Young Predator

Distrust

Abominus was depressed as he stared down at his reduced amount of energon. He knew this was supposed to be his punishment for nearly killing the unknown pack member, but that wasn't what was bothering Abominus. No, he knew he needed to be punished for his action, so that wasn't the problem. The problem was the way the others were looking at him.

The pack members, especially the small organic ones, eyed him with suspicion and accusation. The small fun bringer, Miko, was no longer allowed near him. The big green pack member would keep her away. He hadn't even been given the chance to know the new pack member, and that didn't seem likely to happen anytime soon. For the time being, Abominus was being given plenty of space.

The dragon sighed when he saw that the red and orange pack member was coming toward him with more tools. This one often poked him, shone lights on him that tingled, and snapped at every other member of the pack. Abominus had tried to figure out his designation, but so far all he could figure out was RA followed by a hissing sound.

"Goo mori, Abominus," Ra-hiss greeted him offhandedly while continuing to look down at his flat slab with glyphs on it, "Les get you shhik ao."

Abominus was trying with all his processor's might to understand them. It was so frustrating that he didn't know more than he did. He wanted so badly to communicate with them so he could finally receive answers to life's greatest questions. Questions like why he looked so different than them, what was his purpose in life, and were there some things in the world that weren't edible?

Not knowing what else to ask, he simply asked the one thing he knew he could.

"Father?" Abominus asked while the painful pack member scanned him again.

"Ultra Magnus hiss bee see rye nao," Ra...click? replied, "Hold still."

Even Abominus knew what that meant. It meant more fluid was going to be taken out of him or some scales would get scraped off or something. Sure enough, Rachit used his large servo scalpel to scrape a thin layer of metal off one of his horns. Abominus snorted in discontent but allowed the pack member to do whatever it was he was doing. Something told Abominus that the purpose of these painful procedures wasn't to be cruel, but he still didn't know what they were for.

"Ra..." Abominus tried to say, but couldn't remember the rest of the name.

"Ratchet," Ratchet supplemented; picking up that Abominus was trying to say his name.

Abominus didn't quite catch that, so he tried again.

"Raaa!" Abominus shouted in frustration.

"Don't strain yourself," Ratchet ordered, but Abominus didn't understand, "Ratchet. How did Miko say it? Raaacheet. Ratchet."

"Raa...ch't," Abominus tried, but he had trouble moving his tongue to his long sharp teeth correctly, "Ra-ch't. Rach't. Ratchet. Ratchet. Ra-chet. Ratchet."

Abominus continued to practice while Ratchet continued to document CNA samples from the Predacon. Optimus had told them under no uncertain terms that they needed to catalogue as much as possible about Abominus, not only for the immediate care of their newest member but also for the cultural significance this information would hold to future Cybertronians. Abominus and the Decepticons' Predacon were the last two of their kind, so information about them was precious.

Ratchet turned to go, but he was stopped by a clawed servo grabbing his arm.

"Do you need something, Abominus?" Ratchet asked impatiently; wanting to get the samples into the computer as quickly as possible.

"Miko..." Abominus replied in a pitiful keen, "Wheejack. Bullhah."

"Bullhah? Oh, you mean Bulkhead," Ratchet chuckled after a few seconds to think about it, "What? You want to see them?"