I should have noted this before, but I prefer Soundwave's Prime look, more than his Bayverse look. So, Screenface is going to say hello here. Most of the other bots and Cons I can imagine as their "irl" counterparts, though I've always had trouble with Ratchet. So, bear with me if their descriptions are a little off in terms of Bay's universe.

Anyways, enjoy Neal's torture! :D

~Silverleone

I was jolted awake as the Con around me formed back into his bipedal form. He stalked inside with me in his grasp, not even bothering to look at me. Two turns and a long hallway later, and he stopped at a door.

"I got the pet squishy you ordered," The Con said as he walked up to another Con. This one had a screen instead of a face, and as it turned towards my captor, I felt a chill run down my spine. It stepped forward and held out its hand, which I was carelessly dumped onto. I rolled once before the sharp fingers stopped me from falling off. Unlike Renegade, I couldn't lay across the palm without hanging off the edge.

With a wordless wave it dismissed the other Con. Once he was gone, it turned back to its station and set me down in a cage made of metal bars. I scrambled back until I hit the bars behind me and slid down against it. I curled up with my arms folded around my legs, still in shock over what happened to Siege. I had wanted to contact either of my friends, but I couldn't risk the Cons seeing my device. I hadn't received a message from anyone either, which only made me worry more.

An hour had to have passed, with the faceless Con doing nothing but staring at the giant screen in front of it. It had to have some form of remote control, because the screen was moving data around rapidly without it touching any buttons. Then I noticed a thick cable running from its chest to a port below the screen.

'For advanced robotic lifeforms, you would think they would know what Bluetooth is…' I flinched when the Con's head turned down to look at me, somehow catching my gaze without visible eyes. I dropped my head between my arms and tried to ignore the feeling of being watched.

"Status. Report." I flinched at the monotone voice, but I stayed curled up. There was a loud thumping sound, along with the minor shaking of the floor.

My head snapped up when something brushed my arm, and I reeled away when I saw the tip of a claw within reach. I scrambled backwards with a panicked cry, trying to get any sort of distance between that wicked looking claw and my vulnerable self. I bumped against the corner of the cage and stared at the Con in fear. The reality of my situation finally clicked and I flinched again, my breathing picking up pace. The Con only observed me, having not moved its hand as it watched, no, studied me.

"W-what do you want from me?" I asked shakily. Its wicked sharp claws moved closer, and I pressed into the metal behind me.

"Designation: Neal. Purpose: Study." I tried to shove one of the claws away, but even such a thin appendage didn't budge against my comparatively miniscule strength. It gently picked me up around the waist, dragging me closer to its faceless face. "Project: Private."

"Let go of me you psycho tin can!" I tried to get away, staring at my own reflection in its glass in horror.

"Warning: Cease struggles. Fruitless."

"At least I've got a pair!" I spat as I continued to try and break free.

"Warning: Cease," Came the same monotonous tone once more.

"Let me go!" My ribs ached when it tightened its grip just slightly, making me gasp.

"Warning: Cease." I froze at the harsher tone. "Threat level: Harmless." My eyes were going to pop out of my skull.

"What did you say…?"

"Threat level: Harmless." It repeated. I felt a chill go through me, head to toe.

"…You."

"Designation: Soundwave." The messages that had first shown up on my eye. It was this thing. I felt my face go red with anger, and I fully welcomed it.

"Go to Hell and take the rest of your merry band of toasters with you!" I screamed.

"Warning: Cease."

"What did I ever do to you?!"

"Conclusion: Nothing."

"Then WHY?!" A loud sound behind me made me jump, and the Con looked up.

"Soundwave, what is all of this ruckus? You know I need my allotted recharge if I am to serve Megatron to the fullest!" Another Con, just about as thin as Soundwave, stepped into the room. Soundwave stayed silent. "What's this?" The red eyes of the new Con drew closer, before reeling back in disgust. "Augh! Why are you holding that, thing?! Where did you even get it?!" Soundwave once again said nothing.

"You aren't so pretty yourself, sunshine!" I snapped back, instantly wishing I had kept my mouth shut.

"What?! Why you insolent worm!" His arm came up and his arm changed to a gun. I paled again and subconsciously wondered how healthy it was for my skin to change shades so many times in such a short period. Soundwave set me back in the cage before stepping between the new Con and I. That action confused me.

"Soundwave…Bah! See what I care about your little pet! But know this, if your progress on your current mission slows by even a fraction of a percent," The Con leaned in close to him, his voice dropping to a low growl, "I'm sure Megatron is more than happy to order the extermination of vermin on his ship." He looked over the Con's shoulder, making direct eye contact with me with a twisted smile. I could only shudder at the look of glee on his face. This is a Con that would enjoy torture.

I wisely kept my mouth shut as he stormed out of the room. Soundwave turned to me and I could feel the stink eye. I folded my arms and looked away. If he wanted to keep me as captive, he could deal with the childish side of me.

"Assessment: Foolish words."

"Preaching to the choir, Glassface," I muttered just loud enough for him to hear, "That Con is unhinged."

"Observation: Correct. Second in command Starscream. Cowardly, but loyal."

"That's Screamer?!" I shot a look of surprise to him. He tilted his head an nth of a degree to the side. "The Con that kidnapped me called him that," I noted shortly. Soundwave looked down, as if in thought, before stepping back over to the screen and continuing his work, silent as ever. I looked around for a way out, but there was nothing. I couldn't climb the bars, not without being spotted. So I turned away from Soundwave, trying to hide my device from view as I pretended to curl up against the bars. I typed the quickest message I could without being too cryptic.

[Neal:I'm alive. Soundwave has me. How's Siege?_] I hit send and drew my sleeve back over the device. A mere second later, the screen in front of Soundwave blared a red color, showing a warning of some kind. His head snapped up to read it, only to then snap over to me with such precision and speed I couldn't help but jump.

"Alert: Unauthorized communication." He spoke with a hint of urgency in his voice. He reached for me, only for me to leap out of the way.

"Get away you creep!" Two spots on his chest opened and a pair of cords popped out. I yelped when they clamped their pinchers before rushing me. "I am not into that! Keep those things away from me!" I tried to dive out of the way, but it did no good. He snagged my leg with one and hauled me in front of him. His visor lit up and scanned me. He grabbed me with his own hand before tearing my sleeve off, revealing my device. The claws slid between the strap and my arm, easily snapping the band and gripping it.

"Give that back!" I pounded my fist on his hand. He promptly ignored me as he scanned the device.

"Unauthorized technology of Autobot creation. Terminate." My heart plummeted.

"No!" He dropped it and simply stepped on it. I stared at the tiny pile of garbage in shock. "That, that was my only why to know if my friend was alive…" Soundwave looked back to me with a sharp snap.

"Unauthoriz-"

"SHUT UP!" I cried. Which, he surprisingly did. "Your moron of a minion might have murdered one of my friends after I promised to go quietly! I told him I wouldn't fight if he let Siege go! Now I have no idea if he's alive, and that's all because of YOU!" The tears started to fall again and I could only stare at my reflection in grief and hatred. I knew Siege was tough, far tougher than I ever could be, but there had been a lot of Energon leaking out. I couldn't possibly know if Renegade had managed to save him in time because of Soundwave. The Con stared silently, as if facing Starscream again.

"Irrelevant." The one word took my breath away. "Project importance: Vital."

"Take your project and burn it with the rest of you!" I screamed as loud as I could, straining my voice, "Siege may have only been a Minicon, but you'll never amount to anything close to who he is!"

"Data inconclusive." I let out a sound of frustration before trying to get free from his grip. Then I noticed that his fingers had some slightly exposed wiring between the plating. I reached in and grabbed what I could before yanking with a scream of rage. His hand opened as he let out his first sound other than monotonous words. I fell hard on the desk, knocking the wind out of me. I tried to gasp for air as I rolled onto my side.

"Note: Violent tendencies." I glared at Soundwave, daring him to pick me up again with the flame behind the tears. I was finally able to draw in a short breath.

"Don't you touch me." I hissed through the pain. Soundwave actually hesitated for a split second before his tentacle came out again, this time wrapping around me and pinning my arms to my sides. I squirmed as I still fought for a solid breath. I was dropped into the cage. Soundwave wordlessly left the room, the door shutting off all sounds aside from his computer on the other wall. I laid there as my body tried to recover from the ordeal. I couldn't afford to waste my energy anymore. I jumped when something popped up in my vision.

[Rgde:Neal! Thank the Allspark! Where are you?! Are you okay?!_] I wanted to respond so badly. I needed to feel his unwavering strength as we both waited impatiently for Siege to be repaired. I needed my mom and dad. But I couldn't have them. I couldn't have any of what I needed.

[Rgade:Neal?_]

"I'm sorry Renegade." I whispered, my voice cracking like dry clay, "I'm so sorry…" I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the messages that kept appearing. Each one like a slap to the face.

[Rgade:Neal? Answer me. Where are you?_]

[Rgade:Neal, respond_]

[Rgade:Neal, please!_]

[Rgade:You're scaring me!_]

[Rgade:NEAL!_]