Soundwave's Echo

Chapter 8

***Soundwave's P.O.V***
After consuming the human version of energon, Echo had fallen into recharge on my desk. She twitched and curled into a ball. I gently collected her into my servos and untangled her. I held her against my chestplate and I felt her snuggle closer towards the warmth emitting from my spark. I felt a smile form on my faceplate. She could act like a sparkling sometimes, running around on her new pedes one moment then deep in recharge the next. Though other times she acted more professional and focused. Echo had been working on the Iacon files with no recharge.
Speaking of work, the mobile armor pendant began to glow. I decided to check and let Echo rest. I placed a digit against the back off the pendant where I could access the security system.
Before the Iacon files, Echo had been monitoring the security system. It used to be her and three vechions, but she was the only one that worked.
I pulled down my visor and looked at the problem. Optimus had discovered his weapons and had the two vechion guards lay in smoking heaps. I watched as he stood and exited the lab.
::Lord Megatron, Orion has escaped the lab.:: I commed.
::Send him to my coordinates, he is useless without his Matrix. I want to see the horror in his optics when I crush it.:: Megatron responded.
::Understood.:: I said before ending the call. I stood and called Lazerbeak. The metal bird's optics went online and he flew down into my subspace. I still held Echo in my servo. Leaving her behind would put her at risk of being discovered by Optimus. Besides I had seen human horror films and when someone was left behind they usually ended up offline.
I stepped out of the berthroom and walked down the corridor towards the lab. My audio receptors began to pick up sounds off shouts and cannon fire. I prepared to place Echo inside my subspace where Lazerbeak could protect her. Near the end off the corridor an offline vechion was slammed against the wall. Thank the Allspark Echo was still in recharge and didn't see him. Soon after the vechion, the Autobot leader rounded the corner and stopped when he saw me. "Soundwave." He said as his optics traveled down to the servo Echo was in. "Give me Echo so I can bring her back to her family, her real family." Optimus said holding out his servo. I felt my anger boil. This mech wanted to bring Echo back to the very things that - when mentioned- caused her to cling to me in fear. "You know nothing, Pax." I hissed before opening a ground bridge directly beneath him. Optimus' optics widened in shock as he fell through the opening. Once he was through and at Megatron's coordinates, I closed the bridge.

∆∆∆

***Echo's P.O.V***
Dreaming

Mother and father held my hands and led me down a dark ally. I pulled on my mother's hand and looked back towards the road. "It's alright, you want to help us right?" Mother said looking at me with her blood shot eyes. I nodded. "Then do what we say." Father said. I looked down the ally when I faintly heard someone whistling. Through the darkness off night I saw a faint light emitting from a boarded up window and a man leaning against the brick wall. "Ah, there you are." The man said standing up. Mother and father tightened their grip on my hands. They must be scared too I thought. The man crouched down to my level. "Well aren't you cute in that dress. What's your name?" He asked. I whimpered and stepped back. "She's shy." My father said. "And mute." My mother added. "That's perfect! I think she'll do fine as payment." He said reaching for me. My eyes widened and I tried to get away from him. My parents hauled me back towards him. Now I knew why they had held my hands so tightly, they didn't want me to escape. The man grabbed my arm and held it tightly. "Here you go." The man said handing my parents packets of white powder. They took them eagerly and and hurried out of the ally. I let out a silent wail and thrashed about. "Stop that you prick." The man hissed. I shook my head and tried to wiggle out of his hold. I heard a click and suddenly pain flared from my leg. I stopped and let out a soundless scream. I looked towards the man and saw him holding a gun. I looked down at my leg and saw blood. "I only shoot the legs." The man said wrapping a bandage around my leg. He then put the gun away and pulled me inside the building. Inside was rows of tables with children sitting in chairs working at each. Some had bandages wrapped around their legs, some had one leg, and others had no legs. The boys were wearing dirty suits and the girls had filthy dresses. "I like my children to be dressed nicely, after all a father wants his children to look pretty." He said pulling me towards a stool. "Now get to work and make daddy proud." He said.

My eyes flashed open. I looked around and found myself in Soundwave's servo. In front of us was Orion. "Give me Echo so I can bring her back to her family, her real family." Optimus said holding out his servo. My eyes widened. Soundwave would never do that I thought. "You know nothing, Pax." Soundwave hissed. I blinked. I hadn't heard his voice since he found me on the road. He made a ground bridge open beneath Orion and he fell through. Soundwave closed the bridge and stood there. I pulled on his digit since his visor was down. Soundwave twitched and looked down at me. He slid his visor back.
~ Where did he go?~ I asked through our bond.
~Megatron will deal with him, sweetspark~ Soundwave said placing a servo on my head. I low grumble sounded. I blinked and looked down at my stomach.
~I'll get you some food~ Soundwave chuckled.