Fatal

Chapter 4: Why?

3rd POV

 ::Your friend, Starshoot, was offlined today in battle.:: I gasped. No! Not Starshoot! ::W-who?:: I asked. ::Decepticons.:: The whole ship went into uproar. First, a broadcast of Soundwave's dreams are cast onto all devices on the Nemesis. Nobody had dared to turn it off. But, really? Did Decepticons really offline Soundwave's best friend in cold blood, just like his mother? Yes. Then why did he join? All these questions echoed through all the soilders' minds. The next thing young Soundwave said was shocking, though. ::I want to join the Decepticons. So that I can be inside their ranks and offline every single one of them. That is final.::  The screens flickered again, telling the start of another dream. Now, it was Soundwave just as he is now. 

        "I must forgive them." Soundwave whispered to Laserbeak. "They did nothing wrong, not these lot. My targets are already dead. Killstar, Sharpfire, and Blastwing are the ones who offlined my Carrier and best friend and catnapped Ravage. As far as I know, they are dead. Gone. These lot are still innocent. They have been killed but have not killed, if you get what I'm saying. I cannot terminate them." Laserbeak cawed in agreement.

        The next dream surprised everyone. Soundwave was sitting on his berth, treating a gash in his leg. The Energon was leaking rapidly. "He's going to leak out!" Fretted Slick. Another Vehicon, Drive, elbowed him. "Stupid. He would not be here right now if he leaked out. Geez." 

        Soundwave was sitting on his berth, sighing as he looked at the gash in his leg plating. "Dumb Starscream. He had to get me there." Soundwave mumbled. Laserbeak appeared in the room with a cube of Energon. "Thanks, bud." Soundwave's voice was soft and gentle. Surprising all the Decepticons watching. Soundwave raised a servo and patted Laserbeak's small helm. Soundwave had his visor split, even though he was alone.

        "Uh, Laserbeak...?" Soundwave asked. "Can I try something?" Laserbeak looked at Soundwave and chirped. Soundwave laid on his back and set Laserbeak onto his chassis. A servo lifted up and trailed a digit down Laserbeak's face. Flicking his beak. Laserbeak let out something that sounded like a giggle, flapping his wings.  "My Carrier used to do this... To make me laugh." Soundwave added, then he tickled Lasebeak's wings. Laserbeak squirmed while Soundwave chuckled. "You're my best friend, you know that. Best friend, don't forget it." Soundwave said, stopping. Laserbeak chirped, flying over to settle down beside Soundwave. "Goodnight, bud." Suddenly, the screens flickered, then shut off completely. Scrap, he's awake!

Soundwave's POV

        I awoke to the sound of loud groaning from the troops. What the-? I pushed myself off my aft, and gathered Lasebeak. Whatever was going on out there, well I might need backup. I groaned, my back! Scrap, it was acheing really bad... Laserbeak cawed and chirped worriedly. ::Don't worry, bud, I'm fine, just an achy back...:: I said reassuringly through the mental link. Laserbeak nodded his small head, and opened the door. Immediately, all activity stopped in the halls. Troops just stared at me. I shifted, raised a servo in greeting, and hurried to the control room. Dang, those troops can be scary when they wanna be.

        In the middle of my report, my tanks started to twist. I wasn't going to purge, but the pain was almost unbearable. Internal pain was the worst, external pain was alright. One servo gripped my tanks lightly, while the other was still typing. My helm throbbed and it suddenly hurt to stand, for my pedes ached and groaned. I felt a tingle in my fingers that made me want to claw someones optics out, what is wrong with me!

        I heard pedesteps in the hall, approaching. It was the Vehicon called Slick and two of his buddies. "So, Drive, do you wanna grab a few cubes of high-grade after our mission?" Slick asked. "Sure, Petey?" Said the one called Drive. The other, Petey, grunted, agreeing. "Alright!" Shouted Slick, clapping his servos, but froze when he saw me staring. "H-hi, Officer Soundwave... Fancy seein' you here..." I grinned inside my visor. This Vehicon amuses me. I raised my useless servo in greeting, letting the other type still, not looking at the screen. The three Vehicons stared slack jawed. "Whoa..." Drive mumbled, in awe. Petey nodded. 

        I turned back to my work, and continued holding my tanks. The pain came back, and hurt even more, I had to turn away. Leave, please leave! I silently begged the troops. They didn't leave. Scrap! I shut off my computer and saved my work, and walked calmly out of the control room. 

        I entered the rec room silently, and thank Primus, it was empty. I sipped a cube of Energon, but then my tanks twisted and churned again. Oh great, now I'm gonna purge! I sank to the floor grasping my tanks. Laserbeak screeched in alarm. My helm throbbed, my tanks churned and twisted, my pedes ached, and my energy dropped. I coundn't take it any more. I screamed. The sound tore through my throat, echoing down the halls. My optics blurred. I reattached my visor, just before the world went black.