Bumblebee stretched his wings out before folding them back. He rested his helm down, closing hos optics as he felt the smallest bit of light that snuck through the ceiling warm him up. The echoes of the large cavern made way to his now sensitive audio receptors, and his tail twitched at the sound of a loud screech of metal against metal. Yet he stayed in his comfortable position, not moving.
"Comfortable?"
Bumblebee cracked open an optic ridge, watching as Predaking settled down on a ledge close to Bumblebee's own perch.
Bumblebee huffed, closing his optics once more. "Very."
He could hear Predaking hum as the large beast settled down. Though curious as to why Predaking had approached him in the first place, Bumblebee did not ask. He knew that if he should attempt to get some answers, he would be met with taunts or silence. Though his curiosity was aroused, and his tail twitched once more as he tried to suppress his initial urge to demand answers.
"You seem to be taking this very well," Predaking commented.
Bumblebee finally opened his optics. Hm, so Predaking wanted to talk after all. "Not really," he commented. Outright agreeing could easily be seen as a lie, and he opted to speak the truth, or the selected truth. "I will either save my voice for when I need it, instead of scrambling uselessly against steel walls," Bumblebee continued.
"So you have yet to accept your new form and way of life," Predaking commented.
"This is no way of life," Bumblebee retorted, unable to keep the fire in his voice. "This is not my life."
"What do you have to go back to?" Predaking demanded. "A family? A mate? A family of weak Cybertronians who you can now crush beneath your claws?"
Bumblebee did not even bother to contain his snort. The thought of Optimus, Ironhide, or even Ratchet being 'weak' amusing to him. "I was treated well there," Bumblebee stated. "I was not turned into a beast and tortured for entertainment."
"Soft," came the growl.
"Exactly the response I should expect from one who seeks to steal what is mine," Bumblebee retorted.
"I do not need what you have," Predaking growled. "I am a king."
Bumblebee bit back a retort, though a growl rumbled in his chassis in protest to what Predaking was saying.
"You refuse to submit?" Predaking demanded.
"To the likes of you? Always."
To his faint surprise, Predaking merely growled, but did nothing else. "You best watch that voice box of yours while you still have it."
Bumblebee fell silent. He was aware that if he should anger his captors, harsh punishments would come his way. Though he had no way of knowing why he was a captive in the first place. Was it all for some science experiment to turn Cybertronians into predacons? To bring back a once dead race?
If that was the case, then why bother questioning him about the Key? Yes, he was aware of where the Key was. No, he was not going to reveal to them where it was. If this was an experiment, then why bother trying to find the Key?
His spark stilled at a startling thought. In locating who had and knows of the Key's whereabouts, they would have located the Heir. In locating the Heir, they could eliminate all hopes of achieving peace for Cybertron.
But the Autobot Heir was unknown, so eliminating one nameless bot would do nothing as far as the public was concerned. Optimus Prime could easily replace the original Heir with a fake one, and no one would be the wiser. As sickening and depressing as the thought was, Bumblebee knew that replacing him would be the right thing to do for the better of Cybertron.
Besides, it was not like the fate and rule of Cybertron was riding on his shoulders alone. First, there was the Decepticon Heir to consider, along with the many other leaders selected to help govern the planet. In a way, the two Heirs were just figureheads. Figureheads with considerable influence and power, but not ones with the final say in the rule of Cybertron.
His thoughts were pulled back to the present with the sound of claws scraping against rocks. He looked down to see the white predacon scrambling up against the rocks before pulling himself up and over to perch right next to Bumblebee.
Bumblebee snorted as he watched the other predacon. "Would it not be much more easier to simply fly up?"
The white predacon merly glared at him. "Well excuse me, not all of us are truly confident in these new appendages on our backs. I could fall out of the sky!"
Bumblebee merely curled up, relaxing once more. "Whatever Smokes, just admit that you are afraid of heights." The revelation that not only Firestar was held captive as a predacon, but Smokescreen as well had been a shocking, yet welcome relief. While it did not bode well that Smokescreen had befallen the same fate as him, Bumblebee was more then happy that he had a trusted friend with him. It also meant that Smokescreen had survived the slaughter during the brief hunt. But it also meant that he had been subjected to the same amount of torture as Bumblebee, if not more.
But he was alive, and Bumblebee would take what he could get.
Smokescreen visibly bristled, flapping his blue tipped wings in annoyance. "I have never been afraid of heights!"
"But you were never a predacon before," Bumblebee pointed out.
At that, Smokescreen fell silent. "Yes and I never wanted to be." With his statement, Bumblebee was reminded of those who had not been so lucky to survive the slaughter. Everyone else might have been dead, Bumblebee had no way of knowing for sure. But he feared the worst for his companions during the hunt, and his spark trembled with anger at what had happened.
"Yet you are both here now," Predaking spoke up with a low growl. His interference was both a warning and a reminder. By speaking up, he was alerting the two to his presence. Both young mechs fell silent for a small moment.
"Have you seen Firestar?" Smokescreen asked.
Bumblebee nodded. "She seems to be doing better. Instead of trying to claw out everyones optics out, she has turned to simply threatening them."
"Feisty femme that one is," a new voice cackled. They both looked up to see Darksteel fly up, hovering next to them before dropping to the ledge below. Yet despite the ledge that hid him from view, Bumblebee and Smokescreen could still hear him. "She arouses me in ways I never thought imaginable."
"She is the only femme that has survived the transformation," Predaking stated. "She is not to be harmed in any way." Unknowingly, Predaking had soothed the sudden concern Bumblebee and Smokescreen felt at the mention of Firestar.
Bumblebee blinked in surprise. Firestar was the only femme to survive this horrid ordeal? There had been other victims before them, and all had failed except for now?
"What made us different?" Smokescreen asked in obvious disbelief, voicing his thoughts. "Why did we survive?"
"Different formula," Predaking answered dismissively. "Antagony would not try it on you until she was sure she had it right."
"What happened to the last test subject she had tested it on before us?" Bumblebee asked, hesitant, yet curious.
"Eh, they threw themselves into a firing squad while trying to escape," Darksteel said casually. Beside Bumblebee, Smokescreen bristled with barely concealed rage.
"Why have you three survived?" Smokescreen demanded, as Bumblebee had gone stiff with shock.
"Because we not from regular test subjects," they heard Darksteel say, a note of pride in his voice. "We are the real deal, as you would say, descendents from the greats."
"Impossible," Bumblebee retorted. "Predacons have been extinct since the dawn of time!"
"Well, we didn't have what you would call a natural birth," Darksteel stated, smug.
"Enough!" Predaking snapped, though Bumblebee made the connection with growing horror. "You're clones!" he exclaimed.
"From the very bones that helped transform you three miserable scraplets into a greater race," Darksteel said. "We are clones from the bones of our ancestors."
"And it is with those bones that you three were transformed into a mighty race," Predaking stated.
A sudden roar thore through their thoughts, and they all looked up to see Skylynx flying forward them. Bumblebee shrunk back, processor on overload with the new information he had just received. Based on Predaking's reaction, he was not supposed to know such information.
"Antagony wants you with me on this scouting mission," he heard Skylynx say.
"Is this about the cortical cycic patch?" Darksteel groaned, finally emerging on the edge of the cliff he was perched on.
Bumblebee blinked, sitting up. "Cortical psychic patch?" he clicked.
Darksteel stretched his wings before launching into the air. "Something Antagony kept obsessing over."
"I doubt she would trust you two with such an important device," Predaking snapped. "You two can barely keep your mouths shut." He looked at Skylynx. "Be safe and swift."
"Always," Skylynx said with a slight bow of his helm before flying off.
Arcee sidestepped a rather large, jutted rock, her optics gazing in the distance of the tainted sky. Her search was performed with silence, her thoughts loud enough to fill the void.
"Arcee," Moonracer huffed as she scrambled over a rather large crevice of rock to reach the other femme. "The bodies have been moved, all evidence has been gathered or lost. So what exactly is it that we are looking for?"
Arcee turned on the small data pad she had brought along, an image she had brought along with her. A blue screen was shown before her, displaying a source of land. "This was taken by Soundwave seconds before the acid rain hit the land," she explained as Moonracer hovered over her shoulder. "All that he scanned and saw during the masacre is directed here."
Moonracer frowned, pulling back to give Arcee some space. "So what is it that you are searching for?"
"It was noticed that the bodies were scattered about, further supporting the theory of fliers being involved in the attack," Arcee said.
"Could the victims have been running from the attackers?" Moonracer asked. "That might explain the distance."
"Bodies were found atop cliffs as well," Arcee stated, gesturing upward to the canyon above their helms. "If they were trying to escape, they would have sought out cover, not high ground."
Moonracer hummed. "So, we are looking for seekers?"
"I am not sure what we are looking for," Arcee admitted. "Though it does seem logical, however flawed the theory may be."
She did not see the grin Moonracer wore on her face. "You sound like Shockwave."
Arcee's mouth twitched in amusement, though she quickly suppressed it as she continued on. There was a low hanging rock that forced Arcee to drop to her knees to crawl through. Once through the small hanging, she stood up and observed the canyon she was in. The tall walls of rock loomed over her, much like a dark trap that sought to confuse her.
The faint sound of Moonracer crawling through gave her the courage she was lacking in the moment, and Arcee ordered her steps forward. She looked down at the device she was given. At the moment, it was more like a locator, displaying where she was at the present moment rather than the past attack. But that was fine with her, as she prefered to know where she was.
She could feel Moonracer's presence as the other femme came closer to her, looking at the device on Arcee's wrist. "Do you think there were any survivors?" Moonracer asked, voicing the very thoughts Arcee had been trying to suppress.
Arcee's steps faltered slightly, though she blamed it on the loose rock. "I do not hold out on such hope."
"I did not ask if you hoped," Moonracer asked. "I asked what you thought."
"Is there a difference?" Arcee asked.
"Very," Moonracer stated firmly.
"I would not rely on my 'thoughts' on such a tragic matter," Arcee said softly. "By voicing such thoughts, I would dare to hope."
Moonracer was silent for another moment, the only sound so far were their pedes in the ground. "I hope Bumblebee is alive," Moonracer confessed quietly. "Though it does not seem likely at all."
Hoped. She hoped that he was alive. Not thought. There was no logic, no firm confirmation behind her fleeting hope. Yet, despite the facts presented to her, Arcee could not help but readily agree with Moonracer. Despite all that happened, could there even be a small chance that Bumblebee would come running down those hills to her?
What of all the others who lost their lives? She was not the only one hoping for a miracle. Yet, she was also not the only one seeking justice.
But she would gladly take a miracle over justice at any time. She would take a living, breathing Bumblebee over his dead murderer. She wanted him alive to explore the new possibility that was presented to them, she wanted to tell him who she really was. She wanted a chance with him.
"Me too," she found herself agreeing before she could stop herself. She stopped suddenly, causing Moonracer to collide into her. The other femme let out a startled yelp as she slammed into Arcee.
"Whoa, hey!" Moonracer exclaimed. She looked at Arcee with concern. "Hey, it's alright to get emotional. I...I haven't been able to console myself since Bee's-"
"Moonracer," Arcee said harshly, turning around sharply and grabbing Moonracer's arm. "Let's go."
Moonracer blinked and staggered back at Arcee's sudden harshness. "What? Why-" She stopped as her optics flickered over Arcee's shoulder, and she let out a horrified gasp as she took in the very thing Arcee had tried to prevent her from seeing in the first place.
Hidden beneath the rocks that had protected it from the acid rain, yet was still visible to the two femmes, laid a rusted body.
Moonracer wrenched away from Arcee with a choked gasp, turning around and collapsing against the canyon, heaving at the sight. Whereas Moonracer had looked away, Arcee could not bring herself to tear her gaze away from the body.
"It's not Bumblebee," Arcee found herself saying, letting out a relieved, shaky gasp. The mech was larger, and the rusted metal revealed a green paint job.
"That does not make it any better," Moonracer snapped between heaving. Her arms shaking, she tried to pull herself up, but her shaky legs prevented her from doing so. In all honesty, Arcee would not have expected anything less, had Moonracer not spent the majority of the week examining bodies. But she had kept her distance during those examinations, and she had been prepared to look at the bodies when informed.
Here, no one was prepared.
Arcee approached the body slowly. "He crawled over to seek cover," Arcee stated. "There's a trail of dried energon from here down that slope." She looked up at the sky with a frown. "He would have had to have been dropped here. There is no way he could have crawled through the way we came in, as the trail starts at the opposite direction-"
"Please stop," Moonracer gasped, looking over before quickly looking away.
"This is evidence," Arcee said.
"He was once alive!" Moonracer snapped, optics blazing as she looked at Arcee. "He has a family who are mourning for him."
"We are all in mourning," Arcee said firmly, surprised at even her own coldness. She knelt down, close enough to examine the body, yet not touching it. "Gash marks," she murmured. "Very deep."
Pebbles fell down the canyon behind her, causing her to look around sharply. Moonracer went still, her servos flexing as if ready to form a weapon. Arcee slowly turned, poised and ready to spring into attack. The startling sight of the body had left them both on edge and fearing the worst.
A flurry of dust caught her attention, and she leaped forward with a silent roar, leaping upward and scrambling up the loose handholds of the canyon. Moonracer's blaster fire caused many more lose rocks and pebbles to rain down on her, getting caught in her optics. Arcee let out a yelp as she tried to shield her face while still holding on to prevent herself from falling. Yet for all of Moonracer's chaotic shooting, she managed to hit something.
An infuriated yell caused Arcee to look up just in time to see a small being fall in her direction. Optics wide, she barely had enough time to prepare herself for the contact of the body before the small being smacked into her, causing her to lose her hold on the loose rock. She fell to the ground, the rough ground pressing into her back. Yet despite the pain, she lashed out and grabbed ahold of the scrambling being who was trying to make his escape.
"Who are you?" Moonracer demanded in an almost hysterical shriek, coming forward with her guns out as Arcee wrestled with the silver minicon that had fallen on top of her. Arcee had to admit, Moonracer had bounced back rather quickly from her terrified state.
"Primus lady!" the minicon screeched, focusing his red optics on Moonracer with a glare. "Were you trying to kill me?"
"That was the idea," she retorted.
The minicon snarled at her. "Work on you aim, I am a friend!"
"What kind of friend spies on others?" Moonracer demanded.
"The ones whom Soundwave employs," Arcee said grimly.
"Yes, and you don't keep friends hostage," the mincon stated, almost sounding smug. "So why don't you let me go?"
"What? So you can report to daddy?" Arcee demanded, rising up and taking the snarling minicon with her. "Don't work yourself into such a frenzy, Frenzy," she stated with a smirk.
Frenzy grumbled at the poor pun at his name. "Daddy is not going to be happy," he muttered, folding his arms as Arcee strode back toward the body.
"He'll be fine," Arcee stated, kneeling down next to the body. "But your timing is perfect. What can you make of this?" she asked, pointing at the body.
"Arcee!" Moonracer exclaimed in shock, staring with wide optics. "Do you know him?"
"Not personally," she admitted. "But I know of him." There wa sno need to inform Moonracer that Frenzy was one of the many minicon spies that Soundwave would send to watch her when Ark could not. Such a confession would open up a whole lot more questions that would be difficult to answer.
But Frenzy served to make things difficult. "Not personally?" he exclaimed, indignant. He huffed. "Please Arcee. I have been promoted to not only your personal stalker, but your personal photographer. Who do you think it was that took those juicy pictures of you and that yellow mech?"
Arcee blinked, optics blinking as her hold on Frenzy loosened. "Pictures?" she asked, her voice hoarse.
"Well," Frenzy mused. "I didn't take the ones from the sky. The credit belongs to Lazerbeak. But I took plenty of other ones." He smirked, as if he knew a terrible joke. "Some intimate ones as well."
"Yellow mech?" Moonracer demanded, tone laced with sudden suspicion. "What yellow mech?"
"Enough," Arcee said, but Frenzy plowed on as he escaped from Arcee's grasp.
"You friend here has a little sweetheart!" he said to Moonracer, pointing at Arcee. "Quite scandalous, I might say. Oh, speaking of which, I am sorry for your loss."
Arcee's blades were out before she could even think straight as she stepped toward him. "You wanted to know about the body?" Frenzy asked quickly, noticing the murderous intent in her optics.
"Speak while you still can," she growled threateningly, servos trembling.
He nodded swiftly, leaping toward the body and taking one look at it. "Whatever you say, mama." He blinked as he stared at the body. "Oh, well this is simple," he declared as he stepped away from the body, strolling through the canyon without a backwards look.
"Simple?" Arcee demanded as she and Moonracer raced after him. "How?"
"Well, only one creature could inflict such damage," Frenzy explained as he strode on deeper into the canyon. It was then Arcee noticed that the dried up energon trail continued. "But only the higher ups know about such knowledge. Sadly, you are not higher ups." He shrugged. "And I could never go against daddy's wishes. He'll give all my desert to Ravage." He muttered. "That scraplet of a cat." He shrugged. "But as I am your favorite stalker, I can point out some helpful tips."
He stopped suddenly at a certain point, gesturing toward a tight space between the two walls. Arcee might have been able to squeeze through the space with some difficulty. "Here, is where the dead mech fell through. He was still alive, but barely from my guess. You can tell he fell here because of all the energon splatter."
Arcee and Moonracer minded where they stepped after glancing around.
"But our killer was not done," Frenzy continued. "Our killer was frantically scrabbling at the canyon. See the damaged rocks?"
Arcee and Moonracer leaned forward to examine the rocks around them that were suddenly lose and damp from being moved, bits of pebbles scattered around them. Gash marks were seen on the walls, as if someone was trying to dig.
"But the killer could not get through," Frenzy stated with a shrug. "So he abandoned his kill, where our relieved, soon to be dead mech, was left to bleed out." He puffed his chassis proudly. "I looked into the area before you ladies even knew I was here!"
"So who was the killer?" Moonracer demanded.
Frenzy just smirked, leaping out of reach and latching onto an overhanging rock, a good distance from Arcee's blades and Moonracer's eager servos that would surely wring his neck. "Can't tell ya," he said. "Top secret, and I want my desert."
Arcee huffed, looking around before striding forward, squeezing through the tight space. She could here Moonracer trying to follow her, though Arcee did not wait.
"So a large Cybertronian," Moonracer grunted as she finally squeezed through. She tumbled forward to join Arcee.
"Possibly," Frenzy stated smugly.
"Possibly," Arcee repeated, though more to herself.
"Someone who could fly," Moonracer mused. "Well, not a seeker if they were not unusually large."
"What if they were not Cybertronian at all?" Arcee said softly. She went still at the faint sound of scrabbling rocks, her spark going still for a brief moment. She looked up to glare at Frenzy. "What other siblings did you bring here?" she demanded.
Frenzy just grinned. "I'm your only true stalker here."
The wariness returned in full force, yet Arcee proceeded forward. She stopped suddenly when she noticed two large shadows were almost hidden within the caves of the canyon. Her blasters were out without a second thought, Moonracer mimicking her actions.
"Are you Autobot?" Arcee demanded. "Or Decepticon?"
A sudden, harsh chuckle that sent shivers down her spine reached her audio receptors, and the two shadows stepped forward. Two, grinning mechs observed both her and Arcee, a very air of cockiness around them. "Neither," they sneered.
Frenzy's sudden, fearful squeak and the two stranger's threatening appearance caused Arcee to stumble back into action. "Moonracer!" she screamed as she shot at the charging mechs. "Run!" She shoved the other femme forward toward certain escape, running after her.
But unlike the mech who was now dead in the canyon that became his tomb, Arcee was not fast enough to reach the small crevice. As she stumbled behind Moonracer, she felt sharp servos wrap around her as her pedes left the ground, the sound of wingbeats filling her audio receptors.