( Nemesis, Shockwave's lab)
Shockwave was admiring the new forms of Breakdown, Dreadwing, Hardshell and Silas as they fell down from their pods.
Hardshell was an impressive size, about the same height and bulk as an Insecticon warrior, almost completely identical to his hulking warriors save for a few differences to his frame. In place of razor clawed digits, this creature had two digits over his clawed hands. Protruding from his back was a long, thick horn.
His carapace-metallic armor was a maroon hue. Mandibles snapped around a normal mouth on his faceplate and his optics were a visor design similar to an Insecticon. He rose up on thick, powerful legs stretching up to his full height and then stared down at his hands, studying them critically before bowing to his old master.
Breakdown was completely different. He was the same size as Hardshell but he was primarily translucent yellow. His right arm looked like a cobra head and a scorpion tail, was brown with yellow edges and green accents. His other arm was brown and orange. His central body and head were translucent yellow with green painted accents. His upper legs were brown and the lower legs were translucent yellow with green paint.
Silas resembled a wasp with an idiotic look. The head and arms were like that of a wasp with wings sticking out of his back to match.
Its scheme was mostly dark green, much like the original color of the unfortunate Skyquake, but with purple plating around the waist, wings, and tail. Its bulbous eyes glowed with purple light Airachnid's, compound like a real bug's eyes too round and wide for them to shift on their own.
Dreadwing was the same on his color scheme and face but his chest looked like a fish's mouth and his wings looked like manta ray's fins.
But as Dreadwing looked up, he got up and tried to attack Shockwave but the latter pressed something in his hand, which caused Dreadwing to grunt in pain.
" Did you really thought I would let you come back to us without a mean to control you, Dreadwing ? This part of your spark prove most useful. " Shockwave gloated
Dreadwing glared at him but relented.
" Shockwave, I am grateful for bringing me back. " Breakdown said
" Now, you four will be known under new names. " Shockwave stated before looking at each of them. " Transform ! "
Their bodies twisted and took animal forms.
Hardshell became a beetle, Breakdown became a scorpion but with the cobra head in place of a stinger, Silas became a wasp with a lizard tail and Dreadwing became a flying Manta ray.
" You will be called : Ram Horn, Quickstrike, Waspinator and Depht Charge. " Shockwave stated
Inside the Nemesis main bridge, Megatron, Knock Out, Starscream and Soundwave were discussing the earlier events that had led to the destruction of most of the Predacons.
"I'd say the plan's worked perfectly." Starscream was as smug as ever.
"Still, the beast survived. We need to be careful," Megatron reminded them. For now Predaking was angry at the Autobots but if he ever learned the truth.
"Still tall, dark and scaly is proving useful," Knock Out commentated.
"For now," Megatron scoffed, "But everyone is to remain on guard. I don't want any slips of the tongue!' He sent a glare at Starscream.
Before anyone could say anything else Soundwave's visor flashed with an incoming message. At Megatron's nod he sent the message through. " My lord " Shockwave's voice echoed throughout the room.
"What is it?" Megatron growled. He was in no mood for any more surprises that day.
" We may have a problem, Lord Megatron. You need to come to the laboratory " Before anyone could ask what, the one-optic scientist cut the link. Growling Megatron ordered Soundwave to open a GroundBridge and the Decepticons found themselves in Shockwave's destroyed lab again, but this time they now stood in a smaller side chamber. There had been a wall of fallen rocks covering its entrance till Shockwave and a pair of Vehicons had cleared it. Inside was what Shockwave had called them about.
Empty cloning tanks were scattered about the chamber. Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream and Knock Out waited for Shockwave to explain. "While gathering samples of the cyber-matter I decided to check this chamber, I was certain it was destroyed as well in the blast but it seems the rocks covered the entrance protecting it and the protoforms within."
"Why were these in a different room?" Starscream asked annoyed.
"Because these protoforms were. . . different."
Now he had Megatron's attention, "What do you mean?"
"Early in their development I noticed something about them was. . . odd, for lack of a better word. So I isolated them from the main clutch to study them later but with Predaking's transformation and the plan to eradicate the remaining protoforms I was unable to determine their flaws."
"And you think they survived." Megatron growled.
"How could you possible know?" Starscream snapped.
Shockwave calmly pointed to the cloning tanks. "Because the glass is broken. . . from the inside."
The growl that came from Megatron made everyone take a step back from the warlord. "I want them found and DESTROYED! No mistakes! Destroy these creatures no matter what!"
( autobots base)
Jack was gazing into the sky deep in thought.
" Dracarys. " the prime turned to see colonel Lennox " Are you feeling okay ? "
" Not really, colonel. " Jackson answered " The predacons that Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus exploded were little more than newborns. And add that they were sentient beings. "
Contrary to Fowler, Lennox was more understanding and wisely kept his mouth shut.
"And I find something about this very strange."
Lennox looked back up. "What?"
"The energon, Jazz told me there was none growing in the mines and yet I don't think the decepticons were delivering it to the lab."
" So you think the Decepticons did this on purpose?" The colonel asked.
"Indeed," was the reply. " But for what, I can't understand. "
Days passed without anything happening until
" Look at this," Raf called getting everyone's attention. The young boy had been going through conspiracy web sites looking for anything on the Autobots.
"What is it this time? Smokescreen again ?" Arcee asked
" Hey ! I didn't got out those last few days. " Smoke protested
"No, look." Raf pulled up a larger image for everyone to see. It was a blurry image of some kind of creature. Above the picture was a headline reading : " Dinosaur sighting ? "
" Your dinosaur looks a little metallic. " Sierra pointed out
Jazz looked closer and his mouth dropped in shock " Is that Grimlock ?! "
" He seems smaller and purple. " Elita said
"Maybe it's some new kind of Decepticon?" Smokescreen suggested.
"Maybe, or maybe something else." Everyone turned to see Jack joining them.
"What do you mean, boss ?" Ironhide asked.
"Look where the picture was taken." Everyone turned back to the screen and saw the name of the location, 'the Appalachian Mountains.'
"Wait. . . That's where Shockwave's creepy lab was," Jazz realized.
Arcee looked at her boyfriend horrified, "You don't think. . . the Predacons survived do you?"
"Predacons? Survive. What are you talking about?" Wheeljack had entered with Bulkhead and Ultra Magnus. They were shown the image and Wheeljack cursed.
"Do you think it. . . or they have joined with the Decepticons?" June asked.
"There is always that possibility," Dracarys answered. "But the Decepticons may not know of their survival. . . yet."
"I'll check for more sightings," Raf offered.
"It's amazing that some survived that explosion," Magnus spoke up.
" Like a wise man said : Life always find a way, commander. " Dracarys stated
Unberstknown to them, the decepticons saw that same picture and Megatron ordered the search to be increased.
Lennox was called and the autobots explained what they discovered.
"If one of those creatures hurts someone, we'll have big problems. It's only a matter of time before they run into someone." the colonel said
'It's true," Raf spoke up. He turned his laptop to show a map of the Appalachian Mountains. "There's lots of hiking trails around there that people visit."
Arcee groaned and rubbed the bridge between her optics, something she picked up from humans. "That's all we need."
"We'll be able to handle it," Bulkhead boasted as he elbowed Wheeljack. When no one answered him he looked around, "Um, right?"
"So, what do we do?" Ironhide asked.
"Reconnaissance would be our most likely option," Ultra Magnus said.
"But what do we do when we find them?" Smokescreen asked.
"We will cross that bridge when we come to it." Jack had his back to the others deep in thought before turning to look at everyone, "Until then we need to know how dangerous they are and what the Decepticons are planning. We need to become Beast Hunters again."
"Yo boss bot, can I come with?" Miko asked excitedly.
The Autobots were about to head to the location where they believed the Predacons currently were. Jack regarded the young girl, "I don't. . ."
"Actually," Sierra jumped in, "It might help to bring some of us." Nightviper gave her a long look. "Like Raf said there could be hikers there, you might need someone to run interference."
"And we can scoop for info," Miko added excitedly. "See if anyone else has seen anything."
Jack looked at them, thinking for a moment, "Fine, you can come."
Miko jumped in joy, "YES!"
"But you are to remain with my mother at all times." he precised
Miko's groan was followed by Sierra's, "Yes sir."
"Raf," Jack turned to the boy, "Open a GroundBridge." He turned to the group again, "We will split up. Ultra Magnus, Arcee and I will search from the air while Raf will monitor everyone. Try not to engage them, we need to learn more about these Predacons. Is that understood?"
"Understood," everyone answered.
But the mission was more boring that anyone thought.
" Smokescreen reporting with nothing to report. " Smoke said
But Smokescreen didn't know that he was being watched by a striped cat-like being in the grass.
" Ultra Magnus reporting " the commander said
" Did you find something? " Jack asked.
" Nothing to report yet " Ultra replied. " this area is vast it could take some time before we sight any. . ." Suddenly two forms flew in front of his ship. Magnus watched bemused as two large creatures seemingly ignored his ship as they flew past him. One was bird-like in a colors of black on his back and white on the front . Its companion resembled a red pteranodon with a pair of powerful wings. " I. . . retract that earlier statement "
He began to pursue the two Predacons as they continued towards their unknown destination. So far they had been ignoring him because surly they knew he was there. Then the bird turned it's head to glance at him, it then turned to its pteranodon companion and nodded its head which the reptile returned. The pteranodon then stopped, hovered and turned towards the incoming ship as the hawk flew a further distance away.
Ultra Magnus wasn't sure what was going on. Surly the Predacon wasn't going to attack the ship by it's self. He then noticed the wings were glowing. What was. . .
"AGH!" A bright flash of fire rendered him blind for several minutes. Trying to recalibrate his optics Magnus realized his ship had begun a descent, pulling at the controls to steady the ship his vision finally cleared but Magnus realized it was too late. The Predacons were gone.
Bulkhead tried to be as quiet as he could as he wandered through the foliage, which wasn't easy giving his body.
He starting walking towards a small hill to get a better look at his surroundings, but as he reached it a noise caught his attention. Something was moving through the foliage, it sounded like it was moving fast and heading right towards him.
He activated his wrecking ball and took a battle pose, "All right Con, bring it!"
Something made trees fall as it charged at him. It was a big and grey creature that ran on four legs with two big horns on its nose.
Bulkhead prepared to attack it but the predacon managed to ram into him, sending him on the ground and continuing its way without stopping.
As he he was getting up, Bulkhead heard a familiar war cry.
" Insecticons. " He guessed
" Wheeljack reporting, and there's nothing to report " the white wrecker grumbled.
He had been hoping for some action, maybe some Decepticons to fight. But there wasn't anything here expect some deer that ran at the sight of him.
Finally he stopped and leaned against a large tree to look around. "This is going to take forever, I can think of a million better. . ." That's when Wheeljack became aware of hissing. He whirled to find a yellow-orange and brown metal Utahraptor snarling at him. It swished its tail left and right and showed its big claws as a warning.
Far from being nervous, Wheeljack grinned while activating his battle mask and drawing his swords, "Looks like my day just got better. Wanna dance, Dino !?"
The creature snarled before its eyes glowed and green beams were shot from it.
Wheeljack managed to avoid them and they burnt through a thick tree.
" Okay, didn't see that coming. " Wheeljack said before focusing on his fight
The dinosaur then jumped on Wheeljack, slashing at him with the claws on its hind legs but Wheeljack parried them with his swords.
Then a noise made them both freeze. Wheeljack recognized it, a blaster was about to fire.
Sure enough, vehicons were in the area and pointing their blasters at the two. Wheeljack shoved the raptor away.
Bumblebee wasn't having a lot of luck, wherever these Predacons were they were hiding pretty well.
Something took off from behind a cluster of trees running away from him. Before he could think Bumblebee took off after it. Trying to get closer he got a glimpse of what he was pursuing. it looked like some kind of metal feline. As he got closer, it drove into some trees. Before Bee could follow a metal spider-like creature emerged jumping in the other direction.
Bumblebee froze, he was chasing two creatures. Not sure where the feline had gone he took off after the spider thought he didn't think he had much of a chance catching it.
Bumblebee continued to pursue the Spider and he saw Smokescreen running towards him.
" Hey bee, You found something ? " The rookie asked
Bumblebee beeped his response
" A spider and a feline ? Okay, we got this. " Smoke said
They finally found the spider who was near a Cliff.
" Don't move, you're trapped. " Smoke warned the spider
But the predacon didn't listen and jumped off the Cliff. Bee and Smokescreen looked on and saw it was climbing down on the wall. Then they were pushed by two of the predacons they were tracking. Bee and smoke caught the two and they tumbled down. When they landed, they had a better look at the predacons.
The first was a powerful looking feline that was white with black striped while the other seemed more built for speed and was yellow with black spots.
" For the record, I blame you two for this. " Smokescreen said, making the Tiger and the cheetah growl.
Ironhide was looking everywhere for any sign of the predacons. As he did so, he was also thinking about Optimus and how he would enjoy Megatron's death, either by his own hands or another's.
He heard something and brought up his cannons when suddenly, something came out of the trees and landed in front of him.
It was a massive gorilla made of metal. It was black with silver colors on its back.
" All right, feeling lucky, punk ? " Ironhide taunted the predacon.
The gorilla pounded on its chest with its fists and roared at Ironhide before charging.
" Jazz reporting : Still got nothing on my end. " Jazz reported
But as he was saying this, the ground under him erupted and he had to jump to avoid it. Something got out of the ground : It was a massive brown rat with red optics.
" Oh great, I spoke too soon. No chance we can solve this peacefully ? " He asked
The rat shook his head no and jumped on Jazz who avoided it and let out his nunchakus.
" I'll take that as a no. " He snarked
Elita was seeking any trace of the predacons in her area of the forest when she heard noises. She took her spear and what she saw stunned her.
It was a giant red ant, a giant blue-grey scorpion and a giant red crab who were fighting for the carcass of a boar.
" Dracarys, I have three predacons in my sight, but they haven't seen me. " she whispered in her radio.
" Don't lose them but do not let them see you. " Dracarys ordered her
" Got it. Elita-1 out. " She responded
Above all of it, Dracarys was flying alongside Arcee all the while coaching her how to fly.
Arcee's beast mode was a metal dragoness with a sharp nose and razor-sharp teeth; She had short metal horns on her head and her legs were thinner than Jack's and she still had a girlish figure with a lizard-like tail.
" It's so amazing to fly with my own wings, Jack. " Arcee stated, enjoying herself
" Glad to hear that, Arcee. " Jack said, smiling
But they ignored they were observed from bellow by a white metallic wolf who had wings on his back.
Nightviper, Sierra and Miko were having no luck. The two teens had interviewed everyone they came across but no new sightings had accrued. The guessed they should be lucky that no one had seen anything. it meant the Predacons were staying away from populated areas and people. For now.
"Ugh!" Miko groaned, "I thought this would be more exciting."
"You didn't think you were going to go against any Predacons did you?" June scoffed. She was slithering in the trees to keep an eye on the girls. Mostly Miko. Especially Miko.
Suddenly the felt the ground shake a little.
" You felt that ? " Sierra asked
They looked towards a puddle that vibrate with any 'boom' that the girls identified as footsteps.
They hid behind bushes and saw a moose wandering in front of them as the footsteps stopped. The moose started to eat grass when suddenly, the most terrifying creature they ever saw jumped out of bushes and pinned the moose.
It was a huge green and dark purple spider who let out a maniacal laugh.
The sudden appearance of the spider made Miko scream in fright, making the monster turn towards their hiding spots.
" Oh yes, other easy preys. " It snarled with glee before spitting webs at the two girls, stucking them against trees before webbing the moose to the ground. Nightviper then landed from the tree she was hiding and hissed at the spider.
" Don't go near them con, or you'll taste my venom. " She threatened it, as the snakes on her head hissed at the predacon.
" Come on, sweetheart, two preds can share a meal. I'll even let you have the tallest of the two, since you seem to be a more pleasant company than the others I was forced to travel with. The worst was our leaders. So nosy, arrogant, ugly,... " The spider ranted, without noticing a dark shadow right over him
But as it looked, it saw Nightviper looking behind him, freeing the girls and taking cover.
" There's one right behind me, isn't there. " It said before the owner of the shadow lunged from cover if the trees.
It was a huge purple t-rex with a green stripe on its flank. The dinosaur roared and bited the spider on its head before it shook its neck, instantly killing the arachnid. The T-Rex then roared in victory before turning towards the moose and finishing it with a bite to the neck.
Nightviper and the girls were disturbed by the killings but glad to be saved from the spider.
" Do not move a single muscle, it must not believe we're a threat. " Nightviper ordered the two girls, changing back the snakes into a ponytail.
The T-Rex observed them for a moment before turning back towards the spider's corpse and eating it.
( Nemesis)
"This is a waste of time," Starscream growled. As usual Soundwave ignored him as he worked at the monitor. Currently the two were on the bridge of the Nemesis directing the search teams for the Predacons, Soundwave had also deployed Laserbeak to survey the area. Starscream continued, "That area is to large, even with all the teams searching it will take too long to find the miserable beasts. I have half a mind to inform Megatron of all the time were wasting on this useless search."
"Oh really."
Starscream yelped and whirled to find Megatron standing behind them. "My lord, I didn't hear you enter."
Megatron pushed the Seeker aside and stood behind Soundwave. "Any news?" Soundwave pulled up a image on the screen. "It would seem Laserbeak has found something."
Soundwave showed them pictures of the autobots on the ground having found the predacons.
" Shockwave, I believe this is the time to test your new beasts. " Megatron ordered
" As you command, Lord Megatron. " Was Shockwave's answer
Next Time : Predaking and Shockwave's new creations join the fight.
