Starscream stares out at Iacon in the distance, small movements of flying bots visible even from many miles away. Megatron paces about behind him as they rest from their small journey back from Shockwave's laboratory. The big bot is in deep contemplation, shifting through his mind about all the places that Shockwave could be. Even though he is reserved about going through Shockwave's diary, it is still clamped in his fingers for possible future reference. The communication device is magnetized to his waist, awaiting a response.

"Did Shockwave knew Ryo before yesterday?" Megatron asks, his feet still shuffling over upturned rocks.

"I doubt it. They didn't seem familiar with each other, and Ryo seemed very hesitant about Shockwave."

Megatron halts and plants his hands on his waist. His fingers thrum on his hips, each sharp finger making a small click. "They at least knew each other in passing. The entry that I, uh, read, it mentioned that Shockwave enountered a light blue mech in the woodlands who told him, 'that he could get a new face.' I have a clue about where they could be."

. . .

Starscream watches his translucent reflection peer back with mesmerized eyes as he walks by storefronts packed with display parts. Sometimes there would be just hands and cheap t-cog replacements, but other stores boasted full bodies equipt with lilac eyes and faux grins. Starscream feels a strange tingle go down his spine; it is uncanny to view uninhabited bodies. Cheery Cybertronians amble past through the streets of Iacon, some pausing to observe the parts they could only wish to afford. Others stare at the notorious duo before returning to their daily routine.

Megatron enters a shop with an impressive array of faces gleaming through the windows, and Starscream bustles after him. The store's air is clean and light with a slight stench of oil and burning metal. The aisles are semi-lit while the counter present in the back is flooded with pale light as a bot works on constructing someone's future face. Megatron makes a beeline for her station. The eyeless faces around Starscream mesmerize him, and he pauses to assess each one, admiring the skill to craft such unique visages.

The bot at the table places her soldering tools down as Megatron approaches. "Yes?"

"Have you seen a purple mech pass through here? About this tall," Megatron holds up a hand. "Uh, a victim of empurata?"

She shakes her head. "I just craft faces, not entire heads."

"Does anyone around here make heads?"

"Not that I know of. Mostly medical specialists will create and install those because they involve disconnecting and reconnecting the brain module." She turns back to her work. "Need anything else, Megatron?"

"Uh, no. Sorry." Megatron ambles back to Starscream, who is holding up a face to his own, trying it on like a mask. "Hear everything?"

Starscream looks up a him, the pits of the unanimated face housing his bright red eyes. "Yeah." He places the face back in its spot.

Megatron jumps as the communication device on his hip excitedly buzzes, and Starscream quickly snatches it and places it to his auditory receptor, ignoring Megatron's glower.

"Hello?" Starscream jeers, smiling up at the bristling mech.

"You were calling?" Shockwave grumbles.

"Oh, yes. Many times. It's almost as if we are in the midst of imminent planetary destruction and you're the only one who can really help us."

The bot in the back raises her head, now listening intently. Megatron waggles a hand at her, playing off Starscream's gripe as a joke, before bending down to listen closely to the coversation.

"I...uh...apologize. I'm...just having a moment right now."

"That's no excuse!" Megatron barks, his mouth right next to the audio input of the device. "Where in the name of Primus are you?"

"I'll meet you back at the house."

"No! Where are you, Shockwave?"

Silence.

"Shockwave, answer me."

"You are no longer my liege. I do not respond to you!"

Starscream's mouth falls open as the drama swells between the two bickering mechs. He folds his hand over his mouth, blocking his chortle, and hands the communication device to Megatron. Megatron snags it from Starscream's shaking fingers.

"What has gotten into you? Is something wrong? Are you in trouble?"

"No, I am safe. In pain...but safe."

"Who hurt you?"

"No one. I...I'm recovering. From an operation. Ryo...he helped me find someone to undo the empurata. The shadowplay...it's been wearing off. It doesn't last forever. Lobe's work is flawed and reversible just through the brain module trying to correct itself and return to homeostasis." Shockwave remains quiet for a moment. "Am I a disappointment to you?"

"Shockwave..." Megatron sighs. "No. How do you feel?"

"Better. My mind is clear. I'm...I'm in the hotel district. The Wenith building, third floor, room 357."

. . .

Megatron stares, aghast, at the weakened state of his former personal scientist. Shockwave looks back with glossy blue eyes, his new face paralyzed and difficult to move. A simple purple helm frames his silver cheeks and smooth forehead, but even the youthful features cannot veil his tired, aged gaze. His body is spread out on a slab, his gun arm now replaced with an almost identical copy of his right arm. Ryo watches from a chair in the corner, gently devouring a tin of energon chips.

Megatron places the diary on Shockwave's bedside table. Shockwave's gaze locks onto it. He slowly swallows and licks his lips, preparing to speak.

"I wish the shadowplay started wearing off earlier. So I could fight back."

Megatron nods, listening.

Shockwave sighs and looks towards the ceiling. "I...I'm not helping anymore. My science, my hard work, has been weaponized and taken advantage of. It's just for me now, and I plan on evacuating after I recover. I know it sounds selfish...but my body has been hijacked for millennia. I just want to get away from this place, find a colony possibly. I want my talent for myself now, to benefit me and those I care about."

Megatron pulls his chair closer and knits his fingers together. "Billions of people might die. You're science could save them and save your home."

Shockwave narrows his eyes. "And what kind of home is this? One where my body was swept out from under me? My brain literally rewired? Besides, I don't know what to do about this 'silent light'. It is beyond my scope at this point. And I know Ryo told you to try going through it again, but what good will that do? Just spit you back through the white hole?" Shockwave shakes his head. "Idiots, the whole lot of you."

Ryo halts, mid munch, before slamming the tin on the floor. He storms up to the recharging slab. "I got you surgery, and this is what you call me? An idiot? I know someone who got you this for free, Shockwave. Free. They owed me favors, so I spent them on you."

"Free? They took my gun also as payment. And what? So I need to repay you now?" Shockwave spits, his nose crinkling.

"I don't want repayment. I just did it because...because I thought we had something."

Shockwave slowly sits up, his backstrut creaking as it pushes against his strained movement. He leans towards Ryo. "We saw each other in the woods a couple times and exchanged nods. You told me I should get a new face and you knew a place to get it. So what? We have nothing. It's not my fault you are infatuated with me and decided to give me something priceless. If there's anything the war taught me, it's that you should always take what you can, especially when it is served right to your doorstep! Go frag yourself, glitch!"

Ryo studies Shockwave's guise before peeling his lips back to reveal his shiny teeth, disgusted.

Starscream quickly slips between the two of them, ignoring their bared teeth and firey optics. "Boys, maybe we should leave this for later? When Shockwave has recovered." Starscream turns to Ryo. "Who'd you bring him to?"

Ryo shakes his head. "Someone probably long gone by now. He wouldn't alter with Shockwave's brain; he's a neutral. If that's what you're worried about. But," Ryo folds his arms and looks at Shockwave, who is now settling back down and closing his optics. "he did warn about a period of aggression afterwards. His body has been severely tampered with, so he is essentially subconsciously in fight-or-flight. He's vulnerable."

Megatron places a gentle hand on Shockwave's forehead, sending a stab of jealousy through Starscream. He wants to be all sick and cared for! Starscream collects his thoughts, as sudden realization spreading through him. If he would wish disease upon himself just to have Megatron touch him affectionately...then he must like him after all.

"Anyways," Ryo continues. "I'm not taking anything he says personally. It's frustrating, though." Ryo sighs and returns to his corner of the room. "If you really want to get a clear answer out of him, then you should wait."

"How long?" Megatron inquires.

"Doc said about three days."

The mechs freeze up as a sudden shudder passes through the hotel room, causing lights to vibrate and flicker. It soon slows to a distant tremble, but it was enough to shake up those it afflicted. Starscream rubs his arms and silently trods over to the window. He peeks his head through the curtain shielding Shockwave from the stabbing light outside, but nothing in particular is present in the sky.

"So," Ryo sticks his finger into the tin, rubbing dust of the bottom. "What are you two going to do?"

"I don't know." Megatron leans away from Shockwave. "When did you start speaking Neocybex?"

Ryo sucks on his fingers. "Since the day you met me. I've found that speaking my own language will keep people away when I want them to. Except for you." Ryo gestures to Starscream. "But I like you, so I didn't mind."

"Ah." Megatron gets to his feet and trods to the other side of Shockwave's bed, making himself directly in line with Ryo. He clasps his hands behind his back. "You've known him much longer than you say you have."

Ryo nods enthusiastically. "Yeah. We would go make out when we were bored. Well, I would to him. He would just enjoy it. I liked it too, though."

Megatron rubs his temple, processing the thought of Shockwave freely letting another bot touch him, let alone shower him with affection and lewd touches.

"B-but at your home," Starscream sputters. "you seemed afraid of him."

"Yeah, yeah. Because I had never seen the gun before. And I was afraid it might misfire or something and destroy my home. I guess he put it on for you or something." Ryo looks to Megatron. "And he just acted like he didn't know me."

"But you and I have been spending time together for the past deca-cycle and I never even saw him or anything. And you never mentioned him."

"We did it at the lab. And he specifically stated not to tell anyone about it. I don't really appreciate being kept a secret, but I was in some dire need of intimacy too, so..." Ryo raises his hands up a tad, shrugging his shoulders. "here we are."