Authors Notes: Really is anyone reading these? Or can I just put some silly stuff here to make you readers chuckle?
*FLYING BACK TO BASE*
*Wildfire looks back and notes that Hawk is doing well, but not well enough. Hawk is struck with another shot and looks like he might go down.*
Wildfire: Slag it. I'm going back. Blackbird go tell the others that we have ariel attackers now. They have to be ready. *Wildfire flys off before Blackbird can say anything. As she's going, Wildfire forms a fireball comet and decides to attack the droids head-on*
Wildfire:*on comlink* Hey Hawk. Need some help?
*Laser shot pegs Hawk in the leg, causing him to lose some altitude. Straightens out and continues to fire...*
*WITH THE BATTLE DROIDS*
Wildfire: Hey Hawk. Need some help?
Hawk: *Presses commlink--dodges another barrage of shots* Is there something about you guys and not following orders?
Wildfire: Yeah--friendship. Hang on, I'll be right there.
Hawk: *fires at another droid--hits him, sending him flying off his speeder. Fireball travels past him, straight into a group of droids. Fries four of them as the other nine break away in time.* Head back! Back to the base, let's go! *flies towards Maximal base, continuing to fire behind him. Wildfire is doing the same*
Wildfire: They sure are tough! Let me try something... *stops in midflight, bringing hands together. Fireball expands around clasped hands, growing in front of her. before the fire can be thrown, streaks of fire energy fly from the fireball. The streaks strike at the handful of droids flying the front line, incinerating them. The fireball shrinks as the streaks diffuse outward. When she's done, there are twelve different wrecks falling to the ground below.*
Hawk: Not bad...think you can get the rest of them?
Wildfire: I can try...
*MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE PREDACON SHIP*
Darkbird: Well?
Terminx: I'm not an engineer!! I'm a scientist! Just because I know how to work with Cybertron technology doesn't mean I can fix these machines of yours in the snap of my fingers!
Darkbird: How much longer?!
Terminx: Hold on... *sparks fly from a secondary console, then it lights up.* There, you should have weapons back on-line.
Darkbird: Good! Let's get this thing moving. We've got some work to do! Lady of Light, you can kiss my assplate! The Lord of Darkness RISES AGAIN! Hahahaha! Let's give them a little demonstration of our power. Mirage, "fire a warning shot, across her nose."
Mirage: Yes sir. *Aims main cannon at a near by moutain and fires. The shot flies through the air, getting the attention of all the nearby Maximals, and destroys the mountain.*
Darkbird: *Turns on outside speakers.* See that Maximals? That is the power of this ship. Surrender now, or I shall turn this ship's power on you base. If you decide on the smart choice and give up now, I may let the base be. But, if you pull any oh-so-hero-stunts...well you can kiss you future goodbye. Mheheheheheheheheheehehahahahahahahaahahahahahaha!!!!!...
*ship rocks hard. Warning klaxons go off*
Darkbird: So, they decide to fight back anyway, huh? Maximals just don't know when to quit. Guess I'll have t-- *another hard shudder, followed by two more. The console to Terminx's right explodes*
Darkbird: I didn't know any of them had that kind of firepower?
Mirage: I don't think they do. The scanners aren't showing anything out there, but the hits are coming at us from short range. *Another collision*
Darkbird: Oh, it's that blasted jet! He thinks he's so--*BOOM* What was that?!
Terminx: Our main energizer just went out. Power couplings to the engines are down. We're falling--*BOOM* The ship can't hold up-- *Another collision, panel next to Terminx explodes, sending debris into his construct. He falls over, damaged.*
Darkbird: BLAST IT ALL!!! Mirage!! Reaim the weapons. Start firing at everything!
Mirage: It won't do us any good! *BOOM* We can't even see him...
Darkbird: *unsheaths claws* Do you ever remember me assaulting you in your lifetime? Care for me to change that?!
Mirage *stunned for a moment. Turns around and goes to the weapons console. Starts firing everywhere*
*MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE*
Hawk: *flying with Wildfire towards the Maximal base, not far off in the distance.* Darkstorm. I figured he wouldn't stay quiet for long.
Wildfire: He's doing some heavy damage. It's like he knows where to aim.
Hawk: I think he does. When he tested against Sentinel, the defensive system gave the ship's weak points away.
Wildfire: How so?
Hawk: Sentinel was programmed to strengthen itself when an area of the shielding over a vital portion of the ship was attacked, to make sure the shot wouldn't get through. Darkstorm litterally mapped the ship out using the system as an energy trace, to see what parts of the ship it would protect the most.
Wildfire: Well, I'll be. *Final boom is heard in the distance, and the Predacon ship starts falling slowly to the valley below, black smoke trailing upwards.* He's done it!
Hawk: Don't start cheering. That only means he's done with Darkbird. I have a feeling we're next. *notes battle droids on their S.T.A.P. vehicles closing fast.* Let's get back to base, quick! *both fly off*
*MEANWHILE*
*Darkstorm watches as the Predacon ship falls into the canyon valleys near the Maximal base. The ship's engine whine is heard climbing in pitch as it nears the floor. Finally, in a mix of smoke, it collides with the ground, small explosions erupting all around. The canyon helps to focus the soundwaves out and up, creating an odd echo effect. Darkstorm hovers over the location for a moment as the black smoke gets thicker. Then, he turns around and heads for the Maximal base. There are two dozen battle droids on S.T.A.P.s ahead of him. They do not maneuver, as they have not seen him yet. Darkstorm places his aim carefully, and quickly takes out eight droids. The others maneuver in a frenzy as they know they are being attacked, but don't see their target on radar. Darkstorm uses the panic to his advantage, taking out six more. He fires a missile into a group of four, each avoiding the projectile easily. As it gets ten meters from one of them, it goes active and locks on. The droid has no time to react, and explodes after impact. The shockwave rocks the other three, and Darkstorm takes them down quickly.*
*Seven more battle droids are left, attacking Darkstorm as best they can. None of the shots make impact with the jet's hull, as they have no signal to lock onto. Darkstorm pulls straight up, beckoning the droids to follow. All seven do, and Darkstorm tranforms to his warrior mode. He aims down quickly and starts firing his missiles. They go active at once, chasing four of the droids. They begin to maneuver wildly trying to avoid the missiles. Since the homing projectiles are all the droids are paying attention to, Darkstorm has an easy time shooting them down with his blaster cannon instead of waiting for the missiles to make impact. The last three make a suicide run on the warrior, guns blazing. Darkstorm fires his head cannons at one, a missile at the other, and fires his blaster at the third. Each dodge in turn. The missile, aimed at one, goes active and locks onto the droids neighbor, taking him out quick. A piece of armor goes flying into one of the droids, disorienting him for a moment. Darkstorm shoots him down quickly. Keeping his head guns firing at the last target, Darkstorm brings his cannon forwards and fires. The high velocity projectiles track from one side of the droid, while the green laser blasts come from the other. The droids pulls up avoiding both attacks, but realizes too late as he picks up a lock-on. The missile Darkstorm had secretly fired pummels into him without a problem, destroying him in a ball of fire. Pieces rain everywhere as Darkstorm transforms back to jet mode, and flies towards the Maximal base...*
*AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON*
*The bridge is completely destroyed. Control panels are sparking and pieces of equipment are laying everywhere. The bodies(as well as pieces) of the Predacons lay scatter around. Under a pile of wreckage, Darkbird's clawed hand is barely sticking out. One of the claws is badly bent and the another is broken in half.*
*One of Darkbird's fingers begins to move. Sunddenly, Darkbird stands up, shouting and sending debris flying everywhere. He looks at himself and notices his body is very badly damaged. Cuts and dents cover his body and his left optic is shattered. He looks around the room and notices the damage.*
Darkbird: Damn. That asshole really did a job on this place. *Looks around one more time, then heads for his quarters. When he gets outside his door, he press that button to open the door, but it just gives a whine of protest. Aggrivated, Darkbird punches the door and it falls down. He walks into his quarters, melted and fused from Wildfire's fireball, and tries to open the passway to his lair.*
Computer: WaaArNinGgggg. PooWerrrr aT 15% mAxiiiimuuuM.
Darkbird: Damn! I have to get in there.
*Goes over to personal computer and pulls out some of the wires and attaches them to the portal control panel. He presses the button agian and the remaining power from the computer goes into the portal.
Computer: PoWeR aT 55% MaXiMum.
Darkbird: Have to risk it. *Darkbird braces himself, then jumps through the portal. He screams as the power begins to fluxuate.*
*AT DARKBIRD'S LAIR*
*The partner portal opens ans fluxuates as well. Darkbird's scream can be heard even before he comes out of the protal. He falls out of it and collapes on the floor. He layes there for a few minutes. His functioning optic comes back online and he struggles to get up. He walks of to his protal and falls down in the chair.*
Darkbird: Computer...begin program, "Transmetal 2". *A piece of the floor splits open a stasis pod attached to a stange machine comes up. Darkbird forces himself out of the chair and stumbles to the pod. He types in a few codes on the machine, then step inside the pod.*
Darkbird: Now, we'll see who's more powerful!
*The lid closes and process begins. A few moments later, the pod's door opens and the new Darkbird stepped out. He is now a Transmetal 2 almost the size as the original Megatron. He is completely pitch black all over and his optics are now dark red. He unsheathes his claws. They are longer, sharper, and slightly curved*
Darkbird: Now, for the others. *He walks out of his lair and into the remains of the Darkseid to begin his task.*
*MEANWHILE*
Blue Blaze: Wh..what hit me? *Blue Blaze looks down at herself and sees her right leg isn't there.* Oh. I think I know where I am. Hey wasn't there a fight here? *She looks around and sees that the battle is over, battle droids and tanks blown up or nonfunctional* I missed the fight. *looks up, almost as if from intuition. A partial cloud formation is beginning.* What is that? *continues to examine it, when she gets a funny feeling. The feeling becomes fear.* Oh, NO! Not--not now! It's...NO! Beast mode! *converts to beast mode--which has all four legs--and begins to run in the direction she thinks her base is...*
*MEANWHILE*
*Hawk and Wildfire fly towards the base*
Primal: There! There they are. *hits commlink* Hawk, report.
Hawk: Battle droids are knocked out. There were a group of flyers behind us, but they've been taken down. Casualties include Siege and Silverbolt. We had some outside help, but I've never seen the beings before in my life. Cheetor is with Skycat, and they have someone wounded with them. They're on their way here.
Primal: *sighs* Damn. Two dead.
Hawk: We've had our hands full ourselves with all kinds of trouble since the droids went off-line.
Primal: What kind of trouble?
Wildfire: Well, for one, the Darkseid was actually airborne and chasing us.
Primal: What?!
Hawk: The ship's already gone down; you won't have to worry about it.
Primal: Good.
Wildfire: Not really. Our own Darkstorm was the one that took the ship down.
Hawk: And to add to it, he's headed your way.
Primal: Well... *looks at his ground troops* ...that's just Prime!
*MEANWHILE, ELSEWHERE*
Velvet: *over commlink* Velvet to base can you read me?
Clawblade: I read you Velvet what's wrong?
Velvet: Is Starise there?
Clawblade: No, she left with Skystalker and Firesaber. Why?
Velvet: Um, we found Sky and 'Saber. they where slagged, and Starise isn't here.
Clawblade: Great. Two missing. What else could go wrong?
Velvet: Well Firesaber wants to talk to you about letting his sister get slagged, so if I were you I'd hide for about
30 Cycles.
*AT THEIR BASE...*
Clawblade: On no I'm out of here, Beast mode! *Clawblade runs from the room just as Cybershadow and Ambush come in.*
Ambush: Huh? *goes to comm station* Hey, Vel, why is Claw running away as if Starflame were trying to get him? What did you say to him?
Velvet: Firesaber want's to talk to him about Blue Blaze.
Cybershadow: Oh, that's just as bad.
*OUTSIDE THE MAXIMAL BASE*
*Hawk and Wildfire land next to Primal. Standing next to Primal are Blackbird, Rhinox, Nightfox and Rattrap.*
Primal: Glad you could make it.
Wildfire: Rather glad we did make it.
Hawk: Cheetor and Skycat are on their way. Ungh! *shakes head harshly* And their new friend...whoever they are.
Primal: Time to get you some downtime, Hawk.
Hawk: I'm fine.
Wildfire: You look pretty scrapped to me. You took all those flyer droids on your own 'til I bailed you out.
Hawk: Superficial only. A few internal repairs and I'm fine.
Primal: No. It's always superficial with you. Rhinox--help him with repairs; that's an order to both of you.
Hawk: *sighs* With Darkstorm out there and heading this way, that isn't the best strategy. We need our troops here.
Primal: And we need them fit. *Hawk stands in front of Primal for a few moments more before nodding and heading in with Rhinox.*
Primal: Now, as for the rest of you... *noises heard from behind*
Nightfox: Sneak attack! *draws weapon. Others do the same, aiming for boulder behind them*
Blue Blaze: *coming out from behind rock, stopping short as she realizes where she is.* Uh-oh...*some of the Maximals startle, others get defensive* Don't..don't shoot me!
Primal: Who...and what, are you? *Primal sees that Blue Blaze is some kind of cat with silver fur with icy wings and sky blue eyes, a very odd sight.*
Blue Blaze: I...I don't know. *Blue Blaze sees herself and knows that she dosn't have the same body she had before the droid fight.*
Blue Blaze: By Ren, what has happend to me!?!
Rattrap: Uh, ye' okay kiddo? And, uh, who is this.. 'Ren'?
Blue Blaze: 'Okay?' I'm better than okay!
Rattrap: Huh?
Blue Blaze: It happend, it happend! YES!!
Primal: What happend? Mind explaining what you're refering to?
Blue Blaze: Huh? Oh, um...I don't know, but it's a good thing. See you around.
Primal: Woah, hold on, come back here.
Blue Blaze: What?
Primal: We need help.
Blue Blaze: Then that's what I'll get, I'll be right back with my friends. *Blue Blaze transforms to robot mode, and she sees that she is still missing one of her legs'.* Ooh. I forgot about that.
Primal: Looks like you'll need some repair work.
Blue Blaze: I'm fine...really... *Bue Blaze falls down and Primal helps her back up.*
Blue Blaze: Urph! Then again...
Primal: You're going to get repairs, right now.
Blue Blaze: Okay...you're probably...right... *Blue Blaze blacks out and Primal picks her up and takes her inside the base.*
*AFTER BLUE BLAZE IS PLACED IN THE CR-CHAMBER*
Wildfire: I'm going to find Striker!
Primal: We need you here. Darkstorm is on his way here, as well as a mess of flyer droids. We need everyone we can get.
Wildfire: Exactly. I'll be back with the cat sisters and Striker, in time to back the rest of you guys up. But I NEED to find Striker. *Before Optimus can respond, Wildfire takes to the air again and back the way she'd come.*
Primal: Well, that certainly is prime.
Rattrap: Eh, so whatta we do now, Fearless leader?
Primal: What we always do. Defend the Ark, at all costs.
Rattrap: I knew it. We're all gonna die.
All Maximals present: SHUT UP RATTRAP!
*ON PATROL*
Wildfire: *flying to the Cat sisters' last known region. Speaks into commlink.* Striker come in. Striker, this isn't funny, we need help. The base is under attack by flying droids and Darkstorm is headed that way too. We need the help. Striker, answer me.
Striker: I'm a little busy right now leave a message and I'll get back to you.
Wildfire: Tell me where you guys are and I'll come help.
Striker: Just follow the signal. You'll find us, or what's left of us.
Wildfire: Look Striker, Hawk made a rule this morning. No dying. That includes you. I'll be there as soon as I can. *Wildfire fires her thrusters at full and follows Striker's signal to where he is fighting alongside the Cat sisters. There are a mess of flyer droids swooping and buzzing Striker and the Cat sisters. Some of the flyers dismount their vehicles, attacking on the ground. Just as Wildfire is about to swoop down and take out some of the droids, one of the droids hits Striker hard and Striker falls to the ground.* NOOOOOOOOO!!! *Wildfire swoops down and incenrates the droids that are near Striker. Wildfire lands near him* Striker, are you ok?
Spider Striker: I'll be okay. "Soon as the room stops spinnig."
Catspaw: *screaming from behind them* CATSCLAW!!! NOOOOOOO!! *Catsclaw is lying on her back, her claws stretched out from her hands. Smoke is billowing from her chest, where multiple shots made their mark. The sister's optics are dead. Catspaw starts slicing though the droids*
Catspaw: No one takes my family! NO ONE!
Wildfire: What? *notices Catsclaw's remains* By Primus. *Spider Striker leaps up and grabs Catspaw from behind*
Spider Striker: Come on! We have to get back to base and regroup!
Catspaw: They took my sister!!
Spider Striker: How do you think I feel about whoever brought me here?
Catspaw: That's different! This...*shudders, with anger as well as pain. She nods to nothing in particular as she understands Spider Striker's point.* I...I am with you...
Spider Striker: Good! Let's hurry back!
*Wildfire forms up a bunch of miniature fireballs and throws them at the droids on the ground. They try to dodge, but have a hard time doing it. After a few moments, Wildfire knocks down all the grounded droids. The remaining S.T.A.P. flyers, eight of them, continue to buzz at Wildfire, Spider Striker, and Catspaw.*
Spider Striker: That's it! We can't stay!
Wildfire: *picks up Catspaw* Spider Striker, get on my back. Hurry! *Spider Striker gets on Wildfire's back, and she takes off towards the base.* The two of you had better be ready to fight. I have the feeling that if the other droids aren't there, Darkstorm is.
Spider Striker: I'm ready.
Catspaw: If the droids are there they'll never know what hit them.
Primal: Wildfire come in.
Wildfire: Wildfire here. What's up?
Primal: Did you find them?
Wildfire: Yes, but Catsclaw was taken by the droids. I do have the other two.
Primal: We need the three of you back here now.
Wildfire: We're on our way.
Primal: Good, Primal out.
Wildfire: Guess they've started the party with out us. Looks like we'll have to crash it.
Striker: Sounds like a plan.
*BACK AT THE MAXIMAL BASE*
Hawk: Look, just get to the vital systems, forget the armor.
Rhinox: I'm almost finished here. *working on part of Hawk's side as Hawk works on a portion of his damaged leg* Done!
Hawk: Same *Hawk puts dented armor panel back on his leg* Let's get out there.
*run out to the entrance of St. Hillary.*
Hawk: Anything?
Primal: No. I don't even pick up those signals from the battle droids.
Hawk: He might have gotten to them...*looks out, drops optic lenses* There! He's coming!
Primal: Everyone! Take your positions!
Rattrap: Heh, fer what good it'll do us. *gets smacked over the head from behind...* Douh! Who?.. *turns around, but everyone looks to be in combat mode* Funny! Ye know that?
Primal: Get ready! *Darkstorm gets closer* Aim... *black jet flies towards mountain* Fire!!
*all Maximals open fire, lasers and rockets flying. Hawk notices the pitch angle of Darkstorm's approach...*
Hawk: He's not making a direct attack... *Everyone watches--continuing to fire--as Darkstorm flies over the mountain and past*
Primal: Those shots barely scratched him!
Rattrap: Not too many of 'em hit 'im either.
Hawk: He's not after the base. Where's he going?
*MEANWHILE*
Wildfire: Almost there guys, hold on... *notes object ahead* Oh damn! It's Darkstorm! This is going to get rough!
Spider Striker: Where's he headed? He's going somewhere in a hurry, but it isn't towards us...
Wildfire: And our base is that way...
*ELSEWHERE*
Ambush: *I'm not getting it on scanners, but I'm picking it up visually. It's headed right for us!
Cybershadow: What is it?
Ambush: It....it isn't a local, that's for sure!
Cybershadow: We need to prepare the base for an attack.
Ambush: There aren't enough of us here to defend the base!
Cybershadow: We might not have any other choice *smacks hand down over alarm* General Quarters alert! The base is being attacked!
*MEANWHILE*
*Wildfire is returning to the Maximal base. She is carrying Catspaw, and Spider Striker is riding on her back. Suddenly, a blast flies at them and cause Catspaw and Striker go crashing to the ground. Wildfire flies down and catches Striker, but unfortunately forgets about Catspaw. She is hit by another blast and turns to find a Transmetal version of Buzz Saw hovering there. She ignites her fist and is about to fire at him, when something slashes her back. She turns to find a Terrorsaur flying there, who is also now a Transmetal.*
Wildfire: I can't fight these guys and hold on to you.
Striker: Then I guess this is my stop. *Striker jumps out of Wildfire's arms, fires a cyberweb line on a tree, and swings onto it. He then jumps to the ground looks at Wildfire.*
Striker: I'm going to get Catspaw. Think you can hold those two off for awhile?
Wildfire: These two? No problem.
Striker: Good, then see you in a bit. *Wildfire, turns back to Terrorsaur and Buzz Saw, but finds no one. Suddenly, she is hit from the back by another laser blast. She turns and throws a fireball at her attacker, but he simply dogdes it. Some more blast hit her back, this time it's Terrorsaur. She ignites her hand, but before she can use it Buzz Saw shoots her arm. She turns and throws one at him, but he dodges AGAIN, and Terrorsaur rakes his swords agianst Wildfire's back. She throws fireballs at both of them, but they dodge them and regroup.*
Wildfire: Since when did these guys get good?!
*Meanwhile, on the ground, Striker is running towards Catspaw, but is hit in the back by some laser blasts, causing him to fall to the ground. He gets up, turns and sees Mantor standing over him.*
Mantor: I'm baaaack!
Striker: Great! But it's going to be a short stay! *Striker pulls out both guns and fires at Mantor, but he simply jumps into a tree.* Wait a minute. He's not suppose to do that. *Suddenly, another blast hits Striker and knocks him back down. Before he can get up, Mirage decloaks and walks over to him. He unsheaths his claws and rakes them across Striker's chest. He then picks up Striker by the throat, punches him in the face, then throws him. Striker slides some when he hits the ground. When he stops, he notices a figure standing over him. It reaches down and picks him up by his thoat.*
Striker: You know, I'm getting tired of you guys doing this.
Figure: Silence! Give this message to your leader, boy. The feline is mine. She will be released only when I see fit.
Striker: Who are you?
Figure: I am the weaver of nightmares. The taker of souls. I am the Lord of Darkness.
Striker: Darkbird! *Darkbird, glares at Striker, then lifts him above his head and slams him into the ground.*
Darkbird: Regroup! *They all gather near him and he instructs Mirage and Mantor to place Catspaw's body on Scavenger, who is in vehicle mode. They do as they're told, then the whole group walks off.*
*Striker comes to a few mintues later. He gets up, looks around and notices that Catspaw is gone and Wildfire is laying on the ground. He limps over to her body.*
Striker: You Okay?
Wildfire: *gets up, a little lopsidedly* Not really. I mean, I have cut and scratch marks all over my body. My head is pounding. And to top it all off, I was beaten by Terrorsaur and Buzz Saw!
Striker: No offense, but I think we have bigger problems.
Wildfire: Like what?
Striker: Well, let's see. Darkbird is back in a new, bigger body. He now commands a group that consists of Mirage, Mantor, and Transmetal versions of Terrorsaur, Buzz Saw, and I think I even saw Inferno. And, oh yeah, he now has Catspaw.
Wildfire: That is worse.
**********************
Please Read and Review, we've has so little of that. We'll even take flames, we need a good laugh.