Hidden in the Dark

Chapter 12

Soundwave woke up to the banging and clanging of metal. She gently shook her helm. She must have fallen asleep while sitting and thinking. Bursts of happiness and mischief popped through the bond. She looked over and saw Laserbeak jumping from shelf to shelf in the medbay, avoiding all of Ratchet's attempts to catch her.

"Catch me if you can you old rust bucket!" Laserbeak taunted as she stood high on a shelf, out of Ratchet's reach. Ratchet scowled at her and waved his wrench threatenly.

"Come back down here you little...." But before he could finish, Laserbeak jumped down, kicked his wrench out of his hand, and hopped on another shelf.

"Take that you sucker!" Laserbeak teased. Ratchet growled in frustration and kicked the shelf, making everything topple over. The Autobots rushed in with their blasters ready, looking for a fight. Soundwave calmly stayed where she was and turned her head to face them.

"SOUNDWAVE!!!!!" a wrench whizzed through the air straight at Soundwave but she dodged it with ease. It ricocheted off the wall and came back at her but again, she dodged it with ease. It came flying straight at Ratchet and hit him on the helm.

A wave of awkward silence filled the air as Ratchet's optics offlined. He stood with his fist clenched and vented multiple times. Laserbeak stood on the shelf with her head down, shaking violently. She let out gasped and quickly covered her mouth with her servo. Bits of laughter escaped from her until she couldn't hold it in anymore. She burst out laughing, doubling over so much she let out a yelp as she lost her balance and toppled down, hitting her helm.

"Carrier slagging, pit spawn of a fragging glitch to the Pits with you!" she swore a line even a gladiator in the Pits would have been proud of. Ratchet hurled a wrench at her helm.

"Frag you glitch!" she swore again, "What the frag was that for?

"That was for swearing!" and he threw another one at her helm but she nimbly dodged it.

"Go to the Pits you rusty old bucket!" Laserbeak hurled the wrench back at Ratchet's faceplate. It left a sizable dent in his cheek.

"You little-" Laserbeak cleverly dashed to safety on Soundwave's lap. She turned around and stuck her glossa at Ratchet. Soundwave put her arm protectively around Laserbeak as Ratchet stared daggers at her.

"What is going on?" Optimus Prime asked authoritatively. Ratchet pointed a wrench in Laserbeak's direction.

"That little brat refuses to be checked up!"

"Maybe that little brat might agree if you asked nicely!" Laserbeak retorted. Ratchet raised his wrench wielding hand up but Soundwave stopped him with her stare.

"If you're looking for someone to blame," Laserbeak looked at Ratchet right in the optics, daring him to make a move, "Go take a look in the mirror," She jeered her chin at him. Miko oohed while Bumblebee whirred.

"Laserbeak," Soundwave said warningly through the bond. Laserbeak sent puffs of annoyance but stood down.

"That little...."

"Freedom is the right of all sentient beings," Soundwave interrupted with a voice clip. She glanced at Ratchet's optics. They were a deep and dark blue, sparks flying from one side to the other. She detached her tentacles and picked up the shelves, placing them in their original spots. She picked up the equipment littered on the floor and returned them to the shelves.

"Laserbeak," Soundwave said expectantly through the bond.

"What!?" Laserbeak snarled.

"We are online and functioning because of them," Soundwave reasoned, "We may not like them but we must put our feelings aside and be reasonable," Laserbeak huffed.

"Fine," She turned to Ratchet, "I'm sorry, ok?" Ratchet growled. Laserbeak fluttered up the Ratchet's face and made a pouty face.

"Please?" Ratchet tried to look away from her optics but he couldn't.

"Fine,"

"Hahaha!" Laserbeak said, "I didn't meant that!" she fluttered back to Soundwave's lap, looking very innocent. Ratchet growled.The Autobots just watched the whole scene unravel.

"Soundwave," Optimus Prime looked at her, " Soundwave looked back, almost defiantly.

"How are you feeling?" His question startled her. Her processor went blank. She was used to interrogations but not this. Especially not this. Laserbeak, noticing her discomfort, answered for her.

"We're fine," she said guardedly, "Thank you very much,"

"Good to hear," Optimus Prime replied easily.

"Of course they're fine," Wheeljack huffed, rolling his optics, "After all, we saved them didn't we?"

"Oh thank you so much," Laserbeak answered, voice dripping with sarcasm, "Autobot tin can," Wheeljack balled his servos and took a threatening step forwards. Laserbeak stood up and jeered her chin at him.

"Halt, soldier," Ultra Magnus held out an arm, baring Wheeljack's way. Bulkhead put a servo on his friend's shoulders.

"That little insolent glitch," Wheeljack growled.

"Cash ma ousside," Laserbeak fluttered up with a sassy look on her faceplates, "How bow dah?"

"What the frag is that suppose to mean?!" Wheeljack retorted, "Don't you know how to talk properly?"

"It ain't my fault that you don't understand," Laserbeak said sassily, "Ask your humans, they all understood it," Wheeljack looked at her disbelieving before looking down at the humans.

"Pick me pick me!" the human with pink streaks in her hair jumped up and down excitedly. Wheeljack nodded at her.

"Tell me Miko"

"It means," Miko said excitedly, "If you want to, you both can finish it outside,"

"Basically," Jack said nervously, "She's daring you to fight her," Laserbeak smirked at Wheeljack with an "I told you" look. Wheeljack growled dangerously. Without warning, he charged forward. Bulkhead and Ultra Magnus quickly grabbed Wheeljack's shoulders and held him back.

"Wheeljack," Optimus Prime said warningly, "At ease," Wheeljack shoved the servos off his shoulders and glared at Laserbeak. Laserbeak happily returned the glare.

"With all due respect, Prime," Wheeljack argued, "If that little glitch wants to fight, then I'll fight her,"

"Back at yah,"

"There will be no fighting," Optimus Prime's voice rang out, "They are guests here and we do not treat guests that way," Laserbeak opened her mouth to object.

"Laserbeak," Soundwave's robotic voice commanded, "Stand down,"

"But Soundwave!"

"Laserbeak," Laserbeak huffed but got back down to sitting on Soundwave's lap again. Wheeljack glared at Laserbeak and made a slitting throat motion. Laserbeak glared back and made a "i'm watching you" motion.

"Soundwave," Optimus Prime addressed her, "We would like to have a meeting with you tomorrow, would you join us?" Even though it was a question, Soundwave knew she really had no choice. He only asked her to join because of diplomatic reasons but really, as long as she stays here, she would have to do almost everything the Autobots tell her to do. Almost everything. She still have some rights that she could claim and exercise but now, she was walking on thin ice. She needed to keep Laserbeak back as Laserbeak had a temper and would never stand down a challenge from that Autobot. Wheeljack, his name was.

Sounwave sighed. Wheeljack and Laserbeak is going to go headbutt each other someday. It was inevitable. She just needed to postpone that day as long as she can.