Ch. 194

Ratchet scowled softly and crossed out a few coordinates on his computer panel roughly, shaking his helm, "Soundwave this is becoming less and less feasible the more we search. Our window of opportunity is closing, we only have a couple more weeks to set this plan in motion and we still don't have a new base location..."

An irritated buzz answered back as the blue mech tapped at his own panel, "Coordinates: proving fruitless. Reconnaissance missions: draining resources."

Ratchet grumbled, "Our team is growing stronger working together like this, but... our necessity to avoid enemy contact means we're not impacting on much. And that's not going to do Starscream any good."

"No it will not, but we are not giving up," came Optimus's deep voice as he entered the room, "We have eliminated many locations and gathered intelligence on abandoned structures. This has only made our remaining candidates stronger potentials."

The medic smiled weakly, "That... is a far better way of looking at it..." he sighed, turning back to his screen, "But I doubt that line of thought is at the forefront of the rest of the team's minds..."

Optimus nodded, "I understand. They are tired and worn, but they are doing very well. What did the last two missions find?"

Soundwave perked and tapped quickly, "Team Smokescreen, Breakdown, Arcee: recorded findings: abandoned Decepticon energon mine. Team Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Knockout: recorded findings: Decepticon ship ruins. Ship registration: unidentifiable."

The Prime hummed softly, "How many more coordinates do we have left to explore?"

"Not many," Ratchet huffed, "Maybe a dozen left. And it's looking exceedingly bleak considering we had more than sixty locations to choose from when we started."

"Query: what exactly are we looking for?"

Optimus smiled, "The right base, Soundwave. We will know it when we see it..."

"Are you going to try today? For me? I know it's a little early, but I think I'm ready for this. Cause, you know, it really sucks being here and you could make it a whole lot better."

Yellow optics glared darkly at a dumbly hopeful grin and Starscream blinked, frowning, "Well, why not?!"

Predaking groaned loudly and rolled onto the floor, stretching his arms up.

The seeker gasped in offense, "Oh, I'm sorry, is being cooped up here in Preda-Prison not your idea of fun? Well, transform out of your beast mode and if we yell loud enough, they'll take us out of this stupid kennel!"

A ruffling of far larger wings made Starscream growl, the smaller mech knowing that the beast before him wasn't responding just to annoy him.

"Look, I'm telling you," he insisted, "you can transform! You'll have this huge crown on your helm and this gravelly voice and you'll be taller than Megatron!"

Predaking chuffed a laugh, making Starscream bristle, "Don't you laugh at me!" he warned angrily, "I mean it! You're in a state of higher understanding and reasoning, the least you can do is TRY!"

The Predacon lifted his helm from the floor and grumbled, huffing hot air in the small room; the seeker stomped a ped, "No more arguments! You transform, they come to investigate, then we can take them all down in a wave of fire and maniacal laughing!"

Predaking snorted and laughed louder, finally standing.

A bright light glinted in Starscream's optics and he squealed, "Yes! This is our moment! Transform, Predaking!"

The Predacon started to spread his wings wide and raised his upper chassis from the floor, his claws flexing as he maintained balance. The seeker backed away, an air of excitement and subtle hints of fear in the pit of his spark as he watched Predaking's form rumble and shake. But the intense feelings ceased when the beast yawned, dropping back on all fours to stretch and roll his shoulders lazily.

Starscream's optics widened and his wings fell flat, "... Are you serious? Are you fragging serious?!"

Predaking chuffed gently, amusement evident in his optics as he watched the smaller mech shriek in anger.

"Why is it that I have to deal with all the difficult parts?! I set up this brilliant plan, tell you to do the simplest thing and you won't give me even an inch to work with?! You even build my tiny, weak little hopes up and then smash them into tiny, shattered little pieces! How could you?! You're being a brat!"

The Predacon tapped the top of Starscream's help with a claw and gurgled a growl at him. When the seeker quieted down only to glare, Predaking rolled his shoulders again and backed himself into a wall in the small kennel, putting his helm down low as his tail flicked in anticipation.

"What are you doing? Why are you doing something that I haven't asked you to do? Why are you doing what you're doing? Why are you ignoring me?"

Predaking huffed and charged forward, making the smaller mech squeal and curl in tightly, as the Predacon rammed as hard as he could into the kennel door. A sizable dent in the metal forced the bottom of the door upwards and the beast snarled, forcing his claws into the gap and lifting it up to provide an exit.

Starscream stared quietly, cycling his optics; he looked up at Predaking to glare angrily, "We've been in here for two days. Are you telling me that you could have taken down the door anytime you wanted?!"

The Predacon had a smug look upon him as he purred in satisfaction and stepped out into the halls of the Nemesis inquisitively, a squawk following as Starscream ran after him.