Soundwave transformed landing on a large cliff archway. Scanning his surroundings, noting the sun was setting in this particular location on Earth. He felt bad for deploying Lazerbeak as a diversion, to distract Dreadwing from the relic. But it was nothing the drone hadn't done for him in the past. But he worried about Lazerbeak's safety, hoping the seeker wouldn't be able to ground his quick drone. Walking along the top of the archway, the violet mech switched his visors vision, locating the buried relic. Releasing his tentacles, the violet young mech began to drill down to the relic.
"Argh! Curse that faceless mutant!" Dreadwing hissed pushing himself off the ground. Collecting his cannon, he caught a glimpse of the violet sparking drone, flopping around uselessly as he went into emergency stasis. "You're not the only thing Soundwave will be losing today." The navy blue and gold mech growled transforming, taking off into the air.
Soundwave pulled one of his tentacles out of the ground, revealing the small relic. It looked like a weapon of some sort. Activating it, the device began pulsing a resonance blast. The blast didn't bother him, as he could already produced short bursts of sound waves himself. "This would make aiming, and attacking long range, easier." The young mech was intrigued by the device.
The sound of a jet approaching brought the violet mech out of his thoughts. Dreadwing transformed, Soundwave leapt back, as the larger mech landed where he had stood.
"You dropped something." Dreadwing gestured to the youngling's empty tentacle.
Soundwave looked at his tentacle, realizing he had dropped the relic below the archway.
"Do not fret youngling, I will retrieve it, after destroying you." Dreadwing threatened unsheathing his sword.
Soundwave retracted his tentacles back into his torso, drawing his own sword. Dreadwing didn't hesitate to attack, charging the glowing youngling.
Soundwave dodged the first strike, side stepping out of the way. Using his arms like shields, he deflected the mech's sword. Getting in a few punches as he blocked the painful blows.
"You're not going to win this, Soundwave." Dreadwing scoffed before Soundwave caught his blade, swatting him away from his blade, to the edge of the archway. Dreadwing regained his balance quickly before he could fall off the archway.
Soundwave examined the blade in a taunting manner. Holding the large sword, Soundwave glared directly at the seeker commander, as his spark began weaken its pulse.
[You sure act tough, for a weakening mutant.] Filled with rage Dreadwing could see the youngling cycle his vents weakly. He charged the vulnerable violet young mech.
Soundwave threw the heavy sword off the archway, using his tentacles to grab the charging mech, slamming the commander into the ground hard.
Soundwave's ability to battle efficiently during weakness only fueled Dreadwing's rage. Rolling onto his back, the seeker commander snatched up the tentacles, jumping to his peds, yanking the tentacles with violent force.
Soundwave hissed in pain as he was violently yanked forward by his tentacles.
Dreadwing made a fist as the youngling shot forward at him, as soon as the youngling stumbled close enough, Dreadwing punched the violet mech's visor hard.
Soundwave freed his tentacles from the mech's grip, stumbling backwards from the shattering punch.
[I shattered your spirit so long ago...] An evil grin crept on the blue and gold mech's face plate. Hearing the satisfying sound of the youngling's visor cracking. "Fitting isn't it Soundwave? I always seem to shatter your expectations."
Soundwave's helm was pulsing with pain, his spark continuing to weaken, his vision now obscured by the crack.
Dreadwing drew his canon opening fire on the violet young mech.
Soundwave took a few of the bullets, losing his shielding, while Dreadwing began to charge him again.
Soundwave used his tentacles to try and throw the mech off course, it did not stop the large mech, but it did slow his charge.
Once Dreadwing was close enough he kicked the youngling off the top of the archway to the ground below.
Soundwave slowly lifted his helm after slamming down onto his back below the archway. He began to wonder why he didn't use his concussive blasts on the seeker commander. Then he remembered he was battling Dreadwing for the resonance blaster. Looking across the ground, he saw the relic stuck in the ground a few feet away from him.
"Soundwave it was amusing to see you gaining some skills on the battlefield. Unfortunate you are not capable of following through, being able to finish off a seasoned warrior." Dreadwing scoffed, putting Soundwave at gun point.
Soundwave stared at the mech, knowing he had to keep Dreadwing distracted. While he used one of his sore tentacles to reach the relic.
"What, you have nothing to say now?" The commander taunted charging his canon for the final shot.
The violet mech aimed the resonance blaster at the back of Dreadwing. "I have a mission to complete."
Before Dreadwing could reply to the young mech's comment. The violet mech set off an ear piercing high frequency, while blasting him from behind with sound waves from the resonance blaster.
The commander screamed in agony, his audio receptors popping and sizzling, nearly making him deaf as the pressure in his helm became too much.
Soundwave rolled out of the way as Dreadwing collapsed to the ground. Jumping up to his peds the bioluminescent mech changed the tables, putting the resonance blaster on his arm, he aimed the blaster at the downed mech.
Soundwave's optics softened with sympathy, seeing how much pain Dreadwing was in. He sighed lowering the weapon.
"You don't... have the spark... to finish me?" Dreadwing's pained taunts did not phase the youngling.
"No, like you said to me deca cycles ago. You're not worth my time." Soundwave replied emotionlessly, visibly jumping, receiving a distress signal from his beloved drone. The violet mech turned in the direction he received the signal from.
Soundwave wasted no more time, transforming he took off in the direction of Lazerbeak.
Dreadwing growled slowly pushing himself off the ground, he took a few moments to collect his weapons. "Unlike you youngling, I will follow through... Destroying you, and claiming Megatron's prize."
Landing in the dark forest, Soundwave walked around cycling his vents heavily, finding the area where Dreadwing clearly crashed. Hearing familiar weakened chirping, Soundwave followed the sound to the drone weakly flapping on the ground.
"I'm sorry Lazerbeak, I'll get you home." Soundwave apologized scooping his injured drone off the ground.
Lazerbeak eagerly leapt out of his master's servos, reattaching to Soundwave's torso.
Soundwave's spark got a brief moment of power when the drone reattached, but it dampened shortly after. Soundwave yelped in pain as a plasma blast hit him in the back, throwing him to the ground.
"This isn't the first time that drone has gotten you shot!" Dreadwing said landing in front of the bioluminescent youngling.
Soundwave struggled to get up from the ground, the blast had extinguished his recovered shielding, merely extinguishing his spark. He used what little strength he had to send a distress signal.
"Don't touch it! I cannot stress that enough, just discard it!" Ratchet hissed at the twins through the comlink.
"Cool, hey Hide how many bombs you got?" Sideswipe excitedly said.
"Primus Sideswipe you're at a volcano, just dump it in there." Ratchet facepalmed.
"I think I'm going to have to side with the twins on this one Ratchet. The cons are recuperating from their beating, and fast approaching." Ironhide said over the comlink.
"So why don't we blow up the Tox-En, and the cons." Sunstreaker scoffed with a laugh.
"What if a shard gets left behind?" Ratchet growled.
"Trust me, the bomb I'm packing will vaporizer anything in the vicinity." Ironhide snorted.
"Stay on the line so I can open the bridge, so you can avoid your own death trap." Ratchet shook his helm, oblivious to the distress signal going off in the corner of the monitors.
Optimus followed his yellow scout into the main room, with an arm full of energon cubes. He sighed placing a stack of energon cubes in the med bay, before returning to the monitor he was working on. Taking note of the distress notification on the monitor.
"Ratchet I need to get to Soundwave, he's in danger." Optimus said ready to type the coordinates into the ground bridge.
"Ugh, scrap! Hold off on the bomb for a moment Hide." Ratchet said over the comlink.
"Too late Ratch, you've 30 seconds before this place blows." Hide replied in a panic.
"Make it quick Optimus." Ratchet said as the Prime fired the bridge.
Optimus sped through the bridge as it closed, he transformed tackling Dreadwing away from Soundwave.
"Prime!" Dreadwing hissed picking himself up off the ground. "I'm not leaving without the relic this time!"
"Ratchet we need a ground bridge now." Optimus called to the medic.
"Evacuating Ironhide and the twins as we speak!" Ratchet replied in a panic.
Optimus fired his blaster at the seeker commander, deterring the mech from charging forward. Optimus backed towards his apprentice, continuing to fire at the Decepticon. He knelt next to Soundwave, pulling the slender frame off the ground. "Soundwave?"
Soundwave's spark received a small burst of energy, regaining a small amount of his strength. He didn't have the energy to reply to the Prime, instead he created a ground bridge for them.
"No!" Dreadwing yelled charging forward at the escaping apprentice and Prime.
Optimus used both his blasters now, while Soundwave stumbled into the bridge. Optimus backed into the bridge as Dreadwing charged him with his sword ready to strike him.
Soundwave shut the bridge after Optimus came into sight. With a heavy sigh, he sat down on one of the medical berths.
"Geez you look like you just out ran a bomb too." Sunstreaker scoffed standing across from the violet young mech.
"Dude what happened to your visor?" Sideswipe asked.
"What do you think you twidiots, he obviously met a Decepticon on his relic retrieval." Ironhide hissed at his adopted sons.
"Are you alright youngling?" Optimus placed a servo on the young mech's shoulder.
"I'm fine now. I got the relic." Soundwave lifted his arm to show Optimus the resonance blaster.
"The resonance blaster. Good work Soundwave, this would be quite devastating if it were in Decepticon hands." Optimus praised his apprentice.
"Ha that's..." the twins laughed as Soundwave glared at them.
"I swear if you make a sound wave joke, I will deactivate your audio receptors..." Soundwave growled at the twins.
"Alright, alright!" The twins snickered. [That's what sound waves do!]
"Here." Soundwave tried to give Optimus the relic.
Optimus stared at the resonance blaster in his apprentice's servo. "Hmm... Soundwave you keep it, I think you can make good use of it."
"Oh, uh, thank you sir." Soundwave replied with a heavy sigh, watching Arcee come through the bridge with Jazz and Mirage.
"If you morons are done pestering me in the med bay, you can move your afts. I cleared you to leave a while ago." Ratchet grumbled, showing the twins and Ironhide out of the med bay.
Soundwave tilted his helm watching Mirage jump through Arcee and Jazz.
[I'm going to take that thing from you, I don't care if I accidentally take your arm with it!]
"Alright that's enough Mirage!" Arcee hissed taking the relic device off of the red youngling's wrist.
"Heeeey..." Mirage whined as Arcee handed the relic to the Prime.
"Excellent work Autobots, you have collected the phase shifter." Optimus praised his team for their efforts.
"Trust me I know, Mirage has really been enjoying it." Arcee rolled her optics with a smile.
"Oh come'on was it not awesome when I scared the scrap out of Knockout, and pulled him into that wall!" Mirage excitedly said. "Invisibility, plus the phase shifter, is the best thing ever!"
"We did good work today Autobots. No doubt the Decepticons will be more ruthless with the next relics, if we can prevent from dividing into separate teams, it would best if we operated at full strength on our next set of coordinates." Optimus said to his team.
"How many more relics are there left to find?" Jazz asked curiously.
"Five more relics remain, which is why I should return to decoding the Iacon database." Optimus answered the grey mech.
Arcee left the mechs to chat, walking into the med bay, noticing her mech seemingly repairing the surveillance drone. "You two get a rough time with the Cons?"
"I guess you could say that. It's my fault Lazerbeak got injured... but he should recover." Soundwave replied to his femme's conversation starter.
"I'm sure you're just being hard on yourself. Lazerbeak is as much a soldier as you are, he knows his job has risks. Lazerbeak won't ever regret the choices you make for him." Arcee tried to reassure her mech.
"Lazerbeak might not, but I would." Soundwave said, finishing his repairs on the drone, allowing Lazerbeak to reattach to him.
Arcee gave a small smile to her mech, before narrowing her optics taking note of the mech's cracked visor. "And what about you, what happened to your visor?"
"Got cracked in battle with Dreadwing. But it's alright I'm fine." The young mech told the concerned femme.
"Sure, glad you're okay..."
"I can repair your visor Soundwave, so you don't have obscured vision when it's on." Ratchet said gesturing for Soundwave to lay down on the berth.
"I uh... sure, guess I may as well get it over and done with." Soundwave shrugged laying on his back. He wanted to assist with the database, but knew his cracked visor would become irritating to stare at as he used it frequently during deciphering codes.
"It'll be quickest if you sit still." Ratchet said grabbing a specialty tool.
"Of course sir." The violet mech replied laying as still as he could.
"Perfect, just like that." The medic smiled, slowly bringing a needlepoint device up to the young mech's visor.
Soundwave's spark began to beat rappidly as if it were about to burst from his chest plate. Watching the needlepoint slowly approaching above his optics, gave him flashbacks of Shockwave's torturous augmentation surgeries.
Arcee sat herself on the edge of the berth, placing a servo on her mech's servo for comfort.
[It's Ratchet, not Shockwave, Ratchet, not Shockwave, Ratchet...] Soundwave screwed his optics tight, sinking himself into the berth as much as possible, trying to remind himself it was Ratchet doing the procedure not Shockwave.
Ratchet saw the youngling tense up, he hesitated using the tool, before continuing to lower the tool to the visor.
"S...s... stop..." Soundwave did his best to stop the words from leaving his voice box.
Ratchet pulled the tool away, pulling a crate next to the berth to sit on. "It's alright youngling, I won't do anything until you're comfortable."
"I'm alright... please just continue..." Soundwave almost shivered in fear.
Ratchet thought for a moment, the tool he was using was pretty terrifying to traumatized youngling. A thought crossed his mind, thinking up a tactic to soothe the violet mech's nerves.
"Soundwave, have I ever told the story of when I first met you?" Ratchet casually asked.
"N... n... no sir." Soundwave replied opening his optics.
"It wasn't an ideal place to meet a sparkling, but I was sure happy to meet you. It was in Maccadam's Oil House, Ironhide dragged me in there." Ratchet began to explain.
"Yeah, because you needed a break you workaholic." Ironhide grumbled.
"Anyway, you were with your mother, Megatron and Optimus in the booth behind us. Or Orion Pax at that point." Ratchet continued, ignoring the weapon specialist.
"So you met me in an oil house, that's funny." Soundwave snorted with laughter.
"Like I said not an ideal place to meet a sparkling, but that's where we met." The medic replied with a chuckle, lowering the tool to Soundwave's visor. "It was shortly after you got maimed in that mining accident." The medic began to repair the cracks in the visor. "You were coughing away, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on you."
"I remember that oil house, there were a lot of bots there." Soundwave mentioned, paying no mind to the little repair device.
"Yeah you didn't spare on the introductions, you hopped right into our booth, you were so bubbly, and very friendly." The medic laughed, finishing the repair.
"A very friendly little sparkling, despite dealing with an injury." Optimus smiled over from the monitors.
"You're all repaired by the way, youngling." Ratchet smiled at the violet young mech.
"Oh, thanks Ratchet." Soundwave blinked realizing his visor was repaired.
Ratchet nodded with a smile, cleaning up his equipment, while the young mech climbed off the medical berth.
Soundwave dematerialized his visor, walking down the hallway with his sparkmate.
"Hey what's this?" Arcee questioned playfully pulling her mech's servo up.
"Just the relic I retrieved, the resonance blaster. Optimus said I could keep it..." Soundwave shrugged.
"Well it's a suitable weapon for you." The femme said.
"Why, because my name is Soundwave, and it's a blaster that produces sound waves?" The violet mech rolled his optics.
"Well yeah, sure, but also because you're experienced with that weaponry type." Arcee retorted to her mech.
"Valid point. I'm surprised Optimus didn't let Mirage keep the phase shifter, his cloaking and that combined is a very good combination." Soundwave chuckled.
Walking into their room Arcee scoffed to her mech. "I'm positive Mirage will get to keep it. I'm sure Optimus just saw my irritation, and was wise enough to confiscate the relic from his annoying little youngling."
"Was he really that irritating?" The violet mech smirked.
[Are you kidding me, I was ready to EMP that damn youngling.]
"You obviously didn't get a good look at what he was doing when we came into the base. He was leaping through me and Jazz. Mirage was doing that when we were driving out of the subway tunnels. Do you know how disorienting it is to have a car engulf you, while you're a motorcycle, driving along, minding your own business?" The cobalt blue femme complained, making her sparkmate laugh. "Oh you find that amusing, do you?" Arcee raised an optic ridge.
"Absolutely I do, I wish I had Mirage around to annoy me when I was younger. All I had was Starscream's annoying personality, he was just a prick, jealous of a youngling surpassing him in Megatron's good books." Soundwave scoffed to the femme.
"Well you have Mirage now, embrace his annoyance." Arcee scoffed to the bioluminescent mech.
"Trust me I do, on multiple occasions. But I should get back to Optimus, help him with the database." Soundwave sighed, walking towards the door.
"Hey, how's your spark doing?" Arcee asked before the mech could exit the room.
"It was weakened during my battle with Dreadwing, but it's alright now. Not perfect, but steady enough to keep me functional." The violet mech replied slipping out of the room.
Walking down the hallway, the violet young mech got an eerie feeling. Halting in the hallway, he boosted his audio receptors, hearing a very faint spark beat. "I hear you Mirage."
"Damn really? I slowed my spark beat and everything else." Mirage groaned dropping from the ceiling rafters. "Here I have my report for you." The youngling sighed handing over a data pad.
"I boosted my audio receptors, you would've had any other Cybertronian fooled though." Soundwave reassured, taking the data pad from his little brother.
"Sure, whatever you say, mister master of sound." Mirage rolled his optics, following his brother into the main room.
"Waverz!" Sideswipe waved the young mech over to the couch.
"Yes?" Soundwave stood next to the couch.
"You want to chill and watch horror holo vids?" The silver mech asked the young mech.
"Sorry, don't have time. I need to assist Optimus." Soundwave respectfully declined the friendly invite.
[This kid's a workaholic...]
"Primus, do you ever take a break Soundwave?" Sunstreaker scoffed.
"I do when the work is done." Soundwave replied walking over to the monitors.
[You're one of those bots that would say, the work is never done...]
"Then you find something else to work on..." Sunstreaker groaned, rolling his optics.
"There's always work to do, you two just always seem to be blind to it. Unless someone tells you to do something." Mirage laughed at the twins.
"Oh stop, you're one to avoid work too Mirage." Sunstreaker snorted.
"I may not do the same work as Wave, but I would rather have something to do, than just sit around watching human scrap." Mirage said walking away from the twins.
Optimus sighed heavily, tapping away at the keys on the keypad. "The codes for these last four relics have become increasingly difficult..."
"Don't you mean five?" Soundwave corrected his mentor.
"Yes, you're correct, five of them. The first of five are not too bad so far, but I had looked over the last four, and they are well encrypted." Optimus noted to his young apprentice.
Soundwave pulled up the codes on his monitor, mulling over the last four codes, the Prime was not lying they looked incredibly difficult. "Well if you see it as difficult, I'm sure Shockwave does as well. Let's just focus on the first one, since it is most likely to be cracked by the Decepticons."
"Agreed." The Prime nodded, going back to the first code.
Soundwave made sure to get his report of his mission done first before he began decrypting codes. "Twins, did you get your mission reports done?" He called over his shoulder.
[Primus is he harping us already?] Sunstreaker threw his helm back in annoyance.
"Ugh... we just got back..." the Sideswipe groaned in reply.
"Almost an hour ago..." the violet mech retorted.
Sunstreaker rolled his optics, while Sideswipe groaned in annoyance. [Leave it to walking computer to keep track of everything...]
"What are you two whining about?" Arcee scoffed walking past the couch, to the violet mech.
"I told them to do their reports." Soundwave said as Arcee handed him a data pad.
"Here's mine figured you'd want it. You twidiots, it only takes a minute or so to fill one out, go do it." The femme hissed at the complaining twins.
"Tyrants." The twins grumbled trudging into their rooms.
"Thanks Cee, I'm trying to get these reports organized, before I move onto helping Optimus." The violet mech sighed.
"You know, you don't have to send reports to Fowler, the second you get back from a mission." Arcee chuckled wrapping her arms around her mech from the side.
"I know, with the pace the twins go at, I won't be sending them in for a while." Soundwave wrapped an arm around his femme's waist, switching the monitor back to the Iacon database.
"Cee we're ready!" Bumblebee called from where he stood with his brother by the base exit.
"You've got some impatient younglings waiting on you." Soundwave smirked gesturing his helm towards the waiting younglings.
"Well, if you're looking for a break I'm taking the younglings on an energon patrol, feel free to join us if you want." Arcee said, giving her mech a quick peck on his faceplate, before leaving the base with Mirage, and Bumblebee.
[Why can't I figure this out...]
[You're going to fry your neuro cluster.] Ratchet watched Optimus from the corner of his optic. He could see frustration building up inside the Prime. "Optimus, take a break from decrypting, you're going to fry your neuro cluster."
"Ratchet, you know I can't do that." Optimus replied to the ancient medic.
"You're not going to decrypt any faster with frustration building up in your processor. From a medical standpoint, you're burning yourself out." Ratchet told his stubborn leader.
"Ratchet, I can't afford to take a break. I cannot allow the Decepticons to get ahead of us in this race against time. I have to decrypt the next set of coordinates." The Prime sighed, determined to get ahead of the Decepticons.
"Sure you can take a break Optimus, that's what your spry young apprentice is for." Ratchet wrapped a arm around the working violet young mech.
[Trying... to work... here...] Soundwave tried to pay attention to the monitor, while Ratchet pulled him over to Optimus.
"Your apprentice can take over for you, while you take a break." Ratchet suggested, pulling Soundwave away from the monitor the youngling was working on.
[Primus... I would love to get some actual work done without any more interruptions...] Soundwave rolled his optics as he snuck back to his monitor.
[I suppose Ratchet is right.] Optimus thought for a moment, his friend was correct, his processor needed a rest. And Soundwave was very capable of decrypting while he took a moment of rest. "You're right old friend. Soundwave, are you able to take over while I scout for energon?"
"Yes!" The violet young mech hissed in an irritated tone, putting his arms and helm on the console.
[Someone seems overwhelmed, and overworked.] Optimus and Ratchet both exchanged off put gazes. "Maybe you need a rest too youngling?"
Soundwave peeked his helm out from his arms. Realizing how incredibly rude he was towards his elders. "I'm sorry Sirs, I'm not overwhelmed. I didn't mean to snap, I just want to get some codes decrypted."
"Ratchet is right youngling, you may need a rest as well?" Optimus said to his apprentice.
"One of us needs to decrypt the database, your sanity is more important than the little bit of sanity I have." Soundwave gave his mentor a small smile.
"That's not true youngling." Optimus softened his gaze, he was beginning to truly worry about Soundwave's sanity. [Your sanity is just as important as my own.]
"I'll be fine sir, please enjoy your break." Soundwave reassured the Prime.
"I'll keep an optic on the kid." Ratchet said, following the Prime to the base exit.
"Thanks Ratchet, I know Soundwave is having a difficult time controlling his abilities. He hasn't recharged, he will need a rest soon." The red and blue mech sighed, looking over at his young apprentice busily trying to decipher the Iacon Database.
"I'll try to get him to take a stasis nap." Ratchet followed the Prime's gaze.
Optimus snorted with a laugh. "I will be impressed if you accomplish that without force, old friend."
"I've got my ways, but I'm not going to force him to. Although Arcee might be the one to use more forceful methods, when she returns." The old medic retorted as the Prime transformed leaving the base.
"Alright Waverz, here's your reports all done, and ready to send to Agent Flower." Sunstreaker scoffed tossing the data pads on the counter next to the violet mech.
"Fowler." Soundwave corrected, without looking away from his monitor.
[Whatever, Agent Complains is more like it.] Sunstreaker rolled his optics, flopping himself on the couch with his twin.
"Hide's report is in there too." Sideswipe mentioned.
"Great, thanks." Soundwave waved off the mechs.
A few hours went by, the young mech was only able to decrypt two words from the one set of coordinates. His optics grew tired, his spark began to weaken to an immensely faint pulse. Soundwave began to lose focus on his task, with a heavy sigh, the violet mech trudged his way over to one of the medical berths.
Hearing someone enter the med bay behind him, Ratchet groaned. "Twins, don't even bother trying to annoy me. Just get your energon and go."
"Hey Hatchet, we're on the couch still." Sideswipe called back to grumpy medic.
[Dammit twins...] Ratchet growled, spinning around to see Soundwave sitting hunched over on the medical berth.
"Sorry sir, I just needed to... sit... a moment." Soundwave apologized.
The ancient medic scanned the weak violet mech without question, since this type of action was completely out of character for the young mech. "Hmm... Arcee where are you and Mirage?" He turned calling the femme on the monitors.
"I'm making the younglings race around the canyon so they get exhausted. Why, do you need us back?" Arcee replied with sound of engines in the background.
"...No just checking in." Ratchet lied, quickly ended the call, and starting a new one. "Optimus I'm returning you to base." the medic announced opened a ground bridge.
"Is something wrong Ratchet?" Optimus transformed upon entering the base.
"Your apprentice needs you." The CMO gestured to the weak looking young mech sitting on the berth.
Optimus sat himself next to the bioluminescent youngling. Placing a servo on his apprentice's shoulder. "Soundwave?"
"Yes sir?" Soundwave replied perking up upon the Prime's touch.
[Hmm... I figured as much.] Ratchet thought to himself.
[Soundwave seems fine now?] Optimus turned his gaze to the medic, who had a thoughtful gaze.
"Seems Soundwave doesn't do well with all of his spark bonds out of range." Ratchet thought aloud.
"What, I don't need to have a chaperone while I work." Soundwave scoffed folding his arms.
"You do, your spark is beating with the same weak rhythm as when you returned from your solo mission. I do not think that is a coincidence." Ratchet retorted to the violet youngling.
"I was fine with Mirage yesterday, on our patrol." Soundwave said.
"Yes, someone you are recreating a bond with. You don't notice that you are quite spry when you're around Optimus, Arcee, and Mirage?" The medic cocked an optic ridge.
Soundwave rolled his optics, annoyed, knowing the medic was right, there was no sense in arguing with him. "How long do I have to have a sparkling sitter for?"
"Your bond with Optimus is nearly completely fused, compared to with your brother and sparkmate. Once one of those bonds are complete, your spark will be at full strength once again." Ratchet told the impatient young mech. "You won't have to rely on any of them to keep your spark beating."
"Ugh... how long will that take?"
"I don't know, how long until you lose your attitude?" Ratchet retorted to the moody young mech.
Soundwave groaned wanting to escape the conversation.
Optimus chuckled squeezing the young mech's shoulder. "It shouldn't be long youngling, if ours is nearly fused."
"I guess so..." Soundwave turned his helm in the direction of the monitors. "I managed to decrypt two words out of the coordinates."
"Great work youngling, I can continue on from where you left. Take a break." Optimus said to his apprentice.
"Uh sure, thanks." Soundwave shrugged as Arcee returned with the younglings.
"What was with that cut off call Ratchet, what's going on?" Arcee hissed walking into the med bay.
"Nothing, just had an issue, it's resolved now." Ratchet replied to the short tempered femme.
"What's going on Soundwave?" Arcee asked putting her servos on her hips.
"Nothing, everything is fine." Soundwave shrugged innocently.
[You know I don't believe you for a second?] Arcee shot a gaze at her mech.
"I know..." Soundwave hung his helm with a sigh.
"Soundwave's spark isn't strong enough to stay online, if all three of you who are recreating bonds, are away from him." Sideswipe announced from the couch. [I do not want to hear Arcee bitch, until she gets a real answer...]
"Primus, never thought I'd get a straight answer from one of the twins, before I'd get one out of you." Arcee scoffed at her mech.
"Okay, so we'll just stay around, while Soundwave's spark mends." Mirage suggested, joining the conversation.
"You don't need to do that Mirage, I am perfectly fine." Soundwave shook his helm getting off the berth.
"Then what can we do for you Soundwave? Because you sure aren't doing well!" Arcee hissed losing her patience with her mech.
"Whoa, before you two start an argument. Ratchet mentioned Prime's spark bond was practically fully fused." Ironhide walked over from the energon processor.
"Right, uh, with the rate it's been mending, I would imagine it will be fully fused very soon." Ratchet explained to the bickering bots. "Once a bond is completed, Soundwave will not need to depend on your presence to stay online."
Soundwave had nothing left to say, walking away from the group, following his little brother down the hallway.
[Fucking Shockwave...] Mirage thought to himself, frustrated with the fact the evil scientist had once again inconvenienced his brother in a dire way.
"I'll be fine Mirage, don't let Shockwave get the better of us." Soundwave told to his younger brother.
"So you can read minds?" Mirage smirked at his brother.
"Unfortunately..." the violet mech rolled his optics.
"What's wrong with having that ability?" Mirage questioned.
"Nothing, when you're trying to get an answer. But absolutely terrible when you can't silence everyone's thoughts at once." Soundwave replied with a sigh.
"Oh, I guess that would play with your sanity. But why all of a sudden do you have the ability to read minds?"
"I've always had it, it just didn't activate until after you escaped training. I learned how to control it then, but I cannot for life of me, remember how I learned control." The bioluminescent mech hissed annoyed with himself.
"Really?" Mirage tilted his helm.
"Yes."
"You can't go into your data banks and find what helped you control it?" The red youngling asked as they entered the training room.
"I still have files that are blocked from access." The violet mech followed his brother, watching the grey mech doing target practice in the back of the room.
"Well I'm sure you'll find a way to teach yourself how to be calm, and channel your ability only when needed." Mirage scoffed, throwing the lobbing ball at his brother.
Soundwave caught the large metal ball, thinking aloud. "Hmm... I guess."
"You can't think back to when Shockwave was training you. Maybe somehow he helped you?" Mirage shuttered as he spoke of Shockwave.
"No I don't, I try to repress most of my time with that monster." Soundwave growled tossing the ball back to his little brother.
"I know..." Mirage sighed placing the ball down. "Why don't you ask Optimus about it, or Lazerbeak if they have any ideas? You kind of need to rest your mind at some point."
"Lazerbeak is just a surveillance drone, how could he have a conversation with Soundwave?" Jazz asked coming up from behind the violet mech.
"Lazerbeak may not be able to speak, but I can understand him when I need to." Soundwave replied to the laughing mech.
"Sure Soundwave, I won't question it anymore." Jazz shrugged leaving the room.
"I already talked to Optimus about it, he gave me the typical Prime spiel, and told me to figure it out on my own." The glowing mech responded bitterly. "I might get more of an answer from Lazerbeak, once he's recovered."
"It's a first step Wave, it'll give you back some sanity. Your second step is completing your bond with Optimus, I'm sure he only gave you a reply like that because he's occupied with the database." Mirage said to his brother.
"Hmm, and what about you?" Soundwave cocked his helm at the youngling.
"What about what, my spark bond with you? If you're bond is closest to being fused with Optimus, it doesn't bother me at all. Even if our bond isn't fully fused yet, we've always had an amazing connection. I knew with all the new bots that you've gotten closer to over the last little while, the fact that you had to restart spark bonds. You have more than just me to create one with this time, I knew your spark may attach to someone else's quicker than mine, I don't take offence to it. When I was with the Autobots, I quickly developed a bond with Optimus. I will never be hurt, or take offence to you creating a bond with another bot. I'm just thrilled you're able too." The red youngling smiled up at his big brother.
"You're too understanding, you know that?" Soundwave chuckled playfully grabbing Mirage.
"I'm allowed to sound compassionate, junior Prime!" Mirage teased, playfully wrestling back.
"Real funny, little red!" Soundwave laughed playfully lowering his brother to the ground.
"No, Wave!" Mirage giggled as his brother began the tickle torture.
"Alright, I won't torture you anymore." The violet mech sighed with a chuckle, helping his brother off the ground. "You know you've got Prime potential."
"Ah, ha, nope. I'm perfectly fine being a lonely little assassin, with no leadership responsibilities." The red youngling sheepishly replied.
"I know you don't want to be a Prime, but just remember you've got potential and you might not have a choice when the time comes." Soundwave said with an encouraging smile.
"Yeah, well based on my history, and background. I find it hard to believe that a faction of Cybertronians would willingly follow me." The red youngling scoffed leaving his brother in the training room.
Soundwave's smile soon turned to a frown, his brother's words hit him hard. He worried about the team not following his lead, but never really gave the thought of leading the entire faction of Autobots.
"Soundwave?" Optimus called snapping his apprentice out of his thoughts.
"Huh, when did you come in?" Soundwave blinked looking up at the mech standing in front of him.
"I just entered when your brother left." The Prime replied.
"Do you need assistance with the database?"
"Soundwave are you connected to the Nemesis still?" Optimus responded with a question.
Soundwave materialized his visor, accessing the warship's database. "Yes sir, seems Shockwave hasn't even began to decipher the next set of coordinates. Probably working on some other screwed up side project, I'm sure Megatron will be thrilled."
"We've gotten a head start on deciphering the codes. Would you care to join for an energon patrol?" Optimus asked his young apprentice.
"Sure sir..." Soundwave sighed, following his mentor, thinking that energon patrols were getting boring.
Opening the ground bridge, Optimus gestured for Soundwave to go through first.
Soundwave went through, seeing they were in some sort of forest. They walked for hours, the violet young mech actually found an energon signal, and was tracking.
"You've been silent the whole time youngling, what's on your mind?" The Prime asked, finally breaking the silence.
"I just got a few things on my mind..." Soundwave replied.
"Want to talk about them?"
"Not exactly, I don't have enough facts to back up my own opinions." Soundwave replied, making Optimus Prime chuckle.
"Soundwave, I do not believe you need to be over prepared for a conversation." The Prime laughed at the youngling.
Soundwave gave a deep sigh. "I'm trying to figure out if Megatron will ever get tired of fighting."
Optimus took a moment to reply the violet youngling seemed to revisit the question frequently. "We've been fighting this war for eons now, without Megatron giving it a second thought. I had hoped to change his mind, as I have told you in the past. But I have had zero success..."
"What about the proposal?"
"When the Chaos Bringer was awakening? Megatron only did that for his own personal gain. He still wants to conquer this world, and we cannot allow his conquest to continue." Optimus sighed.
"Do you think Megatron has given up on taking over Cybertron?" Soundwave felt a bit ridiculous asking such a question since the planet was dead.
"That I do not know." The Prime replied.
"Why would Megatron want to take over this planet? By the time we finish our battle it will be mostly siphoned of its energon deposits. Cybertron is twenty times the size of this planet, and way more advanced. This planet isn't large enough, or advanced enough to sustain our kind in large quantities. The cons outweigh the pros, it would be worthless to conquer this planet, unless it were to be cyber formed."
"I don't think Megatron has thought that far. He only knows what he wants, thinking about the conquest, never about the outcome of consequences." Optimus Prime thought aloud, knowing his young apprentice was proving good points.
"What if I could talk to him?" Soundwave asked what seemed to flabbergast his mentor.
"I have tried that for centuries youngling. Megatron will not listen to reason." Optimus Prime replied coldly. [I'm just trying to get you to understand that Megatron is not going to admit defeat. He's cold, vengeful, and has no remorse for worlds he destroys in this universe.]
Soundwave turned his gaze away from Optimus. He knew his mentor was giving him a hard lesson so he would understand that his father wasn't going to listen to reason, and end the war.
"I'm sorry youngling." Optimus apologized, he admired Soundwave's determination to end the war peacefully. But he had been fighting his brother long enough to know Megatron would never denounce his Decepticons.
Soundwave didn't reply still, he understood the Prime's views, and warnings. But he couldn't help but think there was a possibility to end everything peacefully.
Optimus continued forward through the beautiful forest. He wouldn't push the violet young mech to speak, he understood it was a sensitive subject for his apprentice. They located the small energon deposit, speaking nothing more about the war, they collected the energon and returned to base.
A few weeks had past by the Decepticons were quite inactive, working hard to crack the last five codes. Soundwave and Optimus had been doing the same trying to decipher codes. Even though Soundwave's sanity had began to decline, due to the uncontrollable mind reading.
Soundwave worked on the monitors with his mentor, while the others hung around in the recreational area of the main room.
[Dammit Hide, can't you put things back in their place?] Ratchet glared at the weapon specialist that walked away.
[Sideswipe if you don't find something interesting to watch, I'm going to kick your aft...]
[These codes, the harder they are to decipher, the more I fear how dangerous the relics they hide are.] Optimus sighed staring at the monitors.
Soundwave cringed at hearing everyone's thoughts, he couldn't concentrate on decoding anything.
[Those damn young mechs are still watching that scrap?]
"Ugh... I fail to see what's so fragging interesting about the human internet systems." Ironhide shook his helm, walking past the three on the couch. [Ridiculous, really...]
[Who cares, it keeps the twins from pestering me...] Ratchet thought as he organized his med bay.
Soundwave groaned, walking behind the monitors to hide from everyone.
"Exactly... humans are stupid..." Mirage scoffed watching from the couch.
"Mirage..." Optimus glared at his rude youngling. [We protect humans from harm...]
[I know we protect the humans, blah, blah, blah.] Mirage rolled his optics in annoyance, knowing exactly what his father was probably thinking.
"Well those stupid humans were nice enough to take a picture of the Red energon they found." Sideswipe pointed out to the team. [Ha watching videos actually helped.]
"What, on Earth?" Ratchet gasped looking at the holo vid picture.
"I am not concerned about how the energon came to be upon this planet, I am more concerned about the hands it may fall in." Optimus said walking over to take a look at the holo vid. "Soundwave, contact Agent Fowler. We must rid of the energon before the Decepticons discover it." The Prime turned his helm to see his apprentice out of sight.
Soundwave sat on the floor behind the monitors, with his optics tightly closed, he tried to clear his mind from everyones thoughts.
"Soundwave?" Optimus called approaching the monitors, noticing a violet glow come from behind the consoles. The Prime peeked behind the monitors to see the glowing young mech sitting on the floor trembling. [What are you doing on the floor?]
Soundwave visibly jumped when a servo was placed on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Optimus helped the violet young mech off the floor.
Soundwave nodded, stepping out from behind the monitors.
"Can you contact Agent Fowler about the red energon please?" Optimus asked again, although he was very aware of his apprentice acting unwell.
Soundwave did as he was told contacting Agent Fowler about their discovery.
[I'm going to grab something...] Mirage groaned rolling his optics, walking down the hallway, past the cobalt blue femme.
"Arcee, you will assist me with removing the energon." Optimus turned to the femme entering the main room.
"Sure Optimus, when?" Arcee replied not completely sure of what was going on. [Removing energon, from where?]
"Fowler said the red energon has already been transported from that excavation site. And relocated to a docking bay, being prepped to be transferred again. Fowler said he would call back when the docking bay is cleared." Soundwave reported to his mentor.
"Understood youngling, thank you." The Prime nodded.
"Red energon, what the hell?" Arcee raised an optic ridge. "We better hope the cons aren't tracking that."
"That's exactly what we're trying to prevent, oh wise one." Mirage sarcastically remarked, coming back into the main room.
"You know what, you're a little..."
"Mirage you will be joining us as well." Optimus interrupted the femme's rage.
"Sure." Mirage shrugged, he figured his father would ask anyway.
"Can I come too?" Bumblebee asked hopefully.
"No..."
"Primus, you're going to have to release the Bee eventually, let him come with, it's just an energon retrieval." Mirage rolled his optics.
"Mirage!" Soundwave hissed at his younger brother.
Mirage flinched in surprise, shocked his brother snapped at him.
"Don't you dare speak to Optimus like that. Have some respect for your superior, and creator!" The violet mech scolded the rude youngling.
[Holy scrap, haven't heard Soundwave lose it, in quite some time.] Arcee and the rest of the team blinked, just as shocked by Soundwave's outburst.
[I deserved that...] Mirage took the scolding in a justified manner. Turning to his father with an apologetic gaze. "I'm sorry sir... I will not question the matter again. You know when Bumblebee will be ready..."
"Thank you Soundwave." Optimus bowed his helm in thanks at his upset apprentice. "But Mirage is correct, Bumblebee needs more experience in the field. I should grant Bumblebee to join us on our simple missions more often." The Prime turned to both his younglings.
[Did not expect him to agree.] Mirage raised an optic ridge.
[So, does that mean I can go?] Bumblebee thought, hopefully looking at his father.
"You're all cleared Prime, here's the coordinates." Agent Fowler's voice came through Soundwave's speakers.
"Thank you Agent Fowler." Optimus replied before the call ended. "Bumblebee, you may join us."
"Yes!" Bumblebee excitedly followed the small team to the ground bridge Soundwave created. [Finally, I get a real mission with the team!]
[I will be back to try and help you calm your thoughts...] Arcee gave her mech a small smile before leading the younglings through the bridge.
"It's not my thoughts that need to be silenced..." Soundwave mumbled to himself.
"Soundwave, join us. We will need an extra set of optics." Optimus stopped just before the portal.
Soundwave didn't argue, following Optimus through the bridge. [May as well listen to everyone's calculated thoughts, rather than listen to Ratchet, and Ironhide arguing with the twins verbally, and mentally.]
"Wow, what was that all about, Soundwave doesn't usually snap like that?" Sunstreaker scoffed as the bridge shut.
"Mirage was being rude, and Soundwave corrected him, what more do you need?" Ironhide gruffly replied to the golden twin.
"Oh come'on, Mirage wasn't that rude, he was just making a point." Sideswipe argued.
"Is it just me, or does Soundwave seem to be losing it?" Jazz thought aloud.
"Why don't you three make yourselves useful, and go scout for more energon." Ratchet suggested to the three mechs.
"Fine..." the twins groaned in annoyance, even though they were secretly happy to escape the base.
Soundwave took a few strides before halting, gazing up he located the crate of red energon hanging from a crane.
[It's never convenient is it?] Arcee followed her mech's gaze with a sigh. "Fowler couldn't have had them lower it for us?"
"The humans were preparing it for transport, Agent Fowler gave them short notice. We will just have to make it work." Optimus said to leading his Autobots towards the energon.
"May as well give up now Autobots. That energon is mine to claim." Starscream said, walking out from the shadows of the storage crates. [A team of younglings, this should be easy.]
"Really, we should give up? Where exactly does it say your name on that crate?" Mirage sarcastically replied to the lone seeker.
"Let's skip the details Mirage, what do you need red energon for anyway? You, and Soundwave already have it coursing through your veins. Along with a few other unsightly substances..." Starscream's sarcasm sounded drawl and annoyed. [I should know, I watched Shockwave inject them into you.]
The seeker smirked placing the plate in his servo, onto his chest plate, activating the Apex Armour. "That energon is mine, I am well equipped, and more than willing to fight for it."
"Secure the red energon, bridge it back to base." Optimus Prime ordered his Autobots. [I will deal with Starscream.]
"Come'on." Arcee quickly led the younglings towards the crane, while Optimus prepared to battle the seeker.
"Soundwave, they need you to prepare a bridge when ready." Optimus hissed at the violet young mech that stayed by his side.
"And I will when they're ready, I'm not going to leave you..." Soundwave didn't have chance to finish his sentence, as Starscream shoulder checked him into a crate.
"So loyal, yet so foolish." Starscream sneered as Optimus tried to retaliate. The armoured seeker grabbed the Prime's arm, slamming him into the ground.
Bumblebee halted his climbing, gazing down from his position on the crane. Worried for his father and Soundwave, as they were getting beaten. [Maybe I should help them?]
"Keep moving Bee." Arcee commanded the worried youngling, as she continued to scale on ahead. [Shit, we should be assisting, but we need to rid of this...] She was just as concerned for the apprentice and mentor, but knew their safest bet would be to rid of the energon.
[Right, focus on the target.] Bumblebee unwillingly followed Arcee up the crane. Mirage not far behind him as they climbed.
[Almost forgot about the other pests trying to claim my prize!] Starscream's attention diverted towards the climbing Autobots. Stomping his way over to the crane, while Optimus and Soundwave recovered.
"The higher you climb, the harder you fall!" Starscream taunted, climbing after the Autobots.
Reaching the top crane platform, Arcee quickly ran to the crate, while Bumblebee leapt onto the platform, noticing Mirage was no longer behind them, Bumblebee opened fire on the armoured mech.
Soundwave helped his mentor off the ground, hearing Bumblebee's blasters they both gazed up to see the yellow youngling struggling to keep the armoured mech back.
"Climb that crane next to them, I'll help Arcee rid of the energon." Soundwave told the Prime.
Optimus nodded, quickly scaling the nearby crane.
Starscream batted Bumblebee out of his way, making his way over to the femme. [Pathetic, sparkling.]
Bumblebee caught himself on crane before he could fall, catching his father climbing the crane next to them.
"Time to unload some more deadweight." The seeker growled at the femme.
[You are... in trouble con.] Arcee looked up at the armoured mech, seeing the climbing Prime in her sights.
[What the frag are you looking at?] Starscream turned, following the femme's gaze to see Optimus dropping down onto him.
Optimus Prime slammed the mech off of the crane, causing the armoured mech to fall.
[No, no, no!] In a desperate attempt to catch himself before he hit the ground, Starscream grabbed the hanging crate, ripping a hole in it. Seeing the decent sized hole, the seeker grabed a piece of the red energon as he lost his grip, both seeker and the energon dropped to the ground.
Soundwave crawled out from the cloud of dust, after the armoured seeker got off the ground, the seeker didn't even notice he had landed on the violet mech. Soundwave's helm ached from hearing everyone's thoughts at once, Starscream landing on him didn't help his pain.
Optimus began to pull the crate up by the cable while Arcee assisted Bumblebee. "Where the hell is Mirage?" Arcee question realizing the young assassin was no where in sight.
"I didn't see him." Optimus replied only to be thrown off balance as the whole crane began to shift.
"Watch your step Autobots!" Starscream cackled as he ripped the crane off its foundation.
[Soundwave! You still functional?] Mirage thought knowing his brother would hear him.
"Yes, where are you? Optimus and the others need your help." Soundwave replied over his comlink.
"Distract Starscream for me, so we can help them, I'm going to evict Starscream from his armour." Mirage whispered back through his comlink.
"It's impossible to get him out of there." Soundwave retorted making his way towards the seeker playing with the crane.
"Shut up, and just trust me on this." Mirage groaned, ending the call.
Soundwave cringed in disgust, as he pushed himself to go below his good morals, taunting the armoured seeker. "Starscream why don't you get out of that armour, and face me like a mech!"
[You worthless youngling...] Starscream growled dropping the crane, storming towards the violet young mech. "I would face you like a mech, if you were a worthy mech to challenge. But you're just a mere youngling with an attitude, because you don't know where you belong."
[What the hell is he thinking!?]
The three Autobots on the crane watched on in terror as the violet mech challenged the armoured seeker. "Soundwave you cannot face Starscream alone!" Optimus warned his apprentice.
Soundwave stepped back as the seeker approached him, looking past the huge armoured mech, he could see Mirage giving him a nod.
"But I suppose you all deactivate the same!" Starscream scoffed ready to strike the youngling.
"Starscream, you're just a coward, hiding behind armour!" Mirage yelled distracting the seeker from striking his brother.
"I'm a coward hiding behind armour? I think I can prove you wrong on that one!" Starscream countered, pivoting to face the red youngling.
"Let's prove your theory." Mirage smirked activating a device on his wrist, before charging the armoured seeker.
Starscream didn't have a chance to react as the youngling moved so quickly, he barely had time to blink.
Mirage used the phase shifter to kick the seeker straight out of the armour.
The Apex Armour retracted back into a large metal plate. Soundwave quickly kicked the deactivated armour behind him and his brother, as the seeker collected himself off the ground.
"Mirage stole the Phase Shifter from the vault didn't he?" Arcee rolled her optics.
[A Phase Shifter?] Starscream thought, looking next to him spotting the piece of red energon he pulled from the crate.
[Come'on you coward!] Mirage challenged the seeker, waiting for Starscream to make the next move. Soundwave looked up above them, hearing the Prime continuing to try to pull the crate up.
The grey and silver mech followed the violet mech's gaze. "I too have toys to use against you, except mine are more devastating!" The seeker hissed aiming his arm at the crate of energon.
[Shit!] Mirage attempted to stop the seeker from shooting the energon, forgetting the phase shifter was still activated, he fell through Starscream who laughed at him.
[That phase shifter isn't much help anymore!]
Shooting the energon with a missile, Starscream grabbed the red energon beside him, the explosions causing a plume of smoke as the crane fell. Activating his remote ground bridge, Starscream made a hasty escape.
Soundwave took note of the ground bridge through the smoke as Starscream escaped through it.
The smoke cleared, Mirage looked above him to see Optimus helping Bumblebee onto the undamaged crane next to the now destroyed one.
"Wasn't expecting that to happen..." Mirage grumbled as Soundwave helped him off the ground.
"Mirage..." Optimus called approaching the brothers.
"I'm sorry Optimus, is everyone alright?" Mirage apologized turning to the three.
"We're fine, luckily. But the energon is destroyed." Arcee replied as Bumblebee retrieved the Apex Armour off the ground.
"Mirage, although you successfully ejected Starscream from the Apex Armour. I believe you need to be trained properly with the phase shifter." Optimus Prime told his youngest son.
Mirage sheepishly smiled at his father. "Understood sir."
"Soundwave, can you please bridge us back to base?" Optimus sighed turning his helm to the preoccupied young mech. "Soundwave?"
"Oh, uh, sure." Soundwave shook out of his thoughts, creating a bridge.
"You guys didn't check in, what happened?" Ratchet asked as soon as the small team returned.
"Mirage blew up the energon." Bumblebee replied.
"Did not!" Mirage whined. "It was Starscream!"
"Alright you two, enough. We lost the energon, it doesn't matter who did what." Arcee growled at the two younglings.
"Starscream blew it up?" Ratchet questioned.
[Typical Starscream, if he can't have it, nobody can.] Sunstreaker thought to himself.
"I would've prevented it too..." the young assassin grumbled.
"Yes, although we lost the energon, at least it will not be used by the Decepticons." Optimus said turning to his red youngling. "Mirage, you need to practice battle techniques with the phase shifter, before you go into the battlefield with it."
"Yeah... I forgot it was activated still..." Mirage agreed with his father.
"What's going on Soundwave?" Arcee asked watching her mech tap away at the console keys.
"I'm researching something." Soundwave said without even looking at the femme.
"You were in deep thought at the end of the battle too, what are you researching?" Arcee smiled at her focused mech.
"Starscream escaped via ground bridge, I want to know how since he's not with the Decepticons." The violet mech replied trying to narrow down the Seeker's base of operations.
"Maybe he can create bridges like you?" The femme teased, wrapping her arms around her mech's slender waist.
"Wouldn't that be convenient for his cowardly moments." Soundwave snorted with a chuckle.
"Ha funny, but how about you take a break?" Arcee sighed pulling the violet mech away from the monitor. [Starscream is no longer a major threat with the Apex Armour out of his servos.]
"Arcee..." Soundwave tried to hold onto the console.
[The youngling could use a break from everyone.] Optimus chuckled softly as the femme dragged his apprentice past him. "I've got things covered from here Soundwave."
Soundwave sighed spinning around to grab his femme. "What did you have in mind?"
"How about we sit on the top of the base and relax, without any interruptions, unless it's an emergency!" Arcee practically shouted as she led her mech to the hallway. [I just want a moment of peace with my sparkmate, without idiots disturbing us.]
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry we won't disrupt your alone time." The twins sarcastically replied. [Trust us we hear enough of your alone moments next to us when we're trying to recharge.]
Hearing the twins thoughts, Soundwave shook his helm while rolling his optics, following his femme down the hallway.
Mirage sighed turning to his yellow brother. "Bee, wanna help me learn how to use the phase shifter?" The assassin asked his scout brother.
"Sure, I could use some more combat practice." Bumblebee replied following the assassin and the couple down the hallway.
Reaching the top of the base, Soundwave took in the beautiful sunset. "Didn't have time to watch such a beautiful sight the last time there was a nice sunset like this."
"Oh?" Arcee raised an optic ridge, sitting herself inside the large cavern.
"Back a few weeks, when I was retrieving the resonance blaster. Not that I had time to revel in the beauty of the half-light at that moment." Soundwave locked sad optics on his mother's grave.
"I know you're one to try and avoid your past. You were in pain that night, you were quite short with me. I just wanted to know if you were okay?" Arcee spoke softly following Soundwave's gaze.
"Sorry for being short with you, I was just..."
"Having nightmares." Arcee finished Soundwave's sentence. "You don't have to apologize, I understand you don't want to have to explain yourself every time you have one."
"I don't, but I know you just care. I revisited one of Dreadwing's horrible training sessions. Even in my recent battles with Dreadwing, it still felt as if I was in one of his training sessions." Soundwave sat next to the cobalt blue femme.
"Except this time you were able to stick up for yourself, and take him down." Arcee tried to reassure Soundwave.
"Dreadwing still got the better of me, just like in training..." Soundwave glared, watching the last sliver of light from the sun disappear.
"Soundwave, that was because of your weakened spark. Not because you're incapable of fighting. You're not a defenceless youngling that can be pushed around, anymore. Dreadwing knows that, why do you think he has to put you down with every encounter, he can't handle the fact that you're now superior to him." Arcee told the violet young mech.
[I'm superior... yeah right...] Soundwave shook his helm in disagreement.
[You're going to disagree with me no matter what. But I know you're stronger.]
"Let's move on to something else." Arcee sighed seeing her mech was only getting upset by the subject. "How does your spark feel?"
"I don't know, it feels like a spark, it's a spark." The glowing mech shrugged.
"Don't be an aft. Give me a real answer." Arcee playfully shoved her mech.
"It feels fine, I don't really know what to say. My bond is still growing with Mirage, yours is faint but growing too." Soundwave sighed, knowing it was his state of mind that was damaged not his spark.
[That makes me feel better.] Arcee was happy to hear that her spark was making some sort of impact on the violet mech. "Hey, what about your bond with Optimus? You didn't mention him."
"I our bond is completely fused." Soundwave replied with a smile, watching as the stars flooded the skies.
[You're quite thrilled about that aren't you?] Arcee smiled warmly, seeing purely joy through Soundwave's smile. "You're adorable."
"What, why?!" Soundwave blinked wondering why his femme was calling him adorable. "I wouldn't say I'm thrilled..."
"Oh, then what, junior Prime?" The cobalt blue femme teased her sparkmate.
Soundwave rolled his optics with a laugh. "Alright, alright. I'm kind of excited about reconnecting the bond I had with Optimus, so long ago."
"I'm happy for you both. It's great for you to finally have a real father figure that isn't trying to deactivate you. I know Mirage changed quite a bit when he fully fused a bond with Optimus, he was happier, even though that's hard to believe since he's so miserable most of the time." Arcee scoffed.
"You really think I need a father figure?" The glowing violet mech turned his gaze back to his mother's grave.
"No, I don't think you need one. But it helps to have one during your awakening powers." The femme replied standing up, placing both her servos on the mech's shoulders. "I'm just saying, judging by both of your pasts, Optimus has always been more than just your uncle." Arcee smiled walking towards the lift.
[Awakening powers? More like torturous powers...] Soundwave wasn't going to deny Arcee's logical theory. She was right that Optimus was more than just an uncle to him. "Off to go torture the younglings?" He followed his femme.
The femme rolled her optics as her mech followed. "You mean warn them that recharge time is fast approaching? Yes I am."
"You're sooo mean." Soundwave sarcastically rolled his optics.
"Oh really?" Arcee smirked. [You put them to bed, you be the bad guy.]
"I will." The violet mech excepted the femme's challenge.
"Right, keep forgetting you can read minds." The femme snorted as the lift took them down.
"Unfortunately, I wish it would stop to be honest, my mind reading is uncontrollable torture." The glowing mech scoffed. "I was the bad guy for too many deca cycles. And they're just younglings."
"I don't think Decepticon is in your title anymore. I know your mind reading is really declining your sanity. If you won't talk to me about finding a way to control it, please talk to Optimus. He's really worried about you, and so am I." Arcee followed her mech out of the lift.
"I will, trust me I don't want to seem insane. Just let me deal with the younglings first." The violet mech sighed sadly.
"Good luck with them, they're stubborn." Arcee snorted.
(Mirage, you don't have to recharge right now, but I need you and Bee to do as I say and get into your berths. After Arcee check's on you, you can stay in your room and practice using the phase shifter. Just stay quiet.)
"Primus, the things I do for you." Mirage read the text from his brother, with an optic roll. "Hey Bee, we gotta listen to Wave's commands, and be good about going to recharge. Then we continue this, okay?"
"Uh sure." Bumblebee shrugged as the femme and glowing mech entered the training room.
"Mirage, Bumblebee, it's time to say goodnight, and go to bed." Soundwave told the younglings.
"Ugh..." Mirage groaned walking out of the training room with Bumblebee.
Soundwave and Arcee both followed the younglings, watching them both bid everyone a goodnight, before crawling into their berths without any arguments.
"See, it's not so hard." The violet mech playfully elbowed his femme.
"No, not when you send your little brother a message, telling him to listen to you so you can prove a point." Arcee countered cocking an optic ridge.
"How'd you know that?"
"It was a theory, but thanks for confirming it was true." The femme scoffed with a laugh.
"Well they still listened." Soundwave shrugged innocently.
"Brat." The femme shook her helm with a chuckle. "Please talk to Optimus."
"The mech is facing enough pressure trying to crack codes. Do you really think he needs my mental state to worry about?" The violet mech hissed.
[Lose the attitude, you've been acting weird, and losing your mind in these past few weeks. You're going to crack at any moment you're unwell.]
"Soundwave, Optimus is worried about you regardless. Just talk to him, I'm sure he already feels your sanity dwindling." Arcee hissed right back at her mech.
Soundwave parted ways with his femme who turned in for the night. Entering the main room to see only the three eldest mechs still awake, and working.
[The energon supply is dangerously low...] Ironhide thought as Ratchet stepped around him.
[I need to find a new place for the damn energon processor.] Ratchet grumbled collecting data pads around his med bay.
[Primus this processing is tiring, no wonder the twins get so bored with it.]
Making his way over to his mentor, the violet mech winced at everyone's thoughts penetrating his processor.
[Almost have this set of coordinates decrypted. I should get Soundwave to start the next one, while I finish this one.] Optimus deeply sighed, pivoting around, visibly jumping at the sight of his apprentice standing directly behind him. "Youngling, you surprised me!"
"Apologies sir..." Soundwave apologized to his leader.
"I was just about to..."
"Call it a night, because Ratchet said it's a good idea, so I don't fry my processor!" Ratchet called from the med bay.
[I'm so close to finishing this set of coordinates...] Optimus shook his helm with a chuckle. "I will old friend, I promise."
The young mech quickly switched off his audio receptors, hoping it would halt the thoughts, but to no avail, everyone's thoughts continued to plague him.
[He's just saying that, he's not really going to.] Ironhide thought.
[No you don't, you're just saying that to shut me up.] The old medic rolled his optics.
Soundwave thought maybe deactivating his audio receptors may mute his ability. He switched them back on truly wishing it did work, as it made no difference as he continued to hear everyone's thoughts.
[He doesn't believe me for a moment.] The Prime sighed.
"I need help!" Soundwave cried out, making all three mechs jump.
[Holy scrap?]
[What's with this kid?]
"Soundwave?" Optimus called softly, watching his young apprentice grasp his helm as he shrunk to the floor onto his knees. [What's going on with him?]
[Something is very wrong with that youngling.]
[Maybe I should do a scan on him, while Optimus calms him?]
"I want it to stop!" The young mech held his helm, practically in tears, as his frame trembled.
Optimus knelt down next to his apprentice, placing a gentle servo on Soundwave's back. "What do you want to stop?"
"I want to stop hearing everyone's thoughts." Soundwave exhaled deeply.
"Soundwave, I don't think we can assist you with that." Ironhide mentioned.
"Is the only way to silence this power to deactivate my processor?" Soundwave cried, as Ratchet approached.
"That would kill you youngling." Ratchet knelt down on the opposite side of the youngling.
"At this point, I'd welcome it." Soundwave replied.
[I really need to assist Soundwave, this is getting out of hand.] Optimus thought, helping his apprentice off the floor. "Don't take yourself offline youngling. It's my fault your ability has gotten out of control."
"What do you mean?" Soundwave replied confused.
"I have been too caught up in our race against the Decepticons, I haven't paid any attention to your reawakened ability." Optimus began to explain.
"That's important though..."
"You're important Soundwave, more than you know. I have neglected to help you through a confusing time, and now you're tortured by your abilities." The Prime told the violet young mech, guilt lingering in his tone. "I told you to figure it out by yourself, and I was wrong to do so. Now your sanity has come into question, you are not doing well."
Soundwave was silently processing his mentor's words, trying to figure out the correct reaction to reply with.
"Optimus is not wrong youngling, I'm concerned about your health status. I have also been ignoring your cry for help, and I apologize." Ratchet added.
"Okay..." Soundwave looked down at the floor. "How, how do I harness the power to switch my ability on, and off?" He turned to his mentor.
"Calming techniques are your first step. There are many different ways of relaxing your processor, grounding is one that would work best for you." Optimus said to the young mech.
"Grounding?" Soundwave raised an optic ridge.
"It's technique that can help you stay focused on the reality around you." The Prime said guiding his young apprentice to the training room.
"I hope that kid gets his scrap together, we need him during this time, especially with the war hopefully coming to an end." Ironhide thought aloud.
"You could've worded that a little differently Hide. The kid has a lot of pressures weighing upon his shoulders. He's an apprentice to a Prime, second in command, a communications chief that works diligently to keep everyone up to date, not to mention keeping the base up and running. He also has to help Optimus strategize against his own father, and end the war. During all those responsibilities, Soundwave has a reawakening ability that is plaguing him with insanity. I sincerely hope Optimus can help Soundwave regain control." Ratchet said back to his oldest friend.
"Optimus I understand the concept of the exercise, but I don't believe I can do it properly." Soundwave sighed after the Prime had explained more about the exercises.
"Have faith youngling, it will work." Optimus tried to reassure his apprentice.
"How do you know that?" Soundwave challenged.
"I had used the technique many many deca cycles ago. It worked amazingly for me, I do not know if it will do the same for you, as it did for me. But I am hopeful." Optimus responded with a softened tone.
"Why did you use the technique?" The violet young mech cocked his helm curiously.
"Because I was a records clerk, I was not familiar with battle, or fighting. During the beginning of Megatron's revaluation, I would go to an arena, and train with others that wanted to learn the art of combat. I would get overwhelmed with anxiety, and panic during these training sessions, I was barely able to function. Until I spoke to Ratchet, and an old friend, they taught me the grounding technique, I was then able to train just as hard as the others." The Prime explained to his young apprentice.
Soundwave blinked in disbelief, he found what the Prime had said, hard to believe. "How did you do the technique?"
"I focused on the rhythm of my sparkbeat, and cycling vents, it would calm my sensory receptors, and allow me to regain focus, and carry on normally." Optimus told Soundwave.
"I already tried that, it didn't work." The glowing youngling sighed. "It's practically hopeless..."
Optimus frowned, in deep thought. "Let's try a few different grounding techniques, before you say it's hopeless."
"Fine..." Soundwave reluctantly agreed.
"Now I'm going to call Arcee, Ratchet and the twins in here.
"What, why?!" The violet young mech cringed at the thought of all the conflicting thoughts he would hear from that particular group of bots.
"I don't think I really have to explain it if you're already panicked about having them in here. You know why." The Prime sighed calling the four into the training room.
[Ugh... this is going to suuuuck.] Soundwave rolled his optics releasing Lazerbeak, so the drone may have some freedom during the torture.
Optimus could feel his apprentice's stressed sparkbeat increase, as the footfalls of the called upon Autobots came within earshot. "Try focusing on the room, make note of where you are, how many targets there are. If that doesn't work, try focusing on your own frame."
[You better have a good reason for calling me in here...]
[Why do we have to be here?]
Soundwave did as Optimus suggested, focusing on the rooms inventory, as the four Autobots entered the room.
[If I leave Ironhide in my med bay, he's just going to disorganize everything...]
[Why the hell was I dragged into here for?]
"No!" Soundwave hissed, grabbing his helm.
"Soundwave, focus." Optimus turned back to his distressed apprentice.
[What's going on with Soundwave?]
[What the hell is wrong with him?]
[Come'on kid, get your focus...] Ratchet watched the young mech struggle to ignore everyone's thoughts.
"I can't!" Soundwave cried out in frustration.
Optimus sighed turning to the Autobots he called into the room. "Twins, can you please wait in your quarters, until I call you back."
"I can't, I can't, I can't..." The violet mech trembled, continuing to hold his helm.
"Uh, sure Prime." The twins shrugged giving Soundwave a look of concern as they made their exit.
[Calm yourself Soundwave...] Arcee watched her mech lose control.
"You two continue to what you're doing." Optimus said to the two silent bots, as he stepped towards his apprentice.
Both Ratchet and Arcee nodded, continuing to speak through their internal thoughts.
[I'm so worried about you...]
Soundwave visibly jumped as two massive servos were placed on his shoulders.
"Soundwave, focus on my voice."
[That kid is going to break down if he can't gain control.]
"Listen only to my voice, do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Soundwave's voice was shaky but clear.
"Good. Do you know who's in here?" Optimus gave a gentle squeeze to the violet mech's shoulder.
[I bet the...]
[Hide should ju...]
"Arcee, Ratchet..." The violet mech replied, as his sparkbeat synced with Optimus's.
"Excellent, who else?" Optimus asked in a more joking manner.
"You, and I." The young mech gave a very soft chuckle. "And Lazerbeak."
"Good, what colour is your paint?" The Prime replied releasing Soundwave from his gentle hold.
"I'm..."
[That's an easy one.]
[Soundwave shouldn't have an issue answering this one.]
[Good simple questions.]
"I... can't..." Soundwave shook his helm in irritation.
"Soundwave, what's your colour scheme?" Optimus repeated his question, knowing his apprentice was getting flustered once again.
[You had it for a moment Soundwave. Come'on you can do it.] Arcee frowned with a sigh.
"Nothing works!" Soundwave hissed, leaning his back against the wall.
[No, don't give up.]
[You can't give up kid.]
"You can't give up on this now Soundwave. You have to gain control of this." Optimus told the defeated youngling.
Arcee turned hearing very quiet foot falls behind her. "Mirage, what are you doing up?"
"The twins are pretty loud when they bitch." The red youngling retorted.
"Ugh... Twins, please return to the training room." Optimus sighed turning to his youngling. "Mirage, go back to recharging."
"I can't recharge with all the flustering aggravation in my spark, Soundwave what's going on with you?" Mirage scoffed, walking straight up to his big brother.
"I'm trying to gain control of my mind reading. But nothing's working." Soundwave grumbled.
[Ugh... you controlled it before stop doubting yourself.] Mirage rolled his optics.
"You seemed alright when Optimus was getting you to focus on him." Arcee mentioned encouragingly.
"Can we go back to recharging yet?" The twins groaned entering the room.
"Shut up you two." Ratchet hissed.
The violet mech blinked watching the medic scold the twins. "Yes Arcee, but Optimus can't be there for me constantly, until my processor is retrained."
"Let me guess, you haven't bothered to confront Lazerbeak about it, like I told you to, weeks ago?" Mirage folded his arms.
"I had forgotten to, I was too busy losing my mind." Soundwave sighed, releasing Lazerbeak. "
"Lazerbeak, how is a drone going to help him?" Ratchet questioned, confused.
"He's not just a drone!" Arcee, and both mutant brothers hissed at the medic
"Ratchet's old school." Sideswipe snickered.
[More like old, and bitter.] Sunstreaker rolled his optics.
"Right, right, sorry!" The medic apologized backpedaling. "Lazerbeak isn't just a surveillance drone."
"Lazerbeak, do you have any information on controlling Soundwave's mind reading?" Mirage asked before his brother could.
Lazerbeak tweeted in response, sending both Mirage, and Soundwave the memory files of how to control the mind reading. The drone sent a calming hum of energy from his spark to his master's flustered one.
Reviewing the broken, unclear, memory files, Soundwave received an understanding that Lazerbeak was the key to teaching him control.
"Alright, most of this is confusing to me, but is it making any sense to you?" Mirage asked looking up at his brother.
"Yes, and no. Most of these are broken, but I understand Lazerbeak is key to helping regain my sanity, I just don't know how." The glowing mech replied watching his drone float calmly around him.
[Can we...]
[I'm...]
[I...]
Soundwave was so focused on trying to fill in the foggy memories, he barely noticed everyone's thoughts fading.
Optimus looked around at his Autobots, he could tell everyone had different thoughts going through their helms, not that he would know what their thoughts were. Looking at his young apprentice, the Prime noticed the violet mech didn't seem to be overwhelmed with everyone's thoughts. "Soundwave, I agree Lazerbeak is key to helping you."
"Definitely, you're a lot calmer now." Arcee agreed as well.
"I can barely hear everyone's thoughts." Soundwave said tiredly gazing at his drone.
Arcee smiled walking up to her tired mech. "It's nice Lazerbeak can help muffle the voices. I think it's time to recharge though."
"Sure... maybe I can actually rest my processor." Soundwave replied as Lazerbeak returned to him, and began to transmit data to him.
"Yes, finally!" Sunstreaker scoffed, making his way towards the exit.
"I was pulled out of recharge, just to do nothing and go back to recharging? I may as well have stayed recharging." Sideswipe grumbled, following his twin.
"Well, I better make sure Ironhide hasn't made a mess of my med bay." Ratchet sighed, giving Optimus a respectful nod before exiting the room.
"Soundwave I can help you with your grounding training tomorrow, please get some rest though." Optimus said to his apprentice.
"What about the database?" The young mech asked.
"I will work on it tonight, and after our training session." The Prime replied.
"Night, Wave." Mirage said exiting the room with his father.
"Come'on, you've gotten some relief from your stress, I think it's a good idea you try to rest." Arcee sighed leading her mech out of the training room.
"Why are you acting like I disagreed with you?" Soundwave questioned his femme, as they made their way to their quarters.
"I'm not... well maybe. It's just a natural reaction, since you usually argue about recharging." The cobalt blue femme sighed. "How's your helm?"
Soundwave was silent, and still, standing in the doorway, while Lazerbeak's download finished.
Arcee cocked an optic ridge at her silent mech. "Are you ignoring me, or are you just calculating a reply?"
"Hmm?" The violet mech lifted his helm. "Sorry, I, uh... my helm is fine." Soundwave stuttered.
"That was very convincing. Is Lazerbeak still working his magic?" Arcee retorted sitting on the berth.
"You could say that, Lazerbeak just sent all the data of how to control my mind reading." The young mech replied sitting next to his femme.
The cobalt blue femme sighed with a smile. "So, how long do you think it will take you to learn from all that data?"
"I already did, I have a full understanding, and know how to control it. I just have to put it to the test." Soundwave replied to his amazed spark mate.
[That's insanity, you can't instantly have known how, just from a download, without frying your processor in the process!] The femme shook her helm in astonishment. "What do you mean, I don't understand how you read that and learned it all in a nano click?" Arcee raised an optic ridge in confusion. "I mean, I know you're a quick learner, and practically a genius but..."
"It was just a download, Cee?" The violet mech cocked his helm confused.
"If we download knowledge and knowing straight into our processor, they would be fried. Even Shockwave isn't smart enough to change that in you, how the hell does that work?" Arcee scoffed in disbelief.
"I've been like that my entire life though... before I even ended up in Shockwave's lab table." Soundwave shrugged.
"I believe that more than if Shockwave did it, because I'm sure he would've used that for himself." The cobalt blue femme exhaled.
"He would." The violet mech agreed. "Thanks for calling me a genius by the way."
"Yeah, well it's cute when you forget how intelligent you really are." Arcee chuckled, looking into her mech's mixed coloured optics "You really did learn how to control your mind reading. You didn't hear me say how crazy it was to be able to download and learn instantly from the download, until I said aloud."
"I heard you, I just didn't respond because you said it aloud as well. But I should be able to shut your thoughts out now."
[Suuure twinkle bot...] Arcee smirked seeing if her mech truly could control his mind reading.
"What are you smirking about?" Soundwave playfully asked his sparkmate.
"Huh, you really do have control of it, you didn't hear me call you twinkle bot." The femme snorted.
"That means I download the data perfectly, and it is running optimally." Soundwave thought aloud, making Arcee roll her optics at him. "By the way, twinkle bot?"
"So why the hell didn't Lazerbeak do that when your mind reading came back in the first place?" Arcee questioned, ignoring Soundwave mentioning the nickname she thought of for him.
"Lazerbeak was busy keeping my spark running while my bonds mended. Then he got injured, and took longer than expected to fully repair. Plus I forgot to ask him about it." Soundwave replied to his curious sparkmate.
"Sure Soundwave..." the cobalt blue femme gave an unsure reply.
"I'm not making excuses, we've just been getting so close to ending this war, I've been more focused on that." Soundwave felt like he had to explain himself as his femme didn't seem very convinced with his earlier reply.
"Ending the war, how so?" Arcee cocked an optic ridge.
"Optimus believes that there's a way to reanimate our planet. And that the answer is hidden in the last few scriptures in the Iacon database." The violet mech excitedly explained.
"Interesting, I remember you mentioning it. But what makes you think reanimating our planet will end the war, with Megatron still around?" The femme questioned. "What's to stop Megatron from trying to conquer Cybertron all over again?"
Soundwave was silent with no response. The thought had crossed his mind, but in his helm, Soundwave was convinced that he could convince his father to call off the war.
"It can't be done Soundwave. Megatron is evil, he always has been, I believe he just slowly became the evil soul he was meant to be." Arcee told her mech.
"I won't say that you're incorrect, because that is a valid theory. But until proven 100% legitimate, I will continue to try and convince Megatron to stop the war, and revoke the Decepticons." The glowing mech simply replied.
The femme sighed. "You're valiant efforts won't go unnoticed. Just promise me you won't kill yourself trying to change Megatron?"
"If Megatron refuses to change, I will have no choice, but to put him down."
