Under the giant screens of Iacon Square, the Predacons met with Bumblebee in the morning.
"So, where is this New Spark located?" Predaking asked.
"It's a bit away from here, so we'll ground bridge there."
Bumblebee made a request for one, peered at the Predacons apprehensively, then led them through the portal. Grey buildings sprang up around them and blue streetlights glowed on the dark empty streets.
"The sun has gone," Skylynx commented.
"Sunrise will come soon," Bumblebee said. "We just hopped further west, so the sun hasn't come yet."
They marched to a silver-white building with grey pillars. A sign designated it: School . But the curiosity of the Predacons was curbed by the five imposing figures standing outside it. Four were equal in height to them, one was smaller, but all were glaring, thick-metalled, grey and yellow bots.
"The transforming Predacons," growled a red-eyed Autobot with a black head. "You want entrance into this school? There are vulnerable youth here. Hurt them, and we'll make your species extinct again."
The ground shook when he stomped his foot.
"We aren't here to hurt anyone," Ripclaw hissed. "We are here to learn! We were invited."
The same powerful Autobot muttered, "We've fought Predacons on Cybertron: bot-eating monsters made by Shockwave and the Forged."
"There were more Predacons?" Predaking gasped.
"Don't sound excited. We'd be a lot happier if we never had to see another Predacon again. One of them ate a poor innocent young one. We took care of that beast. We can do the same to you."
Predaking's eyes flared and he clenched his fists. Then, he slouched and relaxed his fingers. "The Predacon… devoured someone?"
"Uh-huh."
Bumblebee butted in, "Like I said, these Predacons have never devoured anybot. They have been helping rebuild Iacon for almost three decacycles."
"We'll let them in," the smallest Dinobot growled. "But I'll be sitting in that classroom to supervise. I can already tell you though, no teacher wants them except one."
Every Predacon scowled and Predaking snapped, "We are not bloodthirsty beasts desperate for a taste of living metal. The very idea is foul to me."
Bumblebee urged, "These Predacons are different from those you have seen."
"We'll see," the smallest Dinobot said.
Half of the Dinobots led the Predacons into the building. The other half followed behind, sandwiching them between them. Ripclaw's shoulder plates quivered and clacked in rage as they were escorted into a classroom. Yet once inside, the four Predacons widened their eyes in intrigue.
A miniature blue-grey bot stood on a desk in front of an electronic board with a long stylus in hand. A dormant beast face rested on his chest, he lacked wheels, wings, and copter blades, and his hands and feet were clawed. Immediately, Predaking wondered what he transformed into. Before the small beastbot sat many empty tables, but four were filled by bright-eyed bots. Although they wore Autobot symbols, they glanced at the Predacons with friendly curiosity.
"Oo! Are you new students?" gasped a small blue copterbot.
The little bot with the stylus announced, "Welcome, please sit wherever you would like!"
As the Predacons shuffled in, Darksteel exclaimed, "Are you the teacher! Wow, you're tiny!"
"Yes, such is the nature of Minicons." The blue-grey bot grew an amused smile and stroked his beard. "My name is Dominus Ambus. I will be your teacher. Please grant me the pleasure of knowing your names."
"I am Predaking, leader of the Predacons," he declared.
The small Dinobot snorted. He passed by and lounged on a container in the back of the room. Meanwhile, the Dinobot with the black face lingered in the doorway. Predaking began to bristle, but then a light blue student trilled, "Wow! What are the Predacons? That sounds cool!"
Predaking's spark melted and he smiled.
Dominus Ambus waved at the Dinobot at the door.
"You may go, Grimlock. Have no fear."
"I fear nothing," he uttered. "Swoop, stay alert."
Grimlock stomped back. The door automatically shut, and his footsteps thumped down the hall.
"Why is Swoop staying in the classroom?" a small red and white student asked.
Dominus Ambus gripped his stylus in both hands. "Please ignore Swoop; he's just here to make sure… the class runs smoothly with our new students."
"It shouldn't be a problem." The student blinked at Swoop earnestly. "Dominus Ambus is a great teacher!"
"Thank you, Medix," the Minicon teacher replied. "Now, who would like to introduce themself next?"
"Wait, you didn't answer my question!" piped up the light blue student.
"Ah, of course," Dominus Ambus said. "Predacons are a formerly extinct race of Cybertronians with powerful, fire-breathing beast forms."
All the other students breathed out in admiration.
"Can we see?" the blue copter cried. "That sounds really, really cool!"
Predaking's eyes softened and his brethren all smiled now.
"Perhaps at break in a joor," the teacher answered. "If our classmates are alright with that."
"Better not," the Dinobot warned.
"Oh, screws, it'll be harmless," Dominus Ambus scoffed. "All students have the right to transform and use their alt-form at recess."
The Dinobot tapped his arms.
"I'd be happy to show you," Darksteel grinned at the copter student. "I am Darksteel, by the way."
"Ripclaw," she said next.
"You're very colourful!" the copterbot exclaimed.
"I'm venomous." Ripclaw beamed.
"Oooo… I wish I were venomous!"
Ripclaw chuckled.
"I am Skylynx…" Skylynx nodded. "I look forward to learning."
"Welcome, Predaking, Darksteel, Ripclaw, and Skylynx," Dominus Ambus replied. "And thank you, Whirl Jr., for your enthusiasm. We love to meet all kinds of Cybertronians. Shall we all introduce ourselves?"
"I'm Whirl Jr.," the blue copterbot giggled. "But he just said that."
"Are all blue copters named Whirl?" Darksteel blurted.
"Hehe, no, but he's my mentor!" she exclaimed. "It's my nickname but I like it a lot! It sounds very silly. And I love my papa. Do you know him?"
Predaking choked, trying not to splutter.
"We have seen him around…" Skylynx coughed.
"Next?" Dominus Ambus sensed the mood and pointed at another student.
The Predacons were introduced to Rubble, Gauge, and Medix.
"You will spend a lot of time with each other," the teacher explained. "Classes run every solar cycle from sunrise to noon. You are not obligated to come every solar cycle, but you will graduate much sooner if you do. We have a curriculum. Once you have learned a subject, you get checked off for it. If you miss a subject, you may do an evening make-up class. Complete all subjects, and you will graduate from the basic level!"
"Are there more advanced levels?" Skylynx inquired.
"Certainly, and we'll have those classes ready by the time you graduate. Right now all we are offering are these classes for the Newsparks. And you, I hear, are young enough to classify!"
"Newsparks?" Predaking asked.
"The term for those fresh from the Well. And the city you are in now is called New Spark! Fitting, isn't it? Anyway, shall we begin today's lesson?"
"What are we learning?" Skylynx pulled out a stylus from a slot on his desk.
"We will be expanding our knowledge on basic arithmetic and graphs. But do not worry, my dear new students. I'll do a quick lecture then come around to teach you about beginner maths."
As Dominus Ambus began the lecture, Predaking struggled to follow along. But discovering that his desk was interactive, he used a stylus to copy the teacher's drawings. Predaking picked up on the concepts of multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction, but he was not quick to calculate formulas. He was fascinated by the concept of visually mapping information, but no more than Skylynx, whose eyes had never been rounder.
Forgetting the Dinobot guard, love for the classroom blossomed in his chest. Predaking was thankful for Maccadam for encouraging them to come. Once the lecture had finished, Dominus Ambus transformed into a small creature with a snout, long ears, and a bushy plated tail. He hopped across the desks, releasing giggles from the students. Then he sat on Predaking's desk, sweeping his head left and right.
"Are you following along alright?" Dominus Ambus asked.
"You can speak in beast mode?" Predaking gasped.
"Yes," he replied. "I take it that you cannot?"
"It would be great if we could!" Darksteel exclaimed. "So, what kind of Cybertronian are you then?"
"I am a Turbofoxian, a type of beastbot," he exclaimed. "We are Minicons with the alt-forms of turbofoxes. It makes it easy to blend in with them. Mind you, a turbofox is a common pet, so please remember that we are sapient Cybertronians and petting is not respectful. No matter who it is though, it is best to get someone's permission before touching them. Remember to mind the sensitivities of others."
The Predacons nodded and listened attentively to their teacher. He then continued to guide them through basic math. He bounced across their desks, changing to bot mode to draw when necessary. The visuals greatly aided them with concepts like fractions. Once they were managing better, he left them with exercises and checked on the other students.
The time for a break was announced. Dominus Ambus passed them energon candies with a white coating around them, then walked them out the door. Into an outdoor yard they went where other classes played on aerial and ground obstacles, rectangular courts with glowing blue lines, and a great race track. Predaking crunched down on the candy, letting the sweet gem slide down his throat while he watched the other students at play.
"Can we see your beast modes?" Whirl Jr. asked.
"Yeah!" Rubble chimed in.
"Don't transform!" Swoop called.
Darksteel laughed and transformed. The students began to cheer until thunderous roars drowned them out. Beside Swoop, two Dinobots transformed into one double-horned beast and one long-necked beast. Both were as broad, tall, and heavy as Darksteel. The monstrous Autobots swiped the ground with their forefeet.
The horned Dinobot snarled, "Return to bot mode, Predacon!"
Darksteel looked to his brethren, bewildered.
"Told you not to." Swoop transformed into a winged beast with a long beak.
"But why not?" Medix jolted. "If we get to transform, why not them?"
Dominus Ambus stepped between the Dinobots and Predacon.
"They have my permission," he enunciated. "Let them."
"We cannot allow it," the horned Dinobot uttered. "It's too dangerous."
"Exactly," Swoop growled.
"Dominus!" A tall and thin, red Autobot swiftly strode across the park. "No. No Predacons in beast form here! They shouldn't even be here at all!"
The students all looked at each other and the Predacons in alarm.
"Nonsense!" Dominus Ambus transformed to his minuscule beast form, lashing his tail. "If you judge them based on who they are and not what they have done, then most certainly, that is discrimination! And this I have faced before the War as a beastbot. We will have none of that here! None of it!"
He growled and yipped.
"These are children!" he cried. "Leave them alone!"
When normally Predaking would defend himself, this time, he stayed mum. Dominus Ambus was clear and his anger measured; he was an idol Predaking suddenly longed to be. As tiny as the Minicon was, he forced a guilty look onto the red Autobot's face and convinced the Dinobots to return to bot mode.
"We just don't want anyone to get hurt…" the horned Dinobot grumbled.
Dominus Ambus' plates raised, puffing up his Turbofox form into a slightly larger ball. The other older Autobots went quiet.
"This is weird," Whirl Jr. whispered to the Predacons. "Do you want to go over there and play on the obstacles? "
Predaking transformed to beast mode and bared his teeth at the scrambling older Autobots. The Dinobots returned to beast mode and the red teacher grabbed at the sword handle on her back. But he swung his neck dismissively and looked to Whirl Jr. She breathed in awe before she and the other students waved for the Predacons to follow them. Tail high but still poofed, Dominus Ambus followed the group.
Every Predacon transformed to beast mode to explore the larger obstacles. Most were best suited for smaller bots, but they could climb all around a large cage of bars. Predaking felt the eyes of the Dinobots burn into him as all five of them gathered beside the playground. At the same time, the students of the other classes flocked on the game courts away from the Predacons, watching them timidly.
"There is nothing to be concerned about," Dominus Ambus told them. "Please, play your games."
Predaking derived no pleasure from the obstacles under all the offending glares. Crawling down, he lay in a dignified pose with his neck raised. He imagined flying away in a huff, but admittedly, he did not wish to miss the next lesson or disappoint Dominus Ambus. His brethren joined him, curling around him and mirroring his aloof air. There they waited until all the teachers called for their classes to return.