I do not own the rights to Transformers, Beast Machines, Beast Wars or Armada. I also wish to apologize in advance for any characterization mistakes that I may have made with the Armada characters. (I'm afraid that I just don't watch that show) I am making every attempt to keep this fanfic as show accurate as possible to both Beast Machines and Armada. although I admit that many of the BM personalities have shifted closer to what they were during Beast Wars. Anyway.

Minicon Dawn Chapter 4: Forced Contact

"So what is it with you and Cheetor?" Sideways asked. Sideways was a one of the Transformers who apparently came from the other Cybertron, he was mostly black in color and had a motorcycle transformation mode. He seemed to be part of two Minicons who were always with him. They would take turns acting as Headmasters for the other robot, and could combine to form the motorcycles rider. Since the Maximals had met him, he had yet to display any faction symbol.

"Its nothing," Silverbolt answered. Silverbolt was a techno organic Transformer with a bird alt mode from the Cybertron that had been formed after the Beast Wars. "I like Cheetor. I always have. I just think he is a bit young to be our leader."

"Who do you think should be leader then?" Sideways asked.

"Hmm." Silverbolt thought. "In the old days, Primal use to appoint Rattrap as his replacement for leadership. But Rattrap is more than happy to follow Cheetor."

"Well, what about you? You seem experienced."

Part of Silverbolt liked that idea. The power, the respect. Finally he would have the ability to really do the right thing. Bring stability back to Cybertron. Maybe both Cybertrons? Then he could find whatever other Cyberonian colonies may be out there, and finally unite all of his people. Then Black Arachnia would look at him with a new level of respect. He flashed back briefly, remembering the power he had once felt as Jetstorm. His spark froze at how easily he could return to what he feared, hated and loved. "No. I have no desire to be leader."

A distance away, Cheetor, in his tecno organic Cheetah mode, kept a close watch on Sideways. There was just something about him that made his spark run cold that he could not put his finger on. Sideways had been a great help so far, enabling them to locate several Minicons that neither the Autobots or Decepticons had known anything about. They almost had enough Minicons to completely fill their ship to capacity, thanks to Sideways' uncanny knowege of where to find the elusive Minicons.

Cheetor also thought it was strange how often Sideways pointed out that he was on their side. How did Sideways know what their side stood for? He didn't really ask them anything about their ideology or morals. He didn't really ask them much of anything, he only seemed surprised that they were something other than Autobot or Decepticon. He had never heard of Maximals, and still he was on their side. Maybe there was more to it than that. Maybe Sideways was looking at a larger picture, and saw himself as being on all their sides, trying to help Maximal, Autobot and Decepticon alike against something else. Or maybe he was really against everyone working only for his own dark purposes. On the other hand, since he seemed to be made up of three different units, maybe all of those options were true. He wanted to try talking to Sideways when he was not wearing one of his Minicon headmasters, but he didn't think the Minicons would ever give him that opportunity.

Still, so far their mission had been extremely successful. Cheetor was beginning to think that they should transport the Minicons they had found so far to Cybertron, and then come back to find some more. All of the Minicons they had saved so far seemed to like the thought of secretly leaving to escape the demands of both Autobot and Decepticon.

The catch was that in order for them to be truly safe, the Autobots and Decepticons must never know the Maximals were ever on Earth, or even existed. But Cheetor just didn't think he could do that in good conscience. He knew enough about the Autobots to know that they would not mistreat their Minicons too badly. At least not as long as Optimus Prime was in command. Many of the other Autobots didn't share his same viewpoint.

The humans were another concern, the kids that hung around the Autobots seemed to care about the Minicons, even more than some Autobots, but even they seemed to take the Minicons for granted, and even hooked them up to play gladiatorial combat games with them. When Black Arachnia found out about that one she made the comment, "If I had known they would evolve into this, I would have squashed Luna myself." Cheetor had no idea what the rest of the human population would do if they became aware of the Minicons, but he was sure it would not be good.

The Decepticons were the biggest worry. The Decepticons made no apologies for their desire to use the Minicons as a slave labor force of power and targetmasters. Cheetor wasn't sure he could leave the situation alone knowing that Minicons were still in Decepticon custody. It would not be that big a problem as long as the Decepticons did not discover the location of Cybertron, but if their Cybertron really was an offshoot of his Cybertron, Cheetor realized they may have some record of where his Cybertron is located. Sideways suggested they take the Decepticons on in force, but Cheetor wanted to avoid a direct confrontation as much as possible. It all started to give Cheetor a headache.

Still, it was good to be back on Earth again. Too bad Tigatron couldn't be there to see it too.

"I've located another one," Sideways shouted.

Cheetor transformed and jumped down next to Sideways, while the other Maximals also gathered around.

"Its in a desert canyon, right here," Sideways said while pointing to a map.

"Has anyone else picked it up?" Cheetor asked.

"Negative," Sideways answered. "I'm jamming the Decepticons and Autobots sensors, they wont have the slightest idea where to look."

Nitro, who like most Minicons was just a little shorter than Cheetor, walked up to him and emitted a series of beeps.

"Thanks, Nitro, but I want you and the rest of the Minicons to stay here where its safe," Cheetor answered, wondering at exactly what point he had begun to understand the strange language the Minicons used. "But, I could use a lift from Spin, Indy and Drift, if you are willing?"

The three named Minicons stepped forward, transforming into their vehicle modes, a half size race car, Indy car, and SUV. Then they transformed again, merging into Cosmotector, a jet plane large enough for Cheetor, Black Arachnia and Rattrap to climb on. Silverbolt and Nightscream each transformed into their flight capable beast modes. Sideways transformed into his motorcycle mode, and tore into the woods shouting back that he would meet the rest of them there.

****

Megatron rippled into existence as he teleported to the lip of the canyon. Starscream, Thrust, Demolisher, Wheeljack and Cyclonus joined him a second later.

"What are we waiting for, Megatron? Lets get down there and find that Minicon," Demolisher asked.

"Not yet, Demolisher," Megatron said. "Something doesn't feel quite right here. This canyon would be the perfect place for an ambush."

"Ha! The Autobots are too stupid to come up with a trick like that," Starscream said.

"That may be true, but still, we should." Megatrons voice drifted off for a moment as his gaze fell upon something at the base of the canyon. It was Sideways, he was sure of it. What was that traitor up to now?

For a moment, Sideways's gaze met Megatron's. Why did Sideways seem so pleased with himself?

Sideways warped away.

"Megatron! What are we waiting for?" Starscream asked, bringing Megatron's attention back to his troops.

"Yes, this is the perfect place for an ambush, but for who? All of you, hide down in the canyon, and we shall wait to ambush the Autobots when they arrive," Megatron ordered.

Megatron and Demolisher transformed into their tank modes, and rolled down into the canyon. Starscream and Thrust transformed into their jet modes, and flew over the canyon, each transforming back to robot mode to land once they had their ambush spots picked out. Cyclonus in his helicopter mode found his own spot as well. Wheeljack did not transform into his car mode, instead he grumbled but climbed down the side of the canyon wall on his hands and feet.

****

"We will radio you if we need you to pick us up," Cheetor told Cosmotector, just before he leapt off the plane holding his swords in front of himself to act as a wing as he glided down the rest of the way. Black Arachnia grabbed the complaining Rattrap, and gracefully jumped off the plane to the ground. Silverbolt and Nightscream landed next to them.

"No sign of Sideways, but I guess this is the place." Nightscream said.

"Lets go down, spread out and find that Minicon," Cheetor said, "Beast Mode."

Cheetor fell back into his cheetah mode, and made his way down into the canyon, followed by the spider, Black Arachnia; the rat, Rattrap; the bat, Nightscream; and Silverbolt.

***

Nightscream gave up on his beast mode, Minicon hunting was a job best done on foot. "I am transformed," he said, landing in his robot mode. "We never say that anymore, and it was such a cool tagline."

"It sounds rather dorky to me," Thrust said, stepping out from behind the bolder he was using for cover. The Decepticon towered over the tiny Maximal.

***

Rattrap decided to keep to the shaded areas of the canyon. Not really because they felt more sewer like, or because he wanted to be out of the sun, but because the rat in him just didn't like being out in the open. But the cybertronian in him, much preferred the ground surface his feet had just found. Nothing more reassuring than the feel of cold steel under the tootsies to feel at home.

Wait a minute.

Earth doesn't have steel ground!

"Oh, man. why is it always the rat that gets trapped like a rat?" he said, knowing it was already too late to run when the metal cage like grate shot overhead and scooped him into the darkness.

Megatron transformed, he rarely had the opportunity to use his leg trap. He reached down and claimed his new prize. The mechanical rat fit nicely in his hand.

"Interesting. A Minicon who can talk," he said. "I may have to fix that."

"Oh, cheese!"

***

He didn't know why, he didn't have time to think. He just reacted. In one motion he transformed into his robot mode and back flipped out of the way as a sword every bit as wide as he was, slammed into the ground where he had been standing.

"We Maximals may be small," Cheetor said to the towering form of Starscream, "But there is no way we are going down that easily."

Cheetor pulled his own swords, and assumed a combat stance.

Starscream laughed! This insect, that didn't even come up to his knee, thought it had a fighting chance! This is one Minicon he would enjoy breaking in very much. He readied his sword for another strike.

***

Silverbolt thought he saw a glint of metal, and flew in for a closer look.

He did not find the green Minicon plate he was expecting, but instead found a brown battle tank with four barrels, two mounted to either side of the turret. He landed on a rock and studied the tank for a moment.

Its markings obviously indicated the tank was a Decepticon. Most likely the one Sideways referred to as Demolisher.

Obviously he was not use to thinking of animals as transformers or he would have attacked already, Silverbolt thought. How should he handle this situation.

He had a delightful idea, and flew out of demolishers line of sight.

Demolisher patience was rewarded. Finally a Minicon came into view, walking innocently along.

He laughed as he started up his engine and advanced on the unsuspecting Minicon.

The Minicon turned in horror to face him, and said as if reciting lines off a note card, "Oh, No. I big bad Decepticon. What ever shall I do?"

"Haha," Demolisher laughed, transforming. He reached out to claim his new Minicon. Wait. Minicons don't speak, do they?"

***

Black Arachnia waited until she got bored, but obviously the Autobot turned Decepticon, Wheeljack, was not going to move out of her way. She really couldn't believe his stupidity. He was a giant black robot, how did he expect to not be seen crouching against tan rocks! He would have noticed her if he had even thought to look up.

Well, she would just have to take him out.

She let go of the web that was suspending her above the Decepticon, transformed, and performed a spin kick knocking the transformer's gun out of his hand, and landing neatly on her feet.

Wheeljack tried to back up in surprise at the unexpected attack, from an unexpectedly small opponent, but found that he was quite literally had his back against the wall.

Black Arachnia did not relent in her attack, she charged jumping up on Wheeljack's chest, planting her talons deep in the scar that ran across his chest, and injected an unhealthy dose of cyber venom.

Wheeljack screamed in pain, then surrendered to stasis lock.

"That was impressive," Sideways said, behind her.

She turned to see his gun leveled at her.

She jumped. He fired.

***

"Forget it, cone-head, I'm not going down that easily," Nightscream said, dodging another blast from thrusts gun.

He jumped behind a bolder, not that he expected it to do much good. Thrust could simply vaporize the rock, or pick it up, or even stand over it and shoot down at him. Time to take out the gun then.

Thrust reached for the bolder, giving Nightscream the chance he needed to leap to the side, mouth open. His vampire teeth shot outward impacting with Thrust's gun.

Thrust aimed and fired. Nothing happened.

"Kinda hard to shoot when your gun is out of power, isn't it?" Nightscream taunted.

"Ill show you," Thrust angrily shouted, and transformed, taking to the sky.

Nightscream scrambled to get out of the way of Thrust's strafing run.

***

"Now, rodent. Powerlink!" Megatron shouted as he slammed Rattrap onto his forearm Minicon connector port.

Rattrap screamed in pain as Megatron's powerlink port tried to make connections that Rattrap was not equipped to make. Instead Rattrap did the only thing he could think to do, he bit down on the hand that was holding him.

Megatron shouted out in pain and surprise, throwing the other transformer to the ground.

"Do you have any idea how invasive that is?" Rattrap asked.

Megatron growled, held Leader One as a gun, and fired.

"You know, your voice sounds kinda like I've heard it before," Rattrap said, transforming in to his robot mode, dodging each of the blasts. "Do you do bar mitzvahs?"

"Why you little."

Rattrap pulled his own gun, grateful to Silverbolt for finding him one. "Don't matter what planet they are from. When fighting bots, aim for the hinges!"

Rattrap fired.

****

Cheetor thought about dodging Starscreams next attack, but decided instead on a show of strength. As Starscream's sword came down, Cheetor raised his own swords and blocked the blow, to Starscream's complete surprise.

"We were like you once. some 600 years ago," Cheetor said as he leaped up making several strikes with his own swords that Starscream narrowly blocked. "Do you really thing we would allow ourselves to become so small if it meant a reduction in power?"

"You don't even know what power is!" Starscream snarled, going back on the offencive. He tried to drive the smaller transformer back, but Cheetor met each blow with equal force.

"Fighting you is like fighting a Neanderthal." Cheetor taunted.

Starscream raised his sword in another attempt to overpower Cheetor, but then decided to change tatics, and brought the sword around in a golf swing.

Taken by surprise, Cheetor found himself being knocked into and imbedded in the canyon wall. "I guess Neanderthals sure can hit."

Starscream leapt up and deployed his shoulder lasers, taking careful aim at the trapped Cheetor, who franticly brought up his swords to block the expected blast.

A small red mechanical bird flew overhead.

***

Silverbolt leapt up and fired several energy blasts as Demolisher lunged for him.

Demolisher reeled from the impacts, and fired blindly back, laser blasts erupting from each of his fingertips.

The energy blasts impacted all around Silverbolt, his internal systems calculating the trajectories of Demolisher's attack, and standing in the safe area at the center of the attack. Once Demolisher began trying to make his attack more accurate, Silverbolt took the air, and renewed his own attack of firing energy feathers.

A roar filled the air, Silverbolt and Demolisher each saw the Decepticon Thrust fly up into the sky, and arc back around in an apparent attack run on another section of the canyon.

So, thought Silverbolt, there was more than just this one Decepticon. The others may need his help. He needed to finish this quickly.

He formed a new energy feather, and held it at ready, then leapt up to charge at the face of his foe.

***

Black Arachnia jumped and dodged, but found that she could not escape the relentless attack of Sideways, who now wore his other Minicon head and sported a Decepticon insignia. He kept firing at her, not giving her the opening she needed to strike back.

Finally she managed to jump over to Wheeljack's unconscious body and use it for cover from Sideways' attack. Even though she was clear, she could still hear the shots as they impacted on Wheeljack's body. Finally Sideways stopped shooting.

"Its no use hiding," He said. She figured he was trying to distract her while he moved to a better firing position. She was not going to give him that chance.

Black Arachnia did a leap back over Wheeljack, twisting in midair to dodge a fresh volley of laser fire from Sideways. She landed, imbedding her talons in the ground. Digital lightning traveled along the ground outward from her talons, stretching outwardly until it reached Sideways.

Sideways screamed in agony as electricity and cybervenom wracked his form, but he did not die. He did not even enter stasis lock.

She delivered another dose of cybervenom, but the second attack seemed to hurt him less than the first. It was almost as if Sideways had stopped pretending to be. mortal.

Sideways began laughing.

"What-- What are you?" Black Arachnia exclaimed.

"Do you really want to know?" Sideways replied, but if he said anything more it was drowned out by cannon fire.

Laser blasts crossed in front of Black Arachnia, impacting with Sideways, who seemed to look more and more like energy with each hit.

A tank, Demolisher rolled into position beside her, continuing to fire at Sideways. "Could you use a hand, Beloved?" Silverbolt asked from the seat positioned behind the tank's guns. Silverbolt's own attack joined Demolisher's and Black Arachnia's

"You better believe it, Bolt!"

Demolisher unexpectedly transformed, dropping Silverbolt to the ground in a manner less dignified than he would have liked.

"Megatron wants you dead, Sideways," Demolisher exclaimed as he continued to fire at Sideways, not even realizing he had knocked Silverbolt off.

Silverbolt and Black Arachnia glanced at each other, then Silverbolt transformed into his bird mode and lifted Black Arachnia up into the air. "In that case, Decepticon, we will leave this one to you!"

"Hey, wait!! You can't leave me, I'm your prisoner!!" Demolisher called after the two Maximals.

Sideways growled when he saw the two escape, but with no further reason to be there, he was gone.

Demolisher stood all alone, beside the unmoving form of Wheeljack.

****

"Optimus, Laserbeak is back," Alexis called as the mechanical bird transformed into a video camera in her hand, and began playing back its recordings.

She looked down at the images, and she imagined her face must have show some form of shock, because Carlos and Rad rushed over and began watching over her shoulder.

"lookit that!"

"Totally awesome! Those Minicons are really kicking butt!"

Finally Optimus Prime said, "Let me see that."

Prime took the camera, and did a quick download of its data. He wasn't completely sure what the battle footage he was watching meant, but the one thing that was clear was that the Decepticons were involved, and he must do whatever he could to prevent their getting any more Minicons.

"Autobots, lets move out!"

****

Thrust circled around again to make yet another pass at Nightscream. The small transformer was proving a difficult target, the way he kept hiding behind rocks, and moving whenever he adjusted his flight path for a clear shot.

Nightscream for his part was getting tired of hiding. He considered taking to the air, but he could tell he was no match for the speed of the faster jet, and he didn't want to risk his wings being perforated.

Pebbles kicked up from Thrusts latest strafing run hit Nightscream in the face. That was the final straw. He waited until Thrust came around again. Then jumped out into the clear to face the jet head on.

Thrust began firing, the blasts impacting all around Nightscream.

Thrust wasn't close enough yet, so Nightscream waited. He waited longer than he could bare.

He screamed. only his scream was drowned out by the sonic cannon mounted behind his head.

At first it registered as mild turbulence, then his hull plating began to buckle. Thrust transformed when he realized his wing was about to be torn off by the sudden sonic vibrations.

Once out of his jet mode, Thrust was unprepared and fell like a rock. Unconsciousness greeted him upon landing.

Nightscream took to the air. It was time to find the others.

***

"Aww, man. Do all you Megatrons come with triple thick armor?" Rattrap asked, slowly backing up as he continued firing his gun.

"You little mechanoid. I will crush you to atoms," Megatron threatened. It was becoming obvious that Rattraps attacks were having an effect on him. He was slower, moving hurt, and his armor had developed several pinprick sized holes that sent sparks showering.

"Come on. Fall! Fall!" Rattrap shouted. He knew he could stop Megatron, but he also knew his gun didn't have enough charge to finish the job.

"That sounds like my line," Megatron said. His torso expanded, and his tank turret that was mounted on his back rotated around to his front. The turret's cannon and missile launcher aimed them selves directly at Rattrap, as his torso sank back down into position.

Rattrap raised his arms up to protect his face when the blast hit, knocking him through a rock, and out of robot mode.

A smoking rat climbed back up on top of a rock. "All right, that does it!"

Rattrap transformed back into robot mode, and jumped up as he charged forward, passing over Megatron's second shot. He transformed into rat mode as he landed and rolled under Megatron's third shot. That brought him right up to Megatron's leg. Rattrap bit and sank his teeth in deep.

Megatron screamed in pain, and his turret rotated back around to his back, but a knife blade deployed in his hand which he used in an attempt to skewer the robotic rat.

Rattrap dodged the knife attack by transforming back into robot mode, pointing his pistol at the point where his leg met his torso. He fired point blank range.

Megatron wobbled on his feet but did not fall over.

Rattrap fired again. Nothing happened, his weapon's charge was depleted.

No better time for a rapid advance to the rear than the present, he thought. And he ran.

Megatron attempted to pursue, but found he was too badly damaged to give chase. He fired a few volleys after the retreating Rattrap. "Next time, little one, you will not take me by surprise," he warned.

"Yeah, likewise."

***

Cyclonus had come to the conclusion that no one was coming. He had been waiting forever for someone to go by his chosen ambush spot. He had made sure to pick a good spot that anyone in the canyon would be sure to pass.

Oh. this was ridiculous. There was no one in the Canyon. and little wonder with Thrust making his joyrides, although that stopped a few moments before. He bet that Starscream had already gone off and found the Minicon.

He switched back to his helicopter mode and began climbing out of the canyon. He had every intention of finding Megatron and find out just how long this farce of a plan was to continue.

While gaining altitude, Cyclonus completely failed to notice Rattrap Silverbolt, Black Arachnia and Nightscream meeting up with each other, before moving on to find Cheetor.

Cyclonus cleared the lip of the canyon to find himself windshield to windshield with Optimus Prime. Beside Prime was the yellow sports car, Hot Shot; the green bulldozer, Scavenger; the white SUV, Red Alert; and the crane, Smokescreen.

***

Cheetor brought the swords together to block Starscream's blast. He did not actually manage to redirect it like he normally would, but he did manage to divide the blast so that it took out the rocks on either side of him, freeing him from the rock face that Starscream's golf putt had left him in.

Free to move once more, Cheetor kicked free of the rocks landing in cheetah mode, running full speed at Starscream. He transformed again into his robot mode, holding his swords out in front as a wing. A sonic boom sounded as he broke the sound barrier, immediately before he collided with Starscream.

Starscream toppled over backwards, landing hard in the dirt. Cheetor remained on Starscream's chest, his swords poised over the larger robot's head.

Then Cheetor froze and slowly turned around.

Megatron stood there, next to Wheeljack, Demolisher and Thrust. They all looked more than a little worse for ware.

The other Maximals had also arrived, and took up positions in front of the damaged Decepticons.

"Megatron!" The voice of Cyclonus called out from above, flying into the area, the Autobots in pursuit following along the top of the canyon.

Megatron snarled as he saw how the odds had shifted against him. One by one the Decepticons teleported away.

Cheetor fell to the ground as the Decepticon he was standing on warped away.

"Time to fade, Heros." Cheetor called out, and the Maximals turned and ran.

The Autobots watched in confusion as the Minicons they had come to help ran from them. And the Decepticons had retreated even earlier than they had expected.

"I'll catch them!" Hot Shot shouted as he jumped into the canyon and began chasing after the Maximals.

"Hot Shot, no! Wait!" Optimus Prime called after him, but the over eager young transformer was either too engrossed or too far away to hear.