Had Starscream not known the Predacons were here? Had he been seeking the Autobots' aid as well?
Predaking glided over Skylynx and Darksteel without drawing their attention at first. When they spotted him through the sparks, they snarled and flapped their wings faster. Predaking shot far ahead of them and left them behind. As the wind whooshed over him, Predaking found himself disappointed in his brethren's rage. Why were they so eager to torture or murder Starscream, who had not harmed them nearly as much?
When we flew after him, I craved violence too, Predaking's mind reminded him.
Predaking wanted to deny it. He wanted to believe that he had not truly known what he intended to do to Starscream. When staring down at him on the throne, he had considered how fragile Starscream was. Violent images had jumped through his head and he had wanted to hurt him. He had just wanted to feel right about hurting him.
We are Predacons, Predaking thought. We must just instinctively crave violence.
Now, he was disappointed in himself. He was not yet sure why, yet it felt horrible to feel wrong about being a Predacon after he had spent so long feeling superior because of it.
A small city sat crumbled in pieces on the flat silver plain. Mist lingered between the blasted and barely standing structures, but it slowly faded with the rising sun. Down there, Predaking sensed that Starscream was hiding in one of the buildings. Transforming, Predaking landed in bot form to show his peaceful intentions as he approached Starscream's location. Immediately, red eyes peered out of a destroyed window. Starscream strode out onto an exposed ledge, letting the golden sunlight pour over him. Legs bending, he poised to leap into the air.
"Wait!" Predaking hollered.
Starscream paused. Fidgeting, he stared fixedly at Predaking's eyepatch.
"I have decided not to seek revenge, but Skylynx and Darksteel still seek it," Predaking relayed. "Beware of them."
Starscream blinked and flicked his wings.
"I will not harm you," Predaking assured him.
Starscream's mouth hung in stunned confusion. Shaking himself, Starscream closed it and scrutinized him suspiciously.
"This is no trick," Predaking said.
Starscream finally uttered, "Why would you... warn me?"
His eyes flicked to the sky behind Predaking. With a gasp, Starscream launched into the air, transformed, and sped away.
Predaking exhaled. Returning to beast mode, he soared out of the city toward Skylynx and Darksteel. His eyebrows scrunched as his brethren continued to flap madly toward him at full speed. Hadn't they seen him and Starscream? The Seeker had already cracked the sound barrier and was impossible to catch up to now. Predaking screeched for them to stop, then his eyes widened a moment before both Skylynx and Darksteel ploughed into him.
Fangs and beaks snapped into him while talons slashed his metal. Predaking roared and churned his claws, shredding his brethren's stomachs until they pulled back. Fire burst from his mouth between his gnashing teeth. He twisted his neck back and forth, biting both Darksteel and Skylynx. Letting go, Darksteel escaped only to slip around and latch onto Predaking's back.
A wide sharp beak stabbed his spine; Predaking screeched and rolled. Just as he turned, Skylynx hurled himself at his chest, grabbing on then biting and clawing ferociously. Energon spilled from Predaking's chest and back as the other Predacons trapped him between them. All Predaking could do was fight off Skylynx, shoving and biting him while Darksteel tore into him.
Before they knew it, the writhing mass of Predacons struck the ground with a ground-shaking bang. They scattered when thrown in different directions. Darksteel rose, tottered, then fell on his side, pawing his head. Predaking stood on shaking feet, glanced at his bloody chest, then gawked at Skylynx. The white and blue Predacon was back up, bristling and growling at him. He started to prowl toward Predaking with his energon-coated mouth open and ready to strike again.
Tail sweeping, Predaking hesitated until Skylynx lunged at him. He leapt to the side to dodge him, then suddenly in passing, Predaking sank his teeth deep into Skylynx's upper arm. The other Predacon shrieked and scrambled away, ripping his arm from Predaking's jaws. Limping to a safe distance, Skylynx curled his arm to his body and stared cautiously at Predaking.
Darksteel stared as well and made no move. When Predaking glared at him, he bowed his head. Although Predaking struck a defiant stance, his spark thudded inside him. This fight had been far more serious and violent than their last fight had been. The blood dripping from his brethren's body uneased him to the point that he felt... unsure if he could still think of them as his brethren.
Skylynx and Darksteel lay down slowly, still growling, but it was all a show. They were done, but they didn't want to look like they had given up so easily. Skylynx nosed at his wound and glared at Predaking, but looked satisfied when he identified some of his own bite marks on the other's body. Predaking too lay down to show that he was not interested in fighting, then he waited until one of them would transform.
Before they did, Darksteel turned his head and looked beyond Predaking. Narrowing his eyes, Darksteel released a loud growl. Predaking swung his neck around and followed Darksteel's gaze to a dilapidated piece of wall. Starscream's face peered through a crack at them, plastered with a smug smile. Skylynx began to growl as well.
"Is all this fuss over me?" Starscream drawled.
Predaking got to his feet, also growling softly.
"I don't understand you beasts," Starscream uttered. "But I propose we agree to stay out of each other's ways. Wouldn't that be more convenient for us all?"
The Predacons fell silent. Predaking looked from Skylynx and Darksteel, who swung their heads with irritated huffs. Their shoulders sagged.
Finally, Predaking thought.
Predaking spread his wings and flapped into the sky, turning around and waiting for his brethren to follow him. Haughtily, Skylynx and Darksteel turned their backs on Starscream and flew after Predaking. Their choice of not transforming to even share a word with Starscream meant they all believed it now: Starscream was not worth all this time and trouble.
The three Predacons soared back to the Autobots for their fresh start, leaving Starscream to go wherever else he pleased.
When the Predacons returned to the Nemesis, the beautiful show of sparks had ended and the Autobots were dragging themselves back into the ship. The loss of their leader lowered their heads, which swayed and bobbed without care. Hearing the Predacon's wing flaps late, the Autobots jolted and looked up just as the Predacons were right above them.
The Predacons transformed and landed dramatically, rising tall over the Autobots. Energon oozed from their cuts and bites, which startled the Autobots enough for clarity to clear their saddened eyes. Those carrying the tall blue and red Autobot set down the berth he lay on.
"What happened?" the black and yellow Autobot gasped.
Predaking muttered, "We settled a dispute amongst ourselves."
None of the Predacons cared to elaborate.
"Let me guess," Ratchet sighed irritably. "You are expecting me to treat you?"
"Perhaps we can be of service to you: no longer an inconvenience or a threat," Predaking suggested. "We can offer our strength to the reconstruction of the planet."
"That would be useful," the round green Autobot replied. "And I'm sure Optimus would have agreed."
The black and yellow Autobot nodded slowly. "We should put aside our differences and move on from our past. We welcome you."
Predaking glanced at the berth with the Autobot whose hand he crushed. He wondered if he would protest, but thankfully, the Autobot was not fully aware of the situation. His exhausted eyes looked at the Predacons but not with total recognition; they were clouded most likely by memories of his Prime. Shoving away the awkwardness, Predaking reminded himself that the Autobot had deserved his injury for blowing up his brethren on Earth.
Why do I feel once again for this Autobot? I must not. It is only beneficial to become allies with the Autobots after the fall of Unicron.
He told his curious brethren, "If their intentions are the same as the Decepticons' were, they will rebuild society and rule it. By siding with the victors, we may have a place in Cybertron's future."
"W-we don't intend to rule it," the black and yellow Autobot stammered. "We will try to create a peaceful society in which Autobots and Decepticons can co-exist!"
Darksteel muttered, "Ugh, as long as we don't have to see Starscream's ugly face again."
The white Autobot with swords asked, "By any chance, are you able to track him like you did me?"
"We will not track him or capture him for you," Predaking grunted.
"So you can track him?"
"We will not."
The smallest Autobot, a blue two-wheeler, bared her teeth in rage but stayed silent.
"'Scream is a killer and needs to be locked up," the white Autobot continued. "He already offed one of our own on Earth, and it won't be long before he tries offing another."
Skylynx huffed, "He isn't worth the time. He's a nuisance. If he does happen to cause serious trouble, then perhaps we'll finish him off then."
Darksteel rubbed at his wounds. "Ow. Can we just forget about him? Predaking was right."
The Autobots gazed at Predaking. He exhaled, "We will do anything for you but pursue Starscream. Just mend us then guide us to where we are needed."
The blue two-wheeler began to protest, but as the Predacons bristled, some of the other Autobots hushed her.
"We'll find him ourselves," the blue and yellow Autobot insisted. "I'll do it myself if I gotta."
"I think it's a good idea to accept their help," Knockout tossed in his say. "Think about how much safer we'll be with their protection! Knowing Starscream, he'll probably come back and walk himself right into a trap."
Submitting, the Autobots led the Predacons back into the med bay of the Nemesis. They set the berth carrying the tall Autobot back on the floor, while Ratchet and Knockout split up to weld the Predacons' new wounds. As the med bay was much too crowded with everyone in it, most Autobots backed out of the room and remained in the hall. However, the round green Autobot peeked in once the Predacons' wounds were almost repaired.
"Uhh, right now we have two projects on the go: building a landing site to welcome returning refugees and restoring the capital cities of Kaon and Iacon. Both are important, but you would be doing the same kind of work in either place..."
The first option may provide opportunities to meet more bots, Predaking reflected, whereas the second option may allow him to see and learn more about Cybertron. Quietly, Skylynx and Darksteel stared at him to make a decision; they didn't seem to have energy left to care. After a pause, Predaking gave his answer to the green Autobot.
END PART 1