Let the War Begin

Chapter 2

By: LoneMaximal

Within the next megacycle Optimus, Rhinox, Speedcat and Mouse were moved to the front of the shipping station to protect the bigger, more important ships.

  While they moved, Optimus kept glancing around, a faint hope in his spark that he’d see Black Widow amid the bustle of other transformers. But alas, she was nowhere to be seen.

   He kept remembering that night she came into his office, and what had happened after he’d comforted her.

   How she looked up at him adoringly after resting her head on his chest. How she crept forward and he tried to back away. How she tilted his head forward gently, and slowly their lips met.

  Or rather, hers met his. She’d wrapped her arms around his neck, a death grip that he couldn’t escape from. But instead of pulling away, like he was sure he so desperately wanted to, after a fraction of a nano, he found his arms looped loosely around the back of her waist. It seemed like an involuntary action, yet one he felt he’d wanted to do for a while. Taking a step closer, his body pressed against hers, his grip tightening slightly. Taken by surprised, she opened her optics for a click, but quickly closed them and accepted the advance.

 After what seemed like forever, though it must a been only a few clicks, she pressed on his chest lightly, a signal to end the kiss. He finally pulled away. Why didn’t he do it sooner? Why didn’t he want to?

  She stroked his cheek gently, and silently departed.

  Confusion. Love. Lust. Words couldn’t express both their feelings. A lot of passion was in that kiss. Feelings he’d never felt or expressed before were all released in that one action.

 For the first time, he seemed to realise just how much she meant to him, and how close they really were.

No!! Optimus thought, I can’t let the past interfere with my mission. People’s lives are at stake.

   However, Speedcat seemed to notice how unfocussed Optimus was. He sidled up next to him.

  ‘Uh, hey!’ he greeted. ‘Think we’ll get to shred some Pred?’

  Optimus looked over to him, seemingly forgetting his thoughts.

  ‘Hopefully not,’ he replied in good humour.

  Speedcat smiled back, happy he’d succeeded in snapping Optimus out of thinking about the drama that had occurred earlier. He walked farther up ahead,  passing  Mouse, who seemed to suddenly quicken  his pace.

 Thank you, Speedcat, Optimus smiled to himself as he watched the young bot take the lead. But these are thoughts that won’t go away quite that easily.

When they arrived at their post, Speedcat was immediately in awe at the sheer size and state-of-the-art technology of the ships they’d have to guard.  Mouse seemed just as impressed, something which rather surprised Optimus.

‘You guys better rest up for the night,’ the blue and white leader of the leaving crew instructed. ‘Tomorrow’s gonna be a looong day for you guys.’

  ‘Thanks, we will,’ Optimus nodded, and waved him off.

  ‘Hey, can we have a look around?’ Speedcat asked excitedly.

  ‘Tomorrow, Speedcat,’ Optimus replied patiently. ‘Right now we need to get some sleep so that we’re in prime condition for our watch.’

****

On the other side of Cybertron, deep beneath the planet’s metal surface, an unknown warren of tunnels and rooms had been built. A complete secret to the world above, the warren stretched a good few miles underground. The entrance was disguised as a disused sewer vent in a shady part of Cybertropolis.

  Down one of the corridors of the warren, a bulky navy blue transformer was making his way to the ‘throne room’, as it was known to the other Predacons. He had a large, strange tail-like blaster rifle that started at the bottom of his back and looped and hung over his head, like a scorpion’s tail.

  Indeed, he had important news for the boss, but he couldn’t help but feel nervous as he grew closer to  his quarters. He started fidgeting his fingers as he walked, knowing he would soon be there.

‘Uh, Lord Megatron…’ he called meekly from the open doorway, his rough voice breaking slightly as he did so.

  In front of him was a large throne-like chair, it’s back facing him. But nothing stirred.

  ‘Um, Lord Megatron?’  he called again, venturing a step inside.

‘Ah, Scorponok,’ a calm, cool voice echoed from behind the chair. ‘You have something to report?’

  Scorponok let out a deep breath. ‘Uh, yes sir.’

  He crept over to the throne and knelt in front of it.

  ‘We have received some vital information from a new source. It seems our last attack has greatly weakened the Maximal front lines. Also…’ he trailed off, wondering if he should say anymore. ‘ The… uh… Maximal Commander, Optimus Primal, is at the shipping station with a crew.’

  A malevolent smile spread across Megatron’s face. Oh, how it pleased him to hear that. He rotated the throne so he now faced Scorponok. He was a very large Predacon indeed, much larger than Scorponok. He was black and purple with a proud, strong featured face that commanded attention, and beaming red optics. On his forehead he bore the Predacon insignia, a wasp-like insect head.

  ‘Ah, yes, my good nemesis Primal,’ he mused, rubbing his chin with one hand, the smile still on his lips. ‘Very good work, my dear Scorponok. You have done well, yes. So well, that I am entrusting you with my most valuable mission yet.’

  He beckoned Scorponok over, who arose almost immediately to be at his master’s side.

  ‘I need you to gather three of the best Predacon warriors you can find and meet me back here before the night is done.

  Don’t fail me Scorponok, this is our first step to finally overthrowing our enemies. The success of this mission is critical, all the Predacons are counting on you. Will you do it?’ He clasped a heavy hand on Scorponok’s shoulder and looked him straight in the optics, determination etched on his solemn face.

  Scorponok looked as though he was going to cry with happiness. ‘Yes,’ he choked. ‘Yes sir, I will. Don’t you worry, Lord Megatron,  you can rely on me!’

  ‘I knew I could,’ Megatron laughed, and dismissed the doting Scorponok, who ran as fast as he could to start his quest.

  Megatron chuckled to himself, turning his throne around again.

  ‘Ah Primal, my worthy adversary. Long have we battled; but never have we met. This shall prove a most interesting encounter, yes. For you see, you will be the one to witness my finest operation yet.’

  He laughed out loud, then went into quiet thinking. ‘Hmm, this ‘new source’, they seem to have a great deal of knowledge about you. Could it be that they knew you once? Oh, I would very much like to meet them, yes.

 ****

‘Jumping gyros, look at that!’ Speedcat pointed to a particularly large exploration ship. It was very stylish; it’s chrome body glistening in the morning sun like a beam of light hitting water, secreting it’s lethal fighter guns, all top of the range, of course. It had curved front and rear wings for maximum mobility, with small but very powerful jets underneath. This ship was built for speed, and he liked it. How he’d love to go over to look at it closer and touch it.

  The other Maximals had just woken up and were coming round from their sleep. All except Mouse. He seemed just as eager as Speedcat about all the new ships and models. He walked up behind Speedcat.

  ‘HOOO!! Ain’t she a beaut!’ he whooped and placed a hand on Speedcat’s shoulder. ‘Yup, they don’t come any better than that. I was thinkin’ of lookin’ her over, ya know. I mean, we might as well see what makes ‘em so damn important that we’re risking our necks for ‘em.’

  Speedcat looked him in the face, and without a word they both ran to the ship.

  ‘Hey, you two!!’ Rhinox yelled after them. ‘We’re supposed to be guarding them, not playing with them!!’ He sighed heavily as the two bots disappeared in the ship. Optimus laughed behind him.

But despite his good humour, Optimus had not had an easy night. He’d lay awake most of the night, thinking about what had happened earlier between him and Black Widow. Thinking about where it had all gone wrong, and what he could have done to prevent it. When he finally did get to sleep, all he could dream about was the look on her face after he’d broken the news to her, and the sound of her crying.

  But he must put on a brave face. He must let the past be the past. He knew there was no way he could forget it, at least not easily. And definitely not any time soon. The only thing he could do was put it all in the back of his mind and try not to let it bother him.

‘A real parent figure, eh Rhinox?’ he chuckled.

  ‘Those two are gonna get us into a fine mess!’ Rhynox muttered to Optimus, shaking his head.

  ‘Aw, let ‘em play,’ Optimus laughed. ‘How often are they going to get the chance to see ships like these close up?’

  The sound of a ship window opening was heard by both Optimus and Rhinox.

  ‘YOOHOO!!’

 Rhinox covered his face in his hands.

‘By the Matrix, what are they up to now!?’ he groaned. Optimus fought to keep a straight face, with the mixed scene of Rhinox and the two Maximals hanging out of one of the ships many black windows.

  Speedcat and Mouse then climbed out of one of the front screens of the ship and were now walking along the curved wings. They waved over to Optimus and Rhinox, who wished the metal floor would just swallow him whole.

  Optimus looked over to him sympathetically. Fun was fun, but they really did need to get serious now.

  ‘Ok, you two,’ Optimus called, ‘come down from there, we’ve got work to do!’

No sooner had he said those words, a loud gunshot fired off in the distance. The whole station suddenly rumbled and soon a barrage of heavy artillery was heard. Speedcat and Mouse flailed, waving their arms trying to regain their balance as numerous coloured lasers shot in every direction.

  Optimus and Rhinox took cover behind another nearby ship.

  ‘ MOUSE! SPEEDCAT! GET DOWN FROM THERE!’ Optimus yelled over the gunshots, trying to return fire.

  The two Maximals jumped off the wings of the ship in opposite directions, Mouse landing heavily on the side nearest the battle. He quickly rolled behind another ship, loaded his blaster, and shot like there was no tomorrow. 

  Speedcat however, landed with a sharp thud on the hard metal floor. He grunted and shook his head, trying to regain himself. He was quickly reminded of what was happening by a line of fire coming directly at him.

  ‘YAH!’ he cried, and dived out of the way.

  There must have been over twenty Predacons in that section. Their Commanding Officer was a red, heavy armoured transformer, who looked more like a gang leader than a senior commander. He wore an ammo belt across his waist and chest, the Predacon insignia bared broadly behind it. He had a young face; his yellow optics were like sunglasses, giving him a more gangster appearance. In his mouth his sucked on a toothpick, a cocky smirk spread across his face.

  ‘Ok, boys,’ he barked roughly, his voice seemingly out of character for his appearance. ‘Don’t spare a single one.’

 The distress alarms whirred loudly and the station started flashing red and yellow. The mixture of gunshot and alarms echoed throughout the station, but no relief forces came.

  ‘Where the slag are the other teams?’ Rhinox grunted as he quickly ducked behind the ship for cover, a laser shot just missing his head.

  ‘UGH! They must have sealed off this area,’ Optimus grunted back. He quickly fired his blaster, his aim on his side, and shot down  four of the front firing Predacons.

  ‘Okay!’ he cried loud enough for the other Maximals to hear. ‘It looks like it’s just the four of us. Regroup  here so I can relay the new strategy.’

  Speedcat and Mouse managed to strafe to the ship where Optimus and Rhinox were taking cover. The firing seemed to cease as the Predacons looked around for the four lonely Maximals. The Predacon Commander whistled spitefully.

  ‘Here little Maximals, come on out!’ he called, his hands cupped around his mouth to amplify the taunt. The other Predacons chuckled cruelly.

  ‘Man, I swear I’m gonna plug him one!’ Mouse hissed, raising up a little with his gun in hand. Rhinox planted him down hard and shushed him.

  The four Maximals huddled behind the ship, the Predacons were getting closer. Optimus looked over his crew proudly. If they were going down, at least they’d be going down as heroes.

  He quickly relayed his plan. Sure it sounded crazy, but sometimes crazy worked.

  ‘Ready?’ he finally whispered. Rhinox and Speedcat nodded solemnly, Mouse folded his arms across his chest and he raised his brow plate. ‘I just know we’re all gonna die!’ he whined, shaking his head.

  ‘Alright, let’s hit ‘em hard and fast. NOW!!’

 A frightening battle cry  roared up from the Maximals as Optimus, Rhinox, Mouse and Speedcat charged headlong into the group of shocked Predacons, with  Rhinox’s chain guns downing at least seven and Optimus, Speedcat and Mouse clearing the way. Desperately trying to return fire, panic quickly gripped the remaining Predacons. Half of them dropped their weapons and scurried away in disobedient retreat, the Commander swearing loudly and cursing them all.

  ‘COWARDS!!’ he screamed, ‘WRETCHED, SLAGGIN, COWARDS!! YOU’LL ALL BURN IN HELL FOR THIS!!’ 

  Seeing their chance, the Maximals closed in on the ten or so remaining Predacons, quickly rendering them defenceless and at their mercy.

  Optimus grabbed the Predacon Commander about the neck roughly, and pressed his blaster against his head.

  ‘Ok,’ he growled. ‘Talk. What’s the meaning of this attack and where’s Megatron?’ He pressed the blaster harder into the Commander’s face plate. The Commander snarled, baring his teeth. Then a sardonic smile spread over his face and he laughed manically.

  ‘Heh heh. You think I’m gonna tell you, Maximal scum!’ he spat. ‘Don’t hold your breath. Megatron’s gonna take you all out, bot by slaggin’ bot.’ He started to laugh again.

  Suddenly from behind them all, the roar of jet engines could be heard. The exploration ship Mouse and Speedcat had checked out not too long ago was getting ready to take off. Optimus whirred round, his optics wide with shock. Suddenly it all made sense. This attack, all the other attacks. They were all merely diversions. Megatron had this planned all along.

  I’ve been such a fool!! he cried to himself and broke into a sprint towards the back of the station where the ship was warming up.

   ‘Maximals, man a ship, we’ve got to stop Megatron!’

  ‘Are you out of your processor?’ Mouse yelled. ‘There’s no way… URK!!’ Mouse was quickly cut off by Rhinox, who grabbed him by the back of the neck and lifted him off the ground.  He then continued to make his way after Optimus. Speedcat ran alongside them both.

  The ship started to turn and edge forward, quickly picking up speed. Optimus knew they’d have to act fast.

  ‘Over here!’ he shouted back to the others, veering left to a far bigger exploration ship- the Axalon. This one was bulkier and had more shape to it than the hi-jacked ship. It also had far bigger engines and wingspan. Though not as fast, it was the best to be found on short notice.

  ‘Sweet!’ Speedcat exclaimed as Optimus quickly opened the ships door to let them in.

  No sooner had the Maximals all entered the Axalon, the hi-jacked ship began to take flight.

  ‘Rhinox, Mouse, take the navigation controls. Speedcat, fuel and power levels check. Let’s move!’ Optimus barked.

  Rhinox dropped Mouse as they all ran into the cock-pit. Within a few cycles, they’d managed to get the ship started. The Axalon came alive with lights and the droning of the engine warming up.

  ‘Fuel and power A-OK!’ Speedcat called.

  ‘Lift-off in two cycles and counting,’ Rhinox confirmed.

  ‘Preds still within radar,’ Mouse seconded.

  ‘Good,’ Optimus nodded.

  The ships internal computer began a countdown.

   10-9-8...

  ‘Aw man, that other ship had a chick’s voice,’ Mouse moaned. The other Maximals all stared at him, a bemused look on all their faces.

  ‘WHAT!?’ he cried.

  5-4-3-2-1. Ignition.

  ‘Here we go!’ Rhinox called, as the Axalon began to rumble and move.

  A few cycles later, the Axalon was off Cybertron’s metal surface and darting up into the sky.