Beast Wars Zero

Part II:

The Calling of War

Tarantulas frantically began decrypting the necessary codes for proper configuration and formatting of the three protoforms that were resting in front of him. He typed as quickly as he could at his consol in an effort to finish on time in order to initiate the next phase of his plan. His yellow optics continuously scanned over the information streaming across the screen to double check that the equations and calculations that he was writing were correct.

Damn index calibrations, he thought as his mind raced at a fever pitch. These formatting codes should have been finished and keyed in by now. Tarantulas began to finally realize that cloning the natural configuration of his core programming was far more complex than he originally suspected. His fingers went faster and faster as he inputted the information for the protoform formatting.

Finally, a green light lit up on top of each of the protoform stasis pods. The mandibles on Tarantulas's face formed a distorted smile as he watched the lights pulse on top of the pods indicating that the codes were imputed and confirmed. The liquid gel inside the tubes began to bubble and the protoform mass began to twist and take an infantile shape. Tarantulas rolled his chair over to the three tubes, rubbed his hand on the side of the one that was closest to him, and chuckled out loud.

"Everything has been set into motion, my sweets," he said to the three pulsing stasis pods. "All that is left is for you to begin life anew in my absence, should I not return." Tarantulas paused for a moment and looked intently at the pods that contained a portion of his very spark. "Soon, the children shall inherit the universe, just as he had planned."

Megatron awoke from his time in stasis lock with a neural-ache that made his head module throb. He rubbed the side of his head to attempt to relieve some of the pain, but it was no use. His optics began to flicker as he came back on-line. He attempted to scan the area to gather some information on his present location, but his energon levels were too depleted to perform such a task. He grabbed his head and leaned back against the wall to gain his balance. It seemed that the room was spinning and he had no ability to control it; he felt powerless, making him extremely volatile and dangerous. As he attempted to recalibrate his optics, he sniffed the air and a large smile came across his face as a familiar scent ran through his olfactory sensors.

"Why Grimlock," he said with a friendly tone. "I'm surprised and honored that you would come and grace me with your divine presence yet again." Megatron turned his head to try to look out of the cell. His optics finally came into focus and he saw the hulking Dinobot commander lurking just beyond the energy-bars. "Yes, what a pleasant surprise indeed."

Grimlock stood there brooding with his arms crossed in front of his massive chest. He squinted his optics and glared right at the Predacon general. "Do not fool yourself, Megatron," Grimlock said in his deep voice that would make normal Predacons tremble with fear. "Me not here for friendly visit. Me making sure that you no try any slag this time."

"How intriguing," Megatron said. "After all of this time you still haven't let the past go, now have you?" He stood up and walked to the edge of the energy-bars that gave off a low hum and a slight smell of ozone. "It must be eating at your very spark every orn." He paused for a moment to let his words sink into the Neo-Dinobot's mind while his smile grew larger. "Yes, Grimlock. It must haunt you every orn."

Grimlock gave off a low growl that came from deep within his throat. His optics got smaller and he became more focused on his adversary. "Your petty attempts at agitating me not working, Megatron," he said in a firm fashion. Grimlock stepped closer to the cell and glared straight into the optics of Megatron. "Me tell you one thing, if you somehow manage to escape this time, me stop at nothing to hunt you down."

Megatron laughed at the Neo-Dinobot's comment. He walked to the bench at the far end of the cell and sat down on it. "Yes Grimlock. I'm sure that you will." The Predacon turned to face Grimlock and placed his hand on his chin. "Tell me something, Grimlock. Does it bother you that you stand on the cusp of social revolution and you can do nothing to prevent it?"

Grimlock stood motionless and said nothing, which gave Megatron much satisfaction.

"Yes, I'm sure that it must," he said as if to answer his own question. "A relic such as you can sit idly by and watch as Cybertron gets thrown into yet another civil war." Megatron stood up again and walked to the opposite end of the holding cell. "Virtually all of your comrades are either dead or left Cybertron, but yet you remained here, hoping, foolishly I might add, to keep the peace that 'emerged' from the ashes of the Dread War, am I correct?"

Grimlock stared at Megatron. "Me stay on Cybertron to make sure that fascists like you no longer continue to spread discontent." Grimlock turned his head toward the door that was opening down the hallway. Through it came two Maximal guards and a hypnotist to keep Megatron under control for transportation for sentencing. Grimlock then turned to face Megatron. "Look like your escorts have arrived, Megatron."

The Predacon smiled and nodded his head, which still throbbed. "Yes, indeed they have." Megatron felt the restraining bolt fused to the base of his neck release a slight shock throughout his body. His extremities tensed up and he practically froze in place. "I'll see you at the other end of social evolution, my dear Grimlock."

Primal and Rhinox walked down the long hallway together. Rhinox easily towered over his commanding officer, while Primal continued down the hall with his arms crossed. Each of the two Maximals understood the severity of today's sentencing of Megatron, and it did not sit particularly well with either of the two Maximals.

As Primal continued walking, he looked at the decorations that adorned the walls depicting the glory of their Autobot heritage. Energon paintings of Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Rodimus, Wheeljack, and Six Shot were some of the highly admired pictures that tourists were attracted to when they visited the Hall of the Ancients in New Iacon. There were statues of Ironhide, Bluestreak, and Maximus that gained much attention as well. Primal always felt something special when he walked down the hall to the Elders' chamber; these were his friends, but now they were all gone. Some had died in the final war with the Dread, while others chose to leave Cybertron in an attempt to scour the universe for the threat that they might someday return.

"Those were the days," Rhinox said to Primal as they approached the door to the chamber. "And to think that I was such a punk glitchling at the time."

Primal smiled at his friend. "That you were, Rhinox. That you were." He paused for a moment as he reached the access doorway to the main chamber. "I think that we all were a little full of our sparks back then." Primal touched the access panel and the security network scanned his hand for a positive Maximal identification. "Times have changed, and I know that we've changed since then too."

The access door to the chamber slid open and a white Maximal was there to greet both of the visitors. The Maximal was tall and slender as if it was streamlined for flight. He reached out his right arm to greet the two Maximal guests.

"It's nice to see you two again," the Maximal stated. "I hope that everything went as planned on your little venture." His voice was deep and seemed to command respect when he spoke.

Rhinox was first to shake the white Maximal's hand. "A little too easy if you really want to know, Swiftwing."

The white Maximal, called Swiftwing, nodded his head in acknowledgment to Rhinox's comment about transferring Megatron. "I can relate to that," he responded. "It seems that the Predacons had no trouble handing in their most notorious general in exchange for diplomatic freedom within Crystalline Macross." All three Maximals turned and began walking down the corridor toward the main chamber. "The Tripredacus seems to have something else brewing, and that's why you have been called here."

Primal turned to look at Swiftwing as they approached the next door. It had the Maximal symbol painted in red on it and had two massive Ultra-con guards protecting it. "And what do the Elders feel is going on?" he asked.

Swiftwing stopped in front of the door and raised his left hand in front of him. The two guards knelt down and lowered their heads in respect for the white Maximal. Swiftwing then placed his hand on the control panel that had the security device on it and let it scan the palm of his hand. There was a loud thud as the lock disengaged and the thick door began to open. Slowly the door retracted and there was a bright light inside of the Chamber of Elders.

Swiftwing turned to face the two Maximals who were accompanying him. "They feel that a new war is about to start," he said as he looked at Primal. "Believing in this notion, they are about to finally pass the Matrix on to the next successor of Prime. For too long we've been without a Prime sine Rodimus decided to leave with the remaining Autobots. The time has finally come to anoint a new leader."

Rhinox nudged Primal in the abdomen. "And is Primal here going to be the successor?" he asked on behalf of his friend.

Swiftwing turned and began walking into the room. "That is for the Elders to decide, not me. On that subject, I have no knowledge."

The monitor was full of static and black lines as it skipped regularly while the Predacon known as Bloodhound continued to boost the reception. There was no volume, and the Predacons in the communications room could not make out who was on the screen. Frantically, Bloodhound tried to tune in the picture, but it never seemed to get any better. Finally, frustrated enough with his futile attempts at fixing the reception signal, he turned to look at the rest of the Predacons.

"This is about as good as it's gonna get," he said to the group. "I suppose that Tarantulas is gonna have to do somethin' on his end to boost the reception."

Disgusted with the lack of proper equipment, Dinobot quickly walked up to the monitor and slammed his fist on the consol. "Worthless Maximal surplus rubbish!" he hissed at the monitor. He turned to Bloodhound and looked deeply into his optics. "Can't we get anything around here that actually works?"

Suddenly, the signal came in clear with a few sections containing distorted pixels. The volume of the communication came in and startled the gathered Predacons. Tarantulas, who seemed to be completely unaware of the technical problems, continued on with what he was saying.

". . .put him in a holding cell in New Iacon," Tarantulas said.

"What was that?" Terrorsaur said to the image of Tarantulas.

The image of the Predacon scientist blurred for a moment, but they were able to make out the image of him shaking his head. "I said that the Tripredacus surrendered Megatron to the Maximals in exchange for diplomatic freedom, and he's currently being placed within a holding cell in New Iacon. It turns out that the Maximals are going to sentence him later on this orn."

A maroon and gray female Predacon stepped toward the monitor, shoving aside Bloodhound. "When did this happen?" she asked with authority.

"Earlier today," Tarantulas replied. "I tried to get in contact with you but. . ." The communication abruptly stopped and the screen went completely blank. Each of the gathered Predacons looked at one another with awe and stayed silent for a moment.

Finally, the maroon and gray Predacon, known as Vixen, spoke out to the group. "It seems that Megatron's plan will have to be put into motion earlier than he anticipated." She looked at Bloodhound who was standing over by the consol trying to reconnect with Tarantulas. "I want you to lead the group to New Iacon and get him the hell out of there. I don't care what it takes! Just get it done!" There was sheer anger within her voice as she barked the orders to Bloodhound, who stopped working on reconnecting the severed communication.

Bloodhound, realizing that she was his superior, nodded in respect. He looked at the rest of the Predacons and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Terrorsaur, Dinobot, Scorponock, Pack Pack. You're gonna go with me in the Decimation to New Iacon." He looked at Terrorsaur. "I want you to hack into the Maximal security net and see exactly where he is." Terrorsaur nodded. He then looked at Dinobot and Scorponock. "You two will load the ship with high-explosives; we're gonna blow the slag outta that joint."

Scorponock smiled and rubbed his hand s together. "Damn straight!" he yelled. "Gonna be a hot time in the city tonight!"

Dinobot sneered at Scorponock. "It can't be done with sheer brutality, you fool!" he said toward his partner. "We need to make sure that we don't kill ourselves or Megatron in the process!"

Bloodhound nodded at Dinobot. "Right. Make sure that you bring enough to do precision bombing." Finally, he looked at Pack Pack. "I want you to prep the Decimation. Make sure that its armaments are prepped and there's enough fuel for a long ride; I doubt that we're gonna get away without a pursuit."

There was no reply from the green Predacon known as Pack Pack. He simply nodded at Bloodhound. He then turned around and began to make his way out of the room and toward the weapons bay.

Vixen then looked at the remaining Predacons and drew out her energon sword. "Make no mistake, this is the first initial strike by both the Tripredacus AND the Maximals." He drew her sword close to her face and activated it. A long yellow rod appeared and began to glow. Suddenly, flames spat out of it and the edges became sharp; fire continued to radiate from the blade. "If we are to proceed with Megatron's ultimate plan, then we must be ready to sacrifice EVERYTHING!" She looked at the gathered Predacons with her red optics and sneered. "This will be a lesson to all!"

Tarantulas rubbed his hands together as he abruptly switched off the monitor. He intended to break the communication with the other Predacons in an attempt to add confusion and frustration to the situation. Then, he smiled at the thought of his plans finally coming to fruition after such a long period of time. He turned his chair to view the three stasis pods that were located behind him; he watched them as they continued to glow while the protoforms inside were beginning to solidify into the shape of the Predacons that he intended them to be.

Tarantulas then turned around and activated the communication array to contact the Predacon Citadel. The monitor lit up and the face of the red council member appeared on the screen. Tarantulas smiled at the image as he began to talk. "Megatron's crew is gathered at the provided location." The subtle hint of deception laced his very words.

The council member's face did not change with the news. "Excellent. Our operatives will be en route as soon as everything is in order." He leaned back in his chair. "Soon, everything will be as it should."

"And the Maximals?" Tarantulas asked.

"They are of no concern to you," the member of the Tripredicus Council quickly replied. "All will be settled in due time." The monitor went blank and the Predacon symbol appeared on it.

Tarantulas squinted as he looked back at his three "children." He walked over to the pods and kneeled on the floor. Tarantulas then turned off his optics and went into a deep trance as he began to mind-meld with the infantile protoforms.

Megatron stood there silently watching as the members of the Council of Elders read through the list of offences that he was accused of committing while a member of the elite Predacon strike force. He glared over to his right and saw Grimlock, Slag, and Snarl standing there intently focused on his very being; each of them waiting for the moment when Megatron would make an indication that he was going to harm the Ancients.

Over to his left, Megatron saw Primal, Rhinox, and Swiftwing. Each of them was also focused on Megatron, but not as intently as the Neo-Dinobots were. A smile came across Megatron's face as he saw Primal there. He then focused on Primal and pushed out his lower lip and shook his head; Megatron was aware of the fact that Primal was not named successor to the Matrix of Primus.

"Don't let that waste-hole get to you, boss," Rhinox said quietly as he leaned down to whisper into Primal's audio receptor. "He's just trying to goad you into doing something rash."

Primal leaned to his right but kept focused on Megatron. "It'll be a cold day in the inferno when he gets under my frame, Rhinox." He looked over at Grimlock quickly. "But I'm not sure how long Grimlock and his thugs are going to keep themselves in check." He then turned and looked at his friend. "I appreciate the concern though."

Megatron turned his attention to the Council of Ancients who were still addressing the dossier containing his previous assaults on Maximal territories. Finally, after being fed up with hearing them talk down to him, thus insulting his ego, he took a step forward and laughed at the members. "Spare me this mockery of justice!" he yelled scornfully at the members of the council. "You speak of atrocities and injustices that I have committed, but you should take a look at yourselves when you preach about equality and freedom! It is the very council that sits before me that subjugates members of the Predacon race and treats them like second class citizens!" He looked at Grimlock next. "Own members of your Maximal breed take liberties against my people. They force policies that we never even voted on, and they continuously degrade the Predacons by enslaving their very minds by telling them that they are below the Maximals!"

A white figure stood up and looked down at Megatron. Its face was gray and had black markings under its optics. "You speak as if we are the ones who terrorize your people," the Elder said. "If I recall, it was you who decided to raid the energon-reprocessing facility which killed at least seven Maximals."

"Who were siphoning off energon from Predacon territories and rerouting it to their own dwellings!" Megatron yelled back at the council member. "While you stand there and call my actions an injustice, I was doing my people a favor! The real injustice is within your own ranks who take advantage of my kind!"

A second member of the council stood up and looked at Megatron. "I think we've had enough of this today," she commented in a soft voice of authority. "Perhaps sentencing would be better when cooler heads have returned."

Primal, Swiftwing, and Rhinox stepped forward into the light. Each of the Maximals stood next to Megatron. "We'll escort the prisoner back to the holding cell," Swiftwing stated. "I believe that the Council. . ."

"Treacherous dog!" Megatron snapped. "Have your optics been blinded by. . ." Suddenly, Megatron was thrust to the floor. He landed face first on the floor and rolled over onto his back. With his hands bound behind him, he had a difficult time maneuvering into a position to see his attacker, but he did not need to in order to know who attacked him.

"Ah, Grimlock," he said as he got onto his knees. "As graceful and considerate as ever."

Grimlock stood over Megatron and glared down into the Predacon's optics. "Me take Megatron back to his cell," he growled. "This not the time for. . ."

"I believe, Grimlock, that Swiftwing will be efficient in taking Megatron back to his cell," the white Elder said. "Having you around him would only prolong the ill feelings that he holds against the Maximals."

Grimlock raised his hand and pointed at Megatron. "All me need is a reason, Megatron," he said in his deep voice. "All me need is a reason."

Tarantulas kneeled on the ground and motioned for the other three Predacons to crouch down with him. As they gathered around the Predacon scientist, each of them adjusted their weapons that were magnetized to their sides and back. Tarantulas looked at each of the Predacon assassins and began his speech.

"I'll enter through the main access doorway," he began. "Once I've deactivated the magnetic defense field, you'll have no problems entering undetected." He looked at the blue and white Predacon who had an EMP cannon magnetized to his back. "The security grid will be disabled for a moment as the defenses align themselves. You'll have to take out the plasma cannon before it locks onto your signature; the grid won't show that it's down until you've already entered the complex."

"Affirmative," he said.

He looked at the other two Predacons. "The Decimation is located in the rear hanger. It's your job to disable it before they get ready to launch." He then turned his attention back to all of the Predacons. "The one you really need to worry about is Dinobot; he's a bastard of a fighter!" He then sighed and shook his head. "And then there's Vixen too; I'm sure that she's pissed off as of now with her 'boyfriend' in lockup."

All three Predacon assassins looked at Tarantulas and nodded. The blue and white one shifted his weight and grabbed his cannon. "Anything else?" he asked.

Tarantulas shook his head. "No. The only thing that you really need to worry about is that they do outnumber us. That's why I must shut down the defense field in order to let you enter the complex; if you tried to take the complex head-on you'd end up dead."

Tarantulas transformed into his spider mode and began to make his way into the complex. The three assassins looked at each other and loaded their weapons. The blue and white Predacon loaded the last rocket into his cannon and looked at the other two assassins.

"Once we've taken the complex, our orders are to kill Tarantulas as well," he said. "The Tripredacus wants to make sure that all loose ends are tied up neatly. Is that understood?" The other two shook their heads understanding the additional objective to their mission.

Tarantulas paused for a moment as he overheard the conversation from behind the cover of the complex door. He had placed a transmitter on the base of the blue assassin's neck that relayed the conversation directly to his audio receptors. He chuckled as he continued to enter the complex.

The explosion rang through the security complex in Iacon. Orange flames consumed the main hallway to the building and instantly incinerated three Maximal guards who were making routine checks. The alarm began to ring out through the building and nearby streets. Maximal citizens who were bustling about their day immediately began to run for shelter as additional explosions riddled the city streets of Iacon.

Through the flames and debris came two figures. The first one was Scorponock who continued to launch rockets at random targets in an attempt to cause as much confusion as possible. He grinned as he witnessed the devastation that ensued from his own doing.

"WHOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOO!" he yelled over the roar of explosions and cries from wounded Maximals. "And you thought this was gonna be too complex."

The second figure was standing next to Scorponock; it was Terrorsaur. He threw another thermal detonator at an approaching emergency transport making its way onto the scene. "Don't get so smug, Scorp," he said over the thunder of the grenade exploding where he had planned. "The Maximals will be sending someone here soon to deal with us." He then picked up his left arm and activated the communications array with the other Preedacons. "Did you get him?" he asked.

There was some static, but Terrorsaur was able to make out what his comrade was saying. "Affirmative!" a voice shouted. "We've got Megatron and we're making a mad dash for the shuttle! We've got light resistance between us and the exit, but it shouldn't be too difficult!"

Terrorsaur began firing off round after round from his rifle into the city streets hoping to hit something or someone. "Excellent!" he yelled. "We'll be there as soon as possible to give you backup!" His comm.-link snapped shut and he turned toward Scorponock. "We're outta here, Scorp! Head over to the ship!"

Scorponock frowned as he heard the news. "Damn," he said. "I though that we would be doing this for. . ."

"Shut the hell up and move!" Terrorsaur yelled at Scorponock. "We're NOT here for shits and giggles!"

The slug from Slag's shot hit Pack Pack directly in the chest. It tore a hole right through his frame and he screamed out in agony as the circuitry exploded out of his back. Recycled energon spat out from his mouth and his left optic shattered from the feedback of electricity. He suddenly fell to the floor and grabbed his throat as it began to burst with flames.

"SHIT!" Bloodhound yelled as he watched his fellow Predacon die. "Pack Pack's down!" He looked at Dinobot who was holding Megatron up on his shoulders. "I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hold him off!" Bloodhound continued to fire randomly down the hallway in an effort to hit Slag or one of the other Neo-Dinobots that were pursuing them.

Dinobot looked over at Bloodhound. "This is going from bad to worse!" he yelled to his partner. "Hopefully those two fools in the streets have kept any reinforcements from entering the building!" He looked at Megatron and shifted his commander's weight. "Waspinator should be ready by now."

Megatron, weak from energon depletion and the mobility clamp, attempted to stand on his own. "If we don't make it to the Decimation soon, that bastard Grimlock will be on top of us, and we're not in any condition to take him!" There was another explosion that took apart a section of the wall over Megatron's head. "Give Waspinator our position and have him get us!"

"Already done, sir," Bloodhound said as he reloaded his bolt caster. He stood up and fired another shot of electricity down the hallway. The streams of blue electricity crackled as they hit the wall and turned it black from the heat. Bloodhound looked over at Dinobot and shook his head. "I ain't hitting jack!" he said. "They're dug in like. . ."

Suddenly, the wall between the two ends of the hallway exploded with such ferocity the entire complex shook. Debris of wall segments went flying down the opposite ends of the hallway and Slag had to duck for cover from a piece of reinforced steel. There was a high-pitched buzz coming from outside the hole of the wall and a ramp extended to the opening.

"Letzzzzzz go," a voice called out from the hole. "Wazzzzpinator haz detected incoming Maximal containment forcezzzzz."

A smile came across Megatron's face as he heard Waspinator. "Ah, my dear Waspinator," Megatron said with pleasure. "Intelligence may not be your forte, but you do have your moments."

Bloodhound stood up and laid down a suppressive cover fire that kept both Slag and Snarl hiding behind the corner of the wall. "Go Dinobot!" he yelled. "I've got you covered!"

Dinobot hobbled down the hallway with Megatron in tow. Once they got to the ramp, Megatron walked across it with his own power while Dinobot fired off several rounds in the direction of the Neo-Dinobots. Wapinator grabbed on to Megatron and helped him into the ship. After he made sure that his leader was on board, he ran to the cockpit to prepare for departure.

Dinobot kept firing down the hallway toward the two Neo-Dinobots. "Move it, Bloodhound!" he yelled as the shells from his blaster rained down upon the metal ramp. "These Maximal dogs won't stay down for much longer!"

Bloodhound took his comrade's advice and made a dash for the ramp. He turned toward the hole in the wall and ran across the ramp and right into the Decimation. Dinobot walked backwards and into the ship as he kept the two Maximals at bay. Once inside, he retracted the ramp and made his way to the gunnery turret on the side of the ship.

"Let's get the slag outta here!" Bloodhound yelled toward the cockpit. "These slag-suckers are not gonna stay down!"

Waspinator disengaged the anti-gravity propulsion unit and took command of the ship. Suddenly, the Decimation dropped without warning right down just short of the ground. Dinobot kept several Maximal security units running for cover with the use of the high-caliber gun. Terrorsaur and Scorponock leapt into the doorway of the ship and hid behind the cover of the wall. Scorponock shot two rockets out of his wrist at the approaching Gemini-tank that was making its way toward the shuttle. The impact of the rockets stopped the tank long enough for the Decimation to lift off of the ground and over the neighboring buildings.

The power flickered for a brief moment, and that was all that was needed. The green force field deactivated and several magnetic locks of the cell disengaged. The door to the containment unit unlocked and that was the precise moment that it had been waiting for since the orn that it became imprisoned over two vorns ago.

The pulsing blue sphere floated out of the door and through the disabled containment unit. Once it passed through the safety precautions that had been installed for such a prisoner, the sphere paused for a moment to realize that it was finally free.

Then, without warning, the sphere zigzagged down the hallway and out of the building; this was freedom.