12 Hours Earlier...
"It's complete!" Raf sighed with relief, holding up a small device.
Miko squinted at it. "That's IT?! Dude, it looks like a chocolate."
"That's the idea! It's small enough, plus, it's disguised! That way, Soundwave shouldn't be able to detect it until we make an exact lock on the Nemesis! By then, we'll have her coordinates and be able to deploy a rescue!" Ratchet explained.
"Clever..." Jack commented aloud, holding it up. "It's light too. But wait, what if she, y'know, eats it?"
"Ah... that's the catch!" Wheeljack grinned. "There's a small button underneath the base of it, one only she would be able to feel. But still, because of the size and structure we made it, it still can be detected by technology such as Soundwave has. If he is scanning for a tracking device."
"So basically all we need tah do is jest, slip it intah whatevah food he's gett'n fer Red 'an hope he ain't gonna find it?"
"Basically, yes." Ratchet confirmed what Mitch said. "Now... we will just have to wait until Soundwave goes to take food." As soon as he said this, the screen blipped. "Speaking of which..."
Agent Fowler came into view. "Prime! That faceless 'Con is attacking a four star restaurant in Boston!" He boomed through the speakers. "My boys are trying to keep civilians calm and it under wraps, but you'd better hurry it along a little!"
"That'd beh mah cue!" Mitch sighed, snatching the tracking device and rushed down the stairs.
"Mitch, I still believe it is unwise that you put yourself at risk." Optimus told him as he reached the final step.
"She's mah sistah Optimus! She's 'th only familay ah got left! Ah don't care 'bout 'em risks, so long as she gets saved!"
Optimus nodded, understanding. "Then so be it."
He watched Mitch head for the activating groundbridge, his optics dimming a bit, remembering how not-so long ago, he had the same attitude towards protecting two things he had cherished the most... yet it still happened. A young sparkling's wail... the terrible, frightened and pain-filled scream that still echoed in his audio receptors and made his spark lurch. 'OOOORIOOOON!' His own voice crying out into the depth of the void, 'ELITA! NOOOO!' A shot... a menacing laugh... and the feel of a spark fade away from his own.
No one except for Ratchet knew. Knew that once upon a time, he had a sparkmate and sparkling. But war took their lives. And he would not let any human or Autobot suffer the way he had. He turned his helm away and walked down the corridor. And, making sure he was alone, allowed a single energon tear to roll down his faceplate. The dull ache from the missing spark intertwined with his own plagued him day by day, night by night. As a Prime, he knew he must be forgiving. But it was Orion Pax's mate that had joined the Well of AllSparks that fateful day, and that little piece of him had gone with her. Along with their sparkling... their little femme, Cellina. She had only been two stellar cycles old.
She had been unusually small, looking very much like her mother, but with her sire's optics and a bright, fiery red coloring. He smiled faintly, remembering the excited squeaks and chirps she made whenever he came back from a mission. He could almost feel the tiny body snuggled close to his spark, beautiful blue optics shuttering dreamily, safe and sound. He made a little, saddened sigh and allowed one last energon tear to slip out of his optic before straightening out, then made his way around and marched back to the main area, once more in his Prime stature.
Mitch returned minutes later, huffing and puffing. "He... he almost saw meh! Ah swear 'e did! But ah hid 'th track'n device! We're good tah go! 'Th rest is up tah Red!" He told them.
Wildstar, Smokescreen, Bulkhead and the humans cheered. "Yeah! Red Rescue here-we-come!" Miko whooped, high-fiving Jack.
Soundwave placed her on a medical berth, waiting for Knockout to come out of his room. He was polishing himself and it seemed to take him far longer than any other 'Con, possibly due to his vanity. "Coming, coming. If you aren't dying, I'm not going to hurry." The sports car called from the other room. Red glanced over at the entrance to the room.
"Think he'll even know where tah begin?! Ahm still part human after all!" She seriously did not like Knockout one little bit. Soundwave had insisted on bringing her in, along with Megatron's orders. She scratched her head, the scalp feeling a bit itchy. But she ignored it mostly.
Breakdown came into the room first. His single optic landed upon Soundwave, then shot down to Red. "Well... isn't this a surprise! Lord Megatron's newest pet got herself hurt?"
Red glared at him. "Call it a fly'n hit wise-guy!" She growled. Breakdown glared back at her.
"Statement: Pet was misbehaving. Solution: Soundwave disciplined her."
"Whatevah." Red snapped, a little agitated.
"Why have you called us here, Soundwave?" Knockout demanded, also coming in.
"Uh... h'lo!" Red pointed to her knee, green eyes snapping. "He wanted meh 't get checked up!"
"I don't touch insects like you." Knockout growled, Soundwave pointing to him then at Red, directing him in fixing her.
"Well 'scuse meh mistah fancy-pants!" She snapped, quite irritated due to the constant itchiness in her scalp. "Ah thought ya were some kinda doctah!"
"I am... just not to things like you." He retorted. Seeing Soundwave's stance, however, he momentarily froze but went towards the girl.
Red kept her firm glare on him, her eye twitching due to the itchiness. She self-consciously scratched her scalp, watching Knockout and Breakdown like a predator would watch it's prey.
Scanning her, Knockout suddenly found a few parasites on top of the girl's fuzzy helm. "What in the pit?!" He shrieked, jumping back and pointing at her. "She has a disease on top of her head!" He clawed his way up Breakdown.
It was quite a funny sight, and Red would have laughed had she not been so startled when Breakdown said, "I'll handle it." He gently shoved off Knockout, took out his hammer, ready to slam it onto her, but Soundwave stepped in his way.
"Don't harm a fibre on my pet's head!" He played a recording of Megatron speaking to Airachnid, his finger pointed at the girl.
Red shoulders sagged and she sighed with relief. Then of course she could only assume what the 'parasite' meant. "Gak!... Agh... Don't tell meh tha' brush 'ad itself a nice 'lil 'ol familay 'a lice!" Seeing every single 'Con's confused faces, she quickly explained. "Tiny parasites that're contagious. Only affects humans though!"
"SOUNDWAVE!" Knockout shrieked. "Decontaminate this 'insect'! I will not touch her until you do." He ordered, half whining and glaring at Red's head.
She groaned. "If it ain't one thang, it's 'nother."
"Problem: No human-sized decontamination centers on the ship." Soundwave pointed out.
"Well find one! I am a doctor, not a sparkling-sitter!"
"HEY! WATCHIT!" Red snapped. "Ah am NOTTA... whatevah ya jest called meh!"
"Correction: You are small tiny, and young. Making you the younger, baby version of your race. A sparkling." Knockout spat, making fun of the way Soundwave spoke.
"Well... hey 'least ahm toughah than YA!" She pointed out.
"Correction: Pet is a teenager. Definition: Half-grown version of her organic race." Soundwave retorted, unfazed by the outburst. "Addition: Also known to be very hormonal." He added, looking down at the girl.
"HEY!... Hokay... tha' is kinda true... BUT STILL!"
Seeing the fire in Red's eyes, Soundwave picked the girl up and looked for a barrel to fill with water and give her a bath in. Also he was trying to get her out of here before she got herself killed. She had a way of doing that.
Red squirmed around in his grasp, scratching her head like crazy. "GAH!..." She shouted, feeling frustrated.
Soundwave took and set her in the 'shower room' and picked up a barrel from the hall and rinsed it out, then filling it with water, he turned to Red. "Request: Pet must clean herself."
"Ya gotta beh kidd'n meh..." She groaned. There was NO WAY on earth she would strip down in front of a 'Con and take a bath. NEV-ER.
"Order: Do it now." Soundwave said, pointing at the barrel. "Promise: Or Soundwave will."
Red, feeling agitated, said the two wrong and fatal words. "Prove it!"
Bending down, with his spindly digits, Soundwave lightly began to pull off her shirt. "HEY! HEY HEY HEY!" She shrieked, fighting. "YA BETTAH NOT-"
Picking Red up by her sneakers, Soundwave held her upside down, pulling the shirt off all the way. "Question: Would Pet like to finish?"
"Y'know... there's a 'lil thang ah stronglay b'lieve in... it's called MODESTAY! EVAH 'EARD 'A IT?!"
"Fact: It is not enlisted in the Cybertronian vocabulary."
"Well it is in our's! 'An ah'd like tah NOT strip down, thank ya veray much!"
"Fact: Pet's armor will get wet, and then she will have no protection cloth on her flesh body."
Red groaned. She could not win against this guy! "Gah... well, aren'tchya 'th nice fella eh?" She stated sarcastically.
"Noted: Sarcasm. Fact: Pet did not answer Soundwave's question."
Red swore out loud. "NO WAY!" She yelled.
"Resolution: Fine. Statement: Soundwave will then." He stated. Pinching her torso, and began to slip her shoes off, then her pants and underwear. Finishing with all of that he placed her right-side up into the water, handing her hotel soap, conditioner and shampoo he'd also managed to swipe from a hotel on his previous outing.
Red gasped and bit her tongue to keep from screaming. The water was FREEZING! Ignoring her shivering, Soundwave turned away, knowing that humans liked to do this sort of thing alone. Making sure to stay down low, she snatched the soap from the rim and began to lather it up, rubbing all over. Soundwave tried to act like he wasn't peeking at the girl from behind, making sure she wasn't trying to run off.
"Ah know yer watch'n meh, ya peep'n tom! Ah am NOT gonna run off in mah birthday suit, hokay?!"
"Observation: Is it Pet's creation date?"
She groaned. "Ah ain't gonna go intah details. 'An it ain't fer another couple 'a weeks, FYI."
"Question: Then what is 'birthday suit'? Question: Did Soundwave miss a protective layer on Pet?"
Her eyes widened even more. "DON'TCHYA DARE COME OVER 'ERE YA GOT THA'?!" She shrieked, then lowered herself deeper into the water, blushing. 'Take me now!' She thought to herself.
"Agreed." Soundwave simply put.
Red's eyes widened again. Did he just...? "Did ya jest... talk lahke a normal person?!"
"Correction: Normal Cybertronian."
"Well hokay... but still!" She made sure only her head was visible.
"Fact: Knockout is becoming impatient. We should hurry."
"Gotchya... only need a 'lil bit 'a this stuff... heal'n energy will kill 'th rest." She reached over to grab the shampoo and undid her ponytails, then, out of an old habit, hummed to herself, lathering up her fiery hair and ducked under and rinsed it all off. She finished with the conditioner, letting a few notes come out of her mouth, her voice soft and sweet, for a brief moment forgetting where she was.
Listening, Soundwave stared at the wall. He recorded her humming and few notes, secretly enjoying the sounds she made with her vocalizer.
She ducked under the water again, rinsing out her long, fiery hair then stood straight, wringing it out. "Okay. NOW ahm done!" She told him. He tossed her a human-sized towel and her clothes, keeping himself turned away, knowing how much she didn't like it when he was facing her.. Wrapping it around herself, she climbed out and quickly dried herself out and her hair, then getting dressed quickly.
Soundwave picked Red up in one servo, scanning her over. Everything seemed vital enough. "Question: Do you still need medical attention?"
"Uhm... well..." A sudden burst of stabbing pain in her knee made her wince and she looked down, her knee still hurt. Great. Since her healing energy was busy with eradicating the lice, her knee wouldn't heal properly for awhile. "Ah think tha' answers tha'." Taking her back to Knockout, he set her down, and waited for him to check her over. Red stared down at the exposed wires, wondering what she truly had been originally. A Protoform?! A transformer herself?! Possibly... not likely.
As Knockout scanned the girl over, he frowned. "I can't give her healing energon. She requires organic fuel."
"... Yer stall'n ain'tchya?" Red asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Why you little-!" Knockout growled, glaring at her. "I cannot work on her like a normal Cybertronian!" He repeated, trying to get out of the work.
"Oh! For gosh darn sakes! Ahm HALF Cybertronian! Just ignore 'th flesh 'an bandage it up?! Yeesh! Even AHM a bettah doctah than ya!"
Grumbling, Knocout began to work on her wound, finishing it up in a matter of moments. "Typical. Humans can't take that bit of damage like us Cybertronians." He snarled, and motioned for Soundwave to take her away.
"HEY! DO YA KNOW HOW MANY TAHMES AH BROKE MAH LEG?!" She snapped, disliking greatly what he had just said.
"And do you know how many times I have done that? Hmm? Not in years! And you come to me being half-Cybertronian and this is what you get." He murmured, picking his tools up, while Soundwave grabbed the half-fleshie.
"OOOH WHY YA! WAIT UNTIL AH GET MAH HANDS ON YA-" As soon as she said it, Red's hand activated and fired, scratching Knockout's paintjob!
"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT TOOK?!" Knockout screeched, and grabbed a hammer, ready to squash the little insect for what she was, when Soundwave stopped him. Slowly, pushing the weapon down, he grabbed the girl and walked silently out.
She groaned. "Hands: Off." They deactivated.
"Advice: Pet must stop doing that." Soundwave groaned, getting tired of saving the human time and time again.
"They're voice activated! Ah say two-'an-two words t'gethah, 'an they activate! Ah have no actual control in 'th mattah!"
"Fact: Pet must learn how to control them."
"Ah know... Ah know!" She sighed, some days, such as that day, wishing she wasn't half-Cybertronian.