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Something is wrong.
This is the first thought which enters Starscream's processor as he onlines. Something is terribly, horribly wrong with his spark. It is as if something is tugging on it. As if a parasite has climbed into his spark chamber and is siphoning his spark's energy.
With that grotesque thought taking up residency in his processor Starscream attempts to launch himself out of his berth in the direction of the Medbay. He is more than a little disquieted when he is met with resistance in the form of two cables wrapped tightly around his waist. With trepidation he looks behind him to the source of those cables. To his apparent berth-fellow. To Soundwave.
Starscream swallows audibly.
As if sensing his attention, Soundwave slowly begins to online. There is a twitch of limb here, the flash of bio-lights there, the soft humming of systems powering up all along the sleek, powerful frame. Then Soundwave's optics online and Starscream is pinned by the full power of his gaze. Because after centuries of serving the Decepticon Cause at his side Starscream knows Soundwave's tells – even with that accursed visor masking his reactions Starscream has an 80% success rate of knowing exactly where Soundwave is looking and how disappointed he is in him.
“Ah, Soundwave,” he greets awkwardly. “I was not expecting to see you here.”
In the following silence Starscream realises how stupid he must sound as they are a) most definitely in Soundwave's quarters and b) are surrounded by the evidence of what they were doing before they fell into recharge. Which Starscream does remember. Sort of. He was rather emotional last night and there may have been High Grade involved. He has a vague memory of breaking up a Vehicon party and confiscating a few cubes of illicit substances. Which he may have partaken of. To ensure he had sufficiently chastised the troops. Then somehow he'd ended up under the stars. With Soundwave. Where they'd talked, and maybe drunk more High Grade, and... Did Soundwave Ground Bridge them to his quarters? Yes, that sounds right. Starscream was struggling to walk in a straight line at that point and Soundwave had kindly supported him. While rubbing insistently at his modesty panel.
Deciding he has neither the time nor mental capacity to properly dissect whatever happened last night, Starscream resets his vocaliser awkwardly. “Well, as much as I would love to stick around and chat I really must be going.”
A notification pops up on Soundwave's visor to show that Starscream's morning has been set aside to help Soundwave with...researching possible Autobot locations.
The cables wrapped around his waist begin to move. Not to release him – oh no. While one attempts to draw him back towards Soundwave the other winds enticingly down his leg. Too discombobulated to resist, Starscream soon finds himself straddling Soundwave's lap. Unless the Autobots have decided to go to ground in his valve the Communications Officer is not only shirking his duties but is also guilty of lying to Megatron. If his spark wasn't still troubling him Starscream would believe the Vehicons had poisoned him and these are visions created by his comatose mind.
“Soundwave!” he squeaks. “I can't, I really have to-”
Footage of last night appears on Soundwave's visor. Starscream stares in both horror and undeniable arousal. Soundwave undulates beneath him in a most suggestive manner.
“Oh, well, in that case.” He shakes his helm, trying desperately to regain his composure. “Very well. As you seem to be in such desperate need of it.” Slim digits move up to caress his wings and he melts into the sensation. “But no spark-play. I've still not recovered from whatever you did to me last night.”
Soundwave freezes. And his visor brightens.
Starscream braces himself for the next surprise.
…
The morning shift has only just begun when Knock Out's routine is interrupted by the unmistakable sound of a furious, shrieking Starscream. Rolling his optics, Knock Out puts down the tools he had been cleaning. He positions himself by the Medbay doors, cocking a hip joint as he leans against the nearest counter with his arms crossed.
What he expects to come through the Medbay doors is a Starscream eager to complain about the indignity of the tasks Megatron has assigned him (whilst simultaneously avoiding doing those tasks), or a Starscream cursing that he has been ordered to transport injured drones into Knock Out's tender care, or maybe even a Starscream nursing the result of a minor Megatron tantrum. What he does not expect is a tentacle-wrapped Starscream determined to claw out Soundwave's optics.
Knock Out's jaw drops as Soundwave carries Starscream bridal style into the Medbay and carefully places him on the medical berth. He continues to stare, utterly flummoxed, until Starscream's snarled, “If you don't stop gawking you'll be the next one I eviscerate Doctor,” manages to penetrate his processor.
Knock Out clears his vocaliser awkwardly. “Yes, right.” He carefully approaches the medical berth, quietly impressed that Soundwave has managed to lock Starscream's limbs into the restraints without energon being drawn. “How can I be of assistance?”
Starscream glares. Soundwave hovers by the berth, as silent and unnerving as ever.
Knock Out resists the urge to roll his optics. “Do you want me to guess?”
Starscream continues to glare, thankfully at Soundwave. When that has no more effect than glaring at the wall he briefly returns his gaze to Knock Out before actually turning to glare at the wall. He mumbles something too quiet to hear.
Knock Out doesn't bother resisting the urge to roll his optics. “Louder, please, dear Commandant.”
“I'm sparked!”
For a second Knock Out fears his audials are malfunctioning. Thankfully Starscream continues, clearly reluctantly,
“Somebody disengaged the safety protocols in my frame before tricking me into a spark merge. I require confirmation that the sparking was successful.”
Struggling to truly comprehend the situation, Knock Out asks, “And Soundwave is here because...”
“Because he's the fragger who sparked me!”
Knock Out laughs nervously, hoping the other two will join in and let him know this is a horrible, absolutely diabolical prank. When all he receives is an increased feeling of hostility he falls silent and begins to look around the Medbay for inspiration. “Right. Okay. Sparked. You're sparked. Potentially. What tools do I need to check that?” He picks up a scanner and moves to stand on the opposite side of the berth to Soundwave. His gaze flickers between the two before awkwardly cycling his vocaliser. “A visual inspection will provide the best readings.”
“Of course it will,” Starscream mutters resentfully. “At this rate maybe I should take image captures and hand them out to the drones.”
Soundwave's digits move to squeeze Starscream's pouldron.
“It was a joke! As if I would ever...”
There is the whirl of gears shifting and Starscream's chestplate separates to reveal his spark. Knock Out does not dawdle admiring the bright glow; he activates the scanner and attempts to locate the newspark. A soft ping alerts him to the results.
“Starscream, I can officially confirm that you are sparked, and that this is your newspark.”
He angles the scanner so that Starscream can see the smudge radiating a different frequency to his own spark. Starscream's optics pale, his wings begin to tremble, and he makes a sound suspiciously akin to a whimper. The awkwardness factor immediately triples for Knock Out.
“Do you, err, require any guidance on your...on your condition?”
Wordlessly Soundwave closes Starscream's chestplates. He releases the restraints and scoops Starscream back up into his arms. Starscream makes no move to resist as he is carried out of the Medbay.
Knock Out deflates, more than a little relived to be free of whatever mess that was.
He jumps as a notification appears on his HUD. Both apprehensive and curious he opens the attached documents. They are guidelines on what to do if a Decepticon is sparked, including forms to be filled by the diagnosing medic. At the very bottom it states the diagnosing medic has the truly enviable job of informing Megatron he has just lost a member of his workforce to creatorhood.
Knock Out loudly and colourfully curses Soundwave.
…
Megatron takes a moment to cycle his vents before turning his piercing crimson gaze on his senior medic.
“Are you certain that Soundwave sparked Starscream?”
“It is too soon to do such an invasive test on the newspark,” Knock Out answers, wringing his hands nervously. “However, the behaviour of my patients combined with Starscream's, hmm, emotional testimony indicates that to be the case.”
“Ah yes,” Megatron sneers. “Starscream claims that Soundwave deliberately tampered with his sparking protocols. Blaming others for his failures, as usual.”
“If I may, Lord Megatron, I'm not entirely certain that this time the blame does lie with Starscream.”
Megatron cocks an optic ridge. “You think Soundwave did disable his contraceptive protocols. Why?”
“I cannot speak to motive, but Soundwave certainly seemed far less flustered by the situation than anyone else would in his position.”
“That is because he is Soundwave.”
“Even taking Soundwave's unflappable nature into consideration I would still have expected some sort of reaction. A demand for a second test or a second opinion, for example, but all he did was close Starscream's chestplates and whisk him away. It was almost as if it was the outcome he had been expecting, and why would he expect such a thing if he did not personally engineer it? Especially when Starscream seemed both affronted and taken aback by the discovery.”
A smirk pulls at Megatron's lip-plates. “And how do you imagine Soundwave would do such a thing without alerting Starscream to the fact his systems had been interfered with?”
Knock Out coughs and refuses to meet his gaze. “Well, my Lord, I imagine Commander Starscream was rather distracted by the systems Soundwave was turning on and had no reason to believe anything was being turned off.”
Megatron grunts as he violently crushes the mental image of Starscream writhing in ecstasy beneath his old friend.
He turns away, his gaze drifting across the horizon. Occasionally the perimeter patrol drift into view as they keep watch for any Autobot suicidal enough to risk an attack on his citadel. Below Decepticons comb tirelessly through the remains of the Autobots' base in search of either survivors or broken frames. They have orders not to stop until Prime is placed before him. Megatron knows his old nemesis well – Optimus will not have abandoned the base while a single one of his troops remained behind. He will have stayed until the bitter end, until the walls and ceiling collapsed around him. He is down there, buried under the rubble. It is only a matter of time until he is located and Megatron can know true satisfaction. Everything is in order. Everything is as it should be. Everything, apparently, except for the relationship between his most and least favourite lieutenants.
“What game are you playing old friend?” he murmurs as his processor analyses the interactions of his officers for the details he clearly missed.
“My Lord?”
“You are dismissed Knock Out.”
There is a pause before Megatron hears the sound of plating shifting into a respectful bow. “As you wish, Lord Megatron.”
…
They are back in Soundwave's quarters. In his berth, with Starscream curled across his lap and the Seeker's helm resting against the spymaster's shoulder. They have been in this position since leaving the Medbay. Over the last few hours Starscream's blind panic has subsided and been replaced with embarrassment. On more than one occasion he has tried to wriggle out of Soundwave's hold, sputtering some nonsense about not needing to be coddled. The spymaster soon put such ridiculousness to rest with a pointed look and a firmer grip on the Seeker's hip-strut. Starscream had grumbled – as he is want to do – before eventually succumbing to Soundwave's soothing petting of his armour. Finally, the questions and complaints have ceased and Soundwave can take a moment to relax.
His HUD lights up with a high priority ping to his comm. From Megatron.
(You going to answer that?)
Soundwave pointedly does not.
(You're playing a dangerous game Soundwave) Laserbeak says, looking down at him from her perch high up in the corner of his quarters with concern. (That's the third time he's tried to contact you. He'll be on the verge of losing his temper)
(I have more important things to focus on right now than Megatron)
(Hmm) she replies unimpressed. (Have you forgotten that Megatron hates being ignored? You might not think he's your biggest problem but he has a way of shaking up the problem scale in a major way. Like coming to find you in your quarters – great hiding place by the way – and proceeding to scare the scrap out of the Seeker you've almost managed to convince to recharge)
Soundwave looks down at Starscream. Adding Megatron into the mix will certainly do the opposite of relaxing him – the very thing Soundwave has been trying to achieve. For both the Seeker's sake as well as the newspark's.
With an aggravated cycle of his vents Soundwave composes a blunt message to Megatron telling him he is otherwise engaged. If he wants to know why he should speak to Knock Out. If he needs something urgently he should call on other Decepticons for once. He will update him when he is ready to return to active service; in the meantime he'd appreciate if he and Starscream were left undisturbed.
(A dangerous game indeed) Laserbeak murmurs. (Did I miss something last night? Besides the obvious)
Soundwave takes a moment to compose his response.
(I am the one who has missed much. The crew believes I see all, but last night I realised I have been blind to the truth of things since Megatron returned to us. Perhaps even longer than that)
(Scrap) Laserbeak whispers. (What did Starscream say to you after I left?)
(Many things) Soundwave replies cryptically (But it is as much about what Megatron did NOT say as what passed between myself and Starscream)
(Sweet Solus Prime. Please tell me you didn't spark Starscream just because you're mad at Megatron?)
Soundwave shoots her a dirty look. (Of course not)
(...But that factored into your decision)
(It was a pleasing bonus)
(...I think you need to start from the beginning)
Her confusion is understandable. Soundwave's willing to admit that his plan seemed much more coherent when under the influence of High Grade. The morning after he cannot help but wonder if he was too rash, if he should have played this smarter instead of engineering a direct confrontation...
But then he remembers the moment the Omega Lock was destroyed. He recalls that it was Starscream – fickle, traitorous, self-interested Starscream – who stood beside him and vowed revenge on Optimus Prime while Megatron threw back his helm and laughed with manic glee. He remembers that and fury floods his lines, encouraging him to make more and more rash decisions. He has tasted chaos, the ecstasy of being ruled by his emotions, and he does not want to stop. Not until he has confirmation of his worst fears.
He receives another ping. This time not to his comm.
...
Sitting curled up in Soundwave's lap as he silently endures the spymaster's soothing touches Starscream...tries desperately to hate it. He is still furious that Soundwave meddled with his contraceptive protocols without his consent (how else could he have ended up in this slagstorm?!) and confused as to the reasons why he would ever deign to do so, but... It has been a long time since he was pampered like this. As terrifying as Soundwave's sudden change in personality is (since when has Soundwave been a hugger?) part of him cannot help but enjoy having so much positive attention focused solely on him. It is a welcome change to Megatron's dark smiles and threats. Although Soundwave is being as verbose as usual he has made it clear that he does not intend to harm Starscream, if for no other reason than that would also hurt the newspark. However, Starscream has the distinct sense that Soundwave is also somewhat concerned for his own well-being. At the very least, he has no qualms about being affectionate. Which, again, is both bizarre and unnerving...but not unwanted. In fact, if Starscream isn't careful he might just find himself falling into recharge under the onslaught of caresses.
Then, out of nowhere, there is a ping at the door.
Soundwave stills. Starscream waits but the spymaster does not move to acknowledge it, or the one that follows.
The Seeker arches an optic ridge. “Aren't you going to answer that?”
A frustrated trill echoes his question, making Starscream jump. He hadn't realised Laserbeak was in the room.
The insistent pinging switches to an aggressive pounding against the door.
“Soundwave!” Megatron bellows. “Open this door immediately.”
Ice floods Starscream's lines. He has heard that tone before. That tone has never held anything but pain for him.
Suddenly, Soundwave turns so that his back is to the door. He curls protectively around Starscream, and Starscream has just enough time to wonder why before he registers the silence. Megatron has stopped pounding on the door.
That is when he hears the distinctive whine of the fusion cannon.
Without meaning to Starscream buries his claws into the seams of Soundwave's armour, clutching desperately at the only thing between him and a furious Megatron once the door to Soundwave's quarters has literally been blown off its track.
The warlord storms into the room, his optics glowing with murderous intent.
“Lord Megatron!” he squeaks, but the Decepticon leader's ire is (for once) not aimed at him.
“You dare,” he growls. “You dare to ignore me Soundwave?”
Slowly, Soundwave uncurls from his protective huddle. He carefully removes Starscream's talons from his person and, at the distressed sound such an action elicits, he projects a smiley face onto his visor. He then turns around and squares up directly against Megatron.
The reminder that they had once stood as equals in the gladiatorial arena reduces Megatron's fury from an uncontrolled boil to a wary simmer. He stares critically into the depths of Soundwave's visor.
“Knock Out has informed me of Starscream's condition. He has also shared his suspicions that, for once, Starscream's incompetence is not to blame for the situation. That it is my supposedly loyal and obedient lieutenant who is responsible. I want answers, Soundwave, and I want them now.”
Soundwave tilts his helm in challenge, nearly giving Starscream spark failure.
“I care not for the petty grievances and jealousies of the crew. I leave it to your impeccable judgement, Soundwave, to determine what I need to know about their miserable lives.”
“You know well such a directive does not apply here,” Megatron growls. “There are Autobots to be hunted down and destroyed, and you have compromised my Air Commander. If this was not an accident – which I increasingly believe it was not – then you made a decision which will affect the war effort without once consulting me. I would not expect such insolence from you. I thought you were the one soldier I could rely upon to put The Cause before personal gain. So explain to me, Soundwave, what exactly you were scheming when you decided to shut down Starscream's contraceptive protocols and spark him?”
Soundwave goes still. Fury radiates off him and Starscream flinches at the malice which saturates the silence of the room. He's not the least surprised when Megatron shifts his stance from one of intimidation to defence.
“The one soldier I could rely upon to put The Cause before personal gain.”
The pause Soundwave leaves speaks volumes. Then, to everyone's surprise, he actually speaks.
“Cybertron: dead. Revitalisation: impossible. Megatron: does not care.”
“That is not true. I-”
“Negative,” Soundwave interrupts. “Soundwave: has been watching. Megatron: has not grieved for Cybertron. Personal dispute with Optimus Prime: more important than rebirth of Cybertron. Cybertron: a means to an end in Megatron's personal war.” Practically vibrating with emotion, he continues, “Soundwave: grieves. Cybertron's first death: slow, easily missed, an unintended consequence of supporting The Cause. All Cybertronians: responsible.
“Second death: caused by Optimus Prime. Death of Cybertron: necessary sacrifice to continue personal war with Megatron.”
“You're...You're blaming me for Prime's actions?”
“Megatron: knew Prime would not suffer the death of humanity. Megatron: goaded Prime into his attack. Hubris and spite: caused second death of Cybertron.”
“Enough!” Megatron bellows, splicing the air with one arm. “You are clearly malfunctioning, Soundwave, to come to such a ridiculous conclusion. To blame anyone but the Autobots for Cybertron's sad demise you are-”
“Negative,” Soundwave interrupts for a second time. “Soundwave: seeing clearly for the first time in centuries. War: no longer about The Cause. War: about Optimus Prime.” He again tilts his helm in challenge. “Megatron: correct. Soundwave: willing to sacrifice personal desires for The Cause. War: no longer about The Cause. Soundwave: not willing to sacrifice for Optimus Prime. Soundwave: delayed spark's greatest desire for The Cause. No more.”
Acknowledging for the first time in this conversation that they are not alone in the room, Soundwave turns his visor in Starscream's direction.
“Starscream: grieves for Cybertron. Starscream: has never pretended anything but self-interest. Starscream: has lost much. Starscream: agrees that creation is better than endless war.”
The ghost of a memory stirs in Starscream's processor. Had he said that? Possibly. He and Soundwave had definitely taken turns saluting the departed as they passed a cube of High Grade back and forth between them. They'd started by naming the respected contemporaries they'd outlived, then toasted in jest hated enemies, then solemnly spoken the designations of the ones a part of them still mourned. Ravage. Skywarp. Rumble. Thundercracker. Frenzy. The sparkling Thundercracker had always wanted but never was...
Oh.
Oh frag.
“Soundwave: wants a sparkling. Starscream: wants not to be beaten for Megatron's pleasure. Megatron: would not have agreed. Soundwave: has decided it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
In the silence that follows Soundwave notably does not ask for forgiveness.
Apoplectic with rage, Megatron hisses, “Are you volunteering to take Starscream's place Soundwave?”
If he didn't know any better Starscream would describe Soundwave's response as smug. “Soundwave: can remotely crash entire Decepticon network. Archives: will be lost. Surveillance: compromised. Autobots: will never be found. Groundbridge: will never be activated.” A pause, and then a suicidally smug, “Soundwave: invaluable.”
Violet light floods the room as the fusion cannon activates. “The insolence...”
“Old friend.”
Soundwave steps into Megatron's personal space.
“Megatron: once considered Soundwave a friend. No more. Soundwave: now just another soldier. Megatron: forgets why he respected Soundwave. Soundwave: happy to remind him.”
Soundwave's tentacles slowly descend. He uses them to raise himself up so that he towers over Megatron.
“Megatron: should consider carefully. Soundwave: willing to be loyal if allowance made for family. Soundwave: superior; can manage sparkling and duties of Chief Communications Officer. Megatron: will have all the tools to finally declare victory over Optimus Prime. Or.” Soundwave leans down so that his visor is mere inches from Megatron's faceplate. “Megatron: can try to put Soundwave in his place. Soundwave: will fight. Win or lose: Megatron will lose his only truly loyal soldier.”
The fusion cannon does not power down. Starscream begins to calculate the likelihood of being shot if he makes a move for the exit. As unfavourable as the odds are, he likes them better than his chances of remaining unscathed if he stays where he is. He just needs to time his escape perfectly – wait for the fighting to start so that Megatron's battle protocols do not misconstrue any errant movements as the prelude to an attack.
“You have miscalculated Soundwave,” Megatron says quietly. “You overestimate your value. Optimus Prime is dead. The war is over and I stand victorious. This world is mine to do with as I please, and I will not begin my rule by letting such blatant disrespect go unpunished. You will regret ever issuing such a challenge to my authority.”
For what seems like an eternity Soundwave does not react.
Slowly, his tentacles lower him to the floor. He stares up into Megatron's faceplate, giving nothing away.
There is the click of a comm activating.
“Lord Megatron?”
Optics narrowing suspiciously at Soundwave and the open comm line he is currently broadcasting, Megatron growls, “What is it?”
“We've completed our excavation of the Autobot compound.”
Into the uneasy silence Megatron spits, “And?!”
“...And we've been unable to locate Optimus Prime's frame.”
“WHAT?!?!”
Starscream flinches as Megatron's roar ricochets around the room.
“Our teams have been over the area twice my lord. He's not here.”
With another spark-stopping roar Megatron raises his fusion cannon and blows a hole through the nearest wall. Soundwave's only reaction is to end the call.
Cycling his vents furiously, Megatron turns his attention back on his errant Communications Officer. He stares long and hard at Soundwave, the gears of his mind clearly turning as he weighs the pros and cons of deactivating the mech most capable of locating his nemesis.
“It appears I spoke too soon. The war continues.”
The fusion cannon powers down at last. Megatron folds his arms behind his back, once again the respected and controlled commander.
“Return to your post Soundwave. I will pretend this lapse in judgement never occurred.” For the first time his attention turns to Starscream. Soundwave's tentacles flex in warning as the Seeker flinches. With a sneer Megatron declares, “As I understand it, your condition does not yet prevent you from transforming. I want you to lead a reconnaissance team. Just reconnaissance,” he adds with a sharp look at Soundwave's disapproving posture. “As soon as you locate the Autobots you are to inform Soundwave so that he can send a team through the Groundbridge to intercept them. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Lord Megatron,” Starscream replies, inclining his helm respectfully.
Turning on his heel, Megatron strides out of the hole he has made into the corridor. He pauses, adding as an afterthought, “Oh, and congratulations on the newspark. I'm sure you will both be excellent caretakers.” The smile he offers is more threat than reassurance.
With that Megatron strides back towards the command centre. Soundwave turns to look at Starscream. He reaches out with digits that not that long ago had nearly tempted Starscream into recharge.
“Soundwave!” Megatron calls imperiously.
Those digits clench into a fist. Still, Soundwave drops his arm to his side and turns to follow his master.
“When the Autobots are found,” Starscream says carefully. “We have much to discuss.”
Soundwave looks back, offers him a slow nod, then exits the ruins of his quarters. Starscream watches him go, a thousand thoughts circling through his processor.
A vicious grin stretches his lip-plates. Whether he realises it or not Megatron has just signed his own death warrant.