Hello and happy Saturday to all! This chapter is longer then anticipated. But I guess the more the merrier. I have a lot of edits of the previous chapters I will be going back to fix this weekend, so sorry if it pings people's mailboxes while updating. I don't know if that's how the site works or not but if it is then sorry… One of these changes being something small, like adding in Bliztwing's German accent he sported in Transformer's Animated I loved so much as a youth. Even almost a decade and a half later he is still my favorite con from that series, tied only with Shockwave. XD As always, please comment, and enjoy!
Location: Kaon Capital
Bumblebee
Bumblebee came out of his transformation before they passed through the city gates. He was astonished to see the once abandoned Decepticon Capital bustling with activity. When they were among the only living things on the planet, this place was where Optimus Prime promoted him from Scout to a Warrior. His leader named him a hero for ending the war with Megatron's supposed death. Then with some of Wheeljack's plentiful explosives, they took down the statue of Megatron in the city's center.
This was far from the decrepit Kaon the Autobots once celebrated their victory. Commerce and chatter filled the cracked streets. Vehicon clones bearing old wounds and no longer fit to fight operated back-alley shops. Decepticons wearing their emblem or Bots of no affiliation hurried about their business. Most notable of all, Predacons flew over the buildings. They yanked chunks from broken structures and carried them away for some unknown purpose.
Bulkhead stiffened, even more tense than their whole party combined. "That'll put stress on those building's remaining supports." He complained. Bumblebee saw he wasn't trying to be funny. He winced with every piece of metal ripped from the skyscrapers.
Many of the beasts turned their attention skyward. Predaking and his entourage flew overhead and further into the city. Bumblebee cursed as he lost sight of them with so many buildings in the way. "We need to catch up."
No one was guarding the front gate, so they walked in. That was when the chatter of the open market came to a screeching halt. They were greeted with a mix of fearful optics, hateful glares, and everything in between. Though no one got in their way, many bots vacated the street all together so they had a clear path.
"Not going to lie. I don't feel welcome." Smokescreen felt the need to express. Many glared at him more so than the rest, eyeing his elite guard emblem. "The least Predaking could have done was wait for us at the gate."
"I guess you can't blame many of them." Arcee offered, though was far from letting her guard down as they walked close down the road. "The New Council put a death warrant on all their helms, and the Council is Autobot aligned. I'm sure our presence here is going to be questionable at best."
"But there are so many refugees." Bulkhead said, gazing around their formation in amazement.
"All these Con refugees right under Decimus's pompous olfactory sensor." Wheeljack added. "Plus, we are so close to Arachnid's little camp. How hasn't she snacked on everyone here?"
A scream from a nearby alley brought the attention off the Autobots. Wheeljack got an answer to his previous question as a bot bolted out into the streets and yelled, "Help! He's bit!"
Another bot stumbled out of the shadows after the first. Their posture slumped; every step uneven. "E-energon." He hissed. Then they lunged forward into the crowd. Bumblebee's blasters came to life. A twinge of pity made him hesitate as he took aim at the infected. He had to act, or the infection would blaze through the market.
A Predacon leapt onto the infected bot before Bumblebee could shoot. The market did not burst into a panicked stampede to get away, as Bumblebee assumed it would. Instead, it was as if some unspoken agreement rang out among citizens. Everyone in the proximity rushed in to aid the Predacon holding the infected bot down. The Predacon held them still as others immobilized their servos and peds with thick wire.
A pronged proboscis snapped out of the infected's mouth plates. The mob anticipated this too. The Predacon grabbed the appendage and the others bound it to their side with more wire. Others not in the fray checked over the associate of the infected bot, searching for bite marks on them. They were left alone when the crowd seemed satisfied they were bite free. It was clear this kind of emergency was commonplace.
Someone bumped Bumblebee's shoulder on their way to help. "You're in the way, Autobot." They snapped, then yelled again for "Someone get quarantine here, now!"
"Yikes…" Smokescreen mumbled as they watched the infected bot thrash in his shackles. "We've been so busy picking these infected bots off from a far, I haven't gotten a good look at what the virus is like up close."
Bumblebee agreed. It was horrific. The bot seemed completely out of his senses. He was snarling and spitting purple droplets into the street. A minicon emerged from between the shuffle of peds, their face covered in protective gear. They sprayed the droplets on the ground with a steaming concoction which made it fizzle into nothing.
"I… guess we aren't needed." Bulkhead noted.
A familiar chuckle behind them drew Bumblebee's attention away from the chaos. "We are quite desensitized to the spectacle, unfortunately. Also, don't take any comments personally. Everyone here is on edge."
Bumblebee turned, then had to look up to meet the massive optics of the speaker. Bumblebee was too shocked to say anything but the Bot's name. "MacCadam!"
The jovial bot bellowed a laugh, his whole rounded frame shuttering with the effort. "That is what folks tend to call me! It's good to see you still remember me. And even better to see you talking again. I did tell you the old Voice Box would get fixed, didn't I?"
"Who's this big drink of Energon?" Smokescreen asked, his optics scanning over the massive bot.
"An old friend of Optimus's." Bumblebee explained, and then mirrored MacCadam's smile. "And a friend of mine too. MacCadam, what are you doing here? I haven't seen you since before Cybertron went dark… I thought, we all thought-"
"I was pushing up lugnuts?" MacCadam guessed. "Only for a little bit. The dead look didn't suit me! I actually never left Cybertron, well, no... that's not completely true. I never left, only when I wasn't off world. Rather lost track of the time."
Bumblebee caught Bulkhead and Wheeljack giving each other a confounded glance. Bumblebee didn't question the non-answer. Cryptic jokes were what made MacCadam charming.
"And now you're in a Decepticon refugee camp?" Arcee asked, optic ridge risen.
MacCadam's grin softened. "It's where I was most needed, I figure. One moment." He patted Bumblebee on the shoulder on his way past them. He was walked towards the crowd restraining the infected bot. "I'll take him, until Quarantine gets here. They'll know where to find us." He said.
Surprisingly, the crowd, even the Predacon, gave up the infected bot without protest. The bot thrashed, but MacCadam gave him a pointed look. "I'll get you some Energon, friend. No need for the theatrics."
The infected bot took deep, pained intakes, but seemed to understand MacCadam on some level. They didn't fight anymore as MacCadam lifted him from the ground. He motioned to the infected bot's friend and Team Prime to follow. They arrived in a small cobbled together Energon distillery. The decor had MacCadam's eccentric flare for sure. There were a few patrons in the bar who jumped in alarm as they all stormed in. Though weary, the customers didn't flee. It was clear MacCadam did this often enough for the locals not to panic.
MacCadam sat the restrained bot down at a booth made of crates. Everyone cringed when he untied the bot's mouth and one of their servos. MacCadam had placed a canteen of Energon on the table, which was the infected bot's singular focus. With his free servo he snatched the Energon from the table and devoured it in moments. With a few more heavy cooling intakes, hints of self-awareness crept back into his optics. He glanced around, disoriented. His focus landed on MacCadam, the latter of whom gave him a grounding smile. "That should hold you for a bit at least."
"I… I was bit." The bot realized.
"It was higher alert this cycle, Slide… I told you not to go out looking for scrap metal." His compatriot chastised him. She was far too upset by the whole scenario to retain her anger.
Slide held his helm low. "I'm sorry, Crossflare."
"No harm done." MacCadam assured them both, replacing the Energon when Slide's optics began to dim. "Times are hard, and life is risky. Quarantine will come around in a few kliks. You'll take a long stasis nap until we can get this whole virus thing under control."
Slide drained the second vessel. It seemed to bring him even more clarity. "I guess you can put this all on my tab…"
MacCadam let out a roaring laugh. "I would if you ever paid your tab! Don't worry about it. It's on the house. No one should go into stasis hungry, no matter the reason."
"How often does this happen?" Bumblebee inquired from the entrance where they stood.
"What are they even doing here?" Crossflare snapped, glaring Team Prime's way.
"No need for the hostility. They are old friends of mine." MacCadam told her gently. He then turned to address Bumblebee. "It's more frequent than we would like. Arachnid and her swarm don't attack the city anymore. The Predacons do well to intimidate! But they tend to pick at anyone wandering outside. The infected are put in stasis and kept in the Citadel."
"But we need to go out and scavenge, because the number of us refugees are overwhelming the city's limits," Crossflare snapped. "Those condemned to death by your Council had to run from the other cities."
The Autobots were left in awkward silence. They stepped out of the way when a group of other bots came into MacCadam's establishment. There was a portable stasis pod left outside. Slide and Crossflare said a quick goodbye to each other and then MacCadam. Slide went with the quarantine group without a fight. Crossflare followed them out, and the bar's energy calmed.
"It could be worse." MacCadam added with a shrug. He cleaned up the table Slide had used with strong chemicals. "That Predaking is a bit full of himself, but he didn't make a big fuss over all the refugees. Folks sure do come together when times are tough. It does the Spark good to see. Speaking of the king, you were following Predaking's pack, right?"
"How'd you know that chuckles?" Wheeljack demanded, still suspicious.
"MacCadam knows everything." Bumblebee brushed off his concern. MacCadam's overflowing knowledge was disconcerting for those who didn't know him. "We are, but we lost sight of Predaking at the entrance. We've learned the New Council is using Predacon clones as their personal army."
"And we know about the Council bringing Arachnid's plague down on all of us as well." Arcee added coldly.
"We can help Predaking." Bumblebee insisted. "We can help him free the rest of the Predacons and get Shockwave away from the Council. But to take down Arachnid, we need to find Soundwave. He's the only one who can get into the Kaon underground."
"Lord Soundwave?" Said one of the other patrons, now interested. The single table was not the only one to drop their conversations in favor of gawking at the Autobots. The other few patrons had spun around in their seats as well when they mentioned Soundwave's name. That was when Bumblebee noticed everyone else in the bar proudly wore the Decepticon emblem. "Is his Lordship coming here? When?" The bot who spoke first continued to question.
"You said the magic name." Maccadam snickered to Bumblebee. "After that rescue he pulled, Soundwave's become something of a folk hero. Rumor about Megatron passing on leadership to Soundwave was already running about."
One of the patrons stood up from his chair and held an Energon vessel high. "And then our Lord came charging out of the sky to liberate our comrades and lay waste to our oppressors! He IS a hero! To our glorious new leader!"
The separate groups cheered their Energon.
Another Decepticon chimed in. "Lord Megatron is planning something big, I just know it! He's out there in space bringing reinforcements!"
"What if Lord Soundwave and Lord Megatron rule the Decepticons together, as conjunx? Nothing could stand in their way!"
"Ha! Could you imagine that? The ultimate power couple!"
Wheeljack crossed his servos and whispered amongst themselves, "Oh yeah… This is bound to end well."
"Poor Soundwave." MacCadam vented. That was a strange statement, even for MacCadam. "He isn't exactly the 'glory' type. All the attention is weighing heavy on his shoulders."
Smokescreen laughed. "We talking about the same Con? Most of Cybertron didn't even know he had a face until a few cycles ago. And that was somehow the most expressive thing about-HEY!" he yelled when one of the Decepticon patrons hurled their empty Energon vessel at him. A glare from MacCadam was enough to warn the perpetrator to remain seated and not start a fight.
"I'll take you to the Citadel, so you can talk to Predaking, and not upset the locals anymore." MacCadam offered.
The stress in Bumblebee's chassis eased somewhat. "Thank you, MacCadam. It would be greatly appreciated."
They followed MacCadam through the distillery's back entrance and into an underground tunnel. Their guide opened another creaking doorway with a grunt. MacCadam sidestepped and motioned for them to continue without him. "It's a short walk from here. You can't miss the place." He said with a characteristic laugh.
Arcee scouted ahead, checking the dingy alley the passageway opened into. She nodded to the others, and aside from Bumblebee and MacCadam, the tunnel cleared out after her.
"We owe you." Bumblebee said.
"You're working to make things right. That's all I want to see." MacCadam explained with a shrug. "But, if you're offering a favor, you could pass along a message for me."
"Does Predaking take advice?" Bumblebee wondered.
"It's actually for Soundwave." MacCadam clarified. "He can't do this alone. He knows that, but he will need a firm reminder. This gig warped Megatron. Soundwave has other options. He doesn't have to go with what he thinks is the right path for the Decepticons. His little friend tells him that already, but hearing from other sources may help hammer it in."
Bumblebee hesitated, thrown for a moment at the mention of Rhea. Right, MacCadam knew everything somehow. He assumed Soundwave would not appreciate advice from an Autobot, no matter how well intended it was. But he nodded and followed the others out.
"Oh wait, I have heard of you!" Bulkhead said to MacCadam with sudden recollection. "Rumor is you are one of the Thirteen Original Primes. Is that actually true?"
"Good luck!" MacCadam said with a smile in place of an answer. Then he cut off the topic as he slid the fake wall closed between them.
Their small group moved forward. As MacCadam said, the Citadel was hard to miss. The massive dark tower with protruding spikes stabbed the sky at every angle. It once had a long imposing road leading to the entrance, but this space had changed considerably. Cobbled together structures served as Predacon dens and refugee housing along the open expanse. They were building onto the city using the scavenged scrap metal and material from existing structures they had seen Predacons taking earlier. And randomly a lot of doors. There was a considerable number of doors serving as makeshift walls, roofs, and any other use they were needed for.
Predacons perched on buildings or the Citadel itself growled at their approach. But they didn't move to stop them. Their king must have spread word of their arrival. They let themselves into the compound through the front door, or what was left of it. The door was gone.
Every entrance had been relieved of its reinforced doors. This left massive holes for the larger bodies that now occupied the space. Chunks were torn out of the walls at odd angles, either to act as windows or for Predacons to jump through if the entrance was too much of a hassle. "Well, that explains where they got all the doors for the reconstruction." Wheeljack snickered. "Hope Megatron doesn't mind the redecoration."
Bumblebee could hear Bulkhead's whine. A glance revealed he was silently inspecting the buckling walls and broken reinforcements.
They asked a growling Predacon where they could find Predaking. They got a simple nod towards the lift and a grumbled, "The Sky Room," as an answer. They took the lift and zoomed upward, soon meeting the startled red optics of Starscream.
"What took you?" he snapped in a whisper, but spun around regardless to announce, "They are here, my king!"
Predaking was in bot form, gazing off into the city from the open back wall. "I trust, you had an informative walk through my city?" he asked without turning to address them.
Bumblebee eyed Starscream, but approached Predaking regardless. "You have been very kind, to take so many refugees under your protection."
To this, Predaking turned. His posture was imposing as always as he stepped down from the elevated platform. There had once been a throne where he stood, but it, like every door in the citadel, was absent. Either Predaking was not one for traditional power, or it had been too small for him to sit in.
"It took a great deal of debate on my part." Predaking acknowledged. "Many in the city are Decepticons, the faction that wronged my people. But situations change, I have found. Many have offered themselves as bait to lure out more of my people so we may reclaim them. These bots, no matter the faction, are brave creatures, unlike others." He aimed a glare Starscream's direction. The Seeker shrunk behind Bumblebee. Predaking continued. "I hear rumor of a Decepticon once under Megatron's command. He has taken over Megatron's throne and challenged the New Council. Soundwave is his name. I never spoke to him, only crossing paths with him a few times while on the Nemesis."
"He wasn't much for talking back in those days." Smokescreen offered with a shrug.
"You've heard correct." Bumblebee confirmed. "We have made an unofficial alliance with Soundwave. He has the keys to get into the Kaon Underground where we can get weapons to overcome Arachnid's army."
"Where is Soundwave now?" Predaking inquired.
"No idea." Bumblebee admitted. We helped him escape when he saved all those prisoners from death row. I assume he is in deep space, coming up with some sort of plan."
"Time is off the essence, and I am unsure if we have time to wait for him, as I hear many in the city whispering about. Come see, Autobots…" Predaking put a massive servo around Bumblebee and led/pushed him to one of the room's many edges. Before they both plummeted over the edge he stopped and gave the skyline a dramatic sweep of his clawed hand. "Over that ridge is where Arachnid's swarm dwells. She hides in the few caves and tunnels she has managed to dig out, but our informants say she can burrow no deeper. Only us Predacon's are able to match her swarm. The smaller refugees cannot stray far from the city without bringing down her assault."
Bumblebee nodded along numbly. They had seen that firsthand with poor Slide.
"Energon stores are low in the city." Predaking explained further. "If we do not attack now, those who now call my city home will starve. It is an un honorable fate that I will not stand by to witness."
"It won't have to come to that." Arcee intoned. "We have the recipe for synthetic Energon. We can get it from the New Council and bring it here."
"Would the new Council not hide such a treasure?" Predaking assumed.
"I'm sure Shockwave will have it memorized." Bumblebee promised with an assuring smile. "We can keep the people here from starving. With Shockwave, we can develop a cure for everyone who has been bitten."
"If I may, my glorious King." Starscream interrupted with a nervous chuckle. Predaking growled, but didn't explicitly tell him to shut up. That was all Starscream needed to continue. "This is all a marvelous plan. But there is one small but oh so important detail holding back our enterprise… We do not know Shockwave's current location."
Predaking snarled again, but not at Starscream. He still flinched regardless. "We have considered that." Predaking said.
"None of the Predacon's you saved remember the way back home?" Wheeljack wondered skeptically.
"They remember nothing but the hunt and the smell of Energon." Predaking said.
"Then we'll have to try and get the location while in Iacon." Arcee said.
"There's no way old Decimus won't notice that." Bulkhead pointed out.
"We could follow one of the controlled Predacons back to base instead of ripping that device out of them." Wheeljack offered. Predaking bristled at the idea but waited for him to elaborate further. "No one knew about the Predacon being the Council's Con Hunting task force. That means they keep them out of sight, probably in the same lab they hatched, or at least near our one eyed Decepticon scientist. Why not slather Starscream with Energon and leave him as bait to draw them out? We let them take him this time and follow them right back to their lab."
"Um, what?!" Starscream demanded.
"It's a risky move." Bumblebee told him sternly.
"Thank you." Starscream vented.
Bumblebee elaborated. "If we lose sight of them, like we did with Predaking on our way into this city, then we won't know where the entrance is."
"And they would terminate me!" Starscream pointed out.
Without further comment, Predaking wandered off from the edge, deep in thought.
"Like King said, we don't have much time." Wheeljack said. "We need to decide on something."
"If I can inquire something of you, that is off topic." Starscream once more pushed himself into the conversation. "When you, collaborated with Soundwave. Did he mention, I don't know, a pressing need for a second in command?"
"He already has one." Arcee grumbled. "She flirted with me the whole time we were on Earth, even after I punched her in the faceplates.
Starscream grimaced at the news, but then covered it with a grin. "Good Good. I just wanted to make sure my, old friend, was well prepared for these coming cycles. I've worried over my old teammate's fates for some time. I can hardly power down with such anxiety."
"I'm sure they've missed you as much." Bumblebee said. He had a hard time maintaining a straight face through the statement.
"Really?" Smokescreen asked with genuine confusion. "I don't think I've heard Knockout mention Starscream once."
Their small band snickered at the comment, and at Starscream's following glare.
"You know, for bots that parade around declaring themselves the 'good guys,' you Autobots can be needlessly cruel to those in dire need!" Starscream complained.
The first to stop laughing was Arcee. If looks could kill, Starscream would have been halfway smelted under her glare. "You are one to mention bots in dire need. If you want, we can talk about those you could have shown a bit of kindness to but chose not to. Should we talk about them, Starscream?"
Starscream struggled down a choked intake. "No." He managed to squeak. "Though I, was under the impression we were even for past transgressions…"
"Even enough for me not to shove your flightless aft off this tower." Arcee specified. "Arachnid is a present danger, and isn't a sniveling coward like you. That's why my focus is on taking her down and not you. But if you so much as step out of line or pull your old scrap and put my team in danger, my blaster will be up your actuator. Are we clear?"
"C-c-crystal clear." Starscream agreed meekly.
Arcee glared at the floor. She seemed done looking at Starscream. Bumblebee felt the hurt radiating from his comrade. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She relaxed into his touch, though still maintained the staring contest with her own peds.
"Though, in my defense regarding Cliff-" Starscream began.
"Seriously?" Bulkhead interrupted in utter astonishment. "You don't know when to shut up, even for your own good do you?"
A sudden beep from Wheeljack's transmitter drew the team's focus. He glanced at the screen and rose an optic ridge. "Well, I'll be. Looks like ironic fate has come in to shut Starscream up for us."
"What is it?" Bumblebee asked.
"Transmission from the Con Lord himself." Wheeljack explained.
Hearing this, Predaking stomped over to observe Wheeljack fiddle with the device. "Soundwave is contacting you?" he demanded.
"Seems so. No smoke in mirrors or riddles like this one sent." Wheeljack explained and motioned to Starscream without looking up. "Straight and to the point…wow." He gazed up at Bumblebee with legitimate surprise. "Can the suicidal plans we made before. Soundwave just sent us Shockwave's current location."
Location: The Renegade, Deep Space
Soundwave
Soundwave didn't regret his decision to send Shockwave's coordinates to the Autobots. Time was of the essence, and logically, he knew they would need help. Sharpshot's connections on Cybertron confirmed the information Arachnid gave them. She had been telling the truth about Soundwave being in Iacon's underground labs. He wasn't sure if that fact was reassuring. She was unstable enough to give away vital information without a second thought. Or, she too had something to gain with Shockwave no longer under the New Council's control.
Of course, the Autobots may not take his invitation. If they did, then they would have back up in unfamiliar territory. If they did not… Soundwave had yet to calculate that scenario. With the New Council's help, Arachnid Bridged onto his last three ships and decimated his reinforcements. He had to convince the Autobots to assist in the recovery of Shockwave somehow. He didn't have the numbers to achieve such a plot alone.
"They are Autobots," Laserbeak began thoughtfully. "They will answer your beacon. When it comes to ill-advised plans and possibly walking into traps, they can't help themselves."
"I assume you are attempting to assure me, but these ill-advised bots are the ones I am relying on for backup in our most desperate time." Soundwave replied dryly.
Laserbeak trilled a laugh. "At the very least we can rely on them to be a suitable distraction to draw fire." There was a beat of silence between them as Soundwave made his way along the gangway. "Master. All will be well." He said at last.
Great. Now even Laserbeak was having to reassure him. "Is my deteriorating mental state that obvious?" Soundwave asked.
"Only because I know you so well." Laserbeak promised. "For good reason. The situation is bleak. But you will suffer it and come through fine. As you always do."
Soundwave could only nod. At least he had an excuse to spiral into self-doubt according to Laserbeak.
Laserbeak vented, having heard that commentary. "Master, I believe it is time to take a lesson from our spontaneous ally, the Autobots. Random frivolity seems to do them good."
Soundwave almost didn't want to know. "What do you recommend?"
"We have a Spacebridge. Why not invite Rhea on board and give her a tour of the Decepticon flagship?"
"You say you know me, so you should know humor tends to grate on me." Soundwave said.
"Well then you will be assured to know I am not joking."
"And what would be the logical reason I would present to my crew for having a human on board?"
"Simple." Laserbeak said confidently. "You are Decepticon leader. You can do whatever you want."
Much like the situation with Arachnid, Soundwave had lost control of this conversation. He deployed Laserbeak from his torso. "Continue monitoring Autobot frequencies until I return to the Bridge. I have business on the lower deck."
Laserbeak vented, but soon flew off down the corridor to follow his order. Soundwave hesitated a moment more before carrying on.
After Sharpshot returned from their fact-finding mission, they had reconvened with their unit in the recreation room. Utilizing the ship's surveillance, Soundwave saw a large collection of his own crew in the recreation room as well. Unfortunately, the audio surveillance was down in that sector of the ship, and he hadn't had a moment to fix it. He was curious what drew his crew from their duties. Everyone had already powered down and refueled. They could not afford leisure time.
Soundwave stopped short of turning the corner to enter the recreation room when he heard the tense conversation within.
"Who could she be calling in Space?" the voice of Blitzwing wondered, or at least his more reasonable half at the moment. "Arachnid said she would cash in favors…"
"That doesn't mean anything." Demolisher's voice retorted. "It's either a few more bugs, a trick, or she's lost what's left of her mind."
"Why are ve moving forvward with this ridiculous attempt to reclaim Kaon?" Blitzwing went on to question the small group.
"Because Lord Soundwave ordered it." Demolisher snapped back. "What happened to the powerful multishifter who was ready to take on an entire Elite Guard squadron with no weapons or T-cog? I miss that lunatic."
Soundwave remained in the hall outside, contemplating what to do. His crew's morale was lower than the Pits. Megatron would have stormed in and snapped at them to return to their stations. He may even have roused the troops with powerful words that promised crushed enemies and a hopeful tomorrow. Soundwave was far from the 'storm into a room' type. As for rousing speeches? He wanted to laugh just picturing himself in such a role.
"Where is Thunderblast?" Clobber suddenly intoned. "Should she maybe be part of this conversation?"
"Vhy? Missing your crush?" Blitzwing laughed, his tone already lighter than before.
"Don't tease…" Clobber whimpered.
"Probably in her room with her pets." Demolisher answered for Clobber. "She spends a lot of time with the organic pests when she's stressed. I don't get it, but hey, whatever works I guess. When upset, I tend to punch walls, but personal experience tells me that's not smart while on a ship."
"She's stressed?" Clobber asked. The hulking bot sounded sincerely concerned. "Why?"
"Because the Spider bot vill soon squash us like insects." Blitzwing said matter-of-factly.
"Shut up." Demolisher growled. "Your humor is going to get you in trouble, namely my fist colliding with your faceplates."
"I vill not shut up! And I am being quite serious." Blitzwing snapped back. "Are ve sure our old Lord Megatron vill not be coming back?"
Ouch.
That comment stung most because Soundwave shared Blitzwing's sentiment. Megatron wouldn't be troubled with this growing problem. Megatron would be the leader these bots needed.
"Do you not trust our previous Lord Megatron at all?" demanded Sharpshot of all bots.
Blitzwing hesitated, thrown off as well. "Of course I do, Vehicon." He grumbled. "That is vhy I am asking if he could return to us…"
"He put Lord Soundwave in charge." Sharpshot reminded him, and the room. "If you doubt Lord Soundwave, then you don't trust Lord Megatron! What are a few bugs to the Decepticon forces? Lord Megatron always said nothing can move our will, and yet here we are, ready to run off after a few mind games? Lord Soundwave isn't backing down, because he knows Arachnid is no match against us, even in our darkest hour!"
The comment earned a few "here here!" 's from those gathered around the small tables as Sharpshot came to Soundwave's defense.
"True, Lord Megatron isn't here right now, but he doesn't have to be." Sharpshot continued without missing a beat. "He was the powerful force that drove the Decepticons forward on our path. We needed that force to blaze through battles and endless fighting. But right now, lacking our usual might we don't need that blind fury. We need strategy and cunning. We need someone who can stay level helmed and work around Arachnid's mindgames. Luckily, we have that in Lord Soundwave. I'm ready to storm Kaon, backup be damned!"
More cheers punctuated the speech. Even Demolisher could be heard laughing lightsparkedly. "Did you have that saved from the time you spend stranded on your ship, or was that all improvised?"
Sharpshot chuckled. "I guess the latter. It's how I feel."
"You're a good talker, for a Vehicon." Demolisher added.
They were an oddity among the clones indeed…
With the bright room filled with banter again, Soundwave retreated into the shadows of the hall. There were at least two bots on the ship that believed in Soundwave's rule, and that list did not even include himself. Laserbeak, and Sharpshot. The well-spoken trooper had faith in Soundwave's stronger qualities.
He was good at observing and planning. He was bad with words and charisma. He had two out of the four qualities needed for the job, and it didn't help he had only started talking not long ago.
Soundwave headed for his quarters, intending to pore over Megatron's many eons of speeches and take notes. He would be the leader the Decepticons deserved, and that required being good at all required traits, even if he would have to fake being charismatic for the rest of his endless life or until Primus called him home.
His plans were put on hold when he scanned his quarters before entering, more out of habit then true paranoia of being jumped. It was occupied. One of the two life signals he saw was his familiar Minicon. He would have been annoyed at Laserbeak for ignoring his direct order, if it wasn't for the second, non Cybertronian life signal. He also was reading a sudden spike in oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide within.
He entered and quickly closed the door behind him to prevent the gases from escaping. He then took a moment to observe the small familiar human seated on the edge of his berth.
Rhea looked well, despite the remaining casts she still endured. His struggles to understand how and why she was there aboard the Renegade in deep space melted away when she smiled at him, rubbing her hands together with barely contained excitement. "Hey Soundwave." She greeted.
"I will now take my reprimand." Laserbeak said to them both. "I went against your direct order and executed my originally discussed plan. I utilized the Spacebridge log and gave Rhea our ship's current coordinates."
"Don't be mad at him." Rhea said, coming to Laserbeak's defense. "He only gave me the coordinates. I was the one to activate the Spacebridge and come through."
Soundwave studied her thoughtfully, then approached them both. He knelt, then as carefully as he could, he retrieved her from his berth. He cradled her to his chest, close to his Spark, and indulged in the calming aura she radiated. A calm in the storm within his mind. "I missed you." He informed her simply when all other words failed him.
With her usual laugh, she pressed closer to him. "Not as much as I missed you." She promised.
A commotion from outside his room ruined their shared moment.
"I failed to mention," Laserbeak added. "In exchange for Rhea's life support from Commander Thunderblast, I had to provide someone else the ship's Spacebridge coordinates…"
Before Soundwave could inquire more, the room to his quarters, which he had yet to lock, burst open. There stood Thunderblast, elated and smiling. "Look my Lord! Firecracker came back!" she squealed with delight.
Miko gave Soundwave a casual wave from Thunderblast's hand. "Sup dude."
