Ryu wolf: We'll find out what happens when she crosses paths with Jack next chapter. Also, she won't hurt them physically, at least no Jack, for reasons that will become clear next chapter, but emotionally, they will be hurt.
The Projects of Command part 1
Hanger E was busy with activity as Sierra arrived, her gaze locked upon Jack, who was busy explain things to Chromia regarding Earth customs, mostly regarding motorcycles on the road. Turning her gaze, she eyed Raf and Ratchet busy with their technology.
"Return trajectory fluctuations have been stabilised."
The Autobot medic nodded, servos resting upon the groundbridge controls. "Ultra Magnus, we are ready to receive you."
Sierra watched in awe, she'd seen the groundbridge in action twice, yet there was something about it that constantly got her awed. From the glowing vortex, Ultra Magnus emerged, followed by Wheeljack.
"We didn't find much else in the rubble of the former base." The Autobot commander explained, shifting forms swiftly. He slowly began to walk forward, moving to identify why Chromia was helping the others.
"You call this… not much else?" Wheeljack's voice cried across the hanger, throwing a ball of metal across the room towards Bulkhead. The large Wrecker grunted from the impact, sending the ball flying towards Miko. Had it not been the quick actions of Sierra, she'd have been crushed under it.
"Wheeljack!" Ratchet cried, optics narrowed as he eyed the Wrecker. "You could've caused serious damage.".
"To me!" Miko cried from her spot, hands resting upon her hips.
"A little hep here?" Came Fowler's muffled cry for aid, a cry that went mostly unnoticed by the others, save Miko and Sierra.
"What were you thinking, solider?" Ultra Magnus wasted no time in questioning his subordinate. He didn't tolerate Wheeljack's explosive or carefree ways. The only reason he'd reached out to him before the battle of Tesarus was for his explosive expertise.
Wheeljack turned, eyeing Ultra Magnus with annoyance. "I was thinking Bulk would catch that lob." He replied. He wasn't thrilled with his situation, Team Prime was fine before Magnus showed up.
"Allow me to make myself clear." The Autobot commander began, moving towards Wheeljack. As Optimus Prime's second in command, I have no intention of tolerating Wrecker behaviour." His words carried his authority.
"Somethings never change." Wheeljack muttered, starting to move. Unaware that Jack had heard him.
"Jackie…" Bulkhead began, only to be cut off by Ultra Magnus.
"Need I remind you that is was Optimus Prime himself who assigned me to command your Wreckers back on Cybertron and get you loose cannons under control?"
Wheeljack turned, his gaze locked on Ultra Magnus. "And look where that got us, massacred by Galvatronus because of your discipline, you made us predictable. Its your fault Springer is no longer with us., sir" The Wrecker spat back, watching Ultra Magnus, making his leave.
Ultra Magnus sighed, turning to face Ratchet. "So, any word from Optimus?"
Ratchet smiled. "He's investigating recent Decepticon activity, hopefully an Energon mine." His answer brought a small smile to the others.
Bombshock growled as he observed his men work, despite the Insecticons expert excavation skills, Megatron had thought it best that a few Vehicon miners be sent with a few drills to aid. Bombshock wished Sharpshot or Kickback were overlooking this mission instead of him, but Lord Galvatronus had sent Kickback to scout out a few coordinates.
Sharpshot on the other hand had been assigned to teach Flamewar much about the Hives, and how to use her new ability, it seemed Galvatronus had not wanted Flamewar to be unnoticed among his ranks, the ability to command intense flames was one utilised by the Predacons. Though the major difference was that she didn't breath fire like they did.
"Abandon the excavation."
Bombshock turned, his crimson visor locked upon Optimus. "Autobots." He hissed, spreading his claws, just what he needed, a distraction from their objective.
"Now."
Bombshock chuckled, glancing his men. "Attack!" He commanded, pointing towards the Autobot leader. Watching his troops race for the Autobot leader, he turned his attention towards the mission objective. Lord Galvatronus wanted the entire skull, sadly, time had run out. Reaching in, he snapped off a single horn before retreating into the sky. His master would understand, he always did.
As Optimus entered Hangar E, Ratchet turned, his hopeful optic locked upon the Autobot leader. "Optimus, did you find Energon?"
The Autobot leader turned his gaze towards Ratchet, a flicker of dread wavering. "No, but I did uncover this." He replied, revealing the Predacon skull.
Ratchet widened his optics. "It cannot be." He muttered, stepping closer to the skull, the others following after him.
"Be what?" Sierra questioned, glancing at Ratchet for an answer.
Optimus straightened himself out as he looked over their human companions. "he ancient remains… of a Predacon." He revealed, optics narrowed in thought.
All eyes and optics fell upon Ratchet for an explanation, something the medic found unnerving. "Though it remains unclear why such a skull would be found on your planet, its presence reveals all too much about the Predacon which Megatron recently sent in pursuit of us."
"You mean that dragon bot we put on ice?" Miko questioned, always curious to know more about their kind.
"Except that Predacons have been extinct since, well…" Sadly, it seemed Miko's question would go unnoticed by the others.
"Since before most life began on Cybertron." Smokescreen finished for Ratchet.
Raf blinked, glancing over the Autobots. "They're like Earth's dinosaurs." He observed, constantly comparing everything he could between their two words.
Sierra frowned, glancing over the others, Raf's observation rang in her head loudly. "Which means, for you guys, running into one would be like us meeting a T-Rex."
Miko widened her eyes, glancing towards Bulkhead. "So then, what were Dinobots?" She wondered aloud, her gaze slowly falling upon Chromia.
Arcee's twin frowned. "An elite group of Autobot warriors, something completely different." She answered, satisfying Miko's curiosity for the time being.
Ratchet rose a servo to his chin, frowning as he recalled recent events. "With Megatron's seemingly new interest in the excavation of prehistoric skeletons and a certain scientist back among the Decepticon ranks…"
"It would stand to reason that Shockwave cloned the beast from one such find." Optimus concluded Ratchet's revelation, his gaze shifting away from the others where he noticed the absence both Jacks.
"And now Megatron's looking to clone another." Ultra Magnus shifted ever so slightly, his optics narrowed in response to their revelations.
"What makes you think Megatron's the only one wanting to clone them?" Wheeljack questioned, entering the hangar, Jack resting upon his shoulder. "I know for a fact that Galvatronus seemed fond of the Predacons as well."
Miko raised an eyebrow at the way Jack was hanging out with Wheeljack all of a sudden, though she decided to question him about it latter. Chromia slowly stepped forward, her optics locked upon the Wrecker. "And how sure of this are you?" Arcee's sister questioned.
Wheeljack smirked as he came to a stop. "Well, if the amount of artwork and literature depicting them within his citadel back home is anything to go by, then I'd say pretty good. The Con seemed obsessed with them, almost as obsessed as he was with anything else related to the first age." Wheeljack paused, glancing at Jack. "Besides, what makes you think they'd just stop at one?"
"We could have beast wars on our servos." Bulkhead realised, glancing at Optimus.
"And if Shockwave only requires a single strand of CNA from which to clone a beast…" Ratchet began, turning his gaze towards the Autobot leader.
"He already possesses what he needs to engender this one." Optimus finished, turning his attention towards the other Autobots. "Autobots, we must be vigilant in the face of this new development."
Smokescreen frowned. "One thing still doesn't follow." He began, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Predacons went extinct on Cybertron, so what would their bones be doing here?"
"On Earth?" Starscream muttered, glancing towards Megatron. His crimson optics revealing his disbelief. "I mean, isn't it just a little preposterous?" He questioned.
Megatron moved to explain, only for the doors to the laboratory to open. "They are not the bones of a true Predacon, but those of a clone." Galvatronus explained, walking alongside Flamewar.
Starscream turned his gaze towards Flamewar, he hadn't seen an Insecticon like her before, but much like Airachnid, he noticed the familiarity in her helms design. "Arcee." He muttered, watching as Flamewar turned her gaze on him.
"Do tread carefully Starscream, my new third in command will merely tolerate your presence, but know that once your usefulness to Megatron has passed, she will be the one to terminate you." Galvatronus warned, standing between the two.
"As my brother was saying, our recent Autobot hunter wasn't the first bestial super soldier Shockwave has ever attempted to breed from prehistoric matter." Megatron began, watching Shockwave examine the fossil. "During the war for Cybertron, I sanctioned the dispatch of a small army of these Preda-clones to Earth to unleash the beasts on unwitting Autobot forces stationed here."
Galvatronus smirked. "A small army commanded by my right hand… Cyclonus." He added.
"Once they accomplished their mission, the surviving Predacons held sentinel on this very world for ages to come, guarding the Energon reserves they had managed to secure while awaiting my arrival." Megatron went on, his smirk fading. "Of course, our reunion here was much delayed, and it would seem we lost the beasts to the ravages of time."
Galvatronus narrowed his gaze. "But neither Cyclonus…"
"Or their endo-matter, from which I am logically able to extract their very CAN." Shockwave continued, holding the horn in his lone servo.
"Another scavenger hunt?" Starscream questioned. "How logical would it really be to locate all the dusty remains of your former pets?"
Shockwave turned, his single optic falling upon Starscream. "You are not suggesting that I would send my creations ot a distant planet without first having them… micro chipped?"
Galvatronus smirked. "And the only ones who had access to these micro chips included Cyclonus, Shockwave, Scorponok, Megatron and myself."
Starscream shifted uncomfortably. "well… well, I was." He paused, raising an optics as he eyed Shockwave. "But, seriously, you did?" He questioned, either impressed or disgusted.
Flamewar shifted herself slightly, still waiting for Megatron questioning of why Galvatronus had allowed her, a former Autobot to become a member of his inner circle, not that she was bothered by it much, Megatron and her had been from the lower caste, and her defection could simply be explained as realising what would happen would the Autobots win the war.
"Is it really wise for Shockwave to spawn an army of beasts here in this laboratory, or within any part of this warship?" Starscream's questioned, drawing Flamewar's attention to him once more. "I mean, not even the lone beast we had was compact enough to stroll these corridors without tearing them asunder."
Flamewar growled, "You clearly don't know Shockwave at all." She hissed, watching Starscream tense slightly. "He clearly has a location to clone this army."
"As Flamewar put it Starscream, I have my offsite laboratory, from which has been built specifically for the cloning procedures, thought the Predacons will most likely resided with Galvatronus' citadel." Shockwave explained, unbothered by Flamewar's previous identity or what she'd down to him before.
Starscream groaned, turning away before Sharpshot raced into the room. "Commander Galvatronus, there's something on the upper hull, whatever it was gave Knockout a fright." He reported, watching his lord closely.
Galvatronus turned to face Megatron, a grin forming upon his lips. "I believe the Predacon has returned from his artic adventure."
"How did it find us?" Starscream questioned, watching the Predacon closely.
Galvatronus stood, his gaze locked upon the beast, the beast that would one day come to call himself Predaking. "Just as every Predacon tracks it prey, it possesses keen hunting skill, it no doubt recognised the scent of Shockwave's energon." He explained, stepping forward. "And, as I suspect, any remnants from his artic prison has all but faded from the heat generated by his own internal fire."
"Starscream, assume command of my beast."
Galvatronus held a servo up. "Before Starscream takes control of him, I would like to familiarise myself with the Predacon once more."
Megatron smirked, glancing at Starscream. "Of course, Starscream, when my brother is done, you shall assume command of the beast."
Starscream shifted slightly. "Me, master?" He questioned, slightly uncomfortable with the very idea of being in its presence. "I mean, I wouldn't dream of seizing such an honour from its very creator."
Shockwave merely turned, his optic focused on the Air Commander. "Military command of the Predacon is most logical, since my services are required elsewhere, just as Lord Megatron and Commander Galvatronus are busy overseeing all other areas."
Galvatronus paused, his gaze focusing upon Flamewar. "In the mean, Starscream, you and Flamewar shall head to one of our excavations, if I am right, and usually I am, the Wreckers are about to interfere with one, while Optimus will interfere with the other."
Megatron grinned, turning around. "Soundwave, gather Knockout alongside a small team and prepare to head out, we have bones to secure."
We finally get into the events of Beast Hunters, with several changes to the plot and what's said by certain characters.
There are things Galvatronus shouldn't know, yet somehow, he knows what the future will bring, a hint towards his origins, which once again, who do you want to learn his origins first, Arcee or Silas?
We also get introduced to a new Predacon next chapter, one that will be interesting to write.