*AFTER THEY LEAVE*
*Spider Striker sits up and shakes his head*
Spider Striker: "Wow! Whatta bang!" Wait, did I use that line alredy? Ah, who cares! *Striker looks and himself and notices that he's torn up even worse.*
Spider Striker: Well, ain't that just dandy! *stands up, and thinks* Darkstorm is obviously after something. My bombs work, but I'm still not much of a match for him...I know! *Starts to attach bombs to wall. When he's emptied his subspace pocket of all 150, he laughs evily* I'll blow up the ship!! Computers; set timer for, let's see, 7 minutes.
All bombs: Acknowleged.
Spider Striker: Talking bombs. What the hell was I thinking?
Bombs: 6 minutes, 55 seconds until explosion.
Spider Striker: Oh, $h!t! I forgot about Wildfire and the others! They'll be looking for Cheetor and Hawk still! Computers: abort!!!
Bombs: Unrecognized command.
Spider Striker: What? I forgot to program a shut down command!
Bombs: 6 minutes, 32 seconds remaining.
Spider Striker: Increase time to 10 minutes! Authorization: striker-scarlet Alex.65!!
Bombs: Command recognized.
Spider Striker: whew! I hope that's enough time. And now, I run like hell! *Spider Striker runs in the direction of the exit*
*ELSEWHERE IN THE DARKSEID*
*Skycat and Catspaw follow Wildfire through the Darkseid's blackened corridors. Eventually they reach the ship's main engine room.*
Wildfire: Here we are.
Catspaw: What do we do now?
Skycat: Not we. Me. *Skycat moves over to the main engine's control console, and starts typing.* I'm gonna rig this baby to blow itself to kingdom come. Wildfire, you'd better see if you and Catspaw can find SS anywhere. I think Hawk's still in here somewhere too. See if you can find 'em, then haul your keisters away from here as far and fast as possible. *Skycat grins wickedly* This baby's gonna make one mighty big boom when she goes up.
Wildfire: But what about you? Will you have enough time to get clear?
Skycat: 'Course I will. I may be nuts, but I'm not suicidal. Now you two had better get going. When I've finished here, we'll have about five minutes to bail. *Wildfire and Catspaw start to leave*
Wildfire: Skycat?
Skycat: Yeah?
Wildfire: Good luck.
Skycat: You too. *Wildfire and Catspaw leave the engine room on their search and rescue mission, and Skycat continues her work.*
*ELSEWHERE*
*Darkstorm runs into the main command room. A dead Darkbird is sprawled across the floor, his chest blown open from the inside*
Darkstorm: A fate worthy of one such as Darkbird. Like so many others I've seen. Two-dimensional thinking--never looking ahead to the future and its myriad of possibilities. And so, he was beaten. But, something else was there. Another presence. Who--or what--was it? A powerful presence, no doubt. The answers lie in his core processor. With it, I'll have my answers. And, as I am in this time period, on this primorial planet, I shall not be bothered by the pestilence of the Autobots or the Maximals. Left alone to discover what I will, for my own personal evolution.
Our society is currently in shambles. Even had it remained under Decepticon rule after the Great War--and all the feeble wars following--it would still not meet the standards of the society it could have been. But...*walks over to Darkbird's body* ...within this being, was a power beyond even me. It's own knowledge frozen in dead datatracks. To uncover that knowledge, a power beyond anything ever conceived on Cybertron...the wisest of Autobot, Decepticon, Maximal and Predacon combined would not exceed it. *bends down to Darkbird's cranium.* No weapon could ever match that of pure knowledge. *pulls out small energon dagger.* And, I will have it. *hears sounds from behind him. Wastes no time in tearing open the back of Darkbird's cranium and wrenching out the core processor. Quickly, he turns around.*
Hawk: *comes from behind a torn up bulkhead, one arched blade in hand* I...can't let you have that...
Darkstorm: I understand. But, you can't stop me either. My society will come to pass.
Hawk: *limping forward* It...will take you eons...before anyone follows you...
Darkstorm: I can wait. I have for so long. It won't matter to me either way. My ultimate goal will be achieved.
Hawk: *holding blade in front of him, stumbling* You're...too twisted... No one...
Darkstorm: People will. Simply because, they will evolove as I will. Given time.
Hawk: You...have...no more...time...
Darkstorm: I do believe, *raises blaster* you have that backwards...
*DOWN ONE OF THE DARKSEID'S CORRIDORS*
*Spider Striker is searching for a way out of the Darkseid when he gets lost*
Spider Striker: Great! No wonder I never got my driver's license!
Wildfire: *from around corridor* Striker? That you?
Spider Striker: Wildfire? Yeah I'm over here!! *Wildfire and Catspaw come out from around the corner*
Catspaw: Thank Primus! We're trying to find a way out.
Spider Striker: So am I.
Wildfire: We were hoping to find Hawk too, but we're running out of time.
Spider Striker: Tell me about it. I figure we have another seven minutes or so.
Wildfire: Seven?! I don't think we have more than two minutes!
Skycat: *from commlink* Two m-nutes, fourtee- seconds t- be exact.
Wildfire: *presses commlink* Skycat!
Spider Striker: Waitwaitwaitwait--wait! Two minutes? From what?
Catspaw: Skycat set the ship to self-destruct. I guess it is timed at this point.
Wildfire: *to commlink* Are you on your way out?
Skycat: Not yet, but I --ll be. In about fifteen seconds, the ener-y build-up will b- too much t- let transmi--ns get thr---. Have you f--nd Hawk y--?
Wildfire: Negative. But we have found Spider Striker.
Skycat: All r-ght, concen---t- on g-ttin- o-t in ti--. Do whateve- y-- hav-....--do....--ut do i....s--....*static*
Wildfire: Skycat? *presses commlink again* Skycat, you there?
*IN THE ENGINE ROOM*
Skycat: *to commlink* All right, concentrate on getting out in time. Do whatever you have to do, but do it soon. *The commlink just hisses static in reply.* Crud! I just hope they can make it out...Speaking of which, I oughta start hauling my tail outta here too! Beast mode! * She transforms and starts running through the Darkseid's dimly-lit corridors, trying to remember the way out.*
*DOWN ANOTHER CORRIDOR*
Spider Striker: Um...we're going to have a problem.
Catspaw: How so?
Spider Striker: You remember those bombs I made? The ones that were able to tear at Darkstorm's armor?
Wildfire: Let me guess. You set them up.
Spider Striker: Yeah. But, I set them up for ten minutes. Of course, that was, what, six minutes ago. If the self destruct goes off...
Wildfire: We can figure that one out. Exactly how many bombs did you set up?
Spider Striker: Oh, about 150.
Catspaw & Wildfire: WHAT?!?!
Spider Striker: Yeah, that's alot, but I wanted to blow up the base and make sure it took Darkstorm and Darkbird with it.
Wildfire: As well as Hawk and Skycat if they don't get out in time.
Catspaw: And if we don't get out in time, it'll be that much worse.
Spider Striker: Uh-oh. Well, at least we'll get some real nice fire works.
Wildfire: Well, let's have some pre-fireworks to warm up with before the whole party starts. Anyone know any weak points on this crate?
Catspaw: I am aware of none.
Wildfire: Great. Guess we'll just have to improvise. *begins to form a fireball, then looks up.* Ceiling is the most likely candidate. Everyone, stand back. *Throws fireball at ceiling. Fireball tears through the ceiling of the first two upper decks before dispersing.*
Catspaw: Not bad. *All three jump up to the second deck.* Think you can do that again?
Wildfire: Let me...build up some more energy...
Spider Striker: Huh?! We've got, like, a minute left!
Catspaw: We're close to the outside of the base.
Wildfire: How can you...tell?
Catspaw: I don't know. I just...feel the outside. *stares at bulkhead to her left* I want to try something.
Spider Striker: What?
Catspaw: Teleportation.
Wildfire: How?
Catspaw: I learned the technique through the forbidden text.
Spider Striker: Ever try it before.
Catspaw: No. But this bulkhead is too thick to blast or cut through. I don't believe we have any choice.
Spider Striker: Just checking. Well, one thing's for sure, this will be very interesting.
Catspaw: Everyone, get close. *Wildfire and Spider Striker get close to Catspaw.* Here it goes...
*ELSEWHERE*
Skycat: Oh great. Trust me ta get lost when the whole place is about to go kablooey, and only half a minute left! *She keeps running, then notices that there is light coming through a crack in one of the walls.* The outer hull! Least, I hope it is...oh well, as I always say, when in doubt...*she maximizes and pulls out her quasar cannons*...blast everything! *Skycat blows a hole in the side of the ship, revealing the outside terrain.* All right! Custom-made exit!
*Skycat transforms back to beast mode, and starts to jumps out, just as the corridor behind her begins glowing bright white...
*IN THE MAIN COMMAND ROOM*
*The command room jolts extremelty hard, knocking Hawk to the floor, and putting Darkstorm sligthly off balance. The Decepticon looks around the room, noting the smaller corridors beginning to light up from farther down the way. The room is still shaking, making it difficult for Darkstrom to keep his balance without restepping. Darkstorm looks to the top of the command room, aiming his weapon up to blast through and escape. Fire pours through the upper deck corridors, too quickly for Darkstorm to escape it as it engulfs him--causing minor damage to his construct. Then, the whole room begins to glow a bright white--first directly from the corridors, then from all around.*
Darkstorm: *lowering his weapon* Clever. *The room brightens more, still shaking around him.* How very clever...
*Quickly, everything goes white...*
*OUTSIDE*
*Primal and the others are returning back to the Maximal base for repairs after the battle outside the Darkseid.*
Blackbird: I wonder what Wildfire, Catspaw and Skycat are up to?
Primal: I have no idea. *He frowns a bit.* I just hope that they don't run into Darkstorm.
Rhinox: Don't worry, Optimus. They've probably got something planned, or else they wouldn't have gone in.
Blackbird: *grins* Not having a plan wouldn't worry Skycat much! ' Specially since all her 'plans' usually involve something exploding big time! *Just then, a blindingly bright white light flashes in the sky, and then an audio-shattering explosion is heard from the direction of the Darkseid. The ground trembles and shakes, and the Maximals all look at each other in shock.*
Primal: *dryly to Blackbird* You weren't joking about Skycat's 'plans,' were you? I just hope that everyone got clear in time.
*As the Maximals stare towards the last location of the Darkseid, a small field of white energy starts to form in the center of them. The field slowly starts to change form. Finally, it morphs into the form of Catspaw and Wildfire.*
Primal: Catspaw!
Catspaw: Greetings 'Uncle!'
Wildfire: How's Nightfox doing?
Rhinox: She's healing fine. She'll be back to normal in about a day.
Blackbird: Hey! Where's Alex?
Wildfire: Alex? Oh, slag! Where's Striker?
Blackbird: "That's what I said!"
Catspaw: I don't know. He should be here. He was with us...his ring.
Wildfire: What about it?
Catspaw: It gives off high amounts of energy. It most likely interfered with the teleportation.
*There is a bright flash in the air and someone screaming can be heard coming from above.*
Screaming: Son of a b*************tch!!!!!! *Spider Striker lands flat on his face from at least 30 feet up.*
Spider Striker (in small pathetic voice): ow.
Blackbird: He's okay!
*Wildfire goes over to Spider Striker and helps him up.*
Wildfire: You okay, SS?
Spider Striker: Yeah, I'll live. *Looks around* Hey, where's Skycat?
Primal: You mean she wasn't with you?
Wildfire: No, she wasn't... *looks worried* We'd better look for her, just in case...
Catspaw: *concerned* You don't think...
Primal: Lets hope not. *Optimus and Wildfire, the only uninjured flyers, take to the sky to look for the missing Skycat. The others keep on going back to base.*
*Wildfire and Optimus fly towards the Darkseid - or at least where it used to be. There's only a giant smoking crater, with twisted, half-melted pieces of metal scattered about the landscape. They scan the area, looking for any signs of life. Wildfire's optics are suddenly caught by a movement at one edge of the crater.*
Wildfire: Optimus! Down there! *They fly down to find Skycat groggily trying to get to her feet. The two are shocked at her battered condition. Skycat's wings are burnt almost to a crisp, and she is charred and covered with cuts and gashes that slowly leak mech-fluid.*
Primal: *shocked* By the Matrix...Skycat! *Skycat finally manages to get to her feet, swaying slightly. Her eyes are rather cross-eyed, and slightly unfocused. She finally notices the two bots in front of her.*
Skycat: *groggily* Oh...hiya Optimus, Wildfire. Didn't hear ya there. *She snorts derisively.* Heck, can't hear anything at the moment...that explosion must've knocked out my audio receptors... *She shakes her head* Man, what a blast! Always wondered what a cannonball feels like, an' now I know! *She chuckles, then winces in pain.* Huh, bein' blown sky-high is not near the top of my list of fun things ta do... *Skycat still can't hear anything. Wildfire and Optimus look at each other.*
Wildfire: *murmurs* Sounds like Skycat's been knocked even sillier than usual.
Primal: Given her current condition, I'm surprised she's still standing. *Skycat suddenly speaks up.*
Skycat: Well, I'm glad to see that you got out in time, Wildfire. Are Catspaw and SS okay? *Wildfire nods, and Skycat looks relieved.* That's good. *Her voice, though still groggy, suddenly becomes more serious.* Did Hawk get out?
Primal: *shakes head, posture drops* We didn't see him.
Skycat: Optimus...I'm...sorry. We just couldn't find Hawk in time. We had to blow the Darkseid to get rid of Darkstorm, but...it shouldn't have made such a big explosion...I can't understand why it went up so strongly...
*Skycat sighs, then her injuries finally catch up with her, and her legs give way as she collapses to the ground, unconcious. Optimus quickly picks her up, and they head back to the base at full speed.*
Wildfire: Do you think she'll be okay?
Primal: *sighs* I don't know...
*LATER THAT NIGHT*
*Primal and Wildfire along with everyone else arrive back at the base. Primal places Skycat in the CR chamber.*
Spider Striker: What happened?
Primal: She didn't make it out in time. Her hearing is gone and we don't know if she'll get it back. What I want to know is why she said the explosion shouldn't have been that powerful.
Spider Striker: Uh-oh.
Primal: What?
Spider Striker: You see, I made these bombs that were supposed to be strong enough to damage Darkstorm...
Primal: *angry* And you set them up to blow up the base? How many?!
Spider Striker: 150, sir.
*Primal punches the cave wall and leans close to Spider Striker*
Primal: 150 bombs. Were you afraid they weren't enough to damage Darkstorm....
Spider Striker: I didn't know that Skycat was in the engine room....
Primal: I understand that you were trying to help, Striker, but we don't know if Skycat's going to make it at all!
Spider Striker: WHAT? You just said her hearing...
Primal: Just get out.
Spider Striker: What?
Primal: You're confined to quarters for acting irresponsibly.
Wildfire: But, Optimus! He didn't know!
Spider Striker: It's okay, Wildfire. He's right. I should've known better. Silly me. I tried to do something right for once in my life, and I may have killed a friend. One of quite a few that died tonight. *Spider Striker turns and walks out of the command room.*
Wildfire: Don't you think you were a little rough on him?
Primal: As a matter of fact, I don't. You realize Skycat's condition as well as I do. And how many others are dead now?
Wildfire: I know we've suffered a lot today. But, it wasn't all Spi...
Primal: *glaring* B'Boom. Siege. Silverbolt. Jubilee. *Wildfire winces as her old name is used. Optimus shakes his head* Catsclaw. Cheetor. Rattrap. Hawk. Skycat was almost next. It's one thing to die in the line of duty. But, it's another to die because of someone's miscalculation. Especially when they're on the same side.
Wildfire: *Surrenders* At least, maybe now, the Beast Wars are finally over. We can go home.
Primal: If we could find a way to get home. Besides, we still have to find out what happened to Megatron and his bunch. *looks at Wildfire* Get some rest.
Wildfire: I'm all ri...
Primal: I mean it. Rest. That's an order.
*Wildfire sighs, then heads to the barracks section in the mountain, as her own quarters were back on her now-dismantled base.*
Primal: I just don't know what to do.
Ice Kitt: Maybe you should take a rest.
Primal: *turns around* Ice Kitt?! But you were in the Predacon base when it exp--
Ice Kitt: I know.
Primal: You're a mess!
Ice Kitt: I'm fine.
Primal: You sure don't look it.
Ice Kitt: *examines herself* You're right I'm not. Ahh! *Ice Kitt starts to glow.*
Primal: Ice Kitt!?
Ice Kitt: *Ice Kitt stops glowing and stands up.* Now I'm fine.
Primal: What in...may I ask what that was?
Ice Kitt: Self healing thingy.
Primal: Why didn't you use it when you were in the CR chamber?
Ice Kitt: Don't look at me, I'm new in this body. So, where's Starise?
Primal: In chamber two. She took some nasty hits, but she'll recover. *looks to CR chamber one.* But, right now, there's another I'm worried about.
Ice Kitt: Ah. Skycat, eh?
Primal: *looks over at Ice Kitt, browplate raised* How did you know?
Ice Kitt: I sort of...saw it. Don't ask how.
Primal: *shakes head* All right. I won't. Now, do you care to explain to me how you got back here?
Ice Kitt: It's a long story, you sure?
Primal: Yes, I'm sure.
Ice Kitt: Well, just before the base exploded, I was teleported out of it.
Primal: Teleported? Where?
Ice Kitt: To the Matrix.
Primal: *shocked* The Matrix?! How are you capable of...*blinks optics hard, shakes head* Never mind. You said you were teleported out, and not that you teleported out. Was it someone...from the Matrix who got you out of there?
Ice Kitt: Yes. Primus needed to talk to me.
Primal: May I ask why?
Ice Kitt: Sorry, I...can't tell you.
Primal: *narrows optics* Why not?
Ice Kitt: Because it's classified.
Primal: *sighs.* I guess there won't be too many answers for anything tonight.
Ice Kitt: Look, um, I need some sleep. Is there an extra room?
Primal: *staring at nothing in particular on the floor* Yes there is. Just down the main hall.
Ice Kitt: I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. Believe me, I know how you feel, I lost amost everyone I ever loved, and all I have left now is Starise. *Ice Kitt turns and walks out of the room leaving Primal to think*
Primal: *straightens out* Too many losses. *looks at Skycat's CR chamber* We can't afford anymore. *turns and walks to the promenade*
*ELSEWHERE*
Wildfire: *walking towards rec room* Man, what a day. I'm tired as hell, but I know I'm not going to sleep a wink. *rec room doors open, Wildfire walks through* Well, Primal did mention Jubilee being killed, which means he doesn't know my secret. Besides Spider Striker and Blackbird, the only ones who KNOW are now dead. *lies down on one of the recharge cots* I wish there was something I could do. I wish there were some way to just...erase it all... *shuts eyes* It never is easy. And I have a feeling that even though the fighting is over, we're just beginning...
*EPILOGUE*
*At the crater marking the site of the destroyed Darkseid, a figure walks through the center towards the far end. Very little debris is left, though some shards of metal still lie around. The self-destruction had caused the ship's structure to super heat, and most of the crater's rim is covered in a metallic molt. The figure walks to a piece of metal, picking it up. The right side of Darkbird's face and seperated lower jaw--welded into the large piece of metal--protrudes from the panel, frozen in a twisted expression of agonizing pain. The figure rotates the panel slightly, studying the face in remorse.*
Figure: Alas, poor Darkbird. Such potential. Yet, in the end, you failed to accomplish the most important goal. Blackbird is still alive. Of course, this is most likely due to your greatest flaw. You're not really me.
*Darkbird studies his dead twin's face, frozen into the piece of metal, then finally lets it slip out of his fingers to fall to the ground. He looks around the crater again, in partial thought.*
Darkbird: At least there is some good news out of this. It proves my cloning technique has been finalized, and is quite stable. And, Cheetor's reprogrammed status remained unchanged to his very end. With this information, I can accurately create my own army. A battalion of Darkbirds--it's such an appealing thought. Soon, I'll have my revenge! Bwahahahahahaha! HAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
*DUN-DUNNN!!*
-BEAST WARS, CLOSING CREDITS- (which includes the names: Pun, Wildfire, Ice Kitt, Blackbird, Spider Striker, and Skycat)
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Please Read and Review, we've has so little of that. We'll even take flames, we need a good laugh.