My ipod has been confiscated until I finish at least this and the next chapter. I'm already going through withdrawal. Finishing this one now.

Disclaimer: I don't own scrap except for Sonya.

I smiled stiffly at the two little bots in front of me. They had at least made me feel a little better. I stood and started towards Frenzy and Rumble. I stopped and looked down as a faint shudder underneath us made the table move. The next tremor was more violent, shaking me until I lost my footing and fell forward onto Frenzy. "Hey, get off!"

The two larger cons had by this time totally ignored us for the transmissions being set through their internal communications system. Autobots.


Circumstances had changed. Against the Autobots' better judgment, the American armed forces had been given the order to mobilize and attack the Decepticon base. Considering the Autobots couldn't ignore their friends and allies, they had situated their attack around the flanks and exterior walls but avoiding the main entrances. And in the long run, the lower ranking of the Autobots were relieved. Even though Sam and the other human were important, they didn't know what they'd do if Prime left them. Again.


Megatron's orders had been clear enough. Soundwave was to transport the hostages and the rest would go to defend/buy him time. Sam, whom Starscream had dumped into Soundwave's massive hand as he headed towards the fight, was sitting close to Sonya as she held on for dear life. Soundwave had never trucked it like this before while carrying her (at least not while she was conscious). She had also never had a problem with motion sickness until up to this point.

He had made it with no problem to the area where he had to cross between the main sections that were being assaulted. He had just barely managed to make it through those particular spots. But now, as he approached the secondary exit that was basically designed for quick escape purposes, he found his way blocked by two of his least favorite (though it's doubtful he had any favorites among them) Autobots. The ones designation Sideswipe and the human male's guardian Bumblebee stood in front of his would-be escape route. Sideswipe stepped forward and grinned smugly at him. "You are so fragged." Processing what would best aide him, his computing hard-drive kicked into high gear. The boy was now expendable. The female was not. She was the key to getting Prime alone. "Statement false. The battle hasn't started yet."

With those thoughts, Soundwave chucked Sam towards the two Autobots and took off down another adjacent hallway. That exit was off-limits, but there were plenty others scattered throughout the base. The little female that had come to be known as Sonya shrieked as I cut corners close in order to throw off any would-be followers.

"Sam!" Bumblebee dived to catch Sam before he could fall to the floor, sending a boom as he hit the ground. After making sure that there was no immediate threat, he began checking his charge over like a paranoid mother would her child. Sideswipe took off; leaving Bee to handle whatever might come towards that exit. Bumblebee could manage this without him. And now that one hostage had been recovered, there was only the girl he'd saved from before to collect.


"Get back here you fragger!" I called as I tore through halls after the scum Soundwave. I hadn't told any of the other Autobots, but I was responsible for her. Primus help me if Prowl or Ratchet heard me say that; they might think I was actually starting to be an upstanding bot. I was the one that brought her into this so I would have to be the one to get her out. If not for her then for my own processors. If she died…

Soundwave checked his sensors, detecting the Autobot signal following him. That silver scrap heap was more trouble than his processors were worth. Unfortunately, having to be careful of the human girl was slowing him down. Conflict with the Autobot was inevitable. Better to make his stand here where he had the upper hand. He locked his stabilizing servos in place and turned to face his enemy. "Prepare for battle, little fleshling." Sonya looked up at the giant and tried to get a handle on something. Softly she mumbled to herself, but Soundwave caught bits and pieces with his overly sensitive sound-receptors. "God, I'm sorry I lied to my parents about not sneaking out at night, and if it's any consolation, I was going to return that twenty I took from the store…" Silly humans.

Sideswipe tried to hit the brakes when he turned the last corner and came faceplate-to-faceplate with Soundwave, but he was unable to stop fast enough. He rammed into the other mech's chest-plate, jolting both and sending them flying. Sonya shrieked as she was ripped from Soundwave's grip and fell downward. Sideswipe quick scrambled on his knees forward just enough to catch her in his palm and pulled her into his chest-plate as he saw Soundwave about to tackle him.


Short, true. And I'm really, really, really sorry about that. But I want my ipod back! Expect more later.