The Quiet One’s

by BeeSamusnChief

Soundwave, and Mirage, super soldiers, created from Shockwave’s science, vow to protect the newly rejuvinated Cybertron, from Decepticon fugitives. Soundwave finds himself in an alternate dimension, when Shockwave’s revenge, steals his life from him.

7. Redirected

Shots rang through the air along with screams, metal clashing, as Mirage tore through whatever Decepticons decided to get in his way. Many of the Cons being the ones he had caught and thrown in prison. The closer they got to Soundwave, the more Elite Guards appeared, with Ultra Magnus barking orders out, while deflecting attacking Decepticons, with his war hammer.

Ultra Magnus locked his optics onto the approaching cobalt blue femme. "Chief Arcee, what is going on, has Soundwave gone mad? My Guard tells me the Decepticon prisoners were released by Soundwave!" The massive mech had a few guards escort Arcee's squad into the heavily guarded High Council building.

"Shockwave, and Flamewar, are behind this attack sir." Arcee replied wincing as and explosion shook against the building.

"And Soundwave's involvement?" Ultra Magnus growled.

"We believe that is an imposter, created by Shockwave, or Shockwave is somehow controlling Soundwave." Prowl replied, gaining a quizzical frown from Ultra Magnus.

"We have no choice but to eliminate any Decepticons causing unnecessary damage and death. Your officers have managed to arrest the few that had fled, and separated from this attack. What is your plan for bringing down Soundwave, he seems to be the present ring leader?!" Ultra Magnus demanded answers from the overwhelmed femme.

"We are currently trying to clear a pathway towards Soundwave, so that Mirage can set him straight." Arcee told the frustrated High Councillor.

Ultra Magnus turned his unamused gaze to the red youngling, giving him an emotionless glare. "You're Soundwave's brother, will you willingly deactivate your brother for the sake of Cybertron, and it's citizens, if need be?"

Mirage was that bot, but only if every other resource had been exhausted. "I am."

Ultra Magnus did not trust the youngling's word, but he would happily do the deed, if the youngling proved to come up reluctant. "We will clear you a path."

Soundwave lay on the ground unconscious, for quite a while. Finally coming to, sitting up in pain, his helm spun greatly disorienting the violet mech. Taking a few moments to recalibrate himself, Soundwave slowly got up to his peds, scanning around realizing he was by himself, back on Cybertron, to his dismay, still in the realm that Shockwave trapped him in. "Sc-ra-kzzk!" The young mech gave a painful cough. [Scrap that hurt. I'm still stuck in this fragging shadowzone...] Soundwave truthfully hoped that the Primes would send him back to the normal reality he was used to.

Soundwave knew whether he was in the shadowzone or not, he had to make his way to his clone. Transforming, the reaper took flight towards Iacon, during this flight Soundwave skimmed through the knowledge the Primes had gifted him, hoping to find something that would tell him how to get out of this dimension.

Mirage was getting really tired of being stuck behind the Elite Guard, Soundwave was being guarded by many Decepticons, that were delaying a direct attack on his brother. With the phase shifter and his cloaking, Mirage easily snuck behind the guarding Decepticons, flanking them from behind.

D-34 saw that his soldiers began falling around him unexpectedly, switching the vision on his visor, catching sight of the cloaked youngling destroying his troops.

"Destroy the youngling!" Shockwave ordered over the comlink. "Do not hold back!"

D-43 acknowledged Shockwave's commands, making his way towards the invisible assassin.

"I think it's time for us to get in that battle, and start telling the Decepticons who's really in charge." Flamewar turned towards the one optic mech.

Shockwave shook his helm at the eager femme. "Highly illogical, it would be greatly premature to show ourselves now, D-34 has not infiltrated the High Council yet. Once he takes out the High Council database, we may join to aid in destroying the High Councillors."

Flamewar rolled her optics with a groan. "Fine, but I get to snuff Ultra Magnus."

"No, we must let D-34 destroy Ultra Magnus. If our plans are foiled somehow, Ultra Magnus's demise will terminate any chance of Soundwave ever getting back into High Council, and especially destroying any chance of him becoming a Prime." Shockwave hissed, getting frustrated with his partner.

Flamewar chuckled venomously. "You think that pathetic youngling is still alive?"

"Soundwave is much more resilient than you believe, at most he is imprisoned in another dimension. But it is only a matter of time before Soundwave figures out how to escape it." The purple mech scoffed, continuing to watch his clone of Soundwave beat the scrap out of his former science project.

Flamewar narrowed her optics at Shockwave. "You're planning on this all failing?"

"Not completely, but I have learned that no matter what I put into action, Mirage, and Soundwave, always make my plans backfire." The one optic mech admitted to the skeptical mech.

"Soundwave's not here, and your clone is beating your failed super soldier, I think you're overly cynical." Flamewar retorted, thinking to herself that Shockwave was a useless cog hampering her from advancing in conquering the Autobots. His plans to take over the High Council were ridiculous, they needed to destroy the High Council, and force their reign on Cybertron.

Mirage held his blades in front of his face, to block the blows from his attacking brother. "Soundwave, what the frag has gotten into you?!" The youngling kicked the attacker off of him.

D-34 ignored his targets whines, killing this young assassin was his only concern.

Arcee fired at the Decepticons, trying to hold off the defence that began to rebuild as Mirage was viciously attacked. "We need to move up, Mirage is getting pummeled!"

"We can't, until this blockade is destroyed, pushing through would be suicidal!" Prowl shouted back at the femme.

"We need air support!" Jazz mentioned, shooting down a few Decepticon soldiers.

"Ultra Magnus, can you contact the Aerialbots?!" Arcee hissed, ducking behind a wall as a missile hit nearby.

"I have contacted them, they're making their way up from Vos, ETA fifteen breems." Ultra Magnus replied, returning fire at the Decepticon rebellion.

"We can't wait that long!" Arcee hissed, watching as Mirage struggled to battle his brother.

Mirage activated the phase shifter gaining an unfair advantage, as Soundwave's attacks became utterly useless. *Soundwave, talk to me, what's going on?* Mirage tried to reach through to his brother through their spark bond.

Soundwave was destroyed by the destruction he flew over, it was clear to him that the Decepticons were making their way to High Council. *Sound... Wave... what's... into... you?* Soundwave transformed hearing his brother's voice trying to communicate with him through their bond. Locating his brother being attacked by his doppelgänger, while Arcee, and Ultra Magnus struggled to keep the Decepticons distracted while that battle pressed on.

D-34 deployed his tentacles, using one to attempt to attack Mirage, while using the other to rip the phase shifter off the youngling's wrist. Making the youngling no longer invincible to his blows.

Mirage was ripped off the ground by one of the tentacles, being shocked and slammed into the ground. The youngling struggled to locate the second tentacle that would no doubt be next to strike. As the second tentacle came flying in for an attack, Mirage swung his arm blade just in time to slice off the invading tentacle.

D-34 staggered back as his energon splattered on the ground. Using his intact tentacle to wrap around the red youngling's frame, tightly squeezing Mirage, hearing the satisfying groan from the youngling's metal plating warping.

Arcee watched in horror as Mirage was being crushed in front of them. She had enough of hiding behind the Elite Guard, charging forward she struck down any Decepticon that jumped in her pathway, until she reached her supposed sparkmate, firing her blasters directly hitting the indigo glowing mech with every bullet.

D-34 threw Mirage at the charging femme, leaping back to recharge his shields.

Arcee yelped as her and Mirage tumbled over burning rubble, and lifeless husks. Pushing herself off the ground Arcee rushed over to the bleeding youngling. "Mirage, are you alright?!"

"That's not Soundwave..." Mirage replied as Prowl and Jazz leapt in front of them providing them cover fire.

D-34 was leaking energon, and lacking shields, attempting to block himself from the hail of bullets from the arriving Aerialbots. Frustrated, D-34 transformed, giving chase to the aerial attackers.

"Autobots fallback!" Ultra Magnus ordered, making the small squad fall back into High Council, as the aerial strike bought them a small break in the attack.

Once inside the building, Arcee went over Mirage's wounds. "You're positive, that's not your brother?"

"I'm positive, that clone is about as dead sparked as Shockwave!" Mirage hissed at his guardian as Arcee pressed her servo on one of his wounds. "I tried to reach out through our bond, I got no response."

Ultra Magnus listened in on the conversation, still unconvinced that the faceless mech outside the building was an imposter Soundwave.

"Then where's the real Soundwave?" Prowl asked, joining the conversation.

"I'm not sure, that's the only bot that was in that building when we infiltrated, I can't explain Soundwave's sudden disappearance." Arcee replied with concern, further increasing Ultra Magnus's suspicions that it was actually Soundwave.

"Lil bro, can't you get a reading on your brother's spark?" Jazz asked curiously.

Mirage shook his helm no. "I can barely feel his spark, it's like it's numb."

Arcee's optics went wide with worry, as that could only mean her mech was going offline. "You mean like he's..."

"He can't be offline, because I wouldn't have any connection at all, but it's possible he's close to deactivating." Mirage explained, not easing his guardian's concern.

A sudden explosion shook the building, causing everyone to look around in a panic.

"The Decepticons are trying to infiltrate High Council!" An Elite Guard alerted.

"Cover the west sector. We need to move out and flank them." Ultra Magnus ordered, getting ready to make his way back into the battlefield.

Arcee sighed, following the commander back out into the battle grounds. "We need a plan."

"Destroying the Decepticons one, by one, has been an extreme effort, if we take out the head, it should be easier to halt the foot soldiers." Prowl said as they got fired upon.

Everyone turned their gazes to the sky, when the sounds of failing jet engines, followed by explosions came overhead. Soundwave's clone had successfully taken out their aerial support, making their odds of winning even worse.

"We're fragged..." Mirage drooped the doors on his back, as the indigo jet locked onto their position.

Ultra Magnus yelped in agony as he was critically shot down by the indigo reaper. D-34 quickly transformed above the downed mech, stabbing Ultra Magnus multiple times with a burning energy blade, before Arcee and her squad rained bullets on him, causing him to retreat back into the sky.

"Ultra Magnus is down, and critical!" Prowl announced, jumping to provide cover for the downed Commander.

"Our aerial support is gone, until more Aerialbots arrive, we need to bring Magnus back into High Council!" Arcee barked firing back at the circling reaper.

"Negative Chief, the Decepticons infiltrated the building, it's only a matter of time before they completely overrun the guard." Elite Guard Streetwise exclaimed to the femme.

"Well we can't sit out here, or we'll all get deactivated!" Arcee growled. "Get Magnus off the ground!" She ordered continuing to fire at the reaper.

Soundwave tried to calculate a plan to escape from his prison. Reviewing the wisdom of Vector Prime's travels, he realized if he replicated the feedback loop, for the dimensional vortex that sent him into this realm beyond reality, he could escape this trap. Visibly jumping as Aerialbots exploded into the ground in front of him, gazing up, he saw his doppelgänger flying, firing at his sparkmate and brother. [Let's try this...] transforming as he created a replicated vortex with ground bridges.

"Please tell me that the imposter didn't just create a bridge?!" Jazz pointed out the bridge portal that appeared in the sky.

"Frag, that's all we need is Decepticon reinforcements!" Arcee cursed as the indigo reaper dove at them.

Everyone leapt out of the way the best they could, as the indigo reaper opened fire on them again. The blasts from the indigo reaper were super charged with plasma, a devastating blow if it were to hit a bot.

Soundwave burst through the bridge portal, diving directly at the replicated reaper, he transformed, violently tackling the jet into the fiery ground.

"What just happened?!" Jazz looked up to see the clone no where in sight.

Mirage climbed over a destroyed wall, to see a cloud of dust settling in the distance. "I think Shockwave's little science project crashed."

Arcee made sure that Ultra Magnus was safely shielded by the few Elite Guards that stayed with them, before following her squad over to the crash sight.

Two glowing mechs emerged from the dust, one masked with an indigo glow, the other a violet glow, with ruby red and cyan blue mixed optics.

"Soundwave!" Mirage called excitedly.

Soundwave wanted to look in his brother's direction, but did not trust his clone. He was wise not to turn his gaze, as his clone immediately attacked him. Dodging the first few strikes, Soundwave returned the hits, secretly deploying his tentacles while distracting his doppelgänger with punches.

D-34 began to block each of Soundwave's blows, winding one of his arms back to strike his attacker.

Soundwave took advantage his clone's vulnerable pose, wrapping one of his tentacles around his clone's right shoulder socket, tightening his tentacle.

D-34 bent to the right in pain, trying to relieve the pressure of the violet ribbed tentacle tightening on his shoulder joints.

Once Soundwave heard enough popping escaping his clone's joints, he viciously yanked his tentacle back, ripping off his clone's right arm.

Flamewar punched the monitor screen that displayed D-34's view. "Look at that, you were right! Did you expect this to fall into failure so quickly? Or are your projects beginning to fail, quicker than you can think!?" She grabbed the purple mech by the collar plate.

"Your outburst is absurd, D-34 has accomplished taking out Ultra Magnus." Shockwave batted the femme's arm off of him.

"That's one, very small accomplishment! You think just because you put a bit of extra plasma burn into his blasters, means that hunk of scrap was taken out? Ultra Magnus has survived far worse!" Flamewar scoffed, watching the cracked monitor display their clone's failing battle.

"I don't expect Ultra Magnus to deactivate, but I do expect him to hold an even larger grudge against Soundwave." Shockwave replied, opening another visual of the battle on a new monitor.

Flamewar was done working with Shockwave, his vengeance was clouding his processor and getting them no where. All his revenge project was accomplishing, was making Soundwave's life mildly inconvenient. Not doing the actual destruction it was created for. Flamewar wanted Soundwave deactivated, she wanted to lead the Decepticons to glory once again, and enslave the Autobots for claiming Cybertron.

D-34 sent out a sonic blast to repel his attacker. Sending Soundwave sliding backwards across the rigid debris.

Mirage fired his rifle at the clone, getting a direct hit in the clone's exposed shoulder socket. Before spinning around to swing his blade at charging Decepticon soldier.

Soundwave lifted his torso off the ground only to have his chest stepped on, slamming him back into the ground. Glaring up at his doppelgänger's cracked visor, as D-34 aimed his blaster at his helm.

Arcee slammed a Decepticon into the ground, stabbing her blade into the Con's spark chamber. Looking up from her kill, she looked up to see her mech pinned on the ground about to be blasted in the helm. "Soundwave!"

Before Soundwave could make a move, a missile hit his doppelgänger directly, sending his clone hurdling into a building.

Soundwave sat up in shock, staring at the wall his clone was shot into, turning his helm in the direction the missile came from, to see a long clawed servo offering him assistance.

"Get up, before that mutant emerges!" Starscream grabbed Soundwave by the arm, pulling the young mech off the ground.

"Starscream?" Mirage gasped as a small squad of silver seekers, fired at the attacking Decepticons. Slowly clearing the battlefield from the rampaging Decepticons.

"You've got to destroy this thing, before it's blind followers destroy the city." the seeker Commander told Soundwave, as the clone began to emerge from the rubble it was buried under.

"Tha-ank... you St-Star-kzz-scree-kzzk..."

Starscream cringed at the sound of Soundwave's failing voice box, throwing up his servo at Soundwave. "Don't waste your final words on thanking me. You have aerial support now, finish Shockwave's monstrosity."

Soundwave nodded as Starscream transformed, joining his seekers in their aerial assault on the Decepticons.

Arcee smiled at her mech before turning to the fighting Autobots. "We've got more aerial support, keeping pushing, smoke the Cons out of High Council!" She ordered as the battlefield became Autobot territory.

Soundwave began to send sonic sound waves of distortion to his doppelgänger, kicking out the mech's knee joint. Mercilessly beating his clone down to the ground, as it struggled to fight against his vicious blows. Soundwave materialized his visor as he ripped his energon gushing doppelgänger off the ground, slamming the bleeding frame into the nearby wall.

Shockwave and Flamewar both watched the monitor emotionlessly, as their clone's visual showed Soundwave masked, with his visor that displayed Cybertronian text that read (You're next!)

[I'll make sure he's next...] Flamewar glared at Shockwave as the live feed of D-34 abruptly ended. She was no longer going to work with the mech who hoped that his project would cause infighting between the High Council and Soundwave.

Soundwave used his servo to crush the plutonium fuelled battery, that energized the false spark in his doppelgänger's open chest cavity, fatally ending his clone's life. Turning his helm watching as Mirage, and Arcee, rushed into the High Council edifice.

Arcee ducked, trying to shield herself from the energon splatter, and and body parts, that flew through the air, as Mirage destroyed whatever Decepticons dared to stand their ground in the building.

"Retreat!" Finally the few stragglers that were smart enough to realize they had lost, admitted their defeat, and took off running.

"Damage report?" Arcee sighed with relief, while Soundwave calmly approached them with Starscream.

"Hev-hea-kzzk..." Soundwave tried to reply but his voice box refused to function for him.

Starscream groaned with an optic roll, dismissing Soundwave's attempt to speak with a wave of his servo. "From what I could see from the sky, there's heavy collateral damage to High Council, and the Hall Of Records. With minimal damage to residential areas, luckily." The seeker Commander reported.

"Thank you Starscream." Arcee was astonished by the seeker's cooperation. "Prowl?" She turned to her fellow officer.

"Minimal casualties, mostly injured, one deceased. Ultra Magnus is being transported to the medical facility as we speak." Prowl reported after his officers informed him of the city's condition.

"Soundwave, I need you and Starscream to scan Iacon for any lingering Decepticons. Report any sightings, and my officers will arrest, or neutralize the threat." Arcee ordered the only flyers in the room.

"Hmm, very well, but I'm not giving flight lessons." Starscream scoffed, leaving the building with Soundwave.

(I can fly!) Soundwave glared at the arrogant Air Commander. [We just finished a bloody battle, and you're going to critique my flight skills?!]

Starscream chuckled as they exited High Council. "You fly like you're constantly caught in turbulence." He sarcastically remarked before transforming with the young mech.

"What about Soundwave's clone?" Mirage asked as his brother left with Starscream.

"Personally I want it melted down. But until Ultra Magnus is healed, we should keep the body, to prove it was an imposter, and not Soundwave." Arcee replied following Mirage to Soundwave's doppelgänger's lifeless husk.

"We'll throw it in a stasis pod, in a cell, so if it comes back online somehow, it can't escape." Jazz suggested, lifting the body, with Prowl's help.

"Soundwave?" Arcee quickly activated her comlink.

"Ye-kzzk..." Soundwave gave up on speaking, sending his sparkmate a text. (Yes, Arcee?)

"Can you contact all medical, and emergency personnel, and tell them it's safe to mobilize. I need to head back home, to make sure Bumblebee is alright." Arcee replied to her mech.

(Understood.) Soundwave replied, immediately sending out a city wide alert to emergency responders.

Starscream banked off to the right as the reaper almost flew into him. "You pay more attention to your scanners, then what's in the air with you!"

(Sorry Starscream.) Soundwave texted his apology for flying in the seeker's flight path. (I do get preoccupied with my scanners.)

Starscream mentally smirked, now understanding why Soundwave's flight skills were so poor. "Are you picking up on anything?"

(Negative, all Decepticon signatures are out of Iacon's vicinity.) Soundwave reported back to the Commander.

"Good." Starscream's tone was hollow, as he was sure Soundwave had about as many questions for him, as he did for the young mech. [I'll wait for it, youngling. I know you're going to ask why I helped you, instead of deactivating you, and your clone, and claiming leadership of the Decepticons.] he thought to himself as they soared over Iacon city.

(Well, I would question you, but I would rather believe that you've changed your spark. And realized that doing what's right, is very rewarding, and gets you what you want eventually.) Soundwave texted to Starscream's surprise.

"You can read minds..." Starscream thought aloud. "Doing what's right is rewarding?" He retorted with a scoff. "You're just a regular junior Optimus Prime aren't you?"

(If you want me to reply more truthfully, both yours, and Megatron's, trails are fast approaching. I was going to testify for you to be freed, but this changes things slightly. You'll probably still have to go through with the trial, but this heroic act should provide you with a generous probation.) Soundwave replied honestly, following the silver and grey jet.

"Ugh, a generous probation... I suppose it's better than being locked up in that dreaded cell." Starscream thought aloud. "So you're telling me, you were going to sing my praises to the High Council? Do you think your testifying would've actually made my bail more likely, you being a former Decepticon and all?" Starscream changed their flight course back to High Council.

(I'm not just a former Decepticon, I'm also an Autobot records clerk.) the violet reaper followed the seeker's flight path.

"I only say that, because the fact is, not a single former Decepticon, is a member of the High Council. So a Decepticon trying to free a Decepticon, just looks suspicious, not that I don't appreciate your support." Starscream sighed getting ready to transform.

"Wa-kzzk!" Soundwave coughed before texting the seeker. (Wait, follow me!) the violet reaper diverted their course towards his home.

"Primus, youngling, what now?!" Starscream followed Soundwave to his home.

"Great, now your dangerous sparkmate is inviting Decepticons to your home." Firestar scoffed after looking out the window to see Soundwave and Starscream approaching the front door.

"The version of Soundwave you saw on the broadcast was an imposter, created by Shockwave, it's body is in a stasis pod locked in a cell. Soundwave is not dangerous, and Starscream can be deceptive, but if Soundwave trusts him, then so do I." Arcee growled at her mother before the door opened.

Soundwave went to enter the door but was shoved backwards as Firestar stormed out past him. [She's in her usual good mood.] Soundwave shook his helm, upon entering his home.

"Glad you're all safe." Moonracer sighed exiting the home with Chromia.

"I'll talk to you later Arcee." Chromia said as she exited the home with the mint green femme.

"So?" Arcee turned to the two mechs, waiting to hear their reports.

"Al-kzzk!" Soundwave winced as he tried to speak. (All Decepticons have left Iacon. Repairs, and emergency, are dealing with the damage. Estimated duration of repairs, they should be completed by late afternoon, this solar cycle.) the young mech reported.

"My seekers can patrol from the skies, to make sure no Decepticon activity breaks out." Starscream mentioned to the femme.

Arcee nodded in agreement with the seeker. "Yes, that would be a great help, thank you."

(Now what about Starscream?) Soundwave regained his femme's attention.

"Starscream, well you broke out of prison, and evaded capture for the most part. But you didn't attack us, and you redeemed yourself valiantly by aiding us in the Decepticon attack." Arcee thought aloud, while glaring at the seeker. "I should be putting you back in the brig. But I'll allow you out of your cage for the time being, considering your trial is approaching."

"How generous." Starscream sarcastically replied.

(Can he stay here?) Soundwave cocked his helm.

Arcee was about to outright refuse that question, as she had no intentions of keeping a power hungry Decepticon in her home, but knew it would be easier to keep track of the seeker if he stuck with them. "Yes."

Starscream raised an optic ridge at the femme. "Really?"

Arcee only agreed, because she knew her home was well equipped with two super soldiers, and Soundwave's minicons. "Yes, you're not permitted to leave Iacon without a police escort. And if you attempt to escape, or do anything treacherous, we've got a bounty hunter that lives in this home, and if he has to hunt you down, you'll be lucky to arrive in my police station in one piece." The femme threatened the Air Commander. "Understood?"

Starscream sighed with an optic roll, he wasn't pleased to be treated like a common Decepticon, but he was a war criminal, so he understood the conditions. "Charmed."

"You can stay in Mirage's room." Arcee pointed down the hallway, to the first room on the right.

"What!? I actually have to recharge with that mutant's blade pressed against my throat?!" Starscream complained.

Arcee smirked shaking her helm. "Mirage is recharging in Bumblebee's room, as Bee has been frightened by what happened, and is comforted by Mirage's presence." She explained handing the seekers some energon.

"Oh... Thank you for your hospitality." Starscream thanked the femme, as he took the much needed energon.

"And you!" Arcee pointed at her mech who visibly jumped. "Take this right now." she placed a vial full of magenta coloured serum in her mech's servo.

"Ar-kzzk..." Soundwave coughed harshly, trying to explain that the serum won't help him.

"It will help with the pain, just because your voice box is shutting down, does not mean you should suffer in pain." Arcee rubbed her coughing sparkmate's back.

"Listen to her Soundwave, nobody wants to hear that horrid coughing." Starscream said stirring his energon. "Plus you look like you're in an incredible amount of pain, we hate to see that." he with a sarcastic edge in his tone.

Soundwave took the serum, smirking at the seeker's attempt to pretend to care about him. (Thanks for pretending to care...)

"Well, I have a lot of making up to do on my behalf, so I try." Starscream shrugged.

Soundwave cocked his helm thoughtfully at Starscream, as Arcee fiddled around in the scullery.

"Oh don't give me that look." Starscream hissed as Arcee handed Soundwave a heated vial.

"Take this one too."

Soundwave drank the warm serum, he didn't bother to argue with his femme. They were all exhausted from the stressful night, he didn't dare aggravate Arcee's grumpy exhaustion.

"Ratchet dropped by to tend to Mirage, and I, while you were in the sky. He couldn't stick around, to wait for you, as the attack left many wounded. But if you need immediate medical attention he said come by the clinic." The cobalt blue femme mentioned to her sparkmate.

To be frank Soundwave's whole frame ached from the battle with his doppelgänger, most of his wounds had healed already though. The only thing that bothered him was his voice box, and his spark that had been consistently pulsing in pain, since his return from the Realm Of Primes. "I-I'm... fine."

"So what the frag happened to you, did Shockwave, and Flamewar, capture you?" Arcee asked siting her mech on the couch with her, while Starscream took a seat in a chair across from them.

"It's har-hard... to explain." Soundwave sighed tiredly through static. "But I wi-will... tell the sh-or-short... story..."

"Save your voice, just text it." Arcee placed her gentle servo on her mech's leg.

Soundwave tiredly nodded, he would only explain what had happened before, and after, his trip to the Realm Of Primes. As he did not feel the need to listen to Starscream's sarcastic remarks, about his confusing moment in the Realm Of Primes. (When I went into that burning alloy plant, I was searching for that injured miner. Once I located him, my doppelgänger attacked me, I would've easily overpowered the clone if I wasn't distracted by the miner. But anyway I attempted to rescue the miner, there were no escape routes, so I created a bridge. My clone shot me, as it created another bridge portal behind me, I got trapped in a vortex, and got trapped in a realm beyond reality. I was with you the whole time, I was just in an alternate reality.)

Both Arcee and Starscream glared at Soundwave like he was insane, which he thought was valid, since it's quite a far fetched story, but he hadn't even gotten to the weird part, and didn't intend to at this time.

"Are you sure you weren't just hit so hard it busted one of your neuro clusters?" Starscream questioned.

Soundwave rolled his optics, materializing his visor to display what had happened to him from his point of view.

The two skeptics watched the visor intently, surprised to see that what Soundwave explained was true.

"Shockwave, and Flamewar, arrived shortly before we made the arrest?" Arcee pointed out the two extra bots that appeared.

(Yes, it was all planned. The random vandalism, and attacks, were all calculated by those two, so I would get framed.)

"But why?" Arcee scoffed.

Starscream placed his empty energon cube down next to him. "Shockwave's revenge project was bound to fail, and it did. But not before letting everyone know that you are a possible danger, but with the definitive proof that it was a clone, there's no reason for the public to panic too much. But given the fact that your clone took Ultra Magnus out, before you arrived, I would say Shockwave's logic behind all that random damage. Was to diminish any chance of you getting into High Council, or becoming a Prime."

Arcee nodded in agreement with the seeker. "That's not far off the mark. It'll be incredibly difficult for you to redeem yourself in front of Ultra Magnus, even though you did nothing wrong."

Soundwave nodded in acknowledgement. (I am well aware. Like Starscream said, there's too much proof that it was not me, so as much as Ultra Magnus will fight to keep me out of Iacon, I will be here to stay. It might just take longer for me to get back into High Council, I would suspect.)

"Well, luckily Ratchet, is one of the High Councillors and will vouch for you." Arcee sighed in reply.

(Actually, Preceptor seemed to like me as well. The other Councillors seem to too, reluctantly, but they still like my thinking.)

"So does that mean you're going forth with becoming a Prime, since you're wanting to get back into the High Council?" Starscream asked, but Arcee seemed just as curious.

(I'm just trying to get into High Council, so I can speak on behalf of Cybertron, and it's concerned citizens. Becoming a Prime is an unrealistic goal to set, as it is not a position to apply for. And how can we push for a new Prime, after losing one of the greatest Primes Cybertron has had, I cannot imagine a new Prime leading Cybertron at this time.) Soundwave replied, trying to sound realistic. Optimus had led the Autobots through war, preventing the Decepticons from destroying the universe, and other life forms, to restoring Cybertron, and defeating Unicron from destroying it. There couldn't possibly be another bot worthy of the title of Prime, especially after Optimus.

"I suppose you're right." Arcee sighed with smirking at her modest mech.

"Ugh, you're doubt in yourself truly is irritating, you know that?" The silver and grey seeker scoffed, getting out of his seat.

(It's not self doubt, it's realism.) Soundwave replied, as Starscream placed his empty cube on one of the counters.

"Self doubt, and reluctant. Goodnight." Starscream retorted before entering his assigned room.

Arcee chuckled, leading her mech down to their own quarters. "Let's get some rest."

(The sun is already rising?) Soundwave gestured to the window.

"So what, aren't you tired from all that happened?" Arcee sighed, tiredly climbing into the berth.

The young mech was exhausted, his spark still ached tremendously, he did not expect to get much rest with it pulsing in pain. (Not really...)

"Well, can you just try to lay down?" Arcee asked gesturing for her mech to get into the berth.

Soundwave looked at the empty spot next to his femme. With a sigh he released Lazerbeak, and Ravage, allowing them to roam the home freely. Before climbing into the berth with his sparkmate.

Arcee went to wrap her arms around her mech's slender waist, but was halted by Soundwave jolting upright. "What's the matter?" She asked leaning on her arm.

(I should be helping clean up the mess my clone made of the city.)

The femme laid back down with a groan. "Soundwave, Prowl, Ironhide, and Ratchet said they had everything under control. We can rest, and recover, since we took the brunt of the attack. No Decepticons are coming back into Iacon, we've got the Elite Guard, Starscream's seekers, both Tarn, and Iacon's police force watching the borders. And half of the Elite Guard is hunting down, and arresting the Decepticons that fled." Arcee gently pulled her mech back down to lay beside her.

Soundwave exhaled deeply, relaxing into his sparkmate's embrace. (Fine...) jolting when his spark gave him a sharp flare of pain.

Arcee cocked an optic ridge at her mech, his jolt of pain not going unnoticed. "You need the rest, you're sore, clearly."

(It's just my spark, my other wounds are healing.) The glowing mech replied, immediately regretting announcing that his spark was in pain.

"Why's your spark in pain, did you get struck there? I couldn't really watch your battle with your doppelgänger, while the Cons were attacking me." Arcee sat up now.

(No, it's fine, I will explain to you later.) Soundwave turned away from his concerned femme.

"Soundwave, your spark is a pretty important component that keeps you online, if it's not feeling right..."

(It's just adjusting. I will explain later.)

Arcee reluctantly laid back down. "You're a pain in the ass."

Soundwave laughed, he couldn't disagree with her. "Lo-kzzk-lov-kzzk-love... kzzk-yew-kzzk..." swallowing his pain, he mustered whatever was left of his voice, to express his love, and appreciation, for his sparkmate.

The femme smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around the slender mech's waist. "I love you too." Arcee's warm smile quickly faded, as her spark sank, knowing her sparkmate was most likely completely mute now.

Soundwave leaned into the embrace, as Arcee gave him a soft kiss on the back of his neck. It only took moments after the loving gesture, for his exhausted sparkmate to fall into a much needed recharge.

The young mech tossed, and turned, his spark giving him great discomfort throughout their period of rest. He could hear Starscream's snoring coming from the other side of the wall, figuring this was probably the first comfortable recharge since the seeker's imprisonment. Arcee shifted, and adjusted herself each time Soundwave uncomfortably shifted. With a heavy sigh, he was sure that his sparkmate wasn't getting an adequate amount of rest, due to his restlessness. The sun was now beginning to be prominent through the metal shutters, but Soundwave closed his optics anyway, his spark suddenly dropping its steady rhythm, into a comatose state.

Mirage sighed, he hadn't been able to recharge, but being a comforting presence for his little brother was enough to give him some relaxation. The sun was now blaring through Bumblebee's bedroom window, it was time to wake up. Quietly sneaking out of his brother's room he turned on the news broadcast to see what had been happening since the attack. Nothing he didn't expect, within the last joors since the battle, the Elite Guard seemed to have recapture many of the offending Decepticons that fled. Reconstruction, and cleanup, had quickly rid the streets of the collateral damage, and repaired what was destroyed. The emergency crews had done an amazing job of cleaning up the deactivated bots that had littered the streets. It was as if nothing had happened, it seemed High Council was quick to cover up last night's Decepticon attack, hoping to reassure the worried citizens that the situation was now under control.

Arcee yawned, sitting up in the berth, staring at the sun trying to peek through the shutters. Her attention was soon drawn to her sparkmate, who finally seemed to be recharging quite soundly. She gently caressed the back of her mech's helm, before climbing out of the berth, leaving the room to allow her sparkmate to rest.

"Good morning Mirage." Arcee greeted the red youngling, scanning the holo vid that broadcasted the city. "How'd you get the cities surveillance feed, is this the news broadcast?"

"I was watching the news broadcast, but I switched to this so I can actually see what's going on, instead of just highlights of what's happening." Mirage replied to his guardian.

"How are we getting the city's surveillance footage?" The cobalt blue femme questioned.

"Soundwave set up the holo vid, he's a surveillance freak, we can get any city on Cybertron, as long as they have surveillance cameras." The red youngling shrugged, opening the front windows shutters.

Arcee rolled her optics with a head shake. "Of course..." she sighed, taking note that the city almost looked as if nothing happened last night. "Primus, cleanup, and construction, worked fast."

"Yeah, High Council has to cover up, and reassure the public. But I am more concerned about the retaliation that could possibly be coming from Flamewar, and Shockwave." Mirage said as Starscream came out of his room. "What the frag are you doing here?!" The red youngling immediately put the seeker at gunpoint.

"Ah, I stayed here as permitted by Arcee and Soundwave!" Starscream quickly explained himself to the hostile assassin.

Mirage glared at his guardian, who nodded confirming the seeker's story. "Fine, I guess you did earn a night out of the brig." The red youngling lowered his weapons.

"How gracious of you to say." Starscream sarcastically replied as he entered the front room. "Soundwave must already be in the city, trying to redeem himself, and get into High Council?" He guessed, taking note that the violet young mech was missing from the room.

"No actually, he's finally recharging." Arcee replied, offering Starscream some energon.

"I'm alright, thank you. But are you sure Soundwave's okay, that's very unlike him to rest after such a horrific night?" Starscream thought aloud, refusing the offered energon.

"I believe so, he was really restless last night. He was complaining that his spark was giving him some discomfort." The cobalt blue femme mentioned to the two.

"And you didn't drag him down to the clinic?" Mirage cocked an optic ridge.

"No, Soundwave said he would explain why it was, later. He didn't seem to be going offline, so I didn't push him to go." Arcee replied to the youngling.

"He just travelled between different dimensions, and got in a deadly battle with his clone, you don't think there's a slight possibility of Soundwave having a delayed injury?" The seeker Commander questioned the femme further.

The femme groaned in annoyance, heading towards the hallway. "Look, if it makes you two feel better, I'll go wake him."

Soundwave stood on the edge of the Realm Of Primes, watching the ancient bots converse with each other. For some reason he could not completely understand what was being said between the Primes. But they seemed to be addressing Optimus Prime quite frequently. Quietly stepping closer to the group of conversing Primes he began to understand their quiet words.

"We may have damaged Primus's sparkling, I shouldn't have advised the cluster download of the wisdom of the Primes."

"You worry too much Vector, the youngling will be fine." Nexus tried to reassure the concerned mech.

"He's denying our gifts, and therefore not taking the next steps to confirm Cybertron's peace." Micronus said.

"The youngling hasn't had enough time, you're all creating a pocket of unrealistic expectations." Alchemist Prime scoffed to the two concerned mechs.

Solus Prime raised her servo, quieting the other Primes. "I do think it hasn't been long enough for the youngling to except everything yet. But I agree, that Soundwave is being reluctant to take on his birth right. Perhaps he needs to be shown the confirmation, and assurance, that he is ready..."

Arcee entered her room to see her mech shifting uncomfortably in his recharge. "Soundwave?"

"Perhaps we should allow Optimus... to... retur..."

"Soundwave?" Arcee gently shook her slumbering mech.

"Cybertron, and allow... to... guide... Soundwave..."

"Soundwave?!"

Soundwave jolted awake in surprise, his optics wide as he stared at his waker. (Arcee?)

"Yeah, are you okay? Starscream, and Mirage, are convinced you're not." The femme replied to her stunned mech.

(I'm fine, I was just recharging.) Soundwave rubbed his optics tiredly, his whole frame trembling with adrenaline.

"Okay, sorry I'll let you rest." Arcee nodded in understanding, turning to exit the room.

(No, I have to make sure Ultra Magnus is on the mend. And see if I can get a word with the High Council.) Soundwave replied, returning his minicons to him, while following his femme into the front room.

"I wouldn't expect to do that right away Soundwave, you're going to have to come with me to the station first." Arcee said as they entered the front room.

(I suppose I have a lot of explaining to do.) Soundwave sighed in understanding, turning to Starscream who seemed to be getting annoyed by Bumblebee's bubbly energy.

"So you were an Air Commander before the war, do you think you'll do it again once you're released from prison?" Bumblebee asked while sipping the energon his brother gave him.

"Most likely, but we'll see what happens with my trial..." Starscream rolled his optics, his future was unknown, he could be sent to a manufacturing plant if his trial went unfairly, especially if Ultra Magnus was the deciding factor. He was truly hoping Soundwave would've stepped into a High Council position by now, or beame a Prime before his trial arose. The main factor being, Soundwave, was passive, and fair, he didn't hold many grudges if any, against anyone. With the exception of Shockwave, but even then, he was fairly passive, so Starscream thought.

"Oh, Bumblebee has the day off today, Ratchet decided last night. Mirage will undoubtedly be on the hunt for Decepticons, so Bee will have to tag along with you today." Arcee mentioned to her sparkmate, while she got ready to leave.

Soundwave cringed as he had planned to track down Shockwave, after he spoke with the High Council.

"What, what's with that look?" Arcee glared at her mech.

(Nothing, I can take care of Bee. Let's go.) Soundwave gestured for his femme to activate the door.

"Screamer, you're tagging along as well." Arcee gestured for the seeker to follow.

"Ugh... you're going to throw me back in that dreaded cell aren't you?" Starscream groaned, following everyone out the house.

"I might be able to get you on probation, so don't whine just yet." Arcee replied as they all transformed.

Bumblebee warily looked around at what destruction was leftover from the Decepticon attack. Entering the enforcement station was even scarier, as multiple officers and Elite Guards were wrestling with reluctant, screaming, Decepticons, that fought against being put back in prison cells.

Soundwave could feel every unoccupied bots optics on him as they strode through the loud chaotic station, the cold stares were valid enough, as it was his clone that set all these Decepticons free.

The loud bang of a screaming Decepticon being thrown to the ground by Elite guards made Bumblebee jump, he quickly scooted over to his big brother, hiding under Soundwave's arm.

Soundwave looked to his side, feeling a small servo cling tightly to his left arm. Seeing his terrified little brother warily staring at the struggling Decepticon on the ground next to them. The violet mech recognized his brother's fear, instinctively pulling Bumblebee tight against his side.

"Arcee, we're meeting in your office, Prowl is already waiting for you." Jazz waved the group over to the femme's office.

"Primus it's insane in here." Arcee cursed, walking over to the cool mech.

"Yeah, well we're starting to get overwhelmed with the incoming fugitives." Jazz shrugged, welcoming the small group into the office.

"Prowl I'm surprised you're still here." Arcee sighed as the black and white mech moved out of her office chair.

"You need all the help you can get here, I'm transferring some of the captured Cons to Tarn to lessen the load here." Prowl replied, as the femme took her seat.

Arcee nodded. "Okay that's a start. Mirage, you can go ahead and hunt, just call for backup if needed."

"Sure, Prowl, any leads on Shockwave and Flamewar?" Mirage straight out asked, receiving a glare from the femme.

"No Mirage, you're not going after those two by yourself. You go after the ones that are abundantly present, we will discuss those two later today with the High Council." Arcee sternly told the young assassin.

"Fine..." Mirage growled, leaving the office.

(Speaking of High Council. Is Ultra Magnus in stable condition?) Soundwave released Bumblebee from under his arm, unknown to himself that his text had reached no one.

"Starscream is another one I'd like to get solved today. His trial is approaching, I think his seeker's would be a tremendous amount of help, tracking down wanted fugitives, what do you think Prowl?" Arcee gestured to the seeker that stood next to her sparkmate.

Prowl gave Starscream an unsure glare. "Arcee, without the High Council, we can't release him."

(Why not keep him under your command, put a tracker on him, and if he leaves Iacon we will hunt him down, and throw him in a cell?) Soundwave suggested, wondering why they were ignoring his first text.

"I'm not saying release him, I'm just saying put him on a temporary probation." Arcee argued.

Prowl looked at the silent young mech. "Soundwave, you've been quiet, what do you suggest?"

Soundwave looked at them all like he had been speaking to them the whole time.

"What?" Prowl and Jazz both raised optic ridges at the young mech.

"Soundwave, has no voice box..." Arcee whispered to the two confused mechs, seeing her internal alerts said she had two missed texts. "Scrap, I'm sorry Soundwave, I didn't see the texts."

Soundwave shrunk slightly, he didn't perceive his loss of voice function to be that inconvenient in communicating with others. [Primus, I'm out of touch...] he thought to himself, he had gone deca cycles without speaking, why was it so difficult for him to communicate now? [Right, nobody in the Decepticons ever wanted to communicate with me, except when they needed info...]

Arcee and everyone else in the office exchanged glances, curiously staring at the young mech, who seemed to be in deep thought.

[Ugh, I need to figure out an effective way to communicate with everyone, verbally...] Soundwave thought as Arcee threw one of her styluses at him. (Sorry, what?) he lifted his helm after the stylus hit him in the chest plate.

"Are you alright?" The femme asked as Bumblebee returned the thrown stylus.

Soundwave gave a small nod in response. (Sorry, I would suggested a temporary probation, plant a tracker on Starscream, allowing him and his seekers to patrol Iacon. It's a big enough continent, there's no reason for him to leave it.) he made sure he sent the text to everyone in the office.

"A tracker implantation, really..." Starscream began to complain, before getting a sharp glare from Soundwave. "Temporary probation sounds great." He sheepishly smiled in agreeing with the arrangement.

"Fine, Jazz, set Starscream up." Prowl gestured for the mech to leave with Jazz.

"Sure thing Prowl." Jazz replied, escorting Starscream out of the office. "Come'on Screamy, let's go get your tags."

(Have you heard any news on Ultra Magnus's condition?) Soundwave asked the officer.

"He's stable, but unable to attend High Council tasks, as far as I know. And because he's out of commission, I would suggest speaking to the other Councillors about getting your occupation hiatus removed." Prowl advised the mute young mech.

The bioluminescent mech nodded in acknowledgement. (And am I still wanted as a suspect?)

Prowl smirked at Soundwave. "I have removed your suspect status. You're an innocent young mech."

(I'm going to head out then, I'll come back later.) Soundwave replied turning to his sparkmate.

"Alright, I will see you two later." Arcee sighed saying goodbye to her mech and his little brother.

Soundwave took Bumblebee under his arm protectively once again, until they exited the station.

"So where are we going?" Bumblebee asked excitedly, hopping along next to his largely striding brother.

(We're going to the clinic.) Soundwave replied, slowing his pace so the youngling could keep up.

"Are you going to ask Ratchet if he can do anything for your voice box?" The yellow youngling asked, walking through construction.

Figuring out a solution to his voice box issue, wasn't exactly Soundwave's main objective, but if there was time, he would inquire about it. (Maybe, but Ratchet is a High Councillor, and I need to get my job back. And I want to make sure Ultra Magnus is sound, and maybe reassure him Iacon is safe, and that I am not a threat.)

"Why does Ultra Magnus hate you so much?" Bumblebee asked as they entered the busy medical facility.

Soundwave shrugged, he didn't realize Bumblebee noticed Ultra Magnus's rude behaviour towards him. (My Decepticon past, I ran into Ultra Magnus numerous times during the war, and caused him multiple losses. I almost deactivated him as well. That's a very vague explanation about why he probably he dislikes me. But I believe Optimus, not being present, has darkened him. They were very close friends, our creator would often soften Ultra Magnus's reluctant views towards certain Decepticons, that truly wanted to join the Autobots.)

"I always forget you were a Deception, you never speak about your past that much." Bumblebee mentioned as a large mech spotted them from down the corridor.

(It's something I would rather everyone forget to be honest...) Soundwave replied as a surgeon approached them.

"Bumblebee, I thought you had the day off?" A large green and gold mech greeted them.

"I do Hoist!" Bumblebee giggled. "We're just here to speak with Ratchet, is he busy?"

"He's at High Council, you'll find him there. It was nice seeing you, but I got to get going, lot's of repairs today." Hoist told the brothers, before quickly going back to attending to his patients.

Soundwave sighed, exiting the clinic with Bumblebee. (Race you to High Council?)

Bumblebee lit up with excitement as soon as Soundwave texted him the fun suggestion. "Okay, ready go!" The youngling transformed speeding off towards the High Council building.

Soundwave smirked transforming shortly after his brother peeled away.

Bumblebee had the lead for a while, with many citizens angrily flashing lights, and yelling at him as he sped by, veering in and out of traffic. Soundwave soared above the speeding yellow sports car, pulling ahead only for a moment, before slowing down just before the High Council edifice, allowing Bumblebee an easy victory.

"I won!" Bumblebee cheered transforming as Soundwave did the same, landing next to him.

(You certainly did, now let's go find Ratchet.) Soundwave smiled, ascending the staircase to the High Council entrance.

Bumblebee followed his brother up the large stairs. "Wait, why didn't we check on Ultra Magnus, while we were at the hospital?"

(I forgot...) Soundwave lied, he wanted backup when he went to visit the mech that purely hated him. Surprisingly the Elite Guards at the door barely gave Soundwave any hassle, allowing him in the building only with idle threats.

"You lucky you redeemed yourself last night, kid."

"We're still watching you though, don't try anything funny."

"Wow, they're mean." Bumblebee scoffed, following his brother into the building that was still being repaired.

Soundwave snorted with a robotic chuckle, the Elite Guard didn't stop him for questioning this time, therefore they were actually decent. (They were actually nice to me this time.)

"You sure have a strange idea of what nice is." The yellow youngling shook his helm, as Ratchet, and Preceptor, walked towards the Council chamber.

(There's Ratchet, call him, please, Bee.) Soundwave pointed at the familiar ancient medic.

"Ratchet!" Bumblebee called out, waving enthusiastically at the medic, catching both Preceptor and Ratchet's attention.

"Soundwave, Bumblebee, what are you doing here?" Ratchet asked curiously.

"Soundwave needs your help." Bumblebee replied, as they approached the two mechs.

"Soundwave, I know you're going to want to talk about what happened last night, amongst other things. Why don't you just join the council meeting." Ratchet gestured for the two to follow him, and Preceptor, into the Council chamber.

"Cool!" Bumblebee excitedly followed the two mechs into the Council chamber.

Soundwave's spark once again began to ache, all the energon in his frame rushed to his core, as panic began to set in. How was he to communicate with all the Councillors, without a voice? He felt texting was incredibly impersonal, and it wasn't one hundred percent effective, as most bots didn't check their internal alerts for text messages.

"Here young Bumblebee, you can sit where Soundwave used to." Preceptor guided the excited scout to the stenographers podium.

"Here Soundwave take Magnus's podium for now." Ratchet gestured to the empty podium, before walking towards his podium. Ratchet was suddenly halted by his arm being tugged by a slender servo.

(Ratchet I can't do this, I should be standing on the ground floor, or in the stands, not at a podium. I am not prepared...)

Ratchet smiled at the nervous young mech, not thinking too much about why Soundwave was texting him. He figured it was because the young mech's voice box was sore, or he was just nervous, and did not want the other Council members to hear his nervous tone. "Don't be shy youngling, they like you. I already informed them about the imposter that has been destroyed by you, and seized by the police. They're very aware of the threat Shockwave has sent us." He reassured Soundwave, as he took his own podium.

Soundwave nervously stood at Ultra Magnus's podium. As the meeting commenced, Soundwave stared at the reflective podium table, staring at his own reflection. He closed his optics momentarily as a wave of pain washed over his processor.

"Do not give up youngling, you have an opportunity to voice your opinions. Don't let your voicelessness stop you."

Hearing his creator's voice print, Soundwave opened his optics, surprised to see a phantom version of Optimus, pointing at a large blank screen, hanging in the middle of the room. [Optimus?] he questioned what he was seeing, scanning around the room, no one else seemed to acknowledge the phantom Prime. Soundwave returned his attention to where Optimus had stood, but the phantom was now gone, to his surprise. [Where'd he go?] the booming voice of the massive aerial bot redirected the young mech's attention to the meeting.

"Due to recent events Cybertron has been stirred." Skyfire began to explain what had been heard since the recent Decepticon attack. "Although we have contained the recent attacks. The citizens of Cybertron, feel uncertain that their safety is our top priority, they seem more inclined to believe that we have been focusing on unnecessary concepts, and have forgotten that a Decepticon mastermind has been running loose without a single Elite Guard, or Officer searching for them."

Soundwave used his technological skills to easily hack into the massive monitor hanging in the middle of the room, transcribing his message onto the screen. (Because we have been focusing on unnecessary means! We had the space bridge under control, it kept tally's on who was entering Cybertron, and who was leaving. Everyone who entered, and left, was checked over, and only granted entry after being cleared from being a war criminal. But we focused on shutting them down! Instead of focusing our effects on communicating with outside colonies, and warning them to look out for our most wanted fugitives, that could possibly be roaming around on their worlds.)

"What is this?" Red Alert scoffed as the massive monitor lit up with Cybertronian text.

"Has someone hacked into our systems?" Preceptor thought aloud.

Ratchet put his servos up, shaking his helm. "Do not be alarmed. This is Soundwave, transcribing his opinion to us." the medic gestured to the violet youngling next to him.

Soundwave nodded in confirmation. (Shockwave, and Flamewar, should be our top priority, they were the ones who conducted the attack, and freed the Decepticon prisoners. They now have more power, with whatever escapees they decided to recruit, and bring into their underground rebellion.)

"We cannot reopen the space bridges until Ultra Magnus returns. It is unlikely that we can direct all our efforts towards Shockwave, we have pressing trials approaching us. Major war criminals are possibly going to be set free within the next solar cycle." Red Alert said, referring to Starscream and Megatron no doubt.

(I suggest we skip Starscream's trial, and release him on probation, assign him as Air Commander of Vos once again.)

"Are you insane?" Skyfire almost laughed at Soundwave's suggestion. "That treacherous Decepticon cannot be trusted!"

(Really? He voluntarily aided us in the attack last night, without Starscream's support we would have many more casualties, and we wouldn't be standing in this building.) Soundwave truly wished he could feed his emotions through text, and express how stern he was on this subject.

"You're biased, you've known Starscream for deca cycles during the war. But his Decepticon track record doesn't exactly instil a lot of trust. He may very well have assisted us for his own personal gain." Red Alert said to the violet youngling.

(I'm not biased, as you're suggesting, obviously only because I was a Decepticon. I am suggesting that Starscream was a military leader before the war, and even served as a protector for a Prime. We have minimal aerial, and military support, we're sitting drones if we get attacked by off world invaders, or Decepticon rebellion.) Soundwave texted his honest opinion to the Council. Little did they know that Starscream had played a large part in capturing him, and Mirage, for Shockwave's super soldier project. It took a lot for Soundwave to actually trust the seeker Commander.

All Councillors whispered amongst each other after reading the last message Soundwave projected on the screen.

Soundwave waited anxiously for the Council to reply, turning his helm he glanced nervously at Bumblebee, who shrugged giving him an encouraging smile.

"We will grant it. Under strict conditions, we will communicate with the Iacon Police, and organize a probation plan for the Air Commander." Skyfire sighed, reluctantly agreeing that they needed they needed the military support of the seekers.

"Moving on. Soundwave, no doubt you're here to remove your hiatus." Preceptor said to the young mech.

Soundwave nodded, he was eager to begin working again.

"We're going to allow you access to the Hall Of Records, but you're not going to be assigned any shifts, as we have a different task in mind for you." Skyfire began to explain to the bioluminescent mech.

Soundwave cocked his helm curiously, waiting for the Councillor to explain his new tasks.

"You are assigned to hunt down, and locate Shockwave, and shut down his base of operations by any means necessary."

Ratchet could see the other Councillors were assigning the youngling to this task, simply because Soundwave was the most experienced with the mad scientist. But he was reluctant to put Soundwave in that extreme amount of danger.

(Understood.) Soundwave eagerly agreed before Ratchet could argue.

"Excellent. And lastly could you send this out in a public broadcast, this just covers last night's attack, the imposters destruction. Stating that everything has been handled effectively, and safely. And the deceased imposter has been securely locked away." Preceptor assigned one last task to the young mech, sending Soundwave a file, to which the young mech immediately sent out as requested.

(It has been done. Before we close the meeting, should we not be concerned about Ultra Magnus's condition? We need to know when he can return to the Council, to assist in this confusing time.)

"Ratchet?" Red Alert turned to the ancient medic.

"Ultra Magnus is in stable condition, the damage he took was high plasma, and acid burns. The blade he was stabbed with multiple times, seemed to have had an acid effect. We preformed reconstructive surgery to his badly damaged biomech. Ultra Magnus remains in recovery mode, it may be a solar cycle or two, before he can return to High Council." Ratchet reported with his medical expertise.

"Then we need a stand in for Councillor Ultra Magnus." Skyfire thought aloud.

All Councillors exchanged looks, before refocusing their gazes on the bioluminescent youngling.

"Soundwave, would you be willing to be a stand in for Ultra Magnus?" Preceptor asked, hiding his excitement for the young mech.

Soundwave was wildly in disbelief at the offered position, especially after what had just happened. But he couldn't possibly stand in for Ultra Magnus. "Kzzk!" The young mech harshly coughed as he made the mistake of trying to use his voice.

Ratchet cringed, now understanding the young mech's texting was not because of the pain his voice box was giving him, but because his voice box had completely given out.

"Is the youngling alright?" Skyfire leaned towards the ancient medic.

Ratchet gave an unsure nod in response. "Soundwave send your reply to the monitor."

(Is there no other possible substitutes?) Soundwave recollected himself.

"We can look for another candidate..."

"Soundwave, we considered you because you have the intelligence, and passiveness, to deal with any situation thrown at you. You seem to care for all and any, without any sort of discriminatory attitude." Preceptor quickly interrupted Red Alert, singing the youngling's praises.

Soundwave nervously scanned the room, with a deep breath, he gave a reluctant nod. (I will stand in, until Ultra Magnus can return.)

"Very well." Skyfire acknowledged the youngling's reply. "We will inform the Elite Guard that you have taken temporary command of them. Most of them have been hunting, and tracking down the offending Decepticons that escaped last night. Would you like to assign them elsewhere, before I announce your command?"

Soundwave felt a flush of nervousness wash over him again, he did not realize he would have to command the Elite Guard as well. (Thank you Skyfire, they are fine with the current assignment. I will attend to the tasks given to me, immediately.)

"Excellent, we will keep in contact with you." Red Alert said adjourning the meeting.

Bumblebee excitedly bounced over to his older brother. "That's so awesome you're part of the High Council again!"

(I wasn't planning on getting that big of a position in High Council, and certainly not under these unfortunate circumstances.) Soundwave exhaled as they exited the chamber.

"It's only temporary, Wave, until Ultra Magnus feels better. But maybe this will prove your good enough to be a Councillor. They all really seem to like you, why else would they ask you to take the position?" Bumblebee replied as Ratchet quickly tried to catch up to them.

"Soundwave!"

Soundwave halted outside the entrance to High Council, waiting for the medic to catch up to them.

"I'm happy you took the temporary position. But I disagree with the assignment we've tasked you with." Ratchet said as they walked through the streets.

(I'm not sure about the position, as stand in for Ultra Magnus of all bots. But I am very willing to track down Shockwave, he cannot be allowed to cause more chaos. The war is over Ratchet, we don't need Shockwave continuing it.) Soundwave texted to the concerned medic.

"Fine, I know I can't stop you from pursuing Shockwave. But at least inform Arcee about it, and allow me to help you with your voice." Ratchet led the two brothers back to the hospital.

(I can deal with my voice later Ratchet, is Ultra Magnus stable enough for me to speak with him?)

Ratchet cocked an optic ridge at the violet youngling. "You don't want a substitute voice, but you want to speak with Ultra Magnus, do know how much sense you didn't make?"

(I can text him...) Soundwave followed the medic to his office.

"Here." Ratchet handed the violet mech a data pad.

"What's that?" Bumblebee asked curiously, unconsciously organizing Ratchet's equipment.

"It's a data pad full of downloadable data for alternative ways of achieving speech. It also has different options for voice box modulators, but I will be honest Soundwave, I highly doubt any of the modulator options will work for you." Ratchet replied to the inquiry.

Soundwave instantly downloaded the alternative ways of achieving speech, after skimming through it. (So what exactly are the modulators?)

"It would be a replacement voice box. You wouldn't be able to speak like Bumblebee, and I. But you would be able to speak via code bursts." The medic explained, approaching the young mech with scanner in hand.

Soundwave allowed the only medic he trusted, to examine him, while he thought about his options.

Ratchet lifted the young mech's chin, scanning the severely scarred throat, to get a look at the mutilated voice box hidden underneath the scarred thick wires and thin metal plating.

Bumblebee could tell by Ratchet's cringing, that whatever procedure he hoped to do on Soundwave wasn't looking like an option. "Is it that bad, Ratch?"

"Bumblebee..." The medic scolded at the youngling for voicing out their concerns.

(I know it's horrible, Ratchet, it's not a secret. How's it look?) Soundwave rolled his optics at the medic for scolding Bumblebee.

"Like I have said numerous times, it's barely operable. I don't think I could possibly implant a modulator, without it eventually glitching out. You're voice box is mangled, and fused to your internal circuitry. It's not possible for me to remove it." Ratchet sighed placing his scanner on his desk.

(I appreciate you attempting to help me Ratchet. I have downloaded the alternative ways of achieving speech. I will study them, and use that as a way of communicating, besides with these useless texts.) Soundwave thanked the medic for his helpful information, following the red and white medic to the exit.

"Alright youngling, Ultra Magnus needs rest at this point in time. I will let you know when he becomes functional enough to listen to you, my guess would be by tomorrow." Ratchet told the young mech, stopping at the exit to the clinic.

(Understood Ratchet, thank you.) The violet mech nodded, tracking his brother's movements, making sure Bumblebee was still with him.

"I will speak with you later." Ratchet bid goodbye as he returned to his work.

Soundwave led his brother back towards the enforcement station. Many citizens glared at him warily, but others actually made an effort to smile, wave ,and nod at him, as they passed by. The young mech gave small nods of acknowledgement to the kind gestured greetings, wondering what the frag was going on. [They must've over done it with high grade...] he thought as they approached the station entrance.

Both Elite Guards at the entrance reluctantly stood at attention, allowing Soundwave and Bumblebee to enter without any verbally rude comments. [Can't believe he's the stand in...]

[Maybe the mutant's not actually as bad as Ultra Magnus hypes him up to be. Why else would the High Council vote him in as a substitute?]

Walking through the station it seemed to have settled down quite a bit, many Decepticons were now contained in cells, while others that were just arriving were mostly cooperative with the Iacon Officers.

"Soundwave!" Arcee excitedly called from across the station, making Soundwave jump out of his observations.

Soundwave calmly strode over to his happy sparkmate, with Bumblebee in tow.

"You're a stand in for Ultra Magnus, that's so great!" Arcee praised her mech who modestly shrugged.

(Wow, news travels fast.) Soundwave shrugged as Jazz gave him an encouraging tap on the arm.

"Councillor Skyfire, and Red Alert, did a public announcement through the Cybertron wide data net." Jazz mentioned to the young mech.

(Well, it's only temporary, until Ultra Magnus is healed. But I do find that everyone seems to be acting a little bit out of the ordinary.) Soundwave displayed his text on his materialized visor.

"That's because there's finally equality within the High Council ranks." Starscream happily informed the young mech.

(Right...) Soundwave cocked an optic ridge at the seeker. (You seem chipper?)

"Well, thanks to you, I have a been set free on probation. Per your instructions, I have been tasked to take command of the seekers, and reestablish Cybertron's aerial military strength." Starscream smirked, wrapping an arm around the young mech's shoulders. "Now, if only we could reopen the space bridges."

(I'm working on that. I just have to communicate with Ultra Magnus first.)

"Pfft, why?" Starscream released the violet mech. "If Ultra Magnus is just commanding from sick bay, what's point of you being a stand in?"

Arcee rolled her optics at the seeker Commander. "As harsh as Screamer is being, he does speak the truth Soundwave. The point of you being a stand in, is that you take temporary command, you don't need permission from Ultra Magnus."

(I suppose you're correct in some ways, but I still have some restrictions as a substitute. We're going to leave though, I'm going to take Bumblebee to Maccadam's, to see if the twins can look after him for a while.) Soundwave gave Bumblebee a pat on the helm.

"Leaving Bumblebee with the twins, why, you can't take him to the Hall Of Records?" The femme questioned, as Starscream, and Jazz, left the conversation.

"I thought you were going to tell Cee about the your other assignment?" Bumblebee mentioned, getting a glare from Soundwave.

"What are you not telling me?" The femme folded her arms at her sparkmate.

(I've been assigned to hunt down Shockwave.)

"No." Arcee immediately dragged her mech into her office. "You're not going after Shockwave, and that psycho!"

Soundwave shook off Arcee's forceful servo. (I am, but I'm going to be calculated about it. I'm not just going after them by myself, I have lots of backup now that everyone sees them as a major threat.)

"Soundwave, you know I don't want you anywhere near those vengeful psychos!" Arcee hissed, making Bumblebee wince, as she scolded his brother. "No matter how calculated you get, both Shockwave, and Flamewar, are unpredictable!"

(Well, they need to be taken care of, whether you like it or not, I'm going after them, after I plan it out with Mirage, and Starscream.)

"Oh great idea to plan ahead with, little loose cannon, and mister ego, that shouldn't get you killed." The femme sarcastically spat clearly frustrated with her mech's stubbornness.

Soundwave shook his helm, disappointed his sparkmate didn't understand the importance of ridding Cybertron from the mad scientists. (Why is it always an argument with you? They're both highly trained soldiers, I either take them, or go alone.)

"It's always going to be an argument, because I care Soundwave!" Arcee scoffed, concern, and fear, burning brightly in her optics. "Every time you go against them, you get hurt. You were nearly blinded last time you faced one of them. What if the next time you end up dead?"

Bumblebee watched the couple bicker, he could feel that Arcee was on the verge of tears. Soundwave kept his composure for the most part, he knew his agreement to go after his nemesis, would devastate his sparkmate, but he could not allow another war to rise.

(I may get hurt, I can admit that. But we can't allow them to start a new war, it's for everyone's benefit. I have to go.) Soundwave left the femme's office, abruptly ending the argument.

Arcee shook her helm, holding back her tears of frustration, as Bumblebee hesitantly left her to brood over Soundwave's decisions.

"Oof!" Bumblebee collided with a bot as soon as he stepped out of Arcee's office. "Opps, sorry!"

"It's cool Bee." Jazz chuckled, giving the youngling a playful smile.

(Bumblebee, Jazz is going to take you to the twins alright? If you want to go home before Cee or I get you, one of the twins has to stay with you okay?)

"Okay..." Bumblebee reluctantly replied. "You're not going after Shockwave are you?"

(No, it will be a few days of planing, and tracking, before I go against him. Go, so Jazz can get back here quickly.) Soundwave replied, gesturing for Bumblebee to follow the jazzy officer.

"It's cool bro, I got patrol anyway." Jazz reassured the mech before exiting with the yellow youngling.

Soundwave sighed turning his gaze to the staircase that led to the lower prison cells. Figuring he should check on Megatron's status, considering he was the only Decepticon that didn't flee, after being broken out of Prison.

"You're alive, and well, I saw you took care of your doppelgänger." Megatron commented upon the young mech's entry into his cell.

(I'm alive, that revenge project caused more grief for the city, and its citizens, rather than me. Bear in mind, Ultra Magnus is temporarily out of commission, due to my clone attacking him. So I'm certain he believes it was me, who conducted the attack, and not my clone.) Soundwave made sure he sent his text to Megatron, instead of everyone else he had been chatting with.

Megatron was surprised to receive a text message reply from the youngling. "So I have heard from the guards."

(I'm assuming you also heard about my position as his substitute?) Soundwave almost rolled his optics.

The massive mech chuckled dryly. "Of course, Starscream came down to gloat about his probation."

The young mech shook his helm with a smirk. (Of course he did.)

Megatron caught on quickly to the sudden act of texting, remembering that Soundwave, had a very limited amount of use of his voice box, the last time they spoke. "He was signing your praises for the most part, claiming you were the one to set him free." Megatron began making certain gestures, and movements with his servos as he spoke to his nephew

Soundwave curiously tilted his helm as he watched Megatron's servos twist, turn, and make gestures, and shapes, for every word the former warlord spoke. He recognized the hand signals but could not pinpoint as to why.

The massive grey mech chuckle, watching as Soundwave attempted to figure out why he recognized the hand signals. "You do not remember Cybertronian Sign Language?" He stated, continuing to use the sign language as he spoke.

Cybertronian Sign Language! Of course, that was one of the options for alternative speech, Soundwave skimmed through on the data pad Ratchet handed him earlier. (Cybertronian Sign Language, right, I understand. Wait, why do you know how to communicate with it?)

"Optimus suggested that your mother, and I, should learn it, and teach it to you. As we were all very convinced that you would never speak again." Megatron explained.

(I see. Well you weren't wrong, I guess I'll just have to recollect the learned language.) Soundwave replied with a shrug.

"Shouldn't be hard for you, it's a simple download, once you relocate it in your memory banks." Megatron replied, continuing to sign.

{You're right it was.} Soundwave signed his reply to his uncle who understood him. Happy he could actually communicate without the task of texting, and making sure his messages were sent to the right recipients.

"Told you it would be simple. Now, I wouldn't expect everyone else to understand it, but I would educate your loved ones to learn it, for ease of communication between you all." Megatron expressed to the thrilled young mech.

{Thank you, I will...} The young mech gave a robotic sighed in reply.

"What's on your mind?" Megatron asked, seeing the emotional change in the young mech's optics.

{Your trial is in a few solar cycles. Are you even going to argue against being kept in here?}

Megatron read the young mech's servos, turning his helm away after understanding the message. "I will not argue against being kept in here, but I know the possibility of my bail is unforeseen. What I have done to us is unforgivable, and I truly hope that the High Council sees it that way."

Soundwave furrowed his optic ridges, wondering if his Uncle was questioning his own integrity. {You don't believe you are fit to live in society?}

"I suppose that would be a decision for the High Council to decide, now wouldn't it?"

Soundwave left the enforcement station with many thoughts going through his processor. He didn't like the fact that he had greatly upset his sparkmate, but he also didn't like the way Megatron responded to his question. Putting those thoughts aside, he made it a point to search for his brother, and the seeker Commander.

"What the hell am I doing sticking around in there, I must have blown a neuro cluster." Starscream scoffed to himself, as he exited the enforcement station.

[Well that's one...] Soundwave thought to himself, turning to face the approaching seeker. {Starscream...} he began to sign at the mech, before switching to text as he didn't dare wait to see if the seeker understood Cybertronian sign language. (Starscream, can we speak a moment?)

"You mean I speak, and you text?" Starscream retorted.

(Right...) Soundwave rolled his optics at the seeker. (Do you think you could join me on an assignment?)

"Join you, what do you need your styluses organized? I'm not your secretary." Starscream immediately replied with his usual sarcasm.

(I'm hunting Shockwave down.)

Starscream's sarcastic expression quickly changed to a serious one. [How I've longed to see that dreaded cyclops put in his place...]

Soundwave knew Starscream, and Shockwave, had quite the rivalry when they served under Megatron. After all Shockwave, was Megatron's first lieutenant, before Starscream joined the Decepticons. They both had engaged in a brutal competition for power during that time, many of those moments where each of them tried to take each other offline.

(Starscream, are you with me, or not?) Soundwave waited for a reply.

"Let us hunt down that cyclops, I would love to see that mad mech, rot in a cell." Starscream replied with a venomous grin.