A/N Hey everyone. I know this chapter is late *ducks thrown stones*, but for those who follow me on LJ, you'd know that I've been through some crap lately. I think I'm finally out of my funk, so here's a chapter for you guys. For this one, I wanted to go back out into the main cast of characters, even though this fic is mainly about Soundwave and Blaster.

Italics are the dreams. You know I do not own Transformers.

AND OH MY GOSH OVER 200 REVIEWS! Thanks you guys *hugs* :D

Warnings: Remembered torture in one of the dreams. No sex though.

Turning Point – Chapter 16

They were back at the waterfall again. Blaster leaned back into the soothing spray, his optics closed in bliss. It was like the water was massaging his muscle cables, and it felt wonderful. Opening his optics again, he grinned as he looked at the mech staring at him from the riverbank.

Soundwave was on his side, gaze riveted on him, mask retracted and with a smile of his own. He was coyly offering an energon goodie, and if his visor was up, Blaster would have been sure that those optics were glinting in that rare mischief that had been passed down from creator to creation and was seen in Rumble and Frenzy. He moved forward, coming out of the river, water dripping off his frame as he lay next to the visored mech. He crooked his finger, and Soundwave levered himself up to lay, half over him, fingers presenting the goodie to him mouth.

"Hungry are you?" asked Soundwave, voice deceptively neutral.

"Mmm-hmm," hummed Blaster, opening his mouth patiently, daring.

The telepath merely chuckled and placed the goodie between his lips, using his hand to gently shut his mouth closed. The red mech made a small sound of delight as he chewed on the goodie, sweet energon bursting out of the treat and making his taste sensors tingle. "Mmm…so very sweet my main machine."

The visor clicked up, and Blaster sighed as his optics alighted on those beautiful pools of amber. His lover rolled so now the darker frame was above him, those amber optics shining with both warmth and a hint of a tease.

"I can give you something sweeter," murmured Soundwave, moving his face down a little, closer to Blaster's own.

"Oh really?" teased the boom box, using the opportunity to hook his arms around the other mech's neck.

"Yes."

"Prove it," challenged Blaster.

With his smirk turning into a happy, silly grin, Soundwave replied, "I shall."

His face lowered, coming closer, closer, he could feel the warm ex-vents, loose himself in those gorgeous optics, and Blaster sighed as those lips finally descended on his own, first brushing, and then crushing them together…

~/~

Blaster sat up in his berth, panting. 'Oh Primus, what a dream. Crap, gotta shield my thoughts.' He groaned and leaned forward, resting his face in his palm. He concentrated on tucking all amorous thoughts of his friend firmly behind a mental barrier. He would not let Soundwave know that he was in love until he was further along in his healing. His conscience wouldn't allow it. Throwing the cover off, he stretched, some muscle cables giving whines of protest from his disuse in the hours of recharge.

Letting his cassettes pop out of his chest compartment, Blaster greeted them and patted each helm as they wandered out of his berthroom.

He really was quite lucky to have them. They all understood him and knew when he needed to be alone.

Like right now.

Swinging his legs so that he was sitting on the edge of his berth, Blaster rubbed the corners of his optics to get himself to focus.

Being with Soundwave for the past three and a half weeks had been a rollercoaster of events. He regretted none of it. Especially when Soundwave was beginning to smile more often, open up just that little bit more, coming to him and telling him about the nightmares, and was more willing to do things and be outside of these quarters. The red and yellow mech could only be glad that the tape deck had made other acquaintances on the ship. He knew that Soundwave and Prowl had a budding friendship, and that Jazz was always up for a chat too. Not to mention that Prime saw it as his duty to talk to each ex-Con.

Brushing a fingertip over his mouth, Blaster shuttered his optics and sighed – he could still feel the imagined pressure of the other split-spark's lips against his own, still remember those beautiful amber optics.

"Stop. It's not gonna be good for 'Wave if he finds out now. Besides, those amber optics are long gone. Probably turned 'em red when he went to the Con's," Blaster rationalised aloud, getting up and stretching once more before heading out of his berthroom.

His cassettes were having their own energon around the table when he came in, and he grabbed his own ration, noticing a datapad left on the couch. He picked it up, and read the note printed: 'Gone to see Prowl. Cassettes training with Jazz. I will see you at comm. duty later – SW.'

"Blaster, what are our duties today?" asked Steeljaw, drawing the split-spark's attention.

"Well Steelie, Red Alert needs a small pair of servos to help him in rewiring some of the proximity sensors, so I want you and Rewind to go help him out. And…I think Eject's got to go with Trailbreaker to escort someone from the city to…somewhere. Prowl volunteered our services. Apparently this human is important. Ramhorn, you get to help Ironhide today in testing out the new battle drones. Everybody cool?" asked Blaster, ticking off each job mentally.

"What about you Boss?" asked Rewind.

"Me? Well, I'm helping Jazz plan the party this Saturday after he's done with 'Wave's guys, but I'm on comm. duty for most of the day."

"You going to be able to concentrate?" Steeljaw asked shrewedly, making his creator grin.

"Probably not, but it's a nice view! Now, ten-hut my little monsters, we're burning daylight!" ordered Blaster with a smirk, making his creations laugh. They loved it when he was a silly mech.

"He's very good with them."

"Undoubtedly."

"He so does enjoy having new recruits to teach. And I also believe he is relishing the challenge of going up against them because they managed to slip past our defences many times."

"I taught them well. Survival of the fittest."

Optics sliding from Jazz sparring and taking all six of Soundwave's cassettes at once, Prowl said, "But of course. They had to be good to appease your last leader, lest you all be punished."

Soundwave fought a shiver at the thought of Megatron punishing his creations. "They are brilliant. This is everything they've ever really known. It stands to reason that they are good at it."

"Quite. I think we'll leave them to it. I'm sure Jazz will let me know when they are done. Would you mind coming into my office? There are some things I wish to discuss with you," asked Prowl, gaze neutral under the crimson chevron. Soundwave took one last look at his cassettes, seeing their determination and feeling how they relished the challenge, and nodded, turning to follow the Praxian to the office he was coming to know quite well now.

Once in the office, Soundwave sat in the chair before the desk like usual as Prowl settled into his own.

"First of all…how have you been faring lately? Are your sessions with Smokescreen progressing well?" asked the black of white, dropping part of his stoic demeanour.

Soundwave took a moment to find the right words. "They are….encouraging. He is a very practical mech, that much I can say about him. He's also a good listener. I have been able to face my dreams more readily than I did last week. Talking about what happened to me does lighten my spark."

"Good. It's very good to hear. Although he has that unfortunate habit of gambling," here Prowl gave his companion a small smirk, "he's confidential and has a keen sense for finding what a mech really means in their words."

"Prime mentioned that too," murmured Soundwave, clasping his hands together and leaning back.

Arching an optic ridge, the doorwinged mech muttered, "He manages to be omnipresent, that mech does. Knows almost anything that happens here on the Ark before even I or Red Alert do."

Soundwave made a noise of amusement. It described Prime perfectly.

Prowl noticed how Soundwave had relaxed and he made an internal wince. He wished he did not have to share this news, but it was better to inform than to deal with the shock and aftermath after keeping something hidden. "Unfortunately, checking on your progress is not the only reason I called you here. We have gained some intel from some satellites and some agents still on Cybertron. Information I think it is prudent for you to see," he said, pulling a datapad from out of a neat stack and handing it to the bigger mech.

The telepath took it, a sense of foreboding creeping up on him as he began to read. His optics scanned the file, and the foreboding increased with each line he read until he saw one name that confirmed his suspicions.

Shockwave.

By the looks of the datapad, the purple guardian was now here on Earth, leaving Darkmount – and subsequently, most of Cybertron apart from his drone guards – alone. He handed the document back to Prowl and asked quietly, "What does this have to do with me?"

"I was wondering if you could tell us what to expect," replied Prowl, leaning forward and clasping his hands together, optics searching the red optic band.

Soundwave knew there was another part to that question, but spoke regardless. "His processor is a convoluted mass of logic and worship for Megatron. His loyalty was said to rival my own." He halted, giving himself a mental shake. He was no longer the loyal puppet he once was. "He does not care about happiness of his underlings. Only their efficiency. Unless a move is logical or efficient, he won't do it. He has an even more iron control than you or I do. I do not know why he has been called down from Cybertron. He has only done that once, and that was to discuss energon rationing with me and...my ex-leader."

"It is a danger to us if he has come down from Cybertron to aid Megatron. All of us," Prowl mused aloud. He grimaced as he made his vocaliser say the next words. "Which is why I am sending Jazz into the Nemesis with Ravage to try to ascertain his intents here on Earth."

Soundwave's gaze snapped fully to that cool icy blue one. He realised that Prowl was not making a cruel joke, but was in fact totally and utterly serious. It felt like a cold bile was sliding down his intake at the thought of his eldest creation being back within the reaches of his abuser. Without rationalisation he snapped, "No."

"Soundwave, I know this is an incredibly hard ask of you. I do. But Ravage is the oldest and the best trained, and will know more about the ins and outs of that base more than any others. My tactical computer puts Ravage's chance of damage of 3% without Jazz, and 2.1% with Jazz. If we know why Shockwave is here, we can prevent events from happening, such as further threat to us and especially your creations," explained Prowl, voice having no inflection. All business. Rational and logical. "Jazz will ensure Ravage's safety. If they don't go, it will be Jazz and Bumblebee or Mirage, but the chances of them making a completely successful mission drops to just above 60%, and that is unacceptable for me."

"No," Soundwave intoned again.

Inside, he was hiding his fear, trying to keep from shaking. Megatron's words came back to him. 'I will find one of your creations and kill it….kill it…."

"Soundwave. Listen to me. You know this is a war. You know that some things must be done that we don't agree with. Ravage needs to go on this mission. I'll give you some time to think about it rationally," Prowl said firmly.

The telepath felt a little frustrated. He didn't see this as fair.

"Look into my processor. See my regret that we have to use Ravage, but this is crucial," offered the black and white, letting the smallest portion of his mind open to the blue mech.

Soundwave took the opportunity, extending a tendril of his telepathy and browsing the contents offered to him. He turned over each code of the tactical outcome, analysing it for himself before looking for any evidence of deceit or lie. When he saw what the tactician had promised he would, he withdrew cautiously. Had their slow friendship been ruined because of this intrusion? He was relieved by glimpsing a half-smile on the other's faceplates.

"I will give you more time to come to grips with this decision. But it is a final one nevertheless," murmured Prowl, his tone softening. "Now…shall we put this unpleasantness behind us? I have no pressing matters for a few hours and wouldn't mind indulging in a game or two of chess. Care to indulge me?"

Taking the offer for what it was, Soundwave replied in an permitting tone, "I look forward to it."

Sitting on his throne, an ornately carved cube with high grade in his hand, Megatron said to his most loyal soldier, "I hope I can rely on you, Shockwave. I relied on Soundwave and found him to be just as traitorous as those Seekers. Can I rely on you?"

"Yes, my Lord Megatron. I know no other mech whom I wish to pledge allegiance to," replied the purple mech, bowing at the tyrant's pedes.

"Say it again," demanded the grey mech, chugging the rest of the high grade, optics flaring from the sudden buzz of energy through his systems.

Shockwave said it again, his singular optic fixed on his master's ones. It was illogical to leave Megatron's command. He could not fathom why the four had left. Megatron was to be the supreme ruler over Cybertron and then over the galaxy. A mech with that much power was one you did not rationally want to anger. He chanted the phrase again, shuffling closer to his Lord.

"Prove it to me Shockwave," purred Megatron, looking down at the mech bowing for him. He so loved that submissive position.

There was a mechanical whirring as part of the flat faceplate folded away, leaving a pair of thick lips in its wake, Shockwave's hidden mouth bared and moving forward.

As the lips touched a seam on the inner plane of his kneejoint, Megatron sighed. It was perfect.

He was glad he had called Shockwave down.

Placing the last of the samples Perceptor had given him to look at the side of the microscope (which was not Perceptor's alt mode), Starscream leaned back and rubbed at his optics tiredly. As fulfilling and wonderful it felt to be getting back to his more scientific side, it did have the toll of staring at something for a considerable amount of time. Especially if one was cataloguing samples. It was tiring, yet interesting work.

Surprisingly, once he stopped being so snarky, he found that he could tolerate both Perceptor and Wheeljack. Although the inventor could be a tad too crazy sometimes and the microscope could sometimes even confuse him with the science talk, they were much better company than some of the other Autobots. It made him feel comfortable. Not to mention Ratchet. The Seeker smirked as he recalled a conversation with the medic the previous day about the most creative curses to use to let someone know how fragged off you were at them.

Standing and flicking his wings in a stretch, Starscream mused that life on base wasn't so bad. He was fuelled every day, got to pursue his interests, got to fly at least once every three days. It was good.

However, it made him reflect on his years on abuse.

And Starscream didn't like to do that. The feelings of weakness and inadequacy raised in him fought against his psyche, making him want to break down. He couldn't. He would not let another bot see him cry or break down apart from the ones that already had.

"I'm going to take a quick cycle for recharge and come back to these later," Starscream informed Perceptor, who was looking at his own sample on the other side of the lab. He saw the red mech nod his helm once, and it was enough for Starscream. He wandered to his room that he shared with Skyfire, almost a size of the hangar, and flopped down on the berth. He must have been really tired, for not long after he sprawled out over the soft material did his optics shutter close and his processor cycle into recharge…

~/~

…He couldn't see a thing.

He was blind.

But aware.

There was a presence behind him. A dark, looming presence, like a poison. It wanted to smother him. Control him. Wanted to break him down to sub-atomic particles and jam him back together again in one misshaped and broken mess. He gasped as a finger scratched over the base of his wings. He bit his lip. Sounds this early on in the 'punishment' would only mean worse things for him.

"Pet. That's all you are. My whore and pet. You love it."

Starscream shook his helm. The bastard knew he didn't like it.

An oily chuckle rose from the depths of that gravelly vocaliser and the hand went down to cup his aft. He stiffened, feeling that large hand simply rest on the curved plating.

"Later, I think. Tonight, I want to hear you scream early."

Something was pulled out of subspace. Something that made a whispering kind of noise as it dragged over the ground. It sounded like nine snakes over grass. A switch was flicked, and a static buzz filled the room. Recognising the sound, Starscream struggled in his bounds, but the knots were firm, unyielding. It could not prepare him for the first lash of the electro whip on his wings.

His shrill scream split the air, along with Megatron's hearty chuckles.

The warlord relished in his screechy screams.

"Want me to move on already pet?" mocked the large grey mech, hauling the whip back and bringing it cracking down on the expanse of smooth white plating again, optics glowing with lust as he saw the plating begin to crack and tiny streams of energon paint the once pristine plating.

Starscream opened his mouth, screaming loudly, forcing himself not to cry with the agony. His wings…his beautiful wings! Marred, sullied, now disgusting due to that touch and the pain that roared through him, ten times more powerful and more painful than an overload. His mouth was open in a continuous stream of sound was that whip came down again….and again…and again, again, again, again….

~/~

"NO!" barked Starscream, bolting out of the berth and huddling, shaking, in the corner of the room. He wrapped his arms around himself and willed the tears not to fall, willed himself to calm the turmoil in his spark, feeling defiled by the memory. He wanted…he didn't know who he wanted to comfort him. If he wanted to be comforted at all.

It seemed like Primus was looking out for him as the doors to Skyfire's rooms opened, and a blur of blue and black shot to him, huddling over him protectively, a white mass hovering above them all.

"Starscream, we felt you through the trine bond," Thundercracker murmured, holding his trine leader around the waist while Skywarp chose the shoulders as his place to hug. The younger Seeker made shushing noises and rocked them all back and forth, waiting for Starscream's trembling body to calm.

Skyfire watched over them worriedly. He thought that Starscream had been doing so well in adjusting. Now it was time to go slower than before, retrace those steps and perhaps redraw boundaries if needed.

"Easy Star," cooed Thundercracker, holding his trinemates close. They had seen glimpses of the feeling through their trine bond.

"Yeah Scree, he won't ever hurt you like that again, we'll all make sure of it," assured Skywarp, resting his helm against a red shoulder.

Starscream leant into the contact, reaching one hand out to Skyfire. He was his friend too. As his hand was grasped, he gave a shaky sigh and said, "Thank you. I…I don't know what I'd have done if you all would have not shown up."

Skywarp smirked a bit at hearing Starscream's voice. The lack of a screechy rasp would take some getting used to. "It's okay. Fliers stick together, right?"

The tricoloured Seeker felt a little bit of pride come over him from the teleporter's words and he mumbled, "That's right. Just like I taught you." He squeezed Skyfire's hand in assurance, although he was a bit embarrassed by his reaction, to his slight relapse.

"We're here for you," someone whispered.

"How'd he take it?" asked Jazz, settling next to his bonded in a small booth in the rec room, optics trained on where Soundwave was using Prowl's chess set to verse Mirage, who surprisingly had offered the telepath the chance of an opponent. The cassettes were watching, Ratbat actively cheering Soundwave on.

"He reacted like I predicted he would," Prowl replied.

"Killed ya didn't it?" the saboteur asked knowingly.

Knowing he couldn't hide anything from the visored mech, the tactician responded with a sigh and said, "The look on his face was quite spark breaking. It's a cold, harsh reality when one fears losing their loved ones in that extent. I explained it to him rationally. I have the utmost confidence in you and Ravage to complete this mission, Jazz, but it doesn't decrease the blow that Megatron's threat is very tangible."

Discreetly, Jazz placed his hand on his mate's thigh, rubbing slow circles there. "It is. But Ah'm gonna get the information ya need. That 'n' Soundwave's info should give ya enough ammunition to help end this war, right babe?"

"Correct. Regardless, it would take a heavy toll on my spark on the part of Soundwave if something did go wrong," Prowl said quietly.

Leaning over to press a quick peck on his lover's lips, Jazz assured, "Ah know. Ah'll get us both back safely. Ah would hate to be the cause of ya guilt. It tears ya up something fierce."

Sending a pulse of love over their bond, Prowl's faceplates softened for a moment as he murmured, "I am blessed to have you in my life."

"Right back atcha sweetspark."

A/N: Okay, I just had to put a bit of Jazz/Prowl in there. I love that pairing.

So….what did you think? Please review! I adore you all!