Transformers © Hasbro
Sideswipe's optics edgily scrutinised the gargantuan construction opposite them; various metre-thick wires randomly spitting and crevices emanating a throbbing blue glow. Sunstreaker focussed on the dimly lit hatch touching the bottom of the machine; doubtless, where they were expected to enter and be subjected to Primus knows what.
To say Sideswipe had been disturbed by the prospect of turning into an animalistic form (particularly one unable to speak) was putting it mildly. Not that Sunstreaker was particularly thrilled at the possibility himself. Personally, he'd rather go offline than end up like that apathetic drone Soundwave had referred to as Ravage.
His brother and he hadn't exactly hit it off with the resident pests. Vorns stuck on that planet, all but isolated from the rest of the universe, and the first bit of social interaction they get is with a 'Con and his pets. Both had been fairly vocal in their dissatisfaction about the situation, prompting retaliatory harassment from both winged-bots in the form of close proximity swoops and grating shrieks.
The other one at least kept to himself, though his derisive glare was plainly obvious; particularly when it was revealed he could transform into a biped mech. Albeit, about the size of a mini-bot, but at least he could talk and show expressions…. so the twins assumed anyway. As of yet, Ravage had done nothing but silently follow whatever command Soundwave uttered; not a flicker of emotion donning.
The Scion, meanwhile, had been thoroughly amused by their reaction. Silently waiting as they fumed and roared at him; threats and damnations tossed this way and that. When they finally came to the end of their diatribe, arms crossed and optics challenging, he calmly informed them he had no intention whatsoever of removing their free will, or reformatting them into any forms they didn't approve of. Which was, in fact, quite true.
The Quintesson's technology only allowed him to manipulate a processor's data insofar as to what already existed. It wasn't that Ravage had no emotions, thoughts or wants; he merely remained entirely silent and inexpressive about them unless ordered otherwise. That obedience came from the personality components already present within the original's processor; merely manipulated and warped to better suit Soundwave's purpose.
And the other two served him completely of their own volition. Eternally grateful to Soundwave for giving them life and purpose, they swore complete and utter loyalty to him, gladly obeying without question or hesitance.
For the twins it was simple enough what would be necessary in order to affirm their allegiance; warp and solidify their hatred for the Elite Guard while also waning their hostility towards the Decepticons. Due to their higher emotional state, this could prove to be quite intricate work so would take longer than it had for Ravage. But it would be worth it.
Soundwave knew that, even if done perfectly, much tension would soon develop between them and their future superiors considering the one-track type of mind they were bound to have. But so long as Soundwave affirmed that even a hint of debt or respect existed he could manipulate that into full blown loyalty…..towards him anyway.
As if suddenly remembering his presence, the two-headed mech pivoted sharply on the spot, dual blue optics drilling into the seemingly nonchalant 'Con.
"Lemme just make one thing clear 'Con" Sunstreaker began, each word a growl. "We better not end up some mindless slave like that thing" He jerked his helm towards the perching winged bot which spat a noise of resentment at his words, red optics drilling down at him. "Cause if we do, I don't know how or when, but we will find a way to get back at you" He merely glared right back at Ratbat, then at Soundwave.
"Acknowledged" was the droned response.
They both exchanged a quick glance before Sideswipe said, "And we want to see the plans for the bodies too. Before we go in there!" he hastily added, casting an anxious look towards the machine.
"As you wish" was all he said before an image suddenly formed midair; vibrant red projections outlying two large frames.
Momentarily taken aback by his immediate adherence to their request, the twins shook it off and eagerly scanned the moulds' blueprints; one sturdy with broad-ended arms and legs, the other more angular, sporting dual wheels in place of pedes.
"I call the wheeled one" the black helm stated, optics firmly set on the hologram. Sunstreaker snorted.
"Whatever….So, these are the…final designs?" he addressed the 'Con, expression more pensive than before and gaze fixed to the mould.
"Affirmative" Soundwave hesitated before adding, "Query: alterations desired?"
The twins paused, both helms staring dubiously at the 'Con. They looked sideways towards one another before Sunstreaker responded, "No…they'll do"
Soundwave nodded once, "Request to learn weapon functions?"
Sideswipe optics immediately lit up. "Slag yeah!" Sunstreaker merely grunted accordance.
Without a word, the Scion activated a new set of projections interlinking with the blueprints; labels and tags signifying the armoury and weapon capability.
"Woah! I get arm blades?!" Sideswipe was practically beaming. "Fragging awesome!" Sunstreaker hummed thoughtfully, scanning the listed abilities of his future body.
Wow…the legs and arms can pretty much level a whole area once powered up….Wonder what they could do point blank to someone's armour….
"Weapons: satisfactory?" the dull tenor enquired.
Neither twin even bothered to consult the other before voicing their respective "Frag yeah!" and "Pretty much"
Inwardly, Soundwave smirked. He could already see the stark change in each twins' stance. They had gone from paranoid hostility to rapt anticipation in less than a breem. Chances were Soundwave wasn't going to get them in a better mindset than they were right now. He had to act.
"Procedure: commencing in approximately two breems" He didn't fail to notice how both twins' tensed and immediately took measures to placate them. "Query: longer time-span desired?"
Sunstreaker opened his mouth and looked about ready to snap something irritable, but paused. Blue optics flickered towards his twin who met his gaze.
Soundwave waited patiently as the silent conversation transpired, ignoring the near incessant com. pings from Laserbeak.
After just over a klik, both helms were fixed back on him; dual looks of determination clearly painted. This allowed Soundwave to easily deduce their answer before Sunstreaker uttered; "No, we're ready now"
The 'Con merely nodded, buzzing a brief, "Acknowledged" then added, "Request: enter machine's hatch. Will inform upon procedures commencement"
For once they obeyed without question or glower. Only after the hatch hissed and snapped shut did Soundwave finally address the persistent bleeps of Laserbeak's communiqué.
"Report" He approached the machine's console, entering the beginnings of data encryptions and binary. The bird-bot's response was an audio file whirring into life. Soundwave internally sighed. Laserbeak had been more and more inclined as of late to send him perfectly useless and baseless files. Personally, the Scion put it down to a mixture of jealously at the newest edition to their team, and pure want to utilise his new upgrades as often as possible.
Even so, Soundwave listened. Granted, with only half an audio and little focus, but listened. The beginning was just some blathering of a shuttle's engine room requiring tune-ups, then something about holographic integration for the ships defence. He instantly pegged it to be an Elite Guard shuttle from the moment one of their crew was addressed as Prime.
"Well we'll just have to deal with him when we get back won't we?" Soundwave froze completely, audios now fully alert. That voice. He knew it well and privately scowled. That old red and white medic was on the shuttle. There was no way that was good.
"Ratch's right! We may never get another opportunity. Besides what's Sentinel really gonna do?" another voice, familiar though difficult to pinpoint.
"You mean aside from drilling us out of the Elite Guard?" someone completely unfamiliar grunted, then sighed. "Whatever. We've come to far to not check this out anyway"
"Exactly! And if we manage to capture Soundwave as well as save Mirage it'd look pretty good on your resume, eh Roddy? Or should I say Rodimus Magnus?" A snort was heard.
"Yeah yeah, shut it Hound. How much farther Jazz?"
"'Bout a hundred miles West of here…assuming our informants weren't playing us"
"After the way the 'Cons treated that Quintesson I'd be pretty damn surprised if they did anything short of shooting them in the back" Hound drawled.
Another set of voices then started to chime in, but the 'Con had heard enough. Visor narrowed and servos tense, the Scion com. pinged each of his team.
"Ravage, Laserbeak, Ratbat: take up position outside of base and await Elite Guard shuttle. Order: allow no Autobot entry until procedure is complete"
An understanding message was sent back to him. He looked up to the far corner where Ravage had previously stooped; now empty. He sighed, continuing to enter the coding strips.
Ravage was perhaps one of the most able infiltrators ever created. He was not only agile, fast and deathly silent, but the invisibility capabilities of his original mould still remained intact; the perfect spy. Unfortunately, a spy wasn't what Soundwave required right now.
At the most, Ravage could trick and sabotage the Autobots, but as far as hand-to-hand combat and firepower went, he was severely lacking.
"Yo Soundwave" Sideswipe's static fluffed voice suddenly erupted from the speaker and cut short his thought process. "You starting? It's pretty slagging cramped in here ya know!" The Decepticon shook off his momentary unease and focussed on the task at hand. He wouldn't need to worry about Ravage or the others if these two were completed in time.
Entering the final line of encryptions, he responded, "Affirmative. Data configuration: complete. Beginning armour reconfiguration" He moved to start the system, but paused. "Process: will not be pleasant. Suggestion: focus on motive throughout it."
There was a brief ruffling of static before the gruff response came, "We've been through worse"
Soundwave's finger hovered over the button, "Negative" then pressed down.
Dozens of red lights twittered into life along the machines flank, a mechanistic hum pulsing from it as the blue crevices bled crimson. Soundwave watched as its upper region began to turn, slowly at first, but after less than a klik was swivelling fast enough to make the lights appear a continuous red line. The only sound matching its thunderous roar of mechanistic cogs and seams mingled with a thousand data-streams coagulating into one were the unrestrained screams of pain bursting from within it.
Soundwave remained still, visor set on the spark monitor. He tensed when he saw the energy signals begin to drift apart, one still partially latched to the other. The risk was that after being so close for so long, one or both sparks would wither and die without the other's presence. The Scion's intakes paused, waiting and watching as they clung to one another.
Then finally, after a half-klik, they split. All tendrils of energy having accumulated over the vorns snapped off and shrivelled away. Though the spark signals were critically off the charts, their glow was bright and if the continual screams from within the hatch were anything to go by, very alive. Soundwave let out a gush of hot air, hand coming to rest atop the console.
Well, the most precarious of the process was over and a success. Now to-
A com. ping sounded. The Scion answered, unsurprised to hear Ravage's hollow tenor.
"Master, the Autobots have arrived"
"Acknowledged. Aim: distraction. Avoid: hand-to-hand combat. Reformatting process: 20% complete. Estimated time to completion: two and a half breems"
"Understood"
And with a crisp pop the com died. Soundwave's visor dimmed. He knew the Quintesson programming was powerful and what he had once been was wholly destroyed…but even so, Soundwave strongly hoped that seeing old teammates wouldn't trigger any of the spy's past memories.
Ravage slunk around the shadowed rock outcrop; metallic paws soundless and tail fluidly moving behind him. Ratbat and Laserbeak were perched somewhere close overhead. Watchful red orbs swept over the Elite Guard shuttle and brightened in attention as the door sighed open. A team of four.….Correction, six. Those Autobot twins were the last to scramble out.
Ratbat and Laserbeak both pinged messages of equal desire to swoop down and instigate tearing into the Autobots' faceplates, only for Ravage to hiss threateningly. Such an act would be foolish and reckless, not to mention-
"Incoming!" one of the Autobots exclaimed. Ravage snarled, claws extending with a soft 'shink' and electro-disrupter engaging.
The cry, punctuated by an audio shearing trill, left no spurs in the spy's mind that Laserbeak had moronically acted against orders and attacked.
Well, so much for stealth.
Author's Note: Awkward reunion: impending 8D
And before I start to get assaulted by copyright lawyers yadayadayada, I took some inspiration from 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' for the bit before the process begins….I was stuck for what to say and for some reason I always loved that line D: Don keel meh!
Sideswipe's body IS very much like his in ROTF XD Did anyone else love those wheel things?! And the BLADES! They were so…sharp X'D