10.Dec.05

Cross Fire

By : Dannn Sanew

            A light breeze swept over the forest, waking Certip up.  In his right optic a map popped up, showing his location. He was represented as a red dot and the blue dots scatter about were landmarks. He wasn't far from his ship. He done some exploring the other day and found another ship, but he didn't approach it. He wanted to remain undetected for as long as possible. He was hoping to be blasting off by the time they found him, if they ever did.

            Certip was worry for the first time since he came to this planet. He thought that he was the only one here.  There was a chance that they had no connection to him, but he wasn't going to find out. Someone with a bounty on their head can never be too careful. Look like he was going to be on the run again.

            The wind was picking up by the time Certip arrive at his ship, Mocking Death.  It was a hunk of junk, but for the past nine stellar cycles it been his home. Once inside he power everything up and took off. Everything was going fine until one of the engines blew. The Mocking Death spiralled down, dropping like a stone.  Certip knew that he was dead.

            You can't run away from death and death found him. He shook his head realizing that death had nothing on him. He survived all this time, he wasn't about to give up. He took out his gun and shot the canopy, shattering it.  He tried to fly out of the doom ship, but he was strapped in. He hit the release button and found himself being thrown into the wall.

            The Mocking Death lit the dark skies that day. The ship broke apart and wreckage scatter across  the plain below. Somewhere among the rumble lay a batter Certip.

            Certip thought he was dreaming when he woke up. Water was falling from the sky. He realized it wasn't a dream when he felt pain engulf his body when he tried to move. Not able to move he just lay there watching it rain. Water falling from the sky, what a unusual planet. Was someone weeping for him? He tried to get up and managed to after ten agonizing cycles. He converted back to beast mode to save energy. Before he could take a step his legs gave out. Certip let himself fall, he knew when he was beat. He was about to give up hope when he notice he wasn't alone. Two purple creatures were watching him from a distance.

            "Look like someone had a bad fall." Tarantulas said to his leader. They saw the ship fall from the sky and came to investigate. He was disappointed to see that hardly nothing survive the crash. The pilot was still alive and Megatron would probably forced him into serving him. Another player enter the game. "So what are you planning to do with that one?"

            " Why my dear Tarantulas, I'm just going to invite our weary traveller over there into our the proud ranks of mine army. He in no shape to refuse our offer so this is the perfect opportunity."

            Certip didn't know what to make of the pair. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but he knew they were trouble. He was too injure to run or fight. The good new was they weren't bounty hunters. Bounty hunters wouldn't had gave him this much time to react. They seen to notice he was watching him. He decided to end the silence:

            "So... what are you two doing out here?"

            "We saw your ship falling from the sky and came to investigate. We have a base where we can tend to your injuries." Megatron said.

            Certip wasn't born yesterday. He doubted that they were giving him this offer out of the kindness of their hearts. Most of the time there was always a catch. He wanted to know what that catch was.

            "How kind of you..."

            "Megatron and this here is my companion Tarantulas."

            "Strange names, but names nonetheless. What will become of me afterwards? I have no ship nor anything left in my name."

            "You are free to do whatever you want after your heal."

            Megatron knew that the injure pilot was being cautious. He rather not take him by force for fear of killing him by accident. He needed any advantage against the Maximals as possible. The sound of the Maximals brought him out of thought.

            "Megatron leave that bot alone!" Optimus said as he landed. Optimus noticed that Rattrap was still on his back. "We on the ground now."

            "Thank the Matrix! I thought we never get here!"

            Rattrap jumped off Optimus back and transformed. The Predacons did like wise. Certip was stuck in the middle of the two groups and he could tell that things were about to come to blows. He didn't want to be caught in the cross fire.

            "Hey you don't need to fight over me. I just be on my way." Certip said as he got up. It took a lot of effort, but he didn't care. Tarantulas pointed his gun at him. "On second thought I think I stay here for awhile." He wouldn't have gotten far anyway.

            "Megatron you are not taking him with you!"

            "I not doing anything wrong Optimus. I was just offering our weary traveller a place to mend his wounds."

            "Yeah and then your going to induct him into your army any way possible."

            "Rodent, I'm shock that you think I do such a thing. Ah who am I kidding!" Megatron roar as he open fire. The two groups were trading shots back and forth. The battle was so intense they didn't even notice Certip going into stasis lock. There was no cover on the plain so the groups mostly dodging and shooting back whenever they had a chance. Rattrap set off a smoke bomb to give them some cover. Optimus took out his two swords and storm forward under the cover of smoke. He came out right between both Predacons and took a swing at both of them. They either block or dodge, but he did his job.

            "Rattrap take them!"

            Rattrap quickly put both down with a couple of well place shots. "Umm...boss monkey the kid went into stasis lock."

            "I try to get him back as fast as I can."

            "You never get there in time. Plus you need to revert back to beast mode soon."

            "We have to go by foot. I have Airazor fly out to meet us." Optimus said as he transform back to beast mode. Rattrap did the same. Optimus put Certip on Rattrap back and made sure the Predacons were still down. They headed back to base as fast as they could. When Megatron finally came to the Maximals and the pilot were no where to be seen.

            "Blast it! I not letting them win this one."

            Megatron woke Tarantulas and comm. the flyers. He told them that he be very disappointed if they came back empty handed. They got the message. The chase was on. He knew that Optimus and Rattrap would be going by foot. It would be slow going and that meant his flyers would catch up to them before they ever reach their base.

            "So where did he come from?" Rattrap asked. It was a good question. He wasn't from a stasis pod, but from a ship. Maybe he was part of a rescue team.

            "We find out once he out of the CR chamber."

            "Yeah if we get him back in time!"

            "Don't worry he get him there soon."

            The sound of a engine caught their attention. They looked back to see Inferno, Terrorsaur, and Waspinator coming up behind them. To say that they had a disadvantage would be a understatement. Optimus couldn't stay in robot mode that long and Rattrap was carrying Certip. They were still out in the open, so they made easy  targets. There was a forest up ahead, but they would never make it. Optimus knew that he needed to buy Rattrap time.

            Optimus transformed and flew toward the flyers. He fire his wrist cannons and was rewarded with Waspinator getting hit. Waspinator knocked into Terrorsaur sending them both tumbling toward the ground. Inferno shoot Optimus down and continue after Rattrap. Optimus spiralled out of control, falling fast. He manage to fire off two more shots before he hit the ground. Inferno took the shots and kept on going. Optimus hit the ground...hard. Optimus just lay there for a cycle or two before he transformed back to beast mode. He did what he can, now the rest was up to Rattrap. If he could lose Inferno in the forest he could wait until help arrive.

            Rattrap didn't lose Inferno for long. He couldn't hide since Inferno was setting everything ablaze. Rattrap had to keep on moving and when he did Inferno would take shots at him until he lost him again. He decided to take a chance and put Certip body down and lure Inferno away from him. Then he could pick him up later.

            "Don't burn on me kid." Rattrap said as he took off. He needed to get Inferno attention. He pulled out his gun as he hid behind a tree. Terrorsaur had now join him in his search. As soon as they turned their backs on him he broke cover. He fired off a couple of shots in rapid succession and rolled behind another tree. "You not gettin' this one scum bucket!"

            The Predacons pounded his position and he return fire whenever he could. After two cycles he took off. He shouted insults whenever he could to get them angry. "Maybe we should give him to you, you need all the help you can!"

            Rattrap thought his plan was working until they notice that he wasn't carrying the pilot. Inferno went back while Terrorsaur stay to keep Rattrap busy. The arrogant transformer gloated as he search for Rattrap: "Now we got two gifts for Megatron. A new Predacon and a brunt rat!"

            "Look Terrorsaur I know I can't beat you. You just too good, I surrender." Rattrap said as he came out from hiding.

            "Put your weapon down." Terrorsaur order. Rattrap obey and threw his gun down. Terrorsaur flow over to the Rat. He was going to enjoy this. When Terrorsaur went to pick up his gun Rattrap kicked him in the face. Before he could grabbed him Rattrap had rolled away from him. He heard a beep before the bomb Rattrap had struck to him went off.

            Rattrap flew back from the force of the explosion. Once he landed he slowly manage to pick himself up and  retrieve his gun. Terrorsaur parts were scatter apart. He saw a broken part of Terrorsaur boot and pocket it. Another piece to add to his ever growing collection, He was about to leave when Airazor landed next to him.

            "What happened?"

            "I tried to led the preds from the pilot, but it didn't turn out too good. Let hope we can get back before it too late."

            The pilot was gone. Rattrap knew this was the right spot too. No mistakes about it they got the pilot. Rattrap couldn't believe he lost the pilot. Maybe he should had just stay put and waited for Airazor. Optimus needed to know. Rattrap pulled out his com link and contacted Optimus: "Boss monkey... I lost him to the preds. Maybe Airazor can still catch up to them?"

            "Too risky... we have to leave him to the Predacons for now. Rattrap head back to base I catch up with the two of you later."

            "I real sorry Optimus."

            "It okay Rattrap we did our best."

            Certip woke up on platform of stone surrounded by other platforms in a pool of lava. He was expecting to be burning and in pain, but that didn't happened. If he wasn't dead where was he? He got his answer when Megatron on a flying platform flow down from above. Also with him on separate platforms were Tarantulas and another transformer he never seen. Megatron flash him a smile as he got closer.

            "Welcome dear brother to my humble home. I believe I never did catch your name."

            "Certip."

            "Yes what a fine name. Not your real name is it?"

            Certip knew that Megatron guess that information. Many Predacons change their name and appearance over time. He only had this name for two cycles. It was in a way part of being a Predacon.

            "Course not."

            "Don't worry we all fellow Predacons here. You don't have to worry about running here. Like you we are all wanted and the Maximals are stranded here like us."

            "So no one know you here?"

            "No one and if we beat the Maximals we can get off this planet. Are you going to join our ranks or join the dead?"

            The answer was easy.

            "Join your ranks."

            "Good, do you have any skills. When I mean skills I don't mean looting and scamming."

            "I can fix stuff."

            "I have you start tomorrow. For now Inferno will show you to your room."

            As Certip left with Inferno he thought maybe he would had been better off dead.