A couple more solar cycles have passed. Megatron had to deal with Starscream's intrusion yesterday and has been busy cleaning the mess and monitoring Orion's work for the moment he discovers the truth.
But he's taking a break, to visit Sonica, who doesn't look up or flinch as he enters. She hangs there with Knockout's patchwork after her struggle with the troupes.
"How are you feeling, Sonica Doradus? Maybe you feel a bit more honest today?"
"Is Breakdown alright?"
"If you want to find out, give me another one of your secrets."
"Why..." Her voice warps slightly, like before, "Why do I keep you alive?"
He quietly takes a step backwards, "That's already been established, Sonica. Don't you remember?"
She doesn't answer.
"You need someone who can handle you, and that someone, is me." He grins.
Her voice warps deeper as she chuckles, "If Soundwave hadn't saved your twisted aft, you would be a dry husk right now. Maybe your funeral would've take place today."
"Cute fantasy," He turns to head back out, "but a fantasy, nonetheless. When you're feeling honest, Sonica, I'll send someone to fetch you."
~Maybe I want you to do it. I like your visits~ She cackles but it's not her anymore.
He smothers his concern until the doors close. Distance should lessen her madness but it's not. There must be something...maybe Breakdown and Knockout know.
It's still odd to him that an experienced warrior like Breakdown would pull such a stupid stunt like falling on her.
On his way there, he runs into Arachnid, who's suddenly worried about his welfare.
According to Soundwave, she's as bad as Starscream, but he plays the part. He gives her some light compliments for taking initiative and confesses that he found the fight fascinating. She confesses to enjoying the fight too, as it yielded success after all.
The smooth spider bows and ends the conversation with her usual perfect formalities and they part ways.
He's got to figure out what to do with her.
Knockout is fiddling with options on the screen when he enters.
Breakdown turns his head to see, as he lies on the table. He's welded shut with the doctor's neat-freak tendencies, but a few attached tubes make sure the internal healing continues. The metal around the spark chamber is sensitive and needs a special medicine to mend smoothly.
By the scans Megatron reads over Knockout's shoulder, she cut him quite close to the spark.
It's amazing. For hardened energon, that sword was sharp enough to be clean and precise.
"All is continually looking well for you, Breakdown. You're quite lucky." He pauses but doesn't allow either of them to comment, "Lucky despite your...bold tactic to run at her undefended."
Doctor and patient exchange glances.
"Sonica has always been kind to us," Breakdown's tone is as choppy as his explanation, "She really cares about us- as you do- so I thought that might..."
He puts up a hand, "Your friend is mad with dark energon rage...and you gamble your spark on kindness. Is that what you're telling me?"
Knockout looks down and Breakdown stops talking. Instead, he watches his red partner; that downcast look means something.
Megatron waits.
"Not quite, Lord Megatron. There is some science to it."
Breakdown rests his head back down and his only optic closes.
"We learned that she...sort of 'sobers'...when she is surrounded by regular energon; whether it's in a cube or within our veins. She can feel it in all its forms."
Megatron lets this information sink in. Their nervousness lingers but in the form of guilt.
"How long have you known this?"
Knockout looks down again, "Since before Starscream departed our ranks."
A long and excruciating silence falls; the beeps of the equipment become mute in the background.
Megatron shifts his weight and they almost flinch. "My, my, I wish I had known this sooner. I could've helped her. I had no idea how to calm her madness nor did I know there was a way to do so."
He sees them cringe and pushes it further.
"She's been so disrespectful and I've been graciously tolerant but somehow that's reason for my own to keep secrets from me?"
"No, Lord Megatron," Knockout begins his other form of patch work, "We're loyal."
"Surely you can see why I might not think that. You make a pact with Doradus not to tell me crucial information, which leads to my near-termination, at her hand."
They cave in. Breakdown winces with pain and decides not to try to sit up. Knockout stumbles backwards with strings of apologies and pleas for mercy.
"We'll report anything else she tells us. We swear to you, upon our very sparks. Please Lord Megatron."
He stands there thinking; letting the suspense terrify them, "Doctors are in short supply." He glances at Breakdown and the fear for his life beams from his optic. "I'll let you both live for now, but know this: if I find more secrets, that will be the end of you. I need honest bots to win this war, not traitors. Is that clear?"
Knockout bows deeply, "Transparently, my Liege. You are merciful."
Megatron exits, "Don't make me regret such a virtue."

He returns to the bridge with Soundwave hard at work, as usual. Somehow, with all that's happened, things feel strangely normal.
Megatron is back on top, where he belongs, and a tantalizing new opportunity with Doradus has him eagerly looking forwards. He's a new kind of thirsty; it's been a while since he felt he had such a delicious edge. Everything is finally going right.
Soundwave comes to his side and displays a camera view in the brig.
She still hangs there, but she's muttering to herself. Her octaves change and she pulls on the chains as she eerily sways.
Megatron nods, "Yes, but I've learned about something that will help her- since we need her sane for a while longer."
His screen returns to black.
"Would you like to help, Soundwave?" He glances at his chest, "Maybe Laserbeak would like to participate?"
The Minicon ever-so-slightly shifts, listening.
Since Sonica used static on him, he and Soundwave have been distracted. If it wasn't for the project of finding the Autobot base, she wouldn't have escaped the brig the first time. While she's there now, full watch has been assigned to her every nanoklik. However, Soundwave's monitoring her hasn't been his usual vigilance, that stare of his seems...obsessed.
It didn't pass Megatron's notice that Soundwave held Laserbeak still as the troupes carried her away after the fight.
He glances around the bridge; everyone is busy working. Good. Quietly, he shares what Knockout confessed about Sonica.
"She needs a visit." He states casually and Laserbeak twitches. Soundwave pats him without breaking eye contact with Megatron. "Your jobs can wait a few cycles. You deserve some special treatment. And...have a little extra fun on my behalf."
He bows and strides into the hallway.
Megatron returns to his post with new satisfaction and maybe a hint of jealousy but... Punishment is due. After all she's put him through, it's time to get even.

*****************************
The one major difference between Megatron and Soundwave is their levels of ferocity. Megatron isn't afraid to get dirty and uses blunt force in any situation that will allow it.
Soundwave is more settle. Though he'll fight if he needs to, his preference is to study, observe, and watch from the shadows; as he's always done. That's comfortable.
He enters the brig and Sonica stops swaying.
Though Megatron said to have fun, he'd rather she not be crazy. If what Knockout told Megatron is true, he'll want to address that before anything else.
She keeps her head down as he approaches. He's careful at first, then raises his hand to her face; pulling it upwards to look at him.
Her optics stare past him, into a distant but calmer void.
Soundwave cups her face with both hands and watches most of her intensity fade. It works. It works really well.
Her head stays up, so he moves his hands downwards. They brush across her midriff and wrap around gently; intentionally.
Laserbeak feels her and adjusts. His wings act like locks over and under her arms while staying clicked onto Soundwave.
Again, Soundwave watches her face.
More of her relaxes and her head drops on his shoulder.
He debates it and decides he'd rather watch her expression. Reaching up her back, he finds one of her tendrils with his fingers and pulls her head back again.
Her face goes from blank to pained and Soundwave tightens his embrace.
"Are you sure Megatron would approve?"
Delightfully, he plays the last few words Megatron said.
Sonica's eyes lock on the image of Megatron's face and her usual fire returns.
This is exactly what Soundwave wanted. Now she's conscious and sane, with all his permission in place, he can start.
His fingers activate with static and he starts stroking her lower back. Laserbeak pulls on her, lightly quaking with excitement. Soundwave's strokes lengthen up her back and down, brushing her legs.
The hand that held her tendril lets go but moves up and wraps around the back of her head.
"Tell me, Soundwave, if you do this, will you be satisfied?"
He doesn't like her talking. He adjusts his hold around her head to her neck, pressing with a warning.
"No, I think you'll want to hear this. As a doll, I've seen addiction firsthand. It happens to the best of them."
Soundwave squeezes.
She smiles slyly, "Don't say I didn't warn you."
Static emanates from the full front of her body. It flutters through Laserbeak to Soundwave and he holds her tighter. His body starts to warm, and he sets his head on her shoulder; savoring the enveloping tingle that plays with his pulse and tickles his spark. The static vibrates through every measure of him and he presses himself closer for more. Each time the static collides with anything, it ripples and amplifies. It pleases pieces of him he never knew he could feel. He's never enjoyed something so much. And never before has something felt truly his.
This treat is for him...plus more times ahead. Any time he likes. All he'll need to do is approach, touch, and she'll understand and consent.
In unison of a loud cracking sound, he's on his back, looking up at her. Laserbeak clatters on the floor above his head.
Orange plates move back into place around her body.
"Thanks for sticking around, I needed the extra time to fully sober." She glares at him over a daring smirk, "I didn't feel a thing, by the way."
That's the last he sees or hears before a hard hit to his head.

*****************
Sonica chuckles as she releases herself from the chains, "I'm in danger."
Megatron really likes his communications chief. He'll be less than pleased to find him and Laserbeak unconscious. That will be after he notices that her illusions are blocking the cameras. The watching perverts will find out not all is well once she leaves the room.
~Mega-dunce is going to make a cute hostage out of the Prime~
"Still ignoring you," Sonica says out loud and pulls out her communicator.
She's had it for a while; she just needed to be sure they were distracted by the sword disappearing instead of the black energon shooting underneath her stasis pod.
While black energon made the device invisible and undetectable, she pulled the silver energon back to her. It came in through the door with Megatron and has been burning black energon on her right hip the whole time. Soundwave was touching it but that's the quirk about the black type: it numbs all outside sensors directed at its container. Soundwave didn't even feel that his arms rested unevenly around her waist.
The black energon works on her too; when she's not burning it herself. Her only confidence knowing it was there, was the silver energon; the only thing she can detect through black energon.
~I'd rather he be awake but unawares will do. Drain him~
"You sound like a spoiled sparkling, do you know that?"
Murderer crosses his arms, ~I just want blood, is that immature?~
"I'm not answering that. Not worth it."
~No argument means I win~
"You can have it. I value my time more."
~Frag you~
"You've proven my earlier statement." She grins, "I can think faster than you, even though you're in my brain. That says something."
~It won't last, Doradus. I promise you~
Ratchet is suddenly on screen.
"Sonica," he almost whispers and there's gunfire in the background, "We have it! Go get him!"
"Copy," Sonica runs to the doors and they open.
The guards startle and aim. No one is there save Soundwave who lies like a rug before empty hanging chains. Soundwave is too far from the doors to activate the motion sensors. Spooked, they quickly request backup.

Orion Pax stares at the guns that have taken place of his hands after peeling his gaze from the sizzling holes in the troupes that were kicking him.
"I'm...armed?"
"Indeed you are, trinket," Sonica is visible half a nanoklik before she speaks, "but I'll explain that when all this is over. We need to get out now." She offers a hand.
"I'm...I'm the Autobot leader, aren't I?" He takes it and stands.
"Yes," She smiles wider, "I've known you for a while and you're awesome. Let's take you home."
She sticks him with the needle in her wrist and he flinches. A vague explanation about it being necessary, is all she has time to give. She sends black energon into his veins and speeds the affect.
The doors to his office open and more guards enter, swinging their guns around as they glance nervously about.
"They can't see us?"
"Nope, and can't hear you either. Let's go."
"But the coordinates..."
"They're in your head, don't worry." She pulls him along behind her as they weave around the guards. Sonica leads the way and Orion keeps up, swinging his arm in sync with hers as they still hold hands.
She brings them to a stop at the ground bridge computers and types in the coordinates Ratchet texted to her from Starscream-
Good to know that exhaust cloud still floats.
As the ground bridge opens, she fades the black energon in their systems; burning it out by the time they arrive.
Upon his first step onto the new ground, he calls out to Megatron, who holds Arcee in his fist.
He drops her and strides evilly towards them. A pointed finger aims at Sonica.
"What did you do?"
"Less than he deserved," she waves and sets a hand on her hip.
Murderer laughs, ~I approve~
"Megatron, my sympathies lie with the Autobots."
The warlord aims. Sonica throws an orange energon plate and it pushes Megatron back. He stays on his feet, trying to fight it.
Movement catches her attention from her peripheral and she sees Jack in a silly-looking suit. Their eyes meet and they nod to one another. Then she tells Orion to go see him.
Megatron recovers, roars, and charges. Sonica grins wickedly.
~I'll help,~ Murderer offers.
"Don't deprive me of my vengeance. He's all mine."
~If you split him open, I want the dark energon~
"Don't hang your hopes on it."
She ejects her tiny gun from the compartment on her thigh.
Megatron fires exactly the same time she does, but her stored kinetic energy cancels it out. He dodges her fire but she doesn't allow him to get close. If he does, a wall of orange slams into him. As she returns him to the distance he started at, he realizes she's toying with him.
Sonica turns around to see Optimus Prime, renewed, reloaded, and ready to reap. He takes the key to Vector Sigma and his Prime spirit blazes in his optic light.
Megatron charges Optimus from his sneak attack. Sonica aims but Optimus blocks his sword.
"Megatron,"
His optics widen.
"Be Gone."
Optimus takes advantage of his surprise, attacks, and upper cuts a sweet spot just under Megatron's chin that goes straight to his consciousness. The Decepticon leader is last seen falling from sight.
Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Ratchet make their way to Optimus in an excited hurry. Some limping, some with loose arms and armor plating, and scratches all over. They crowd around him, talking all at once.
Optimus puts an arm around Bumblebee and squeezes. He takes a hard fist bump from Bulkhead and plants a hand on big green's shoulder. Ratchet clasps arms with him and they share a short embrace. Arcee takes his hand to formally shake it but emotion moves her and she can't let go. She rests her head on their contact and the excitement quiets.
"We've been so lost without you, Optimus."
The reverence sweeping the pause supports every word.
"Forgive us for not finding you sooner."
Optimus' brow turns up in the middle and Sonica sees the last traces of Orion Pax, "There's nothing to forgive. I have full confidence that you have given your all, as each of you always do."
Ratchet chokes on his words but forces them out, despite the shakiness, "At long last, let's go home."
Megatron returns, and charges in vain, as the Autobots make their grand exit. Sonica manages to get some of his frustrated hollering recorded before the ground bridge completely closes; it would make a good addition to a song.

Of course, she shows them pictures after they get comfortable in base, sweet base.
The moment Optimus noticed his changed insignia and confessed to not remembering, Sonica raised her hand with a hop.
They were prepared to sit down with some energon and listen to her verbal storybook but instead, she reveals a small compatible drive in a hidden slot in her right shoulder.
Naturally, she made a party out of it and gathered them around the main computers. Ratchet happily cleared some things away to do full screen. They all grabbed seats too, even if Optimus hesitated to sit. The box Bee got for him seemed to stare and challenge his politeness, so he gave in. As they got comfortable, Sonica filled their glasses.
She only did pictures, as recording was going to take up a lot of space and she didn't know how long he'd be there.
Nevertheless, they still got to see what performances she did for Orion as he sat next to Megatron in amazement. Her pictures even captured their casual stances, standing side by side, looking each other in the optics as they peacefully discuss his new office.
She pauses her narration as those sequences of pictures end and Arcee is the first to say what they're thinking.
"I couldn't even imagine the things I'm seeing right now. You two look so...at ease."
"I trusted him then," Optimus' tone is somber.
"And there's nothing wrong with that," Sonica adds, "and, I confess, I took a little advantage of that too because one: Megatron was doing everything to keep face and I could get away with a lot and two: Orion Pax is slaggin' adorable."
Bee coos as Bulkhead teases her about her "crush" on Optimus. She doesn't bat it away but rolls it over her shoulder, winking at Optimus. He shares one of his shy smiles.
Then the more fun pictures appeared with the glide-ride and quoting the play.
The best picture in existence is the one Sonica took as she glanced behind her at Megatron and Orion on the glide-ride. It's a ride itself for a picture as the two expressions are complete opposites of each other.
They were incredulous as she described coaxing the dark warlord on a ride. Bulkhead threw his head back and laughed, then he teetered and fell. The group teased and chuckled, beginning a roll that got everyone. Ratchet tried to hide with a wagging head and Optimus' smile parted.
The only other picture that could top the last one, is the one she got of Orion Pax's jubilee. She smiled dreamily and glanced at Optimus.
He seemed to stare at another bot; a stranger with his face. He doesn't remember what that felt like. How long has it been with his current memory?
Optimus catches her watching him and shares another smile with a grateful nod.
She reciprocates, "I'm sorry this was difficult for you all and it must be a little condescending showing you these fun pictures but..." She analyzes the group before continuing, "If you don't mind me indulging a little more, I only wish to say these memories are such a treasure. I want to pass these on to my future sisters. I want them to see joy from the darkest of times, smiles under threatening clouds, and honest friendship among lying enemies." She gazes nostalgically at Orion's open smile, squinted eyes, and glowing face. "I love everything about this picture."
Optimus' smile grows sad, "I'm glad you have such a memory."
That hurt and she looked at him; the pain clear on her face. She won't let it slide. Sonica stands, walks over to him, and wraps her arms loosely over his shoulders.
"It's not just a memory," she desperately adds, just for him, "the bot in the picture is with me. I'm hugging him. It's not just the memory I treasure, it's you."
He lightly rests his head against hers and touches her upper back, "Thank you, Sonica."
As she lets go, she gives a trademark tease, "Even younger you likes you. I parted some of your wisdom and he really like it."
"That had to be weird," Bee's optics shift over the floor without seeing it.
Sonica's chuckle comes from deep within her torso, "Oh, you have no idea. I'm sure I looked like a giggly glitch because golden irony is being wasted on lonely old me."
They all chuckle as she wraps it up, "And I was frightfully aware of it too."
Ratchet closes it out and removes the drive to hand it to her. She takes it only to pass it on to Optimus.
"It's just my opinion but...when we return to Cybertron, these contents should go into the archives."
The bots snicker and grin as they stand and stretch.
"I mean it, his sweetness should be shared."
Bulkhead pats the air, "Down, Sonica, down."
Bee bends in half.
"Don't pretend you don't agree," she turns to Arcee, "Femme, back me up."
She picks up what she used for a seat, "I don't have any arguments about that."
"See?" Sonica gestures but Bulk and Bee look at Optimus.
He moves the box back along the balcony siding with his foot, avoiding eye contact. He tries to look busy with something else until his gaze rests on the children. Then he smiles.
Somehow, the Humans sleep and they all gradually notice.
"We should take them home." Arcee smiles at Jack slumping into the couch, acting as Miko's and Raf's pillow.
After the three leave with their small friends, Sonica turns to Optimus morosely. The night is ending, and she has that sick, sorrowful feeling that a beautiful moment is growing old into a memory.
"I just have one question, Sonica."
"Yeah?"
"Why did Megatron keep me alive?"
"To translate the Iacon filessss...oh my Primus...I forgot. Frag, do you remember the three coordinates you did?"
His expression soaks in dread as he shakes his head. Sonica curses some more.
"I didn't look at them because I thought you'd remember."
Ratchet's countenance wrinkles, "But you took pictures. Didn't you think he would loose his memory?"
"I suspected so but I forgot in the excitement of getting us out of there." She rubs her face hard, "Some double agent I am...oh Primus."
Optimus sighs, "They will learn the decoding process from the ones I deciphered."
"Maybe we should've gotten you out sooner," Ratchet rubs his head. "Then we may not have ever known Megatron has them." Optimus says. "And it wouldn't have been so bad if I had done my job. I'll go back. I can weave an excellent lie about...trying to discover your base or something...or I can barter my way in and disappear again. I could do that. I'll go and get those coordinates. I can fix this."
Ratchet nods heavily, "That might be our only option as we don't know what things may have come from Iacon."
Sonica shakes off her guilt, a little, by shaking her hands, "If Optimus and Megatron discussed that, I didn't hear. I was probably in the brig agai- oops."
She hadn't told them the consequences of her fun. Purposefully, she left that out... what little guilt she shook away returns with its new friend, embarrassment.
Optimus is not only surprised, but ridged, "In the brig, again? Why?"
She's unable to hide how intimidated she is, "Um...because I'm annoying?" She thinks about adding "psycho" and concludes that they should know about that too. "And...I almost destroyed Royal Wrath, and just about lost my mind and morality in the process."
"That explains how she so easily forgot," Ratchet mutters. Prime's posture doesn't lessen in the least. Instead, it rises like he's about to run into a battlefield. "We are not making any plans towards the records until I hear everything else that happened. Please, Sonica."
She slumps and stares at her feet. The night just took a suicidal fall from pleasant to excruciating.