Starscream was just allowed to get himself some fuel when the small, techno-organic nearly ran into his ped. She stumbled back with wide green eyes. "Aw snap." She mumbled, realizing just how much trouble she was in at the moment.
He let out a somewhat girly shriek and threw himself back at his mate, claws digging into Megatron's armor seams. "Get that thing back in its cage!" Starscream roared, pointing a claw at her. Megatron snarled and threw Starscream off of him and nearly crushed Red under one massive servo.
"You should have been wise to stay locked up, little thing."
Red squirmed. "N-no." She growled. "Ah ain't gonna quit! Ah ain't gonna quit fight'n all 'a ya! Never!" She shouted at Megatron. She knew it was a stupid idea. She was probably gonna be in deep, deep trouble for what she just said but it was better to go down fighting than in surrender!
Megatron gnashed his sharp denta with fury, deciding he would rather have her dead than alive in the moment of his rage at her defiance. Snarling, he stood fully up and lifted his servo from her, swinging at her with his fist in an attempt to crush her! But at the same time he also managed to step on Starscream's wing as the mech attempted to get up from being thrown over onto his aft. He made a horrible screech of agony, tearing away from Megatron and bolting. He knew he shouldn't have come back! That mech was out to torture him!
"Starscream!" Megatron shouted, knowing he would have to chase him down.
Soundwave came back just then and saw Megatron in position to squash the small half-human under his fist. "Apologies: Techno-organic now under control. Problem: hungry." Soundwave said, quickly snatching Red up when she wasn't looking. This thing was going to be even more trouble than he first considered! She was lucky he was extremey loyal to his lord.
"I have to go get my idiot..." Megatron growled, loping down the hall to track down his skittish Seeker.
Red groaned. "So much fer mah escape!" She glared at Soundwave. "Curse all 'a ya cons..."
Soundwave said nothing, shaking her a little to daze her before padding off towards the cell. The little creature would not get the best of him. Not anytime soon. The moment Red hit the cell, she shook her head to clear the dizziness from Soundwave shaking her. She remained seated on the ground, arms crossed and glaring up at the tall, faceless con.
"... Ah hate'chya." She grumbled, completely unhappy with him. What else was new though?
Soundwave ignored the little insult and offered her a massive crate of apples and a five gallon jug of water he had snagged from the nearest store. He pushed them into the cell with her and waited, watching closely as he waited for her to eat. Red's stomach growled, and the sight of the food made her mouth water. But a sense of her pride made her not go anywhere near it. Although she had missed her supper... And maybe breakfast too. She smacked her lips. Come to think of it... apples were her favorite. So, taking a deep breath in, she walked over to the crate of apples, took one, plopped back down and took a bite.
Soundwave heard the wet, juicy crunch and saw the organic fuel called an 'apple' being devoured steadily by the techno-organic. He gave a satisfied nod, but didn't leave, knowing that if he did she would probably try to escape again. And get herself killed more than likely, the troublesome little thing. She continued to eat the apple until all was left was the core. Putting it down, she turned to the jug of water. She didn't care about her pride now that she'd eaten, and she was extremely thirsty. What the heck, why not go all the way? She unscrewed the lid and tilted it up, and began to gulp down the water like there was no tomorrow. She finally stopped, gasping for air.
"Thanks, ah guess." She mumbled half-heartedly as she set down the jug and capped it.
Looking around, she couldn't find any sort of place for her to lie down. Determining that she'd have to just improvise, she yanked off her red faded hoodie, balled it up, and placed it on the ground. Giving it a couple thumps with her fist, she curled up into a small ball, back turned to Soundwave. But the feel of his steady gaze destroyed her mood to sleep.
"DO YA MIND?!" She finally snapped, sitting up and glaring at him.
"Problem: Pet wishes to escape. Solution: Constant surveillance to eliminate all possibilities."
Red raised her eyebrow, and then it dawned on her. He was making sure she didn't try to escape while he was gone. "'Cons." She grumbled, now standing up, taking her hoodie and going off to a far corner. Curling up there, she yet again attempted to fall asleep, and she managed to finally doze off this time.
Soundwave continued to stare at the small, curled body of the techno-organic called 'Red'. She was a very interesting little thing, and began to go over the details he collected.
Designation: Red Botson
Age: 15 human years
Family: Mitch Botson, Unknown
Birthplace: Unknown
Medical History: Unknown
Not a lot to go on, but as time passed he would determine or dig up whatever missing information he could to use as a method to figure out ways to train and control their future warrior. But Soundwave wondered how an organic could also be half Cybertronian as well. It struck him as odd, that someone like her existed. Only time would tell exactly, he determined and left.
He had a lot to do to prepare for that next solar cycle.
...
Wildstar veered off onto a side road once they finished chatting with Wheeljack, the mech bringing them news of his trip and encounters with the 'Cons. "Mind if we just stay outside a little? I don't want to be stuck at the base anymore than I have to!" She giggled, transforming and sitting down on the edge of the road.
Wheeljack nodded. "Sure." He and Smokescreen also transformed. "So what's this I hear 'bout a techno-organic?"
Smokescreen's grin, which he'd been wearing happily wavered. He looked at Wildstar, signaling she had to tell Wheeljack about Red... and what happened to her no more than three earth hours ago.
"Well, we did have Red Boston on our side, but she was taken from us by the Decepticon, Soundwave." Wildstar said, optics downcast. "That is why we need your held to track the Nemesis."
Wheeljack's optics widened. "Say no more! I'll be more than willing to help, 'cept, the Nemesis, last I saw was on the move again. And if they have her, they'll make sure to stay hidden and not draw any attention."
Smokescreen groaned. "Oh great! Now what are we gonna do?!"
Wildstar sighed, picking at her claws. "We will have to wait things out." she said softly, golden optics glancing up into the sky. "If we keep up the work and stay patient, I'm sure we'll get her back. That or the 'Cons will want her off their backs." Wildstar laughed at the last part, only able to imagine what sorts of trouble the young human was giving her captors. The laugh tapered off into a soft yawn, and she decided it was time to get back to base. Perhaps there was news.
"Smokey, can we get back? I'm running out of fuel." She murmured, pawing at his arm plating.
Smokescreen chuckled. "Hah! You can be so whiny sometimes Wild!" He teased her, making sure his tone of voice was set on 'tease' so she didn't take things the wrong way for his sake.
Wheeljack stretched, then noticed a rusty dark green pickup trick come rolling down the highway. "Car!" He quickly transformed.
Smokescreen and Wildstar laughed. "Relax! It's only Mitch and Jess!" The Elite guard reassured.
"Mitch and Jess?" Wheeljack asked, turning back.
"Mitch is Red's older brother, older organic brother that is." Smokescreen explained. "Let's get inside. The others will be waiting for you, and we also have to break the news to the humans about Red." They went inside shortly after Mitch and Jess.
Jack, Miko, and Raf were all sitting on the worn couch, waiting for Red to come. "She's taking, like FOREVER!" Miko huffed impatiently, crossing her arms and tapping her foot.
Jack laughed. "Miko relax! It's not like something's happened to her!"
Wildstar, Smokescreen and Wheeljack came in right behind Mitch, who instantly parked his truck and leapt out. "Ah came 'ere soon as ah could! Whut 'appened?!" He asked worriedly.
Miko, Jack, and Raf first looked at each other then at Wildstar, who looked a bit upset herself. "... We don't want you to panic, and I mean don't but... Red's gone." She told them.
"Gone?!" All four humans exclaimed.
"She was taken by the Decepticons."
Miko gasped and covered her mouth. "No..." Jack whispered. Raf looked horrified.
Mitch was stammering over his words. "M-mah sister's bin... bin kidnapped by 'em 'Cons?!"
"I tried my best. We all tried to stop him, we were just too late."
Wheeljack transformed. "You must be her organic brother, Mitch right?"
"U-uh... yeah ahm he!" Mitch agreed.
"I'm sorry for your loss, Mitch, and I swear I'll do my best to help find your sister." Wheeljack told him. Then the computer screen blipped just then.
"Incoming call from Agent Fowler!" Ratchet alerted them.
"Prime! Mind telling me why all of the sudden the 'Cons have taken an interest in grocery shopping?!"
"What?" Wildstar said aloud, confused.
The dark-skinned face of Agent Fowler scowled at her. "At 18-hundred today, a local grocery store was attacked by him!" He showed them a security footage of a tall, dark Decepticon.
"Soundwave!" Arcee growled.
"He stole a three-foot crate of apples and a five-gallon jug of water! Luckily my boys were able to keep things quiet and stop the media. But what's a 'Con doing stealing food?!"
They all knew what it meant. "Soundwave has mah sister suh!" Mitch spoke up first.
"Your sister- you mean that techno-organic?!"
"Unfortunately, Agent Fowler, Soundwave has recently kidnapped Red Botson and the Decepticons are currently holding her." Optimus Prime informed him.
"Apples are mah sister's favorite! Must've found that out somehow!" Mitch agreed.
"Well, make sure she's found! I don't want the FBI on my tail because of a civilian, half Cybertronian or not, being held captive by a bunch of Cons! Agent Fowler, out!"
Ratchet sighed. "So now what?"
"We know he's take'n food for Red, right? Well, the next time he goes 'an takes some food, we should be there an' maybe plant some sorta track'n device on him?" Mitch suggested.
"Of all the absurb ideas, that one is- not a bad idea..." Ratchet admitted.
"So when he delivers 'th food 't Red-"
"We'll get a lock on the Nemesis-"
"AND BRING RED BACK!" Mitch, Raf and Miko finished.
"This might actually work!" Jack approved.
"Still, let's not get our hopes up. We still need to be patient and wait." Ratchet informed them. "But, I will prepare the tracking device and contact Agent Fowler to keep tabs of anymore attacks on the stores."
"Then it's settled! Hold on 't yer hat Red! We're come'n fer ya!" Mitch said happily.
...
Soundwave had been the one assigned to brand Red the next morning, having pinned her with one servo and getting the brand heated in his other while the techno organic tried to rid herself of the sound-blast he had thrown at her. She was momentarily dazed, which was all he needed to mark her. Red could smell something, oil being heated quickly and hear sizzling that vaguely reminded of of a-... she quickly became aware of how her left arm was sticking out under Soundwave's massive servo and realized just what he was about to do!
"NO! ST-STOP! NO!" She protested. "HANDS-" she cut herself off when she felt something immensely hot press against the skin on her arm! She shrieked blue murder, eyes watering from the pain skyrocketing through her. The smell of burning flesh filled her nose, making her gag and she knew she had just been branded, like some sort of cow.
A single, pain-filled tear ran down her cheek as she angrily glared up at the Con, her fury hotter than the brand he'd used. "AH AM NOTTA 'CON YA GOT THAT?!" She shrieked loudly.
"Correction: You must be a Decepticon to stay online." Soundwave told her.
He could see the odd, soft-armour plating humans called 'skin' red and burnt from the brand. The techno-organic's facial expression expressed that she was in deep pain as well, which meant she was also stressed, therefore was the source of her defiance. Creatures under stress quickly became unhealthy and cooperated less as well, he recalled. So, picking up a small, cool woven metal-like cloth used to heal dents and scratches and such, he gently placed it on her burn and watched her flinch and whimper from it, then send him a harsh glare.
"Ya oversized tin-can." She muttered under her breath. Soundwave tilted his helm a bit. Such and interesting creature indeed, she was. She was so small and delicate, easy to crush beneath a ped or something much bigger and heavier than she was, and yet she wasn't afraid of himself or any of the other Decepticons.
He stored this puzzling information and continued to gently dab the burn, keeping her securely pinned. Finally, he stopped, allowing her to stand up and if needed to lick her wound clean. If humans could do that, of course. Red looked down at her arm and gasped at what she saw. Stapled, bold and black, the skin around it red and tender, was a Decepticon's screeched and began to claw at her skin, trying to tear it off! Soundwave quickly restrained her again, listening to her angry, screams and cursed-filled cries.
"AH AM NOTTA 'CON!" She repeatedly yelled at him, pinned securely to the ground, tears gushing down her face. "AH AM NOTTA 'CON YA FILTHY SON OF A-MMM!" Soundwave picked her up and pressed a digit against her mouth, wanting her to quiet down. Even his infamous patience was wearing thin with the noisy cries she made! She was almost as bad as Starscream!
A Vehicon, much to his relief marched to the cell and stopped, saluting. "Lord Megatron wishes to see his new Techno-Organic in the brig, Commander Soundwave." He stated. Soundwave nodded and padded out, Red in his tight grasp.