Why hello, and welcome to yet another instalment of New Beast Wars, chapter 37. As per the usual, I do not own Beast Wars, Beast Machines, IDW Comics, The Transformers or any of the characters that are usually associated with The Transformers...but you probably knew that, no? Ok, well over the last two chapters, an incident within the Maximal base led to the resurrection of Megatron, due to the unintended intervention Onyx Primal, Rattrap, Manta Ray, Injector, Night Glider, Armordillo and Skystorm, he then set up the reconstruction of the Pit, in order to use it as his base of operations. Meanwhile, B'Boom, Scavenger and Stinkbomb managed to recruit Starscream's ghost (No! Not that one!) to their cause through promises of vengeance against the Vehicons, much to Optimus Primal's great displeasure. Well, I guess that just about does it in terms of summary, so I guess they're just one last thing left for me to do...Ahem, I hope that you enjoy the following fanfic presented here, don't forget to leave a review, and finally...thanks for reading!
In the Decepticon Spire, home to the Maximal and the Predacon forces, the leader of the ragtag group, Optimus Primal, sighed and massaged his temples as Scavenger, Stinkbomb and B'Boom stood before him.
"So, let me get this straight...you found Starscream engaged in a battle with a number of drones and then decided to assist, despite the fact that you told me that Starscream had the situation well in hand?" Optimus asked.
"Well, yes but he-" Scavenger began.
"And then, you proceeded to offer said Decepticon a place within our group?"
"Um...well that was mostly-" B'Boom started.
"AND, when he turned down the offer, you told him that he would have the opportunity to destroy the Drone Generals, with our full support?"
"Hey, I wasn't even-!" Stinkbomb was quickly cut off.
"What were you thinking?-! Did you even consider the potential security risks of brining a Decepticon into the base? What's more, Ravage and Grimlock inform me that Starscream was a notoriously unreliable backstabbing traitor who frequently tried to usurp Megatron's power!"
"We just did what we thought was best..." Scavenger offered meekly.
"Starscream's very presence puts us all in danger, you should have realised that when you brought him here...as a response to your reckless actions, I have no choice but to suspend you all from going on any further missions until further notice." Optimus told the trio grimly.
"But Optimus-!" Stinkbomb began to speak, only to be cut off once again.
"No buts, your actions leave me disappointed...you may go." Optimus told them, motioning towards the door.
As the three left, Rhinox walked in.
"Don't you think you were a little hard on them?" Rhinox questioned his leader as soon as the three soldiers had exited the room and closed the door.
Optimus sighed "Perhaps, but we're living in a warzone, you must always keep your guard up...look what happened to Rattrap for example..."
"And what shall w do about Starscream?"
"What can we do? None of us have the power to physically remove him from our base, he is a ghost, and I doubt that he would leave if we were to ask him...No, he has to leave of his own accord, or else he will not leave at all..." Optimus replied, looking tired.
Elsewhere, the New Insecticons were having a discussion regarding their title.
"Look, we're not saying that the New Insecticons is a bad name..." Scarem told Insecticon.
"Which it is." Scourge interjected as he leaned on his jewel encrusted walking aid.
"But it does seem a touch...egocentric..." Scarem finished.
"Egocentric?" Insecticon scoffed "Oh come on, I think you guys are just being ridiculous!"
"I'm not so sure that we are..." Scarem told his comrade.
"Ok, if I was being an ego freak-which I'm not-then what name would you suggest?" Insecticon asked.
Scarem paused to think about that, before answering "How about the Insectrons? It's not too far from the original, but it still sounds cool."
Insecticon sighed "Oh, alright, fine! But you two seriously owe me for this!"
"I owe no one nothing." Scourge replied.
"Uh, yeah, sure...whatever..." Scarem answered apprehensively.
"Right, stupid decisions aside, I move that we now focus on my-Argh!" Scourge yelped as he toppled sideways.
Insecticon had kicked his staff out from under him.
At the Pit, Megatron was surveying the reconstruction effort.
"Bah! You fools are moving much too slowly! I command you to pick up the pace and go!" Megatron bellowed.
Thrust muttered something incomprehensible under his breath, to Jetstorm, it sounded something like jerkass.
"What was that Thrust?" Megatron called out, causing Thrust to jump.
"Err, nothing my lord Megatron!" Thrust called back, getting back to his welding.
Cataclysm stifled a snigger.
"You shouldn't be laughing imbecile! I've noticed a significant drop in your work for the past three hours!" Megatron snapped, turning to the turn coat Maximal.
Cataclysm froze, a look of horror on his face "It wasn't me my lord! It was all Unit 11's fault! He's so lazy!"
Megatron scowled and raised his arm cannon, eliciting a terrified yelp from Cataclysm. Suddenly, Megatron swung around and blasted Unit 11, sending him hurtling off the beam that he had been rolling across.
"Let that be a lesson to you Cataclysm, do not cease working, or else that shall happen to you!" Megatron said with a glare.
"Uh, yes, oh mighty Megatron!" Cataclysm whimpered, bowing slightly.
"And you Jetstorm, don't think I haven't seen you snivelling over that wretched ant! Cease your piteous actions at once and get back to work!"
Jetstorm scowled "What right do you have to tell me to stop grieving? I ask you Megatron, so answer me!"
Megatron glowered, before raising his cannon again.
Thrust rushed over to Megatron and lowered his cannon for him "Uh, please lord Megatron, his mind is clouded by grief, he knows not what he speaks!"
"Perhaps, but he needs to get over his loss, and if he doesn't..." Megatron trailed off.
"Uh, yes, well...we'll make sure that doesn't happen, right Jetstorm?" Thrust asked his friend.
Jetstorm muttered something incomprehensible that sounded like something Thrust dare not repeat to his dreaded leader.
"Uh...Jetstorm says yes..." Thrust muttered, looking up nervously into his leader's eyes.
Not far away, Unit 11's hand poked up through a pile of junk as he struggled to free himself.
Elsewhere, the newly christened Insectrons were making their regular patrols. This time however, they were being accompanied by the rookie Maximal Snarl, much to their great annoyance.
"Ugh, why did they have to stick us with the noobie?" Scourge asked as he flew alongside Insecticon.
"Oh, he's not so bad...besides, Primal and Armordillo though it might be good if he were to get some more experience out in the field..." The beetle Predacon replied.
"Ya know, I can hear you guys, right?" Snarl asked as he perched atop Scarem's carapace as he flittered about through the skies of Cybertron.
"And you're point?" An irate Scare, hissed.
"You guys really suck." Snarl said in a deadpan voice.
In response, Scarem bucked and knocked him off.
"Was that really necessary?" Insecticon asked, staring at his comrade curiously.
"I thought it was." Scarem replied innocently as he listened to Snarl's cursings.
Not far away, Scorponok was leading a platoon of Tank drones down the empty streets of Cybertron, on their search for any of the Maximals or Predacons.
"This way men! Keep your optics peeled, we don't want to let any of those scum get away!" Scorponok told the men under his command as he thundered along the road in tank mode.
Suddenly, a Tank drone's turret swivelled around and fired.
"Wha-? Unit 27, explain yourself!" Scorponok ordered.
Unit 27 transformed back into his robot mode and began pointing and motioning frantically. Scorponok followed the drone's pointing finger and was surprised to see four Cybertronians staring at them, equally shocked.
"Oh no! It's you!" A Predacon Scorponok vaguely remembered as being called Scarem exclaimed.
"That's right pitiful worms! Now, be prepared to meet the awesome wrath of Scorponok, and his mighty Tank drones!" Scorponok boasted.
"Yeesh, what an ego!" A Predacon that Scorponok didn't recognise muttered as he rolled his optics, and held onto a golden staff for some reason.
"Enough talking, let's fight!" A small, furry Maximal cried "Snarl, Maximize!"
"Insecticon, Terrorize!"
"Scarem, Terrorize!"
"Scourge, Terrorize!"
And with that, all four of them transformed back into their natural robot modes.
"Bah!" Scorponok spat "You call those wimpy things robot modes? I'll show you how a real Transformer does it! Scorponok, Terrorize!"
And so, Scorponok too transformed, turning into a hulking grey Predacon armed to the teeth and raring to go.
"Well bring it on!" Insecticon said with a snarl as he hovered above the ground.
"Vehicons, charge!" Scorponok roared.
Instantly, both sides dashed towards the other, shouting and firing, quickly delving into complete chaos.
"Eat this Vehicon!" Snarl shouted as he leapt up into the air and smashed a Vehicon in the face with an improvised weapon: A heavy chunk of metal attached to a long chain.
"Nice on rookie!" Scarem complimented as he sliced one particularly unfortunate drone into four separate pieces.
Scorponok cursed, why was it that a handful of these fools could always beat his drones almost effortlessly?
"Drones, don't let up! Keep going with all your anger! All your hatred! All your wrath!" Scorponok commanded, curling his hand into a fist.
As if powered by his words, the Tank drones began attacking with renewed vigour, demonstrating a passion in combat that the Predacons and Snarl had never before seen.
"Argh! What is this? They've never been so driven before!" Scourge yelped as a shot grazed his shoulder, singing his techno organic skin.
"I don't know, but it-Ugh!" Insecticon was interrupted when a shot hit him dead on in the chest.
"Insecticon!" All three of his allies cried out simultaneously.
"Aha! Do you see now the power of the Vehicons?" Scorponok taunted as he menacingly approached them.
"Bah! You are weak, you pose no real threat to us!" Scourge spat, although it seemed to be an empty threat "Especially not since the demise of your leader!"
In response, Scorponok burst out laughing, the very sound chilling the energon that ran through Snarl's circuits.
"You stupid, arrogant fools! Megatron lives! I saw his resurrection with my own two optics! I witnessed his great and terrible power when he slew the traitor Antagony! You speak ignorance! How could you, mere Predacons and Maximals, ever hope to defeat the glory that is Megatron?" Scorponok sneered, triumph ringing loud and clear in his voice.
"N-no! Megatron is dead! Primal says he saw his corpse! You yourself were there!" Scarem protested.
Scorponok nodded "Indeed I was, but I saw him stand, I saw him walk, and I saw him vaporise those who would dare to betray him! You were fools to think that he was vanquished for good! I never doubted it, and he rewards me for my loyalty! I his second in command, I answer only to Megatron and control the vast armies of the Vehicon hordes! Even now, he plots his return with the restoration of one of the sites that we so foolishly destroyed! I regret my part in its desecration, but I am making up for my foolish transgression by helping to rebuild it!"
"Y-you speak madness Scorponok!" Scourge cried, backing away slightly.
"Yes, open your optics! If what you say about Megatron is true, then you must realise that he is only using you as a pawn in his efforts to rule Cybertron! Once he has no further use for you, or found a suitable replacement, stronger, smarter and en more sycophantic than you, he will dispose of you! Can you not see that Scorponok?" Scarem questioned his former comrade.
"Yeah, what they said!" Snarl added.
Scorponok snarled, his face twisting and contorting in pure malice "Shut up! You can't talk to me that way! You can't talk about Megatron that way! He truly values me and my skills, he could never discard me, like some mere pawn!"
"Yes he could, he's done it before! Magmatron knows of this, he even witnessed Megatron's cruelty!" Scarem argued.
"You lie! Megatron is only cruel to those who betray his trust! You're tying to trick me, like that wretch Terrorsaur did! Well, I'm no fool! I'll destroy you! No more talk, from now on, we just fight!" Scorponok roared, before opening fire on his foes once more.
"Look out!" Scarem cried, pushing Snarl to the side as an explosion blasted away the cement where the young Maximal had been standing only seconds before.
"Ugh...thanks..." Snarl muttered as he got to his feet.
"Thank me later, if we're still functioning by then!" Scarem shouted as he ducked to avoid another shot.
"This is crazy! How did things go so bad so fast?" Snarl asked.
"I've got no idea, I just know that I want to get out of here!" Scourge exclaimed as he raised his hands protectively over his head.
"Under the circumstances, I think that perhaps that's not a bad idea, we must retreat!" Scarem said.
"But-!" Snarl began.
"No buts! Just get going!" Scarem ordered, firing on his enemies.
"Wait! I've got to get Insecticon!" Snarl cried.
"Leave him, he's as good as dead!" Scourge warned.
"No way, never leave a man behind!" Snarl called back as he ran to Insecticon's stasis locked form and scooped him up.
"Ok, we got him, now go, go, go!" Scarem shouted as he fired a few more rounds, before turning and fleeing.
"No need to tell me twice!" Scourge muttered as he too flew off.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Snarl yelled as he ran after the two fleeing Insectrons.
"Yessss, run fools, for soon, there will be nowhere left to run, and all will bow under Megatron!" Scorponok hissed under his breath as beside him, his Tank drones stood motionless.
And, end of chapter 37. Again, I apologise for the lateness of this chapter, I've just go so much work and They Just Don't Care Anymore is taking up a lot of my spare time, so again, sorry for the lateness. Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, sorry if I'm a little rusty or anything, been way too long since the last chapter. How will Primal react to the news of Megatron's resurrection? Will he even believe it? Will the Insectrons continue to appear? We'll find out in the next chapter...which I hope is soon...hopefully...sorry! Well, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to leave a review, and finally...thanks for reading!