Beast Wars: Prophecy 1 Part 1

Death shall never part us.
A Beast Wars fan fiction by Zucca.
I don’t own Beast Wars (Sadly) but would gladly accept a donation in the form of the entire franchise! Nor do I own the song lyrics (soon to be) included.


Chapter one: True heroes.

Dawn broke over the volcano where the Maximals made their new home and base. The sunlight glittered down across the natural landscape, broken only by the gigantic doors protecting the catacombs from the Predacon threat outside.

From the sky, a single silvery speck descended.

Bearing a wolven body and avian wings, it flew gracefully towards the mighty doors, which opened sluggishly.

Silverbolt, Maximal tracker and warrior, flew through the doors and into their well-established base.

Transforming, he looked up to the salvaged bridge section of the Axalon and flew up, seeing Rattrap at his post, asleep.  

Silverbolt shook his head slowly. He had low tolerance for the insubordinate and lazy, but Rattrap somehow fit into neither category.

The wolf/eagle fuzor walked up behind Rattrap and pushed his shoulder. “What are the chances that I could be a Predacon who snuck through the main doors while you slumbered, Rattrap?” He asked in his bold voice, eyes glancing at the security monitors.

The Transmetal rat yelped, jostled awake by his comrade. He sneered up at Silverbolt and gave a blithe wave of his hand.

“Feh, de’ Preds can’t get past the new proximity sensa’s me’n Rhinox installed. There’s only one entrance and we got the place lined with autoguns. We might as well give em’ legs and let em’ go slag de’ Darkside.” He said, his feet returning to the deck, having been propped up on a console just earlier.

“Things go wrong. We musn’t become lax, you know.” Silverbolt said matter-of-factly.
“Aww come off it, Bird-Dog. Yer’ startin’ to sound like da’ Boss Monkey.” Said the irritated Maximal spy.

Silverbolt smiled. “Thank you. Considering that the leadership of Optimus has kept us all alive this long, I’ll take that as compliment.” He said, walking off to find Blackarachnia.  

Rattrap sighed, straightening up his pigsty of a workstation and scanning all the borders and security cams. “Gotta dig reeeeal deep to get to ‘Bolt.” He muttered.

Silverbolt walked along, not seeing the cyberweb snare that was set out specifically for him. He let out a yell of surprise as he was hoisted up and dangled from the ceiling upside down.

He chuckled, seeing the slender, cobalt, red and gold form of the Transmetal 2 spider, Blackarachnia.

She planted a kiss on his wolfish muzzle as he hung there, a claw tracing patterns over his armor plating. “Hullo’ Bowser.” She trilled.

“Hello, heart of my soul.” He said adoringly, cupping her cheek.

Blackarachnia rolled her eyes. “You never run out, do you? You’re gonna have to start using other languages to make new titles.” She said.

Silverbolt dexterously loosened himself form the web and stood before her. “Amor mei vita.” He said and winked.

Blackarachnia laughed. “Latin, huh? Suites you.” She said, her arms wrapping around him. “So, how was your morning patrol?”

Silverbolt smiled. “Quiet as usual. The Predacons aren’t morning people, amoureux avant de mon vie utile.” Silverbolt said.

Blackarachnia looked a bit disgusted. “Sorry rover, French isn’t your thing. You make it sound even better, but it’s just not your cup of energon.” She said, snorting in amusement.

Optimus Primal, tall, powerful and wise, walked in with mighty footfalls, the ground shaking with every step.

“Ah, Silverbolt. You’re back from patrol. Everything’s quiet I assume?” He asked, his voice as usual, tinged with an electronic hum ever since he took Prime’s spark into his body and morphed into the Maximal/Autobot hybrid that he is today.

Silverbolt nodded. “Indeed. A lovely morning given no stain by the taint of Predacons.” He said.  

Optimus nodded. “We’ve not seen much activity from them for deca-cycles. Ever since Blackarachnia went through her change.”

The spider woman walked towards the quarters that she and Silverbolt now shared, having both announced their mutual love and ‘moving in’ with eachother. “You think they’re up to something, don’t you Primal?” She asked before sliding the door shut behind her.  “I’ve got a bad feeling…” She whispered to herself, once behind a closed door.

Optimus crossed his arms over his chest. “She took the words out of my mouth.” He said, looking to Silverbolt. “I’m afraid our time hasn’t been spent well. We’ve been too lax in our recon of their activities. To top it all off, we still haven’t found the alien device. Blackarachnia says she wasn’t aware of it’s presence, too anxious to help you to look for it.” He said, referring to the night that Blackarachnia was killed during an attempt to disarm her shell program, and resurrected by the advanced Transmetal driver. The alien device had vanished that night, and they found no evidence of self destruction. It was out there somewhere.

Silverbolt nodded. “Yes… my patrol radius should be increased.” He said thoughtfully.

Optimus raised a brow. “But you’ve already expanded it twice.”

The eagle/wolf nodded. “It won’t do any harm to expand it again. I have a duty to honor.”

“You’re a good soldier, Silverbolt. Don’t tire yourself out.” Said the Maximal General, then walked to the Axalon wreckage. “Get some rest before going out again. You’ve earned it.”

Silverbolt saluted and walked to the room he shared with his lover, unaware of the events soon to take place that would change his existence forever.

Megatron scowled, scrolling grumpily over reports from as close to the Maximal’s base as his troops could manage. The enemy had not one, but TWO Transmetal 2’s.

While the one he possessed was powerful and vicious, two to one was still two to one. He needed more Predacons, period. They were abandoning him by the shipload, or so it seemed. First Dinobot, then Blackarachnia, and as for Tarantulas, he cannot count on him for anything now.

There was one cause for cheer now. Waspinator had discovered the Transmetal 2 driver while on patrol. The energy it was exuding made the wasp-bot fly back to base at record speeds, delivering the device to his commander. Waspinator now sat in the holographic chamber enjoying a simulation as a reward.

He had an advantage now. A badly needed one. However, without the technical brilliance of Tarantulas, it was doubtful that the Predacons could construct a Transmetal conversion unit. If he could, he would be able to augment all his troops and defeat the hated Maximals, giving way to the Ark.

If he did that, he wouldn’t have to take such desperate measures as he did when he attempted to destroy Optimus Prime. This time he’d be more subtle. He had not realized it then, but Optimus needed to survive in order for the Matrix of Leadership to be used against Unicron to defend Cybertron.

He would download a series of encrypted instructions directly into the original Megatron’s core processor and give him critical tactical information that would aid him AFTER he became Galvatron. History needed to be untouched until Cybertron was safe.
He gave himself a mental pat on the back for having such clarity, now.

For the moment though, he would pick off the Maximals one by one. He decided he’d begin with the meddling Silverbolt who was the only flyer besides Optimus. He didn’t count Depth Charge since he knew of the vendetta the rogue Maximal had sworn against Rampage. Yeeeess… Silverbolt would make an excellent first target. The loss of the poetry spouting lupine would be a serious blow to the morale of the enemy.

A pleased smile crossed his face as he envisioned the traitorous, die-hard spider weeping over the sparkles wreckage of the wolven Maximal.

Silverbolt flew along the thermals that rose from the Earth, taking pleasure in the joy of flight. The Maximal always took joy in flying. He remembered how he used to just take off on a whim, obeying instinctive urges from his beastly side.

He used to feel like his life was nothing but a big, tumbling mess. His feelings for Blackarachnia when she was still a Predacon made him fear himself, worrying that he might have the seed of betrayal within his heart. His fears were tempered when he began seeing the behavior of Blackarachnia. She exhibited just as many Maximal traits as she did Predacon. He was certain she’d be that way even if she were full-blood Predacon.
Life wasn’t out of things to worry and plague his mind with, however.

As of late, he’d felt like a fifth wheel in the grand scheme of the Beast Wars. He felt an increasing sense of uselessness with each passing day.

Old technology.

The world echoed painfully in his head. He had overheard Optimus speaking once regarding any who weren’t Transmetal as being ‘Old technology.’.

Silverbolt knew that Rhinox contributed with his technical genius, not being reliant on Transmetal tech. Silverbolt on the other hand, was becoming more of a liability on the battlefield. He lacked the firepower to continually compete with the Transmetal opposition, and now his lover was a Transmetal 2, making him feel obsolete among his comrades.

Indeed, he was shot down more often these days, despite his best efforts.
Such moments passed quickly though, as he did not fret over such things.
“We all play the hand we’re dealt in life.” He reminded himself.

At that moment, he spotted the black and yellow striped chassis of Waspinator, having been crushed by a boulder.

The boulder sat on a tiny hill in a clearing within the jungle.
Sparks flew from the transformer, his body badly mangled. It looked like he would need help if he were to survive.

Silverbolt felt a stab of pity and flew down.
“Weren’t being careful around geologically unstable climate, were we?” He asked calmly. “You should take better care when flying around thermals.”

The feeble Predacon shivered uncontrollably, not out of pain or shock, but out of fear. He was to be the ‘bait’ of the snare, instructed to wait until a Maximal came to ‘finish him off’.

Waspinator meeped in surprise as he felt the boulder lurch and move off of him, freeing him from the artificial snare.
Why didn’t he finish him off, or at least try to?

Waspinator remembered back when Silverbolt was with the Predacons. He had always been friendly and encouraging. He’d helped Waspinator to feel better about himself and not to let the other Pred’s bullying get to him.

Waspinator likewise felt a stab of pity, no longer wanting to be part of this trap. “D-Doggy-bot? Run… Run now. Freakbot and Crab-bot set trap.” He murmered.

Silverbolt tilted his head, helping the Predacon to his feet. “What’s that?” He asked.
Waspinator was about to elaborate when a crimson blast struck the Maximal square in the chest, making him fly off the hillside and impact with the boulder he’d just heaved.
Dinobot and Rampage both walked out of the mists covering the jungle.

Waspinator panicked, jumping between Rampage and Dinobot. “Well, Waspinator will just take Doggy-Bot back to Megatron now so we can… put him in brig. Yezz?”

Dinobot smiled evilly. “Negative. We were ordered to exterminate the Maximal on sight and ensure his spark’s destruction.”

Rampage looked down at Silverbolt as he struggled to get to his feet. “It seems your time is finally up, Silverbolt.” Said the Predacon, reaching down and holding Silverbolt up by the neck. “Your pain is exquisite. And your fear… you fear for… her.”

Silverbolt, battered, beaten and barely above stasis lock, wriggled in the huge Pred’s grasp. “N-No..” He choked out.

Rampage looked to Dinobot. “We shall have two Maximals for the price of one.” He said coldly. He had never forgotten the day he and Silverbolt accidentally destroyed the only transformer Rampage had ever cared about, Transmutate. Silverbolt now had a consort, and the rage built up within the Predacon’s heart until it became yet another insane obsession.

He transformed, cruelly crushing Silverbolt’s wings, listening with pleasure as the silver Maximal cried out in pain.

Dinobot watched in silence, as if something plagued his mind from within.

Waspinator, ridden with guilt and shame, watched the Transmetal king crab torture the only transformer who’d ever been kind enough to so much as greet him with a wave and smile, rather then a cold shove or a bullying kick. He knew he could do nothing, so he transformed and flew off, his heart heavy.

“Can you feel the pain, Silverbolt?” Rampage asked, having rendered Silverbolt’s wings useless. “This is but an inkling of what I felt when you took Transmutate from me.” He whispered. “Your fear though… it is not for your own life. You are about to die, you know it, and yet you fear for her?”

“I-I feel no fear for my own well-being. Primus will watch over me. You will not harm Blackarachnia!” Silverbolt growled defiantly.

Dinobot chose that moment to speak up.
“He is strong. Do not play your sadistic game any longer. Allow him to die honorably.” He said evenly.

Rampage smirked. “He doesn’t deserve it. Let us lure his consort here and destroy her in front of his face. Then he will truly know the pain that I endured. Ah, and to ensure you can see your lady-friend, I’ll help you some.”

With that, Rampage tore off a plate of Silverbolt’s armor and crunched a very important component, the computer that allowed Silverbolt to go into protective, spark-preserving stasis-lock.

Dinobot snarled. “Megatron instructed us to destroy them one at a time because of the danger potential. Cowardly, but wise, considering the situation.”

Rampage smiled. “Then we’ll just have to… incapacitate him.” He said, then proceeded to slowly crush each of Silverbolt’s arms and legs, completely immobilizing him.
Dinobot was disgusted, but merely gritted his teeth. “The she-spider is on her way. She can sense the fuzor’s distress.”

Rampage dropped the immobile Silverbolt and brought a heavy claw down on him, damaging him further. Mech-fluid and organic blood oozed from cracks in his internal supply. He snarled up at the two Predacons, full of defiance. “My lady will defeat you both…” He gasped.

“Spare me.” Rampage said softly, taking one of Silverbolt’s melee weapons and driving it through his body, spearing him into the ground.

Blackarachnia called out with her supernatural senses, trying to locate Silverbolt. When she finally did, she felt he was in great pain. She honed in, moving as fast as her spider-legs could carry her. There were two Predacons looming over him when she found him. She held back tears as she saw what they’d done to him. He no longer looked like the tall, noble knight she knew and loved, but rather like a sad pile of junk, his shiny silver plating scorched and twisted.

“No…” She choked out. The two Predacons swerved toward her and began firing without pause.

His golden eyes looked up at her, his head barely able to turn. “Bl-Black…” He managed to choke, blood and mechanical fluid leaking from all over him.

She let out an enraged shriek, launching herself at Rampage and disarming him of his rocket launcher. She kicked back, sending the crab head over skidplate, simultaneously firing the weapon she took from Rampage directly into Dinobot’s chest, sending him flying off.

She swiftly hogtied Rampage with her webbing, then launched a web in Dinobot’s direction. She then retrieved Silverbolt’s broken, bleeding and battered form, dashing into the woods with him.

“Stay with me, baby…” She whispered as she ran through the jungle.
Silverbolt, but a torso with a head and an arm dangling off, looked up at Blackarachnia as she carried him, augmented by her superior Transmetal 2 strength and speed.

“Bl-Blackara-rachnia…” He whimpered. “P-Predacons… s-setting trap…” He said deliriously, unable to see what was going on and worried only for her safety.

“What’s the matter with you? Go into stasis lock!” She snapped. “You’ll die!”
Silverbolt shook his head, a straining squeal of metal was heard. “I-I cannot…” He said. “Getting cold… H-Hold me, my d-dark poison…” He whispered.

Blackarachnia grunted. “Shh, just stay with me Bowser boy. Stay with me… please…”
In moments, she arrived back at the Maximal base, her body weary from the run.

She nearly collapsed before all the Maximals, Depth Charge included, Silverbolt’s life force fading.

Rhinox looked up from his diagnostic screen. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes dim and sad. He could not bring himself to meet either Blackarachnia, or Optimus’s gaze.
“He’s… too far gone. The repair trauma would finish him off, and his spark is irretrievable.” Said the green Maximal.

Blackarachnia looked to the shattered, broken form of the once proud, noble paladin Maximal, Silverbolt. She couldn’t bring herself to say anything, just reaching down and taking his hand in both of her’s and kissing it softly. “Silverbolt… please… don’t leave me…”

Silverbolt weakly cupped her cheek, managing a small smile. “Y-You’re alright…” He said, his silvery armor plating tarnished with blood, mech-fluid and cracks.

“Yeah, bowser. I’m okay. I’m okay… B-But you’re…” She began.

“I know… B-But at least I shall be granted the pleasure of… dying with you at my side, beloved…” He whispered, coughing up black blood and fluid. “I-I love you, Blackarachnia… H-Hold me in this last moment… p-promise you’ll carry on once I’m gone… Promise me y-you’ll  take care of… them…”

She gasped, looking down at her mid-section where a pair of tiny twin sparks had begun incubation. “H-How did you know I’m with child?”

Silverbolt managed a weak smile. “I just know.”

This brought even more tears to her eyes as she clutched his hand tightly, afraid that if she let go, he would be lost. “B-But they won’t understand… Th-They’ll want to know their father… Oh please Silverbolt… H-Hold on…”

Silverbolt’s eyes also flooded. “T-Tell them daddy loves them… Be s-strong, my love…”

“O-Oh Silverbolt… I’m sorry for hurting you so often… for being a Predacon and never listening to you… I-I’m sorry for not loving you better… I-I’ve never treated you with the respect you deserve… I would’ve…” She sobbed.

He cupped her cheek softly. “You were always the perfect one for me… P-Promise me you’ll go on with your life… I-I’m going now… Oh lord… I love you, Blackarachnia…”

The female Maximal held his hand so tightly she thought it might break. He clenched back, his golden eyes gazing into hers as life trickled out of him. “Silverbolt…” She whispered. “Silverbolt… don’t you dare go… I love you…”

With that, the white knight gave one last smile, then the gold of his eyes faded and closed, the sound of his heart dying down.

“C-Can you still hear me? Silverbolt…? Silverbolt!” She cried.

From within his body, Silverbolt’s spark began to rise out of it.
All around the medical table just watched as the spark of another worthy hero began it’s final journey.
“NOOOO!!! No no no! Oh Primus no!!” Blackarachnia screamed, reaching out and closing her eyes.

None of the Maximals knew what happened. There was a blinding flash of light as Blackarachnia touched the Maximal champion’s spark that lasted for several seconds, well long enough for the spark to leave to room. As the brightness cleared, Blackarachnia found her claws grasping empty air. “No… no no no no!!!” She choked, her body heaving as she leaned over Silverbolt’s empty shell, sobbing in misery and sorrow.

The other Maximals felt as though their feet were glued to the floor. Even Rattrap had nothing to say.

Chapter two: The grief.

“And so we commit the body of our friend to the planet he came to love, and love upon. Let us not forget his strength of will, his love of justice and his desire to keep safe all that we hold dear. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in the name of Primus, amen.” Optimus said as the repaired body of Silverbolt, left in beast mode, was laid to rest in the earth, his wings folded around his lifeless form, his body wrapped in a burial shroud.

The death of Silverbolt was just as demoralizing as Dinobot’s death. Another friend lost forever, to a war that could have been avoided.

Everyone took turns assisting the burial detail. When the shovel came to Blackarachnia, she shook her head and turned away, unable to bear the thought of throwing dirt on her lover’s grave.

Depth Charge, who had the decency to attend the burial, shook his head slowly. He looked at Blackarachnia, whose face was blank and expressionless. “I swear on my life that this is X’s last victim.”

The last word echoed in her head. ‘Victim… victim…’

Cheetor sighed, the Transmetal 2 bot patting the dirt down. “Goodbye Silverbolt. Thanks for teaching me to be a good egg through thick and thin.”

Rattrap was uncharacteristically silent until it was his turn. “So long, bird-dog. You’ve given me a lot to think about.” He said slowly, vowing on the inside never to be slack at his post again.

Rhinox laid down a holographic portrait of the fallen champion as he did with Dinobot’s memorial. “You’ll not be forgotten, Silverbolt. Your purity will be legend when we return to Cybertron.” Said the green Maximal.

Depth Charge said nothing out of respect, just shaking his head slowly.
Optimus sighed softly. “He was a good friend, and a valiant warrior. Like our other friends who’ve fallen in battle, he will be missed.”

As Optimus continued his speech, Blackarachnia conceded to herself bitterly, remembering how brutally mangled her hero was. The senseless and sadistic damage done to him, and for what?

“To save that useless bug…” She muttered darkly and bitterly. Suddenly she stopped. How did she know that? She’d seen Waspinator walking away from the site of the horrific act, but how did she suddenly know what happened? Or how Silverbolt was tortured? The damage could have just as easily been from fighting.
Was the life of that bug the final testament of her hero?

Blackarachnia walked away from the service, her back turned on them all. Her heart reached out, trying to find something that made sense as she walked in the direction of the Predacon base.

“I must… keep everything he fought for safe.” She whispered to herself as she transformed and scuttled along on her eight legs.

Waspinator miserably paced in his cramped quarters, his wings flicking every now and then.

He could not get the events of yesterday out of his head, could not focus on any tasks. He couldn’t even enjoy a mug of tea.

The Maximal who died was like a friendly older brother to him when he was still within the Predacon faction.

He didn’t make a fuss whenever Waspinator said something stupid, just grinned and bore it. He wouldn’t admonish the wasp either, encouraging him and trying to help him get better overall.

Now he was dead, because of his own kindness and Waspinator’s trickery.

Waspinator sat on his bunk, looking over his possessions and personal effects. A plaque from the Cybertronian arts fair, congratulating him for winning second place in the amateur section. A laserball, a small statue from his favorite chain of Cybertron mech fluid establishments featuring a burly bot with his arms spread wide open, an almost untrustworthy grin on his face. Also a few things he’d found on Earth ranging from a collection of interesting rocks, a potted fern and a glass of water.

It was that moment of silence that Megatron entered without knocking and waved his arms wide. “My dear Waspinator, at last you show your usefulness. Two out of three traitors dead. We have but to eliminate Blackarachnia before the circle is complete. You’ve earned the week off, yeees. Here is another simulation card for your enjoyment.”
The purple Predacon despot unceremoniously tossed the card on to Waspinator’s bunk and walked out, chuckling gleefully to himself.

Waspinator’s shoulders slumped.
“Waspinator’d rather have not killed Doggy-bot. Pleasure simulation killing not worth Doggy-bot …” He muttered.

“You’re damn blasted right its not!!” Came a familiar, feminine voice from the ceiling.
Waspinator looked up, his mandibles dropping open in shock before the Transmetal 2 spider clamped a claw over his mouth.

“Make one noise, and I’ll eat your spark right out of your chest.” She said dangerously.
Waspinator nodded meekly.

Blackarachnia descended to the floor and locked the door. “You’re coming with me, right now.”

Waspinator gulped. “What for? Spider-bot scrap Waspinator for what Waspinator did!!” He squeaked.

Blackarachnia clenched her teeth. “I should, shouldn’t I? But then… his death would be for absolutely nothing…” She muttered. “Pack what you need, you’re coming with me.”
Waspinator did as he was told, packing some of his things into a small box and inserting them into a satchel.

“Why Spider-bot do this? Waspinator curious, why you not scrap Waspinator? D-Doggy-bot gone now…” The meek Predacon said in shame.

“Don’t remind me…” She said slowly. “Silverbolt saved your worthless hide, even when he knew you were an enemy. He… He always sees a good heart. I’m going to trust his wisdom, and you’re going to become a Maximal.”

Waspinator couldn’t quite believe what he heard. He looked up at the femme Predacon and gasped.

“Y-You want to make Waspinator into a WHAT?!”

“You heard me. I’m gonna do the same operation that I went into. We’re reprogramming you. I can’t keep your worthless skidplate safe if you’re here.”

Waspinator looked around at his cramped quarters, remembering the more free and open quarters of the Maximal base.

“Wh-Why Spider-bot want to make Waspinator into M-Maximal?” He asked shakily.
Blackarachnia growled. “I just TOLD you, bug-brain! Now shut up and come with me.” She snapped, climbing up into the vents.

Waspinator sighed, nodding and slinging the satchel over his shoulder and following the spider through the upper vents of the Darkside and out into the open, bound for the Ark.

The Maximals were all gathered at a wake held in Silverbolt’s honor, much like the one held for Dinobot after his death.

Rattrap remained near the drink stand, guzzling down his strongest brew, straight from the tap he and Rhinox built.

“Bolt… Why’d ya have to go out? I neva’ got to show ya’ that lil’ hole in the wall on Cybertron…” He muttered to himself.

Optimus talked with Depth Charge, telling of Silverbolt exploits earlier in the Beast Wars. His resignation from the Predacons, his heroism against Protoform X and how through love and dedication, her turned a female Predacon to the side of good.

Rhinox tried to talk to Cheetor, but he was reclusive and didn’t speak much, his mind too troubled and disturbed not only by his friend’s death, but also the Maximal’s dwindling numbers.

Rattrap watched the main door open and was surprised to see Blackarachnia, having not expected her to return so soon. He was even more surprised to see Waspinator buzzing behind her.

“Legs! Look out!” He shouted, slamming a fist on the nearest alarm klaxon.
Everyone turned their attention to the now cowering wasp in the entry alcove, hiding behind Blackarachnia.

“S-Spider-bot save Waspinator! Waspinator come in peeeace!” He cried out to the Maximals who all turned their weaponry towards the former Predacon navigator.
Blackarachnia stood in front of him, her arms spread protectively.

“No! Stand down, all of you! We have a new ally in our fight.” She said.
Each Maximal exchanged glances, too sobered by their friend’s wake to crack a comment.

“I… see. What brought on this?” Optimus asked softly, clomping towards the shuddering wasp and the femme fatale spider woman.

Rattrap scowled at the wasp with genuine anger. “Is ‘dis all the thanks yer’ giving Bolt? Runnin’ away from his funeral to catch de’ lousiest, most useless Pred eva’? I dunno what octane you’ve taken, but it’s downright fishy.”

Blackarachnia walked up to Rattrap and backhanded him, sending his head snapping back. “Don’t you dare tell me I’m disrespecting Silverbolt! He was the only reason I stayed with you all! Now I’m Maximal and have no choice! There are… things you don’t know. Silverbolt gave his life to help Waspinator. I’m not going to let his final efforts…”
She glared at Waspinator. “… pitiful as the result is, be spit on by Predacon politics! I’ve convinced him to defect.”

Depth Charge snorted. “That’s a good strategy alright. Take their useless baggage and make it our own.”

Rattrap nodded, rubbing his face. “Yeah. Even if he was legit’, this guy’s about as useful as a bucket a’ rusty nails!”

Cheetor crossed his arms over his chest. “Yeah. He’s like, totally useless.”

All the while, poor Waspinator heard all the scornful remarks about him. “Maximals no better then Predacons, Waspinator thinks… Spider-bot say Maximals treat me like equal. Maximals have no decency without Doggy-bot.”

That brought everyone to a halt. He was absolutely right. Rather then welcome him as they should have, they all said things just as hurtful as what he hears from his Predacon brethren.

Optimus stepped forward, looking down at the diminutive wasp. “I apologize on behalf of the Maximals. We’re still getting over Silverbolt’s death.” He said slowly.

Waspinator felt a pang of guilt in his chest. Blackarachnia was the only one who knew that Waspinator was the initial instrument of her lover’s demise, and she promised him she wouldn’t tell anyone.

“W-Waspinator understand.” He said slowly.

Optimus stood up and smiled. “I extend you the hand of friendship, Waspinator. Welcome aboard.” He said, reaching down and engulfing Waspinator’s small hand in his own.

His previous reservations melting swiftly, Waspinator found himself smiling for what seemed like the first time in a short eternity. He reached up to the side of his head, and the Predacon symbol that resided there shifted to the Maximal symbol.

“Computer, Waspinator activation code shift.” The wasp said, slumping down, his eyes dimming briefly. He stood up again and saluted Optimus Primal.

Blackarachnia could not smile herself though. She was satisfied however, that the last thing her true love fought for was not done in vain. “Silverbolt…” She whispered softly.

Rhinox showed Waspinator to the CR chamber where he would undergo light reprogramming to help his transition.

Blackarachnia sat on the ledge where she and Silverbolt used to watch the stars. It was also the same ledge she went into shock upon when her core program started shorting her systems. If Silverbolt hadn’t been there, she’d have surely died.  

So many times he’d saved her, and only thrice she’d paid him back.
She sighed softly, shaking her head. “Why didn’t I stop him when I felt something was wrong? I could’ve saved him…” She whispered to herself.

Waspinator, recently refurbished, looked up at Blackarachnia from the ground and sighed softly. He was constantly plagued with guilt, always wondering why Blackarachnia ‘rescued’ him.

The knight Silverbolt was dead because of him. He turned around, shaking his head slowly. “How can Waspinator stop feeling so bad?” He asked himself, buzzing away in misery.

Cheetor found the bug hovering listlessly around the base and asked him what was wrong.

“Waspinator feel guilty about doggy- Err.. Silverbolt, getting murdered by crab-bot.” He said ashamedly.

Cheetor didn’t know the full extent of what had happened, assuming the wasp was going into some manner of denial.

“Hey, it’s alright Waspinator. Everyone here feels partly responsible. Even me… I just always figured we’d all make it out of the Beast Wars alive. That the Preds would be captured alive and that we’d all be heroes back on Cybertron when we made it back.”

Cheetor sighed. “I just signed up to be a navigator. I thought being a soldier was the coolest thing ever. Puh… the reality of it is horrible. I’ve lost so many friends in this stupid war.”

Waspinator just sat there, surprised with the open-heartedness of he Maximal.
“Waspinator understand. Waspinator lose friends too.” He said sadly.

The Transmetal 2 cheetah nodded. “Yeah, welcome to the wonderful world of armed aggression. Well, anyway, I’ve got to head out on patrol. With… Silverbolt gone, I can’t get lax.” He said as he stood up, holstered his weapon and transformed, the powerful rocket on his back igniting and letting him bound out the great doors at mach 2, a loud bang reverberating the cavern.

Waspinator went to Optimus, unable to rid himself of his guilt.
“G-Gorilla-bot?” He asked, buzzing up near his face. “Waspinator have something to say…” He said slowly, looking down in shame.

Optimus, always having an ear open for those under his command, turned away from his screen. “Yes, Waspinator?” He asked.

“Waspinator… guilty for Doggy-bot getting slagged…” He said.
“What? What do you mean?” Optimus asked the new recruit.
“Waspinator pretend to be hurt for trap.. Doggy-bot try to save Waspinator, but Crab-bot and Lizard-bot slag Doggy-bot… Waspinator think they just capture and interrogate Doggy-bot. He only transformer who treat Waspinator like I’m… I’m… useful.”
Optimus nodded slowly. “And now you feel guilty about it? Feel like you’re the instrument of his end?” The titanic Maximal General asked.

“Waspinator think so…”

Optimus sighed softly, his large shoulders raising and lowering. “You’re stronger then you know, Waspinator. Stronger then anyone knows. It took courage to stay here and look into the eyes of everyone here even after what happened, rather then flying back to the abusive, but familiar security of the Predacons.”

Waspinator heard the words and felt a rush in his very spark that he had never felt before. “Waspinator worth something…? Not just cannon fodder?” He asked.

Optimus smiled and nodded. “Very much so. You have much to offer. You just need to be implemented in the proper places, rather then put where you don’t belong, regardless.”

Waspinator nodded slowly, his mandibles lowering as he wrapped his simple mind around the idea. “Waspinator able to make difference?”

“Mmm-hmm. You’ve just got to find it yourself, and you’ll never go wrong.” Optimus said, then walked off to see to other base affairs.

Waspinator recalled recently when Blackarachnia regaled in the story of how she became a Transmetal. She was dead, but the alien device revived her and improved her, infusing her body with the alien Transmetal energy.
“Waspinator… make up for what he did.” The former Predacon swore, remembering exactly where Megatron had hidden the alien device…