Excitement set Predaking's spark aflutter. The last thing he had expected was another living Predacon out there, just waiting to be found!
"Skylynx," Predaking pressed. "Where was she incubated? We will start there."
"North, somewhere near Iacon, I believe," he answered.
"Then we will return there and begin our search. We will need a portal."
"Before you go anywhere," the black and yellow Autobot said, "let's put Skylynx and Darksteel into the system."
The black and yellow Autobot quickly registered Skylynx's and Darksteel's sparks, then he punched a comm chip into the metal next to their audio receptors.
"Ow!" Darksteel growled and rubbed the spot. He checked the tips of his claws, expecting that he had scratched the chip away, but it was now buried in a tiny hole in his head.
"Come now," Predaking commanded. "We will begin our search."
The black and yellow Autobot granted them a portal back to Iacon. From there, Skylynx took the lead. Once the Predacons soared away from the crowds and the noise of construction, suddenly the world seemed massive and eerily empty. To the west, Predaking noticed distant shimmering pyramids, but Skylynx headed straight north to a small expanse of ruins. It was certainly no city, and they passed over strange decaying loops of metal. Predaking wondered what sort of place this had been, until Skylynx led them to a pair of heavy sealed doors.
They transformed. Darksteel pounded at the doors and yelled, "Hey! It's us!"
There was no answer.
"Is this Shockwave's laboratory?" Predaking asked.
"Yes," Skylynx replied.
Predaking stepped through them, jammed his claws between the doors, and tore them open. Sunlight slipped into the dark room and dimly lit up objects and surfaces. Stomping inside, Predaking smacked his palms against a cold empty cloning tube.
"She is already gone," Predaking uttered.
He peered around as though she might be crouching in the dark. Instead, he saw only hollow energon containers and mostly empty shelves. It looked like Shockwave had packed up whatever he needed and departed.
Where have they gone? Did Shockwave take her with him?
Predaking marched back outside. Transforming to beast mode, he gave the ground and air a sniff. His sense of smell wasn't strong, but he could tell that Shockwave had driven away in the opposite direction of Iacon. Then, he detected an unfamiliar Predacon scent. He could only tell where she had taken off, and after that, she was gone with the wind.
Deciding to follow Shockwave, Predaking galloped after the smell of his treads. The Predacons left the ruins for an open rusty metal plain, but immediately, the sharp odour of rust erased Shockwave's trail. Growling, Predaking led his brethren into the sky and searched the ground from above. There was no sign of Shockwave or the Predacon.
Letting out a screech, Predaking hoped that one of them could hear them. Maybe it wasn't too late to find Shockwave and get him to clone even more Predacons. The allyship with the Autobots was important, but maybe he could work with the Decepticon scientist in secret.
Predaking flew into the cold winds, picking up the pace and shooting over the grey lands. His eyes snapped to everything that moved: flocks of small animals in the sky, crawling animals on the ground, and even flowing rivers or rolling pieces of rubble. Any large lump of metal was examined, but they lacked the elegant wings of a Predacon. When they glided over cities, Predaking shrieked to summon his new sister from the silent dark interiors of old, blasted buildings.
As the sun rolled over their backs then dipped toward the horizon, Skylynx and Darksteel lagged behind Predaking. Darksteel released long, shrieky groans trying to get Predaking's attention, but he gave him no heed. They pressed on. Eventually, a large black mass consumed the distant land. Chittering curiously, they swept down and landed at the edge of it.
Peculiar structures emerged from the ground, like the larger version of the green growths Predaking had seen on Earth. Inky black pillars stood taller than the Predacons and formed a roof of branches and dark needles. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the roof, allowing for a hidden dark world where numerous glowing eyes peered back at them.
Wondering if the fourth Predacon could be exploring this unusual place, Predaking let out a screech that bounced off the black pillars. Animals cried out in alarm and scrambled for shelter, but no Predacon appeared.
Skylynx transformed. "Do you not see that this is a vain effort? You cannot even be sure she headed this way."
Darksteel also transformed. "Yeah. We should've just waited for her to find us."
"Or for an Autobot to find her," Skylynx said.
Predaking changed to bot form. "We could be close."
"Maybe, maybe not," Darksteel replied. "But I'm tired, and we could've been hanging out with the Vehicons right about now…"
He trailed off and stepped into the dark biome.
"This place is pretty interesting though. We could explore it a bit while we're here."
Predaking suggested, "Perhaps we can see how far it extends, while still searching for our sister."
Returning to beast mode, Predaking encouraged the others to fly with him over the black mass of spiky growths. The moons in the sky brightened once the sun disappeared, casting powerful silver light over the Predacons. After one more shriek, Predaking hurled a striking orange beam across the sky. After a pause, Skylynx and Darksteel joined him in slicing the darkness with Predacon fire.
A large spiky shape prowled from the northern edge of the black mass. Yellow lights glowed on its body and a long tail dragged behind it. Giant wings unfurled and spread, allowing Predaking to recognize the figure before she blasted a fourth beam of flame into the sky.
It is her!
She shot into the sky with long velvety wings that reminded Predaking of his own. When she flew into the moonlight, vibrant colours of red, green, and aquamarine struck them. She was as bold as her plating, speeding fearlessly toward them. The red slits of her pupils pierced them and spikes charged from her neck to her tail and down each leg. A long tail swung behind her with a thick pincered end, which looked as though it could snatch up any Autobot or Vehicon.
She slowed and hovered with them, wearing the same Predacon insignia on her chest. Growling excitedly, she flew a circle around them, before the others growled playfully too and gave chase. They formed a ring, flying in circles after each other's tails both long and short. Each then began to screech and roar in their own cries, flying at each other and engaging in mock battle. But since the fourth Predacon was armed with spikes, they were careful to not stab themselves fighting her.
Finally, Predaking slipped away, wiggling through the air in serpentine curls. The others flew after him in swoops, speeding ahead of him, dropping behind, or kicking off his back. The whole way back to Iacon, they played and forgot their fatigue and thirst. Any Wreckers out patrolling at the time shouted in alarm like the wild critters had, but the Predacons passed by harmlessly. Predaking, Skylynx, and Darksteel landed outside the Vehicon residence, transforming to head inside.
The aquamarine and red Predacon transformed. She was just as large as Skylynx and Darksteel, but looked even more intimidating with a beastly face even in bot mode. She had a thick jaw and a wide mouth filled with sharp silver teeth, which left Predaking impressed.
She asked, "You are Predaking, leader of the Predacons?"
"Indeed, I am." He clasped the sharp plates of her shoulders. "And what shall you be called?"
"Ripclaw," she answered.
"A strong and suitable name," Predaking approved.
The others introduced themselves.
"Mine's Darksteel."
"Skylynx."
"Predaking," Ripclaw said, "why is your optic covered? Is it still there?"
"It is still there. I received a wound when dealing with a Decepticon. It is nothing to be concerned about; it will heal and the patch will be removed." He changed the subject. "I see you are already familiar with transformation."
"Our kind creator taught me how to transform so that I could communicate with others. He also told me to find others like me, that they would care for me…"
"Where is Shockwave now? Do you know?" Predaking asked.
Ripclaw frowned. "No. He went away, saying he was going to live on his own. I wanted to stay with him more than I wanted to leave. He insisted, however…"
"That is a shame," Predaking sighed. "I had hoped that he would clone more of us. We are the only four Predacons on Cybertron. However, perhaps more will be forged from the Well of All Sparks."
"If there were more of us, that would be fun," Ripclaw replied. "But first, I must acquaint myself with you! And I see that we are not the only bots here. There are non-beastly Cybertronians here, the same kind as our creator."
"Some of them are our haughty allies, the Autobots," Skylynx said. "You will meet the more pleasant ones, the purple Vehicon clones."
They opened the doors and went inside the residence. At this time, most Vehicons had gone to their quarters to rest. However, the few still seated in the room jolted and gasped when the new Predacon entered the room.
"Who are you?" they gasped.