"Warning. Orbit decaying. Entering atmosphere in point five cycles."

Heard by no one, not even the occupant of the pod itself, the computer's voice echoed throughout the small vessel as the pod began its journey through the planet's atmosphere. Destined, chosen among the many other pods orbiting the small world.

"Warning. Entering planet's atmosphere."

Shield met shield and ripped its way through the fabric of the atmosphere. The heat level in the pod rose, not bothering its occupant. The hatch rattled against its sealed structure, vibrating violently as the pod tore through to the planet waiting beneath it. So it was destined.

"Estimated planetfall in two point one cycles. Shields holding."

The pod shredded through its last layer of sky and continued its descent towards the planet. Unknown to the occupant, it headed rather pointedly for a small patch of jungle forestry. Where it would once again see the light of day.

"Planetfall in point two cycles."

Solidly, the pod landed. Branches snapped and gave away, leaves fluttered, merely tossed away to make room for the new arrival. The heavy pod plowed through the branches, its motion finally stopped by thick branches that sprang back and held the pod quite effectively into place.

"Planetfall successful. Activation sequence on-line."

A mechanical whirr later, the DNA scanner rose from its hiding place and activated, ready to once again give life to the occupant of the pod.

"Scanning for compatible life-forms."

With a faint humming sound, the scanner passed around and around the trees and plants surrounding it, scanning the life it touched. Birds chirped in protest, insects scuttled away in fear, some lizards rose and flicked their tongues in confusion.

"Compatible life-form found. Beginning replication."

The DNA transferred to the occupant, it began re-forming, breathing again in a new form, a new body. With a creak, the hatch of the pod opened and its occupant rose, tasting the light of another day again.

So it was destined.

***

"Alert. Stasis pod detected in grid Gamma. Coordinates seven-two-four."

"What the- ow!!"

Both the loud thump and the loud cry of pain that followed might have been heard all the way to the Predacon base. With a groan, Rhinox slipped out from beneath the console, one hand pressed to his throbbing head. Slowly, he managed to raise himself up to his feet.

"Computer," he said with another groan. "Report."

"Stasis pod detected in grid Gamma. Coordinates seven-two-four."

Quickly, Rhinox dove for the console, the pain ringing through his head disappearing. He called up the data, watched as a map grid scrolled across the screen. Indeed, there it was-- a stasis pod, in Maximal territory, not a trace of damage to it. Rhinox couldn't help but smile, then turned slightly as he heard someone approaching.

With his usual sardonic manner, Rattrap entered the command center and gave the screen a quick glance.

"Hey there, big buddy!" he said cheerfully. "What's happening?"

"Some good news, finally," Rhinox said, and activated his comm link. "Rhinox to Optimus."

The reply came. "Optimus here. What's new?"

"Nothing much, only an intact stasis pod two steps from our front door." Rhinox said, somewhat proudly. "I'll go over to it right away and greet our new crew member."

"All right," Optimus said, a smile in his voice. "Say hi for me. Optimus out."

That said, Rhinox cast a glance at Rattrap. "Coming?"

The rat shrugged. "Might as well. Who knows, maybe I'll make a new friend."

***

Grinning darkly, Megatron followed the tiny blip slowly streaking across the screen. It was exactly what it appeared to be-- a Maximal stasis pod, intact, falling from orbit and waiting to be transformed into yet another proud Predacon. The thought made Megatron straighten a little and bare his teeth in silent victory.

If this could be played right, the Predacons would soon welcome a new crew member in their midst.

"Meaning," Megatron said somberly to himself. "That we shall have no time to waste. No."

With a quick flick of the finger, the comm channel was activated. "Megatron to Tarantulus."

Static spurted for a while and finally the arachnid's dry voice answered. "Yes, o mighty lizard pharaoh?"

Megatron fought the urge to slam a fist down into the console before him. "Never mind the titles and prepare for pod re-programming. A Maximal stasis pod has landed."

"Ah, yet another failure for us to celebrate?"

This time, Megatron brought down a huge fist and crunched the screen under his mighty hand.

"You insolent arachnid! You will do as I command and you will do it now!"

Static crackled on the line, though it sounded suspiciously like one of Tarantulus' sinister chuckles. "Whatever you say. Tarantulus out."

Megatron took a moment to growl at the comm link, before turning it off and heading for the hatch himself.

"Perhaps once I get a new Predacon," he said in a low voice. "Something could be done about that arachnid." He chuckled. "Oh, yess..."

***

Rhinox looked up and moaned. The pod, intact as it seemed, was perched up on top of the very tallest trees. The DNA scanner having made no move to activate, Rhinox assumed it was off-line and the protoform inside was not yet formed. Or re-formed, he thought solemnly, if it was a former crew member. Most of which were dedicated scientists, living for nothing else than research. Fighting had no meaning, and getting transferred to a stasis pod seemingly was the best way to avoid it. Some protoforms were newly formed sparks, beings that hadn't had a chance to live yet and were taken aboard as crew members. And others... some others were not scientists, not researchers, not newly formed, but mostly Maximals who urgently wanted to get away from the war and its memories. Stasis at least assured a time of peace, then the relatively simple work of research. A prefect way for anyone to get away from the war.

Not on this planet, I'm afraid, my friend.

"Eh, that's just perfect," Rattrap said, interrupting Rhinox's thoughts. "How're we supposed to get that thing down?"

Rhinox shrugged somewhat unhappily. "I don't suppose you specialize in tree climbing?"

"Not by a long shot." He shook his head, then moved to get a better view of the pod. "Why isn't the protoform out yet?"

"Then activation sequence might have been damaged." Rhinox told him. "That only makes our job harder." He sighed. "At least the Predacons aren't here yet."

"Oh, but I beg to differ, Maximal. Yess!"

Both Rattrap and Rhinox flinched and turned at the terribly familiar voice. Indeed, there stood Megatron, like the tyrannical leader he was, flanked by Tarantulus, weapons drawn, triggers ready.

"Megatron!" Rhinox said, glaring at the Predacons.

Megatron smiled in that annoyingly superior fashion of his. "In living color." he sneered. "I want that pod, Maximal, and you stand in the way!"

Rhinox stood defiantly, though ready to dodge when it would prove necessary. "How unfortunate. Especially since we're not planning on moving!"

That did it. With a growl, Megatron raised his mighty cannon and fired. Rattrap and Rhinox dodged out of the way, Rattrap landing rather smoothly and quickly pulling out his gun, taking out Tarantulus with a quick shot. Megatron fired again, this time hitting Rhinox. The big Maximal grimaced in pain and clutched his burning shoulder, cursing under his breath as mech fluid streamed though his fingers.

"Rhinox!" Rattrap yelled.

Rhinox held up a hand, gritting his teeth at the numbness of his arm. "Just watch the pod!"

"Oh, I shall take care of that myself, yess." Megatron said, aiming his laser cannon for the tree.

"No!" Despite his pain, Rhinox lunged forward and tried to knock Megatron away.

Unfortunately, he merely fired higher, hitting the pod straight-on. Branches gave away and the pod slammed to the ground, sizzling and sparking. The lid was open, and nothing, not a protoform, not even a spark was inside.

"You fool!" Megatron shouted. "It's useless now!"

Rhinox forced himself to look up and face Megatron as he heard the mighty cannon powering. But Megatron wasn't aiming for him. Instead, his weapon was drawn on Rattrap.

"You shall face my wrath first, vermin," he snarled. He prepared to fire.

But never got a chance.

With a loud whipping sound, something came around Megatron's arm and wrenched it back. Megatron gave an exclamation of surprise and looked up. So did the Maximals.

There, standing on a lower branch, small hands clutched for balance, was a chameleon, its long tongue wrapped quite effectively around Megatron's gun.

"I *really* don't think so," it said, in a clearly female voice. With a snap, she withdrew her tongue and prepared to leap off the branch.

"Chamelea, Maximize!" she yelled, transforming as she went.

She landed solidly in front of Rattrap, a long silvery staff balancing in her hands.

"Mind if I join in?" she asked, a playful grin on her face. That said, she swiftly turned toward Megatron, her staff ready.

The Predacon leader watched her, nearly laughed. "You believe yourself a match for me, Maximal female?"

Chamelea stopped and pretended to think. "Actually, I do. Not too disappointed, are we? "

Angered by this female's arrogance, Megatron growled and fired.

With a speed that impressed even Rattrap, Chamelea reached in her back and pulled out a big, shiny, strangely reflective shield. An instant later Rattrap saw why.

Megatron's shot hit the surface of the shield, glowed for a moment, then shot back at him, hitting him squarely in the chest. The mighty Predacon commander crashed to the ground.

Chamelea replaced her shield. "Not bad for a female, eh?" She turned to Rattrap. "I'm Chamelea. Call me Cham. And I should call you...?"

"Rattrap," he said slowly, eyeing the new Maximal. Slightly shorter and a bit more slender than him, Chamelea's armor shone a faint golden under the sun, the green of her skin flashing quite noticeably. She had a lovely face, large green eyes that glowed mischievously, her golden armor tracing the back of her head. The green armor around her arms formed a rather interesting pattern, nearly like gloves, the same designs present around her shapely legs. Rattrap found himself staring, unable to look away, until Rhinox finally spoke up.

"Chamelea," he said, rather weakly getting up to his feet. "Or should I say... Stormer?"

Rattrap frowned. They knew each other?

"I'd rather be known as Chamelea now," she said, eyeing Rhinox as she spoke. "It's been a long time."

"Too long." He smiled. "I see the Shadow Strikers' spirit still commands you."

This time, Rattrap flinched. "Whoa, whoa, here! You sayin' she's a Striker?"

Chamelea shrugged. "Maybe I used to be. Not anymore. That's why I signed up for this mission."

The Shadow Strikers. The very name brought back memories about the war, about a certain group of Maximal fighters who decided to win the war in their own way. They teamed up, and created what was called the Shadow Strikers-- aptly named, since they were never seen, never heard of, only their actions were noted. And what actions they were.... sabotage, espionage, weaponry theft or destruction, terrorism, even assassination... the list went on. They seemed to be able to sneak in and out of Predacon ships and bases, leaving not one clue behind. They were especially famous for the assassinations-- never did an intended victim survive, and rarely was the victim even identified. Though they greatly helped the Maximals during that war, they were still regarded as outlaws and terrorists.

And now, to think that Rattrap was actually speaking to a member of that group... a group that even the most fierce Predacon warrior spoke of in mild fear...

"The war was over a long time ago," Chamelea said. "And so were the Shadow Strikers. We broke up, you'd never even guess who was part of it anymore."

Rattrap breathed, still shocked. "You sure don't seem too secretive about it." He turned to Rhinox. "Did you... know her?"

Rhinox nodded. "I did, for a while. I owe my life to her, actually. A long story, one I'm not getting into right now. I oversaw her stasis transfer." He smiled slightly. "I was afraid you might have been reprogrammed. I'm just glad we've got you on our side."

Chamelea giggled. "My pleasure. I was practically programmed to kill anything Predacon. I probably would have tried to assassinate myself."

Rattrap shook his head. "This is gonna take some explaining."

"Come on," Chamelea said, slipping her arm around his and leading him away. "I'll tell you all about it later. For now, why don't you escort me to your base?"

Stunned, Rattrap let her lead him, still too shocked to say anything. Rhinox merely smiled and followed.