Goldenrod - SoundRod AU

The Liars

The two boys stood in the ruins, close together as they waited for the two ghosts. Soundwave sighed, looking at Hotrod, maybe that was when he realized he never took his visor back from Hotrod because he reached out and snatched it.

"Hey!" Hotrod protested.

"Did you crack it?" Soundwave murmured gently, running a gentle servo over the large crack splintered into the red tinted glass.

Hotrod watched his servos, briefly reaching for Soundwave's but pulling back because—well— that's a bit fruity, isn't it?

"Y-you did, when you were taken. Still angry about that." Hotrod answered, his tone a bit ruder than normal.

Soundwave stared at him expectantly, his blue and pink optics being masked once more by his visor as he slipped it back on.

The two waited for what seemed like years, until Cheetor appeared before them. Soundwave grumbled something about them being late again and he would rearrange their sparks.

Hotrod smirked. "Took you long enough." Cheetor chuckled. "Sorry about that, Hotrod. We were caught up."

Hotrod smiled, turning to the Pavilion. "Hotrod, what's the real deal with our portion of the plan? I know we're not just 'scavenging' your to dumb to buy me with that." Soundwave asked, leaning down to his height.

His optics flickered under his visor, the blue a purple color due to the red colored glass. "We're gonna find the scientist, see what's really happening and put a stop to it." Hotrod said firmly.

Soundwave stared at him, thinking over the options briefly before pulling away so he didn't have to fight with Hotrod about it. Hotrod smirked, turning his gaze back to the large spiraling Pavilion.

His blue optics narrowed in disgust. He started walking towards it, soon followed by Soundwave and the two dead bots.

—————————

Clobber and Whirl drifted back to MacCadams, annoyed. Whirl sighed, landing and barging in. Bumblebee followed the light blue helicopter inside."Percy, a bit of help if you could manage." He 'asked.'

Preceptor 'looked' in his direction, nodding. "What is it that you need my assistance with?"

"Hotrod, something off, this doesn't feel right."

"How so?"

"I-...."

Clobber ran into the bar, rubbing her head in annoyance. She sat down, red optics glancing around.

"Hotrod's been acting to weird around Soundwave, and Soundwave's been acting weird! And Bee—..." Clobber started, pausing and glancing at Bumblebee.

"They all have." Dead-end chimed in, staring at Preceptor expectantly.

Preceptor moved, looking around the bar before landing on where MacCadam usually was. The big gray-green bot was there, listening to them.

"MacCadam." Percy spoke, his dead optics flashing slightly in the lights. The bot looked up, staring at them.

"Tell us why." His voice was stern but showed hope.

MacCadam stared blankly at them. "Do you all remember the Alpha Trion Protocols?"

....

———————

Hotrod stood outside the door of the lab, annoyed. All his attempts to get in were futile, none worked.

Soundwave just chuckled, resting a gentle servo on Hotrod's breastplate before his chassis opened and out flew two bots.

A small feline like bot and Lazerbeak. "Ravage, Lazerbeak, the door." He murmurs to them quietly.