Ch. 129

Something about staring into one's self was partially sadistic and yet satisfying. Knowing the form you held in your grasp was now but a cheap vessel to what you had now? That was where the real pleasure laid dormant.

C.Y.L.A.S.'s servo clenched gently around the mangled human body he once had as his own. He wanted to fight the smile that was plastered about his faceplates, the clear struggle not to allow it to grow any larger evident, but it was a battle he was losing. Dreadwing was very aware of that fact.

"If this is something that truly pleases you," the seeker rumbled, "then there is no reason not to voice your happiness."

C.Y.L.A.S. chuckled, "This goes beyond 'happiness'. This feels like freedom."

Dreadwing stood beside the black mech, glancing down at the now dead human body in his servo, "You felt trapped before?"

The servo clenched gently, "Isn't being human being trapped? Being this... being Cybertronian, it's more than I could ever had hoped for."

The seeker hummed, "I see..." he looked at the body again, "And will you keep this as a reminder of your newfound freedom?"

C.Y.L.A.S. scoffed, "No. I don't need it anymore. Where's the incinerator? I'd like to get rid of this myself."

Dreading nodded and gestured towards the door, "Allow me to escort you. It's not every day an act of rebellious sciences proves this fruitful. I hope you will not mind my observational tendencies as you walk through the Nemesis."

The black mech smirked, "Oh, not at all," he slipped off the berth and steadied himself, already feeling an odd displacement in his legs and peds, "It would seem I may need your observational tendencies close by. I think I need to learn how to walk again..."

Starscream all but gasped as he pulled himself from his latest plunge into Soundwave's cortical session. It was a bad one.

"Progress," the blue mech said dully, sitting up with a hiss, "dipping. Starscream's mental output: faltering."

The seeker growled, "Well I wasn't exactly prepared to handle an army of Terrorcons staggering through that one! And Megatron leading the charge?! I mean, really-"

"Quiet, both of you!" Ratchet huffed, checking his datapad, "Soundwave, that was a little heavy, dial back. Starscream, he's right. You should have been able to handle his challenge given the growth of your output from the last few days. Give yourself more credit or I'll make him push you harder."

"Soundwave: does not need to be convinced. Session twenty-three: reinitiating."

Starscream squealed, "No! No, I'm declaring a break! I've gone from eighteen to twenty-three in a matter of hours, I deserve to be given a moment's peace..."

Ratchet's tired optics glared softly but he sighed, "Oh alright... Perhaps Optimus can assign you a detail or something."

The seeker grumbled as he stood, muttering to himself, "That would be a gift."

Ratchet's glare tightened and he pointed harshly, "Out! Or I'll change my mind!"

Starscream scuttled out of the medbay with more fervor, regret in the act immediately when he nearly ran into Smokescreen. And that white mech's stupid grin...

"Hey, Scream! Volunteering already?"

The seeker's optical brows furled, "Volunteering? For what?"

"A scouting mission," Arcee replied as she came up between the two, "We had a light surge of energy come up on radar. Decepticon activity, but it's very minimal. Optimus wants us to check it out."

Starscream tsked, "Oh, haven't you heard? Mechs of absolute and obsessional desires are not allowed to leave the base. Prime says my aft stays put."

Smokescreen pouted, "Aw, c'mon! You need the fresh air and a punching bag! It's just a scout job, no engagements. Come with!"

Arcee frowned, "Smokey, if Optimus said no-"

"Hey, you can't call me that now. That's Scream's thing."

The seeker shoved him gently, "It is not 'Scream's' thing! Where's the energy signature located?"

The femme pointed to a map, "A little ways off of some Pacific islands. There can't be more than a handful of Cons, but any blip isn't exactly a good thing."

Starscream groaned, struggling with the reality of his situation. He wanted out. He wanted to escape the torment of linking his mind with Soundwave's desperately. But certainly he wasn't desperate enough to use a risky scouting mission to accomplish such a thing... was he?

"Starscream!" Ratchet's voice echoed from the medbay, "I need to scan you one more time, I couldn't get a clear read on one of your exoskeletal layers!"

The seeker shuddered, "Tedious, mindless tasks- I'll do it, just get me out of Ratchet's path!"

Arcee hesitated, "Are you sure-"

Starscream quickly reached around the femme to grab at the ground bridge controls, pulling the lever to activate it. The portal whirled to life and the seeker all but dove in, Smokescreen grinning wildly as he ran in after him. Arcee sighed, clearly outvoted, and followed after the pair with a frown.

Only a few moments passed when Breakdown came into the room, his arms full of supplies he had been sent to collect.

"Doc?" he called, "Ratchet?"

"Yes, yes, in here," the older medic huffed, "or at least, I am. Your companion seems to be busy racing again."

Breakdown smirked, "He can't resist a chance to rev his engine..." his optics glanced at the open portal and he hummed, "Somebody lettin' a breeze in?"

Ratchet peeked around the corner and scowled, "If I've told them once, I've told them a thousand times!"

Breakdown shook his helm as he set down his collection of supplies on the mech's workbench and went to the controls to shut down the ground bridge, "They're enthusiastic to get out there," he shrugged, "Speaking of which, when's Wheeljack coming back here? He knows we need him for the whole... cortical stuff, right?"

The older mech sighed, "He does and he's avoiding us. Much like Starscream is now. Starscream!" he called again; when he was given no reply, he pointed at the Wrecker, "Fine. You, in here now. Wheeljack may not be in our fine facility, but Soundwave is. Get comfortable, too. You're going to be here until I find Starscream and complete his tests."