Reunion [an Earthspark story]

Chapter 13: Plans

Starscream sat quietly next to Illusion, as Megatron and Optimus were calling for the other autobots to come to the barn quickly. Bee tried to reassure the terrans that they'll be fine and that they're going away somewhere. Starscream looked over to Illusion's arms, Hazard's frame laying in between them. "Illusion-" "《Don't.》" StarScream stopped, his voice leaving him. Illusion stroke Hazard's helm, hoping that she'd wake up already. Shockwave arrived at the barn, a couple of Decepticons arriving as well. "Where is Soundwave?" Shockwave asked as he walked towards Megatron. "He's in the barn. I don't know if he wants to talk to anyone-" "It's illogical to leave him alone at this time. I'll go check on him. You plan on finding Frenzy." Shockwave left before Megatron could protest. Megatron sighed heavily as he looked over the fellow Decepticons that arrived. Skywarp and NovaStorm were chatting with each other as Bombshell and Shrapnel both were watching the trees. KnockOut was talking to Brawl, holding his newborn, WildBreak, in his arms. Megatron sighed heavily as the Decepticons started gathering around him, Optimus and Bumblebee keeping a distance from them. "Why exactly are they here?" NovaStorm looked over at the two Autobots surrounded by the terrans. "They're here to assist us with the rescue mission." "Rescue mission?" Brawl laughed. "I'd be wise if you don't laugh at this Brawl." Megatron warned. Brawl rolled his optics as Megatron started explaining the plan.

Frenzy couldn't believe what they said. Rumble was.... ALIVE!? But she saw that he was destroyed due to the failed deployment and exploded. Why didn't they check if his spark was still beating!? "But where is he!?" Frenzy yelled. Breakdown looked away as Arachnid stayed quiet. "We saw them take away his body. They talked about using him as a vessel for something." Frenzy slumped back into her cell, still shocked by the news. "I think we saw them take away another spark chamber with them earlier while you were knocked out. It was still beating." Breakdown spoke. Frenzy realized who's spark chamber they have. "That's Hazard!!!" "You mean Illusion's minicon!? I thought she died." Arachnid spoke, surprised. "No. She's alive! Ah, scrap, Illusion must think Hazard is gone or something." Frenzy said. Arachnid looked over to Breakdown, seeming lost in thought. "Is- Is KnockOut alive?" Breakdown asked. Frenzy nodded, giving hope to Breakdown. "Dude- Everyone thought You and Arachnid got killed or something!" Arachnid scoffed as Breakdown's gaze darkened. "Likewise, it's those humans that got the better of us and we've been stuck here for a while." Arachnid hissed. Frenzy looks up at her, not wanting to tell her they've been missing for years. "Yeah, yeah.... Do you guys think they'll find us?" Frenzy asked.

"Sadly, we don't have any leads on where Frenzy may be..." Megatron spoke at last, the Decepticons whispering to each other. "I highly doubt we should be wasting our time in finding her." Brawl spoke, causing Megatron and StarScream to glare at him. "Shut up Brawl!" "Why should I!? It's true!" "It's just one minicon, what's the point!?" "That's Soundwave's cassette that they captured you son of a glitch!" "What's the point!? I'm sure Soundwave will get her replaced soon."

BANG! BANG! ...

Everyone turned around, seeing Illusion grabbing StarScream's firearm, glaring at everyone. "《SHUT UP!》" She let go of Starscream’s arm, KnockOut whispering small apologies to his creation. Megatron cleared his throat to continue. "Thank you, Illusion...." Megatron sighed heavily before returning to the task at hand. "We need to find a lead. I doubt that those captures didn't leave evidence..."

Frenzy sat in her cell as Arachnid was explaining about a way to get out. "As much as I would like to listen to the rest, who else is here in this dump?" Frenzy asked. "Well, ThunderCracker is one of the very few who got captured with me, along with Kickback, Dead end, and Onslaught. Well, if Onslaught counted as alive..." Frenzy knew what she meant. "But Decepticons aren't the only ones they captured." Frenzy's visor widens. "What do you mean?" "They've been capturing Autobots as well." Frenzy couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Who?" "There was this one dude called CliffJumper and another named Mirage, but I doubt that the last one is alive." Typical, so CliffJumper is the only Autobot alive right now. "Anyway, what's the rest of the plan?" Frenzy asked. "Hmmm, can you still send spark pulses to your carrier?" "I think..." Frenzy tried but didn't receive any response. "I'm too far away from him." Arachnid frowned since that was their only way out. But she's not giving up. "Just try again! If Soundwave really loves you, he'd be sending spark pulses, hoping you can respond back!" Frenzy sighed heavily. Arachnid is right. Her carrier loves her.... no matter what....

Soundwave tried again, sending a strong pulse filled with sorrow and dread. He waited, hoping Frenzy responded. Shockwave sat next to him, holding his servo, rubbing soft circles repeatedly. "/...she's not responding.../" Soundwave wiped away the lubricant tears that stained his cheek plates. "....Try again." Soundwave looked over at him, his visor dimmed. "/But what if she's dead!?/" Soundwave yelled. Shockwave scoffed. "It is illogical for you to think that she is offline. You should know her better than anyone." "/And if she is!?/" Soundwave yelled, pulling his servo away from him. Soundwave buried his face into his knees, sobbing. Shockwave hated this. Seeing Soundwave so..... hopeless. His carrier mech was broken. Shockwave tried again, placing his servo on Soundwave's shoulder cannon. "Look, Soundwave.... we don't know if Frenzy's dead or alive but it's clear that your minicon needs you. She needs you, Soundwave. More than ever...." Soundwave's visor began to brighten as Shockwave places his other servo on Soundwave's servo. "So please.... Wipe those tears. Focus on Frenzy's spark. Focus on your bond. No matter how far you both are away from each other...." Shockwave leaned his helm towards Soundwave's crest. "You'd always be connected to her..." Soundwave felt that someone lifted his spark, now filled with hope and determination. Shockwave was right. Frenzy needed him. And he's gonna find her. Soundwave focused on his spark pulse, one of comfort to help Frenzy. He sent more, each one filled with love and hope. He waited, gripping tightly onto Shockwave's servo. He felt something.... Another weak pulse answering his. It was Frenzy's but he felt another one. It was returning his spark pulses, filled with an equal amount of love and hope. He couldn't believe it... He started to cry again but this time, his tears were filled with joy. This spark....

It was Rumble's....