Soundwave followed Megatron into the bridge, where Knockout, and Airachnid were waiting.
"The power source will be rigged in no time, Lord Megatron. We're nearly at the construction site." Knockout announced as Megatron strode past him.
"Nearly isn't good enough. The spheres are aligning I must not miss my moment to..."
Soundwave gasped, visibly jumping as a vision of Unicron, and a flaming mountain flashed through his processor.
Megatron also got a very quick obscure vision, but only of Unicron.
Knockout looked back and forth between father and son. "Lord Megatron, are you alright?"
Megatron turned seeing Soundwave shaking his helm in agitation. "It is as if you hear Unicron's thoughts?"
Soundwave placed a servo his disoriented helm, gazing up at his father. While Airachnid questioned the said name. "Unicron, The Chaos Bringer?"
"They say Dark Energon is his blood." Knockout ghoulishly wiggled his digits at the femme. "Whatever." The sarcastic medic snorted with a laugh.
"Complete the space bridge. Soundwave come, there is something we must attend to." Megatron said leading his youngling out of the bridge.
"Does he seem to be losing it?" Knockout leaned over to the femme.
"A bit, but his youngling is no different..." Airachnid smirked, knowing Soundwave heard what she said as he left the room with their leader.
"Soundwave, tell me what you saw in your vision?" Megatron asked walking towards the flight deck.
Soundwave looked surprised that his father knew he had a vision.
"Do not be so surprised youngling. The blood of Unicron flows through my veins too. I only had a quick vision of Unicron himself. I want to know what he sent through your processor." Megatron scoffed.
Soundwave displayed Unicron, and a flaming mountain on his visor. He was sure that His father was wanting a vocal reply, but he'd thought he'd try his luck at staying silent.
"A flaming mountain, do you have the coordinates to this mountain?" The warlord hid his irritation from Soundwave, allowing the silent reply.
Soundwave nodded sending the set of coordinates Unicron gave him, to Megatron. As they stepped out onto the flight deck.
"Stay here, I must tend to this alone..." the warlord told his youngling, before taking off into the skies.
Soundwave walked back into the ship, making his way back to the bridge. He could've sworn he heard gunfire in the distance. But payed no mind to it as his helm was still disoriented.
"Ratchet, how is Mirage?" Optimus asked after destroying one last Eradicon soldier.
"He's recovered, but is complaining about helm pain, and visions." Ratchet replied over the comlink.
"Keep him in the base for now, and monitor him old friend."
"Ready." Ironhide said to the Prime while grabbing the stolen power source.
"Ratchet lock onto my coordinates and send a ground bridge." Optimus ended the call. "Ironhide return to base. There is something I must do."
Ironhide watched as the bridge opened next to him, looking at his leader in confusion. "Seriously?"
"I have been foolish not see what history has proven over and over again. That Autobots and Decepticons will never mend their ways. If there can be no diplomatic solution to this perpetual conflict, then I must not allow more darkness to fall upon this or any other planet." Optimus Prime replied. "Megatron must be destroyed."
"Daddy didn't take you along on his little vision quest?" Airachnid smirked as Soundwave entered the bridge.
Soundwave walked past the sarcastic femme, not wanting to indulge the creepy femme's spiteful ego.
"What was with you two, you've both been acting very strangely?" Knockout asked trying to get the violet youngling to engage in conversation.
"Why do you bother Knockout, you won't get an answer from that mute youngling." Airachnid scoffed.
Soundwave perked up hearing gunfire down the hallway. Picking up on the intruders comlink call.
"Megatron! I am here on your ship. Come and face me." Optimus Prime challenged.
Soundwave quickly began to broadcast Megatron's call through the ship's intercom.
"Hear this! Any Decepticon who lays a servo on Optimus Prime, will answer to me. Soundwave, lock onto my coordinates and lead my opponent to his destiny."
Soundwave stepped out of the bridge, into the hallway riddled with offline Eradicon soldiers. Turning to see the Prime calmly approaching him.
Optimus put away his weapons as he approached the young mech.
Soundwave created a ground bridge next to him for the Prime to walk through. He watched as Optimus approached the bridge.
The Prime halted next to Soundwave just before the bridge. "Soundwave, you're a descendant of Primus. Don't let your father's conquests blind you, you can end this madness now, and keep your father alive."
Soundwave stared blankly at the towering mech. How was he supposed to stop a prophecy from happening, the Prime must've been out of his mind?
Optimus stared into his own reflection in the black visor, hoping the youngling understood what he was telling him. After a few moments of silence, he entered the bridge, ready to end Megatron's life.
Soundwave closed the bridge, quickly making his way to the laboratory to find answers.
Shockwave was surprised to find the violet youngling entering his laboratory. "It's been a while since I've seen you step foot in my laboratory. Well not since you're fit."
"Spare me the sarcastic remarks. What's going on with this Covenant Of Primus prophecy? I am getting visions of Unicorns thoughts? And so is my father, just not as detailed." Soundwave scoffed at the scientist.
"Megatron I understand why, he has the blood of Unicron flowing through his veins. So do you, but I am surprised that Unicron would be sending you more detailed visions." Shockwave replied in deep thought.
"Why is that surprising?" The youngling curiously queried.
"You're a descendant of Primus, sparked by Primus himself. Before I augmented you, and your brother, I found in your spark chamber, you had the purest energy, like the core of Cybertron and the Matrix Of Leadership. But as for the rest of your frame, you already had a very small percentage of Dark Energon flowing through you. Your brother had a higher percentage of Dark Energon, even before I injected more into you and your brother." Shockwave explained to the confused youngling. "I can bet your brother is receiving the same visions as you are."
Soundwave went silent leaving the laboratory, making his way back to the bridge.
"Soundwave have you heard anything from our master yet?" Knockout asked as the youngling entered the bridge.
Soundwave shook his helm no, as he continued towards the main console.
"You're not worried about Megatron being terminated by Prime?" Airachnid of course had to chime in her venom.
Soundwave ignored both bots, tracking Megatron's life signature on the monitors. He could feel the adrenaline and pain in his spark, as the two brothers fought to the death. Then it stopped suddenly, a wave of rage and victory coursing through his spark.
"Soundwave! Bring the Nemesis to my coordinates, and tell Airachnid to ready the mining teams." Megatron ordered over the comlink.
Soundwave did as he was commanded piloting the ship to the warlord's position. Pivoting to face the creepy femme, Soundwave played a recording of his father's last transmission. "Tell Airachnid to ready the mining teams."
"Ugh of course..." Airachnid rolled her optics, leaving out of the bridge.
Once at the flaming mountain, Soundwave watched the observation screen seeing the Dark Energon spewing from the mountain.
"By the Allspark, the Dark Energon our Lord was seeking was here the whole time." Knockout gasped as Soundwave made his way out of the bridge.
Standing on the edge of the flight deck, the violet mech watched as the mining teams began to spread out and mine the Dark Energon. Hearing a familiar jet Soundwave watched his father land next to him.
"This is just the beginning Soundwave. I now possess enough Dark Energon to reanimate Unicron himself!" Megatron excitedly proclaimed to his youngling.
Soundwave cringed at his father's words, why would you want to reanimate the chaos bringer? The violet mech did not believe that Unicron would be so modest, as to share leadership with Megatron.
Following Megatron into the ship, the young mech realized his father felt differently about it. Clearly there was some sort of detail in that prophecy that Soundwave had missed.
"So Megatron found more of the dark stuff?" Jazz asked as Ratchet tended to Optimus's wounds.
"A volcano full." Arcee scoffed.
"Yeah but how!" Sunstreaker shook his helm in disbelief.
"No. The question is what. As in what in the world is the blood of Unicron doing here, on Earth?" Ratchet corrected the golden twin.
"Prime do you copy?" Agent Fowler appeared on the monitor.
"I hear you Agent Fowler." Optimus replied walking towards the monitors.
"Been watching the news? Mother nature's got twitch in her britches." Fowler scoffed to the Prime.
"We know about the volcano." Optimus replied as the twins scrambled to find the news on the holo vid.
"And the quakes? Seven major tumblers of the exact same magnitude, at the exact same time as a volcanic eruption. All over the globe on different tectonic plates, in theory, unrelated, if they hadn't happened..."
"At the exact same time." Ratchet finished the human's sentence.
"Looks like this planet is going to hell." Sideswipe said, gesturing to the holo vid displaying worldwide natural disasters.
"Don't tell me your Cons have built a weather machine." Fowler retorted regaining the teams attention.
"One that powerful, highly unlikely." Ratchet snorted.
"I do not believe the appearance of Dark Energon at this point in time to be coincidental." Optimus noted to the human.
"Well I'm landing on your base now, before I get blown out of the sky by nature's destructive forces." Fowler grumbled ending the call.
"Oh joy..." Mirage rolled his optics, leaving the med bay.
"Optimus please tell me you've reported that Soundwave's no longer on our team?" Ratchet whispered to the Prime.
Optimus went silent, turning his helm away from the medic.
"It's been almost two and a half months, it's going to be a lot more difficult to explain now..." Ratchet began to scold the Prime.
"For now, Soundwave was mortally wounded, and is making a slow recovery..."
"Optimus, listen to yourself, you're making up excuses. It's going to be a whole lot more difficult when Agent Fowler finds out Soundwave is willingly working for Megatron once again." Ratchet interrupted his leader's jumbled excuse. "Not to mention that if we can restore Soundwave's memories, or convince him to rejoin our side. You think Fowler will allow Soundwave to just like that, rejoin our team, before sending him into exile?"
"You bring up a very valid point old friend, but I do not believe this is the time to discuss Soundwave's whereabouts." Optimus sighed.
"Agh!" Mirage grabbed his helm in pain as he received another painful vision. The vision showed the volcano erupting, with the Earth being taken over with veins of Dark Energon, before exploding apart.
"Mirage are you alright?" Arcee quickly sat the youngling back down on the medical berth.
"Ugh... I keep getting these stupid visions!" Mirage hissed through pain.
"What are you seeing?" Ironhide asked curiously.
"That time it was just the volcano erupting, and the Earth exploding." Mirage replied seeing his father's facial expression change to fear and worry.
"What have you learned Prime? And you better not just blow smoke up my ass." Agent Fowler greeted walking out of the human lift.
"We have learned this. As with the so called magma from the volcano. These Earthquakes originated from far below the Earth's crust, from the very center of the Earth's core, in fact." Ratchet responded to the rude greeting.
"Quakes don't start there." Fowler replied confused.
"Tiny tremors rising and falling in a consistent pattern almost like..."
Mirage moaned in pain as the his helm pounded in a steady rhythmic pattern.
Soundwave held his helm as a painful pounding in his helm beat in the rhythmic pattern of a sparkbeat.
"Master." Airachnid called the warlord, gesturing to the uncomfortable youngling.
Megatron growled turning to see his youngling in pain. "What is it Soundwave, what's happening?"
Soundwave fought through the pain, standing up straight he displayed a spark monitor rhythm on his visor, playing the pounding beat in his processor through his speakers.
Megatron could only listen to it for so long before it began pulsing in his own processor. "Stop Soundwave! Turn it off, I can still hear it pounding in processor!" Megatron complained holding his helm.
"Hold on, so you're saying something is alive, living inside our planet?" Agent Fowler asked looking at the Prime.
"I fear that Earth's very core is not comprised of magma, as your science has suggested. But of Dark Energon." Optimus said with a look of concern.
"And if we're hearing a sparkbeat, then Unicron is the rising darkness that the prophecy foretold." Ratchet thought aloud.
Agent Fowler waved his hands with an eye roll. "So how do we stop this thing from rising?"
"That I am afraid, was not foretold." Optimus replied to the human.
Airachnid cleared her throat after the father and son had grown accustomed to the sparkbeat in their helms. "Lord Megatron, our cargo hold is nearly filled with the dark substance. I recommend a retreat, the troops are growing weak from its effects."
Soundwave felt concern for the soldiers mining, he was never effected by Dark Energon when he was around it, he had forgotten how toxic it's effects were.
"And yet I grow stronger. Airachnid you're in command until my return." Megatron turned to face the femme.
"Your return from where Master?" Airachnid questioned as Megatron made his way towards the exit.
"From my audience with Unicron."
Soundwave watched curiously as his father exited the bridge. He feared what Unicron would have to say to his father.
Megatron transformed, landing in the dome of the volcano. "I feel your presence, share your very spark! I call on you as my lord and master, oh, mighty Unicron!"
The volcano rumbled releasing clouds of steam revealing a almost holographic face. "Who would speak to me?"
"Your servant, most humble." The tyrant bowed. "Megatron, leader of the Decepticons, and your very herald. The one who wielded the Dark Energon which binds us to awaken you once again! The prophecy has been fulfilled!" The gunmetal grey mech stood up at the large manifested god. "It is only the beginning for what we shall accomplish, together! For you shall rule this planet, and those who walk upon it, through me!"
"Prideful fool! How dare you think yourself capable of summoning my life force? I rise because I have deemed it my time!" The face of Unicron intimidatingly flew up to Megatron.
"Master I did not mean to overstep." Megatron apologized to the chaos bringer.
"Silence, worm! I have no need of your lowly assistance." Unicron scoffed in a disgusted manner.
Megatron began to panic as he lost his chance to rule with the chaos bringer. "Please, my Lord! I exist only to serve you!"
"What is this I sense, the taint of Primus? Here?" Unicron's disgust continued to grow.
"That is Optimus, the last of the Primes, our sworn enemy." Megatron answered Unicron's confusion.
"You profess your loyalty to me, yet you allow a disciple and a descendant of Primus to live!" Unicron shouted enraged with the pathetic mech standing before him.
Disciple and descendant? Unicron must've been talking about Optimus's first youngling, Mirage, Megatron thought. "I will destroy them both for you! Their screams will be heard!"
"I grow weary of your prattle. Surely if you had the power to destroy the Prime and the descendant, you would've done so by now! I will deal with them myself!" The face of Unicron retreated back inti the volcano, leaving Megatron with nothing but his thoughts.
"Soundwave I need a bridge to Shockwave's laboratory." Megatron demanded over the comlink.
"Lord Megatron, how was your audience with the chaos bringer?" Shockwave greeted the gunmetal grey mech.
"Not well... I am going to have to take a very different response to this prophecy." Megatron thought aloud.
"You know best my Liege." Shockwave gave a quick bow to the warlord.
"Hmm... tell me Shockwave Unicron was upset that Prime was upon this planet. But yet he spoke of a descendant of Primus as well. He was referring to Mirage correct? I mean you know those brothers better than any of us." Megatron asked the scientist whom quickly changed his lax demeanour, to an unsure nervousness.
"Lord Megatron it is a possibility that Unicron was referring to Mirage, but I find that is highly unlikely..." Shockwave began to explain.
"And why is that?" The warlord cocked an optic ridge at the scientist.
"Because as much as Mirage may be a partial fragment of Primus, he's overruled by Unicron's presence."
"Shockwave I do not wish to solve riddles!" Megatron hissed wanting a straight answer.
"Soundwave is the descendant of Primus, not Mirage." Shockwave sighed as the violet mech entered the laboratory behind the warlord.
Megatron pivoted turning his attention to his youngling. "We can discus these matters later Shockwave, we're running out of time." The gunmetal grey mech hurriedly guided Soundwave out of the lab.
"Soundwave Unicron did not accept my offerings. I will not allow the chaos bringer to overrule my conquering, we must destroy Unicron." Megatron said, leading Soundwave out to the flight deck. "You are a key part in helping me do that."
Soundwave was happy to help his father, but did not understand why he needed him so urgently.
"Come we must find Optimus, can you track his life signature?" Megatron asked turning to his confused youngling.
Soundwave nodded in reply, transforming so he could lead his father to the Prime.
"Optimus, I'm detecting a swell in Unicron's spark activity." Ratchet warned the Prime over the comlink.
Optimus watched as Mirage leapt off a bolder next to him. "Rest assured Ratchet, we will proceed with vigilance." Optimus replied turning around as he heard rustling behind him.
"Do you know me, follower of Primus?" Unicron's face appeared in the rock wall.
"Unicron The Chaos Bringer." Optimus replied sternly.
Mirage walked up next to his father, surprised to see the face of the bot that had been haunting his visions.
"Good." The rock around the face began to crumble around it, revealing a large bot made of rock. "Now know me as Unicron, your destroyer!" Unicron charged the Prime.
Optimus quickly retracted his swords blocking the chaos bringers spiked club arm. Dodging left and right with his youngling as Unicron continued to strike out at them.
"Optimus what should we do?" Mirage asked as they were backed down the small canyon.
Much to Mirage's confusion, Optimus halted, retracting his swords, holding his arms out in surrender. "I humbly request your ear, Lord Unicron."
Surprisingly that request halted the rock mech's next blow. "And what would a Prime be so compelled to say to me?"
"I make this appeal not for myself, but for this planet which you constitute, and the beings that inhabit it. Humankind relies upon you, for life, sustenance." Optimus explained.
"You mean parasites..." Mirage muttered under his breath, getting an angered glare from his father. Mirage sheepishly smiled at his disappointed father, quickly humbling himself.
"Your resurrection will only result in the destruction of a species, which evolved from the seeds of your very greatness." Optimus replied hoping to try and appeal to the evil mech's better nature.
"So, this humankind whom you speak, you consider them my progeny?" Unicron asked the Prime.
"Indeed." The Prime nodded.
"Parasites!" Unicron scoffed.
"See I was right..." Mirage tried to hold back his smirk.
"Mirage!" Optimus hissed silencing his youngling.
"They too shall know my wrathful hand, once I am finished with you!" Unicron transformed his clubs into servos sending out lightning bolts of electricity, sending the Prime flying backwards.
"Optimus!" Mirage quickly ran to his father's side.
"The line of Primes has grow weak in my absence. And thus you shall fall." Unicron began to charge his electrified servos.
"That outcome is inevitable. But not on this day!" Mirage fired his weapons at the rock monster.
Optimus pushed himself to his peds as he watched the evil mech fall, crumbling into pebbles.
That only seemed to enrage the chaos bringer, as more of the rock monsters conjured up around the two Autobots. "Yes disciple of Primus, you are confused. My blood runs through you, your false creator will fall on this day!" All of Unicron's minions spoke directly to Mirage.
"Optimus have you uncovered any further sign of Unicron's emergence?" Ratchet called over the comlink.
"Unicron is power incarnate, and you, the last of the Primes, shall perish!"
"I'd take that as a yes. We are on our way." Ratchet replied after hearing Unicron's voice.
"Negative. Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants us Ratchet. This must be our battle alone." Optimus told the medic, as he began battling the rock minions with Mirage.
The Unicrons quickly began to overwhelm the father and son, separating the two from each other. Mirage got knocked down the canyon, while Optimus was thrown into the wall.
The Prime barely had the chance to recover as multiple minions grabbed hold of him, dooming his chance of survival.
The sound of a bridge and gunfire rang, as Arcee led the team of Autobots to rescue their leader.
Arcee quickly jumped off the archway kicking one of the Unicron's off of Optimus, while the others quickly did the same in freeing their leader.
"Come'on Mirage, I gotcha!" Jazz said helping Mirage back up on the ledge.
Arcee was struck down by one of the Unicron minions, but Mirage quickly kicked it away, Sideswipe fired at it finishing the monster off.
"Did Ratchet not relay my command? Return to base." Optimus growled at the femme.
Before Arcee could reply Unicron's minions began to channel their opinions. "Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus."
"Optimus, you're Unicron's target. Maybe you should consider returning to base." Arcee said as she fired at the one of the rock bots.
"These manifestations of Unicron can locate me anywhere on Earth. Even our bases shielding would only cloak my position for so long. I will not put others at risk." Optimus replied.
"Then fall back and let us take the lead. Just this once." Mirage suggested.
"Please Optimus, listen to reason! If you don't survive Optimus, I fear neither will this planet." Ratchet tried to talk some sense into the argumentative Prime.
"Very well." Optimus knew the medic was right. He nodded at Arcee, letting the femme take the lead.
"Let's move!" Arcee commanded leading the Autobots forward through the canyon. Tearing apart the manifestations with ease, the canyon eventually lead out to a large valley, where they transformed. Plowing through any creature that got in their way.
As they drove Optimus watched as one of the canyon walls transformed into a humongous titan.
"That's not Unicron right?" Sideswipe nervously asked as they all transformed.
"No not Unicron himself, but another of his manifestations." Optimus answered the twin.
"If we can't beat Unicron, and we can't outrun him, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Sunstreaker scoffed feeling hopeless in this losing battle.
"All we can do. Neutralize his vessels as they appear, until we find a way to destroy him... Without destroying the very Earth upon which we walk." Optimus Prime said challengingly walking towards the titan.
As Arcee and the rest of the team fired at the titan from the front, the twins quickly drove around to flank the titan from behind. Only resulting in being struck by the massive spiked club throwing them across the valley. Arcee, Jazz, and Ironhide fired at the titan, getting the same results. Arcee yelped as she was swatted across the valley with the two mechs.
Optimus and Mirage both fired at the titan angering it further.
Unicron's titan roared with anger smashing the ground with his club, sending large boulders flying towards the father and son.
Optimus and Mirage did their best to avoid being buried, but could not save themselves from the raining boulders.
"Shit!" Sunstreaker cursed seeing the two get buried as the titan strode towards the rock pile.
Sideswipe quickly leapt up to his peds, following his brother's charge as the titan closed in on the father and sons position.
"I am this worlds past and its future."
"Come'on dad, you can't die!" Mirage cried trying to help push the rocks off of them, as the titan lifted it's humongous ped to crush them.
"And as of this moment..."
"No!" Arcee screamed as the titan was about to crush the Prime and assassin.
"All Primes are simply past." As soon the titan's sentence was finished, powerful shots rang out. Striking the rock titan in the helm, throwing it backwards, away from Optimus and Mirage.
Optimus and Mirage watched as the titan collapsed to the ground, creating a massive cloud of dirt and dust.
"Who the hell did that?" Sideswipe asked retracting his weapons as they met up with the rest of the team.
"Wasn't me." Arcee replied.
"Me neither." Ironhide shrugged.
"Ratchet?" Arcee called on the comlink.
"What is it? What happened?" Ratchet replied hoping everyone was alright.
"I happened." Megatron shouted from on top of the titans corpse.
Soundwave flew circling the site of the battle as his father leapt down to the pile of boulders imprisoning Mirage and Optimus.
"Megatron!" Sunstreaker growled as the warlord's strode towards the pile of boulders.
"Megatron's there too?" Bumblebee gasped looking up at the medic.
"Megatron has aligned himself with Unicron." Ratchet shook his helm at the monitors.
"Don't be so sure. Megatron just saved Optimus's tailpipe." Arcee replied shocking the medic and scout.
Optimus was finally able to push a few small boulders away creating a small hole to escape from. As he crawled out Megatron stoped directly in front of him.
Megatron smirked aiming his canon at his downed brother, as Soundwave transformed landing next to him.
Arcee and the rest of the team quickly retracted their weapons, aiming it at the threatening warlord.
Megatron snorted with a laugh, moving his arm canon to offer his servo to help the Prime off the ground.
Optimus unwillingly took the offered servo, pulling himself off the ground with the help of his brother.
Soundwave moved a couple small boulders to make it easier for his little brother to crawl out. Also offering a helping servo.
Mirage took the kind gesture, pulling himself up to his peds with Soundwave's help.
"Soundwave!" Mirage gasped happily wrapping his arms around his brother in an embrace.
Soundwave stiffened his frame holding his arms out at his sides unsure of the hug. He quickly pushed his brother off of him, backing away to stand next to his father.
Arcee watched Mirage deflate as Soundwave backed away from him. "He's not the same Soundwave, Mirage. They restarted his memories, or lost them, he's a Decepticon." She spoke over the comlink.
Mirage sighed nodding in response as Arcee led the team over to them.
"It is rather ironic, considering our last encounter. If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark." Megatron casually walked around as he spoke to the Prime.
"That option remains very much in play." Optimus threatened walking straight up to the warlord.
"I would expect nothing less. However I do have a proposal." Megatron smirked walking back over to his violet youngling. "Join us in defeating our shared enemy. Unicron The Chaos Bringer."
"Ha! Absurd! Unicron is evil incarnate. If Megatron was to take any side, why would it be ours?" Ratchet scoffed over the com.
"Because Megatron's pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet." Optimus said walking towards his brother.
"You know me all too well Optimus." Megatron smiled.
"You lead an army of cons, why come to us?" Sunstreaker questioned the warlord.
"Because this particular endeavour requires something beyond the realm of my command... the power of a Prime." The massive mech gestured to Optimus Prime.
"Pff... so I guess we don't need you then." Sideswipe snorted.
"On the contrary, Optimus may be the only one who can defeat Unicron, But I remain the only one who can guide you to him." Megatron pointed out to the twins.
"And how exactly is that?" Arcee raised an optic ridge at the warlord.
"Through Soundwave." Megatron gestured to his masked son. "Like him I can hear Unicron's thoughts. But Soundwave can hear Unicron's thoughts, anticipate his movements, vividly!" Megatron explained.
"Then we really don't need you because Mirage can do the same." Jazz replied to the warlord's offer.
"No I can't..." Mirage shook his helm. "Unicron sends me pain, and blurred visions not a map of how to get to him."
"I find that odd considering you're the son of Unicron." Megatron scoffed.
"Excuse me?" Mirage glared at his Uncle.
"His blood flows through your veins just like mine and Soundwave's! Except you've always been guided by him, The foggy unclear visions he sends you, is a result of your betrayal to him. Don't you ever wonder why it's been so hard for you to follow Autobot protocols, keeping your murderous ways hidden, so you don't hurt anyone that you allow into your cold beating spark. You are a chaos bringer, you can't help it, you were created that way." Megatron told the red assassin, that actually began to believe his words.
Mirage cycled his vents rappidly, Megatron was right he was a bringer of chaos, he's been that way his entire life.
"That is enough Megatron!" Optimus hissed at his evil brother.
Regaining the prime subject of defeating Unicron Megatron directed his attention back to his brother. "Optimus, our past alliances, Autobot, Decepticon, no longer matter. Not while Unicron lives."
"The past always matters!" Ratchet shouted through the comlink.
"A truce between Autobot and Decepticon. How long do you expect us to believe that will last?" Optimus ignored Ratchet's outburst.
"Only as long as it's mutually beneficial." Megatron replied.
"And when our proposed shared mission is complete?" Optimus pressed on.
"I will conquer this world, my way..." the warlord spoke truthfully.
"Brutal honesty from a Decepticon." Arcee snorted.
"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil." Ratchet added.
"Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron? Those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron has yet to fully awaken." Megatron hissed trying to get the Autobots to understand the danger at hand. "With each passing moment, the Chaos Bringer evolves, mutating Earth from the inside out. What we have witnessed until now is but a prelude of the utter devastation, his rising will wreak upon your world."
"Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron!" Arcee retorted angrily.
"Make no mistake. This time there will be a planet left for me to rule." Megatron growled right back.
"Even if we agree, Unicron's all the way down in the center of the Earth. How are we supposed to get there, drive?" Sideswipe scoffed.
Optimus sighed. "There is only one way."
"Absolutely not! Ground bridging into space is difficult enough. But plotting a blind jump inside of a sentient being?! Besides direct exposure to that much Dark Energon will debilitate you, you haven't built up an immunity like Megatron, Soundwave, or Mirage has." Ratchet ranted about all these reasons why this could go so wrong.
"Yet another strong argument for soliciting our guidance." Megatron gestured to Soundwave whom approached him.
"Soundwave, you can provide Unicron's exact coordinates?" Optimus looked at the violet young mech.
Soundwave nodded as his father spoke for him. "If you transport us to this planet's core, Soundwave can lead you directly into Unicron's spark. The very heart of his darkness."
"Optimus even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?" Arcee asked.
Optimus Prime exchanged gazes with his brother, Megatron gave him an small smile with a nod, he too knew the answer to what could stop this darkness.
"With the Matrix Of Leadership." Optimus Prime answered.
"It was the combined power of the Primes, that defeated Unicorn so long ago, the very reason he seeks to destroy you." The Prime's brother mentioned.
"It would follow that unleashing the power of the Matrix directly into Unicron's spark. Would return him to stasis." Optimus added to his brother's words.
"Stasis? Shouldn't we get rid of him?" Fowler scoffed over the comlink.
"Ugh... why do I always get stuck at base with the human..." Ratchet groaned. "Unicron is your Earth's core, trying to remove him would cause cataclysmic events much like what's happening now. Unicron has always been your planet's seed, and must always be."
Soundwave's helm darted to the ground watching as the rocks from corpse of the titan magnetically pulled across the ground, forming a new titan much larger than the last.
"We got another one!" Ironhide announced.
"Ratchet send a ground bridge." Optimus ordered.
As the bridge open next to them Arcee had a thought pop in her helm. "Wait we're just going to open a direct portal to our base with those two standing right there?!"
"And seriously, Megatron's going to risk his own spark to save us?" Sunstreaker scoffed agreeing with the femme's doubts.
Megatron laughed at the golden twin's words. "Hardly my nature!" He glanced at his youngling, noticing the violet young mech had a faint glow blue of cyan blue, outlining his frame. "Consider my offer. We shall keep it busy." Both Megatron and Soundwave transformed taking off to engage the monstrous titan.
The Autobots quickly entered their bridge, Optimus stopped to watch as his brother and nephew engaged the beast. Looking over his shoulder he noticed Mirage was hesitant to follow. "Mirage lets go!"
Mirage snapped out of his thoughts quickly following his father into the base.
"I know that desperate times, call for desperate measures. But bringing Megatron here?" Ratchet continued to rant about the desperate moment they were in.
"He will be closely monitored. And only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey, not one moment longer." Optimus tried to ease the medic's frustration.
"Yeah and what about Soundwave, he could just step in here, barely glance at the monitors, and have all the information they need." Sunstreaker pointed out.
"Can't Soundwave just bridge us to the core himself?" Jazz asked confused.
"If my theory is correct, Soundwave is a descendant of Primus. Therefore any attempt for him to create a bridge to the core, will be met by either pain, or annihilation by a doomed portal from Unicron's interference." Optimus said to his team. "It must be done by a neutral party, not a descendant of Primus."
"So wait, what?! When were you going to tell us that Soundwave's a descendant of Primus and Mirage is a descendant of Unicron?!" Ironhide shook his helm.
"I'm not a descendant of Unicron!" Mirage hissed, only to have a sharp pain shoot through his frame for denying it.
Arcee placed a servo on Mirage's shoulder for comfort. "It's alright Mirage, we know that."
"It was not my place to tell any of you what Soundwave is, or is not." Optimus Prime changed the subject regaining his team's attention.
"Hold on a minute!" Agent Fowler shouted at the Autobots. "Soundwave? That freaky faceless, tall, dark and broken bot that was part of your team last month?!"
Ratchet gave the Prime an "I told you so" glare.
Optimus sighed walking over to the human on the platform. "Unfortunately Megatron was able to capture and turn Soundwave against us for good."
"Decepticon science never fails." Ratchet muttered to himself.
"And when were you going to tell me? After freaky rejoined your team, or after he was done killing civilians that were unfortunate enough to get in his way?" Agent Fowler hissed at the Prime his face showing complete rage.
"I apologize Agent Fowler we have been busy with the Decepticons, I have not had the time to inform you of Soundwave's whereabouts."
"You're lucky we're in a desperate position right now. You need to tell me when, and what's happening with your suspicious teammates. You know if he does come crawling back, he faces a trial for exile?" The human rightfully expressed the situation of the matter.
"I understand Agent Fowler, there's no excuse, I will do my best to inform you right away next time." Optimus sighed defeatedly, he knew what he did was wrong, but he was shocked that Agent Fowler gave his thoughts on Soundwave some hope.
"Dad, what's going to happen to you when you release the Matrix?" Bumblebee asked worriedly.
"The power within the Matrix, has not previously been utilized in this particular manner." The Prime replied placing a servo on his youngling's shoulder.
"But you have an idea don't you?" Mirage queried.
Optimus stayed silent, making everyone else exchange worried looks.
Megatron veered in and out between three titanic Unicron manifestations, firing at each as he flew by.
Soundwave did the same before radioing his father. "Lord Megatron pull back to my position, I think I can rid of at least one of them." Soundwave transformed landing on the ground a small distance away from the three titans.
Megatron didn't argue, flying towards his youngling he transformed, landing just behind the violet young mech.
"I would stay behind me sir." Soundwave said as his frame was vividly lit with cyan blue energy, followed by the whirring of an electronic charge.
Megatron didn't challenge his youngling's words, watching with intense curiosity.
Soundwave released a cataclysmic blast of sound waves that spread across the whole valley in front of them. Crumbling the three Unicron titans before them. Soundwave fell to his knees after releasing such an energized blast, it took a lot out of him.
"Intriguing..." Megatron thought aloud.
"Megatron we're sending transport." Optimus's voice came over Megatron's comlink.
"You can always be relied upon, to listen to reason Optimus." Megatron replied as the bridge appeared behind them. He quickly helped his drained son off the ground, before approaching the bridge.
Megatron walked through first, closely followed by Soundwave. Without question the Autobots all had their weapons aimed. "So this is where the magic happens. Quaint." Megatron's sarcasm was met by unamused glares.
Soundwave scanned the room with his optics behind his mask. For some odd reason the base seemed familiar.
"Why don't you just get to the coordinates, and leave the sarcasm to the clowns you lead." Agent Fowler growled bravely at the warlord.
"Humans..." Megatron smirked evilly at the man.
"Ratchet, obtain the destination coordinates from our guests." Optimus said turning the attention back to the mission.
"So formal Optimus, don't hurt yourself trying to be nice to your brother." Megatron retorted as Soundwave walked around the Prime, to the bridge controls where the medic waited.
Optimus shook his helm, leaving the main room to find Bumblebee hiding the hallway. "Bumblebee..." Optimus looked back to make sure no one else followed. "will you keep something for me?"
"Of course dad." Bumblebee nodded as his father pulled out a blue keycard.
"What is it?" Bumblebee asked staring curiously at the key.
"It is the key to the ground bridge power supply." Optimus lied to his youngling.
"Wait, shouldn't Ratchet have it then?" Bumblebee tilted his helm.
Optimus knelt down placing a gentle servo on the scout's shoulder. "Perhaps, but I've been impressed by how much you have matured since arriving on this planet. As such, I feel you have earned the responsibility of safeguarding this important device. Until I return." Optimus Prime felt his young scout had grown so much over the last months of training, and crazy happenings. He was proud to hand Bumblebee the Key to Vector Sigma.
Bumblebee smiled up at his father. "I won't let you down."
Optimus nodded with a smile giving his youngling's shoulder a gentle squeeze before parting ways.
"Locked and ready." Ratchet fired up the bridge.
Arcee walked straight up to Megatron and Soundwave. "You first." she gestured for the warlord to go through the bridge first.
"As you wish." Megatron bowed agreeing to entertain the femme's gesture, he walked into the bridge with Soundwave not far behind.
The center of the Earth was hallow, filled with hundreds of platforms stringing off in every direction, the sound of a spark beat echoed. The place wreaked of poison and evil.
"So how long until Unicron knows we're here?" Arcee asked Megatron.
"Make no mistake... he already does." Megatron emotionlessly replied.
Soundwave began leading the way through the the caverns and slim platforms that made you dizzy just by looking down.
Upon walking through a tunnel of dark energon veins, Unicron sent a reminder of the Earth's destruction to Soundwave, through a violent vision. Causing Soundwave to collapse to his knees, while Mirage, and Megatron grasped their helms in pain.
Optimus helped Soundwave up while Arcee checked to make sure Mirage was alright. "Are you alright youngling?"
Soundwave shook off the lingering pain, taking his arm out of Optimus's helping servo, he nodded in reply.
"Unicron grows ever stronger." Megatron warned glaring at Optimus, before continuing on, following Soundwave.
"How do we know Unicron isn't using Megatron to lead us all into a trap?" Arcee questioned what every Autobot had on their minds.
"We do not." Optimus continued to follow his brother.
"Alright I've had enough." Agent Fowler grumbled walking towards the human lift.
"Where are you going?" Ratchet scoffed watching the human stomp off.
"I can't just sit on my ass, while the world spins out of control."
Ratchet rolled his optics at the human. "And what exactly is it that you intend to do?"
"Anything. Hook up with my boys at the pentagon, figure out a way to bury that monster for good." Agent Fowler replied hopelessly.
"In the event Optimus can't?" Ratchet called out the man's doubting.
"Don't you mean Optimus and Megatron?" Fowler countered back at the old medic.
"No one here is thrilled about this arrangement, Agent Fowler, myself included, but with Optimus and Megatron together again..."
"Wait are you telling me your glorious leader used to be in Megatron's Con army. Christ how many bots you got switching over to the good guys?" Agent Fowler scoffed facepalming in frustration.
"Not at all Agent Fowler. There was a time before the war, when Optimus and Megatron worked together to bring equality to our people. But Megatron's jealousy and quest for power ruined their partnership, and created the war which we continue to fight." The ancient medic explained to the irritated man.
"I just hope Prime and the rest of your bots get the job done and return home safely." Fowler sighed.
The beating of Unicron's spark pounded loudly as they neared the spark chamber.
"Unicron's spark is near." Megatron noted as Arcee stepped forward turning to Soundwave, she gestured for him to go forth. "After you."
Soundwave smirked under his visor, taking a step forward stopping just one step ahead of the femme. He then playfully over exaggerate his gesture for the femme to go after him.
Arcee chuckled shaking her helm with a smile. "Still the same Soundwave deep down..." she muttered to herself.
"Soundwave we don't have time for games, get moving!" Megatron shoved his youngling forward down the pathway.
Soundwave stumbled forward, recollecting his balance he continued to lead the Autobots towards the spark chamber.
Arcee shook her helm at the warlord, that just rolled his optics in return.
"Ugh... this place is awful..." Jazz groaned taking an off balance step.
"You alright bro?" Sideswipe asked with concern.
"Yeah, just a little woozy, this place is killing my vibe..." Jazz replied feeling disoriented.
"It's the Dark Energon, take it easy Jazz." Mirage mentioned helping the twins guide Jazz across the narrow bridge like path.
Hearing demonic gurgling echo, Soundwave turned to his father.
Megatron understood what Soundwave's hesitation was. "He's preparing to expel us." Megatron warned, turning to Optimus as a screech from an incoming swarm of antibodies flew towards them.
"What are those bloody things?" Ironhide asked readying his canons.
"As we are in Unicron's body, it stands to reason they are some sort of antibody." Optimus replied preparing for battle.
Every bot opened fire on the incoming swarm, swatting and slicing any that got too close.
Soundwave dodged, releasing his tentacles, he grabbed an antibody and flung it into another, and repeated.
Arcee battled next to him, leaping over an incoming antibody, down to the platform below.
Jazz continued to feel disoriented especially spinning around in this highly active battle, loosing his balance, the grey mech stumbled off the platform, just being able to grab the ledge as he fell.
"Oh shit!" Mirage gasped quickly rushing over to catch Jazz's servo as he fell.
"Kill the underling!" Unicron ordered sending weakening pain through Mirage's frame.
"No!" Mirage fought off the electrical surges weakening his grip.
"Mirage let me go." Jazz said as he could see Mirage was slipping downwards off the edge with him. "I'll only take you down with me."
"I won't!" Mirage continued to slip while holding his friend.
Optimus and Megatron battled in sync as if they had battled together for years. While Arcee finished off the antibodies that followed her to the platform below, she looked up to see the Prime and warlord battling the antibodies perfectly harmonized.
"Just let go, kid!" Jazz cried out as Mirage was losing the battle of strength.
Unicron intensified Mirage's electrocution causing Jazz's servo to slip out of his weak one.
"Jazz!" Arcee cried out wishing she could take flight and assist.
Jazz prepared himself as he could feel the last moments of Mirage's strength wither away, dropping him into free fall, only for a split second, as a strong slender servo caught Jazz's before he could fall.
Soundwave hoisted the grey mech up onto the platform, as the others provided covering fire.
"Thanks Wave..." Jazz smiled taking a moment to allow his vents to cycle.
Soundwave nodded before jogging off ahead, leading the others to the door, leading to the spark chamber.
"Arcee!" Optimus called for the femme to rejoin them.
Arcee looked up seeing the team moving forward, she quickly leapt on one of the antibodies, using it to fly back onto the platform the team was on.
"Communications are down, and no life signatures." Ratchet noted aloud.
"Doesn't that usually mean they're offline?" Agent Fowler asked the medic.
"Usually... but I believe it is because of the magnetic anomalies that have been happening."
"So if we can't communicate with them, and they can't contact us, how the hell are we supposed to know when they're ready for pickup?" Agent Fowler scoffed as Bumblebee fidgeted with the keycard his father gifted him.
Ratchet caught sight of the keycard and gasped. "Where did you get that?"
"Dad gave it to me, but I thought it was odd he wouldn't have given it to you. You should have the key to the ground bridge power supply." Bumblebee replied offering the key to the ancient medic.
"Bumblebee there is no key to the ground bridge."
"Then what is it?" Bumblebee queried examining the keycard closely.
"That is the key to Vector Sigma. You are holding one of Cybertron's most important relics." Ratchet answered in a serious tone.
"I shouldn't have this." Bumblebee again offered the medic the key.
"Optimus entrusted it to you, Bumblebee."
Bumblebee looked away from the medic, focusing on the keycard in his servo. "But that doesn't make any sense. Why?"
"Because he doesn't plan on coming back."
"What?!" Bumblebee gasped almost in tears.
"It is unknown what will happen when your father releases the Matrix Of Leadership. But in the possible event that Optimus doesn't return he entrusted you with this important relic." Ratchet placed both his servos on the upset youngling. "Be strong Bumblebee, I believe Optimus will come back."
Running through numerous tunnels with the antibodies in hot pursuit, Mirage struggled to keep control of his own mind, as Unicron attempted to possess him.
"Mirage, do as I command. Destroy the Prime!"
"Agh!" Mirage screamed holding his helm in pain.
"Mirage!" Optimus called hearing his youngling's screams of agony.
Optimus went to assist his youngling but Soundwave tackled him out of the way so Mirage could release the hateful energy on an incoming antibody.
Mirage blew an antibody out of the air where Optimus was standing before Soundwave moved him.
"Unicron's spark lies just beyond." Mirage pointed to the door.
Optimus rose to his peds. "How do we get inside?"
"By fooling Unicron's systems into believing we're not a threat." Megatron gestured to the red youngling that was now glowing with a purple aura.
Optimus narrowed his optics as Megatron guided Mirage to what looked like a terminal.
Mirage stood with his spark inches away in front of the terminal his chest plate lit up with purple and so did the terminal. The door activated, opening to another long tunnel.
Megatron and Soundwave strode right in without a second thought.
"Autobots, I will need you to keep our attackers at bay, for as long as you can. Mirage remain here so you can open the door." Optimus ordered as before follow the two Decepticons down the tunnel.
"We've got to holdfast, for Optimus!" Ironhide shouted firing both canons at the antibodies.
Optimus quickly caught up to the father and son. Gawking at the giant haunting purple orb in the center of the room.
Optimus noted that Soundwave was glowing a bright cyan blue that was almost white in colour due to how bright he was glowing.
"Optimus, swiftly!" Megatron gestured to Unicron's spark.
Optimus took two steps towards the spark, only to have a toxic blast hit him in his spark, causing him to collapse.
Megatron was met with the same treatment, except this time Unicron was trying to possess him.
Unicron's spark attempted to give the same toxic blow to Soundwave, but the youngling was too quick, deflecting the deadly blast with a quick pulse wave shield.
"Destroy the Prime, I command you!" Unicron commanded gaining control of Megatron.
Optimus cried out in pain as he struggled to get to his feet.
Soundwave walked over to Optimus placing servo on the Prime's back as he tried to help the massive mech up.
As soon as the youngling's servo touched the Prime Optimus could feel a surge of pure energy, healing him, regaining his strength.
Megatron was possessed, his sword drawn, staggering towards his son and brother.
Mirage fought the excruciating pain being sent through him as Unicron tried to command him to kill the femme standing next to him. "Arcee move!"
Arcee quickly ducked out of the way as Mirage swung his sword at her. Arcee could see the youngling was glowing Dark Energon purple, being possessed by Unicron. "Fight it Mirage, you're not Unicron!"
Mirage screamed as he collapsed, forcing the evil god out of his processor.
Arcee pulled Mirage back up to his feet. "You okay?"
"Let's keep holding position secure!" Mirage commanded, continuing to battle the antibodies with his team.
"Destroy them both! I command it!" Unicron demanded, causing Megatron to raise his sword arm to strike Soundwave who was blocking Optimus.
Megatron growled, withdrawing his sword. "Megatron is commanded by no one!" Megatron had a small moment of strength to ward off the Chaos Bringer.
Soundwave spun himself around, to see his Father screaming as he fought his possession.
Megatron's defiance only infuriated the Chaos Bringer, sending out a surge of dark energy. Causing Megatron to collapse in a heap.
The pulse of Soundwave's sparkbeat surged power into Optimus's spark. As the Prime called upon the Matrix.
"Matrix Of Leadership, I call upon you!" Optimus called out.
Soundwave could feel his spark glow warm with power, as the Matrix began to respond to the Prime's calls.
Unicron gave up on possessing his youngling, focusing all his power on the mech closest to the Prime.
"You cannot defeat me, disciple of Primus!"
Optimus and Soundwave turned to see Megatron now fully possessed by Unicron.
"I have transcended physical being. By my will alone, all upon this world shall fall into chaos!"
"Not while I still function, Unicron." Optimus countered, getting up to his peds. "The power of the Matrix will light our darkest hour."
"No!" Unicron screamed making Megatron charge, aiming his canon.
As all this commotion was happening, a cyan blue energy wave began emitting from Soundwave, it began to circle both him and Optimus, as Optimus Prime released the Matrix into the dark spark. The shield like waves sent Megatron flying back, as the rest of the Matrix was expelled.
At the entrance to the spark, all the antibodies dropped dead in front of the exhausted Autobots.
"Is it over?" Sideswipe asked retracting his blasters.
"No time for that, we got to get to Optimus." Arcee said, as Mirage lead the team through the door.
Soundwave lay next to the Prime, he must've been knocked unconscious momentarily during the release of the Matrix, he thought. Free from Unicron's sabotage Soundwave was now able to locate where they were, and the Nemesis.
Megatron groaned getting up from the floor. He could see that Optimus was having a difficult time recovering. "Teamwork, hmph!" Megatron smirked evilly, as he drew his sword.
The Prime slowly regained his vision to a disoriented blur, watching as the familiar gunmetal grey mech approached him. "Where are we Megatronus?"
The Prime's words shocked the warlord. Causing him to pause any harm we was about to inflict upon his brother.
"Orion?" Soundwave said weakly, getting up to his peds.
Megatron withdrew his sword, holding out a servo to help his brother up. "Don't you remember, old friend?"
"Optimus are you okay?!" Ironhide asked after breaking down the door.
"Why did he call me that?" Orion Pax asked confused.
"What did you do to him?" Mirage growled at Megatron.
"Who are they?" Orion continued to ask questions. As Soundwave opened a ground bridge to the Nemesis.
"Our mortal enemies. We're outnumbered, Go I'll cover you!" Megatron replied pushing Optimus towards the bridge.
Orion Pax ran for the bridge as Megatron opened fire.
The Autobots leapt off to different sides as they were shot at. Mirage hit the deck as a blast from Soundwave's blasters just missed him.
Optimus paused to look back at the fallen red youngling that looked at him with devastation. "Don't go..."
Orion Pax ran into the bridge as Soundwave followed him in with Megatron.
Ratchet opened the ground bridge for the team. As they came through the bridge, Bumblebee could only make out six out of seven Autobots.
"Optimus? Is he..."
"Dead? No." Arcee answered.
"But he looked right at us without recognizing us." Sideswipe sadly mentioned.
"Didn't even know his own name." Ironhide added.
"Hmm, when Optimus surrendered the Matrix Of Leadership, he lost more than the collective wisdom of the Primes." Ratchet thought aloud.
"He lost his memories..." Bumblebee sadly said.
Orion Pax strode down the hallway with Megatronus and Soundwave. He was still regaining his strength from his awakening, before he could fully converse.
Megatron stepped into the bridge of the ship where his loyal Decepticons took a knee in his presence.
"Welcome back Lord Megatron." Knockout greeted.
Megatron walked off to the side revealing the confused red and blue mech.
Breakdown immediately jumped to his peds, retracting his hammer, he charged towards the Prime.
"At ease, Breakdown. That is no way to welcome a long-lost comrade. Orion Pax, is one of us." Megatron quickly corrected his charging soldier.
Soundwave stepped into the bridge, noticing Orion Pax still looked just as confused as he was in Unicron's spark chamber.
"Soundwave take Orion Pax to your quarters, Orion can recover there in peace. You can accommodate him by sharing your quarters, until further notice." Megatron told his youngling, knowing it was best to have Orion Pax close to his chief espionage specialist.
Soundwave nodded, unwillingly leading Orion Pax out of the bridge. *Great...*
"Thank you Soundwave..." Orion thanked the young mech that lead him into his quarters.
Soundwave nodded shutting the door as Orion went to lay down.
"Soundwave make sure all your intercom speakers in your room are shut off, I am going to undress the crew." Megatron spoke over Soundwave's intercom.
The violet mech rejoined his father in the bridge. "Did you do as I asked?" Megatron looked over his shoulder at the violet mech.
Soundwave nodded turning on the audio visual for Megatron.
"Attention crew. Our guest is currently in isolation to help ease his transition, but when Orion Pax emerges, he is to be shown every courtesy." Megatron explained as Soundwave stood next to him. "And the first to address him as Optimus Prime, will have their voice box torn out."
"Lord Megatron, is it wise to allow an Autobot, current or former." Airachnid shot a look at Soundwave. "Full run of the premises?"
While collecting Lazerbeak from the bridge ceiling, Soundwave tilted his helm in confusion at the femme's comment directed at him. He wasn't a former Autobot?
"Nothing happens aboard this ship without my knowledge. You would be wise to remember that Airachnid." Megatron replied in a threatening manner. "But there's no need for concern. Orion does not possess the same fight Optimus is so renowned for."
"Then what use is he to our cause?"
"Rest assured, Orion Pax will indeed earn his stripes." Megatron sighed with a smile.
Soundwave began running diagnostics on the ships performance seeing it was running at its optimal function. After an hour of sifting through reports, he sighed leaving the bridge. He had questions, and he knew the only one that could know the answers, was the one mech Soundwave completely despised.
"Welcome back to the winning team." Knockout said to Orion as Soundwave entered the med bay.
"Ugh... that is so wrong..." Soundwave cringed at seeing the Decepticon insignia on the Prime's arms. Knowing the two mechs didn't hear him over the sound of the engraver.
Orion's gaze followed the young mech that walked into the laboratory. He was excited to see the youngling he cared for so long ago.
"Soundwave I know you have questions, but unfortunately I can not answer them. I am not familiar with the mystical powers of Primus, nor do I care to dabble in them, as they are not logical to science." Shockwave greeted the young mech.
Soundwave groaned walking back to the door. *I don't know why I even bother coming to you, I never get a straight answer...*
"But..." Soudwave halted as Shockwave began to speak. "We do have the Iacon historical archivist aboard the ship. Perhaps he can answer your questions, since he worked so closely with a Prime." Shockwave told the young mech.
Soundwave left the laboratory to see Megatron guiding Orion Pax out of the med bay. "You have been a captive of the Autobots, and locked in stasis for quite some time, Orion..."
Soundwave followed the brothers down the hallway, the two turned into the bridge, while Soundwave continued forward to the supply depot, in search of a spare berth for his room.
"What are you looking for in here?" Makeshift scoffed as the young mech entered the depot.
Soundwave simply pointed to the spare berth, over in the corner next to a few piles of empty energon cubes.
"Why, don't you have one that you never use because you're always working?" Makeshift sarcastically remarked.
The shapeshifter wasn't incorrect, Soundwave rarely spent time resting. But he intended to this time, as he had been practically drained of all his energy on this day.
"Want help moving it?" Makeshift asked sounding genuine, watching Soundwave drag the berth out from the corner.
Soundwave shrugged with a nod. To which the mech laughed in his face.
"I was joking, as if I would help the mighty indestructible youngling." Makeshift snorted sarcastically.
Soundwave rolled his optics behind his visor, creating a ground bridge under the berth to his room. The berth dropped through the bridge, Soundwave closed the bridge as he left the room, flipping the shapeshifter off as he passed.
"Uh..." Makeshift was lost for words as the youngling left the room.
Soundwave sighed tiredly, dematerializing his visor as he entered his own quarters. He yawned, figuring he could get in a quick power nap, before Megatron questioned him about their journey to defeat a Unicron.
"Soundwave, I must've been in stasis for quite some time. Last I saw you, you were just becoming a youngling." Orion Pax stood up from where he sat on the new berth.
Soundwave nodded in understanding walking over to his own berth.
"Soundwave, why do you hide behind a visor, and silence? Seems a lot of the others call you a faceless mute, although you have a face, and a voice. If I remember, you were quite a chatty sparkling." Orion asked many personal questions, almost overwhelming the youngling.
Soundwave cleared his throat, throwing his gaze to the floor. "Nobody on this ship enjoys my company, mainly because I'm a spymaster. I don't speak, as I find not a lot are worthy of speaking to."
Orion Pax was confused by Soundwave's low energy, shy, and quiet demeanour. "But that's not like you."
"How would you know?" Soundwave scoffed, knowing the archivist knew nothing about him. "Bots change, my personality when I was a sparkling, doesn't define me."
"I'm sorry I did not mean to upset you youngling, you just seem defeated." Orion apologized, seeing this was a sensitive subject for the youngling.
Soundwave sighed, he did feel defeated. Like the false story Megatron told Orion, he was woken from stasis, and had little to no memories of the war, past his training. "It's fine... can we just rest now, we've all had a long day." The violet youngling sighed, laying down on his berth.
"Goodnight youngling." Orion agreed, laying himself down in his own berth.
Soundwave exhaled deeply, staying awake for hours, he did not fall into recharge until he heard the mech's quiet snores. Closing his optics, it did not take long for Soundwave to fall into slumber.
"So how our we going to get Optimus back?" Sideswipe asked the Medic.
"The only hope of restoring Optimus's memories would be by using the key to Vector Sigma." Ratchet replied looking at Bumblebee.
"Okay well where do we get that?" Agent Fowler asked.
"It's hidden on Cybertron. Bumblebee would have to venture there, to collect the data needed to restore Optimus." Ratchet explained to the human.
"But we have no means of doing that, without a space bridge." Mirage thought aloud.
"Our only disadvantage as to restoring Optimus." Ratchet sighed as Agent Fowler walked to the lift.
"You all did an amazing job saving this planet. It's late, I will let you know if I find out anything about Prime." Agent Fowler praised the bots as he left the base. "I know you'll find a way to Cybertron, you'll get Prime back. Maybe even the violet broken bot will rejoin you as well."
Soundwave shifted uncomfortably in his berth. Tossing and turning restlessly, as nightmares plagued his processor.
Soundwave cried from under the rubble, clutching his baby brother tightly.
Shockwave tore off Xanthia's sword arm, as the femme weakly struggled against him.
The scientist used the sword arm to stab the mother's spark, causing her energon to splatter onto Soundwave. Using his brute strength, Shockwave sliced the femme in half.
"No!" Soundwave cried through a scream as the two pieces of his mother fell to the ground.
"Soundwave?" Orion Pax called sitting up on his berth.
Soundwave gasped as he shot awake, his emotions from his nightmare taking over his reality, as his optics filled with uncontrollable tears. While his vents cycled rapidly.
Orion was shocked to see the stoic youngling overwhelmed with emotions. "Are you aright?" He asked getting up from his berth.
"I'm fine..." Soundwave quickly turned his face away from the Prime's direction, trying to wipe his tears away.
"Soundwave I don't believe that. Did you have a nightmare?" Orion Pax stood next to the upset youngling.
Soundwave rolled his watery optics, hating Orion's curious, caring nature. "Yes Orion... I did..."
"Maybe I can help ease your mind from your nightmare, what was it about?" Orion suggested to the youngling.
Soundwave would rather be left alone, but he knew his Uncle wasn't going to let the subject go so easily. "It was just about my mother..."
Orion Pax went silent, he had lost contact with the femme at some point before he went into stasis. "I lost contact with you and your mother before I went into stasis. Would you be upset if I asked what happened?"
"She was murdered in front of me, so I could be captured, and taken into Shockwave's tortuous training facility." Soundwave made sure he excluded his little brother from his reply, to not confuse Orion's timeline.
Orion Pax gasped at what Soundwave had told him. "By the Allspark, I'm terribly sorry that happened Soundwave."
"You don't need to be sorry, it wasn't your fault." The violet young mech sighed.
"Why would anyone do that to a youngling?" Orion thought aloud.
"Ask Shockwave..." Soundwave muttered under his breath.
"You're trying to be numb to what happened." The red and blue mech saw through the tough guy act, Soundwave was attempting to put on. Completely catching the youngling off guard.
The violet young mech snorted with a laugh. "I'm not numb to it. Every time I see Shockwave I'm reminded of what happened. I just choose not to weigh myself down because of it. I get plagued with with nightmares, so what, as long as it doesn't damper my performance in my work, who cares..."
"I care about you. But if you're alright, I'm happy for you. And will take your word for it." Orion placed a caring servo on Soundwave's shoulder.
Soundwave didn't respond to the red and blue mech. He stared at the floor in deep thought about the fact he should probably not be conversing about the subject with the Prime.
Orion sighed at the silent youngling, wishing he was there to protect the femme and youngling in that dire time. "Where was Megatronus when this happened, why wasn't he there to stop his so called friend, from doing something so horrendous?"
"He gave the order for Shockwave to do it!" Soundwave hissed, immediately regretting telling the Prime that.
"Your own creator, ordered his friend, to kill his sparkmate, and capture his child for torture?" Orion repeated what Soundwave just said to him.
"Shit..." the violet young mech cursed, knowing he would be in shit if Orion mentioned that to his father. "Opt... Orion please don't mention any of this to Megatron!"
Orion blinked in shock at the youngling's panicked pleas. Sitting next to the youngling on the berth. "I will try not mention it Soundwave."
Soundwave gave a small smile, with an unsure nod. "You should probably get back to recharging..."
"Indeed." Orion Pax smiled walking back to his own berth.
"Soundwave come to me at once." Megatron called over Soundwave's comlink.
The violet mech's spark beat rappidly, did his father hear their conversation?
"Aren't you going to recharge?" Orion Pax asked as the youngling walked towards the door.
"Uh... no, it's a rarity that I actually do, I'm a workaholic..." Soundwave shrugged sheepishly, trying to make a lighthearted joke.
Orion could read right through the joke. He could tell the youngling avoided resting due to the nightmares, and keeping Megatron satisfied with his work ethic.
Soundwave sighed, materializing his visor, quickly exiting his room, finding his way to the bridge.
"Soundwave..." Megatron said not even turning around to look at his son.
Soundwave stood silently, nervously waiting for Megatron to continue.
"I need you to sanitize the data core. Orion Pax is going to get to work on decoding the Iacon database." Megatron finally looked over his shoulder seeing his youngling visibly sigh with relief. "Do you understand your orders?"
Soundwave nodded in response, rolling his optics. If his father allowed him access to the stolen Iacon database records, he probably could have decoded them without Orion's help.
"Our archivist will require unlimited access to our files. It would be counterproductive for him to stumble upon any, sensitive information." Megatron continued the conversation. "Orion's work station will be directly located next to the energon storage supply. So that our guest doesn't feel confined and under surveillance."
Smart, Soundwave thought, waiting for Megatron to dismiss him.
"You may go back to your duties now, Soundwave."
Soundwave nodded, exiting the bridge to go to the vacant work station next to the energon supply.
"Soundwave?"
Soundwave defensively turned towards the voice, releasing his tentacles for battle.
"Calm yourself youngling, it's just me." Shockwave scoffed shaking his helm.
Soundwave narrowed his optics behind his visor, slowly returning his frame to a neutral stance.
"I could feel a bothersome pull in my spark coming from our bond..." Shockwave began, as soon as he said they had a bond Soundwave sharply glared at him with his visor.
"We don't have a bond, it's a fake connection you created for better control over me." Soundwave hissed, feeling he was wasting his voice just speaking to the evil scientist. "I don't, and never will feel any sort of connection with your cold spark. If you even have one!" Soundwave was being honest, Shockwave might have felt some sort of bond, but Soundwave felt nothing in his spark from the mech. He only felt Megatron's, his brother's, and a very faint flicker of an unknown new bond.
"Have it your way youngling." Shockwave shook his helm, leaving the room.
"If I had it my way, you wouldn't be alive..." Soundwave mumbled to himself as he sanitized the data core.
Orion Pax walked out of the youngling's quarters, strolling down the hallway he could see the one opticed mech. He never liked the scientist when they were on Cybertron, Megatron hung around with him frequently. Orion never trusted the mech, and now he realized why.
Soundwave dematerialized his visor with a sigh after he finished doing as Megatron asked. Hearing the door swish open, he clenched a fist, ready to belt the scientist for dare coming to bother him. Spinning around to see the red and blue mech. "Opt... Orion?"
"Lord Megatron requested me to begin some decoding. Sorry I did not mean to interrupt." Orion Pax greeted the tense youngling.
"No, it's fine. I'm done anyway..." Soundwave replied, pulling up the database Orion was assigned to decode.
Orion walked up next to the glowing youngling staring at the large monitor.
Soundwave began to read the codes, finding them older than himself, he found them difficult to decipher.
Orion Pax smiled watching as the youngling's mixed coloured optics narrowed in confusion, as he tried to read the codes. "These codes were created eons before you were sparked youngling, that is why you're having difficulties reading this ancient script." the red and blue mech chuckled softly.
"So... doesn't mean I can't try to understand." Soundwave almost pouted.
"I credit your enthusiasm for learning knowledge youngling. Perhaps I can teach you how to decode these exact codes." Orion offered the frustrated young mech.
Soundwave's optics brightened with a youthful smile. "Uh, sure that would be great sir."
Hours of fun decoding went by, Soundwave caught on quick. Orion was so patient with him when he made mistakes. While being kind, and helpful when Soundwave got confused.
Megatron walked towards the work station wondering where his youngling disappeared to.
The two barely heard the door swish open, as they were so focused on decoding.
Megatron wasn't quite sure how to react when he saw his youngling joyfully being taught how to decipher codes. "Orion, how fares project Iacon?"
"I am a bit rusty I fear, I've only been able to decode three entries. While also teaching Soundwave how to decode as well." Orion showed the deciphered codes on the monitor.
Megatron gave his youngling an unamused glare. "Hmm, and what do the entries comprise?"
Soundwave cowered slightly, moving behind the Prime trying to get out of his father's sight.
"They were logged by Autobot archivists during the war, after I entered stasis. My only knowledge of their content so far, is that they are coordinates, targeting locations on this very planet." Orion finally turned to face his brother, as Soundwave displayed the Earth and the coordinates.
"I surmise that they could indicate hiding places for vessels, shuttled from Cybertron for safekeeping." Orion continued to tell the warlord about his findings.
"Such as historical documents or cultural artifacts?" Megatron played dumb, walking towards the planet hologram. Secretly hopping they were to weapons, and anything else he could use against the Autobots.
"My greatest fear would be weapons of mass destruction. Hidden away for later use." Orion replied to the warlord who had his back turned.
Megatron grinned evilly, wiping his grin off his face he turned back to Orion and Soundwave. "All the more reason it is essential that we do everything in our power, to keep said vessels away from Autobot reach." Megatron placed a servo on Orion's shoulder plate. "We are fortunate to have you on our side, Orion Pax." The warlord walked towards the door, stopping just before exiting. "Soundwave come find me, when your little lesson, is over."