8.July.06

Silent Noise

By: Lessel Snowstar

Writer's Note: Many thanks to Starath for introducing me to BW and for proof reading this!
I own Racket and Hasbro owns the rest of the BW.

“Incoming stasis pod at 79 by 53 by 68! Looks like your prediction came through, Rhinox ol’ buddy!” Rattrap congratulated his friend from across the bridge at the Axalon.

“That’s very kind of you, Rattrap.” Rhinox’s deep sarcasm echoed around the room, “Especially considering ‘no one should have been sent out on that wild sharkticon chase’ in the first place.”

Rattrap blanched, “Aw, ye can’t possibly still be holding dat against me can ya? I was just talking off da top of my head is all!”

Rhinox simply shook his head in mild amusement. After Airazor’s pod had been knocked out of orbit by a meteoroid, Rhinox had taken to monitoring the extra-terrestrial rocks and their orbits as well as those of the stasis pods still in orbit. After a bit of study, he had managed to predict the next pod to fall as well as its probable landing site. His persistence had paid off when the pod fell exactly when and were he had predicted – give or take a few nano-meters.  
He was interrupted from his thoughts by Optimus’ voice over the com-link.

“Optimus to base. Congratulations, old friend! The pod is right on schedule. Airazor and I are going to intercept it before it lands and fly it back to base. See you soon.”

Rhinox smiled at the soon to be victory. “Take care. And watch your back! The Preds aren’t going to take this lying down! Call us if anything happens.”

“Will do! Optimus out!”



As it turned out, the warning was unnecessary. With a flyer on each end and the pod’s own thrusters bearing most of the weight, the Maximals were able to make record time getting the pod back to base. That is not to say that the Predacons didn’t try. However by the time Waspinator and Terrorsar showed up, Sentinel was back up and running and there was nothing for them to do but go back to the Darkside.
“One thing that worries me though,” Optimus said as the stasis pod’s thrusters settled it on the deck, “The DNA scanning and replication scan started even before we got a hold of it.”

“Hmm,” muttered Rhinox as he hunched over the pod’s controls, “Well, you’re right; it has already chosen a form. Other than that, though, the protoform is just fine. ”

“So, what form did it pick?” Cheetor asked.

“See for yourself.” Rhinox pulled back to allow the other bots to gather around the monitor.

“A… Raccoon?!” Dinobot’s incredulous hiss came from over Rattrap’s shoulder, “What kind of fighting form is that?”

“Don’t knock it, Chopper-face!” Rattrap shot back, “Personally, I wouldn’t mind having another rodent around.”

“Please!” Dinobot countered, “I’m feeling ill enough about this as it is!”

“Enough, you two.” Optimus leaned in to stare at the view screen, “Hmm. It says here that raccoons are peaceful creatures but can be fierce fighters if cornered. Sounds like just what this team needs.”

“Well, it looks like we’re about to find out.” Tigatron gestured at the lights on the pod’s hull, “It’s about to come out.”

The stasis pod in the Maximal base opened with the whisper of equalizing air pressure. Slowly, with an air of grace that was both silent and fluid the new femme climbed out and stood regarding the conglomeration of bots in front of her. She was already in robot mode and was very tall and slender. The top half of her face was black making her look like she was wearing a mask. Her front raccoon legs crossed over her chest and the back legs and pelt hung from her waist. Two shiny guns rested in hip holsters on either leg. When she turned, they could see her beast-mode head upside-down on her back like a hood.

Smiling, Optimus stepped forward.
“Welcome to our base! I’m Optimus Primal, Leader of the Maximals.” He extended a hand to shake.

The femme looked from his face, to his extended hand, and back to his face. Her own face remained blank. Not confused, not annoyed, just blank.

Cheetor looked at the large bot standing by the computer console, “Hey, Rhinox, you sure the protoform didn’t suffer any damages?”
Rhinox seemed equally confused, “Like I said, aside from the DNA replication scan starting early, the protoform was perfectly fine.” This did not, however, answer the question going through every bot’s mind. Why wasn’t the new Maximal speaking?

Unsure, Optimus lowered his hand. He introduced the rest of the company, and then asked, “So, what is your name?”
Other than blinking her optics, the femme gave no reaction.

Rattrap snorted, “Eh, why don’t we call her ‘Racket’? ‘Cause she’s so loud!” Rattrap got no response beyond her turning to look at him as he spoke. “Sheesh!” He breathed as she turned away, “Is sarcasm totally lost on this girl?”

"Perhaps," Dinobot said with a hiss, "She does not feel the incessant need to fill the air with mindless words as you do, Rodent. In my opinion it is an admirable quality.”   

“Well, in the absence of any other options,” Optimus sighed while simultaneously ignoring the banter going on behind him, “I guess that’s what we’ll have to call you. Come on. I’ll show you around the base.”



“Pull!” Dinobot hissed.

Cheetor hurled another rock as high as he could. Dinobot waited for it to reach the top of its arch before shooting it cleanly with his optic-lasers as he had done to the past nineteen stones.
Smiling at his success, he turned to receive the admiring gaze that was his due from the young cat. Cheetor, though, wasn’t watching. Instead, his gaze had repeatedly drifted back to the ship.

“What do you think she’s doing?” Cheetor didn’t need to clarify who “she” was.

Dinobot gave an exasperated sigh. This was getting old fast. They both knew that after the tour had ended Optimus had let the femme wander and explore whatever and wherever she pleased.
“As I told you the last three times you asked,” Dinobot’s impatience was audible, “Your guess is as good as my own as to where she might be. So, would you please stop your day dreaming and pu…”  

The hum of hydraulics made Dinobot turn to see the platform of the Axalon lower and the new femme glide out. She seemed to take in the entire planet with one sweep of her eyes before focusing on the bots in front of her.

“Um…. would you like to practice?” Cheetor asked uncertainly. As usual, Racket’s face didn’t move.

“All you do is shoot the rock in the air.” Dinobot demonstrated. “Now, you try.”

Cheetor tossed a rock high above Racket’s head. She didn’t even watch it and the rock plopped back down on the ground.
“No,” Dinobot said patiently, “You are to shoot the rock. Watch!” Dinobot demonstrated again. “Now, try again.” This time Dinobot tossed the rock.

Racket watched as the stone flew high into the air and almost hung suspended for a second before falling to land not far from the first.

“No, no, no!” snarled a now annoyed Dinobot, picking up another rock, “You are to SHOOT the rock, not to just watch it!”

“Cool your jets, Dinobot!” Cheetor calmed, “Maybe she just doesn’t get it yet!”

“This war does not have room for imbecilic twits who need to be told everything fifty times for them to catch on!” With another snarl, Dinobot hurled the stone to his feet at top speed.

It never reached the ground.

In the blink of an optic, Racket pulled a gun, shot the stone neatly in the middle, and returned the gun to its holster. Dinobot stared at her. Being a warrior, he couldn’t miss the expertise with which she wielded her weapon. She knew how to fire a gun, alright. She had merely been toying with him. What’s more, not a hint of it showed in her face. She didn’t even look smug!

Cheetor, however, was utterly oblivious to the insult. “Hey, nice shot!” he praised.

Racket looked at him for a long moment, then, turning, she went back inside the ship.



It was late afternoon when Dinobot finally went back inside. He had hoped to time his entrance just after Rattrap left on patrol, however today he had no such luck.

“Well if it ain’t da great rock hunter, back from da prowl!” Rattrap was almost beaming with impish delight. He hadn’t had ammo this good in ages. “If yer planning any new hunting trips, make sure ta take Racket with you. She can help you catch the fast ones!”

Dinobot gritted his teeth, “Hardly!” he snorted, “Her skill would be far more useful here, as a pest exterminator!”

“Ya know,” Rattrap yawned, “Somehow dat isn’t much of a threat, considering she’s a rodent too!”

Dinobot groaned, “Don’t remind me!”

Rattrap chuckled with malicious glee, “Ho-ho! You think I’m gonna let you forget? I saw da look on your face when she slagged your rock! Your optics looked about ready ta pop out! Heh! It’s like I always say, never underestimate a rodent!”

“Really?” came Dinobot’s sarcastic reply, “I thought your famous line was, ‘We’re all going to die.’ ”

“Would you two knock it off?” Rhinox called, “Some of us are trying to work!”

“Indeed,” Dinobot hissed at Rattrap, “I have more important things to do than to attempt to reason with a vermin.” Turning on his heel, Dinobot stalked out of the room.

“Heh, whatever you say, Chopper-face.” Rattrap turned back to the computer and called up the program he had been working on when Dino-butt arrived. He stared contentedly at the picture in front of him: Dinobot staring with pop-optics at the new femme. Rattrap sighed. He would have wanted to get the picture of the moment Racket had slagged the rock but even he had been caught off guard by her speed. But there was no need to let Choppers know that. Besides, the picture that he took was plenty embarrassing. Dino-breath didn’t often have moments when he was surprised, and when he did it was worth saving. Rattrap smiled. Maybe he’d frame this one.



Soft footsteps on the deck made him turn around. Racket had come to relieve Rhinox. With her characteristic fluid grace she sat in front of the computer and began to type. Rattrap eyed her appraisingly. She wasn’t what he, or for that matter any of the bots had expected. Most of them had thought that another femme would mean another Airazor, or (he shuddered with this thought) another Black Arachnia. She’d either be a total kick-skidplate or a peaceful, unassuming lady. That’s not to say that Airazor couldn’t fight when she wanted to, but she was predictable. She would’ve played along with Choppers game. But this new femme wasn’t so predicable. Rattrap watched her as she fiddled with the controls of the cameras. He smiled. Even by his standards she was pretty hot. Maybe she’d like an official welcome - Rattrap Style.
Slowly, he stood and made his way over to Racket’s computer. Standing right behind her chair, he waited for her to notice him. After about three cycles he got tired of waiting.

“Hiya, Gorgeous! What’s happening?”

Racket turned slowly with an air of annoyance. At her cold stare Rattrap smiled. This was the most emotion she had show since arriving. So far, so good.

“Hey, Beautiful, I just though I’d warn ya, ya might be ask ta leave soon. Yer make’n Airazor look bad!”

To his delight, the fem’s face continued to darken. Suddenly, her gaze shifted to the door right behind him. Rattrap spun, hand on weapon, ready for whatever or whoever was right behind him. To his surprise, he saw… no one. The doorway was empty.
Confused, he looked back at Racket. The femme had gone straight back to work the moment he turned his back and was now quite pointedly ignoring him. Rattrap smiled at the attempted dismissal. Nice try, Sister! But it’ll take more den dat ta distract me!
Rattrap moseyed around till he stood right next to the computer screen.

He gestured to her hip guns, “I was just wondering if you realized your lasers are set on ‘stunning’.”

Racket’s typing paused just noticeably. Rattrap’s grin stretched to both his audios.

“So, did you come on this mission to meet a nice mech, or would someone like me do?”

That, apparently, was the limit. Slowly, like a volcano building pressure, Racket regarded him with fire in her eyes.
Rattrap couldn’t remember the last time he had had this much fun pushing someone’s buttons. Oh, sure, he always had Chopper-face, but there was a certain amount of satisfaction he felt messing with this almost emotionless femme that bugging ol’predictable Dino-breath couldn’t match.
However, being a survivor by nature, he did know when to stop. And now was that time.

"Well, I'm off fer recon duty!  Talk ta ya later, beautiful"

He winked pointed his finger at her as he used to back on Cybertron in the way that would drive the femmes wild. His grin didn’t fail him as he wandered out to his post.
Racket waited till he was just out of earshot to take her com-link off mute.

“…attrap?” Airazor’s voice sounded worried and confused even through the com-link. “Rattrap, what in Cybertron are you talking about?”
Racket permitted herself the smallest of smiles as she turned the link off with a snap.



Cheetor yawned. It had been a long day. A long, uneventful, boring day. He got antsy on days like this one when not a single Pred showed on any of the screens. It was enough to make you wonder what Megatron was up to. Optimus didn’t seem to mind the break. In fact, Big-bot had taken this time to incorporate the new femme and her expert marksmanship into his strategy simulations. Well good for him. Cheetor thought sourly. At least he’s doing something besides watching stupid monitors. Not that Cheetor really minded the chance to rest. It was just the suspense that he couldn’t stand. If only something would happen!
Thoughts like these had put him so on edge that he jumped when door slid open. Airazor stepped inside followed by Tigatron. The big cat had been spending a bit more time at the base of late. When Cheetor looked at Airazor he could tell that she too liked having the tiger around more often.

Cheetor got up to greet his friends, “Hey guys! Any news from Pred Central?”

Uncharacteristically, Tigatron merely grunted a negative while Airazor simply smiled nervously and shook her head. Cheetor paused in confusion. “Is something wrong?”

Before either cat or bird had a chance to reply, Optimus entered.

“What’s going on?” Optimus looked from a confused Cheetor to a testy Tigatron to an anxious Airazor.

“Optimus,” Airazor stepped forward looking relieved. “Could I speak with you privately for a moment? There’s something that…”

“Hiya, Bots!” Rattrap made his entrance oblivious to the fact that anyone was speaking but himself. He mock-saluted Airazor. “How’s my favorite flying femme?”

Airazor, who had appeared uncertain enough as it was, now looked down right worried. She gave Optimus a baleful look. Thankfully, Boss-monkey was quick at picking up on such things.

“Yes …erm … This way, Airazor.” He waved her to an adjoining room.

“Huh?” Rattrap looked at the retreating bird-bot. “What was that all about? Was it something I said?”

Tigatron answered with a snort that seemed to imply, “as if you didn’t know.” Then he staked across the room to sit down at the farthest computer from Rattrap

“Did I miss somethin’ here, Kid?” Rattrap moved over to Cheetor.

“Not that I know of.” Cheetor said with a confused tone that matched Rattrap’s. “They both just came in from patrol and were acting all weird.”

They waited in confused silence for a few minutes. Then the door of the adjoining room slid open and Airazor stepped out followed by Optimus. Big-bot’s optics seemed slightly suspicious as they focused on the rat.

“Rattrap, may I speak with you privately for a moment?”

“Eh, sure thing.” The unease in the room was beginning to set him edge too. Aside to Cheetor he said, “At least now I’ll get some answers!” Rattrap followed Optimus back into the side room.

By this time, Cheetor was nearly bursting at the hinges for curiosity. In an effort to listen to the conversation in the other room, he pressed one audio up against the door.

“You do realize that curiosity killed the cat, don’t you?” Rhinox had just come in from the hall. Right behind him were Dinobot and Racket.
Cheetor knew he aught to be embarrassed at getting caught, but the suspense of the situation was enough to override his shame circuits.

 “Would you pipe down?” He hissed at the rhino, “I can barely hear them as is!”

As it turned out, he really should have heeded Rhinox, because from behind the door came an earsplitting “WHAT?!?” from Rattrap that could be heard all across the deck easily.

Cheetor stumbled back from the door with his had over his now throbbing audio. More shouting by Rattrap came from behind the door: “HOW DARE SHE?!? THE SLAGGIN’ LITTLE SNEAK!!”

The door flew open and Rattrap came barreling out with deadly fire in his optics. He spotted Racket and stomped up to her, fuming all the way. “Why you sneaky little WITCH! You think you got one up on me? Huh? Oho boy, do you ever have another program ta run! Just you wait! When the safety lock comes off, you’d better be watching your back, ‘cause this rat fights dirty!” And with that he stormed up the hall pushing bots out of his way as he did so. Airazor, who happened to be one of those bots, looked relieved.

The rest of the bots looked from Racket to Optimus for explanation. The Ape looked like he was having trouble keeping a chuckle from escaping.
“Well,” he said after a pause, “It appears that when Rattrap gave Racket some, shall we say, unwanted attention, Racket decided to forward the conversation to Airazor.”

“So those cheesy pick-up lines weren’t directed at me!” Airazor’s worries melted away into the dawning realization of what had happened.

By then, most of the bots had abandoned themselves to helpless laughter. Cheetor had collapsed against Dinobot. Rhinox was laughing so hard he had to sit down. Once Tigatron realized the mistake, he too began to chuckle. Even Optimus’ self-restraint only went so far.   
The one person from whom no sound came was Racket. She stood against the wall, in the shadows, listening to the roars of amusement she had caused. Slowly, as if everything inside of her rebelled at the notion of showing emotion, one corner of her mouth twitched upwards.

They had named her Racket, and Racket she would be.