A/N: Again, I am so pleased by everyone's responses! Thank you to all my reviewers/favourites, etc, etc. You all inspire me to keep going. Here's a little gift, I'm doing this early. In this first scene, I really wanted no drama. Just…none. Be warned, this is also a bit shorter, but that's because it's setting up all the little bits and pieces I have planned for next chapter.
Warnings: None really.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Turning Point – Chapter 23
Prowl merely looked up from his datapad once the door opened and said, "Follow me please."
And turned away without looking back.
Soundwave looked back to Blaster who shrugged as if to say 'go along with it.' It was inevitable, so he sighed and caught up to the SIC, trying to keep his memory from replaying the embarrassing scene he had witnessed. Was he going to be lectured? He had no reason to believe he'd be thrown out of the Autobots for this, but was there some kind of reprimand for trespassing on an officers private time?
As they walked, he couldn't help thinking about what he and Blaster had been doing. Had been about to do? Would they really have kissed? The thought made his faceplates heat. Blaster had been so close to him. There was no barrier of fear of the unknown anymore. Knowing it wouldn't be prudent to think about it just yet, he silenced his thoughts and prepared himself for this little meeting with Prowl.
They reached the familiar door of Prowl's office, and he went through and sat at his desk, mentioning for Soundwave to sit in front of him.
The telepaths nervousness mounted as he sat, resisting the urge to fidget.
The tactician arranged his datapads, before looking at him neutrally and clasping his hands together. "Are you alright Soundwave?"
Well, that certainly wasn't what he had been expecting.
"Sir?" he asked quietly.
Prowl asked again in a gentler tone, "Are you alright? I know you happened upon Jazz and I in an intimate moment, and I realise it could have triggered some sort of dark emotion within, or a memory from your abuse."
Sweet relief welled up when he realised his friend wasn't angry at all, and Soundwave smiled. "You're not mad I accidently saw that?"
"No. While it is definitely embarrassing, " here the Praxian had the grace to blush, "I am not angry. These things can happen. And as such I am more concerned for your mental state at this present time over my slight bashfulness. When you ran away, I feared that the sight of interfacing had caused you to revert. But now I see it is not the case."
Relaxing now, glad that the air had been cleared, Soundwave replied, "Actually, you may have inadvertently encouraged the well being of my mental state. I ran because I needed some time to think over how I feel about seeing that, and allowing myself to distinguish that from what happened to me. And…if I may be so bold, you two really are quite made for each other."
Prowl smiled back. As long as Soundwave was moving forward and was no longer fearful of interfacing, perhaps he and Blaster would get together sooner. He was the SIC, not blind, after all. His own mortification that he had been watched notwithstanding, he was glad. Bowing his helm, he said, "I like to think so. Jazz completes me. I'm sure that one day soon in the future you will find someone who completes you as you are now."
The crimson optic band flashed once in understanding. Prowl knew.
All was well between them at least. Tilting his helm to the side, he requested, "Chess?"
"Of course. I will always be here to support my friends Soundwave."
To be given a suitable function and purpose to take your mind off things was a blessing as far as Starscream was concerned.
He needed time. A lot of it. Lab work was especially calming and relaxing and made him feel purposeful at the same time. So he wouldn't feel like a complete sap. Wheeljack and Perceptor had no qualms in giving him the run of the labs after his plans for a more efficient energon convertor for sunlight had been revealed to them. It was his contribution to the Autobots in exchange for living as a Neutral on base while his trinemates took charge of training the Aerialbots and any other mech with flight capabilities and wings.
Working on another formula, Starscream relished in his old work. How refreshing it was to build something that would create, and not destroy. If Megatron had listened to him back on Cybertron, the Decepticon army would have had enough energon for millennia by now.
Alas, his ex-leader was a cruel buffoon.
His thoughts turned to Skyfire, and unbeknownst to himself, he smiled.
After clearing the air with Skyfire admitting his feelings things had become less strained between them. Before, there had been tension. Now, there was significantly less. They still slept in the same rooms and in different berths as he didn't feel safe enough to be in his own room just yet. He found the slight rumble of Skyfire's engine relaxing before he slipped off into recharge. Safe.
Not to mention all those sweet little looks the shuttle would throw his way were slowly melting the walls he had placed within himself. It made his confidence grow in leaps and bounds each day.
"Mmm," he murmured, crossing out a section of the formula when he saw it wouldn't work, before looking through what he had.
The Seeker was just about to test what Gallium would do to the balancing out of the equation when his comm. beeped.
Starscream froze, bolting upright, recognising the unique signal.
The chirp came through again, and he lurched for the nearest data terminal. He wanted to see them. Make sure they were okay. Why else would they be contacting him?
He extended a data exchange cable and plugged himself in, feeding the private comm. into the terminal. Immediately the face of a worried Ramjet came into view.
"Commander," the Conehead said.
Seeing the scrapes and dents on the other fliers helm, Starscream felt a sense of dread sink deep in his tank. "Ramjet. Finally, you use this private line. Idiot. How many times have you allowed him to beat you before you finally called me?"
The usually prideful black and white mech shifted nervously. "This is the third and the worst so far."
"Just beatings?" probed Starscream, wishing that beatings were the full extent of Ramjet's injuries.
"Yes sir."
The tricoloured jet sighed a little in relief. As much as he and his trine found the Coneheads intolerable at times, they were still under his command, still his Seekers. They were good soldiers when they focused and were as undeserving of abuse as any other mech. Nodding, he replied, "Good. Now. Talk to me."
"We understand why you left now, commander," said Ramjet apologetically, regretting that he never took the time to understand Starscream more.
"No you don't," Starscream hissed, "and I hope you never will. Continue."
Taken aback, the lead Conehead bowed his helm and went on. "Energon is at an all time low. Megatron keeps planning raids but we are unsuccessful because of our low energy. He is yelling and punishing everyone. He's even placed the Combaticons in stasis until we either get Shockwave's body or we get more energon. He's threatened my bondmates, and-"
"Hush. What do you mean, your bondmates?" Starscream broke in, annoyed he had not been told. He had never seen Ramjet particularly close to any but his trine…his suspicion was confirmed with the white flier's next sentence.
"My trine. Thrust and Dirge are my bondmates."
Optics narrowing to dangerous slits, the Aerial Commander hissed, "You dolt. You useless pile of scrap, why didn't you tell me about this earlier? I could have protected you all better!"
Ramjet looked up, his own optics fierce now. "I didn't know if you would support us then. We had to keep it secret for fear."
Ire sated by the explanation for the moment, Starscream said, "And he's no doubt placed the Combaticons into stasis because I was the creator of them. As a lesson to his troops."
"With them gone, you gone, and Soundwave and his fiends gone, it feels too empty and hollow here. My trine has to leave. Do you think we could come over to the Autobots?"
Switching to Seeker cant, Starscream threatened, "If this is a ploy, if you threaten the peace I have found here, I will not be responsible for me subsequent actions. Clear?" When the younger Seeker nodded, he said quietly, "I may be able to grant you some amnesty if I appeal to Prime. He has a dream for a united Cybertron. I stand with him to help that vision come true. If you become a threat to it, your parts will be used to make energon converters. Now get off this channel before anyone catches you. I will contact you when I'm ready. Stay out of trouble until we get you out of there. And if something worse happens, get out, get your trinemates out, no matter what happens. That's an order."
"Yes commander," replied Ramjet before hastily cutting the comm. call as instructed.
Slumping back and shuttering his optics, the tricoloured mech sighed heavily. He had hoped that call would never come and that the Coneheads would have been fine. Even without Shockwave, Megatron was up to all his old tricks. It could only escalate from here.
Optimus Prime looked up at the sharp knock, before rumbling, "Come in."
Starscream strode in, worry and determination etched clearly on his face. He sat and immediately said, "I've had a communication from the Conehead Trine."
The Prime immediately frowned. "How did that get through Red Alert's defences?"
"It's a special private comm. link. Regardless, we have a more pressing issue regarding the Decepticons. The Combaticons are in stasis, their energon is low, Megatron is going insane and is clinging to his dreams of grandeur as leader. Ramjet was dented from a beating. I don't want it to get worse," Starscream poured out, hoping they could just formulate a plan and get rid of the tyrant once and for all.
Optimus surveyed the Seeker, looking for any discrepancy in body language. Seeing none, he slowly nodded. "It is time for this war to end. Prowl and I will work off the information you have given us. I ask that you are fully prepared to fight. And that you will be able to bear the sight of Megatron."
Starscream looked evenly into his leader's optics. Why did he feel so damn calm around Prime? Must be the Matrix. He lowered his voice and replied, "I will be. I don't want to fear. I want to live on Cybertron and fly freely once more. Once that is accomplished I shall truly be free."
Optimus softened slightly, spark going out to the poor abused being who had remained so strong. "I am glad you are healing. Such a fine scientist and warrior like you should be free to fly."
The flier gave a small, genuine smile before standing and leaving, wings fluttering in his accomplishment. He was very glad to finally be serving under a Prime who practiced what he preached and was willing to give he and his Seekers freedom.
Meanwhile the Matrix-bearer exhaled, steeling himself. So many years of war…could this intelligence be the perfect information – in conjunction with Soundwave and Ravage's information – to bring the fighting to end once and for all? He hoped with all his spark it would be true. Truth be told, he was tired. His soldiers were tired. They needed to learn how to live again. He chuckled at the thought that it took some abused mechs switching sides to really motivate them all.
Well unlikely things tend to happen. Best to make them turn out well.
The cassettes finally came out of Soundwave's room, sulking a little at their punishment.
Rumble thought it was completely unjustified.
They had been trying to protect Soundwave! They all knew that their creator was feeling much better with Blaster's help (not to mention other bots), but they recognised he was still fragile. So, he felt it was only right that they try to protect him. To be admonished, reminded that he could deal without them-
'Stop thinking about it,' Ravage cut into his internal rant abruptly. 'When creator finds out, he won't be happy that you are not allowing him to be secure in his parenting role to us.'
"Shut it, kitty," he snapped, feeling his twin come up beside him and give him a pat on the back for reassurance.
"Two seconds out and already you guys are bickerin'?"
Blaster had been the one to ask the question, sitting on his couch and a messy stack of reports he had to complete next to him. He looked over at them, and there was no mistaking the concern in his gaze.
"S'not fair," whined Rumble.
The boom box grinned and said, "I would've done the same. Sure, Jazz is all smiley when he wants to be, but don't forget he's special ops. He can turn off that charm as quick as he can turn it on. You're lucky he likes you. He's punched a mech for being insubordinate to him once. I think Sounders giving you an hour of no fun is fair."
Rumble was about to yell again when Ravage growled and stalked in front of him. "Leave him alone. He was merely commenting."
"Move."
"Both of you calm down!" Blaster said firmly, standing, prepared to physically separate the two if things came to blows.
Swivelling his helm to the larger mech, Rumble said lowly, "Don't treat me like you're my creator, no matter how close to reality you're becoming it."
Cold shock shot down Blaster's spine at the words. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ravage snarled, shaking his helm. Rumble ignored it and smirked, cocking a hip to the side. "Like we don't know! All the googly optics, always looking after him when he walks out of the room, or anywhere, singing that silly sappy love song, and the fact you've been so bloody close to him since we got here. Drop the act, Blaster, we all know you've got the hots for our creator."
The other cassettes stiffened at their siblings rudeness, wary of Blaster's reaction.
The red mech set his face into hard lines as he knelt before the purple cassette, optics blazing with blue fire, raw emotion exemplified. He knew that once he said this, there was no turning back on his feelings. "I do not just have the hots for your creator. It is not as petty as that. I want to give him my all if he'll have me. I want to have all of him as well. You said you watched me? Well understand this…I love Soundwave. I hope that you guys accept this, because I don't want to give him up."
Silence reigned as the two bots stared at each other, both fierce and stubborn.
Rumble was the first to break it, grinning and saying, "Yeah Blaster. Ya pass the test. If you and Dad ever get together, you get our approval." The condor twins chirped in affirmation, Ravage purred, Ratbat nodded, and Frenzy grinned as well.
Blaster stood again, shaking his helm. "You seriously had to do this Mexican stand-off thing?"
"Yep," replied the mini-mech.
Flopping back down on the couch, the boom box couldn't help but smile. If Soundwave creations thought that he was a good choice, then maybe his prospects were looking better than imagined.
A/N: Yeah…..not as long as my usual updates, but I hope you liked it all the same. So please review, and let me know how you thought about this.
Don't worry. Next chapter will be action packed! Plot wrench will be thrown in! Be prepared for shocks!