"Each meeting occurs at the precise moment for which it was meant. Usually, when it will have the greatest impact on our lives."

~Nadia Scrieva, Fathoms of Forgiveness

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Knock Out had thought it was a horrible idea to keep Shockwave alone with his new Predacon - though Starscream thought it was a fantastic plan - in an enclosed space, yet the medic digressed. He fetched the energon cube the scientist requested and took a moment to behold the Predacon femme, intimidated by her size and noticeable awareness, though he was assured she was no longer "human" in the psychological sense. 

The first indication that the Predacon had retained her "sensations" of memory was her initial recoil of the supposedly toxic substance within the cube. But with a flash of yellow in her optics the fear was quelled. A part of her urged to drink, her body requiring the vitalizing liquid, instincts making it easy for her to swallow the energon as it touched her glossa.

I am drinking like a dog.

The thought floated away before she realized what she had compared herself to. Where had that thought come from?

She settled, ignoring the discomfort. If she had no idea what it was, she should not bother trying to figure out. Eventually the feeling dissipated as her tanks filled with energon and her body felt much more energized. Unlike the typical, evolved Cybertronian, June did not receive highly sophisticated updates and status reports on her body's condition; as a Predacon, she merely used her instilled common senses to determine if she had consumed enough energon to maintain efficient levels of power.

Once Shockwave determined the femme was finished, he gave Megatron a brief ping, waiting patiently for an update on whether or not Predaking had been briefed on the situation and the scientist's own instructions from there. They had decided that the Predacon need not know how June's body came about; he would certainly see it as some kind of monstrosity or violation of a proud species.

It was only five kliks before Megatron arrived at the laboratory doors, his dark red optics gazing at June before focusing on his scientist.

"Starscream has prepared our resident Predacon to meet our newest addition," the warlord rumbled. "You will be in charge of keeping the peace between your Autobot hunter and the former human."

"As I have the most experience, that would seem most logical," Shockwave agreed, and carefully prodded June, prompting her to leave the laboratory and follow them to the flight deck.

As a security measure Soundwave attended the transportation of the femme Predacon, locking down all areas of the ship and keeping his remote Groundbridge generator warmed up should anything go awry. The precautions proved obsolete, as Megatron easily commanded the beast as if she was some sort of pet. His master seemed to have established some sort of mutual understanding with the creature, and though Shockwave hypothesized a potential imprintation, too little was known of the creatures to confirm if such a thing existed. For all they knew, June merely acknowledged their master as some sort of Alpha, which would in turn cause her to instinctually submit to his commands.

Starscream waited at the door of the original Predacon's kennel, shock prod in servo. He was clearly jealous to see his superior comandeer a beast effortlessly and gracefully, though he kept his personal thoughts to himself. When June was situated at the end of the flight deck, tens of Earth feet away from Predaking's home, he prepared to open the kennel.

June was obviously oblivious to the other Predacon, though her olfactories could pick up his faint scent along the deck. The stratosphere of the Earth had mostly stripped the scent away, and as such she found no threat in the faded smell. Not like she should have had a reaction regardless - the femme was completely unaware that others like her could exist. Her initial exposure had been with the Cybertronians, and though she understood they were different it did not prompt her to think that she was not unique.

There was a brief moment of confusion when she sensed her master and his compatriots back away from her, and the door to the kennel opened. Remaining ever so calm, she did not seem at all perturbed when the Predacon slinked from his enclosure, growling at Starscream for good measure before removing his entire body. Instead, her helm tilted and tail twitched slightly, assessing the situation and deciding on what she wanted to do. 

Shockwave stood in the middle of the flight deck, but off to the side so as not to obstruct the two Predacon's views of one another. The idea was that, in the presence of their creator, the Predacons would be a little more calm with one another.

When the Predacon's scent hit June's olfactory sensors her mind reeled, confused and flabbergasted by how familiar and yet foreign it was to her. She did not know this Predacon, yet he struck a chord within her chassis. But what made her confused more than anything was the air of alpha he had around him. The large other had the same kind of scent, though it was not as powerful in her nose.

Yet she rejected such a notion. The other was clearly in control, as he kept this one locked in a cage, and had authority over him. Had it been vice versa she would have reconsidered her stance on the matter, but the information and facts presented to her proved it false.

There was a long, tense silence as the two regarded each other, the larger male clearly recognizing the frame of the femme - a clone just like him - yet there was something . . . strange about her. The way she held herself was odd, and it almost seemed to irk him that she did not immediately reveal her underside to him. He was not affecting her actions or urges to submit to a higher power in the slightest. Predaking would have expected his kingly-ness to, at the very least, prompt a bow from her; but the femme refused to even sink lower than her current stance.

Starscream and Megatron had already told the Predacon how to behave; they needed this new Predacon to, for the time being, believe him to be just like her - merely a beast. They were unsure how she would react to an "evolved" Predacon, and thus decided this was the best course of action. Predaking suspected they wanted to keep this new Predacon ignorant, but he kept his thoughts to himself for the time being. The truth, he felt, would reveal itself in time.

Surprisingly, June made the first move, slowly slinking closer, though she stopped at the midway point. Knock Out cocked an optic ridge and looked at his lord, but wisely did not say anything out loud. If a noise startled or angered one of the Predacons, it would ruin a potentially successfuly meeting.

The large Predacon - easily another one-half the size of June - eventually moved as well, his shoulder plates rippling with each calculated step. His instincts told him she was unordinary, perhaps even dangerous. Yet she remained relaxed, her plating flat and only her gaze curious and analytical. She was intelligent.

When he got close enough to take in her scent he paused, allowing it to fill his nostrils. His plating, which had been tense and slightly flared, relaxed, and his tail even swished a bit in response to the pleasant feeling that unwound his tense muscle cables. Slinking closer he sniffed at her neck, knowing she was doing the same to him, his processor lighting up as a familiar baseline scent hit him, prompting him to nuzzle her side in a comforting manner.

Quick as a flash her body snaked back, her armor up in full attack response, maw opening and a vicious hiss erupting in the back of her throat. 

"Do not touch!"

The Predacon immediately slinked back, confused and a bit perturbed, his optics narrowing as he hissed in return. How dare she - 

"Uh, should we do something?" Knock Out squeaked to his superior, who merely looked on with a careful gaze.

"Shockwave will be the judge of that," he rumbled, though his canon was noticeably warmer against his arm. His optics remained trained on the pair, prepared to break up a fight despite the fact they were both significantly larger than him.

June continued to warn the male to stay back, something about his snout against her hide not sitting well within her gut. The others were allowed to touch and caress, most likely because she understood her place with them. But him, this creature who was very much the same as her, she did not want to initiate herself into a ranking until she was certain she knew where he stood amongst the others. 

"Behave, the both of you," Shockwave commanded, taking a step forward. He approached the male first, having known him longer and certain that an agitated June would not appreciate any attempts to put her off-guard. His servo reached out and he rested it against Predaking's neck, stroking his rusted orange side carefully to soothe him. He could feel the heat of the catalyst reactors within his chest, waiting to be mixed and produce his fire. 

June watched the other touch the Predacon gently, grazing his side just like they did with her. Her plating dropped ever so slightly, yet the message was clear: she was not to be commanded nor considered a part of this Predacon. Something within her told her independence was more satisfactory than allowing another - especially a mech - to become central to her life.

"June," her optics focused on the other, noticing his outstretched servo. "Come to me."

She saw it click in the Predacon's optics, how her designation was June, giving him yet another unamused look before she obeyed the other, allowing him to touch her snout.

"Creator," the male Predacon rumbled, pleased with the affection. June focused on the other, Creator, realizing he too must have made her, as it was logical to assume that if he could make one, he could certainly construct another.

Predaking regarded her as Shockwave touched her snout. Though he prided himself in his autonomy he did admit that the touches of their creator were calming and most welcome. She was much like him, he decided; originally primitive and naive, eventually he hoped this June would eventually find her true potential. The idea of the two becoming a pair did not cross his processor, as the King considered all his bretheren to be his equals.

The two Predacons at least calmed for now, Megatron powered down his canon and approached, ignoring Knock Out's tiny squeak of protest as he did so. Shockwave gazed at him.

"I would venture to say this meeting was a partial success," the warlord rumbled. "It appears they are . . . reluctant acquaintances." A smirk carefully worked its way across his faceplates. "At least, that is what June has established."

"I believe they simply must become accustomed to one another," Shockwave guessed. "Considering they knew of only us before meeting one another. I would suggest allowing them their separate kennels, and given time on the flight deck together with supervision."

"Then it shall be done," Megatron extended a servo. "June."

The Decepticon leader relished how quickly she attended to him, slipping over to his side without question and wrapping herself around him, keeping the other Predacon in her sights but also allowing Megatron to rest his servo against her helm. It seemed she knew exactly who her one true master was.

Megatron grinned. He had been needing another unquestionable loyal subordinate for some time. She and Soundwave would get along splendidly.

Predaking glowered, but no one seemed to be watching. Though he had professed loyalty to the Decepticon leader, he did not like this subliminal challenge. More than anything, Predaking wanted to be the leader of his own band of Predacons, and serve with them alongside of Megatron. If the lord and master of this vessel ended up exerting control over them like he currently was with June, there would be problems. Problems, Predaking decided, that would need to be solved the old-fashioned way - with a fight.