Fatal

Chapter 2: Memories

Knockout's POV

        It was shocking, to say at the least, when Megatron entered my Med-Bay with a very smelly Soundwave on his shoulder. Soundwave had a nasty mix of Energon and oil dripping off of his armor. Vomit. Now, the TIC lay on one of the Med-Berths, in deep recharge. It was disappointing, the silent warrior was just as silent in his recharge as he was all the time. Laserbeak was curled protectively on Soundwave's chassis. Megatron had harshly ordered me to keep Soundwave it tip-top condition.

        A rude knock interrupted me from my thoughts. "Is the drone okay?" Starscream mocked, tilting his head back, laughing. I had to use all my will to keep myself from snapping at the rude SIC. He was a higher ranker after all. Suddenly, Soundwave shifted onto his side, still in recharge. An image appeared in the screen of his visor. The screen, well, was showing what the humans called 'dreams'. It showed a young Soundwave riding a huge Cybercat with Laserbeak flying overhead. Soundwave was pressed up against the Cybercat as if it was a huge Cyberhorse, and they were moving really fast. Soundwave had no visor, Knockout realized. Instead, Soundwave had huge, sparkling, blue optics. Soundwave let out a huge laugh, "We're winning, guys!" He shouted to the Cybercat and Laserbeak.

        Were they racing? If they were, who were they racing? As if on cue, a figure lept out of the protection of the huge metal pillars, "Not any more!" The figure laughed. As I looked closer, I realised the figure was a femme, riding a Cyberdog.

        Soundwave shrieked, "Ravage!" Soundwave shouted to the Cybercat. "Go faster! She's winning!" The Cybercat, Ravage, sped up, dodging the pillars. Laserbeak cawed, racing ahead. Suddenly, the image flickered, then changed. A slightly older Soundwave was backed up in a corner, sobbing. This time, there was no Cybercat, Laserbeak, or strange femme. Nobody was there. The room that held Soundwave was dim and musky. Inside the room was a small berth, smaller than Soundwave, but it was ratted and had clutter building up on it. A huge figure suddenly entered the room. Soundwave stopped sobbing, optics wide with fear. "You fragger!" The large mech yelled. Soundwave sniffled weakly. "You didn't clean, or go out and buy my high-grade! What were you doing this whole time!" Soundwave whimpered, "I-I was s-studying, sir. Then I went to the store, but they were all out of h-high-grade...I looked in the other store, t-too! N-nothing....I'm so s-sorry, sir." He sniffed. The huge mech growled. A knife appeared in the figures hand. Young Soundwave screamed.

        After the gruesome torture, the figure left the room. As soon as young Soundwave was sure the figure was gone, he broke down. Sobbing. "N-no more." He whispered to no one. "Please, Primus. H-help me." Nothing happened. Young Soundwave stared at the Energon covered knife beside him, and picked it up. "I miss you, Starshoot." He whispered, and held the knife above his spark chamber, hands shaking. He closed his optics, and sucked in a breath, then sighed, and let the knife clatter to the Energon stained floor. Young Soundwave shakily stood, and limped over to the berth, and pulled a visor out of the clutter, then attached it to his face warily. Once the visor was on, Soundwave stood up straighter. "I hate you, sire." He snarled.

        The visor went black, and Soundwave was silent once agian. I scrambled away from the TIC. "Oh my Primus." I gasped. Poor Soundwave, poor, poor Soundwave. Starscream had washer fluid streaming down his faceplates. "No wonder he's so silent..." I said. "And mysterious..." Starscream added. Starscream and I left the Med-Bay, still dazed. I walked towards the Ground Bridge. I really need some Me-Time.

Soundwave's POV

        I hate memories. Well, the bad ones anyways. My spark lurched. I sat up. I was in the Med-Bay. My tanks felt empty. They growled in agreement. My helm-ache was still there, but the vomit was off my armor. Did Knockout clean me? I pushed myself up, and awoke Laserbeak, he attached himself to my chassis, then fell right back into recharge. I smiled weakly beneath my visor. I still needed to clean my face, because I still had dried vomit stuck to my face. Ew.

        I entered the hallways of the Nemesis warily, but relaxed a little once I realized it was unoccupied. I made my way as silently as possible to my quarters, not wanting to draw unwanted attention. I opened the door silently, and crept into my wash room. I unlocked my visor, and set it aside. I looked into the mirror. My bright blue optics stared back at me. I sighed, and rubbed the dried vomit off, the put my visor back on.

        The rec room was buzzing with life. Eradicons and Vehicons scurried around the room, talking and laughing. They aren't mindless drones like Starcream says, I thought. I hadn't seen the SIC, Knockout, or Megatron at all sionce I'd woken up. It was strange. Once I entered the room, all activity ceased, and whispers filled the room. A Vehicon was pushed forwards. "Uh, Officer S-Soundwave... Hi, um, are you okay...?" He asked. My spark leaped in surprise and shock. Nobody had ever asked me that since.... Never mind. I smiled, and nodded. I placed a long, slender fingered servo on the Vehicon's shoulder. "What...is your name?" A recording of Knockout's voice asked. "S-Slick..." The Vehicon, Slick, answered. I smiled again, fitting name. I grabbed a cube of Energon, and escaped the room wordlessly.