"Bad Spark"
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:52 pm
(( OOC: I think we're almost done wrapping up the last episode, so I figured we could get a head start on this one, which will be loosely based off the one on the show that introduced "Protoform X", aka Rampage. ))
Honing in on the distress beacon of a downed stasis pod, Rattrap navigated through the terrain which consisted of moss-covered trees, and scattered large, flat boulders that protruded from the ground. It was like a shallow valley of sorts, or perhaps an area that was once water or swampland that had long since disappeared becoming somewhat drier and harder ground. It was warm and humid, and fog still lingered in the air with an over cast sky. The pod itself was surrounded by a lot of raw energon that had probably been uncovered when the tiny vessel crashed there. The TransMetal rodent slowed his roll on his wheels and grew more cautious to his surroundings. "Rattrap ta base," he radioed in.
"We read you, Rattrap. Go ahead," Rhinox acknowledged.
"I've located de pod. This one's pretty over-sized, and it's branded with a big, yellow 'X' on it. Eh, but it looks heavily damaged, and dere ain't any activity." Lifting up his wheels, Rattrap proceeded to get closer on his metal paws, sniffing the air around him and getting a closer examination of the pod. It appeared as though it had gone through the DNA scanning cycle since a few of the protoform's legs were hanging out of the unlatched lid, but otherwise it was dormant and silent.
Back at the Axalon, overhearing Rattrap's report, Optimus Primal's optics immediately shifted to Rhinox's. Both of them knew which stasis pod it was that the Spy had stumbled upon, and so Optimus took over the transmission with a hint of urgency in his voice. "I'm on my way, Rattrap. Keep the area secured, and don't touch anything," he emphasized.
"Copy dat, fearless leader," the rat returned.
"Could it have survived?" Rhinox wondered out loud with concern.
"I guess we'll find out soon enough." Primal's voice was a little distraught as his memories on Cybertron came flooding back to him. One of his darkest secrets was about to unfold to everyone who had trusted him with their lives. A secret that he had yet to unveil even to Whitegrazer. If that protoform survived, he may start killing again, and Rattrap was there alone. He also had to assume that the Predacons would make for the pod as well, so time was of the essence. "Whitegrazer, you're with me," he ordered as he turned away from Rhinox and the communications console and headed for the platform which lowered him outside. Transforming to his hover board, he motioned Whitegrazer to hop onto it in the front before blasting off in the sky toward Rattrap's location.
While waiting for his fellow comrades, the rat's tail gently swayed back and forth, and his neon green eyes, along with his acute senses of smell and hearing remained on high alert for any other intruders. So far, the area was quiet except for the crickets, birds, and an occasional rumble of thunder in the distance. The damp air smelled of rain, and the flickering energon nearby was the only thing that brought some "beauty" to the desolate area that was blanketed in a thick fog. "Nothin' like sittin' around in a creepy place outdoors exposed and all alone," he said to himself feeling a little unnerved. "Just like one of those science fiction horror flicks where the most vulnerable ones get picked off first. Lucky me."
-----
Meanwhile, at the Darksyde, Megatron was eavesdropping on the Maximals' transmissions. "Hmmm. A large stasis pod for a large soldier, yesss," he calculated out loud to himself. "Terrorsaur, Tarantulas!" he beckoned for their attention. "I'm assigning you two for a recruitment retrieval. What ever this protoform is, I want it flying the flag of the Predacons', not of the Maximals'!" Since Optimus Primal was going to join Rattrap at the pod's location, this one appeared to be a bit different, besides its size, that is. He detected a hint of anxiety in Primal's voice that suggested an intriguing significance. So, who better to send to handle the Maximals than Terrorsaur and use Tarantulas's expertise on handling the pod if the protoform could be recovered?
"Always eager to welcome a new comrade in arms, Mighty Megatron," Terrorsaur brown-nosed to the tyrant, but before he could depart on their mission, Megatron suddenly grabbed his arm and yanked him toward him as he sat in his levitating chair, strongly holding him to his side. The TransMetal 'dactyl gulped in response to his leader's rough grip and pull.
"Remember, Terrorsaur, I reward loyalty and success. Failure is not an option," Megatron said in a threatening tone before it suddenly grew lighter when he added, "And do try to obtain further knowledge of this particular protoform by keeping your comm. link open. I sense something... amiss." Almost as hard as he had grabbed him, the Predacon criminal finally released Terrorsaur's arm and pushed him away.
"Uh, yes, of course, Megatron. As you wish," he obliged while gingerly rubbing the spot on his arm where Megatron had squeezed it so tightly before offering him a bow. Reverting to his jet vehicle mode, he blasted out of their base while leaving Tarantulas in the wake of his afterburners.
Watching Terrorsaur make his exit, the Predacon leader tapped his finger tips on the arm of his throne out of irritation as his thoughts drifted to losing his alien gold disk to Zodiac and Optimus Primal obtaining another mysterious one. Now he was down to only one, the Sounds of Earth. It was likely the most valuable data disk anyone could have possession over, but he still wanted to know what was on the other disk that came into play during the last alien encounter. Since both alien disks were out of his reach and he failed to maintain control over the Metal Hunter, Megatron refused to let this protoform of this magnitude slip through his fingers. No, it was going to be a Predacon, and he was going to make sure of it.
Honing in on the distress beacon of a downed stasis pod, Rattrap navigated through the terrain which consisted of moss-covered trees, and scattered large, flat boulders that protruded from the ground. It was like a shallow valley of sorts, or perhaps an area that was once water or swampland that had long since disappeared becoming somewhat drier and harder ground. It was warm and humid, and fog still lingered in the air with an over cast sky. The pod itself was surrounded by a lot of raw energon that had probably been uncovered when the tiny vessel crashed there. The TransMetal rodent slowed his roll on his wheels and grew more cautious to his surroundings. "Rattrap ta base," he radioed in.
"We read you, Rattrap. Go ahead," Rhinox acknowledged.
"I've located de pod. This one's pretty over-sized, and it's branded with a big, yellow 'X' on it. Eh, but it looks heavily damaged, and dere ain't any activity." Lifting up his wheels, Rattrap proceeded to get closer on his metal paws, sniffing the air around him and getting a closer examination of the pod. It appeared as though it had gone through the DNA scanning cycle since a few of the protoform's legs were hanging out of the unlatched lid, but otherwise it was dormant and silent.
Back at the Axalon, overhearing Rattrap's report, Optimus Primal's optics immediately shifted to Rhinox's. Both of them knew which stasis pod it was that the Spy had stumbled upon, and so Optimus took over the transmission with a hint of urgency in his voice. "I'm on my way, Rattrap. Keep the area secured, and don't touch anything," he emphasized.
"Copy dat, fearless leader," the rat returned.
"Could it have survived?" Rhinox wondered out loud with concern.
"I guess we'll find out soon enough." Primal's voice was a little distraught as his memories on Cybertron came flooding back to him. One of his darkest secrets was about to unfold to everyone who had trusted him with their lives. A secret that he had yet to unveil even to Whitegrazer. If that protoform survived, he may start killing again, and Rattrap was there alone. He also had to assume that the Predacons would make for the pod as well, so time was of the essence. "Whitegrazer, you're with me," he ordered as he turned away from Rhinox and the communications console and headed for the platform which lowered him outside. Transforming to his hover board, he motioned Whitegrazer to hop onto it in the front before blasting off in the sky toward Rattrap's location.
While waiting for his fellow comrades, the rat's tail gently swayed back and forth, and his neon green eyes, along with his acute senses of smell and hearing remained on high alert for any other intruders. So far, the area was quiet except for the crickets, birds, and an occasional rumble of thunder in the distance. The damp air smelled of rain, and the flickering energon nearby was the only thing that brought some "beauty" to the desolate area that was blanketed in a thick fog. "Nothin' like sittin' around in a creepy place outdoors exposed and all alone," he said to himself feeling a little unnerved. "Just like one of those science fiction horror flicks where the most vulnerable ones get picked off first. Lucky me."
-----
Meanwhile, at the Darksyde, Megatron was eavesdropping on the Maximals' transmissions. "Hmmm. A large stasis pod for a large soldier, yesss," he calculated out loud to himself. "Terrorsaur, Tarantulas!" he beckoned for their attention. "I'm assigning you two for a recruitment retrieval. What ever this protoform is, I want it flying the flag of the Predacons', not of the Maximals'!" Since Optimus Primal was going to join Rattrap at the pod's location, this one appeared to be a bit different, besides its size, that is. He detected a hint of anxiety in Primal's voice that suggested an intriguing significance. So, who better to send to handle the Maximals than Terrorsaur and use Tarantulas's expertise on handling the pod if the protoform could be recovered?
"Always eager to welcome a new comrade in arms, Mighty Megatron," Terrorsaur brown-nosed to the tyrant, but before he could depart on their mission, Megatron suddenly grabbed his arm and yanked him toward him as he sat in his levitating chair, strongly holding him to his side. The TransMetal 'dactyl gulped in response to his leader's rough grip and pull.
"Remember, Terrorsaur, I reward loyalty and success. Failure is not an option," Megatron said in a threatening tone before it suddenly grew lighter when he added, "And do try to obtain further knowledge of this particular protoform by keeping your comm. link open. I sense something... amiss." Almost as hard as he had grabbed him, the Predacon criminal finally released Terrorsaur's arm and pushed him away.
"Uh, yes, of course, Megatron. As you wish," he obliged while gingerly rubbing the spot on his arm where Megatron had squeezed it so tightly before offering him a bow. Reverting to his jet vehicle mode, he blasted out of their base while leaving Tarantulas in the wake of his afterburners.
Watching Terrorsaur make his exit, the Predacon leader tapped his finger tips on the arm of his throne out of irritation as his thoughts drifted to losing his alien gold disk to Zodiac and Optimus Primal obtaining another mysterious one. Now he was down to only one, the Sounds of Earth. It was likely the most valuable data disk anyone could have possession over, but he still wanted to know what was on the other disk that came into play during the last alien encounter. Since both alien disks were out of his reach and he failed to maintain control over the Metal Hunter, Megatron refused to let this protoform of this magnitude slip through his fingers. No, it was going to be a Predacon, and he was going to make sure of it.