Chapter 4: The Truth

Optimus, Bumblebee, Moonstriker and the children return to base with the large pile of energon in the back of Moonstriker. The other Autobots were surprised when Optimus began unloading the energon so Moonstriker could transform.

"How did you get so much?" Ratchet asked.

"Moonstriker scared off Starscream and his army." Jack said.

The Autobots look at Moonstriker who was smiling, his fangs bending to support the smile.

"Nice save!" Bulkhead said impressed.

"He'd make a fine wrecker!" Wheeljack nodded.

Moonstriker didn't say anything and instead just walked away sadly. He didn't care for the praise or energon...he just wanted to see Shockwave again. Half of him was mad at Shockwave for leaving him while the other half was missing him. Speaking of Shockwave, he was back in his lab furious with Megatron right now over having to just abandon Moonstriker. Sure, the war was what everyone was focused on, no Decepticon worried about emotions or the past, and usually Shockwave was nothing but a cold merciless but loyal mech to Megatron. But something had to give, and it was Shockwave's emotions that were clawing back into his processor.

"Ugh, I need to find him and tell him I'm sorry!" Shockwave sighed.

In the middle of the night, there was a thunderstorm and lightning flashed many times. Shockwave was awake wanting to find a right time to sneak out of the Nemesis. Knowing Soundwave, he was still awake during some work. Does that guy ever recharge? Shockwave walked out of his room and raced down a few hallways hoping not to disturb anyone. Upon reaching the main room, he spotted Predaking walking around.

"Scrap!" Shockwave sighed.

Predaking noticed Shockwave and walked over to him.

"What is troubling you Shockwave?" Predaking asked.

"It's none of your conern Predaking. I need to do this alone!" Shockwave said walking past him.

"Please Shockwave, let me go with you!" Predaking said.

"No, what I'm dealing with is a species that no Predacon likes. Monster Mechs!" Shockwave said.

Predaking gasped and growled. Even he knew about their existence. They were rivals with the Predacons until all the Predacons went extinct.

"I know of them, but how are they still alive?" Predaking snarled.

"Only one is left, and he was adopted by me long before the war. I raised him up till the war started, then I sent him here to be safe. Now he's with the Autobots, and I must bring him back here." Shockwave explained.

"NO! Let him stay with the Autobot scum!" Predaking said.

"No! I need to find him without help." Shockwave snapped.

Shockwave ignored Predaking's next protests and walked into the main room where Soundwave was still typing. But he stopped to see who had entered.

"Soundwave, I need a groundbridge to the place Starscream failed to get the energon." Shockwave said.

"You mean we!" Predaking said.

"No! Just me!" Shockwave said.

Soundwave didn't want to hear any arguing so he activated the groundbridge! Shockwave was trying to shove Predaking away.

"Shockwave with all due respect...I'M GOING!" Predaking snarls.

Predaking tackles Shockwave through the groundbridge and they end up rolling into the empty energon sighting. They were quickly rained on. Shockwave shoves himself away from Predaking and growls.

"I NEED TO DO THIS ALONE!"

"NOT UNTIL I BEAT THAT MONSTER MECH INTO A PILE OF SCRAP!"

Shockwave knew fighting Predaking would be a very bad idea. He placed some distance between them and sent a message to the Autobots. In the base, the message popped onto the monitors but for some reason the alarms didn't come on. Moonstriker noticed the green glow from the main room and decided to check it out. He saw that it was a message...from Shockwave. His optics beamed.

"Shockwave!" Moonstriker said.

The message said:

"Moonstriker. If you're reading this, meet me at these coordinates, come alone."

Moonstriker smiled and activated the groundbridge. He hoped none of the other Autobots heard it. He transformed and raced through quickly but the groundbridge stayed on. Moonstriker arrived near the site and looked up at the sky. He actually began to like Earth. It's weather was interesting and the humans were pretty cool, even though he only knows a few. He walked about a minute further until he saw Shockwave arguing again with Predaking. Moonstriker gasped...there was Shockwave! But Moonstriker was horrified to see Predaking.

"The Predacon, I can't just go over to Shockwave with him there." Moonstriker said thinking of a plan.

But he didn't watch where he was standing. He was at the edge of a hill and it gave away from his weight. Shockwave and Predaking watched as Moonstriker fell a few feet before landing on his aft.

"Ugh, great! There goes the element of surprise!" Moonstriker groaned.

"THE MONSTER MECH!" Predaking growled.

"MOONSTRIKER!" Shockwave yelled.

"SHOCKWAVE?" Moonstriker gasped.

Before Shockwave could run over, Predaking was already transforming into robot mode to attack Moonstriker.

"PREDAKING STOP!" Shockwave demanded.

Moonstriker could too horrified to fight back so he transformed and raced away. Predaking gave chase leaving Shockwave panicking. Moonstriker raced around the desert trying to lose the Predacon. Predaking shot several blasts of fire until he knocked Moonstriker out of control and on his side forcing him to transform. Predaking pounced onto Moonstriker stared angrily into his optics. Shockwave arrived watching as Moonstriker was about to meet his doom.

"PREDAKING STOP!"

Predaking transformed and let out a loud growl towards Moonstriker who feared for his life. Predaking looked back at Shockwave who just stood there, then he looked back at Moonstriker. He really wanted to hurt him, but...he'd be destroying the last of their race. He heavily vented and got off of Moonstriker.

"I...I-I thought you were going to kill me." Moonstriker said.

"I was...but...mabye it was the wrong idea!" Predaking looked away.

Shockwave ran over and helped Moonstriker up. They looked at each other, father and son. They hadn't seen each other for years.

"Moonstriker? It defies all logic! How are you still alive?" Shockwave asked.

"The Autobots helped me out."

"But...you're a Decepticon."

"I really didn't know what I was. I don't even want to be a part of this. Too late to be neutral?"

"It is too late!"

"Shockwave I'm scared. I only got some info about the humans here, but...I miss Cybertron."

"As do I, but we must defeat the Autobots if we want to win this war."

"I can't do that Shockwave, after taking me in, I can't just...turn around and kill them. Especially Orion-er-Optimus."

"But you have to choose. We just got reunited, you can't just back out on me now."

"I don't want to...but...I don't know what to do. Especially after you lied to me."

"Lied? Moonstriker I would never lie to you!"

"You said you would come for me, yet, I've been on this planet for awhile and you didn't even detect that I was coming."

"I was busy cloning Predacon CNA, I didn't have time to check."

"DIDN'T HAVE TIME?" Moonstriker was starting to get angry.

Shockwave quickly wanted to change the subject but before he could, Megatron came out of his groundbridge.

"Shockwave, some drones have been telling me about how you and Predaking snuck out of the Warship. Wh-..."

Megatron was shocked to see Moonstriker standing right there. Megatron noticed that Moonstriker had grown.

"Moonstriker! Just the mech that could give us the advantage." Megatron smirked.

Really, that was what Megatron first said to him after so long?

"Megatron, you too have changed." Moonstriker said.

"Indeed, we all did. Why don't you come with us onto the Nemesis." Megatron offered. "Predaking, get back on the ship."

"Yes Lord Megatron!" Predaking bowed before leaving.

"Megatron...I-"

"LORD Megatron!" The tyrant corrected him.

"Uh...Lord Megatron, but I don't think that I should. I mean-"

"Surely you want to fully reunite with Shockwave right?" Megatron asked.

"Yes."

"Then come. The Autobots can wait!" Megatron sneered.

Moonstriker watched as Megatron and Shockwave walked towards the groundbridge. Suddenly Optimus arrived after realizing the groundbridge had been left open.

"Moonstriker!" Optimus yelled.

"Optimus!"

Moonstriker turned to the Prime but was pulled towards the bridge by Megatron before he could protest. Optimus watched as the groundbridge closed leaving him alone.

"Scrap!" Optimus sighed.

To be continued...