Chương 48: LOG-044.

"Procedure complete, uploading initial motor adjustments to your processor. You can attempt to get up now." Paradoxically sleek yet bulky limbs, attached to a significantly up-armoured green and gold frame, shifted as a bat-like warmask stared back at me, snarling visage helping hide the shadowed form of her actual faceplate, or at least the half of it that was still visible.

Once purple optics (now adjusted to a more traditional crimson for the sake of a completed disguise) passed over my form before the upgraded femme gave me a slow nod, leaning forward and slowly climbing to her pedes.

"Yes, Command-ah!" Of course, that action was interrupted by a sudden stumble, Ser-Ket likely not expecting her arms and legs to be just as thick as they now were. Quickly stepping forward, I caught the newly Reforged Predacon with my good arm, barely stopping her from slamming her new helm against the medical berth.

"Move slower. Your frame has been altered in just about every way that matters and is now much more robust, I don't expect you to do things quickly. Not yet." Ser-Ket hesitated for a moment, before leaning into my side, allowing me to haul her to her pedes. I held her there for a moment, just long enough for the Predacon to steady herself, then let go. Idly running a few scans to make sure everything beneath the metaphorical engine was still in order, I gestured to my newest acquisition, nodding.

"Make sure to download all of the adjustments, it'll help prevent problems like this from becoming long term issues. How's your balance? It should be properly calibrated by now." Slowly, the femme took a shaky step forward. Then a steadier one, before she was carefully walking around the lab, occasionally glancing back at the mechanical wings and long, highly manouverable tail that now adorned the upper and lower backs of her torso respectively.

"I... am stable, Commander. I will need time to process the rest of the data you have given me, but I can walk, at the very least." Nodding, I gestured to the doorway just as I recieved yet another ping from Soundwave.

"Then we're right on schedule. We're to meet with Dreadwing and Ultra Magnus in order to welcome back our allies. Let's go." The Reforged femme tilted her helm for a moment, before following along behind me, still occasionally glancing back at her new wings.

"What is this?" Crossing my arms, I shrugged my shoulders in Ser-Ket's general direction, even as our resident officers stared at the silent femme.

"This is Ser-Ket." Dreadwing glared at me with narrowed optics, waiting. Staring back at him, alongside a suspicious looking Ultra Magnus, I tilted my helm toward the hallway.

"Shall we proceed to the groundbridge?" Knockout let out a snicker from his position leaned up against one of the bridge consoles, pointing a taloned digit at Ser-Ket.

"I think he'd like to know just where she came from, Shockwave." This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. At Dreadwing's grunt of approval and Magnus' "that would be correct." I glanced around the room, briefly locking gazes with Soundwave, the silent mech giving me an almost imperceptible nod.

"I made her." Another moment of silence, right before everyone in the bridge who wasn't already in the know started nodding.

"Ah, that explains it. A late arrival compared to the rest, she... is a Predacon, correct?" Dreadwing's only somewhat hesitant question was seemingly directed my way, but before I could respond Ser-Ket finally chose to speak up for herself, stepping forward.

"I was forged by Commander Shockwave, yes. It will be a pleasure to work with all of you while under his command."... The femme's response prompted a cough from Magnus after a short moment of awkward silence, the Autobot gesturing to the rest of the room.

"Actually, we are currently operating under a temporary council, one which Shockwave is a member of. You should take some time to ask one of the Vehicons about the command structure, young one." Somehow, I felt the brief impression of a frown marring Ser-Ket's face, despite it being hidden beneath her warmask. Then the feeling was gone and the femme was nodding amiably.

"Of course, I will endeavor to do so. Aside from that, I was told there was a purpose to our coming here? Besides meeting all of you, that is." Silently (big surprise there), Soundwave stepped forward, Ultra Magnus' and my own words being stitched together and replayed in order to convey the Decepticon spymaster's thoughts.

"That would be correct-proceed to the groundbridge." At that, we all collectively nodded and began to follow the now moving mech, Knockout commenting approvingly on a nonplussed Ser-Ket's shiny looking finish.

The green glow of the groundbridge splashed across my form as the swirling portal shifted into existence, figures beginning to pass through it. Behind the emerging forms of my Zakus, the breach point garrison laid disassembled, prefabricated parts being repackaged for their eventual return to the Nemesis by a handful of Vehicons. First came the green mechs, mono optics scanning the area before they began to make their way to the side.

After them came the Predacons, significantly louder than the dutiful silence of their more militarised cousins. Even with the size of the groundbridge control chamber, it was quickly beginning to get quite packed with the sheer number of Cybertronians entering through the portal. Finally, the tide of bestial mechs and femmes stopped, with the final group coming in just behind them.

Optimus and Indomina's respective forms were unmistakable, even as they led the way for the rest of the Autobots, including a bored looking Backbite and an excited Airazor. But what truly drew my attention was the ominously glowing reliquary carried between Optimus and Indomina's servos, the two setting the ancient relic down with a clunk, my first creation stepping forward with a wide grin decorating her faceplate.

"Sire! I return with great treasures! Or well- one great treasure." The large femme idly gave the reliquary a kick, shifting it slightly.

"Not really too much of a treasure, actually. He mostly just rants at you when you're holding his stupid box." The entire chamber was silent, my fellow officers staring at either me, Indomina, or the reliquary containing one of the largest threats to Cybertronian life this side of the universe. In most cases, they settled for flicking between all three of us. I briefly caught Ser-Ket staring down Indomina, who promptly stared right back upon noticing the unknown femme's close proximity to my own form.

Then, I crossed my arms and broke the silence, levelling a metaphorical glare Optimus' way. Not that I actually glared. Emotionless mono optic and all. Because out of everyone, I knew for a fact that he was likely the one behind this new brand of nonsense.

"Sire?" The Prime merely smiled that little infuriating (and painfully familiar whenever I let the Shadowplay allow nostalgia through) smile of his, even as Airazor ducked past a now amused Backbite and quietly chuckling Arcee.

"Oh yeah, so uh, we had a bunch of talks and stuff and turns out you're like our dad and stuff? That's human slang for sire, by the way. Or at least Optimus said so, and according to him he's basically like our uncle! But like, through friendship and stuff. Friendship uncle. Yeah."

"Friendship... uncle." Airazor grinned, sidling up next to and side-hugging a now slightly uncertain looking Indomina.

"Yeah! He explained sires and carriers to us after big sis started asking about when you were younger-" My audio receptors picked up Indomina's internal cooling units kicking up into overdrive in embarassment at that remark "-and they kinda match up with the stuff we found on the internet so... you know? It fits!"... Turning to Ser-Ket, I leaned over, not even bothering to lower my voice as the rest of the crowd watched on.

"Ser-Ket."

"Yes, Commander?"

"Do you have the navigational files I sent you? Of the Nemesis?"

"Of course, Commander. Why?" I remained still as the flood of emotions continued to batter against the shadowplay, namely a flux of embrassment, amusement, something that may or may not have been a mix of pride and joy, alongside what I was tentatively labelling chagrine. Then I allowed a vast majority of it to pass through, luxuriating in the muddled sensation. Of feeling. It was nice. In smaller doses, at least.

"I want you to go to the energon storage bays and bring me back a cube of high grade. Can you do that?" Somewhere in the background, Knockout and Smokescreen started laughing, glanced at each other in surprise, then began cackling even harder. Idiots. Everyone here was an idiot except for me. And maybe Soundwave. Though judging by the mech's frame silently shaking in what I assumed was amusement, he may just be an idiot as well. Eugh. How utterly dreadful.