Chapter 4

To the Nemesis

…the long flight back to the Nemesis could be best described with two words…

…quiet and uncomfortable…

Neither Songbird nor Predaking said a single word to one another. Of course it was more that Songbird wasn't speaking since Predaking was currently unable to speak whilst in his beast form. Not to mention that the female gryphon looked positively miserable and that made the entire situation all the more uncomfortable. Predaking growled inwardly, this was not what he wanted… she was not what he wanted. He wanted companions, other Predacons that at the very least wouldn't blatantly disrespect him as she did. Not to mention the factor that she so obviously despised him and openly adored those two human children didn't make him feel any better either.

'But things can still change.' He silently thought to himself. 'All I have to do is be patient. Surly she will come around after meeting with Lord Megatron and settling in on the Nemesis! I am sure that after a while she'll even tire of having those humans around and dispose of them!' These thoughts made him feel at least somewhat better and they also managed to distract him for the remainder of the flight to the Decepticon warship. When the Nemesis finally came into view Songbird came to a sudden stop; her jaw falling open in awe at the sight of the colossal vessel. But she quickly got a grip and after a few long minutes she followed Predaking over to one of the entrances and silently went inside.

Megatron was not happy…

Of course that would imply that there was a time where he actually was happy, which he never was… not since long before the war began. Still he was in a particularly foul mood since he had lost contact with Starscream and his squadron some hours earlier. He clenched his fist as anger coursed through him. Even though he already accepted the fact that his SIC was and always would be utterly useless, it still managed to make the energon in his veins boil when the Seeker failed him and at a task as simple as securing an energon deposit for Primus's sake! However he was drawn out of his thoughts by the sound of something massive approaching from behind signaling the return of another considerably more dangerous and worrying problem, Predaking. Megatron turned around just in time to witness the hulking creature transform. Although the brooding warlord was quick to notice that much of Predaking's body was adorned with deep scratches and lacerations. He raised an eye ridge at this bizarre sight, for even when the Predacon had fought the Autobots who had destroyed the others of his kind he'd emerged with nary a scratch on him, what could have possibly left him with such nasty wounds?

"Predaking? What has happened to you? Don't tell me that the Autobots are responsible for putting you in such a state." He inquired, careful to not let the Predacon see the utter loathe that he truly held for him. A loathe that Predaking was still completely oblivious too.

"No, Lord Megatron rest assured that it was not the Autobots who inflicted these injuries upon me and in spite of how they must look they are actually far from severe." He explained casting a cold glance down at his injuries; they didn't really look that bad did they? But he quickly shook those thoughts off and refocused on the situation at hand. "However I have some most extraordinary news-"

"Starscream successfully secured the new energon deposit?"

"No…" Predaking paused then snorted when thoughts of the Seeker crossed his processor. "That fool is incapable of accomplishing even the most basic of tasks. No my Lord, I have found something that will make the all of that energon seem insignificant." Megatron looked at him strangely but since his interest had been captured so Predaking continued… "Please allow me to introduce you to Songbird."

"Song-" Megatron's voice trailed off just as right behind Predaking the large and imposing frame of a second Predacon appeared. A very familiar Predacon… A Predacon that according to the scientist who created it, should be long dead at this point! Songbird walked past Predaking until she stood directly in front of the warlord; even though she was somewhat shorter than the hulking dragon that Predaking could become she was still much larger than Megatron. Her optics narrowed as she looked down at him… And as she was taking in what he looked like, an uncomfortable feeling began form within the back processor. Although what it was about she could not place at this time… But there was one thing she could tell instantly, he did not like her… and the feeling was mutual.

…awkward silence…

"So… after all this time the second Predacon lives." Megatron commented as he inspected Songbirds imposing frame; however she carefully positioned her wings in order to obscure Moonrise and Freefall from his view. Thankfully neither of the girls said anything or drew any attention to themselves and for this Songbird was grateful. However upon hearing his masters words Predaking's optics widened in disbelief.

"Second Predacon? You knew of her existence?" He questioned, confused at how her existence was a total shock to him and yet Megatron somehow seemed to know of her before him.

"Indeed." It was not Megatron who answered him but Shockwave who had just entered the room along with Soundwave and Knockout. Both whom immediately stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of yet another massive Predacon, undoubtedly confused since everyone had believed that Project Predacon had been 'terminated' by the Autobot's only a few months prior. So what in the name of Primus was a new Predacon doing here now?! Shockwave however seemed to take this new… complication… in stride and he appeared to be fascinated at the fact that yet another one of his creations was now present and accounted for. "Originally I created this Predacon along with you, you were both activated at the same time. But how it is alive now defies all logic." And with that he reached out to touch Songbird…

"Whatever part of you touches me isn't coming back." Songbird warned flatly. Of course the fact that she spoke out stopped Shockwave dead in his tracks. She glared icily down at the scientist just as a chill made its way up her spinal struts. She immediately knew that there was something… off… about him and that was putting mildly.

"It can speak in its beast form?" Megatron inquired just as surprised as everyone else was at this new revelation.

"It has a name…" She growled at him. "I believe that the dragon just stated it, my name is Songbird. And am I to presume that you are the one called Megatron? Or should I just refer to you as it." She was careful to say that last part with a great deal of spite. Successfully causing the entire room to go deathly quiet since no one in their right mind dare talk to Megatron in such a manner… Something that Predaking was completely aware of and thus he sought to defuse the situation before it even began to get out of control.

"Forgive her Master, she is not thinking about what she is saying! She means you no disrespect!" He quickly injected while giving Songbird an irritated glare. A look which she quickly returned to him a thousand fold.

"I can speak for myself!" She snapped before returning her attention back to Megatron. "As for my so called disrespect, I was merely returning to you the same lack of respect you were giving me… as for the main reason why I am here, it's because some genius decided to go and blow up my lair! The energon that you tried to steal belonged to me and now because of your actions my home has been destroyed! However…" And with this she took a moment and managed to calm down at least somewhat before continuing. "However there is no way you could have known that I was living there so I will not hold you accountable… but since I am currently homeless I would hope we could make an arrangement to rectify this situation."

"I am… listening." Megatron replied calmly.

"You have… an impressive air fortress. Surly you must have some spare rooms?"

"You can't be serious!" Freefall suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs, alerting every Decepticon in the room to the presence of the two children on Songbirds back. Songbird herself flinched at her daughter's outburst, as she had been hoping to avoid bringing attention to her children at all during this little meeting… she should have known that wouldn't happen. She may have been a lucky individual but even she wasn't that lucky.

"Freefall-" She started to speak, only to be cut off by her outraged daughter.

"No! We don't need their help! We are better off on our own!" The girl seethed and glanced around, giving the evil eye to everyone in the room especially Predaking. "This is a mistake! A bad idea on a hundred million fragging levels!"

"Freefall that's enough!" Songbird snarled. "You will not talk back or question me again!" Immediately Freefall went deathly quiet and even flinched away from her mother's angry voice. It might be surprising, but over the five years that they had lived together Songbird had virtually never had to really raise her voice at her adopted children. So on the rare occasion she yelled at them it must have been due to something major…

"You… have pets?" Megatron inquired as he got closer to inspect the two small organics; Freefall had to bite down hard on her tongue to restrain herself from calling the Decepticon warlord several inappropriate names… Buckethead being very near the top of this list... Moonrise on the other hand merely looked up with her usual fearless, naïve little eyes. Completely oblivious to the ice cold glare Megatron was giving to her and her sister.

"They are not pets!" Songbird corrected hotly. "They are my children, my sparklings."

"Whatever you may call them, you should teach that one to choose its words more wisely." Megatron grunted; although he found this Predacons declaration of two humans being her sparklings to be surprising it was hardly the most bizarre thing at this moment. Immediately Freefall lost her temper again and went to say something snappy back at him but a loud growl and a quick glare from Songbird caused her words to die before she could voice them.

"As I was saying…" Songbird continued drawing this conversation away from her daughters. "You must have some rooms available, would you be inclined to allow me and my sparklings to stay in one? Naturally this would not be a permanent arrangement, it would only be until I can find something better suited to our needs then we would simply go our separate ways… Hopefully to never cross paths again." Upon hearing these words Predaking went to say something but Megatron held a hand up to him, wordlessly silencing him.

"Your request is… interesting. It is certainly simple enough, but what is it that you could offer for your end of this bargain?"

"My services." Songbird explained. "Until I can find a new home I will… assist you in whatever tasks you need completed around here. Provided of course that they are within reason." She hastily added that last part, just to be on the safe side. Megatron was quiet as he considered Songbird's proposal; although the concept of having another Predacon on board his warship made his tanks churn, he knew that sending her away might bring about some problems with Predaking. For as long as the foolish Predacon still believed that the Decepticon leader would resurrect the rest of his species he could be useful… but to turn away Songbird may cause him to question his masters true intent and Megatron didn't want that, at least not at this time… However the gryphon Predacon's priorities seem to radically differ from that of her counterpart and he could tell that there was also a great deal of friction between the two; he smiled as a malicious plan began to formulate in his mind.

Perhaps there was a way to kill two Predacon's with one stone…

"I will accept your offer." He said just as a loud sound split through the air and in under a minute the charred and heavily damaged form of Starscream made its way onto the bridge.

"Lord Megatron I have some most distressing news!" The Seeker shrieked as he somehow failed to notice that Songbird was actually on the bridge. "While I was in the process of securing the energon deposit I made a most horrific discovery! There is another-"

"Starscream." Megatron cut him off rather abruptly and then motioned over to where Songbird was currently standing and now leering at the Second in Command. "Allow me to introduce you to Songbird; although I take it you two have already met…" Still it was amusing as a look of utter terror suddenly filled the Seeker's face as Songbird proceeded to walk up and look him dead in the optic.

"Boo!" Admittedly it did bring her a bit of sick pleasure when Starscream squeaked indignantly and proceeded to hide behind Knockout. "Has anyone ever told you that you have the spinal struts of a gummy bear?" She commented dryly and for the first time the Nemesis's medic captured Songbirds attention. He stared right back at her although strangely he didn't seem afraid, in fact he seemed indifferent to the entire situation. Having been quietly watching everything that had gone on with cold optics…

If Songbird had to pick a single word to describe just how he looked she couldn't think of a better word than broken…

She managed to look him over once before she felt a servo pulling on her wing; Songbird looked over only to see that Shockwave had seized her wing and was inspecting it. "I said don't touch me you mono-optic moron!" She roared before rearing onto her hind legs and swatting him clean across the bridge and into a wall. A blue light began to shine within her mouth as she started to create what would undoubtedly be a lethal blast of lightning, only to have Megatron step in between her and her target.

"Since you will be staying on board my vessel you will NOT attack any of my officers!" He growled menacingly and he pointed his arm cannon warningly at up Songbird. She glared angrily at him for a few moments before yielding and she let all of the energy that had been building disperse… although she did cough out a few blue sparks immediately afterwards.

"But the Cyclops started it!" Moonrise pointed out bluntly. Much like Songbird she was picking up on something that she didn't like coming from the scientist. But the youngster quickly found her words fell on deaf audios and Songbird sent her youngest child a warning glance which quickly made the little one go very quiet.

"You would be wise to remember that as of now you serve the Decepticons… that being said; Predaking why don't you escort your fellow Predacon to her new room. She may have her pick of any of the empty berthrooms." Megatron explained. "Unless she would prefer to stay with you in your kennel." Of course Predaking went to agree with this option but…

"I am NOT staying in a kennel!" She made her point very clear much to Predaking's dismay. "I'll take one of these other rooms that you are offering."

"Fine… Soundwave perhaps you should be the one to show Songbird to the other rooms?" Acknowledging his commanders request Soundwave made a slight motion with his hand the indicating for the femme Predacon to follow, which she did without so much as a word. Once his Third in Command and Songbird were out of hearing range Megatron returned his attention to the clearly dismayed dragon Predacon.

"A word of caution Predaking," He said with false concern. "As pleased as you must be to have another of your kind with you; you must not let this femme treat you with such blatant disrespect. You are a king are you not? Do whatever you must to assert your dominance over her… otherwise it will be you bowing to her in the end."

"Rest assured Lord Megatron I have no intention of letting that happen." Predaking explained coldly, his optics glancing in the direction of the hallway that Songbird and Soundwave had disappeared down. "My patience with her is already growing thin. If she disrespects me again I will put her in her place." And with that he turned around and stormed down the hallway that led to his private quarters… He preferred to use that term over kennel. Although he did not blame him for his poor wording, inwardly Predaking wondered if Songbird might have reconsidered staying with him if Megatron hadn't referred to his room as a kennel in the first place…

"My Lord what are we going to do?!" Starscream nervously asked once Predaking was gone. "Just when we thought we would only have to deal with one beast another one appears! I thought the second one was supposed to be long dead?!"

"As unexpected as this situation is Starscream, I believe that it can work to our advantage. If the two beasts remain as hostile as they currently are towards one another… They may very well end up killing each other." Megatron explained. "However I am still unhappy with this new development Shockwave; why is that Predacon still alive when you originally said it was too weak to keep living?"

"I am as baffled as you are my Lord. The femme's spark should not have lasted more than several hours according to my calculations… aside from the obvious color of her optics and highlights changing, she somehow seems to be able to control lightning rather than fire… It is something that is not logically possible."

"Couldn't it just been a variant within the species?" Megatron inquired.

"Negative. According to my analysis all Predacon's were only capable of breathing fire. It is unclear how such a mutation occurred." He went silent for a few minutes, deep in thought.

"Or maybe you're just not as smart as you think you are. It wouldn't be the first decision you made that blew up in your face." Knockout stated hotly, although for some unknown reason his words were angry yet there remained something in his voice that sounded… hollow. No one knew exactly when or why Knockout's personality had first started to change, but at this point the once vain and self-centered medic was a ghost of his former self… he had stopped sneaking off to go street racing, in fact he rarely even left the med bay anymore. While often a topic of conversation amongst the Vehicons and Eradicons, the rest of the officers and Megatron could've cared less… In fact they were even pleased that they no longer had to deal with Knockouts troublesome antics anymore.

"Your logic is incorrect Knockout." Shockwave said so simply that it was obvious he could've cared less about whatever the medic was angry about. "But I would have to agree with your reasoning Lord Megatron; there is a high probability that the two can be pushed to violent confrontations…" Megatron just chuckled darkly.

We will just have to wait and see…

Soundwave led Songbird into one of the larger unused berthrooms, it wasn't anything special, in fact it was pretty much just a spacious room with a single large berth. But to Songbird it was more than enough for her and her sparklings.

"This will do nicely; thank you." She said as she went inside and began inspecting the berth. It was a bit strange to her since she had never slept on one before, having always been laying on the ground in her cave. The silent mech merely nodded and went on his way, undoubtedly returning to the bridge. Leaving Songbird and her daughters alone at last.

"So… we're really staying here?" Freefall asked timidly one Songbird had climbed up onto the berth and allowed her daughters to slip of her back and lay against her side. Although the young girl knew her adoptive mother would never hurt her, some part of her was still afraid to speak after getting yelled at.

"I'm afraid so my sweetspark. I know that you're not exactly pleased with this and quite frankly neither am I… But it will do for now until we can find a new home." The Gryphon vented sadly as she then looked down at her sparklings. "Freefall I know you only mean well, but you must not talk back to me like that again. Do you understand?"

"I understand, it's just… that I got a bad feeling about all of this, I just don't want anything bad to happen to you or Moony."

Songbird chuckled slightly at this. "Nothing will ever happen to me, that much I can assure you right now. And you know I would never allow any harm to befall you or your sister. Just leave the worrying to me Freefall, I'll always be here to take care of you." Getting that cleared up relieved some of the tension that had befallen the family at least somewhat until Songbird realized something that made her mentally kick herself. "You two must be hungry… I'm sorry but I have nothing to feed you tonight."

"Actually I feel like I never want to eat again." Freefall admitted, the stress of the day having obviously taken quite a toll on her emotionally as well as physically.

"I'm not really hungry either, I ate too many berries earlier." Moonrise chirped. The total opposite of her sister, she did not see the day as being stressful she saw it as the beginning of an adventure. Moony was the embodiment of innocence pure and simple. "Mama, could you sing to us tonight? Please?" Even after obtaining her name, Songbird never once thought that she would live up to it… But as fate would have it she had developed quite a singing voice. Originally she had just been singing to herself in the odd moment she found herself alone, but as fate would have it Moonrise and Freefall had overheard her ever since that day the two had asked her to sing for them regularly. A request that Songbird was happy to oblige…

"Alright then my sparklings. But just the one song tonight…" Songbird said and she quietly waited for her two children to get themselves comfortable before she began to sing...

In the woodlands low, born of ice and snow,
there's a maiden weeping tonight.
Snow falls softly 'neath the winter moon…

Forest bare and white, she dwells there by night;
listen to her cry sorrow's song.
Tears falls softly 'neath the winter moon.

Breathless, icy, bright. Daughter of the night.
Oh, who do you cry for?
Keening softly 'neath the winter moon.

Fuyu no tsuki, fuyu no tsuki, kanashimi utsusu fuyu no tsuki
Kogoeru fuyu no tsuki no yoru ni yuki no otome hana o mistuke ni
yuki ni umoreta sanrin no naka o tabi tsuzukena sai

Traveler passing through, feet all bare, his smile was true.
His eyes shone with starlight.
He waked softly 'neath the winter moon.

Love made my heart soar, you're the one I've waited for!
Stay with me forever!
She cried softly 'neath the winter moon.

In the snow he stayed, from my side he did not stray.
My hands could not warm him…
He died softly 'neath the winter moon…

Fuyu no tsuki, fuyu no tsuki, kanashimi utsusu fuyu no tsuki
Kogoeru fuyu no tsuki no yoru ni yuki no otome hana o mistuke ni
yuki ni umoreta sanrin no naka o tabi tsuzukena sai

The girls were sound asleep before the song ended…

And only once was Songbird absolutely sure that they were asleep did she gently drape one of her large feathery wings over the two sleeping forms, in order to better keep them warm and safe. But Songbird herself did not go to sleep; as quietly as she could she pulled her entire deck tarot cards out of her satchel and she shuffled the deck. Well, at least as good as any creature that only had three sharp talons could do. It was time for her to do a reading; for in spite of how she acted in front Predaking and the Decepticons she was really intimidated as hell.

It was not in her nature at least as far as she knew, to be a social creature. But that had changed when she had found her daughters. They had been the ones who gave her reason… They gave her a reason to learn to speak, they gave her reason to hunt and they gave her a reason to keep trespassers out of her domain. They gave her the most precious thing she could have ever possibly obtained; they gave her something to love…

But now here she was thrown into a completely unexpected and extremely dangerous situation. It was times like this that she was grateful for her gifts of premonition and divination. Perhaps in another time she would've been considered a mystic, since she believed so strongly in her own brand of magic. Silently she drew her cards, six in total one for each of the main group of Decepticons.

'Show me what I need to know.' Songbird thought silently to herself. 'Let's start with the one called Starscream.' And she then proceeded to turn over one of the six cards.

The Fool

'No surprise there. It's not very often that the cards are so literal in their meaning.' Songbird thought with the slightest hint of amusement in her inner voice. While The Fool could have many meanings like with all tarot cards, she perceived this one to be literal only to its namesake. Although there was not a doubt in her mind that he could be dangerous, he was far from being her most pressing trouble. 'Now let's try another. How about the silent one; I believe his name is Soundwave?' She turned over another card intending to see something hopefully a little less obvious than the first one she read.

Nine Swords

'Someone who has experienced incredible despair, loneliness and pain. An individual with terrible anxiety and yet through it all tries to maintain some form of inner peace. Though their looming troubles may deny them a peaceful recharge.' Not exactly what she was expecting to see but for some bizarre reason it seemed appropriate. To Songbird this reading brought about some pity for the mech but that hardly meant she was going to lower her guard around him anytime soon. 'Now for the red mech…'

The Tower

'He has been through a lot to say the least. There has been so much change and all it has brought about is misery. Loss and pain have become constant companions and joy is but a distant memory.' And here she was thinking that the last reading inspired pity, that was nothing compared to this one. What? Were all individuals on board this ship mentally damaged? Shaking her head, Songbird turned over another card only this one was meant to read none other than Megatron himself.

The Emperor

'This individual is someone of strong character who demands respect and holds a position of high authority and power. But he is a conniving, cold spirited mech who is incapable of accepting defeat and cannot deal with emotional loss… He truly cares and values very few individuals so be warned.' While this was to be expected what surprised Songbird the most was to learn that he cared for anybody other than himself at all! That being said Songbird moved on to the next individual and decided it was time to learn a little bit about Predaking.

Two Cups

'…someone seeking connection. A lonely individual who has found someone and is attempting to reach out for companionship. Social skills need work…' Honestly Songbird did not read that last part in the cards that was her own personal opinion. She vented softly, suddenly feeling a bit guilty for how she had treated the dragon. But in her own defense her own social skills sucked just as bad as his did. Songbird remained silent and still for quite some time while she became lost in her thoughts; eventually she managed to bring herself back to reality and pushed the thoughts of her fellow Predacon from her processor. She had one final card to read and quite frankly it was the one that worried her the most. 'The Cyclops.'

The Devil

It was as though the tarot cards had just confirmed her fears. 'A cruel and cunning individual, merciless in pursuit of their goals and intolerant to anything or anyone who gets in their way. Fear this one for he means you and yours harm.' This bothered Songbird, this bothered her a lot. She had clearly heard what he had said about being the one who created both her and Predaking, quite frankly that didn't matter since she valued how she was reborn more so than how she was originally created… This Cyclops had cold and calculating aura around him, almost like he would love nothing more than to slice her open while she was still alive to see how she worked. That thought gave her a chill up her spinal struts… But that was it. She was done. There was nothing else to see tonight, so she collected her cards and put them back in her satchel. Before eventually closing her optics and falling into a recharge that was plagued by nightmares...

I'm just going to take a sec here to point out that the song that Songbird sang in this chapter is called Winter Moon by Erutan. Alright everyone that's it for this chapter! As always please remember to Read and Review! Reviews are loved and can get me to update quicker!