Rise of the Predacons: The Legend of Bahamut

Chapter 3: A New Prime?

Jack noticed that the desert base was too quiet when they arrived before the sun was way below the horizon. He rode on Arcee in the lead and when they came to the gate, there weren't any guards greeting them.

"Something's wrong," he said, reaching into his jacket for his gun. "There should have been soldiers guarding the gate."

He got off Arcee and she transformed into her robot form, fully armed and wary. The others followed their example, drawing out their weapons, keeping their eyes on the look out for anything suspicious.

Bumblebee peeled away a metal plate lying on the side of a broken jeep. He saw only ash and dirt. His scouting instincts made him reach into the dirt, analyzing the texture of the soil. He took a whiff from his ventilation port for his olfactory sensors to confirm his suspicions.

"Something came here with an army. Smells like Reptilicons but different," he said as his optics scanned the area, tuning his photoreceptors for night-vision. The place suddenly looked eerie as he scouted ahead.

Jack led his team to one of the buildings to find it deserted and the entire place in shambles. He walked towards an office door, slowly pushing it aside before carefully peeking inside. Even it was empty of life and everything was thrown in a jumble of a mess. He motioned to his team to check the other rooms.

Knockout stood by Arcee when his energon radar detected a faint energon signature coming from one of the buildings. "Arcee, I think I've got something," he said. "Eighty clicks to my right, a faint energon signature. I can't tell if its a Bot or a Con."

"Bumblebee, KO's got a fix on an energon signature," she spoke into their commlink, transforming her servos into blasters. She motioned to three Vehicons to take up her position. With weapons drawn, they cautiously approached the door of the small building. Bumblebee joined them by the door and they cautiously entered the darkness.

Knockout swept his radar around, pinpointing the source coming from behind a rather large steel door. It was ajar.

"It can't be," he muttered, switching off his radar and pulled at the door. It was stuck. Arcee and Bumblebee assisted him but the door wouldn't budge.

"Move," Bumblebee said, arming his stingers. He concentrated his aim on the hinges and fired. It took him a few tries when the hinges broke, sending the door crashing to the floor. A hideous screech suddenly came out from inside and something jumped at Bumblebee, attacking him!

"Ya ain't takin' me alive, ya fraggin' piece o' slag!" the creature screamed. It was small and it had its digits clawing at Bumblebee's optics.

Before Arcee could react, Knockout had his taser out, giving the wild creature a mild shock, making it let go of its victim. He grabbed it by the shoulder and held it steady. "Wheelie!! Wheelie!! Calm down! It's me! It's me! Knockout!" said the medic-bot.

The creature stopped struggling, turning its helm towards the large mech holding it down. The Minicon looked haggard, frayed wires hung from its body, rust collected all around its frame and armor. Its right leg was missing with a dark slick oozing out of the broken shaft. Its optic lenses are smudged and broken, the left optic threatening to drop off any time. It sagged its body, as if it has felt sudden relief. But it broke out in another fit, spitting out profanities in their Cybertronian tongue.

"'bout time ya got 'ere, ya fraggin' slag!" the Minicon, Wheelie, exclaimed. "Where ya've bin? Ya dunno whut 'em humans did t'me."

Knockout rolled his optics with a groan. "You're welcome, Wheelie." He picked up the Minicon and set it on his shoulder. "Watch the paint, mind you. I just got it buffed."