Author's notes: Still not dead. Still intending to finish all the stories I've posted. Wish there were more hours in a day.
Starscream was up to his elbows in Skyfire's chassis when the early morning sun was blocked by a tall, solid form. He looked up and said, "Do you mind getting out of my light?"
"Assistance, offered," Soundwave said, speaking so naturally that it took Starscream a couple nanoclicks to remember that the carrier should not be able to speak at all.
"We-elll," Starscream said, voice going sing-song with sarcasm, "Looky who's been holding out on me. So you can talk."
"Affirmative." There was a slight delay before Soundwave added. "And, negative. No attempt at deception intended. My language abilities are damaged."
"That scan they gave Megsie had to have been faked. It showed your CPU was half slagged. What the slag game were they playing at?" Starscream couldn't decide what the point had been, but it had to have been a trick. He'd seen Soundwave's purported medical records.
"There was no game." Soundwave crouched beside Starscream. Starscream had already noted that Soundwave's right leg did not seem to be operating within normal parameters. However, the tall mech moved with surprising grace and power as he dropped to one knee beside Skyfire's still frame, and so close to Starscream that the seeker could feel the vented hot air from his frame.
They had never been friends, but Starscream found he didn't actually mind Soundwave in his space. Soundwave could be a surprisingly dangerous warrior, but not unless he was directly provoked. Over their long history, he had proven to be far more of a political threat.
It was, however, odd behavior for Soundwave to be anything but distant and aloof. Soundwave normally kept his distance from everyone, both emotionally and physically. He only allowed his family of symbionts in his personal bubble. However, now Soundwave ran a hand over Skyfire's motionless, scuffed plating as if comforting the unconscious mech.
After a long moment, Soundwave said, "I have significant and permanent loss of function. Therefore, compensatory behavioral modifications are extensive."
"And you're admitting this to me ... why?"
He swore he heard a smile in Soundwave's voice as he answered, "Analysis: For interaction with Starscream, honesty is the best strategy. Question: Does Starscream trust Soundwave and Frenzy?"
"... sometimes. Maybe. Why? It depends on what you mean by trust and what you want."
He was really wary, now. He didn't know where this conversation was going. Soundwave had been Megatron's pet lap dog. They had never been allies. On the other hand, as 'cons went, Soundwave was reliable and -as he'd stated - generally truthful. He was also pragmatic to the very core of his spark. With a sudden flash of insight, he realized that Soundwave would be looking for a new master.
Starscream knew very well that Soundwave's number one priority was survival, simple as that. The mech did not bear grudges, other than using past experience to predict future behavior of other mechs.
Starscream eyed Soundwave speculatively. He could use all the good lackeys he could find. They could never trust one another, but they certainly understood each other. Soundwave would make a fine assistant. It wasn't as if Soundwave would get a better offer anywhere else, right? Surely, Soundwave was being honest with him because Soundwave was considering him as a new master.
There was a faint click, and then two voices, one clearly belonging to Frenzy, said as one, "We're working together so that Soundwave can speak clearly."
Soundwave and Frenzy were bonded. He hadn't forgotten that fact, he just hadn't thought through all the implications. Frenzy, he supposed, was in direct spark-to-spark communication with his boss over their quantum bond, and was then speaking for him. It made sense. He had not had time to review Soundwave's medical file entirely before things had gotten ugly, but he could picture which circuits must have been saved for Frenzy to be able to speak to Soundwave via their bond.
He shuddered at the idea of being that intimately reliant on anyone else. His bond with his trine wasn't anywhere near that complete. Still, he understood how it could work. "Okay, I get it. Frenzy's helping you. But from what I saw of the docbot's files, your higher processing functions are still in good shape."
"Affirmative. Communication and sensory arrays were damaged. Query: Status of Soundwave, prisoner or potential ally?"
"You're never anything but blunt." Starscream pulled a rag out of his subspace and scrubbed Skyfire's energon from his hands. "Ally. Maybe. If you're not out for my energon. Depends on your plans."
"Preference: ally."
"Heh. Never thought I'd hear you say that to me." Starscream waved a hand dismissively in the air. "What's the deal with you and the Autobots? I figured you'd be shackled and sedated if they were going to move you."
Soundwave pulled a tool box out of his subspace. "Literal answer to deal with Autobots: Soundwave granted asylum in exchange for assistance."
He shouldn't have been surprised, though he found he was, and a scowl crossed his face. The nature of a carrier's hard coded programming meant that they were more vulnerable than most to what humans would term 'Stockholm syndrome.' He'd even warned Megatron in the past that Soundwave's hard coded core programming could be an issue. Megatron had always been blindly faithful in Soundwave's loyalty and had never listened. The war would have gone so differently if Megatron had only listened to him.
"You betrayed us." He wondered why he didn't feel more outrage. His words came out with flat distaste, but he couldn't summon a hissing fit of anger. He was, however, disappointed. Soundwave had already found himself a new master. For a nanoclick, he'd let himself imagine what it would be like to have an utterly loyal supporter. He could have trusted Soundwave to be his second in command, with no chance of betrayal.
"Megatron, betrayed Soundwave." Soundwave gave Starscream a level look, chin rising. Starscream was certain that optic contact happened in that moment, even though he couldn't actually see Soundwave's eyes. (And the slagger had found the damned visor - Starscream had hoped to gain a psychological upper hand by taking it away before Soundwave had regained consciousness after the crash. Sometimes, he thought Soundwave was psychic as well as telepathic.)
"Like he hasn't done that before."
"Observation: Megatron never betrayed Soundwave prior to incident at the Ark."
"You always were his golden boy." Starscream couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice. Soundwave was right. He'd never been double-crossed by the tyrant before. Megatron had abused Starscream a thousand times, but had never lifted so much as a hand to Soundwave.
"Megatron attempted euthanasia when hope for my useful function remained. Loyalty does not require submitting to pointless murder at the whim of one's master. Additionally, Megatron attempted to kill Frenzy. This, unforgivable." Soundwave paused, then added, "Continuing function contingent on finding a more empathetic master."
Starscream snorted. "So you joined the Autobots. How perfectly wonderful for you. What did you have to offer them for your continued care?"
Bitterly, he thought that whatever the Autobots had offered, it had been a far better deal than what Starscream himself could come up with. He had never had a chance to become Soundwave's master. As he was well aware, Soundwave's first priority was his own survival, and the Autobots were in the best position to ensure that.
Soundwave shifted slightly, and the emitted first sigh that Starscream had ever heard from the big mech. "Only myself."
"And probably half our secrets." The obvious innuendo occurred to him, but surely Soundwave wasn't bargaining for his place with his body. The Autobots were too slagging goody-two-shoes to accept even if Soundwave had offered. Anyway, the mech had been reluctant to 'face even with Megatron and had coldly turned Starscream down the one and only time he'd been both intoxicated enough and lonely enough to make a pass at him. Anyway, according to Megatron, Soundwave was a passionless lover, with all the enthusiasm of a well-programmed drone.
"Resumption of communication abilities, slow. Once clear communication possible, significant time had elapsed. Intelligence was degraded in value."
"And they didn't just hack you to extract it?"
"Negative. Medical condition, fragile. Soundwave still cannot be hacked without invasive procedures to create direct neural links."
Starscream snorted. "Megatron wouldn't have cared. He'd have extracted the info if he had to do it one electron at a time."
"Soundwave, well aware of Megatron's interrogation procedures." That response was very dry. He would have laughed had he suspected that Soundwave was being humorous. Soundwave had done many of those interrogations himself.
The tall, solid carrier turned his attention to Skyfire's open chassis. He leaned forward and peered into the mess that was Skyfire's innards for a moment, then observed, "Skyfire requires extensive surgical repairs."
"I've pinged the Autobots." Starscream rubbed at a bit of energon on his arm with the thumb of his other hand. He had done so an hour before, and had received a terse response from Prowl that Optimus would speak to him in due course. "I'm waiting for them to respond back."
"There is a high probability that the Autobots are in conference with the human authorities."
"And possibly debriefing Skywarp." Starscream's idiot trinemate had his side of the bond locked down tight, but he had - briefly - reported that a human aircraft carrier had winched him up off the ocean floor. He'd been given the choice of walking home from his location on the ocean bottom, or putting on stasis cuffs and sitting on the deck until the Autobots arrived.
Starscream had ordered him to behave, and follow human orders for anything short of commands that would lead to his own deactivation. Skywarp had not said anything to him since. He didn't know if the silence from his teammate meant he was pissed at Starscream, or if he was concealing the fact he was disobeying orders.
Well, the Autobots could deal with him. Starscream had full faith that they'd do so without actually offlining him. They were predictably honorable that way.
He added, since Soundwave said nothing, "I asked them to pick 'Warp up. He had to ditch in the ocean."
"Optimus desires an end to the war. They will not harm him. His repairs will be complete, and thorough."
Comforting words. Starscream found he believed Soundwave. Soundwave had been in their midst for several weeks. Certainly, that was long enough for the communications specialist to understand current Autobot motives and likely behavior.
Somewhat to his surprise, Soundwave then produced a wad of absorbent rags and two large bags of medical grade energon from his subspace. He handed Starscream one bag, and poured the other into the direct intake port for Skyfire's tank. Starscream moved forward, intending to add the second bag to Skyfire's tank, but Soundwave stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Commander's fuel status: very low."
"Skyfire needs it more." For all that they had not parted on good terms, he was fond of Skyfire. Plus, he was Air Commander of Cybertron. He never forgot that. Skyfire was one of his people, and he was jealously, possessively, protective of all that was his.
"Starscream, required for defense. Autobots will not start hostilities, however, Decepticon factions may initiate violent conflict at any time. We need you fully fueled."
Slaggit, Soundwave was right. Half the reason there was a lull in combat at the moment was the Decepticon fuel shortage. Both sides were running on fumes. If Astrotrain's faction got their hands on an energy source Starscream would be a primary target. His fuel pump whined a little faster at the thought.
Unhappily, he admitted, "I didn't intend to hurt the big idiot. We wanted to talk to Skyfire about ... a gentleman's agreement ... with the Autobots. We need fuel."
He had never expected Skyfire to fight back. Once, they'd been friends. Now, Skyfire considered him and his trine enough of an enemy to risk death by collision rather than submit to capture. He refused to think about just how much that desperate mistrust of his intentions hurt.
"Proposed terms of agreement?" Soundwave asked, voice calm but clearly interested.
Starscream shrugged, trying to hide his chaotic emotions with a casual atttitude. "We won't kill any squishies, and we'll do as little damage as possible. We just want the Autobots to look the other way when we obtain the energy we need. We'll deal with Astrotrain and his buddies ourselves, and then cease hostilities, get ourselves offworld, and leave Earth to your warm-shiny buddies. Optimus would be a fool not to accept - we'll be gone and the war will be over."
After a long, quiet moment of contemplation, Soundwave said, "Soundwave: Formally requesting to be liaison between factions."
"Like the Autobots will agree to that." He waved dismissively. "I can't imagine they'll do anything but take advantage of this mess to try to extinguish us. Nice offer, though. Never thought I'd see the day when you'd be scheming for peace."
"Prime agrees that I should serve in the role of a liaison. He does not desire your death. I ask that you remember my integrity."
Starscream wondered if he should reboot his logic circuits. "Why would the Autobots agree to you being the liaison?"
"Soundwave: efficient, motivated, intelligent, truthful. Lack of emotional lability and quick analytical abilities are an asset during negotiations. Prime is convinced of Soundwave's motives."
As he spoke, Soundwave continued to work on Skyfire's chassis. Starscream noted he was making quite skilled field repairs to stabilize the shuttle.
He snorted. "And why would the Autobots want peace when they could have conquest? They can win. I don't need your processing power to see that."
There was silence, for a moment, from Soundwave. The only noise was the occasional click of a pair of metal snips as Soundwave cut away damaged wiring in Skyfire's chassis. Then he said, "Optimus suggests: Better term for my role, mediator. End of war, desired. My personal assessment: Optimus willing to make concessions to avoid any further loss of life. Our population numbers are too low. Extinction is one possible outcome of continued fighting. Optimus is aware of this."
"Tell me something I don't know ... and you're in contact with Prime. Now?" He hadn't detected any radio transmissions.
"Steeljaw, bonded to Blaster. Blaster is the Autobot communications specialist."
"... oh. You rebooted him." He scowled. "We should put the little glitch into stasis. We can't talk in privacy with Steeljaw listening."
Soundwave's response was stern. "Steeljaw, my responsibility. Damage to Steeljaw, unacceptable. Emotional trauma from forced stasis is damage."
"You courting him?" He couldn't keep the surprise from his voice. He knew just enough about carrier culture to recognize that as a possibility. However, he was astonished that the Autobots would let Steeljaw associate with Soundwave if there was any chance that Steeljaw might break his bond with Blaster.
"Negative, Steeljaw, loyal to Blaster. Steeljaw is assisting with real-time communication with Autobots. Soundwave, entrusted with his care."
Translation: Touch the cat and feel the wrath of the carrier. Starscream was no fool, and made a mental note to consider Steeljaw off limits. Soundwave seemed to be unarmed, but Starscream was also well aware that the carrier was sneaky, clever, and good at improvisation when it came to weapons. Plus, Frenzy was every bit as dangerous as his master.
For that matter, Steeljaw had fighting skills all out of proportion to his size. The cat was a walking armory with a Cheshire grin.
"So what do the Autobots want? Unconditional surrender, Primus's coordinates, and my wings on their wall?" He couldn't quite keep a cynical sneer off his face. He just couldn't believe they'd be willing to work with him.
"Negative. Starscream's wings would not be desired. Observation: Optimus prefers to admire airborne fliers. However, Autobots decline terms of 'gentleman's agreement.' Optimus Prime suggests that now it is time for a truce between our factions."
"That doesn't get us fuel! He snarled the words, ignoring Soundwave's remark about his wings. Optimus liked winged mechs ... what?
Ignoring that, Soundwave's words seemed to confirm his fears: that the Autobots were not truly interested in helping. It just wasn't enough to offer a truce from the Autobot faction while the Decepticons slagged each other into oblivion. There would be nothing left of any of them, and the Autobots would win by default.
Maybe that was what they wanted. It was how he would handle matters if the roles were reversed. Not that he could imagine a coup among the Autobots. They were all in love with Optimus-slagging-Prime, to the last damned mech.
"Prime is offering unlimited energon to be used personal fueling needs, medical assistance with repairs and maintenance, plus shelter, including hardened bunkers for defensive purposes against enemies. He is also offering a mutual protection agreement."
He blinked. He hadn't been expecting that much. At all. Period.
"Whhhhhy?" He drawled the question out, sarcastic disbelief tinting his words.
"Optimus believes you are the best choice for a leader who can end this war. I believe his reasons for assistance are due to his desire to end the war, for reasons previously stated. Additionally, Optimus is kind and generous by nature. Starscream is aware of this. Their offer will not strain Autobot resources."
"No slag I'm the best choice to lead." He rolled his optics. His skill was obvious, though he was surprised that the Autobots would admit it. Then his practical side surfaced; he had not become Air Commander without having political and administrative experience. He said, slowly and cautiously, "What are the terms that they have in mind?"
"Terms of truce: No aggression towards humans or Autobots. Full cooperation in joint missions to seek and destroy renegade Cybertronians who threaten this world. Autobots have sufficient energon supplies to support your forces for months. However, a long term expansion of production and refinement capabilities will be required to meet projected future needs. Autobots will assist with negotiating human bureaucracy and acquiring the raw materials needed to construct energon plants. Optimus observes that technical assistance will probably be necessary, and he may wish to consult with you on some persistent issues they have been experiencing in regards to production."
Starscream was, for once, struck speechless. There was actually a compliment in there. The Autobots wanted his opinion on energon production issues? Yes, yes, he'd once been well-known scientist, with a specialty in energy production, but still. It had been a long war and he'd used most of his knowledge for the most of it making energetic weapons.
The thought of working in a research lab was very, very tempting. He glanced down at Skyfire. Deep longing twisted his spark. Oh, for the war to be over ... he remembered happy times, with Skyfire as his lab partner and dearest friend. He had so many ideas, filed away, that he'd never been able to follow up on for lack of time and lack of resources. Some of those directly dealt with energon production. He could innovate again, and be acclaimed not for his fighting skills but for the good he could bring to his race.
Soundwave added, "It is my personal belief that Optimus wishes to deal with the Decepticons both fairly and generously. You will not have difficulty in obtaining all you need for your people to thrive. You have an opportunity unlike any seen in generations. You should consider full cooperation. Reminder: Soundwave skilled at political analysis."
The latter was true. Soundwave was also known for being straightforward and for speaking the truth. They had known each other a long time, though not always as allies.
Starscream, stunned to silence, found his mind was awhirl with memories.
Starscream had first met the Soundwave when he'd been an aide-de-camp to Lady Fairwinds, a seeker senator. Soundwave had later attempted to claim (laughably) that he'd been Fairwinds' bonded and the heir to her estate, but Starscream couldn't hold that attempt at fraud against him. A lot of wealth had been involved in that scandal. No seeker would bond with someone as cold and grounded, without even a mobile alt mode, as Soundwave. But from Soundwave's standpoint, the ruse had certainly been worth a try. There had been persistent rumors that the two were lovers, and they had been close friends. It had been very unusual to see one without the other for almost ten earth years.
When a deep voice rumbled behind them, it distracted him from his brief musings over Soundwave's long and checkered history in Cybertronian politics. Optimus's voice was unmistakable, and Starscream whirled even as his battle protocols booted instantly.
"The traditional role of Air Commander, Starscream, has been to support and defend all Cybertronians by command of our airborne military forces, and also to seek out new resources for our world. Megatron was Lord High Commander, responsible for ground based defense. My role has always been that of a civilian ruler. I have not forgotten your role, nor that you were chosen by Primus to fill it."
He spun and gawped at the tall red and blue mech standing so proudly behind him. How in the Pit had Prime snuck up on them? Judging by Soundwave's swift turn to face Prime, he had not been aware of the Autobot's presence either.
Prime walked towards him, calm and regal. He was also not silent. His footfalls thudded on the sand, his gears whined and rattled, his hydraulics hissed, and his armor clanked. Prime wasn't built for stealth, so that meant he wasn't alone if he'd gotten this close without Starscream hearing him.
Starscream bristled, weapons coming alive and rising from under his armor, plating over vulnerable areas clamping tight, wings flaring up, combat routines making his circuits zing with aggression. "Stay back!"
Prime kept coming.
"I'll shoot!"
And then Prime was there, before him, looking him in the optics from only a single stride's distance away. "I believe you have the courage to hear us out, Starscream."
"Slaggitall, Optimus!" he spun away, anger rising even as his fear faded. This wasn't an attack. It was an ambush of a different kind.
Starscream was not surprised by the sound of one more heavy footfall on the sand, or Prime's gentle hand when it touched his arm. He should have shrugged it off, or even treated it as an assault. Optimus's quiet words quieted his impulse to respond violently, however. "Megatron forgot our roles. He forgot who you were, as much as he forgot my role."
"Ridiculous old superstitions! I'd be a better leader than either of you."
The hand rested there still, warming his plating. Optimus retained the hands of the scholar he had once been. His fingers were long, nimble, with blunt nails rather than shredding claws. He could have enhanced the power in his hands, and made them deadly weapons, but he had chosen to keep them dextrous and sensitive. Starscream had always been fascinated by this small detail. He found he could not force himself to move. He was not threatened by the gentle touch.
"Do you really wish to deal with recreating an economy from scratch, rebuilding infrastructure, and endless vorns of legal wrangling?" Optimus sounded almost amused, though his voice was low and soothing. "Nevermind acting as judge over a multitude of trials that can't be settled in lesser courts, mediating disputes between politicians, working with the media, and overseeing scores of complex and tedious religious ceremonies?"
Starscream scowled. Still, he did not pull away.
"I believe you want your old job back, not mine." Optimus's thumb stroked his arm's plating in soothing circles.
"What do you want from me?" He demanded, dismissing that kind voice. He didn't believe it. Optimus had been hardened and embittered by the war, just like the rest of them. Surely, there was malice and suspicion lurking in the spark of Prime, along with far too much charisma and acting ability.
He could not make himself jerk free of Optimus's grip.
"For now, all I wish is a simple agreement between us."
"Which is?" He wondered what game Optimus was playing at.
"As Soundwave stated, you will agree to cease all hostilities towards Autobots and humans alike. His assessment of my motivation is exactly correct. In exchange, we will provide you unlimited energon sufficient for normal operations and reasonable recreation."
"And in the long term?" His processor couldn't quite grasp the concept of unlimited energon. When was the last time he'd had enough energon for recreation? He wasn't sure what the Autobots would deem "reasonable" but the thought of being able to fly high and fast for the sheer joy of it, without a fuel ration to limit his freedom, was intoxicating.
"This world has ample energy resources. We will work together for our mutual benefit, with all three sides providing resources, labor, and technical expertise."
Three sides? "I refuse to work with that slagger Astrotrain."
"I was not referring to Astrotrain."
"The squishies?"
"Affirmative."
"You want me to help you build energon refineries for the squishies. Are you mad?" He wondered if he was the crazy one. It made a wild, crazy kind of sense.
"This war began over energy needs, Starscream. It continues for the same reason. I propose we eliminate the source of our strife. It will be easier to make a true and lasting peace if there is no reason left to fight."
Not so crazy, apparently. It made a slagging lot of sense. He'd almost forgotten Optimus's pragmatic streak, which was a good match for Soundwave's. He voiced one last objection. "You could poison our fuel."
"Test it, if you do not trust me. I have no desire to engage in combat simply because another mech's philosophical beliefs contradict my own."
He snorted. "You won't kill me for thinking wrong, eh?"
"Never."
He blew out a short, impatient sigh and rolled his eyes. "Fine. But throw in medical care. Hook's an idiot, Knock Out is on Cybertron, and I have no idea where the Constructicons went. I think Glit went neutral a few millenia ago. And my people are pretty banged up."
Optimus flashed a brief smile smile. "Of course. We have already stabilized Skywarp and begun basic repairs. And as far as the Constructicons, all five of them showed up at the Ark four hours ago, asking for asylum. It has been granted. Glit is on earth, but you are correct about his neutral status."
"Slag me running." He clapped a hand over his face.
"Would you prefer Ratchet's care, or that of the Constructicons?"
He had no idea what was in the collective mind of that fragged-up gestalt. Would they see him as enemy or ally? "Ratchet's probably safer."
A snort came from behind Optimus. Optimus glanced back over his shoulders, and then made a silent hand gesture - one used during combat to direct troops - to summon others forward.
The troops quickly appeared from behind an illusion of sand dunes. Mirage and Hound were among them, which explained how the others - Optimus, Ratchet, Ironhide, Blades, and Springer - had arrived unseen and unheard.
He wasn't sure who had barked that quick laugh at his observation that Ratchet was safer. Possibly, it had been Ratchet himself. Defensively, he said to the medic, "Well, you are!"
"Starscream's observational faculties: excellent as usual." Soundwave spoke up, then addressed the medic directly. "Ratchet, Skyfire is in stable stasis, but urgent repairs are suggested. Sand and organic matter are present in energon lines and some damage to his power plant has occurred."
"How bad?" Ratchet hustled forward, sparing Starscream only the briefest of suspicious looks.
"Soundwave's in worse shape than Skyfire is, don't let him fool you," Starscream found himself saying. "He took a pretty good hit when Skyfire crashed."
And he found himself actually amused when the medic reached out and cuffed Soundwave upside the head. "Idiot. You should have said something."
"My damage is not critical."
"Neither is his. You, sit." Ratchet bullied Soundwave towards a nearby rocky outcrop by sheer force of will. Apparently addressing the symbionts docked with Soundwave, he added, "And that goes for both of you runts, too. You should have said something."
Something made Starscream look back at Prime in that instant. Optimus had retracted his face mask and a gentle smile touched his lip plates. Optimus realized he was being watched, but didn't bother to conceal the smile. Instead, he clapped a hand on Starscream's shoulder. "Come, Air Commander Starscream. We have much to talk about."