At the bottom of the ocean, two forms lay dormant, one a giant metal crab, the other a huge metal manta ray. Slowly, they both came online. Facing each other, looks of confusion crossed their bestial faces.

"Who are you?" they asked of each other in unison.

At what was now the Predacon base, Tarantulas was busy scanning the planet for any downed stasis pods with sparks, when Sandstorm came up behind him in beast mode, clacking his pincers nervously, a trait picked up from the half of him that was Scorponok.

"Hey, uh, boss-bot... I was just wondering... How come you get to lead? I mean, I know you brought us back online and everything, but wouldn't the Decepticon cat be a better choice for our leader? No offense, it's just that he's prob'ly got more battle experience than all of us put together, is all." Sandstorm said in his Western drawl. Tarantulas did the Cybertronian equivalent of pinching the bridge of his nose in mild annoyance.

"Because, Sandstorm, I now possess more power than any mortal Predacon, due to a slight mishap that occurred just before I resurrected all of you. Now go and monitor the feed from the security cameras positioned around our territory... Who knows when the Maximals could show up on our door step." the Transmetal arachnid ordered. Cursing under his intakes, Sandstorm seethed at the fact that he couldn't go outside in robot mode for more than a half megacycle before being affected by the still surprisingly potent energon fields on prehistoric Earth...

"It's strange... I can't remember ANYTHING, not even who you are, despite this feeling that you should mean something to me." the amnesiac Depth Charge told the equally memory-impaired Rampage. The crab nodded in agreement as he carried the wounded manta ray on his back to the nearest shore, both Transformers allowing their beast modes to complete their internal repairs. With an affirmative chirp from both of their respective internal computers, the two Transmetals sat on the sand, trying to figure out who they were. Suddenly, the two former adversaries came to the same idea.

"Computer, verification scan of designation, alternate modes, and allegiance activation code, my circuits only." Depth Charge commanded of his internal computer. Rampage quickly followed suit, ordering his own internal computer to do the same for him.

'Processing... Unit designation: Depth Charge. Alternate modes: manta ray and Starhopper. Activation code: Maximize... Unit is therefore Maximal.' Depth Charge's computer explained. Rampage's computer spoke up next.

'Unit designation: R-R-R-... Protoform X. Alternate modes: king crab and battle tank. Activation code: Terrorize... Unit is therefore Predacon.' the computer stated. Rampage, now called Protoform X once again, gave Depth Charge a look of disappointment.

"Well, it was nice knowing you, Depth Charge. I hope I'm not the one that has to extinguish your spark when the time comes." X said, transforming into tank mode and trundling off. Depth Charge smirked, silently wishing X good luck, before converting to Starhopper mode and flying off, searching out any Maximal energy signature he could detect...

Dinobot was scouting an area close to the Ark where Teletraan 1 had located an intact stasis pod had made planetfall during the night. He carried with him the Transmetal driver, just in case it proved to be useful. Walking into an open area full of stable Energon, Dinobot soon came upon the stasis pod. Typing in the initialization commands, Dinobot soon heard something from the pod that made him sigh in frustration.

'Replication mode unable to commence. Critical Cybertronian technology has been compromised by quantum surge. Substitute technology is required.' the pod's computer told him. Running a taloned palm down his metallic face, Dinobot decided to try and duplicate the events that created his current body. Hooking the Transmetal driver up to the pod with some spare cables from his subspace, Dinobot once again keyed in the pod's initialization command, only to get another, slightly less worrying message.

'Genetic scanners have been significantly damaged by both quantum surge and unstable planetfall. There may be a replication error. Should replication commence?' the pod asked. Pausing to consider for a moment, Dinobot hit the affirmative option. After a few disconcerting clunks, a bright flash from inside the pod reassured Dinobot that the replication process had gone off without a problem. A rush of steam hissed out of the pod as it opened, revealing a Transmetal 2 Fuzor, one that bore a remarkable similarity to Silverbolt. This Fuzor had the rear legs, body, and head of a wolf, but where a pair of wolf's front legs and a wolf tail should be, a pair of owl legs and an owl's tail feathers took place in their stead. Upon its shoulders rested a pair of robotic owl wings with impulse engines placed towards their center. The Fuzor's entire body was colored with brilliantly shining golds, silvers, and bronzes, its eyes sizing up Dinobot with acidic green-colored irises.

"Conveluna... Maximize."

Tarantulas was livid. His computer monitor was showing him a brand-new Maximal energy signature, right in the heart of his enemy's territory, with the familiar energy signature of Dinobot.

"Damn, curses, drat, and blast!" he shouted in frustration, seething. "The Maximals have obtained the first of the remaining few functional stasis pods! And going by the energy output readout I'm getting, it's a Transmetal 2!"

Ravage quirked an eyebrow, pointing to another area on the screen.

"Perhaps you had not noticed, comrade, but it would appear that WE have the upper hand." the former Decepticon chuckled, turning Tarantulas' attention to a stasis pod that had made planetfall close to their own base mere nanokliks ago. Tarantulas' optic visor widened in bewilderment.

(How did THAT escape my notice?!) he wondered. "Sandstorm, Scavenger, get to that pod before the remaining Maximal flyers detect it!" the spider barked. Saluting, Scavenger converted to drilltank mode and carried Sandstorm in beast mode on his back, heading straight for the location of the second stasis pod...

"Conveluna... Maximize."

With the hushed utterance of her activation code, the wolf/owl Fuzor transformed identically to Silverbolt, revealing a decidedly feminine robot with a Maximal faction emblem etched into a large crystal on her abdomen, and a face reminiscent of Airazor's, pre-Transmetal form. Dinobot was taken aback by her subtle beauty, as the sun only served to enhance her features. Mentally slapping himself out of his daze, Dinobot folded his arms in front of him, sizing up the new Maximal. The first words out of her mouth after transforming made him quirk an eyebrow.

"So, what's your story, fossil features?"

Shaking his head, Dinobot started explaining as he and his new recruit headed back to base...

Unfortunately for Tarantulas, Airazor had been patrolling nearby when the second stasis pod had made planetfall, and now she and Scavenger were engaged in a vicious battle, as she fired invisible bursts of sonic energy from her forearm-mounted sonic pulse rifles, and he shot multiple drill missiles at her from various spots all over his body. Meanwhile, Sandstorm was clumsily inputting a new Predacon shell program into the stasis pod.

"Keep that Maximal varmint busy awhile longer, partner! I almost got this done!" the scorpion yelled to his accomplice, as he finalized the last few lines of code. Keying in the initialization command, Sandstorm watched as the pod's DNA scanner deployed from its side and a field of yellow energy washed across the landscape. As the scanner retracted, a thud from behind him caught Sandstorm's attention. Turning around, he came face-to-muzzle with one of Airazor's sonic pulse rifles.

"Step away from that pod, Predacon." Airazor ordered. A flash of light behind Sandstorm caught both Cybertronians' attention. Sandstorm sniggered.

"Yer too late, Maxi. This protoform's a Pred now." he said, transforming to beast mode as he felt the first zaps of an Energon surge course through his body. The new Predacon slowly crawled out of the pod, revealing its beast mode to be a giant mosquito. With a buzzing chuckle, the Predacon spoke.

"G'Day, Maxi sheila. Send mah regards ta tha Pit. Transquito, TERRORIZZZE!"

Buzzing as he converted to robot mode, Transquito immediately fired a beam of cybervenom directly at the still astonished Airazor, striking her right in the chest and sending her flying back a few meters. Before the two Predacons could do anything else to the Maximal femme, Tigatron came flying from overhead, firing his cryo blasters at her attackers. Scavenger came back online at this point, and realizing the futility of fighting the Transmetal tiger, despite their superior numbers, ordered his teammates to beat a hasty retreat. As the three Predacons ran away in beast mode, Tigatron swiftly landed next to Airazor and converted to flight mode, carefully putting the injured femme on his back...

Back at the Predacon base, Tarantulas looked over his newest warrior.

"Hmm... Not bad, I suppose. A creature with more toxicity would have been more to my liking, but I guess you'll have to do." Tarantulas muttered, sizing up Transquito. The new Predacon huffed.

"Oh, yeah? Watch this, mate! Transquito, triple-conversion!" he shouted, skipping his usual beast mode in favor of a much more bizarre looking creature, one with massive, serrated jaws. Tarantulas' eyebrows jumped a few inches.

(Well, THAT'S certainly surprising.) he thought, making a mental note to watch out for this sort of thing with any other new Predacons he obtained. "It would appear that I've misjudged your worth, Transquito. You'll make a fine addition to the Predacons, indeed..."

After coming out of the CR chamber, Airazor was introduced to Conveluna, as Tigatron had been after Dinobot and the new Maximal had returned to base. Conveluna certainly seemed friendly enough, just a bit introverted, keeping to herself most of the time. It was that trait that worried Dinobot, ever so slightly. Walking to Conveluna's quarters, Dinobot went to knock when he was interrupted by the door sliding open in front of him, the very femme he was concerned about standing behind it. After awkwardly staring at each other for a few nanokliks, Conveluna gestured for her leader to enter.

"To what do I owe this privilege, fearless leader?" the femme asked, reminding Dinobot of Rattrap for a second. Mentally slapping himself again, Dinobot turned to face Conveluna, who was now sitting on her bed.

"I simply wanted to know how you are adjusting. Because there are so few of us, a high team morale is... While not necessary, it is rather important. Simply put, if you need anything or have any questions, do not hesitate to come to me, or Airazor and Tigatron." Dinobot told her. Conveluna, detecting the sincerity in his words, smirked slightly at her leader and nodded. Knowing he couldn't do much more for now, the Transmetal 2 velociraptor converted to beast mode and walked out of the room, heading out for his nightly patrol...

Depth Charge had made camp for the night, watching the sky as a shooting star streaked overhead.

(This planet is beautiful. I hope X doesn't get into any trouble while we're here...) the Transmetal thought as he went into recharge mode, still clueless about his and his new friend's past.

X watched over Depth Charge from a rocky outcropping nearby, for some reason feeling the need to be close to the Maximal.

(Maybe I don't have to be his enemy.) he thought, silently commanding his internal computer to change his allegiance programming and activation code...

There's part two! Please enjoy!