Chromia's circuits sort of fizz whenever she goes through the space bridge, and she's…not entirely sure if she likes it. It's an unsettlingly full-body sensation, a prickle down both arms and legs and along the struts of her back and up into the crown of her head under her helm, and it always leaves her tense and on-edge, ready to jump a mile or strike out or…something. At the same time, though, it's not exactly bad? It's just different. Strange. New, Windblade would probably say if she mentioned it, and then they'd end up arguing about it for some stupid reason and she'd lose because it's absurdly difficult to win arguments with Windblade.
Today they're on Eukaris, invited to share a meal with Airazor and Tigatron—them and Starscream, who'd seemed frankly alarmed to be asked, and who now soars overhead, slightly in front of Windblade, while Airazor leads them on her strange, flexible wings. On the ground beneath, Chromia speeds along with Tigatron loping at her side. It's surprising, somehow, that he can keep up with her on foot. It doesn't seem entirely right.
"You're distracted," Tigatron says, not looking at her.
She doesn't look at him either; she has to focus more on steering here. "Still getting used to the ground on Eukaris."
"Seem like you wish you were hunting."
This takes her by surprise, although not enough that she loses her balance or focus. "I've never been hunting."
"Maybe you should." Tigatron springs over a rock in a smooth motion that she envies and lands silently on the ground, still running. "It's not good to stay cooped up all the time."
"I go out. I do things. I fight."
"But you don't hunt."
"And you think I should?"
Another smooth jump over a rock that Chromia has to swerve around. Tigatron is silent for a long moment before saying, "You know, we have a story here about why we left Cybertron. As it's told, the standard-formers drove us away because by our very existence we told them something about themselves that they didn't want to hear."
Chromia does glance at him for a moment, even as she's dodging a tree. "Which was?"
"That we aren't privileged just because we lack organic parts. That we may be machines, but alongside that we are still beasts." They reach a rock face, not sheer but steeper than Chromia can drive up, and Tigatron returns to root mode and looks up at Airazor and Windblade and Starscream soaring above. "They didn't like that. They didn't want to confront the idea that they, too, might have animal instincts. Are you coming?"
Chromia returns to root mode next to him, frowning at the rock face, and then follows him up on foot, towards a platform that leads back into a cave. The others are already landing there, up ahead. "Do you really believe that?"
He shrugs. "Couldn't tell you. But I do believe that Primus wouldn't have given me teeth and claws if he didn't want me to use them." He steps up onto the ledge and reaches back to help her up. "You should go hunting. Bring someone with you. I'm sure you have someone you could hunt with."
"Hm." She thinks of Ironhide; he makes her circuits prickle in much the same way that the space bridge does. "Maybe I will. And maybe I do. I'll think about it."
A dream many years in the making: my Tigatron cosplay is complete!
See you at MCM London this Saturday. Come say hi if you're there!
Watch me work:
I'm so pleased with the final result, and very proud of myself. I adore Beast Wars and this is my way of celebrating it and the impact it's had on my life over the last 30 years (urrrrk!).
Beast Wars is much better on rewatch. It goes from a C- to a B+
I really liked seeing Dinobot's character arc on a second viewing.
Megatron was much better than I gave him credit for. Given how small the Predacon faction is, you really get to see how he rules through intimidation and scheming much more than regular Megatrons. I like how he lets Terrorsaur take over to let him take the blame for failure, how he always sends Waspinator on suicide missions, how he plays "good cop" with Inferno, how he sends Quickstrike to test for booby traps, and his obsession with Dinobot. Lol.
Also Tarantulas' scheming is a highlight of the series. He's the real standout of the rewatch. I really like Tarantulas and Blackarachnia's dynamic. Also the running gag of Tarantulas getting crushed by things is so good, I didn't even pick up on it during my first viewing.
Rampage and Depth Charge are so good. There's a lot to be said about Rampage letting himself be killed. I think he didn't want to be immortal or that he didn't want to be controlled by Megatron. Either explanation says so much about him.
Waspinator, Inferno, and Quickstrike are great. I love every time they're on screen and especially whenever they're on screen together.
Silverbolt and Blackrachnia are still a charming couple.
I kinda hate how Tigatron and Airazor became a couple and they never did anything with them again.
