Chapter 5: Unpleasant Reuniting
Optimus returned to the base noticing everyone there looking at him.
"Optimus, where's Moonstriker?" Bulkhead asked.
"Moonstriker...was taken by Megatron." Optimus sighed.
The other Autobots gasped. Ratchet looked at the monitors and saw a message that Shockwave had sent to Moonstriker before he left.
"Apparently Shockwave finally found him after so long. But...with Predaking on the warship as well. I fear it's only a matter of time before the beast offlines him." Ratchet shook his head.
"Autobots, we must rescue Moonstriker." Optimus said.
"But how? Why would Moonstriker want to come back if he's with Shockwave. They're probably having some big party up there!" Smokescreen said.
On the warship, Shockwave and Moonstriker listened to Megatron as he talked about the current situation of Project Predacon. Knock Out, Starscream and Soundwave were also present.
"I fear this objective may prove to be a mistake. Predaking knows too much, and when he find out that we were the ones truly responsible for getting the Autobots to destroy the clones. He will resort to killing us all." Megatron said. "Inlcuding you Moonstriker."
Moonstriker whimpered at the mentioning of him being killed.
"So...what must we do?" Starscream asked.
"Shockwave, destroy anymore traces of Predacon research in your lab quickly. Predaking must never know." Megatron commanded.
"Yes my liege!" Shockwave bowed and exited the the room.
Moonstriker thought it was pretty cool to see Megatron and Soundwave again, but Starscream of course he didn't like when he was helping the Autobots. Starscream kept his distance. Megatron walked up to Moonstriker.
"Moonstriker, as you know, we are still at war after so many eons."
"Yes."
"I see you've sided with the Decepticons." Megatron pointed to the insignia on the mech's shoulder.
"Well, I really don't know anymore Megatron. I mean, I don't really want to be apart of this. But Shockwave said it's too late to be a neutral. I don't want to hurt anybody. I have no reason to. The Autobots were nice, and so were you and Soundwave."
"But you see, you are possibly the key to ending this war quickly. With your brute strength and damage resistance. Whatever side you would want to be on would surely win. After all, even I couldn't stop you if I tried!"
Starscream decided to cut in.
"Oh please master, you and Moonstriker would probably be evenly matched!" Starscream scoffed.
"Starscream, I didn't ask for you comment!" Megatron snarled.
"Moonstriker, you must join the Decepticons. Besides, we are going to win anyways." Starscream said.
"I don't know!"
"IT'S TOO LATE TO BE THINKING! YOU ALREADY GOT THE MARK!" Starscream jabbed a long sharp talon onto the Insignia.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Moonstriker growled stomping a foot hard onto the floor shaking the whole ship.
Starscream tumbled into a wall while Megatron, Knock Out and Soundwave wanted to laugh at that.
"Moonstriker stay calm. We don't need this ship taken down like last time!" Megatron growled.
Moonstriker sighed and walked out of the room passing by a few vehicons who ran away terrified by the Monster Mech. Later, he and Shockwave walked down a hallway together.
"So Shockwave, what happened to your arm?" Moonstriker asked.
Shockwave shook the memory of Grimlock tearing it off and eating it whole.
"It was lost during the war...at a time I wish I could forget!" Shockwave sighed. "It was...beyond recovery."
"Oh...mabye I could make a new one...one day." Moonstriker said.
"No need, this wepaon has proven to be more reliable during the war and I have killed plenty of Autobots with it."
"Well, what am I going to do Shockwave? I honestly don't want to be a Decepticon or Autobot. I just want things back the way they were...before all of this. But it will never happen. I mean, aren't the Insecticons dead?"
"Yeah...but they died honorably in battle. Even if Kickback and Sharpshot never made it to Earth."
"When this is all over...will we...you know...be able to hang around each other again?"
"Your question...is logical. We will be together again...but right now...I don't know if Lord Megatron had told you yet but...you need to choose." Shockwave stopped them both.
"So what you're saying is...I'm either with you...or against you?"
"Logically!"
Moonstriker sighed. He couldn't decide. He wanted to be around Shockwave, but he was assisting in destroying a planet that shouldn't have to deal with this war. Plus, Optimus Prime was his friend.
"Shockwave...can I have a moment...alone?" Moonstriker asked.
"Yes!"
Moonstriker found his way up to the roof and sat on the edge of the Nemesis listening to the thunder and seeing the lightning flashing across the sky. He didn't care about the rain, he was too lost in thought. He couldn't forgive himself if he killed anybody. He looked at his sharp claws, he couldn't bring himself to tear anybody up. Then he balled his hands into fists revealing the knuckle braces. He remembered punching Ultra Magnus with them, he felt horrible. He knew his fangs were for biting, he didn't feel like sinking them into anybody. He was nothing but a complete killing machine. He wrapped himself in his large bat wings and buried his head while thinking. From behind, Predaking was in his beat form sleeping but couldn't help but look over at the opening where he could see Moonstriker sulking. He then thought mabye he should see what was wrong.
Moonstriker could hear Predaking approaching and braced to get hit but it never came. Predaking cames towards him and nudged him from the side. Moonstriker could sense Predaking didn't mean no harm.
"I'm sorry Predaking that I'm around. I know Predacons and Monster Mechs were enemies back on Cybertron. But...I don't want us to...be enemies!" Moonstriker said sadly.
Predaking transformed and nodded.
"I'm sorry for the way I treated you when we met earlier. And I agree with you, we shouldn't have to deal with this war. But what can we do? We're stuck here." Predaking shrugged.
"Yeah...will we ever see Cybertron again?" Moonstriker asked.
"I hope so Moonstriker, I hope so!"
To be continued...