As soon as the bridge opened more Decepticons dropped down as Makeshift made his attempt to grab Mirage, as the two Autobots ran into the bridge that shut before the shapeshifter could reach it.
"Arcee what happened?" Ratchet gasped tending to the bleeding femme.
"Decepticon ambush." Arcee replied as Ratchet patched her up.
"Where the hell is Soundwave?" Ratchet asked noticing the violet mech was missing.
"Right here..." Mirage sighed uncovering the tiny glowing sparkling craddled in his arms.
"I told you all there was something odd about the way that he recovered, nothing Shockwave does is normal!" Ratchet hissed finishing fixing up the femme.
"Why did the Decepticons ambush you?" Bumblebee curiously questioned.
"They were after Soundwave. Shockwave wants to do what he attempted with me, but with Soundwave because he thinks there's a higher success rate because Wave was a Decepticon." Mirage replied handing Ratchet his sparkling brother.
Soundwave playfully giggled as Ratchet began to examine him. Grabbing at Ratchet's digits as the medic tried to make sure he was healthy.
"Waverz seems a lot friendlier than the last time he was a sparkling." Jazz chuckled at the playful sparkling.
"He's a bit younger than last time. His mother trained him to distrust everyone at a certain point during the beginning of the war." Optimus said walking over to the medic.
"He's only a few months old. And If my memory serves, Soundwave was quite advanced and quite the social little sparkling." Ratchet chuckled giving the violet sparkling a small tickle.
"Okay how do we turn him back?" Arcee asked in a serious manner.
Ratchet's facial expression didn't make the femme feel very hopeful. "So far it's permanent because Shockwave perfected the reversal transformation."
"Great..." Arcee groaned wanting her mech back to normal.
"But I have some of his studies thanks to you guys, so perhaps hope isn't lost." Ratchet said rummaging through a crate of Shockwave's things.
"Rion?" Soundwave gurgled reaching for the Prime.
"So Wave only knows you, Optimus, and Ironhide?" Sideswipe thought aloud watching Optimus take the sparkling.
"During this age yes. Optimus absolutely, Hide and I to a point. But Soundwave will warm up to everyone quite easily do not worry." Ratchet nodded at the silver twin. "Most of the belongings you stole that were Shockwave's, besides his studies. Most of it was miscellaneous sparkling supplies "
"Meaning Shockwave was planing this for quite sometime..." Arcee thought aloud.
"Especially with Megatron down and out, Shockwave could concentrate on Soundwave purely." Mirage noted.
"Ha and you're always telling us to grow up, maybe you should've been telling Mirage and Soundwave since they're always sparklings!" Sunstreaker laughed at the cobalt blue femme.
"Hardy har har, you know that ones getting old." Arcee rolled her optics.
"Hey at least Soundwave won't fight you on being helped this time." Sunstreaker continued.
"So what do we do now, we're down a communications officer, and a second in command?" Jazz turned to their leader.
"We continue on, Ratchet will assume second in command for now until we can get Soundwave back to himself." Optimus said as Soundwave playfully gurgled in his arms.
"Rion?" Soundwave pointed to Arcee.
"That's Arcee." Optimus corrected the sparkling.
"Cee?" The violet sparkling tilted his helm.
"That's right." Arcee smiled at the glowing sparkling.
"We've got a small amount of mined energon we still need to transport." Ironhide mentioned.
"I will help you old friend." Optimus replied handing Soundwave to Arcee.
Arcee sighed looking down at the violet sparkling, wishing he was back to normal.
"Owie?" The violet sparkling pointed to the femme's recently patched up wound.
"It was an owie, but it's all better now." Acree smiled.
"Cee Cee!" Soundwave chirped at the femme.
"Primus you're lively." Arcee chuckled at the sparkling in her servos.
"Cee..." Soundwave coughed in pain, halting his cheers, squirming in discomfort.
"You okay little one?" Arcee cooed as Soundwave shivered in pain.
"Try and keep Soundwave comfortable for a moment. I will make him some medicinal energon. I just have to find the bottles..." Ratchet sighed going back to his med bay.
"I'll look for the bottles, you just make the energon." Mirage said following the medic.
"Thanks Mirage."
"It's alright Soundwave." Arcee cooed cradling the uncomfortable sparkling in her arms. Sitting on the couch watching Jazz and Bumblebee complete their puzzle.
Soundwave coughed squirming in pain as Arcee rocked him in her arms.
"Shhh... it's okay... Ratchet are you almost finished?" Arcee called over her shoulder.
"Yes I am." Ratchet said handing Mirage the bottle to give to Arcee.
"Thank you." Arcee thanked the youngling that gave her the bottle of really odd looking energon. "Is Soundwave going to actually drink this, or just spit it out on me?"
"He should just drink it, he's a sparkling they're messy there's a possibility he will spit it up on you." Ratchet scoffed.
"Ratchet you just love pointing out the obvious don't you?" Arcee rolled her optics with a groan feeding Soundwave the bottle.
"That was the first thing I learned going into medicine." Ratchet sarcastically replied to the femme who chuckled at him.
"What are you thinking about Mirage?" Arcee asked noticing the youngling in deep thought.
"Starscream and Shockwave." Mirage replied sitting next to the femme.
"Why them?" The femme asked.
"I know Starscream is going to be very vengeful towards us because we have been invading him. So the Decepticons are going to be more reckless and active." Mirage said watching his sparkling brother tiredly drink the bottle. "Shockwave's going to be waiting for us to slip up and bring Soundwave outside of our base, he knows he got this transformation perfect and it's almost impossible for us to reverse, so he thinks."
"We'll deal with Starscream, and keep Soundwave safe from Shockwave's servos. Don't worry Mirage we're a strong team." Arcee reassured the young assassin.
Soundwave finished the bottle of energon, blinking tiredly, nodding in and out of recharge.
Arcee removed the empty bottle with a warm smile. "I miss you as a mech, but Primus you're an adorable little sparkling."
The violet sparkling tilted his helm at the femme trying to understand what she was saying, while fighting his drowsiness.
Ratchet watched from a distance smiling at the adorable sparkling. He had a thought cross his mind while watching the sleepy sparkling. Ratchet left his med bay going down the hallway to the storage lockers.
"I was cuter." Mirage teased.
"Ha ha, I don't know Soundwave's giving you some fierce competition." Arcee teased the youngling.
"Yeah, Soundwave's got you on the innocent adorable sparkling Mirage. You were feisty and deadly." Jazz pointed out, looking up from the now finished puzzle.
Mirage nodded his helm with an optic roll. "Fair enough." He smiled as Optimus and Ironhide returned.
Arcee sighed getting up from the couch with the now recharging sparkling. "I think I'm going to retreat to my quarters."
"You're alright with Soundwave?" Optimus asked placing the mined energon in the med bay.
"I should be." Arcee replied walking into her room.
Ratchet returned to the main room with a rectangular crate full of scrap metal bars. "Did Arcee already go to her room?" He asked walking past the conversing younglings.
"Yes she did with Soundwave just a moment ago." Optimus replied moving out of the medic's way.
"Hey da... Optimus, can Bumblebee and I join you on patrol tomorrow morning?" Mirage asked with Bumblebee next to him.
"If you can get Bumblebee up that early I can't see why not." Optimus responded lightheartedly.
"I can wake early dad!" Bumblebee gave his father a playful smirk.
"Then get to bed you two, I will see you both in the morning." The Prime smiled, watching his two younglings go to their room.
"Whatcha building Ratch?" Sideswipe asked watching the medic weld bars to the crate.
"Well we don't have any spare cribs laying around, and Mirage uses his berth. So I am making a makeshift crib, so Soundwave can recharge in his own space. So whoever has him won't have to worry about crushing a sparkling in their recharge." Ratchet replied putting the finishing touches on his creation.
Arcee sat down on her berth with Soundwave recharging peacefully in her arms. Staring softly at the brightly glowing sparkling, Arcee knew that she should prepare herself. Knowing that Soundwave may be stuck as a sparkling for long while. "Well I guess I should think about the positives. You're super adorable, and I don't get to hear a lot of back talk when I'm helping you." The femme chuckled to herself, about to lay down before Ratchet opened the door.
"Here Arcee." Ratchet said placing his converted crate next to her berth.
"What the hell is this?" Arcee raised an optic ridge.
"It's the closest thing to a crib since Mirage uses his berth." Ratchet replied gesturing to the crib like crate.
Arcee shrugged placing the violet sparkling in the crib the medic made. "Thanks Ratch."
"Thank you for taking sparkling duty." The old medic smiled.
"Well I did say I would help Soundwave until he doesn't need it." Arcee sat back down on the berth.
"It may be while before that time comes unfortunately." Ratchet sighed watching the sparkling recharge.
"I know..." Arcee sighed sadly watching the violet sparkling. "I faith in you though Ratchet. I know you'll get Soundwave back to his usual self."
"I will do my best Arcee. I know Soundwave being the Prime apprentice, it is key that I get him back to normal." Ratchet said walking out of the femme's quarters.
Hours of peaceful slumber went by, Soundwave stood up in his crib, holding onto the metal bars he locked his optics onto the recharging femme. "Cee!"
Arcee tiredly opened her optics, rolling over to see the glowing sparkling bouncing in his crib. "It's not time to get up yet..."
Soundwave babbled beginning to climb out of the crib.
"No no, I'm getting up!" Arcee quickly rolled off the berth stopping the sparkling from climbing.
"Up?" Soundwave reached for the cobalt blue femme.
"Well I am now." Arcee chuckled picking up the sparkling.
Soundwave cocked his helm curiously at the joking femme. "Up?"
"You are up silly. It's time to recharge." Arcee cooed laying the curious violet sparkling in the crook of her arm.
Soundwave just watched the femme as he was rocked gently in her arms.
After a while of bouncing and rocking, trying to lull Soundwave back into recharge. Arcee groaned wanting to go back to recharging. "Why won't you recharge..."
"Rion?" Soundwave tilted his helm.
"Rion?" Arcee was confused by the name. "Do you mean Optimus?" The femme questioned remembering the sparkling called her leader by that name.
"Opt?" Soundwave repeated after the femme.
"Yes maybe Optimus can get you to recharge." The cobalt blue femme said, walking to the Prime's room.
Optimus woke to the feeling of being watched, opening his optics to see Arcee standing over him with Soundwave in her arms.
"I can't get him to recharge." Arcee sighed exhausted.
A smile grew on the Prime's faceplate as he sat up in his berth. "That's not surprising."
"Rion!" Soundwave chirped bouncing excitedly in the tired femme's arms.
"Hello little one." Optimus took the cheery sparkling that was handed to him.
"Are you telling me he doesn't recharge?" Arcee asked.
"He does... but with Soundwave it was always difficult to keep him recharging. Like any other sparkling, giving him a warm bottle of energon should lull him back into recharge." Optimus said leading the femme into the med bay.
"I thought of that, but I figured like Mirage and Bee I could just rock him back to recharge?" Arcee shrugged preparing a bottle for the sparkling.
Optimus had a thought cross his mind, Soundwave was only difficult to console when he was deprived of a spark bond and energon. "Arcee, Soundwave is a very different sparkling. He was deprived of energon until I had him move to Iacon with me. I found that energon soothed him the fastest." The Prime only mentioned half of his thoughts to the sleepy femme.
"So in other words Soundwave's a hungry little sparkling." Arcee laughed as Optimus handed Soundwave back to her.
"I suppose that's a way of putting it." Optimus nodded following Arcee back down the hallway. "I will be out on patrol in the morning will you be alright with Soundwave?"
"I think so, he's a little different than other sparklings but I will figure it out." Arcee nodded stopping in front of her room.
Optimus nodded agreeing that the femme's sentence was a perfect description for the violet sparkling. "Goodnight Arcee."
"Goodnight Optimus." Arcee smiled walking into her room. Feeding Soundwave the warm bottle of energon.
Soundwave hungrily drank the bottle, wrapping his little digits around Arcee's.
Arcee smiled at the violet sparkling after he finished the bottle. Soundwave let out a big squeaky yawn. "Alright goodnight little one." The femme sighed placing Soundwave back in the crib.
The next morning came Optimus and Mirage had to drag Bumblebee out of the base to go on patrol.
"You said you'd be up early kid. Hurry up before they leave you behind." Ratchet laughed at the sluggish scout trudging towards the base exit.
"I didn't know it was this early, it's still dark out!" Bumblebee complained following his brother and father out of the base.
Ratchet chuckled hearing sparkling chirps coming from behind him. "Good morning Arcee, Soundwave."
"Good morning. Is Bee complaining about the early Prime patrol?" Arcee chuckled walking into the med bay carrying Soundwave.
"Yes, he might not be as enthusiastic about getting up this early and going on a boring patrol, as say Mirage and this one." Ratchet scoffed wriggling his digits in front of the violet sparkling.
Soundwave giggled grabbing at the medics funny digits.
"Here hold him for a sec." Arcee said handing over the sparkling. While she began to make a bottle of energon.
"Add the serum to that." Ratchet mention, taking the playful sparkling.
"Soundwave's not coughing?" Arcee replied confused.
"Yeah, Soundwave may have not kept up with it and maintained his glitch properly as a mech. But I'm sure as hell making sure he doesn't go through pain as a sparkling. I suggest we give him a bottle of low grade and serum every four Earth hours." The old medic recommended.
Arcee nodded in agreement. "Alright I will do that."
"Maybe I should place that in the notes on the cupboards." Ratchet thought aloud.
"Probably a good idea since you and I aren't always going to be looking after Soundwave." Arcee mentioned putting the bottle in the energon warmer.
Ratchet quickly added the information to the notes on the holographic display on the cupboards.
Soundwave giggled as Ratchet tickled him, trying to squirm away from the tickling digits. "Cee!" Soundwave cried out trying to escape the medic.
"I gotcha!" Arcee cooed taking the giggling sparkling from the medic.
"Now I can get back to work." Ratchet smiled at the happy sparkling.
"Oh Ratchet you need to have a sparkling more often, you could use a break from working all the time." Arcee scoffed cradling Soundwave in her arm.
"Work finds me." Ratchet snorted.
"True enough, we appreciate everything you do though." Arcee shrugged as Soundwave eagerly reached for the bottle.
Soundwave hungrily drank the warm energon, watching the medic move around the med bay.
Arcee walked to the couch turning on a holo vid to entertain the sparkling.
Soundwave was only entertained for about half an hour before he began to fuss, wanting down from the femme.
"Where are you going?" Arcee laughed placing Soundwave down next to her on the couch.
"Down." Soundwave replied tumbling off the couch.
"Primus don't do that! I could've placed you down there!" Arcee gasped watching the violet sparkling drop to the floor.
Soundwave crawled for a moment before Arcee lifted him to his peds. He giggled as he was lifted, finding his balance the violet sparkling toddled away to the small crate full of toys and puzzles.
"You wanna play?" Arcee asked crouching down next to the toys.
"Play?" Soundwave tilted his helm, watching as the cobalt blue femme rummage through the toys.
"Yes play." Arcee smiled pulling out a interactive toy.
Soundwave warily watched as the femme activated the toy. Backing away from the toy as it flashed and made loud noises.
"Here you try." Arcee tried to hand the frightened sparkling the toy.
Soundwave toddled backwards slowly, wanting nothing to do with the scary device.
"What's the matter, it's just a toy Soundwave?" Arcee tried to show that the toy was okay.
"Sideswipe, you better not wake me this early again..." Sunstreaker grumbled following his twin into the main room.
"No!" Soundwave cried quickly toddling away in a panic.
"Whoa there little Waverz!" Sideswipe halted as the scared violet hid behind his ped.
"What are you doing to him Arcee?" Sunstreaker asked as his twin scooped up the terrified sparkling.
"I'm not doing anything, I was just showing him a toy!" Arcee hissed walking over to the twins with said toy. As Optimus returned with the younglings.
"What this little thing?" Sideswipe asked taking the toy from Arcee. "It's just a toy Waverz, see." Sideswipe cooed moving the toy closer to the glowing sparkling.
"No!" Soundwave began to cry hiding his face in the silver twin's chestplate.
Optimus made his way over towards the recreational part of the main room, wondering what all the commotion was.
"It's just a funny little toy, see it's alright." Sideswipe continued to try and get Soundwave to play.
"Sideswipe, Soundwave won't play with that." Optimus mentioned, grabbing the ball he got for the sparkling so long ago. "I tried many times to get Soundwave to play with lively interactive toys. But could only get him to play with this and cyber novels." The Prime said replacing the loud toy with the enumerating ball.
"Primus, even as a sparkling Soundwave's boring..." Sunstreaker rolled his optics.
"You mean intelligent?" Arcee raised an optic ridge. "Hey Mirage wasn't a huge fan of toys either. It might just be a trait with them." Arcee reminded the golden twin.
"Yeah but Mirage wasn't spooked by them, he just had no interest." Sunstreaker scoffed.
"I also trained and murdered when I was sparkling, until I was raised by you guys. I had no reason to fear the unknown because I could kill before I could talk." Mirage retorted joining the conversation.
"Here Soundwave look!" Sideswipe cooed showing the ball.
Soundwave peeked his helm out from the mech's chestplate, he chirped seeing his favourite toy.
"Okay... you're a sparkling with a particular taste." Arcee sighed as Soundwave happily took the ball. "Anything else I need to know?"
"I'm unsure Arcee. I am trying to remember most of Soundwave's needs myself." Optimus chuckled at the femme.
"There you go, have fun." Sideswipe said placing Soundwave back on the floor. "Come'on Sunny let's quickly go on patrol before Hide wakes up and puts us in the mine!"
Sunstreaker nodded in agreement. "Let's go!" The golden twin shoved his brother forward.
"Where are those two off to in such a hurry?" Jazz chuckled walking out of the hallway.
"Patrol, and you and I have patrol to." Arcee said to the grey mech.
"Okay?" Jazz shrugged following the twins to the exit.
"Optimus are you able to watch Soundwave while I go on patrol?" Arcee asked almost forgetting she was watching the violet sparkling.
"Yes, we need as many optics on watch for the Decepticons as possible. I will watch Soundwave while you're gone." Optimus nodded at the femme.
"Thanks, be good Soundwave." Arcee cooed rolling the ball for Soundwave, before catching up with the three mechs.
Soundwave followed the ball that went through the Prime's legs.
Optimus laughed, carefully moving his peds to see Soundwave holding the ball.
"Rion!" Soundwave squeaked showing the ball to the Prime.
"Yes little one, five." Optimus read the text on the shown ball.
"Arcee you four can actually go investigate this energy disturbance that just appeared." Ratchet pointed to the monitors.
"We're on it Ratch." Arcee nodded transforming, driving out of the base with the three mechs.
Optimus looked over in the direction of the monitors thinking that he should be monitoring for Decepticon activity as well. He sighed looking down at the playful sparkling.
"We can keep him busy, while you help Ratchet sir." Mirage said as if reading his father's thoughts.
"Thank you, I'll be right over there if you need me." Optimus thanked the young assassin.
Mirage sat on the floor next to his brother.
Soundwave was curious to the red youngling, toddling over to him. "Hi!"
"Hi Wave." Mirage smiled lifting his sparkling brother into his lap. Hearing Bumblebee rummaging through his toy collection behind them. "What are you looking for?"
"Dad said Soundwave likes quiet toys that don't scare him, maybe he'd like to do a puzzle." Bumblebee replied walking over with a puzzle.
"Uh yeah, you're probably right Bee." Mirage shrugged as Soundwave curiously crawled off him to investigate the scout.
"Yeah maybe Soundwave won't throw the pieces at me." Bumblebee retorted glaring at his brother.
"Puzzles aren't my thing." Mirage grinned at his brother.
"Trust me we know. But Soundwave seems to be enjoying it." Bumblebee noted gesturing to the violet sparkling putting the puzzle together.
Soundwave grabbed each piece of the puzzle and examining it before placing them, placing each piece in the correct spot.
"Wave's better at puzzles than I am." Mirage jokingly scoffed.
"Yeah he is!" Bumblebee agreed instantly.
"Hey, I was just stating he was putting the puzzle together properly, no need to agree so quickly!" Mirage hissed at his scout brother who laughed even more.
"And your quick temper is the reason why you can't do puzzles." Bumblebee teased.
"You take forever to do them!" Mirage playfully tackled the yellow scout.
Soundwave visibly jumped watching as his brother wrestled with the yellow youngling. Losing interest in the now finished puzzle, the violet sparkling made his way to the Prime across the room.
Ratchet rolled his optics at the wrestling younglings, his optics catching a small violet sparkling making his way to the Prime. "Sparkling behind you, watch your footing."
Optimus looked behind him to see Soundwave looking up at him. "Up?"
Optimus smiled promptly picking up Soundwave. "I see your brother forgot he was watching you." The Prime noted, watching his younglings wrestle.
"Alright you two, in the mine with me. Come'on!" Ironhide growled splitting the two younglings up.
"Aaaaw seriously!" Mirage and Bumblebee whined.
"Yes, get moving!" Ironhide hissed pointing the younglings towards the base exit.
"But I was helping watch Soundwave." Mirage mentioned as he was escorted towards the exit.
"Could've fooled me. Now move!"
"We need that energon, we use it to power this base, and with a sparkling in the base we're going to be burning through it quickly." Ratchet thought aloud.
"We have a good supply for the time being. But with Soundwave, you're correct old friend we will need the energon." Optimus agreed with the medic.
Ratchet smirked seeing the violet sparkling seemingly infatuated with the monitors. "I have to admire Soundwave's intelligent curiosity."
"Yes, Soundwave has always had an obsession with intelligence. Sometimes being too smart for his own good." Optimus chuckled giving the sparkling a playful bounce in his arm.
Soundwave shook out of his trance with a giggle, looking up into the Prime's optics.
"Optimus have you heard anything from the others yet?" Ratchet asked.
"I have not yet Ratchet, I will check in with them if they do not soon." Optimus replied.
Soundwave cocked his helm curiously at hearing the medic call Orion by a different name. Remembering Arcee had told him that was Orion Pax's new title. "Opt!" Soundwave squealed smacking his tiny servos on the Prime's chest plate.
"Yes Soundwave hello." Optimus smiled at the bubbly sparkling.
Soundwave continued to gurgle and babble to himself while Optimus worked. After a while Soundwave's mood dropped as his spark gave a weakened flutter.
Optimus noticed the sparkling's cheery mood dampen. "What's the matter little one?" he cooed holding Soundwave out in front of him.
"Ma?" Soundwave whimpered, yearning for the warmth of his mother's spark.
"Hmm..." Optimus sighed staring thoughtfully at the yearning sparkling.
"Did he just mention his mother?" Ratchet asked.
"Yes." Optimus replied bringing Soundwave to the med bay.
"I'll scan him, but I am almost positive he is in the stage of..."
"Deprivation..." The Prime finished the medic's sentence. "I recognized the signs last night, but I hoped that it was just energon that Soundwave was lacking."
"It's certainly not just energon he's deprived of, Optimus. Soundwave doesn't have any spark bond connections as a sparkling on Earth. Or Shockwave's advancements to survive without them." Ratchet said doing a scan on the wriggly sparkling.
"I do not understand, Soundwave still has the technology Shockwave gave him?" Optimus raised an optic ridge.
"Although that may be true to a point, Soundwave went through a regression with that chip, shutting down what ever advanced augmentations Shockwave gave him into limbo. Plus Shockwave didn't grant Soundwave the power to survive without a bond, because he was a youngling when he was captured." Ratchet explained to his confused leader.
"Shockwave knows that... that's why he attempted to capture Soundwave. If he got a hold of Soundwave, Shockwave himself would try to create an unbreakable bond, or awaken Megatron from his deathless slumber and allow him to try the same." Optimus pondered as Ratchet prepared a bottle.
"Soundwave needs a spark bond connection. With his mother offline, and Mirage's spark being foreign, and too young to provide sustenance for a sparkling. One of you will have to create a spark bond with Soundwave." The CMO sighed, handing a bottle and the sparkling to the towering mech. "Optimus you've known Soundwave the longest out of all of us. You also have a faint spark connection due to the relation to Megatron..."
"In other words I am the best candidate for creating a spark bond with Soundwave?"
"Optimus we can't really ask our younger compatriots to do it. They're our main source of finding energon and patrolling for trouble. Ironhide's out of the question, he'd scare the poor sparkling. The twins are too immature, Jazz is too chill, although he loves sparklings. And it would put Arcee in an awkward position since she's already created a sparkmate bond with Soundwave as a mech. The spark bond created now would have long term effects even after I restore Soundwave." Ratchet sighed watching as the tiny sparkling drank the bottle. "Like I said to you deca cycles ago, it is pertinent that you create a bond with Soundwave."
Optimus gave a heavy sigh, he was a busy leader, he barely had time to interact with his own younglings. But remembering the suffering and pain Soundwave went through when he was transitioning to living with him in Iacon. Optimus knew he would have to make some sacrifices, and dedicate himself to the sparkling's survival. "I will do the best I can old friend."
"I know you will. But know this is going to take a toll on our young guns. They're not going to understand Soundwave's suffering, and probably won't until that bond is rekindled." The old medic told the Prime.
Optimus Prime nodded in understanding, remembering the horrible pained crying, and screaming Soundwave produced when he was going through that transition. "Will this be different because Xanthia is no longer alive?"
"This is only happening because Xanthia's not alive anymore, last time Soundwave was converted she was here so he didn't suffer. It absolutely will be more painful and draining. We just have to try and keep him comfortable and concentrated on you." Ratchet said as Arcee and the others returned with a small amount of energon. "Arcee may not like that Soundwave's being moved out of her room though..."
"Arcee is an understanding young femme, I am not removing Soundwave from her life." Optimus said.
"That signal was just a small energon resource, nothing significant." Arcee mentioned placing the energon she carried in the med bay.
"Good, if you guys could scout out any other energon sources that would be great. We've got a hungry little sparkling amongst us and we need to fuel the base." Ratchet mentioned to the younger bots.
"Sure Ratchet, the mine Soundwave found Steve in is almost completely mined. We're going to need another source soon enough." Sideswipe said.
Soundwave squirmed uncomfortably in the Prime's arm as his little spark fluttered weakly.
Jazz scanned the room seeing no younglings in sight. "Bee and Mirage on patrol again?"
"No Ironhide dragged them both to the mine." Ratchet replied to the grey mech.
"Oh thank Primus!" Both the twins sighed with relief.
"Don't be so relieved twins. The younglings will only last so long, before Hide comes looking for you two." Arcee teased the two mechs.
"Arcee perhaps you and Jazz can go help Ironhide. The twins do deserve a rest, they've been mining every day for the last week." Ratchet said to the cobalt blue femme.
"Fair enough." Jazz shrugged transforming driving to the exit.
Soundwave whimpered turning away from the bottle the Prime was feeding him.
"Come little one you haven't had enough yet." Optimus spoke softly trying to coax the uncomfortable sparkling to drink more than just a couple sips of energon.
Soundwave shook his helm no, pushing the bottle, and turning his helm away each time the Prime tried to feed him the bottle.
"You coming Arcee?" Jazz called.
"I'll catch up in a minute." Arcee walked over to the violet sparkling in the Prime's arms.
"Stubborn little one aren't ya?" Sunstreaker cooed at the fussy sparkling.
Soundwave shivered curling up tightly against the red chest plate, turning his back to the rest of the room.
"What's with that?" Sideswipe and Arcee asked confused by the violet sparkling's actions.
"Ma..." Soundwave whimpered trying to get warmth from the Prime's spark.
"He wants Xanthia?" Arcee asked.
"Soundwave is a sparkling without a creators sparkbond to thrive from." Ratchet mentioned to ease the confusion.
"Don't sparklings sparks ebb to offline if both creators are offline, and they don't have a bond to connect with?" Sideswipe questioned the medic.
"A grim way of putting it, but unfortunately yes." Ratchet replied seeing the shocked reactions on the Prime and femme.
"Are you fragging kidding me?!" Arcee hissed clearly upset.
"Arcee Jazz is waiting for you. I will explain more to you when you return." Ratchet sternly replied to the upset femme.
"Damn right you will!" Arcee stormed off out of the base.
Optimus turned to the old medic with a pointed glare. "Ratchet you did not inform me of the risks Soundwave is facing."
Soundwave whimpered tossing and turning in the Prime's arms, waiting for the uncomfortable pain to pass.
"I apologize Optimus..." Ratchet apologized to his upset leader. "I did not want you or Arcee to panic." The medic glared at the silver twin.
"What! I was just stating a fact you mentioned when you found Mirage back on Cybertron." Sideswipe whined.
"Mirage some how survived without out the need for a spark bond. I am guessing due to the augmentations Shockwave gave him as a sparkling." Ratchet rolled his optics at the twin.
"Or Shockwave created a spark bond with Mirage..." Sunstreaker mumbled.
"Be quiet you two!" The CMO hissed. "Optimus if nobody here had a relation to Soundwave, he may perish quickly. But with you Optimus, I believe that Soundwave will attach to your spark quickly before that happens." Ratchet explained to the Prime.
"What if he doesn't?" Sunstreaker asked with concern
"He won't, and we have to convince Arcee and Mirage that he won't. No more negativity, Optimus will get through to Soundwave's spark." Ratchet reassured the twins.
Optimus sighed trying to feed the violet sparkling again. "Soundwave."
Soundwave turned his helm to looking up at the Prime's optics. "Opt?"
Optimus smiled gesturing for Soundwave to drink the bottle. "Can you please finish this?"
Soundwave nodded reaching for the bottle.
"So what can we do to help Optimus with Soundwave?" Sideswipe asked.
"Listen to what we say, and help out with anything that comes up. Optimus needs all the time he can get with Soundwave." Ratchet responded to the silver twin.
"Of course Ratchet." The twins nodded walking over to the recreational part of the main room.
Soundwave's tiny peds happily pattered while he guzzled down the bottle of energon. His mixed coloured optics curiously following the twins. "Ga!" Soundwave squeaked pointing to the twins.
"Yes little one, that is Sunstreaker and Sideswipe." Optimus said placing the now empty bottle in the med bay.
"Sunny Sides!" Soundwave chirped wanting to join the twins on the couch.
Optimus walked over to the couch to satisfy the sparkling. Placing Soundwave on the couch next to Sideswipe.
"Hey there little Waverz." Sideswipe cheerfully greeted the violet sparkling.
Soundwave chirped crawling onto the silver mech's lap. "Hi!" Sitting himself down he waved at the golden twin next to them.
"Aren't you all of a sudden friendly." Sunstreaker snorted with a smile.
"Soundwave's friendly as long as you're an ally." Sideswipe said.
"True enough." Sunstreaker shrugged as Soundwave crawled over to him.
"And what do you want?" Sunstreaker playfully asked the bubbly sparkling.
Soundwave gurgled playfully smacking the golden mech's chestplate.
"Hey just don't scratch my paint!" Sunstreaker said watching the sparkling smack him.
"Are you going to join us on the couch Optimus?" Sideswipe asked looking over to his leader.
"I should be monitoring for Decepticon activity." Optimus replied looking back at the monitors.
"I'm doing just that Optimus, I will alert you if anything happens." Ratchet called out.
"Opt Opt!" Soundwave squeaked regaining the Prime's attention.
"Hey Sunny wanna go spar?" Sideswipe asked knowing the Prime wasn't going to enjoy anything they'd watch.
"Sure why not." Sunstreaker shrugged standing up and placing Soundwave on the couch where he was sitting.
Optimus watched as the twins left, while Soundwave made his way off of the couch. The Prime was trying to think of how he could get to work and still watch the sparkling. He was also thinking about how he was going to rekindle the bond with the violet sparkling before it was too late.
Crawling off towards the base exit, Soundwave pushed himself up to his peds toddling past the medic.
"And where exactly do you think you're going?" Arcee scoffed promptly scooping up the escaping sparkling.
"Play?" Soundwave cocked his helm.
"Mhmm not out there you aren't." Arcee raised an optic ridge at the sparkling.
Optimus turned his helm towards the base exit, seeing Arcee standing with the violet sparkling. "Soundwave!" He gasped noticing the couch was vacant.
"He was making a break for it, you both didn't notice that?" Arcee met the Prime behind the medic.
"I'm busy monitoring, I thought Optimus and the twins were watching Soundwave." Ratchet replied turning around.
"The twins aren't even in here." Arcee pointed out.
"I was in deep thought, I wasn't paying attention to him. I'm sorry." Optimus apologized.
"Soundwave were you being mischievous?" Arcee cooed playfully holding the violet sparkling above her helm.
"Cee!" Soundwave giggled patting Arcee's helm.
"Glad to see Soundwave's feeling better." The femme chuckled lowering the playful sparkling into her arms. "So what can I do to help you mend the bond between you two?" Arcee sighed handed Soundwave to the Prime.
"For the time being Soundwave will have to stay in my quarters with me. I am going to try and dedicate as much of my time to Soundwave as possible. I need you to assume command on the battlefield while I do this. I will do my best to spend time with Soundwave and join my Autobots." Optimus replied to the cobalt blue femme.
"Of course Optimus, I will do that, we will not engage Decepticons unless necessary.
But Mirage is worried that the activity will pick up, because Starscream's power hungry, and Shockwave's trying to abduct Soundwave." Arcee expressed the young assassins concern.
"I understand, I will not completely withdrawal from combat, but if Shockwave is sending a hunting party for Soundwave. I will not take Soundwave outside of the territory of our base, nor will anyone else." Optimus said looking at the exit. "Arcee if you see fit, you may include Mirage in your leadership privileges. I believe Mirage has the potential to lead."
"Gladly Optimus, I know Mirage is a good leader." Arcee agreed with the towering mech.
Soundwave softly babbled, wrapping his arms around the Prime's neck, tiredly resting his little helm on Optimus's shoulder.
"Finally tired enough to take a nap?" Ratchet scoffed with a chuckle.
Optimus smiled hearing the tiny squeaky yawn come from his shoulder. He used one of his massive digits to gently rub the sparkling's back, soothing Soundwave.
A grin crept on Arcee's face as Soundwave's drowsy optics attempted to fight the losing battle of recharge.
To no avail, Soundwave was lulled into recharge by the Prime. His soft snoring confirming he was now resting.
"I'll go move that crib thing Ratchet made, into your quarters." Arcee chuckled seeing the glare on the medic's face.
"I'm surprised that Soundwave's actually napping." Optimus snorted as the femme left.
"Indeed he is a difficult sparkling to get to recharge. But I believe he's exhausted from the lack of a spark bond." Ratchet sadly replied.
The sound of loud engines caught the attention of Optimus and Ratchet, as Jazz and the younglings entered with Ironhide.
"This is the last load from the mine." Ironhide announced as Jazz and the younglings unloaded the energon from him.
"The twins and Hide mined that place dry, there's nothing left there." Jazz said moving energon to the energon processor.
"Hmm... we're going to need to find another energon source." Optimus thought aloud.
"I can start seeking out some sources sir." Mirage said to the Prime.
"Yes, it would be ideal to find a source that is not occupied by Decepticons." Optimus said to his youngling.
Mirage nodded in understanding, although he knew he could easily take over a Decepticon mine.
"Hey you're back!" The twins greeted the returned bots.
"We sure are, you don't have to worry about the mine anymore, we cleaned it out." Bumblebee said to the twins.
"Great, hey we were going to go to the canyon and lob the ball around, anyone want to join us?" Sideswipe asked gesturing to the large ball in his servo.
"Sure why not." Jazz shrugged with a smile.
"Can I go dad?" Bumblebee turned to the Prime.
"Of course." Optimus nodded in reply.
"Mirage you coming with?" The twins called as they made their way to the ground bridge.
"I'm going to stay, maybe later though." Mirage smiled.
"Sure thing, you know where to find us."
"Why didn't you go with them Mirage?" Optimus asked the young assassin.
"Didn't feel like it, thought I'd see if I could help around here." Mirage shrugged placing energon in the processing machine. "How's Wave doing?"
"Finally resting, he's weak but in good spirits." Optimus said not realizing his young son didn't know about his brother's condition.
"What, why is Soundwave weak?" Mirage asked with concern.
"With no creators currently online, Soundwave is without a spark bond to sustain his development as a sparkling..." Ratchet began to explain.
"But I'm his brother doesn't he have my spark bond?" Mirage asked confused.
"You came into Soundwave's life when he was a youngling, your spark is practically foreign to his. But it may have a connection. But in order for your brother's spark to thrive, he needs a mature well developed spark to bond with."
"But Optimus already had a spark bond with Soundwave. Why isn't he thriving off of his?" Mirage gestured to his father.
"Yes but since Soundwave was reset Optimus has to rekindle that bond." The old medic explained.
"Why does everything have to be so difficult with you?" Mirage groaned glaring at his slumbering brother.
"You know what Soundwave has said that about you a fair amount of times." Arcee retorted entering the main room.
"I don't doubt that." The red youngling rolled his optics in response.
"Looks like you guys brought back a decent amount of energon." Arcee noted the large pile of raw energon.
"Why are you so surprised you were in the mine with us?" The youngling scoffed.
"I had other things on my mind at that time." Arcee sighed.
"Well it's the last of it until we find a new source." Mirage said to the femme.
"Maybe you and I can go scouting for more later this evening." Arcee suggested, helping process the energon.
Mirage nodded with a smile, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his brother. But he knew that his work had to come before play time. "Optimus are you sure we can't take over a Decepticon mine. I can easily gain one."
"No Mirage, unless we're incredibly desperate I prefer to avoid dangerous situations like that." Optimus shook his helm no, while Soundwave opened his optics.
"Ma?" Soundwave tiredly looked around.
"Primus you don't recharge for long do you?" Arcee sighed with a smile.
"Arcee would you take Soundwave for a moment, I am just going to grab something from my quarters." Optimus asked handing Arcee the little sparkling.
"Sure no problem." Arcee smiled at the violet sparkling. "You certainly still look tired little one." Arcee cooed giving Soundwave a small tickle.
"Cee!" Soundwave giggled trying to shield himself.
Mirage gave an inaudible chuckle at his brother's infectious giggling. Looking up at the monitors Mirage noticed there was a couple extra spark signatures near the Twins and the rest of the gang. Looking around confused, Ironhide, Ratchet, and Arcee were here with him. "Twins report?" Mirage called over the comlink as Optimus reentered the room.
"Mirage send a ground bridge and get here quick guys!" Sideswipe answered in a panic, gunfire could be heard in the background.
"We're on our way Sideswipe!" Optimus replied firing up the ground bridge. "Ratchet watch Soundwave." he commanded as he led the rest of the team to the bridge.
"Keep the coms open." Ratchet replied taking the sparkling from the femme.
"Opt?" Soundwave whimpered as the team left through the bridge.
Mirage immediately opened fire at the escaping Nemesis, no Decepticons were alive on the ground the twins had dealt with them before the team arrived.
"Sideswipe are you alright?" A asked kneeling next to the downed twin.
"I'm fine, we gotta follow the ship though!" Sideswipe hissed through pain as he jumped up to his peds.
"Why what's going on?" Ironhide gruffly asked keeping his canons aimed at the warship.
"Where's Bumblebee?" Optimus asked noticing his son was missing from the group.
"Shockwave took Bee Optimus." Jazz replied in a pained tone.
"What would the Decepticons possibly want with Bumblebee?" Ratchet hissed through the comlink.
"Make a decision quick they're gaining altitude!" Mirage reminded the team of the Nemesis.
As Mirage yelled a small circular device dropped from the ship, landing in the middle of the Autobots.
The team prepared to evacuate the area, but were halted when a large holo vid projected from it. Showing Bumblebee in restraints, screaming in pain as he was being tortured by Knockout and Starscream.
"Bumblebee!" Optimus gasped feeling his spark skip a beat as he watched his youngling get tortured.
Shockwave quickly appeared in front of the torture scene to confront the Prime. "Optimus Prime, surely this isn't a sight you wish to see?"
"Release Bumblebee from your torture Shockwave! He did nothing to deserve this!" Optimus replied enraged.
"I will release your pathetic youngling, if you comply with my demands..." Shockwave's voice dripping with an evil tone.
"You're going to demand things from us, that's a fantasy in your sick twisted mind Shockwave!" Mirage hissed.
"And you're in no position to be opposing my demands. If you do not reach them, the scout dies!" Shockwave threatened as Bumblebee's screams grew louder behind him.
Mirage quickly calmed himself as Arcee grabbed hold of his shoulders so Optimus could address the mad scientist.
"What are your demands?" Optimus lowly growled at the holo vid.
"I would like to propose a trade." Shockwave replied, watching as Mirage's temper boiled, the youngling clearly knew what he wanted.
"And what trade would that be? You already own all the energon practically!" Ironhide scoffed glaring up at the Nemesis.
"One sparkling, for a youngling..." Shockwave glared at the Prime his optic burning through the towering mech.
Mirage shook his helm. "You're not taking Soundwave!"
In between Bumblebee's pained cries, Starscream could be heard in the background evilly snickering.
"You deliver the sparkling, and I release your youngling Prime!" Shockwave hissed.
"And if we refuse?" Optimus challenged the mad scientist.
"I have no use for a youngling scout, he will be terminated. His spare parts will be used for my scientific endeavours." Shockwave replied, sending chills through every Autobot.
Optimus knew Shockwave wasn't giving empty threats. He had a difficult decision to make.
Mirage was incredibly upset by their situation, but he knew Bumblebee's life was in danger. If Optimus didn't make the trade the scout would die. Swallowing his dread and tears Mirage knew that Soundwave in a way, would be much safer with the Decepticons then Bumblebee would be. Mirage gazed over to his father, knowing Optimus must've know the same as him.
"Ratchet open the ground bridge." Optimus said emotionless.
"That's right Prime, submit the brat to us." Starscream retorted as Shockwave opened a bridge.
"Opt!" Soundwave excitedly chirped as the Prime returned.
"Optimus you can't be seriously going through with this?" Ratchet asked as the Prime retrieved Soundwave from him.
"I'm choosing our safest option Ratchet." Optimus replied walking back through the bridge.
"I'm not delivering the youngling unless Mirage is vacant from the area." Shockwave said, knowing his super soldier would surely try to disrupt the trade.
"Mirage return to base." Optimus commanded to his son's disliking.
"Cowards..." Mirage reluctantly went through the bridge returning to base.
Shockwave came through the bridge alone, waiting to be handed the violet sparkling.
"Shock?" Soundwave tilted his helm at the seeing his father's friend.
Optimus was hesitant, but eventually handed the violet sparkling to the scientist.
"Knockout send the prisoner." Shockwave replied backing into his bridge.
"Opt?" Soundwave gazed at Prime in confusion as he was taken away from the Autobots.
Arcee watched in devastation as Soundwave disappeared through the bridge.
As soon as Shockwave disappeared Bumblebee was thrown through the bridge, causing him to tumble across the ground into Optimus.
"Bumblebee..." Optimus quickly scooped his beaten youngling off the ground, as the bridge shut in front of him.
"You're going to be alright Bumblebee, just relax while I repair you." Ratchet sighed as Optimus placed the tortured scout in his med bay.
"Optimus, trading Soundwave for Bee may have been a safe move. But not completely life saving, Optimus Soundwave's growing weak and dying without a spark bond. A bond you were supposed to rekindle!" Arcee hissed at the Prime while the medic worked.
"I do not fear Soundwave's health dwindling in Shockwave's care. As that is why he wanted Soundwave as a sparkling." Optimus replied to the angered femme.