Author's notes: The carefully crafted bonds between parent and child are unique; epitomising the limitless bounds of love and devotion, safety and respect. Yet, when those bonds are broken and loyalties are challenged, the damage can be more catastrophic than any other emotional strain or loss...


Chapter 9

Sonata Rabbia

The universe is full of truths. Machines needing fuel to function is just one of them.

Gears, circuits, electrical systems… everything magnifies when said components belong to cybernetic organisms able to think, to feel… Life finds its ways to expand and evolve, disregarding any distinction between blood and artificial fluids.

Transformers were created as slaves; fuel was a need focused only on the optimal performance of a machine. With the collapse of the slavery chains, when the ancestral five face masters escaped from the fury of their former servants, needs evolved into pleasures. Soon, energon became more than a simple fuel; it became a delight. Dormant circuits woke up and learned to taste. The simple action of refueling left the land of the basic and learned to flirt with excesses. High grade and the over energized state were the frivolous consequences.

But that was inexistent thousands of miles under the terrestrial Atlantic Ocean, within the soundless and somber space of Soundwave's personal quarters; the only place in the huge Nemesis base that existed completely away from every excess, and every lack of logic.

The energon that traveled gently through Nocturne's throat components fulfilled its primitive function of refueling the machine, but the meaning behind the sweet flavour was meant to be understood only by the intelligent organism, the sentient being that carried, as every Cybertronian, an ancient history in the art of having and expressing feelings.

And feelings were precisely what the mechanoid standing in front of her lacked. Soundwave was all coldness, reserve, calculation…

At least that was his appearance showed. The unexpected intrusion of the Decepticon in her mind –or had it been the other way around?- revealed to her an infinite universe hidden behind that emotionless optic visor and stoic face mask.

The connection established between her and Soundwave during those few astro seconds had symbolized a firm hand to hold, a saving light that had led her back to safety after an eternity of standing on the edge of a shattered precipice.

Her mind was playing tricks with her sanity, of that she was sure. Blinding herself behind a mask of fake security would be catastrophic, a loss all control and with it, hope. Soundwave was a Decepticon, and one of the most dangerous for the matter. Countless Autobot lives had certainly been extinguished by the deadly cannon he carried on his right shoulder; vile thoughts of conquest and ambition had to prevail behind his apparently calmed façade…

But then, why… why did she feel that way… so… grateful?


As Soundwave stared at Nocturne with perfectly hidden distrust, the uncommon sensation of ignorance assaulted his mental patterns.

The fact that such ignorance had been his own choice didn't help at all. Suddenly closing his mind toward any mental wave coming from the Autobot was nothing more than a defensive barrier against an energy he had no interest to understand.

Stabilizing the mind of the terrified Autobot had been a logical measure, a strategy needed for the accomplishment of a greater goal. Why, then, was she returning him such disturbing signals?

Gratitude.

Illogical.

The conclusion left no place for second thoughts. Soundwave turned around after what seemed an eternity of staring at his slave and walked toward the console of his computer. He had much more important things to do than wasting his time with useless reflections over the erratic thoughts of a simple Autobot prisoner.

"Rumble, Frenzy, eject. Operation: retrieval."

His hand pressed the button on his shoulder and both Cassetticons emerged and transformed into their bipedal modes. Their creator's voice was nothing more than a command, the catalyst that woke them from ethereal unconsciousness and took them back to the world of the tangible. Soundwave's true orders, details and all kinds of specifications, were given mentally; every mind foreign to their link excluded.

Long before he could see Frenzy's frowned face, Soundwave knew that the sudden inclusion of an external element, even though momentary, hadn't been welcomed by his creations. He was slightly surprised, however, when he felt the clear aggressive patterns his youngest Cassette's spark was emitting.

Jealousy was the cause, something totally non-existent in the bond between the Communications Officer and his creations. Despite being competitive by nature, none of his Cassettes had ever demonstrated a possessive attitude toward their master. The small but solid family core worked in perfect harmony, regardless of the contrasting personalities of its members. It was the perfect illustration of balance; the excitable moods of the younger ones, the icy control of the older... like night and day it created a natural equilibrium.

"What is she doing here?" Frenzy shouted, his finger pointing at Nocturne but his optic visor staring at Soundwave with open infuriation.

"Helloooo beautiful!" Rumble laughed, ignoring his twin and smirking as wickedly as he could at Nocturne, who continued to hold the empty energon cube.

"You let her into the link, and now ya slaggin'refuel her?! What's wrong wit' you, Soundwave?"

It wasn't common for Frenzy to use telepathy when talking directly to Soundwave. Like Rumble, he had a passion for spoken language; too hyperactive to lose time with subtleties. Frenzy using telepathy in that moment could only mean one thing: he was very upset.

But Soundwave's response couldn't have been colder: nothing.

Frenzy felt the uncomfortable stab of disappointment when Soundwave disregarded his creation's claim. This wasn't right, wasn't like Soundwave…

"Operation: retrieval," the Communications Officer spoke again, his monotonic voice neutral as always, no slight signal of anger or lack of patience. However, Frenzy knew perfectly well that forcing Soundwave to repeat an order was a very bad idea.

Clenched fists and a grimace on his face were the only exterior signal of Frenzy's impotence. Without saying another word, he turned around and moved toward the door, grabbing Rumble's arm and brusquely dragging him. The blue Cassetticon didn't fight back, busy smirking evilly at Nocturne.

Discomfort returned to Soundwave, a feeling as absurd as is was not welcomed. The unexpected reaction of his youngest creation was disturbing; he could sense there was more to his anger than mere jealousy, and it threatened that carefully nurtured bond between creator and creations like nothing had before. He stifled the need to clench his fists… Lack of stability was not an option. He had to maintain equilibrium no matter the cost.


"Let go, you slag face! You're gonna tear my fraggin' arm off!" Rumble yelled as he struggled with Frenzy, who was rapidly dragging him through the dark hallways of the Nemesis base.

Frenzy didn't reply but freed his twin.

They walked some steps without speaking. Six, to be precise; that was all Rumble could tolerate concerning silence.

"Would ya stop growling like one of fraggin' fleshy beasts and tell me what the slag is wrong with you?" Rumble complained as he smacked red twin's head roughly.

The blue Cassetticon prepared for retaliation but it never arrived. Frenzy continued to walk as if he hadn't even felt the punch.

Rumble stopped and scratched his head. He didn't have a better way to express his confusion.

Frenzy had his limits too. Two astro seconds after his twin stopped walking, the irate red Cassetticon did the same and looked over his shoulder.

"What?! You're gonna tell me you didn't feel it?" he bellowed.

"Feel what?" Rumble asked, still scratching his head.

"Slag it, Rumble! You wouldn't notice if Omega Supreme were under your fragging nose!"

The perplexed look grew larger across Rumble's face.

"The link, you idiot! The intruder!!" Frenzy explained, exasperated.

"Huh…?"

Frenzy punched his own head in desperation. "The Autobot, you brainless dolt! Soundwave let her in!"

"The Autobot? What the frag are ya talking about?"

Frenzy folded his arms across his chest, relaxing somewhat. "Aren't you part of the link? You must have felt her!" he spat sarcastically.

"Oooh… you meant that presence…"

"No. I mean your ugly face."

"Hey, no need to insult."

"The thing is, Soundwave let her in," Frenzy insisted, disappointed that his twin didn't give importance to such an obvious trespass of intimacy.

"How do ya even know it was her?" Rumble questioned, "yeah I felt a presence, but there ain't no way I couldda got past Soundwave's barriers to find out who it was!"

Frenzy glared at him, "Who else would it be dumbaft? Fraggin' Starscream?! Of course it was her!"

"Yeah, but…"

"But nuttin'! First Soundwave gets his hands on an Autobot and doesn't kill her, then the link is invaded and… surprise surprise, guess who's in ourquarters when we come outta recharge?!"

"The Autobot…" Rumble concluded.

"Got it in one. Soundwave let a slaggin' Autobot into the link! It couldn't be anyone else…"

"True…" Rumble reflected as he rubbed his chin. "Why'd ya think he did it?"

"That's what I'm gonna find out."

"Well, good luck with that."

"Good luck my aft! You're gonna help me."

"Ah really? Says who?" Rumble spat, showing his clenched fists to emphasize his words.

"Says me, you slagger! This is a matter of honor. She's a fraggin' Autobot. Where is your loyalty?"

Rumble shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno… left it in my other pants?"

"I'm not joking, Rumble! Would ya quit those fragging human phrases? I'm not in the mood!"

"Geeeez… calm down… ya really are upset, aren't ya?"

"You fraggin' got that right. And you should be too." He punched the wall in anger, "Didn't you feel the alarm in Laserbeak and Buzzsaw? And I haven't felt Ravage that pissed in a long time."

"He's always pissed."

"Yeah, but this is different. The link has been violated; can't you slagging well see that? We gotta do something about it. Now, before it's too late!"

"Aren't you exaggerating, Frenzy? I mean, she's only an Autobot… and she is hot!"

"Argh! Would ya stop thinking with your fraggin' spark chamber and use your head for a change?"

"That's exactly what I'm doin', frag face, and I think it's quite amusing that Soundwave's finally gonna get some action." Rumble's mischievous laughter contrasted Frenzy's severe features.

"This doesn't have anything to do with Soundwave gettin' action, you stupid glitch. I wish it was that simple."

Once again, Rumble's confused face spoke for itself.

"Equilibrium, you idiot! The femme is an Autobot! Doesn't that mean anything to ya?" yelled Frenzy.

"Mmhh… Well, she's definitely not like any other Autobot…. She doesn't have their ugly faces, ya know?"

"Think about this: the Autobot invaded our link. As we speak, she's in our personal quarters, in a place she doesn't belong. How far is this gonna go? I mean, Soundwave's third in command… is he gonna let her into the command centre, and go through the Decepticon security systems with her?"

"Slag, Frenzy!" Rumble cried, exasperated, "Don't ya think you're takin' this a bit fraggin' far?!"

"She's an Autobot; right now she's probably scheming against us, and I don't plan to stand it. She's in our quarters, Rumble!"

"Yeah, but it's only 'cos Soundwave approves of it, and he never makes mistakes."

Frenzy's rage suddenly vanished, leaving in its place deep resentment.

"Yeah… I used to think that as well…"

Rumble stared in horror at his twin, scandalized by words that could never have crossed his own processor. Pushing Frenzy violently against the wall was a defensive reaction more than an aggression. "Hey, watch it Frenzy! Soundwave is always right and you slagging know it!"

Even more shocking was Frenzy's lack of retaliation. He stared at his twin with authentic preoccupation.

"Just think about it, Rumble." His voice was calm, almost empty, "Never before has our recharge cycle had been interrupted that way; no external element had ever entered our intimacy… this has to be the first time Soundwave actually ignored the distress coming from us… He ignored us, Rumble! This could be the start of something terrible".

Rumble stepped back, releasing his grip over his twin, his half open mouth unable to find a connection with his vocalizer. For the first time since their argument had begun, he could feel the fear coming from Frenzy, cold and unnerving. However, he still had problems to understand.

"I dunno… I think you over react…" he said as he continued walking.

"And I dunno if you're more blind than stupid," was the answer.

Both Cassetticons disappeared through the corridor; never imagining that their conversation had been overheard.


An uncomfortable silence permeated through Soundwave's personal quarters, bringing with it confused and irrational thoughts like an hallucinogenic ether.

As Soundwave worked systematically on the vast weapon before him, he couldn't help but let his mind wander. The unprecedented reaction from his youngest creation was disconcerting, and the angered mind waves he continued to sense from the recharging forms within him were not helping the matter.

It was unlike him to worry; to waste time with concern only served to prolong an issue, and yet for some reason, things were suddenly different.

Another wave of angered discontent assailed his systems, this time from Ravage; sharp and white-hot it burned within his spark with relentless malice. Soundwave sent forth another codified response; desist and calm yourself, it implied with a firm and controlled overtone.

Yet even as he did so, ripples of alarm rolled outward from Buzzsaw, washing over Soundwave's being, liquid fear untapped.

New and unnerving emotions were beginning to stir within the eternal link between creator and creations, jealousy, anger, fear… distrust… Like serpents they seemed to writhe with a life of their own, mixing and intensifying with every passing moment, polluting the pristine plains of their virtual sanctuary.

This reaction had not been in his calculations. He knew his creations would be unhappy with the idea; with millions of years of uninterrupted intimacy between them, he would be upset if they weren't… but this response…

'It was only a momentary interruption' he told himself as he continued his work, 'implications of inaction unacceptable'.

But what about the implications of action? Soundwave silently chastised himself; how could his calculations be so inaccurate? Had he allowed his ambitions to cloud his judgment?

'No,' he told himself again, 'all parameters were carefully selected, all permutations thoroughly assessed. All actions logical.'

Dropping to one knee, Soundwave turned his attention to the underside of the cannon. With a steady hand he made minute adjustments, every movement controlled, planned… a stark contrast to the erratic thoughts now invading his processor.

Chaos needed to be banished, order restored; yet as a new onslaught of distressed signals reached his spark, he couldn't help but wonder how much damage his decision had caused.

"What is it that you want of me?"

The soft, almost ethereal voice dragged the Communications Officer from his thoughts with an unpleasant jolt. The Autobot… how could he have forgotten her?!

Working hard to maintain his exterior composure, Soundwave turned his head and looked up at her, his visor emoting nothing but indifference.

"Why am I here," she asked again, "if all I am to do is stand here?"

Soundwave suppressed his need to hit something. Slagging fool, how many precious moments had been wasted while he had allowed himself to be lost in his thoughts? The reason for his predicament now was because of his actions to calm her enough for her to be useful, and all this time she had just been standing there…

Slowly, calmly, he stood and turned to face her.

"Alternate mode required," he told her as he had done earlier, carefully analyzing every facet of her reaction.

Abnormally serene. Her blue optics seemed to penetrate his spark with an unwavering gaze; he found the scrutiny unnerving.

"Operation: amplification of acoustic range to enable weapon calibration," he elaborated, and pointed at the weapon, waiting for some kind of negative reaction…


The Constructicons laboratory was always closed, no matter what the hour, and every Decepticon knew that. With the exception of Megatron, those doors didn't open easily for anyone.

The Constructicons dominion wasn't a very popular place, though. Repair Bay was inside and visiting it always had a very painful background. But closed doors were always a challenge for those who had been programmed as conquerors, hunger for domination leading every one of their steps.

But that day, the last thing on the young Cassetticons' minds was any thought concerning restricted access. Their reduced life experience wasn't enough to help them understand their fears and unaccustomed anxieties about the future.

It was only when they arrived at the huge doors of the Constructicons' laboratory that they remembered the reason for their presence there.

"I hate ringing bells," Rumble complained, fixating a disdainful glance on the red button that was so far above their heads.

"'Specially this one," seconded Frenzy as he flew toward the hateful device.

Rumble watched on in surprise as Frenzy flew up to punch the button. Under normal circumstances, both twins would have reached their objective using some complex and dangerous acrobatics. Games and adventure had always had a primary place in their behaviour, even if they were fulfilling some boring mission like the one currently assigned. Frenzy disregarding their habits only meant that the Autobot situation was more serious than Rumble had thought.

Eternal astro seconds passed before one of the double doors opened and an ill-humored Long Haul showed his face.

Nothing strange there. Long Haul was always ill-humored.

"What do you slags want­?" he asked.

"We're here for the Autobot's device-thingo," Rumble replied.

"I wasn't informed you were coming. We are still checking it," was the cold answer.

"Soundwave talked to Scrapper thirteen breems ago. Now hand it over!" Frenzy demanded.

Long Haul grimaced as he looked over his shoulder. He seemed to be having some kind of internal communication with one of his companions, almost certainly Scrapper.

"Wait here," he finally said, disappearing inside the laboratory and closing the door.

"Hey, and tell Scavenger he still owes me for that junk I stole for him!" Rumble shouted.

"What junk­?" Frenzy asked.

"That human vehicle, ya know, from that Batman movie."

Frenzy shrugged his shoulders with disdain. Normally he would have it found it amusing, but not in that moment. "Slag pile…"

"Totally, but Scavenger wanted it."

"Screw Scavenger." Frenzy spoke with hatred, but it was obvious the last thing in his mind was the eccentric Constructicon.

Rumble glanced at his twin, his preoccupation increasing. He had always been thought of as the mature one of the duo, but suddenly Frenzy was seeing things with a depth he wasn't able to reach. It was disturbing.

After some minutes of silence, a complete rarity between them, Rumble's voice was heard again, fearful and anxious.

"Frenz…"

"What?"

"How bad it could be… ya know… if equilibrium breaks?"

To be continued.