Author's note: I do not own Beast Wars, Transformers, its characters or anything else. Everything is property of their respective creators.
The Web
High above a river, sitting firmly over the walls of a canyon, the Maximal base was quiet. It had been a little over one month since the beginning of the Beast Wars. The Axalon was still undergoing repairs from its crash on the strange primitive planet. Inside the base, Rhinox was working on a small communicator to try and solve their problem of long range communication. He just added the finishing touches as Optimus Primal approached him.
"Good work Rhinox,"
"Well, it still needs a field test," Rhinox explained, shrugging his shoulders. The sound of rapid footfalls bounded through the corridor. Cheetor, in beast mode, bounded into the room and leapt up onto the holo-console in the center of the bridge.
"Test?" he asked as he stopped dead on the table, "I'm your 'bot. What'cha got?"
"Rhinox cobbled together a comlink. It's going to solve our long range communications problem," explained Optimus.
"If it works," Rhinox added.
"Well let's find out!" said Cheetor. He swiped the comlink from Rhinox's hand with his paw and held it to his face. It sizzled with a small electric charge when he sniffed it. "Whoa, talk about Ultra Gear!"
Rhinox frowned and turned to Optimus. Slightly nodding, Optimus turned to Cheetor.
"Cheetor, it's a valuable piece of equipment," explained Optimus "Take care of it."
"I copy Big Bot," said Cheetor, "What do I do?"
"The device is voice activated," answered Optimus, placing the device on Cheetor's shoulder. A band extended securing it to Cheetor's left foreleg. "Just talk into it and we'll hear you."
"We hope," muttered Rhinox. Optimus nodded as he sat down in a console chair. Optimus pressed two buttons; the chair swiveled and slid him up to the main console. He activated the console and routed a path.
"Head away from the base at Vector Omega, and check in every ten micro-quads," instructed Optimus, "We'll see how far we can track you. If you encounter any Predacons, return to base immediately."
"I'll be moving too fast for them to even see me," said Cheetor. Growling, he hopped off of the table and into the lift. As the lift descended, Rhinox frowned again and shook his head. Optimus chuckled and turned back to face Rhinox.
"He'll do fine," chuckled Optimus. He turned back to the screen watching the orange blip, indicating Cheetor, moving farther from the base.
Somewhere in the bluffs far from the Maximal base, Scorponok was digging a large metallic device out of a pile of rubble. He grumbled to himself trying to pull it free.
"Megatron will reward me for this," he said to himself, "If I can ever get it out of this damned rubble!" He kept pulling until his claws slipped free and sent him sprawling back. Growling, he began clicking his pincers angrily.
"Scorponok, Terrorize!" shifting to robot mode, Scorponok stepped back and aimed his rocket launcher at the pile of rocks, "Let's give this a try."
Cheetor was about five micro-quads away from the Maximal base when he heard the explosion. He looked around trying to determine the direction of the explosion.
"Cheetor to Optimus," he said into the comlink, "Do you read me?"
Back at the Maximal base, the console beeped as Cheetor's voice chimed through.
"Yes," answered Optimus, he turned to Rhinox, "And he's over five micro-quads away! Looks like it's working."
"So far," said Rhinox.
"I just heard some kind of explosion," explained Cheetor over the comlink, "I'm gonna check it out. I'll talk to you in a minute."
"An explosion?" Optimus asked, "No, wait Cheetor!"
"He's moving again," said Rhinox pointing to the blip on the screen. Optimus sighed and looked up to Rhinox.
"I'm going after him," Optimus explained, "If he calls in, tell him to get out of there now!" Optimus stood up and pressed a pair of buttons on the console. The roof hatch hummed as it began to open.
"Prime Jets, on!" shouted Optimus firing his jets and rocketing out of the base headed towards Cheetor's last coordinates.
Cheetor raced towards the source of the explosion until he came upon the stone formations in the distance. Cautiously sneaking around the tall rocks, he turned the corner to see Scorponok shifting back into beast mode, and clutching the large metal object. Though the machine was free, Scorponok was still struggling to drag it away.
"Uh oh, this is trouble," Cheetor whispered to himself, "Cheetor, Maximize." Cheetor shifted into robot mode and drew his quasar cannon from his sub-space. The comlink switched to his robot shoulder as he transformed.
"Cheetor to Optimus," he whispered into the comm.
"Optimus is on his way," said Rhinox over the comm, "He said you should get out of there, now."
"No can do Baby Blue, Scorponok's here and he's found a mega-cannon," explained Cheetor, "Must've come from their ship. I've got to stop him before he gets it back to their base. Cheetor, out." Cheetor paused to look back at Scorponok and snuck around to the other side of the rock.
"It's still functional," said Scorponok, "Megatron will be pleased."
"And you'll be slag if you don't stay right where you are "claw-ful"," said Cheetor. Scorponok jumped and turned around to face Cheetor. He began to click his pincers nervously.
"Clicking makes me twitch," explained Cheetor, "and there's a full charge in this beauty." Scorponok clicked again and stepped towards the mega-cannon.
"Uh, uh, step away from the big boomer, Plug Ugly," said Cheetor cocking the hammer on his blaster, causing Scorponok to back away, "Cheetor to base, I got the gig in hand. Tell Optimus to home in on my signal." The comm buzzed static as no answer came through. Focused on Scorponok and the comlink, Cheetor didn't notice the very large spider crawling underneath the tallest part of the rock formation.
"Cheetor to base, come in Rhinox," he said a bit louder. Scorponok stepped closer to Cheetor.
"Uh, uh, uh, you're making me twitch again," said Cheetor smirking.
"And I'll make you scream!" said Tarantulas. Cheetor turned and fired his quasar canon at the spider. Tarantulas quickly pulled himself up out of the way of the blasts. Scorponok saw his opportunity and quickly transformed to his robot form. He quickly armed his missiles and fired one. The sound of the missile launching caused Cheetor to quickly turn, but he was unable to dodge in time. The missile caught him directly in his torso plate and knocked him back into the rocks. Cheetor twitched and grunted, unable to move from the damage.
"Yes!" cheered Scorponok.
"Better get that weapon back to base!" said the disembodied voice of Tarantulas, "Optimus is coming!" Scorponok looked around for the voice, but couldn't see Tarantulas anywhere.
"Don't give me orders! I am second-in-command!" yelled Scorponok, "You will take the cannon back to base and I will deal with Optimus!" Scorponok again looked around for the spider.
"Tarantulas, Tarantulas?" he called, seeing nothing. Scorponok noticed the form of Optimus Primal approaching in the distance.
Optimus pressed a button on his wrist console. He frowned as he continued on. Cheetor's signal had disappeared off of his tracker.
"Cheetor, Cheetor! Ugh, his signal stopped," said Optimus to himself, "Could be Energon interference. Better use scan mode." Optimus' optic sensors whirred and entered scan mode. He scanned for a few seconds before he finally picked anything up.
"Target spotted. Locking in," said his computer. Optimus magnified his vision in the direction of the scan. He saw the badly damaged Cheetor leaning against the rocks.
"Cheetor, no!" he shouted, he fired his auxiliary boosters heading for Cheetor's prone form. Scorponok had succeeded in dragging the mega-cannon away just as Optimus landed. Cheetor slowly lifted his head to acknowledge Optimus' presence, before he fell into stasis lock.
"No!" shouted Optimus. He scooped up Cheetor's damaged body, fired his boosters, and headed back to base.
Far away, on the planet Cybertron, a jet fighter soared through the skies. It banked and headed around a building, disappearing in the distance. The city was alive with activity, though a particular part of the city only had three occupants. Megatron, Terrorsaur and Waspinator stood atop a tall building staring down at the cityscape. Cheetor laughed at the three Predacons from the top of an even taller building far across the city. The three Predacons growled as they acknowledged the young Maximal.
"Open fire!" ordered Megatron. Terrorsaur and Waspinator followed his orders and began to fire all of their weapons at Cheetor. One of Terrorsaur's stray shots blew a hole in a water tower, but came no where near Cheetor. Cheetor smirked and tossed his quasar cannon up, catching it in the same hand. He fired two shots, taking out Terrorsaur and Waspinator. Megatron turned as his soldiers fell, and was launched forward as his troops exploded. He stood to his feet and glowered at Cheetor. The young Maximal cocked his blaster.
"Now it's just you and me, Mega-jerk," said Cheetor. Megatron roared in rage, unable to do anything as Cheetor fired one more shot, taking the Predacon leader out. Megatron's head slammed into the tower that Cheetor was sitting on, its teeth falling out as it slid down the wall.
"They never learn," said Cheetor to himself.
"And when will you learn, Pussy Cat?" asked the disembodied voice of Tarantulas. Cheetor turned looking for the spider. He saw nine green eyes staring at him from the hole in the water tower. Panicking, Cheetor fired his blaster rapidly into the hole, hitting nothing. Tarantulas' eyes reappeared in the hole, cackling at the young Maximal. Cheetor stepped back, terrified as his accuracy was diminished. He saw Rattrap leap up with a sharp piece of metal and swipe at him.
"Rattrap, what the hell?" asked Cheetor backing away nearly to the edge. He looked around, both Rattrap and Tarantulas had disappeared.
"Scorponok, Terrorize!" shouted Scorponok from the top of another building. His confidence gone, Cheetor could only stare as the Predacon transformed and fired a missile. Cheetor couldn't move as the rocket came closer, until it finally slammed into his chest plate.
Cheetor awoke screaming on a medical table in the hold of the Axalon. Rhinox quickly slammed him back down on the table. Cheetor finally realized that he had only been dreaming. He looked up to see Rhinox standing over him.
"There, good as new," he said gently. Rattrap, in beast mode, hopped onto Rhinox's shoulder.
"Yea, and twice as loud," said Rattrap scratching his ear canal. Cheetor turned to see Optimus standing over him. Optimus slumped his shoulders in relaxation as Cheetor sat up.
"Hey Big Bot," said Cheetor, "What happened out there?"
"You took a Predacon missile straight in the chest plate," explained Rattrap, gnawing on an apple, "Guess you're not as fast as you thought, huh kiddo?"
"And you got my comlink trashed," added Rhinox.
"Hey, at least I proved it worked," said Cheetor.
"Rhinox said you reported something about a mega-cannon," said Optimus.
"That's right. It must've blown off of their ship in the crash," explained Cheetor, "Scorponok found it, so I catted in and got the drop on him."
"I'd say you were da one dat got dropped," said Rattrap eating the apple core.
"Tarantulas was there too," said Cheetor, "He got behind me, and when I tried to take him out…"
"Scorponok capitalized on your mistake," finished Optimus.
"Yea, I guess so," Cheetor said sadly.
"Rhinox worked on that comlink for a deca-cycle," scolded Optimus, "And he doesn't have the components to make another one. You've cost us an advantage."
"Hey, I couldn't let them get away with that cannon!" argued Cheetor.
"Oh yea, you took care o' dat real good kiddo," said Rattrap, snickering.
"Back off Ratface!" growled Cheetor, he shifted to beast mode and got into Rattrap's face, "Or I'll have me a little vermin-on-a-stick for lunch!" Optimus grabbed Cheetor by the scruff of his neck and held him up to his face.
"You back off, now!" he ordered.
"Sorry Optimus, I…" Cheetor began, before Optimus cut him off.
"Sorry isn't enough. We're in a war for survival and you treat it like a game!" scolded Optimus. Cheetor lowered his head in shame, turning away from the others.
"I'm going to call Dinobot in from the perimeter," said Optimus, "We'll need his knowledge of the Predacon base to do something about that mega-cannon."
"I can get inside their base!" said Cheetor, "Let me do it Optimus!"
"You've done enough," said Optimus as he left the room. Cheetor turned back to Rhinox and Rattrap. The elder two Maximals just sighed.
"I'd better come up with a plan," said Rhinox, "If I know Optimus, he'll want to move fast."
"Yea, with me in the front. Not thanks partner," said Rattrap, "The pussy cat got us into hot oil. Let him dance into Predacon HQ."
"At least I'm not afraid to do it," snapped Cheetor.
"You know, that is why you mess up kiddo," explained Rattrap, "You don't have the sense to be afraid."
"Oh yea? I'll show you what I have the sense to do Motorhead!" growled Cheetor, "You and Big Bot!" Cheetor leapt off of the table, headed for the door.
"Mm, mm, mm," warned Rhinox.
"What?" groaned Rattrap.
"You know what he's gonna do,"
"Ah, he's just grindin' his gears. Even he's not dumb enough to disobey the great Optimus again,"
"Uh huh?"
"Okay, okay! I'll stop 'im. If I can catch 'im," complained Rattrap. Rhinox just smiled watching as the rat left the room grumbling to himself.
The Predacon base was alive with activity. A platform had been constructed on a large rock spike near the rear tip of the Dark Syde where Scorponok and Terrorsaur waited. Waspinator grumbled to himself as he tried to lift the mega-cannon up to the platform.
"Hurry with that installation!" roared Megatron from the ground, "I want that cannon operational within the mega-cycle!"
"Why Wazzpinator have to do heavy lifting?" mumbled Waspinator as he ascended, "Why Terrorsaur not do?" Terrorsaur, having heard Waspinator's complaining leaned over the edge.
"Because you don't know anything about these weapons!" he crowed back.
"Wazzpinator knows enough!" argued the giant wasp.
"Shut up and get that mega-cannon up here!" interrupted Scorponok. Finally stopping with his buzzing, Waspinator flew the mega-cannon into position.
Cheetor spied on the Predacons from a short distance away. He wasn't close enough for them to see him, but he was close enough that he could see the Predacons at the top of the ship.
"Gotta move quickly," he whispered to himself. Crouching down and approaching slowly, he got within firing distance, but paused at the edge of the hill. He stepped over a boulder and inched closer.
"Now, just have to wait for the right moment," he said. With his optics fixed on the mega-cannon, he did not notice the boulder slide to the side behind him. Nor did he notice the grappling hook land silently by his foot. Nor did he notice the grappling hook snare him, and pull him back in the hole until it was too late. For a moment, all Cheetor saw was nine glowing green eyes and heard an evil cackle. Then everything went black.
Cheetor awoke with his head in a daze. As his recognition circuits came back online, he realized he was in some cavern. He tried to move but couldn't even twitch his tail. Looking down, he soon saw his problem; he was attached to a gigantic web. But it was no ordinary web; it was blue and pulsed with energy. He heard the same cackling as he had heard in his dream, and just moments before he was dragged into the hole.
"Welcome," said Tarantulas greeting the young Maximal.
"Ow, man. You need a maintenance 'bot badly," said Cheetor. Tarantulas just shrugged off the insult and chuckled. He turned to a machine that sat nearby and pressed a button. The machine hummed to life and displayed the outline of a feline on the screen with several bars indicating power levels beneath it. Cheetor began to gasp in pain as the web behind him started to glow brighter.
"You're in a stasis web. It drains the energy, but leaves the flesh alive," explained Tarantulas, "At its current setting, it will only take a few moments." Cheetor struggled to inhale as his power was drained away. Tarantulas chuckled and pressed a button causing the machine to wind down and slow its drain.
"But I find a slower pace makes the vital fluids taste so much better," cackled Tarantulas rubbing his pedipalps together.
"Whoa, you are one space happy spider," groaned Cheetor, "Maximize!" Cheetor's body groaned in protest, refusing to transform.
"Hey, what's happening here?" he asked panting heavily.
"I'm afraid the web makes that impossible," explained Tarantulas climbing up the web, "Cat you are and cat you stay. And when your energy is gone, I feast!" Cheetor's optic widened as Tarantulas' laugh echoed through the tunnels.
In the bridge of the Axalon, Optimus and Dinobot both sat, in beast mode, looking at a holographic display of the Dark Syde. Dinobot motioned with his clawed fingers towards the pillar of the ship.
"Frontal assault now," said Dinobot, "Before Megatron has a chance to use the cannon against us."
"Impossible, the modifications would be too extensive," said Optimus, "He's more likely to install it as a defensive weapon. Question is, where?" As Optimus and Dinobot were speaking, Rhinox approached, in beast mode, and hopped his front legs up onto the table.
"Rhinox, take a look, this is your specialty," said Optimus, "And where's Rattrap? I'll need him to scout." Upon mention of Rattrap's name caused Rhinox's optics to widen in both surprise and nervousness.
"Uh…still talking to Cheetor," he answered.
"We waste too much time talking!" growled Dinobot, "We must attack now!"
"Rushing in headlong won't help," said Optimus, "We need a plan."
"No, no, no!" growled Dinobot, "We must destroy them now!"
Rattrap approached the perimeter of the Predacon base following Cheetor's scent.
"Man, I must have a bug in my system to be doing this for that dumb feline," Rattrap continued towards the edge of the base, but stopped short, sniffing the ground again.
"Ugh, I can smell his stench even in this sludge box," he complained, he stopped leaning against a boulder, only to have it slide on him. "Hey, somethin's weird here." Rattrap pushed the rock uncovering the hole, and climbed in.
Cheetor's life signs faded closer to stasis lock bringing him closer to death. Tarantulas chuckled and turned to the young Maximal.
"Not long now," cackled the Predacon spider. Cheetor groaned and lifted his head towards the spider.
"This is a dumb plan Web Face," said Cheetor, "I don't have any real blood, just mech fluid."
"Oh don't worry, my filters will adjust," said Tarantulas, "It is the act that I enjoy more than the nourishment."
"You know, you are one sick bug; Eight-Eyes?" said Rattrap stepping into the light in the cavern. Surprised, Tarantulas jumped around to face him.
"The rat!" he shouted.
"Yea, you got it," said Rattrap, "Now, what do you say you let my pal go?"
"Not a chance Maximal," growled Tarantulas, "Tarantulas, Terrorize!" Tarantulas quickly shifted to robot mode, but wasn't quick enough to draw his weapon as Rattrap transformed too. When Tarantulas did draw his rocket launcher, he fired a missile at Rattrap. Rattrap dodged the missile, causing it to hit and destroy a rock pillar. Rattrap hid behind a giant stalagmite and drew his own rifle. He leaned out and fired three shots, the first two went wide going nowhere near Tarantulas, but the third almost skimmed the machine. Tarantulas quickly covered the machine with his own body and returned fire. Rattrap ducked back behind the stalagmite holding out for better odds.
"Your in for it now Web Breath," groaned Cheetor, "Now my pal's gonna have you for lunch!" Tarantulas turned and aimed his launcher at Cheetor, shaking in anger as much as nervousness from losing his meal. Snickering, Tarantulas flipped the machine on full and turned back to Rattrap.
"Thorough Scan," he told his computer. A visor slid over Tarantulas optic visor and lit his vision to heated signatures in the cave. A green object appeared in his read field of vision. Without a second thought, Tarantulas fired another missile. Rattrap was blown backwards by the explosion, brushing the rubble off of himself as he stood. He ducked behind the rocks and thought for a moment. He needed a way to trick Tarantulas. Holstering his rifle, he opened the panel on his forearm. A small black box extended for Rattrap to pick out. Looking around, he noticed a clear enough path to another spot. Tarantulas focused his scan searching for Rattrap and noticed the small Maximal run from his hiding spot, trying to reach another. He lowered his rocket launcher and fired his machine gun-legs. All of the bullets ricocheted off of the rocks, narrowly missing Rattrap as he dove for his cover. Panting, he slid the box on the top of the rock and pressed the button. Pulling his rifle, he ducked away to circle around the other side.
"Where are you?" taunted Tarantulas, "Come out and play." Tarantulas chuckled when he noticed Rattrap's signature on his scanner. Loading another rocket, he approached the rocks, and leapt out pointing his blaster at the black box. Quickly withdrawing his visor, Tarantulas raised his optics in surprise. Examining the box, he didn't notice the rat come up behind him.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," tsked Rattrap, "You fell for the ol' hot box." Keeping his rifle pointed at the spider, Rattrap lowered it down. Thinking he saw an opportunity, Tarantulas swung his blaster around, only for Rattrap to quickly shoot his right hip joint. With his leg blown off, Tarantulas was launched backwards. His blaster went off and shot the ceiling of the cave. He could only scream as the rubble rained down and buried him. With Tarantulas incapacitated, Rattrap quickly ran over to Cheetor and the power drainer.
"Don't worry kiddo," he said, "I'll have you outta here in a gif." He pressed the button on the console. The machine beeped a negative response.
"Incorrect energy signature," responded the feminine voice of the Predacon computer. Groaning to himself, Rattrap pressed a few more buttons, causing the machine to respond again.
"Unable to comply," it stated, "Incorrect energy signature." Rattrap started pressing several buttons on the console trying anything to shut it down. The computer kept repeating its previous statement, and went into high gear. Cheetor's life signs faded to dangerously low levels at Rattrap shook it in frustration. Finally realizing his only other option, he drew his rifle.
"I got'cher signature right here," he snapped and blasted the machine off the ledge, "Hoo hoo! How's that for your damn energy signature?" With the energy drain stopped, Rattrap leapt up with a jagged piece of metal and sliced the web. Cheetor slumped down into Rattrap's arms and weakly lifted his head.
"Hey, Ratface, what's the good word?" he asked, smiling. Rattrap hoisted Cheetor up in his arms and started to head towards the entrance of the cave.
"Game over, vermin!" growled Tarantulas, he stood on his remaining leg, steadying himself on a stalagmite with his left claw, "Give my regards to the Inferno!" Tarantulas aimed and fired his rocket launcher. The missile soared through the air at the two Maximals, but Rattrap was able to think quickly. He tossed Cheetor and leapt towards the edge of a small hill in the cave. Tarantulas' missile struck his web, and reacted with the warhead, setting the missile off. The explosion rocked the cave and started a cave-in.
"Oh no!" cried Tarantulas as he was once again buried in rubble. Rattrap carried the half-conscious Cheetor out of the cave and safely into the rocky plains surrounding the Predacon base. With his quarry lost, Tarantulas managed to free his head from the pile of rocks.
"I hate that rat," he muttered as a final rock landed on his head.
Later that night at the Maximal base, Rattrap and Cheetor finally returned and approached the bridge. Exchanging nervous looks, Rattrap finally spoke up.
"Hey, Fearless Leader, what's the haps?" he asked.
"Where have you two been?" asked Optimus turning to face the two wayward Maximals.
"Eh just hockin' around, Cheetor needed some activity," explained Rattrap, "You were kinda rough on him earlier. Everybody makes mistakes you know." Rhinox squinted his eyes at Rattrap in a knowing way of what actually happened. Cheetor smiled nervously at Optimus hoping he wouldn't see through Rattrap's fib. After a moment, Optimus finally spoke.
"Maybe you're right," he said, "I'm sorry Cheetor, I shouldn't have been so rough." "No, you were right Big Bot," admitted Cheetor, "But I won't do it again. From now on, this cat is a team player." Rhinox glared at Rattrap waiting for something, but it was Optimus who spoke first.
"Well, I'm glad to hear it," said Optimus, excusing himself, he turned back to the holo-console with Rhinox and Dinobot. Cheetor and Rattrap turned and headed back down the corridor.
"Hey, thanks for not tellin' on me about…" Cheetor began, but was cut off by Rattrap.
"Save it kiddo," he scolded, "The only reason I didn't tell Optimus about your little play-date with Tarantulas is 'cause he'd kick my sweet little pink butt too." Cheetor was taken back at Rattrap's words.
"And if you ever pull a stunt like this again, I will personally re-arrange your spots," threatened Rattrap, "Now, get outta my way. I got garbage to munch." Rattrap turned and started down the hall towards his quarters, Cheetor smiled as he watched him leave.
"And thanks for saving my life," Cheetor said, half to himself, "Pal."
The End