CHAPTER FIVE
"Never though we'd come back to this rock...."
Barricade stared at the blue-green world as it came closer into view. It was exactly as he remembered it: too much water and dirt, not nearly enough metal. It was inferior to Cybertron in every way, just like any organic world. And yet... here they were.
While Megatron continued to converse with Prime, who had just contacted them upon exiting hyperspace, Barricade looked around at the eleven other Decepticons their shuttle was carrying. A lot of the old guard were there -- Blitzwing, Lugnut, Skywarp and Blackout -- as well as some new faces. Flatline was nowhere near as vain as Knock Out, Astrotrain and Octane not nearly as annoying as the Battlechargers. Slipstream was quiet like Thundercracker, Flamewar grinning mischievously like Starscream. Dreadwing was dumb muscle like Brawl, and Viral....
Honestly, Barricade didn't know a single thing about the silent Decepticon. He had heard that he was some pawn of Shockwave's and used to work for the Secret Service, but beyond that? He was nothing but cannon-fodder in Barricade's eyes. Still, Megatron had to have chosen him for a reason.
Speaking of which, the former Decepticon leader was now addressing them, having finished his call with Prime.
"Change of course," he was saying. "We are landing at Stonehenge instead of Autobot City."
"Stonewhat?" Dreadwing asked.
"Stonehenge. I've already been given the coordinates. Apparently the Autobots have found a Titan there... a Titan with an infestation problem."
"Scraplets?" Flatline asked.
Megatron shook his head. "Insecticons."
Barricade grimaced. "I thought we'd seen the last of them after Airachnid deserted."
"Where do you think she took them?" Megatron replied.
"Bah!" Lugnut held up his fist. "Insecticons or not, they will be no match for the mighty Megatron!"
"Right." Barricade looked back to Megatron. "Forgive me for questioning you, my liege, but--"
"Don't call me that. I'm not your ruler anymore."
"Right, sorry. But... why are we helping the Autobots? Why don't we just let them handle things, like always?"
"Prime asked for my help. So I'm giving it to him."
Barricade frowned. "But why?"
Megatron did not answer him. He didn't even seem to acknowledge Barricade's query as he turned back to the front of the shuttle.
All was silent for the rest of the journey. Ignoring the glares of Lugnut and Flamewar, Barricade brought out his rifle and prepared to load it. If there really were Insecticons down there, he was going to need it.
* * *
"My liege, ah, we seem to have visitors."
Tigerhawk glanced at the hawk-shark Fuzor known as Air Hammer as he strode through the hallways of the fortress. "Visitors, you say?" he grunted.
"Autobots," Air Hammer clarified. "Our scanners are also detecting a Decepticon ship that's in entry. I think... I think they've found us."
Tigerhawk nodded. "I figured they would -- especially given they have a Titan of their own. Although I'm surprised they didn't simply use the space bridge...."
Air Hammer tilted his head, surprised by how calmly his master was handling this news. "So, ah, how should we deal with them, my liege?"
"Tear them apart," Tigerhawk said. "Slaughter them. This is our domain, Air Hammer. We must defend it with everything we have."
The Fuzor slowly nodded. "Everything. Right. As you command, my liege."
With that, Air Hammer parted company with his leader. Tigerhawk allowed himself a grin as he reached his destination, stepping into the chamber that held a confined Cerebros.
"Soon...."
* * *
"Well, let joy be had unbound," Ratchet muttered as he and the thirty-odd Autobots exited the GroundBridge and drove towards the Stonehenge monument. "Someone's already beaten us to the punch...."
Parked near the standing stones was a Cybertronian shuttle... and departing from it were Megatron and a dozen Decepticons. Several of them were those that Prime and his Earthbound Autobots had faced a year ago the last time they were on Earth, and judging by their scowling expressions, that time had not been easily forgotten.
"Look on the bright side," Skids muttered as they transformed to robot mode. "At least we outnumber them. By a lot."
Ratchet was about to remind him of the presence of Lugnut -- who might as well have been an army onto himself -- when he saw a magenta-colored figure push their way past the Decepticons. Last time Ratchet had checked, there weren't that many magenta 'Cons....
"Elita?" Optimus murmured as he emerged from his truck mode. "What are you doing here?"
"You really thought I was going to let you have all the fun?" Elita smirked as she strode up to her sparkmate. "Besides, I didn't have Flatline rebuild me into a jet for nothing."
"Flatline?" Optimus glanced at the Decepticon medic in question before regarding Elita's new winged frame. "That would explain the Seeker resemblance...."
"At least now we might have an edge in this," Slipstream said coolly. "Because right now, all I'm seeing is cannon-fodder."
Ironhide scowled as he clenched his fists. "Say that again, 'Con?"
"Enough!" Optimus barked. "We are not enemies here, but allies. We must unite together to fight a universal threat."
"Indeed," Megatron grunted. "So what was it you said you were dealing with?"
Suddenly, the ground shook as a wave of energy burst out from Stonehenge. Behind the Autobots, the GroundBridge portal they had come through evaporated, closing them off from Autobot City.
"Hey!" Wheeljack tapped his wrist in a futile attempt to bring the portal back. "What gives?!"
"That does, I think," Skids said, pointing towards the monument.
Within the circle of stones, several beasts were beginning to materialize from beams of light. A number of them were Insecticons, while others -- ranging from mammals to birds to even sea life -- continued to appear. As their number quickly grew, Ratchet began to pick out some familiar faces.
"Wait a minute... those are the Maximals," he murmured, noticing bots like Rhinox and Cheetor.
"And Predacons," rumbled Megatron detecting five familiar black and orange animals.
"Guys," Bumblebee said as the united Autobots and Decepticons were faced with hundreds of Maximals and Predacons, "I think the Beast Wars have come to Earth."
"Understatement of the cycle." Skids' remark was drowned out by an earsplitting roar from Razorclaw and the army of beasts soon came charging towards them.
* * *
"And so it begins."
Tigerhawk chuckled to himself as he ran a claw along Cerebros' face. The Autobot shuddered but could do nothing to recoil from the Fuzor's touch.
"It's a scary thing, isn't it? Destiny." Tigerhawk's optics glazed over in reminiscence. "I remember when I was first created, I hadn't a single clue what my purpose in life was. I was young and scared. But then, Primus smiled on me and I saw the light."
He looked back down at Cerebros, lifting the Autobots' chin up with a claw. "You were much the same, weren't you? Born during a time of strife, you were denied the luxury of peace. You were a pacifist thrust into a destructive conflict. You have never fit in."
Cerebros stared at him with fear and distaste, but otherwise remained silent. Tigerhawk grinned as he leaned in closer.
"But now you have a purpose. We have a purpose. The ascension will be a success and it will be thanks to--"
The widening of Cerebros' optics was the only warning Tigerhawk received before the blade plunged into his back. As the Fuzor cried out in agony, his assailant kicked him down to the floor as he pulled out the sword.
"Me," growled Magmatron, the once and future Beast King of Eukaris. "You want to talk about destiny, you aberration? Then welcome... to mine!"
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