Beast Wars Anonymous:

The Femme Factor
by Wes Whitten (weswhittentf@juno.com)

In a green valley, a beautiful waterfall glistened in the sunlight. The water makes a soothing sound as three birds soar into the sunlight.

Suddenly, the ground shakes as Waspinator, Buzz Saw, and Terrorsaur burst out of the waterfall in beast mode. All three land on the ground and Terrorsaur begins to shake all the water off of him.

"Finally! A chance to get out of those endless caverns," Terrorsaur complained as he took in the sunlight.

"Wazzzpinator think 'dactyl-bot not want to help in Predacon plans," Waspinator spoke up.

Terrorsaur only stared into Waspinator.

"A refined soldier like me always knows when to be good and when not to be good," Terrorsaur replied, placing his right wing over his beak.

"'Dactyl-bot strange," Buzz Saw whispered to Waspinator, who nodded his head in agreement.

At that instant, the thundering footsteps of Megatron are heard as he walks out of the waterfall in beast mode as well.

"Ah, a new day to defeat the Maximals, yes," Megatron smiled, taking in the sunlight of the morning.

"You sound more confident than usual Megatron," Terrorsaur pointed out.

Megatron turned downward towards Terrorsaur, "Do I? I'm so terribly sorry, perhaps I should rephrase that as 'A new day to defeat the Maximals after I personally destroy Terrorsaur."

Terrorsaur gulped and quickly turned away. At the time, Megatron turned his attention to more important matters.

"Waspinator, Buzz Saw, return to base and bring me my storage of empty energon cubes," Megatron ordered.

The two flyers laughed in their weird way and flew off.

"This is the day, yes," Megatron spoke, walking back behind the waterfall with Terrorsaur, "The Maximals will never suspect that we are energon mining in a spot we sought to destroy the planet months ago."

Terrorsaur only nodded as Megatron terrorized to robot mode. Megatron, now within the caverns behind the waterfall, walks over to Blackarachnia and Tarantulas, who are both working on the new 'energon cipher' device. Onyx Primal and Scorponok remain in the corner of the cavern looking on, as Inferno paces the area with his weapon in hand, guarding the Predacons.

"Yes," Megatron smiled.

In the Axalon, Airazor's room door opened up to reveal her in falcon mode, stretching out her wings. She had just woken up from her recharge, and was ready for action. Airazor flapped her wings and lifted into the air. Then, she glided into the command center, where Rattrap was on monitor duty, slouched on his chair.

"Hello Rattrap, I see were up bright and early for a change," Airazor humbly smiled.

Rattrap only sat up and replied, "Well, it's hard to sleep when you have monitor duty and the Fearless Leader yelling at you every time you doze off."

"Airazor, Maximize!" Airazor spoke, converting to her brown and tan robot mode.

"So," Airazor spoke, "Where are the others? Aren't the cats usually awake hunting at this hour?"

"Not today," Rattrap replied, "Tigatron and Polar Claw had to return to the Arctic Outpost today, and Cheetor insisted on going with them, so they're out for the rest of the day."

"They didn't think about bringing Snowstalker with them?" asked Airazor, placing her arms to her hips.

"Nope. Guess they felt that she needed some time to rest since she just returned from the, eh, dead," Rattrap answered.

"Oh, so the others are still sleeping?" asked Airazor.

"All except Rhinox," Rattrap replied, "He's been up for the past three days straight mourning for Wolfang and Razorbeast."

"That he should, Wolfang was one of his best friends," Airazor spoke, lowering her head to mourn.

Rattrap got up from his chair and walked past Airazor.

"Come on, I'll show you where he is," Rattrap stated.

"That's okay," Airazor answered, "You go talk with him, I'll take over monitor duty."

Rattrap jumped for joy when he heard Airazor say the words 'take over monitor duty'. He quickly rushed off.

Airazor sat herself in Rattrap's chair and stared at a view screen. Suddenly, she heard two figures approaching. Airazor spun around to see Dinobot and Slasher Red holding hands in robot mode.

"Oh, it's just you two," Airazor smiled.

"Do not worry, we warriors do not fight with our own kind," Dinobot remarked, with his stern face.

Airazor was surprised to see Dinobot so tame. Slasher Red really had an affect on him when she was around.

"So Dinobot, what are your plans today?" asked Airazor.

Dinobot glared at her.

"I will be teaching Armordillo about the area. The poor soul would be lost without me," Dinobot flattered himself.

Slasher Red smiled at Dinobot and broke into the conversation.

"Airazor, since most of the guys will be out today, want to take some downtime with Snowstalker and I? We had plans to go see the waterfall in sub sector Charl," Slasher Red invited.

"Sounds lovely. Just let me call Rattrap back in here and we can go now!" Airazor spoke, rising from her seat and walking down the hall after Rattrap.

With Airazor gone, Slasher Red turned towards Dinobot to talk with him.

"Will you be mad if I and the girls....?" began Slasher Red.

"Of course not 'Red," Dinobot quickly answered, "I trust you can take care of them by yourself. My only regret is that you won't be able to taste the smell of battle where you are going."

"How do you know? Maybe waterfalls are where Predacons like to lurk," Slasher Red smirked.

Dinobot smirked back.

"I love you 'Red," Dinobot whispered.

The two engaged in a deep kiss. It quickly ended as Airazor and Rattrap could be heard approaching.

Airazor walked into view as they separated, with Rattrap complaining to himself as par usual.

"Now Rattrap," Airazor began mockingly, "Be a good little rat and babysit the base for me while I'm away."

"Oh, that was so low Airazor," Rattrap spat, "No wonder you fly high, to avoid tramps like me."

"You've got a point there," Airazor laughed.

"Don't worry, while your away I'll change your access codes and delete all your files from the computers and Sentinel for you," Rattrap chuckled.

"Your so kind," Airazor grimaced, spinning around.

Just then, Armordillo and Snowstalker walked in.

"I'm all ready to go Dinobot!" Armordillo declared, "Let's scout the area and kick some Pred. butt!"

"Pred. butt, yes," Dinobot smiled, imitating Megatron.

Armordillo and Dinobot converted to beast mode and boarded the main lift. They were quickly lifted downward to the ground outside. Within seconds they had run off.

"Well girls," Snowstalker spoke up, "Are we gonna have fun or what?"

"Why not? Let's go!" Slasher Red cheered.

In the cavern's behind the waterfall, only Tarantulas, Blackarachnia, Onyx Primal, and Inferno remained. The other Predacons had gone for the empty energon cubes.

Blackarachnia, at the time, was fiddling with a gauge on the side of the new gigantic 'energon cipher', as Tarantulas put the final adjustments on the control panel.

"Control panel finished," Tarantulas announced, "are we ready Blackarachnia?"

Blackarachnia stood up firmly, "I guess so. Let's punch it up and find out."

"Spiders better not pull one of their tricks," Inferno barked in, "Or the Royalty will have one soldier covered in spider's blood."

"Ooh, I'm so afraid," said Blackarachnia, with a sarcastic look of fright on her face.

Inferno stepped back angry as Tarantulas began entering activation codes. The machine beeped a little, and clanking gears were heard as it started up.

"Yes, I...we have done it!" cheered Tarantulas.

"Alert Megatron that the machine is ready," Inferno ordered Onyx Primal, pointing to his chest.

Onyx Primal sneered and grabbed Inferno's arm. With but a gesture he pushed it away.

"Do it yourself Ant Face!" spat Onyx, slouching against the cavern's walls.

"I am surrounded by traitors! I shall burn you all if the Royalty is not alerted!" Inferno screamed, waving his hands in the air.

"Like I said, do it yourself!" Onyx barked.

"Would you like to meet my friend pain?" asked Inferno, pushing his head close to Onyx's.

Onyx Primal only pushed his head forward too.

"Sure, and while were chatting you can experience my friend death!" Onyx shouted.

"Too late, I already met it," Inferno smiled.

Onyx grew enraged and pushed Inferno. Inferno was shoved to the ground, and he arose bewildered.

"Why you...." Inferno began.

Suddenly, everyone grew silent as they heard voices outside.

"Is that Megatron?" whispered Blackarachnia.

"No," Tarantulas responded, "It sounds like those female Maximals."

"I'll handle them," Blackarachnia spoke, dawning her crossbow and stepping forward.

Slasher Red sat herself down on a boulder wedged into the valley's ground. Airazor and Snowstalker did the same, and the three femmes marveled at the waterfalls.

"It's amazing," Snowstalker whispered.

"Yeah," Slasher Red spoke, "You'd never find a waterfall on Cybertron."

Airazor converted to beast mode and flew into a tree branch. She slouched herself over the branch's bark.

"Ah, a day in the sun is just what we Maximals needed," Airazor said calmly.

"Yes, too bad it's time for it to end!" declared a shadow behind the waterfall.

The three Maximals sat up quickly and Airazor transformed as the other's reached for their weapons. A shaded figure could now be seen on the other side of the fall. Without haste, it leapt outward.

"Blackarachnia?!" screeched Airazor, grabbing her Talon Blaster.

Blackarachnia fired two shots of her crossbow. Snowstalker avoided the first blast, as Airazor was almost nicked by the second.

"One femme against three femmes, unfair...." Snowstalker teased.

"Unfair for you Maximal," Blackarachnia grinned.

Suddenly, Onyx Primal, Inferno, and Tarantulas emerged from the waterfall.

"It is time to feast!" Tarantulas cheered.

"Burn!!!!" Inferno declared.

Inferno fired his flame gun all over the Maximals' direction. The three rolled out of the crossfire, and Slasher Red fired an eye beam at Inferno. Inferno was shot dead on, and was hurled back into the waterfall, apparently unconscious.

"Tarantulas, engage the tiger, I shall take the raptor!" Onyx declared, as he spotted Blackarachnia approaching Airazor.

With that, Onyx Primal rose into the air and approached Slasher Red. He drew out his twin sonic swords just as Slasher Red noticed him.

"Farewell Maximal!" Onyx screamed, lunging both his swords at Slasher Red.

'Red grabbed both her weapons in defense, but she quickly lost them as the first of Onyx's swords struck her in the right arm. The second quickly approached, and Slasher Red ducked as it passed. 'Red clung to her arm as she saw the gallons of mech fluid leaking from it.

While Slasher Red was distracted, Onyx Primal telepathically brought both of his weapons back to his hand. Onyx swooped down right beside Slasher Red and raised his swords high for the final blow.

Onyx swiped his swords downward, but Slasher Red quickly responded and grabbed both swords with her hands. She wrestled them out of his hands while ignoring the pain in her right arm. Onyx cursed as his weapons fell to the ground.

"Fool! I don't need weapons to destroy you!" Onyx laughed menacingly.

"That's it!" 'Red screamed, "I am so SICK of having you attack me and ruin my fun over and over again! I can't stand it anymore!"

Slasher Red grabbed Onyx's left arm and ripped it right off him. While he stepped back from that sudden shock, Slasher Red poured her eye beams into Onyx. Eventually, he fell to the ground helpless.

While that was going on, Airazor piled punch after punch into Blackarachnia. The black widow fell to the ground with pain all over her body.

"This is too easy," Airazor smiled to the beaten Blackarachnia. "It's almost like you Predacons are letting us win."

Blackarachnia smirked as Airazor decked her one in the face.

"Maybe we are. It doesn't matter though, soon the energon cipher will complete it's task, and we'll have enough energon to rule the galaxy," Blackarachnia smiled.

Airazor stopped right there in her tracks. She gave Blackarachnia a look, and then flew over to the waterfall.

"No! Stay away from there!" Blackarachnia hissed.

"Great job Widow!" Tarantulas bickered as he heard Blackarachnia unveil their scheme.

Suddenly, Snowstalker came up from behind Tarantulas and whacked him upside the head. His body fell to the ground as his head was swatted over by Blackarachnia.

"Why you...." Blackarachnia spoke crossly.

"Sorry," Snowstalker spoke running off, "But I've got an energon cipher to destroy!"

Blackarachnia attempted to get up and hunt her down, but her legs were too damaged for her to stand.

"Onyx, Inferno," Blackarachnia called out, "It's over! Let's get out of here!"

Blackarachnia turned to see only Slasher Red active. All other Predacons were down. Blackarachnia grumbled as Slasher Red approached her.

"I really, really hate spiders," Slasher Red smiled, aiming her sword at Blackarachnia's chest.

Just then, a brilliant flash came from the waterfall as Snowstalker and Airazor, in beast mode, burst out of it.

"Great job," Slasher Red called out to them, while still placing her sword to Blackarachnia.

"Megatron will be mad when he discovers us here, it's time to split!" Airazor called out.

Slasher Red nodded and converted to beast mode. The velociraptor charged out of the valley with Snowstalker by her side and Airazor leading the way by the air.

Blackarachnia cursed as the three Maximals disappeared over the valley tops. She tried to get herself up again, but to no avail. Blackarachnia started cursing again as Terrorsaur, Buzz Saw, and Waspinator flew into the valley, in robot mode, from the opposite direction of the Maximals.

"Blackarachnia, what happened?" asked Terrorsaur, supporting his handful of empty energon cubes.

"We...were ambushed by the whole Maximal force," Blackarachnia exaggerated, "They took out all the others."

"Buzz Saw want to know how Maximalzzz found Predaconzzz," Buzz Saw buzzed.

"Maximalzzz tricky," Waspinator explained, "They trick Wazzzpinator all the time, but sometimezzz Wazzzpinator trick them."

Buzz Saw and Waspinator chatted as Scorponok and Megatron walked into view.

"Blackarachnia! What happened!? Why are Tarantulas and Onyx beaten up?!" Megatron demanded.

"Maximal forces," Blackarachnia huffed.

Megatron cursed as he saw Inferno come out of the smoking waterfall. The cipher was destroyed. All that hard work and effort was wasted. Megatron threw his cubes into a fire which was started by the fight. They crackled into nothing as Megatron's eyes grew bright red.

"Inferno, take Blackarachnia to the CR tank. Waspinator, Buzz Saw, take the other Predacons back to base for repairs. Terrorsaur, Scorponok, take the cubes back to storage," Megatron ordered while turning towards the sun.

Megatron was sure they saluted, but he just looked on. The Maximals would pay for their treachery, yes....