Hello everyone!
This chapter brings a lot more action and violence than the last few. I had a little time during this whole social isolation thing, so I hope you all enjoy the product!

These characters are not mine, I am just playing around with them. Enjoy!


Soundwave was only half awake that morning when the alarms began to sound. He jolted up in his berth and glanced at his equally startled cassettes. They hadn't heard the Ark's alarms go off before, but they knew it meant something was wrong. Soundwave quickly ushered his cassettes up. Ratbat huddled into the crook of his carrier's neck and Soundwave placed a soothing servo over his youngest creation. By the time Soundwave at his cassettes stepped out of his room, Blaster and his cassettes were stumbling into the hallway as well.

Soundwave looked at Blaster with silent concern… what now? Blaster glanced at the group of nervous cassettes converging at their peds.

"You fellas are gonna' have to stay here, okay?" the orange mech addressed all of the cassettes first. A chorus of complaints and arguments were warded off as Soundwave agreed.

"Blaster is right. Please stay here… if we need you, we will let you know" he assured.

Alarm bells sounding first thing in the morning was an unusual event. It almost certainly meant an attack. Considering that Megatron's optics were likely set on retrieving Soundwave, the last thing the telepath wanted was for his cassettes (or Blaster's, for that matter) to be caught in the crossfire. Megatron played dirty, and that wasn't something either mech wanted the cassettes to be involved in. It was too personal.

After settling the cassettes into their room, locking the doors, and promising they would come if called, Blaster and Soundwave hurried down the halls.

"What do you think it is?" Soundwave asked, now that they were out of audio shot.

"I've been on the comm link with Prime," Blaster started. It was so uncharacteristic to hear the orange mech in such a stern voice. It was rare that anything made Blaster too serious. "It's Megatron, and most of the Decepticon army too. They're launching an attack on the Ark".

Soundwave winced, he really hoped this wasn't because of him. He braved the question, "do we know what he's after?". The worried glance Blaster gave him was enough to confirm his worries. "Oh".

A large blast rocked the ship. The corridors rumbled and shook with impact. Soundwave and Blaster immediately picked up their hurried pace into a run.

"So much for our morning off" Blaster grinned at Soundwave. His nervousness shone through his bravado, but Soundwave smiled back nonetheless.

The main console was bustling when Blaster and Soundwave arrived. A wall of worried thoughts slammed into Soundwave's processor the second he stepped into the room. Optimus was pointing mechs to their stations as mechs ran in and out of the room.

The Prime's optics fell on the two carrier mechs. He pointed across the room and quickly delegated roles. "Blaster, communications. Soundwave, you're coming with me to see what Megatron wants."

Blaster's frame went cold. They were sending Soundwave out front? He glanced over at his roommate to see Soundwave give a stoic nod to the Prime. Soundwave's visor met with Blaster's worried optics. The blue mech immediately senses his friend's concern and reached out a servo to squeeze his arm.

"I know Megatron more than anyone else here, don't worry about me" he murmured below the busy room.

"Right, of course" Blaster swallowed nervously, "you got this". Before he could even think about it, Blaster pulled Soundwave into a tight hug. He could feel the telepath tense up with surprise… he never was one for public displays of affection. Before Blaster could pull back and apologise, Soundwave tightened his arms around him to return the hug.

"Good luck", Soundwave murmured in his audio before pulling away and disappearing into the crowd.

Blaster stood stuck in place for only a second before turning on his heels and jogging back down the hall towards the communications room. This would be interesting, that much was certain.

By the time Soundwave, Prime, and numerous other mechs hurried out to the front of the Ark, the battle was already in full gear. The first responders and mechs who were on guard were barely able to hold back the brunt of the damage. Megatron was shouting and raging as he kicked through anyone who got in his path.

The War Lord's optics were suddenly fixated on the newcomers. In most battles, Megatron would shout "Prime" before heading straight for Optimus, guns blazing. Something was clearly different this time. Megatron froze, his servo half closed around Bumblebee's throat. He stood up from his crouch and pulled the minibot up with him. The scout's legs kicked at the larger mech, but could hardly make contact as Megatron held him at arms distance. A smile crept onto Megatron's faceplates as his optics met Soundwave's visor.

Almost out of instinct, Soundwave's lower mask snapped shut. Megatron's expression was sending an alien chill down his back-struts.

Megatron effortlessly kicked away any mech who tried to come to Bumblebee's aid. The scout twisted his frame to sink a bite into the Warlord's servo. Megatron didn't flinch.

Sensing the bizarre situation, Optimus murmured to Soundwave, "go back inside". The commander then started over to help Bumblebee. Soundwave took a few steps back to the Ark. Perhaps this was for the best. Even if he knew Megatron the most, it was hard to 'know' a mech who was acting so strangely.

"Don't", Megatron barked his command across the field. Soundwave stopped mid-retreat. Mechs froze and glanced at the large Decepticon. Optimus continued to charge through the crowds towards the still struggling Bumblebee.

With a growl, Megatron hoisted the scout higher off the ground and tightened his servo around his throat. Bumblebee choked and clawed at the larger mech's arm. A well-known whirl sounded as Megatron rested the hot barrel of his fusion cannon against the side of yellow mech's helm.

Optimus stopped hot in his tracks. Bumblebee's breathing hitched for a moment as he stilled. It felt like an eternity as the battle felt into dead silence. Megatron had never taken this route before. Even the Decepticons looked stunned. Starscream hovered mid-air, his optics narrowed at Megatron. This had never been part of the plan.

"That's better", Megatron crooned in a sickly sweet voice. His optics surveyed the silent field before settling contently back on Soundwave.

The Warlord raised his voice to shout across the frozen battle at Soundwave, "You've been very illusive, haven't you Soundwave?". Soundwave could only stare back in silent horror. What the hell was going on?

"I'd like to talk with you, mech to mech… just for a moment", Megatron continued. His voice was hauntingly calm for a mech in the middle of half strangling a minibot.

Soundwave pulled himself out of his shock for a moment to respond, "What do you want?".

Megatron rolled his optics and shook his helm, "what part of mech-to-mech don't you understand. Come with me," he gestured with a nod of his helm towards the empty desert, "I will talk to you alone".

Blaster's voice immediately erupted over Soundwave's internal comm. Line, "don't go with him 'Wave, it's clearly a trick". Soundwave took a nervous breath, his optics glanced at Optimus, then back to Bumblebee.

"What other option do I have" Soundwave replied before shutting down his comm. link and starting towards Megatron. The warlord grinned; his servo loosened just a fraction around Bumblebee's neck.

"I'm glad you see it my way," he rumbled. After a beat he jolted Bumblebee up with a cruel laugh, "I'm sure he's glad as well". Bumblebee choked at the rough treatment; his optics met Soundwave's in an apologetic look.

Soundwave scowled as he joined the Warlord. They began distancing themselves from the two waiting armies. The peeved look on Starscream's face was a clear sign to Soundwave that this method was completely unplanned. It was another one of Megatron's schemes… which was never a good sign in terms of personal safety.

They walked in complete silence until the Ark was a mere smudge in the distance. The only noise was the occasional choke from Bumblebee.

"Stop holding him so tightly" Soundwave glared at the larger mech. Megatron only rumbled a laugh in response and momentarily loosened his grip on the yellow throat. Bumblebee gulped in air and gave Soundwave a teary and thankful look. Soundwave could only nod in return.

Soundwave's nerves stood on end as they finally came to a standstill. He glanced back to the Ark in the far distance. It was so far away… too far away.

Megatron unceremoniously tossed Bumblebee from his grip. The yellow mech hit the sand with a gasp and choked groan. Before he could get back on his peds, Megatron had his cannon trailed on the yellow mech.

"Go" Megatron snarled. Bumblebee stumbled up, tripping over his peds. His large blue optics looked at Soundwave in concern. Soundwave nodded, he tried to show Bumblebee he would be okay… but at this point, he wasn't too sure. In afterthought, Soundwave was just grateful that he had left his cassettes locked away somewhere safe.

"Go!" Megatron howled as he shook his cannon at the young mech. Bumblebee turned and ran back towards the ark. He send a short message to Soundwave's Comm link.

::I'm getting help! I promise!::

Megatron and Soundwave watched the minibot flee back across the desert. Nothing was said until he was far out of hearing range.

Soundwave tensed as Megatron stared at him. The Warlord seemed to size him up and down in silence. The world seemed to stand still as the wind died out. Finally sick of the suspense, Soundwave broke the chilling quiet.

"What do you want?" Soundwave asked. He tried to keep the fear from his voice, but the tremor was painfully obvious.

"You've been rather busy here, haven't you?" Megatron settled an eerie smile on the blue mech. Soundwave twitched in place. What was he supposed to say to that?

"You've been such a good little Autobot," Megatron's voice dropped to a near whisper, "It's almost like you planned on doing this the whole time".

Soundwave felt a sour anger bubble up in his throat, "What do you want?" he hissed his question again.

Megatron's composure began to crack at the edges. "It's time for you to drop this little protest and get back to real life" the warlord snarled, "no more galivanting around pretending to be an Autobot. No more laying around with that joke of a communications officer. It's time to get back to real life".

Soundwave's plating ruffled in anger. "This is my life now" he snapped, "you have no say or business in it anymore. You betrayed me, why would I return to you?".

"I betrayed you?!" Megatron's composure exploded. Soundwave took a step back. "You traitorous, flimsy, entertainment bot excuse for an officer!" Megatron bellowed, "the Autobots bandage your wounds, give you nicer quarters and energon goodies and you suddenly seem to forget what this war was even about!".

Soundwave choked and trembled with a nauseating mixture of fear and rage. "I was left to die, Megatron! You expected me to crawl back as if… as if…" his voice dropped to a near whisper. "Nicer quarters and energon goodies" Soundwave murmured to himself. The anger trickled from his frame to be replaced by a churning uneasiness.

Soundwave squinted at the Warlord, "how do you know what my quarters are like? How… how do you know what I have been doing?".

Megatron's expression froze in guilt for a moment before curling into a sickening smile. Soundwave jerked back as the grey mech suddenly tossed a datapad at his peds. He took a step back and stared at the datapad before looking back up at the larger mech.

"Go on," Megatron smiled, "see for yourself, if you are so curious".

Slowly, Soundwave picked the datapad out of the sand and brushed it off with a shaky servo. He glanced suspiciously back up at Megatron before powering up the device. A gallery of images met Soundwave's optics. The telepath's tanks twisted into a nervous knot at he selected an image to view.

It was him. Soundwave blinked in shock and re-started his optics. The image remained the same… it was him, leaning over his desk and working on a report. It looked like the picture was taken through a window. Soundwave's voice was caught in his throat as he scrolled to the next image.

There was an image of him playing with his cassettes in the living room of his new quarters… an image of him and Blaster walking together in the hallway, they were laughing about something. Next was an image of Soundwave in the medical bay having a routine checkup… then a picture taken of him and Blaster, pressed together and sound asleep in Blaster's berth. Soundwave stared in horror as he continuously scrolled through the pictures. Each one seemed to get worse, more private, more terrifying to see.

Then came the image from so many weeks ago. It showed Soundwave and Blaster sitting on the floor in their quarters… they were covered in smears of energon goodie batter and laughing at each other. That night rushed back to Soundwave's helm… the way he had suddenly felt like they were being watched. He had rushed to the window, but hadn't seen anyone. They really were being watched… he was being watched constantly.

Soundwave's breathing hitched and he dropped the datapad. He backed up as his mortified optics looked back up at Megatron. The Warlord was looking at Soundwave smugly, as though he had just proven a point.

"This is how you knew we were at the beach" Soundwave whispered in revulsion. Megatron fixed the telepath with a cruel smile. "You've had me followed… watched!" Soundwave gasped as he gripped at his audios. A wash of shame and humiliation ran through his frame. How much had Megatron seen? How many private moments? "How could you?" Soundwave groaned.

Megatron chuckled, "now that we are on the same page, perhaps it is time to return to reality. Don't you think so, Soundwave?"

Soundwave's mortification suddenly lit ablaze into a scorching rage. He choked over words and felt his faceplates turn pink with anger.

"How dare you" he snarled at Megatron. The Warlord's smug smile melted away immediately. "How dare you do this to me!" Soundwave cried. "After everything I did for you and the cause! How could you, Megatron?"

Megatron stumbled over his glossa for only a moment. "What do you mean how dare I?" He growled back, "you turncoat! You disgrace! So pathetic and weak! I thought you were the best mech I had! I thought I could trust you with anything!". The grey mech flared his plating and stepped towards Soundwave, but the telepath's fear had been washed away by a wave of anger.

"You left me to die!" Soundwave yelled in an uncharacteristically emotive display. "You left me in the mud to bleed out! You left my cassettes with the enemy! You let the Autobots care for me and fix me as you lounged around waiting for my return!". All of the frustration and betrayal Soundwave had experienced months ago boiled up and out of his mouth. Megatron stood frozen in surprise as the smaller mech continued his tirade.

"You threatened me when I was still in recovery! You marked me as a traitor even though you were the one who left me to die! You were willing to risk my safety and health only to protect your inflated ego!" Soundwave kicked up a plume of sand in his rage. His voice began to shake, "I dragged your unconscious frame out of so many battles. I heaved you through gunfire by myself when the rest of the Decepticons had fled. You were always so heavy, but I did it anyways because I was so stupidly loyal to you. When I fell you acted like I was something disposable! You left me, Megatron! You only wanted me back when I could benefit the cause! You're just as bad as Cybertron was before the war… I was nothing but a tool for you to use and benefit from". Soundwave's voice dropped to a saddened whisper. His anger fizzled out and his plating shrunk back down against his frame. "I wasn't the traitor, Megatron. You were".

The two mechs stood in silence for a long moment. The only sound was the whisper of the wind picking up sand. Megatron stared at Soundwave with an unexplainable expression on his faceplates. It almost looked like he wanted to apologise, but nothing came from his mouth.

"I'm taking you back" Megatron suddenly said. With a blank expression he grabbed Soundwave by the wrist and started pulling the smaller mech towards an opening land bridge.

Soundwave gasped and pulled against the servo. He clawed desperately at Megatron's arm and dug his heels into the sand. "No! No Megatron!" he cried. It was just like the beach, but Blaster wasn't here for him this time.

Megatron growled at Soundwave's struggles and seized the smaller mech's frame to lift him up. Soundwave struggled harder and let out a yell. He kicked his peds against sturdy grey legs. Megatron didn't buckle. Twisting his frame in wild desperation, Soundwave managed to turn and free one of his servos from Megatron's grip. He viciously clawed at Megatron's optics. The grey mech startled back and let out a shout of pain. His large arms loosened enough for Soundwave to kick and claw his way free.

The telepath's frame hit the sand; his breath was knocked out of his frame. In a flurry of sand, Soundwave scrambled up and away from Megatron. The larger mech looked up from his servo. His faceplates were morphed into a terrifying growl, energon dripped from his clawed optic.

Soundwave's processor screamed to run, hide, yell for help, anything! He stumbled back through the sand… There was nowhere to hide or take cover.

"You little glitch" Megatron snarled as he started towards Soundwave. The expression on his faceplates was completely murderous… Soundwave had never been at the receiving end of that look before. He had a feeling that no mech who was alive today had been.

"Leave me alone" Soundwave tried to hide the obvious shake from his voice. Megatron laughed and reached for the smaller mech again. In total desperation, Soundwave launched the most cruel telepathic attack he could muster. He burrowed his way into Megatron's processor and flooded it with burning anguish.

Megatron's frame froze and he seized his helm. He let out a scream of agony and bowed his frame. Large gray servos clawed desperately around his audios.

Soundwave continued to stumble back while his telepathy quickly depleted what energy he had left. He couldn't waste all of his energy like this. He had to run. He dropped the telepathic hold over the warlord and turned tail to run. Behind him, he could hear Megatron groan in disorientated pain.

Silence held for a moment. Soundwave didn't look back. He kept his optics fixed on the distant Ark and run as fast as his frame would take him. If he squinted hard enough, he was sure he could see approaching frames. Help was coming!

Burning agony exploded on the outside of his thigh. Soundwave let out a cry and dropped to the sand as his leg gave out under him. Soundwave whimpered in pain as he pushed himself up to look at his leg. Primus, it was shot right though. He gasped and pressed on his open wound to try to reduce the copious amounts of energon pouring from his frame.

A shadow stained the sand around him. The whine of a fusion cannon re-loading sounded. Soundwave looked up from his leg. Megatron's frame eclipsed the sky. He blocked out the sun completely. Soundwave stared in shock as the warlord pressed the burning hot cannon to his helm.

Megatron let out a low growl, "If I can't take you back alive… so be it".

Without thinking, Soundwave grabbed the cannon and shoved it away from his helm. Another explosion marred the sand next to him. Megatron let out a furious snarl. His cannon whined as it instantly recharged. Soundwave desperately shimmied back in the sand, a trail of energon followed him. Megatron bared his teeth in an ugly display of rage.

As the Warlord aimed his cannon again, Soundwave desperately kicked out his working leg. It slammed into Megatron's knee, which made a sickening crunching sound. Megatron stumbled back and let out a howl, his cannon fired into the sand again.

With a brief moment to arm himself, Soundwave fired up his sonic cannon on his shoulder. By the time Megatron looked back up from his knee, he was met with an explosion of sound. The warlord was thrown onto his back in the sand, he covered his audios in pain.

Soundwave tried to stand but his leg gave out again. He hit the sand and stumbled backwards. Megatron was getting up again, in a fog of panic, Soundwave fired another explosion of sound at the Warlord. The grey mech rolled back and stayed down for a moment.

Soundwave wiggled backwards in the sand; his optics stayed trained on the groaning Decepticon. He could feel the energon depleting from his frame… he could feel the horrible burn as sand filled his new wound. His audios rang. His helm was so heavy. Megatron began to push himself up again.

"Hey!". There was a voice behind him. Soundwave glanced behind his shoulder and a wave of relief washed over him.

Thank Primus, he wasn't alone anymore. Prime, Blaster, Jazz, and Rachet tore through the sand towards them.

A hollow groan pulled Soundwave's attention back towards Megatron. The grey mech stumbled up, he clutched his helm in pain. A moment passed while the warlord looked at the approaching team. He was outnumbered. Soundwave watched him numbly from the sand. Megatron looked at the bleeding mech before him, almost in surprise.

Megatron stumbled backwards towards the land bridge. He didn't look at Soundwave again as he backed through it and it closed around him.

Silence.

Soundwave's arms gave out from under him. He stared at the sky in a haze. It was very blue. It would have been a nice day out. Distantly, over the ringing in his audios, he could make out the approaching mechs… but he didn't have the energy to respond. He was alive. He didn't think he would still be alive.

"Soundwave!" Blaster cried. The orange mech suddenly came into his vision. He blocked out the sun and created a cool shade over Soundwave's frame. Soundwave smiled distantly at his friend.

"Hello, Blaster" he smiled meekly. Blaster sobbed in relief and dropped into the sand next to his friend. He pulled the telepath into a tight hug. It was nice. Soundwave hugged him back. The shaking of his friend's frame suggested that Blaster had been more scared then he was. It seemed that the orange mech had abandoned his post and everything. Soundwave smiled.

Ratchet all but pushed the two mechs apart.

"Let me look, kid" The medic examined Soundwave's leg before immediately beginning to seal off the bleeding. Soundwave hazily watched the medic before dropping back onto his dorsa. He was so dizzy, almost nauseated.

Optimus and Jazz hovered over his helm. Soundwave retracted his lower mask and gave them a dazed smile.

"It may be the energon loss speaking, but I am so glad you're all here" Soundwave whispered.

Jazz grinned and crouched down beside Blaster. He gave an encouraging pat to Soundwave's shoulder.

"You just stood up to old Megsy by yourself", the agent said, "that's pretty bad-aft". Soundwave snorted. Perhaps it was, in a way. It certainly wasn't his most composed moment.

"Thank you, Jazz" he mumbled. Soundwave's helm turned back to meet Blaster's worried gaze. He smiled encouragingly at his friend; Blaster managed to return a watery smile.

Soundwave couldn't remember who started it… but looking back at that day, he remembered Blaster's servo in his. The orange servo gave an encouraging squeeze. He returned a much weaker squeeze. Somehow he felt a little bit better.

Soundwave didn't remember anything after that. Not until he woke up from his daze in the medical bay an hour later.

Ratchet glanced up across the medical bay. Soundwave and Blaster were sitting together. The medic had been able to seal off most of Soundwave's bleeding a while ago. It was a mean wound, but nothing critical so long as care was received before too much energon was lost. Luckily for Soundwave, Rachet was a pretty fast runner for his age. The medic huffed to himself as he gathered up a few more tools and carried them back to his patient. Soundwave was one lucky mech… or a very unlucky one, depending on how you looked at it.

Ratchet settled back on his seat and continued working on Soundwave's leg. The bleeding was all but finished, now he just had to patch up the wiring and plating. The medic glanced up at the two mechs while he worked in silence. Soundwave sat in a daze; his helm was rested in Blaster's shoulder. The telepath's arms were looped through Blaster's arm, creating a link. No wonder the kid was dazed, he had lost a fair amount of energon back there. The IV drip of energon was beginning to slowly revive the blue mech. Slowly but surely, Soundwave's optics began to focus more on his surroundings.

Ratchet's optics drifted from his work to Blaster. The orange mech was holding Soundwave's frame against his in a way that could only be considered tender. The boombox was gazing at Soundwave in the fondest way. Rachet blinked at the interaction, it felt like something too personal to be seeing. He looked back down to his work. The medic chuckled quietly to himself. Young love.

Soundwave's optics flickered and he gave a soft hum. Blaster's servo gently rubbed his dorsa. Slowly, the telepath lifted his helm from Blaster's shoulder. He met Blaster's optics with his and gave a soft smile. Blaster let out a soft breath of relief. Nothing needed to be said as Soundwave rested his helm on Blaster's shoulder again. It just felt right.