The Diego Diaries: Psy-Ops 29 (dd3 108)

-0-Out there

He stepped closer, the legendary menace of the Predacons felt by all. Even though most of the bots present understood that the Rampage of old was gone, the imitation of it, the impersonation of it was legitimately scary.

Soundwave to his credit stood his ground but the tel was there. He stiffened slightly but only the most sharp eyed could see it. That or someone with a mechanical optic that could see things in space from the ground.

:Nice to see you again, Soundwave. Nice to see that you're still alive. I always had the idea in my processor of being the one to take your spark. So good of you to still be around to offer it:

:I assume you gave your oath to the Matrix: Soundwave asked casually.

:Price of admission to paradise: Rampage said moving his helm to keep within the full sight of his adversary. All that Soundwave could see was his malice and danger no matter how he might look away. Rampage knew it worked because he could feel the tremors in Soundwave's energy field, slight though they were. He'd also practiced it a lot at home against the times he thought it would be needed to help in some delicate moment.

Like now.

:Your brothers will be interested in your conversion. I will tell them about you: Soundwave said.

:Tell them, too, that if they come here for anything but peace and to work for the common good, I'll rip out their spark chambers myself: Rampage stared at Soundwave for a long intense moment, then he stepped back until he was beside Neo. They'd become great friends, the two but Soundwave didn't know that. He also couldn't see it between them. It was as Prime wanted.

:You must tell me what magical programming you have that creates sheep out of wolves: Soundwave said.

No one responded for a moment, then Flint stepped forward as Prime internally asked for him to do. :Soundwave, I want it clear between us before you leave. I never worked for Megatron. My group lived on the Rim away from you and Megatron so we could take care of the refugees and aliens out there. We moved refugees and other groups that were given death sentences. We relocated them. Then we destroyed their old settlements. No one that was ever marked for extermination within the reach of my battle group ever suffered from such an order. Never: he said quietly. :I don't want you to think that I ever at any time obeyed a word you, Shockwave or Megatron gave to me. Remember that: Then he stepped back.

:And you, Blackjack? Do you wish confession time as well?: Soundwave asked.

:General Blackjack: the big hulking bot said. :Alor and I, we took refugees and anyone else we could get when we left in the Great Exile into the energy disturbances of the Benzuli and held all of you off from there. No one ever came in , left alive. We fooled you, Soundwave. We fooled your mighty leader, too. That little criminal never caught on. You never came into the expansion to get us. We beat you: Blackjack smiled a humorless smile. :You lose:

Alpha Trion smirked. :You did and you will again. You're caught in a vice grip between Megatron and Prime. Who do you think will allow you to live? Megatron? Or Prime? What will Megatron think when he comes back and finds out that your battle groups are fleeing to Optimus? The Guardians are with us with more coming. The Seekers are, too, hundreds and thousands of them. We have power and we're growing stronger daily.

:You? You're hemorrhaging troops and supplies, all of it. How much energon have your drones found? Any? How long do you expect to hold Cybertron before the civilian population rises up and slays you in your recharge driven by their hunger and fear? Who among your officers can you still trust now that the word is out and Optimus is beckoning our people to gather including Decepticons?:

It was silent a moment.

Then Nitro stepped forward. Revo edged closer as they looked at Soundwave. :We fled because we loved our families. We have infants and bonds. We, some of us, managed to save our genitors. They were doomed under Megatron. We knew it. You know it. We came here with no expectations. Prime let us in. He let us in as equals.

:My daughter … my *life* …: He gathered himself. :My baby girl was dying when we came to Prime. They took her and saved her. It didn't matter that she was an infant of Decepticons. They saved her life like she was a high caste queen. She goes to school. She's safe and happy. I'm as happy as I've ever felt in my life. My bond is doing what he wants. I'm Master of Munitions in the slagging armory. That's why you, Megatron and anyone else you throw at us will lose:

Revo stepped up even to Nitro . :I have two little mechs and my bond … he's genuinely happy for the first time in his life. He's a University graduate in Engineering. He got to attend school like a high caste. We work at important jobs and we live in a colony that's our home. Our lives are there. If you fraggers even *think* you can touch that, you're delusional. Do what Prime wants. You have no choice. You know and so does everyone here that Megatron will kill you when he gets back:

Soundwave stared at them without giving anything away.

Then the priests stepped forward. The High Priest looking up at him sternly. :You were part of the group that desecrated the Temple at Simfur:

Soundwave looked down at him and shifted ever so slightly, his unease at the remarks and their source visible for a split second. He said nothing to the little mech so the priest moved closer. :

You destroyed the Repose of Primus. I would be thinking long and hard over that blasphemy if I were you, Soundwave. You have it in your servos to make up for the crimes you have committed in your power mad drive for dominance., you, your leadership and your faction. There are innocent mechs and femmes in the servos of a dangerous fanatical tyrant. When he pulled away from the confrontation with prisoners, he threw six sparklings into the vacuum. That's inexcusable:

Soundwave considered that though it didn't move him as much as it did the others. He stared at Chevron. :So you say:

:So I say: the little mech said gathering himself up. :I dare say it. For it's true as you well know. Assist the Prime and spare yourself the continuing shame of what has been done to all of us by you and your faction. Spare yourself the shame of being the leader of a faction so evil. Remake yourself before it's too late and you cannot do more than what Megatron tells you to do. Be his lackey, be his foot stool and history will be bitter to you and your memory, more bitter than it is already. For once in your misbegotten life, do something for the rightness of it:

Alpha nodded and so did Neo.

Gravitas who was standing next to her girded his loins. :The Priest is right, Soundwave. You know it:

:Who are you to tell me what to do, Gravitas? You and Neo are the architects of Megatron's rise:

They glanced at each other, the shame of it shared on their faces. :You tell us something we already know. But we're working to make what right we can out of a terrible wrong. Prime allowed it. Prime believes in our redemption and we'll die fighting to protect our city and her people, the refugees fleeing here and anyone else against you and the entire slagging army: He halted a moment, a mech who disliked swearing like some people disliked getting punched in the face. He looked to Prime. :I mean every word, Prime:

Prime pulsed him warmth and reassurance.

:And I'll help him: They all turned to look at Thundercracker who stood servos clenched, with rage on his handsome face. :I never did belong in the Decepticons. I belonged with my trine. We were always a trine, Soundwave. I'm surprised you didn't find that out: He grinned triumphantly. :We are a trine: He glanced at Starscream who stood beside Silverclaw with an open expression of warmth and regard for his partner. :Starscream couldn't be diminished. He couldn't be defeated. He stood against everything that Megatron could throw at him and he prevailed: He looked at Soundwave. :We will prevail. Make no mistake about that:

Silverclaw turned to Thundercracker, bowing his helm slightly in the elder way of offering respect. Thundercracker returned it. Then the big impressive Elder stepped forward to pause before Soundwave. He was big, bigger than Soundwave but shorter than younger Seeker mechs. He was covered in glyphs, the carvings of battles, the names of his hatchlings and their hatchlings, most of whom fell in battle or were still trying to come to Mars.

The poems of love to his bonds were there etched deep in his brilliantly colored armor. Shades of emerald and luminous dark blues made him seem like a bird of paradise. His yellow optics were difficult to meet, the power of his age, accomplishments and the incredible level of respect he commanded from others gave him an authority that was hard to match. He carried his staff, a staff that was two feet longer than his own twenty-eight foot stature and it carried the markings of his rank, clan, status as an elder and leader as well as his rank among other elders clearly and beautifully carved into it. There were only two others with more status among Seekerkin but they were still lost in the Diaspora.

He looked at Soundwave closely. :You know who I am:

Soundwave nodded. :I do, Silverclaw, Lord of the Sky: He said the salutation without thinking but at that moment he didn't care. He waited.

:You speak the old ways of honor but you don't live them. You kill your people … our people without a care. You work for a madman even though you are clear that he will turn on you, too. There will be no way to hide, no way to flee when he comes. He is a nihilist. There is nothing but death for him and all that comes into his sphere. You know this is true:

Soundwave didn't speak. He stood as silently as everyone else caught up in the charisma of this truly remarkable being.

:You have some feeling for Cybertron. There is news that you wish to restore her to her former glory for our continued habitation as a people under your domination and that of your faction. Yet, you know nothing that you do will ever succeed as long as Megatron lives. You are being asked to save Cybertron by the Prime because if you save the hostages and remove this threat, you save all of us, everyone of us wherever we are: He stepped closer. :You would be a very great coward if you don't do your duty and remove the threat of both Overlord and Megatron. You would be a coward not to align with the Prime to end the slaughter. I would turn my back on you and feel justified:

The big Seeker took a moment to stare coldly at Soundwave, then he shook his helm. Soundwave stood a moment like a statue as the big Seeker began to turn to walk away from his opponent in the greatest most affronting manner a Seeker could do toward another. He began to turn his back. Before he could complete the action Soundwave caught his arm. Halting, looking at Soundwave with deep disgust and anger he waited. :Well?:

:I wish to speak to the Prime alone:

It was silent, then Silverclaw looked at Prime.

That worthy nodded so the others walked back to stand closer to the ships out of the range of direct hearing. When they'd all moved away, Prime stepped closer to Soundwave. :Well?:

Soundwave looked at him. :You wish an oath. I cannot give you one. Not now. Maybe never:

:So you will be a very great fool?: Prime said with disgust.

:I wish to be an ally. I will help you with Overlord. I will do what I can. I will help you get the refugees out of there with as minimal of casualties as possible:

:And what do I do for you?: Prime asked coldly.

:Give me time. Give me assistance. Cybertron is needful of everything and I'm doing my best to rebuild. I need time and assistance. I don't have to make an oath to stand with you, Prime. I will:

:You have no other choice: Prime said.

:Things are … not easy for me. I have a lot of forces working on me and the Empire is fragmenting:

:I want the refugees to have free passage and assistance along the way. I will hunt you down if you do not agree: Prime said.

:We have never impeded their passage: Soundwave said equally forcefully. :Their leaving makes it easier for those who stay:

:You will give me an oath before this is over or you will die. You know that: Prime said.

Soundwave looked at him for a moment, then shrugged. :That remains to be seen:

:It does. Megatron will not allow you to live to rule Cybertron or to exist without his complete domination. He will not like what he will see when he gets back. He will take it out on the population remaining behind. Then I will take it out on you:

They faced each other for a moment, then Soundwave nodded slightly. :Perhaps you're right. But I am what I am:

Prime agreed. :You are. Do not ever forget that I know exactly what that is: He glanced at the Decepticon soldiers watching then stepped slightly to the side. :Anyone who wishes to come with us, come now. Weapons on the ground:

The soldiers stood in a tense shock a moment glancing at each other, then two stepped forward lowering their weapons. They let them go and walked past Soundwave, ignoring his optics as they headed toward freedom. Two others stepped forward as well. :Do what you need to get the hostages free, Soundwave. We are going to do the same thing:

:Give me a frequency that is just for you and me: Soundwave said. :Just you and me:

Prime sent him one over the internal link all Cybertronians possessed, then unsubbed a metal box handing it to the enigmatic Decepticon. Without another word, Prime walked to Omega. The others joined him climbing on board as one by one the soldiers filtered upward, too. When they were all on board, the hatches and ramps repelled as they lifted off without a sound. They were gone in seconds.

Soundwave watched them leave, then stared at the box in his servos. He considered it a moment, then unlatched the lid. Inside was a metal disk lying on a soft bed of red fabric of some kind he'd never seen before. He touched it and knew what it was immediately. Picking it up, he looked at the serial number. It was what it was. Prime had been telling the truth and this was the evidence that The Fallen was dead and gone, most likely taken out by Prime's own servos as the rumors stated.

He looked at the disk, a valve cover all Cybertronians possessed. It was the debris valve cover for The Fallen. The numbers and the code etched on it included his name. Megatronus Prime. He held in his hand the seal for The Fallen's debris assembly.

His poop chute to put it in terms Lennox, Epps and Graham could relate to with amusement.

Soundwave stood a long time thinking as the armada from Mars made its way back. He would leave, too.

After a while.

=0=TBC 2012 (12) 12-12-2022