'Myth Wars': Episode 59: "Finding the Axiom":
Author's Notes on bottom:
"Ya know; it's good to back inside a Maximal ship." Rattrap proclaims as he reclines in a control chair. "You can say that again!" Cheetor adds as he spins around in one of the other chairs. Silverbolt and Blackarachnia watch him; but as soon as he notices them he stops and looks away; embarrassed. "No matter how grown up you try to act; you're still just a kid to me." Blackarachnia laughs a little. Cheetor growls a little in response, "I've grown up a lot more than you'll ever know!"
"Well…" Warpath states as he strolls into the room followed by Optimus, Wing Convoy and Rhinox, "…I could cut the tension in this room with an energon blade." "Ha ha…very funny." Cheetor mocks.
"That Decepticon mega-missile really did some damage back there." Optimus states as he walks through the cabin of the ship. "Indeed. Luckily for us we've made some modifications to this class of ships since you and your crew left on board the Axalon," Wing Convoy comments, "And we were able to seal off the rear of the ship just in time."
"How long do you think it'll take to make repairs?" Optimus asks as he turns to face Rhinox. "Hmm…hard to say. Perhaps 3 to 4 deca-cycles." Rhinox replies, examining a piece of broken metal. "If everyone were to help; I'm sure that the repairs would be much quicker." Wing Convoy states. Optimus nods, "Agreed…" he turns to the others in the front section of the ship, "…Any objections?"
"Don't we evah get a moment to relax Optimus?" Rattrap states bluntly. All turn to face him, but Rhinox is the first to speak, "You do realize that those Predacons could get that ship repaired at any time?" "Yeah…so what?" Rattrap comments, "It's not like they'll be comin' here after us." Everyone stares at him blankly. "O.K….so maybe they will come here." Rattrap gives in.
"Rattrap has a point Optimus." Silverbolt interjects. Optimus turns to face him. "We've been through a lot. Don't you think that we could use a moment to rest?" Optimus stands silently for a moment, but then responds, "I'm with Rhinox on this one. If the Predacons get that Decepticon battle cruiser operational again; we'll be the first targets that they come after; and they could easily destroy this ship if they get enough power." He slams his fist into his hand, "We can't let that happen!"
Silverbolt stares in disbelief at Optimus, but says nothing. "Well, you're the big cheese." Rattrap butts in and sighs, "But can we start on the repairs later? I just got comfortable!"
"Don't get too comfortable…" Warpath begins as he leans against a nearby wall, "…We need you to go on a recon mission."
"Eh?" Rattrap mutters, raising a brow in question. "Yes; it's true." Wing Convoy begins as he strolls in from the rear of the ship, "Optimus and I have been talking; and we need someone to go on a recon mission; to find out just how far along the Predacons are with their repairs." "And so you want me to do it, right?" Rattrap rebuttals sarcastically. "Of course." Optimus grins a little.
"Well, so much for my hot oil bath!" Rattrap comments as he hops out of the chair. "Just a second…I'm sending Snarl with you." Wing Convoy adds, patting Rattrap on the shoulder. Rattrap looks at him, "Great. Now we can get reduced to burning piles of scrap together!" Rattrap mutters sarcastically. "Shut up Rattrap!" Optimus states. Wing Convoy turns to him for a moment, "Now I understand why you say that." Optimus simply nods and winks.
"So…how do we get out of here?" Rattrap asks looking for an exit. "Like I said; we've made some modifications to these ships…" Wing Convoy states as he strolls over to a control station and presses a button. A door slides open next to one of the drop-down exits. "Well, that's just prime." Optimus comments happily.
"Daytona Mode!" Rattrap yells as he transforms in his vehicle mode, "Maximum acceleration!" Snarl watches him grind his wheels against the metal floor and take off like a rocket out of the entrance. "And I'm supposed to catch him how?" Snarl comments with innocent sarcasm. "You certainly aren't going to catch him by standing here!" Wing Convoy states, urging him to move. Snarl merely sighs and transforms into his lion mode and races after Rattrap.
"Did you get it on him?" Optimus asks. "Indeed," Wing Convoy begins as he taps a few keys at the control station and the screen turns on to reveal a dot moving away from the ship, "I put it on his shoulder just before he left." "Good. Now we'll be able to keep track of him…" Optimus comments as he bends down to see the screen more clearly, "…I've lost far too many friends; and I'm not about to lose any more."
"Really?" Wing Convoy begins as he examines the crew, "I've been meaning to ask you what happened to the others in the stasis pods…" Optimus stands up and looks down at him, "I…We had to jettison them shortly before we crashed here." "YOU WHAT?" Wing Convoy shouts, "WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? WHERE ARE THEY?"
Optimus looks away in remorse, "They have been crashing to the planet's surface ever since we put them into safe orbit. Some of them were regrettably reprogrammed and turned into Predacons…" Wing Convoy stares in disbelief at what's he's hearing, "And when an alien device threatened to destroy this planet; it knocked some of the stasis pods out of orbit and sent them crashing to Earth. At first we believed that it was all of them; but as we were attempting to leave Earth we found some more still orbiting the planet. We rescued them; but the ship's engines failed and we lost them when the ship crashed back to Earth."
"By the skidplate of Primus himself! What in the inferno were you thinking! Do you have any concept of what you've done?" Wing Convoy yells in extreme anger and frustration. Optimus stares down at him in question but says nothing. "Do you realize that those were Maximals in those pods? MAXIMALS! And another thing…" Wing Convoy starts on a mad rant, "…You failed to mention anything about any Predacons before. I don't suppose that these protoforms just up and reprogrammed themselves into Predacons…I'm betting that some of Megatron's crew managed to survive…am I right?" Wing Convoy stares Optimus directly in the face.
Optimus sighs and looks away a little, "Yes…all of Megatron's crew survived; including Megatron himself." Wing Convoy slams his fists into the controls panel; denting it. "What in the slag were you thinking! Are you insane? First you let Megatron and his forces survive; then you lose half of your stasis pods to the Predacons; and Primus only knows where the other pods are…" Wing Convoy clenches his fists in anger; holding back his aggression, "I must have been an idiot to appoint you commander! What was I thinking!" He kicks the chair across the room, narrowly missing Silverbolt and Blackarachnia; "I need to get some fresh air…and decide what to do next…" he looks back at Optimus in contempt as he exits the ship.
"Whoa…what's gumming his gears?" Rhinox states as they all watch Wing Convoy leave the ship and transform into his gryphon mode, "It's not like we just let Megatron take the protoforms; we did fight to save them." Rhinox turns to see Optimus staring out the exit; his expression very evidently hurt and saddened. "Optimus…?" Rhinox begins, and Optimus's expression suddenly changes to cover up his sadness. "I'm alright Rhinox…I just need some time to think…" He states as he turns and walks into the burned out section of the ship.
"Don't look at me like that…I'm just his lieutenant." Warpath holds up his hands as a sign of innocence. The others slowly stop staring at him. "But we should not remain idle; we should begin repairing the ship." Warpath states as he points to Cheetor, "Cheetor, you, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt will begin working on the Sector 12. Rhinox, you and I will work on the exterior armor plating." Cheetor and his group silently nod and rush off to their appointed areas. "Good…I could use some time to smell the flowers." Rhinox comments as he and Warpath exit the ship.
"Man…I must be losing my touch." Rattrap states as he drives across the ground towards the mountain range where they seen the Antagony crash. "How so?" Snarl asks as he walks next to him, still in beast mode. "Normally I would be able to make the great Optimus change his mind; but for some reason he didn't." Snarl looks at him for a moment and then looks straight ahead, "I don't know Optimus as well as you do…perhaps the recent events have changed his mindset." Snarl comments. Rattrap shakes his head a little, "I don't think so…"
Just then Snarl stops in his tracks. Rattrap rolls on for a few more feet until he realizes that Snarl's no longer next to him. He then transforms and joins Snarl who's staring up at the top of one of the mountains. "What is it?" Rattrap asks as he looks up at the top of the mountain too and sees a dark shape resting on top of the peak. "I can't say from this distance; but if I had to guess; I'd say that was the ship." Snarl states. "Well, what're we waitin' for then?" Rattrap asks rhetorically as he runs towards the mountain's base, "Let's go up there and find out!"
"I don't think this is such a great idea Rattrap…" Snarl cautions, but Rattrap's already too far away too hear him; and so Snarl shakes his head in regret and transforms into robot mode to chase after Rattrap.
Meanwhile, high upon the mountain top…
"Slag! My servo-fluids are within 15 degrees of crystallization!" Myrimidon exclaims as he holds up a giant metal panel near the rear section of the Antagony. "Quit your complaining..." Nemesis begins as she tack-welds the piece in place, "…At least we're out of that stuffy ship for a while. I don't think I could have listened to Fenrir's whiny voice a moment longer." "Whiny voice?" Myrimidon comments, "It didn't seem whiny to me." "Well…it wasn't at first; but it seems to be getting higher and higher pitched as each day goes by…I can't explain it." Nemesis states; finishing the welds.
"Good; only 5 more panels to go!" Myrimidon proclaims as he and Nemesis start to walk away. Just then Nemesis stops dead in her tracks and whips out her swords. "What's got you so flustered?" he asks, turning to see her looking down the edge of the mountain. "I think we're being watched…" she states, scanning the slope of the mountain for anything unusual.
"Ah…you're insane!" he states and proceeds to walk away from her. Just then a blade pierces his shoulder, causing him to turn around quickly. "Don't underestimate me!" she sneers, staring down the towering giant. His ice cold stare matches hers; and the two clench their fists in anger.
Suddenly Nemesis sees something move behind him; and she breaks the stare-down. "I was right!" she proclaims, ripping the sword out of his shoulder. He flinches in pain; but only for a moment as he watches her walk slowly towards the hidden object.
"Slag! We've been spotted!" Snarl states, hiding with Rattrap behind a boulder. "Well…it's look like we'll just have to make due with what we've got." Rattrap comments, "Ya think you can take 'em?" "The big guy, yes. But I'm not to sure about the other…she's very powerful." Snarl comments. "Well, I have to get inside that tin-shack; so it's up to you to take them out…" Rattrap states as he pulls out a device from his arm compartment, "…This'll help ya."
Snarl takes it and nods in agreement. With that, Rattrap quickly rushes off towards the front of the ship; leaving Snarl to deal with the 2 Predacons.
Nemesis slowly approaches the rocks, swords in hand when Snarl suddenly jumps out and tosses the device at her. It explodes, sending Nemesis flying back and crashing into Myrimidon.
"Get off me!" he screams, tossing her aside. She shakes off the blow and looks up to see Snarl standing there, ready for battle. "I don't really approve of battle, but when it's necessary for survival…" he grabs a sword, "Then let the battle begin!"
"Stupid Maximal! You should have never came here!" she shouts, running towards him and slamming into him with her shoulder, knocking him over. She then proceeds to whip her sword around and strike him across the chest; damaging his lion head. "Come on Maximal…scream in pain!" She laughs as she strikes him again across the head, seriously wounding him.
"Save some for me!" Myrimidon calls out as he pulls out his massive sword. "Go find your own!" Nemesis growls. "Hey! What do you think this is?" he retorts, "You can't just hog the victory all to yourself!" "Wanna bet?" She threatens, standing to face him.
Out of nowhere a giant iron beam swings down and smashes him across the face; sending him flying into the air and crashing down with a tremendous thud; knocking him out cold. "What!" she cries out; turning to see what happened. Rattrap stands triumphantly on top of the Antagony and tosses the beam aside, "Look lady; if you want to fight dirty…" he states as he hops down onto the ground, "…You'd better fight like a rat!"
Her optics squint in anger as she carefully tosses one of her swords at Rattrap's chest. But as the swords floating through the air Rattrap manages to grab his tail whip and smack the sword out of mid-air; much to Nemesis's astonishment. "Heh…too quick for ya?" he mocks as he whips out his gun and starts blasting her.
She stumbles over the body of Snarl and falls to the ground. Her optics widen in fear as she looks over her shoulder to see the edge of the mountain; and a steep drop below. Just then Rattrap stands over her and places his feet on each side of her; hovering the gun inches above her head, "This'll teach you for attacking my pals!"
A single shot fires from his gun, sending Nemesis falling over the edge end-over-end down the side of the mountain. He watches her bounce against the rocks until he senses something behind him; but by then it's too late.
A single blow to the back of his head knocks him out cold as Fenrir stands behind him triumphantly. "So…the mousey has come here to play..." he laughs as he picks up Rattrap, "…That could be very dangerous!" Rattrap, half awake, just hangs limp as he holds him up by his bicep.
"It's only dangerous for you, Predacon scum!" A voice yells as a fist punches Fenrir in the side of the head, forcing him to release Rattrap. Rattrap blinks awake to see Snarl standing there above the downed Fenrir. "I wonder if you like the taste of die-cast metal!" he asks sarcastically as he picks up Fenrir with both arms and holds him high above his head. And with one mighty throw, he slams Fenrir head first into the hull of the Antagony.
"Whoa…that was…a bit much, don't cha think?" Rattrap comments, rubbing the back of his head. "Not really…" Snarl comments as he walks away from the damaged carcass of Fenrir, "Let's go."
Back at Maximal headquarters…
"Well, what did you find out?" Cheetor asks as he lets Rattrap and Snarl in. "Well, the Predacons are still active; but we found that out the hard way…" Rattrap grunts as he points to Snarl's damaged body. Cheetor watches as Snarl quietly makes his way to the C.R. chamber.
"So…where's Optimus?" Rattrap asks, looking around. "Last time I seen him he went into the back of the ship. I haven't seen him since…" Cheetor explains; pointing towards the back of the ship. "Well…aren't you going to go get him? I think he should hear dis too." Rattrap comments. "No…" Cheetor begins with a slightly saddened expression, "He needs to be alone for the time being…" Rattrap just stares at him in question; not knowing what to say next.
"Anything else?" Cheetor asks Rattrap, breaking the silence. "Well…there was this one thing I found inside the ship…" he states as he produces a small data-disk, "What is it?" Cheetor asks, staring at the disk. "I don't know, but it has Tarantulas's stench all over it; and by the looks of it; he didn't want anyone to find it!"
Author's Notes:
What is this mysterious disk that Rattrap has found? And what of the tension growing between Optimus and Wing Convoy? What will the effects be in the long run? And what other surprises lie in store?
Keep watchin'…