Title: Everything Will Change: Probabilities

Author: pl2363

Series: Transformers AU/G1

Rating: T+

A big Thank You to both my betas: Mirage Shinkiro& Starfire201.

"I can say I hope it will be worth what I give up.
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe." -'L.E.S. Artistes' by Santigold


Slowly, the world around Soundwave came into focus. A throbbing pain rippled across his sensory net. To his relief, he also felt the dull pain of the sparklet pulsing against his spark. He had no idea the extent of the damage it might have been dealt, though. Glowing energon bars in his peripheral view told him that he was inside the brig cell. He lay silently on the floor, not yet ready to move his battered frame. He needed to clearly think through his change in circumstance and decide the best course of action.

Escape from the cell would be easy. Every security system on the base was actually under his control, since he had designed it that way. He could remotely open the door at any point, but seeing the amount of rage that exploded from Megatron made it clear that his betrayal wouldn't be mitigated by further betrayal. Not only that, he worried that his actions might have negative consequences for his cassettes. Guilt filtered through him, causing a flash of heat over his face plates. He had done what he promised he'd never do: put them in danger.

Promise… I promised Blaster I'd return to him, too.

How could he have let everyone he cared about down so thoroughly? How could he have missed the angle with Shockwave? In retrospect it was so obvious. He had been distracted, though. Even when he had been busy doing detailed programming sequences on base for the Nemesis, his thoughts always drifted back to Blaster. Thundercracker's words of warning about how love led to recklessness resonated for Soundwave now.

Sighing air through his vents, Soundwave finally decided to move and pushed himself up into a seated position. He looked down at his dented frame, then lightly touched his helm where the plating was now concave. His vision wasn't quite working properly with flickers of white interrupting his visual feed.

Simply put: He was a wreck.

Voices echoed down the adjoining hallway. He listened as best he could, trying to determine who was speaking. The shrill pitch of Starscream's unique voice gave the flier away. Soundwave turned his gaze to the doorway that led to the hallway beyond. Of all the contingency plans Soundwave had made, blackmailing Starscream was actually one of the best options. If only he'd come into the room alone. The chances were slim for engaging in private conversation, though.

Frowning behind his loosened, cracked mask, Soundwave prayed to Primus that this opportunity be granted to him. It would be the simplest and most effective way to regain his power over the situation.

The voices grew louder. The clack of turbine feet against the metallic floor echoed.

"I'll meet you two in the control room in a moment. I have something I need to take care of," Starscream said.

Sure enough, Primus granted Soundwave's prayer, and Starscream strutted through the doorway alone. With one hand on his hip, Starscream swaggered over to the cell with a smug smile curving his lips. "Lookie what we have here: Megatron's favorite pet in his cage. Interesting position you've landed yourself in." Starscream leaned forward and sneered."So, I heard you were caught fragging some Autobot."

They had kissed and held each other, nothing more. Soundwave knew how the rumor mill among the Deceptions worked, though. Small assumptions were often blown out of proportion and taken as truth. "Not true," Soundwave replied, his voice filled with static.

"Oh? So there isn't footage?" Starscream smiled as he flicked his wings. "I heard Shockwave recorded the whole thing."

"There is footage." Soundwave reached into his sub-space pocket and pulled out one of the copies he had of Starscream and Skyfire's kissing session. He tossed the small datadisc toward Starscream. It skidded across the smooth floor and made a clinking sound as it tapped Starscream's foot and came to a stop.

Starscream frowned, then stooped down and plucked the disc from the floor. "You recorded yourself fragging that Autobot? I thought you were a little off, but not that—"

"It is not footage of my encounter," Soundwave interrupted.

A confused look crossed Starscream's face. "Then what's it a recording of?"

"See for yourself." It was Soundwave's turn to be smug. He smiled a little behind his broken mask as he watched Starscream stalk over the computer terminal in the room and slide the disc into the reader.

The small screen lit up with the recorded footage and Soundwave watched Starscream's wings tense and quiver just before he ripped the disc from the reader and spun around. Enraged, Starscream stomped over to the cell. "You fragging followed me you Pit-spawned-slagging-defect-sparked-aft-wipe? How dare you? I should finish the beating Megatron started!" Starscream shouted.

Soundwave didn't respond. He had observed Starscream from afar and knew that Starscream's desire for self-preservation would trump all else. No matter how angry he got, he'd backpedal on any threats to be sure he wasn't the next victim of Megatron's rage.

Starscream narrowed his optics, then dropped the disc the floor and stomped it into pieces. "All right, you fragger. Since I am sure that wasn't your only copy of the footage, I'm left to assume this is blackmail. What do you want?"

Finally, something was going his way. "Only one request: Retrieve my cassettes from the Nemesis and deliver them to Skyfire."

"Skyfire…? Why the frag do you want me to-" Realization bloomed across Starscream's face. "Oh, wait. You want him to take them to that Autobot you were caught with, don't you?"

Soundwave nodded.

Canting his head, Starscream narrowed his optics."Why don't you want them back here with you?"

"It is not safe." Soundwave wasn't going to give away his plans to Starscream if he could help it, but Starscream wasn't stupid, either. He'd probably see through the veiled comment.

"Not safe, eh?" Slowly, the anger faded away from Starscream's face, replaced by curiosity. "Should I infer that my fliers and I are better off not being near the base as well?"

Soundwave nodded again.

Starscream returned to his usual haughty pose with one hand on his hip, though he still sported a small frown. "What are you up to, Soundwave? Knowing you, something is brewing here."

"It is none of your concern," Soundwave replied. "All that is of any concern are my cassettes' safety."

Suddenly, Starscream's expression shifted to a softer, almost sympathetic gaze. "They are quite important to you, aren't they?"

Maybe it was the pain raging through his frame, or perhaps it was the idea of letting Blaster and his cassettes down. Either way,Soundwave was tired of this conversation and just wanted Starscream's compliance. "All that matters are my cassettes and the Autobot, Blaster. Nothing else means anything. I will do what I need to do to ensure their safety." Letting an exasperated hiss of air escape his intakes, Soundwave asked one last time. "Will you deliver them or not?"

"Keh. I never imagined you had a single passionate diode in your entire frame." Starscream grinned wickedly. "I rather like seeing some fiery passion coming from you. I don't know what you have planned, but as long as you promise me that I'm going to be the one left in charge, then I'll make sure your cassettes are safely delivered to Skyfire. Deal?"

"Deal."

Finally, progress.

Starscream strutted to the doorway, then paused to look back at Soundwave. "Passion is a powerful tool. Be sure to use it to its full potential."

Staring after Starscream, Soundwave mulled over the words that only a few Earth weeks ago would have sounded like poetic gibberish to him. He realized that until Blaster entered his life, he had been stuck in an emotionally stunted state, unable to see anything beyond his day-to-day life. Things were so radically different now. The light at the end of his tunnel of numbness was fueling him to act boldly. He wanted to be free of the binds this war had him in.

The moment he felt through his thin bond to Ravage and Laserbeak that they were with Blaster, he'd make his move.

"Something is really wrong, Rumble," Frenzy said, unable to hide the panic in his voice.

"Yeah but the Big Guy said to stay here." Rumble's own worry permeated their bond.

Soundwave had left all the cassettes in his quarters with strict orders to stay in the room and not leave. That wasn't all that unusual. He had left them all together in their quarters plenty of times. What was unusual was the way both Ravage and Laserbeak were acting.

At the very same moment, they both began to freak out. Ravage whined while Laserbeak squawked non-stop. After the initial raucous they made, Ravage started slamming himself into the door and Laserbeak fired on the door with his lasers. The brothers had to act quickly, disarming Laserbeak to prevent any of them from being harmed by reflected laser fire bouncing off the metallic door.

"What do we do, Rumble?" Frenzy asked.

"I haven't a fragging clue," Rumble replied.

Frenzy sunk down to sit on the floor, watching Ravage's continued efforts to try and break the door down. He then glanced over at Rumble who hugged Laserbeak tightly to himself in order to keep him from erratically flying around the room. Soundwave's creations had never acted like this before.

Rumble glanced at Frenzy. "You think he's dea—"

"Shut up!" Frenzy shouted. "Shut up, shut up! Don't even say that!"

"Calm down! I was just trying to think of why they're acting like this," Rumble snapped back.

Frenzy shook his head. "They are trying to get to him… He must be hurt. That's gotta be what it is."

"Yeah. You're probably right. Maybe we need to go find him then. I mean, what if it's thesparklet? Maybe it separated while he was on the moonbase." Rumble's voice wavered slightly.

The sound of beeps from the door lock being overridden caught the brothers' attention. The lock was encrypted, though, and the override was denied as it made a double beep.

"Who is that?" Frenzy jumped to his feet and grabbed Ravage around his middle, trying to pull him away from the door.

The door continued making a series of beeps; each time the access was denied. Frenzy managed to pull Ravage back and was using all his strength to keep the turbo cat from charging at the door again. Fear that Frenzy hadn't felt since the day he and Rumble lost their own creator now gripped his tiny spark. "Rumble… I'm scared."

"Frenzy, don't worry. I'll protect you—"

A blast echoed in the small room from the entry way and the broken door was shoved aside. Smoke curled around in the air, then parted to reveal Starscream holding a metallic container that he dropped to the floor. "I don't have much time. You all need to get in this box, now!"

"Why the frag would we do that?" Rumble shouted.

"Because Soundwave asked me to retrieve your little afts and deliver to you that Autobot he's been seeing. Now get in!" Starscream pulled back the lid and motioned to them.

"How do we know he sent you?" Rumble yelled. "You've got no proof you giant flyin' tin can!"

Ravage broke free of Frenzy's grip and to his surprise, transformed and landed in the box.

"What the frag?" Rumble said as he glanced at Frenzy.

"Let go of Laserbeak," Frenzy replied. Rumble complied, letting go of Laserbeak. Sure enough, he did the same thing as Ravage and transformed, landing in the container.

"Now you two!" Starscream said in a brisk tone.

"Where's Soundwave?" Rumble asked.

"On the moonbase, in the brig. He was caught on a video feed with the Autobot he wants me to deliver you to. Now, stop asking stupid questions and get in!" Starscream flicked his wings in annoyance.

"Is he hurt?" Frenzy asked.

"Ugh!" Starscream reached down for Frenzy, but Rumble jumped in front of himand hadhis arm caught in the flier's grip instead. "Listen! I don't have more than a small window of time to get you little pit-spawns to safety before I'm noticed. Now stop fragging around and get in the container!"

"Answer the question!" Rumble said as he struggled inStarscream's grasp. "Is he hurt?"

"Megatron beat the slag out of him when he found out," Starscream yanked on Rumble and picked him up, depositing him in the container then slamming down the lid. His gaze shifted to Frenzy. "Get over here."

"No!" Frenzy spun around and ran toward the berth, sliding beneath it and wedging himself against the wall in the farthest corner.

"Come back, here, you little fragger!" Starscream's arm flailed under the berth in an attempt to grab him, but Frenzy managed to dodge the blindly grasping hand. Then the flier shifted to peer under the berth; his red optics narrowing as he deeply frowned. "What part of 'I don't have time for this slag' do you not understand?"

"How badly hurt is he?" Frenzy asked.

Starscream let out an exasperated sigh of air from his intakes. "He's pretty slagged up."

Frenzy's fears intensified. "Will he… die?"

"From his injuries? Probably not. From being a love sick fool? Possibly. Now get out from under there!" Starscream reached again, this time stretching his arm out far enough to grab hold of Frenzy's foot and pull him out from under the berth.

With every ounce of fight left in his frame, Frenzy squirmed and struggled against Starscream's hold. "We have to save him! Let me go!"

"You? Save him?A bunch of little cassettes? Now that's pretty funny," Starscream chuckled as he approached the container with Frenzy in his grip. "Listen, he's finally made a choice that isn't based in his processor but his spark. Now you want to rob him of the glory of fighting for something worthwhile? How selfish of you."

Frenzy stilled. "What do you mean by that?"

Starscream canted his head. "It's like how I shoved Skyfire away to protect him. Making choices based on how we feel in our sparks often means doing crazy things."

"Huh?"

"Nevermind. It's not important. Just stop fighting me and get in the fragging container already," Starscream snapped.

Tears of coolant pooled on Frenzy's optics. "But I don't want him to die…"

"I'm sure you don't." Starscream lowered Frenzy to stand beside the container, but still held his upper arm tightly in his grasp. "If you want my honest assessment, I'd say he has a 50/50 chance. In the end, this is his battle to wage, not yours."

Frenzy sadly stared at the container, trying to process everything. Soundwave might die because he had fallen in love. Rumble had been right about it being dangerous to talk to the Autobot, but Frenzy felt in his own spark that Soundwave was much stronger than Rumble gave him credit for. Up until now, they had all worked together as a unit. Fought together. As painful as it was to think that Soundwave was keeping them away on purpose,Frenzy also understood Soundwave was doing his best to protect them because he loved them.

Over his bond to Rumble, he felt his brother's resignation. Their emotions were running higher than usual; Rumble must have felt Frenzy's own acceptance of their situation. He then looked up at Starscream. "Then take us to the Autobot, if that's really what Soundwave wants."

The buzzer to Blaster's quarters sounded. Blaster dimly lit his optics as he focused on the door, unsure if his audios were fritzing or not. After all, it was the middle of the night. Why would anyone be buzzing his room now?

Sure enough, it buzzed again.

Blaster slid off his berth and wandered to the door. His processor was racing as he reached out for the switch to open it. Maybe it was Jazz with a problem? Or maybe it was Bluestreak needing to talk to someone? To Blaster's complete confusion, he was greeted with the sight of the large flier, Skyfire, clutching a metallic box to his chest. He had run missions with the flier before, but they were not in the same social circles on the Ark at all. Dumbfounded, Blaster didn't even greet his late night visitor, just stood and stared at him.

"May I come in?" Skyfire asked in a hushed voice.

"Uhh, sure…" Blaster stepped back and watched Skyfire duck under the door frame's top edge as he stepped into the room.

"Sorry, I know it's late and all," Skyfire said in a sheepish voice.

"No offense, but why the slag are you buzzin' my room in the middle of the night, anyway?"

Skyfire heaved a thick sigh of air through his intakes, then very carefully placed the box in his grip down on the floor. "To deliver this to you."

Blaster's gaze shifted to the container. "Couldn't wait until mornin'?"

"No. And…I'm going to ask for your discretion here. Please don't tell anyone I'm the one that brought it here." Skyfire sounded nervous.

Refocusing on his unexpected visitor, Blaster frowned. "What do ya mean?"

"I mean…" Skyfire trailed off as he stared down at the container. "Open it and you'll understand. I'm going to have to go, though."

Perplexed, Blaster nodded. "Okay," he replied as he watched Skyfire quickly exit his quarters, the door sliding shut behind him.

Blaster knelt down, and fingered the latches on the front. He was reluctant to open the box without knowing what was inside. Blaster sucked in a draught of air and let it escape his intakes before he undid the latches, and then liftedthe top. To his complete shock, Rumble and Frenzy were sitting inside each holding a cassette to their chests.

"Hey there, Autobrat," Rumble said with a frown.

"Rumble!" Frenzy scolded.

Ravage transformed as he leapt out of the box, followed by Laserbeak transforming and flying around the room, ultimately choosing a place to perch on Blaster's desk.

"Leave it to that lazy fragger, Starscream, to cram us into a container too small for all of us. My leg joints have cramps now." Rumble said as he stiffly climbed out the container followed by Frenzy.

Blaster stared at the twin mini-mechs in disbelief. Soundwave had sent his cassettes here? But why? And wait…Starscream? Was Skyfire secretly seeing the Decepticon SIC? Was this all really happening? A smashing sound interrupted Blaster's train wreck of thoughts. Ravage had rammed himself into the door, and trotted back to make another charge at it. Blaster quickly moved to grab hold of the turbo cat, holding him around his middle.

Frenzy stared at Ravage and frowned."The Big Guy is in trouble."

"They've been actin' like maniacs for a while now," Rumble added. "Like they wanna get to him."

Blaster glanced at the mini mechs. "In trouble?"

"Starscream said Soundwave was caught with you, and Megs slagged him up," Frenzy said, his voice wavering as he spoke.

"What?" Blaster's worst fears were suddenly realized. He had reluctantly trusted that Soundwave could handle his self-assigned mission, but now it seemed his worry was well founded.

"Yeah. We really outta get up to the moon-base and rescue him. So let's get a move on, Autobrat," Rumble stalked over the door and folded his arms against his small chest.

"But Rumble, Soundwave sent us here so we'd be safe," Frenzy replied.

"Frag being safe! What's the point of bein' safe if he's slaggin' dead?" Rumble shouted.

Blaster's spark contracted in his chest as the gravity of the situation suddenly hit him hard. The act of sending his cassettes to Blaster was about far more than wanting them to be safe. It was about having someone Soundwave trusted to look after them in case he died. But what in the world could Blaster do? He had not only his own cassettes to look out for, but now he had Soundwave's, too. He couldn't run to his love's rescue no matter how much he urgently wanted to.

Sinking his entire frame to the floor, Blaster's hold on Ravage turned into a hug as he clung to the turbo cat that reminded him of first creation that he'd lost. The thought of losing Soundwave felt spark crushing.

"I don't know what to do." Blaster heard the quiver in his voice and frowned.

"We stop sitting around here like a bunch of fraggin' morons and go save his aft!" Rumble's arms moved to his sides as his small hands pulled into balled fists.

"You think Soundwave wants us all to get slagged trying to save him? He sent us here because it's not safe where he is!" Undertones of desperation bled into Frenzy's angered reply to his brother.

"I don't give a frag! I don't want him to die!" Rumble's sharp tone faltered, exposing the fear he felt.

Frenzy looked at Blaster. "There isn't anything we can do, is there?"

Blaster gazed at the mini mech, seeing how scared and worried he was. "I can't run off and save him, no matter how much I want to. Besides, I'm not a warrior that's strong enough to go up against someone like Megatron." Blaster deeply frowned. He had never wished he was stronger and more powerful before, but at this moment he suddenly felt so weak.

"No one can take Megs on. We'd have to sneak in," Rumble replied.

"Sneak in…" Blaster repeated. The clouds of desperation momentarily parted. That description had brought one mech to the forefront of his mind: Jazz.

No other mech was better at infiltrating Decepticon strong holds and escaping with intel while still in one piece. But how in the name of Primus could he ask Jazz to save Soundwave? After all, Jazz was the third in command. He'd be compromising everything he'd earned over the stellar cycles. And for what? A friendship? Blaster unconsciously shook his head, knowing it was something far too big to ask of him.

Blaster glanced at Rumble and Frenzy who were staring at him, looking for an answer to their dilemma. Dread permeated his own spark at the notion he might lose Soundwave. Maybe it was seeing the passion Soundwave's cassettes exhibited, or maybe it was the fear of losing the love he'd waited so long to find… Either way, Blaster suddenly felt an intense strength of resolve he'd never felt before overtake him. Asking Jazz to help him was his only real option...

"I'm gonna ask for help," Blaster said.

"Help? What do ya mean?" Frenzy asked.

Blaster felt Ravage's struggling stop as he turned his head to look up at him. He had never really looked that closely at Ravage before, but he could see he was the same design as Tracker, the only difference being the black coloring where Tracker had been white. His desire to protect Soundwave also meant protecting his cassettes. He just hoped Jazz would hear him out.

Blaster glanced at the mini mechs. "I have to do somethin' but I also want to make sure I take good care of you guys. I can't protect you all and go save him myself, but I can ask my best friend to go for me. I just hope he'll say yes."

Relief spread across in Frenzy's face, and a reluctant look of trust crossed Rumble's.

"Then what are ya waiting for? Ask!" Frenzy replied.

Blaster opened up a communications channel and pinged Jazz.

Rolling his head back against the berth, Jazz groaned. Prowl's glossa trailed over his curved chest, pausing to rim a headlight. Primus, Prowl knew exactly how to get Jazz's engine revved. The affection and desire that Prowl brought to the berth had been the last thing Jazz expected when they started seeing one another. Under that cool exterior pulsed a warm, deeply passionate spark.

Jazz grinned as he watched Prowl slowly work his way down Jazz's frame with his glossa and fingers, so deftly hitting sensitive spots that no other lover had ever found on his frame. Prowl's fingers grazed the edge of his interface panel cover, and Jazz groaned in response, his systems instantly charging with anticipation.

That's when his comm. line pinged.

"What the frag?" Jazz said with a frown.

Prowl paused his ministrations, and glanced up at Jazz. For a moment, Jazz stared at Prowl's curiously tilted head. Primus he was beautiful. His lovely red chevron, the curve of doorwings, his light blue optics peering back at Jazz…

"Something wrong?" Prowl asked.

Jazz's comm. line pinged again. "I'm gettin' a ping."

"Might be important. It's pretty late, after all." Prowl crawled back up and lay down on his front beside Jazz.

"But what you were doin' was important, too," Jazz replied with a grin.

"Hm." Prowl half smiled. "We can pick up where we left off later."

Jazz sadly sighed air from his intakes, then opened his comm. line. :: 'Sup? ::

:: Jazz. I need your help. :: Blaster replied.

The tone of his best friend's voice instantly worried Jazz. He had never heard Blaster speak in such a solemn voice before. :: Okay. What'cha need? ::

:: Could you come to my quarters? :: Blaster asked.

:: Right now? :: Jazz was confused. It was the middle of the night. Maybe this had to do with the 'love' Blaster mentioned the other day when they talked? A frown pulled at his lips. Maybe things had ended badly.

:: Yeah. Right now. Please… :: Blaster's voice wavered.

Something was definitely wrong.

:: Be right there, :: Jazz replied.

He glanced at Prowl. "Blaster's havin' some sort of issue. Wants to talk."

"Go," Prowl replied with the hint of a frown.

Dealing with Prowl and Blaster had become a tightrope walk for Jazz. Prowl was so secure in who he was when it came to just about everything he did, but whenever Blaster was mentioned it was clear he felt threatened. He hoped once they bonded, Prowl would finally know how much Jazz truly loved him. He cupped Prowl's cheek and lightly ran his thumb down his cheek seam. "I'll be back as soon as I can, so we can pick things back up, 'kay?"

Prowl's optics dimmed. "Of course."

Making his way down the hallway toward Blaster's room, he felt a pang of guilt. He hated that Blaster had become a sore subject for Prowl. He had tried to get them to hang out together in hopes of a friendship forming, but it hadn't worked yet.

At Blaster's door, he hit the buzzer. The door slid open and without a second thought, Jazz entered and the door slid shut behind him.

Blaster was sitting on the floor of his quarters and for a second Jazz thought his optics were on the fritz, since it looked like the mini mechs standing just behind him were the Decepticons, Frenzy and Rumble. After a moment, he focused on the turbo cat Blaster was holding onto in his lap and realized that it was Ravage. His optics were not fritzing at all.

"Blaster!" Jazz pulled out his weapon and charged it, taking aim at Ravage as he quickly looked around the room for the Decepticon communications officer, Soundwave. All he saw was Laserbeak who squawked when he glanced his direction, sitting on the desk.

"This guy is gonna shoot us before helpin' us," Rumble said.

"Jazz! It's okay. Put your rifle away. They aren't gonna do anythin' to you," Blaster said in an unusually commanding tone.

"What the frag is goin' on, Blaster?" Jazz didn't lower his weapon.

Blaster held up an arm and waved at Jazz to put his rifle away. "I promise, they aren't gonna attack you."

Slowly, he lowered his weapon as he locked gazes with Blaster. "Explain what the frag is goin' on, man."

"Remember how I told you I'm in love with someone?" Blaster asked as he winced.

It was then Jazz put two and two together. Blaster's secret about who he loved coupled with the presence of Soundwave's cassettes in his quarters led to only one answer. "Soundwave? Yer in love with Soundwave?" It was a processor blowing realization. His best friend had been seeing a Decepticon in secret? "How the frag could you fall for that evil son of a glitch, Blaster?"

"Hey! He's not evil, you dumb-aft fragger!" Rumble shouted.

"Jazz, he's nothing like you think. He's actually very sweet," Blaster said, trying to explain.

"Sweet? That slagger has taken out hundreds of us over the stellar cycles assisitin' Megatron. The last thing in the world he could be is 'sweet'." Jazz was shocked at Blaster's revelation, angry that he'd kept this secret from him, and somewhere inside a little hurt that Blaster loved someone like Soundwave. The abstract concept of Blaster saying he was in love was one thing, but knowing who it was had somehow altered how Jazz felt about it.

"He's not gonna help us, is he?" Frenzy asked as looked at Blaster.

"Please, Jazz. Try and understand." Blaster's optics grew glassy-looking, like he might start crying. "I love him. He makes my spark flutter. And he's not the monster you think. Everything he's done as a Decepticon has been for survival and to protect his cassettes. Besides, he's only a Decepticon 'cause they're the ones that took him in after his home town was blown up by the High Council."

"Yeah. He's the best. He's taken care of me and Frenzy like we were his own after our creator was killed," Rumble added. "You don't even know anythin' about him."

Jazz felt like his view of the war and world around him was being flipped upside down. These cassettes weren't his? He was a Decepticon by circumstance? And then Jazz focused on his best friend and saw in his optics what he would see in Prowl's when they would confess their feelings to one another: the look of being completely consumed by love. "Spark flutter, huh?"

Blaster nodded. "The real thing, Jazz."

"I dunno, man. He's still a 'con. Were ya goin' to defect or somethin'? Or just keep seein' him in secret?" Jazz asked, genuinely curious, though it came out angry sounding when he asked.

"He wanted to remove Megatron from power, then come here to be with me. He said he wanted to be factionless." Blaster's gaze dropped down Ravage, sitting in his lap. "Whatever he was gonna do never happened, and apparently Megatron found out he was seein' me."

"The Big Guy got a beat down from Megs. He might die if he's left on his own. You gotta help us! You gotta go save him," Rumble said insistently.

Help them? Save him?"Whoa, whoa! want me to do what?" Jazz asked.

"Go use your sneaky spy powers to get him out," Rumble replied as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world to ask.

Jazz looked back over at Blaster. "You maybe my best friend, but I'm not goin' rogue fer you."

Blaster broke their gaze and winced. "You were my last hope," he whispered. Tears of coolant escaped his optics. The amount of pain Jazz watched wash over Blaster's posture and face was spark breaking. Ravage shifted to lean into Blaster, and his best friend hugged the Decepticon turbo cat close. In an instant, Jazz's memory files were triggered.

He was reminded of the very first time he ever laid optics on Blaster. It had been very shortly after he arrived on the main base after the incident in the field with the death of his first creation.

.-.-.-.

Jazz went to medbay to pick up his upgraded visor. Ratchet had been busy with another patient when he arrived, though. After a while, Jazz got bored with waiting and decided to wander around medbay poking at various things when he noticed a berth area that was completely curtained off.

Curious, Jazz moved closer and gently shifted an edge of the curtain to peer in. Curled up on his side, a mech lay on the berth with a clearly deceased turbo cat clutched in his arms. The mech was staring off into nothingness. As if he was unaware of anything around him. Although his stare was blank, the rest of his face expressed terrible anguish. Jazz focused on him trying to figure out why he was in the state he was in.

"What are you doing?"

Jazz nearly jumped out of his plating, surprised by the stern voice. He turned around to see Ratchet standing behind him, deeply frowning.

"Eh, spyin'?" Jazz replied in a sheepish voice.

"You leave him be," Ratchet replied sharply. He then held out Jazz's new visor. "Here. Now get out of my medbay."

Ratchet was a well-known grump, but Jazz usually ignored the dour attitude he sported. "What's with him holdin' that dead mechani-cat?"

"What part of get out of my medbay—"

"Aww, come on, doc. He's a lil' old to be attached to a pet." Jazz canted his head at the CMO.

"He's a dual-pulse. That is not a pet. It was his creation. And the chances he'll ever recover fully from the loss are pretty low at the moment." Ratchet didn't bother to hide the concern he clearly had for his patient.

"Dual-pulse. Wow. Never met one before." Jazz glanced over his shoulder and looked through the small part in the curtain he'd made. "So losin' a creation is purdy traumatic, huh?"

"Very. Now do you mind? He needs rest right now." Ratchet grabbed Jazz's arm and jerked him toward the entrance.

"All right, all right, I'm goin'." Jazz sauntered out of medbay. As he wandered down the hallway, he fingered his new visor and thought about how it would be a shame that such a rare sparked mech might not recover. He made a decision at that moment to work on getting their paths to cross, so he could befriend him. After all, Jazz was charming and fun. He figured he'd be good at helping to cheer him up.

.-.-.-.

Despite the random nature of his decision at the time, Jazz knew it had been fate that threw them together. After he had managed to run into Blaster a few times in the common room, a friendship had easily formed. The sadness that once seemed like a permanent scar for Blaster had faded with time. And even if spark love wasn't part of the over-all scheme of things for them, Jazz still deeply cared for Blaster. He knew that was where Prowl's jealously stemmed from, too.

His best friend now sat before him, falling into pieces before his optics. This was different from the anger and hurt he saw when they'd had their fight a few orns ago. Jazz could see that same infinite sadness he'd witnessed Blaster have when he lay staring into nothingness on that medbay berth. The only reason for such an extreme reaction proved beyond a doubt to Jazz how Blaster felt about the Decepticon.

Blaster was in love with Soundwave.

"Fraggit." Jazz didn't want to put everything he had worked so far on the line in order to save a Decepticon, but at the same time deep in his spark he knew it was the right thing to do. Blaster deserved to be with the mech he loved, even if Jazz didn't approve of who it was. "Lemmie comm. Prime and Prowl and see what I can do."

Blaster stared up at Jazz with disbelief. "Yo-you're really gonna do this for me?"

"Yeah." Jazz sighed air from his intakes. "Who am I to say lovin' a 'con is wrong. Yer gonna love who ya love. I'll do what I can to save 'im."

"Jazz…" More tears escaped his optics, and Blaster quickly reached up to wipe them away. "Thank you."

"Sure thing." Jazz smiled at his friend as he subspaced his weapon. "This is gonna be ugly once they get here. Tell me when yer ready."

Blaster half smiled at Jazz. "Been prepping myself since I fell for him. Just comm. them, he doesn't have the luxury of time."

Jazz glanced down as he pinged Prowl and Prime at the same time. :: We've gotta situation. Please come to Blaster's quarters. :: Jazz very much hoped he could talk them into letting him go retrieve Soundwave. He wasn't sure he was ready to break regulations, even for his best friend. Maybe it was Prowl's influence or else his own sense of duty, either way he felt the rules were set in place to protect them. As much as he truly did love and care about Blaster, breaking them felt wrong.

He shifted his gaze back to Blaster, seeing hope lighting up his best friend's face. Yes, this was the right thing to do… even if he was a little hurt by Blaster keeping it a secret from him. "Man, I really wish you'd told me sooner, though."

Blaster frowned. "Like how you told me about Prowl right away?"

Jazz sighed air from his intakes at the stinging reply. "Point taken. Still, I was hopin' after our fight an' everythin' you'd stop hidin' stuff from me."

"I stopped pretendin' to be someone I'm not," Blaster replied. "Stopped actin' like I was totally fine when inside I was hurtin'."

A small smile curved Jazz's lips. Blaster really seemed to have grown up since their fight. Maybe having someone to love had helped him feel more confident and willing to accept himself. It was a good sign. Jazz loved Blaster, and had always wanted to see him happy. If it was Soundwave that was the catalyst for positive changes in Blaster, then Jazz was going to what he could to make sure Blaster didn't have any more reason to be hurt again by doing everything in his power to retrieve the Decepticon. He just hoped everything would fall into place so he could try and help Blaster.

Interruption after had felt through his creations that they were in Blaster's care, but moments before he was going to pop his cage door open, Megatron walked into the brig area.

Soundwave sat still in his cell, silently watching the hulking leader as Megatron paced back and forth for a kilk or so. He finally came to a stop and his dark red optics zeroed in on Soundwave.

"I should have you terminated." Megatron spoke in a low, rumbled voice. "Tell me, why after all these stellar cycles would you betray me in such a humiliating manner?"

There was no reply Soundwave could think of that would appease Megatron, so he remained silent.

Megatron tapped in a code on the small keypad beside the brig cell, and the glowing bars dissipated. He stepped inside the cell, his large imposing frame towering over Soundwave. Terror mixed with a pulsing pain and radiated throughout his frame.

"You do know, had you asked, I would have been happy to share my berth with you." Megatron bend down and reached out,lightly touching the dent in Soundwave's helm. His sensory net flared with a burning sensation where Megatron's fingers touched. He winced behind his half broken mask while stifling a grunt of discomfort. "Did you seek comfort in that Autobot's presence because he shares a spark like yours?"

Soundwave wordlessly nodded.

"I see." Megatron then crouched down and trailed his fingers over Soundwave's frame touching each dent and scape that he had made. "From this point forward you will have no need to seek the company of anyone other than myself. Is that understood?"

Internally, Soundwave cringed at the thought of being violated by Megatron, but he nodded in agreement, knowing that was what his faction leader wanted.

"Good." Megatron shifted to stand back up. "Now get on your feet. I am going to have Shockwave perform repairs on you."

Struggling to his feet, Soundwave nearly toppled over in his attempt to stand. Internal damage to his gyroscope made the task of balancing his battered frame nearly impossible. Megatron grabbed hold of Soundwave's upper arm and pulled him to lean against his side. Unable to repress it, Soundwave's body shuddered at the close contact. Megatron grinned at Soundwave, taking the reaction as attraction, when in reality it was out of complete repulsion.

He hated Megatron, now more than ever.

Soundwave's loyalty toward Megatron had been borne out of his basic need for survival. Now that he knew there was so much more to life than just existing, he had no desire to appease this megalomaniac any longer.

Soon he'd be free. It was a matter of a few breems now…

"Have you got a virus in your processor?" Red Alert asked.

"No," Jazz replied with a frown.

Jazz had contacted Prowl and Optimus, and the appropriate high-level officers were in turn alerted. Red Alert, head of surveillance, and Ironhide, head of security, now stood with him, Optimus and Prowl outside Blaster's quarters.

"A rescue mission to save a Decepticon is lunacy." Red Alert looked like he might blow a gasket.

"Red, let's calmly talk about this," Optimus replied in his usual fatherly tone.

"I tend to agree with Red, Optimus. Why the frag should we even believe Blaster? Could be a trap fer all we know," Ironhidereplied, adding his thoughts to the conversation.

Jazz had expected resistance. He was ready for it, even. What was disturbing him was Prowl's utter silence, though. He hadn't said a single word since they all gathered in the hallway. Jazz kept glancing at him, but Prowl wouldn't even make optic contact.

"Thing is, I know Blaster. He'd never endanger us. And he'd never trick us in'ta trap." Jazz looked to Optimus. "Please lemmie go. I can get in an' out and they'll never even know."

"While I would prefer to believe that Blaster has not betrayed us, I'm certainly concerned that Soundwave may have deceived him," Optimus replied.

"Then tell me why Soundwave's cassettes are here," Jazz replied as he motioned to the room they stood beside. "I'll tell ya. It's 'cause he wanted 'em to be safe here with Blaster. They said so themselves."

"Or else it's a ruse!" Red Alert said his voice pitching higher with his rising anxiety.

"It ain't a ruse," Jazz replied with a frown.

Optimus held up his hands, gesturing to them to stop arguing. He then looked at Prowl, who had remained stoic in his silence. "Prowl, what is your analysis of the situation?"

Jazz tensed inside. He knew Prowl tended to go with logic over passion when it came to military matters. He hoped Prowl saw this wasn't just a military issue, though.

Prowl's light blue optics focused on their leader. "The probability of Soundwave separating himself from his cassettes while also attempting to deceive Blaster are around 2.55%. In other words, I believe everything relayed to us on this matter is quite close to the truth. I also believe that letting yet another Cybertonian perish at Megatron's hands, let alone a rare sparked one, is unconscionable. We are Autobots that value life. Enemy or not, I would recommend action to retrieve Soundwave. Though, in the off chance this has been an elaborate trap, both parties, Soundwave and Blaster, should remain parted until we determine the full facts of the matter."

Relief washed through Jazz.

"I tend to agree with you, Prowl." Optimus shifted his gaze to Jazz. "Take Mirage and have Omega Supreme prepped for the trip to the moonbase. Use extreme caution. If it looks like you cannot retrieve Soundwave safely, abort your mission."

"Yes, sir," Jazz replied, smiling up at his leader.

"Ironhide, I want assigned guards on Blaster's door for now, and Red Alert, scan the area diligently in case this is a 'ruse' of some sort. Dismissed," Optimus commanded.

The small group all headed off in opposing directions. Jazz watched Prowl turn and head towards the control room. He followed his lover, wanting a moment to thank him.

In the hallway just before the control room, Jazz caught Prowl's arm, causing him to stop and look back at Jazz.

"Thanks," Jazz said as he gently pulled Prowl closer and snaked an arm around Prowl's waist in a half embrace.

Prowl's doorwings perked up, and he frowned at Jazz. "It was an honest assessment, not based on our relationship."

"Yeah. Well, thanks all the same." Jazz leaned forward to steal a kiss, but Prowl jerked back. Confused, Jazz canted his head. "You mad at me?"

Prowl's gaze dropped down to Jazz's chest. "Your attention to Blaster's needs is quite…strong."

Jazz cupped Prowl's face and gently tilted it back up, so their gazes would once again meet. "You feelin' neglected?"

"I'm feeling—" Prowl's optics dimmed. "Worried."

"Worried? I've done plenty of missions way more dangerous. Ya don't need to worry 'bout me." Jazz smiled at Prowl.

"Worried he means more to you than I do," Prowl said, clarifying.

Jazz shook his head at Prowl. "Yer an idiot sometimes. I love you, Prowler. No one else. I care 'bout Blaster, sure. But yer the one that makes my spark go crazy. Yer the one I'm gonna bond to. Yer the one I want to spend my life with."

Prowl's doorwings perked up, but he still frowned. "I still worry that you'll grow tired of me."

"Nah. We've been friends fer'ever. If I was gonna get tiredof ya, it would have happened already." Jazz gave Prowl a small squeeze.

Prowl's frown faded. "You better return here safe and sound. Otherwise I will not forgive you."

"Noted. When I get back we can finish where we left off," Jazz replied with a huge grin.

"Hm. Perhaps instead of that, we should go ahead and bond," Prowl replied.

Jazz's optics brightened. "Ya want to? I'll do it now if ya want! I was just waiting ferya to give the go ahead."

Prowl then smiled. "I will put aside my nervousness about bonding, so long as you get back here safely."

"Sounds like a fair trade." Jazz leaned forward and caught Prowl's lips with his own. A short, heated kiss ensued. The love he felt for Prowl gave him a rush like nothing else could. He pulled back after their kiss, gazing into Prowl's lovely optics. "I love ya."

"I love you, too." Prowl vaguely canted his head as a small smile pulled at his perfect lips.

"I think Blaster deserves a chance at havin' this kinda love. Don't you?" Jazz said in a more serious voice.

Prowl's optics dimmed. "Do you truly believe that he loves Soundwave this way?"

"I do," Jazz replied.

Prowl hugged himself to Jazz, and placed a small kiss to Jazz's chin. "Then come back safely with Blaster's love."

A warm, thoughtful side lay hidden beneath Prowl's cool exterior, and Jazz loved that he was the only one that even knew about the romantic version of Prowl. He hugged him close, enjoying the warmth of his love's frame pressed close. With Prowl he felt safe to be himself. He could be goofy or serious or even sad, and never felt he had to hide any of his moods from Prowl. Jazz hoped that was what Blaster found with Soundwave. Though he had a hard time imagining Soundwave as something other than cold and sparkless, he realized appearances were just that: for show. His best friend deserved a love like this, and he'd do what was in his power to make sure Blaster had his chance.

The smell of mech fluid and newly soldered metal filled the air around Soundwave as Shockwave worked on his battered frame. Megatron stood in the corner of the room silently watching. The sensation of the sparklet struggling against his spark was making him wince behind his mask, which had yet to be removed for repairs. He hated that he was not only being repaired while conscious, but also while being so carefully watched over.

"How much longer, Shockwave? The laser cannon needs to be prepped," Megatron said, breaking the stale silence around them.

Shockwave paused his welding on Soundwave's abdomen. "I have a few minor repairs left, otherwise he's mostly functional."

"As soon as you're done, join me in the control room. I'll start prep on the cannon myself," Megatron replied.

Soundwave glanced over at his leader. Megatron met his gaze briefly, then turned to leave the small workshop area that Shockwave had made into a makeshift repair bay. The door the room snapped shut after Megatron disappeared.

"I thought he'd never leave," Shockwave said to himself. He stopped his repairs and rifled around the table beside where Soundwave lay. He picked up a small odd-looking device and swiftly plugged it into the port at the base of Soundwave's neck, while leaning his other arm and all his weight onto Soundwave's chest. His golden optic seemed to focus on Soundwave as a strange influx of data started streaming into him. Something was very wrong. Fearful, he tried to fight against Shockwave's hold. "Best not to struggle, the upload is almost complete anyway. I wrote the virus myself. Ah, there, done already." Shockwave pulled the device free.

Soundwave quickly ran diagnostics, but nothing was detected. He had added internal firewalls to his own systems over the stellar cycles, and hoped they would hold up against whatever Shockwave had just planted inside his systems.

"I cannot have you interfering. My plans are so close to completion. I had hoped my attempts to gain his confidence and exposing you would sever his attachment to you. I see now that he is not going to let go of you so easily." Shockwave's golden optic dimmed. "It's a shame that I have to destroy you, really. Being the only other survivor of our hometown, Meblon."

Soundwave stared up at that golden optic, his processor reeling at Shockwave's comments. "How…?"

"Dual-pulses are rare. Everyone in Meblon knew of you. I worked with your father, Distortion, at the energon refinery. He endured endless teasing from his co-workers in the pits because of you. I was in a higher position, so I only observed. But you look very much like him." Shockwave stepped back and went over to the computer terminal. "That virus will render you unable to move, shortly. Afterward, it will overwrite your processor and you'll no longer be able to function."

Soundwave's spark ached in his chest, this time not from his sparklet. His father had been ridiculed because of him? Harmony often showed the pain associated with how those around them would treat Soundwave, but never once had Distortion said or indicated he endured the same treatment. He always wore a smile, always looked after them, always offered unconditional love… His fathers loved him without pretense. Once he lost them, he lost hope of ever feeling that kind of acceptance again… until he met Blaster.

Promise you'll come back to me.

Time was running out. His firewalls were already starting to falter, as small script errors registered.

Passion is a powerful tool. Be sure to use it to its full potential.

Pushing aside his usual methodic nature, Soundwave decided to act with impulse. He glanced at Shockwave, busily programming something. Freedom was so close, he couldn't hold back now.

This was his all or nothing moment.

He sat up, and as quietly as possible swung his legs off the table and shakily stood up. Shockwave had actually repaired several of his systems, since Megatron had been watching over them. He wasn't at his full strength, but if he could knock Shockwave unconscious he'd have a chance to set his own plan in motion and escape.

A metal rod on the table looked like a viable weapon. He silently picked it up, and moved up behind Shockwave.

The purple mech began to turn around. "I suppose the virus has started to take effect—"

Soundwave swung with all his strength. The metal rod made direct impact with Shockwave's helm, knocking him sideways. At first he stumbled, then he regained his balance and ran at Soundwave, grabbing the metal rod's end and trying to pry it away.

"Your attempts to stop me are futile!" Shockwave ripped the rod away and swung it at Soundwave.

Ducking, Soundwave avoided being hit. He then charged at Shockwave and they both landed on the floor in a clatter. Soundwave was never great at hand to hand combat, but pulled from his memory files all the little brawls he'd witnessed Rumble and Frenzy get into. He wrestled with Shockwave on the floor, rolling around until he'd managed to pin him face down.

Shockwave struggled, but Soundwave had found he was stronger. Fighting for his life, for his cassettes' safety and to return to Blaster's embrace fueled him in a way no battle against Autobots ever had. "Let me go! You are jeopardizing my plans to destroy the Earth and all those useless troops Megatron relies on!"

"Resistance is useless. Your plan is thwarted," Soundwave replied. He kicked at the nearby table, spilling its contents all over the floor beside them. The odd-looking device that had the virus coding landed within his reach. He grabbed the object and shoved into Shockwave's neck port, uploading the virus.

"No!" Shockwave shouted. "Stop!"

Having not been shown mercy, Soundwave saw no reason to return it. He let go of Shockwave, and got to his feet again. Shockwave scrambled to his knees and pulled the device free.

"You slagging idiot!" Shockwave stood, and Soundwave readied himself to fight again, but the purple mech instead fled towards the door. "I have to get to the anti-virus." The door slid open and Shockwave disappeared out the entrance.

Soundwave stood beside the computer terminal, debating whether he should give chase, or simply engage his destruction sequence. Megatron was in the control room for the moment. His opportunity was now if he wanted to destroy the base, laser cannon, and Megatron. If he chased Shockwave for the anti-virus he might not get another chance.

Resigning himself to his limited options, he chose to protect those he cared about before dealing with his own issue. Blaster and his cassettes were in danger so long as the cannon remained online and functioning. It needed to be destroyed. More errors registered as one of his internal firewalls was disabled. He turned to the computer and quickly accessed the hidden menus in the moonbase's mainframe. He initiated the self-destruct sequence, which had a silent countdown of one breem.

Maybe his other firewalls would hold out long enough for his escape. The spacebridge was just outside the base. He just needed to get to it and set coordinates to transport him close to the Autobot base. Hopefully, their medic would know how to disable the virus before it took over.

With limited time, Soundwave quickly exited the room and followed the twisting hallways towards the main entrance. He turned a corner and found he was at a hallway with a dead end. Confused, he turned back. Why was he having such a hard time navigating a base he helped design and build?

An internal system warning pinged, telling him that his processor was no longer receiving proper signals from the rest of his body. The insidious virus must have corrupted his diagnostics. It had breeched all his firewalls, but a warning never registered.

He needed to get off the base before he was unable to control his body's movements. At the end of a corridor he saw the side exit, which was on the opposite side of the base from the spacebridge. It would have to do, though.

Soundwave headed toward the doorway when he stumbled over nothing, falling to his knees. He was frozen only a few meters away from freedom suddenly unable to control his legs. Heleanedforward in an attempt to use his arms to pull him to the exit. But it was useless. The virus had taken control. He lost the ability to move at all and slid forward, lying front-first on the metallic corridor floor. He stared at the doorway, trying to will himself to move, but his arms and legs didn't respond.

The silent countdown ended. A loud, audio-deafening explosion rocked the base. The shockwave of the explosion rippled over Soundwave's frame, battering him and sending his limp frame sliding down the hallway. He winced behind his mask, knowing that he wasn't going to make it off the base now.

Strangely, a calm feeling overtook him. While he was sad that he wouldn't get to see his cassettes or Blaster again, he was relieved that they would now be safe. Blaster would take good care of them, he was sure of it. In addition to the calmness he felt in the face of his imminent death, he also felt happy. He had finally got to feel truly accepted and loved. The void in his spark had been filled with that amazing love Blaster had evoked in him. For a brief time he no longer felt lost in a blanket of numbness. He'd found strength to act in ways he'd never imagined he was even capable of. All because of one mech that touched that dark hole in his spark and lit it up.

Dying while feeling happy, how ironic, he thought. I'm sorry I broke my promise, Blaster…

The heat from the blast seared his frame, and his vision cut out. The world around him disappeared and his consciousness slipped away as everything went black.

A/N: Don't freak out! I don't write tragedies. The next chapter is the last one for this story. Thanks for sticking with me and reading!

p.s. Ffnet screwed up my document. If you see words running together, please PM me. D: