Fatal

Chapter 3: Past

Starscream's POV

        It was the perfect plan! When Soundwave falls into recharge again, I'll broadcast his dreams to the whole ship! Then, they'll think even less of their precious Third in Command. I chuckled evilly. And, better yet, once Lord Megatron finds out, he'll throw Soundfreak off the ship! Forever!

        "What are you planning, Starscream?" Asked a very curious Arachnid. I chuckled, "The fall of the Third in Command." Time to start Step 1.

Soundwave's POV

        "So, Knockout, this sickness changes a person against their will?" Megatron asked. "Yes, My Liege, but it is fatal, meaning if we do not find the cure fast enough, well, Soundwave will perish." I looked up. Perish? Yikes! Suddenly, a strange feeling entered me, sending shivers down, well, everywhere. I stood, turned, and started poking around through Knockout's tools. I found a really cool wrench, and did the logical thing, I threw it at Knockout's helm. It hit Knickout's helm with a loud CLANG! "Oww! What the frag, Soundwave!" The said medic growled. I giggled. And just like that, the strange feeling left me, and I felt exhausted. I groaned inwardly, and slumped onto me Med-Berth, clutching my head.

        "Do you need some Energon, Soundy?" Knockout asked me, after Megatron left. I nodded, leaving the room, mostly to gather my thoughts. I entered the rec room nervously. Vehicons and Eradicons once again stopped talking, staring at me. I ignored them and grabbed a cube of Energon, splitting my visor once again, chugging the whole thing. Bottoms up, I thought. "Is that you, Soundwave?" A sickly sweet voice asked me from behind. I turned. Arachnid. Her spiderlike legs were folded netly behind her. Her optics glowed mischieviously. 

        She stepped towards me, like a predator. "So, Soundwave, I heard you were sick." She paused, letting it sink in. "Fatally sick. You know what that means, right? Ypu're going to die, darling." I stayed still, but inside, my Energon boiled. One more push... "I also heard from Sarscream, that you...dreamed, was it?" I froze. How-? "Yes, darling, you showed both Starscream and Knockout your very dirty secrets..." She was lying! I would never show anyone anything of my past. "Yes, dear, yes. Your sire." She hissed, circling me. One more, glitch... She leaned in close. "You were weak, and pathetic." That's it! My visor was still split, great. We circled each other. I hunched over suddenly, and growled, sounding like a Cybercat. I decided to let go, let the silent facade go for just a little bit, just this once. 

        I snarled again, and opened my mouth, lips curled. It probably would have looked foolish on just any Cybertronian, but on me, well, I had fangs. Sharp, long denta. I hissed, servos clawed and held protectively by my side. Laserbeak detached himself from my chest and landed on my shoulder, cawing angrily. Arachnid looked surprised by my sudden animalish behavior. Good. I lunged, claws sawing off three spider legs. Arachnid shrieked in pain. I slammed her down onto the floor, and placed my foot onto her neck. "Not again, Soundwave!" She yelled, struggling. Most of the Vehicons and Eradicons cleared out, but some stayed, shocked and curious expressions mirrored all of them. Arachnid thrashed again, before going limp, "I surrender." She mumbled. I removed my foot, and walked away, Laserbeak still perched on my shoulder.

        I returned to the Med-Bay and settled into a berth, listening to Knockout hum to himself in the wash room. The humming soothed me, reminding me of Carrier, who was murdered in cold blood. I missed her humming at night, her affectionate hugs and kisses that she gave me when I got hurt. I missed it so much. I soon drifted off into slumber, not noticing the red eyes of certain Seeker watching me. 

        "Shhhh, dear. It's alright, it's just a scratch..."  My Carrier reminded me. I was three vorns old at the time, a sparkling. I nodded, "But, Carrier, it hurts!" I cried. She picked me up, and rubbed me stomach soothingly. "Starshooter is coming to visit today." I perked up. "Really?" I asked. She nodded. I cheered. My best friend!

      The next dream made my heart throb. I cried against Ravage. My Carrier was offlined today. By three men who wanted her money. My Sire hasn't said anything to me, he just sat in the kitchenette, drinking his stash of high-grade. Ravage had padded right up to me and nuzzled me, trying to calm me. I now lay on her front paws as she cleaned my helm gently. Laserbeak played with my armor, rumbling nonsense to me. Ravage is now my new Carrier, but I can't call her that, or Sire will freak out and throw something at me or throw me. Sire isn't nice to me anymore...

        ::Dear, I have bad news...:: Ravage told me. I had learned to talk to her mentally. I looked to her, silently asking her to go on. ::Your friend, Starshoot, was offlined today in battle.:: I gasped. No! Not Starshoot! ::W-who?:: I asked. ::Decepticons.::