Author's Notes: This wasn't exactly how I planned it, but the writing/characters took over frankly, in a way they haven't for a while. So I've been ignoring my email alerts for new chapters and whatnot in favor of the wonderful gift of inspiration and I think I forgot to reply to someone's review. Sorry about that! Onward! (Also if anyone is confused, I don't blame you, and it should be clarified within the next chapters).
The mental connection to Soundwave was foreign, yet familiar. Soundwave had shared his thoughts with Megatron before, and it had been like talking to the other Decepticon.
This was different. Though he could see the sickbay with perfect clarity, he could sense Starscream's presence. It was so close, nearly close enough to touch. Instinctively, he looked around, but there was no one. This was all in Soundwave's mind.
Soundwave was trying not to allow him into his mind fully, but Megatron pushed past his barriers, feeling the burning stabs of pain all over his body as he did so. He 'stood', following Soundwave outside the sickbay and into the lift.
Starscream was whispering to Soundwave coaxing him to do something. The other Decepticon was resisting, but Megatron could tell it hurt.
"What did you want me to see?" he asked. They exited the lift.
The lower levels. The lights flickered, and Energon pooled on the floor. Carefully, Megatron stepped over it.
Soundwave 'guided' him to the center of his pain. Starscream. Megatron could picture the Seeker flying around in Soundwave's mind. He resisted the urge to pull Soundwave away from it, the invasion, the insanity, whatever it was.
"His madness." Soundwave's voice was quiet. He had no need to use another's wordss here.
"I know he is insane, Soundwave. What could possibly-"
"Look."
Megatron gave the other Decepticon a sideways glance, but stared into the space that was undoubtedly occupied by Starscream. It swirled as he looked at it. Emotions seemed to jump out at him from every direction.
Angry-uncertain-angry-loyalty-death-kill-Decepticon-death-insecure- visions of the war, of the ship, of himself began to pop to the surface. Then images of him – Starscream – injuring Soundwave and Knock Out and the overwhelming feelings of accomplished-good-finally-retribution began to invade his mind. Starscream breaking free. Finding him. Killing him last of all.
Soundwave pulled him away. Megatron realized he had been staring for too long.
"I can hear him," Soundwave said quietly. "I was not sure what it was until I discovered him in the lower decks."
"For how long?" Megatron considered, then rephrased the question. "How long has he been like this?"
"I have heard the signal longer than I can remember."
Megatron thought. About the images, the emotions, what Soundwave had just said.
"He is still insane."
"But he will betray himself." A particularly strong urge to kill raced through their minds. Soundwave faltered, but continued to speak. "If we allow him to."
"And that will fix his mind?"
"Possibly."
It was the presence of Starscream that made him do what he did next, Megatron would tell himself later. It was the fact that Soundwave was telling him to let Starscream live after all he had just lived through.
Megatron seized Soundwave by the shoulder, intending to push him to the ground, but a nearly invisible wall appeared, keeping Soundwave upright.
"He'll never know what hit him." Starscream was whispering in his audio receptor. Megatron shook his head, trying to dispel the voice. It receded, but he could hear it speaking in the back of his mind.
The other Decepticon was still. Waiting. Was Starscream talking to him, or to Soundwave? To both of them?
Slowly, he let Soundwave go. The Decepticon dropped to the ground, landing on his feet.
"Explain your plan."
"I believe that Starscream's mind will betray himself, if given the correct circumstances."
"Which are?"
Soundwave looked into his optics. Megatron would be a liar if he claimed he liked that look.
"The chance to complete his mission."
"I will not allow Starscream to have a chance at my life."
"He will not be able to take it."
"How do you know?" the warlord leaned down to look into Soundwave's visor.
"He was not able to kill me, or Knock Out."
"Circumstantial," Megatron snarled. "I don't want to-"
"I can see it in him."
"That?" Megatron gestured to the space occupied by Starscream. "How do you know he isn't lying to you?"
Soundwave backed up slightly.
"Because he doesn't know it himself."
Megatron couldn't argue with that. Couldn't argue with Soundwave, if for whatever reason the mech wanted the second alive, it made sense to him.
"Why do we need him alive?"
"The cause needs a second in command." Soundwave grasped his arm. The connection opened his mind to allow Soundwave's reasoning into his own processor.
There was Megatron. The leader. The figurehead, the cause.
Then there was Starscream. The one who would be the scapegoat, the sacrifice so no one else would get the wrong idea about rebelling. The one who understood why it needed to happen, and the one who could take over if Megatron was dead, because he understood what it took to lead. He knew this. The 'sane' Starscream knew this.
"I see." Megatron didn't, not really, but he saw what Soundwave knew. That had to be enough. Soundwave nodded.
Then he was back in his own body. The floor he stood on felt so real, so solid, he nearly knelt to touch it.
He looked at Soundwave. The Decepticon leaned back, giving them both their space.
"We will try."
Soundwave acknowledged by getting to his feet. He was silent again.
"Soundwave. Once Starscream is 'cured', will you return to normal as well?"
The other Decepticon hesitated before nodding. Megatron wasn't quite sure what to make of that, but he didn't press the issue. He trusted that Soundwave was telling the truth, or that he would figure out a way to fix the issue before it became a problem.
"Let's get started."
