Cybertronian River Monsters

by Prime627

Optimus gets an alert about a Predacon that has taken up residence in a lake, and when he investigates, he is surprised to find eggs, evidence that the Predacons can still go on. There's only one problem, though. The mother is gone, and Optimus finds that he needs some help from one Jeremy Wade (I tried looking for River Monsters in the select category thing, but it didn't have it

3. Chapter 3

Optimus returned to the lake with the Wreckers and with Predaking. While Predaking made the femme roll over onto her back, the Wreckers and Prime gathered the eggs into their arms and ran as fast as they could back to shore. Then Predaking drug the femme up by the back of her neck and he dropped her on her her side.

Jeremy and Optimus fussed over the crushed Predacon that was still whimpering and whining weakly, so they didn't see the femme escape and duck back under the water. Whenever Predaking tried to step back into the water, she'd snap at his paws. She drew Energon the third time and Optimus feared she would take more of the paw with her if he stepped back in, so they enlisted Jeremy. He set out bait of Energon all night and into most of the afternoon while Optimus cradled the Predacon. Predaking was charged with guarding the eggs until they hatched, and he took that seriously.

Then Optimus received a frantic call from the crew. Jeremy had hooked into something large, metallic, and very peeved.

Optimus Bridged there immediately, and when he saw that the Predacon was swimming in circles and staring at the humans with her good optic, he ran to Jeremy and took the line. It was the tackle that Optimus had given him: wire that had been used to construct nets for catching Insecticons and a massive hook. Jeremy had tied the line to a tree that was very stubbornly rooted in the ground. It wasn't moving. Not even the angry Predacon could convince it otherwise.

Optimus looked back at the humans, who were backing a few paces away. They were spooked by the Predacon and then they were scared when Optimus announced he was going for a swim.

He dove into the water and swam to her, keeping in her blind spot before he grabbed one of her horns and he jerked her helm around so that they were staring into each other's optic. Her good optic blinked, searching his for weakness, but Optimus had hidden his. She tested him, but he held firm. She laid her helm down and pressed her face into his chest, but he wasn't fooled. He kept her fangs away from him.

The hook was lodged in her mouth, so he teased it out and jerked his servo away before she could snap at him. Before she could escape, he pressed her into the pebbles of the lake and he hauled her onto the land. He didn't want to, but he would have to clip her wings. She was unstable, wanting her freedom instead of caring for her sparklings, but Ratchet was firm in his belief that she would gradually warm up to her sparklings again.

They had, after all, begun to show some activity. Even the crippled one was purring and squeaking to be fed, though its neck was still bent at an odd angle and its jaw was healing awkwardly.

Optimus wrapped the wire around her muzzle, then led her through the Bridge with the humans, who were very interested in what would happen to her.

Optimus put her in The Dark Room, which was merely a room with a large berth. It was warm, dark, and it soothed everything put in there. He watched her lay down and put her helm on her paws as she fell asleep due to exhaustion and the lack of desire to do anything.

He walked into the MedBay, sighing in relief when the weak Predacon scrambled around in its crate to get to Optimus. He soothed the little thing, stroked its wings, and then grabbed two clamps. Ratchet watched him and gave a nod of approval. Then Optimus walked to fasten the clamps on "Mama"'s wings.

Mama, earning the fond name from Jeremy, was still on her belly when Optimus came to her, but her optics were open and she stared at him. She offered her wings when he showed her the clamps, which saddened him. She was used to this...

When the clamps were in place, she tucked her wings away and sighed, but she let Optimus stroke her helm and body. Her optics closed again.

Optimus left her to sleep, wondering if she would every be okay again. He thanked Jeremy for helping him catch the Predacon, and offered to take the crew home, but the human refused. He wanted to stick around until the Predacons were ready to be released. Optimus knew it was something that he did, something he always wanted to do: Release what he caught.

The Prime permitted him to remain for another week, but no more. If the Predacons were getting worst, he didn't want Jeremy to be around when everything went to the Pits.