Hello readers! Here is another Beast Wars chapter! Here, we will be getting new recruits for both the Maximals and the Predacons. Strap in and enjoy the adventure! I would also like to thank everyone who gave me positive reviews so far about this fanfic. It fills me with gratitude knowing I'm writing something you all enjoy and that I'm properly representing the Transformers franchise. I do not own Beast Wars, Transformers, Ben 10, Superman, the Twilight saga, or YouTube. Transformers and Beast Wars are properly owned by Hasbro. Ben 10 is properly owned by Cartoon Network. Superman is owned by DC comics.

Chapter 5: First Awakening: Part 1

Earth's Orbit: 11 AM

The dark vastness of space was quiet as ever as the blue planet called Earth continued its slow rotation around the sun. However, what floated lazily around the earth were the many metallic stasis pods ejected by the Maximals before landing on the planet's surface. Each one contained a protoform that housed a spark of Cybertronian life that slept deeply in its technological cocoon.

Three of these pods drifted closer to the planet until they were both trapped by the earth's gravitational pull. They fell with rapid speed as flames engulfed their exteriors. But due to the advanced Cybtertronian shield plating, the pods were safely protected by the immense g-force from entering the planet's atmosphere. As they fell further towards Earth, one pod separated from the other two and changed course towards a different part of the world.

Axalon Science Lab: 11:15 PM

Ethan was hard at work rearranging wires and circuits. Despite his fascination with the Maximal's advanced technology, it took him longer to understand its functions. Once the teenager was finished, he fastened the metal sheet back into place.

"Try it now, Rhinox," said Ethan to the giant green robot.

Rhinox pressed a few buttons on the relay system that he and the teen built most of the week. The Maximal engineer hoped that with the help of the gifted human, they would be able to boost a distress signal far enough to reach Cybertronian space. Rhinox watched carefully as the loading screen progressed at a steady rate. Ethan watched beside the Maximal, biting his lip anxiously. The bar was at 90%, almost fully completing the test. But when the bar reached 95%, an alarm rang and the word OVERLOAD flashed across the screen in big red letters. The metal grid blasted off the relay and sparks flew out of the machine.

"Signal transmission sequence failed," said the AI.

Both Rhinox and Ethan groaned, disappointed at another failed attempt to strengthen a distress signal to Cybertron.

"I really thought that was going to work," said Rhinox.

"There's got to be something we're missing," said Ethan.

The large green bot crossed his arms and stared inquisitively at the machine. "Maybe if we transmit the signal on a different frequency. One that is sure to travel a longer distance than the one we are using."

Ethan rubbed his chin and said, "Maybe the issue isn't distance but direction. All this time, we've been sending the signal in a straight line. What if we send the signal in a way that it bounces off existing relays to ensure further distance."

Rhinox looked down at the young human in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Why don't we have the signal travel through Earth's satellites?" said Ethan. "Think of it like a train making frequent stops on a track. The train has to get from point A to Point B. But they risk depleting their resources if they don't take the time to refuel at a station. By transitioning through existing radio waves outside of Earth's orbit-"

Rhinox's eye's widened in revelation as he finished Ethan's sentence. "It could travel further from the existing wavelengths those satellites have created!"

The green Maximal smiled down at the teenager. "That is a remarkable hypothesis, Ethan. You weren't fooling around when you said you were a prodigy in science."

"Thanks, Dad always says I get it from Grandpa," said Ethan. "Which reminds me; I've been working on this drone recently and have been meaning to put it through a test flight. Maybe I can show you sometime when we're not working on the relay?"

"That would be prime," said Rhinox, fascinated by the young human's level of intellect.

Other than admiring the local flora on Earth, Rhinox was always in his element when it came to science and technology. Even though Rattrap was an engineer just like Rhinox, the small bucktoothed bot never shared a jovial conversation about their field with the green Maximal. It was nice to have someone to connect with that didn't involve harsh sarcasm and backtalk.

The eldest Witwicky boy replied, "Awesome! It's a new system I try to integrate by creating a propulsion-."

"Neeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrd!" shouted a familiar nine-year-old passing by the lab entrance.

The teenager growled at his little brother's common tease whenever Ethan went into a scientific ramble.

But before Ethan had the chance to think of a comeback, Optimus Primal spoke over the intercoms. "This is Optimus Primal, calling all Maximals and humans to the bridge, immediately."

Rhinox and Ethan dropped their tools and ran to the bridge as fast as they could.

Once all of the Maximals and young humans were gathered at the bridge of the Maximal ship, Optimus began to explain, "Everyone, the Axalon just detected energy signatures of three stasis pods that just landed on the planet."

All of the Maximals' eyes widened with a mixture of relief and disbelief.

"Two of them? Here? On Earth?" replied Rattrap.

"They must have drifted close enough that the planet's atmosphere pulled them in," said Tigatron.

"What stasis pods, Optimus?" asked Ethan.

The Maximal leader explained, "Before we landed on your planet, our crew was meant to be much larger than the eight of us you see before you. Aboard the Axalon were over two dozen stasis pods that housed the remainder of our research team. However, after our first battle with the Predacons outside your planet's orbit, we were unsure whether or not we would survive. So, we ejected the pods into space to give those Maximals a chance to live if the rest of us didn't make it."

"Now it seems three of those pods have landed in different locations on the planet," said Rhinox.

The large green Maximal typed in a few commands that displayed a holographic image of the planet Earth. On the display blinked three separate red dots: One above the United States and two in South America. The human teens looked at the map to pinpoint specifically where the blips were located.

"One looks like it's in Alaska," said Ethan.

"And the other two are in Brazil," said Connie.

Nyx turned to the Maximal leader and said, "Optimus, we have to recover those stasis pods. Those Maximals could wake up any moment now, confused and afraid. They won't know where they are."

"Plus, they could make formidable recruits for the Beast Wars," said Dinobot.

"Which is why I'm initiating a recovery mission," said Optimus Primal. "We'll split up into two separate teams to retrieve each pod. Since we only have one transportation vessel on the Axalon, all aerial Maximals, including Cheetor and myself, will retrieve the first pod up north since it's closer. The rest of you will use the Aurora to travel south for the remaining two pods."

"Woah woah woah! You want us to travel into unknown territory on this planet just for three pods?" said Rattrap.

"Would you want us to leave you behind if you were out there?" asked Tigatron.

The short Maximal just crossed his arms and huffed.

"This will also be a good opportunity for our new allies to show us what they are capable of out on the field," said Optimus.

All of the humans' eyes widened at the words of the Maximal leader.

Evan's agape mouth slowly turned into a wide grin as he asked, "Does this mean we're going on our first mission?"

Optimus smiled down at the child and nodded. "Yes, it does."

"Alright!" shouted the nine-year-old, pumping his fist in the air.

"Awesome!" cried Connie.

"No way!" said Ethan.

Derek just gulped with a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

"Ethan and Evan will be joining with the first team to retrieve the pod up north while Connie and Derek will join the second team for the two pods down south. I know you four have been part of our crew for only a few days, but any amount of help is well needed with so few of us on Earth," said Optimus.

"We won't let you down, Optimus!" said Ethan.

"You can count on us!" said Connie.

"We're going on our first mission!" screamed Evan as he jumped in the air.

Optimus continued to smile as he said, "Just remember to remain close to your assigned groups at all times and warn us if you find the pod or spot any immediate danger. If there is a rare chance we have to fight, you kids need to stay safe and get behind cover until otherwise."

"You got it," said Ethan.

"You don't have to tell me twice," said Derek.

"Affirmative," said Evan.

"Will do," said Connie.

The eldest Witwicky boy turned to his friends and brother saying, "We probably should gather some supplies before we leave. Some snow gear for me and Evan. Connie and Derek, you guys should probably get some water and hiking shoes for the rainforest."

"Good idea. Maybe even bring some weapons if the Predacons decide to show up," said Derek.

"Grandpa and Grandma probably have some stuff in their secret armory we could use," said Evan.

"Then it is decided. You gather the necessary equipment you need for yourselves and return to the Axalon. We'll begin preparations to put the Aurora into flight. Let's rescue our fellow Maximals," said Optimus.

Darksyde: 11:15 AM

On the bridge of the Predacon ship, Tarantulas, Waspinator, and Scorponok overlooked the monitors in search of any strange activity or Maximal signatures in their vicinity.
Waspinator didn't pay attention as he stacked a tower of empty, hand-sized oil cans on one of the consoles. The green Predacon gently moved his hand to place the last can on the very top, making nervous groans. His hand anxiously shook as he dropped the final can at the top. The tower slightly rocked, making Waspinator flinch, but the structure remained standing. The green Predacon sighed with relief, proud of his minor creation.

Suddenly, the alarms on the monitors blared and Scorponok shouted, "We're getting multiple Maximal readings!"

Waspinator jumped in surprise, making his tower of oil cans crumble and roll around the floor. He stared dejectedly at his destroyed tower and groaned.

Scorponok and Tarantulas typed profusely on the controls to zero in on the three blips on the map.

"These signatures don't seem to belong to any of the existing Maximals we've encountered from before," said the second in command.

Tarantulas's yellow visor narrowed as he said, "No, this is something else…I recognize this signature."

The Predacon scientist leaned closer to the screen at the three dots blinking on the world map. Separate screens of data appeared, presenting all the details about the three anomalies.

"They're stasis pods!" cried Tarantulas.

"Stasis pods? From the Maximal ship?" said Scorponok.

"They must have ejected them within the planet's orbit before impact. No doubt, hoping the rest of their crew to survive if they perished on this rock," said Tarantulas.

"We should contact Megatron and request a strike force to eliminate these new arrivals," said Scorponok.

"Au contraire, Scorponok," said the familiar voice of Megatron. The large purple leader appeared from behind the Predacons. "I see an opportunity with these Maximal stasis pods. As you know, all Cybertronians that enter stasis must be reverted to their protoforms to conserve their cores during space travel. Now tell me, what makes a protoform so significant?"

Waspinator scratched his head in thought.

Tarantulas answered, "The digital coding of a protoform is completely blank; practically a lifeless shell with no identity. It must be installed with a spark or given specific programming to become a Cybertronian."

"Wwwazzpinator knew that!" said the green Predacon.

Megatron smirked and said, "Exactly! Which means these protoforms are not officially Maximals…yet."

"What do you suggest, Lord Megatron?" asked Scorponok.

"I say, why eliminate these vulnerable Maximal protoforms when we can simply reprogram them to become full-fledged Predacons willing to join our cause? Yes," said Megatron.

Tarantulas and Scorponok smirked, liking their leader's idea.

"But Wwwazzzpinatorr thought reprogramming protoformzzzzz wwwwazzzz illegal on Zzzybertron," said Waspinator.

Megatron leaned in towards the green bot and shouted, "Were not on Cybertron, you bufoon!"

The green bot shrank back in his seat while the Predacon leader straightened himself and sat in his captain's chair.

He pressed the intercom button and said, "Attention, all Predacons are to report to the bridge immediately. We have a mission."

Megatron looked up from his chair and smiled deviously.

Somewhere in the mountains of Alaska: 11:30 AM

The area was covered in a thick layer of white snow as a pack of wolves crept towards a large metal container that jutted out from the cold blanket. They stared at the strange object in wonder as their pack leader slowly crept even closer. The wolf sniffed the metal surface before blue sparks flew off the object, making the entire pack jump. A hatch slowly slid open as all of the wolves yipped and sprinted away from the object. Blue sparks continued to fly from the stasis pod as a robotic hand rose out from the opening.

Witwicky Farmhouse: 11:45 AM

The kids went back to the farmhouse and explained their mission to the rest of the family. Spike, Daniel, and Carly went down into the armory with them to help pack all the necessary equipment they needed. Once all of the supplies were packed, both kids and grown-ups stood on the porch to say their goodbyes. Cheetor was at the bottom of the steps in beast mode, waiting for the young humans.

"You should have everything you need for the Alaskan tundra and the Brazilian rainforest. Make sure you stay close to the Maximals and preserve your food and water. Both of these areas can be harsh and dangerous places for kids like you," said Spike.

"You're not coming with us?" asked Evan.

Spike smiled and shook his head as he placed a hand on both of his grandkids' shoulders. "No. Our years of adventuring and fighting Decepticons are passed us. This task of protecting the Earth falls on all of you now, the new generation. We are confident you kids have what it takes to achieve the impossible, with help from the Maximals. "

"Just remember to work together, stay vigilant, and most importantly, keep hope," said Carly.

"And that we're proud of all of you," said Daniel.

"NO!" shouted a familiar voice.

Theresa stormed out of the house yelling, "No! I will not allow this."

"Awww, Mom!" whined both Ethan and Evan in unison.

"All four of you are too young to wander off in the dangerous wilderness with aliens!" replied Theresa.

"Mom, we've been over this. We have to do this if we want to keep the Predacons from destroying our planet," said Ethan.

"And the Maximals can't do it alone," added Evan.

"I don't care! As your mother, I am forbidding both of you from going on this life-threatening task. You can get hurt or worse."

"Theresa-," said Daniel.

His wife held up a finger and cut him off saying, "No! You have no say in this. Especially now you're encouraging them."

"You think we don't know the risks, Mom? Somebody has to stop the Predacons. If not us then who?" asked Ethan.

"The army!" she cried.

"You saw what they did to the farm! It would take more than the army to stop those creeps. If Rhinox and I can get the relay to work, the Maximals can call for more allies," said Ethan.

"You're just a child!" said Theresa.

"I'm sixteen years old! I can take care of Evan and myself! You can't shelter us forever like bear cubs," retorted Ethan.

Theresa stared at her son in shock from his outburst.

The teen took a moment to calm himself and continued, "You always told me that when the time is right, our opportunity will come for us to seize. This is our opportunity. We're not doing this for fame, glory, or to prove ourselves…we're doing this because it's the right thing to do. You help sick and injured patients in the hospital because it's the right thing to do…please, Mom…we can do this."

Theresa remained quiet.

Cheetor climbed up the steps and looked at Ethan and Evan's mother. "Theresa, if it's any consolation, I give you my word, as a Maximal, that I will guard Ethan and Evan with my life. I know I've only been here for a few days, but I consider all of you my friends, and I always watch over my friends."

Theresa took a moment exchanging glances between her sons and the cheetah. It was clear both Ethan and Evan were set on this path they chose. She wasn't ready for them to grow up so fast. Theresa thought she had more time, but that wasn't the case anymore. This was the way it had to be. Her eyes weld up and the tears streamed down her cheeks.

Theresa sighed and said in a shaky voice, "I don't want to lose either of you."

Ethan smiled and held both of his mother's hands. "You won't, Mom. We'll have each other."

"And the Maximals will be there to keep us safe," said Evan.

Theresa slowly smiled and wiped her tears away giggling, "To think my biggest fear for you was learning how to drive. Now you're fighting an alien invasion."

She wrapped both of her sons in a tight hug and whispered, "Go get them, my little heroes."

After they broke from the hug, Theresa looked down at Cheetor and said, "Cheetor…thank you."

"I promise, I'll bring them back safe and sound," said the young Maximal.

Ethan adjusted his backpack and said, "Let's do this."

The kids walked off with Cheetor as all of the adults of the Witwicky family watched them disappear into the canopy behind the farm. Theresa smiled, her heart filled with confidence and hope for her sons.

Axalon Hangar: 12 PM

The Maximals and humans were gathered around a transport ship that was a similar size to the one the Predacons used to invade the Axalon. Ethan and Evan were already dressed in their snow gear while Derek and Connie wore light breathable clothes for the rainforest. Nyx, Airazor, and Cheetor were the only three Maximals in beast mode since they were going to be traveling without the Aurora.

"Are you sure the Axalon will be safe with all of us gone, Rhinox?" asked Ethan.

"I ran diagnostics and the automated security defenses are fully functional. Rattrap also installed some countermeasures in case anyone tries to hack the Axalon. The Predacons would be pretty foolish if they tried to take our ship while we're away," said the large green Maximal. "Oh! Before we set off, I want to give you four something important."

Rhinox extended an open hand to the young humans. Four sleekly designed watches with the Maximal insignia laid in his giant palm. Each of the teens and the child took one of the devices, examining them in awe.

"Wow!" said Evan.

"Cool!" said Connie.

"Sweet!" said Derek.

"What are these?" asked Ethan.

"Personal communicators. Rattrap and I custom-made them so they would fit around your wrists. With these, you'll be able to communicate with all of us through our commlinks and communicate with each other through audio or video transmissions," said Rhinox.

"These babies are also encrypted so you won't have to worry about any stinking Preds eavesdropping on your conversations. There's also a navigation feature if you get lost, and a distress beacon if you need us to save your sorry skid plates," said Rattrap.

"Can we watch YouTube on it?" joked Derek.

"YouTube? What's YouTube?" asked Rattrap with a cocked brow.

"They're also very durable and waterproof. So, you won't have to worry if you get them wet or drop them," said Rhinox.

Ethan admired his new communicator around his wrists saying, "This is sick! It's more advanced than the latest smartwatch on the market."

"If I press this button, will I turn into Four Arms or Heatblast?" asked Evan, fiddling with the various features.

"Wow! I always wanted one of these," said Connie.

Once all the humans strapped their communicators around their wrists, Optimus stepped forward and said, "Listen up, Maximals, three of our fellow crewmates are out there in their stasis pods. We must locate and awaken all of them from stasis before any harm falls on them. Thanks to Ethan's assistance in boosting our scanners, we were able to estimate a general radius where each pod is located. Each team will fly in the designated vicinity and follow the signal using these trackers both Rhinox and Rattrap have conducted for us to use. The same trackers have also been installed in the kids' communicators. The stronger the signal, the closer you are to finding the pod. I know this wasn't what you were drafted for, but I'm confident we can still make it through this war as long as we stick together and trust each other. Remember, we are Maximals! The bravery and strength of our Autobot ancestors is within all of us. If we can travel through the farthest reaches of space or survive the harshest of planets, we certainly can achieve victory in this war! Let's MAXIMIZE!"

The Maximals dispersed into their designated teams along with their assigned human allies.

Derek held his fist up to Ethan and said, "See you on the other side, man."

Ethan smiled and fist-bumped his friend saying, "You too, Derek."

"I can't believe we're traveling to Brazil!" said an ecstatic Connie as she ran into the Aurora.

Derek followed after her along with Dinobot, Rhinox, and Tigatron.

Optimus turned to the remaining Maximals and humans saying, "Airazor, you will take Ethan. Nyx, you take Evan."

"Why can't I ride with Cheetor?" asked the nine-year-old.

"Sorry, Evan. The level of speed Cheetor needs to keep up with us would be too much for your physicality. The wind and air pressure would be at supersonic levels that your matter would most likely separate within seconds," said Ethan.

Evan gave an irritated look at his older brother and asked, "Uh, you know I don't speak nerdese, right?"

Rattrap went up to the child and explained, "Basically, Short Stack, Spots will be going so fast that your body will turn into a gooey pile of mush."

A chill ran down Evan's spine at the realization of the small Maximal's words. The child's eyes widened and his face went pale at the visual he pictured in his mind.

The cheetah came up to the youngest Witwicky and said, "Don't worry, Evan, I'll meet all of you up there in a flash."

Evan nodded and smiled at his friend. "Okay, see you up there, Cheetor."

The child gave the cheetah a quick hug before walking toward the giant bat. Rattrap ran into the Aurora to join his team. Once both teams were set, the hatch to the Axalon slid open. The Aurora glided out of the cave and into the air with Optimus, Nyx, and Airazor following from behind. Cheetor sped out in a golden flash. Nyx carried Evan in her talons while Airazor carried Ethan in her own. Optimus remained in robot mode so he could fly using his rocket boosters. Both brothers looked down below, admiring the view of the Washington State wilderness. Evan looked closely and saw a familiar golden blur zip through the forests.

"This is like being on a glider!" yelled Evan.

Ethan looked up to the Maximal leader and yelled, "Optimus, are you sure you're going to be okay flying all the way there in robot mode? What about the Energon buildup?"

The giant blue bot turned towards the teen and replied, "I'm keeping track of my vitals as we fly. If there is any sign of Energon buildup, I'll make a quick landing and revert to beast mode before I take any severe amount of damage. Don't worry, I'll catch up. We need to get to those pods before any of them wake up or fall into the wrong hands."

The first team continued their travel up north, to the state of Alaska.

The Alaskan Mountains: 3 PM

As the first team flew across the Canadian and Alaskan border, the cluster of tall trees was gradually being replaced by wide blankets of snow and tall mountains. Traces of flora were scarce the further north they traveled. Luckily, Optimus was able to stay in flight long enough without suffering any Energon buildup. It wasn't long before the team reached the general area where the signal for the stasis pod came from. Cheetor waited for them down below. Both Nyx and Airazor gently dropped the boys onto the snow next to the spotted Maximal before perching on some nearby boulders. Optimus Primal landed next to the Witwicky brothers and turned to beast mode. The frigid air of the Alaskan mountains made a faint whistling sound all around them. No trace of civilization or human life could be seen. Only snow, rocks, and small clusters of trees surrounded the area.

Evan cupped his hand around his mouth and shouted, "Echo!"

Ethan covered his brother's mouth with his hand and whispered angrily, "Do you want to start an avalanche?"

"Alright, we're here. So, now what?" asked Nyx.

"We follow the trackers to pinpoint the exact location of the stasis pod. With any luck, we'll find it before the protoform inside wakes up," said Optimus.

Ethan uploaded the tracker feature on his new communicator. The screen displayed a red blinking arrow directed away from the teen.

He pointed towards a cluster of trees and said, "The signal is coming from that direction. It's weak, so we have some ground to cover."

Optimus turned to the two fliers saying, "Nyx, Airazor, you scan the area from above. Cheetor, the kids, and I will search from the ground."

"You can count on us, Big Bot, Evan, and I will find that pod before you can say Maximize," replied the enthusiastic young Maximal.

Without hesitation, Evan quickly climbed onto Cheetor's back.

Though reluctant at first, Optimus sighed and said, "Very well, but don't stray too far from the rest of the group. Remember, there is still much of this planet we have yet to learn. There could be other dangers in this area besides the Predacons."

Cheetor smirked and said, "Don't sweat it, Optimus. We got this covered."

The gorilla gave a stern glare at the human child and cheetah saying, "Cheetor, I am serious. Remember, you are Evan's guardian, meaning you are fully responsible for everything he does and anything that happens to him."

"Now you sound like my dad," grumbled an annoyed Evan.

Ethan walked up to his brother and said, "Optimus is right, Evan. This isn't like our video games or your cartoons. These mountains are extremely dangerous and are known to severely hurt people. "

Evan waved a hand at his brother saying, "Ah, you worry too much. As long as Cheetor and I are together, we'll be fine."

"Yeah, we'll be fine, Big Bot. Come on, last one to the pod is a rusty bucket!" said Cheetor.

Before either the Maximal leader or the teen could get another word in, the pair zoomed off in the direction of the signal. A trail of snow kicked up from where the cheetah sprinted.

Both Optimus and Ethan growled in frustration as they rubbed the bridges of their noses.

"Why must he be so careless most of the time?" asked Optimus.

"Tell me about it. It's like he does this just to get underneath my skin," argued Ethan.

Nyx looked at the two and said, "Don't worry, Airazor and I will keep them in our sights in case they get into any trouble."

A distant howl echoed throughout the mountains, making everyone freeze where they stood.

"What was that?" asked Airazor.

"That sounded like a wolf," replied Ethan. "Hopefully we're not too close to their hunting grounds."

"Let's not waste any more time and start searching for the pod right now. Keep all comms online and contact us if you run into any trouble," said Optimus.

"Yes, sir!" said the two fliers in unison.

Nyx and Airazor took to the skies while Optimus and Ethan trudged forward, following the direction of the tracker. Little did they know that the group was being watched from a distance by a pair of steely blue eyes, hidden behind some trees.

Somewhere above the Alaskan wilderness: 3:15 PM

"Agh! It's freezing up here! Why are we the ones to go after the pod that's in this frozen wasteland?" squawked Terrorsaur.

"Because Lord Megatron and the others need the Banshee to reach the other two pods. Now, quit your complaining and follow that signal!" replied Scorponok.

The two Predacons, plus Waspinator, flew over the Alaskan wilderness in beast mode, searching for the Maximal pod.

The green insect grunted and whined, "Wwwwhyyyy Wazzzpinator carrrrryyyyy pinzzzerrrrrr bot?"

"Because I said so!" retorted Terrorsaur, "Plus, you're the one with the extra legs to secure him, not that I would care."

"But pinzzzerrrrr bot izzzz heavy!" complained Waspinator.

"Hey!" cried Scorponok.

Terrorsaur smirked at Waspinator and said, "You're always welcome to…lighten the load."

Scorponok pointed one of his pincers at the green insect and retorted, "Don't you dare! I will sting you!"

"Not if Waaaazzzzzpinatorrrr zzztingz you firrrrzzzt!" replied Waspiantor.

The pterodactyl could only snicker at the argument between the two bugs.
"Quit your bickering!" said the scorpion. "We're losing focus here, and must find the stasis pod before the Maximals do."

The three Predacons continued flying towards the mountains.

Alaskan Mountains: 3:35 PM

Cheetor and Evan sprinted through the snow, scanning the mountain range for any sign of the pod. The young Witwicky child used his free hand to check the tracker on his communicator. The beeping grew faster the further they traversed.

"We're almost there, Cheetor. The signal is getting stronger," said Evan.

"I told Optimus we'd find it in no time," replied Cheetor.

"What do you think this new Maximal is going to be like?" asked the human child.

"I don't know. There were over a dozen of us before everyone went into stasis. I didn't get a chance to know most of them except Optimus and the other six," said Cheetor.

"Hopefully, he or she will be cool and fun like you," said Evan.

Cheetor smiled back at the child saying, "Thanks. It would be ultra gear to have someone to race with."

The spotted feline sprinted through the cluster of trees until they broke through a clearing on the other side. However, Cheetor went so fast that he almost missed the cliff he was about to run off. Both Evan and the young Maximal yelped as the cheetah skidded to a stop. They slid across the snow and came to a halt at the very ledge they nearly fell off. Small piles of snow rolled off and fell towards the steep bottom. Cheetor and Evan sighed with great relief and took a few seconds to catch their breath from the shock of nearly falling to a tragic demise.

"That was close," said Evan.

Cheetor said in a shaky voice, "Maybe we should take a break from running."

"Good idea," replied the nine-year-old.

The feline stepped back several feet away from the cliff and Evan slid off his back. Up above, Nyx saw the whole thing and her core skipped a beat when she saw the two almost slide off the cliff.

The bat flew down and landed beside the two asking, "You both okay?"

"Yeah, we're fine, Nyx," said Evan.

The Maximal pilot glared at the spotted feline and said, "What were you thinking, Cheetor? You could have turned yourselves into scrap!"

"Nyx, cool your jets. Evan and I are fine," replied Cheetor.

"This is exactly what Optimus was talking about. You always rush in without processing and you get yourself into more trouble. But this time, you put Evan at risk, when you are supposed to be protecting him," said Nyx.

Cheetor's ears flattened and his eyes narrowed as he retorted, "Since when did you care? You're always throwing caution to the wind when you're flying!"

"At least I always look before I fly!" replied the bat.

The two Maximals continued to argue as Evan checked his tracker. The beeping and blinking of the arrow was at its loudest and brightest as the device rumbled around the child's wrist. The pod had to be close by. Evan tried to get the Maximals' attention, but his words could not be heard over their squabbling.

Eventually, the human boy shouted, "HEY!"

Both Cheetor and Nyx turned their attention to the child.

"The signal is really strong now. It has to be somewhere around here," said Evan.

With their attention redirected to the mission, the cheetah and bat scanned the area for any sign of the stasis pod. But the only things to be seen were snow, rocks, and trees scattered around the area. However, there was one rock that stood out from the rest. Cheetor adjusted his vision to zoom in on the object. He realized the rock was made of metal that emanated the same signal they followed on Evan's tracker.

The young Maximal pointed with his front paw crying, "I see it! Over there!"

"Score!" replied Evan.

But their joy was interrupted by the familiar buzzing and flapping of two Predacons.

"Mind if we drop in?" asked Terrorsaur.

Cheetor, Nyx, and Evan looked in the sky to see the red pterodactyl and the green insect with Scorponok wrapped in his legs. Waspinator dropped the scorpion onto the ledge, who turned into robot mode in mid-fall and landed his feet in the snow.

Scorponok aimed his missile launcher at the two saying, "Surrender the stasis pod, Maximals, and human, or be annihilated!"

"Over our deactivated shells!" cried Nyx.

Both Maximals turned to robot mode along with Terrorsaur and Waspinator. Evan nervously pulled out his plasma pistol from his holster and aimed. The situation just got serious.

Several yards away from the stasis pod location: 3:45 PM

Ethan and Optimus followed the trail Cheetor left in the snow while being observant of their surroundings. So far, the area was completely silent with no sign of wildlife that wasn't a Cybertronian. The snow underneath their feet and knuckles crunched with every step they took.

The teenager groaned and complained, "Why does he always do this? I try to be a good brother and direct him in life, but sometimes he just likes to irritate me and do the exact opposite anyway. What follows afterward is my stubborn little brother getting into trouble and me having to bail him out every time! However, whenever anyone else in our family tells him to do something, he's obedient like a trained puppy. I bet this is how Superman feels every time he has to save Lois Lane."

Optimus looked at the teen and said, "Cheetor can be the same way, but he means well. I'm sure your brother means well too. You both share a strong bond that I wish Rattrap and Dinobot would share with the rest of the crew."

Ethan's face softened as he sighed and replied, "I don't mean anything by it. I love Evan as much as I love the rest of my family. I just don't want to see him get hurt or be put in a dangerous situation where I won't be able to help him. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to my little brother."

The gorilla smiled at the teen. "I understand completely, Ethan. I feel the same way with all of the Maximals under my command. I was honored when they put me in charge of the Axalon and its crew, but I wasn't prepared for everything that followed afterward. Rattrap still makes my circuits overload with his snide nature and it doesn't help with the constant friction he shares with Dinobot."

"I guess that's one thing we have in common. Both of us come from very dysfunctional families," said the teenager.

"Sometimes I even wonder if I was even the right bot for this job," sighed the gorilla.

"Would you change it if you had the chance?" asked Ethan.

"No, because I always believe, as you humans say, everything happens for a reason. I believe the reason I was chosen to lead this crew was for the Beast Wars," replied Optimus.

The human teen smiled and said, "I think you're a great leader, Optimus. I don't know how things are run on Cybertron, but the other Maximals look up to you for guidance. Nyx, Tigatron, Rhinox, Airazor, Cheetor, and even Rattrap; they all would have been lost without you."

"I could say the same between you and Evan. Do you know why I accepted your brother's request to make Cheetor your Guardian?" asked Optimus.

Ethan shrugged. "No, why?"

"Because it was the only way I could teach him responsibility. Cheetor is a good scout and has a great sense of nobility. But his arrogance gets in the way of his potential. I'm hoping by allowing him to watch over you both, it helps enable him to develop the sense of maturity he needs for this war. I'd say Cheetor and Evan could learn off of each other."

Ethan giggled, "Yeah, those two are exactly the same, it's uncanny."

The gorilla and human teen stopped.

Optimus placed a large hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Just give your brother some time. After all, he's still young and has much to learn. Eventually, he'll understand your teachings and respect you as his older sibling."

The teenager's smile grew bigger and he replied, "Thanks, Optimus."

"My pleasure," said the gorilla. "You have the potential to make a great leader yourself someday."

Ethan's cheeks turned red as he nervously rubbed his arm. "Oh! I don't know about that, Optimus. I'm better inside a workshop building stuff rather than commanding an army on a battlefield."

A loud boom echoed throughout the mountain as large flocks of birds flew up from the trees. Optimus and Ethan darted their vision around the snowy forest to find the source of the explosion.

Through the Maximal leader's commlink, Cheetor shouted, "Optimus, it's Cheetor! We've found the pod but the Predacons are here and want to reprogram the protoform inside. Nyx, Evan, and I are holding them off but they have us pinned down."

"Hold your position! We're on our way," replied Optimus.

The gorilla transformed into robot mode and knelt beside Ethan. "Get on!"

The eldest Witwicky boy scurried onto the Maximal leader's back before they both flew up towards the explosion.

"Airazor, did you get that?" asked Optimus.

The falcon replied on the commlink. "Yes, I'm pinpointing Cheetor and Nyx's position right now."

"We'll meet you there. Whatever you do, don't let those Predacons get close to the pod," said Optimus.

Without hesitation, the Maximal leader used his tracking feature to fly towards the position of Cheetor and Nyx.

Stasis pod location: 4 PM

Snow and crumbled rocks flew everywhere from the laser fire. Cheetor, Nyx, and Evan took cover behind some boulders while the Predacons used suppressing fire on their position. The Maximals and the small human attempted to shoot back but proved difficult to aim while avoiding the bombardment from the opposing forces.

"I don't know how much longer we'll last behind cover," said Nyx.

"Optimus and Airazor are on their way. We just have to keep them busy before they get to the pod," said Cheetor.

"You can't hide behind cover forever, Maximals!" yelled Terrorsaur.

Both sides continued to fire at each other. The cliff was covered in explosions, smoke, and snow. The Predacons continued to chip away at the boulders that kept Cheetor, Nyx, and Ethan safe.

"Wwwaazzzzpinator get pod!" said the green Predacon.

Waspinator flew towards the large metal container when he was blasted out of the sky by laser fire and fell headfirst into the snow.

"Oh no you don't!" exclaimed Airazor; the barrel of her weapon smoked as she flew towards the fight.

Optimus Primal flew beside her with Ethan riding on his back.

A wave of relief flowed through the two Maximals and the youngest Witwicky boy at the sight of their allies coming to help. Ethan and Optimus pulled out their weapons, firing toward Scorponok and Terrorsaur. The two Predacons ran out of the way of the laser fire, allowing the two other Maximals and the human child to regroup with their team. Airazor and Optimus landed beside their teammates as Ethan climbed off of the leader's back and hugged his little brother.

"Evan, are you alright?" asked Ethan.

"I'm okay, but we can't let the Predacons get the stasis pod," cried the human child.

"Not if we have anything to say about it," said Optimus.

"Predacons, terrorize!" cried Scorponok.

"Maximals, maximize!" cried Optimus.

The fight continued as both sides fired lasers and explosives at one another. Waspinator regained consciousness and continued to fire at the Maximals from the sky. Ethan and Evan found cover behind some trees to fire their weapons from a safe distance.

Cheetor dodged and weaved between the barrages of laser fire in beast mode with his great speed. When he was close enough, the spotted Maximal reverted to robot mode and fired his weapon.

"Too slow!" cried Cheetor.

Nyx and Airazor took to the skies to fight off Waspinator and Terrorsaur. Optimus performed a combination of sword fighting in one hand and firing his laser in the other. The battle decimated the mountain, destroying trees and rock formations. The amount of laser fire and explosions combined with the snow created large steam clouds that shrouded the cliffside.

The Witwicky brothers continued to give cover fire to the Maximals but were unable to notice the sneaky red pterodactyl that circled their position. Without warning, the flying Predacon dived down and grabbed both humans in each talon. The brothers screamed and struggled to break free, but Terrorsaur's grip was too strong.

The firefight ceased and the steam cleared as both sides kept their weapons trained on each other.

"End of the line, Preds!" cried Cheetor.

"You're not going anywhere near that stasis pod!" said Airazor.

"We've got a friend in there, and we won't allow you to turn them into a Predacon!" said Optimus.

"Oh, are you sure? Not even for your human friends?" said Terrorsaur.

The red pterodactyl landed beside Scorponok and Waspinator with the Witwicky brothers pinned under his talons in the snow. The boys grunted as they tried wiggling out of the dinosaur's grasp.

All of the Maximals' optics widened in fear for the young humans.

Terrosaur cackled evilly and said, "If there is one thing we Predacons know, it's that Maximals all share the same weakness: compassion for the weak."

"Evan! Ethan!" cried Cheetor.

"Let them go! They're just sparklings!" said Optimus.

Scorponok smirked and aimed his weapon at the two boys.

"That's right, just innocent little sparklings. So, surrender yourselves and the pod or your little fleshy friends will be turned to ash," said Terrorsaur.

"Don't listen to him!" cried Evan.

Terrorsaur squeezed tighter on the child, making him cry out in pain.

"Quiet!" retorted the pterodactyl.

"No!" shouted Cheetor.

"What's it going to be, Maximals? The pod…or the humans?" asked Scorponok.

Cheetor could see the fear in the widened eyes of the two humans he'd come to befriend throughout his time on Earth. The young Maximal's mind returned to the promise he made to Theresa back on the farm. How he swore to keep her sons safe and how Cheetor would guard them both with his life until they returned home in one piece. Optimus was right, he was responsible for what happened to Ethan and Evan, but now they were in great danger because of his arrogance. They should have stayed close together as their leader suggested. Now they were forced to choose between one of their fellow Maximals or these two humans they have come to befriend. There was only one thing left to do.

Cheetor was the first to lower his weapon saying, "Alright! You can have the protoform, just don't hurt them."

The rest of the Maximals followed, lowering their weapons and hanging their heads in defeat.

"You win, you depraved wads of stinking slag!" said Nyx.

"That's better," said Scorponok. "Terrorsaur, continue to hold the humans in case the Maximals do anything suspicious. Waspinator and I will open the pod."

"You guys are real scum, you know that?" said Ethan.

The red pterodactyl cackled and said, "We try our best."

Scorponok and Waspinator walked towards the pod with the Maximals keeping their distance.

Terrosaur glared eagerly at the Witwicky brothers. His predatory instincts urged him to eat the small humans as soon as the protoform was reprogrammed.

Using some tools, Scorponok and Waspinator broke open the door. But once everyone looked inside, their eyes widened and their mouths agape.

"What?" cried Scorponok.

"Wwwwhaaa!" cried Waspinator.

"It's-" said Terrorsaur, but could not find the words to finish his sentence due to his surprise.

"Empty?" replied Evan.

Sure enough, the pod was completely vacant of any Maximal protoforms.

"Impossible! Where is the protoform?" shouted Scorponok.

Suddenly, there was a low growl and a large gray wolf with steely blue eyes leaped out of the forest and bit the red pterodactyl on the shoulder. Terrorsaur squawked in pain and released the Witwicky brothers from his grip. The human children took this chance to run back to the Maximals. Everyone watched the red Predacaon flew up in the air, trying to shake off the wolf. But the large canid kept a strong grip on the pterodactyl with its powerful jaws, gnawing on his wings. The fangs and claws dug deep into the leathery skin, exposing the wires and metal underneath. Terorsaur continued to squawk in pain and flap around before crashing into one of the trees. The wolf jumped off in time to land in front of the Maximals, growling and snarling at the remaining two Predacons. Its lips pulled back revealing long sharp fangs.

"That's a big wolf!" cried Evan.

"I don't think that's an ordinary wolf, little bro," said Ethan.

"You will not be harming anyone today, Predacons!" growled the wolf. "Wolfang, MAXIMIZE!"

The wolf's body bent and retracted to reveal blue and black armor underneath. Parts of the gray hide were repositioned into armor for the humanoid shape this figure took. The wolf was now a blue and black bot with a silver face and green optics. He equipped a high-tech crossbow in his right hand and a shield attached to his left forearm.

Without hesitation, Wolfang fired his crossbow at Waspinator and Scorponok, knocking them both down in the snow.

Evan jumped in the air and shouted, "Alright!"

The two Predacons stood back up.

"Predacons, retreat!" cried Scorponok.

They both changed to beast mode and Waspinator picked up Scorponok with his legs before flying away.

Terrorsaur finally woke up from his daze and shouted, "Wait for me!"

The red pterodactyl attempted to jump off the cliff and flap his wings, but they were too damaged by Wolfang's attack.

Terrorsaur screamed as he fell and slammed into a few rocks on the way down. "Aah!...Ooh!...Eek!...Aah!...Ow!"

He eventually hit the ground and got covered by a large pile of snow that fell from the mountain.

His muffled voice shouted, "I HATE THIS PLANET!"

The Witwicky boys laughed as the Maximals changed to beast mode. Everyone faced the gray wolf that stood in front of them.

Optimus waved saying, "Good to see you again, Wolfang. We didn't know if you made it."

The new Maximal, named Wolfang, spoke in a stern but gentle voice, "I apologize for the secrecy. When I awoke from my pod, I feared I was the only survivor from the Axalon. I tried to get my bearings on this strange planet when I saw all of you arrive on the mountain. I stayed hidden and observed to see if you were friends or enemies. When you transformed, I recognized you all back on the ship before I was put in stasis," said Wolfang.

"Well, we're just glad you came through. We can explain more back on the Axalon," said Optimus.

The wolf turned his attention to the Witwicky boys, staring at them curiously with a cocked head.

Nyx held a wing out towards the boys and said, "This is Ethan and Evan, they're friends."

"Nice to meet you," replied Ethan.

"You're almost as big as the wolves from that weird vampire series girls like," said Evan.

Wolfang cocked a brow in confusion saying, "Uh, thank you. As much as I enjoy the serenity of this mountain, it would be nice to sleep back in my quarters on the ship."

"Then let us return to Copper Wood. Airazor, can you help our new friend?" asked Optimus.

"Of course," said the falcon.

With their mission accomplished, the group began their flight back to the Axalon to debrief the newest Maximal of their current situation.

There you have it, readers. The newest member of the Maximals, Wolfang! I don't know why, but I've always pictured him to be voiced by Matt Mercer or Liam O'Brien. If you have any fancast suggestions for Wolfang, feel free to include them in your review. Next time, we will be following team 2 as they traverse the dense jungles of Brazil. As always, thank you so much for your patience, and have a Happy Easter!