A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION – Part One of Two
The following characters are the property of Transformers Production Company, Inc.
Originally written in 1997. Rewritten and posted in 2007 by SolitaryHawk.
This story takes place sometime during BEAST WARS - Season One.
Lurking far back in the shadows of their ruined ship, the Predacons milled nervously together in a silent, trembling band like a herd of deer bracing themselves against a growing storm.
Terrorsaur elbowed their second-in-command in the back and hissed over his shoulder, "Well? Go see what's wrong with him."
His pincers clattering in nervous tension, Scorponok grunted, "Why me?"
"You're his Second, idiot," Blackarachnia snapped and then released a resentful snort, "'though I can't understand why." Behind her Tarantulas tittered agreement to his lithe companion's observation. He slid the tip of his claw up one smooth thigh as he murmured, "Sarcastic as well as lovely..."
She batted away his ardent groping and fixed him with a livid glare. "Go play with your webs."
New to the team and still not completely integrated into their ranks, Inferno puzzled over what was being said before shaking his head in confusion. "Do not understand... Why is the Royalty angry? What did we do?"
"We didn't do anything," Terrorsaur told him, almost adding; At least not lately, anyway. "He's been brooding for the last week."
"Ohhh, Wazzpinator hatez it when he broodz," the insect Flyer said in a muted buzz and they all fell silent in mutual consent.
Suddenly, like a rumble of thunder, came the call: "Scorponok."
"You're up," Blackarachnia said and both her and Terrorsaur shoved him from behind, almost toppling him off of the platform. "Awright, awright! I'm goin'," he muttered, summoning a lift for himself and ascending to the hulking form who was silently considering a computer screen from his command chair. He had been sullenly staring at it for hours. "Yes, Megatron?"
The immense Predacon leader said nothing as he scowled down at the monitor. He was replaying their past battles with the Maximals over and over and Scorponok's anxiety doubled when he realized just who his leader seemed to be concentrating on the most. "Is, ah, everything alright?"
"We have been on this world for six lunar cycles to this day," came the bass rumble. "The Beast Wars never should have gone on this long, no. I want you to bring me something. Consider it an anniversary present."
"What do you want?"
A screen capture was displayed on the monitor and swiveled towards Scorponok. The gray second-in-command swallowed audibly and resumed his anxious clattering of his large claws when he saw just whom his leader had singled out.
"Bring me him," Megatron ordered.
With precise deliberation, the black knight toppled the white king piece and settled triumphantly into the square. Optimus Primal was unsuccessful in smothering a groan even has his opponent announced the obvious: "Checkmate!"
"I see that."
Dinobot flashed him a grin that was all teeth and little humor. It was about as friendly as his smiles got. "It appears we have a tie."
"Prime," the Maximal said with a marked lack of enthusiasm. "One more time around?"
"Indeed," the warrior said and watched intently while the other replaced the chess pieces on the board, his shrewd mind already contemplating numerous strategies.
The two were alone in Optimus' spacious quarters, quite possibly the most pleasant and relaxed place on the ship. Early afternoon sunbeams slanted in through the front windows, lighting the quarters with a bright gold radiance that was a reminder that not all weather on this harsh world were energon storms and blizzards. There were some truly beautiful days to see and this looked to be one of them. Even Dinobot seemed to notice. He looked away from the board towards the windows and considered the view for a moment. Optimus caught a rare glimpse of the former-Predacon's face without its usual tension and debated an issue he had been meaning to bring up for some time now. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Would it matter if I said no?" came the expected answer.
"Probably not."
Dinobot offered him a half-shrug in surrender as he turned back to the game, barely paying the Maximal commander any interest. He was about to make the first move when Optimus asked, "Have you given any thought about Cybertron?"
The soldier's outstretched hand visibly spasmed at the mere mention of their home world. He pulled it back and glowered at the other. "Why would you ask me that?"
"You've been a Maximal for six months, you've become an invaluable member of this crew. A few months ago you chose to stay behind on this world rather than come back with us to Cybertron. I'd like to know if your decision has changed."
His nails rapping an absent staccato on the armrest of the chair, Dinobot betrayed a longing glance at the door, obviously regretting the decision to stay for a tiebreaker. "I haven't given the matter much thought," he said as his answer.
"I know you too well to believe that-"
"You don't know me at all."
"What are you scared of?" Optimus persisted.
"Fear has nothing to do with my decision!" Dinobot snapped back. "I simply will not be punished by Cybertron for following the orders I had been given by my superior. I have told you this before, Optimus Primal: I am Predacon despite our alliance. I am here now simply because my contempt for you pales in comparison to my hatred of Megatron." He visibly tensed once the words were out knowing of the Maximal's temper and prepared to defend himself against it.
He needn't have worried. Optimus was practically smiling when he said, "I don't believe that either. If you had stayed by Megatron's side, the Predacons would have crushed us the first day we crashed here and claimed this world without a fight. There would have been no Beast Wars, no power struggle. You may have come to us to settle a personal grudge but, as I've said, it's been six months and here you still are. I think you're here because you want to be."
Dinobot released a low snarl and crossed his muscular arms as he settled back in the chair. "Ridiculous."
Nodding to himself, Optimus considered the chess set for a moment. "This is a human game."
"Yes, I know that."
"The Autobots brought it back with them after the Great War with the Decepticons. All these centuries have passed and Maximals still play the game. Do Predacons play chess?"
Dinobot's talons rapped on his bicep as he tried to figure out the Maximal's train of thought. Even though the chess set was being ignored, he knew another game was presently going on and decided to proceed cautiously. "...No."
"Because it was a human concept. Since they lost the Great War due to the human interference, the Decepticon Military Council outlawed all Earth information and customs to ever be allowed among their population. That includes the Predacons to this very day."
Dinobot's eyes narrowed down to a spiteful squint at the reminder of that humiliating defeat. "Yes."
Optimus was back to looking down at the chess pieces. "So why did you learn this game?" When he got no answer he tried again, "It's a simple question; Why bother to study something you knew you would never be able to play?"
Back to fidgeting again, Dinobot answered coldly, "I was merely curious."
"That's not the only Maximal thing you know," Optimus said. "You're also familiar with our database and technology and you know more about Maximal culture than you're willing to admit. You've been studying us as a hobby."
"It was my responsibility to study the enemy," Dinobot corrected him.
"It may have started out as that but it became something more, didn't it?"
"I don't know what you mean."
Taking a deep breath, Optimus explained rationally, "Considerations of honor and trust and loyalty; these are Maximal traits and yet you possess them. Face facts, Dinobot, you couldn't go back to being a Predacon even if you wanted to-"
Dinobot abruptly stood up. The knee guard to his right leg caught on the corner of the chessboard and toppled it, sending pieces scattering across the floor. He towered threateningly over the Maximal, an opposing figure of gold and blue chrome. The sunlight caught the silver bone attributes to his armor and flashed it back in sullen yellow rays. The tan camouflage scaling along his immense arms rippled as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
"I'm going on patrol," he suddenly announced, flashing Optimus a withering glare as he turned and stormed out of the room.
Optimus caught up to him in the corridor outside of the control room and hauled the warrior to an unceremonial stop. It took an effort. Dinobot was more than just upset, he was brilliantly furious. "I don't want you storming out of the ship looking to fight with the first target you see! I just want you to think about what I said. All right?"
"No promises," the larger bot snarled and yanked his arm free. Optimus let him leave and helplessly trailed behind while his mind searched desperately for a way to keep the livid soldier on the base before he went and did something rash. He ran into his back when Dinobot came to a sudden stop at the entrance to the control room. Peering around his considerable bulk, Optimus saw Rattrap and Cheetor standing on top of the oval control table attempting to string up a banner.
Cheetor noticed the sudden attention and distinctly muttered, "Busted."
"Scrape-ape," Rattrap greeted cheerfully, completely unbothered. "You and Dinoboob there usually take longer to play your game. We wanted to get this up and surprise you." He and Cheetor unfurled the banner, which read: "AXELON: BOLDLY GOING NOWHERE"
"He made me help him," Cheetor said in lame defense, grunting as the shorter Maximal elbowed him in the side. Sitting off to the side and engrossed in some cyber-novel, Rhinox offered an indifferent shrug to his superior. He had obviously given up on the matter and let the two adventures have their fun.
"What's going on here?" Optimus demanded.
"It's party time!" Rattrap told him. "Look, we've been holed up on this rock for six months, Optimus. Six months! A guy's gotta let off a little steam now and then and I say we've all earned it. C'mon, what'dya say?"
Optimus instinctively looked to the oldest member of the crew for guidance and wasn't assured by the amused look Rhinox passed his way. "Why not? It might be good for morale."
Dinobot shook his head in bewilderment as he stomped towards the elevator. "Madness," Optimus heard him grumble under his breath.
As ever, Rattrap took notice of the soldier's foul mood and couldn't pass up the chance to aggravate him even more. "Hey, chopper-face," he called out, "How many Preds does it take to change a light bulb?"
"Rattrap, not now!" Optimus barked. Rhinox immediately caught that hard note to the Maximal commander's voice and looked at him curiously. Sparing him a glance, the commander minutely shook his head; not now.
Hesitating in mid step, Dinobot turned and scowled at the Maximal in confusion.
"The answer is: None!" Rattrap announced happily. "They all killed each other fighting over the chance to do it!" He burst out laughing, oblivious to the fact that he was the only one sharing in the humor and that Cheetor was making a hasty retreat, leaving his friend alone on the table.
Optimus readied himself for the inevitable brawl as Dinobot cleared the distance to where the diminutive Maximal was still chuckling. Standing on the table, he and the warrior were now almost eye-to-eye. "Tell me, vermin; What do Predacons call Maximals who have been intimate with less than ten females?" In the same breath, Dinobot answered, "Virgins. So I do not see any reason for you to be laughing."
Jaws dropped all around the room, including Rattrap's who could scarcely believe the timing of the joke (or the accuracy), and issued a series of indignant sputters. Dinobot took his leave but not before adding his characteristic snort of amusement which was about as close as he came to laughter.
"Son of a bot," Rattrap muttered after he'd left.
The amusement dried up as soon as the elevator lift dropped to the ground and Dinobot transformed into his velociraptor guise. He stalked away from the huge ship while his mind replayed the very end of his conversation with Optimus: Face facts, Dinobot, you couldn't go back to being a Predacon even if you wanted to.
An each time he considered the statement, he felt compelled to add the question: Did he want to?
Yes! He was a career soldier dedicated to serving the Predacon Empire.
... No. He had turned his back on his breed the instant he became a Maximal.
He was a Predacon.
A Maximal.
Soldier.
Traitor.
"Gah!" he rasped, shaking his head as if that action could silence the doubts that plagued him. It was not his nature to second-guess himself. Once he made a decision he stood by it and rarely gave the matter another thought. He tried to rationalize the catalyst of this entire internal debate: Serving Megatron had become an impossible task so he had allied himself with the only other force available on this world.
The enemy.
The logic had been sound. To stand alone would have ensured his destruction.
But to the enemy-!
"What's done is done," he told himself out loud, clambering up the nearest rise. He spent a lot of his time prowling the surrounding territory, investigating the mountains and buttes and various landmarks that had evolved here over the ages. He considered the Maximal ship from his elevated perspective for a long moment and then boldly turned his back on the sight.
Ever since his decision to remain behind, he had spent more and more time outdoors than residing within the safety of the Maximal vessel. Deep down he knew it would only be a matter of time before Cybertron managed a successful rescue attempt to retrieve their lost Maximals and Dinobot still had no intension of returning to the home world with them. To be captured as a Predacon criminal was one thing. He could have endured that notoriety. A stint in a Maximal detention center? He rolled his eyes at the thought. He had landed himself in a Predacon stockade for insubordination before. He highly doubted that Maximals could conceive the punishments that he had endured for that infraction. After serving a sentence for his crime with the golden disk, he would have still been able to return to his battalion. Shamed, perhaps, but still a loyal Predacon soldier.
But to be regarded as a Maximal sympathizer-! There was no returning to the Predacon military after being identified as a turncoat. Maximals would regard him as a pariah. Attempts would be made on his life; such as it would be. Returning to Cybertron now only meant a death sentence and he knew it.
There was no going back for him. This world was his home now, like it or not.
That understanding didn't ease his brooding, it just made it worse. In all honesty, he deeply respected Optimus. And the others... well, compared to the treacherous backstabbing actions of his Predacon peers, Dinobot considered them a competent, albeit boring, group. Even Rattrap's constant sniping was nothing more than a minor distraction, and not even wholly unwanted. If not for at least one bot to bicker with, he would have probably gone completely mad with boredom by now.
He would... miss them. There. That was the crux of his present dilemma. One that was tearing him apart because he could never voice it out loud. A Maximal sentiment. Intolerable!
He snapped his jaws at the empty air in frustration and decided to go on a hunt. Maybe a kill would lessen his rage and dispel some of the doubts that nagged him. He was determined to kill everything in the surrounding area if that was what it took to shake these irritating thoughts. It was considered standard stress management for Predacons. Not the most logical of solutions, but one that had worked for him in the past. He was determined to make it work for him again.
When he saw a shadow pass by on his left he felt his anger intensify. Not even bothering to look up, he growled out; "Stop pestering me, Optimus, or I swear I will-"
"You will what?" squawked a cold voice directly above him. It was one he recognized immediately and before he could confront the source the ground beside him exploded.
Dinobot feinted to the side and transformed in mid-leap, catching a glimpse of Terrorsaur as he dove for cover. He was actually grinning when he pulled his sword free of its spine sheathe and readied his lasers. Target practice! He was starting to line up for a shot when the rocks he was crouched beside were blown apart-
- by a shot from behind.
Turning, he saw Waspinator and Inferno hovering above him, weapons drawn and looking unusually smug. On other side of him, Scorponok and Tarantulas crawled out of their hiding spots. Dinobot was clearly in their sights but no one fired. "What is this...?"
"It's time to return home, traitor," Scorponok grunted.
"Megatron sent all of you to retrieve me," Dinobot realized. "I'm flattered."
"You'll be scrap if you don't surrender right now," the Predacon snarled. Dinobot knew his former ally well and caught that unmistakable tremor to the scorpion's demand meaning that the threat was a ruse. Megatron no doubt wanted him intact and functioning for his return trip. He decided to test the limits of that command.
Scorponok gulped as he suddenly became the sole target for the now-charging warrior. He fired just a faction too late. Sprinting up the slope with a challenging roar, Dinobot leaped into the air and dropped on the second-in-command with all of his considerable weight. He derived a haughty satisfaction as he heard the identifiable crunch of the servos in the Predacon's spine, but he didn't linger as the Flyers began closing in.
He ran.
Tarantulas was about to give chase when he visibly hesitated, glaring back at his companion. "What are you waiting for? He's getting away!"
"I'll sit this one out," Blackarachnia sneered. "It looks like a guy thing anyway."
"Just as well. It doesn't really involve you anyway. This is personal," the arachnid told her and left to join his peers.
"Macho idiot," she hissed after him but after a moment she decided to follow, betrayed by her own voracious curiosity.
Dinobot narrowly evaded a volley of Waspinator's missiles and slapped his chest plate, activating his communicator. "Dinobot to base. Come in!" All he got back was a shrill whine of static. These mountains were riddled with energon deposits and made communication an impossibility. He was on his own.
It was just how he wanted it.
There was a crazed scream from over head and the warrior slid to a halt when Inferno landed directly in his path. The huge fire ant had his weapon trained on him; it could serve as a flamethrower as well as become an effective assault weapon and he enjoyed using it. Perhaps a little too much. Dinobot had yet to observe any other skills to the Flyer than marksmanship and viewed his dependence on the weapon as a possible weakness. Inferno had not been part of the original Predacon crew to crash here and Dinobot could only gather sparse intel whenever the two clashed. It seemed the immense insect was content to rely solely on brute ferocity to achieve his goals, probably since it had worked so well for him so far. He was certainly an intimidating sight and he had dethroned Dinobot as the second-largest Predacon next to Megatron himself. That observation only fueled the warrior's rage even more.
"I have you in my sights now, traitor," the insect declared smugly.
"Shoot him!" Terrorsaur urged from above.
Damned if Inferno didn't drop his guard and look up at the Flyer in confusion. Dinobot couldn't believe his good fortune.
"But... the Royalty said no damage," Inferno said with clear uncertainty. When he glanced back, the traitor in his sights had cleared most of the distance between them. He held his weapon up directly in the other's face but he was clearly drawn between his loyalty to Megatron and the pressure from his peers. Dinobot decided to use the apparent indecision to his advantage. He looked up, fixating on a target over Inferno's left shoulder and shouted: "Leave him to me, Optimus! He's mine!"
Inferno whirled, instinctively firing in apparent self-defense even before he had identified the target. A smoldering body smashed to the ground but it was no Maximal. Terrorsaur regarded his perforated torso in complete disbelief. "You idiot-!" he managed to get out before he collapsed.
Realizing he had been tricked, Inferno turned back just in time for Dinobot's fist to smash through his mouth and exit the back of his head. The warrior barely had the time to bring the unconscious body around as a makeshift shield when Waspinator and Tarantulas started shooting. So much for Megatron's orders... The fire ant was tall but deceptively lean and Dinobot grunted as a projectile grazed his side from trying to unsuccessfully hide his bulk behind the insect's slim body. He threw him away with a shrug and pulled out his own shield, nearly knocked to his knees from the assault on the spinning blades. He backed up slowly from the barrage, wondering how he was going to get out of this predicament when his right foot stepped out into empty space.
"Slag," he muttered, sparing a desperate glance over his left shoulder. The mountain face that protected his back continued on but the ledge he was standing in, didn't. He heard laughter above him and saw Tarantulas clinging to the rock face. A cradle of cyberwebs filled the gap between the ledge and Dinobot knew from experience what it would mean if he got himself snared in that trap.
"You're finished," Tarantulas said, and tittered in amusement. "Surrender and transform."
Dinobot sheathed his weapons but did nothing more. He silently looked down the abyss beyond the ledge as he considered his few options.
"Now!" Tarantulas demanded.
"Ohh, Waszpinator'z getting pizzed!" the Flyer droned ominously, his green body vibrating in fear and rage.
Blackarachnia appeared beside Tarantulas and released a snort of irritation. "Morons," she condemned. "I'll handle this."
"What?" Tarantulas snapped. "No- don't-"
She targeted Dinobot and activated her spinnerets before her companion could stop her. A sturdy cable of cyberwebbing burst from her body with the intention of snaring him and ending this stalemate once and for all. Dinobot snatched it in a firm grip just as he launched himself from the rock face, pulling the black widow down with him.
"What are you doing?! You'll kill us both!" she screamed.
"Then I would suggest you transform," Dinobot responded calmly, "and save yourself."
In a burst of mad panic, she changed into her robot form and fired a grappling hook at the nearest outcrop of rock. Dinobot felt their descent lessen in speed until the two were left swinging in the wind. Enemies above, craggy rocks below, and no other hand hold in sight.
Blackarachnia heard the protesting whine in her grappling motor and began to cut Dinobot free from her webs. He pulled her into a fierce bear hug to prevent the act. "Let go of me! You're too damned heavy! I can't pull us both up!" Her spare legs flailed in distress as he held on.
Despite the grim circumstances he considered her for a moment. Like Inferno, Blackarachnia had not been a part of their original crew and Dinobot knew very little about her. She had been converted later on this world; a protoform robot that he and Optimus had failed to rescue. No doubt Tarantulas had his hand in her conversion, if her form was any indication. The thought of his treacherous old ally pairing up with this savage beauty brought on a twinge of regret. "I'm sorry," he told her, his voice unlike its usual strained growl.
Blackarachnia faltered in her struggles. "What? What do you-"
His face was mere inches from hers and she thought for an instant that he was going to kiss her (her mind was actually warring with itself whether to accept the act), when she saw his eyes turn green. Before she could react, he fired his lasers at her arm, severing it. He grabbed onto it and let the grappling motor pull him up even as she plummeted to the bottom of the chasm. "You son of a booooooooot-!" she screamed up after him as she fell.
Smiling grimly, Dinobot saw the rock overhang come into view and was about to grab for it when he heard the telltale buzz of an insect's wing beat. Waspinator had flown down and now had him dead in his sights. "Waszpinator will play no more gamez," he sputtered furiously and pulled the trigger on his weapon.
Dinobot found himself falling again, the bottom of the crevasse rushing up to greet him when he heard another volley from Waspinator's gun. It was just as well, he thought the instant his mainframe went off-line.
It wasn't much of a view anyway.
"Dinobot was a Pred with no class-
Who had bearings that were made out of brass.
In stormy weather,
They both clanged together-
And lightening shot out of his-"
"Shut up Rattrap!" Optimus shouted.
"Aw, c'mon!" the rodent cried indignantly. "That was a good one!" Beside him, Airazor and Cheetor were trying to stifle their laughter. Tigatron, as ever, just looked puzzled with the whole affair. The Nordic tiger had never been one for group associations, preferring the expansive wilds of his range. He was only here because Airazor seemed content to stay, and his devotion to the falcon female was considerable. Even enough to tolerate this.
Helping himself to another glass of fermented ethanol, Rattrap jumped up on the control table and said, "Okay, here's a G-rated limerick for all th' kiddies: Ol' Rhinox was quite a self-starter, And was truly a magnificent farter. On the strength of some beans, he turned Megatron green-"
"Rattrap!" Rhinox bellowed.
Muttering to himself, the small Maximal slumped down in the nearest chair and proceeded to sulk.
"Lighten up, you guys," Cheetor said, "This is supposed to be a party!" He hit a button on the console and an old Earth song, "Jailhouse Rock" began to blare from the speakers. Covering his sensitive ears, Tigatron chose this moment to slink away to a quieter corner of the ship. Gathering up Airazor, Cheetor proceeded to drag her around the control room doing a pantomime of the jitterbug.
"I must be crazy to have allowed this," Optimus said under his breath, loud enough for Rhinox's perceptive hearing to catch.
"What's going on? You've been on edge ever since Dinobot left."
"We had a bit of an argument while playing chess."
"Oh yeah? Did he finally lose a game?"
Optimus spared his good friend a sour look and the old rhino chuckled easily. "I wouldn't worry. He leaves, lets off some steam, and then comes back. It's a predictable routine."
"Dinobot is many things, but not predicable," their leader said. "Any sign of the Predacons?"
Rhinox shook his head. "The last sensor sweep came in five minutes ago; the area's clear. It looks like they're all holed up at their base. Relax, Optimus."
"I'll try," he said and stumbled as the large Maximal gave him an affectionate slap on the back. Optimus wondered if the older bot had gotten into some of Rattrap's rotgut. Speaking of which, where had the blasted stuff come from in the first place? He made a mental note to search the base for a swill when the festivities were over.
Rattrap tried to cut in on the dance and he and Cheetor began to squabble. Rhinox rose to his feet to separate the two. Observing the scene with dismay, Optimus spared a longing glance at the monitor wondering if Dinobot hadn't had the right idea all along.
"Wake him."
The contempt in that bass command reached all the way down to his spark. Dinobot opened one eye just as hands closed around his tail and squeezed. He jumped to his feet and whirled, almost catching one of Waspinator's arms between his sharp teeth.
"Uh, he's awake," Scorponok said uneasily. He was slowly backing away from the cage, trying not to make it look too obvious. His back was still smarting from their last confrontation. Terrorsaur was currently in a repair cycle and the others were standing around licking their wounds. And all that had happened out in the open. Who knew what havoc the raptor could cause now that he was trapped in the close confines of their ship? The scorpion vowed to keep his distance.
"Greetings turncoat," Megatron said brazenly as he stomped over and peered inside the cage. "So good of you to join us."
Dinobot didn't respond but the talon on the instep of his left foot began tapping the floor of his prison in agitation as he regarded his old rival.
Megatron feigned his hurt. "What is this? No witty repartee, my friend? No boastful challenges? I am so deeply wounded, yes. Sincerely. I would at least have expected-"
"You always did talk too much," Dinobot growled and spit in his face. Blackarachnia gasped and the others muttered among themselves nervously, waiting for the reaction to come.
They weren't diappointed. With a roar of anger, Megatron slammed his armored right arm against the cage and sent it tumbling end over end. Scarcely before it came to rest, Dinobot transformed and easily smashed through the damaged bars, standing in a ready pose even as the other Predacons raised their weapons.
"Stand down," Megatron commanded.
Inferno actually looked insulted. "But my Queen-!"
"That's an order!"
Reluctantly, his subordinates complied and the huge Predacon considered the other, visibly trying to calm down. "How easily you goad me," he grumbled. "It's as if the six months have never passed."
"It's a gift," Dinobot shot back.
Megatron nodded slowly. "It's one that's been your undoing since the first day I met you. If not for that insolent mouth, you'd still be my Second."
Watching from the sidelines, Blackarachnia singled out Scorponok and fixed him with a hard look. "What's he saying? I always thought you were Megatron's second-in-command!"
"I am," the gray scorpion said indignantly and then relented, "...at least I was after we crashed on this planet and kicked Dinobot out of the ship. Megatron rewarded me for my loyalty and appointed me as his confidant."
His lackey, you mean, she thought coldly. All of this was news to her. On rare times before, when the subject of Dinobot came up, the other Predacons went close-mouthed and evasive to her questions. At first she had thought it out of resentment for his desertion but more and more, she was beginning to believe there was also fear behind that silence. Before her eyes, she watched the mighty Megatron proceed cautiously as he conversed with his former ally. He would not be behaving like that if he didn't recognize Dinobot as some worthy adversary.
She decided to study their interaction closely.
"Nothing has changed, Megatron," Dinobot said stiffly. "I still think you're an idiot-"
"How DARE you!" the huge Tyrannosaurus Rex bellowed. "You-"
"YOU made us steal the golden disk!" Dinobot shouted back, pointing at him. "YOU crashed us on this planet! All of the failures that followed rest on YOUR shoulders alone. If you hadn't exiled me from your ranks there never would have been any Beast Wars. Together, we would have conquered the Maximals within a day!"
There was muted undercurrent of agreement among several of the Predacons watching them. Megatron noted this and his eyes narrowed to a livid squint. "Alas, you speak the truth," he said in a more humble tone. "I underestimated you, yes. I never figured you would have brazenly joined the Maximals to fight against us."
"As usual, you figured wrong."
He was back to nodding again. "I won't make that mistake twice, no." He held out his left hand, "Join with us again, Dinobot. Return to your true nature. Become a Predacon again."
Dinobot didn't budge.
Megatron decided to sweeten the deal. "Consider all past actions forgiven. There will be no punishment, no resentment. You can return to my side as my Second-"
"What?!" Scorponok bawled before Tarantulas managed to cover his mouth.
"-and together we'll finish the Maximals once and for all," the huge Predacon continued as if he had never been interrupted. "What do you say?"
Face facts, Dinobot, you couldn't go back to being a Predacon even if you wanted to, Optimus whispered in the back of Dinobot's mind, making him wince. For a split second he was tempted to give in just to prove the Maximal wrong but realized there was more at stake here than hurt feelings. If the offer had been extended shortly after he had switched sides, he might have accepted it then. But too many things have changed since.
Most importantly, his loyalties. They were no longer with Megatron.
"Eat slag," he hissed and knocked Megatron backwards with his lasers. He pulled up his shield in time to defend himself against the volley of missiles and laser fire from the other Predacons as they defended their leader. That action only served to enrage him further. Megatron always let his weaker associates serve as cannon fodder before he deigned to get his hands dirty with combat. Dinobot vowed that this time, his old commander was going to have to put up a fight.
Megatron was just scrambling to his feet when Dinobot plowed into him, throwing them both off of the deck and landing one level below. Scorponok, Blackarachnia, and Waspinator had no choice to stop firing for fear of hitting their leader but Inferno was still blasting away. "Protect the Royalty! Protect him at all costs!" he raved madly. Two of his munitions hit the struts holding up the grating of the second level, and it started to give away with a rebelling screech of ruined metal.
"Stop firing you fool!" Megatron thundered, throwing his heavier right arm around in a clumsy roundhouse punch. He was the stronger one of the two but his mass slowed him down considerably. Dinobot ducked and threw a fist up into the larger bot's stomach, doubling him over. He was about to deliver a kick when the floor collapsed beneath them.
Dinobot sank his claws into the grating as it swung down. He derived a flash of bitter pleasure as Megatron fell past him but suddenly screamed when the dinosaur head that the Predacon wore on his right arm latched onto his left thigh just above the knee joint.
They struggled precariously above the pool of magma that the Darkside had landed into six months before. Internal dampers kept the ship from sinking any deeper but its bottom was ruined from the molten flows. None of the Predacons had ever gotten around to erecting barriers to prevent a haphazard slip or fall. They all enjoyed the heat.
Megatron could feel that blasted heat in the soles of his feet as he peddled helplessly less than ten feet above the lava. He glared up at Dinobot and commanded, "Pull us both up! Right now!"
Dinobot's response was a direct kick to the head that was clamped onto him. The serrated teeth were cutting into his servos and he could feel his hip joint beginning to pull free from its socket. Megatron wasn't exactly a lightweight. He kicked down a second time and then a third-
The jaws loosened, slipped down his leg, and then battened down again with crushing force. Servo fluids began to flow freely from the gashes. Dinobot almost lost his grip from the wave of agony before he dampened down his sensors.
Megatron was actually grinning up at him. "It appears we have a stalemate, old comrade."
"It's not even close," Dinobot assured him.
He let go.
End of Part One