Author's Note: Thank you for those that reviewed and added story to alerts/favorites! :D Thank you also to my Beta Misgel.
CHAPTER 2
Shockwave was most displeased. The Predacon femme escaped her own destruction. Now he would have to take care of the matter himself. It wasn't that hard to locate the fallen Predacon. His subject looked ready for the scrap heap. It would take time to repair the worst of the energon ruptures in her shredded fuel lines.
The cold, emotionless mech was tempted to leave the wounded Predacon where she lay and allow the Autobots to finish her off. Should they successfully corner the downed Predacon, they would in all likelihood attempt to study his work and possibly replicate it for their own nefarious purposes. Logic dictated that she be patched to stop the energon leaks and be brought back within the confines of his laboratory to avoid the Autobots' discovery of his lair. Shockwave did not want Project Predacon to fall into Autobot hands.
As he was welding the worst of her energon leaks in her abdominal plating, her chassis shifted without warning with a small transformation, revealing something incredible…
An egg.
A golden, metallic egg was ejected from the cloned Predacon. Shockwave paused in his ministrations of the female to quickly scan the egg. He was disappointed when the results detected no signs of life. Since the Predacon race was still a great mystery to him, he decided to keep the metallic egg for further study. Tucking the large egg into his primary subspace, Shockwave finished repairs on the female and proceeded to awaken her, leaving his subject none the wiser that she'd given him something of great scientific value…
AGONY. Searing pain….
That was the first thing the female Predacon felt upon returning to consciousness. So…she was still alive then.
The Predacon clone struggled to online, slowly, sluggishly. Her wounds and the damage done were extensive. A strong scent filled her olfactory sensors, one she immediately recognized. Her Creator. Shockwave was standing right next to her fallen form. Reptilian optics blinked open. She felt, rather than saw, she was lying in a pool of her own lifeblood… the strong acrid scent of spilled energon pervaded her senses, provoking a pained, albeit weak, whimper.
Standing shakily on all fours, the Predacon limped her way silently back to Shockwave's laboratory with her creator by her side. If he repaired her…he was going to give her a second chance to complete her mission. Why else had he bothered to fix the worst of her wounds?
Feeling bolstered with confidence, she crept silently into Shockwave's lab, pausing to see that the male Predacon within his cloning vat had grown considerably since she'd last seen him.
"This way,' Shockwave' commanded her with a small hand gesture.
He led her back into the cell that had nearly become her tomb, inciting a panic within the female Predacon. She roared, recoiling from the entrance as though she'd been burned and snapped her head in her master's direction, optical sensors angrily questioning. Was he punishing her for her failure to terminate the Autobot garrison?
"The lights within will remain on. I will bring you energon regularly until you've healed."
She narrowed optics and hissed with clear distaste, feeling claustrophobic as she slowly slunk into her holding cell. She hated being confined. Her bestial senses screamed for open skies and wide open spaces! Not THIS. Anything but this…
"You will not remain confined for long," the two-legged mech attempted to reassure her, as though he'd read her thoughts.
Diadem curled up on the floor and released a long suffering sigh. Deciding to recharge so that her wounds could heal, the Predacon drifted off into dreams.
-Dream-
Diadem used her long snout to push her first egg closer to her mate. It was his job to fertilize and incubate it until the unborn hatchling within was ready to greet the world. Transforming into bipedal mode, Predaking grinned as he carefully took up the egg, gently placing it within his chassis just below his spark chamber. Both female and male Predacons were natural carriers for the hatchling but since Diadem was the Alpha female in her clan, it was only logical that her offspring remain with the strongest of her pack in the event of a rival clan attack–in this case, her mate.
"Soon, my love. Our hatchling will emerge, strong and fierce like her mother."
Diadem snorted and transformed into bipedal mode herself, placing one hand on her hip armor. This was going to be their very first hatchling. Predaking was certain their offspring was going to be a femme.
"Or he will be mighty and overprotective like his father," she teased.
Predaking's optics softened and he pulled Diadem against him in a close embrace. He rumbled softly in her audial receptor, gently stroking a clawed hand down her back.
"He or she will be loved and protected regardless…"
The dream seemed to fast forward until Diadem was back in beastial form, sniffing at her beautiful golden egg. It moved! It actually moved! The hatchling within was now ready to meet its proud parents.
"Come on out, little one. You can do it," Predaking encouraged as he crouched down on all fours beside the egg.
Cracks began to appear across the smooth surface. Pieces of the shell bent out to reveal a tiny claw. The little one within struggled, as all hatchlings must to free themselves. This was its first true test of strength. Diadem hoped and prayed that her offspring would emerge and not become trapped–doomed to die as an Unhatched. She watched with bated breath and used her snout to gently prod at the egg, to let her little one know it was not alone through this difficult process.
Soon the egg cracked in half as the hatchling let loose a squeaky roar, bursting free. The little one in its haste to escape the confines of its prison, tripped over its own front paws and tumbled, rolling forward. The hatchling was back on its little feet and shook its hide to rid itself of any remaining egg shell and released another victorious roar. The roar itself was more like a pitiful mewl. It was endearing…not at all frightening or intimidating like a grown Predacon. It made both Predaking and Diadem smile.
The male hatchling struggled back up to all fours and tried walking. His new legs shook from the effort and he opted to lie down instead, venting hard from the exertion of breaking out of his egg. He had Predaking's color schemes but was built like his mother's dragon form. Their son closed sleepy optics and drifted into recharge, listening to the loving croons coming from his parents above him.
–End Dream–
Diadem awoke with a start to see that her first energon ration had been delivered whilst she slumbered. So…she once had the ability to transform? It happened so naturally in the dream. Without another thought, her body shifted until she was standing upright on two legs rather than four. A gasp escaped her mouth and she whispered softly to herself with a small growl.
"Impossible…"
The transformation was smooth as though it had been well practiced…no…like it was second nature. A warning sang within her spark. This had to be kept a secret from her master. Diadem couldn't understand why. Yet that ancient calling within, told her to guard her secret with her life if necessary. Begrudgingly, Diadem transformed back into beast mode with an unhappy snarl and began to pace the small confines of her cage. She paused mid-step when her master entered not a moment later, looking almost perplexed at her behavior.
"Follow me."
She obeyed the command with some trepidation. Something about the Purple One smelled…off…somehow. Like he was hiding a secret from her. Panic surged through her mighty frame and for a moment she feared that her master knew what she'd done moments ago. When he gave no indication that he was aware of her new ability, she dared herself to marginally relax. Tense muscle cables loosened as she followed her master into a room she'd never seen before. It was big and there were strange panels and grates on the floor. The room itself smelled of fire and smoke. What was this place?
"Remain here."
Shockwave lumbered slowly out of the room, pressing one hand against a closing mechanism in the wall. Diadem could only watch as she was sealed away within this new prison. That screaming warning within her spark returned and Diadem glanced around the room with an angry hiss as the floor beneath her paws began to glow. The grating in the floor shifted and opened, spewing flames not a moment later. She bellowed and roared as a maelstrom of hot, blue fire was unleashed upon her unsuspecting hide.
Was this another test?!
Opening her massive maw, she spewed liquid nitrogen to quell the rising flames. Yet, no matter what she did, the flames returned burning and licking hungrily at her now hot and scorched frame. That was when Diadem realized what was happening as her optical sensors locked onto the cold, emotionless gaze of her master just outside. This wasn't a test…
…this was an execution.
–Present Day Earth
Location: The Nemesis–
The Great Beast narrowed optics with a soft growl as he used a claw to scan through the Nemesis files via flight deck terminal. He had burning questions. Who was he? Where did he really come from? Was he like the other two-walkers? It was time he found his answers. Find them, he did, but there was so much more. Secrets his master kept from him.
Narrowed optics widened in shock as he stumbled upon a scientific study log he was not supposed to see. His master was scanning and running various tests on a golden egg. He implanted it with the CNA of a fossilized hatchling. The purple Decepticon scientist began the beast's training, keeping the beautiful egg in an incubator. The golden egg was forgotten as the hunt for Autobots began…
If there was a Predacon egg…then…
There was once a female Predacon that Shockwave must have cloned before him. Hazy, fragmented images surfaced to the forefront of his processor.
A fuzzy, distorted black and gold serpentine head crooning at him from outside his cloning vat. His thick mandibles slightly parted, shivering in response. Yes…the female. His MATE. She licked the pod, provoking a deep purr from within his throat.
She was there! Right next to him! Well, what happened to her?!
The Great Beast scanned more encrypted files he didn't yet have the skill to translate, only to run into a heavy firewall. It had to be where Shockwave was hiding his greatest secrets…the only way that the Beast would learn more was if he returned to his creator's laboratory on Cybertron and accessed his main computer.
Now that was a problem. Right now, he had the two-walkers believing he was a dumb, mindless beast that lacked even the base intelligence. That would soon change. The Screaming One, of course, bought his little act. He demeaned him, treated him like an animal rather than the intelligent being he really was! Oh, the audacity! He was to be respected and feared! He was a KING!
HE WAS PREDAKING!
With a mighty roar, he launched himself into the air and flew down to his creator's off-site laboratory on Earth. He released a loud screech to announce his presence. The Screaming-One snarled at him, moving to shock him with an energon prod.
"Unruly beast! Who allowed you to roam freely without permission?!"
Rather than shock him, he used the rod as a club to strike him multiple times across his massive maw, inciting an infuriated roar. In the dim lighting of the lab, Predaking transformed into bipedal mode, noting the clear shock on Megatron and Starscream's faces. Deftly catching the rod in one servo, Predaking snapped it in half, snarling at the Screaming-One.
"Strike me again, and I will bury that rod in your spark!"
The seeker looked horrified and backpedaled with an indignant squawk of disbelief.
"What?! I didn't realize the beast was capable of transformation!"
"Nor did I," Megatron stated with narrowed optics.
"I am no beast!" The Predacon growled as though insulted.
"The ability to transform is a fundamental part of Cybertronian biology, we just never had proof that the Predacons reached that evolutionary stage since they became extinct in the Great Cataclysm," Shockwave intoned with optic brightening.
"So, the rumors are true…I will no longer be alone," Predaking intoned softly as he marched up to the nearest tank to view the slumbering Predacon within, his brethren.
"So, you've been keeping secrets…" Megatron frowned in displeasure.
"It was not my intention to deceive you, Lord Megatron. I only recently became aware of my abilities. All I remember of my beginning is hunting...and battle…and the wounding of my pride. Thus I began to burn with questions. Who am I? Where did I come from? The warships' databases provided historical facts, but still I possessed no memory of my own past. So I began to reconsider my place in the present and wondered, could I be like the others? And now I know…"
"Yet you are unique! A miracle of science! Cloned by Shockwave from Cyber nucleic acid, recovered from the remains of your mighty ancestors!"
Even as Megatron's voice was filled with zealous triumph, Predaking stewed in anxiety. The instinctual need to incubate and protect the Predacon egg was starting to drive Predaking crazy! He was going to demand that Shockwave take him to the egg but something stopped him. He felt it would be wise to discover what else the Decepticons were hiding from him. What Shockwave kept from him. Predaking needed to know what happened to his mate above all else.
Shockwave gave him a tour of the off-site laboratory, Predaking all the while searching with keen predatory optics for the future of his species. The egg was not here which meant it could only be in one of two places. Either back on the Nemesis in his master's laboratory or back on Cybertron.
Once they made it aboard the Nemesis, Predaking remained diplomatic, pledging loyalty to the Decepticon leader. He did it for the hatchling's sake, still locked away in Shockwave's incubator aboard the ship.
"It is with deep gratitude for my existence that I pledge undying obedience to you, my one true master. With more of my species soon to stride among us, I beg your permission to in turn, lead them as Predaking."
"Your vision… is boundless…" The Decepticon leader rumbled.
It was only a matter of days later when Megatron found himself standing upon the bridge, sharp fangs flashing in a feral grin. Soundwave had given him the report personally, that of the demise of Project Predacon. The Autobots, of course. were to be blamed for the attack that destroyed all of the adult Predacon clones still trapped within their cloning vats. The beast–Predaking–as he called himself, was hell bent on the Autobots' extinction. Things were going perfectly. All according to plan. Until Shockwave admitted to his little side project…
"I want it destroyed, like all the rest!" Megatron hissed with narrowed optics.
"The egg is almost ready to hatch, my liege. I've been studying it closely these past few cycles. I have reason to believe the infant is the key we've been missing. Adult Predacon clones are wild and unruly, more difficult to tame. The hatchling may prove more useful to our cause," Shockwave reported dutifully.
Megatron reconsidered his order to terminate it. Perhaps Shockwave had a point. A young, impressionable little Predacon could be tamed and trained to be loyal to the Decepticon cause, unlike its adult brethren.
"You have my permission to continue your work. Do not disappoint me, Shockwave."
"Yes, Lord Megatron." The scientist bowed his helm in reverent respect, pleased that his Lord and master saw things his way.
It was going to be crucial for Megatron to be present when the hatchling emerged from its egg. It needed to imprint on its new master to ensure its loyalty. Keeping Predaking out of the way was going to be a significant challenge.
A challenge that was soon rectified.
Starscream ran down the corridor and slid to a stop before Lord Megatron and Predaking, looking panicked.
"Lord Megatron! It seems that Project Predacon has fallen into Autobot hands!"
"How is this possible?!" Predaking thundered with a snarl.
"Starscream, scramble your Seeker armada!"
"At once, my liege," Starscream began to run in the opposite direction, but stopped short with a sly grin when he heard Predaking's response.
"NO! If my brethren are in peril, then I will confront the enemy!"
Shockwave returned to his laboratory after Predaking's departure and was greeted with a most disturbing scene. The golden egg was gone! The incubator and the rest of his lab were completely trashed! Did the little one hatch in his absence? When he caught a glimpse of shattered gold pieces strewn about the lab, he began to search thoroughly, hoping that the little beast was still here. The answer soon presented itself with a loud clatter on the other side of the room.
Tiny claws scrambled madly for purchase against the smooth metallic flooring. A second crash followed the first and soon a tiny little Predacon appeared, stretching stiff wings. Its wingspan was not nearly a quarter as impressive as the adult Predacon's, but as a hatchling it was only logical that it would be miniscule in size.
"There you are," Shockwave muttered as he reached down to grasp the little thing by the scruff.
The little beast recoiled, its color schemes matched Predaking but it retained the dragon form of its mother. It chirped curiously at him and submitted to his hold. Shockwave placed the young Predacon in a small, durable cage, locking it in to show Megatron later. His master would be pleased…
–2 weeks Later–
"MEGATRON!" A thundering voice raged. "Is it true that you ordered the annihilation of my army?!
Shockwave stepped out into the hall just in time to hear Megatron snarling at his former pet.
"Indeed! My only mistake was not seeing the extermination through!" the silver warlord shamelessly admitted.
"You murderer! How DARE you! I'm going to tear out your spark!" Predaking roared in abject fury.
He fought Megatron with all the fury and rage he'd kept pent up inside. Suddenly, he was thrown violently against the airlock by the Decepticon leader.
"I was a champion of Kaon! Not just because of my savage might, but also my CUNNING!"
Predaking fought to remain inside the ship as Megatron opened the airlock, the rushing air threatening to push him out.
Shockwave appeared just behind his liege. He held the hatchling by the scruff, thick cannon glowing and ready to fire at the little one's head. Predaking froze and looked like a wrecking ball had struck him, his facial features contorted into one of abject terror.
"Let him go, you monster!" Predaking shouted, still struggling to stay aloft within the airlock.
The cries of the little one stoked the fire within the Predacon king. Yellow optics locked onto azure ones, the predling shrieking in distress.
"We thank you for your contributions to Project Predacon," the Purple mech intoned emotionlessly.
"You should have heeded my advice and faced me as a BEAST!" Megatron sneered as he used his arm cannon to shoot Predaking out of the airlock.
Shockwave watched impassively as the beast-former disappeared from view. The future of the Predacon race now solely in the ruthless claws of the Decepticons.
The predling felt terrified, plating rattling from fear as the Purple-One held him aloft by his scruff. His four legs instinctively curled and tucked beneath his body. He mewled and shrieked in alarm at the absence of his kin, until the grip on his scruff plating tightened in silent warning, cutting off his pitiful cries.
"Ah, yes…the hatchling," Megatron grinned devilishly, flashing sharp fangs as he approached the pitiful looking thing.
"My liege, I strongly suggest you oversee the Predacon's welfare for the next few cycles. He will imprint on you…permanently."
"Very good, Shockwave. Deliver the beast to my personal quarters."
"As you wish, Lord Megatron."
The two-legged mechs were a mystery to the predling. He couldn't quite understand what they were saying in that strange language of theirs. but he sensed that they were talking about him. A shiver raced down his spine as the Silver One–Megatron–appraised him from head to tail. He felt relieved when they left the scary big mech behind.
The hatchling whined and clawed at the cage it was placed in. No! He wanted freedom! Not this confining little space where he could barely move! Snarling, he tested his fangs against the metal enclosure and whimpered when pain exploded in his mouth. The cage was electrified. If he touched it, it shocked him most painfully. The predling began to screech, calling…begging for someone, anyone to save him from this terrible place.
He was roughly deposited, cage and all, in a spacious room devoid of most furniture apart from a recharge berth and a desk. It was dark. The only light came from his own optical sensors. He had keen senses and heard the approaching titan before he even appeared.
"Hello, little one…" Megatron greeted in a sickeningly soft tone. The predling shivered, sensing that this being was to be obeyed. Yet, his inner fire made him feel all the more rebellious as the Silver One unlocked his cage, pulling him out by his scruff. The predling hissed, baring sharp little fangs, his plating puffing out like a pissed off kitten. He growled deep within his throat but shrieked when the cruel being held him roughly against the electric current of his cage, shocking him…burning him. His inner fire quelled and the hatchling submitted to his new Alpha.
He kept his optical sensors down, allowing the sterling giant to study him much like the Purple-One had earlier. Finials lay flat against his head and he had to suppress another hiss as he was turned this way and that. At long last, he was placed upon a berth, the Decepticon leader laid down beside him.
"Try to escape little one…and I will KILL you," Megatron whispered softly as he closed hellish red optics for recharge.
Even though the predling still couldn't understand the strange speech, he sensed the underlying threat and curled up. He was afraid and had the feeling this two-legged mech had no qualms of severely hurting him if he did not obey. Slipping into an uneasy recharge, the little one dreamt of a time long past, when his kind ruled the skies…
-7 Days Later-
Predaking was livid. The Decepticons orchestrated the demise of all of the Predacon clones. His army. His brethren. All DEAD.
Not all was lost, however…
One Predacon still remained: the Hatchling. Predaking would rescue the last surviving member of his race, even if it killed him!
The Great Beast soared high in the sky, optical sensors searching for a suitable place to nest. There was a cave fixed within a mountainside far from humans, Autobots, and Decepticons. It was hidden away from prying eyes and was almost undetectable, if it were not for his sharp senses.
Swooping down, he landed heavily on all fours and immediately scented the area.
Good. The cave was uninhabited. He could not detect the presence of any other creature within a three-mile radius. He quickly made a sizable nest for the hatchling. It was composed mainly of leaves and branches. He even acquired mesh from Shockwave's lab and torn insulation from the Nemesis's hull. The Predacon wanted to make the nest as comfortable as possible for the little one's weak hide. The souvenirs from the Nemesis were acquired during his 'rampage' through the Decepticon warship.
Predaking was not one for patience…but with the life of his little one hanging in the balance, he made an exception. He followed the Decepticon warship from a distance for many days. The Predacon king became more agitated the longer he was separated from the nestling. It took every ounce of his self-control not to storm the warship and tear apart the two-walkers with his bare claws!
Then at last, an opportunity presented itself. He was surprised to see all hell breaking loose two days later. It looked like the Autobots had boarded the ship and were battling the Decepticons.
Now was his chance while both factions were distracted! Swooping in low, he made it to the same airlock that he'd been blasted out of a mere week ago. Using his sharp talons, he clawed his way inside, transforming into his dragon form as he entered. He would heed Megatron's advice and face his foes as a beast!
The hallways were strangely deserted, most likely all troops had been dispatched to fight the Autobot invaders.
Good. Now was his chance.
Predaking made his way to Shockwave's lab, meeting little resistance along the way. He was astonished to find the scientist absent. He couldn't help but feel displeased until his optics beheld an alarming sight. The hatchling was missing! The predacon roared in fury, and ripped the ship apart during his search. He checked every room between the lab and the medical bay. He caught wind of the predling's scent and followed it to Megatron's personal quarters. Predaking all but broke the door down in his haste to get inside. He deftly transformed into bipedal mode.
"Little One!" he shouted as he ran up to the cage it was locked up in. With one deft swipe of a claw, he broke the lock on the cage and ripped the door off, ignoring the electric current. With a gentleness that belied his nature, he carefully scooped up the predling into his servos. The hatchling barely moved. It looked weak and energon deprived. What had they done to him?!
The predling looked as though his inner fire had been snuffed. He had scorch marks on his hide that suggested he'd been tortured…TORTURED!
His hatred for the Decepticons doubled as he placed the predling in his carrier hold.
Without wasting another minute, Predaking made his leave from the Decepticon warship forever, leaving the two-legged mechs to their ridiculous civil war. Predaking made sure he was not followed and when he had deemed it safe, he landed on all fours, transforming carefully so as not to roughly jostle his precious cargo.
Pulling the little thing from his carrier hold, Predaking gently placed the hatchling in the nest he'd fashioned for it. He smiled wanly down at him.
"Hello, little one. I am Predaking, your Sire."
The predling weakly chirped up at him and struggled to stand. His little plates puffed out to make him look twice as large and he softly growled up at the mighty king in response.
"Do not worry. You are safe here. I promise, Fireclaw."
The Predacon king fed stolen energon to the little one, laughing in delight to see his strength returning. He ran a clawed hand down the young one's dorsal plating. His spark nearly shattered when the small thing snarled at him, crouching down defensively and baring fangs at him as it recoiled from his touch as though in pain.
Megatron and his ilk would pay dearly for their crimes! Predaking swore vengeance on his enemies. Yet revenge would have to wait, as he now had a hatchling to care for. He slowly reached his hand out and lovingly stroked the predling's plating a second time. Rather than shying away, the hatchling chirped in response, arching its back at the touch. Little wings spread out and stretched open wide before folding back to his sides. Sharp talons clung to the lip of the comically large energon cube, the small one nearly falling inside if it were not for Predaking's sharp reflexes.
Weak legs shook and the hatchling soon curled up within the nest, optics drooping sleepily from the exertion and from drinking his fill of the life-saving fuel. Predaking transformed back into a beast and gently settled down in the nest, wrapping his long tail and head around the nestling as though to shield him from the outside world. Rumbling softly, the Predacon nuzzled the hatchling with his mandibles and was pleased to hear a tiny purr emanate from his child.
Predaking made a silent vow that no one would ever lay a cruel digit on his son again…
TO BE CONTINUED!
Author's Note: Thank you for reading! Please review! :)