Starscream struggled with his only arm to move aside rocks one by one, using all his strength to at least get a hole through. He grumbled to himself about revenge and torture as he clawed at the stones.
"That slagging beast will pay." The seeker growled, finally getting some light to shine through.
Backing away, he aimed his last missle and shot at the weakened wall of rubble, blasting it out and quickly running through the dust to escape before another cave in happened. He let out a loud sigh at the fresh air, smiling from his freedom.
"I made it." Starscream practically giggled to himself until the pain from his open limb began to pang.
The seeker quickly called in a ground bridge, blinking when he got no answer. Trying again, he growled as he demanded a bridge, getting nothing but silence.
"I KNOW you all can hear me! Soundwave?! SOUNDWAVE!" Starscream shrilled, clenching his teeth as there was no response. "Slag it!" he yelled as he transformed and flew off into the sky, hoping he'd be able to make the cross country trip on what energon he had left in his system.
Ripjaw was enjoying the fact that the seeker had yet to return, knowing no one would bother her as much as he did. She continued her flying lessons with her sire, soon being able to finally make small flights on lower ground to avoid high winds.
"When can I fly off the ship?" She inquired.
"When you get heavier. The winds still bat you around like a leaf right now." Predaking answered, patting her head.
The youngling pouted at that. "I will defeat the winds someday."
"I know you will, young one." Predaking chuckled with a smile, looking up to the Nemesis. "We should return."
Ripjaw followed his gaze, optics dazing out a bit as she remembered her conversation with Optimus. The king looked down and saw her daydream state.
"Ripjaw? Is something on your mind?" He inquired.
"Huh? Oh, i-it's nothing, sire." The sparkling replied, looking down in her obvious lie.
Predaking raised a brow ridge as she never had a reason to lie to him. "Tell me."
Ripjaw clenched her fists a bit, still not looking at him. "….why do we fight for Megatron?"
He blinked, surprised at her question. "Because he is our master."
"But why?" She asked, finally looking up at him. "He did not create us."
"But he ordered our creation and furthered it with command. We owe him our lives." Predaking answered. "What brought on these thoughts?"
The youngling looked down again. "…the Autobot leader spoke to me." She flinched as he let out a loud growl. "He was kind to me though!"
"He is filling your head with rebellion against our master! The Autobots are our enemies, they murdered our brethren! Do not let his false kindness trick you!" the king bellowed, enraged that the interaction even happened.
"But sire…he spoke in ways that made me think…" she replied. "He said… he said the Decepticons fought for violence and cruelty. Is that what we Predacons strive for? Is that the true way of things?"
Predaking grew silent, unsure of how to answer. Yes his master was destructive, but it was nothing personal compared to the deaths of his fallen brethren.
"We fight for Megatron and that will not change, young one." He said firmly.
"But what if I don't want to fight for pure destruction?" she responded, seeing his deepening frown. "I mean no offense, sire, but do we fight blindly for a cruel ruler?"
"You are too young to understand!" Predaking actually yelled, seeing her take a step back but continued. "You do not understand just how horrible the Autobots are for what they've done! They massacred our fellow Predacons without mercy for destruction they never committed!"
"But they would have! Under Megatron they all would have destroyed!" She yelled back, tears welling up in her optics at his shouting at her for the first time. "Are we mindless beasts or intelligent beings?!"
Predaking glared as he stopped at her question, clenching his fists at her growing intelligence. She spoke so boldly and adult like at such a young age. "You do not understand."
Ripjaw bared her teeth for once at her own sire. "I think it is you who doesn't understand! You speak of revenge but where will that lead to? More destruction? If you kill one of them, then they'll want revenge and kill one of us, then it all repeats! Where will it all end?!"
"ENOUGH! I do not have to explain myself to a sparkling!" He roared, silencing her in fear and seeing her back away even further, this sight making him quiet down. "…Ripjaw, I-I'm sorry."
It was too late though, she quickly turned and transformed, speeding away as fast as she could from him. Predaking took a step but stayed where he was, unsure of whether or not the give her time alone. He clenched his fists again as he cursed himself silently for losing his temper at his own sparkling
Megatron watched on the screens as Laserbeak recorded the entire altercation, frowning deeply at the younglings outspoken thoughts.
"She is going to become troublesome if this continues. Soundwave, track down her coordinates and send her off far away then go and eliminate her." The leader ordered.
Soundwave nodded silently, opening a ground bridge as she ran through it during her flee and making his own as he walked through.
Ripjaw looked around in confusion as she was in a desert plain with large cliffs everywhere, blinking and looking behind her as Soundwave came through a ground bridge. She shrieked as the communications bot aimed and fired a shot at her, quickly running away to escape the attacker.
Why is he trying to harm me?! She thought as she ran, confusion having led to her hasty retreat.
She soon reached a road and scampered alongside it, not daring to look back as all she heard were shots being fired after her. The silent assailant followed, his sensors on her every move. Her curiosity overtook her as she heard a car engine in the distance getting closer, looking back and seeing a black and yellow car speeding towards them. Bumblebee swiftly transformed at seeing Soundwave and immediately went into battle mode, shooting at the bot.
Soundwave quickly dodged the attack, cable tendrils coming out and swiping at the scout as his own shots now aimed at his enemy. Ripjaw continued in her escape, not caring what happened to either bot as she just wanted to get to safety. Her sensors caught a familiar scent in the air, realizing she was close to the Autobot base.
The young Predacon followed her sense of smell and quickly found a large cliff face, looking for an entrance but seeing none. In desperation she transformed and began to shout for help but heard no reply. She looked back to see if her assailant was back on her tracks but saw the battle still ensuing, gasping as a hidden doorway suddenly opened and a motorcycle with white and blue car flew out. Taking her chance, she quickly scurried in before it closed behind them, running through the corridor that lead to the inner base.
Ratchet heard small clacking of claws, slowly looking away from his screen and jumping back as he saw the young Predacon. "Slag, it's back!"
Ripjaw swiftly transformed and held up her hands. "I mean no harm, I need safety!"
The medic stared in disbelief. "After the havoc you caused us and your threats from last time?! I'm hardly inclined to believe you!"
"Calm yourself, Ratchet." Optimus said as he walked into the main room, looking at the little Predacon. "Why have you returned?"
"I was sent here by a portal and then a Decepticon came through another and attacked me! I smelt the scent of your base and followed it here. Please, I need to be safe from him." She pleaded, fear in her optics.
The leader kneeled down and smiled softly. "You may stay, Ripjaw, but only if you promise to cause no harm."
"Are you serious, Optimus?!" Ratchet exclaimed.
"I promise." She replied to the leader, catching her breath from the run as she ignored the medics' outcry.
"Optimus, we can't trust her word! What if she was sent with a tracker?! The Decepticons could be locating us as we speak!" Ratchet continued.
"I do not believe that to be the situation, my friend." Optimus replied, standing back up.
The medic shook his head. "You're far too trusting of this creature."
"I am no longer following the Decepticons! They have made too many attempts on my life for my liking and I'm done!" Ripjaw yelled, growling some at Ratchet.
"As if I could believe the word of a Predacon!" he shouted back as his allies finally returned from the fight with Soundwave.
Ripjaw quickly ran behind the primes' leg as they came and suddenly aimed their weapons at seeing her.
"Stand down, everyone. She is with us now." Optimus informed, getting dumbfounded looks from the others.
"Really?" Smokescreen asked, looking back at her and seeing how different she is in her attitude being fearful, lowering his weapon.
"How can we trust that?" Arcee inquired, keeping her guns ready.
"I trust her." The leader stated, looking down at the hiding sparkling. "A proud Predacon would not be this way if something were not truly wrong."
The others slowly retreated their weapons, all optics on the young Predacon. Ripjaw looked up to Optimus, relief showing.
"Thank you." She said gratefully.
"What about Predaking? Surely he will come looking for her." Ratchet said in frustration.
Ripjaw looked to him and furrowed her brow. "If my sire comes with malicious intent, I will deal with him."