The Good, the Bad and Starscream

Chapter 26: Prey

Starscream couldn't believe his own optics. Yet right in front of him, and all the other Decepticons present on the peak of Darkmount, stood one of the largest and most fearsome of Cybertronian races, a large black draconic beast with silver and golden details, its head adorned with black, silver and red horns, and enormous red webbed wings protruding from its spiky back. It opened its mouth, revealing a bifurcated lower jaw, countless sharp teeth and three pairs of mandibles covering the jaws. Its optics were large and solid glistering yellow, gleaming viciously as it let out a shrill roar, sending chills up Starscream's spinal strut and all the way to the tips of his wings.

"A... a Predacon," Starscream stuttered while still trying to hide behind Thundercracker and Skywarp, though couldn't help but peek out from between them out of curiosity for the giant creature's existence. "They... they've been extinct since the beginning of Cybertronian history."

"Indeed," Shockwave replied from the side and wandered calmly over to the mighty beast, which didn't react to the Cyclops' approach. "But the specimen you see before you was bred in a laboratory." Shockwave stroke the Predacon gently along its long, plated neck. "Cloned from fossilized remains which I discovered on Cybertron."

"Shockwave," Megatron uttered and descended from the stairs, heading for the Predacon, "it does my Spark good to see you once again... tampering with creation."

Starscream gazed concerned between Megatron and the Predacon, as the former was approaching the latter. Despite his resentment for the warlord, the thought of anyone getting attacked and torn apart by a Predacon was horrifying.

"Master, please!" Starscream exclaimed and burst out from between his Trinemates, who briefly glanced surprised at the smaller Seeker before returning their gazes to the Predacon. "Keep your distance!"

But Megatron ignored Starscream and kept going. Starscream gazed worried around him. The fact that no one seemed as worried about the Predacon as they should have been baffled Starscream. Apparently they didn't know just how dangerous Predacons were. Starscream did. He had read about them and seen pictures of the beasts and knew they did not fuel on raw or processed Energon like Cybertronians did.

They consumed Energon and metal from other bots. They were hunters, and the Cybertronians were their prey. And now, Shockwave had just bred and brought one of these monsters onto Darkmount, full of its prey! And it was possibly powerful enough to even devour Megatron without effort, not to mention the Seekers! Despite his fear, Starscream could not find the strength to run away. As fast and agile as he was, the Predacon could possibly be faster. Not to mention that Starscream was currently injured and his wings weak, which would make him the ideal target of the Predacon. If he tried to flee, the Predacon would easily hunt him down. So he just stood there and watched with anxiety as Megatron approached the Predacon, which seemed oddly calm despite being surrounded by over a dozen Decepticons.

"No need for alarm," Shockwave said calmly as Megatron stopped just a few meters from the Predacon. "The beast is completely under my control."

The Predacon leaned in close and stared deeply into Megatron's red optics with its own large yellow ones. It rattled and moaned calmly, looking at Megatron with interest. Starscream looked baffled at the scene. What vicious thoughts could be in such a beast's processor? He hoped it would keep its attention on Megatron and ignore Starscream's injuries, as he was sure some of the wounds were still leaking Energon.

"Such primal magnificence," Megatron sighed in awe of the beast.

"A sample of Energon from Wheeljack," Shockwave said and pulled forth a small jar of blue Energon from his subspace, "spilled during the Autobot's failed interrogation."