Pokemon Prime: Beast Hunters
Plus One
The N.A. Base, Kanto
"Incoming Ground Bridge request." Max said.
"From Scotland!" Iris added.
Ratchet opened the Ground Bridge. Ultra Magnus, in his HEMTT truck mode, drove out.
"Ultra Magnus? What happened? Where are the others?" Arcee asked.
"Having a swell time taking the long way home on Ironhide's boat I'm sure." Magnus said. "Misty and May included." He walked away.
"I wondered what was taking so long with those sodas." Max said, already knowing of their disappearance.
"Did you secure the Predacon bone?" Ratchet stopped Magnus in his tracks.
"The, uh, Beast Hunt kinda imploded, Doc."
Jenny came out of her office. "Well I just got wind of another 'Con Hot Spot. Right of Alice Springs, Australia. Since Prime's unit isn't back from oil country..."
"Max, set a Bridge for Jenny's location." Arcee said. She looked at Magnus. "You, roll with me."
"Not today. Alright sweetspark." (#1)
She smiled. "If your alright sending me out there alone." She walked past him.
"Alone is how I prefer to roll."
"Ultra Magnus, you do not want to make me abandon a complex equation to venture outside my comfort zone." Ratchet said.
Magnus groaned. "Fine." The Bridge opened. He followed Arcee's lead. "But in case you hadn't figured it out..."
Australian wilderness
They got to the other side of the vortex. "... I don't play well... with... others."
Both Autobots were surrounded by Decepticon soldiers.
"Scrap." Arcee said.
"Know what I love most about Vehicon troopers?" Magnus whispered to her.
"They're easily distracted." She replied.
He lowered his hand allowing her to place her foot on it. He threw her high in the air which got all the trooper's attention. He began firing at them soon they turned their attention from Arcee to him. He took out his hammer and smacked two troopers with it.
As Arcee landed, she blasted three troopers behind her. She noticed three more troopers advancing towards her. She kick one out. Another trooper tried to punch her which she ducked and punched him in the face. She kicked the third trooper who crashed into another trooper.
Magnus smashed two more troopers with his hammer. Until one trooper sucker punched him from behind. Causing him to lose grip of his hammer. Without his hammer he went all Jackie Chan on the rest of them. Taking all of them all down with ease. Acree helped him take out the last one.
"Sure you weren't a Wrecker?"
"Sure you don't play well with others?"
N.A. Base
Jenny was going over some files when she heard a car pulling up. She went to the window and saw Brock parking his car next to the building and entering inside. She looked at herself at the mirror on her desk. She looks like a mess. "Oh, no." She opened her drawer that contained all her make-up and fragrances.
Meanwhile with everybody else, Max was on his laptop with Iris hang over his shoulder. It was obvious now that they have a thing. Dawn, Piplup, and Pikachu were there alone. They were watching a Pokemon Contest.
"Reminds me of our original adventures." Brock said from behind.
Dawn lowered the TV volume. "Brock. You're finished with your shift?" She resumed the game.
Jenny exited her office and approached Brock. "Dr. Slate, what brings you here?" She asked.
"Well, for starters, Ratchet is my 'partner-in-crime', but also here to collect the Hyper Potion and Full Heal supplies that you so graciously offered to donate that Ratchet should have brought to me. Pokemon Hospital appreciates your generosity, Agent Jenny." Brock replied.
"Please. Call me Wanda." Jenny said.
Everyone looked at her with shock. This was the first time Jenny revealed her first name. (#2) Not only that, but they were shocked that there is a woman out there who has her eyes set on Brock. (#3)
"Guys, Max found a Predacon talon in a museum." Iris said. Everyone went to join them.
Max read the description of the picture. "Scientist were stumped when they excavated it in 1922. So it is kept in storage for study."
"But we're fresh out of Beat Hunters." Dawn said.
Ratchet groaned. "I didn't choose 'emergency' as my vehicle mode for laughs."
Jenny or by her first name, Wanda took this opportunity to impress Brock. "Maybe you don't need a Beast Hunter."
"Or maybe we should just wait for Optimus." Brock suggested. "Remember what happened when we tried to get the Energon Harvester?"
"I'll have you know, Dr. Slate, I was an army ranger and international agent years before I heard the name Optimus Prime. I'm more than equipped to handle a MooMoo milk run. In fact, why don't you... tag along."
"Well... it has been a while since I was out there in the field.
"Brock's right. If you take away the situation that happened at the Omega Lock the last time he ever was out there was when we were all stuck in the Shadowzone." Max explained. "I'm sure he wouldn't last as long as we have have."
Max's words struck down Brock's pride which he was quick to reclaim. "Come on, Agen-I mean, Wanda." He made his way to the door. Wanda followed her.
Iris and Dawn gave Max a scowling look. "What? Was it something I said?" He asked. SMACK! "Ow!"
"What do you think?" Iris replied.
The Nemesis
Predaking landed on the flight deck, where he waited for it to give him the Predacon eye. "Ah, you have preformed well, my pet." He stroked its head. With the bone in the other hand. "This will be a splendid contribution to the spawning of your Predacon brethren."
"My Liege, we have located another one of Shockwave's Predacon energy signatures. Weak, but steady." Knock Out said.
"Excellent. Knock Out, do not return empty-handed."
"Moi? Don't know the meaning of the word."
"Isn't 'empty-handed' two words?" Starscream asked, returning from the previous mission.
"You would know. Or did your missing armor turn up?"
"Why you wheel-bound-"
"Starscream!" Megatron intervened. "You have failed me enough for one day. Assume the task of monitoring for Predacon energy signatures. AT ONCE!"
"Yes, my Liege." Starscream shove Knock Out out of the way.
"I'm sure you'll find the gig as invigorating as I did, Screamer."
Starscream growled at Knock Out's sarcasm.
Megatron and Knock Out made their way back inside. "Shockwave has initiated the cloning process with the specimens gathered thus far." Megatron said. "The Predacon among us would be but the first of a new beast machine super soldiers."
Predaking used it high sensitive hear to listen every word Megatron said. It purred in intrigued. Until Starscream interrupted. "What are you lurking about for?" THat casued it to his at him. "Get back to your kennel!" He kicked its tail. In response it swung its tail at him. He jumped out of the way in fear. He recovered to see that its tail smashed the communications array. He stood back up. "You mindless brute! Look what at you've done!"
Australian Cave
Arcee and Magnus were walking down the tunnel. She noticed Magnus' sudden change of behavior. "You're awfully quiet, Magnus."
"I've never been one for chit-chat." He replied.
"Why do you pretend? If you really wanted to roll alone, you would have hit the open road today, but you didn't. You called for a Bridge back to Base."
"Hey! Don't assume you know me!"
"I'm not assuming." She stepped in front of him. "Now, care to chit-chat about what happened out there?"
He had a long pause.
Oreburgh Mining Museum, Oreburg City, Sinnoh
It was late at night as Brock and Wanda were in the empty parking lot. Brock carried the crate containing the talon.
"What did I tell you? MooMoo milk run." She said.
"With one cranky Miltank." He chuckled.
"The curator. He was acting like he was guarding the Mona Lisa instead of some prehistoric lug-nut that's been gathering dust since the first Poke-Ball was created."
"I'll admit, Wanda, you handled him well. I'm impressed you managed to stay calm during the situation. I would have probably just walked away."
"Dr. Slate, I'd say that puts you one step ahead of my ex. He would have caused an ugly scene."
"Mmm. Divorced, huh?"
Her eyes widened. "Uuuhhhh, yeah." She blushed and nervously looked away. Then looked back at him. "What about you? What's the story with Mrs. Slate?"
"Well I never really did get married and you can say my love life has been a saga of no love connections, but one I'm sure you-"
Brock was cut off a car headlights. As the vehicle came closer to them they realized it was Knock Out. "I have a bone to pick with both of you." He said. A strange looking cannon popped out from his sides.
Brock grabbed the crate from Jenny's arms. "Run!" He shouted as he pulled out one of his Poke-Balls. Too late however as the cannon flashed a blinding light. A minute after being blinded, Brock and Jenny found themselves in Knock Out's trunk.
"Kick back, relax and enjoy the scenery." He said to them. He slammed the trunk door and drove off. Leaving behind both Brock and Jenny's Poke-Balls and there cell phones.
Route 207
Knock Out was driving along the road as he attempted to contact the Nemesis. "Knock Out to Lord Megatron. I have secured one vintage Predacon talon. Plus, two of the Autobots' pets, for you to employ as hostages, lab experiments...well, any way you see fit. So go on, Big M, tell me you love me more than Starscream." There was nothing but static. "My liege? Hello?" More static. "Too familiar?"
The Nemesis
Predaking watched Starscream as he babbles on about the damaged array. "The primitive mutt demolishes our entire communications network and Lord Megatron intends to breed more of it! And use my Pokecons to become just like them!" Starscream looked at the Vehicons working the array. "Would you two hurry!? I want this fixed before our master... is... bothered... by such distracting menusher." The Vehicons stepped aside. Indicating that their work is done. He went to the control panel from behind the array. He began typing in a code. "Entering access override code and rebooting now." He went to the front to see if the damage has been undone. It didn't as a energy surge caused the array to burst. "No, no, no, no. Ragh!" He kick the array all so maliciously.
Perdaking observed how Starscream was abusing the technology. Causing it to snarl and growl quietly at him.
N.A. Base
Max was trying to call Brock. Hoping he can make amends after his comment. Which Iris had to knock some sense into him. And he's got the bump to prove it. He hung up.
"Nothing?" Iris asked.
"His phone rang and then it went straight to voice mail." Max replied. "Maybe they stopped for dinner."
"Uh oh! Looks like Brock finally caught a woman." Dawn said, excitedly. Everyone looked at her. "What? You mean to tell me that you never noticed the hints that Jenny was interested in Brock?"
Before anyone can respond, Iris phone rang. She answered. "Brock? Listen, you know Max-"
"Guess again, Spring Flower Iris!" May said, on the other end of the call. "Now what did my baby brother do to Brock? Pulled his ear again?"
Inside the Ironclad
Misty snatched the phone from May. "Hey, I hope you guys aren't still thirsty. Because I brought something better than sodas." She looked at the deactivated Apex Armor.
"Well that's good to know. Well see you soon. Because we got keep all lines open." Iris said.
"Wait! Don't hang up. Did Ultra Magnus show? We think that Wheeljack and Bulkhead are really worried about him."
"Yeah, he's alright. In fact he's on a mission with Arcee."
"Ultra Magnus is riding with a new partner already?! That's cold."
"What? no. It's just one mission. They're not partners."
"Ha, ha. I wondered how long it would have taken those two lone wolves to hook up."
"What?"
Route 206
Knock Out was driving along side the Bike Way. One his way to Eterna City. Meanwhile inside his trunk, Brock had say it; "I told you we should havewaited for Optimus. Now we're in a worse situation than what happened with the Energon Harvester." He said.
Wanda groaned. "There it is. The 'I told you so'. Well look, Brock, he was already at the museum. He would have snatched the bine before Prime had the chance to get it."
"What difference would it have it make? I mean we're locked in a trunk!"
"Hello! How long have you two been dating? Because you bicker like an old married couple." Knock Out interrupted.
Wanda blushed. "What?"
"We're not dating." Brock corrected.
"Frankly, I find it repulsive. The whole idea of you fleshies...interfacing." He shuttered. "Knock Out to Base, requesting pick up... again." More static. "Alrright! Is anyone up there receiving me?!"
While he was trying to reach the Nemesis, Wanda whispered. "Dr. Slate... Brock. If we get aboard Megatron's warship, then the chances of us being found decrease a thousand fold."
"I would call out my Pokemon, but he relieved them from me back at the museum."
"He too took away my Pokemon and a few of my other gadgets."
"Are you sure? Did you check all your pockets?"
Wanda scuffled her hands in her pockets. She felt an item and pulled it out. "Pepper spray."
"On a Cybertronian?"
"Not like we have many other options."
Inside the Australian cave
Magnus and Arcee were drilling through a cave wall. "Guys like Ironhide, I don't them peel my paint and if they try to tell me how to lead my crew, then I peel their paint." Magnus said.
"So if it isn't the new commander who's grinding your gears... it's Bulkhead and Wheeljack." Arcee said.
He sighed. "It just burns me when a Wrecker goes soft. Especially if it's two of them." He continued drilling with aggression.
"Magnus, you'll always have the Wreckers as you knew them." She placed her hand over her chest. "In here. Times change, players come and go, and if you can't adapt... you'll rust... like the bones we're digging for. Don't push either of them away. If something would have happened to them... you would never be able to forgive yourself." Magnus stopped drilling. Remebering how he almost lost them to the Tox-En and Hardshell. "Trust me, I know." She said as she remembered Bluestreak and Sideswipe.
Railroad tracks, 2 miles east from Eterna City
Knock Out continued driving on. "Knock Out calling to Base. Requesting for Ground Bridge for the Umph-teenth time. Come in Base." More static. He groaned. "I can't just drive around all night-"
He was cut off as Brock came through the backseats and grabbed the steering. Both of them fighting for driving control. The made a sharp turn for the tracks.
"Watch the rims!" Knock Out shouted as the dirt seeped into his tires.
Brock slammed the brakes. "Now!" He shouted. Wanda ran out of the Decepticon and took off in one direction. Brock took off in another.
"Well isn't that grand." Knock Out transformed and grabbed Brock. He turned Brock to face him. "Did I say 'grand'? I meant totally rude."
Suddenly Brock pulled out the pepper spray and sprayed it directly into his eyes."
Knock Out screamed. "MY OPTICS!" The pain caused him to release Brock, who ran away. Knock Out's optics readjusted and repaired. When he was able to see again he noticed all the parked box cars. "Ooohhh, are we playing a human game now? Because I would be happy to teach you the Decepticon version, Hide-and-go-Shriek." He laughed maliciously.
Every time he looked away or turned in the other direction, Wanda and Brock evaded his gaze. This continued on for an hour. Brock was walking along a box car. He placed his hands around his mouth. "Wanda! Wanda! Where are you?"
"Ah ha!" Brock looked to his right and saw Knock Out reaching out for him. Apparently the box car that he was passing had both its side doors open. He squeezed Brock so he won't resist. "All right little lady, show yourself! Or I'll have to torture squinty here so bad that he'll have his eyes open for the rest of his pathetic life!"
Wanda laid near a box car. In her experiences in the field, she would have be calm and collect. But with Brock's life on the line, she was panting and her heart was racing.
N.A. Base
Max was still trying to reach Brock. "This is Pokemon Doctor Brock. I can't get to the phone right now. If this an emergency regarding your Pokemon, please leave a message and I'll contact you as soon as I possibly can."
"Straight to voicemail. just like Agent Jenny's phone." Max said.
"Maybe they went to a movie." Dawn suggested as she was playing with Max's laptop.
"Dawn, don't!"
Inside the Australian cave
Ultra Magnus and Arcee were on their way out when he finally confessed. "Ok, running from Bulk and Jackie, shutting down like that, pretty spineless of me."
"On the bright side, you have plenty of backbone now." She looked back. Staring at the Predacon spine.
Suddenly Max contacted her. "Arcee, I need your help."
Oreburgh Mining Museum
Him and Iris were at the parking lot. She picked up Brock and Wanda's Poke-Balls and put them in Max's bag. Max picked up the two phone. "I think Brock and Agent Jenny are in trouble." He said, examining the tire tracks.
Railroad tracks
Knock Out was wandering around. Holding a firm grip on Brock. "Last chance she-human! If you're not out here with my prize in the next 2.3 seconds your boyfriend here..." The sound of a train departing got his attention. He turned around and as the train left it revealed Wanda's location. She has the box in her arms.
"Okay, first off; he might be my boyfriend... some day." She said. That cause Brock to blush until Knock Out squeezed him again. "And second; you are not laying a metal digit on him." She smashed the box to the ground. To reveal the box was empty. "Not if you ever want to see you precious talon again!"
Knock Out swiftly gabbed her. "Where is it?!"
"Leave her alone!" Brock shouted.
She struggled to breathe. "I hid it on a train car. Let us go and I'll tell you which one."
Knock Out sneered. He looked around the area. He growled in frustration. Then he realized that the talon was on the train the just departed. "Try as you might... you can't con a 'Con." He transformed and took them.
Route 211, Sinnoh
"Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy ride." Wanda and Brock struggled to unbuckle the belts. "Oh, wait. You can't unfasten your seat belts. My bad."
The Nemesis
"Communications have been down for how long!?" Megatron asked. Obviously finding out about the mishap.
"Soundwave practically has the dish repaired, Master." Starscream points him out fixing the array.
"Which is all well and and good for Soundwave,..." He looked at Starscream. "But for YOU!"
Megatron was interrupted by an incoming transmission. "Knock Out to Lord Megatron, please come in!"
"See." Starscream nervously chuckled. "All fixed."
Route 211
"Knock Out, do you have the Predacon bone?" Megatron asked.
"In my sights, my Liege." He noticed headlights on his rear view mirror. "As are a pair of Autobots riding my rear."
The Nemesis
"Understood. Just make sure you secure the specimen." Megatron demanded.
Route 211
Arcee accelerated to gain up on Knock Out. Above them the Decepticon Ground Bridge opened and four Insecticons flew out. Two chase after her. They opened fire. Causing her to serpentine. The other two attempted to box Magnus. He transformed and jumped up high. He wiped them both out with a spiral swing of his hammer. He transformed back and ran over them as they crashed.
The remaining two continued blasting at Arcee. She used a hillside to jump in the air. She transformed and spun around and fired. The blaster fire shot one down and it crashed to a power line. As she landed she transformed and drove off.
Knock Out got himself close to the train. "Now in which train car would a deceptive little human choose to bury a bone. My money's on the convertible." He shifted to fifth gear.
Arcee was almost there when the last Insecticon swooped in and rammed her. She transformed before she crashed and wrecked. She noticed Magnus driving by. "Get Jenny and Brock." Then she noticed the bug circiling around. She pulled out her Energon sniper pistol and with on clear shot it blasted right through it. As the explosion cleared she can see the chase from a distance.
Magnus was right behind Knock Out. "Here's where you get out." He drove up on the hillside. He transformed and released Wanda and Brock in the process. He landed on the train car.
Wanda and Brock screamed in terror as they're falling. Magnus transformed and grabbed them. He rolled and transformed back and slammed the brakes to gain balance.
Arcee resumed the chase. Knock Out grabbed the talon. He transformed and landed on the ground and drove off. "Lord Megatron, if a Ground Bridge doesn't open tout suite your specimen will belong to the Autobots."
Just like that the Decepticon Ground Bridge opened in front of him. He drove in as it began to close. Arcee stopped and transformed. Her feet grind the dirt as she went past through the spot where the vortex use to be. The train of course, whizzed on by. "Scrap." Magnus pulled up next to her. She noticed Wanda and Brock weren't in the front seats. "Where are they?"
"In back." He opened the trailer he was hauling. They stood up feeling dizzy and letting out a sigh of relief.
The N.A. Base
The Ground Bridge opened and the four walked through the vortex. Max, Iris, Dawn, Pikachu, and Piplup approached them. "Well the Moomoo milk run turned a little sour, but Wand and I are just fine." Brock said.
Max went up to them and handed their belongings including the Poke-Balls. "Listen, Brock. I'm about what I said earlier."
"No problem, Max."
"How about a cup of coffee, Brock? If you're not too busy." Jenny said.
"Sure thing, Wanda." The two made their way to her office.
At the same time the team from Scotland returned. Arcee whispered her advice again to Magnus. He sighed and approached Bulkhead and Wheeljack. He apologized to them and just like that the trio did a chest pump.
"Bromance trumps romance." Dawn said. "Just glad Ash isn't here to see Arcee take up a new partner."
"Pika-pika!"
"Piplup!"
The Nemesis
In the bridge, Knock Out stood on one knee. "You have certainly done well today, Knock Out." Megatron said. "Which is more than I can say... for some!" He looked back at Starscream.
"It was the Beast that disrupted communications, my Liege. I beg you... to reconsider Project Predacon. The creature is incouragable and void of all but the rudimentary intelligence."
Meanwhile out on the flight deck, Predaking was hacking its' way through the communication array. Digging up all the information about Project Predacon.
(#1) - Autobot way of saying sweetheart.
(#2) - In one episode in the Diamond & Pearl series, it is revealed that all Nurse Joy's have a first name, so that means Joy is their last/family name. Ergo this rule may also apply to all the Jennys.
(#3) - Other than Pike Queen Lucy.
Personal Note: I'm sorry about the hiatus. I can explain; first - I moved, so that meant I didn't have that much internet access. Second - my grandfather passed away this past October 27th and I was going through phases of grief and denial. But thanks to the spirit of Christmas, I'm finally straightened out and have got my inspiration back! So here's my early Christmas gift for you. I'll try to get the next chapter by either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.