Megatron was pacing angrily on the bridge, he had been since Soundwave's report, and it was starting to make both vehicons and officers nervous.
A vehicon named Steve stood nervously outside the bridge with a small cat, too afraid to enter. When Soundwave had left to search for Deepdrive, Remix had been left in Steve's care.
Despite Steve's regular life being completely uncertain and dangerous, having his continued existence rely on the tiny creature had so far been some of the most nerve-racking megacycles of his life. Remix was skilled at causing trouble, and Steve was already out of focus with one of his closest friends almost certainly dead in an energon mine.
Steve flinched when he heard Megatron bellow, "Soundwave, have we received any communications from the Autobots!"
From outside of the bridge, Steve couldn't see what Soundwave's response was, but the loud crashing noise of another monitor being destroyed was enough for Steve to figure it out.
This wasn't good, Steve realized. It had only been two megacycles and with Megatron's wrath increasing at this rate, it wouldn't be long until Steve's fellow vehicons would be once again punching bags.
Remix, who was happily resting on top of Steve's head meowed loudly, and Steve flinched, praying to whoever was out there that Megatron didn't hear and direct his anger towards him.
Megatron turned slightly towards the noise, and Steve could see himself joining his dear friend in the afterlife when to his greatest relief the Decepticons received a transmission.
"Answer it!" Megatron barked. Steve could hear the transmission open immediately.
"Hey, Megsie!" Steve relaxed when he heard Deepdrive's calming tone. It sounded like she was alright, which meant Megatron's threat level had just gone down a notch.
"I'm alive! And as you can probably tell by now, the Autobots have me. Anyhow, I'm calling you and Soundwave to a family meeting, so we can maybe stop the fighting and end this whole feud." Deepdrive spoke cheerfully, but Steve could tell that she sounded a little nervous.
End the fighting? Steve could barely believe it. This was fantastic. Maybe his life wouldn't be so short after all. Admittedly, Steve didn't know much –anything- about Deepdrive, but what little he had seen and had heard from rumors, Steve could guess that Deepdrive had almost as much influence on Megatron as Soundwave did, and if anyone could convince Megatron to call a truce, Steve was certain it was Soundwave.
This was big news. He had to tell the others later.
"Soundwave had found evidence in the mines that you were injured," Megatron said blandly. That didn't sound good, Megatron didn't seem to be buying into Deepdrive's idea.
"Don't worry, I just lost a pede is all, got crushed by a bolder, but I've given it a patch up, see, it's not functional, but I can fix it up better later."
"Are the Autobots threatening you by withholding proper treatment?" Megatron growled. Steve wasn't sure who he was angry at, Deepdrive for allowing herself to be blackmailed, or the Autobots for supposedly using such methods.
Steve heard Deepdrive sigh, "Megsie, I'm a medic more than capable of looking after herself, I'm just missing the parts to rebuild my pede is all… Speaking of taking care of things, where's Remix?"
Steve saw the perfect opportunity and ran with it, and chose that moment to enter the bridge. Megatron saw Steve and smirked.
"Right here."
Steve saw Deepdrive's faceplate on one of the larger screens, her optics focused on the cat on top of his head.
"Ohhh, hello Remix! Glad to see that you're okay and having a good time. Maybe I should have this mech look after you more often."
Steve suppressed a shiver of dread as Remix meowed loudly at his owner. Deepdrive's optics lowered to Steve's faceplate, and she squinted before her optics widened.
"Steve? Is that you? Oh, I'm so sorry about A71B, he told me that you two were close." Steve nodded in response, dumbfounded, officers rarely acknowledged vehicons apart from barking orders.
"When and where?" Megatron asked suddenly.
"Huh?" Deepdrive asked confused.
"The, 'family meeting'. When and where exactly will it be held?" Megatron asked again.
Deepdrive grinned, "Oh, tomorrow at… 0900hours… Central time…, and eh, Latitude: 6.87… Longitude: -77.65… I don't…" Deepdrive spoke slowly, obviously reading from a screen not understanding what she was saying meant. She shrugged, "Anyway, the rules for everyone are just this; family members only, so just you Megsie, Wave, Pax and I, not violence and most importantly, only 'I' statements!" She said sternly, and Steve began to ponder this femme's sanity.
Megatron glanced to Soundwave and they both nodded, "We'll be there, but no matter the conclusion, you're coming back with us."
Deepdrive smiled, "Can't wait to see you! Take good care of Remix for-" The transmission was cut off.
Well, it turns out there might be a chance for peace after all. And an unfortunate permanent job as a pet sitter.
Steve nervously approach Soundwave, who was still looking at Megatron, the two silently communicating. Steve hesitantly took Remix and offered him to Soundwave, who mindlessly accepted him.
Remix now gone, Steve did not wait to be dismissed to get out of there.
LINElineLINE
Deepdrive pouted when Ratchet cut off the transmission. "You didn't let them say goodbye." She whined.
Ratchet chose to ignore her, and knowing that this would go nowhere, Deepdrive chose to give up and looked over to the others.
"So… You okay with that alright? Any theories on me giving them secret battle plans?" She asked in exaggerated hurt.
Arcee glared at her, "No, I just think you keep finding ways of getting out of here within days of getting in."
Deepdrive nodded, pondering, "Believe me, this time it's probably for the best. Megsie has a temper and 'Wave has a history of being uncharacteristically murdery when I get captured. I mean, it's only been twenty-eight out of thirty-one times, but those odds don't look too good."
"I still don't know if you're joking about that or not." Bumblebee beeped, referring to Deepdrive's claimed relationship with Soundwave.
Deepdrive just laughed in response, leaving Bumblebee none the wiser.