Chapter 3: Transmetal Driver

Cheetor went walking down the Great Valley with Littlefoot and Cera.

"Do you suppose there might be a way to protect us from Megatron? I'm really worried that he might come back for me only because I was the cause of the Predacons' defeat," Littlefoot said.

"Littlefoot, with us around, you're always safe," Cheetor said. "We'll always protect you at all costs."

"But what's gonna happen without you guys?"

"Don't worry, we'll always be here to protect and defend."

Littlefoot sighed. "You always say the same thing Optimus said."

Cheetor chuckled. "I always wanted to do that."

Inside the Maximal base, Rattrap was walking down the hall when he heard a thud. "What was that?" he asked. He walked down the hallway, and when he opened the door to find the source of the sound, he saw a weird-looking sphere, possibly made of metal. "What is that thing?" He approached the sphere and picked it up. "Hmm. Maybe the Boss Monkey knows."

In the bridge, Optimus was looking at the sphere Rattrap had found. "Hmm. How convenient," he said. "And looking prime."

"What? What is it?" Airazor asked.

"This must be the Transmetal Driver."

"The what driver?" asked Tigatron.

"The Transmetal Driver," said Dinobot. "Something that was created for robotic upgrades."

"I thought the quantum surge was the only cause of our Transmetal bodies," said Airazor.

"That was just quantum surge from Unicron's blood, as I could remember," Rhinox said. "When infected, the Transmetal bodies were born. It happened once before. Or so I thought."

"Well, whatever the reason it came here, I am not sure," Optimus said, "but this is less serious than Megatron's threat upon the Great Valley."

"So, shall we keep it?" Cheetor asked.

Optimus thought for a second and then crossed his arms. "I'm not sure if we shall, but as they say, you never know whether it might come in handy."

"I don't know, Optimus," said Silverbolt. "It could be pretty serious."

"You worry too much, Silverbolt," said Blackarachnia. "Have you forgotten what happened last time?"

"Well... I don't think so."

"I haven't."

"In the meantime, I have to check on the Great Valley. If the Predacons are out there, I'll give you the call," said Optimus. "And one more thing, leave that driver alone." He then left the bridge, as Cheetor looked at the Transmetal Driver in concern.

Back in the Great Valley, Littlefoot was laying on the rock, thinking about the stuff Optimus had told him. Chomper approached him and asked, "Littlefoot, wanna play?"

"I'm still thinking about the things Optimus told me," said Littlefoot. "It's like it's getting more serious since the beginning."

"Oh, don't worry, Littlefoot. Things'll be better in the end."

"You think so?"

"I think so."

Littlefoot then smiled. "Thanks, Chomper. Okay, let's play."

"That's great!" He poked Littlefoot's leg. "You're it!" He ran off laughing, as Littlefoot chased him.

The two laughed as they run around the valley. Little do they know they were being watched by Tarantulas, as he cackled evilly.

Littlefoot chased Chomper around the valley, and they end up running into the forest. But from running around, they wound up getting lost.

"Uh, Littlefoot, where did we enter this forest? I can't understand where to go," Chomper asked, feeling scared.

"I don't know, Chomper," said Littlefoot. "We've been in this forest some times back, but somehow I can't remember."

Chomper heard some sounds, and he gulped. "Littlefoot, I'm scared."

"Don't worry, Chomper. I'll find us a way out."

Littlefoot walked down the forest as Chomper rode on his back, but he was being followed by Tarantulas, as he hid from tree to tree. He chuckled sinisterly.

Littlefoot kept on walking, but as he walked, he and Chomper screamed when he fell through a pile of leaves and into a hole.

"Oh, no," Chomper gasped.

Tarantulas appeared at the hole and cackled. "I have you now," he said. Littlefoot and Chomper gasped when they saw him. "Now I will take you all to the Predacon base. You will make a fine prisoner to Megatron, longneck!"

"Back off, legs!" Rattrap yelled.

Tarantulas turned to see Rattrap aiming his gun at him. "If it isn't the vermin again. You had interfered for the last time. Beast mode!" He switched to beast mode.

Rattrap aimed his pistol. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" He fired a laser, hitting Tarantulas. Tarantulas spun around and hit a boulder.

Silverbolt approached the hole and held his hand down. "Need a hand?" he asked.

Littlefoot knew his paw won't help him grab, so he grabbed Silverbolt's metal hand with his teeth, which made Silverbolt yelp, and Silverbolt quickly managed to pull him and Chomper out of the hole. Littlefoot released his hand.

"That isn't what I had in mind," said Silverbolt, shaking his hand.

"Sorry," said Littlefoot. "But it did hurt my teeth."

"Well, that's what happens when you bite on metal, Littlefoot. I'm just glad you two are safe."

Rattrap rolled by after switching to beast mode. "Let's get moving before legs manages to get up!" he said.

"Hold on," said Silverbolt, grabbing Littlefoot. He flew off with Littlefoot, despite Littlefoot's weight, and Chomper rode on Rattrap as soon as he caught up to him.

"Hey, I'm not the buggy cart here!" Rattrap shouted.

Tarantulas growled as the group took off. "I refuse to lose!" He switched to beast mode and chased them.

Rattrap turned to see Tarantulas after them. "Aw, man! He just won't let up! Rattrap to Optimus! Come in, Boss Monkey!" No response. "Aw, man!"

"Any communication?" Silverbolt asked.

"No!"

Tarantulas managed to catch up to the group. "It's the end of the line!" He cackled. "Tarantulas, Terrorize!" He switched to robot form and aimed his gun, but a laser hit him, and he growled to see Cheetor.

"Leave my friends alone, you nasty spider!" Cheetor said.

"I have no time for your interference!" Tarantulas yelled, firing at Cheetor.

Cheetor dodged the rockets, but one hit the boulder he was standing on, and he lost balance and fell on the ground.

Rattrap rolled to Cheetor. "Spots! How did you get here so fast?"

"Big Bot wasn't at the base, but I got your call," Cheetor said. "I figured you guys are in trouble."

Tarantulas cackled as he got close. "Oh, how the heroic have fallen," he said.

Rattrap switched to robot mode. "Don't count on it, legs!" He fired his gun at Tarantulas, damaging his body, and then he kicked him to a boulder, resulting in the dent on Tarantulas' back.

"Ack! I'm retreating, but next time we meet, you'll be getting a bigger dent!" He switched to beast mode and drove off on his wheels.

The group heard a squawk and saw Terrorsaur flying in, holding the Transmetal Driver.

"He's got the Transmetal Driver!" Cheetor gasped.

"And it's all thanks to you for abandoning your post!" Terrorsaur laughed. "Tarantulas' arrival and the rodent's call was to lure you away from the driver, so that I will take it to Megatron!"

"Don't count on it!" Silverbolt said, and he fired a rocket at Terrorsaur, making him drop the Transmetal Driver. Cheetor got on his feet and ran to catch it.

Terrorsaur squawked with anger. "I'll be taking the Transmetal Driver!" He dived down to attack Cheetor for the driver.

Cheetor caught the Transmetal Driver. Terrorsaur flew down to attack, but Rattrap's laser made him dodge, forcing him to miss. Terrorsaur squawked and flew to attack, but Rattrap fired another laser through his chest, and he fell on the ground.

"Ack! G-Got me..." Terrorsaur said, twitching. "M-Megatron... requesting CR Chamber..."

"Let's head back!" Rattrap said.

Cheetor ran but tripped over, accidentally throwing the driver in midair. He rolled onto his back and gasped to see the orb falling, and it landed on his chest. The impact left a crack on the orb, and the group gasped to see it glowing, and it infected Cheetor's body.

"Cheetor!" cried Littlefoot.

The orb split in half after the infection was finished, and Cheetor laid there.

"Cheetor!" Littlefoot repeated as he ran to Cheetor. "Cheetor, speak to me!"

Rattrap rolled to Cheetor. "Spots, what happened?" He asked.

The group heard rustling sounds and saw Scorponok with a big gun. "Lord Megatron has sent me to take you prisoner, little dinosaur!" Littlefoot gasped to hear this.

"Run, Long Neck! I got this!" Rattrap said, switching to robot mode.

Scorponok fired chaff grenades at Rattrap and Silverbolt, jamming them, before firing a net on Littlefoot, trapping him.

"Littlefoot!" Chomper cried, struggling to cut the net.

Scorponok grabbed the net. "Megatron will be pleased!" he said as he took off.

Cheetor groaned as he opened his eyes, and as he struggled to get up, he saw Scorponok running off with Littlefoot. "No, Littlefoot!" He cried. He suddenly felt the pain in his body, and then, in a flash, his metal parts fell off as the Transmetal Driver's infection transformed his body into a Transmetal II form.

Cheetor was surprised to see his new look but suddenly remembered Littlefoot. He switched to beast mode and ran after Scorponok, firing the booster on his back. "Littlefoot!" He called out.

Littlefoot saw Cheetor coming in fast. "Cheetor!" He gasped as Cheetor tackled Scorponok. "You changed!"

"Let my friend go!" Cheetor yelped as he attacked Scorponok with the clawing.

Scorponok wrestled Cheetor and pushed him to a tree. Cheetor switched to robot mode and fired lasers from his new gun. Scorponok took cover and fired rockets at him. Littlefoot managed to get out of the net and hid behind a boulder.

"Littlefoot!" Chomper cries, running to him and hugging him.

Scorponok stopped firing when Cheetor fired his rocket before he can shoot it, damaging his pincer. "Argh, my pincer! Next time, I'll have allies with me!" He said as he switched to beast mode and took off in a retreat.

Littlefoot and Chomper stayed hidden behind the boulder as Cheetor came to him. "Littlefoot. It's alright now," he said.

Littlefoot turned to see Cheetor. "Cheetor," he said, nuzzling him and crying. "I was scared."

Cheetor hugged his dinosaur friend. "Shh, it's alright."

"Cheetor?" Chomper asked. "I... I don't know how to thank you for saving Littlefoot."

"Well, it's..." Cheetor began but stopped when he heard flying sounds, and he looked to see Optimus arriving, and he switched to beast mode from vehicle mode. To Optimus' surprise, he saw his new Transmetal II body. "Big Bot! That Transmetal Driver infected me, and now I got this new body!"

"Well, that's just Prime," Optimus said. "It would appear the Transmetal Driver had left an upgrade into your systems."

"Optimus, those Predacons, they, they were trying to kidnap me again," Littlefoot said, "and Cheetor saved me!"

"Rattrap and Silverbolt tried to help too," Chomper said.

"I was afraid of this," Optimus said. "We still need to keep the Great Valley under our protection no matter what. Cheetor, I'll need you to be Littlefoot's bodyguard from now on."

"Bodyguard? But Optimus..." Cheetor said.

"The Predacons would do any harm to Littlefoot or his friends. We can't let that happen again, especially after they had found the Cyber Star for us. I trust you to look after Littlefoot and his friends no matter what."

Cheetor looked at Optimus and then at Littlefoot and Chomper, and he knew there was no time to argue. "Understood, Optimus."

Optimus nodded. "Good. Then let's head back."

"But what about Rattrap and Silverbolt?" Littlefoot asked.

"I've sent Rhinox to bring Rattrap and Silverbolt to the CR Chamber for repairs. Now let's go." He switched to vehicle mode and flew off.

Cheetor switched to beast mode. "Come on, guys," he said, and they all walked to follow Optimus all the way back to the Great Valley, with Chomper having to ride on Littlefoot's back.