"If we could get aboard the Nemesis we could get to Megatron and..."
"And what Mirage? Do a cortical psychic patch?" Soundwave hissed at his little brother. "No way Mirage!"
"Well how else would you like to try and convince him to change without Megatron trying to murder you in the process?" Mirage hissed right back at his brother.
"And who exactly would be plunging into the depths of Megatron's sick mind?" Soundwave couldn't even fathom his brother's suggestion.
Mirage stared into his brother's mixed coloured optics. "Well..."
"Mirage that's the last thing I would do. Megatron wouldn't listen to a word I would say, it's not worth messing up my own processor just to get the maniacal refusal to change his way." Soundwave shook his helm walking past his brother towards the lift.
"I understand. I wouldn't want to do it either..." Mirage sighed following Soundwave. "It was a stupid suggestion, I guess it's a wait and see game."
"I didn't mean to get cross with you Mirage. It's just... I don't think I have a strong enough mind to do that." Soundwave replied activating the lift.
"I think you have one of the strongest minds on the team. But I understand being frightened by the mere thought of being anywhere near Megatron's processor." Mirage replied with a shiver.
Soundwave smiled warmly at his little brother. "There's much I hide I'm not as strong as you think I am. But that's sweet to say little red."
At that moment Optimus came out of his own quarters joining the brothers in the hallway. "Soundwave I'm going to cancel our patrol tomorrow. Mirage I need you to come with me and the rest of the team."
"Uh sure, why what's going on tomorrow?" Mirage asked in surprise.
"I'm just running a few drills with the team, I need your help." Optimus replied to his youngling.
"Do you need me to help as well Sir?" Soundwave asked his mentor.
"No, I need you and Arcee to continue to aid Ratchet with organizing the base. You're the best one to help with technological issues if they arise." Optimus shook his helm at his apprentice.
"Understood Sir." Soundwave nodded yes.
"I will see you tomorrow morning Mirage. Goodnight you two." The Prime smiled at the brothers before going into his room.
Mirage shrugged with a smile, noticing his brother's grooves were dimly lit. "Why are you so dim?"
"I'm getting tired of hearing that question..." Soundwave groaned as they walked towards their rooms. "I don't know, does it really matter?"
"I guess not, just as long as Shockwave didn't inject you with anything when he attacked you. You know you can't get in hand to hand combat with him he'll take any opportunity to stick his experiments on a test subject." Mirage said walking into his quarters. "Goodnight Wave."
Soundwave cringed at the thought of Mirage's words. Shockwave was good at sneaking in scientific poisons in their battles. Walking into his own quarters he crawled back into the berth not wanting to think about the mad scientist. He visibly jumped as Arcee wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"I'm not that surprising am I?" Arcee chuckled at her mech.
"No I just thought you were recharging." Soundwave scoffed relaxing into the embrace.
"Well I was until I heard you chatting with your little brother and Optimus. What was he doing up still?" Arcee replied.
"I wanted to speak with him, Optimus just happened to hear us as well and wanted to quickly say something. It's not like Mirage recharges willingly anyway." Soundwave scoffed with a yawn.
"True enough, what did Optimus say?"
"He said we have the whole base to ourselves tomorrow." The violet mech tiredly replied to his femme.
"Oh really?" Arcee almost sounded excited.
"Kind of, we're helping Ratchet organize the base." Soundwave shrugged he could almost feel the femme's optics rolling.
"Great... oh well we can still have fun." Arcee shrugged closing her optics.
Morning came quicker since Soundwave stayed up most of the night. His bioluminescent grooves glowing brightly once more. Helping the old medic proved to be tedious, moving the rest of the energon that was being processed was tiring.
Arcee sat on top of stacked cubes as her mech brought in the last few cubes for now. "Primus this is melting my processor..."
Soundwave gave a heavy sigh in agreement. "You know what, before Ratchet asks us to do anything else, why don't we check out the large wash rack behind the rec center?"
"There's a wash bay here, besides Ratchet's decontamination bath?" Arcee hopped off the energon cubes.
"Yes, we may as well see if it's functional. Am I the only one that's been exploring every part of this missile silo?" Soundwave retorted shaking his helm.
"Oh shut up and just show me the damn wash rack!" Arcee playfully growled shoving her mech through the storage locker door.
Ratchet barely looked over his shoulder hearing the young couple giggling as they snuck behind him. "Soundwave!"
Soundwave winced at his name being called, halting in his tracks. "Yes Sir?"
"Take this." Ratchet replied holding out a vial of orange serum.
"What is that?" Soundwave asked cautiously taking the vial.
"It's something that should be strong enough to prevent attacks from happening during a flare up. But you still have to take the other stuff when you start to have a flare up." Ratchet explained finally turning towards the young mech.
"Thanks Ratchet, we're going to check out the wash bay..." Taking the vial from the medic Soundwave made his way over to his femme.
"Hey, don't just say you're going to take it and leave it like last night!" Ratchet yelled after the mech.
"I'm taking it now!" Soundwave yelled back quickly shutting the wash bay doors. Turning he ran straight into his femme causing him to stumble back against the door. "Primus why so close Cee?"
Arcee smirked at her mech. "That's the second time you've called me that." walking away from the violet mech.
"It is?" Soundwave asked while taking the serum.
"Mhmm, you called me that last night when you were half awake." The femme said while scanning the large converted hanger bay.
"Sorry I didn't mean to, I didn't realize I was do..." The bioluminescent mech apologized, finding it odd himself that he would call his femme not by her full title. To his knowledge he had never attempted to call her by her nickname on purpose.
Arcee chuckled, gently taking both her mech's servos in her own. "Soundwave I'm not mad at you. As long as you don't copy the stupid names the twins label me with, I don't mind at all."
Soundwave gave a small smile to his femme, his optics read that he was still unsure.
"You're not the first bot to call me that, and won't be the last either." Arcee gave a gentle squeeze to his servos. "But it sounds more adorable coming from you." the femme playfully noted walking away from the violet mech.
Soundwave rolled his optics with a smirk. He found his femme very amusing with the fact that she could find the oddest things about him, and absolutely adore them without a second thought. "As long as it makes you happy." The young mech shrugged following his femme.
"I'm always happy to be with you." Arcee said grabbing a large hose off the ground. "I wonder if this works still?"
"I am... agh!" Soundwave tried to shield himself as Arcee sprayed him with the functional hose.
"Hey it works!" Arcee casually announced turning the hose off.
"You couldn't have pointed that in a different direction!?" Soundwave hissed shaking the water off his servos.
"Oh like here?" Arcee sprayed the water at her mech's peds. "Or here?" She sprayed the violet mech in the abdomen.
"Arcee!" Soundwave leapt out of the waters path slipping on the floor in the process, causing him to fall onto his back whacking the back of his helm in the process. "Ow..." he groaned lifting his helm as an odd heat shot through him, causing Soundwave to lose all sensation in all his limbs.
Arcee dropped the hose bursting into laughter. "Are you okay?" she asked walking over to the fallen mech.
Regaining feeling in his arms Soundwave pushed himself into a sitting position. "You're supposed to see if the bot is okay first, then laugh at them..." Soundwave complained rubbing his helm.
"I was trying the backwards method." She shrugged crouching down next to her mech on the floor.
"Uhuh..." Soundwave rolled his optics twisting himself around so he could push himself onto his peds. The moment he attempted to stand the violet mech fell right onto his aft.
"Here let me help you." Arcee chuckled softly, holding out a servo for Soundwave to grab.
Soundwave was barely able to reach out for the servo. His arm trembling as he used the helpful servo as leverage to stand up. Only to have his stabilizer servos tremble with what strength he had in them, causing him to crumble to the floor again.
The femme found it odd Soundwave fell again. "Maybe you need more help than just a servo." Arcee hooked both her arms under her mech's, dragging him away from the wet floor before lifting him to his peds.
Soundwave could barely hold himself up leaning against the wall, his stabilizer servos continued to tremble as he attempted to keep himself from hitting the floor once more.
"Soundwave did you hit the floor that hard, that it knocked something loose?" Arcee raised an optic ridge, keeping herself close to the weakened violet mech just incase he fell again.
"I don't think so, I have taken way harder hits. I don't know why I'm like this?" Soundwave replied sliding down the wall so he could sit on the floor.
"Maybe I should get Ratchet."
"No!" Soundwave shook his helm. "Just give me a moment I'll be fine."
Arcee softened her optics with a nod. "Sure Soundwave. I'm going to clean the rust and dust off this place."
"I can help you." Soundwave said making Arcee shake her helm
"I know you can, I think you should give it a little bit before you attempt to help me." Arcee laughed walking over to another hose.
"I can help." Soundwave repeated using one of his tentacles to grab another hose to spray the femme.
"Hey, alright!" Arcee shielded herself from the water.
Soundwave chuckled stopping the hose, satisfied with his payback.
"I guess I deserved that..." Arcee smiled wiping the water off her drenched frame.
Mirage was surprised that his father had plans to get on the Decepticon warship. He was even more surprised that he wanted him to run a small team on the raid. "So besides grabbing Ratchet supplies. What are we doing about Megatron?"
Optimus was hoping his youngling wouldn't ask this question. He honestly didn't know what he would do, it was a difficult decision. Especially since Megatron was defenceless, it was not honourable to extinguish a being that could not defend themselves. "Our main mission is to gain access to the medical depot, the mission is risky enough without seeking out Megatron's unconscious frame."
"The watch team can go for Megatron while we gather supplies." Mirage suggested to his fathers disliking.
"No, we need to go in silent and undetected. We can't afford added risks." Optimus was willing to rid of his brother's spark, but did not want any of his teammates getting injured or worse because they went off task.
Mirage nodded in understanding, it would be very risky to go out of their way to hunt Megatron's unconscious frame. Not to say that even if they did offline him, Shockwave would bring the warlord back from the dead.
Arcee held up her arm as Soundwave sprayed her with the hose. "You're starting a battle here Soundwave, I hope you know what you're in for?"
The violet mech stood across from the femme with a smirk, he had recovered from his minor stabilizer glitch. "Actually if I recall, you started this." Soundwave snorted taking a couple steps towards his femme.
Arcee's optics followed the length of the hose in her servos, seeing it trail just behind her playful mech. She smirked pulling the hose so it was taught behind her mech. "Here I'll end it!"
Soundwave shielded himself with his arm, while retaliating spraying the femme back. "You'll break first!"
"Is that a challenge?" Arcee scoffed stepping towards her mech while turning the hose on a higher pressure.
The violet mech laughed closing one of his optics as the water hit his face plate, the femme continued to back him towards the tripping hazard the she made. "Arcee!"
"Soundwave!" Arcee mocked her mech as he was about to trip over the hose.
"Frag!" Soundwave cursed as he stumbled backwards accidentally dropping the hose he held, causing it to spray everywhere as he fell backwards onto his aft.
"Are you two done fooling around... bloody hell!" Ratchet hissed as the flailing water sprayed him.
Soundwave cringed watching the old mech get doused by the loose hose. He quickly jumped on top of the flailing hose, turning it off as soon as he grabbed the nozzle. "Sorry Ratchet!"
"Primus you two, all I've heard for the past hour is your giggling from fooling around in here!" Ratchet hissed wiping the water off his frame.
"She started it!" Soundwave whined attempting to get off the ground.
"Oh stop whining." Arcee laughed helping her mech stand up. "I won by the way."
"I didn't even know there was a wash rack in here." Ratchet thought aloud.
"Yeah it's still operational." Soundwave mentioned receiving a glare from the medic.
"You don't say?" Ratchet rolled his optics sarcastically, narrowing his optics at the young mech. "What's going on with you?" the medic asked noticing the slight tremble in the violet mech's legs.
"Nothing?" Soundwave replied confused.
Ratchet nodded his helm slowly unsure of that response. "Are you two done fooling around in here?"
"Depends, do you need us for something?" Arcee raised an optic ridge at the medic.
"The central computer shut down and I've been trying to get it online for an hour. I know Soundwave can work his magic and bring them back online in two seconds." Ratchet said looking over to the violet mech.
Soundwave smiled with a chuckle. "Sure I can help you with that."
"Thank you, I was about ready to throw the computer off the top of the base." Ratchet sighed with relief leading the couple into the main room.
Soundwave took a couple uncoordinated steps almost tripping into the old medic.
Arcee grabbed a hold of her mech's back torso panel, steadying the off balance young mech. "Are you alright?" She whispered to her mech.
Soundwave nodded as they stopped in front of the offline monitors.
"Have you heard from the others yet?" Arcee asked turning to the medic.
"Not yet, they're probably still busy running drills." Ratchet shrugged walking into the med bay.
"Ratchet putting labels on your medical equipment is one thing. But organizing them into categories is another." Arcee groaned looking in the cupboards.
"Ugh... Arcee..." Ratchet groaned wanting to bang his helm against a wall.
"I'm going to be organizing it, again!" Arcee growled at the red and white mech.
"Sure Arcee..." Ratchet rolled his optics going back to his work.
Both the medic and femme jumped at the sound of a small crash next to the med bay. "Ratchet you're on my ped!" Arcee hissed trying to push the jumpy medic off.
"Sorry!" Ratchet apologized hopping off the femme's ped. "What was that?"
"Sorry dropped something!" Soundwave lied from the other side of the main room.
Ratchet shrugged going back to his work.
Arcee was more suspicious of her mech's tone. Backing out of the med bay to see what the crash was, she saw Soundwave nonchalantly getting back up to his peds. She looked at the busy medic out of the corner of her optic before quietly walking over to the young mech. "What's going on Soundwave?"
Soundwave turned seeing Arcee looking at him with concern. "I'm not sure, I just lost complete function of my stabilizer servos."
"Maybe we should talk to Ratchet about that?" Arcee said noting her mech's trembling legs.
Soundwave was afraid to find out that Mirage was right, and that Shockwave had done something to him last night during their short battle. "Not yet, maybe I hit my helm too hard when I fell earlier. If it worsens I promise I will talk to Ratchet."
Arcee unwillingly nodded at her mech. "Sure, but you might not get a choice. It's getting easier for the team to know when you're out of sorts, Ratchet might just suspect you're in trouble."
Soundwave rolled his optics turning the monitors back on. "I'll be fine... Ratchet I got the computers up and running again."
"Thank you Soundwave, I will give Optimus a call." Ratchet thanked the young mech.
"I will have to run some tests to see what caused them to crash, but you should be able to use them." Soundwave backed out of the medic's way, losing control of his stabilizer servos once again stumbling backwards.
Arcee quickly caught her mech before he could hit the ground. She raised both her optic ridges at the violet mech in her arms, giving him a pointed glare.
Soundwave sheepishly smiled up at his femme.
"Stubborn..." Arcee shook her helm pulling her mech up onto his peds, continuing to hold her mech steady as he regained his legs.
Soundwave tilted his helm noticing a blip on one of the monitors. Taking a step forward away from Arcee, the violet mech lost his footing.
Ratchet turned just in time to catch the off balance mech by the arm. "Woah?" Ratchet turned seeing the cobalt blue femme standing behind them. "Arcee did you push Soundwave?"
"Yes Ratchet I pushed Soundwave, why the frag would I do that?" Arcee sarcastically replied.
"The Decepticon warships cloaking is off." Soundwave announced ignoring the two behind him.
"What?" Both the femme and medic looked up at the monitor.
"Perfect opportunity for an ambush." Arcee thought aloud as the rest of the team entered the base.
"The Nemesis is no longer cloaked?" Mirage asked noticing the blip on the monitor.
"Seems that way... Starscream isn't much for maintaining the ship's functions. And Shockwave will only repair things if he is notified." Soundwave said to his little brother.
"Autobots prepare to roll out." Optimus Prime announced walking towards the ground bridge.
"What?" Soundwave turned to look at his mentor.
"We're going to get Ratchet some much needed medical supplies."
"Yeah, we're going to need it if we're raiding their ship. Ratchet I hope you have a shopping list because it's going to have to be a quick in and out." Soundwave retorted disagreeing with the mission.
"Soundwave it is a necessary mission, most of our medical supplies was ruined in our crash. And this planet does not provide the needed components for our biotech, the only resource is the Nemesis." Optimus walked over to his young apprentice.
Soundwave looked away from the towering mech. He agreed with the Prime, they did have limited medical supplies, and needed it desperately. His only concern was, were they only there for medical supplies, or was Megatron on that list as well.
Optimus could practically hear what the young mech was thinking. "We're only getting the medical supplies, there is no reason to make unnecessary risks."
Soundwave blinked turning his helm back to face the Prime. "I can get a bridge directly in the medical supply vault."
"Excellent, Mirage lead the vault team, I will be with the guard team." Optimus turned beginning to give out his orders.
Soundwave smiled proudly at his brother, happy Optimus was recognizing Mirage as a potential team leader.
"Soundwave can you set the bridge?" Optimus turned back to his protege.
Soundwave nodded taking an unsteady step towards the bridge controls.
Optimus instinctively grabbed hold of the young mech's arm to support his balance.
Soundwave began putting in the coordinates while Optimus returned to giving out orders. "Twin's you're with me and Ironhide, Jazz, and Arcee, you stay with Mirage in the vault and help collect the supplies. Soundwave you can join your brother, Ratchet send Soundwave your supply list."
Arcee quickly tugged at her mech's arm. "Maybe you should stay behind, and monitor with Bee?"
Soundwave shook his helm at his femme. "I'll be fine, stop worrying." he tried to reassure his femme, following his brother through the bridge.
"Wow surprisingly no guards on the inside?" Sideswipe scoffed as they scanned vault for enemies.
"There will be two on the other side of the door, I do not think we need to engage them if we just stay silent." Mirage said looking at his older brother who agreed with him.
"How the frag are we supposed to know if someone's coming then?" Sunstreaker whispered as he approached the door with his twin.
"I can tap into their security feeds, Arcee I'm sending you the list." Soundwave replied materializing his visor showing the camera feed just outside the door.
"Good, keep the bridge open it will be quicker that way." Optimus said standing next to his weapon specialist.
Arcee and Jazz quickly began collecting Ratchet's wish list of medical supplies. Mirage walked around the vault making sure no Decepticons were in the vault.
Soundwave lost the feeling in all his limbs momentarily, not enough to raise concern though. The violet mech grew curious to see what else was happening on the warship switching his feeds he locked onto the med bay. Seeing his father's lifeless frame laying on the berth. He couldn't stand to look at his father's beaten frame for too long, changing the video feed he locked onto Shockwave's laboratory. Seeing the mad scientist working on tiny little microchips, Knockout looking annoyed standing behind the purple mech.
"Why waste time on tiny microchip devices, when you can make large doomsday devices that can destroy bots on the spot?" Knockout scoffed watching the scientist work.
"Because Doctor, this tiny little device can do much more than destroy bots from the inside." Shockwave replied continuing his work.
"I know you're one for torturing your subjects slowly. How does it work then?" Knockout continued to have a snobby tone.
"I am not familiar with how long it takes for the microchip to cause transformation. I would explain to you what it will be, if my test subject wasn't tapped into our surveillance." Shockwave glared up at the security camera.
"Shit..." Soundwave quickly switched his feed back to the door Optimus was guarding. "What's our status?"
"We've got the most important medical supplies so far. We've just been transporting Shockwave's random supplies just for research for the doc bot." Jazz replied to the question.
"We need to speed it up, the Cons know we're here, just not where." Soundwave announced to the team.
Mirage jumped as a hidden door swished opened revealing the one opticed mech. "Hostile!" Mirage called out as Shockwave fired at him.
Mirage dodged the mad scientist grabbed for him, he knew better then to get too close to the purple mech, turning on his cloaking he viciously sliced the scientists canon off, before making his way back to his team.
Shockwave hissed in pain as he was left basically defenceless. "Starscream you fool, the Autobots are raiding one of the supply vaults!"
"Autobots we have what we need." Optimus began pointing his team to the open ground bridge.
The vault door swished open with the two Eradicon guards firing at Optimus's team.
The twins happily took care of the guards as they followed Optimus to the bridge.
Ironhide kept guard of the bridge as Jazz and Arcee quickly went into the bridge with Mirage. The twins following not far behind as more Eradicons came rushing in. Ironhide happily fired upon the Eradicon soldiers as he backed into the bridge.
The violet mech began to follow his mentor backwards into the bridge as they fired at the enemy. Loosing control of his stabilizer servos for a moment, Soundwave quickly caught himself before he could hit the floor. Turning his helm he noticed Shockwave glaring at him.
"Soundwave." Optimus called pulling the young mech into the bridge as the Decepticons closed in on them. As soon as they entered the base Ratchet shut the bridge before the Decepticons could follow.
"Well done, that was a successful mission." Ratchet praised the team for their efforts.
Soundwave removed his visor as the twins chuckled at the old medic's praises.
"Yeah no one got fragged so I hope you got what you needed." Sunstreaker scoffed. "Can we go on patrol now?"
"Nope, you two are working in the mine with me." Ironhide wrapped an arm around each of the twins, dragging them towards the base exit.
"Ugh... can't you torture some other bots." Sideswipe whined as they were escorted out of the base.
"Speaking of torture, let's start labelling and organizing all this new supplies." Arcee said following the medic into the cluttered med bay.
"Oh joy..." Ratchet groaned.
"Come'on lil Bee let's go on patrol." Jazz gestured for the youngling scout to follow him.
"You did good today Mirage. I'm proud of you for sticking to the mission." Optimus praised his youngest youngling.
"Thank you sir. I think I will go assist the twins, I do not have a lot of experience in the mines." Mirage replied.
"You mean in mining energon? Because you're pretty experienced in blowing them up." Arcee retorted to the assassin.
"Ha ha, mines look quite spectacular up in flames, no I'm just going to rescue the twins from having to mine alone with Hide." Mirage said transforming driving out of the base.
Soundwave winced in pain as a sharp stabbing pulsed in his back and helm. He staggered towards one of the monitors, using its control panel to keep himself steady as he lost sensation in his stabilizer servos. His movements did not go unnoticed as the Prime stared at him with a concerned expression.
"Youngling are you alright?" Optimus asked watching the young mech's trembling legs.
Soundwave nodded in a pained manner as he fought the urge to collapse to the floor. It was a losing battle as he slowly fell to his knees.
"Soundwave..." Optimus called, he was no fool he could tell his apprentice was not well at all. "Ratchet!"
Ratchet rushed over to his leader with Arcee not far behind him.
"Oh Soundwave..." Arcee sighed with concern getting down next to her weakened mech.
"I'm fine..." Soundwave trembled in pain.
"Move him to the med bay." Ratchet said, going back to clear the medical berth.
Optimus wasted no time scooping the young mech into his arms. Placing him onto the medical berth.
Soundwave tried to refuse the help, but could barely keep track of what was happening around him as his processor grew incredibly blurry. Feeling the room spin as Ratchet laid him back on the berth.
"How long has he been like this?" Ratchet asked turning to the cobalt blue femme.
"All day, but Soundwave began acting oddly last night. I also noticed a puncture wound in his back but it was sealed this morning." Arcee replied.
"Arcee it's almost the end of the day. You didn't think this was something that needed to be attended to earlier?" Ratchet hissed rolling the violet mech onto his side to get a scan of his back.
"Ratchet you know Soundwave. You don't think I tried to get him to?" Arcee growled back at the ancient medic.
Ratchet shook his helm scanning the slender mech's helm next. The old medic could tell this was a neurological attack on the young mech's limbs and processor. "Soundwave can you tell me what's going on?" The medic asked hoping the young mech could answer.
"Shockwave planted a... microchip in me.." Soundwave weakly replied gaining some of his strength back.
"How long did you know this?" Arcee hissed.
"I over heard him... when I was monitoring the Cons on the Nemesis."
"I can't find a microchip, but I can see the damage it's causing. With Shockwave's technology it looks like it dispersed, attacking all your central functions. Including neuro clusters in your processor, it looks like a scraplet got inside your frame and started feasting on your central computer." Ratchet explained showing the pictured scans as Mirage entered the base.
"How do we stop it from spreading further?" Optimus questioned as Mirage jogged over to them.
"I can't do anything about it since it's so widespread. But the good news is I can see Soundwave's systems are aware of the intrusion from the microchip, and will begin to counter the destruction. The healing process on the other hand is something I worry about." Ratchet explained putting his scans up on the med bay monitor.
"Why, what's wrong?" Mirage asked, he could feel something wasn't right in his spark when he was in the mine. Knowing it was Soundwave he sped all the way back to the base to find his big brother in an awful predicament.
"There's so much damage I cannot physically go in and repair any of it. Soundwave's going to get worse before he begins to repair." The medic sadly said while testing Soundwave's motor functions.
"How can it get worse Ratchet?" Arcee asked in a devastated tone.
"He may lose more abilities than just his motor functions. I am not saying for sure he will, but it's a possibility until his systems begin to repair properly."
"So Soundwave can't repair himself yet?" Mirage questioned.
"With Soundwave's unique ability to heal it will begin to repair the unrepairable over time. If this had been one of us, or a bot other than you and your brother, we would've been practically offlined." Ratchet told the young assassin.
"How long will it take Soundwave's systems to repair?" Arcee asked.
"It's unclear, just like the extent of the damage, it was fast acting and devastating. Soundwave's repair systems are slower than Mirage's, and just above our own repair systems. If I have to estimate I would say Soundwave will not be joining you on the battlefield for quite a few Earth weeks, maybe even months." The old medic replied to everyone's disliking.
"What can we do to help Soundwave?" The Prime sighed upset his apprentice was out of commission for a while.
"Aid him when he needs it, and once he's reached an optimal point of recovery Soundwave can begin therapy."
"He can't begin therapy now?" Arcee queried looking at her mech.
"Not until I know his full extent of damage. Soundwave has to reach a certain point of recovery before I decide what kind of therapy he needs to be able to fully recover." CMO replied noticing Soundwave was having a difficult time comprehending their conversation.
"Mirage you can return to the mines, or catch up with Jazz, your brother is in good care." Optimus reassured his worried son.
"Especially since we got good medical supplies now." Arcee smiled reassuringly at the young assassin.
Mirage nodded unwillingly leaving the base.
Soundwave sat up dizzily falling back on the berth.
"Soundwave just relax you're not well." Ratchet sighed to the young mech.
"I still..." the violet mech struggled to collect his thoughts. "function..." Soundwave was getting frustrated now.
"You're not functioning well, Soundwave you need..."
"You... don't think... I know that!?" Soundwave hissed at the medic, coughing as a mild flare up began. "Don't treat me like an invalid..."
As Ratchet gave him a vial of magenta serum, the young mech attempted to hold onto the vial but his servos. His processor kept sending him glitch pulses causing him to drop the glass vial.
"Scrap..." Soundwave cursed moving to clean up the mess.
"It's alright Soundwave I've got it." Ratchet gestured for the violet mech to stay where he was.
Arcee could see the frustration building up in her mech. "Soundwave don't take it the wrong way, we know you're a very capable mech. But right now you don't need to frustrate yourself because you need our help." Arcee told her upset mech.
"I know... I appreciate you all... going out of your way to help me." The bioluminescent sighed apologetically. "I just don't understand... I was okay a few moments ago. Why the sudden decline in my motor functions?"
"I am unfamiliar with Shockwave's torture devices. But learning him over the past few cycles I know he likes to torture his victims slowly, then send in a devastating blow. I am assuming that's how he rigged this paralysis type microchip. The microchip made it seem like it was just an unnoticeable glitch, then attacked your central computer and cut all functional abilities." Ratchet explained to the violet mech.
Soundwave nodded in understanding. "Do you think I will have moments of paralysis, or am I stuck with it now until it repairs?"
"I'm sorry I'm not completely certain. Once you continue the rest of your day, whatever glitches you have I can begin to diagnose your issues." The medic replied.
"Sure..." Soundwave sighed looking at the monitors. "I've got to run some scans on the monitors."
Optimus offered his apprentice a servo to help him up.
Soundwave wasn't amused by the helping servo but weakly rose his own servo to grasp the massive one.
"I won't hold you back from what you want to do. But I will not endanger you." Optimus said as he pulled the mech to his peds.
Soundwave sighed looking to the floor. "Understood sir..."
"Don't worry Optimus, I will keep an optic on him." Arcee mentioned as Soundwave found his way to the monitors.
Once Soundwave was occupied Optimus pulled Arcee aside to speak about her sparkmate. "Arcee you and Mirage are the only ones that can get through to Soundwave. I will be excusing you from patrols, so you may assist Soundwave. Unless you're absolutely needed in the field."
"Sure Optimus, of course." Arcee nodded. "What about Mirage?"
"He's needed on patrols. Perhaps you can convince him not to influence his brother to exceed his limits. I know Soundwave can get as stubborn as Mirage when it comes to recovery." The Prime sighed.
"Okay what about my sanity when Soundwave's stubbornness drives me insane?"
"I can sub in for you when Soundwave pushes you past your limits." Optimus replied with a dry chuckle.
"Thanks Optimus, maybe you should go catch up with Mirage before he plans his own vendetta towards Shockwave and the Decepticons." Arcee mentioned before making her way over towards her mech.
Optimus Prime didn't hesitate in leaving the base as the twins entered. The femme was right, Mirage did not take his family getting harmed lightly. Soundwave's predicament was just fuel to add to Mirage's vengeful flame.
"Hey Soundwave could you open a bridge for Hide, before he tears down the streets with a truck full of energon." Sunstreaker sarcastically asked the violet mech.
"Sure thing." Soundwave smiled knowing the twins escaped the weapon specialist.
"You two ran off from him didn't you?" Arcee cocked an optic ridge at the twins.
"Nooo... yeah..." Sideswipe sheepishly grinned.
Soundwave stumbled over himself as his servos struggled to hold up while reaching for the ground bridge controls, almost falling over in the process.
"You alright bud?" Sunstreaker tilted his helm at the younger mech. "You're walking like a sparkling learning to walk."
Firing up the ground bridge after a few attempts to get his arms to work, the violet mech nodded at the silver twin. "I'm fine Sunstreaker..." his frame trembling trying to hold himself up with all his strength.
"Is he really okay?" Sideswipe whispered to the cobalt blue femme.
Arcee sighed walking over to her mech. "Take a five minute rest. Then you can go back to doing whatever, okay?" Arcee put an arm under her mech's.
"Fine..." Soundwave groaned getting led away from the monitors by his sparkmate.
"Can we help in anyway?" Sideswipe asked, concerned as to why the younger mech was struggling to function.
"You can damn well help unload this energon!" Ironhide growled pulling into the base.
"Thanks for the offer, but you might want to help Hide first." Arcee snorted guiding Soundwave to the couch.
Soundwave groaned in annoyance as he was placed on the couch. "I hate this..."
"You'll hate it even more when you become my next prime project." Shockwave's sinister tone came over Soundwave's comlink.
"I know but there's a hope that it won't be this way for long." Arcee tried to reassure her sparkmate that seemed otherwise occupied. "You want some energon?"
Soundwave cringed in terror at the sound of the scientists threatening voice. "You may have been the Decepticons top soldier. I'll make sure you're the biggest burden the Autobots have first. You'll never become a Prime." Shockwave abruptly ended the call with a promising threat.
"Soundwave!" Arcee waved her servo in front of her mech's faceplate, bringing the violet mech out of the his trance.
"Why does he have my com codes..." Soundwave thought aloud.
"What are you going on about?" Arcee asked confused.
"Nothing... what were you saying?" Soundwave quickly avoided the subject.
"I'm getting us some energon." Arcee rolled her optics walking towards the med bay.
Soundwave dreaded the thought of attempting to have any energon with his malfunctioning limbs. "I don't want any!"
"Soundwave you would benefit from having some. Here I'll fix you up some energon with healing properties" Ratchet said taking one of the energon cubes from the femme.
"But I..."
"It'll help with your vocals glitch, and second it will help fuel your repair systems." Ratchet handed back the off coloured energon to Arcee.
"Listen to the doctor Soundwave." Arcee smiled trying to hand the violet mech his energon.
Soundwave winced as a sharp pain pierced through his processor. His reaching servo dropping to his side. "Primus..." he groaned throwing his helm back in annoyance.
"Take your time Soundwave, it's alright." Arcee encouraged.
Soundwave thought for a moment, why didn't he just use his tentacles? Attempting to release them an electronic failure sounded off, letting the young mech know that his extra appendages were glitched and unavailable. "Dammit..."
Arcee sympathetically smiled, sitting next to her mech. "I'll help." She said moving the discoloured energon towards her mech's face.
"No!" Soundwave leaned away from the energon and his helpful femme.
"What's the matter?" Arcee asked confused.
"I can do it..." Soundwave replied sitting up straight once again.
"Okay Soundwave..." The femme wasn't quite sure about letting her glitching mech feed himself.
"Hey doc bot, is Soundwave alright?" Sunstreaker asked placing energon in the energon processor.
"Call me that again and bots will be asking if you're alright." Ratchet muttered turning towards his adopted son. "No Sunstreaker, Soundwave isn't alright. Seems Shockwave managed to plant one of his experiments in Soundwave in their last battle. The planted microchip has destroyed his neuro functions like a swarm of scraplets feasting on an your insides."
Sunstreaker cringed at the medic's description. "Primus is Soundwave going to recover from that?"
"Well luckily in Shockwave's own stupidity he gave Mirage and Soundwave the ability to recover better than you and I. But on the other hand I do not believe that Shockwave would plant something on one of his test subjects without a purpose, without knowing it would cause some sort of long term damage. Everything Shockwave does is deliberate and almost always devastating." Ratchet said watching Soundwave struggle just to hold an energon cube.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Sunstreaker watched as the violet mech spilt the energon everywhere.
Ratchet sighed deeply handing the golden mech a few rags. "You can give these to Arcee. You guys have helped tremendously by retrieving that medical supplies."
Arcee sighed watching her mech spill the energon on himself. "You gonna let me help you now?"
"Here Arcee." Sunstreaker called handing the femme the rags.
"Thanks Sunny." Arcee smiled taking the energon from Soundwave.
"You know it'd be less embarrassing for Arcee to help you, then it would be to wear spilt energon." Sunstreaker commented at the younger mech's predicament. As Arcee attempted to clean the fussy mech that fought her every move.
"Primus Soundwave stop fussing and let me help you!" Arcee hissed at her squirming mech.
Sunstreaker gently grabbed both Soundwave's shoulders holding the younger mech in place for the femme. "Chill Waverz it'll take seconds if you sit still."
"Thank you Sunny." Arcee sighed with relief continuing to wipe the mess off the annoyed mech.
"I'm going to plant one of these microchips on Shockwave himself..." Soundwave grumbled trying to wriggle free from the twin.
"Once you're recovered Soundwave." Arcee chuckled.
"That's if you get the chance to after your little brother is finished with the cyclops. He was pissed off when we drove by him." Sunstreaker scoffed.
Soundwave's annoyance changed to worry. He did not want Mirage to join the revenge game and get himself messed up from Shockwave, or worse. "Where is Mirage now?"
"He caught up with Bee and Jazz, Optimus wasn't too far behind him." Sunstreaker replied releasing the now clean mech.
Soundwave visibly relaxed at the golden twin's words. He hoped Mirage would continue to keep his anger and vengeance at bay.
"Sunstreaker quit chatting, and get your aft back over here!" Ironhide growled.
Sunstreaker groaned quickly returning back to his twin and the weapon specialist.
"Alright let's try this again." Arcee said grabbing the bioluminescent mech's energon.
Soundwave wanted nothing to do with being fed, Arcee knew that. "We don't wanna piss Ratchet off by spilling anymore of this." Arcee said trying to feed her mech.
"Mhmm..." Soundwave pulled away from the much needed energon.
"Stop being a sparkling and let Arcee help Wave." Mirage said appearing in front of the young couple.
"Primus Mirage!" Arcee hissed almost dumping the energon on Soundwave. "When the hell did you get in here?"
"A couple seconds ago, I'm just quiet." Mirage shrugged hopping on the couch arm next to where his brother sat.
"You're sneaky is more like it." Arcee scoffed as Soundwave laughed at her.
"He is a spy Cee." The violet mech chuckled.
"I'm going to belt you both in a minute. I know that!"
"Yet you're surprised when Mirage silently appears." Soundwave teased, making his little brother giggle. "Agh!" Soundwave coughed as Arcee forced energon into him. "Alright!" he gasped pulling away spilling energon everywhere.
"I've been trying to give you energon for past ten minutes. Yet you're surprised when I force feed you..." Arcee sarcastically retorted, throwing a rag on her mech's helm.
Mirage burst into laughter at the comical act between the couple.
Soundwave furrowed his optic ridges leaning over to his brother, shoulder check the assassin off the arm of the couch.
"Oof!" Mirage winced as he landed on his back.
"Soundwave that wasn't very nice!" Arcee scolded trying to hide her laughter.
"I'm not nice." Soundwave joked rolling his optics playfully.
"No you're just an aft..." Mirage grumbled pulling himself back onto the arm.
"So can I go now?" Soundwave whined looking towards the base exit.
"You haven't even finished your energon." Ratchet said as he approached. "And where exactly would you be going? The monitors are repaired and you can't go on patrol."
Soundwave deflated defeatedly, knowing the medic was right.
"Soundwave we're not asking for much, please finish the energon it will help with your symptoms." Ratchet sighed scanning the young mech.
"Fine..." Soundwave attempted to take the energon from his femme. His servo trembling as he weakly lifted his arm.
"We need it in you, not on you." Ratchet said placing a gentle servo on the young mech's trembling one.
"I d...d... don't..." Soundwave paused his broken speech as his processor sent a pulse of a tremendous amount of pain.
Ratchet watched the young mech with concern. Reading over his scans the medic's concern grew. "Primus..."
"What's going on Ratchet?" Arcee asked pulling her mech into a comforting embrace.
"That microchip must still be at work. It's now fully turning it's attack on Soundwave's processor." Ratchet replied bending down to get the violet mech off the couch. "I'm going to take a peek into his helm and see if I can seek and destroy that microchip."
Arcee let the medic take her mech, following him and Mirage into the med bay. "You said you couldn't find a microchip?"
"I couldn't it must be camouflaged, do you not remember the one that was planted on Mirage?" Ratchet hissed inducing Soundwave into stasis.
Arcee went silent watching the medic's procedure on the nearby monitor.
"Primus... this is extraordinary..." Ratchet thought aloud as he routed around in Soundwave's processor.
"What is it?" Mirage asked what Arcee was about to.
"Well it's showing signs of major damage in Soundwave's processor, but the damage is repairing through regression. I still cannot find a microchip though." Ratchet explained continuing his exploration.
"Maybe it's not supposed to be found, it might be one that dissolves during it's destructive travel." Mirage suggested to the medic.
"If that's the case I have to find a new way to fix this regression bandaid Shockwave's tech is causing." Ratchet sighed with a puzzled expression.
"Regression, doesn't that mean it's repairing Soundwave and restoring the damage?" Sideswipe asked from behind the med bay monitor.
"I just said that a moment ago, don't you listen?" Ratchet hissed at the silver twin.
"I know, well why fix it if it ain't broke?" Sideswipe shrugged in reply.
Ratchet mulled over that thought for a moment shaking his helm in an unsure manner. "True enough. But if it's a temporary fix..." he turned back to looking at the procedure he was preforming. "It's now fully repaired like nothing happened..."
"What?"
"How?"
"I don't know! This is the oddest thing I've ever seen!" Ratchet replied closing the opening he made in the mech's helm.
"Isn't this a good thing if it repaired?" Mirage asked.
"Yes, but it's almost as if it's some kind of transformation." The medic pondered.
"Well didn't you say Soundwave's systems were repairing the damage found? Wouldn't this be the result?" Arcee thought aloud.
"Yes, yes. Those are all possible..." Ratchet sighed reversing the induced stasis.
"Well Soundwave will be thrilled to be back to normal." Sideswipe laughed. "Looked like he wanted to run away as far as possible from you guys."
"That's because Soundwave refuses to take any kind of help." Arcee rolled her optics as her sparkmate woke.
"Should I... even... ask?" Soundwave tiredly sat up.
"You don't remember?" Arcee raised an optic ridge.
"What, Shockwave's threats, or you force feeding me energon?" Soundwave scoffed at the femme.
"Okay you remember... wait Shockwave's threats?" Arcee repeated.
"Never mind... can I go now?" Soundwave sighed hopping off the berth.
"Yes you're functional." Ratchet nodded turning to his scans and findings on the monitor.
Soundwave quickly exited the med bay with Arcee and Mirage in tow.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay enough to leave the base?" Arcee asked following her mech to the base exit.
"Ratchet said I was good to go, and I haven't left the base besides that raid we did on the Nemesis." Soundwave replied continuing out of the base.
"Just because you're feeling better right after surgery doesn't mean you can just fly off."
"Yes mom..." Soundwave rolled his optics at his femme.
"I'm just trying to keep you safe Soundwave." Arcee growled at the sarcastic mech.
"You're being overprotective. Don't worry about me, why don't you come with me and just enjoy a drive?"
"I'm in." Mirage transformed waiting for the couple to do the same.
"Great." Soundwave transformed flying off into the sky.
"It's getting dark though." Arcee mentioned.
"Since when does lack of light stop our patrols?" Mirage laughed at the concerned femme.
"Whatever..." Arcee groaned transforming as Optimus returned with Jazz and Bee.
"Where are you off to. Was that Soundwave that just took off?" The semi truck asked pulling up to the motorcycle.
"Yes he's magically healed." The motorcycle replied sarcastically, driving off with Mirage in the direction her mech flew.
"Ratchet is Soundwave healed?" Optimus asked upon entering the base.
"You know that question is starting to get repetitive." Ratchet sighed turning to the Prime. "It's a lot to explain but long story short, the damage was strangely repaired on its own."
"Why is that strange?" Bumblebee asked joining the conversation.
"Because it was repaired through a transformation. It regressed Soundwave to before he developed motor functions, then repaired the damage like it was coding over that regression." Ratchet said, knowing the way he was explaining was probably confusing his teammates further.
"I'm really proud of you Mirage."
"Why?" Mirage replied driving next to the two wheeler.
"We're all really proud that you didn't go on a vengeful hunt for Shockwave when you found out Soundwave wasn't well." Arcee explained.
"It upset me deeply, I hate for anything to hurt any of you, especially my brother. But revenge gets you no where, it just turns into an undying circle of hate." The red Ferrari said to the motorcycle.
"I think everybody gets caught in the game of revenge, I don't think they really escape it. Like you said an undying circle of hatred." Arcee sighed knowing she had moments in her past when she was vengeful.
"Oh don't get me wrong I will get my revenge on Megatron and Shockwave. I will not conduct it but I will witness karma repaying them for all they have done." Mirage scoffed surprising the femme.
"Well... hey where's Soundwave?" Arcee transformed screeching to a halt.
Mirage slowed down transforming staring into the dark sky full of twinkling stars, but no Reaper.
"Soundwave?" Arcee attempted to reach her mech over her comlink. "Soundwave do you copy?"
"Soundwave where the hell are you?" Mirage aggressively called over his comlink.
"I'm getting nothing." Arcee mentioned scanning the area for any signs of her mech.
Mirage was wondering if he was wrong to encourage his brother to leave the base directly after being repaired. "What if he's in trouble?"
"Oh he's definitely in trouble, he's not answering any of us." Arcee hissed walking towards the nearby forest.
Mirage followed the cobalt blue femme into the forest. After a few moments Mirage was able to pick up his brother's very faint spark signature. "This way."
Arcee turned following the youngling deeper into the forest, looking up she began to see broken tree tops turning into broken trees. "Soundwave must've crashed. I told him that flying off after recovering was a bad idea!" Arcee looked over her shoulder to see no youngling behind her. "Mirage?"
"You're right, Soundwave should've listened to you. Luckily I'm here to collect the little freak." A sinister voice called from behind some trees.
"Who the hell are you?" Arcee hissed locking her optics onto the bright yellow ones hiding in the darkness.
"Soundwave hasn't told you about me has he?" Makeshift laughed coming out of the shadows.
"He mentioned you, but he made it seem like you weren't worth remembering, now I see why." Arcee scoffed scanning the area for any signs of Mirage or Soundwave. "Mirage where the hell are you?" She whispered into her com.
"I found Wave but there's another problem." Mirage replied.
"I know, Makeshift is here looking for Soundwave." Arcee rolled her optics as Makeshift approached her.
"That's not the problem, I'm coming back your way." Mirage quickly ended the call.
"Makeshift you think you can pull of an ambush?" Arcee asked retracting her wrist blades.
"I don't think you should be challenging me femme." Makeshift challenged drawing his own blade. "I'm here to collect Shockwave's test subject, you getting in my way is a bad choice." The dark mech jumped at the femme who quickly dodged him with ease.
"You wouldn't be able to take Soundwave, you'd be offline before you could even put a dent in him!" Arcee hissed blocking the mech's sword with a wrist blade, while slashing him with the other.
"Agh! Well according to Shockwave's readings, Soundwave's already hit last stage of his experimental microchips effects. Soundwave should be an easy abduction." Makeshift hissed in pain, swatting Arcee to the ground. "To bad you won't be alive to witness it." The dark mech held the femme to the ground with his ped.
Mirage suddenly appeared next to Makeshift, stabbing one of his swords into the Decepticon's side. Pulling the dark mech off the femme. "Tell us what Shockwave's plans are?!"
Makeshift spun off of the youngling's sword stumbling backwards. "You think Shockwave's going to give me those details?"
"Then what use are you?" Mirage threatened pointing his sword at Makeshift's sensitive neck wiring, while Arcee picked herself up.
"What are you going to do take me offline?" The mech scoffed unfazed by the sword piercing him. "That's awful high and mighty for a youngling."
"Your energon isn't worthy of being spilt by my blade. I suggest you surrender and retreat before I am forced to taint my blades." Mirage hissed at his brother's bully.
Arcee walked up to the young assassin's side. "Let's get out of here before more cons show up."
"You already have him don't you?" Makeshift swatted the sword away from him, reversing the threat with his own sword.
Mirage furrowed his optic ridges at the mech, also unfazed by the threatening blade. "You talk too much."
A look of malice grew on Makeshift's face his other arm transforming into a blaster he fired at Arcee while swinging his blade at Mirage. "Wheres he!?"
"Mirage!" Arcee yelled dodging bullets as the youngling engaged the shapeshifter. Hearing a hum from above Arcee could just make out the Nemesis hovering above the forest. "Scrap!" She cursed as troopers began to drop down.
Mirage kicked the shapeshifter into the trees, turning around see Arcee taking down numerous Eradicon troopers. Ignoring the moans coming from the broken trees Mirage quickly went to assist the femme.
"Where's Soundwave?" Arcee asked blasting an Eradicon in the spark.
"I have him hidden." Mirage replied knowing not to give out the location while the Decepticons were near.
Arcee rolled her optics at that reply, destroying the last Eradicon. "Why the frag does Shockwave want Soundwave back so badly?"
"Because Shockwave wasn't successful with me he wants to attempt the same with my brother who was a Decepticon in the past." Mirage hissed.
"What are you talking about?" Arcee asked following the youngling towards a small hidden den.
"Let's just get Soundwave and go." Mirage said reaching into the den.
Arcee's was surprised at what she saw the youngling pull out of the den, hearing Makeshift rustling in the trees made her come back to the reality of the danger they were in. "Ratchet we need a ground bridge now!"