The sky's the limit
Chapter 8
A/N: Sorry this has taken so long but exams so the next might be a while as well. I don't own Transformers nor any OCs in this fic. All OCs and credit for this go to SuperSentai199.
It had been a couple of hours that Shade watch over her two best friends as they recharged beneath her on the floor while she had taken her prime spot sat on the side staring out the window. She had noticed that they had shifted as close as they could to her. Even in recharge the new predacon femmes knew that they were being watched over and protected by Shade, just as she had promised. Her processor was on high alert particularly now; it would be more difficult for her to escape as well with her two friends in the mix and they didn't know their own strengths yet which made the whole situations even harder. Shade knew that had to rest, she had been through what they were currently going through but they needed to learn as well and fast if any of them hoped to get to the autobots and not be killed or abused in the meantime.
As she stared out the window Shade couldn't help but lust for the feel of the air under her wings, they had been kept tucked away for far too long and needed a good stretch but the room wasn't big enough for her to stretch in beast mode only in bi-pedal form. Though looking down to Skylight it looked like the room was the right size for the small femme and her beast mode. It was a while that the femmes remained that way, Shade watching the sun set from where the shop was high in the planet's atmosphere.
She couldn't help but wonder what her sire was doing, wonder what he was thinking. Of course it was obvious that Optimus wanted her back and he probably thought about her often but was he that desperate that he would try to launch an attack on the warship. Would he try to bargain for her life? She knew her sire and in with his love for her he would. Things were complicated now though; Optimus didn't know about Skylight or Nightblade which meant that something very valuable would need to be exchanged for the three of them but even so Shade wouldn't let him do that. As much as the femme wanted to be with her sire and family, she was of much more use to the autobots as a spy inside the decepticon ranks.
Shades processor was then driven away from her thoughts as she heard the door to Predakings room unlock and shift open quickly. Her optics darted to the mech that entered the room. Skylight and Nighblade must have been light rechargers as they instantly woke up from their slumber at the smooth sound of the door sliding open and they quickly flinched away trying to get away from whoever had entered the room. Obviously they had yet to get over their experience in the lab under Shockwaves watch as they tried to get away from any decepticons that came near them. At their reactions Shade immediately felt protective and quickly jumped up from her perch transforming mid-air and landing in front of her friends. Her beast form growled as the mech came closer into the light more so she could see and as he did Shade stretched her wings out as far as she could in the restricting room to threaten him further and that was when he stopped. The predacon femme could then make out the sleek form of the decpticon communications officer that revealed that he was holding two energon cubes that he had brought for the new predacon femmes. He held in the energon in his extendable tentacles and could see that Shade was being protective. Looking past her he saw the two femmes that he brought energon for looking scared of why he was in the room as well as looking quite astonished at the femme in front of them. He moved slowly now not wanting to get the wrong impression raising his servo up showing that he wasn't a threat but Shade begged a differ.
It was Soundwave that had fought her and taken her aboard the Nemesis and she bet that it was Soundwave that played the part in getting Skylight and Nightblade as well. Most bots feared the silent mech mostly because he was smart and good fighter; you never knew what he was thinking and his actions were unpredictable. There was a moment or two where the two remained still looking to each other though it was a little harder for the femme considering that she couldn't lock onto his optics seeing as they were hidden behind his visor. He moved slowly still raising his other servo, it didn't seem like he was there to do anything other than give the new femmes some much needed energon but that didn't mean that nothing was put into the energon.
Shade moved on her four legs with grace moving as best as she could closer to the communications officer and she could tell from how he tensed a little that he wanted to move away. She was bigger than him and a great threat which made her smirk a little that she was able to bring this side of Soundwave to the surface. Shade grumbled as she kept her optics on him but lowered her head a little and smelled the energon cubes. It seemed normal and there really was no reason for the decepticons to poison them now. Moving her head back up she relaxed her wings and folded them into her sides moving away to let Soundwave near the Nightblade and Skylight.
The two looking to their protector as she allowed Soundwave to move towards them. The silent mech kneeling and offering the cube to which they instantly transformed and took the cubes. They drank it slowly savouring the refreshing liquid as Soundwave stood up and looked to Shade again. She kept herself close just in case but didn't see anything that made Soundwave a threat so wasn't as worried as before. His visor then lit up with a small image of Shade with a circle around her abdomen that had a cross in it; he knew she wasn't sparked. Would he tell Megatron? If he did then Predaking was in trouble for lying to the warlord, for going against orders.
The visor dulled as it disappeared. Shade didn't know what Soundwave wanted, did he want an explanation? Her plating shifted as she transformed back to her bi-pedal form and moved closer to the mech though he didn't tense this time. "Have you told Megatron?" she kept her voice low even though the other two femmes could hear her. Soundwave shook his helm in response, this caught her off guard completely. "Will you tell him?" again the communications officer shook his helm. None of it made sense; he was the most loyal to Megatron. There was no way you find anyone more loyal and yet here he was keeping secrets from his master that he didn't plan to tell. She shot him a questioning glance to which he moved to the door stepping outside of the room and looking back in as if telling them to follow. Shade was curious, she shot her friends a glance to which they instantly stood and nodded. A silent agreement; they were going to remain together for as long as they could while being kept on the Nemesis.
The three femmes followed Soundwave silently as he led them somewhere. Shade made sure that she was behind her two friends so that they were well protected, she made sure to shoot death glares at any decepticons that they passed and they just moved away. Cowering in fear.
It wasn't long before they reached their destination the flight deck, the top of the warship. Of course there was no motives for Soundwaves actions thus far but the three of them could tell that he wasn't letting them go free especially considering that Nightblade had a non-flying predacon mode but from the size each of them were Shade could see that she could probably carry Nightblade on her back if it was necessary. But soundwave has taken them here to let them stretch and be out in the open for a little bit so Shade wasn't going to betray his kindness no matter who he was. Nightblade and Skylight instantly ran out further spinning in circles venting in the fresh air, Shade remained still as she still watched over them like a worried and protective carrier with her sparklings. Soundwave watched them too but spared a second to give Shade a questioning look. Shade was bigger than the other two and had been cooped up for longer; surely she would take her chance now to take a quick flight around before returning to the room.
"Why are you helping us?" Soundwave didn't respond. Did that mean he didn't know why he was helping them?
Soundwaves visor then lit up again with a simple image of Predaking; it really was like guessing what the mech was thinking but somehow she got it. "Predaking lives for honour. He has a good spark that has only been misguided and tricked by Megatron. I may not be able to get him to see it but there is something in him that saw me and respected me and since he has kept to his honour code"
"For honour" Soundwave replayed Shades voice out loud to which she guessed was his explanation as well. She had hated Soundwave for his actions that he played in the war, for where he stood at Megatrons side but something didn't seem right. Her perspective didn't seem to match up with what she was now witnessing. Predaking could already be excused from that considering he was an evolved experiment created by Shockwave and grew in intelligence. He was never a decepticon. But Soundwave was a different matter; he was there at the beginning of the war and played his part every day since then and now he had been living by some honour all along. It didn't make sense.
The majority of the things that the decepticons did was without honour, if it were true then Soundwave would have betrayed the decepticons ages ago but he hadn't. Something in Soundwaves processor was making him go against Megatron to make sure that the femmes were not abused and then discarded. It made Shade question Soundwave altogether. "Thank you Soundwave" he nodded and as he did Shade transformed into her beast mode and took flight. Her wings spread to their full length making her two friends gawk at her in astonishment – they were easily impressed. Letting out a roar Shade ascended higher letting the air carry her as she soured through like a sharp weapon. She couldn't help the speed that flew as she circled above the Nemesis and then allowed herself to drop down below the ship. Of course she made sure to stay in the parameters of the flight deck and not circling around in case Megatron saw her and Soundwave would get in trouble. She could feel that she was the centre of attention with all optics on her as she flew through the air with such grace like she belonged. But then her heightened sense kicked in; the feeling of not being alone in the air making her spark pulse harder.
Looking up she saw Soundwave with Nightblade and Skylight still on the deck. So who else was around?
The sound of a familiar roar more low toned caught her attention and the femme could help but the wave of happiness that washed over her. It was then that he came into sight; Predaking flying right up in front of her until the two dragon like beasts were hovering in the air. The two of them locked optics; Shade loosing herself in his as the yellow colour reminded her of Cybertrons sun that once shone brightly above her every day.
Predaking let out a small happy grumble at seeing her to which she responded the same and then Shade felt no control over her actions. Her spark feeling warmer with just his presence around her. The femme jerked up climbing the air passed where her friends stood but she still didn't stop. Shade was pushing it as she got higher and higher and Predaking followed until she stopped and they were side by side. Shade playfully nudged him with her wing and then tucked them in, her form diving down as she instinctively span and performed tricks in the air. Predaking watched impressed with her abilities considering how small amount of time she had been able to fly since her change. He soon followed her lead trying to show off as well; with her leading and him following and he enjoyed it. He felt relaxed in the femmes' presence even though there were others around and he thrived in enjoyment. It felt good to no longer be alone in the sky.
It was then a race of the fastest as they flew around in circles above the flight deck Predacon trying to match Shades speed but she somehow seemed to go faster each time he was about to catch up. Her agile forming giving her that edge.
As they remained the sky for what seemed like forever having fun with one another Shade caught a glimpse of Skylight as she too was now trying to fly. Her instinct was there as she was doing it all right but her confidence wasn't so matched. Thinking quickly Shade knew how to get Skylight up in the air with them; taking note of Nightblades position not far from Soundwave as she stood and watched and her faceplates showed that she wasn't too pleased that she could fly Shade dived and Predaking opted for staying where he was in the air.
Nightblade was surprised when two sharp talons wrapped around her upper arms and hoisted her up from the deck so that she was dangling with nothing else keeping her from falling. Her first thought was to scream but she quickly looked up to see Shade and smirked noticing that they remained close to the deck and then began to hover around Skylight. The young femme felt the pressure now as everyone including a non-flying predacon was now in the air and she could only let out an annoyed gruff. Shade was careful as she swung Nightblade up, letting go of her, and descended a little letting the femme land on her back so that she was now being ridden.
"Come on Skylight, don't tell me you're too scared" Nightblade teased and it immediately worked as Skylight lifted into the air and her lack of confidence was gone instantly. She began flying after Shade and Nightblade until the mood settle and they flew side by side. Laughter erupted from the femme riding on the flying beasts, it felt like there was no war and reminded her of when the three would have fun without having to worry about decepticons. The purple and black femme then jumped over to Skylight so that she was now riding on her back and Shade discreetly flew away from them letting them have their moment of freedom.
She soon joined Predaking again and hit him on top of his helm with her wing; seeing the spark in his optics she flew away and he quickly followed in hot pursuit. The both of them slicing through the air in a playful chase.
Predaking struggled but soon caught up grabbing on to her tail and yanking her back towards him which messed with her flying all together. Her form wobbled in the air and she smacked into him and the both of them fell through the air. The two transformed and held onto one another's servos; their formation almost like that of a skydiving show team. Just as they were about to crash into the flight deck Predacon pulled Shade towards him and wrapped his strong arms around her in a tight embrace. The ship shook from their impact but it wasn't too bad, no dents or cracks and they didn't fall high enough to be hurt by it.
It was then that a sound that Shade had not heard before rang in her audio receptors as she enjoyed it and wished to it more often. Predakings laugh surprised her as it sent sparks through her that she had never felt before. The sensation of his servos holding her at her waist making her feel protected and secure. It was then that he looked up into her as she lay on top of him; both of them having smiles plastered onto their face plates. She couldn't help but reach a servo up to cup his cheek and then stroke the side of his face. Predaking reacting by letting his own servo grasp on to hers, his thumb rubbing over her smooth plating as the two vented from the excitement.
The moment seemed perfect. The two enjoying each other's company and the contact they shared. They could feel the other's heat from their sparks and their helms drew closer until they were interrupted with Skylights not so smooth landing on the deck and of course they had forgotten about Soundwave probably because he was so silent. Both bots felt a bit embarrassed. Shade used her wings to pick herself up off of Predaking letting him sit up and that was when she offered him her servo that he gladly took as he was pulled onto his peds. "We need to work on your landing Skylight" Shade teased her friend and remained quite close to Predakings side almost like she was going to contently lean on him.
The day seemed to be perfect with interruptions as the ship shook a little again from behind and Shade gasped as her form span rapidly to look at the source. She was caught off guard by the sight of two more predacons. These were the other two that she had heard about. The ones that were meant to mate with Skylight and Nightblade to give more predacon offspring. She suddenly felt protective of her friends; there was no telling if they were going to follow Megatrons orders or have a code of honour like Predaking. She tensed and Predaking could fell it. He then stepped forward so he was between the new predacons and the femmes and Soundwave, a hint of pride on his face. "Meet Skylnx and Darksteel"