I need your opinion on something. How many chapters should I do on Soundwave recovery?
When Silence Is Loudest chapter 29
Megatron found himself in New Iacon once again.
He was almost done.
Just a little while longer and he can bring Soundwave back to him. Complete and whole.
He walked on.
He found more cubes.
Not memories, but other things.
He was so close.
The tyrant quickly found more memories.
He confidently grabbed the cube.
The spinning colors didn't even give him a headache anymore.
:Soundwave! Send the groundbridge!: Megatron said over the comm-link.
His TIC did what he was ordered.
But it was just their luck the scout got lucky and got the Spark Extractor.
At least things were normal again.
Although Megatron was very displeased with losing the Spark Extractor to the scout.
"The spark extractor was in my grasp! I should have removed more than that scout's voice box when I had the chance!" Megatron raged.
Soundwave walked up behind him and showed him the other two coordinates.
"Indeed, Soundwave. We possess two more sets of coordinates which Orion decrypted before departing our ranks. Let us see what other long-lost treasures we might be reunited with." Past-him said walking up to his TIC and stopping in front of him.
The scene changed.
Soundwave was working on the console on the Bridge as he listened to the conversation Megatron and Knockout was having.
"Excellent work, Knockout." The warlord said as automobile enthusiast presented the new relic.
"I live to serve, Lord Megatron. But what exactly is it?" the red medic replied as he turned the object and inspected it.
Megatron shot his fusion cannon at Knockout.
Said mech crouched in a futile attempt to protect himself but the item turned into a shield. (Or that's what he assumed, he was turned away from the action).
"Now you know."
"I think I leaked a little transmission fluid."
The scene shifted.
At least they got the relic.
But judging how Megaton was furiously pounding on an old energon cube container, even making Soundwave flinch ever so slightly, it was useless.
"Hmm. It doesn't look like a fortress-maximus grade nucleon shock cannon." Knockout said.
Soundwave appeared unamused by Knockout's sarcasm.
"It is as I suspected - without the power of a Prime to activate it, the forge is merely another addition to our tool chest. One we must nonetheless keep as far as possible from the reach of a Prime." He said throwing the Forge onto the table and crossly looking at it.
The colors blurred.
It was rare is Soundwave went to berth before him.
Even if he wasn't technically in the bed.
Not even with a sigh memory Megatron crouched down to see under his berth.
"Soundwave please get out from under my bed." He said tiredly.
A soft snore.
Megatron rolled his eyes, but not annoyed in the slightest, and reached under to gently grabbed his Lieutenant's arms and drag him out.
He wasn't wearing his mask.
Megatron cringed at his own expression.
Soundwave woke up to see his lord's stunned expression.
He lowered his head.
Past-him wasn't expecting what he saw. His face was half melted off! There was some spots he could see the skull, and others where heated metal hardened into large droplets. His eyes were off-balance and his mouth looked like it couldn't close quite properly.
It was a wonder that Soundwave could speak with a semblance of normality!
"Does it hurt?" was the only thing he could say.
"Sometimes." Soundwave replied not lifting his head.
"How did you get them?" Megatron asked next daring to run his clawed thumb over one of the relatively undamaged shots. He trusted Soundwave to stop him if it hurt.
There was absolutely no smooth metal anywhere!
"They are not like yours. Not gained through battle. If that's what you're wondering." He said resting his forehead on Megatron mouth.
The warlord knew Soundwave wouldn't speak of the subject anymore right now. He knew when to pick his battles when it came to Soundwave.
Silence.
"I'm tired. Why did you have to wake me up?"
"I wouldn't be able to sleep knowing a creepy and silent mech was sleeping under my bed." Megatron tersely stated going along with the change of subject. But still not liking it.
They both knew that wasn't the (only) reason.
The two mechs took their respective sides of the berth and Megatron pulled Soundwave to him and settled into the position that apparently humans call 'spooning'.
"'Night Soundwave." Megatron tiredly said.
An almost inaudible snore was his only response.
The warlord only chuckled and gently stroked Soundwave stomach.
The colors blurred.
Megatron stood in front on a kneeling Skyquake with Soundwave (of course) by his side.
Lord Megatron, I live to serve.
"Rise, Dreadwing. Loyalty such as yours is a rare commodity."
Megatron almost snorted at the truth of that.
"Mine runs deep and true, yet it is not loyalty alone that brought me here."
"Oh?"
"I seek confirmation of the demise of one whom I considered a brother."
"How did you learn of his passing?"
My twin and I shared a split Spark. We're metal, but two halves of the same life force. Even across the galaxy, I sensed when he emerged from stasis on his planet and when his Spark was no more.
Past Megatron looked at Soundwave and the smaller mech showed the footage.
"It is true. Skyquake perished at the hands of the Autobots, though not, in fact, under my watch."
"Then by the pit, every last Autobot on this accursed world will pay."
"The Autobots will be punished for their crime, and many others, how and when I see fit."
"But master-"
"Conflicting agendas will only result in chaos and failure. You would be wise to remember that, Dreadwing. You are under my command now, and as such, you must follow my lead."
Soundwave stood stiffly.
The scene shifted.
"Dreadwing, where are you?"
"Merely pursuing my destiny, Lord Megatron."
"Did I not order you to stand down?"
Megatron stood in front of the console while Soundwave stood behind him.
"Forgive me, one true master, but it is my hope that vanquishing Optimus Prime will earn your respect."
"Optimus is not so easily disposed of, as I keep trying to explain to all of those who foolishly attempt it." the warlord said with an odd version of an eyeroll.
After a few moments.
"I assure you, master, in but a few moments, Optimus and two others will be blown to atoms."
"I will allow it, Dreadwing, in memory of your departed twin, but only this once."
"I will be quite surprised if we ever set eyes upon Dreadwing again." Megatron said turning to Soundwave.
The scene shifted.
"Optimus Prime still lives." Megatron said with no surprise in his voice. "As do you, Dreadwing." He added. "And that is a victory however small, as Skyquake so tragically discovered." The warmonger concluded.
"Speak to me not of my twin, Lord Megatron, for I am here on Earth to obey your will and yours alone."
He looked pleased.
The colors blurred.
"If it pleases you, Lord Megatron, once Soundwave discovers a means of decoding the remainder of the Iacon database, as we know he will, I would suggest the deployment of an underutilized asset." Arachnid said walking up to Megatron. Soundwave turned to look at her.
"And what asset would that be, Airachnid?"
"I believe that my superior tracking skills would expedite your quest to recover the remaining relics." She said as she kneeled.
"Noted."
"You are a gracious audience, My Lord. Soundwave."
This time the Third-In-Command turned to face Megatron.
"Remind me of her trustworthiness." The tyrant said as soon as she left the room.
"I believe we must consider the possibility of a future without Megatron." A recording said.
"Dreadwing." Megatron said over the video comm-link.
"I am at your beck and call, Lord Megatron."
"I wish to entrust you with a task I would normally reserve for myself. That is, if you wish to prove yourself worthy of becoming my first lieutenant."
"That post belongs to Airachnid."
"She will be missed. And I suggest you bring backup. She can be a handful, especially when cornered."
The scene shifted.
"The reason for our inability to locate Breakdown's signal is all too clear. But how is it that you were unable to recover his remains?" Megatron demanded walking up to Dreadwing.
As soon as the console started beeping Soundwave turned and tapped a few keys as Megatron demanded what it was.
"Heard from Breakdown lately?" Arachnid asked.
"Trace the communication." Megatron ordered.
"Megatron, truly. You sent simple henchman to terminate a high-ranking officer. I thought you reserved that honor for yourself."
"Is that a challenge?" Megatron asked condescendingly.
"An invitation. And since Soundwave is, no doubt, tracing this signal, you know where to find me."
"I'll be back." Megatron said as he read the spider-like femme's location
"Allow me to accompany you." Dreadwing asked.
"You already had your chance." Megatron shortly said after stopping and turning around to face him.
The scene shifted.
Dreadwing left to cover for Megatron.
Now, when Megatron thought about it, Soundwave made no move to stop him. Even if it meant disobeying orders.
The scene shifted.
Megatron was on a medical bed again.
At least this time he wasn't dying.
"I do not see why everyone is overreacting." Megatron told Soundwave when Knockout left the med-bay (The Megatron that was observing the scene did note Knockout strange silence).
Soundwave hit him in the shoulder, the tyrant yelped in response.
"Seeing you on a medical berth isn't something I never wanted to see again." Soundwave lowly admitted.
Megatron finally got it.
"My Soundwave, I am not dying. I'm barely injured! Tomorrow I'll be absolutely fine. Maybe a little sore."
"Not that you'd admit it." Soundwave weakly stated.
"Exactly! Which reminds me, we never did find out who the better gladiator was."
Soundwave stared dumbfounded for a second.
"You want a Primus-slagging rematch?! Now?!"
Megatron's eyes widened at Soundwave's ire.
"Not right now! Later!" the tyrant said raising his arms in surrender but then grunting in pain.
"Fine." Soundwave huffed out.
Megatron just smirked.
The colors blurred and went dark for a second. Megatron found himself in Soundwave's mental landscape once again.