First off... yeah this took forEVER. I went to Europe this summer...then moved into a dorm. Then more college. Then more school work. Then subsequently failing more schoolwork.
Sigh. Anyways this chapter is looooooooaded with goods. You should probably read it twice because you won't catch everything. Primarily we shift to a Decepticon focus... too many Autobots lately! Thank you all so much for the reviews! They really are what drives us. :)
Chapter Eleven
"I hate it how you never warn me," Astrotrain grouched.
Blitzwing gave a smug, slag-eating grin and leaned back against his berth, still basking in the afterglow of his overload. Astrotrain glared at him and wiped a glob of thick transfluid off his face with the edge of one sharp-tipped finger.
"Why would I do that when you look so much better withit on your face," Blitzwing smirked as he gave his fellow Triplechanger an appraising look.
Despite appearing largely inconvenienced, Astrotrain licked the rest of it off his fingers and flopped back on the berth next to Blitzwing.
"Glad you had fun. Was that a good enough ending to your stressful day, honeybunch?" Astrotrain mocked.
"Ah shut up, Astro," Blitzwing said and playfully yanked on the other mech's broad wing. "Ever since Soundwave slagged off, everything's just gone to the Pit. Megatron's more psycho than usual, his bitch Screamer is a bigger nag than anything I've ever seen in my life. At least those pitspawn Cassette twins provided some measure of amusement here."
Astrotrain stretched his arms lazily over his helm and yawned, vents swivelling wide to allow more air into his systems. "Ya know, I never realised just how much of a buffer Soundwave acted between Megsy and us. He really calmed the guy down with his—"
"Valve?" Blitzwing offered.
"—competence," Astrotrain finished, rolling the light in his red optics. "Honestly, Blitz, it's all about your spike isn't it?"
Blitzwing waved his hand dismissively in the air and snorted. "Yeah sorry, got him confused with Screamer."
Across the room, the door swished open, and Octane stepped through.
The large mech waved in greeting, but he halted and turned when the door grinded terribly, refusing to shut.
Blitzwing groaned. "How many times do I gotta tell you to quit stepping on the fucking track? It's popped up out of the floor and if you step on it, you'll bend it."
Octane grabbed the outside and inside of the door with his big hands, and with a fierce tug, yanked it shut. The door motor made a pathetic sound and Octane drew his hands back.
"Fixed," he replied, drawing a big gust of air into his intakes before giving Blitzwing's still exposed interface array a suspicious look. "Fucking without me? I thought I mattered more to you," he complained as he sat down at the rickety table the other Triplechangers kept in their room.
"Not when you hoard all our energon, you greedy lout," Astrotrain retorted. "Been bartering again with Swindle, you slut?"
Octane pulled out a deck of holo-cards and set them on the table. "No one around here appreciates my skills," he grouched. "And when I do come around – with highgrade – I get called a greedy lout and a slut. Would you be inclined to share if you were called a greedy lout and slut, hm?"
Blitzwing grabbed an empty cube from the floor and threw it towards Octane's general direction. "You only share when we bribe you."
"Bribe me with what? I never said I was gonna share my highgrade. I only said that I had some and that right now I'm not inclined to give any away. I might though, if you come up with something good in return." Octane set the cards out for the other two mechs and waited patiently. "Or I guess I could make you beg for it. That would be much more pleasing to me, yes it would. Because I mean, if there's no respect between us Triplechangers, what do we have?"
Blitzwing rolled his helm to the side, focusing his visor to Astrotrain's equally-as-unimpressed optics.
"He sounds like he's reciting one of our grand leader's speeches," Blitzwing remarked.
"Nah," Astrotrain said. "Megatron wouldn't use the word 'respect'."
"Heh, yeah you're right. Okay maybe Swindle's then."
Octane pulled a rust stick out of his subspace and started chewing on it as he listened to the other mechs in the room. At that, Blitzwing's visor flared with renewed interest. He sat up and scowled.
"Where the fuck did you get those?" he demanded, pointing at the rust stick Octane was holding.
The tanker smiled mysteriously and waved it around before popping the rest in his mouth. "Gee, I really can't remember. But I'm sure a blowjob would improve your chances of jogging my memory though."
With a smirk, Astrotrain jabbed firmly at Blitzwing's side. "It's your turn to please his Eminence. Go on, take one for the team."
"You do it," Blitzwing petulantly said. "M'too lazy to get up. Too comfortable."
"Glitch. I still got your stupid cum drying on my face."
Then, Astrotrain lifted one massive leg and promptly shoved Blitzwing off the berth. Blitzwing grunted and laid sprawled out on the floor for a few moments before he crawled the short distance to where Octane was sitting. He roughly pulled the tanker's legs apart and glared at him.
"I hate you," Blitzwing flatly declared.
"I hate you too, my dear Blitzwing. But unfortunately if you want to get some energon, you're going to have to entice me. This stuff isn't free you know. I'm supposed to distribute it evenly amongst the crew," Octane loftily replied.
Astrotrain finally got up and wandered over to the table himself so he could take a seat. He began sifting through the holo-deck to make sure Octane wasn't going to cheat, pointedly ignoring the pair. "You mean you give more to those who do you the most favours in the berth," he sniped.
"Indeed." Octane sighed dramatically. "It's sad what my bartering skills have amounted to. Used to be able to get some good stuff on Cybertron. Now I'm lucky if I can get a mech whose valve isn't loose and used-up."
Blitzwing tilted his helm towards Astrotrain and made a loud sizzle-like sound when he drew air in sharply. "Oh, burn Astroboy."
"There's a reason why he's using your mouth," Astrotrain snapped waspishly back.
"Like you're any—"
Octane reached down and patted Blitzwing's head. "Now, now. Don't talk with your mouth full of cock. Didn't your carrier tell you that's rude?"
Astrotrain, who looked terribly bored with everything, began distributing the cards between himself and Octane. Overhead, a small chime sounded, and the tiny vid-screen the Triplechangers had across on the wall fizzled with static. Octane looked suddenly interested at this new development, but he shoved Blitzwing's head back between his legs when the mech tried to look up to see what was happening.
"Oh it's Shockwave," Octane finally said. "You wanna secure the line, Astro? I'm terrible at it."
"You're useless," Astrotrain muttered as he went through the necessary motions to encrypt the call.
A mere moment later and Shockwave's distinct faceplate appeared on the tiny monitor; the picture marred by white lines and general fuzziness from the bad connection.
"Hello, Shockwave," Astrotrain called out, barely glancing up while he finished laying out the holo-cards in sequence. "Ya figured out a replacement yet? Or is Megatron being difficult?"
Shockwave's singular yellow optic flickered as he stared at the three Triplechangers before him. He hardly seemed surprised by the scene, and did not comment on it.
"Megatron has been … troublesome lately. Soundwave's replacement has been located.. I suspect I will be coming to Earth soon to help with the workload myself," came the cool, intelligent nuances of Shockwave's voice. "It will take time. What is the status of the base?"
"Damage to several sectors, everyone's running around trying to block up all security blanks, making sure this place is tight as a drum again. Megatron's… obviously not happy," Octane responded with a shrug.
Shockwave made an irritated click in his vocaliser. "I don't care about Megatron. I wish to know what the reactions are from the rest of the soldiers on this matter."
"Testy. Tense," Octane answered and he opened his mouth, as if he was going to continue his sentence but then fell suddenly silent, his optics flickering with pleasure at the attention Blitzwing was giving his cock.
"It's kinda funny how Megatron's credibility amongst the troops here dropped since that thing with Soundwave. They're starting to wonder why we're still here and not over there on Cybertron. Guess they're all thinking that Soundwave's all Autobot now and yeah, we can all agree that he wasn't all that popular but he ain't an enemy anyone would want to have," Astrotrain finished off, his chair giving a creak as he shifted his heavy weight on it.
"It is to be expected," Shockwave sighed. "Even I did not foresee this. It is not my judgment of Soundwave that failed, it is my belief that Megatron would have kept him satisfied. But apparently that is not the case. Soundwave is not lost yet."
Octane was quiet after the mech spoke. Instead he concentrated at jabbing his hips up and sliding his spike down Blitzwing's throat. His engine rumbled and he smirked.
Astrotrain picked a card up and turned it over a few times. "Many are calling for your return as supreme commander. You have never led us astray," the large mech said carefully.
"Impossible," Shockwave simply responded.
"Go fish," Octane piped up, kicking Astrotrain.
Astrotrain cocked his head to the side and stared. "Go what?"
"It was a joke!" Octane snapped.
"You're a strange mech."
Blitzwing managed to pull away from the large spike Octane was practically feeding him and made a cough that suspiciously sounded like, "Freak."
"Shut up and keep sucking," Octane growled, tugging hard on Blitzwing's helm.
"The problem is," Astrotrain said. "Is that there's no way we can see what's going on with the Autobots…not with Soundwave and his twerps gone. I mean Laserbeak is okay for that sort of stuff, but with all the known openings at their base plugged up…well you get what I'm saying."
He turned over another holo-card and smirked wryly at the picture it presented him – an entertainment drone that used to be popular in many energon bars.
"Soundwave is, and will always be, my pupil," Shockwave replied uninterestedly.
It could be heard through the monitor that the one-optic'ed mech was tapping his fingers against a table of some kind. Then an obnoxiously loud slurp as Blitzwing pulled away from Octane's cock, leaving a few drops of oral fluid and pre-cum to splatter on the floor between his spread knees. Octane sneered and lightly smacked Blitzwing's cheek, prompting him to continue. Blitzwing's response was to curl his top lip over a fang and nip warningly at the mech's heavily-ridged spike. Octane purred instead.
"We must not let up," Shockwave insisted, completely ignoring the sordid scene. "We must not lose any energon to the Autobots. In the meantime, you three should attempt to stay out of trouble with the high command. I want daily reports from each of you—" There were collective sighs of annoyance. "—and I want you to pay careful attention to Starscream. If there are any serious signs that he might attempt to take command, I need to know immediately."
Octane groaned. This time it wasn't at the prospect of extra reports and work. He overloaded and jerked in his chair for a moment as Blitzwing bit down hard on the shaft of his spike, prolonging the pleasure. When it was over, he slumped down in a satisfied way and rewarded Blitzwing with a few rust sticks.
"Of course sir," Octane finally muttered, and Blitzwing raised his hand in acknowledgment as well.
There a few scrapes of the chair on the floor and an aggressive whine from Astrotrain's turbine engine as he pushed forward and snatched a ruststick from Blitzwing's hand. He stuck it in his mouth before Blitzwing could take it back.
"We'll keep an optic out for you," Astrotrain acquiesced readily with a lethargic salute. "One thing though we all keep wonderin' about this whole situation…you aware if there was anything in the past between Sounders and Prime? 'Cause just thinking about it frags my cpu up."
Shockwave was silent. He turned his helm and his hand with fingers on it typed something – the Triplechangers could hear it – and after a moment he finally turned back. "Optimus Prime was already selected to be Sentinel Prime's successor when I found Soundwave. He was a mere youngling then. Malnourished and abused. He would have had no time to cultivate a relationship with Optimus Prime on Cybertron. He was content with Megatron. Soundwave has developed this new relationship solely on Earth."
Except Blitzwing smirked shrewdly, muttering underneath his breath, "Looks like you trained him in other things too." Louder, he said, "Good clip that. The one Laserbeak brought. Real…heh, optic opener."
"I do not find your antics amusing, Blitzwing. This is only a mild set back. Soundwave will be destroyed if he so wishes. If not, I will take him to Cybertron and guard him myself," Shockwave rattled off, his small head pivoting in its socket as he looked around. Probably at the various displays in front of him.
Blitzwing shrugged. Soundwave's fate was Shockwave's business, not his own. But he understood how unwise it would be to leave a dangerous mech like Soundwave to his own devices.
"Alright, boss. We'll keep our optics peeled for any news of revolt," Astrotrain mumbled.
As Octane finally deemed it fit to fill four cubes full of highgrade, Shockwave's yellow optic flickered when the tanker covertly looked back up to the screen as the other two Decepticons squabbled over the energon.
Swindle had his place, after all.
Shockwave then cut the communications and the screen went blank as the two half-starved Decepticons drank their cubes as fast as they could.
The door to Soundwave's room swished open. Prime stood there with his highly polished plating gleaming under the low lights. His mask was off, which was odd, and his lips were set in a grim line. He beckoned to Soundwave with a swift gesture of his hand.
"Come. We have things to discuss with the other Autobots. Prowl has some documents for you to fill out, and Jazz has questions for you. Then you are required to undergo a medical examination."
It was a sly way of informing Soundwave that he was about to be interrogated. Autobot policy dictated that no prisoners could be harmed while undergoing questioning, which was rarely enforced. But because of Prowl, who went by the book, it would be typical.
Then Prime waved a hand and pointed at Soundwave's chest. "No symbiotes. They will stay here in the room until you return."
Soundwave had no choice but to obey. Without a word, his tapedeck chestplate clicked open and he released the four symbiotes he had slotted in.
"Boss?" Frenzy questioned, visor turning from Soundwave to Prime. "Where ya going?"
"Stay," Soundwave instructed.
Ravage and Buzzsaw made their own respective sounds, and even Rumble took a step forward as if to follow. Soundwave held his servo up, barring them from continuing any further and turned his helm to stare expectantly at Prime.
"Please come with me," Prime said, motioning out with his hand.
Soundwave stepped forward towards the door and just as he reached the threshold, Prime firmly pushed him out into the hallway. He then placed his hand on the small of Soundwave's back and hovered behind him. Soundwave's energy field made a subtle ripple at the touch, his helm turning slightly to the side where he could see the bulk of the Autobot's arm from his peripheral vision.
"I will not disobey nor will I escape," Soundwave murmured lowly, with the implication that there was no need for Prime to keep his hand there in such an obvious show of dominance.
Prime smiled. He leaned forward and wrapped his hands possessively around Soundwave's chassis and waist, holding him tight. Soundwave stiffened and his spark gave an unwanted lurch of excitement.
"Of course, my bondmate," Prime whispered against his helm. "I know you'll only obey as long as it suits your needs."
Then Optimus released him and gave him a small push forward, pressing his energy field into Soundwave's back like a physical force.
The journey was short. They went down a few floors from the elevator on the command hallway and walked a few paces before exiting the hallway into a room. Then Prime ushered his bondmate into a smaller room, where both Jazz and Prowl were animatedly arguing. They silenced themselves when Prime appeared. The large mech nodded and then walked out, the door swishing shut.
In the background, Blaster was standing in the corner chewing on a rust stick. His optics glinted like hard jewels at Soundwave and immediately his own defensive telepathy spread around the room.
"Soundwave. Please, sit down," Prowl said lightly, almost cheerfully.
Prowl pulled out a comfortable-looking chair for the Decepticon and waited expectantly. On the other hand, Jazz said nothing. The saboteur's stance was aggressive and his arms were crossed, indicating with his body language just how much he was annoyed.
After a long moment, Jazz stepped forward and motioned to the chair as well, as if he were a clone of Prowl. "We just have some documents for you, along with a few questions to ask you. Do you agree to indulge us?"
For Soundwave the question was redundant; it wasn't as if he had the choice to refuse. The datapads waiting in front of him were standard fare when dealing with prisoners of war and defectors. Soundwave tugged out the wire that was incorporated into the datapad and slotted it into his wrist port, signing in his agreement of going with whatever the Autobots would require of him with his own personal digital signature. He then looked over the form and filled in his official known details plus the sort of information he was willing to pass on.
Prowl glanced over at the datapad and his mouth pulled a little with the beginnings of a frown. "You've left many questions unanswered."
"Questions: date of creation, place of origin, familial relations and other such details irrelevant for this session," Soundwave replied while he disconnected himself from the datapad.
When Prowl took it back, he looked completely disappointed that he hadn't gotten all the information he wanted. The tactician tapped the datapad against his chassis and stared coolly at the mech.
"Is that so?" Prowl mused. "Well that is your right. I shall omit those personal questions."
Prowl turned around. His doorwings were fanned out and relaxed, twitching so often as if catching a lazy breeze. There was an energon dispenser in the corner and he made two cubes, one for himself and another for Soundwave.
"I apologize that we haven't gotten the energon unit in your room fully functional quite yet. Here," he said, putting Soundwave's cube on the table in front of him.
Jazz pursed his lips in displeasure. He held his own datapad and his vocalizer buzzed.
"When was the official time of your defection?" the saboteur asked curtly.
"Standardised local Gregorian calendar: September, 23rd. Time: 0800 GMT," the telepath answered promptly, keeping his mask present and completely ignoring the cube that was placed before him.
"And the reason for your defection?"
Soundwave glanced at Jazz. Unlike Jazz, Soundwave's visor did not sit on his face properly – it had been a temporary replacement given to him by Ratchet.
"Reason: self-preservation. Megatron has listed me and my four remaining symbiotes as traitors. We were slated for termination."
Jazz leaned a little forward, his stare intensifying. "And the reason for that?"
"I am bonded to Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and current Matrix-bearer. I have been his agent," Soundwave said indifferently. It was difficult to tell with the monotone he employed.
"Is that right? Or could it be that you were having too much fun fucking him?" Jazz replied and though his tone was still even and soft, one could sense the chill he was emitting. "Why are you attracted to Optimus Prime? Why did you initiate a relationship with him?"
Prowl hissed darkly and waved his hand. "Disregard my friend. He is crass, and we're all a bit troubled by what has happened. I suppose you can imagine this was quite a surprise. The troops are restless, the command is a bit irked and confused. We wonder why … Prime has taken this sudden, abrupt liking to you."
A thick, tense silence surrounded them after Prowl recycled Jazz's words into a more palatable approach. Soundwave's mouth tightened behind his mask and he wanted to say that he had been overtaken by his sheer lust for Prime and the dark dominance he exerted. That yes, he enjoyed the way Prime's big spike filled him up and how Prime fucked him like a wild beast. They were all thinking it after all. Soundwave could feel the edges of their thoughts brushing against his telepathy, their hungry zeal to hear him admit it.
Eager, vicarious fools.
The Decepticon sat primly in his seat with his palms flat on the table surface and his chair pushed back, away from the table edge to keep his lap visible. "We were compatible," he said simply, not wishing to elaborate. "Matrix approved."
"I find that very peculiar and not very believable," Prowl commented. "But it is not my matter to speak on, unfortunately. What are your intentions now that you are in the Autobot headquarters? Have you accepted any roles given to you by Optimus Prime?"
Across the room, Blaster snickered. And outside it, Optimus Prime watched the proceedings on the other side of the see-through wall – though he wasn't able to hear what was being said; for privacy reasons.
"Besides being Prime's personal cum disposal unit? Not much I suppose," Blaster said.
Prowl smiled and a soft chuckle left his vocalizer. Soundwave didn't react at the offensive jibe directed towards him.
"That is inappropriate, please cease," the tactician said airily.
"Oh come on," Jazz growled, reaching forward to tug on one of Prowl's doorwings. His sharp blue visor shifted to focus back onto Soundwave. "You're not fooling anyone with this game you've got going. A high commander in the Decepticons, one who was generally respected and left alone by Megatron. Why would you waste all of that? I find it hard to believe that you were that… infatuated with Prime's cock. I've seen it. It's nice, but it's not worth that price."
"Unless Decepticons are particularly lacking?" Prowl chimed in.
"I did not indulge in such activities with my subordinates," Soundwave responded, his fingers spreading wide on the table with a light scrape of claws. "Jazz: better suited to answer your enquiry."
Jazz's optics lit brightly at the implication and his mouth snapped shut when Prowl threw a hard glare at him.
"Right," Jazz replied after several long moments. He stepped closer so that he was only a short distance from Soundwave. "But you still haven't answered our questions. You agreed to be cooperative. Are you refusing to give any information? Because up until now, you haven't."
"Yes, please do answer. Our main problem is that we think you're influencing Optimus Prime with your telepathy. Is this true?" the tactician asked, still staring at his fellow officer.
Despite the neutral yellow colour of his visor, Soundwave's stare was just as potent.
"Negative. Optimus Prime's Matrix nullifies any effects my telepathy exerts upon him. He cannot be influenced to such a large degree. In addition: he has placed an external device upon me that blocks my ability and is controlled remotely by him. Question: ineffective," Soundwave intoned. "Current interrogation method: unsatisfactory. Please dignify me with one better suited for my status and threat level."
Jazz curled his lips back to show his sharp denta. "We weren't talking about that. We mean before you ever bonded. There was nothing to stop you from influencing him then."
"I repeat: Matrix nullifies all effects regardless of a bond present. Interfacing acts: consensual." Soundwave said, as he slid his palms over the table with slow, deliberate movements. "I did not need coercion to arouse Optimus Prime. I did not scheme this bond." The sharp talons dug into the table, adding more scratches into the surface. "Current timing: not favourable for any scheme."
Prowl was quiet for several long moments and so was Jazz. They both stood up straight and looked at each other – obviously conversing with their internal communication systems.
"I see," Prowl said after a few tense moments. "You are unwilling to divulge any information. I will give my report to Optimus. He can decide what to do with you," Prowl concluded curtly as he started to pick up all the datapads that were scattered over the table.
Then Prowl and Jazz turned around to leave. But before Prowl could palm the door open, Soundwave spoke.
"I am answering all your questions to the best of my ability. I have transferred Decepticon classified information to you," he said, his visor glowing brightly – whether from desperation or annoyance it was hard to tell. "What is it that you really want to know."
Prowl paused and stopped as Jazz continued on to the exit. The tactician turned and scowled at the Decepticon.
"We are all wondering how you managed to get Optimus Prime. Why he decided to choose you, of all mechs. You're not Prime material. So this raises suspicions. We wanted to know why he picked a Decepticon...one as obscure as yourself."
"I gave him excitement where you did not," Soundwave replied snidely. "He found his satisfaction in my body where he did not with you."
Prowl licked his lips. "Yes. I wonder why. You're hideous. But I suppose he never has had the best judgment when it came to relationships."
Prowl then executed a smart turn and exited the room with Jazz, leaving Blaster as the sole occupant with Soundwave. The defensive telepath sneered at the Decepticon across the room and his power fluctuated, brushing his impossibly thick mind shield against the mostly offensive one of Soundwave's. Blaster expanded the shield until he encompassed the entire room, effectively containing and numbing Soundwave's power.
"You're not the only one with special abilities. There are even mechs stronger than me in the Autobots," Blaster murmured.
Soundwave's sensornet was positively crawling on his frame and though he made no sudden movement to indicate that he was affected by Blaster or the others, it was obvious by the stiffening of his shoulders and the subtle flare of his visor. Beneath his mask, his mouth was twisting with resentment. So he just sat there, not speaking or retaliating in any way because he knew that he was being watched. He held his will and telepathy in, urging himself to remain calm when all he wanted to do was leap over the table and tear Blaster's spark out. He had to bide his time.
"Interrogation: complete?" Soundwave finally asked, vents exhaling loudly.
Blaster smirked. "Yes." Then the mech turned around to leave the room, but not without tossing one last remark over his shoulder. "I'll take you on any time."
Out in the main room, Optimus was sitting with Ratchet. Prowl and Jazz were nowhere to be seen. The medic scowled when Blaster finally exited.
"Interrogation... honestly. If there's anyone who needs to be interrogated here it's you," Ratchet said, pointing an accusing servo at the large mech who was sitting next to him.
Optimus raised a hand and shook his head. "Silence. You have no authority to speak out of turn."
Ratchet made a rude gesture back to the Autobot leader and pushed Blaster out of the way so he could enter the interrogation room where Soundwave was still sitting primly. Ratchet made an exasperated noise and motioned for him with a rough jerk from his servos.
"Okay, come with me. I have to do an obligatory check-up of your systems. Then you can muddle around with me in the medbay for a while. I could use an extra hand organizing things."
The Decepticon stood up, his much taller frame dwarfing the medic. Ratchet beckoned him over and they left the interrogation room. Blaster gave Soundwave a dirty look and gave another pulse of his power as they passed, but Ratchet just put his hand against the back of Soundwave's arm, ushering him forward.
Blaster followed them, falling one step behind. When they reached the main corridor, Soundwave kept his helm straight while the Autobots stared and frowned. One of them – the Autobots' prized sniper – gave him a particularly intense stare. Soundwave's visor turned slightly towards his direction, the colour brightening a little with passing interest. Bluestreak's big blue optics flickered and quickly looked away.
"You know where the examination berth is," Ratchet briskly said, waving vaguely towards its direction the moment they entered the medbay.
With Blaster's suffocating presence pressing behind him, Soundwave just continued forward towards the long line of clean berths. After the brief medical examination where the most inconvenient part was to hear the medic bitch, Soundwave was told quite firmly to stay put. Then Ratchet must have taken pity of him and Soundwave was greeted with the sight of his symbiotes being brought out for their own quick examination.
"Ports," Ratchet told Buzzsaw after he had set him onto the berth.
Buzzsaw cocked his head to the side and did nothing, his optics darkening.
Ratchet sighed with exasperation and glared at Soundwave.
"Buzzsaw," the telepath said.
This time the symbiote obeyed, with the plating underneath his wings sliding back. Circuits were revealed, glimpses of protoform and a row of shiny receptor ports that glinted underneath the medbay's bright lighting.
"Hn…an interfacing port I see," Ratchet noted, his keen optics studying one of the larger than usual ports on the symbiote before he clipped in a diagnostics unit into the first two. "You kinky slagger," he addressed Soundwave with an amused snort. "Not a lot of mechs can get off that way with just plugging in."
"Symbiotes' wellbeing: significant," Soundwave explained. "I cater and adapt."
Ratchet just shook his helm to himself.
After a diagnostic test that came clean, as expected, Ratchet freed the rest of the symbiotes so they could wander around. Ratchet then gave Soundwave a tray of tools to organise. After the mech had finished that, the CMO disappeared off into his office to finish off a few entries on an after-inspection report of the group. Blaster then motioned briskly to Soundwave and his symbiotes, taking them back to their room in short order.
"Wow, that was fun," Rumble grouched before hopping onto his berth. He sat cross-legged on it and leaned forward with his elbows on his bent knees. "I hope that fuckin' Blaster trips and falls into a smelter pit."
Though Soundwave did not comment himself, they all knew that he held a much more extreme death wish for Blaster. He sat heavily onto the opposite berth, tired from having to hold himself back from lashing out from all the negativity he'd been bombarded with. Frenzy watched his master clench and unclench his long, sharp-tipped fingers in an attempt to relax.
"Rumble," Soundwave finally called out after a long stretch of silence.
Without further prompting, Rumble twisted his arm behind his back at his winglets, reaching for the empty compartment that used to hold his weaponry. He procured a small capacitor and power booster that he had pilfered from one of the counters when Blaster and Ratchet weren't looking.
"These enough?" the little thief smirked as he deposited them onto Soundwave's waiting palm.
Soundwave critically examined the items. They were scratched, their connectors blackened from overuse with an oily residue. But they would do. Frenzy meandered around the telepath's legs and kneeled onto the floor. He carefully felt around the orange wall until his sharp little claws located the panel seam, where it had been manually loosened. Frenzy carefully pulled and jiggled at the panel, easing out the bolts he had taken out previously.
"Good thing with ships…" the symbiote grunted as he pushed the panel that was roughly his size to the side, "…is that everything is mashed up together to save space."
There was a pipe within the wall that shielded power and communication cables. Frenzy and Soundwave hijacked one of the secondary communications cables; rerouting it through filters by plugging it into Soundwave and amplifying the signal with the components Rumble had stolen.
Of course Soundwave wasn't keen on actually contacting anyone. But his primary job had always been to monitor the airwaves around him and to simply listen. He wanted to gain as much knowledge of the outside world as he could, spy on communication reports and hopefully during the process of observing, he'd learn just what the Pit was going on that the Autobots weren't telling him.
"Deplorable," Soundwave muttered, vent flaps swivelling with distaste at the lax encryption system the Autobots had for their inner network structure. "Teletraan-1: hopelessly outdated."
The last destination of his search was connecting to the Ark's satellite receiver, disguising himself as one of the perpetual programs that ran constantly receiving off world transmissions. In doing that, he was able to locate an old 'message' box he kept on one of the humans' decommissioned satellites that continued to orbit the planet. He was not expecting to see an extra string of binary written in the satellite's archaic coding.
It said: Contact me.
Only Shockwave would have sent that.
Frenzy frowned and his visor darkened with disapproval. "No."
The other symbiotes stared at both Soundwave and Frenzy.
"No, what?" Rumble questioned curiously.
"Just no." On their short-range private comm, Frenzy added, 'Because it's a fuckin' trap, that's what. Why else would he send that?'
'Reason: unknown. Possibly advantageous to us,' Soundwave supplied.
None of his symbiotes looked happy about it, but Soundwave went through with it anyway. He didn't know what he was expecting to see, or whether his transmission was even going to go through. Cybertron was so far away and rigging enough power through the Autobots' communication system without them finding out had been a feat upon itself. He was mildly surprised when the encrypted signal ended up connecting and Shockwave shimmered into view onto a window he had opened within his internal HUD. Soundwave knew the other Decepticon well enough to know that Shockwave was not particularly excited to see him, featureless faceplates or not.
"And so the prodigal student returns," Shockwave sighed in greeting.
"Master Shockwave—" Soundwave tentatively began.
"I am no longer your master, Autobot traitor." The sneer in Shockwave's voice was evident. "You have long renounced that privilege."
Something inside Soundwave clenched with regret. He supposed he did deserve Shockwave's contempt. The mech had spent so much time and effort shaping him into who he was now. It was only fair, after all.
"Assumption wrong. I am not an Autobot and nor do I willingly support their cause."
"That is a pitiful excuse, telepath. Megatron has not seen it as such."
"It was not our willing decision. Matrix: forced us to bond permanently."
The last admission caught Shockwave's attention, causing his lone optic to brighten with interest. He dipped his helm a little forward and after a long moment, finally said, "Regardless. There had to have been a significant incentive for it to bond you to the Prime."
"Yes," Soundwave admitted. "An affair."
"The Matrix would have not bonded you to its host for something as trivial as an affair," Shockwave retorted.
Evidently, Shockwave was aware of the Matrix's parasitic nature. Of course he would; the scientist had the entirety of Cybertron's knowledge at his disposal. Soundwave tapped one finger on his thigh, the sound of it ringing through the metal before answering.
"Incentive: Optimus Prime wished to end the affair. I lost sight of myself and tried to offline him. I attacked it directly. Matrix: reacted. Chose me as the perfect bondmate."
Shockwave sat back in his seat and the vidscreen flickered a couple of times. Soundwave could see the various laboratory machines and several drones working in the background on what was likely to be an overly complicated experiment that would only make sense to Shockwave alone.
"He is the kind you would become enamoured with," Shockwave remarked. "Mechs with a certain type of presence were always your—"
The connection wavered and cut out for a brief second. Soundwave rerouted the call again to avoid the Teletran-1's warning system from discovering him and opted out of the video feed this time. Shockwave's cultured voice sounded tiny and marred by static, as if he was talking from a far distance.
"What is your status with the Autobots?"
"Currently pending," Soundwave replied honestly.
"You love him." It wasn't a question. It was an accusation.
This time Soundwave lied. "Negative."
In truth, he had no idea just what he felt for Optimus Prime. All he knew was that it was powerful, obsessive and like acid, would slowly eat him from the inside and destroy him.
There was another brief moment of silence, save from the beeps of machinery filtering from Shockwave's side of the connection. Then he spoke, "Has the Council been informed?"
The telepath reached up and rubbed a weary palm across the helm crest, wondering how to sell his predicament and solicit assistance from his old Master. He knew there was no point being verbally coy with Shockwave. The direct approach had always worked best with him.
"Yes. Alpha Trion has instructed Optimus Prime to inform the Autobots that I have been his agent. We await their final judgement."
"I hardly think they can afford to replace your Prime," Shockwave drawled, dry and derisive. "Spare me from an invitation to your bonding ceremony…or when he finally forces you to give him an heir."
Annoyance filled him, along with an icy trickle of unease down his spinal struts. "Patronisation: not appreciated."
Shockwave sounded as nonchalant as ever. "Your frame type is ensured for maximum fertility. Depending on some factors, you can conceive quite easily without a bond. You know this already."
But Soundwave pressed on. "Method of communication: risky. Frequency: outdated and obsolete. Are you willing to assist me?"
"And pray tell, telepath, why should I assist you?"
Soundwave placed both hands upon the wall he was facing and leaned forward, resting his helm against it to calm himself down. The connection between them crackled.
"Your assistance: mutually beneficiary for both," he began, vowing to himself not to resort to begging. "The Council is the virus that plagues our planet and the forefront of my problems."
"I see. And what of Prime?"
Yes, what of Prime? Soundwave pursed his lips behind his mask wondering whether to sidestep Shockwave's perfectly valid question. But the other mech was not naive and it was not a way to instil trust, especially when Soundwave was labelled as a traitor.
"Optimus Prime…does not trust me. He does not like me but he needs me. The connection cannot be severed. He allows himself to be used as a puppet by the Council because he is blinded by fatalism."
"You are going to use this bond to your advantage," Shockwave rightfully guessed.
"Opportunity: once in a lifetime. But your assistance: needed."
He knew that Shockwave was in serious contemplation; just by the way he had fallen silent on the other line…or was it the bad connection. He could hear static fritzing in the background.
But their relationship transcended far beyond from just being a high Decepticon commander and an involuntary traitor. Leave out Megatron and his power fixation. The War had gone for long enough and it was time set the ball rolling for a final resolution that would end it. And what better way for Shockwave to make use of his strongest advantage - Soundwave's inside expertise?
Finally, the scientist spoke. "What else do you propose, hm?"
"Further proposal: the initiations of a truce between you and Optimus Prime. There is no other way."
"Megatron will not approve."
Well at least Shockwave had not outright refused.
"Megatron: not the true commander of the Decepticons," Soundwave insisted.
"No," Shockwave conceded. "He's not. He was a convenient tool at the time. Still is. Very well, I will take your proposal in consideration. Contact me in two solar-cycles if you are able to."
The connection abruptly cut out and Soundwave's hydraulics depressurised with a loud hiss, the tension bleeding out of his tense chassis.
The massive table shook and energon spilled all over its shiny surface as Xaaron angrily slammed his fist onto it. The rest of the Council members stared at him with mixed expressions on their ancient faces – most sharing his ire though one or two appeared troubled.
"Preposterous!" he shouted. "An absolute outrage! A bond like that cannot be allowed to continue. Optimus and t-that—" He sputtered here. "—Decepticon must be put on trial and executed."
There was a fully-body holograph of the Decepticon in question, suspended in the air above them with a smaller visual of him in his previous Cybertronian alt-mode below it. It slowly rotated, with a scroll of glyphs detailing all his known information; history, associates, symbiotes, weapons and abilities, everything. However, it was far from complete.
"And then what?" Alpha Trion asked dryly. "Look beyond what Optimus has done. Look at the circumstances that surround it. Does that not strike you as odd?"
But Xaaron looked like he was going to implode regardless. "The fool went and bonded with the Decepticons' telepath! The only 'oddness' I see here is his questionable taste!"
"Yes!" Alpha Trion excitedly agreed, half-standing as he placed both his palms flat on the table. "Can you even realise the advantage this gives us?"
Xaaron gawked at Alpha Trion. "Have you lost your—"
"Alpha has a point," Gravitas smoothly interrupted, neutral as always. He pushed his fingers into a steeple and gazed at the other two mechs from over it. "This Soundwave is an elite officer. Shockwave's finest apprentice. Think of the blow Megatron would suffer just by losing him alone."
Another mech stood up – Traachon – and pointed at Soundwave's hologram. "He's a dangerous telepath. Who's not to say that he hasn't already manipulated Prime's thoughts by Megatron's order? Gravitas, do you not agree that Prime is now a serious liability?"
"I cannot dispute that possibility," Alpha Trion hastily said, before Gravitas could answer. "However Optimus has assured me that the Matrix can fully suppress his power. He has near full control over Soundwave. The fact that it is the Matrix that has mated them together—"
"And another thing! How do we know that it's not an excuse he came up with? Or maybe it's broken. Has anyone thought of that?"
"The Matrix does not lie," Vector Sigma abruptly said. It had been quiet throughout the commotion that erupted the moment Alpha Trion broke the news to the rest of the Council members.
Xaaron sighed and frowned at the image of the bright, multi-faceted orb that was being projected live at the table from the secret chamber it was housed in. "Yes, Vector Sigma but are you sure?"
"Positive," the supercomputer replied. "The Matrix has found Optimus Prime and Soundwave compatible. Their sparks resonate in perfect harmony together."
The last statement had Xaaron's face twist into a sneer and he made a sound of utter disgust. A short, tension-filled silence filled the air around them before Gravitas broke it, his one red optic roving over all of them.
"As far as Decepticons go, the Matrix chose well. As a Cassette Guardian, the rarest of our builds, Soundwave will prove to be very fertile," the one-optic'ed mech said.
"There was nothing wrong with Ultra Magnus or Elita-1," Traachon sullenly said. "They were perfect as chosen Consorts."
"The Matrix found them lacking," Vector Sigma supplied.
Traachon rolled the light in his optics. "So what the Pit did it find in Soundwave then?"
"He will taint the lineage," Xaaron argued vehemently, with Traachon next to him nodding firmly with agreement. "He is from Polyhex. Nothing good ever came out from Polyhex. Bah! Scum, Empties and vagrants."
"It is said that he is from Polyhex," Alpha Trion said. "All his records have been either deleted or altered by Shockwave."
"The War has gone too long and we have no resources left. If this is what the Matrix had in mind – a final catalyst that Cybertron needs – then so be it," Gravitas intoned.
"Must you always be this fatalistic," Xaaron muttered, glaring towards Gravitas' direction.
Alpha Trion watched as his fellow Council Members squabbled over the matter. The plating fixed upon his upper lip twitched a few times before he suddenly announced with a clear voice, "I have already taken action."
That silenced them.
"Well?" Xaaron peevishly snapped as Alpha Trion calmly sipped from his cube. "Spit it out, mech!"
Alpha Trion deliberately chose to wait a few more moments, just to see Xaaron's mouth pull tighter with impatience.
"I have instructed Optimus to pass Soundwave as one of our own," Alpha Trion declared. "A sleeper agent, if you will. He has informed me that Soundwave has already agreed to this plan. He's made a formal announcement to his soldiers already, I believe."
There were several hisses and muffled curses. It would be impossible to have Optimus Prime replaced now.
Xaaron threw his hands up, frustrated. "And there you go, you decrepit old glitch. Taking matters into your own servos yet again."
"As always you refuse to look at the big picture," Alpha Trion admonished, with a stern edge to his voice. "We cannot replace Optimus. He is, in many respects, our most successful Prime yet. To do so would be a big mistake. Also, think of the knowledge that Soundwave must possess on the Decepticons. This was the opportunity we've been looking for; it would be a shame not to take advantage of it, would it not?"
"The key element here would be for him not to take advantage of us," Traachon retorted.
Like a creator pacifying bickering children, Gravitas' cool voice was heard. "What is done is done. What is the progress on Optimus Prime's space bridge team? If their bond cannot be undone, then we must ensure that Soundwave is brought here and examined by Vector Sigma. Then we can proceed with an official ceremony, as dictated by tradition, which will surely boost the morale of our dwindling population."
Gravitas' statement had Xaaron's faceplates morphing into an expression of horror.
"I agree," Alpha Trion said. "It may be possible to salvage this mess to some degree."
"And what of the massive security risk this will pose?" Traachon immediately demanded.
"I am certain that the Matrix will be able to contain the telepath if the need comes," Vector Sigma said.
"And it is the lesser of two evils, I'm afraid," Alpha Trion added.
"Contact Optimus Prime. He needs to be informed in order to begin the necessary proceedings as soon as possible," Gravitas said.
A few moments of silence permeated the chamber while Vector Sigma drew up the appropriate encrypted connection. The black screen in front of them activated and the Council members waited for Optimus Prime to answer. After an interminably long while, the Autobot finally came into view, his plating puffed up from recharge and he visibly looked tired.
"Council members," Prime said, bowing his helm slightly. "I have received you. How can I be of service?"
"Optimus Prime, how complete is the work on the spacebridge?" Alpha Trion asked immediately, tapping his long fingers against the smooth table in front of him.
The Autobot paused, seemingly caught off guard by the question. He hesitated and was sliding something across his desk off screen.
"According to my reports," Prime started. He paused. "It should be ready within a decacycle. We've made good progress on it and we've managed to secure some invaluable intelligence on it from several sources."
Vector Sigma made a noise. "That source: Soundwave?"
Optimus reset his optics and stared curiously and the bright ball of energy. "Yes, partly."
"Usefulness: needs assessment," Vector Sigma replied.
Prime was silent at that, unsure of what to say. But Vector Sigma continued for him. "Spacebridge repairs are to be made as soon as possible. Assessment of Soundwave…necessary. Bonding ceremony is to commence."
Optimus looked visibly stricken as the news. "You're not really going to make us… in front of everyone on—"
"—Decision has been made," Vector Sigma coolly interjected.
Prime looked desperately to Alpha Trion. "Is this really necessary?" he said with a note of desperation. "It's a bit ostentatious and unnecessary isn't it?"
"This is needed to cover for your mistake!" Xaaron snarled. "You will accept it and you will go along with it!"
Optimus tilted his helm slightly and conceded. "Yes. I understand."
Alpha Trion managed a small, tired smile. "I look forward to the ceremony. It will bring hope to our people."
Optimus blue optics stared down, away from the Council members. "Yes, I'm sure it will."
"Would you stop that!"
Bonecrusher ignored Long Haul and smashed another boulder with his fist, sending it spiralling forward into rubble and dust. The Constructicon snarled and kicked one of the large rocks away with his pede.
"Fuck off, Long Haul," the large mech snapped angrily.
The dump truck mech bristled visibly but Scrapper raised his hand and made a sharp motion. "Stop. Not in the mood right now."
"Why do we have to guard this stupid thing? It rarely gets used," Bonecrusher sniped, looking up behind him at the massive Decepticon spacebridge walls. "And the Autobots wouldn't risk destroying it either!"
"We don't know that," Long Haul replied. "They could have their own by now, dimspark."
Bonecrusher made to reply, but a beeping noise stopped him. All three Decepticons turned and stared at a panel on the edge of the entrance to the spacebridge.
"Ha, whoever's at base must be listening to us," Scrapper said mildly.
Long Haul was still staring at the panel. "No…it's really activating.
"No way!" Bonecrusher argued. "There's been no clearance for anything to come here or through!"
Scrapper raised his hands defensively. "I never received any codes for transport. No clearance passes either. Whatever's coming through is from Cybertron and whoever it is didn't clear it with Megatron first."
Long Haul took a step backwards as more internal grinding noises from the spacebridge started to activate. Gears whined and a few more panels lit up brilliantly, indicating that it really was starting to activate.
"Should we call this in?" Long Haul asked uncertainly.
"No," Scrapper said hesitantly after a moment.
"Why not?"
"I know who it is," Scrapper replied.
"Who?"
Suddenly the spacebridge lit up, the energy spiralling upwards towards the sky. It split the clouds and the three Decepticons shielded their optics, dust and small rocks pelting their frames. Just as the noise became unbearable, it finally started to die down until the connection closed instantly.
The three Constructicons gazed curiously on clearing platform and Bonecrusher pulled his blaster out.
"Shockwave!" Long Haul exclaimed.
Shockwave's gate slowed, the blue glow from his thrusters dimming as his speed decreased from his exit of the spacebridge. When he was completely stopped after the interstellar transportation, he walked to the edge of the platform and paused in front of the three Decepticons staring at him in awe.
"Megatron is not to be made aware of my arrival. Is this understood?" the one optic'd mech ordered smoothly.
"Of course," Scrapper acquiesced automatically, bowing his helm slightly. "We would never betray our lord. I must say it is a surprise to see you."
"Current events force me to attend to matters of grave importance," the huge purple mech replied.
Behind him, a drone became visible. It jumped into the air and transformed into a jet, shooting off into the sky to hover overhead. The drone circled around above them and buzzed out an inquiry at Shockwave's delay.
"Hook is presumably on base?" Shockwave asked.
"Yes, everyone is. We've basically been on standby since the whole thing with…Soundwave. Hook's been welding mechs nonstop from Megatron's rage," Scrapper said solemnly.
"Understood. Inform him that I am arriving."
"Okay," Scrapper said, then saluted.
The three Constructicons watched eagerly as the scientist shot off into the air with the help of his antigravs and quickly flew out of sight. Bonecrusher gurgled out a happy noise and rubbed his hands together.
"Megatron's gonna get what he deserves."
"I was wondering when Shockwave would be forced to intervene on this entire thing," Long Haul muttered and moodily kicked a panel on the spacebridge.
"Finally, some order," Scrapper said with relief and leaned heavily against the spacebridge panelling after he sent a ping to his fellow combiner.
Soon Shockwave and his drone were over the ocean, and the tip of the Decepticon base whirred up out of the frothing waves to greet him, the water sluicing off of the platform. He landed easily, with his drone right behind him, and when the doors opened to admit them inside, there was no attendant waiting for them.
Shockwave stepped through into the empty hall, striding forward over the slatted metal panelling of the floor, his optic on the bars at the side that suspended the walkway into the air and over the ceiling of the floor below. Rust clung to everything, along with variable fist and body sized dents in the wall. Another door whirred open for him and Shockwave took the way that branched off to the left into a mini-security room. He passed through there and continued on up the hallway, emerging in the main recreation room.
The loud voices and chatter dimmed somewhat as he walked through the door, several Seekers and Combaticons looking over their shoulders at him.
The purple-plated mech walked around the outside edge of the tables and paused when Hook stood up and approached. The Constructicon laid a friendly hand on Shockwave's shoulder, beckoning him out into the hallway.
Once they were in privacy, Hook's facial expression twisted with fury. "Megatron is going to try to get you to cut back on medical manufacturing to increase weapons production. You must not let him," Hook hissed. "We're low enough on supplies the way it is. He's expecting me to start using local materials to simulate some of my own, which is impossible. There is no metal on Earth that's as strong as Cybertronian metal!"
Shockwave raised a hand, motioning for silence. "I understand. I will discuss the issue with Megatron."
The Constructicon gave him a hard, long glare for a moment before he broke away and marched up the hallway towards the medbay, his shoulders hunched. Shockwave stood there for a moment before he beckoned his drone to follow him towards the war room. At the door he instructed the drone to wait while he went inside.
Megatron was at the command console, typing in something while Starscream had his pedes kicked up on the table, looking almost like he was recharging. The Seeker shot upwards when the door opened and he flicked his helm around to stare.
"Shockwave!"
"Indeed," Shockwave dryly said.
Megatron whirled around as well and he snarled out an angry noise. "Shockwave. What a pleasant surprise. I was wondering when you would stick yourself into affairs that do not concern you, my old master."
"On the contrary, after your current debacle, it appears that you require all the assistance I can give you," Shockwave retorted.
Megatron created an impressive dent against the wall when he slammed his fist into it. "You'll do well to return back to your laboratory until I send—"
"I will not be threatened, Megatron," Shockwave said firmly with a warning flash of his singular optic. There was no 'lord' when he addressed the massive Decepticon, indicating his own growing ire. "No, I will not leave until I am satisfied that you are capable of leading your troops without destroying them in the process."
Just as Megatron appeared as if he was going to explode, Shockwave divulged his latest news.
"I have spoken to Soundwave."
Megatron stilled for a moment and then narrowed his optics dangerously. "Was the traitorous slut begging to be taken back?"
"The Matrix of Leadership has irrevocably bonded him to Optimus Prime. Neither desired it…it had acted when Soundwave directly attacked it," Shockwave said.
"Am I supposed to believe that?" Megatron bellowed out like a furious beast, causing Starscream to flinch. "I will tear him apart!"
"Soundwave has assured me that he wishes to bring the Council down from the inside," Shockwave continued, unimpressed at Megatron's display of anger. "He is currently awaiting the Iacon Council's verdict."
Megatron paused, and even Starscream seemed interested. A heavy silence reigned for a little while until Megatron made a derisive noise.
"No matter. Soon he'll be dead. With the plan to attack Cybertron and the Autobot base, they won't last long. Then I'm going to take my time with Soundwave and plunder every inch of his frame and crush him with my bare hands!" the warlord vented, mimicking the gesture and grinding the gears together in his hands.
"He suggests a truce," Shockwave finished off.
"A truce!" Megatron whirled around, his energy field rising up around him aggressively. "I will give him his fucking soft-sparked Autobot truce! I'll rip it out of his spark!"
"Perhaps it would be best to allow the troops extra rations tonight, lord Megatron," Shockwave cut in, changing the subject and using the respectful prefix once again. "And I insist we don't change the medical production either."
Megatron's face twisted and his red optics gleamed with dark intent, but Shockwave stood, his frame larger than even Megatron's. His yellow optic fixed unerringly with Megatron's and they engaged in a minute of fierce glaring. The former gladiator was no match for Shockwave's intellect, skill, and general tolerance among the ranks.
Then the purple-plated mech raised a threatening finger at Megatron. "You have lost your sight in this war; I have been observing you for a long time. You are obsessed with Optimus Prime, putting your troops at risk when we should be concentrating on Cybertron. I will not tolerate any more of this petty bickering and fighting among the ranks for the top." Here he paused and gave a sharp look to Starscream. "We must start drawing a halt to this war and concentrate on reproduction and resources or soon there won't be any of us left to rule anything!" Shockwave shouted, his voice echoing around the room as he slammed his fist down on the table.
Megatron's lips curled and he quickly walked forth, furious. "You don't tell me what to do! I'm the one who has made the decisions for Decepticons! You were too weak to lead and stepped down," he seethed, striking out with his right hand.
Shockwave raised his own forearm and their arms slammed together. Sparks rained down onto the floor.
The scientist flung his arm wide, pushing Megatron's away. "Yes, start this now. You have no third-in-command. The command team is falling apart. Morale is low, and energon is even lower. I put you in this place of power and it would only be too easy to remove you," Shockwave replied.
At that, Starscream's red optics glistened with all the hatred he had ever felt towards Megatron, but the look soon vanished and he was submissive once again.
"You were supposed to take the position of third-in-command from Soundwave," Megatron replied somewhat bewildered. He had thought the mech would've taken up the place of his student until there was a suitable replacement.
"No. I said I would train you the perfect third-in-command and you lost him. I will not make you another one. My personal matters on Cybertron draw me there, not here. I don't have time for a couple of pesky Autobots."
Megatron raised his arm, the deadly fusion cannon pointed right at Shockwave's midsection. "I'll make you regret this."
Shockwave motioned to the door, where his drone stood at the ready, one long arm pointed towards the Megatron with a short, slender rifle. "You lose, Megatron," the purple mech said, tilting his helm back in its pivotal socket.
Starscream abruptly stood and smacked his own slender hands on the table, causing both Megatron and Shockwave to shift their attention towards him. He licked his lips before speaking, "Perhaps it would be best if we adjourned early, and I agree with what Shockwave is saying. If we don't change and things keep going as they are…"
The tension was somewhat lowered after that, and both Shockwave and Megatron backed down.
"I will start plotting an appropriate course of action. Balance must be restored in our internal affairs before we make any rash decisions. The current attack plan will be postponed for now," Shockwave slyly added. "I must go. I have things to prepare for."
There was a pause.
"Sixshot will be here soon to … take care of things."
Omg! Sixshot is showing up. Will this massive fighting machine spell doom for the Autobots?
Review and you might just get a preview of what's happening next!
(In fact, I always give reviewers an upcoming glance at the chapter)
UNTIL NEXT TIME!