The sky's the limit

Chapter 9

A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait; I've had things going on and I will admit that I've been a little distant with this having lost a bit of inspiration but I'm not one to abandon fics so it might just take some time also there was delay because fanfic wouldn't let me upload the chapter. Thanks for waiting anyway and apologies if this is terrible. This is a requested fic from SuperSentai199. R&R.

Shade didn't exactly know how to feel about the new predacons. She could see the clear differences between them as she noted which one was Skylynx and which one was Darksteel but there was also some similarities showing just how prehistoric they really were. It made her processor fuzzy thinking that the once ancient beasts that roamed over their home planet before most life were now existent again and that was all thanks to the Cyclopes scientist in the decepticon ranks that the femme hated so much.

The two quickly transformed into bi-pedal forms as they stood behind Predaking making it known that they had evolved quickly as well and were just as intelligent. Though the full extent of their intelligence was yet to be discovered. "Skylynx and Darksteel this is Shade, Skylight and Nightblade the new predacon femmes" the two mechs nodded and began to approach their optics quickly glancing at her but then drifting to the femmes behind her. Instantly Shades protective side kicked in now that she didn't know what to expect from them. She took a step forward advancing on them as they moved slowly towards them. But she wouldn't let them come any closer in case they presented a threat. Clenching her fists Shade unfolded her wings from her back standing up straight on her peds and stretching her wings out to the sides removing her friends from the mechs sights. Darksteel and Skylynx immediately stopped and could see that Shade felt threatened though they seemed quite impressed by the beauty of her wings that she displayed; particularly where she had access to the limbs in her bi-pedal form and none of them did.

Predaking quickly moved placing himself between the femme and to new predacon mechs that he now led. "It's okay Shade; they do not agree with Megatrons commands like me" me put his servo on his chest. Shade looked between the two not sure if she completely trusted Predakings words just yet but the only thing that did give her reason to question him was that he was still loyal to Megatron even if he did disagree with this particular plan. Her processor raced to think of what to do. She had just got her friends back and she was not going to let anything happen to them now.

Shade shot Darksteel and Skylynx a glare before cautiously lowering her wings; folding them back up slowly so that they sat nicely on her back. She took a step aside and allowed them to move towards Skylight and Nightblade but they didn't move in a threatening tone which made Shade relax a little. Immediately Predaking placed his servo over her shoulder and she melted into his touch, her spark thrumming louder and louder.

"We do not agree with Lord Megatrons idea of femme abuse and swear on our sparks to protect you" Darksteel spoke quietly making sure that he was careful when around Shade. Her overprotective nature meant that they would have to earn her trust before they could act a little more chilled. The two predacons having displayed to Predaking already that they like to joke around a lot. But until Shade really trusted them they would have act more appropriately.

Before anything more could be said Predaking received a com about a guest that was staying on the Nemesis and another arrangement that meant that he was closer with his soldiers. "I am needed elsewhere" His faceplate nuzzled into Shades neck cables which she definitely didn't object to. "Darksteel, Skylynx take the femmes to our new quarters" the two new predacons nodded in confirmation and proceeded to walk the three femmes back inside the warship. Skylight and Nightblade making sure that Shade went first as they didn't feel so confident and were still scared. The pain of the experimentation still throbbing through their internal mechanisms.

Skylynx walked in front of them leading the way inside while Darksteel took up the rear; it was almost as if they were keeping the femmes within their reach where if a decepticon tried to grab them they would be well protected. It was that they were being transported much like criminals would be. That wouldn't cheer them either considering they felt trapped already; they weren't exactly on the warship of their own volition.

Shade took a glance over her shoulder seeing that Preadking was remaining where he was as well as Soundwave until they were inside. The mechs face seemed a little disturbed at something and she instantly wanted to be by his side to help him. Keep reassuring him that he wasn't alone. Her spark pulsed at the thought of being by his side. She liked the warmth he gave her; the feeling of him in close contact with her. She was strong; she knew that having been able to fight and beat him but she still felt safe with him. Her processor wondered on how she continued to have growing feelings for this mech that could be so dangerous and yet she was so assured to protect her family; especially from him if he presented a problem. It only made Shade feel confused and conflicted; not knowing whether she could truly trust how she felt or not.

It wasn't long before they arrived somewhere completely different from where she had been previously staying. It was much larger in size and had separate rooms where she presumed there were berths for them to recharge. The room was big enough that she could stretch her wings a little more than before but the warship was only so big so there was no way she would be able to stretch them out completely or lift her peds off the ground. "Megatron thinks that his commands are going ahead and he wanted us to be kept together so he made sure that we had bigger quarters"

"I like it, makes me feel protected" Skylight smiled looking to Darksteel as he shot her one of his smirks. Her amour instantly heating up at the gesture.

Nightblade instantly made herself comfortable not bothering to question their new living arrangements. Shade couldn't help herself but look around the room. Noticing the window at the far end of the room and she couldn't help but think that perhaps Predaking made sure of that knowing that she liked to look out at the views. Imagining what it would be like to feel the Earth breeze under her wings.

"You've really got boss around your little digit" Skylynx spoke quite loudly his optics focussed on the dragon like femme predacon that had instinctively got and sat at the window; in her prime spot. Shade didn't know that he was addressing her until she looked to him staring at her.

She raised her optic ridges a little bit confused at what he was implying "What's that supposed to mean" she didn't like how he was prejudging her. Her wings quickly stretching out in a defensive manner again. Though this time she was defending herself.

"I'm just saying he'd do pretty much anything for you. Soon as we met him he couldn't help but bring you up and tell us that if we hurt you or offend you in anyway then we'd feel the pain" she couldn't help but feel the energon rush to her faceplates hearing that Predaking seemed quite obsessed with her. She'd seen that he seemed to seek out her company when he was around and somehow she had grown to like his company as well. He didn't act like a decepticon, more like a bot that was kept on a tight leash. Being kept confined and under strict orders. Megatron was preying on Predakings grief towards losing his fellow predacons and that was what made him dangerous and kept him in his place in the decepticon army.

"What do you two get out being with the decepticons?" the question had plagued her since Predaking introduced them to her but she didn't want to ask it in front of him because she feared that they would both end up in another argument where Shade was trying to convince him to see the real Megatron, to betray the warlord for the greater good.

Skylynx and Darksteel looked to one another with blank expressions understanding her inquiry quite well and they couldn't help but look down at the floor before replying to her in unison "nothing" she nodded telling them she didn't expect an answer other than that. Predaking didn't get anything from serving Megatron either so why were they doing this? Hadn't Megatron proved his dishonour over his commands to abuse and impregnate the femmes against their will to create a powerful army?

"If you both had a choice to do anything you wanted; what would it be?"

Again they had blank face plates. The questions that she was coming out with was definitely catching them off guard. Her curiosity was big and it was certainly making her get other to question themselves as well. They didn't reply at all. The question was too big and there would be so many things that they could do if they weren't weapons for the decepticons. Though the question really was: What did they want to do? They're internal desires.

She nodded to them seeing that she wasn't going to get an answer from them any time soon so she moved away from the window and into the nearest room with a berth to rest. She hadn't had a proper recharge in a while seeing as she always felt like she had to remain vigilant. She was on the Nemesis after all and anything could happen. She made sure the door was shut before sitting in the corner of the room; not preferring the berth. The darkness of the room made it easy for her processor to slow down. She offlined her optics and let her systems temporarily shut down to rest.

It was a little while before Predaking returned to his fellow predacons; mechs and femmes alike in their new quarters where they would stay to keep each other safe in this war. His spark did warm to know that there were five others like him and he was definitely not alone anymore. However is pulsed harder and made him feel a lot hotter when his processor thought of one individual in particular. The femme; the purple femme with dark pink accents with broad wings placed perfectly on her back. The corners of his lips plates lift thinking of how looked; the way she talk with such passion in her words. The way that she didn't mind his company and always seemed to try and make him see the bigger picture.

Entering the quarters he noted that both Skylight and Nightblade were fast asleep and being watched by Skylight and Darksteel as they spoke to each other quietly while keeping a watchful eye over the femmes. Predaking glanced at them and they both couldn't help but give their leader cheeky grins knowing exactly who the mech was looking for. The two mechs quickly cast their gazes to a closed door showing Predaking exactly who he was looking for. He nodded in thanks and moved to the door opening it and making sure that it shut behind him so that his soldiers wouldn't see or hear him and Shade.

Scanning the room proved to be a little difficult considering the darkness that had engulfed the entire room but his optics were soon able to adjust and he found her lying in the corner. Her back propped up by the wall; her optics offline and dark but he could still feel her spark even from that distance. He smiled seeing how at piece she was when she was in recharge even though he could clearly see that she was trying to protect herself while in recharge with shrinking herself down in the corner to look small. He moved quietly over hoping not to disturb her but that failed as he sat beside her on the floor and he noticed that he optics had onlined and were staring right at him.

She sighed feeling quite happy at that very moment "what needed you so much that you had to leave me?"

Predaking was a little surprised to hear that she didn't want him to leave her and couldn't help the feeling of warmth in his spark. "I was informed that Megatron has taken on a prisoner that I wished to make pay for the demise of my fellow predacons" the words took their time to register in Shades processor the thought that someone else was aboard the Nemesis against their will. And if anything it was an autobot; one of her family and they were in trouble.

She was alerted quickly and stood on her peds ready to spring into action. Predaking reacted too, reaching for her servo. His digits found hers and they immediately fiddled with one another. "He is safe for now; as long as this Ratchet cooperates he will remain alive" he reassured her and she quickly forgot why she got up. Her optics met his and both of them seemed to melt into each other. Predaking had never felt so vulnerable than he did now when he was allowing himself to open up and let her in to what he was thinking and feeling. His peds felt weak to the point that he didn't understand how he was still standing in front of her. The two predacons vent out heated air that only seemed to make them get closer to each other.

Their bodies closed in on each other, the gap forever getting smaller and smaller until they touched. The both of them leaning into each other. The plates of metal fitting perfectly against each other. "Promise me you won't hurt him" her voice was low though but no one else would be able to hear her anyway.

Predaking didn't exactly know what to say. He wanted to avenge his kind for what happened to them. There was still so much rage in him that he wanted to get out but was unable to as long as the autobots had not paid for what they had done. He would happily admit that this femme that he kept watch over had grown on him. She was different and treated him as much as she would treat another sentient life form with respect. Whereas beings such as Starscream did not. He so wanted to hurt this autobot but the femme that his spark pulsed for; that he was sure he was in love with was asking him not to. She was asking him to promise that he wouldn't harm Ratchet.

Taking a moment to think his processor was saying one thing but his spark was saying something else. "I promise" his words were deep showing her that he cared. He wanted to please her.

Shade then realised that the others were right; Predaking was doing this for her and he would do so much for her. If only they were not with the decepticons. Maybe that was the one thing. He wouldn't betray Megatron for her – he still did not see the truth. But then that asked another question: would he betray Megatron for his kind?

Smiling at his verbal response Shade had no control over her actions now as she brought her faceplates forward and crashed her lips onto his. Predaking was a little off guard by the act but it wasn't something he didn't want either. His servos moved from her digits to wrap around her waist pulling her towards him even more. He returned the gesture pushing his lips on hers as they refused to stop. He pushed her form forward until she was up against the wall; her own servos wrapping around his neck cables and pulling him in. His right servo stroking up her armour plating until it rested on her cheek.

Kissing each other further Shade pulled Predaking towards her, engulfing her lips with his. Then her instincts kicked in a wings stretching out as much as the room would allow and then folding around the two heated cybertronian forms.