"We're so close," I breathed, looking to the new Omega Lock, the large canisters being filled with the new formula that will allow for the cybermatter to stabilize, "I can almost see Cybertron's glow!"

"You will see it for the first time," Shockwave came up behind me, placing his single servo on my shoulder plate, mindful of the long cape he made me.

"And we'll both build it up! Rebuild it's cities, repair your labs-"

"Continue the Predacon Project?"

Predaking came from the ship doors, a small but curious smile on his faceplate, and expression he really only had around me.

"Of course," I smiled up at him, "But it will have to wait, you know..."

"As long as the promise is kept, I will wait."

I had every intention to restart the Predacon Project, having Predaking's absolute loyalty. Shockwave agreed that continuing it would be wise, having the proper tools back on Cybertron, as well as who knows how many Predacon bones.

"The only variable unaccounted for at the moment is the Autobot faction," Shockwave stated, making me nod with some worry. They're the only part of this plan that's unpredictable at the moment.

"Lady (Y/D)," a vehicon started, "Your C- I mean, the first prisoner has demanded an audience... she's quite adamant..."

And then there's her.

"Fine then, tell her she's getting her wish," I waved it off, and the vehicon left with a short bow. Over time, they've warmed up to me to an extent, but there's still an amount of malice thrown towards me, most being about the purposeful neglect of my Carrier, of which no one will be able to understand. I never did go see her the other day, but I was busy.

Speaking of busy, I watched as Soundwave touched down on the open platform of the Nemesis, Starscream close behind as they both came to deliver a report from Earth.

"How did it go?" I questioned.

"There are three fully functioning energon mines that have not yet been discovered by the Autobots," Starscream informed before Soundwave could display anything on his visor, but the taller mech showed four.

"Thank you," I sighed, "Starscream, I want you to keep a constant watch on our smallest mine-"

"Smallest? But our largest mine is-"

"Fully capable of defending itself. We have far more resources there, so tactically, the Autobots will think twice before attacking, especially with their medic on the line."

Everyone who heard, aside from Shockwave and Soundwave, looked to me in astonishment at what I had said, and I wondered why.

"You're meaning to say that you would offline the Autobot?" Starscream spluttered, to which I rolled my optics, annoyed.

"He is of no use anymore, aside from being a hostage, besides, he is an Autobot, one of the last of is faction. They'll do anything to keep themselves afloat." I snickered at my own cruel ways, finding it necessary if it becomes so. The Autobot backlash has been strong, but that was under Megatron's idiotic rule, his failure to think three or five steps ahead, now the Decepticons are six, nearly seven steps ahead, and still have the energy to move on, under our rule.

Soundwave nodded his approval, Starscream realized he was being hypocritical (not to long ago he was complaining of why we kept Ratchet here instead of offlining him), and begrudgingly agreed with my plans. Predaking had lost his smile with the arrival of more Decepticons, but showed his approval much like Soundwave: with a nod.

"If you'll excuse me," I myself nodded a farewell, and left them to watch over the progress of the Omega Lock. Shockwave followed me for a time, but once we arrived at the brig doors I asked him to stay there, to which he obliged with a mild amount of protest, but I assured him I would be fine. In truth I wasn't so sure, but Shockwave didn't need to know that. I traversed the maze of cells alone, some: solitary confinement, one holding the medic; others: simple cells with vertical bars, most with an acid coating or an electrified charge, but one, on the very end, where most were dusty and in need of repair, had no safety measures aside from a triple lock located on the outside, well away from it's occupant's reach. My Carrier's cell.

I stopped a moment before coming into view of her. I haven't seen her since Shockwave offlined Megatron. Who knows what will happen. I stepped into view, and instantly my Carrier looked to me, not having very many visitors.

Her mask was off, showing a visage close to mine; blue optics, gentle in their stare, and thin derma. Then again, we're all just clones, so there would be no major difference except my natural fragility.

"My-my," came her soft tone, like a feather just barely gliding atop water, I remember it all to well, "You sure are the spoiled one aren't you? Come here and let me take a look my-"

"Don't," I interrupted her from using the nickname I used to hold dear, "What is it you want?"

"Can a Carrier not see her own sparkling?" she pressed up against the bars, holding her weight on her servos, "The others say your actions are deplorable, to let the one who saved you rot in a cell farthest from everything and everyone. Simply cruel."

I kept my temper from flaring as I dug my digits into the armor of my arm, creating small dents.

"Cruel? I'm showing you mercy," my anger was shown but only in the coldness of my voice towards her, "You let me go like a failed program, you cut our bond, you made the others hate me because of something I had no control over."

"Past mistakes, energon sweet," she smiled as the nickname slipped from her derma like oil, "The bond was a simple over-reaction."

She was so cool about it, because she thought she knew she had it, that I'd forgive her so easily.

"A simple over-reaction? Where our bond was has been replaced by a dead connection, cold and horrifically agonizing to even acknowledge. You can not even fathom what it's like where I stand! You're lucky I haven't given Shockwave permission to strap you to his experimentation berth!"

This scared her, optics widening at the sincerity of my threat, and her smile became a bit more pleading as she failed to reason with me, but all I could think of was the hammering pain in my spark for a bond no longer there, a bond that would never reconnect. An icy pierce that that made me cold, my core already dropping in temperature. She spoke but I did not hear her, of past events where she helped me, cared for me, protected me, that the other vehicons thought me ungrateful, and yes, they might think that, but my Carrier wouldn't know because no one has spoken to her for more then 30 seconds since Shockwave and I became rulers of this Primus-forsaken vessel, Soundwave has insured that.

"When will you realize that your pleads fall on deaf audio?" I interrupted her rambling, "You keep your hopes high for nothing and you think you can slip by with words of the past and flattery. You're as bad as Starscream."

This was one of the highest insults among the vehicons, who pride ourselves in our unwavering allegiance to the Decepticon cause without complaint, and my Carrier's expression changed once more, from a frantic pleading, to a momentary shock, then a well placed anger. She was no longer acting.

"You think you're all that because you're Shockwave's femme now don't you?" she glared, "You do realize you're just a mere scientific interest? It's why he agreed to do the injections in the beginning!"

"I was once," I turned to leave, the garment Shockwave made me flowing with my movement, "But I am much more now. More than you'll ever be, in life, and in love."

I left, hearing her screams of resentment, but not listening.

Suddenly, I don't miss her anymore, and the weight of our dead bond became considerably lighter.