"Soundwave turn your tailpipe around and get back to base, you need to rest now. You also have a little birdie looking for it's master." Ratchet's grumpy voice rang through Soundwave's comlink.
"I just needed a moment to clear my mind." Soundwave replied, turning back towards the base.
Ratchet sighed in annoyance, ending the call with the young mech. "He's banned from leaving this base, until I say otherwise."
"If that is your medical decision, then I will agree with you Ratchet." Optimus agreed with the medic.
"It is, that kid is going to work himself into the scrapyard." Ratchet said to the Prime.
"The younglings are recharging, has Soundwave returned yet." Arcee asked, walking into the main room with Lazerbeak frantically flying around her.
"No... not... yet!" Optimus replied ducking every time Lazerbeak swooped at him.
"Maybe we should let Lazerbeak out to go find him?" Arcee suggested.
"I just got off a call with him, I am tracking his signature and he's on his way back." Ratchet replied to the femme's concern.
"Soundwave's been without Lazerbeak for quite sometime now, shouldn't we be worried?" Arcee continued to voice her concerns.
"Soundwave's spark is still weakening, but I don't think enough time has gone by for Lazerbeak's absence to be effective." Ratchet thought aloud as the drone continued to frantically fly around the room in a panic.
Soundwave walked into the base, his vision was blurred, every sound he heard sounded distant and muffled, as his spark slowed almost extinguishing, as he set foot in the main room.
Lazerbeak caught sight of his master, diving to the violet mech, the drone reattached itself to the violet mech, rebooting the weakened systems.
"Soundwave, glad you could make it back. You're on lock down until your injuries are fully healed, doctors orders." Ratchet told the youngling that slowly walked in.
"Sure..." Soundwave weakly trudged to his quarters.
Arcee followed her mech into the room, watching her mech sit his exhaust frame down on the berth. [Primus... I wonder if he's okay?]
"Before you ask, I am fine..." Soundwave sighed, hearing his femme's thoughts.
"Soundwave, what made you leave the base so suddenly?" Arcee asked standing in front of her mech.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you..." Soundwave scoffed.
"Try me." Arcee shrugged encouragingly.
"I can hear everyone's thoughts, hearing them all at once just overwhelmed my processor. I had to leave." Soundwave admitted to his curious femme.
"What like a mind reader?" The femme questioned, a little sceptical of her mech's explanation.
"I guess... but without control." Soundwave shrugged.
"What do you mean without control?" The cobalt femme tilted her helm quizzically.
"I'm not able to silence everyone's thoughts, meaning I can't control when I want to read minds." Soundwave sighed laying down.
"You were fine earlier today though?" Arcee sat next to her mech.
"I don't know why all of a sudden..." Soundwave stopped mid sentence, as a thought crossed his mind. He took a moment to find his memories of his training previous to when he received Lazerbeak.
"Soundwave, I will allow you to keep this drone, as it has been teaching you to channel your ability to see, and hear other's thoughts."
"Soundwave, hey!" Arcee waved a servo in her mech's face.
"Hmm?" Soundwave blinked looking up at his femme. "What, I missed what you said?"
"You were in the middle of speaking, then you blanked out." The femme scoffed.
"Sorry, I had a thought cross my mind."
"So you were reading your own mind?" Arcee teased Soundwave.
"Ha, ha, I suppose so..." The violet mech rolled his optics at the femme's comment. Shimmying himself over so his femme could climb into the berth with him, his frame tensed as a wave of intense pain surged through his frame.
"Ratchet told you not to over do it today, then you went and got beat up by Megatron again, then Dreadwing for the finishing touch!" Arcee scolded Soundwave for not listening to the medic's advice.
"I know, I know... I'll be better tomorrow." The violet mech sighed trying to relax through his pain.
"That's right, you're staying in the base until Ratchet clears you." The annoyed femme retorted.
"What, why, you know that won't last... whatever fine, I can help Optimus with the database then." Soundwave groaned shaking his helm, he figured it would make everyone happy if he just did what he was told.
"Whatever you say grumpy gears." Arcee teased, running a digit lightly across the mech's abdomen.
"Arcee..." Soundwave gave a small laugh as Arcee tickled him.
Arcee smirked, continuing to tickle the glowing abdomen, as it seemed to take away Soundwave's pain.
"Cee... s...st...stop!" Soundwave giggled, withering as his femme continued to tickle him, distracting him from his pain.
"Are you actually going to listen to the medic?" Arcee questioned playfully.
"Yes, yes, ow, okay, stop!" Soundwave coughed through pain.
"Did I hurt you?" Arcee halted her flirtatious trickling.
"No... I'm just really sore." The violet mech sighed.
[And that's exactly why Ratchet told you to take it easy today.] the femme rolled her optics, shaking her helm as she lay next to the injured mech.
"I get it, I should've stayed at base. I'm sure I'll get scolded tomorrow by Ratchet too." The glowing mech groaned.
"Huh, you really can read minds." Arcee snorted in astonishment.
"I can, but I just want to rest. Not hear what everyone is thinking."
Arcee sighed rubbing her mech's helm. "Close your optics, focus on the sound of your vents cycling, relax yourself."
Soundwave gave a deep sigh, doing as his sparkmate told him, closing his optics.
Arcee continued to gently massage the tense mech's helm, until she heard soft snores emitting from her glowing sparkmate. The femme yawned with a smile, closing her optics, falling into recharge.
"Get your damn aft into gear youngling!" Dreadwing shouted, watching the violet alien stealth jet, lag behind the other young fliers.
[Soundwave's such a loser.]
[Why is that freak even flying with us?]
[Soundwave can't even keep up with us, he'll never be a seeker!]
Soundwave did his best to ignore his fellow younglings, as he accelerated to catch up with them.
"How goes the flight progress, Dreadwing?" Shockwave asked upon entering the arial grounds.
"Mostly Impressive, except for your mutant." Dreadwing replied, pointing to the violet jet coasting by. [Utterly useless...]
"Hmm, Soundwave has been locked away in solitary confinement, like his sibling who's was my main focus, and training physically in solitary confinement. They both lack understanding of social cues." Shockwave thought aloud.
[Sociopaths...] Dreadwing thought, watching as the potential seeker younglings finished their flight course. "Excellent." The blue and gold mech praised.
"Go to your next training session in the trial arena. Lord Megatron wishes to see what you're all capable of." Shockwave ordered the landing younglings. [Flying is the easy part. You're all disappointments...]
[Welp, there goes the rest of my fliers...] Dreadwing shook his helm, knowing these younglings were good at flying but worthless in battle.
Soundwave transformed as the other younglings made their way to their next session. Grabbing his helm with a servo, the violet youngling's helm ached from hearing everyone's thoughts, he did not get a single moment of silence.
"So I will take my leave then, I'm done training fliers?" Dreadwing scoffed to the one opticed mech.
"What makes you think that, you're here to train my arial soldiers?" Shockwave growled.
"You and I both know, those younglings that just left, are not up to our Lord's standards, they are our last fliers, and will cease to exist." Dreadwing hissed watching Soundwave gather his processor.
"Then you will train Soundwave, he's the soul survivor of this project, and the only one worthy of training." Shockwave hissed gesturing to the glowing youngling.
[I don't understand why that worthless scrapheap still functions...] Dreadwing shook his helm. "Soundwave is not going to make it as a flier, perhaps you should change his alt mode?"
"I'm not changing his alt mode, he is best suited for flight. You will continue his training, I don't care if you have to beat it into him. Soundwave will be a master in the skies!" Shockwave shouted at the blue and gold mech. "Soundwave, stay and train with Dreadwing, you do not need to be assessed by Lord Megatron."
"Shockwave you can't be serious?!" Dreadwing hissed at the scientist.
"I'm serious. If you can't get the job done, I will request help from your twin instead." Shockwave hissed, leaving the arial grounds.
Dreadwing growled, turning his gaze back to the violet youngling. [I would sooner kill this youngling, then waste my time training the untrainable...]
Soundwave shrunk, cowering from the large mech's furious gaze. Hearing Dreadwing's malicious thoughts made him want to escape this torturous place, and find his little brother.
"You heard Shockwave, let's do another 20 rounds. Get up there!" Dreadwing demanded, pointing above into the air.
Soundwave did not argue, taking off into the air, although he was exhausted from the nonstop torturous training.
[Perhaps you will evade more fluently if real bullets are hailing upon you...] Dreadwing reached for his canon.
Soundwave accelerated, hearing the seeker's threatening thoughts. He barrel rolled, and flipped, evading the canon fire from the seeker below.
[Worthless, all of you!] Soundwave could hear Megatron's terrible mind, on the inside of the building he flew next to.
[Those are the last of the trainees, he's killed off... Soundwave's my last hope of finishing this project successfully...] Shockwave stood silently, watching as Megatron destroyed what younglings were left in this project. [I just need to figure out a way for Soundwave to gain control his mind reading abilities...]
Soundwave yelped in pain as a shot landed on one of his wings.
"Concentrate!" Dreadwing yelled as his canon managed to land two more devastating blasts on the jet.
Soundwave did his best to keep a persistent altitude, his jet mode smoked from where he was shot. Continuing to dodge the rain of bullets from the seeker's canon. Pulling the nose of his jet mode upwards towards the fiery war skies. "Scrap!" Soundwave cursed as a minicon drone of some sort, flew into his flight path.
"Agh, worthless cur. Fly into our facility!" Dreadwing scoffed taking aim at the wild drone.
Soundwave veered off to the side, just missing the violet drone, as Dreadwing shot it, bringing it down.
Dreadwing didn't stop his firing at the now distracted youngling, shaking his helm he could tell the youngling was curious to the smoking drone flopping frantically on the ground. [Easily distracted... worthless, you fail!]
Another devastating shot landed on the youngling, bringing the violet jet plummeting to the ground.
Soundwave gasped, as he shot upright in the berth. Pressing himself against the wall, recollecting his thoughts, as sharp pains shot through his frame.
"Soundwave?" Arcee tiredly called, sitting up.
Soundwave tried to hide his pain, turning his helm to the femme. "Yeah?"
"What's wrong?" Arcee moved over to sit against the wall with her mech.
"Nothing, just in pain..." The violet mech lied.
[In more ways than one...] Arcee thought, gently taking hold of her mech's servo.
"Yes in more ways than one." Soundwave rolled his optics, giving a gentle squeeze to the servo that held his.
Arcee laughed with a smile. "Remind me not to think of anything, when I'm frustrated with you."
"Please, being able to hear your thoughts may actually be my safest option." Soundwave snorted, sorely getting out of the berth.
"Ha, ha. Where are you going?" Arcee asked watching her mech walk towards the door.
"I'm going to go work on the database. I'm not recharging." The glowing mech replied, leaving the room.
"Soundwave, it's only been about an..."
"Seriously Arcee, I just want to do some work right now." Soundwave sternly told the femme.
Surprised by Soundwave's hostile tone, Arcee sat quietly, staring at her mech with a look of concern.
"Sorry... just don't worry about me, recharge, please." The overwhelmed mech sighed leaving the room.
Painfully walking down the hallway, Soundwave was surprised to see his mentor already at the monitors working on the database. Only an hour had gone by, since they all turned in for the night, he wondered if Optimus had actually recharged at all.
Hearing familiar coughing come from behind, the red and blue mech turned seeing the glowing young mech entering the main room. "Couldn't recharge?"
Clearing his throat Soundwave replied. "Yes sir, and you?"
"I'm guilty of not being able to recharge as well, yes." Optimus smiled, moving over so the young mech could stand next to him, so Soundwave would be able to read the monitor.
"May I assist you with the database?" Soundwave smiled back.
"I would work on sending Agent Fowler the recent updates, before..."
"Already done before I even recharged." The violet mech replied before the Prime could finish his sentence.
"Agent Fowler will be pleased." Optimus nodded, gesturing for Soundwave to join his decryption work.
"I can't please everyone, but at least he's not banishing me from this planet." The violet mech shrugged.
"I believe Agent Fowler portrays his angered emotions dominantly, because he is under pressure from his government, to keep an entire race of titanic alien species, from frightening their citizens, and destroying their planet, with our war." Optimus mentioned to the violet young mech.
"Understandable..." Soundwave agreed, the single human was living a high stress life.
A moment of silence between mentor, and apprentice went by, only electronic sounds of the computers, and the two mechs tapping away at the keypads filled the silent room.
Optimus watched Soundwave work from the corner of his optic, the youngling was quite efficient at cracking codes, for the most part at least.
"Scrap, that's not it..." Soundwave muttered through a rasp, as he made a mistake while decoding.
"It's alright youngling, you're doing quite well. This is quite a high degree of difficulty, considering every word of the coordinates has to be decrypted." Optimus reassured the young mech he was doing good work.
"Surprisingly I never studied this kind of decrypting before during my training." Soundwave snorted jokingly. "Maybe that's a good thing, since Shockwave didn't train that into me, maybe he doesn't know how to decrypt the database either."
"That's hopeful thinking, but I somehow believe Shockwave will find a way to decode the database." The Prime sighed, helping Soundwave.
"I know..." The violet mech sighed with a cough.
[Do you want to talk about your suddenly reawakening ability?] Optimus Prime thought, testing to see if the youngling could actually read minds.
"Reawakening? How'd you know I had the ability to read minds?" Soundwave responded to his mentor's thoughts.
"When Shockwave's facility was taken down, a file of data was collected, describing each test subject. You being Shockwave's main focus in the files found, he mentioned your uncontrollable, awakening, ability, to read the minds of others around you. That you were developing sociopathic tendencies because of it." The Prime explained to the young mech.
"Sociopathic tendencies? I developed them because of Shockwave's torture, not my annoying abilities!" Soundwave hissed.
"I know that youngling. You're nothing like that when you're with us." Optimus attempted to agree with his apprentice.
"Thanks... So, do you know why I all of sudden, am unable to control my reawakening ability?" Soundwave awkwardly changed the subject.
"No, I believe your ability has been dormant because you had learned how to control it, and had forgotten about it." The red and blue mech replied, turning back to his work.
"But why have I all of a sudden rebooted my mind reading ability, and lost that control over it?" The violet mech pressed on, hopping the Prime had his answers.
"I do not know youngling. That can only be answered by you." A simple reply was all Optimus responded.
"Of course..." Soundwave groaned rolling his optics.
"It also could be because of your constant reversions, Shockwave had preformed on you." Optimus chuckled at the young mech's impatience. "But I do believe it had something to do with the awakening of Unicron."
"Okay, how so?" The young mech took the theory as half an answer.
"I haven't seen much of a reaction from your brother. But I have noticed you have seemed to continually produce supernatural powers, since the awakening of Unicron, maybe even sooner than that." Optimus Prime explained.
"But why do you think the two are linked?" The violet mech was curious to hear the rest of his mentor's theory.
[I could never say this to Mirage, I know he's closely linked to Unicron.] Optimus thought just so only Soundwave could hear him. "But since you're the closest link to Primus, I believe that the Chaos Bringer's awakening, awoke the spirit of Primus. Reawakening the abilities he gifted to you, but also the strong urge to reignite our home planet."
"Interesting theory..." the young mech pondered.
"You do have a stronger will to bring our planet back to life, do you not?"
Soundwave blinked, thinking for a moment, he wanted off of this human world. Remembering he was trying to conjure up a way to create peace between Decepticons, and Autobots, so they may regenerate their home again.
"Soundwave?" Optimus called to the youngling in deep thought.
Soundwave shook out of his thoughts, returning his attention to his mentor. "Yes, sorry Opt... Sir."
Optimus gave a small unsure smile. "You can call me Optimus youngling, I've given you permission before..."
"I know... I'm sorry..." Soundwave shamefully looked at the ground.
"It's alright youngling, do not apologize, I'm not forcing you to call me by my name. I just want you to be comfortable doing so, and not fear it." The Prime reassured, placing a servo on the young mech's servo.
"Ah!" Soundwave yelped, clenching his chest plate as a small burst of heat popped in his spark.
Optimus immediately released the youngling's shoulder, forgetting the violet young mech was injured. As he got the same heated burst pop in his spark. "Sorry youngling, I had forgotten you were injured."
"It's okay it wasn't that..." Soundwave sighed, turning to the monitors. "We should get back to decrypting."
"Primus, I wish I had the ability to read your mind you youngling..." Optimus shook his helm with a smile.
"Trust me you don't want inside my mind." Soundwave snorted jokingly.
Optimus watched in silence, as Soundwave decrypted three parts of encrypted coordinates. Turning his focus towards the base exit, he called the youngling's name. "Soundwave, I know it's only begun to be a new day, and you were out on patrol an hour ago. But would you like to join me on a patrol?"
"I thought Ratchet put me on medical lockdown?" Soundwave raised an optic ridge at Optimus.
"Yes, that is true. Why don't we just go for walk while Ratchet's recharging, then?" Optimus gently guided Soundwave away from the monitors.
"Uh... Okay." Soundwave followed Optimus to the ground bridge.
"Just let me know when you're not feeling well." The Prime said to the violet mech, as they walked into a snowy canyon.
"Yes sir." Soundwave felt he was honestly fine, just a bit sore, which he honestly didn't know why the team took being a little sore so seriously.
"I mean it Soundwave." Optimus sternly told the youngling.
"I will Op-ti-mus..." Soundwave tried to catch himself from calling Optimus by name.
Optimus smirked, raising an optic ridge at the violet youngling.
"Yes Optimus..." The violet young mech sheepishly smiled back.
The Prime chuckled warmly, continuing forward through the snow.
"So what is this place?" Soundwave asked curiously as they walked through the icy canyon.
"Nothing specific about this place. I just thought you'd like a change in scenery." The Prime shrugged while Soundwave scanned their icy surroundings.
"This is the stuff that was on the ground at the location we were trying to recover that hammer." Soundwave noted, curiously listening to the crunch of the ground beneath their peds.
"The humans call it snow." Optimus replied to the curious young mech.
"Primus, I thought this planet was just all dirt and rocks." The violet mech scoffed
"Yes, I suppose you haven't had the chance to explore the different ecosystems of this planet." The Prime thought aloud as they continued down the snowy path.
"I'm sure I have... maybe I forgot?" Soundwave mentioned, unsure of himself.
"Either way, it is quite beautiful. It reminds me of Crystal City back on Cybertron." The red and blue mech said as they walked through the crystal clear ice canyon.
Continuing through the canyon, as it began to incline downward. Soundwave tried to picture in his helm the location his mentor spoke of, wondering if he had ever been there. While the violet mech had those thoughts, he stepped on a slippery patch of ice. The glowing young mech slipped and fell, sliding down the small incline.
Optimus turned himself sideways balancing as he slid down the hill after the youngling. "We have to take caution walking on the ice youngling, it's very slippery." The Prime said helping Soundwave back onto his peds.
"... Duly noted." Soundwave sheepishly smiled as he was lifted back onto his peds. Getting chills as he had flashbacks of Shockwave experimenting with an ice ray. "I'm familiar with the substance, I just didn't realize snow was a partner with ice."
"Oh, how so?" Optimus was curious to how the youngling knew of the frozen substance.
"Shockwave created an ice beam, he used it mostly for our training courses, he liked the degree of difficulty the ice gave our training challenges. But it found it's way onto the battlefield for a short time. But also it depends on where you go on Cybertron, you can find ice." Soundwave responded to his mentor's curiosity.
"I don't remember Cybertron having this kind of ecosystem." Optimus was still baffled by his apprentice's words.
"There are cold spots on the planet, but most of the odd ecosystems were created in a facility by Shockwave. He took environments from other planets, and created them for experimental purposes." Soundwave gave a little more of a detailed explanation.
Optimus looked over as beeping came from the youngling. Soundwave materialized his visor displaying Decepticon signatures nearby.
"Shockwave must've been able to decode the next coordinates." Soundwave thought aloud, as they hastily made their way towards the Decepticons.
"Soundwave we should get you back to base, I will wake Ironhide. You are still in recovery." Optimus Prime suggested as they stood on a glacier just above the Decepticons.
"Don't worry about me, we need to worry about the Cons obtaining a new doomsday device." Soundwave groaned enhancing his vision, to see who they were dealing with.
"Fine, let's not waste any more time." Optimus said sliding to the bottom of the glacier.
Soundwave transformed following the semi truck below him, as they came closer to the Decepticons. "Dreadwing found Starscream?" Soundwave thought aloud, seeing the former seeker commander in cuffs. The violet Reaper boosted his audio sensors, listening to the Decepticons, as Dreadwing violently held Starscream in the air.
"Do not try me traitor. I will leave your lifeless husk, in this frozen waste." Dreadwing threatened Starscream, the sound of engines fast approaching, distracting him as he tossed Starscream to the ground.
Optimus transformed only a few feet away from Dreadwing and his team. Soundwave transforming, landing next to his mentor.
Dreadwing did not care for Soundwave's existence, his glare burning through the Prime. "Optimus Prime, I will request only once that you surrender the relic."
"I was going to request the same of you Dreadwing." Optimus replied dryly.
"Then I would say we are on equal footing, were it not that there are five of us." The navy blue and gold mech gestured to the Eradicon soldiers with him. "And only two of you."
"Six, if you relieve me of these ridiculous manacles." Starscream griped from behind the commander, who ignored his whining.
Neither Optimus or Soundwave were threatened by Dreadwing's challenge. All stood silently, staring down each other.
At least 20 tense seconds went by before Dreadwing lost his patience, firing his canon at the two Autobots.
The Eradicons were quick to join in, charging Optimus, as the Prime fired back at Dreadwing.
[Get Prime!]
[Help Commander Dreadwing!]
[Make sure Starscream doesn't try anything funny.]
[I will avenge my brother...]
Soundwave evaded the Eradicons, and Dreadwing's blasts. Trying to stay concentrated in battle, while everyone's thoughts penetrated his processor.
Optimus took down the two Eradicons that charged him. Soundwave fired back at the navy blue and gold mech, landing a painful shot on Dreadwing.
Dreadwing yelped in agony, as the violet mech's blast knocked him back a step. Filled with fury, the furious Con, amped up his canon to fire missiles at the two Autobots. [I'm going to kill you Soundwave!]
Both mentor and apprentice easily dodged the angry missiles, Optimus drawing his sword as he dove at the Decepticon Commander. The two engaging in a battle of blades, only for a moment as Optimus landed a few good hits on the Con.
Dreadwing holstered his sword as the Prime was now backed up to a cliff. He charged tackling the massive mech off the edge of the cliff.
Soundwave followed the battle, Dreadwing getting the upper hand this time, beating the Prime to the ground. The violet mech defensively leapt in front of his downed leader.
Dreadwing laughed with a smirk. "You couldn't out fly me on Cybertron, what makes you think you can beat me in battle?"
Soundwave furrowed his optic ridges behind his visor, aiming his blaster at the fragile cliff wall behind the Decepticon.
Dreadwing reached for his canon, as Soundwave shot a blast past him, hitting the fragile ice cliff behind him. "Your aim is poor." The Commander snorted at the young mech that helped Optimus off the ground.
Optimus watched as the wall began to crumble behind the taunting mech. "That is a matter of perspective."
"No!" Dreadwing tried to escape the avalanche of snow and ice, while the Prime and Soundwave escaped.
"Are you alright youngling?" Optimus asked as the icy cloud of snow began to settle.
"I'm fine as long as you are." Soundwave replied as the remaining Eradicons called out for Dreadwing.
"Commander Dreadwing?!" One of the Eradicons called out, seeing a large figure through the snowy haze, with a slender violet glowing figure on approach.
"Damn!" The Eradicon cursed firing at the two Autobots.
Both Soundwave and Optimus returned fire, charging forward towards the Decepticons. While the two Eradicons were distracted, Starscream saw fit to help, wrestling with the nearby guard, distracting the Eradicon firing at Optimus. Using the Eradicon he grabbed, as a shield.
Optimus shot down the distracted Eradicon, while Starscream tossed the dead Eradicon in his servos, to the ground.
"What a team we make! I'm so glad you prevailed, that wretched Dreadwing was going to terminate me." Starscream cheered approaching the Prime and young mech.
"Manipulation tactics..." Soundwave whispered to his mentor, who nodded in response.
"Now if you could just remove these bonds, I will lead you straight to the relic." Starscream grinned hopefully.
Optimus cocked his gun at the former commander. "You will lead us there regardless."
[Maybe I can make my escape, with these two imbeciles, no...] Starscream sized up both Autobots, wondering if he could escape them, with minimal fighting. Looking over the violet young mech, Starscream groaned, knowing he could not go against a Prime, and super soldier and come out alive. "Fine..."
Following the seeker through the frozen valley, the wind began to pick up, giving the seeker an opportunity to complain. [Frag this wretched planet's temperatures!]
Soundwave rolled his optics behind his visor, hearing the seeker's whining before he verbalized it.
"Be reasonable Prime. This cold will freeze all of our actuators." Starscream whined, turning to Optimus.
"The current temperatures are not extreme enough to effect our biology. You'll be fine." Soundwave emotionlessly responded, walking by the seeker.
[Stupid, walking, super computer...] Starscream snorted defensively. "Fine but miserable. I can't believe that you would take our alliances for granted, after all I have done for the Autobots. Restoring your memories..."
"Stop your complaining, you're lucky Dreadwing isn't taking you back to Megatron right now!" Soundwave hissed, threatening the seeker at gunpoint.
"While you have occasionally proved to be beneficial to us, it has been only to further your own interests." Optimus Prime told the truth behind every one of Starscream's actions.
"Well, we can't all be as selfless you, now, can we?" Starscream sarcastically replied to the Prime. "Although, seems your selflessness has rubbed off on someone." The grey seeker gestured to the violet young mech.
"I've saved your tailpipe from Megatron too many times to count, now stop delaying." Soundwave gestured for his former commander to march forward.
[Stupid brat, I spared your spark plenty. If Shockwave didn't turn you into a mutant capable of unknown strengths, I would've deactivated you deca cycles ago...] Starscream let out another groan, continuing to lead the two to the site of a human facility. "Uh, just as I suspected, humans. We will find the relic here. Let us go reclaim what is rightfully ours." Starscream only took two steps forward, before being yanked back by Optimus.
"We cannot simply enter a human facility to search for Cybertronian relics."Optimus firmly told the seeker.
"Not even if they stole it?" Starscream argued.
"Nor can I expose innocent humans to a dangerous Decepticon." Optimus continued to explain firmly. "Soundwave, contact Agent Fowler."
Soundwave took seconds to bring up a caller display on his visor.
"Ugh, Prime you better have a good reason for waking me at this hour?" Agent Fowler's voice grumbled through Soundwave's speakers.
"I require access to a human facility at my current coordinates." Optimus explained himself to the grumpy human.
"Let me make a call." Fowler sighed ending the call.
"Ugh, are we really going to wait out here in the freezing cold, completely at the mercy of human bureaucracy?!" Starscream once again began to complain, while they waited for the humans to clear out. "Ah!" The seeker gasped in shock, after he was struck in the helm by a snowball. Turning towards the source of the snowball. "Was that really necessary?!"
"You know, I don't miss your bitching. So for every complaint, you get a frozen ball of ice crystals." Soundwave retorted to the frustrated seeker.
Optimus barely looked over his shoulder seeing his apprentice finding a humorous way of stopping the seeker's whining. [It's not playtime, youngling...]
Hearing Optimus mentally scold him through a chuckle, Soundwave dropped the last snowball.
"Really mature... Was it wise to bring a youngling on such an excursion Prime?" Starscream scoffed, shaking the snow balls off of him, as the sound of helicopter blades winding up echoed from the human camp.
Soundwave's speakers crackled with static as Fowler called back to say the base was clear. "The base is clear Prime. Don't wreck the joint."
"Many thanks Agent Fowler." Optimus thanked the man, ending the call, while Soundwave escorted Starscream forwards.
"Come'on Soundwave, release me, you and I can escape together. Rule over everyone, I've seen you take Megatron down before, the Autobots will be no different." Starscream attempted to convince the young mech to join him as a rogue.
Soundwave rolled his optics behind his visor, shaking his helm at the seeker's desperate attempt to persuade him. "I would never side with you, you're an untrustworthy, backstabber. I never liked, or trusted you. I've built a meaningful life with the Autobots, and I will continue to do so."
"Oh please, you think you're going to win the war as an apprentice to a Prime? I know you can feel this war coming to an end, you think the Autobots are going to win it? The Decepticons are always a step ahead, your efforts will be futile." Starscream hissed glaring at the Prime a few steps ahead of them.
"You cannot predict how this war will end, the Decepticons may show strength and brute force. But we show strengths in different ways, and we always prevail over the Decepticons. We will bring Cybertron back to it's former glory." Soundwave hissed right back at the prisoner. "And why do you care anyway, your neither Con, or Autobot?"
"Even if you do win the war, know that Megatron and Optimus Prime will kill themselves doing just that. Leaving you to be the new Prime, and that's where you'll struggle and regret your choices with the Autobots. You think Cybertronians, Autobots, and Decepticons alike, will actually follow your rule willingly? After all the animosity you've created for yourself, your presence as a Prime could start a new war if you take one wrong step." Starscream smirked knowing the violet mech was now listening to his words carefully. "You will be the quiet one, once again..."
Optimus as gentle as could be, forced the frozen sliding doors open, revealing a chunk of ice. "The relic remained sealed in the ice." He said as Starscream approached the ice.
"I knew you were of questionable honor Starscream, but aiding the Autobots, that is a capital offense." Dreadwing calmly stood in the doorway with his canon.
"What?! But I left tracks for you, on purpose, so you could rescue me from my captor." Starscream scoffed to the commander.
"Dreadwing I cannot allow you to leave here with this relic." Optimus defensively took a step towards the seeker commander.
"I know that, Prime, but I do not intend to give you a choice." Dreadwing replied opening fire on them.
Optimus charged tackling Dreadwing away, engaging the blue and gold mech in a heated battle.
Soundwave stayed put to guard Starscream and the relic.
The former commander tried to get a good look at the relic sealed in the ice. "So what is this relic, do you even know?"
Soundwave switched visions getting a clear look at the relic through the ice. "Armour of Decepticon origin."
"Shouldn't you assist your mentor in battle?" Starscream suggested, eying up the relic incased in ice. [While I take this relic for myself...]
"Optimus can handle himself. I'm doing my job, guarding another Decepticon from taking the relic." Soundwave replied to Starscream, just before a large explosion went off, rattling the building.
"Are you sure?" Starscream grinned sinisterly at the young mech.
To Starscream's annoyance, Soundwave released Lazerbeak to aid and watch over the Prime's battle.
"Don't think you can swindle me out of here so easily, Starscream. I know you're trying to get the relic."
Starscream could no longer waste opportunities to gain power. Throwing his cuffed servos over Soundwave.
The violet mech thrashed and twisted in an awkward attempt to shake the seeker off. Releasing his tentacles, Soundwave ripped the seeker off his back tossing him to the back of the room, onto the block of ice.
Starscream's pained expression turned to a grin, hearing the ice shatter under his back. Flipping onto his stomach, the disc shaped relic latched onto his chest plate activating the armour. [Just what I wanted, you foolish youngling...]
"Shit..." Soundwave cursed knowing he made a grave mistake, accidentally handing the armour to a rogue, power hungry, Decepticon.
"You'll be saying more than that after I'm through with you!" Starscream grasped the violet mech in his massive servo. "Or not!" The seeker used Soundwave to punch a hole through the ceiling as he leapt through it.
Optimus glared up at Dreadwing, who was about to attempt his final strike, just as an armoured Starscream burst through the building ceiling slamming Soundwave into the frozen ground. Creating a noticeable dent in the now cracked icy ground.
Optimus leapt to his peds running past distracted Dreadwing, shoulder checking Starscream off of his apprentice.
Soundwave groaned in tremendous pain, hearing fuses sizzle, biomechanisms, and gears pop out of place, slowly getting up to his peds. "What is that?"
"The Apex Armour." Optimus replied before Starscream knocked him back.
Grabbing the Prime's fist that had attempted to strike him. Tightening his grip, as he pushed the Prime down to his knees. "You Optimus Prime. I will beat the living spark out of you, for making me endure your pontificating!" The armoured mech tossed the Prime into storage crates.
Lazerbeak fired at Starscream gaining the seeker's attention. Soundwave attempted to strike Starscream while he was preoccupied, but the armoured mech was wise to his moves. Soundwave rolled out of the way, as Starscream tried to crush him with his fist.
"You dare take what rightfully belongs to Megatron?!" Dreadwing took the opportunity to try and strike Starscream with his blade, but his actions were not unseen.
"What are you going to do about it, Commander?" Starscream sarcastically replied, batting away the Decepticon commander, into the same storage crates Optimus hit.
"Dreadwing our battle remains unfinished, but if we do not unite against our common foe..." Optimus told the blue and gold mech.
"Starscream will destroy us all." Dreadwing hissed watching the seeker attempt to smash the violet youngling. "I will assist your youngling with diverting Starscream's attention." he handed the Prime one of his bombs, before taking off into the air.
Dreadwing fired at Starscream, distracting him from Soundwave.
"Dreadwing is an ally for now Soundwave." Optimus said over the young mech's comlink.
Starscream waited as the firing jet closed in on him, running towards the rain of bullets, Starscream leapt into the air, punching Dreadwing out of the sky. "Might beats flight!"
While Starscream taunted the downed mech. Optimus leapt onto his back, planting the bomb, before being thrown across the ground.
"You shall be the one to join with the Allspark." Dreadwing taunted back, hitting a button on his remote detonator.
The explosion caused a plum of smoke, cracking the ice.
Starscream's cackle echoed, as the smoke cleared revealing the unharmed, armoured seeker. "Not only am I intelligent, I am invincible!"
"Yet you cannot fly!" Optimus taunted back, once again diverting Starscream's attention.
"Nobody's perfect." Starscream replied venomously, approaching Optimus Prime.
Dreadwing and Soundwave both took note of the damaged ground.
[If we blow the ground one more time that fool will fall. Just have to get the youngling on board with my plan.]
Soundwave could hear Dreadwing's thoughts as they both scanned the ground with their optics.
The blue and gold mech nodded at Soundwave, who slunk his tentacles over to him. Placing bombs in the youngling's tentacles.
Soundwave began to plant the bombs given, around the damaged ground, while Dreadwing snuck around the other side of the damaged ground, doing the same.
"Now tell me about the other relics. Are they as powerful as my new shiny armour?" Starscream asked back handing the Prime.
"They were hidden away, precisely to keep them away from the hands of those like you." Optimus regained his balance, striking back with a few punches.
"Are you ready youngling?" Dreadwing asked standing next to the violet young mech.
Soundwave nodded, watching Optimus engage the armoured mech.
"He's far too powerful Prime, fall back!" Dreadwing called out to the Prime.
Optimus did as he was told, transforming he drove over to the two. Transforming next to his apprentice.
"Cowards, you can't escape my might!" Starscream threatened the three.
"We could if we just transformed and ran away, like you always do." Soundwave jeered angering the armoured mech further.
"You will be the first one I deactivate, Soundwave!" Starscream hissed storming towards the three. Noticing the three bots were unmoving, he realized they must be up to something. "Wait, you're all up to something, aren't you?"
The only reply Starscream received, was the sound of multiple bombs around him, being activated.
All three bots turned, and ran as the explosions went off, throwing them a small distance.
Over the explosions, Soundwave could hear Starscream's defeated screams fading away.
Optimus was the first to examine the pit they created, confirming Starscream was gone.
"Now that our alliance has served its purpose..." Dreadwing drew his blade, as Optimus turned around to face him.
"Starscream is gone, the Apex Armour with him. Is there really a need to renew our battle, when our goal has been lost?" Soundwave said, removing his visor while Lazerbeak returned to him.
Optimus drew his sword just incase Dreadwing denied the logical words that came from his apprentice.
"We have other unfinished matters." Dreadwing growled glaring at the Prime.
"I bore Skyquake no malice, and I regret the role I played in his demise." Optimus withdrew his sword. "So I will appeal to you as I once did your twin. Turn your back on the Decepticon cause and help me end this war, for his sake and for all who have fallen." The Prime purposed, as Soundwave calmly walked past Dreadwing, to join him by his side.
Dreadwing stood silently for a moment in thought, before holstering his sword.
Optimus stared at the blue and gold mech, wondering if he was willing to join the Autobot side.
Soundwave knew Dreadwing would not take Optimus's offer, but honour was something Dreadwing took seriously.
"You saved my life today." Dreadwing said as he walked up next to the Prime. "I will terminate you the next time we meet." He threatened, transforming flying away from the two Autobots.
[So be it Dreadwing...] Optimus thought emotionless.
Soundwave followed the jet with his optics, until it was out of sight. His attention was fascinated with the colourful solar flares dancing across the starry sky.
Optimus took a deep breath, turning to his preoccupied apprentice. A smile crept across his face plate, seeing the youngling like wonder in Soundwave's optics. "Even after a dire battle, beauty can be found."
Soundwave coughed up energon, trying to hide his coughing from his leader. Turning his helm away, staring at the vast frozen landscape lit up by the beautiful lights. "It was my fault..."
"What are you talking about youngling?" Optimus raised an optic ridge, hearing the concerning coughs.
"It's my fault Starscream got the armour." Soundwave shamefully hung his helm, clearing away the irritation in his vocals.
"Soundwave, I'm sure you're putting this out of perspective." Optimus placed a reassuring servo on his apprentice's shoulder.
"He jumped me, I reacted, handing him the armour in the process." Soundwave sadly explained to his mentor.
"Soundwave we have many other relics to retrieve, we cannot dwell on the one loss we've had so far. It is of no danger, while Starscream lurks under the frozen sea." Optimus told the disappointed young mech.
"Right, I'll get us home." Soundwave agreed, firing up a ground bridge.
"Fragging hell!" Arcee jumped sitting up in the berth.
"What's wrong?" Soundwave asked confused by his femme's reaction to him climbing back into the berth.
"What the hell, why are you frozen to the touch, you've got ice on you?!" Arcee hissed, chiseling the little ice chunks frozen to her mech's metal plating.
"I went on a patrol with Optimus..."
"Primus Soundwave, you got more dents, and scrapes then before we went to recharge! What kind of patrol was it?!" The femme pointed out her mech's new battle wounds.
"Arcee, I love you. Can we please just recharge, before some sort of alert sounds off." Soundwave tiredly sighed laying down in pain.
"Fine... you were supposed to be on lock down by the way." Arcee grumbled laying back down. "Love you too, aft..."
Soundwave rolled his optics with a smirk, before closing his tired optics.
It wasn't long before Soundwave rolled off the berth in pain, slowly making his way to the medic's bedroom.
Silent as could be, Soundwave made his way over to the slumbering medic. Careful not to wake the loudly snoring weapon specialist across the room.
Ratchet groaned rolling over on his berth to face the one who poked him. "What is it youngling?" he whispered as his vision came into focus.
"I don't mean to... disrupt your recharge..." Soundwave hissed in pain.
Seeing the pained expression on the young mech, Ratchet climbed out of bed, escorting Soundwave to the med bay.
"What are all these new dents, hmm?" Ratchet said sitting Soundwave on the medical berth.
"Just from patrol..." Soundwave said.
"Really, even after I put you on lock down?" The ancient medic sarcastically replied.
"Maybe..." the violet mech gave a pained cough with a sheepish smile.
"Mirage needs to let you rest, so you stop ending up in my med bay." Ratchet rolled his optics. [Primus you've got a lot of things knocked out of place. What'd you do, get hit by an energon transporter?] The red and white mech mentally scoffed, running an X-ray scan on the youngling.
"Ah! Mirage has been in his room recharging." Soundwave winced as sharp pains shot through his abdomen.
Ratchet mentally rolled his optics, knowing it was the Prime that took the youngling on a little excursion. "Well, you're repair system are trying to repair your biomech. But it's as if your insides were shattered, you've got so much scrap floating around inside you, your repair systems are repairing over all your loose mechanisms and scrap, may as well be shrapnel. That's what is causing you this pain."
"I was in a fight. My opponent was quite a bit stronger than usual..." the violet mech hissed in pain.
"Take this first." Ratchet handed the young mech a vial of serum. While collecting a bunch of special surgical equipment. [Of course you jumped into a battle, directly after I restricted you from leaving.]
Soundwave took the vial, doing as he was told. Cautiously watching the ancient mech pull out scary looking surgical equipment, ignoring the medic's thoughts.
"Sit tight kiddo. This is going to be a lengthy procedure." Ratchet sighed trying to give the youngling an encouraging smile.
Soundwave was not thrilled he had to be dissected on, yet again. But the ancient medic had fully gained his trust over the time they've known each other, easing his fear of anything medical. "I understand."
"Really?!" Ratchet was surprised by the violet mech's calm response. "You do know I have to cut you open?"
"Yes sir." Soundwave nodded, laying down on the berth so the medic could begin the procedure.
"Did you knock something loose in your processor, maybe I should check it as well?" Ratchet scoffed hooking the young mech up to monitors.
"I don't think so... but... you're welcome to check." Soundwave laughed in pain.
"I think I will. You've never been this willing before." The old medic shook his helm.
"Honestly... you have my full trust, ow! I just want the pain to stop." Soundwave winced, getting a sharp pain.
Ratchet smiled warmly, happy the young mech was getting over his fear of medical attention. "I'm going to put you into stasis, I need to pause your recovery systems, alright?"
Soundwave nodded in understanding, as the medic induced stasis.
"What's going on with him?" Mirage asked, only moments after his brother went into stasis.
"Your brother got injured on his patrol." Ratchet rolled his optics at the early rising youngling.
"I don't get it we walked through a forest, no one attacked us?" Mirage cocked his helm in confusion.
"You didn't take him on patrol a few hours ago?" The medic asked, making an incision on the violet abdomen.
Mirage cringed at the CMO's grim work. "No, but I heard Optimus and Soundwave talking a few hours ago."
"I'll scold Optimus later, right now I have to focus on getting your brother back together again." Ratchet scoffed, pulling out shattered gears and biomechanisms from the violet mech's insides.
"You do that, I'm gonna go find some energon." Mirage said heading towards the base exit.
"Fine, whatever, just don't end up like your brother." Ratchet called out to the exiting youngling.
A few hours passed by, the ancient medic worked diligently to repair and collect all the broken shards in the youngling's frame.
Optimus stepped into the main room, surprised to see Ratchet surgically working on Soundwave. "Is everything alright with Soundwave, Ratchet?"
"I don't know Optimus, Soundwave was restricted from leaving this base, you tell me?" Ratchet's venomous tone dripped with sarcasm.
"I went above your medical orders, I apologize old friend. But you know how hard it is to keep Mirage or Soundwave locked up in the base." Optimus apologized while attempting to make excuses. "I offered to take Soundwave on a walk, but we ended up uncovering another relic. I did tell Soundwave to return."
"If you are through with your excuses. Would you please enlighten me as to what happened to your apprentice?" The medic hissed continuing to pull shards of scrap from the unconscious youngling.
Optimus sighed approaching the medic. "The relic we hunted, was the Apex Armour. Unfortunately it ended up in Starscream's possession. He retaliated against us, and Dreadwing. Before he attacked all three of us, he struck Soundwave through a ceiling, before smashing our youngling into the ground."
"Optimus..."
"I know, I screwed up, and risked my apprentice's life." Optimus sighed before Ratchet could scold him.
"Yes, but as much as I'd love to scold you for your stupidity. Some good did come out from this experience." The ancient medic smirked continuing to pull unimaginable shards from Soundwave's frame.
"What would that be?" The Prime asked curiously.
"You've seemed to have rekindle your spark bond with Soundwave." Ratchet mentioned.
"I have?" Optimus responded in surprise.
"His spark is significantly stronger than the last time I scanned it. Perhaps Mirage's is influencing the healthy beat as well, it was slightly stronger when they returned from their energon patrol." Ratchet pointed to the monitor behind him. "This was the rhythm it was at when the brothers returned, and this is the spark rhythm after your return with him." The CMO showed the violet young mech's spark beat scans.
"Excellent." Optimus could see his apprentice's spark beat was dramatically different from when the mutant brothers returned. The Prime was honestly thrilled that Soundwave was once again rebuilding a bond with Mirage. The young assassin had not been the same since losing the bond with his big brother.
Ratchet glanced up from the violet mech's frame. Seeing Optimus's expression change as the Prime went into deep thought.
Optimus worried his bond would overtake Mirage's, and take away the bond the two brothers used to have.
"Something on your mind Optimus?"
"Will my bond destroy Mirage and Soundwave's?" Optimus straight up asked the medic.
Ratchet chuckled, continuing his procedure. "Like I told you deca cycles ago, no. Mirage and Soundwave will be fine, even if their spark bonds aren't as strong as the last time. They have such a unique connection with each other, it would be impossible to desecrate their connection."
"Hmm." Optimus nodded in understanding, turning to the monitor displaying the Iacon database.
"I think Mirage, and Soundwave, have long surpassed the twins on trips to your med bay Ratchet." Jazz scoffed with a laugh, entering the main room with Arcee.
"Primus, what'd he do now?" Arcee facepalmed.
"Ask Optimus." Ratchet gestured to the working Prime.
"You two did more then just a walk through the ice?" Arcee raised an optic ridge at her leader.
"I apologize Arcee, and take full responsibility for Soundwave's injuries. We encountered our next relic. But unfortunately it fell into Starscream's hands, and he used the relic against us, severely injuring Soundwave in the process." Optimus turned to apologize to the irritated femme.
"Well luckily Soundwave's fine now, he'll make a full recovery, and will be ready for action when he wakes." Ratchet mentioned as he patched up the incision he made in the young mech's frame.
"Can't we just keep him in lock down?" Arcee sighed wanting to keep her mech safe.
"No." The medic shook his helm.
"But Soundwave still looks like he just got out of the pits." Arcee scoffed gesturing to her mech's beaten frame.
"Most of these battle wounds will heal, I'm not going to pull my gears out trying to keep him in the base." Ratchet scoffed to the concerned femme. "But if a certain Prime, wants to entertain his apprentice, with the Iacon Database. I still need my sanity..."
"I will do my best to include Soundwave in my decoding, old friend." Optimus chuckled at his oldest friend.
"Speaking of sanity, how's Soundwave's?" Arcee openly asked the two mechs.
"Not certain, he did not mention the mind reading during our patrol." The Prime responded to the femme's question.
"Ugh... I will just say that everyone needs to shut the hell up in their helms. Primus this ability is a curse when it comes to being around Starscream. He bitches too much, about everything, verbally, and mentally!" Soundwave groaned dizzily sitting up on the berth.
"Doesn't Starscream just monologue, and voice every thought he has anyway?" Sideswipe scoffed, entering the main room with his twin.
"True enough." Soundwave shrugged wincing in pain.
"What's wrong with you now oh broken one?" Sunstreaker scoffed grabbing some energon.
"Long story short, Soundwave engaged in battle, receiving wounds that made his condition worse than before. If only you and Mirage would realize, you two aren't invincible." Ratchet explained, glaring at the sheepishly smiling young mech.
"I'm on lockdown aren't I?"
"You are to help Optimus with the Iacon Database. But I'm not going to force you to stay, as you are not in mortal condition, and we're in a race against time." The medic sighed with a groan.
"Surprised Mirage isn't up already?" Jazz snorted seeing no red youngling.
"He's gone on an energon patrol, perhaps you three should join him." Ratchet suggested.
"Oh sure. Anything is better than waiting for Hide to wake, and overwork us." The twins quickly transformed, following Jazz out of the base.
"Speaking of overworking, why don't you take it easy today?" Arcee said placing a gentle servo on her mech's shoulder.
"I haven't even made it out of the medical berth yet, how easy do you want me to take it?" Soundwave scoffed at his femme.
"Watch the sarcasm. I just want you to have one day without ending up in the med bay." Arcee replied with a optic roll.
The violet mech got up from the berth putting both his servos on Arcee's shoulders. "Don't worry your pretty little spark Arcee, I'm helping Optimus with the database." Soundwave smirked playfully continuing his sarcasm, to annoy his sparkmate.
"Smartass..." Arcee grumbled as Soundwave made his way over to Optimus. "I'm going to go wake Bee." Arcee shrugged going to the scout's room.
It was a bit of a surprise for the Prime when their human ally called interrupting his decoding. "Prime..."
"Agent Fowler I apologize for the collateral damage, I will send you the report as soon as I can..."
"The damage wasn't too awful, besides the giant crater you left. But would've preferred to have none. And what are you talking about reports? I already got a full report of your late night jaunt, shortly after you wrecked the joint and returned home?" Agent Fowler replied to the Prime's surprise.
"Oh... How can I assist then Agent?" Optimus said, hoping to end the conversation.
"I actually wanted to talk with distorted radio." Fowler told Optimus, who assumed he meant Soundwave.
"Soundwave is right here Agent Fowler." Optimus Prime replied, pulling the young mech in front of him.
"Hey, I was working on something..." Soundwave grumbled as he was pulled away from his work station.
"Agent Fowler would like to speak to you youngling." The Prime gestured to the man on the monitor.
"Good morning Sir. How can I assist?" Soundwave formally greeted the Agent on the monitor.
"I don't need any assistance at this moment, soldier. I would just like to thank you for your efficiency in keeping me up to date with the Autobot activities, you are doing an incredible job." Agent Fowler praised the young mech, impressed with the young apprentice's reporting. "Wish Prime assigned you to do the reporting a long time ago."
"Uuuh... you're welcome?" Soundwave sheepishly looked up at the mech holding his shoulders.
Optimus smiled warmly at his unsure apprentice, before replying to the agent. "As do I Agent Fowler, Soundwave will continue to keep you up to date."
"I look forward to it." Fowler replied.
While Optimus and Agent Fowler spoke, Soundwave wriggled out of Optimus's hold. Materializing his visor, the violet mech went back to his decoding. Getting an odd sensation in his spark. An alarm went off in his helm, notifying him that the Decepticons had decrypted three more sets of coordinates.
"Odd... The warship must've dropped it's masking field by accident, or Shockwave forgot to to disconnect my signature from the warship's system." Soundwave thought aloud.
Optimus silently listened to the human rant on and on to him. [I need to continue my work...]
"Um Sir..." Soundwave called trying to get his leader's attention.
Optimus held up a digit, gesturing for his apprentice to wait a moment.
Soundwave visibly shrunk in annoyance, rolling his optics he waited another few moments before calling the Prime again. "Sir, you really need to look at thi..."
"Just a moment youngling." Optimus shushed his apprentice.
"Good luck on your hunt, Prime." Fowler nodded ending the call.
Optimus took a noticeable sigh of relief, after the man ended their call.
"Optimus, look!" Soundwave shook the Prime's arm, pulling Optimus so the he would look at his visor.
"Alright, what's the matter youngling?" The Prime almost chuckled as his apprentice dragged him over.
"The Decepticons have decrypted three more sets of coordinates." The violet mech reported, showing the deciphered codes on his visor.
"Soundwave how did you obtain that?" Optimus questioned, as Arcee entered the room with Ironhide, and Bumblebee.
"I think I'm still in their systems, no doubt once we hunt for the same relics before their unearthed, the Cons will be suspicious. Shockwave will purge me from the systems." Soundwave explained to the red and blue mech.
"With three more sets of coordinates, and the Decepticons deciphering skills getting more efficient. I will have to split teams, I have to decipher the next codes quickly, before the Decepticons gain more coordinates." Optimus sighed, turning back to the monitor. "Mirage, I need you, and everyone else to return back to base, we're sending a bridge."
Soundwave didn't hesitate to open a bridge for his brother. Watching the four sports cars enter the base.
"What's going on Optimus?" Jazz asked, transforming.
"Soundwave has discovered three more sets of coordinates. I'm sending three teams to retrieve them and intercept the Decepticons." Optimus turned to his team. "Arcee, I want you, Mirage and Jazz to go to the most densely populated area. Do not let the humans come into danger."
"You want me to go near humans?" Mirage cringed at his father's assignment.
"Yes, I know you are not one to like humans, Mirage. But I know you'll protect them." Optimus replied to his red youngling.
"Ugh fine..." Mirage rolled his optics with a groan.
"Ironhide, you and the twins will head to these set of coordinates." The Prime continued to assign his Autobots missions. "Bumblebee you will go with Ratchet to retrieve the energon Soundwave and I found. We will need it."
Arcee watched the twins run through the bridge with Ironhide. Giving a sigh, she knew Mirage might be a little difficult for this mission. [Ugh, hopefully we don't run into any humans. Mirage has such disregard for them...]
"Soundwave, you will go to these coordinates."
Arcee snapped out of her thoughts, hearing her mech was going solo. "Wait, why is Soundwave going solo?"
"The relic is more easily accessible for someone who can fly. Soundwave is the only one who is capable of flight." Optimus replied to the worried femme.
"Arcee come'on let's go!" Mirage impatiently called, standing at the newly open bridge.
"Someone should go with him." Arcee hissed ignoring the impatient youngling.
"I will be on call if Soundwave needs any assistance." Optimus said to Arcee.
[What about his weakened spark...] Arcee looked at her mech with concern.
"Arcee!" Mirage groaned.
"Fine... but I don't like it." The femme growled, reluctantly following the mech and youngling through the bridge.
Soundwave put in his set of coordinates, ready to leave the base for the relic.
"Soundwave I did not just say I will assist you, just for the sake of Arcee's peace of mind. I am here to assist you if needed, do not hesitate to call me." Optimus Prime told his apprentice, before the violet mech left through the bridge.
"You really believe he will call if he needs assistance?" Ratchet raised an optic ridge at the Prime.
"I believe Soundwave will. Just perhaps not at an appropriate time." Optimus replied to the ancient medic.
"Soundwave will be half deactivated before he calls for help." Bumblebee snorted, getting a glare from his father. "What, it's true. When have Mirage, and Soundwave called for back up, without being half deactivated?"
"Your words may be true youngling, but let's hope that's not the case today."
Soundwave flew through the clouds, tracking his travel progress on his radar. He was not far from the relics location. His radar soon began to beep frantically, alerting him to the incoming bogey fast approaching his position. He wasn't surprised to see the navy blue and gold jet tailing him.
[You shall be an easy take down.] Dreadwing opened fire on the violet reaper.
[You still think I can't fly...] Soundwave climbed in altitude, evasively avoiding Dreadwing's weapon fire.
Dreadwing followed Soundwave's every move, landing a few hits on the violet jet. [Still can't preform evasive manoeuvres.]
Soundwave hissed in pain, disappearing into the clouds, above Dreadwing. The violet reaper dove at the blue jet, opening fire on the jet.
Dreadwing growled dodging the youngling's fire, he challenged the reaper, flying directly at the violet jet.
[Ugh, I can't afford to waste time in a dog fight.] Soundwave did not give in, continuing his charge, until mere inches away from hitting the blue jet. Releasing Lazerbeak as he veered off into the clouds.
Lazerbeak fired at Dreadwing, throwing the jet off course, causing Dreadwing to lose his focus on Soundwave's position.
"Agh, Soundwave you worm!" Dreadwing changed his fire directive, firing at the annoying drone.
Lazerbeak fired, landing a direct hit on the jet's engine, disabling Dreadwing momentarily. The drone landed on the disabled jet, deploying his tentacles, he zapped the jet. Paralyzing Dreadwing's jet, throwing the mech into a free fall. Dreadwing growled in annoyance and pain, as he spun out of control towards the ground. He fired bullets wildly, as he spun out of control, managing to land a devastating blow to the drone. Getting hit by the blue jet's bullet, Lazerbeak's circuitry fry, causing him to free fall uncontrollably as well.
