Author's Notes: Hi everybody! This chapter isn't an action chapter. This is a chapter that's more about bonding and character development, but don't worry, it's Beast Wars so you know more action is coming soon. Also, since I'm not sure I'll be able to explain it in-story I'll say it now for those that have read the other Sigma Sister fics. Q-Boom isn't actually dead, but when Terrabyte was thrown into the past with Q-Boom's body Q-Boom's spark stayed behind. Anyway, thank you for reading this story, and I hope you will review :)
Chapter 5
Project: Maximal
A couple orns passed without incident, though the Maximals continued to keep an optic on Bitten. This was especially bad news for Dinobot since he was often the one tasked with ensuring the small white femme performed her duties. He was beginning to feel like the kangaroo's prison warden, and part of him wished she would either go bother someone else or abandon the Maximals altogether.
The only other one that seemed to want to talk to Bitten was Tigatron, and that was only because he was unaware that the marsupial femme handed over Autobot technology to the Predacons. Bitten didn't really seem to enjoy his company, but then again she didn't really seem to enjoy anything. No one could tell exactly what was on her processor unless she told them, which she rarely did.
On this particular orn Optimus Primal was dividing teams of two to scout for energon crystals. He sent Cheetor with Rattrap, Airazor with Rhinox, and of course because his day wasn't already perfect enough, Dinobot with Bitten. Oh well, at least it wasn't Rattrap.
While the other two teams were searching for energon in a field and a mountain respectively, Dinobot and Bitten were sent to the bottom of a canyon. The climb down was uneventful, and when they reached the bottom they both scanned the area in silence. Dinobot always had his audials trained in case of a surprise Predacon attack, but Bitten seemed more intent on watching Dinobot watch for Predacons.
"Ergh, would you stop staring at me!?" Dinobot finally snapped after ten awkward minutes of her unwavering gaze, "Go check on the other side of the canyon!"
"There is nothing there," Bitten pointed out.
"I don't care!" Dinobot shouted irritably, "I'm going over to that side. You check on the other side away from me. It doesn't have to be energon. Just report whatever useful minerals you find. Now go!"
"Yes, Dinobot," Bitten replied dutifully before obediently going on her way.
Part of Dinobot felt bad for snapping at the young femme, but another part was furious that he even had to be stuck with her again. Every orn she followed him around like a lost puppy and stared at him with those large unwieldy yellow optics. She only spoke when spoken to, and she obeyed his every command. It felt like having a slave, and Dinobot was surprised to find he was uncomfortable with that. Predacons normally loved subjugating the weak, but Dinobot didn't want a prisoner blindly following him around. It just felt...wrong.
That was when Dinobot realized what was bothering him about the little kangaroo. Bitten stayed so close to him and served him because she felt she owed him some vague life debt. He didn't even understand why she felt she owed him anything. He felt that it was underhanded to take advantage of a young femme's insecurity and sense of honor for his own gain, yet he couldn't convince her that she didn't owe him anything. He needed to think of a way to make her feel the debt was repaid.
"Dinobot," Bitten called out in her soft, barely audible voice, "I found something."
Dinobot was surprised there was actually a mineral deposit where he had sent her. He ran over to see what she had found, but then growled low when he saw that she was pointing to a fallen baby bird that was barely alive.
"It's just a stupid bird," Dinobot grumbled at the interruption.
"Yes, it is a common specimen in this area, and it is in dire need of nourishment," Bitten elaborated on his statement, "Can I keep him?"
"You are an adult, Bitten," Dinobot replied with a sharp sigh, "You don't need anyone's permission to live your life as you see fit. If you want the slagging bird then just take it."
"What about Optimus Primal?" Bitten asked apprehensively.
"He isn't your sire nor your master," Dinobot replied impatiently.
"You are not happy," Bitten observed sadly.
"I don't like useless things," Dinobot explained curtly.
"Alright. I will keep that in mind," Bitten replied placidly, "I believe I will name him Metronome."
"Metronome?" Dinobot asked curiously, "So, you are from Polyhex?"
"I am," Bitten replied simply.
She then carefully picked up the baby bird with her only servo and gently settled the pink featherless thing in her warm pouch. Bitten then let out a squeal of joy when she felt the bird getting more comfortable in there.
"I didn't find anything," Dinobot reported, "We should probably get back to the ship."
"Yes, Dinobot," Bitten replied in her typical formal manner.
The duo then started the trek back up the path from the canyon below, their usual all-encompassing silence surrounding them. Dinobot, despite himself, kept staring back at the small femme as she tended to the bird. He saw her lean down at one point and pluck a worm out of the ground. She crushed it in her servo and then scooped the pink gory remains bit by bit into the baby bird's hungry beak. She barely even stopped walking to do so. It was the first time in hours she wasn't staring at Dinobot or another Maximal.
After several minutes of walking Bitten suddenly interrupted their silence by asking "Where are you from?"
"What?" Dinobot asked, barely able to hear her soft spoken question.
"I told you I was from Polyhex. Where are you from?" Bitten repeated herself patiently as she looked up at Dinobot.
"That conversation was 20 minutes ago," Dinobot pointed out, but when she continued to look to him for an answer he sighed and said, "Helex. My home city-state is Helex. It is the birthplace of the reptilian Predacon training camp as well as the location of the Combiner Wars of the third era. Helex's central square is where the mighty Grimlock of the Autobots destroyed the combiner Devastator single-handedly."
"You sound proud of that," Bitten noted, "I thought you disliked Autobots."
"The Dinobots are different," Dinobot explained, "They were among the first beast-formers. They were vicious, strong, honorable warriors. They are also my namesake. If they lived in our modern era, then I believe they might've been Predacons."
"I think you would be unpleasantly surprised if you met them in person," Bitten replied dryly, "I knew them briefly. They were...inexperienced. They did have honor, but they did not have your intellect or your ability to reason. You are not like them, and it is not a bad thing."
"So, you were an Autobot?" Dinobot asked for clarification.
"Briefly," Bitten replied.
For another few minutes they walked along in silence. They were close to the Axelon by this time, but still had to cross one more mountain. The energon in the atmosphere was taking its toll, so Dinobot transformed into beast mode. Bitten stayed as she was to prevent the baby bird being jostled. Bitten continued to stroke the head of the baby bird as she walked, and Dinobot continued to walk slightly behind her so it wasn't obvious he was watching her.
"Do you know the story behind Project: Maximal?" Bitten asked all of a sudden.
"I know they have conflicting accounts of how their oh-so glorious race came to be," Dinobot replied with slight contempt, "Some say they were built by search and rescue 'Bots, while others say they were created by the Autobots to save fuel. Some even believe Primus himself declared them the next generation of Cybertronian development. Maximals are so full of themselves..."
"I was one of the few individuals that knew about Project: Maximal before it was completed," Bitten revealed almost casually as she stopped on the road, "They are correct in believing they were created as new more efficient soldiers for the Autobots. However, there is one thing history often forgets to mention: motive."
"What do you mean by that?" Dinobot asked curiously despite even wondering if Bitten was telling the truth.
"The creator of the Maximals was a femme named Honey Venom," Bitten told him, "I was still a sparkling, obviously, when she received her adult frame. She was an early adopter of the beast-frame method of transformation. She was a lion-former."
"With a name like Honey Venom?" Dinobot asked derisively, "She sounds more like a bee or a wasp."
"Honey Venom is an old-fashioned Altihexian name," Bitten explained, "That is not important, however. What was important to Honey Venom was gaining the favor of the Autobots. You see Dinobot, Honey Venom was a former Decepticon that joined the Autobots when she became convinced they would win the war and keep her and her family safe. There were many complications however, as she often fought with other Autobots over issues like ethics and behavior. She wasn't a Decepticon anymore, yet she did not fit in with the Autobots. It tore her apart mentally and emotionally."
"I can relate," Dinobot rumbled, "I joined the Maximals out of practicality and necessity, yet I often find myself questioning my choice. Their sensitivities and battle etiquette often elude me."
"Honey Venom felt the same way in her predicament," Bitten replied sympathetically, "Project: Maximal was going to be a last ditch effort to curry favor with the Autobots; by giving them small yet efficient warriors. Each original Maximal was endowed with part of her own spark, reducing her power and lifespan. She would not live to see the results of her accomplishment, however."
"Did she die with honor?" Dinobot asked, hoping for a happy ending for a character he so related to.
"She died at the hands of the original Megatron while seeking vengeance for her fallen mentor," Bitten told him, "I suppose by Predacon standards, she died with honor. Knowing Honey Venom however, she most likely would see her death as a miscalculation on her part. She was...a bit of a perfectionist."
"Why did you tell me this?" Dinobot asked.
"Because I miss her," Bitten replied sullenly, "She was my best friend. She saved my life when others left me to die, and even as she lay dying her final concern was for my safety. Many people did not like her. She was bossy, narcissistic, manipulative, and cunning. Beneath the surface however, there was a layer of caring for those that she deemed worthy of her respect. I suppose her friendship meant more to me because I had to earn it. She was honest with me, and we relied on each other to survive difficult circumstances. I...don't know what to do with my life. I have always had others to tell me my purpose, but now I don't. What do I do?"
"That is a most pathetic question," Dinobot snorted, "What do you do? What do you want to do? Answer these questions, Bitten. What do you believe in? Where do your loyalties lie? Which side holds your values?"
"I..." Bitten tried to think of an answer to satisfy Dinobot, but it didn't come easy for her, "I...have never been asked these questions before. Honey Venom said we were Decepticons, but then when we were rescued by Autobots Honey Venom said we were Autobots. My caretaker Sunstreaker was an Autobot. He expected me to be an Autobot, too. I was rescued by the Maximals, so it makes sense that I would repay my debt to the Maximals. I suppose I believe in ledgers."
"Ledgers?" Dinobot asked incredulously, "That sounds so dry."
"Perhaps, but I believe that when someone does good for you, you should do good for them, and when someone tries to kill you, you have the right to hurt them," Bitten explained, "I know my way of life is not perfect, but I am not perfect either. I will stay with the Maximals because I owe them. I will make your life easier because you have helped to make my life easier. Whatever you give me, expect me to give you. It is that simple."
"So if I bit you then you would bite me?" Dinobot snarked with a chuckle, and Bitten was tempted to smile at seeing his sudden good humor.
"I would probably kick you, actually," Bitten deadpanned, and it took Dinobot a moment to realize she was joking.
"You do realize that attitude means you are easy to take advantage of?" Dinobot asked her pointedly.
"I know," Bitten replied, much to Dinobot's surprise, "I don't mind."
Dinobot just turned and stared at her. She didn't mind? What kind of insane creature craves domination and subjugation? Dinobot knew he would sooner rip apart anyone that tried to control him rather than submit, so he had trouble understanding why Bitten would allow others to dictate her life the way she had. She was powerful, he knew that much from seeing her in battle, so why not attempt to lead rather than allow herself to be led?
"Dinobot," Bitten dragged his attention away from his thoughts once again, "When we return to the Axelon, could you please go in first? I want to hide Metronome from Optimus Primal."
"You don't have to hide the fragging bird," Dinobot groused as they continued walking.
Bitten looked skeptical, but she accepted Dinobot's words. The rest of the trip was made in silence with Dinobot secretly wondering if this femme had some sort of virus or something as she petted her baby bird and her long kangaroo ears remained perked awaiting his next command.
