Alright! It's time to find out!
Dinobus Prime & Optimus Primal vs. Wing Convoy! Who will win?
You'll be both shocked and bewildered by the events of this chapter; and things only get better from here on!
And so, without further ado; here it is! Chapter 18/Episode 70; "Stalemate"!
'Myth Wars' MetalSamamon's Version: Episode 70: "Stalemate":
Wing Convoy eyes Optimus and Dinobus with hatred as he starts to move, placing one foot behind the other and moving to the right.
?Hmm?could it be that the lowly monkey has finally got some backbone?? Wing snickers as he never takes his optics off of the two bots before him.
?He?s more of a leader than you ever were, Convoy!? Dinobus growls in contempt. ?Hold on?? Wing begins, ??I recognize that voice?Dinobot!!?
?Correct!? Dinobus nods, ?But now I am Dinobus Prime!? ?What?! You, a Prime!? Wing Convoy looks at him stunned, and then begins to laugh.
?I?d advise you to watch what you say, Convoy, before I rip your useless head off!!? Dinobus screams, pointing one of his swords at Convoy?s head.
Wing takes a moment to stop laughing, and begins to regain his composure, ?Alright, so you?re a Prime now. That doesn?t mean that you?re not the same Predacon felon that escaped me back on Cybertron!?
?Shut your mouth Convoy!? Dinobus yells. ?Blow it out your exhaust port Dinobot! I?m not taking orders from any Prime-wannabe! I don?t care how you became a Prime; in my book you?re still just a short-tempered, ugly Predacon criminal!? Wing retorts with extreme disgust, ?They should have killed you back on Cybertron!?
?Wing, we came here to talk!? Optimus interrupts, stunning both Wing and Dinobus. ?Well then, talk! What do you want, traitor?? Wing sneers.
Optimus growls a little, but holds back. ?Megatron?s captured the sparks of Waspinator, Silverbolt and Rhinox,? Optimus begins, ?And we need your help to get them back.?
?Oh, so that?s what their bodies were doing in the CR chamber!? Wing states, ?But no matter. Once I get rid of you two, I?ll destroy their bodies as well as yours!?
?What?!? Optimus shouts, stunned, ?You can?t do that! They?re Maximals, sentient beings! You, of all people, have no right! You are a Convoy!?
?Do not presume to order me Commander Primal!? Wing snaps, ?I can do whatever I slaggin? well please, and no one will stop me! I became a Convoy because I knew how to give commands, and I knew how to make my troops follow my every word! I ruled with an iron fist; and no one ever questioned my command; EVER!?
?But you swore an oath when you became a Convoy, to uphold Maximal ideals and help in the creation of a better future for all Transformers!? Optimus states. ?Yes, that may be so Primal, but I am not a fool. I still hold those ideals close to my spark, but those so-called Maximals under your command tried to scrap me after I blew up on you; and that is not forgivable. No one berates a superior officer, much less attacks them with firepower!? Wing Convoy explains.
?Bah! How much of this dribble must I endure?? Dinobus screams in frustration. ?Let me try to reason with him first Dinobus. I want to try to avoid a fight if at all possible.? Optimus states quietly to him.
?Quit whispering! I won?t have you morons plotting against me!? Wing growls. ?I don?t want to fight you Wing Convoy!? Optimus states, ?Please listen to me. I need your help to??
?Clamp it Primal!? Wing screams, ?I?ve had enough of you! You?re just as irritating now as back on Cybertron; maybe even more-so. I?m going to put an end to your pathetic existence right here and now!?
Wing Convoy charges at the two leaders with his swords drawn and extended in front of him. ?Looks like we can?t avoid this battle!? Dinobus shouts as he runs towards Wing with his swords drawn as well.
They clash together, their swords clanging against each other as Wing swings his swords masterfully at his adversary. Dinobus blocks his every swing, and manages to slice Wing Convoy across the chest, sending him falling to the ground.
?Stand up and face me coward!? Dinobus screams, using his fingers to signal Wing to rise. Wing quickly grabs one of his swords and stabs Dinobus in the stomach, ??Don?t worry about me; it?s you who is going to die!?
Dinobus stumbles back from the injury, yanking the sword out of his abdomen. ?DINOBUS!? Optimus shouts with concern. ?I?m fine?? Dinobus mutters, examining the wound, ?It?s not deep, and it hit no vital circuitry.?
?Too bad, next time I must aim better!? Wing grumbles as he rises to his feet.
?You?ve gone too far this time Convoy!? Optimus screams, ?The Oracle said that Megatron must survive, but it said nothing about you!?
Optimus extends his chest cannons and fires at Wing, but he expertly dives and rolls out of the line of fire, dodging Primal?s blasts.
?You?re going to have to be faster than that to hit me!? Wing sneers as he leaps into the air and does a flying side kick into Primal?s chest; sending him falling to the ground.
Wing Convoy stands upon Primal?s downed torso and raises his blade when suddenly fingers clasp his throat and squeeze tightly. ?Go back to the slaggin? pit you came from, Convoy!? Dinobus screams as he lifts Wing into the air and throws him straight into the Providus?s raised shields.
Wing howls in pain as his body is fried by the shields; but then a wave of energy ripples across the shields; shooting Wing off and slamming him into the ground.
?It?s over.? Primal announces as he turns to walk away.
?Oh no?? Wing begins, rising slowly to his feet as his body smolders and creaks with every move, ??I?m not done with you yet!?
Elsewhere?
?Finally, we?re here!? Gigatron announces as the three bots stand in front of the partially buried Autobot shuttle.
?Tidal Wave, go inside quickly and see if any of the pods can be recovered.? Gigatron states, ?The more, the better!?
?You don?t understand!? Nemesis states as she and Gigatron walk towards the ship, ?I need one of those pods to?? ?Bring back your boy-toy?? Gigatron interrupts.
?I?m warning you?? Nemesis begins, ??I?d watch your mouth if I were you. It?s your fault that the Maximals captured us back on Cybertron in the first place!?
?My fault?!? Gigatron mutters in complete shock, ?You know darn well that it was Megatron who set us up! He?s the real reason that we were captured! We just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when they caught us; that?s all!?
Nemesis quickly draws one of her swords, ?I said quiet Gigatron! Just give me one of the pods; NOW!?
?You dare turn against me?!? Gigatron screams in anger, ?GIGATRON?TERRORIZE!!?
Nemesis sees Gigatron transform; but before he?s fully out of transformation she launches one of her swords directly into his chest.
?The stasis pods are alri-BOSS!!? Tidal Wave yells in shock as he sees Gigatron collapse with Nemesis?s blade protruding from his chest.
?Stay out of this Tidal Wave!? Nemesis shouts, pointing her sword at him.
?Like the pit I will!? Tidal Wave growls as he charges at her full force. She kneels down and jumps straight up into the air and lands on his back; delivering a mighty blow with her sword into his body.
He stumbles and falls to the ground as she yanks the blade out of his massive body and strikes him across the lower back as she jumps off of him.
?That?hurt!!? He yells as he rises to his feet; apparently unharmed by the damage she inflicted. He rushes her before she has a chance to react and with one arm manages to lift her into the air and hurl her into the hull of the shuttle.
?GIGATRON! Are you alright?? Tidal Wave winces as he sees his leader lying motionless on the ground near him, ?Please boss, speak to me! Ya can?t die on me like this!!?
Just then he senses something behind him; and turns just in time to see a rocket-propelled sword flying straight towards his face.
Before he has a chance to move; the blade plunges into his head and sends him stumbling back; slamming into the ground near Gigatron.
?Nobody tosses me around like some cheap knock-off!? Nemesis proclaims as she walks towards the two downed Predacons.
Tidal Wave twitches on the ground; his face nearly split in two by her blade. ?And stay down!? she states as she kicks his body, and walks away towards the Autobot shuttle.
She walks to the side of the shuttle; and looks up at the open hatchway. Moving swiftly, she hops onto the hull and climbs up the top of the ship, and pulls herself into the ship.
Inside, she slides down the slick walkway and skids to a halt just inches from the control console and windshield. ?Autobot tech?what a load of slag!? she mutters as she looks around for any sign of the pods.
Using the seats, she pulls herself up inch by inch towards the back of the ship, which is now sticking skyward. She finally manages to pull herself up to the rear of the ship, and to her amazement she sees a set of pods lying jumbled up against the front wall of the back cabin.
?Looks like this is my lucky day!? she mutters as she hops up onto the wall, which is now the floor, and grabs one of the pods.
But as she struggles to move the pod, she sees a shadow envelop her as the sunlight is blocked by someone peering into the ship from above.
Without hesitation, she howls in pain as she uses all her strength to lift the pod and fling it straight into the air; right through the doorway and into the onlooker with a blood-curdling crunch.
A few moments later she hops out onto the back of the ship and looks down to see Tidal Wave lying on the ground, the stasis pod buried into his chest so far that the sides of his body have burst out of his protective outer casing.
She looks down at him, noticing all of his internal mechanisms sprawled out across the surrounding area. And as she hops off of the ship; she walks over to him.
She picks up his head; and holds it in front of her face; looking into his blank and cracked optics. ?And so out of your death shall arise a new life!? she mutters, discarding his head. It cracks in half as she makes her way to his body and, with some difficulty, yanks out the stasis pod.
She drags the heavy pod towards the Darklight; and begins to pull it up the ramp when she hears something.
?No?you?can?t!!? Gigatron screams, reaching out towards her as he uses his tail lance as a crutch. ?You should have just let me take the pod; it would have been so much easier?? she mutters as she chokes up a little; watching the wounded Gigatron try to limp towards her like an injured seal.
??Goodbye Gigatron. I will miss you.? She mutters as she gives him one final salute; and closes the door to the ship.
?No?? he begins as he watches her fire up the engines and rise into the air, ?NEMESIS!!!?
A few moments later, as Gigatron watches Nemesis steal his ship and fly off into the distance, a bot stomps up behind him. ?Huh?? Gigatron mutters as he turns to see a large red figure stand behind him.
?Megatron!? Gigatron states in wonder as he stares at him. Megatron raises his arm and moves the claws of the spark capture device, ?Gigatron; I know that we?ve had our differences in the past; but I require something of you??
Gigatron looks at him confused, ?Hmm?what?s this thing you require?? ?I?ll explain later,? Megatron begins, ?But it will not be easy. There is much planning to do; but once it has been done; nothing the universe can conjure up will be able to stop me!!?
?What?s in this for me?? Gigatron snaps. Megatron growls a little, but then nods, ?You need not worry?you will be well rewarded!?
?Fine. But if this is a trick?? Gigatron warns. ?Just get that Autobot shuttle activated. We will need those protoforms?? Megatron smirks evilly.
Meanwhile?
?Give it up flounder. I need your spark; and I shall have it!? Rampage states as he leans over Depth Charge, twisting the blade inside Depth Charge?s body. Depth Charge looks up at him; and even though Rampage was full of determination; he could tell that Rampage was in unbearable pain, ??You?re going to die anyway. Just give up and surrender your spark to me!?
Suddenly Rampage feels the tip of a gun near his spark chamber in his chest. ?I?m not dying today X?? Depth Charge begins as he fingers the trigger, ??And when I do die; it won?t be at your hands! I?m doing this for your own good!? And with that, Depth Charge fires a shot into his chest at point blank range.
Rampage looks at him square in the optics, and for a brief moment he thinks he sees Rampage smile. ?Thank you, old friend?? he quietly mutters, as his optics slowly dim and go out completely.
Depth Charge pushes his gun forward, using the forward momentum to throw Rampage off of him. He sees a smoking hole inside Rampage?s chest as he rises to his feet. ?Luckily I had that spare gun.? He mutters to himself, brushing the dirt off of his body.
Just then a laser blast hits him in the back, and he collapses to the ground in pain. ?How could you?!!? Dreadnought screams, running towards them.
Depth Charge stares at her in silence, unable to move his body from the damage of her shot and Rampage?s attack.
?How could you kill him?!? She cries out, rushing over to Rampage. She holds his body close to her body, gently caressing it as she rubs her cheek lightly against his head.
?He was like a father to me?he saved me!? She screams, unable to control her emotions. Depth Charge stares at her blankly, unsure of what to say in response.
My old adversary, the butcher of Colony Omicron, saved her? How could this be? Depth Charge pondered to himself.
?All he wanted was your spark! Do you know why?? she asked him. ?No?why?? Depth Charge asks politely. ?He was dying! He needed your spark to survive! His own spark was incomplete from the split by Megatron; and he needed a spark to survive! Why couldn?t you just give him your spark? WHY?!? She cried as she held the body of Rampage close; unable to let go.
Depth Charge looks at her, ?I made my peace with the allspark when we died together fighting in the water near the Nemesis. I?m almost afraid to say it; but it was like he and I were connected after that. I could sense what he was thinking and feeling; and whether or not you could tell; he was in terrible pain. He wanted me to kill him; to free him from the pain of having his half-spark try to live moment after agonizing moment. I?had no choice. As much as I hated him; I strangely couldn?t bear seeing him in that amount of pain; at least not from my own doing. Although I can not understand your pain; know this: Even though he was a brutal killer and slaggin? manic; he could be kind when he found the right bot. Now I guess it?s up to you to keep him alive; in your memory and in your spark.?
She looks over at him; staring at him with confusion and wonder. Her gaze then slowly moves back to Rampage; his dead, heavy body leaning on her. Then she looks back up at Depth Charge without saying a word.
Suddenly she grabs her head and starts shaking her head violently; leaving Depth Charge to stare at her in wonder. ?Nooooo!!!? She screams, rising to her feet suddenly. Rampage?s body flops to the ground; and she reaches behind her back and grabs her gun.
Depth Charge tries to move, but his body begins to cramp up and twitch violently. ?Systems damage extensive; emergency repair required or loss of spark may result. Stasis lock will commence in 2.2 clicks.? His internal computer states as he falls back down to the ground.
Depth Charge suddenly looks up to see two gun barrels in his face. ?I?m not falling for any of your tricks, Maximal scum!? Dreadnought screams; her finger pressed firmly against the trigger; ?You killed my father, and now I?m sending you back to that slag-pit of a scrapheap you came from! DIE!!!?
At that exact moment two laser blasts plow into Dreadnought; knocking her over. Depth Charge looks over his shoulder and sees two bots standing a few feet away from him.
?Leave here Predacon!? One of the bots states. Dreadnought quickly rises to her feet and looks at the two bots. But just as she raises her gun to fire upon them; she sees their optics begin to glow bright green as their fists glow the same color.
?This ain?t over Depth Charge! So help me; I?ll rip your still pulsating spark from your dying corpse and destroy it in front of your helpless optics!! I will kill you!! Vengeance will be mine!!? She screams as she transforms into beast mode and makes a hasty retreat.
?I?I recognize?that voice?? Depth Charge states as he tries to look at the two bots behind. ?Rest now?you?ve been badly injured.? One of the bots replies calmly, reaching out towards him. ?You?you?re Tigerhawk, right?? Depth Charge asks. ?I?we once were, yes.? Tigatron states, ?But now we?re separated, back as Tigatron and Airazor.?
?Well?at least?you?re a Maximal?? Depth Charge chokes out. ?Lie still; you?re going to go into stasis lock if you keep moving like that.? Airazor comments. ?I?m fine?just leave me?? Depth Charge mutters.
He tries to stand up; but his knees buckle as he collapses. They watch as his optics go out and his body goes limp. ?Told ya so.? Airazor laughs lightly.
They reach down and pick him up, his arms slung over their shoulders as they drag him off.
But not far away, a pair of glowing optics watch the two leave between some large rocks. ?Rampage?I will carry on your legacy. They will not survive much longer, I promise you that!? Dreadnought states as steps out and drags Rampage?s body off.
Elsewhere?
?At very long last, I?m here!? Fenrir screams as he stands in front of the entrance to the Autobot ship, the Ark, ?Or should I say; I?m home!!? He throws his head back in laughter as he closes his eyes for a few moments, and then suddenly opens them.
He fires a pair of beams of coding out of his optics into the repaired door panel outside the ship; apparently repaired by Teletran-1 sometime after Megatron and Primal left the last time.
The doors begin to slowly creak open as the giant die-cast metal doors grind against the floor. ?Yes; and now nothing can stop me!! NOTHING!!?
Back with Optimus?
Wing Convoy runs at full speed towards Dinobus, clothes-lining him with his arm as he runs by.
Dinobus falls to the ground and Optimus grabs his blaster; but Wing quickly jumps into the air and roundhouse kicks the gun out of Primal?s hand.
?You?re a worthy opponent?? Dinobus begins as he rises to his feet, ??I shall enjoy killing you!!?
?Save it, bird-boy!? Wing mutters as he charges at Dinobus, punching him repeatedly in the stomach, torso and head. Dinobus stumbles back, dazed from Wing?s attack.
Just then Primal grabs him by the shoulders with his massive hands. ?Let go of me now!!? Wing screams. ?No chance!? Primal replies, holding Wing tightly. ?Fine then, have it your way!? Wing states as he twists himself free of Primal?s grasp and does a mid-air back flip as he floats down through the air.
Primal swings at him, but he misses as Wing ducks and kicks Primal in the chest.
At that moment Dinobus grabs his swords again and charges Wing. Wing quickly pulls out his sword and defends himself against Dinobus?s attacks.
Finally, Dinobus manages to land a hit and slashes Wing across the chest. Wing trips and falls on his back; holding the deep wound in his chest as sparks arc out.
?You think you?ve won, don?t you?? Wing mutters as he taps his wrist, and all of a sudden they hear the gun platforms on the Providus activate.
Just then a fury of laser blasts come out of nowhere and blast right through the shields; destroying the gun ports.
?WHAT?? Wing screams, crawling towards the ship. ?You remember us?? Cheetor states, as he and the rest of the Maximals arrive on the scene.
?Nice timing!? Optimus comments. ?How did you shoot through the shields?? Wing asks. ?That would be my doing?? Snarl states, ?I told them the harmonics of our shields so that they could fire right through them.? ?Oh no?? Wing gulps as he deactivates the shields and lowers the ramp to the ship.
?You aren?t going anywhere!? a voice calls out from behind him; and he turns just in time to receive a boot heel square in the face.
?BLACKARACHNIA?? Everyone else chimes out as they see her standing in the doorway of the ship, fully repaired. ?Can?t get rid of a girl like me that easily.? She smiles with a wink.
?Blast you all! This is not over!? Wing states, rising to his feet. ?You?re going down today Convoy! Rattrap told me all about how you attacked Rhinox during his battle with Megatron!? Optimus states, recalling the scene in his mind through Rattrap?s optics as he watches the guns fire upon Rhinox; causing him to lose his battle and his spark to Megatron.
?So, the rat?s a squealer?? Wing comments sarcastically. ?Why I oughtta!? Rattrap states, shaking his fist at him.
?Well; still won?t admit defeat Convoy?? Primal states. ?Defeat is not in my vocabulary. I?ll never admit defeat; not ever!!? Wing retorts; pressing a button on his wrist.
?Uh-oh?? Blackarachnia states. ?What is it?? Optimus calls to her as she stands in the doorway of the ship. ?There?s a countdown timer in here. The ship?s about to go boom!!?
?Everybody scramble!!? Cheetor yells. ?Maximals, retreat!? Optimus chimes in. ?Go on; destroy yourself then Convoy; no one will miss you!? Dinobus growls.
Wing Convoy throws his head back with insane laughter as Rattrap and Cheetor rush inside the ship and help Blackarachnia carry out the bodies of Rhinox and Silverbolt; both of which are now fully repaired from the CR chamber.
But as Cheetor begins to run away; he senses something. ?What are you two doing?? he asks as he sees Snarl and Warpath standing beside Wing.
?He is our commander Cheetor; and we must die with him. Please do not try to understand; just go.? Warpath states as he waves farewell to the Maximals.
?I?m not leaving you here to die!? Cheetor yells. ?Cheetor! We have to go now!? Dinobus cries out; grabbing Cheetor?s arm and yanking him away.
Cheetor stares over his shoulder back at them as he watches the shields raise on the ship again. They lose sight of the ship and as they continue running away they suddenly hear a giant explosion from the ship?s direction.
?Well?so much for the great Wing Convoy.? Optimus states, as they all look back at the smoke rising into the air.
?Yeah, but what about Warpath and Snarl??? Cheetor mutters, his head hung in sadness. ?They made their choice!? Dinobus says, ??Albeit the wrong choice. They were good warriors; they should not have stayed with such a vile and contemptible leader as him.?
?Yes, they made the wrong choice I fear as well?? Optimus begins, ??But now we must focus on finding the sparks of Rhinox, Waspinator and Silverbolt; and restoring them into their proper hosts.? ?Count me in!? Cheetor exclaims, punching into the air.
Back at the Providus?
?Excellent! You were perfect!? Wing comments as he nods approvingly at Snarl and Warpath and lowers the shields from around them.
?Did we really have to blow up a quarter of our energon reserves?? Snarl asks. ?It was the only way. I once I awoke and saw the bodies of the Maximals inside the ship; I knew they would be back for them. It was the only way to ensure that they only got away with only the dead bodies of the Maximals and not my ship too.? Wing states.
?But you could have been a little quicker?I mean that fake static transmission was hard enough to create; and then me fighting both Optimus and Dinobot?? Wing explains. ?Sorry sir; we couldn?t move that fast. We had to gain their trust; like you wanted. The shield?s harmonics trick was sheer brilliance; it gained their trust almost completely!? Warpath exclaims.
?Indeed it was?? Wing grins smugly, ??And now that we don?t have to worry about them interfering with us anymore; we can finally finish the repairs on the ship!?
I know I?m obeying my superior; but why do I feel as though I?ve done something?terribly wrong? Warpath silently thinks to himself as he looks out across the horizon in the direction the Maximals left in.
Meanwhile?
?Finally! I?m here!? Tarantulas states, staring out across the wide expanse of the lands of Unicron.
?ARE YOU PREPARED TO CARRY OUT THE TASK I HAVE ASKED OF YOU?? Unicron booms. ?But of course?? Tarantulas snickers.
Tarantulas?s optics dim as he reaches out towards the sky; and relaxes his body. Suddenly the ground begins to shake as the surrounding mountains begin to crumble and break apart.
?YES! IT?S WORKING!!? Unicron proclaims as the ground quakes and booms with tremendous force.
Suddenly, a shadowy form of Unicron?s head rises out of the ground and turns to face Tarantulas. ?I AM FREE!! AT VERY LONG LAST!!? Unicron laughs with the happiness that only freedom can bring as his form rises through the air; straight out of the atmosphere and into outer space.
?Excellent! Now Unicron will be free to destroy the Vok?s home world! Finally, the final obstacle to my ultimate goal has been removed!? Tarantulas cackles with evil laughter.
At that exact moment?
?AAAAHHHHHH!!!!? A cloaked figure screams as his body shakes violently. His cloak begins to burn as he holds his optic in pain as it too burns. A few agonizing moments later, he collapses to the ground from the trauma.
A couple of minutes pass; and the burnt figure slowly twitches and begins to move. ?Oh, what happened?? he asks, his single yellow glowing optic panning across the surrounding area.
He suddenly rises to his feet, and looks around in terror. ?M-M-Megatron! Must find Megatron!? He stammers as he runs away as fast as he can.
Back with Tarantulas?
?So, you managed to free Unicron?? A voice states from behind Tarantulas.
He turns to see a shadowy figure floating a few yards away, draped in a long black cloak. ?And so what if I did?? Tarantulas grunts.
All of a sudden the skies begin to darken as the figure rises higher off of the ground. Pure black clouds fill the skies out of nowhere and jagged purple bolts of lightning streak across the clouds like missiles. Lightning bolts arc down from the sky and into the strangely shaped fists of the cloaked figure.
Tarantulas stares in awe as the figure looks up at him; as their face becomes illuminated by the dim light of the surrounding area.
?You have just committed the ultimate crime against the Vok!? She states, her face marked with ancient Quintesson markings. Suddenly her head rotates as a new, evil Quintesson face appears, ?And now you shall die!!!?Here it comes! The ultimate showdown! Unicron-powers versus Quintesson-powers! Vok vs. Vok! Tarantulas vs. Oracle! Who will win?
How did Fenrir get the codes to the Ark? And what will he do once inside? What will he do to get revenge upon MegaZarak and his men?
What will Megatron and Gigatron do next? What sinister plan does Megatron have up his sleeve?
What will the Maximals do to get the sparks of their pals back? And what are Wing Convoy?s plans now that everyone thinks he?s dead?
And what will Dreadnought do to get revenge on Depth Charge, Airazor, and Tigatron?
Keep watchin!
The first of 2 3-parters that will shock; amaze; and forever alter the way you look at both Beast Wars and Beast Machines will happen directly after the powerful events of this chapter!
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