Thoughts and criticisms are encouraged and appreciated.

Soundwave onlined his visual receptors. His processor was running slowly, so it took him a little more than a minute to realize he was in the Nemesis medical bay… That was strange. He didn't remember being brought back here.

He turned his helm down to look at himself. He was hooked up to numerous life support cables and the gaping hole had a patch welded over it, though it was rather poorly welded. Laserbeak was missing from his usual place on his chassis. That's right, Knockout had injured his mini-con as well. He was probably being patched up in another part of the bay.

"Oh Officer Soundwave, you're online!" Soundwave looked back around to see a single Vehicon standing beside his berth and clutching a datapad. "I'm designation WY-05… Don't worry, you're safe now." he said meekly, then after a pause quickly added, "N-not that you'd be worried- I didn't mean to imply- uh… well…"

Soundwave just stared blankly up as WY-05 fumbled with the datapad for a moment while ventilating heavily, "AHEM… What I meant was, my squadron has been assigned medical duty since- um… since… you know… Anyway, th-the damage to your chassis will take quite some time to heal properly… we'll just need you to stay in the med bay for awhile so we can keep an optic on you." He stepped back slightly, "I'll be just outside. If you need anything, please shou- er… um… well… get my attention somehow. WY-04 will be by in a few minutes to do a full scan to be sure there are no other problems with your systems."

Other problems? There was no need for the scan; Soundwave knew exactly what "problem" they would find… and he couldn't let anyone know out about it.

As WY-05 stepped out of the room and the door shut behind him Soundwave immediately unwound his uninjured tentacle and stretched it across the room, latching onto the console next to the door. He opened a link to the computer, bringing up a list of his own internal coding… after scrolling through the long list he finally spotted it. He pulled up the file containing the Autobots' virus and a quick command on the console purged it from his system. Excellent! Now there was no tracing the virus back to him. The first chance he got he would have to do the same for Laserbeak.

He dissolved the link and reeled his tentacle back in just as the med bay doors opened and Megatron came striding into the room along with another Vehicon. Soundwave lowered his helm slightly as he approached, feeling both relieved to have the virus out of his system and also a bit ashamed to be in this state in front of his master. Especially since it was his fault Knockout had gotten away at all. However, it seemed as though Megatron were more concerned about the welfare of his communications officer, as he placed a servo on Soundwave's shoulder plate in a rare display of affection.

"Soundwave," Megatron began, "I don't know how that traitor Knockout managed to get the better of you, but your loyalty has not gone unnoticed. Please be assured that the Decepticons will not rest until we have captured him again…"

He paused. Soundwave took the opportunity to place his servo over his chassis where Laserbeak would have been, trying to mime that he'd like to see him.

Megatron didn't seem to quite get it though, as his optics dimmed sadly. "Yes… I am… very sorry to hear about Laserbeak."

Soundwave's helm perked up at the words. Hear what about Laserbeak?

"Lord Megatron!" The Vehicon stepped forward to interrupt him, "W-we hadn't told him yet about…"

TOLD HIM ABOUT WHAT?!

Soundwave pushed himself up, thrusting his tentacle forward, grabbing ahold of the Vehicon and shaking him, trying to make him finish the sentence.

"Soundwave, please!" The Vehicon tried to pull the tentacle's claws off him, "Calm down! You're going to tear your-"

Soundwave wasn't listening. In a panic he tried to stand up, wanting to search for Laserbeak himself, and in the process pulling out the support cables from his chassis. The system monitors next to his berth began buzzing in alarm.

"Soundwave!" Megatron grabbed ahold of his third-in-command and forced him back down, but he struggled against the grip, twisting around and tearing the soft welds keeping his patch in place. Energon began streaming from his open wound again.

Megatron glared back at the Vehicon, still struggling to escape Soundwave's tentacle which he had somehow become entangled in.

"Do something you useless scrapheap!" he commanded.

"WY-05! GET IN HERE, QUICK!"

The first Vehicon rushed in and helped the second out of the snare of the tentacle, then the two of them went to work fastening Soundwave down, with Megatron's help, and reattaching all the cables.

"Induce stasis so we can repair his welding."

Soundwave felt it a moment later as the circuit dampeners hit his systems. He still fought, trying to struggle against his bonds but much more slowly now. No! He needed to find Laserbeak! He was Soundwave's last surviving mini-con! It couldn't be… He refused to believe he was…

His thoughts drifted off as he lost his visual reception.

Laserbeak…

…

Knockout would pay for this.

Thanks for reading- Check out the sequel too: Breaking Barriers

As well as a "non-canon" (crack) sequel about June Darby: DeceptiMOM