(Hey everyone. How are you doing? As you all know a lot of horrible stuff is happening around the world. But please don't give up hope... We can't give into despair or we'll be no better than what is causing us to fall down that hole into the void. It's what the people who put us there want. I know it's tough, and seems impossible, heaven knows I've felt the same pain of loss as you might have; but please don't give up. Like how Ash and Optimus will never give up. After this chapter I am taking a brief sabbatical from writing more of this story. Mostly for 2 reasons here.
Reason 1: I need to research the episodes relating to the next chapter.
Reason 2: I have ...unintentionally... neglected some of my other stories, especially my most recent story "Heart of the League" and I want to get the next chapter of that completed before I continue on.
Reminder: I would like to remind you all about the ideas that popped into my head during my hiatus and it's everything listed under "Undetermined" or "Challenge" in my page is yours to pick if you want to write. I'm available for advice if you wish to proceed as such. I am encouraging everyone, to write if you want to. Let me know in an PM after you find an idea that you want to write so I can help you with it. They are all on my profile page and are awaiting you to look at them, please look at them after you read this chapter and review it.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Pokémon or Beast Wars they are the properties of their respective owners.
The fox-like Maximal, Foxfire, is an OC Maximal made by Stone-Man85 in his "Beast Wars" story. Please look at his story if you get the chance.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
"Communications"
"COMPUTERIZED VOICES."
Please Read, Review, and Enjoy)
Within the Predacon base, in the mountain range between the Kanto and Johto regions, a crystal of Raw Energon stood on the device as energy was shot into it, and it seemed to begin growing in size. With an audience observing its growth.
Megatron leaned in, smiling, at this result, "Yes, Yeesss… Almost there…"
"This may be the refinement process I've been seeking…" Megatron said to those present, including Terrasaur, Buzzinator, Skorupinok, Heliosneak, and Dr. Zager, with Cassidy and Butch at his side, "Yess.."
Just as it grew to a, greater height and formation it gave a sonic vibration before it shattered and dissolved. Megatron was furious at what he saw, "NO! Blast it!"
"Terrasaur! Get me another Energon Crystal, now!" Megatron ordered, glaring at the flyer.
"No!" Terrasaur shouted, defiantly, as he pointed accusingly at Megatron, "I refuse to follow an incompetent leader like you any longer! You've wasted the last of our Energon crystals for the last time!"
'How dare you talk to Megatron that way!" Skorupinok shouted in defense of his leader.
The Beedrill Predacon then exclaimed, "Buzzinator tired of waiting! Predacons should fight now!"
"Couldn't agree more." Heliosneak snarled at Megatron.
Megatron growled, "You'll regret this rebellion Terrasaur! Yesss… Dr. Zager, help me!"
"I have to agree with the flying fossil." Dr. Zager stated, getting the attention of everyone in the room. "Because of your obsession over getting a lead on more of your pods and wasting our resources to find and secure them. In light of the loss of members in our previous operations together, our leader sees no point in continuing this."
He then turned and walked away as he said, the door closing behind him, "Consider our alliance over, here and now."
Megatron shouted, "You will pay for this desertion Zager! I promise you!"
"Don't worry about it, you're not gonna be around to fulfill that promise." Heliosneak said as he, Terrasaur, and Buzzinator raised their blasters. Skorupinok growling raising his own weapons at the mutineers, shouting, "Traitors!"
They were unaware of being watched all the way in the Kalos Region, by a certain group of robotic aliens.
"Whoa… bad karma at the loser lair." Cheattor stated. Next to him were Foxfire and Kabubot while the warrior remarked, "It appears serious this time…"
Optimus looked over and admitted, seeing how badly things escalated between the Predacons with this Dr. Zager leaving with the Team Rocket members with him, "That's dissention alright."
"Cool!" Cheattor exclaimed, before asking the others, "Now aren't you guys glad we got international cable?"
Turning to them, Rhynox agreed, "Looks like we hardwired that spy camera just in time."
"We!?" Ratitrap asked, incredulously, "It was my fuzzy butt on the line there."
"Yeah right! You only kept an eye out while I hopped over and planted the thing!" Cotton-Buns shot back. She was smaller than Ratitrap and was able to squeeze into places the rodent couldn't.
Optimus shushed them and exclaimed, "Look!"
Megatron and Skorupinok retreated and hid behind a container of Energon when Terrasaur's mutiny fired, the former shouting, "NO, YOU FOOLS! YOU'LL HIT THE ENERGON!"
A light flashed and the camera was replaced with heavy static. The four in front of the screen leaned in before Rhynox got patched to the news with a reporter speaking, "We're here live at the mountain range between the Kanto and Johto regions! Where an explosion rocked most of the continent! First responders and experts arrived on the scene and made sure that the populace, people and Pokémon, have been evacuated and deemed it to be a geological disturbance within the mountain that divides the two regions. We only got confirmation that this was not a criminal action or an act of Legendary Pokémon like the Storm of the Century in Hoenn that had taken place previously."
When they arrived at the Mountain Range, there were still some rescue crews patrolling the area. They were able to open the portal past them blockade and approach the entrance to the Predacon Base which Rhynox scanned.
Overviewing it and away from the ship's scanners, Cotton-Buns breathed, "Whoa… their base looks completely slagged to Thrull."
"It is." Rhynox answered, "I'm detecting no signs of life, whether they're Predacon or human. Not a pred or Pokémon signature anywhere."
"Can that be confirmed?" Kabubot asked, having his suspicions.
Ratitrap shouted, "Hey! His scanners don't lie, Kabu-bum!"
"Leave him alone, Rat-tac!" Cotton-Buns snapped, "He's just making sure they're really gone for good."
"Well, we may have to accept an unexpected development, friends." Optimus said. He looked back at the wreck of the stolen ship, "The Maximals may have won the Poké Wars."
They soon entered the ship's main entrance. They were on the bridge, Rhynox had his scanner up and told them, "Still no life forms, but the Base's Energon Field Dampeners are still functional and I don't detect any shields to prevent us from activating the gate."
"Then we can proceed in Robot mode?" Foxfire asked, cautiously. She received a nod from the scientist.
"Alright, lets pillage and plunder." Suggested Ratitrap, giggling a bit, swinging a metal pole around like a cutlass.
"Only for space drive parts." Optimus told him, still cautious, "Remember this is still a Predacon ship, and still very dangerous."
"Yeah?" Ratitrap asked, before swinging the pipe, "Then let's make Ol Sickle-hands go first."
A bang was heard and Ratitrap looked over to see the pipe he had used hit the said 'sickle hands' in the leg.
Kabubot growled, "Yes, that would be logical."
Taking the pipe, which Ratitrap thought he was going to use to hit the smaller Maximal, who cowered a bit, but Kabubot stated, "I will take point to where you'll need to go."
He then tossed the pipe away and proceeded along, confusing Ratitrap and Cotton-Buns, the former complaining once the Kabutops left, "Man… I'm pushing all the hot buttons, but I got nodda!"
Looking over, He asked the other Maximals, "What's with him?"
Some of them rolled their eyes, or shook their heads, at the apparent lack of understanding. Optimus asked, as if it was obvious, "Can't you figure it out?"
Cotton-Buns looked as confused, but for a different reason, "What? What is it?"
"Kabubot may have defected from the Predacons but he still knew them and as such feels sad for their passing." Rhynox stated. Which really confused the cadet, especially since she heard how the other Predacons betrayed Kabubot for his honor. Ratitrap wouldn't care about that since to him the only good Predacons were the ones in the scrapheap.
They then reached the end and saw a vault before them, where the Darksyde's Star Drive, which allows them to fly and access the Transwarp drive in conjunction.
Kabubot looked around, seeing if there were any traps in the area, but when he found none, he turned around to the others.
"This is what you seek." Kabubot told Optimus, looking around as he stated, "I detect no hostiles. I will… reconnoiter elsewhere."
And with that Kabubot left, leaving Optimus and the others behind, Optimus' thoughts were interrupted by Ratitrap asking, "So… Oink-nose, so what're we gonna do with Kabubot?"
"Why should we do anything?" Optimus asked, looking at the Ratatta Maximal, brow raised.
"Man!" Ratitrap complained, before pointing out, "look at him! He's still a Predacon, he's only with us because he knew we'd win, not because he believed in what we stood for."
"But he's a warrior…" Foxfire stated, watching Kabubot leaving.
"Exactly my point, he's a soldier; without an enemy who else is he gonna fight?" Ratitrap asked, looking at his leader. But his question made Foxfire ask, "You are not saying he'd turn the leaf-over are you?"
"Well… I wouldn't put it past him…" Ratitrap told her, which made the Fennekin Maximal look concerned.
Ratitrap sighed, shaking his head. Only to see Optimus and Rhynox going to the vault like doors. Ratitrap hurried up and said, "Look… this isn't the best time to prove that you're a whimp-chimp, buddy. He'll snuff you out the minute you turn yer back. You know it's what Security-blade would say if he was here."
Foxfire narrowed her eyes and shot at Ratatta Maximal, "It is that kind of thinking that our friends are no longer with us."
Ratitrap gave an annoyed groan, glancing at the girl, "Stop trying to guilt-trip me. It's not working!"
The sounds of the door opening caught their attention as the doors revealed a very bright light that almost blinded them. When it finally dimmed down, they saw a large device that made Optimus tell Ratitrap, "Get the others, we have what we need."
Foxfire looked closer and asked, "Is this the core we need?"
"Yes, this is what'll help us get our ship flying and hopefully get the rest of the Stasis pods before we leave for home. The Star drive core." Rhynox explained which she stared in amazement.
Kabubot came walking forward to continue his patrol. He entered a place that he knew was familiar to one of his former comrades. He then felt a presence behind him and growled turned around, expecting it to be Ariadosus, swinging his sword. However, he found it was Cheattor who laughed at his prank.
"Got'cha!" Cheattor exclaimed laughing, waving the legs that obviously belonged to Ariadosus,
Angrily Kabubot demanded, "Where'd you find these?!"
Confused, Cheattor pointed with his thumb, "Just over there."
Kabubot looked to where he indicated and saw Cotton-Buns there as she looked concerned for the Predacon Warrior. Kabubot harshly took them and stared at them for a moment before reciting, "Alas, poor Ariadosus, I knew him. This was the leg that stalked many."
"And also the psycho who tormented Ash to turn him against us…" Cotton-Buns spat angrily, arms crossed and face angry.
"Yes, that too. It would have been fitting for me to put an end to such madness." Kabubot agreed.
"Aww…" Cheattor remarked, before asking mockingly, "Do you need a hug?"
Cotton-Buns went and kicked him in the shin, "Leave him alone, Spotty!"
Cheattor hopped in pain and said, "Easy! I was just kidding!"
Kabubot snarled at Cheattor, before he felt someone grabbing his arms and saw both Ratitrap and Foxfire the culprits as the small complainer shouted, "Hey, hey, hey! We're leaving!"
"Indeed, we got the parts we need." Foxfire said, letting go, while going to check on Cheattor.
"Come on!" Ratitrap said, leading them away. Kabubot lagged behind to look at the severed legs. Only for his aggression to become one of lament.
When they opened the portal with the star drive, making sure not to touch any part of the portal, the Maximals would begin to work on repairing into their own engines, Kabubot volunteered to be in the proximity, to ensure no one would discover their base, human or Pokémon.
In Poké mode, he looked at the sky, and realized he needed to make a decision involving his future… He looked to his new comrades' base and sighed.
Inside the Axalon's stardrive room, the Maximals had worked to get it repaired for the core to be installed.
"But we still can't trust Kabubot." Ratitrap brought up for the umpteenth time, much to the annoyance of some of his comrades, specifically Cotton-Buns, "Will you leave it alone Rat-breath, Kabubot's one of us."
Foxfire nodded, "Indeed. If not for his bravery, I would not stand before as I am now. As well as Cotton-Buns."
"Hey! I'm just saying he's still a Predacon, despite him working with us!" Ratitrap snapped back.
Rhynox, then interrupted the argument, "Before we decide where he's going, we need to decide where we're going! I'm almost done with these drive repairs!"
Optimus, after using his strength to push the drive back together for Rhynox to weld together, told them, "First order of business is retrieving the stasis pods that are scattered around the planet, they have to be recovered and the rest of our crew rescued. We also have to alert Absoltron and Airblazor. As well as say good-bye to… the friends we made on this planet."
"Okay, but after that we get to travel the universe again, right?" Cheattor asked, hopingly.
This got on Ratitrap's nerves as he exclaimed, "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What're you talking here?!"
Foxfire looked confused, "What I would like to join you on your exploration adventure."
She then looked flustered and added, "…that is if you will have me."
"Ain't gonna do it, kid, even if we make it to space, the only place we're going is back to Cybertron." Ratitrap told them.
Optimus landed between them and said, despite himself, "I'm afraid that Ratitrap's right. The damage we sustained during planetfall and our conflicts with Megatron's group, not to mention how long we've been in stasis with our ship… we're in no condition to continue our scientific mission."
Ratitrap cheered, happy to hear that Opimtus finally agreed with him, "I can just imagine the dames crying out for me!"
"Perhaps it is the thought of your return that causes their… unhappiness."
Everyone turned to see Kabubot at the entrance, still in Poké mode. Ratitrap laughed, "Hey! Dome-head! An actual come-back. A little lame, but I can tell you're feeling better."
"And with good reason." Kabubot said, approaching them before telling them, "I shall not see you again."
His words confused the other Maximals while Cotton-Buns was terrified by the implications of one of her idol's words. Ratitrap, being the 'sensitive guy' he was about Kabubot, thought it was another burn at him, but Optimus stopped them and asked, "What're you saying, Kabubot? You won't be returning with us to Cybertron?"
With a growl, Kabubot answered, "No."
Cotton-Buns was heart- eh… sparkbroken by his answer, she had really grown to look up to Kabubot, during their time on this planet. Even as Kabubot spoke, "On Cybertron, I will merely be a Predacon criminal. On this planet however, I have no equal. I shall remain, to conquer and rule."
"What about the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon that govern the forces of nature and beyond?" Foxfire asked, concerned for the warrior's decision to remain.
"If they issue a challenge against my rule, then so be it. I will accept and to the victor goes the spoils." Kabubot answered, not even scared of what might happen when he, should he lose against such powerful beings of this planet.
"I understand." Optimus answered, surprising the newcomers, "Never-the-less, let the record show that I advise against this action; it will eventually lead to your own destruction and perhaps ultimately alienate any means of establishing peaceful co-existence between Cybertron and this planet in the future."
"Eventually…" Kabubot repeated, before he countered, "Eventually can be a long time, Optimus Primal. And you can consider my actions as what other Maximals sees that of Predacons; a futile attempt at power by someone you consider underneath your notice."
He then waved one of his scythe arms to Optimus, "I salute my former Maximal leader."
Then the other maximals present, "And my former comrades."
"Good-bye." Kabubot stated, as he turned and walked out. Before he got far, he felt someone grab his arm.
He looked to see Cotton-Buns there, her face hidden by shadows as she asked, "You're really just gonna leave? Just treat like all the time we all spent together meant nothing?"
Foxfire was about to approach, but Optimus stopped her; maybe this would help the two say good-bye to help Kabubot change his mind.
Cotton-Buns kept going, "You seem so eager to leave the first moment that you find the possibility of anything happy or a means to bond with others, other than Ratitrap since it's easy to not want to yell at him… But now that we have a chance to get home you're really going to leave us behind? Even though we'll do everything we can to make sure you won't go to jail?"
Ratitrap rolled his eyes at that, conveying how he'd never really stand up for Kabubot. However, what the kid said next really made him stop.
"We made great friends with those kids before that psycho-spider made Ash hate us… they left… Absoltron's been all weird ever since Airblazor joined us… and she's busy with her aerial recon that she doesn't check in as often as she said she would… and now you're leaving too… Someone I look up to as much as Optimus and Rhynox…" Cotton-Buns counted off, her body shaking with each sentence spoken.
"Cotton-" Kabubot stated, looking to the cadet, he had grown a little fond of the youngest Maximal's determination in the training they put her through as well as his own lessons of combat. Plus she did not give him as much trouble or distrust as some of the other Maximals did. The major ones being Ratitrap, Absoltron, and the cautious Rhynox.
"I haven't even seen my twin brother in stellar cycles when he got accepted into that maximal military, before I even thought about stowaway! And you're gonna abandon me like he did!?" Cotton-Buns shouted, accusing Kabubot. This apparently was news to everyone in the room, especially as Cotton-Buns was very air-tight about her past compared to the original six Maximals from before planetfall; the only thing they knew was that she was an orphan, nothing else about other family.
Her face was stained with a Transformer's version of tears and asked, "Why do the people I care about most keep leaving me?!"
She then rushed out of the room in a hurry. Everyone watched her leave. Kabubot was silent, watching her leave, he didn't give chase. He couldn't, not when it would lead to more trouble. So he turned and saluted them all before proceeding out of the ship.
Foxfire, worried about her friend, approached the room assigned to her but heard crying through the metal door. And remained as she was worried, feeling similar when Ash and his friends left the ship.
Kabubot continued on his way into the greater Pokémon world, determined in his goal, while also hoping to find Ash and explain what had happened, if the boy was willing to listen.
After reaching a point, Kabubot changed forms and proceeded in Robot mode, scaring some smaller Pokémon as he went.
He seemed unaware of something nearby… There were some people in uniforms getting a site prepared for something scientific due to the equipment they had been preparing. At the shout of one of the people, a number of poles extended to several feet into the air, not passing the tree line, before they emitted some sort of energy.
Inside a seemingly harmless truck, with two trailers connected to each other like Train cars, opened up, the beams connecting with the edges of the truck's opened wall. The occupants inside came out. These occupants in the truck's trailers were the Predacons in Poké mode.
Crunching was heard as Terrasaur squawked, "Stop slobbering on me Buzzinator!"
"Buzzinator can't help, berries taste good!" the Beedrill exclaimed as he ate more.
Buzzinator grunted, pushing Ariadosus' rear away, "Not like Buzzinator can get as fat as Ariadosus is already."
"Well if you don't stop cuddling and use me like a pillow when we were driving here! I'll eat Buzzinator instead!" Ariadosus shot back annoyed with how his 'comrade' had been using him as a pillow for the past two days.
"I'd like to see you try!"
"Yes I will!"
"No you wont!"
The two argued for what seemed like a minute before a certain two of the others couldn't take it anymore.
"Yo G! I can't take anymore!" Croaker stated, as began to hop madly, "This is too crazy for me!"
"Yeah, you're all making me sick! I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!" Said Terrorsaur as he got ready to fly, laughing in madness at being contained for as long as they had since they were mostly contained in the truck's trailer.
The two were knocked by both Skorupinok and Heliosneak, as the Poison/Bug type said, "We wouldn't be here if you hadn't tripped over that spy cable!"
"You are correct Skorupinok." Megatron agreed, before he continued, "But thanks for Terrorsaur's inverted discovery of the enemy spy camera, we were able to pull this little deception. I must remember to thank Dr. Zager and his colleagues for making his part so convincing. Yesss…"
"But what if they detect us?" Serviperella asked, as she was reading some reports from what Team Rocket had given her about their past means of conquering the world.
"Don't forget my signature damping devices are only experimental." Serviperella reminded, before she gestured to the devices at the corners of the truck's interior.
"We only have to wait until they repair their ship, when their guard is down," Megatron told her, explaining the rest of his plan, "And then we attack them. And take their ship and use it to gain the stasis pods that are all around this planet. All of which are containing Maximals eager-" he paused for a chuckle, "to become Predacons."
"SO NO ONE LEAVES!" Megatron roared in Terrasaur's and Croaker's faces. The two hugged each other terrified by Megatron's anger.
Terrasaur asked, "Leaving? I didn't say anything about leaving, did you Croakster?"
"Nah dawg, I didn't hear nothing about leaving." Croaker answered, very scared of Megatron.
Before they heard the sounds of rocks moving. Alerted all of them, Team Rocket agents and Predacons, looked around and Megatorn asked, "What was that?"
They saw someone looking at them from behind the rooks and their leader growled, "A spy!"
Before recognizing the face and shouted, "It's that traitor Kabubot! Stop him!"
"Heliosneak, jam his communications! Scythecutter, hunt him down! Predacons: TERRORIZE!" Megatron ordered as the majority of the Predacons did as ordered and transformed.
Megatron, in Robot Mode, turned to the humans helping them, "You done your job, leave before you're involvement gets discovered!"
"Yes sir!" The Team Rocket Grunt saluted before hurrying to retrieve everything they could to evacuate the site. Buzzinator and Terrasaur flew over in Robot mode, eager to hunt down their traitorous comrade, only for said 'comrade' to push a thick tree on the two.
A blond, burly, man with an altered Team Rocket uniform and shades walked to Megatron and asked, "Hey, Big and Fossil, mind if me and my partner come along? We've been bored ever since we got out of jail."
Megatron thought about it and saw how different this human was compared to the other bunglers (the usual trio, and on occasion, Cassidy and Butch), "I do not see why not, especially if your partner is like you."
The man grinned before calling out, "Hun! Let's get going and catch that Maximal."
The silver-haired, slimmer, man turned from his station and said, "Very well, Attila. I could use a bit of exercise."
Once he was far enough, Kabubot proceeded to run, not to retreat, but for another reason, 'Megatron and his forces survive… I must to warn Optimus and the others of the danger!'
He hurried, knowing he would need his robot mode's weapons to make it back in time and keep the Predacon's at bay. Firing an Optic laser at Scythecutter when the ninja-like Predacon had attempted to ambush him.
Back at the Maximal base, Absoltron and Airblazor were both in the same elevator, while Absoltron continued to avoid eye contact with her, "Okay… so spill."
"Spill what?" Absoltron asked, through the elevator hatch.
"What's got your fur bristling?" Airblazor asked, wanting to know what was really going on with him, ever since she met Absoltron, he either looked sadly in her direction or… guilty of something? But thought it'd be better for him to tell her when he was ready.
Absoltron remained silent and said, "I have a bad feeling about this… even with what Optimus and Rhynox told us… it felt too surreal."
Airblazor had to admit he had a point. She even thought it was a bit easy how the Preds had terminated themselves due to an infight, but shrugged, quipping, "Well… we can't look a gift Snorlax in the mouth… trust me there's enough room in those for all of us in there."
Absoltron chuckled a bit at the joke, he honestly found it funny. Once the elevator got them to the bridge/command center, Ratitrap greeted, "Hey, its Absoltron the Barbarian and Airblazor the princess of firepower! Welcome back to Civilization buds, because we're going home."
Airblazor changed forms and greeted Foxfire in a sisterly hug. She looked for the 'Bonnie' of their group and only saw the seven of them, looking at the younger looking Maximal, she asked, "Where's fluffy-ears?"
Foxfire sighed, "She is still in her chamber… has not come out when Kabubot told us he wasn't coming back…"
Absoltron was shocked and asked, "He's not?"
Looking back at his leader, he asked, "Optimus, how could you let him go?"
"It was his choice, Absoltron. I had to let him do as he felt was best." Optimus stated, which made Absoltron growl, "He is still a criminal, he needs to face the consequences of what he's done… no matter how he served our side…"
"Hey!"
Everyone turned to see Rhynox there as he shouted, "Knock it off! We're lifting off now!"
Rhynox is usually a mild manner Maximal with a big heart and an intellect that could put humans to shame, when he gets angry however, he really let others know. Anyone who tries to do what they want when he starts to shouting would wish they could retreat into a Poké Balls for safety.
Turning to his screen, Rhynox announced, "All systems, Check!"
"Let's do it!" Optimus exclaimed, which Rhynox did as he pushed the ignition button, starting their repaired engine with an enthusiastic, "Power up!"
They could hear the ship beginning to shake as it channeled the energy throughout the ship, causing the cadet locked in her room, to come out and see the planet she had grown to like one last time with the others Maximals.
After reading the report on the screen, Rhynox reported, unaware of the Cadet coming in, "Lift off in three cycles and counting."
Ratitrap went to Absoltron and told him, "Man when we get back I'm gonna show you this little hole in the wall where I garantee-"
"Kabubot!" Rhynox exclaimed, catching most of everyone's attention, Especially Cotton-Buns.
"Eh, he's not going to be there." Ratitrap said, thinking Rhynox was trying to say something about his fantasy. He and everyone looked at the monitor and saw Kabubot running towards them.
"Optimus!" Rhynox shouted, to which caught Ratitrap's attention, as well as Absoltron's.
"I see him!" Optimus shouted over the ship, before seeing something else that made him shout, "He's not alone!"
Absoltron, seeing the Predacons asked, "Did he lead them? To ambush us?!"
Airblazor narrowed her eyes to see better and stated, "No… I think… they're chasing him!"
The Predacons were indeed chasing him, and to prove more that he wasn't with them, one of them fired one of their weapons at him, hitting him from behind, causing the warrior to fall the ground hard.
"NO! KABUBOT!" Optimus shouted, seeing what had happened.
Back outside, Kabubot got himself up as he wasn't going to let one cowardly attack from behind stop him from getting to his allies' ship no matter the pain. Turning behind he fired his optic-lasers at the Predacons. A couple of them were hit, while the rest dived for cover behind the nearby rocks. Megatron readied his Tyrantrum head-arm and waited to fire a beam at Kabubot. After much convincing of Giovanni and Dr. Zager of Team Rocket, about rewiring some of their containment fields into dampening fields with Seviperella's design, he was not going to let his turncoat of a S.I.C. stop him from this victory.
"I'm going for Kabubot." Optimus said hurrying to the hatch.
"This ship's about to lift off in less than two cycles, and it's barely keeping itself together! I can't shut it down now!" Rhynox told him.
"I don't want you to." Optimus told him, before ordering, "If we're not back in time lift off without us."
"No way!" Rhynox protested. He wasn't going to do that to his friend!
"That's a priority order! Understood?" Optimus told them, which meant to everyone that there was no chance of changing their leader's mind.
"Optimus Primal: MAXIMIZE!" Optimus assumed his robot mode and pressed a command. The wall nearby opened up to reveal riot-type shields for him to take, something he thought he would have to use while in a scientific exploration mission. He would have to thank to people who installed them for when they meet with hostile lifeforms. After he took a shield, Optimus then went to the elevator hatch and proceeded downwards, battle mask fully enveloped, before it stopped suddenly. He looked to see the two youngest of his crew there.
"Hang on! I'm coming too!" Cheattor said, "Cheattor: MAXIMIZE!"
He took on his robot mode and took another shield.
Cotton-Buns got herself a blaster instead of her usual En-Slinghot, despite Optimus ordering, "Cheattor, Cotton-Buns, get back to your posts, that an order!"
"You'll never reach Kabubot without backup, besides Cybertorn wouldn't be the same without ya." Cheattor reasoned. Airblazor took the weapon from Cotton-Buns, who protested.
Optimus saw the truth in the young Maximal's words and nodded, "Alright, Let's hit them hard and fast!"
"I'm your bot!" Cheattor said, taking another riot shield and joining his hero.
"I'll take the roof hatch, as soon as it's about to lift off I'm flying back in!" Airblazor exclaimed, opening the top hatch and flew out of it to provide aerial support.
Cotton-Buns tried to join her but she was stopped by the older female, "Sorry, sweetie, but you need to stay here and help, I promise we'll get Kabubot back."
"You better bring him back Blazie!" Cotton-Buns demanded which earned a nod. The cadet of the group let go of Airblazor.
"I cannot sit idle while my friends face the enemy to save our comrade, Foxfire: MAXIMIZE!" Foxfire exclaimed.
Absoltron followed suit, "Absoltron: MAXIMIZE!"
They both Maximized and were about to join them when…
"Back in your seats, you two! You heard the orders." Rhynox shouted, over the sounds of the ship starting up.
"But -" Foxfire began, which Absoltron added, "The others!"
"I said 'SIT'!" At his words the two of them did just that, as Rhynox reasoned, "We're taking this bird to Cybertron and I need all the hands I can get to do it."
He then issued the following orders, "Ratitrap, Astro-Navigations! Cotton-Buns & Foxfire, Comms and structural Integrity! Absoltron, get on the ship's guns, Optimus and the others are gonna need fire power and we're gonna give it to them, Move!"
"Yes sir!" The three saluted going to their stations, even as Foxfire wished to help Cheattor and Optimus outside.
Back outside, Megatron waited before he found his opportunity and fired his primary weapon at Kabubot, damaging him more. Even as Optimus, Cheattor, and Airblazor came out with the shields between them. Optimus turned to the two members of his crew and ordered, "Give me covering fire, I got to reach Kabubot!"
"On it!/My pleasure!" The two said as they provided cover for their leader to fly over.
Seeing the Maximals, Attila and Hun got out their Poké Balls from their cover, "let's see how good of a war machine these Maximals really are."
"It would be valuable data for command compared to those fools." Hun agreed, disappointed at how some other members treat what it means to be part of Team Rocket. Atilla grinned and the two called out, "Skarmory! Steelix! Attack!"
The two Steel-Types came out of their Poké Balls and were ready for battle. Hun then ordered, "Steelix, use Rock Throw at the enemy!"
"Skarmory, use Spikes, keep those bots away!"
The two Pokémon did as ordered. Steelix created rocks from energy and flung them at the Maximals while Skarmory spun around and shot red spikes out around Kabubot. Optimus with his shield before him, saw how these two didn't go into a Motto-recital, as Cotton-Buns called it. That must mean these two were not like the trio who were always after Ash's Pikachu and the two from the floating mountain.
Cheattor and Airblazor shot at the rocks before they could do damage to the ship. Airblazor growled, "Those four from that "R-Team" aren't making it easier for us."
"We gotta deal with it, Optimus is counting on us!"
Airblazor nodded, knowing that Optimus and Kabubot were counting on them, but reported, "I don't think I have any range moves that'll work on tin-feathers over there."
"Do what Ash did, with the Flame Charge!" Cheattor said, blasting at the Cons, using his shield to guard himself.
Airblazor thought about it and shrugged, "Beats just flying here and expecting to be shot in the back by the brainless-twins."
While firing at Buzzinator and Terrasaur without looking behind her.
Optimus flew past the enemy barrage, but when the Skarmory attempted to attack with a Steel Wing, something made out of fire shot past him, hitting Skarmory and causing it to hit the ground. Optimus looked and saw the flames dissipating to reveal Airblazor in Poké mode to be the one who came to his aid, and as a result of her using what appeared to be Flame Charge, Airblazor was now moving faster. Even as she was in robot mode, she was flying at a faster speed than ever.
Nodding his thanks, Optimus got down and used the shield to protect Kabubot who growled, "This is strategically unsound…"
"Tell me about it back on Cybertron." Optimus told him, and took off, keeping his eyes forward as he flew back to the others.
The ground began to shake as the large Steelix burst from the ground and hit Optimus from behind, damaging his jet boosters, which sent both of them to the ground.
Seeing this, Attila chuckled, "Nice going Hun."
Hun had discreetly made Steelix use Dig to sneak attack the Maximals when they tried to fly back to the ship.
"Yesss, very nicely done." Megatron congratulated looking at the silver-haired human, "You have the makings of being a great Predacon."
"Our orders are to assist in this mission in return for cracking the code on how to turn our containment fields into dampening fields, especially when our members are busy with their own mission." Hun told them, his expression remained neutral, "So we're just doing our duty."
"Plus, it's also fun payback for the hero types getting in the way back in Johto a year ago." Attila said grinning broadly.
Seeing this, Cheattor fired his cannon at Steelix with Airblazor, the explosion sent the large Steelix reeling back, especially from Airblazor's weapons that apparently had traces of her Poké Mode's element of fire in them.
With both of them distracted, Megatron took this chance to fire at both Cheattor and Airblazor, the latter landing on the top of the ship. Megatron, seeing the other Maximals incapacitated, ordered, "They're finished! All Predacons head for their ship!"
The screen Absoltron was on detected multiple targets heading for the ship. The security bot then ordered the ship's computer, "Ship's guns, FIRE!"
The ship's computer did as ordered and fired a wide barrage at the approaching enemies. They hit each and every one of the Predacons, knocking them away and/or out. The last one to be hit was Megatron who was sent the farthest.
Optimus groaned, getting up, his body suffering from Energon field build up, and changed back into Poké mode. However, a loud noise that was too much for him to bear, made him clamp his hands over ears, hearing the engines of the ship starting up.
Cheattor subconsciously climbed onto the hatch elevator when the ship began to rise into the air. When he felt his hand no longer touching the floor Cheattor became alert enough to realize, "The train's pulling out!"
Looking back, he cried out, "Optimus!"
Optimus struggled, carrying Kabubot in his arms, to the ship. Rhynox and everyone was watching from their stations as the big guy prayed, "Come on, come on…"
Optimus seeing how high the ship had gotten into the sky, knew he wasn't going to make it with Kabubot, so he did what he could and tossed the warrior up who landed on the lift. Gathering as much strength as possible, Optimus Primal then pushed off from the group, arm reached towards the two. Cheattor quickly caught him, exclaiming, "Got you, Big bot."
Optimus smiled, nodding with the young Maximal's words. They were finally going home…
Down below, Attila gritted his teeth. If their side was not gonna win then neither should their enemies. Pulling out a Poké ball, he threw it and called out, "Muk! Sludge Bomb them!
Muk aimed and fired globs of brown sludge at the Maximal ship. Cheattor held on to Optimus for dear life, not wanting to lose his friend and mentor. One of the globs hit and forced Optimus to lose his grip with Cheattor's hand. Cheattor watched in horror as his leader fell back down to the planet's surface, hard. The young maximal couldn't stop himself as he shouted, "NO! OPTIMUS!"
The lift rose and brought himself and Kabubot back inside. Airblazor had to climb herself back from the top hatch opening before it closed too.
When they got back into the ship's bridge everyone looked expectingly of seeing their leader with the two, only their lowered faces and saddened expression conveyed the message, the entire Maximal team was upset of not being able to get Optimus back with them.
"You… should have left me behind…" Kabubot struggled to say.
Instantily Ratitrap got in the Kabutop's face and snapped, "Hey pal! Optimus got left behind just to save your stone-lined skin! So don't spoil the sacrifice, capice!?"
"Ratitrap, when we get back to Cybertron we can make sure someone sends a ship to get him." Foxfire reminded.
However, a set of footsteps and a familiar voice interrupted their grieving, "Oh, but I'm afraid no one's gonna send that ship for. Nooo. Because it will be under my command. Yesss."
Everyone turned and saw Megatron standing there. He had somehow got onboard the ship when no one was looking. He immediately fired on all the Maximals who tried to get in his way. He even fired at Kabubot and Cheattor, showing no mercy to any one whether they were injured or female.
Ratitrap found himself the only one not shot at by Megatron's beam weapon. Looking at the others, especially as Cotton-Buns was tending to Foxfire who had taken the shot for the young cadet. Seeing himself the only one left, he groaned, "Oh boy…"
"Now only you and the child are left before my ultimate triumph!" Megatron told Ratitrap.
Ratitrap tried to transform, only… Megatron's Tyrantrum head got to him first. Squeezing the small rodent in the jaws, "We'll have none of that now, vermin. Nooo."
He then aimed his tail weapon at Cotton-Buns, "Nor will we have any misguided attempts at heroism, young one."
Seeing her freezing up at how he was bale to take them all out, Megatron turned his attention back to the Rattata he caught, "Now to crush you, like a rat in a trap!"
He then began to squeeze Ratitrap tighter in between the jaws. Megatron watched as the Maximal at his mercy writhed and tried to cry for help as he was being squeezed. Rhynox woke to the sounds of Ratitrap pleading for help. Getting up, Rhynox shouted, "Not a chance!"
With Megatron's attention on Rhynox, Cotton-Buns took this chance to get her En-sling ready and fired at the tyrant leader. Megatron gave a shout, feeling the electric sting of the slingshot, enough to drop Ratitrap. Rhynox came and picked him up, causing Megatron's tail spear to go flying away from its owner. Rhinox then slammed Megatron into the lift and stomped down on him causing the lift to go down as the base, the floor flipped down from the force. Megatron then went plummeting down as all he could do was cry out.
Then for some reason the alarms went off and Rhinox saw why. Megatron's tail-weapon stabbed the control console causing everything to go haywire. The result caused the ship's drive core to explode. And with the engines gone, the Axalon started to fall. Luckily or unluckily depending on how you look at it, the fall caused the others to wake up.
"We're falling! Do something!" Ratitrap yelled in fear as the ship did a nose dive forcing everyone onto the consoles, When the G-force of the ship made them all be suspended, with Kabubot holding onto Rhynox who held onto the computer he was at. Ratitrap then shouted loudly, "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!"
"SHUT UP RATITRAP!" Cotton-Buns shouted, even though she was being held by Airblazor.
"Wait!" Kabubot shouted, which called them all to looked at him as he asked, looking at the screen, "Look! There, in the sky! Is it a bird?"
"Maybe a plane?" Rhynox suggested as he saw the same shape which seemed to be heading towards them.
"Could it be Rayquaza?" Foxfire asked, remembering seeing the image of the creature that helped shoot their ship and the Predacon's ship down centuries ago.
"Nah, it's Optimus!" Rattrap exclaimed, cheering at the sight of his leader.
Outside, low and behold, it was indeed Optimus Primal! Flying at The Axalon, as he made contact trying to slow its fall, putting a lot of power into his robot mode's flight jets as he did. The impact of him grabbing hold and decreasing the speed of the ship's fall greatly. This forced Rhynox and Kabubot to slam their faces against the computer's screen. They blinked at what was going on as Optimus tried to guide the Axalon back to its original crash zone. The fact that one bot alone was doing this made Cheattor and Absoltron share a surprised glance. Airblazor held Cotton-Buns tightly like a mother holding her child, while Foxfire fainted from such an action. Optimus felt a surge of energy helped keep him strong as he used all of his power and strength to keep the ship from crashing any worse than before. (AN: Pokémon Move: Bulk Up)
The ship soon was placed back in its original position over the river, next to the waterfall. (AN: while reading Optimus saving them last paragraph, you can watch or listen to the superman-like music they played during the scene of Optimus Primal saving their ship and everyone on board.)
After Optimus got back onboard his ship, he was greeted by everyone happy to see him, even as he saw the damage caused by Megatron's tail-weapon and sighed. He felt a hand on his shoulder and saw Absoltron there, conveying his silent relief at his leader. Cheattor hugging his idol, overjoyed to see him with them. Optimus patted the younger bot's head assuring him everything was okay. He turned to Rhynox and requested, "Stasis report."
Rhynox pulled his head from the console's readout and said, heavily, "In a word: Busted. The star drive and engine cores are totaled and all collateral damage made sure this ship will never fly again."
"What about Ratitrap and Kabubot? Are they going to be okay?" Foxfire asked, wondering how those two were dealing with their 'permanent residence' on the planet.
Everyone looked over at the CR chamber where Kabubot was laying waiting for the power to be restored. Currently he and Ratitrap were going about it verbally… again…
"Oh man! Ya know. It's your fault I'm not kicking it back on Cybertron right now. You overgrown shell-fish with a razor malfunction!" Ratitrap complained
"Hump! I've done the planet a favor." Kabubot shot back, weakly inside the chamber. Cotton-Buns hopped over in Pokémon mode and cracked, "Got that right, especially since you'd be doing nothing but being a lazy garbage desposal.
Ratitrap then snapped, "HEY! You wanna know how those pre-historic Pokémon on this planet got extinct in the first place?!"
His attention turned to Cotton-Buns and threatened, "And don't make me take your fluff and turn it into a new pillow for me!"
"I'd like to see you try Junk-breath!" Cotton-Buns screamed in Ratitrap's face, but she couldn't contain how happy she was that everyone was back together again.
Optimus, cleared his throat, looked to his crew and answered Cheattor's question, "I think they're taking it well."
"Wouldn't want them any other way." Cheattor commented smiling at how things seemed to be back to normal around here… almost…
"Go scurry through a small maze mouse." Kabubot hissed while Cotton-Buns demanded, "And get lost in it, it'll definitely air out the ship."
Kabubot chuckled at that remark the cadet made at the rodent's expanse.
"Oh yeah!? Why don't you and yer fangirl come out there and make me, ganite lips! If you weren't in that blasted chamber…" Ratitrap then gave a squeal-like scream out in frustration.
Hearing that made everyone laugh or look amused at the interaction between them, certainly putting things in high spirits after the loss they had suffered of their ship unable to fly any longer. Now all they had to do was hope that Cybertorn found them or found someone whom they could trust to help them to fly after they won the Poké Wars.
( As you read from the first five chapters, the Maximal and Predacon ships had eached suffered similar damages, but the Maximals' Stardrive core was totaled while the main engines of the predacons' was that too but their stardrive survived. But now after this chapter, both have absolutely no way to get off the planet. especially now that Optimus Primal and his team saw how dangerous the members of Team Rocket can be when faced with people like Attila and Hun who made their debut during the Pokemon Chronicles series and the three-parter, "The Legend of Thunder". As you all probably know Hun was a bit confusing to do since in the pages of the character they list Hun as a male member instead of female as they made Attila's partner sound in the anime. So I just went with what was written about Hun. It's a shame they never showed these two again after their debut and their brief time in an opening of a pokemon movie. they're more competant and serious than the usual faces of Team Rocket, but unfortunately the truth is the same that they're not as funny as the usual trio and Cassidy and Butch.
Now that both the Maximals and Predacons cannot leave the Pokémon World, what will happen next? How will the planet be affected by their prolonged presence? Did anyone see the Maximal ship briefly lifting up into the air before it crashed back down? And is there hope for Ash and the Maximals to reconnect? Hope so.
Find out next time, so Stay Tuned, as the Journey Continues.)
