Chapter 25

Starscream didn't waste time. He was already at Soundwave's office by the time Soundwave arrived, lounging against it as if he'd just so happened to feel a little weak and only this exact door in all the building would do. This was exactly why he never wanted to make a regular habit of working here, Soundwave thought, and held back a tiny sigh. Starscream arched coyly against his door, wing flaps almost fluttering with delight.

"Good morning, Soundwave! Recharge well?"

"Starscream, move."

"I recharged well," Starscream purred, apparently not having heard him. "Maybe it's because I heard a wonderful story just before hitting the berth. It involved you, come to think of it. The story goes that you - Soundwave - confronted Shockwave in the midst of his ridiculous permit raid yesterday, and actually argued against it. Then after you let your razor-tongued slave have a go at him, you knocked him back on his aft while half of Iacon watched. I'm the first one to admit these rumors can get out of hand, so I've come straight to the source to hear it for myself. Do tell, Soundwave, because I know how you never lie: what happened yesterday? Tell me just half of all that is true, and I'll buy you a cube of high grade myself."

"Starscream, not owed any explanation."

"Then I suppose I have no choice but to assume it's all true." Starscream smirked, wings flicking as he shrugged. "I must say, Jazz is a lot more fun when you point him at somebody else. But I wonder if it was wise to leave your secret weapon at home; Shockwave is not happy with you. And I thought I could make him mad. I'm almost jealous of all the attention you're suddenly getting, because I'm quite sure I never managed to get his entire department buzzing with preparation like they're doing now. Urgent reports being prepared, secretive meetings... what's going on over there, I wonder? Are you nervous yet?"

"Negative."

"You should be. I warned you, Soundwave, that it was a bad idea to step into our ring and play politics. You're too honest and too logical to even know how, for one thing, and for another, Shockwave doesn't just play. Whatever it is that he's planning, you won't even have time to look up before it's already gone through the spark casing. Shockwave can't shoot worth scrap, but I'll give it to him, on this battlefield he knows how to aim."

"Starscream, still blocking my office."

Starscream pursed up his lips in his prettiest pout. "Aren't you going to ask for my help? You know that I hate you both, but I hate him so much more. Whatever he's trying, it's not like I want him to win."

"Your assistance, not needed. Not wanted."

"Hmph, fine. Now that I think about it, you're not quite the Soundwave I used to know and loathe anyway. Something's different about you; you're starting to care about more than just your little pests and your unending surveillance. If you're willing to pick fights with Shockwave over something as absurd as those silly markets, then who knows what you're capable of? I'll just sit back and see who carries the day. May the best Con win."

At last he peeled himself off Soundwave's door and departed, though not without a sassy rap of the knuckle against Soundwave's chest glass. Soundwave swallowed a groan and entered his office, automatically checking on the monitor for Jazz as he unlocked his console. Nothing written on the floor today, at least. They never did get more polish, or a new puzzle game for Jazz's datapad, and so Soundwave had left behind the younger twins to amuse him and make sure he didn't do anything like take apart the building. Now he was brushing Buzzsaw's wings, but kept glancing at the camera every few seconds as if distracted. Something in his posture struck Soundwave as being a little worried.

"Rumble, Frenzy, report to office now."

"But we're on duty in the command -"

"Now."

"Yes, boss." Soundwave was not in the habit of letting Starscream scare him about anything, but the tension in Jazz's body was a different story. When Soundwave left their home, he was muttering things about Soundwave watching his back for a slightly ill-aimed knife. Naturally Shockwave would be seeking revenge for what happened yesterday, but the spark echo from all symbiotes was safe and untroubled. He'd only just left home, and according to the video feed all was still fine. What was Shockwave up to? Jazz would not be nervous without reason. If he were here, would he have any ideas?

Irrelevant. Soundwave turned his back on the monitors when Rumble and Frenzy entered the room.

"Boss, what's goin' on?"

"Yeah, you're feeling kinda wound-up."

"Report all unusual activity exhibited by Shockwave's subordinates this shift."

"Whoa, how did you even know already?" They looked awed. "We were gonna include it in the upload tonight, but we didn't figure it was an emergency -"

"Report, now."

They shrugged in perfect unison. "Nothing's happened, really. We just heard mecha sayin' they've been ordered to meetings with Shockwave, meetings that we don't think were on the schedule yesterday. Closed doors; his departments only. Do you think it's trouble?"

Soundwave hesitated, wondering if it was worthwhile or paranoid to call Laserbeak down and have her infiltrate Shockwave's offices. He was rapidly formulating probabilities when his console comm flickered to life.

"Speaking of trouble," Rumble muttered, when Shockwave's image lit up the screen.

"Director Soundwave, so you've finally arrived. Barely in time, I note, but still arrived."

"Just because you live at your desk -" Frenzy started indignantly, but shut his mouth when Soundwave held up a hand.

"General meeting, not scheduled today. Explain 'in time'."

"Oh, didn't you receive my memo? I've scheduled a brief conference with Megatron and, at his suggestion, invited you to participate. It's quite dry and shouldn't take up too much of your precious time; hopefully we'll be done quickly. I'll be presenting the reasons for which your Surveillance and Intelligence department should now come under my jurisdiction."

"What?" spluttered Frenzy.

"Soundwave answers to Megatron," Rumble said furiously, "not you, you -"

"Rumble," Soundwave warned sharply, "Frenzy. Silence, now." Aloud he addressed Shockwave with a voice glacially calm. "Shockwave, not experienced in communications or surveillance. Transfer of jurisdiction, illogical."

"You can say that to Lord Megatron, if you like," Shockwave answered, doing his best to cover his vindictive glee with casual boredom. "Illogical breaches of jurisdiction certainly wasn't bothering you any when you walked into my enforcement division, and took it upon yourself to initiate a punishment on two of my lawkeepers."

"That action, taken at Shockwave's recommend-"

"I must cut this short, I'm afraid, Megatron's expecting me now in the command room. See you in one breem, Director Soundwave."

The comm screen went black and his symbiotes, quivering with the effort of keeping hands slapped over their own mouths, burst into noise. "Soundwave, you can't let him do this!"

"We can't work for that slagsucking prick!"

"You can't work for that slagsucking prick, you're better than him! You were Megatron's third on the frontlines while he was here in Iacon swilling high grade. You shouldn't have to report to anyone but Megatron himself!"

"Shouting unnecessary," Soundwave reminded them, much more coolly than he felt inside. "Decisions for jurisdiction of power, Megatron's alone."

"But you'll fight it, won't you?"

"Argument, intended. Formulating counterpoints now." His mind was busy scanning and sorting already, filing logical defenses against Shockwave's claim, but he had so little time. So this was what Shockwave had spent all the morning preparing.

Rumble and Frenzy both glanced at the monitors, then exchanged a look. "Maybe... we should run home and get Jazz."

What? "Negative, unnecessary."

"But, Jazz is good at this kind of stuff."

"Yeah, he can help! He always does."

"Four breems, tops, we can fly there and -"

"Jazz, not needed," Soundwave snapped, rising from his chair. "Soundwave, competent and capable of defending authority against Shockwave. Assistance of slave not required."

They didn't protest anymore, at least not out loud, but their frustration and anxiety read plainly enough. "Now, attending meeting. Your attendance, not suggested; panicking symbiotes a significant distraction. Dismissed."

The door swished open and he stepped forward, resolutely not looking anywhere at all near the monitor screens. He walked past the twins without looking at them either. And when the door slipped shut behind him, he carefully looked nowhere but the opposite wall as he began cycling deep, nervous ventilations.

Soundwave did not hurry. The last thing Megatron needed to see was his comms officer rushing flustered into the command room, so Soundwave keyed open the door and entered the room at his usual deliberate stride. He walked past slaves, and civilians, and underlings, up the steps past two levels of clearance, all without so much as a glance to either side. Megatron was already there, lounging in his massive chair, as was Shockwave, standing primly by the holodisplay table. Starscream looked oddly out of place on the sidelines, over by the consoles, more watchful today than smug. Shockwave would be the one wearing the smirk, if he was capable of expressions. As it was, his optic brightened a few shades with anticipation when Soundwave stepped on to the top level.

"Ah, Director Soundwave, welcome. Punctual as always."

"You will not win this," Soundwave said by way of reply, effortlessly hacking straight into Shockwave's personal comm frequency. Shockwave flinched, just briefly enough that no one else noticed.

"Alright, Shockwave," Megatron spoke up, looking dangerously on the brink between bored and curious, "you've got your five breems. Make your case already."

"By your leave, my lord." Shockwave bowed and flicked a switch on the table. Detailed graphs with long lists of numbers, far longer than Megatron would ever bother to read, promptly popped up. "What you see before you are the case numbers of criminal incidents since the founding of our new law enforcement department. As my lord Megatron knows, I subsequently delegated management of the department to Decepticons Blitzwing and Astrotrain. They inform me that access to Soundwave's surveillance data would be tremendously helpful in the course of investigations; to date, Soundwave has never offered such access. He has, however, seen fit to involve himself in enforcement affairs. The natural conclusion to make is that Soundwave and law enforcement ought to be consolidated under the same authority."

"In other words, yourself."

"Precisely, my lord. I have here –"

"But Shockwave, you don't have any expertise in Soundwave's specialties." Megatron's optics narrowed thoughtfully. "Do you really think yourself capable of overseeing tasks like datastream hacking and signal analysis?"

"My lord, I have absolutely no intention of attempting to supplant Soundwave's responsibilities. We all know here that his expertise is irreplaceable. I merely propose that he report to me his findings. When we include Surveillance and Intelligence in my jurisdiction, I can ensure full interdepartmental cooperation between Soundwave and the triplechangers. Here is a very rough estimate of the efficiency my underlings believe we could gain from this merger." More charts flipped past very quickly. "Substantial joors of your time alone would be saved, as I am aware you make it a daily practice to read Soundwave's reports personally. I would only be too happy to take such a responsibility off your hands."

At that prospect Megatron looked intrigued, but heavy skepticism still lurked. "And this new idea of yours has absolutely nothing at all do with that little… altercation yesterday that I've been hearing about?" He glanced briefly at Starscream, who preened when Shockwave shot him a nasty glare.

"On the contrary, my lord. Although it's true our exchange was… heated, Soundwave's sudden interest in how I conduct the execution of your laws is the most telling argument that he should be more involved with my own departments. I am not interested in becoming his boss; I look forward to a productive and mutually beneficial partnership."

"I see." For the first time Megatron looked at Soundwave. "He makes an interesting argument, Soundwave. Is it true you've never offered access to your own surveillance data for lawkeeping investigations?"
"Affirmative."

Shockwave twitched again, surprised Soundwave hadn't tried to dance around that fact.

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Data, never requested."

"You haven't exactly made it easy to ask, have you?" Shockwave pointed out quickly. "As an officer in this government you are notoriously solitary and unapproachable, particularly given your curious habit of seclusion. You insist on working alone, making use only of your symbiotes for assistants, and most days cannot even be found in Decepticon Headquarters. You live and work in a manner so… independent of the rest of us." He pronounced the word as though it were foul to taste. "It's no wonder that nobody can find any kind of cooperation with you at all."

"Solitude, sought for purpose of concentration. Exclusive reliance on symbiotes, due to sensitive data. Work habits, perhaps peculiar, but effective. Work habits of your law enforcement personnel, more questionable."

He felt rather than saw the optic ridges of both Megatron and Starscream go up. "And what," Shockwave asked frostily, "is that supposed to mean?"

"Explanation inferior to demonstration. Starscream, contact enforcement department, head office."

Starscream, looking too gleeful to even be bothered that he'd been ordered to the task, reached to jab the appropriate button on the console. "Wait –" Shockwave tried, but it was too late. The comm screen lit up with a vivid, overlarge image of Blitzwing at his desk, pedes propped up, optics shuttered, fast asleep.

Starscream muffled a giggle into his hand while everyone else stared in silence. Shockwave's systems coughed with delicate embarrassment. "Well I'm quite sure that Astrotrain –"

Starscream tried the other desk without even needing to be asked, only to find it completely empty. If Soundwave had had any time to prepare, he would have sent Laserbeak in to record a full day's worth of the little Autobot busily managing the office while these two did anything but. This was enough, he decided, especially when he saw the look on Megatron's face.

"Observation," he said into the awkward quiet. "Shockwave oversees many departments. Currently has jurisdiction over taxation, acid sewage infrastructure, housing regulation, power grid registration, scavenging permits…" Rapidly Soundwave pulled snatches of conversations and overheard complaints from the last surveillance report, assembling them into data packets and firing them straight into Shockwave's personal frequency. "Demolition." - they destroyed our home – "Industrial development." - gives our credits to his friends to start more factories – "And, significantly, small business regulation." - that table was everything I had, now I've no choice but to beg for my fuel!

That optic kept getting paler and paler as Soundwave's list got longer, and at last Soundwave received a slightly frantic hail for contact. Deliberately he made Shockwave wait before accepting it.

"Do you think you can blackmail me with that pathetic whining?" he snarled. "Megatron doesn't care about those worthless peasants and we both know it."

"This known. However, offer to read daily surveillance reports, in conjunction with these recordings, may give impression of suspicious motive. Starscream will assume so; Megatron might. Shockwave, willing to gamble?"

Soundwave returned his gaze to Megatron, concluding his spoken litany of Shockwave's departments at the same time he cut the transmission, not giving him a chance to reply. "Shockwave's responsibilities numerous. Perhaps too numerous to allow effective supervision of each department. Suggestion: Shockwave concentrate on current responsibilities before seeking new ones. Regardless, proposal to manage my department unsuitable. Shockwave's habits clearly show preference for control over those with less intelligence. Even if necessity dictates he beat all intelligence out of them first."

Silence thudded into the command room. Shockwave's systems froze, Megatron's optics shuttered and reset themselves, and Starscream's jaw swung open in the most astonished gape Soundwave had ever seen on him. Then, somewhere in that silence, some tiny noise attracted his attention and he glanced to the side. There on the ground floor stood Jazz, vents still wide open from the exertion of running, the four cassetticons perched on or standing by him. All of them were staring up at him, stunned.

"Well," Megatron finally managed. "I must say, Soundwave, your defense is... forceful. And you make a sound argument." His words were punctuated by a gentle snore from Blitzwing. "Shockwave, do you have anything to add?"

Shockwave was rooted to the spot, looking as blankly helpless as anyone without a face possibly could. When a few too many seconds ticked by, Soundwave braced himself, ready to start listing to Megatron the recorded complaints, but it was not necessary. Shockwave had glimpsed his hand, and was ready to fold.

"No, my lord. I withdraw my proposal."

"That's good. To be truthful, I hadn't even realized what a workload of administration you were already carrying - that was quite a list. I think Soundwave's right, it would be wise to examine your own departments and ensure they're being run effectively before you go looking for more. By mecha that are awake, if possible."

Starscream barely managed to snort back his laughter, optics glittering with delight as he drank in Shockwave's utter humiliation. Shockwave bowed. "Of course, my lord."

"You have a lot to do then. Dismissed."

Megatron lifted his chin and his volume on that last word, effectively dismissing all of them, and Soundwave bowed as well. He turned toward the steps and was nearly trampled by Shockwave storming out, visibly seething. He was followed by Starscream, who leaned in close and whispered, "Nice show. I'll go for a week on this." Then Megatron, who said nothing at all, but something in the way he looked at Soundwave spoke volumes. He was impressed, yes, but also... taken aback. Soundwave hadn't seen that appraising look in his optics since they first met.

Jazz had made himself wisely scarce by the time Soundwave reached the lower floor, behind all the other officers. Following the feel of his symbiotes' tiny sparks, Soundwave left the command room and traveled the halls to his office, conscious of every pointed finger and whispered conversation in his wake. Then he entered his office and let the door shut behind him, and he was attacked. All four of his present cassetticons set upon him at once, squawking and nipping at his joints or thumping him with triumphant fists.

"Holy scrap I never thought I'd see -"

"- couldn't believe my own audios -"

"Shockwave, humiliated!"

"Master, enjoyed victory -"

"- One-eye never saw it coming -"

"- sent him home with his tail between his legs!"

Jazz was standing in the center of the office, not even wearing his chains, vents still panting a little. "I didn't know what was going on," he said. "Laserbeak and Buzzsaw practically pushed me out the house. Then the twins caught up with us halfway here and- I ran as fast as I could. But I guess I didn't have to. You were fantastic. You made him so, so sorry that he'd started anything with you."

"Counterattack, not desired. Actions taken in defense only."

"But you didn't hold back. You not only knocked him to the floor, you pinned him there and went for the kill. That last thing you said, about... her, you didn't even have to."

"Perhaps. However, some part of counterattack a little desired. Vindication, enjoyed."

He couldn't quite tell what Jazz made of that, staring at him so strangely, and when he spoke again his voice was tight.

"Out."

What? "What?" Rumble asked, blankly.

"Out, now, all of you." Jazz shooed the aerial twins off Soundwave's shoulder and opened the office door, waving the baffled cassetticons out into the hall, then unceremoniously tossed Rumble and Frenzy after them. Their startled yelps and protests were cut short when the soundproof door slid shut again. Jazz promptly turned around, with a gleam in his visor that Soundwave hadn't seen before.

"Now then. Poor master, you've had such a hard day at work, dodging power grabs, playing scary games... you should rest." Applying one finger of pressure against Soundwave's chest, Jazz backed Soundwave up to his own chair and pushed him down into it. "You must be so tired. Allow me to help yourelax."

Jazz breathed that last word directly into his audio sensor, before retreating just enough that Soundwave could see the wicked grin on his face. Jazz didn't straighten and step away, though, his knee joints melting beneath him until he was on the floor directly in front of Soundwave.

"Donne-moi ta main."

Wordlessly Soundwave complied, holding his right hand out to Jazz, who took it in both his smaller ones. As if he'd just been handed a fascinating treasure, Jazz cradled it tenderly, gliding his palms over every inch, tracing lines and joints with a gentle fingertip. Finally he turned Soundwave's palm toward himself, tilting it forward until a significant gap had opened up along Soundwave's wrist joint. Ever so delicately, Jazz reached one fingertip inside and ghosted it along a sensor wire.

Soundwave's systems accelerated sharply, and his internal temperature climbed two degrees. Jazz graced him with another sinister smile before tipping forward and replacing fingertip with glossa. The warm, moist tip merely touched the wire and Soundwave's spark jumped in his chest, excitement crackling throughout his body but especially along the most vulnerable lines. Of its own accord his armor loosened, relaxing itself for anticipated pleasure, and the wrist joint gap opened even further. Jazz made good use of the extra room, dancing and tickling his glossa along sensitive nerve wires, teasing them with an expert's touch. Soundwave's fans kicked on, spinning hard to combat his skyrocketing temperature, and even over their noise Soundwave could hear the air rushing in and out of his wide-open vents. In contrast Jazz looked perfectly cool and collected, toying lovingly with Soundwave's internals in what Soundwave had always thought was a fairly insensitive joint. He withdrew his mouth and blew lightly over the wires so recently moistened, and Soundwave almost jumped out of his chair.

Looking smug, Jazz tickled his fingertips over Soundwave's palm and returned his glossa to the wrist, pushing in harder, delving deeper, exciting Soundwave's systems into rotating even faster, generating friction, and unbearably delicious electricity. He could feel the fuel pumping furiously through his lines, generating increasing surges of energy that had nowhere to go. The electricity almost sang through the wires under Jazz's glossa, quivering with sensation. There was too much of it: the heat, the friction, the energy that sparked and flared with every new tickling touch. His left hand curled into a vicelike grip on the arm of his chair, tightening to the point of pain.

"Go on," Jazz murmured, and even the movement of his lips against Soundwave's outer metal was enough to make his plating buzz with pleasure. "You deserve it."

His body did not need the encouragement. A hot white flash erupted inside him and he overloaded, tiny sparks bursting from every joint. It was brilliant, sizzling bliss, pure ecstasy in those first few seconds for which even his optics had blacked out. Then his systems restarted themselves, his vision cleared, and he was left panting in its ebbing glow.

Jazz sat back on his heels, looking satisfied with himself. His vents weren't even completely open, but his visor was flushed bright blue. "Did I satisfy?"

"...affirmative."

"Good." He braced a hand on Soundwave's knee in preparation to stand, then paused. "You know, I think we should play hax tonight. I miss it."

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters

Due to the updates on this site closing in rapidly on that material which is already written, I will forego the April 15th update and be back on May 1st. Soundwave deserves the break!