-1Beast Wars and all characters and things related are copyright and trademark of Hasbro and Mainframe Entertainment. This work, however, is the original work of the author.
Note: This story takes place one week after "A Different War".
Going Home
By TVfan
The Ark
Optimus struggled to free himself from the large cuffs that had been put around his wrists and ankles. He tried to extend his limbs and break the energy binds that held the cuffs together, but all he got as a result was a fairly powerful electric shock. One which made him gasp for breath. He looked up when he heard amused chuckling coming from in front of him. Apparently, Rattrap and Depthcharge had arrived to watch him.
"Is there something you find funny, Rattrap?" Optimus asked in a very serious voice.
"Just you wrestling with those cuffs," Rattrap answered with a grin, "You trying out to be the Maximal version of Houdini?"
"Hardly," Rhinox answered as he came out from around Optimus, "We're trying to develop a restraining device that we can use on Megatron's more powerful transformers."
"Restrain?" Depthcharge asked, "This is a war."
"I refuse to allow a campaign of annihilation," Optimus answered firmly, "Megatron stole the golden disks from the Maximals. He must stand trial. If most of the Predicons are killed and Megatron is captured alive, we will have at least accomplished our mission."
Rhinox then undid the cuffs that were holding Optimus.
"Besides, this could be our last real shot to end the Beast Wars," Rhinox answered, "With no base to operate from, Megatron can not attack us n the ways that he did before, and may simply have to assault the Ark."
"Which he can't do all out because it would risk damaging the original Decepticons that are in stasis lock with the Autobots," Rhinox continued, "If they're deliberately pulling punches, we might be able to get these restraints on a good many of them."
"So, do they work?" Rattrap asked.
"Well," Optimus sighed, "I can't break them, so I'd assume they'd hold even the strongest Predicon, at least until we could get back to Cybertron."
"And how will we get back to Cybertron?" Depthcharge asked skeptically, "They aren't looking for me, and with my ship at the bottom of the sea, I can't fly it out and make contact. And since both the Axalon and the Darkside have been destroyed, the ships that they are looking for, no longer exist."
"Blackarachnia has been looking around the Ark for anything that might be usable," Optimus answered, "If we can't find a ship to use, we'll at least find enough materials to build one. The Ark's transwarp cell is still functional."
There was a brief moment of silence as Optimus thought for a moment.
"And even if we can't get off of the planet, we still need to find a way to deal with Megatron," Optimus answered, "We can not allow his evil to continue."
"Hopefully we can capture him easily then," Rattrap answered.
"You can do what you want with Megatron," Depthcharge growled as he walked off, "X is mine."
Optimus only sighed.
Nemesis
"Any sign of Maximal advance?" Megatron asked in a firm voice.
"No, Royalty," Inferno answered, "There have been no Maximal parties head in this direction."
"I don't think they even suspect that the Nemesis physically survived the crash when Rampage brought it down," Spine commented, "And therefore think that we are alone and without anything to use as a base."
Megatron smiled from the new command chair that he occupied.
"Good," Megatron smiled, "That will help us in the long run."
"I don't see how sitting here helps," Nightwing grumbled, "We must crush them and especially the Maximal Tigerhawk for betraying the original Tigerhawk."
Megatron looked down on the former Vok acolyte, now one of his warriors. While he was not necessarily trustworthy, as Megatron could tell that his only real support for the Predicons was the fact that they were against the Maximals whom had taken Tigerhawk as a member. Which meant that once Tigerhawk was destroyed, Megatron might have to destroy Nightwing to protect his interests. But, for now Megatron counted the raven transformers fire to be an asset.
"And that will be done," Megatron answered, "But the Maximals believe us to be weak and without a base. Which means they are likely to have small scouting parties out there. Our mission will be to hunt those scouting parties and destroy them while they are in small groups."
"I want Tigerhawk," Nightwing demanded.
"If you find him he is yours to destroy," Megatron nodded, "If he is found by someone else, they can capture him and bring him here. You can then destroy him at your leisure."
"Good," Nightwing answered.
Megatron nodded and then continued to explain his plan.
"Once we've removed enough Maximals from the equation, and preferably their transmetal twos, with he exception of Optimus Primal," Megatron continued, "Who will probably find some way to survive until the very end, we will attack the Ark directly, take it by force and end the Beast Wars."
"What about the threat to the Decepticons in the Ark?" Spine asked.
"I assure you, Optimus will either come out or let us in if it looks like the damage done to the Ark looks like it damages its occupants," Megatron answered, "Victory will take time, but the Beast Wars will not end until I have won."
Standing Stones
Tigerhawk landed with Airazor, Whiteout, and Silverbolt on the roof of the old Vok base.
"You're sure that the blank stasis pods that the alien Tigerhawk took can be recovered?" Airazor asked.
"Of course," Whiteout answered, "The original Tigerhawk intended somehow to recreate Optimus Primal for experimentation purposes after he 'won' the war. Now that the original is gone, that plan is defeated."
"But why would he need all of them if he's only going to reactivate one of us?" Silverbolt asked.
"Probably to make sure that neither you or the Predicons could use them," Whiteout answered, "again, things have changed, but why are you needing to find them now?"
"We'll need them to go home," Silverbolt sighed, "If they're left behind and they somehow manage to survive the many coming centuries before the Autobots and Decepticons wake up, we could end up leaving rather advanced technology to fall into possibly evil human hands or worse, the Decepticons."
"But they are just little ape like things now," Whiteout replied, "How could humans become evil?"
"Our present is this planet's distant future," Tigerhawk answered, "humans will evolve into a very complex creature with both good and evil tendencies."
Whiteout could only nod.
"So, are the blank stasis pods here?" Silverbolt asked.
"No," Whiteout answered, "But the monitoring equipment that was left behind should allow us to detect where the original Tigerhawk left them, that is if Nightwing didn't take it to Megatron already."
The group slowly followed a maze of passageways to find the former Vok nerve center to be fully intact. Nothing appeared to have been moved, and a lot of the equipment appeared to be left on.
"Well, everything appears to be here," Whiteout answered, "Which is good. Now to see if I can track down the missing blanks for you."
The Ark
"Ungh," Blackarachnia groaned, "of all the Maximals on this planet I get stuck working with you."
Rattrap frowned as he turned to look at the transmetal two spider transformer. The two had been assigned to go through the Ark and find what would be needed to either construct an escape ship or at least find a ship that they did not know of on the Ark. So far they had only come across parts which might be useful in the long run, if they were to work to build a ship.
"Don'tcha want to go back to Cybertron?" Rattrap asked.
"If it means being left alone without you and without Megatron, then yes," Blackarachnia answered.
"But with bowser boy to keep ya company, am I right?" Rattrap asked in a deliberately teasing voice.
"Shut up," Blackarachnia growled, "Your taunting still doesn't answer my question. I have all he codes to the Ark's systems and doors, including those we haven't opened yet. Your engineering expertise is not needed. Why are you here?"
"One, if we have to build something, I will be needed," Rattrap countered, "The Ark ain't gonna just make us a ship."
Rattraps red optics then narrowed.
"And, I'm making sure that you don't decide to betray us in some way shape or form," Rattrap spoke in a very serious voice.
"You think that little of me?" Blackarachnia questioned, "When you pal around so much with Dinobot?"
"Dinobot's actually switched sides and changed all his codes," Rattrap answered, "You're still running around with all the Predicon codes. And that smells suspicious to me."
"The only thing here that stinks is you," Blackarachnia sighed as she opened the door to another room.
Elsewhere
Depthcharge flew in vehicle mode over the mountainous cliffs that stood above the coastline. He had left the base to resume his hunt after Rampage, whom he still referred to as Protoform X. So far there was no sign of the transmetal crab. His search was stopped however, as a voice interrupted him.
"Is something wrong, sir?" came Cybershark's voice from the ground.
Depthcharge looked down to se Cybershark and Squeak standing along a cliff trail above the ocean below them. He sighed and slowly landed, knowing that the mouse transformer could not fly.
"What are you doing here?" Depthcharge demanded.
"What Optimus told us to do, sir," Cybershark answered, "We are scouting to find out where the Predicons are keeping themselves hidden."
"What are you doing out here?" Squeak asked.
"I'm taking care of old business," Depthcharge answered.
"What could be old business that brings you out here?" Squeak asked curiously.
The voice that answered, however, was not Depthcharge's and made the small female transformer jump.
"His 'old business' would be me, I think," came Rampage's voice as the transmetal crab stepped out from behind a sharp turn on the mountain path.
Depthcharge looked at his nemesis with a great deal of surprise as he had no warning that Protoform X was anywhere near him.
"How could you be here?" Depthcharge demanded, "My scanners are set to find you."
"That only works when a device that blocks your sensors isn't in play," Rampage 'smiled' as he pulled out a small hand held device from behind his back.
Rampage then readied his rocket launcher to fire on the thee Maximals. Each Maximal readied their weapons as well.
"You can't fight all of us," Cybershark said firmly.
"That's why I brought friends," Rampage smiled back again.
Depthcharge looked around to see Waspinator and Stingfin fly over the side of the mountain behind them. Stingfin landed and transformed while Waspinator remained in robot mode, hovering over them. Depthcharge's optics narrowed in both anger and frustration.
"You aren't the only ones hunting small groups of the opposite faction," Rampage said triumphantly, "And I'm going to enjoy killing you."
To the Far North
Silverbolt squinted as they flew over a long expanse of tundra. Whiteout had lead the group further and further north. He guessed that he had traveled farther then when he had been sent to activate the other stasis pods.
"You're sure the blanks are still there?" Silverbolt asked.
"If what we read back at the standing stones is accurate, they should be," Whiteout answered, "and the original Tigerhawk struck me as one who wouldn't deliberately lie about something."
They flew on for a few moments until they approached an area where the snow looked like it had been piled up, as if something was buried underneath it. Whiteout landed and transformed to his robot mode. The others landed behind him while Whiteout brushed some of the snow away.
"They're still here," Whiteout announced, "Nightwing must not have thought to tell Megatron about these pods."
"Good," Tigerhawk nodded, "the tricky part is now to make sure that Megatron doesn't notice us taking these pods to the Ark."
"But wouldn't he know that these are the last and that there aren't any more to find?" Whiteout asked.
"Maybe," Tigerhawk answered, "but he might use it as an excuse to directly assault the Ark."
"We should worry about that after we get these pods ready for transport," Airazor cut in, "Unless we're going to make multiple trips, each carrying one pod."
Silverbolt and Tigerhawk quickly produced the high tension ropes and wires they were carrying. Airazor then began helping the two of them arrange the ropes and wires in a way that they could easily carry the blank stasis pods. Whiteout, meanwhile, slowly began digging the blank pods out of the snow that they were buried in.
"I don't suppose I could ask why the original Tigerhawk felt he needed to bury all these blanks out here?" Silverbolt asked, "I mean, wouldn't it be easier to have kept it closer to his base?"
"I don't know," Whiteout replied as he loaded the first blank pod onto the carrying device that they had assembled, "the only logical answer would be to say that it was to prevent either the Maximals or the Predicons from taking them from him while he attempted to attack their respective bases, but we were all under the impression that you didn't know of our arrival, so that sort of explanation seems rather illogical. If someone doesn't know of an enemy's presence, why would he raid that enemy's base?"
"The original Tigerhawk was under the control of the Vok aliens and directly controlled," Tigerhawk answered, "There are a lot of things about them that we will never know."
"It's good that he did do things this way," Airazor commented, "If they were closer to where the Beast Wars are going on, Megatron might have found them and found some way to activate them."
"Like the way the new Scorpinok and Terrorsaur were activated, with only part of another transformer's spark," Silverbolt commented.
"And a bad situation regardless of how it happens," Whiteout nodded.
The Ark
"Restraints?" Dinobot gave a growling question as Optimus and Rhinox presented their new strategy for defeating the Predicons, "Do you think Megatron is wasting time with trying to restrain us?"
"I'm not saying that this should be our sole effort," Optimus sighed, "but we don't have to annihilate them to win the war."
"I've told you before that Megatron's goal is to annihilate us," Dinobot answered, "We weaken ourselves if we do not maintain the readiness to destroy them in battle."
"Using these restraints allows us to claim a moral high ground," Rhinox argued, "That we value life over death. Besides, in some way, wouldn't it make us appear to be even more powerful warriors if we defeat an enemy without killing them?"
"That is provided that the enemy is not so dishonorable that he would do something underhanded that would allow us to suffer after victory," Dinobot answered, "Megatron is dangerous enough that he is too dangerous to be kept alive."
Optimus sighed heavily, "You're probably right in that regard, but he needs to be brought to justice in some way. If we destroy all the Predicons, you will be the only one left who was present for the original theft of the Golden Disk. The Maximal elders will demand that someone stand trial for the theft, and given your service with us, I would prefer that it isn't you."
"Your elders will not care about that," Dinobot gave a growling sigh, "Even if Megatron is captured alive, my fate will be the same as his. It is partially why I would actually wish to remain here when you leave."
"But there is nothing here," Rhinox answered, "Once the Predicons are defeated there will be nothing to threaten the Ark."
"We do not know that," Dinobot answered, "Besides, our history tracts of Earth indicate that the humans will have multiple struggles against people of dishonorable natures. Perhaps I can help them."
"You can't do that," Optimus answered, "You know that the humans are likely to attack you first. Our own history tracts even indicate that there were a great many who didn't like any transformer when the Autobots and Decepticons became known to the human population."
"You will do too much trying to defend me," Dinobot responded, "Your elders will see to it that I… serve the time I probably deserve for my part in Megatron's original scheme. If I remain here, it will be exile, but still freedom for me, and freedom for you to allow your elders the return of their Disk."
"If we can capture Megatron alive, you should have nothing to worry about," Optimus answered, "He is the one who is truly responsible. I'm even somewhat tempted to let the other Predicons under his command go free within the Predicon alliance if it means making sure that Megatron is brought to justice."
"Justice would still be better served by terminating him," Dinobot spoke, "He is dangerous and will only cause you trouble later. That is my opinion."
"It will be noted, but my strategy remains unchanged," Optimus answered firmly, "Megatron is to be captured alive."
"Understood," Dinobot gave a growling sigh, showing that while he would follow orders, he still did not like them, "and I would still prefer to remain here."
Elsewhere
Depthcharge growled as Waspinator, Stingfin, and Rampage fired on him and the group of Maximals that were with him. The three of them then ducked behind a few small boulders, but that provided little, if any, cover as the three Predicons began to fire on them from three sides.
"I really don't want to die here," Squeak whimpered as she hunkered down.
Depthcharge produced his shark blaster and began to return fire against Rampage while Cybershark fired after Stingfin. His shots managed to get Rampage to duck back around the corner and create a brief moment of peace.
"Aim for Waspinator's wings," Depthcharge ordered the female mouse transformer, "His armor is bound to be weaker there and is more likely to make a mistake without his wings to help him."
Squeak fired a few shots, but Waspinator managed to dodge them and fired a series of darts down on the female transformer. Luckily for Squeak, most hit the rock she was hiding behind and the one that didn't hit that, went wide. This didn't make her feel any better as most of the rock had now been destroyed and she had little cover left.
"I got get some better cover," Squeak commented to herself and then rushed back along the path that her group had been walking on, firing at Waspinator as she went and trying to ignore the sound of rocks falling to the ocean below the cliff that the battle was taking place on.
"Oh, mouse-bot make this easy!" Waspinator announced and dove after her.
Squeak fired wildly and rapidly at her pursuer, nicking him a few times, but still missing the transmetal two wasp's wings. They did manage to distract Waspinator long enough that he wasn't able to fire on her immediately. After sprinting along the path for about a hundred yards, and turning around several sharp turns, Squeak came across another small set of large rocks. She quickly dove behind them as two darts hit the ground where she had been standing.
Squeak looked up to see Waspinator zoom over the rocks she had dove behind. Apparently he had built up too much speed to stop and fire at her again. Squeak took the opportunity to fire on Waspinator again. This time, her shots found their mark and hit Waspinator's wings. The shots didn't destroy them, but the Predicon wasp found himself out of control and spiraling toward the earth away from the battle.
"Why is it always Waspinator?" Waspinator cried out as he spiraled out of sight in a voice that had earlier been triumphant, to one that sounded completely defeated.
Cybershark, meanwhile, charged at Stingfin when he saw Squeak run to find better cover. The sound of the loose rocks falling didn't bother him all that much as he had the ability to fly in beast mode thanks to anti-gravity thrusters which allowed his beast mode to 'swim' through the air as if it were under water. His charge was to make sure that Stingfin couldn't fire on Squeak and make it easy for Waspinator. Stingfin fired a few poison tipped darts, but Cybershark managed dodge them, or at least deflect them.
As he got close, Cybershark readied to missiles in a miniature missile launcher that he was carrying and fired them directly at Stingfin. The missiles hit the Predicon in the chest and allowed Cybershark to deliver a flying kick that sent Stingfin to the ground.
"Your ambush as failed," Cybershark growled as he then shot away Stingfin's blaster, leaving the transformer unarmed.
Stingfin, unarmed and now at Cybershark's mercy returned to beast mode and flew off.
"Rampage will kill you all on his own!" Stingfin warned as Cybershark watched the Predicon flee.
Cybershark turned back to the original battle to see Depthcharge and Rampage wrestling with each other and fall of the cliff into the ocean. Depthcharge made sure that Rampage hit the ocean floor after the passed quickly through the surf. He hoped the blow would be enough to leave the 'immortal' Predicon so badly wounded that he could easily destroy him. Rampage easily recovered and threw Depthcharge off of him.
"Fins, if that was the best you can give, then I'm afraid that you can not win," Rampage said with a laugh.
"I'm just getting started!" Depthcharge growled and grabbed on of Rampage's arms and then threw the transmetal crab out into deeper water.
Depthcharge then swam after Rampage with the full intent of finishing off the Predicon that had wiped out the colony he had been guarding. As he got closer, however, he felt something sharp and somewhat energized cut into his armor. He landed to see that his armor had been sliced open as if it were nothing. He then turned to see Rampage standing a few feet away holding a long shard of raw energon.
"Great place for a final battle," Rampage commented, "When those aliens seeded this planet with energon, they didn't know much about the cooling properties of water. I've found pockets of raw energon deposits throughout the ocean depths."
"Since when are you a scientist?" Depthcharge asked.
"I'm not a scientist," Rampage answered, "But knowing that water cools things is rather common knowledge."
Rampage then slashed at Depthcharge with his shard, forcing Depthcharge to dive away.
"And knowing that energon crystals in this state can be effective at cutting through anything, including your transmetal armor, is also common knowledge," Rampage added triumphantly.
"It's also more volatile," Depthcharge pointed out.
"Yes," Rampage smiled, "but I heal easily."
Rampage then swung his improvised weapon at Depthcharge again, forcing the transmetal manta ray to roll away along the ocean floor. When he stopped rolling he found another shard of energon laying on the ocean floor. Seeing Rampage coming, Depthcharge grabbed it and blocked Rampage's attack with his shard of energon. Depthcharge managed to kick Rampage away and get up. He then raised his energon blade in a formal salute, which Rampage didn't return.
Rampage attacked again, but now prepared, Depthcharge easily deflected the blow and slashed at Rampage's midsection. Rampage barely winced as he felt his own armor being sliced open. He answered by unleashing a powerful swing that would slice Depthcharge's blade in half if the Maximal tried to block it. Depthcharge only backed off and then tried to stab at Rampage's shoulder. Rampage caught the blade with his other hand and ignoring the blade's cutting into his fingers, held it in place.
"Pathetic!" Rampage laughed.
"Shut up!" Depthcharge growled back and punched Rampage in the face, knocking him backward.
Depthcharge then in a quick move attacked the hand that Rampage was using to hold up his blade. While the Predicon was still stumbling backward, he made solid contact and the hand, and Rampage's weapon were sliced cleanly off.
"You think that will stop me?" Rampage screamed, the pain still evident in his voice and kicked Depthcharge in the side of one of his knees, forcing the Maximal to fall over, "Do you?!"
Depthcharge lunged forward before Rampage could grab his blade of energon with his one remaining and knocked the Predicon a good five feet back. He then readied his blade as if it were a spear.
"No, but it did give me time to finish you," Depthcharge said firmly and threw the shard of energon through the water.
Off balance from Depthcharge's earlier attack, Rampage could do nothing to nothing to deflect or get out of the way of the incoming piece of energon. He screamed in pain and agony as it went straight through his chest, ad what followed hurt worse. The energon seemed to be reacting with either his spark or his internal circuitry, which he knew couldn't be good.
"Raw energon, straight through your twisted spark," Depthcharge spoke triumphantly, "That will be the final end for you and punishment for all the innocents you slaughtered for your own amusement."
Depthcharge began to swim away while Rampage continued to scream in agony and began to try and pull the shard of energon out of his chest. Unfortunately that speeded up the reaction that had been slowly building.
"What do you suppose is going on down there?" Squeak asked as she and Cybershark looked down at the surf where Depthcharge and Rampage had vanished.
"Probably still fighting," Cybershark answered, "I think the two of them have some history with each other, but I didn't want to be a bother. Depthcharge always seems rather touchy."
Squeak couldn't answer as a sudden explosion erupted from the ocean's surface a little further out to sea, sending a geyser of water into the air. Once the waters calmed they saw bits and pieces of metal float to the surface. All of it appeared to be purple transmetal pieces of Rampage, but one of Depthcharge's fins was among the wreckage.
"Oh no," Squeak gasped as she saw the bits of wreckage.
Cybershark also looked down and then saw something else approaching the surface. Both jumped in surprise when a heavily damaged Depthcharge walked into the shallows at the bottom of the cliff.
"If one of you could give me a lift up, we can head back to the Ark," Depthcharge called up, "I'm going to need a CR chamber."
The Ark
Rattrap in frustration punched the siding of one of the walls of the hallway that he and Blackarachnia where in. They were still a long way off from finding anything that might be truly useful.
"I don't think that anything is in that wall that will be of use," Blackarachnia commented.
"Would you stop sounding so calm," Rattrap growled, "We've checked every place that I can think of on this ship and we still haven't found anything that might help."
"Then perhaps you'll have to build something," Blackarachnia smirked back.
"We don't have the tools to build anything," Rattrap sighed, "There has to be someplace in this ship that we haven't checked."
"But as you said, we've checked everything that is mentioned in the history tracts," Blackarachnia pointed out, "There can't be anything else."
"We don't know that," Rattrap argued, "There may be some areas that the history tracts missed."
"And how do you plan to test that theory?" Blackarachnia asked, "The only ones who might know are the ancient Autobots and Decepticons that are onboard the ship, and we have no capacity to wake them up."
"Well, there's got to be some way," Rattrap answered as he leaned against one part of the wall, not realizing that his hand was resting on a control panel.
The panel then activated and the wall that Rattrap was leaning against slid back revealing a room that they hadn't checked and Rattrap fell to the ground with a loud grunt.
"Nice one," Blackarachnia said with a laugh.
"Not funny," Rattrap answered, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Well, at least it proves there are sections of the ship that we haven't explored," Blackarachnia commented as she walked in while Rattrap pulled himself to his feet, "I guess you were right, this time."
"Hey, I'm right a lot of the time," Rattrap answered defensively.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Blackarachnia replied, "Let's see what you found."
The transmetal two black widow spider then flicked the lights on and looked toward the center of the room.
"Well, I'll be surprised tonight…" Blackarachnia gasped.
"Oh my stars and bolts, we're going home!" Rattrap cheered in excitement.
To be Continued…