Third Party Part One: Alliances by SporkBot

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Jawbreaker was in one of the empty crew quarters, slicing the air with his machete. He twisted and jumped and gouged and strafed and lunged. He was trying to improve his speed and skill, but didn't want anyone to see him. He hated what happened to him the other day, but couldn't allow his crewmates to see him so-emotional.

Part of him tried to place blame on the fact that he was using a tactile weapon. He was always used to cannons, firearms, disrupters, and the like. The formatting of his beast mode gave him the blade, and he admitted there was elegance about it he appreciated. But he was accusing a dangerous person of subterfuge, and that person was clearly armed. He should've expected him to fire at him. The hyena was overconfident, and all he accomplished was letting his perp get away, and his own blade shoved through his body. AGAIN.

The door slid open unexpectedly, but the Maximal refused to let it disrupt his workout. Jetstorm entered, not overly surprised at the sight. He'd heard the sounds from outside the room, so he knew some sort of exercise was in effect. Jawbreaker maintained his training, but at a slower pace as he diverted attention to the transmetal dragonfly.

"No one knocks anymore," "Breaker said.

"Not when the quarters are undesignated."

"What do you need, Jetstorm?"

"I was curious what you were up to. Ever since your briefing, you have made yourself scarce."

"And here I thought-everyone would enjoy that."

"You're clearly distressed. The doctor offered her psychological assistance."

"I let him get away!" Jawbreaker took a final swing of his knife, sending it on a short flight to the floor. "I knew he was no good after Karik's lab and I didn't do anything."

"Do humans not have an axiom about hindsight being the clearest sight of all?"

"I still should've expected his attack! I should've set the ion discharge on his weapon myself, locked it so he couldn't use it against me. I should have been quicker! I..."

"You should have thought twice before joining this crew. Then maybe none of this would have happened."

"What?"

"You can waste time blaming yourself for something no one else expected-or you can learn from your mistakes and utilize your knowledge to hunting Karik down. Iguanus has quoted you for saying a blunder is best when it is learned from."

Jawbreaker wanted to make some comeback, but that was because he was used to doing so. Unfortunately, he had nothing. He glared at his comrade with his metal brow cocked, and finally offered a smirk as he wrenched his blade from the floor.

"Careful, Jetstorm. We may start getting along."

A few miles from the Amalgam, Dr. Karik was in the ladybug form of his host shell. Hiding from any pursuers in a cave, he was formulating his next move. Magnus and his crew had to know the situation by now. And no doubt they were coming up with their own plans against the digitized mad genius.

Staying in beast form was conserving his energy. He was unsure how long he could survive before needing to refuel. With energon out of the question, he'd have to scrounge for more primitive forms of sustenance. But how would a mechanical insect feasting on, say, an antelope, affect the timeline?

Then epiphany struck him. As a machine, Karik was basically immortal. He could manipulate mankind as it was developing. Wait until the Transformers were gone, and mold humanity into his own image. He could become a god unto the species that had rejected the ideas and tactics of the original Karik.

That would not work, he contradicted himself moments later. Magnus and his crew would not rest until he was captured. His destruction would mean the end of their soldier, Megatron, and they were too sentimental for that. Even if their Beast Wars ended, they wouldn't be stupid enough to leave him behind. Still-reshaping humanity looked prosperous.

A noise came from outside the cave. Karik skittered up the nearest wall to the ceiling. Covered in shadow, he saw the robotic form his host's memory logs recognized as Spittor. The Predacon slowly entered the fissure, intently observing all he could.

The light was fading the further Spittor traveled. Before he could activate his external lights, Karik dropped down upon his back. The bug attempted to bind the intruder's arms with his legs. They were sadly too short, and he was elbowed from his position.

As he landed, Karik changed to his robot form and drew his weapon. He expected the same of the newcomer, but was surprised by Spittor's empty hands. More so, that he was presenting them willingly to prove it.

"State your purpose," commanded Karik.

"I'm not going to attack you."

"You are a Predacon, one that has vowed destruction of the Maximals. As I am of the latter, it is unlikely you have come here on peaceful terms."

"You'd be right normally, but I'm here to make you an offer."

"It is only fair that you know that my aim is flawless."

"Yeah, you proved that, didn't you, Karik?"

Further surprise. "How is it that you know to call me by that name?"

"I was spying on the Amalgam when I saw you and that Maximal dog training. I could just hear the conversation you had before you took him down. Nice job, by the way."

"My ego is resistant to flattery. My intent to destroy you is unchanged."

"When I realized who you were, I found it fit in perfectly with my plans for both sides of the Beast Wars."

"It is curious that you would plot against your own faction."

"They abandoned me. Galvatron is a fool that can't lead a plug out of a socket. If the Wayfinder were to gain new leadership-"

"Your leadership?"

"Exactly. We'd be able to take Magnus' crew out of the picture and complete our original mission, instead of waiting around while a Maximal deadbeat talks about his feelings with a pansy femme."

"Why were you outside the Amalgam to witness my transgression with Jawbreaker?"

"I had a plan. A good one. But with your help, it can be made even better."

Spittor further explained his fallout with the other Predacons. Then he went on to describe his purpose for going back for the items he retrieved. Devices crucial to his impending machinations. Then he divulged his original plan for the Amalgam. He concluded with his revised plan, involving the possessed Maximal at his side.

Karik lowered his weapon. "Your proposal is-intriguing."

Within the Predacon-inhabited ship, Insecticon and Snapper worked uneasily alongside Polar Claw, giving the ill-gotten BT-1 a check-up. Buzz Saw sat alone in her quarters, sulking with personal issues. Notably, Lurx was explaining to Galvatron Claw's recent session with Wolva.

"I did not authorize subterfuge," chided multi-beast clad commander. "I told you I trusted Polar Claw."

"But how well do you trust Wolva?" The sniper's question was not without validity.

"I have no reason to believe she would use underhanded tactics."

"Did you have reason to believe that Magnus would pluck off your digits? Or that Androia would nearly get you killed?"

"This is a different situation. This is an unarmed, solitary pacifist we're discussing. You're the one that told us what we know of her."

"Yes, but she is a clever psychoanalyst. If she were to say just the right things, push the right buttons, Polar Claw would give us up to the Maximal scum in a spark-pulse."

"He's been loyal thus far."

"That doesn't not mean he would not defect. His disillusion of his life as a Maximal seems to have given him a death wish; that much is true. He didn't flinch a single micron when we told him of our plan. But if that femme gets under his plating, convinces him life is worth living blindly under a Maximal banner, then what's to stop him from betraying our confidence? He resists now, but for how long?"

"Your concern is worthy, Lurx. But I still do not like invading his privacy like this."

"Slag it!" Lurx pounded the wall, an atypical emotional outburst. "We are at war! We are to take our rightful place as rulers of Cybertron! What does his privacy matter if he will no longer exist?!"

Lurx expected a reprimand of some kind. Perhaps, for how he spoke to his superior, he deserved it. Instead, Galvatron seemed lost in thought. For a bot leading a band of Predacons to wipe Maximals and Autobots from the timeline, Lurx mused, his morals seemed most inclusive.

"I do not like it," Galvatron finally spoke. "But I will allow you to continue surveillance of Polar Claw's therapy. But you will not interfere under any circumstances, understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"You're dismissed."

Lurx left the lead Predacon alone on the bridge, pondering if what he just permitted was right. He found the difficult choices he had to make as leader loathsome. A grimace developed on his face at the fact that there were likely more such dilemmas to come.

High above the ship, well outside its sensor range, a large red-shelled insect buzzed against the sky. Night had fallen some time ago, and the residents would likely be off guard. Battles had seldom been fought at night, so it had been accustomed to both sides to relax after the sun had set.

Mentally recalling Spittor's holo-schematics, Karik located a specific area of the ship. He changed to robot mode and began altering his weapon as freefall began. Once ready, he aimed at his desired section and pulled the trigger. A highly focused beam shot out, and was carefully moved in a circular path, two rotations.

Karik readjusted his body and his pillar-like feet impacted on the wound he'd inflicted on the ship. The landing was forceful enough to break a hole inside the vessel, specifically the heart of the stasis hold. The alarm had no doubt been sounded, so he had to act fast. Fortunately, he shut off his external sensor to avoid focus being changed to any "pain".

"Any three will do," he was told by the toad. Placing an explosive to the far wall, he picked the three closest pods that were outside the blast radius. After activating their hover generators, Karik affixed them with a modified energy tether. With Spittor's alterations, the device could generate three individual strands, each connected to the half-disc shaped control unit.

Just as the bomb was detonated, Insecticon and Galvatron had opened the door. They were only able to watch someone they'd known as Megatron run out a hole in their ship with three blank protoforms. Insecticon discharged a few energy blasts, but none reached his target.

"Galvatron to all hands," bellowed within the ship as he and Insecticon hurried out the breach. "We have an intruder! He's escaping with three stasis pods! Snapper and Buzz Saw operate ship's weapons! Polar Claw and Lurx with me! Immediately!"

While the two Predacons were hurriedly searching for their thief, Karik was on the opposite side of the ship, handing the pods off to Spittor. The transmetal bot bounded off out of sight with his prize, leaving his new partner with his enraged old crewmates.

"He's over, over there," exclaimed Insecticon.

Lurx and Polar Claw ran out of the ship to join the fight. Karik reached for his gun and discharged his beam again. He made a single wave in front of him at his foes. The panther leapt out of his path on instinct, while the other three had been knocked back by the force. It was so quick, the attack had only painfully seared their plating.

With Lurx charging and firing at him, Karik reset his firearm to normal, and took further offensive. He fired numerous shots at Lurx, first blasting the weapons out of his hands, and then enough afterward upon his torso and face to force him on his back.

Polar Claw was handled much the same way. He was as easily relieved of his weapon as Lurx, but it wasn't until Karik fired at his feet and knees that he fell down. He'd gotten the closest so far.

Insecticon took to the air, firing blast after blast from his maw. Karik found his pattern of fire irregular and difficult to predict. He first lost his footing, then was struck in the chest until he fell on his back to the ground.

Insecticon swooped down after his quarry, landing next to him. Instead of killing the Maximal as he'd like, he picked the burglar up and ensnared him in his vice-like wing claws. He knew they needed information, so he kept his grip only a few pressure units more than painful.

Galvatron helped his warriors to their feet. Polar Claw's lower appendages were so damaged that he relied on his commander as a crutch. Backed up by the assassin, they approached the fallen Maximal.

"We had a ceasefire in effect, Megatron," said Galvatron. "What is the meaning of this unprovoked attack?"

"I cannot tell you."

"Where are those, those, pods," Insecticon demanded, raising his captive higher above the ground, "Answer me or, or I'll crush you like foil, foil."

"Or I can put one right in your spark," Lurx boasted, one of his pistols targeting Karik.

There was a moment of quiet before Karik responded. "Agreed. Release me, and I shall reciprocate."

Insecticon loosened his grip quickly, and Karik fell to the ground, on his back again. Galvatron might scold him for it later, but it was worth it. The crimson bug would get worse if the pods weren't retrieved.

"Now answer," Lurx commanded.

Karik remained on his back as all his attackers surrounded him. They all were looking at him intently, which played right into the plan. A small dot of light glowed in the center of his eye, and a subtle charging sound could faintly be heard.

Before Lurx could alert his companions to the sound, an immense and blinding light flashed from the captive's optic. The force shattered his bulb, making Karik as unsighted as the others until he changed to beast mode and his visual sensors adjusted. It had worked just as Spittor had planned, which boosted Karik's belief in the Predacon's capabilities.

By the time Galvatron and his crew had regained their sight, their foe was long gone. The auto-guns were heard firing after Karik, but they failed to hit their airborne target. Rage began to fill Galvatron as the blur faded from his vision. He had been betrayed further.

Moments later, he and the others entered the Wayfinder, greeted by Snapper and Buzz Saw. They apologized for being late to the guns, but Galvatron silenced them. He had something very important to say.

"Everyone get into the CR Chambers immediately, even if you weren't in battle. I want you all as prepared as possible. For this indiscretion, Magnus and his crew shall pay."

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Third Party Part One: Alliances by SporkBot