Airshadow

Beast Wars Anonymous:

Beast Wars and all related belong to Hasbro. The story, its original contents and ideas, and any original characters belong to the author and cannot be used or reprinted without the author's permission.

Author's Note: The following fanfic is based in the first and second season of the "Beast Wars: Transformers" show. The characters are from the first season (when I use transmetal forms, I will tell you). Maybe you can find elements of or allusions to the second season. Bit by bit, I am going to give you some clues about what has happened and how. Be patient, and you will know my Beast Wars universe.

The Birth of an Enemy, pt. 1

by Sky Shadow (airshadow_nightlight@hotmail.com)

More of Skyshadow (aka Airshadow)'s fics can be found here.

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. Inside the Maximal ship, the Maximals were in the control room. They were in robot mode (except Dinobot). They reviewed the sensors and searched for Predacon activity. Rhinox, Rattrap and Cheetor were operating the computers, while Optimus Primal and Dinobot watched the tridimensional maps. Suddenly, Optimus Primal turned towards the computer. "Computer, I need information about Predacon activity."

"No Predacon activity registered in the area," the Maximal computer answered him. Optimus shook his head, worried. What had happened to the Predacons? Something was wrong.

"Optimus. I am registering one transmission on our frequency... it's Airazor," advised Rhinox.

"Take it."

"Airazor, calling Maximal base. I'm beginning the transmission of my matutine report."

"Come in," said Rhinox.

"I haven't seen Predacons all morning," she informed.

"Airazor, continue your patrol..." Optimus answered her. "We don't know when the Predacons will appear again. "

"That's okay. I'll be in contact. Airazor off."

Now Optimus Primal was more worried. He shook his head anxiously. The Predacons could be planning something. What could be it? He didn't have any idea. Suddenly, Cheetor spun in his chair and looked at Optimus. "Could you tell me, my powerful leader, what's happened with the Predacons?" He added, joking,"Are they extinct? "

Dinobot didn't understand Cheetor's intentions and turned angrily towards him. "How can you consider yourself a warrior if you ask a novice's questions?" he exclaimed furiously. "They must be preparing a trap! I can smell Megatron's purposes; he will strike soon... I know..."

"Of course, paranoiac lizard, of course..." Rattrap said, mocking him while he was watching the computer. "You always see Predacons when there aren't any. I recommend you go to a psychiatrist." He added, whispering to himself,"You need one."

"What did you say?" Dinobot exclaimed, very upset. "YOU BIG RAT!?!"

Rattrap turned the chair and imitated Dinobot's intonation. "What did you hear? BIG LIZARD!?!"

"That's enough...!" Dinobot exploded. "I can't stand your big mouth anymore!"

"Oh, really?" Rattrap challenged.

"Stop now!" exclaimed Optimus. "If you continue fighting, I'll have to punish both of you."

Dinobot and Rattrap returned to their places. Apparently the fight had ended. Rhinox shook his head, he thought about that... "All day, every day... don't they ever get tired of it?" he sighed.

"They aren't guilty because they're stressed. We all feel the same," Cheetor said as he looked Rhinox.

"We don't see any Predacons for days..."

"For days?!" exclaimed Rattrap. Next he was looking at Cheetor. "Didn't you learn to add in school, kitty? We haven't seen any Predacons for three weeks!"

"That's right, Rattrap," confirmed Optimus. Seconds later he looked to Rhinox. "Rhinox, did Tigatron's report say anything?"

"The same as Airazor's report... nothing."

Optimus shook his head again, turned away and asked himself: "What's Megatron's plan?"

"We soon will know it... we must be on guard..," said Dinobot gloomily.

What no one knew was that even then, a stasis pod was slowly beginning its descent to the planet. Soon, a new fight for its possession would begin.

While that happened in the Maximal ship, all Predacons (except Tarantulas) were inside the command room of their ship. All present were in beast or robot mode. Megatron (he was in robot mode) sat in his command place, and he was furious with his crew.

"All present are good for nothing! And you consider yourselves warriors!" he screamed aloud. "You don't destroy the Maximals! You can't catch a stasis pod! YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING! I HAVE TO DO ALL!"

All Predacons backed up, scared. No one had anything to say to him. Suddenly Inferno walked forward, and knelt down in front of Megatron. "Your Majestic, I..."

"Shut up, stupid ant!" screamed Megatron, annoyed. "If you were more intelligent than them, you could help me do something..."

"My Queen..," said Inferno, troubled,"I'm the most loyal soldier in your service... you have only to give me an order and I'll do it, if you want, I SHALL BURN ALL MAXIMALS!!!"

"Oh really, stupid ant? Perhaps you will do it..." replied Megatron, between annoyed and skeptical. "GO OFF!"

Inferno went to one corner of the room, far from the other Predacons. "I'm an unloyal and bad soldier..." he said, lamenting and talking to himself. "I must do something for my Queen... I must do something for the glory of my Great Queen!!!!"

Suddenly the Predacons' alarm started ringing. Megatron asked, surprised,"Tarantulas, what's... Tarantulas?!?!?!?" He searched carefully among those present and next he screamed aloud,"WHERE IS THAT STUPID SPIDER???!!!! FIND HIM!!!!!"

Quickly, all the Predacons went out of the room to find Tarantulas. Meanwhile, Tarantulas stayed in his lab. He heard all of Megatron's speech thanks to his microscopic microphones. When the alarm rang, he went to his principal computer.

"Computer. What's happening?"

"A stasis pod has appeared. Projected planetfall in thirty megacycles," the computer answered him.

"Good... very good," he exclaimed, pleased. "Computer, begin the location process. Now!!! "

"The location process has begun."

While the computer was doing the location process, Tarantulas was talking to himself. "So, I'm a stupid spider, my hater leader? I have not ignored your insults... I had a good idea when I installed my own microphones in all ship." He began to laugh slightly. "Soon I will have my revenge, and you, Megatron... you'll pay me all slaps that you have given me. "

"I beg your pardon, my appreciated spider," said a cool and familiar voice. "Were you talking about me?" Tarantulas turned and looked as Megatron emerged from the darkness, in beast mode. He walked towards Tarantulas.

"Ahhhh! Megatron, I..," said Tarantulas calmly.

"You found a stasis pod. Didn't you? "

"That's right, my leader. I was going to tell you, when I had the location. "

"That's right... " said Megatron while he moved his head and saw the computer. "Computer, give me the place where the stasis pod is going to land. "

"Probable landing coordinates have been located," it answered him. "Location five grades at north, seven grades at west."

"When do you think it is going to land?" asked Megatron.

"Estimate- thirty megacycles."

"Megatron," said Tarantulas,"That place is neutral zone. I'm going to... "

"No! Not alone," exclaimed Megatron, and he moved his head to Tarantulas. "I don't risk the stasis pod. The Maximals want it too... Could be that they move on it at this moment... " Megatron smiled devilishly.

"I have little time but it's enough... I have a good plan... " Megatron took his leave of Tarantulas's lab. Suddenly Megatron turned his head and looked at Tarantulas.

"By the way spider, sometimes... I think that you want betray me..."

"I never try to betray you, my great leader... " replied Tarantulas. "Trust in me."

"Of course, my smart spider, of course... Tarantulas, don't go to the stasis pod alone... I don't want to lose it! I need to prepare some details for capturing the stasis pod and destroying the Maximals at the same time. Remember..." Megatron threatened him. "Don't move yet!"

"Of course, my Leader, I won't forget."

"I hope." Then Megatron was gone.

"Tyrannical saurian," muttered Tarantulas.

Megatron walked down the corridor that connected to Tarantulas' lab. "Don't think I ignore your intentions," whispered Megatron to himself. "Soon you'll pay... treacherous arachnid."

In the Maximal ship, Dinobot and Rattrap were alone in the command room, on duty. Rattrap, in robot mode, was sitting in front of the computer. Dinobot, in beast mode, stayed next to the tridimensional map. He was searching for Predacon activity in the area. Both, at this moment, felt tension while they were together. At least, they had the same opinion this time. Rattrap was moaning about the late hours and Dinobot was fed up.

"Why me?" Rattrap moaned aloud. "I'm a good guy... well, a good rat. I give no problems to anyone. I always have to go to the Predacons' ship and I spy on them. I always have to do the hard work and the most disagreeable too... And as if it isn't enough, I have to stand this paranoiac lizard... "

Dinobot couldn't stand any more, and jumped up and screamed furiously. "Don't you ever shut up, cheese-eater!? Must you always be complaining?! YOU USELESS RAT! If you had been Predacon, Megatron would have destroyed you!"

Rattrap rotated the chair and he replied mockingly,"If I had been Predacon... BUT NEVER IN MY LIFE HAVE I BEEN A PREDACON, UNLIKE YOU!"

"That's enough," roared Dinobot. "NOW, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME LESSONS! DINOBOT, MAXIMIZE!"

Soon the fight began. Dinobot advanced towards Rattrap. Quickly, he changed to robot mode and tried to defend himself. Dinobot beat him; he was intending hurt him, but Rattrap eluded his attacks.

"Stasis pod detected... stasis pod detected," the Maximal's computer alerted them, but they weren't listening. Their fight continued, when...

"Can you tell me what's going on?" said an irritated voice.

It belonged to Optimus Primal. Dinobot and Rattrap stopped fighting in that moment and they looked at the place where the voice had come from. They could see Optimus was very angry with them. Rattrap was worried, he was shaking slightly while he looked at Optimus. Dinobot was indifferent. He moved backwards. Comparing with Predacons' chastisement, the Maximals' punishment, whatever it was, couldn't be worse than the Predacon's torture chamber. Dinobot was sure he could resist anything.

"Hum... er... hi! My great leader..," said Rattrap nervously and worried. "We are having a small and friendly chat. Aren't we, Chopperface?" Nobody spoke more. In the cockpit, only the computer's voice was heard. "Stasis pod detected... stasis pod detected..."

It was evening, and the air was warm and wet; anyone there would have been able to hear the exotic sounds of different kinds of animals. Slowly, the stasis pod landed in the middle of the jungle. No Predacons or Maximals were around. Soon the DNA searching started. Far from the protoform's location, three Predacons were trying to find it. They were Blackarachnia, Scorponok and Inferno. Blackarachnia and Scorponok stayed in beast mode; Inferno was flying behind them. Megatron's search had begun.

"If only that stasis pod had crashed nearer to the base... " said Blackarachnia. "Don't moan. And shut up too," replied Scorponok.

"Oh no! I'm in a deep water," Blackarachnia mocked. "You'll tell our Great Leader Megaton about all the names I call him." She added, laughing,"I'm trembling with fear..."

"Oh shut up!" exclaimed Scorponok, very upset. "Why did my Great Leader Megaton let you accompany me on this mission?"

"Look who's moaning now," she replied while she stopped walking, and Scorponok saw her. "Because he can't go and we can go; next, I can reprogram the protoform.... I know the way. And to conclude... he doesn't trust in Tarantulas... " She added thoughtfully, "The truth is, he doesn't trust anyone... And be realistic, Scorpy, he doesn't trust you either."

"HE ALWAYS REWARDS HIS LOYAL WARRIORS! Ask Inferno!"

"Ask Inferno, ask Inferno!" Blackarachnia replied brusquely. "You and he are his well-trained soldiers, but also you are--"

"Ohhh... SHUT UP!"

They continued their discussion. In the sky, Inferno looked them but he didn't say anything. Obviously he wished the protoform for Megatron, but he saw that he wouldn't have any help from them, due to their personal conflicts. They could lose the warrior... No, not if he could help it.

"I have to obtain this new warrior for my Queen... with their help or without it," said Inferno to himself; and he was gone to other places to search for the protoform.

In the same time and in another piece of the jungle, Rattrap and Dinobot (both in beast mode) tried to find out where the pod had landed. Optimus punished them this way. He wished that Dinobot and Rattrap would work like comrades. Now, Dinobot knew that he could affront anything... except Rattrap's company. Their personal quarrel began again. "What bad luck!" complained Rattrap to himself. "Optimus wouldn't have annoyed me with this if the lizard hadn't started the fight!"

Dinobot screamed at him angrily, "If you speak another word, you will repent it!"

"I'm scared stiff! Look at me, I'm shaking like a leaf; but remember, iguana, if you damage my beautiful body, you'll have a lot of troubles with the top banana."

Dinobot roared furiously. "That's enough! I'll find the stasis pod... ALONE!" He disappeared quickly into the brush.

"That's right! Bite the wind!" screamed Rattrap. "What a mean lizard!"

Inside the command room of the Predacon ship, Megaton was alone; he was in robot mode and he was comfortable, seated in his chair. He was waiting for news about the protoform and he was planning the next part of his strategy.

"Beware! Maximal activity detected in the area of the stasis pod," alerted the Predacon's computer.

"Good. Now, the second phase of my plan can begin," Megaton commented to himself while he smiled sinisterly. "Computer, open communications to Waspinator, Terrorsaur and Tarantulas." He stood. "It's time to work."

Meanwhile into Maximal ship, Rhinox, Cheetor and Optimus Primal (all in robot mode) stayed in the control room. They were quiet and made no mention of the search of Dinobot and Rattrap. Hours had passed, and the Maximals were beginning to feel very uneasy. Rhinox and Optimus were viewing the tridimensional map. Cheetor was in front of the computer. Suddenly Cheetor scream, alarmed, "Big bot! You've got to see this!"

"What's happening, Cheetor?" asked Optimus, worried, while he went to him.

He answered anxiously, "The Predacons are going out... I detect three Predacons near the stasis pod... also, four more Predacons are in the same zone as Rattrap and Dinobot."

"We must inform them! Cheetor, call them and inform Airazor and Tigatron too, now!" exclaimed Optimus, alarmed.

"Right!"

"Optimus, we can't wait for Airazor and Tigatron," said Rhinox. "We don't have time and if we don't something soon, we could lost the protoform or our friends..."

"I know," Optimus replied uneasily.

"Bad news, big bot! I can't establish contact with Dinobot and Rattrap," exclaimed Cheetor, more alarmed. "The energon fields won't let me make contact. Airazor and Tigatron are going there, but they could arrive late... I'll try to contact Rattrap and Dinobot again!"

"We can't wait! " Optimus cried. "Dinobot and Rattrap are inside a trap. Cheetor, activate Sentinel and follow us."

The roof opened. Optimus used his rockets and he took off towards the stasis pod's location. Seconds later, Rhinox left too.

The Birth of an Enemy, pt. 2

by Sky Shadow (airshadow_nightlight@hotmail.com)

A great while ago, Dinobot had left. Rattrap was walking trough the weeds and trees, in beast mode. He tried to find the protoform. Still, he continued his moaning against Dinobot. "Why does our big boss let that stubborn lizard stay with us? The team was better without him... "

Suddenly, he stopped walking. Was he imagining, or had he heard a small noise?

"Lizard, is that you?" Rattrap scanned around him; he wasn't able to see anybody around.

"Oh, come on, lizard! You can't scare me with this old trick..."

He could hear a small noise again. Now he began to feel scared, something told him that Dinobot wasn't behind this.

"Dinobot?" he whispered.

"I'm so sorry, little mouse, but I'm not your prehistoric friend," a female voice answered him.

"Oh no," said Rattrap. He turned to the side. Now, he could see in the middle of the weeds a horrifying sight emerging... a big black widow.

"BLACKARACHNIA!" screamed Rattrap.

"Either this planet is small or I have a good luck today. When I start to feel hungry, I find a delicious enemy to eat," she said, laughing sarcastically. "What's happened, little rat? Have you become tongue-tied? I will reprogram the protoform," she added threateningly. "AFTER I EAT OR DESTROY YOU! BLACKARACHNIA, TERRORIZE!"

She transformed to combat mode and began shoot at Rattrap. He ran behind a rock and fired on her, too.

"Why don't you make this easy and let me drain your life-force, lab-rat?" she said mockingly.

"Where is that paranoiac lizard when I need him?" screamed Rattrap.

In the border of the jungle, Scorponok had changed to robot mode. He hadn't seen Blackarachnia or Inferno for hours. He was on the top of a high rock and trying to find them. "Nothing! Where is that treacherous spider and that useless ant?! I only divert my attention for a few megacycles and they disappear," he exclaimed violently. "If we lose the protoform, Megatron'll be furious with us!"

He continued his search and he detected something interesting "Ahhh... what wonderful luck!" Scorponok saw a raptor in the weeds. It was, without discussion, Dinobot.

Dinobot walked carefully some steps. He stopped walking and moved his head; he was inspecting the area, but he didn't see Scorponok. As a good Predacon, Scorponok fired a shot. Dinobot heard a small noise and before the rocket would damage him, he dodged and avoided Scorponok's missile blast. He moved his head and saw him. "You fail... stupid!" he exclaimed. "Dinobot, maximize!"

"I won't fail again... traitor!" Scorponok jumped and began his fight with him. Dinobot used his spinning cyber-slash sword to defend himself, but Scorponok disarmed him. Now the fight was at close quarters. Dinobot took advantage of Scorponok's amusement. Dinobot caught the scorpion's tail and threw him far away.

"I win," exclaimed Dinobot. "Now, I must find out where the protoform is..."

"You won't find out anything," said devilish voice. Dinobot knew this voice. "OOUUUGHH!!" he roared, hurt. Dinobot fell down injured; he quested with his eyes who had hurt him. He was able to see Megatron, Waspinator, Terrorsaur and Tarantulas on a rock in robot mode. Megatron was smiling glacially and devilish. He could destroy him; how he would enjoy doing that! His old rival dead. "Now traitor," Megatron said cruelly, "I will have the great pleasure of destroying you. "

Slowly, Megatron moved his powerful cannon and pointed towards Dinobot. He was ready to destroy him when a unexpected shot near him stopped him. Megatron turned his head and saw Airazor and Tigatron arriving. He was in robot mode and she in beast mode.

"Umm... this situation could become complicated..." he said thoughtfully. "PREDACONS, DESTROY THEM!"

Terrorsaur and the others advanced happily on that order. Dinobot stood up with difficulty, his honor pulling him to fight his enemies. He tried to fight with Tarantulas but he was very weakened; he needed help. Meanwhile, Tigatron was shooting at Terrorsaur and Airazor was fighting with Waspinator in aerial combat. Tarantulas was winning the fight with Dinobot, and although he tried to continue, the raptor couldn't resist anymore. Tarantulas was laughing and said, "You are done for!" He didn't continue, because Tarantulas felt that something was touching him slightly. Quickly, he turned his head and saw Optimus Primal. He lost no time and began to fight with him. At the same time, the other Maximals arrived and began to shoot at the Predacons.

"Withdraw! Withdraw!" screamed a scared Terrorsaur. He changed to beast mode and flew out of there fast.

"Waspinator doesn't go until he destroys all Maximals," exclaimed Waspinator with decision. A blaster shot passed next to him; he shouted, panicky, "Waspinator could change his opinion!" Waspinator transformed; he flew fast and far out of there. Tarantulas imitated him; he changed to beast mode and escaped too; the Maximals lost sight of him when Tarantulas ran at the thicket. Optimus rapidly went to Dinobot and tried to help him. Dinobot was seriously damaged. The others Maximals surrounded them. Dinobot tried to stand but fell. He was severely hurt. Optimus knelt down and tried to help him. "Dinobot! Dinobot, say something!"

"Where is Rattrap?" asked Cheetor anxiously.

Dinobot answered them with difficulty. "He must be near here... we separated."

"You had a fight, didn't you?" inquired Optimus.

"You aren't way off base... forget it... Megatron is going to the protoform..." responded Dinobot.

"Optimus, the new warrior will be born soon," calculated Rhinox. Optimus was undecided as to what he must do. At last, he turned his head and looked at Rhinox. "Stay here and look after Dinobot. We'll return soon. The rest of you follow me; we must located the protoform."

Except for Dinobot and Rhinox, all the Maximals went to save the protoform.

Megatron was walking towards the protoform. He would soon appropriate it. At any cost, the new warrior would belong to him. Suddenly, Inferno appeared in beast mode. He was pulling the stasis pod behind him. "My Queen!" exclaimed Inferno happily. "I'm very glad to see you. I bring the new warrior for you."

"My appreciated and competent soldier... I'm pleased with you," answered Megatron with a devilish smile. "Now, let me work, I can see that the DNA process has begun. It is time to reprogram the new Predacon and give him his first orders."

The fight between Rattrap and Blackarachnia continued. Blackarachnia screamed at him, "I'm tired, mouse, and I'm hungry too!"

"I'm so sorry, spider. But I ain't gonna become your dinner!" said Rattrap. He added in a whisper, "I'm fed up with you and I'm in a hurry. I'll give you an special farewell gift." Rattrap threw her a bomb. It fell near Blackarachnia and when it touched the soil, it exploded. Seconds later, she was buried under the rocks.

Rattrap sighed, glad the fight between them had ended. "I'm not going out with this girl again! Beast mode." He changed to beast mode and began to walk with a sigh. "I'm so tired; this girl drained off my weapons energy... but at least I'm safe..."

"Could you repeat that, rodent?" a soft voice hissed. It had a frozen accent.

Rattrap stopped walking and looked at the trees and weeds; there, a big cobra's head appeared in the middle of the plants. Rattrap felt a freezing sensation in his back. He was shaking violently. "Who... who are you?"

"Najah, the new Predacon and your worssst nightmare," he said while he advanced, slow and threatening, towards him.

Rattrap didn't run; the horror didn't let him move. Rattrap lowered his ears and whispered, terrified, "Somebody help me!"

Najah crept towards him while he hissed with a frozen accent. "I wasss born few megacycles ago and I need energy. Now, you are a rodent and I am a sssnake," he added. "You underssstand me. Oh, come on, mousssse! Why are you shaking? I only like to talk to my dinner."

Rattrap backed away; he tried to avoid Najah's intentions. The snake smiled a bit. "Don't worry, it won't hurt ssso much... well, maybe just a little. Now, my dinner, I..."

A shot stopped Najah's advance. He spun his head and saw Cheetor appear across the jungle. Rattrap utilized Najah's distraction to put more distance between them.

"You don't hurt my friend!" Cheetor screamed to Najah.

"I hate people that interrupt my meals," hissed Najah to himself. "You are messing around, kitty; if you don't want to lose all your lives, ssstick to your own affairs."

"That's my business," he replied while he was preparing his attack.

"I'm sssorry for you," answered Najah sarcastically. "Don't claim that

I didn't advissse you... FIGHT!"

Najah lifted up his body and spat a liquid towards Cheetor. He jumped with swiftness and rolled in the soil; when he looked at the place where Najah's shot had landed, he could see a horrible thing. The wood of the trees was BURNING; if he had received it, his metals would have burned like the wood of the trees! Cheetor felt a deep horror and exclaimed, scared, "Your saliva is... an acid!"

"Yesss, pusssy cat!" answered Najah sarcastically. "I have a cyber-poisssion, too. I would like to ussse it for first time with you."

"Try to catch me!" exclaimed Cheetor while he prepared his weapon.

"Valiant and idiotic," commented Najah. He advanced, threatening, and attacked Cheetor again. Cheetor was a disagreeable surprise; Najah was faster than him, however, and that thing made the snake most dangerous. The cobra's aggression was strong and rapid; it seemed to have the evil of all the Predacons condensed in its body. Cheetor could barely avoid his attacks. Najah spat his acid again, and...

"YOWWW! My arm! The acid is burning my arm!" exclaimed Cheetor, and he fell.

"You jussst lossst all your livesss, kitty," laughed the cruel Najah. "You are dead!"

He was preparing to deliver his fatal bite when a rock beat his head. He looked at the point where the rock had come from and saw Rattrap. "Don't worry, Cheetor; I'll help you! Rattrap, maximize!"

"That'sss wrong, moussse. You need help."

Najah struck back against Rattrap and tried to bite him. Rattrap evaded Najah's fangs. Najah began to use his tail and started to slash with it him. Suddenly Najah struck Rattrap's legs and he fell. Rattrap shook his head, confused, and then Najah appeared over him. He hissed devilishly, "Where were we before the kitty arrived? Ahh, I remember. Do YOU remember that you are my dinner? And the kitty will be dessssert. What'sss your opinion?

An unexpected voice-- "You don't hurt them; that's MY opinion!"

It was Optimus and before Najah could react, he grabbed Najah's neck and threw him away from his friend, near a group of rocks. Najah jerked his head and was preparing to fight when Tigatron and Airazor arrived. At that moment, Blackarachnia awoke and emerged near Najah. She scanned all present and asked, "What happened here?"

Najah looked over. "Hi, toots. Sssorry to tell you that the ssshow isss over."

She nodded and moved back into the jungle. "Just remember, creeper, ladies first."

Blackarachnia changed to beast mode and disappeared into the jungle. Najah laughed sarcastically and commented, "As if I'm a gentleman. Najah, terrorize!" Immediately, he transformed to robot mode. His arms, face, and the upper part of his body appeared. His humanoid appearance was blue-gray; he had almost almond-shaped eyes, inclined and red. They almost joined and they had a devil light. On his back was a pair of rockets. They turned on and Najah took off. All could hear his hissed laugh as he spoke to Rattrap. "Goodbye, my dinner. I'll sssee you sssoon."

Najah was gone, but those present were still able to hear his laugh. Rattrap looked at Optimus; he felt terrible. If he and Dinobot hadn't separated, the Maximals wouldn't have lost the protoform. Now he was sorry, but it was too late.

"Hey, boss-monkey," he said to Optimus. "You must be angry with us. We were separated in this mission. But before you punish us, would you let me write a will? I might not get a chance afterwards."

Optimus didn't answer; he was pensive and worried. A new enemy was born, and he was intelligent and strong. Now, the Maximals might be the losers of the Beast Wars.