Author's Note: This story is a prequel of sorts for Aggressive Negotiations, one of my other stories, though you don't actually have to read it to understand any of what I have typed up so far. I own nothing but Shadow and her brothers. Hope you enjoy it!
Shades of Grey-First Warning
The Nemesis was quiet for the most part this joor while most mechs and the few femmes were in recharge. The only fully alert Cybertronians on the Nemesis were currently housed in the communication room. The first was Soundwave, communication director of the Decepticons. He sat in front of half a dozen monitors keeping track of the entire security grid set up around the Decepticon ship, fingers tapping across various keys in the silence. After a few moments of surveying the screens he turned to look behind him at the other two semi-alert Decepticons on the Nemesis.
Ravage was curled up in a "U" shape on the floor of the communication room, red optics alert as he kept an eye on the youngling leaning against his side. The youngling was just into her second frame and about average size, if not a little smaller, for a young Seeker. Her red optics met his steadily and Soundwave turned back to the monitors, reassured. This was a usual scene early in the mornings because her guardian, Starscream, had duties to attend to this early in the morning. Shadow normally took advantage of the silence in the room to slip back into recharge but some mornings, like this particular one, she was content to simply sit next to Ravage and watch the monitors with silent curiosity. Ravage helped keep an eye on the femme this early in the morning so Soundwave could continue tending to the monitors.
That was when the ordinary morning went on a one way trip to the Pit. Alarms blared suddenly and Soundwave consulted the monitors only to find nothing on them. "This better not be Skywarp," the 'Con growled as he scanned backwards for several seconds. It wasn't. An Autobot had tripped the sensors and where there was one there were probably more. Soundwave tapped a few more keys and a mechanized voice announced that there was an intruder in sector A-7. "Rumble, Frenzy. Watch the board," Soundwave snapped, waking two of his symbiotes from recharge early. The two easily leapt up and began tapping keys, waking two more screens and directing them to the correct locations. Soundwave glanced over at Shadow but the young femme didn't look worried. "Whatever happens stay with Ravage," Soundwave ordered and then turned back to the monitors after she nodded.
More Autobots were trickling in now and Soundwave let out a muffled curse. "Laserbeak take the main monitor," he snapped. "I'm going to try to reactivate the defense grid." The defense grid had been blown out during a power surge caused by one of TC and Skywarp's pranks and had never been put online again. Soundwave argued with the security grid, deciding that TC and Skywarp were going to be fixing it if he couldn't get it online. ::We need the defense system up Soundwave:: Blackout said over a com link. ::We're getting our afts kicked here::
::Working on it:: The security director replied, trying a new configuration. He tried a couple more things but it wasn't working. A couple pieces needed replaced and the defense system was not going to come online without it. ::I need a couple pieces repaired before it will come online:: Soundwave told Blackout. That was when the power to the Nemesis flickered out and the com lines went dead. "Slag," Soundwave commented loudly and Shadow snickered in the dark. He debated for a moment but he knew he had to get the power back on or the Decepticons would be slaughtered. "Stay there," he ordered the youngling. "I'm going to activate the emergency power." Manually he added silently with a mental groan. With that said he cut through his door and made his way silently as he could down the dark halls of the Nemesis.
