Beast Wars: Symmetries
The Awakening
"We need backup!" Lt. Dunn yelled into his com-link.
A missile exploded in the distance as his tanks began retreating. The rest of his soldiers were already fleeing on foot.
"Repeat, requesting backup!" reiterated Dunn.
"We'll be sending more helicopters to your vicinity," General Wesley told him. "Hang in there, Lieutenant."
But Lieutenant Dunn was not sure how much longer he and his troops could hold up though. Already, they were retreating back to their base and they could only stall the creature for so long.
Already he regretted signing up for this job. Worse case scenario he would be faced with a war zone. But this… this was much more than a mere war zone. It was a nightmare come to life.
In the remoteness, he heard one of the tanks exploding. He desperately hoped that his fellow soldier had gotten out before then. General Wesley had promised backup but it was not known how long it would take. Depending on which bureaucracies he had to go through, it could take as long as several hours or even days and he, Dunn, could not hold up that long, especially against this beast that had almost obliterated his forces.
"Lt. Dunn!" one of his commanding officers yelled. "We need assistance!"
Dunn trembled as he held the rifle in his hands. This was the very moment he had been dreading the most. At the young age of 20, he was not yet ready to die.
Clutching his rifle with as much courage as he could stand to muster, Lt. Dunn ran towards the barricades.
Two weeks later…
"Whoo yeah!" Cheetor blasted through the air. "I love being a Transmetal!"
The young Maximal flew through the air faster than any speeding jet on Earth could manage. Today was a nice day for him to go on a ride again on his turbo thrusters, the very instruments that had liberated him from the cold hard ground. He had never been a flyer before and now that he was, he still had trouble adjusting.
However, 'trouble' was hardly the word to use. For Cheetor, it meant new opportunities and experiences for him. Most of all, it meant fun.
Cheetor looped through several clouds before diving down low to see what he could find.
There had not been a Predacon attack for a while luckily and while he was at it, Cheetor had not seen any of the Pred flyers either.
"Wait a nano-klik," Cheetor's vision zoomed down. "What in the spotted heck is that?"
The Transmetal cheetah flew down to examine a rather oversized stasis pod that lay on an outcrop of rocks. He was vaguely aware that he was near a coastal town from the sea and a town he had seen while up in the air.
How could such a big pod have gone unnoticed like this? It was open too. Whatever was in there had long gotten out.
"Cheetor, Maximize!"
Now in robot mode, Cheetor glanced over the stasis pod more carefully. A large "X" was etched across the front of the pod's lid. Whatever was in here, it was extremely large. No Maximal or Predacon could be this big… could they?
Good to see you've arrived…
Cheetor froze on his tracks. Was that a voice he had just heard? More importantly, was that even an audible voice?
I've been trapped here for a long time. I beg you to save me…
"Okay, this is getting too weird," Cheetor took a step away from the pod.
Please don't go! The voice pleaded. I am a Maximal… being held against my will in the city ahead of you. My body is weak but telepathically, I have just enough strength to send you this message.
"W-Who are you?"
I... don't remember my true name. For too long the humans have kept me prisoner… performing their perverse experiments on me. Please my friend… I yearn for my freedom.
"I… guess I could bring the Maximal team over here," Cheetor said. "Where are you being held?"
In an underground layer just beneath city hall… beseeched the voice. Please do not leave me to my fate…
There was something sympathetic in the quality of the voice that made Cheetor forget his fear.
"We Maximals never abandon one another!" Cheetor declared resolutely. "I'll be there for you right now!"
No… bring your friends. The laboratory is well guarded. You will require the help of all your allies if you are to rescue me.
Cheetor stopped and thought about it. What the stranger said did make sense. There would be more success in teamwork if he got Big Bot and the others to come and help out this new guy.
"Alright," Cheetor said. "Hang in there, pal. I'll be back!"
"So, this is the pod," Megatron rubbed one hand over the giant 'X.'
"What is it?" asked Scorponok.
"The beginning of the end for all of us," Megatron stated. "If we do not act decisively…"
Terrorsaur and Waspinator leaned against the rocks casually as they watched the waves crash onto the shore. Neither of them seemed particularly concerned with the matter at hand.
"What's gotten into you?" asked Terrorsaur.
"Yes," Waspinator agreed. "Megatron usually not afraid of anything."
"You obviously have not heard, I assume, of Protoform X," Megatron said to his three minions.
"Hmm, not really," confessed Waspinator.
"Me neither," Scorponok replied.
"Then I shall enlighten you," Megatron sat down and cross his legs.
"Okay," Waspinator sat down with the others.
"Years ago," Megatron began. "The Maximal Elders began an experiment. It was an experiment to create the ultimate super soldier utilizing cutting edge machinery and bio-technology to enhance and create an immortal spark. Their experiment was apparently a success, you see."
"Uh oh," Terrorsaur muttered. "I don't like the sound of what's gonna come next."
"But a flaw in their designs drove the experiment mad," continued Megatron. "This 'Protoform X' was a nearly indestructible super soldier… that he was. But beneath that titanium enhanced exterior was the spark of a slayer."
"What happened next?" asked Scorponok.
"Protoform X ran amuck," explained Megatron. "Colony Omicron was the first to fall to his madness. After that, he stowed aboard a ship to Starbase Rugby. That moon colony suffered the same siege that Omicron experienced. In the end, an estimated 10,000 lives were lost, both Maximal and Predacon. Of course, the incidents were well covered up over the years by the Maximal Imperium. But those Cybertronians who remember… do not let the tales die out."
"Ooh, Waspinator not want to run into Protoform X…" shuddered the Predacon flyer.
"Looks like you have no choice," Megatron got up in an uncharacteristically somber mood. "None of us do. Make no mistake, this is his pod. And he is here."
"What do Predacons do now?" Waspinator squeaked.
"Something I am loathe to do," Megatron scowled.
"So how is Europe going so far?" Optimus asked Silverbolt who had just dropped by for a visit.
"It is an interesting land," noted Silverbolt. "Its cultures and customs intrigue me to no end."
"Fitting in well so far?" joked Rattrap.
"If you count the moments where I lay still as a stone gargoyle," answered Silverbolt plainly. "Then, I suppose I do."
"It was a joke," Rattrap's shoulders sank.
"Oh," Silverbolt seemed a bit surprised. "Well, in that case… I suppose not. Most of the locals see me as something to be feared."
"That's nonsense," Tigatron said. "The people there will one day appreciate the good you've been doing there."
At the moment, a heavily panting Cheetor flew in through the mouth of the cave, crashing across the ground as he landed.
"Cheetor!" Optimus helped his ward up. "What's wrong?""
"New… Maximal," panted the young Maximal. "Take hostage… humans…"
"Hmm," Tigatron went up to Cheetor. "Please explain once more."
Cheetor finally caught his breath. "There's a new Maximal who reached out to me. He said he was taken prisoner by the humans at Coordinates 2431. It's beneath the town's city hall! We have to rescue him!"
"I am in agreement with Cheetor," Silverbolt walked up to the cat. "If a comrade is in danger, then we must go to his aid."
"Where was his pod?" asked Optimus.
"Aw, slag," Cheetor said. "I forgot where it was… everything he told me was so urgent."
"Not to worry Cheetor," Silverbolt said. "I have good faith placed in you. What say we go together to this place to rescue our comrade?"
"Let's move out," Optimus declared.
"Wait a sec," Cheetor looked down at the location of the pod. "That's where I found it!"
"The pod?" asked Optimus.
"Yeah, it was just sitting over there…"
Optimus, Cheetor, Silverbolt, and Airazor flew down for a closer look. On the ground, Rattrap, Rhinox, and Tigatron reached them soon enough.
"This is where I found the pod," Cheetor said. "And it's also where I heard that 'bot reaching out to me."
"Could that 'bot have long-distance communication devices of some sort?" Rhinox suggested.
"What could have happened to the pod?" asked Silverbolt.
"Dunno," Cheetor said. "But man, it was the biggest stasis pod I've ever seen!"
"Wait," Optimus looked at his young ward. "Did you just say biggest?"
"Well, yeah," nodded Cheetor. "It had this big 'X' on it too."
Rhinox and Rattrap glanced at Optimus Primal nervously. Before Optimus could properly respond, a loud booming voice was heard before them.
"Well, the truth is out, isn't it?" Megatron sneered as he landed and transformed to robot mode. The other Predacons appeared in the distance as well.
"What do you want?" Optimus got out his mace.
"Believe it or not, a temporary peace treaty," Megatron stated. The Predacons behind him nodded in agreement.
"And why should I buy into it?" asked Optimus.
"Because I take it you have not informed your crew the truth about our stasis pod," sneered Megatron.
Optimus looked at his team, guilty over not having told them the entire truth. Right now, however, it was still not too late. He had to tell them how it went down.
"Whatever was in that pod is no ordinary Transformer," Optimus told his team, particularly to Cheetor. "He's a mass murderer and his name is Protoform X."
The entire team gasped. On the other hand, the Predacons looked quite gleeful in seeing the horrified expressions on each Maximal's face.
"Years ago, the Maximal Elders began an experiment to create the most powerful Cybertronian warrior ever," Optimus explained. "It was also a test to fashion an indestructible spark for that warrior. Their experiment succeeded but somewhere along the way, they failed with producing a stable creation. Their lab project Protoform X broke out and leveled the entire Colony of Omicron. He hitched a ride to a nearby moon base, Starbase Rugby, and obliterated that colony as well. In the end, it took almost an entire armada to subdue X and bring him before the Imperium…"
"You think this will bind me?" the behemoth leered from the stasis field that restrained him.
"You cannot escape justice," Senator Gallas. "Over ten thousand inhabitants were lost in your destructive attack. Have you anything to say before your final sentence?"
The features on Protoform X's face remained leering and murky. Several restraining bolts were also placed over his body in addition to the power of the stasis field. Around his neck hung an energy bolt that held him down to his knees. In the background, Optimus sat at the jury's bench, watching the trial.
"I do," X's eyes glistened malevolently. "Know that I have no regrets for what I have done. And most assuredly, know that once I am free from these chains, I will show you the same courtesy."
"You've made your intentions clear enough," Judge Kanto declared. "Your sentence has been passed. You are to be banished to an undisclosed location. There, you will have no provisions, no energon, and no way for you to leave that place. May the souls of the perished torment you for an eternity."
"Oh believe me," X looked at the Judge darkly. "I have all the time in the world to relive their delicious screams of agony! Besides, it was you, the Maximal Elders, who made it all possible through creating me."
None of the Maximal Elders in the Tribunal responded to what Rampage had said. A few of them shifted nervously at his accusation, knowing full well that they did play a hand in his creation.
"Optimus Primal, step forward," Senator Gallas ordered.
Optimus did as he was told and stood before the Judge and the Tribunal. He was surprised that after all that had gone through, Protoform X had not gotten the death penalty. Deep down, he was not sure if it was because X simply could not be killed… or if the Tribunal was simply unwilling to kill such a powerful war machine.
"Henceforth, you and your exploration crew are to leave Protoform X on a deserted planet where he may mull over his actions," Judge Kanto told the young exploration captain. "After you have done so, you may resume your mission of exploration."
"Yes sir," Optimus replied.
Several guards stepped forth and grabbed hold of the massive container that held Rampage in his stasis field, dragging it out of the courtroom. As X passed Optimus, he gave the Maximal leader the most haunting chuckle.
"I can tell you and I are going to be well acquainted with each other," X said both scornfully and playfully at the same time. "Once I'm on your ship, the party can really begin, hah hah hah hah hah!"
"Protoform X was one of the stasis pods loaded onto the Axalon," Optimus finished the story. "Our first priority was to dump the pod on an abandoned moon but after loading up, the alarms alerted us of a theft of the golden discs by Megatron. Our ship was the only one available at the moment so we were forced to give chase. And the rest, they say, is history."
"Whoa, time out!" Cheetor stated. "Let me get this straight. You had Cybertron's most notorious criminal on the Axalon and you didn't tell us?"
"I'm sorry Cheetor," Optimus lowered his head. "Rattrap, Rhinox, and I were sworn to secrecy."
"But the secret's out now," Airazor pointed out. "And who knows where X is now."
"All the more reason for this truce," noted Megatron.
"How do you know about X anyways?" asked Optimus suspiciously.
"In Predacon society, urban legends of him are quite common," Megatron replied. "Lower class denizens often tell ghosts stories of him to frighten one another. I just never thought I'd have to encounter this Protoform X."
"Aww, who thought Megsy would cry out for his blankie because he thought 'da big bad X was coming for 'im?" mocked Rattrap.
"More like he cries out for his rubber ducky," muttered Terrorsaur underneath his breath.
"This isn't a joke, vermin," Blackarachnia spat. "If this X is anywhere as legendary as the tales say he is, we're all in a world of trouble."
And you know what they say… legends never die.
"What was that?" Megatron cried.
All the Transformers looked around, only to find nothing. There was some sort of voice reaching out to them.
I'm touched that you know my story… said the voice. But know this. Not one of you will live to tell it!
"Show yourself, villain!" shouted Silverbolt.
Oh, I won't do so just yet. Why don't you come down to the city and paint the town red with me tonight?
"Gulp," Waspinator swallowed nervously. "Waspinator not want to paint red…"
"If this is a trick…" began Megatron.
Oh, it is no trick I promise you! If you do not come then I swear to you that every living creature on this planet, and Primus knows there are a lot of them, will experience the fires of Omicron! The purpose of you Maximals is to explore and defend. You won't compromise that to save your own necks. I know you all too well…
"Then you've got us," Optimus finally said. "Where are you?"
Just come down to the city… and don't worry about finding me. I'll find you.
"Oh no… Waspinator not want to go down there…"
"I assume you have a battle strategy?" demanded Megatron.
Consumed with a mixture of both fear and guilt, Optimus shook his head.
"Good," Megatron smiled. "Because I have."
The Predacon overlord pressed down on a remote he held his hand. In just a little while, an enormous submarine submerged from the waves and landed on the beach, with its hatch opening up for all the Maximals and Predacons to see.
"I manufactured this nuclear submarine through my old company," Megatron told them. "I believe when worst comes to worst, it will serve us well. Now, onto official business!"
"I still don't like this plan of yours," Optimus told his archenemy.
"Ah Optimus," sighed Megatron. "If only you could have the same fun I could, sacrificing your troops like chess pawns."
The two leaders stood atop one of the buildings of the city. The entire town, they noted, had been already quarantined by the military most likely as a result of Protoform X's attack. Considering the degree and scope of this attack by a beast like that, they had most likely decided to cover it up until they could give a plausible explanation as to what destroyed an entire military installation along with nearly half the city.
"This isn't a game Megatron," Optimus said fearfully. "I should be down there with my troops."
"Don't be a fool," Megatron said. "We play a crucial part in this. If we do it right, the threat of Protoform X may be eliminated forever!"
"At the cost of sacrificing my team?" demanded Optimus.
"Listen to reason, you fool!" countered Megatron. "They are to lead the monster away and by the time they have whittled away at him, you and I may subdue him and board him into that vessel."
"But will your nuclear submarine even be enough?" asked Optimus.
Megatron bit his tongue silently. What Optimus posed was a question that not even he could answer.
"I can't believe we went all this time without knowing Protoform X was on our ship," Airazor told Tigatron softly. "It's unbelievable."
"Mmm," Tigatron nodded. "I can't completely fault Optimus or the others. They had their orders after all."
All the Maximals and Predacons were congregated together near the city hall. Though they were not shooting at each other as usual, the amount of interaction between them was still low. Maximals hung out on the Maximal side while Predacons stuck to their own kind in turn.
"When do you think he'll come?" asked Airazor. Her voice betrayed the fear she felt.
"Do not worry," Tigatron put a protective hand on her shoulder. "When he comes, we will make certain he does not escape justice."
Silverbolt watched Tigatron and Airazor from afar interestedly. He then turned towards a lone Predacon sitting near the steps. Deciding to eschew the current tradition of Maximal Predacon segregation, he walked towards Blackarachnia to begin a conversation.
"What do you want, bone-brain?" Blackarachnia started before Silverbolt could speak.
"So, do you believe this Protoform X is every bit the legend they say he is?" asked Silverbolt.
"How should I know," shrugged Blackarachnia. "Megatron seems pretty scared of him. I'd wager I should be too."
"Well, know that if worst comes to worst, I shall protect you from that fiend," Silverbolt told her resolutely.
"Ha! And what makes you think I need your help?"
"Well… he is the one responsible for Omicron and Starbase Rugby. Surely no one Transformer can take on him alone."
"Oh I see," Blackarachnia scoffed. "Think I'm the dainty little femme-bot who can't take care of herself, huh? Think you're the brave knight in shining armor who can save me?"
"Err, no!" Silverbolt attempted to exercise damage control. "What I merely wish to say is that Protoform X is a monster of unfathomable power. It would do us well to stick together!"
"Look rover," Blackarachnia told Silverbolt firmly. "I'm a self-sufficient gal who can take care of herself. So don't think you can pull the wool over my eyes because you're some kind of hero from where you come from!"
Such sentimental nonsense! It's a pity you won't get to know each other better! I take pleasure in destroying the spark between starcrossed lovers!
Silverbolt's ears perked up. "He's here!"
The Maximals and Predacons picked up their weapons without delay and stood there, awaiting X's arrival. From out of the fog, a stray missile flew towards them. All the fighters braced themselves for impact but the missile stopped in the middle of its course and flew up high into the air where it exploded, signaling the arrival of the foreboding Protoform X.
"Where is X?" Terrorsaur asked.
His question would be answered in the shape of a dark silhouette that moved out of the fog at a slow and rumbling pace. Each and every combatant there felt the ground beneath them tremble.
Finally, a second missile appeared from out of the mists and struck the ground where they stood, scattering them all.
Scorponok was the first to fall forward. In front of him was a towering behemoth that was easily several feet taller than both Optimus and Megatron. With its massive chest and green eyes, the creature howled in rage and slammed both fists down at the Predacon. What especiallystruck fear into them was that Protoform X was also a Transmetal from the looks of his armor.
Quickly, Scorponok flipped out of the way and swung his tail at the creature. Protoform X did not even wince as the blade connected across his chest.
"What?" Scorponok was stunned. "How could he with stand that?"
Everyone else stood there, almost paralyzed with fear. A blow like that could have cut through even Megatron's powerful hide. There was no wound or any indication of damage on the chest of Protoform X, however.
"Your efforts are as futile as they are amusing," Protoform X finally spoke. "We're going to have so much fun together."
"Oh no we're not!" Scorponok immediately revealed all the armaments at his disposal.
His chest opened up to reveal a shining laser core while both claws clicked open to divulge the new missile defense system that came with his Transmetal upgrade. His tail swung upright to reveal the shining blade once more. For whatever it was worth, Protoform X did not appear to be too impressed.
"Is that all you got?" the creature mocked.
Scorponok let loose a barrage of firepower. A powerful laser beam erupted from his chest as the blade disconnected from the tail and flew towards X's neck. All the missiles erupted as well from his claws. At the exact same moment, all those shots struck Protoform X and engulfed him in an explosion that forced even his own comrades and the Maximals to take cover.
The scorpion looked tersely as the explosion receded and smoke rose from all the damage his firepower had caused. Did he manage to take X down?
Without warning, a large crab-like claw reached out and gripped him. Scorponok let out a bloodcurdling scream as Protoform X dragged him into the smoke and disappeared.
When the smoke had cleared, the monster was no longer there. One of Scorponok's claws lay there, broken and born apart.
From out of the sky, the blade from Scorponok's tail flew down. Rattrap quickly leaped to the side to avoid it sinking into him. Instead the claw embedded itself on the side of the road, next to Rattrap. A split second later, the large form of Protoform X leaped down from the building and smashed both feet onto the ground, splitting the ground beneath all the grounded Beast Warriors and knocking each and every one of them down.
Rhinox and Blackarachnia opened fire with their respective machine gun weaponry. The shots bounced off of Protoform X's extremely powerful hide and scattered across the sidewalk. The creature transformed to beast mode without a word. Protoform X's mode appeared to be a king crab of some sort after having gone through the process of Transmetallization.
"How did crab cakes here become a Transmetal?" cried Rattrap.
"The Vok invasion must have left energy residues on Earth," theorized Rhinox. "It's the only plausible explanation."
Protoform X swung with both massive claws, knocking Rattrap and Rhinox to the side. He lunged for Blackarachnia who leaped over him and fired a missile from her gun. X did not make any attempt to block himself as the missile struck him, bouncing off his armored shell.
"Was that supposed to stop me on my tracks?" mocked X.
Blackarachnia quickly fired back with several more of her bullets. In the meantime, Tigatron and Airazor raised their right arms up to reveal their missile launchers. They fired as well, both their missiles striking X from the side. Cheetor charged up both hands and send several energy blasts directly towards the monster as well. Apparently, their weapons did no more good than those of Blackarachnia's or Scorponok.
From above, Terrorsaur and Waspinator rained down missiles and blaster fire. X looked up in surprise as laser beams struck his armored hide. To the surprise of everyone, Protoform X transformed his body slightly from crustacean to tank as a line of wheels appeared across his side while his claws rotated back to make way for the chains that held the wheels together. A triple barrage missile launcher appeared just below his head and rose ever so slightly into the air.
With a howl of pure madness, Protoform X fired. The missile missed Terrorsaur and Waspinator on its first run but came back and exploded as soon as it neared them. The explosion generated was so massive that the charred bodies of both fliers crashed through the glass windows of opposite office buildings.
"Roast pterodactyl hot legs," joked X casually. "I'll be feasting well tonight."
The behemoth transformed to robot mode once more as he stared down the remaining Transformers. Silverbolt was the first to strike as he unleashed two feather daggers from his wings, throwing them one after another. X yawned as one dagger rebounded off his armor harmlessly but caught the other with reflexes uncommon for a 'bot so enormous.
With a small squeeze, he easily crumpled the dagger to pieces.
Rhinox grabbed onto a street lamp and tore it off. He swung the weapon at X, glancing the monster across the face. He swung again but this time, X caught the post and raised Rhinox into the air, throwing him overhead and bringing him down onto the ground back first.
Again and again, X slammed Rhinox to the ground before lifting the Maximal scientist up by the neck. Rhinox attempted to fight back by boxing the mass murderer across his head. Protoform X slammed his knee into Rhinox to take the fight out of him in one glancing blow. He then grabbed onto Rhinox's arms and yanked them off, grunting with sadistic pleasure as he did so.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" screamed Rhinox.
"Rhinox!" cried the Maximals.
"You're really gonna get it now!" cried Cheetor as he cupped both hands together once more, charging up an even more powerful blast.
X struck Rhinox across the chin with an uppercut to silence him, knocking the badly damaged Maximal clear across the air. He turned his attention back the young Maximal who had gathered enough energy to fire. The built-in cannon, in both hands, was now brimming with a pulsating green energy as volts of electricity crackled around him.
"Come on then," urged X. "Do your worst."
Cheetor roared and unleashed the energy blast straight towards the defiant X. The butcher of Omicron stood his ground and struck out with both hands just as the ball of energy hit him. X used one hand to grasp the powerful ball of energy, feeling the energy hit him at full force on his very palms. Using his other hand, he struck the energy blast, knocking it right back to its creator.
Surprised at X's display of sheer power and tenacity, Cheetor did not leap aside fast enough. The blast hit him and sent his badly damaged body sailing into a telephone booth where he fell and did not get back up.
"Eh, any ideas guys?" Rattrap looked at the remaining warriors standing.
Protoform X withdrew his massive tri-barrel missile blaster and aimed at them just as Rattrap transformed to vehicle mode and raced towards the behemoth. Rattrap launched himself into the air and transformed to robot mode, grabbing onto X's gun while at the same time, realizing he was doing something very suicidal.
Rattrap reached for his own gun but Rampage merely used the gun to slam Rattrap against the side of the building and throw him into a fire hydrant not far from where he stood. X then aimed at the building and blasted it with a missile, sending several tons of rubble crashing down on the unfortunate mouse.
"Now where were we?" X pondered and turned back to his quarry.
Before X could fire off a shot, a powerful blast of ice from Tigatron's gun hit the front end of his missile launcher, blocking its opening. By the time X realized what had happened, he had already pulled the trigger.
The ensuing explosion knocked X down as he held his injured hand tightly. But to everyone's surprise, he got back up as if nothing had occurred.
"You thought that could stop me?" X held up his injured hand. Almost immediately, the loose wiring and circuitry slid back into his hand as his wound was healed almost instantly.
"By the Matrix!" Silverbolt cried. "What does it take to stop this beast?"
X took out his second gun. It was a hand-held rifle that was deceptively smaller in shape and size, but no less deadly. He fired twice, both shots blasting Tigatron and Airazor into stasis lock. Silverbolt quickly saw how he and Blackarachnia were the last ones standing.
"You will not get past me, villain!" declared the knight.
Blackarachnia leaped up and attempted to take X down with a flying sidekick. The impact from her foot against his impenetrable armor merely knocked her back, however. In an instant, X was towering above her.
"You need to learn some manners," X growled and backhanded her aside.
"No!" cried Silverbolt who fired off several wing missiles towards the monster.
Protoform X shrugged off the blasts and fired a shot at Blackarachnia just as she was barely beginning to get back on her feet. The shot hit her and smashed her into the side of a building. X then turned his attention back to Silverbolt and slammed his elbow down onto the Maximal's shoulder, bringing him down to his knees.
"Feel the terror just yet?" mocked X. "But don't worry, it's only going to get worse!"
Silverbolt raised his head just in time to see Protoform X holding up a heavily armored military tank. With an immensely frenzied cry, X brought down the massive vehicle on top of the helpless fuzor.
Optimus and Megatron stood near the edge of the quarantined town just as Protoform X appeared before them, seemingly with no damage done to him at all despite what the explosions and firefight heard earlier would have indicated.
"Optimus Primal," X said menacingly while glancing at Megatron's purple color scheme disapprovingly. "I always knew it would come down to this. And who's your friend? He looks a bit fruity if you ask me."
"What?" Megatron seemed so comically enraged that Optimus had to restrain him before he made a reckless and potentially fatal mistake. "How dare you! I am Megatron! Exalted leader of all Predacons! I'll turn you into seafood, you cringe-inducing crustacean!"
"Are you going to talk?" demanded X. "Or are you going to let me rip out your vocal chords to make the sweet music that I so enjoy?"
"Altogether now," Optimus whispered to Megatron.
The two warriors charged; Optimus swung his mace while Megatron charged up his cutlass for a combined assault. Very quickly, X slammed his fist into Optimus Primal, sending the Maximal leader flying back. He then turned his attention to Megatron who fired directly at his chest. The blast struck X but did no harm. Snarling angrily, X drove his fist into Megatron, sending the tyrant stumbling back while clutching his wound.
X swung at Megatron again, connecting with his jaw. The crazed psychopath threw his entire weight behind a punch that hit Megatron in the face and sent him sailing back across the concrete floor.
Optimus helped Megatron to his feet but the Predacon waved him away.
"Go!" Megatron ordered. "I'll need time for my fully charged assault!"
Optimus transformed to beast mode and whipped out both maces. He flew towards X and struck him across the head with his weapon. X did not appear to be injured from the blow and grabbed Optimus Primal's mace as it attempted to strike him again. This time, X swung Optimus back-first against the floor. Before Optimus could get up again, X planted his foot down on the Maximal, grinding it into his chest ever-so-painfully.
"Yes," Protoform X declared. "Show me your pain! Show me your unbridled terror!"
X grabbed Optimus by the neck and lifted him up. All the while, Megatron had diverted all his power to his primary fusion cannon, aiming it at Protoform X as the energy gathered around his cutlass.
"Once I'm through with you," X held Optimus in the air. "I'll do the same to the other one!"
"I think not!" Megatron howled.
"What's this?" X turned around to see the fusion cannon on Megatron's cutlass brimming at full power.
Optimus managed to pry open X's fingers from his throat and fell down. Immediately, he leaped into the air and flew away from X at full speed. At that same moment, Megatron unleashed a gigantic blast of purple energy. The massive beam hit X who braced himself for impact as the laser managed to force him back. Finally, the blast grew larger and larger until it consumed X. The shockwave from the explosion also knocked Optimus down to the ground while he was flying in mid-air. Finally, when Optimus got up again, the smoke cleared and he saw that Megatron's attack had leveled nearly the entire city block.
The dust and other debris also cleared from X's location. The behemoth stood there, having absorbed the full brunt of Megatron's assault. He stood there with both arms outstretched, wounds covering his entire body. His chest had been nearly born apart, exposing his spark. Mech fluid was dripping from both his mouth and other areas on his body that had been shredded open from the power of the blast. But slowly, the wounds began tightening and covering up again as they mended rapidly. In no time at all, X was completely healed again.
"Wasted all your energy doing that, didn't you?" X cackled sadistically. "Hah hah hah!"
Without mercy, X rounded onto Megatron and drove his fist into Megatron's solar plexus, punching through the Predacon's thick armor. Viciously, he sank his fist inside and tore out several of Megatron's wiring, causing the tyrant to cry out in pain. X then hoisted Megatron into the air and slammed the Predacon leader down back-first into his knee, breaking Megatron's spine. X grabbed Megatron's arm and threw him aside like he was nothing.
Optimus flew down and knelt before his archnemesis. Megatron clasped Optimus's hand as if to say something. With the last bit of energy he had left, the Predacon gave Optimus the remote control for the nuclear submarine near the beach and subsided silently into stasis lock.
"I didn't go for his spark because I'm saving all of you," X said gleefully. "I'm going to have a bonfire tonight and it involves me feasting on each and every one of your sparks!"
Optimus looked up at X and transformed to flight mode, flying off towards the submarine in hopes of luring the murderer there.
With every bit of his strength, Rattrap removed the final piece of rubble that lay on top of him. He poked his head and looked around. There was devastation everywhere. None of the Maximals or Predacons were standing from the looks of it. Finally, he got up to his feet.
"Geez," Rattrap muttered. "What was 'dat guy made of?"
A distant explosion alerted him of X's presence. And from the looks of it, it was far from gone.
"It ain't over 'till it's over," grumbled Rattrap.
Transforming to vehicle mode, Rattrap sped off on all four wheels to the sound of the explosion.
Optimus felt the limpness nearly overtake his body as Protoform X threw him onto the white sands of the beach. The behemoth stomped forward, moving onto Optimus as a cat would to a mouse. It was almost as if X was toying with him. Optimus was pretty certain that comparison was true.
The nuclear submarine was also on the beach as well with its hull open. Optimus pried out the remote control from his compartments and attempted to get up. X, on the other hand, kicked the device out of his hands.
"Looks like the game's going to end after all," X said almost sadly. "Such a pity, really. I was hoping for something a bit more climactic."
An explosion on X's back made him take notice immediately. From overhead, Rattrap in vehicle mode raced over X's back after having thrown one of his bombs at the monster's back. In mid-air, he transformed to robot mode and fired several shots at X. Protoform X kicked Optimus aside and went after the diminutive Maximal instead.
"Rattrap, the device!" choked Optimus.
Rattrap grabbed it and stored it away. He transformed to vehicle mode and raced into the submarine with X trailing him from behind like a swarm of locusts. Inside, Rattrap opened the main door and raced down the hallways, zig-zagging left and right until he finally reached the main control room.
"Okay, let's see how 'dis baby works," said Rattrap and pressed down on a few buttons to activate the sub. He flipped open a few more switches and took out the remote. The grinding of machinery was enough to alert him that the submarine had closed its hull and was now moving out into sea.
"I smell your fear, little rat!" a voice from down the hall alerted him. "You cannot hide from me."
Rattrap noticed that the submarine was indeed moving at a pretty fast pace. But he would have to think fast before he became the main course for tonight. As the footsteps came closer, Rattrap looked up towards the ceiling with the pipes hanging overhead.
"So maybe 'dat's my ticket outta here," Rattrap thought and leaped up, grabbing onto the pipes with both hands and feet.
X stomped in and looked around suspiciously. At first it seemed that he had not sensed Rattrap at all. He moved ominously towards the controls to Rattrap's great relief. Swinging down, Rattrap leaped out of the doorway and slammed the door shut just as X turned around. He raced down the hall as quickly as possible and climbed up a set of ladders just as he heard the main door being smashed open by X.
Rattrap climbed over several more stairs until he finally reached the end of his destination, opening up the hatch above and climbing out the conning tower. The sub was slowly but surely submerging under water as Rattrap looked around in horror.
"Well, looks like I'm goin' out on a big wet one…"
"Oh no you're not!" Optimus flew down and took Rattrap's hand.
Rattrap noted that Optimus Primal's other arm was dislocated from the pummeling he had received from X. Quickly, the Maximal leader took Rattrap on top his surf board and flew away at top speeds. Seeing his opportunity, Rattrap pressed down on the remote and watched breathlessly as the submarine slowly sank beneath the waves. By now, it was several miles away from the city.
Finally, as Rattrap and Optimus neared the coastal town, they were alerted of the sub's destructive capabilities as an enormous mushroom cloud in the distance sprang up, signaling to them that its nuclear detonator had gone off.
"Hey!" screamed the now limbless Scorponok. "Watch what you're doing with my body!"
"Sorry shellhead," Blackarachnia said unapologetically while hauling him up. "I didn't know you had such delicate features."
"And Waspinator thought he was soft in the head," joked the Predacon wasp.
The Maximals and Predacons were recovering from X's brutal assault. None of them at this point had the tenacity or gall to attack one another.
"Are you alright?" Silverbolt went up to Blackarachnia.
"Never been better, bone brain," she said. "Now get out of my face."
Silverbolt hung his head low and walked away. In the distance, Tigatron was helping Airazor get back to her feet as Rattrap was doing with Rhinox.
"There will be no more fighting for today, Optimus," Megatron limped up to his enemy.
"I know what you mean," Optimus stared off into the distance.
"Well," Megatron shuddered inwardly at the thought of Protoform X nearly taking his life. "That concludes our truce. Next time we meet, it will be as enemies."
"Yeah… right," Optimus said, not really paying much attention to the Predacon.
Cheetor walked up to Optimus as Megatron transformed to beast mode and flew off into the horizon.
"Think he's gone for good?" asked the younger Maximal.
"I'm not sure," admitted Optimus. "The Maximal Elders claimed he had an immortal spark within him. I don't know if it's true or not."
Cheetor gulped. "Is it… possible?"
"Maybe," acknowledged Optimus but his expression soon darkened. "The hull around X's stasis pod was sealed utterly. There was no way he could've gotten out on his own. Someone… or something activated his pod."
"Somebody activated him here on Earth?" Cheetor was taken aback.
Optimus did not reply. It was a question that he simply did not have the answer for.
In the cold depths of space, a Cybertronian Sky Hopper neared Earth's solar system at 90 miles per hour.
"Computer," the pilot said. "Where am I?"
"This quadrant of the galaxy is unknown to Cybertronian airspace," replied the computer. "But the location of Protoform X is in this vicinity."
The pilot was an enormous silhouette covered by the shadows. He did not have any use for turning on the lights. He had to conserve energon for his long, distant trip to find the butcher of Colony Omicron.
"He's here for certain?" he asked.
"Affirmative," said the computer.
"Good, which planet is he on?"
"On the third planet from this solar system's sun. It is the only planet here capable of supporting life."
"Swell, just when I thought it couldn't get any worse…"
"Shall I set a course?"
"Do it."
Author's Note: I didn't notice until today that it was Valentines Day. To add a twist of irony to the equation, I'm releasing this Rampage fic on that same day. Just think of this as a special "St. Valentines Day Massacre" gift. And for those wondering why X isn't referred to as Rampage, he will be in later chapters.
