Starscream walked alongside the spy. They had left from another session of contemplating their options on what they could do with their leader's body.

"Hmm… Soundwave, Knockout had a most glorious idea, however I do not believe you would be willing to… accept it…" the seeker drew out.

Soundwave turned in his usual motion, watching Starscream continue his stroll past him. He stayed quiet a moment before the whirr of his relays sounded as he tilted his helm to the side, quizzically.

Starscream simply snickered and turned to the side, tracing a claw along the wall coyly. "Oh Soundwave, you and I both know how loyal you are to Megatron. Dumping his lifeless frame in the middle of the Andromeda seems very out of the…" he looked over his large shoulder protectors, "-question…"

The stoic spy never ceased to maintain his solid screen; never moving until his informational needs were met. He wanted to know what this flimsy flier was planning. Well, from what was taken, he and the medic. His eagerness was building to critical level. Yet Starscream thought Soundwave would presumably be asking about Megatron's role in it… however Soundwave's mindset was only on how much depth there was to this surely sinister plan. Starscream… had interesting takes on approaches to problems he was handed.

The SIC opened his mouth to explain further until he pressed his claw to his temple as he answered his comm. Soundwave picked up on a surprisingly higher level of frustration from the slender seeker. He couldn't help but feel… slightly concerned.

"Ugh… I will arrive shortly. Soundwave-," he muttered.

The spy tensed so lightly it couldn't have been seen even with a microscope. He waited for the seeker to finish his sentence. Normally, by now he'd have nodded and gone elsewhere to discover the issue he needed to cover. Surveillance proved a better way to know what tasks he needed to perform. But this time he waited to hear his job from the SIC. Listening to the seeker's voice over the footage became increasingly enjoyable as of late… hard to imagine why.

"Soundwave… just…" Starscream looked up after a brief moment and met his visor. "Just keep us in the air," he purred raggedly, brushing past his Third in Command at a leisurely pace.

And just like that, he was left alone in the hall.

Soundwave walked past Megatron's room once again to enter the main console room. He paused to view through the small window implanted in the airlock. The intelligence chief watched his master intake shallowly in his deep stasis. At a point, watching him in this state would have affected the spy so harshly; he'd flee silently to hide for periods of time. … For a seeker so consumed with himself on a constant basis, Starscream was the only bot to notice. He'd try to coax Soundwave out of corners and storage rooms many times. Only one of which was successful. The conversation was brief. Oddly enough it was longer than the others. Usually, the seeker fished him out with sheer force. He yanked him out like something stuck in a drain. Starscream gradually decreased his forcefulness and tried to talk his shy TIC out of his hiding places. The normally skittish flier would keep his optics focused on his spy and talk of what subjects would appeal to him, and from what the seeker could tell, was Lord Megatron. A trick that worked more often than not. The thing Soundwave's finely tuned audio receptors recorded at that one moment was of Starscream speaking of how he'd attempt to make things better for the Decepticons… and he had used the word 'attempt.'

That was… very peculiar in that conversation…

That was the last time he had hidden himself away from his duties and practiced a new way to serve his master, whom… was going to be Starscream. Only following, if Megatron ceased to awaken. But it was not something he'd push away. He'd… grow accustomed to Starscream's rule.

As Soundwave flung through his processor, searching for some files beholding a way to possibly counter affect the Dark Energon, he found himself beginning to delve into files involving the seeker. The SIC who was so 'very loyal' to his master these many eons…

What were these files doing in this section? Either way, his search was futile. There were zero files tagged with information on counteracting DE. How… disappointing.

The stoic spy stood in thought and flinched slightly as he began taking in all the possibilities that could come of Megatron's condition. If he never awoke, Starscream would lead. If he woke up still sickly, Starscream would lead. If Megatron… offlined completely there'd never be a chance of Megatron ruling ever again. It was… horrifying to think of; Megatron never being able to regain control of his faction yet… when was the last time he didn't doddle over some plan to destroy the Autobots?

Starscream was so… forward and intelligent. That was why he was appointed Second in Command and the battle tactic coordinator. He knew what he wanted to do yet most of it was… yes, selfish ambition. But he still knew how to go about things to get them accomplished. Much faster than Megatron ever did. Truly something to be admired.

Soundwave steadily and slowly walked away from his master's chamber. This time it was accepted. This time, he knew he'd not be serving the same bot in the end. This time… he'd end up serving the SIC. His SIC. His… smart and ingenious Second.

The first thing Soundwave put forth was his greater assists in his leader's plans. He tried his best with what he was given after all.

While not all turned out successful, those that got the farthest were worth celebrating.

Soundwave helped most of his plans move along without being noticed. That was what he was excellent at, after all. He'd sabotaged the enemies little by little and inched forward Starscream's plans for a purpose. Starscream was in a noticeably better mood because of it all. That was a bonus. He was ecstatic and overjoyed by anything that went his way. Of course, who wouldn't? Soundwave thought of it as a far more pleasant environment on the ship. Starscream didn't have to screech at him to complete his assignments since he'd usually already had them done, but he'd always ask nicely just in case in an all too sweet vocalizer. Still odd, yet nothing to complain over. The seeker would always walk by with a smile on his faceplate, rare as well, and would pat Soundwave's sharp, crowned helm. Megatron on the other servo would usually not even acknowledge Soundwave's extra work completion. Being recognized for once was new. It was a welcomed feeling. Something that kind of gave him a sense of hope, believe it or not.

Over a few weeks' time, Starscream had offered to allow Soundwave time to himself every now and then. The silent bot would decline, even though that was something never offered to him. He was always too tied into his work. Into his tasks. Into his services to his master. But he had a new one now. One who knew what he wanted to do. Starscream relied a bit more on Soundwave than even Megatron did. Hard to believe since he entrusted his TIC with even the simplest assignment that he could definitely perform himself. He couldn't help but feel… more included and of greater use. Starscream had things Megatron did not. Those items were very apparent as well.

But they weren't of great importance to most bots. The staff of the Nemesis carried on its regular activities. Soundwave however, finally decided to pursue other activities. One of which was deciding whether or not he should earn his new Lord's favor, a task that was simple with Megatron, but difficult with Starscream. Back as the SIC, he'd done his fair share of mouthing off to Soundwave, commenting excessively on his silence and his accuracy in his duties. Of course these weren't really insults. They were just the rambles of an upset and thwarted seeker. If he commented on being quiet, Soundwave was pleased. And if the angry 'Con ever whined of how peeved he was with Soundwave's accurate footage, he took it as a compliment. That was his job and it was nice to know in some way he was good at it. Even if it sounded… rather brutal. But that's simply because of his vocalizer. The seeker never meant what he said. Soundwave deducted that from their numerous encounters over the centuries of being stranded aboard the Nemesis. The seeker, if anything, fancied Soundwave over the others aboard his ship. He'd watch the spy work at times, which would be bothersome… yet it was not.

Soundwave had gradually accepted him as a new leader. Why was he so… strangely comfortable with that? His core programming should have pinged him numerous times of how wrong this would be. How inconceivable it was to the advanced bot. With strange comings issues comes, strange remedies. And speaking of pings, he was receiving one now.

"Soundwave, I wish to see you," said the seeker excitedly over the comm.

Soundwave glanced around a moment, seeing who was within audio-shot. Since he only spoke directly to his masters… it seemed right to allow Starscream the same privilege. "Arrival estimation: 12.45 kliks."

"T-… that's wonderful."

It was surprising he hadn't spoken a word over the sound of his heavy, electronic vocal pattern…