Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Things were not looking good for the Autobots.

They had been fighting the Decepticons for possession of the Omega Keys, which were to be used to activate the Omega Lock and restore their dead world. At first things were going well for them. They had successfully taken the keys from the Decepticons and had managed to reach the Omega Lock's location first. Not long after the great machine had assembled itself Megatron arrived. The tyrannical leader suggested they hand over the keys. And when he was asked if they refused he brought out his incentive.

The Decepticons had captured their human friends and brought them to Cybertron. What's worse is that they threaten to open capsules that they were held in, and expose them to the planet's toxic atmosphere. An instant death to be sure.

Which is where we are now.

"Now, Optimus, hand over the Omega Keys or we can all watch as your human pets instantly parish." Megatron requests with a cruel grin. He then turned to his second in command. "Starscream."

"Jaaaack~ It's time to come out and plaaaay~" Starscream taunts before then raking his pointed digits against the glass of the capsule.

Jack cringed away from the noise, but once it ceased he turned and glared at the seeker. "Go ahead. The Autobots were prepared to sacrifice themselves for my planet; I'll do the same for theirs."

"Me to creepy!" Miko proclaimed, agreeing with Jack's sentiment

"Mmhm." Rafael timidly agreed.

"Perhaps we should oblige them."

The Autobots wanted nothing more than to rush forward and save their friends, but the Decepticons held all the cards. Optimus took a moment to think before looking to Megatron with resolve.

"If my decision dooms the future of the Autobot cause on Cybertron then so be it, but I will never forsake our human allies." With that Optimus raised his blade, the Star Saber, and stabbed it into the ground before backing away to his fellow Autobots, letting the blade be the dividing point for both sides.

From there the Autobots exchanged the Omega Keys for the kids. It wasn't an ideal situation, but they would not allow their friends to be harmed because of their involvement with them. Once the exchange was over with a Space Bridge opened up and Decepticons began pouring out. The Autobots were surrounded in moments, blasters pointed at them ready to fire.

"Now bare witness as a new era dawns on Cybertron." Megatron inserted one of the keys into the Omega Lock, he cohorts doing the same one by one. As the ancient machine activated the tyrant raised his arms in triumph. "Behold, the age of the Decepticons!"

Once the Omega Lock was fully activated Megatron test fired it. A beam surged forth from the machine and hit one of the destroyed buildings in the distance. Everyone watched in awe as in mere moments the building was restored to perfect condition, as if it were brand new.

"You have what you want Megatron. This conflict is between Autobots and Decepticons, allow me to return the humans to Earth." Optimus requested. He wanted to get the kids out of harms way as soon as possible.

"Oh I wouldn't recommend it. They'll be far safer here." Megatron watched as Optimus's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing into a glare. He the turned his gaze to Starscream. "Is the Space Bridge locked on target?"

"Per your instructions, Lord Megatron." He answered with a bow.

"Excellent." Megatron returned his gaze back to Optimus with a wicked grin. "Why rule only one world, when I can rule two."

A Space Bridge then opened up above the Omega Lock and Megatron immediately fired the Omega Lock. A massive beam erupted from the machine and into the Space Bridge, much to the Autobots horror.

"No..." Was all Optimus could say as he watch this unfold.

(%)

Within high orbit of earth a Space Bridge opened up and a massive beam of energy surged out and struck the planet. The lands nearest to the point of contact shook from the sheer force of the impact. People in a nearby town could only look on and watch, wondering what was going on.

But within the Autobots base of operations, Ratchet was trying to figure out what was happening. Typing away at his terminal he tried to get into contact with the others. "Optimus, do you read? An unknown energy spike in Earth's atmosphere is crashing all my systems. Please tell me this is related to the activation of the Omega Lock."

(%)

"If the Omega Lock can restore Cybertron it'll do the same to Earth, right?" Miko asked optimistically.

"No. It will cyberform your planet in favor of its new Matrix, destroying all indigenous life in the process." Optimus refuted.

"Such raw power!" Megatron proclaimed in awe. "What should I call my new domain, New Kaon? Or perhaps Gilded Earth?"

Optimus needed to make choice here and now. As his gaze moved to his comrades has saw as their human friends' outcry, demanding that the Decepticons leave their planet alone. Then, as Megatron and his underlings laughed at their victory, he focused his sights on the Omega Lock's control console.

He knew what he had to do.

With a new resolve he brought out an arm blade and slashed at the drone in front of him, sending him flying into Knockout. Using the sudden surprise to his advantage he rushed towards the Star Saber and quickly pulled it out of the ground. He then swung it around and bisected three drones that tried to jump him. With no time to waste he made a beeline to the control console, but was intercepted by Megatron. The tyrant let out a war-cry as he brought out his Dark Star Saber and clashed their blades together. Unfortunately for Megatron that single strike was parried by the Prime and just as quickly cleaved the arm off. As the Decepticon leader cried out in pain Starscream, Soundwave, and Knockout quickly opened fire on a fast approaching Optimus. The Prime blocked their blasts with his blade and dodged one of Starscream's rockets before using the seeker as a stepping stone to launch himself into the air. They could only watch as Optimus brought his blade down on the console with all his might.

The resulting explosion sent those closest flying and the rest reeling as the Omega Lock came apart at the seams. Large chunks of the machine rained down on those beneath it, crushing a few unfortunate Decepticons in the process. The Autobots did their best to shield their human charges from the explosions and falling rubble. As the last bits of the once great machine imploded a blinding light erupted from its center and massive wave of energy washed over everyone in its vicinity.

As things began to subside, Optimus wasted no time in looking for his fellow Autobots. It didn't take him long to find them, but what he saw next horrified him. The capsules that held their human charges, their friends, were smashed open. But to his confusion the humans themselves were nowhere to be seen, even as his comrades looked to him for answers.

"Optimus, where are the kids?"

(%)

Today was supposed to be a simple day for Rattrap. A routine scout patrol in sector five, simple right? Nope, fate had other plans for the rat. Said plans involved a stasis pod deciding to make landfall, near his position no less. Now he has to go and reach the pod before the Predacons get to it, alone. Not the most ideal situation.

It took a bit to reach the landing sight, moving through jungle foliage isn't fun, and thankfully there were no Preds in sight, caught a break there at least. As he moved passed the last of the foliage he saw his prize, the stasis pod, resting neatly in a barren clearing save for a few boulders here and there. Rattrap transformed to bot mode as he approached the pod and activated its side panel controls. A quick look showed everything to be in working order. Now he just had to activate the pods DNA scanner and hope it fines the protoform an alt mode fast.

"Now hopefully the Preds don't decide to show up, but knowing my luck they'll come at the worst possible time." Rattrap finishes with a sigh. He then pulls out his blaster and eyes his surroundings. "Best be prepared for the inevitable."

"Scan complete. Compatible life-form found. Beginning transformation sequence."

Light flashed within the pod for a few moments before subsiding. With a hiss the pod opened and its occupant got out in a daze. He was around 2 meters tall (6'6) with a bulky superstructure covered in brown, scaly beast bits and some sort of spiny shell on his back while his more robotic parts were covered with a red casing. His forearms, hands, and everything beneath the knees were bulky and covered in scales with sharp digits thanks to his alt mode. Their helmet and face were the same brown as their beast parts with a maw like mouth, but his optics appeared to be offline. As he brought a hand up to rub his head the Maximal insignia could be seen on his forearm.

Rattrap looks up at the new guy, him being 1.8 meters tall (5'10) he kind of had to, and greets him. "So... you got a name newbie?"

"W-what?" The Maximal asked perplexed, his optics were flickering briefly as they tried to activate.

"Your name pal." Rattrap rephrases. This guy sounded young, like somewhere around Cheetor's age, maybe even younger.

"Raf-Rafael." He managed to get out, just as his optics came online. With orange optics blazing to live Rafael could finally see who he was talking to. "It's nice to meet you..."

Rattrap raised brow as Rafael trailed off and stared at him wide eyed. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Y-your a Cybertronian."

"Why thank captain obvious I would have never known that." Was Rattrap's snarky reply. He was getting antsy now. The Predicons hadn't shown up yet and he wanted to be out of here before they did. "Anything else you'd like to point out?"

Raf was about to reply, when he noticed his hands. He looks at them and gasps, shocked by what he saw. The shock grew more and more as he looked over the rest of his body. It was blatantly apparent that he wasn't human anymore and he didn't know how to process that fact very well. Which led to Rafael being hunched over, hyperventilating, and clutching his head.

Rattrap stared in bewilderment as Rafael had a breakdown right in front of him. He didn't really know why he was acting like this but his patience was running thin as it is. So he went around Raf's back, raised his hand, and promptly delivered a hard whack to the back of the head.

Rafael was sent sprawling to the ground with a cry. He let out a whimper, rubbing the back of his head to help alleviate the pain he was feeling. Looking to the culprit of his injury, he made his fear and confusion obvious to the Maximal. Only to be met with a hard look from the rat.

"Listen here bucko; we don't have time for you to have a personal crisis. The Predicons could be on us at any moment, so I suggest you save it for when we get back to base, capeesh?"

"Oh but I think you should stay a little bit longer Maximal!"

Rattrap and Rafael didn't even have a moment to react before being sent flying by an explosion right next to them. The landing wasn't exactly pleasant and it had left the two completely dazed, but still functional. Rattrap was the first to recover and quickly pull out his blaster from his back, pointing it at his attackers, only to gulp as he laid eyes on his assailants.

There stood three Predacons in total near the edge of the clearing. Megatron, leader of the Predicons. The loyal second-in-command, Scorponok. Lastly, there was Terrorsaur. All of whom were pointing their weapons at Rattrap and Raf. Scorponok's smoking missile pods showing that he was the cause of the explosion.

"Ah it would seem that you've already awakened the protoform, how unfortunate." Megatron stated with a sigh. "Guess we'll have to do away with the both of you now, yesss." He then raised his T-Rex head/hand and fired lasers from its mouth.

Rattrap quickly rolled to the side to dodge the shots. Once he stopped rolling he immediately returned fire, scoring a hit on Megatron's shoulder. The counter attack had the three Predicons scatter for cover. The rat did the same, dragging a still dazed Raf as he looked for his own cover. By the time he found some clumped together boulders that would work he was once again under fire. Wasting no time he tossed Rafael over with all his strength before following suit as well. Now safely behind cover Rattrap wastes no time in shooting back at the Preds.

As that went on Rafael had finally managed to clear his head and moved to stand up. He was quickly pulled back down as a missile flew right over where his head was a moment ago. Then he received another whack to the head by a thoroughly irritated rat.

"You got a death wish pal?" Rattrap asked. "You don't just stand up while in the middle of a fire fight, that's a one way ticket to the scrap yard!" An explosion against their cover shook them for a moment. "Now make yourself useful and help me with these guys!"

"H-how?" Raf asked. He couldn't really think of how he could be of any use to this fight.

"Oh I don't know; maybe pull out a blaster AND SHOOT!"

"I-I don't think have o-one." Raf meekly got out before more blasts rocked their cover.

"Don't have one!? That's a load of baloney. Check your data banks and something will pop up!" Rattrap ordered as he kept firing on the Predicons.

Rafael just stared at him in confusion. Check his data banks? How does he do that?! It's not like he can just think of checking his data banks and it would suddenly-a notification appeared across his vision. Raf was stunned by this, it had actually work!? He quickly shook his head, he needed to focus and see if he had a weapon of some kind on him. With a thought a 3D model grid of what he believes to be himself was shown to him, noting that he looks kind of like a turtle. He watched as the model was zoomed in on near the top of his shell, notably the part right behind his head. Nodding to himself he reaches a hand over and grabbed that part of him as the model disappeared. The part he grabbed easily disconnected and he brought it in front of him to see just what kind of weapon it was.

It looked to be a gun with two red barrels and section of his shell on top of it. The thing that left him confused though was its lack of a grip. He questioned himself of why that was when the model of him appeared again. It should him that the gun was meant to attach to his arm. Understanding this he did as the model showed and moved the gun over his right arm. He felt it click into place and he nearly jump for joy at successfully arming himself. Another explosion against his cover reminded him of his current predicament and WHY he was arming himself.

"Seems you do have a blaster." Was Rattrap's snarky remark when he sees that Raf now had a weapon. "Now help me with these Preds!"

Over on the Predacons side Megatron was pleased with how events were turning out. At first when they arrived a lone Maximal had gotten to the pod first, which was upsetting, but now proved to be a boon. The Maximal was outnumbered and his new comrade seems to be a useless one. Yesss, a nice turn of events indeed.

"Terrorsaur, take to the air and flank them." Megatron ordered.

"Yes Megatron" Terrorsaur acknowledges as he takes to the sky and circles around. With clear line of sight he opens fire on the two Maximals with his shoulder cannons. "Eat this Maximal scum!" He cackles.

Most of the shots missed them, but one had managed to nail Rattrap in the chest. In a panic Rafael pointed his gun at Terrorsaur and fired. Not use to the recoil Raf was knocked on his aft. Luckily hit shot managed to hit the Predacon, sending him crashing down to the earth below.

"Nice shot." Rattrap compliments.

"T-thanks." Raf mumbles out as he rights himself.

Megatron was not happy with what had happened. "Useless idiot!"

"Do we press the attack Megatron?" Scorponok asks as he continues firing missiles at the Maximals.

Megatron contemplates this suggestion for a few moments before realizing something much more advantages. "No Scorponok, all we need to do is wait."

Rattrap peaked out of cover to fire off few more shots when it happened. His body began short-circuiting as blue energy began coating him, and warnings were flashing across his eyes. This can only mean one thing. Energon build up!

"Beast mode!" Rattrap quickly transformed into a rat and the surge of energy ended. He then heard a thud and looked to see Rafael still in robot mode. "Kid what are you doing?! Change to beast mode now!"

"I-I don't kno-know how!?" Raf garbled out. He could feel his body going haywire and the pain that accompanied it was terrible.

"Say it, think it, hell even sing it, just transform or else its lights out for good!" The rat told him.

"Bea-beast mode!" Rafael shouted and immediately began transforming. His head quickly disappears into his body as the chest plate rises up and over the area where his head was to connect with the shell. As he falls on all fours his feet twist and fold with a tortoise head extending out from between them.

Now fully transformed Raf found himself looking in the opposite direction, much to his confusion. He begins to slowly turn around, not used to moving on all fours in such a way, when a big purple foot stomps down on him.

"Aw, it seems time has run out for you Maximals." Megatron gloats. He then reaches down with his T-Rex head/hand and grabs Raf by his head, lifting the kid up to eye level. "It's a shame that the Maximal got to you first, but then again you've proven to be not that much of a fighter. You certainly would have made a terrible Predacon." He slowly began squeezing the T-Rex head's jaw around Raf's head, earning a pained cry from the kid. "Now it's time to end your miserable existence, yesss."

All Rattrap could do was watch as the kid slowly had his head crushed. He made to stop Megatron, but Scorponok and a still functioning Terrorsaur was quick to block him. "Any chance we can talk this out?"

Scorponok just smiled evilly and aimed at him.

"I thought so."

Just as all seemed lost, salvation came. Scorponok was blown away by a blast to the chest and Terrorsaur was quick to receive one as well. Everyone looked to the sky and saw certain flying gorilla.

"Optimus!" Rattrap rejoiced.

"Primal." Megatron scowled. Guess it was time to cut his losses. "Predicons, retreat!" He ordered as he dropped Rafael and ran. His subordinates followed right behind him.

Optimus Primal landed and transformed into a gorilla. He then moved to check Rattrap and Rafael. "You two alright?"

"Cutting it a bit close there, boss monkey." Rattrap states. A few seconds later and he would have been slagged.

"Better late than never. So you going to introduce me to our new member?" Optimus asks.

Raf managed to get back on his feet, though his was still pounding, and nervously spoke. "H-hi there sir. My name is Rafael, Rafael Esquivel."

Optimus looked at curiously." Strange, your name doesn't match your alt mode or sound Cybertronian." Primal rubbed his chin. "In fact it sounds almost human."

"That's because I am human, or was anyway." Raf clarifies.

For a moment neither Optimus nor Rattrap said a word. Could you really blame them though? This all sounds too far fetch for them, even with all the crazy things that have been happening since they crash landed here.

"Kid, you sure you didn't knock something lose in there during the fight?" Rattrap skeptically asks.

"I'm telling the truth!" Raf defended.

"Well then I guess you have some explaining to do when we get back to base." Optimus states before, making his leave. "Come on, I want us back to base within the hour."

So the three began their journey to the Maximal base.

(%)

Meanwhile Megatron was in a foul mood, a foul mood indeed. They had failed to get to the protoform first, which was already upsetting. Then, just as they were about to kill the Maximals, Primal had to appear and ruin that as well. Blast it all!

Terrorsaur and Scorponok were wise enough to keep their distance from their leader, lest they be on the receiving end of his wrath. "At least we managed to get a few good hits in, right Megatron?" Or perhaps not in Terrorsaur's case.

Megatron rounded on the red flyer and bashed him over the head. "If you hadn't been so useless we would have kill those Maximals before Primal showed up!"

Before Megatron further beat on Terrorsaur his attention was drawn away by Scorponok. "Megatron look."

He looks at Scorponok before moving his sights to where he was pointing. There, resting half submerged in a lake was a stasis pod. Megatron grinned as began approaching the pod. "Perhaps this day hasn't been so fruitless after all, yesss."

To be continued?

Chapter Text

Within the Maximal base, their crashed ship the Axalon, its occupants was gathered together on the bridge. They stood around the circular table in the center of the room as they listen to Raf tell his story. He left nothing out as he told of how he was captured and used as a bargaining chip by the Decepticons all the way up to when Optimus Prime destroyed the Omega Lock to save the Earth and the blinding explosion that followed before waking up here. Once he was finished with his tale he looked nervously at the Maximals for their reactions and saw they were mixed.

Rhinox seems to be pondering what he said; Raf wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Cheetor though looks to have been entertained by the story. Dinobot just growled, but looked interested in what was said. Optimus though appeared to be in the same boat as Rhinox. Rattrap on the other hand looked unconvinced.

"Do you really think we're going to believe such a far fetch tale like that?" Rattrap says.

"He doesn't seem to be lying." Cheetor offers.

"Well, pussycat, this sounds like a load of baloney to me."

As those two began to bicker with each other Rhinox decided to ask Raf some questions that had about something mentioned in his story.

"What energy was this Omega Lock drawing from exactly?" Rhinox asks.

"Fro-from what Optimus, my Optimus, told us it acts as a sort of conduit to the Allspark and draws energy from it." Raf answers nervously. He knew that his story would be hard to believe, and saying it out-loud made it sound ridiculous even to him, but it was the truth and he hopes he can convince them of it. He didn't want to sound like he was crazy after all.

"It drew energy from the Allspark." The intrigue in Rhinox's voice was palpable as he continued to ponder on this. "And what exactly is this Allspark?"

"Oh don't tell me you're not actually believing any of this Rhinox?" Rattrap asks in disbelieve.

"His story seems too thorough to be fake."

"Thorough? The only thing thorough here is how unbelievable his story is! It's clear to me that he got something knocked loose in there from the landing."

"We scanned him when he arrived and found nothing out of place; just a few dings here and there that can be dealt with later."

"And your sure one of those dings wasn't on his-"

"In any case we should get Rafael settled in." Optimus Primal interjected. He did not need this argument going on any longer. "Cheetor, can you show Rafael to his quarters."

"You got it big bot." Cheetor answers with a nod as he motioned Raf to follow. "Come on I'll show you the way around here."

Raf was hesitant to follow but eventually did after a moment or two. After all, Cheetor seems like a nice guy after all.

Once the two were off the bridge the only silent member among them finally spoke.

"As much as it pains me to admit this but the rodent has a point. His story is unbelievable." Dinobot said. "Even with all that we've been through since arriving on this world I would, at best, be skeptical of this."

"I figured as much." Optimus Primal acknowledges. "Which is why I'm having Tigatron bring in Raf's stasis pod. Hopefully we'll get some answers from it."

(%)

Raf followed Cheetor through the ships' metal corridors and being shown its various rooms on the way to his own room. So far they've passed by a few rooms of note. One of them was the munitions room pack full of ammo, weapons, and explosives. Another would be the simulation room that Cheetor said was mostly used nowadays for training, be it with weapons or tactics. The last one they'd passed was the holding cells, though they were empty at the moment.

Unbeknownst to Cheetor, Raf wasn't really all there nor paying much attention. The now former human was instead in his own little world. Who knows what was going on in that boys mind that has him so distracted? Soon enough though they had reached an elevator; they had to go a level down to reach the crew quarters but that was fine.

A few minutes later and the pair had finally arrived at their destination. Cheetor wasted no time in typing in a code on the panel next to the door.

"So this is where you'll be staying." Cheetor said as the door slid open. "It's a little empty but I'm sure you can fill it with some trinkets you find out in the field."

Raf took a look inside and saw that it was a small room. There was a small metal table in the left-hand corner of the room with a matching chair and what he guessed was his bed on his right hanging off the wall. Besides those the room was, as Cheetor put it, empty. His mind then unintentionally compared this room to one he had back home and felt a wave of sadness at the thought.

"Well I'll leave you to get settled in. See you around." Cheetor then departed the room, leaving Raf to his lonesome.

Raf walked over to his bed and sat down. It had been a long day and now that he had a moment to rest and think the weight of everything that has happened to him came crashing down. He was taken prisoner and used against his friends, woke up in a new world with a new body, and there doesn't seem to be a way to send him home. His Mama, his Papa, his siblings; he'll never see any of them ever again. All of this rushed though his mind and he wanted to cry, to wail his heart out, but he couldn't; he wasn't capable of crying anymore. So he sat there in a slouch, wallowing in his feelings, wishing that Jack or Miko were there with him at the very least.

Jack and Miko.

Raf jolts up as he remembers that Jack and Miko were also there when the explosion happened. If he was sent here because of it then that means that they might have been too! He nearly jumped for joy at the thought of not being alone but that still left the question of where they were. Raf knows that he was found in a stasis pod, that's what Rattrap called it, so that means that they might also be in stasis pods as well. Which means that all he has to do is find their pods and he'll have his friends back?

He couldn't have been faster in running out of his room as he headed for the bridge.

(%)

"Nice of you to arrive. Traffic wasn't too bad I hope?" Optimus said as he greeted the white tiger. Said tiger transformers into a robot that looks very similar to Cheetor if not for the different colors and beast mode.

"Would have been here sooner if Waspinator didn't decide to take pot shots at me." Tigatron said while nursing his shoulder, a burn mark evident on it. "So mind telling me why you had me bring this pod here?" He gestured to the stasis pod he's been lugging around for the past hour or so.

Currently the two were in the Axolon's cargo hold and they weren't alone. Everyone else was there as well, except Raf, for one reason; to know the truth.

"Let us get on with it then." Dinobot

"Very well." Optimus begins to examine the pod, checking for something. It didn't take him very long before he found something. Next to the pods' control panel were markings, markings Optimus knew. "Well that's just prime."

"What? Did you find something of note?" Rattrap asks.

"Rhinox, take a look at this." Optimus beckoned his friend over. Rhinox walked over and took a look. His eyes widen at what he sees.

"Is that-?"

"Yup. There's no mistaking it."

"What, what is it? Come on don't leave it us hanging here." Cheetor was confused and wanted answers. This earned him a sigh from Optimus.

"The pod's a blank. It's meant to hold a protoform that has no spark." Optimus clarifies. "Which begs the question of how a blank developed a spark?"

"It seems our new friend's story might hold more weight then we realize." Dinobot brings up. "That or he was a stowaway."

"It couldn't have been a stowaway. Optimus oversaw each pod that was load onto the Axalon and I checked their readings before we departed Cybertron; none of the blanks had a spark." Rhinox informs him and the others.

"But then how is Raf even online if he didn't have a spark prior?" Rattrap questioned.

Everyone pondered this. How couldn't they, it should be impossible for a blank to suddenly have a spark. The only explanation that came to mind was Raf's story; it's the only thing they have to go off of.

"I guess Raf's story has more leverage then we first realize." Dinobot states.

"Okay so let's say Raf was speaking the truth then how, in Primus's name, did an explosion send him all the way here and into the body of a blank?" To say Rattrap was still skeptical would be an understatement.

"Hmm... perhaps the energy involved in the explosion would be the cause." Rhinox theorizes. "He said that the Omega Lock drew energy from the Allspark. If the name was anything to go by I'd say that energy had a more mystical property to it; in which case would explain how he came to be here, and in a new body no less."

"So he was human." Cheetor said. "And now he's here all alone and with no way to get home."

That last bit had dropped the mood a bit as they were reminded that they were stuck here as well. Optimus then decided to speak up.

"Well then why don't we go and talk to our new friend and give him a proper welcome."

"Sure, I've yet to meet this new friend of ours." Tigatron admitted.

With that the Maximals departed from the cargo hold and went in search of Raf.

(%)

Raf himself was currently wandering the halls of the ship, completely lost. You'd think it would be easy to just back track the way he came, but apparently it wasn't. All the corridors looked the same and he could swear he was going in circles. Guess he should have paid more attention when Cheetor was showing him around.

Deciding to take a rest he leaned against a wall and slid down it. Just a few minutes of rest and he'll be back to searching for a way to the bridge. As he sat there he looked at his hands and saw the claws that were his fingers. He moved them one digit at a time and watched as they each of them bend like normal fingers would. This had peeked his curiosity and now looked at the rest of his body, wondering about the rest of his new body.

Time began to fly by as Raf studied himself. Moving his limbs, watching as metal squished like flesh would, and even seeing just how much he could actually feel. He could barely hear the joints and pistons move let alone feel them; like the skeleton and its tendons in the human body. Now wondered about taste, he saw the Autobots drink energon before and now he was curious about its taste. This all exited Raf as he loved to learn and that love was why he always got such good grades back in school.

School...

That one word dashed his excitement as it reminded him of home, a home he may never see again. Even when he distracts himself he is still reminded of his predicament; as if fate is taunting him, goading him that he has no way to see those he loves again. Each of these reminders hurt him more and more and he didn't know what to do anymore. So Raf curls himself into a ball and let his sorrow consume him.

(%)

As the Maximals made their way to Raf's quarters when they came across an unexpected sight. There, lying on the floor and curled into a ball, was Raf. The sight alone was surprising and left them wondering what he was doing out here.

Optimus motioned for the others to hang back before approaching him slowly and quietly, he did not want to alarm him. As he got closer he notices that Raf was shaking slightly and he could faintly heir noises of distress coming from him. Now feeling worried he kneeled down and cautiously placed his hand on Raf's shoulder, only to immediately jerked it back when Raf shot upright and looked around wildly. Optimus noted the startled look on his face before it melted into one of sadness and sorrow, the slight trembles from before coming back in force as if a dam had been broken.

"Are you alright Raf?" Optimus asks in concern. He knows the answer is obvious given Raf's state but he still needed confirmation.

"I-I'm-" Raf manages to choke out but stops as his voice fails him. Now instead of words he just lets gasping whimpers.

Optimus tried to think of way to alleviate Raf's distress but he didn't know what to do; he's never been in this kind of situation before. He was about to ask the others for help when Raf lurch forward and embraced him. Caught off guard he didn't know what to do as Raf clung to him, whimpering and shaking. Awkwardly he reached around and returned the hug, even patting him on the back once or twice in hope of comforting him. And so they remained like that for a while; Optimus doing his best to comfort a distressed Raf.

He was not trained for this, not in the slightest.

After some time Raf had calmed down some and let go of Optimus. "S-sorry..." He apologizes in embarrassment.

"It's fine. You were in distress so it's the least I could do was help." Optimus then looked at him in concern. "Mind telling me what got you so upset, if that's alright of course?"

Raf was silent for a moment, trying get his mind in order, before speaking. "I'm trapped here with no way to go home. I won't be able to see my family again." He states with a sorrow filled voice. "I want to see my parents, my siblings, but I can't because I'm stuck on another world that's most likely in another universe or something. That's why I'm upset, because I won't be able to see my loved ones again." He wanted so badly to cry right now, to let it all out. Then Optimus reached forward and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"This may not mean much but we'll help you get home to see your family again, this I promise." The moment he finished saying that Raf hugged him tightly.

"T-thank you. That means more to me than you realize."

Optimus just smiles and pats him on the back before breaking the embrace. "So care to tell me what you were doing outside your quarters?"

"Oh right! I had remembered something important and was trying to get to the bridge to tell you guys." Raf proclaims before his expression became sheepish. "But I got lost instead."

The Maximal leader let out a humorous chuckle before motioning him to stand. "I see. So what was it you wanted to tell us?"

"My friends Jack and Miko were also there when the Omega Lock exploded. So what happened to me could have happened to them as well!"

"And you want to find them." Optimus stated.

"If it's not too much trouble."

"No trouble at all. Maximals help their own, and your one of us now." He then motioned for the others to join them. "Now let us give you a proper welcome."

Raf smiled widely as the others joined them. Each of them welcomed him in their own way, Dinobot just nodded to him with a grunt. He was even introduced to Tigatron and found him to be a nice guy.

Maybe things won't be so bad.

Chapter Text

It's been a few days now since Raf awoke in this new world and he has steadily been getting accustomed to it. After his little breakdown in front of the Maximals he was fully welcomed into their group. Over the course of the few days he's been here Raf has gotten to know more about his new friends, past events, as well as current events. Apparently they've been marooned on this planet for a few months now after engaging the Predacons' ship in high orbit and subsequently crashing on this planet. Since then the two sides have been at war with one another, looking for any advantage to tip the scale in their favor. Besides that Raf was more interested in their original mission before they got tangled up in a war with the Predacons; deep space exploration and the studying of unknown worlds.

This leads to why Raf has asked to join Optimus and Dinobot in their scouting of the surrounding areas near their base. He wanted to go out and see this new world he's ended up in, as well as learn more about it. His reason earned him an approving smile from Optimus who gladly welcomed him along; Dinobot just growled something unintelligible.

So here he was over a dozen miles west of the base following Optimus and Dinobot. Raf was still not use to moving around in his beast mode and he was lagging behind the two as a result; he was use to moving on two legs not four! This lead to Dinobot pointing out how he was slowing them down but Optimus was patient enough to wait for him to catch up.

Soon the trio arrived at a small peninsula jutting into a lake with a cliff face and two waterfalls on either side of it. Optimus got right to work in studying the local fauna while Dinobot patrols the area. Raf meanwhile walked over to the cliff face that's near one the waterfalls to see how far down it went. The sheer drop before him made Raf gulp as he quickly moves away from the edge; he did not want to accidentally fall to an early grave.

Meanwhile Optimus seems to have found an odd plant growing against a boulder and has peeked his interest. "Ah, here's a new specimen." Optimus said to himself as he kneels down to look at the plant more closely, must be a flower of some kind. "Dinobot, come on! You're supposed to be assisting!"

"Of course!" Dinobot sarcastically replies as he came around a rock formation. "Pardon my lack of enthusiasm for a bunch of worthless weeds." He was now next to Optimus and he couldn't help but 'criticize' the situation. "You realize that we are targets out here. TARGETS! And still, you stop to smell the roses. Or whatever."

The flower hissed at him, revealing that it had a mouth with sharp teeth.

Optimus just sighs in exasperation. "Dinobot, I signed on for this mission as an explorer. Just because we bumped into Predacons is no reason to stop learning new things."

"Well, if we encounter any of Megatron's forces, you may learn it is unwise to dally with plants. We should be devising battle strategies."

"Knowledge of the territory can be an advantage in battle, Dinobot." Optimus wisely states. "You're a soldier, you should know that!"

"I somehow doubt this plant will be a turning point. But very well. If have it you must, stand aside! I'll blast it out! Dinobot, Maxi-" Before Dinobot could finish the command phrase his mouth was covered by Optimus's hand.

"Hold on! Hold on." Optimus ordered. He then begins to look around the bolder as if he were looking for something of note. Quickly he found what he was looking for; a small rock that kept the bolder propped up and in place. Grasping the bolder with both hands he reached for the small rock underneath with his Gorilla feet and grabbing it. Using the bolder as leverage he tugged at the rock a few times and after his third tug he managed to yank the rock out, sending the bolder rolling away.

With the bolder gone the flower was no longer obscured from their view. Optimus kneeled back down and lightly rubbed it. "You see? It is possible to look for non-violent solutions first."

"Perhaps. But I think you have lost your battle edge, Optimus. In our fight against Megatron there is nothing you can learn from this worthless weed." Dinobot then leaned in close to the plant and hissed at it before turning to walk away.

The flower seems to have taken offense to this and reared its head back before firing a spiked ball from its mouth. The ball sailed through the air and nailed Dinobot right at the nape of his neck, causing him start freaking out.

"Get this thing off me! I can't reach it! Get it OFF!!!" Dinobot screams as he tries to reach the offending projectile stuck to his neck.

"Hold on. Hold on!" Optimus tells him as he moves to his side and grabs the ball off his neck. Primal couldn't help but chuckle. "Got you right in the one place you can't reach, didn't it." The ball in his hand then begins to shake and he drops it. As the ball hits the ground it splits in two, sprouting a smaller version of the other plant. "You see? That's how it spreads its seed. We've learned something."

"Yes." Dinobot cynically replies. "From now on I shoot my dinner salad before I eat it."

It was then that Raf rejoined the two with a grin on his turtle face. "Hey guys, did I miss anything?"

Dinobot just growls angrily while Optimus just chuckles. "Not really. Just learning of how plants spread their seeds." Primal then kneels down to Raf. "How about you, find anything interesting?"

Raf just shook his head. "No. All I found were just some weeds and rocks." He then gave Optimus an inquisitive look. "By the way, are you sure this planet isn't Earth? While I may not be familiar with flora from other worlds I am pretty sure that these plants are of Earth origin."

Optimus nods to this. "The Axolon's data base would suggest that, but the presence of two moons refutes this."

"What about your beast forms? I know for a fact that those are animals that live on Earth."

Optimus rubs his chin as he ponders this. "Yes... records do indicate these forms are creatures of Earth. My best guess is that this world has gone through the same processes as Earth did, making it a twin of sorts."

Raf looked unconvinced. "The chances of that seem astronomically high."

"Weirder things have happened." Optimus admits. "For now let's find some more specimens." As he got up something at the corner of his eye caught his attention. Turning in its direction he gasps as Scorponok could be seen across the water behind some rocks.

"How about an arachnid?" Scorponok suggests before raising a claw and firing a missile at the three.

Optimus and Dinobot quickly jump out of the way while Raf hides in his shell. The missile sores pass them and hits the rocky hill behind them. Afterwards the three immediately began transforming.

"Optimus, Maximize!"

"Dinobot, Maximize!"

"Rafael, Maximize!"

Now in robot mode the three moved to anything that could be used as cover, which happen to only be a few boulders; all the while Scorponok kept firing missile after missile at them. Optimus and Raf brought out their guns and returned fire, Dinobot just fired lasers from his eyes instead. As the fire fight went on neither side seems able to hit their intended target.

Raf himself was having a hard time getting his shots to hit anywhere near Scorponok. With each shot he felt the recoil of his weapon and it threw off his aim. This was his second fight and last time he was lucky to have even hit something. It was clear to him he needed some weapons training so as to use his more effectively and made a mental note to do so when they get back to base.

As the battle waged on Optimus began to notice that Scorponok wasn't aiming at him or Raf but Dinobot, more specifically the hill behind him. The reason why was quickly revealed as a giant boulder was knocked loose.

"Dinobot!" Optimus tries to warn, but it came too late.

Dinobot turns around just as the boulder came tumbling down the hill, pinning him between it and his cover. He lets out a roar of pain as he was being crushed.

"Dinobot!" Optimus calls out again as he moves out of his cover to try and free Dinobot from his predicament, but that was what Scorponok was hoping for.

"I have a special cyber-bee just for you, Optimus Primal. Enjoy!" Scorponok says as he raises his other claw up and opens it, revealing said cyber-bee. He fires the bee and it sores through the air and nails Optimus right in the chest just as he turns, the impact pushes him into the hill behind him.

Optimus quickly raises his arm-gun up and fires off one last shot. The shot hits Scorponok, flinging him out of cover and onto a log behind him. Groaning from the hit he sits up, only for the log to shift and begin moving. Scorponok could only gasp as the log takes him over the waterfall, screaming as he fell.

By now Dinobot had managed to free himself. "Optimus..." He says as he weakly reaches out to him. Primal himself was groaning in pain as the cyber-bee dug its legs into his chest.

(%)

Back at the Maximal base Raf and Dinobot were sitting around the bridge's table with Rattrap and Cheetor, Rhinox was also there but was on one of the consoles.

"You were suppose to be his back-up!" Cheetor chastises angrily.

"We were ambushed!" Dinobot argues. "And don't tell me my duty, fur-ball, or you shall soon be occupying several recycling bins!"

"You wanna try it now, Lizard-Lips?" Cheetor snaps back.

Just as the two looked like they were about to leap over the table and strangle one another Rattrap intervened. "Ey hey hey hey here! As much as I'd love to see the both of you scrap yourselves... eh, save it for my birthday. Right now we've got bigger concerns."

That reminds all of those at the table of the situation as they look to the repair chamber in the room. Raf was mentally chastising himself for how useless he was out there; if only he could actually use his weapon properly then maybe Optimus wouldn't have gotten hurt. He needs to get better, so he isn't so useless in a fight anymore.

"Rhinox, what's the sitch?" Rattrap asks his pal at the console.

"Looks like a viral mine. It's fused with his net-core. He can't transform while the thing's attached." Rhinox answers.

"Then let's get it off!" Cheetor suggests as he gets up from the table and walks over to Rhinox. "He took enough energon damage just getting back here!"

Rhinox shakes his head. "Can't be done! The mine's rerouted all his life support functions to itself. We yank it; he lives for less than a minute."

"Whoa, that's bad."

"Gets worse. Right after that the mine explodes taking out everyone within sprintin' distance."

Cheetor was in disbelieve upon hearing this. "Man, I don't get it! Why? For What?"

"A viral mine, you say..." Dinobot says as something clicks in his mind. "I know Scorponok's creations. This one is intended to turn our leader into a coward, one who will lead us to defeat! Only Scorponok would have the anti-virus."

"Which would no doubt be guarded constantly now that Optimus has been tagged." Raf sums up. The situation was looking even more hopeless.

"There's gotta be a way to put the skids on it-" Rhinox was then cut off by an echoing boom.

Everyone jumps from their seats and turn to the source of the boom just in time to see a hole blown in the roof of the CR chamber. More holes were quickly made all over it before stopping, only to be followed up by dents forming on the chamber's door. A few heavy bangs later the door fell off and smoke bellowed out of the chamber. Out of the smoke stomped Optimus, teeth grit, arm-gun out, and a glare fixed on his face.

"Alright, WHO WANTS SOME?" The other Maximals went on guard at Optimus's words. They began to cautiously surround their leader, readying themselves in case he does something reckless.

"Nobody takes it off! Understand? You hear me?" Optimus pants out. Then he catches Dinobot and Raf moving behind him and whirls around and aims at the two. "I'll blow your slaggin' heads off!"

"No, BigBot!" Cheetor shouts out.

Rhinox then rushes forward and restrains Optimus. "Hold on there!"

"Get off of me!" Optimus shouts as he struggles to free himself from Rhinox's grip.

"Yes! Listen to him!" Dinobot tells him.

"Optimus, please calm down." Raf joins in trying to get through Optimus.

Optimus takes a few deep breaths and glares harshly at the pair. "I don't fear you... I don't fear any of you!!!" His struggles increased even further, and Rhinox was visible straining to keep him still.

"I thought that thing was supposed to turn him into a coward." Rhinox grunts out.

"No doubt that was its intention... but Scorponok is notoriously incompetent." Dinobot clarifies. He then moves closer to them and slouches slightly to look Optimus right in the eye, as if he were examining him. "I would say instead that we have... a berserker. Interesting."

"Optimus can beat it!" Cheetor States. "Come on, BigBot, fight against it! You can do it! Please."

After a few tense moments Optimus seems to have calmed down, if only slightly. "It's too much. I can't... can't fight it! Disarm my weapons, lock me up!"

Cheetor gasps at his leaders words and looked disheartened.

(%)

Scorponok was busy tinkering away in his lab without a care. So busy was he that he was unaware of the figure creeping up behind him. Though, he did become aware of them when their head appeared right next to his. He gasped, clearly startled, as he saw Megatron standing right next to him in beast mode.

"Ah Scorponok, yess, I have been waiting for your report." Megatron states as he looks down on his subordinate.

"Yeah I stuck it to 'im, Megatron! And GOOD!" Scorponok gloats.

"Excellent, and the anti-virus?"

"Just one, like you said, right behind you." Scorponok points to the vial sitting on the table behind his leader.

Megatron turns to the vial and looks at it with an evil chuckle. "By now Optimus Primal has most assuredly exchanged his... courage for a nice cowardly yellow stripe, yess. But he will not want to stay that way, noo." He then picks up the vial with his T-Rex hand. "So when he leads his misguided mechanoids on a futile raid for this anti-virus it will be their final battle, in the Beast Wars!"

"And what about the new guy?"

"Him? Oh the Maximals will be in for quite a surprise, yess."

(%)

Optimus Primal, leader of the Maximals, was currently bashing himself against the laser bars in the brig. Even as the bars shocked him he still continued; he needed an outlet for all this aggression. All of this anger, this rage, it was driving him insane! He needed to get out; he needed tear something apart!

It was then that Optimus notices that he has a visitor, standing safely behind the window viewing into the brig room. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Upon seeing that it was Cheetor and he tries to rein himself in. "Cheetor... I'm sorry... it's hard to conTROL!"

Cheetor shook his head dejectedly at the sight. "Is there any of the old Optimus left?"

"Yes... some." Optimus manages to weakly get out; his head twitching every few moments.

"Don't let it go, BigBot. Don't let this... thing tweak you outta control."

"I DON'T know if I can BEAT it..." Optimus was now panting after struggling to say that. He then looked up at Cheetor with a determined look. "But I think I can... adapt to it. Maybe hold the suppression down; even use it... to our... advantage."

"Really? I knew it! You are too tough to be dropped by any techno-flu!" Cheetor then banged his hand against the window in elation. "Let's do it."

(%)

Raf was silent the others talk amongst each other, too locked up in his own mind. He's been trying to come up with a solution of his own, but nothing he thought of seemed to work. It was frustrating to be so useless in this situation! He was the Autobots tech support back home and would usually help them with making plans, even come up with some of his own, but here he can't even think of one that would be useful!

He needed to get out of his head for a while. By now maybe the others have come up with their own idea. Focusing back in on what the others were talking about he manage to hear what was being said.

"What do you mean - use it to our advantage?" Rhinox questioned skeptically.

"Optimus is a war-machine. I say we point him in the right direction, give him full armament and then unleash him upon the Predacons! If we want the anti-virus, that is the only way to get it." Dinobot said it as though it were their only course of action now.

Rattrap then pipes up. "Yeah, normally I would love to see the Preds get their little scheme tossed right back at 'em, but your forgetting just one little thing."

"And that would be?"

"Optimus would get blown to scrap. Big problem." Rhinox states.

"Well, that depends on your viewpoint."

"Ey hey hey, SHUT UP!" Rattrap did not like what he just heard.

"Actually, that's not a bad idea." Optimus said as he walked onto the bridge, Cheetor flanking him.

"Cheetor, what have you done?" Rhinox asks in shock.

"It's gonna be OK! Optimus has got it under his thumb." Cheetor reassures. "Tell 'em, BigBot!"

"I... I think I can do this. By channeling this new fighting instinct we can storm their base and... with your help, obtain the anti-virus." Optimus explains.

"Yeah! Piece of basic programming! We blast our way into Scorponok's lab for the anti-virus. All we want is to get BigBot here back to normal."

"Yeah? And, uh... what if he goes ape-slag on us?" Rattrap was not so easily convinced of this plan.

"Hmm, fine by me." Dinobot was on board for this.

"I don't know..." Raf wasn't sure if this was a good idea.

"Hey, they made me what I am today... so I figure it's time to say THANK YOU! NOW!!!" Optimus then raised his arms in the air with cheer, and fired off a blast that activated the alarms. As the alarms blared around him he became more and more angry. "Stupid slaggin' circuit systems! SHUT UP!"

Optimus then started firing wildly around the room and everyone dove for cover. Those that were sitting at the table hid underneath it as lasers flew over them. At one point Rattrap decided to peek his head out, only to duck back down as lasers shot pass where his head just was.

"We gotta stop him before he hurts himself!" Rhinox tells the others.

"HIM?!" Rattrap said in disbelief. "Try US!"

Taking decisive action, Rhinox rushed out from underneath the table and tackled Optimus to the ground. He struggled to keep Optimus pinned beneath him and nearly lost hold of him, but then Cheetor jump in to assist.

"Keep his arms down!" Cheetor yells as he struggles to keep Optimus's legs pinned. By now Rattrap and Raf joined in, each taking a limb to pin.

"Watch that laser!" Rhinox warns as Optimus almost had his gun pointed at Raf's head.

Their struggles were for naught though as Optimus, in a feat of berserk strength, threw all of them off of him. As the others were tossed around the room Optimus got back on his feet and looked at them all with a demented expression. "You... you don't understand. It's like Dinobot says, we gotta hit the Preds the only way they understand! Hard, fast, and right where it hurts!" He then pulled out his machete and activated his shoulder cannons. "But if your caution circuits are overriding your courage, then SMELT YOU ALL!! I don't need you! I'll handle this myself!" Activating his battle mask he stomps over to the lift and exits the ship.

"Optimus!" Cheetor calls out to him.

His call fell on deft ears as Optimus was already soaring through the airing, his destination clear.

(%)

"This is not the way, Cheetor." Dinobot tries to reason as he walks into the armory. He sees the yellow youngster arming himself with all manner of weapons, seemingly readying himself for war.

"We gotta back him up!" Cheetor argues, aggressively so.

"It is a doomed mission! There's no strategy, just blind aggression!" Dinobot stresses. He was a warrior and a soldier; he knew a bad play when he sees it.

"Maybe that's what we've been needing! A little less brains and a little more guts!" Cheetor says as he continues to stock up on ammo and grenades.

"We must try to think what Optimus... the OLD Optimus... would do."

His would seem to have finally reach Cheetor as he stops and looks at him questionably. "And that would be?"

Dinobot turned around and took a deep breath. "Negotiate."

(%)

"Got a Maximal tight beam transmission coming in." Terrorsaur informs Megatron and Scorponok. The moment he picked up the transmission he had called for Megatron, who was still in his beast mode, and Scorponok seems to have just tagged along. "It's a little garbled by the energon fields, but..."

"Bring it up, yess." Megatron was interested in what could be.

With a click of a button the transmission was picked up and they listened in to what the Maximals had to say. "...Predacon base. Come in."

"Hmm, Pussycat. Yess!" Megatron curiosity was now peeked and got right down to business. "State your business."

"Listen up you miswired metal-heads. You botched up your little attitude adjustment on Optimus. He's flaming towards you on the red-eye express and he's loaded for mainframe combat so what do you say you fork over the anti-virus before you get vaped?"

"Any renegade Maximal who blunders into our base will... not survive. Megatron out." With the transmission cut he looked at Scorponok, not pleased in the slightest. "Incompetent bug!" He then kicked him, HARD.

(%)

Cheetor shook his head dejectedly at the failed negotiation. "Beast mode." He transformed into a cheetah and looked down at the ground sadly. He could be seen stand atop a cliff with a clear view of the area the Predacon base located in, which is how he was able to even send a tight beam transmission in the first place. The other Maximals then walked up behind him in their beast modes, looking at him expectantly.

"Well?" Rattrap was the first ask.

"It didn't work. All we did was tip'em off and now they're going to be waiting for him." Cheetor then glared over at Dinobot. "You and your bright ideas."

Dinobot was unbothered by the cat's glare. "It would appear that only Optimus can truly think like Optimus... For the rest of us... we must now... think on our own."

(%)

High above the Predacon base Optimus could be seen flying down towards it. He armed his shoulder cannons and fired at the base, making an entrance for himself. Not even a moment after the hole was made Optimus flew right in, ready for battle.

Within said base Blackarachnia was currently station on one of the bases monitors when the base shook. She quickly used the monitor to see what was happening just as Megatron walked into the room, Scorponok and Terrorsaur flanking him.

"Report." Megatron demands.

"Three direct hits. Outer hull has been breached." Blackarachnia informs him. Then Megatron moves beside her to use the monitors' comm system.

"Tarantulas, destroy the intruder."

(%)

Back with Optimus we see him surveying his surroundings and found himself in one of the base's metal corridors. Ignoring the alarms blare around him, he decided to go left and hopefully run into some Preds to fight. He didn't even make it halfway down the corridor when he heard cackling behind him. Turning around, he saw Tarantulas standing there with his harpoon gun aimed right at him. Tarantulas cackled as he fired a harpoon at him, only for Optimus to catch it mid air. He wagged his finger at Tarantulas before, moving towards him.

Tarantulas was a little taken aback at Primal catching one of his explosive harpoons. Acting quickly, he bends spider limbs forward and begins firing at Primal. Optimus did nothing to dodge or even block any of his shots; instead he took it in stride and kept on walking towards him. Soon enough Optimus was standing right in front of him, looking down on him. In the next moment he was picked up and slammed against the wall, being held there with one hand by Optimus. He could only watch fearfully as Primal raised the harpoon he fired up for him to see. Tarantulas could only let out pain filled gasp as Optimus then stabbed the back end of the harpoon into him, pinning him to the wall.

With Tarantulas dealt with, Optimus continued on into the base.

(%)

Blackarachnia watched all of this go down on the monitors. She inwardly smirked at this, finding it quite amusing to see. Then the monitors picked up the other Maximals approaching outside the base.

"He's inside. And the other Maximals are coming." Blackarachnia tells Megatron.

"Take Terrorsaur and defend the perimeter." Megatron instructed before activating his comm's. "Waspinator, stop Optimus now."

(%)

"Waspinator get him."

Waspinator walks down one of the corridors in search of Optimus. As he's walking he heard Optimus's shout echo throughout the corridors. Now effectively scared, Waspinator presses his back against the corridor wall. He could hear Optimus stomping but didn't know which way it was coming from. As the stomping got louder and louder Waspinator could feel the ground shake and readied his gun.

He stood no chance.

Optimus's hands burst through the wall behind and grabbed him before pulling him through. Waspinator didn't even get a chance to scream before he was thrown through another wall by Primal. Lying on the ground, Waspinator could only raise an arm to shield himself as Optimus fired a single shot at him and everything went dark.

(%)

Meanwhile the rest of the Maximals have arrived outside the Predacon base and were charging for the entrance. Their advance was stopped by Blackarachnia and Terrorsaur running out and firing on them. The Maximals were quick to move behind some nearby rocks for cover and return fire.

Now both sides were stuck in a stalemate as they continued to fire upon each other.

(%)

Optimus continued to stalk down the halls in search for the anti-virus. He could feel his body start to weaken and the damage he's taken certainly doesn't help. As his pace slowed his head began to hurt and heard a voice echo inside his mind.

Is there any of the old Optimus left?

Don't let it go, BigBot.

Don't let this... thing tweak you outta control.

He knew that voice. "Cheetor. Cheetor..." His head hurt so much.

(%)

"Cheetor, now!" Rhinox says as he opened fire with his rotary cannon at the Predacons, making them duck behind their cover. "Raf, follow after him!"

"Beast mode!" Cheetor quickly transformed and bolted for the base's entrance.

Raf on the other hand didn't transform and simply ran for the entrance, taking a few blind pot shots at the Preds along the way. Unfortunately, the moment he stepped on the ramp to enter the base he was knocked to the ground by a punch to the face from the shadows. Slightly dazed he tried to find who had socked him and, when his vision stopped spinning, he laid eyes on the culprit.

Standing at roughly the same height as Raf was an intimidating Predacon. He was a bulky Pred sporting a green and bright yellow color scheme, with some white. Most of his beast form appeared to be some kind of spiky pill bug and it looked to be draped over his shoulders; the head of the insect had pincers and the back-end had a wicked stinger. He stared down at Raf with his blazing red eyes, the horns atop his bright yellow head certainly added to the intimidating look.

"W-who are you?" Raf timidly asks.

"The names Retrax and you're going to be my new playmate." The now named Retrax said as he stalked towards Raf.

Raf quickly got back on his feet and readied himself to fight for his life.

(%)

Optimus could feel his body beginning to succumb to the virus; he needed to find that anti-virus now or it will all be for naught. As he weakly stumbled into another room he took in his surroundings. This was clearly a lab of sorts, what with all the odd equipment and machines he could see, so that means the anti-virus must be in here. He looked around the room and all of its surfaces but couldn't find it; where was the anti-virus?!

Just then his body began to spasm and he let out a pained grunt as he fell to one knee. Looks like this is it. His systems were short-circuiting now and he can feel parts of him slowly shutdown.

"Looking for this, perhaps?" Walking out of the darkness was Megatron, and he had the anti-virus in his hands.

Optimus could only give him a weak glare in response.

"Gorilla warfare suits you. The old Optimus would never have made it this far." Megatron said with a smug calmness, as if he had nothing worry about in the slightest.

"What is it you want?" Optimus painfully asks; he was losing feeling in some parts of him now.

"Your allegiance in exchange for this anti-virus, yess."

"And if I refuse?"

"You cannot refuse! Noo, not if you want to survive! Join me, or perish!" Megatron states face to face with Optimus, looking down at him.

Optimus mulled over Megatron's words for a moment. He doubts Megatron would give him the anti-virus even if he grovels at his feet. Well then, if he was going to go out might as well take Megatron with him. With what little strength he had left Optimus jumps to his feet with a crazed look in his eyes. "OH YES! THEN WHY NOT END IT HERE AND NOW, MEGATRON!" Optimus then rips the cyber-bee from his chassis.

"You FOOL! You'll destroy us all!" Megatron quickly turns around to flee.

"Just a little trick I learnt from a flower, Megatron!" Optimus then throws the cyber-bee at Megatron, nailing him on the back of the neck.

Megatron lets out a shout of pained surprise as he unintentionally tosses the anti-virus into the air. He did not care about that now; he was more concerned with getting the ticking time bomb off of his neck. Running off into the darkness, he called out to the cyber-bee's creator. "Scorponok!"

With no strength left Optimus could only watch in dismay as the anti-virus began to fall back down to the ground, his last hope was about to be destroyed right in front of him. Just then Cheetor came running in and leaped into the air, transforming in the process, and grabbed the anti-virus before it hit the floor.

"Spark... fading..." Was all Optimus could get out before shutting down.

"Hang on, BigBot! Got the anti-virus right here!" As Cheetor ran up to Optimus, he wasted no time in injecting the anti-virus into him. The anti-virus worked fast as, in a few moments, Optimus came back online and shook his head. "YES! We're online! Let's bail before that thing blows!" Cheetor helps Optimus to his feet and the two made a run for the exit.

(%)

This whole fight was not going well for Raf in the slightest. Retrax has been using him as nothing more than a punching bag and he could do little to stop him. All this was proving to Raf was his inexperience in fighting and lack of pain tolerance. To make matters worse the other Maximals couldn't help since they were being pinned down by the other Preds. At this rate he'll most likely kick the bucket here.

Raf quickly raised an arm to block a punch aimed for his face from Retrax, only for it to be a faint and instead got a knee to the gut. He's trying his best to hold his own against Retrax, but the Pred is making it abundantly clear who was the superior fighter. Another blow to his mid had brought Raf down to one knee as he clutched his abdomen in pain.

"Oh come on, this is all you have to offer me? I was hoping you would give me a real fight!" Retrax then knees Raf in the face and sent the boy sprawling on his back. "Instead you're turning out to be a disappointment."

Raf struggles as he props himself up on his elbows and glares at Retrax. "Well, sorry to be such a letdown."

Retrax simply walks over and grabs Raf by the face as he lifts him up into the air. "You've proven to be a waste of my time." He attached his left arm to the back-end underside of his beast mode and brought its stinger up close for Raf to see. "So how about I just gut you and call it a night, yes?" Retrax took pleasure in seeing the fear in Raf's eyes as he reared his arm back, ready to skewer him here and now.

Fate had other plans however as Optimus and Cheetor took this moment to run out of the ship. "Time to fade, heroes!"

This was enough to draw Retrax's attention for a few moments to look at the two rushing out of the ship. Using the distraction to his advantage, Raf raised his feet and kicked Retrax with all his might, freeing himself and launching away from him. Raf wasted no time in making a break for it and ran after Cheetor and Optimus. The others seem to have the same idea as they disengaged from the Predacons and began to retreat as well.

They didn't stop running even as the Predacon base started to explode.

(%)

Slowly Optimus came to as his eyes flickered back online. It looks like he's in his quarters and lying down on his bed. Turning his head a bit he spotted Dinobot kneeling beside him, watching over him. "Bedside vigil, Dinobot? Not like you."

"It was... my shift." Dinobot says, trying to save face. "Well... it's good to... have you back." He then gets up and walks to the door.

"Back home, or back to normal?"

"Both." Dinobot answers with a slight grin.

Optimus then notices the plant from earlier in a pot resting on his bedside table and Raf sleeping against his bed. When he turned to ask Dinobot about this he was already out the door. Optimus couldn't help but chuckle at this and continued to rest on his bed; though he did rest a hand on Raf's sleeping head and gently rubbed it.

It has been a long day, for everyone.

Chapter Text

It's been a few days since Optimus was infected by the viral mine and they had to fight the Predacons for the cure. Even when everything turned out alright Raf couldn't help but feel like he was useless during the whole ordeal. He couldn't land a hit on anything with his pour aim and his fighting prowess was terrible, Retrax had made that abundantly clear. Pathetic is the best way to describe his performance during the whole incident.

So Raf just sat there in his room; wallowing in his own self-pity. He was completely useless out there, unable to contribute to anything to help. Even with his high intellect, the one good thing going for him back home couldn't be used to help when it came to the viral mine. He knows his knowledge on such a thing is nonexistent, but he still could've done something!

"And yet I did nothing..." Raf looked down at his clawed hands and balled them into fists. "Even with this new body and its great strength I couldn't do anything." His mind then brought up his one on one with Retrax. "HE made that abundantly clear..."

Raf grit his teeth as he felt a wave of anger rise up within him. That fight couldn't even be called one; it was nothing more than a one-sided beat down! If only he knew how to fight, to defend himself, then he would be less of a burden to the other Maximals by actually being useful. He needed to do something to make himself a better combatant if he was to be less of a liability.

Then it hit him, the simulation room! Cheetor told him that it was used for combat training, to hone their skills, and he could use it to train himself. It would at the very least help him with his aim, but what was he going to do about hand to hand combat? Maybe he could see if anyone was up for teaching him how to fight.

He got up from his bed and made for the door. He was done wallowing in his self-pity; it was time for him to use his new found resolve and start training.

(%)

Cheetor was walking the metal corridors as he made his way back to his room. He had just got back from his patrol and now he wanted nothing more than to go and lay down on his bed for a nap. Unfortunately, fate had other plans as he then bumps into Raf. The young turtle stumbles back a little from the sudden collision before looking up at Cheetor in surprise.

"Cheetor?! Sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you." Raf apologizes for causing the inconvenience.

"It's no trouble little buddy." Cheetor waves off Raf's apology, not finding it necessary. "By the way, where are you off to? You seem to be in a hurry."

"Oh, I'm heading to the simulation room to train." Raf answered while rubbing the back of his head. His expression then shifted to one of contempt as his gaze went to the floor. "That last battle showed me just how useless I am in a fight. So I intend to change that by going into the simulation room to train and be a better fighter."

Cheetor did note the Raf self-deprecating way he spoke about himself, something to deal with later. "Well... if you're going to be training then I'll come along with you. You'll need an instructor of sorts to help you through the basics."

Raf was surprised by his offer to help him train. He hasn't known the Maximals for that long, only a few days to be precise, and he didn't think anyone would be willing to use their precious time to help a newcomer like him. Guess they're a lot nicer then he first thought. "I could use an instructor. To be honest, I wasn't thinking of what exactly I was going to do when I got there."

"Well then I guess it was a good thing we ran into each other." Cheetor says with a laugh. He then clasps Raf's shoulder. "Come on, I'll lead the way." He then began walking off down the hall to the simulation room, with Raf quickly following.

(%)

Raf wasn't sure of what to expect upon entering the simulation room, but the size of it wasn't one of them. The room itself was probably one of the biggest on the ship, though he hasn't seen every room so it probably wasn't, with its ceiling being shaped like a dome. There wasn't anything inside it, save for what he guessed was the control panel near the entrance to operate the room. He couldn't help but wonder at all the possibilities that this room was capable of.

Cheetor simply walked over to the control panel and started inputting some commands before looking up at Raf. "Okay we're going to start off with some target practice first so get your gun out."

Raf nodded and pulled his weapon off his back. "Okay, I'm ready."

In a few moments the room darkened and a red grid appeared on the far side of the room. Within a few of the grids squares red circular targets appeared.

"Try to hit the targets within the grid. You don't have to rush so just focus on aiming and landing the shot."

Raf nods as he lines his gun up for the shot. Once he was certain he pulled the trigger, the recoil making him shake a little. He watched the round fly to the target within seconds and becomes frustrated when it only nicks it.

"Not bad Raf; better then when I first started out. I couldn't even get my shots to land anywhere near the target, so don't get discouraged from just nicking it." Cheetor then started putting in new commands and the grid shifted accordingly. "For now try to get use to the recoil of your weapon, it's usually what will mess up your shots if you don't account for it."

Raf heeded his advice and for the next few shots he tried to adjust to his weapons recoil. He never realized how much of a kick his gun had until now. Each shot shook him and his arm was left shaking for a few moments after each shot. As things progressed though it began to affect him less and less as he was better able to brace for the kickback of his weapon. This resulted in him being able to hit his targets much more accurately and Raf relished in the achievement.

Cheetor saw this and decided that it was time to kick things up a notch. "Looks like you've gotten use to the recoil; now let's see if you can hit the target while it's moving." He announced as he put another set of commands.

The once stationary targets began to shift and move around the room at a slow pace. Raf studied the moving targets and tried to hit one, but once again only nicked it. Appears moving targets were much harder to hit then idle ones. Deciding to take a different approach, he instead aimed a little ahead of where the target was going and fired. This time the shot landed and Raf cheered a little at the successful hit before going back to shooting the targets.

Seeing that Raf was now able to land some shots, Cheetor decided to increase the difficulty. With each shot Raf made Cheetor would increase the targets speed, making it more difficult to land a hit.

Raf could see the targets get faster with each shot he landed and it was becoming difficult to actually land hits now. It soon got to the point that he couldn't even hit the targets anymore and it infuriated him. "Cheetor, I can't hit the targets if it's going to fast!"

"You need to anticipate where the target's going to be. Analyze the targets speed and react fast enough to hit them. Waspinator and Terrorsaur can go much faster than this, so if you ever want to hit them you got to be able to predict and react fast enough."

Now understanding what Cheetor was trying to do, Raf did as he said analyzed the speed the targets were going at and tried to hit it. The shot missed, but he didn't stop trying as he made another attempt to hit a different one. With each miss he made Raf felt like he was starting to get better at his reaction speed. He nearly nicked a target with his last shot and grinned at the progress. A few more shots later and he had finally managed to land a direct hit on one of the targets. He didn't waste time in cheering as he made a few more shots at the rest of the targets and managed to hit a few of them.

Cheetor was astonished at how fast Raf was improving at this. It hasn't even been that long since they started and already Raf was a great shot. It took him entire solar cycles just to get to where Raf was now!

With wounded pride, Cheetor decided to change things up a little. "Okay, Raf, we're going switch things up a little." A fresh set of commands put in the targets went away and were replaced with a holographic squad of armed dolls. "Let's see if you can hit a target that hits back!"

Raf wasn't given a moment to question the sudden change before the dolls started firing at him. He dove out the way of the oncoming fire and tried to return some of his own. It was proving to be difficult as he couldn't stay idle or else he'll be hit, so he was left with a run and gun tactic. The constant movement made bracing for his weapon's recoil hard, but he'll just have to get use to it like before.

Eventually he managed to hit one of them and they blink out of existence. His small victory was dashed as now the dolls began to move around and actively dodge his shots. Now things were getting too much for him as one of the dolls landed a shot on him. A shock ran through Raf's body from the hit and he was left stumbling. The other dolls capitalized on this and they all landed hits of their own. In moments Raf was left a twitching mess on the floor as the electrical currents ran through him.

Thankfully Cheetor decided to take pity on him and halted the simulation. The cat bot then walked over to his down comrade and offered him a sheepish look. "Maybe I should have toned down the stun rounds a little?"

Raf just glared at him while still twitching on the floor.

"When you've recovered I'll start back up the simulation and even throw in some cover for you to duck behind. Does that sound good?"

All he got for an answer was Raf continuing to glare at him with a look that promised retribution.

(%)

The doors to the simulation room opened and in stepped Dinobot. The former Predacon soldier took in the room and its occupants. He sees Cheetor and Raf currently using the room, with the former operating the control panel and the later being in the middle of a simulation. The pair was too focused on the simulation itself to have notice him enter.

Wanting some answers, Dinobot walks of over to Cheetor and asks with a growl. "Care to tell me what you two are doing here?"

Cheetor jumps at the sudden voice and whirls around to see Dinobot standing near him. "Hey, don't sneak up on a bot like that!"

"I wasn't. You were too focused on what was in front of you to notice anything coming up from behind, a mistake that can get you killed easily." Dinobot deadpans.

Cheetor just grumbles. "You could have warned me a little." He then straightens up and looks at him curiously. "By the way, what are you even doing here? Looking to get some training of your own in to?"

"Precisely, but it would appear our new comrade is doing his own training at the moment." Dinobot states as he observes the active simulation going on.

"Yeah... I bumped into him earlier and he told me what he was planning to do, so I offered to help him." Cheetor winces slightly as Raf get hit in the shoulder before dropping behind his cover. "He's been at it for a while now. I've never seen a bot improve so rapidly before; he could become a crack shot in no time!"

Dinobot's interest was now peaked. "Is that so, and what of his close-quarters combat capabilities?"

"Uh... we haven't gotten around to that part yet. We've been mostly working on his sharpshooting skills so far."

The former Predicon soldier looked down at him with a grin, one Cheetor shivered at seeing. "Then that's what we will start on now."

Meanwhile Raf was still crouched behind his cover as the dolls continued to fire on his position. He shook his shoulder a little to work the rest of shock out of it before readying his blaster. With a grunt stood up and prepared to fire off his weapon, only to see the dolls dissipate into nothing. Confused he turned around to ask Cheetor what was going on, only to see Dinobot standing at the control panel.

Raf gulped a little at the intimidating look the soldier was sending him. "Wh-why did you stop the simulation?" He had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer.

Dinobot began to approach him. "Cheetor has informed me that your desire to train and your fast growth, I wish to see it for myself." When he finished speaking he stood right in front of Raf, with the smaller bot having to crane his head just to meet his eyes. "So now I will begin your training in hand-to-hand combat. Any objections?"

The turtle bot meekly shook his head.

"Good... now prepare yourself!" Dinobot then raised his arms in a boxing stance and waited.

Raf quickly put his blaster away before hesitantly copying Dinobot's stance, earning him an inquisitive look from his opponent. He didn't receive any warning when Dinobot threw a punch at him, making him jerk away from the attack. Not even a second later he had a fist buried in his gut and he collapsed to the floor clutching it.

"If all it takes is a single blow to bring you to your knees then you are not long for this world. Now on your feet!"

Shakily he got up from the ground and took up the same stance as before.

"Jerking away from a blow to avoid it leaves you wide open. You must instead block it and return one of your own." Dinobot then threw another punch and this time Raf blocked it before throwing one of his own. He easily caught the attack and grinned. "Good, your learning. Now again!"

From here the two continued to block each other's blows and counter with their own. Naturally the attacks speed up as time went on and Raf did his best to adapt. He wasn't perfect, the various dings Dinobot left on him were a testament to that, but he felt he was much better than before. He even started smirk at how good he was doing in this spar.

Dinobot saw this and decided it was time to mix things up a little. Instead of the usual sequence of attacks he chose to diversify his moves. So when he threw a punch he immediately followed it up with a leg sweep that sent Raf to the floor once again.

Raf grunted when he fell to the floor, banging his head in the process. Shaking the dizziness from his head he looked up at Dinobot in confusion and slight anger. "Was that really necessary?"

Dinobot huffed in amusement. "You were starting to become complacent; I had to knock you back down to reality." He then reach down and brought the young bot back to his feet. "Your opponent won't always stick to one method of attack. They will try to throw you off with something unexpected, like a faint or a sudden shift in attacks. You must be ready to adapt at a moments notice or you will die."

Raf nods to his advice and their spar resumes. Just as Dinobot said he needed to adapt to the sudden change in attacks. It took a bit for him to actually do that, those faints really threw him off for a while, but he was starting to get the hang of it. He even started to mix things up himself, throwing a punch before suddenly coming in with his own sweep kick. Faints were apparently not his strong suit as Dinobot was able to read his like an open book, but he'll get better with practice.

By the end of it all both parties were sporting scuffs and dings. Despite how tired Raf was from all of this he felt proud of how much he had accomplished. The smile on his face must have been infectious since Dinobot sported one of his own.

"You've done well Rafael. With more training you will become a fine combatant, one that your enemies will fear." Dinobot praised.

"Thanks! You have taught me a lot today." Raf said with that smile still present on his face.

Dinobot simply huffed. "We've barely scratched the surface of what I can teach you, but that is enough for today. I have other duties I must attend to." The soldier made his leave. Before he left though, he left Raf with some parting words. "Train hard Rafael, for I see much greatness in you." With that he was gone.

As this was happening Cheetor, who seems to have been forgotten entirely, was gaping at what he just heard. Dinobot praising someone? Was reality itself coming undone?! He couldn't help be a bit overwhelmed with everything that's just happened, and he hasn't even had any training himself.

The universe was probably listening in on his thoughts since Raf chose that moment to say something to him. "Hey Cheetor, you up for sparing with me?"

Cheetor didn't like the gleam that was in Raf's eyes. "I-I'm good. You should p-probably take a break now; you've been at this for quite a while now."

"But I'm still raring to go. Besides-" That smile on his face took on a more evil look. "You said you'd be my instructor. That implies that you'll help me with my training correct? So come spar with me."

Cheetor gulped as Raf began to approach him. He never thought the smaller bot could ever look so menacing.

Raf will have his retribution.

Chapter Text

The simulation room was alive and active as holographic constructs littered the room and some dolls sat behind some artificial cover with their weapons primed. One of the dolls peeked over its cover and in the next moment its head blown off. As the doll dissipated its comrades rose up and began to open fire upon the one responsible for its death.

Raf charged the dolls position with his gun a blazing, even when he was hit he did not stop charging. The moment he was close enough he leaped over their cover and, before they could turn around to retaliate, unloaded upon the remaining dolls. In moments the dolls were sporting some new holes and began dissipating.

A second group of dolls appeared and Raf quickly dove for cover. As he sat behind his cover, the dolls peppering it with shot after shot, a plan begin formulating in his head. He could hear the dolls approaching his position and a plan was set. Once the dolls were right on top of him Raf reach over the cover and grabbed the closest one before yanking him over. He moved fast to get the doll he grabbed in front of him to use as a shield. The other dolls did not care for their companion being used as a shield and opened fire. As the doll took the hits, Raf returned fire with his own weapon, nailing most of them with the first few shots. Just as he got to the last two the doll he was using to take the hits for him dissipated within his grasp. His opponents capitalized on this and fired upon him, scoring quite a few hits as he dove to the side to avoid their shots. The shock from their hits caused his anger to spike and in the next few moments he let off a few shots of his own, managing to hit the dolls.

Not long after the dolls deaths more dolls spawned in to replace the second lot and Raf wasted no time in rushing that group as well. The dolls only got off a few shots before Raf was upon them and it turned into a close quarters fight. Raf showed no mercy to the dolls as he brutally beat the dolls to death with his fist, and even bludgeoned a few with his gun. He fought with a rage and fury that was uncharacteristic of him, he even appeared downright feral. When there was only one doll left Raf staked towards it, ready to finish it off. Just as he got within arms reach of it the doll blindsided him with a punch to the face. Raf stumbled back a bit from the blow before fixing a murderous glare on the doll. He hissed at it before pouncing on it and the two falling to the floor. In the next moment Raf had the dolls head between his hands and he pulled, it head coming off with ease.

Raf looked around frantically, looking for his next bunch of opponents. He then spotted some that were just about finished spawning in before they just disappeared. They weren't the only things that disappeared as all the other constructs in the room followed suite as the room returned to normal. Confused, Raf turned to head to the rooms control panel to see what was wrong when he saw Optimus standing right next to it.

"I think that's enough training for one day." Optimus stated. He receives a glare from Raf as a he approaches him.

"Not until I'm sure of it." Raf says with a hiss. He tries reaching for the control panel, but Optimus stops him.

"I'm growing concerned with your recent behavior, and it's not just me. You've been coming into this room for weeks running these training simulation over and over again with very little break. That's not even counting how aggressive you've been as of late." The concern was evident in Optimus's voice. He reaches over and grasps Raf's shoulder. "What's got you acting up like this?"

Raf remained silent as he shrugs Optimus's hand off as he refuses to meet his eyes with his own.

Optimus just sighs at this. "Very well then. As of this moment you are barred from using this room until I say otherwise."

Raf was shocked by this, but that quickly turned to anger. "You can't do that! I need to keep training or-" He quickly shuts his mouth at stern look Optimus was giving him.

"I am captain of this ship and its crew, so what I say goes." Optimus's stern look hardens even more. "I suggest you get your act together before I have you confined to your quarters."

Raf stiffens at Optimus's words and, after a few moments, meekly nods. "Yes sir..."

"Good. Now report to the bridge, Rattrap just finished setting up those spy cameras in the Predacon base and he would like for his hard work to be appreciated." Optimus's stern expression then softens up as the two begin to leave the room. "And please, stop pushing yourself so much. You're going to burn yourself out at this rate."

Raf's frustration was plane to see on his face. "If I don't push myself then I won't be able to help when it really matters; just like with the probe..."

Now Optimus was beginning to understand where all of this was coming from. "You blame yourself for what happened?"

"...I could have done something that would have not gotten the signal array destroyed."

"Perhaps... or perhaps not. You can't predict how things will turn out in the heat of battle." Optimus advises as they continued to walk down the hall. "And no one could have predicted Tarantulas's transformation locking device."

"But if I-"

"You can fuss over what you COULD have done, but that won't change what HAS happened."

"That's why I should keep training!" Raf shouts, his frustration reaching a boiling point now. "I need to make sure that what HAS happened doesn't happen again!"

Optimus stops and looks at the kid in concern, even reaches out a hand to try and comfort him in some way. "Raf..."

"NO!" Raf smacks the hand away and continues venting all that he's kept within him. "I had been training for a week at that point to not be a liability to you and the others anymore, but when the time came to put that training to use I instead get stuck in my beast mode!" He was pacing back and forth now, clenching his fists as his rant went into full swing. "The signal array was destroyed and I could do NOTHING to stop it from happening. AGAIN I was useless when it really mattered!" His fiery gaze locked with Optimus's much calmer one. "So tell me, Optimus, what am I suppose to do to stop being so useless..." The fire that was in his eyes had fissile out as he collapses to the floor, leaving behind the distraught child that he is. "Ho-how do I s-stop being a b-burden..?"

Optimus looked down at Raf in pity. The kid poured his heart out to him and now he was left with a child that thought himself to be useless, honestly he and the others can relate to the kid. He and the others have had their moments of messing up or not being helpful, still do at times, so he'll find no shortage of empathy aboard this ship. Right now though the kid needs some reassurance of how he views himself right now are not true.

Doing the first thing that came to mind, he kneels to Raf's level and grasps one of his shoulders in a firm grip. When Raf looks up at him with a mix of sadness and confusion Optimus spoke with a firm voice. "You are not useless, nor are you a burden to us. You may not have been able to do much to help when the array was attacked, but you weren't the only one to fail." He could see Raf become more attentive and he pressed on, but with a softer tone. "We all failed to keep the signal array from being destroyed. It was all of us that failed that day, but that doesn't mean we are useless. Instead you should learn from that loss so that you're more prepared next time."

"And if I still lose..?"

"Then you keep learning." Optimus affirmed. "Blaming yourself won't do you any good, only hinder you." He stood back up and offered a hand to Raf. "Now let's get to the bridge, they're probably wondering where we are."

Raf looks at the offered hand for a few moments, and then grasps it. Once he's back on his feet he gives Optimus a resolute nod and the two continued on their way.

(%)

As Optimus and Raf came onto the bridge they were greeted with the sight of the other Maximals seemingly occupied. Cheetor and Dinobot were staring at one of the terminal screens while Rhinox was working on the terminal next to them and Rattrap was just standing behind the three with his arms crossed. The two made their way behind the pair to see what had captured their attention. Once they were close enough they were able to see that screen was showing live feed inside the Predacon base. The most note worthy thing being shown was that three of Megatron's subordinates were aiming their weapons at him.

"Looks like dissension." Optimus summarizes.

"Cool!" Cheetor then turns slightly to Rattrap. "Now aren't ya glad we got cable?"

Rattrap just ignores him while continuing to watch the screen.

Rhinox then turns in his seat. "Looks like Rattrap got that spy camera hardwired just in time."

That got said rat to talk. "Ya, well, you better be thankful. It was MY fuzzy butt on the line while setting it up..."

"The loss wouldn't have been THAT detrimental." Dinobot says without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Why you overgrown-"

"Shh! LOOK!" Optimus ordered.

Everyone quieted down and returned their attention back to the screen. They all watched as Megatron slowly backed away from his troops before ducking behind a cylindrical glass container as the three betrayers opened fire on him. Blaster shots and missiles flew by his cover as Megatron did his best to hide behind his much smaller cover.

As they continued to watch, Raf started to notice that something wasn't right about this. He couldn't quite place, but something about scene before him just wasn't right. It might be because he and Optimus both arrived a bit after everything started going down, but that didn't feel right either. There was just something about the whole thing that was just off...

"NO! You fools; you'll hit the energon-" Just as the words left his mouth a shot hits the container and the screen goes static.

All was silent for a moment before everyone felt base begin to shake. It took a few seconds before the shaking went away and everyone was left to process what had happened.

"Wow..." Was all Cheetor could say after what they had both witnessed and felt.

"Not how I'd put it, but you're not wrong." Optimus agrees with the spotted cat before addressing the others. "Let's head out and see what the damage is."

Heeding his command, the others began to move to the lifts. As they were about to head down Rhinox notices that Raf was still staring at the static screen.

"Raf, you coming?" Rhinox's question seems to have knocked Raf back to reality.

"Wha-Yeah I'm coming!" Raf runs over to the lift to join them. As they began to be lowered out of the ship he can't shake the feeling of something being off about what he saw.

(%)

The scene the Maximals arrive to is the smoking remains of the Predacon base. The entire front of their ship/base was charred black and, judging by the scorched crater around it, was the epicenter of the explosion. The explosion itself seems to have also done a number upon the rest of the ship, which was soon emphasized by the raised back dropping down a bit with a loud groan.

"That place looks, like, totally slagged." Cheetor states as the group looked on in their beast modes.

"It is." Rhinox agrees while holding a scanner up with his foot. "I'm detecting no life signs of life. Not a Pred energy signature anywhere in, or around, the base."

"Can that be confirmed?" Dinobot skeptically asks only to then have Rattrap up and pointing in his face.

"Hey! His sensors don't lie, Dinodip." Rattrap says in defense of his friend.

"Unless their masking their energy signatures." Raf points out. His experience with the Autobots and their way of evading the Decepticons detection quickly brought him to this conclusion.

Optimus rubbed his chin as he mulled over what Raf had said. "You make a good point."

Raf turns to him with a serious expression on his turtle face. "We won't know for sure until we enter the base to see if their actually dead." He advises. He did not want any of them to walk into some sort of trap.

"Then we'll have to approach with caution." Optimus says as he begins walking to the base with the others following behind.

Meanwhile Rattrap just sighed while quietly complaining to himself. "Can't we have good things happen to us without it being called into question..?"

(%)

The inside of the Predacon base was just as bad as the outside. Equipment was either busted or outright destroyed, parts and scrap metal laid strewn about, and various places were scorched black. All in all, the place was a mess.

Rhinox held up his scanner to see if there were any life signs. After a few moments the scanner came up with nothing. "Still no life forms. But it appears the base's energon field dampers are still functional."

Optimus nods to at this. "Good."

Rattrap, who had transformed upon entering the base, looked at Raf with a smirk. "Convinced now that the Preds kicked the bucket?"

Raf just sighs. "I'll be convinced when I see the bodies." He then transforms and starts to look around.

"Yeesh, I've been a bad influence on you." Rattrap admits before looking around at the various bits of scrap for anything of worth. He picks up a metal rod and starts to swing it around like a sword. "Aright, let the pillaging begin."

"Only for space drive parts." Optimus tells him with a serious look. "This is still a Predacon ship, which makes it very dangerous."

"Yeah? Then let's have ol' Chopperface go first?" The metal rod he was swinging then hits something with loud clang. Looking to see what he had hit and found that it had been Dinobot's leg. The ex Predacon then grabs the rod and yanks it from his grasp, not even glaring at the rat.

"Yes, that would be logical." Dinobot said with voice surprisingly neutral as he tosses the rod away. "I'll take point."

As Dinobot moved on ahead of the group, Rattrap seemed frustrated by his lack of a reaction. "Man, I'm pushin' all of his hot buttons and I'm gettin' nada!" He then looks to others as he gestures in Dinobot's direction. "What's WITH him?"

Optimus just sighs. "Can't you figure it out?"

The group then goes to catch up with the former Predacon, unaware of Cheetor bounding off on his own.

(%)

Silently following Dinobot, the Maximals let him take the lead as he guided them through the various halls with his sword at the ready. They had to avoid more than a few traps that nearly caught them unaware. The lack of lighting in the halls made it very difficult to spot the traps until they were about to trip them. Thankfully Dinobot knew where a lot of them were thanks to his time working with his former colleges.

Eventually they had reached an intersection that split into two separate hallways. In the middle of the intersection looked to be a massive octagonal shape container with a bulkhead door. On the door was a wheel handle and code pad right next to it.

Dinobot then turns back to the others. "This is what you seek. I detect no hostiles. I will... reconnoiter elsewhere." He then passes through the group and heads back the way they came, everyone watching as he went.

Once Dinobot was a good distance Rattrap quietly spoke to Optimus. "Yo, scrape ape. So... what are we gonna do with Dinobot?"

"Why should we DO anything?"

"Man, look at him! He's still a Predacon. He's only with us 'cause he knew we'd win, not 'cause he believed in what we stood for." Rattrap stresses as if it was the most obvious thing. "He's a soldier. With th' enemy gone, who else is he gonna fight?"

Optimus said nothing as turns back around and walks to the container.

"Look... this ain't the time to prove you're a wimp chimp, buddy. He'll snuff you out the minute you turn your back." Rattrap warns.

"I don't think he would." Raf speaks up. "He doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would stab you in the back when all was said and done."

"He's a Predacon. All they do is back stab!"

"Just because you think so doesn't mean it's true." Raf remarks.

"Doesn't mean it's true? The Preds have been doing that since we got here!" Rattrap states as he threw his hands up in the air. "Terrorsaur got himself overcharged once and immediately turned on Megatron, and don't get me started on Tarantulas. The only loyal Pred here is Scorponok, and he's not exactly the brightest."

That last one had Raf confused. "But didn't he develop the virus that made Optimus go berserk?"

"And remember how Dinobot said it was supposed to make him a coward?" Rattrap points out.

Raf concedes on that point. "Okay, you got me there. But you've known and worked with Dinobot for how long now? Shouldn't he have earned even a little bit of your trust?"

Rattrap just looked at him with a flat look. "Kid, most of that time is either him trying to get us to bull rush the enemy in an all out assault or him trying to bite my head off."

"Not like you don't deserve it half the time..."

Rattrap was about to retort when Optimus intervenes between the two. "Enough, both of you." He fixes both of them with a stern look. "We are still within enemy territory, even if they are dead. So get your acts together."

He then turns to Rhinox, who's standing in front of the container silently watching the event unfold before him. "Open it."

Rhinox nods and puts in the access codes before turning the wheel. With a hiss the container opens up and reveals the contents inside. A cylindrical device then juts out of the container and Rhinox takes an up close look at it. When he turns to Optimus with a nod, said leader then looks at Rattrap and Raf.

"Get the others. We've got what we need."

(%)

In another part of the base Dinobot slowly stalks the halls. His weapons were at the ready, just waiting to be used on any surviving Predacons. A warrior such as himself will not be caught unawares.

As he observed his surroundings, constantly vigilant for any would be attackers, the legs of an arachnid moved across the wall behind him. Slowly they inch closer and closer to the supposedly unaware Dinobot. Then, when they were inches aware from their target, the warrior whirled around and swung his sword.

Cheetor jumped back, barely avoiding the attack. Instead of being scared that he was nearly cleaved in two, he just laughed. "Gotcha." He even wagged the spider limbs in front of him almost tauntingly.

Dinobot rounded on him. "Where did you find these?"

"Just over there." Cheetor nonchalantly pointed a thumb behind himself

Dinobot snatched the severed limbs from Cheetor's grasp and looked at them almost solemnly. "Alas, poor Tarantulas. I knew him Cheetor." He then raises the limbs up in the air. "This is the leg that stalked so many victims..." Sighing, he brings the back down. "That it should come to this."

"Aww. Do you need a hug?" In the next moment Cheetor nearly had his head bitten off by an angry Dinobot. The only thing that saved him from such a fate was the timely arrival of Rattrap and Raf, both quickly moving to hold Dinobot back.

"Hey, we're leavin'!" Rattrap says. When Dinobot stops trying to get at Cheetor, he and Raf let him go. "We got th' parts we need. Come on!"

As Rattrap is about to leave he is stopped by Raf grabbing his shoulder. "Wait a sec." Raf then moves over to beside Dinobot and looks at the limbs on the floor. "Where did you find those?"

Dinobot motions to Cheetor. "Ask the cat. He found them."

Raf looks at Cheetor and gestures for him to say something.

"Well, I found them back there." He points at a scorched area not that far away from them.

"Was there any other remains?"

Cheetor shook his head. "No, just those legs."

"That doesn't make sense..." Raf mumbles as he thought over this. "None of this makes any sense."

Cheetor looks at him curiously. "What doesn't make sense?"

"This whole thing!" Raf proclaims. "I've seen the amount of much punishment you guys can take, that explosion shouldn't have been able to kill them. Even if it did it wouldn't be powerful enough to disintegrate their remains, if it did then a lot of this base wouldn't even be here right now."

"You have a point. No remains don't mean they're dead." Dinobot agrees.

"Then there's the feed we saw. You said it yourself, Rattrap, Scorponok is Megatron's most loyal subordinate. So why did he side with Terrorsaur and attack Megatron, it just doesn't fit."

"You're not saying what I think your saying, kid?" Rattrap skeptically asks. He did not like where the kid was going with this. If what he was saying was true then that would mean...

"The Predacons could still be alive." Raf informs them.

Silence. It was completely silent as the Maximals digested this revelation. The facts that Raf presented to them made to much sense. Scorponok's betrayal was completely unlike him, and the lack of any real remains added credence to how fake this all was. They were tricked into believing that they had won the war.

"Oh for booting up cold. Why couldn't you have let me live in blissful ignorance for just a bit longer?" Rattrap sarcastically asks. He then sighs and starts walking back the way he came. "Come on. We better go warn the Big Ape about all of this."

No one argued as they followed the rat.

(%)

"Well that's just prime."

The group had run into Optimus and Rhinox as they were carrying the device they found in the container to the exit. Raf wasted no time in bringing the two up to speed on what he had pieced together. Now they were all trying to figure out why the Predacons pulled such an elaborate deception.

"What could they possibly gain from faking their deaths?" Rhinox wondered. It's hard to narrow down why they did it.

"Maybe it was to get the drop on us when we least expect it?" Cheetor suggests.

"No. They could do that whenever any of us go on patrol." Dinobot says as he shoots down Cheetor's suggestion.

As everyone continued to ponder on what the Predacons true goal was, Raf looked at the device Optimus and Rhinox were carrying. "What's that thing?"

"Hmm? It's a drive core for a ships space drive." Rhinox answered before elaborating. "With it we'll be able to finish repairs on our ship's space drive and then we can leave this planet."

Optimus's eyes widened as everything clicked into place. "That's it..." When everyone looked at him he continued. "That's what their after, our ship."

"Come again?" Rattrap asked.

"Megatron wants us to repair our ship so he can take it from us when we least expect it." Optimus states. "His ship is too heavily damaged to ever be space faring again, while ours just needs its drive core repaired."

"We do all the work and they reap the rewards." Rhinox says as he pounds his fists together angrily. "Damn Preds get an easy ticket off world thanks to our hard labor."

"But then what are we gonna do about it? They could be hiding anywhere!" Cheetor brings up.

That got them all thinking. Megatron and his lackeys could be hidden hold up in a number of places, making the search for them a moot point. Not to mention the search would leave both them and their base exposed.

Raf perked up as an idea came to him. "We do what they want us to do."

Everyone looks at him in disbelieve, especially Rattrap. "What, are you nuts?! We just went over how that's their whole plan!"

"Exactly. They want us to get your guy's ship space faring again, so lets do that. Searching for them would take forever, but they'll come running when we start to take off." Raf tells them. He can see that the others were starting to understand what he was getting at.

"And when they do we'll have a trap set just for them." Rhinox chuckles at the idea. "They won't know what hit them."

"Then it's settled. We repair our ship and lay a trap. We'll also need to inform Tigatron of the situation. As for the trap..." Optimus then looks at Rattrap. "I'm sure you have a few ideas?"

The rat just smirks. "Oh, I've got just the little surprise for them."

(%)

Within a crevasse not too far away from the Maximal base the Predacons lay in wait. For hours the devious bunch had remained hiding here while in their beast modes. The cramp hole in the ground was the most unlikely place for any Maximal to find them, but it was starting to be a problem.

Tarantulas was eating a poor unfortunate rodent that had fallen down into the crevasse, much to the disgust of Terrorsaur as the arachnids drool fell on him.

"Would you stop slobbering on me, Tarantulas!" Terrorsaur screeches as he shook off the drool, utterly sick of his compatriot's eating habits.

"I am feasting." Tarantulas shot back. As he moved back a little his backside was being pressed into Waspinator's face.

"Give Waspinator room!" Waspinator demands as he pushes back Tarantulas. "Tarantulas is fat enough already!"

Tarantulas spun around and glared at the wasp with his many eyes. "If Waspinator does not stop cuddling me like a stuffed toy when he sleeps, I'll eat him as well!"

"I'd like to see you try!"

"Yes I will!"

"No, you won't."

"Sez who?"

On the two went as they bickered with one another. As they went the other Predacons simply paid the pair no mind. Many of them simply kept themselves occupied with whatever could distract.

Unfortunately this was proving too much for Terrorsaur's fracturing sanity. "You all make me sick! I can't stand this any longer, Megatron, I... I've got to get out!"

As Terrorsaur began to hop around while laughing crazily, Scorponok smacks him in the head. "We wouldn't be here if you didn't trip over that spy cable."

"You are correct, Scorponok. But thanks to Terrorsaur's inadvertent discovery of our enemy's spy camera, we were able to pull this little... deception. Yesss." Said Megatron.

"But what if they detect us? Don't forget my signature-damping device is only experimental." Blackarachnia informs, bring up the flaw in his plan.

Megatron turns his head to the black widow. "We have only to wait until they repair their ship... and then attack while their guard is down." He then looks to everyone else. "With the Maximal ship in our possession, we will be able to recover the orbiting stasis pods... containing Maximals eager... to become Predacons." Then he stomps over to Terrorsaur and gets up in his face. "SO NO ONE LEAVES!"

"Leaving? Who said anything about leaving?" Terrorsaur meekly responds.

Retrax then chimes in. "So what exactly are going to do when it comes time to attack? Do we try to sneak on board, or bull rush up the front and hope for the best?"

"We rush them. There won't be much time once the ship begins its launch sequence, so rushing them is our only solution. They'll be too shocked by our sudden appearance to do anything to stop us from boarding." Megatron answers before continuing. "Once on board, we just have to clean house and then victory will be mine!"

They didn't have to wait long as the ground began to tremble and the distant sounds of some big engines were coming online.

"Looks like it's time to party!" Retrax cheers as he starts to crawl out of the crevasse.

Megatron and the other Predacons were quick to follow suit as they all made their way out of their hiding place. Once they were out they didn't waste time in transforming and making a beeline to the Maximal's ship. It only took a few minutes before they were within sight and they all doubled their efforts. Only when they were at the last stretch did everything go wrong.

Explosions rang out as Scorponok and Blackarachnia were sent flying into the air. The other Predacons stopped to see just what had happened, but when Tarantulas took another step in the wrong direction he to shared the unfortunate pairs fate.

"What is happening?!" Megatron shouts in bewilderment, before Scorponok comes falling from the sky and lands right on top of him.

(%)

Meanwhile in the ship the few Maximals stationed at the ships consoles watch as the Predacons stumble into their trap. One Maximal in particular was ecstatic at the light show happening before him.

"How is that for a warm welcome you stinking Preds!" Rattrap proclaimed with a laugh as he watched the Predacons get blown up while in his beast mode. This just made his day.

"Ship's guns are online! Tigatron, Cheetor, man them and keep the Predacons away from the ship." Rhinox ordered.

"Yes sir!" Tigatron took his seat along with Cheetor and pair began to open fire upon the Preds.

Optimus then walks up to Rhinox. "How long until we are in the air?"

"We've got two cycles till lift off." Rhinox informed.

"Megatron can do a lot in just two cycles." Dinobot warns as he monitored the battle going on outside thanks to the central table's holoprojector. "I would advise a counter assault to keep them from rushing."

"And get left behind? No dice!" Rattrap counters.

"In any case we just need to hold out until-ARGH!" Optimus was interrupted as an explosion shook the bridge. When it passed he was quick to action. "What happened?"

"My guns just got blown up!" Cheetor exclaims.

"The enemy is advancing!" Tigatron reveals.

Optimus acknowledged this and turns back to Dinobot. "Looks like your plan has just been approved." He walks over to the lift and presses a button on his chest. A section of the wall near the lift and out comes a rack with a trio of blast shields. He took one before addressing his crew. "Any volunteers? I won't force anyone to join me if they don't want to."

"I'll come!" Cheetor proclaims as he runs over and grabs his own shield.

"Are you sure? We may not be able to leave with the others if things get too hairy."

"I'm sure. Besides, Cybertron wouldn't be the same without you."

Optimus nodded and was about begin lowering the lift when Dinobot stepped forth.

"I will join you as well." Dinobot states as he takes the final shield. "You will need all the help you can get."

Optimus smiled in gratitude for his aid. "Then let's hit it!" He then activated the lift and the three were being lowered down.

(%)

Back with the Predacons. Megatron was trying to hit the remaining guns on the Maximals ship, but was constantly forced to duck behind his cover when it took pot shots at him. They were lucky that Waspinator was able to land a strike on the other gun, but that luck was now being tested. Especially since the Maximals were now launching a counter attack, lead by Optimus himself.

"Waspinator, Terrorsaur, keep those remaining guns distracted. The rest of you focus fire on Primal and his band of fools." Megatron ordered.

Optimus saw this and was quick to dish out orders of his own. "Focus on those flyers. If they aren't brought down then our ship may very well be."

Cheetor and Dinobot focused on the two flyers while Optimus continued to shoot at the other Predacons. The battle was intense, Megatron and his troops couldn't advance thanks to the mines and the Maximals keeping them pinned down. Optimus and his two compatriots weren't faring much better as the Predacons were focusing all their ire onto them as blasts and missiles hit against their shields.

Waspinator and Terrorsaur were soon brought crashing to the ground in a heap. This of course angered Megatron, and he vowed to exact it upon the first Maximal he could get his hands on. "Bumbling idiots!"

Time had run out though as the ship began to lift into the air.

Optimus saw this and issued the retreat. "We've stalled them long enough. Get aboard the ship!"

The Maximal trio retreated to the ship's lift. They had to move backwards though so as to keep their shields up since the Predacons were still firing upon them. Cheetor and Dinobot were on the lift and Optimus about to join them when the ground beneath him exploded. Optimus was sent flying away from the lift and when he hit the ground he slid to the edge of the canyon edge that the Maximal ship sat over, his shield falling over it.

Megatron grinned in satisfaction. "Why target the shield when the ground is so much more giving." He then turns to address his soldiers. "Now! Rush them, we are out of time."

Optimus weakly got back up with a pained groan. He turned his head to see the Predacons making one final push for the ship. He needed to move fast, the ship was getting higher and higher into the air so time was not on his side. Didn't help that his energon buildup had reached its limit and he was forced to transform back into a gorilla. One pained step after another he stumbled to the ship's lift, it was now a few feet above him and Cheetor was holding his hand out to him while Dinobot kept shooting eye lasers at the fast approaching Predacons.

"Come on, Big Bot, grab my hand! This train's pullin' out!"

Primal bent his knees and with all the strength he had left he jumped. He was barely able to grab Cheetor's hand as he now dangled in the air.

"I gotcha! Dinobot, help me pull him up."

Dinobot stopped firing and reached down with his own hand to assist Cheetor. The two were almost able to pull him up when tragedy struck. A missile collided with their hands and forced them all to let go. The pair could only watch as Optimus fell back down to earth and hit it with a loud thump.

"Optimus!" Cheetor exclaimed as the lift receded back into the ship.

The Axalon's ascension was not stopping and its entrances were now out of reach. Megatron would not be stopped by this, noo. He gathered those that were still functional, Retrax and Scorponok, and lead them in one final attempt to board the ship. They ran to the canyon's edge and leaped off, grasping at the hanging bits of scrap underneath the ship. The three began climbing the hanging scrap when the one Scorponok was climbing broke off and he was sent falling to ground below. Megatron ignored his screams as he made his way inside, victory will be his!

(%)

When Cheetor and Dinobot were lifted back into the ship's bridge their expressions were down. The other Maximals were looking at them expectantly and it quickly grew to concern when they didn't spot Optimus amongst them.

"Where's Optimus?" Raf asked.

Cheetor remained silent while Dinobot answered. "He... didn't make it in time."

Raf looked distraught at this while the others weren't feeling any better.

"We will not let his sacrifice be in vain." Dinobot states as he deposited his shield back on its rack, Cheetor following his example and deposited his shield as well.

The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard coming from one the hallways. When they all looked to hallway it was coming from they gasped as Megatron entered the room, followed closely behind by Retrax.

"Oh, but it is in vain, yesss." Megatron immediately fired upon them, hitting Tigatron first.

Rhinox got up to try and retaliate, but was shot back into his seat by Megatron. Dinobot and Cheetor quickly tried to rush Megatron, but they weren't fast enough and were shot to. Raf tried to bring out his weapon, but he was tackled by Retrax and pinned to the floor. Rattrap was the only one left standing and, as he looked around the room at his fallen comrades, gulped.

"Oh, boy..."

"Now only YOU stand in the way of my ultimate conquest!" Megatron stomps towards the rat, intent on making him suffer.

"Rattrap, Maxi-AAH!" Rattrap was caught in the jaws of Megatron's T-Rex head and lifted up to eye level with him.

"None of that, vermin, noo! For now, I will crush you like a rat... in a trap!" Megatron began to slowly crush Rattrap, savoring his screams of pain while doing so.

While that was happening, Retrax was looking down at Raf with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Megatron has the right idea." He then brought forth the stinger of his beast mode; the look of fear in Raf's eyes was exquisite. "Let's hear your screams!" With one quick motion he stabbed the stinger into his victims shoulder and twisted. The scream of pain was like music to his audio receptors.

As that was all happening Rhinox was coming back online and the first thing he heard was his friends' screams of pain. Snapping to attention, he got back to his feet with a shout. "Leave... them... ALONE!"

Megatron saw the approaching Maximal and tossed the one in his grasp away to deal with the bigger threat. He prepared to fire at Rhinox, only to receive a hard punch to the face by said Maximal. Stumbling back, he tried to take a swing at him with his tail sword only for it to bounce off his back as the Maximal tackled him.

Rhinox picked Megatron up above his head before spinning him around. When he was in the position he wanted him in he then brought Megatron down, face first, into the lift's floor. For good measure he stomped down hard on the Predacon leader. The lift flew down from the force and Megatron was unceremoniously dumped out of the ship, left to free fall to the ground below.

Retrax saw this and decided it was time to cut his losses. Yanking his stinger out of Raf he tried to make a run for it, only to be tackled to the ground by Tigatron. The cat was not happy if the growl he was giving him was any indication.

"You want to leave? Then let me give you the express way out!" Tigatron tossed Retrax across the room. The Predacon slammed into the lift shaft and fell down it with a shout. Tigatron then turned back to Raf and helped him to his feet. "You alright young one?"

Raf grunts as he held his shoulder. "I'll be fine after some time in the CR chamber."

It was at that moment that the alarms started going off and the warning lights started flashing. Rhinox turns to the terminal to see what was wrong, only to see Megatron's tail sword sticking out of it. The terminal screen started showing errors and the drive core's statistics before stating it was offline, which was followed by a loud boom. That boom most assuredly coming from the drive core itself.

Just like that the Axalon stopped flying up, and started falling down.

Rattrap was the first to panic. "We're going down! Do somethin' Rhinox!"

Rhinox didn't get to say anything as the ship started tilting and he slid with it, crashing right into the terminal. Rattrap wasn't far behind as the angle the ship had taken sent him flying into Rhinox. Soon enough though, the speed of their decent had everyone lose their footing as they became weightless. The others tumbled through the air as they tried to grab a hold of something to keep themselves in place.

"We're all gonna diiiieeee!" Rattrap 'helpfully' proclaims. He then clung to the nearest thing he could grab, which happened to be Dinobot. Dinobot simply glared at him before noticing something on the monitor.

"Something is approaching the ship?!"

That got everyone looking as they tried to figure out what was coming at them.

"Wait... is that..."

"IT'S OPTIMUS!"

Indeed it was their leader. Optimus flew right to the underbelly of the Axalon and grabbed a hold. Once his grip was secure he brought his jets to full power and pushed against the ship. The sudden resistance had everyone pushed against the front of the bridge. Everyone could only watch in awe as Optimus began to slow the Axalon's decent. The ship had righted itself by the time they had reached the ground, resting right where it had taken off from.

(%)

Sometime later Optimus had gotten back aboard the bridge and he stared at the damaged terminal. He sighed and looked to Rhinox. "Damage report?"

Rhinox just gave him a look. "In a word; busted. She won't fly again."

"Well that's just prime."

Cheetor then piped up. "What about Raf? He was stabbed by Retrax."

The three looked over to the CR chamber and saw Tigatron helping Raf into it. Raf noticed the three looking at him and offered them a thumbs up as the chamber doors closed around him.

"He'll be alright, physically at least. We should be thankful of him. His suspicions of this whole thing allowed us to not be caught unawares." Optimus states.

"A lot of good that did. We're right back to where we started with nothing to show but a few scrapes and bruises." Rattrap added.

Optimus just glared at the rat. "Shut up Rattrap."

Chapter Text

"Computer, bring up combat log #074."

"Acknowledge."

A metal limb came down from the ceiling with a screen attached to the end of it. The screen came to life and video recording began to play. It showed an engagement between the Maximals and Predacons in a narrow canyon with a river running straight through the middle. The Predacons are shown to of had the high ground, stationed on a high up ridge, which gave them the advantage over the Maximals below them. All looked to be in Predacons favor, but then Rhinox started shooting at the rock-face above them. Suddenly the Predacons were buried and the Maximals got away with only their leader injured. The feed ends.

"Combat log #083."

"Acknowledge."

Another video played showing a battle waging in the middle of a forest. Only two Maximals were present, Cheetor and Rattrap, and they were outnumbered two to one in this firefight. Both sides were using the trees as cover, trading shots with each other every few moments. Suddenly Cheetor rushed the Predacons, weaving between the trees as he ran. The Predacons tried to land a shot on him but he was too fast and the weaving between trees made it near impossible. Once he was close enough he fired a few burst from his weapon before stopping with a smirk. When nothing initially happen the Predacons proceeded to mock him. Their mocking was cut short when the trees they used for cover fell down on top of them. Cut to black.

"Combat log #091."

"Acknowledge."

The screen came to life depicting a desert clearing rich with raw energon. Both factions were engaged in close-quarters combat while in their beast modes. It was chaotic as their beast modes made it a bit difficult to fight, but still managing to inflict meaningful damage to one another. The Maximal leader, Optimus Primal, then ripped a big shard of energon out of the ground and proceeded to use it as a club against the Predacon leader, Megatron. It all came to a head when Terrorsaur, clearly sick of trying to fight in his beast mode, transformed and fire his gun. What happened next was to be expected when firing any sort of projectile based weapon anywhere near unstable energon, it explodes. Both sides were lucky to have gotten out of that with only scorched plating and minor injuries.

"Combat log #132!"

"Acknowledge."

This one showed a one on one fight between both leaders of their respective factions on a mountain top. Both were clashing with their blades, Optimus with his duel curved blades and Megatron using his tail blade. It was a deadly duel that appeared to be in Megatron's favor as he manged to knock Primal to the ground. Victory looked to be in sight and Megatron seemed to want to savor it by lording over his nemesis's impending demise. That was a grave mistake as Optimus brought his arm gun and fired it at the gloating Predacon. With the tables now turned, Optimus now loomed over a wounded Megatron with his weapon armed and ready. In a single moment it would be over for Megatron, but that did not come to pass. Optimus instead picked him up and tossed him down the mountain side. Megatron tumbled and rolled as fell down the side of the mountain, hitting some rocks that stuck out occasionally. As he neared the bottom a rather pointy looking rock sat at the foot of the mountain, and right in Megatron's path. Moments pass as the Predacon leader came closer and closer before finally-

A hole was blasted through the screen just before the scene could finish playing out. The screen sparked a little from its new hole before the whole thing dropped to the platform below.

Megatron scowled at where the screen once hung as the light died from the T-Rex head's mouth that made up his right hand. He wasn't alone however as there was someone on one of the other monitors in the room and was able see all that happened.

"And what did that poor screen ever do to you." Tarantulas mocked from his hover platform.

"Be silent!" Megatron ordered. He may have already took his frustration out on the monitor, but doesn't mean he won't do the same to that treacherous arachnid. Taking a moment to calm himself, he began to rant. "Time and again we've failed to destroy the Maximals. The last victory we had over them was when we stopped them from getting a signal out to that probe that passed through the system, but none since..."

"Your scheme to fake our deaths and take the Maximals ship once they'd repaired it didn't go as you had hoped." Tarantulas 'helpfully' informed. "And that was over a month ago. Since then you tried, and succeeded, in reprogramming one of the Maximals into a Predacon. The whole thing backfired when our new 'teammate' systematically eliminated us one by one before nearly killing you just to seize control of Predacons for themselves."

"Admittedly I should have been more wary of our new comrade; we Predacons ARE a treacherous bunch, yess."

"Then there was your plan to use an organic clone of Dinobot to infiltrate the Maximal's base, which ended with the clone being eaten by the REAL Dinobot and you sent packing."

"Failure for that lay squarely on Terrorsaur's shoulders." Megatron states angrily. "It was his job to ensure Dinobot would be eliminated from the equation. If he had done his job right then my plan would have succeeded!"

"Yet it didn't. Not even a week later you sent him out with Waspinator to assist Scorponok and Blackarachnia in getting that stasis pod that fell within our territory, only to fail at that as well." Tarantulas then ducked to avoid being hit with a energy beam from Megatron.

"Enough reminiscing on past failures! It is now time to look towards the future. A future where we Predacons are triumphant!" Megatron boasts.

"And how exactly are we supposed to reach said future? Our resent streak of loses doesn't paint such an outcome waiting for us."

Megatron grinned. "Simple. We capture one of the Maximals and probe their mind for all they have. Battle strategies, contingency plans, weaknesses, and even when they're on breaks. I want to know all of it!"

This made Tarantulas cackle with sadistic glee. "Oh? Then I should go prepare the operating table for our soon to be guest."

As the mad scientist left, Megatron activated his seat's com. "Scorponok, Retrax, I have an assignment for you two."

(%)

"So uh... got any stories from your universe?"

Most of the Maximals were on the ship's bridge just doing either mundane tasks or just relaxing. The only Maximals not present was Optimus, who is out on patrol, and Tigatron, who prefers to live in the wilderness. Raf was curious as to why that was and made a mental note to ask the next time he saw him.

As for everyone else. They were either doing their daily tasks or just doing their own thing. When the question was asked though, they stopped what they were doing and listened to what was being said.

"Stories?" Raf asked.

Cheetor nodded. "Yeah. You've got to have some stories from back home."

Raf shyly rubs the back of his head. "Well..."

"Please? You can't tell me that nothing interesting ever happened before you ended up here with us."

Raf looked a little unsure. He definitely has some tales from his time with the Autobots, but he wasn't sure if he could tell them well.

"Ease back, Cheetor, if he don't want to tell then that's his choice." Rhinox said after seeing Raf's hesitation. Raf gave him a look of appreciation.

Knowing Cheetor wasn't just gonna back down on this, and will most likely pester him about it all day, Raf composes himself and gave the cat a small smile. "Well... a few stories shouldn't hurt. I just hope I can convey them well."

Cheetor waited in anticipation for Raf's story. He wasn't the only one as Rhinox and Rattrap, also a little curious themselves, joined in listening to the potential tale. Dinobot didn't seem to care all that much as he scoffed and went back to what he was doing.

As those interested got themselves situated, Raf pondered on what story he should tell. He has a whole plethora of tales from his time with the Autobots. A wave of sadness came over him at the thought of his friends. He missed them and wondered if they were trying to find him, even after all of this time. Shaking away the negativity, he focused on what story to tell his new friends. After a few moments he remembered a pretty scary one that should peak their interest.

"How about I tell you guys about the time I got stuck in the Shadowzone with my friends and a undead Decepticon?"

That definitely got their undivided attention, Dinobot especially. Raf watched as Dinobot froze for a moment before slowly turning his head to him. He could see the curiosity in his eyes, now clearly interested in his story. It was amusing to watch him grumble to himself before joining the rest of them.

Now with a full audience he began his tale. "It was day like any other when the Autobots computer detected dark energon that was on the move..."

"Dark energon?" Rhinox asked, intrigued by the new type of energon from a different universe.

"It's essentially, as the name implies, a darker counterpart to normal energon." Raf explained. "Unlike normal energon this dark substance was capable of granting those that used it immense power. But it's most notable power is its ability to raise the dead..."

The Maximals were left speechless at this. To think that there was something capable of raising the dead back to life. Though there have been records of someone being brought back to life, they were usually a miracle.

"The power boost is pretty neat and the raising the dead thing seems pretty handy. Seems like this stuff would be highly sought after." Rattrap brings up. Maybe if they could find some of this stuff then the the Predacons would be no match for them.

"One would think, but those brought back by the stuff become what is known as a Terrorcon. A mindless beast with the sole desire to destroy everything in its path be it friend or foe. As for those still alive, I have a hunch that if your not strong enough to handle its power it will either destroy you or turn into a Terrorcon."

And Rattraps plans were thrown out the window at that tidbit of info. He did not want to risk dying or being turned into a mindless zombie. He likes living thank you very much!

"That's not even the worse part..."

"There's more?" Cheetor asked. He couldn't even imagine what could be worse then what was said.

Raf nods. "The worse thing about this substance is that those who use it and survive are forever bound to Unicron."

That got the others reeling in horror.

"Unicron?!"

"The chaos bringer himself!"

"You mean the guy who eats entire planets!"

It took a bit for them to settle back down from that bombshell. Guess being told that for ultimate power you had to be bound to what is essentially the ultimate evil was not such a great proposition. Once they had calmed down one of them decided to ask what was on all of their minds.

"How does this dark energon you speak of bind you to Unicron?" Dinobot asks.

"It's because dark energon is Unicron's blood." Raf answered, further shocking his audience.

"Wait so it's Unicron's blood that's able to do all that? I know he's suppose to be a powerful being, but how can his blood be able to do that?" Cheetor asks.

Raf just shrugs. "I don't really know. My knowledge on Unicron is limited to what bots told me and the others, but I doubt anyone really knows what Unicron is truly capable of."

"A mystery for another day then." Rhinox states.

"Anyway, we've gotten a little sidetracked from the story so lets get back on track."

From there he continued his tale right from where he left off. Raf spoke of how the Autobots went to investigate who was carrying dark energon and their objective. How when the bots had just gone through his friend Miko had made to follow them before the bridge closed, leaving him and his other friend, Jack, to chase after her. What happened next was all three of them arriving at a small canyon and they got to watch as the Autobots confronted the dark energon's carrier who turned out to be Starscream, Dinobot had a few opinions about him. They learned that the con was trying raise Skyquake from his grave to make into mindless servant for him to command. The altercation that followed with Starscream firing the first shot and him thinking he was invincible, only to be proven wrong when his right arm to get shot off by Optimus Prime.

Rattrap and Cheetor snickered at that last bit. "Serves the con right for thinking he was untouchable just because he got a small power boost."

He then told of when the battle seemed over Miko started shouting at him and Jack for causing her to lose her phone. The Autobots of course heard them and called a groundbridge for them to go threw at the same time Starscream's own appeared. The trio of humans were told to enter theirs and they did as told, though Miko had to dragged along. When they went through though a explosion happened and they came back out in the canyon instead of the Autobot base, except the color of it was more dull and muted.

"Did the two groundbridges create a feedback loop between each other?" Rhinox asked. He could already guess what had caused them to end up back int the canyon.

Raf blinked a few times, surprised at how accurate Rhinox's question was, and nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what happened. Their close proximity did cause a feedback loop to occur. Instead of sending us to the intended destination it dropped us back where we were, only in an alternate dimension."

With Rhinox's question answered Raf got back to the story. He told of how, after recovering from the explosion, the three of them began wondering what had happened. At the same time they saw the Autobot too recover from the explosion before discussing what had happened. They acted like they weren't even there and when Miko went to get their attention, only to be ignored. Then the bots started moving and Miko was stepped on by Bulkhead, only for her to pass right through his foot. That freaked him and his friends out, making them think for a moment that they were dead. Jack the pointed out that THEY could still touch each other and that disproved them being dead. After listening to the Autobots conversation on what had happened to them Raf theorized that they were in another dimension since they were in the same place but at the same time, not.

"A dimension that lets one move around unnoticed by everyone. It would be perfect for infiltration and information gathering..." Dinobot mulled over. He found the military application of this to be most interesting.

It was then that the now undead Skyquake appeared before them from behind some rocks and stumbled towards the Autobots, groaning as he did. He and the others tried to warn the Autobots but they couldn't hear them and Skyquake was close enough to take a swipe at them, only to pass through the bots like Miko did. For a moment they were releived that he couldn't hurt their friends, only for it to turn to panic as the con turned his sights on them. Figuring out that the undead con could still hurt them they made a run for it with the Skyquake stumbling after them. Raf embarrassingly told of them that he tripped and lost his glasses before Jack pulled him around a corner, but without his glasses he was practically blind. Despite how dangerous it would be to try an retrieve them Miko rushed out to get them, managing to do so while avoiding being stepped on.

"That kid is insane! Does she even know what self preservation is?" Rattrap asked. He was beginning to wonder if Miko had a few screws loose.

Raf just shrugged. "Honestly, I've been wondering that myself. This isn't even the first nor last time she did something like this. Me and Jack kept a sort of logbook for every time she pulled a stunt like this." Miko wasn't exactly thrilled to learn that they had said logbook and had tried on a few occasions to destroy it.

The tale continued with them running away again for some time. When they stopped to take a breath in a deadend Jack's phone began to ring, getting all their hopes up. They were able to get a signal in the alternate dimension but they couldn't be heard so they did the next best thing, texting. While they did that Skyquake had caught up to them the chase began anew, the three of them having to run between the cons legs first. Eventually they ran into, literally, Starscream's severed arm and they decided to use its rocket on the undead con. After figuring out how to fire said rocket they waited for the con to appear around the corner. Once they had a clear line of sight they fired the rocket and cheered as it exploded against the zombie con. Their elation was short lived as Skyquake appeared from the smoke with a roar looking mostly unharmed, safe for his dangling right arm. The limb soon fell off the con and then came to life and came at them much faster then the main body. The chase lead them to find Starscream wandering the canyon calling out to Skyquake. As they started running again from the gaining limb a groundbridge opened up in front of them. Figuring it was their way out they almost jumped through right then and there but hesitated since Starscream was on the other side. Jack had a plan though and he had them wait in front of the portal for the zombie limb to get closer. Once it was close enough they jumped through and continued to run away. Starscream was perplexed by their appearance but didn't have time to do anything as the limb that was chasing them flew out shortly after them and latched itself to the con's face.

"From there the Autobots bridged in and took us back to base." Raf then chuckled. "I haven't looked at a zombie movie the same way since."

"Can't really blame ya. That story didn't paint you having the best time." Cheetor states as he moves to pat Raf's shoulder.

"That was a most harrowing tale." A new voice chimed in.

Everyone turned and saw Optimus Primal standing in front of the lift. They had been so absorbed into the story that they never realized that their leader had returned.

The Maximal leader was looking at Raf with concern. "An experience like would most certainly leave its mark on anyone, especially on one so young."

Raf was touched by Optimus's concern. "I'm grateful for the concern, but it's no big deal. This all happened almost a year ago; I've moved passed it."

That did not alleviate Optimus's worries. "You may believe so, but that may not be the case. Such events do tend to leave scars."

All Raf could give was a sad smile. "Even if they did there isn't really much that can be done about it. Best to keep myself distracted then to deal with it."

"That's not healthy."

Raf quirked a metal brow. "Oh? Then you wouldn't happen to have a psychologist stashed away somewhere on this ship?"

Optimus just sighs in resignation. "Fine. But at least try talking to one of us if something is bothering you alright? We need to take care of each other, both physically and mentally."

Raf was silent for a few moments before responding. "...I'll try."

"That's all I ask." Optimus then speaks to the rest of the assembled Maximals. "My patrol shift is finished and someone needs to take the next one. Any volunteers?"

Cheetor shot his hand up. "I'm up for it! I need to get out and stretch my legs; been cooped up in here for too long."

Optimus nods. "Alright, but take someone with you. The Predacons have been quiet lately and that's never a good sign. I want you to have backup just in case."

Cheetor looks around the room for someone to rope into going on patrol with him. His eyes land on the story teller. "Hey, Raf, you up for joining me?

Said turtle bot looked at him with a raise optical ridge.

"What? I know you too have been itching to get out of the base for awhile now, so come with me on patrol!"

It was true. Raf hadn't been out of the base in some time and he was getting bored just sitting around in the base. "Alright, I'll go with you. I too need to stretch my legs a little."

Cheetor pumped his fist in victory before moving to the lift with Raf.

The duo were about to leave when Optimus gave them some parting words. "You two will only have each other while your out there, so make sure to watch the others back."

"No sweat, Big Bot. If we run into any trouble we'll handle it." Cheetor boasted as the lift took him and cohort down.

Before the lift even touched the ground Cheetor leaped off in beast mode. By the time it did Cheetor was already quite a distance away, leaving Raf to play catch up. Turtles weren't built for speed damn it!

Back in the base Optimus sighs, despite what Cheetor said he couldn't help but feel worried. He knows that those two can handle themselves, Raf alone has proven that with how much effort he puts into his training, but he has a feeling that something bad was going to happen.

He just doesn't know what.

(%)

Scorponok and Retrax had themselves situated on a rocky ridge between the Maximals and Predacons territory. Megatron had given them orders to seek out and capture any Maximal they can find, preferably alive. Scorponok, being the ever loyal servant, accepted the mission with gusto. Retrax wasn't as enthusiastic, but still accepted.

The task seemed simple enough, find a Maximal and capture them. They could rough them up a little but so long as they still function then it was alright. So they found a spot to camp out and waited for their unsuspecting prey to appear.

"So how long do you think it'll be before a Maximal shows up?" Retrax asked.

"I don't know, just keep a look out for one. Megatron expects success and we will give it to him!" Scorponok proclaimed.

Retrax grumbles to himself as he goes back to watching for Maximals. Scoroponk's fanatical loyalty to Megatron can annoying at times, but it also makes him easy to predict. Now if he had been stuck with say Terrorsaur then he would have shot him by now, that voice of his is just too infuriating.

Focusing on what he's suppose to be doing, Retrax observes the empty planes before him. All he sees is the same barren desert as it's always been. Some big rocks here and there, a tumbleweed rolling about, a cheetah and giant turtle wandering about, more rocks-

He snapped his attention back onto the cheetah and turtle. Those animals do not inhabit this desert region, preferring grassy open planes and large lakes respectfully. This could only mean one thing.

"Looks like we got a pair of Maximals out on patrol." Retrax informs his comrade.

Scorponok skitters over to him and sees what he means. "Excellent; but Megatron only requested ONE Maximal to be captured."

"Then we can scrap the other one with no complaints." Retrax summarizes gleefully. "But the question now is, who do we take and who do we send to the scrap heap?"

Scorponok tapped his pincer to his chin in thought. "Hmm, the feline is fast and agile so taking him would be pretty tricky. The turtle on the other hand..."

"Is slow and much easier to handle." Retrax finishes.

"Precisely. Now all we need is to get the drop on them."

Retrax chuckled evilly. "Don't worry, I got a plan in mind."

(%)

As Raf and Cheetor patrol on the edge of Maximal territory, making small talk to help pass the time.

"So how does it feel to go from being a Human to a Maximal?" Cheetor asked his shell clad friend.

Raf pondered on how to answer that. "It's very... different, and unique, but also not at the same time."

"What do you mean?"

"Well... on the one hand I'm no longer made of flesh and bone, but metal and circuitry. It's different, but acts and feels the same." Raf states simply. "Some unique differences you guys have that Humans don't would be the whole transformation ability and having a internal database/warning system. Despite that it doesn't really feel all that different."

"That's it? I thought their be more of a difference." Cheetor said slightly disappointed.

"Like I said; it's different, but the same." Raf reiterates. "I could go more in-debt on all the similarities and their differences despite it, but then we'd be here for hours."

"Yeah I'm not interested that kind of lecture; that's more Rhinox's thing." Cheetor jokes.

Raf has a small laugh at that. "True that. He's the brains of the group."

Cheetor laughs as well. "He sure is, but he isn't the only smart one around." He fixes Raf with an appraising look. "I've seen you pour over the base's database. I'm surprise you're able to even read our language, let-alone understand it."

Raf looked a little abashed at that. "It wasn't that hard to understand. I've heard and seen the bots back home use their native language when talking to each other in private and writing reports. Took me a while to decipher their text by myself, but I managed to do it."

Cheetor smirked at him. "See what I mean; your a genius."

A small smile spread across Raf's turtle face at the praise, along with a feeling of pride swelling inside him. "I was a straight-A student." He boasted.

The peace was soon disturbed by an explosion going off next to Cheetor. The cat was sent flying off his feet a good distance away before hitting the ground harshly.

"CHEETOR!" Raf shouts in alarm. He rushes as quickly as his beast mode would allow him to his friend's side.

With a pained groan, Cheetor speaks with a slight slur. "What hit me...?"

"That would be one of my missiles, Maximal!"

The two whip their heads around and see Scorponok standing on a nearby hill. One of his pincer hands were open and smoking.

"And I still got plenty more left!" Scorponok proclaimed. He then starts firing more rockets at the duo.

Raf gasps. His friend was too disoriented from the previous blast to move out of the way in time and he couldn't carry him while in beast mode. With no other option he makes split second decision and moves in front of Cheetor. He only had a second to brace when the rockets hit his shell. The force of the blast rocked through his shell and Raf had to bite back a scream at the intense pain that rocked through him. Once the salvo had ended, Raf shakily checked to see if Cheetor was okay and, to his relief, found him to be without any further injury.

Cheetor meanwhile managed to get his mind properly again. First thing he became aware of was the burning pain coming from his side. He tried to look and see why he was in pain but the realized that Raf is standing over him. His friend's face was scrunched up pain and he could just barely see smoke coming off his shell.

"Raf!?" Cheetor exclaimed. "You okay man?"

"I've been... better..." Raf manages to say. His voice was very strained from the immense pain he was feeling.

Raf moved off of his friend and Cheetor wasted no time in getting to his feet. The cat took a look at where the smoke was coming off of Raf and grimaced. A massive hole was blown into Raf's shell with sparks flying from severed wires and energon leaking out damaged fuel lines. The hole was big enough for Cheetor to see much of Raf's inner-workings, with some of said workings looking to also be damaged.

"Are you able to transform?" Cheetor asks.

An explosion occurs a few feet from them, nearly sending them back to the floor.

"Not like... I have much of a choice!" Raf hisses out. With much effort, a lot of which was painful, he managed to transform into robot mode. This had unfortunately exasperated the hole in his shell and left him in even more pain.

Raf wasn't given a chance to try and get use to the pain when yet another explosion rocks near him and Cheetor. The pair look around for anything that they can use as cover from Scorponok's barrage. Sadly there is no cover for them to hide behind, leaving the two with no choice but to fight in the open. They quickly draw their weapons and return fire on the Predacon.

The Maximals counter attack had little affect on Scorponok thanks to him having the high ground, making their shots miss most of the time. It didn't help that the lack of cover had them constantly dodging just so they don't hit by a missile. It was worse for Raf since his injury impeded his movement and made focusing his shots very difficult to do.

Scorponok on the other hand was more than happy to capitalized on his advantage in this fight as he made Raf and Cheetor dance for him. Despite the fun he is having, he needs to stay focused on the plan. He needed to separate the two Maximals from each other before Retrax could act. Aiming is pincers, he fired a couple of missiles between the two Maximals and watched as the two of them moved further away from each other in order to dodge. A grin settled on his face; it was time for phase 2.

Meanwhile Cheetor was getting frustrated with the whole situation. No matter how many time he tries to get a shot to connect with Scorponok the Pred seems to effortlessly avoid it. Then there's Raf, his friend is barely able to put up a fight to begin with. That hole in him has severely handicapped him in this fight, and Scorponok seems to know this as well. Scorponok doesn't even try to hit, just shoots around Raf and lets him hurt himself trying to avoid the attack. It just makes his gears grind at the sick game playing out before him.

"Is this all you got, Maximals? I was expecting more of a challenge. Guess I got stuck with the less... capable members." Scorponok taunts.

Sick and tired of being on the back foot, the taunt was all Cheetor needed to decide to rush Scorponok's position. "Raf, cover me!"

Raf heard Cheetor's order and made to lay down some covering fire. Just as he was about to fire he noticed something off about the situation. Scorponok hasn't moved from his position since his surprise attack, and now that Cheetor is rushing up the hill towards him he still won't move. Despite how incompetent everyone says Scorponok is, Raf doubts he's stupid enough to allow an opponent to rush his position without putting up much effort to stop them. It was almost as if...

Raf's eyes widen as he realized what was going on. "CHEETOR, GET OUT OF THERE!"

Cheetor just barely turned his head to acknowledge Raf's warning when it happened.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the ground beneath Cheetor exploded open and out came Retrax in beast mode. The cat bot could only look in shock, eyes wide, as Retrax's massive pincers closed around him in a crushing grip. Sparks flew as time resumed and Cheetor cried out in pain as the pincers cut through his plating and dug into his circuits. With a tight grip on his prey, Retrax went back into the hole he came from with Cheetor in his clutches.

Seeing all of this happening, Raf tried to run to his friend's aid but then a missile detonated at his feet. Tumbling to the ground, he could only groan as pain rocked his body. He was at his limit and his body refused to move to his will. As he laid there in a heap, Scorponok appeared before him. Raf glared at the smiling Pred and tried to force his body to act, but it would not listen.

"Nightie night Maximal."

The last thing he saw was Scorponok's foot coming down on his face and then nothing.

(%)

Within the Darksyde's captain quarters, Megatron sat reclined in chair relaxed.

It has been a couple of hours since he issued the order for his troops to capture a Maximal for him. While the likelihood of the of two he sent succeeding was low, he'd at least have a pair of target dummies to vent his... displeasure out on if they failed. Even so, if the those two did fail in such a simple task he would have to come up with a new strategy in acquiring a Maximal prisoner. As he mulled of potential ways of doing so, an alert started going off on his chair.

A simple press of a button revealed that the proximity alarms were tripped. Another button pressed brought down a screen for him that showed a feed of the base's entrance. Scorponok and Retrax have returned, and they're not alone.

"So, those two actually succeeded in the simple task I gave them. Most surprising."

Standing up from his seat, Megatron left his room and headed for the command deck. The trek wasn't very long and once there he went to his two waiting subordinates. He gave them a scrutinizing look, noting that they hardly had a scratch on them. The same can't be said for the Maximal they brought with them. It appears that they had brought him the Maximals latest member, Rafael if his memorie is correct, and he looks like he's been through a war zone. The Maximal looked like he was mere moments away from going offline.

"I ordered you two to bring me a Maximal ALIVE, not on the cusp of death." Megatron stated as he leveled a glare at Scorponok and Retrax.

"We-we did as you asked, lord Megatron, we brought the Maximal in like you ordered us too." Scorponok saids, groveling before his leader.

"We just had to ruff him up a little, just to make sure he cooperated." Retrax informs. Unlike his companion, he didn't grovel before Megatron and just told him how it is. "Besides, it was either him or the cat I left buried in the dirt and I was not digging him back out."

Megatron continued to glare at the two before sighing with a growl. "Fine then. Get him into the CR chamber, I don't need him dying while extracting information from him." He watched as they carried the Maximal away. As for himself, he went to see if Tarantulas had finished his preparations. All the while a grin was plastered onto his face.

"I love when a plan comes to fruition."

(%)

Back in the desert a mound of dirt began to shake a little. After a few moments a metal hand bursts out of it, reaching to the sky. That hand then began to claw at the dirt around as if it were either trying to move it or get a grip. More of the dirt shifted and another hand came out to do the same thing. Once both hands had found purchase on the earth they began to pull. The dirt from which they came gave once again, but this time to a certain cat-bot's head.

"Come on... almost free..."

Cheetor continued to try and pull himself free from his would be grave. With a mighty heave he freed his torso from the ground. Now halfway free, he pushed himself up while twisting his from side to side until he could use his legs to climb the rest of the way out of the earth. Sprawling himself out on the ground, he laid there and relished in his hard fought freedom from earth he was trapped in.

"Never... going underground... again!"

As he was recuperating from the ordeal he went a shadow loomed over him. One look revealed it to be non other then Tigatron, who was looming over him in beast mode. The Tiger bot quickly transformed into robot mode and knelt down.

"You alright, little cat?" Tigatron asked as he reached a hand out. Cheetor just groaned as he grasped the offered hand.

"I will be after I give those Preds that jumped us a piece of my mind." Cheetor said as he was helped back onto his feet. Taking a look around, he couldn't see Raf anywhere in sight which made him worried. "Did you already help Raf out and send him on his way back or...?"

Tigatron shook his head. "No. Your the only one I found out here."

Cheetor's worry doubled as mind began to imagine what could have happened to his buddy. "If you didn't find anything then that might mean that they may have taken him prisoner or... killed him..." He didn't want the latter suggestion to be the reality.

Tigatron offered a comforting hand on the shoulder. "I'm sure he's still alive and kicking; probably giving those Predacons one hell of a struggle."

It was comforting to hear that, but it didn't stop him from blaming himself. "I bet he is, but that doesn't change the fact that he's in that situation because me. Because I fell for Scorponok's taunting and decided to rush in without thinking, and now he's paying the price for my recklessness." Cheetor clenched his fists tightly as he thought of what those Preds could be putting Raf through right now.

Tigatron tightened his grip on Cheetor's shoulder and gave him a determined look. "Then lets fix that by rescuing him."

Cheetor met his determined gaze with one of his own. A single nod and the two set off to rescue their friend and comrade.

(%)

Slowly, Raf's senses returned to him as his systems came back online. His mind a bit hazy, he opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place. It was a dark, decent sized room with the only current source of light coming from a terminal that was off to the side. What little the light was able able to reveal about said room was concerning. Various tools and gadgets hung from racks on the far wall and non of them look all that nice, in fact they almost looked like torture devices to him. Another thing he noted was that what he was currently laying on was a table, an operating table if those tools he saw were any indication, and that his limbs restrained to it with energy bonds. Alarmed, he stopped looking around and tried to free himself.

While trying to figure out how to get free, he couldn't help but wonder how he got here and also why he was here. As his mind worked to figure out the why, he tried to break free of the restraints with brute force, but found himself lacking in that department. Even so he continued to struggle against his bonds as he didn't really have any other option at the moment. With his panic rising, his mind cleared rapidly and memories of the battle he was in came flooding back to him and realization struck him like a sledgehammer as to WHERE he just might be.

Just then a door on the other side of the room opened and in entered the Predacon leader himself, Megatron. Closely following in behind was also the Predacon's mad scientist, Tarantulas, who cackled at the sight Raf's struggling form. As the two came closer, Raf's struggles intensified as he did not want be left alone in a room with these two.

"Cease your pointless struggles, Maximal. I did not have you repaired just for you to harm yourself, as entertaining as that would be."

Megatron's words halted Raf's struggling as his mind processed what the Pred had said. "You... had me repaired?" The utter bewilderment in his voice had earned a chuckle from the megalomaniac.

"Of course. I still have use of you, and I don't need you dying just yet." Megatron states while Tarantulas moves to the terminal and begins typing away on it.

"Why?" Raf asks. He needs to figure out what their goal is and this is a good starting point.

"Why? Why else would I have one of you Maximals captured; information." Megatron states with a grin. He then grabs Raf's head turns it so he's looking him right in the eyes. "That head of yours must have something useful in it that will give me an advantage over your compatriots."

Raf cowered a little at Megatron's close proximity, but steeled himself and glared back at him. "I'm telling you nothing!"

Megatron laughed at his defiance. "Oh I don't need your compliance." Just then Tarantulas came over with a cord in one of his pincers. "Just your mind, yesss."

Trantulas jabbed the cord into the back of Raf's head, getting a cry of pain from Raf. "Connection established; now the real fun can begin." The mad scientist proclaims with a cackle before going back to the terminal.

Megatron's grin widens into something wicked as he lets go of Raf's head. "Begin the data extraction."

Tarantulas nods and with a press of a button Raf screamed.

(%)

The pair of Maximal felines lay prone in beast mode on a ridge overlooking the Predacon base/ship.

"How's it looking, big cat?"

Tigatron hums as he surveyed the area. "No patrols are out, but the bases defense turrets are active. If we want to get in we'll need to knock them out."

Cheetor was less than pleased with that summery and was kinda hoping for a little more then that. "Any ideas? I don't want to be left sitting here for mega cycles while Raf is put through who knows what!"

Tigatron rubs his chin as he tries to think of a solution. An idea then pops into his head, one that makes him grin. "I might have an idea, but we'll need some backup."

Cheetor looks at him questioningly, metallic brow raised. "What kind of backup?"

The white tiger bot doesn't respond to him, instead he reaches up to the side of his head and activates his communicator. "Airazor, do you read me?"

"Loud and clear, Tigatron." Airazor's voice came in over the comm. "To what do I owe this call?"

"Raf got captured by the Preds and we need to bust him out." Tigatron informs. "You in?"

"Always happy to help. It's a good thing that my patrol route has me close by, I should be at your location in a few cycles."

Tigatron nods at this. "We'll be here waiting. Tigatron out."

Now all that was left for the pair to do is wait.

Cheetor though couldn't help but feel anxious. Every second they waste waiting is another that Raf is left the whims of his Predacon captors.

"Hang in there pal, helps coming."

(%)

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

Raf's cries of pain filled the room and went ignored by its other occupants. It felt like his mind was being torn to pieces and the agony of it was unbearable. His struggles against the binds that held him became desperate and erratic. The pain was too much, he wanted it to end! Didn't help that his captors seem to revel in the pain they were inflicting upon him. The sadistic smirk on Megatron's face and the insane cackles of Tarantulas were proof of that.

Just as it felt like his mind was about to fried completely the tearing at his mind stopped. It actually took a minute or two for him to realize that whatever was being done to him had ended. Even when he did he was left gasping for breath, even though he doesn't need to breath anymore, as he tried to ride out the mother of all migraines.

Once the pain had become somewhat bearable, he looked over to his captors to see why they had stopped. His two torturers were huddled around the terminal's monitor looking at something, but he couldn't see what it was thanks to Megatron's massive frame. He tried asking what it was that they were looking at but was unable to even speak properly, only a garbled mess came out of his mouth. His brain must be fried to hell and back if he was having trouble saying anything coherent.

Seems that his ability to speak was unneeded as Megatron turned back around to him. The Predacon leader had a look on his face, one of intrigue and... something else. It confused and worried Raf as to what had Megatron looking at him like that.

"It seems that there's more to you then I first realized... Human."

Raf became shocked at what Megatron had called him. The reason why became all too apparent to him as with the Predacon turning away from the monitor he was given clear sight of what he was looking at a moment ago. Raf's fuel lines ran cold as horror coursed through them at what he was seeing on the monitor.

It was a video of him and his friends when he was human.

More precisely, it was a memory of the story he told earlier today about he and his friends encounter with an undead Decepticon. As he watched as the memory played out just as he remembered it , he understood what Megatron meant by getting information from him. He wasn't torturing him in the hopes of extracting anything from him, no, instead he would have his mind violated as he search for what he wanted.

"To think a human of all creatures would experience the privilege of becoming something greater than themselves." Megatron's words snapped Raf out of his thoughts. He quickly became aware of just how close the Pred was to him. "But a question still remains..."

In a instant the Predacon's hand shot out and roughly grabbed Raf by the face, his eyes boring into the Maximals own. "How did you become like us?" Megatron's questioned as he glared at the former human in his grasp.

Raf just looked at Megatron with fear and terror in his eyes. His inability to speak at the moment wasn't doing him any favors right now.

Tarantulas decided then to pipe up. "How about we find out? We still have a connection to his memory banks, all it would take is a little digging to find out how."

Megatron smirked. "What an excellent suggestion. A trip down memory lane seems in order, yesss."

Raf had only a moment to whimper before his mind was once more being torn apart.

(%)

Outside of the Predacon base Tigatron and Cheetor, now joined by Airazor, were going over the plan to free their fellow Maximal.

"So what's the plan exactly? Are we going in guns blazing or are we what?" Cheetor asks. The cat bot was getting impatient with all this waiting around.

Tigatron shook his head. "No, that's a sure fire way of getting us scrapped. Instead we'll knock out the defense turrets, and for that we'll need Airazor's help."

Now Airazor was intrigued as to what she would be doing in this plan. "Oh? And what would you have me do to knock those guns offline?"

"Simple..." Tigatron reached into one of his storage compartment and pulled out some kind of explosives. "You'll be doing a bomb drop right over where the Darksyde's power core is located. These EMP charges should be have enough yield to knock their main power offline, and shutting down those turrets with it." He then hands the charges to Airazor. "Just give us the signal when your in position."

Airazor examines the bombs for a moment before nodding. "Sounds simple enough, but I'll need you two to keep those guns occupied while I make my run."

Cheetor smirks confidently. "Don't worry, they won't be able to resist us."

Airazor rolls her optics fondly at the his antics before transforming. "Better keep that confidence of yours in check, or those guns will." With her piece said she took to the sky.

After Airazor departed it was time for the two cat bots to move. Before they did though Tigatron grasps Cheetor's shoulder. "Keep your optics peeled, we don't know if the Predacons have any surprises lying in wait besides those turrets." His warning given he transforms and leaves, followed shortly behind by the younger bot.

It didn't take long for the felines to get into a suitable position, a small ditch not too far away from the Darksyde's defenses. Reverting to bot mode the two drew their weapons and waited for their flying friend to give the signal. As they waited the two checked over their guns and inventory just to be sure they were ready. Soon enough the wait was over as a loud avian cry rang out and the sound of gun batteries going off quickly followed it.

"GO!" Tigatron ordered as he hoped out of the ditch and started sprinting at the auto-guns, firing right into them. Cheetor was quick to follow his example, scrambling out of the ditch running and gunning.

A few of the defense guns were destroyed in the few opening moments of their attack, but this did not go unanswered as it quickly drew the attention of the rest. A 3rd of them stopped firing at Airazor and instead started targeting the two Maximals taking shots at them. Now under heavy fire, Tigatron and Cheetor quickly ducked behind whatever kind of cover they could use to avoid being shredded to pieces by the guns. This didn't stop the two as they would pop out of their cover to take potshots at the defenses, both to try and keep their attention but also take out as many as they could.

Meanwhile, Airazor was beginning her bombing run. Tigatron and Cheetor did draw a lot of the guns attention a few were still targeting her, nothing she couldn't handle though. Entering a dive she be-lined it towards her objective, spinning around any rounds being shot at her. As she got closer and closer to her target she tightened her grip on the bombs in her talons, arming them for detonation. With only a few meters to go she let go of the bombs and flew away as fast as she could, bobbing and weaving through the auto-guns as she made to escape the blast radius.

She had just barely gotten to her comrades when the bombs went off. A resounding boom echoed across the area with a loud thrumming accompanying it as EMP's detonated. A massive electromagnetic bubble rose from the detonation site before it burst into a wave that traveled out across the Darksyde. As one the multitude of defense guns sparked and shorted out, some even outright exploded. The Maximal trio peered out from behind their cover to see if it was all clear. A quick survey revealed that all guns were offline and that it was now safe.

"So, do we just walk up to the front door and let our self's in?" Cheetor asks aloud, eyeing the Darksyde's main ramp.

Tigatron just shook his. "I doubt it would be that easy. All that racket would have alerted anyone that's home."

To prove his point, four Predacons came rushing outside with their weapons primed.

"Case in point." Tigatron then ducks back behind cover as a barrage of bullets flew overhead. Airazor and Cheetor followed his example as they too came under fire.

Airazor tried to peer over the boulder she was behind, but quickly dropped back down to avoid having her head blown off by a missile. "So, who's on the welcoming committee?"

Cheetor looked over the rockwall he was behind and surveyed who was attacking them. "I got eyes on Scorponok, Waspinator, Retrax, and Blackarachnia." He growled, zeroing in on the two that jumped him and Raf earlier. "And I've got a bone to pick with half of that troop."

Tigatron fires off a few rounds at the Predacons before ducking back down. "Stay focus, Cheetor, they're not who we are here for. You can get your revenge later, but AFTER we rescue Rafiel."

Cheetor looks angry, he really wanted to give Scorponok and Retrax a some well deserved payback, but nods. He takes a moment to compose himself before rising from his cover.

He had a friend to save.

(%)

Raf laid where he was heaving pain filled breaths. Another round of them digging through his mind had just ended and he was left dealing with the painful aftermath. After the third trip through his mind they had gotten the answers as to how he became like them. Now every time they go through his mind is just to satiate their curiosity, or just to hear him scream. He lost count of how many times they violated his mind and he doesn't bother to remember. Remembering hurts.

"We've learned much from you, Rafiel." Megatron leans in close to Raf, a smile on his face as he enjoyed seeing his pained expression. "Your mind has shown us so much about you and where you came from. More then I first imagined, yesss."

"To think that the great war between the Autobots and Decepticons is still ongoing in another universe." Tarantulas states while shifting through Raf's memories on his terminal.

"Indeed." Megatrons expression then became far more sinister. "And that's just the surface, I wonder what we will find if we go even deeper!"

Raf's eyes widened in horror. No no no nonononononoNONONONONONONO! He doesn't want to go through that again. He doesn't wan't to go through another session. He wants them to stop hurting him. He wants them to leave his mind alone. He needs to get out. He needs to escape. He needs to get FREE!

As if answering his prayers, a loud boom rang out and the lights went out.

"What was that!?" Megatron asks in alarm.

Tarantulus tried using his terminal, but found it to be off. "Seems the power's out. That boom must have been the main engine going offline, but emergency power should kick in momentarily." Just as he said the lights came back on and his terminal was active again.

"Find out what caused this and quickly." Megatron orders.

Quickly typing away at his console Tarantulas pulled up every security log within the past hour. Combing through the multitude of feeds he came upon one from outside the base. He watched as the feed showed a pair of Maximals attacking their defenses while a third flew in from above to deposit what looks to be bombs. The last thing shown was the bombs going off before the feed cuts.

"I've found the cause." Tarantulas states before moving aside to allow Megatron to watch video play again.

Megatron watched everything that happened and scowled. When his eyes landed on the spotted cheetah bot he scowled. "Seems I'll have to have a word with Retrax after this."

"Shall I set the base on high alert?" Tarantulas inquires.

Megatron nods. "And make sure to send out a proper greeting for the Maximals. We wouldn't want to be bad hosts now."

As Tarantulas went to do as he was told, Megatron decided it was time to deal with their guest. Turning around to inform their prisoner of what was to be done with him he was met with a startling sight.

The table was empty.

Shocked, he whipped his head around hoping to find the prisoner somewhere in the room. When his eyes to land on the room's now open door he rushes out and into the hallway. Looking down the hallway, Megatron could not fine Raf anywhere in sight. His prisoner was long gone, leaving him thoroughly enraged. He runs back into the room and yanks Tarantulas harshly from his console, his tight grip crumpling the mad scientist's shoulder casing.

"Alert all Predacons still in the base to be on the look out for the prisoner. I want him brought back to me ALIVE." Megatron orders, optics blazing.

"A-Alive?" Tarantulas gasps out. The pain of his shoulder being crushed was quite evident in his voice.

"Yesss, I want to personally execute that half-breed myself." Megatron states. His anger had simmered into a cold fury that left the one in his grip shaking. "Understand?"

Tarantulas nods frantically before he's let go. The spider scrambled back to the terminal to send out the alert. He did not want to be on the other end of Megatron's wrath while he's like this.

(%)

Raf panted as tried to make as much distance as he could from his torturers, leg hydraulics banging loudly as he ran/stumble down the halls of the Darksyde. He was not in any condition to be running down halls looking for an exit, especially since he didn't even know where he was going. He just hoped he could fined a way out of the base so that he'd be able to, hopefully, call for help.

This wasn't made easy however, his head was pounding painfully and his vision seemed to be failing him. He felt like he was moments away from falling unconscious and only staving it off by sheer will alone. A will that was starting to dwindle as he continued going down one corridor after another.

"Were's the exit in this place?" Raf growled out. His frustration was becoming more evident as time passes, especially with this constant headache.

He turned down yet another hallway only to run right into someone. Raf and the other person cry out as they both fall to the floor with a bang. Groaning, he rubs his head to ease the now worse headache ache and disorientation before looking at who he ran into. When he sees who it is he scrambles away as fast as he can.

Terrosaur groans as he tries to figure out what hit him. Once his optics stopped being fuzzy he saw who crashed into him and grins. A grin that had the turtle bot cowering before him.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A Maximal all by his lonesome." Terrorsaur said as he got up and approached the fearful Maximal. "Megatron wants you brought to him alive. So come quietly and you won't be hurt, too much."

Raf just shook his head as he continued to back away from the approaching Predacon. Fear was getting the best of him as he started to hyperventilate and his vision started to blur. His fear reached a fever pitch as a hand appeared mere inches away from grabbing him and he just reacted. In an instance he snapped forward and his maw clamped around the hand with a resounding crunch.

Terrorsaur screamed in pain as his hand was caught within the turtle bot's maw. He pulled his arm back, trying to free his hand, but found it firmly trapped in the Maximal's maw. With each second that passed his hand was crushed even more, worsening the pain. Running out of options, he uses his remaining hand to grab the gun on his back and points it at Raf. The sight of the weapon scared Raf even more and he clamped down even harder on his hand. Before he could even scream again Raf's bites completely through, severing the hand completely.

The Predacon drops his weapon and clutches his other arm in pain. "Aaahhh! You GLITCH, you bit my hand off." Terrorsaur screamed. He stared at the stump where his hand use to be, cut wires dangling and energon spurting out. In a rage, he decks Raf in the head with his remaining hand.

Raf rears back from the blow with a cry, spitting out the hand he just bit off. Again his headache was made worse, but at least the blow knocked him out of his panic. Shaking his head he gets back to his feet and tries to bring out his weapon to shoot Terrorsaur, but the gun remained stuck to his back. His system's AI then answered his unspoken question.

"Warning. Weapon systems locked."

Dread filled Raf when those words were uttered. Looks like Megatron wanted to make sure he couldn't fight back. Terrorsaur seems to realize that too as he chuckles and casually grabs his gun off the floor.

"A defenseless Maximal, just how I prefer them." Terrorsaur taunts as he aims his gun at Raf. He knows he can't kill him, less he incurs Megatron's wrath, but shooting a limb or two off should be fine.

Raf glares back with a hiss."I may not be able to use my gun, but that doesn't mean I'm defenseless!" In one swift move he swipes at Terrorsaur with his claws.

Terrorsaur shouts in pain as Raf's claws cut across his chassis, the wound deep enough to draw energon. Before he could even retaliate Raf had then kicked him in the leg and he fell to the floor once more. Growling, he tries to aim a shot at Raf but the Maximal was quicker and promptly stomped on his head.

Staring down at Terrorsaur's unconscious form, he couldn't help but smile and feel pride in himself at being able to defeat an opponent all by himself. That feeling didn't last long however as it was replaced by searing pain when he was suddenly shot in the back and sent flying a fair bit down the hall. When he hit the floor again he tumbled and rolled a few feet before finally coming to a stop. Weakly, he got on his hands and knees and looked behind himself to see who shot him.

There at the end of the hall was Megatron.

"You've proven to be quite the pain to keep around." Megatron states as walks down the hall towards Raf. He briefly spares a glance at Terrorsaur before scoffing. "Incompetent idiot; can't even handle a handicapped prisoner."

With Megatron getting closer and closer to him Raf tries to crawl away. Unfortunately, the blast had done a lot damage and it made movement both difficult and painful. Panic began to set in once again and started to get desperate.

'No no no, I don't want to get caught again! There has to be something, ANYTHING, that can get me out of here!' Raf thought desperately. Once more his prayers were answered, this time in the form of his systems AI.

"Engaging thrusters."

Raf's eyes widened at what he just heard. Thrusters? Since when did he have those? Further questioning was halted when he felt his back begin to shift. Looking back, he saw as segments of his shell moved and opened up to allow a pair of jet-thrusters to come out. He was honestly shocked that he even had these this entire time, if he gets out of this alive he should check to see if he has anything else hidden away. He wasn't the only one surprised by this development as he could see Megatron's shocked face.

A face that then morphed into a scowl. "So, it seems that you have even more secrets hidden within you." Megatron then raised his T-Rex head/hand and pointed it at Raf, charging up its next shot. "Pity you won't live long enough to find anymore."

Raf needed to get out of here NOW! As if obeying his desire the thrusters on his back ignited in a loud burst. One second later he was flying down the hall with Megatron shooting at him, and cursing when he missed.

"Wwwwoooaaahhh!" Raf exclaimed as he flew through the base. He had no idea of what he was doing, but it at least was getting him away from certain death.

That opinion quickly changed however as he saw that he was rapidly approaching a wall, at high speed no-less. Panicking, he quickly tried to figure out how one was suppose to turn while flying. It was only when he nearly collided with the wall that he figured it out accidentally by twisting to the side in an effort to avoid the collision did he finally turn. Changing directions so close to the wall had him momentarily scraping against said wall as he went down a new corridor. Once he managed to stabilize himself, Raf let out a sigh of relief.

"Just barely avoided becoming some wall art." Raf then thought back to how he managed to change directions. "So when I bent my body I change my direction." To test this, he he twisted his torso a little and found his orientation shift. He then bent up and went up before quickly bending down to avoid hitting the ceiling. A few more bends and twists and felt like he had a good handle on how flying works. "I think I got this..."

Coming to another crossroads, he decided to turn right and see where it leads. A few minutes later he could a door at the end of the corridor he was flying in. Thinking that it might lead to the way out he decides that he should what behind it. Needing to land, he flips backwards and lets the thrusters burn to slow himself down. Once he felt that he was sufficiently slowed he cuts the engines and dropped to the floor, before then collapsing on it.

"R-right... still injured..." Raf grunts out as he shakily gets back on his feet. He winces with the first few steps he takes, definitely spending time in the CR chamber if he gets out of this.

Approaching the door, he spots the control panel and taps it. When the door hisses opens he limps inside. Looking around he sees dozens of shelves holding what looks to be weapons and explosives. The further in he went the bigger and deadlier the weapons got. He then came upon a rack that held some truly impressive tools of destruction.

Reaching out, he grabs what looked to be a robust tube with a scope and trigger. As he examined the thing he accidentally pulled the trigger. A massive beam fired from it and flew across the room before hitting the wall. Blinking a few times, he looked at the spot that was hit and he saw that it had punched clean through the wall. Through said hole he saw the outside, which was accompanied by the sounds of a firefight going on.

"Guess that's why my rescue was delayed." Raf mutters out, then ponders on how to get out. He could continue to fire at the wall with gun he's holding until he made a hole big enough for himself, but that came with some issues. The gun was powerful, that much is obvious, but he doubts it will have enough ammo to get the job done. Even then he doesn't think that he'd be given the time to do as such with Megatron hunting him. Quite the predicament he's in.

He needed a way to make a hole big enough for him to go through and quickly. It is then that he looks around him, and fines all the guns and explosives one would ever need. Raf can't help but smirk as an idea pops into his head. An idea that would make Miko proud.

The next few minutes were spent gather as much of the deadly armaments as he could fined and put in a pile by the wall. When he was done, Raf stepped back and admired the small hill he just made. He nodded at his work before grabbing a detonator and quickly vacating the room. If his plan works then he would have his way out, if it didn't... at least the Predacons will have less toys to play with.

Taking cover outside the room, he started counting down with his detonator primed and ready.

"... Five... Four... Three... Two... ONE!" He then pressed the button.

A deafening 'BOOM!' resounded as the pile exploded. The explosion was so powerful that it shook the entire ship. When things finally calmed down Raf peered inside the room, or what's left of it at least. He succeeded in making a hole big enough for himself, but had also destroyed more then he originally intended. The wall was straight up GONE and the room itself wasn't in any better condition with smoke and fire being everywhere.

"... At least I have a way out..." Raf nervously says with a chuckle.

(%)

Fighting outside the ship ceased when a loud 'BOOM!' rang out and shook the ground. They all looked back at the Darksyde and saw smoke rising from the side of it, most likely the origin point of the explosion.

"Jumping gyros, what was that!?" Cheetor proclaimed. He was sporting a few dings and scorch marks from some Preds that managed to land a hit on him.

"I don't know..." Tigatron says as he eyes the smoke. Much like his compatriot, he too had some dents and burns adorning his person.

The peace didn't last though as the two sides went right back to shooting at each other. As this was going on none of them notice a figure fly out of the smoke. However they did notice when said figure swooped down behind the Predacons and grabbed one of them.

"Aaaahhhh!" Scorponok screams as he was carried off into the air.

Everyone looked and saw, too their shock, Raf flying in the air with Scorponok in his grasp. The fact he was even flying to begin with was surprising, since when could he do that?

"Let m-me go, Maximal!" Scorponok demands, though he stutters a bit given the height they were at.

For his part, Raf mulled over the request for a little bit before cheerfully replying. "Okay!"

It was then that Scorponok realized his mistake as he was then let go, while still high up in the air.

"AAAAAHHHH!" The Predacon screamed as plummeted to the ground below.

"That's for earlier, you jerk!" Raf then flew over the other Maximals, occasionally dodging some shots from the Predacons. Once he reached the others he touched down beside them, though he did stumble a little because of his wounds.Righting himself, he sees who was actually present and saw Tigatron, Airazor, and...

"Cheetor, your okay!" Raf ran up to the cat bot and hugged him.

Cheetor just laughed as he patted his friend on the back. "Yeah, I'm okay. It'll take more then being buried to snuff my spark out." He then looked at his friend with concern. "Question is are you? We came here to rescue you, but it seems like you didn't really need it."

Raf was about reply when their position came under heavy fire.

"I say we save the questioning for later. Since Raf is here we leave before more Predacons show up." Airazor informed. She wasn't wrong as Megatron has shown up with Tarantulas and, a now conscious, Terrorsaur.

"We're outnumbered. Retreat! We have what we came for." Tigatron orders as he lays down some covering fire.

The other Maximals begin to fall back, they had no reason to stick around anymore. Raf and Airazor toke to the sky, the former due to being too injured to walk. As the group retreated out of sight they could all hear Megatron's enraged roar.

(%)

Back at the Axalon, the four Maximals had managed to safely returned. Tigatron was briefing Optimus on all that had transpired, with Cheetor chiming in here and there. Raf meanwhile was in the CR chamber getting repaired with Rhinox monitoring him.

"... And that's about all that had happened up until Raf blew an exit hole the Darksyde. He came flying out and we booted it out of there." Tigatron said as he finished retelling Optimus of today's events.

Optimus just sighs. Everything that he was told made him concerned. Raf and Cheetor being ambushed was bad enough, but what Megatron put their youngest member through was horrific. He wasn't the only one feeling that way as when Raf had told them what he was put through Optimus immediately ordered for him to get repaired and had Rhinox check to make sure nothing was put in his head. Suffice to say, their next engagement with the Predacons are going to be quite violent.

"At least you all made it back safe and sound." Optimus states. He eyes then land on the CR chamber and his expression turns grim. "Physically at least."

Tigatron shared his expression. "Kid's been through a lot, and he went through is going to leave its mark on him."

"Scars like that don't heal overnight." Optimus agrees. What Raf's been through will most likely stay with him for years to come.

"So what do we do now? Megatron now knows that Raf was once human after looking through his head. Who knows what he'll do with that kind of info." Cheetor adds in. After hearing what happened to his buddy he wished he got a few shots on Megatron before they left.

"Not much we can do at the moment. We won't know what he'll do with that information until he does." Optimus informs. He then smirks. "Though he and the rest of the Predacons will be busy cleaning up the mess you lot made to his base." That lightened the mood as they shared a laugh at that.

They may not know what the future has in store for them, but so long as they stay strong and watch each others backs they'll make it through this.

Chapter Text

Cold.

The first word that comes to mind when describing the northern regions of the continent. This cold barren landscape was covered in snow and massive mountains that scraped the clouds as far as the eye can see. Devoid of almost any life, the only beings able to survive such harsh conditions are the most hardy of creatures. Even then the land proved to be an unforgiving mistress.

Which was then proven as the land began to shake, violently. Mountains trembled as these quakes ravaged them from beneath. Snow fell from their peaks in small avalanches and many large rock followed suit. A few of said rocks fell down and hit a poor white tiger who grunted with each blow.

"By all the forces!?" Tigatron cried out in alarm. He was then pelted with a few more big rocks, with large snowballs added into the mix. Once the attack ceased he spoke again. "This is not a volcanic area. Hmm, curious."

When the quakes finally subsided, Tigatron began to ponder aloud. "Though I am close to these rugged lands, they still have their secrets." He then remembered that he had a more important task to do. "And I have my duties. Time for my weakly report." Tigatron then set off to do just that, unaware of two Predacons flying out from behind the mountain he was beside.

"Ah! The Maximal is in view." Terrorsaur says as he catches sight of Tigatron. He looked about ready to swoop in and attack the unaware Maximal, but his partner gets in his way. "Hey!?"

"No! Waspinator wants to see where he will lead us." Waspinator counters. "Maybe it's somewhere important."

"Is that so? Then you better hope it is or I'll have turned into spare parts!" Terrorsaur screeched before flying off in pursuit of Tigatron.

Waspinator audibly gulped before flying after his partner.

(%)

Awhile later Tigatron arrives at a relay station that was set up out here for him to use. Since the abundance of energon on the planet made comm's all but useless over a certain distance this station was set up to circumvent that. This, along with a few well place relay dishes to receive and send the signal, made it possible to contact the Axilon despite the distance and energon field. The area itself wasn't much, just a decent sized cliff with a canyon right next to it.

As he approached the station, he spotted Raf sitting besides it playing in the snow. Raf appeared to be trying to make a snowman and looked to be having fun doing so. It brought a smile to his face to see the young bot having fun and acting like the kid that he is.

After everything that's happened to Raf, being captured and subsequently tortured for information, Optimus felt that it would do the young one some good to get away from the whole conflict, and that's where he came in. Since he prefers to be in the wilds and tends to roam regions far removed from the war, he was asked if Raf could tag along with him for a while. He didn't mind the company, in fact Raf was a joy to be around, but it saddened him that it came at the expense of Raf's horrible experience.

"Enjoying yourself Raf?" Tigatron says as he came to the foot of the station and a section of it folded open to reveal a screen and keypad. He tapped away at the keypad, getting the station ready for use.

Raf looks up from his little project and gives a beaming smile to Tigatron. "Yup!" He then continues to work on his snowman while talking happily. "It never snows in Jasper so I never got to experience it." He then grimaced. "Except for that one time I ended up in the North Pole trying to stop a possessed Bumblebee from reviving Megatron."

Tigatron stopped typing at the console and looked at Raf with a dumbfounded expression. After a beat of silence, he finally spoke. "What in the pits have you gone through before coming here?"

A sheepish look crossed Raf's face. "A lot..."

"Clearly." Tigatron said as some concerning thoughts passed through his head. In the though, he just sighs and shakes his head as the station finishes its preparations. "Let's just hope we don't end up in such crazy scenarios."

Raf nods, though judging by the look on his face he didn't seem to believe that. "...Hopefully."

The relay station fired a beam from its dish off into the distance. Now all they had to do was wait for a connection to be established.

(%)

Meanwhile at the Maximal base, Rhinox was seated at one of the base's consoles doing some orbital scans with Optimus standing behind him and watching.

"How is your title research going?" Optimus asked, curious about what his friend was doing.

"Hmm, got some odd anomalies." Rhinox tells him. He types in a few keys and the screen's image highlighted one of the planets moons. "It would almost seem that one of the moons is lighter than it should be, not enough mass for its size." The image then changed to a more focused dissection of the moon in question. "It's as though it were... Hollow."

That peaked Optimus's interest as he leaned in the read the readings more closely. "Hmm, instrument error?"

Rhinox pondered on his friends words as he observed the readings. "Maybe..." While it was plausible he wasn't entirely sure that was the case.

It was then that they received an audio transmission.

"This is Tigatron calling Maximal base. Maximal base, come in."

Before Rhinox or Optimus answer the call, Rattrap beat them to the punch.

"Hello you've reached good guy central." Rattrap said with a laugh. "So, uh, what's new pussycat? Any Pred prowlers up there with you and the kid?"

(%)

Back in the north, Tigatron chuckled before responding. "This is a peaceful land, Rattrap, at least for the moment. I have not seen-" Suddenly his stations radar started going off. "Uh-oh."

Raf heard the radar go off as well and quickly scrambled to his feet. He and Tigatron whipped their heads around, trying to spot the ones who tipped the radar off. They didn't have look very long as the culprits made themselves known when they started bombarding them from the sky. Explosions rain out around them as the Predacons made their flyby.

"Revise that; we are being attacked!" Tigatron's eyes then widened as he saw a missile heading straight for him. Acting quickly, he dived out of the way of the explosive ordinance with a cry. Lifting his head up he quickly shook off the snow before looking to the sky and trying to spot the one that took a shot at him.

As for Raf, he immediately brought his gun out and returned fire. Though his shots didn't hit, he did not let up his assault. "Their too fast! I can't hit either of them."

Tigatron flipped onto his back and started firing off shots of his own. "Just keep firing, we need to keep them from destroying the relay."

More explosions rang out around the two, one practically detonating right next to Raf. "Easier said then done!"

Just then, Terrorsaur decided to take a risky run. He dived down at high speeds, barely dodging some shots that flew by, and fired off a missile before veering off. The missile detonated at the base of the relay. With a metallic groan the relay began to wobble and tip as the ground beneath it broke apart. Gravity seemed quite insistent on winning this fight as the relay started to fall over.

Tigatron turned his head just in time to see the relay coming down on him. He could only scream as the relay fell on top of him.

(%)

The scream could be heard over the Axilon's radio before it cut out.

"Stripes!" Rattrap called out when the audio cut. He then tried to reestablish contact. "Yo stripy. Come on, do you read?" Nothing but static answered him back. "Oh come on man say something?"

When all he got static again Rattrap turned to bridge's other occupants for some help. Optimus and Rhinox were both listening in, but when Rattrap turned to them it was time to act.

"Go, I'll alert the others." Rhinox told Optimus.

Optimus didn't argue as moved to below the ceiling hatch. "Prime jets on." As the boosters ignited the hatch opened and flew off. Now he just prays he can get there in time.

(%)

Back in the north, Raf was still trying to land a shot on the Two flying Predacons with little success. He saw the relay go down on Tigatron and tried to rush over and get it off, but Waspinator damn near blew him apart. So now he was stuck uselessly firing at his attackers while they toy with him.

Unbeknownst to him the relay began to shake a little. Then it shook some more, and more, before finally being thrown to the side. There lay a slightly injured Tigatron, groaning in relief after throwing the busted relay off himself. No time to dillydally however as he got up on one knee started blasting once again at the two fliers. Explosions erupted in the sky and making Preds scramble to avoid being hit. Looks like their play time is over.

Raf sees this and looks to his now up comrade. "Good to have you back in the fight." He then quickly whipped around and fired off a burst that scared off a fast approaching Waspinator. This however left him open for the opportunistic Terrorsaur to swoop in for a kill shot. Raf heard the Pred's signature screech and whipped around to fend him off. His eyes widened when he saw just how the pteranodon transformer was, he had no time to act. Just as Terrorsaur was about to fire off the kill shot, Tigatron came to his rescue by landing a few hits on the Predacon and forcing him to retreat. Raf sighed in relief and looked to his savior with a nod. "Thanks for the save."

Tigatron just snorts as he keeps trying to nail Terrorsaur retreating form. "You can thank me when we get out of this alive."

As the fighting intensified, a massive cloud began to pass through the canyon right beside them.

Terrorsaur has grown impatient with how long this fight has gone for and wants to end this now. With a growl, he flies back around and beelines it straight to Tigatron. Of course the Maximal sees him coming and begins to line up a shot, but he just smirks. Looking to his shoulder a custom missile of his pops out ready to fire, the toothy grin painted on it makes him grin as well. Once the Maximal started firing at him again he let loose the missile.

Tigatron stopped firing when he saw the missile heading straight for him. Gasping, he dove out of the way and covered his head. He waited for the explosion to go off, but nothing happened. Confused, he looked to his right and saw the missile halfway buried in the snow with its booster still firing. Moments later the booster cuts and then nothing. He sighed in relief. Damn thing was a dud.

Raf saw all this and couldn't help but laugh a little. Then when one of the missile's wings fell off he laughed even harder, Terrorsaur's distant scream of rage made it even more funny. This momentary distraction however stopped him from spotting Waspinator fly in close and aiming a shot at Tigatron. When he did see him it was already too late and Waspinator had already started firing at the prone Maximal. Fortunately Tigatron saw the attack coming and rolled out of the way. Unfortunately the shots instead hit the missile and Raf's eyes widened.

"Oh shit..."

The missile went off in a deafening explosion. This explosion was far greater then the other missiles as it sent both Raf and Tigatron flying to the edge of the cliff. As the two recovered from the blast a large mass of clouds started to pass right next to them, then everything started shaking. The land shook and ice shelves crumbled apart, leaving them both bewildered as to what was going on. Then loud crack rang out and the cliff they were on started to break apart. Both Maximals shared a look of horror as they scrambled to their feet and made a mad dash away from the edge of the cliff, but the cliff was coming apart too fast. Just as the entire cliff face came apart, the two made leap of faith and just barely managed to grab the edge of what remained of the cliff.

The two held on for dear life, trying with all their might to dig their digits into the cliffs and hold on. Raf had an easier time doing this thanks to his claws, but Tigatron didn't have claws in robot mode and started slipping. The cat bot growled as he tried with all his might to keep his grip, but gravity would not be denied. Tigatron lost his grip and fell.

Raf could only watch as his friend fell, watching as he screamed all the way down to his demise. Even when he disappeared beneath the passing cloud, he did not look away. His friend was gone, and he couldn't do anything to save him. He didn't have time for self loathing however as the cliff edge he had claws dug into cracked. Looking back, he saw large cracks begin to form where he was holding on for dear life.

"Son of a bitch...!" Raf screamed just as the edge broke off and he too was plummeting to his death, disappearing into the cloud as well.

High in the sky Terrorsaur and Waspinator watched on as the two Maximals fell to their doom.

"Success! Maximals destroyed." Waspinator cheered.

"Let's gather some fragments, Megatron will want proof." Terrorsaur states calmly, with a hint satisfaction creeping into his voice.

"Waspinator wants catbot's head!" Waspinator wasted no time in diving down to the ground bellow, passing over Terrorsaur who squawked.

"It's mine, bug face!" Terrorsaur screeches before following after the wasp bot.

The two transformed as they reached the ground bellow and began their search. As they looked for the Maximals dead remains, they were left confused as they couldn't fined any.

"Where Maximals go?" Waspinator asks. He was confused as to why they couldn't fined any remains.

"We saw them fall into that cloud." Terrorsaur states with a hum. He then started flying up to said clouds.

Waspinator saw this and quickly tried to catch up. "Wait for Waspinator!"

As the two ascended into the cloud, all was left silent. Then shouts and blaster fire rang out, each being accompanied by a brief flash in the clouds. This only lasted a few moments before deafening boom ended it all.

(%)

Back at the Maximal base a holographic map of the relay's location was shown on the bridge's central command console, the cliff it was on being highlighted by a blinking red dot. The holographic map went ignored however as Rattrap, along with recently arrived Cheetor and Dinobot, hovered around Rhinox and his console.

"Optimus to command center." Optimus's voice rang out over the comms. "This is Optimus Primal, anyone hear me?"

"We hear ya, Big Bot." Cheetor answers. "What's the sitch, where's my fellow catbot?"

(%)

"This place has seen some heavy action, and it doesn't look good." Optimus informs them as he surveyed the area. He had also got the relay standing back up and operational. "Tigatron's footprints lead to a broken cliff edge." He then steels his nerves, knowing what he has to say next. "We have to face the grim possibility team..."

"Raf and Tigatro may have been destroyed." Optimus tells them with a heavy spark. He could hear Cheetor gasp over the radio, and can only imagine the others reactions.

"Say it ain't so, Big Bot, not our striped scout and shelled friend."

The denial in Cheetor's voice pained the Maximal leader, but they had to face facts. "This place is a battleground, blast craters and missile debris everywhere. From the angle, it was an aerial attack."

(%)

Dinobot's voice then growls, already knowing who's responsible. "Waspinator and Terrorsaur..."

"Oh, uh, thanks for the insight there, dino brain. You want your expert consultant fee now?" Rattrap butts in condescendingly.

"No need, I can simply excise it from your hide!" Dinobot stepped towards the rodent, claws ready and willing to make good on the threat.

"HEY!"

The two snapped their attention to the one who shouted and found Rhinox glaring at them.

"Not. Now." Rhinox states harshly before spinning back around to his console, unaware that the two bickering bots silently continued their argument through gestures and threatening motions. He immediately got down to business with Optimus. "If Tigatron and Raf have been scrapped there ought to be a few components scattered around."

"Haven't found any, but they're not answering their comm-links either. Destroyed, or captured, their not around here anymore."

(%)

In the volcanic wastes that the Predacon base recides, Airazor can be found perched on a dead tree branch quite a distance away. She was spying on the enemy hopping to gather any juicy intent that would be beneficial to her and her friends. As she zoomed her sights in and spotted the peculiar sight of Terrorsaur and Waspinator flying back looking like they've been through a war-zone.

"Either the grunge look is coming back, or those two ran into something hot." She continued to observed them until they were inside their base. "I better report this." She then flapped her wings and flew off back to base.

(%)

"What, Raf and Tigatron did this to you?" Megatron asks in bewilderment. He could hardly belief that those two were responsible for his underlings current state.

"Oh no, not just them." Waspinator restates. He was missing a couple of his beast mode's exterior carapace, sparks emanating from the exposed circuitry, and a few of his insect legs were even gone.

"It-it was, um, a monument.' Terrorsaur stutters out. He too was in a bad state. Missing large chunks of his beast mode's hide, mainly on his wings, and the area around his optics was blackened. He was lucky he could still see, if barely.

"Yeah, monument." Waspinator agrees.

"Explain yourselves." Megatron wanted answers and we will get them now!

"We-we thought those two Maximals were finished. We-we followed them as they fell into... a cloud! But inside, it was not just a cloud..."

(%)

A few hours ago Waspinator and Terrorsaur had just entered the cloud to and were shocked by what they were now seeing.

There, before their very optics, was massive floating island. From their vantage point they could see the island was surrounded by a ringed wall of mountains, with small forests and a few hills lining the inside of said wall. From out of the forests came wide open plains with a single lake near the center. At the very center, sat atop a small hill, was a monument. The structure was taller then even the rock wall with a few paths leading from it to the edge of the island.

The pair were in awe at what they see before them, trying to fathom how an entire island could just be floating here in the clouds. As the two flew in closer to the island, Waspinator cried out as he was suddenly nailed midair by a blaster bolt.

Waspinator rolled in the air for a few moments from the blast before transforming. He sees, on a small outstretched plateau, was Tigatron and Raf. He wasted no time pulling out his gun and returning fire. His first shot had the Maximals split from their position to find better cover and hr tried to hit them as they did. From behind, Terrorsaur too transformed and opened fire on their targets with his shoulder cannons.

As the fighting was happening, the top of the monument started to glow. It got brighter and bright before something finally happened. An energy beam fired out and it collided with Terrorsaur, sending him flying out of the cloud. Waspinator only had a brief moment to process what just happened before he too was hit by an energy beam.

(%)

"W-we... barely made it back..." Terrorsaur weakly finished reporting. He then promptly falls on top of Waspinator, much to the bug's dismay and pain.

Megatron rubs his chin as he ponders on what he had been told. "Hmm, a flying island that's concealed from view. Which also happens to contain a powerful weapon." This was seems to be quite promising. "This could be useful, yesss. Such a tactical advantage could end the Beast Wars once and for all." He then looks back down at his wounded troops. "Get to the CR chamber."

Terrorsaur briefly raises his head to look at Megatron, before collapsing back on Waspinator.

Megatron then turns to two other Predacons, a pair of which had been waiting quietly in the room on hover platforms, and gives them their orders. "Black Arachnia, Scorpinok, prepare for immediate departure to that flying island."

Black Arachnia was the first to speak up. "You don't think it might be wise to first discover WHO created such and artifact, or why? After all, they might not like us messing with their toys."

Megatron did not appreciate the backtalk. "Do not question my orders! Time enough for such inquiries when we control the island's power. But Tigatron and the half-breed is there already, they must be eliminated before they can alert the other Maximals." He emphasizes the eliminated part by dragging a digit across his throat. "Now go!"

Black Arachnia lets out an exasperated sigh. "Alright." She then smacks her cohort in the head. "Shellhead, let's move."

Before Scorponok cold follow though, Megatron called to him. "One moment, Scorponok."

Black Arachnia was half way through the room when she noticed Scorponok wasn't following her. Looking back, she saw Megatron whispering something into his audio receptors. Scorponok briefly leans away and looks back at her, clicking his pincers, before leaning back in. It didn't take a genius to figure out that whatever Megatron was whispering about it involved her. Seems that Megatron was finished and Scorponok saluted him before heading for the exit.

Looks like she'll have to be careful.

(%)

Back at the Maximal base, Airazor had just got done reporting what she saw to Optimus on the bridge. The Maximal leader wasn't the only one in attendance for this debriefing as Rhinox was right next to him, Dinobot and Rattrap were also present on the other side of the command console.

"Your sure of this?" Optimus asks.

Airazor nods. "Positive. It was Terrorsaur and Waspinator, and they were seriously slagged. Almost scrapped!"

Rhinox gave a dismissive wave. "Not Tigatron and Raf then. It's not Tigatron's style, and I don't see Raf being so brutal."

Optimus had to agree. "No, they'll defend themselves but won't totally destroy their attackers. It goes against everything Tigatron believes in, and Raf

"They are fools then." Dinobot states, with Rattrap nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, when it comes to Preds I got to agree with ya" Rattrap then raises a hand to the side of his mouth, palm facing Dinobot, and whisper shouts. "Especially certain ones."

Dinobot growls at him, but any retaliatory action he would have made was stopped when Cheetor came running into the room while in beast mode.

The black spotted cheetah bot then jumps onto the command console. "Whoa heads up fellow bots, movement at Pred central! Black Arachnia and Scorponok are heading out and they're not wasting time."

Optimus snaps to Airazor. "Airazor, can you follow them without them seeing you?

Airazor smirks. "Easily." She then flew up and through the ceiling hatch. "Beast mode!" One transformation later and she was flying over the horizon.

Back inside the Axilon, Rattrap decides to open his trap. "Man, something's got Megatron's scaly tail in a ringer.."

Cheetor perks up. "Hey, maybe it's Tigatron and Raf. Maybe their still alive."

"We can only hope." Optimus says. "But if the Predacons reach them first, they may not survive for much longer."

(%)

Up on a floating island Tigatron and Raf could be seen scaling its mountainous exterior. They were surprised, and grateful, to not be dead after supposedly falling to their demise. After recovering a bit they had spotted Waspinator and Terrorsaur flying in close and got a surprise shot in on the bug. The following firefight was very short thanks to an energy beam coming out of nowhere and almost obliterating the two Predacons. Now they were climbing this rock wall to see where the beam came from.

After an hour of climbing they had reach a breach in the mountain wall and were able to see what lied beyond. Before their very eyes was is what could only be described as a paradise, for how else could describe what was before them. The two entered this land, transforming into their beast modes once they had stepped on soft earth, and began to explore. They wandered through the forest lining the mountain and took in the atmosphere of the place. It felt... calming, like all their worries were washed and they could just relax.

Tigatron embraced this feeling, as though he had found a place he could live peace.

Raf on the other hand was feeling a bit more unnerved by it all.

Eventually the two had reached the edge of the forest and stopped. They could see the vast plains ahead of them and took a moment to take in the sight.

"Truly, this is a land of wonder." Tigatron says in awe as he observed the nature around him, even spotted a little butterfly flapping its wings by him. He and Raf resumed their journey further into this land he was enraptured by. "Here in the frozen north, this tiny tropical ecosystem somehow exists."

"This place isn't natural." Raf states. Unlike Tigatron, he wasn't as enthralled by the place's beauty like his friend was. If anything, this place was giving him a bad vibe. "Someone, or something, made this place. For what reason, I don't know."

"Perhaps it is just a hidden paradise? A place for one to just enjoy the beauty of nature itself." Tigatron says as the two continued to wander.

Raf raised a metaphorical brow at him. "Does that make the monument in the center the creator's personal condo?"

That got a laugh out of Tigatron. "Would certainly have a nice view from it."

Unbeknownst to them, a rock they had just passed had some strange carving on it, and it started to glow.

Raf was about say something else when the ground started to shake. For a moment the two where confused, then the ground beneath them broke apart. Tigatron leaped away from the quickly forming hole, but Raf wasn't as fast. In the next moment Raf disappeared down the hole and Tigatron could do nothing to stop it. This land wasn't done yet however as more of the ground broke apart but this time something was rising up, multiple somethings. A brief glance showed them to be long bended cords with Massive boulders attached to one end.

Tigatron wasted no time transforming to robot mode and made a mad dash to clear these traps. These traps were just as quick to spring and try to flatten him, but he was one step faster. Just as he thought he had cleared the danger zone, two more of the traps rose up from the ground in front of him. He didn't bother to run, instead he pulled out his blaster and blasted the boulders just as they came down on him. After a moment of nothing else rising up to try and kill he relaxed a little, only to start hearing a hum. A familiar hum.

Looking into the distance for the source of the hum and spotted the monument, and the top of it glowing. At first he was confused as to why it was glowing, then it fired a beam at him. Instinct took over and he dived out of the way of the beam. Said beam tore a line across the area Tigatron once stood before stopping. As for the pussycat, he was hiding hiding behind a large boulder 'breathing' heavily.

Peaking out from behind his hiding spot he growled at the sheer destruction that lay before him. Looking back at the monument, he pondered why it attacked him. It didn't react when the traps were first going off, but it did when he decided to retaliate. Looking down at his weapon, he could only come to one conclusion.

"It would seem that energy weapons are not welcomed in this peaceful land." This would definitely make defending himself here even harder, but it seems he didn't really have much of a choice. "So be it. Beast mode." Transforming into his white tiger form, he accepted his current predicament. "Let me be a visitor, not an invader."

It was then that he remembered Raf and rushed to the hole he fell in. He was halfway to it when said turtle flew out of the hole in robot mode and landed before him.

"Thank god I have thrusters." Raf said as he wipes the metaphorical sweat from his brow. Then he saw all the destruction around him. "What did I miss?"

(%)

"There it is." Black Arachnia says. She and Scorponok had arrived in the frozen north and had spotted the cloud they were looking for. "Waspinator and Terrorsaur are not exactly the brightest witnesses, but the description fits. The flying island must be inside."

"I'll check." Scorponok then transforms into robot mode. He then raised his right pincer and out poped one of his cyber bees. "Cyber bee launch." The little contraption flew out of the pincer and off into the cloud. "On visual."

Scorponok's vision then shifts to that of the cyber bee as it moved through the cloud. It wasn't long before it made it through and saw the island they were looking for. Guiding the bee, he maneuvered it through the mountain wall and the waiting forest before coming upon the plains. There, in the center, was the monument in all its glory. He made the cyber bee move around the monument to get a good look at their target, observing its structure and the unknown markings on the top. Once that was done he had decide to send the bee out to explore more of the land, to get a good layout of what they'll be moving through. After going over a lake it was about pass some rocks when out of nowhere something attacked it. He gasped at the sudden attack and, as the feed flickered a bit, he got visual of a white tiger and large turtle before he lost the signal completely.

"Oh what's with you shellhead, is it there?" Black Arachnia asks impatiently.

Scorponok nods. "Yeah. So is Tigatron and the half breed."

"So, the two of them are still alive. Then we'll just have to take care of that. Black Arachnia, terrorize!" Transforming into robot mode, the black widow raised her gun up and fired a grapple hook into the cloud.

Meanwhile, in the distant, Airazor was flying in the sky watching the pair. "What's this, Black Arachnia tries to lasso a cloud?" She then zooms her sights in a bit more on the two and had hard time believing what she was seeing. "More surprisingly, she seems to have succeeded." This was starting to become a bit surreal, but she had a job to do. "Let's check this out."

Scorponok had then spotted her getting closer. "Uh oh." He then prime some missiles as he and his partner went into the cloud.

(%)

Back on the island Tigatron was holding down the little bug he caught. "One of Scorponok's spying cyber bees. This land of peace may not be peaceful for much longer."

"I'd hardly call it peaceful after it just tried to kill us." Raf says as he knees down and examines the little thing. "Now hold this thing still while I rewire it."

It was then that they heard an avian screech in the distant, and a familiar one at that. Looking in the distant, they spotted Airazor over the mountain wall and were relieved to see her.

On the other side of the mountains, Black Arachnia and Scorponok had just finished climbing onto a small outstretched plateau when the latter decided to deal with their unwelcome spy. Taking aim, he fired off a single missile and watched as it soared through the air and straight to its target.

Airazor didn't see the missile coming and promptly exploded against her.

"Yes!" Scorponok cheered as he pump his arm.

"Airazor!" Tiagatron and Raf cried out in horror as they watched their friend fall to the ground bellow, hard. Then hum the hum came and watch as the monument lit up and fire another beam.

The beam struck the area the Predacons were at and the spot devastated. Once the dust settled, Scorponok peered into the newly made crater.

"Wow. Now that's a real blaster." Scorponok says in awe.

"Notice that did you?" Black Arachnia then walks out from the mound of rock she used for cover. "Well, in case you didn't notice, it is activated by our own weapons. I must-" Cursing herself, she quickly fixed her slip up. Even though Scorponok was now looking at her with narrow optics. "Uh, I mean WE must take control of it, but carefully." She warns. Then she starts making her way further into the island.

All the while Scorponok watched her suspiciously.

(%)

Everything was dark and Airazor hurt all over.

"Airazor." At the call of her name she slowly opened her eyes with a groan. As her vision cleared she could see Tigatron and Raf peering down at her. The former laid a paw on her. "Lie still, you've been hit. Your beast form will make repairs, but it will take time."

"But-but Black Arachnia an-and Scorponok..." Airazor manages to weakly get out.

Tigatron nods. "I managed to intercept one of Scorponok's cyber bees. Raf was able to reprogram it while you were unconscious." He informs. "With luck, it should reach Maximal right about now."

(%)

Just as Tigatron said, the cyber bee had reached the Maximal base and was now in Optimus's hands.

"Good thing you didn't just blast this bee." Optimus says to Cheetor.

"Well I would of, but it was carrying one of Airazor's feathers." Cheetor tells him while showing said feather.

"sides', he missed." Rattrap states and Optimus snaps to Cheetor in surprise.

Said cat bot was now looking a little sheepish. "Yeah, that too."

Optimus just deadpans at the young bot. "Prime." He then places the cyber bee down on the central console. "Well here goes." With the press of a button, it played a visual recoding.

For a moment all that was shown was a clear sky, the a white paw appeared and started to move the camera. In the next moment a white tiger appeared on the feed.

"Hey, it's Tigatron!" Cheetor proclaims, happy that his fellow cat bot was alright.

After a bit of watching Tigatron mess with the camera he finally spoke. "Attention Maximals." That got everyone on alert. The tone of his voice was enough to tell that what ever he was about to say was serious. "This is a code one emergency message from Tigatron. Airazor has been damaged..." Airazor was hurt? Now the bots were really worried. "She, raf, and I are trapped on a mysterious flying island..." The feed then flickered to the land they were in. "This island is a self-contained ecosystem guarded by powerful weapons of alien design." The feed showed a monument that stood atop a small hill surrounded by trees. "Black Arachnia and Scorponok have already managed to invade. If they gain control of the island and its weapons, the Predacons will be able to destroy the Maximal base..."

"What!?" Cheetor proclaims in disbelieve.

"And win the beats wars!"

Then the feed cut.