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The Decepticon in second command stomped in similar fashion to that of a cranky sparkling who got told “no.” A fitting title considering the seeker tended to throw a tantrum when plans didn’t go his way. A storm quaked under his pedes with every step he took. A datapad clenched tightly in his claws, damaged almost beyond recognition.
It was cracked at the centers, a chunk taken out of the thing like a bitten potato chip. Sticky saliva lined the shattered lines of teeth marks, like bolts of electricity struck the screen of information dry. The text “How to overthrow Megatron” was barely legible anymore. A blessing in disguise really, as Starscream was aware of his fate if the overlord caught wind of this written scheme.
He wasn’t positive who to point fingers at for the ordeal on this report. He’d blame Megatron for anything really. Though he doubted the spike of a dictator, as looney as he was, would smash a datapad in his iron denta. Then again. The Seeker halted his march of deceit as his sensors caught sight of another bot to blame.
Soundwave had his back faced to the bratty bird, oddly on his knees. The sound of metal being assaulted by a power tool hit the jet’s audio receptors like a circling beacon. Considerate wasn’t a program Starscream possessed. He interrupted the tape player with a hard tap to his shoulder. And a berate of complaints.
“Which of your BEASTY abominations was in charge of retrieving my datapad- Which is VERY IMPORTANT mind you- And brought it to me like THIS?!”
The infuriated Seeker held up his screen of information, broadcasting the damage to Soundwave’s clueless optics. Lucky for the traitor transformer the text on Megatron’s downfall was beyond recognition. The tape deck only blinked at the sight, nothing but broken glass and zapping sparks in Starscream’s furious hold. Without a word he turned back to the scratched floor. Continuing the process of evading any marks.
“Unknown.” Was all the bot replied after what felt like orns to the impatient avian bot. Angrier than before the jet put up a pathetic display of stomping one of his pedes. Loud grumbles and screeches came from the temperamental toddler of a commander. Until his optics caught vison of what Soundwave was mending.
Scratch marks. Deep scratch marks that aligned a certain corner of the Nemesis hall. In stereotypical Starscream fashion he decided to be cocky. The Seeker sneered.
“I’m aware you’re not a repair bot Soundwave. Why must Megatron have you repairing this damage instead of the Constructicons? One of your pets must’ve inflicted these marks to our ship didn’t they? Since they’re your responsibility.”
The screechy con, voice like Insecticons to an electric drill smirked ear to ear when he heard the tape deck sigh. Soundwave didn’t need to answer. He knew the truth.
“..Affirmative.”
Starscream had begun to pace around the bot inches beneath his rank. A sign of dominance and mockery that Soundwave did not appreciate. Aware, however, that not reacting would only piss off the bird more.
“I will NEVER understand Megatron letting you keep all these pets when all they do is cause trouble and make us look like FOOLS!”
The power tool stopped. The halls went silent as the tape deck froze longer than Starscream was comfortable with. The jet nearly flinched as Soundwave turned around. Though not with a glare aligned with fury like he expected. No. Confusion. A brow ridge raised to further emote this through his mask.
“Soundwave: Only has two pets.”
Starscream would’ve spit his energon if he had any, so instead he choked on his intake.
“TWO?! That’s slag and you KNOW IT! I’ve experienced your infuriating creations before. Ravage, Lazerbeak, Buzzsaw, RatBat, Overkill, Sludgest- O-others I’m missing- HOW DARE YOU LIE TO ME! I AM YOUR SUPERIOR!”
Soundwave hardly had a response. The cassette player looked confused beyond belief. A expression that truly didn’t fit him. It was uncanny. Unnerving. You could see his optics wide behind the visor and it was horrifying. Starscream only blinked.
“What? Surprised I actually listen when you speak?”
“Ravage, Lazerbeak, Buzzsaw, RatBat, Overkill, Sludgefest: Not Soundwave’s pets.”
“SLAG! They HAVE to be! What else are they to you then?!”
“Ravage, Lazerbeak, Buzzsaw: Soundwave’s mentors. Parental guidance. Ratbat, Overkill, Sludgefest: Soundwave’s pupils. Soundwave: Their mentor.”
Starscream looked for anything on Soundwave’s faceplate to show he was lying. But the tape deck had a poker face so strong he could win a Los Vegas lottery. The seeker stuttered on his glossa, though the cassette holder didn’t let him finish.
“Soundwave’s pets, Rumble and Frenzy. Rumble and Frenzy: Provide processor support.”
Now Starscream was the expression of horrified confusion. Soundwave’s cluelessness was a virus that spread to the Seeker like rust. And he was showing all the symptoms.
“WHAT- But I- eh- H- HOW? They’re mechs aren’t they? Not Mechanimals I- I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION FROM YOU SOUNDWAVE!”
Soundwave had an expression as if he was surprised Starscream wasn’t aware. Without responding the tape deck sat, crisscross applesauce style. Prepared to unreil the story on his cassettes to the confused bird. Star oddly sat beside him, like a perched parakeet.
“Ravage: Took in Soundwave when he was a youngling. Taught him to control his telepathic abilities. To thrive alone, to hunt. Lazerbeak and Buzzsaw: Also took in Soundwave. Taught him patience and kindness. RatBat: Was taken in by Soundwave as a protégé. Overkill and Sludgefest: Were claimed lost causes. Soundwave could help. Rumble and Frenzy: Were found by Soundwave in Iacon in a cage. Rumble and Frenzy: Very feral mechs. Very loyal mechs. Always by Soundwave’s side, protecting him and Megatron.”
Starscream couldn’t believe his audio receptors. So much that he had scratched them a couple times with his claws to make sure they were reading properly. Nothing changed. “I don’t- I always thought-“
“Starscream: Never asked. Ravage: Was citizen of Iacon. Was an outcast due to frame. Thinks with processor. Can figure out equations, fix machinery, do Soundwave’s taxes.” Starscream muttered.
“Wait she can do taxes? Even I can’t do that…”
“Rumble and Frenzy: Grew up outside civilization. Soundwave: Unsure where they came from. Rumble and Frenzy: Were alone. Think with instincts. Think like Mechanimals. Follow instincts. Follow commands, can’t be alone.”
The jet beside him was processing. Not a peep came from a screeching bird for less time than Soundwave would’ve enjoyed.
“Why refer to them as pets when they aren’t Mechanimals? I mean I call them worse but, why don’t the little freaks find that degrading?”
Soundwave looked oddly somber. Apologetic? It was hard for Starscream to read.
“Soundwave: Thought so too at first. Didn’t want to refer to them that way. Rumble and Frenzy: Wanted to be companions. Soundwave: Saved them. Rumble and Frenzy: Pledge loyalty to Soundwave.”
The tape deck sighed.
“Soundwave: Therozies. Rumble and Frenzy: Behave like Mechanimals due to wanting companionship. To be loved. To have Soundwave care for them. To have a Master. Soundwave: Would love them either way.”
Starscream huffed. “W-Well they’re still little terrors! Even if they are loyal to you. I-“
The seeker was cut off as Soundwave put a servo in front of the bird’s face. Star only blinked before the tape deck took his digits and snapped them. Then sympathized a whistle loud.
The sound of clashes slowly enhanced in the hallways. Rumble and Frenzy sprinted around the corner in a fashion similar to the title Soundwave gave them before. Mechanimals. Frenzy screeched to a stop rather gracefully. Halting himself right in front of his master’s pedes. Unlike his twin who grunted as he slid, ramming into a wall. Rumble shook it off rather quickly. As the two sat at attention in front of Soundwave, looking like two military canine soldiers. A fitting title really.
The cassette player leaned down to pet them, as the two cassettes purred and panted with happy expressions. Rumble even began to kick one of his pedes, causing a small tremor in the ship to commence. Starscream refused to find it cute. He found the cassettes to be abominations really.
Especially Rumble and Frenzy.
The Seeker growled, waving the now not forgotten datapad in rage. “Well for your sake Soundwave, Shockwave BETTER be able to fix the damage Rumble and Frenzy CAUSED!” He stormed off without another word, heading in the direction of Shockwave’s lab.
Soundwave didn’t even watch the jet mech exit, as he began to leave on his own accord. “Rumble, Frenzy: Come.” The two bots followed suit without a peep, scampering at his sides.
Starscream thought he’d be more irritated than before. Infuriated at the two creatures that once again made his life The Pit. But oddly enough, he didn’t. If anything he felt sad. Sad? Was it sadness? Somber? Guilt? He turned back at where the tape player and his cassettes had been before. As if they were spirits that dispersed after the chime of a clock. Or however those fairytales went.
No. It wasn’t any of those feelings. It was empathy.
Being a Seeker he knew what it was like to be blindly loyal. He did once. He was blindly loyal once. A companion to someone once. And then it all changed. What it was like to be alone in their planet of misery, without a trine, abandoned to waste away. Until he found Thundercracker and Skywarp. And the three had never been apart since.
In a way, Starscream was grateful the twins had Soundwave. It wasn’t like another bot would tolerate them, and then they’d be all alone. Turning further away from civilization. Just as he did once upon a time.
The Seeker shook his helm and huffed, continuing his stroll to the lab. He refused to elaborate further to his processor. Soundwave kept the mutts out of trouble. That was enough he supposed. Maybe he’d be more sympathetic the many more times he knew the abominations Rumble and Frenzy would cause havoc.
But that wasn’t a promise.