Pokemon Prime: Beast Hunters

Thirst

Knock Out's lab, the Nemesis

The ship flew through a storm. Meanwhile, in Knock Out's lab, Starscream woes. "Oh, will my torment never end? First I have to fight for Megatron's favor against that treacherous harpy Airachnid. Now I must contend with Shockwave and his incorrigible beast. And worst still he has the audacity to ask Megatron to experiment on my Pokecons, and what do you know. Megatron obliges and ships them off to his off-site laboratory. All except for Mindwipe." His Gengar then appeared, thanks to his Ghost-type powers, by his side.

"Oh, look on the bright side, Starscream." Knock Out said, trying to encourage him. "At least one of them is currently on ice. Locked up tight in the vault of our warship."

Starscream sighed. "Oh, how I would love to stuff Shockwave and his mangy abomination right into that Stasis Pod beside her. The only reason his Project Predacon is currently in full swing is because I supervise the acquisition of his dozens of his Predacon bones." There was a faint groaning in the shadows. It grew louder. "Will you please keep your lab rat quiet while I'm airing my grievances?"

Knock Out turned on an operation light on where the groaning was coming from. It was Giovanni, still trapped in Breakdown's dead husk. He was bind on an operation table. "Ssstarscreeam,... help... meeeee!" Giovanni pleaded.

He merely chuckled at Giovanni's begging. "My, my, my. Whatever have you been inflicting upon poor Giovanni?"

Knock Out laughed. "Well anything that merits the need for a living petri dish." He was holding a syringe full of Synthetic Energon. He injected it into Giovanni. Who began glow green optics and groaned in pain.

"Despite for your justifiable lack of regard for his human side, it doesn't trouble you to watch what remains of your former partner endure your scientific endeavors?"

"Not really. Besides, Giovanni once had poor Breakdown pinned to his lab table. I think my former partner would be pleased to be a part."

Giovanni struggled and groaned in pain. Suddenly he powered down.

"What just happened?" Starscream asked Knock Out.

"You recall that... Synthetic Energon I recovered from the Autobots? Well, I've been reproducing the formula to test its viability as an alternative energy source. However, the compound remains erratic and there have been... side effects."

"Such as?"

Giovanni instantly reawakened ragingly screaming. His optics surging dark green. "STARSCREAM, I HOPE YOU REPLACED YOUR MISSING T-COG BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TEAR IT OUT ALL OVER AGAIN AND FEED IT TO KNOCK OUT!"

"Shear unrivaled aggression." Knock Out concluded.

"Such power and fury!" Starscream observed Giovanni's aggression. "Megatron has longed desired beast machine super-soldier. And we now possess the means of delivering one to him."

In the bridge

Megatron was on a secure and private com-link channel to Shockwave. "Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mm-hm. Uh-huh.

Starscream entered the bridge. "Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that-"

"Not now!" He scold Starscream. He turned back to Shockwave. "Please continue, Shockwave. No, no one important."

Starscream scowled in frustration and stormed out of the bridge.

In a hallway outside

Knock Out and Mindewipe lend against the wall, waiting for Starscream. He noticed him coming through the door. "Did you speak to our Liege about our... little enterprise."

Starscream stopped walking and turned back to reply. "He was... otherwise engaged."

"Gengar." Mindwipe snickered.

In Knock Out's lab

They enter to be greeted by the raging screams of Giovanni. "I AM GONNA MAKE YOU SUFFER IN WAYS YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE!"

"Just how much of this Synth-En have you given him?" Starscream asked.

"Two additional doses. Three at the most." Knock Out picked up another syringe full of Synth-En. "But Giovanni's increasingly volatile nature isn't the only wrinkle." He injected it into Giovanni. Causing Giovanni to fidget and grunt. "It appears that the more green stuff I administer the faster this monstrosity, formerly known as Breakdown, burns through his natural Energon reserves."

"This will not do! Megatron already possess one unruly beast with that Predacon of his. What good is another freak of nature that cannot be controlled?!" Then Starscream though of an idea. "Wait! I'm a fool." A fiendish grin grew on his face. He took off running. An hour later he returns with an Energon Cube box. One that glowed purple. He placed it on the table.

Knock Out knew instantly what kind of Energon it was. "DARK ENERGON!? You are more than a fool, Starscream. I think your neural cluster has blown a massive fuse!"

"Gengar?" Obviously Mindwipe has no idea what Dark Energon is.

"Oh, on the contrary, dear doctor. Adding Dark Energon to the formula should provide Lord Megatron with full control over his super soldier."

"Okay. Truth that Lord Megatron possess a symbiotic link to anyone or thing infused with the Dark Matter allowing him to manipulate them as if they were puppets. But have you forgot what the Blood of Unicron did to our warship?"

"That was the result of a massive infusion. I am suggesting a drop or two. Merely enough to allow our master to command his warrior at will."

"Even so, it's too drastic a measure to undertake without Shockwave's approval. I do, after all, report to him."

"Not on this project! Super-soldiers fall under military operations." Starscream moved in closer. "Meaning, dear Knock Out, that you know report to me. Are we clear?"

Hours later Knock Out processed the Dark Energon into its liquidized state. He loaded it in a syringe. Which he then injected it into Giovanni. He groaned in pain then let out a painful scream.

"Wait for it." Knock Out said.

Giovanni fidgeted and grunted as the Dark Energon took over him. It continued for a minute or two until he powered down again.

"Dah! Humans in any form can't be relied upon!" Starscream cursed at the results.

Suddenly Giovanni sprung back to life. His optic Dark Energon purple now. He roared with rage.

"It's alive!" Knock Out excitedly shouted.

Suddenly Giovanni broke free from his binds on his arms. He whacked Starscream and Mindwipe aside. They both crashed to the wall.

"Scrap!" Starscream said, getting back on his feet. Giovanni then broke free from the binds on his legs. He groaned as he stood on his feet. He took a few steps until he fell to one knee. Starscream cautiously poked him. No response. "Oh, for the love- NOW WHAT!?"

"I tried to tell you before; It's a side effect of the Synth-En. He's burnt through his natural reserves."

"Then perhaps we should withhold any infusions for a while." Starscream suggested as he and Mindewipe slowly moved behind Knock Out. "Might calm Giovanni down a bit."

"Gengar." Mindwipe agreed.

"It'll make him a tad more manageable."

Giovanni struggled to lift his head. When he did, he weakly said, "Nneeeeeeed... Energon." Then suddenly with a fierce roar, his lower jaw splits into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerges from his mouth. Terrifying the trio. He stood up and approached Starscream. Who tripped back to the floor. Giovanni grabbed him and pulled him closer.

The bladed tongue launched for Starscream's neck. He tilted his head to the right to avoid the bite. He moved his head to the left as the tongue launched for his right side.

Knock Out grabbed his electro-staff and tazed Giovanni. Causing him to release Starscream. Mindewipe used Shadow Ball on Giovanni the attack struck him and he took a few steps back. But that didn't seem to affect him that much as he let out a monstrous roar. The bladed tongue stuck out again.

Starscream gasped. "Do you think he's actually trying to-?"

"Suck out our Energon with that thing?" Knock Out finished. Giovanni moved in closer. Knock Out pointed his electro-staff "Seems that way."

Giovanni grabbed the staff and broke it in half.

In a hallway

The trio ran out of the lab screaming. With Giovanni stomping after them.

"See if you two can hold them off." Starscream said.

"Gengar?" Mindwipe asked.

Starscream transformed into his jet mode. "Wait for us!" Knock Out said. He and Mindwipe jumped on Starscream's wings as Starscream took off.

They left Giovanni far behind. Forcing him to wander the halls of the warship.

In another hallway

Thanks to the counterweight provided by Knock Out and Mindwipe, Starscream banged against the walls. Plus they were getting too heavy for him to carry. So he tossed them off and transformed. they all landed hard on the floor.

"We-we-we ne-need to... sound the alarm!" Knock Out highly suggested.

"Out of the question. Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible." Starscream replied.

"But...WE ARE!"

"Well, you are, mostly. Anyway His Lordship doesn't need to know that. Not if we handle this the right way.

"Meaning?"

"Gengar?"

"Use your head, gentlemen! This ship is crawling with highly trained Vehicon troopers armed for combat. The moment Giovanni attempts to feed, they will neutralize him for us. Problem solved."

In another hallway

At that moment a lone Vehicon was patrolling the area. Around the corner, Giovanni waited to strike. When the Vehicon got close to the corner Giovanni lunged out and tackled him. He screamed in pain as Giovanni sucked out his Energon. When he finished drinking, the Vehicon powered down.

A few moments later... The trio moved through the same hall. Starscream explained the plan. "Once we recover Giovanni's body, we must dispose of it quickly and efficiently as possible. No trace of him can be allowed to remain."

"His..." Knock Out shuddered. "Infected body." They turned a corner and screamed. They found the Vehicon's body. Knock Out rushed to his side and checked for an energy pulse. "Gone. Completely drained of Energon." He went back with the others. "Tell me something, Starscream, when you said 'problem solved', is this even close to what you had in mind?"

"I do not appreciate your tone, Knock Out. This brewing catastrophe is hardly my fault!"

"Well it certainly isn't mine!"

Suddenly the Vehicon slowly moved up to his feet. Mindwipe quickly noticed. " Gengar? Gengar!" But the two lunkheads still argued.

"Oh, really?! You're the master mind who chose to experiment with Synthetic Energon." Starscream claimed.

"Gengar!"

"And you're the Mankey wrench who thought it was a good idea to dabble in voodoo!" Knock Out shouted.

"GENGAR!"

"WHAT!?" They both looked at Mindwipe. A purring sound got there attention. They looked the other way to see the Vehicon on his feet.

"Energon!" The Vehicon snarled. Like Giovanni, his lower jaw splits into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerges from his mouth. The trio screamed.

"I thought you said he had no Spark?!" Starscream said.

"Dark Energon, it reanimates the dead!" Knock Out replied.

Knock Out transformed both his hands into his buzz saws. Starscream transformed his hand into a blaster and fired seven times at the zombie, no effect. Mindewipe even used Shadow Ball twice and the zombie still kept coming.

"Aim for the head!" Knock Out shouted.

"What? How do you know?" Starscream asked.

"I've seen human horror films." He replied. Starscream looked at him curiously. "At drive-in theaters!" He finished.

Starscream changed the blaster back to his hand and he fired the missile on the same arm. The missile struck the zombie's head, but when the smoke cleared on the bladed tongue remained and the body was still moving towards them. "Forget the head! Go for the Spark!" Starscream pulled out his blaster and fired it directly to the zombie's Spark Chamber. After three shots it burned through the zombie, it died for good.

"We severed its link to the Dark Energon. Human horror films, waste of time." Knock Out said. (#1)

In another hallway

Giovanni wandered aimlessly down the hall. "Energon!" He snarled.

In another hallway

The trio continued searching for Giovanni. "If the mutation can be passed along with a single bite, the entire crew is at risk." Knock Out said.

Starscream squealed in fear. "You're saying Giovanni can beget more Terracons?"

"Mmm, could happen and the ensuing feeding frenzy can turn this entire warship into a scrapheap. So now can we sound the alarm!?"

Before Starscream can reply, they cam across four Vehicons. "You there, have you noticed any unusual activity..." One turned around to reveal that he's infected. "In... this... vector?"

The four zombies marched toward them. The trio screamed in fear. Mindwipe used Shadow Ball, hoping to buy them time. They ran in the opposite direction. They made left right to another hall. The was a fork at the end. Starscream and Mindwipe ran to the right and Knock Out ran to the left. He eventually turned around and ran in the direction the other two ran down.

They continued running until they came across more zombies. They quickly turned back. They made a left. Starscream noticed that they were gonna pass a room. So he quickly ran in there. "In here!" They hid in there and sealed the door.

In the room

The trio hid themselves at a corner. "Knock Out, this situation might be a bit more direr than either of us have ever imagined." Starscream said.

"Mmm, I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, getting smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" Knock Out said.

"Drained of our precious fluids. If this is indeed the end, if we are to become Terrorcon-chow, it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with you."

"You're no Breakdown. Though I must confess, I have always admired your lustrous finish."

An awkward pause. "Gengar?"

"Mm-hmm. Well, then."

"Should be going."

Outside in the hall

The trio exited the room. them turned to the left and bumped into someone... Megatron! They gasped in fear.

"Would either of you like to tell me what exactly is going on?" Megatron demanded.

"Yes, absolutely nothing, my liege." Starscream said.

"All is quiet, too quiet. One could even say dull!" Knock Out added.

"Gengar!"

"Funny, because the Dark Energon within my spark has been pulsing and I know it is not coming from Ash's little girl."

Starscream looked at Knock Out. "Allow me to handle this." He turned back to Megatron. "IT'S KNOCK OUT'S FAULT!"

"Precisely my-WHAT?!" Knock Out almost fell for that.

"He infused Giovanni with a cocktail comprised of Dark Energon and Synthetic Energon. Creating a monsterous mutation which is now on the verge of turning your entire crew into mindless, Energon sucking Terracons!"

"I do not know from what madness your yarn spraying, Starscream." Megatron replied. "But if I learn that you have been dabbling with my Dark Energon stores again." Meanwhile a zombie was walking right behind him. "Attempting to infuse yourself with its formidable power..."

The trio tried to warn him. "Uh, my Liege." Starscream pointed out the zombie.

Megatron continued. "Let me just say, you have been awarded more chances for redemption than ANYONE in Decepticon history!"

The snarls from the zombie finally got Megatron's attention. He turned to see the zombie. "ENERGON!"

"You there, what are you doing? I order you, stand down!" The zombie launched at Megatron, but he killed the zombie with one shot he looked back at the trio.

"We did try to tell you." Starscream said.

"Gengar!" Mindewipe said.

"Mm-hmm." Knock Out hummed.

In the bridge

Megatron took the trio to the bridge for explanations. He ordered Soundwave to track down Giovanni.

"Then why can I not command the monster to follow my bidding?" Megatron demanded.

Knock Out explains. "While the trace of Dark Energon should have granted you control over these ghouls, I believe the synthetic component maybe corrupting your link to them."

Megatron turned to Soundwave. "Initiate high alert. Instruct all troops to keep their distance from the mutations and terminate on sight!" He turns to the trio. "Your fate, however, remains to be seen." The trio look at each other nervously. "WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE!" The trio ran out of the bridge. "FIND THIS CREATION OF YOURS AND ERADICATE IT, IMMEDIATELY!"

In a hallway

The trio nervously turned the corner. "I realize Lord Megatron's only doing this to punish us, but how are we the best choice to hunt down Giovanni?" Knock Out. "I mean, why not deploy his beloved beast-machine super-soldier, hmm? After all it is suppose to be the ultimate Autobot hunter."

"Out of the question!" Starscream replied. "Can you imagine what might happen if the Predacon became infected? Nothing could stop it!"

In another hallway

The surviving Vehicons were making short work of the ghouls. Two Insections crawled on the ceiling, joining the clean-up and killed of the remaining ghouls. Soundwave followed the clean-up crew. Personally supervising the situation.

In another hallway

Giovanni continues to wander. Then he noticed a locked door on his left. This gave him a thought that behind the door is the Energon storage. He smashed the screen-pad with his fist. Forcing the door to open.

In the vault

Giovanni entered the vault. Instead of Enrgon he found cases containing the Decepticon's treasured relics. And a familiar stasis pod. He sensed an Energon presence in the stasis pod. "Energon!" He slammed the glass case. He began to rip the stasis pod apart. This resulted the reawakening of Airachnid.

She gasped in confusion of the sight. "Breakdown! Did I not exterminate you once already?"

Giovanni's mandibles sprang open as he closed in to drink Airachnid's Energon. His bladed tounge lunged out to her neck. She moved her head side to side to avoid it. She climbed on top of the wrecked pod. There she clawed Giovanni in the face. He brushed it off and grabbed her.

He pulled her close to him. She grabbed the bladed tongue before it got close to her neck. Then she punched him in the face. Causing him to lose his grip. He tried to crush so he can drink her Energon with ease, but she quickly jumped away. He tried to stomp on her while she's down, but she slithered her way out, again. (#2)

She tried to crawl away, but this time he got a good grip on her. He swung her to the wall. Making her disoriented. Before she came around, he grabbed her and readied himself to drink her Energon. She quickly shot her webs and pulled herself out of there. She took refuge high up on the wall.

Giovanni groaned in frustration. "ENERGON!"

Airachnid shot multiple webs at him. Pinning him to the ground. She fired a few more webs so he won't break free. She jumped down on him and stabbed him in the throat with her claw. He screamed in pain. "Second time's the charm," she laughed. "But to be certain." She began to rip apart his chest plate. "I shall remove your very spark." She gasped at the sight of, "Giovanni? Whatever have they done to you? But more importantly, thank you for freeing me."

"No. Thank…you…" He then slowly died. There was a faint power down that followed.

"Whatever." She then focused her hive mind. "Insecticons, heed me!"

In a hallway

The Insecticons were in the middle of exterminating the ghouls when Airachnid's words echoed. "Your queen has returned." They all transfromed and flew off to her location. Soundway was there an dhe noticed te sudden behavioral change in the Insecticons.

Back at the Vault

Starscream, Knock Out, and Mindwipe entered the vault. They jumped at the sight of Givanni's corpse. "Our ordeal is finally over!" Starscream said.

"Or not." Knock Out said pointing toward something. The others looked at where he was pointing at and noticed the demolished stasis pod.

"Scrap."

"Gengar."

"Starscream!" Megatron shouted over the comm-link. Causing Starscream to jump. "Have you made contact with tthe plague bringer?"

Starscream gulped. "Actually, my Liege, I have good news... and bad news."

"Daaaahhhhh!"

In a hallway

The entire Insecticon hive finally met up with Airachnid. "Loyal servants, the time is now!" She said, as she marched down the hall. "Lay waste to all Decepticons. Leave no trace of them in your wake." At the end of the hall there was a fork and standing in between in was Soundwave. Forcing Airachnid to stop in the middle of the hall. "Soundwave!" She signaled the hive to stop.

Soundwave remained his ground.

"I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams." Airachnid cursed. She charged at him and the hive followed.

Soundwave unexpectedly locked the Space Bridge onto one of Cybertron's moon. He activated the portal in front of him. It's too late for Airachnid and the Insecticon hive to to pull out. They all foolishly ran through it.

On one of Cybertron's Moon

The Space Bridge vortex opened. Airachnid and the Insecticon hive emerged out of the vortex. She remained confused on what happened. It wasn't until the vortex closed that she knew exactly where she was.

"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

The Nemesis, the bridge

Megatron discussed the situation the Shockwave. "Yes, the containment protocol you recommended to prevent any further outbreak is now underway. Oh, and Shockwave, having lost more than half our military might," he glanced menacingly at Starscream, "I cannot stress enough the importance of Project Predacon. See if you can speed things along, will you?" He hung up and turned to the trio. "Knock Out, need I remind you that as the ship's medic, you report directly to Shockwave, not Starscream!"

"Understood, Master." Knock Out replied.

"Just to be sure, you will hand over all your project to him immediately. Including the Synthetic Energon."

"As you wish, my Liege."

He turned to Starscream. "As for you."

Starscream quickly begged for mercy. "Lord Megatron, if you'll just allow me explain things."

"No! Allow me to explain things. IN a manner I know you'll understand." Megatron slowly advanced toward Starscream.

Starscream looked at Mindwipe for help. "Gen-gengar." Mindwipe said as he ghosted through the floor. He looked back at Megatron and he was now really close. Causing Starscream to whimper in dread.

On the Cybertronian Moon

Airachnid sat on a boulder as her hive stood before her.

"Your Majesty, we await your command!" Bombshock proclaimed.

"Approach me. Serve your queen." She said. Bombshock slowly approached her. With a fierce roar, her lower jaw splits into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerges from her mouth. Just like Giovanni. She drank Bombshock's Energon and the rest of the Insecticons lined up to be next. (#3)

(#1) - Knock Out obviously has not seen "The Return of the Living Dead". Which is pretty much the same situation that has happened here. Two examples, shooting the zombie in the head was ineffective in film as it was here. The other, Starscream and Knock Out were responsible for this whole mess, just like the two medical workers who unleashed the plague in the film.

(#2) - Why can't she just die!?

(#3) - You'll find out what happens to Airachnid and the zombie Insection hive in... Pokemon Prime: Epilogue

Now don't give me any of the wherever have I been. Just give me a positive feedback of this chapter and thank you for your patience. All you readers are like my "regular loyal customers."