VisitationsĪfter the Beast Wars, the Earth-bound Packrat ( now, inexplicably, a Transmetal) followed Primal Prime and his band to Cybertron, where they found a planet decimated by Vehicons. Packrat and Onyx Primal argued over whose fault it was the artifact was lost. The Predacons continued their attack, but Silverbolt and Rattrap appeared overhead to rescue the Maximals, even though they were mere "repaints." Vice Grip and Fractyl's defeat was followed by Optimus Primal's arrival. After Onyx Primal stashed the artifact in a rock crevice, a shadowy figure stole it and vanished. Packrat and Onyx Primal were in Predacon territory investigating a fallen meteorite when they stumbled across a Predacon "plot device." They fought over the artifact amongst themselves but were immediately attacked by Vice Grip and Fractyl. Packrat conceded, and also helped out Fractyl by making it look like the peaceful Predacon had fought the Maximals off when Megatron arrived on the scene. Rhinox convinced Packrat he would earn the respect he craves if he simply gives up the armor, saving himself and the others. However, the armor was unstable and threatened to erupt in a cataclysmic explosion, destroying Packrat and any nearby. Packrat escaped with the energon armor and tore through any Predacons in his way, handily blowing away Inferno with his newly-enhanced powers.
If he was successful, Packrat surmised, he will finally earn the respect he craves from Optimus Primal and the other Maximals - and get rid of his hated beast altmode. Packrat was spying on the Predacon scientist Fractyl, overhearing his development of energon armor, and vowed to steal it from him. Fiction Tales of the Beast Wars Critical Mass comic