Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime. It is the rightful property of Hasbro. My only claim is the plot to this fanfiction.
A/N: Thanks for all the support and your patience with me to get this out! I hope I meet your expectations. So here we go with another chapter, enjoy!
xXx
Rise of the Predacons
Chapter 16
A police patrol was just making its third scan around the neighborhood. The two police officers assigned to the task had mixed feelings about the task they were assigned. "I'm telling ya, Greg. Those missing kids aren't just gonna show up outta the blue. Riding around here ain't gonna do anything."
"I think we're here more to reassure the public's safety than we are to actually find anyone, Max," his partner replied, keeping his eyes on the road as he turned the patrol car at the next turn.
"Yeah, why's that? The army that showed up here, giving us some lame excuse about a busted gas leak or something. It's a cover up, Greg. I know! Only one house seemed to get thrashed, and I saw the state of it! It didn't look like no gas leak. More like someone took a wrecking ball to the side of it. Plus, it be burned to the ground along with half this sinking town!"
"Max, just chill, man. It's above our paygrade, anyway. Nothing we can do, not our job. Our job is to make sure everyone feels safe and if we can find the reason why so many people went missing the past two days, then we make that our business," Greg said with a tone that stated he was done arguing with the topic.
Max on the other hand didn't seem to care. "I'm telling ya! We're getting handed the short end of the stick here! Whatever is going on, it's something big and we can't do anything about it until we know all the facts!"
"As I said! We have our own job to do, Max, so leave it be!" Greg said, finally losing it with his partner who had been ragging on about the current events in Jasper since they started their patrol.
It would have been nice to have a quiet partner, but no, he got stuck with Max, a certified doomsday-minded set kind of guy. It wouldn't surprise him if the guy had a bunker buried in his backyard with all the conspiracy theories the man kept spouting could happen at any moment. Greg was a half-glass full guy. He liked to believe things were better than what they seemed, and always tried to see the silver-lining in everything. Maybe that was why they got partnered up. As the saying goes, opposites attract…sadly, they got it wrong with Max. The man was a complete contradiction to everything anyone says or does, even if at times he is clearly in the wrong. Truth be told, Greg thought Max loved to stir things up just for the sake of it. How a guy like him ended up in the police force was an utter mystery to him.
"It's aliens, Greg1 I'm telling ya! It's damn aliens that's messing with us. Small-bit towns, the army showing up almost every time something weird happens. Heck, there's been sightings of giant metal men around and outside of town!" Max continued the unwanted discussion.
"Are you on that again? Max, come on! There are no aliens, there's no such thing as little green men, and there is definitely no giant metal…AHH!"
Something had latched onto their patrol car, digging metal spines into the roof and lifting the vehicle up with ease. Both men screamed for their lives as the car was thrashed side to side, as if being shaken like a dog would a bone. A high-pitched hiss was coming from directly next to Greg's side of the car. "Mmm, snack time!"
Buzzclaw had easily snatched up the slow-moving patrol car, moving like prey that was trying to avoid being detected by a predator. That wouldn't fool Buzzclaw, he was no fool. He was a hunter! He was the apex predator…Er, when his king and queen weren't around, that is. It had been extremely boring and disappointing when he went scouting and searching for food. The constant actively the Insecticons were doing with the king's biggest project scared all the prey for miles around away. So, this left Buzzclaw to go looking elsewhere, a place that some part of its memory remembered there would be food, and plenty of it.
What luck that it found its way to this place, active with prey with no mind that they were in danger. It mattered little. Prey was weak, prey was delicious. All that mattered after that was sating his hunger and eating as much yummy prey as he could before he was caught, or told to stop eating when clearly Buzzclaw still wanted to. Stupid leaders, they didn't know hunger like his. He needed to fulfill his need, his instinct to eat was too great to ignore, and now he was going to finally get his fill, with no interruptions.
Or so Buzzclaw thought.
"BEEP BEEP, UGLY!"
"Huh?" Buzzclaw managed to utter before a silver and blue muscle car came speeding right for him.
The radical Predacon didn't have any time to dodge or understand what happened until it was too late. It was just fortunate timing that Smokescreen was on patrol himself in Jasper under Optimus Prime's orders, that he caught the Predacon about to munch on two human police officers. His front bumper slammed into Buzzclaw's side and knocked both of his legs out from under him, sending the Predacon and the patrol car spinning in the air. Acting quickly, Smokescreen transformed and caught the car and set it down as safely as he could, then transformed back into his vehicle-mode before either police officers' could see what just saved them, then he spun on his wheels and charged toward the Predacon, ramming him into the brush and out of sight.
"…M-Max? You okay, buddy?" Greg moaned after coming to his senses.
His partner had fainted in his chair, completely overcome by their experience.
Greg made sure he was indeed unconscious, checking his vitals and finding the man's pulse, then reached for his radio, but paused as he looked at the damage done to the ceiling of their patrol car. It looked like a saw or some kind of claw had bitten into it and the siren on top hadn't survived whatever attacked them, it barely hung on the roof by just one wire. For all the way things looked…maybe Max's alien theory wasn't all together false.
"He's never gonna let me forget this one," Greg uttered to himself, then made the call to HQ about the incident.
xXx
Driving through the brush and towing an angry, and ugly, Predacon on his hood, Smokescreen drove as best he could to get the thing away from innocent civilians. "Dunno where you came from, buddy. But snacking on humans is a no-go!"
"I'll slice you and then eat your insides!" came Buzzclaw's reply, readying one of his claws to slash down on the Autobot.
"Whoa, not cool!" Smokescreen said and hit the brakes.
The force of the sudden stop propelled Buzzclaw off his hood and slamming into a few trees. The sturdy wood held against the barrage, but not withstanding some damage as bits of bark and splinters went flying in the air. Not waiting to let the Predacon recover, Smokescreen transformed and had his blasters out and aimed at the creature.
"All right, ugly. You and me are gonna have a nice little chat. Like for starters…where's Jack?" Smokescreen said with a cocky smirk.
Buzzclaw thrashed where it was on the ground, his wings blurring like mad trying to regain his balance and get back on his awkwardly positioned legs. When he righted himself, he glared with intense hate at the Autobot and hissed and clicked his mandibles. "Buzzclaw will turn you into scrap!"
"Buzzclaw, huh? That's your name? Where'd you come from?" Smokescreen said.
Buzzclaw flung himself into the air rather than waste any more time with pointless talking. He was hungry and this Autobot was preventing him from eating, just like everyone else had! No more! He would feed, he would hunt, and nothing was going to stop him now!
"Whoa!" Smokescreen cried and pivoted to his ride, missing Buzzclaw's razor-looking pincers from severing his head. He rolled to his feet and blasted the Predacon with two shots in the side. "Guess we're not gonna have a nice little chat, huh, buddy!"
The blasts took Buzzclaw in the side, but his metallic carapace hide managed to withstand it, knocking him slightly to the side. It greatly annoyed Buzzclaw more than actually hurt him, but the action still enraged him. Spinning around, he charged once more at Smokescreen, surprising the Autobot at how resilient and quick he was.
He ducked just in time to miss another swipe of Buzzclaw's claws, slicing a tree cleanly through its trunk. Smokescreen looked up to see the tree fall where it no longer was attached to its bottom half and gulped. "Those…ah…those are some sharp, whatever those are, buddy."
"NOT YOUR BUDDY!" Buzzclaw roared in rage and tried to swipe at him again.
Smokescreen dodged it like the last time, ducking just at the last moment and kicked away, trying to get some distance between him and this crazy creature. "Jack must be scrapping the bottom of the barrel if he's recruiting the likes of you. I almost feel sorry for him, almost!"
Deciding not to play it safe anymore, Smokescreen unloaded a volley of blasts, deciding it time to go all or nothing with this beast. Buzzclaw shrieked and covered his bulbous eyes and face as best he could with his pincers, withdrawing from the annoying stings the Autobots shots caused.
"You like that?! HUH!" Smokescreen taunted as he continued with his rapid shots.
Buzzclaw turned tail and ran, deciding it wasn't worth dealing with this annoying pain any further. Running into the forest growth, Buzzclaw ran until he got enough of the forest between him and the Autobot, letting the trees act as cover, then his wings buzzed rapidly, and he sluggishly took to the air, but once he got his feet off the ground. He was zipping up and away from the city, hissing angrily all the way.
"Smokescreen to Optimus! Come in, Big Blue!" Smokescreen said quickly into his comm-link.
"Smokescreen, what have you to report?" the Prime answered back, having received his call.
"Just ran into something weird and ugly trying to munch on some humans! I think it's with Jack. I never seen a Decepticon like this thing before…so it's gotta be with Jack!" Smokescreen reported, breaking out into a run after where he saw the creature fly off to. "I'm pursuing it now! Hopefully, it'll lead me to wherever Jack and Airachnid are hiding!"
"Wait for backup, Smokescreen! You cannot take on Jack and Airachnid alone!" Optimus Prime ordered.
"If I don't keep going, I'm gonna lose him, Optimus!" Smokescreen argued.
"That is an order, Smokescreen. Wait for backup!" Optimus Prime stated firmly, cutting the comm-link. Likely to get a party ready to meet up with Smokescreen.
Smokescreen thought for a moment and then sighed. "Sorry…but I can't let this opportunity go!"
Deciding it was better to ask for forgiveness later, Smokescreen picked up his speed and ran as best he could through the forest, until he found himself back out into the desert, then he transformed and continued the pursuit on wheels. "Not gonna lose me, buddy! Just lead me to your base!"
That was what he assumed the creature would do. What Smokescreen didn't know was that Buzzclaw had gotten himself lost a long time ago when he went hunting for prey. He never bothered to try and remember his surroundings since there was nothing to eat. He was flying blindly away and didn't really care where he went, just so long as he got away from the Autobot and to find something tasty to eat.
Any direction was just as good as another as far as Buzzclaw was concerned and headed off over the mountains, hoping to find something to eat on the other side, not bothering at all to check below him to see Smokescreen catching up with it on the ground. The two traveled for some time, Smokescreen having a bit of a rougher time and he had to find a clear enough path to continue following Buzzclaw, but the Elite was determined to keep following the creature, no matter what.
Once Buzzclaw had cleared over the mountain he spotted something not too far off. It looked like a small gathering and something really, really big in the air was floating over it. Curious, Buzzclaw made his way toward it, hoping that there was something live and tasty to finally sink his mandibles in.
xXx
The excavation was grievous for the Decepticon foot soldiers. It took them too much time and energy to remove the massive boulders over the site they were digging. Had they more muscle, like the Insecticons, they might have been able to get far more work done faster, but since their rebellious exodus, they were forced to do the work as best they could with what they had. What made it even more tedious was the limited mining equipment at their disposal. They had yet to discover what had happened to the mining operations they had all over the planet, or any working equipment…if there were any to be found.
Something had systemically wiped them all out and either took what equipment they needed and destroyed what they didn't care for. It was a mystery that infuriated their tyrannical leader, Megatron, but they could not find any evidence as to whom it could be, or at such impressive speed. It was fortunate enough that they still had some mining tools and drills on the Nemesis, to which was the only way the Decepticons were able to get anywhere with the supposed Iacon relic that was buried in all the rock around them.
What's more was that they seemed to be zeroing in on the relic, and just in time as Megatron himself had graced them with his imposing presence to oversee their results. He strolled into the site, eyeing his loyal minions with an approving stare. Yes, his army was mighty and it was good to see he still had some loyal warriors he could count on to carry out his will. He was just coming upon one group that appeared to be clearing out a specific spot with more vigor than the rest.
Assuming with all confidence they had found something, Megatron made his way over to it. Gaining the attention of the soldiers around him, Megatron thought to ease inspire them, as well as himself. "I certainly hope our new acquisition is of Decepticon origins…" He meant to say more but just as his Decepticons finished pulling away one last bit of rock, he saw the item they were looking for…and two things overwhelmed his Spark-Chamber. Disbelief and terror.
"It cannot be…"
He was so overcome by these two feelings, he thought nothing of hiding these from his Decepticons. He wore his shock clearly on his faceplate and none thought to voice their concern. If their great leader was in this state, then whatever they had discovered was truly dire. Trying to wrap his processor around what his optics were registering, Megatron looked upon what appeared to be the hilt of some kind of weapon stuck in the side of a massive boulder, far bigger than himself.
His terror foreboded all his greatest worries he kept buried away at the sight of that hilt. All he had achieved, every sacrifice he had made…meant nothing upon this discovery. This relic had the means to end all he had painstakingly worked towards. "Power of his magnitude must never be allowed to fall into the hands of Optimus Prime! No matter what!"
A glimmer of hope did surge through his Spark, though. If he could use such power for himself, then there would be no force in the entire universe that could challenge him ever again. It urged him forward and he stalked toward the hilt and took a chance. He tentatively wrapped his hand around the hilt and gave it a mighty tug, expecting it to easily slide out of the rock. To his great astonishment and ire, his strength did nothing to free the relic. It remained where it was sticking out, showing no sign it had budged. That did not stop Megatron, though. Fighting the defiant relic, he struggled to keep trying to pull it free. When tugging it with one arm failed, he resorted to pull with both arms, planting his foot even on the boulder to aid in the deed, giving it everything he had.
Around him, his Decepticons all watched in great worry as Megatron struggled on, fearful of what he might do to vent his growing anger.
And indeed, he was growing angry. The relic would not move, no matter how much strength he used. He even cried out a cry of frustration as he tried to use all his might and will for one final attempt, but he lost his grip and he stumbled backward. As expected, he expressed his rage but to the Decepticons relief, he chose to take it out on the rock that defied him his prize. He raised his cannon arm and fired with abandonment at the point where the relic met rock, thinking damn the relic and reduce it to slag.
Dust and smoke rose up around the spot and Megatron did not stop until he was satisfied. When he felt he had fired enough, he paused and waited for the dust cloud to fade away, but when it did, it revealed all his fury, all his power…was a wasted effort. The relic remained completely intact, as did the rock that kept him from it.
Megatron could not believe his optics. "The rock is impermeable!" He took a few steps back in worry, finally understanding why his efforts had no effect. "The relic is emitting a protective shield!"
None of the Decepticons were sure what that meant or how they would retrieve this relic. They all glanced in dumbfounded confusion amongst themselves and at their leader, who ignored them all as he voiced the answer to their unspoken question. "…It will only respond to the power of a Prime!" He growled in response to this revelation, but he would not be denied his prize! Turning to his Decepticons sharply, he swiped at the air and gave a new order. "We will remove it, even if we have to take the entire mountain!"
Reacting to his command, all the Decepticons quickly moved to enact their master's will, knowing any sign of hesitation would only draw his fury on them and would likely be blasted into oblivion. Calling to Nemesis, the warship began to position itself over the rock and the Decepticons began working on moving the very mountain as their leader had decreed. In their fervor, none of them thought to continue scouting the area to make sure no one was interloping on their discovery. Had they, even just one, they would have seen the incoming approaching of a winged horror making a straight line for them.
xXx
Buzzclaw was elated with the sight before him. Prey! Unsuspecting prey were in his compounded sight. It would have been better if they were the juicy, soft fleshlings he had been hoping to savor in that town, but the thought of fresh energon straight from the source of a living transformer was just as tantalizing. Forgetting everything else with a source of food before him, Buzzclaw dove for the first target he could reach at incredible speed. Some part of his fractured mind took in the work his prey was doing.
They seemed very focused on a stupid looking heap of rock, going so far as to use a gigantic crane from their ship itself to start lifting the thing up. That was all Buzzclaw cared to consider when he was finally within striking distance of his first unsuspecting prey! His scythe-like arms buried themselves into the back of one Decepticon that had been too concerned about watching the mountainous rock be carried up into the sky to watch for any possible danger. That was the prey's most fatal mistake and Buzzclaw took full advantage of it now!
His pincers dug in deep and he clamped his mandibles onto the head neck of his prey, biting down as hard as he could and was quickly rewarded with his juicy reward. Pure, refined energon gushed out of the wound and he began to slurp it down as fast as he could, purring to finally have something to sedate his very consistent hunger. The kill was so quick and clean, the Decepticon went offline before he could cry out and warn his fellow comrades of the danger.
It wasn't until there was no more energon to drink and Buzzclaw bit clean through the deceased Decepticon's head, severing it form its body and clanking to the ground loudly, did all the other Decepticons take note and turn to see what made that sound. Buzzclaw was in a frenzy now that he had fed, wanting only to consume more now that he had a taste of his prey's life essence. Letting out a primal shriek, he charged into the mass, crying out as he dashed in to impale another Decepticon with his pincers.
"DIE, PREY!"
Chaos soon erupted in the site and it drew the attention of all the Decepticons and Megatron.
"What in the pit is going on?!" Megatron cried out, ready to annihilate the problem.
None of his soldiers answered, all responding as they were supposed to by readying their weapons and moving in to intercept the threat. Megatron stalked behind them as was fitting of his role as their leader and went to investigate the scene. What he saw was almost just as unnerving as when he first laid optics on the relic.
"…What is that thing?" Megatron roared, raising his cannon arm up and readying to end the horrifying thing that was currently ripping into his soldiers as though they were made of flimsy material. Sickness grew in his core as he saw the thing wasn't so much as ripping his Decepticons apart, it was eating them! "What foil abomination is this?" Then he pieced together what was happening. "Damn that traitorous Airachnid! This is one of her creations! Decepticons, destroy that monstrosity, now!"
His command lit a surge in all their Sparks, embolden by their leader and their desire to avenge their fallen comrade, the Decepticons opened fire on the horror before them. As soon as the first few charges struck his carapace armor, a different instinct kicked in that overrode the need to feed. Fear. It flooded his system and pulled him away from his blood frenzy to take in the new threat peppering his hide with painful burns. This prey wasn't weak or defenseless as he assumed. Something in him had told him to not underestimate this prey, but his instincts to fight and feed and survive pushed it away. Prey was meant to be eaten, not flee from but this prey was showing it could fight back, and thus was trying to turn him into prey.
Buzzclaw hissed in defiance at their attempt to take him down and zipped up into the air and zoomed around their shots, waiting to see if he could snag one more to devour or see if it would be more prudent to retreat. That decision was quickly made when he spotted a massive hulk storming his way. At first, fear came over Buzzclaw as the hulk almost made him think it was his king. It even raised is arm up with a massive weapon like his king, and he could only assume that when it fired at him, it would end his life. This was a predator, an alpha, and it was to be feared and not taken lightly as he might with the others.
"No fair! Tasty prey get away again!" Buzzclaw hissed savagely and started to make his retreat once more.
"Oh no, you don't! You slippery, bot fly!" a familiar voice joined the fray.
Smokescreen jumped out from behind a rock that he had been hiding a moment ago and came out charging with both blasters firing at anything that moved. The Elite Guard had managed to track the annoying bug-thing all the way to the site and took a moment to recon the situation. He had spotted the relic the Decepticons were trying to extract. It was kinda hard not to notice since they were in the middle of lifting a literal mountain to do so. What's more, Smokescreen knew exactly what the Decepticons had found, and by Primus, he could not allow them to take it! It was the thing they needed to turn the tide of this war, and he was going to make sure he got it before the Decepticons could use it!
He tried to multi-task as he charged on, though. He meant to take down the bug as well as take down a few Decepticon cannon fodder in his epic dash, but all his shots missed as Buzzclaw easily maneuvered around his blasts. Some did hit the Decepticons that had finally took notice of him, but not enough to really take them all down. It wasn't really meant to, anyway. It was to confuse them and make them back off as he went straight for the relic, aiming to retrieve it before it was completely lifted up into the air. His speed was glorious and he reached his destination and had grabbed the hilt of the relic and went to yank it out, but he soon found there was a reason why the Decepticons hadn't removed it from the rock yet. The stupid thing was stuck!
Frantically trying to pull harder, he left himself exposed and he was taken down by the Decepticons that swarmed in on him, knocking him flat to the ground and stunned. Two soldiers lifted his prone form up and carried-dragged his frame over to their waiting lord who regarded the Autobot with much distain, but there was a hint of respect in his gaze. This Autobot had great courage to challenge his army. For that, he had some meager admiration for the warrior.
He waited for his Decepticons to bring him the Autobot and they tossed him down at his feet. Raising a curious bladed brow, Megatron deemed to ask the warrior. "What is your name, Autobot?"
As if not caring for his own situation, Smokescreen responded with far more confidence and cockiness than he should have. "Why? Who wants to know?"
The arrogant smirk Smokescreen shot at Megatron vaporized what little patience he had, and he raised the back of his hand to beat submission into him. Yet before he could strike the impudent Autobot, the sound of battle echoed up closer than he would have expected. He quickly looked up to make sure the abomination hadn't tried a sneak attack on him when he wasn't looking, but he saw the thing was making a hasty escape with the distraction out into the horizon. Fear gripped him and he jerked around to where the shots were being fired. His soldiers were firing into a dust cloud that must have been kicked up with the renewed fighting.
He did not need to know who they were fighting as he knew internally his worst fears were coming true as two Autobots came running out of the cover of the dust-cloud, the ones called Arcee, Bumblebee, and Wheeljack, slashing and shooting their way through his ranks, but they were the only ones he saw. Concern washed over him and he looked about with dread.
"Where's Optimus?"
No answer came as the battle continued on but he ignored everyone as he looked around desperately for Autobot leader who was oddly absent from the assault. He gazed about and then jerked in alarm when he saw his greatest enemy where he did not wish him to be! Optimus Prime had somehow gotten around them all and was currently leaping up the side of the ruined mountain, his path taking him start toward where the relic was now being lifted away from the earth.
Making a mad dash toward Optimus Prime, Megatron roared another command: "Keep Prime away from the relic!"
Not leaving anything to chance, Megatron transformed into his flight-mode and took to the air to intercept the Prime. Behind him, a flight squad transformed and fell into formation behind their leader. Opening a barrage of fire on Optimus Prime, Megatron and his squad tried in vain to bring down the Prime as he leapt further up, transforming into his vehicle-mode to accelerate faster toward the relic. With amazing skill for such a bulky form, Optimus Prime drove up and off the side of an upturned cliff, giving him just enough angle to put him in a direct course for the floating relic. Megatron kept firing and a lucky shot finally hit the Prime, but his enemy would not be deterred and transformed back into his robot-mode, spinning with the momentum to keep from losing any height or speed he built up.
Optimus Prime continued to sail through the air and with one hand, grasped the hilt of the relic. Correcting his course so he would not crash into the side of the mountain, unlike one of his less intelligent flight-troopers, who smashed into it, Megatron veered around and up toward Nemesis and transformed back when he was over its bow, along with his remaining Decepticons. He could only assume the ones on the ground were defeated, as that seemed to be the way things were turning about for his warriors. He rushed to the side of his ship to witness a brilliant blue light illuminate under the mountain and a form beginning to descend back down to the earth below.
Snarling, Megatron quickly made his way back inside to the bridge so he could get a visual as to what was happening. Soundwave, having anticipated his wish, already had a live feed of Optimus Prime falling and landing with powerful grace, leaving an impact that only served to unnerve the Decepticon leader even more around his form. But all his fears were confirmed as to the identity of the relic when Optimus Prime pulled its length up from the ground where it had impaled when he landed, showing for all the see, the legendary glowing blade of the Primes: the Star Saber.
Not wishing to allow Optimus Prime to have any chance with the Star Saber, he growled out with a balled-up fist. "Drop the mountain on him!"
Detaching the Nemesis from its payload, the hook that once held the mountain was sent falling back to the planet from where it came and its mass was sent rolling when it hit the side of a large hill, sending the mountain straight toward Optimus Prime. For a moment, it seemed as if the Prime had no awareness of the danger heading his way, his optics absorbed by the alluring glow of the Star Saber, but with a calmness that shouldn't have been there. Optimus Prime turned around to face the rolling mountain and with one upward swipe of the Star Saber, the Prime split it cleanly in half, sending its bulking two pieces rolling harmlessly by him.
It was then that Megatron finally felt true apprehension and uncertainty since he first led his army to conquer Cybertron. In one single moment of fate, everything Megatron desired was in jeopardy. He stared on in pure disbelief as Optimus Prime gazed up at his vessel, and he began to move forward, breaking into a run and then he brought up the Star Saber into a mighty swing and from its blade, a streak of pure, unrivaled power surged up and flew toward Nemesis.
Megatron was too shocked by this outcome to react or to issue a command. The surge struck the Nemesis, almost taking out one of its engines and threw his vessel off course. The force of the attack nearly sent his mighty ship crashing to the earth, but his bridge crew had managed to correct the course and rear back up into the sky at the last moment to keep from hitting down.
As they flew away, Megatron finally got a hold of himself, and he addressed his people with finality. "We Decepticons…now face our darkest hour."
xXx
Back down on the ground where the Autobots stood in awe of what their leader had just accomplished, Smokescreen was the first to speak.
"It can do that?"
Lowering the Star Saber, Optimus Prime called for an immediate ground-bridge back to their base. He marched through it without another word, not even for his team to follow. As they crossed over, Smokescreen was already boasting about the event that took place, acting nothing like the Elite Guard he proclaimed himself to be.
"What the heck was that? I saw it with my own optics!" Smokescreen said and repeated the same movement Optimus Prime preformed when he attacked the Nemesis with the Star Saber, looking out with a dreaming expression. "But I still don't believe it!"
Arcee had enough of his antics. She wheeled around on him and pointed an accusing finger at him. "You know what I don't believe? That after everything you've been told, you still decided to ignore direct orders and acted on your own whim! What's more you almost put human lives endanger when you engaged that, thing, in the middle of the city!"
Smokescreen stood there dumbfounded at her words, not sure how to respond as she was completely in the right.
Arcee didn't think he quite got her point yet, so she kept on. "We were desperate need of another Autobot in our ranks, not another child!"
"Look, Arcee. I was wrong and I'm sorry…again," Smokescreen said, with all true sincerity, but he quickly added. "But you need to kick me off the team Prime…"
He wasn't able to finish whatever he was going to say as Optimus Prime took that moment to put in his own words to the rookie with a displeased and growl in his voice-box. "Disregard for safety, anyone's safety, will not be tolerated! Do you understand?" He placed the tip of the Star Saber down on the floor, ringing the air with a loud clang, to show his own impatience with Smokescreen.
He was at his wits end with this Autobot. Time and again, he continued to act impulsively and put himself in needless danger without waiting for aid. He had yet to understand what it meant to work as a team, and he feared that Smokescreen would not take this lesson to heart. It was only because of his trust and belief in his old mentor, Alpha Trion, was he giving this rookie so many chances where for any other under his command would not have been tolerated for this long.
Assuming he did understand what his leader was saying, Smokescreen placed a hand over his chestplate, trying to show as much as he felt sorry for his actions toward the Prime. "Fully…sir."
The Autobots present were almost convinced but Optimus Prime felt he needed to press on with the lesson, and as a reminder to all his team members. What he held in his hand now reminded him of the power that his people once possessed. And that terrified Optimus Prime more than relieved him. Had Megatron had been able to wield such a weapon, all sentient life would forever lose its freedom. What's more…such power could create arrogance and that would lead to mistakes, ones that may end up in some innocent life being ruined…like Jack's.
"We must never lose sight of the fact that upon this earth…we, are titans! That such power…must be used, wisely!" Optimus Prime said to reaffirm this rule with his team, and to reassure the humans that were present and witnessing this moment, that he and his Autobots did indeed consider the safety of human life deeply.
The moment was broken when the Star Saber suddenly began to hum to life on its own and it drew Optimus Prime's gaze toward it and all anger and irritation he had vanished from him, as he lifted the blade up and stared upon its glowing form.
Seeing Optimus Prime appeared to be going into a trance-like state, noting that his optics were glowing with the same brilliance as the Star Saber, Arcee stepped forward and asked in concern. "Optimus, what's going on?"
Only silence answered her as Optimus Prime continued to stare into the Star Saber.
From one of the walking planks that reached the Autobots, June came running over and halfway leaned over the railing. "Optimus, talk to us? What's happening?"
Amazingly, her voice reached Optimus Prime through whatever was happening to him, and he replied, "I am receiving a message…"
June looked to the Autobots and then back to him. "…Who's messaging you?"
Once again, Optimus Prime answered her. "…Alpha Trion."
A gasped came from all the Autobots. June blinked for a moment, waiting for a further explanation but when none came, she looked at the others. "…Alpha what?"
xXx
Buzzclaw was annoyed beyond belief. He had finally been allowed outside! And yet both times he had found prey, he was forced to run away. It was only by some luck that he managed to get a small meal from the second attempt, but that large predator, ruined any chances of getting more tasty energon. What's more, his protective shell was riddled with burns that stung painfully. They would heal…not as fast as his king…but over time the burns would go away.
For now, he would return home and lick his wounds, wait until they healed, and then he would hunt again! Likely, he would need to try and sneak another snack from the cocoon room when no one was looking, but he would get a proper hunt and fill his gut until he was truly sated! At least that pesky Autobot had left him alone and kept the other prey from chasing after him. Just to be sure he wasn't being followed, he gazed down to check for any signs he might still be being pursued. His compound optics looked down just in time to spot an odd sight in the rocky valley he was currently flying over.
A strange pulse of purple light appeared alongside the side of the rocky wall that made up the valley, and it expanded. It looked almost like a ground-bridge, but something was odd about it. Its color shouldn't be purple, should it? Curious as to what was going on, Buzzclaw decided to investigate it and made his descent. As he drew closer to the strange event, he saw that it was continuing to get bigger and rounding out, similar to a ground-bridge, and he feared the enemy had found him and paused to hover in the air. He readied to make another hasty retreat, but he stopped himself when he saw something walking out of it, something with many legs…
They were like his Queen's, long and multi-jointed, but they did not have the black hue of her carapace. They were a gleaming purple, more metal-like than organic like his Queen's. Following the legs was a more robotic form of the creature his Queen modeled herself after. Protruding from its mouth were two thick, long mandibles that were confusingly similar to limbs instead of fangs. Cross its shiny back was an orange plating that covered most of it, with a dark blue shelling making up the rest of the body. Over the top of its head were eight green eyes and they were taking in its surroundings.
Another fact that Buzzclaw took in…was how small this creature was. It was bigger than the fleshy ones, quite larger than them, but it was almost the same size as himself. It left him wondering if this thing was prey and wondered if it could be eaten.
It took Buzzclaw by surprise was when it started talking to itself.
"Nahahahaha! It worked! My Space-Time Dilation Portal was a success! I've entered the past and on the right planet, too! As was to be expected! After all, a genius like myself, could do nothing less! Nwahahahaha!" it boasted to itself with a sickeningly sinister, pitchy voice.
Its head jerked up when three of its eyes spotted Buzzclaw coming closer. "Oooh? What have we here? Is…that a fellow Predacon I see up there? Hmm, interesting. Very interesting, indeed!"
"Predacon? You know Predacon?" Buzzclaw replied, hovering where he felt was a safe distance from the spider-thing.
"Indeed, I do! In fact, we are in the same club, you might say! For I…am also a Predacon!" the creature responded, turning about to show off a very familiar brand on the side of its armor.
Buzzclaw pondered with what little patience and intelligence he had, trying to piece together what was going on here. Then it came to a decision. "You just made? Did Queen send you to fetch me back?"
"Hmm, Queen you say? Oooh, ho, I see! Yes! Yes, indeed! The Queen did send me to retrieve you. We must hurry! But…It seems…" the self-proclaimed Predacon turned around to face the closing bridge it had walked out of. When it vanished, the creature chuckled at some joke and turned back to Buzzclaw. "It would appear we will have to go back on foot…or wing in your case. I'm not familiar with this terrain. Do you know the way back to base?"
The fact the thing was not prey as it declared itself a Predacon meant little to Buzzclaw. The Queen stated very clearly…and extremely painfully…that he couldn't eat fellow Predacons. So, whatever this thing wanted mattered little to Buzzclaw, but Queen would be angry if they didn't return together. The fact that he couldn't figure out yet how to call for aid or that he still didn't know where he was, or how to get back, didn't occur to his limiting thinking process. Only facts that registered was, return home. Shrugging, Buzzclaw waved a claw toward it.
"Follow, I lead!" Buzzclaw stated and started to zoom off, but then stopped and looked back at the creature with a puzzled look. "Eh…who you, anyway?"
"My name? Well, since you haven't told me yours yet, I'll be polite and tell you mine, anyway. My name…is Tarantulas!" the metallic spider said, and then quickly broke out in a hackling laugh.
"Huh…okay. My name is Buzzclaw! I'm hungry! Let's return and find tasty things to eat!" Buzzclaw greeted uncaringly, then zipped off toward where he assumed was the Harbinger, not at all aware that he was going in the opposite direction of its actual location.
"…Buzzclaw, hmm? That name. Ehehehe! So, I'm at that point in history, am I? Well, it seems I've arrived just at the right moment. Now then, better follow this idiot. I have to make sure the plan begins!" Tarantulas murmured to himself, but rather than begin to scurry on his eight legs. He hopped into the air.
While suspended for a moment, two wheels configured under his form and he took off like an odd motorcycle, using his legs as balance as he rode swiftly to catch up and follow Buzzclaw. Oh, what delightful mischief he had in stored. All that he needed to do was make sure these fools believed his story and all would go off without a hitch! If not…well, there was always that plan. Breaking out into another hackling set of laughter, he rode through the valley with a hint of madness shining in his many eyes.
xXx
A/N: Okay, not going to lie. This one took me some time to get worked out, but there is an actual plot to what just happened here, I promise. Yes, it's interesting that I have our famous, traitorous spider from Beast Wars entering the mix, but again, there is a reason, and I'm sure you'll all enjoy what is to come! Now then, to reiterate as many people still seem not to understand, I will not update this story often if I continue to get simple reviews telling me to just update. I actually put off working on this chapter because of such reviews just to state a point.
This is my fair warning to everyone who wants faster updates. Please, do not bug me about it, or just tell me to do it. I have other projects in the works, mainly to do with on Royal Roads (if anyone knows what that is, you are awesome as hell), and paid commissions work, as I gotta pay my bills.
Now then, onto another matter that. I've been trying to get more into contact with people, but that seemed to have failed, as only a very few have actually messaged, but then went silent, save for one and I'm really sorry for not messaging back soon enough. Anyway, if you're only going to contact me and not talk to me except to tell me to update, then I'll block you. Again, I don't need people to tell me to hurry up and not talk about anything else, or at all it seems. So, if you're really serious about wanting to see more of my work, more chapters, more updates of ANY kind, then please, don't waste my time and be real, okay?
I might even start a discord channel if enough people try, and we'll see where that goes.
All right, that's enough for now, as I'm sure you all have questions burning inside to ask! Don't wait! Come on and ask me in your reviews! I want to know your opinions, how you feel, what you liked! This stuff is what keeps me working on these stories, people! I want to entertain and leave my readers wanting more, so let's see what you got!
Till then…