"Excellent we've found the entrance." Shockwave thought aloud, punching in an activation code into the broken keypad.
Soundwave scanned their surroundings while the scientist attempted to open the door. The area was cold, dark, damp, and destroyed. Nothing nice clearly happened here, he thought to himself.
"Ugh, Soundwave I need you to overload this lock, it's to far gone to be fully functional by code." Shockwave groaned moving out of the way, so the youngling could break the lock.
Soundwave simply released a tentacle, latching it onto the malfunctioning keypad, sending a surge of electricity and harmful codes into it. The metal doors moaned opening with a struggle, as it bent to Soundwave's will.
Shockwave wasted no time going through the open door, continuing into the destroyed facility with Soundwave in tow.
The young mech warily looked around, as they walked through the unsteady facility. It was all beginning to look very familiar now. Passing by what used to be a training room, Soundwave received a flashback of that very room. "I will not have weaklings in my ranks!" Megatron roared killing the younglings that were lined up on the wall next to Soundwave.
"Come'on youngling, not much further now." The one opticed mech called, refocusing Soundwave's attention.
Soundwave's spark beat began to race, continuing down the destroyed hallway. The violet mech was saddened as they had to step over lifeless youngling, and Eradicon soldier husks. Nervously looking around Soundwave quickly realized they were directly near Shockwave's laboratory, where he used to dismantle and torture Soundwave, and his little brother. Halting in his tracks, the violet mech felt he could go no farther.
Shockwave was already beginning to enter the laboratory, when he realized Soundwave standing frozen, in the middle of the hallway. "Come youngling we're nearly there." Confused, he beckoned the youngling.
Soundwave wasn't going to budge, trembling inside he could not even fathom why Shockwave would ever bring him back here.
"Fine stand guard, but you better get a hold of yourself I will need your assistance. I'll be right back." Shockwave growled frustratingly leaving the petrified young mech behind.
Soundwave attempted to calm his spark, while flashbacks of his horrific past plagued him. The broken facility moaned, and creaked, with the sound of metals shifting. Keeping the anxious young mech hyper aware of his surroundings.
"Okay just a little further ahead then we can bridge out of... fragging hell..." Shockwave growled, coming back out of the laboratory to find the young mech practically hyperventilating.
Soundwave yelped as he was struck down to the ground by the mad scientist. "Pull yourself together now! You're not a sniveling coward like Starscream, you have nothing to cry about!" The violent one opticed mech scolded the struggling youngling. "You always put the mission before anything else. Now pick yourself up, and get moving!" Shockwave yanked the violet mech back up, shoving Soundwave forwards, past the laboratory.
(Sorry... let's continue... back on task...) Soundwave apologized, his spark beating more furiously now, as he strode next to the fumming mech.
Soundwave sighed, looking up at the now filled in hole. They were at the location, of where he had released Mirage out of this hell facility, out into the streets of Cybertron. Walking further down the destroyed hallway, Soundwave clutched his chest, getting a sharp wave of heat passing through his spark.
Shockwave noticed the violet mech clutch his chest curiously, if Shockwave could smirk he certainly would've at that moment. "Excellent we're here, help me move this." The mad scientist walked over to what used to be a door, pushing a large wall of rubble out of the way.
Soundwave helped move the debris, his spark pulsing with rhythm as they entered the darkened room. Scanning the room, the young mech got a familiar vibe, but could not pinpoint the reason why. Hearing the hiss of a secret compartment open, Soundwave turned his helm towards the purple scientist. He watched as Shockwave activated a small display platform, revealing a small cluster of raw dark energon crystals.
"Don't be so surprised Soundwave. The Autobots didn't destroy all of it." Shockwave scoffed at the confused young mech. "This is the same cluster that gave me the dark energon I used to infuse you, and your brother with."
Soundwave now understood why he recognized the small area. It was the first room him and Mirage were brought into when they were captured.
"But since it's such a sensitive, and dangerous substance. I need you to carry it back for transport." Shockwave told the youngling, who cocked his helm at him. "Don't gaze at me like that, you and your brother are immune to it's negative effects. So much like everyone else, I am not immune to it's negative effects." The purple mech glared back at the youngling.
Soundwave slowly grabbed the cluster, this was what was causing the pulsating in his spark. *But why would Megatron want dark energon?*
"Bridge us back youngling, we've got what we came for." Shockwave sighed impatiently at the quizzical young mech.
Mirage raised his helm at the feeling of an odd pull at his spark. Arcee watched him with curious sorrow. Her optics wondering back towards the large mech standing in front of her.
"Optimus, Mirage has gone practically completely silent over the last week. I'm worried about him." Arcee mentioned, gaining the old medic's attention.
"Mirage has most likely completely regressed to his mute state, he's lost his confidence booster. Therefore he makes little effort to communicate with us." Optimus replied, looking over his shoulder at the concerned femme.
"I guess..." Arcee sighed, logging onto one of the monitors next to the red and blue mech.
"Are you alright?" Optimus asked, worried that the femme was falling into a deep depression.
"Yeah I'm alright... please don't worry about me." Arcee tried to give the Prime a reassuring smile. Although Optimus was no fool, and could see through her fake smile. His gaze wondered beyond the femme, to his youngest son, who was acting very uneasy.
Mirage now, uneasily paced around the main room, while Lazerbeak followed, twittering softly at him.
Soundwave, come back. Your brother needs you...* Optimus spoke through his bond, with a flicker of hope that the young mech could hear him wherever he was.
"Mirage what's the matter youngling?" Arcee asked, noticing the pacing youngling and drone.
Mirage had a very minimal vocabulary, and hadn't spoken much, especially since loosing Soundwave. Mirage was beginning to lose the will to extend his vocabulary further. Sighing, trying to figure out what he wanted to say and express to the femme. "Lazerbeak come with."
"Come with where?" Arcee tilted her helm quizzically at the youngling.
Back aboard the Nemesis, Soundwave placed the dark energon into one of Shockwave's large, secure testing vial.
"Excellent Soundwave. Now Shockwave what do you presume we do with such a fine specimen?" Megatron praised the young mech, turning his sinister smile towards the large purple mech.
"Since dark energon reanimates the dead. You can look at the research Soundwave has done of this planet, and find the location of one of the biggest Cybertronian battles. Or you can allow me to study the dark energon further, and see if I can find you a symbiotic link, so you have total control of your undead army." Shockwave replied, walking over to the dark energon.
"Hmmm yes, I do not desire mindless Terrorcons without some sort of control." Megatron thought aloud musing over the purple glowing crystals.
"There's also the possibilities of experimenting with our soldiers, seeing if we can create greater strength in them with the dark energon. With any luck, we could create something similar to Soundwave." The mad scientist replied, gesturing to the violet mech standing quietly behind them.
Soundwave silently stood behind the conversing mechs. *Good, maybe they can do ship maintenance. Plus dark energon has toxic effects, Shockwave even has to take safety precautions. I have a hard time believing your stupid test subjects will survive*
"Shockwave, you've attempted to recreate our finest soldier countless times, all of them being failures. Why should I grant you the time, to work on such an impossible task?" Megatron groaned rolling his optics.
"My Liege I understand your skepticism. You're correct, I have failed to create a soldier that's remotely close to Soundwave, and Mirage's skill or strength. I will focus my studies on the symbiotic link." Shockwave defeatedly replied to his master. He knew Soundwave and Mirage had unique genome, before he even began to alter them. Shockwave knew he would have to abandon that.
"Shockwave, if my memory serves, you failed to harness total control of the two brothers..." Megatron looked over his shoulder realizing his youngling was still with them.
"Lord Megatron, I could've taken away their persona, and given total remote control. But Soundwave, and Mirage would just be soulless, defence drones tha..."
Shockwave silenced himself mid sentence, as Megatron lifted his servo to silence him. "Soundwave you're dismissed, leave us, so we may continue our conversation." Megatron gestured for his young son to leave the room.
Soundwave bowed his helm, exiting the room. His angst took over him, hoping Megatron would not give Shockwave permission to experiment on him futher, and make him a sparkless drone, with no mind. Pushing aside his fears, Soundwave was extremely curious as to why they retrieved the blood of Unicron. To caught up in his thoughts to notice the seeker Commander trudging towards him.
"Oof! Watch out you stupid mute!" Starscream growled shoving the violet youngling away after Soundwave ran into him.
Soundwave regained his balance, stepping off to the side, only to have the Commander do the same. Soundwave then side stepped in the opposite direction, having the seeker mirror his movements. *Stop moving idiot!* Soundwave groaned in his helm.
"Oh for the love of the Allspark, move!" Starscream growled, forcefully pushing Soundwave into the wall.
Starscream rolled his optics, walking past Soundwave as the young mech sharply glared his black visor at him. "You may have saved me once, but don't think for a moment I won't strike you down. Remember your place, you're just a foot soldier among the greats."
Soundwave shook his helm as the ignorant seeker continued on his way. *Well that compassionate side of Starscream was short lived...* Soundwave scoffed passing many Eradicons on the way to his quarters, upon entering his room the violet mech gave a sigh. Soundwave had had a long day of energon collecting, and sparring with his father, he was tired, but not settled. Now that he was alone in his quarters, Soundwave continued to review his encounter with the Autobots.
Sitting on his berth, he replayed his encounter with the femme. Soundwave mentally smiled, entertained by the fact, just thinking about the femme bot, made his spark flutter with warmth. *Do I have an intimate feeling towards her?* Soundwave wondered if he had taken a liking to the female Autobot. Something he found odd, as he thought Shockwave would've rerouted or destroyed that function in him. Soundwave thought of it as a neat new feeling, he knew not to ever express how he felt towards the femme, to his father though.
Putting his feelings towards the femme aside. He continued to explore his encounters, next was the Autobot twins.
The golden one was a hothead, but after his brother asked him to cease fire, the golden one screamed saying Soundwave was a former teammate. *Why though...* the violet mech was very confused.
Soundwave began to think about the odd behaviour around the warship. Everyone seemed timid to speak about what had previously happened to him before he awoke. Starscream had said he had spoken before he went into stasis. Soundwave found that incredibly odd since he could be in an excruciating amount of pain, without screaming once. Though the seeker said he was drug back onto the ship, saying it with a nervous edge in his tone. Shockwave had said Lazerbeak was destroyed in battle, yet Soundwave's internal data had no recollection of the drone ever being offlined. In fact, it still said Lazerbeak was online, his signal hidden with him being absent. *Somethings isn't adding up...*
Returning to his Autobot encounters, his last review being with Optimus Prime. Playing the voice of the Autobot leader over, and over again. Trying to jog his processor, to think of why the Prime would drop his aim at him. "Soundwave?!"
"Show me your leadership skills... you have the spark of a Prime inside you..."
Soundwave leapt off his berth in shock. *That phantom voice is Optimus Prime!* the young mech had finally found the source of the influential voice. Soundwave realized that the flashes of Optimus Prime's wisdom, were flashbacks of some sort. *Of course that voice was Optimus, who else sounds like that, idiot...* Soundwave mentally beat himself up. Why was he having flashbacks of Optimus Prime, he wondered? Which made him even more suspicious of the Decepticons now. The Autobots prided themselves on honesty, perhaps them beckoning for him to come home, were truly pleas for him to return to them?
Soundwave grabbed his helm in frustration. *What the hell is going on here!?* the bioluminescent mech grew more frustrated, who was he to trust in this situation? Fed up, Soundwave did an internal scan of his drives, discovering that he was missing quite a bit of data, that would've made up the last few months. Confirming that he was not in stasis this entire time. Knowing Shockwave's ghoulish ways, the mad scientist must've deleted any of his memory banks that recorded being with the Autobots. Turning his helm towards the his room door, Soundwave gathered his thoughts. *What can I do now, there's no way I would be welcomed back by the Autobots, I've betrayed them. Caused them harm, to benefit the Decepticons...*
You're always welcome Soundwave, never doubt that.* Soundwave visibly jumped at hearing the baritone voice emitting from a sparkbond inside of him. *Optimus?* The young mech warily looked around his room.
Optimus was overjoyed to actually communicate with the lost youngling. *Yes youngling, are you alright, are you safe?*
Soundwave quickly checked the hallway camera feed, seeing that no one was outside his door. Not that it mattered, no one else could possibly hear his conversation. *I'm fine for now, I am afraid I am very confused though. I seem to be missing memories, but of what, I don't know...* the violet mech honestly replied, as he had only flashbacks to base his trust in the Prime.
Optimus gave a noticeable worried sigh, it was true Shockwave was back, and had tampered with the violet mech's processor. *You were captured by Starscream about a month ago. I had sent you out on an energon scouting mission, Starscream had captured you for Megatron to exacute you for treason. Unknown to us, Megatron returned from his space voyage, with Shockwave.*
"You sure were talking when I dragged you back on the ship!" Soundwave replayed Starscream's voice. It now made sense to the young mech. *I believe you.*
Optimus was relieved to hear those words from the loyal Decepticon. *Soundwave can you send your coordinates, so we may assist your escape.*
Soundwave shook his helm, although the Prime could not see it. *No, send me a set of coordinates you would like rendezvous at, I will bridge myself so my leave isn't detected.*
Soundwave meet at these coordinates. I will be there.* Optimus complied with the young mech's reasonable request, sending the coordinates to the crashed Autobot ship.
Soundwave checked the camera feeds one more time. So many thoughts swirling through his mind. Could he really betray his father, was this the right decision, Megatron was actually trying to be civil with him. The violet mech shook the thoughts out of his helm. *No, if I continued to unconsciously rebel against him, he would eventually kill me. Everyone on this ship either hates me or fears me, or both. I haven't done anything but maintenance, and war strategies. I'm still kept in the dark.* without any regrets, Soundwave created a ground bridge in his room, leaving the war ship.
Optimus spun around, almost walking into his red youngling that eagerly stood behind him. "I suppose I don't have to tell you anything." Optimus chuckled knowing Mirage already knew what was happening.
"Tell Mirage what Optimus?" Arcee asked looking over her shoulder.
"Autobots I have come in contact with Soundwave, he's alright. And is meeting us at our crashed ship." Optimus announced practically making Arcee jump for joy.
"Alright!" Jazz and the twins cheered happily.
"Great I can repay him for shooting me!" Sunstreaker jokingly scoffed.
"Let's go, what are we standing around for?" Bumblebee excitedly said what was on Arcee's mind.
"I know we are all excited, but I am only taking a few of you. As Soundwave is in a disoriented state, and his trust levels are low." Optimus quickly halted the scout.
"Lazerbeak come." Mirage pointed to the depressed drone, laying flat on the ground.
"Yes it's very impotant he comes, it may gain his trust." Optimus nodded as Ratchet fired up the ground bridge. "Arcee, Ironhide, Ratchet, and Mirage come. Jazz you're in charge well we're gone, our communication will be monitored on the monitors."
"Sure thing Optimus." Jazz nodded walking over to the monitors.
"What if it's a Decepticon trap?" Sunstreaker mentioned before the others walked towards the ground bridge.
"That's why I'm going." Ironhide joked waving his canons, making Ratchet glare at him in annoyance.
"We are hoping trust is still something mutual we have with Soundwave." Ratchet hissed dodging the waving canons.
Soundwave stood patiently, watching the Autobots open ground bridge. Seeing two figures emerge from the glowing portal.
"Soundwave!" Arcee cried with joy, it took everything in her frame not to run and hug the silent mech.
"Easy does it Arcee, he's still a Decepticon." Ironhide warned the femme.
Soundwave cocked his helm, he was expecting the Prime, but since the bridge was still opened he figured he was on the way.
"Lazerbeak is pretty unenthusiastic Optimus, I don't think he's getting up." Ratchet gestured his helm to the red youngling attempting to pull the drone towards the bridge.
"Hmm... Ratchet take Lazerbeak, Mirage come." Optimus ordered guiding his youngling into the bridge.
Mirage to Ironhide's disliking walked right up to the violet Decepticon. Vibrating with joy as he was finally face to face with his brother once more. "Wave!"
Soundwave didn't respond, as Ironhide kept a close optic on him keeping his cannons aimed threateningly.
"Soundwave I'm glad you made it here, I know our time is limited given that the Decepticons will soon find out you left. So I will make this quick, it's your choice to come back to our team, I will not force you. But I can give you answers to your confusion." Optimus began to explain, as the old medic came through with the surveillance drone in his servos.
Optimus... I...* Before Soundwave could really respond Lazerbeak activated the moment he locked his visuals on the bioluminescent mech.
"Ah!" Ratchet yelped in surprise as Lazerbeak leapt out of his servos.
Soundwave couldn't contain his excitement, watching his beloved pet playfully fly around him. *Lazerbeak!*
"Well looks like someone put some life back into his little birdy." Ironhide scoffed as Ratchet stood next to Optimus.
"Lazerbeak return!" Mirage called out, pointing to his big brother.
Soundwave turned his helm to glare at his little brother. *Hey!* he mentally laughed at his little brother.
Lazerbeak twittered excitedly, swooping at his master, before eagerly attaching himself to Soundwave's torso.
The Autobots watched as Soundwave's visor lit up with Cybertronian text, and scenes from the past few months with them. After the sudden download of memories, Soundwave regained his composure.
"Are you alright Soundwave?" Arcee asked with concern.
"Yeah, Arcee what's going on?" Soundwave replied, tilting his helm in confusion.
"You're back to normal!" Arcee happily threw her arms around her mech.
"Hmmm, Soundwave must've sent his memories as backup data to Lazerbeak." Ratchet thought aloud, gaining the weapon specialist's attention.
"That's grand, we should get back to base before the Twins destroy it." Ironhide scoffed folding his arms.
"Yes we should, before the Decepticons discover Soundwave's disappearance." Optimus agreed with the large mech.
Soundwave didn't have any time to process what was happening, overloaded with confusion, the young mech hastily followed the team through the open ground bridge.
"Yay, you got Wavers back!" Jazz and Bumblebee cheered, seeing the young mech amongst the team.
Soundwave blocked all the excitement going on around him, focusing back on what had happened to him. The violet mech groaned remembering the Seeker Commander had captured him. "Right I was caught by flying fury."
"Yeah bro, you were gone for like a month!" Sideswipe replied to the bioluminescent mech's surprise.
"Or was it like a month and a half?" Sunstreaker thought aloud.
"You were gone for too long. Now we have you back." Arcee replied hugging her mech once more.
"What went on during my capture?" Soundwave questioned shocking the team.
"You do not remember?" Optimus asked with soft optics.
"Well I haven't had the chance to recollect anything yet, so no." Soundwave shrugged, wondering if his memories of being captured had been repressed since regaining his memory.
"To put it short, Shockwave reset your mind to Decepticon mode. You put us through hell, and almost blew us up in a mine. Now you're here. The rest is for you to remember." Sunstreaker bluntly explained to the violet mech.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean for that to happen to you guys." Soundwave apologized, feeling ashamed for going back to his Decepticon habits.
"You had no control over that Soundwave. Please do not beat yourself up." Optimus reassured the apologetic young mech.
"Yeah, we should've brought Lazerbeak with us, every time we encountered the Decepticons." Arcee added, giving her mech a warm smile.
"Yeah, the worst you did was keep us from gaining any energon." Ironhide scoffed, gesturing to the dire amount of energon in the storage.
"I can get find us more energon. Megatron has quite a few major operations he hasn't even begun to mine yet." Soundwave drew his helm back in a cringe worthy manner, seeing the dangerously low energon supply.
"With an escort this time!" Arcee said grabbing her mech's servo.
Soundwave chuckled at his femme. "Arcee, I'm perfectly capable of doing a patrol without you holding my servo."
"Yeah, well last time you got captured." Arcee retorted, raising an optic ridge at the violet mech.
"I was caught off guard..." Soundwave groaned back at the overprotective femme.
"Let's not bicker, we're all happy you're home safe Soundwave. But it is quite late, we should all recharge." Optimus quickly stopped they young couple from starting a heated discussion.
The team agreed with their leader, each finding their way to their own quarters. Walking past the couple, Sunstreaker gave Soundwave a hard, but playful punch to the arm.
Soundwave winced, quickly revoking all alerts to attack the golden twin.
"That's for shooting me! Goodnight!" Sunstreaker retorted before disappearing into his room.
"Primus I hope I didn't hurt anyone else." Soundwave worriedly thought aloud.
"The only thing that hurt was having you missing from our team." Arcee replied to the young mech's thoughts.
"Arcee is not wrong Soundwave. Now you don't have to if you're not ready, but if you'd like to continue with our morning patrols, we can start tomorrow." Optimus spoke to the bioluminescent young mech.
"You don't think the Cons are going to be hunting Soundwave down?" Arcee raised an optic ridge at the Prime, unsure of her recently escaped mech going back into the battlefield.
"I'm not going to hide, just because Megatron throws a hissy fit, because I'm no longer in his ranks." Soundwave scoffed to the concerned femme. "Plus I'm in just as much danger, as anyone else on the team."
"As long as you're comfortable, I will not force anything upon you." Optimus sighed following the couple down the hallway.
"I'm completely fine with it. Despite concerns over Megatron's vendetta." Soundwave replied, turning his helm to glare at Arcee, who was about to voice more of her concerns.
"Recharge on it. I will see you two tomorrow morning." Optimus said to the young couple, before continuing to his quarters.
"Stop giving me that look Arcee, I'm sure I'll get a hateful call from Megatron soon enough." Soundwave groaned shutting their door behind them.
"I'm more concerned about Megatron sending Shockwave after you, rather than just killing you. You're a high valued soldier amongst the Decepticon ranks. You've proven that too many times." Arcee shook her helm, sitting on the berth.
"Yes what you say may be true, and. But I'm back now, there's no reason to worry about something that probably won't happen for a while." Soundwave sat next to the cobalt blue femme, attempting to reassure his sparkmate.
"I won't bug you about it anymore. I'm just glad you're back, safe." Arcee sighed, resting her helm against her mech.
"Soundwave!" Soundwave visibly jumped at hearing his name being called by a familiar venomous voice. "I see that your life signature is hidden. I am not even going to second guess that you're reunited with the Autobots. Not to say I am not surprised, you must have sent a backup of your memory data to Lazerbeak. But trust me Soundwave, the next time you get in the hands of the Decepticons I will destroy any memory of being with the Autobots." Shockwave's angered tone sent chills through the violet mech.
"Soundwave are you alright?" Arcee asked with concern, noticing her sparkmate zoning out.
"Since I was so successful with removing what little you had of Autobot memories. I'll be sure to do the same with your bother. That's if I can convice Megatron to allow me to do so, before he kills you both." The mad scientist threatened, ending the call abruptly.
"Soundwave?" Arcee called giving the young mech's servo a gentle shake.
"Hmm, sorry... what?" Soundwave quickly pushed his dread aside, returning his focus back on Arcee.
"Do you remember what happened to you when you were with the Cons?" Arcee asked, figuring that's why the bioluminescent mech was spacing out.
"Um... no, I haven't reviewed those memories yet..." Soundwave lied to the cobalt blue femme, he had skimmed through a few of his captive memories, on the way to their room. He did not want to converse about them at the moment.
"You seemed in deep thought..." Arcee mentioned giving the slender mech's servo a gentle squeeze.
"Sorry I guess I'm out of sorts..." Soundwave sighed, rubbing the back of his helm.
Arcee softened her optics, giving an understanding smile. "You went through a lot in the last month Soundwave." Her soft gaze focusing on the new dents and scars displayed on the violet mech's frame.
Mirage restlessly rolled over with a groan, covering his audio receptors, attempting to block out the scout's snores. Wondering how his brother could fall into recharge within nano clicks.
"Mirage!" Shockwave snarled, causing Mirage shoot up into a sitting position.
"Shockwave?!" Mirage gasped scanning his room frantically, before realizing the voice was coming over his comlink.
"Yes Mirage, surely you know I'm already on this miserable planet. You saw how I made your brother turn on you, the only flaw being Lazerbeak had backup data." Shockwave's condescending voice sending haunting chills through the youngling's little frame. "I warned your brother that I will regain you both as my Decepticon super soldiers. If I can convince Megatron I can do so, before he gets the chance to exacute you."
Mirage began to hyperventilate while the mad scientist continued to threaten him.
"I will hunt you down, I swear it." Shockwave's last threatening words sent Mirage running out of his room.
Soundwave tiredly bobbed his helm, while Arcee brushed her servo over his new scars.
"How about we rest." Arcee suggested with a smile, seeing her mech trying to stay awake, like a sparkling fighting recharge.
"I won't argue that." Soundwave snorted with a chuckle, as Arcee began to lay him back on the berth with her.
Like clockwork, Mirage came sprinting in terror, into the couple's room.
Soundwave shot upright, Arcee doing the same as Mirage leapt into Soundwave's arms.
"Mirage what's the matter?!" Soundwave gasped as holding his little brother out in front of him.
Mirage was crying out loud, hyperventilating through tears while his frame shook, petrified.
"Calm down Mirage, you're alright." Soundwave pulled his crying little brother into his arms.
"It's alright little one, we're here." Arcee cooed hugging both brothers.
Mirage's rapidly beating spark soon synced up with the soothing rhythm of his brother's and the femme's. Calming his cries as he was in a comforting hold.
Arcee pulled away slightly, just enough to be able to see the red youngling. "Now what has you so upset youngling?"
Mirage didn't reply, hiding his face in his brother's chest. He felt ashamed at how terrified he was, just by a simple threat.
While Arcee tried to coax the youngling into giving her a reply. Soundwave went off in his own thoughts. Given the horrible threats he received from the mad scientist, not to long ago. Soundwave could only imagine, Shockwave had the nerve to give Mirage the same exact threatening call. "Shockwave's all talk right now Mirage."
Arcee furrowed her optic ridges at her mech. "What are you talking about Soundwave?"
Soundwave sighed defeatedly, he had secretly hoped he didn't have to bring up the threatening call to his sparkmate at this time, but supposed he was going to eventually anyway. "Shockwave called me not to long ago, letting me know that the Cons knew of my leaving. With that, he swore that he would restore my Decepticon functions, putting me back at Megatron's side. That's if that tyrant doesn't exacute me first." the violet mech scoffed turning his helm away. "I'm guessing Shockwave gave Mirage the same unfortunate call?" Soundwave said looking down at his little brother.
Mirage slowly nodded, tears still streaming down his face. "He said... will hunt... us down." the youngling sobbed wiping away his tears.
"So he wants to reboot your programming as well, hmm..." Soundwave thought aloud. "So much for Mirage being too much of a threat to be anything more than a lost cause."
"Soundwave!" Arcee gasped at the violet mech's words.
"I didn't mean that as an insult, I was simply repeating what Megatron, and Shockwave had said." Soundwave replied defensively to his shocked femme.
"Whatever, you should've told me earlier. We've got to tell Optimus." Arcee replied getting ready to leave the room.
Soundwave grabbed hold of the cobalt blue femme's servo, preventing her from leaving. "I've got patrol with him tomorrow morning, I will tell Optimus then. For now lets try to calm down, and get some rest." Soundwave gestured to the exhausted youngling in his arms.
"Sure, maybe if you're lucky, you can tell Optimus, while Shockwave's trying to drag you into his laboratory." Arcee grumbled, sitting back on the berth.
"That would be the perfect time to tell Optimus wouldn't you think?" Soundwave joked back at the annoyed femme, receiving a smack to the helm.
"You're not funny Soundwave." Arcee growled, while Mirage giggled at their comedic moment.
"Well Mirage's giggles say otherwise." Soundwave taunted playfully, causing Arcee to roll her optics at him.
"Argh... whatever I'm recharging." Arcee groaned laying herself down on the berth.
"Anyway Mirage, as long as we stay focused, and don't let our guard down, we'll be fine. Remember Shockwave, and Megatron, fear us, don't forget that." Soundwave reassured his little brother, as he laid them both down next to Arcee.
"Will you remember though?" Arcee raised an optic ridge at the faceless mech.
Soundwave glared at the femme, although not very effectively since he had no facial expression.
"Maybe Mirage will actually recharge? He hasn't since you were captured." Arcee sighed changing the subject, staring into her own reflection in the pitch black visor across from her. She had so many questions for her sparkmate. Pushing her thoughts aside, she closed her optics after Mirage did the same.
Soundwave lay awake the whole night, analyzing his recent Decepticon activity, knowing Optimus Prime was going ask him what happened. Seeing the countless times he could've been killed for cetrain influenced actions.
Morning came, as usual Soundwave was up before everyone else. Leaving his sparkmate to snuggle with his little brother. The bioluminescent mech entered the main room, he began to activate the base. Scanning the monitors, he could see a lot of annoying issues had popped up in the monitors systems. Quickly troubleshooting the malfunctions, he knew such things must've irritated the old medic. While doing the simple maintenance, Soundwave's mind was stuck on Shockwave's threat to hunt him, and his brother down. The more he thought about it, the more Soundwave's spark raced, his frame stricken with fear. So focused on his task, and the mad scientist, the young mech did not hear the Prime enter the room.
"Good morning youngling..." Optimus greeted the defensive young mech, sticking his servos up as Soundwave spun around ready to battle whoever was behind him.
"Primus, I'm so sorry Sir, I didn't mean to do that. I wasn't paying attention to what was going on around me." Soundwave quickly apologized, relaxing his defensive frame. Arcee was right, although he didn't want to admit it, he was scared.
"That's alright Soundwave." Optimus replied, looking past the young mech, to the now repaired monitors. "Ratchet will certainly appreciate your helpful work. The monitors have been throwing Ratchet into quite the frenzy." The Prime smiled warmly at the faceless mech.
Soundwave shrugged finishing his repairs.
"Are you ready for patrol this morning?" Optimus asked the young mech.
Turning back to the Prime, Soundwave gave a simple nod, following the Optimus out the base exit.
Mirage woke up, attempting to squirm out Arcee's loving grasp. Waking the femme up in the process.
"Good morning brat." Arcee laughed as Mirage broke free from her grasp.
The youngling looked around the room, realizing his big brother was not present. "Morning..." Mirage greeted halfheartedly, trying to stand up on the berth.
"Nope, you're trapped here!" Arcee playfully snatched the youngling up in her arms.
"No!" Mirage squealed with laughter as they fell backwards onto the berth.
"Good to see you two finally in good spirits." Ratchet scoffed through a chuckle.
Arcee rolled them off the berth, still holding Mirage tightly she stood up, seeing the old medic standing in the doorway. "I guess we didn't realize how much Soundwave impacted our quality of life." Arcee snorted, following the medic into the main room still holding the young assassin hostage.
"Trust me we didn't realize it either. Maybe in different ways though." Ratchet sighed, as Mirage freed himself from the femme's grip.
Mirage quickly transformed, driving out of the base like it was about to explode.
"Huh, I know he missed his brother. But I truly hope he doesn't distrupt Optimus's teachings." The old medic scoffed, watching the youngling peel out of the base. "Now to deal with you glitches..." Ratchet grumbled glaring at the monitors.
"He might, judging by what happened last night." Arcee replied gaining the old mech's attention.
"What happened last night?" Ratchet asked, as he happily used the now functional, glitch free, monitors. "Yes! Thank you Soundwave!"
Arcee raised an optic ridge at the medic's happy outburst. "Uh... Anyway, Shockwave called both Soundwave, and Mirage. Threatening them, saying he would reprogram them both, like he did with Soundwave when he was captured. Shockwave swore he would hunt them down, but that all depends on whether Megatron gets to the brothers first."
"That's not good, considering, I am sure Soundwave's second betrayal, is more than enough to give up on Shockwave's defiant super soldiers. Unfortunately Shockwave's diabolical mind, and inventions are far too valuable for Megatron to add to him to his exacution list." Ratchet worridly thought aloud, after listening to the femme's explanation.
"In other words Soundwave and Mirage are on a hit list, being hunted by both death, and crazed science."
Soundwave tensely strode next to the massive Prime. His sensors boosted to their full capacity, to detect any Cybertronian signature that may be following them.
"Youngling, we've finished our lessons, would you like to head back to base?" Optimus asked, feeling the young mech's uneasy spark.
Snapping out of his worried trance, Soundwave gave a small chuckle, in reply to the Prime's question.
Optimus tilted his helm curiously with a smile, happy to hear the violet mech laugh. "Did I say something odd youngling?"
Soundwave shook his helm no, with another small chuckle. "No Sir, I just find it amusing you keep calling me youngling."
"I apologize Soundwave, I will try my best to restrain myself from calling you that." Optimus apologized to the young mech.
"It's alright, I find it funny." Soundwave replied through a chuckle.
"In my defence youngling, I am quite old compared to most of our team. I'm not a spry young mech like you are." Optimus replied with a smile.
"You're not old Sir." Soundwave snorted, looking up at the red and blue mech.
"That's flattering youngling, but I'm a lot closer in age with Ironhide." Optimus scoffed at the young violet mech. "Maybe even Ratchet to. Although sometimes I wonder if he's older than the Allspark. Just don't tell Ratchet I said that."
"Like many secrets I've kept away. You're secret is safe with me." Soundwave laughed, as they came to a bend in the new canyon they were scouting.
Optimus's expression changed from a joking smile, to a look of concern, and curiousity. "Soundwave, do you recall any of what happened during your time on the Nemesis?"
Soundwave knew the question was coming, he hung his helm in disgrace. "Yes I do Sir."
Optimus could see how disappointed the young mech was. "Can you please share, and inform me of what happened. Please if there's any information to Megatron's next diabolical plans, it would greatly benefit us to know."
"Optimus I'm not proud of anything I had done for the Decepticons. That includes before I even joined the Autobots." Soundwave began to explain.
"I understand Soundwave. I will not look at you any differently." Optimus reassured the young mech that he could explain freely.
"Megatron had me research the Cybertronian history on this planet. Which doesn't sound awful, considering most of what I read was encrypted, including the locations of some artifacts, which I didn't get to decode yet. Although with Shockwave back on the Nemesis, I know decoding isn't his specialty. But I have no doubt it will only be a matter of time, before Shockwave decodes those encryptions." Soundwave described to the Prime, while they continued to walk through the large canyon. "And given that our war spread to different galaxies, and planets. Leaving weapons, and artifacts, scattered most likely here. I know that it would be incredibly unfortunate to fall into Decepticon hands." The young mech continued as the Prime stopped walking, to listen better.
"I agree that the Decepticons having that given information, is a dangerous situation." Optimus sighed knowing his brother would use anything he found, as a tool towards his universal conquest.
"I also went on a trip back to Cybertron, that I would've rather skipped..." Soundwave mentioned, bringing the Prime out of his thoughts. The violet mech could feel the Prime's optics on him, as he waited for him to continue. "Shockwave brought me back to where he created the nasty concoction of chemicals, that flows through Mirage, and I." The bioluminescent mech turned away from his leader's gaze. "The last thing I did for Megatron, was retrieve the blood of Unicron."
"Why would Megatron want dark energon?" The Prime growled suspiciously.
"I'm guessing to raise an undead army, but Shockwave wanted to try and use it as he did with Mirage and I." Soundwave shrugged, turning back to the Prime. "An undead army I can believe. Trying to recreate a super soldier syrum, since Shockwave already failed at trying to recreate Mirage and I, I do not believe Megatron would allow Shockwave to waste time on such a project."
"We will need to dispose of that dark energon, somehow. Before it can get used." Optimus thought aloud, turning to the zoned out violet mech.
Soundwave stood quietly, the memories of defending Starscream and Eradicons clouding his mind.
Optimus noticed the young mech in deep thought. "Is that everything you can remember Soundwave?"
"That's all I can remember..." Soundwave replied, hearing the sound of a roaring engine echoing through the canyon.
Optimus turned around towards the sound of the oncoming engine.
Soundwave groaned with a sigh, walking past the Prime.
Optimus was about to stop the young mech from continuing to walk towards the sound. Only to see a red Ferrari driving towards them.
"Mirage you know I go on patrol with Optimus almost every morning, why the sudden need to stalk me?" Soundwave asked in annoyance, as Mirage transformed.
"Shockwave's hunting." Mirage replied looking up at his annoyed big brother, while Optimus joined them.
Soundwave shook his helm trying to quiet his little brother, while Optimus stopped right behind him. Sighing, the young mech could practically feel the suspicious gaze the Prime was giving him. "Shockwave threatened Mirage and I last night. Saying he would hunt us down, and reprogram us."
Mirage slunk past his annoyed brother, to his father, who knelt down to be more level with him. "Why didn't one of you wake me last night?" Optimus asked his tone filled with concern. Placing a comforting servo on his youngest youngling's back.
Mirage smiled up at his father, before locking his optics on a very large bolder, that was just asking to be climbed.
"First of all, Mirage was the one that Shockwave really upset, he ran out of his room crying. I guess my room was the closest." Soundwave replied with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
"You could've come to me yourself Soundwave." Optimus stood back up with a sigh. As Mirage ran off to scale the nerby bolder.
"Okay, I don't need to go crying down the hallway to wake my father..." Soundwave went silent, catching himself openly calling Optimus Prime his father.
The Prime cocked his helm thoughtfully at his young apprentice. He could feel the young mech's spark heat up with embarrassment. "Soundwave?"
Soundwave shook out of his thoughts, clearing his throat. "Sorry... I'm just trying to say, Shockwave's empty threats don't scare me." The young mech quickly changed the subject.
"Do you really believe Shockwave's threats are empty?" Optimus asked, ignoring what the young mech had called him, before making such a claim.
"I do, considering Megatron only cares about his agenda. Since Shockwave's got dark energon to play with, it wouldn't be logical for him to pursue Mirage and I, in some kind of redemption to rekindle his miserably failed super soldier project." Soundwave scoffed, while Mirage climbed up the bolder. "Plus Megatron would rather kill both Mirage and I, before even allowing Shockwave to alter us, so Megatron may bring us back into his ranks. Megatron's no fool."
"You may be right. But you cannot hide your uneasy spark. You and Mirage will be paired with our other teammates, on every patrol, unless it interferes with a mission." Optimus told the unimpressed young mech.
"Well we've been kind of doing that already. But in all honesty Sir, I don't need a sparkling sitter." The bioluminescent mech groaned.
"I understand you want freedom to a certain extent. I am only putting these restrictions on you as a safety precaution." The Prime explained taking the young mech under his arm.
Soundwave gave a defeated groan, as they walked towards his playing little brother. "Well Arcee will be thrilled to hear that anyway."
"She cares deeply for your safety, just as I do with you and your brother." Optimus smirked, playfully squeezing the young mech against his side. "You two are trouble, we've got to keep close optics on you."
"Ha, that's if you can. Right Mirage?" Soundwave laughed trying to pull out of the playfull grip.
"Yeah!" Mirage giggled, cloaking himself, disappearing out of sight.
Optimus chuckled as Mirage reappeared wrapped around his stabilizer servo. Soundwave took that as his que to duck out from under the Prime's arm, while his little brother distracted Optimus.
"What are you doing little one?" Optimus playfully cooed, tickling his youngest son who clung to his leg.
Soundwave laughed as Mirage giggled madly, while Optimus tried to shake the young assassin off his leg.
Soundwave lifted his helm as a call activated over his comlink. "Soundwave you there?" Arcee's voice asked.
"Yes, go ahead." Soundwave replied, taking a few steps towards his leader, as he broadcasted the call over his speakers.
"First of all, is Mirage with you?" Arcee asked, gaining the attention of the Prime and youngling.
"Yes he is with us, safe." Soundwave replied, as Mirage hopped off his father's leg, while Optimus walked towards the violet mech.
"Good, so if you guys could head back, Agent Fowler is here. And I'll tell you he's not happy, and it's probably not great that he's conversing with both Ratchet and Ironhide, with a side of twins." Arcee sarcastically announced to the three.
"Understood Arcee. We're on our way back." Optimus replied to the femme. Before he could ask, Soundwave created a bridge for them.
"Listen rust bucket. I'm saying I was kept in the dark, and your last few reports had a lot of holes in them!" Agent Fowler hissed at the clearly irritated medic.
Ratchet gave a clear sigh of relief, seeing Optimus and the mutant brothers entered the base.
"Agent Fowler, to what do we owe this pleasure?" Optimus asked approaching the fuming human.
"You want to tell me what the hell has been going on with your team this last month?" Agent Fowler hissed, glaring up at the red and blue mech.
"A lot has happened Agent Fowler, let's save each other some time and just start with what's bothering you the most?" Optimus replied calmly, not wanting to play the pronoun game.
"How about the fact that the newest member of your team was an imposter..."
"That issue was dealt with efficiently, and no humans were caught in the crossfire." Prime replied, interrupting the human.
"Alright fine. How about the fact I've barely gotten any descriptive reports from you, and your people. Even though there's been a lot of Decepticon activity, most of it being spearheaded by this glowing, faceless, tin can hitman!" Agent Fowler angrily hissed, gesturing to the young mech.
Soundwave drew his helm back in surprise, looking at both the Prime and the human.
"You want to give me the full story on your so called, second in command?" The human growled, making quotations with his own digits.
Optimus gazed at the faceless young mech, before giving a deep sigh. "Agent Fowler, before we came to Earth, Soundwave was Megatron's top, most deadly soldier. Before he willingly joined our side, to help fight against Megatron's tyranny." Prime could see the humans expression darken as he explained. "Unfortunately the Decepticons captured Soundwave when he went on a scouting assignment. In order to keep our team, and you humans that work with us safe from the harms of the Decepticons, Soundwave purged any information he had about both you humans, and our base from his drives. Causing him amnesia, the Decepticons added to his unfortunate condition, by allowing their mad scientist to block any evidence of Soundwave joining our team. Reseting our young second in command, to his Decepticon ways."
Agent Fowler dipped his head, shaking it in frustration. "So you're telling me, since you've arrived on this planet you've had an ex con lurking amongst your ranks. And he just happened to betray you?!" The angered man gestured again to the silent listening bioluminescent mech.
"In a way, what you say is true Agent. But understand that with a small amount of convincing, Soundwave came to his senses, and returned to us. Regaining his memories, and returning with important, valuable information, on the Decepticons next potential move." Optimus replied, trying to justify his nephews actions.
"Alright so your bot supposedly came around. But the boys upstairs don't like having a retired Decepticon playing on our team. And I am certainly against it, since your retired bad guy, rejoined the enemy for a little vacation!" Agent Fowler snarled at the Prime. Every word he said, making Soundwave feel like worthless scrap.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa there, flesh bag!" Sideswipe hissed from by the recreational part of the room.
"You're so wrong about that!" Jazz added with a scoff.
"I've yet to be proven wrong tinker toys. I've only heard bad news about this bot..." Agent Fowler continued to insult the young mech, who had enough of his bad mouthing.
"Sir, with all do respect... I had no control over my actions..." Soundwave was hesitant to continue speaking as every word he said the human cringed at his words. "I don't know if you've ever experienced loosing your memories, or being captured and tortured by the enemy, all at the same time. Even then I knew I was on the wrong side... I didn't endanger any huma..."
Agent Fowler waved his hands, while shaking his head. "Alright, stop talking! I can barely understand you with your dark, creepy, voice, gargled through auto tune and barbed wire metal!"
Soundwave's spark sunk, immediately silencing himself. Backing away from the irritated human on the platform.
Arcee, and Optimus, both watched the embarrassed young mech, self consciously shut down. As the angry little human, continued to insult him.
"Look, I don't like your freaky faceless representation, I don't like your incomprehensible, creepy, voice. And I certainly don't like where you come from, and who you party with. You don't scream Autobot to me, you scream, untrustworthy trouble, and I am not wrong!" The small angry human listed off waving a finger at the self concious young mech.
Mirage furrowed his optic ridges, getting ready to beat the hell out of the insulting human.
Optimus gently pushed the young assassin behind him, as he stepped towards the agent on the platform. "Agent Fowler that's quite enough. I can assure you Soundwave is of no threat to this planet. We can discuss these matters when you're not so hot tempered. I'm going to ask you to leave now." Optimus lowly growled at the insulting human.
"Fine I'll go, but one more slip up from your creepy, so called, retired Con. And he's either exiled off this planet, or put down permanently!" Agent Fowler warned the Prime, as he stormed off into the human lift.
"Real tough guy, insulting the kid like that, for no bloody reason." Ironhide scoffed as the lift closed.
Soundwave visibly jumped, when a gentle servo grabbed hold of his.
"You alright?" Arcee asked, giving her mech's servo a gentle squeeze.
Soundwave gave a small unconvincing nod to his sparkmate. All he wanted to do was leave, and be unseen.
"Come on, let's go for a drive." Arcee said, pulling her mech towards the base exit.
"Soundwave doesn't drive!" Sunstreaker called out as the young couple left out the base.
"Shut up Sunstreaker!" Arcee called back, while exiting the base with her mech.
"Shouldn't you two get going on your patrol?" Ratchet said glaring over his shoulder at the twins.
"They can do that, or they can be the targets, for shooting practice." Ironhide scoffed, totting his canons at the twins.
"Alright we're going!" Sunstreaker groaned smacking Jazz in the back of the helm as they walked by him.
"Ow, the hell was that for?" Jazz complained rubbing his helm.
"Come with us, we're going to search for energon. The more optics we have, the better chance of finding some." Sideswipe replied for his twin.
"Sideswipe is correct Jazz, we're in dire need of energon. Go with please." Optimus told the grey mech, who nodded in reply.
"Sure thing Prime." Jazz replied following the twins, with Mirage in tow. "You joining us lil red?" the cool mech chuckled looking behind him.
Mirage nodded, the twins shrugged at the grey mech, before transforming.
"Alright cool, come'on." Jazz transformed following the twins out of the base with Mirage.
"Dad?" Bumblebee called tugging at his father's arm.
"Yes little one?" Optimus replied looking down at his yellow youngling.
Bumblebee's usually bright joyful optics, had a soft sadness in their glow. "Why's everyone so mean to Soundwave?"
"He's an easy target." Ironhide bluntly thought aloud.
"And you're an idiot. Now shut it." Ratchet hissed, threatening the large mech with a wrench.
Optimus shook his helm at the weapon specialist, before turning his attention back to the scout.
"Like most beings in this universe. Anything uniquely different, and unknown, can be frightening." Optimus began to explain.
"So Agent Fowler is scared of Soundwave?" Bumblebee asked curiously.
"I believe Agent Fowler is scared for his planet's safety. We are titans amongst this world, anything we do can be intimidating. Soundwave being a former Decepticon, is seen as a major threat to the humans. Considering the terrible experiences they've had with the Decepticons, and getting a small taste of how calculated they can be with Soundwave on their side. Our team situation is now looked at more diligently from the human prospective. I respect the humans, and understand their concern, but I do recognize their bias attitude towards Soundwave." Optimus sighed guiding his youngling to the couch.
"It seems like the humans are treating Soundwave the same way the Autobots did when we were on Cybertron." Bumblebee mentioned, sitting himself on the couch.
"It does seem that way, yes. The way Agent Fowler spoke to Soundwave, was very uncalled for." Optimus knelt down in front of his young scout. "It's unfortunate so many negatively judge bots, just because of their looks, or origins."
Bumblebee gave a thoughtful sigh. "I was scared of Soundwave when he first came to our team. But after getting to know him, he's a really nice mech. He's so calm and caring. Bumblebee gasped with a smile. "He's like you, but younger!"
Optimus lifted his helm, looking past his youngling. Seeing both the medic, and weapon specialist chuckling in the background. "Yes Bumblebee, Soundwave does resemble your father's characteristics, when he was in his youth." Ratchet smirked at the Prime, who shook his helm with a chuckle.
"You should be Soundwave's dad, not Megatron." Bumblebee scoffed, while Ratchet walked up behind him.
Ratchet laughed patting Bumblebee's helm. "Some have questioned it. Well, at least those who know both of their pasts. But sometimes you could swear Mirage came from Megatron and Soundwave came from Optimus."
"Dad are you sure you're not Soundwave's dad?" Bumblebee playfully questioned, raising an optic ridge.
Optimus chuckled patting his youngling's shoulder, as he stood back up. "I'm positive youngling. But I would be honoured to be if I was."
"Time to get some training done youngling." Ironhide called the young scout, as he made his way down to the training room.
"You should just adopt him, like mom did with Mirage." Bumblebee said as he bounced off the couch, following his mentor down the hallway.
"Yeah Optimus, get on top of that." Ratchet sarcastically retorted, placing his servos on his hips.
"I see where the twins get their sarcastic remarks." Optimus shook his helm, following the medic back to the monitors.
"Oh, I could say the same about you and Soundwave, you old mech." Ratchet teased the red and blue mech.
"I'd ask if grouchiness comes with old age, but I've known you practically my entire life cycle." Optimus retorted, ducking as he expected a wrench to be flying at his helm.
"Hardy, har, har... Keep it up, and I'm going to start saying your could be third son, is more mature than you." Ratchet retorted, waving a wrench at the joking Prime.
"Do you believe I should adopt him?" Optimus asked his old friend.
"I don't think it's completely necessary, as I think Soundwave will be modest about it, saying he's too old to be adopted by you. But in the long run I think it would lift his spirits. Considering Soundwave's never been allowed to call anyone his father, including his own damn father, may he rust in the firey pits. Honestly if nobody told him Megatron was his creator, I'm sure he would've thought it was you." Ratchet gave his honest opinion to his friend. "But as stoic as Soundwave is, you've been a father to him, from the beginning. I don't think he's ever seen you as anything else."
"Hmm..." Optimus mulled over what the ancient medic had said. He was most likely right that Soundwave would refuse the kind gesture. Optimus already knew Soundwave saw him as a father figure, more than an uncle. Especially considering the young Prime apprentice called him his father today.
"So this is the canyon you and Optimus were scouting before we called you back?" Arcee asked, looking at the violet mech she walked beside.
Soundwave gave a quick nod in reply to the femme's question.
"You know, you're not as emotionless as you make yourself out to be." Arcee sighed, softening her optics, her sparkbond with her mech was growing. Giving her the ability to feel Soundwave's self abasement.
Soundwave stopped in his tracks, as Arcee jumped in front of him, placing both her servos on his chest plate to prevent him from going futher.
"Soundwave, please don't shut yourself down. Agent Fowler is just a biased hot head, yes he said those things to hurt you. But he's just one guy, please don't take it to spark." Arcee said, trying to look into the black visor that turned away from her. "You had every right to voice your opinion. And the team will continue to defend you from the mockery, and hate." The femme tried to reassure the upset young mech.
Soundwave deflated in defeat, nodding in agreement with his sparkmate.
"Don't you dare take another vow of silence, Soundwave. I love your voice, and everything about you." Arcee gave the saddened violet mech a shake.
"I don't see what difference it makes, I've gone deca cycles without speaking without anyone having a problem with it..." Soundwave sighed, as Arcee gave him a loving embrace. "Some preferred it."
"The difference is, nobody is threatening your life if you speak. You're a unique individual, and if bots got a problem with your voice. They can stick their rude comments, up their tailpipes!" Arcee scoffed making Soundwave chuckle.
"Unique may not be the correct wording. I've always hated my voice, I sound about as evil as Megatron, but way creepier, if that's even possible." Soundwave retorted making the femme shake her helm, while he walked around her going further down the canyon.
"Soundwave you're nothing like Megatron, don't say that. You're voice print is like no other Cybertronian, it's just one of many things, that make you unique Soundwave." Arcee complimented, following her mech down the canyon.
"Sure... I think there's an energon source not far. Maybe we can restock our dwindling energon supply." The bioluminescent mech mentioned, displaying his findings on his visor.
"You're changing the subject, but I'll go along with it." Arcee raised an optic ridge at her mech.
"Oh no, you caught onto my game, however shall I avoid the next motivational talk?" Soundwave sarcastically replied to his suspicious femme.
"Alright I take it back, you can start that vow of silence now." Arcee groaned, as they came across quite a bit of raw energon, ready to be mined.
"I'll work on it. Optimus, Sir, we've located energon." Soundwave called back to base.
"Good work, I will send the twins to your coordinates for retrieval." Optimus replied over the comlink.
"Well I guess we're waiting for those morons to get here." Arcee sighed leaning against one of the canyon walls.
Soundwave was already deep in thought, his mind was still stuck on Optimus Prime. Trying to figure out why Optimus's flashbacks was a major influence on him during his time as a Decepticon. "The hell?" Soundwave winced as a small rock bounced off his helm.
"Oh good, I've got your attention." Arcee smirked, tossing the rocks in her servo to the ground. "What's on your mind?"
"Optimus..." Soundwave replied walking over to the cobalt blue femme.
"Oh, why, I thought you had a good patrol this morning?" Arcee cocked her helm curiously at the violet mech.
"We did. It's just, when I lost my memories, Optimus seemed to be a reoccurring flashback of guidance, that honestly almost got me killed." Soundwave told his surprised sparkmate.
"What, how did it almost get you killed?" Arcee asked looking up at her sparkmate.
"Well the first thing that happened was quite the sight. I actually defended Starscream from Megatron's beating. I honestly thought Megatron was going to offline me right then and there." Soundwave told the femme his most memorable moment under the Prime's influence.
"You defend the one mech that has constantly put you down since day one?" Arcee snorted in disbelief.
"Arcee, everybody hates me, even the Eradicons. It's not just one single mech, it's everyone. Some more then others, but still." Soundwave laughed at the femme's query. "But yes, I jumped right in front of him, and blocked him from Megatron's blow. It hurt like hell to."
"Primus Soundwave, that was an admirable action. You were very lucky Megatron didn't offline you right then and there. That bastard must've been in a good mood." Arcee shook her helm in disbelief.
"Yeah..." Soundwave went once again, into deep thought, remembering how strangely patient and somewhat nice Megatron was to him. Although it was definitely a thin line of kindness the tyrant was walking on.
"What's that look all about?" Arcee chuckled, noticing her mech was once again in deep thought.
"Look? I have no face?" Soundwave cocked his helm at the cobalt blue femme.
Arcee facepalmed with a groan. "Primus, I just meant you seem to be in deep thought again."
"I was just thinking about..." before Soundwave could finish his sentence, four sports cars came screeching around the corner with Mirage in the lead.
Mirage transformed leaping into the air with a flip, landing back on his peds, sliding to a halt in front of his brother and Arcee.
"You sure know how to make an enterance don't you?" Arcee said, smiling at the red youngling.
"Brat has got some speed, haven't been able to beat him yet." Sunstreaker scoffed, approaching the young couple, with his twin, and Jazz.
"Well once again you make our jobs easier, thanks for finding this energon, Wavers." Sideswipe joyfully said, wrapping an arm around the violet mech's shoulders.
Soundwave quickly pushed aside all the warnings flaring in his mind, as the silver twin released him from his hold. "A minor victory. This amount of energon will sustain the team only for a few days. I do believe we should continue to search for energon."
"Okay mini Optimus, we'll continue our searching, don't you worry." Sunstreaker teased, making his brother and Jazz chuckle.
"I'm just making a statement about the wellbeing of our team. I'm not trying to be Optimus." Soundwave grumbled, folding his arms, as the twins began mining the energon.
Arcee chuckled softly, placing a servo on her mech's arm. "They're just teasing Soundwave. You did come off sounding like Optimus though."
Soundwave sighed, he would've rolled his optics if he could. "If you say so..."