(The Spirit of Radio by RUSH plays)

Me: Hey, what's happening everybody? It's WOLFWATCHER12 here along with The Amazing Ghost Musician, who has brought my OC Alexis Ryokaze/Kamen Rider Lycanna with him. I take it your time alone was good?

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Oh Hell Yeah, my broski! You wouldn't believe how wicked Alexis is in the sack.

Alexis: I do what I can to impress. (she winked at The Amazing Ghost Musician.)

Me: Heh, well, in any event. It seems we're honoring another famous person who passed away. The one in question is…The Bad Guy Razor Ramon himself, Scott Hall.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Yeah dude, we lost another great wrestling legend and one of the best Heels in wrestling history. But he's not the only person we've lost this month.

Alexis: This is not good.

Me: No it's not. Who's the other one?

The Amazing Ghost Musician: William Hurt, do you remember him?

Alexis: He passed away around the same time as Scott Hall.

Me: Now I remember, he was General Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, that damned maverick who had been hunting the Hulk down like a rabid dog. Looks like they're gonna have to find someone new to take his place.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Even though I wasn't much of a fan of William Hurt, nor did I know him as much, his legacy left a good name in the movie and TV business.

Alexis: So before we start the story, we should honor the memories of both Scott Hall and William Hurt. Wolf, do you wanna do the honors?

Me: Sure thing.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: We know this is late, but please join us in hands as we ring the bell 5 times to honor the memories of Scott Hall and William Hurt.

Alexis: Yes.

The three of them joined together, held hands and the bell sounded.

In Loving Memories Of…
Scott Oliver Hall
October 20, 1958 - March 14, 2022
And
William McChord Hurt
March 20, 1950 - March 13, 2022

Me: You guys will be missed.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: But your memories will live on forever in our hearts and our minds.

Alexis: Rest in Peace!

Me: So that does it for the memorial, let's explain the plot for this chapter. Megatron and the Predacons have a dysfunctional argument over an Energon Crystal and then an explosion happens and the Maximals and Crystal Gems believe that the Predacons have perished.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: However, Garnet senses that something might be wrong, and the Predacons are hiding somewhere, possibly setting up a trap.

Alexis: So, they head into the empty Predacon base and salvage the parts to repair their ship, believing that they won the Beast Wars and can go to Cybertron.

Me: Exactly! Also, The Crystal Gems will be heading to Cybertron with the Maximals, as they plan to install a warp pad on Cybertron.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Although as pleased as they are, Dinobot is the only one of the Maximals who won't return to Cybertron. But that's not all, Dinobot isn't gonna remain with Steven Universe and the Crystal Gems, as he attempts to help the people and gems of planet Earth in his own way with honor.

Alexis: Hoo boy. However, I take it the Predacons are still out there, right boys?

Me: Yes, and not only that, but also once they get wind of the Maximals stripping parts from their base, they retaliate and Dinobot races to tell the others. But….

The Amazing Ghost Musician: It's an ambush/sneak attack that the Maximals nor the Crystal Gems will see coming at all. Fortunately, Dinobot ends up finding out about their plan, and he accidentally finds the Predacons hiding spot and wrecking their plan.

Alexis: Whoa! Well, we don't want to keep the readers waiting.

Me: Quite right! So, shall we get started?

The Amazing Ghost Musician: We shall indeed, so sit back, relax and start reading the story.

Alexis: Hope you like it!

All Three: ENJOY!

Disclaimer: We do not own Steven Universe or Beast Wars/Transformers in any way. All rights for Steven Universe go to Rebecca Sugar, Ian Jones-Quartey, Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Inc. All rights for Beast Wars: Transformers go to Hasbro, Larry Ditilio, Bob Forward, YTV, Mainframe Entertainment, Alliance Media and Claster.

Chapter 12: Hollow Victory!

We find ourselves in the depths of space where we see the vessel of Black Diamond and the Shadow Diamond Empire. Black Diamond was called to the bridge by his subordinates.

"Alright I'm here!" he said to his minions. "What's so important that we couldn't discuss it in the meeting room?"

Many of the soldiers were a little hesitant, but one of them said, "Master, we found something we feel you need to see.

The leader of this empire then said, "Show me." They played the footage that showed the Maximals and Crystal Gems fighting the Predacons and Gemudar.

"What the!? Gemudar was here on Earth the whole time!" said Black Diamond, as he sat down to watch this.

"Yes, My Lord!" said the soldier.

Black Diamond was both in awe and frustration. "How could there be a Gem Kaiju here!?" he slammed his fist on the arm of his throne.

"Well my Lord, it turns out that this Gem Titan had scattered the Gem Kaiju across the stars years before we even existed," said another soldier. "And I did some digging and I found something." he pressed a few buttons and revealed it all. "The one that got destroyed was actually just the first of them. And there is more than one Gemudar, there are two!"

"TWO OF THEM!" Black Diamond shouted, "NO! If Megatron gets his hands on those monsters, we won't be able to conquer the planet and or terraform it!"

Fortunately for Black Diamond, Tanzanite walked into the room and then sat down next to him. "Darling, fear not. Gemudar had been destroyed already. But, his brother does not not know that and never will because he's asleep."

"Oh, I suppose that's true," said Black Diamond.

"Let's not forget that our son enjoys causing destruction, he has developed a way to control Gemudar's brother. And when he arrives, he will use it!"

Black Diamond mused at this, "Ah, I look forward to seeing this happen!" he said, as he was excited.

Inside the Predacon base, a small chunk of raw Energon crystal. Crackling power effects play over it, being emitted by two electrodes on either side. The crystal enlarged slightly and began to change shape.

"Yesss….Yesss, almost there…" Megatron said, as he was watching intently while operating controls. "This may be the refinement process I have been seeking. Yess…" he cackled, but then something was going wrong. "NO!" he said.

Before our eyes, the crystal sparks in front of the other Predacons then completely dissolves Megatron slams his claw-hand down furiously. "DAMNATION!" said Scorponok.

"BLAST IT!" Megatron shouted, slamming his fist down in anger, "Terrorsaur, get me another Energon crystal!"

But, before she could answer, Terrorsaur intervened and he stands defiantly and faces Megatron. "No! I've had enough. I refuse to serve such an incompetent leader any longer!" he yelled. Hearing this shocked Jasper. "You've wasted our precious Energon crystals for the last time, Megatron!" he said, pointing his blaster at the Predacon leader, but Jasper got in the way.

"HOW DARE YOU, TERRORSAUR!?" she yelled, punching Terrorsaur right in the jaw.

At the Maximal Base, Cheetor, Optimus, Rhinox and the others, who were joined by Steven and the Crystal Gems. They saw what was going on inside the Predacon Base.

"Hey guys, are you seeing this?" said Steven, looking at the whole thing.

"Whoa, bad karma at the loser lair!" said Cheetor, as he watched this.

Garnet saw the whole thing. "Megatron has lost control of his own crew." she said.

On the screen, it showed that Waspinator, Eyeball Ruby, Aquamarine and the other Predacons gather behind Terrorsaur in support.

"Wazzzpinator wantzzz to fight NOW!" Waspinator yelled.

Dinobot saw this on the screen, "It appears serious this time." he said, looking on.

Megatron felt some support from Jasper, DarkFanger, Flamenix and Spinotor. But they were clearly outnumbered. "You will regret this rebellion, Terrorsaur! Yesss!" He fires a missile at Terrorsaur and they all begin fighting each other.

"That's dissension alright!" said Optimus, as he looked at this on the screen.

"You said it, I suppose Megatron is not able to hold his own alliance." Steven replied.

"Cool! Now aren't you glad we got cable on our ship?" Cheetor asked Pearl.

Pearl nodded. "Yes, we sure are."

"Looks like we hardwired that spy camera just in time." Rhinox said, admiring that a little dryly as he adjusted the controls on the ship.

Amethyst then perked up. "Oh yeah, leave it to Rattrap and I to do all the work." she said.

"Whoa, we?" Rattrap pointed out. "It was my fuzzy butt on the line, plus I'm the one who did most of the work."

But then, Optimus hushed it, "Shush! LOOK!" He alerted them and they all gathered around.

Megatron is backing away. But, as he does so, there is a pile of Energon crystals in front of him in a shielded transparent container.

"NO! You Fools!" Megatron said, trying to order his minions not to fire. "Stop this right now, you'll hit the Energon-"

But, it was too late, the missile struck the Energon. The screen goes white, then dissolves into static. Cheetor saw this happening, "Whoaaa! Jumpin Gyros!" As the room shook violently for a moment. Then, in the far-off distance, they heard a residual explosion.

"What just happened?" Steven said, feeling shocked by this.

Garnet replied, "I'm not sure, but we should go check!" and with that said, they all rushed over to the volcanic island where the Predacon ship had crashed.

Outside the base, they saw that it was smoldering from the explosion as a column of smoke rises from it. The Maximals were in their Beast Modes on a hilltop, looking down at it. Steven then turned over to Garnet.

"Garnet, can you check to see if anyone is still in there?" asked Steven.

"Sure thing." said Garnet, as she began searching.

"That place looks like it's totally slagged!" Cheetor stated.

"It is," Garnet replied, denoting the fact to be true. "I detect no signs of life. Not a Pred energy signature anywhere."

"Can that really be confirmed?" Dinobot asked, inquiring about this notion.

"Hey, Garnet doesn't lie about her senses, Dinodip." Amethyst said.

Rattrap shot back, "Oh and I suppose that you know how her devices work?"

"I know her better than you do, Ratface!" Amethyst said, again. Only for both of them to get gibb-slapped on the back of their heads by Steven.

Rhinox is seated on his rump, operating a scanner designed to work with his trotters "Thank you for breaking up that argument, Steven."

"No problem, Rhinox." Steven said, smiling at Rhinox.

Pearl saw this and was stunned, "There's no way they could have survived that blast."

Looking down at the destroyed base somberly, Optimus said, "Then we may have to accept a rather unexpected development, friends." he told them, as they all look him in the eyes as he declares, "It looks like the Maximals and the Crystal Gems…have won the Beast Wars!"

This made Steven and the others all gasp in shock at this.

Inside the Predacon Base, they began to patrol it wherever they had to search it. They entered cautiously

"No life forms," Garnet said while scanning, "But, the base Energon field dampers are still functional."

"Good!" Optimus said, as they all transformed into robot mode, weapons out and ready.

"Alright guys," Amethyst said, denoting it. "Let's pillage and plunder!"

"Now you're talking!" Rattrap said, agreeing with her.

"Only for spare drive parts!" said Optimus, making that point clear. "It is still a Predacon ship, and still very dangerous."

Pearl agreed to that. "Optimus is right, we must proceed with caution."

"Well I won't argue with that," Rattrap replied with concern, "If I do know the Preds, they must have a ton of traps set around this place."

Amethyst then remarked, "Well then, How about we make Dinobot go first?" pointing at the former Predacon.

Dinobot looks introspective, as though barely listening and replies. "Yes, that would be logical. I will take point." he said, going first.

He starts off. Amethyst and Rattrap stare at this, mouth agape, then look towards Optimus.

"Gheesh, I've been pushing his hot buttons and getting nada, zip, zilch, nix." Amethyst said to her.

"That isn't like Chopperface at all, What the heck is with him?" asked Rattrap.

"Can't you two figure it out?" asked Optimus.

Inside the Predacon Base Drive Room, Dinobot made his way into the hatchway, surveying the room. He glances back at the others.

"This is what you seek. I detect no hostiles" he said. "I will reconnoiter elsewhere." He moves off.

The others watch him go. Rattrap and Optimus look on as Rhinox, Garnet and Steven spread out, while Cheetor went with Pearl and Amethyst to search for anything else that could be useful.

Rattrap then spoke to Optimus, "Yo, big ape. So, what are we gonna do with Dinobot?"

"Why should we DO anything?" Optimus wondered.

Steven then wondered, "Rattrap, why are you concerned about this all of a sudden?"

"Just look at him, guys!" Rattrap pointed out. "He's still a Predacon. He's only with us once he knew we would win, not cause he believed in what we stood for. He's a soldier. With the enemy gone, who else is he gonna fight?

"Rattrap, I know that but, this isn't a good time for you to gloat about it." Garnet stated. "But, it's also not right to be paranoid."

"Alright, fair enough!" Rattrap sighed with grief.

Optimus opens the door which reveals the Transwarp Drive core. "Get the others, we've got what we need." he instructed and Garnet, Rattrap and Steven went to get the others.

In another room, we now see that the hallway was devoid of anything alive. Cheetor and Pearl were searching around for anything unusual and they found what looked like Tarantulas' laboratory.

"Whoa, looks like we found where the Gem Predacons came from." Pearl said.

"Yeah, I knew that Tarantulas was behind the creations of Flamenix, DarkFanger and Spinotor." Cheetor said, feeling a deal of disdain in him towards the three Gem Predacons.

They searched around and found the tarantula Predacon's notes on how to do it.

"Whoa, I never thought that Tarantulas used an empty Stasis Pod to make those guys," said Cheetor. "But, they do have a fourth in the works."

"Well now that the Predacons are gone, I guess it's their loss, our gain." said Pearl.

"You've said it!" Cheetor said, and he then made a copy of Tarantulas' notes on the whole subject.

As the two of them did so, they heard footsteps, it turned out to be Dinobot making his rounds about the ship. Cautiously with his weapons ready, he looked around and spotted nothing.

The sound of crashed floating platforms and control panels spark as Dinobot moves in cautiously, weapons at the ready. He looks around. Suddenly, behind him, two of Tarantulas' legs move along the wall. One reaches out, towards Dinobot's head.

It then reveals that Amethyst was holding the legs, and she laughed, "HA HA, Gotcha!" she chuckled.

Just then, Cheetor and Pearl rushed over there and heard something. "What what what!?" said Pearl.

"Who made that sound?" asked Cheetor. He then looked and spotted Amethyst and Dinobot. "Oh, it's just you." he said, breathing a sigh.

"Amethyst, why'd you sneak up behind him?" asked Pearl in a stern manner.

Amethyst then replied, "I just couldn't resist!"

Dinobot snatches one of the legs away. "WHERE DID YOU FIND THESE?" he demanded.

"Just over there…" Amethyst pointed behind her to reveal they were on an air vent.

Dinobot looked at it and said, "Alas, poor Tarantulas. I knew him, Amethyst. This is the leg that stalked so many victims…" he sighed and then threw them aside. "That it should come to this." he finished.

Pearl and Cheetor were astounded, and so was Amethyst. "Wow, you can do Shakespear quotes?"

"Yes." Dinobot smiled.

"I admit, that was impressive the way you said it."

"Thank you." Dinobot bowed to Pearl.

Just then, a voice chimed in, it was Rattrap who had also entered the hallway. "Hey, we're leaving!" They turned around to see him gesturing at them. "We got the parts we need, Come on!"

Pearl and Cheetor were both relieved to hear that and started to follow along with Amethyst. But for a moment, Dinobot looks back at the leg lying on the floor, feeling suspicious about something.

After they had gotten the parts, Looking out over the landscape. A wild lightning storm crashed down through the darkened sky. It is revealed to show Dinobot, now in Beast Mode watching it alone from atop the base, looking out at the primitive landscape

The Maximals and The Crystal Gems, except Dinobot all converse as the work on the Space Drive assembly line.

"But we still can't trust Dinobot." Amethyst said, showing a bit of disdain.

"Why does that even matter to you?" Rattrap asked, wanting to know.

"I mean, true he saved Rhinox and the rest of us before, but I just don't trust him!" Amethyst huffed, folding her arms.

Pearl then slapped her upside the head. "Amethyst, that's enough!" she warned. "You don't HAVE to like him, but you have to respect his determination!"

"And before we decide where he's going, we better decide where we're going." Rhinox said, getting both of them to pay attention.

"Indeed, we're almost done with these drive repairs." Garnet added, "And after that, we should think of establishing a new warp pad."

"That's true, but we have to be sure that no one gets their hands on it." Steven replied.

"Yes, the first order of business is the stasis pods still in orbit." Optimus denoted. "They have to be recovered and our comrades rescue. We also have to alert Tigatron!"

"Yeah, there's that." said Cheetor, agreeing with that. "But after we get the pods back, you think we'll start exploring the galaxy again?" he wondered.

"That's a very good question." Pearl wondered as well.

"Well, I wish I had a good answer, but all I can say is…If we even MAKE it into space again, the first place we should go is Cybertron." Rattrap

"I'm afraid Rattrap's right!" Optimus said, making Rattrap a little stunned.

Garnet then added, "It would be the right idea, we'll need to form a partnership with the Maximal Elders and place a Warp Pad there."

"Yeah, plus, I always wanted to see what it looked like as well as see the ruins of Iacon." Steven nodded, denoting he felt like exploring the ancient capital city of the Autobots.

"Well, when and if we get there, I'm sure Big Ape will show you where the entrance to those ruins is." Rattrap said to Steven. "And hopefully, my great aunt Arcee would be happy to meet you."

"Well, she is a legend among Transformers." Amethyst said, complimenting Rattrap's aunt. "I wonder whatever happened to the relationship she had with Hot Rod."

"Well, after he became Rodimus Prime, she fell for Springer." said Rattrap, telling her about it. "I can't imagine why though. I mean, he was a bit of a jerk towards Rodimus, fortunately, Ultra Magnus stood up and defended him against Springer's verbal assaults."

"Damn!" said Steven, adding to that.

"Oooh yeah, and about time to go back to Cybertron, too. I can just hear the dames cryin' for me." the rat Maximal said, acting like a ladies man.

"Yeah right, if anything, they've been wanting you gone." Amethyst rolls her eyes in disdain. "And you just don't know it."

Dinobot re-entered the room, he looked calmly resolute. "Perhaps it is the thought of your return that causes their unhappiness." he said.

Amethyst snickered at what Dinobot said.

"Haha, Good comeback there, Chopperface!" Rattrap laughed, as he heard this. "Eeehh lame, but I can tell your feeling better."

"And with good reason." said Dinobot, telling them something. "I shall not see any of you again."

"Whoa! Another dig!" Rattrap jested, only to be shushed by Optimus.

"Shhhh…." he shushed the rat Maximal. "What are you saying, Dinobot?" he asked him. "You won't return to Cybertron with us?"

Dinobot shook his head to Optimus, "No! On Cybertron, I will merely be a Predacon criminal. But on this planet, I have no equal."

Steven then said, "Wait, why don't you join me and the other Crystal Gems?" he asked the raptor.

"I appreciate the offer, Steven Universe." Dinobot said, with a stare of seriousness. "But, I must decline. "I will attend to help the people of Earth in my own way." he stated.

After a long pause, Optimus said, "I understand. But, nonetheless, let the record show that I advise against it." he advised. "It will eventually lead to your own destruction."

"Eventually!" Dinobot wasted no time in telling him. "Eventually can be a long time, Optimus Primal." he straightens himself and salutes them. "I salute my former leader, as well as my former comrades and my former Crystal Gem Allies. Goodbye." he said, turning up and walking out swiftly.

Everyone was shocked and stunned at this, "Dinobot?" Cheetor asked, feeling a little bummed. It then shows onto the stormy skies then Dinobot is now already headed into the distance. Cheetor emerges, looks after him. Dinobot vanishes off into the distance and Cheetor sighs.

Meanwhile, above the Earth, we find ourselves at the ship of Black Diamond and his Shadow Diamond Empire.

"Well now, what is this?" asked Black Diamond to himself. "Dinobot has left the Maximals to protect Earth by himself?"

"How can this be?" asked a soldier.

"Well it seems that he's a Predacon Criminal on Cybertron," said Black Diamond. "So, he wants to redeem himself by exiling himself here."

The soldiers were stunned beyond belief when they heard this news. Tanzanite then perked up and said, "Well darling, it would seem as though with the Predacons gone, he feels like he has no purpose anymore."

"Somehow I doubt that, my love." said Black Diamond, he felt a little bit concerned.

"What do you mean?" asked Tanzanite.

Black Diamond then told her and soldiers, "That explosion could never have finished off Megatron and his miscreants so easily. They are hiding, making the Maximals think that they have been defeated. And when the time is right, they will attack them."

They all looked at each other in confusion and decided to sort it out by themselves.

Back on Earth, we see a normal sized white rat chewing a nut. Suddenly he takes off as Dinobot's feet crash through the horizon. The frightened rat tumbles over the edge of a dark crevice. Looking around the landscape commandingly, he strides off further. As we truck down the crevice, we see with a blinking light, revealing it to be Tarantulas, Waspinator, Aquamarine, Eyeball Ruby, Flamenix, Terrorsaur and DarkFanger. They all had survived getting out of their base alive.

And, as for Megatron, he was at the bottom. Hidden deep in the small crevice where the Predacons squirm irritably in the tight quarters. Tarantulas are just sucking in the last of the rat's tail like a piece of spaghetti. He's practically on top of Terrorsaur.

"Aaargh, dammit! Stop slobbering on me, Tarantulas!" Terrorsaur said

"Seriously, you're getting your drool all over us!" Eyeball Ruby complained,

"I am feasting!" Tarantulas shot back at them.

"Yeah, well keep your mouth close, will ya?" Aquamarine glared.

"Oh shut up!" Tarantulas sneered.

"Give Wazzpinator some room!" Waspinator complained. "Tarantulazzzz fat enough azzz it izzz!"

DarkFanger agreed with Waspinator, "Yeah, no kidding."

Flamenix also agreed, "True, but he can't help himself, apparently!"

"If all of you don't stop right now, we'll be crushed even more!" said Spinotor, denoting that they were cramped enough as it is.

"If any of you even try to do so, we'll all fall deeper into this hole!" said Jasper.

"If Waspinator does not stop cuddling me like a stuffed toy when he sleeps, I'll eat him as well!" Tarantulas threatened Waspinator. The two begin shoving each other back and forth.

"Oh yeah? Yeah! Sezzzz who?" Waspinator shot back.

"You all make me sick! Lord Megatron, I can't stand this any longer, I've got to get out!" said Terrorsaur, laughing crazily as Jasper punches him right in the face, knocking him down.

"Will you stop whining for once?" Jasper shouted in frustration. "Gaaaah, you're driving me insane!"

"None of us would be here if you hadn't tripped over that freakin' spy cable." Scorponok added to that.

"You are correct, Scorponok!" Megatron agreed with his second-in-command. "But thanks to Terrorsaur's inadvertent discovery of our enemy's spy camera, we were able to pull this little…deception. Yessssssss.

However, Blackarachnia had a theorem. "But what if they detect us? Don't forget my signature-dampening device is only experimental."

"We have only to wait until they repair their ship and then attack while their guard is down." said Megatron to his crew. "With the Maximal ship in our possession, we will be able to recover the orbiting stasis pods containing Maximals eager to become Predacons. Then once we have our Elite Predacon Army at bay, we shall take over all of Beach City and make it our Predacon Fortress." he suddenly approaches Terrorsaur threateningly, "SO NO ONE LEAVES!" he yelled.

"Who said anything about leaving?" whimpered Terrorsaur.

"Hey boss, I think I've heard something!" said Jasper, as she pointed up.

Some stones rattled down on his head. Megatron, looking upward. "What was that?" he asked, jerking back from the edge of the crevice and a few more stones fell. "A SPY!" Megatron REACTS in anger. "It's that traitor DINOBOT! Stop him! Predacons, TERRORIZE!"

Bluebird Azurite, Terrorsaur, Flamenix and Waspinator launch themselves into the air, as the Predacons soar out of the crevice in pursuit. Dinobot is already running. Terrorsaur, Waspinator, Bluebird and Flamenix yelled a battle cry as they attacked him.

Dinobot began racing away at top speed. All four flyers are coming in fast . Dinobot crushes them with a huge rock.

Meanwhile at the crevice, the other Predacons are out now. They begin to transform. "Blackarachnia... TERRORIZE!"

"Scorponok...TERRORIZE!"

"DarkFanger…TERRORIZE!"

"Tarantulas...TERRORIZE!"

"Spinitor… TERRORIZE!"

"Megatron... TERRORIZE!"

Now in Robot Mode, they charge after Dinobot, making him shocked. "Megatron's forces survived," he said. "I must warn Optimus and Steven!"

Meanwhile, at the Axalon, we see Rhinox in robot mode and Garnet checking the completed Space Drive assembly as Rattrap kicks back. There is a security monitor behind Rattrap. Tigatron enters, looking around cautiously.

"Urrr! It feels strange to be inside an artificial structure." said Tigatron.

Rattrap and Amethyst spotted him, "Hey, it's Tigatron the barbarian!" said Amethyst.

"Welcome back to civilization, buddy!" Rattrap said, "We're going home!"

"And you're just in time." Rhinox said, as he checked everything out. "All systems - check!"

"Best of all, we'll be going along with you," said Steven.

"Yes," Garnet added. "We're planning on establishing a warp pad on Cybertron and forming an alliance with the Maximal Elders."

"Alright Optimus, everything looks to be in order." Pearl said to him.

"Let's do it!" Optimus said "Power up!"

They all pressed a few buttons on the consoles they were stationed at. "Liftoff in 10 minutes and counting!" Rhinox signaled.

Rattrap then said, "Man, when we get back to Cybertron I'm gonna take you to this sweet little hole in the wall where I guarantee…" Rhinox smiles as he looks at Rattrap. But his smile suddenly vanishes.

Garnet said, "Look, I see something!"

"Wait, what?" Rattrap asked.

"It's Dinobot!" Garnet replied.

Steven said, signaling Optimus to the front window. "Optimus, look!" He showed him what was going on. "It's Dinobot!"

"I see him!" Optimus said. "It looks like he's in trouble!"

"Aw damn," Amethyst said, deadpanning.

Rattrap added to that. "I knew that Chopperface wouldn't live longer here."

Pearl looked worried, "He's making a beeline for the base, like he's running from something!"

"Alright, he's coming back!" Cheetor said excitedly.

"The problem is, he's not alone!" Garnet added, pointing that the Predacons were still alive and hot on his trail.

Scorponok shot a missle and hit Dinobot right in the back, sending him flying into the hatch.

"NO! DINOBOT!" Optimus yelled.

The base's space drive is powering up. There is a visible glow around the lower edge of the base. In the foreground of the hatch, Dinobot is on the platform. The room shakes from the missile fire. Optimus is already moving, and so were Steven and Garnet.

"We're going for Dinobot!" Steven said.

Rhinox and Pearl then informed him, Optimus and Garnet. "We have 8 and a half minutes until liftoff," Rhinox told them, "This thing is barely hanging as it is, I can't shut it down."

"I don't want you to," Optimus replied, "If we're not back in time, liftoff without us." With Garnet and Steven following him.

"WHAT?" Pearl gasped in shock.

"NO WAY!" Rhinox yelled, blasphemously.

"That's a priority order, understood?" Optimus said to Rhinox and Pearl, as they reluctantly nodded. "Optimus Primal… MAXIMIZE!"

"Let's go!" Garnet said, activating her armor.

"Right behind you!" Steven added.

"I'll help, wait for me!" Cheetor said, preparing to transform. "Cheetor… MAXIMIZE!"

"Cheetor, NO!" Pearl screamed in fear.

Optimus, Steven and Garnet spotted him coming down. "Cheetor get back to your post, that's an order!" Optimus ordered.

"You guys will never get to Dinobot without backup," Cheetor explained, "Besides, Cybertron wouldn't be the same without you."

"He's right, Optimus!" Steven replied, "We're gonna need all the help we can get if we need to get to Dinobot."

"Especially when the numbers are against us!" Garnet mentioned, knowing they were outnumbered.

"Alright, let's hit them hard and fast!" Optimus agreed.

"I'm your bot!" Cheetor said, grabbing a shield and jumping down the shaft.

Amethyst couldn't stand by and do nothing, just when she was about to jump out of the hatch.

"Amethyst, what are you doing?" Pearl asked.

"What does it look like?" Amethyst said to her. "They need backup!"

"Back in your seat, Amethyst!" Rhinox ordered. "You heard the orders!"

Tigatron transformed and intervened, "I'd listen to them if I were you, Amethyst. You won't be any good if you get slagged by Megatron." he said to her. And then turned to Rhinox. "I'll help you out as well, Rhinox."

"Thank you Tigatron." Rhinox said, not wanting to argue with the tiger Maximal.

"We're taking this bird to Cybertron, and there ain't now way in The Pit I'm letting the Preds stop us!" Rattrap added, getting to his post.

Amethyst sighed with frustration and then reluctantly accepted. "Alright, what do you want me to do?"

"Pearl and Rattrap, astro-navigation. Amethyst and Tigatron, get ship's guns online!" Rhinox instructed. "Optimus, Garnet and Steven are gonna need some firepower, MOVE!"

"Yes sir!" Tigatron said, with respect.

"Aye aye!" Amethyst added.

Outside the Axalon, the whole base is glowing with numerous lights and shaking as it prepares to lift off. Optimus, Cheetor, Steven and Garnet are still near it, pinned down by Predacon fire. Dinobot is crawling toward them, trapped between them and the Preds.

Megatron is firing his weapons systems and commanding his forces at the same time. The Predacons slog forward, firing wildly and Jasper blasted at them too, while Bluebird shot her darts.

Optimus turns to Cheetor, Garnet and Steven as blasts zing all around them.

"Give me cover fire. I've got to get Dinobot to the hatch!"

Cheetor agreed to it, "My pleasure!"

"Roger that!" Garnet said.

"Let's do this!" Steven agreed.

Cheetor rushes forward, staying on the move and firing like a berserker. Even as he goes Optimus jets up into the sky. The Predacons take a few hits from Cheetor, none enough to take them out, but they are definitely diverted as Optimus lands in frame beside the battered Dinobot. He lifts him up. Dinobot looks at him.

"This is strategically unsolved!" Dinobot said, feeling at a loss for words.

"Tell me about it back on Cybertron." said Optimus, as he got him away from the area. He is about to lift off when an incoming round from Terrorsaur blows him and Dinobot out of the air. "AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Optimus shouted

"Hahahaha!" Terrorsaur cackled

"OPTIMUS!" Garnet and Cheetor shouted at the same time.

Steven felt a burst of anger rise up in him. "TIME TO FUSE!" Steven said, signaling for Garnet to fuse with him. They fused into Sunstone and with Cheetor's help, she takes down Terrorsaur, Waspinator and Flamenix and is hit by a blast that knocks him down.

The one who fired it was Bluebird, and the force of it caused Steven and Garnet to unfuse and fall to the ground, this makes Cheetor super mad as he rapidly fires at Bluebird before Megatron blasts him.

"They're finished! Head for the ship!" Megatron ordered the Predacons to make a beeline for the Axalon.

"Here they come!" Amethyst shrieked.

"Ship's Guns, FIRE!" Tigatron said, as the ship is beginning to rise. Suddenly its guns fire a burst at the oncoming Predacons. The Predacons are blown in all directions.

Elsewhere, Energon Surges appear around Optimus. His head pulses with the whining of the ship gearing up, Garnet gets back to her feet, and she grabs Steven, helping him up as Cheetor staggers and crawls to the elevator. He feels the ship lifting off the ground.

"No!" Garnet gasped.

"The train's pulling out!" Steven said, weakly.

"Optimusss!" Cheetor shouted.

The Maximal ship begins to shudder and rise, lifting a few inches off the ground. Optimus carries Dinobot to the elevator. Cheetor is aghast as the ship picks up speed.

In the Axalon, Rhinox and Pearl are watching Optimus on the monitor. "Come on, come on!" he urged and prayed.

"Please, make it guys!" Pearl hoped.

Optimus threw Dinobot onto the platform. With his last ounce of energy, he jumps up and grabs Cheetor and Steven's hands. Cheetor and Steven hold on as the ship rises faster but as it clears the ground.

"Gotcha, Big Bot!" Cheetor said, hanging on.

"Garnet, pull us up!" Steven said to her.

Garnet uses her grapple hook to hull them in. Scorponok rises and blasts a missile that hits their clasped hands. Optimus loses his grip and he begins falling.

"Noooo!" Steven said, in horror.

"OPTIMUS!" Cheetor yelled.

The elevator rises into the ship but no sooner is it out of sight, then Megatron charges their way and grabs ahold of one of the metal cables that was holding the base.

Inside the base, Steven, Garnet, Cheetor and Dinobot are shocked to see Optimus fall from the ship at the hands of Scorponok. Everyone else in the room was saddened that the Maximal leader was not going with them.

"You… should've left me behind!" Dinobot said.

"Hey dude, Optimus got left behind just to save your scaly skin." Amethyst shouted in anger, "So don't spoil the sacrifice, got that?" she raged.

"Oh, but it is already spoiled, yesss!" said the voice of Megatron, as he jumped into place.

Megatron then opens fire, taking out Garnet, Amethyst, Tigatron, Rhinox, Pearl, Rattrap, Dinobot and Cheetor, except Steven was able to shield himself from his attack. Steven then fired a beam blast at Megatron, getting his tail-claw weapon off his arm.

"Not so tough without your Pulverizer claw, are ya?" Steven taunted.

Megatron growls, and then uses his T-Rex head to grab Steven's face. "You stood in my way of galactic conquest long enough, Steven Universe!" He then slammed Steven on the table.

However, Steven uses his energy attack to zap Megatron in the eyes, knocking him back a little bit.

"I am ending this here and now, MEGATRON!" Steven yelled.

Steven charges right at Megatron, but he kicks the boy right in the gut and sends him back to the ground. "Oh I don't think so, Universe, noooo!" Megatron taunted as he began grabbing Steven by the neck again. "For now, I shall remove that gem from your body and DESTROY YOU!"

Before he could, Garnet intervened and shot a long beam of power at Megatron, making him let Steven go, "No… You… Will… NOT!" Garnet raged as she used her gauntlets to knock down Megatron.

The blow was so strong, it slammed Megatron right down the elevator, sending him falling into the ocean below.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Megatron yelled, as he fell down from the height the ship was at. And then *KERSPLOOSH* he landed in the water.

Garnet raced to check on Steven, "Steven are you hurt?"

"A little bit, but I'll live. Thanks to you, Garnet." Steven said to her.

Suddenly the alarm blared *BTZZZ* *BTZZZ* *BTZZZ* *BTZZZ* *BTZZZ* *BTZZZ* and they all saw that Megatron's sword was stuck in the space drive.

"Oh no!" Steven panicked.

The glow around the bottom of the Maximal base begins to flicker and fade, joltingly. The base hesitates in the sky, then begins to descend.

"The engines, they've blown out!" said Garnet.

"AAHHHH, we're goin down!" Rattrap screamed. "Do something, Rhinox!"

They all slam into the sides of the main room. "We can't stop it!" said Rhinox.

"Aw man, we're gonna crash!" said Amethyst, as she was horrified.

"This might be the end!" said Pearl, as she grabbed Amethyst's hand.

"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIIIIEEEEEE!" Rattrap yelped.

"Wait, look down in the sky!" Garnet pointed out the window.

Dinobot and the others all darted to the front window. "Is that a bird?" asked Dinobot.

"Maybe a plane?" Rhinox said.

"No, it's Optimus!" Rattrap said in shock and amazement.

It was true, Optimus did show up rising into the sky and steadied the ship all by himself and to some of them, he looked like he was doing what Superman would do when a falling vehicle was coming out of the sky.

(BGM: Heroic Music from Beast Wars Episode 12 Plays in the style of the theme from Superman: The Movie)

Optimus braces himself against the bottom of the ship and roars his jets at full throttle. The descending base slows down, dropping at a more reasonable rate of speed. Making them all look in awe at this. With Optimus using the last vestiges of his power, the base (still glowing slightly) descends lower...lower...and then finally settles with a *CRUNCH* back in its original position. The last vestiges of the glow with a flickering light then all was right with them.

Optimus, Tigatron, and Cheetor are beside Rhinox just turning away from the remains of the Space Drive. Cheetor looks down as Pearl and embraces him. They see the damage that Megatron did to the front console.

"Damage report?" Optimus asked.

Garnet gave the status. "Megatron nearly destroyed Steven and in the process, destroyed the flying circuits." she said to him. "The Axalon won't fly ever again."

"Dammit." said Steven, in an exhausted voice. "I was really hoping to meet the Maximal Elders." he sighed in sadness.

Pearl then held Steven close to her, "Don't worry, we'll figure out how to get there." she said to him.

Rattrap then goes to the boy, "Yeah, someday we'll get to Cybertron and establish the partnership between Maximals and Gems alike. As well as place the warp pad there." he reassured him. "After all, it's still intact." he added, showing him that the warp pad took no damage at all.

This news made Steven breathe a sigh of relief. "Phew, thank goodness."

Cheetor then said, "What about the others? Are they okay?" he looked over to everyone else on the ship.

They all look to see Amethyst arguing with Dinobot. "Man, it's your own fault, scale-head!" she ranted. "We won't be able to head for Cybertron for a long time now, you overgrown iguana!"

"I was doing the universe a favor!" Dinobot countered.

"Hey! You want me to show you how velociraptors got extinct in the first place!?" Amethyst ranted again.

Pearl and Rattrap were both looking on at this and sighed.

"It never ends with Amethyst, does it?" Rattrap asked her.

"Apparently not." Pearl said to him.

Rattrap then looked at Steven and Garnet. "How you guys put up with her, I'll never know."

"Oh, it's something we're used to." Steven replied.

"It's alright, Rattrap!" Optimus said to his demolitionist. "Besides, those two seem to be taking it well." he pointed at Amethyst and Dinobot.

Cheetor then said, "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Outside the base in Beach City, we see Jen Harper in leather racing gear on her motorcycle which looked like a Kawasaki KLR, and she had her helmet off to let her hair flow.

"Wow, Optimus was able to bring the ship down as much as he could on his own." she said. "I wonder if he was copying Superman at the time." she thought to herself.

She then put her helmet back on. "Since there's a conspiracy going on with the group I work for, I'm gonna join their side, but first, I have to expose the conspiracy." Jen said, revving up her engine and riding off into the sunset.

To Be Continued…

[The Spirit of Radio continues]

Me: Well, another chapter in the bag. Wouldn't you say?

The Amazing Ghost Musician: You've got that right, broski! This has to be one of the best chapters that we've done of our story.

Me: True, but sometimes it can be difficult if things go awry.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: That's for sure! Especially when things don't turn out like you planned, or when something else comes along to ruin everything.

Me: I definitely don't want that happening to me.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Yeah neither do I, but life is never fair. Especially to less fortunate people like us, where half of the time we can't really ever catch a break.

Me: Yeah, just once I wish something would go right for me for once!

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Well something did go right for me last month.

Me: Oh?

The Amazing Ghost Musician: I got to go meet & greet with my hero John Morrison, as well as his wife Taya Valkyrie. Those two along with the Hardy Brothers were doing a Northeast Wrestling show in Waterbury, and I got to go meet with my favorites as well as my hero. It was one hell of a night that I'll never forget!

Me: Good for you. But, other than that, I have an idea for a new series where this boy is always being belittled by his parents, so much so he runs away from home and is picked up by a group of women who want to bring freedom to the galaxy using their symbiotic armor suits. Which are similar to the Venom Symbiote and Bio Booster Armor Guyver.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Wow! That is some very powerful and emotional stuff that you've got in store. I wonder how that is gonna go down?

Me: Well, I will need some help to make it a reality.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: But before you should start this project, you might wanna wait on doing it and take it easy for now. You've already got a few other stories that you wanna do first, and besides, you don't wanna overwork yourself.

Me: You're right. I mostly say it because I just want to be successful.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: But anyways, we should probably sign off for today. You wanna explain the plot of the next chapter?

Me: Actually, I'll let you explain it this time. I've done it multiple chapters straight, so you can do the honors this time.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Well dude, it's going to be one that'll shock many fans of Steven Universe. It's where after another battle the Maximals and the Crystal Gems are having against the Predacons, where both Garnet and Rhinox get captured by Tarantulas, and the two of them are programmed as Predacons. How's that for a shocker?

Me: Yeah, that is VERY shocking!

The Amazing Ghost Musician: However, it doesn't go as well as Megatron planned. Turns out that Rhinox's new-found temper becomes dangerous to Megatron and his minions soon go out of control and the same thing happens to Garnet too. So, the Maximals and Crystal Gems have to figure out how to reverse the process or both Rhinox and Garnet will be doomed.

Me: Hoo boy, this could be troubling.

The Amazing Ghost Musician: Indeed! Stay tuned for that chapter, it's gonna be a good one. Until then, take us out, Wolf!

Me: Right! Please read, review, comment, fave, like, follow and share. And remember…NO FLAMES!

Both: SEE YA NEXT TIME!