Orion Pax opened his optics in surprise feeling a tiny little being land on his abdomen. "Good morning sparkling."
"Hi!" Soundwave gave a raspy chirp, patting his little servos against the red chest plate.
Orion scooped the violet sparkling up as he got out of his berth. "You always seem to wake up before Cybertron itself."
"Ratch... pl... lay?" Soundwave coughed, pointing to the door that lead outside.
"Maybe later little one. Right now you need some sustenance and something to soothe your throat." Orion Pax replied sitting the sparkling down on a counter.
"Out?" The violet sparkling continued to gesture to the exit.
"Later Soundwave, you need energon first." The young clerk chuckled.
Soundwave observed as his Uncle rummaged around in the kitchen searching for something that was not there.
The red and blue mech sighed, realizing that he was out of the sparkling's pain management serum. He warmed up a bottle of low grade anyway, hoping the sparkling would be alright until he got a hold of Ratchet.
The sparkling continued to give a few coughs here and there, babbling happily, despite the pain his throat radiated. While Orion prepped his breakfast.
The records clerk looked over his shoulder to see the sparkling now standing on the counter. "Soundwave, I better see you sitting or you wait in your play area..."
The violet sparkling grumbled, sitting himself down, he did not want to get put in that corral.
Walking over to the sparkling with a now warm bottle, the mech sighed with a smile. "Thank you for listening."
Soundwave coughed as Orion Pax picked him up, offering the warm bottle to him. The little sparkling began to drink the warm liquid, but it only seemed to cause irritation and pain.
Orion gave a worried expression, watching Soundwave continue to cough harshly while pushing away the warm bottle. "Alright little one, you may get your wish earlier than expected." The mech sighed making his way towards the door.
Soundwave's coughs continued, only calming slightly as they walked down the brightly lit streets, making their way towards Ratchet's medical facility. It had been a few weeks since departing from his mother, the violet sparkling was still adapting to the Iacon environment. Getting braver Soundwave would peek himself out from his caretaker's arms while they travelled down the street. Still wary of crowds the sparkling would cower every now and again. The only time he hid or shied away completely, was when a singular bot would approach, and walk by them.
"Pl...l...lay?" The violet sparkling coughed pointing towards the play park they were passing.
"No little one, we're going to visit Ratchet..." Orion Pax gave a nervous smile to the bots that glared at him and his sick sparkling as they passed by.
Soundwave sighed defeatedly as they passed the park. His little optics scanned the area, catching the sight of a familiar purple mech. "Wave!"
Orion looked at the sparkling that pointed towards the play park. Following the direction of the little pointing digit, his optics caught Shockwave standing near the park, observing the playing younglings. "Hmm..." continuing on his pathway, Orion found the scientist's observing, odd and unsettling. He knew Shockwave didn't have any younglings, or sparklings, the scientist seemed to almost despise them.
"Oof!" Orion Pax took a step back after walking into a large mech. "Apologies, I wasn't paying attention..."
"Meg?" Soundwave coughed tilting his helm at the large gunmetal grey mech.
"So it's true..." Megatronus growled glaring at his brother and his sparkling. "Xanthia gave up, now you have Soundwave."
"It's not like that Megatronus." Orion said, watching as his brother circled him.
"Then you couldn't help but steal a sick sparkling from a suffering mother?!" Megatronus was trying to aggravate his brother.
"No! I... I..." Orion panicked as his brother began laughing at him.
"Calm yourself Orion. Xanthia made it very clear to me that she had moved Soundwave as far away from Kaon, where he could receive top care, and be far away from me." The large gladiator retorted, glared at his sparkling in his brother's arms. "At our last meeting in front of the Hall Of Records, it seems you got Xanthia into a higher class job then the mines."
Soundwave couldn't feel any connection to his father's spark, the evil glare burning through him, making him quiver in fear, as his coughing became worse.
"Indeed..." The data clerk replied furrowing his optic ridges, as Soundwave shifted to hide from his father's burning optics.
"Still has that cough, hmm?" The gunmetal grey mech raised an optic ridge, glancing to see where his scientist friend was.
"Yes, we are on our way to soothe it. Goodbye Megatronus..." Orion Pax firmly told his brother, walking off.
"Now Orion, we still believe in the same political beliefs. What's happening between Xanthia and I, has nothing to do with you and I. We should converse about our next moves to bring down the caste." Megatronus told his leaving brother.
"I already met up with you after my shift at the Hall Of Records the other day, I have gotten a little busy." Orion replied bluntly, continuing to walk off.
"I see, I'll get back to you another time then..." Megatronus growled watching his brother walk away. "Shockwave, it's time to squash Orion's confidence."
Ratchet immediately rushed Orion into his examination room as soon as he heard the familiar coughing enter his facility. "Orion Pax, why don't I just deliver the serums to your home, so you don't forget to collect more when you run out?" The medic sighed giving Soundwave a warm bottle of the serum to soothe the coughing.
"I... sure Ratchet... thank you." The young mech gave a scattered reply.
"What's troubling you Orion, you seem distant?" Ratchet thought aloud.
"I've just been thinking..."
"About what, Megatronus again?" Ratchet scoffed.
"I suppose..." Orion shrugged with a frown.
"I can't tell you to stop protesting with him. But I will encourage you to watch your back, there's something about him that I just don't trust." The CMO told the clerk his honest opinion.
"Yes I understand that. I am more concerned about Soundwave, and his mother." The young mech replied.
"What's the matter? You've created a successful bond with the sparkling, remarkably quickly. Soundwave's safe, and you allow Xanthia to visit often." Ratchet replied.
"Yes, Soundwave is safe for now, but I was thinking..." Orion trailed off, watching the sparkling play with one of Ratchet's medical instruments.
"Don't blow a neuro cluster, just tell me what's on you mind Orion." The CMO rolled his optics.
"Maybe Xanthia should live here too, it's not fair that she's still at risk. Sometimes I wonder if she'll one day never show up to visit her sparkling." The young mech sighed.
"Orion, I understand your concerns, but Xanthia would be at risk if she lived here as well." Ratchet pointed out.
"Her life would not be at risk here. Besides the authorities checking her caste, if she was called out by a higher caste member. Would Xanthia really be at risk here?" The red and blue mech scoffed.
"Well..."
"Xanthia's new occupation makes her blend in well with the middle caste, I think she'd do well here." Orion Pax continued to explain.
"I'm not against your kind gesture, but I just want you to keep in mind that by taking in Xanthia, you're putting yourself at risk for harvesting two fugitives." The medic gave his friend a softened gaze.
"It's worth it." Orion Pax smiled at the happy cooing sparkling.
"Then you do what you need to Orion Pax, I will support you and try to help in anyway." The CMO smiled placing a gentle servo on the mech.
"Ratch, wook!" Soundwave squeaked holding one of the medic's wrenches.
"Yes, I see sparkling." Ratchet chuckled picking up the sparkling.
"I should contact Xanthia, and arrange for her to live here." Orion thought aloud making his way towards the exit.
"I should get back to work to, I wish you luck young mech." Ratchet handed the sparkling to the young mech, bidding him a goodbye.
"Thank you Ratchet, I would be lost without your support." The red and blue mech left the medical facility with Soundwave in his arms.
Soundwave gurgled happily playing with the wrench he took from Ratchet.
"Ugh, Soundwave that's not yours." Orion Pax rolled his optics with a sigh. "Ratchet, Soundwave took that wrench, I can return it later." The mech called the medic.
"It's fine Orion, keep it I have plenty." Ratchet replied.
Soundwave yawned curling up with the wrench, closing his mixed coloured optics.
"You silly sparkling..." Orion Pax softly chuckled continuing down the street.
After arriving back at home, Orion placed Soundwave in the crib for a nap, while he called the sparkling's mother. After a lengthy call with the lower caste femme, the clerk was finally able to convince the mother to move in with him and her sparkling. "Thank you for taking my offer Xanthia, you'll be safer here, and Soundwave will be so thrilled. Speaking of him, I should check on him, he's taking a stasis nap."
"I should be saying thanks to you Orion, anyway I will see you two later, say hi to my little one for me when he wakes." Xanthia replied ending the call.
Orion Pax quietly made his way down the hallway, into his room, peeking into the crib. The mech sighed with a smile, seeing the violet sparkling with his legs and lower frame against the crib wall, in his usual upside down recharging position.
Optimus sighed sitting up in his berth, wondering if he should go back to working on the database, even though he only rested for an hour.
Quietly exiting his room, the Prime tiptoed down the hallway, making sure not to wake up the old medic. Reaching the end of the hallway Optimus took a cautious step back, seeing a brightly glowing hue come from the main room. Realizing that the glowing was coming from the couch area, he stepped out of the hallway to see Soundwave hanging upside down on the couch. Optimus tilted his helm curiously, noting the young mech's optics were closed, recharging in a very odd position.
Gently sitting himself next to his oddly slumbering apprentice. "Soundwave?" Optimus called softly.
"Wha... what?!" Soundwave jolted awake, sliding off the couch onto his helm.
Optimus cringed, quickly helping his apprentice back onto the couch. "I'm sorry youngling, are you alright?!"
"I'm fine Optimus, what are you doing up?" Soundwave replied holding his helm.
"I was restless, seems apparently you were as well?" Optimus smirked playfully.
"Yeah... I don't know why I decided to lay down like that..." Soundwave sheepishly smiled. "I was thinking, and ended up like that."
"You used to recharge like that when you were a sparkling. I think it was a phase though, you grew out of it, or so I thought." Optimus teased the violet glowing mech. [I thought it was odd when you first did it, then I realized it was a position you felt relaxed in, during time away from your mother.]
"Ha, ha I'm a weirdo..." Soundwave rolled his optics.
"Hmm?" Optimus cocked his helm noting the youngling didn't seem to react to his thoughts.
"What?" Soundwave smiled at his mentor.
"You didn't hear my thoughts." The Prime replied walking towards the monitors.
"No, I have full control over my mind reading now. I downloaded the data from Lazerbeak, I'm fine now." The violet mech shrugged, following his mentor.
"A download, just like that?" Optimus thought aloud, activating the monitors.
"Yes just like that, no it doesn't fry my processor, I am perfectly capable of downloading and learning everything in a nano click. Arcee already gave me the same shocked reaction." The young mech said, logging into the monitor next to the Prime.
"Here's another shocked reaction." The sound of an irritated femme's voice made both mechs spin around. "What the hell are you two doing up, it's only been an hour since we went to recharge?!" Arcee growled coming out of the hallway with the old medic.
Soundwave nervously backed away from his femme. "Oh Arcee, come'on, you know I..."
"I don't care how many cycles you can go without rest!" Arcee hissed as Soundwave stumbled into the monitors. "With the small amount of recharge you've gotten since we've arrived here, it still wouldn't be significant enough, if it was put all together into one night!" The cobalt blue femme poked a digit on her mech's chest plate.
The CMO sighed watching the femme terrify her sparkmate. "You really are going to fry your neuro cluster if you don't get rest when you can. Please Optimus, we need you functioning at full capacity during this time." Ratchet turned to his friend.
"I know old friend, I have become anxious in the last few months with the Decepticons becoming more ruthless, and increasing in strength. With the Iacon Database being uncovered, every moment I worry the Decepticons will uncover a relic of power to use against the humans and us. All that on top of keeping Starscream's agenda of chaos from happening." Optimus Prime expressed his concerns to his oldest friend.
"Soundwave?!" Arcee called regaining her mech's attention from the Prime.
"Okay Cee, I'll come recharge! Primus you're relentless..." Soundwave groaned pushing off the monitors.
The CMO shook his helm at the young couple. "I know Optimus, but without Soundwave onboard the Nemesis, the Decepticons are at a disadvantage. They cannot decode at the same rate you and Soundwave can. Shockwave's intelligent, but he's a scientist, not an archivist or a genius hacker."
Optimus thought for a moment, his team had mentioned that many times, but yet he was reluctant to heed the very true statement.
"If anything we should be worrying about Starscream, he may seem like an idiot at times, but he always has something sinister brewing. And it usually isn't pleasant, I hate to say it but Starscream is a well organized villain, at times..." Soundwave reluctantly admitted.
"You don't believe Shockwave's decrypting is more of a concern?" Optimus turned to his apprentice.
"I won't say that, like Ratchet said, Shockwave's intelligent and surely Megatron will force him to decode, while his mind is busy plotting his other projects. But I know Starscream is operating from a decently equipped facility, without Decepticon aid, and that has me worried." The violet mech replied honestly.
"Starscream no longer possesses the Apex Armour, you shouldn't worry too much, Soundwave." Arcee said to her mech.
"Just because he lost his advantage, doesn't mean Starscream isn't dangerous." Soundwave retorted. Lifting his helm thoughtfully as a thought crossed his mind. "Although Starscream may be trying to conjure up a way to worm his way back into Megatron's ranks."
"Why the hell would he do that?" Ratchet scoffed disagreeing with the young mech's assumption.
"Because as far as Starscream is concerned, going rogue hasn't been working out for him. So something to worry about, would be him trying to sabotage, and steal whatever relic we uncover. He won't be willingly welcomed back into Megatron's ranks without some sort of peace offering." The young mech continued to explain.
"Soundwave, perhaps you and Mirage can try to pinpoint Starscream's base of operations. While we continue to retrieve relics." Optimus suggested to his apprentice.
"We can do that, but I'm not making it a priority. Finding the relics before the Decepticons or Starscream is my main objective. But I can pass the assignment on to Mirage, he should be able to pinpoint Starscream." The glowing young mech sighed, seeing Arcee glaring at him.
"Hmm, agreed..." Optimus Prime reluctantly agreed to allow his youngling to chase after a dangerous fugitive. He knew Mirage was very capable of successfully hunting down dangerous Decepticons, but he always worried for his younglings, no matter how experienced they were in the war.
"Alright, if you're done problem solving, it's time to recharge." Ratchet retorted.
"You're right Ratchet." Optimus knew he wasn't thinking straight, he needed a rest to refresh his processor. "I apologize, my thoughts have been scattered lately."
"I can understand that." Soundwave gave a dry chuckle.
"I suppose so." Optimus smiled at his apprentice.
"Your thoughts wouldn't be as scattered, if you got that rest I advised." Ratchet raised an optic ridge at the two restless mechs.
"Yeah, come'on, you need your rest youngling." Arcee teased pulling her mech down the hallway.
"Ha ha, very funny..." Soundwave rolled his optics as he was brought back to his room.
"Alright I'm not going to force you to get in your berth. But believe me if I have to I will, Optimus Prime." Ratchet playfully threatened his friend.
"Oh I believe you. I'm going to get some much needed rest, old friend." Optimus walked the hallway with the medic.
"Soundwave?" Arcee called after her mech shut their bedroom door.
"Hmm?" The violet mech turned to see his femme waving a small vial.
"But I'm not..."
"I know you're not, but you want to prevent your flare ups, right?" Arcee cocked an optic ridge, handing her mech the vial of serum.
"Yes true..." Soundwave sighed.
After taking his serum, the couple went back to recharging. The young mech tossed and turned for a few hours, while Arcee recharged, before his processor grew tired enough to allow him to recharge.
A large, quiet footfall woke the violet sparkling. Standing up in his crib, he could see the large window next to him being cut with a small lazer.
The glass was removed silently and carefully. As a familiar face poked his helm in. "Hello sparkling."
"Megtwon?" Soundwave cocked his helm curiously, seeing his father peer in.
"Yes come here little one." The gunmetal grey mech beckoned the curious sparkling.
Soundwave didn't hesitate to climb out of his crib, toddling over to open window.
Megatron quickly scooped his sparkling out the window, so Shockwave could reseal the window.
"Meg?!"
"Shh!" Megatronus quickly placed his servo over his sparkling's mouth. Motioning for Shockwave to move out.
The two mechs hastily made off with the sparkling, into the streets of Iacon. After a while of walking, leaving the Iacon territory, Soundwave was uncertain what was happening, confused he was being taken away from his Uncle's home.
"Rion?" Soundwave called in a shaky tone.
"No." Megatronus hissed.
"Rion, Ma, Rion..." The little sparkling called out as panic began to sink in. He didn't feel safe with these two mechs.
"Silence! Or I'll make sure you never see them again!" The gladiator screamed, his claws puncturing the sparkling's arm as his grip tightened in frustration.
Soundwave cried out in pain as his father injured him. Understanding this was the reason why his mother kept him away.
"So what's your plan Megatronus?" Shockwave questioned following his friend into an alleyway.
"What do you think?!" The gunmetal grey mech rolled his optics. "Orion Pax is trying to convince Xanthia to stay in Iacon with him. Do you think she'll even look at him, if she knows he lost her precious sparkling?" Megatron scoffed, gesturing to his confused sparkling.
Shockwave felt that Megatronus was allowing his jealousy towards his brother become more of an issue than it really was. "What is the logic behind this tactic?"
Megatronus growled in annoyance, placing his sparkling down. "Shockwave, do you not understand that once Xanthia distrusts Orion Pax, she'll be more inclined to join our side?"
"Our side?" The purple mech asked.
"Oh don't play stupid with me Shockwave, you know Cybertron has been divided for eons, it's just become more apparent because I'm here to lead and take a stand. Xanthia is a strong fighter, you saw her on that energon raid, she would be an excellent asset." Megatronus scoffed turning to his scientist. "Once we rid of the sparkling."
Soundwave was bleeding, and in pain. He didn't understand most of what was being said, but he was very familiar to the gestures of murder. While the two mech's that kidnapped him bickered, he backed away out of the alley.
"Killing your sparkling, and making your ex muse despise your brother, contributes what exactly?" Shockwave continued to question his friend's pettiness.
"There's a war coming Shockwave, it's no place for a sparkling, we'll be doing her a favour."
"Hmm, you don't think the way your brother and Xanthia have been interacting, they won't..."
"No, I don't!" Megatronus snapped. "And if they do, that just proves how much of a backstabber my own brother is!"
"Where is the sparkling anyway?" Shockwave pointed out, noticing the glowing sparkling was no where in sight.
"Soundwave!?"
The violet sparkling winced hearing his father angrily call out his name. Toddling faster, he made it a point to get as far away from those two as possible.
Orion Pax frantically turned his home upside, searching for the missing sparkling. "Soundwave where are you!?"
"Knock, knock. Orion, Soundwave, I'm here!" Xanthia call out, entering the archivist's home. "Whoa, did Soundwave do this?" The femme questioned the frantic mech.
"No Xanthia..." the young clerk replied sadly.
"You're trying to remodel..." The metallic blue femme joked, only to see the mech's worried frown deepening. "What's wrong Orion?"
Orion Pax was torn, he knew if he told the femme he lost her sparkling, he'd likely never see them again. But he would not withhold the truth from his friend. "Soundwave's gone Xanthia..."
"What, what do you mean he's gone?!" Xanthia exclaimed.
"I put him down for a stasis nap, I went to check on him a little while after. And he was gone, no where in sight." Orion Pax explained as the femme pushed past him, to the room.
"He's done this before, Soundwave's just playing." The femme's voice was shaking with nervous energy.
"I've searched the whole place twice, he's not here. I don't know how, I was near the door the entire time." Orion told the panicking mother.
Xanthia looked around frantically for her glowing sparkling, to no avail. "Soundwave..." The sight of laser burned glass catching her optic. "Orion, someone took Soundwave!"
Optimus woke up in a panic, sitting up in his berth, as his vents cycled wildly. Coming back into reality scanning his dark bedroom with his optics. The Prime knew it was just a nightmare that made him revisit the past, but he didn't feel settled after waking. Sitting on the edge of his berth he contemplated getting up to check on his younglings.
Toddling into unfamiliar territory, realizing this was the outskirts of Iacon. There were scavengers and other Cybertronian creatures lurking around, searching for their next victim to tear apart. "Rion?" Soundwave whimpered, cautiously looking around.
A mechanical growl could be heard, just as a feline mini con pounced out from the shadows.
Soundwave gasped in fear, running as fast a tiny little sparkling could possibly move. But it was useless as the mini con tackled him with ease. The sparkling let out a yelp hitting the ground, the feline mini con pinning him.
"No!" Soundwave cried as the mini con's razor sharp dental plates flashed in his face.
The feline blinked, growling taking in the sparkling's unique scent.
Soundwave screwed his little optics shut tightly, waiting for the mini con to destroy him. But to his surprise the feline stepped back off of him. Warily sitting up, the violet sparkling stared at the now sitting mini con. "No hurt?"
The feline sat silently, curiously watching the injured sparkling get up to his unsteady peds. His audio receptors perked upon hearing large footfalls approaching them. Hopping to his peds the black and silver feline jumped into a pile of scrap.
Soundwave stood confused at what was happening.
"Scrap that sparkling!" Megatronus's voice boomed.
"No bad..." Soundwave whimpered as the voices got louder.
The feline clued into the fact the approaching mechs were a threat to the vulnerable, swiftly jumping over to the violet sparkling, he guided the Soundwave into a pile of scrap to hide in.
Soundwave was going to question why the strange creature was pushing him into a scrap pile, but went silent hearing familiar sinister voices getting closer.
"So you're just giving up?" Shockwave growled following his friend.
"No, if that little brat shows his face I will destroy him. But right now he's endangering himself by wondering this death pit. Soundwave will likely parish to the creatures that run wild in this wasteland." Megatronus scoffed as they walked close to the feral feline mini con.
The feline hissed and snarled at the passing bots, to show he was ferocious and was not to be messed with.
"Ah, such as this one, warning us of his ravaging ways." The gunmetal grey mech snorted as they passed the growling mini con.
"Hmm..." Shockwave glared at the creature, only seeing it as a possible science project.
"Come'on Shockwave leave the damn pest alone, we've got much more important endeavour to begin." Megatronus called, transforming to travel faster.
"You know, I have a theory, maybe if we find Soundwave, I can begin a worthy experiment." Shockwave did as he was told, ignoring the feline, he transformed following his master back to Kaon.
The black and silver mini con's optics burned watching the two mechs disappear out of sight. Replaying what they said, in his helm, taking note that the violet sparkling's name must've been Soundwave.
"Ravage!" Soundwave squealed bursting out of the scrap pile landing on his tummy.
The feline bot hissed pinning his audio receptors in surprise as the sparkling startled him.
Soundwave giggled, as the mini con rolled its optics at him.
The feline nudged the sparkling with his muzzle, helping the sparkling up. Once Soundwave was standing, the mini con backed away to the wastelands he lived in.
"Ravage..." Soundwave whimpered, as the feline mini con began to leave him.
The feline hissed at the violet sparkling that gave chase, and followed him.
But Soundwave was no longer afraid of the mini con, reaching out a tiny little servo. The feline growled as the servo approached, but a spirit inside of him told him to relax, the sparkling meant no harm. Bowing his helm for the violet sparkling to touch.
"Ravage!" Soundwave chirped joyfully, gently stroking the purring mini con's helm.
The feline cocked his helm at the word the sparkling of Primus kept calling out. That must be the name the sparkling had chosen to bestow upon him.
Soundwave squealed when Ravage playfully nuzzled him to the ground. He laid on his back coughing in between giggles, as the mini con playfully nuzzled his ticklish stomach.
Sniffing the scarring on the glowing sparkling's throat, and the bleeding puncture wound on the sparkling's arm, Ravage was careful not to irritate the violet sparkling's injuries.
Ravage's audio receptors twitched hearing metal being kicked a small distance behind them. Stopping the play, the feline spun in the direction of the sound, seeing two large shadows round the corner of an alley.
Soundwave awkwardly pushed himself up to his peds, waving his arms as finding his center of balance.
Ravage growled knowing Soundwave didn't stand a chance against two ruthless mechs. He had to protect the vulnerable sparkling.
Soundwave squeaked as the large feline picked him by the scruff. Darting into the scrap metal, the feline carried him as they passed the two menacing mechs, completely oblivious to the mini con and sparkling.
Ravage boosted his senses, finding the violet sparkling energon trail. Once the mechs had passed, Ravage placed the glowing sparkling on the ground.
Soundwave turned, watching Ravage lay down, the mini con pushed him towards his back, gesturing for him to climb on. The sparkling took the hint, clumsily climbing with help of Ravage.
Ravage stood up once Soundwave was aboard, carefully following the energon trail, taking the sparkling of Primus, back to his home.
The two travelled quickly, Ravage was incredibly agile and stealthy, they had made quick time. They had not been spotted, not even in the busy environment of Iacon. Soundwave held on good for most of the trip, but the feline could feel the tiny sparkling laying on his back, exhausted from injuries and lack of rest.
"Soundwave!" Orion Pax and Xanthia called out as they walked through the alleyways of Iacon.
Soundwave perked up hearing his mother and uncle's voice. "Ma?"
Ravage cringed hearing the sparkling's scratchy sore distorted voice. Surely the sparkling's creators wouldn't be able to hear him calling out to them. Quickly thinking, the feline mini con knocked over a pile of trash, making a loud crashing sound.
"What was that?" Xanthia questioned turning in the direction of the sound.
"It may be Soundwave." Orion Pax encouraged the mother to follow him to the source of the sound.
Ravage sat down so Soundwave would gently slide off his back. Hearing the creators making their way towards them, he began to sneak his way out of the alleyway, back towards the badlands.
Soundwave was confused as to why his new friend would hide from his mother and uncle. He tiredly went to follow, but was interrupted as a strong pair of servos picked him up.
"Thought you could get away from me!?" Megatronus hissed as his sharp claws wrapped around the sparkling.
"No!" Soundwave cried out through coughing.
Soundwave squirmed trying his hardest to get out of the mech's grip. His coughing taking away some of his strength.
Ravage was sneaking by two frantic looking bots, the femme and mech look terrified as they called out the sparkling's name. They must've missed the alleyway, the felines audio receptors picked up Soundwave's cries for help coming from the alleyway. The mini con ran up to the two searching bots, he hissed loudly at them, gaining their attention.
"What is that?!" Orion gasped at the creature trying to get their attention.
"It's a stealth mini con, they're harmless unless provoked." Xanthia replied watching the feline move around like it was gesturing for them to follow. "I think he knows where Soundwave is." The femme didn't hesitate to follow Ravage.
Soundwave cried loudly as his father attempted to steal him away again. "Ma!"
"Soundwave!" Xanthia gasped pinning the gunmetal grey mech against the wall, causing him to drop her sparkling.
Optimus felt his spark ease slightly as he peeked into his younglings room, seeing Bumblebee in a deep recharge, while Mirage tried to recharge peacefully, but was restless as usual.
Walking back to his quarters Optimus halted at the young couple's room. He didn't want to wake the couple by accident just to check to see if his apprentice was in his berth resting, which he surely was. But the Prime had pain in his spark telling him to make sure Soundwave was safe and present.
Opening the door slowly Optimus peeked in to see Arcee sitting up in the berth, rubbing her restlessly recharging mech's helm. "Everything alright?"
"Having a nightmare again." Arcee replied as the Prime entered the room.
Optimus sighed sadly, wondering if his young apprentice was having the same nightmare he did. "His defences aren't seeing you as a threat, that's good."
"Makes being there for him a bit easier, but comforting is another story, our spark bond is still repairing so it's been hard for us." The femme sighed.
"It will mend quickly." Optimus replied positively.
"Did his uneasy spark wake you?" Arcee asked, looking up at her leader.
"I suppose so... I believe our nightmares are being linked during recharging." Optimus said to the cobalt blue femme. "If they are, my guess is he is having a nightmare about the time he was taken from me."
"Soundwave was taken from you?" The femme raised an optic ridge curiously.
"Yes, back on Cybertron when he was just a tiny little sparkling. Megatron stole him from my home, in an attempt to make Xanthia upset with me." Optimus Prime explained to Arcee.
"Oh, I bet that went over well." Arcee scoffed.
"It went over interestingly, as at that time I was still working closely with Megatron." Optimus replied shamefully.
"Get the fuck away from my sparkling!" Xanthia growled keeping the gunmetal grey mech pinned against the wall.
"I was retrieving Soundwave off the streets. I found him wondering in this alley." Megatronus scoffed.
"Rion!" Soundwave cried out unsteadily running over to his Uncle.
Orion rushed to terrified Soundwave, scooping the crying sparkling up off the ground. "You're safe now little one."
"I don't believe you for a nano click, Megatronus!" The femme hissed releasing her hold on her ex.
"I was simply going to return him to Orion. So irresponsible to lose Soundwave." Megatronus gazed sinisterly at his brother.
Soundwave nestled deeply into Orion's chest plate, coughing violently as he tried to hide from his father's gaze.
"I didn't lose Soundwave!" Orion defensively replied.
"His home window was cut open, and repaired. You took him!" The angry femme shouted.
"Odd, seems Iacon isn't as safe as you thought." Megatronus and his sly remarks only angered the mother further.
"You son of a..."
"Xanthia, we need to get Soundwave home." Orion Pax began pulling the femme away from his sinister brother.
Xanthia was ready to kill the gladiator, but her sparkling's wicked coughing redirected her attention. "You're right, let's go, now."
"That's right Orion, you take them back to safety. Though at this point, there is no safe place on Cybertron." The sinister mech called after the two bots quickly walking away from him.
Soundwave continued to cough, kicking, and squirming in discomfort in his mother's arms. Coughing up energon, as he had been harshly coughing for too long.
Once back in the data clerk's home Xanthia took over her sparkling's needs, while Orion greeted Ratchet who came to examine Soundwave's wounds.
"You've already gave him the serum, his wounds will heal over time, they're very minor." Ratchet explained to the relieved femme.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice Ratchet." Xanthia sighed, placing Soundwave down on the floor.
"Of course, I can't believe that happened. I think you're doing the right thing Xanthia, stay as far away from Megatronus as possible." Ratchet replied with a scoff.
Orion Pax sighed deeply, staring out one of the windows, overhearing the conversation happening in the kitchen. He was still working closely with the mech that continued to harass and cause harm to the mother and sparkling, he felt like the worst mech in the universe.
Soundwave stood behind his Uncle, picking up on how upset Orion was feeling.
Orion Pax visibly jumped as something tiny wrapped around his leg. Looking down to see the adorable violet sparkling. "Soundwave?"
"Up?" Soundwave reached his arms up.
Orion smiled promptly picking up his nephew. "What are you up to?"
"Hug!" Soundwave squealed wrapping his arms around the blue and red mech's neck.
Orion Pax chuckled softly, feeling his spark warm up with happiness. Gently hugging the sparkling back. "How'd you know I needed a hug?"
"Feel bad. Wave do what Rion do when Wave feel sad." Soundwave replied enthusiastically.
"Why were you still working closely with Megatron at that point?" Arcee questioned her leader.
"We were nearing a change to Cybertron, at that time terrorists began attacking the public, especially high caste venues. Both Megatron and myself were blamed for these terrorists, although both of us did not conduct them, and nothing to do with the terrorists. Megatron did not conduct the acts of terror, but he did not disagree with them either. Megatron wanted to change Cybertron by force, and scare tactics, hence why I continuously tried to meet with him, so I could possibly change his mindset. But I later came to realize that over the next cycles, Megatron only agreed with some of my suggestions, just to manipulate me into thinking he would change." Optimus sighed, watching his young apprentice shift uncomfortably in his slumber.
"What finally made you realize that?" The femme scoffed, watching her mech with concern.
"Before our meeting with the council, both Xanthia and Alpha Trion warned me numerous times that Megatron was doing so, and to beware of him. But I ignored, in hopes of changing my brother's views. But it all fell apart at our meeting with the council, when I was named Prime."
Arcee was silent, she remembered those terrorist attacks, Her mother was very upset, she rarely left home after they began. Forcing Arcee and her sisters to stay home, and away from any public areas as they were high in the caste system. Though Arcee remembered the frequent arguments her eldest sister Elita would get into with their mother. Because like their father, she disagreed with hiding, and wanted to help act against the terrorism. "I remember those attacks, that was the beginning of the Decepticons, and the spark that led towards war."
"Indeed, Megatron was the flame that ignited that spark into a war." Optimus agreed with the femme.
Arcee sighed as her mech continued to shift during his nightmares. "And Soundwave's so determined he can change his father's mind, and end this war."
"Yes, I had the same hope eons ago, but it faded after Cybertron was lost. I am just trying to convince Soundwave to look at the realistic side of this dying war. He's young and ambitious, Soundwave has been involved in so much violence his entire life, and is still reliving it. He doesn't wish to inflict anymore death and violence to this war. I agree, but I know Megatron won't stop." The Prime explained his concerns. "These next relics could possibly bring us home to Cybertron. But a part of me fears restoring our planet, as I know Megatron will once again attempt to conquer it, if not stopped prior to it's restoration."
Arcee nodded in agreement with her leader's words. "Soundwave and Mirage are total opposites. Mirage wouldn't even hesitate to destroy Megatron." She snorted.
"In very few ways, yes. But Mirage isn't thinking about killing his creator." Optimus reminded the femme.
"No, but he did take down Xanthia, with little hesitation." The femme pointed out.
The Prime stared at the femme thoughtfully. "Hmm... yes but it was also an imposter, and he wasn't bonded to his mother like Soundwave was."
"And Soundwave's bonded to Megatron?" Arcee snorted.
"Perhaps not through a spark bond, like you and I. But they have an insignificant connection, he's known Megatron his entire life cycle. Although Soundwave is a very lethal force to reckon with, he is very non violent, many of his violent outbursts are not in his control, and are a result of Shockwave's programming and augmentations." Optimus Prime told Arcee.
The femme almost had an expression of shock, as that thought had never crossed her mind before. She just thought her mech was just docile, and reluctant to fight due to his training being so lethal without any effort. "I didn't know Soundwave disliked conflict that much."
Soundwave faced the wall, he had awoken from his nightmare, and was listening in on the conversation between his mentor and sparkmate.
"Not many bots that know Soundwave, would have that cross their minds. Most only see him as a killer, mutant, super soldier." Optimus took note of the red and cyan blue glow reflecting off the wall, knowing his apprentice had his optics open, and was awake now. "Soundwave is more than meets the eye, aren't you?"
Arcee was confused by the Prime's last sentence.
Soundwave smirked sheepishly, rolling over to face the two. "If you say so sir."
"How long have you been awake?" Arcee asked as her mech sat up.
"Not long, I only woke a moment ago." Soundwave replied.
"How are you doing?" The femme wanted to make sure her sparkmate wasn't upset.
"I'm fine..." the violet mech gazed over at his mentor. "It wasn't too terrifying..."
"Hmm... you've gathered that some of our dreams/nightmares are synchronized with each other?" Optimus thought aloud.
"Yeah, you mentioned it a while back, I just didn't know if your theory was correct." The young mech shrugged. "How are you doing sir, are you alright?" Soundwave asked softening his tone.
"... I am..." Optimus turned his helm away from the couple.
"That's not true, I can feel you're uneasy." Soundwave replied, getting out of his berth.
Optimus Prime snorted with a laugh. "You don't miss a beat."
"No sir. And you don't have to skip having emotions, just because you're our stoic leader. I hid mine, and before you say it, either of you! I know I still do hide most of them, but it just makes things hurt even more." Soundwave replied, getting chuckles from the femme and mech.
Optimus's smile turned into a frown as his spark began to race, as his recent nightmare flashed through his helm. "I'm not alright. I'm reliving my greatest mistakes, I feel awful. I have made a lot of poor choices for my younglings, I regret every single one of them, and I wish I could change my mistakes."
"Optimus, don't be so hard on yourself, most of your decisions were to try and protect them." Arcee knew the Prime was referring to the mistakes he made with Mirage.
"Were they, or did it do more harm? I have no excuse for the other happenings, I was naive, and took on more than I could handle."
"Sir, you had no control over what happened. I was kidnapped by Megatron, if anything, I was the stupid one for hopping through that window." Soundwave scoffed, irritated in himself.
"Soundwave, you were a sparkling..." The Prime stood up, ready to leave the room.
"Look, my point is, my mother didn't blame you for what happened. She knew it was Megatron's doing, he did it on purpose to make my mother hate you. But my mother knew it wasn't your fault, and never blamed you for what happened." The glowing young mech sighed.
"But I was still trusting Megatron, and so were you in some ways, I was still brand new to our connection."
Arcee cleared her throat, gaining her mech's attention.
Soundwave gazed over to his femme, who gave him a pointed look. Switching on his mind reading to hear what his femme was thinking.
[Optimus needs to know that you forgive him. Show him everything is alright, just like he would for you.] Arcee thought, hoping her mech was reading her mind.
Soundwave nodded with a deep sigh, turning back to his mentor.
Optimus blinked, speechless as his apprentice wrapped his arms around him.
[Not what I had in mind, but that works.] Arcee chuckled, smiling at her sweet sparkmate.
It took Optimus a moment to return the embrace, immediately being taken back to the moment after him and Xanthia recovered Soundwave from Megatron.
A small smile crept onto Soundwave's face, feeling his father figure give a noticeable release of tension.
"Thank you youngling." Optimus sighed as they broke the much needed embrace.
Soundwave simply nodded with a smile, a very typical response from the young mech of few words.
"You don't have to pretend to be a mindless drone with no emotions, just because you're a Prime. You're a fully fledged Cybertronian with emotions and needs." Arcee told the Prime.
"You sound like your Elita..." Optimus replied.
"Well..." Arcee sighed deeply, knowing very well that Elita was the one that reminded Optimus that he wasn't a drone. "Elita was right..."
Soundwave placed a comforting servo on the femme's shoulder. He knew his sparkmate missed her deceased sister immensely, even though she very rarely mentioned it.
Arcee placed a servo on her mech's with a smile, appreciating the comforting gesture. "You're just here to comfort everyone aren't you?" The femme teased.
"I'm no cuddly sparkling, but I do care." Soundwave snorted with a chuckle.
"Indeed, now I'll let you two get some rest. I better get some to, before Ratchet induces me into stasis." Optimus sighed making his way to the door.
"Goodnight sir." Soundwave bid his mentor goodnight as the mech shut the door.
"Arcee?"
"I'm fine Soundwave. Thank you for caring though." The cobalt blue femme smiled as her mech climbed back into the berth.
"Of course." He smiled back, before drifting off into his thoughts.
"What are you thinking about now?" Arcee sighed, debating one whether or not her sparkmate was going to recharge tonight or not.
"Nothing Cee, don't worry." Soundwave replied with a playful smirk.
"I always worry about you, Wave." Arcee playfully replied, rubbing her mech's chest plate. "Especially when I know you have a billion thoughts swarming through your helm."
Soundwave took a deep breath, pulling the femme into his side. "Well at least all those thoughts are mine only."
"Yes, that's very good." Arcee agreed, snuggling into her mech's hold.
A few moments of silence went by in the dark room. The only light source being Soundwave's violet grooves, and his mixed coloured optics.
"Hey, you think Mirage is alright?" The young mech asked the half awake femme.
Arcee shrugged, opening her tired optics. "Not sure, why do you ask?"
"I don't know, just thought I'd ask your opinion." Soundwave replied, still thinking about his brother. "Why you think Mirage needs a hug too?" the violet mech asked jokingly.
"Clearly you're new to physical comfort tactics." Arcee snorted with a sigh. "Uh, no, not recommended. Mirage is worse than you are. You'd probably have better luck hugging Ratchet or Ironhide. The only time I ever got to hug that kid was when he was a sparkling, and when he had nightmares, and that was even rare."
"I've hugged Mirage." Soundwave scoffed.
"Yes you have, I'm just saying it depends on his mood. But I would definitely talk to him." The femme rolled her optics.
"Mirage is a mood..." Soundwave grumbled.
"Exactly, just stick to what you know." Arcee said with a yawn.
"I did that before, everyone hated it, and cracked me out of my shell." The young mech retorted.
"Ugh, Soundwave you know that's not what I meant. Can we just recharge now?" Arcee groaned, she was overtired and just wanted rest.
"Fine." Soundwave sat up in protest, breaking the comfortable embrace. Which his sparkmate rolled over in annoyance putting her back to him.
Soundwave waited a while allowing Arcee to fall back into recharge. Once he confirmed the femme was recharging, he materialized his visor to work on the database, while also searching for energon for the team's consistently dwindling supply. He nearly had the next code deciphered, the last piece of the code was incredibly difficult to break. Soundwave's concentration was broken as his energon detector picked up a significant energon source. Knowing he wasn't going to get any recharge, the young mech carefully crawled out of the berth without waking his sparkmate.
"I see you've uncovered most of the next coordinates." Optimus turned around upon hearing quiet footsteps approach him from behind.
"Yes sir. I also came across an energon source, that would be worth checking out." Soundwave replied. "I can go check it out, while you get some rest."
"No, I did recharge for a bit. But I'm afraid that's all the recharge I will get tonight. I would be happy to accompany you on an energon scout." Optimus replied, shutting off the monitor he was working on.
Soundwave nodded, creating a bridge for them, leading them into a densely forested area. The sun was just beginning to rise on this side of the planet.
Optimus smiled, watching the young mech's optics light up with wonder as his apprentice took in the beauty of the forest.
Soundwave loved the beauty of this planet's unspoiled nature. Although he was an Autobot, he really disliked the human populated areas, and enjoyed seeing the untainted natural environments.
"So in what direction do we begin youngling?" Optimus questioned, bringing his apprentice out of awe.
"Uh, this way, I can lead you." Soundwave shook out of his thoughts, leading his mentor through the forest.
Soundwave halted in his tracks, almost making Optimus slam into him.
"What's the matter Soundwave?" Optimus asked, as Soundwave gestured for him to be quiet.
Optimus obliged going silent, trying to listen in on his apprentice's concerns. Hearing a faint rumbling in the distance.
"What do you think that is? Blackout, or some other bladed Decepticon flier, I didn't know they were on Earth?" Soundwave thought aloud, to which Optimus chuckled.
"Come youngling, it is alright." The Prime gestured for his apprentice to follow him.
Soundwave did as he was told, following his mentor, boosting his sensors to detect any possible foe.
Optimus smiled at his young apprentice who kept giving him a worried gaze every few seconds, the thundering sound getting louder as they closed in on the source of the noise.
Soundwave took note of the moisture on the plants, a light mist of precipitation landing on their armoured frames as they approached what seemed to be a cliff with a forceful amount of water pouring off the cliffs edge. "Oh, it's a... it's um..." his processor registered it as something familiar, but his data files came up blank.
"Waterfall, similar to the surging energon falls at energon lakes, back on Cybertron." Optimus said.
"Energon falls?" Soundwave raised an optic ridge in confusion trying to uncover his blocked memory files.
"You don't remember them?" The Prime asked, wondering why the young mech was unfamiliar with something he had surely came across on their home planet.
"I think that memory is blocked." Soundwave shrugged in reply stepping closer to the waterfall. "The energon source is not far, we just follow upstream a bit." The violet mech began to lead the way, following the flowing water.
Optimus was a bit concerned for his apprentice, but followed him. "You're still having complications with your memory banks, I thought Lazerbeak resolved that issue?"
"Well he restored what memories he could. I know Ratchet was saying most of my memory banks were restored. But there's a lot of my files that Lazerbeak doesn't have, as he was consistently used during the war, and I downloaded his files, but he did not collect mine. Or most likely, whatever files that are still locked, are prior to Lazerbeak being paired with me." Soundwave explained as they crossed a calmer area of the river.
Optimus could feel in his spark, that the loss of memories had Soundwave's spark uncertain and scared. "It's frightening, I understand." He replied, stepping carefully through the river.
Soundwave knew Optimus was referring to when he had lost his memories after their battle with Unicron. "I know you do sir..." secretly wishing he had a matrix that could restore all his memories.
"I know yours is a little more complex, as you do not have a way to restore your missing data." Prime sighed following along the shore.
"Well, I kind of do, I just hate it." Soundwave mumbled.
"Is there something we can do to help restore them?" The leader asked, hearing the youngling's mumbles.
"Not really, I mean my memories always seem to catch fire when I recharge. Which I hate, because most of them aren't great, and then I wake everyone up with my nightmares." The young mech replied, stopping in front of a large cave entrance.
"In my opinion Soundwave, on occasion I seem to have the same nightmare if we were both involved in the memory..." the Prime stopped next to his young apprentice.
"The energon signal is coming from here. Do you think it's because our spark bond was growing, and is now fully fused?" Soundwave questioned, leading his leader into the cave.
"It could be part of it, perhaps we are linked in more ways than one youngling, I have never heard of spark bonds transmitting the same dreams, or nightmares. Have you and Mirage ever had the same nightmare?" Optimus replied following the glowing youngling.
"Yes we have, just not in unison. We just usually know the feeling of when we're having nightmares, not their subject." Soundwave mentioned as they went deeper into the cave. "We were not together for long, even though we share a strong bond."
"Hmm..." Optimus couldn't think of a reply, continuing to follow.
Soundwave rounded the corner into a large cavern filled with energon. He could hear Optimus's surprised gasp at how large the energon supply was.
While Optimus inspected the untouched energon, Soundwave released a tentacle drilling into the ground. It didn't take long for him to pull it back out with energon dripping from it. Looking into the drilled hole seeing a steady flow of blue liquid. "There's a small energon lake underground."
"This is an excellent find Soundwave." Optimus praised the youngling for the discovery of energon. But in the back of his mind he knew it would be a large target for the Decepticons. "We will need to collect as much as possible, as it will not be long before the Decepticons discover this."
Soundwave agreed this would be a major target. "I have an idea." Switching on his comlink to contact his little brother. "Mirage, are you awake?"
"Duh, what do you want, where are you?" Mirage scoffed in reply.
"I'm in an energon mine, we have found an energon lake and it's a huge target for the Decepticons." Soundwave replied.
"So, what's your point?" Mirage sighed.
"What electro magnetic masking devices do you have?"
"Only one, but it's not large enough to cover a cave of energon." The assassin retorted.
"It can, if you add a hologram to it." Soundwave told his doubtful brother.
"...Just send me a bridge..." Mirage groaned ending the call.
"Brat..." Soundwave shook his helm firing up a ground bridge for his little brother.
"Wow this is a great find, I don't think we've ever been able to get this big of a supply on Earth." Mirage said upon enter the cave.
"Soundwave found a good source, but we need to mask it." Optimus said.
"I will do that, but be aware that it's not a deterrent, if the Decepticons get curious enough to touch the holographic mountain." Mirage mentioned as he set up the masking devices.
"We will work diligently to retrieve the energon." Optimus nodded in acknowledgement.
Soundwave laughed as his brother activated the masking field.
"What's so funny?" Mirage sighed glaring up at his giggling brother.
"You're cloaked." Soundwave replied.
Mirage looked down at his servos, noting that he was invisible. "My cloaking must be reacting to the masking field."
"We will return back to base, Mirage I need you to investigate Starscream's base of operations while Soundwave and I deal with the Iacon relics." Optimus told his youngling as Soundwave created a bridge back to base.
"Sure, of course." Mirage was happy to take on the mission.
Soundwave knew Mirage would enjoy the mission, he was growing increasingly board with the regular patrols while the database was being decrypted.
Later that morning Soundwave was finally able to get the last code decrypted. "Optimus, I have the coordinates to the next relic."
"Excellent, let's go before the Decepticons do the same." Optimus said leaving the monitor he was working on.
"Shouldn't we wait for the others?" Soundwave asked as the Prime put the coordinates into the ground bridge.
"We can call for backup if needed, but I think we should be fine." Optimus replied, walking through the bridge.
Soundwave shrugged following his mentor. They were once again on the edge of a forest, facing a rock mountain. Tracking the Iacon beacon, the violet mech located the source. "Over there in the mountain." Soundwave pointed in the direction of the mountain wall, seeing something odd sticking out of the rock face.
To both mechs dread, the familiar hum the Nemesis came over them. Optimus waved for Soundwave to back up into the forest with him.
The young mech reluctantly stepped back as a crew of Eradicon seekers flew down, landing next to the relic. A bridge opened moments later revealing Shockwave, as Megatron flew down from his ship.
"The Star Saber..." Megatron hissed in disgust at the sight of the sword's hilt.
"They're really amping up their troops for relic retrieval." Soundwave mentioned. "Should I call for backup?"
"Yes, but I am afraid we cannot wait for them to arrive." Optimus said as Megatron shouted in frustration after he failed to pull it from the mountain.
"The sword will only respond to a Prime's touch." Shockwave pointed out.
Megatron fired angrily at the hilt hoping the rock would crumble around it, to no avail.
"The sword is producing some kind of forcefield." Shockwave continued to point out issues.
"We cannot allow Optimus to get a hold of it. We'll take the whole mountain if we have to!" Megatron screamed at his soldiers. "Shockwave go activate the ships grapple!"
"What's our plan?" Soundwave asked watching as Shockwave disappeared through a bridge portal.
"I need a diversion." Optimus Prime replied activating his mask.
Soundwave nodded, materializing his visor, he released Lazerbeak to assist him in causing a distraction. Calmly walking towards the group of Decepticons, Soundwave produced a disorienting high frequency alarm causing all Decepticons to yelp in pain as he approached them.
Optimus moved quickly through the forest to get behind the Decepticons, groaning in pain as he tried to focus on his task while Soundwave played that awful noise.
The violet mech only played the frequency long enough to annoy Megatron, as the sound would be disorienting to Optimus as well.
Megatron growled firing his canon at the violet mech. "Kill him!"
Lazerbeak quickly responded to the gunfire, firing his weapons while dive bombing the Decepticons.
The mountain cracked as the piece that held the Star Saber was pulled away by the warship.
Soundwave dodged most of the fire, using his arm like shields to block the shots that struck him.
Megatron was furious at this point, charging the young mech while firing his canon. His soldiers following suit.
It wasn't long before a bridge appeared with more Autobots charging in. Diverting the Decepticons attention.
Megatron ceased fire, looking around frantically for his brother. "Where's Optimus?!" The sound of a semi truck engine from above answering that question.
Soundwave followed Megatron's gaze, seeing Optimus scaling the mountain in a rush to catch the floating slab of mountain.
"Stop Prime!" Megatron commanded transforming, pursuing his brother with his seekers.
Optimus sped up the mountain with haste, as the warship flew away with the Star Saber, dodging Decepticon gunfire at the same time.
Soundwave transformed as well, firing at Megatron and the seekers. "Lazerbeak assist the others." He ordered so his drone would't follow him into the dog fight.
Megatron growled as the seekers flying next to him began to fall thanks to the violet reaper chasing them. The young mech's presence had little effect on his pursuit to stop the Prime from reaching the blade.
Optimus gunned it off the mountain, getting hit by a bullet he transformed reaching out for the sword.
Soundwave was relieved when his mentor's servo grasped the hilt sticking out of the giant piece of mountain. Firing at the gunmetal grey jet so Optimus would not get hit while retrieving the sword.
Megatron veered off course, retreating back to his ship. As Optimus activated the sword, falling from the mountain to the ground. Once in the bridge of the ship, Megatron watched Optimus examine the glowing sword. "Drop the mountain on him!" He ordered Shockwave.
The mountain dropped from the ship's grapple, rolling down the hill towards the Prime standing at the bottom.
Soundwave fired at the rolling mountain trying to break it down as it violently rolled towards his mentor.
"Optimus, retreat!" Arcee screamed for their leader to move.
Feeling the rumbling of the mountain rolling down towards him, Optimus waited for the optimum moment to turn around. With one swift manoeuvre the Prime sliced the mountain in half with little to no effort.
Everyone was in disbelief, Megatron must've been in shock, because the Nemesis flew off trying to make a hasty escape.
Though Optimus wasn't about to let them escape so easily. With one good swing, Optimus released a devastating wave of energy surging up into the sky.
Soundwave quickly barrel rolled trying to get out of the way of the burning cyan blue energy wave. Watching as it hit the Nemesis so hard the ship almost plunged into the ground before continuing on it's course.
"Wow... remind me not to get on the receiving end of that blade." Mirage nervously chuckled.
Soundwave transformed landing next to his mentor, allowing Lazerbeak to return to him. "That was incredible Optimus."
"Excellent work distracting while you could youngling." Optimus praised his young apprentice as Mirage and Arcee ran over to them.
"Where's the rest of the team?" Soundwave questioned the femme.
"Recharging, I think." Arcee replied to her mech.
"Alrighty then." Soundwave shrugged opening a bridge to base.
"Optimus what happened?" Ratchet asked upon seeing the small team enter.
"We have retrieved the next Iacon relic. Now only four remain, and have yet to be decrypted." Optimus replied, narrowing his optics at his apprentice, noticing the violet mech's singed arm. "Soundwave your injured."
"Nah, just a small burn. I couldn't get out of the way on time, that sword has a hell of a kick though." Soundwave sheepishly chuckled.
"I'm sorry Soundwave I didn't mean to injure you." The Prime apologized as the Star Saber began to glow cyan blue. Holding the sword with both servos, Optimus focused all his attention on the sword as he entered a trance.
"Optimus, what's going on, talk to me Optimus?" Ratchet quickly gave concerned questions.
"I am receiving a message." Optimus replied emotionless.
"From who?" Mirage asked, just as confused as the others.
"Alpha Trion."
Soundwave watched silently as his mentor fell into a silent trance.
"Optimus, what is Alpha Trion saying?" Ratchet asked the Prime.
"I think he'll get back to you on that one Ratch, I think he's taking it all in." Mirage commented, getting a glare from the medic.
"Anything else you want to point out there obvious bot?" Arcee shook her helm at the youngling.
[As... you... long... suspected...] Soundwave winced as a hiss of radio interference blasted through his audio receptors. [The Covenant... Of... Primus... records...] he shook his helm in irritation as the old voice echoed in his processor. [Events... future... as... well... as... past...]
"Soundwave what's wrong?" Mirage asked, noticing his brother's odd behaviour.
"I... my... mind reading is activating, interfering..." Soundwave hissed in pain as he tried to switch off his ability, only to receive a louder volume of the now clear, recognizable voice.
"Well sit down." Arcee said guiding Soundwave towards a crate.
[The Covenant's pages foretold, that you, Optimus Prime, would journey to the small, but significant planet, with the child of Primus. To engage in a crucial chapter in the war against the Decepticons.] Soundwave unconsciously sat on the crate, now completely focused on Alpha Trion's message.
"Wave, you're turning blue." Mirage pointed out that his brother had a glowing cyan blue aura illuminating his violet frame.
[I know neither the nature of the battle, nor its outcome. I only hope that you guide your apprentice through the arising difficulties. And that these relics of the ancients will aid the Autobots in your time of need.]
"What are you hearing?" Arcee tried to ask her mech that was unresponsive.
[Of utmost importance, in a few moments, I will launch the last of the relics, the most powerful of them all. Your child of Primus will be the one to make them significant, I do not know if the war will be ended, but I can only offer you a small piece of advice. Do not let your judgment stand in the way of your son's destiny...]
Soundwave shook his helm out of his trance, looking over to see Ratchet making sure Optimus was alright.
"So what was the message?" Mirage asked, looking back and forth between his brother and father.
Optimus was confused by his mentor's last words, but felt he had to express the importance of the last relics. "It is paramount that we recover the last four Iacon relics. The Omega Keys."
"Keys?" Arcee raised an optic ridge.
"To what?" Ratchet was eager to learn the answer.
"To the regeneration of our home planet." Soundwave answered.
"Holy scrap we got a ticket off this dust rock?!" The twins gasped upon entering the room with Jazz and Ironhide.
"Yes, finally we can get off this human infested rock!" Mirage practically cheered.
"I love the beauty of this planet, but oh would it be amazing to be back home." Arcee said with a sigh. "Soundwave wouldn't it be great to be back on Cybertron and not have to share a base."
"Yeah... that would be great." Soundwave dryly laughed.
Ratchet was also excited, but noticed his old friend was solemn. "Optimus, what else did Alpha Trion say?"
"He told me I shouldn't stand in the way of my child's destiny?" The Prime replied still very confused.
"Bumblebee, or Mirage?" Ratchet asked gesturing to the group of celebrating Autobots.
"I don't think it's either of them..." Optimus replied, watching his apprentice go into deep thought.
"What do you mean, they're your younglings?" Ratchet followed his leader's gaze. "You think it's Soundwave? That can't be possible, he's Megatron's spawn." the medic whispered in disbelief.
Optimus was in agreement with the medic, but in the back of his mind he knew Alpha Trion was trying to inform him of something he wasn't completely aware of.
"So we found a new energon mine, it's got an energon lake." Soundwave changed the subject.
"Nooo... yeeeaaah..." the twins faked being thrilled as Ironhide glared at them.
"Chill out whiney bots, Bee and I can assist Ironhide, you guys take on patrol." Arcee reassured the twins.
"Sure sounds good to us!" The twins eagerly agreed.
"The mine is cloaked so it's hopefully hidden from the cons." Mirage mentioned.
"Here's the coordinates." Soundwave typed the location into the ground bridge.
Both Optimus and Soundwave left the excitement to begin working diligently on the Iacon Database.
After a few moments Arcee walked over to her occupied mech. "Hey Soundwave, I'm going to the mine for a while, are you going to be okay?"
"I'm good, thanks Cee." Soundwave turned to his femme.
Arcee smiled with a nod. "Don't work too hard." She quickly gave her sparkmate a peck before joining the mining team.
The base fell silent for the most part, Ratchet organized his med bay before joining the twins and Jazz on patrol, just for a change of scenery.
Not long after Ratchet left, Optimus went to his quarters to finish reports. The Prime had had so many things on his mind lately, he had been lacking in reports for their human ambassador. His mind was too scattered to focus on cracking codes, so he decided to change his focus to something simpler.
Soundwave cleared his throat trying to rid of the irritation building up in his vocals. "Mirage, have you discovered anything?"
"Nope, nothing at all. Are you still linked up with the Nemesis?" Mirage replied over the comlink.
"Uuummm..." Soundwave tried hiding his cough while checking to see if he was still connected to Megatron's warship. "Ugh, Shockwave must've finally figured it out, I've got nothing." The young mech groaned through a painful sounding cough.
"Damn, alright, thanks for checking." Mirage cringed hearing the pained coughing, ending the call with his brother.
Optimus had gotten little done on his reports, as the message from Alpha Trion still rang through his head. He groaned in frustration, resting his helm on his desk. The Prime closed his optics, trying to reset his mind. "What son were you speaking of, Alpha Trion..." he muttered under his breath, the only response the mech received was violent coughing coming from down the hallway.
"Ugh... where'd you put it!" Soundwave coughed, searching through the med bay. Sitting himself on the medical berth, his painful coughing getting too much to handle.
Optimus walked out from the hallway, seeing the young mech's vents cycling as fast as they could, as he approached his apprentice he could hear the cooling fans whirring from the violet mech. "Soundwave you need to take your..."
"Tr...y...ing... to... fi..nd..." Soundwave's already distorted voice, crackled into static.
"Ratchet must've moved them this morning." Optimus replied beginning to search for the young mech's much needed serum. "Here they are." Optimus reached into a high up, cluttered, cupboard, bringing down the small container full of glass vials. "There you are youngling." He handed the exhausted violet youngling a vial.
Soundwave nodded in thanks, taking the vial as soon as he received it.
"I'll put these here so you can find them easily." Optimus smiled putting the container in an easy to find spot in the med bay. "But you should be carrying some, like you used to."
"I... kn..." Soundwave's voice turned to static stopping the young mech from speaking. The violet mech tried clearing his vocals for a better result.
"You should also have Ratchet look into that." The Prime mentioned.
"I will." Soundwave replied clearly this time.
The Prime nodded, looking up at the monitors. "You deciphered the first word, good work youngling."
"Thank you sir, I will get more done." Soundwave replied longingly.
Optimus nodded, turning to make his way back to his quarters.
"Optimus?" Soundwave called before his mentor took another step.
"Yes youngling?" The Prime looked over his shoulder.
"How'd you meet my mother?"
Optimus turned back, seeing the young mech in as much shock as he was that such a question came from himself.
"Did I really just ask that?" Soundwave asked in disbelief. He had no idea what possessed him to ask such a random question, it was completely involuntary. "I'm sorry, I'll get back to the Iacon Database..."
"No, it's quite alright youngling, I will answer your question." The Prime chuckled warmly.
"I, uh, sure..." Soundwave sighed.
"I haven't actually thought of that day we met, in some time." Optimus mentioned. "It was under very, odd, circumstances..."
"Oh?" The violet mech cocked his helm.
"It was just before you were sparked..." The Prime trailed off into deep thought.
Soundwave's optics darted around almost looking for an escape from the awkward silence. "Before I was sparked..." the young mech gestured for his mentor to continue.
"Sorry, yes, just before you were sparked. I actually do not remember much, but I will try my best to explain." Optimus refocused himself. "I was going home after a strange shift at the Hall Of Records... there was an odd... light... I actually don't remember much except after regaining consciousness, I found your mother on the ground regaining consciousness as well..."
"Whoa, hang on, there are so many holes in this story." Soundwave waved his servos at the Prime.
"I agree. I will have to get back to you on this one youngling, I apologize, I just cannot remember." Optimus apologized trying his hardest to recollect his meeting of the femme.
"It's alright sir, you've had a lot to think about over the last few weeks, this random outburst wasn't needed to pile onto your stress." Soundwave tried to reassure the Prime it was alright. "I'll continue to work on the database."
"I will help you with the database, as soon as I finish my reports, youngling." The red and blue mech sighed, leaving the room.
"What... th... the... hell... possessed me to ask that?" Soundwave shook his helm as painful electrical static distorted his vocals once more.
"What are mumbling about dude?" Jazz asked upon entering the base.
"N... thing..." the young mech struggled to reply.
"Oookay... if you say so." Jazz said with a funny look.
Both mechs turned to watch as the bridge activated, waiting to see who was entering the base.
"Alright Jazz, you're shift." Arcee playfully scoffed.
"Ha ha alright, is Bee doing alright or should I send him back too?" Jazz asked before entering the bridge.
"Nah, Bee's pretty resilient, he loves it. But if he's starting to fatigue, send his aft to base." Arcee replied to the grey mech.
"Alright cool." Jazz nodded entering the bridge before it closed.
"Hey, how's the database coming along?" The cobalt blue femme approached her mech.
"Fi...ne..." Soundwave shrugged as static interrupted his voice.
"What?" Arcee cocked her helm in confusion, unable to understand her mech's voice.
The violet mech gave a quick thumbs up to his spark mate instead of trying to use his malfunctioning voice.
"Okay, that's good. I'm going to the wash rack to get the dust off me. When the twins get back, do you want to go on a patrol?" Arcee asked.
Soundwave nodded giving his femme another thumbs up.
The femme gave the silent mech a quizzical look. "Are we reverting back to silent, Soundwave, today?"
"N... no!" The violet mech quickly shook his helm.
Arcee chuckled with a smile. "I was just teasing you. I'll be back in a minute."
"Frag..." Soundwave groaned, hoping Ratchet would return before he went out on patrol, so the medic could assess what was happening to his voice box.
"Finally got the reports done." Optimus sighed, walking over to the young mech.
"Gr... great..." Soundwave nodded trying to clear his throat again.
"Shit, go go go go!" The twins raced into the base, transforming practically tripping over each other.
Both Prime and apprentice quizzically watched the twins rush down the hallway, as Ratchet entered the base in a mood.
"Remind me not to go on patrol with those two morons!" Ratchet yelled towards the hallway.
"Ratch..." Soundwave tried get the medic's attention.
"Were they really that terrible old friend?" The Prime chuckled.
"R...Ratch..."
"Go on patrol with them, and you tell me!" The medic scoffed.
"I have before, they're a little rambunctious, but are respectful enough." The Prime replied to the medic's disliking.
"Fragging hooligans..." Ratchet disagreed with Optimus.
"Ratchet..." The violet young mech continued to attempt to gain the CMO's attention.
"Talking about the twins?" Arcee snorted entering the main room.
"How'd you guess!?" Ratchet sarcastically replied.
"Lucky guess. You ready to go, mister glow?" Arcee asked turning to her mech.
Soundwave nodded defeatedly, following his sparkmate out of the base.
Arcee didn't say anything about her mech's response, she could tell something was off. "Soundwave why don't you just pick a random place to bridge us, and we'll go for a walk instead? I'm sure the twins are going to go out on patrol again."
"Sure." The young mech replied, creating a bridge almost instantly.
Arcee went to walk through first, but halted when a slender servo grasped her servo. "What's wrong?"
Soundwave didn't reply vocally, walking a couple steps towards the bridge, giving a gentle squeeze to the femme's servo, waiting for his spark mate to catch up.
"Oh, I see." Arcee smiled warmly, walking through the bridge, holding hands with her spark mate. She was surprised to get a salty mist from an ocean breeze.
Scanning the beautiful sandy location with her optics, hearing the large waves crash next to them, no humans, or civilization to be seen. It was no tropical beach that played on the shows the twins watched. A pine forest lay not too far from the water, beautiful cliff faces lining on each side of the beach. "This is beautiful Soundwave, was this just a random jump?"
"No, I have flown over this place quite often, I found it was relaxing, I thought I would share it with you." Soundwave was relieved his voice wasn't distorted anymore than usual.
"Well it's beautiful, thank you for sharing." Arcee gently squeezed her mech's servo.
"I'm sorry I haven't payed much attention to you." The violet mech apologized.
"What, you've been paying attention to me. What do you mean?" The cobalt blue femme scoffed.
"I mean like this, without the stress of trying to make me feel better, because I'm screwed up." Soundwave retorted.
"I don't think that Soundwave..."
"Forget I mentioned that. Let's just enjoy our time together, with no one to bother us." The violet mech pulled the femme into his side, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Okay." Arcee sighed relaxing into embrace, walking down the beach with her spark mate. "So are you excited about restoring our planet? I sure miss oil baths, that's one of the first things I'll be doing."
Soundwave wasn't very excited, knowing Megatron was still very much a threat, regardless of whether they restored Cybertron or not. Only seeing the stress it was causing him, and Optimus, but he didn't want to darken the mood. "Yeah, can't wait..."
Arcee looked into her mech's optics. "That was an awkward yes, you're not excited to have Cybertron back to it's beautiful self, with no war, or ugly hatred destroyed regions?"
"Well... Yeah I'm excited to experience that for the first time in my life." Soundwave casually reminded the femme he hadn't lived under such privileged circumstances, all he'd known was the ugly side of Cybertron.
"Oh come'on Soundwave, you lived with Optimus for a small time in Iacon." Arcee tried to show he'd seen the good side of Cybertron.
"There were still criminals there, I was a terrified sparkling that hid every time someone passed, because that's what I was taught. I didn't enjoy being outside of Orio... Optimus's home, except to see Ratchet, and to attempt to play with the snobby high caste younglings. My time there was so brief, because my mother moved us away just before the war began, because Shockwave was hunting us down." Soundwave gave his femme a reality check.
Arcee frowned understanding her mech hadn't seen any good parts about Cybertron. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive. But once Cybertron is restored, I'll show you the good."
"It's a deal." Soundwave playfully hugged his femme.
"We've been so caught up in stress lately, I've forgotten how sweet you can be." The femme teased her mech.
"I kn... I... know. That's what I m... me... ent... er... er... earlier." Soundwave spoke through the painful distortion and electrical static.
"Soundwave what's going on with your voice, I can't understand you?" Arcee narrowed her optics at her struggling spark mate.
"Kzzk!" Soundwave coughed in pain as his voice box misfired his vocals, giving him a sharp painful zap. "I... ca... Ratch..."
"We need to get Ratchet to examine your voice box, something's not right." Arcee replied as Soundwave nodded in agreement.
"You weren't gone very long, I can work on the database by myself youngling it's alright." Optimus greeted the young couple.
"No, something's going on with his voice, Soundwave can't speak properly." Arcee replied gaining the medic's attention.
"What's going?" Ratchet asked as Soundwave entered into the med bay.
"His voice is all distorted, more than usual. It's cutting out, staticky, like when Mirage lost his voice box." The femme told the CMO.
"Not good. Let me take a look." Ratchet shook his helm.
Soundwave took a deep breath, allowing Ratchet to examine his throat.
"It's showing a lot more deterioration in your vocals." Ratchet reluctantly mentioned.
"Okay, so how do we fix that?" Arcee asked for her mech.
Ratchet sighed turning to the medical monitors, knowing there wasn't a good option for repairs.
Soundwave knew there wasn't any options for repairing his melted vocals, the medic had mentioned it when he was a sparkling.
"Ratchet?" Arcee called waiting for a reply.
"There's two options, and none of them are good." The medic replied sadly.
Soundwave drew his helm back in shock, he didn't think there would be any options. "Wha... are.."
"The options are very similar, one is a little better, but extremely risky." The medic began to everyone's dismay. "The first, and least risky option, is we do nothing. Letting the glitch continue to worsen at a slow periodic rate. Which means you will have to go days with pain, unable to speak. You will need to go without speech for a while, a cool down time, to allow for your vocals to become semi useful again. But eventually you become completely mute."
"That's, um, okay what's the other option?" Arcee cringed at the first option.
"Second possibly the best, but very risky option is that I operate, repair what I can, resulting in you having less glitching. Most of the risks are after the operation. There's times it will cause a lot of pain when you speak, momentary muteness, you will most likely need to be operated on every month or so, to keep everything operational. And the biggest risk is if something goes wrong during the operations, you can become permanently mute." Ratchet explained to the young couple.
"That seconds option was just the first one, just on a worse level." Sunstreaker scoffed from the couch.
Both Soundwave and Arcee were quiet, mulling over the two options.
"Think it over Soundwave, don't worry about deciphering the database today, I will deal with the it." Optimus told his young apprentice.
Soundwave nodded, walking to his quarters with Arcee in tow.
"You've already decided haven't you?" The femme said, shutting the door behind them.
"It doesn't ma...t.. ter.. what I choose. They have the s... s... same... benefits and conse...quences..."
"Hey, your voice is back, at least for the moment." The femme tried to lift the mood a bit. "I'm sorry, I just want you to know I support whatever you choose. Voice or no voice, I love you, no matter what."
"W... what... would you choose?"
