Symmetrical Fusion

"Oh man, again with this area? Jeez, I think Big Bot's getting a few screws loose," Cheetor complained to Tigatron, who accompanied him on their routine patrol. A task which was reserved for Rattrap today, but alas had other matters at hand.

"I imagine Optimus chose this part for very specific reasons. He did mention unusual activity lurking here," Tigatron argued, believing in the maximal commander's judgment.

"Now don't get me wrong, snowcat. I've trusted Big Bot with all my life, and I'm doing so as we speak, but he just seemed off today," Cheetor had an opposite take, feeling highly suspicious of Optimus' recent actions. "One minute he's more confident than an aerialbot, the next he's more scared than Starscream. I really don't understand him, you know?"

"Every leader has their doubts and suspicions. Optimus is merely one in a million to have them," Tigatron disagreed, but understood Cheetor's explanation.

"Yeah, I know. Maybe I'm just-" Suddenly his feline nose picked up a peculiar odor, nearly wincing at its utterly rotten smell. He sniffed longingly, analyzing the smell through his nostril circuits.

"What is it?" The white tiger stopped in his tracks, simultaneously detecting the odd stench emitting from somewhere.

"Let's check it out."

"Not before we alert Optimus."

"Well, be my guest. I'm gonna go on ahead anyways," Cheetor dashed forward with all four legs, only for Tigatron to cut him off.

"Not. Before. We. Alert. Optimus." Tigatron emphasized his words by invading his personal space, the yellow Maximal likewise reciprocating.

"Like I said, be my guest. I just don't want Big Bot involved, that's all. He's got enough on his plate already," Cheetor tried swerving around the white tiger, once more being blocked from his path.

"And like I said, we alert Optimus," Tigatron repeated himself again.

"Go ahead, I don't care. Big Bot'll probably order a retreat, and I say we-'' Just then, his robotic ears sensed a noise coming from above, albeit too late to counterattack as thick white strings suddenly attached to his backside. Tigatron stepped back, although he was unable to avoid the same fate.

"W-What the?!"

"By primus…" The two robots felt their form being lifted off the ground, all the while struggling to break free.

"Ugh….What in blazes is this?" Cheetor expressed heavy fright in these circumstances, attempting to contact their leader Optimus Primal with no luck. "Damn it, it's like my programining's being rewired. I can't…..fight…back. Argh!"

"Can you…grgh…at least transform? AGH!" Tigartron soon felt the webbing envelop his beast mode, jamming the mechanisms for transformation.

"I'm trying," Cheetor expressed similar concerns, attempting similar methods to no avail. "My circuits…..My joints…..What's happening?!"

"Optimus….Airazor….if you can hear this message," Tigatron gave one last shot in establishing radio contract with….anyone. "Save us…..please."

One hour later

"Look," Optimus Primal spotted tracks in the ground, bearing two sets of feline markings. The gorilla took a smidgen of dirt from the holes, hovering it over his nose. By now, the inner vegetation of the forest had been darkened by nighttime. Crickets were singing nearby, wolves were howling from afar, and three Maximals-Optimus, Airazor, and Dinobot-scoured the warm land for their missing teammates.

"This way," Optimus pointed forward, pressing on despite feeling chills down his metal spine.

"Cheetor and Tigatron must be close. I can almost sense their presence," Airazor said, perched atop of the brown raptor.

"Then we're on the right track. Keep your optics wide and weapons humming. Whatever is out there…..Whatever took those two…..it's watching us now," Optimus instructed.

"I must say, Primal-It seemed odd to witness your return, whimpering and praying," Dinobot joked at his leader's expense. "As if a demon ambushed you and pried your soul away."

"You don't know the worst of it, Dinobot," the gorilla replied unaffected. "That thing didn't ambush me. It captured me…wrapped me in some unusual threads. Almost like….a spider."

"You don't think…" Airazor had one suspect in mind.

"No, it wasn't her," only for Optimus to dismiss it entirely. "I couldn't see much, but I know It wasn't her. She's not…." He halted at an opening, moonlight illuminating the scenery around them. Except he knew where he was for it was where it all began.

The large circular area resembled that of gladiatorial arenas, minus the ground decorations of spikes and rusted corpses. Thick grassy strands littered the gang's view, eroding rocks occasionally waving 'hello'. A perfect stage, one might say, for combat.

"Optimus?" The aerial maximal hopped off Dinobot's back, soaring over to her leader with worry in her eagle eyes. "What is it?"

"It's here," the maximal leader intensely replied, gazing upward into dark open skies. "They're here."

"Who, Tigatron and Cheetor? Well, where are they?"

"Incoming you fools!" Dinobot pointed towards the skies, which unceremoniously welcomed a large unknown creature as it neared the ground.

"Evade!" Optimus commanded, dodging the creature's impact by a mere two feet. Dinobot and Airazor followed suit, the latter flying high to analyze the organic monster's structure.

"By primus, you were right! It wasn't Blackarachnia, after all," the eagle commented. "Can we even kill it?"

"Only one way to find out," the gorilla stood strong despite horrific odds. "OPTIMUS….

"AIRAZOR…."

"DINOBOT…."

"MAXIMIZE!"

(10 minutes earlier)

"Any idea where we are, snowcat?"

"Unknown. My thermal optical sensors have malfunctioned. It seems whatever this creature enacted upon us has severely damaged us."

"You said it. My joints are creaking like crazy. I can barely move!"

"Neither can I."

"So….what do we do?"

"Hmm…..wait. Look Cheetor, over there. The creature is moving."

"Huh? Hey, you're right. But where is it going?"

"It appears to be going back down, possibly to find new targets. Which means…."

"Our friends are there."

(Present)

"Haa!" Airazor kicked one of the spider's legs, cracking the knee in half. Dinobot jumped aboard the spider's head, using his spinner sword to twist into its skull. Optimus used his shoulder cannons to blast the creature's behind, giving it immense pain by ways of rattling howls.

The twenty meter beast had an advantage, however: Regeneration. Its broken knee suddenly snapped into place, its skull quickly healed the wounds, and the abdomen sealed away its burnt marks.

"Ugh, we are barely making a dent," Dinobot remarked, trying to remain on the struggling creature. "Any bright ideas, Primal?"

"Transmitting now," Optimus sent pre-made battle plans to the others, each of whom received through their brain modules.

"Got it. Let's make this count, boys," Airazor unfurled her arm blasters.

"We intend to," Optimus' metallic face mask covered his mouth, its smooth double-sided surface glimming in the moonlight.

"Ready ARMS!" Dinobot raised his tail to the air, which opened into a rotating shield cannon. It then multiple purple shots into the spider's eight eyes, each regenerating without a moment's notice.

Airazor fired rapid blasts at the creature's front legs, instantly dissecting them. They too, however, healed quickly.

Optimus, meanwhile, unleashed his dual azure blades onto the demon's abdomen, making deep cuts while soaring around with his jetpack. Then, with enough force to level entire battlefields, Optimus flew above the regenerating abdomen, and spun downward towards the connector, his swords tearing it off completely. The removed piece tumbled onto the ground, red blood spewing out like geysers.

The creature arched back in howling pain, which made Dinobot lose his balance and fall. But not before throwing his weapons above him, allowing Optimus to seize them outright. Combining the sword and shield into their tail form, the weapon began spinning fast like a drill, vibrating hard in the maximal leader's right hand.

"Go, Optimus!" Airazor fired two more shots at the being's front legs, preventing its escape.

At last, the big bot flew towards the dark skies, aiming Dinobot's sword at its chest. He first somersaulted, then boosted at full power, his jet pack spewing blue flames. Inch by inch, meter by meter, he dived closer to the foul beast. Dinobot lucklily landed on his feet, which allowed him to kick the creature back via its head. Primal dives closer now, whirling blades aimed at the heart. Untill…

He PUNTUCURES the beast, going through its crimson organic insides at intense speeds. Light finally entered his viewpoint as he exited the arching creature, itself falling on its back bleeding immensely.

"Alright!" Airazor cheered from the sidelines with applause, watching Optimus land on solid ground, handing back the bloody sword to Dinobot.

"Impressive," the raptor himself remarked on his leader's efforts. "Daringly bold yet impressive. You owe me a clean up, though."

The maximal leader's facemask folded up, revealing his mouth again. "Send me the bill later. We got friends to save."

Just then….

"HEEEEELP!"

A cry of despair echoed above the trio followed by a large object landing hard onto the creature's corpse, bouncing slightly. Airazor's aerial view gave her a better look of the crash site, widening her optics upon seeing it.

"Cheetor! Tigatron!"

"Boy….are we glad….to see you guys," the yellow feline weakly said, albeit happy to see them.

The trio closed in on their position, each displaying their variation of shock. "What in the pits?" Dinobot questioned the sight.

"Come on, let's bring them home," Optimus recommended above all else.

(Later)

"Holy slagging scraplets," the resident cynic Rattrap stood awestruck by the two feline bots circulating in the medical tube. And he had every reason to be.

Cheetor and Tigatron's beast modes were merged into an unsettling being of grotesque proportions. Their body had sharpened metal spikes across the back, akin to a hedgehog's defenses. On the right side was the white tiger, half a body, one front and back leg, plus half the tail. And on the left was Cheetor, who shared his exact charactics aside from being yellow and having spots. Even their heads had become one, yet surprisingly remained unscathed.

The duo were held inside a liquidating medical tube chained by titanium restraints. Optimus turned to his longtime friend, Rhinox, who sat at a desk near the tubular contraption.

"Any ideas?" The maximal leader asked, nearing the rhinoceros bot.

"Hmm…." Rhinox rotated in his seat, away from the console. "There's a few possibilities."

"And?"

"Remember those samples you brought me after you returned?" Rhinox inquired.

"Yes, I do," Optimus nodded. "Why?"

"These two share exact CNA strands from the creature," the scientist explained. "That thing you killed was no ordinary monster. No, it held something far more powerful than in our entire history of war."

"And that would be?" Dinobot was also present in the room. In fact, all the Maximals were present and accounted for, awaiting to receive answers.

"A combination spark," Rhinox's response sent chills down Primal's spine while the others were confused.

"Well, that's just Prime," Optimus shook his head.

"I don't get it," Rattrap piped up. "What's so bad about combinations? I mean, didn't our ancestors use that to plow some Decepti-chops into paste?"

"It isn't about what is being used, Rattrap," Rhinox countered. "But rather how it is used."

"Ooooh. Do tell."

"It was said that during the great war, the Decepticons constructed a way to unify sparks in order to maximize efficiency in battle," Rhinox began. "They first modified the body to account for the sudden changes, then they programmed internal commands to ensure compliance. And finally-by far the most important part-they transferred the sparks into one singular entity designed for combat. Or as we know them now as 'Combiners'."

"Hold on. Aren't combiners supposed to be large bots made of five?" Airazor asked. "There were plenty of those during the great war, if I recall."

"The term applies to many types, my dear," Rhinox replied. "Some were made of six, others were one from two. In our case, it's the latter."

"So how do we fix them?" Optimus questioned him.

"By simply doing the reverse. Separate their sparks, trigger their internal for separation, then undo the modifications done to them. I've already begun constructing a device for that purpose. I have the samples required, but I need raw energon for it to work."

"Ok. Dinobot and Airazor will come with me to find Energon. Rattrap can stay here to help you finish," Optimus said. "And if Predacons come, retreat. Our friends are more important than them."

"Now where's the honor in that?" Dinobot's response earned him a few sinister glares. "Of course, you make an excellent point."

(Later)

"You know, those two don't look so bad together. Like scrappier Duocons but fluffier and adorable," Rattrap humorously commented. "Almost wished they'd stay like this."

"Cheetor is a handful, yes," Rhinox said. "But neither he nor Tigatron deserve punishment of this magnitude. Being unable to think or even transform should be reserved for the truly irredeemable."

"And just who, I wonder, might be on that list?"

(Meanwhile)

"This is it," Optimus spotted a small piece of crystallized raw energon in a nearby cave. Due to its high levels of radiation, all must remain in beast mode. With his large gorilla hands, Optimus gently wiggled it off its emplacement, removing it with enough force to open a door. Looking to Dinobot and Airazor near the entrance for any signs of activity, the duo gave a thumbs-up.

"Let's get back before our 'friends' show up," The maximal leader ordered.

(Back at base)

"Uh, Rhinox?" Rattrap whimpered overlooking the base's radar. "We've got a problem."

"Now of all times?" The rhino replied in a hurry. "Hold them off till the others get here."

"You can't be serious!"

"Our friends' lives depend on it. Now go!"

(Outside)

"Megatron!" Optimus called out to his archrival standing over a cliff alongside his allies. It appears they had arrived for their daily all-out assault.

"Ha, we meet again, Primal," the T-rex Predacon slyly replied. "Today's the day we finally melt the maximals down for scrap!"

"Not while I'm around, Megatron. Do it, Maximize!" The gorilla transformed into robot mode, unsheathing his dual short swords. His comrades followed suit, dashing towards the enemy with unsheathed arms.

"Predacons, terrorize!" Megatron converted into robot mode just in time to block Primal's incoming swing with his t-rex hand.

Airazor, dog-fighting with Terrorsaur, fired multiple energy blasts at the screeching Predacon, unable to land hits. The red pterodactyl converted into bot mode, slowing him down. As he closed in on Airazor, he somersaulted over her then grabbed her bird wings. With two bare hands he tore them off like paper, producing a painful cry from her, thus allowing him to kick her down to earth.

Dinobot meanwhile locked blades with Scorponok, whose mighty claws blocked the honorable Maximal's spiraling sword. Gritting his sharp metal teeth, Dinobot headbutted his former comrade, pushing him back by a foot. Then with a single swing, he diagonally sliced both claws off.

In the background of chaos, Rattrap stayed behind on overwatch. "Hmph, odd. Usually big, tall, and ugly bring more friends to the party," he spoke about Megatron's choice of companions. "Guess they're on holiday."

(Inside the Axalon)

"Come on, work with me!" Rhinox tinkered with the tube's controls, which were experiencing technical difficulties at this very critical moment. All the while Tigatron and Cheetor bashed the wall of their prison for release.

The hardened glass shook from their constant bangs whilst their metal restraints were violently shaken.

"Let….us….free….." Their strained voices vocalized together.

"Be still, I'll get you fixed up." Rhinox reassured them sympathetically.

"Must….be….free…."

"Or else friends….die….alone," The scientist drew a surprised expression at their sudden vocal alteration. "Defend our friends…..consume our enemies….as…"

Now in this moment of distress, the united duo emitted a harsh navy glow within their bodies. The light traveled across their feline forms, causing white cracks to emerge all over. Their tubular prison began shattering itself as glass shards littered the Axalon's floor around Rhinox.

Now in this moment of distress, history was being written. "By the stars…."

(Outside)

"Bah, what a waste of energon," Megatron complained over his fallen enemies. "You were much better before, Primal. What gives, having a bit of a slump today?"

The Maximal leader caressed his wounded chest plate, kneeling on one leg while gritting behind his faceplate. Airazor and Dinobot were still fighting, the former having lost.

"Out of the way, Megatron. My friends need help," Optimus said.

"Aw, how adorable. Like your very namesake himself," The Predacon leader replied sarcastically, aiming his T-rex head at Primal. "How very adorable."

"You wouldn't understand, now would you? What it means to have friends," Optimus rose to his feet, glaring daggers into his enemy. "You've never had a damn thing worth protecting."

"Ah, but I do, Optimus," Megatron blasted his foe head-on, sending him flying six feet away. "I very much do."

"Aggh…"

"Optimus!" A wounded Airazor rushed over to Primal's side, ignoring Terrosaur's rampant her lost wing and amputated right arm, her body alone blocked all incoming fire. Megatron ordered Terrorsaur to cease fire, charging up his cannon for the finisher.

"Farewell, Optimus primal," the Predacon leader proudly grinned. "May you find peace in the beyond."

This was it for the Maximal leader. The moment when Predacon victory was rightfully assured. Megatron fired the final blow only for Dinobot to swoop in and block the shot with his arms. His blue face, now sporting a battle mask, peeked through the smoking appendages.

"Aren't you forgetting something, Megatron?" Dinobot exclaimed, lowering his arms. "Or rather, someone?"

"Ah, Dinobot. My oldest friend and greatest regret. How very disappointing to see you here," Megatron charged his cannon up again. "Especially alongside those maximals. Yes."

"On the contrary, Megatron," Dinobot replied, taking up a defensive position. "I couldn't have asked for better company than them."

"And we couldn't have said it better ourselves," an unknown voice joined in, prompting all parties to turn their heads toward the source. Cheetor and Tigatron stood together over an elevated piece of land, their bodies now separated.

"Cheetor!"

"Tigatron!" Optimus and Airazor called out their names respectively.

"Ah, so the cats finally come out for playtime. Too bad your time won't last long." Megatron eerily said.

"Oh yeah? Well, we'll make you eat those words out of a silicon straw," Cheetor proudly claimed. "Ready?"

"Let's make this count," Tigatron replied with a nod.

An ominous navy glow emitted from the duo, cracking the ground below them simply by sheer menace. Both the cheetah and tiger head on their chests roared in synchronized fashion followed by their illuminating blue optics. Megatron drew a sinister grin.

"Impressive showcase, but far from effective," the Predacon leader fired two blasts from his cannon, each deflected by the navy shield. "What?"

"Witness the power of Cybertron's most valued art," Tigatron said, extending a hand to Cheetor. "Bear witness and never return."

The yellow feline locked arms with his partner, raising them into the sky. "Symmetrical Fusion!"

Suddenly in a moment's notice, the two bots dashed towards Megatron, knocking him back with a powerful double punch. Then as they soared into the cloudy sky, a spherical shield forms around them.

Which meant it was….

(Combination time!)

Cheetor and Tigatron converted back into their beast forms, floating side-by-side with their backs to each other.

Their rear legs combined to a single leg and foot.

Their front legs united to become half of a winged chest piece.

Arms sprouted from under their beast heads.

Until at last…..

(Outside)

"What in the pits?" Megatron bore his red optics upon this historical moment, watching the merged bot emerge from the sphere and land on his feet. The clouds cleared away by now, revealing warm sunlight to welcome today's shiniest act.

The twelve meter Maximal stood proudly over Megatron, his shadow engulfing the Predacon leader. Its cheetah and tiger heads were used as shoulder armor, its winged chestplate resembling that of an old Autobot leader. The head sported a silver double-chinned faceplate with pointed antennas, reminiscent of those from the Cymond cluster. The golden belt buckle wearing the green Maximal insignia at its center shone brightest under hot sunlight. And its blocky legs containing spiked knees and feet stood on top the rocky surface with virtuous posture.

And its name was…..

"Who are you, fiend?" Megatron demanded an answer. "Who dares interrupt our battle in such rude fashion?"

"I am neither Cheetor or Tigatron. I am the descendant of generational technology long since forgotten by our people," the united mech declared. "I now stand before you as the new practitioner of Combination. I….AM…ANIMINUS!"

"Impossible! Not even the Tripredacus Council can combine," the Predacon leader held surprise, yet showed no fear. "But don't think I will retreat from this new development. NO. I stand my ground in an effort to vanquish you. For I,Megatron, yield to no one!"

"Then I, in turn, shall bless you with this power." Animinus unveiled two curved blades from his beast heads, combining them into a double sided sword. "En garde!"

The united mech rushed forward with a loud battle cry echoing the heavens. Megatron fired multiple energy blasts which landed no hits. Then as his opponent jumped high for a deadly swing, the Predacon leader used his tail claw to cease Animinus' attack, blocking the blade's descent.

Animinus landed on his feet, pushing forward on Megatron despite being blocked. With enough power and guts, he headbutted the Predacon leader, releasing his weapon's captivity and at last slicing Megatron's tail hand off.

Behind, Dinobot joined the fight by dashing to Megatron's right side, then decapitating his T-rex hand. Both pieces laid on the rocky floor, circuitry sparking like firecrackers.

"Im…..possible….!"

"Megatron!" Now a loud cry of his name was heard, turning around to find Optimus boosting forward. "This ends now!"

"Never!" His defiant reply was responded via a swift kick to the face, sending him six feet away.

"It is time we end this," Animinus summoned a navy sphere, cloudy inside like rainy nights. "Let us combine our weapons to defeat our common enemy."

"Very well. Me first," Optimus, Dinobot, and Animinus threw their armaments into the crystal ball, morphing it into a chivalrous silhouette. Its physical form was a mighty greatsword with a winged guard and elongated handle. Optimus, Dinobot and Animinus took the weapon in hand, pointing it straight towards Megatron.

The Predacon leader rose off the ground, snarling through his gritted teeth. "Alas, I still function. No one can defeat me, Primal!"

"In that case….

We'll send you back….

…..To Cybertron!" The trio lifted their massive greatsword, Primal and Animinus activating their back thrusters to elevate high. They soared into the clear sky, the united mech transferring his navy-coated power onto the greatsword. Once their flight stopped near open clouds, they boosted downward towards Megatron.

"Be blessed in the light of Animinus!"

"Prepare for your destruction….."

"And don't come back!" Animinus, Dinobot and Optimus said respectively, closing in on Megatron.

"NEVERRRRRRRRR!" Megatron jumped forward towards the trio, firing missiles from his side skirts.

"FINAL…..STRIKE!"

In a single moment, the trio dodged the incoming fire then SWUNG their weapon like a baseball bat, decapitating Megatron in two. As they passed his sliced body, they slid onto the ground for a bumpy yet swift landing. Megatron's exposed components sparked, causing an immediate explosion to utterly obliterate his body.

"I'll get you for this, Optimussssss!" Luckily, his head was harmed. Though it did fly off into unknown skies, leaving behind a white twinkle.

Animinus demorphed the greatsword back into its three components, returning them to their rightful owners. He then divided in two, converting back into the feline duo.

"Oh man, that was intense. I never felt so powerful in my whole life."

"Indeed. Today certainly provided a significant learning experience," Cheetor and Tigatron shared their feelings respectively.

"We're just glad to have you back. Things wouldn't be the same without you around," Optimus said.

"Tigatron!" Airazor ran towards the group, pouching the white tiger in a hug. "You're okay! I thought we lost you."

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere, my love."

"So what now?" Cheetor asked. "Big, scaly, and ugly will be madder than ever. Plus this power…"

"For now," Dinobot chimed in. "We figure out how it works, then use it to our advantage. Agreed?"

"Yeah. Eventually, our enemies will come back than we are now." Optimus said. "But until that day, we keep on fighting and never lose hope!"

"Then it is settled," Dinobot replied. "Come forth, let us return to base for rest and recharging."

The Maximal leader chuckled behind the faceplate. "I could surely use it after a long day."

(The end)

[-]

Author's note

Story time, folks.

This was a commission for a finnish fellow named multifandom fanatic14. He/she requested me to write back in…JULY.

Jesus christ, am I late. Short answer for why? LIFE.

Like every other problem on this damn planet.

Anyway, have a good day, folks. Peace!