Usual disclaimers. Don't own Transformers, Beast Wars or Beast Machines or even Armada. After writing chapters like this one, I cant help wondering where in the world its going as it keeps taking unexpected detours. (

Minicon Dawn Chapter 5 New Alliances By isoner

Optimus Prime and the other Autobots pulled to a stop, and Transformed to study the scene in front of them. A sight unlike any they could even begin to imagine. There in front of them, spread across the canyon was what appeared to be some sort of Energon Web. Suspended in the center of that web, was the yellow sports car known as Hot Shot.

"Uh. Guys? Could you get me down now?" Hot Shot asked.

"Just a moment, Hot Shot." Prime said, his eyes scanning the canyon walls around them for any trace of the Minicons that the younger Autobot had been in hot pursuit of. His sensors could not detect anything, but still he felt uneasy.

"This would be a good spot for an ambush, Optimus," Scavenger said.

"All the more reason to get me down," Hot Shot said.

"That is what they want, Hot Shot. You're the bait." Scavenger explained.

"Its Ok. Scavenger, Red Alert, cut him down," Prime ordered. "Hot Shot, why did you chase after those Minicons?"

"But, Optimus, they were getting away!"

"So? We race to find the Minicons to keep them out of the hands of the Decepticons because they typically cannot defend themselves against them. These apparently can. I would prefer it if they would help us, but if they are not willing, then so be it. We wont force them."

"I hoped you would feel that way," said a voice from somewhere in the rocks.

And then, a robotic energy signature appeared out of nowhere. Not exactly nowhere, but from the direction of the voice.

All of the Autobots, and their accompanying Minicons shifted, at the noise, leveling their weapons.

Hot Shot continued to dangle in mid air, only a few of the web strands holding him up having been cut.

Cheetor, freshly transformed into his robot mode, walked slowly into view with his hands raised. It was a peaceful gesture, although one that would not slow his combat effectiveness if the Autobots should prove hostile after all.

"The minicons?" Sideswipe said, backing up slightly.

"And we are not Minicons," Cheetor said, "We are the Maximals."

****

A spark. or a ghost of a spark floated on its endless journey through time and space. Once more it seemed to be caught in the blue green planet's gravity. But could such an item be caught in a planets gravity, or was it fate, or destiny, or penance that it should once more return to the world that had caused it so much trouble in life. But then, it did not go to the planet, but took a sharp turn towards its moon.

****

Cybertron.

On a deserted section of the planet, overgrown with techno organic plants, except for a fresh metal crevice that that glowed red from burning fires beneath the surface of the planet.

Oblivious to this recent upheaval of Cybertron's geography, a tiny insect found rare joy visiting each of the glowing flowers in turn. It genuinely seemed to enjoy to basking in the glowing light of each individual bloom. One of the few moments of happiness the poor creature had ever enjoyed.

Fire flared from the center of the crevice, and a bizarre holographic face seemed to be flickering in the flames. The face was very unusual. it wasn't the face of Optimus Primal nor was it the face of Megatron. In many ways it was both, but it was ever shifting, and beyond description.

"Waspinator!" it called in a voice that was both Primal and Megatrons, and neither.

The insect, a tiny wasp with a head that resembled the dead Vehicon Thrust, looked up from its flower in surprise. It had been so long since it had heard any of its old names, it had almost forgotten what they were.

"Waspinator, come here!" The voice commanded.

The insect obeyed, and hovered before the fiery face, gazing at it in wonder. Recognizing it as both Primal and Megatron and the Oracle and more.

"I have a job for you," the voice said.

"Why Waspinator?" the insect asked in a weakened voice.

"As one of the few Transformers alive from before the Reformating, you are ideally suited for this task. And if this new world is truly to be balanced, then the Maximal, Cheetor, cant be the only one we grant visions to. As a Predicon, you are dually acceptable."

Waspinator knew at once that he had a decision to make that would influence the fate of his entire planet. He was not use to that. The fate of planets usually relied on others. He wanted nothing to do with it.

. "No." . "If you're loyal to everyone." . "Waspinator sick of being evil." . "Can you really be loyal to anyone?"

No. he did not want to be evil, or do anything evil, even if he was Predicon. But he was loyal. He had long ago sworn his loyalty to Megatron for his own reasons.

"Waspinator will obey."

"Excellent. Yesss." the voice said. "You will go out across the land, and deliver the messages I shall grant you."

"But no one listens to Waspinator. Especially not now. I'm not even an insecticon." Waspinator stopped speaking as he was wracked with pain. In tense and incredible pain, as fire began within him and spread outward throughout his body. It was a pain unlike any he had ever experienced. except perhaps for the time he was thrown into a force field, followed shortly by a garbage masher.

The fire that spread through him left in its wake a fantastic new techno organic body. Black and gold with green wings, resembling a transmetal 2 body. Waspinator looked down at his new body, downloading its stats.

"Well, that's just prime," Waspinator said, he could hardly wait to try out his new jet mode.

****

Earth's Moon.

Starscream grumbled as he continued his useless acts of maintenance. What was the point in fixing up the old Minicon ship? It would never fly again in any case. As much of it was acting as the Autobot's base as was acting as theirs.

A pair of evil eyes gazed at him from the computer console.

Starscream stared at them in shock and horror.

The eyes, along with a large jolt of electricity leapt from the computer console onto him. but after a momentary pain, he was himself again, and he saw the bolt of lightning return to the computer.

"Well. that has never happened before." A high pitched voice from the computer said.

"Who. what are you?" Starscream asked the voice.

"I am the legendary, Air Commander Starscream!"

"Ha," Starscream answered in his deeper voice, "Nice trick. I am not yet a legend, but /I/ am Starscream!"

The voice laughed. "No wonder then! Perhaps we can help each other!"