Elsewhere, in the dark, muggy swamp where the Predacons crashed, Traxion attempted to rally his troops from the wreckage. "Get up, you fools. Thump, status report, NOW." He screeched, " Spitflyer, scout the area! Maelstrom checked our energy supply. If the maximals survived that crash, I need to know exactly how much we have at our disposal."
All there of them immediately jumped to complete their assigned tasks. "Most of our systems are down, and there is no way to get the talon back to Airborn." Thump reported. "Luckily, we didn't lose any of our energy in the crash, but we're gonna need more," called Maelstrom from the storage deck.
Traxion's optics flared with irritation as he took in the swampy vista. Giant trees loomed above the Talon's half-buried hull, their gnarled branches twisted with heavy vines, while stagnant pools of mirky water bubbled ominously. Clenching his claws, he was racing with the various possibilities. "We need this swamp secured. If those Maximals survived, they will be planning their next move. We will not be caught unprepared.
Suddenly a crash came from the primary docing hall. "What in the slag was that?" Garnix muttered in his deep, coarse voice. Upon investigation, just inside the ship, Spitflyer had returned, though he looked worse for wear. "What happened to him?" inquired Maelstrom. Thump quickly hobbled over to his comrade.
"It would seem that he's responding to unstable Energon," the little bot replied. "Energon, you say? How fortuitous to our present dilemma." Traxion smiled. "Sadly, my lord, this energon is unusable; simply being around too much of it has triggered an extreme response in our scout." Thump shot back. "The ship is shielding us, but prolonged exposure could prove lethal."
"Then this planet is useless," Maelstrom roared.
Traxion snarled, optics burning with frustration. He stared out at the swamp's murky expanse, his claws flexing. "Useless? Nothing is useless if we adapt. We are Predacons! Overcome, or perish."
Spitflyer groaned weakly, his systems sparking. Maelstrom stepped forward, a curl twisting his jagged faceplate into a smirk. "Adapt, you say? How do you propose we adapt to a world trying to kill us, Traxion?
Traxion glared at his second-in-command. "By embracing it. This Energon might be unstable, but it has a pattern. If the Maximals survive, they'll figure out how to counteract it. And if they can… so can we.
He turned to Thump, who cringed under his cold stare. "You—scan the environment. If this Energon disrupts us, find a way to shield against it. Use whatever resources we have to adapt our forms. I do not care how you manage it, but do it quickly."
"Yes, my lord," Thump stammered, scuttling towards Talon's broken lab.
Meanwhile, at the crash site of the Hyperion, the Aether had finished the modifications necessary for the Maximal's adaptation of new organic alternate modes.
The jungle hummed with life as the Maximals gathered around Aether's makeshift scanner. It emitted a soft hum, its panels salvaged from the Hyperion's wreckage. Axium sat nearby, still recovering from the crash, his optics scanning the thick underbrush for any threat.
"This should work," Aether said confidently, though a bit strained in her tone. "The Energon here is unlike anything we have seen before, but I have managed to attune the scanner to identify compatible organic forms."
"Good," Axium said resolutely. "We cannot afford the time to do so. Echo, keep watch while we initialize the scans.
"On it," Echo said, leaping to a nearby tree for a better vantage point. Her optics scanned the area while her sonar pinged for any approaching threats.
Koba grumbled, pacing impatiently. "We're warriors, not lab experiments. Why do we have to take these forms anyway?"
"Because if we don't, we'll be off-lined," Aether snapped, her face not leaving the scanner screen. "The Energon radiation will fry our circuits in a matter of hours. You want to survive, or you want to whine?"
Koba growled but said nothing more.
"Alright, everyone." We're locked and loaded, declared Aether. So, who's going to go first?"
"Ughhhhhhh. I'll do it," Koba groaned. "Let's get this over with
A beam of light emitted from the machine, sweeping across Koba as it processed his surroundings. A low chime sounded, and a holographic image flickered above the device: that of a mighty grizzly bear, its muscular frame rippling with raw strength.
"Fitting," Aether said with a smirk.
Koba's body shimmered as the change took hold. Panels slid and reshaped, his towering metal frame compressing into a bulkier, organic shape. Fur covered the steel of his frame, and claws emerged from his hands. When the light faded, Koba stood as a massive grizzly bear, his growl reverberating through the jungle.
"Success," exclaimed Aether. "Who's next?
One by one, each Maximal got recalibrated into new techno-organic forms: Aether turning into a red fox, Wiswing becoming a horned owl, Echo taking the form of a fruitbat, and finally Axium in the form of an Ox.
The Maximals stood together in their new forms, their appearances transformed to blend with the alien world around them. Axium, now a hulking ox with a thick hide and curved horns, shifted his weight experimentally. "Strange," he muttered, his deep voice rumbling. "But functional.
Aether flicked her tail, her vulpine form agile and sleek. "These forms will give us the advantage we need. The Energon radiation shouldn't interfere if we stay in these alt-modes for extended periods."
Wisewing flapped his wings, talons digging deep into a tree branch above. "Fascinating! The structural integrity of these techno-organic forms is seamless. It's as if we were designed for this.
Echo hovered nearby, her new fleshy wings silent as they beat the humid air. "Let's hope this isn't just a temporary fix. If the Predacons survived, they'll be adapting too."
Koba, in his grizzly bear form, growled low. "Let them come. We'll crush them."
Axium stepped forward, his imposing frame casting a shadow over the group. "We can't afford arrogance, Koba. The Predacons are ruthless and cunning. They'll be ready for a fight."
Aether nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the jungle. "We need to secure a base of operations and assess the terrain. This swamp isn't just dangerous because of the Energon—it's alive with predators we've never encountered."
"Then let's move," Axium commanded. "We've wasted enough time."
The Maximals began their trek deeper into the jungle, their new forms moving fluidly through the alien environment. The jungle was dense, with vines and branches interlocking like a living fortress. Every sound, from distant roars to the buzzing of massive insects, reminded them of the peril surrounding them.
At the Talon's Claw, Thorax watched as the rest of his platoon finished their Recalibrations. With a new shark alternate mode, Maelstrom flexed his powerful jaws in a menacing grin. "Yes, yes, this will do nicely."
Spitflyer, still recovering from his earlier exposure to the Energon, had taken the form of a Dragonfly. His thin, wiry body buzzed with renewed energy.
Thump, now a slimy toad, adjusted his equipment nervously. "The radiation levels are stable, my lord. These forms should shield us."
"Good," Thorax growled, the massive mandibles of his new stag beetle form clicking as he examined his platoon. "The Maximals won't know what hit them. But we're not just surviving—we're conquering."
He turned to Garnix, who had taken the form of a jagged crocodile, the scars and scratches from his Cybertronian form carrying over despite the recalibration. "Garnix, scout the area. I want every advantage this cursed swamp can offer."
"Yes, my lord," Garnix rumbled, slinking off into the murky shadows.
Thorax's optics burned with ambition as he surveyed his team. "Predacons, remember this day. We don't just adapt-we dominate. Whatever the Maximals plan, we'll be ready."
As the Predacons prepared their next move, the swamp seemed alive around them. The battle for survival and supremacy was now fully underway.
It was time for the BEAST WARS to begin!
Author's note: I know I said in the last chapter that the characters would also be getting new names and tier alt modes. But this chapter was getting long, so I'll do it again next time.