Disclaimer: I do not own Beast Wars. It belongs to Hasbro.
Chapter 2: Spider's Web
"Thank you for bringing this to my attention. This sort of behavior is inexcusable." Warden Sharpetron said to Depth Charge. He was as the title warden suggests in charge of the prison and Depth Charge's boss.
"I will be sure to give them a stern warning." Sharpetron said before returning to his paperwork.
"That's it? This isn't exactly the first time they've done this." Depth Charge said. He had caught them doing this nearly a dozen times already and each time he reported it to the warden they'd have the same discussion.
"And there will always be guards like them Depth Charge. If I fire them we may get new guards that are even worse. Better the 'devil you know' as the humans say." Sharpetron said.
"I'd prefer no devils at all." Depth Charge said flatly.
"I understand, but this job is also highly stressful. We house some of the worst criminals on Cybertron and at the same time are trying to "cure" them of their mental abnormalities." He said saying cure with a tone that implies he thought very little of that idea. "So allowing for a little leniency when that stress boils over is hardly asking for much." Sharpetron said his voice turning stern.
"I run a tight ship and I don't need anyone rocking the boat for the sake of these criminals." Shapetron said giving Depth Charge a look. Catching the hint Depth Charge turns to leave a scowl on his face. It was always the same slagging thing.
If there was one thing Depth Charge hated about being a 'Hero of the Beast Wars' okay there were many things he hated about it, but if there was one thing in particular it was the fact he now had a fan club.
They even went and got beast modes to be like their heroes. Currently he was making his rounds while accompanied by his two biggest 'fans' Cybershark, a hammerhead shark and Claw Jaw, a squid. He could hear Rampage laughing at him from his cell. Of the two he likes Claw Jaw the most. He was quiet even if he had that weird habit of eating in beast mode. Now Cybershark he didn't hate per se, but he reminded him of how he used to be before Omicron was destroyed.
"So there I was with Seacon pirates on all sides of me, but I wasn't worried for you see I had this brilliant plan." Cybershark said as he tells them about the time he fought some space pirates and won despite the odds being one against five.
Depth Charge of course ignores him focusing on his patrol duties. That was when a flash of movement from around the corner caught his eye, it was barely noticeable most would have missed it entirely, but it was only thanks to the years of hunting Protoform X honing his senses that he caught it.
Moving quickly Depth Charge came around the corner to find nothing. Nothing could be deceiving however. He activates his scanners and starts to sweep the area looking for anything out of the ordinary.
"Something the matter DC?" Cybershark asks.
"Quiet." Depth Charge said his tone making it clear he wouldn't ask again. Cybershark quickly got quiet.
His sensors caught something blue and shiny on the ground and he bends over to pick it up and mushes the sticky substance between his fingers. It was cyber-webbing just like the kind used by the spiders. Depth Charge's optics blink as the realization sank in. He looks up and sees a vent grate. A feeling of growing dread washes over him and he reaches up and pokes the grate praying it would stay in place. His prayers went unanswered as the vent grate shifts confirming his fears.
Oh slag.
Depth Charge turns around and moves shoving past the other two aquatics not even waiting for them to get out of the way.
"Depth Charge what's wrong?" Cybershark said as they chase after him.
"You like action Cybershark?"
"Uh, yes?"
"Congratulations you might be getting some."
He comes to a halt at a computer terminal and brings up the prisoner manifest, Cybershark and Claw Jaw watch as he scrolls down till finally stopping at one name.
Tarantulas
Location: D-Block
Depth Charge walks into D-Block and is given a greeting by a guard who went by the name Polar Claw, another Beast Wars fan boy, and this one was a polar bear.
"You here to see Rampage again sir?" Polar Claw said.
"No, I'm here to confirm if the spider is still in his stasis cell." Depth Charge said to him.
Polar Claw looks over to a Maximal with a wolf beast mode who taps some things on his computer.
"The computer says he is." Wolfang said.
"Those readings can be faked especially by members of the Predacon Secret Police. Open his cell." Depth Charge said and moves in front of the cell drawing his blaster. Cybershark, Claw Jaw, Polar Claw, Wolfang, and a Maximal boar name Razorbeast draw their weapons and point them at the stasis cell. Polar Claw taps the 'open' button popping open the door on the cell.
"Well that's not good is it?" Cybershark said lowering his weapons.
There was a blank protoform with some sort of device attach to its chest. Probably something that gave off a fake energy signature Depth Charge deduces. Still there was only one thing left to do now and he hated it.
"I need to talk with Primal." Depth Charge said to them.
Waspinator was currently feeling more terror in him then when those guards had surrounded him a few days ago. No, currently sitting on a chair in Vivisect's lab was much, much worse.
"Now I had you brought here to ask if you like to volunteer for an experiment. One that will make you a transmetal." Vivisect said as he walks over to his lab table and holds up the transmetal driver. "Specifically a transmetal one so you'll get a third vehicle mode to go with your beast mode doesn't that sound exciting!"
"Wazpinator guezzes zo." Waspinator said albeit hesitantly.
"I see you're unsure how about I throw it something else to sweeten the deal?" Vivisect said with a tone that tries to be sweet.
The not so good doctor goes behind a table and reaches down Waspinator can hear the sound of a cage opening and the doctor holds up a small cyber-dog that resembles an Earth terrier. "How would you like a cyber-dog as a companion?"
"What?" Waspinator said completely not expecting that.
"You've been diagnosed with PTSD right? Having a cyber-dog has been proven effective in helping those suffering from the disorder into controlling their anxiety and nightmares." Vivisect said before handing the dog over to Waspinator who starts to gently pet her. In return the dog sniffs at Waspinator curiously before giving him a lick to his cheek. Waspinator smiles at that. She likes him! This dog would be his? That sounded really good actually. He always wanted a cyber-doggy ever since he was a sparkling.
"Ok letz do it!" Waspinator said. He had not doubt there would be pain involved in this experiment, but getting a cyber-doggy would be so worth it.
"Excellent. Lets get started right away!" Vivisect said smiling happily. So simple-minded so easy to manipulate, but not everyone could be as smart as him after all. He makes a motion to his assistants who take the cyber-dog from him and return her to her cage.
They then grab Waspinator and strap him down on a table.
Vivisect places the transmetal driver into what looks like a large microscope and positions the scope right over Waspinator.
"Now this might sting a little." Vivisect said to Waspinator.
Vivisect hits the on button, and the machine began to hum as it powers up. Next a blast of quantum energy strikes Waspinator causing him to start glowing white all over his body.
At that point all Waspinator knew was pain.
"Tarantulas has escaped?" Optimus Primal said immediately concerned Tarantulas escaping was just as bad if not worse than Megatron or Rampage escaping.
On the comm. screen were Depth Charge and Warden Sharpetron. He had a very point eared boss look to Rattrap not that he'd say that aloud... at least not right now.
"Yes this is a most unfortunate turn of events. That spider must have been quite cunning to escape from his cell. We'd appreciate your help in tracking him down since you all are familiar with him. " Warden Sharpetron said. Well at least had no qualms asking for help. Always good to see a person in authority that didn't let their ego get in their way Rattrap thought. That being said he turns to Cheetor.
"I knew you'd jinx us spots!" Rattrap said in a whisper not wanting to interrupt Optimus and Sharpetron talking with the members of the defense fleet to let them through.
"Well it could be worse right? …I shouldn't have said that should I've?" Cheetor said whispering back.
"Just stop talking you're going to making it worse!" Rattrap said.
"We'll be there as soon as we can. Rattrap, Blackarachnia, and Silverbolt I want you three to help with the search. If anyone can find Tarantulas it'll be you three." Optimus said to them.
"I was just hoping for a chance to ruin Taranulas's day again." Blackarachna said with a smile that somehow was both friendly and scary at once. It was one of Silverbolt's most favorite expressions to see on her face.
It didn't take long for the Axalon to dock on the Triptych and for the three Maximals to meet up with Depth Charge and the twenty or so guards he had gathered to help in the search.
Two of which Rattrap recognizes. "Nightglider? Stinkbomb? I didn't expect to see you two here. How you both been?" He said excited to see some familiar faces.
"Been a long time, Rattrap is it now? Nice name it suits you." Stinkbomb said in greeting.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Rattrap said with a wiry grin.
Depth Charge's voice cuts in interrupting their reunion.
"Save the pleasantries for later Mouse and friends we have a spider to squash." Depth charge said then addresses the crowd.
"Lock-Up has the rest of the guards watching over the prisoners and the warden has gone back to the control center to see if he can find him on the cameras. The rest of us will break into teams and search the different levels of the prison." Depth Charge said. Everyone nods and begins to break up into teams of anywhere from three to five before splitting off after Depth Charge gives them their search destination.
"Shall we team up for old time's sake?" Nightglider said. "Between the three of us I bet we'll find the spider in no time flat."
"Losers pay for the winner's drink at Maccadam's?" Rattrap said his grin staying strong.
"You're on!" The other two say as they shake hands sealing the deal and set out to search.
Unknown to the Maximals they were being watched. From an unknown room his form obscure by the shadows Tarantulas gives a chuckle. He just loves it when his prey just walks right into his web.
"And so my prey begins to divide and now it's almost time for me to conquer. Just need to wait for them to spread out a bit more and than I will spring my trap." Tarantulas threw his head back and laughs.
"So what can you tell us about Tarantulas? I never had the chance to interview him." Stinkbomb said to Rattrap.
"He tried to eat Cheetor once and according to an old friend that wasn't a one off occurrence. He's one sick eight legged freak that you never want to turn your back on." Rattrap said recalling those memories with a sick look on his face.
"So he's a serial killer… great." Nightglider said shaking his head. This was going to be a long night he just knew it.
"You fought him a lot during that war of yours didn't you?" Stinkbomb said.
"Yeah, he was the first Pred I threw down with. He's not tough, just really, really sneaky." Rattrap said.
"So kind of like you then." Stinkbomb said with a sly grin.
"Yes-hey! I resent that remark!" Rattrap said snapping back.
"You know Bowser you didn't need to come with. I can take care of myself." Blackarachnia said to Silverbolt as they and four other Fuzors: Torca, Bantor, Noctorro, and Air Hammer walk down a hallway together checking in each room as they pass and peering into vents to see if they could get even a glimpse of their quarry.
"I know you can oh dark poison of my heart, but I refuse to leave you alone while Tarantulas is around who knows what that spider is planning!" Silverbolt said in reply.
"Could you two get a room already?" Bantor said. "We've got a job to do."
"He's protective of her because Tarantulas nearly killed her before didn't he?" Torca said suddenly speaking up. Blackarachnia and Silverbolt exchange looks before looking back at the whale/elephant fuzor.
"Yes, that would be correct. How did you figure that out?" Silverbolt asks curiously
"Body language and your tone, but enough talk we must find our target before he does any harm." Torca answers. With that said the group fell silent resuming focus on their search.
"How is everything going Rhinox? Any signs of Tarantulas yet?" Primal asks his old friend as they watch a screen with a map of the prison and everyone's locations marked.
"Nothing so far. He's somehow hidden himself from the scanners." Rhinox said.
"Stay safe everyone." Cheetor said from where he sat watching the screen his eyes focusing on the energy signatures of his friends. A massive hand then rests on his shoulder and he looks to see Optimus staring at him.
"They'll be fine." Optimus said with a gentle smile. "Don't worry everything will be fine."
Depth Charge was going to blow a fuse at this rate. An hour had already passed and there was still no sign of Tarantulas.
"Where is that spider hiding?" He said flipping on his comm. and contacts everyone to report in. "Has anyone found anything yet?"
"We've found nada Captain Minnow. We may have to actually go into the ventilation system to find him." Rattrap said. The other search parties gave similar negative responses, which only sours his mood further.
"Well why haven't you?" Depth Charge said angrily.
"Because it's a total maze in there and only a few of us are small enough to go inside?" Rattrap said pointing out the logistical issues involved in such a search.
Depth Charge bit back a snarl. He hated it when the rodent was right. Plus he didn't like the idea of sending anyone into close quarters with a serial killer. They'd be playing into his hands. That is if they weren't already.
"Everything is now in position. Let the chaos begin." Tarantulas said with a laugh (he really liked laughing). He then pushes several buttons on the console in front of him and the computer beeps: "Weapon systems on-line acquiring targets."
The targets in question being the surrounding defense fleet.
"Oh and before I forget I can't have a party without guests!" He said pushing another button and a signal goes out throughout the ship shutting down the entire security grid and opening every cell with an ominous click.