CH 1 After the Storm

The Darksyde's walls shook as the quantum surge blasted through it. Stacks of storage containers collapsed on the floor, breaking open. A single stasis pod that was hidden within the container, revealed itself. It was badly damaged; claw marks covered the outer metal. The transformer inside began rebooting.

What happened? Why am I in stasis lock?

The bot's data banks started returning.

. . . .

"I don't trust him, not for a nanoclick."

"I trust him! Why don't you? You're his lieutenant; you have to obey his orders!"

"I FOLLOW his orders, but I do not TRUST him."

"Whatever, Dinobot. I trust him that's all that matters to me. Maybe I'll be his second instead."

"Don't you dare trust him Razorgear! Megatron is a dishonorable mech! HE will turn on you. Mark my words, he will!"

"You just want his honor as a leader. You don't care about anything else!"

"What?! You dare talk to me about honor? You, who before you met me, had no concept of honor!"

. . . .

"My dear, what is the matter?"

"Nothing really, Lord Megatron."

"Really, nothing? All right, then. If you want to talk let me know. Yessss"

"It's about Dinobot sir. He says I shouldn't trust you. Why would he say that?"

" . . . Don't worry about that, I will speak with him."

"Thank you Megatron"

. . . .

"I'm sorry Razorgear this is for your own good."

. . . .

A flash of bright light blinded the bot's optics, an image a large mech in shinning purple metal appeared, in her sight.

"Well, well, well, look at what we have here. Yesssss."

"Megatron?"

Silverbolt sat silently at one of the monitors on the Axalon ship. He watched as his new comrades continued cleaning the wreckage from the Quantum Surge. The Fuzor wasn't sure of his new team but he knew they were a hell of a lot better than the Predacons. Optimus Primal was a fine leader, welcoming Silver bolt without a second glance. He was going to show his new team that he deserved the respect he was getting. Though only one thing bothered the Fuzor about the team, and that was the way the most honorable warrior and the slyest spy argued constantly. If Silverbolt didn't know better he would have suggested that they could be an old bonded couple. But he knew better than that. He had front row seats to the latest argument.

Rattrap and Dinobot stood toe to toe, optics on each other as if the next move was the killing strike. The raptor's fists were clenched and the rat kept poking him in the chest with a single finger attempting to get a reaction.

Silverbolt felt uneasy about the two.

"You're a slaggin' backstabbin' Pred. And I say the next time Meg's wants ya' dead I'll pack ya' in the scrap box and send ya' there in gift wrappin'!" Rattrap spat viciously.

The raptor growled in disgust, grabbing Rattrap by the neck and lifting him off his feet, "You pathetic self preserving vermin, you would have been killed, if it wasn't for myself. You should be thanking me, not accusing me."

Pulling out his gun, the spy pointed it at his attacker's face. Straight at his optics, "Listen here Choppa' face, If ya' wanna' go then let's go. I can beat a slag spoutin' saurian, like you any day!"

The medic and engineer, Rhinox, looked at the two, rolling his optics. Finally, he yelled, "Will you two stop it! You're acting like sparklings!"

With a last growl, the ex-pred dropped the rat, who landed with a loud clank. The raptor turned, stalking out of the command center. Rattrap clipped his gun back on his hip, and pushed himself off the ground, muttering under his breath, "Slaggin' saurian."

"Shut up Rattrap." Rhinox turned his attention to Silverbolt. "Don't worry about them, you'll get used to them eventually."

The Fuzor smiled. He could get used to this crew. They were a big family, and they were together in this war. War. Silverbolt almost forgot that it was the exact reason the Maximals were on this primitive planet. To stop Megatron at all costs. The Maximals were dragged along into the war; they didn't have a choice. Megatron had to be stopped in whatever plans he had.

Dinobot stomped to his quarters, he hated when the vermin got him so riled up. The warrior usually needed a cycle or two to calm down after a tough argument with Rattrap.

The Vermin never seemed to understand when the Raptor wanted to be left alone. Rattrap pushed him and pushed all the right buttons to get Dinobot ticked off.

He hated the rat! Although, Dinobot had to acknowledge that Rattrap hardly ever returned to the Axalon with major damage. Actually Dinobot could count on a single hand how many times Rattrap had spent time in the CR-Chamber. Three, but no one was really keeping track. Rattrap was a cunning fighter, but Dinobot would never admit it out loud. All things considered about the rat, he would be an alright warrior, if he had any concept of honor.

Lying on his berth, Dinobot wondered why he allowed Rattrap to get on his nerves. Rattrap knew the raptor perfectly; he knew how to the exact reaction he wanted. But Dinobot could just walk away; he didn't have to fight the vermin. But he did anyway, every single time. He always reacted without thinking most of the time. He hated himself for it.

~It was almost like he wanted to talk to the rat. Dinobot flinched at his own thoughts did he really like talking to Rattrap?

He sighed with disgust, "Blasted Vermin!" Pulling a data pad out of his night stand beside his berth, Dinobot began to read one of his favorite authors.

Dinobot smirked to himself. It was his last true secret. Dinobot's love for reading. Well, it was only for one author. It wasn't even Cybertronian. It was classic Earth writings. Shakespeare, the poetic beauty appealed to the ex-Predacon. Dinobot read off the data pad for cycles. He was at last relaxed. His optics dimmed and he slipped into recharge.

Rattrap strolled out of his quarters, making his way to the command center of the Axalon. It was late in the morning, but early for him. Rattrap was always the last one up.

His best friend walked past him, "He lives!" The medic smiled, "Optimus said to head to grid sigma once you got up. You should head over there after you grab a fuel rod or something."

"Yeah, yeah I'll get my wheels rollin' soon." And the Spy did exactly what the medic recommended. Then he quickly drove to grid sigma, to accompany the Maximal leader.

Arriving at the site, Rattrap saw that his least favorite bot was also there. Along with Cheetor and Optimus, which only left him, and Dinobot? "It looks as if the Vermin finally decided to come and help his comrades." The raptor mused.

Optimus simply rolled his optics, "Alright now, we've got this signal tower up. I just need you to get it running. Got it Rattrap?"

"No worries fearless leader, leave it to the rat."

The raptor huffed with annoyance, "That is not the only thing we can leave to you, vermin. The stench that has begun to form in this area must be from you."

Beginning his work on the tower, Rattrap responded, "Well lizard lips, I doubt you can smell anythin' right with your big o' snout in da way."

The Maximal leader sighed to himself, and tuned out the arguing bot. He walked toward Cheetor. "Nice work today!" He smiled, looking at Cheetor as if he was his son.

"Really Big Bot?!" The young bot perked up at the complement.

The transmetal gorilla nodded, "Absolutely!"

"Thanks!" Cheetor sat down on a pile of rocks, "Hey Optimus, what's up with those two?" He pointied at Dinobot and Rattrap.

Laughing softly, Optimus explained, "Who knows, they feed off each other's hate. I really hope they don't slag each other before Rattrap finishes the tower."

The comm. link buzzed, and then Rhinox's voice boomed through. "Looks like Rattrap got the commutation tower going. Good thing too, you have three Predacons coming your way. Megatron, Inferno, and Scorponok, so watch out Optimus, over and out." The comm. went silent.

Cheetor jumped up, putting his hands together to form his energy gun, "I'm ready! Bring on the Preds!"

Optimus was worried, not about Cheetor, but about Dinobot and Rattrap. The two were shoving each other near the new communication tower. The Maximal leader could hear the two arguing from the place he stood.

"Mind ya' own business, ya' slaggin' pred! I hate ya'." Rattrap screamed at Dinobot.

The raptor grabbed the rat's shoulder, "You're pathetic, Vermin! Walking away from a fight! Turn and face me! I'll rip out your circuits!"

The two continued screaming at each other, Rattrap reached for his gun while Dinobot drew his sword. Optimus ran to them, panicked. "YOU TWO STOP IT NOW!"

But it was too late, Rattrap shot at Dinobot. The shot hit Dinobot in the shoulder, he dropped his weapon. The raptor roared in pain, then pounced on to Rattrap.

Dinobot straddled Rattrap, using one hand to pin Rattrap's hands above his head, and the other wrapped around Rattrap's neck. "I'll rip out your throat vermin." The raptor hissed into Rattrap's face, razor sharp teeth barred.

At first Rattrap squirmed underneath the raptor, but once he looked at Dinobot's face, he froze.

Dinobot looked as if he had found his next meal. The thrill of the hunt fueled him. But Rattrap wasn't giving anything back. Not a sound, not a twitch of movement. The warrior looked into the optics of his prey. Rattrap's red orange optics were blown wide, staring deeply back at Dinobot.

For a moment they just stared at each other. Neither moved; not until an explosion went off nearby. Then another.

The raptor jumped from Rattrap and fired his optic lasers at the incoming missiles. He rolled and grabbed his sword from the ground, charging at the incoming Predacons.

Rattrap slowly sat up, and he stared at the charging raptor, thinking to himself. I'm sure glad he's not coming after me right now. Just as Rattrap was completely on his feet he heard Optimus Primal yelling, his own weapons drawn, "Rattrap! Get out of the way! Behind you"

Rattrap looked toward Optimus, and then behind him. The communication tower was falling toward him. Quickly Rattrap drove out of the way just before the tower fell on top of him. Grabbing his gun, Rattrap fired at Inferno in the air. The fire ant used his flamethrower and torched the collapsed tower and part of Rattrap.

After a few moments of firing weapons, Megatron called to his Predacons for a retreat. The communication tower was collapsed on the ground and in flames.

Optimus Primal paced around the rubble. Muttering to himself. The other three Maximals gathered beside him.

Cheetor stepped beside the leader, "Optimus, are you okay?"

He glanced to Cheetor, "Prime, just Prime!" He said through clenched teeth.

"Yo, Boss Monkey. I know things didn't work out with dis mission but"

"No, you are just as much to blame for this, Dinobot! That was irresponsible of both of you! This is the last time your petty arguments will cost us a mission!" Optimus had snapped, basically screaming at the two. "As punishment, you have monitor duty tonight with each other!" Dinobot and Rattrap stared, wide-eyed, at their leader. "And if I wake up because you two are arguing, I swear, you'll wish you never came online!" The leader transformed into his flight mode, and started toward the Axalon. "And let I remind you, I wake up very easily. Back to Base. Now!"