Sometime later, after a majority of the vehicons had bridged down to the surface to start work, AA-00 and Leecher were together discussing some more plans when the silver eradicon noticed that there was a commotion getting closer. They looked up to see what the problem was, and their wings went stiff at the sight. Leecher noticed the change in AA-00 and looked up as well.

"Oh," they said when they saw who it was.

Predaking was coming toward them, escorted by Charlie and Quebec. The vehicons that were still gathered were quick to get out of the predacon's path, but he didn't seem to notice. Quebec saw that the commanders were looking their way and waved.

AA-00 turned to glare at Leecher who just shrugged in return.

"He's not a vehicon," Leecher offered in explanation, "or an Autobot, so he doesn't really fall under your jurisdiction. Also, he's been a huge help with keeping the insecticons in line. Please overlook it, just this once."

AA-00 glared for a bit longer before the tension in their wings eased ever-so slightly. "Fine. But only this once. If it happens again…"

"Yes, we know. We will make sure to consult you next time. Predaking was the only one. We promise."

"What's the problem?" Charlie asked as the trio walked up.

"Nothing to worry about, Charlie," Leecher said, looking up at the taller femme. "What are you doing here? Better yet, what are you two doing together with him?"

"He came to us looking for 'the little one'," Quebec explained. "Cause someone wasn't answering their comms."

"Ah… our bad." Leecher looked up at the predacon. "Sorry, Predaking. We've been kinda busy. What did you need?"

"I found something that I wish to show the little one directly," he replied.

"Is that so?"

Predaking nodded, a little hopeful glint in his optics.

"Very well. Just a moment." Leecher turned to Charlie and passed her the datapad they had been going over with AA-00. "We trust your judgment when it comes to energon supplies, Charlie. We'll leave this to you."

"I'll handle it," Charlie replied, taking the datapad.

"Let's go, Predaking." Leecher turned, gesturing for Predaking to follow.

"They can't be serious," AA-00 commented, watching the two mechs walk away. "Leaving just like that."

"It's better this way, sir," said Quebec while Charlie quickly reviewed the plans on the datapad. "The only one who can keep Predaking in check is the commander."

"Hm, Commander AA-00? About running these supplies, are two small squads going to be enough?" asked Charlie, pulling the silver eradicon's attention back to the task at hand.

"Probably not. But I don't have any more squads to spare," AA-00 replied.

"Go ahead and reassign a squad from the processing unit. Julian and Quebec will be enough to make up for them."

"Are you sure?"

"It is understandable that you would have some doubts until you see them in action," Charlie answered. "How about reassigning the squad as a floater? That way they can help either group as needed."

"Understood," AA-00 said, typing away at their own datapad.

"Now, about the actual amount of supplies…"

After they left AA-00 and the others, Leecher turned to Predaking.

"What are the coordinates so we can open a ground bridge?" they asked.

"Actually, I was hoping that I could fly you there," said Predaking, confident.

"Fly?" Leecher looked up at the sky. "Uhm, not so sure…"

But Predaking had already shifted into his dragon form and was staring at them, great helm tilted expectantly.

"Ugh, fine," Leecher relented. "But only if we get to ride on your back."

With a soft hiss, Predaking lowered himself to the ground so that Leecher could climb up. Once they were situated, they spoke.

"Whenever you're ready, Preda-KING!?" Leecher was startled and nearly fell off when Predaking suddenly launched into the air. They leaned forward and magnetized to the predacon's armor as he climbed higher into the sky.

Once Predaking reached altitude and leveled off, Leecher sat up a little straighter and looked around.

"Oh!" Liliy exclaimed softly, inside the armor. "I know we've flown before, but this is…" She trailed off for a moment, then said, "I want to get out."

"What?! Lil'! No!" Leech insisted. "If you fall off without the armor…"

"I know, I know. I'll hang on tight, I promise." She detached from Leech and moved forward. "Let me out."

Leech just glared at her.

"I'll use the emergency override," she threatened, reaching for the lever.

"Don't you fragging dare!" Leech growled. "I'll let you out."

Leech leaned the helm down, opening the mask just enough for Liliy to slip out onto the waiting servo. She grabbed a tight hold on one of the digits that curled around her as she was suddenly buffeted by the wind.

{Predaking, fly steady,} Leecher said over the comms as they lowered Liliy down and set her on the predacon's neck armor. {Liliy is outside the Leecher armor.}

Predaking lowered his altitude slightly and spread his wings out to ride on a smoother air current. Liliy let go of Leecher's servo and moved at hyperspeed, climbing up Predaking's neck to settle between the 'horns' on the top of his helm. The dragon predacon seemed to be quite happy with her new position, judging by his content trill.

{Alright, Predaking. I'll let you have this one,} she said over the comms, while taking in the view. {This is pretty amazing.}

Predaking trilled again, since he was not able to properly speak in beast mode.

Then something off to the side caught Liliy's optic and she looked down at the planet's surface below. {Hey, Predaking…}

He hissed questioningly.

{I know there's something you really want to show me, but could we circle back for just a minute? There is something down there I want to look at again.}

Predaking didn't hesitate. He just circled back as he was asked.

{Down there! That crescent shape.} She leaned forward to see better.

{Wait. Isn't that…?} Leecher asked as Predaking flapped his wings to hover in one spot for a bit.

{Yeah. That's my home,} Liliy said, looking down at the ruins of a city that had been built on the edge of a huge, crescent-shaped chasm. {The city was called 'Blade Central' in common Cybertronian but that was just a shortened version of the literal translation from the Lassic name, which was: 'Servo at the Center of the Blade'. And now…} She paused as she stared down at the city that was laid out in the shape of a servo, a servo grasping the handle of a crescent-shaped blade, which the chasm formed. A design that was only meant to be properly seen from the sky. She held out her own servo in front of her and brought her blade out to form a crescent around it. {Now I understand why we called it that.}

Predaking gave an inquiring growl and dropped a few feet in altitude.

{No, that's alright,} she said, putting away her blade. {I already visited it when we first arrived back on Cybertron. I just hadn't seen it from the sky before and wanted to take a closer look. Thank you, Predaking.} She patted his helm. {Let's head on to your destination.}

Turns out that the place he wanted to show her was just as saddening. Apparently, the revival of the planet had caused some shifting of the plates on the surface. And there, in a new valley that had formed, were hundreds, if not thousands, of ancient predacon bones.

Predaking landed on the edge of the valley and let Leecher and Liliy get off his back before he transformed.

"Look at this place, little one," he said, gesturing to the valley. "I have finally found my people. True, they have been dead since the Great Cataclysm, but I found them! Haha! They existed- They lived here! Isn't this amazing?"

Liliy blinked up at him, thrown off by his sudden, child-like excitement. Then she remembered that he was, in fact, a clone, and that he had only been interacting with the living world for a few months at best. Which made him, technically, still a child.

"It is indeed amazing, Predaking," she said, smiling for him.

"I think I will make this place my home so that I can live among my people," Predaking decided.

"Here? But-" She was going to ask if he was certain, but she could tell just by looking at him, she knew that he was. "The bones… Are you just going to leave them lying around like that?"

"Hmm… I haven't thought about it yet," he said, digits curling around his chin. "Perhaps I might take the time to gather them and lay them to rest properly."

"Do you want help?" she asked.

"No," he replied. He reached out and offered her his servo. She slipped off Leecher's shoulder and surprised him by settling in his palm. He brought her close to his chest, cradling her gently and using his other servo to shield her. "No," he said again. "Your people have enough to do already as it is."

"Hmh, 'my people'…" she repeated quietly, looking down at her own servo. "I suppose they are now…"

"And don't worry, I won't neglect the task you assigned to me," he added.

She jerked her helm up to glare at him. "You mean 'the favor I asked of a friend'."

He laughed, then said, "Yes, but some kings will still take orders from their queens." And tapped her tiara-shaped helm piece with a devilish grin.

Liliy just gaped up at Predaking while Leecher snickered beside them. However, the instant she had her wits back, the predacon was crashing to the ground, peds yanked out from under him, and Liliy was running off into the valley to cool her cheeks.

"Was it worth it?" Leecher asked, still snickering, as they came over to offer the predacon help up.

"Absolutely," Predaking rumbled, accepting the offered servo.

Leecher pulled him to his peds. "She's probably not going to want to see you for a few days after this."

"That's a pity. I enjoy her company."

"Well, with the way things are right now, she won't be outside the Leecher armor for the time being so the next time you need her, try this frequency." They pinged him with the armor's frequency.

"I will," Predaking replied. "Thank you."

"No problem. Now," Leecher turned toward the valley, raising their servo to shade their visor as they looked around, "we better go find Liliy and get back before AA-00 throws a fit."

"When you find her, please tell her that I am grateful that she accompanied me today."

"I'll do that." Leecher waved as they started off in the direction that Liliy had gone. "Stay well, Predaking."