A/N: I have returned! My updating will continue to be sporadic, sadly. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
"Predacon speak"
"Cybertronian speak"
"Bumblebee speak"
"Human speak"
::Predacon bond speak::
Thoughts
::Comm speak::
Two weeks had passed since I had returned to the Predacon camp. With my sister, Starshine helping me, it had not taken long to pick up leading a army.
Recently though, I had been nostalgic. I missed the Autobots and even the noisy humans. There was a life like no other that the humans had, and I enjoyed it.
I raised my helm, scenting the air deeply. Mornings on earth always had a crisp scent to them.
Hearing my sister approach behind me, I turned. "Greetings, sister," Starshine said, tilting her helm to me.
"Greetings," I replied, standing. "I would like to ask a favor of you." Arching my neck, I stared at her, hoping she wouldn't see through my deception. "I need to go back to the Autobot base for business. Would you take control of the Predacons for a brief while?"
"Of course, sister." Starshine lifted her head. "Anything for the Queen."
Thanking her, I unsheathed my wings and spread them. Just as I launched into the air, I heard my sister say, "Next time you want to visit your friends, you can just ask."
Predaking flapped lazily beside me, golden optics scanning the terrain below for threats.
It was nice to be back in the air again with my sparkmate. Smokescreen was stowed safely in a sparkling compartment inside my chest plates, nestled beside my furnace. He had been cranky lately, and I was unwilling to leave him with my sister too, adding to her workload.
I was unable to convince her to let me leave without my usual escort, four Predacons servo-picked by Starshine.
A sudden, strong wind buffeted at my faceplates, and I dove in a long swoop, flapping hard to regain my altitude. My tail tip grazed the tops of the trees, and the leaves exploded outward.
I screeched in alarm, my only thought on keeping to the air to protect Smokescreen. Seven Avians swooped around me, metallic maws opening wide as they screeched at me.
Roaring in reply, Predaking slammed into the first one from above, shredding into its armor and tearing at its neck with his mandibles.
It wailed, spouting curses in a language I didn't understand. The rest of my entourage converged around me, intent on defending their Queen. I hissed, clicking my mandibles in a warning to stay away.
Smokescreen curled up tightly, holding still as I hovered in place.
The Avians circled slowly, searching for the best spot to attack in. Predaking hovered above me, Energon dripping from his claws and mouth. The Avian he had attacked was nowhere to be seen, but an Energon-stained gap was in the tree canopy.
Finally, an Avian made its move. It was smaller and more agile than my guards, and it spun past, aiming for me. I roared, lowering my head to protect my chest plates, which in turn protected Smokescreen.
Predaking dropped down on it from above, recycling his first move. Instantly three more Avians followed his path, intending to drop down on top of me. I folded my wings, falling toward the canopy below.
My guards flew in their way, breathing fire in impressive waves. Swerving to the side, the Avians spun around and clawed at the escort. One tumbled down shrieking, claw marks tearing the thin metal of its wing.
I roared, pivoting in the air and snapping my wings open, brushing the treetops before pulling up. Slamming into the underside of an Avian, I bit and tore, ripping plates back and tearing out wires.
Energon coated my faceplates, and I shuttered my optics rapidly several times, clearing them of Energon.
The Avian hit the trees with an astounding crack, its caterwauling breaking off abruptly.
Three more to go.
My escorts were battling against the remaining Avians, and Predaking flew by to assist them.
I hung back, unwilling to plunge into an aerial fray with Smokescreen. An unexpected force slammed into my back suddenly, and I dropped like a rock, a startled roar ripping from me.
Predaking turned instantly and folded his wings. The battling Predacons had flown miles above me, and my sparkmate arrowed downwards, the air shrieking as it slipped over his plating.
I tumbled clumsily into the foliage, sheathing my wings to avoid catching them on the branches.
My sensors pinged to my left, and I ducked just as a dark shape whirled overhead, silhouetted against the gaping hole I left in the canopy.
::I'm coming!:: Predaking's words echoed through our bond, and I calmed slightly.
Something dropped down on me again, and I twisted, snarling, claws striking out at my attacker.
They rolled to the side, hissing in reply. Sinking their fangs into my foreleg, they pulled, dragging me into thicker underbrush.
"Predaking!" I shrieked, twisting as best I could. A heavy servo thumped my helm, and the world spun crazily. The scent of Energon stained the air.
My Energon.
Smokescreen bleated softly, and my spark leaped into Carrier mode. My tail slammed into the attacker's helm. He squawked but held grimly on.
We had gone quite a distance from my original crash site, but I still heard Predaking storm in, roaring in panic. ::WHERE ARE YOU?::
I didn't have time to reply. Unsheathing my wings, I pushed off on the ground with them, using that boost to land on top of the attacker. It was a large Avian, which wasn't unexpected.
He screeched as I ripped my foreleg free and lashed out at his optics. Bucking, he tried to throw me off. I sheathed my wings and hung on with all four peds.
Predaking had seen our trail and heard us by then, and quickly arrived, tearing at the Avian's side while I clawed his faceplates.
Unwilling to face both of us, he sprang into the air, tearing easily through the canopy. Just above the treetops was my remaining two guards. They were on him in seconds, finishing him off and letting his sparkless husk crash back to the floor.
We decided to continue on to the human base, which was closer than either Autobot or Draconian camp. From there we could bridge to the Autobots.
Landing in the middle of the human base, covered in Energon and sporting various battle wounds caused quite a stir, however.
My guards weren't happy with the gathering crowds and hissed warnings at them to tell them so.
Catching a familiar scent, I raised my helm, trilling happily. Optimus and Ratchet stood on the outskirts of the human crowds, staring with astonished optics.
Predaking transformed and walked through the crowd, nodding his head slightly to the Prime once he arrived. The humans had quickly parted for my mate and gathered close around Optimus's peds to listen in.
Glaring at them, Predaking spoke in Cybertronian. "Darkflame needs medical attention, as do her two remaining guards."
Ratchet had already pulled out medical supplies and stepped carefully through the crowd. "May I?" He asked, gesturing to my foreleg. I nodded, continuing to listen to Predaking's conversation.
"We encountered an Avian patrol on our way to your base. We decided to come here first since it was closer." Predaking again glared at the crowd around his peds but didn't say anything else.
Optimus nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps they are planning something. I will warn my soldiers to keep an optic out. Thank you, Predaking."
The two mechs nodded to each other and turned. I looked at Ratchet, watching as he finished the final patch on my foreleg. Smokescreen was stirring inside, becoming restless.
I crouched and slid the cover open, watching fondly as Smokescreen tumbled out with an excited screech. He sat up and stared around curiously, optics wide.
"Darkflame, did you have him at the time of the fight?" Ratchet asked calmly. My armor prickled. He isn't calm.
I nodded once, slowly.
"You mean you took a sparkling into battle? He was stored beside your furnace! If you had used your fire too often, it would have overheated the chamber. He could have died!"
Ratchet's low voice had gained volume and venom, and he was waving his wrench around.
Alarmed, I sat back. "No, Ratchet," I began, but I was still stuck in beast form. "Hush! I'm not finished yet!" Ratchet snarled, switching to Cybertronian as his yelling gained traction.
Smokescreen loved this new place.
It had so many interesting sights and sounds and scents and-the Predling was entranced by a shiny, noisy, object that slid smoothly across the ground in front of him.
Emitting a chirp, Smokescreen bolted after the object, gaining easily. Two leaps from reaching it, he was snatched out of the air by Predaking. "No, Smokescreen. Do not chase the humans' transport. They smash easily."
Admonished, Smokescreen watched silently from afar, tail tip twitching as he watched the humans go about their work.
He wanted them to come closer, so he could check them out more thoroughly, but Predaking's warning and instinct told him not to wander far in a new place filled with strange things.
If only a human could come close enough for him to reach. . .
Patrick hurriedly stuffed his drawing tablet and pencils into his pack. He was off-duty for the rest of the afternoon, and he had heard that several Predacons had flown in.
He hoped that they were Darkflame and her mate, Predator-something. Patrick was looking forward to drawing more Predacons. So many intricate bits!
Dust puffed from underneath his boots as he hurried toward the Transformers' building. Loud alien jargon could be heard from the towering building, and Patrick picked up speed.
He spotted Optimus Prime first, speaking to a large red-orange themed Transformer. Large horns indicated that the new Transformer was probably a Predacon.
Further on, in the building, Patrick could see Ratchet. The CMO was yelling in their odd language, which was the source that Patrick had heard earlier. It was unclear who Ratchet was yelling at.
Patrick pitied the victim.
The soldier was closing in on Optimus now, and Patrick slowed to pull out his tablet. He rummaged further for a pencil, which had sank its way deep into the recesses of his pack.
Annoyed, Patrick slowed to a near stand-still as he searched.
Then something slammed into him.
Smokescreen held very still as he watched the human hurry its way in his general direction. It seemed distracted, staring up at Predaking, then digging about in a small object at its side.
It was very close now, and Smokescreen's optics glowed brighter in excitement.
It was in easy pouncing distance now.
Smokescreen leaped, bowling into the human and pinning it beneath his forepaws.
The human made a weird grunting sound, small optics shuttering closed as it went limp.
Disappointed it wasn't making more effort to escape, Smokescreen stood up and stared at it.
It barely moved.
Annoyed now, Smokescreen jabbed at it with a sharp claw. It groaned again slightly but didn't try to run away.
Flipping it over onto its back, Smokescreen huffed hot air over its helm, ruffling the odd fuzzies that were on top of its helm.
Letting his glossa loll out, Smokescreen gave the fuzzy stuff a heavy lick, leaving oral lubricants all over the human's helm.
The fuzzy stuff didn't move anymore, so it quickly lost Smokescreen's interest. Picking up the human's leg, he dragged it a short way, enjoying the small trails it made in the dust.
This was fun.
Predaking had nearly tuned out the hustle and bustle of the humans' base. The monotonous sounds of their reedy voices and weak engines had soon merged into the background.
A noise rose above the rest suddenly, and Predaking glanced toward Smokescreen. The sparkling was crouched a short distance away, facing three humans.
The humans seemed agitated, waving their servos in the air and advancing slowly towards Smokescreen, who crouched even lower.
Predaking cocked his head, aware that Optimus had stopped speaking and was looking at the humans and Smokescreen as well.
The sparkling arched his spinal strut suddenly and hissed, the warning to back off very clear.
Apparently, the humans didn't have self-preservation protocols installed, because they advanced even quicker, spreading out now so two approached from either side and one head on.
Smokescreen's helm swung between the three, unsure of which to watch. Optimus shifted beside him, and Predaking quickly said, "Let them be. I want to see how Smokescreen conducts himself."
Optimus didn't reply, but Predaking felt the Prime's faint curiosity.
Smokescreen was becoming agitated, tail lashing. Apparently, he decided that Predaking was the safest place, and whirled around, streaking toward the Predacon at full speed, something floppy dangling from his jaws.
The three humans yelled at Optimus, their cries overlapping, but their meaning was clear as Predaking got a good glimpse at what Smokescreen was carrying.
A human.
A quick scan confirmed that the human wasn't dead, and Predaking lunged for Smokescreen, Optimus close behind.
Lunging had been a mistake.
Before, Smokescreen had been defending 'his' toy from the humans. He had retreated to what he thought was a safe place, but the 'safe place' was now after his toy too. Defensive protocols up, Smokescreen decided to move on to the NEXT safe place.
Darkflame.
Predaking's grasping servos closed just behind Smokescreen's leaping form, and he growled with frustration. "Smokescreen!"
This human was Smokescreen's. He had caught it, fair and square. Everyone else could just stay away.
It upset Smokescreen that Predaking had tried to take his toy. Clearly, Smokescreen had it. Predaking could easily catch another.
Heavy ped steps sounded behind the Predling, and he picked up speed.
The human in his mouth suddenly screamed.
It was awake!
It wiggled, exciting Smokescreen. Now he could chase it! But first, he had to get away from Predaking and the Prime, who were gaining on him.
Darkflame would help, right?
My attention was distracted from Ratchet's ranting by a commotion outside. Predaking and Optimus were chasing Smokescreen.
The incredibly odd sight made me stare, and Ratchet, noticing my distraction, turned to see what I was staring at.
"Primus!" He swore, "Smokescreen has a human!"
Shocked I didn't spot that fact at first, I crouched down as Smokescreen beelined to me, squealing human clutched in his jaws. Leaping into my waiting servos, Smokescreen turned and snarled at Predaking and Optimus as they slid to stop.
"Darkflame,-" Optimus and Predaking both said at once, pointing at Smokescreen.
"I know," I interrupted, "he has a human."
I bent over. "Listen, human, calm down. He is not going to release you when you are making so much noise."
Smokescreen growled softly. I held him up and stared him in the optic. "Smokescreen. That is a very nice catch you have, but you need to give it to me, now. You can not eat humans, they are bad for you."
The small Predling narrowed his optics at me. "Give," I commanded. "Now."
Sullenly, Smokescreen dropped the human in my servo. "Good job!" I praised warmly, handing him over to Predaking, who snarled quietly at the sparkling.
Optimus and Ratchet crowded around me as I held up the human for inspection. It was Patrick.
"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly. His thin armor was nearly shredded, and he held his head dazedly. "I-I think so," he said, blinking.
Ratchet scanned him. "You'll be fine. Got a nasty bump on your head, and you'll probably have some bruising on your ribs, but be glad the Predling didn't hurt you more. What happened?"
Patrick stood slowly. "I was heading over here to see if Darkflame had arrived, when suddenly he," Patrick gestured at Smokescreen, who was meekly submitting to a scolding by Predaking, "slammed into me and knocked me out for a bit. When I woke up, he's crouched over me and three soldiers are yelling at me. Then I'm carried here."
Ratchet holds his servo next to mine, and Patrick steps onto it. "You're fine now, just put this on once you get back to your bunk," Ratchet says, handing Patrick a tube of cream.
"My apologies that we did not see you sooner," Optimus says, "Smokescreen's form was obscuring yours." Worry is clear in his blue optics.
"Don't think about it," Patrick waves, "I'm not holding anything against anyone."
I nod. "Thank you. I am sorry that Smokescreen did what he did. He will be more carefully watched from now on."
A small shout at my peds makes me look down. Three humans are clustered near me, motioning for my servo. I offer it to them, and they climb on. I bring them up to Patrick's level and they gather around him, asking if he's okay.
Nodding to Ratchet and Optimus, I let the three humans on the table by Patrick and head over to Predaking and Smokescreen.
My mate has Smokescreen curled up, and Predaking is whispering about his great catch Smokescreen made today.
Gently taking Smokescreen, I tuck him into the sparkling chamber and close it, letting the sparkling fall asleep.
A/N: Reviews are my lifeblood. :D Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed! Constructive criticism welcome!