Author's Notes:

When the Sensor bits have "..." around them. Cheetor is talking. When the Sensor bits have '...' around them. The Sensor is talking.

Warning: Some parts of this chapter may be found disturbing and/or unsettling. If you have an intense fear or have been traumatize by any form of torture, I suggest that when you reach the word, "Warning", you skip ahead to the words, "End of Warning". Thank you and I have given you this warning out of respect.

The forest is usually such a serene and quiet place at night. One could relax very easily while wondering in the forest.

However, tonight was not one of those nights...

Depth Charge: *gasp gasp gasp* "I... *gasp*think...*gasp*I lost him."

Sensor: "Outta breath already Depth Charge? I actually thought that you would be a challenge."

Depth Charge: "I'm not giving up yet."

Sensor: "Good. Oh and by the way..."

Depth Charge: "Yeah."

Sensor: "I can see you."

Depth Charge glanced quickly behind him, just making out a blur of motion.

Depth Charge: "Why are you doing this?"

Cheetor: "Because it's fun."

Depth Charge took off running at his top speed.

Cheetor: "Going so soon?"

Depth Charge looked around trying to pinpoint where Cheetor's voice was coming from. But Cheetor's voice seemed to be coming from everywhere.

Cheetor: "The mighty Depth Charge, hunting X across the cosmos. Nearly beating his target in multiple encounters. Only to be bested by a cat."

Depth Charge: "I could've killed X if everyone stayed out of my way!"

Cheetor: "So are you going to kill me when you catch me?"

Depth Charge: "Maybe."

Depth Charge transformed and attempted to fly above the trees for a better view.

Before Depth Charge could rise above the tree line. A volley of laser fire erupted from above and tore through his wings causing Depth Charge to crash back down to the forest ground.

Cheetor: "I don't think so. We can't allow any early departures."

Depth Charge maximized and picked himself off the ground. He took a moment to assess the damage. Concluding it was only his wing damaged and that he wouldn't be able to fly without repairs. Depth Charge took one last glance at his surroundings, looking for any sign of Cheetor, before taking off on foot.

Cheetor, keeping out of sight, followed Depth Charge closely. He noted that they were heading towards a field. A perfect place for an ambush.

Depth Charge kept running towards the field. And several cycles later he broke out of the forest to find himself in a plains clearing in the middle of the woods.

Cheetor: "Now the real games start."

Depth Charge turned around and received a volley of laser fire to the chest.

Depth Charge fired back in the general direction of the shots.

Cheetor appeared right in front of Depth Charge.

Cheetor: "*yawn* Too slow."

Depth Charge tried to punch Cheetor in his anger of the cat's cockiness.

Cheetor flashed away just nano-cliks before impact.

Cheetor: "Missed me."

Depth Charge: "Shut up!"

Cheetor kicked Depth Charge down to the ground in a show of speed and strength. The force of Cheetor's blow severely dented Depth Charge's chestplate.

Cheetor: "Now now. No need to get angry."

Cheetor detached both of his shoulder blades and held them crisscrossed on Depth Charge's neck.

Depth Charge: "Get on with it. Finish me."

Cheetor: "You think that I'm going to kill you? No, I'm not going to kill you...I'm going to break you."

WARNING: Torture Section

Before Depth Charge could respond, Cheetor cleaved off Depth Charge's right servo.

Depth Charge: "Aaaaaahhhhh"

Cheetor: "Did you know that a bot can stay online through any damage as long as the spark or head is not severely damaged...You didn't...Well allow me to demonstrate."

Cheetor started to slowly cut off Depth Charge's left arm, making sure that the pain that he's inflicting upon Depth Charge is at it's maximum potential.

Cheetor: "Do you feel that? That's your left arm being cut off slowly."

As the arm socket and arm began to leak energon. Cheetor stabbed his other shoulder blade into Depth Charge's right leg at the knee cap. He then tore through the knee, severing his lower right leg from his upper right leg. The cut to Depth Charge's knee began to spout energon due to a large energon line being cut.

Cheetor: "Now tell me how you feel right now."

Depth Charge: "Scrap you."

Cheetor slammed his fist down upon Depth Charge's chestplate, worsening the already severely dented piece of armor.

Cheetor: "Try again."

Depth Charge: "I hate you."

Cheetor: "Good. That's the response I wanted to hear."

Depth Charge: "Your a sick bot Cheetor."

Cheetor stabbed both blades into Depth Charge's chest, missing Depth Charge's spark by just a little. Cheetor leaned in close.

Cheetor: "You are my message to the Maximals. Now it's time for you to sleep."

Cheetor twisted the blades in Depth Charge's chest so that they just graze Depth Charge's spark core causing Depth Charge to go into status-lock.

Cheetor: "Now time to deliver my message on the Maximals front door step."

END OF WARNING

Back at the Maximals base, Rattrap lazily watched the scanners for activity.

'Beep Beep Beep'

Rattrap: "Wha, eh it's probably an animal that wandered too close. But, it wouldn't hurt ta check."

Rattrap flicked the monitor screen to display the entrance to the Maximal base.

Rattrap gawked and frantically hit the emergency button on the panel.

For right in front of the entrance was Cheetor lazily destroying the auto-turrets. And behind him a dark lump lay, unmoving.

To be Continued in Chapter 10: Fear...

Author's Notes:

I apologize if some scenes in this chapter were too harsh for you and when I was writing this chapter I debated with myself if I should take out or edit the torture scene. In the end I decided that the torture scene was the perfect example of how ruthless the new Cheetor is and thus his character would benefit from the scene. I apologize once again for the torture scene and hope that it didn't affect anyone too deeply.

Thanks,

SkyDragon