(Hey, hey, hey everyone how's it been since I last updated a story, I apologize for how long I've been gone. I was feeling very uninspired after I barely received and votes on my poll if I was back in writing shape. While I was away I had to get to work out at a Gym to help keep myself healthy after Covid stress got to me physically. I also came up with a new way to help portray how the Transformations for Beast Wars is different after reviewing some episodes and how others type up the Activation Codes that the Maximals and Predacons use in the series which will be seen in this chapter.

This is my attempt at a halloween-like chapter for the month as it won't be like the others, if you are 7 or younger I suggest you do not read this chapter, especially if you are big fans of Pokemon as I am. Trust me this isn't for innocent eyes or true fans. But this is what I came up with after the previous vote involving which episode this chapter would've been based on and everyone who voted chose "The Web".

Before we get started I would like to tell you all about the ideas that popped into my head during my hiatus and the months it took me to finish this chapter. Many of them are challenges for you or a friend of yours who is a member on this site or AO3 to try, and everything under "Undetermined" or "Challenge" is yours to pick if you want to write. I'm available for advice if you wish to proceed as such. I am encouraging everyone, to write if you want to. Let me know in an PM after you find an idea that you want to write so I can share my thoughts with you on the story. They are all on my profile page and are awaiting you to look at them, please do so after you read the chapter and review it.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Pokémon or Beast Wars they are the properties of their respective owners.
The fox-like Maximal, Foxfire, is an OC Maximal made by Stone-Man85 in his "Beast Wars" story. Please look at his story if you get the chance.

"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Communications"
"COMPUTERIZED VOICES"

Please Read, Review, and Enjoy)

In the Predacon base, Megatron roared at how a simple retrieval mission became such a disaster, especially since the Boss of Team Rocket, Giovanni, accused him of getting several of his grunts arrested. How was he supposed to know that Optimus Primal and those other two natives were still functional inside that alien probe…? If only…

The leader of the Predacon crew paused as a thought occurred in his mind and smiled, "Yess… Of course. Why didn't I see it before?"

Soon his ship's computer spoke, "ATTENTION, ATTENTION, SHIP SENSORS DETECTED A PREDACON SIGNAL IN AREA G2-15 OF THE KALOS REIGON."

His chair moved to the appropriate console and spoke, "Identify."

An image appeared on the screen as Megatron's face split with a smile, a plan forming in his mind, "Perfect, Yess…"

Activating his Comm., he spoke into it, "Megatron to Ariadosus."

"Ariadosus here, what can I do for you Megatron?" his head scientist asked through the comms.

"I have a job for you, and you will do as follows." Megatron said, smirking, sure that he'd break up this alliance between Optimus Primal's Maximals and the human natives of this planet, in a way that would make his namesake proud.

Rhynox, with the help of Clemont getting certain supplies for him, was putting the finishing touches of a new communicator, one which would allow them to communicate through the Energon fields that seem to permeate the planet, especially when they want to keep other humans from discovering about them, the Energon, or even their war with the Predacons.

Optimus Primal was overlooking the comm. device as he said, "Good work, Rhynox. You and Clemont really outdid yourselves with this."

Clemont felt his face heating up at the praise. Rhynox, however, looked at it held in his large hand and said, uncertain, "Well, it still needs a field test."

"Test?" They turned and saw Cheattor come running in with Bonnie on his back as he jumped onto the holo-table, sliding to a halt before them. Bonnie was cheering through the whole thing. As she cheered, "That was so much fun!"

As Clemont went to retrieve his sister and lecture her for doing something dangerous while on Cheattor. The formerly mentioned Maximal asked, "I'm your bot, what you got?"

"Rhynox and Clemont cobbled together a new form of comm. link, piggybacking on the communication signals that seem to cover this planet with the trainers and the many different systems on this planet. It should solve our long-range communication problem considering how much Energon is on this planet." Optimus explained to the young Maximal.

"If it works." Rhynox said doubtful, "I still think we should try and channel our own frequencies through the signal towers around the planet."

"Well let's find out!" Cheator said as he swiped the disc like device from Rhynox and looked at it. When he tried to sniff it, it sparked in his face and commented, "Whoa, ultra-gear!"

Rhynox simply shook his head dubious of this. Clemont began to get nervous, "Please be careful Cheattor, it's very sensitive."

"Clemont's right Cheattor, it's a valuable piece of equipment and these two worked very hard on it. Take care of it." Optimus told the younger Maximal, who nodded, "Copy Big Bot."

He then asked, "What do I do?"

Taking the device in his hand, Optimus placed it on Cheattor's foreleg as a metal band extended outwards and connected with each other, magnetically fastening it on Cheattor's leg, "Like our onboard comms. links, the device is voice activated, just talk into it and we'll hear you."

"We hope…" Rhynox commented.

Which made Optimus say, "Just as Clemont pointed out, it's sensitive to anything that's not a vocal vibration."

"Got it." Cheattor nodded, not wanting to let Optimus down. Clemont saw a familiar look in Cheattor's eyes almost like the younger Maximal idolized Optimus, a reason that Clemont put his finger on it.

Optimus then sat down on a chair turning it to move him to the console as he began typing, "Head out of the base at Vector Omega and check-in at every ten micro-quads. We'll see how far we can keep track of you."

Without looking Optimus added, "If you see any Predacons, return to the base immediately. If you see any human trainers on their journey like Clemont and his friends, avoid all contact with them. Your Poké-mode may be common in this region, but that won't stop them trying to catch you. And we've seen by our friends' reactions when they thought we were Pokémon who could speak their language."

"Heh, I'll be moving too fast for anyone to see me!" Cheattor said, confidently, before going to the port side entry and it lowered until he jumped out and began his run.

Rhynox shook his head at how Cheattor was treating this while Clemont looked concerned as he held onto Bonnie who wanted to go with Cheattor. Seeing their expressions, Optimus chuckled and assured them, "He'll be all right."

Cheattor headed in the direction of what was known to the inhabitants of this world as "The Bad Lands". Since that incident with the alien probe, Rhynox had insisted that Ash and his friends remain on their base as he gave them a physical and made sure the probe didn't do anything to their molecular structures. The process of this was slow as Rhynox wanted to be thorough on making sure the human and his Pokémon teammates weren't altered in anyway.

Meanwhile
At the entrance of the Bad Lands Skorupinok was digging something out from a large pile of rocks. Upon seeing the rear part of the device, Skorupinok grabbed it and pulled, "Megatron will reward me for this."

Only to be met with resistance. He groaned, "IF I'll ever get it out of this scrapping rock!"

With it slipping out of his pincers he growled, "Blasted thing must've been fossilized with the rock bed… No wonder why no one could find it…"

Looking around to make sure he wasn't being watched, Skorupinok shouted, "Skorupinok: TERRORIZE!"

He transformed and aimed his arm at the rock, firing a missile.

While on his job for Optimus, Cheattor heard a sound. A familiar sound.

"Ah oh…" Cheattor said, hearing the definite sound of an explosion. It didn't not sound like one from a Pokémon Battle, more like a weapons fire explosion.

Speaking into the new device Cheattor spoke, "Cheattor to Optimus, do you read me?"

"Yes, and he's over five micro-quads away." Optimus said amazed at how clear the signal was despite how far young Maximal was from the base.

Looking at Rhynox and Clemont, he said, "It looks like it's working."

Rhynox, still not wanting to celebrate too early, countered, "So far."

"I just heard an explosion, and I don't think it's from a Pokémon battle. I'm gonna check it out. talk to you in a minute." Cheattor reported, making the four of them turn to the screen.

"Explosion!?" Clemont repeated, scared.

"No, wait! Cheattor! Don't!" Optimus tried to talk to him.

Rhynox then said, "He's moving again."

Sighing, Optimus said, "I'm going after him. If he calls back, tell him to get out of there, now!"

Optimus went and exited the base, while Rhynox took the seat as Clemont and Bonnie watch nervously, not sure what would happen, but hoping that Cheattor would be okay.

Back where Skorupinok was, he changed back and with his claws pulled the device, now seeing it as a piece of weaponry, and said, "Just as Megatron said it would be."

Cheattor, recognizing it, said to himself, "Uh oh. This is big trouble."

He then enttered the activation code, "Cheattor: MAXIMIZE; Stealth Mode."

Transforming to robot mode he got his blaster ready, but had to report what he found, "Cheattor to Optimus."

"Optimus' on his way." Rhynox answered, "he said you should get out of there."

"No can do, Baby Blue." Cheattor countered and followed up by saying, "Skorupinok found a Mega-Cannon. It must've fallen off their ship before we crash landed here centuries ago. And what's worse it still looks like it came off the assembly line."

"What?! How's that possible? It should've rusted after that time." Clemont explained, worried what that cannon could do.

"Don't know specks, but I gotta stop him before he gets it back to his base. Cheattor Out."

"No! Wait-" Clemont cried but was cut off as the signal stopped.

Cheattor then got to position for his ambush, watching as Skorupinok was approaching the cannon's onboard readout.

Seeing the results made Skorupinok smile, "Still operational, even after all these years. Megatron will be greatly pleased by this."

"And you'll be smelted if you don't stay where you are Clampful."

Looking backwards, the Predacon saw that it was the Liepard Maximal, Cheattor. He was pointing his weapon at him ready to fire.

The thought of the blaster hitting the cannon and causing an explosion that would terminate him made him click his pincers, nervously.

"That clicking's making me twitch, and there's a full charge in this beauty." Cheattor told the poison-type, getting his blaster ready to emphasize that it was fully charged as the young maximal said it was. Cheattor grinned smugly at his accomplishment today, he stopped Skorupinok without any help, even from Optimus.

Skorupinok tried to move to the cannon, but Cheattor stopped him, "Ah, ah. Step away from the Big Boomer, Stung-ugly."

Skorupinok had no choice but to do as he was told holding his pincers up in surrender. Seeing his chance, Cheattor spoke into the device, "Cheattor to base, I got it in hand. Tell Optimus to home in on my coordinates."

But he got static. Confused, Cheattor repeated, "Cheattor to base, come in Rhynox. Clemont can you hear me?"

He still got static, "What's with this thing?"

Unbeknownst to him, a pair of long, arachnid-like, legs coming over from the pillar of rock. Skorupinok noticed, attempting to move into position.

He was stopped by Cheattor again, "Ah, ah, ah. You're making me twitch again."

"And I'll be sure to make you scream."

That sickening, psycho like voice said spooking Cheattor until he saw the cackling form of Ariadosus from the rock pillar behind him.

Jumping, Cheattor began blasting at Ariadosus, but the spider-like Predacon moved out of the way.

Seeing his chance as the maximal had lowered his guard, Skorupinok shouted, "Skorupinok: TERRORIZE!"

He Transformed and before Cheattor could get a shot in, blasted the kid Maximal with a missile.

Seeing the maximal hit, Skorupinok cheered himself, "WHOO! I DID IT!"

"Instead of congratulating yourself for what you did, you should get that cannon back to base while you can. Optimus Primal is coming!"

Hearing the voice of the scientist of the group Skorupinok looked around for the source, but it seemed like Ariadosus has disappeared. So, he shouted, "Don't give ME orders, I'm the one who's Second in Command! You take the cannon back while I deal with Optimus! Got it!"

Only to get no reply except his own echo, "Ariadosus? ARIADOSUS!?"

And no reply, instead he heard Optimus Primal flying his way. Without backup, he'd might as well be asking for a Thunder attack from that electric rodent of the trainer that both Optimus and Cheattor are close to. So, he went and pulled the cannon away as far as possible before activating the recall function to get himself back to the Predacon base.

Up above Optimus was visually looking for Cheattor. Only when he thought he was close he tried the comms., "Optimus to Cheattor. Cheattor?"

Optimus only heard static as he stopped and sighed, "His signal stopped, it's most likely Energon interference. Better use scan mode to be sure."

And he did so that he could see and detect better. Soon his systems picked up on Cheattor's signal and the onboard computer spoke back to Optimus, "TARGET: LOCATED. LOCKING ONTO UNIT COORDINATES."

Seeing how it was stationary, Optimus feared the worse and flew faster.

By the time he landed, the Maximal leader looked until he found who he was looking for, "Cheattor!"

Cheattor was laying there, very damaged, with a missile sized hole on his chest plate, his optics dimming. Seeing this Optimus cried out, "NO!"

Cheattor had the dream of the city on Cybertron, where the Megatron, Buzzinator, and were standing on a platform growling. Cheattor sat on the ledge of a building as he was lounging about. They opened fired on him but missed every time. Cheattor got his weapon and fired. Cheattor simply fired back at the Predacons, sending Terrorsaur and Buzzinator flying. The resulting explosion caused Megatron to fall and picked himself up weakly.

"Now it's just you and me, Mega-jerk." Cheattor said to which Megatron roared in fury. After Cheattor fired, Megatron's head flew and hit the wall, causing a few of his metal teeth to fall out before it slid down.

Cheattor shook his head as he commented, "They'll never learn."

"And when will you learn?!"

Cheattor jumped as he saw from a dark crevasse the glowing eyes of Ariadosus as they gave his signature laugh. Cheattor tried to fire back at the Predacon, only for that the predacon was unharmed.

"Skorupinok: TERRORIZE!" Skorupinok transformed, causing Cheattor to take steps back looking around.

One side he saw Ratitrap jumping up with a blade.

Cheattor looked as Skorupinok fired a missile at him. When he turned Cheattor saw A web holding Ash as both Ash and Pikachu struggled to get out, only to be tossed into what seems to be a web before it was taken in by the mouth made from shadows. The last thing that the young Maximal saw was Ash's expression of someone who was betrayed by them even as the missile came closer and Skorupinok's laughter was heard.

Cheattor woke up screaming, only to be pushed back by Rhynox who finished his repairs and said, "There, good as new."

Ratitrap came up from behind Rhynox's shoulder and, rubbing his claw into his ear, complained, "And twice as loud, ow…"

Cheattor turned his head and saw everyone there waiting and watching; they were concerned by what had happened, but Cheattor's recovery made them all happy, especially Foxfire and Ash.

"Cheattor, you're okay!" Cheattor was hugged by Bonnie who said, still tearing up.

"I was so scared that something had happened to you." Foxfire added smiling as well.

He also saw how Optimus, though relieved Cheattor was okay, not happy about what happened with the Predacons.

Seeing the angry look on his leader's face, Cheattor spoke, "H-hey Big Bot. What happened?"

"You took a Predacon missile to the chest plate, that's what happened. Almost punctured yer spark chamber." Ratitrap told him munching on an apple, "Guess you weren't as fast as ya thought huh kiddo?"

Ash's gang glared at Ratitrap's callous remark especially since Cheattor had been seriously hurt.

"And you got my comm link trashed!" Rhynox added, the harshness of his words made the kids' glares turn into those of worry.

Cheattor however said, "Well… at least I proved it worked, right?"

Optimus, wanting to know what exactly happened, kept his anger down said, "When you last called the base, Rhynox and Clemont said you mentioned something about a mega-cannon?"

Cheattor's optics widened as he said, turning to Optimus, "That's right, it must've blown off their ship before they crash landed here in pre-historic times. Skorupinok was digging it out, Predacon-excavation style, so I catted in and got the drop on him."

"But weren't you gotten the drop on as well?" Foxfire asked, confused.

"Ariadosus was there too. I turned for a moment to take him down-" Cheattor explained.

Optimus interrupted and said, "Skorupinok capitalized on your mistake!"

Looking down ashamed, Cheattor said, "Yeah…"

"Rhynox and Clemont worked on that for days and it wasn't easy for them to make a device that woouldn't alert the humans on this planet to our presence!" Optimus snapped, glaring disappointedly at Cheattor as he added, "They don't have the necessary components to make another one!"

"But Optimus, the device was just a proto-type, so we could find some more around and build a better model of it." Clemont said, trying to take some of the heat off Cheattor. However, Optimus wasn't listening, "No, Clemont he must be told this. He cost us an immediate advantage."

"But I couldn't let him get away with the cannon!" Cheattor protested.

A snort was heard from Ratitrap and said, sarcastically, "Oh, yeah, you did a great job on that one kid."

"Hey at least he tried to stop them! Unlike a certain rat." Cotton-Bun shot at Ratitrap. Who glared back at the youngest of the Maximals.

Cheattor, getting angry shifted into his Poké mode and growled, scaring the kids, "Back off rat face! Or I'm having overgrown Raticate on a stick!"

Before he could pounce, Optimus grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, forcing the younger Maximal to face him and ordered, "YOU back off, NOW!"

The sharpness in Optimus Primal's tone got the kids scared and nervous. It was enough to get Cheattor out of his anger and tried to apologize, "Sorry Optimus… I…"

"Sorry isn't enough!" Optimus shouted, telling him, "We're in a war for our survival and you treat it like its either a Pokémon Battle or a game."

His expression hardened again and added, "If you had followed orders instead of trying to show off like a Fur-frou then all of this could've been avoided!"

"Optimus don't you think you're being too hard on him?" Ash asked, looking at the Slaking.

Optimus however said, "Maybe, but it's the only way he'll learn to take this more carefully. Unlike the battles you have with Team Rocket and any other Criminal organization, the Predacons play for keeps."

"But aren't you robots? I mean if you're damaged or deactivated, can't you still be repaired?" Ash asked, still confused for all the caution.

Rhynox shook his head while Ratitrap huffed, Foxfire gasped, and Cotton-Buns hissed, "Not Cool Ash!"

Pikachu shook his head as well at Ash's remark.

Ash was confused and asked, looking around, "What? What did I say?"

Clemont turned to his friends and said, "It's not that simple Ash, the Maximals may be robotic in their appearance, but they are more like us on the inside than you think. They can actually feel emotions and pain like how and I can, like the Pokémon can."

"Robots that feel pain?" Bonnie asked, confused.

"Robots with emotions." Serena repeated, shocked.

"Robots who could…" Ash stopped himself from finishing his sentence, He had already seen something like that happen once with Celebi, and how Tree of Life almost got destroyed and the Pokémon within that other time too… The other humans and Pokémon remained silent before Ash turned to Optimus and said, feeling very guilty, "Optimus I'm so…"

"No, Ash." Optimus assured the boy, placing a hand on his shoulder, "I should've explained in better detail for you to understand about our species more."

He then had an idea and told them, "You kids can think of us as like the Steel/Electric type Pokémon that exist on your planet. Our bodies may be made of metal but we're full of life."

He turned to Rhynox and said, "As for our other problem: I'm gonna call Kabubot back from patrol, we're gonna need his knowledge of the Predacon Base's location if we're gonna have a chance against the mega-cannon."

Optimus turned and walked away, going to the ship's bridge. Cheattor, wanting to make it up to his leader, "I can get inside their base, let me do it for you, Optimus."

Turning back on Cheattor, he finished the argument with a disappointing tone, "You've already done more than enough…"

The door slid shut as Optimus left the room. Rhynox sighed, "I better come up with a plan. If I know Optimus, he'll want to move fast."

"Yeah, with me in front." Ratitrap complained, "No danks partna; the kid got us into this hot oil, let him go Pred HQ."

"At least I'm not afraid to do it." Cheattor snapped, glaring at Ratitrap.

"Cheattor's right, we're not some mangy old bot who cares about his own hide!" Cotton-Buns added, glaring at Ratitrap again.

"You know, that's the problem with you younger bots, you don't have any sense to BE afraid!"

Foxfire tried to play peacemaker and said, "Friends we must stop with the mean talking, we are all on the same side if we want to protect this world from the Predacon's evil."

"Don't know what yer telling yerself she-fox, but we're not here to protect this planet." Ratitrap told Foxfire, surprising the human kids, "We're only here to get energon, beat de Preds, recova our pals, and go home."

He then said something that really rubbed the Pokémon World's humans, and the other Maximals in the room, the wrong way, "So, what if dem Pokémon get hurt because of our war? No skin off my nose. Besides all dem species look the same, doubt anyone's gonna tell de difference."

Ash glared at Ratitrap, Serena and Bonnie were horrified by what Ratitrap said, Clemont looked disappointedly at the Raticate Maximal. Ratitrap noticed, but before could say anything, he bitten on the tail by Dedenne! Jumping high into the air, Ratitrap screamed, shaking his tail, "Get it off! Get it off!"

With one flick of his tail, Dedenne was sent flying, but was caught by Rhynox who carefully handed Dedenne back to Bonnie. Bonnie happy to see that Dedenne was okay, turned to Ratitrap and shouted, "Serve you right, you big jerk!"

She then went running as did Cheattor who wanted to prove that he could fix this and also that what Ratitrap said weren't how all the Maximals felt. Ash said, "You shouldn't say that about the Pokémon. They're amazing and the best friend a trainer could ask for."

Ash then went after Cheattor to make sure he would not do anything to endanger himself now that he realized how wrong he was about the Maximals and Predacons being just robots like Clembot.

Clemont, Serena, Cotton-Buns were following Bonnie to calm her down after what happened. Rhynox looked back at Ratitrap and shook his head disapprovingly. Ratitrap, who was trying fix his tail, asked, "What?"

"You know you shouldn't have done that or said any of those things to the kids." Rhynox said narrowing his eyes at his smaller friend.

"Aw, dey're just grindin' deir gears! Dere's no way spots will disobey de Great Optimus." Ratitrap said, before adding, "Besides… dis is de only way fer dose kids te not get involved anymore dan dey should've."

Ratitrap's words surprised Foxfire. Did Ratitrap just say those things to keep the human trainers from getting involved in their war with the Predacons?

Ratitrap turned and saw Rhynox's eyes narrow before he sighed, "Fine! Fine… I'll go talk to them… If I can catch dem dat is…"

He then crawled away, grumbling to himself while Rhynox watched him and smiled.

While looking for Cheattor, Ash and Pikachu had left the base, thinking he was going to run all the way to the continent where the Kanto and Johto regions were.

"Cheattor!" Ash called looking around as he was able to leave the base without Optimus and Kabubot noticing, though it seems like the talk was getting very heated between them, in a bad way.

Pikachu scurried over while Ash called again, "Cheattor!"

"Cheattor Come on buddy!" Ash called a third time, with Pikachu on his shoulder. Unfortunately, because of their looking for their friend, they had not noticed the danger coming for them. Ash and Pikachu turned around just in time with shocked faces. They remembered only the familiar sickening laughter of a certain spider-like Predacon.

Ash groaned as he looked around, his vision blurry, "Where… am I?"

Only to see the sight of him being an underground lab with various devices around. He saw what looked like flashlights with legs climbing about before seeing the shape of the very Predacon that abducted him.

"Welcome, human, to my lair." Ariadosus cackled, climbing over a rocky column closer to Ash in his Poké mode.

Ash narrowed his eyes as he said, "You're that Predacon who reprogrammed those proto-forms into Predacons! Aridukus!"

Ariadosus anime flopped before getting back up and hissed, "That's Ariadosus. And I'd watch my tone if I were you boy or your assortment of pets will get it."Ariadosus said.

He moved out of the way to show Pikachu laying on what appeared to be a makeshift examination table with five other Pokéballs next to him.

"Pikachu!" Ash cried out struggling against the web.

Anticipating this, Ariadosus pressed a button and Ash felt himself gasping as the life seemed to be drained from him, Ariadosus explained, "You're in a stasis web, kid. It drains the energy while leaving the body unspoiled."

He rubbed has pinchers together as he spoke, "At its current setting the process will take but a few moments."

However, the arachnid Predacon reset the machine and Ash felt the pain stop, "However, this setting is more rewarding for me for it leaves the vital fluids in the body pristine. As I found out from… previous prey before I fed."

He cackled while Ash realized what he was talking about and felt his body freeze. Ariadosus… did this to someone else? But that meant…

Ash yelled and struggled harder, "YOU MONSTER! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!?"

"I do it more than the act, similarly to the arachnid species from Earth, than actual nourishment." Ariadosus said before sneering, "Besides the fact that every Pokémon species in this weird planet eats those flora produce as a bit hard to explain as this species and others are carnivore based and not herbivore."

Ash continued to watch before Ariadosus climbed up, "Besides when I'm done with you and your pet rat, I feast…"

Ash's felt terror worse than anything that Darkrai could have created back in the Sinnoh region or even in his whole life. Ariadosus cackled before going into a full-blown laughter.

Ratitrap came out of the room that he found the kids in, but… they didn't completely accept his apology (especially Bonnie and Serena) which led him to backtrack the way he came to keep from Dedenne trying to bite his tail again. He then groaned, "Oh boy… reminds me why never to be a dad…"

He then made his way out of the ship, escaping the attention of Optimus and Kabubot who seemed to beg getting into an argument about what to do about the Mega-cannon.

When he got outside he sniffed around, "Now den.. Where's does kids and dat Pikachu…"

He began looking around, keeping a low profile incase more humans made it close to the base. Luckily the ship was made to look hidden in plain sight, especially after how long they had been on this planet. When he signed on this ship, he wanted to be an explorer, like one of them old earth series "Star Trek"; then he found himself trapped on a weird planet taking on the form of a rodent and trying to play nice with kids who seemed too young to be taking part in a journey with all the Pokémon…

"Man… this planet is really weird…" Ratitrap complained, not understanding why that one kid with the electric mouse cared so much about the Pokémon when the humans on Earth seemed to care about the one pet they had. He was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a voice speak behind him.

"Hey, rat-face."

Ratitrap yelled jumping before turning to find Cheattor there and groaned, "DON'T YOU EVER Do DAT AGAIN!"

Cheattor however asked, "Have you seen Ash and Pikachu?"

"Thought dey'd be tryin te talk ya outta storm'n de Pred Base." Ratitrap said, confused.

"I was halfway to Luminos City when I figured out, I had no idea where their base is on the Johto/Kanto Continent or where it is since I sort of ignored the map of the planet they showed." Cheattor explained.

"Well, if he's not with you... and he's not on de ship with his friends den..." Ratitrap stopped, hopping he was wrong. But he began searching for both Ash and Pikachu. After some time of sniffing, they found the scents and followed then. Ratitrap and Cheattor were able to go to the location where it looked like Ash and Pikachu were, following the scents of both Ash and Pikachu until they discovered that the scents vanished which meant…

Gasping Cheattor looked at Ratitrap while the Raticate groaned, "Ooh No…"

"We gotta/need to tell/save Optimus/Ash!" Both exclaimed running back to the base as they realized who had swiped Ash and Pikachu.

But both looked confused before coming to a decision and nodding, "Save Ash."

The two hurried to the teleporter to use the coordinates of where Kabubot said the Predacon ship were.

Ariadosus spoke to himself while using scanning equipment to scan Pikachu who was still out before scanning each one of the boy's Poké Balls.

After seeing the results Ariadosus remarked, "Fascinating…"

"What are you doing with my friends?" Ash demanded as he hung there on the web.

Ariadosus briefly looked back and decided to indulge the boy's questions since he doubts the boy or his Pokémon would be around for much longer, "I'm conducting research, that may explain about the strangeness of these Pokémon species that you humans of this planet seem to center your lives around. Especially since they seem to disappear after they expire. I suppose that is why the modern-day carnivores decided to delude themselves to eat those berries you talk about… Disgusting. I find my method of feasting much more pleasurable, especially to me."

"You're crazy!" Ash said before remembering what Optimus said about how the Predacons were created so badly because of how their ancestors instigated the Great War between Autobots and Decepticons, "Look. I'm sorry about what happened with how the Maximals are treating your people but if you can just talk it out. Then…"

Ariadosus began to laugh before rolling on his back and cackling, legs on his stomach. Ariadosus blurted out between laughs, "Stop it… you're killing me!"

"What's so funny?!" Ash shouted not understanding what's so funny.

Ariadosus stopped laughing and pointed at the boy, "You are kid. You think I'm this way because of the treatment the Maximals done to Predacons?"

The silence of the human boy made Predacon Ariados laugh again before revealing, "I'm like because I want to be. Not some sort of traumatic event or reprogramming. I was literally created to be this way. To show no mercy to anything, to experiment how I want, just as long as I am able to cause mayhem and pain."

He then stopped and got back on his legs and scurryed over to Pikachu, "Speaking of which; I plan to do some… exploratory surgery on this electric rodent and find out what makes it tick. How an organic creature like this can store so much electrical energy in such a small body without any cybernetic enhancements."

"But you can get that from anywhere. Even the Pokémon Center." Ash said, trying to keep his partner safe for as long as possible. Hoping that the Maximals would find him and Pikachu before this crazy Predacon did anything to either of them.

"Oh, I know…" Ariadosus smirked as he explained, "I just feel a… "hands on" approach is more appropriate to conduct true scientific research, don't you?"

That made Ash furious as he struggled against the web with even more energy. Ariadosus narrowed his optics at how lively the boy was despite the progress of the Stasis Web, and remarked, "You have a strong will, for a human. Perhaps you and your electric rat can be the subject of my new experiment involving this… Mega-Evolution that seems to be quite popular in this region."

"I'll never help you with anything if it involves hurting Pokémon!" Ash retorted, glaring at Ariadosus.

Ariadosus smirked and said, "I was hoping you'd say that brat."

Ash felt fear grip his heart when he heard that.

When they arrived Cheattor shook his fur and said, looking at their surroundings, "Whoa… just like Kabubot said it'd be."

"Even more den dat Putty-tat. Ah got dere scent again." Ratitrap said as he kept sniffing before stopping at a rock.

"Dead end…" Cheattor lamented, angry, but saddened.

Ratitrap felt the rock and assured the kid, "Don't dink like dat yet kid, because."

He pushed and the rock moved to reveal a passage going downwards, "Dat spider's not as clever as he dought he was."

Hearing that, Cheattor smiled as he went in after Ratitrap, closer to rescuing the boy and the pokemon.

Seeing the shape of Ash becoming dimmer, Ariadosus smiled rubbing his mandibles together, "In a few more minutes it'll be ready to eat."

"Ya know, yer one sick Ariados, Four-legs."

"Tell me about it, he needs a maintenance bot, badly."

Ariadosus turned to see both Cheattor and Ratitrap there. Ash looked up and saw Cheattor and Ratitrap standing there, happy to see them.

Yelling in annoyance, Ariadosus screamed, "The Rat and The Cat!"

Ratitrap chuckled, "Ya got it! Now how about you let our buddy go?"

"Yeah what he said bug eyes!" Cheattor shot as well snarling.

Ash was surprised that Ratitrap had called him 'buddy' after what happened, but glad all the same.

"Ariadosus: TERRORIZE!" The Predacon scientist screamed before he transformed into robot mode.

"Ratitrap: MAXIMIZE!"

"Cheattor: MAXIMIZE!"

Both Maximals transformed, just as Ariadosus pulled out his weapon, his missile pistol (AN: I know it might not be the official name of his weapon, but it's accurate and rhymes) and fired a missile at the two. Seeing this the two Maximals jumped out of the way.

Ratitrap pulled out his own blaster and began firing back at Ariadosus. While taking a break from shooting, he looked over at Cheattor who was about to help him before signaling to him to hold it and then pointing over at their captive friends. Getting the signal, and realized how Ash and Pikachu were his best friends, Cheattor nodded sneaking around as the minute Maximal kept shooting at Ariadosus.

"The Maximals are gonna get you now, Web-brain!" Ash shouted. This made the insane spider turn aiming his weapon at Ash's face with a cruel chuckle before pressing the button to make the device drain his energy faster.

"You really think they care about you or your pets, brat?" Ariadosus asked, before sneering, "You're a liability to them, especially since you think they even remotely care about those Pokémon you care so much about. When I finish them, I'll let you watch as I continue with my dissection of Pikachu. Especially since it's just those two annoyances. If the Maximals really cared, you'd see all of them here, not just a rat with inferiority complex and a kid who wants to prove himself."

With his taunting done, Ariadosus turned and commanded, "Thermo-scan."

The onboard computer lowered a futuristic binocular over his visor as he went searching for his enemies.

Cheattor, sneaking along made his way over to the Pokemon and got Ash's Poké Balls and Pokédex. Hearing him, Pikachu turned and exclaimed happily at seeing his friend. Ariadosus heard that and turned to his other captive, only to see the Pikachu and went back to looking for his enemies.

Cheattor came back up and whispered, "Easy, Pikachu, don't want to warn crazy legs there."

Knowing that Cheattor was right, Pikachu nodded and pretended to lay motionless before seeing Ash. Cheattor noticed and said, "Don't worry, little-bud, we're not leaving until we get him and you outta here."

Ariadosus kept looking for his prey but turned as he thought he saw the kid cat near the electric Rodent, however, he had to deal with the more annoying Rodent maximal.

Ratitrap hid behind a large part of the Stalagmite and thought of how to deal with the sick spider who was using thermal vision to track him. Getting an idea his forearm opened up and a black box came out. Smirking Ratitrap knew he had to work fast, grabbed the box, and ran across Ariadosus' vision.

After getting to the ideal hiding spot, Ratitrap took deep breathes while pressing the button on the box which seemed to mimic his heavy breathing. Smirking that his trap was set, Ratitrap redrew his pistol as he got ready to spring it.

Ariadosus continued to make his way, cautiously looking for signs of his enemies' thermal signatures before spotting one hiding behind the largest stalagmite that could've been mistaken for a Flowstone. Sneaking along Ariadosus had his weapon prepare another missile and then jumped, only to find that Ratitrap hadn't moved. Raising the thermal scan away, the predacon saw that he had been tricked with a Heat Box.

Hearing a click behind him, the Ariados Predacon noticed Ratitrap smirk and remarked, smugly, wagging his finger in a mock disappointment, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Fell fer de old Hotbox."

Ariadosus turned as the air tensed, before he tried to fire his missile pistol, only for Ratitrap to duck and blast Ariadosus' leg off. When the predacon scientist fell on his back the impact made him accidently fire his missile up at the ceiling of his lair, causing it to come down on him. Ratitrap soon raced over to see how Cheattor was doing as well as Ash. Skidding to a halt before the device, Ratitrap said, not caring if Ash could hear him or not, "Hang on, kiddo…"

And began to press buttons, looking for the one to free the boy.

The Predacon Computer, however responded, with a message, "UNABLE TO RESPOND. INCORRECT ENERGY SIGNATURE: UNABLE TO RESPOND."

Ratitrap got scared as he looked to see Ash being drained of more of his energy, resulting in him gasping and wheezing. Cheattor came over with everything of Ash's, Pikachu, Pokédex, and the Pokéballs, as he saw Ratitrap thrashing the device to get it to stop, only for the computer to repeat its message.

Cheattor, growling, handed Pikachu to Ratitrap and shouted, aiming his Quasar Cannon at the device, "I got your signature, right here!"

And fired his weapon at the computer, resulting in Ratitrap laughing, "Nice work kid, couldn't done it better myself."

The two Maximals turned and saw Ash's breathing and energy returning, albeit slowly, but he was out of danger. Ratitrap pulled out a blade and said, "Now te get 'im home."

Ash weakly opened his eyes as he saw Ratitrap jump up with a blade and cut the web, freeing the child, and allowing Ash to fall into the arms of Cheattor. A small piece of the web still stuck to Ash's leg.

"Don't worry, Ash. We'll make like rock types and roll outta here." Cheattor said, as the two Maximals left, leaving nothing, or anyone, behind. When they got away some feet from the web, they heard a groan.

"Game over, pests…"

The turned and saw Ariadosus, standing on one leg somehow, there aiming his missile pistol at them, leaning on his device for extra support as he wobbled a little.

"Give my regards to the inferno!" Ariadosus practically screamed as he fired his missile at them. Time seemed to have slowed down as the missile approached. Pikachu, seeing where it was heading went and jumped out of Ratitrap's arms as he was in the path of the oncoming missile and let out a thunder shock that cause the missile to explode in mid-air, causing Pikachu to be hit by the full force of the explosion. Pikachu was sent flying when Ratitrap caught him.

"PIKACHU!" Ash cried out seeing the state his partner was in after Ariadosus' last attack.

Seeing Pikachu lying there motionless in Ratitrap's arms, Ash cried out, struggling in Cheattor's arms, "NOOOOOOOOOO!"

As he did, the device that was connected to the remains of the web began to beep in an alert as something was overriding the setting as his body began to glow a light blue color. The screen showed an overload of energy that was coming from Ash.

"What in de name of…" Ratitrap question, brow raised.

"Whoa…" Cheattor breathed, eyes wide.

"Oh my…" Ariadosus said, closest to the machine before it exploded, taking out the arm he was using to steady himself and sent him flying with a scream. The resulting explosion caused a cave-in that forced the Maximals to leave quickly or be a part of the excavation themselves.

With the Predacon out of the way, they got out of there, climbing up with one arm and both legs as they went to the hatch.

After the cave-in ended Ariadosus pulled his head out of the rubble and groaned, "I hate those pests…"

A rock hit his head, knocking him out. Followed by a larger rock that covered his head again.

When our heroes returned to the Maximal base, Ratitrap and Cheattor rose up in the ship's hatch to the bridge where the others noticed them. Serena gasped, putting her hands to her mouth when she saw Ash in Cheattor's arms. Bonnie hurried to Pikachu who was being held by Ratitrap.

Optimus stared before asking, "What happened?"

Ratitrap and Cheattor explained what happened while Rhynox used the system to help scan Pikachu and check on the damages done to the little fella by Ariadosus.

Ash's bangs covered his eyes as Serena and Clemont helped him to sit down on the chair. Optimus approached and spoke, "Ash? I am so sorry you had to witness the cruelty of a Predacon like Ariadosus…"

"Wh-why…why are they like this…" Ash asked, unable to understand why there are people even on other planets that want to act so evil. Especially doing something so cruel to the Pokémon. Rhynox, as he was beginning to use the medical techniques that the humans in the Pokémon world used to restore the energy and health of the Pokémon.

Optimus sighs, "One of the greatest questions in the universe is why there is still evil in it…"

"It just makes no sense…we could all be friends. There's no need for any of this." Ash said, the memories of what the mad Predacon scientist had almost done to Pikachu.

Ratitrap scoffed, "It's like Ah said… the Peds don't give slag about anything but wanting to turn us into itty bitty pieces. Guess it'd make sense why a kid wouldn't understand why we need to blast 'em all to dust and get back to Cybertron with all our pals and all the Energon we can find. Who cares if they experiment on a few Pokémon, not like you guys could tell the difference anyway. Besides, if ya weren't such a liability then dis could've been avoided."

"RATITRAP!" Optimus snapped, causing the small Maximal to grumble. No one noticed Ash's eyes widening in shock at the words. Could Ratitrap's words be how all the Maximals truly felt? He then recalled what Ariadosus said and that made the boy go quiet.

Kabubot growled, though it did sting that Maximals like Ratitrap thought that all Predacons were like the scum from Megatron's crew. Before anything could happen, Ash stood up.

"I believed that you all would be able to protect us, but you let them get us and what's worse, they almost dissected Pikachu! And who knows just how many other Pokémon they did those things to before they caught us…" Ash said, anger and hurt filling him as he glared at the Maximals.

Getting up, Ash grabbed Pikachu from Rhynox's machine before it was completed and huffed, "Let's go, guys. We need to get away from these robots as soon as possible before they try to do something horrible to us."

The Maximals, mostly Cheattor and Foxfire, were horrified by this demand as the teenagers of the group approached the humans.

Ash turned, his glare stopping them in their steps, "Stay away from us!"

"But Ash… We're not…" Cheattor tried to explain, the sheer sound of his friend's voice made everyone worry about Ash.

"Yes, you are!" Ash shouted at Cheattor, making the younger bot freeze up. As he saw the same expression that Ash had in his dream when Rhynox was repairing him.

"YOU are exactly like the Predacons, waging your war and mining for Energon is all you want! You don't care about us, our planet, or the Pokémon! YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING BUT YOUR DUMB WAR!" Ash accused, getting very angry at the Maximals. Rhynox tried to approach but stopped when he saw the anger in the boy's eyes. Serena and Bonnie, however, were terrified by the anger in Ash's voice. Clemont, though he was concerned for Bonnie's safety, was more scared of Ash's accusations of their new friends.

Optimus sighed as he looked over to his old friend, "Rhynox, prepare to activate the gate…"

Ash however interrupted, "Don't bother. We're perfectly capable of leaving your ship without any more of your so-called help."

Optimus closed his eyes, afraid that this would happen, afraid of when he would fail… Cotton Buns, Rhynox lowered their eyes, sad about their friends heading for the lift, Kabubot remained stoic, briefly glaring at Ratitrap who just crossed his arms and looked away. When no one was watching Ratitrap's hard gaze had softened. Foxfire shared one last sad glance with Serena before the lift took them out of sight of the Maximals within. Absoltron gently patted Cheattor's shoulder sympathetically for the younger Maximals pain.

After they left, Ash led them away from the Maximal Base, his face hardened by betrayal and anger towards Courmarine City to have Nurse Joy examine Pikachu and the other Pokémon properly to make sure they were all safe before they continue on their way. The other trainers weren't so sure about Ash's accusations… Even as he left with Pikachu in hands. They knew how scary the Predacons were… but this sudden and unbridled anger that someone like Ash was showing… that scared them the most.

(So yeah that happened... Turns out that was the plan that Megatron came up with, especially to keep the alliance between the Autobot descendants and humans from defeating him as such an alliance did his namesake, Megatron: Leader of the Decepticons.

Please forgive me but I also had a feeling that Ash thought he could try and convince the Predacons to stop the war, but Ariadosus was the one of the worst so that might be able to convince Ash that many of the Predacons might not want to listen so early in the Poké Wars. Please let me know what you thought in a review and please understand I did warn people before I began writing this chapter, hence why it took so long to write it...

Ash and his friends have left on less than better terms with the Maximals, especially as it seemed that Megatron's aparrent plan to break their alliance has suceeded after all... And what was that mysterious power that Ash showed in Ariadosus' lair? Was it the power of his Aura? Or something else? Will our heroes be able to reconcile before the Predacon's next attack? Stay Tuned, as the Journey Continues.)