At the end of the day, the Predacons joined the Vehicons in their lounge while the Autobots retreated to a residence of their own. This time, the Predacons sat near the energon tank on some of the small chairs that managed to support their weight. Many Vehicons filled the seats closest to the Predacons, putting their elbows on the tables and leaning in.

"You came back to our hangout," one of them said with awe.

Darksteel answered, "We must like you more than those Autobots. They're kind of annoying, aren't they? So bossy and nosy!"

"Autobots, always so haughty," a Vehicon grunted. "They think they're better than everyone else. And now they get to brag about their leader's sacrifice like they had something to do with it…"

"You know that their Prime is gone now?" another Vehicon asked them.

"Yes, we actually witnessed what had happened ourselves," Skylynx replied.

"They can stay sad…" the Vehicon muttered.

"You wanna know something?" a Vehicon asked suddenly.

"What is it?" Predaking responded.

"They have the workers down south, in Kaon, working on a prison."

The Predacons blinked back. Skylynx asked, "Do you believe they will imprison you? Perhaps even us?"

"Not us, but any other Decepticon. Decepticons with names…" the Vehicon replied. "But the fact that they are building that in Kaon is just an insult. Kaon used to be the homeland of a lot of Decepticons, so it's like the Autobots have taken over the Decepticon capital just to lock up its residents there."

"Wow," Darksteel breathed. "The Autobots really hate Decepticons, huh? I wonder why. Shockwave and Starscream never really explained what the war was about."

"We all had to learn that," a Vehicon said. "Before we were created, apparently there was an unjust society on Cybertron. It was a caste system. Few bots lived in luxury; many bots were slaves to provide that luxury. Millions worked in dangerous sites like mines and factories, suffering and dying. Many had no names and believed they weren't valuable, until Megatron told them they had value. Megatron was one of those slaves, but he inspired others like him to rise up against the careless, privileged higher castes."

Skylynx said, "So the Decepticons were the slaves and the Autobots the ones with luxurious lives?"

"Mostly," the Vehicon replied. "The slaves teamed up with most of Cybertron's military, so that's how we got Starscream and the Seekers."

"Yes," Predaking interrupted. "I suspected that he had lived a privileged life."

"We were cloned to help the Decepticons seize control of Cybertron and rewrite all the rules," a Vehicon said. "The cause seemed right to us."

"But now I'm not so sure what to believe," another Vehicon chimed in. "After what you told us, Predaking, I feel like the Decepticons used us. They cared so little about our deaths, like the higher castes cared so little about their deaths in slavery."

Predaking held his chin. "So the Decepticons were, generally speaking, the oppressed faction. Yet they were not victorious, thus the ones who oppressed them are once again in control."

"Correct," a Vehicon muttered.

"Despite this story," Predaking commented, "the Autobots I engaged with have not seemed so malignant compared to Megatron."

"They are still the same Autobots that made games of killing us clones," a Vehicon pointed out.

"We Predacons will watch the Autobots," Predaking told his identical listeners. "If they begin to abuse or terminate you, we Predacons will not stand for it."

Every Vehicon sat a little straighter.

"You'll actually protect us?" one asked. "You'd do that?"

Predaking's spark brightened. Warmth spread through him as he imagined heroically putting himself in harm's way for those weaker than him.

"I will protect you and atone for killing your brethren in the past. This, I swear," Predaking declared. "Are we not like brethren ourselves now?"

If the Vehicons could have smiled, he was sure they would have. They stared at him for a few seconds before rubbing their heads and arms in pleased embarrassment.

"You are noble," a Vehicon told Predaking.

Predaking felt even taller as he looked over the troopers. Darksteel and Skylynx, seeking admiration as well, joined in.

"I would stand up for you the same," Skylynx said.

"If they try to hurt you, I'll rip their heads off," Darksteel promised.

Full of energon and warmth, the Predacons curled up outside the residence doors like guardians. Resting on his chin, Predaking considered his feelings for the Autobots and the Decepticons. If the Autobots' past as told by the Vehicons was true, then they had been horrid. Yet Predaking had been treated mostly with kindness and politeness by the Autobot faction since arriving on Cybertron. And Optimus' sacrifice was undeniably noble.

The Autobots have not been cruel since taking control of Cybertron. I know Megatron and Starscream would have been cruel rulers. Was their cause once noble but they became dishonourable? Have the roles of the factions reversed, or were certain individuals always honourable or dishonourable no matter their faction?

The flapping of many small wings caused all Predacon heads to rise. A dark cloud drifted over the city, which writhed with life. Grey fuzz balls with wings descended and lightly touched down on the streets. As the Predacons lay still, some of the creatures landed on them. Tiny black paws scurried down their bodies and wiry fur brushed them. Predaking glimpsed red eyes and tails like black cables. When the Predacons turned their heads to get a better look at them, the creatures scattered and dashed for cover.

Interesting… they are pure animals, not bots. The type of creature that the Decepticons once believed Predacons to be.

Different creatures flew into Iacon during the night. In the lightest moments of his sleep, Predaking heard the small flutters of wings and the skittering of claws. By the time morning came, the streets were empty of creatures as though they had only been dreamed. The routine resumed and machines powered on, supply trucks drove in and out, and Vehicons and Wreckers worked on the unfinished buildings.

Spaceship engines roared again as someone piloted Froid's ship away, and eventually Predaking noticed that Bulkhead and Wheeljack were missing. Springer held a datapad and directed the workers in their absence. He ignored the Predacons, letting them go where they pleased. Predaking and his brethren decided to follow Vehicons and Wreckers heading away from the city centre.

"What is your task?" Predaking asked a Vehicon.

"We have to clear out old roads and neighbourhoods," he replied. "You can transform this time. Knock everything down and carry the scrap to the collection trucks."

Every Predacon eagerly transformed. Charging on all four paws, Darksteel crashed into crumbling walls and tore them to shreds. The Autobots and Vehicons leapt in alarm, which delighted Darksteel more. With a growling laugh, he attacked the ruins even more savagely.

Predaking couldn't help but smirk before joining him. All three Predacons separated to rush at small buildings and rip them to the ground. Shrieky laughs escaped even Predaking at the chance to destroy everything around him. He latched onto a wall, tearing it down before freezing. Tiny fuzzy creatures burst out of the building, now missing their wings and only able to skitter away to safety.

An Autobot hollered and pointed. "Frizz-rats!"

Faces wrinkled in disgust and some Autobots tried to fire at the creatures, but missed. Predaking swung his head and shrieked at them; the Autobots halted, jaws dropping.

"Whoa, don't be mad…" an Autobot stammered. "It's just that they're destructive mechanimals. They'll chew through walls and wires…"

Predaking narrowed his eyes then transformed. "You could repair that damage. Right now you are repairing much greater damage than that, caused by yourselves!"

"They're pests ! And we didn't destroy Iacon; that was the Decepticons!"

"You will leave the creatures be!" Predaking snapped.

The Autobots rolled their eyes and muttered to one another. Vehicons glanced at each other, wordlessly sharing a single thought. Every Predacon noticed, but the Autobots did not. When Predaking returned to beast mode, he was more careful, hoping to not accidentally harm any animals. Skylynx and Darksteel were just as cautious.

At midday, a voice in Predaking's audio receptor startled him.

"Predaking? Can you hear me?"

It was that black and yellow Autobot, who had so far been the most respectable of all his faction. Predaking transformed to respond to him. "I hear you."

"Great! We just repaired the comm system on the Nemesis. Your signal and comm are still active. We'll be able to contact you. Why don't you bring your two friends over here so we can add them into the system? "

Predaking glared over to Darksteel and Skylynx. "... Very well."

"Stay where you are. Ground bridges are functional again, so we can send you one right now. "

"A moment."

Predaking beckoned Skylynx and Darksteel to him, then explained. When a swirling green portal opened beside them, the trio stepped through it into the control room of the Nemesis. Predaking recognized it, but Skylynx and Darksteel gaped and twisted their heads all around. At the end of the catwalk at the controls, the black and yellow Autobots smiled at them with Vehicons at his side.

Power had been restored to the fallen ship, and the main screen was filled with various camera feeds around the Nemesis . Outside were bustling workers: more Vehicons and a handful of unrecognizable Autobots, perhaps more Wreckers. Beside the Well of All Sparks was a table where Ratchet sat with the tall Autobot whose hand Predaking had crushed.

"You have certainly not wasted time…" Predaking swallowed the awe from his voice.

"Things are rapidly improving with all the help we're getting." The black and yellow Autobot headed to them with round, bright eyes. "The Well produced a wave of animal life and is now producing members of a new generation."

"Is that so?" Predaking perked up.

"Seven Cybertronians already, who we're keeping safe in New Spark."

Predaking said, "I hope there will be naturally forged Predacons among the new generation."

"The Well has not produced so much wildlife since the Age of Evolution—the age in which the original Predacons were created. It's possible that we will witness an equal outpouring of life, one that includes Predacons."

"Well," Skylynx said. "In any case, there is still that Predacon who was incubating."

Predaking spun on him. "Another Predacon?"

"Yes, she is likely fully incubated by now. She may find her way here on her own."

"Why did you not mention this before?" Predaking snapped.

"It slipped my mind."

"How could such critical information slip your mind?" he cried. "We shall find this Predacon forthwith!"

"Easy now," the Autobot said. "We can help you find her. You can stay where you are in the city while our fliers search. I promise we will send this Predacon your way as soon as we find her."