Usual disclaimers apply... I do not own the rights to the G1 Transformers, Armada Transformers, or the guy from TF Victory. Also... Stealth and his minicon Bombshell belong to Shadowhawk, and are included at his request.

Part 9

Minicon Hunt

Thrust sat in a contemplative silence. Megatron was being possessed by some other being... some other Starscream no less. That could be useful, maybe if he could take advantage of the situation, or if things turned against him, he could gain favor with the original Megatron by freeing him from the snare of his mental captor. So many possibilities, what should he do?

"You finally figured it out," a voice behind him said. "You know that Megatron isn't who he pretends to be."

Thrust turned, and to his surprise saw Sideways standing behind him. Only Sideways wasn't really there, he was just looking at his reflection? He was beginning to learn not to be surprised by anything Sideways did.

"Yeah. I figured it out. He's being possessed by some ghost," Thrust said.

"And what are you going to do about it?"

"I-I don't know yet."

Sideways seemed to smile. This could lead to all sorts of Chaos, he thought, and that was what HE wanted, but was it really what /he/ wanted? Could it be that he no longer knew on which side he wanted to belong?

"I can help you," Sideways said.

Thrust was skeptical, "How, and what's in it for you?"

"I can give you a device that will cure Megatron... if and when you want to use it. As for what's in it for me? I just want to help, after all, I'm on your side."

"THRUST!" Megatron's voice boomed throughout the base. "Get in here, we are holding a strategy session!"

Megatron had gathered all of them around a large central map. Thrust joined Megatron, Starscream, Cyclonus, Wheeljack, Demolisher, Tidalwave, and the new addition; the ancient Blitzwing. The central map showed an area that Thrust couldn't quite identify.

"The goal of this next operation is to gather as many Minicons as possible," Megatron said.

"Have you located some new Minicons, Megatron?" Demolisher asked.

Thrust could see the desire to hit Demolisher for his stupidity pass across Megatron's face. "No. Why should we go to all the effort of locating new Minicons just to have to race the Autobots to get to it first? And all that wasted energon for a single Minicon, why should we do that when the Autobots and those accursed Maximals have already done so much work and have collected such a large number in one place."

"We're going to attack the Autobot's base?" Cyclonus asked.

"I thought about that, but I think the collection possessed by the Maximals is a much more tempting target. After all, how much resistance can a bunch of quasi organic Micro Masters put up?"

"Uh..." Demolisher started, "You do remember our last run in with them, don't you Megatron?"

Megatron shot Demolisher a look that convinced him to remain quiet for the rest of the meeting.

"I'm sure we would love to attack them," Thrust said, "if we knew where they were."

"About that," Megatron said, "Allow me to introduce your new third in command... Terrorsaur!"

Hearing his expected introduction, the Techno Organic Terrorsaur entered the room and flew up to the map table. "The Maximals, and all their Minicons, are in a shuttle hidden right here," Terrorsaur said while pointing to a point on the map.

"Any more questions?" Megatron asked.

****

Scorpnok had no idea what had become of Terrorsaur, nor did he really care. He was too deep in thought as to his own future.

His entire life had been devoted to Megatron, and Megatron was gone. He had seen the Datatracks, and knew them to be true. There may be other Megatrons but his Megatron was gone along with Primal. Should he take Cheetor up on his offer to join?

Maybe. It wasn't like there was anything else for him, and Cybertron was now at peace. He and Terrorsaur were the last of the Predicons. An extinct race.

He knew that Terrorsaur would never be able to fit in, he was all about power, and without the ability to scheme and backstab he would go mad, or become a mercenary on another world. Maybe he should do that too?

No. Cybertron was his home. Even if Megatron was gone, he still had that.

Yes, he would stay with the Maximals and go home. Once he was there he would decide what to do next. Work on organic research maybe. He had learned a lot with his Bio-toxins.

And besides, Cybertron was now a world at peace.

****

Cybertron:

Armed Transformers, hurrying to get to wherever they were going, passed Waspinator. The gunfire in the distance told him everything he needed to know; yet another vision had come true.

Despite his warnings, Cheetor had not returned home in time.

The cue had begun.

The next Great War had begun.

He knew he would be safe. The Cybertrons would not involve innocents... he thought. And the Destrons would want him alive.

Botanica would also be safe for the time being, even though the Destron's wanted her dead. She would still be walking back from the pole where he left her, well away from the assassination squads that were expecting to catch her unawares. She would learn what was going on before they found her, and she would be able to go into hiding.

Waspinator briefly wondered if it was this chaotic at the start of every great war, but he didn't want to ask. He was afraid they would show him.

****

The Rusty Scrapplette Bar:

The Minicon Bombshell staggered out of the reclamation room, full of regret that he had not heeded warnings to bring his own glass when he came to this bar. He held his head, and thought for a moment that he would need to rush back into the reclamation room, which he really did not want to do, it was even nastier than the rest of the bar, if that could be believed.

He didn't know how long he had been in that room attending to his business, but it had apparently been for too long as the Transformer he had been looking after was no longer sitting at the table where he had left him.

Beeping up a storm of swear words that no one could understand, the little Minicon rushed out of the bar to find his companion.

He returned a short while later, his companion, the ancient, and full sized Transformer Stealth at his side.

Stealth looked at the empty table, then at the bar, and finally at the broken TV and the grumbling patrons.

It didn't take long to calculate what must have happened.

"What was on the screen when he broke it?" Stealth demanded.

He was ignored.

Angry, Stealth grabbed the nearest mechanoid, "Tell me, what was on the screen when he broke it!"

Axer was shocked that this strange Transformer whom he had never seen before had the nerve to make such demands of his friend Zero. Well, just one thing to do for it. "Hey, J.O. we got us a situation out here," he called.

In the depths of the kitchen there came a rumbling, and everyone stopped what they were doing to stare as J.O., large and misshapen, slowly walked out of the kitchen.

J.O. was easily the second largest mechanoid that Stealth had ever seen. His jaw dropped and he forgot everything he was doing. Misshapen as he was, it was painfully obvious that J.O. was not to be trifled with.

"Don't bother the customer," J.O. said.

Stealth dropped Zero, and continued to stare.

"You want information, buy me New TV."

"But I didn't..."

J.O. stepped forward. "Buy new TV."

Stealth deposited more than enough credits onto the bar, and they quickly disappeared into the maw of J.O.'s huge hand.

"Some news show from earth talking bout returning Autobots," J.O. said, then shuffled back into the kitchen.

Stealth took a slow step back, but didn't even wait until he had left the bar before transforming into his stealth jet mode to take off for Earth.

Bombshell was slow to follow, and hard pressed to keep up.

****

The red and white plane drifted in orbit around Earth. He had reached the Earth in record time, which was good. He needed to set things back right. His mistakes must never be repeated by anyone.

Now all he had to do was sit tight and wait for the Autobots and Decepticons to start fighting so he could find them. He knew it wouldn't take long.

It never did before.

****

Cheetor was worried.

Terrorsaur had disappeared, Silverbolt seemed to have some sort of grudge against him, half the Autobots had a grudge against him, the Minicons were getting anxious to leave, Rattrap was late getting back from wherever he had gotten to with the human, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something, somewhere was terribly wrong.

Then it began. He could see the target in the distance, flying high, but defiantly in their direction. It opened fire.

Explosions erupted behind their shuttle, causing Cheetor and the rest to duck the flying debris.

No point in fighting this alone if they didn't have to, he thought, because he severely doubted this was a lone Decepticon. "Nightscream... Call Autobots and ask for assistance!"

"You got it!" Nightscream called, as he ducked into the shuttle.

"And get the shields up!" Black Arachnia called after him.

Soon the shimmering line of the shield appeared around the shuttle, and the Minicons all rushed to hide under the relative safety of the shield. Some of them transformed into their combat modes, prepared to make a last stand if that was what it took.

More explosions ripped the ground around them, but Cheetor no longer ducked. It had become obvious that they were not going to hit them. The shots were just intended to spook them into panicking or giving up.

"Well guys, lets get ready for a fight." Cheetor said, "Any one have an idea of how many we are facing?"

"Ill find out!"

Cheetor turned, surprised that it was Scorpnok who had just spoken. His claw was held out and a Cyber bee was proudly displayed.

The Bee took off into the sky, heading directly for the approaching armada.

After a few moments, Scorpnok spoke again, "It looks like about 9 of them, and they all have at least one Minicon... and Megatron is carrying some sort of sword. And Terrorsaur is with them too.

"Thanks, Scorpnok," Cheetor said. At least he knew what happened to Terrorsaur now, and he hated the fact that it proved Silverbolt's point about them, but then Scorp's help proved his own.

"They are on their way," Nightscream called, rushing back out of the shuttle.

"There is no point in waiting, when we can take the battle to them," Silverbolt said.

"Yes there is," Cheetor disagreed. "That is 9 cons up there, with Minicons, and only two of us can fly. You should wait until they get closer so we can provide support."

Silverbolt was obviously not pleased with Cheetor's call, but saw enough wisdom in it to not fly off on his own anyway.

"Air forces move in, and don't hit the Minicons!" Megatron ordered, while landing on the ground, well out of range of the Maximal's weapons.

Wheeljack and Demolisher landed next to him, while Starscream, Thrust, Cyclonus, Terrorsaur, Blitzwing, and Tidalwave continued on, strafing the Maximals and moving off before they had a chance to counter attack.

"All right, guys." Cheetor said. "Its time to take the fight to them."

Instantly Silverbolt leapt straight up into the air, flinging his explosive feathers in every direction, frustrating all the Decepticons rather than damaging any one of them.

Click-click. Scorpnok's missiles fired, streaking after Cyclonus who dodged franticly trying to evade the missiles that matched his every move.

Nightscream spotted Thrust, and took off after him, looking to continue their previous fight.

Black Arachnia fired her web, snagging the tail section of Terrorsaur, and allowing him to lift her into the air.

Cheetor transformed into cheetah mode and took off at full speed, charging at Megatron. Explosions erupted on either side of him as Tidalwave opened fire on the fast moving cat, chasing him as best he could.

Seeking to help his lover, Silverbolt transformed and pursued after Terrorsaur.

Starscream flew low over Scorpnok to distract him, but rather than be distracted, the Predicon simply changed targets. He leapt up with a yell, grabbing the passing jet in his claws, and sank his stinger into the metal hide of the plane. Starscream began loosing altitude as the cyber venom took effect.

Thrust had learned a lot from his previous fight, and did not give Nightscream clear shot. If anything he nearly ran the smaller transformer into his own shuttle.

Blitzwing flew in between her and Terrorsaur, snagging her web. "Ok," She thought, "Ill just change targets," and she continued to climb the web, until she reached Blitzwing. Blitzwing screamed in pain, as her talons injected him with cyber venom. Just as gracefully, Black Arachnia jumped off, landing in a crouch on the ground.

Wheeljack charged in to distract or deflect Cheetor from Megatron, but instead the Cheetah leapt over the car, and continued without slowing. Demolisher rotated to get a shot at him, but Cheetor was moving way too quickly to be targeted. At last he was almost on top of Megatron, and Tidalwave was almost on top of him. Cheetor, still at full speed, pounced, landed on Demolisher, bounced off, transforming, landed on Megatron, and leapt high into the air, swinging his swords, scoring several hits on Tidalwave.

Tidalwave began to fall apart. For the briefest of milliseconds, Cheetor thought he had beaten him, but the parts transformed and attached to Megatron as armor.

"That's a new trick," Cheetor said.

"I was about to say the same to you," Megatron said, raising the Star Saber high.

Cheetor raised his own swords to block the blow, but that was not the attack Megatron had been planning. Cheetor was blasted back by waist mounted turret cannon.

Terrorsaur plowed into the ground, the pain from the two dozen energon feathers sticking into him finally too much for him to bare. Once on the ground, however he transformed into his robot mode, and began shooting back at Silverbolt.

Starscream, just beginning to recover from his dose of cyber venom, transformed, and slowly stood. As more of his systems came back online, he drew his sword and began looking for a target.

Blitzwing, recovered more efficiently than the others, and transformed into his tank mode, his turret already looking for a target.

Silverbolt landed next to Black Arachnia, they stood back to back, while waiting to decide whom they would attack next.

Thrust tried to shake Nightscream off of his tail by flying low once again, but this time Nightscream took advantage of it by using his sonic scream to strafe several Wheeljack and Megatron, although he didn't do much if any damage to either of them in that quick pass.

"Decepticons!" Megatron commanded, "Reform at my position. We will go in on foot, with massive firepower too pave the way to the Minicons."

The other Decepticons hurried to Megatron's side. Thrust couldn't help thinking that he liked this new Megatron's tactical thinking. It was just a matter of time before they totally overwhelmed these "Maximals."

"Not so fast, Megatron," a voice said, "Your not getting your hands on those Minicons."

Megatron winced. Such a lame line, it could only be...

"Optimus Prime," Cheetor called, "Glad you made it."

The rest of the Autobots were to either side of Prime, Red Alert, Hot Shot, Scavenger, Jetfire, Smokescreen, Blurr, and Sideswipe.

"Do you think we are just going to warp out of here simply because we have a larger fight on our hands?" Megatron said. "Well, think again... Demolisher! Blitzwing!"

At once, Megatron, Demolisher and Blitzwing all fired their turret weapons, all targeting the same point on Optimus Prime's chest.

Optimus Prime staggered back, experiencing an unparalleled pain, clutching the smoking hole at the center of his chest. Red Alert was instantly at his side, while an outraged Hot Shot powerlinked with his Minicon and fired his cannon.

Hot Shot's attack bounced harmlessly off of Megatron's armor.

"You are absolutely no..." Megatron began, but before he could finish he was bracketed by fire from a strafing jet he had never seen before.

The jet turned, and attacked again, this time causing the Maximals and Minicons to scatter.

The jet made a third pass, this time targeting Optimus Prime and the Autobots, before climbing back towards space.

The jet did not climb very high before the cockpit opened and a small red and white Micro Master sized transformer jumped out.

"Brain Set!"

The front part of the jet disconnected and unfolded into a robot, its chest portion opening downward, unleashing a rainbow of lights which guided the Micro Master into it. The chest closed over the Micro Master, which was transforming into the face and brain of the larger robot. The transformation did not end there. The aft portion of the jet also began to unfold, and the robot began to fold back upon itself. Another set of rainbow colored connections lit up, as what had been the robot docked with the aft section of the plane forming an even larger robot, with Autobot symbols boldly painted on the shoulders. A second head on the back of the robot folded up and over the original head.

It landed on both feet, and reached back pulling out a sword.

With a battle yell, this new robot charged at the Decepticons.

Starscream brought up his sword to defend, while Megatron brought his down to attack the newcomer, but the newcomer blocked both swords with his own.

He kicked out, knocking Starscream away, then swung his sword, knocking the Star Saber free of Megatron's grasp, and catching it himself.

The newcomer could feel the power of the Star Saber. Power that he could use, even if he could not feed off of it the way these other transformers apparently could. He returned his own sword to the compartment on his back, and held the Star Saber at the ready.

"He has the Star Saber!" Starscream yelled.

The newcomer shook his head. "I am Star Saber."

To be continued...