Author's Note: Sorry for my sudden absence! The computer I was typing on received a virus and I had to go and get it fixed up. I promise I didn't abandon this story or anything, and I never plan to. Anyway, on with the story!
In this chapter, there will be a suggestion of interfacing, so...Warning, I guess...?
As Soundwave flew around Jasper, Nevada in his alt mode, he discovered an energon trail as he flew close to the ground. He transformed back into his robot mode and stared at the leaked energon. He crouched down and dipped a finger into the stream and observed the energon. The trail is fresh, Soundwave thought and stood back up to follow the trail. As he followed the trail carefully, he watched as the small stream of energon grew wider and wider until the trail became a pool with a familiar bot in the center of the liquid. Soundwave fixed his posture as astonishment filled his circuits. He then thought, Starscream!
The Seeker slowly looked up as he covered the deep wounds on his chest with his hand. He gasped in shock and quickly sat up. "Soundwave, what are you doing here?" he asked in astonishment, his voice frail.
Soundwave said nothing, but he stared at Starscream's deep wounds that went straight through his body. He was surprised that Starscream was still able to speak clearly.
"My injuries are none of your business!" Starscream hissed and tried to claw at Soundwave, but his body kept him from doing so. He looked down to the energon-covered ground and grumbled to himself. As he slowly raised his head, he noticed that Soundwave's drone that was attached to his chest was nearly torn apart. "What happened to Lazerbeak?" he had to ask as curiosity got the best of him.
Soundwave immediately ejected Lazerbeak from his chest. He stared at his drone, watching Lazerbeak's circuits release sparks of electricity. He then looked back to Starscream.
"Who could've gotten to Lazerbeak so easily?" Starscream asked, looking as if he knew the true answer. A smirk slighty appeared on his face.
Soundwave showed an image of Slipstream on his visor to Starscream. He clenched his fists as he looked at the picture of Slipstream.
"I can't believe you would actually accuse Slipstream for something so devious. Of course, she is a part of me, so I would understand where she gets all that evil, but I don't think she would do that to her comrades." Starscream explained. Then, an evil grin appeared on his face, "Especially when it comes to her loved ones."
Soundwave shook his head at the Seeker vigorously. He then played back a piece of Starscream's statements, "But I don't think she would do that to her comrades."
"What are you saying? She's not your comrade?" Starscream asked in curiosity, "But you two have been alone for a few days already! Who know's what you two have been doing for the days you have been together?"
Soundwave stared at Starscream in disguist. The look that he gave to the Seeker immediately told Starscream that Slipstream could be predictable sometimes, but not that predictable. Not wishing to spend even more time listening to Starscream rave about Slipstream's alone time with Soundwave, the Spymaster quickly got Lazerbeak back onto his chest and walked off.
Starscream gasped in worry and tried to stand up, but his wounds kept him down. He reached a servo out to Soundwave. "You can't leave me here to die! I am your commander!" Starscream hissed in frustration. He couldn't stand to see one of the cons he used to command abandon him at his time of need.
Soundwave extended his tentacles at Starscream without turning around to look at him. The tentacles stopped right at Starscream's face, making the Seeker squeal in fear.
Starscream quickly covered his face with his servos in shock. As he fearfully peered at the tentacles, he looked back to Soundwave. "I…I actually meant to say that I was your commander." Starscream corrected himself, "But that doesn't give you the right to leave me here! I need help here! I…I have an offer for you!"
Soundwave looked back at Starscream immediately. Curiosity began to overtake his processors. He slowly walked back to the Seeker, wondering what the offering was. His mind was filled with suspicion as well as curiosity.
Starscream gave Soundwave a smirk and chuckled to himself. He then took out something from behind him. In his hands was a metal disk with a blue center. He looked up to Soundwave with a grin on his face. "I'm sure you know what this is. Megatron must've told you." Starscream assumed.
Soundwave knew exactly what the disk in Starscream's hands was; it was the legendary Apex Armor. He remembered the day when he returned to the Nemesis with the Resonance Blaster. Megatron said something about Dreadwing losing the Apex Armor to Starscream. Soundwave never thought Starscream actually had the armor. He stared at the intense glowing center of the disk.
"I see you are familiar with this armor." Starscream clenched his fists then spread his fingers apart, "You know, Soundwave, we can destroy the Autobots with this armor. We will receive high praise from Lord Megatron and gain his trust! We can easily succeed Megatron and lead the Decepticons back to the Golden Age! What do you say, Soundwave? Will you help me on my mission?"
Starscream's offer was convincing, considering it has been an extremely long time since the two factions have been in peace. But, the thing that made Soundwave disagree with the Seeker was that Megatron would be succeeded by Starscream. He blankly shook his head, not wanting to deal with Starscream's foolish acts any longer.
Starscream pondered for a few seconds and then locked optics with Soundwave. "You can also avenge Lazerbeak and rip Slipstream's spark out with the Apex Armor." He explained with a friendly smile on his face.
Soundwave paused for a moment, thinking it over. A moment of silence swept by as Starscream waited patiently for the Spymaster's answer. After a minute, Soundwave looked back at Starscream and then nodded one time at the Seeker.
Starscream's crimson optics brightened in happiness. He smirked at Soundwave and then struggled to get back onto his feet. His head suddenly jerked his head up to the sky. He grumbled to himself as a screech shattered the silent air.
An orange and white jet appeared from the blanket of clouds and the jet transformed into an exact replica of Starscream (besides the color scheme). Soundwave and Starscream knew exactly who it was: Sunstorm.
Starscream clenched his fists in anger as Sunstorm landed beside him. "What are you doing here?" he hissed in frustration.
"I'm here to look for you, oh wise Starscream." Sunstorm answered and bowed to the Seeker.
"I see you are still a suck-up as before." Starscream muttered, crossing his arms and looked away from the orange Seeker.
"And I am honored to have that piece of your personality." Sunstorm happily replied, his optics glittering.
Soundwave looked at Sunstorm in astonishment. Sunstorm is just one of the clones. He must know where the others are, he thought and stared at the orange Seeker, giving Sunstorm all he needed to know so he could answer the question.
"The other clones? They're all flying around the area for Lord Starscream and Slipstream." Sunstorm answered with a blank expression.
"L-Lord Starscream?" Starscream murmured in astonishment.
Soundwave completely ignored Starscream and looked at Sunstorm. He then played back the last words Sunstorm said, "And Slipstream."
"Yeah, we're looking for her. She disappeared all of sudden while the other clones were in recharge and I was out patrolling the area." Sunstorm explained blankly.
Soundwave remembered that Slipstream said Starscream offered her freedom if she contributed to his plans. She must've ditched her brethren to join Starscream. But Sunstorm was patrolling the area, so he must've heard Slipstream fly away. He played back a piece of Sunstorm's sentence, "I was out patrolling the area."
"Well, you know how Slipstream is. She is…Miraculously different." Sunstorm explained with a smile on his face.
Soundwave sighed to himself and turned to look at Starscream, but when he looked to the direction of the Seeker, he was nowhere to be seen. He looked around, looking for Starscream. He then looked back to Sunstorm.
"Well, it looks like Starscream has enough strength to look for Slipstream himself. He is such a brave Decepticon!" Sunstorm sighed in happiness. He then locked eyes with Soundwave, "May I help you on your quest to look for Slipstream. It is obvious you are looking for her by the questions you are sending me."
Soundwave looked in the center of the pool of energon and noticed the Apex Armor disk was just lying there. He vigorously shook his head at Sunstorm, trying to get the Seeker to leave.
"You'll need all the help you can get, oh great and powerful Soundwave. I shall help you find my sister!" Sunstorm bowed to Soundwave and smiled at Soundwave.
I'm slagged, Soundwave thought and told himself to bear with Sunstorm following him everywhere. While Sunstorm was looking away, Soundwave quickly picked up the Apex Armor, wondering where Starscream went to. But, he couldn't think about it in peace since Sunstorm was always breathing down his neck and praising him every nano-klick. But little did he know that the bootlicking Starscream clone would actually prove to be useful.