Beast Wars

(as if made after the movie)

Season One
Episode 1
Beast Wars
Part One

Characters:

Maximals:
Optimus Primal
Rhinox
Ratrap
Cheetor
Lisa "Li" Witwicky (Human Liason)

Predacons:
Megatron
Dinobot
Scorpinok
Tarantulas
Terrorsaur
Waspinator

Two ships flew through a time warp firing on each other. One was a Maximal exploration ship and the other was a Predacon attack ship. On the Maximal ship, a young unnamed Maximal cadet yelled, "Hull breach in Sector Seven! Guidance Systems failing!" "Aww, Man! This is ridiculous! We're an exploration ship, not a battle cruiser!" Whined a small, unnamed middled-aged Maximal from the mines on Cybertron. "Stop complaining! We're in the battle of our lives, and all you're doing is complaining?" Yelled Li, the sixteen year old female Human Liaison, over the comm who was strapped in, in her quarters.

The small veteran yelled back, "Well what the slag are you doing? You're all nice and safe." "I'm only as safe as the ship idiot! I would be up there helping you, but our overprotective leader who follows my overprotective father's orders confined me to quarters. Besides I'm trying to figure out what Megatron wants with this planet!" "Shut up you two!" yelled the big veteran sitting next to the smaller one. The young cadet yelled, "The shields are doing a major fade!" Optimus Primal, the rookie commander, ordered, "Plasma cannons to full!"

On the Predacon ship, a brutal voice yelled, "Their shields are down, now destroy them!" Megatron, their leader only laughed. "Now where's the fun in that? A little torment, I think first. Yes. Side guns!"

Cries from the Maximal ship ensued. The young cadet yelled, "Ugh! Rupture! The stasis hold is failing!" The big veteran groaned. "We're going down." Optimus Primal yelled, "Launch all stasis pods! Get them into safe orbit! ... All Plasma Cannons FIRE!" Megatron screamed in frustration. Both ships fell to the unknown planet below.

Optimus groaned and asked for a damage report. The young cadet said ironically, "Believe me, you don't want to know." "Ugh. That's what I thought. Li, how are you doing back there?" No answer. "Li, report!" A groan came over the comm. "Not so hot back here, Optimus. Gonna need some help… the walls have collapsed… and I'm still strapped in." "Oh. Hold on. We'll get back to you as soon as we can."

Over in the Predacon ship, Megatron activated navigations. "Navigations! Is this the right planet?" "Unknown. Course settings were accurate, but readings are inconsistent with intended destination." "Never mind that! Tell me if there is Energon here." "Confirmed." "YES! The planet has Energon!" "Too much Energon. Field readings are off the scale. Continued exposure to robot forms will result in permanent damage." Megatron slammed his fist down in anger.

"Then we will create alternate forms based on the most powerful local forms." The robot with the mad scientist laugh, laughed and said, "Scanners activated," as he sent out a probe. The skeletal remains of a Tyrannosaurus, a Pterodactyl, and a Volasceraptor, as well as a living wasp, tarantula, and scorpion were found.

Meanwhile, at the Maximal ship, after rescuing Li, the Maximals made their own scans. "Scanning and replication of local life forms complete. You may emerge." "Rawow Rawor! Look at me!" Yelled the young cadet. "I'm a cheetah. No. No. I'm Cheetor!" "Hmm, interesting," said Optimus Primal. "Interesting? Optimus, the word is spot on smooth. Hee hee hee, it's a crime."

"Hmm, it's a bit tacky. You never had taste did you kid? Now this, this is what class is all about," said the small veteran who had taken the form of a rat. "Call me Ratrap." "Oh yeah? How about I cut mices to pieces?" "Ease back, Cheetor. Living large is for forms like me. Rhinox!" "And consider yourselves lucky I didn't get rough on ya'lls." Li watched quietly from her seat, where she was taking readings of the planet. She knew they still needed time to get used to their new forms, and instincts.

Their beast forms worried her. Something was not right here. Megatron stole the Golden Discs – he should have been on his way to Earth. Course settings were accurate, but readings were not. So far animal life proved accurate, her Maximal crewmates' beast forms attested to that, but there were two moons… and Earth did not have two moons. There was Energon but too much. Something told her that Megatron wouldn't make the mistake of coming to the wrong planet.

The form replicator door released and Optimus stepped out, having chosen the form of a gorilla. "Moderate your conflict circuits Maximals! Remember, these beast forms are to protect us from the long term effects of the Energon fields out there. We may need Energon for power, but this is too much of a good thing. Our robot forms will start to short out after a few minutes of exposure."

He walked up to Li's console. "This is one unusual planet, whatever it is. Li, have you confirmed our location?" "No, Optimus, readings do not match known areas of space or planets." She decided not to share her musings just yet. Perhaps, if she figured out this mystery on her own, he wouldn't be so protective of her.

"That might be because the trans-warp drive can go through space and time. We were locked onto Megatron's warp signal. We could be any place, any time," said Rhinox. Li looked away. Could Earth have had two moons and a lot of Energon at one time? Optimus didn't notice as he said, "And our crew is orbiting the planet. They're safe from the Energon fields, but it means Megatron has us outnumbered six to four."

Li cleared her throat. "Sir, I count five – and before you say anything, I know that my adopted father, Lord Bumblebee of the Council of Elders asked you to protect me. Optimus, if I don't fight, we are outnumbered six to four. I know what will happen to me if you are defeated, and if I die, I would prefer to go down fighting. My father did train me to fight, and I am of the Witwicky clan – I have Witwicky blood if you will. I am descended from Sam and Mikaela Witwicky of the Great War - My clan is a warrior clan."

She noticed that every time she said Witwicky they flinched as though slapped in the face, and when she said "is", Cheetor looked as though he was about to say something, but Rhinox stepped on his foot – "Yeow!" Again, she said nothing. "Li, I'm afraid not, I can't put you in danger."

Meanwhile, the Predacons were exploring outside their base and Dinobot was having a fit. "No. No. NO! It's all wrong. This can not be Earth." He turned around and looked into the ship. "Megatron, you failed. Not only did you fail to destroy the Maximals when you had the chance, you failed to bring us to the right planet! We stole the Golden Discs for nothing." He threw the disc in his hand at Megatron's feet and yelled "You idiot!"

Megatron chuckled. "I beg your pardon? What did you call me?" "You heard, you are an idiot and an incompetent leader and I am taking over. Dinobot Terrorize!" He reverted to his robot form. "I challenge you to battle, Megatron. The winner shall lead the Predacons, and the Loser, shall be destroyed." "Ah. You're so impulsive, Dinobot. Brave, but misguided." "Do you accept my challenge?"

Megatron laughed. "There's more to being a leader than simple courage. Well there's cleverness and cunning as well. Isn't that right, Scorpinok?" Megatron stepped aside to reveal Scorpinok in his robot form, his missiles aimed at Dinobot. Dinobot's jaw dropped. Scorpinok fired and sent Dinobot flying out many parsecs away.

Megatron sneered. "Loser. What does it matter which planet we are on? We came looking to find Energon and this planet is rich with the element. Enough Energon to power the Predacons' entire galactic conquest. Only the Maximals can give us trouble now, if they survived. Find them. And if you find them, destroy them." His crew took off.

Back at the Axalon, the Maximals and Li were finding what systems they could repair and moving stuff about. As Ratrap dragged a piece of metal out to where Optimus, Rhinox and Li were, he complained, "Man, all this for a Golden disc." "It was Cybertron's most carefully guarded relic, Ratrap. It gave the location of a major Energon source. That's why Megatron stole it." "Yeah, like I care. You know we were supposed to be doing deep space exploration. Huh. Playing galactic patrol wasn't nowhere in my job description, you know what I'm saying? You sure you cut out for this Commander gig?"

Optimus groaned. "Remember the Great War, Ratrap? If the Predacons get enough Energon, they'll start it again. We can't let that happen." Li, who had been listening covertly, knew it was time to speak up – about what else was on those discs – Ratrap might have a little more enthusiasm if he knew what was at stake. Besides, they all needed to know what they were getting into.

"Optimus, it's not just that." She refused to meet his eyes in her fear. "When I was little, I was so small that Father, being an Autobot, could hold me in his hand and close it without hurting me. I would train myself as a game to hide from him and follow him without him knowing I was there, often he'd catch me, but once he didn't. I followed him into a secret meeting of the Council of Elders – one where they discussed the Golden Discs.

"Optimus, those discs – the location is Earth, but it is more than that. Secretly embedded in those discs are the locations of the Earth crash sites of the Ark, the Nemesis, the Energon Cube - the Allspark - , the location of the origin of the Human Race, and all valid dates…"

Rhinox, Optimus, and Ratrap's eyes went wide, and Ratrap was the first to speak. "You mean… he … could erase our entire existence?" "Yeah, if we're on the right planet… that's what I've been figuring out. All of the life form readings match so far, the land plates are a match for what would have been around 4 million years ago well… but there are two things throwing me off, and I suspect they are throwing Megatron off as well."

Optimus looked deadly serious. "What are they?" "The first is that there is far too much Energon. Now in the next 4 million years that could easily change. However, the other one is not so easily changed – this planet has two moons – Earth has only one." "I see."

Cheetor came out and immediately noticed too cheetahs running speedily away. "Hey, check it!" Optimus looked up at them. "They're fast all right. You chose a good form." "Hey, you think that's speed? You ain't seen the Golden Rocket! Check this!" Cheetor yelled and shot off. Optimus yelled, "Cheetor! No." Cheetor didn't listen and kept going.

Optimus slammed his comlink. "Cheetor, return to base immediately. We don't have time for this!" Li rolled her eyes. "He's a kid, Optimus." "So, it's ok?" "No, I mean, he impulsive and wants to have fun – he'll learn, with a bit of the right guidance."

Optimus sighed. "Cheetor, please respond." The comlink fizzled out. "No good," said Rhinox. "The Energon fields mess up the comlinks. Anything over a hundred meters, they ain't worth scrap." "Well, that's just Prime," replied Optimus. "So ah, this your first day on the job or what?" asked Ratrap. "Shut up Ratrap." Ratrap stood and mockingly saluted. "Oh, yes sir! You know uh, I feel heaps better knowing that our lives are in your capable hands," Ratrap sighed. "We're all gonna die." Li bit her lip. "Can I slag him Optimus?"

Out in the open, the racing cheetahs were joined by Cheetor. "The names' Cheetor. What's shakin' cats?" The cheetahs flipped out and fled. Cheetor came to a pit stop. "What? Is it my breath? Hey, hey wait!" He ran to catch up.

A big wasp came out of nowhere. The cheetahs flipped out again, hissed and took off. "Hey wait! It's just a big bug. The way those two reacted, that's no natural life form. And if we're talking about unnatural life forms, then we gotta to be talking about just one thing: Robots in disguise! Cheetor Maximize!" He leaped into a flip and reverted to robot form.

"Time for this cat to pounce." He aimed his quasar launcher and started firing. "Bz Bzz Bzz!" The giant wasp evaded the shots and yelled. "Waspinator under attack. Waspinator engage enemy. Waspinator terrorize!" Waspinator transformed and started exchanging his own fire and Cheetor leaped out of the way.

Back at the Axalon, the other Maximals saw the laser fire. Ratrap said, "Uh oh." Optimus picked him up and jumped on Rhinox's back who was already moving. "Li, stay here!"

At the fight scene, Cheetor rolled and fired. The battle raged. Optimus, and Ratrap rode Rhinox at full speed with Ratrap whining about how Li got to stay behind. There was rock wall ahead. "'Ey heads up! Roadblock!" Ratrap yelled. Optimus yelled, "Veer left, there's a road block about a hundred meters." Rhinox just plowed through. "Ah yes. Silly me."

Back at the Axalon, Li was frustrated. "Why do I have to stay behind?" Then she noticed something she hadn't before. There was a strange symbol in the rock face near the ship. She grabbed a scanner and went over to it. The scan showed great alien energy surrounding the symbol. She reached out to touch it and a blinding white light flashed around her.

At the fight scene, the battle raged, and Cheetor landed in a chasm behind a rock and his weapon jammed. "Of all the times for a quasar jam." "Cheetor!" He heard Optimus call. He looked up and there were Optimus, Ratrap and Rhinox on the cliff. "Get to cover! We'll swat that pesky Predacon."

"Oh," called Megatron from the other cliff, with Terrasaur, Tarantulas and Scorpinok. "I would not count on that, Maximals. No." He laughed. "I believe that you are soon to have, how shall I put it? Difficulties of your own. Yes."

"We don't have to do this, Megatron. There has been peace between the Maximals and Predcons for centuries. Why start this up again?" "Peace perhaps on your side, Maximal scum. Yes. But not on ours. Permit me to inform you that an enemy that appears to be peaceful, may in fact be biding it's time." Cheetor got the jam out. "Finally." "We Predacons have never abandoned our rightful goal of galactic conquest. We have merely been waiting… for the right moment… TO STRIKE!"

Cheetor leapt out from behind his rock and fired at Megatron. "You mean like this?" "Cheetor!" yelled Optimus. "Ooo. A treacherous, underhanded, sneak attack! Hoo hoo. I like you pussycat. Yesss. But it shall avail you not! No! For now the Power Gaunlet has been cast! Predacons Terrorize!" "Do it!" Yelled Optimus. "Maximize!"

After every transformer transformed, Megatron yelled, "Now! Obliterate them!" And the Beast Wars began. One shot blasted a rock and a large slab fell on Cheetor's leg. "I'm stuck." Optimus yelled, "Ratrap help Cheetor. We'll cover you." Ratrap snorted. "Yeah right." "That's an order, Ratrap!" "Yeah, and you can just kiss my skid plate, 'cause I ain't going out there and getting my pelt punctured. You know, Li might've."

Optimus growled in frustration. He leapt out and turned on his jets. He flew towards Cheetor but as he was nearing the kid, Megatron fired and hit his jet. Rhinox yelled his name. Ratrap laughed. "See? Told ya." Optimus landed by Cheetor, blasted away the rock and helped him up. "Do not let them escape!" Yelled Megatron. More fire.

Ratrap was grabbed by Rhinox. "Hey!" "Cover fire! They need it, we give it! Now!" He stood up and turned around, firing with one hand, and holding the screaming and firing Ratrap in the other. Every Predacon was hit, and Optimus yelled, "Back to the base! Let's go! Let's go!" "After them! Go you arrghh!" Megatron was overtaken by Energon overload as were the rest of his crew. "Waspinator cannot move." "Energon field buildup. Convert back to beast mode."

Later, the Maximals were returning home in beast mode. Optimus was thinking about what Ratrap had said about Li. Li would have followed orders. Li had a clear head and quick thinking. And she was a good warrior – he had seen her train. If they were going to be here for a while, they would need all the warriors they could get against Megatron. Perhaps he had been wrong to keep her from fighting.

Optimus growled and grabbed Ratrap. "Hey! What's got your servos so bent?" "Let's get one thing straight Ratrap. I am Commander of this group. And when I give an order, I expect it to be obeyed!" "Oh yeah? So I get vaped 'cause you're too chicken to go yourself?" "I will not give an order I would not be willing to do myself!" He sighed. "But I was capable of giving you better cover fire, you were not." He threw him on his shoulders.

"Ahh come on. What are you shorting about? We got out of there alive, didn't we?" "But injured. It'll take time for our beast forms to affect internal repairs." "Ah. Yeah well… better you than me." Cheetor ran to catch up. "I think we gave them the fade, Optimus." "Keep your sensors on full. According to the Golden Discs theft reports, there were six Predacons. One of them was missing from the battle. He may already be at the base – Li may be in danger."

"Well umm… maybe he was destroyed in the crash," said Ratrap. Rhinox replied, "That kind of luck, we haven't been getting lately." "Tell me about it," said Cheetor. "Look." On the narrow bridge, that was the only way back to the base, stood Dinobot in his beast form. "Should we blast him?" asked Rhinox. "Keep that option open," replied Optimus, "but hang on." He walked out to meet Dinobot.

"Attention, Maximals!" yelled the Predacon. "My name is Dinobot. I have left the Predacons to join your group, as leader." "What? Did I hear the word 'Leader'?" Cheetor asked. "This guy's got bearings of chrome steel." Rhinox remarked.

Ratrap commented, "Ya know according to the Witwicky Doctrine, we have to have a Human Liason, and by Human Law and Human Honor, Humans are forbidden to be under the command of a Decepticon or a Predacon – she'd have to kill you or die trying." Cheetor continued on Ratrap's line. "And as her crew, we would be honor bound to avenge and arrest the Murderer of our Human Crewmate, if she was killed." Rhinox saw where this was going. "If you challenge and kill Optimus, we will eventually all be honor bound to challenge you to the death. And that will mean either your death or everyone else's – if you think you can take us. Which would be pointless."

"Enough. I challenge you Optimus Primus to a one on one battle, the winner shall lead the Maximals, and the loser shall be destroyed."

Cyberton, Present Day; The Chamber of the Council of Elders

Lord Rodious Prime, Chief of the Council of Elders slammed his massive hand onto the circular table. "Order! I will have Order. Yes, this Megatron of the Predacons has succeeded in stealing the Golden Discs. The entire existence of the Autobots, the Maximals and even our Allies the Humans is in grave danger. Megatron's ship used trans-warp drive to escape. Fortunately one of ours locked on to their warp signal and was pulled in. The bad news is that, it was a scientist ship bound for deep space exploration. They must learn to be warriors.

"We now have the name of that ship. Lord Bumblebee, I fear, it was the Axalon." "What?!?! NO! Not Lisa, it can't be-" "Incoming transmission of unknown origin."

Lord Rodious Prime looked up. "That's odd, how they get past security?" "Unknown." "Play transmission." On the screen before them appeared Lisa "Li" Witwicky – she was in white brilliance, and her eyes glowed white – it was evident she was not herself. "Lisa?" Lord Bumblebee whispered.

Many voices spoke through Li. "WE ARE THE VOK. THIS BEING HAS WILLINGLY AGREED TO ALLOW US TO SPEAK THROUGH HER. SHE WILL HAVE NO MEMORY OF IT. THE ONES YOU SEEK HAVE LANDED ON THE PLANET EARTH AS YOU NOW KNOW IT, 4 MILLION YEARS AGO – OUR PRESENT DAY. THIS BEING, SHE IS THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN. WE WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HER AND HER ALLIES AND HER ENEMIES. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, WE WISH TO LET THEIR BATTLES PLAY OUT AND ALLOW US TO OBSERVE IT, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE, AND TO PROTECT THEM IN THE PRESENT. WE WILL PRESENT OUR FINDINGS REGULARLY TO YOU. AND IF NEED BE WE WILL INTERFERE TO PROTECT OUR PRESENT DAY CHILDREN. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?"

To Be Continued…