Beast Wars Anonymous:

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Here There Be Dragons
by Neale Davidson (tfneale@home.com)

ACT ONE

The southern jungles, near Peru, are alive with live. Moving through them, however, is life not of this world. Three Maximals, the Jointrons, rush through the canopy, through the lower mountains, in their beast modes. DJ, GIMLET, and MOTORARM fan out, then come back together. If they are actually searching for something, they’re doing it haphazardly.

DJ: DJ tired of patrol duty, amigos. Time for a siesta, no?

GIMLET: We have orders, DJ. You no want Lio mad at us, do you?

MOTORARM: Heck, if we find Diablo, we’ll get a tail-kickin’ fiesta!

DJ (worried): Motorarm want to fight?

MOTORARM: Si, I need some action, hermano.

The trio continue to move through the jungle as they speak, coming across another clearing in the canopy. DJ and MOTORARM seem to be oblivious, but GIMLET is the first to notice something terribly amiss with the scene. He pauses, then turns to look at his comrades.

GIMLET: Action? You may get it. Look over there.

GIMLET transforms, and indicates a scorched clearing nearby. Trees have been slashed through, and smoke still pours from the center of the area. MOTORARM steps forward, and starts to look around as DJ transforms and lands.

MOTORARM: I see nothing.

DJ: Is Galvatron, I know it.

GIMLET: So where he go?

GIMLET steps into the clearing itself, and kneels. As he focuses on the ground, he scans over remnants of energon, already tainted. A ley line had gone through here previously.

DJ: Energon?

GIMLET: Si, but no enough for Galvatron’s needs. Makes no sense.

DJ considers a moment, and looks around. MOTORARM finally transforms and joins them, taking out his weapon as GIMLET takes out his.

DJ (musing): Makes sense. Use small sources to heal and power up. It be slow, but keeps us Maximals from finding him, no?

GIMLET: While we’ve been looking for the big score, he’s been snatching up the little ones. Very clever.

GALVATRON (voice over): I do try to impress.

GALVATRON laughs, emerging from the trees in his drill tank mode. DJ, MOTORARM, and GIMLET are taken aback as he appears to them.

DJ (worried): Oh, slag.

MOTORARM: Tres on uno. Let’s fiesta, hermanos! Motorarm, Mambo!

MOTORARM leaps up and separates, his body extending into two bestial arms. GIMLET and DJ exchange a worried expression, but nod and leap up as well.

DJ (resigned): Samba.

GIMLET (resigned): LaBamba.

GIMLET flips over and transforms into a large torso and set of legs. DJ links up, forming the chest and head of a giant, with MOTORARM sliding into place to finish form TRIPLEDECUS. The Jointron giant finishes his linking up, and strikes a pose, ready to fight.

TRIPLEDECUS: We stop you now.

GALVATRON: A pity you chose this route, Tripledecus. After all, your sparks are Predacons in nature. Why would you so willingly serve the Maximals now?

TRIPLEDECUS: We are Jointrons, senior. We are Maximals. We will destroy you.

GALVATRON (smirking): So you say. I had hoped to reason with you, get you to see your inner Predacon sparks. But, if you insist on combat first, who am I to argue? Galvatron, terrorize.

GALVATRON converts to his robot mode, now fully healed and repaired. He rears back, summoning his strength from the Heart of Cybertron as TRIPLEDECUS moves forward to attack. As the battle begins, however, we look to another part of the jungle, where the Autorollers, gliding in their robot modes, are also on patrol.

AUTOCRASHER: I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.

AUTOLAUNCHER: Galvatron hasn’t appeared at any major Angolmois sites. But he’s out there. We have to find out what he’s up to.

AUTOCRASHER: Yeah? Well why do we have to do it? Why not the jets?

AUTOJETTER (snorting): I take offense to that.

AUTOCRASHER (grumbling): You know what I meant.

AUTOLAUNCHER: Would you trust Starscream and his fliers after what we’ve seen?

AUTOCRASHER: I suppose not.

AUTOJETTER: What’s wrong, Stinger? You’ve been quiet.

AUTOSTINGER (sighing): We’re hunting a fellow Predacon, one of us. It just doesn’t feel right to me. I know he’s insane and all, but shouldn’t we be attacking the Maximals instead?

AUTOLAUNCHER: Megastorm feels that Galvatron is a liabilty we can’t afford. Judging by how Galvatron’s acted in the past, though, I’m inclined to agree.

AUTOSTINGER (bothered): And what happens when we find him? Do we terminate one of our own?

AUTOLAUNCHER: We’ll worry about that when we find him. If we even do, that is.

AUTOSTINGER (grumbling): I never thought I would live to see the day when we’re enemies with fellow ‘cons.

In another part of the jungle, MANTIS steps up to an old stone shrine. This is more modest than those the Transformers have found before, and is only large enough to serve as a shelter for the Insectrons, and little else. Inside, BIGMOS and TONBOT are waiting as SCISSORBOY installs a small amount of equipment on the far wall.

MANTIS: What’s he working on?

SCISSORBOY: Scanners. I’m hoping get enough power through here to keep an optic on the Maximals and Predacons in the area.

BIGMOS: How was your patrol?

MANTIS (grimly): They’re near. Several energon sites have been razed. I found many dead humans as well. This ‘Galvatron’ seems intent on killing as many of them as he can find.

SCISSORBOY: Why bother? The humans aren’t at all advanced. What threat could they possibly be?

BIGMOS: You’re trying to read the mind of a madman that we haven’t even met.

TONBOT (cautious): If the Maximals are being honest about him.

BIGMOS: We saw the battle at the temple. Galvatron pursued his plans without regard for his troops and allies.

MANTIS (resigned): Then we side with the Maximals to stop him?

BIGMOS: The Maximals are children of Autobots, Mantis. Even if Galvatron is insane, I’m loath to side with our fuel-enemies without something more meaningful.

SCISSORBOY: We stay out of it then?

BIGMOS (sighing): We won’t have that luxury.

TONBOT: We wait here, we’ll eventually be forced to take sides. Our Predacon brothers will try to pull us into the fold eventually.

SCISSORBOY (worried): But can we side against him? Even if they’re wrong? They’re our kin, after all.

BIGMOS grimaces at SCISSORBOY’s comment, but it echoes his own doubts and worries. He stands and steps to MANTIS, gently patting his comrade’s shoulder as he makes his decision.

BIGMOS: Mantis, we need information.

MANTIS: I understand.

BIGMOS: Find Galvatron, deduce his motives, then return to me.

SCISSORBOY (surprised): Sir? If Galvatron is as powerful as he seems, you really want to send Mantis alone to find him?

MANTIS (calmly): If something happens, the rest of you won’t be put into danger, and you know that the Predacons are not to be trusted.

SCISSORBOY: Lucky you.

TONBOT (quietly): Walk with winds, Mantis.

MANTIS nods and turns away, leaving the other Insectrons quietly. BIGMOS betrays a downcast look as his comrade heads out. SCISSORBOY looks over to his leader, then shakes his head sadly, moving back to his work.

SCISSORBOY (quietly): Just come back.

In another part of the jungle, TRIPLEDECUS has already fallen. Black smoke pours from a gaping hole in the giant’s chest. GALVATRON, triumphant, transforms from his looming dragon form back to his robot mode. He steps over to the smoldering, ruined form of the Jointron giant, and regards it a long moment, appraising the damage on his foe.

GALVATRON: Such a waste, Tripledecus. You would have made a great ally.

GALVATRON steps over to the giant’s head and kneels beside it, ready to finish the giant Maximal off. He hesitates, however, upon some reflection.

GALVATRON: It would be easy to terminate you, and eliminate you as a threat now. But I suspect that you might be more useful to me alive at the moment.

GALVATRON lets out a smirk, and trips a relatively small device on the giant’s arm. Satisfied, he stands up again, looking over the large form as a larger plan comes to mind.

GALVATRON: Right now there are other Predacons waiting to be brought back into the fold. I can come back for you later, after all - Not that I’ll need to, I suspect.

GALVATRON chuckles and then turns away to leave TRIPLEDECUS smoldering in place. GALVATRON’s triumphs are apparently already beginning.

ACT TWO

AUTOLAUNCHER and AUTOSTINGER have reached TRIPLEDECUS, and shake their heads in confusion at the Maximal’s remains. AUTOCRASHER remains on guard, weapons out, as AUTOJETTER glides in, transforms to robot mode, and lands next to AUTOLAUNCHER.

AUTOJETTER: All clear from the air.

AUTOSTINGER: I don’t get it. Galvatron took out Tripledecus and then scarpered?

AUTOLAUNCHER: He’s luring us closer, Jetter. He knows that we’re coming after him.

AUTOCRASHER: There’s a pleasant thought.

AUTOLAUNCHER narrows his optics at AUTOCRASHER, then moves over to regard TRIPLEDECUS’s down form. He crosses his arms.

AUTOLAUNCHER: He left this one alive. Autojetter, are there Maximals in the area?

AUTOJETTER: Negative. I doubt that they even received the distress signal.

AUTOLAUNCHER (smirking): Pity that. Let’s finish this one off and have done with it.

AUTOLAUNCHER readies a missile to finish off the Maximal giant, but a disc flies into from the jungle depths, slamming into AUTOLAUNCHER’s chest. AUTOLAUNCHER stammers back from surprise, and turns to see – nothing but jungle.

AUTOCRASHER: It’s Galvatron! He’s come back.

AUTOJETTER (confused): My scanners aren’t showing anything.

AUTOLAUNCHER (scornful): It’s not Galvatron – he would never be this subtle.

AUTOSTINGER: Someone’s in the canopy. A Maximal must be here.

AUTOLAUNCHER: Stinger, Crasher, fan out and find him. Jetter, support them from the air.

The three other Autorollers don’t hesitate and go to perform the respective duties. AUTOLAUNCHER turns again to the giant, growls, then also heads out of the clearing into the jungle depths. MANTIS, meanwhile, leaps from his earlier position towards one of the other Autorollers.

MANTIS (mumbling): Good plan, Mantis.

MANTIS leaps up and loads another disc, landing firmly near AUTOSTINGER, and firing a single disc at the Predacon. AUTOSTINGER hisses and turns as the attack slices near him.

AUTOSTINGER: Come out, Maximal. Or are you afraid to face me?

MANTIS steps around, firing another disc to keep AUTOSTINGER busy, but the Autoroller holds his position and narrows his optics, looking for his attacker.

MANTIS: I’m not going to let you murder that Maximal.

AUTOSTINGER (flatly): He’s an enemy. Enemies die.

MANTIS (scornful): In battle, they do. Where’s your honor, Predacon?

AUTOSTINGER: Honor – We don’t have the luxury.

AUTOSTINGER raises his arms and fires off a missile, causing MANTIS to leap forward. Finally, MANTIS lands firmly on the ground in front of his opponent, and steps back, given pause.

MANTIS (surprised): Stinger? It can’t be –

AUTOSTINGER: Do I know you, Maximal?

MANTIS hesitates, then narrows his optics. AUTOSTINGER watches the Insectron carefully a long moment, unsure of this turn of events.

MANTIS: I’m Mantis, an Insectron. We served together once – a long time ago.

AUTOSTINGER (skeptical): Mantis? Impossible.

MANTIS: You were on the Nemesis. Shockwave sent us to find you.

AUTOSTINGER: You’re a Decepticon?

MANTIS: A long time ago. Three million years ago.

AUTOSTINGER: You’ve changed. Why do you care what happens to the Maximal?

MANTIS (scornful): Killing a defeated foe, Autostinger? It’s just wrong.

AUTOSTINGER (smirking): Still too good for the dirty parts of war. Maybe you haven’t changed. You side with the Maximals now.

MANTIS (flatly): I don’t know.

AUTOSTINGER narrows his optics, unsure of how to respond. The chatter of the other Autorollers finally starts to fill the air from a distance, moving closer. MANTIS looks over to it, and readies another disc.

AUTOSTINGER: You should go, Mantis. Launcher won’t be as understanding of you.

MANTIS: Doesn’t appear that way.

MANTIS steps back and converts to his beast mode. He looks back at AUTOSTINGER, and leaps up and away as AUTOLAUNCHER and AUTOCRASHER both arrive. AUTOJETTER continues to fly around above, but the canopy keeps the Insectron hidden.

AUTOLAUNCHER (concerned): We heard battle.

AUTOSTINGER: An Insectron was here. It was Mantis.

AUTOSTINGER fidgets a little, and doesn’t immediately look at his two comrades. AUTOLAUNCHER looks to where MANTIS must have retreated, but says nothing, and just moves up to his subordinate. AUTOCRASHER looks around randomly, and shakes his head in confusion.

AUTOCRASHER: Well? Where is he?

AUTOSTINGER (sighing): He fled. I was about to pursue.

AUTOLAUNCHER: An Insectron? Yet another faction on this world.

AUTOSTINGER: They are former Decepticons from Cybertron. They may work with us.

AUTOCRASHER (smirking): By shooting at us like that?

AUTOSTINGER (weakly): Maybe he didn’t understand the situation –

AUTOLAUNCHER: Possible. We’ll let him go for now, then.

AUTOLAUNCHER watches AUTOSTINGER a long moment, knowing too well that his long-time comrade is holding a lot back at the moment. He turns aside and checks over his own damage, which apparently wasn’t much.

AUTOCRASHER: More random Transformers. So what do we do?

AUTOLAUNCHER: We finish off Tripledecus, then return to our hunt.

AUTOSTINGER (hesitant): Launcher, let’s just leave him. He’ll be dead soon anyway.

AUTOLAUNCHER (surprised): You’re willing to take the chance?

AUTOSTINGER: He’s already down.

AUTOLAUNCHER nods to AUTOSTINGER, understanding. He crosses his arms and sighs, but doesn’t offer any argument.

AUTOLAUNCHER: You’re right – we should conserve our ammunition for Galvatron. Tripledecus hasn’t been there for long, our prey is likely still around somewhere.

AUTOCRASHER: Back to the suicide mission.

AUTOLAUNCHER gives a warning look to AUTOCRASHER, who shrugs and transforms to his vehicle form and starts to roll through the jungle paths. AUTOSTINGER seems hesitant, but he too transforms and moves out.

AUTOLAUNCHER (quietly): Don’t get too soft on me, Stinger.

TRIPLEDECUS, away from this, rouses slightly. His large form still smokes and shakes as he tries and fails to sit up. His form is ruined, evidenced by the fuel now leaking all around him.

TRIPLEDECUS (weakly): Jointrons, separate.

MOTORARM detaches first, and falls aside as he returns to beast mode. Even his thickly armored shell has been ripped into shreds. DJ comes off next and returns to his beast mode, though both wings are in tatters and much of his hide has been blasted away. GIMLET, returning to his own beast mode, seems the least damaged, with char marks all over his body.

DJ (sighing): DJ blown up again.

MOTORARM: I want another shot at el Diablo, some day.

DJ: Let’s rest first, por favor?

MOTORARM (wincing): Si.

GIMLET: Return to base, brothers. Lio needs to know Galvatron’s back.

In another part of the Jungle, MANTIS tries to recover his bearings, speaking aloud to himself in his beast mode. He scans over behind him a few times, ensuring that the Autorollers aren’t in pursuit of him.

MANTIS (musing): Stinger is here. How can I report back this? Bigmos would certainly want to side with the Predacons if they’re our former comrades. But how they acted – what they’re doing. Were we like that at one time?

MANTIS sighs and shakes his head, taking in a nervous and uncomfortable breath.

MANTIS (musing): Did we stop caring about anything else but the war? Did we fall so low? And can we even go back to those depths now? Comrades are not, we’re so different from the Predacons now. I’m not even sure what they would be capable of. We can’t -

MANTIS loses his train of thought as something in the distance distracts him. He looks up, and narrows his optics. Something else is very wrong now. He cocks his head, looking through as much jungle as he can, and makes out smoke in the distance.

MANTIS: Another strike?

MANTIS rushes forward and starts to leap between trees. As he approaches, the smoke gets thicker and thicker until finally he finds the source. Another small site of exposed Angolmois has been raided. Like before, dead wildlife and trees lie around.

MANTIS: Mantis, robot mode.

GALVATRON (voice over): Planning to attack me all by yourself? Very brave of you.

MANTIS transforms, then looks around. Emerging from the debris is a large, menacing shape. GALVATRON, in his robot mode, steps forward carrying a small amount of corrupted Angolmois energon in his hand.

MANTIS (awestruck): Galvatron.

MANTIS steps back, as GALVATRON turns to regard him. MANTIS clutches the disc on his arm, but GALVATRON seems undaunted.

GALVATRON: Well, Insectron – I’ve been expecting one of you to drop by.

MANTIS narrows his optics as GALVATRON moves forward to meet him. The Predacon seems almost pleased to find the Insectron, but MANTIS is mixed with fear and loathing.

MANTIS: What are you doing here? Why all this destruction?

GALVATRON: You’ll have answers. But come, Mantis. We have much to discuss.

MANTIS is unsure, but GALVATRON steps forward, possibly ready to deal.

ACT THREE

MANTIS stands, having met his quarry. Sadly, GALVATRON was ready for him. The limited amount of Angolmois here has already been corrupted. GALVATRON has already ingested most of it, and holds another cube of the corrupted power source in his hands.

MANTIS (worried): The Angolmois.

GALVATRON studies over the Insectron a minute, narrowing his optics as he steps forward. MANTIS scans around him, unsure of what’s happening.

MANTIS (confused): You’re feeding on it directly? But this source of energon –

GALVATRON: I know what it is, Mantis.

MANTIS: And you’re feeding on it? Why?

GALVATRON (smirking): I intend to become a god.

MANTIS (worried): No.

GALVATRON chuckles a bit at MANTIS’s expression, and fans back the massive wings hanging over his shoulders. He takes the bit of corrupted energon and ingests it, causing the familiar glow of the Heart of Cybertron to brighten.

MANTIS: It’s madness, Galvatron. You’ll destroy everything. This energon -

GALVATRON: This energon is a catalyst, Insectron. It is a means to my end.

MANTIS (pleading): It is corrupted. There’s something evil about it, Galvatron. Can’t you feel it?

GALVATRON (growling): It is divine power given form, Mantis. And it is mine to command. Do not get into my way!

MANTIS: I have no choice!

MANTIS leaps out at GALVATRON, firing his discs into him before following through with his sickle- like arms. GALVATRON is hurt, slightly, but remains standing and throws the Insectron aside like a rag doll. MANTIS spins quickly, and fires his discs again.

GALVATRON: A brave stand? What part of your noble character so compels you?

MANTIS (scowling): The part of you that was Decepticon would remember it!

As if set off by this, GALVATRON lets out an angry growl and stomps once hard onto the ground, opening fire with his knee-mounted machine cannons. MANTIS leaps aside, but a few of the blasts run down his legs as he moves away.

GALVATRON (hissing): I created the Decepticons!

MANTIS leaps again for cover, just before a missile blast smashes into his former position. As GALVATRON moves in again, the four Autorollers, in their robot modes, glide in overhead. AUTOSTINGER moves forward to AUTOLAUNCHER, watching GALVATRON’s attacks.

AUTOLAUNCHER (quietly): Mantis.

AUTOSTINGER: He can’t defeat Galvatron, Launcher.

AUTOLAUNCHER: None of us can defeat, Galvatron. We’ve seen what he can do.

AUTOJETTER: We should report back to Megastorm, then.

AUTOCRASHER: Why? Galvatron will come after us just as soon as he’s done with the Insectrons.

AUTOSTINGER (worried): I can’t let Mantis be destroyed – not like this.

AUTOSTINGER starts to head down, much to the surprise of AUTOJETTER. AUTOLAUNCHER merely shakes his head, however, and motions for the others to follow him down. Reluctantly, the remain two Autorollers agree, heading to the battle below.

MANTIS (panting, to radio): Mantis to BigMos. I’m in trouble. I need backup. I need it now.

BIGMOS (on radio): We’re coming – we’re -

MANTIS doesn’t hear any more of the message. GALVATRON fires again, blasting into MANTIS’s arm, and melting it into oblivion with the heat of a blast from the Heart of Cybertron itself. MANTIS screams out and looks up, shuffling back as best as he can.

GALVATRON (darkly): You’ve made a mistake, Mantis.

MANTIS (weakly): The Angolmois, Galvatron – it’s too dangerous. You don’t know what it will do to you – to anyone who drinks the corrupted power.

GALVATRON: It’s made me powerful, Mantis. It’s made me more powerful than the Autobots and Maximals can even dream.

MANTIS (wincing): It’s made you insane. You have to be stopped.

GALVATRON (offended): Stopped?

GALVATRON steps forward, bringing around his ‘tail’ to cover his arm, locking a missile into place and ready to fire. MANTIS stammers, and looks up to see GALVATRON moving in for the kill.

GALVATRON: Dare you interfere with me? You are a child of Decepticons, like me.

MANTIS (whispering): You’re mad, Galvatron.

GALVATRON (smirking): Seeking power is the way of our people, Mantis. You know that.

MANTIS (weakly): Power alone, is not enough.

GALVATRON: Power, Mantis, is everything.

GALVATRON rears back to fire, letting the smirk stay on his face. MANTIS braces for what’s to come, but AUTOSTINGER rushes ahead, calling out to the larger Predacon.

AUTOSTINGER: Please, Galvatron –

GALVATRON (annoyed): What is it, Autostinger?

AUTOSTINGER: Don’t terminate him.

GALVATRON (surprised): Don’t terminate him? Why?

AUTOSTINGER (calmly): I owe him.

GALVATRON is actually given pause at this, and turns to regard the helpless MANTIS. MANTIS struggles to right himself, and looks up at the powerful Predacon commander. AUTOSTINGER, much to his comrades’ surprise, steps up to confront GALVATRON.

GALVATRON (darkly): What possible reason can you give me to spare him?

AUTOSTINGER (hesitant): Spare his life, and I’ll follow you, willingly.

GALVATRON: I see.

GALVATRON narrows his optics, then turns to AUTOLAUNCHER and the two others. AUTOLAUNCHER and AUTOJETTER exchange looks, but AUTOJETTER finally nods his agreement to the action.

GALVATRON: You are all agreed to join me, then?

AUTOLAUNCHER (quietly): We are.

GALVATRON looks over the Autorollers, and cracks a knowing smile. He finally looks over MANTIS again, and narrows his optics.

GALVATRON: You’ve sided with the Maximals, for that I should destroy you here. But your former friend has given you a reprieve. I suggest that you use it.

MANTIS (distant): Stinger –

AUTOSTINGER (grimly): Just go, Mantis. From now on, we’re even.

MANTIS rights himself, and then looks to AUTOSTINGER as if about to speak. Seeing GALVATRON remain near, however, he thinks better of it and takes to the air, heading into retreat. AUTOSTINGER watches him go a very long moment, and shakes his head.

AUTOCRASHER: Are you sure about this?

AUTOSTINGER: I owed him.

GALVATRON (smiling): You’re debt is paid.

AUTOLAUNCHER (firmly): Treat us well, Galvatron.

GALVATRON: Oh, I intend to have a happy crew.

GALVATRON reconverts to his dragon mode, and lifts off. AUTOLAUNCHER and AUTOJETTER step up into the air to follow, albeit a bit hesitant. AUTOCRASHER takes a long, worried look over AUTOSTINGER before following suit.

GALVATRON: Come, Predacons. We need to bring the rest of the sheep into the fold.

Some time later, MANTIS stands before BIGMOS and TONBOT. The three Insectrons have been talking, though none appear too happy about the recent turn of events.

BIGMOS: Galvatron wants the Angolmois for himself, then?

MANTIS (quietly): Yes, commander. His ambition is insane.

TONBOT: We can’t allow this.

BIGMOS sighs quietly, looking downcast.

BIGMOS (quietly): As children of Decepticons I feel obligated not to fight Galvatron and his Predacons.

MANTIS: He’s made us choose sides already.

BIGMOS: I know, Mantis. Sometimes, it is better to be known for one’s enemies.

BIGMOS stands and summons a breath. He turns, looking now at SCISSORBOY, POWERHUG, and DRILLNUTS, who have also been waiting an answer from their commander. BIGMOS turns again to MANTIS, and finally nods.

BIGMOS: Contact Lio Convoy. For this fight, we side with the Maximals.

MANTIS lowers his head, nodding his agreement. He looks out again, then lowers his optics as BIGMOS steps past him, followed by the others. TONBOT is the last to leave. He raises his hand, about to speak some words of comfort, but none are forthcoming. He relents and leaves as well, leaving MANTIS alone with his thoughts.