Beast Wars and all characters and things related are copyright and trademark of Hasbro and Mainframe Entertainment. This work, however, is the original work of the author.
Note: This story takes place shortly after "Divided".
Deep Trouble, Chapter 3
By TVfan
The Ark
"The sensors indicate metallic objects leaving the coordinates we've designated as the Predicon base," Rhinox reported.
"Megatron must intend to introduce us to the 'new' Depthcharge," Optimus sighed as he looked over the brown and green transformer's shoulder.
"But…" Rattrap blurted from behind them, "I thought you said this would work like Sentinel! Shouldn't you know whether they're Maximal or Pred?"
"They're similar," Rhinox answered seriously, "But this is no where's near as advanced as Sentinel is. From now on, whoever is on monitoring duty will have to do a much larger amount of work."
Optimus ignored the exchange of words between Rhinox and Rattrap and asked his next question.
"Can you track them?"
"Don't have to," Rhinox shook his head, "If they keep going along their current path, they will end up here."
"We'll try to head them off," Optimus answered, "Rhinox, I want you to remain here and track the Predicons. Radio if they change direction or anything."
Rhinox nodded while the others slowly filed out of the room. Cheetor quickly moved to tap Optimus on the elbow as they moved to leave the Ark.
"Big bot, what do you want done with Depthcharge?" Cheetor asked, "We can't kill him."
"We may have to," Dinobot growled from behind them, "If Megatron has altered his programming to make him a Predicon and taken measures that will insure Depthcharge's loyalty he may be willing to fight us. And if he fights, he stands the chance of being defeated and being killed."
"Hopefully it won't come to that," Optimus said firmly, "Any attack on Depthcharge is to be an attack that is intended to knock him out. Then we can simply repair the damage that Megatron has done to his circuitry."
"What about the piece of his spark that Megatron has?" Silverbolt asked, "Dinobot reported that Megatron is controlling him the same way he controls Rampage. Getting that spark fragment will be tricky, especially since I doubt Megatron would keep that spark fragment out where it could be easily taken."
"I'll deal with Megatron," Optimus said in an extremely determined voice that left no room for argument.
Elsewhere
"I do not like this," Ravage commented as flew in his vehicle mode behind Megatron, "There is no strategy and the Maximals will surely know we are coming."
"Maybe so," Megatron answered, "But Optimus has never been suited to being a general. He doesn't treat this war that we are fighting as a war. As far as he knows, Depthcharge is a Maximal, and when he learns that he is now a Predicon, he will foolishly try to save him. That will be his downfall."
"If my memory serves correct," Rampage yelled from the ground as he raced along in tank mode, "Optimus and Depthcharge didn't exactly get along when Depthcharge was a Maximal."
"You dare presume to question me?" Megatron growled.
"No," Rampage answered quickly, "I'm happy with any chance to kill something."
"Waspinator has a question," Waspinator asked from his position above the other flying Predicons.
"Yes?" Megatron answered in an agitated manner.
"What do we do with Fishbot once Maximals are defeated?" Waspinator asked.
"One problem at a time," Megatron answered and then looked forward to see the large transmetal 2 ape and the other available flying Maximals flanking him.
The Predicon tyrant quickly noted their presence and turned to Depthcharge who was flying in his own vehicle mode behind them.
"Depthcharge, go below the tree line," Megatron commanded, "I wish for your presence with the Predicons to be a surprise."
Depthcharge grumbled something under his breath, but followed Megatron's command. The last thing he wanted was to be for the Predicon tyrant to torture him through his own spark.
Ahead of them Optimus watched the Predicons approach. He didn't see Depthcharge with them, but given Dinobot's earlier report and his knowledge of Megatron, Optimus knew that the transmetal manta ray had to be nearby.
"Get ready," Optimus commanded to Cheetor and Silverbolt.
The Maximal leader then activated his radio to speak to Dinobot, Rapther, Rattrap, and Blackarachnia on the ground.
"Be ready," Optimus said clearly, "Megatron will surely attack with all of his available forces. Just because only a few are visible, doesn't mean the others are missing."
"Affirmative," Dinobot answered over the radio, "Rampage is surely with them as well. I can hear his tank mode knocking over trees."
Optimus checked his audio sensors. Dinobot was right. He then turned to watch Megatron and the other flying Predicons approach. The Maximal leader decided not to give Megatron the advantage of striking first in this battle. He activated his cannons and immediately fired on Megatron.
The blasts hit Megatron directly in the chest and knocked him back five feet in the air.
"I told you," Ravage growled, still hovering in his vehicle mode, "The Maximals were waiting for us!"
"Shut up and deal with the other Maximals!" Megatron commanded, "Predicons, attack!"
Ravage gave a frustrated growl and dove down toward the ground where he could fight. Inferno saluted and charged toward Cheetor and Silverbolt, screaming as he went. Waspinator simply joined in the insane ant's charge. On the ground, Rampage, Quickstrike, and Tarantulus began scanning the area to find the rest of the Maximals. Depthcharge meanwhile hung back, remembering that Megatron intended for him to be a surprise for Optimus.
Megatron meanwhile stared at Optimus for a few moments, as if he were waiting for the Maximal to do something.
"What?" Megatron challenged, "No destiny and honor speech?"
"Speech this!" Optimus challenged back as he rocketed forward and punched Megatron in the face.
"You disappoint me, Optimus," Megatron replied, "You can't remain your 'knight in shining armor' image if you actually fight."
"I'm here to stop you, Megatron," Optimus answered as he fired on Megatron again.
Megatron easily dodged the shot and fired a fire blast at Optimus. The transmetal two ape blocked Megatron's shot.
Cheetor meanwhile dove downward to get to the ground where he could fight. He found that Ravage followed close behind.
"Take this ya copycat!" Cheetor yelled as he landed, Maximized, and fired a laser blast at Ravage.
The transmetal Predicon that looked almost exactly like Cheetor, except that he was entirely black, was thrown back a few feet by the blast, but easily recovered.
"It will take more then that to defeat me, young one," Ravage cautioned and returned Cheetor's fire.
Silverbolt found things much tougher as he was forced to dodge fire from both Inferno and Waspinator.
"Hmm, we get Doggybot this time!" Waspinator said in jubilation.
"You're gravely mistaken if you think that," Silverbolt answered as he grabbed Waspinator by the Predicon's chest plate armor, then while dodging more of Inferno's fire, Silverbolt threw Waspinator at the insane ant.
"What are you doing, you fool?" Inferno demanded to Waspinator before the Predicon wasp hit him.
Silverbolt followed this up by firing his wing missiles at both of them. The resulting explosion sent both tumbling to the ground almost a mile away. Silverbolt then dove to the ground to provide aide to the rest of the Maximals on the ground.
Tarantulus watched as Rampage and Quickstrike began firing blindly into the surrounding jungle. No Maximal was in sight, but they were firing away.
"What are you shooting at?" Tarantulus demanded as he approached the fuzor and transmetal.
"Nothin' yet," Quickstrike muttered, "We's gonna flush 'em out and then slag 'em."
"You fool, this is a jungle, they could be anywhere," Tarantulus growled, "Don't shoot till you see a Maximal!"
The three proceeded to advance cautiously, scanning the surrounding jungle for any sign of the Maximals. After a few steps they came into a small clearing in the jungle. Tarantulus looked up to see Optimus and Megatron locked in battle above them, while at the other end of the field, Ravage and Cheetor were trading laser shots.
"There's a Maximal!" Quickstrike shouted with glee and began firing at Cheetor.
"Can't I catch a break?" Cheetor mumbled as he ducked under one of Ravage's shots only to be hit in the side by Quickstrike's shots.
"Here's one," Rattrap said emerging from behind a tree nearby.
The transmetal rat fired three shots from his blaster. One hit the ground harmlessly, but the other two hit Quickstrike squarely in the chest, knocking the Predicon fuzor back several feet. At the same time, Rapther leaped from the bushes near Tarantulus and Rampage. The transmetal female landed on Rampage's shoulder while still in beast mode and knocked the transmetal crab's rocket launcher out of his hands with her tail. Rampage then threw her off of him.
"I don't need a weapon to defeat you female!" Rampage snarled.
"Bring it on," Rapther growled back as she Maximized.
Tarantulus watched as Rampage and Rapther battled to his left and while Quickstrike struggled to get behind the pile of fallen trees that Ravage was using for cover.
"There must be at least one more Maximal here," Tarantulus muttered out loud, "But where?"
Blackarachnia lowered herself down on a cyberwebline behind Tarantulus.
"There are no more Maximals here," Blackarachnia cackled startling the transmetal tarantula, "But there is a Predicon who knows that she can't be a Predicon under its current leadership. Blackarachnia, TERRORIZE!"
Blackarachnia finished transforming and then in a single motion, jumped up in the air and did a spinning kick that knocked Tarantulus into Rattrap's line of fire.
"And I'd love nothing more than to be personally rid of you!" Blackarachnia finished.
Meanwhile, still hidden in the bushes, Dinobot observed the battle. Rattrap and Cheetor had Quickstrike and Ravage in a virtual stalemate. Rapther actually had the upper hand on Rampage, since without his missile launcher, the transmetal crab was not nearly as tough an opponent. Blackarachnia seemed to be dominating the battle between herself and Tarantulus as she attacked the transmetal tarantula fast and hard with martial arts moves that Tarantulus couldn't counter. Dinobot also noticed that Silverbolt had arrived from above to provide air support. That meant that Inferno and Waspinator were either out of the fight or temporarily distracted. Either way, Dinobot was not desperately needed here and the male raptor began moving in search of the transformer he did wish to do battle with. Depthcharge.
Depthcharge was meanwhile waiting in a position where he could wait for Megatron's signal to join the battle against the Maximal commander. He listened to Megatron insult Optimus Primal and he listened to Optimus retort back. Secretly to himself, Depthcharge wished he could overthrow the Predicon programming that Megatron had written into his software. Even if could though, Depthcharge openly questioned whether or not he would actually help Optimus or not. The sound of approaching footsteps broke the transmetal manta ray out of his thoughts.
Depthcharge turned to see Dinobot emerge from the jungle to approach him. The male raptor had his sword and shield spinner drawn.
"I see you survived," Depthcharge commented as he drew his shark blaster.
"That I did," Dinobot answered simply.
"You won't survive this time," Depthcharge growled as he fired his shark blaster at Dinobot.
Dinobot used his shield spinner to block Depthcharge's shot and fired his optics lasers at Depthcharge's weapon. The transmetal manta only turned and used one of his fins as a shield, suffering little damage from Dinobot's attack. Undaunted, Dinobot surged forward and leaped over the transmetal manta ray and then used his sword to knock Depthcharge's shark blaster out of his hands. Startled at the loss of his weapon, Depthcharge only responded by punching the Maximal raptor. Dinobot was knocked back several feet by the blow and more importantly, he lost his weapons as a result of the blow.
"I am not dependent upon my weapons, Predicon," Depthcharge said with a great deal of confidence.
"And I do not fear you," Dinobot said back as he got to his feet.
Meanwhile, Megatron and Optimus's battle was becoming more and more heated. Optimus tried using his cannons on the Predicon tyrant again. What Megatron couldn't deflect he largely avoided.
"You're getting soft, Optimus," Megatron taunted as he fired another fireball at the Maximal commander, "It almost makes my surprise unnecessary."
"What surprise?" Optimus questioned, trying to hide the fact that Dinobot had already reported what Megatron had done to Depthcharge.
Optimus the rocketed forward and tried to get Megatron more into a fist fight instead of a firefight.
"Oh, one I'm sure will haunt you for days to come," Megatron smiled, "Have you come across any new Maximals recently?"
Optimus remained silent and threw another punch, hoping the Predicon's flare for the dramatic wouldn't stop anytime soon. Megatron easily deflected the blow and knocked Optimus back.
"Because we came across one not to long ago," Megatron continued, his smile undiminished.
Optimus growled as unleashed another blow on the dragon-like Predicon. Megatron was still smiling, even as he rubbed his chin.
"So you have met him?" Megatron questioned, "Well, I suppose there's no need to hold out on you any longer."
Megatron then activated his radio and said clearly enough that Optimus could hear him, "Depthcharge, now!"
Optimus tensed and prepared to be attacked by the transmetal manta ray. After a short while Optimus returned his full attention to Megatron. The Predicon tyrant looked as if he was going to literally blow a gasket.
"Depthcharge didn't always follow orders well when he was a Maximal," Optimus smirked.
"What!" Megatron demanded, "You know…"
Optimus rocketed forward and grabbed the Predicon tyrant, intending to slam him to the ground.
"Yes," Optimus said clearly, "I know what you've done to Depthcharge. And let me tell you this, Megatron. I will do EVERYTHING that is within my power to see that what you've done to him is undone."
Optimus slammed Megatron into the ground with all the strength he had. The result of the two transmetal two's crashing into the ground was several objects of lighter weight being thrown into the air.
"Depthcharge!" Megatron roared into his radio, "This is Megatron! I demand you answer me!"
Optimus quickly grabbed the Predicon tyrant by his neck and placed on foot on his chest. Megatron tried as hard as he could to break free, but Optimus made sure that the red dragon didn't move. Optimus prepared punch Megatron in the face when he looked up and saw that Depthcharge couldn't have intervened on Megatron's behalf even if he wanted. When he looked down, he saw that Megatron was still screaming into his radio.
"I'm afraid that he can't help you," Optimus almost chuckled, "He has some troubles of his own."
Megatron painfully angled his head so that he could see what was going on that Optimus was motioning to. He could barely make out Depthcharge battling the Maximal, Dinobot, and that the battle was currently at a stalemate.
"Blast that Dinobot!" Megatron growled before Optimus knocked him out with a powerful blow to the head.
Optimus then forcefully opened the compartment on Megatron's shoulder where he had kept the portions of Depthcharge's, Rampage's, and Tarantulus's sparks. Optimus sighed as he saw the third energon cage as he realized that Megatron must have done something to insure his control over one of the other Predicons.
"Primus forgive me for what I must do," Optimus sighed as he lifted out one cube.
Rampage was not happy with his situation. He had lost his weapon and in one attempt to retrieve it, Rapther destroyed it with her rockets. Since then he was being out maneuvered by the smaller femmebot, and when he did attack with force, Rapther quickly recovered and used her rockets on him.
"I've had enough of you!" Rampage growled as he grabbed Rapther by and arm and threw her into the trunk of a tree.
The transmetal crab did not get a chance to take advantage of his brief victory as an intense pain radiating from his spark engulfed him.
"Aaarrrgh! Megatron, what arrrrrgh… are you doing?" Rampage asked a loud to no one in particular between screams of pain.
Rapther saw that large transmetal was suffering from the method of punishment that Megatron used when the crab disobeyed his commander. Quickly recovering from her impact with the tree, the female raptor took the situation to her advantage. She quickly leaped and kicked Rampage in the midsection while he was still in the grips of the pain on his spark. Then as the crab stumbled back, she fired her rockets at him. All six hit, and Rampage was knocked to the ground.
"Slag," Rampage cursed as he pulled himself up, finally getting over the pressure on his spark, "I'm getting out of here. If Megatron is punishing me for doing what I'm told, then I'll really be glad when the Maximals come to take him away."
The transmetal crab then converted into his vehicle mode and roared off in the direction of the Predicon base.
Optimus sighed has placed the first energon cage down. He hated having to figure out which one was the one that contained Depthcharge's spark by squeezing it, thus putting whoever's spark it was in direct pain, but Megatron didn't have any marking on them to indicate which was which. Sighing again, Optimus reached in and took out the next energon cube.
Blackarachnia was enjoying herself in her battle with Tarantulus. The transmetal tarantula had better protection and more powerful weapons, but Tarantulus was never much of a fighter. He did well when he could ambush an opponent and pin him down. When he was the one who was ambushed or caught in a battle that was somewhat evenly matched, Tarantulus often found himself at a disadvantage. Blackarachnia used this to her advantage by using a combination of speed and martial arts moves as well as firing her machine guns at him that were normally her beast mode's legs.
This allowed Blackarachnia to inflict heavy damage on Tarantulus without taking little if any herself. It also set Tarantulus up to take various hits from fire coming from Silverbolt, who was still coming in to fire on the Predicons from the air, and from Rattrap or Cheetor.
"Not so much fun for you when you not the one won winning, isn't it?" Blackarachnia teased, "But I got to tell you, it's fun for me."
Tarantulus answered by firing his shoulder mounted machine guns at the femmebot. Blackarachnia easily managed to avoid being hit by the barrage, but when she dodged Tarantulus's fire, she bounced off of a tree that had been seriously damaged from laser fire. The sudden impact of Blackarachnia's weight was too much for the tree and it began to fall towards the ground. The she spider had no time to get out of the way as the tree landed on her. It wasn't big enough to crush her, but she couldn't get free without help.
Tarantulus observed Blackarachnia's predicament and then cackled, "It's much more fun now."
"NO!" Silverbolt screamed as he also noticed what had happened and immediately dove to save Blackarachnia.
Then, just as Tarantulus was preparing to fire his machine guns at Blackarachnia, the transmetal tarantula was engulfed in pain far fiercer then any he had felt in a battle. He recognized it as pain that occurred when Megatron tortured him through his spark fragment that was always kept on Megatron's person.
"What…why?" Tarantulus muttered out loud before Silverbolt swooped down from above and fired his wing missiles into Tarantulus's back.
The resulting explosion launched Tarantulus forward and he landed offline among several large bushes.
"Well that takes care of that," Silverbolt sighed, "Blackarachnia! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Blackarachnia growled, "Get this tree OFF me!"
"Can do!" Silverbolt answered and immediately went about lifting the tree.
Optimus placed the second energon cube down next to the first one he had tried. The Maximal commander sighed as he picked up the final cube.
"You better be the right one," Optimus said weakly to the energon cube.
Depthcharge threw another powerful punch directly into Dinobot's chest, sending the male raptor flying.
"Give it up, Predicon," Depthcharge snarled, "You can't win."
"A very ironic statement coming from you," Dinobot snarled back as he rolled to avoid being crushed by one of Depthcharge's feet.
"At least I'm not trying to destroy the Maximals from within," Depthcharge snorted back, "I'm fighting them face to face."
Depthcharge then moved to punch the Maximal raptor again when he suddenly collapsed in pain. As if Megatron were trying to torture his spark. Dinobot quickly fired his optics lasers at the transmetal manta ray at full power. Combined with the pain on his spark, the lasers successfully knocked Depthcharge out. Dinobot breathed a sigh of relief as Depthcharge slipped into stasis lock.
As Dinobot stood up he saw Optimus coming toward him.
"Well done, Dinobot," Optimus congratulated as the Maximal commander landed.
"Can you carry him?" Dinobot asked.
"Yes," Optimus nodded, "Easily."
Optimus then lifted up Depthcharge's offline body for emphasis.
"Contact the rest of our forces," Optimus commanded, "Tell them to get back to the Ark."
Dinobot nodded.
The Ark, much later
Depthcharge woke up slowly and felt as if his entire body was put through the wringer.
"Ohhh… where am I?" the transmetal manta asked.
"The Ark," came Rhinox's voice from in front of him.
Depthcharge looked ahead to see Optimus and Rhinox standing before him.
"I've managed to undo the personality programming that Megatron performed to make you a Predicon," Rhinox announced, "Unfortunately, I have no idea how to rejoin your spark fragment with the rest of your spark. The procedure that Megatron performed was banned by the Maximal elders because of its ethical questions. Apparently the Predicons still use 'spark torture' as a disciplinary method."
Depthcharge remained silent. Optimus now stepped forward.
"I know we've had our differences, Depthcharge," Optimus began, "but I'm perfectly willing to let you join us."
"I want the Predicon out and command," Depthcharge said quickly.
"Out of the question," Optimus responded, "Dinobot has been of tremendous value to our cause and unquestioned loyalty, and you will serve under me. You will also put aside your thirst for vengeance against Rampage."
Depthcharge glared at the Maximal commander with a tremendous deal of anger and hate.
"Or I can imprison you for insubordination," Optimus continued, "Or you can escape to be captured by Megatron and possibly lose even more of your spark."
"Which is something I'd advise against," Rhinox cut in, "Your spark is already weak from the first procedure. That's part of the reason why the Maximal elders banned the practice. Should Megatron do it to you again you could die."
"Fine," Depthcharge signed, "I'll serve, but slagging X is not ENTIRELY out of the picture. He will die one way or another."
The Predicon Base
Megatron sat in his command chair fuming. None of the other Predicons even dared approach him, let alone speak to him.
"Blasted Optimus," Megatron thought angrily, "Blasted Dinobot. Depthcharge could have been a quick shot at a victory."
Megatron then glanced over at a display screen that showed the transmetal driver humming away in a secret compartment elsewhere inside the Predicon base.
"But then," Megatron though, suddenly feeling more optimistic, "the war is far from over."
The End.