Neverland
Disclaimer: Another odd little fic that plagued my mind. LOL. No, but seriously, me likey this odd pairing. I had an idea to do a movie-versed theme pairing of the two and thought it was a rather intriguing idea. And I know a few may say that Shockwave was killed by Optimus. Well, my opinion on the matter is that he ripped out his eye. I have seen most bots survive worse than that. But for those anal about that sort of thing, I will keep it at an AU status.
"My darkness has been filled with the light of intelligence, and behold, the outer day-lit world was stumbling and groping in social blindness."
-Helen Keller
"It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel."
-Unknown Proverb
By: VampireQueenAkasha
"...a magnificent creature."
-Shockwave, Foundation Issue 2
Just Being a Good Doctor
Earth
The moon was empty, untouched since that incident.
The equipment from the first lunar landing rattled slightly as a dark, enormous shadow loomed overhead. It was accompanied by a low, ominous rumble as an extraterrestrial ship passed before landing on the surface of the moon. It was jagged, covered in various spikes and protrusions as well as Cybertronian marks. Once the ship settled, shapes began to emerge onto the barren, desolate moon. One hand scooped up fragments of a Decepticon body.
Standing there was a Cybertronian shape that literally towered over several others who appeared beside him. He had pitch black armor and piercing red optics with red stripes across the sides of his face which made him appear frightening. His mouth was filled with long, sharp teeth and his fingers were long and sharp; his helm also had two jagged horns. He had two large cannons mounted on his arms and sharp tips at the ends of his feet.
"Lord Straxus..."
The mech-Straxus-turned toward his group and to a tall, slender green mech with a heavy underbite and jagged neck spikes. One of his hands ended in a dangerous, long hook.
"What is it, Lockdown?" Straxus asked him, still absently studying the remains.
"What do you want us to do?"
Straxus cast his gaze toward the horizon of the moon where he could see a clear image of Earth. "There are Decepticons lingering on that little backwater planet without a leader," he told him, "My sources tell me there is also one Decepticon General still alive. I want you to find him."
"Of course. No problem," Lockdown said, nodding, "I can find anybody."
"Good. That's what I like to hear," Straxus replied, with a smirk on his jagged face.
"What about Optimus?" a Decepticon in the back of the group asked.
Straxus smiled broadly. "We will break him..."
O
Red Alert walked to Shockwave's room and she could make out the sounds of water rushing inside. Frowning in confusion, she set down the container of fresh oil that she had made by the door and stepped through it. She was shocked to find Sideswipe spraying down Shockwave with a high-powered hose. It wasn't enough to cause any kind of damage, but strong enough to chip away paint. Considering that Shockwave was recovering from his surgery, the water would no doubt get into his circuits and cause an unbearable sting. Though Shockwave was adept at covering up any discomfort, she still did not appreciate the way that he was being treated.
She scowled and stormed up to Sideswipe, snatching the hose from him and shutting the water off. "What the frag do you think you're doing?" she demanded.
Sideswipe shrugged his shoulders as if his actions had no apparent consequence whatsoever. "Cleaning the filth off the freak," he argued, "Optimus told me to hose him down since you mentioned that he was filthy. You weren't around."
"I was making an oil brew!" Red Alert snapped, "Next time you want to step over my authority in the medic field, you had better take it up with me personally!"
Sideswipe scoffed and raised two hands. "Hey, there's no need to bite me in the aft!" he protested, "I was just following orders."
"That'd be a first. Now get going and find something productive to do instead of tormenting my patient!"
Sideswipe rolled his optics and left the room with disgust. "It's child's play compared to what he did to our own!"
"Sideswipe..." Red Alert warned.
He stormed out of the room while Red Alert adjusted the head of the hose. She tsked in disgust and set it down before looking at Shockwave. "I'm sorry," she told him, "He really need a lesson in manners sometimes."
Shockwave shook his head. "I do not put any blame on the fool for his primitive attempt at revenge. After all, I did execute his fellow comrades."
"Can we not discuss the deaths of comrades right now?" Red Alert chided, her voice carrying a mild sting that she carefully covered up as much as she could. "After all, I have something for you that might perk you up a bit."
"Really?"
Red Alert opened the door and bent down to retrieve her oil container and offered it to him. "I've improved the formula to make it taste better."
Shockwave's mandibles spread somewhat and his body ached at the promise of nourishment. Though his optic dilated a little when she approached. He watched her suspiciously as she brought the edge to his mouth and slid a hand to the back of his head in the way that she had done before. The way she mentioned "improved" sounded like a way to kill him. He jerked his head away from the offering and gave her a dark look.
"An attempt to silence me?" he snapped.
Red Alert sighed. "I told you I wasn't trying to kill you," she insisted, "After all, wouldn't it be 'illogical' to heal if you had intentions to harm?"
Shockwave's optic narrowed at her using the familiar word before he eventually let out a sigh and allowed for her to feed him, sensing that she was right about that. No one would go through so much trouble if they intended to kill them. It was a waste of resources. He watched her face cautiously the entire time, seeking any falsehoods in those warm, blue optics. His optic seemed to move slightly. She just watched him in return and focused on keeping him drinking the fluid. Her optics did not reflect any ill-intent, no mockery or cruelty and she lightly smiled.
Once Shockwave was finished, she set the canister down and began to clean his face a bit. "How's your optic feel?" she asked.
"It throbs occasionally, but it's fine," Shockwave replied.
Red Alert knotted her brow thoughtfully with a murmur. "It might just be your body recovering," she said, "But I'll give you a scan to be sure."
Shockwave was still as she scanned him a few times.
"Okay, you look fine," she continued, "Now, if you want, I could clean you up." He looked up sharply at her and she chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm not going to spray you with a hose like that screws-for-brains did."
Shockwave glanced down for a moment in thought before he looked up at her and nodded. The offer to get aged dirt, sludge and other various contaminants out of his body was an offer that he couldn't really say no to. "Very well."
Red Alert smiled and left the room. She returned with a container of cleaning solution and attached it to the hose. After assembling a few parts and a new cone-shaped spout, she gestured for Shockwave to lift his head and he did. Once she activated the hose, it sprayed a gentle stream onto his chest. He relaxed his shoulders and muttered a mechanical sigh. Every joint and sensor relaxed under the warmth of the water.
Red Alert sprayed him for a few moments more before she shut the hose off and gathered a scrubbing utensil. She began to scrub his neck and shoulders and he moved into the sensations like a cat enjoying a good scratch, feeling relief as chunks of earth and mud fell from his body. Red Alert smiled and made her way to his arms and chest. When she scrubbed between the rib-like structure of his torso, his breathing stopped momentarily before she made her way around to his lower back and it resumed again.
After scrubbing him down for a few moments, she stepped back and gathered the hose. "Okay, feel better?" she asked.
Shockwave nodded his head and stared down at himself. Minus the scratches and cuts in his armor, he looked much better than he had before. "Yes." he said.
"I'll rinse you off and then I'll have to join Optimus on patrol in the city," she told him, starting the hose after she had removed the container, "If you need anything, contact Ratchet and he'll contact me, okay?"
Shockwave waited until she was done rinsing him before he responded. "I don't think anyone will come when I call them."
Red Alert sighed and set the hose down. "Good point." she muttered.
"Don't concern yourself with me," Shockwave told her, shaking his head. "Just go."
Red Alert nodded her head. "Okay. If you need anything else, I'll be back in a few Earth hours. Maybe a little more."
And with that, she was gone.
O
The human city of Houston had been the sight of Decepticon activity. Once the Autobots arrived, there was an order to evacuate the people there to avoid any form of trouble or anyone suspecting what was really going on. They remained stationed outside of the city while the order of evacuation was taking place. Humans were panicking and Red Alert began to wonder just what kind of ruse they had created to get them to move that fast.
"Okay," Lennox announced to the group of Autobots and NEST troops, "We need to make this clean and fast. Find the Decepticon and take him out."
Sideswipe gave an impatient growl. "We'll do whatever it takes."
Lennox gave Sideswipe's hood a slight pat. "Clean and fast, Sideswipe." he reminded him.
Once Houston was empty of human life, the Autobots consisting of Optimus, Sideswipe, Dino and Bumblebee moved in, splitting up in several directions. Red Alert remained behind should the chance come up that she was needed. She observed the situation with Perceptor who monitored the perimeter.
"OPTIMUS PRIME," Perceptor said, in his COM-link, "ENEMY MOVEMENT HAS BEEN DETECTED."
"How many?" Optimus asked, through the link.
"MY SCANNERS INDICATE A DECEPTICON IDENTIFICATION SIGNALS. CURRENTLY .43 METERS FROM YOUR POSITION." Perceptor told him.
The Autobots cast their gaze overhead when an AV-8B Harrier screamed by. Sideswipe looked up at his optics widened. "No way!" he exclaimed, "Is that-"
"IT'S DIRGE!" Dino finished for him.
The jet uttered a stream of Cybertronian curses before spinning in midair and transforming, landing on the top of a building. He had the same build as Starscream for the most part and had longer, jagged claws. His body colors were a dark shade of blue and his wings had bizarre markings on them that looked like ravens.
"Autobots!" Dirge snarled, "Come and get me!"
He transformed again and took to the skies.
"Dirge!" Optimus bellowed, "Surrender! You have no leader!"
Weapons fired in all directions. It became chaos as the Autobots and NEST troops attempted to clip Dirge's wings. The Decepticon gave a cruel laugh and soared higher into the sky. He spoke through his COM-link.
"Lockdown, he's not here," he sent, "Let's move!"
"Alright."
In an alley, ominous red headlights suddenly flashed and a green and black Lamborghini Miura surged out of its hiding spot. It had spikes in the caps and an overall menacing appearance. Perceptor sensed the presence of the Decepticon immediately as he streaked away. Dino spotted the Decepticon almost immediately and quickly transformed. He pursued Lockdown through the streets
"Come to me, Decepticon bastardo!" he bellowed.
Lockdown chuckled, not in the least bit deterred by Dino's pursuit. "Here's a little gift for you, Autobot." he hissed.
His tailpipe expelled a disgusting black tar to which Dino's tires caught. He started to spin out of control, but transformed and grabbed a streelight pole, spinning in midair. He lashed one of his whips out at Lockdown's rear bumper, but the strike missed and he quickly gave chase.
Lennox frowned as he watched the Decepticons disappear before looking up at Optimus. "What's going on?" he asked, "They came and just left."
Optimus looked equally disturbed. "They must have been looking for something."
"What the hell would they want?" Epps joined in, "Most of their crew's been dusted."
Optimus shook his head. "Not all of them."
O
Wheelie and Brains peered through the door to Shockwave's holding room. They muttered to themselves before Wheelie nudged Brains roughly, causing the other bot to fall right into the room with a sharp grunt. Shockwave lifted his head slightly when he heard the sound and his optic narrowed. Brains gave him a very awkward wave and Wheelie joined in. Shockwave's mandibles spread slightly with annoyance before he lowered his head once more, not interested in them.
"Hey, how ya' doin' there, big guy?" Wheelie said, with slight unease, "Hanging around all alone, huh?"
Shockwave ignored him.
"It can't be all that bad," Brains joined in, "You got that hot doc keeping tabs on you. That's gotta be good for your fantasy circuits." He made slightly lewd gestures and grunts, like a human thrusting their pelvis and did a goofy little dance. "Oh yeah, work it baby! Uh-huh! That's right!"
"Go away." Shockwave snapped, "I don't associate with traitors."
Wheelie scoffed and whispered sidelong to Brains. "Yeesh, who put a Scraplet in his ass?" he muttered.
Shockwave ignored the voices as much as he could and they disappeared. He could still see Brains and Wheelie talking, but could no longer hear them. Beside him appeared the illusion of Jolt in his final moments. His head was crushed and it exposed his protoform. His body dripped Energon and he laughed dryly, shaking his crushed head in the process.
"Petty little things, aren't they?" he hissed, sarcastically, "So deluded to choose a better path."
Elita-One appeared as well, cradling her own head beneath her arm. "Hey Shockwave, you didn't forget about me, did you?" she purred, "After all, you did take my head off. Practically a sucker-punch move too. You should be a proud Decepticon."
Shockwave watched as each and every victim faced him in the room, mere images of their shapes in their final hours. He knew that they were not real. They were figments created as a means to haunt him, to attempt to break him down in his moment of weakness. A weakness that he hated living with. Their tattered, disgusting faces stared at him with empty blue and red optics, their gazes filled with scorn and hatred.
A Thetacon in the back chuckled, his throat gushing remnants of Energon. "You boast so arrogantly, Shockwave. But in reality, you're just another puppet. Like the rest of us."
"You claim that emotion has never bested you, but inside, you're afraid..." Salvage whispered, from beside him; his face was covered in terrible burns, the metal and tubes ruptured from when Shockwave had taken his cannon to his head, "You fear losing yourself, don't you? Hehe. And you called us weaklings?"
Dunerunner's hands grabbed Shockwave's shoulders. They weren't real, but almost felt solid enough. Shockwave did not see his face, but when he spoke, he could hear a fluid buildup in his vocals, as if he was choking on his own Energon.
"You'll lose, Shockwave. They'll kill you in time, or maybe HE will," Dunerunner whispered, maliciously, "And when they do, we'll be waiting for you."
"You are not real..." Shockwave growled.
Brains and Wheelie watched him.
"Wow, the big guy's finally lost his circuits," Wheelie remarked, "Talking to himself. Can you believe that?"
Brains shook his head. "Better get Ratchet. This guy's freaking me out."
The two bots left the room.
O
A few hours had gone by and Ratchet entered Shockwave's room with Red Alert behind him. "Shockwave, Wheelie and Brains were running around saying something about how they think you're going nuts," he told the Decepticon, "I'm going to have to take a sample of your Energon to be sure there's nothing going on. Okay?"
Shockwave didn't respond and just stared at him. Ratchet looked at Red Alert and shrugged his shoulders before retrieving a device from his side. He approached one of Shockwave's massive arms and raised it to see an Energon vein before Shockwave stopped him.
"I'd prefer it if she took the sample," Shockwave said, indicating Red Alert with a flick of his head.
Ratchet halted and looked back at Red Alert in surprise; she was gathering a few tools behind him and stopped what she was doing to look up in equal surprise. She shrugged her shoulders and Ratchet saw no reason to argue.
"Um, alright. I guess there's nothing wrong with that," Ratchet replied, "Uh, Red Alert, okay, come here."
Red Alert walked over, taking the device from Ratchet. The medic instructed her where to inject the needle and what to do afterwards. Red Alert took a few steps back and sat down on the computer to observe the readings. Shockwave tilted his head at her, just regarding her intently.
"What are his readings?" Ratchet asked.
Red Alert looked at Shockwave while she spoke. "Normal."
"Okay," Ratchet said, nodding his head. He seemed a little uncomfortable and eager to leave. "Well, if everything's normal, I have to get to Dino's repairs. Whatever those Decepticons were after, I don't really care. At least everyone's alive."
Red Alert nodded with a smile. "I'll be back to help in a little."
"Good."
Once Ratchet was gone, Shockwave looked at her. "What Decepticons?" he asked.
"Dirge and Lockdown. You know them?"
"Dirge I do. Lockdown I have heard of, but never met," Shockwave replied, rumbling deeply, "What do those fools want? They are blindly running about without a leader. They will end up dead at such a rate."
Red Alert shrugged her shoulders. "We don't know. Maybe they're looking for you."
"They would not act in such a way without suggestion. Someone is pulling their strings."
Red Alert frowned intensely. "And you would know about that?" she asked.
"No. I've been here if you recall," Shockwave responded bitingly, "And my communications systems are fried. I have no reason to be capable of such a distant communication. And you know that full well, Autobot."
Red Alert gave that some thought and he could see that she relaxed a bit. Now, she looked slightly concerned for him. "Have you had any recharge?" she asked.
"No."
"Primus, you really want to kill yourself, don't you?" she muttered, "Fine. If you won't recharge, I'll stay here all night if I have to."
Shockwave looked disgusted by that. "I'm no youngling, Autobot."
Red Alert took a spot in her chair and folded her arms across her chest, giving him a skeptical look. "Well, it's not your decision," she said, "I'm not leaving until I see you powering down. I don't care how long it takes."
Shockwave glared at her.
"Glare all you want. I'm not moving."
After a long time, the two stared at one another. Red Alert crossed her legs and straightened in her seat. "Why haven't you been recharging anyway?" she asked.
"What concern is it of yours?" he snapped.
"I'm a doctor. It's my job to ask those kinds of questions."
Shockwave made an impatient sound and looked away from her.
"I know you pride yourself on your ability to keep emotion from others," Red Alert continued, smiling sympathetically, "In a way, we're kind of alike. In my job, I can't get too emotionally attached to my patients or I end up losing a little bit of myself."
Shockwave scowled at her. "We're not the same."
"No. Maybe not," Red Alert agreed, "I just think you're better at hiding it from others than I am."
Shockwave growled softly, spreading his mandibles a bit before he glanced at her from the side of his optic. He didn't seem to be glaring this time and the plates around his mouth and optic relaxed to a lesser degree.
Red Alert smiled at him. "You can sleep. I'll stay here all night. I promise."
Shockwave stared at her for the longest time before he sighed and his shoulders relaxed. "A moment's reprieve from your incessant demands would be a blessing..." he muttered.
"Good. That's what I like to hear."
It took a long time, but eventually Shockwave was asleep. Red Alert stood up and waved a hand in front of his face before she smiled at the lack of reaction. Behind her, Wheelie and Brains rolled in and watched the slumbering assassin.
"So, the giant lugnut's finally asleep, huh?" Wheelie muttered, "Way to go, dollface. You did it."
Brains laughed. "Must be that Siren song she be singin' to him."
Red Alert frowned thoughtfully. "I don't get it. He's always rather agreeable around me. A bit difficult, but he's manageable."
Wheelie and Brains looked at each other before they snickered and started laughing. Red Alert frowned down at them, confused by their laughter. "What's so funny?" she demanded, "Do you want to wake him up?"
Brains waved a finger at her. "That's cute! Doc's got herself a new boyfriend!"
Red Alert looked startled. "What?" she exclaimed.
"You crushin' on the freak!" Wheelie added, laughing and slapping his thighs.
Red Alert gave them an indignant scowl. "I'm only being a good doctor!" she insisted, "Stop-Stop that laughing! I'm doing my job! Optimus told me to make his imprisonment more comfortable and I have! It was my order!"
The two continued to laugh even harder now.
"Oh doc, you're awful!" Brains cried.
Red Alert began to nudge them out with her foot. "Get out, you laughing idiots!" she snapped, "Get out before I find a good use for my soldering tools!" Once she was sure they were gone, she shut the door behind her and took a spot in her seat again.
Shockwave was sound asleep even after all of the laughter. She chuckled when he gave a strange, inaudible sound.
"Get a good sleep, Shockwave..." she said, softly.