DISCLAIMER: Beast Wars are the property of their respective owners.

TITLE: Feral Scream
UNIVERSE: Beast Wars
CHARACTER(S): Cheetor, Optimus Primal and others
SUMMARY: What if the events of "Feral Scream" panned out a little different and a certain mech found himself unable to complete the alien transformation?
RATED: T

A/N: I had always asked myself a question what would happen if Dinobot II and Waspinator reached Cheetor first or if nobody ever learned about his little secret? That fic is exactly the result of that kind of musing.

To clarify the story a little... Optimus is in his first TM form, I don't like that whole 'Optimal Optimus' design, besides it always appeared to me kinda unfair to Megs and his merry band ;)

Enjoy the story.

CHAPTER 1: Back Home

Optimus parted the metal door and glanced inside a small quarters. His optics instantly fell onto a battered form of the youngest crew member lying prone on a small bunk in what looked like a deep recharge. If it weren't for his extensive damage proving different, none would be able to tell what drama had happened within the past few hours.

The Maximal commander allowed a ghost of a smile onto his lips at the sight of a peaceful scene in front of him. Seeing Cheetor alive and safe seemed so unreal right now and Optimus barely fought down the urge to walk in and touch the marine-colored body just to make sure his mind wasn't playing tricks on him and the youngster was indeed with them...

Giving Cheetor one last look he closed the door quietly and headed off toward the bridge.

"Hey, Optimus," Rattrap greeted him once he got there, "how's our boy?"

"Finally asleep despite the damage," Optimus replied with a sad smile, but after a while he frowned slightly, "I don't understand why he won't use the CR-Chamber."

"Well, maybe he's tryin' to prove something?" the rat suggested.

Primal shook his head, "I think it goes deeper than that..."

Few Earth hours earlier...

"I got through to the others," Rhinox announced, emerging from the base's gate. "They've been warned about the creature. Whatever it is."

"Or who...," the Maximal commander whispered and fixed his gaze on the distant mountain range, where some truly horror-like events had taken place lately.

"What?" the scientist asked, surprised by his leader's sudden statement.

"Nothing," Optimus quickly corrected himself then turned toward his subordinate, "Silverbolt and Blackarachnia are combing sector Tallories. You join Rattrap in--"

A sound of the deck siren rang out through the silence of the night, cutting off his last words. Two mechs quickly assumed battle stances, surveying the adjacent plain in search of any possible attack. It didn't come, yet the sight that met their optics made their mech fluid ran cold in dread... Right in front of them, half-dead and barely conscious, stood Cheetor.

The cat looked like he'd just gone to the Pit itself and back again. His optics blazed with a strange glow that teetered on the edge of insanity and, Primus knew, he would never forget this haunting look that screwed the youngling's features in that moment.

"Cheetor?" Optimus croaked, his voice barely audible as if any louder note would scare the fleeting ghost away.

They watched in shock as the cheetah, driven by an invisible force of sheer willpower, lifted his head and took a weak step forward... but all of sudden, his legs buckled under him and the Maximal collapsed to the ground, breaking the unspoken spell.

Optimus was the first one to snap out of his daze. "Cheetor!" he screamed and rushed to the fallen soldier's side. He knelt down and reached with his hands to check on the youngster.

"Don't," Rhinox stopped him before he had a chance to do so, however. Primal nodded in silent agreement and the scientist proceed to turn the youngster on his back carefully.

Optimus winced when the cat's head lolled lifelessly aside, but it was Rhinox's thoughtful humph that made him worry.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing's wrong. That's what," was the other mech's enigmatic reply.

"What do you mean by 'nothing's wrong'?" Optimus stammered out. "Just look at him," he motioned angrily toward the unmoving body, frustrated by the scientist's lack of concern. "Is that nothing?!"

His outburst ceased abruptly when he met Rhinox's serious look. "Sorry," he apologized hastily, embarrassed by his brash behavior.

Rhinox let it pass and hurried to explain his point, "Despite all his visible damage his internals are intact. Optimus, he's just exhausted and manhandled, but apart of that he's absolutely fine."

Primal's optics widened in bewilderment, but before he could say anything a pained grunt sounded from the Cheetor's vocalizer and a pair of emerald optics flickered on-line.

"Cheetor," Optimus exclaimed and leaned over the young Maximal. "Can you hear me?" The youngster only looked at him absentmindedly, but no word was ushered from his mouth.

"I don't think he comprehends what you're telling to him right now," Rhinox stated. "We'd better take him to CR-chamber. His injuries may not be life-threatening, but they surely are very painful."

The Maximal commander nodded and gently scooped the cat up into his arms, cautious not to cause him any more discomfort than necessary, and they both hurriedly set off toward the Ark.

The cheetah hissed and his sharp teeth clenched tightly in pain, when his abused servos were forced to move and stretch against his will.

"It's okay, Cheetor," Optimus hushed him, stroking the side of his helmet soothingly. The youngling leaned into the touch and his emerald optics shuttered slightly before they fell onto his face.

"Big Bot...?" he murmured.

"Yes, it's me," the older mech replied and smiled down at him. Cheetor stared at him for a moment then sighed and buried his head in the crook of his arm.

Optimus secured his grip on the fragile body and for the first time this night he felt rage building up inside his spark.

"Megatron...," he growled in a low voice.