30
[From TransWarp: Csirac]

The battle raged outside, but the two heaving Predacons remained steadfastly at their post – they were to guard the Sparks of Headstrong and Divebomb with their own; a task assigned to them by Razorclaw himself.

An odd tinkling sound began to echo down the corridor. A small robotic arachnoid walked towards them, then stopped at the feet of one of the hulking guards, who looked to his partner, received a shrug, so he stomped on it, crushing the tiny creature under his enormous foot. He smirked to himself.

Suddenly the same tinkling sound began to emanate down the corridor towards them again, but much louder. The guards raised their weapons as 50 or more of the spider-like creatures marched towards them. The second guard fired, but the robots evaded his shot, and increased their pace in response. The guards opened fire, killing some but more appeared.

When close enough, the spiders leapt up onto the guards and electrified them. Smashed off at first, the spiders soon overwhelm the guards with their sheer number. The guards fell to the ground as the electrocution increased with each additional attacker.

A slender purple figure walked casually down the corridor, and seeing the guards, chuckled to himself.

“Oh, how unfortunate for such a door to be left unattended. Who knows what damage could be done if one were to enter”, said Taranachus to the incapacitated guards, then began to assess the doors’ control panel. Within moments, the doors flew open, and he entered the chamber, cackling. “Unfortunate, indeed…”, he said, disappearing into the darkness.

----------

31
[From TransWarp: Csirac]

Ions began to hammer into the amplifier once again, and two bursts rocketed down, following separate conduits before each slamming into a pod. The Sparks became aware of their consciousness, and were wrapped in a cool liquid that soon set. Their optics opened - they had been reborn.

The two figures stepped from their respective receptacles and were greeted by a huge figure, grinning menacingly down at them; a faded Decepticon badge on his chest. The two new Maximals instinctively drew their weapons.

*Shha-shunk*

The expression on the face of the large Predacon warped into one of confused pain, as he began to topple forward - dead before his hulking form hit the ground, throwing up a plum of dust into the air.

There, crouched on the back of the hulking mass, with his two swords plunged up to the handles in the dead Predacon, was Silverbolt. He stood up, drawing out his swords as he did so, each dripping with mech-fluid. He stared through the resettling dust at the two forms before him.

"Bolt?" asked the large (by Maximal standards) grey and red 'bot.

"Ironhide?!" replied Silverbolt, sheathing his swords and stepping off the Predacon to greet his old friend. "Haha! By Primus it's good to see you!" he said, shaking the new Maximal's hand.

"Most impressive", said the other Maximal, studying his form.

"Prowl?" asked Silverbolt.

"It's nice to see you too, Silverbolt", replied Prowl, shaking his hand warmly.

*Boooooom*

An explosion shook the Predacon complex, cracking the walls and bringing down some of the ceiling.

"I've missed that sound", said Ironhide, grinning.

"The war continues?" asked Prowl.

"Yeah", said Silverbolt, sadly. "Some things don't change."

Prowl shook his head. "I'd say things have changed quite a lot since we left", he said, taking in the surrounds, his optics falling onto the amplifier and the small robot at the foot of it.

Silverbolt followed Prowl's gaze. "His name was Csirac. He brought you back to help end the war. Let's not let his sacrifice be for nothing."

Subsequent explosions shook the facility again, the roof began to cave in, and pieces fell around the amplifier and Csirac’s body.

"What do you say we give these new forms a shakedown”, said Ironhide, lifting his two large cannons.

"My sentiments exactly", said Prowl, arming his own weapon.

Silverbolt brought his gaze back to his old allies. "To use an old cliché, there’s more to these new bodies than meets… well, you know. Now repeat after me – Maximise.”

The three old Autobots said the word in unison and instantly began to transform and combine into the immense gestalt for the first time. Inside the form, the consciousnesses aligned, resolute in what they had to do.

"Incredible!" said Prowl.

"That’s something else", said Ironhide.

"Welcome back, Maximals", said Silverbolt. The combiner's right arm reached over the missile-clad shoulder and drew out a great sword. "Let's go shred some Pred!"

"That's got a nice ring to it", said Ironhide.

----------

32
[From TransWarp: Csirac]

Back above Cybertron, the battle reached fever pitch.

“They’re drawing us away from the Xelor”, came the voice of Scuttle through the comm.

“Dammit, he’s right”, said Spiral, looking out the cockpit’s side window. “Break off pursuit and reform.”

“Single Predacon fighter, emerging from the atmosphere. He’s making for the Xelor!” came a worried voice.

Inside the Predacon fighter, the figure spoke to itself in a deep, calm voice. “I have target lock. Terminator, firing.”

“Single missile inbound!” yelled Scuttle on the comm.

“I can get there!” replied Primal, whose engines were burning flat-out to try and intercept. “I can… get… there…”

*Boom*

Primal’s ship collided with the missile, saving the Xelor.

“Primal!” yelled Rhinox, who had both the best and worst view of the whole thing. “You damn piece of slag, get back online”, Rhinox said to the ship.

Back inside the Predacon ship, the figure smiled. “Maximal ship intercepted my missile. Scratch one for Terminator. Coming back around for another attack.”

Scuttle had left his comm channel open. “I can’t shake him, I can’t… Aaarrghhh…” came his cries as his ship erupted in a ball of momentary flame.

“Dammit, they’re picking us off like flies”, said Spiral. His computer gave a warning. *Enemy Lock* “Great”, he said as he pulled on the stick, attempting to break lock. “Can anyone cover me? Anyone?”

“Look who’s back…” said a familiar voice over the communicator.

“Wha…? Primal?” said Spiral, jerking his head around to try and get a visual.

“And feeling Prime!”

*Boom*

The Predacon ship that had been tailing Spiral was blown to pieces, as another Predacon ship flew through the smoke. There, sitting in its cockpit, whose windscreen was shattered, was Primal, alive and well.

“How in the Pit..?” began Spiral, pulling alongside Primal’s new ship.

“Later”, said Primal. “Let’s give these Preds something else to think about!”

“Roger that”, said Spiral, taking the lead. “Form up on my wing.”

The two ships re-entered the fray.

“Primal to the Xelor. Rhinox, if you’re there, we’ve bought you some time, but we won’t last much longer.”

In the cockpit of the Xelor, Rhinox was busily trying to do whatever he could to get the ship back online. “Damn it”, he said as the controls sparked. “Would you just work!” he yelled, and smashed the control panel with his fists. Suddenly the ship roared back to life. He didn’t know how long it would last so he quickly re-entered the information into the on board computer. “Xelor to whoever is left. Ship is back online. Engaging TransWarp Drive in 4… 3… 2… 1… Now!” A rippled window in Space opened up and engulfed the ship.

**5 minutes earlier**

“They’re drawing us away from the Xelor”, came the voice of Scuttle through the comm.

“Dammit, he’s right”, said Spiral, looking out the cockpit’s side window. “Break off pursuit and reform.”

“Single fighter, emerging from the atmosphere. He’s making for the Xelor!” came a worried voice.

Inside the Predacon fighter, the figure spoke to itself in a deep, calm voice. “I have target lock. Terminator, firing.”

“Single missile inbound!” yelled Scuttle on the comm.

“I can get there!” replied Primal, whose engines were burning flat-out to try and intercept. “I can… get… there…”

*Boom*

Primal’s ship collided with the missile, saving the Xelor.

“Primal!” yelled Rhinox, who had both the best and worst view of the whole thing.

Back inside the Predacon ship, the figure smiled. “Maximal ship intercepted my missile. Scratch one for Terminator. Coming back around for another attack.” As he turned the ship, something collided with the windscreen of the ship, lodging itself there. The debris, which seemed to be a Maximal, turned its head to look in.

“Permission to come aboard”, said Primal, with a smile, before drawing a sword from out of his back.

Scuttle had left his comm channel open. “I can’t shake him, I can’t… Aaarrghhh…” came his cries as his ship erupted in a ball of momentary flame.

“Dammit, they’re picking us off like flies”, said Spiral. His computer gave a warning. *Enemy Lock* “Great”, he said as he pulled on the stick, attempting to break lock. “Can anyone cover me? Anyone?”

“Look who’s back…” said a familiar voice over the communicator.

“Wha…? Primal?” said Spiral, jerking his head around to try and get a visual.

“And feeling Prime!”

*Boom*

The Predacon ship that had been tailing Spiral was blown to pieces, as another Predacon ship flew through the smoke. There, sitting in its cockpit, whose windscreen was shattered, was Primal, alive and well.

“How in the Pit..?” began Spiral, pulling alongside Primal’s new ship.

“Later”, said Primal. “Let’s give these Preds something else to – Whoa!”

A temporal anomaly opened up directly in front of Primal and Spiral’s ships. They turned sharply to avoid it.

“Rhinox to the Xelor. Give the panel a good talking to. Worked for me.”

A thud was heard over the comm. “That seems to have got it. See you on the other side. Engaging TransWarp Drive in 4… 3… 2… 1… Now!” A rippled window in Space opened up and engulfed the ship.