Ch. 192

Shockwave was shaking. What was this? Anger? Frustration? He certainly wasn't terrified. No, emotion shouldn't have any place in this moment. Facts, logic, what was relevant and none of what was simply a distraction. He had to look at the numbers, the rest of the data. And what did the data say? That his operation had been slagged to the Pit by two Autobots. His offsite lab wasn't just taken by the enemy, it had been completely reclaimed by the mountain.

The purple mech stomped the halls of the Nemesis loudly, pacing between two intersections as he assessed what he still had. The tanks were safe. Granted, they were now in power save mode, which meant the still growing Predacons inside were in growth-stasis; they would have to be reactivated once the tanks were properly reconnected with an adequate power source. Fortunately, this power save mode would give him enough time to accomplish that. If only he didn't have to be so secretive about the whole thing. Tip toeing around Starscream aboard the ship that held the seeker prisoner simply for his leader's sake was impractical. It was useless. But it was his order to follow and he wasn't about to tread into dangerous territory simply because this order was an inconvenience.

Shockwave stopped pacing to look over the last of his troops. Of the thirty-five Vehicons and Insecticons he had been given, only seven Insecticons and two drones remained. That wasn't going to be a healthy number to put into his report.

"Sir," one of the drones fidgeted and winced, "what are your current orders?"

The purple mech hummed in disappointment, "Any severe injuries should be tended to immediately. Once you have been cleared, begin monitoring the gestation tanks for any fluctuations that may effect their growth. I will inform our lord about recent events."

The last of his troops saluted or nodded at the order and dispersed accordingly, a couple of unharmed Insecticons heading into a different direction to begin tending to the tanks.

Shockwave began his heavy walk toward the lifts. He was going to have to have a conversation he didn't want with the mech he truly wished to never displease. He was going to have to inform his leader that the Autobots were beginning to make more emboldened assaults, that his offsite lab was gone and that the still gestating Predacons were now aboard the Nemesis and in a state that would push back their completion date. Was there anything else that could go anymore wrong?

"Well, well, Shockwave," came an amused voice, "I didn't expect you to be back so soon."

The purple mech came to a stop just before the lifts, inwardly wishing he could find some rationality in shooting the annoying mech before him. He couldn't.

"C.Y.L.A.S.," he responded in turn, "do you require another emergency repair?"

The black mech frowned and crossed his arms, "Clearly not. What are you doing back up here? I thought you weren't to be disturbed."

Shockwave tried to move passed the smaller mech, but was stopped; his optic dimmed, "Unforeseen circumstances have halted my progress. I must speak with Megatron immediately."

C.Y.L.A.S. grimaced, "If this has anything to do with your little side project-"

"My data collection on Starscream's abilities are not a side project; they are necessary to implement Lord Megatron's final ascension," Shockwave shoved the disfigured mech aside, "and if you dare to hint to Starscream that he is being monitored, our esteemed leader will allow me the greatest honor of tearing you apart."

C.Y.L.A.S. rolled his optics, "I'm not going to do anything," he growled, "but if you don't check your computer equipment soon, there won't be a project to work on. The alarm on it has been sounding for almost as long as you've been gone. So whatever you're doing, it needs you to take a very long look at it."

Shockwave stopped himself from entering the lifts. More data? Already? His pause was clearly a sign of surprise. He didn't like surprises, he liked expected results. Lord Megatron was going to have to wait.

Starscream shuttered his optics, struggling to focus when he felt Predaking's muzzle bump into his shoulder plating, "No. Nooo," he whined angrily, blindly patting the other mech away, "stop it. You know I'm trying to get this to work when I want to and not spontaneously when it's suddenly needed. Then again, I sort of need this all the time now don't I? The more of an edge I have, Predaking, the more I have the less they get. And perhaps the more I'll be able to do to carry on the Autobot legacy. Do you know how hard that's going be?"

When he didn't get some sort of a response, the seeker onlined his optics to frown up at the Predacon, "Really? Nothing to add?"

Predaking snorted and yawned wide, laying down in front of the silver mech as he flicked the end of his tail in boredom.

Starscream sighed, "I know, believe me, I do. And this is so much harder than I thought it would be. I'm trying to remember the feeling I get when it happens, as that really seems to be the major connection. That and almost dying, but it's not working," he sat heavily beside the larger mech, landing back against him and reaching down to scratch the top of the beast's helm, "I have to be able to do this. I can feel the start of the build of energy but..." he sighed, "I don't know what I'm doing wrong."

Predaking rumbled softly in gentle reassurance. He gave the smaller mech a small nudge, pushing him back onto his peds.

The seeker huffed, "Yes, yes, fine, I'm up. See? Happy now?"

The Predacon nodded and Starscream sighed, "You know that might be a larger part of it, too," he admitted, "When I've used this power before, it's been influenced by situation and emotion. Maybe having neither of these things in overwhelming abundance is stunting my practice?"

Predaking cocked his helm to the side as the seeker frowned, "Alright, then I'll have to change that," he glared at the beast, "Predaking, I want you to attack me. Hit me with everything you got."

The Predacon nearly scoffed at the request and turned his helm away, growling.

Starscream whined, "Oh, what? Come on! I'm asking for it! If I don't figure this out, I'll be stuck here forever! Stuck with C.Y.L.A.S. and Shockwave and Megatron!"

Predaking hissed at the mention of the warlord's name and the smaller mech smirked, "See? You don't like that either, do you? So, help me with this. Use your fire or try to smash me with your tail or-"

The silver mech went silent when he felt the end of the Predacon's muzzle touch at the front of his chest plate. The gesture was gentle and, at the same time, heavy. It wasn't physical but emotional, the act meant to convey something that the beast couldn't put into words. At least, not yet.

Starscream sighed quietly and set his servos on either side of the mech's helm, "You're not even going to try to hurt me, are you?"

Predaking rumbled softly in response and the seeker shook his helm, "Fine... Alright..." he tiredly looked up into the sky, into the darkness of the vast space above them and winced at the sight of the stars twinkling back, "You're right, that wasn't fair to ask... I won't do that again," he smiled gently and shuttered his optics again, "Thank you for continuing to protect me..."