Hidden in the Dark

Chapter 9

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Soundwave's optics onlined to darkness. Her HUD flashed onlined.

Energon Levels: Low

She reached into the bond and poked on Laserbeak's side. All she got was a wave of annoyance and fatigue. She send a smile over the bond before receding. She scanned her surroundings to find herself in the Autobot Base, again.

Her levels began to rise unstabling, peaking over the top before coming down again. She began to heat up as her cooling kick in attempt to cool her down. She vaguely registered shouts of worry before her HUD collapsed.

Screams. Shouts. Pain. Fear. She curled up in a corner, her servos covering her audio receptors, trying to block out the verbal abuse of her parental units. This continued for an amount of time she couldn't remember before she was thrown out of the house. She covered her faceplates and started to leak, coolant drops pitter pattered on the ground.

She looked up at the sky to find it was pitch black. She looked around to find herself surrounded by the darkness. A few streetlights were on, flickering on and off. She staggeringly got on her knees and walked down the streets.

She stumbled in an alley, fatigue was taking it's toll on her as she huddled against a dump, using her hands to warm herself. She slept a dreamless sleep that night.

Soundwave twitched in her sleep, turning her helm from one side, her fram tensed before she relaxed. Laserbeak's face plates were peaceful with a smile tugging on her lips. Ratchet shook his head before returning his attention to his screen. These younglings were going to be the death of him, for sure.

"How are they?" Optimus Prime walked in and observed them. His optics was a soft baby blue as he looked sorrowfully at their sleeping figures.

"They are fine," Ratchet said, "But Soundwave needs to refuel but she can't refuel when she's in recharge," he was about to say something else but closed his mouth and focused on his work. Optimus Prime nodded in understanding.

Again, they just had to wait. Everything had to wait. Deals, truces, exchanges. All had to slow down and pause for the former third in command. Time was on her side now.

Optimus mused with a grim smile on his face. Time wasn't on his side. She controlled time and the fate of thousands and thousands of individuals. She held to the key to the end of the war, whether it be the Decepticons winning or the Autobots. She was the key to Earth's survival or destruction. And possibly, she was also the key to the revival of Cybertron.

She had no idea how much power she carried now. The weight and the burden she carried and Optimus Prime wasn't happy. Not one bit. Such a young femme with the world on her shoulders. She had to grow up too soon. She had to face the horrors and truth of the life to early on in her life.

Too soon. Too soon.