Hidden in the Dark

Chapter 8

Soundwave was laying on her front. The bullet from Megatron's fusion cannon had scraped the metal of from the mid point of her back to her neck. Soundwave vented harshly as Laserbeak operated on her back.

"That glitch just had to do that didn't he?" Laserbeak swore harshly as she carefully unfolded the curled up metal plating. Soundwave hissed.

"Don't say that," she rasped through the bond. Laserbeak grumbled but continued her work. She carefully started to melt the edges of the curled metal to her back with a flame torch. Soundwave restrained herself from thrashing and thumping as her HUD showed the pain levels. They had no anesthetics.

Sometimes, when the pain was too much. Soundwave would gripped the sides of the rock berth with her sharp claws. Throughout the whole operation, not a single sound was heard from Soundwave. She was notorious for her silent presence and she intended to keep it that way.

Laserbeak was covered in energon from helm to pede. She sometimes took a break, stretching her wings and arching her back. These tiny breaks let Soundwave regain her composure and prepare herself for the ongoing assault of pain.

"All done!" Laserbeak said proudly. There wasn't even a mark or a scar on Soundwave's back. She had taken her time to buff Soundwave's beautiful frame. Soundwave smiled under her visor and slipped into a dreamless recharge.

On the Nemesis

"Why haven't we been able to locate Soundwave!" Megatron roared in the command room. He punched the nearby vehicon and sent him flying into the wall. Megatron paced around like a predator who is restless for the kill.

Starscream cowered behind one of the computers. Knock Out looked around frantically for a way out. Breakdown keep out of the command room saying that he had "patrol duty".

Megatron turned around and glowered at them. They immediately dropped their stares and looked at their computer screen instead, working away. They didn't even know what they were working on.

Finding Soundwave is like telling Optimus Prime that Megatron wants a truce. It was utterly impossible! He was the head of Communications and more than that. He took care of all of the tracking of the vehicons, fellow Decepticons, and the energon mines. The tracking was suppose to be Starscream's job but he dumped it all on him, grumbling that he had better things to do that. No bot could track like Soundwave, no bot.

Since he was so good at tracking, he also knew what to do in order to avoid detection. He avoid detection from the Decepticons until the war ended if he wanted to. No bot could cover up their tracks like him, not even specialised Decepticon bounty hunters could track him down. Thy knew too little of Soundwave, what he usually does, what he likes, where he would likely go. All they knew was that the TIC was a no face muted mech.

He was the most dangerous Decepticon and also the most loyal. A dangerous package if you will. But Megatron never doubted his loyalty for him until now.

Facts and conclusions ran through Megatron's processor. Why would he leave him? What had he done to him? As far as he knows, he had treated Soundwave with more respect than his SIC! He respected that Soundwave wears a visor and he wouldn't take it off.

And that unruly Autobot, what he about to say about Soundwave that made the medic cut him off? What did they find out about Soundwave? Megatron whipped around and glared at Starscream. Starscream looked around frantically, edging towards the exit.

"I want you to send out an air search party. NOW!"

At the Autobot Base

Everyone was restless after the day Soundwave officially defected. She would be a loyal Autobot to the cause if she wanted to. But to think Soundwave was alone, doing whatever she was doing was terrifying.

Back in the Pits of Kaon, she was known for her fearlessness, her posture, her dignity, and her silence. No bot was able to read her expressions as she always wore her visor. Her frame language gave nothing away.

The silence scared the Autobots as they never knew what she would no next on the battlefield. Would she slice at them with her razor sharp claws? Would she snuff them with one blow of her tentacles? Or would she shoot another of their comrade behind their backs?

Her skills would be a great addition to the Autobot ranks. But she would be isolated by her fellow comrades, if she joined. Even Optimus Prime's skills couldn't compare to Soundwave's. No one could her job better than her. Soundwave was the biggest advantage Megatron had over the Autobots. Even more, it a stable advantage. No Decepticon or Autobot doubted her loyalty to Megatron, until now.

Ratchet was restless, along with Miko who keeped asking questions about Soundwave. Why did she defect? Where was she now? How dangerous is she?

Wheeljack and Bulkhead were thoughtful, undoubtedly thinking about Soundwave. She wasn't the type of bot who would be noticed in the crowd but if you notice her, you couldn't and wouldn't get her off your processor.

Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus had been having "meetings" about Soundwave. What would they do with her if she asked to join? Could they make a deal with her? Bribe her until join? What would they bribe her with?

Protection? That was stupid. She had showed them that she could take care of herself and her companion very well.

Energon? No doubt she has the coordinates to the Decepticon mines and has already raided them. Or not. She was unpredictable.

If they convinced her to join them, imagine the amount of intel they could get from her. As far as they know, all of the important information that the Decepticon posses would have to go through her one way or another. She wasn't the communications officer for nothing.

But for now, both fractions would have to wait until Soundwave makes her next move.