(Hey everyone, I had hoped to get this chapter done on the 4th weeks ago but as usual some things that I couldn't avoid got in the way... So I apologize for posting this chapter late, very late. As for what I wanted to say about the personalities I based Blaster's Mini-cons on. it's based on how they were in both the G1 and Aligned Continuity before this story, but the closest comparison I could find for each of them are related to one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Leonardo = Steeljaw (Steward leader of the four)
Donatello = Rewind (Intelligent know-it-all)
Michelangelo = Eject (Jock-ish jokster)
Raphael = Ramhorn (Tempermental fighter)
My bad, if you all still have questions or if I accidentally missed them, please PM me and I'll make a page to answer them as much as possible.
For all of you who have been waiting for me to try and post the 3rd chapter of "Heart of the League" I hit a writer's block on that given how to weave it together and not break any established thing between Kingdom Hearts and the DCAU.
I would like to thank Flower princess11 the help give she provided with this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Star Wars and/or Transformers of any continuity. They are the properties of their respective owners.
Reminder: Don't skip what I'll write after the chapter is done, it's got a lot of explanations that might help understand what's going on.
"Talking"
"{Translated from Cybertronian language}"
"{Translated from Organic language}"
"Communication"
'Thoughts'
Please Read, Review, and Enjoy)
It was a tense day for the Republic as the group who went to Malastare had returned with their large prize. All of the Republic Walker tanks, gunships were ready as were all the guns from the clone troopers and Auto-Troopers. Even two of the largest Autobot soldiers the clone army have ever seen was walking forward after arriving in their tank modes. Immediately shifting one of their hands into what looked to be double barrel mini-guns with a blade near the elbow.
An autobot dropship arrived as Kup came out, walking with his cane, followed by Red Alert as the security chief grumbled, "Of all the idiotic, risky, self-absorbed… What is Chancellor Palpatine thinking by bringing that beast of all things to Coruscant?"
"That's the thing, he wasn't thinking, he's hoping that by studying the creature and it's scales we can learn what he can to synthesize an army's worth of armor for the ships and soldiers to wield to end this war and hopefully help us end our war with Obsidian's army of Decepticons." Kup answered, not liking the decision one bit, even as he heard Botanica very interested in studying this life form.
The Republic cruiser docked as the main hanger door opened and the creature found on Malastare was lifted out on a platform like like vehicle. Everyone stared at the creature being transported off the cruiser and a Autotrooper who was waiting with the Coruscant troopers breathed, "By Primus, look at the size of that thing."
"It's as big as Trypticon." Another breathed.
"Keep it locked soldiers!" A third exclaimed, as the two who spoke steadied themselves.
The doors to the Beast's new home opened and out walked Chancellor Palpatine and his vice chair Mas Amedda walked out with a pair of Senate guards alongside them.
A gunship exiting from the cruiser landed and out came Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, and R2-D2. The three republic citizens joined their leader with Anakin giving a respectful "Your Excellency." To Palpatine.
Another Autobot dropship came landing and the Autobot team of Springer, Hot Rod, Iron Hide, and Perceptor came out of it before giving a small bow of respect to the Palpatine before saluting Kup, who greeted, "At ease, lads."
"Such size, such power." Palpatine stated, getting a better look at the creature with his own eyes instead of through a hologram.
"With Respect, Chancellor." Mace Windu spoke up, catching the elderly human's attention, "I believe that this creature could pose an infinite number of dangers. Bringing it to Coruscant is a mistake."
"I have to agree with the general." Red Alert piped, "I oversaw the visual report of this Zillo Beast and must, for the safety of all ask you to relocate it to an outer rim planet immediately."
"Oh, I assure you both. I did not make this decision lightly." Palpatine said turning to the high rank member of the order, "The sooner we can unlock the Zillo Beast secrets the sooner we can end this terrible war."
He and his second turned to face the giant creature again even as Mace Windu relented, "I hope you are right, chancellor."
Dr. Boll and three of her droids, modified CLL-M2 Binary loadlifters, came walking forward to the group from the ramp. Mace Windu then approached her and told her, "I'm turning the Zillo Beast over to you, doctor."
His expression hardened as he added, "I trust it will be given good care."
"This creature is a priceless resource, Master Windu. It will be well treated, I assure you." Dr. Boll stated bowing her head in respect to the Jedi before her.
Perceptor then moved forward, "And I will assure you, General, Myself and my colleague Botanica, will ensure that the beast will be treated satisfactory under her care. That is if she will allow us to join her."
"It would be an honor, Professor." Dr. Boll said, happy to have him work with him again, and for something not destructive this time.
Palpatine' unseen by anyone else, glowered by this development, but remained silent as he and Mas Amedda approached her to privately request to be there for the first report on the Beast's initial results.
Mace Windu looked back, looking to the beast, wondering if it was truly safe, before entering the gunship to be returned to the Jedi Temple.
Even as Palpatine, his group, Dr. Boll, and Perceptor went inside for their studying of the Beast.
Mace Windu met with Obi-Wan Kenobi privately in the Council chamber after Master Windu and Anakin reported their findings and how the creature retaliated. After getting the situation, Obi-wan couldn't help but ask, "Why would the Chancellor want bring the Beast here?"
The bearded Jedi then added, "I know he thinks by studying it the knowledge would prove to be beneficial. But with what you, Anakin, and Ironhide reported on Malastare it hardly seems worth the effort."
Mace Windu turned to answer, "I raised the issue with the chancellor during the battle of Malastare, without success."
This didn't bode well for the younger member of the council, "Well then, perhaps that we let someone else try. Someone outside of military channels."
Mace Windu raised a brow, "And whom would you mean?"
Dr. Boll directed her platform to be in front of the beast, with the holo-form of Perceptor was with her. next to them was an Autobot with a slim female body, no legs like other Cybertronians as it appears the lower half of her body is made to resemble a dress as she stood, her primary color is green, secondary color is yellow, and reddish orange as her tertiary color. Her face has a green helm with a red gem over her forehead. She has a green collar around her neck that extends to behind her head. She has two wheels over her shoulders and two more on either side of her hips.
"Truly remarkable…" Botanica stated as she laid her optics on the Beast.
She then moved her floating platform over as she rolled closer to the Beast's head. She reached her arm to the creature, even as Dr. Boll tried t stop her, "Please be careful, Doctor. The beast's been known to be…"
She stopped as she saw the beast rubbing its head against her hand as the Bivall lost her words at what happened. Perceptor smiles, "Yes, that's one of her special talents. It's also why she is the one of the most well renowned Xenobiologists on Cybertron before the war."
"Amazing…" Dr. Boll breathed, unable to believe what her eyes are telling her brain.
The Beast made non-threateningly sound to Botanica, which made her smile as she rubbed along its head. Dr. Boll still could not believe her eyes while this was clearly happening before her.
However, the happy moment was ended when one of Dr. Boll's droids forced the scales up and the Science Droid went to collect a sample of the beast's blood, the pain of it caused the Beast to cry out in pain.
Seeing this, Botanica ordered, "Stop it, now!"
"That's enough!" Dr. Boll ordered as she saw, and heard, the beast in pain.
Botanica went to calm the Beast down as Palpatine and Mas Amedda came in another platform for the update.
"Prof. Perceptor's scans revealed that the scales are remarkably strong and light, like nothing either our records or the Autobot's supercomputer Teletraan-1's records." Dr. Boll reported to the chancellor, "He believes, and I agree, that if we can find the right spectrum of scanning frequencies we may be able to have a scan of it's composition to reinforce our Clone and Autobot armor."
"And what is stopping you in the meantime?" Palpatine asked, looking at Dr. Boll.
"I had thought about removing the scales for a sample but it is very difficult and, as you witnessed, the process is extremely painful for the Beast. It is taking Dr. Botanica's skills as a Xenobiologist to calm it down." Dr. Boll answered.
"Would it not be more efficient to simply kill the beast?" Palpatine asked, his tone in danger of sounding callous about the creature's fate.
Hearing Chancellor Palpatine suggest killing the very creature that they have brought back from Malastare cause Dr. Boll, Perceptor, and Botanica's eyes to widened.
Palpatine's vice chair leaned in and asked, "Kill it? Are you sure?"
"Chancellor, I must protest!" Dr. Boll protested, going to the edge of her platform nearest to the leader of the Republic.
"I too must protest this course of action, especially as there is evidence of the Zillo Beast has sentient intelligence." Perceptor stated, from below, "It would be better to find a way to force a premature hormonal response to make it shed its scales for us to study and synthesis."
"I agree, there must be another way than to extinguish the life of this unique lifeform." Botanica protested as she literally moved from her platform next to the Beast's head. Gently rubbing her metallic fingers against its scaled head. It gave a sound that made Botanica thing it liked her touch on it.
While surprised by this Palpatine that a mechanical life-form could calm the temper of the Beast, he pressed on, "I find the possibility of it being intelligent hard to believe. After all it is, just an animal."
Hearing that made the beast Growl threateningly in response to his words. Something that Botanica made to comment, "I do not believe he liked what you called him."
The Beast's eyes glared at Palpatine, while the aged man stood unaffected by the glare as he addressed the scientists, "I applaud your high moral standings doctors. Especially the Autobots having survived such eons of war against your enemies, after all principle is on short supply these days. However, every passing minute of warfare brings countless deaths to all who fight it whether they are organic or mechanical."
"Deaths that can be prevented once the beast's secrets can be unlocked." Palpatine then looked to Dr. Boll and urged, "If there is any means of hastening that process, then it is our moral duty to explore it."
"And what if in the pursuit of the moral duty to prevent deaths that we make genocide? Would we sacrifice principle in order to follow moral duty, even if it leads to genocide?" Perceptor asked, glaring at the chancellor for the first time he has known the man.
"You have great wisdom in your question, Professor." Palpatine praised, looking down to the Autobot scientist, "But I'm certain that the death of one mindless creature will allow us to end this war."
"We had a species that had existed before recorded history that gave some signs that that have as much intelligence as the Zillo Beast, on Cybertron."
"And what happened to this species?" Dr. Boll asked, curious on what on a planet of mechanical lifeforms could be similar to the Zillo beast. Perceptor answered her with a heavy spark, "They went into extinction during the Great Cataclysm of Cybertron. According to legend the leader of the Primes, Prima, taught everyone how to go into Stasis lock to wait out the effects while the Predacons were not as lucky."
"While this is enlightening, why do you compare this situation with something that happened a very long time ago?" Palpatine asked, keeping his voice and tone between curious and confused.
"I once wanted to research more about them, pondering the question if they, like us had evolved to the state where they can change forms as we modern-day Cybertronians could." Perceptor revealed, "However, the leader of the Golden Age, Sentinel "Zeta" Prime, denied my request, seeing it as a waste of time and Energon when he believed my energy would be better spent on researching the Space Bridges and looking to the future instead of the past. He was so blinded by his preconceptions of previously stated and half-hazard theories instead of true scientific research into them that he would not look to the past that would help us look for answers that would come in handy into the future. He even ordered the destruction of what samples I had previously found."
He then emplored the Chancellor, "Please, Chancellor Palpatine, allow us to find a means to make the Beast shed its scales prematurely instead of flat out terminating it."
"Your story has touched my heart, Professor." Palpatine said showing remorse in his previous statement, "However, this decision that I came to when regarding this unique creature was not an easy one. I wish that we had the time to explore the means to do as you requested, but I honestly see no other alternative. I would have thought that after how many years your people have fought in a civil war that you would understand the reason for my decision."
Perceptor's faceplate hardened before he looks to Dr. Boll, but she looked between her superior then back to the colleagues that she had come to know and respect so much since first hearing about the Autobots and their research. Sighing, Dr. Boll turned to the Chancellor and stated, sadly, "I serve at your pleasure, Chancellor."
The look of horror on the two Autobots' faces made Dr. Boll feel a stone in her stomach as she continued, "I'm just not sure where to begin… The fact remains that the beast remains indestructible."
Palpatine's expression hardened as he said, "Nothing is truly indestructible, Doctor."
Things remained in a tensed silence as Palpatine asked, "Wasn't there something in Malastare fuel that affected the beast?"
"It weakened the Zillo Beast, yes." Dr. Boll answered, as she tried ot object to this decision again, "But-"
"Excellent." She was cut off by Palpatine who then told her, "I suggest you start there."
"Chancellor Palpatine, Dr. Boll. I am begging you." Botanica spoke for the first time as she moved herself closer to the chancellor's platform, "Do not do this… if you resort to genocide to win the war, you will not be seen as you hoped. You would be seen similar to the Decepticons for their need to win a war instead of holding onto the principles."
"My dear, your compassion is a beacon of light in this dark time and it has not touched a heart of stone, but I'm afraid we must proceed with this action to end this terrible war." Palpatine answered her pleas.
Botanica would return to her attention to the beast to try and calm it down while Perceptor walked away.
Using this chance, Palpatine motioned for a guard to redirect his platform away as he said to the Bivall Scientist, "Doctor, you need to find a way to kill that beast, even if your colleagues protest or try to deter you. Otherwise, we shall replace you with someone who can."
Dr. Boll silently nodded while the chancellor left. Just as Dr. Boll returned to studying the beast, she and the two Autobot scientists heard it give one furious roar at the retreating Chancellor. The emotion behind the roar was something that Perceptor shared, having a flashback to Zeta Prime doing similar to his research specimen.
Anakin Skywalker entered one of the many rooms of the Senate building with R2-D2 by his side, as he was previously summoned by his former master to meet him at the Senate Building for something important. He found him a walking distance ahead along with some unexpected but pleasant company. Padme Amidala, his secret wife, and senator of Naboo was with his master, as well as the holoform of Perceptor, Representative Cerebros, and Ironhide. Next to them was his protocol droid creation C-3P0.
R2 rolled ahead and greeted his old friend.
"Oh hello." C3P0 greeted jovially, before asking, "You're not in trouble again, are you R2?"
R2 let out a few chirps and whistles that the protocol droid was being rude to him.
"I am not being rude!" 3P0 exclaimed at the astromech's accusation. Anakin smirked slightly at the interaction before looking at his secret wife, "Not that it isn't a pleasure, Senator, but I thought I was just meeting Obi-wan here."
He said looking to his former master and the latter's Autobot partner.
"Master Kenobi, and Ironhide, explained the problem." Padme stated. "Cerebros, speaking as a representative for his people, was asked to join and we agreed to help."
"Problem?" Anakin repeated, before turning to his bearded mentor and asked, suspiciously, "What problem?"
"Ah… the situation from our friend from Malastare." Obi-wan answered knowingly.
"Uh-huh." Anakin remarked, the turbines in his mind quickly turning to an obvious conclusion. "I see what's going on here."
"You're all think I could influence the Chancellor on this, didn't you?" Anakin asked, accusingly at those assembled. While it is true that he is close to the chancellor for the man being there for him through the years since arriving at Coruscant. There was no way he can talk him out of keeping the Zillo Beast in the capitol.
"The Zillo Beast was brought here chained and against its will." Padme stated. "It has no voice to defend itself. Anakin, we must be that voice to its defense."
Anakin only chuckled dryly at this, as he told her, "You haven't seen it in action. You have no idea what it's capable of."
"No she wasn't, but she's certainly right on this, especially after what the prof told us on what the Chancellor will do with the beast." Ironhide said crossing his arms.
"Ironhide is correct, it is what we're capable of to it that frightens me." Padme said, now looking to Anakin, "I creature's life, maybe even the fate of its species is at stake. Doesn't that even warrant a discussion on its behalf?"
Anakin gave her a look, "I did not think you would feel so strongly about such a matter, Senator."
He then relented, "Alright, let's speak to the Chancellor. But I still don't like this."
Before leaving to see the Chancellor, with Padme, Cerebros, and Ironhide going on ahead, Anakin stopped Obi-wan for a brief moment, sensing something concerning his mentor, "Obi-wan, is everything alright?"
"What?"
"You seem a bit distracted by something else." Anakin noted. "Anything wrong?"
Obi-wan didn't answer at first before grimacing slightly. "I… had overheard a rather uncomfortable talk between Perceptor and Kup before I arrived to ask for their help on this matter, to say that they were not happy would an understatement especially when Hot Rod was there."
Anakin was slightly surprised hearing this and asked, "What happened?"
Curious on what made Perceptor of all Autobots so upset. He was concerned about what was making his partner upset, but someone who is usually levelheaded was more concerning to hear about.
"I'm afraid you will find out when you speak with the chancellor." Obi-Wan stated as he went to leave.
When they arrived Palpatine, with his vice chair, heard the reason for this unannounced visit. Palpatine sighed heavily as he stated, "I should have known things would not remain secret around here."
"Isn't that the point of a democracy?"
"Of course, in war time, there must be secrets, even from the people, to keep them from the enemy." Anakin said, earning glares from both his secret wife and the Autobot with them.
"Huh… the definition of wartime must be different in this galaxy, especially since all of Cybertron was engulfed in war. There are secrets, sure but the reasons for such secrets differs and we horribly found out our last leader had a lot of secrets t hat he kept from everyone for his own reasons." Cerebros said hardening his gaze at the Jedi before turning to the Chancellor, "However, I do not know what your reason is to keep this a secret. Especially after everything we went through to catch the Beast and the lives lost?"
"I'm sure his excellency has his reason, Representative." Anakin said, keeping himself as calm as possible through this. How could Cerebros suspect Chancellor Palpatine of having reasons other than noble to keeping secrets. Especially since the Chancellor had to pull strings in order to give the Autobot a means to be seen as a Representative to the Senator, some of whom are opposed due to the mechanical background of the Autobot.
"I understand how you feel, Cerebros, but this choice was something I do not enjoy…" Palpatine stated, to the Autobots standing before him.
"You surely made it look and sound like you were when you told Dr. Boll, Perceptor, and Botanica. Especially when you threatened her career." Ironhide said for the first time since entering the office. This surprised both humans in the room who did not know about this.
"Ironhide is correct. you cannot do this Chancellor." Cerebros stated, urging to the Chancellor.
Palpatine was momentarily shocked that the Autobot knew about that, before he sighs placing his hand to his head, regret in his actions and words, "I apologize for that, the fact that so many people are dying because of this war, I must admit that I was not thinking straight when I spoke to Dr. Boll… But as I oversee a community that spans throughout the Galaxy and it breaks my heart to know that even as we speak, more people of the community, of the galaxy, are dying and because of that I was so filled with the pain and need to end this war I made a decision that will haunt me for my life. After this is over, I will make it up to Dr. Boll for my lack of courtesy to someone of her position."
"It is unfortunate that the beast must die. But the greater good demands it." Mas Ameddas stated, touching the butt of his staff to the carpet floor of the Chancellor.
"How in the scrappin' pits is killing the last of a species suppose to be for 'the greater good'?" Ironhide asked, arms crossed.
"Don't you have more pressing matters that require your attention on today, Senator?" the Vice Speaker ask, glancing to the Naboo representative.
Padme seemed to have bristled to the optics of Ironhide, when she answered, "No, Mr. Speaker, I do not."
Palpatine returned to his grandfatherly smile and said, in the according tone as he told those assembled, "I sympathize, my friends, truly I do. But consider this; A democracy is only as strong as the people who comprise it and at present the people, I am charged with protecting are dying faster than I can count because of this terrible war."
Getting up Palpatine approached his two favorite people of the Republic and stated, "It is my moral imperative to take action."
He then placed his hand on Anakin's shoulder and spoke to the young Jedi, "Anakin, is it not worth the life of one savage beast to give our brave troops, and allies, the advantage they need to end this war?"
Anakin glanced to Padme, cleared his throat as he said, trying to be neutral in this, "My role is not to set policy, Chancellor. But I do see both points of view. I'm certain that a reasonable solution will present itself."
"Master Kenobi has taught you well." Palpatine said, smiling by the young man's words and wisdom behind them.
"Kup's not happy about this either. Especially since he feels it's a breech in the alliance between the Republic and Autobots." Ironhide told the Chancellor, "If you want to proceed, then it'll be without our support and we will be protesting against this."
Chancellor Palpatine smiled, "The integrity of the Autobots' moral standing after so many years of fighting has truly moved and humbled me."
That was before the smile became sad, "Which is why this is so hard for me to say, but in order for the beast's secrets to be unlocked to save the lives of our brave soldiers on the front lines, the life of one animal is inconsequential."
"One animal? It's the last of its kind." Cerebros pointed out.
Before Chancellor Palpatine could say anything, Mas Ameddas caught his attention, "Chancellor."
"Excuse me, please." He then returned to his desk.
Cerebros sighs as he bent forward in his seat, apparently the role of being the representative wasn't complying with him since he was picked. Why couldn't it have been someone more qualified? Maybe that would not only not prolong the fighting, but also help win the political battles in the Senate. Sure he made allies in the political world of the Republic, a rare number of friends in Senator Amidala, Organa, Mon Motha, and _ but it wasn't enough to make him the confident politician that was needed here. Maybe if he wasn't in repairs, then maybe Cerebros could do something more practical, or more out of the way of the fighting.
Ironhide went to the two humans while he heard Padme whisper, angry with Anakin not being on his side, "You are supposed to be helping. Whose side are you on anyway?"
"Yours!" The Jedi knight whispered back, knowing he would side with his wife in a heartbeat, before stopping himself from being overheard and admitted, "…But, you must admit that the chancellor makes some good points."
Padme glared more at her secret husband, unaware of the Autobot soldier approaching.
"Even if it means becoming the enemy that we're fighting against?" Ironhide asked, getting in close to join in their whispers.
Anakin looked to the Autobot warrior as he stated, "I'll admit there are some good points that you brought up, but think about it this way. I am on the front lines with my men, fighting with them, unable to keep them from dying in this war. If the secrets of the Beast can be unlocked by dying and we can make the armor to prevent those deaths, then I believe that it might be worth it."
"Nothing is worth the extinction, trust me on that. Especially since we were almost faced with extinction ourselves before and during the war for Cybertron." Ironhide spat. Making the two galactic natives look to the Autobot in confusion on what he meant.
Dr. Boll sighed sadly as she made her connection to the Chancellor's office through the Imagecaster. Perceptor refused to talk to her or even look in her direction after she had abided to the Chancellor's wishes to euthanize the Beast. Especially after she promised the Jedi that the beast would be safe under her care. She would have protested more before he threatened her position.
Botanica was with the Beast petting and trying to keep it calm for itself more than what was stated by the Chancellor. Dr. Boll sighs sadly as she saw the Autobot Xenobiologist ordering the droids away from the Beast.
While the actions confused the Clone Troopers that were making sure that the Containment fields kept the beast secured, Dr. Boll understood. The miniaturized hologram of Chancellor Palpatine appeared as he spoke more courteous than before, "Ah, Dr. Boll. I trust you have some progress to report?"
Unbeknownst to the chancellor, The Zillo Beast saw the hologram of the human who ordered its death and glared at him. Something that Botanica saw and tried to calm it down.
With a heavy heart, Dr. Boll answered, "Yes, Chancellor. I have converted the Malastare fuel toxin into a poisonous gas. I believe that the quantity is now strong enough to kill the beast. Although Dr. Botanica is still attempting to plead for the creature's life…"
"I wish we can proceed with the alternative that Prof. Perceptor had suggested…" Chancellor Palpatine stated, with regret in his voice, "However, sadly I must ask you to proceed with your assignment."
His hologram disappeared as Dr. Boll nodded sadly. Putting away the disc-shaped communicator, Dr. Boll went to get the canisters of poison gas to the droid that will… euthanize it…
Dr. Boll placed the gas containers onto the droid's back as she looked to the Beast and Botanica and said remorsefully, "I'm sorry… Don't worry… It will be over soon…"
The beast growled, not threateningly to the doctor before it, almost like it understood her reservation in doing this, but was threatened… by that man!
"Begin the procedure!" Dr. Boll ordered as the droid went to do as it is ordered.
Botanica turned away as she tried to keep the droid from spraying the toxic gas to the Zillo Beast, but her onboard systems warned her about the contents of the toxic gas affecting her body and forced her to be away from the spraying droid.
Dr. Boll looked at her instrument and stated, "Vital signs are dropping…"
However, something she did not expect happened. The beast gave a roar as it went and struggled against the containment field that was previously holding it in place. Knocking a Clone Trooper away.
The Bivall Scientist saw this and breathed, "No… this is impossible… It should have been enough."
"No! please calm down!" Botanica called to the Beast, only for it to ignore her and crush the droid next to her. It then grabbed the two beams that were used to encage it and push them away effortlessly. Dr. Boll's platform was hit by the creature's tail.
It then made its way to the door.
The assembled forces outside looked while they could hear thudding from within, meaning the Beast was trying to escape. A Clone Trooper remarked, "I don't like the sound of that…"
"Neither do I." The larger Autobot Heavy Soldier said getting his Ion Displacer ready for a fight.
"If that thing is as powerful as they say, what good are our weapons going to do?" Another Clone Trooper asked inching away from the doors.
"Shut up Cos." The first Trooper who spoke said to his brother while the Heavy Soldier commed, "We need any available Destroyer and Titan class Autobots here now! The beast is breaking out! The Zillo Beast is-"
The doors gave way resulting in the troopers outside screaming as the metal doors fell on them. Knocking back two of the Walker tanks and the already stationed Destroyer Autobot soldiers there.
One of the surviving Heavy Soldiers saw through a distorted optic as the Zillo Beast roared, climbing over its prison and leaving it behind.
Dr. Boll woke up with a groan, holding her arm as she felt it in pain. She was lucky to be alive, around her she heard the surviving troopers getting out of there while she heard the screeching roar of the beast, followed by the explosions and turned to see fires across the city. Dr. Boll's eyes widen, "Oh no…"
Immediately her Imagecaster beeped. Answering it, she saw the hologram of Chancellor Palpatine appearing and asked, "Doctor, were you successful?"
"We have a problem, Sir." Dr. Boll answered before the City alarm was sounded.
Dr. Boll watched as the Chancellor turned away and asked, "I hope you have a way to stop it, Doctor."
"We need more time to convert Malastare fuel into the gas toxin." She told him.
"I suggest you hurry doctor." Chancellor Palpatine urged as he ended the call.
She then looked around and asked, "Has anyone seen Dr. Botanica?"
Rage filled the mind of the Zillo Beast as it made its way through the alien world it was taken. It was so different from its home that it filled the beast with even more anger while continuing through metal world. It then checked it's extra limb to check on the one metal being's… Botanica, safety. Botanica would have fallen at the creature not seen this and used it's extra limb to catch her and held her to keep her safe. She was one of the few very kind to it despite hearing how it was the last of its kind and it made sure to return the favor.
The flying machines of the smaller creatures and the flying metal shapeshifters tried to get in its way as he simply ignored them their weapons could not breach its scales, the very same scales that they tried to take to improve their defenses. But hearing the voice and seeing the image of the man that had wanted to kill it made it enraged as he swatted all in its path. It crushed through the flat image of the human before climbing over the metal wall which was filled with more smaller creatures. Once it made its way to the top it saw the dome like shape that was behind the man that wanted its death. The Zillo Beast roared in anger. That is where it will find him, and make him pay!
It felt the vibrations of Botanica moving and groaning it opened its third hand to look at her.
Botanica had trouble getting up, but she looked around to see that she was no longer in the lab that the Zillo Beast was in. She looked up and asked, "Did you… save me?"
The Zillo beast purred, acknowledging that it did save her. Even as it climbed down the building, which shocked Botanica until she saw where it was heading and screamed, "NO! You can't! If you do then you'll be proving what he's been saying about you!"
The Zillo Beast ignored her pleas as its mind was clearly on revenge. Climbing and making its way to the dome shape of the Senate building. Botanica would try and keep screaming for it to stop, only for her pleas to fall on deaf ears.
Once it reached the roof of one of the buildings closest to the Senate building, it sets Botanica down safely and leapt off landing on the dome rooftop of the Senate building. As it continued to look for Palpatine.
Anakin, sensing danger nearby suggest, "Perhaps now we should go to the lower levels."
Only for Artoo to beep in exclamation and roll away hastily from the window. The Autobots there could faintly translate that Artoo was shouting it was too late. They all turned to the windows and saw the glowing green eyes of the Zillo Beast peering into the office. Anakin there an arm in front of his secret wife, while the three politicians stared fearfully at the Beast before it saw Palpatine and its pupil shrink in anger at the recognition of the man. Ironhide took this time to ask, "Still think it's a mindless animal, Chancellor?"
Palpatine was at a loss for words as he did not think it would come look for him as it did. He then said to Anakin, "Yes… we are going now…"
And then lead them out through a side door. Seeing his quarry escaping the beast gave a roar of anger. The Autobots in the room retransferred their core consciousnesses back to their real bodies to better help the situation.
Palpatine leads them to a place that they never been to before as the elevator took them down as Padme asked, "What is this, Chancellor?"
"My security staff insisted in adding this security route." Palpatine explained as he lead them to a shuttle that will take them away from the senate building. One of the Senate Commando went to start the shuttle as they all filed in Palpatine sitting closer to the commando while Anakin, Padme, and Threepio sat in the seats behind them and Artoo locked himself in place. As he entered, Palpatine activated his imagecaster and saw a hologram of Dr. Boll there, speaking, "Chancellor, I think we have enough toxin now."
"My guards will be with you shortly. Hand it to them as soon as they arrive, time is of the essence, doctor." Palpatine stated. As the wings of the shuttle un
Her hologram disappeared as Padme, asked, "Does it have to be destroyed?"
Palpatine turned to her, while she pointed out, "The Stun cannons-"
"Will not eliminate the problem." Palpatine cut her off, as he pointed out, "The advance technology of ours and the Autobots simply cannot contain it."
Padme sighed in dismay as she said, "I wish we never brought the beast here."
Artoo beeped as soon as they made it outside of the hanger of the shuttle while Threepio spoke, seeing the Beast that they were escaping from coming towards them, "Pardon me, mistress Padme. But I believe something is following us."
He then turned to the right side of the shuttle and saw the Beast glaring at them. Seeing this Anakin ordered the commando pilot, "Evasive action!"
The pilot attempted to do so, only for the beast to grab the shuttle with its closest arms and brought the shuttle close for it to see if the man it was hunting was in it. Palpatine stared in horror as the beast sees him again and glared once it had seen his face. Palpatine, in this moment, seemed to be regretting his previous actions against the best very much now as he stared into the glaring eye of the beast. C-3P0 then seemed to have said what was on some of their minds, "We're doomed!"
The Stun tanks landed on the main street leading to the Senate building as Mace Windu spoke into his comm-link, "All tanks acquire solution and prepare to fire on my order…"
"Hold your fire."
The two Jedi turned to see their grandmaster approaching with Master Aayla Secura while the small green Jedi explained his orders, "In the beast's clutches, the Chancellor is."
"Anakin and Ironhide might be with him-"
" 'Fraid not, Obi."
They turned to see Ironhide driving up to them before changing forms and standing next to the Jedi, "Had to re-transfer my consciousness back to my body before the beast could do anything. But I do know he's with the Chancellor and Amidala."
"If the beast falls, at risk their lives will be." Yoda stated looking up at the human members of the order.
Captain Rex then approached with an electrobinoculars and reported, "Sirs, looks like the general is up to something."
Ironhide looked in the direction and zoomed with his optics to see Anakin using his lightsaber to cut shuttle. Mace Windu then asked, "What is Skywalker doing?"
He then passed it to Obi-wan who looked through the device and answered, "It appears to be one of Anakin's Improvised Plans."
"How is it a plan if it's improvised?" Mace Windu dryly asked.
Obi-wan looked to his senior of the order and said, "Not to worry, just catch them when they fall."
"A lot of the general's plans involved falling." Rex added. Yoda then said to the others, "Distract the beast, we shall, to give him more time."
"Wait please!" They all turned to see Botanica approaching them as she stated, "Let me talk to Zillo, I might be able to convince him to stop."
"I'm afraid the situation too dire to try, Doctor." Mace Windu stated, wanting more than anything to do this, but with so many lives lost, the Jedi Master has no other choice.
Botanica turned to Ironhide for his input and the warrior sighed, "I'm sorry Botanica…"
Autobot scientist could do nothing else but watch as she saw Yoda and Aayla getting into a gunship that flew over to the beast while the troopers were getting the gas bombs ready for the bombardment on the beast once their people are cleared.
Botanica looked as she wasn't sure what she could do. Since she saw the creature, she was fascinated by how an organic life-form could grow so large compare to their own. Botanica would the activated her commlink to speak to someone, "Perceptor... do you have enough for our plan?"
Palpatine looked on in fear at the Zillo Beast glaring at him, Everyone felt it as the ship began to creak under the grip of the beast. Anakin got up as he announced, "I got an idea, but it's risky!"
he then went behind where everyone was in the ship's cockpit as Padme admitted, "Considering the circumstances, I'll take the risk."
Anakin smirked briefly before pulling out his weapon, igniting the light saber, before using it to slowly cut along the walls of the ship. Seeing this Palpatine said, concerned, "I've got a bad feeling about this."
They watched as the Jedi Knight continued until he was close to cutting clean through, Palpatine spoke up, looking back at the Beast, "I hope you know what you are doing."
The blue astromech droid's beeping didn't make the chancellor easy, especially since it conveyed how Anakin pulls these risky maneuvers all the time and they mostly worked.
As he gets closer to where he started, Anakin said, "This is where the fun begins."
Before calling out, "HANG ON!"
the moment he reached the first of his cuts the ship's front feel from the Beast's clutches and began to slid down the dome shaped outer wall of the senate building. The Beast, after seeing his enemy escaped roared in outrage, reaching for it. only for it to fall further.
as it continued it's sparking slide down the wall some of the occupants within fell out and slid along the wall. Leaving Chancellor Palpatine and the Senate Commando in the ship.
Down below Kenobi cried out, "Catch it!"
He and Mace Windu used The Force to slow the descent of the ship down until it halted. leaving it on the edge of the hanger level that separated the domed building.
While the beast was distracted by the two Jedi sprinting along it's body Anakin slid to reach his secret wife who had reached the edge and was close to slipping.
Able to get a good grip with his feet, Anakin reached for Padme until he began to reach out to the Force to help bring her close enough for him to pull her to him.
The moment between them was barely short lived. The Beast roared, tossing the other half of the ship in its hands on a roof top close by where it exploded and made it's beeline towards Palpatine's location again.
Ironhide looked and warned, "Told him that it'll want to get even!"
THe two Jedi with him, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu entered the nearest Gunship and flew towards the Beast. The Gunship had two flying on either side of it. and Ironhide driving over. Within Mace Windu reluctantly gave the order, "All pilots... fire..."
THe Gunships began their firing, even though that it wouldn't pierce it's scales it was enough to distract the beast enough to forget Palpatine long enough as it swung it's tail and hit one of the Gunships. Down below the tanks began to shoot their beams at it as the ones on Malastare did to put it into sleep.
Seeing the opportunity, the Senate Commando next to Palpatine urged, "Sir, we have to get you out of here."
Knowing that the commandos was right, Palpatine exited from the ship to the open air. before they could get far they heard a low rumble making the two humans to look up to see the beast glaring down at them... or more precisely, at Palpatine.
Anakin saw this and told his faithful droid, "ARTOO! GET OVER THERE!"
R2-D2 and C-3P0 where hanging on it's cord after they fell out of the ship with the Jedi Knight and the Senator.
Artoo beeped for Threepio to hold onto the cord as the Astromech disconnected himself from the cord and activated his onboard jets to fly over to the chancellor. When he landed next to the two, the commando made a decision and said to his superior, "He can't carry both of us."
Palpatine looked back at the commando who urged him, "You go sir!"
Palpatine wasted no time and sat upon the droid who once again activated his jets and flew off to his friends as the Beast raised it's forearm to crush Palpatine before he could get away.
Just as the Zillo Beast was about to crush the Senate commando, a Speeder came along grabbed the soldier and then dashed over before transforming into a bot who held the dazed solider in his hand, as he said, "Don't worry, human. You've made a daring escape with Getaway, the best escape artist of the Autobot Army."
The Commando looked up and said, "Thanks for that."
Getaway nodded before looking and remarking, "This is an interesting mission, but I can find a way around it's defenses."
Soon crashes could be heard as another speeder, with an open top came driving in, driving very recklessly as it shifted and became another Autobot. This one had a pinkish-red armor for arms but a dark green torso and legs while a visor over his optics and laughed, "That was a wild ride!"
Getaway placed a hand over his eyes, "Joyride, I thought you promised you'd be careful while driving on this planet."
"I was, it was those tanks that couldn't get out of my way." Joyride complained. Getaway sighed, having a bad feeling about this, especially since he feels his teammate was similar to the Stunticons with his violent temperament and his driving skills…
Joyride grinned back at his disapproving comrade. While Getaway then looked around and asked, "Okay so where's…"
The roar of the Zillo Beast caught their attention as it was glaring at them. Joyride cracked a grin as his arm converted into his personal double-barrel rifle, "Oh this is going to be fun!"
"No! You can't damage it." Getaway snapped while the beast kept coming at them.
Joyride then snapped back, "Better than them getting trampled!"
He then rushed in close to distract the beast while Getaway looked to the smaller organics and ordered, "Get out of here, now!"
"Y-yes, yes." Palpatine stated as he ran with the others while Getaway joined his hazardous driving comrade, his arm converting into his personal weapon of a Plasma-shell shotgun.
Joyride shifted into his alt mode and drove up, skidding and weaving about between the legs and arms of the Beast while firing his weapons at it.
Getaway used a Grapple to get a level higher and fired at it with his weapon, "This is getting dangerous… where in Cybertron's name is Slapdash?"
Soon a Yellow speeder would drive along the body of the Beast discharging some smoke at its nose and eyes while it shifted into a broad-shouldered Autobot with a yellow battle mask, pulled out a weapon, from his back, a launcher of some kind, and fired it into the roaring mouth of the beast, causing it to yell in pain.
He then landed in a very spectacular manner before he said, "Sorry, sorry, had to make a pitstop."
Joyride rejoined his friend and laughed, "That was so epic Slapdash! You'd be a great stunt driver if ya wanted to after we get back home."
"No problem Joyride. It's all in a day's…" Slapdash stopped before seeing the beast and asked, "Wow… that's one giant organic…"
Joyride's admiration turned into disappointment, "Yeah, what did you think we're fighting?"
"Well… I was doing this favor for the prof whe-" Slapdash began to explain when someone shouted,
"Look out!"
The two saw the beast glaring down at them and they quickly moved out of the way as it slammed its foot at where they were. Getaway huffed as he grappled onto the beast's body and proceeded to fire his weapon pointblank.
Joyride joined in the fight and as Slapdash held out his hand he noticed his arm not shifting into his weapon and he looked confused, "Huh?"
"Slapdash! Did you forget to rescan your weapon when you came out of Stasis?" Geataway asked as he swung in-between the arms trying to crush him.
Slapdash rubbed the back of his head and admitted while jumping out of the way, his optics closed to make it look like he was sheepish, but couldn't really show it due to his battle mask being on, "Guess I did…"
While the three bots where busy with their fight against the Zillo Beast, Palpatine saw this opportunity to order through his commlink, "USE THE GAS BOMB!"
"Chancellor? What about the Autobots?" Padme asked, hearing his order. She had read the report on how the fuel from Malastare had a negative effect on the Autobots despite being mechanical lifeforms.
Palpatine looked back at his favorite senator and said, "I know, my dear… but they are giving us this opportunity to finally end this threat to the people we have sworn to protect."
"Copy…" the clone pilot said as he, with great reluctance, fired the flares to get at the Zillo Beast's attention with the three Autobots close by.
"It's the toxic gas!" Joyride called, seeing the bombs heading towards them, his onboard scanners reading danger levels of toxicity from them.
"Run for it, mates!" Getaway called as he and the others of his squad disengaged and ran as fast as they could.
Slapdash, usually the lovable ditz of the Autobot army, didn't need to think twice as he drove off to get out of the blast range while Joyride soon joined him before Getaway after he got close to the ground to change forms too. They kept driving until the gas bombs hit, some made it into the beast's mouth while the others hit the outside of its body and engulfed the Zillo beast and the three Autobots who weren't able to get out of the range of the gas in time.
The organics bellow kept running before the Jedi stopped and used The Force to make the gas pass them by in a dome shape. All of the others within the protective done provided by the power of The Force watching as it passed them by.
While they could not see, they could hear the Zillo Beast roaring in pain as the gas affected its body. Even as they heard the three Autobots crying out in pain as the toxic properties hit their systems. The beast gave one last shrill cry that made the Jedi, Autobots, and Clone troopers otuside of the gas' range to stop firing and watch. The seven up and who survived the gas went to edge to watch as the Zillo Beast remained still.
"NO!" Botanica cried out as she changed forms and stopped next to the eye of the beast, not caring about the effects of the toxin had on her systems, as it went lifeless and cold. It then closed its eyes which it will never open again…
Botanica dropped to her knees holding the Beast head as she mourned the loss of not just a unique lifeform but also a possible friend. Everyone watched as Botanica seemed to resort in speaking mutely to the beast as if trying wake it up or praying for it to still be alive…
The Jedi knew that because of how they allowed the death of a creature, the last of its kind, to go into extinction… they had failed to uphold the principles of their order… especially as this weapon cause the deaths of three brave Autobots who weren't able to get out of the way in time...
The sun rose and the city was still in disarray, especially after the rampage of the Zillo Beast. Since the Zillo Beast started it's rampage the Autobots on Coruscant were divided in confronting the beast and saving as many lives as possible. It wasn't easy as many lost their lives as did the civilians and the troopers who tried to stop it.
Perceptor remained silent, after he had scanned and confirming the death of the Beast, going into his work to devise ways to prevent this from happening again, not even sparing a glance at Dr. Boll as he went back to his lap onboard the Autobot's capitol ship.
Botanica remained silent; grief stricken at the loss of a creature she had formed a bond with. She had been taken to be quarantined to be examined by the Autobot medical officer First-Aid... when he comes back from search and rescue duties with the other Protectobots and Search and Rescue detail.
Palpatine watched as Autobot troopers using grapples to carry their poisoned/comatose comrades into bot sized pods and close up allowing them to approach.
"They're in stasis…" A soldier reported to his superior, Kup who nodded as the soldier saluted before leaving. The Autobot leader, looked at the frozen bodies of three of his men each in a repairing Stasis pod to be transported to the Ark. Hopefully Teletraan-1 will be able to help them as it's also helping the other soldiers who have been in stasis since they loaded them onboard the Ark. After they returned to Cybertron following Optimus, Ratchet, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee staying behind on the planet Earth. Just before they came to this galaxy.
Palpatine approached and said, "Commander Kup, I must apologize for what happened to your men. I owe them my life for helping me during this crisis. If there is anything I can do to return the favor please let me know."
Kup turned to the Chancellor and stated, "Just keep helping the people that you were elected to serve, nothing more. They need you now more than ever."
Palpatine looked down, recognizing the tone that the Autobot leader had given him and knew he had to make amends somehow, "I will redouble my efforts to ensure that you all get the Energon you badly need."
He then looked over at the damage that had been caused by the decision he made, even as he heard Kup tell him, "We lost a lot of good people today, Chancellor."
"I know... which is why it is imperative for the Warp Gate to be completed." Chancellor Palpatine beseech, which Kup nodded and made his way to an Autobot dropship while the Chancellor and two more of his commandos walked to the assembled group of people who were lamenting the death of the Beast.
As the body of the beast was carted off to be loaded on the assault ship to take it somewhere, Anakin was the first to speak, "It is... a tragedy that the Zillo Beast paid with its life for our mistakes."
"I will make certain that sacrifice was not made in vain." Palpatine promised before turning to leave with his guards. As the others turned away to go about their duties. When Dr. Boll, after her latest attempt to speak to Perceptor had failed, approached the Chancellor he said, after knowing he was out of earshot of anyone to be concerned about, "Doctor, a word if you please."
He then handed her a datapad, and told her, "Your new orders."
Dr. Boll took it as she asked, surprised, "What is this?"
She looked back as the Chancellor walked ot the gunship and asked, "You want me to... Clone the beast!?"
Palpatine remained silent when the Gunship rose into the air and flew back to the Senate. With no one watching him, Palpatine let himself smirk. as the corpse of the Beast was loaded onto the Republic Assault ship took off to dispose of its remains.
Unaware someone watched as he flew off... someone who looked though a large microscope lens. Before turning to face the Zillo Beast's body, it spoke, "I hope this plan of yours works Botanica... we took a big risk in doing this under everyone's detection."
"I know... I'm sorry to involve you in this Professor..." Botanica's voice said from the comm-link between them, "I just could not allow them to kill Zillo just because of his appearance and preconceived intelligence."
Perceptor changed forms into his Bipedal form and said, "It was the least I can do, especially since we both know that only someone with an ulterior motive would want to save a creature's life to end it for military gain."
"Still I must thank you for creating the anti-toxin serum and for Slapdash to deliver it into it's organic respiratory system as well as the means to make it appear dead to everyone." Botanic said while the Assault crate took off to find a uninhabitable planet to deliver the body of the beast for the beast reawaken once it was place and live its life in peace.
Perceptor nodded ending the connection while watching the gunship Palpatine was flying in. While no one was looking or noticing him, Perceptor had heard Dr. Boll's exclamation of her new orders and mentally wondered, 'What are you up to... Chancellor?'
(I gotta say I was very concerned about how to do this chapter considering how the episode reminded me of Godzilla, but a different Godzilla film. And as some of you might have feared I was talking about the Godzilla from the 1998 movie which was an irradiated iguana. It was different but it still touched me as any of the other Godzillas did. and I was genuinely horrified by what happened at the end of that movie (Before knowing about the animated Series Fox Kids put on had on the air). So this was my chance to come up with a way to save the Zillo Beast. And Yes the Zillo Beast is very much alive, just hiding on a planet where the republic will dump the body of it somewhere remote and uninhabited planet in the Outer Rim. It was complicated but the plan between Botanica and Perceptor had gone off, though I wish I can saw without a hitch with the three Autobots: Geataway, Joyride, & Slapdash being poisoned by the toxic gas made from Malastare fuel. And yes that was what Slapdash had fired into the Zillo Beast Mouth, the anti-toxin & anesthetic before the republic began firing.
If anyone can correctly guess who those three Autobots that I just listed off are and PM me your guess I will give you a special prize.
Now we all know how good of a Scientist Perceptor is in any of the transformers universes (excluding the Unicron triology and Shattered Glass) and he astronomically rarely makes a mistake when he is involved in anything scientific whether is mixing together an anti-toxin to help the Zillo Beast and an anesthetic to keep him unconscious for the appropriate time to get him where they would dump him, or keep an eye on a certain chancellor, Perceptor is your bot.
As for Botanica, I imagined her being the Xenobiologist due to her original role in Beast Machines before being caught up in the war between the Maximals and Megatron's Vehicons in the show. While also trying to give her as much of an Aligned version of her appearance in Transformers Animated as possible. Why? Well... you'll have to keep reading to find out in the one of the future chapters.
With the end of the Zillo Beast Double Feature we're all caught up and are ready to see what happens as soon as the Warp Gate, a collaboration between Autobot and Galactic Republic technologies. Curious about what will happen? Trust me I'm not sure if you'll believe it if you don't read it.
Find out in the next chapter of Star Wars: The Transformers.)