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Getting trapped in an underground cave system after falling through a crumbling of the Earth, wasn't on Cheetor's list. It was supposed to be simple! Another fight with the Predacons. Usually it ended with the Preds running off, not the ground crumbling out from under their peds. But that's exactly what happened. The ground could have already been unstable, Rhinox had made mention of finding sinkholes around the planet and that they would have to be careful just in case the ground caved in while they were standing on it. He made sure to warn all of them over the dangers, since the sinkholes could go deep, and could range from small holes to a lake in width.
Either way, it was not a good thing when it happened with Cheetor standing on a spot. Sure, he could now fly, but that doesn't exactly equate to fast movements when he doesn't realize the ground is sinking below his peds while he fights. Cheetor had transformed into beast mode during the fall, hoping his rockets would work, but that only seemed to break the falling earth into small pieces to hit against his plating. At least it managed to slow his descent. Because, as it turned out, Cheetor had fallen a good distance.
He looked up, barely able to see the light filtering through the hole. Touching the sides of the hole he landed in, proved it was soft, as the dirt compressed under his paw with a soft, wet sound. Gross. Cheetor took his paw back, shaking the mud off it, even if it would end up doing no good. Not when he was going to have to walk through it.
Cheetor turned into a circle, grateful for his frame keeping the flexibility after the quantum surge. It allowed him to stay in a small circle without disturbing too much around him. And boy, was it a good thing his rockets could fold back into his hips. If there was one thing Cheetor didn't like much about this form, it was that his frame wasn't as slim anymore. It made fitting into tight spots that he used to, a lot more difficult.
Letting out a huff, Cheetor eyed the darkened hole that he could make out. It was his best bet if he didn't want to disturb the earth even more, and have it potentially fall on him all over again. The tip of his tail twitched, the linkages making a small rattle like noise in the silence. Guess this was the best way.
Lowering his head, Cheetor carefully stalked forward toward the opening. He felt like he was on the prowl in the fashion of the felines of this planet. The hole was small, and Cheetor was glad he had opted not to transform, he never would have fit. As it was, the space got smaller, pressing against Cheetor's plating to where he wasn't just leaving grooves in the walls, but the mud was staining his plating. It even got to the point where he had to crouch onto his belly, struggling to push himself forward with how little space there was for his legs.
In the end, Cheetor had to keep his hind legs stretched mostly behind him to allow momentum forward. During one stretch of his paw, Cheetor grinned as he felt his paw curl over a ledge. He hooked his other paw over the ledge, and with one powerful shove of his hindquarters, he popped out of the small passage he was in.
"Oof," Cheetor hissed as he tumbled helm over aft. The momentum had him rolling until he hit a wall. Upside down, with his hind legs hanging over and in his face. Flexing his spine, Cheetor managed to roll himself onto his hind legs. Sitting there and staring at the wall he hit as he gained his bearings. Once he wasn't going to wobble on his paws, did Cheetor stand up. Giving himself a shake that caused dust to float up around him.
Turning around, Cheetor took in the large underground cave he had ended up in. It really was large. Cheetor could have easily transformed back to root mode, but staring at the walls had his neck plating lifting in place of hackles he didn't have anymore. His optics took in the walls, and the large opening opposite him.
This space was made. It was no natural formation. It was obvious the walls had been scraped at to open the space, the faint dents that could only be from claws were prominent in the shadows. There was no light here, but Cheetor's optics could just make out every thing. Changing the setting on his optics only proved his observations.
Cheetor bared his fangs, a low hissing growl rumbling out of his chassis. The only ones capable of doing something like this all belonged to the Predacons. And now, Cheetor was most likely stuck with one if they were around. The memory of his early encounter with Tarantulas had Cheetor's plating ruffling. He didn't like to remember that incident.
The spider was the first that Cheetor thought of, but there were new Preds that it could also be. Inferno and Rampage had both been documented to dig underground, using their alt modes to manage it. Cheetor quickly crossed Inferno off the list. He was too loyal to Megatron not to be at the Predacon Leader's beck and call. Which only left Tarantulas or Rampage.
And Cheetor wanted nothing to do with either of them.
Cannibals, the both of them.
Even with the dark setting on his optics, Cheetor opted to stay against the wall as he carefully slinked toward the large opening. If it just happened to be Rampage that had made this cave, then Cheetor wanted some kind of advantage. Staying in beast mode would give him that. At least, he hoped.
He was only half way there when a noise caused him to pause mid-step. Cheetor froze. Audials twitching as he tried to find the noise. It happened again. Cheetor stayed still, continuing to listen to the scuttling against the earth. Cheetor had to control his breathing, lest he was discovered earlier than he wanted to be. It was hard. Cheetor wanted to pant, let his breath come in sharp, heaving gasps as he struggled not to bolt.
He had no idea where the noise was coming from, it kept changing direction.
Suddenly, an oppressive aura hit his back. Fear jumped up Cheetor's throat. And he ran.
A loud, booming and maniacal laugh sounded behind him. And oh frag. It was Rampage. Cheetor wasn't able to take that lunatic on, none of them could. Cheetor's run didn't last long, his paws barely touched the ground out of the cave when something pierced through his outstretched leg.
Roaring in pain, Cheetor's body twisted as he was pulled back. He slashed at his attacker, claws making a loud grinding sound as all they did was create sparks against Rampage's armor. Even without really looking, Cheetor could see that one of Rampage's alt mode legs had stabbed through his leg, the feeling of energon sliding down his plating almost burned.
Rampage's acidic green optics were bright as he continued to laugh, a massive hand wrapping around Cheetor's throat to pin him to the ground. Cheetor snarled, grabbing the lunatic's arm between his paws and clawing at it, to no avail. Even with the stronger plating and metal, his claws did nothing.
Lifting his back off the ground, Rampage slammed Cheetor back down. Cheetor still didn't let up his renewed grip on Rampage's arm, it didn't seem like the mutant crab cared.
All Rampage did was tsk, shifting his hand so he could brush his thumb against Cheetor's cheek. Cheetor kept his fangs bared, letting out a low growl.
"What a pleasant surprise to find you down here," Rampage's voice turned into a purr, beast leg pulling out of Cheetor's with a wet squelch. Cheetor hissed at the pain. It was easy for Rampage to lift Cheetor up by the neck, as if he weighed nothing.
Cheetor still kicked out with his uninjured leg, the resounding clang not even affecting the Predacon. Rampage just stared at him.
"F-frag off, you lunatic!" Cheetor growled, his voice rising as he struggled to talk through the tight grip on his neck.
Rampage hummed, and if it wasn't for his weird mouth, he would no doubt be grinning about this situation. He tapped his claw against Cheetor's cheek, not answering right away. It made Cheetor twitchy. As much as he wanted to fight back, there was no way he was winning this.
Another hum left Rampage as he brought Cheetor's face closer to his, "Well, kitty, why don't we make a deal?" Those acidic green optics appeared even brighter up close. There was something in them that had Cheetor's instincts going haywire with the need to get away.
"Wh-what would that be?" He struggled to say, claws having moved closer to Rampage's wrist in hopes that he would at least loosen his grip enough for Cheetor to speak without struggling.
The freaky fang mouth Rampage had going on, vibrated, parting enough for Cheetor to see there was a glossa flickering inside. It made him shiver in disgust.
Their faces were brought closer together. Cheetor making a face at the smell of decay that seemed to radiate from Rampage's mouth.
"I'll let you go," Rampage paused, letting the small hope Cheetor felt at that, until he finished. Crushing Cheetor's hope of getting out of this unharmed. "As long as you let me play."
Yeah, that'd be a grin if he was capable of one.
Cheetor swallowed, eyeing Rampage and weighing his options. Which wasn't many. It was either play the lunatics game or be eaten, most likely alive. Neither of which sounded appealing.
His claws tightened on Rampage's wrist. Cheetor clenched his optics closed as he struggled.
"F-fine." He hissed out.
The cave echoed with Rampage's laugh, and Cheetor felt like he had made a massive mistake in agreeing to a deal with such a monster.