SZ: We're back to Transformers foks...and this time we have the return of a certain spider.
Z0: And we'll see how the Autobots have...adapted to Earth.
SZ: Mm hmm...and Maximals. Don't forget the Maximals.
Z0: True! Lots to get done!
SZ: Yup, so let's get right on to it! We own nothing aside from original content, so st-*tenses up before being covered head to toe in webbing*
Z0: Why'd you stop talking?
SZ: *screams as a giant black widow began to crawl down into the studio, moving right behind Z0*
Z0: I knew this day would come…*rips shirt to reveal muscles, and dresses as Rambo, war paint included* The spiders have returned for revenge…
Spider: *hisses as it leapt at Z0*
"...remind me why we're doing dis again?" Rattrap asked as the Autobots and Maximals were surrounded by a few oil kegs filled with fire.
"It's something you do on Earth," Bumblebee answered, "Sometimes late at night when you have nothing to do, you can sit down and look up at the stars with your pals, eat these...Smore things Sari made a few times, and…"
"Tell spooooky stories~" Bulkhead added in his best attempt at a spooky tone.
"Oooh~! Ultra Gear!" Cheetor awed, "Me and some old buddies of mine from training camp used to do that...until we were stopped because we kept scaring the drilling instructor."
"Gee...I wonder why?" Rattrap muttered with heavy sarcasm.
"Oh come on cheese breath, we need to get along if we're gonna live on this dang island." Bumblebee sighed, "And the Boss Bot says we should help the new guys see Earth can be fun."
"Also teach you not to smash stuff...mostly teach you not to smash stuff…" Bulkhead sighed.
"Why would I…"
"Come now..!" Silverbolt declared as he patted Rattrap on the back, knocking him off his seat, "I believe this will make for great team bonding, and to help the new Maximal and Autobot recruits ease into the team the following night."
"We've been so busy cleaning up GIANT KILLER TITAN! A night of nothing to do, out under the stars with a can of Energon...sounds like a great night doesn't it?" Bumblebee asked.
"It does!" Cheetor grinned excitedly, "Oh! I think I got one!"
"See, why can't you be more like Cheetor, Rattrap?" Silverbolt questioned as the rat-like Maximal got back onto his seat.
"Because I don't feel like I'm hyped up on energy 24/7," Rattrap argued.
"Well maybe you should try." Cheetor innocently replied.
"Yer a cheetah...I'm a rat," Rattrap argued, "Rats don't do hyperactive energy."
"Not if they're being chased or smell something good," Cheetor argued.
"Well well…"
"Oh just start your dang stories already!" Ratchet snapped from inside the ship, "And try and keep it down! I'm busy with something at the m-"
*CRASH!*
"...grr! Ironhide I needed that!"
"Sorry!"
"If anyone needs a relaxing night it's the Doc Bot…" Bumblebee grumbled.
"No kidding," Bulkhead agreed, "He hasn't left his lab since we left Cybertron."
"...yea…partly because of all the weird new powers the Boss Bot got..." Bumblebee sighed a bit before shaking his head, "Nevermind. No sad feelings..or mystery nonsense! Only relaxing and possibly spooked out!"
"Right!" Cheetor nodded as he shot up, tapping his cheek in thought as he tried to think of something, "...ooh I got something~ Have you heard the story of…" he moved closer to the fire as it gave him an eerie glow, "Predacons~?"
"No!" Rattrap flinched.
"Do it!" Bumblebee cheered, pushing Rattrap down.
"They say there's an old legend of a group of beast-like Transformers, ones that were organic like me and Rattrap, only…" Cheetor paused before he bared his fangs and his eyes became slit, "They were primal and relied on their predatory instincts!"
"NOPE!" Rattrap shouted as he tried to run, only for Silverbolt to grab him by the tail.
"Nobody knows if they ever existed or not, but there is an old spot on Cybertron they call the Graveyard…" Cheetor continued as almost everyone leaned in to listen, "Filled with the bones of these predatory Cybertronians...but...they do say late at night, you can hear the primal roar of their apex, waiting for their kingdom to rise up...and hunt down those that took their kingdom away, ready to give the battle cry...that goes...like...this!" he shouted as he changed into Beast Mode and gave a loud roar.
*CRASH!*
"I SAID KEEP IT DOWN!" Ratchet snapped as a wrench beaned Cheetor on the back of the head, "Yell one more time, you troublemakers! See what happens!"
"What happened to Rattrap?" Bulkhead blinked, looking down to see the twitchy form of Rattrap on the ground with foam coming from his mouth and his eyes blank.
"I think he short circuited." Cheetor guessed, rubbing the back of his head, "...heh. Guess I'm too good at scary stories."
"Pfft! I can top that," Bumblebee scoffed as he got up, "I call this one…" he paused as he turned his headlights on, dimming them a bit to give him a spooky vibe, "The Black Widow~"
"?!" Rattrap tensed up, regaining consciousness as he slowly rose up, "D….da what?"
"Type of spider that resides here on Earth," Silverbolt explained.
"And they say late at night, you can see a particularly large one hiding in the woods, waiting...stalking...fangs bared as she awaits her next prey~" Bumblebee added with a spooky grin, "And it doesn't matter what you are...human, animal..Cybertronian, it will paralyze you and keep you ready until its next supper~"
"Oh no…" Bulkhead sighed silently to himself as he realized what this was about.
"And the only sign you see...or rather hear until it's too late? The sound of bug wings buzzing," Bumblebee added before making a buzzing noise, "Bzzzt! And the moment you hear that...you...get...stung and carried off to the Black Widow's nest...and become...their...next…"
*BONK!*
"Taxi~" Bumblebee slurred as he fell to the ground.
"Aww~ Why did you stop him?" Cheetor complained, "I was on the edge of my seat there."
"'Cause Rattrap looks ready to go to the Well of Allsparks." Bulkhead sighed, "Also that is a very insensitive story."
"Whaaat?" Bumblebee groaned as he got up, "How is it ins...ohh~...oh…" he cringed when he realized what his story was installing, "...ok. That...that is my bad…"
"What do you mean?" Silverbolt asked.
"Ugh...Bee was turning something that actually happened to us into a scary story," Bulkhead spoke.
"Wait...Dat was real!?" Rattrap snapped.
"Yep," Bulkhead spoke, "And it's something personal that happened to the Boss Bot."
"Oh…" Cheetor and Silverbolt cringed at that.
"Now I don't like to talk about his business, but trust me it's personal and something he's probably still super sore about." Bulkhead sighed, "It'd be best if you asked him for more details...and not let Bee turn it into a scary story…"
"That does seem most fair." Silverbolt nodded, "I suppose whenever Optimus looks like he's good enough to talk is…"
"The kid already bolted for the Boss Bots room." Rattrap spoke up.
"Cheetor no! There is a method to this!" Silverbolt panicked as he ran off.
"...were we ever this bad?" Bumblebee whispered to Bulkhead.
"Hard to say…" Bulkhead muttered.
"Oh scrap...is this what it feels like to be the mature ones?" Bumblebee asked.
"I think so…"
"...we better catch Cheetor before he does something he'll regret," Bumblebee whispered.
"Agreed," Bulkhead nodded as the two got up...before they ran off, "Cheetor!"
"You're making a possible big mistake!" Bumblebee added.
Optimus hummed to himself, looking over reports from the high ranking Autobots elite who had formed his council to help him keep the Autobots united. So far those off on other worlds that Transformers had colonized or turned into safe zones, life had begun like normal. They were living as comfortably as they could with the increase in numbers. So far nothing more than just minor complaints and gripes about the new environment. It was the conclave of Autobots on Earth that was more complicated.
Many of the Autobots on Earth had more than a little difficulty adjusting. Optimus took in soldiers, scientists and other Autobots who were of military or academic background. Civilians were given safe homes in the city within an underground parking garage that Sumdac Systems purchased for them to have a home, and others had gained help from the Earth Plumbers to live in abandoned towns and car lots to avoid detection. However, while these amenities were gifted to many, it was the term: 'Robots in Disguise' which was lost on many of them. Heck….some even wanted to try organic alt modes after seeing Silverbolt and his team in action. And so comes the problems of many Autobots still having issues with organics, and the open ones being...too energetic with the idea of making friends with the tiny and fragile little humans.
"Scrap...if I have to deal with another report of an Autobot chasing a human in their car down on a lone desert road just to say hi...and make them panic…" Optimus sighed, swiping the report away on his holographic screen, "And yet another new Maximal...this time a...beaver?" he arched one eye in confusion, "I swear I have so many questions about our anatomy now…" he swiped the report away, "Seriously...another road rage transformation? Things were simpler when I was hunting down shards of the All-Spark and fighting Decepticons to the death..." he sighed, swiping away the last of the reports, "Teletran-1, message Wheeljack and ask him to get back to me about his research about the Maximal effect. Priority message."
=Understood= the computer responded.
"Ahh…" Optimus sighed as he relaxed into his seat a bit, "I swear…"
"Big bot!" Cheetor shouted as he ran into the room.
"Hmm?" Optimus blinked as he turned to look at him, "Yes, Cheetor?"
"I was curious if you c-ack!" Cheetor yelped when Silverbolt, Bumblebee and Bulkhead tackled him over.
"He's insane!" Bumblebee shouted.
"He doesn't know what he says!" Silverbolt added.
"Don't listen to him, boss bot!" Bulkhead added.
"...what's going on here?" Optimus questioned.
"Nothing!" the trio yelped, making sure to keep their hands on Cheetor's muzzle.
"Alright...who did what?" Optimus sighed knowing his troops well enough.
"..."
"I gave you an order…" he put his hands on his hips.
"...mm…" Cheetor grunted as he managed to free his mouth from the trio's hands, "We were telling spooky stories!"
"That's it?" Optimus blinked, "...Well that's not…"
"And Bee brought up a spooky story that actually happened to you guys!"
"Well...that narrows it down…" Optimus sarcastically muttered.
"Hah...Bee turned our...encounter with Blackarachnia into a scary story and scared Rattrap to the point he shut down." Bulkhead sighed.
"...Bumblebee…"
"I swear to the All Spark it was unintentional!" Bumblebee yelped as he shot up.
"Ah...I imagine Cheetor ran in here wanting to ask for the true story?" Optimus sighed as Cheetor rapidly nodded his head. Optimus sighed as he walked forward, his troops making way for his now much larger frame as he began down the hall, "Come on soldiers, story time. We should at least get comfy for a bit of a long one. Ratchet! Ironhide! Break time, come on!"
"D'oh fine!"
"Woohoo!"
"Alright Bots," Optimus sighed as he stoked the fire with a metal rod, "I don't like telling this...not because I want to deny my past mistakes. But because this is the story of...the one friend I could never save." he sighed as his troops sat around the fire, "I'm not perfect, I've made a lot of mistakes on my path to being the Autobot Hero who bested Megatron. I was a stupid young bot, intent on finding glory, and me, my friends, Elita-1 and Sentinal thought we could make names for ourselves by finding and retrieving the secret Decepticon Energon stash left on the Twilight on Aracha Seven. We were stupid, young and a little more greedy then we should have been. We wanted the Energon and fame, but...we didn't know of the dangerous organic predators the planet is literally named for. Giant spider-like creatures who were feeding off Energon, growing larger...stronger, and with venom that could damage Cybertronian anatomy."
"...th-they feed off Energon?" Rattrap squeaked out.
"Yes, and they nested among the Energon cache we had been looking for. We all got separated, and Elita-1 and I were in a difficult situation. I tried...I honestly did...but I thought there was nothing to be done. Bots...I abandoned my fellow Autobot…" Optimus sighed, "I just left her...I took Sentinel back to the ship and ran...I was so sure...that was it, my friend was gone. But...a fate so much worse awaited her. She tried to use her special ability to replicate others abilities on the Spiders. At the same time their venom ran through her system. The result was a powerful mutation which turned her into a Techno-organic beast mode transformer."
"A Maximal?" Silverbolt asked.
"No...not a Maximal…" Optimus shook his head, "The pain of abandonment and her mutation...all of it made her go and join the Decepticons...as Blackarachnia." he stoked the fire, making it suddenly burst with a large spurt as it spooked them, "She wanted revenge on me...and I can't blame her…" he sighed sadly, "I let her suffer...I left her to perish. I just abandoned an Autobot, and Primus knows when she came for us here on Earth, I tried to help her."
"...what...happened to her?" Cheetor asked.
"Honestly...I am unsure," Optimus sighed, "Last time I've seen her...was when she was caught in an explosion with another former Autobot turned techno-organic…"
"Wasp…" Bumblebee whispered as he lowered his head, "Or as he wanted to be called...Waspinator."
"She experimented on a method of regaining her original form." Optimus spoke, "But the change was too much. To undo her transformation into a Techno-organic would have snuffed her Spark."
"It's why I never suggested; 'hey, let's turn you back to normal.'" Ratchet spoke up, looking at the Maximals, "If you tried...you'd probably die."
"...okay. I...think I need some fresh air," Rattrap meeped as he stood up.
"But...we're already o-" Bulkhead began.
"Some fresh...air!" Rattrap hissed in a nervous tone as he walked off.
"Last we faced each other was here on this island, her Transwarp experiments caused an explosion which leveled most of it. I'm not sure what happened to her, or Waspinator. But I can only hope I can find her again...to help her."
"...a truly noble goal, Optimus sir," Silverbolt noted with a small smile, "Mayhaps...I can assist in that."
"Uh...hate to break it to ya, Bolt...but she's coocoo from th-" Bumblebee began.
"She was once an Autobot," Silverbolt argued, "Perhaps there is a chance an old part of herself is locked deep within her Spark."
"Hey look, I trust the Boss and his choices," Bumblebee muttered, "But last time I saw her...she sent a giant killer bug monster Cybertronian to try and kill me!" he held his hands up, "And all to try and cure herself, so I'm sorry if she's a little bit on my bad side for all the attempts at murder!"
"To be fair Bee, she kinda just ignored us…" Bulkhead added, "She just took our powers and chased the Boss Bot around town in an epic fight, while we got poisoned and left on the ground like junk."
"Of which I did not enjoy," Bumblebee muttered.
"Even if I have hopes of saving her, don't make the mistake, she is dangerous and powerful." Optimus added, "She can paralyze Cybertronians with a cyber venom, and steal your personal abilities. She's also a genius, at least rivaling Wheeljack and Ratchet in technical skills. Don't go in assuming she's fragile, or that words are enough." he explained, "She is dangerous, and getting through to her, to even begin to help her, will take a lot of time, and a lot of effort."
"I will be sure to take note of that, sir," Silverbolt nodded.
"So...will she come back?" Cheetor asked.
"I'm uncertain, she must be out there if she survived that explosion. Healing, and planning her next move." Optimus explained, "We'll need to be wary, her work on making more of the...Decepticon variant of the Maximals must be what she chooses to continue."
"...didn't you tell a story about these 'Predacons' earlier Cheetor?" Bulkhead asked as he looked over at the Maximal.
"Yeah...wait. Why?"
"What if we decide to call those Techno-Organic Decepticons Predacons?"
"..oh! Good idea!"
"Maximals...Predacons," Ratchet repeated with a mutter, "Ugh...new bots today and their name changes…"
"It feels simpler than just calling them animal mode Autobots." Optimus chuckled, "And the state of our kind is bound to change with us divided and scattered to the cosmos." He stoked the flame one last time, "I think a little change is good, we have to keep moving and...transform."
"Man that Matrix thing has just made you annoyingly inspiring…" Bumblebee muttered.
"Bulkhead." Optimus smirked.
"On it boss!" he chuckled, swinging his arm and smacking Bumblebee, sending him flying.
"Good Bot," Optimus chuckled.
"Ow…"
"Heh...th-there's no way dat Blackarachnia chick is around," Rattrap whispered to himself as he walked through the woods, "She's probably stuck who knows where on some space rock..or maybe even on another planet with even more scary preds…" he quickly shook his head...while completely unaware of something crawling in the canopy above, "N-no Rattrap...don't focus on the creepy bug femme...just get yer fresh air, den get to dealin' with da new recruits in da morning."
He stopped as he heard a shuffling in the trees, he yelped and looked around as something seemed to scurry around the treeline. He flinched again as he felt something drop down behind him. He turned around slowly and saw a large figure, eight long claw tipped legs stabbing into the ground as it raised up, multiple eyes focusing on Rattrap as fanged mandible flickered. It leaned forward...looking closely at Rattrap and pushing him down, a hissing sound could be heard as something dripped from its fangs.
"G….gi...gi..gi...gi…" Rattrap wheezed out, not finding his voice at the moment as the large tarantula looked down at him.
"Boo~" an intimidating voice spoke as Rattrap went white...and passed out. With that the giant arachnid jumped back up to the trees and vanished.
"Found him Big Bot!" Cheetor called out in his animal form as Optimus walked over as they found the still stasis locked Rattrap, "I think he offlined…"
"He must have been spooked in the middle of the night." Optimus sighed as he was holding a large energon battle axe like a walking staff, he poked Rattrap with the bottom of the handle, "He's just Stasis locked."
"So...what do we do?" Cheetor asked.
"Well...his animal form kinda smells…" Optimus muttered.
"Totally…" Cheetor nodded.
"Get Bumblebee to do it?" Optimus smirked from behind his mask.
"I love the way you think Boss Bot!" Cheetor smirked as they walked back to their base.
"G….iant….tarantula…" Rattrap wheezed out in his unconscious state.
"Hmm...some of these new recruits are making record time," Silverbolt noted, standing before a training ground as he saw various Cybertronians practicing. He then tapped the side of his head as he looked up, "Jetfire, Jetstorm, how is Airazor holding?"
=She is to be holding herself rather well= Jetfire answered.
=Oh yes. She is being the perfect for being a scout= Jetstorm added.
"Fantastic!" Silverbolt cheered, "I love how the discovery of organic forms has afforded more of our kind Aerial dominion!"
"Well also happy we got more buddies to fight alongside with," Ironhide noted with a grin, "I think I saw one based on one of these..Rhi-nose I've heard about."
"Ah. I believe that is Rhinox," Silverbolt noted, "A fantastic soldier and technical officer."
"So doc bot won't have to be alone when he does his research then," Ironhide noted.
"Exactly." Silverbolt smiled, "Alright fliers let's bring it in, refuel with some Energon." he ordered.
"The Big Bot sure brought in a lot of new Autobots...and Maximals of interesting origins." Ironhide chuckled, "I just wish more bots could get used to Earth like us…"
"Optimus has been swamped with reports of our fellow Bots' nonsense…" Silverbolt sighed in agreement, "Our Leader is so busy dealing with data work."
"That and it feels like all those scrap for brains causing problems are making us look bad…" Ironhide sighed.
"Agreed," Silverbolt admitted, "...hmm. Perhaps we should enlist the help of Lady Tsubaki and her friends. Mayhaps th-"
"Hey!" the two looked over to see Cheetor running over to them in Beast Mode, "Any of you guys seen Bee? We found Rattrap in Stasis Lock out in the woods."
"Oh Primus...what happened to him?" Ironhide sighed.
"I don't know. Me and the Big Bot found him like that, looks like he spooked himself till his body locked up on him." Cheetor shrugged.
"...ugh," Silverbolt groaned before tapping the side of his head once more, "Bumblebee, mind coming out and assisting Optimus and Cheetor? They found Rattrap in Stasis."
=S….wait. Why do I have to do it?!=
"Because I called 'not it!' on the way here," Cheetor argued.
=Dang it!=
"Just hurry and retrieve Rattrap before he attracts unwanted attention," Silverbolt ordered with a sigh.
=But…'doh fine! Bulkhead, let's head out!=
=G...wait. Why me too?=
=Cause I don't wanna pick Rattrap up by hand when he hasn't had his nightly shower...that Rat DNA makes him smell something nasty=
=...You're scared of bumping into the other Dinobots aren't you?=
=Shut up…=
"Just get going before Optimus gets upset," Silverbolt sighed.
=Gh?! On our way!= the two yelped.
"...you did that on purpose," Cheetor noted once Silverbolt cut communications.
"Sometimes you need the right motivator," Silverbolt stated.
"Yeah well I think one of the new recruits needs some motivation right now," Ironhide noted.
"What are y-ahh!" Silverbolt yelped as he ran off, "K-9 no! We do not chase fellow Maximals! Leave Stampy alone!"
"I do not envy him…" Ironhide chuckled.
"...okay that's...odd," Bumblebee whispered as he and Bulkhead looked around, "They said Rattrap's supposed to be here, and yet...I don't see any sign of him."
"Maybe he woke up," Bulkhead offered.
"Ugh…" Bumblebee sighed as he tapped his helmet, "Rattrap...where are you? Come in, I repeat...come in! Come on man if this is about the story I'm sorry, but you being a big old Drama Queen isn't gonna make the fact you oiled yourself last night anyless true."
Silence before the area as the two waited for a response. A few more moments...and still nothing. Not even a chirp..or a squeak.
"...ok. This is getting a bit spooky," Bulkhead whispered.
"Agreed. No way this w-" Bumblebee began before he heard something, "?!...Bulkhead...you hear that?"
"Hmm?" Bulkhead blinked before he heard a faint buzzing sound, "...did we disturb a wasp nest again?"
"I hope not...last time we did, we had to get some salve for the spots Cheetor got stung in," Bumblebee stated before something flew over them, "?!"
"BBBBZZT! Waspinator will give you even worzzzt sting!" a rather large green and yellow wasp buzzed out as it flew around, aiming its stinger at the two.
"AH!" Bumblebee panicked, jumping out of the way as the electrified stinger almost struck him, instead letting it hit the dirt, "Waspinator! You're alive...but...wait...oh no…" he gasped as he formed his mask over his face, "We don't gotta do this man," he backed up a step, "I know I look a little taller since getting my new alt mode, but don't go getting it wrong…" he formed his stingers and blasted Waspinator knocking him back, "Oh Primus it worked!"
"Grr...Waspinator will get Bumblebot! Waspinator will have vengeance for being trapped in past! Waspinator...Terrorize!" Waspinator snapped as he began shifting into a rather large insect-like Cybertronian.
"Hey it was a mistake, I tried to tell you, and I am sorry for what happened." Bumblebee spoke, "But I'm not gonna keep dealing with you. So why don't you calm down, we get you some professional help and we get over this?"
"Waspinator don't need help!" Waspinator snarled, "Waspinator prefers this! Waspinator fearsome! Waspinator scary! Waspinator...Predacon!"
"Wasp I...wait. THOSE ARE REAL?!" Bumblebee panicked before quickly shaking his head, "No...stay calm, Bee."
"Agreed because here he comes!" Bulkhead shouted as he brought his arms up, blocking the incoming shots from Waspinator.
"Wait!" Bumblebee shouted, getting Waspinators attention, "You ain't a Predacon...you a bug!"
"What?"
"So really...you're an Insecticon!" Bumblebee declared.
"What?! Waspinator isn't Insecticon! Waspinator Predacon!" Waspinator argued.
"But you turn into...a bug!" Bumblebee shouted, "You are a bug, aren't you? Wasps are bugs, and you're a Cybertronian...so that means...you is...an Insecticon."
"WASPINATOR IS PREDACON!" Waspinator snapped, only to be punched out by Bulkhead once, then twice and then a third time before he was grabbed by the neck, and chokeslammed into the dirt.
"...wow. He's...a lot weaker than before," Bumblebee blinked in surprise.
"That...or we've gotten a lot stronger?" Bulkhead offered, lifting Wazpinator up, "You awake?" he asked.
"D'oh...Waspinator can't feel antennae…"
"..." Bulkhead formed his wrecking ball, "Go to sleep! Go to sleep! Go to Sleep!" he chanted as he punched him several more times.
"Is he out yet?" Bumblebee asked as Bulkhead dropped the Waspinator, now sporting a heavily dented face, the Predacon twitched a little bit as he tried to raise up his head "Zap!" he panicked, zapping the Predacon out of concern that maybe he was still strong and they just were getting a good sucker punch round off on him, "Haaa….haaa...okay he has to be in stasis by now…"
"Then we better bring him back to Boss bot and interrogate him," Bulkhead suggested, "He might know what happened to Rattrap...and might clue us in on how he's back."
"Alright...I'll help with the dragging...but we both know your gonna do most of it…" Bumblebee nodded, the two then flinched as Waspinator groaned...before they both just began stomping on him.
"Something feels off…" Optimus muttered, walking around the base as he was making his checks and daily appointments with his fellow Autobots council, "...something must've happened….I'll have t-"
"Optimus," he turned to see Jazz approaching, "You might wanna head to the lab. Bee and Bulk brought back a rather interesting surprise...and it ain't Rattrap."
"What is it this time?" he asked, following his second in command.
"From what they told me before going into a sorta argument and Cheetor freakin' out about a story he told last night...they found a Predacon...or Insecticon. Whichever they wanted to call it."
"Well Insecticon I believe...but Predacons are a myth and...oh…" he paused, entering the lab shared by Ratchet and Wheeljack.
"It shouldn't be possible, and yet…" Wheeljack began as he and Ratchet looked at the examination table...currently holding a tied down Waspinator on it, "This is amazing...one of the first to gain an techno-organic alt mode that isn't Maximal nor Autobot….and yet it seems like a Insecticon."
"Waspinator Predacon...not...Insecticon…" Waspinator groaned in his unconscious state.
"And he heard me?"
"...Ratchet," Optimus spoke, getting the attention of his head doctor, "Wake him."
"Was thinking just that...have some questions myself," Ratchet muttered, using one of his magnets to zap a spot on Waspiantor's neck.
"Gah! Ant bot no burn Waspinator again!" Waspiantor freaked as he woke up, "Waspinator hate being target for ant bots!"
"Ahem."
"..." Waspinator slowly turned to see Optimus glaring down at him, "...Truck bot got bigger!"
"Yes...I did." he replied stoically, "Why are you here?" he asked, using his new powers to make his eyes glow brighter for an extra flare of intimidation.
"And how are you here?" Ratchet questioned.
"...W-Waspinator will never tell! Waspinator is fearsome and dauntless Predacon!"
"Wheeljack...my axe," Optimus replied.
"Here you go." he grunted, giving Optimus his now giant Energon Axe.
"...WASPINATOR WAS TRAPPED IN SAP WITH ANTBOTS AND SPIDERBOT!" Waspinator freaked, "STUCK IN IT FOR MEGACYCLES UNTIL SOMETHING BIG GOT US FREE!"
"Well now...that was easy, wasn't it?" Optimus replied, lowering his weapon, "Sap...wait you were flung through time and got sealed inside of amber?"
"That's...impossible…" Ratchet spoke, "Well...actually, it might not be. Cybertronians can sleep for Megacycles in a suspended animation. While we use pods for that...perhaps the amber acted as a natural alternative for techno-organic Cybertronians…"
"Y-Yes! Doctor bot is right!" Waspinator rapidly nodded.
"But...what is this big thing he mentioned that freed him and these other three bots he mentioned?" Jazz pondered for a moment before it dawned on him, "...Trypticon."
"The battle must've made him disturb a pocket of Earth he and these other three Insecticons…" Wheeljack began.
"PREDACON!" Waspinator snapped.
"You will speak when spoken to," Optimus glared, making him flinch, "Continue, Wheeljack."
"Thank you, sir," Wheeljack smiled, "As I was saying, Trypticon must have disturbed a pocket of Earth he and his comrades were trapped in, shattering the amber in the process."
"So they must have finally dug themselves back to the surface and made their way here. This was, at one point, Blackarachnia's base...but it's Autobot Homeground now." Optimus sighed, "Is Blackarachnia coming?" he looked to Waspinator, "You can speak now…" he sighed, realizing his hesitation, "...She's already here, isn't she?"
"...yes, and she captured Rat Bot and has Ant Bots ready to attack."
"Do me a favor, Waspinator," Optimus spoke up, "Stay." he leaned in close, making the Predacon shudder at the new height and mass of Optimus towering over him, "Because I can fly now, I am the one who destroyed the big thing...so you tell me...do you want to make me...the Autobot Leader mad?"
"...n…no…"
"Good bot," he moved back, "Wheeljack...you are permitted any test that doesn't open him up."
"Ooh~" the Autobot Science officer smiled as Optimus walked out with Jazz, meeting up with Silverbolt and the others outside the doorway.
"Jazz, Silverbolt, get everyone together now. Tell them to prepare for a very dangerous threat," Optimus ordered, "Tell them to avoid direct combat as much as possible; stay out of her reach. As for the two unknowns, tell them to proceed with extreme caution, and take down with teamwork. I don't want anyone getting cocky and risking Spark-threatening damage or empowering Blackarachnia."
"Of course, sir," Silverbolt saluted.
"You got it, Boss Bot," Jazz snapped his fingers.
"Cheetor, I need you to run a sweep of the base, find anyone and everyone." Optimus added, "With your speed, you can outrun anything Blackarachnia and her new goons can throw at you."
"You got it, Big Bot!" Cheetor nodded.
"Wheeljack, before I leave...are your side projects ready?" Optimus turned to the door as the Science officer was holding up a large drill bit needle.
"Oh! Yes! Our new weapons and gear!" Wheeljack stopped as he had the tip right next to Waspinator's eyes.
"AH!" Waspinator panicked, "Waspinator don't wanna die~!"
"Oh hush ya scaredy bot, I just need an Energon sample!" Wheeljack spoke as he moved the needle away, "If you're good...maybe I'll put you in Stasis for this," he taunted, patting his head, "I'll get the keys!" he ran off as he opened a little closet and revealed it was filled with weapons of various kinds from firearms to melee weapons, "Just like you asked, Optimus! Weapons to help us defend our new home. It was an interesting project: weapons that can adapt to the Autobot...or Maximal using it!"
"And made so only Autobots and Maximals can wield them?" Optimus nodded.
"Oh, that part was easy," Wheeljack smiled, "No Cons are gonna be able to use these if they ever find one!"
"You've sure been prepping, Boss Bot…" Bumblebee awed before fumbling as what looked like a staff was tossed to him before it retracted into a simple baton in his hand, "Okay...now what?"
"Picture a weapon that can help you, based on your power." Wheeljack offered.
"Okay...well my stingers zap Bots...I prefer to stay at a range…" Bumblebee rambled before it expanded again and a spearhead formed at the top, as electricity sparked off the tip and made a blade of electrical energy, "Whoa~!"
"See? Power boost," Wheeljack stated.
"Let's get to looking," Optimus spoke, "Gather everyone you can, stay in groups, and make your way outside to the training field. Wheeljack, lock down the lab, you and Ratchet will keep our guest...comfortable."
"...Wait. What does that mean?" Waspinator asked in a worried tone before the doors closed, "..."
"Well…" Wheeljack began as he turned his drill back on, "Back to research!"
"Oh slag…" Waspinator squeaked.
"Okay new 'Bots, listen up!" Ironhide called out as he stood before the new Maximal and Autobot recruits, "Today's plans have changed. Today, you'll be doing your first field mission...If anyone does not want to participate, walk away now and head into the ship for safety!"
"Wait...Are we about to fight Decepticons so soon, sir?!" one Maximal asked.
"Nope but close...Predacons."
"...Th-They're real?!" a Maximal based off of a rabbit freaked.
"Preda-what now?" one of the Autobot recruits with hints of a crane motif to him asked.
"Aren't those supposed to be myths?" another asked.
"Focus, bots!" Ironhide called out, "This is gonna be a big battle and Optimus needs you at your best! Now again...for those who do not wish to fight, I suggest you walk right into the ship for safety!"
"M-Me!" the rabbit Maximal exclaimed in fright as he ran.
"Coward!" a Maximal based on a doberman shouted.
"I'm a scout! Scouts don't fight big scary Predacons that could make you into a rabbit stew!"
"First time I think I get how hard this gig was for Sentinel…" Ironhide sighed to himself, "Alright, listen up, this is rare to even get warning of an impending attack, if we go in with Bots who aren't ready that's almost as bad as going in outnumbered. Most of you are rookies who enlisted to follow the Boss Bot Optimus. Well he's counting on us to work together."
"...Optimus...is counting on us?" one Autobot asked.
"Yes...So are you with us or not?"
"...I am," one Maximal spoke, this one based on a rhino as he stepped forward in Beast Mode, "Optimus has done plenty for not just us Cybertronians...but also the people of this planet. It will be my honor...to fight alongside him just once."
"...you."
"Hmm?" Ironhide blinked, looking over to see Optimus stepped out.
"What is your name?" Optimus asked the Maximal.
"Rhinox, sir. I trained to be part of the Research and Development group, but I am capable of holding myself in a fight," he answered with a bow.
"No need to bow to me," Optimus raised a hand, "I may be the leader of our people by default now...but I am still just another Autobot, I have my flaws and have made mistakes. But...I can tell you are a brave and kind one. I hope I can come to rely on you as another friend here," he chuckled as he then looked over to the rest, "I'm aware this must be scary to most of you. Some of you have just joined us and haven't seen a proper battle at all. Trust me when I say I've been there. When I first fought the Decepticons, I had no idea what I was doing then." he sighed at the many memories, "Even now, I'm amazed that my team and I made it through all that. But just know, I'm not asking any of you to rush in and risk your lives. Fear can be a good thing, it can keep you alive; but the truly brave are the ones who stand up in spite of Fear. My team showed me that. They all had moments where they pulled through some hard times, and saved my Spark along the way. Autobots, Maximals...right now, Earth is our home. Now Decepticons or Predacons or whatever they want to call themselves, they're our problem, not the Earthlings. It's the duty of the Autobots to deal with them and the Maximals just as much." he sighed, "So...I'm asking you myself, fight with us, to protect the Earth, our new home."
"...Well," a large eagle spoke as she flew down from on top of a tree branch, transforming midair as they turned into a female Cybertronian themed after her beast mode, "You're gonna need some support from the air. Airazor reporting for duty, Optimus Prime, sir."
"We're gonna need it," Optimus smiled from behind his mask, "It's an honor to have Bots like you, Rhinox, Airazor."
"Well now you just make this look easy, Boss Bot," Ironhide chuckled, "Maybe you were always meant to be in charge."
"I still don't think I'm that good, but...I do my best." Optimus chuckled.
"Well…" Ironhide began before the ground rumbled, "?!"
"...Wh-what was th-" the rabbit Maximal began before the ground burst open, sending most of the rookies scattering as a pair of large ants crawled out of the ground, "Ahh! They're here!"
"Invaders of the queen's colony shall be met with fire!" the red ant shouted.
"We shall slay her majesty's enemies!" the black ant added.
"Inferno/Antagony, Terrorize!" the two declared as they transformed.
"Well...at least the theme is going strong, of 'if they're Predacons or Insecticons'…" Ironhide mumbled as he hardened his armor.
"Only two…" Optimus spoke as he stood back up, "This feels almost like a let down," he grabbed the handle of his giant Energon Axe as he slammed the pommel down, "Autobots, Maximals...Attack!" he ordered.
"Burn in my fire!" Inferno cackled as he pulled out a blaster, firing multiple fireballs at every Autobot and Maximal there, "BURN~!"
"You shall feel my fangs render your flesh!" Antagony screeched as she took off into the air, only for Airazor to intercept her as she smacked her back to the ground.
"Yeah, not gonna happen, bug-breath," Airazor smirked.
"Blasphemy!" Inferno shouted as he aimed at Airazor, only to be double shoulder checked by Rhinox and Ironhide, sending him flying into a wall, "Grah!"
"Nice tackle, soldier," Ironhide grinned at Rhinox.
"Well my alt mode is a rhino, sir," Rhinox pointed out, "They are known for their deadly charges, targeting potential threats with their horn."
"For the Colony!" Inferno shouted as he flew out of the wall, his thorax acting as a propeller as flames shot from the center.
"He can fly?!" the crane Autobot gawked before quickly scooping up some dirt with his crane arm and swung it before him, the dirt making a quick shield from the flames.
"Several ants are capable of that, though they normally grow wings instead of opening their thorax," Rhinox noted, "Still, this is a bit good. Just finished fixing what was wrong with my guns. Rhinox, Maximize!"
"Woah now!" Ironhide called out as Rhinox changed into a rather large and muscular Cybertronian with brown, green, and bronze-gold armor, "You're a big fella!"
"You can't win, fools! For the Royalty, I shall burn your armors down to slag!" Inferno declared.
"I don't think so," Optimus spoke, holding up his arm as his arm opened...and an energon hatchet came out, "Uh...that's not my foam launcher…" he blinked as his arm transformed into multiple weapons, "I have got a lot to figure out about my new body…"
"BURN!" Inferno cackled as he prepared to fire...only to cry out as he was assailed in a flurry of bullet fire as he was sent staggering back.
"...Okay. I'm definitely liking you," Ironhide grinned as he looked at Rhinox, who was holding a pair of large guns with the barrels resembling saws set on their sides as the barrels began to slow down in their rotation.
"Why thank you," Rhinox thanked.
"Stand...still, invader!" Antagony snapped as she tried to claw at Airazor, only for the femme to dodge each swipe with ease.
"Mmm...No, I don't think so," Airazor replied, slapping her in the face once as she flew back.
"RAAAH! I'll tear your wings from your body!" Antagony screeched, changing into Beast Mode as she flew right at Airazor.
"Is this it?" Optimus asked as his arm changed shape again with a three pronged claw at the end, he aimed and fired the claw with such force it slammed Antagony into and through a wall, "Well...not the effect I was going for…"
"It was effective!" Airazor grinned as she flew up, "Thanks, Optimus!"
"I have so much to figure out about my new body." Optimus muttered, yanking the grappling claw and dragged Antagony back, "Note to self...double check with Ratchet and Wheeljack about seeing what is going on with me…"
"I'll go survey the area," Airazor spoke as she flew off.
"We still have one more problem to look out for, stasis cuff these two...uh...better tie them up just in case...can't be too sure with the differences between normal Cybertronians and Organic form users."
"Good idea," Rhinox nodded in agreement, "Last thing we need is these two somehow breaking free and starting this mess all over again."
"For the….ack. Colony…." Inferno wheezed out, littered with bullets holes and his left optic cracked.
"Come on stupid." Rhinox sighed, picking Inferno up and wrapping him in metal cables before strapping stasis cuffs on.
"May as well interrogate these two as well," Ironhide suggested, "Figure out who sent them and where Rattrap is."
"Good idea...hopefully he's alright."
"D'oh...who spiked da oil last night…." Rattrap groaned as he began to wake up...and saw he was in what looked like a large spider web, "...ah scrap treys…"
"Well well...about time you woke up…"
"..." Rattrap gave a squeaky whimper as he looked, seeing a rather large black widow spider crawling towards him, "..."
"What's the matter, tiny? Widow got your tongue?" the spider taunted.
"...AH-!" Rattrap began in his scream before his mouth was webbed shut, "MMPH!"
"Ugh...I thought all that blabbing in your stasis was a condition...turns out you just can't shut up…" she sighed, "Alright...look I am gonna take the webbing off...and you are gonna be as silent as a church mouse...or so help me I'll drain you of your Energon and abilities and leave you a sparkless husk as a message to Optimus...do you understand? Nod if you understand." She raised a sharp leg up to his face for emphasis.
"?!" Rattrap tensed as he gave a quick, rapid nod in response. With that the leg ripped the webbing off his face making him almost yelp in pain, before he tensed and held it in, "...ow…" he whispered.
"Good boy. You can teach an Autobot something after all...now...what in the name of Unicron are you?" she asked as she tore the webbing off his mouth.
"R-Rattrap! I'm a Maximal..and fer the record I was dragged into dis a-"
"I didn't ask for your lifes story...I want to know what a Maximal is...and why are you like me?" she glared dangerously.
"I ended up scannin' a rat when I was fleeing form Incurseans a….wait," Rattrap paused, blinking in confusion for a moment, "Like you?...wait….ahh! Yer Blackarachnia!"
"Yes," she cheered, flipping around and transforming to her robot mode, her figure hidden within the shadows, "Now...if you're done with tangents...why are there more freaks like me?"
"Like I was saying! It was an accidental scan!"
"What do you mean scan? Cybertronians can't scan organic forms!" she argued.
"Oh boy yous got lots to learn…" Rattrap muttered, "There are loads of us now, if we scan organic life forms that fly...we can fly, you really don't think hundreds of Autobots wouldn't give up the hard chrome look just for that? Some just like it cause they learned Organics ain't so bad...personally I ain't a fan...I mean look at me! I'm a giant rat! Humans kill these types of things in games and what not!"
"Yes...and certain spiders also eat rats," Blackarachnia added, her eyes narrowing within the shadows, "Still..this is some interesting information...Maximals to counteract my Predacons. Though...it wouldn't hurt to recruit others to my cause..."
"..yeah I ain't gettin' swindled to workin' with no De...wait. Predacons are real?!" Rattrap freaked.
"You really don't know of Cybertron's history do you?" she teased.
"Can you put the webs back on my face...I'm about to has a panic attack now…" he calmly muttered.
"..." Blackarachnia said nothing as she held a hand out, sending out some webbing to cover his face.
"MMMMMM!"
"Idiot," she muttered as she began to walk away, "Still...to think Cybertronians had the ability to scan organics as well...meaning I…" she paused, looking at her clawed hand as it balled up into a fist, "Tch...calm down, Arachnia...you still have a task to do. First...may as well check the idiot trio, and then...find Optimus myself and have a…'talk' with him." she walked away more before tapping the side of her helmet, "Report…" she waited, "Fine, override signal, Report!" she ordered.
=I shall never speak to infidels! I will never betray the colony!= Inferno shouted =Do what you will! No torture can make me betray the queen!=
=He speaks not for Waspinator! Just keep the big scary Prime away! I'll talk! I'll talk!=
=Coward! How dare you!= both ant themed Predacons snapped.
=You got knocked out in one hit from his new power! I don't want to be tortured by that!=
=Amazing...we've said nothing to them but yet they've held and maintained some sort of long standing and non-existent conversation with us…= Rhinox's voice was heard in the distance.
=Self sustaining stupid...Cons have a lot of it…= Ironhide muttered.
"...ugh. Of course the idiots got caught," Blackarachnia whispered to herself, brining her hand up to her face as she felt a migraine coming.
=Now talk..where is Rattrap?= Optimus' voice demanded.
"Hmm? Is that…?"
=You speak wasp and I will tear out your tongue!= Antagony threatened.
=HA! Waspinator doesn't have a tongue! Waspinator has mandibles! And at least Waspinator's face looks the same and doesn't turn all creepy when mad like you!=
=Alright, we're not getting anywhere with them in the same cell like this= Optimus sighed.
=Maybe we should separate Waspinator from these two, Optimus= Silverbolt's voice suggested =He seems to be willing to talk=
"Did he get a new voice box?" Blackarachnia blinked.
=Yes! Truck bot keep Waspinator separate from angry ant bots!= Waspinator begged.
=Good idea, lets put these two in a cell. We can find out something to do with them later...I guess we never planned what to do with Con criminals when we did catch them…=
=To be fair sir we have had a lot going on= Rhinox offered, =Leading all of us...and taking care of our nonsense…=
=Yeah don't fret none Boss Bot, leave it to us to figure that out, your our Supreme Leader, you can leave some stuff to us!= Ironhide cheered.
=He's what?= Waspinator blinked.
=Yeah, your looking at the new Grand Supreme Leader of the Autobots and Maximals= Ironhide gloated =Boy talk about a massive improvement am I right?=
=What?!/What?" Waspinator gawked while Blackarachnia whispered in disbelief.
=Please Ironhide= Optimus sighed with a chuckle =Its just something that got handed off to me, I am still far from the perfect leader bots think I am. But for now...Waspinator...or Wasp...I'll give you a chance to lessen your sentence in our soon to be built Stockade...Ironhide and Rhinox, I'll trust you to do that in your available time=
=Leave it to us= Rhinox chuckled.
=And...we'll keep your uh...co-workers away from you. All I ask is you drop your vendetta on Bumblebee...and help my find one of my soldiers=
=I mean...you can try...but...you really want this Big Bot swinging that big old energon great axe at ya?= Ironhide asked, =I've seen him practice...he don't miss even with that big old thing=
=...Big bot will protect Waspinator?=
=Yes, you'll serve your time for attacking us...but Wasp you used to be one of us, and a horrible mistake ruined your life, please...give the Autobots another chance?=
=Don't you dare betray the queen!= Innerno and Antagony snapped.
=...Waspinator...is...unsure…Waspinator Predacon, not Maximal...=
=With time, that might change…=
"Oh Primus…" Blackarachnia groaned silently.
=Well look at my team, you won't look too out of place= Optimus chuckled =This change you partook in, is sadly permanent by all means we know of. But some have chosen organic modes and adapted for the better. If you let us help you…maybe you can go back to just being Wasp=
=Even if he was kind of a tool…= Bumblebee grumbled.
=Waspinator no tool bumblebot!=
=You kinda are..=
=Ah…Bee…your not really helping…= Optimus sighed.
=Just being honest…=
=Being a good guy again also means you get to smack your team mate for being stupid= Bulkhead spoke as Bumblebee yelped in pain =Eh? Not a bad incentive am I right?=
=...Can…can Waspinator have time to think about it?=
=Of course, just…consider it. We can help you, get you actual help, so you won't be angry anymore, so you can focus. Again…I'm not sure its possible to go back to your old self…but…well maybe you can change into something better then Waspinator, we are Transformers afterall, just…think about it= Optimus sighed =Let's move the terror twins to a place where we don't need to listen to em=
=On it Boss bot!= several cheered as Blackarachnia cut communications.
"...oh…great…so the big guy wants to recruit a giant bug now," Rattrap muttered before he heard a faint chuckle, "?".
"Oh Optimus…always the trusting fool," she chuckled a bit to herself, "But still…to think there are more like me…and by extent that annoying wasp."
"What am I, chopped livah?" Rattrap spoke before tensing when the shaded figure of Blackarachnia was before him, "?!"
"I guess not everyone chose an intimidating alternate form." she sighed.
"Hey! I'll have you know I can send humans fleeing in the hundreds when they see a giant rat!" Rattrap complained, "Sides, the dumb one here is you. Ya know the Boss Bot is hyper charged and changed after he went to the core of Cybertron itself, he took down Trypticon!"
"And you think I'm an idiot to fight him head on?" Blackarachnia countered, "No…if anything things are swirling within his processor at the moment."
"Uh-huh…yeah your track record from his story sure paints you as someone with a history of smart choices…" Rattrap rolled his eyes.
"What was that?" she growled.
"Hey I'm just saying, you keep coming after him and blame him for all your problems. He admitted he screwed up…Sentinel is gone…" he spoke, making her flinch and step back, "Yeah he was a jerk who screwed things up…but ya know what? At least he Died like an Autobot and protected Optimus and our planet from Megatron to the bitter end. Yet here yous are the last of that so-called elite class…still blaming someone else for yer life choices! Optimus was the only one who accepted his part of the blame…Sentinel threw him under the bus…but hey, didn't you want to go?"
"I wanted to go on an adventure! I wanted to make something matter…" she spoke, before realizing he was getting to her, "Shut up, what do you know?"
"I know Optimus had to hold his stupid traitor of a friend in his arms as he died, and then still is the Bot who took down Megatron…while you joined him, didn't ya?" Rattrap pointed out.
"..."
"Yeah. I hit a little close to home there, didn't I?" Rattrap smirked a bit, "But what do ya expect from an info-sharin' former street rat? ...oh Primus, I just got dat…"
"..." she said nothing partly because well he was right, but also since she was so lost for words she figured silence was best.
"Great. Now that ya got outsmarted and verbally bested by me, the moral support, can you let You me go?! I hates being Big-Bot handled!" he complained.
"...Not yet," Blackarachnia spoke up, her optics narrowed as she grabbed his neck, "And as much as I want to end you here and now rat…I need a bargaining chip for my men back…"
"Oh, and the bad idea train just keeps rollin'..." he groaned.
"Ugh…still no sign of him," Airazor sighed as she, Jetfire and Jetstorm landed outside the base
"Hmm…" Optimus got their attention, seeing him walking out of the entrance to the base, "Those two weird ones came in from underground. Maybe Blackarachnia has an underground cave she's using?"
"Well that makes this more difficult doesn't it." Airazor sighed.
"Yes…or…rather we don't have to let it be difficult." Optimus mused, "I do believe an old method of topographical mapping might be able to help us…"
"What that?" the Jet twins blinked.
"...How would you feel about dropping some presents around the island?" Optimus asked as he motioned them to follow, "See an old, but risky means of mapping islands was to drop small scale explosives and letting their shockwaves map out and reveal the topography of an island to those who dropped them."
"Wow…where you learn this?" Jetfire asked.
"Oh…Movie night with Sari." he chuckled sheepishly, "I figured it might be what finds her secret tunnel…or the shaking scares her out."
"Oh~" the Jet twins awed a bit.
"Hm…sounds like a sound plan, Optimus sir," Airazor noted.
"Try and disperse some of these sonic grenades I had Wheeljack make, they were meant to be a nonviolent means of dealing with organic enemies…but he ended up making them so strong they shattered glass and causes extensive hearing damage to organic life forms…but I imagine dropping a few on an island filled with mostly Cybertronians. Worse case the mainland calls with some complaints." Optimus smiled, pulling out a Cybertronian container from the wall as he produced several small canister-like grenades akin to a flashbang.
"And if it to be disturbing the remaining Dinobots?" Jetstorm questioned as he and his brother took a few of the grenades.
"Well Blackarachnia did abuse their trust of her last time…so…if they learn she's here?" Optimus chuckled as he tapped his head, as if to tell them to think on that one.
"That's just one more issue for her, then it is us!" Airazor realized.
"Sides, if they do get too rowdy I'll calm them down." Optimus added, "Our real problem is Blackarachnia. She's angry, confused and prone to making bad choices…" he sighed, "If we leave her to her own devices too long, she might put innocent lives in danger again."
"And we cannot be having that," Jetfire shook his head with Jetstorm shaking his own head in agreement.
"Well I guess we gotta stop her here." Airazor nodded, "You two can carry a lot so fly around in a sweeping pattern, I'll keep an eye out for anyone panicking and running out."
"You got it!" the twins nodded.
"Heh…you make a good field leader Airazor, you may just make a good captain even." Optimus chuckled.
"Heh…thanks, optimus," Airazor smiled a bit before she and hte Jet Twins took back off into the air.
"Hmm…" Optimus mused as his chest began glowing, his eyes closing as he seemed to go deep into thought, "Elita-1…hah…all I want is to help, to undo my mistake…but it feels like you just don't want to change…" his chest pulsed with light, "...I know you are a threat to my people…but I won't abandon you again…" the pulse went off again, "Hah…I know…I can't let her hurt innocent Sparks again…"
Unaware to him, Silverbolt was standing on top of the base itself, a serious look upon his face. He could tell how hurt optimus was about this…but what would the chances be…if this Blackarachnia deep down…was still an Autobot?
"Hate dis..I hate dis so much…" Rattrap muttered, currently stuck in a ball of webbing as he was dragged along by Blackarachnia in her Beast Mode.
"Do you ever shut up!?" she hissed.
"No! Its my charm! You kidnapped me lady! Now get used to it!" he huffed.
"Ugh..I knew I should've kidnapped the brat or that yellow nuisance," Blackarachnia groaned as she began crawling up a tree to get a better view of the area, "Mmm…no scouts…and thank Primus no sign of those Dinobots…"
"Ya know…I gotta ask, what is even your plan here? What? Yer gonna somehow take down the new Autobot Supreme Commander…whom every-bot loves!? Then…what…be hated by ever-bot in the galaxy as the new Megatron?" Rattrap asked, "Oh I'm sure dat will have zero negative effects on life or the galaxies delicate political balance, no…none whatsoever~"
"Hey…do me a favor…" Blackarachnia began before moving her thorax, causing Rattrap to swing into a different tree as hsi face crashed into it, "Shut it."
"D'oh…"
"Besides…I'm not facing Optimus," she muttered, "After all…its stupid to face someone like him…without an army t-" she tened a bit when a sonic explosion went off, causing some trees nearby to blow over, "!?"
"Mmm? MMMM!" Rattrap groaned, as the sonic booms and shakes continued. He then could hear loud stomps as something was rushing through the forest at breakneck speeds, tearing down trees one after another in its path, "DINOBOT!" he was able to cry out.
"?!" Blackarachnia tensed as Rattrap's scream echoed throughout the area.
A silence soon befell the area, the wind blowing through as all that could be heard was a calming breeze…and soon, the silence broke when the area started to rumble. The black widow then quickly jumped just as a pair of robotic dinosaurs-one based on a triceratops and the other a pterodactyl- crashed through the trees. They snorted before spotting Rattrap then following the tree line as they spotted and glared at Blackarachnia. The two roared before both simultaneously blasted fire from their mouths at the tree, forcing her to jump out of the way.
"Oh you little vindictive…!" Blackarachnia hissed at Rattrap before jumping away from another blast of fire from the two dinosaur robots.
"Oh, like yous are one to talk!" Rattrap shouted back before sighing, "We're gonna die…fried rat with a side of toasted spider…"
"Just shut up before I feed you to them myself!"
"I'm pretty sure they want you more!" Rattrap hissed, "Which makes sense…'cause you is the WORST!"
"Your tail's on fire, rodent."
"Oh like you're gonna make me believe that, Legs," Rattrap huffed before looking at his tail, the tip on fire, "...GYAH! MY TAIL'S ON FIRE! OH FRAG! WHY IS IT ALWAYS THE TAIL?!"
'Ugh, this is ridiculous!' Blackarachnia thought as she jumped out of the way of another stream of fire, 'First, my three idiots are captured, one is possibly looking to defect to Optimus's side, and now I'm being chased by those scrapping Dinobots with an annoying rat!'
"Not me, you two lugnuts! Her! HER!" Rattrap shouted, only for them to roar loudly in return, "Ah geez! They's so bloodthirsy they're ignoring me!"
"Well gee! I wonder whose fault that was?!" Blackarachnia snapped as she jumped right over a set of logs that were knocked over, only for them to be crashed through by the two Dinobots.
"Oh dat's easy! Just need ya ta look in da mirror fer da reason!"
"Oh you little…!" Blackarachnia began as she jumped over a hill...only to realize that she ended up jumping over a cliff overlooking the lake surrounding the island, "!?"
"Aw scrap!" Rattrap called out as he saw her vanish over the edge, "Welp…dat's dat…"
Just as he was about to try and free himself, a blur shot right past the Maximal, making him blink as he soon found his upper body free of the web ball. Blackarachnia's yelp soon caught his attention as he turned…seeing Silverbotl in his Beast Mode carrying up Blackarachnia.
"...WHAT?!"
"Oh what now?!" she snapped.
"Worry not, madam. I have merely stopped you from falling into the lake below," Silverbolt informed as he carried her, "Afterall…you have a lot to answer for Miss Blackarachnia…""
"Great…first a rat and now a winged mutt. Got a name, Bowser?"
"I do…Silverbolt."
"...As in Silverbolt Prime?"
"Former. Was stripped of it by Sentinel Magnus after becoming a Maximal Fuzor. But I do not mind. The title was more of a burden than I could honestly handle at times."
"Oh what a pity…so what's your bit? You Optimus's literal new lapdog?" she groaned.
"No. I lead the newest faction of the Autobots, the Maximals," he replied before landing on top of a lone mountain top, "And we fight together to take down the threat that is the Decepticons, and anyone that dares to threaten our home world."
"Heh…you sound just like any other Autobot boyscout…just like Optimus." she sighed as she transformed to her robot mode, "So is this the part where I wait 'till Optimus comes to pick me up, and beg me to let him help me?"
"...No...I am merely here to talk," Silverbolt replied as he transformed into robot mode as well, giving her a look over.
Her frame reminded Silverbolt of some of his studies about the culture of Earth, specifically that of the culture of women known as 'belly dancers' if he recalled correctly. Her body was mainly pitch black but bled into a golden-yellow coloration. Two of the legs of her Beast Mode laid on her back, looking like the flags worn by an armored shogun. Over her chest was armor made of her spider head while a golden helmet covered her head, exposing her mouth and four red eyes. On her neck was a gold collar with the engraving of an insect-like head.
"You used to be an Autobot…you used to be friends with Optimus…with him and Sentinel…but as I'm sure you are unaware, recently our kind was forced into an exodus from Cybertron and Sentinel is with the AllSpark. You and Optimus are the only ones left of what he still considers an important friendship. Surely you can't have such a horrible vindictive soul to ignore the pain of our kind…"
"...The thing is, if I hadn't been stewing in Amber for the past few million years on this little planet with those three keeping me company," Blackarachnia paused as her eyes narrowed, "My hate for Optimus wouldn't have stewed over time…and yet…hearing about what happened to Cybertron…tch. Sentinel…" she muttered before shaking her head, "Listen, don't think I see what you're trying to pull. Optimus tried the same, but…well I guess deep down…"
"?" Silverbolt blinked before dodging a claw swipe from her.
"I'm just a bad girl~" she smirked before swiping at him again.
"...So in the end you're just evil? I don't believe that…and neither does he…" Silverbolt spoke while jumping back, "But the difference is, Optimus accepts that as our Supreme Commander…he has to make the hard choices for us as a whole…so as his loyal soldier…I will deal with this so he doesn't have to!" he grabbed her hand before flipping her over and into the ground, "For once…I know what a real leader is…and for all he's done for us…keeping him from feeling the pain of stopping you is the least I can do." he growled, flaring his wings out.
"Then by all means…try and stop me!" she shouted as the spider legs on her shoulders moved and jabbed his shoulders, making him grunt as she quickly rolled away when he staggered back.
"Get her! Take her out!" Rattrap shouted as the Dinobots just nudged him while still webbed up, "Will you twos stop dat and free me!?" the pterodactyl pecked his head, "Oh fer da love of Cybertron…"
"Do not worry, Rattrap! I will get you out…" Silverbolt began before blocking a kick from Blackarachnia, "Once I have dealt with the enemy Predacon!"
"Oh so now you consider me a Predacon?" Blackaracnia teased as she did an roundhouse kick to his head, making him grunt out as he staggered back, "I thought you wanted to give me another chance?"
"And you can earn it, after you get the help you clearly need," he argued, jumping back from another swipe, "But I will bring you in, and by Cybertron you will get help, for you are nothing but an angry and confused Bot, who is too scared to even ask for help. How many times did you push Optimus away when he offered to help?" he asked as she growled and lunged at him again, "Did you think he was lying? Are you so twisted and warped you can't see honest kindness anymore…or are you like Sentinel…and friendship was merely a tool for you?"
"RAAAGH!" Blackarachnia screeched out as she lunged at him, her spider legs out as she bared her fangs and claws at him,
Silverbolt however stepped out of the way of her lunge, making her miss as she was about to fall off the side of the mountain, only for her hand to be grabbed by Silverbolt as he pulled her back.
"Careful…it's steep here."
"ARE YOU FLIRTING!?" Rattrap snapped.
"?! F-Flirting?!" Silverbolt yelped as he ended up letting Blackarachnia's arm go, resulting in her transforming into Beast Mode as she shot a ball of webbing in his face, "MKMMPH!"
"Flirting? Ha! Please…" Blackarachnia laughed a bit, Silverbolt struggling to get the webbing off as he staggered around…before he fell off the side of the mountain…right onto Rattrap, "As if he could get with a femme like me."
"You idiot! If ya let her drop, she'd be pinned by the Dinobots!" Rattrap snapped, "Who breathe fire!"
"Y-you distracted me!"
"Oh sure, blame the rat…"
"I-I was not flirting! I was merely trying to sway her to our side and remind her she's still an Autobot deep down!"
"The swaying part was da flirtin'!" Rattrap snapped before the Pterodactyl nudged him a bit, "Now what?!" it pointed its beak up to the mounting, letting the two see…no sign of Blackarachnia, "...oh..oh great. She got away. Charming. Way ta blow it, casanova."
"Th-that was not my intent!" he snapped.
"Yeah, you're probably right…ain't no way you got more charm than Optimus…" Rattrap sighed, "Will you get us out already!" he snapped at the Dinobots, making them flinch.
"Ahem! A-Airazor, Jetfire, Jetstorm come in!" Silverbolt shouted as he turned his communicator on, all while trying to remain calm, "I have located Rattrap, but have lost the target!"
=Why are you sounding the flustered?= Jetstorm asked.
"N-no reason! J-Just ended up crashing into Swoop is all"
=Oh right...those big guys= Airazor recalled =May need to talk to Optimus about someone to help take care of them…=
"Also kibbles breath let her get away!" Rattrap shouted, "Find her and take her down with all ya got!"
=Huh?= Jetfire pondered.
"The person behind the Predacon attack!" Silverbolt exclaimed.
=Oh~ Got it!=
"Ugh…We need to get those kids to finish more lessons…" both Maximals sighed.
"Don't agree with me! I'm mad at you!" Rattrap snapped.
"Tch…I can't believe I got myself caught like that," Blackarachnia hissed as she crawled right into a cave.
"Well to be fair, you have tended to make a lot of bad mistakes since your return to the realm of the living." a voice made her pause as blue eyes shone in the shadows, "Hah…" Optimus sighed, walking out, "You really are giving my recruits a lot of trouble…" he shook his head.
"H-How…" Blackarachnia gasped as she quickly transformed.
"How did I find you?" he cut her off, "Well those sonic grenades sent out a wave of ultrasonic pulses that let Wheeljack map out the entire island, and he found a cave big enough with a tunnel linked to our base. I just drove here while you were distracted." he slammed down his giant Energon battleax, "I heard you…" his eyes began glowing as did his chest, "If you truly don't want to change…if you wish to stay an enemy to our people…purely out of vindictive reasons…towards me…or selfish ones…then you're right…you are not Elita-1…and I was a fool for hoping you could still be." his eyes softened as he said that, "Ariel…" Blackarachnia looked at him in surprise, "...Zeta is gone, Cybertron has been forced dormant in order to heal, and Megatron has only become stronger, reformatting himself into something worse than he was before."
"That's not my concern, Orion…"
"Wrong!" Optimus snapped, making her flinch, "You are one of us, you were born on Cybertron! But look at what you've done! What you did to Wasp! Do you really feel no remorse for that!? Do you not regret never seeing Zeta again…never going home back when it was our home? …Our kind are scattered…and it is my mission to keep us all safe…from any threat to our freedom, our sparks…and I prayed the next time we met…you would not be one of them. You need to choose…you can't play the neutral party anymore…You are one of us…or you are with Megatron…" he stomped forward, "Now choose!" he demanded, his eyes pleading in spite of the harshness in his voice, "I am not Orion anymore…I'm not even the Optimus Prime you knew…I am the Last Prime…I am the Autobot Supreme Commander…and I can't make mistakes anymore…"
Blackarachnia couldn't say anything…or rather, it felt as if her voice had left her. The female Cybertronian looked on at Optimus in a mix of awe, shock…and fear. This…this wasn't the optimus…the Orion Pax she once knew.
"I have changed…Cybertron…Primus himself made me into what I am…I'm not sure what I even am anymore…all I know…is I have to stay strong for our people. To be what they need me to be, be it warrior, a commander, or a friend…" Optimus lowered his hand to relax his grip on his weapon, "So if I need to be your enemy…then I can no longer waver and let our past make me falter. I want to help you…I honest to Primus do…all I want is to hope if I extend my hand you will honestly take it. But…if you don't…then even if I hate myself…I shall stop you as if you were Megatron himself." he reached behind himself and tossed a pair of stasis cuffs to the ground between them, "If by chance…my one hope is true…then put those on…and I shall escort you to a cell…and we shall help you. Come to terms with who you are, what you are…so you can find peace in it."
"...Sentinel…"
"?"
"Sentinel….he went out in an attempted blaze of glory…didn't he?"
"...He faced Megatron by himself…" Optimus nodded, "He wanted to atone for his mistakes as acting Magnus…or whatever he decided to call himself…"
"...heh. That sounds like him…charging into things as always," Blackarachnia gave a low chuckle as she looked down, "...so much has happened since that day...i guess…some part of me deep down…didn't expect things would end up this way."
"No one knew what our futures would be after that day," Optimus spoke, "All I wanted was to be a Prime…not to be…the Last Prime…" he sighed, "Our paths have changed for many reasons…but we are still Transformers. We can change, take any path…but you need to want to."
Blackarachnia stayed silent as she let his words go through her processor, lightly eying the stasis cuffs in his hands. She was about to reach out to them...but then moved her hand away, "No…I'm sorry Optimus, but I can't…not just yet."
"?"
"Knowing that there are now techno-organic Cybertronians out there, that actually makes me question something," Blackarachnia said as a frown grew on her face, "Those spiders back at the ship we found…did they live there…or did someone put them there on purpose?"
"Purpose?" he repeated.
"That idiot Starscream once mentioned something about a mad Decepticon scientist that went missing during the Great War," Blackarachnia stated as she looked at her clawed hand, "That actually has me curious…I would've brushed it off and said 'the poor sap was offlined,' but now…what if he found other means of escaping?"
"...you think he snuck off planet?" Optimus guessed.
"Possibly…and chances are he's hiding out there somewhere," Blackarachnia replied as she turned, "And I'm going to find out."
:...and what of Antagony and Inferno?"
"Best keep those two locked up…They are really unhinged," she replied, "Oh...and there is one more, but…heh. Good luck trying to control him," she smirked, changing back into Beast Mode and began to crawl off, vanishing into the shadows.
"With how my life is going…I'm afraid of that revelation being true…" Optimus sighed, "Hmm…Wait. One more?" he blinked. He flinched as his comms turned on as he heard Ratrap screaming, "Rattrap!?"
=KILLER LIZARD! HALP~!=
"I'll be right there…" he sighed, "Air team, go help. I should be there in a moment…"
=Understood Optimus!= Airazor replied =Storm, Fire, we're heading out!=
'I hope…you find your answers, and that they give you the final piece you need…to understand who you are now, Ariel,' Optimus sighed to himself as he jumped into the air and transformed into a red and blue Semitruck before roaring down the forest path towards his soldiers, 'I don't know who I have to thank…for reaffirming my faith…but…thank you,' the Matrix within him flashed warmly in response.
"What is with me and this Cycle?!" Rattrap panicked, running on all fours in a panic through the forest, "Can't a rat get a moment's peace?!"
"I was not aware there were actual dinosaurs living on this island!" Silverbolt added as he ran right next to him, looking back to see what looked like a brown-scaled Velociraptor chasing right after them., "Or is it like the stories about Slug and Swoop?"
"How should I know?! Just keep runnin', Bowser!" Rattrap yelped.
The Velociraptor let out a screeching roar as it leapt into a tree and jumped off them to outpace and overtake them before slamming onto the ground before them. With its back turned to them, it swung its tail and whipped both Maximals across their beast mode faces, sending them stumbling back. It hissed as it leapt around and circled them to confuse them and make them bump and tangle themselves up together. Silverbolt gasped as its foot slammed into his side and pushed him down onto Rattrap, the dinosaur's giant (relative to their size as Transformers) foot talon tapping his side as if warning him not to move less he wanted to be finished here and now.
"It's playing with us…like a giant lizard cat…" Rattrap gasped.
"You don't know that…" Silverbolt replied.
"I…am…" the dinosaur hissed.
"AH! HE IS!" Silverbolt yelped.
"IT TALKS!" Rattrap panicked, hugging Silverbolt with wide eyes.
"Of course I can…" the Dinosaur hissed, "And you two…are very loud and annoying…"
"It has been a long Cycle for me, okay?! Went fer a walk, got kidnapped, spooked outta my processor by giant spiders and ants, and now I'm on da run from you, Chopperface!" Rattrap argued before hiding behind Silverbolt when the raptor snarled.
"You…You are the one who leads the ones called 'Maximals,' are you not?"
"I am, but I also answer to Optimus Prime," Silverbolt replied.
"The one who commands you all," the raptor noted, "I have…been watching him. He holds a rather…surprising depth of wisdom."
"Wow…first you talk…now ya can't shut up…" Rattrap muttered.
"Silence, rodent," the raptor growled before looking to Silverbolt, "My name is Dinobot. I have left the Predacons to join your group…as Maximal Leader."
"Pardon me?" Silverbolt asked.
"Dis guy's got bearings of chrome steel," Rattrap muttered in disbelief.
"I hereby challenge you, Silverbolt, to a one-on-one battle. The winner shall lead the Maximals and the loser…shall be destroyed," Dinobot challenged.
"I do believe that there has been a misunderstanding. I am Optimus's loyal soldier, but I am not the leader of the Maximals, we all are loyal to him as the Supreme Commander." Silverbolt spoke, "They don't listen to me. If they did, I would have had them doing more teamwork exercises!" he cheered happily at the thought.
"I don't think he's listenin'," Rattrap whispered.
=Rattrap, are you there? Jetfire, Jetstorm, and I are approaching your location. Status report= Airazor ordered.
"Oh, it's not much…jest a Pred' goin' Maximal and, uh, he's gone and challenged Silverbolt to a one-on-one fer leadership role of Maximals," Rattrap explained.
=You are to be doing the kidding, yes?= Jetfire asked.
"I kid you not," Rattrap replied as Silverbolt and Dinobot circled one another, one trying to think of reason and the other wanting to duel.
=This Predacon has to be having the chrome bearings of steel= Jetstorm noted.
"Dat's what I said!"
"We don't have to do this," Silverbolt spoke.
"You have no choice. The Flyers that you have are unable to come down with silence due to the foliage above us. The area around us requires one to traverse not by wheel but by foot," DInobot replied, "And no one leaves this area until you face me."
"..." Silverbolt grimaced.
=Silverbolt=
"Optimus?" Silverbolt answered the comm.
=Status report=
"We've encountered a Predacon that wants to join us…but thinks I am the leader of the Maximals and wants to duel me for the position," Silverbolt explained.
=...Aren't you?=
"What…N-No, no I am not! The Maximals follow you!"
=But you are one of my high ranked captains. Technically, you are my second in command to the Maximals like Jazz is with the Autobots. For all intent and purposes, you are the Maximal leader here on Earth= Optimus noted.
"Optimus, sir…"
=Silverbolt, you can handle this. I'm on my way, but this terrain is requiring me to come by foot. It seems he lead you to a place he chose so he could have this duel= Optimus noted =Either hold out until I arrive or win=
"Right! Very well Dinobot, I accept your challenge to the right to be one of Optimus Prime's hands!" Silverbolt declared, "But know that I shall not disappoint our Commander!"
"Fine…but let us prepare…like actual warriors," Dinobot stated as he began to growl out, "In preparation for this, I have already altered my activation code from 'Terrorize.' Dinobot…Maximize!"
He lurched forward with snarl before his body opened up and he transformed into robot mode, revealing the blue Cybertronian armored skin hidden under the armor made up of his animal mode's faux-scale skin. His head was clad in a bronze/brown helmet with glowing red eyes offsetting his blue face. His tail split open as it attached to his left arm and revealed a Cybertronian flamberge sword which he grabbed in the right.
"Silverbolt, Maximize!" Silverbolt declared before transforming into Robot Mode with a howling screech.
He reached into his wings before pulling out two feathers, sharpened and on the ends of metal handles as if they were a pair of blades. His eyes then narrowed as he and Dinobot both got into a fighting stance, gripping their respective weapons as they stared each other down.
With that the two clashed as weapons interlocked and sparked from their grinding against one another. Silverbolt flared his wings as he jumped back, letting him hover in place long enough to kick his leg and strike Dinobot, making him stumble back. Dinobot growled as he rushed with a flurry of thrusts with his sword which Silverbolt parried with his twin weapons. The two dashed back and forth around the terrain as weapons clashed against one another, the sound of metal clashing and sparks flying echoing throughout the forest.
The two growled as they clashed weapons again. But this time Dinobot slammed his shield into Silverbolt pushing him back. Dinobot roared as he jumped and swung down with his sword, Silverbolt barely blocking by crossing his blades. But the ground beneath him still buckled and from the force of Dinobot's swing. The Maximal originator grunted as he leaned back and swung Dinobot over his head before he swung his leg and kicked him off. The former 'Predacon' grunted rolling with the throw before grunting when his shield was knocked out of his hand by one of Silverbolt's blades, which was tossed like a tomahawk. The shield scattering across the ground as the blade embedded into a tree.
Dinobot growled as he readied his sword as he blocked a swing from Silverbolt, the two growling as their inner beat began to take hold and drive their battle instincts. The two stepped back before swinging their weapons each held with both hands, as if having a battle of swordsmanship. Silverbolt grunted, deflecting a swing away, admitting in his mind that Dinobot was his superior in the field of raw power. But he could feel the potential new Maximal was also losing his composure, his refinement in combat, the more they went on. Silverbolt flinched as he barely moved his weapon up in time to deflect another swing. He ducked under Dinobot's blade and pushed his weapon up to shove his sword away from him. Silverbolt flared his wings out as he spun around, letting them distract Dinobot who mistook it as an attack; but this left his abdomen open as a kick struck him and sent the Cybertronian Raptor stumbling back into a tree.
Silverbolt grunted as he dashed away, choosing to disengage and go after his second blade. Dinobot roared as he ran after him. Silverbolt noticed his challenger gaining on him, so he kicked his legs out and slid along the ground, causing Dinobot to miss a swing aimed at the back of his head. Dinobot growled as he jumped into the air and aimed his sword down to thrust it into Silverbolt, but he failed to notice his opponent grabbing something as he slid along the ground. The challenged Maximal cheered as he tossed Dinobot's own shield like a boomerang as it struck the would-be Usurper and knocked him out of the air, his sword and shield both going flying and landing in the grass. Dinobot growled as he looked up only to flinch when Silverbolt stood up and grabbed his second blade. Silverbolt moved to strike…but stopped as he took on a defensive stance instead.
"...tch…it would seem..I have been bested," Dinobot growled out, "Go ahead…finish it…"
"...That is not our way," Silverbolt spoke, "Maximals might be different, but we are still, at our Sparks, the same as Autobots."
"...So you deny me a warrior's death…"
"No." Optimus's voice got their attention, "Rather…it would be a waste to lose a warrior…who can serve by my side in many a battle to come." he spoke as he marched over and picked up Dinobot's sword, "It would be a waste indeed, to kill off a warrior who's strength has yet to reach its upper limit. I already have a hand; maybe what I need now…is a sword." he offered the weapon back to Dinobot, "Will you be that blade for me?"
Rattrap was about to exclaim before Silveroblt quickly covered his mouth, giving him a hushing sound as Dinobot solely looked at his blade in Optimus' hand.
"...Hmm….You truly hold yourself high, thinking you could use someone like me," Dinobot chuckled a bit as he hand reached out, gripping the hilt of his blade before taking it back, "And yet…I cannot say no to someone such as you, Optimus Prime…fine. I shall become your sword…on one condition."
"?"
"The ones known as Swoop and Slug…they are missing a leader…someone to train and hone their skills," Dinobot explained as he looked up at Optimus, "Allow me to be their leader…in honor of the one who led them before."
"Hmm…" Optimus turned to see the two looking from afar, "...Alright," he nodded, "But…their mess is your mess, such is the burden of leadership." he chuckled, walking past Dinobot and towards Rattrap and Silverbolt, "So…long day, huh?"
"...y….yeah, Boss Bot…" Rattrap slowly nodded once Silverbolt moved his hand away form his mouth.
"We...We are fine, sir," Silverbotl added with a slow nod, "And yes…a very long day…"
"I don't think we've seen the last of Blackarachnia…but something got through to her." he sighed, "Hopefully next time…it will be better."
"...Same here, Optimus," Silverbolt whispered to himself as he, Optimus, and Rattrap began to leave the area.
"After today…I think we could all use a little down time. Let's take a cycle to repair, rest…and watch Dinobot try and tame those two." Optimus turned as Dinobot turned to Beast Mode and growled at Swoop and Slag, who growled back before the two rushed and tackled him over, "I'm sure they'll get along."
"Pft…yeah. As if I'd get along with someone like him," Rattrap huffed.
"Stranger has happened," Optimus sighed, "Stranger has happened…"
"Yeah, yeah…I still hate that spider dame…spooking me in the middle of night, and then waiting 'till the next day to drag me off…What's up with dat…?" Rattrap noted as Optimus cupped his chin at that.
"Wait…that is odd…" he blinked.
As all calmed down, a rock in the middle of the island flipped up before multiple giant hairy spider legs raised out and began pulling out a giant purple tarantula. It's eyes darting around before transforming into a tall robot with thin armored limbs, two large shoulders which with the hair of his alternate mode gave the image of a fur coat, his head was clad in a purple helmet with a green optic visor, with green hexagonal lights on his forehead, and an orange mouthplate that opened to reveal it was in fact multiple mandibles. He took a moment as he cracked his neck with a cackle.
"Well…that was most enlightening indeed…my dear Blackarachnia…you as well Optimus…yes…that fateful day all those mega-cycles ago…has done nothing but give me all of the most interesting data…" he cackled as he pulled on a web wire causing a loud rumbling behind him in the tunnel, "Now that I know she's returned…it's time for our faithful meeting…ah…my wonderful magnum opus…Blackarachnia…It's time to begin my favorite part of my research…hehehehe…dissection and replication~ Hehe-hahehahehahehe~!" he pulled a device from his armor before clicking it as a Space Bridge formed before him, before walking into it, all the while cackling like a lunatic to a punchline only he knew.
SZ: Yeah…you can't have Beast Wars stuff without Predacons…especially a certain Predacon-turned-Maximal..and a certain mad scientist tarantula…
GT: We did need someone to take over leading those two Dinobots.
SZ: Very true…and we may...no definitely found out who was behind the spiders that mutated Elita-1 into Blackarachnia…possibly. Can't say without going into too much spoiler territory.
Z0: Till next installment!
GT: Please Read and Review!