Hello everyone! Happy belated Valentines day! Before I really get into anything I would also like to say Happy Birthday to my little sister Rae (even if she most likely won't see this post XD)! She just turned 21 and yesterday I rode out the coattails of her boozer all night. I'm so glad I didn't miss that.
Anyhoo, back to the story. I'm afraid this chapter is mostly filler, but you do get a better idea behind Soundwave's psyche. Remember, I haven't read the comics or watched a lot Gen 1, so if I'm off base with anything please remember that everything I have written has been completely made up. It is made for the purpose of continuing the plot of this story specifically. Fair warning, the ending of this chapter is a little sad, but bear with me. There will be some good times yet to come.
Special shout outs to Cao dreams in books and maria-ioanna984: To Cao, I'm glad you liked the illustration of Cass. Rest assured that there is more Cass cuteness to come in the future… And you know what, I could probably take on Starscream. I mean if Miko can do it… O.o To maria-ioanna984, ever the faithful fan. I'm happy I still have your attention, but I feel a little guilty with how I'm kind of teasing my audience with every chapter… But it's too much fun to resist… XP Also, sorry I haven't gotten down to reading your story yet. It's on my to do list and I will get it under my belt soon.
Remember, don't be afraid to leave a review and ask questions. I love hearing from my readers!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any stocks, trades, or licensing from the Transformers franchise. All rights are reserved for HASBRO entertainment.
MERCY
Chapter 15
Missing Pieces
Knockout had repaired Laserbeak's frame by the time Soundwave had finished explaining the situation to Starscream. He still wanted to repaint and buff-polish her haul, and he invited Soundwave to bring Laserbeak to the med-bay when he was finished meeting with Megatron. The silent mech decided he would join Starscream if he needed audio and visual aid for his presentation. It never crossed Soundwave's mind that Cass could still be with Megatron when they found the warlord. In fact, he was rather delighted to discover his master had retired to the throne room, where drones were not permitted to go anywhere near without being summoned. He was hopeful that Cass either never showed up at all, or Megatron just sent him away, and once inside the young Vehicon was nowhere to be seen.
But then he heard a click. It was a small quiet sound, and even Starscream showed signs that he had also heard it. The seeker decided to ignore it and Soundwave tried to do the same. He told himself it could have been anything in the room. It could have been the sound of Megatron tapping his claws on the console in front of him, the creaking of heated metal in the walls, or the shifting weight of their frames on the floor. It had never accrued to Soundwave that what he was hearing was the sliding sound of an interfacing panel opening. Not until he tried to leave and noticed a Vehicon's mask hidden against the wall. It was too small to belong to anyone else but Cass, and that could only mean he was still in the room. Drones would never leave their masks behind; their identities were too important to them.
So what was Soundwave going to do about it? Should he say something? What could he say? Nothing. If Soundwave called attention to Cass, the plan might be jeopardized, and Breakdown would really be left to fend for himself. But the third in command's full concern was focused entirely on Cass. If he outed his favorite drone, he could risk angering the tyrant and he could take his frustrations out on the sweet Vehicon. If that happened, he would almost have no choice but to go against Megatron. The mech he had dedicated the entirety of his function to.
"Soundwave." Starscream alerted the silent mech from his thoughts, but not from his apprehensiveness. "I'm going to retire to my quarters for the night, and I will be turning off my comm links. If Megatron requires my presence and he seek me through you, tell him I'm already in recharge… And I will not be heard from the next day either."
"Af-fir-affirmative." Soundwave's response was riddled with static. He stammered awkwardly and desperately tried to cover it up. Weakness was not something the third in command easily allowed to show up on his sleeve (mostly because he didn't have any sleeves). Especially not in front of Starscream, of all mechs.
The messy telepathic message didn't go unnoticed by the seeker, but to him it wasn't of any current importance. With a wave of his servo he excused himself down the opposite end of the hall and disappeared around a corridor, leaving Soundwave alone to his own thoughts.
Laserbeak could feel the emotional pain seeping through her processor like honey dripping down a steep incline, and she shook nervously. These feelings were familiar, but she hadn't felt them from Soundwave in a long time. She always feared they would rise up again and consume him in the cruelest way, so Laserbeak did her best to distract him as he walked down the dark halls toward the communications bridge. After passing through two corridors and taking the loft to one more level down, Soundwave's struts began to falter. As he passed a store room entrance his air vents clicked and cycled viciously. The communications officer suddenly felt like he was suffocating and couldn't find any strength to continue walking. He fell to his knee-joints, shivering violently while his visor flashed with random black and white pixels, and the static rumbling over his frame settled in his tanks. The feeling was so churning he was on the verge of purging, but soon a new sensation started to creep through the base of his CPU.
"L-La-Laserb-b-beak." Soundwave signaled weakly to his symbiote. "Knock-o-out: Require as-s-sistance. Hur-r-ry."
She didn't falter for one second and she swiftly flew off of Soundwave's chest. Once Laserbeak was out of sight, disappearing around a corner, her master let go of his grip on his consciousness, and slipped into a stasis lock.
"Officer Knockout." A random Eradicon greeted the medic just outside the med-bay. "Fair afternoon sir. I have been waiting here to tell you that the medical bay has been properly cleaned and organized for you. We would have contacted you over the comm links, but we could not reach you."
"Yeah, you wouldn't be able to." Knockout sighed. He wasn't expecting to be greeted by anyone when he got back. "I had turned off my comm links again. Wasn't in the mood to chat with anyone."
"I suppose not, sir." The drone looked away when the medic quirked an optic ridge at him curiously. "Pardon me. That was a little forward of me. Is there anything else I can do for you before I dismiss myself?"
"No, you may leave…" The red mech paused and looked the Eradicon over. Then he said something that surprised the both of them. "Thank you. Have a good rest of the day."
"Uh… Oh!" The drone was amazed. Knockout had never been so polite to the troops before. Something astonishing must have happened in the communications bridge to spur something so rare. "Th-thank you, sir… You too."
The Eradicon bowed respectively before he parted ways with the higher officer, and Knockout waved his servo in return before he entered the med-bay. The red mech was very satisfied with the way the drones had cleaned and organized things. All of the trays were polished and stacked neatly in a corner, the tools and utensils that were on the floor were sterilized and lined up ready for future use, the medical berths were washed down and pushed against the wall, and the computer console was also respectively dusted, but after that left alone. The drones knew better then to mess with a commanding officer's computer without their permission, which meant Cass was right. Knockout could trust his friends, and in turn he could also trust Cass. The young Vehicon really did keep his word and he came through for the medic.
"I hope the kid's okay." He thought to himself as he turned on his monitor. "I don't understand why he's going through all of this for Breakdown and me. I wasn't exactly nice to the little scraplet. I didn't even give him a full exam… Which I probably should have while he was still here. I'll have to do that after Breakdown gets back…"
He smirked sadly when he realized what he just said, as if he knew already that the plan was going to work and his partner would be brought back to him, but the truth was he didn't really know that. They were still in the middle of a war, and just about anything could've happened to Breakdown while he was off the radar. While he was being held captive by MECH.
"I should lay out one of the berths for him. Be ready for… Well, just about anything." He sighed as he pulled out one of three medical berths and adjusted it to lean vertically. As he slowly hitched it upward, he ran his servo along the mesh cushioning on the top layer. The berth he chose was the largest one he had, and it was the one he would use for Breakdown's biannual exams. During examination time Knockout would always save his lover for last. It was more like a treat at the end of a hard work day then a chore. After dealing with a tyrannical warlord, a handful of nervous battle drones, and a sassy little symbiote, it was nice to end all of that processor ache by seeing Breakdown. The medic's thoughts focused on the former wrecker and his memories of him lying on the berth before him. How the blue mech would look up at him with a bright smile on his faceplate. Smiling just because he was as happy to see the pretty red mech as Knockout was to see him. Smiling with eagerness without the intention of getting anything more than just the privilege to look at him.
Knockout continued to run his servo over the top of the berth where Breakdown's helm would rest. He caressed it gently and rested the side of his faceplate along the edge of the slab. The depressed medic narrowed his optics, trying to visualize his lover's smile.
'Why are you staring at me like that?' The former wrecker's voice slipped through Knockout's memories. 'Did you find something wrong? Or are you just thinking of an excuse to keep me on my back side?'
"I just want you back here… Safe." He replied through the recollection. "Come back… Come back to me…"
Before he could close his teary optics, Laserbeak landed right in front of his helm. Again she appeared out of nowhere and frightened the red mech so much he flew backwards, landing on his back-struts.
"Damn it!" He shouted when he got his bearings under him. "You winged pain in the aft! You really need to stop doing that! Soundwave! Get a hold of your damn chest-hugger or I swear to Primus I will mount her to my—!" It didn't take the startled mech long to realize he was talking to himself. He switched his helm around the room in search of the communications officer, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Soundwave? Hello?"
His attention was drawn back to Laserbeak. She chirped and bounced franticly in front of Knockout desperately. The small symbiote was in such a panic, she leapt into the medic's lap and fluttered her wings franticly. In her none verbal ways she pleaded with Knockout for help.
"What is it Lassie?" The television watching mech couldn't resist. "Soundwave trapped in a well?"
Laserbeak was not in the mood for jokes, even if she didn't know the medic was making a joke. Tilting her frame at just the right angle she was able to peck at the base of Knockout's chassis, scratching some of his paint.
"Okay! Okay!" The red mech swatted her away. "I was only kidding! Now show me where Soundwave is, and I'll go get him!"
He flinched a little when the anxious symbiote rose upward and soared out of the room. Knockout rolled his optics as he clambered to his pedes so he could hurriedly follow the flier. "Wait a minute! I can't fly you little scrap!"
"Excuse me, Commander Soundwave?" A random Vehicon addressed the communications officer rather casually. "I was assisting with some repairs in an electrical shaft and discovered something stuck in one of the crevasses. Does this symbiote belong to you?"
He raised his arm and held out a small blackish mech, holding him by the back of his neck where the chassis armor met his shoulders. The tiny and dirty little mech looked like a stray kitten being held up by its scruff, and he shook nervously, but he didn't refrain from expressing his frustrations.
"I already told you…" The timid mech whispered. "I'm not a symbiote… I'm a Vehicon. I was helping with repairs too, but I slipped and got stuck in the crevasse."
"But your armor is all black." The taller Vehicon pointed out. "Standard drone armor is violet over black."
"I'm covered in grease and dust. I need a wash." The poor little mech lightly squirmed. "Can you put me down now, please?"
"Query?" Soundwave reached out and took hold of the obviously smaller drone under his arms. He allowed him some time to stretch his struts and firmly placed his pedes on the floor. The silent mech guided the tiny Vehicon to stand behind him. "Vehicon's designation?"
"Me? I am Vehicon drone ST-3V3." The taller Vehicon backed away a little intimidated by the way Soundwave loomed over him.
"Vehicon drone ST-3V3." The third in command inched his frame closer to the dim drone. His EM field bristled in annoyance. "Processor: Functioning properly?"
"Um… Yes Commander. I am in good health." ST-3V3 backed away again.
"Recommendation." Soundwave allowed the Vehicon to continue to slink back towards the communication bridge doors. "Run diagnostics: On optics and processor. Suspicions: CPU malfunction."
"R-right." The taller drone bowed coyly after he finally reached the doors. "I'll be sure to do that right after my chores are done, which I should be getting back to right now. Please excuse me."
Just as quickly as he arrived, he was gone. He left so curtly that he didn't bother bringing the smaller Vehicon with him. So, the poor filthy drone was left behind… Alone with an apparently agitated higher officer.
"I… Uh… I'm sorry for troubling you over nothing Commander." He hunched his smaller shoulders and tip-toed around Soundwave, careful not to graze his dirt covered armor against his higher up. "I will excuse myself."
He took only two more steps away from Soundwave before he slipped on the grease below his pedes. He was still on the platform that raised the computer equipment over a high rise, and he would've fallen over the edge if the third in command hadn't wrapped one of his data feelers around the clumsy drone's waist. Of course he was so full of grease he still slipped through the higher officer's grip, but he swung with just enough momentum to land back onto the catwalk.
"Ow!" The Vehicon shouted when he landed forward on his chassis, his arm strut tucked underneath him. Soundwave knelt down and carefully helped the smaller mech sit up. He cradled the thin strut and physically directed the drone to hold it across his chest.
"Query?" Soundwave kindly gained the drone's attention. "Designation?"
"Me sir?" The smaller mech mumbled. "I am designated as Vehicon drone CA-591-AN. My comrades call me Caspian or Cass if you prefer."
"Vehicon drone CA-591-AN." The communications officer never really indulged in addressing the troops with their nicknames, even though Cass's was the more interesting one he had heard so far. "Request: Remove battle visor."
"Uh…?" Cass bowed his helm shyly. "Is that really necessary, Commander?"
Soundwave took one of his servos and continued to examine the small drone. He gently tilted Cass's helm by his chin upward and to the side. The silent mech's tender approach was very confusing to the timid drone. After the way he had been so aggressive to ST-3V3, Soundwave was being surprisingly gentle with Cass. Why though? The small drone hadn't done anything special to gain such positive, yet odd attention.
"Reservations: Understood." The puzzling third in command replied. "Vehicon's optical slit: Not only unclean. Possibly damaged. Closer evaluation: Necessity."
"Oh…" The Vehicon sighed and tried to unclasp his mask with his undamaged servo. "If you insist sir, but you really don't need to go through so much trouble."
He struggled to take off his mask one handed, so Soundwave had to assist him with detaching it the rest of the way. Cass released a relieved exhale, enjoying the gust of fresh air enveloping his faceplate. His optics gently fluttered open, revealing his beautiful and multicolored irises. Soundwave was completely caught off guard and he actually dropped the Vehicon's mask. He wasn't just surprised by how stunning Cass's optics were, but for a very brief moment something swept over his processor. The strange feeling flew down his frame and lingered in his spark chamber sweetly. Something was brought back to him, and he never thought he would feel this missing part of him again. It was such a short amount of time, but in his mind the sensation stretched out longer than it should have. For the first time in a long time, Soundwave felt at ease… He felt at peace.
"Commander Soundwave?" Cass blinked nervously when the higher officer froze in front of him. "Are you alright? Commander?"
"Soundwave…" A new voice interrupted his thoughts. Everything around him suddenly stilled and went quiet, including Cass. "Soundwave… Yoo-hoo! Can you hear me? Wake up now…"
It was Knockout. Knockout was calling out for him, but why? Where was he? "Come on, I don't have all day! Get your aft up!"
Soundwave's visor flashed to life after he felt a sharp electrical pulse jab him from behind his neck cables. His vision crackled online, and his body jolted over a medical berth. He tried to speak, but his vocalizer was still stuttering through static. It was building up so hastily his faceplate became extremely over heated. He quickly slid back the base of his glass visor and began to gasp desperately for cool air. Before Soundwave could register his surroundings, he felt someone pushing him back onto the berth, and hold him in place.
"Take it easy." Knockout patted the alarmed mech's chest and soothed the underside of his shoulder. "Slow intakes now. You were just having a bad flux, and I had to shock you online. But don't worry, you're safe now."
"W-w-where… A-am-am…" The breathless communications officer stammered. The medic, whom seemed to appear out of nowhere, continued to calm and hush Soundwave.
"Shhh… You're in the med-bay." The red mech slowly slipped away. "Laserbeak brought me to you. You had an anxiety attack and passed out in the halls. Lucky for you that I found you before any of the patrolling troops did."
"L-La-Laser… B-Beak…?" Soundwave shivered as he raised his servo in search of his symbiote. His internal systems were still rebooting and his signal between him and Laserbeak was still too weak to register.
"She's here." Knockout pointed to a portable tray he had set out next to the berth. There Laserbeak was resting. She had fallen into recharge, too upset to stay online. Soundwave began to feel guilty for worrying his symbiote so much, and he reached over to graze her wings. However, the medic stopped him and placed the wavering servo back to the silent mech's side. "Don't wake her up yet. You're still shaking too much. Give yourself a few minutes to settle."
The advice was taken in candor, because Knockout was right. Soundwave didn't want to disturb his faithful droid. He lulled his helm in her direction, and silently apologized to her through his sharp, drastic cycled vents of air. But just as Knockout suggested, Soundwave waited a few minutes and let himself calm down. His shallow intakes slowed, and his EM field gradually started registering as functional. His vocals began to even out again, and he drew his attention back to Knockout.
"St-Star… Scream… Add-d-dressed Megatron. Plan… Be-believed to be-e in progress. I-I must get ba-a-ck to the communications bridge-bridge…"
"You're not going anywhere right now." The red mech still had his servos on Soundwave's frame and he wasn't going to move them until he was sure his patient would stay put. "Once you feel like you can stand, you may use my computer to survey and track Starscream, but until then I need to ask you some questions about your medical history. I tried looking it up while you were out cold, but a lot of the data I have on your past is corrupted. There is a brief mention of you having a history of anxiety attacks, but there is a lot of blocked information. Have you ever had an attack as severe as this? Have you ever fell into stasis lock the same as today?"
"Y-yes…" Soundwave's helm twitched as he spoke, but he focused as best he could on Knockout's questioning. "Anxiety… Diagnosed after major sur-surgery. I was in a-a major ship cra-a-sh… After the last cataclysm on Cyb-b-bertro-on… I was on th-the Destiny."
"The cargo ship Destiny?" Knockout was shocked. "You survived that? I thought the ship was completely destroyed when it crash landed on an uncharted planet. How did you live through that?"
"I al-almost didn't." The telepath was gradually gaining the rest of his bearings. He felt confident enough to lean forward, but he still grabbed Knockout's forearm for support. "I don't know how he f-found me, but Shock-w-wave had discovered the crash s-site and he saved me. He performed a m-major procedure on my abdomen. This is… This is what first caused my-my anxiety…"
The medic had a decent yet horrified idea of what the surgery actually was, and he did his best not to show his alarm. Not until he was absolutely sure it was what he believed. But there was one more thing he needed to know. "Why was all of this blocked from your records? Don't you think as your medic it would be a good idea that I know this?"
"If Megatron knew I was experiencing such strong fits, he never would've allowed me onto the Nemesis… But I had nowhere else to go after Cybertron went dark." The static in Soundwave's voice was finally beginning to dissipate, but the memory of the biggest loss of his function wasn't stopping his frame from shaking. He was still shivering so badly he needed to tighten his grip on Knockout's arm to keep him from sliding off the berth. He still felt unsteady, and with little control of his equilibrium he found himself leaning his helm against the center of Knockout's chassis. Respectively, the medic allowed his patient to find the comfort he needed in a professional understanding.
"So, you used your skills in communications to manipulate your files, and joined the armada heading for Earth." Knockout stated. "I hesitate to ask, because I'm almost certain I know the answer, but can you tell me what the major surgery you received was?"
"Yes…" Soundwave whispered, his helm sadly leered downward. "As mentioned before, I had received detrimental damage to my abdomen. My internal workings needed to either be repaired, replaced, or removed…" The last thing Soundwave said had unhinged Knockout so terribly he nearly felt compelled to embrace the telepath in an abundance of empathy. In his entire career as a medic, Knockout had never heard of anything so disturbing happening to a single mech, even in the middle of a war. But it did happen… And it explained so much about the kind of mech Soundwave had become.
"My gestation chamber was damaged beyond repair, so Shockwave had no choice but to remove it… I was carrying at the time."
-END-