Night time was slowly approaching, and Airazor's patrol was almost over. She had to head back to base before her systems became tired. She had been flying around in beast mode for eight straight hours now and desperately needed to get some rest. She looked forward to the safety of the Axalon. It was darkening quickly, reducing her vision and she knew the Predacons would be out and about. Night was their favourite time to look for unsuspecting prey.
The Phi Quadrant was intersected by an enormous, barren chasm of jagged rock and high cliffs. Optimus had asked her to search the area for Tarantulas, suspecting he had a secondary lair somewhere in the cliffs. The spider had disappeared from the rank of the Preds a few weeks ago. They hadn't seen him in action for quite sometime. Both the Predacons and the Maximals were wondering where he was. Airazor was highly doubtful he was here though, and hadn't seen any signs of activity all day. Suddenly her sensors flashed into action as a Predacon came into view below.
Drill Bit was just tunnelling up from the bottom of the chasm. "This is Airazor to Axalon."
"Prowl here... Have... found anything?" There was much interference since she was so far away from base.
"Yes. Drill Bit just showed up here in Phi quadrant. Looks like he's searching for Tarantulas too. I'm going to head back. There may be more Preds around. Tell Optimus..." There was static on the other end. She must have been out of range. "Slag
Luckily Drill Bit couldn't see her from where he was, five hundred meters below.
Slowly at first, a buzzing noise was picked up by her sound receptors. She turned and came face to face with Waspinator.
"Hmmm... Birdie-bot spying on Drill-bot? Waspinator Terrorise!"
"Airazor Max...." She was struck in the wing by one of Waspinator's stinging arrows. Before she knew it her sensors indicated that she was falling to the ground at critical speed. "Come on... Airazor Maximise!" Right before hitting the rocky ground, he finally converted.
"Warning. Energy cells at two percent. Stasis lock in ten minutes." It was very dark in the chasm and her scanners barely picked up any movement. She pulled out her photon cannon and crept forward, knowing Drill Bit was somewhere down there with her
Waspinator was circling above, looking for her, but she hid well. All of the jagged rocks provided great cover.
"Airazor to Prowl," she whispered, but it was no use. For the first time she realised that the walls of the chasm where under great stress. Her heat sensors were picking up thermal vents and she could barely feel the ground quiver ever so slightly.
Suddenly, a whirring sound came from around one of the rocks as Drill Bit quickly converted to robot mode and ran towards her. She sped in the other direction but came up against the cliff wall. She could feel the energy ebbing away from her, but she d to do something. She shot three shots at the Predacon, but he blocked it with his drill.
"Blast! Beast mode!" With her last ounce of energy she flew up into the air and realised Waspinator was right above her. She flipped around and grabbed the wasp with her titanium plated talons. Waspinator's wings were quickly shredded with the sound f ripped aluminium. He fell unconscious down towards Drill Bit. Airazor felt exhausted, she had to land and rest. She settled on a ledge in the cliff and went into robot stasis lock.
Prowl ran into the recovery bay looking for Optimus. Grimlock stood solemnly in one of the CR. chambers, but Optimus was no where to be found. He quickly ran to his General's quarters and found him attacking training droids with one of his swords. hen the General was finished, he turned to Prowl and returned his sword to his back compartment.
"Yes, Prowl?"
"Sir, Airazor just reported Predacon activity in the Phi quadrant. I fear she may be in danger. I tried to contact her again but she's too far out."
"I don't think there's too much to worry about. Airazor's faster than most of the Preds anyways." He looked down at Prowl and saw he was still worried. "Who's closest to her right now?" Optimus asked thinking.
"I believe Tigatron is in Theta quadrant. But other than that, there is no one close enough or fast enough to get there."
"Good. See if you can contact him. Get him to go see if she needs help," Optimus said. I'll be at operations seeing if I can get Sentinel to pinpoint where she is.
"All I'm saying is that the Phi quadrant is susceptible to numerous earthquakes. With these readings, an earthquake could happen within the next few days widening the chasm and destroying most everything around it. I highly doubt Tarantulas would con truct a secondary lair in that area." Fractyl was reporting his findings to Megatron. "With further study I could determine..."
"That's all you ever do," Transquito said from behind Fractyl. "You are a disgrace to the Predacons. We have no need for scientists. What we need is warriors, not stupid, insignificant..."
"Enough Transquito," Megatron said calmly. "As for you Fractyl, I don't have time for your constant scientific analysis of everything. Don't you think that Tarantulas would build his lair there, because none of you have the guts to find it?"
"I don't think Tarantulas is smart enough to do that," Fractyl replied.
"Nonetheless, Drill Bit and Waspinator are in that area. If you are right, it is dangerous, even for us Predacons. Open a communication link to Waspinator."
"Sir, they are out of range," Manterror reported at communications.
"Very well. You three, go find Drill Bit and Waspinator. If you find a certain spider's den, quickly destroy it. And if you encounter our beloved Tarantulas, make sure he never leaves that canyon. "
Tigatron ran as fast as he could towards Airazor's last known co-ordinates. He hoped she was all right. It was now very dark out with only the western horizon a shade of dark blue. He eventually came up to the edge of the large chasm. It was out of sheer luck that he saw Airazor. The problem was that she was about halfway down the cliff on the far side.
"She's in stasis lock," he mumbled. There was nothing left for him to do but climb down, and get up to her on the other side. He quickly scanned the area for Predacons. When he reached the bottom, he saw Drill Bit and Waspinator lying in a heap under irazor's hiding spot. Neither of them were conscious. Tigatron sped up the side of the cliff and found Airazor limp and cold. He hooked up a power link and started recharging her.
Very late that night, Sentinel finally found the two of them. "I had to divert almost all power to the sensors, but we've got 'em," Prowl explained to Optimus.
"Good. I suppose we'd better go after them. How long do you think they'll hold out?" Optimus said.
"Long enough for us to get there, and mash some Preds too. I'm picking up three Predacons there and three closing in. I'm not sure who they are exactly, but if one of them is Tarantulas..."
"This could turn very interesting," Optimus said. "Very well, we'd better get a search party ready."
By morning, Fractyl, Manterror and Transquito had made it to the chasm. There was no sign of their colleagues or Tarantulas. The three quickly converted into robot mode and landed high above the chasm.
"Those two had better be all right, or Megatron will blast us to microns if we go back empty-handed," Manterror said.
"I'm just frightened that the geologic stresses in these rock formations don't decide to..." Fractyl offered.
"Shut up, both of you. I've found tracks," Transquito said. A very heavy eight legged creature had been there some while ago. "Tarantulas has passed through this area. We should follow the tracks."
"We must find Drill Bit and Waspinator or Megatron will be very angry," Manterror added. He and Transquito stared each other in the eye for a moment. Ever so slightly, the earth began to tremble. The rumbling grew louder and as they peered down the asm, rocks were tumbling down to the bottom.
"Perhaps we should split up. Transquito and I will head after Tarantulas, while you remain and find Waspinator and Drill Bit," Fractyl said starting down the trodden trail. "We should probably keep radio silence too. There's no knowing what Tarantula can hear." Transquito and Manterror grumbled, but then nodded and headed in opposite direction.
The small quake woke both Tigatron and Airazor from their recharge. "My lady," Tigatron said nodding.
"Hello Tigatron. Where's Waspinator and Drill Bit?" He peered over the edge and saw that their foes were no longer there.
"I don't know. By the looks of it Drill Bit dragged Waspinator off somewhere, probably to recharge. He forgot something though." Peering down, Airazor saw Waspinator's dart gun. "This place is obviously very unstable," Tigatron said looking around. bet years of earthquakes formed this strange chasm. How do you feel?"
"Very tired," Airazor replied.
"I could only give you enough energy to get you out of stasis lock. I'm sorry, but it's the best I can do right now. Let's just hope no one comes around." Tigatron looked up the side of the cliff. "I suppose we'd better head up. Can you fly?"
"No. Waspinator damaged my wing. I'm surprised I made it up this high... Have you tried communicating with the Axalon."
"Yes, but it is of no use. I have an idea, though. There is a tall hill across the chasm and a few kilometres north. If I can reach it, I will try to get a communication link from there."
"Well, I suppose I could stay here for a while. Hurry back though, there's no telling when the Pred's will be back."
Tigatron smiled and headed down the cliff and across the chasm. Airazor was alone again, and quickly pulled out her photon canon. A while after she saw Tigatron climb up the far side of the chasm. She heard something from below and hoped it was just rock slide.
Manterror flew along the chasm in beast mode, searching for any sign of either Waspinator or Drill Bit. Every now and then he would be tempted to use the communications link, but remembered what Fractyl said. He didn't need Tarantulas in his way.
Finally, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Drill Bit. He was sitting at the bottom of the chasm repairing what looked like a chewed up Waspinator. He flew down and greeted his ally.
"I didn't think Waspinator could get uglier. Did Tarantulas do this?"
"No. Bad Birdie-bot hurt Waspinator," replied the mangled Predacon.
"I've done the best job I could on him," Drill Bit said. "You can't fly, and I recommend you don't walk either."
"What Waspinator do?"
"Stay here and defend yourself, while we get rid of the Maximal," Drill Bit said, powering his drill up. Drill Bit transformed into beast mode and crawled back towards Airazor's hiding place, Manterror hovering above.
"But Waspinator has no gun..." He clumsily stood and started walking after them.
Airazor was jumpy. She kept hearing things and hoped it wasn't her foes. She wished Tigatron would come back with good news.
Suddenly, Manterror flew around the corner of the chasm. Reflexively, she pulled up her cannon and started firing. Drill Bit was now in sight too.
"Manterror terrorise!" Before Airazor knew it, she was being rained on with missiles.
"Slag! I've got to get rid of that bug." She fired her cannon directly at Manterror's wing and watched as he was thrown off guard and flew right into the cliff next to her. Drill Bit was at the foot of the cliff and grabbed Waspinator's dart gun. He hen started to bore into the side of the cliff. "I hate bugs!" She blasted downwards, but Drill Bit's outer shell was too strong.
"He he he he... You think you can hurt me?" Airazor was beginning to feel tired again. She backed up and blasted the ledge beneath her.
"Let's see if your shell can stand tons of rock?" The ground started to shake, and the earth beneath her gave way. "Beast mode!" She took off and headed for stable ground, watching Drill Bit fall in the avalanche she had created. Manterror looked up t her and shook his fist. She flew out of sight.
"Tarantulas or no Tarantulas..." Manterror pressed his communications link. "Fractyl, Transquito, come in. I'm in trouble."
"Blast you, Manterror. I said radio silence! Now he knows we're here, for sure..."
"I don't care! I found Waspinator and Drill Bit, but we also ran into that stupid Airazor. She may have friends."
"It seems that you can't even handle a single Maximal. We're on our way, but you'd better be thankful." Manterror broke the link.
"I hope Tigatron shows up soon," Airazor said to herself, hiding behind a large rock.
Just as she said it, he appeared at the edge of the opposite cliff holding both of his guns, ready for battle. She flew up to greet him. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"I'll be okay for another while. Let's get rid of these guys." They went down the cliff and quickly started to dispatch the enemy. Waspinator, clumsily came around the corner and tackled Airazor. She blasted him in the gut and he toppled. Drill Bit d pushed his way out of the rubble, but was quickly disposed with by Tigatron.
"All right, Maximals. If we're going down, I'm taking you with..." Manterror began. He was cut off sharply by a tremendous roar from beneath them. The chasm was going to collapse in on itself. Airazor quickly grabbed Tigatron and flew up as quickly she could. He was very heavy, and she was feeling extremely tired.
As the earthquake increased, the Predacons scrambled their way up the opposite side of the chasm. They ran for their lives, and Airazor and Tigatron did the same.
Finally, they were far enough away from the chasm to rest. "I guess Tarantulas doesn't have a lair there anymore," Airazor said.
"Thank you, my lady. You saved my life, as usual."
"Anytime."
"By the way, Optimus is on his way. I reached him with my link and he and a handful of Maximals are headed this way. They will arrive any hour now. Will you be all right until then?"
"Sure. I've been worse."
"Thank you very much for recovering Drill Bit and Waspinator, but where the slag is Tarantulas?" Megatron growled.
"We would have searched further but the earthquake was..." Transquito began.
"I don't care about earthquakes! That spider has evaded us long enough! I should have sent Tripredacus! He would at least been able to get through a measly little earthquake!"
"Actually, Sea Clamp's leg is currently..." said Fractyl.
"Shut up!" Megatron roared. "Just shut up!"
Tarantulas laughed. He had once again let his enemies, and his so-called allies slip right by him. He had created the earthquake, and laughed when he saw them scramble up the sides of his chasm. He laughed even more at Manterror's remarkable brain p wer. Only he would breach the radio silence, revealing exactly where they were. He sat and sipped at some energon. No one thought he could tap into the magma below, an excellent source of energy. He hoped one day no one would find his new lair and h endless supply of power. Then again, he always had time to built more hiding spots and more laboratories.
Airazor stood in the CR. chamber like she had never relaxed in her life. Her wings had never been so sore. She was happy that ordeal was over with. She never wanted to return to Phi quadrant, or whatever was left of it. Unless, of course, it was to smash some spider legs. She was very suspicious about that earthquake. It was no matter now though. She closed her powerful eyes and let her mind wander.
