Ch. 221

"Whoops, low bridge!" Smokescreen chuckled up ahead as he narrowly avoided walking into a branch and side stepped, "Watch out."

Arcee rolled her optics as she walked beside him, "Stop looking back. Starscream can hear you and your endless questions just fine."

The white mech shrugged, "I just wanna be sure! And hey, it's rude to talk to someone without looking at them."

"It's also rude to talk to someone while you're trying to scout quietly," Arcee retorted, "Bad manners getting a teammate shot, you know. Leave him alone or walk back with him and Optimus."

Smokescreen's door wings perked up, "Oh, I can't do that," he shrugged, "I can hear them talking to each other, it could be important stuff..."

The femme's optic ridges rose, "And it might not be important to us? Ah, right, they'd tell us if it was..."

Behind the pair, Starscream shrugged his shoulders for what felt like the hundredth time and muffled the sigh escaping his throat, "Should I be more concerned?" he murmured, "Ratchet is terrified of me, the... Decepticons are pursuing me; should I be less inclined to put as much energy into this as our resident medic believes I should?"

"Hmm," Optimus blinked his optics gently, "I am sorry I encouraged the two of you to talk this over so early. I had hoped he would use the opportunity more positively. Perhaps it was not quite the time to push Ratchet as such."

Starscream held a lower hanging branch back so he and Optimus could walk by, "Actually, I don't think it would have mattered how long we would have waited to talk," he grumbled, "From how Ratchet talks about it, he's sure I'll end up killing one of you at any moment..."

The Prime's optics narrowed, "I see... And what are your thoughts on this?"

Starscream's voice whined softly, "Well... is he wrong? The aggression of my more active abilities has only ever been directed at an enemy, but what if he's right? One day we're in battle, it can't be helped and someone steps in the way at the worst possible moment, I mean..." he glanced up at the red mech, "i-it's not like the worry hasn't crossed my mind more than once, you know..."

"But you have controlled it before, have you not? Defending Smokescreen and Rafael against C.Y.L.A.S.?"

"Hmm... yes, but that was during very stressful circumstances and Raf was upset," Starscream huffed, "and it was the first time that had happened- no, no, wait, Airachnid... that happened when Airachnid almost killed Breakdown."

Optimus set his servo gently on Starscream's shoulder plating, smiling down at him as they walked, "You have been cautious in your use of such abilities, Starscream. You have also been conscientious of where you use them, if they were to be activated by an outside force, and who was around you when such a thing were to happen. Ratchet is concerned and yes, he may be afraid, but I am certain that his fears have less to do with what you could be capable of towards others and instead of what may become of you should this progress to something else."

The seeker reached up to tap his claws lightly at the Prime's servo, "Progress to what though?"

"That," Optimus sighed, "is what Ratchet may be truly afraid of. We have seen nothing like this, even in times of the Ancients."

"But if it's not a power of the Prime's or of Primus himself, what is-"

"Guys! I mean, sir!" Smokescreen called from ahead loudly until Arcee nudged him in the side, "Sorry..." he whispered, "Optimus, look," he pointed at claw marks and broken tree branches on a large tree, "these markings are huge. Starscrimus, this look like the Predacon's work?"

Starscream's optics rolled, "Those silly nicknames may work for you and Arcee-"

"Oh, you know you love it, Scream," Arcee smirked, gesturing to the marks, "Big gouges mean big claws. Unless they belong to the other two you mentioned?"

The seeker grumbled as he stepped forward to begin his inspection, "No... no, these are Predaking's," he concluded and backed up to look around, "but why this location? We have to be several hundred miles from the remains of the Nemesis and in the wrong direction from where we had the Ark hovering."

The area they were in now was a vast wilderness of ancient trees that towered above and disappeared into the gray of low clouds and fog around them. The mountains that Agent Fowler had described when informing them about the location were obscured from view but the climb upwards was felt on their ascensions.

"Did he have any hangouts from before?" Smokescreen inquired, looking upwards towards the foggy sky and the missing tops of the tall trees around them that seemed to simply disappear into the mist, "Like, a place where there was a battle or something? Somewhere he might just end up going back to because... I don't know, weird coincidence?"

Well, it wasn't as though that hadn't happened before...

"No," Starscream clicked his glossa in confusion, but the act could have been mistaken for irritation... or perhaps it was the other way around, "He never really had a place he enjoyed going to on Earth... though, if I'm honest," his voice tapered off and he said nothing more.

Optimus studied the winged mech carefully before nodding, "Perhaps," he offered, "due to major event changes, we are now dealing with an entirely different Predaking. This mech may not have the same thought process as before," he smiled lightly at the seeker, "because of how much the situation changed for him."

The red and white mech gave a quick nod as he cleared his throat, "Y-yes, that may be it. So this place?" he gestured around them, at the old, fallen trees, the ferns and mosses, the great toppled boulders and stones scattered around, "This would all mean absolutely nothing to him... which unfortunately brings us back to our first query."

"Why here?" Arcee murmured, her optics cautiously looking towards the deceiving sky as Smokescreen had.

Starscream wanted to comment further or have someone say something aloud when something rippled back over his wings. The seeker straightened and tried to fight off a shudder that tickled down his spinal links. The 'something' was deep and baritone, a bass beat or drum that vibrated through his wings and into his back. Optimus noted the smaller mech's change in posture and frowned in concern.

"Starscream," he asked quietly; he called only his name and nothing more.

Starscream waved his servo gently, a gesture that told the Prime and his fellow teammates to wait. The red and white mech's wings adjusted and picked up the ripple again, this time the bass vibration feeling more shrill and prickly. And closing in fast.

"Get down!" Starscream's optics widened, "He's coming in to-"

A loud roar deafened the minute sounds of small wildlife around them and the mists above tore open to reveal Predaking's open claws and maw barreling down. The group dove for the forest floor, Smokescreen covering Arcee's chassis with his own as Optimus seemed to instinctively know to do the same for Starscream.

Smokescreen glared as he watched Predaking pass, his Predacon form disappearing again into the fog, and he scowled, "What kind of welcome was that?! Was he trying to kill us?!"

Starscream pulled himself quickly from Optimus's grasps and shakily stumbled out into the open, "No, no! He wouldn't do that, he's not like that anymore, he-" he growled in frustration and turned in circles, his wings trying to pick up the sensitive sounds Predaking was producing, "I stand by what I said! He's not some mindless beast; he's far more than what Shockwave intended!"

Another roar came in from behind and Starscream turned, watching the Predacon attempt to fly in low at him but bank at the last second and start to fly off into the fog out of view. The seeker stomped a ped angrily and started waving his arms as he shouted.

"What do you think you're doing?! I'm gone for a couple of days and this is what you reduce yourself to?!" he hollered, "How dare you! I promised them you were well behaved, now get back-"

An Earth-shaking 'THUD' trembled through the ground and forced the seeker and the rest of the Autobots to brace themselves. The mist around them betrayed their sense of safety and Starscream held back a snarl as he glanced back at the bots behind him.

"Don't you dare fire on him," he hissed, "don't you dare, no matter what he does. He won't hurt me and I know he won't hurt any of you. Just follow my lead..."

Another loud 'THUD' and a crash some distance away made Smokescreen jump and Arcee and Optimus braced themselves again.

"Starscream," Arcee growled, "if he comes at us, what are we supposed to do?"

The red and white mech didn't answer. He didn't have a solution to give. This Predaking was so different from the one he had come to know before. This one had restraint and a kindness he knew had been learned because he had made it so. The terrifying sound of crushing brush and a panting growl came within audial range and Starscream turned to face it, his wings held high and trembling.

Predaking's beast mode came running through the trees, flames on his panting exhaled intakes, but the seeker caught a look in the mech's optics that he had slowly grown familiar with and he squealed as he held up his servos.

"W-wait, Predaking, don't you slagging dare, I'm warning you-"

The beast leapt into the air and transformed mid jump, a wild smile across his faceplates and a fire in his optics. He snatched up Starscream into hug and rolled across the forest floor, nearly barreling into the rest of the seeker's teammates as they scattered. Predaking held the smaller mech tightly in his grasp and a loud, baritone laugh erupted from deep within him as the Predacon struggled to stand, managing by bracing himself against a tree.

"Starscream!" his great voice echoed, "To find you here, of all places!" Predaking twirled in circles in his excitement, stumbling against rocks and peeking tree roots but not caring in the least, "My friend, I thought I had failed you! Lost you! You are alive and safe and- and you are enriched in color!" the great mech held the seeker out at length, awing at the physical change, "You have done much since your escape!"

Starscream's optics chased themselves around his helm as the dizziness began to die down and he lightly tapped at the servos around him as he held down an excitable lurch from his tank, "Y-yes, yes, I did... but please, Predaking, put me down," the request was quickly and carefully obliged, "I need to introduce you to-"

The Predacon gasped loudly and knelt down, "These are the ones you spoke of!" his voice became softer, "The great Autobots! The ones who defy Megatron's tyranny and seek a peace for all sentient life..." his optics widened and his intakes hitched in his wonder, "What kind of magic brought them back from where they were lost?"

Smokescreen looked confused, "Magic?"

"No, no," Starscream began, "Meg- ah, the Decepticons thought they had eliminated them, and that was what they wanted me to believe, but n-no, no magic. Just trickery to avoid death."

Predaking seemed dissatisfied by the answer, "They are not as you are? They do not possess the magic you perform?"

The seeker chuckled nervously, "Eh, ah... um, no, they don't... There doesn't appear to be anyone else who can do the... 'magic' I do."

Optimus could sense the distress in Starscream's voice and stepped forward, "Predaking," he addressed the towering mech, "I am Optimus Prime."

Predaking's large, fanged smiled returned and he crouched further to introduce himself better, "Yes! I know of you! Starscream has told me much of each of you! So many stories, all exciting and adventurous! You are Starscream's confidant," the red and white mech's optics widened, "the one he would confide all in. His most trusted-"

"Ah, let's not bore Prime with over descriptive and perhaps exaggerated details!" Starscream laughed loudly and nervously, pushing against Predaking's leg; the great mech stood firm and smiled, thinking the attention was anything other than just a way to keep him from talking, "Yes, so that's Optimus, over there is Smokescreen-"

The white mech waved nervously, "Hey, Predaking..."

The seeker gestured to Arcee, "-and here is Arcee."

Predaking's wings opened a bit and he pointed lightly, "Starscream spoke much of you as well. A fierce warrior, never to be trifled with," he hissed, "A mech such as yourself leaves enemy chassises in his wake..."

Arcee's optical ridges curled, "'His'?"

"Oh my slag," Starscream murmured before tapping on Predaking's leg again, "No, femme, Predaking, femme. She is not a mech, she's a- oh my, you're the first femme he's seen, Arcee, I forgot-"

The blue femme chuckled and reached out her servo, Predaking being light and delicate as he offered his own massive claw for her to touch, "It's fine. But I see my reputation preceeds me. It's very nice to meet you, Predaking. Starscream told us about you, too."

"I was spoken of?" the Predacon beamed, "Were my stories as grand as the ones he told of you?"

Smokescreen found more confidence and stepped beside Arcee, servos on his hips, "Oh, as grand as they come."

Starscream sighed heavily and glanced over as Optimus came to his side with a smile, "He's alright... He's safe," he murmured.

The Prime nodded in agreement, "Indeed he is. We do not have the most luxurious accommodations aboard the Ark," he admitted, "but do you believe he would wish to accompany us back to the ship?"

Starscream smiled weakly before nodding, "Optimus... thank you... thank you for doing this..."