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Ravage sniffed the servo. This senator had been getting too close again. He was not a threat as she and Laserbeak formerly ascertained. It was not so bad when he kept his distance and only spoke from afar to their master. But those days were over after he tried to approach.
This time he brought goodies from the bazaar district. Ravage sniffed the confections for any traces of sedatives or poison. They smelled delicious. Her tanks rumbled. It had been several cycles since their last refuel, and she knew that her master had not filled enough.
"You can take it," said the senator, no malice in his voice. The senator placed the container of goodies on the ground, keeping his distance. Ravage snatched them up, running and ignoring the stalkers yells.
This game of chase and hide had been going on for nearly three quartexes. Ravage was growing tired of avoiding this mech to keep her master safe. Laserbeak flew down leading toward their brand-new hole. Second one of the solar cycle as the senator somehow hid amongst the small crowd throwing shanix at her master's performance.
Luckily, Iacon held many hiding places.
The two beast-cassettes made their way to the hole to be met with the laggard sight of Soundwave.
"Soundwave: Query. Where did goodies come from?"
Ravage placed them at his pedes. "Eat first than reprimand me. You can't be more than %15 now," she ordered.
With hesitation, Soundwave took the container, his servos shaking, clear sign of fatigue. His mask unhinged and he took a bite of the smallest goodie. The relief in his field enveloped the trio.
"Ravage. Laserbeak. Order: refuel. Need energon as well," Soundwave said. He pushed the container to them.
Laserbeak pushed it back. "I have secured our fuel for the cycle, Master. You are bigger than us and have been carrying us to save on our levels. Ravage is correct. You must eat first. All of it."
A beat passed before Soundwave resigned to eat the goodies. Laserbeak produced from his subspace a cube of pure energon, pink with a floral scent.
"Where'd you get that?" Ravage whispered.
Laserbeak's intake made a sharp smirk. It looked funny with his beak angled toward her.
"That fool of a senator had this in his subspace. I assumed it was a gift for our master if he accepted the goodies, on the condition that he complied," Laserbeak said. His feathered mesh ruffled in agitation. "That slag-in heat mech better end this mess soon. No one is that persistent." Laserbeak took his fill of the energon and passed it to Ravage.
Ravage looked at the cube, not even a fourth was gone. She took her fill and passed it again, lubricant salivating at the rich taste of highgrade. They shared and refueled in silence.
"Soundwave to Ravage: Oder. NEVER take from the senator," Soundwave said, his demeanor more awake. "Senator: not threat. Senator: kind. Ravage: do not take advantage of him."
"You think he'll leave us alone," Ravage countered. The fuel gave her a boldness she did not voice often. "I am running on fumes trying to keep ahead of him."
Soundwave for his part pulled his field close. Ravage curled her tail around her claws. Her tempered was frayed these last deca-cycle of circling this nosy stalker.
"We are running low on places to hide," Laserbeak spoke up. "I've been tracking our stalker's movements. He's smart. Too smart. He's figuring out our usual spots and finding us faster each time. The fact he had the ball bearings to show up for our performance today is proof he's getting a sense of our movements."
"Laserbeark: correct. Suggestion-do not interrupt-:Soundwave performs, earn shanix, and run away," Soundwave said.
Ravage ex-vented heavily. She finished her portion of the highgrade and took the offered goodie. It was a spicy rust stick that she devoured in her fangs. Ravage curled up to Soundwave, exhausted from the chase. Soon, Laserbeak flew to his perch. They had to leave the newly constructed nest at the last hideout. He settled for the beam above them with the mesh blanket Soundwave had torn to share with them.
"How's your processor ache?" Laserbeak asked.
"I didn't know you had an ache. I thought we were doing better at your telepathy," Ravage said, concerned. Soundwave, as always, hummed and patted her head.
"Soundwave: Stressed. Trying to...understand senator's obsession. Mind is unique. Cannot find ill-will within him," Soundwave said.
The trio were quiet. Ravage supposed that was possible. That the senator was simply a bleeding spark, but she doubted any mech would pursue an unwilling dependent. Her processor burned with what-ifs and scenarios. Suddenly, Ravage pounced on Soundwave. The Cassette player 'gak' came out indignant.
"What do you see?" Ravage asked, her processor making connections.
"Soundwave: Confused?"
"When you look into his mind, what do you see?" Laserbeak clarified.
Ravage turned her eyes to her brother minicon, both coming to a similar conclusion.
"Senator: wants Soundwave to meet other. Senator runs school for outliers. Thinks Soundwave will benefit from experience."
"That's the surface thoughts," Ravage said. "Remember, we must look deeper. What about his emotions? I don't stay long enough to feel his field, but it's unhostile."
Soundwave bit his derma with his denta looking away. Blue covered his cheeks. Interesting...
"Soundwave: Query. Senator is...attractive mech?" he asked.
Ravage shrugged as did Laserbeak. They both preferred other beastformers.
"Soundwave: Soundwave is attractive to others?"
Ravage tensed at that. Their master had debased himself to provide for them back in Rodion. Ravage would never let that happen again.
"Is that what that glitched fragger wants?" Laserbeak squawked. "Then we'll gladly rip his spike from his protoform!"
"No!" Soundwave said. He grabbed his helm, making a keening noise. "More detected. Lust there. Not just lust...other things...Soundwave: has little data to make conclusion."
Ravage calmed, spreading comfort to her master and brother con. She cuddled up against the port of her master, feeling the warmth of his spark.
"Perhaps, your idea isn't so bad," Ravage said. "We can perform soon. If he's there, I say we wait him out this time. Just ask him what he wants."
Laserbeak nodded and lowered himself, landing on Soundwave's shoulder pauldron.
"Soundwave: Agrees. Wishes to end chase. Wishes to stay in Iacon for longer," Soundwave admitted.
Once their master fell into deep recharge, the two minicons conversed in their comms.
The actions are clear. Waiting at the tunnels, listening to him talk, giving information, bringing treats. It's not all a trap.
It's a trap, just not the one we feared. I admit, I was outraged when I believed this senator was simply looking for a pleasure drone.
Ravage lifted her head to Laserbeak. The vulture did not let his anger get the better of him, but he was willing to do anything for their master; including castration.
It's why Master hasn't attacked. I think he too is intrigued by the senator's thoughts. Though, for us, means more work.
We will vet this senator first. I do not trust him. Despite his friendly demeanor, kindness is easily manipulated.
Do not let the memory of that filth burden you, Laser. We're far away from him. He cannot hurt Soundwave.
He was of highstanding too. I want to believe this mech has no ulterior motives.
Then we'll meet him. He's going to show up again. We have time.
With that, the minicons fell into a restful recharge, tanks full.
Shockwave walked up to the habsuite. It was his downstairs neighbor's hab and the reason his apartment was so cheap. Everyone was bothered by the constant stream of music coming from the old diva's apartment. Shockwave could hear the ending of a lesson. He sat by the door to wait. He knew better than to interrupt Gloriosa Natura.
The door opened to reveal one of his students. The one who could control non-sapient objects.
"Next time, Damus, practice! One cannot expect perfection without work!" Gloriosa Natura said.
"I promise, ma'am," Damus said, sheepishly. He looked to Shockwave and smiled.
Gloriosa Natura noticed him too.
Shockwave stood, his backstruts sore, and was assualted by Semibreve, one of her Diskerettes.
"How rude, Mr. Senator, waiting in the hallway," Semibreve announced. His red armor formed a wide chasis for a minicon, but it worked for his transformation into a harpsichord.
"Do not blame the young one for his ineptitude, kekeke," cackled Minim. He was a beastfomer primate who turned into a violin.
A loud shuffling appeared at the door. It was Quaver, a canine mini who turned into a drum set. His vivacious smile gave Shockwave the courage to address the other two.
"I am never rude. I simply follow patterns and protocol. As protocol stands, the mistress does not enjoy her lessons to be disturbed," he said, smoothly.
Gloriosa Natura smirked. She was a Gramapho Player, three generations before Cassette Players. The mere idea of Cassettes had Shockwave lose his aloof stance.
"I take it the goodie did not work to your favor," Gloriosa said. Her helm was shaped by a large golden, ornate cone that would be her speaker in her altmode. It stretched to her neck cables, giving off a stiff collar. It also made for poor mobility in her later years. Example, instead of inclining her head, she motioned with her servos for him to follow.
Semibreve and Minim took the sign and gathered the necessary instruments. Within moments, an elaborate tray of goodies and two cubes of low grade were set up on Gloriosa's table. She laid herself on the lounger as Shockwave sat on the ottoman. It was his preferred spot as Quaver would sit himself next to Shockwave to pet.
"His minicon, the feline, sniffed it as you suggested. I had intended to offer a whole cube of highgrade as well if we could speak face to face. But, I found my subspace plundered after she snatched the goodie container and ran. I lost her," Shockwave said. "I may triangulate the distance and locate them, but I had disturbed them enough for the cycle. I had not hidden myself well as in previous times. He was only playing his guitar again as the cons danced. I..I cannot fathom why he won't sing. His voice..."
Shockwave shivered, remembering that which haunted him.
"You are feckless mecha," Gloriosa replied. "Truly, I have let this madness of yours go on for far too long, Senator Shockwave. I too, had many the admirer."
"And they knew the consequences of getting too close, kekeke," Minim said, her sharpened denta showing.
"As I have mentioned, you cannot expect trust from him. His has suffered too much. To live on the streets and perform are not the options of those with options."
"What am I to do?" Shockwave said. "I don't wish for him to hate me, but I know I frightened him. Our talks we had...I miss them. He's such an intelligent mech. It behooves me he has no place to find of his own," Shockwave confessed. He drank the lowgrade energon. "I want to give him options. And a home."
"Then do so, but at his pace," Gloriosa said. "You are too stubborn. Too ready for the future to see the present, Shocky. He is not one of your outliers you hide or a loyal constituent. He is as a dioptase deer, horns always flaring red for attack. You must be like an approaching breeze, simply there to exist with him."
Shockwave patted Quaver on the head as the canine nuzzled his stabilizer. He absorbed Gloriosa's words, sending his field out to her in gratitude. Hers emitted a calm/caretaker field. He smirked, she was such a mentor figure, it was surprising to Shockwave that Gloriosa never had any sparklings. Altough, looking at her fawning to Minim, he wondered if minicons were enough without sparklings.
He left after a few joors of discussing finer things and politics. Shockwave always enjoyed his talks with Gloriosa Natura. She was the closest he had to a friend. Many appreciated him and spoke highly of his work, but no one truly spent time with him. Orion Pax, his old assistant, was an open audial when he needed but the young mech had left for the Archives long ago. Last he heard of Orion Pax, he was banished to the mines for violating some code. Shockwave's field flared in hatred. To work from within a system often meant one alone is not enough to change it; his secret school for outliers had to be hidden.
Damus coming for music lessons was a cover as much as truth. The doorway to class was next to the diva's apartment. Glorisosa was a good confidant as she too suffered from the Council's hold on Functionalist Idealism when her opera career ended after an incident. She agreed to let some of his students pass as hers so they could be safely secure in hiding.
He found his couch and sprawled over it, joints aching, backstruts on fire, and a processor ache. He closed his optics and had his memory banks upload his current sanctuary: the day he heard that voice.
Shockwave wandered the slums of Iacon. He had a tip that an outlier lived on the streets, and he wanted to offer them asylum at his school. It would not take long to find them as the tip said they stayed near the innerworkings tunnels. Shockwave made his way cleanly without attracting onlookers; the cloak he wore hid his frame and concealed his field. He made it in his spare time.
Eventually, he found himself within the innerworkings. He followed the tunnels scanning for life signs. His scanner picking up three sparksigns, Shockwave carefully approached the open area. He paused.
A voice, beautiful and clear, rang through the tunnels. It entered his spark like a wave of coolant. His systems alerted him to proximity break, but he did not move as the voice continued to sing. There were no words, just notes, a few he recognized from Quaver's explanations. Shockwave felt a jolt in his systems as another field entered his. He turned to see the mech...
He was stunning. Pouty lipplates, yellow visor optics, a sturdy frame. Gorgeous finials on his helm, round thighs. A unique specimen as Shockwave processed the other to be a Cassette Player. His blue plating had seen better cycles, but a simple buff and wax would make the ethereal creature shine.
Abruptly, knocked to the ground is where he found himself with a snarling feline minicon on his chasis.
Shockwave paused the memory there. The rest included a visit to the doctor for repairs to his faceplates and dislocated shoulder joints. He ex-vented shakily, feeling that takeover of his spark from the memory.
Though he never heard the mech sing again, they had made a bit of an acquaintanceship. Shockwave would find him at odd joors and speak to him, often with his minicons monitoring. It was going well for the first quartex as the singer would be more forward and ask questions in turn. However, that changed. And it was his fault.
Shockwave curled on the couch, exhaustion taking over. He had to go to the Senate tomorrow.
Soundwave waited for the Senator to appear. He played for longer than comfortable; he could see Laserbeak was tired of gathering the crowds in the bazaar. Ravage too was tired of her dancing act. He had the two enter his Dock to rest. Despite the tedious work, they had made more shanix than normal. Soundwave picked it up. He used the container that the Senator'e goodies were in; it was nicer than the busted tin cube he used for collecting.
The Cassette Player walked away, guitar on his back, as he counted the shanix. A whiff of the goodies halted his progress back to the innerworkings. He brought the container close to his face and in-vented heavily. He did not tell this to Ravage, but the box smelled like the Senator's wax.His wax was clean. A fresh scent, one Soundwave used to have when he had a bath available; Soundwave liked it. It was the reason he had not ran away after being found again.
The first time the Senator found them, Soundwave made sure he knew that no designations would be given freely. He had intended to rob the mech, but he surprised him. The Senator said they did not need to exchange designation. They could just talk. They spoke. It was easy topics. The weather, their altmodes, favorite energon additives, colors, and sometimes the Senator would babble sciencey lectures. Those cycles, Soundwave simply tuned out the words and listened to the cadence of the voice. It was so soothing and deep. The opposite of his jarring mess of a vocalizer.
He halted abruptly; a certain mind he knew was there. The Cassette Player found an ally to hide as his prey approached. Soundwave had learned the designation of this mech through Laserbeak. Blaster, an obnoxious tone-deaf musician unlike him. The mech ran a pirate radio that the Council had yet to shut down. He droned to the masses about inequality and subjected them to his tasteless playlist. Recently, the softspark had gone out of his way to try and get Soundwave on his parody of a program. Soundwave answered with Laserbeak swooping down clawing the mech's horns. Blaster's own minicons emerged to assist their master, Soundwave taking the chance to run.
He listened as the scatterprocessor of Blaster came closer. He could take him on alone.
"Strike first and you will find yourself at the mercy of my jaw, scum," said a regal toned voice.
Soundwave backed out of the alley. The minicon was a feline beastformer like his Ravage, but with plating covering his neck. Two golden wings hung on his back as his tail switched back and forth; a warning.
The tick in his energon line woke his cassettes; his dock started to open. Soundwave closed it with his servo. More minds entered the area. Blaster was playing dirty.
"Hey, mech, snazzy running into you here. Brought the whole gang here ta meetcha," Blaster said too cheery.
Soundwave counted the minds. Four. Another beastfomer and two minis. He glared at Blaster's cheeky smile.
"Blaster: Horns are undamaged," Soundwave drawled.
"Thanks for worrying," Blaster said, still smiling.
"Misunderstood. Statement of fact," Soundwave said dryly.
They stood for a beat. Soundwave calculated his options. The minicon called Rewind was easiest to distract and make an opening but Eject would catch his ruse. The other beastformer, Ramhorn, he could tell was powerful and could take him down. The one that had cornered him from the alley was the alpha, Steeljaw. Not as powerful but quick. Blaster standing face to face did not help. Soundwave kept his servo on the shaking dock, small pains shooting up his chassis. He sent his cassettes a command to stay put.
"Look, I'ma leave. Promise. No fuss, no fight," Blaster said. He stepped forward. Soundwave stepped back despite the growling from Steeljaw. "Don't be worried, mech. I say I don't mean no harm, I mean it. Here."
Blaster tossed a small datapad to Soundwave. He caught it before it reached the ground.
"That's my commlink, brother. I ain't here to stir trouble for you. You're just a mech looking for his next refuel. All I'm offering is a place where you don't gotta fight for it," Blaster said. He whistled and his cassettes hopped into his dock, except for Steeljaw.
"To make myself heard," began the feline. "I do not trust this course of action Master Blaster has taken. I am his guardian and will remain that way until my spark dies out. Giving a chance to clear scum like you is a sign of my master's true magnanimous nature."
"Aw, shucks, Steely, don't be so rude. Ya know we can't just let Docks starve. There's too few of us as it is," Blaster said. A tinge of tension entered his field. Soundwave found it amusing. Steeljaw backed away and entered the dock. Blaster looked at him, smile gone. "Consider it. Seriously. Homeless been disappearing from the streets unless they're in a real shelter."
With that, Blaster left. Soundwave let his dock open to the frantic questioning of Ravage. Laserbeak perched on his shoulder pauldron.
They would need a new hole for the dark cycle.
Soundwave onlined first. He found Ravage in reflux twitching. He petted her back gently. The twitching stopped. Laserbeak was in deep recharge in his perch. No time to make a proper nest as he preferred. Soundwave took out the datapad from Blaster. He was alone for now as his cassettes rested.
The information was all about safe shelters, free schools, and programs to integrate mechs back into work; the glitch diode even put a checkmark on 'soundboard engineer at popular pirate radio, The Nexis' with a winking optic emoticon. Soundwave would have thrown the datapad after that if not for an article by the minicon Eject. It was for the Academy of Advanced Technology, an underground school that took in outliters. It's true location was a mystery. Interesting, but what truly grasped Soundwave's attention was the picture of the founder.
The very Senator who had been stalking him!
This is why he hounds me. He must know about my telekinesis, somehow. Or suspsect it. He is...recruiting me for the academy.
The thought logically made sense. It was why the mech insisted he was not after more or out to hurt Soundwave. He was doing his job. Soundwave was relieved to finally understand the reason. The lurch in his spark he ignored. He would tell his cassettes and the next time the Senator came back...he would go with him. He lied back, closing his optics.
Recruitment and a place to stay. That's all he wants.
Shockwave walked the innerworkings, glancing at his companion. Gloriosa Natura was kind and allowed his students to hide with her, but she stood out in the dingy dank tunnels. He had offered to give her a cloak like his to hide herself. The diva slapped him and took her rather extravagant cape made of crystalized garnets. The red and orange hues gave the illusion of a raging forge. The cape did not blend into the background of the dark gunmetal gray tunnels. They were being tailed. Shockwave could sense the mechs nearby.
He knew this was dangerous, bordering on reckless, but he always found outliers to come to his school and be away from the Functionalist. Lately, because of his own obsession, he had attracted too much attention from the wrong mechs.
"Madam, perhaps we should find an exit," he whispers.
"Nonsense, you say that your singing star is here, we may find him yet this dark cycle," Gloriosa said.
Shockwave hummed. He took out his blaster.
The mechs tailing them came out, each transformed into crude mining drills.
"Just drop the shanix and run along, upper crust," said the largest drill in the middle, the leader.
"Drop the shanix. No, no, no. That is uncouth and quite disorderly."
"Gloriosa," Shockwave warned, taking out his blaster. It would be like a sting to their tough plating, but he had nothing else.
"I believe it would be better to evenly distribute our shanix to each of you. However, it won't last long," Gloriosa said.
As much as Shockwave enjoyed that she listened to him about equal rights of payment, this was not the right time!
"Shaddup, you-you old windpipe," said the one on the left.
Gloriosa's optic ridge furrowed. Shockwave backed away, afraid for the robbers. He knew that look.
"Insults will not get you goodies. Minim, Semibreve, Quaver!"
On command, the three Diskerettes descended on the unsuspecting mechs. Minim took out the one on the left by using her tail bow as an arrow. Semibreve beat the other with a hypnotic tune from his strings, making the goon on the right walk into the tunnel's wall. Quaver simply beat the leader over and over upside the head, his cymbals making a cacophonic tune.
Shockwave ex-vented as the goons gave their best against the might of the Disks. He almost felt pity. Then the leader in the middle changed to root mode and pointed a black-market blaster at Gloriosa Natura. The senator held his blaster out at the leader.
"No need, my friend." Gloriosa whistled and her Diskerettes returned to her dock. "Shockwave, be so kind to back away a safe distance."
Confuse but willing to listen, Shockwave did as she asked. The leader smirked.
"Drop the shanix, outdate mode, and we won't hurt ya," he said, as his goons gathered around him.
Gloriosa Natura tilted her helm up, the cone raising with her. "Naughty mechs don't deserve warnings," she said.
A large 'thwoom' shook the tunnels as the three goons came to their knees. Shockwave felt weak in his stabilizers, though the sound did not reach him. The goons did not move frozen in that state.
"Uuuu-uuu-uunpleasanttzzzzz buzzzinesssss," Gloriosa coughed. "I do not enjoy that power, but they simply needed to stand down."
Shockwave returned to her side.
"Are..." he started.
"Only stunned, Senator. My voice is weak, and I cannot use myself at full power."
Shockwave nodded. He dragged the goons out of the way of their path. They began to walk when Gloriosa grabbed his arm.
"Listen," she said.
Shockwave did. It was faint. But it was there...the haunting sound that would not leave his processor.
Shockwave started to run pausing when he realized his companion was not following him; he looked to her. Gloriosa smiled and gestured to him to move on. Shockwave did not need more assurance.
He ran, his altmode too cumbersome for the tunnels. He listened and heard a guitar join the melodic voice. Shockwave weaved through the well traversed tunnels as he came closer and closer to his singing star, spark thrumming in his chassis. He stopped at the entrance of a tunnel. Light poured out as he stepped forward. He would not repeat the same mistake of trying to lure this mech to his home. He would be patient and tell him about his school, about Gloriosa Natura. Shockwave was certain the other Cassette Player would love to meet a legend of the music world.
Shockwave entered and came upon a serene sight; the mech he had been chasing, sitting on an upturned crate, his cassetticons nearby as he strummed his guitar and let beautiful notes leave his lips.
He did not notice how close he was until the mech turned to him. Shockwave removed his cloak so the mech could see him, read him if his theory was correct.
"Query: What is your name?" he said, battle mask covering him.
Shockwave ex-vented softly. "My designation is Senator Shockwave. It is nice to meet you here."
"Soundwave: Argees."
It took quite a few quartexes for Soundwave to be less on guard around the Senator. The mech offered him the empty habsuite next to Gloriosa Natura.
The Gloriosa Natura!
Soundwave's initial shock at the old diva's appearance almost made him shut down. Gloriosa Natura was the best Opera Soprano of the previous Silver Age. Her role in making the instruments and notes they had today revolutionized the music scene for so many other musicians, including Docks, to take up the mantle of bards.
Soundwave followed blindly after that; Ravage unhappy with his apparent lack of forethought to have Laserbeak scout ahead.
However, Soundwave strongly suspects it was because Minim teased Ravage constantly and the feline con could not strike the primate. Laserbeak seemed to hold a civil rivalry with Semibreve as the Diskerette had a similar position of being Gloriosa's scout. He used the strings in his instrument to zipline within the buildings. The mech mini actually outpaced Laserbeak to the apartment complex. Quaver was different. He was quiet despite being a drum set and often let his E.M. field speak for him. Soundwave had read him a few times to see the canine only cared for others comfort and had a kind disposition.
On his first dark cycle within the habsuite, Soundwave spent it checking for bugs, wires, hidden cameras, motion sensors, any tracers that could attach to him or his minicons. Nothing. The one item out of place had been a door that led to an underground space. Shockwave told him the Academy of Advanced Technology had two entrances. One within Gloriosa's apartment and the second was in his, though he did not listen to where it had been; Soundwave closed the entrance. He did not recharge for most of the first few cycles. As he discovered, mechs used the entrance in his hab to exit from their lessons. He observed several students coming out this way and using the balcony, front entrance or back entrance to exit. Soundwave could see the advantage this offered. They would not be seen leaving the same space and take different routes.
Shockwave would come out the same way. Apparently, he had told his students someone lived in the habsuite. The Senator would look for him. When he did not appear, the Senator would ex-vent sadly and leave the supply of energon cubes. Soundwave did not want to interact with others or be alone with the Senator. He knew the Senator meant no harm, but he did not survive Rodion and...he would not give up his survival skills for a roof over his head.
On the first decacycle after he finally found a safe spot to recharge, he heard Shockwave speaking to Gloriosa Natura.
"I fear I've miscalculated his willingness once again," Shockwave said.
Soundwave listened, the vibrations coming clear with Laserbeak hiding on the diva's balcony.
Gloriosa Natura hummed. She offered the Senator rust sticks with flecks of magnesium.
"Knowing his name has given me confidence that he might attend a class or two, but all my students ask me if I was jesting about a resident. They are under the impression no one inhabits the suite and I cannot contest their findings if I do not provide evidence. It is only logical they think no one is there," Shockwave lamented.
Soundwave laughed a bit. Ravage gave him derisive look; he smiled at her. It was fascinating how much this mech pouted over things not going to his plan. Almost endearing.
"You are such a straight minded mech, Shockwave. You oft forget to take into account the unaccountable," Gloriosa Natura said.
"That makes no sense," he dryly replied.
"It means those x factors you bore my poor students with are this exact scenario. Soundwave is here, safe, and well fed. But you have not accounted for all the aspects you don't understand about him. You are also a coward for framing your interests as purely altruistic," Gloriosa Natura said.
Soundwave felt a shock of dread in his tank. He backed away, suddenly feeling trapped. Ravage rubbed against his stabilizers.
"Please, listen," she whispered, sending calm in their bond. Laserbeak too sent a wave of trust.
Soundwave shook his helm. He returned to his safe spot. For them, he would stay. For them.
The next light cycle he came online to the sound of crashing. It was followed by indignant screeches, which meant Minim (or Semibreve) were upset. Laserbeak was already there when he and Ravage arrived. The scene they came upon was one of pure hilarious chaos. The Senator on the ground wrestling two minicons, a femme and mech. Spark split twins if he had to guess from their builds. Also scattered about, were the awards of Gloriosa Natura. The diva herself was cleaning the mess, her field emitting annoyance and anger. One of the minis came free, the mech, and transformed his upper stabilizers into armament. He hit the floor causing a mini-quake for the Senator to let go of the femme.
At this point, everyone noticed Soundwave's presence as he helped right the Senator.
"Thank you," said the Senator.
"What is happening?" he asked.
"Oh, well, a former student asked Gloriosa to find a place for these minicons. They seemed complacent at first, but I believe it was a cover to enter. I would be insulted if not for seeing their condition," Senator said. "I do hope they let us help."
Soundwave peeked into the Senator. Everything he said was truthful. He felt uneasy from yestercycle, but he needed to know more.
Suddenly, Semibreve used his strings to tie him down as Minim took the stunned femme in her servos.
The Diskerettes screamed at the two under the Senator, calling them worthless and useless. Soundwave felt a lurch in his spark. He knew those phrases too well.
"Enough!"
All in the habsuite turned to the Baritone voice of Quaver.
"They need fuel and a dark cycle of proper recharge, not to be treated as intruders. Blaster brought them here because he trusts Mistress. Are we to betray his trust because they are inconvenient? Because they are acting out?" No one answered. Soundwave opened the balcony, his cons following him. Quaver continued, "We are to offer them energon and a place for the darkcycle. I believe too apologies are in place for all offenses." He said this pointed to his fellow Diskerettes.
Semibreve and Minim let their holds go.
The femme minicon spoke up. "We ain't owe you lot nuthing," she said, static in her voice. Low on fuel.
"Fragging Eject and Ramhorn dragged us to their boss and the slagface trussed us up in this joint," the mech replied.
"Be that as it may," Quaver began. "You two are welcome to stay or just refuel and leave. No one is here to hurt you."
The two stayed back-to-back. A well-practiced defensive stance. Their fields held inside. Soundwave approached quietly. He let his processor open and could hear the thoughts of the two minicons. Without thinking, he heard all in the room.
No one wanted to fight, Gloriosa was upset but more afraid for them, Shockwave wondered if he could find a good fit for them, Minim was sad as she thought of Mezzo, her deceased Amica Endurae, Semibreve was ashamed, Ravage thought them brave and resourceful sending to Soundwave the missing shanix, Laserbeak impressed with the power of the mech...all the voices tuning to the two starving minicons: Rumble and Frenzy.
They wanted a master, a good master, a kind and understanding master.
Soundwave crouched down to them, his cassetticons agreeing with him, the Senator anticipating his next move, and his hero wondering about his actions.
"Designation: Soundwave. New role: Rumble and Frenzy's master. Join us," he finished.
It was a gamble, he knew. But, he felt a tug in his spark. These two would complete his set.
The only bot not surprised was Quaver, who nodded at them as Rumble lowered his armament and Frenzy followed her brother.
"Where do we sign up, boss?" Frenzy said.
By the third quartex, Soundwave spent his days watching over his cassetticons. Rumble and Frenzy were quite the pranksters and often sent war declarations on Semibreve and Minim. It gave Ravage time for revenge too as she could catch an off-guard Minim easier. Semibreve often grumbled about the messes. Quaver would intercept only if the pranks became too vile. Gloriosa told him to let them have their fun.
Soundwave also found himself bullied into being her pupil; unlike the others who simply used it as a cover-up (sometimes not) to enter the Academy, Gloriosa drilled him on his musical talents. She made him learn five new instruments within the first cycle and had him perform them in public. She even roped his cons into practicing, which worked as the continued prank war, as Semibreve was the teacher for them. Laserbeak did not learn an instrument, but Quaver took it upon himself to teach the aves minicon.
During this time, the Senator would come and watch. He brought energon goodies and low grade. Gloriosa Natura never drank high grade. Soundwave had a theory.
He talked to the Senator, like when they first met. He missed the talks. They reconciled a bit after the fiasco with the twins. He still suspected something was hidden from him, including the furtive glances he saw the Senator give him. He was happy for his mask to his blush, but his fans were harder to hide. Thanks to Frenzy who liked to be loud. "Crank it up to 11," she would announce. Rumble not far behind as his controlled quakes on the drums.
Soundwave found one cycle he had been sleeping on the berth with his cons. The desire to run, to find a new place, the constant hunger, faded as he enjoyed his time with this new dynamic.
Perhaps, Rodion was behind him.
Shockwave spent his time teaching classes, impressed by his students, especially Damus's progress in his control of non-sentient tech. The rest of it was devoted to watching Soundwave come out of his cell. The bot's quiet demeanor betrayed a smart mouth and caring disposition for how he embraced his minicons. Shockwave often heard having minicons was akin to being a caretaker.
The last few breems of his time would be spent within the Iacon Council, failing at change. To fight against the council and Sentinel Prime were to invite trouble. His hidden school needed the protection of his influence and shanix.
He hated those breems the most as he would be gone from his school, home, and Soundwave.
The object of his adoration being so close left him whole; he knew the mech needed time to trust that his desire for him went beyond the physical. His conversation with Gloriosa after he voiced his concerns was enlightening.
"...You are also a coward for framing your interests as purely altruistic," Gloriosa said. She sipped her low grade and continued. "He has lived a hard life. I can tell from his music. That is why he will not sing in front of others, Shockwave. To hear his true voice, his spark, that was an accident. A Cassette Player's voice is attuned to their Dock, their cassettes feel all. Same for mine. He must trust you to use it again. But, he does not trust enough."
Shockwave slumped in his spot. Quaver whimpered as he nuzzled his stabilizer sending comfort. He swallowed the words of Gloriosa Natura.
So many unknowns. I need to observe and find the appropriate time to approach Soundwave.
Minim seemed to be transfixed on the window leading to the balcony. Gloriosa inclined her helm, humming.
"I will take what you say to spark, Gloriosa. All I can hope for is that we have an amicable relationship," Shockwave said.
"Coward," she said.
"If it is trust he needs, then there's a reason he appears to recoil at my touch," Shockwave said. "I will simply be here for him."
Gloriosa huffed and the topic changed.
However, unexpected events are difficult to calculate. The cycle Soundwave's new minicons came, the mech had actually cornered him before he left for his hab.
"Shockwave: Soundwave wishes to talk."
Shockwave stopped on the stairs. He looked at his singing star and swallowed, tank roiling.
"I may spare a joor," he responded.
The two walked outside. Shockwave looked around, expecting the minicons to follow him.
"Soundwave: Ordered minis to stay behind. Will do for short time," he said.
"Aw, I see," Shockwave replied.
They stood in awkward silence. Shockwave spent his life using words and glyphs to convey his ideals. Why could he not speak now?
"Soundwave wishes to know Shockwave's-" he stopped. Soundwave twiddled his digits.
It was adorable.
"Shockwave: Honest with Soundwave," he said.
Shockwave's optic ridge furrowed. He nodded; certain it was the right action. He was honest with his actions and purposes. Except for one small problem.
"Soundwave: Confused at kindness. Why? What does Shockwave gain?" Soundwave asked.
The Senator bit his glossa. He had this conversation with other bots who came to his academy. This would be the first time he had to omit part of the truth.
"I don't agree with the council," he started. "The miners in Kaon, Tarn, and Rodion will not stand for their treatment forever. We are one unhinged mech, one charismatic leader of the commonwealth, one unseen variable to plunge our planet into all out civil war. Caminus, Velocitron, and other colonies will have to choose sides. At the precipice of this theoretical war, we will lose so much. However, if there was a way to prevent it, disperse the power imbalance, then I believe my academy is it. I see many outliers, ones who could help fix our world, seen as lesser. They are dismissed, disregarded, and dismantled by the cruelest servos. If they were under one banner, one ideal, to keep our world safe, to fight against corruption and make those responsible pay for their crimes, I will mold them to work as a unit. It is still small, but we are growing. Soon, I will need to relocate my students," Shockwave trailed off. He had plans to keep every mech under his care safe.
He looked to Soundwave's stunned faceplate. His E.M. field awash with curiosity and wonder.
Shockwave coughed, feeling exposed. He had not meant for the veracity of his mission to leak. But, he wanted Soundwave to trust him.
"You are a telepath," he stated.
Soundwave pulled his field away. Shockwave missed it.
"Please, don't be alarmed. I had a theory from our encounters. I do not wish to disclose any of this to others, even Gloriosa, though she will have her own suspicions."
"Shockwave: Too observant. Not subtle. Wishing to safeguard our species from theoretical war. Grandiose ," Soundwave replied, a hint of humor in his voice.
Shockwave grinned at him. "I like to think it's my superior intellect." He chuckled at Soundwave's helm shake.
"Soundwave: Superior. Shockwave: Inferior."
They both laughed.
The talks came natural after that reconciliation. They would spend joors in Soundwave's habsuite, which looked more comely cycle after cycle, and in Gloriosa's suite. Never alone. Shockwave was grateful for the ever chaperone of the minicons. He did not trust his thoughts to stay purely amicable if he were truly alone with Soundwave.
Fifteen stellar cycles passed in this accommodation. Shockwave never missed a session when he could. He found it odd Soundwave never sang. One cycle, Ravage revealed he hated his voice. Shockwave did not understand. Soundwave elaborated that others had ridiculed his voice back in Rodion. Gloriosa remedied that for him, but he was nervous to sing in front of others. Shockwave accepted it. He enjoyed the music they played and Gloriosa's voice was as clear as her younger cycles.
However, for the last three cycles, he had been away. Things were getting worse at the senate. He learned of Orion Pax's apparent campaign with a poet miner. He moved his students to a more secure location as he predicted and spent his few breems of free time coming up with formulas for faux energon. It would quell the Council's attempts to starve the masses in the lower cities as they called it. Surprising, Vos appeared to be sympathizing with the Grounders' plight. A welcome development to Shockwave, as Seeker outliers joined his academy.
The last fifteen stellar cycles had been the most peaceful despite the unrest in the streets. Shockwave ex-vented. The serenity would come to an end soon. He would need to evacuate from this complex. Gloriosa Natura would come with of course, and a new home for Soundwave and his minicons; so much to do in such little time. His helm hit his desk, careful of the viles of chemicals.
"I have not seen Soundwave in three cycles," he said.
Unbeknownst to him, Soundwave stood outside his habsuite. The Cassette Player had grown to control his powers better over the years as his musical repertoire increased. He also started to see the Senator-Shockwave-as part of his collection.
It was Gloriosa who made him see his own denial. His cons no better as they simply wanted him to make a decision.
Soundwave had come up, in hopes to be alone with Shockwave. He locked the habsuite with his cons in it. The apartment had been burgled a few times including Gloriosa's apartment; Shockwave was right to worry. The Cassette Player brought his servo up, wrapping on the door. He could hear the half-processed thoughts of his Senator. He gulped, wishing he had waxed before coming up.
Shockwave opened in a frenzied state, optics bulging from his faceplate.
"Oh, Soundwave. What brings you...was I...oh Primus!" Shockwave leaned against the door jamb. "I apologize for my hazard state, star. I have not taken the time for proper rest with my processor running at max."
"Shockwave: Need refuel. Need recharge. Soundwave: Offer service," he said.
Shockwave's jaw hinge went slack. The offer was innocent, meant to be an offer of help as service, not...not more amorous activities. He gulped and let his singing star in.
Soundwave gave him highgrade of pure energon and rust stick with mild additives, his favorite. The mech did not let him return to his lab, instead flipping him on the spacious couch. Shockwave forgot how the mech took combat lessons with Damus some cycles ago.
He was attended to and pampered with Soundwave's field giving him comfort. The mech offered to massage him as his back struts ached from bending so much. Shockwave asked for pain reducers instead fearing his reaction. The next pampering was sitting with him as he played an old Golden Age documentary about Luna 1's old civilization. It was a blackmarket find as the Council did not approve of certain work being open to the commonwealth. They watched the holovid play. Shockwave engrossed in the theories and observations of the documentarian's insights he did not notice the slow edging of Soundwave's frame.
Suddenly, lust entered his field. So mesmerized by the holovid, he did feel Soundwave's servos circling his backstruts, massaging him, and lightly touching transformation seams. One particular seam on the back of his neck cables acted as an erogenous zone. The proximity of his desire did added to that lust.
He looked at Soundwave, out of depth.
"Soundwave: Wants to thank Shockwave," Soundwave said, before baring his array.
Shockwave kept his composure as he felt his fans whirring high. "Soundwave, this is wrong."
The mech shut down, hiding himself. Shockwave gritted his denta. Wrong thing to say.
"I-I mean that you do not owe me this..type of thanks or service," Shockwave said.
"Soundwave: Not sealed. Learned pleasing interfacing in deal with Rzzt...in Rodion...for different mech. Will make it good for Shockwave."
Shockwave looked to him.
Confusion/disgust/hurt bled from the mech.
Soundwave had never offered this for free. Back in Rodion...it was his old way of making shanix. His telepathy anticipated his customers wants. One cycle, a council mech offered to pay for a live in pleasure drone: Senator Ratbat. Soundwave had taken it after almost shutting down from empty tanks.
Shockwave never asked, never propositioned or imposed...he simply let Soundwave live. He let the cassettes run all over him, Rumble taking to him the most after helping the Senator with experiments. Soundwave felt safe with him. Laserbeak had encouraged him that an intimate relationship would be welcomed. Soundwave wanted to be intimate with the Senator. That frightened him. He kept his cassettes nearby because he was afraid of the desire he held for the handsome mech.
He noticed the Senator inching away. Feeling like a fool, Soundwave close his panels.
Tell me to leave, please. Don't keep me here in this humiliation, he thought.
Unaware of the turmoil going for Shockwave. The other on his side of the couch had conflicting thoughts and half-thoughts, distracted by the burned memory of finally seeing his Singing Star open for him. Shockwave also had to control his rage! Of course, he knew a mech as untrusting as Soundwave had his history. He knew there were reasons he hid from the world, minus his telepathy, but he prayed despite not being a follower the poor beauty did not have to resort to something so cruel and disgusting. Some of his own students would of their days as pleasure drones and how depraved others would be; it was recoiling tale after another. It hurt to know that Soundwave may have had a worse fate as some mechs would buy others as slaves. Shockwave suspected from the musician's evasive talk of his time in Rodion.
He inched further because lust began to take over as his fans whirled harder and his HUD brought attention to his heat and interface protocols.
I should ask offer him my berth. Or say I must wash. Either way, I need him away as I, uh, take care of this. Shockwave dug his blunt digits into his thighs.
A beat passed in which both Cybertronians lived in an eternity of indecisiveness for opposing reasons.
As the Senator was about to open his intake a soft keening noise came from the musician.
Shockwave turned to witness the first wail of Soundwave. The mech crumbled in front of him as if he was to be punished.
"Sorry...sorry...Soundwave...I...please, don't...sorry..."
The litany lasted for an astroklik as Soundwave curled his frame into a fetal position shaking as his armor tightened.
Shockwave for once in his existence let logic go as he rounded on the sobbing mech, chirring at him in old ways of comfort. He rubbed transformation seams in small circles as he nuzzled his faceplate atop the blunt helm, starting to coo as he felt the mech beneath him respond with whimpering. Soundwave too began to rub and touch the Senator. He led the mech's hands on his frame to show where he felt the most receptive to touch. His sobs turned to hiccups as chirrs and trills echoed from his intake. His face on full display as the Senator responded in kind with tickling kisses to his neck cables and glossa licks on his fluid tears.
Their intakes met. The kiss was chaste and long. Soundwave sat atop Shockwave's lap; heat returned to his array. The Senator nibbled at his lower lip. Soundwave met him as their denta clashed.
"Oh, oh, So-Soundwave," Shockwave let as he looked the mech in the optics. He needed to be sincere. "You owe me nothing." He swallowed as again, the unmistakable sound of modesty panels opened. "I-I want you to do this because you-you want-"
"Soundwave: Wants. Desires. Shockwave frag me all dark cycle," Soundwave said. He leaned back spreading himself.
Shockwave had a better view; the valve was light blue with yellow biolights puffy, dripping lubricant. His spike housing remained closed. Soundwave made it clear what he wanted as he teased his anterior node. Shockwave's processor rebooted and he found his spike pressurized with the barest of touches from his soon-to-be-courtmate. It would not be a onetime stress relief like so many others.
They kissed as the Senator carried his Singing Star to the berth.
"Do one thing for me, my love," Shockwave said.
"For you," Soundwave repeated.
"For me." He came close, his spike brushing the puffy folds; Soundwave mewling silently. "Sing for me."
Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, and Laserbeak did not see either mech until the next late mid cycle as both stumbled downstairs for the music lessons.
Gloriosa Natura smirked at both. "About time, dears," she said.
The ball was in full swing as the mechs talked and flittered about. Shockwave stood with a group of high society, using his intellect to corral them into more charitable uses of shanix. He ex-vented on his aching pedes as the conversation kept evading to flippant pursuits. Despite his small fame for running excursions on Luna-1, it did not impress enough to have mechs listen.
He traversed the party floor, half-sparkedly seeking new donors. A futile effort, but he needed to do something. His school had been shut down and he noticed many of his students were missing. Damus was the one to bring up hideous rumors of Shadowplay. Shockwave knew of the mnemosurgeon on the Primes' payroll. Sadly, no evidence existed to connect the two institutes. Shockwave paused at the extravagant set up of energon vitrols. His tank turned. So much for such ungrateful intakes. He wondered if he should subspace part of it for the increasing homeless.
Suddenly, an announcer called attention to the stage. Shockwave's field calmed as the mesh curtains opened to reveal his Singing Star. Gloriosa Natura stood on stage proud with her helm high. She began her aria as Soundwave's accompaniment began on the guitar. Frenzy played bass next to Semibreve's keys. The sound was light for the song as the old diva could not project her voice.
Shockwave frowned. Few knew of Gloriosa's forced retirement. He did. She too was an outlier for her make; if she hit certain high notes her voice would spit it out like a bullet incapacitating any mechs nearby. They would live but have audial issues for some time. However, she had full control of her abilities.
Except for her last performance; she was the jewel of the Orpheum and Nominus Prime's favorite. He had requested (threatened) her to perform a difficult piece. Gloriosa Natura delivered the performance for her own pride. The high notes she hit under duress activated her ability. The entire theatre, including the elites, passed out after the first chorus. The mechs closest to her audials were damaged beyond repair.
After that, it was written she failed her performance.
But, here, singing in her own range with the right accompaniment, Shockwave saw the same femme who existed for music.
Soundwave kept his servos steady on his strings. His telepathic control had grown to where he could not hear others. However, small leaks always entered his processor. It did not help when a room full of elite scrapmetal had similar thoughts.
Senator Shockwave's courtmate...
How quaint...
Prefers shareware...
I have better hidden in Kaon...
So ugly....
Pity case...
Charity...
Must frag for the fuel...
Wonder how much the cassettes...
Soundwave shook his helm. He closed his optics and reached out for Shockwave. His mind remained calm and an anchor in these rusty heaps. Shockwave was upset about the lack of donors, happy to hear Gloriosa sing (obviously), and secretly subspacing goodies for the mechs on the way home.
That last thought made Soundwave lose his timing. Frenzy, thank Primus, caught it and covered for him.
Home. Soundwave had a home; he lived within Shockwave's habsuite. His cassettes kept to the one next to Gloriosa Natura, his mentor. He even had a grudging respect for Blaster who would come for visits and interviews of Gloriosa's accounts of the old days, before the corruptions. He had a home.
Soundwave played with renewed vigor as the performance moved to the next arrangement.
The end of the darkcycle brought a scant few old fans to Gloriosa. She graciously spoke with them of the past.
Soundwave waved farewell on his way to join his court mate. On the walk, he passed the snobbish mechs who avoided his gaze. Every bot knew he belonged to Shockwave.
Unfortunate for the senator. I'd donate for his causes if not for that garbage hanging off his shoulders.
The thought, viscous and visceral, had come from an elite. Soundwave recognized him as one of the more tolerable of the lot. His creation stood next to him with a saddened field.
Soundwave listened: I wish mentor would reconsider. This isn't right to withold help.
The creation was blue and white with a cannon on his shoulder pauldron. He met Soundwave's gaze and shyly waved to him.
Soundwave nods and continues to Shockwave, a deep regret setting in his spark.
3 cycles pass...
Shockwave onlined to the restraints holding him down. He struggled uselessly as he felt his helm covering being opened. He saw Sentinel Prime, grinning sadistically as others in the room reveal his 'new face.' They cackled at his horrified stare.
Shockwave shook as they began the Empurata. He felt everything.
Not the torture, or Sentinel's mocking.
The last three cycles caved in as he thrashed and raged sending his field choking all.
Soundwave leaving him. A Pit spawned note saying he deserved better.
NOTHING was better than his Singing Star! No one superior beauty existed beyond his beloved's visage and mind.
He searched. He searched all of Iacon's dirty tunnels and syk dens for quartexes. Attacked multiple times for his shanix and nearly assaulted by pursuer who wished to teach him what a real mech was. Shockwave had bitten off a spike to which the others beat him to near offline.
Gloriosa took care of his affairs. She too had been taken aback at Soundwave's departure. In his note, he apologized for stealing. Her credits were missing from the bank.
He did not use the money. Shockwave's intel showed no images of him leaving on transports or groundbridges. Which meant, Soundwave would find other ways out of the city. He had to seek him first.
This injustice would impede him!
Shockwave struggled as they removed his servos replacing them with claws.
His processor ran with scenarios of why Soundwave. They loved each other. They enjoyed fheir life together. Shockwave made it clear the other mech's past did not define him. They were never easy the lives of the forgotten. Soundwave said he would not be intimidated at the high society events. They had been to so many balls, ceremonies, and festivals together. The previous one was no different.
Soundwave's demeanor had been strange. He was quiet. Their interfacing became nightly and slow as if...
"Augh! You slagmaking protoforphilia glitches! You're going to pay for this!" He screamed as he felt them going for his faceplate. It was ripped without decorum.
"Hurry it up, slow wits. I have a meeting to explain this flagger's absence. Cut his vocalizer if you must," Sentine demanded in a derivative tone.
His processor overheated as they removed core memories. His logic boosted. By the time his new helm was added, the Shadowplay had taken place.
He was pushed to the streets of Iacon as scrap.
Within his brilliance, the mech knew only his designation of his past self: Shockwave.
Soundwave felt the anger and disbelief of his cassetticons. He ignored all four fields after stowing away on a transport that was scheduled for Kaon.
He had come this far, stealing from his idol.
Shockwave would be free of him. He would continue to be the wonderful kind mech he was. Soundwave needed to be a distant memory. Shockwave had so many to help in the future. Soundwave reasoned it was right.
His spark breaking in two was a side effect. His last three cycles he spent with his love, having Rumble and Frenzy dig for intel on his suspicions.
They were losing. The school gone and the missing mechs would be noticed soon. Shockwave in the first stellar would spend his time trying to fix these issues, but...he wanted to spend time with Soundwave.
The Cassette Player was a distraction. He needed to omit himself for Shockwave's benefit, for others.
His dock opened as his cassettes appeared one by one. The last being Ravage. Her audials tucked back. The others imitated her angry stance, the twins crossed arms and Laserbeak's flared wings.
"Soundwave: Decision not easy. Please no more arguing," he pleaded. He was so tired. His last recharge in the berth with his love spent staring at him, memorizing all the curves and plains of his frame.
"Fiiiiinnne," Frenzy huffed as she sat down. Ravage curled against her sister.
Laserbeak joined them. His field brushed Soundwave's. Disappointment above all.
Rumble walked closer. He placed his small servo on Soundwave's knee.
"What do we do, boss?" He asked, his youth showing.
"Rumble: We survive."
Later, finding appropriate shelter in the tunnels of Kaon, Soundwave looked up at the stars. He used a rarely brought up feature of Cassette Players.
"My Singing Star..."
He replayed the recording 100's of times before falling on his knees.