Chapter 11

                                    

                                          
"Lord Megatron."
                          
Megatron grumbled as he mentally clicked his audio receptor, as he was still in holoform. "What is it, Starscream?" He asked lazily, sitting up and stretching his arms. Amal was fast asleep in the bed of the truck next to him, bundled up in all of the blankets she had brought.
                          
"I would advise you to return to the ship. There is someone here waiting for you, with good news I should say."
                          
Megatron looked at Amal, who was still asleep, snoring slightly. Megatron turned away and clicking his audio receptor.
                          
"We'll return momentarily. Send a groundbridge."
                          
~
                          
"Of course Screams has to interrupt my sleep." Amal grumbled as she stretched on the ground. Megatron deactivated his holoform and transformed to his alt mode. "Starscream said we had someone important returning." Megatron said. "Hm. Wonder who could be so important to bother me sleeping." Amal wondered outloud as the groundbridge opened.
                          
"Hopefully someone who gives us good news on this war." Megatron mumbled as he began to walk through. "Probably just one of the troops giving us a lot of Energon, even though we have control over most of it." Amal grumbled as she ran to catch up.
                          
As they walked through, they heard the faint murmurs of voices on the other side. Amal couldn't quite here it from the sounds of the groundbridge but Megatron seemed to pick it up as they walked through the other side.
                          
"Impossible." He murmured as he stepped out. Amal hopped down from the groundbridge, landing clumsily. She grunted as she stood up and mumbled something to herself.
                          
"Lord Megatron."
                          
The new voice made Amal's body freeze while she raised her head up and her mouth gaped. "Amalgamous." The mech said to her with a slight bow.
                          
"SHOCKWAVE!" Amal exclaimed before sprinting up to the scientist. "It's been forever dude! Where've you been? You promised you'd be back soon!" Amal exclaimed as she ran up at him and hopped onto his ped before starting to climb up.
                          
"I too am curious of your whereabouts in this vast wasteland called space." The warlord commented as he approached his long friend.
                          
"I have been traveling the galaxy in hopes to find my past experiments that were scattered when Cybertron fell. I returned to Cybertron after not much luck and found my old labs, untouched and I began a new project that took time. I lost track of my time, and return now to give you news." Shockwave explained right before Amal reached his shoulder pad.
                          
"Whatever it is, Shockwave, you are just the tactical advantage I need in these times." Megatron said, grinning evilly. "Yea man, I gotta tell you what you missed. Spoiler alert, I was working with the Autobots for a bit!" Amal said, proudly grinning. "You will have to tell me soon, but right now, I have any project to present for you, Lord Megatron, and a task for you, Amalgamous."
                          
Amal looked confused. "Me? Has a screw gone lose in your helm Shockwave? You've never wanted a humans help." Amal questioned. "With Cybertronian projects. This is a project not meant for some Cybertronians, or mechs to be precise." Shockwave explained, looking at her. Amal frowned, giving a weird glance at Megatron, who shrugged.
                          
"Then, show us what you have, Shockwave."
                          
~
                          
"Whoa, wicked place Shock's."
                          
Amal gazed around, admiring the technology that Shockwave had spent probably eons to create. "Why can't we have this on the ship?" Amal asked, looking up at her friend. "Some Cybertronian technology doesn't do well outside of Cybertrons range. It's something we're still improving on." Megatron explained. "Man, that sucks." Amal mumbled as she climbed up one of the control panels so she could get a better look around.
                          
Megatron grabbed her and set her on his shoulder before she could reach the top. Amal mumbled a 'thank you' before admiring the lab.
                          
"What is this...project, you had to present us?" Starscream asked as he glanced around nervously. "Why so tense, babes?" Amal teased. "Shockwave's labs never settle with me. You can feel the presence of past Autobots and Decepticons who died being experimented on in here." Starscream mumbled bitterly as he crossed his arms.
                          
"So, you're afraid of ghosts?"
                          
"Not exactly. When Cybertronian die, their sparks are let go of where they die. In human terms, their absorbed into the ground pretty much, and in that spot is when they are most present. That is why we make sure any Cybertronian who is put to rest is in a spot they wish to be. But here—" Starscream glanced around with sorrow in his optics, something Amal had never seen.
                          
"—they didn't have a choice."
                          
And Starscream walked off in pursuit of Shockwave, leaving her and Megatron to catch up. "Wow." Amal breathed out. Megatron didn't say anything, so Amal didn't speak until they reached where Shockwave and Starscream were.
                          
Starscream was staring in confusion at something on the ground as Shockwave was too, but with a blank expression as always.
                          
"What is it?" Amal asked, standing up on Megatron's shoulder and trying to see. The two mechs stepped aside, and Amal looked confused as Megatron's optics widened.
                          
Silence ensued for a few minutes before Megatron let out a laugh. "Shockwave, your work never ceases to disappoint." Megatron said with a evil grin as he kneeled down. "What is it?" Amal asked, frowning.
                          
"This...is a creature older than time itself. This—" Megatron picked up the tiny creature with one servo and it squeaked happily.
                          
"—is a Predacon."