Author: Brendan Sheehan | Banner: Vincent Rodger

Night fell in the forests near Shizuoka and as it did, an evil stirred. Thick eyes opened to reveal startling glowing irises as a fanged maw hissed back into life. The terror yawned as it stretched the thick folded wings and it slowly made its way out of the cave. It stuck an aerodynamic head through the cave’s entrance, sniffing at the air. Within the piney woods, deer, foxes, and other animals froze and made themselves small. They all knew this scent, the sound they heard. They all hoped they would not sense it in their lifetime.

Gyaos had awoken.

The nocturnal predator stepped out of the cave, stretching and letting out a screech. It had been too long since he had a chance to hunt. Hibernation had called to him, to descend into dreams after a well earned meal… but even after his reserves had returned, he had still slept. Despite his usual merciless attitude, the vampiric kaiju had found a foe who had truly made him wary. Gamera, the terrapin defender of mankind, had challenged him during his last awakening. The battle was close, too close and though he had lost half his foot and had it regrown, Gyaos knew he had to retreat. It was not worth it to face the savage savior, even when the tantalizing scent of blood drifted to his cave. No, no, best to go elusive, sleep, and awaken to try again in the future.

The chiropteran had no idea how long he had slept for this time. A year, two, a decade? To be honest, he didn’t really care. His need for blood burned in his gullet more than any higher thoughts. For at the end of the day, that was what made Gyaos so feared; all things were secondary to his appetite.

He would wait no longer.

His leathery wings extended and with a start, he was off into the night. The ultrasonic monster flew through the foggy night, a sweeping aerodynamic shape as his arrow shaped head, thin wings, and pointed body let him zip through the night. His glowing eyes scanned as he moved, starving but still cautious. As much as he was tempted by the lights of far off buildings he saw, the sting of flames on his chest reminded him of their cost. Best to choose smaller fish this day.

A prize kobe cattle had only a minute to look up and bellow in terror before it was crushed between peg-like teeth and its carcass disappeared in a whirlwind that startled its compatriots into a stampede. Landing upon a mountain nearby, Gyaos reached a clawed hand to the carcass, holding the beefy remains above his maw to drip more tantalizing ichor in before tossing the whole gory mess to be chewed in a single chomp. The bat-like monster couldn’t help but grin with pleasure. Even now, a meal like this still satisfied his urges as well as it had when he first awoke in this world of man and machines. Licking the trace remains off his fangs, the beast began to scan the area for more meals when a low rumble caught his sonic sensitive ears.

Glancing up, Gyaos startled at a fighter jet, flying past the lights of the far off city and now passing the very forest he feasted in. Had the humans noticed him already? His crest began to glow a startled red as he prepared himself for conflict but after a tense moment, the dogfighter went on its way, the dreadful creature letting out a sigh of relief as his crest flashed blue. After his fears were relieved, however, curiosity captured the mind of the predator. Why had the machine ignored him? What could it have been searching for that it was more concerned with? Taking off, the night terror clung to the clouds as a shroud, following his target. The grey jet continued its flight pass, seemingly scanning nothing.

As he pursued his quarry, a thought began to grip the hunter’s mind. He wanted to avoid hunting mankind, to avoid the wrath of his foe. But… it was only one plane. And it wasn’t even anywhere near the city! Looking down below, he confirmed it, nothing but forests surrounded them. Why, he could slice it open, snatch it, and land without anyone being the wiser! That and as succulent as the cow was, it was not nearly enough for this hour. Yes, it was perfect, the reptilian bat decided as he soared. This would be his entree for the night.

Gyaos swung above the plane, careful to keep his shadow from being too obvious. He waited patiently, letting sonic energy build in his strange forked neck. Then, just as the jet banked to leave, he struck! The Sonic Scalpel, a beam of energy razor thin in appearance and effect, sliced through the air before cleaving into the side of the plane with a spatter of sparks. The nocturnal predator’s frustrations about not cleanly slicing through the fuselage were drowned out by something that caused him to skid to a stop midair.

The ultrasonic monster had not been in the modern age for long.

But as far as he knew, planes did not scream in outrage when struck.

Wings beating, Gyaos’ eyes widened as the plane suddenly u-turned around to stay completely solid in midair as it seemed to look in his direction. What kind of plane-? His confusion was put on hold as a flurry of missiles fired from the fighter, the monster quickly drawing in his wings to dive past the onslaught. The jet roared its afterburners and followed in its own dive, even more weapons lighting up to blast at the creature. The vampiric kaiju turned as the assault blasted at its wings, firing more beams to slice through missiles and hit more glancing blows at the gaining pla-

GAINING?!?!

Gamera’s nemesis felt further confusion fill his mind as the jet grew closer, what kind of plane was this fast? Just as he was beginning to bank past a river, the epitome of this confusion hit. The plane zoomed up, right past Gyaos, so close he could feel the engines heat up his skin. The jet climbed over his head and then stopped mid air. It was then a strange sound hit his ultrasonic ears. A most alien sound indeed.

KCH chee KNK

And then a pair of thick boots slammed down upon Gyaos’ back, making him screech as he slammed into the dirt around him. Flopping like a fish, the nightmare of Shizuoka struggled and screeched as he felt his body pinned down. Unable to turn his head due to his sonic tuner, the bat beast’s glowing eyes struggled to roll to look at his assailant… and widened even with the barely visible amount it could see.

Standing on top of Gyaos was a robotic figure. Blue boots from on top of blocky legs stood atop of him, a thick red chest with the cockpit of his plane mode in the center like armor. From this chest, an insignia, a purple visored face scowling down, gleamed proudly. The cannons of the fighter jet stuck upon his arms pointed straight with his finger, as the figure glowered down at the night hunter and screeched in a tone that almost matched the sonic screamer’s own, red optics narrowing from his helmeted head.

“FOUL MONSTER! YOU WILL PAY FOR ATTACKING A DECEPTICON!” Starscream called as he prepared his arm cannons.

The chiropteran creature had seconds to screech in surprise before a thick bolt of energy shot for its crested head, blowing chunks of scaly flesh off. Gyaos howled as the Transformer cackled, before preparing his arm mounted weapons to blow the monster to pieces. Just as he leveled them at the rigid chest of the kaiju, however, the nocturnal killer snarled and with a quiver, fired a sonic scalpel. Mechanical eyes widened as the Seeker moved, just barely missing a clipped wing. The sniveling sadist was too busy watching the beam slice through a tree with a crack to notice the form shifting.

A thick wing slammed into the helmeted head of the Cybertronian, spinning him back to face the fanged maw of the screeching flier with a squeal of his own. Swallowing his cowardice, the air commander scowled and held up his blasters, letting loose every weapon he had. A flurry of flares and beams ignited the night… and most of the surrounding forest. The bloodthirsty beast hissed as he reflectively flexed a wing to block most of the blows, but the onslaught was overwhelming, especially as the smoke and fire built up.

A cackle echoed among the crackle of burning branches though.

“FOOLISH BEAST, WITNESS THE TRUE POWER OF STARSCREAM!”

If the Shadow of Evil could roll his eyes, he would. The growing inferno from the forest the machine was blasting to bits was doing more damage to him then most of these feeble human weapons slamming against his hide were. But still, the regrowing crest on his head reminded him that close shots could injure him.

Time for a new strategy.

Lifting his hidden wing, the vampiric beast screeched and flapped his great wings as from between the ridges of his chest, a thick yellow fog began to clog the air. The yellow smog began to smother out the growing flames, as well as making the technorganic cough and blink.

“MY VISION! IT IS FAILING!”

With the familiar whirring noise, Starscream returned to his jet mode and strafed past the cloud hanging over the clearing. Stopping to hover above the trees, the Seeker transformed back and scanned the area. Split trees, ashy ground, and even some splattered animals but no sign of his quarry through the yellow fog it had used to shield its escape. Growling in frustration, the silver tongued snake vented to nobody.

“DISRESPECTFUL WORM! SCRATCHES MY PAINT JOB ON A CLANDESTINE MISSION AND THEN DARES TO FLEE WHEN I CHALLENGE IT TO COMBAT? IT SHOULD BE LUCKY IT DOESN’-”

It was in the middle of this petulant monologue that Gyaos struck.

Arising like a shadow from the night, the thick streamlined form of the predator slammed into the back of the Cybertronian, causing him to scream as he spun in the air. The predator of the night snarled, fangs flashing before it screamed once again, a flash of yellow. Starscream’s optics shrunk as he transformed to his jet form, but it was too late to escape the sonic scalpel. The beam sliced through his cockpit, causing the alien jet to screech as he transformed back and fell to the Earth, a splatter of pink energon shooting up from the split in his chest.

The relentless predator wasn’t finished. It leapt down and began to slice at him with its talons, first his feet, then the ones on his wings. Like a bat beating its wing, it was a non-stop assault of thick bony claws ripping into the steel and ancient metal that made up the Cybertronian’s hull. The Air Commander screeched in horror, helplessly trying to bat away the furious swipes with his hands, panic making him forget about his weapons. Gyaos snarled once more, but not out of rage and anger… but frustration. He had allowed his poison to seep into his claws with each attack but the cowering robot showed no sign of stopping. It seemed it was immune to its venom… and so, he needed a new strategy.

The vampiric predator slammed a foot upon the split cockpit, causing a gasp of pain as pink Energon bubbled out. The towering monster loomed as it glared down, jaws widening as it looked upon its prey….

….Specifically the helmeted head shadowed perfectly between its jaws.

Realizing his captor’s plans, Starscream held up a hand, his other stretching to his wings as he cried out.

“MERCY! MERCY!”

Gyaos leaned forward, drool dripping onto piercing red optics.

And then his world went sideways and blinding white. Talons stumbled back as the glowing eyes of the shadow creature flickered and spun. The Decepticon cackled as he stood up, leveling his mace at the kaiju.

“DIDN’T EXPECT THAT, DID YOU!?!? NOW, I’VE GOT YOU!”

Shaking his crested head, the ultrasonic monster hissed as it glared at the crafty bot. It opened its mouth to screech another Scalpel… only to shake its head. It was a unique vocal system that allowed the deadly weapon that allowed the blood sucker to cut down his prey. It would get easily thrown off by being spun.

And unfortunately, the force of the mace of the mechanical invader had essentially twisted it from working.

Gyaos opened his eyes to weigh the smug look of Starscream. Part of his predator instincts knew it was too much of an unnecessary risk to continue this fight now. Time was passing. The day will be here soon. More humans would be attracted.

But the other part?

The other part was spurned pride. Angry at the way this thing’s voice box hurt his sensitive ears. Angry his first night back from hibernation was ruined by this cocky bastard. And most of all, angry that his reign of terror kept getting interrupted by flying upstarts.

Starscream leveled an arm cannon. He would prove glory by slaying this beast for all Decepticon kind. He was sure of it. They would all praise him and not Megatron!

“COME ON!”

That was all the Shadow of Evil needed. An angry howl let out as the two flying terrors charged each other.

The chiropteran took to the skies first, talons lunging forward to snatch the mace from the hands of the Air Commander. Grunting in anger and strength as he pulled back from the grasp of the crested beast, Starscream dug his boots into the dirt before raising an arm and firing one of his Null Rays. The electromagnetic burst of purple energy shot forward towards the sloped head of Gyaos, making it hiss as it let go of the mace and darted back. The Decepticon leapt into the air, hovering forward with the mace prepped to swing for the flying beast’s head but the predator had other ideas. Looping around, it dive bombed, slamming right into the split chest plate of the technorganic. His equilibrium destabilized, the Seeker was helpless but to spin in the air until a leather arched wing slammed into his helmet, crashing him into the forest.

Leaving a deep trench in the woods, the Cybertronian grunted as he stood, quickly scanning the woods for his foe. A quick shadow fell over his face, causing him to turn… but nothing. Then, there! Another. But it was too fast for him to swing at. Soon, the darting shadow of the hunter seemed to come from every tree as it moved circles around the lone robot… but he was prepared. The traitorous second in command kneeled, bracing himself as he watched the shadows. Waiting for the strike….

Trees crashed from behind as Gyaos lunged forward, screeching as it lunged fangs forward!

But the seasoned warrior was ready. Shooting back around, a blue hand shot forward to grip the beast’s throat, the war cry ending in a choke. Starscream smirked as he prepared his systems!

“GOTCHA!”

A missile fired from his wrist and the terror of the night howled as he was sent flying backwards in a cloud of fire! As he spun through the air, he righted himself and tried to take off… only for a grey jet to come shooting out of nowhere and slam into him! Shrieking in frustration, the vampiric hunter snapped at the jet, only for it to strafe. The two aerial aces soon began a dog fight, quickly darting and looping around each other in an even more intense aerial combat. Spinning and unleashing a cascade of flares, the fighter jet form of the Seeker darted up before going down into a seemingly regular pace.

The organic fighter snarled, frustration making him forget reason as he darted forward, jaws wide ready to attack. It was only when he was feet away he remembered.

His foe wasn’t a jet.

KCH CHE KNK

The crunch of metal against bone sounded, illustrated with a spray of blood and broken teeth as Starscream’s fist slammed into Gyaos’ jaw.

The knockout hit worked. As boosters on his feet pushed him along, the chiroptera terror went limp and crashed back down to Earth. After a moment, the egotistical Decepticon landed next to him. Stomping forward, he stuck out one of his boots and tapped it against the leathery jointed head of the predator.

Nothing.

Its eyes remained lidded and dark as it slumped against the ground.

Throwing his hands up, the Air Commander cackled in joy.

“HAHAHA! ONCE AGAIN, I, STARSCREAM, AM VICTORIOUS!”

Kneeling down, the Seeker regarded his foe, patting it on the head before walking away from it and the inferno slowly filling up the forest.

“YOU FOUGHT WELL FOR AN ORGANIC, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU COULD NOT COMPARE TO A DECEPTICON. MAYBE A MINOR THREAT TO FOOLS BUT TO MY SUPERIORITY, NOTHING MORE THAN ANOTHER PEST OF THIS PLANET TO BE TAMED!”

As this last boast left his speaker, the words hit the Transformer. He stopped and turned back to the body of Gyaos, a finger reaching up to touch his lip.

“….SAY, THAT’S NOT A BAD IDEA! WITH A BEAST LIKE YOU, WE COULD CAUSE SOME TRUE CHAOS FOR THE AUTOBOTS. LET’S SEE THEIR DINOBOTS FACE YOU, MY LEATHERY FRIEND! WHY, THEY’D MAKE ME THE NEW LEADER FOR THIS. ESPECIALLY IF YOU… ACCIDENTALLY ATTACKED LORD MEGATRON.”

Cackling in joy at his latest plan of coup d’etat, the Decepticon back tracked and began to regard the form of the nocturnal terror enviously. Crouching down, he leaned forward and went to pick up a wing…

Only to struggle helplessly.

Dropping it in frustration, Starscream glared down from behind his helmet as he observed the whole form. Come now, it was only probably like…. what, twenty five units? He could carry that! Psyching himself up, he grabbed a taloned foot and began to pull as hard as he could. After a moment, panting, he transformed into his jet form, attached a strut to the talon and flew forward. After a moment, the Cybertronian landed and regarded his work.

….half a kik.

This was going to be an issue.

The Seeker sighed and began to weigh his options. Call the Combaticons? They could help him move it, especially with Bruticus. No, those scrapholes would either injure it or try to take credit. He could ask for a bridge from Shockwave but he would vivisect his monster before then!

No, the decision was final. He had to carry it back somehow.

…and he had just the idea.

Within a minute, the scientist turned warlord had his work ready. A bunch of burnt and broken trees had been pushed underneath the creature’s body and he now stood behind it ready. Placing an arm underneath each wing, the Seeker took off, using his back thrusters to hover higher and higher. The trees did their work, giving enough leverage for him to fly off. The Air Commander cackled as he reached above the trees and turned to fly.

“FINALLY! NOW THEN, MY SCREECHING FRIEND. WE HAVE A NEMESIS TO REROUTE WITH. LET ME SIMPLY COMMUNICATE…”

Tapping at his damaged and leaking chest, a radio transponder began to sound, staticky and unsure.

“REPORT! REPORT! COME ON, WHY DO THEY NEVER PICK UP!!??! I BRING IMPORTANT NEWS!”

The static and screech of Starscream’s voice began to echo through the crest hanging above the chest, causing eyes to flicker and glow from behind leathery lids.

“MEGATRON! SOUNDWAVE! FOR PRIMUS’ SAKE, I’LL EVEN TAKE SKYWARP AT THIS POINT!! HELLO!?!?!”

The eyes shot open.

Gyaos screeched as it thrashed wildly, the Decepticon shrieking in turn at the greater beast’s mad movement. A jagged wing slammed against his helmeted head, finally breaking the grip of the Cybertronian. As he grabbed at his head, he looked up at his target….

…and then wished he hadn’t.

Screeching louder than ever before in its panic, the hunter of the night fired a more potent than ever Sonic Scalpel. The sycophant screamed as he raised an arm to block it.

Wrong move.

With a sickening shing of metal, the arm came clean off, sliding off to leave molten metal. Starscream wailed in agony… and then felt his body shift. Wordlessly and feeling something heavy in his Spark, he turned his helmeted head… to see half of his wingpack the same.

Jets stopped and the Seeker screamed as he crashed down to the Earth, a plume of dirt following. Shaking its head, the vampiric predator darted off, ignoring its fallen captor, leaving it behind with powerful wing flaps under the pale moonlight.

On the ground, the Air Commander groaned, pink Energon leaking as his chest sparked… and slowly a muffled voice optics widening, he struggled to reach it with his remaining arm, flopping until he eventually slammed a fist down onto the communicator, so the thick autotuned voice became clear.

“Starscream, report. You were to inform of your discoveries on the Energon potentials of the city-”

“SOUNDWAVE! SEND HELP, A VICIOUS MONSTER- IT TORE ME NEAR TO BITS! PLEASE! I REQUIRE EVERY POSSIBLE DECEPTICON!!”

As the robot pleaded, Gyaos beat his wings deeper and deeper into the forest, only stopping to rest when the world turned from leafy and woody to the familiar black of his cave’s stone, his claws skidding against it as he all but collapsed. and he let out a deep breath that portended his eyes getting heavy. As sleep took to the ultrasonic monster, one last thought echoed in its mind.

Human things.

Never again.

Draw: Starscream, Gyaos (Showa)