It started with a small scratch.
Soundwave was efficient in clearing the halls of the Terrorcons. Under his command the Vehicons cleared the Nemesis one hallway at a time of the infected.
When it came to Airachnid, her threat was met with stoic, unresponsive silence.
Her fury could be felt, but the spymaster was unafraid. As she charged with her Insecticons he activated the ground bridge, sending the horde through to one of Cybertron's moons. However he did not anticipate the sharp sting of one of her claws as it scraped along his neck. With a wince he swatted the claw away before it retracted, following its owner into the portal. When the horde went through he deactivated the connection, leaving the treacherous femme stranded and no longer a threat to the Cause.
He turned and left the Vehicons to dispose of the infected corpses, ready for the next order to come forth.
The next few Earth days were relatively uneventful. Sure, there was an attempt or two on a couple of their mines by the troublesome Autobots, but the losses were minimal.
There was little to do, though he grew restless when he tried to recharge, so decided to patrol the hallways.
It had started out as a tiny annoyance. An undefined hunger that wouldn't let go. Energon no longer gave him the satisfaction it used to, while the hunger only grew.
Soundwave walked past a room and found the tools requested by Knockout still undelivered. Well, he had nothing better to do, he decided, so he might as well deliver them. He took the tools and headed toward the medbay.
Once he got there he found the room empty. Considering the relative lack of activity lately it wasn't a huge surprise. He walked in and carefully deposited the tools on one of the medical benches, and was about to leave when a murmur caught his attention.
Curious, he headed toward the back room, where he saw Knockout in recharge. The Medic appeared to be dreaming, and from the faint, occasional word that escaped the mech's mouth the dream seemed to be a good one.
The blue mech entered the room, finding himself fascinated by the sight before him.
Watching the normally chatty mech sprawled out on the berth, off guard and completely helpless brought on the hunger, driving him closer to the other Decepticon.
It was an odd thought, but the sports car was simply beautiful, from the bold red colouration and white details to the way he remained blissfully unaware of the third in command's presence. Honestly, the mech needed to be more careful.
Before he knew what had happened Soundwave found himself leaning over the Medic's frame, focused on the neck presented to him. His enhanced hearing could detect the slow, rhythmic pulse of circulating fuel lines. By now the hunger gnawed at him, imploring him to get just a little closer. The mask he had slid just a little to reveal his mouth. There was a little pressure, and with a small shrug he let it loose, his mouth dividing into sections as it split.
Knockout said something incomprehensible and shifted toward the flier.
Soundwave stopped and reared back, quickly leaving the room as his mask slid back into place.
Just what was he doing?
Was he about to. . .bite the Medic?
No, that couldn't be right. That would be ridiculous.
He just had to go back to his quarters and rest.
The third in command's gait was swift as he made his way through the corridors, intent to make it back to the solitude of his quarters before anything else happened.
The pesky hunger was still there, but after he exerted some will he managed to lessen it to a more managible level.