Kong and Saurion were just hammering away at each other, trying to tear wires out of their opponent’s joints. “I have to tell you, Saurion, you’re giving cosmic rust a bad name!”
“Primal, you are too flippant for my tastes!” growled Saurion as he pulled out a Cyber Key. “I think I preferred you when you were a mindless animal!” He flicked the Key into the air. “CYBER KEY POWER!” The Key inserted itself into the back of his beast mode’s head and it moved from his shoulder to become a new forearm. The jaws then opened to reveal a laser weapon inside the throat. Saurion fired his new weapon as Kong transformed to beast mode and rolled out of the way. He transformed back into robot mode and flicked his own Cyber Key into the air.
“CYBER KEY POWER!” called the boss monkey. The key inserted itself into his back and deployed missile launchers. Kong Primal fired and scored a direct hit on Saurion, knocking the Predacon back.
With Optimus and Megatron, their melee weapons were swinging into each other. “You just couldn’t stay out of this, could you?!” growled Megatron as he tried to get his mace untangled from Optimus’ axes. “You had to interfere in local planetary business!”
“We have allies, just as you do!” retorted Optimus as he yanked hard, pulling Megatron face first to the ground.
“Worthless idiots!” Megatron then swung his arm out and tripped Optimus up. Optimus transformed and barreled through Megatron. It was then that Megatron started shorting out! “Wh-what?!” he managed to get out. Saurion then suffered the same problem, as did all Decepticons and Predacons.
“Energon Field Build-up!” strained Saurion. “The hunt has gone too long!”
“DECEPTICONS! PREDACONS! RETREAT!” shouted Megatron. The Decepticons and Predacons transformed to their alt-modes and took off. The Maximals then helped the Autobots to their feet before they all transformed to their alt-modes.
“All right!” cheered Cheetor. “Beast or bot, we’re STILL the baddest! YEAH!”
“And it looks like things are about to return to normal,” observed Rhinox.
“Maybe, even better!” Kong Primal then gave off a roar of victory and pounded his chest.
“Hold off on the victory party!” called Optimus. “Kong Primal, was it?”
“Yes, and you are?”
“I’m Optimus Prime.”
“PRIME?!” squeaked Rattrap in a panic. The Maximals then transformed and saluted.
“As you were,” replied Optimus. The Maximals returned to beast mode. “Look, Grimlock’s made a startling discovery. I think we better discuss it in Fortress Maximus.
Once they were briefed about Saurion’s theft of Animatros’ Cyber Planet Key and the other Maximals having fled the city with their programming blocks still up, Kong’s troops went back to Maximal City to help Nightscream. Knuckles accompanied them on the way. “Man!” complained Rattrap as they trudged through the jungle. “All this for a lousy oversized Cyber Key!”
“What IS the deal with it, anyway?” asked Knuckles. “It’s clearly important to you guys in general.”
“The Cyber Planet Key, Mr. Knuckles,” explained Kong, “is Animatros’ most carefully guarded relic. It’s the greatest source of earth-based magic among the Transformers. That’s why Saurion stole it!” That last sentence was directed at Rattrap, seeming wholly unconcerned.
“Yeah, like I care!” he said. “You know, we were supposed to be doing deep-space exploration on the Axalon! Playing home-world defense was nowhere in MY job description, you know what I’m saying? You sure you’re cut out for this commander gig?” Kong sighed in annoyance.
“Remember the Great War, Rattrap! If the Predacons and Decepticons tap into the Cyber Planet Key’s power, they end this one in THEIR favor! We can’t let that happen!”
“Besides, you wanted exploration,” remarked Knuckles, “and now, here you are with an organic alien life-form. What more do you want?”
“Well, call me picky,” snarked Rattrap, “but an organic alien my size would be nice!” Kong ran his hand down his face.
“Just no pleasing some people,” he sighed once more.
“Mr. Knuckles, why don’t you climb up here?” offered Rhinox.
“You sure?” asked Knuckles.
“Positive, it would be no trouble at all.”
“I think I’ll take you up on that.” Knuckles hopped onto Rhinox’s back. Soon, the Maximals and their passenger made it to Maximal City. Tigatron tensed up.
“It now feels strange to see an artificial structure,” he muttered.
“Well, we’re gonna have to get in there and try and fix up the Predacons’ damage,” remarked Kong.
“So, hurry up and open the doors!” called a voice ahead of them. “I’m waiting!” They all yelped and whirled around to see Sonic smirking at the City Gate.
“SONIC?!” cried Knuckles. “HOW DID YOU-no, wait, no, I know exactly how you got here. I guess the REAL question is why?”
“Do you know how little of Nebulos I saw?!” replied Sonic. “I’m not missing out on this planet!”
“Does Optimus know you’re here?” asked Kong.
“Sure he does! He’s cool with it!”
Optimus presented a hastily scrawled note to Tails. “Going for a run. Meeting with the Maximals. Catch you later,” read the note.
“Sonic?” asked Tails with a deadpan voice.
“Sonic,” replied Optimus in the same voice.
“How long were you here?!” asked Cheetor.
“About 45 minutes,” remarked Sonic.
“WHAT?!”
“Sonic’s maximum speed,” replied Knuckles, “can make a sonic boom.”
“So THAT’S why he’s called Sonic,” mused Rhinox.
“Well, I mean, it ain’t inaccurate,” remarked Rattrap.
“NO WAY!” snarled Cheetor. “HEY! BLUE BOY! HOW’S ABOUT YOU GET A TASTE OF THE GOLDEN ROCKET?!”
“Uh oh,” gulped Knuckles.
“Oh? Is that a challenge I hear?” chuckled Sonic.
“Here it comes!” sighed Knuckles.
“First one to that mountain is the winner!” Cheetor pointed his paw to a mountain in the distance.
“A mere jog!” taunted Sonic.
“Oh no!” groaned Rattrap. The rest of the Maximals followed suit.
“Oh yeah?! Prove it!” challenged Cheetor. The cheetah-bot and blue Hedgehog then prepared for a run.
“Here we…GO!” called Sonic. The instant Sonic said “GO!”, the two took off.
“CHEETOR, NO!” yelled Kong.
“SONIC, DON’T TAKE THE and you took the bait,” sighed Knuckles. Kong Primal activated his comms.
“Cheetor! Return to the city immediately!” he ordered. “We don’t have time for this!” His reply was met with static. “…Cheetor?! Please respond!” He then recalled something Grimlock said during the briefing. “Oh, that’s right, they had to report to Optimus via laser signal. The comms towers are out. That’s just prime!”
“So, uh, this your first day on the job or what?” snarked Rattrap.
“Shut up, Rattrap.”
“Oh, yes, SIR! You know, I feel just HEAPS better knowing that our lives are in your capable hands! …We’re all gonna die.”
“Airazor, take Rattrap with you and get Cheetor and Sonic back here.”
“You got it, Big Bot,” replied Airazor.
“Hey!” protested Rattrap. “I ain’t the kid’s babysitteeaaaAAAAAHHH!” Airazor’s talons scooped up Rattrap by the front legs and carried him off into the sky. “IF I WANTED TO FLY, I’D BE A BAT, NOT A RAT!” wailed Rattrap. They soon got out of sight.
“…How often does Rattrap do this?” asked Knuckles to Kong.
“Too frequently, for my tastes,” replied the gorilla Transformer.