"Let us sample everything," Predaking said.

"Ho!" Maccadam exclaimed. "How eager! Let's see how you can handle it, big bots!"

The large gold bot fetched bubbly yellow drinks for them all. After those were gulped down, Lickety-Split passed them blue drinks topped with pink foam. Nodding and smiling, the Predacons gazed at each other.

Darksteel grinned. "After this, energon's almost boring, isn't it?"

Predaking straightened when Bumblebee stepped through the doors. Other Autobots from Earth filed in behind him: Bulkhead and Wheeljack, then the blue two-wheeler and the blue and gold bot. Spying Predaking, Bumblebee jolted then gave him a small wave. His party headed to a table of their own, casting a few more glances at the Predacons.

Predaking ignored them and relaxed as more drinks kept coming to the table. Sipping them, he turned toward the musician to watch her play.

"I wonder how those sounds are produced," Skylynx mused. "It looks like it requires dexterous skill."

Bowls of blue energon pudding were placed in front of them. While the Predacons savoured its sweetness, Bumblebee approached them.

"Hi, I just wanted to check in on how you're all settling into Iacon." His blue eyes twirled curiously.

Predaking's shoulders lowered with the music's melody. "We are settling in well, despite some troubles with particular Autobots."

"Let me guess…" Bumblebee sighed. "Prowl?"

Ripclaw snorted, "Wow, you knew?"

"I saw him when he landed at the spaceport. Prowl hasn't changed… He's just as… you know. What did he do to you?"

Predaking answered, "He is one of those who view us as dangerous beasts. Particularly despising us for having Shockwave as our creator."

Bumblebee nodded. "I'll see if I can talk to him."

"Whirl and Devcon were a bother as well," Skylynx added.

"Ah… I heard about Whirl. We are too familiar with his antics." Bumblebee jerked his head in his table's direction. "And Devcon is harassing every Decepticon on Cybertron, including the Vehicons. There are oddballs in our ranks, I'll admit that. But I hope other Autobots have made you feel welcome."

"Yes…" Predaking exhaled. "Springer, Ironhide…"

He thought of Bluestreak but did not mention him.

"You've been working this whole time?" Bumblebee asked.

"Mostly work," Darksteel said. "But some exploring too."

Maccadam came by with sparkling silver drinks."Where have you visited?"

"The factory which lies a solar cycle's journey from here," Predaking answered. "And the Manganese Mountains."

"Ahh, aren't those new forests beautiful?" Maccadam sighed. "All that was destroyed in the War, you know. Weren't no plants left, hardly any animals. We're getting Primus' second chance! But hey, there are so many gorgeous places to visit if ya know where to go. Seekers say the seas are filled and there are forests of every colour now."

Ripclaw's eyes widened. "We should go see them!"

"Oh but you know what…" Maccadam went on. "Maybe they should go to New Spark, right, 'Bee? Aren't the Predacons young'uns too? They should be getting a fine education from those teachers!"

"Education?" Skylynx piped up.

"Sure! You're not doing much else, right?" Maccadam encouraged. "Can't have young bots stuck doing labour just because they're strong. No, no, those were the old ways. You can do more than carry!"

Bumblebee stammered, "I'm just not sure it's a good idea, considering…"

"What?" Maccadam challenged.

"Since the school is in New Spark, the Dinobots' city…" Bumblebee trailed off, looking apologetically at the Predacons.

"Oh, hooey! You just make those Dinobots get along with them. The world's too beautiful for any more hostilities!"

Bumblebee spread his fingers. "I can try… if that's what they want…"

He looked back to the Predacons.

"Who will educate us?" Skylynx asked.

"There are some teachers there…" Bumblebee began. "We can find one who would be the best for you."

"And what will we learn?"

"I believe all kinds of things, but basics first…"

Skylynx leaned over the table. "Can we begin tomorrow?"

"Uh… sure," Bumblebee gulped. "Meet me in the city square tomorrow morning."

"Fantastic!" Maccadam cried.

Bumblebee slipped back to his table. Winking at the Predacons, Maccadam fetched more items for them to sample. Meanwhile, the Predacons nodded along with the music.

"Who do you think the Dinobots are?" Darksteel wondered.

Predaking advised, "They will be more trouble, I presume. So prepare yourselves."

After tasting everything on the menu, the Predacons stumbled out the doors. The world tilted diagonally and Predaking's sluggish mind struggled to track movement. An Autobot bumped past him, growling, "Watch it!"

Lumbering down the street, Darksteel transformed and attempted to fly home.

"We weren't supposed to drink then fly!" Ripclaw called.

Darksteel growled and took off. Wobbling, he soared away.

"I am still in control," Predaking declared.

Changing to beast mode, he launched into the sky after Darksteel. A moment later, he veered, hit a building, and fell into an alley.

Predaking peeled himself off his side, shaking his head. He paused at a shuffling noise. Glancing up, he glimpsed what he first thought were two bots. Blinking, he tried to make sense of a larger brown bot holding a slumped Vehicon. Blood trickled from the side of the Vehicon's head. Skinny brown claws curled around the purple body. Long grey-white teeth clenched.

Predaking sprang up and snarled, but suddenly, confusion struck him.

There is nothing there.

As soon as he thought it, he realized it was true. There were no bots in front of him. He was alone.

You don't know what you saw. It was nothing.

Predaking stared around himself with furrowed brows. Shaking his head again, he crawled out of the alley. He could no longer remember what he had seen; it was a dark blur now. However, he decided he better drink less intoxicating beverages from then on.

He flew home and forgot how many times he crashed.