Disclaimer: Beast Wars, Beast Machines and all characters related to those series are the property of MainFrame Entertainment and Hasbro Incorporated. The Transformers and all characters related to that series are the property of Hasbro Incorporated. This fan fiction is dedicated to the cast and crew of all three Transformer generations.
The following story, the personal histories of the characters, portions of the history of Cybertron both past and future, and the briefly mentioned Valnatron are all my creation.
Special thanks goes out to Ben Yee of www.bwtf.com for the use of his "Cybertroninan Dictionary" and reviews of the episodes of Beast Wars and Beast Machines; to Gemini83 for his persistence in making sure I stayed on my schedule; to the talented voice actors who brought the characters to life and the people who worked behind the scenes to give those voices a frame to dwell in and adventures to endure.
Beast Wars: Basic Program
Chapter 14; Reflections in the Aftermath
Rhinox groaned, sore from tusk to tail. Was he still functioning? Rhinox opened his eyes to find he was surrounded by a bright, white light. Was this the Matrix?
The light lasted only a moment before it vanished. The real world returned revealing the altered jungle and the evening sky.
Rhinox stood up slowly, small tree branches and leaves tumbling off his back, and looked around. A lot of the trees in the jungle had been knocked down, but many of the older one, the ones with deep roots, still stood. With many of the trees down the forest floor was flooded with the last rays of afternoon light. The horizon was just begin to redden as the sun set. A huge mass of black thunderclouds rolled slowly off the horizon towards the valley.
Rhinox sighed and shock his head, trying to get his ears to stop ringing, when he noticed something beneath a pile of trees. A white tail with black strips.
"Tigatron." Rhinox managed
He rammed his horn beneath the trees and tried to lift them. The trees were criss-crossed on top of one another, locking them together. They were almost impossible to move and the blast had taken a lot out of Rhinox.
But he wasn't about to give up. Rhinox snorted and anchored his feet in the ground. He closed his eyes and concentrated, then tossed his head back with a roar. The trees went flying to reveal a mass of white light.
"What the~?" Rhinox took a few steps back
The light shivered and raced up towards the sky to reveal Cheetor, Tigatron and Air Razor, all fully functional and feeling as sore as Rhinox.
"Hey," Rhinox said "you all right?"
"Oh, yes." Tigatron sighed as he forced himself to his feet "I feel prime."
Rhinox smiled and nodded.
A very enraged, very loud roar caused the group to turn. A white mass of light rushed out from under a pile of trees and leaves as Dinobot burst out from beneath his wooden tomb. The Pred took a few deep, frustrated breathes before shaking his head free of the vines that crowned it.
The final mass of light raced right passed Dinobot's snout. The lizard snorted and turned to find Rattrap not a few klicks from him. Eyes closed, paws over his eyes and tail between his legs, Rattrap had been saved from being crushed by a giant hardwood by the only thing the wave wasn't able to move. A rock as big Bumblebee.
"Rattrap, you are one lucky bot." Cheetor sighed as Rattrap slowly opened his eyes.
"I think we can all say that." Air Razor said
"Luck didn't have anything to do with this." Rhinox said, watching the last orb of light disappear "We had help."
* * * * *
The Predicons watched as the last of the white orbs that had saved their lives disappeared into the sky before they stumbled to their feet and looked around. The meadow was pretty much unaltered, but the river had been filled in. It was nothing more than a strip of white sand cutting through the landscape.
"Wow." Terrorsaur sighed "Some one must like us."
"Do you think Megatron survived?" Scorpinok asked, turning back towards the forest
"If you want to go back and pick up the pieces of our broken leader," Black Arachnia hissed "then you'll have to go alone. I'm going home!"
Black Arachnia started off towards the Darkside, followed by Waspinator and Terrorsaur. Inferno and Scorpinok look at each other, then looked at the broken forest. A tree at the edge of the forest tumbled over with a crash.
"Why'd you help the Maximals?" Scorpinok asked "Why'd you attack Megatron?"
"I serve the Royalty and the colony...but when one endangers the other I must prioritize." Inferno explained matter-of-factly
"Prioritize? But, I thought you were solely loyal to Megatron, our leader. So, what ever he does, I thought you'd back~"
"What good is a leader who would destroy his own without reason or cause? I know the real Royalty, and that was not our Queen. I fought to free the Royalty from those crystals' power. I fought to save him. Now the question is this; why did you aid the Maximals? Why did you fight the Royalty?"
Inferno started after Black Arachnia. Scorpinok turned back towards the forest for a brief moment, then followed the others.
* * * * *
The light left Megatron to his battle wounds and frustrations. He forced himself to his feet and looked around at the damage. The trees with deep roots had survived the blast, but everything else had collapsed. Fallen to the earth just like Megatron's dream of domination. He growled and slammed his broken Rex Cannon into the nearest standing tree.
"Curse....you......Primal!" he growled through gritted teeth. He leaned his head against the tree as he saw all his plans for the future crumble "Curse you."
* * * * *
Optimus opened his eyes slowly. Above him he could see the waving leaves of the trees that had survived the blast. They were the trees that bore the hard fruit, the ones with the giant leaves. The wind shock a hard fruit from the branches of one tree and Optimus watched as it landed on the ground....next to Silverback.
Optimus forced himself to his hands and knees and managed to crawl over to Silverback's still body.
"Silverback." Optimus groaned "Can you hear me?"
Silverback didn't move. Optimus sat back on his legs and lifted Silverback's head with his hands. He shock the Old Keeper gently.
"Silverback."
Silverback slowly opened his eyes and looked at Optimus. His vision was blurred and he was beginning to see double, but he recognized the voice that called his name.
"Silverback?" Optimus asked "Are you all right?"
"I....have done....all that I could...." Silverback said quietly "for my kind. I....have lead them.....and I....have taught them.....all I know. I pray....that....they survived."
"Just relax." Optimus said, getting to his feet and changing into his beast mode "We'll find them. Just give me a cycle and we'll start~"
Silverback shock his head weakly. "No. Leave me here."
"But~"
"Optimus," Silverback interrupted "there are some things in this existence that just have to be, things that we can not change and things that should not be questioned."
"Speaking of questions, why did help us? Why did you fight Megatron?"
Silverback sighed and looked up at the sky "It has never ceased to amaze me, how even after the worst storm there are still trees standing in this forest. No matter what the disaster, no matter what the plague....there are still some standing."
"Silverback, why~"
"It is there deep roots that keep them standing, that make them strong. Deep roots, Optimus, very deep roots."
Optimus nodded.
"My roots are in this planet, it its secrets and hopeful future. I could not let that monster destroy that or use the power he found here to destroy others." Silverback smiled weakly and said "It would appear the Project has not failed, if a 'primitive' can sacrifice everything for a greater good."
Optimus looked around at the trees that still stood, wondering if his Maximals had made it. Wondering if Megatron and the Predicons had survived. How deep were their roots? How determined were they to conquer the universe, to follow in their ancestors' footsteps? How determined was Optimus to stop them? And just how far would his team follow him to accomplish that goal?
Silverback winced, grabbing Optimus' hand hard. Optimus turned back towards Silverback, eyes filled with questions.
"Listen to me," Silverback said "listen to me and do as I say. First, promise me that you will not tell your Maximals about what you saw in the cave, about the VOK...about me."
"What?" Optimus asked
"Promise!" Silverback looking into Optimus' eyes pleadingly
Optimus thought for a moment, then nodded his head. He would keep silent.
"Thank you. Secondly, and this is the most important, make sure the valley was completely destroyed, that not a single crystal remains."
"That I can do." Optimus said "And if there are crystals?"
"Destroy them."
Optimus took a deep breath and held it. Pure energon, one crystals would be enough to keep Axalon running for a long time, and Silverback wanted him to destroy any crystal he found.
"Okay," Optimus said "but I'm going to be chewed up and spit back out by my crew if they ever find out."
"They will understand. If they saw any of the events today, they will understand. There are some crystals that no one was ment to control." Silverback took a deep breath as a wave of pain rushed up his spine.
"Finally," he said "one last request."
"What is it?"
"Stay here with me." Silverback said, a tiny drop of fear showing in his wise, old eyes "Stay here until~"
"Sure." Optimus said "I'll stay. I don't have an appointment to keep."
"Thank you....Friend."
Optimus remained with Silverback, holding the Ancient Keeper's hand, until it started to feel cold and lifeless. By that time the sun had disappeared over the horizon and the sky was beginning to dawn its starry robe.
Optimus let Silverback's hand go, heaved himself to his own four feet and slowly made his way towards what was left of the valley....tears rolling down his face.
* * * * *
The sun was setting over the volcanic wasteland, covering everything with a blood red haze. The Darkside was the only object that remained black. The world was beginning to settle in for the night. The silence of the evening...was shattered by Megatron's booming voice!
"Of all the incompetent, hopelessly useless Predicons on Cybertron," Megatron thundered as he paced in front of his troops "I have the misfortune of commanding ALL OF THEM!"
Night had already fallen inside the Darkside. The Predicons stood side by side, tallest to shortest from left to right, as Megatron vented his frustrations out on them.
"You had lost it, Megatron!" Black Arachnia growled "We had no choice but to side with the Maximals!"
"SILENCE!" Megatron thundered "I don't care why you sided with them, no. What I do care about is the fact that you allowed them to destroy THE BIGGEST ENERGON RESERVE ON THE PLANET!!!"
"We still have the energon Waspinator and me collected!" Scorpinok said
"Waspinator and I." Tarantulus corrected "And what good is this energon if we don't know anything about it....other than not to hook it up to our weapons."
"Energon is energon," Terrorsaur said "and we've got enough in stock to defeat the Maximals once and for all!"
The storage room was huge and packed to the corners with the sparkling treasures Waspinator and Scorpinok had removed from the glowing waters. All that remained of the Energon Valley.
The pile of crystals sparkled as the light from the setting sun crept through the storage room's tiny windows. It fell gently on the pile...which began to glow and spark as each crystal was charged.
"No thanks to you, you careless drone!" Megatron thundered, looming over Terrorsaur
"Me? What did I do?"
"You lead the Maximals right to us, thus allowing them to destroy the valley and all the energon in that entire area!"
"My memory files were fragmented!" Terrorsaur retaliated "You can't hold that against me!"
"Want a bet?" Black Arachnia demanded
Waves of energy shock the storage room door. Ripples of energy raced from crystal to crystal as the glow doubled in intensity.
The sound of crystal chimes caught Waspinator's audio sensors. He raised his head and turned towards the sound.
"Look, Lady!" Terrorsaur snapped "I've had just enough from you!"
"Ooh, I'm so scared!" Black Arachnia taunted
A stream of light radiated into the Main Chamber from Eastern Corridor.
Waspinator started to tap Scorpinok on the shoulder.
"SILENCE!" Megatron boomed "We have more important things to be concerned with than your petty bickering!"
"What?" Scorpinok demanded, turning towards Waspinator
Waspinator pointed towards the creeping stream of light. Scorpinok turned, as did Inferno. The three watched in silence as the light grew brighter and more intense.
Waspinator sighed and covered his eyes. If he didn't see it, it won't happen.
* * * * *
The Maximals painfully picked their way back to Axalon.
"My bed is lookin' so good right now." Rattrap moaned
"I call dibes on the RC Chamber." Cheetor said
Dinobot tilted his head and cracked his neck to release the mounting pressure.
"Must you?" Tigatron cringed and shivered. Dinobot snorted an appology and shock his head to stay awake.
"You know what would make this the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day?" Air Razor asked
"No. What?" Rhinox asked
The sound of an explosion rippled through the evening air, shortly followed by a ribbon of energy. The Maximals dove to the ground as the wave raced over them. The explosion died, the energy faded and the Maximals got to their feet.
"Now what happened?" Rattrap groaned
"By the Pit!" Dinobot gasped, turning towards the direction of the explosion. As his eyes scanned the horizon, the warrior's tired face faded into an satisfied grin.
The Maximals followed his gaze and saw a black plum of smoke rising up from the earth...where the Darkside was situated.
"I was going to say an oil bath," Air Razor said "but that works."
* * * * *
Night had fallen over the landscape. A gentle breeze washed away the heat from the day and carried with it the quiet chirp of crickets. The quarter moon was rising over the mountain behind Axalon. Black thunderclouds filled the southern half of the sky, rolling mournfully towards the jungle.
Optimus lumbered towards Axalon, heart-broken and lost. In a very short time, Optimus had found a mentor, made a good friend, and met a true hero.
Silverback had made the ultimate sacrifice for his planet, for his people...and demanded that Optimus never tell a spark. A dying wish. You NEVER disobeyed a dying wish! Still, the others had a right to know. They had to know about the VOK, about their powers, about the planet. But Silverback made Optimus promise that he would never tell anyone about the visions he saw or about the things he was told.
Optimus would keep his promise....even if it killed him.
At least there was nothing left of the Energon Valley. Optimus could now face his crew and tell them, truthfully, that the only thing he had found was the charred remains of Tarantulus' equipment.
One thing still haunted Optimus: Silverback's Clan. He couldn't find them anywhere. He knew they were safe, he felt it in his Spark, but he didn't know where they could be. It was too late to start looking for them, he would just have to wait until he got his strenght back.
As the lift took Optimus from outside to the interior of Axalon he transformed into his robot mode. Though he now had a stronger pride in his beast mode, it was time for him to remember his transformer half. He flexed his injured hand gently. Luckily it wasn't his dominate hand.
"Optimus!" Cheetor hollered as the lift came to a stop
Optimus stepped off the lift and looked up just in time to see the young transformer leap and trap him in a bear-hug. Rhinox and Rattrap looked up from the main controls and came over to Optimus. Air Razor and Tigatron were seated at the table in the center off the room, but they got up and raced to greet their leader. Dinobot stood in the shadows, arms crossed over his chest and eyes shut, near the passage way that lead to the quarters.
"You're back!" Cheetor said, letting Optimus go "We were getting worried when you weren't behind us."
"But we knew you had survived!" Tigatron said
"It's great to have you back, Optimus." Air Razor said, giving him a quick hug
"It's nice to be back." Optimus said
"Only nice?" Rhinox asked
"I haven't been gone that long."
"Ya been gone long enough fa me ta appreciate ya all da more." Rattrap said, crossing his arms over his chest
"I should leave you in charge more often." Optimus laughed "Maybe, then, you won't give so much trouble."
"Leave him in command too often," Dinobot snarled "and he won't be around much longer."
Rattrap whirled on the Pred, ready to retaliate with a list of insults he'd been saving for just this moment, but Dinobot was gone.
"Nah where da~" Rattrap started
"Optimus," Air Razor said, gently taking Optimus' wounded hand in hers "your hand! Is it badly damaged?"
"I'll be fine, Air Razor, just need a few cycles in the RC Chamber." Optimus said
"Up and running all ready." Rhinox said
"I'll get to it later, right now I have something more important to deal with. Rattrap."
"Wha?" Rattrap asked
"Come with me for a moment."
"Wha' for?"
"We need to talk." Optimus started towards his quarters
"Hey, if dis is about my shootin' ya wid da tranqualizer~" Rattrap started as he followed Optimus
"Under the circumstances I think I can forgive you for that." Optimus turned quickly and pointed his finger in Rattrap's face "Just don't do it again."
Rattrap raised his hands and took a step back, a sly smirk crossing his face.
"I mean it." Optimus said
"As long as ya don' go ape on us again, my targets will only be da Preds. So, what's da deal?"
"Well, normally when the Commander returns from a long absence the Second in Command brings him up-to-date on everything that has transpired in his absences."
"Slag, nuthin' dat interestin' happened. Naht 'ere, anyway."
Optimus opened the door to his quarters and turned on the lights as he and Rattrap entered.
"Take a seat." Optimus said as he started towards his desk
Rattrap waved the invitation off and said "Nah, I'll stand."
Optimus nodded and sat down at his desk, turning his chair so he faced Rattrap.
Rattrap crossed his arms over his chest and said "So, how wuz it?"
"How was what?"
"Ya know, bein' a primitive en all?"
"It was...peaceful."
"Den why da slag ya come back?"
Optimus smiled sadly "Because that plot of land wasn't where my roots belonged."
Rattrap narrowed his eyes and frowned.
"It was too good to be true."
"Figyas dat's whad bring ya back. Ya always been da kinda bot dat can't stand takin' de easy way out. Ya gotta be challenged."
"You're being a part of this crew is prove of that fact."
"HEY!"
"I'm joking, Rattrap! I'm joking!"
"Yeah...well...I'll fagivya dis time."
"Thank you, Rattrap. Now, down to business: What I miss?"
"Eh, nuhtin much. Rhinox got a memory glitch, Terrorsaur defected, Choppa-Face found da Riva Lethe, both sides managed ta destroy da largest energon source on da planet, Megatron's ship blew up, en I still kin't git Choppa-Face ta 'splain why 'e fough' Megatron, buh odda dan dat~"
"You can't what?"
"Choppa-Face gave me da run around as ta why 'e fought Megabutt day b'fore. So, whiles we waitin' fa ya I tried ta get 'im ta elaborate. Ya know, gittin' dat Pred ta talk iz like stripping gears off a rusted space fighta?"
"Why do you want to know that?"
"Well, don' you?"
"I all ready know."
Rattrap cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes at Optimus. After a moment or two of silence, Rattrap straightened, slammed his hands on his hips and snapped "Well, would ya mind fillin' me in, huh!"
Optimus laughed and said "You mean to tell me the Great Rattrap, the Spy of Spies, can't solve this mystery?"
"No! En it's fryin' my logic circuits! Come on, Fearless Leada, what gives?"
The halls of the Axalon were quiet and the lights were dim. Rhinox started down the corridor to his quarters, a data track in his hand. He typed in all the things they had discovered about the pure energon crystals, re-read Tigatron's theory on the colored energon and...
Rhinox stopped and looked the data track over. Dinobot hadn't turned in his report.
That was strange.
"Well, since you asked nicely."
Rhinox turned. He had stopped right next to Dinobot's door. Rhinox went to knock, to ask Dinobot for his findings on what they were now calling the River Lethe, but he stopped himself. Rhinox stepped away from the door and started back on his way to his own room.
He'd ask tomorrow.
"Dinobot doesn't really care about what happens to him in the end. As long as he follows his code of honor he knows he'll earn a Warrior's Recycling and perish in battle, which is pretty much all he's aiming for."
Dinobot sat beneath his window, trying to meditate. His room was dark and cold. As the moon rose and the sun set, Dinobot drifted from the chaos of reality to the harmony of the warrior's realm.
It was no use. He couldn't settle his spark. Too many images were loose in his mainframe, too many memories demanded to be played out. Dinobot took a few deep breathes before he slowly opened his eyes and gazed out of the window towards the horizon.
"But even the greatest of warriors have weaknesses. I believe Megatron took advantage of Dinobot's only weakness once, which is what originally started this hatred they have for each other. They managed to keep a cap on it until they came here and then....well, what ever happened, Dinobot's one of us thanks to it."
Dinobot tore his eyes away from the horizon and turned towards his bed. One of his data tracks hummed, the screen emitted a pale green beam of little into the darkness. A ray of hope?
Rattrap snorted "Look, Fearless Leada, I've been harassin' da lubricant oudda Choppa-Face since he joined en da only weakness dat Bolt-Head has iz 'iz tempa."
Dinobot forced himself to his feet, feeling his age echo in every joint for the first time in his life, and went to his bed. He picked up the glowing track as he sat down and looked the image over with narrowed eyes and a stern face.
Optimus chuckled "That's not a weakness, that's one of his strengths. Dinobot is a berserker, his temper is the only thing that DOESN'T get him in trouble."
Slowly, against his will, his features softened and the sadness that he had locked away for so long came rushing back. It flooded his processor and left a cold, empty feeling in his spark chamber.
"So, if it ain't 'iz tempa, what's Maximus' weakness?"
Dinobot hated this feeling!
Nothing could be done about the past, nothing could be done to right the wrongs or repair the damages. Still, Dinobot wished he hadn't left so quickly, hadn't been the first at the Archives. After all, the entire plan was based on him and Tarantulus. Megatron could have waited, he should have waited after everything he had done, but Dinobot couldn't stand the thought of not being there first.
But now he wished he had waited, just a few more cycles for his greatest pupil, his reason for existing, the only bot that stood a chance against him in battle....
"The one thing a true Predicon warrior is not supposed to have; someone awaiting his return, someone Dinobot cares about very deeply, deeper than he wants to admit. Someone.....he never got a chance to say good-bye to."
....his daughter, Valnatron, to come home. At least he wouldn't be losing sleep night after night wondering if she was safe, if she was keeping one step ahead of the Maximal Guard....if she was still functioning.
But it was too late now. He was forced to live with his questions, with his uncertainties and his fears. And all were double edged. Dinobot feared for Valnatron and wished to return to Cybertron...but he couldn't face her. Not because he had "betraied" the Predicons and joined the Maximals, not because he had sided with the bot that almost killed her, but because he had failed her.
Becasue he left her behind.
The image on the screen was all Dinobot had to remind him of her. She was standing in front of the Galvatron Stadium, legs shoulder width appear and hands resting on the hilt of her rotary sword, head slightly bowed and eyes narrowed. She wasn't as beautiful as some of the Maximal fembots Cheetor had posters of in his quarters, but she could hold her own against Black Arachnia....and she looked just as deadly as he father.
Dinobot looked the track over with sad eyes before throwing it to the floor. The track clattered to the floor and slipped under his chair. Dinobot sighed and buried his face in his hands. He remained that way all night, not exactly sleeping but not fully awake. The data track beneath his chair shut itself off after awhile, but the picture never left Dinobot's mind....and it never would.
The following story, the personal histories of the characters, portions of the history of Cybertron both past and future, and the briefly mentioned Valnatron are all my creation.
Special thanks goes out to Ben Yee of www.bwtf.com for the use of his "Cybertroninan Dictionary" and reviews of the episodes of Beast Wars and Beast Machines; to Gemini83 for his persistence in making sure I stayed on my schedule; to the talented voice actors who brought the characters to life and the people who worked behind the scenes to give those voices a frame to dwell in and adventures to endure.
Beast Wars: Basic Program
Chapter 14; Reflections in the Aftermath
Rhinox groaned, sore from tusk to tail. Was he still functioning? Rhinox opened his eyes to find he was surrounded by a bright, white light. Was this the Matrix?
The light lasted only a moment before it vanished. The real world returned revealing the altered jungle and the evening sky.
Rhinox stood up slowly, small tree branches and leaves tumbling off his back, and looked around. A lot of the trees in the jungle had been knocked down, but many of the older one, the ones with deep roots, still stood. With many of the trees down the forest floor was flooded with the last rays of afternoon light. The horizon was just begin to redden as the sun set. A huge mass of black thunderclouds rolled slowly off the horizon towards the valley.
Rhinox sighed and shock his head, trying to get his ears to stop ringing, when he noticed something beneath a pile of trees. A white tail with black strips.
"Tigatron." Rhinox managed
He rammed his horn beneath the trees and tried to lift them. The trees were criss-crossed on top of one another, locking them together. They were almost impossible to move and the blast had taken a lot out of Rhinox.
But he wasn't about to give up. Rhinox snorted and anchored his feet in the ground. He closed his eyes and concentrated, then tossed his head back with a roar. The trees went flying to reveal a mass of white light.
"What the~?" Rhinox took a few steps back
The light shivered and raced up towards the sky to reveal Cheetor, Tigatron and Air Razor, all fully functional and feeling as sore as Rhinox.
"Hey," Rhinox said "you all right?"
"Oh, yes." Tigatron sighed as he forced himself to his feet "I feel prime."
Rhinox smiled and nodded.
A very enraged, very loud roar caused the group to turn. A white mass of light rushed out from under a pile of trees and leaves as Dinobot burst out from beneath his wooden tomb. The Pred took a few deep, frustrated breathes before shaking his head free of the vines that crowned it.
The final mass of light raced right passed Dinobot's snout. The lizard snorted and turned to find Rattrap not a few klicks from him. Eyes closed, paws over his eyes and tail between his legs, Rattrap had been saved from being crushed by a giant hardwood by the only thing the wave wasn't able to move. A rock as big Bumblebee.
"Rattrap, you are one lucky bot." Cheetor sighed as Rattrap slowly opened his eyes.
"I think we can all say that." Air Razor said
"Luck didn't have anything to do with this." Rhinox said, watching the last orb of light disappear "We had help."
* * * * *
The Predicons watched as the last of the white orbs that had saved their lives disappeared into the sky before they stumbled to their feet and looked around. The meadow was pretty much unaltered, but the river had been filled in. It was nothing more than a strip of white sand cutting through the landscape.
"Wow." Terrorsaur sighed "Some one must like us."
"Do you think Megatron survived?" Scorpinok asked, turning back towards the forest
"If you want to go back and pick up the pieces of our broken leader," Black Arachnia hissed "then you'll have to go alone. I'm going home!"
Black Arachnia started off towards the Darkside, followed by Waspinator and Terrorsaur. Inferno and Scorpinok look at each other, then looked at the broken forest. A tree at the edge of the forest tumbled over with a crash.
"Why'd you help the Maximals?" Scorpinok asked "Why'd you attack Megatron?"
"I serve the Royalty and the colony...but when one endangers the other I must prioritize." Inferno explained matter-of-factly
"Prioritize? But, I thought you were solely loyal to Megatron, our leader. So, what ever he does, I thought you'd back~"
"What good is a leader who would destroy his own without reason or cause? I know the real Royalty, and that was not our Queen. I fought to free the Royalty from those crystals' power. I fought to save him. Now the question is this; why did you aid the Maximals? Why did you fight the Royalty?"
Inferno started after Black Arachnia. Scorpinok turned back towards the forest for a brief moment, then followed the others.
* * * * *
The light left Megatron to his battle wounds and frustrations. He forced himself to his feet and looked around at the damage. The trees with deep roots had survived the blast, but everything else had collapsed. Fallen to the earth just like Megatron's dream of domination. He growled and slammed his broken Rex Cannon into the nearest standing tree.
"Curse....you......Primal!" he growled through gritted teeth. He leaned his head against the tree as he saw all his plans for the future crumble "Curse you."
* * * * *
Optimus opened his eyes slowly. Above him he could see the waving leaves of the trees that had survived the blast. They were the trees that bore the hard fruit, the ones with the giant leaves. The wind shock a hard fruit from the branches of one tree and Optimus watched as it landed on the ground....next to Silverback.
Optimus forced himself to his hands and knees and managed to crawl over to Silverback's still body.
"Silverback." Optimus groaned "Can you hear me?"
Silverback didn't move. Optimus sat back on his legs and lifted Silverback's head with his hands. He shock the Old Keeper gently.
"Silverback."
Silverback slowly opened his eyes and looked at Optimus. His vision was blurred and he was beginning to see double, but he recognized the voice that called his name.
"Silverback?" Optimus asked "Are you all right?"
"I....have done....all that I could...." Silverback said quietly "for my kind. I....have lead them.....and I....have taught them.....all I know. I pray....that....they survived."
"Just relax." Optimus said, getting to his feet and changing into his beast mode "We'll find them. Just give me a cycle and we'll start~"
Silverback shock his head weakly. "No. Leave me here."
"But~"
"Optimus," Silverback interrupted "there are some things in this existence that just have to be, things that we can not change and things that should not be questioned."
"Speaking of questions, why did help us? Why did you fight Megatron?"
Silverback sighed and looked up at the sky "It has never ceased to amaze me, how even after the worst storm there are still trees standing in this forest. No matter what the disaster, no matter what the plague....there are still some standing."
"Silverback, why~"
"It is there deep roots that keep them standing, that make them strong. Deep roots, Optimus, very deep roots."
Optimus nodded.
"My roots are in this planet, it its secrets and hopeful future. I could not let that monster destroy that or use the power he found here to destroy others." Silverback smiled weakly and said "It would appear the Project has not failed, if a 'primitive' can sacrifice everything for a greater good."
Optimus looked around at the trees that still stood, wondering if his Maximals had made it. Wondering if Megatron and the Predicons had survived. How deep were their roots? How determined were they to conquer the universe, to follow in their ancestors' footsteps? How determined was Optimus to stop them? And just how far would his team follow him to accomplish that goal?
Silverback winced, grabbing Optimus' hand hard. Optimus turned back towards Silverback, eyes filled with questions.
"Listen to me," Silverback said "listen to me and do as I say. First, promise me that you will not tell your Maximals about what you saw in the cave, about the VOK...about me."
"What?" Optimus asked
"Promise!" Silverback looking into Optimus' eyes pleadingly
Optimus thought for a moment, then nodded his head. He would keep silent.
"Thank you. Secondly, and this is the most important, make sure the valley was completely destroyed, that not a single crystal remains."
"That I can do." Optimus said "And if there are crystals?"
"Destroy them."
Optimus took a deep breath and held it. Pure energon, one crystals would be enough to keep Axalon running for a long time, and Silverback wanted him to destroy any crystal he found.
"Okay," Optimus said "but I'm going to be chewed up and spit back out by my crew if they ever find out."
"They will understand. If they saw any of the events today, they will understand. There are some crystals that no one was ment to control." Silverback took a deep breath as a wave of pain rushed up his spine.
"Finally," he said "one last request."
"What is it?"
"Stay here with me." Silverback said, a tiny drop of fear showing in his wise, old eyes "Stay here until~"
"Sure." Optimus said "I'll stay. I don't have an appointment to keep."
"Thank you....Friend."
Optimus remained with Silverback, holding the Ancient Keeper's hand, until it started to feel cold and lifeless. By that time the sun had disappeared over the horizon and the sky was beginning to dawn its starry robe.
Optimus let Silverback's hand go, heaved himself to his own four feet and slowly made his way towards what was left of the valley....tears rolling down his face.
* * * * *
The sun was setting over the volcanic wasteland, covering everything with a blood red haze. The Darkside was the only object that remained black. The world was beginning to settle in for the night. The silence of the evening...was shattered by Megatron's booming voice!
"Of all the incompetent, hopelessly useless Predicons on Cybertron," Megatron thundered as he paced in front of his troops "I have the misfortune of commanding ALL OF THEM!"
Night had already fallen inside the Darkside. The Predicons stood side by side, tallest to shortest from left to right, as Megatron vented his frustrations out on them.
"You had lost it, Megatron!" Black Arachnia growled "We had no choice but to side with the Maximals!"
"SILENCE!" Megatron thundered "I don't care why you sided with them, no. What I do care about is the fact that you allowed them to destroy THE BIGGEST ENERGON RESERVE ON THE PLANET!!!"
"We still have the energon Waspinator and me collected!" Scorpinok said
"Waspinator and I." Tarantulus corrected "And what good is this energon if we don't know anything about it....other than not to hook it up to our weapons."
"Energon is energon," Terrorsaur said "and we've got enough in stock to defeat the Maximals once and for all!"
The storage room was huge and packed to the corners with the sparkling treasures Waspinator and Scorpinok had removed from the glowing waters. All that remained of the Energon Valley.
The pile of crystals sparkled as the light from the setting sun crept through the storage room's tiny windows. It fell gently on the pile...which began to glow and spark as each crystal was charged.
"No thanks to you, you careless drone!" Megatron thundered, looming over Terrorsaur
"Me? What did I do?"
"You lead the Maximals right to us, thus allowing them to destroy the valley and all the energon in that entire area!"
"My memory files were fragmented!" Terrorsaur retaliated "You can't hold that against me!"
"Want a bet?" Black Arachnia demanded
Waves of energy shock the storage room door. Ripples of energy raced from crystal to crystal as the glow doubled in intensity.
The sound of crystal chimes caught Waspinator's audio sensors. He raised his head and turned towards the sound.
"Look, Lady!" Terrorsaur snapped "I've had just enough from you!"
"Ooh, I'm so scared!" Black Arachnia taunted
A stream of light radiated into the Main Chamber from Eastern Corridor.
Waspinator started to tap Scorpinok on the shoulder.
"SILENCE!" Megatron boomed "We have more important things to be concerned with than your petty bickering!"
"What?" Scorpinok demanded, turning towards Waspinator
Waspinator pointed towards the creeping stream of light. Scorpinok turned, as did Inferno. The three watched in silence as the light grew brighter and more intense.
Waspinator sighed and covered his eyes. If he didn't see it, it won't happen.
* * * * *
The Maximals painfully picked their way back to Axalon.
"My bed is lookin' so good right now." Rattrap moaned
"I call dibes on the RC Chamber." Cheetor said
Dinobot tilted his head and cracked his neck to release the mounting pressure.
"Must you?" Tigatron cringed and shivered. Dinobot snorted an appology and shock his head to stay awake.
"You know what would make this the perfect ending to a not-so-perfect day?" Air Razor asked
"No. What?" Rhinox asked
The sound of an explosion rippled through the evening air, shortly followed by a ribbon of energy. The Maximals dove to the ground as the wave raced over them. The explosion died, the energy faded and the Maximals got to their feet.
"Now what happened?" Rattrap groaned
"By the Pit!" Dinobot gasped, turning towards the direction of the explosion. As his eyes scanned the horizon, the warrior's tired face faded into an satisfied grin.
The Maximals followed his gaze and saw a black plum of smoke rising up from the earth...where the Darkside was situated.
"I was going to say an oil bath," Air Razor said "but that works."
* * * * *
Night had fallen over the landscape. A gentle breeze washed away the heat from the day and carried with it the quiet chirp of crickets. The quarter moon was rising over the mountain behind Axalon. Black thunderclouds filled the southern half of the sky, rolling mournfully towards the jungle.
Optimus lumbered towards Axalon, heart-broken and lost. In a very short time, Optimus had found a mentor, made a good friend, and met a true hero.
Silverback had made the ultimate sacrifice for his planet, for his people...and demanded that Optimus never tell a spark. A dying wish. You NEVER disobeyed a dying wish! Still, the others had a right to know. They had to know about the VOK, about their powers, about the planet. But Silverback made Optimus promise that he would never tell anyone about the visions he saw or about the things he was told.
Optimus would keep his promise....even if it killed him.
At least there was nothing left of the Energon Valley. Optimus could now face his crew and tell them, truthfully, that the only thing he had found was the charred remains of Tarantulus' equipment.
One thing still haunted Optimus: Silverback's Clan. He couldn't find them anywhere. He knew they were safe, he felt it in his Spark, but he didn't know where they could be. It was too late to start looking for them, he would just have to wait until he got his strenght back.
As the lift took Optimus from outside to the interior of Axalon he transformed into his robot mode. Though he now had a stronger pride in his beast mode, it was time for him to remember his transformer half. He flexed his injured hand gently. Luckily it wasn't his dominate hand.
"Optimus!" Cheetor hollered as the lift came to a stop
Optimus stepped off the lift and looked up just in time to see the young transformer leap and trap him in a bear-hug. Rhinox and Rattrap looked up from the main controls and came over to Optimus. Air Razor and Tigatron were seated at the table in the center off the room, but they got up and raced to greet their leader. Dinobot stood in the shadows, arms crossed over his chest and eyes shut, near the passage way that lead to the quarters.
"You're back!" Cheetor said, letting Optimus go "We were getting worried when you weren't behind us."
"But we knew you had survived!" Tigatron said
"It's great to have you back, Optimus." Air Razor said, giving him a quick hug
"It's nice to be back." Optimus said
"Only nice?" Rhinox asked
"I haven't been gone that long."
"Ya been gone long enough fa me ta appreciate ya all da more." Rattrap said, crossing his arms over his chest
"I should leave you in charge more often." Optimus laughed "Maybe, then, you won't give so much trouble."
"Leave him in command too often," Dinobot snarled "and he won't be around much longer."
Rattrap whirled on the Pred, ready to retaliate with a list of insults he'd been saving for just this moment, but Dinobot was gone.
"Nah where da~" Rattrap started
"Optimus," Air Razor said, gently taking Optimus' wounded hand in hers "your hand! Is it badly damaged?"
"I'll be fine, Air Razor, just need a few cycles in the RC Chamber." Optimus said
"Up and running all ready." Rhinox said
"I'll get to it later, right now I have something more important to deal with. Rattrap."
"Wha?" Rattrap asked
"Come with me for a moment."
"Wha' for?"
"We need to talk." Optimus started towards his quarters
"Hey, if dis is about my shootin' ya wid da tranqualizer~" Rattrap started as he followed Optimus
"Under the circumstances I think I can forgive you for that." Optimus turned quickly and pointed his finger in Rattrap's face "Just don't do it again."
Rattrap raised his hands and took a step back, a sly smirk crossing his face.
"I mean it." Optimus said
"As long as ya don' go ape on us again, my targets will only be da Preds. So, what's da deal?"
"Well, normally when the Commander returns from a long absence the Second in Command brings him up-to-date on everything that has transpired in his absences."
"Slag, nuthin' dat interestin' happened. Naht 'ere, anyway."
Optimus opened the door to his quarters and turned on the lights as he and Rattrap entered.
"Take a seat." Optimus said as he started towards his desk
Rattrap waved the invitation off and said "Nah, I'll stand."
Optimus nodded and sat down at his desk, turning his chair so he faced Rattrap.
Rattrap crossed his arms over his chest and said "So, how wuz it?"
"How was what?"
"Ya know, bein' a primitive en all?"
"It was...peaceful."
"Den why da slag ya come back?"
Optimus smiled sadly "Because that plot of land wasn't where my roots belonged."
Rattrap narrowed his eyes and frowned.
"It was too good to be true."
"Figyas dat's whad bring ya back. Ya always been da kinda bot dat can't stand takin' de easy way out. Ya gotta be challenged."
"You're being a part of this crew is prove of that fact."
"HEY!"
"I'm joking, Rattrap! I'm joking!"
"Yeah...well...I'll fagivya dis time."
"Thank you, Rattrap. Now, down to business: What I miss?"
"Eh, nuhtin much. Rhinox got a memory glitch, Terrorsaur defected, Choppa-Face found da Riva Lethe, both sides managed ta destroy da largest energon source on da planet, Megatron's ship blew up, en I still kin't git Choppa-Face ta 'splain why 'e fough' Megatron, buh odda dan dat~"
"You can't what?"
"Choppa-Face gave me da run around as ta why 'e fought Megabutt day b'fore. So, whiles we waitin' fa ya I tried ta get 'im ta elaborate. Ya know, gittin' dat Pred ta talk iz like stripping gears off a rusted space fighta?"
"Why do you want to know that?"
"Well, don' you?"
"I all ready know."
Rattrap cocked his head to one side and narrowed his eyes at Optimus. After a moment or two of silence, Rattrap straightened, slammed his hands on his hips and snapped "Well, would ya mind fillin' me in, huh!"
Optimus laughed and said "You mean to tell me the Great Rattrap, the Spy of Spies, can't solve this mystery?"
"No! En it's fryin' my logic circuits! Come on, Fearless Leada, what gives?"
The halls of the Axalon were quiet and the lights were dim. Rhinox started down the corridor to his quarters, a data track in his hand. He typed in all the things they had discovered about the pure energon crystals, re-read Tigatron's theory on the colored energon and...
Rhinox stopped and looked the data track over. Dinobot hadn't turned in his report.
That was strange.
"Well, since you asked nicely."
Rhinox turned. He had stopped right next to Dinobot's door. Rhinox went to knock, to ask Dinobot for his findings on what they were now calling the River Lethe, but he stopped himself. Rhinox stepped away from the door and started back on his way to his own room.
He'd ask tomorrow.
"Dinobot doesn't really care about what happens to him in the end. As long as he follows his code of honor he knows he'll earn a Warrior's Recycling and perish in battle, which is pretty much all he's aiming for."
Dinobot sat beneath his window, trying to meditate. His room was dark and cold. As the moon rose and the sun set, Dinobot drifted from the chaos of reality to the harmony of the warrior's realm.
It was no use. He couldn't settle his spark. Too many images were loose in his mainframe, too many memories demanded to be played out. Dinobot took a few deep breathes before he slowly opened his eyes and gazed out of the window towards the horizon.
"But even the greatest of warriors have weaknesses. I believe Megatron took advantage of Dinobot's only weakness once, which is what originally started this hatred they have for each other. They managed to keep a cap on it until they came here and then....well, what ever happened, Dinobot's one of us thanks to it."
Dinobot tore his eyes away from the horizon and turned towards his bed. One of his data tracks hummed, the screen emitted a pale green beam of little into the darkness. A ray of hope?
Rattrap snorted "Look, Fearless Leada, I've been harassin' da lubricant oudda Choppa-Face since he joined en da only weakness dat Bolt-Head has iz 'iz tempa."
Dinobot forced himself to his feet, feeling his age echo in every joint for the first time in his life, and went to his bed. He picked up the glowing track as he sat down and looked the image over with narrowed eyes and a stern face.
Optimus chuckled "That's not a weakness, that's one of his strengths. Dinobot is a berserker, his temper is the only thing that DOESN'T get him in trouble."
Slowly, against his will, his features softened and the sadness that he had locked away for so long came rushing back. It flooded his processor and left a cold, empty feeling in his spark chamber.
"So, if it ain't 'iz tempa, what's Maximus' weakness?"
Dinobot hated this feeling!
Nothing could be done about the past, nothing could be done to right the wrongs or repair the damages. Still, Dinobot wished he hadn't left so quickly, hadn't been the first at the Archives. After all, the entire plan was based on him and Tarantulus. Megatron could have waited, he should have waited after everything he had done, but Dinobot couldn't stand the thought of not being there first.
But now he wished he had waited, just a few more cycles for his greatest pupil, his reason for existing, the only bot that stood a chance against him in battle....
"The one thing a true Predicon warrior is not supposed to have; someone awaiting his return, someone Dinobot cares about very deeply, deeper than he wants to admit. Someone.....he never got a chance to say good-bye to."
....his daughter, Valnatron, to come home. At least he wouldn't be losing sleep night after night wondering if she was safe, if she was keeping one step ahead of the Maximal Guard....if she was still functioning.
But it was too late now. He was forced to live with his questions, with his uncertainties and his fears. And all were double edged. Dinobot feared for Valnatron and wished to return to Cybertron...but he couldn't face her. Not because he had "betraied" the Predicons and joined the Maximals, not because he had sided with the bot that almost killed her, but because he had failed her.
Becasue he left her behind.
The image on the screen was all Dinobot had to remind him of her. She was standing in front of the Galvatron Stadium, legs shoulder width appear and hands resting on the hilt of her rotary sword, head slightly bowed and eyes narrowed. She wasn't as beautiful as some of the Maximal fembots Cheetor had posters of in his quarters, but she could hold her own against Black Arachnia....and she looked just as deadly as he father.
Dinobot looked the track over with sad eyes before throwing it to the floor. The track clattered to the floor and slipped under his chair. Dinobot sighed and buried his face in his hands. He remained that way all night, not exactly sleeping but not fully awake. The data track beneath his chair shut itself off after awhile, but the picture never left Dinobot's mind....and it never would.