Beast Wars: Symmetries
Twilight of the Gods
Part II
With his sword unsheathed, Lance walked ponderously towards the rubble where a piece of Cheetor's armor could be seen. It would not be long before he could claim his prize and present it before his peers.
Charging up his sword with the energies afforded to him, Lance blasted the rubble aside with one mighty swing… only to find no body. Merely, a small piece of Cheetor's armor could be seen before him.
"What?" Lance shouted. "Where is he?"
"Right over here, sword boy!"
Lance turned around just as Cheetor flipped a shot at him. Lance was thrown into the air as the blast struck the ground beneath him but quickly landed back on both his feet gracefully. He then charged the young Maximal with a series of slashes.
Cheetor quickly raised both hands and caught the katana just as it came down on his head.
"Look, maybe we got off to the wrong foot here," Cheetor suggested. "If we could just—"
"Never!" Lance cried and charged his sword with a surge of energy.
The energy coursed into Cheetor, frying some of his circuitry and making the golden Maximal cry out in pain. Lance unsheathed the sword from Cheetor's hands and kicked the Maximal cat across the face, knocking him down. He then raised his sword once more in groundwork of striking down and taking the Transformer's head off this time. As the blade came down, Cheetor moved his head rapidly as the sword sank into the marble next to his face, grazing his helmet in the process. He then pushed forward and shoved Lance back, away from his sword. Lance prepared to attack once more but Cheetor quickly came in with a fast punch to his gut, taking the fight out of the young man almost immediately.
"When I take you back to my father, Lord Temujin will see me as his favorite," Sonia prepped up her bow to fire on the helpless Rattrap.
The small Maximal looked around desperately for a save. It was then he realized a small umbrella within his reach.
"Nice knowing you," Sonia said cheekily.
Just as Sonia fired, Rattrap struck out with the umbrella, connecting the crook handle onto the lower end of the bow, yanking it to the side and causing her to misfire into a newspaper stand. Rattrap then tackled her, though he knew full well how skilled of an opponent she was.
He had had his encounters before with Blackarachnia, one dangerous femme who was well versed in the way of martial arts. Now he was facing a similar combatant in a human female who wore a style of armor that could enable her to stand up to a Transformer.
Sonia quickly kicked Rattrap off. With the reflexes and speed of a martial artist, she slid her leg forward in a fighting stance and sent Rattrap back with a powerful palm strike. Rattrap grunted and fell back but not before unleashing several of the shurikens and other throw-able devices he had ripped off her belt when he had tackled her. With her speed and agility, Sonia ducked and weaved across the various throwing weapons that flew through the air towards her.
She then took a fighting stance once more after dodging all the paraphernalia that was thrown her way. "You missed," Sonia said smugly.
"'Dat's what you think!"
A sudden and fast blow hit Sonia from behind more quickly than she could muster a reaction. The boomerang Rattrap had thrown had come back to bite her. Sonia cursed herself for not being careful enough.
As Sonia stumbled forward, stunned by the blow, Rattrap flipped her over and used both feet to launch her back first against the wall.
All of Rurik's strikes were fast, incoming, and deadly. Almost all of them struck Rhinox, across his head and his body. Rhinox swung with his fist but Rurik ducked, leaped into the air, and send Rhinox toddling back with powerful drop kick. As Rhinox fell back, Rurik clasped both hands together and formed a powerful green ball of energy that he blasted forth without hesitation.
Rhinox held both his hands in the air in an attempt to block it but the blast hit him and sent him flying into the kitchen of an abandoned house.
"That's gonna feel like slag for days," Rhinox held his head.
Rurik was not one to allow his opponent any respite. He ran forth and was soon within Rhinox's vicinity again.
"The Vok will not be denied," Rurik stated confidently. "Not by you or anyone else!"
"We'll see about that," said Rhinox simply.
Rurik cupped both hands together and charged another blast. Without hesitation, he sent the blast directly at Rhinox once again. This time, the green Maximal was prepared. Lifting a sturdy frying pan, Rhinox knocked the blast back at Rurik, striking him at chest level and throwing him back into the streets again. Rhinox himself was not left unscathed. The power of the energy blast had singed his hand slightly.
Rhinox leaped out onto the street just as Rurik got up again. Rurik cupped his hands together for another blast but Rhinox quickly ripped a mailbox off its hinges from the sidewalk, hurling it at Rurik and knocking him on his back.
"This is where I end it!" Temujin blasted Optimus with another electrical surge from his war staff.
The Maximal leader seemed almost ready to fall into stasis lock. At this sight, Temujin raised his war staff to strike down at his leisure. But Optimus would not be defeated so easily. In desperation, he clasped both hands together and struck Temujin, knocking the man into the side of a building.
Because the Vok drones had already weakened the infrastructure of that building, a piece of the building broke loose and came crashing down, crushing Temujin where he fell.
"No!" Optimus cried. He had never taken a human life before. He only meant to defend himself, not kill the man.
Running towards the rubble, Optimus quickly pushed the rocks and cement aside, only to be amazed once more. Temujin's hand burst out of the rubble with an almost insane lift that would not have been characteristic of a normal human his size and stature. Temujin's broken neck quickly snapped back into place along with many of his joints that had been shattered by the attack. It was then that the scars on his face also vanished mysteriously.
"What—"
"Quick healer," Temujin smiled. "One of the powers I was fortunate enough to receive from the Vok."
"Well," Optimus smiled in relief. "That's just Prime!"
"Why's that?"
"Now I don't have to hold back against you."
Temujin's smile disappeared quickly as he knew his current situation. Optimus quickly transformed to beast mode and struck the leader of the Order with several rapid punches before launching himself into the air and kicking Temujin back.
Temujin got up. He felt those blows quite well and though he was practically immortal and could recover quickly, he did not feel like having several punches, each with the force of a steamroller, hit him again. As Optimus charged again, Temujin braced himself and rolled out of the way. It was also then that Temujin saw his war staff lying a few feet away from him.
Without reservation, he ran forward. Optimus saw what he was headed to and transformed to robot mode, taking out one of his swords. With the utmost of precision, Optimus threw the sword, sending it sailing through the air in the pattern of a boomerang.
Before Temujin could reach his staff, Primal's sword flew out and sliced through a fire hydrant, unleashing a powerful stream of water that hit Temujin across the side and knocked the man down.
This time, before Temujin could recover, Optimus grabbed him by his vest and lifted him up.
"It's over!" Optimus declared.
"Is it?" Temujin sneered. However, new evidence quickly pointed out that he was indeed beaten. The other Maximal soon appeared with the unconscious bodies of his apprentices and the energy field that surrounded Tigatron quickly dissipated due to lack of his staff maintaining the power source.
"You must tell us how to stop them!" Tigatron urged. "The fate of the world depends on it!"
"I don't think so…" Temujin said. "It's time humanity paid for its crimes against the earth."
"All of Earth's people?" Tigatron demanded. "You're mad! Nothing humans do could warrant this extreme of a punishment!"
"We'll see…" Temujin breathed deeply. "My goal was to keep you busy. I did my job. Now it's the Vok's turn to show this planet who's boss. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."
"Oh yeah?" Cheetor growled. "Our pal Silverbolt's coming in soon with our ship! Then we'll have some heavy alien-busting firepower!"
It was at that exact moment Cheetor spoke that the skies darkened with thunderclaps that could be heard for miles. As the dark clouds overhead began forming a distant shape across the skies could be made out. Before their very optics, the dark shape in the skies soon materialized as a colossal machine shaped in a circular motion, easily the size of a small moon.
"It's here…" Temujin chuckled. "The Planetbuster has arrived… to cleanse our world…"
"Tell us how to stop it!" Rhinox demanded.
"If I did that, where would the fun be?" sneered Temujin. "Besides, I don't really know how. The Vok are a different order of beings, above that of petty human squabbles."
Cheetor looked up to the skies grimly. As the Planetbuster glowed with cackling energies, a haunting skeletal face bearing the face of destruction appeared, broadcasting itself all across the globe for each and every one of Earth's creatures to see.
"It's Mashu," Temujin said cheerfully. "I wonder what that old chap's been up to?"
"You know 'dis freak?" asked Rattrap.
"Know him?" Temujin smiled. "He's the one who made me what I am today, ever since the beginning of the 14th Century on the steppes of Mongolia…"
"I've read of a Temujin from that era," Rhinox said. "You're not… Genghis Khan, are you?"
"No," Temujin seemed to be flattered. "I was born a century or so after him. I was named in honor or his exploits, however."
"Sentients of Earth!" Mashu rumbled, making his message very clear and to-the-point. "The day of reckoning has finally arrived! Prepare yourselves! Annihilation awaits all of you, even those who have followed us! The dawning of a new era will arrive! One that is permanently free of humanity forever!"
"H-He… he just…" Temujin looked to be in a state of shock.
"See, what'd we tell ya?" Rattrap quipped.
"My thoughts exactly," Ecclesiastes appeared before Temujin with Selena by his side. "My granddaughter can never tell a lie."
Temujin barely even heard what the High Priest had said. Instead, he was caught up in his own world of doubt and struggle. He did, however, notice his own apprentices walking towards him.
"You… heard what Mashu said?" asked Temujin.
"We heard it, father," Lance confirmed. "I'm sorry. We failed you."
"No, no," Temujin said to them. "It's nothing, my children. I am the one who failed you. Had I listened to Ecclesiastes, we could have possibly averted this in time…"
"But even then, the Vok may not have changed their minds," Sonia pointed out truthfully.
"It's still not too late," urged Optimus. "Tell us how to stop them!"
"I… don't know," Temujin admitted. "I know nothing about the Vok's weaknesses… if they even have any."
"They're the ones responsible for all life on Earth," Selena said. "They have created Earth and see fit to do to it what they wish."
"Prime…" cursed Optimus. "Looks like we're going to be taking a dive into the lion's den after all."
"The lion may appear powerful," Tigatron told the Maximals. "But he has its handicaps as well. Because he is not suited to hunting so much as fighting, he relies on the hunting skills of female lions in order to sustain himself as the king of the beasts. The Vok are no different. They must have a weak point and it's our duty to exploit it!"
After her internal nanites had down all the work for her, Blackarachnia finally got up. The grueling battle against Inferno had taken its toll and even now, she found it hard to stand up straight. To make matters worse, she had also heard the horrific speech the alien had given about its goals of purification.
"Feeling better, wench?"a familiar voice stirred next to her.
"Tarantulas?" Blackarachnia blinked. "Is that you?"
The robot that stood before her was taller than Tarantulas. He had roughly the same color scheme except with a shiny armor that was all but unrecognizable to her. The machine guns that had been mounted on his arm were gone, replaced by what seemed like wheels instead. Rather, the spider legs hung behind his back while two digit hands with opposable thumbs now replaced the claws he once had for hands.
"What… happened to you?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Tarantulas sneered. "I have been transformed by the power of the aliens! My body is stronger, faster, and more powerful than before!"
"So you got a new body," Blackarachnia took his hand as Tarantulas helped to steady her. "What good will it do you when these aliens are about to roast the entire planet?"
"You don't understand," Tarantulas told her. "But I do! These alleged 'Seven Wonders' are the artifacts that power the alien Planetbuster! With their main source of power shut down, the alien invasion will at the very least be delayed until we can destroy their primary ship!"
"He's right, you know," another familiar face appeared. "I was able to see everything about the aliens after going Transmetal as well."
"Scorponok?"
"Like my new color scheme?" Scorponok widened his arms to reveal his new body.
Scorponok's redesign looked radical as well. The dull, gray-ish armor he once had was replaced by a new silver plated armor that covered his torso and lined down across his arms and knees. His helmet was now more pronounced in what vaguely resembled that of an ancient samurai helmet. The center core at his solar plexus also exposed the beginning part of his spark chamber. His claws were now larger and more marked while his once dull tail was now longer and much more prehensile.
"I guess," Blackarachnia scoffed. "I'm not sure how big of an improvement this is on you, though."
"Ha!" Scorponok jeered. "You're just jealous because you didn't go Transmetal!"
"As if!" Blackarachnia spat. "Shiny new coat of arms or not, I bet a good dose of cyber-venom would put you to sleep faster than an elephant!"
"Wanna put that to the test?" Scorponok clicked his brand-new claws menacingly.
Before either of them could make a move, Tarantulas got in between them.
"Now is not the time!" ordered the Predacon scientist. "It is our duty to destroy the artifacts within those temples! The two of you can duke it out later!"
"Agreed," Scorponok deferred to Tarantulas. "We gotta do what it takes."
"So what do we do?" asked Blackarachnia.
"Scorponok will take care of this temple," Tarantulas informed her. "You and I have business elsewhere!"
Without wasting any more time, Scorponok transformed to beast mode which consisted of a Transmetal scorpion with grey and blue colors cascading across his back. His claws spun rapidly and turned into drills. Leaping into the air, Scorponok came down and burrowed into the dirt, going underground to complete his mission.
"Whoa," Blackarachnia muttered. "So what's your new gimmick?"
Tarantulas transformed to motorcycle and beckoned her to come on.
"Need a ride?" Tarantulas joked.
"Sure," Blackarachnia transformed to her spider mode and leaped on Tarantulas's back. "Does this mean you're buying?"
"Don't count on it, witch, heh heh heh heh heh!"
"You got your message through very well, my nephew," Akkad told Mashu. "Though it may have been better if you had given it earlier. After all, it will take us a few hours to charge up on our primary weapon. Your message may have sown the seeds of anarchy and confusion down there."
"It is not our concern what the humans do," Mashu replied simply. "Rather, it only reveals their weakness as a species for them to be so brutal and primitive."
"Primitive though they may be compared to us," Akkad replied. "They still have achieved much through the myriad of cultures they have developed, from art to music to architecture… What do you think, Lagash?"
"I believe you are correct, Lord Akkad," Lagash spoke as soon as he was spoken to. "Before this mission, I have studied their ways and customs in order to familiarize myself for our journey."
"And what use will all that information be?" asked Mashu contemptuously. "When they will be destroyed within hours?"
"I believe there is still much we can learn from them, master," Lagash replied simply.
Mashu looked like he was about to strike Lagash with a stern and unrelenting punishment but the stern look from Akkad warned him that such an act would not sit well with his uncle.
"I agree," Akkad said with what appeared to be a ghost of a smile. "Before our machine is operational, I wish to observe what is going on."
"What do you mean?" demanded Mashu.
"We are far-seeing beings," Akkad replied. "I wish to look at what is going on currently with our Maximal friends."
"Why?" asked Mashu.
"Merely because I am curious," came Akkad's reply.
Mashu decided to open his vision to Earth as well. "Looks like they're going to be in for a world of trouble."
"Yes," agreed Akkad. "The being transformed by our powers… Megatron… he will soon reveal himself to them…"
"Has Silverbolt reached the ship yet?" asked Optimus.
"Almost," Airazor confirmed. "I just radioed him. In a few cycles, he should be at the location of the Axalon."
"The Vok drones have destroyed this city," Temujin noted. "They are now moving on with their quest of destruction."
"All is lost…" Ecclesiastes muttered.
"No it's not!" Selena told her grandfather. "As long as we have the Maximals to help us, there's still hope!"
"I admire your courage and your optimism, child," Ecclesiastes cupped is granddaughter's chin. "Perhaps you are right…"
"Hey Rhinox…" Rattrap tapped his larger buddy by the shoulder. "What is 'dat?"
Looking up, Rhinox noticed something headed towards them at light speed. The closer it got, the faster it seemed. Finally, the blur of purple and brown slowed down, allowing all the Maximals and humans to see exactly what they were dealing with.
"Dear Primus…" muttered Rhinox.
"My, my!" Megatron laughed heartily. "It seems that you Maximals have just seen a ghost!"
"Megatron…" Optimus stared in awe. "What have you—"
"I've had my nails trimmed, yessss," Megatron chuckled. "In addition to my new transformation!"
The large Transmetal T-Rex before them floated in the air, being held by two helicopter rotors that positioned themselves on Megatron's legs. Megatron's appearance had changed drastically. The Maximals, in the meantime, hoped that his power had not increased exponentially with the new body.
Finally, the T-Rex landed and transformed to robot mode. Megatron held his tail now as his laser cutlass while the T-Rex cannon that he once held on his hand had disappeared, with traces of a reptilian face lined across his chest. The small stumpy T-Rex arms now armed Megatron side to side as his shoulder cannons. He looked bigger, bulkier, and stronger than ever, much to the dismay of his arch-foes.
"Are there any among you who would object to my new fashion statement? Haha!" laughed Megatron. "Speak now or forever hold your peace!"
"On my mark, you run," Airazor told the humans. "We'll take it from here."
"Anyone?" Megatron offered one last time.
"Now!" Airazor cried. As soon as the remaining members of the Order ran, the Maximal falcon raised his wrist and fired a missile. The missile sailed through the air gracefully and exploded on impact into Megatron who did not even make any attempt to get out of the way. As soon as the smoke cleared, however, Megatron was seen with his laser cutlass pointing directly at her.
"That's no way to treat a long-time friend, Miss Razor," Megatron smirked. Then he fired. The sheer power of the blast struck Airazor and sent her crashing to the ground.
"Airazor!" shouted Tigatron.
"Grrrr!" growled Cheetor. "Time to kick your tin-can again, Mega-dork!"
Cheetor transformed to robot mode and charged angrily, firing off shots left and right. All of the shots struck Megatron but had no effect. As soon as Cheetor closed in, Megatron aimed with his shoulder missiles and fired, taking the young Maximal out of the fight instantly.
"Any others who wish to test their mettle against me?" offered Megatron.
"Scan 'dis action," Rattrap muttered. "How're we gonna face Megs, now that he's 'dis pumped up?"
"I'm not sure," confessed Optimus. "But we don't have much time! We need to get to the Vok mothership as soon as we can."
As if on cue, an incoming message came in for the Maximal commander.
"Optimus, sir!" Silverbolt could be heard on the other line. "I know this may come at a bad time, but I am in need of a second pilot to lift the Axalon!"
"Blast!" Rhinox cursed. "How could I have overlooked that one hole in our plan?"
"I'll go!" Rattrap volunteered. "I'll make sure 'da Axalon flies wit' me and 'Bolts."
"No," Optimus told him. "We may need your aim for this fight, Rattrap. Tigatron, you go and assist Silverbolt."
Tigatron bounded off instantly, per Optimus's orders.
Before any of the other Maximals could turn their attention to the matter at hand, Megatron swooped down like a hawk in beast mode, grabbing Rattrap and lifting him into the air.
"Let go, Mega-jerk!" threatened Rattrap.
"Gladly, vermin!" Megatron swung with both feet and flung Rattrap into the side of a building.
"Rattrap!" Rhinox shouted.
"That takes care of any pesky snipers attempting to shoot for my weak spots," Megatron grinned. "Now for the two of you!"
He had been humiliated in battle before by both Optimus and Rhinox on different occasions. But now, he, Megatron, was the one with the power and the strength. The odds were stacked in his favor, he was sure of it. There would be no way now that either Maximal could stand up against his superior strength and firepower!
"Ready when you are," Rhinox said to Optimus.
Optimus nodded and the two of them charged. Megatron, despite having great confidence in his new body, still braced himself for the potential impact. Neither Maximal attempted to tackle him. Rather, Rhinox stopped mid-way during his run and bent down, using both hands to hoist Optimus by the feet into the air. The Maximal leader came down with twin swords swinging. Megatron blocked one slash after another. Optimus slashed at him again and again with different maneuvers, all of which Megatron blocked with his own cutlass effortlessly. Before Megatron could strike back with his own blow, several machine gun bullets pelted him from behind. Optimus Primal had been trying to distract him the whole time to loosen him up for a back-handed assault.
The bullets did not harm Megatron's armor but they still stung, nevertheless. Just as Megatron turned his attention to Rhinox, Optimus used both arm-mounted plasma rifles to fire two shots. The blasts struck Megatron but did no damage. Stunned by Megatron's new-found power, Optimus quickly leaped up and slashed Megatron again. This time, Megatron caught the stroke with his bare hand, grinning. With one twist, he flung Optimus with an overhead throw as easily as a rag doll and blasted him in the chest mid-air.
As Optimus fell, Rhinox charged. Megatron drove his elbow into Rhinox's chest and knocked him to the side.
"Nothing will save you now!" Megatron growled.
Optimus tried to attack again but Megatron grabbed Optimus by the throat with the snapping claws on his cutlass. He lifted the Maximal leader into the air with ease, gladly enjoying the struggles of his
archenemy. Rhinox also attacked but this time, Megatron grabbed the Maximal scientist by the throat with an open hand and forced Rhinox to his knees. Laughing malevolently, Megatron began to tighten his chokeholds on both opponents.
"Here we are," Terrorsaur transformed to beast mode and landed in the sand.
The two of them were in Egypt, near the Great Pyramid of Giza. The energy vortex had dissipated by now, due to the enormous Vok planetbuster hovering over the planet. The pyramid, however, still glowed from the great power it held.
"Waspinator not like doing this…" the wasp complained.
"Yeah, well you heard what Tarantulas said," Terrorsaur replied. "We gotta destroy certain artifacts inside so the aliens won't blow us to kingdom come."
"How does spider-bot know this?" Waspinator questioned. "How can Waspinator count on Tarantulas to know what he is saying?"
"Well, he did get his armor bleached," Terrorsaur noted. "And he got changed by that weird alien tech."
"That supposed to make Waspinator believe spider-bot?"
"No, but we can use it to our advantage," Terrorsaur said smugly.
"What Terrorsaur getting at?"
"After we complete our mission, we'll try to find a way to get into that same power that gave Tarantulas and Scorponok their new Transmetal armor," Terrorsaur told Waspinator. "Think of it, we could become powerful enough to overthrow Megatron!"
"Terrorsaur sure that is good idea?" Waspinator reminded. "Terrorsaur never been able to overthrow Megatron before."
"That was then, this is now," Terrorsaur replied flippantly. "Just think of how better armed we'd be if we became Transmetals!"
"Hmm, Waspinator like the sound of that!"
"Then what're you waiting for?" Terrorsaur motioned towards the pyramid. "Let's get cracking!"
"Tigatron!" Silverbolt exclaimed. "You have arrived!"
"Indeed," Tigatron said and transformed to beast mode. "It's time to lift this bird into the air."
"What has happened thus far in the battlefield?" asked Silverbolt as Tigatron took a seat near the controls.
"Something not very good," Tigatron explained as he punched in a few coordinates to turn on the ship's thrusters.
"Is the team in danger?"
"Yes," Tigatron replied. "Megatron has undergone some sort of change, granting him powers that far exceed his ordinary limits."
"Dear Primus," Silverbolt shuddered. "Is there no way to stop him?"
"We'll soon find out when we get there," acknowledged Tigatron. "By the time I was ordered to return to pilot the Axalon, Cheetor, Airazor, and Rattrap were all down."
"Then let us aid them as soon as possible!" declared Silverbolt.
"Agreed."
After all the proper steps had been taken to render the ship functional, Tigatron pressed down on the launch button. Slowly, the Axalon rose from the lake that it had lay dormant in for so long. Like an ancient tortoise, it ascended from the water and soon, like a magnificent bird of prey, it rose into the clouds. The only thing Tigatron and Silverbolt could hope for now was to get to the battle scene in time before Megatron could slaughter any of the Maximals.
"Are you alright?" asked a voice that stirred Cheetor to his senses.
"Oh man," moaned the young Maximal. "That felt like total slag!"
Cheetor got up, looking face to face with Lance and the rest of the Order. Rattrap and Airazor had also gotten up as well, though both were damaged from Megatron's assault.
"I wouldn't care to go through that again," commented Airazor.
"Tell me about it!" Rattrap agreed. "Megs was never 'dis powerful before!"
"We had to get your unconscious bodies to safety," explained Sonia. "Otherwise, they might've been damaged in the fight."
"How's it holdin' up now?" asked Rattrap, rubbing his head due to the soreness.
"The battle did not bode well," Ecclesiastes told them. "Your friends did not appear to be holding their own against Megatron."
"Aw slag," Cheetor got up. "We gotta do something!"
"You wanna go out there and break all 'yer joints again, kid?" asked Rattrap. "We ain't got a chance against Megatron!"
"So we just give up and let him win?" demanded Cheetor.
"I ain't saying 'dat," Rattrap corrected himself. "I'm saying we gotta have a plan now 'dat Mega-chump could use us as toothpicks if he wanted."
"Does anyone have an idea?" asked Airazor.
None of the members of the Order seemed to know what to say. Airazor decided that this must have been that they had enough problems of their own to deal with, one of which included their status as a "chosen people" being nullified by the Vok.
"Hey," Cheetor suddenly proclaimed. "Lance, right?"
"Yes," Lance nodded.
"Is your hover bike still working?"
Lance nodded. "Why do you ask?"
"I… kinda need to borrow your bike," Cheetor said sheepishly.
"Is this it?" Blackarachnia stared at the floating cube inside the glowing circle that surrounded the mountains of Machu Picchu.
She and Tarantulas were now in Peru. Thanks to the Predacon jet they had used, they had traversed across the terrains in a short time to reach that destination. The Pre-Columbian Inca city stood magnificently on its mountain ridge. This was another site that the Vok had chosen to place the artifacts that powered their doomsday weapon. Now that they had arrived, Blackarachnia breathed a sigh of relief now that they had a chance to prevent Armageddon.
"Yes," Tarantulas nodded and motioned for her to follow. "I believe it is…"
"So what now?" Blackarachnia asked. "Destroy it?"
"Precisely," Tarantulas replied.
"Okay then," Blackarachnia took out her crossbow.
"No!" Tarantulas ordered.
"Why not?" demanded Blackarachnia.
Tarantulas answered by unleashing two powerful missiles from his shoulders that traveled directly into the circle and destroyed the two artifacts. He cackled with satisfaction after seeing what his new body was capable of.
"I wanted to do the job myself," he told Blackarachnia plainly.
"Showoff," muttered Blackarachnia.
Optimus could not hold out for much longer. With a furious intensity, he was thrown into a parked van by the powered up Transmetal Megatron. Seeing stars, Optimus was too dazed to get up in time as he watched Megatron assault Rhinox.
Rhinox punched Megatron's chest directly. Previously, such a blow would have knocked the tyrant down instantly. Now, thanks for the new technology the Predacon wielded, he simply staggered back slightly from the blow only to laugh it off.
"And that was supposed to phase me?" Megatron grinned.
Rhinox charged again and threw a punch. This time, Megatron caught it and began squeezing. As Rhinox howled in sudden pain, Megatron slammed his cutlass across Rhinox's head, sending an instant wave of dizziness across the green Maximal's whole body. Unrelentingly, Megatron pummeled Rhinox with blow after blow until a final joint-crushing punch to the stomach sent the Axalon's best scientist into unconsciousness.
"Rhinox!" Optimus shouted. "No!"
"Rest assured," Megatron turned his attention back to his archenemy. "Your turn is coming up next, Optimus!"
Walking away from Rhinox slowly, the Predacon leader advanced upon Optimus like a black cloud of doom, just waiting to take his hapless victim by surprise. Determined not to give up, Optimus flipped out both shoulder cannons and fired. Both missiles struck Megatron, creating a minor explosion that gave Optimus enough time to take to the skies. After the smoke cleared, Megatron glared up angrily and fired up the rotors on his own back to follow his hated enemy into the air.
"Flight is no longer your advantage, Optimus!" shouted Megatron who charged belligerently.
Optimus fired two more missiles but Megatron quickly dodged one and deflected the other with a rapid swing of his cutlass. Before Optimus could react, Megatron rammed into him in mid-air and slammed him directly into a building.
After Optimus regained some semblance of awareness, he realized that he was now inside an office building of some sort, surrounded by desks and computers. Megatron hovered over him ominously and then transformed to beast mode. Before Optimus could react, Megatron kicked Optimus in the chest with a foot, knocking the Maximal down. Optimus charged again but Megatron swung his tail, slamming his weakened opponent against the wall. Biting down, Megatron bit his teeth down on Optimus Primal's leg, savoring his enemy's cries of pain. He then twisted his head and threw Optimus onto one of the desks, transforming back to robot mode once more.
"I wish I could say it was nice knowing you," Megatron charged up his laser cutlass. "But you know Predacons and public displays of affection!"
Optimus closed his eyes and waited for the end. The sound of blaster fire could be heard but to his surprise, he had not been shot!
"Aaaghhh!" Megatron cried as two more powerful plasma shots struck him across the back. "What is the meaning of this?"
"You are the one responsible for this!" the new guest howled. "You will answer to the Royalty at once!"
"Inferno!" shouted Optimus.
Megatron finally turned around and blocked a shot with his cutlass. "You again!"
"My territory is besieged by your minions!" Inferno shouted. "Call them off or face the fires of vengeance!"
"I think not!" Megatron finally charged up a shot and fired.
Inferno dodged the shot and shot forward, slamming into Megatron and wrapping both his hands around the Predacon's throat. That was the first mistake he made, not being aware of Megatron's newfound power. In an instant, Megatron grabbed Inferno by the throat and choke-slammed him violently into a nearby desk. Inferno got up groggily, not yet realizing what he had gotten himself into. Megatron struck him across the face angrily and sent the pyraomaniac stumbling back against a wall. Launching himself forward, Megatron rammed into Inferno through the wall and held him up by the throat with the claws on his cutlass.
"You'll rue the day you crossed me, insect!" Megatron snarled.
After nearly choking the life out of Inferno, Megatron dropped him impassively. Charging up his blaster again, Megatron aimed carefully and smiled.
"Such a pity," commented Megatron. "Had you been a Predacon, you would have made the perfect soldier."
Before he could fire, Optimus suddenly appeared underneath him with both his swords criss-crossing across Megatron's cutlass. Quickly, the Maximal leader hoisted up and pushed Megatron's arm into the ceiling just as he fired. Immediately, the ceiling collapsed on Megatron just before the tyrant could retaliate. Optimus grabbed onto the nearly unconscious Inferno and blasted out of the building. He landed onto the street where he was greeted by Airazor, Rhinox, and Rattrap. As noted by Optimus, Rhinox was holding his own side in pain, dented and bruised from the beating he had received earlier by Megatron.
"Are all of you alright?" Optimus asked.
"As good as we'll ever be," Rhinox replied while still clutching his side. "Once Megatron lands, let's give him everything we've got!"
"But will it even be enough?" asked Optimus.
"Don't worry, we've got a good plan," Airazor informed him.
It was not long before Megatron landed and surveyed the Maximals with great interest.
"This is a treat," Megatron told them. "Now you can all die together!"
"Open fire!" ordered Optimus.
All the Maximals began pounding Megatron with the remaining firepower they could muster. Holding his cutlass up to defend his face, Megatron marched forward, being slowed down somewhat by the bullets, lasers, and missiles that slammed into his body repeatedly. He did not however back down from the Maximal barrage and kept going, despite the great punishment being dealt to him
"Yeesh, what's it gonna take to slow this guy down!" complained Rattrap.
From out of the dust, the hover bike that Lance rode appeared. Rather than Lance as its rider, Cheetor was on top, piloting the vehicle directly in a collision course against Megatron. Without delay, the Maximals stopped firing. Megatron turned around but it was too late by then. Cheetor leaped off of the hover bike as it collided into Megatron, slamming him into the building he had just exited, sending him crashing through layers upon layers of concrete and steel.
Within the building, an explosion could be heard. From the wreckage and the flames surrounding the front of the building Megatron emerged once more, scarred and battered but still functional.
By now, the Maximals had run out of options. Megatron brandished his weapon menacingly before raising it up again, this time using the support of his other arm to hold it up due to the damage he had taken.
"Time to end this," Megatron breathed deeply.
Before Megatron could open fire, a laser blast from above tore into the front section of the building and sent it toppling down on Megatron. The Predacon tyrant howled angrily as enormous pieces of the building smashed down on him and buried him so thoroughly and completely. Despite his great strength and firepower, even Megatron could not withstand the pressure of several thousands of tons crushing down on him.
"Tigatron!" Optimus shouted joyfully. "Silverbolt! You're here!"
The Axalon finally landed after clearing away enough room. The doors opened up and out stepped Silverbolt and Tigatron.
"Optimus, sir!" Silverbolt saluted. "It is good to see that you and the team are unharmed!"
"Now we need to stop the Vok from fulfilling their plans," Tigatron nodded.
"Agreed," Optimus concurred.
From out of the alley, Temujin walked up towards the Maximals. He looked at each of them ruefully with a sad expression on his face.
"Here," he said, handing Optimus the scepter on his war staff. "This is one thing that may help you on your mission."
"Thanks," Optimus looked at Temujin in the eye. This time, there was no mutual hostility or suspicion between the two. It was merely acknowledgement between the two and a small sign of respect.
"Go on now," Temujin said softly. "Do what you were always meant to do. It's a pity I didn't interpret the scriptures right. I always figured the holy beasts mentioned in our texts were demons, here to put an end to us. Look how wrong my scribes and I turned out."
"We'll do whatever we can to save this planet and your people," Optimus promised as the rest of the Maximals stepped inside the Axalon.
Finally, Optimus followed the rest of his companions with the fallen Inferno in tow. The Axalon's main thrusters were engaged once more as the ship took flight into the air. Soon enough, it was merely a speck in the sky as its crew ascended into what was perhaps one of the most dangerous missions ever undertaken by a contemporary Maximal crew.
"Yes," Temujin acknowledged and closed his eyes. "I know you will."
To be continued.