Thank you so much. I read the reviews every chance I get. I hope that everyone is enjoying the story. I write every chance I get because I want to finish it just so my readers can enjoy my story.
One quick thing I want to point out is that Arcee is practical even if she tends to be stubborn. I want her in this story to be accepting of the bond since it took from the very beginning. I hope that doesn't make her subservient to Soundwave, but just practical of the situation that she is in. As for Soundwave, I want him to be lonely and tired of the war, yet just manipulative enough to project his ideas and feelings on his master, hence who is the true master here theory. Maybe they are working in secrecy and that all the decepticon and autobots will be subjected to them! Lol, don't know yet, you will have to keep on reading.
I still don't know exactly how many chapters this story will be but I promise that it will not be as long as my last story. If you are new to this story please take a moment to review. Unfortunately I do not own any of my characters in the Transformers world but I do love to play with them. Enjoy!
"Optimus, we haven't located Arcee's signal in a week." Ratchet informed his friend and commander solemnly. Jack, Miko, and Raf had left with Smokescreen and Bulkhead; Bumblebee still too weak to be able to travel with the kids. Optimus looked over to Ratchet as his longtime friend stopped typing at the controls to gaze back.
"We can only surmise that Arcee ran afoul on patrol and the Decepticons either took her or deactivated her. Even with Smokescreen now adding to our ranks, there are too few of us left. Can we extend the perimeter monitors?" Optimus asked.
"No, not without the local indigenous life forms of the desert setting them off." Ratchet replied. He expelled air from his vents roughly. "Optimus, what about Arcee? Do we assume she is dead and build another memorial at the top of the arsenal, or do you want to try to contact the decepticons and see if Megatron will do an exchange?" Ratchet looked at his leader expecting an answer while Optimus thought carefully.
"If we contact Megatron, no doubt he will take advantage of our situation; and though I loathe the idea of giving him anything, we must consider Arcee and the fact that she is in great danger. However, each of my soldiers have been prepped should they become a prisoner of war and I must have confidence that Arcee will either hold out for rescue or she will withhold valuable information until they terminate her." Optimus looked solemn as he looked out over the small Autobot base as if coming to a decision but not liking it.
"Send out a ping to the Decepticons that we wish to make contact." Optimus finally said quietly and then louder. "If she is alive, it is our duty to make every effort to get her back."
"Very well Optimus, if she is out there we will make every effort." Ratchet said though by his tone Optimus knew that he was doubtful that they would find her.
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Arcee was bored. That was the only way to describe the feeling clawing inside her spark. Years of patrol, routine maintenance, and just getting to go outside and get fresh air during down time were things that she missed so badly that she thought she would suffocate before Soundwave would ever make it back. Though Soundwave's quarters were spacious for an officer, Arcee could feel the walls closing in around her like a cocoon that an insecticon would emerge from.
It would be another hour before Soundwave finished his duties. The Iacon data was finished and the keys located sadly being two of them with the decepticons. Arcee wondered what the keys were for but she had a feeling that Optimus already knew since both sides had fought valiantly for them.
She looked over the new data pads that Soundwave gave her before leaving that morning. They were a variety of stories and news casts that he had meticulously put together so that she would know the most current information that the humans had delivered on earth. Her spark was saddened because Soundwave also sent her visuals of Jack at school to let her know that he was okay and that Megatron had not acted on the information he attained through Soundwave. It would only be a matter of time. Megatron was already devising how he would move on the Autobots to get the other two keys and Arcee shivered at just what he would do to her friends.
She threw the data pad down suddenly and stalked over to the berth. She mourned her old life, though she embraced the nights in Soundwave's arms, she wanted her patrols back, the chance to stretch her wheels, and just to transform. She now knew how Bee felt when MECH had stolen his t-cog. Maybe in the morning she could at least appeal to Megatron about getting some new armor even if he chose to make her look like a pleasure-bot.
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"Lord Megatron is going to demand results." Starscream snarled as he and Knockout looked over the keys that they held in their claws.
"We only have two of the four that are needed. How are we going to figure out what they do?" Knockout said as he turned the one in his hand around and upside down to observe it."
"How am I to know? I am a scientist that experiments not an engineer who builds." Starscream said frustrated beyond endurance. He threw the key at Knockout who held his arm up with the other key in it. The two merged and locked together as both mechs looked on with curiosity.
"Well this is interesting." Knockout finally commented.
"But we still do not know what they unlock." Starscream said looking at them in thought. He continued to think before stating, "didn't Megatron say they located the Autobot base?"
"Yes, how will that help us?" Knockout asked.
"Before Megatron took me back, I managed to locate some red energon." He said thoughtfully and then smirking at Knockout.
"Oh, are we going raiding?" Knockout asked with sudden glee.
"Well, we do need two more keys." Starscream said evilly as he looked at his partner in crime.
"Well, at least we will be in good standing with our esteemed lord and master." Knockout said relief at finally being able to do something to redeem himself from losing the relic to that pathetic scout. He didn't feel resentment toward the femme now that the irony was that she was a part of the Nemeses crew. She had received her just rewards and Knockout couldn't have been happier. She was another that had always caused him trouble and now she would answer to her mate and as long as Knockout didn't try to harm her or get in Soundwave's way then she was as good as gone in Knockout's opinion.
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Soundwave walked in from duty. He could feel Arcee's frustration and anger from being pinned within the quarters all week and knew that he needed to take her out or they would both suffer. He looked over to see that she was recharging, but even in recharge she felt restless and moody. Soundwave quickly transferred his work from command consul to his private one and then slowly walked to Arcee. He scooped her up in his arms as she stirred from her slumber.
"Soundwave?" Arcee asked annoyed that he was carrying her.
"You were resting and I thought you would like to take a walk once you were up." Soundwave commented as he keyed the pad and the door opened to allow them entrance into the hall.
"Well I am up now. Can I please walk on my own?" She asked bristly. He put her down and let her wrap the robe around her to protect her and then took her by the waist and led her along the hallway, to a larger corridor, and then Soundwave proceeded to open the double doors and lead Arcee out onto the flight deck. The wind whipped her robe aggressively around her legs as they strolled along the rectangular runway while Arcee breathed deeply, savoring the air in her in tanks.
"Soundwave, is there anything I can do? I mean I won't harm my friends but I have to have something to do or I am going to go crazy." Arcee told him as they walked around. Soundwave silently agreed with her and Arcee picked up on his thoughts through the bond so remained quiet as they strolled together.
Vehicons watched them as they worked their various duties but Soundwave was not interested in their stares. His only concern was Arcee and her adjusting to the decepticon ways. Soundwave knew that it would be soon when Megatron would act on his plan to apprehend Prime and Soundwave needed Arcee to be adjusted so that she could help Prime through the initial stages of being bonded to the warlord. It didn't give him much time but if Soundwave's suspicions were accurate then Arcee was already carrying; she just hadn't realized it yet since no physical changes were apparent.
The important aspect was to keep Arcee content. Happiness would come later. Soundwave did not want her to lose any sparklings. They were precious and none had been created since the beginning of the war.
"No offense because you are always quiet," Soundwave smirked behind his mask at her blatant attempt at humor, "but you are quiet tonight even within the bond." She said as she unconsciously rubbed at her abdominal plating. It would be soon when she realized the conception and Soundwave did not want Knockout to be her carrying doctor. He was good for war but he had no experience with sparklings.
"I had much to do today, my lady." He said formally and Arcee laughed. She could feel the humor behind his words, though to any outsider they wouldn't understand it, and Arcee reached up and rubbed his mask softly like she would at night in their berth.
"You are still quiet. Will you plead with Megatron to give me a job? I am at the point that even scrubbing floors sounds good." Arcee said softly.
"It would sound better if you ask him. Show him that you have accepted your place and duty here as my mate." Soundwave finally replied after much thought. Arcee shrank back from his touch and started to step back.
"He wanted to exterminate me!" She growled softly but firmly back at Soundwave.
"You have proven that you are stronger and can adjust to your station." He countered. In the distance Soundwave could see Starscream walking out on the deck with Megatron as they prepared the vehicons for a mission. Soundwave quickly gathered her to him though Arcee tried to fight him, and turned her to face the coming officers. Arcee's optics widen in realization as she saw Megatron and his second coming closer to them. "Prove your worth now Arcee. Show them your fire." Soundwave whispered in her audial as they stopped in front of the couple. Soundwave nodded in respect to his master as Arcee followed hesitantly.
"My lord," Arcee whispered. It was all she could get out. It hurt just to acknowledge Megatron and he smirked at her discomfort.
"Well now, Soundwave you have done exceedingly well with her." Starscream crowed in his usual screechy voice. Arcee flinched in disdain, as did Megatron, but Soundwave never showed any emotion good or bad when dealing with the treacherous second in command.
"I came to join you and Soundwave, but I feel that you would like to talk." Megatron stated as he offered the femme his hand. It brought back a memory of a day long ago when Arcee was just a youngling and she and her carrier had walked to meet her sire at the senate chambers. The young aid had graciously offered his arm then and now Megatron was doing the same for her. Arcee looked up at him for the longest time as he mockingly smirked back at her before she turned to look at Soundwave. He nodded his assent and Arcee slowly placed her hand on Megatron's arm. Soundwave stood back to allow his master to walk with his mate, though Soundwave stayed behind and to the right of Arcee, and Megatron led her slowly along the tarmac of the runway.
"The Nemeses is a splendid war ship. Don't you agree my dear?" Megatron asked her out of politeness of conversation and Arcee shivered at the familiar tone of his voice.
"It is but I have never have been a lover of war ships." Arcee replied politely. "I am more of a frontliner." She let Megatron to guide her to the side of the deck overlooking the clouds and the sunset. It was beautiful. Arcee had never seen an earth sunset this close to the edge of the atmosphere of the planet, the reds, pinks, and oranges swirling together with the white and grey of the clouds breathtaking to behold.
"This war ship has seen many battles Arcee, but Soundwave's plan will end the war. Do you think that Optimus will yield to me?" He asked softly so that Starscream could not easily hear.
"If you promise equality to his troops then he might consider." Arcee stated evenly knowing that Megatron would know if she was lying.
"I can't do that." He returned flatly. "I can offer them a job within the ranks of my soldiers. In time, like you, they will have to prove their freedom." Megatron looked directly at her as she gazed out over the ship. "It is war Arcee. If the Autobots were to win do you think they would give us our freedom?"
"Then offer a truce! Negotiate. Both sides are tired of fighting. We just want to go home and rebuild." She pleaded softly, passionately to him as she turned to face him. Megatron say the truth to her words in her optics but he was a realist.
"The senate is gone, you destroyed them. Optimus will want the same. He will be willing to negotiate." She cried as she realized that this was the first time she ever stood this close to the warlord without a fight or being in stasis cuffs.
"No, I will proceed with my plans Arcee. Prime has his pride as I." Megatron stated before pulling her back. "It is not safe to get too close; after all, you are a ground pounder." He mocked her.
"I'll try to remember that." Arcee replied as he tugged her back to walk. She resisted the urge to try and transform. She no longer had her t-cog. It reminded her of what she had lost by becoming Soundwave's bond mate.
"Is there something I can do?" She asked suddenly remembering why Soundwave had allowed her to walk with Megatron. "Is there a job that I can perform? I find it boring staying in our quarters after being used to patrolling." Arcee continued to walk beside Megatron as he patted her hand that was resting on his arm.
"I will talk to Shockwave. You used to be a youngling care provider and teacher before the war?" He asked politely seeing the shock register across Arcee's face plates.
"Yes, but how did you know?" She stammered out her words and Megatron laughed.
"I make it a point to know as much as possible about my enemies." Megatron said before turning to stand in front of her and giving her hand back to Soundwave.
"Thank you Soundwave, you have done excellent work with her. She is exceptional." His words stirred a burning sensation in Arcee's tank as she looked at her mate with confusion and consternation.
"She is worthy to be my mate as I stated the first night." Soundwave replied and then bowed graciously to his master. Arcee did the same thought Soundwave could feel the growing anger within her.
"Continue with her and then bring her so that I can observe her progress." Megatron stated before turning back to address his second in command.
"Master, can you really be sure that she will not betray us…." Was heard as Megatron directed Starscream over to the other vehicons.
"I find that ironic coming from a betrayer." Soundwave snorted but then straightened as he saw the look of anger on Arcee's face plates.
"Is that I am to you?" She hissed out. "Just some… some… thing to control?" Her voice had risen and the wind carried it over to where Megatron and Starscream stood discussing a mission. Everyone stopped what they were doing to look at the femme and mech.
"No, but I had to tell Megatron something. He was going to kill you…"
"Better to be dead than some pet!" She snarled as she jerked her arm out of his hand. Soundwave startled. He had not known that he had grabbed her by the arm and immediately sent pulses of sympathy and calm to her, but then blinked his optics as she rejected him both physically and mentally.
"Arcee…"
"No, you have made me into some kind of puppet and I went along with it because I am bonded to you. No more! He is going to hurt my friends because of your treachery and I was even thinking of going along with it. I can't after that! It sickens me to know that I played along this far!" She huffed out air from her in takes suddenly as all the fight left her as quickly as it had built up. She wrapped her arms around her middle and shook with mortification as she realized that everyone had witnessed her moment of weakness. She looked up at Soundwave so sadly and his spark ached for her distress.
"This is going to happen isn't it." She whispered brokenly.
"Yes, Megatron wants Prime by his side any way that he can get that." Soundwave stated back softly, finality ringing from his tone.
"Then I hope that Prime can beat him."