A/N: Took longer than expected. Surprise kinda took my muse by surprise - so I've been thinking a lot on that :P
Even Soundwave himself was able to be brainwashed, only, in time, it managed to backfire in different ways, thus making Soundwave much more dangerous than he previously had been. When one has no emotions to go by, anything is possible from them.
He was Megatron's Communication Specialist, and his healer, with good reason. He had extremely unique and powerful abilities about him, which also made him a threat to everyone around him. Some said he was a dark Priest doing the bidding for Unicron and Soundwave never gave them the satisfaction of an answer.
The Priest had strange abilities to utilize all sorts of waves that very few other Decepticons or Autobots could. He was also able to produce Trans-sonic vibrations and other just as if not more powerful sound waves, hence where he got his name. Some believed this was how he uniquely interacted with the Allspark but no one really knew the extent of his abilities.
The longer he was under Megatron's command, the more Autobots and Decepticons alike learned of what he could do and would do if ordered to do so and that's why they feared him. It was because of neither his rank nor his title, but because of other unsaid abilities like messing with ones' mind, or sensing things on a higher extrasensory level that very little other Autobot or Decepticon could. He'd gone from a no-name Allspark priest to one of the most devastating and wicked Decepticons to ever live. Megatron had utilized him in a completely different and more menacing manner.
Back at the cliffs…
Before Ironhide could make another move, he heard the wind up of another weapon. It was Ratchet's, which was aimed right at him in a critical place near his hip – Damn the medics for knowing so much about one's anatomy. He also knew Ratchet was very good with his aim and he would not miss his target. The black mech froze; surprised that Ratchet would pull his own weapon on him, defending a Decepticon.
"Are you mad?" the black mech asked harshly. "What's gotten into you, Ratchet? It's a slagging Decepticon!"
"Stand down, Ironhide." Ratchet then spoke, watching the Weapon Specialist. His voice was calm and his optics never left the mech. He knew that look in his optic and knew damned well if he couldn't quell him, Ironhide would shoot and Ratchet's case would be over.
Will stood up, holding his hands up. He really didn't want these two fighting at a time like this, "Guys, guys, can't this wait?" However, some customs still needed to be learned by both. "I mean… we can't hold up traffic forever here,"
Ratchet used the moment Ironhide, interrupted by Will, looked down and fired a shot at the distracted black mech. The shot hit the Ironhide in the leg in such a way he went to his knees quickly, hissing in pain. "Damn you old timer!"
Will stepped back; now completely sure he didn't want to be involved in their disputes. Ratchet was scowling at Ironhide, who was growling in pain, "Thank you, Will," the medic said gently, not even looking at him. "We take him back on my orders. That is final." Ratchet stated as his weapon disappeared into his hand. "Am I understood?"
"Prime will hear of this!" Ironhide snarled.
"I'll take full responsibility, now in the mean time; help me get him up there." Ratchet ordered.
Will watched as Ironhide stood back up and started to go down the cliff spatting off things in sounds he could only guess was their actual language. He wanted to ask what the hell had happened, but he wasn't sure now was the time. With a glance at Epps, who only shrugged, Will decided waiting until Ironhide calmed down seemed to be the thing to do.
Even though external proximity sensors were trying to warn him of danger, he could not tell because his system was so damaged. The silent and deaf Decepticon had no idea he lay at the mercy of the humans and Autobots that were now surrounding him.
He did not know what death was like, though he knew he'd come close to it before. Of course, for all he knew, he was already dead. He recollected his processors going into sleep mode countless times while he lay here and he had no idea how long he was asleep for… or if he ever woke back up.
If he was conscious during death there was one thing that stood out among anything, and that was the black vastness of absolutely nothing. A void.
Sam was with Mikaela listening to music via Bumblebee's radio outside of the 'shack' while waiting to hear about what was happening with Will and Rob. Now that the scout could talk, there was no need for Bumblebee to speak with his radio, which was great relief for Sam because some of what Bumblebee came out with was more like riddles – and he wasn't all that fond of riddles.
He looked down at the bandage on his right arm. The itch was beginning again. It was the healing itch – or at least that was what it was supposed to be. He'd learned that aloe soothed it best.
It was also something he hadn't told anyone about. True, there was a real injury there from the battle at Mission City, but since then, it started to look different. He had begun to care for the wound himself, and not in front of anyone else – even Mikaela. It hadn't gotten any redder and it seemed to be healing, but he was unsure what to say about the strangely straight black lines coming from all directions of it.
If it kept up, there's no doubt it would no longer be a secret. Sleeves only covered so much and anyone would get suspicious of someone wearing long sleeves in Nevada in the summer. With a rub over his arm, he looked up, "So hey, 'Bee, you feel up to taking me home so I can get a shower and stuff?"
"I could use one as well," Mikaela added, looking down at herself with a frown. She hadn't showered in a day or so and she swore the dust in the desert deliberately stuck to her.
"I'll speak to Optimus about it," Bumblebee replied with a nod. He was concerned for Ironhide and Ratchet, along with the humans with them and he really didn't want to leave just yet. When they were back, then it was a different story.
A flatbed semi pulled up in front of a Fire Rescue Hummer and a Topkick sitting next to the cliff's edge. It was equipped with a pulley system originally designed for hauling other trucks, so there would be no problem pulling Soundwave up and from the cave with assistance. The driver was sent on his way in a cab with no explanation giving the Autobots the chance to turn back into their root forms and get the Decepticon away from prying eyes and into their custody.
Thoughts ran rampant wondering how such a mech as Soundwave ended up crashed in the ocean and torn up like this and Ratchet considered foul play by Starscream and one of his cronies.
Ratchet and Ironhide both jumped down and reached for parts of the priest that were still salvageable. "I can't believe you want to take one of the most dangerous Decepticons back to the shack." Ironhide grumbled, very unhappy about Ratchet's decision. "What if he attacks us?"
Ratchet gave Ironhide a raised optic ridge, "Do you honestly think he can? Really? I would love to know how since I'm the medic and I know his condition best. He cannot see, nor hear, nor feel as far as I can tell. Now help me get him on the trailer."
Ironhide grumbled something else and then they took on the tedious task of getting Soundwave out of the cave without harming him too much more, though some scrapes were bound to happen.
He felt the sensation of pain – or what he perceived to be pain. It wasn't pain like he'd ever experienced, more like an echo in his mind. It was strange because there was no point of origin like one would suspect from pain. It was illogical. Some sensations hurt more than others and they felt like they wanted to be placed, but he did not know where the pain belonged. He did not know why he was feeling it and there wasn't a damned thing he could do about it either.
As quickly as it had come, it vanished again.
Since Soundwave was larger, it took some effort to get him out and unharmed, but once they did, they both got a good look at him. "What in the pit happened to him?" It was sickening.
"He crashed… obviously." Ratchet snapped. In all honesty, that was what he'd surmised, even if foul play was involved. Until he got Soundwave under proper lighting and got a good look, it was the only thing he was 98% sure of. The fact Soundwave had even crashed was an oddity in itself.
Ironhide gave Ratchet an annoyed glare, "Perhaps he zigged when he should have zagged,"
"Do you ever know Soundwave to do such a thing?" Ratchet, no longer interested in Ironhide's babble began working to give the Decepticon a store of energon that he keeps on himself at all times. By the looks of the CO, Ratchet actually had his doubts the mech would survive the trip back to their shack.
Robert operated the trailer after getting the truck in the best position. The end of the trailer lifted and then straightened, then lowered, making a ramp. Taking chains from the trailer, Ratchet and Ironhide wrapped them around Soundwave to use the trailer to assist them in getting him up over the cliff. Using the pulleys from the trailer, the two Autobots got Soundwave onto it with minimal damage.
"Lock him down tight, I'm going to grab the rest of what I can from down here," Ratchet said, seeing more metal strewn around.
The Decepticon was set with his head toward the tractor while his feet dangled off the edge. Ironhide assisted William and Robert in making sure the mech was secure. At that time, they started to cover him over. Epps was the one who decided to drive the truck and after all of Soundwave's parts they could find were loaded, they were quickly on their way.
Ratchet decided he remain on the trailer covered with his patient while Ironhide stayed in front of the 'oversize load' while traveling.
After a few minutes on the road, Ratchet groaned when he realized Soundwave's internals were pretty badly beaten up as well. He fought through tarps that were blowing in the wind and stabbed several needles into the Decepticon's energon lines, each injection something a little different from before, helping the near-death Decepticon regain lost fluids besides just energon for the time being. If anything, he might be able to jump-start his auto-repair sequence, which seemed to be completely destroyed. He also began to get stronger readings of 4 sparks within the larger mech's chassis. It would have to wait until they got back to the shack to know the real extent of Soundwave's damage – and the damage of his parasites.
Keeping constant readings on the status of the 'Con while he worked, he was amazed at the fact he was still alive with all the damage he sustained. All he could think about was that he was going to be busy for a very long time because they had no real place for him to work on a patient, which meant he would be putting his knowledge of fieldwork to the test.
Soundwave felt a boost of something, but he didn't know what it was. It was as if he'd gone completely stupid, but he knew he was not. Unbeknownst to him, because of Ratchet's care, the four within him immediately began to suck what energy was being fed to them and they grew a little stronger. The priest was generous in his sharing; obviously knowing their energy was depleted. He wondered where the energy was coming from and if it would end.
"It isn't about who kills who, it's about who gets what…" the Seeker voice said in a hush-hush tone, "Megatron has obviously failed at retrieving the Allspark, so I suppose I will take a team and get it done right,"
"How do you plan to succeed?"Another asked in the same tone.
"It's simple… the only drawback is I will need that nefarious Soundwave with me."
"You know if he finds Megatron still alive it's game over for you. He'll rat you out."
"Perhaps I can find a way to get rid of him as well."
"That's suicide. Besides, he's the only one left who can operate the Allspark."
"There's ways around that, I assure you…" There was a cackle, obviously Starscream's.
Soundwave, who'd been standing in earshot, silently walked off. He'd heard enough.
The man had flown in specifically to speak to Optimus Prime. He could tell that Optimus was becoming annoyed with so much talking, but he wanted to hurry up and get things done, therefore they could all have some peace.
In the middle of speaking to Secretary Keller personally, a blip on Optimus' communications got his attention and he opened the line, "Ratchet," he answered, "how is the mission?"
With a glare in Ironhide's direction, Ratchet responded, "It was… Successful. I wish to inform you that I am bringing in a severely wounded Decepticon."
"What?" Optimus held his hand up as a silent 'hold on a minute' to the human as he continued to speak to Ratchet, "Do you have a positive identification?"
Ironhide interrupted the two, "It's that creep, Soundwave,"
Silence filled the comm. system for a moment. Optimus needed a moment to grasp that. "…Soundwave?" he asked in hesitation. Since when did Soundwave crash?
"The one and only,"
Ironhide's voice pulled the Autobot leader from his hesitation. "He was one of the most devastating Decepticons on Cybertron, why would you want to endanger us and the humans by bringing him here?"
There was a blip as if Ratchet was going to say something then he hesitated a moment, but going by his oath as a medic, he stuck up for what he felt was strangely right. "Sir, I have reason to believe he won't be of any nuisance. He is a code 6. I am still summing up the damage and I am very surprised to find his spark online just by what I have found so far. Also, four symbiots were also counted. Their Sparks may extinguish before we get there."
"That might explain why Frenzy was with Barricade," Optimus noted.
"I've done what I can on the move so at least Soundwave should remain alive until we get there."The medic returned.
"Very well," Optimus sighed before looking back at Keller, "Mr. Keller, I have just been informed that the Decepticon will be brought here."
"What? Why not bury it with the rest?" The Secretary asked irritated. He could only imagine the hell the Decepticon could cause.
"The Decepticon was found alive. He requires emergency care by Ratchet if his life is to be saved. He will be of no harm to us." Optimus assured, trusting his medic. Even he was unsure of Ratchet's motives, but he knew he would not put anyone in immediate danger.
John gave a questioning nod, "Why would you keep him alive?"
"He has answers to some of our questions,"
Another nod as though he didn't even want to know. "Optimus, I also wanted to tell you that we found you a base." He looked the giant in the optic, "It's Near a less populated area," he started, thinking of the right place to say, "it's an old abandoned warehouse with a lot of empty land. It may not be the best, but it's a place to start. I am positive it will fit you all and then some, and it will be ready for you and your team promptly."
"That is very kind of you, Mr. Keller,"
"It's the least we can do for your help to save our city – our planet." Keller said with a smile, "If you wish, we can head there now. It's not far from Tranquility, so you will still be on contact with your friends."
Optimus immediately sent the coordinates of the place to Ratchet.
Ironhide kept in front of the truck talking to Will about how absurd Ratchet was for even letting the atrocity known as Soundwave live, "He's Megatron's Right-Hand Mech… he tortured so many Autobots – Other Decepticons too. He's done so many things, there isn't a word for how evil he is." the mech growled angrily. "He gets into your mind and destroys you from the inside out… And he's supposed to be a priest!"
"A priest?" Will asked, a little confused how someone described so evil was a priest. "I thought priests were all holy and such? Do you guys have like… 'dark priests' or something?"
"No. He's an Allspark priest."
"What's that?"
"Before the wars he worked with it. He was one of the few who were allowed around it just for that purpose. He has modified systems to allow intimate interaction. Without the Allspark priests, the Allspark itself could have wilted away. It's a long story." Ironhide considered what Allspark priests were for and gave an internal, sad sigh that they would never be needed again. "It doesn't matter. Not anymore…" He then grew angry again, shoving the sadness away, "There is no reason to let that mech live, priest or not. He is especially of no use since the Allspark is gone."
"While you've been busy growling about this and that, I have new coordinates from Optimus for you," Ratchet's voice broke into the truck, startling Will.
Hope it was worth the wait :)