Broken Scales

Beast Wars Anonymous:

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Broken Scales, pt. 1
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

FADE IN: INTERNAL SHOT of MAXIMAL HEADQUATERS. DINOBOT, alone in robot mode, watches over several view-screens with keen interest. The reflection of a battle play on his eyes. As he watches, RHINOX and RATTRAP, robot modes, both walk in.

RATTRAP: You should have told us you were watching a movie. I would have brought popcorn.

DINOBOT: There is a certain amount of entertainment value, vermin. But this 'movie' is more for a tactical appraisal than for mere enjoyment.

RHINOX: The Predacon raid on Arachnid?

DINOBOT: Affirmative. It was a dismal failure, though we now know the extend of Arachnid's offensive capabilities.

RATTRAP: Great, so we know exactly how big a blast will hit us when we die.

RHINOX: Will our defenses be enough?

DINOBOT (shaking his head): Not after Megatron's little raid yesterday. We can defend adequately against the remaining Predacons, but not against Arachnid.

RHINOX: Where is Arachnid now?

DINOBOT: Recovering in sector eight. Looks like Megatron got in a few good shots before he was injured in battle.

RATTRAP: So, what do we do?

DINOBOT: We strike.

RATTRAP (shocked): Are your circuits busted? There's no way my little pink butt is going on the line against that big hairy freak. I want to keep my fur intact.

DINOBOT: Not Arachnid, vermin. We'll strike against the Predacons.

RHINOX: What will that get us? The Predacons aren't a danger right now.

DINOBOT: No, but now is the perfect time to strike them. Their flyers are damaged. Megatron is out of commission. Tarantulas is in pieces, and the remaining Predacons are low on Energon and weapons supplies. We have them.

RATTRAP: Yeah, and then that big old spider has us. We can't waste the effort chopper-face. As soon as we start the party, he's going to come and crash it.

RHINOX: Maybe. But the Predacon ship might have supplies we could use to set up our own defenses. Their weapon technology is more advanced than ours.

DINOBOT: Yes, and you will be able to take their designs, and actually build a weapon that works.

RHINOX: We should consult Optimus.

DINOBOT (sighing): He needs the time to recover. I've already kept him awake too long in the recovery chamber.

RHINOX: We shouldn't move without him.

DINOBOT (impatient): We'll lose the opportunity if we wait. By the time Optimus recovers, so will have Megatron. Our advantage will be lost.

RATTRAP: Ease off the static, Dino-butt. We're reading ya. We'll make it a 'welcome back' present for when Optimus gets back online.

RHINOX (resigned): All right, we'll do it. Give us a few cycles to get a strike team together. No doubt the Predacons have already prepared for an attack.

CUT TO: PREDACON HEADQUARTERS. HALLWAY. WASPINATOR and TERRORSAUR, both in robot modes, are walking down the corridor. TERRORSAUR is missing large portions of his wings. WASPINATOR is singed with broken wings.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator's turn in chamber. Waspinator's wings hurt all over.

TERRORSAUR: At least you still have wings. I tore up what little I had left carrying back Tarantulas.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator carried back lady spider. Waspinator should have dropped her.

TERRORSAUR: That would just get her mad.

WASPINATOR: Just once, Waspinator want to kill something that knows how to stay dead.

We PULL BACK from the two flyers and enter TARANTULAS's LAB. SCORPONOK and BLACKARACHNIA, robot modes, are seeing to repairing TARANTULAS, unconscious in beast mode.

BLACKARACHNIA: Great Matrix, partner, what did that thing hit you with?

SCORPONOK: Stasis toxin. Arachnid must have administered it through the projectiles.

BLACKARACHNIA: You know that all along?

SCORPONOK: No, just confirmed the readings. We were working on a weapon like this a few weeks ago, but we never got the time to finish it up.

BLACKARACHNIA: Charming. Arachnid's got one up on us on our own technology.

SCORPONOK: When Megatron recovers--

BLACKARACHNIA (snapping): What if Megatron doesn't recover? Have you thought of that? Even if he does, he's done a wonderful job so far, hasn't he? All of us are in need of repair. Our weapons need to recharge. Arachnid can come right down here and smash us all while you're waiting for that stupid saurian.

SCORPONOK: He is our leader.

BLACKARACHNIA: Was, you mean. He's not leading much of anything right now. You're in charge now, mister 'second-in-command.' Why don't you act like it?

SCORPONOK (distantly): Second in command.

SCORPONOK looks over TARANTULAS for a long moment and sighs, then moves out of the LAB. BLACKARACHNIA gives a puzzled look, and moves to follow. CUT TO: COMMAND CENTER. SCORPONOK, robot mode, steps into the room.

SCORPONOK: Computer, status report on Megatron.

COMPUTER: Megatron is at thirty percent functional status. At this rate of recovery, Megatron will be nominal in approximately three days.

SCORPONOK pauses a long moment, then moves to the central command chair. Very slowly, he moves and sits in it. BLACKARACHNIA steps in silently.

SCORPONOK: Computer, recognize Scorponok.

COMPUTER: You are recognized.

SCORPONOK: Until Megatron recovers, I am in command.

COMPUTER: Command override accepted.

BLACKARACHNIA: What-- what are you doing?

SCORPONOK (darkly): I'm taking command.

BLACKARACHNIA (amused): And what are your orders, "Commander Scorponok?"

SCORPONOK draws in a long breath, and looks over BLACKARACHNIA. SCORPONOK clenches one of his claws tightly closed and BLACKARACHNIA realizes that she might have just crossed over the line with her teasing.

SCORPONOK: Waspinator. get Waspinator back fully functional immediately. We need him to scout for Arachnid.

BLACKARACHNIA (carefully): Doing that will delay Megatron's reactivation, wouldn't it?

SCORPONOK: You want to go and find Arachnid from the ground?

BLACKARACHNIA: Good point. Anything else?

SCORPONOK: Yeah. Keep the scanners open for the Maximals. There's no telling what they're going to be up to now since Optimus Primal's out of commission.

BLACKARACHNIA (smirking): As you command.

CUT TO: PLAINS, EXTERNAL SHOT. CHEETOR and TIGATRON, beast mode, lead up front with DINOBOT and RATTRAP, beast mode, filling out the second rank.

CHEETOR: Man, I wish Polar Claw would have come. We could use the heavy firepower.

TIGATRON: He has his own path to follow, little cat. After all, he isn't a Maximal, and this attack doesn't mean much to him.

CHEETOR: I just hope everything back at base will be all right.

RATTRAP: Hey, my bud and the bird-babe are holding down the fort. Nobody's going to mess up my room with Rhinox keeping guard duty.

DINOBOT: You consider your room 'clean', vermin? It more resembles a refuse dump than a sleeping chamber.

RATTRAP: Oh, sounds like someone's wanting to get the scrap going before the other Preds arrive.

DINOBOT: Keep quiet, vermin. We are near enemy territory.

CHEETOR (nodding downward): Is it too late to ask if I can stay behind?

TIGATRON lets out a mild laugh at CHEETOR's comment, as we PAN UP. Overlooking the view, on a hill, is INFERNO, robot mode. INFERNO watches the Maximals progress for another moment, then opens up his COM-LINK.

INFERNO: Colony, this is Inferno. Maximals sighted.

SCORPONOK: Keep them busy until we get there.

INFERNO: I take orders only from the royalty.

SCORPONOK: Megatron is in recovery. I am in command. Just keep them busy.

INFERNO: You are soldier, like me. You cannot give orders.

CUT TO: PREDACON HEADQUARTERS. SCOPORNOK, robot mode, slams his pincer down as he looks at INFERNO's visage on the view-screen. BLACKARACHNIA, robot mode, smiles at the absurdity of the moment.

SCORPONOK (frustrated): Inferno, I'm giving you an order.

INFERNO: You are not the royalty.

BLACKARACHNIA (quickly): Inferno, the Colony is in danger, the defenses are down. The Maximals will be able to attack the queen unless we have time to organize the other soldiers. You must act to save the colony.

INFERNO (suddenly 'gung-ho'): I must save the colony.

INFERNO's communication signal terminates, leaving BLACKARACHNIA and SCORPONOK alone in the COMMAND CENTER. SCORPONOK lets his head slam into the console from exasperation.

SCORPONOK: Is he always this stupid?

BLACKARACHNIA: He's a lot like you.

SCORPONOK (growling): What?

BLACKARACHNIA: Dense in your own way, Scorp. You can't think outside of your own head sometimes.

SCORPONOK (narrowing eyes): Not like you?

BLACKARACHNIA: I'm a cosmopolitan woman, if you hadn't noticed.

BLACKARACHNIA struts off out of the COMMAND CENTER. SCORPONOK stands and moves out of the CENTER after her.

CUT TO: MAXIMALS on the PLAIN. DINOBOT and RATTRAP, beast mode, follow TIGATRON and CHEETOR, also in beast mode.

TIGATRON: This is disturbing. The Predacons should have someone out here by now.

DINOBOT: Inferno should be in the area. Even Scorponok isn't stupid enough to leave the direct path to his front door unguarded.

A MISSLE comes over the horizon, striking very near CHEETOR, who just manages to leap away as LIQUID FLAME erupts over the field. CHEETOR instinctively TRANSFORMS as the other Maximals scramble. SMOKE starts to cover the area.

CHEETOR: Slag, that was close.

TIGATRON: I can't tell where he is, my optics are getting covered.

DINOBOT: Inferno has learned some new tricks. Dinobot, Maximize.

DINOBOT TRANSFORMS to robot mode, following quickly by RATTRAP and TIGATRON. As they finish their maneuver, another MISSILE slams near them, thickening the FOG even more.

RATTRAP: I see him. That's one sneaky Predacons, coming in at three o' clock.

DINOBOT: Spread out, Inferno's weapons are geared for mass-attack.

INFERNO: Not all, Dinobot. Inferno, beast mode.

INFERNO converts to ant mode, and then drops into the ground. RATTRAP and TIGATRON stumble, looking around.

RATTRAP: I don't like the look of this.

DINOBOT: Keep alert.

RATTRAP (panicked): He's got me!

DINOBOT (concerned): Rattrap!

As DINOBOT rushes over, RATTRAP falls into the ground, obviously pulled under by something. A second passes as RATTRAP falls silent. Then there is nothing.

DINOBOT (whispering): Vermin. no.

We FADE TO BLACK.

Broken Scales, pt. 2
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

DISSOLVE IN FROM BLACK TO FOG. Reveal DINOBOT, robot mode, looking cautiously around. CHEETOR and TIGATRON, robot mode, are back to back, guns at the ready.

CHEETOR: Great strategy, Napoleon. We've lost Rattrap.

DINOBOT (snapping): Keep under control, cat. We're not defeated yet.

CHEETOR: I'm not worried about defeat, I'm worried about Rattrap.

As CHEETOR turns, we see the ground open up again, followed by a large EXPLOSION. RATTRAP, robot mode, is thrown wildly from it, then crashes on the ground near the other three Maximals.

CHEETOR: Rattrap!

RATTRAP (whining): Oh, slag. Be honest, kiddo, tell me I'm gonna make it.

CHEETOR: You're a little singed, but okay. Where's Inferno?

INFERNO (off camera): Right here, Maximal.

We PAN OVER to reveal INFERNO, SCORPONOK, and BLACKARACHNIA, all in beast mode, looking down at the three Maximals.

SCOROPNOK: Predacons, terrorize.

The Predacons TRANSFORM. SCORPONOK immediately follows up with missile-fire, slamming TIGATRON with one shot. CHEETOR and RATTRAP stammer and start to fire back as BLACKARACHNIA opens up with her LASER-LEGS. DINOBOT begins to fire his EYE-BEAMS at INFERNO, who resolves to take cover.

INFERNO: You will not harm the colony.

DINOBOT: I am more interested in destroying you.

INFERNO's cover get slowly whittled away by DINOBOT's firepower. Finally, INFERNO himself is hit hard and is knocked back. BLACKARACHNIA steps over him and pulls out her MISSILE-LAUNCHER, firing it at DINOBOT, who dives out of the way.

SCORPONOK: Dinobot lead Maximals. Predacons nail him.

BLACKARACHNIA: Finally, a command that I like.

INFERNO (wildly): Burn.

DINOBOT finds himself beset with laser and missile fire from all three Predacons. He dives for cover, and has to continually rolls and maneuver from the incoming volleys. RATTRAP and CHEETOR move up to provide him some cover.

SCORPONOK: I'll take the traitor myself.

SCORPONOK leaps from the hill, and lands firmly in front of DINOBOT. The Predacon warrior snaps his pincers with purpose and moves over to the Maximal. DINOBOT steps up and takes out his SPINNER and SWORD, ready for melee combat.

DINOBOT: I didn't think you knew how to act without your beloved Megatron.

SCORPONOK: Shut up and fight.

DINOBOT: Oh, did I hit a nerve?

SCORPONOK acts quickly, firing his remaining missile point-blank into DINOBOT. DINOBOT screams wildly as he is thrown back aflame into another hill. SCORPONOK quickly rushes up and follows up the assault with hand-to-hand attacks, punching hard into the still dazed DINOBOT.

SCORPONOK (wildly): Let me hit some of your nerves.

CHEETOR: Dino's in trouble.

TIGATRON: So are we, little cat.

TIGATRON and CHEETOR roll and dive out of the line of BLACKARACHNIA's fire. CHEETOR raises his weapon to fire at BLACKARACHNIA, but hesitates as he looks at her. BLACKARACHNIA shows no hesitation, however, and turns to fire at the exposed RATTRAP, who scampers away.

COMPUTER (from BLACKARACHNIA): Warning, weapons energy at fifteen percent. Recharge necessary for sustained combat.

BLACKARACHNIA: Scorp, we need to pull out. I'm low on power.

SCORPONOK: Inferno, cover her retreat. I'm almost done here.

SCORPONOK smashes DINOBOT again, whose eyes flicker and fade in power. Confident that his work is done, SCORPONOK leaps up to head back from the remaining Maximals. RATTRAP and CHEETOR move to fire, but the Predacon retreat is aided with another major burst of flame. CHEETOR and RATTRAP stop just short of hitting the flame wall.

RATTRAP: Yeah, come back and we'll make you wish you weren't assembled.

TIGATRON (calmly): Rattrap.

RATTRAP: What?

TIGATRON: We didn't win.

RATTRAP looks over to TIGATRON, and sees DINOBOT, unconscious, and rapidly losing power. CHEETOR rushes over to him, and lifts him over his shoulder.

CHEETOR: Scratch the attack, buds. Dinobot's in bad shape.

RATTRAP (idly): We could just leave him here.

CHEETOR (very serious): Back to base, Rattrap, now.

RATTRAP: All right, all right. Beast mode.

RATTRAP reverts to his rat form. TIGATRON also TRANSFORMS and CHEETOR places DINOBOT's limp form over TIGATRON's back. CHEETOR then TRANSFORMS to his beast mode, and they all carefully retreat back to base.

CUT TO: PREDACON HEADQUARTERS, COMMAND CENTER. SCORPONOK and BLACKARACHNIA, robot modes, enter. TERRORSAUR and WASPINATOR, robot modes, are waiting. TERRORSAUR is still heavily damaged, but WASPINATOR is as good as new.

TERRORSAUR: Why does Waspinator get the repairs. I'm in worse shape than he is.

SCORPONOK: Because I said so. Besides, if you were functional, you would be following Arachnid instead of him.

TERRORSAUR: Oh. In that case, I can awhile for repairs.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator follow Arachnid, but stay way back.

TERRORSAUR: How did the battle go? I see you're all back in one piece.

BLACKARACHNIA: I'm surprised. Scorp did quite well. Even managed to beat the slag out of Dinobot for our efforts. We ran out of power, though.

TERRORSAUR (smirking): You managed to win a battle? I'm impressed. Maybe you should consider taking your new job on a more long-term basis.

SCORPONOK: When Megatron recovers, he commands.

TERRORSAUR (bowing): Oh, of course. We've got to let the almighty Megatron have his ship and crew back. We wouldn't want to do anything to upset our fragile command structure.

SCORPONOK: Go away, Terrorsaur.

TERRORSAUR shrugs and starts to walk off. BLACKARACHNIA smiles and struts over to SCORPONOK. SCORPONOK takes the COMMAND CHAIR again, leaning back in it, notably more comfortable there than before.

BLACKARACHNIA: He has a point, Scorp. You were... impressive. I didn't think that you had it in you.

SCORPONOK (smirking): There's a lot that you don't know about me.

BLACKARACHNIA: You know, with my planning, and your power, we could turn this whole situation around for us.

BLACKARACHNIA begins to make some obvious moves on SCORPONOK. SCORPONOK merely crosses his arms over his chest and regards her.

BLACKARACHNIA: You could take over. With my help, we can have it all.

SCORPONOK: I don't want to take over.

BLACKARACHNIA (almost pouting): Why not? You're much better than that stupid saurian. You at least care about the other Predacons. Megatron's too wrapped up in his own delusions to notice us.

SCORPONOK: I like battle, and I'm good at it. That's where I lead.

BLACKARACHNIA: Then let me handle the business end.

SCORPONOK (smirking): Until Tarantulas comes around? How big is the dagger you got for my back?

BLACKARACHNIA: That's not very nice.

SCORPONOK: Megatron is leader, not you, not me, not Tarantulas.

BLACKARACHNIA (frustrated): Why do you follow him? He's a fool. He spends more time talking to his own hand than to us.

SCORPONOK closes his eyes and leans back. BLACKARACHNIA lowers her head to his, as if demanding an answer, but it's obvious that SCORPONOK isn't going to give one to her. She sighs heavily and stands up. SCORPONOK doesn't even look at her.

SCORPONOK: Get back to the recharge bay.

BLACKARACHNIA: Yes, "Commander".

CUT TO: MAXIMAL HEADQUARTERS. We see CHEETOR and TIGATRON, beast mode, entering the ship. DINOBOT, robot mode, is lying unconscious across TIGATRON's back as AIRAZOR, robot mode, lets the team in.

AIRAZOR: What happened?

TIGATRON: The Predacons were ready for us. Scorponok went through Dinobot like tin-foil.

AIRAZOR: I was afraid this would happen.

CHEETOR: You could have said something before we left.

AIRAZOR: I did say something, that's why I stayed behind.

RATTRAP, beast mode, appears from behind and moves into the ELEVATOR. RATTRAP and TIGATRON heft DINOBOT onto the platform and it slowly rises up.

RATTRAP: Another banner day for the Maximal war-effort.

CHEETOR: Tell me about it.

CUT TO: MAXIMAL MEDICAL CENTER. DINOBOT, robot mode, is lying over a large table. CHEETOR and RATTRAP, robot modes, are watching with interest as RHINOX, robot mode, goes over him with various MEDICAL EQUIPMENT.

RHINOX (sadly): I'm surprised that you made it back with him.

RATTRAP: What are you saying? Chopper-face is going to be all right, isn't he?

CHEETOR: Of course he is, Rattrap. Dinobot's gotta pull through.

RHINOX: I'm sorry, Cheetor. The damage is too extreme. He's too far gone as it is.

CHEETOR (angry): No.

RATTRAP: You're not reading those what-cha-ma-things right.

RHINOX: I've gone over him as best as I can. With all the damage he's taken, it couldn't be much worse. Best I can tell, Dinobot's only got a few more cycles to live.

CHEETOR and RATTRAP exchange stunned looks. We ZOOM IN on DINOBOT and FADE TO BLACK.

Broken Scales, pt. 3
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

ACT III

FADE INTO FOG. DINOBOT, beast mode, runs through the run. We PAN BEHIND him and see MEGATRON, beast mode, running toward him. DINOBOT and MEGATRON leap, and MEGATRON slams down hard on the Maximal. DINOBOT falls to the ground, under MEGATRON's heel.

MEGATRON: Foolish, traitor. Did you ever hope to defeat me?

DINOBOT: I will destroy you, or die trying.

MEGATRON: Ah yes, but you are dying, aren't you?

DINOBOT: Slag off and finish it.

The scenery changes. DINOBOT is now many times smaller than MEGATRON, whose face seems to dominate the entire landscape. DINOBOT is now in robot form, though we don't see him transform.

MEGATRON: What a pathetic waste of a Predacon you've become.

DINOBOT: Be quiet, tyrant. You've no power over me.

MEGATRON: Don't I?

DINOBOT (angry): Be quiet!

DINOBOT lunges his sword into MEGATRON's image, which then shatters into hundreds of pieces, like a pane of glass being broken. When the glass settles, we see DINOBOT alone, back in beast mode, surrounded by ash and red lava. The fog hangs thick and low. From a distance, something moves to him. DINOBOT readies to attack, but we see the newcomer is POLAR CLAW, beast mode.

POLAR CLAW (quietly): An interesting view of your afterlife.

DINOBOT: What is this place?

POLAR CLAW: A dream, nothing more.

DINOBOT: I wouldn't dream of you.

POLAR CLAW: I let myself in.

DINOBOT (amused): That's very rude.

POLAR CLAW: You're dying. What choice did I have.

DINOBOT: You could let me die.

POLAR CLAW: I had considered it. But you will be needed in the times ahead.

DINOBOT (smirking): So I can lead the Maximals to another suicide charge? Of all things, I let that idiot Scorponok get the drop on me.

POLAR CLAW: You helped him.

DINOBOT: I was letting him pound me to pulp?

POLAR CLAW: You walked in blind, Dinobot. You let your hatred consume your thoughts. That is what is killing you.

DINOBOT: What would you know about it?

POLAR CLAW: I know only what I observe.

DINOBOT (turning away): If I'm dying, why are you here?

POLAR CLAW: You're not trying to live. Two failures and you're ready to give up. You cannot win through hate, so you choose instead to lose.

DINOBOT (darkly): What are you saying?

POLAR CLAW: You are afraid, Maximal. You've discovered that hate is not enough to live on, and you are afraid to learn of what else there is to life.

DINOBOT: I fear nothing.

POLAR CLAW: Then why are you here?

POLAR CLAW's image fades into the mist, leaving DINOBOT alone with his thoughts. We DISSOLVE the current view to reveal DINOBOT in the MEDICAL LAB, in robot mode. His eyes glow very slightly. We PAN BACK and reveal CHEETOR, robot mode, sleeping in a chair nearby.

DINOBOT (very weakly): Not the most pleasant of sights to awaken to.

CHEETOR stirs and slowly wakes up to see DINOBOT try, and fail, to right himself in bed. CHEETOR becomes visibly ecstatic at seeing his comrade start his recovery.

CHEETOR: Hey, it's just my turn. Rattrap waited here the longest. He told me not to tell you that.

DINOBOT (smiling): The vermin? I won't give him the satisfaction of dying today.

CHEETOR: Glad to hear it. Rhinox said you would be touch and go for awhile. How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?

DINOBOT: Terrible and no. Is Optimus out of the recovery chamber yet?

CHEETOR (sighing): Not yet. We haven't told him anything.

DINOBOT: Wait until we both recover. A lecture from him might put me into relapse.

CHEETOR lets out a small giggle, followed by DINOBOT. DINOBOT relaxes a little, and begins to reflect for a long moment.

DINOBOT (slowly): Cheetor. I.

CHEETOR: What is it, Dinobot?

DINOBOT: I was wrong, in attacking Scorponok. I should have know that he would have braced for it. It was fortunate that no one was permanently injured.

CHEETOR: You did what you thought was right.

DINOBOT: No I didn't, Cheetor. I did what I thought would defeat the Predacons. This time, there was a difference.

CHEETOR: Well, we all act impulsive sometimes.

DINOBOT: Perhaps. I shall try to temper my enthusiasm for conflict in the future.

CHEETOR: Just save it up for when battle really begins. Sometimes, you're the one that gets us going in the fight.

DINOBOT (smiling): Who else would?

CHEETOR chuckles a bit, followed quickly by DINOBOT. The two laugh a bit more as we PULL OUT and DISSOLVE..

CUT TO: PREDACON HEADQUARTERS. COMMAND CENTER. SCORPONOK is in the COMMAND seat, reading over instruments. We see the SHADOW of BLACKARACHNIA, beast form, stepping inside the room.

SCORPONOK: Computer, access scans on Arachnid.

COMPUTER: Cannot comply. All data on Arachnid has been erased.

SCORPONOK (stunned): What? By who's authority?

COMPUTER: Unable to comply. That information is restricted.

SCORPONOK: Inferno, report in. Someone's hacked the base computers.

There is a long silence. We CUT TO: PREDACON HALLWAY. We see INFERNO, deactivated, on the floor. SCORPONOK's voice echoes.

SCORPONOK: Inferno? Computer, activate security system omega.

COMPUTER: Unable to comply. That pass-code has been deleted.

SCORPONOK: What the Matrix? What functions are available.

COMPUTER: All command functions have been deleted.

SCORPONOK: By whose authority?

BLACKARACHNIA: Mine, Scorponok.

SCORPONOK turns and faces BLACKARACHNIA, weapon already leveled at him.

SCORPONOK sits back in his seat, his eyes blazing.

SCORPONOK: What are you doing?

BLACKARACHNIA: I've got some business to settle.

WASPINATOR (from behind): Waspinator have business too.

SCORPONOK turns again and sees that WASPINATOR has his weapons trained as well.

SCORPONOK knows that there isn't any avenue of escape.

SCORPONOK: What business? What are you doing?

BLACKARACHNIA: I thought you would help me, after what we both went through, but Waspinator here is the only one of us who wants Arachnid as bad as I do. You want to stand around and wait until your precious Megatron gets us all killed.

SCORPONOK (stammering): I'm working on a plan to defeat Arachnid.

BLACKARACHNIA: You already had your chance. All I want from you now is access to your lab. That requires your pass-code.

SCORPONOK: Forget it.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator say that Scorponok wouldn't help.

SCORPONOK: I don't need to help you.

BLACKARACHNIA: Fool, I'll just scrap you and take it from your memory banks.

MEGATRON (grimly from off camera): That wouldn't be very nice, Miss Arachnia, no.

We PAN OVER and see MEGATRON, robot mode, stepping boldly into the COMMAND CHAMBER. BLACKARACHNIA and WASPINATOR stammer back as SCORPONOK takes his turn to smirk.

BLACKARACHNIA: You were supposed to have days left.

MEGATRON: Come now, do you really think I would willingly be disabled for so long with treacherous back-stabbers such as yourself? No. Now, drop your weapons from Scorponok.

BLACKARACHNIA and WASPINATOR do as instructed. As MEGATRON reassumes his position in the COMMAND CHAIR.

MEGATRON: Waspinator, see to repairs on Terrorsaur and Tarantulas. Scorponok, re- establish command parameters to their normal settings.

BLACKARACHNIA: And me?

MEGATRON: Well, since you wanted to go after Arachnid so bad, I'm going to let you do just that, yes.

We ZOOM IN on MEGATRON as he starts laughing. BLACKARACHNIA steps back in real fear. And we FADE TO BLACK.

The End