Chapter 6
Downloading the information he had taken from the boy's mind, Soundwave exams the data as it scrolls across the screen. Preferring to work alone, with little tolerance for some of the other Decepticons, Sounds would be enjoying the peace and quiet of the workstation he is at, except he is not alone.
"You got your tailgate kicked and it wasn't even by Prime," taunts Frenzy to his brother Rumble.
Standing on one side of Soundwave, while Rumble is on the other side, the red and black mini-Decepticon enjoys taunting his brother.
"You should have had me help you," continues Frenzy. "I'm not the screw up that Rumble is."
"Yo, Soundwave," says Rumble, trying to ignore the other cassette. "Stuff looks to be missing."
Grunting, Soundwave continues to look over the information pouring across the screen.
"I thought you said the fleshling knew all the information on making Megatron's weapon?" says Frenzy, who decided to give up on taunting his brother and focuses on the information on the screen.
Grunting again, Soundwave notices as yet another blip in the data shows on the screen.
"Dude," says Frenzy, "Megatron is going to be pissed when he finds out."
"Way to state the obvious," returns Rumble, glaring at his brother.
"At least I didn't get my tailgate kicked by a stupid Autobot," replies Frenzy.
Grunting again, Soundwave reaches behind each of the cassettes, grabs their heads, and throws them behind and away from him.
"Ah, come on, Soundwave," says Rumble, getting to his feet and walking back over to the larger Decepticon.
"Yeah, we'll stop," says Frenzy, as he also gets up and walks back.
As the information finishes on the screen, Soundwave thinks about the missing information.
"It must have happened when those dumbass Autobots attacked you," says Rumble. "I hate to say it, but what if we asked Starscream to look at it. Maybe he can figure out what's missing. He was a scientist."
"Then Starscream tells Megatron that Soundwave messed up," replies Frenzy. "What about telling Megatron that the human's memory was faulty? Maybe we suggest that the human hadn't observed the whole thing?"
"Yeah," agrees Rumble, nodding his head. "Than Megatron orders Starscream to look at the data and you don't get into trouble."
Looking at one mini-Decepticon, than the other, Soundwave nods his agreement to the plan.
…...
"So, the human was wrong?" asks Megatron, staring at his communication officer.
"Yes, Lord Megatron," replies Soundwave. "While extracting the information, I noticed errors in the human's memory."
"I see," says Megatron. "And you're not trying to cover for yourself? You were under heavy fire once you left the building. The information could have been damaged later."
"Ah, come on, Megatron," says Rumble. "Soundwave is, like, loyal and shit. He wouldn't lie."
Staring down at the mini-Decepticon, Megatron says nothing and waits for Rumble to become uncomfortable. Shifting around, Rumble quickly drops his gaze and stares at the floor.
When Soundwave had come to him earlier to inform Megatron that there was a problem with the information, the Decepticon Leader had decided to make Soundwave report in front of most of the other Decepticons. So, while Megatron was staring down at the mini-Decepticon, many others were laughing.
"Soundwave doesn't lie?" says Skywarp. "What happened, Rumble? You took too much damage at the battle and it affected your memory circuits?"
"Soundwave doesn't lie to Megatron," says Frenzy, looking around at the other Decepticons in the room. "Unlike some of you."
Return his gaze to his communication officer, Megatron is having a hard time deciding if Soundwave is lying about the human's memory or, if Soundwave is correct, and that the human had not witnesses the entire process. Knowing that belaboring the point won't change the results, Megatron decides to move on to how the errors in the information can be corrected.
"You said the human fought back?" questions Megatron.
"Yes, Lord Megatron," replies Soundwave. "He attempted to force other, non-important information to the forefront."
"Could Soundwave have not gotten all the information he thought he did?" sneers Starscream. "Maybe the human was better than Soundwave?"
Growling at the insult, Soundwave doesn't turn to look at the second in command.
"Soundwave, send out Laserbeak," says Megatron, enjoying the strife cause by Starscream's comment. "I am curious to see if the boy was able to hold out."
"As you command," replies Soundwave, before depressing the eject button.
A cassette slides out of Soundwave's chest compartment and transforms into the Decepticon Laserbeak. Landing on Soundwave's shoulder, the mini Decepticon waits for instructions.
"Find the human boy," says Megatron. "We need to ascertain if the boy kept information from Soundwave. Return with your findings."
Nodding his head, Laserbeak takes off to search for the boy. Knowing Soundwave as he did, Megatron knew that the communication officer would be angry over the thought that the Decepticon leader would suspect that Soundwave had failed in his mission.
"Starscream," says Megatron. "For once, use your worthless scientist skills and look over the data on the weapon. See if you can figure out what's missing."
"Probably a good thing you're sending out Laserbeak then," says Thundercracker, laughing.
Sneering at Thundercracker, Starscream leaves the room.