Optimus quickly led Soundwave to the med bay, sitting him next to Mirage on the medical berth.
Mirage winced as his spark burned with intense heat.
Soundwave clenched his chest plate receiving the same intense burning in his spark.
"Can you two tell me what's going on with you?" Ratchet asked getting ready to run scans.
"Spare the diagnosis Ratchet... We have to go!" Soundwave hissed through pain, hopping off the medical berth.
"Soundwave?" Ratchet called in confusion as the violet mech opened a space bridge.
Mirage eagerly hopped off the berth, knowing exactly what his brother was talking about.
Optimus blinked getting the hint shortly after Mirage leapt off the berth. "Autobots prepare for combat!" He quickly woke up his team of Autobots.
"I'll inform Agent Fowler." Ratchet thought aloud quickly moving to the main monitor.
"Did Lazerbeak alert you?" Arcee pushed past the slow mechs trudging their way into the main room.
"No but I got a strong enough alert..." Soundwave hissed trying to hide his pain.
"Ratchet, Bumblebee, stay here and monitor from the base. Autobots roll out!" Optimus Prime commanded leading his team through Soundwave's spacebridge portal.
Landing on the spacebridge Mirage and Soundwave pushed aside their pain. Ready to destroy the spacebridge and the Decepticons.
Lazerbeak immediately picked up on Soundwave's presence, zooming over to his master. Eagerly returning to the young mech's torso.
The moment Lazerbeak was reconnected to him, Soundwave's pain eased giving him a chance to think clearly, and explain what's going on. "Megatron has finally figured out how to have a symbiotic link with the his undead army. He must've infused himself with dark energon without dire consequences."
"How the frag do you know that? Unless bird beak told you." Ironhide scoffed totting his canons.
"I know he has because both Mirage and I are receiving the same symptoms of Megatron trying to gain control over us." Soundwave explained as a wave of pain rippled through him and Mirage.
"Okay so how do we know Megaton isn't controlling you two?" Sunstreaker hissed getting his weapons at the ready.
"Megatron would've gained control the first moment he injected himself. Mirage and I aren't pure, so Megatron doesn't have full control our system." Soundwave rolled his optics at the golden twin.
"Full control?" Sunstreaker raised an optic ridge as the Nemesis approached the spacebridge.
"For the love of Primus... the only thing he's caused us is pain. I just explained to you why it..."
"Soundwave, Sunstreaker enough." Optimus growled at the arguing mechs, gesturing to the warship.
"What's Megatron waiting for?" Arcee asked as the Nemesis sat inactive.
"I'm sure he's going to send out the troops to attack us at any moment." Steve nervously replied, knowing that Megatron seeing him on the Autobot team was a huge insult.
Soundwave materialized his visor zooming his vision on the Nemesis he could see Steve was correct. On the deck of the warship was a large platoon of seekers taking off heading directly towards them. "Don't speak to soon Arcee."
"Autobots we stand and fight. We must not allow the Decepticons to overpower us." Optimus told his team as the seekers quickly approached.
"With pleasure." Mirage smirked ready to fight. Deflecting the first shots that were fired upon them.
Every Autobot returned fire, taking down as many targets as possible as the swarm of seekers continued their assault. Some of them evading the Autobot bullets, transforming to fight the invading Autobots.
Mirage was quick to defend his father's position, striking down any Eradicon seekers that landed too close to the Prime. Optimus in shooting down whatever Mirage had missed, he used his free servo to take down any who dared to challenge him.
Jazz and Sideswipe seemed to be making a game of this combat. Bowling over unfortunate Eradicons in their vehicle modes. Sunstreaker stuck to shooting the cons down with Ironhide. The golden twin wouldn't dare risk his paint job just to run over Decepticons.
Arcee was doing just fine firing at the incoming seekers. While striking down the Eradicon soldiers stupid enough to get close to her.
Soundwave was careful not to tangle his tentacles amongst his teammates. Wielding a small blade, whatever Decepticons snuck past his tentacles were sliced in half by his blade. Most of Soundwave's kills were from his tentacles. Hearing Steve yelp in pain turned the violet mech's attention towards the ultramarine mech. The seekers were mercilessly beating the traitorous Eradicon. Soundwave quickly released his drone to aid Steve. As other seekers went to try the same with him.
Finally catching a little relief thanks to Lazerbeak, Steve turned around striking down the few soldiers that beat on him. "Woah!" Steve waved his arms for balance as the bridge shifted.
"Megatron's locked onto Cybertron!" Soundwave announced.
Rumbling followed shortly after Soundwave's announcement, the spacebridge firing up in a large hue of blue and green.
"Decepticons focus your attention on Soundwave!" The Warlord himself arose on top of his warship with a humongous chunk of dark energon weighing down on his shoulders. He was going to throw it through his spacebridge, but knowing Soundwave could fly there was a possibility it would not make it to Cybertron.
The seekers quickly changed their direction of combat onto the violet mech. Soundwave was shot at and tackled to the ground attempting to restrain him.
With one mighty swing, Megatron tossed the dark energon into space. Soaring with velocity the dark energon made it's flight towards the spacebridge.
Steve quickly jumped into action helping Soundwave take down his attackers.
Soundwave attempted to shake off the attacking seekers that slipped past Steve. Getting frustrated with the overwhelming amount of attacking soldiers, Soundwave set off an explosive blast of sound waves throwing the attackers and whatever Autobots were around him.
Optimus picked himself up off the floor after Soundwave knocked most of the team and him to the floor. Looking up the Prime fired at the toxic purple energon as it flew over him into the spacebridge.
"Give us a little warning next time Waverz..." Sideswipe groaned helping Arcee back onto her peds.
Lazerbeak immediately returned to Soundwave after the seekers were cleared. "Sorry I was trying to get rid of the Cons." Soundwave apologized through a cough, walking over to the downed ultramarine mech. "Thanks for helping me Steve." Soundwave thanked holding out a helping servo.
"Well it was kind of effective." Steve chuckled taking Soundwave's servo, pulling himself up on to his peds.
Nobody had time to react as Megatron's jet form collided into Steve, knocking Soundwave down in the process.
Steve was helplessly stuck on the warlord's jet, flying past Optimus, Ironhide, and Sunstreaker. Megatron transformed drawing his sword, stabbing it through the traitorous mech's spark chamber killing him instantly. With a violent growl Megatron tossed the lifeless husk at his brother.
Optimus watched as lifeless teammate flew by with such force Steve's frame scraped across the floor, stopping in front of Soundwave.
"Steve!" Soundwave yelled through a cough, quickly checking for any signs of a spark beat. Arcee and Jazz not far behind him.
"Autobots, Megatron has successfully transported his dark energon to Cybertron. We must destroy the bridge!" Optimus was saddened by their newest members fate. But knew that unfortunately they had no time to grieve. Megatron was a dire threat, they had to continue with their mission. "Soundwave lead the team to begin our plan. While I make my stand with Megatron." Optimus ordered as Megatron began striding towards him.
Steve's frame was lifeless, energon draining from his floating frame.
"Soundwave we have to go." Arcee gently tugged at her mech's shoulders.
Soundwave looked at his energon drenched servos then back at Steve's bleeding frame. The ultramarine mech's frame was floating no longer able to gravitize with magnetic connections. Soundwave was completely broken inside, Steve was able to protect him but he could not return the favour. With a depressed sigh Soundwave nodded at Arcee. Leading the team towards the spacebridge maintenance panel.
"Mirage follow your brother!" Optimus ordered the stubborn youngling. As Megatron continued to approach them.
"Let him stay. It will be easier to kill you both at the same time." Megatron challenged with an evil grin as more seekers arrived.
"Soundwave's fine with the team, I'm staying here. You can't fight Megatron and his minions all by yourself!" Mirage argued refusing to leave his father's side.
"I will deal with Megatron." Optimus growled not wanting to argue.
Mirage nodded in agreement quickly charging at the new seekers.
"Soundwave you know what you're doing with this thing?" Ironhide asked as they arrived at the control panel.
"Yes I do, just give me a moment." Soundwave replied ripping the panel off the floor.
"Alright we've got company. Soundwave you do your thing, we'll keep the Cons busy." Ironhide replied gesturing for the twins to join him.
"You got this?" Arcee asked before she went to follow Jazz to cover another area.
Soundwave nodded as his visor lit up with text and architectural details.
Arcee nodded following the grey mech, firing at the incoming seekers.
Mirage could see his father was struggling against the warlord. He tried to do his best to stay out of his father's battle while he took care of the last seekers, but couldn't stand to watch the losing battle.
Megatron managed to get the upper hand in the battle slicing Prime's sword in half. The tyrant delivered an uppercut blow before grabbing his brother's ped, tossing Optimus across the floor. Megatron strode towards the downed Prime with a venomous grin raising his sword ready to deliver the finale blow.
Mirage hooked a seeker with his sword swinging the mech around with force, tossing the seeker right into Megatron.
Two seekers quickly tackled Mirage pinning him to the ground.
Megatron batted the seekers husk away with an evil chuckle. "Watch youngling as the great Optimus Prime meets his demise!" The gunmetal grey mech went to strike the Prime only to receive a transmission from Starscream.
"I believe the Autobots are up to something, beneath your bridge this time." Soundwave's radar sensors picked up on the Seeker Commander's transmission. He knew he had to pick up the pace. "The Cons know what we're up to!" Soundwave warned the team around him.
"Misdirection Optimus, you would've made a fine Decepticon!" Megatron growled throwing his sword down for the final devastating blow.
Optimus blocked his brother's sword with his broken sword. "I chose my side." Throwing the sword off his own Optimus quickly replaced his sword with his blaster. Blasting Megatron away before the tyrant had a chance to attack.
Mirage quickly overpowered the two mech's that held him down. Throwing them off, Mirage fired a few rounds at the vulnerable gunmetal grey mech.
Megatron dodged the shots, transforming he took off towards the bottom of the bridge as his army of the undead fast approached.
"Soundwave I'm getting a surplus amount of dark energon signatures fast approaching. What's going on?" Ratchet asked over the comlink.
"I'm rerouting the energon flow now!" Soundwave replied twisting the valve to the energon flow regulator. As soon as the current was reversed Megatron soared over them.
Arcee and the others immediately opened fire at the warlord.
Megatron dove towards the firing Autobots ramming into Arcee.
Arcee retracted one of her wrist blades using it as leverage she climbed on top of the Megatron's jet.
Megatron screamed in anger barrel rolling sending the femme flying off of him. Jazz leapt up catching the floating femme. "Thanks." Arcee gasped as she was placed down.
"Any time!" Jazz nodded firing at the warlord with Soundwave and Arcee.
"It's about time to leave!" Ironhide announced as the bridge began to tear apart. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker fired at the Decepticon warlord with Ironhide only angering the evil mech further.
Megatron was enraged firing back, aiming at Soundwave specifically.
Soundwave blocked all the shots with his arms as the bridge trembled and tore.
"Soundwave, we need a bridge now!" Optimus called out as he ran with Mirage to the edge of the self destructing bridge.
Megatron flew over them flying back to the centre of the bridge where his legion of the undead were almost through.
Soundwave quickly ran with his team to the edge of the bridge. Creating a spacebridge back to base. Optimus and Mirage quickly leapt into the bridge followed by most of the team.
"Wait where's Steve?" Soundwave stopped on the edge, scanning with his optics for the ultramarine mech's lifeless body.
"He's gone kid, come'on!" Ironhide called out leaping into the bridge with the Jazz.
"Soundwave we can't retrieve him it's too dangerous, we got to go!" Arcee said leaping into the bridge hoping her mech would follow.
Soundwave couldn't pin point the Eradicon's frame he had to leave. The bridge shook violently, as small explosions erupted. Looking up at the centre of the bridge Soundwave could see his father floating, dumbstruck watching as his army approached. *Fly away...* Soundwave thought feeling concern for his father's wellbeing. The floor beneath him began to crumble, causing the violet mech to leap into his created bridge as the spacebridge caused an astronomical explosion behind him. Safely arriving back at the base Soundwave quickly closed the bridge before the explosive shockwaves came through.
A small pain in his spark flickered dissipating shortly after the pain started. The violet mech knew that pain in his spark was his father's spark going out. Soundwave retracted his visor, tiredly gazing at everyone in the base, he could see Agent Fowler asking the team questions. While Ratchet was already repairing Arcee and Optimus. The young mech noted Optimus had a mournful look in his optics.
Soundwave was upset with himself for allowing Megatron to kill his newest recruit. Granted Steve hadn't been with them for more than a day. But the Eradicon was at least someone Soundwave could relate to as an ex Decepticon on an Autobot team. The violet mech was surprised he actually got along well with the cheery Eradicon that was no more.
Everyone seemed preoccupied with reporting to the human agent that had arrived shortly after Ratchet alerted him to their mission.
Soundwave slunk away to the top of the base. Sitting himself on the ground next to his mother's grave. Hugging his knees resting his forehead on his arms, Soundwave closed his optics. There was a void taking over the very faint flicker in his spark that belonged to Megatron. Soundwave never had a close bond with Megatron, but they still shared a spark connection. His spark felt almost empty with both parents gone from existence his spark now relied on his little brother's spark bond. Over time he had begun to create a spark bond with Arcee, the only other spark bond he had was the small bond he shared with his Uncle. Soundwave knew he had to make his own efforts to help make those bonds stronger. His strongest bond was with his brother the only one he fully trusted. It wasn't that he didn't trust Arcee and Optimus, it was just that Mirage was the only bot Soundwave knew that had trusted him his entire life. Mirage may have had doubts sometimes, but they always fought for each other no matter what the risks. Soundwave had been revisiting his past the last few days, although the bond between him and Megatron was merely non existent, the violet mech felt there was a glimmer of hope that they could of had a bond.
Mirage walked over to his brother sitting next to him, staring out at the blue sky that illuminated the valley. They sat silently for almost an hour, Mirage didn't mind at all. But he had questions he knew Soundwave could tell.
"Soundwave?"
The violet mech lifted his helm his sad optics barely gazed at his brother's cyan ones.
"Do you think now that Megatron's gone, we can go home now?" Mirage asked timidly he could feel Soundwave was upset about Megatron's demise.
Soundwave took a moment to reply, he wanted to go home but knew Megatron's death wasn't the cure for them to return home. "No I don't. Our home is dead..."
"Oh..." Mirage went quiet.
"We need to find a way to rejuvenate our planet before we're able to live on Cybertron again." Soundwave tried to sound a little more positive for his little brother. "If we do find that power to do so, Megatron being offline is a benefit to our home..."
Mirage cocked his helm thoughtfully. "What could revive our planet?"
"I'm not sure, but Optimus seems to think there's something that can. I also believe there is a power that can do so, I am going to try and pin point what it is though."
Mirage stood up smiling at his brother. "You seem hopeful about that."
"Well I'm trying to be positive. Instead of an uncharismatic bore." Soundwave joked rolling his optics.
"You're not boring!" Mirage playfully chuckled playfully hugging his older brother. "At least not all the time..." the youngling teased.
"Very funny sparkling!" Soundwave snorted pulling Mirage onto his lap.
"I'm not a sparkling!" Mirage giggled as Soundwave stood up, causing him to slide onto the ground.
"At least not anymore!" Soundwave retorted hanging his youngling brother upside down.
"Wave!" Mirage laughed poking Soundwave's legs with his claws.
"Hey keep those claws to yourself!" Soundwave held his little brother further away from his frame. Making Mirage accidentally swing into the human helicopter.
"Wave!" Mirage growled as he was dropped.
"Oh you're fine. I just hope Agent Fowler's little contraption is though..." Soundwave cringed at the now dented helicopter.
Arcee chuckled watching the mutant brothers play. "I know you don't like Fowler but you don't need to sabotage his ride."
"It wasn't intentional, I honestly didn't realize it was there." Soundwave innocently shrugged as Mirage dusted himself off.
"Well you better get back in the base before Fowler finds out it was you." Arcee smirked gesturing for the brothers to go inside.
"I'm sure he would blame me whether it was me or not." Soundwave grumbled riding the lift down with the femme and youngling.
Arcee sighed walking down the hallway, as Mirage passed by her and Soundwave into the main room. She quickly tugged at her mech's arm, halting him just before entering the main room. "You're doing alright Soundwave?"
"I'm not, but I'll be okay for now." The violet mech surprised his femme with a true honest reply.
The cobalt blue femme nodded in understanding. She would be there to talk her mech through Steve's death. But Arcee knew to comfort Soundwave if he needed it, knowing he was just as upset about Megatron's death if not more. But the femme knew that wasn't a subject for her to touch, as she only knew Megatron as the monster he became. "Thank you for being honest."
"Speaking of being honest..." Soundwave sighed walking towards the human, clearing his irritated throat he greeted the human. "Excuse me Agent Fowler?"
"What is it static radio?" Agent Fowler groaned looking up at the violet mech in surprise.
"Mirage and I were on top of the base and we didn't realize your helicopter was out there, it may have a dent in it now." Soundwave sheepishly replied to the human.
"For the love of... do you bots not have eyes? What were you doing up there, throwing a wrestling match?!" Agent Fowler fumed.
"Kind of." Mirage shrugged with a laugh.
"Alright I'm going to nurse it home now. I want that background history report when I come back." Agent Fowler groaned stomping into the human lift.
After the human left both Optimus and Soundwave kept quietly to themselves for the rest of the day. Later that evening they had a small eulogy for their lost teammate. Optimus went on a solo night patrol, while Arcee forced her mech to socialize and join Jazz, the twins, and his little brother on the couch.
Soundwave sat on the end of the couch with Arcee next to him. He remained distant while the others watched the holo vid. The mech felt the others might find it was wrong for him to be upset about his father's death. That the others on the team might hate him for even thinking Megatron's death was unnecessary. Gazing at the floor he noticed his little brother was about as entertained as he was. Bumblebee who sat next to Mirage on the floor, sure seemed to be enjoying the holo vid as much as the others.
"Hey, cheer up dude it's a good day!" Sideswipe's voice snapped Soundwave out of his thoughts.
"We lost a teammate today, that's a good day?" Soundwave raised an optic ridge at the silver mech.
"Geez mister negative over here." Sunstreaker retorted shaking his helm.
"That's not all that happened today Soundwave. Steve didn't die in vain, he died helping us save a planet." Sideswipe said ignoring his twin brother's remark.
Soundwave gave a small nod of acknowledgement. Sideswipe did raise a valid point even though it was still quite upsetting. The violet mech did not change his depressed expression, still saddened by his father's death.
"This isn't about Steve is it?" Sunstreaker cocked an optic ridge at the young mech.
Soundwave pushed off the couch, taking the golden mech's comment as his cue to leave. Making his way into his room, shutting the door behind him. He grabbed a blank data pad sitting on the desk, and began to report what had happened today.
Arcee glared at the golden twin. "Do you ever know when to not voice your every thought?"
"What do you mean I said nothing wrong. I just stated Soundwave was upset." Sunstreaker shrugged at the irritated femme.
"You continue to voice your thoughts like that, Soundwave's going to start thinking you're Starscream." Arcee shook her helm making Bumblebee and Mirage get off the floor. "Come on you two time to recharge."
"Don't be ridiculous." Sunstreaker snorted.
"Whatever you say Air Raid." Arcee retorted escorting the younglings to bed.
"Hey, that guy was a glitch! And deserved whatever happened to him, don't you dare compare me to that hunk of scrap!" Sunstreaker jumped up from the couch, giving the femme a enraged glare.
"Then stop acting like him." Sideswipe said leaving the recreational part of the main room.
"Doing reports?" Arcee asked upon entering her room.
"Just finishing mine. Yours is done, it's right there." Soundwave replied pointing to the data pad on the top right corner of the desk.
"Soundwave I appreciate that, but you don't have to do my reports for me." Arcee sighed reviewing her report.
"I know, but I was doing mine anyway." Soundwave shrugged putting his report on top of Arcee's. "Mirage in bed?"
"Yes, surprisingly without an argument." Arcee sighed sitting herself down on the berth.
Soundwave snorted with an inaudible chuckle. "He's probably finally exhausted after our battle today, and playing inventor for the past three nights."
"I think he's just trying to keep his mind occupied during the night so he doesn't have nightmares about Shockwave." Arcee mentioned, gaining her mech's full attention.
"He told you that?" At times Soundwave had forgotten that his brother was so young. Mirage had mastered the skill of being stoic, hiding his fears until he had a nightmares.
"No, but that's what he did in the past on Cybertron. That's how we discovered he was quite the little inventor." The femme replied as Soundwave climbed into the berth with her. "You do the same as well."
"I do not, what are you talking about?" Soundwave scoffed rubbing his sore throat.
"Maybe not inventing, but you go do maintenance or some kind of work to keep your mind occupied so you don't have to recharge." Arcee pointed out to the young mech in denial.
Soundwave rolled his optics with a groan. "Ratchet doesn't mind."
Arcee laughed at the violet mech. "Of course he doesn't mind. You finish all the work around the base."
"I enjoy working." Soundwave yawned tiredly, causing Arcee to wrap her arms around his waist and pull him down to lay next to her.
"It's recharging time now, mister hard worker." Arcee cooed rubbing the back of her mech's helm.
Soundwave gave an insignificant smile, giving Arcee a quick peck on the helm as she closed her optics. A smile crept across her face after receiving the small kiss.
With one more yawn Soundwave closed his exhausted optics, falling into slumber.
The sound of raspy electronic chirps and giggles filled the tiny shack of a home. Soundwave grabbed at the massive claw like digits that tickled.
"Megatronus, are you going to torture him until his cooling fans click on?" Xanthia sarcastically asked the gladiator that kneeled on the floor.
"His vocals should be practically healed, why not take advantage of the opportunity to hear his laughter." Megatronus argued with a chuckle, continuing to tickle his sparkling.
"It's only been a few days since he was wounded, take it easy." Xanthia rolled her optics with a smile. "So besides torturing Soundwave, what are your plans tonight?"
Hearing Soundwave begin to cough, along with his cooling fans clicking on, Megatronus scooped the sparkling up into his arms. "It depends on how much energon you have?" He replied as Soundwave continued to cough while lazily playing with his father's large clawed digits.
"I have enough for a while but we should plan another raid in a few more days." Xanthia replied walking over to the kitchen area.
"Okay well since you have enough, I am meeting Orion Pax at Maccadams Old Oil House. You should join us." Megatronus said to the bioluminescent femme.
"You're going to set foot in Iacon voluntarily?" Xanthia scoffed, prepping a bottle for her sparkling.
"It's been a while but yes I am. Orion seems to share the same beliefs as I do. And having a librarian with the knowledge of the grid will greatly benefit us in our fight to bring down the caste." Megatronus replied walking over to the femme.
Xanthia handed a prepared bottle to her mech. "I'll join you tonight sure. I'm sure Soundwave would be happy to see something new." The femme replied beginning to prep more bottles for their trip.
Soundwave drank the bottle hungrily. Happily pattering his tiny little peds against his father's arm as he drank. His throat burning with irritation at the halfway point of his bottle. Soundwave whimpered pushing away the bottle, beginning another coughing fit.
Xanthia sighed watching her mech attempt to feed the sparkling that was in pain. "He hasn't been able to finish any of his bottles lately. I don't think he's as healed as we thought."
Megatronus sighed placing the half empty bottle on the counter. He began to rub his sparkling's throat, hoping to soothe it. "Perhaps I should have Shockwave look at it again?"
"Can you get him to come tomorrow?" Xanthia nodded with a sigh. The femme did not like the one opticed scientist, but Shockwave was the closest thing they had to a doctor.
"Of course." Megatronus nodded as Soundwave squirmed uncomfortably in pain.
"When are we leaving?"
"Whenever you're ready Xanthia. We're in no rush, I will call my brother and let him know when we are leaving." Megatronus replied to the femme.
"I'll just prep some of Soundwave's things and I'll be ready." Xanthia replied gathering the sparkling supplies.
"Of course..."
"I'd be even quicker if you changed his wastage tank." Xanthia grinned nicely at her mech after interrupting him.
Megatronus rolled his optics with a groan placing Soundwave on the floor.
"Thank you!" Xanthia quickly ran to her room to gather more supplies.
Orion waited nervously outside of Maccadams Old Oil house. He didn't know why he was nervous, he was only meeting with his brother and Xanthia. Although he didn't know whether he was breaking the law by inviting two lower caste members into an Iacon oil bar. Orion Pax knew the owner of the bar didn't care where you stood in the caste system, as long as nobody fought in his bar, you were welcomed. The sound of engines approaching gained his attention seeing the femme and gladiator transforming.
Soundwave blinked his optics curiously scanning the brightly lit environment around him.
"There's Orion." Megatronus pointed out walking towards his brother, with the mother.
"Now remember Orion is your brother, he's going to support you. Just keep an open mind with him, he's lived a privileged life compared to us. Don't take his ignorance of our caste as arrogance." Xanthia spoke softly leaning into her mech as they approached the red and blue mech.
Megatronus nodded with a sigh. "I will do my best."
Soundwave took his optics off of the shiny shimmering lights around them, focusing on the mech they were approaching. "Rion!" Soundwave chirped bouncing excitedly in his mother's arms.
"Someone missed you." Xanthia chuckled at her excited sparkling.
"I missed you to little one." Orion Pax smiled at the adorable violet sparkling.
"It's good to see you again brother. Under better circumstances this time." Megatronus stuck out his servo for his brother to grab.
"Agreed Megatronus." Orion nodded shaking his brother's servo. "Shall we go in?" He gestured for the femme and gladiator to walk into the bar.
Megatronus led them to a booth, gesturing for Xanthia to sit first, while Orion ordered them drinks.
Soundwave sat on his mother's lap. Watching the busy bots in the bar drink, laugh, and dance to the music playing in the bar. It was a little overstimulating for the tiny violet sparkling. The large mechs in the booth behind them had thundering laughs. It scared the violet sparkling, Soundwave curled himself up against his mother with a whimper.
"Shh it's alright Soundwave, they're happy. Just like you when you get tickled." Xanthia cooed bouncing her sparkling on her leg.
Soundwave shifted in the berth waking Arcee. Arcee barely opened her tired optics, wrapping her arms around the slumbering mech's waist she pulled Soundwave closer to her frame. Unsure of whether or not Soundwave was having a nightmare, she held him close hoping to keep him consoled.
Orion Pax walked over to the booth handing both Megatronus and Xanthia cans of Visco. "Sorry they don't have any low grade for the sparkling." He apologized to the femme as he sat across from the femme and his brother.
"That was kind of you to think of Soundwave Orion. But I did bring his own energon." Xanthia smiled pulling a bottle out of her storage compartment.
Soundwave ignored the bottle his mother tried to feed him. To focused on the action happening around him to think of hunger.
"Well when you're hungry you'll want it I suppose." Xanthia shrugged placing the bottle on the table.
While Soundwave's mother and father conversed with Orion Pax, Soundwave monitored everyone in the bar. The two loud laughing mechs that sat In the booth behind them finally left. The violet sparkling scaled his mother's chest plate, standing himself on her shoulder giving him the chance to peek his helm over the back of the bench.
"Ironhide why'd you drag me in here, you know I'm busy!" A grumpy old mech complained sitting in the booth behind Xanthia and Megatronus.
"Because your shift ended a long time ago Ratchet. You need a rest." Ironhide scoffed sitting across from the medic.
Soundwave ducked when the medic sat in front of him. Curious to the gruff voice the little sparkling peeked his helm out from behind the medic, seeing the large black mech.
Ratchet groaned as Ironhide had the bartender deliver Visco to them. "Ironhide I'm a medic, I can't drink this. What if an emergency comes up?"
"Trust me you need it. It's only one Ratch it's not going to send you off the deep end." Ironhide rolled his optics at his friend.
Soundwave could hear his mother and father having a heated discussion with Orion. He shrugged climbing on the back of the booth bench. Losing his balance Soundwave tumbled down into the booth behind them, landing next to the medic.
Ratchet visibly jumped at the feeling of a small being landing next to him. "The hell was that..." the medic looked next to him seeing the violet sparkling.
Soundwave pushed himself up to his peds, using the medic's leg to balance. "Hi!"
Ironhide chuckled seeing the sparkling smiling up at the old medic. "Seems you have a friend."
"Hello little one, who are you?" Ratchet cooed to the adorable little sparkling.
"Sounway!" Soundwave squeaked through his odd electronic voice.
Ratchet narrowed his optics noticing the scarring on the sparkling's neck where the sparkling's voice box sat. Noting the scarring was from a high intensive heat. Just eyeballing the wound Ratchet could tell the wound was beginning to heal but very prone to irritation.
"I'm terribly sorry sir. Soundwave what are you doing over there?" Xanthia quickly stepped out of her seat standing next to the two older mechs.
"No need to apologize, you have a very sweet sparkling." The old medic chuckled passing the sparkling over to the femme.
"Thank you." Xanthia sheepishly replied taking her sparkling back to the booth. "Now stay on this side Soundwave." Sitting back down the femme scolded her sparkling.
Orion Pax smiled at the glowing sparkling that seemed to be bored out of his mind now. "He's a very dedicated medic. I have met him a few times, his friend is in construction he's quite the bold mech."
"I'm sure. They also came here to relax, not play with sparklings." Xanthia said giving her sparkling a small playful tickle.
Soundwave giggled into a coughing fit gaining the old medic's attention.
Ironhide raised an optic ridge at his concerned friend. "I saw you examining that sparkling with your optics."
Ratchet tried not to look over his shoulder at the coughing sparkling. "From just looking at him the sparkling already has permanent damage to his voice box, but I can help ease the pain."
Ironhide rolled his optics with a smile. "Apparently I brought you to work anyway. Go help the sparkling."
Xanthia tried to sooth her sparkling by offering a bottle of energon. "Shh Soundwave it's alright."
Megatronus looked at his sparkling with concern. "Maybe we should get him back home?"
"I think that's a good idea. Sorry Orion, I can leave and Megatronus can stay." The femme apologized to the clerk.
"No it's quite alright, we've conversed enough. We can meet another day brother, I think this was a great start." Megatronus said helping his femme get out of the booth.
Orion Pax nodded following the couple out of the bar. "Agreed Megatronus, I look forward to our next meeting."
Soundwave began to cry out in pain, continuing to refuse the cold bottle. Squirming in discomfort as his mother tried to console him.
"Excuse me!" A voice called out from behind the three.
Xanthia and Megatronus turned around to see the old red and white mech fast walking towards them.
Megatronus was unsure of what the old mech wanted, hoping he wasn't here to report his and Xanthia's presence in Iacon.
"I'm a medic, I would like to help your sparkling." Ratchet greeted stopping in front of the couple. "Nice to see you again Orion Pax."
"Ratchet is a wonderful medic you can fully trust him." Orion Pax said to the worried couple.
"I don't have any shanix doctor..." The femme felt embarrassed for not having any currency to give the medic.
"Nonsense, I am not asking for any. I want to help your sparkling." Ratchet shook his helm at the femme.
Xanthia nodded handing her crying sparkling to the medic. "Thank you."
"Now I need a little background on what happened to him." Ratchet said as he began to scan the violet sparkling thoroughly.
"He got caught up in a mining accident, the smelters liquid got him." Xanthia shamefully explained to the medic.
Ratchet nodded with a sigh he could tell the mother and sparkling were from the lower caste system. He had heard many horror stories of sparklings losing their lives because they have to be brought to their creators dangerous jobs. Most sparklings in the lower caste did not live long enough to become a youngling. "He unfortunately has permanent damage to his vocals, it is beyond repairable as you probably already know due to his odd voice." The medic told the femme, handing the violet sparkling back to the mother.
"Yes we are aware Doctor." Megatronus sighed almost in annoyance at the old medic as Xanthia handed him Soundwave.
Ratchet took no offence to the gladiator, he could tell the mech was ashamed for not having the proper care for his sparkling. "I wish I could repair it but I cannot. But I can give him some pain management." Ratchet said pulling out a small vial of bright magenta liquid. "Put three drops of this in his bottles it should take the pain away."
Xanthia took the vial carefully from the kind medic. "Thank you very much Ratchet."
Ratchet smiled happy to help. "It works best if you're able to warm his bottles. It will soothe him a lot faster."
Xanthia sighed looking up at her mech. "We don't have anything to warm up his bottles."
"I'm sure Shockwave can give us something to do so." Megatronus replied to the femme. "Thank you for your assistance medic. But we must be going."
Ratchet nodded with a smile. "I'm just happy to help. I understand it's late."
"Thank you so much Ratchet." Xanthia couldn't help but hug the medic feeling very grateful.
"Not a problem, please do not be afraid to do a follow up with me. I will try my best to meet you halfway I know you travelled a long way." Ratchet smiled at the femme.
After the couple left with their sparkling, Ratchet turned to the data clerk. "That little vial I gave them won't last long Orion. This is something that the sparkling will probably need for the rest of his life, or he'll live with terrible pain from flare ups."
"I can deliver more to them." Orion Pax said knowing that's what the medic was asking.
The next few days flew by Xanthia went against Megatronus and brought her sparkling back to the old medic for a follow up.
"Ow!" Soundwave whimpered as Ratchet examined his throat.
"Ever since you gave that stuff to us, Soundwave's been quite chatty." Xanthia mentioned to the medic. "But we ran out of the stuff a few days ago so he's a bit sore."
Ratchet gave a disappointed gaze turning towards the data pad he had. "That's good, but the more talkative he is, the more flare ups he will have."
"I understand but I can't make my sparkling take a vow of silence." Xanthia scoffed to the medic.
"Even if Soundwave took a vow of silence for a while, the flare ups would catch up with him eventually, when he decided to speak again." Ratchet said grabbing a small case of vials with the magenta liquid. "Anyway, I am not saying he has to stop talking at all. I'm just telling you that this stuff is going to be his friend for life. By the time he's a youngling he can take a whole vial."
Xanthia was devastated that her sparkling was going to have to live in pain for the rest of his life. But was grateful for the medic assistance and care.
"It's not a death sentence Xanthia. It's just a small handicap he'll have to live with. You're an amazing mother I know it's not easy for you to raise a sparkling in your caste. But if Orion Pax can help convince the council to rid of the caste it will get easier for you." Ratchet handed the case of medicine to the femme.
"That might be quite a while from now Ratchet. It will take cycles for Megatronus and I to gain an audience with the council." Orion Pax mentioned from where he stood by the door.
"Well stay hopeful anyway." Ratchet smiled.
"I appreciate the encouragement Ratchet. I thank you so much for risking your spark to help my sparkling." Xanthia smiled at the kind old medic.
"Xanthia are you ready to go home?" Orion Pax asked ready to leave the secret medical shelter.
"Yes we are, right Soundwave?" Xanthia nodded as Orion Pax took the case from her.
"Ga!" Soundwave squeaked reaching up as his mother picked him up.
"Thank you again Ratchet." Xanthia thanked as she exited the building.
Orion Pax went to follow only to be stopped by the medic. "Please tell her to bring her sparkling to me anytime. I want you to as well, if anything happens to him under your care, that's a very special sparkling."
Optimus opened his optics sitting up in his berth. He shook his helm tiredly getting out of his berth. Walking into the main room, he was surprised that the young mech wasn't already awake doing maintenance. Sighing staring blankly at the maintenance hallway next to the ground bridge.
Soundwave woke up with a cough, trying to muffle his coughing so he didn't wake his sparkmate. He got out of the berth leaving the slumbering femme in the berth, as he approached the bedroom door he could hear someone walking down the hallway into the main room.
"Why so glum Optimus? This planet, all planets are finally free from Megatron's tyranny." Ratchet greeted walking behind the Prime.
"I do not disagree Ratchet. It's just..." Optimus gave a small sigh.
Soundwave halted at the end of the hallway, listening to the conversation his mentor was having with the medic.
"A small part of me hoped to change Megatron's mind, not extinguish his spark." Optimus replied continuing to stare at the maintenance hallway.
"Optimus. His vileness was not slain by your hand. But by his own twisted arrogance!" Ratchet told the upset mech.
"Hmm..." Optimus knew the medic was correct, but it still bothered him.
"I'm sorry. I know the two of you had quite a history." Ratchet apologized softening his tone.
"But the Megatron whom I once fought beside perished eons ago. When he chose to become a Decepticon." Optimus said turning to the medic, noticing Soundwave standing at the end of the hallway.
Soundwave made it a point to make it look as if he was casually entering the main room while the two conversed.
"The Decepticons may be in disarray, but they aren't without leadership. While Starscream is no Megatron, he is far from predictable." Optimus warned watching as Soundwave fired up the monitors with a laugh. "Soundwave?"
"Sorry sir, I didn't mean to laugh at you." The violet mech apologized with a laugh. "It's just Starscream may be unpredictable, but it may take him a while to find anything of interest. Definitely expect more Decepticon minions roaming around though."
"Are you ready for patrol then?" Optimus asked.
Soundwave almost rolled his optics at the Prime's question. Patrols were beginning to get quite boring. "Sure..."
"I want you to lead the way. And find a good open spot in the canyon." Optimus said driving out the base exit.
Soundwave tilted his helm curiously watching the Prime drive out of the base. "Okay?"
Ratchet smiled at the young mech gesturing with his helm for him to follow Optimus.
Soundwave shrugged leaving the base, transforming he led his mentor to the canyon wondering what the Prime had in mind for them today. "This way Sir." Finding a large open quarry hiding in the canyon Soundwave veered down directing the Prime to the quarry.
Once in the quarry both mechs transformed, Soundwave stood curiously in the middle of the quarry, watching Optimus walked around examining the perimeter.
"Uh sir, what are we doing here?" Soundwave finally asked the Prime.
"You're going to use any ability that you have or haven't used before." Optimus replied stopping next to the young mech.
Soundwave felt his spark skip a beat, asking his mentor to repeat himself. "Sorry, what?"
"I want you to explore your abilities and not worry about the consequences." Optimus cupped a servo on the young mech's shoulder.
"But I..."
"Soundwave it's better you learn what you can do. Rather than wait for the right occasion and possibly hurt yourself or others." Optimus reassured his unsure apprentice.
Soundwave looked away knowing Optimus was talking about yesterday's battle on the spacebridge when he used a blast of sound waves to knock the Decepticons away. "You raise a good point sir, and I'm sorry for knocking you all down yesterday."
"Everyone recovered quickly. But that is why I want you to practice here so we can prevent that from happening." Optimus patted the violet mech's shoulder before walking a safe enough distance away from his apprentice. "Do not hold back Soundwave."
Soundwave materialized his visor most curious to the resonance abilities he had. Charging up an ultrasonic blast he released directing the charge towards some boulders sitting twenty feet away from him. The blast shattered the boulders to pebbles, cracking the canyon wall in the process, being sound waves the blast ricocheted off the wall back at Soundwave.
Soundwave quickly created a small almost invisible shield of sound waves directly in front of him. Causing the initial ultrasonic blast to bounce off the shield splitting the blast to the left and right.
Optimus quickly rolled out of the way of the blast, watching as it destroy the boulder he stood next to.
Soundwave began to slow the pulse of his shield into small vibrations dissipating the sound waves all together. That's going to take a bit of practice, the young mech thought to himself. As he tried another ultrasonic blast this time more controlled on one target. Soundwave got an idea, sending another dangerous blast of ultrasonic sound waves he opened a bridge behind the blast as the sound waves bounced off the wall once again flying into the bridge. Soundwave opened the another bridge across the quarry, closing the first one as the blast traveled through the new bridge Soundwave opened a new one near by, targeting another boulder the ultrasonic blast hit the boulder vibrating it into smaller pieces as the blast dissipated it's power.
"Optimus fire at me!" Soundwave called out to his mentor who obliged his request.
Soundwave created quick little sound wave shields deflecting each shot Optimus fired at him.
Optimus had to dodge left and right avoiding his own bullets as they bounced back at him.
"Cool!" Soundwave thought aloud as the Prime approached him. Retracting his visor as his mentor approached.
Optimus smiled proudly walking over to the exuberant young mech. "Indeed youngling, that was most impressive."
"Thanks." Soundwave replied as a small zap tickled in his throat.
"We can try more of that tomorrow. Maybe even have a friendly sparring match." Optimus said to the smiling young mech.
Soundwave was unsure about sparring with his mentor, he was skilled thanks to Shockwave's training, but since Megatron rarely let him out into battle, at times he was rusty in combat.
"Soundwave I'm going to tell you now, I did not know how to fight until just before becoming a Prime. As I began to meet with your father more frequently to converse about our political battle, I began sparring in Iacon with some friends. Over time through the war I became very strong and skilled. At your age I knew nothing about fighting. You are a more skilled fighter than I was at your age." Optimus explained to the young mech, hoping to boost Soundwave's confidence levels.
"Really?" Soundwave asked trying to clear his throat from a burning irritation.
"Yes, remember I have had a lot of experience over the cycles. Don't beat yourself up, you just need practice. Now let's get back to base, I want you to set the new patrol schedule and teams." Optimus replied transforming.
"Good morning Arcee." Ratchet greeted as the femme entered the main room.
"Good morning, what are you two working on?" Arcee greeted walking over to the medic and red youngling.
"We're just adding a few adjustments to a shield charging bubble shield." Mirage replied looking up from the tiny device him and Ratchet tinkered with.
"Interesting." Arcee smiled grabbing some energon. "How was Optimus and Soundwave this morning?"
"Mournful but alright, well Optimus at least. Soundwave didn't say too much, as per usual with him. But they left on patrol a few hours ago." Ratchet replied to the femme.
"Good, I know yesterday was pretty upsetting for Soundwave. You got to put a leash on Sunstreaker's mouth before I knock him out." Arcee scoffed sipping her energon.
"Yes I know. There's times I wished he didn't verbalize every thought he had. Soundwave didn't join our team to get bullied by someone who is supposed to be a friend." Ratchet sighed, turning to the base exit as the Prime and violet mech returned.
"Good morning Soundwave, did you two have a good patrol?" Arcee greeted handing her mech an energon cube. "Drink it this time don't just leave it in the training room like last time." Arcee hissed through a whisper, making Soundwave chuckle.
"I won't this time. And yes we had a good time." Soundwave rolled his optics taking a sip of the energon only to have it sting his his throat causing him to spit up the energon with a cough.
Optimus narrowed his optics at the young mech, the last he saw Soundwave spit up energon like that, was the first time he watched him as a sparkling on Cybertron.
Soundwave could see his mentor glaring at him, he felt a wave of embarrassment flush over him after spitting energon all over himself.
"Drank to fast?" Arcee snorted with a small laugh, handing her mech a cleaning rag.
"Uuh, yeah..." Soundwave lied giving a sheepish laugh as he wiped himself off.
Mirage left his bubble shield grenade, handing Optimus some energon.
"Thank you Mirage." Optimus thanked his youngest, watching Soundwave wince in pain as he drank his much needed energon.
"So what's your schedule for today?" Arcee asked her mech.
Soundwave painfully cleared his sore throat before replying. "I'm making a patrol..." he coughed attempting to clear his throat again. "Patrol schedule today."
Arcee gave her mech a strange look, wondering if the young mech was still recovering from choking on his energon. "So I should tell you who I don't want to be paired with?" She joked making the violet mech laugh.
"Funny... Arcee really..." Soundwave's voice began to sound raspy and hard to understand. "I'm going to go up top... and make the... schedule..." Soundwave struggled to speak through the pain.
Mirage and Arcee both went with Soundwave down the hallway to the lift.