Hello, and Merry Christmas, well, almost. Well, on with the pleasantries.

I do not own or claim beast wars for myself, only the original I insert.

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The ensuing chase between Megatron and Terrorsaur would have been taken as a comedy, as the Predacons watched a large purple lizard chase a red leather bird. It lasted only a few minutes however, as Megatron caught his victim.

After some gentle persuading, Terrorsaur told Megatron of the human and what happened with the pod, carefully omitting the odd occurrence when time stopped.

"So, they have a human. This could be useful to me, yes. If I could grab her, she would make a most useful bargaining chip."

"But Megatron, she's mine! I saw her first and I claim her!" His eyes glowed brighter for a second then dimmer when his leader ignored him. The other Predacons laughed at his statement of claiming her as his target.

"Scorponok, take Terrorsaur and make him comfortable in a cell. He need's to learn what is and is not important to tell me. Something like this is very important." Scorponok saluted and pushed Terrorsaur onto a platform taking him to the holding area. The churning, bubbling lava below matched Terrorsaur's silent rage.

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Rattrap sat at the station next to Kat as they scanned the area. They were almost done when an incoming transmission from Megatron sent Rattrap into a panicked alert falling back off his chair. Rinxo grabbed Kat causing her to squeak and pulled her behind him. Optimus rubbed the bridge of his nose, the antics wearing on him.

"Let it through Rattrap." After a few seconds they heard Megatron's falsely innocent voice over the speakers.

"Ah, Optimus Primal. I have heard some interesting news, yes. A little birdie told me you have a human." Dinobot and Cheedor looked at Kat who was growing pale as Megatron spoke. "I ask myself, how and why would you have something as weak and useless as a human with you. Then I thought, why not, you take in traitors just as weak and useless." Dinobot growled, raising his sword.

Megatron chuckled before a serious look fell over his face. "If you believe a repeat of the Great War will happen for you, you will be mistaken."

"Sorry to disappoint you Megatron, but we don't have a human on board."

"Really, seeing as two of my men saw a human before the last pod crashed."

"You heard the boss man. We ain't got a human with us. And even if we did, we wouldn't be tellen ya 'bout her." Rattrap smirked, hearing silence on the other end.

"Very well. They seem to have been mistaken. And Primal, do keep your rodent in check." With that, he cut the link, the Maximals relaxing slightly.

"Rattrap, don't do that again."

"Aw come on fearless leader. What harm did I do?" Optimus just gave him a look then went back to a map with Rinox and Dinobot. Kat sat back at her station, Rattrap giving her a reassuring look before introducing her to the poker program in the ships computer

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Megatron sat, smirking to himself. The other Predacons stood looking annoyed. Scorponok looked up at his master, eager to please.

"Shall I punish Terrorsaur and Waspinator for lying Megatron?"

"No. In fact, release Terrorsaur. We are going to claim the human."

"But sir, they said they don't have one."

"Ah, my little idiot." He patted Scorponok on the head and stood. "The rat said it all. Even if they had a human, they wouldn't tell me about her. Why say her if it does not exist." He walked away as his men got ready.

Humans were a rare sight to see. Only a million still existed in the universe, if that. In the span of three hundred Earth years after the Great War, humans began to die out. Cybertron itself was home to one tenth of them. And while the planet itself still had resources, it was for the most part unlivable. The exact causes were unknown. Now Megatron had a chance to capture this rare alien. Even his great ancestor, whom he was named for, had human pets. This was something to not pass up.

Terrorsaur drummed his fingers on the cell wall. "This is ridiculous! He can't just lock me up because he is a fool for not hearing me out!" He punched the wall denting it as Scorponok walked in.

"Megatron deemed it necessary to let you out. We're going after the human." After releasing Terrorsaur, he started back to Megatron only to find he was gone. Growling, he transformed into beast mode and followed the others outside to the lava pits.

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The Predacon's stood outside the Maximal bast, the auto guns aimed, ready to fire.

"Optimus Primal you seem to have lied, not a good trait for the Maximal leader, no. We want the human, now!"

Optimus looked from the monitor to Rattrap, wishing for once, he could ring his neck.

"What?" Sighing, he geared up along with the others. Kat chewed her lip nervously as she watched the monitor.

"Kat, go to your quarters and seal the door, just in case." She nodded and stood. Rinox sensed her fear and stopped her as she walked past him, handing her one of Rattraps extra guns.

"Just in case." She smiled gratefully at the wise medic and quickly left the room. Rattrap blinked, put off.

"Hey, that was my favorite."

"Would you rather her unable to protect herself should it come to that?" Rattrap fell silent as Rinox spoke. In the short time he had known her, he had forgotten she was human.

When ready, they left the base. Megatron smirked as he saw the shield come around the base. "Predacons, attack!"

Optimus met Megatron halfway, grappling as a hail of blaster fire began around them. Dinobot and Rattrap fired on Waspinator and Terrorsaur who were flying around, returning fire. Rinox aimed his chain guns at Tarantulas and opened fire. Cheetor growled and pounced on Scorponok as he went to fire a bee bomb. The bomb flew out at hit the base's shield.

"Fool! The base is not the target." Megatron bellowed as he forced Optimus to a knee.

"You will not take her Megatron."

"We shall see Primal." He used his T-Rex arm to bite Optimus's waist. Optimus yelled and brought his elbow down on the jaws trying to get free. Dinobot glanced over hearing the yell and shot his optic blast at Megatron, nailing him in the hip.

Terrorsaur used this distraction and fired at Dinobot, knocking him back as Waspinator buzzed happily, only to be pelted by Rattrap and sent to the ground.

"Hey, chopper head. You still alive?" He heard a growl then saw green beams go past him at Terrorsaur. "Guess so."

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Inside the base, Kat waited. She heard the battle outside and felt helpless, hating it. Now those she considered friends were fighting to keep her safe, among other things. Looking down at the blaster in her hands, she contemplated on her actions that brought her here and began to regret them. She closed her eyes, suddenly tired. Putting a hand on the wall she looked up at her door before falling to the floor as a blue light emitted from her then began to turn white.

Outside, Optimus punched Megatron in the face as an energon like serge hit and he began to short. "Everyone, beast mode. Energon build up." The Maximals went into beast mode as Megatron ordered the same.

"You win for the moment Primal, but I will have my day, yes!" Turning, he retreated, his troops following quickly, firing as they ran.

Rinox watched them go them looked at Optimus. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. What caused the serge?"

"I wouldn't know till we get inside. Perhaps there was an energon pocket near by that was hit in the cross fire." They turned slowly and went back in the base. Rattrap looked around looking for Kat before heading in the direction on her room. Rounding the corner he stopped, then yelled for Rinox, kneeling at Kat's side.

Rinox came quickly, Optimus following closely behind. Gently as he could he listed ehr into his arms heading to the med bay. Rattrap picked up the gun she had been given and stood watching Rinox then glanced at Optimus.

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Well, there it is. The next installment. R&R plz! Your reviews are my gifts.