Okay, Okay, I know that Beasties isn't anime, but it's probably as close
as we're ever going to get in North America. I'm not sure if I'm going
to pursue this, so if anyone else wants to run with this idea, be my
guest. For those of you who don't know, Beasties (Beast Wars in the
States) is computer animated sequel to Transformers, set 300 years after
the Great Cybertronian War. Autobots and Decepticons have evolved into
Maximals and Predacons. Tell me what you think.

***

Sagittarian Productions Present

Beasties: Transformers
"Past Lives"

"How much farther is this thing?" Rat Trap grumbled. "These legs weren't
exactly designed for long distance hiking y'know."

"Just over that ridge." Rhinox replied.

"Just what are we trudging all this way to see, anyway?" Rat Trap said,
twtiching his nose.

"I don't know, but Cheetor sounded excited."

"Eh. Everything excites that kid."

"It was important enough that Optimus diverted us from our survey
mission. He's on his way here himself."

"Yeah, makes me feel a _whole_ bunch better." Rat Trap cursed himself
for not opting to have a flight pack installed back on Cybertron when he
had the chance.

The two maximals cleared the ridge, which turned out to be the lip of a
large crater. At the bottom was a large cylinder that looked something
like a stasis pod, but considerably bigger. Cheetor was standing next to
it in robot form. He waved.

"You guys gotta come check this out!" He cried.

Rat Trap and Rhinox maximized and made their way to the bottom of the
crater. "What is it?" Rat Trap asked, curious in spite of himself.

"I dunno," Cheetor replied. "But check THIS out!" He walked up to the
side of the pockmarked surface and brushed away some dirt. Underneath
was a red symbol, like a face.

"What the heck is that?" Rat Trap asked. The symbol looked familair, but
he couldn't place it.

Rhinox shook his head. "Don't you know your history?" he looked at the
symbol reverently. "That's the symbol of the Autobots, our ancestors."

"No kiddin'?" Rat trap examined the pod again, noting it was large
enough to hold two or three Transformers of Rhinox's size. "So this
thing musta been floating around in space for more than three hundred
years." He pulled out his lockpick. "Let's pop 'er open, I want to see
what's inside."

Rhinox grabbed his hand. "No! We should wait for Optimus!"

"Aww, c'mon Rhinox!" Cheetor said. "What harm could there be in opening
it a little early?"

Rhinox shook his head. "If this is an Autobot device, then it was built
during the last Great War. Which means it's probably loaded with
countermeasures to prevent tampering."

"Yeah, three hundred year old countermeasures!" Rat Trap replied. He
advanced on the pod. "C'mon, Rhinox, trust me!"

Rhinox started to protest, but Rat Trap had already started working on
the lock. In a few seconds it popped open.

"Gee, that was easy!" Rat Trap said and backed off. "Uhh, _you_ open it
Rhinox."

Rhinox sighed and stepped forward, taking a good grip on the lid. He
carefully lifted it up, allowing it to swing over to the left.

All three transformers gaped at what was inside. Slowly each backed
away. None noticed the roar of approaching jets.

"Cheetor!" Optimus called, landing behind the trio. "What did you find?"

"Big bot?" Cheetor said in a hushed whisper. "I think you should see
this." All three stepped aside so that he could see what was in the pod.

Inside the pod was a large transformer, one that obviously hadn't been
functional for some time. It's red and blue finish was pocketed from
micrometeor strikes which had penetrated the pod, and there also seemed
to be considerable damage, which indicated that he had died before being
placed into the pod. It wasn't a stasis pod, it was a coffin.

But that wasn't what had shocked the others. For the face of this long
dead autobot, although certainly older, cruder, was easily recognizable.

Optimus backed away a few steps. The dead Autobot's face was his own.

***

The Prime Sagittarian,
Alpha Centauri

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is
that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness
that frightens us."

<<END OF LINE>>