Beast Wars Anonymous:

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Purity and Corruption
by Neale Davidson (tfneale@home.com)

ACT ONE

The Gung Ho sits quietly, looking in a little better shape now that the bulk of the crew have been working on repairing her. Inside, on the bridge, SCUBA works over several consoles, tools scattered out everywhere. DIVER and KID are also hard at work on repairing the bridge panels. All are half-hidden beneath the housing, their legs sticking out.

KID (groaning): This is boring.

DIVER: Haven’t you had enough adventure yet?

KID: You can never have too much adventure.

DIVER: Sure you can. You just haven’t spent enough time recovering from adventures yet. Right, Scuba?

KID: What would Scuba know? He never goes out and does anything. He likes repair work.

SCUBA: I’m a technician, what do you expect?

KID: Don’t you get bored, though? A little excitement and adventure to spark your fuel?

DIVER: Kid, that’s all you do.

LIO CONVOY and APACHE step in quietly, accidentally overhearing the younger ones’ conversation. LIO CONVOY shakes his head, but APACHE remains quiet, going over to the consoles where SCUBA is working. He looks over them, and slams down his fist, causing SCUBA to jump.

APACHE (annoyed): I thought you said that you fixed this.

SCUBA (defensive): I did!

APACHE: The readings are all wrong. Weren’t you paying attention?

SCUBA (worried): Yes, sir.

APACHE: Really? Can you explain why the sensors are off-line again.

SCUBA (sadly): No, sir.

LIO CONVOY: Scuba, your work is getting sloppier and sloppier. That’s not what I expect from you. You’re better than that.

SCUBA: I’m sorry, sir. I’ll do better.

LIO CONVOY: No, you won’t.

SCUBA (worried): Sir?

LIO CONVOY: You need a break. You’ve been at repairs for nearly a full week. You need to do something else and get your focus back. You and Tasmania Kid will go on patrols.

SCUBA: But the Jointrons –

LIO CONVOY: They’re out in the field, but there’s no reason that you can’t help them locate Predacon activity. Make two passes, then return to base.

SCUBA (resigned): Yes, sir.

DIVER (chuckling): Better you than me.

SCUBA: Thanks a lot.

KID: Hey at least it’s some action. I was getting to think that you would never leave the ship.

SCUBA: But I didn’t want to!

KID: It’s nice outside. Come on, I’ll show you.

Before SCUBA can protest, KID is already converting to his devil mode, leaving SCUBA to shake his head and follow out after. LIO CONVOY watches them both, but keeps quiet. APACHE, however, is obviously grinning and enjoying SCUBA’s predicament.

APACHE: They’re going to get into trouble, you know.

LIO CONVOY: Have the Jointrons keep an optic on them, in case they get in over their heads.

DIVER (musing): Oh, I’m sure they will.

In another part of the Yucatan, a lake shines under the blue skies. This lake, however, is odd. Liquid energon flows in from a ley line stream. The reddish-violet glow gives a slightly eerie hue to the trees and foilage around. MEGASTORM, in robot mode, lands and steps over to his Autorollers. AUTOCRASHER is loading energon cubes into AUTOSTINGER, who remains in his dump truck mode. AUTOLAUNCHER, however, sees his commander, and starts stepping over.

MEGASTORM: Beautiful, isn’t it? But it seems so alien on this world.

AUTOLAUNCHER: Liquid energon. Starscream must have spotted this pool in his fly-overs. I wonder why he didn’t bother to report it to us.

MEGASTORM: Probably some scheme of his. With him there’s always a scheme.

AUTOLAUNCHER: True.

MEGASTORM: So? Status report?

AUTOLAUNCHER: We’ve been loading a wealth of energon cubes into Autostinger. He’s starting to complain of boredom, however.

MEGASTORM: He won’t be bored much longer. Why is Autojetter not loading as well?

AUTOLAUNCHER turns to notice his comrade leaning over the current of energon, shaking his head at it. MEGASTORM steps forward, followed by the reporting AUTOROLLER. AUTOJETTER turns and looks up, sighing as he does.

MEGASTORM: You’re not working. Is there a problem?

AUTOJETTER (sighing): This energon is different somehow. I wanted to analyze it more before we used it to repower the Gigaplex.

MEGASTORM: Did you find anything?

AUTOJETTER: It should work. There are just some properties that I don’t recognize. I need a longer and more detailed analysis.

MEGASTORM: No time. The Maximals may discover our presence.

AUTOJETTER: What does it matter? They can’t beat us.

MEGASTORM: Perhaps not, but they can stop us from collecting this energon. Continue working until we have enough to repower Gigaplex. If it would help you, Autojetter, you can remain to analyze the energon here. More detailed work will have to wait until we return to base.

AUTOJETTER (resigned): Yes, sir.

AUTOLAUNCHER: Be happy, ‘Jetter. You’re getting out of real work.

AUTOJETTER (offended): This is real work.

MEGASTORM: Enough. Autolauncher, keep producing energon cubes.

AUTOLAUNCHER: And what are you doing?

MEGASTORM: I’m going to follow this stream to its source. Maybe I can find some answers for Autojetter, here.

AUTOJETTER looks up, a bit taken aback by that remark, but MEGASTORM ignores him and heads off up the lake’s feeding stream. AUTOLAUNCHER pats his comrade on the back then goes to aid the other two Autorollers as they continue their energon harvest.

AUTOJETTER (grumbling): Watch this energon give us a case of scraplets or something.

The two Maximals, SCUBA and KID, move through the jungles. SCUBA is decidedly unhappy, forced to walk in his robot mode through harsh terrain. KID, however, seems aboslutely delighted to force his comrade out into the field for once.

SCUBA (grumbling): This isn’t what I signed on to the corps for.

KID: It’s a package deal. Play with neat toys, and get outside to see strange new worlds.

SCUBA: I’m glad you’re happy.

KID: Lighten up. See the world. There’s more to life than computers.

SCUBA (smirking): You take that back right now.

KID: Oh, geeze. I hope you were kidding.

SCUBA: A little – Wait a minute.

SCUBA stops and looks around him, peering to the distance. He shakes his head, as if trying to make sense of something. KID stops and turns back, transforming to his robot mode as he does, and steps over.

KID: Something wrong?

SCUBA: A lot of energon readings. Amolgois readings, I think.

KID: We should tell Lio? He wanted us to watch for them.

SCUBA: There’s something else. It’s a signal, but it’s weak.

KID: How close?

SCUBA: Not far, only a few dozen meters ahead. The jungle must have clouded my sensors.

KID: You just weren’t paying attention. Let’s go check it out.

SCUBA: Shouldn’t we call for the Jointrons? What if there’re Predacons?

KID: Hey, the fun’s finding out.

KID runs forward, causing SCUBA to shake his head and activate his radio as he starts to step forward. SCUBA grumbles once until he catches sight of KID moving over some ground brush to a riverbed. The river here is glowing a soft blue. Amolgois energy has seeped into it.

SCUBA: DJ, this is Scuba.

DJ (on radio): Amigo! You finally come out to play, eh?

SCUBA: Right. Taz and I are tracking a signal. Mind staying close in case things heat up?

DJ (on radio): You think I would miss a party?

SCUBA: Depends on the – oh, Primus.

SCUBA turns to the riverbed. KID is stopped as well. Both have stumbled onto a downed stasis pod. The programming panel already open. Blue amolgois energy carried by the river runs over the pod, and turns quickly into a dark violet color that bleeds into the rest of the feed.

KID (worried): Looks like we found something.

KID kneels over the stasis pod, and we fade to black.

ACT TWO

KID kneels over the pod, and starts looking it over. SCUBA follows, still looking over the pod as he continues his radio link. KID looks over the pod, and shakes his head at it.

DJ (on radio, impatient): Amigo, what’s going on, eh? You maybe need some help?

KID: It’s busted. The impact damaged the programming controls. Someone tried to compensate, it looks like, but gave up.

SCUBA (sighing): We found a stasis pod, DJ. How soon can you three get here?

DJ (on radio): A few shakes of a Llama’s tail. You see trouble?

SCUBA (to radio): Not yet. That will change soon, I’m sure. Scuba, out.

KID (sighing): Hopeless.

SCUBA smiles and steps over to the stasis pod, lowering to it. KID shakes his head, indicating the busted control panel and sensor array. SCUBA just smiles up at KID.

SCUBA: It’s not hopeless.

KID (surprised): You can fix it?

SCUBA: I don’t know. The spark is still contained safely. I think I can get the panel working again.

KID: All right. See, you’re good for something outside, too.

SCUBA (smirking): I’m still doing repairs.

KID considers, then sulks. SCUBA’s retort has him. The technically minded Maximal chuckles and starts to work, beginning to take apart the busted system. He removes some tools from his stowage compartment in his chest and continues working.

KID: You’re hopeless, you know that?

SCUBA: It’s what I do. You take stupid risks. I work on machines.

KID: Stupid risks? I’m not stupid.

MEGASTORM (from behind): I’m sorry, I do tend to disagree, Maximals.

KID (surprised): What?

MEGASTORM steps forward and fires. The blast smashes hard into KID, who is sent flying. SCUBA looks up, fearful, as the Predacon commander steps forward. KID struggles, and manages to right himself. The blast having ripped up his robot mode armor, but not taking him out just yet.

MEGASTORM: A stasis pod. Move away from it. That’s Predacon property now.

SCUBA: This property is damaged. If I don’t continue working, the spark inside will terminate.

MEGASTORM: I see. Of course, if you finish, we’ll have a new Maximal on our hands, won’t we?

SCUBA (paused): Well.

MEGASTORM: Can’t have that, either.

MEGASTORM fires again, causing SCUBA to leap aside and counter-attack. The blasts rattle up MEGASTORM’s body, but don’t do much. SCUBA looks at his arm-blasters in disbelief. MEGASTORM merely smirks, and counters, but a small blast from KID distracts him and ruins his aim.

KID (grumbling): You know, just once I would like to actually hurt a Predacon.

SCUBA: These guys are armored like Decepticons.

KID: No kidding.

SCUBA and KID fire together, causing MEGASTORM to pause, then finally retreat back a bit as the combined assault starts wearing him down. MEGASTORM fires a couple of times, but his aim is ruined, and goes far wide of KID.

MEGASTORM (hissing): You’ve only managed to bother me, Maximals. Megastorm, tank mode.

MEGASTORM transforms quickly to his tank mode, and spins his turret around to bead on SCUBA. Recognizing that higher firepower is about to get into his way, SCUBA dives for cover as the first blast rushes out, burning a clean hole through trees for several dozen yards.

KID (awed): Definitely not environmentally friendly.

SCUBA: Draw him away from the pod.

KID (shocked): Yeah, right!

KID starts to fire again, getting MEGASTORM’s attention for only a moment before the armored form starts rolling back towards SCUBA and the stasis pod. SCUBA quickly rushes back to the controls, trying his best not to let the slowly approaching form daunt him too much.

COMPUTER: Replication sequence started.

SCUBA (impatient): Come on, get working. We’re running out of time.

COMPUTER: DNA scanner is not responding.

SCUBA (worried): Oh no.

As SCUBA frowns at the computer, he gets hit with another of MEGASTORM’s blasts. SCUBA is thrown back, and hits the amolgois-filled stream with a splash. Sparks of energon fly out from around him. Oddly, though he doesn’t notice, the damage caused to him by the blast heals over. The effect is not lost on MEGASTORM, however.

SCUBA (scowling): Dammit, Kid. I said ‘draw him away’. Don’t you know what that means?

MEGASTORM: Interesting. Megastorm to Autojetter, bring Autolauncher and keep these Maximals occupied.

AUTOJETTER (on radio): On our way, commander.

SCUBA scrambles up, trying to reach the stasis pod again, but MEGASTORM again fires, keeping him at bay. KID, for his part, continues his attack, standing in the stream, and doing little else but pestering the Predacon tank.

KID (scowling): This is hopeless. Where are the Jointrons?

SCUBA: Probably taking a siesta.

AUTOJETTER rushes down now, in his jet mode. He opens fire with a strafing run, making KID fall fully into the stream. SCUBA looks up, and starts to counter fire, but is then distracted by a charging AUTOLAUNCHER, in vehicle mode. SCUBA dives aside and starts to fire, marring AUTOLAUNCHER’s armor a bit, but doing little damage.

SCUBA (worried): Damn, these Predacons are tough.

KID: I noticed.

MEGASTORM smiles as his troops have already arrived on the scene. He turns aside and heads to the pod, now that the Maximals are helpless to keep him away from it. He steps to the pod and kneels before it. As the Autorollers continue to engage, he turns to command them even as they continue to fire at the two smaller Maximals.

MEGASTORM: Autorollers, just keep them busy. They have backup on the way, but it won’t matter in a few moments.

AUTOLAUNCHER: Understood. Autolauncher, terrorize.

SCUBA (scowling): No! The pod!

KID: DJ, where the slag are you?

DJ (on radio): We see you, Amigo. Be there soon for the fiesta. Hold out.

MEGASTORM smiles as his battle goes well. He looks back over the pod, now safely ignoring the Maximals for now. They’re too busy keeping alive at the moment. He looks over the damaged programming interface and picks up SCUBA’s dropped tools.

MEGASTORM: All right, accept a new program.

COMPUTER: Identical program already exists.

MEGASTORM: What? That’s interesting. This pod is a Predacon?

COMPUTER: DNA Scanner, not responding.

MEGASTORM regards the pod a moment, noting that the part still dipped into the stream is where the energon changes. He considers that a moment, then starts to work again.

MEGASTORM: Forget a beast mode. Accept these parameters.

COMPUTER: Parameters, accepted.

MEGASTORM cracks another smile and starts to work again. As he does this, however, DJ arrives from the air, in his robot mode, and starts immediately firing on AUTOJETTER. SCUBA lets out a very heavy sigh of relief. AUTOLAUNCHER quickly diverts his attention from KID, and fires into the jungle, where GIMLET and MOTORARM emerge from. MOTORARM skitters forward, letting the powerful shots bounce harmlessly off of his beast mode’s armor.

SCUBA: About slaggin’ time.

MOTORARM: We never miss a party!

GIMLET: And this one looks lively! Arriva!

GIMLET charges forward and attacks AUTOLAUNCHER by leaping, transforming, and then landing on him. KID relaxes a little, and moves over to SCUBA, changing his weapon clip as he goes.

KID: So? You enjoying being out?

SCUBA: You’re the one who wanted an adventure. Let’s go get that pod.

KID nods and moves with SCUBA towards MEGASTORM’s position. SCUBA is about to warn the Predacon off again, but KID acts first, firing immediately. MEGASTORM is knocked back, only a little, and rights himself.

SCUBA: That pod’s ours. Back off, Predacon.

MEGASTORM: Suddenly so brave, Maximal? It doesn’t matter. You’re already too late.

KID: Too late?

COMPUTER: Configuration complete.

KID and SCUBA stammer as the stasis pod opens, revealing a sharp purple ground vehicle. The ground car rushes out and charges at KID and SCUBA. The two Maximals leap aside, a bit unsure of what to do.

GIGASCOUTER: Gigascouter, terrorize!

GIGASCOUTER transforms to his robot mode, and draws his gun immediately. SCUBA and KID step away, exchanging nervous looks.

GIGASCOUTER: Fresh out of the womb, and already I’m given targets.

MEGASTORM: Gigascouter, is it? Welcome to the Predacons. I’m your commander, Megastorm. And my first order is for you to terminate these two Maximals.

GIGASCOUTER (calmly): Understood.

GIGASCOUTER turns and levels his weapons at KID, and prepares to fire.

ACT THREE

GIGASCOUTER fires. SCUBA moves quickly and knocks KID into the water, the shot narrowing missing them both. GIGASCOUTER fires again, causing the Maximals to scramble away. SCUBA and KID run through the stream, splashing water and energon up to their knees.

KID: Thanks.

SCUBA: Thank me when we’re home.

DJ remains fighting in the air against AUTOJETTER, the two trading shots. AUTOLAUNCHER is holding his own against MOTORARM and GIMLET. GIMLET kicks into AUTOLAUNCHER’s chest, sending him flying back.

AUTOLAUNCHER: At least some of you Maximals know how to fight.

GIMLET: Si. We can kick aft.

MOTORARM: Especially yours.

AUTOLAUNCHER (smirking): Not today. Megastorm, the operation is complete. We have what we came for. Crasher and Stinger are returning to base.

MEGASTORM: Very well. Let’s just mop up here, then.

GIMLET (offended): Who you going to mop up?

AUTOLAUNCHER: Maximal, your mouth is leaking.

AUTOLAUNCHER powers up, and lets loose a massive torrent of firepower into GIMLET. GIMLET is caught off-guard as the attack rips into him and sends him crashing into the water. As before, the damage repairs itself while immersed there, but GIMLET isn’t getting up any time soon.

DJ (shocked): Gimlet!

AUTOLAUNCHER (amused): Pathetic. Now, who’s aft was going to be kicked?

MOTORARM: You’ll pay for this, gringo.

SCUBA (firmly): Stand down, Motorarm. We’re clearing out.

MOTORARM: But –

SCUBA: DJ, get Gimlet and head out. Maximals, transform to beast mode.

SCUBA, of course, doesn’t follow his own order, but the others do. As they evade the two Autoroller’s fire, DJ uses his beast legs to lift GIMLET and move out to safety. AUTOJETTER starts to pursue him, but reigns in his attacks and circles around. SCUBA and KID run off from a pursuing GIGASCOUTER, but the new Predacon too ceases his attack after a short distance.

AUTOLAUNCHER (surprised): We’re not going to pursue?

MEGASTORM: Not yet. Jetter, track their course of retreat. I want to know where their ship is.

AUTOJETTER (nodding): On it. They’re heading north by northwest. They’re making no moves to mask their course.

AUTOLAUNCHER: They lack experience. They’re not warriors.

GIGASCOUTER: My apologies, sir.

MEGASTORM: What is it?

GIGASCOUTER: I failed in terminating them. I offer my apologies.

MEGASTORM (smiling): Let it go, Gigastorm. We’ve seen their combat power, and found it lacking. We have a new store of energon. And, most importantly, we have a new member of our crew.

GIGASCOUTER: Yes, sir.

MEGASTORM: Autolauncher, Gigascouter, return to base. Autojetter, I want a word with you.

AUTOJETTER (confused): Sir?

AUTOLAUNCHER and GIGASCOUTER transform to their vehicle modes and head off. AUTOJETTER steps over, expecting to be chided for some reason. MEGASTORM’s expression doesn’t change much, though. He looks quite pleased.

AUTOJETTER: Did I do something wrong?

MEGASTORM: Not at all. Make any conclusions about the energon we’ve taken?

AUTOJETTER (hesitant): It’s unusual. We’ve never encountered anything like it – yet –

MEGASTORM: Yet?

AUTOJETTER: It’s Cybertronian, that much I’m sure of. It will fuel our systems too cleanly not to be. I doubt we need to even refine it.

MEGASTORM (distant): Very interesting. The stasis pod here. I didn’t have to reprogram its command shell. All I needed to do was give it a vehicular mode, and compensate for a busted DNA scanner.

AUTOJETTER: Someone had already started converting the pod into a Predacon?

MEGASTORM: Apparently so.

AUTOJETTER: Who, then? And why didn’t they finish?

MEGASTORM: Apparently, other pressing matters stopped whoever began this reprogramming. They never returned to finish their work.

AUTOJETTER: And the energon stream flowing over that pod. This energon reacted to that Predacon spark. It was changed somehow.

MEGASTORM: Yes. This warrants further investigation. We don’t use any of this new energon until we run some more tests.

MEGASTORM looks over the energon flow, then turns away from it, starting to head off. AUTOJETTER dips down his hand into the flow itself, watching the flow change from bright blue to red, and shakes his head.

AUTOJETTER (quietly): Something is terribly wrong with this, Commander.

The Gung Ho sits on its overlook, now mostly repaired. KID steps into the bridge, in robot mode, moving to answer to LIO CONVOY. SCUBA is behind him, shaking his head. DJ and MOTORARM have already arrived, and wait in their robot mode next to APACHE.

KID (sighing): Time to face the music.

LIO CONVOY: I’ve heard the story from DJ. What’s your version?

SCUBA: We couldn’t stop the Predacons. I screwed up, Lio.

LIO CONVOY: Screwed up? How?

SCUBA: I couldn’t stop Megastorm from getting the stasis pod, and I let the fighting escalate. Gimlet’s injured because I screwed up.

APACHE: Is that your version, Kid?

KID (hesitant): No, sir.

LIO CONVOY: All right. Let’s hear it.

KID: Scuba kept his head the entire time, and did everything right. He took charge and got us out of there. There’s no way we could have saved the pod, or stopped the Predacons. It was already too late when we arrived. As for Gimlet, there’s nothing Scuba could have done.

LIO CONVOY: That’s what I thought.

SCUBA: I failed the mission, Lio. I shouldn’t have left the ship.

APACHE: You acted and likely saved the lives of your comrades, Scuba. You did the right thing. As far as I can tell, you did everything right.

SCUBA (surprised): I did?

LIO CONVOY: As painful as it is, sometimes the best you can hope for is to get out with your chassis in one piece. You made the right call. In fact, today proves to me that you’re more than a cadet.

SCUBA: Sir?

APACHE: Welcome to the regulars kid. Field promotion to regular service, with all honors.

SCUBA (stunned): Thank you, sir.

LIO CONVOY: You and Kid get some rest, you’ve earned it.

SCUBA: Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

A very surprised SCUBA heads out of the bridge, followed by a grinning KID. LIO CONVOY watches them both leave, crossing his arms as DJ steps up to him.

DJ: He’s happy, no?

APACHE: He earned it. Your troops were too eager to fight, DJ. These Predacons are a few steps above us in combat roles.

DJ: Had to take the chance, Apache. Gringos got more than just energon.

LIO CONVOY: DJ, they found Amolgois?

DJ: The entire stream was glowing with it.

LIO CONVOY (sighing): And it’s already been corrupted.

DJ: Si, the gringos made cubes of the stuff and carted it home before we got there.

APACHE (softly): Primus help us.

In another part of the ship, SCUBA starts to reach his quarters, but KID is running after him. SCUBA turns and sighs, opening his bedroom door. KID steps up, waving his arm to get his attention.

KID: Hey, wait up!

SCUBA (sighing): Taz, I was hoping to get some sleep. I’m worn out.

KID: I know. Just – Congratulations, Scuba.

SCUBA: Thanks, though I never thought I would be promoted after blowing a mission.

KID: Hey, forget it. You can’t win all the time. Where would the danger be in that?

SCUBA (chuckling): You’re impossible.

KID: Maybe. Hey, I’m sorry to drag you out there, though. I didn’t expect us to walk into that.

SCUBA: I know. It’s okay, Taz.

KID: I just –

SCUBA (smiling): It’s okay, Taz. It was – fun.

KID looks at SCUBA incredulously, but SCUBA doesn’t offer anything more, and merely steps into his bedroom, looking for rest at last.

THE END