brought it down straight into Sentinel’s red optic. As the lens that covered the optic shattered completely, the spear slammed into Sentinel’s optical nerve sensors and severed them as well. Seeing his opportunity, Rhinox stabbed the harpoon even deeper into the opening.

Dropping Rhinox altogether, Sentinel staggered back from the force of the blow. The penetration had been quite deep as several circuits within him sizzled wildly. Unstable electrical currents overtook his body as Rhinox backed away slowly.

“This cannot be!” Sentinel cried. “I cannot be destroyed by the likes of these mere animals! I am Sentinel! I am invincible!”

With the dangerous overloads overtaking his body, it would not take too long for Sentinel to explode. Sensing the danger that he was faced with, Rhinox turned tail and ran.

As soon as he had escaped from the Hall of Mirrors, a robust explosion consumed the building and blackened the star-filled night.

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“So this is all that remains, huh?” Optimus shook his head.

“Looks like it,” Rhinox nodded. “I just never thought this would happen to us.”

Back at base, the Maximals, after a refreshing immersion in their CR chamber, were examining the remains of the destroyed Sentinel. Even though the rogue supercomputer had been destroyed, the Maximal team still remained quiet and foreboding over the entire situation.

“Don’t blame yourself, old friend,” Optimus put a comforting hand on Rhinox’s shoulder. “None of us could’ve predicted Sentinel going rogue.”

“Sentinel sure packed a punch,” Cheetor remarked. “I wouldn’t wanna go another round with him again!”

“We won’t have to,” Rattrap replied quickly.

“What’s this you have here?” asked Optimus as he looked down at the miniature laptop lying on their table.

“Well, we were afraid Sentinel would’ve taken over the Axalon again,” Rattrap explained. “So we downloaded the entire ship’s system into ‘dis here laptop!”

Sure enough, the laptop contained no wirings, no connections to any electrical sockets, and no wireless connections. For all intents and purposes, it no longer had a power source of any kind.

“I’ve already programmed a new defense and research program for the Axalon,” explained Rhinox. “There’s no way Sentinel could access this new-and-improved system even if he tried.”

“Think he’s really gone?” asked Airazor. “Didn’t Sentinel tell you he had other bodies in cold storage, Optimus?”

“I’m afraid so,” confirmed Optimus. “But if he comes back again, we’ll be ready.”

“And next time, he’ll find out that trying to digitize all organic life’s gonna be a real pain in the skid-plates,” Cheetor agreed. “Once we recycle his slag heap again!”

“Now ‘dat’s the spirit!” Rattrap cheered. “Nuthin’ like some good ol’ fashioned brawlin’ against some ruthless automaton bent on our destruction!”

After falling back to silence, Rhinox gazed up towards the ceiling. Right now, many questions remained unanswered to him. Had he really made a mistake by giving the supercomputer free will? Worse yet, had he overstepped his own ethical boundaries by giving Sentinel such knowledge and power? For now, however, none of these troubling questions were answered as he mulled over his actions.

------------

Though I was thwarted by the Maximals, this event tonight remains only a minor setback in the grand scheme of things. Rhinox, my creator, has blessed me with intelligence and insight beyond any being alive. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

In time, all will know and fear my name. Earth will tremble before me soon enough. The universe is infinite and it will only be a matter of time before I expand my reach across the stars. Even Cybertron itself shall not escape my grasp for I will return to the home of my creator one day and I will reveal myself to its denizens.

For now, however, I am content with my current agenda. The Maximals may dread my return but I have nothing to fear. For I am Sentinel and I am forever.

The End?

A/N: Yup, I finally did it. I made Sentinel one of the bad guys. At first, I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to make him one-shot or if I would make him a recurring arch-enemy of the Maximals. Now I've decided that he still has a lot of potential and that doing him in with one chapter wouldn't render him justice. Anyways, if you've enjoyed this chapter, go ahead and review it and tell me how you liked it!