DOUBLE JEOPARDY
Three Stasis Pods are falling on an icy area of the planet. Optimus went along with Dinobot and Grimlock to recover the Stasis Pods. "I-it is too cold hear...My servos...Are even...Crystallizing..." Grimlock said while shaking a little due to the cold.
"Base, confirm our position! Are we near the Stasis Pod?!" Optimus asked via radio.
"It should be only a few feet away from ya!" Rattrap answered.
The Maximals looked around when then Dinobot looked up and he saw something. "Well, it is a few feet away from us, but vertically." Dinobot said while pointing up to the three Stasis Pods that were hanging over the edge of a cliff.
And then Waspinator, Terrorsaur, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw appeared. "Well, well, well, it seems we have some explorers." Laserbeak said.
"So, why don't we give them our special treatment?" Buzzsaw suggested.
"We were ambushed!" Grimlock said and then Scorponok appeared behind them and shot missiles.
"We are surrounded!" Optimus said. "Maximize!" The Maximals transformed to robot mode and the Predacons transformed as well and they started their fight.
"How did they find us?!" Dinobot questioned.
"Let's be concerned with this later, alright?!" Grimlock said.
Then Scorponok shot a missile and he made a snow avalanche fall on the Maximals. "They're trapped! The pods are my trophies!" Terrorsaur said and then he noticed the Pods that were being carried by Waspinator, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw.
Then Optimus left the snow. "The Pod!" Optimus said and then he flew towards the fliers. Scorponok was about to shoot Optimus but then he was shot down by Dinobot and Grimlock.
"Those Pods are Maximal Property!" Optimus said.
But then he was shot down by Terrorsaur. "Property that the Predacons will gladly steal!" Terrorsaur laughed and the Predacons left.
Grimlock rushed and he helped raise the injured Optimus. "Well...That is just Prime." Optimus said.
In the Axalon, Optimus gathered all the Maximals. "This makes three ambushes in a row." Optimus said.
"It sounds really suspicious." Rhinox said.
Grimlock had left to his base so he was participating the reunion as a real-sized hologram. "Yeah, as if a some sneaky traitorous rat slipped some info." Grimlock commented and Rattrap shouted a 'hey' at him. "It is just a metaphor."
"It was Rattrap that send us to that Canyon and to near termination." Dinobot said.
"Hey! What are you trying to say Lizard head?!" Rattrap said.
"That is ridiculous!" Rhinox said.
"Rattrap wouldn't do that!" Cheetor said
"Rattrap is many things, but a traitor? I don't think so." Grimlock admitted.
"But I am not so sure." Optimus commented.
"What?!" Cheetor, Rhinox and Grimlock said at same time.
"Rattrap, I wanna have a word with you." Optimus said. "In private."
Meanwhile Tarantulas and Powerpinch were preparing the scanner. "Tarantulas, Powerpinch, did you find suitable life-forms?" Megatron said.
"In fact, we had." Tarantulas commented as he scanned a female Black Widow, a Centipede and a Wildebeest that was passing by. Powerpinch saw the Stasis Pods, two were Maximals and one was a Predacon prisoner, he discretely took the Protoform Reprogramming Device and he reprogrammed the Predacon. "Now, here are our new comrades: Black Arachnia, Loly and Rudbornn." The three new Predacons transformed to robot mode. Black Arachnia resembled a slim, golden and black, female version of Tarantulas. Rudbornn resembled a slightly bulky humanoid wildebeest. And Loly was a young and beautiful female with black head, a white and slender body.
Nnoitra was in the room and he looked at Black Arachnia with widened eyes and a pervert smirk and he whistled. "*Hmmm* Tarantulas, I am sensing some emotional reason behind your choice of Beast Mode." Megatron said. "But I think that it is good to have more soldiers with us."
"Rudborrn, it's good to see you again." Skullak said and he shook hands with Rudbornn.
"Likewise old friend." Rudbornn said while smiling. Rudbornn speaks with a Scottish accent.
Laserbeak and Buzzsaw were excitingly pushing Soundwave so they could meet their new comrades. "Aren't you excited, Soundwave?!" Laserbeak said.
"Not really. I am busy, so I can't waste time meeting some losers." Soundwave said with a rather bored look in his face.
The two fliers stopped pushing Soundwave "C'mon, don't such moody." Buzzsaw said.
"*Sigh* Fine, I'll speak to the rookies. But I don't want to be distracted again, alright?!" Soundwave said.
"Yay!" Laserbeak and Buzzsaw said cheerfully and the three Predacons entered the room. Soundwave looked around for the rookies and he find them. He hmpfed and he was going to walk towards them but then he saw Loly. Soundwave felt the heat coming to his face and he blushed. "Uh...Soundwave, weren't you going to say something?" Buzzsaw said.
"I...I...AsjhopgjeofnignresvbfsnavwefnsnvonoepnfaJ DaenfiwearngvoiunsdoiulvfanionVUSOINZGVUWRNZOIMOPI (# _PFMOIIONNIO$94243)%*NFIOSOANIORFNLIFNGROZNINninlknlivbnivSJAFO 9EWIJR832HN8h+*h(*e#j*qh(enbf((*n )rn)i#nfoinOSPHGNOENORINFROEANFOINinvifnoaisnndfoa engrnwononoi¨$Y*U )(U*Y%*#HHHQ!hfoiwub4rngfoinnfkcsjaprpoejartgirsba ´zgb´!" Soundwave let out a stream of incomprehensible words, startling everyone. He blushed even more and he covered his mouth-plate mask with his hands.
"Soundwave...Are you okay?" Laserbeak asked concerned.
"Y-yes I am...I-I...I just need to-to...B-breath some fresh*gulp*...Air." Soundwave stammered and he left in a hurry and Laserbeak and Buzzsaw followed him.
In the Maximal Base, Optimus was still interrogating Rattrap. "Do you really think Rattrap sold us to the Predacons?" Cheetor whispered.
"Not a chance." Rhinox answered.
"Go scrap yourself Optimus! If you really think I betrayed you, so you have to reprogram yourself, you over-sized baboon!" Rattrap said.
Optimus got a little angry and he pushed Rattrap. "Maximals, Rattrap's loyalty was brought in question." Optimus said.
"Come on Optimus, you know he is no spy." Inferno said.
"The repeated ambushes suggest otherwise." Optimus said. "Rattrap, I am ordering you to a solo mission, to search for Energon in sector 12."
"The Lava Pits? But that is a death sentence!" Cheetor said.
"And it is in Predacon territory!" Rhinox completed.
"That is his test of loyalty." Optimus said.
"Yeah, thanks, but no. I am not going to stay this pit-hole, alright?! Beast Mode." Rattrap said and he transformed to beast mode and he left.
"I know you are angry about the Pod, but...Do you really think that Rattrap..." Rangiku stammered.
"This mission should answer that question, once and for all." Optimus said.
Some minutes later, Rattrap was already in the Volcanic Area. "Maximal Command, this is Rattrap, my recon mission is indicating nothing but rocks!" Rattrap said.
"One more sweep Rattrap, and then you can come in." Optimus answered.
The Predacons were picking that same transmission. "Check, Sector 1.8 to 6.9." Optimus said.
"It seems we have an intruder. Terrorsaur and Nnoitra, you go pay a visit to our Maximal visitant." Megatron said and then the two Predacons left.
"No, not activity here, Energon or otherwise." Rattrap said and then he was tackled by a diving Nnoitra. "Base, I was detected! I am engaging the Predacons!"
"Nnoitra, Terrorize!" Nnoitra transformed to robot mode and he landed.
"Rattrap, Maximize!" Rattrap transformed to robot mode and he shot at the Predacon that rushed towards him and tried to cut him to pieces with his arm scythes.
"It seems that Venombite is going to have a rat broth for dinner tonight." Nnoitra said and he kicked Rattrap away. The small Maximal shot at a rock wall and he made a rock fall on Nnoitra's head and he was knocked unconscious.
Then Terrorsaur appeared behind Rattrap and shot at him. Rattrap evaded and he kept shooting at Terrorsaur that was easily evading. "You marksmanship skills are unimpressive!" Terrorsaur mocked and he shot at Rattrap with purple eye lasers. Then he tried to smash Rattrap with a massive rock but the small Maximal rolled to the side. Terrorsaur landed and he stomped on Rattrap. "Be ready to be terminated Maximal!"
"Wait! I beg for mercy." Rattrap said.
"Mercy? For what price?" Terrorsaur asked.
"You name it! I got no wings for the Maximals anymore! I want to start something new." Rattrap said.
"Well, well, well, finally a Maximal with logic circuits. Very well, I'll spare, but in exchange some considerations." Terrorsaur said.
"Alright, no matter I got to lose, I'll do what you say." Rattrap said.
In the Axalon, things get agitated. "Rattrap?! No, way this is happening." Cheetor said.
"Rattrap, he betrayed us..." Grimlock said shocked.
"You have to accept it, Rattrap is a traitor." Dinobot said.
"Watch your mouth! Rattrap wouldn't..." Rhinox said.
Terrorsaur moved his hand over the Maximal Symbol in Rattrap's arm became a Predacon symbol. Some minutes later Terrorsaur returned to the Predacon base while carrying Rattrap and the unconscious Nnoitra. Later Terrorsaur appeared with Rattrap being in a cage. "Come Predacons, I'll show you what will change the balance of power in the battle against the Maximals, my new Lieutenant/Second-in-Command: Rattrap!" Terrorsaur said. "And with the added power of the Executioner Leader Rudbornn that was retrieved by my skill, and Rattrap that sworn personal loyalty to me, we'll defeat the Maximals. But my gift won't be given for free, in return I shall become your leader!"
"You stupid worm! This Maximal is no Lieutenant of yours, nooo, he must be a spy, yesss. He can't be trusted..."Megatron said but then he was electrocuted and knocked unconscious by Rattrap.
"This will keep you busy for a while." Terrorsaur said. "Do you see Predacons?! Megatron is obsolete! Swear your loyalty to me!"
"Not Scorponok! Scorponok is loyal only to Megatron!" Scorponok said.
"For once I agree with you." Skullak admitted. "Megatron is the only fit to lead us!"
"If that is what you two think so you two are bigger fools than I thought!" Black Arachnia commented.
"I like the way things are going, but we should debate it in private, and not in front of the Maximal" Tarantulas suggested.
"Very well, dispose of him. And lock Megatron in the lower chambers." Terrorsaur commanded.
The Maximals were planning about Rattrap. "What do you mean with go after Rattrap? Do you mean to rescue him?" Cheetor said.
"Why? Let him go." Rhinox said bitterly.
"He is too dangerous to be in Predacon hands." Optimus said.
"Agreed. He should be neutralized for his betrayal, and then be brought to justice." Dinobot said.
Soundwave was sitting on the roof of the Predacon base silent and alone when then Laserbeak and Buzzsaw appeared. "Soundwave! What happened there?" Laserbeak asked.
"*Groan* I am fine, just leave me alone." Soundwave said and he turned his back to them.
"Come on Soundwave! We're fiends, right? You can tell everything to us." Buzzsaw said.
"The problem is that I can't tell this, because even I can't understand what is happening with me." Soundwave admitted.
"What do you mean with that?" Buzzsaw asked.
"I think that I am sick." Soundwave said. And then he grabbed Laserbeak and Buzzsaw by their shoulders and he started to shake them. "I gotta help me!"
Laserbeak and Buzzsaw struggled and they freed themselves. "And you are going to get help. Come with us buddy, you are going to get some treatment with Doctor Cirucci." Buzzsaw said and he and Laserbeak carried Soundwave.
Inside the Predacon Base, Rattrap and Megatron were being kept in cages over a flow of lava. "Look at this, the Maximal Traitor and the deposed Leader, the most unlikely duo, yesss, I would consider trust in you." Megatron said. "Computer, process voice recognition command."
"Megatron confirmed." The computer said.
"Open cells, and summon a hover platform." Megatron commanded and then his cell opened and a hovering platform appeared. "The wise tyrant always ensures his prisons are designed for his personal escape. Now if you excuse me, I have a leader post to retake." Megatron said and he left.
"And the wise scout always awaits until he is alone. Rattrap Maximize." Rattrap transformed to robot mode and then he hacked the cell and opened it. He looked around and saw a vent.
In other room the Predacons were discussing the leadership. "You fools! With the Maximal spy and the Executioner Leader Rudbornn, we could destroy the Maximasl!" Terrorsaur said
Rattrap prepared himself and then he jumped at the vent and he succeeded. Rattrap pulled himself and he entered the vent. We cautiously walked in the vent and then he stopped when he heard Scorponok's voice. "I'll not follow you! Megatron is our true leader!"
"Enough! I am your leader!" Terrorsaur shouted. Rattrap walked back and he looked around for a way and then he saw a real rat and decided to follow it.
Outside the Base Optimus had already called his team to invade the Predacon base. "So, what are we waiting for?" Cheetor said.
"Yes, why we don't attack and draw the traitor Rattrap, out." Dinobot suggested
"We attack at my command." Optimus said.
"Things would be way easier if Grimlock was here." Dinobot muttered.
.Soundwave was in a medical room in his crocodile form with Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Cirucci. "Okay, open your mouth." Cirucci instructed. Soundwave rolled his eyes and he opened his mouth and Cirucci put a small popsicle stick and put it on Soundwave's tongue. "I see nothing wrong. Loly could you bring the bio-scanner?" Cirucci said, then Loly appeared in her centipede form while carrying a small gadget. Soundwave noticed Loly and he slightly widened his eyes and he blushed. Cirucci, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw noticed that and they smirked. "Hey, Loly, I think that I know what is the problem with him, you can leave." Cirucci said. Loly nodded and she discretely smiled a little to Soundwave before leaving. "Soundwave I think that I discovered what is wrong with you."
"You did? So what are you waiting for to cure me?! I don't want this sickness with me!" Soundwave said.
Cirucci giggled a little. "The only illness you have is the Love Sickness." Cirucci said.
"Love Sickness? But what is it?" Soundwave asked.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Soundwave, my friend, you are so intelligent to some things and so dense to others." Laserbeak joked.
"Soundwave, you are in love." Buzzsaw said.
"In love?!" Soundwave said.
"With Loly." Laserbeak completed.
"WITH LOLY?!" Soundwave said loudly, his face was red as a tomato. "But this is preposterous! Ridiculous! I am not in love with Loly!"
"What pity, because she said to me earlier that you are cute." Cirucci said.
"Really?!" Soundwave asked hopeful, than he realized what he said and widened his eyes.
Both Buzzsaw and Laserbeak laughed while Ciruccit giggled. "Oh my god, Soundwave, you are hopelessly in love." Laserbeak said.
Soundwave blushed so much that his face was practically purple. "Shut up! Don't talk about this any longer, or I'll take your sparks out of your bodies!" Soundwave said and he left.
Then Laserbeak and Buzzsaw followed him. "Come on Soundwave, just admit it alright?" Laserbeak said.
"SHUT UP!" A blushing and embarrassed Soundwave said.
Rattrap kept walking when then he heard something. "Scanning for Maximal frequencies." Rattrap looked down and he saw Waspinator working on a computer. "Scanning frequencies. Nothing detected"
Waspinator was about to leave when then Soundwave came along with Laserbeak and Buzzsaw. "Come on Soundwave! We all know the truth, so admitting it won't hurt alright?" Buzzsaw said.
"*Angry Sigh* Do you want to know? Okay!" Soundwave said. "I like Loly, I really like her, I fell in love the moment I put my eyes on her..." Soundwave started to say; but then Waspinator, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw saw something and they started to gesture to Soundwave be quiet. "She is the only girl I want, and she is the most beautiful thing alive. *Sigh* Are you happy?!" Soundwave completed and then he heard a loud bang behind him. Soundwave looked back and he saw an unconscious Loly that was in robot mode, she had a blushing and happy smile and a dreamy expression in her face.
"Well, she looks really happy." Waspinator commented.
"You...You idiots! Look what you have done!" Soundwave shouted.
"We did nothing!" Laserbeak said.
"It was you that confessed prematurely." Buzzsaw completed.
Then Soundwave punched both Buzzsaw and Laserbeak in the head, leaving two huge calluses on their foreheads. "But it were you that forced me! Now because of you, the girl that I like is unconscious!" Soundwave said and he carried Loly bridal style. "Okay, I'll take her to Doctor Cirucci to see if there is nothing wrong." Soundwave said and he left with Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Waspinator.
Rattrap waited until they left to jump and analyze the computer. Rattrap ripped off the keyboard and he took a small chip with the Maximal symbol. "A Maximal Chip, uh? No wonder." Rattrap said and he put the chip in a compartment in his forearm. He looked around for a exit and then he saw a door in his side.
Rattrap crossed it and he walked in some corridors but then he was stuck in an Energon Web made by Tarantulas, but he was capable of freeing himself before Tarantulas could catch him and then said Predacon appeared and saw the hole in his web. Rattrap was going to re-enter his cage but then Tarantulas appeared. "So, the juicy rat has been running his maze. But not for long." Tarantulas creepily said. "Tarantulas Terrorize!" Tarantulas transformed to robot mode but then he was blast away by Rattrap. "I must return this to Primal."
Outside Optimus received a Transmission. "Optimus, what is it?" Rangiku asked.
"We attack now. Maximize!" The Maximals transformed to robot mode and they all started to shoot at the Predacon base.
"We are being attacked by the Maximals!" Waspinator said.
"Why the alarm didn't warn us? Where is Tarantulas?" Terrorsaur said.
"The Maximals somehow turned off the proximity Alarm! We are being severely damaged!" Waspinator completed.
The base trembled a little and then Megatron appeared by Terrorsaur's side scaring him. "So, leader, how should we respond?" Megatron said ironically.
"Me-Megatron? You'll let me lead?" Terrorsaur asked.
"A wise tyrant, always allows a fool to take the lead in a crisis." Megatron answered with a small smirk.
"Prepare to battle! Predacons, Terrorize!" Terrorsaur ordered and the Predacons transformed to robot mode.
Skullak and Scorponok snickered. "I bet 200 credits that we'll lose in five minutes." Scorponok said to Skullak.
Then the Predacons along with Rattrap rushed outside to fight the Maximals. "*Hmm* To tell the truth, I didn't have time to test the Insecticons' combat abilities." Soundwave thought as he evaded some shots. "Perhaps this is the right time." Soundwave deduced and then he hid behind a rock wall. "Luckily they'll come really fast."
"It is time to prove your loyalty to the Predacons. Shoot at Optimus!" Terrorsaur said while pointing at a flying Optimus.
Rattrap was about to shoot but then they heard a loud high pitched scream and then Rattrap was tackled by an Insecticon was in beast mode, then more eight Insecticons appeared and they started to fight both Maximals and Predacons. "Well, they know how to fight like a true Insecticon, but they are also stupid like any real Insecticon!" Soundwave commented. Then he heard a female voice screaming and then he heard a female scream and he looked to the side and he saw Loly that was about to being attacked by an Insecticon. "Loly!" Then Soundwave knocked the Insecticon down with a shoulder tackle and then grabbed his head. "You are fighting the wrong guys you idiots!" Soundwave whispered in the Insecticon's ear that then widened his eyes. "You are grounded!" Soundwave said and the Insecticon sadly looked down at the ground and he sat behind a rock.
"But what are those things?!" Skullak said as he evaded an attack from an Insecticon.
"I don't know, lets try to discover what they are after they are dead." Rudbornn said and he drew a saber and he put his hand in his back and he assumed the position of sword-play and he was about to fight but then all the Insecticons that were fighting the Predacons turned and started to attack the Maximals.
Rattrap took advantage of the moment and he shot at Optimus and knocked him down. "Rattrap! So it is true!" Cheetor said and then he rushed to save Optimus but then an Insecticon transformed to Beast Mode and rushed towards him. Cheetor shot at the Insecticon without effect and he was knocked down by the Insecticon.
Dinobot rushed towards Rattrap and lifted him by the neck. "I've awaited a long time for this, traitor. Prepare to be terminated!" Dinobot was about to attack Rattrap but then Megatron grabbed Dinobot by the head.
"Now it is time for the final test of loyalty, yesss. Predacon Hero or Maximal Spy? Destroy the traitor Dinobot!" Megatron commanded.
"He is my Lieutenant!" Terrorsaur said. "Destroy him, I command you!"
"If you say so." Rattrap said and then he shot Terrorsaur's head off, Dinobot took the opportunity and he freed himself from Megatron's grip and punched him in the face and then Megatron spat a tooth before falling face on the ground.
"Now, get Rattrap out of there!" Optimus commanded and then Rhinox transformed to Beast Mode and then he ran over some Predacons before he taking Rattrap. "Mission Accomplished, return to base!" Optimus ordered and then the Maximals left.
Soundwave discretely ordered the Insecticons to leave. Then all the Predacons surrounded around Terrorsaur. "Now, which one of you will follow this fool's lead?" Megatron said and all the Predacons negatively shook their heads. "And thus ends the glorious reign of Terrorsaur: a lost battle, wounded Predacons, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE inflicted by the Maximal spy!" Megatron said as Terrorsaur was able to attach his head back into his neck and then all the Predacons entered the base.
Soundwave, Loly, Buzzsaw and Laserbeak were the last. "Hey, Soundwave." Soundwave turned his head to Loly and then she kissed him in the cheek before entering.
Soundwave widened his eyes and his face turned red as a tomato and Laserbeak and Buzzsaw smirked. "So, Soundwave, I guess that your relationship with Loly was created to last." Laserbeak said but he got no answer from Soundwave.
"Soundwave?" Buzzsaw asked as he waved his head in front of Soundwave that then fell unconscious on the ground.
Back in the Maximal Base, Dinobot was about to attack Rattrap. "Now I"ll terminate the Traitor myself." Dinobot said as he walked closer and closer to Rattrap.
"No, allow me..." Optimus said as he stopped Dinobot. "To congratulate him." Optimus said shocking the Maximals. "Well done Rattrap, do you have the chip?"
Then Rattrap showed the Maximal Chip. "A Maximal Decoder, they must have retrieved it from a crash." Rattrap said.
"No wonder they were hacking our communication, they were using our own decoder." Cheetor commented.
"So his capture and betrayal, were all a set-up?" Inferno asked.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Rhinox asked.
"We have to keep a secret, to maintain Rattrap safe, specially during the battle, although you were a little too convincing." Optimus said as he rubbed his shoulder.
"Hey, what can I say? I was trying to miss." Rattrap said.
Author's notes: Another chapter of Beast Wars, as always don't forget of reviewing after reading.