I'm back. :) A little technical thing before the chapter - new times. A 'Cycle' (with a capital 'C') is stellar cycle. Small 'c' is solar cycle (is it has been from the first chapter). I tried to translate the timeline and dates some comics used, but I think I failed... so, Cycle will mean stellar cycle (year) and quartex = 25.000 stellar cycles. Though I wanted to explain it in more detail in-story, to better understand, I can tell I imagine they count their current era, the timeline they use today, from when the Thirteen Primes united Cybertron (as I said, more explanation later) and right now, they're in the 1120th quartex, 455th Cycle, which is approximately 28.000.455 years (or a little more than 28 metacycles) in "recent days" for them (as in, four million years ago).
So...
Cycle = stellar cycle
Quartex = 25.000 stellar cycles
Metacycle = 1.000.000 stellar cycles
Breem is still minute and solar cycle is still day, everything else is as it has been. I just wanted to make it clear, although there's just a very small scene, I wanted it to be more understandable. :) It is a more character-driven/conversation-driven/filler-ish chapter with not much action (not like my stories were ever that action-filled), but I hope you like it.
IX.
"...and now this! Excellencies, your lordship, how much more do you want to tolerate?"
Senator Xeon of Altihex remained standing as his question rang about the huge chamber of the Grand Imperium. A frown marred his faceplates and only a few others met his gaze, among them Barrage of Helex who hummed in agreement and the Urayan Gravitas who just nodded before turning back to the chancellor's seat. Starscream narrowed his optics, he faintly felt Thundercracker shift behind him and he shut him out this time, refusing to receive the calming waves from their bond.
"As I said," Ultra Magnus' strict voice filled the silence with a cold bite, "Iacon's systems have been upgraded, security levels have been risen and our enforcers will ensure our safety—"
"So, you suggest, Senator Magnus," Mirage, the representative of Praxus leant forward, "that we all should take residence in Iacon and never leave the city state to, as you said, ensure our safety?"
"No such thing has been suggested." Ultra Magnus did not even flinch, and they all tilted their heads when they heard Sentinel Prime speak up for the first time during the session.
"This incident will not be repeated. We captured all three of the terrorists and, by now, identified each as the following." the tall mech gestured to his side, to the femme who sat one seat below.
Elita, Secretary of the Senate pulled up a file in front of her on the monitor. Her expression remained neutral, her voice did not carry any emotions as she read aloud the report they had received from the Chief of Police of Iacon. Prowl had been curt when he handed over the report but it was, typical of him, as detailed as it could be; Elita decided to only read the basic things from them.
"Their leader was a mech named Heretech. He was harvested the 1111th quartex 316th Cycle in Tarn. He was a factory worker at the Residuan Spaceship-building and Engineering Company until two megacycles ago. The second mech's designation is Cryotek, sparked the 1119th quartex 1558th Cycle in Iacon, he was a medical student until he was expelled from the academy for... corpse desecration." Elita stopped for only a moment, refusing to let her discomfort be seen before she continued, "The third mech's true designation is unknown. He identified himself as "Overlord" and genecode analysis revealed him to be harvested as well. As of now, we know nothing else about him."
Many of the session's participants raised their optical ridges in surprise. Since the ability to produce protoforms via biomorphic encoding from the additional energy - a newspark - from a merge and carry them to term, more and more of Cybertron's population were sparked by couples instead of the AllSpark. Robots created by the AllSpark and harvested into blank protoforms were now quite few and elder. That two of the three mechs were AllSpark-created and at least one of them rather young was a rarity.
"What could be their reason to attack?" Straxus straightened in his seat. The Polyhexian mech ran his optics over the rotunda, the minute flash in them drowned prematurely, "Can you see a pattern growing here?"
"If you are referring to the other two terrorist attacks," Senator Xaaron of Protihex spoke up calmly, "we should wait for the results of the full investigation and base our decision on facts."
"The fact is," Starscream finally couldn't take it anymore, "if you had given them a chance to speak, they wouldn't want to rebel."
Silence settled onto the chamber as every optic turned to the Seeker. Both Thundercracker and Skywarp tensed behind their trine leader, but before Skywarp could have shouted to him through their comm. link what in the pit Starscream was doing, Sentinel beat him to it with a veil of coldness in his calm voice, "And what do you think, what do they rebel against, Senator Starscream?"
The Seeker huffed, "The status quo, what else? Almost all of them had been worker class, low caste robots. There have never been a greater gap between rich and poor. This is fact for you, economical surveys prove it. And if they are inspired by the samizdats, though we haven't caught any for decacycles now, they will see violence as the only way they can change something - since no one will listen to them."
::Frag it, Starscream, you're gonna blow it!::
::Shut up, Skywarp!::
"Interesting conclusion." Proteus spoke up from Starscream's right after another moment of silence, "May I ask how do you know so much about these robots' psyche?"
Starscream turned to his fellow senator with a smirk, taking on the challenge, "Simple, my dear colleague; I'm listening."
"Senator Starscream is actually right." it was Greenlight this time from the other side of the rotunda. Crystal City's young representative remained sitting somewhat tensely in her seat, her advisor Contrail stood straight and unwavering behind her; only those who looked close enough could have seen some dim satisfaction on his features as he listened to his senator, "Our data on the earning capacity of the population is from last Cycle, and it showed that unemployment was growing. It would be time to make a new survey and adjust taxes accordingly to avoid increasing the number of those who has sunk too deep to make a living..."
Starscream did not listen to the rest. He knew the young femme was right, but she was still naive to think it would be that easy to change the government's ways - he had been trying. There was a reason Megatron and all the others started to resort to more and more violent methods, but the answer had always been more strictness instead of negotiations and Starscream was starting to understand why so much hate built up in their sparks towards the likes of them.
::I want to go to Kaon after the session.::
Thundercracker frowned behind him. ::To vent out your frustration? I thought you wanted to go to the museum to organize—::
::That can wait. I'm calling Megatron.::
::Someone's quite impatient today.:: Skywarp managed to drown away a smirk from his face, but the momentary twitch of Starscream's wings signalled that it got to him hidden in the words.
::When I said 'shut up' I not only meant your vocalizer, but some of your processor functions, too. Your 'I think I'm glitched funny' circuits in particular.::
::But your sarcasm circuits are sizzling, I see.::
Thundercracker sighed and set his optics back to the argument at hand, trying to close out the banter of his trine mates. At least one of them needed to pay attention to the ongoing session.
The Seeker trine's appearance didn't cause as much an uproar of panic as the first time, but the few robots who were working there still automatically moved into attacking positions when the flyers popped up from nothing in the middle of the underground hall. Most of them turned back to their activities with some grumbling while two robots, Megatron and Soundwave turned to them attentively. The third they were conversing with - he was strangely familiar to Starscream - looked at them with shock freezing his entire body that did not let him move forward while the champion walked up to the Vosian trio.
"Starscream." Megatron offered a hand to greet the senator, but Starscream merely narrowed his optics in scorn.
"Since when do you "Starscream" me?! It is "Your Excellency" to you—"
"Not here." Megatron let down his hand, his features hardening, "Let me get this straight to you, Starscream; we are equals here. No more and no less."
Before Starscream could have said anything else, the gladiator turned around and gestured towards the mech standing behind with Soundwave, "This is Shockwave from the Academy of Mechanical Sciences. He is our newest addition to the cause."
Surprise and recognition flashed through Starscream's expression. Now he remembered where he knew this mech from; he was Jhiaxus' successor after the scientist's execution, something that still made the Seeker's chest plates tighten slightly. And now he could understand the tension practically radiating from the mech's electromagnetic field when they touched hands in a greeting.
"You did not mention having politicians among your recruits." Shockwave almost hissed as he turned back to Megatron.
"I can assure you, the senator and his trine are on our side."
"How can you be sure?" Shockwave couldn't hold back some of the rage boiling in him from seeping into his voice and onto his face, "Their words are nothing but lies. How can you believe what they say?!"
"Dean Shockwave," Starscream stepped forward with no real anger at the insults, his expression softened somewhat into a rare understanding, "While I cannot deny there is some truth in your words, you must know;" his voice dimmed quieter, "not every one of us voted with "yes"."
Shockwave's expression did not change and Thundercracker moved forward to offer a greeting to him, Megatron and Soundwave to ease the tension and it allowed Starscream to gesture to Megatron to go away with him - after all, he came to talk to him, let Thundercacker deal with the young scientist, however he regretted what had been done to him.
"Returning to what you said," the Seeker spoke up, managing to stay quiet, "you do know we can never be equal. Not here, or anywhere else."
"Equality is what we seek to establish." Megatron turned to him, optics flashing in red, "I thought it was clear to you from my writings."
"It was clear, but equality, as such, doesn't exist. A nice concept, but physically, there is no such a thing. Take yourself as an example; you are the champion, and that naturally places you on top of the hierarchy here. There will always be a hierarchy, individuals who are stronger and weaker in both physical and mental sense."
"I do know that, Starscream." the gladiator maintain the steady hum in his voice, "The problem is that the hierarchy seems to have turned upside down. We, the workers, the strong, are crushed under the pedes of weaker robots who rule our lives through the governments. And that cannot remain so. Not when it is all spiralling downward."
Starscream folded his arms across his chest plates, with a slight frown on his face he looked down in thought, "And what do you want to do after you overthrew the ruling body? Turn back the hierarchy with you on top? There will always be a ruling body, there needs to be to organize such a population. After you're finished with the Senate with your conquering, what would you replace it with? Yourself? Your rebels? Mechs and femmes who know absolutely nothing about how to lead a government?"
Megatron stayed quiet and Starscream looked up at him, raising his optical ridges. The gladiator stood straight before him, EM field pulled back to his frame, but not too tightly, just to maintain a comfortable personal space. He seemed to be calm, and Starscream didn't know what he was truly feeling - how many layers of repulsion could have been inside him that he kept under control, to unleash it all at the right time.
"I want to replace the system." he finally replied, "And some of those who have no place there. Replace them with robots who know their place and serve the people of Cybertron as should be normal for the representatives. You do know what the old word 'ministrare' means?"
Starscream's lips pulled into a smirk, "To serve."
"Yes. Ministers, as their name suggest, should serve the people and not the other way around." there was a pause and Starscream looked to the side when he saw Skywarp walk towards the central computer. Soundwave's twins were sitting there with a datapad each that they were playing a game on, but now stopped it and Rumble successfully waved the purple Seeker over to them. Starscream shook his head, but returned his attention to the gladiator before him. As long as they didn't bother them, it was all the same for him.
"It is not necessarily political equality I was talking about." Megatron continued, "The people need a leader, and one person is too small to lead Cybertron alone. That is logical. But all life is equal, the same chances should be given to everybody, and that is what they fail to see. Even you can't deny that, Starscream."
"I'm not saying you're wrong," Starscream frowned, "I just want to understand where you want to go. What exactly you are planning and how you want to accomplish it. But right now, this is not what I—"
"My lord," Starscream looked to the side and Megatron turned around at the call from his fellow gladiator. Starscream remembered this mech, even more robust than Megatron and looked like a brutal fighter; the senator raised an optical ridge when he saw this strong mech bow to Megatron and give him a datapad like a tamed beast. Starscream watched the exchange in silence, optics never leaving the champion, studying his words, his subtle movements.
He couldn't help feeling he had just had a glance at how powerful Megatron really was. Physical strength, the Seeker had no doubt the gladiator must have been very strong, one just had to look at the scarred, durable frame to tell. But to make mechs even stronger than him bow by their own free will, that was something the Senate could have never achieved. Starscream liked to demand respect, but Megatron had no need for that; his mere presence commanded respect and admiration, it was clear none of these mechs and femmes were forced in any way.
They came because Megatron offered them a chance to break free.
"Dormant slave program?" Starscream asked quietly, gesturing to the retreating form of the massive mech Megatron called Lugnut. A femme almost as tall as him and also wearing heavy-looking armor glanced up smiling and made place for him next to her to take a seat.
The gladiator raised his ridges in surprise as he turned back to Starscream, "How can you tell?"
Starscream huffed, "You can't imagine how many of the higher-ups have them as bodyguards. Strong but simple-minded giants with control programs and inhibitor chips to keep them from turning against their masters. They're almost like drones. The optics revealed it; one large central and four secondary optical sensors on each side to keep track in peripheral visions all at the same time."
Megatron nodded slowly, "That is right."
"How did he end up here?" Starscream asked with a frown.
"His master... got rid of him." the champion's voice grew a tad darker, just enough for Starscream to notice, "Except he forgot to deactivate the inhibitor chip. The slave program was still active and with no one to serve, with no understanding of why he had to go away, Lugnut didn't know what to do. He was wandering the streets, almost driven insane by the program when Strika found him." his gaze shifted to the femme sitting beside Lugnut, "She brought him here. The medics did their best to erase the program from his processor, but they only managed to reduce its effect. Still, he is much more independent now than he used to be."
"I assume he sees you as the most dominant here." Starscream murmured, "That's why he's following you."
"He could have a better life if he hadn't been used in this cruel way. Even still, his fate is one example of many." Megatron's voice lost its edge, gaining back the quiet tone he had been using, "I have travelled... much during my life. I travelled with traders half the globe until I arrived at Tagan Heights. I've been sent to Luna Two, even Messatine while I was a miner. When the mine collapsed and everyone believed me dead, I wandered for stellar cycles. I have seen many things, you probably can't even imagine how robots live - or rather are forced to live. Something needs to be done, Starscream. If I have to destroy everything about the ruling class, I won't hesitate to do it. I hope you are starting to understand the reason why."
Starscream barely fought back a shiver at the intensity of the words. He had no doubt Megatron was serious in everything he said, like an embodiment of iron will. He had never encountered anything like this before and the Seeker wondered if he was really the one who had the power, with all those behind him, to upend the societal hierarchies.
And he would be a part of it...
"What I wanted to say," Starscream found his voice, clearing his vocalizer, "is that this is not what I came here for. Are you still spreading samizdats? Writing new ones?"
"I haven't written any for a while." came the reply, "Why do you ask? Do you... miss them?" a rare and faint glint shone up in the bright red optics, something similar to the mischief Starscream was dreadfully familiar with in Skywarp's gaze. The senator huffed and put his hands on his hips.
"Don't try me, Megatron." Starscream taunted and lowered his voice further to a grumble, "There was another terrorist attack last cycle at the Promontory in sub-orbital Iacon. This is the third in a raw that happened in the capital's districts. At least two of these groups told the police they had enough of the system and it was a direct warning to us; one claimed to have been inspired by D-16's writings. All these mechs are held as political prisoners now. Do you know anything about this?"
There was a distant look in Megatron's optics and to Starscream's surprise, a small, faint smile came to life on his lips just before his gaze cleared and turned back to the Vosian senator, "I did not send anyone to lead terrorist attacks to those places, but that doesn't matter. My word is spreading..." the glow in his optics intensified to a blazing heat and Starscream tensed, "You do know what it means."
"Yes." Starscream spat, "The Security Forces will order investigations. They could even send the Civil Militia against you if they find the connection to you."
"No, Starscream." Megatron took a step forward, Starscream had to tilt his head slightly to meet the taller mech's burning gaze that sent a cold shiver down his backstrut, "The people are realizing what they must do to make a change. They are angry, and that finally gives them power... and we will use their rage as fuel to the fire that will spread over Cybertron."
"We?" Starscream asked back quietly, a flash of red lit up his dark face as he cocked an optical ridge. His EM field was vibrating ever so slightly, just in close enough proximity to feel the gladiator's flowing with newfound thrill as he nodded to the Seeker with a genuine, satisfied smile,
"We."
"Screamer! We're home!"
Starscream almost jumped out of his frame when Skywarp clapped his shoulder. He needed to organize his thoughts after the meeting with Megatron and he successfully lost himself in his subconscious by the time they teleported back to their tower. Energon rushed to his head and the senator shoved his Left Wing away, "I'm not blind, Skywarp!"
"No, just blinded."
Growling at the snickering of his purple trine mate, Starscream chose to ignore him and turned to Thundercracker, "You, instead of just standing there and gawking, tell me what this Shockwave was like—"
A high, feminine sound, clearing of a vocalizer - all three flyers turned to see Slipstream standing behind them, arms crossed over her turbines and her expression sharp as a diamond knife. Starscream tensed and he felt his trine mates freeze as well. In Kaon, during his conversation with Megatron Starscream totally forgot about his promise to the younger flyer.
"Stream... we're sorry—"
"—that you couldn't even send a message like 'sorry, sis, we can't drag our afts to the Museum because we have better things to waste our free time to'?" Slipstream interrupted him, her hardened gaze running over to Thundercracker, "Not even my dear intended had the processor to notify me of your change of plans. Do you know how much I had to beg Bombshell to finally give me a free cycle to spend with you? I've been waiting for joors for you!"
"We apologize, Slipstream." Thundercracker moved forward and placed a hand gently on the femme's arm, "It was... a sudden call that we immediately had to respond to. But you're right, we should have called you. I'm sorry."
"And what was it about?"
"A... preliminary plan for a new tax system." Starscream said, but the way Slipstream glared at him told him she had none of it, and her following words just confirmed it,
"Even Skyfire can lie better than that."
"Grandiose statement, sister." Skywarp pointed with an embarrassed grin and looked at Starscream, "Look, why can't we... I mean, it's just Slipstream..."
"Because it's still early." Starscream hissed with a snarl, "And I would be glad if you could get a hold of your runny vocalizer."
By that time, Slipstream walked up to them and snuck her arms around the two mechs' shoulders and pulled Thundercracker close as well. The previous angry expression was gone from her face and was in turn replaced by a satisfied smirk, "Alright, my mechs," she began, "whatever it is, you're not escaping anymore. Tell me about it."
Crasher didn't bother glancing up from her datapad when she heard a familiar thump. She knew already who had the nerve to just pop out of the ventilation shaft in the middle of her room without the slightest warning.
"You're invading my personal atmosphere." she muttered and felt a weight hop onto the berth beside her.
"Nice try." Rumble's grinning face greeted her and he cocked his head to the side, "I thought you'd come down. Starscream and his trine jus' went away."
"Oh?" surprise blossomed on Crasher's face, but it quickly turned back to neutrality, "Well, my bad."
"Ya didn't even know?"
"No. Megatron doesn't need to inform me of his every step." the femme grumbled and flipped her datapad back on only to have a purple hand pull it down to meet her optics.
"What is it?" Rumble frowned, "Someone broke your favorite datapad or what?"
Crasher glared at him, and Rumble for a moment couldn't decide whether her optics held anger or coldness; when finally, after a long moment she spoke, her voice was low, freezing around the edges, "Soundwave killed my friend."
Rumble felt like someone shoved a bucket of icy water in his face. His expression fell and he swore his fuel pump had missed a beat. He was there, of course, he watched when Soundwave finished off that robot within the arena's rings, but back then all he could think about was that his creator was alright and he didn't give a second thought to the dead mech.
"Cy-Kill?" he frowned, his voice considerably quieter.
Crasher nodded and finally let go of the datapad in her lap. She pressed her lips together and looked away towards the window, "You like to stress so much how much it hardened you that you lived on the streets. Let me inform you that everybody here came from the streets. Don't think you're cruel fate's victim or unique because of that... but at least you were there for each other. For me it was only..."
She shrugged, digits curling into fists, "Cy-Kill was... a fellow Gobotronian, we were both among those our nation called "renegades", robots who at first often commuted between Cybertron and Gobotron and eventually... chose to stay. He was not that big a friend, but he was the closest to it. Megatron told me not to get too attached, but..." with another shrug, she fell silent. Rumble shifted and put a hand on her knee joint, patting it gently, not knowing how to express his sympathy. He never had anyone close to him die, he couldn't really imagine what it must have felt like and didn't know what to say. His features softening somewhat, he just asked what first came to his vocalizer,
"That's why you always refuse me?" seeing the femme's confused frown, he added, "You don't wanna get attached?"
Her frown smoothed out and Crasher cycled a deep vent, "Rumble, it's totally different."
"Am I not your friend?"
Crasher threw up her arms and shook her head with a great sigh, "I don't know what you are. But... why did you come at all? To annoy me?!"
"No way." a shiver ran down Crasher's frame when she saw the grin return to the purple cassette's faceplates and saw him tug at the side of his head at a transfer cable, "As your friend, I must console you. I promised to show you Iacon anyway."
Crasher opened her mouth, but the words froze in her vocalizer when Rumble held up the cable to her. It was a direct processor-processor data transfer that was only performed on special occasions - like when loved ones wanted to share something without words, so the other could see and hear everything as if they were there, too. It was an intimate connection and Crasher gave the mini-mech an awkward glare, unable to decide whether Rumble didn't know it or didn't care.
"Better than a datapad." he gave her a look of innocence and with a sigh, Crasher took the cable and connected it to the neuraport on the side of her head. Almost immediately her room bled away and an unknown landscape filled her horizon, just outside a ground bridge nexus station with high and rounded buildings at the far front, something she had only seen in news or movies.
"Iacon..." she whispered.
"Yeah." even though she couldn't see him, Rumble's tone told about the goofy grin he must have been wearing, "Shiny, huh?"
Crasher did not react but chose to just watch the journey into the center of the city, up to the old building of the Grand Imperium, the hall with the massive statue of Prima, the Warrior of Light wielding his legendary sword in a symbol of protection for the people. Crasher repressed a huff. Prima was a mere myth as far as she knew. The people needed real protection, someone who really stood up for them, not ghosts from a long lost era.
"That's Sentinel Prime?" she asked, her optics widening for a moment. It was only a klick, and Rumble looked away, thus tearing the recording from the Prime and hurried over to Starscream's office.
"You don't believe your optics?"
Crasher hummed and reached up to disconnect the cable. She had to reset her optics as she found herself in her room again. Rumble leant his head on her knee, his chin digging a bit sharply into her joint, "I still have my card, you know, and I do want to take you out. As an... 'I'm sorry?'"
"No." Crasher shook her head defiantly, "I'm not going anywhere."
"Why?" Rumble whined with a frown, "Ya never go out. Barely even leave your room. We need some fresh air sometimes."
"Then go and let it clear your processor." Crasher leant closer to him, cocking an optical ridge, "As you said, you need it sometimes."
At that, Rumble narrowed his optics and sat up straight, grabbed Crasher's hand and pulled her to her pedes.
"Now what?" the femme asked, rolling her optics as Rumble lead her to the small window of her room. He opened it and gestured outside before turning back to her.
"The broaden ledge beneath our windows. You can feel your room and still get out."
Crasher shook her head, but let Rumble help her climb outside and sat down next to him. A standard-height robot would've been able to sit down there as well, Crasher thought she could even lie down, but she didn't want to now. She didn't know what Rumble wanted to say, if he wanted to talk at all, but decided to let her attention wander a bit from the past solar cycles. The arena was located at the western edge of Kaon, apart from a few buildings, there was nothing more than cold, rocky desert for as long as the optics could see. The silhouette of high towers sometimes rose to sight in the northwest when the air was clear, a faint picture that was usually quickly gone like an illusion.
Maybe she really did spend too much time confined within the four walls.
"So, um..." Rumble spoke up after a while, "I, uh... I'm sorry about Cy-Ki—"
"Let's not talk about it." Crasher turned to him, "It's natural here. I was just upset, that's all. It'll go away."
"Right, but... I'm here, 'kay?"
The femme minicon chuckled lightly and leant her head back to the wall, "If only I knew why I let you waste my time..."
"Because," Rumble started with a smirk, "there's a secret yearning in your spark, you can't say no to me..."
"Yeah, as if—"
A kiss broke her sentence, one that was far longer and deeper than the last one she received from the cassette. The touch of the warm, soft metal of the protoform on her own lips was not harsh, just to make her shut up at first, then it became more, probing, exploring each other, letting in and giving permission into it. Her ventilation system automatically started cycling air as her core temperature began growing slightly and when they separated, Rumble was still close enough for her to hear the low, faint hum of his cooling fans. EM fields mingled from the proximity, they just sat and stared at each other for a few klicks until a tiny, clank-like sound, just barely audible above their vents made Crasher snap her head away as laughter burst out of her.
"I can't believe it!"
"What?!" Rumble cried out and straightened up, "It was nothing!"
"Your spike just pressurized, buddy, I heard it!"
Rumble huffed, but turned away as energon rushed to his face, "Way to ruin the mood, femme. You must be so experienced to tell by just sound."
"But you... like a virgin."
Her head was pulled forward and another kiss was the answer, more clumsy and pushing deeper, intent on proving her wrong. However, it ended just as abruptly when a ping appeared on Rumble's HUD, his twin telling him that Soundwave wanted them by the computers - he had other matters to attend to. Rumble heaved a great sigh, turning his optics up at the grey sky.
"Carrier's calling you away?" Crasher tilted her head to the side, sarcasm edging her tone.
"He's not my carrier," Rumble muttered, "or my sire. He's my creator." he grimaced, "Datapad organizing. And anyway, I've got to be there with Frenzy."
Crasher shrugged and nodded, resisting the urge to make a face, "They're really important to you, aren't they? You're a big family and... your attention is torn to many sides. So think next time before you do anything rash, okay? Cause I don't know what you really want right now."
Rumble understood the silent warning in her tone and tilted his head to the side, trying to rise the mood once again, "I know it, okay? And yeah, they're my... everything, but that doesn't mean you can't have a place in there." the familiar grin returned to his face, "Come with me? Not like you have anything better to do."
A snort and some more banter later they were on their way to the underground hall, just in time before Soundwave left to solve whatever he felt the need to solve.
"Megatron..." the dual-spark stepped up to the seasoned gladiator who still seemed to be deep in thought after Starscream's trine and Shockwave left, "I believe it would be wise to let Dean Shockwave start his preparations at the Forge, so he and Senator Starscream are kept apart for a little longer. Until they get used to each other and can work together without resentment or misunderstandings."
He finally got Megatron's attention who nodded slowly after a moment, "Knowing about Starscream's past as a scientist, I believe they will resolve this." he stopped for a klick before continuing, he turned fully to Soundwave, "Starscream brought me interesting news. There have been a terrorist attack in Iacon again... three mechs this time. And it seems they were inspired by the samizdats in some way. I would like you to gather all information you can find on them. And Soundwave..."
The blue mech cast his head to the side in a questioning manner, waiting for the other to ask what he needed, "You said you can detect all radio transmissions in the vicinity and operate on more frequencies at the same time. How far do your abilities reach?"
"I do not yet know the maximum number of robots I can keep contact with at the same time, or inanimate machinery, and I have never tried reaching further than the Stanisian Region."
"I see. You remember I keep traxes of my writings... now that I see the people are receptive... I want you to send out a wave of them as far as you can, mainly the lower-classes... to reach as many as it can. Let them all know that we are still here. That they still have hope."
And don't let it be caught by the authorities, Soundwave finished the thought in his head. He thought about it for a moment. He never needed to stretch his abilities to their limit so far, but he was able to select frequencies and control transmissions to some level. Of course, he would need a computer as a catalyst via neural shunts to increase the level of these abilities, but in the end, he nodded slowly, raising his optics back to meet his fellow gladiator's gaze, "I will do my best."
"Good." he received a nod, "I would like you to do it as soon as possible. But you mentioned you wanted to leave the arena at this time. You are free to go now."
Soundwave bowed his head slightly and turned to leave the room just as Rumble and Crasher walked in to organize the datapads he asked from the mini-mechs. He didn't want to delve into his son's mind right then, no matter the drowned sensations he still received from him through their bond; he needed to focus his attention on something else now. He didn't feel entirely calm until he talked to Blaster.
They hadn't talked since the match where Soundwave ripped out Cy-Kill's spark, where he killed another robot for the first time in his life. That had almost caused his processor to overwork to burning out at first. He would have fluxes about the match and he couldn't decide whether he felt remorse or satisfaction. Before going to the arena, it would've clashed with all his morals, but he had changed since. Soundwave had settled down now and came to accept his deed; he couldn't deny that he did feel stronger, though he did not yet wish to repeat it for a while.
But Blaster couldn't have seen things the way he did. Despite his research, he didn't know the aspects of the gladiators' lives, what they thought and felt. For them, it was almost natural - and Soundwave now felt the same, more and more part of that mentality. However, it needed to be explained to Blaster. Soundwave didn't feel the need to explain himself about what he had done, not even his creations questioned him; but he wanted his fellow dual-spark to understand it all as well.
The Jump Joint was quiet that afternoon, just before the evening rush, perfect for Soundwave. He arrived first, Blaster told him earlier through comm. link he would be the soundmixer at an open party in Iacon, but agreed to meet him for a short time before that. It was the first time Soundwave sought him out and not the other way around.
Blaster arrived three breems later. He transformed and walked up to Soundwave with a smile, reaching out his hand cheerfully. Their hands met and Blaster squeezed it in a friendly manner, there was no hesitation in the move. The journalist behaved as if nothing happened, as if he hadn't witnessed Soundwave kill another robot just a decacycle before. Soundwave was sure in was the cover he often wore to hide a bad mood, anger or anxiety - he had known Blaster that much by then. He always smiled for everybody for he didn't want any trace of sadness fall down on his environment, including the robots around him; he simply couldn't deal with that. He hated feeling that way, or seeing someone upset, so he smiled even if he felt bad, even manipulated his EM field to express glee he didn't feel - so it wouldn't get any worse, so it would help brighten the world once again.
"Glad you called." Blaster said as they sat down, "How are you? You okay from... your match?"
Soundwave nodded, "I have been repaired. It is the match itself I wanted to talk to you about."
The smile slowly melted away from Blaster's face, his gaze lowered to the table in front of him, "Soundwave, I know these gladiatorial combats often end in one of you killing the other. I tried to avoid these so far, I only came to your matches in the end, but... I guess I can't get lucky all the time." he forced a weak grin to his face before he sighed, "It was inevitable you would have to kill some time. I should've expected it, really, you shouldn't feel bad about it..."
"Blaster... it took me two solar cycles to finally comprehend and make peace with what I did. It did not... feel bad, but I needed to calm down. It's not like how I imagined, but I know it upsets you. I want you to know that I haven't changed because of..." Soundwave did not finish the sentence when he saw Blaster shake his head with a quiet, knowing smile.
"You have changed since we first met. You are calmer, steadier, more open, not always in defense mode... not that slagging awkward around me." he laughed and held out his hands over the table. Soundwave hesitated at first, but then slid his hands into those of the red mech. Blaster settled his optics on them and his digits twitched in preparation to close themselves around the other's appendages, but did not move further yet, "One of these hands shoved an energon sword into a robot's fuel pump. The other tore the spark out and held it high in victory."
He paused for a moment, and Soundwave felt a twinge of anxiety at what Blaster wanted to say. He got his curiosity under control and didn't let his telepathy reach into the other's mind. He wanted to hear what he had to say to him. He had no doubt it would be sincere.
It took a moment until Blaster raised up and tilted his head to the side, almost in a leisure way, emotions seeking from his features and optics as they studied the young gladiator, "You know, 'Wave, originally, it was just one time. A recording with my partner and we're done with the arena, the rest I would've gathered elsewhere. I did not intend to come once more, it's just... not my thing." he held another pause, optics returning to Soundwave's hands before rising again to meet, "My creations don't like it that I come to places like the arena. And if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't come again and again."
"Don't you feel... uneasy... with a killer?"
Blaster frowned, "Don't call yourself that." he muttered, "You did what was demanded from you, I'll never see you like that. So... if you thought you'd scare me away with this," the smile came back and Blaster at last squeezed his hands gently, "I must crush your hopes. You failed, my mech."
And he was finally, once again, that shining island in the dark he always was with the vibrant colors and pulsing EM field, brightening with all those rich emotions, even when he was calm, that defined him for Soundwave. He felt incredibly calmer hearing Blaster say that and let a smile form on his lips - never had anybody, apart from his creations, welcome him with open arms like that, offering utter acceptance of both the good and the emerging darker side of him. He did not have to pretend or hide, and it soothed him to the core, almost too good to be true, that someone stood by his side despite everything.
And he squeezed back.
Soundwave chose to walk home instead of his faster alt. mode after they parted with Blaster. He expected raging thoughts and emotions, but none of that came - his processor was clear and he felt literally re-energized. He didn't know and didn't want to delve into why, he just revelled in that calm feeling that settled on his mind now that he knew the other dual-spark wouldn't just leave like that. Blaster was even stronger than he thought, much stronger emotionally than him.
Soundwave felt secure and he didn't want to lose this feeling.
When he arrived at a more open area of the city state's edge, just before the short road to the arena, Soundwave stopped and turned around. He stood face to face with Kaon, the old city under the blanket of almost constant grey clouds and gases from the factories - the beginning of everything. He never thought, after all he had heard and read, that Kaon would mean so much to him; a place to live in, robots he finally could call friends, new chance, new hope. As if Stanix was just a shadow along with his life there. He would never forget that, but Kaon was his home now.
This would be the first place they would bend to their will.
Soundwave deactivated his optics. He let programs run, softwares activate in his central processor, a shiver running down his body. Photographic memory - one of the things his creators could not handle - gave him back all of Megatron's words in those small writings, prose and poetry. He chose a pattern upon which to select robots and frequencies with all the blocks to prevent access from higher tones and outside disturbance of any kind. And let it flow.
He lost himself into the sensation. Standing there like a statue of living broadcast, Soundwave let his conscious course through the digital and analogue, travelled along pathways of data like when he connected himself to one of the InfoCore's terminals. It felt like he rose from his body, out of time and space. Positive feedback increased the flow of information, the words reaching comm. links he never knew of. It did not need to be many robots - like a monster coming to life, one robot gave it to another, and the information was spreading by the klicks on the low hum of the frequencies among each other, letting Soundwave disconnect himself from the virtual reality of the collective dataways.
A sigh trembled through his frame. A light touch lit up his sensory net on his face; a snowflake that as quickly sublimed away as it came. A weak little droplet, but freezing all the same; Soundwave hoped, even if it was only a small step forward, it would evolve into the impact that would, one day, be powerful enough to tear Cybertron's shackles.
Don't remember... what I wanted to say... If there's anything not understandable, write to me. I don't bite. ^^
Night!
