Fatal

Chapter 18: Meet the Team pt2

Soundwave's POV

        I was quite sad when Bumblebee left, but I had to meet the next 'bot. Bulkhead. I was quite nervous to spend an hour with him. I knew he didn't like me, but he needed no reason to rub it in.

        Right now, the huge, green bot was glaring at me. Fists shaking, his optics scanned me again and again. What is this guy's problem? My denta sharpened at the sharp glare. My primal instincts flared and I felt my optics start to shift. Then, I shook my helm, servos flying to my face, hiding my optics. No! I'm not ready!

        I stumbled backwards and Ravage was there immediately, head bumping against my thighs, balancing me. Laserbeak cawed and flared his wings threateningly. Bulkhead, on the other hand, was staring, emotionless. I held back a hiss. Turning towards the couch, I looked longingly, but the hardened glare told me one thing. You don't belong here. You don't deserve it. And it was true. I was evil. I was a Decepticon. And it sickened me.

        I slumped and scratched Laserbeak, carefully walking towards the corner, optics never leaving Bulkhead. A predator NEVER takes it's optics off their prey. 

        I slid down the wall and into a sitting position. My servo lovingly scratched Ravage behind the ears. I nestled my face into the metallic plates of her neck, my sharp and accurate nose taking in her scent. A soft lick to the cheek made me laugh softly. Laserbeak gnawed at plate on my knee, his whiplash styled tail lashing. This is my family.

        Bulkhead sat down huffily onto the bot sized couch, his optics still fixed on me. The dragon inside me had his hackles raised and fangs bared. I arched my back and let out a feral hiss, using all my will to keep my optics blue. My needle shark denta glinted and I let a small drop of purple venom drip from my canines. 

        Bulkhead's optics widened fearfully, and I had a thought. What will Miko think? I slurped the small amount of venom and shut my mouth. My hissing stopped, and my back ached. I stood, and arched my back. I heard a few cracks and screeches from my armor, but it didn't help. I NEED to fly. I NEED to soar and dance.

        Wings were the most sensitive part of any Predacon's body. The faintest touch could either send us to the ground, gasping in pleasure, of hissing in pain. The primal instinct of a Predacon was also supreme. We were very territorial and really tense. The only real relaxation is that of the Talon Ritual. The Talon Ritual was were a dragon had the whole sky to themselves for a night. They would fly and sing and soar. It was pure, raw bliss and heaven. 

        Dragons were much like Cyberdogs. We were playful and happy. Innocent and young. Full of light. We were always smiling. We were happy and carefree. Until the Rouges attacked. The Rouges were a huge group of Predacon hunters. They killed for fun. They murdered Predacon sparklings and tortured the mechs and femmes, before the melted them alive. It was sick.

        Laserbeak cawed into my audio receptor. It was 1:00pm. Time for the next bot. Arcee walked briskly into the room. I opened my mouth to start conversation, but Arcee cut in. "Shut it, you animal." She snarled. I reeled back, offended. "Excuse me?" I asked, a slight growl to my voice. "You are not an Autobot. You never will be. You are worthless," Worthless. "-Pathetic," She continued. Pathetic. She said, a smirk in her voice. "-Weak." Weak. It echoed in my helm, ringing in my processor. I snarled loudly, earning a pleased chuckle from the femme. My denta sharpened again and my armor flared. My optics glowed a fierce, human blood red (my color of choice). Then,

        I lunged at her. My claws raked down her leg, earning a yelp of pain. My optics were wide in rage and fury. I growled and lashed at Arcee with my feelers, using them as whips. The small spikes on the end finding lone, exposed wires and cutting small cuts on them. Snapping them completely would fatally injure her, of offline her. I leaped up onto a railing on the ceiling and hissed. "I am not weak." I growled. "You have never seen my real form. Never! Predacons aren't weak. Especially not lone ones." Arcee barked a laugh.

        I felt my armor spike with heated rage. Then, Miko flashed into my processor. Her horrified eyes, her gaping mouth, the tears that pricked her eyes. The disapproval in Optimus' optics. My denta shrunk and my claws dulled, optics returning to the familiar fake sky blue. I turned away and ran, leaping over Optimus, trying to stop the flow of tears that ran down my faceplates. Ravage and Laserbeak sprang after me. No, I wasn't leaving, I was trying to find a place to hide and wither in shame. 

        I found a small garage in the halls. It was the same one, or the model, that was holding Airachnid, and I slid down into the corner. I let my fangs elongate and I raised a finger and pricked it. Dark violet Energon dropped from the small hole. I leaned down a sniffed, the licked it. It tasted...bittersweet. It had a sour tinge to it, but it was also sweet, like Energon treats. 

        Laserbeak flew up to me curled up onto my shoulder, nuzzling my neck cables and clicking, while Ravage sprawled herself over my lab, paws in the air. She padded at my face in an attempt to comfort me. Her tail swished and curled around my arm. She purred as I rubbed her belly and her ears. A sweet chuckle escaped my lips as Ravage raised her head and swept a wet glossa across my faceplates. 

        This is what a Predacon's life should be like.

Miko's POV

        Arcee was such a glitch! She had no right to offend a Predacon like that. After Soundwave fled, I marched right up to Arcee and gave her a hard slap to the legplates. "What is your problem!" I screamed, pinning the femme with a harsh glare. "That animal dosen't belong with us. Right Jack?" Arcee said, looking hopefully over to Jack and his mom. 

        Mrs. Darby had tears leaking down her face as she silently sniffled, looking away. Jack sighed. "Arcee. What you did was wrong." He admitted, laying a hand on his crying mom's shoulders. Optimus looked to Arcee with emotionless optics, before he picked up Jack and June in his palm and left down the same corridor Soundwave and his cassettes fled through. 

        I swiftly ran after them, clinging to an armor plate on Optimus' pede. I looked back and saw Bulkhead looking sadly at me. Almost like an apology. Ratchet, after planting a dent on Arcee's helm, gathered up Bumblebee and Raf to follow us. Let's just say, this did not go as planned.