The Mask That Hides The Truth chapter 14
Just as Soundwave feared.
The vehicon death rate went up massively.
About every human month the TIC checks the vehicon population to see how fast they're losing them. It been steady since the Exodus and it rarely fluctuated hugely.
It's doubled if not tripled since Shockwave arrived.
Soundwave, although he'll never admit it, didn't know that much about the vehicons. He knew that they had personalities and enjoyed many earthen things. And he lets them do it. They perform better if they're allowed those things.
Anyway something has always been...off...about the vehicons. So off he didn't like to refer to them as 'drones'. Plus he's always secretly loved their Slenderman and Daft Punk references.
But they were so frightened of him and Shockwave was so very secretive and personal when it comes to his experiments that any research he's done was proven futile.
Now to the current problem.
What should he, or ask Megatron to, do?
Remove his right as their maker? But that might cause him to deflect and they would lose a very valuable asset. Shockwave's only true masters are logic and science.
Let this continue going? How many vehicons could the Cause lose to this? Does it outweigh Shockwave's value to the Decepticons? What is Shockwave's actual value to the Cause? Why wouldn't Shockwave make more vehicons?
Too many questions and not enough hard facts to come to a solid decision.
If they still had the free time they had before he would schedule a bit more work or missions to give them a bit more time out of Shockwave's reach. But before mentioned mech already reduced free time to almost none.
In some ways; Shockwave was worse than Megatron when it comes to tyranny. If one wants loyalty, then pacify the people you're dictating. If the people are pleased then you won't have revolts and revolutions.
That's what Soundwave was partially afraid of. That is the last thing the Decepticons. Another is would the vehicons die out?
The vehicons, no matter the build, did a lot of the grunt work. They also take the brunt of the Autobots' attacks. Except, on occasion, Megatron and the other officers.
Both fractions ate at a critical time. The Autobots have a bit more of a advantage than before Optimus Prime's near death. Optimus has his new upgrade and now Ultra Magnus was here too. But their original base was gone.
Shockwave was making a predacon army. The vehicons' numbers were dwindling and two loyal followers were killed. One by Megatron's hand.
Soundwave would follow Megatron anywhere any place at anytime but sometimes his Lord was an idiot.
But then again they most likely would've lost Dreadwing anyway. Especially since the discovery of his twin's true fate. He hasn't been completely alright ever since. And he was betrayed by his beloved Cause.
Now back to the point. After he momentarily scolds himself for allowing his mind to wander. What should be done about Shockwave and the vehicons?
A moment's thought.
Try to keep Shockwave's attention off the vehicons. Keep him busy with the predacons and other things. He hated how he could do so little. But a little is better then none.
I'm a little stuck on the next chapter. The general theme of it is going to be the events in 'Thrist'. If yo want something in it or just want to leave a suggestion please review!