Drain of Lost Past

Drain of Lost Past - Act 1

Chapter 1

- Building A Mystery -

Carefully, without a sound, the huntress slipped discreetly along side the wall. Spotting her pray, she crawled like a hungry panther. Dark places were perfect for hiding. That's what she did, without loosing sight of her victim. Lying flat on her belly, backside up, forelegs stretched at their maximum, hind legs ready to be used as springs, she greedily passed her tongue on her lips. Her claws stuck to the metallic floor, she was waiting for the right moment to attack.

5...4...3...2...1...STRIKE!!!

"IIIAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOCH! Get away! Go away! Leave me alone! Stop it! STOP IT!!!"

"Felina", Optimus said, "For the last time, leave Rattrap's foot alone."

She wasn't listening, narrowing her fangs on the rat's foot even more as his screaming became louder. For a short while now, it had been hard for her to control her beast instincts, and fast moving objects were like toys to her in beast mode. While the others had mastered their instincts, she would need more time to do so.

Rattrap shook his foot violently from left to right, but she was not loosing her grip, growling.

Optimus lifted her off the floor, holding her by the scruff. He shook her so she'd let go of Rattrap’s foot. Angry, he turned the cat to face him, but then bit his lower lip in order not to laugh. The cat's mouth and nose were covered with oil, trickling tiny drops to the floor. Under other circumstances, it would not have been funny, but when she acted like this, it was hard to remain angry at such a sweet looking kitten.

"Not bad, but it needs more salt", she said as she passed her tongue over her lips once more, cleaning the upper part of her little nozzle.

Rhinox kneeled by Rattrap, inspecting the rat's foot, that now looked more like a mushy pulp of metal pouring out oil.

"Oh man! Y'ain't no cat, y'a monstah!"

"And y'ain't no rat, you're an overgrown flee", she giggled.

"Don't you two start", Rhinox grumbled as he took Rattrap in his arms, lifting him off the floor and headed towards the infirmary.

"Oooooh honey", Rattrap said, acting as feminine as he could, "Just take me in your arms, like on our honeymoon. Kiss me you fool!"

"Shut up Rattrap", Rhinox said sharply, "Felina, come on, you'll need to wash your face."

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"Ouch! Whataya doin'??!! Ya meltin' my foot or somethin'?! Ow!"

"Stop complaining. It'll take time."

Rattrap was sitting on the infirmary bed, watching the forward and backward motions of Rhinox's hands on his hurt foot with medic lasers and all medical tools that the rat did not have a clue on what they were. He quickly looked away as Rhinox pulled out one of the internal wires.

His eyes fell on the kitten, who was still washing her face, soaking it in a water bowl, lightly scratching it with her paws, until absolutely no spots showed. She looked at her reflexion on the wall, seeing all her matted cat hair sticking to her skin, making her face look thin; almost like if she had a skull with white fur and two blue billiard balls for eyes. She rapidly shook her head, splattering water everywhere. Her situation did not get better. Instead of a long haired skull for a head, she now looked as if her head had swelled because of the static that was now in her cat hair. She growled at the sight of her funny look, and finally got back to robot mode.

Rhinox's words woke Rattrap from his little trance.

"Close your mouth or flies are gonna get in."

"Whu...?...oh...Hey! What's 'dat s'posed ta mean?!"

Rhinox only smiled in answer.

"Ha. Ha. Ha. Hardy Har Har."

"Anyway, you can be lucky she's getting better."

"BETTER!? Alley Cat??!! Gimme a break! Look at mah foot and tell me again how she's supposed to be gettin' any bettah!"

Rhinox rolled his eyes, thinking, "Well, before, she would have chewed off your head instead of your foot... Here, it's fixed now. "

"Slag it! Y'doin' it on purpose, aren't ya?!"

The problem was, Rhinox was right in a way and he couldn't deny it. The microwave had not welcomed him in days, in weeks even.

"Move your foot", Rhinox ordered. Rattrap obeyed, "Feel any pain, twinge, anything?"

"Nope. It feels fine."

"Than, I guess you'll be alright. But if there's any unprovoked pain, tell me right away."

"No trouble."

Felina kneeled by Rhinox, now in robot mode, and looked down at Rattrap's foot, "Soooo, how's the head?" she asked in a laugh.

"Hey!"

She burst out laughing and headed for the door. When it opened, Dinobot came in. The tall robot was as severe as ever. So severe in fact, that Felina just couldn't stop laughing at his look. Her laughter echoed all around and she had to bring her hands to her stomach. When it was over, she put her hands behind her back, a large sweet smile decorating her face. Optimus and Cheetor followed entered behind the taller robot.

"Whoa, Alley Cat, what's with ya?" Rattrap asked her.

"I dunno. I'm just kinda happy... You know... it happens... Besides, I feel like somethin's gonna happen."

"People aren't usually happy about that", Rattrap said, then Rhinox hit him behind the head.

"What do YOU know", Felina hissed at him.

"Shut up Rattrap", Rhinox told him with a low voice, "she's happy for once, that's all that counts!"

"Huh...."

"Well, I guess you're right to feel that way", Optimus said, "Two stasis pods just landed, and I want you, Rattrap, Cheetor and Dinobot on the first set of coordinates. Rhinox, SilverBolt, AirRazor and I will go for the second set of coordinates; assuming of course, that you want to go Felina."

She smiled, her hands still behind her back, "Oh, but I do. Only I'm not sure that givin' life to a robot is my thing..."

"There's a beginning to everything."

"Uh... I guess..."

"Don't worry", Rhinox said, "I'll give Rattrap some stuff to help you."

"Fast Food?! Helpin'?! Yeah right! Last time he tried to find a life form for a stasis pod, which was me, he tried to turn me into a mouse, and a budgie! I mean, do you really see me as a mouse?"

"I do", Rattrap sneered, "Tiny, stupid, easy to step on."

"Not to mention could satisfy your ratty hormones too, huh?"

He frowned and blushed slightly, jumping off the table, "Heh, you only wish."

A discrete laugh passed around the room.

"Okay, that’s enough", Optimus stopped their arguments for perhaps the thousand time in less then a month,"We don't want to start anything right now.. I mean, again. We've got pods to get."

"Okie dokie", Felina giggled and ran out of the room. The others followed her.

"She's made great progress", Optimus gladly told Rhinox, "After the Alien Paradise incident, I wasn't sure of the outcome but maybe it was for the best after all."

The large robot nodded, "Yeah. It took a while, but I think she finally tamed us, just like we did her. I told you she could get better. It was hard for all of us at first, but we managed. "

"I'm hoping it's not just because she hasn’t mastered her animal instincts yet." Optimus gave Rhinox an amused look as they entered the command center.

As they did so, a feminine scream made them jump. Both ran behind the command table, where Felina was on her knees, her hands over her stomach. She seemed to be suffering deeply. Rattrap and Cheetor were kneeling beside her, trying to see what was wrong, but only to get more confused by her state.

"Fena!" Cheetor exclaimed, "What's wrong?! Fena!"

The only answer she gave him was another scream. Almost panicked, Rhinox ran up to her, taking her in his arms. A filament of blood poured out of her mouth as the big robot turned her around. Her hands over her stomach were also covered in blood.

*“The second one comes... soon.... soon...”*

"Muh-Make... it stop... shut it up..." she groaned in pain, convulsing wildly before going off-line.

"What happened?", Rhinox asked somewhat in panic.

"I... I don't know", Cheetor whispered, "She just fell..."

Rattrap frowned. It had happened almost like when they had found the alien paradise. She had not bled like this the last time, but still... Somehow, he was convinced there was a connection.

The cat'bot moaned as she awoke barely a few seconds after. Fortunately, it had not lasted long.... She stumbled to her feet, wiping away the blood from her mouth. She seemed dizzy, but fine. Rattrap stepped in front of her.

"Y'okay?"

"Y-yeah", she frowned,"...nice of you to care..." she said suspiciously.

"Huh, yeah, well...y'my partner, I guess it's...my job..." he said in an embarrassed voice.

Optimus stepped between them.

"We'll talk about it later. We need to get to the pods. During that time, Felina, you should go in CR Chamber for a diagnostic and repairs."

"No", she answered coldly, "I'm goin'... I'm fine, really. I'll just wash my hands and catch up with the party."

Optimus frowned, "I don't think --"

Felina took a deep breath, "Like it or not, I'm goin'. I have to go...."

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"Hurry!" Megatron shouted as he flew at top speed alongside Inferno, Terrorsaur and Waspinator.

"Megatron, why are we all going after ONE pod? What about the other?" Terrorsaur asked.

Megatron laughed at the question, "There is more to this than you know Terrorsaur, yes."

The pterodactyl rolled his eyes at the answer. All these intrigues were so mysterious. So much in fact, that it drove him crazy at times. He thought it was foolish to go after one pod, instead of both. If he had been the leader, this would not have happened.

Soon, the pod was in range, but it was obvious at first glance that this was no normal pod. This one was bigger... much bigger.

"Wazpinator thinks pod too big to carry back to base. What do we do? What do we doooo?"

"You'll see soon enough, bug, yess."

The flyers landed, and finally, the others arrived to the point of rendez-vous. The predacons went to robot mode, surrounding the pod.

"Whoa, Megatron, that's a double pod", Scorpinock said, amazed by it, "It's very rare."

"Isn't it", Megatron laughed.

[ Please enter code ], the pod's computer shouted.

Megatron opened the panel of the pod's computer, entering a complicated code. It took a few seconds before the computer finally accepted it. Then another panel opened up, showing the mark of a hand. He pressed his hand against it.

[Index code scanning, waiting for reply], a ticking sound was heard, [Subject identified as Megatron. Index code accepted.]

The double pod opened.

"What the...", Scorpinock said.

"Holy slag", QuickStrike gasped.

"We were waiting for you", Megatron told the creatures with an evil and triumphant grin.

"Glad to be back", a masculine voice answered.

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Rattrap, Felina, Dinobot and Cheetor all headed toward the coordinates Optimus had given them. Cheetor took the opportunity of the two partners being further ahead to speak with Dinobot.

"Don't you think Rattrap's acting a bit weird around Felina? I mean, he's nice. He would have done everything to scrap her before."

"Hah!" Dinobot snarled, "There are some things that can make someone act so foolish."

"What?! You mean he... kinda... likes her? How can you be sure?"

"Rmember when the vermin was doing a night shift two nights ago?"

"Yeah"

Dinobot showed an evil smile, his dinosaur teeth showing to add to the mischievous of it all "That same night, I couldn't get any sleep, so I decided to take a walk around the base. When I got in the command center, the vermin was taking a lazy nap on his chair. Let's just say he talks in his sleep..."

"No way! Awww...ain't that cute... Did you tape it?!"

"Are you INSANE!??", Dinobot snarled, disgusted.

"What's insane?" Rattrap asked through the comlink.

"Nothing", Cheetor laughed.

"We can see the pod. Let’s hurry", Rattrap continued.

"You sure you don't wanna go alone with Felina?"

"Huh?! Whu-What? Why?"

Dinobot snarled with anger, "Stupid feline! Stop playing around and lets go!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Spoil my fun, why don't you...." Cheetor sighed.

The cat bot quickly caught up with the partners, leaving the veloceraptor behind. 5 cycles later, all four were surrounding the pod. It seemed different from a normal pod. It was not bigger, but there was something.... Something they could not put their finger on.

Rattrap opened the computer's panel, and entered the code. Once again, it took a couple of seconds before the computer would accept it. A second panel opened, showing the mark of a hand.

"What in the inferno's 'dat?!" Rattrap exclaimed in surprise, "No beast mode?! What da slag?"

"Maybe by putting your hand on the mark...." Cheetor concluded. Rattrap did so.

[Index code scanning, waiting for reply], a ticking sound was heard, [Subject identified as Astroplane. Index code not accepted.]

Felina gave her partner a furtive look, which Rattrap nervously returned but both broke the glance and looked away without saying further more.

"What the slaggin' inferno's 'dat??!!"

Felina turned around and rolled her eyes, sighing, "Just let it die there. No big deal."

She began to walk away, unimpressed by what was happening when Dinobot stopped her and pushed her back against the pod, "Are you a coward, Huntress? Afraid of another robot?"

"Am not!" she yelled.

"Than, (snarl), why don't YOU put your hand on the mark?"

She hesitated. She didn't want to pass for a coward, especially not in front of robots. She growled silently, and then turned around to face the pod.

(I traveled. Far, far....)

She moved her hand close to the panel, and stopped, looking at it blankly, and visibly afraid now. Whatever was in that pod, she didn’t want to know. It was true, she was scared. Dinobot suddenly grabbed her wrist and slammed it against the panel.

[Index code scanning, waiting for reply], once more, a ticking sound was heard, [Subject identified as Fiona Frangiatti, index code, accepted.]

Everyone backed away as the pod's panel finally opened, letting the creature inside go free. All four Maximals held their breath, as the thing emerged from the pod.

"Nuh-no way, this... is this for real...?" Felina whispered and fell to a sitting position on the ground, her eyes wide.

"By Primus", Dinobot gasped

"Oh no, not another one", Rattrap whined

"Wow...Ultra-Gear!" Cheetor giggled.

End of part 1

Click here for part 2