The Beauty and the Predacon {ON HOLD}

Chapter 17

Predaking holds Arcee as tight as he can without hurting her, he likes having her in his arms and he doesn't want to let her go anytime soon. After he looked into Arcee's past, seeing all her memories, he can understand why she's so concerned and doesn't trust Megatron or any of the Decepticons. The Autobots and the Decepticons have been at war for millions of years and the Autobots have made Megatron out to be this big tyrant who lies and deceives and needs to be stopped. It confuses Predaking because Megatron has made him believe that the Autobots are the tyrants.

Which is the truth?

Predaking is interrupted from his thoughts by the door opening behind them. He growls as he releases Arcee and stands up so he can face the idiot that disturbs them, no surprise it's Starscream. "What do you want, Starscream?" He asks with a growl.

Starscream walks towards them with a big smirk plastered on his face, he's really happy about something, and that really unsettles Arcee. Have they done something to Ratchet? Starscream tries to stop smirking as he looks at Arcee, "Lord Megatron wishes to see you on the bridge. Predaking too." He waves his servo around dismissively as he walks past them, "My armada, meet me on the upper haul deck," Starscream says over the comlink.

Arcee and Predaking look at each other as they wonder what Megatron could want with them this time, Arcee just shrugs before walking off with Predaking not too far behind, they'll find out soon. 

As they walk through the corridors towards the bridge they pass Starscream's armada heading towards the upper haul deck. Arcee grows even more curious about what's going on, especially since Starscream seems to be so happy. He's usually only that happy when he can inflict hurt or kill and he only gets his armada together to attack...

Wait...

Soundwave was being held at the Autobots' new base and Laserbeak found him and rescued him, which means he would have the location of the Autobots' new base. She quickly turns around, "No!" She runs back to the upper haul,  "Starscream, don't!" It feels as though time is slowing down, she knows there's nothing she can do but she can't just stand around and let them kill her team.

"Arcee!" Predaking calls as he runs after her. He can see some stuff jumbling up in her processor and he can tell she's really worried for her team but he can't make out exactly what's going on. They make it through the doors in time to see Starscream and his armada flying off from the deck and Arcee's Energon runs cold.

"NOOOOO!!" She falls to her knees as a drop of lubricant falls from the corner of her optic, they're going to destroy her team and there's nothing she can do.

Predaking can feel Arcee's spark shattering but he doesn't know what to do. He tries to send her a wave of love and comfort through the bond which seems to ease her pain a little bit, but she's so distraught that it's not doing too much good. He can feel her panic and concern at the thought of Starscream and his armada completely destroying her team, the feeling of hurt he's getting from her feeling so similar to the hurt he felt when his Predacon brethren were destroyed.

A small feeling of hope started to rise in Arcee as she reminded herself that her team was smart, they would figure out that they would be attacked and they would come up with a plan. She gets up and walks back into the ship's corridors as she continues telling herself that they're fine, they're strong and smart and they will survive. She pays no attention to Predaking who is trailing behind her, she's thinking about only one thing at the moment and that's confronting Megatron and telling him off.

Predaking watches Arcee as they walk onto the bridge, her servos clenched as though she's ready for a fight. He can feel so much anger and hatred coming from her completely aimed at the mech standing in front of them, his master. Arcee wants to rip the mech's helm right off his body and tear out his spark.

Arcee gets ready to say something but Megatron speaks before she can utter a single word, "Arcee. There's a bot here that wishes to see you."

Arcee looks at him a bit confused before she remembers that they have Ratchet. The door opens behind her and Predaking, and she looks back to see Ratchet walking in with Soundwave. Predaking steps to the side and Arcee makes her way around him and runs over to Ratchet, "Ratchet!"

"Arcee!" Ratchet takes a few steps forward to meet up with Arcee. Once they reach each other they stop moving.

"Are you alright?" They both asked in sync.

"Pfft, you've been held captive longer than I have, I should be asking you that question first," Ratchet says as he begins looking her over to see if there are any scratches or marks or dents on her. He feels relieved to see none on her body but the relief disappears and his spark freezes for a second when he looks at her neck and sees the bite mark, she's been claimed and most likely mated. He looks up at Predaking. Did he...?

"I'm just fine. I've been treated well, surprisingly. What about you? Are you alright?"

"All they've done to me so far is poke around in my processor looking for the formula for the Synthetic Energon. Then I was thrown into a brig and mostly left alone."

"Why do they want the formula?"

"Apparently to restore Cybertron with it."

"Ratchet, you know better than to believe anything they say. He sent Starscream and -"

"That's enough! Predaking, take her back to the upper haul!" Megatron speaks up to keep Arcee from saying more. Obviously, Starscream wasn't cautious like he told him to be and Arcee figured things out.

Predaking walks over to her and reaches out for her arm but Arcee pulls away from him and turns to glare at Megatron. "You ordered an attack on the Autobots' new base! That's the only reason Starscream would leave with his armada!"

Ratchet looks at the warlord, "You ordered an attack before I could even make my decision!?"

"Of course not, she saw them and started jumping to conclusions. They left to do some scouting."

Both Arcee and Ratchet narrow their optics at him, neither of them believing a word he's saying, "That's a bunch of bull! You know where they are and you're not gonna -!"

"Predaking, grab your sparkmate and get out of here before I do something with her!" This glitch is gonna ruin everything! This is why I told Starscream to make sure she doesn't see them or have any reason to suspect things because she would cause trouble if she did!

"Sparkmate? She sparkbonded with him?" Ratchet asks as Predaking picks up Arcee and starts walking to the door. Predaking looks at Ratchet and snarls, he wants to beat him to scrap just for asking in such a manner but he currently has his servos full trying to hold Arcee who is struggling to get out of his arms.

"You're not gonna just sit back and let them be, you want Optimus dead too much to do that! You ordered an attack on them!" Arcee shouts as she keeps struggling to get out of Predaking's arms, "Let me go, Predaking, I'm gonna rip off his helm! You will pay for everything you've done, Megatron!"

Predaking holds her tightly as he walks off the bridge and enters the corridors. Arcee continues struggling to get out of his arms as he carries her through the corridors. He can't help but admire her feistiness, his femme is brave and strong. She just keeps proving to him more and more that he made the right choice in making her his mate, and he has no doubts that she would be a great queen.