I do not own Transformers: Beast Wars.

Chapter 16: Reunion (Go With the Flow)

It was around four weeks that we were in Tarantulas' care. Surprisingly, the tests he performed weren't at all that painful, and reminded me of the check-ups I had with Rhinox. Although it seemed like he was preparing me to be his meal the first few days, as the tests got more thorough, he instantly began treating me like a patient. He also was fairly mild when it came to addressing Transmutate, the spider obviously wanted to be on her good side since she was to 'join' Megs. As if I would let that happen. Anyway, the procedure to mold Transmutate into a Predacon soldier wasn't done in a day, or even a week. And whatever Tarantulas wanted to observe from me, I didn't give him the satisfaction –even if he knew that my human anatomy had been altered, he was clueless as to what I could really do and tried many times to encourage me. Sucker. Oh, and apparently he had quite a few other projects that stressed him out, what and with the other Predacons (and Grape-Face himself) when they snooped around his laboratory. I have to admit, I did like their company (except 'yesss' man) and I'd play hand games with Waspinator from my spot in a kennel. Hell, when Quickstrike dropped by we'd chat up the room too, and Inferno, well, he left me be figuring that maybe I was learning a 'lesson'.

As if.

The longer I stayed the more I heard. Valuable time eavesdropping eventually led me to what I wanted to hear; mentions of a disruptor ray and very little gossip of the Nemesis.

I got some rest when he was busy with other things, and me and Transmutate were permitted to talk with each other, as long as it wasn't plotting, or taunting him behind his back.

Oh how I was tempted.

Transmutate had changed in physical appearance quite significantly, as preparation for when Tarantulas would have her use the CR chamber to complete the process, and pick a beast mode. Ranty had complained once or twice how the transition was tedious work, which it was. One could not simply remove her spark and place into a new protoform because 1) they had no clue where her immense power came from (whether it was body or spark) and 2) they'd need a protoform. Which Tarantulas was not in possession of. I considered that a good thing, orders or no orders, I didn't trust Tarantulas with a delicate task. So, I just watched on as Tarantulas performed surgical work on my friend time and time again, and did an Ark load of cursing while he was at it.

"Would you hold still!" and speaking of delicate tasks...

"Make me-" I yelped as he stuck a needle in my arm. But it wasn't anything like the other needles. This needle was special. "You're such a pain" he scurried over to the main computer, and slipped the sample in, which was the hundredth one while in his lab. Ugh.

"Yet you still deal with me, gee I must be real special for you to not eat. I can't imagine how bummed you were that day when you found I was more than just a succulent meal" I sneered.

"…don't remind me…" he grumbled (in hopes I didn't catch it) and glanced over his shoulder "I am capable of thinking with more than just my stomach you know"

"Uh huh" I scowled, mustering up the meanest glare I could "Then why haven't you solved the mystery behind my condition? What I can do hmmm?". He frowned.

"The mutations in your body are of Vok origin, and I'm very close to discovering why they're there"

"Is it gonna take another four weeks? Come on Ranty, this should be child's play to you"

Tarantulas yellow visor narrowed dangerously "I have more important things that require more of my attention than you do…" as he spun on his heel and continued to work "such as Transmutate"

With a change in attitude, I sighed "How is she?"

"That's a little better; you should use that nice-girl attitude of yours more often, makes you more pleasant"

"How is she?"

"She's fine". My eyes went wide, that had been the first time that Tarantulas had not mentioned Transmutate as an 'it'.

"That's all I needed to know…say, whatcha working on now?"

"…none of your business…" his tone certainly implying that it was my business. I smirked and (since I was out of my cage, but on a leash) walked up behind him; I pulled on one his spider legs.

"Pwwwweeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaassse-"

"Fine!" he moved aside. I stared blankly at the screen. Are those entries about me?!

"Nehehe, do you even know what you're looking at?"

"That's the problem; I do" I drilled him with my meanest glare "Explain"

"Is your name Megatron-"

"Explain" I growled menacingly.

"You are probably aware that we've documented your arrival"

"Yep"

"I surmised you were of some importance to the aliens-"

"Then why did you want to eat me!"

Tarantulas chuckled "What gave you that idea"

"The preparations you did during the first week…?"

"Don't be absurd. Where was I –ah yes" he clicked his mandibles and refocused on the entries "afterward, I had been documenting your behavior and have been on the lookout for anymore strange anomalies. Do you recall the appearance of a strange stasis pod?"

"Yes, we retrieved it while Megatron attacked our base…that day" I was sure to throw that in, to show I was on the same page.

"Indeed. I was there"

Wait… I turned red "You saw me eat that cake didn't you-?!"

"Ah ha!" …I just got suckered… "Are you telling me you ingested whatever contents were in that pod?!"

"…I'm going back in my cage now…". Tarantulas grabbed my arm. "The heck man! Let go!"

"No"

"Unless you have something that can scan through my brain and find any missing pieces I can't help you!"

"Nehehe, good suggestion!". I gulped as he pulled me toward a slab with restraints (whilst he took off my leash), his visor narrowed to a slit. Nopenopenopenopenope! My eyes snapped over to Transmutate, whom was heavily sedated from her latest, and last, surgery. Oh Primus, he's really going through with this! I struggled against the binds, even though it was pointless.

I shut my eyes as the transmetal spider moved behind me. Gotta buy time –this is the last straw!

"Any snarky comments you'd like to make?"

"You're a hacker"

"A superb hacker"

I groaned and shifted my gaze back to the entries. He can't hack into my memories…I. Won't. Let. Him! I thought about all my family and friends from both universes. I was not going to give it all up to some perverse excuse of a spider. I shut my eyes even tighter as I thought about what part of me I could weaponize and use to escape, and get me and Transmutate to safety. I didn't care that I'd be revealing a very intriguing ability to Tarantulas for him to exploit whenever. But I did not care. Not when my memories were on the line. And trust me; those were all the motivation I needed to want to break out of Tarantulas laboratory. But first, I was going to break Tarantulas. I gonna go all kinds of devil on his ass! With a dose of determination, I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on a part of me that wasn't bound, that perhaps I could elongate it. Yes folks, I had every intention of growing a tail. And it was going to be glorious.

I could feel my tailbone grow longer, without the slightest care that it was going to put a hole through my faded blue PJ bottoms. It was a small sacrifice.

:"Tarantulas come in":

And that was for naught because that was when I was (indirectly) saved by the purple fossil, the spider then grumbled in agitation and -with a few clicks- reported back to his 'leader'. Insert air quotations. "What is it Megatron"

:"Impertinent arachnid, did you already forget about the energon disruptor ray?":

I heard a nervous clicking. "Forgive me! I've just been busy with other projects, I -uh- I'll be there right away!". I took that time to 'shrink' my tail. And now I have a hole in my PJ's –great

:"You better, otherwise I'll send Dinobot to personally end our little contract": and just like that the line ended. I snickered as I heard Tarantulas make a mad dash around his lab, probably to save and secure his work. Once he was done with everything else, he hurried over to me, picked me up, and then tossed me back into my containment area. I scowled at his retreating form. "Stay put!" and with those parting words he left with a maniacal chuckle. I had the chance to really hurt him earlier…drat, I shoulda taken it! I sighed as loud as I could, oh well, time to get us outta here.

Instead of re-growing my tailbone, I focused on making my forearm an axe (again). I only needed to chop off one of the bars, afterward I was able to simply slide through the gap. I hurried over to where Transmutate groggily recovered from her latest surgery, which was centered on her head. Not only was its shape altered, it was the processor that was the area of focus. I prayed Tarantulas hadn't inserted a 'brainwash' chip…yet. "Transmutate?" my arm morphed back into its regular shape, my friend stirred. "Cass…sie…?" it's not like she resorted back to broken speech out of will, she was still very groggy. So I helped her onto her feet. And that's where my eyes rested on the CR chamber. Should I even suggest it? After all we've been through

"How do I look?" she asked wryly. A big grin on her face, no doubt recovered from her surgery on such short notice. I admired her resilience.

"Like you could use a nap"

Red optics locked onto the CR chamber. Transmutate shook her head as if to dismiss something.

"Hey…can you still fly? Tarantulas hasn't tampered with your flight system has he?"

"No…no...its just that…is it wrong that I want to use it?"

I won't argue with you… Transmutate surely wanted to be like the other Transformers in the Beast Wars; she wanted to fit in, who could blame her with all the harassment she faced before our time in the laboratory. Not just because her structure was a 'nightmare' as Rhinox had put it (I still shivered with that memory) but because she didn't have a beast mode. Sure, I believed in the 'perfect just the way you are' ideology, however, since she had Tarantulas operate on her over our duration in the lab, she couldn't quite return to her 'old' self (not that it was her old self to begin with, but you get the idea) and she knew that, so she wanted to continue going the only direction she could…that being forward. I did not argue with her.

"Just…be quick okay? I'll keep an eye for Tarantulas". She smiled and took slow, eager (yet hesitant) steps toward the chamber. "Transmutate"

"Hmmm?"

"Pick whatever you truly want…because it will stick with you"

Red optics beamed and she smiled. "I will"

It was easier to keep track of time because there was a little Cybertronian clock sitting in the corner, and thanks to my time with the Maximals, I could read it. Transmutate had already taken quite a bit of time in the chamber, but that didn't bother me. The machine also seemed to be in the process of healing any impurities from her past surgeries. Roughly an hour or more had passed before someone (or some ones) entered Tarantulas's lair, and none of them were Tarantulas, from what I could have gathered from my acute hearing. I ducked down behind a stalagmite and listened intently on the two intruders.

"And you led me to this creepy cave because…?" that one was Trailblazer.

"Reasons, now shut up" and the other was…Rampage?

I nearly jumped out of my skin when the CR chamber's lid hissed open. And rather loudly, so with complete disregard of Transmutate's personal space, I bounded over there and seized her wrists. "What-"

I shushed her and pulled her behind the stalagmite with me.

"You heard that right? Right…?" Trailblazer trailed off as Rampage's steps seemed to become undetectable. I got a bad feeling-

"Eep!" we both squeaked once we found our feet leave the ground. Two red arms suspended us in mid-air.

"Is that who I think it is?!" Trailblazer jogged up and stopped three or so feet from Rampage, a dangerous distance for a Maximal. "'Course I don't know that other lady…"

Rampage hummed. "Cassandra, are you responsible for Transmutate's capture?"

"I didn't intentionally get us caught! Tarantulas pulled a fast one on us!"

Trailblazer just watched, unsure whether to grab us and run, or fight the Predacon crustacean. I hoped it was the former.

"Mmhmm" Green optics scanned the area "Where is she"

"You're holding her" Transmutate quipped, her soft voice barely heard. Did Rampage not recognize her? I still do…

Rampage went rigid, dropping us both out of shock. We shuffled backward with our backs to Trailblazer.

"Ehehehe, so ah, how did you know we were here?"

"…I…only heard mention of Transmutate…-"

"Did you know she looked this cute?" Trailblazer, with all his acrobatic ability, dodged Rampage's rocket. Me and Transmutate shook our heads.

"Okay, so you came looking for me but…"

"Why is Trailblazer here?"

The transmetal horse's head peeked around a massive stalactite. "I followed him"

"Why?" we asked simultaneously.

"We engaged while I was searching for wherever Tarantulas had absconded with you…" Rampage shot Trailblazer another 'I will shoot you' look "he wouldn't leave me be, especially when he thought I had something to do with your disappearance". He then shot me a dirty look.

"Oh well, excuse me! But who was the one who asked –no, demanded me to relocate her?!"

Rampage frowned. I dusted myself off and stood, "By the way, I stayed with her like any good friend would" I huffed "You're welcome"

"Wow, you two bicker like an old married couple-" Trailblazer dodged another rocket.

"Uhmm…"

We all turned our attention on Transmutate. "Perhaps we should move this somewhere else? Preferably far away from this laboratory"

Me and Transmutate stuck close to Trailblazer to discourage Rampage from killing him, because we were not certain how long their truce was going to last. We guessed until we reached one of the cave's many exits.

"Care to explain how you got yourself and our friend captured". That's right, he still wanted an explanation. Crabby was not good at dropping things. I sighed as I mounted Trailblazer.

"We encountered Tarantulas on one of our supply runs, we tried to run –er, fly, but the sneaky arachnid injected Transmutate with a cyber-venom dart while we were still in the air…and well, things just went downhill from there"

"Please don't be mad at her" Transmutate tugged on his arm "I don't like watching you guys fight"

"I'm not mad" Rampage grumbled "I'm just disappointed". A feeling of relief spread through me, I did not show it.

"This is heart-warming and all, watching a married couple make up but we should really get going" Trailblazer shot a horse smirk at Rampage, so very like him to take advantage of our 'friendship'. I hoped to Primus he wouldn't gossip about it once we were at base.

Transmutate was hopping up and down on the balls of each foot. "Lead the way!" she transformed swiftly (the moment we were all waiting for) to reveal a transmetallized flying fox bat. It suited her. It suited her so well, I had to stifle an excited squeal.

"Onward!" we trotted forward, only to stop when we heard Transmutate whine.

"Rampage?"

The crab had a (gentle) grip on the bat's foot. "No"

And I could understand why. "You don't want her to join the Maximals do you?"

"Perceptive, as I should expect" Rampage let Transmutate go. The bat continued to fly in place.

"I don't want to continue hiding either"

"The Predacons aren't an option…are they?" Trailblazer added his two cents.

Transmutate's wing beats lulled us into a state of deep thought. I was glad we didn't do so in the cave, we likely would have been there until Tarantulas or any of the other Predacons showed up. It was like a custody battle all over again.

"You know what!" I clapped my palms together "I think Transmutate should decide!"

Rampage mumbled something unhappily under his breath. Ruby optics beamed in delight.

"I have given it some thought and…"

Oh the suspense.

"…I want to join the Predacons"

Insert the crickets.

"I would be safer with the Maximals, but I don't think they'd really accept me…they did, after all, want to put me in stasis. I don't want to sit around at our hide-out and suck up resources either…" she sighed "And as much as the idea of being under the command of that awful slag-sucking saurian disgusts me-"

Rampage shot me a look. I pretended to be entranced by the sky.

"I want to protect Rampage"

Rampage jumped, flabbergasted. I suppressed a squeal, my hands trying to hold back another nose bleed. Trailblazer chuckled.

"Well then, stay safe. Really hoping I don't have to fight you in the future, but it's inevitable"

"I'll help you guys behind Megatron's back"

"That ah girl" Trailblazer stomped his hooves. Rampage visibly deflated, but in being the brave soul he was, he gestured for Transmutate to follow him.

"Come. We are burning daylight" and boy, he sounded sullen.

We went back to the cave to get my stuff, after that, we had to resume our dreaded journey to Mount St. Hilary. I grimaced once I heard the mechanical whines and scrapes as two massive doors creaked open. Strangely enough, there wasn't anyone around to scold and/or hug me to near death. The silence was a tad eerie as Trailblazer carried me deeper into the base. I figured he was personally escorting me to a surprise confrontation where all the Maximals and ex-Predacons were present. And with that dreadful thought I silently hoped that the Maximal horse would have brought me to my room, but I suppose that would have been too much to ask for, or perhaps wish for. I sighed when we reached the command center.

"By the Matrix!" Rhinox's heavy footsteps thudded across the room. My small hands gripped Trailblazer's chest armor and did not let go. the exception being when he carefully set me down.

"Where have you been, we've been worried sick!" it was a far cry from how calm the rhino normally was. Just a sure sign he cared for me, like any 'uncle' would. "I…" he took slow and steady breaths "I'm so glad you're unharmed". A massive hand rested on my head.

"Yeah, I'm peachy" I eyed Trailblazer nervously. Please don't tell him…

"Found her in Tarantulas lair, whatever he did, didn't ruin her pluckiness"

"She was…oh never mind, let me run some scans on you…" there were a few beeps "With your permission?"

I hesitated. I really did not want any more tests, but I dismissed my personal feelings, this is Rhinox, not Tarantulas…you're in Mount St. Hilary not that creep-show of a laboratory… "Fine" the word that left my mouth was harsher than I intended it to be. When he was done, he walked over to where Trailblazer was patiently waiting. "After all this time…how did you find her?"

"It was all by chance 'Nox. Saw a cave and just had to explore" Trailblazer defended, like a pal.

Rhinox smirked and looked over to me. I anticipated a lecture, and a mean one too.

"'Just around the base of the mountain' you said…" or maybe a snarky rebuke "Whatever will we do with you?"

"I'm not going to be thrown in the brig am I, as a form of disciplinary action? Because I did not foresee Tarantulas capturing me"

"Don't worry" a third voice echoed. Heavy footsteps belonging to a massive metal gorilla strolled into the room "For now, we're just happy that your home"

"I don't know, she let herself get captured…"

"Shut up Trailblazer"

The ape chuckled as we began to bicker. And I was very grateful that he did so, that, and that I was let off the hook real easy. I did feel a ping of guilt though, Trailblazer probably did too.

"How are you feeling?" Rhinox patted my back. Rattrap took that as his time to enter the room. And boy, I got quite the welcome back. Meaning I got the wind knocked out of me as RatBoy jumped on me and squeezed me within every inch of my life.

"Ah man, I thought I'd nevah see those pretty little chocolate eyes again!" he squeezed me even tighter to the point where my 'pretty little chocolate eyes' nearly bulged out of my skull. Trailblazer snickered at my poor attempts of escape, and would have joined if he didn't know that it would kill me. More Beast Warriors filed into the room to see what all the commotion was about, only to add to the ruckus as they all gushed over me, except for maybe BA who respected my personal space. The she-spider smirked as a Transmetal-II Cheetor hugged me shortly after Rattrap relinquished his grip. After that, Silverbolt patted my head, ruffling my hair in brotherly affection while Trailblazer patted my back. Optimus and Rhinox stood on the sidelines and watched with humongous smiles, taking time out of their busy schedule to witness the joyous relief on their team's faces. Even Depth Charge poked his head in, the curious manta quickly getting absorbed into the reunion. And the funniest part, he entered at his own will, but only because he wanted to give me a ration of shit. Oh well, I accepted it and went on embarrassing him with childish retorts, all of which revolved around him having a 'crush' on me.

And then Dinobot came in the room. Uh oh! I ran out of the room laughing, an infuriated Dinobot chasing after me just as I had finished making Depth Charge hide his face from everyone.

"Get back here so I can punt across the globe you troublesome female!"

Ah yes. Life was good.

I was surprised no one pointed out the evident hole in my PJ's.

Quick question:

Did the CR chambers in the Beast Wars series also double as a method to get beast forms?

If they didn't I apologize and will re-edit that part of the story. It's been a long while since I watched the beginning of the series...