~(Y/N)'s POV~
I was waiting in a small clearing, an old energon mine just behind me, the breeze enough to keep me cool as it made the bright green trees sway. Knockout was going to meet me here, wanting to check up on me since Ratchet was unable to. I'd also check up on him, since he's on the Nemesis all by himself, who knows what kind of trouble he's gotten into, besides creating a Terror-con, which I plan on slapping him for. That scientific idiot.
I heard a groundbridge behind me, and smiled when Knockout neared, giving him a short kiss before slapping him.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"That was for creating a fragging Terror-con." I deadpanned.
"Fair enough." he shrugged.
He scanned my form, lingering over my midsection for a minute, then looked at the results.
"So far so good," I smiled at this, mimicking his own, "It should be, maybe two weeks."
"Maybe?"
"It might be longer, by a few days. Without my tools on the Nemesis, I can't tell for sure." He admitted, and I nodded.
We talked for a time, about trivial things. How was Ratchet doing? Did Raf like his present? What's going on up there in the sky while I'm down here? I noted Ultra Magnus' hate for me, Arcee's new found liking, Jack's still burning hate for me, and calmed him down after remembering Wheeljack's flirting. He told of the current breakthroughs with the Synth-En, and how Preda' was most distressed at my not being on the Nemesis.
"It took me, and several other vehicons to convince him that he couldn't come today," Knockout sighed.
"He's just worried. Preda' could sense the Sparkling when I was around him, which was more often than not," I admitted, "He's probably acting on instinct to protect it."
Knockout nodded at this, sighing as he leaned on the rock of the mining cave, a couple pebbles landing on the grassy ground below.
"Once the Sparkling is born, I'll defect to being neutral."
"We talked about this. Defecting to no side risks your life, and I'd rather the sparkling to be safer with the Autobots then with no sire."
"Just because I want to defect doesn't mean I'll have a target over my helm." Knockout continued to argue, and I shook my helm, exasperated.
The argument over, for now anyway, we decided to contact my Dad. We had little time to be with each other, and we promised my father that we would contact him about the news. We told him a while back, and he yelled at Knockout, then congratulated me. We've been keeping him posted.
"Hi Dad," I smiled, though he couldn't see me, I was leaving a message on his phone, "Knockout says two more weeks, maybe a couple days more. I miss you, bye."
That done, I leaned on the rock next to my cherry red mech. I looked to him, and he looked to me, the both of us smiling after a moment. Knockout was about to say something but the cave began to rumble. It stopped just seconds later. I looked in, curious.
"Let's investigate!" I announced my departing of our spot and went deeper into the cave.
"Wildstryke, you're sparked."
"Uh, I think I know that," I huffed, "I remember the night I conceived quite well."
This made him silent, and I giggled as he hurried to catch up.
We traveled deep into the cave, but there seemed to be nothing... Well, except for the faint glow of left over energon.
"I thought this mine was stripped..." Knockout mumbled as he reached out to touch the low blue light, "Why is there-"
Another rumble, but this time it was close enough to rattle the walls, and send rocky debris to the floor. I looked around, but saw nothing.
"We need to leave." Knockout stated hurriedly, and took me by my servo.
"What? Why?"
"Don't question me just come on!" He barked, and I tore my servo from his grasp.
"Knockout, what's going o-"
The rumble came again, but this time the cave began to fold in on itself, larger debris falling by the minute. I started running despite me fatigue and growing helm-ache. I followed him out, but soon lost sight of him as more and more dust gathered in my optics and I began to cough.
"Knockout? Knockout?!"
Black.
~Predaking's POV~
"How could you have LEFT her?!"
"I didn't leave her, we were separated!"
I will accept no excuses. I will intervene.
Holding the still unconscious Wildstryke in my arms, I held her close, refusing to let her go and give her back to the Decepticon medic who failed to protect her. She stirred, and I was glad she was alive, though I could tell either way. The sparkling was safe as well.
"That is no excuse," I sneered, "You are not fit to take care of her!"
"P-preda'?"
I looked to her faceplate, she was confused, and disoriented. Luckily there was no need for any medical attention. I had gotten her out of the collapsed cave in time.
"What's going on? Wh-where's Knockout?!"
"I'm right here," he tried to near her, but I made sure she was well away from his reach.
"You stay away from her."
"Preda... put me down," she said softly, and I did, but held her firm to my frame protectively.
"You're being irrational," Knockout fought, but I think differently.
"You failed to protect her, you're lucky I followed and was there to save her!"
"P-preda'..."
"You are not worthy to be bonded with her when you cannot even keep her from danger!"
"Preda'!"
"You failed her as her sparkmate! You failed her as-"
"PREDAKING THE SPARKLING!"
I let go of her once I realized how much she was struggling, the sudden release making her stumble into the Medic, and he caught her. I looked to my servos... I was crushing her...
"Predaking, I charged into that cave... on my own accord." She wouldn't even look at me... is she crying? Is she scared of me? "Kn-knockout is not at fault, I-I am."
He rubbed her backplates as he glared at me, and I felt the unfamiliar pang of guilt root itself deep in my spark.
"Mistress I am..." The words stopped as I felt tears wanting to run down, but I couldn't let them, not here, not now. Instead I tried to near her, but she heard my step and dashed behind Knockout, startling him, and making his hate for me grow.
"You've done enough damage here," he stated darkly, and I knew he was right... "Let's get you back to the Autobots, Wildstryke."
I didn't watch them leave. Instead I traveled up to the flight deck, currently vacant of drones. I looked to the sky, watching the clouds as they moved past. Transforming I took off, bellowing a broken cry. I almost crushed her. She's afraid of me, the only one who didn't show fear is now deathly afraid of what I did not want to become. A monster.
(And let the Sparkbreaking commence! It's only the beginning!)