A new appreciation for the city grew on Predaking after their house was built. Working on construction was no longer a repetitive grind necessary for the acceptance of the Predacon species. Now he looked forward to the completion of each building, the final artistic touches, then the official public opening which filled each one with life.

After a week had passed, a new arrival of around one hundred Autobots to Iacon increased the work pace. Throughout each day, new Autobots would approach the Predacons and ask if they really were Predacons, leading to many prideful transformations to beast mode. The way the smaller bots scrambled away, staring up at them with fear and awe only made Predaking feel much more important and powerful.

The Predacons would go wherever they pleased, working or exploring. Once the hospital was declared complete, the Predacons strolled through the silver halls and peeked into many barren rooms. Hardly more than a few berths could be found in them, but a few Autobots were carting in supplies.

"Not much to see yet, is there?" A red-faced, white Autobot passed by them. She kept walking, wheeling a cart of containers behind her. "We're not ready for large-scale emergencies. Not enough equipment or medics… It's nice to have you here, at least."

She headed away.

"What did she mean by that?" Darksteel wondered. "We don't know how to heal anybody. Haha, the opposite in fact!"

"Do we help with large-scale emergencies?" Ripclaw pondered. "Yes, maybe that's what she meant. We could stop conflicts."

Predaking nodded. "I promised the Vehicons protection, but if the Autobots have been expecting protection as well, I suppose we shall provide it. Our superior strength may serve an honourable purpose."

"But I'm not opposed to fighting Autobots," Darksteel complained. "Are you saying that we can't fight them at all anymore? What if Devcon comes back and needs a good bite to teach him a lesson?"

"Indeed," Skylynx said.

"Remember. The punishment must fit the crime…" Predaking trailed off.

"And what punishment did Starscream really get?" Darksteel huffed. "None!"

Predaking decided not to argue. The sun beamed down on Iacon, warming his spark while a fresh breeze put a spring to his step. The Predacons bounced along to the newly opened library, a tall cylindrical building with glowing silver walls and copper and gold details. Passing under the sign Iacon Hall of Records, the Predacons entered a room with finely polished floors crisscrossed by decorative yellow lights.

A transparent tube stretched up to the ceiling and lifted an Autobot beyond sight. Darksteel darted to the elevator and hopped inside it as soon as the platform lowered again, happily ascending to the upper levels. Ignoring him, Skylynx strode ahead and investigated the sparse shelves past the elevator. A few datapads stood on the shelves with titles written on their spines. As Skylynx flipped through them with a finger, a soft voice spoke up.

"Please be careful with those."

Predaking, Ripclaw, and Skylynx looked down. A thin grey Autobot stood below their hips, looking up at them with calm blue eyes.

"What are they, exactly?" Skylynx asked.

"Electronic books," the Autobot replied. "We have just started downloading information from the archives onto these datapads. Every book is a compilation of a topic, and this floor is dedicated to history from the War."

Predaking noticed one book's title: The War and the Matrix of Leadership.

"I see…" Skylynx replied. "Will you have anything else?"

"The second floor will focus on pre-war history, including ancient history and mythology. The third floor will be for the sciences, the fourth for cultures and arts, and the fifth is to be determined. But because we haven't created many books yet, I suggest you search one of our computers for any information you currently seek."

He is speaking to us with the courtesy we Predacons deserve, Predaking thought. To be certain, he broadened his shoulders and asked, "Are you aware that those standing before you are of the previously extinct Predacon species?"

The librarian Autobot blinked a few times. "Ah yes, of course… Why do you ask?"

"I simply wanted to confirm something."

Skylynx began to walk toward the elevator. "I wish to see what the third floor offers."

"One at a time in the elevator, please!" the grey librarian called. "There is a weight limit!"

Skylynx went first, then Predaking decided, "I will see if there is more information on our species on the second floor."

After he exited the elevator, he stepped into a huge silent room lit by blue lights. He headed toward the mostly empty shelves and soon after, heavy Predacon footsteps followed him. Turning, Predaking smiled to see Ripclaw.

"Are you equally interested in our species?" he asked.

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" she said. "We're the only four left of a once numerous species, and we only exist because Shockwave cloned us from fossils… I think it's fascinating."

They searched through the few books available, before Ripclaw pulled one off the shelf.

"Predacons." She held up a book with the same title.

Powering on the book, she began to swipe through the pages.

"Do not rush through; there is much to learn," Predaking instructed. "I have read these exact archives before on the Decepticon warship."

"I wanted to see how different we could be. Look here!" She paused on an image. "It's a drawing of a three-headed Predacon!"

Predaking watched her slitted eyes widen into curious red orbs. Going quiet, he let her have her fun.

"I see a few two-headed Predacons! So interesting… It must have been common, but none of us are like that. Look! There were Predacons without wings!"

Predaking cast his eyes on one drawing off a squat two-legged beast. He scowled and looked away from the hideous image. "I have seen such images before, but I am certain the Cybertronians who recorded this information were mistaken. Predacons have elegant long forms, four legs, and wings. We rule the ground and the sky. That must be a lesser species."

Ripclaw continued. "I see other two-legged Predacons. Here are smaller ones with their arms and wings joined together."

Predaking did not look this time. "They are just like the mechanimals we see outside."

"I wonder why they thought they were Predacons?" Ripclaw mused. "Well, it does say that they breathed fire."

"There is more to being a Predacon than possessing fire. Size, strength, four lethally clawed limbs, wings, a tail—"

"Darksteel doesn't really have a tail!" Ripclaw suddenly laughed. "I should tell him he isn't a Predacon anymore!"

"Ignore that criteria," Predaking grunted. "Although, a long bladed tail is certainly an advantage in battle."

"Suppose these were all Predacons." Ripclaw indicated the book. "And there were different classes."

"Lesser classes, perhaps," Predaking conceded. "Which Shockwave began to clone a few on Earth, for some illogical reason."

"It does say the two-legged ones are incredibly fast fliers with bladed wings. That sounds impressive. And the wingless Predacons have the thickest, most indestructible metal of all. Oh!" She swiped to a new section of the book. "Different Predacon abilities… Ice-breath! Acid spit… Venom…"

She looked up. "I have a feeling I am a venomous type."

Predaking raised his eyebrows.

"There is a needle in my tail and I'm fairly certain there is liquid in there," she elaborated. "Not that I'm going to stab someone to find out though… unless they deserve it."

She laughed and read on. "The Predacons with the most striking colours were reported as likely to be venomous or acidic. Their colours served as warnings to other Predacons that they were not to be challenged. "

Ripclaw cracked a massive, tooth-filled grin.

"You see that?"

"I see it," Predaking muttered. "Nevertheless, remember that nothing trumps strength and ferocity."

"You must still appreciate that a rarer type of Predacon managed to be revived!" She puffed up.

Predaking sighed, then smiled a little. "You are correct. I am grateful for your existence."

"Why were you curious about the sciences?" Predaking asked Skylynx when they regrouped at the exit.

"This world seems full of mysteries. Everything intrigues me and I want to learn how it all works," Skylynx admitted as they walked back out into the street. "How did Cybertronians harness the power of light?"

He pointed at the street lights.

"How did they create screens and books?"

He spread his arms to the town plaza where across the open space, new screens hung displaying peaceful messages like Let's Bring Back Home and We Can Build the World We Want.

"It all seems magical, but none of these bots are magical. Shockwave knew a way to create us from the remains of the dead. If everything these bots do or make is knowledge-based, then it stands to reason that all I need to do is learn to gain the same abilities as them."

Predaking stopped and stared at him. "I never considered the possibility. Are you saying that in the absence of Shockwave, you may learn to clone more Predacons?"

"Perhaps I could. Unless his knowledge was secret and his alone. Then we must wait until he is found."

"He doesn't want to be found. He has gone," Ripclaw said.

"This may all be unnecessary if the Well of All Sparks does clone more Predacons as Bumblebee said," Predaking said. "I believe there will be more Predacons, potentially any day."

"Aw but there might not be room for them in our house," Darksteel replied.

Predaking decided, "We will expand ours or have more built. Or we will move to a new land of our own."

The day continued and ended peacefully. Before the Predacons returned to their homes, they went to the Vehicon residence gradually being dubbed as "the Clubhouse". All their eyes widened at the new burst of colours among the Vehicons. There were new stars beside Ciel, one pink Vehicon and another red.

"Hello, Predacons." The red one bowed. "We are the ones who painted your door. I am Acrylic now."

"And I am Pastel," the pink one said.

"Congratulations." Predaking dipped his head. "I see how you surge with confidence upon finding identities for yourselves."

He genuinely supported the Vehicons. Once they varied more in appearance, then Predaking could remember each one and their interests. Suddenly, Predaking wondered what it would have been like if all Predacons had looked exactly the same. He hated the idea as soon as he thought it. Every Predacon should be respected and admired as unique individuals. And he needed his superior kingly body with the greatest wings of all.

More and more, Predaking was learning the differences in personalities of his brethren. He certainly appreciated those differences as well.

Although, if they were flightless… Well, I would rather have flightless brethren than no more brethren.

He decided if a flightless Predacon did appear, they would have to be exceedingly powerful for him to accept them as one of his own kind.