The small mech struggled as she pulled herself from the rubble of the explosion. She had barely escaped her tank and made a mad dash for an exit as she could hear the bombs beeping closer to detonation. Her hind legs were now damaged as a large boulder had landed on her, but in the echoes of the cave she could hear a battle ensuing.
With a small growl, the little predacon forced herself to drag her little body towards the commotion, knowing they had come from a possible exit. Her sharp beaked lizard frame struggled and small wings useless to carry her away, but with each blast heard her neck frill twitched and flexed. After what felt like an eternity to the bot, she finally laid eyes upon the battle.
A large roar escaped from Predaking as he attacked Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus, his rage having consumed him after the death of his brethren at the hands of the Autobots. The small predacon watched in awe at this large dragons might, able to tell that he too shared her species. A small shriek escaped her fanged beak as a jolt of pain shot through her body as another rock fell on her from the destruction they were committing, causing Predaking to suddenly stop in his tracks and look around for the source of a predacon youngling's wail of pain.
Soon he was hit with another strike by the Forge of Solus Prime, spiking his rage once more as he slammed Ultra Magnus away from him and broke the forge in two. Again he looked and searched frantically for the source of the noise as she made another cry out in her desperate attempts to escape the rock on her leg.
Predaking finally laid eyes upon a little bot, her energon leaking and body sparking at times from the damage. He quickly went to her and kneeled down, lifting away the rock and carefully picking her up into his hands. His rage only boiled over more at the sight of this youngling struggling for its' life because of what the Autobots did and yelled out in rage as another blast was fired at his back. As much as the king wanted to avenge the others, he knew he had to protect this survivor at all costs.
The large predacon took off on foot towards the exit, much to the surprise of the Autobots at his retreat. Once outside he transformed and took off in flight, claws caging the small beast in his grasp gently as he flew towards the Nemesis. As he landed on the bay, he looked at his new subject, seeing the extent of her damage and transforming back to bot mode, quickly taking her to the infirmary.
Knockout was busy at work then looked to the door and practically jumped out of his armor at the sight of Predaking.
"Gah! What do you want!?" he nearly shrieked, unable to think of a reason why the predacon would be visiting his office.
"This little one needs medical attention, NOW!" Predaking yelled, too impatient to ask kindly, holding out his hands to show the small being.
Knockout blinked and stared at the youngling for a cycle then quickly taking her into his arms at Predakings furious growl. The medic wasn't sure if he was supposed to heal a predacon since it was Megatrons plan to exterminate them, but under the circumstances of the king glaring at him, he complied. He looked over her damage and started working on repairs, thankful that she was too tired to snap at him from any further pain the examination caused.
Her optics flickered at times during the repairs much to Predakings worry, he loomed over Knockout the entire time, growling when the medic gave him some attitude about it.
"Don't growl at me, I'm doing you a favor here! Now back up so I can work properly!" he retorted, going back to work.
Predaking huffed but stepped back a bit, staring for hours as the medic did all he could to repair her limbs.
"There, now she just needs to rest in a rejuvenation tank for the night." Knockout stated as he picked her up and placed her in the chamber. "You should go get some rest."
"I will stay here." Predaking stated, folding his arms.
Knockout could only make an exasperated sigh then straightened up as Megatron walked in.
"What is going on here?" the lord asked, raising a brow ridge at having hear Predaking had fled a battle without needing to, somewhat miffed at the information.
"My Master, I found a surviving predacon from the wreckage of my brethren." Predaking relayed with a small bow.
Megatron frowned mentally at the thought of a survivor but looked to the youngling. Perhaps this could be in his favor.
"The Autobots were ruthless to have attacked Shockwaves lab and destroy the other predacons, even to harm one as small as this one." The leader said, faking his remorse for the king as he was playing him. "but at least this one survived."
"Yes, and they will pay for what they have done." Predaking swore, clenching his fists.
"All in good time, Predaking. For now, you must keep vigil over your new subject." Megatron stated, hiding a small smirk. "But of course, you still must go on your missions that I assign to you while raising this young predacon. Is that something you can handle? Being a sire?"
Predaking blinked, not having thought of the raising of this young one to be his duty. He was a warrior after all, he had no instincts to care for the young like a femme would. "I…I must. For the good of my kind. For this little ones good if it is to survive."
Megatron nodded, turning away. "Come Knockout. Let us leave Predaking with some alone time with this sparkling." He said as he walked out, the medic close behind as the doors closed.
Knockout waited until they were a good distance from the infirmary before inquiring to his master. "My liege, if we were supposed to have the predacons eradicated, then why are we helping this little one live?"
"Isn't it obvious? My mercy to the young one leads Predaking to believe that I actually have sympathy for his loss. It will only lead him to bow down to me further as thanks to me." Megatron said matter of factly.
"Ah…a fine plan, my Lord." Knockout complimented.
Predaking stood there staring at the predacon in the tank, seeing her continue to heal at the rays of energon shining through her. Thank Primus this one survived. He thought to himself. He was happy to not be alone anymore.
A day passed and Knockout finally released her from the tank, handing her to the tired king. "You didn't recharge at all, did you?"
"No." Predaking said flatly, having been too absorbed in his thoughts to sleep.
Knockout tsked a bit. "You really need your rest if you're to raise this one properly."
"I know that." The predacon growled, his temper too short at the moment as he took the young one into his hands gently, cradling her slightly. He wasn't even as big as one of his hands, yet she had the strong will to survive what had happened.
Predaking stood and turned. "Thank you for your work, doctor." He said as he walked out.
He walked back to his quarters and locked the door behind him, sitting on his berth as his optics looked over the young subject as she began to stir. A small chirrup escaped her beak as she opened her optics and saw him, too tired to move much.
"Save your strength, young one. You are safe now." The king said softly. He smiled slightly as he got a small trill in reply and she returned into recharge.
It would be days before she finally managed to start moving more. Predaking started to feel somewhat excited at her growing strength, placing her on the floor at times to allow her to try and walk. The youngling would growl some as she stumbled or legs gave out under her, huffing a small puff of smoke in her frustration.
"In time you will have your full strength, little one." Predaking chuckled as he watched her, picking her up again as she managed to crawl back to him with determination in her gold optics.
A knock on the door interrupted their time, Predaking opening the door and surprised to see Megatron. "My master, to what do I owe this visit?"
"You've been cooped up in your room for days, Predaking. How is the young one faring?" Megatron asked, looking at the small figure in his claws.
"Growing in strength." He replied.
"Interesting considering if yet to hear of you feeding the little thing." Megatron stated, seeing Predakings blink at the realization that he had not fed her.
"…I will do so right away, my master." He said, bowing.
"Good. I'll be on my way then." Megatron said, walking out and smirking some. He really has no clue how to raise a young one. He thought to himself.
Predaking quickly went to Shockwaves lab in hopes that he'd have proper energon for feeding the youngling. "Shockwave, I need energon quickly."
The scientist looked to him, nodding to a shelf of light blue energon. "I've prepared those for the young one. I was wondering when you would come for them."
The king felt embarrassed at his foolishness of almost starving his little survivor, quickly getting some of the glasses and letting her feed from them as he opened ones top. He sighed in relief as she immediately began to drink the energon hungrily, backing the glass away at times so she wouldn't get a tank ache from feeding too quickly or too much.
Predaking finally left the lab after her tank was full, about to take her back to his quarters but thinking on something. Perhaps it'd enjoy being outside for a bit. He contemplated before walking off to the landing bay up top of the Nemesis. The predacon smiled as she trilled happily at the fresh air, trying to keep her in his hold as she wriggled excitedly.
"Soon, young one. Soon you will take flight with me once your wings grow enough in size and strength." He said, patting her head gently to calm her.
The king placed her down on the bay, the wind billowing past them and jolting quickly as a gust blew her away to the side. He swiftly picked her up despite her defiance at being held, seeing she wanted to conquer the wind. "Soon, little one." He chuckled, taking her back inside.
