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When Silence Is Loudest chapter 27
Megatron could see Soundwave's uneasiness.
Although past him's behavior hasn't been that noticeably different, his TIC was the master of subtlety, whether it was his own or other's.
The dark energon in his spark chamber was acting up again.
The warlord half suspected the source of the communication officer's unease was the dark energon.
The smaller mech never really voiced (so to speak) his dislike for it or his use of it, but it was obvious Soundwave had always been discomforted by it.
Maybe because of the way it affected him.
And also the prophecy.
Looking back at his behavior he most likely would have been a little concerned himself.
The scene shifted.
The mission to steal the information for the new spacebridge was laughably easy.
Megatron, Soundwave, and Knockout stood on the Bridge looking at the plans.
"All we require is- what Soundwave said - an ample power source." Knockout said and in the middle of this sentence Soundwave's 'interruption' and visual of the needed object.
And Arachnid's suggestion of a solution and where that solution was located.
Megatron observed the scene.
Soundwave was annoyed by Megatron's even shorter temper, but impressed that he was able to make her flinch back.
The scene shifted.
Megatron didn't know what Soundwave's body language was expressing.
It wasn't quite fear, but it was past discomforted.
He didn't know what to make of Megatron at the moment.
And the warlord's increasing impatience and anger was throwing Soundwave off.
He saw himself fly off to pick up the powersource, and the communication officer seemed worried.
When the warmonger came back Soundwave did what he did best.
Watch from the shadows.
The symbiot-carrier has never been particularly religious. He barely believed in the 13 Primes and Primus.
Soundwave watched as Megatron left yet again.
But was fairly surprised that he didn't send Laserbeak to follow him.
Then his message to his underlings.
"Hear this! Any Decepticon who lays a hand on Optimus Prime will answer to me."
After a moment.
"Soundwave lock on to my coordinates and lead my opponent to his destiny."
And then proceeded to come back on the warship looking like he was ran over by a semi (pun unintended) and ordered the mining of dark energon on the side of a volcano.
And then groped Soundwave's aft.
Which only increased said mech's worry. Megatron has always been very respective of the communication officer's boundries.
Soundwave was very sick of feeling out of his depth.
The scene shifted.
It was completely by accident he found the heartbeat. But how he found it didn't matter.
What mattered was this made no sense.
He showed it to Megatron.
"Stop, Soundwave! Turn it off! I can still hear it pounding in my brain!" Megatron said clutching his head.
The scene shifted.
"Lord Megatron, our cargo hold is nearly filled with the dark substance. I recommend a retreat. The troops are growing weak from its effects." Arachnid said walking up to Megatron.
"And yet I grow stronger. Arachnid, you're in command until my return." Past-him said walking away.
"Your return from where, master?"
"From my audience with Unicron."
Megatron cringed as he remembered his 'audience' with Unicron. Not his finest moment.
He couldn't even read Soundwave's body language anymore.
The scene shifted.
Soundwave was trying to hold everything together on the Nemesis.
And Megatron was missing.
"No word yet from Megatron?" Arachnid asked. "It appears our leader has abandoned us while this world erupts in chaos."
She paused.
"I believe we must consider the possibility of a future without Megatron."
Soundwave stared at her.
He hasn't seen his TIC that angry in a long time.
Not that anyone noticed, of course.
The scene changed.
His TIC was honest-to-Primus moments away from a mental breakdown.
"Fellow Decepticons! While our loyalty to Megatron's command has always remained steadfast, our Leader recent behavior has been questionable at best. And it would seem as though Earth has become nothing short of a failed experiment." Arachnid said.
Megatron wasn't sure about Soundwave's emotions at the moment. His body language was vague and jumbled up.
"Commander Arachnid! You're not suggesting that we abandon Lord Megatron?"
"Despite Soundwave's efforts we have been unable to detect our Master's signal."
"Megatron is either permanently off-lined, or in the thrall of Unicron. Neither is in the best interest of the Decepticons. So I'm deeming an exodus is to be the most prudent course of action. Unless anyone has a problem with that."
No one said anything as they looked at each other.
"Set course for Regulon 4."
Soundwave turned around and downright stomped in front of the spider-like femme.
Amazing, Arachnid really managed to garner his communication officer's ire.
Maybe this was the zenith of his frustration.
"You have something to say, Soundwave?"
Why does everyone mock and make jokes about Soundwave's silence? His silence spoke volumes.
Said mech shifted his body a little.
"I command this vessel. You will resume your post." Arachnid said as she brought out her extra legs.
His TIC didn't back down.
Ah, yes. He is going to immensely enjoy seeing this firsthand.
The video mostly likely didn't do it justice.
"Step aside!"
Soundwave easily blocked her blows with his arms and was quick to grab her by her throat and throw her after holding her up for a few seconds.
He wasn't going to waste time with her.
"I'll tear out your Spark for that!"
'I'd like to see you try.' Megatron thought as he saw Arachnid realize Laserbeak's absence on Soundwave's chest.
After a few shots from Laserbeak (the numbing type) and Soundwave's foot on her, she said what Soundwave was waiting for.
"I yield."
His communication officer went right back to finding him.
"Watch out for the quiet ones." Knockout muttered to breakdown.
And there is that embarrassing warmth in his chest again.
The scene shifted again.
Soundwave's pure relief after finally finding Megatron's signal may not have been obvious to others, but blatant to him.
He quickly sent a groundbridge.
Then came Optimus Prime.
Soundwave was about to attack when Megatron came through the groundbridge too.
"Soundwave, I can explain."