Location: Shadow Zone
Soundwave
Soundwave's blaster clicked. Empty. He was out of laser fire, his Energon levels too low to provide firepower in his defense.
The animated corpse of Skyquake lumbered forward. Soundwave had blown away half of its helm before his blasters failed him. It still wasn't enough. Skyquake continued to close in.
Soundwave knew he had to get to higher ground. Such a task would be almost impossible for the uncoordinated creature stalking him. But Soundwave couldn't fly, he didn't have enough Energon to get his boosters working. He backed away from Skyquake, scanning the plateaus above him. Many had hanging rocks and boulders. He could utilize gravity in his favor. He could drop a large enough rock onto Skyquake from above. Without his wings, he would have to climb.
Laserbeak deployed from his torso and buzzed around Skyquake, providing the distraction Soundwave needed to execute the plan. He dug his digits into the rockface and climbed. Calculations danced on his face visor as he approached the large bolder overhead. Laserbeak would have to lure Skyquake into the ideal position, but their chances of success were optimal.
His calculations were interrupted with a flashing alarm that demanded his attention.
Energon levels: Minimal.
He had never been so low before. Despite the worrying warning, Soundwave ignored it and focused on the task at hand. He was almost to the top to execute his plan of attack.
A loud pang of struck metal reverberated in Soundwave's audio receptors. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see Laserbeak hit again. The minicon smashed into the ground at Skyquake's feet. He flapped his wings despite the damage, trying to get away. Skyquake snatched Laserbeak before he could escape.
Soundwave released his grip on the rock wall, his original plan moot. He smashed hard into Skyquake, ripping Laserbeak free. He flung Laserbeak behind himself and attacked. Hand to hand combat with a larger opponent was dangerous, especially unarmed. But Soundwave was still faster. He remained on the offensive, never giving the beast a moment to process his movements.
He ripped away at Skyquake's armor, piece by piece. If he could reduce his assailant into small enough pieces, the battle would be won. He blocked Skyquake's flails, absorbing the damage in his servos to protect far more important body parts. He broke Skyquake's left ped to destroy his balance. Just a few more hits…
Energon levels: Minimal. Emergency power down required.
Skyquake's ruined faceplate vanished as the world went black.
The ring of metal in battle had fallen deathly silent. Soundwave couldn't move, hear, or see. Even his comprehension was suspended. He couldn't recall what he had been doing, which was worrying to him. He always had a task to complete. His Lord Megatron had a war to win, and Soundwave was integral to his plans. The Nemesis couldn't run without him. He didn't have time to power down, not with so much to do. Was he on the ship? He couldn't remember.
The calm black around Soundwave exploded with a burst of pain. His optics came back online. His face visor was cracked, but it was still blaring warnings that obscured his vision and his attacker. Burning ravaged his chest, ripping at the wires and delicate pipes of his neck. His own Energon splattered across Skyquake's body.
With the pain came clarity and Soundwave remembered. Trapped in the Flux Space. Running out of Energon. Presently under attack by an undead Cybertronian.
Soundwave stumbled backwards to escape the assault. He groped at his wounds, Energon slicking his servos. He applied pressure on the open wounds to preserve the precious Energon in his pipes. He needed to put distance between himself and Skyquake before he blacked out again. His vision was blurry, made worse by the crack in his visor. He called Laserbeak in their silent language. Fighting no longer an option, they had to hide.
A shadowed overhang beckoned. It was small and would keep Skyquake out. Soundwave rushed towards it. He was almost there when the warning was before his optics again.
Energon Level: Critical. Power down required.
Darkness engulfed him before he hit the ground.
An angry crowd bellowed. Their lust for spilled Energon had gone unanswered. Soundwave looked up and saw the gladiator who had bested him with ease, and then spared him the finishing blow. Megatronus. The larger Bot ignored the jeering crowd's demands to extinguish Soundwave's Spark, and instead held out a servo for Soundwave to take.
He was rewarded with a genuine smile from the gladiator. "It's twisted, this world of ours. This can be our chance to change it all. We can remake this corrupt system. Will you stand with me?"
Soundwave staired up into the optics of the visionary, the legendary Megatronus. In those optics, he saw the true potential for change on Cybertron. He reached out to take Megatronus' hand.
Crack.
Pain smashed through the memory. Soundwave was face down in the dirt, a massive form yanking at his peds. Skyquake's broken mouth plates gnawed at Soundwave's inverted knee joint, pulling open wires and eliciting new agony with each bite.
Soundwave deployed his tentacles into Skyquake and zapped him with electricity. It was enough to stun the monster and get out from under him. Soundwave went to stand but crumbled. Skyquake had rendered both peds broken at the joints. He couldn't even limp. Still needing to escape, he crawled. Somewhere overhead Laserbeak chirped to him.
Soundwave gazed up. The minicon struggled to stay in the air, flapping about the closest plateau. He chipped away at the rock face under a large bolder with laser fire. Soundwave understood at once, and he crawled towards the plateau.
He fought the encroaching darkness with everything he had left, ignoring the growing urge to just lay down and die. He was a survivor. His lord needed him. He hadn't been given permission to die.
Soundwave lingered under the looming bolder, his focus on the undead Skyquake as he approached. Just a little closer…
Skyquake growled. He lunged forward into the shadow of the overhang.
Soundwave shoved himself to the side before he was crushed under the larger body. Laserbeak unleashed his last few lasers into the rock until it gave way. The bolder came free, plummeting to the ground.
Skyquake gave an almost curious grunt as his focus turned up. The bolder smashed down onto him. Splatters of dark Energon and pieces of metal body flew in all direction.
Soundwave tried to sit up to take in the victory. The strength in his servos gave out and he fell onto his back. Laserbeak fluttered down to him and connected them. The Minicon chirped in alarm, most likely in response to Soundwave's Energon levels and extensive injuries.
A small trickle of Energon came into his system from Laserbeak. A rare feeling took hold of Soundwave. Guilt. He was supposed to watch over the minicon's wellbeing, not the other way around.
His broken visor readings were screaming at him again. Fatally low Energon level. Critical system failure. Forced power down imminent. Everything he already knew and could do nothing to remedy. But there was one constant beeping among the others that stood out. It was the signal he had been trying to locate. Whoever was tracking him in the Flux Space was trying to zero in on his location again at this very moment. It didn't matter anymore. He wasn't far from becoming one with the All Spark. He had failed to survive. He had failed the Decepticons. Worst of all, he had failed Lord Megatron.
His optics shut off and plunged his mind back into oblivion.
