Disclaimer: I do not own Beast Wars. It belongs to Hasbro.
Chapter 10: The Dark God Cometh
"Are you sure you don't need any help walking royalty?" Inferno said to Megatron. The tyrant now walking with a newly makeshift peg leg cobbled together from some scrap metal Rhinox found lying around.
"I am fine Inferno." Megatron said in reply. It wouldn't do to show weakness in front of the others especially Primal.
"Hey Big-Bot what's that?" Cheetor said pointing ahead of the group where the hangar entrance was. Though what he was pointing at was the purple energon crystals growing on the walls.
"Use caution everyone there is no telling what we might encounter up ahead." Optimus said to the group who all nod in agreement.
"Or who." Rhinox said quietly as be brought up the rear of the group as they march onward in relative silence.
The hangar was like an infected wound dark energon crystals had punctured through the hangar bay doors and spread from there like a blight, it covered the walls, ceiling, and the floors. Even the ships like the Axalon were being encroached upon.
"Well so much for our ticket out of here. We're all gonna die" Snapper said with a sigh. Elsewhere Rattrap suddenly felt the urge to sue someone.
"Uh, Big bot what in the Matrix is that?" Cheetor said again this time pointing to the center of the room where the dark crystals had formed what could only be described as a cocoon that reaches from the floor to the ceiling. Within the crystals two glowing green eyes stare out at them. Everyone flinches as the eyes pass over them those eyes burned straight through to their very sparks.
"Welcome Children of Primus, but most especially welcome Megatron."
Everyone even Inferno took one big step away from Megatron leaving him standing there by himself.
"I have summoned you here for a purpose."
"Nobody summons Megatron!"
Inferno was never one to question his Queen but right now he wanted nothing more but to beg the royalty to please do not antagonize the dark god! However, being utterly scared out of his mind he was unable to find his voice.
"Then it pleases me to be the first."
"State your business."
"You are very much like your namesake, but very well. This ship will soon be my new body, but it will take time before I can recover fully."
"And how is that my problem?"
"Make it your problem. Become my herald, become my new Galvatron, and I shall reward you with a new more powerful body and new troops to command."
"What exactly would this job entail?" Megatron said.
"Your first task would be to kill the one touched by the Matrix. His very presence offends me."
"Megatron don't listen to him!" Optimus said to the dragon seeing him appear to actually consider the offer.
"Be quiet Primal." Megatron said before addressing Unicron. "Your bargaining position is highly dubious given your current condition so I'm going to have to decline. Besides Megatrons do not serve anyone, we rule everyone."
"Then I have no further reason to let you live." Unicron said and the dark energon crystals began to glow and the hangar starts to shake around them as the dark god begins to power up. The pointed tips of several of the larger crystals
"I don't like the looks of this." Quickstrike said looking around.
"I don't like the sound of this either." Retrax said and before anyone could say anything he curls into a ball and starts to bounce back down the hallway getting as far away from the dark god as fast as he could. Powerpinch was right behind him moving as fast as his six legs could carry him.
"Worthless cowards!" Manterror said shouting after the fleeing pill bug. Anything else he was about to say was cut off as one of the larger dark energon crystals fires a blast of energy striking him, he lets out a scream of pain before going gray and turning to dust.
"Retreat!" Optimus Primal said as panic begins to slip into his voice. More blasts shoot fourth from the crystals striking Maximals and Predacons alike turning them to dust. Lazorbeak, Insecticon, and Jetstorm try to fly above the crystals' attacks only to be cut down from the ones on the ceiling. Drill Bit tries to follow after Powerpinch and Retrax only to be blasted as well. His drill rolls across the ground. The only part of him left before it too turns to dust.
It was Maximals who suffered casualties next with Wolfang and B'Boom being struck by a barrage of energy blasts. Choosing to go down swinging Bonecrusher charges the crystals with his head down and horns ready to smash them only to be blasted backwards.
Optimus Minor uses his tail whip to deflect several shots protecting Armordillo and Razorbeast giving them a chance to escape through the exit, but at the cost of his life as he is overwhelmed and torn apart.
Depth Charge uses his wings to shield himself from Unicron's attacks. Which leave notable burn marks on his hide. Claw Jaw then sees an attack coming from Depth Charge's blind spot uses his limps to spring off and takes the blast himself.
"Claw Jaw?" Depth Charge said stunned as he watches a tentacle hit the ground in front of him this however left him open for another attack as the same crystal began to charge up again, but then it was blown up by a missile.
Several more missiles blow away several of these 'turret' crystals and for a moment all focus turns to Rampage who steps forward with his weapons in hand smoke pouring off his armor where he had been struck by the blasts but his healing factor was quickly undoing the damage. Behind him Razorclaw, Snapper, and Spittor poke their heads out staring up at him in awe.
"Well? What are you fools waiting for? Let's get out of here!" Rampage said before he resumes firing away at more crystals destroying them causing Unicron to scream in rage and pain.
"I'm not one to run from a fight, but I think the crab has a good idea boss bot." Qucikstrike said to Megatron who nods in agreement.
"THIS. IS. NOT. OVER."
From the hangar entrance for the ships to come in and out small meteors the size of Rampage fly in and land on the floor they then unfold revealing arms and legs of stone with dark energon crystals protruding from them. Rampage quickly refocuses his fire and blows them to bits only for the bits to become smaller versions of the meteor monsters, which then scurry for the Beast Warriors like an angry swarm of ants.
"Quickly everyone get out of here I'll cover you." Optimus said as he starts blasting away with his chest cannons.
"We can't leave you Big Bot!" Cheetor said.
"This is no time to argue Cheetor go!" Optimus said however an unlikely figure grabs Optimus by the arm and starts to pull him to the exit.
"The pussy cat is correct. You're too valuable to loose Primal." Megatron said before addressing Rampage. "Rampage you cover our escape!"
"Isn't that what I'm already doing?" Rampage said as he keeps shooting at everything that wasn't currently an ally.
The surviving Maximals and Predacons flee down the exit heading back the way they came. Before he leaves Rampage blasts the ceiling dropping debris down and blocking the door to the hangar making sure nothing would follow them.