[ti]Ep 2.5[/ti]Homebound [Q, Coldwind, Open please ask]

[Deleted]

Fourteen clawed digits dug furrows in the stone. Flamesnort decided then and there that he did not like this self important demeaning excuse for a Decepticon. Her words annoyed and worried him. It took effort to keep himself calm and not heat up further. His armored skin was already hot enough to vaporise mercury. To let himself get hotter would just be a nuisance and a drain on energon at this point.

“If the paradigm can shift once, it can shift back.” Flamesnort opinionated to himself quietly.

And you would do well to get smelted down on the spot. Words Flamesnort wanted to shout back but held off instead. For the sake of his own satisfaction, he contemplated combat maneuvers against the femme. There was no outright quick and easy way against a flier so well armored. Surprise would be key, to get a pounce in and tear out something vital. Go for the throat seemed like the simplest solution to what would likely be a non-existent problem. Instead though, he parried with words rather than actions. 

“I’ll adjust, and make adjustments.” Flamesnort would not lay down quietly at let the world wind its merry way to hell. If the monsters had taken over his dearest faction, he would bring them back to the light. Defeating Autobots seemed easy in comparison to defeating the monster within his friends - if that were indeed the case the Coldwind posited.

For someone named Coldwind, you’re full of hot air. Flamesnort thought to himself. He went to follow after the flier and through the scintillating doorway, happy at least to leave this hole and move on to the new fortress of his comrades.

“QLC, just how many do your brethren Vehicons number?” Coldwind was certainly correct that rights were actually the privilege of the strong, but there was also strength in numbers. Flamesnort recalled that the Vehicon troops of a million years ago were very numerous. 

[Ren]

Q could only head-tilt as Coldwind threw her arms open and wide. He’d seen Starscream do similar when boasting about things, although this wasn’t a boast- it was… the reality of how things were, really. The strong did rise through the ranks, getting better treatment than those that were weak, but that’s just how it was anywhere, he assumed.

The competent comment made his shoulders sag.

He was plenty competent! He wanted to say this, to let her know she was wrong! But he would remain quiet, shrinking back as she spoke of him, fingertips tapping together nervously. He may not have been much to look at, and okay sure he was a little laggy and lacking in common sense compared to his brothers, but he’d helped man the Space Bridge just fine! He’d helped Vega escape the Nemesis! He had uses and was competent when he tried, even if she didn’t think so!

Coldwind was honestly scaring him, and in a way, he was thankful he had no real faceplate to speak of that could betray his emotion. He did keep his gaze downward as she spoke, not wanting to interrupt. He’d remembered who she was now, and knowing she was close to Starscream? Even more reason to not annoy her by doing anything out of line!

The swirling vortex of a bridge caught him off guard, and he’d squeak quietly, turning to look over his shoulder. He almost expected Soundwave to have arrived, quietly stalking through to assess the situation and then drag him to where he was supposed to be.

Obviously he wasn’t here, though, and he could only watch as Coldwind finally made her departure. It was then he vented out a HUGE audible sigh of relief. Thank Primus. He’d been limiting his air intakes there to the point that maybe he was about to overheat but he wasn’t even sure because he was stressed. But ohh the relief now she'd left was good. While some tense words had been thrown, there hadn’t been a fight or anything really bad.

About to turn on his heel and follow, he was caught off guard once more by the question thrown his way. A servo moving to rub at the back of his helm, he’d look at Flamesnort and loosely shrugged.

“Like an exact number? UUuuhh… I mean there’s me, Reggie, so that’s two. Uh. There’s lots of us at the Space Bridge cave, then lots in the mines. I can name them all, if you want? I think I can do that! But as for a rough number I’m not sure. Few hundred? More than that maybe? We lost some in the Nemesis crash but there’s still a lot of us!

Why do you ask?”

A question of his own as he walked with Flamesnort through the swirling gateway, from one cave into another. At least this one was bigger, though!

[Coldwind]

As the three Decepticons emerged on the other side of the waygate, they appeared back where Q had started this entire debacle. While it was certainly a much more spacious cave than the one inhabited by Flamesnort, it was a cave nonetheless. Encased in rough, rocky walls, and lined with functional metal, the improvisational factor of Blackridge was a striking sight in comparison to the sterile gloom of a Decepticon warship.

Coldwind took a few resolute steps forward before turning back towards Flamesnort. A snide leer dominated her cracked, war-torn face alongside the infernal, red optics which never ceased to disappoint in their blazing intensity. Even if Coldwind put on the calmest facade of her life, one could scarce not notice just how hate-filled her eyes were.

“Welcome home, Flamesnort.”

Spoken plainly with a tinge of scornful pride. No, not for Blackridge. There was nothing to be proud of here. The feeling was all self-involved. Coldwind’s pride came from herself and was directed at herself only.

“I am sure Lord Starscream will be thrilled to see he has a new pet.”

Perhaps the remark was more biting than it had to be. But Coldwind rarely afforded anybody the courtesy of respect, especially when she outranked them. Downfall might have been a very notable exception to that, however. He had integrity and strength. Not like Flamesnort lacked in those values, but he was also an ugly-as-sin lizard.

“Now, what was it you did before becoming one of our sleeper guardians?”

Coldwind raised a brow as her vision narrowed. She was very interested in Flamesnort’s position. Surely, he could not be above her in the pecking order, but she still had to know just how further down he was. How far she could push him without repercussions, and how important or not he would be to Starscream’s schemes. Everyone had a part to play. Coldwind's job was making sure that they wouldn't forget that even for a second.

[Deleted]

The first thing Flamesnort did upon his appearance on the other side of the waygate was to check himself over, make sure everything was intact. The science behind the spatial wormhole was so far beyond his understanding that he didn't entirely trust them. He did try to appear as nonchalant as possible, even QLC looked perfectly at ease with the transition. The second thing he did was check his new surroundings. The vermin hunter did a quick mental cartography of the rock cavern, locating doorways, equipment, and any personal. This act was first nature to Flamesnort and barely took any conscious thought. All the details regarding the layout of the metal plated rock slipped into the back of his mind as if it had been there all along. The why of the place was far more interesting however, a rocky cavern, no matter how well hewn or equipped was a far cry from a true Decepticon stronghold.

In reply to QLC, Flamesnort thought for a brief moment before answering. "Little more than simple curiosity." His tone was simple and friendly but the words were a lie. "Might take me awhile to learn all their names is all". That part was true enough, and Flamesnort would make the effort.

"Home? Yes, this Fortress feels quite familiar already." It really did, rock was rock, a cave to a cavern. Anything that was different from his million year cave was very reminiscent of Cybertron. Flamesnort chose to ignore the "pet" comment. As much as he was disliking Coldwind's attitude, he would stilll rahter have the heavy femme on his side than as an enemy. And he had far more to occupy his processor than an attitude with too much altitude.

"Myself?, oh I was the exterminator." Flamesnort made it sound as blase as administration. "I tracked, hunted and killed filthy Autobot in holes no other mech could navigate." He paused for a moment before reflecting the same question back to Coldwind. "If I may ask, what is your Rank in all this? You give the impression saving mechs like me from solitude is beneath you."

[Soundwave]

Before Coldwind could respond, a voice cut in.

/̨/͢In future, I recommend that you keep me apprised of such pursuits//͘

A low rumble, a deep voice lined with an edge of warning paired with a growled undertone and a healthy dash of calm intelligence that wove between it all. To many, if not all, the voice would be recognizable in an instant. One that spoke of freedom and change, a rallying cry that lead to the turning point in their past... A champion of the pit and war who's commands were heard not as directive but LAW for the Decepticon's cause.

Megatron's voice snarled out through a static twined filter as a dark shadow pulled away from the adjacent hallway as if it were manifesting from the very darkness itself.

A slim frame, angular and sharp, broad paneled yet narrow shoulders hooking up on either side of a triangular torso and slim waist. In the shadows of Blackridge the figures body color was blotted out to darkness, only the sharp edging of magenta bio-lights etching along the deepest points where true black armor lie breaking this hollow shape. While many may sport a similar paintjob, or utilize the same tone of lighting, what was truly unique was the helm that was locked fiercely down upon the trio, a narrow triangular visor of shiny black glass accented by a crest of needle like armor.

Just as Megatron's voice would be recognizable there were very few in the war who did not know the Spymaster as well, the most loyal follower of their Lord and shadow to his advance. His helm itself almost looked like a brand of the Decepticons, yet a dull plated version was stamped on either shoulder as if his loyalty and who he stood for could ever be put into question.

With calculated steps, Soundwave stepped forward further into the room, a hollow plastic like click heard with each footfall creating the most subtle of sounds that could be lost within the rumble of an active base. He halted mid way across the distance, peds planting apart with a readied stance that bordered the edge of aggression, while helm crooked up in some regard to look down upon the soldier who had been drug within their sanctum without proper protocols taken into account. His arms loped on either side, abnormally long, held slightly away from his central mass with elbows faintly bent. While Soundwave seldom changed positions, always tending to look the same, there was a soft air of threat that hung around him like a noxious haze.

Oh, Soundwave knew when the terminals were used, he knew when identification codes were plugged into the system to churn and decode whose banner a soldier fought beneath. While this individual sported the Decepticon badge, it was useless drabble that could so easily be falsified. Now, Soundwave was no fool however, he knew of sentries on this world, and he was well aware this individual was likely one given his unique frame type that coincided with the records, but protocols were protocols, and bypassing them out of mere convenience was a sharp strike.

The slick black visor passed a glance at Coldwind momentarily, sliding past the Vehicon who he very much recognized... before locking fully onto Flamesnort.

/̡/Identify yourself/͘/́

A low guttural growl, but not the words of Megatron again. They were angry and more beastly, a strong individual who had an aggressive edge to his static laden words.

[Ren]

Q could only nod at Flamesnort’s response as they walked through the swirling vortex of a portal. The fact he wanted to learn all their names was great! Whether or not he would stick to his word remained to be seen, but Q believed in him!

“Yeah? Breakdown might be able to help you! Somehow he knows all of them! Okay, I’m not sure if it’s allllll of them, but it’s a lot!” his voice chipper as the portal swirled to a close behind them all.

He hadn’t noticed anything amiss yet, his processor elsewhere.

Breakdown was a good guy. He took the time to check in on Vehicons all the time, if they were late for a check-up, he’d try and find them to make sure things were okay. Or if he ever passed them in the hallways, he’d call them by their designation. Considering how many Vehicons there were, and how much work they all did to help out the Decepticons, he assumed that they’d been seen as more important by more than just one mech.

Ah well.

He was about to speak again, make a comment about how this was home sweet home- when another much scarier voice cut in and made him pause in his steps.

Megatron?!

No, wait… It had a filter behind it. In a way, that was even worse than Megatron because it meant…

Ah, yup. There he was. The one mech he’d been absolutely trying to avoid.

Soundwave.

Did Soundwave know every single Vehicon designation? Probably. He remained frozen on the spot, watching as Soundwave moved into the room from seemingly nowhere at all. Even though he was watching and could see him moving, his footfalls were so eerily quiet that if he wasn’t paying attention, they would’ve been lost.

Q was quiet, standing at attention. Looking important. Looking like he had purpose. Soundwave seemingly looked right at him - or through him, he wasn’t sure which - before the Spymaster’s gaze settled on the newcomer.

Don’t draw attention to yourself, Q!

Making a point to stare at a rather neat looking piece of rock on the far wall behind Soundwave, he would remain quiet unless addressed directly.

[Coldwind]

And then there he stood, a pale shadow of what was perhaps once a person.

Soundwave.

Not a moment into their return, a rumbling bassy tone pierced the Spymaster’s infamous silence. The voice belonged to no other than Megatron himself. Even after eons spent in solitude, Coldwind could scarce forget such a presence. Hearing it, even through another, called to mind the good old days. When she stood at Starscream’s side, silent, dominant, while the tyrant spoke to his armies across Cybertron.

It was enough to placate the boastful and arrogant streak which she had nearly fully quenched by asserting herself over Flamesnort, whose questions would have to come later, and QLC, who would do well to make himself very small and invisible right about now. Soundwave himself was an icon of the Decepticon movement, and to hear the lord Megatron himself through such an individual quieted even the most unruly Decepticons.

“I will,” the Vosnian retorted simply with a firm nod. Her words were resolute and plain. When it was required, she could be professional. Very few bots instilled this mindest within her, but Soundwave and Megatron were chief among them. And it was only for the two of them that Coldwind would ever step aside.

Just as she did now. With the shadowy mech’s approach, Coldwind made room for him and Flamesnort, keeping to the sidelines. Though it was not her expertise, nor was she overly familiar with Soundwave’s conduct, she heard stories. He was a precise, punctual entity, dependant on rules and protocols. That she would bypass his authority was a grievous oversight on her part, one which she should take care to not repeat.

Regardless, her failings were irrelevant now. Once all introductions were accounted for, it fell to Coldwind to inform the Spymaster of the mine’s situation, and that it should be secured at the earliest convenience. While it was true that an Autobot attack was not a likely scenario at present, one could never know what those rats were up to.

The Seeker was only slightly less concerned in comparison to Flamesnort when it came to the surplus of Energon which had been left behind without a guard. Starscream loved his stockpiles and calling a fresh deposit to his attention could secure her favor with the acting Lord. Not that she particularly needed it, but taking credit for this little venture into the unknown couldn’t hurt their alliance.

But for now, she was content to watch the scene unfold. Retiring into the selfsame shade Soundwave had emerged from moments prior with her arms crossed and optics snapping between him and the dragon. Q faded into obscurity, becoming unimportant in the now, but she still made a small mental note to bring up his apparent glitches to Knock Out.

[Deleted]

An electrifying chill of excitement pulsed through Flamesnort as he heard Megatron’s voice. Fourteen claws dug into the rock floor, just a smidgen as he tensed. The one true leader was here he thought. Flamesnort felt a little smug. Surely the one who had drawn the line so many eons ago would put Coldwind back in her place, while loyalists like Flamesnort would rise again. Oh silly dinosaur lizard what will become of you?

The shadow that fell, and the one who cast it was not Megatron. Flamesnort could not tell the voice of his leader from the false simulation, for far too long he had not heard it. Instead, Flamesnort laid his optics on the one who was most often seen at Megatron’s side, Soundwave himself. Respect was earned and for this mech Flamesnort gave nearly as much as he reserved for Megatron himself. Flamesnort bowed deep, optics to the floor, before rising to his full stature, filled with strength.

“Commander Soudwave, I am Flamesnort, of Kaon City, forged 1,358,988 years before the Proclamation. I am the sentry guardian of site Iomega eight-eight stationed some million odd years ago. I.D. code IDJ-IT-2019-88.” Flamesnort stated plainly, with only a modest iota of pride. There it was, his full statement of self. While it was entirely possible to forge or emulate, but such an elaborate ruse would simply be unlikely.

“I am ever ready to serve the Decepticons”. Flamesnort was ready after so long, eager to finally wipeout the wretched Autobots on this wretched dirt planet.

[Soundwave]

As unleashed as Coldwind could seem, an animal cut loose among more logical individuals, it was good to see she had the wherewithal to curb herself and remain in line in his presence. This had been the second time Soundwave's mere existence had quelled her, and while he didn't REALLY know if the femme had been antagonistic on the other side of the portal or not given even his security web could not even remotely monitor so very far... the Spymaster was willing to throw a few coin into the betting pool that she most certainly WAS.

Call it a hunch.

Casting her temporarily aside, the navy mech focused down upon Flamesnort with renewed intensity, the situation with the only vaguely labeled mech a more pressing concern. As such, he fully squared off with the reptile, arms continuing to remain loped down to either side, as he took only a half step to adjust for the new turn in frame. He did not instantly speak, did not respond with any level of haste or a renewed demand for information. Instead, the slick black visor angled down to look upon him, the newcomer's own purple optics reflected off its glossy surface back at him.

Old data logs of actual LOCATIONS of the Energon deposits were far outdated and no longer relevant given the planet's tectonic motion through millennia... but just because they couldn't readily find said deposits and their guardians didn’t mean they were not a thing, it simply meant a bit of luck to stumble upon it, or the individual waking on their own, had to play a large role here. It was likely the latter for the two individuals present to find Flamesnort when neither had been sent out on any form of scouting duties.

While the location of said mine had been a mystery, the name of it and its guardian was still logged, and as such was able to be corroborated with what the mech said. The ID code lined up with designation and atypical frame data, which was tied to the seed site and in extension the irrelevant planetary coordinates, which... were now being updated from the latest Space Bridge field trip. Really, everything had checked out well, and Soundwave may have been seen as being too cautious to go to arms as fast as he did despite the odds against it, but it was better safe than sorry.

And also helped remind Starscream's pet that he was always around.

With a flickered pop, Soundwave's visor lit up, bouncing sound waves jittering and lurching across the screen as he 'spoke' once again.

//͞Report to the Medbay and place yourself under Knock Out's command/̸/

Hollow words, so ominously devoid of emotion or self... They rumbled out with an even tone with no modulation present, calm directives that cut straight to the point. It seemed that the most befitting voices to be used were rather notable ones, for it was first Megatron, and now? Well... any who were vaguely invested in science or those who lead the Decepticons under such themes, would know that hollow rumble anywhere as being Shockwave.

While a medical checkup may not be what Flamesnort was hoping for, the fact of the matter was that he had been under stasis for an incredibly long time. To suddenly be jarred from it on his own signified something was wrong and needed to be checked out. Should Coldwind and this Vehicon had woken him... well... chances are something still could have gone wrong. Not so much blamed upon Coldwind, more... the uncertainty on what this well known Vehicon had done.

This soldier was an idiot.

/̶/If you are fit to serve-/̷/͢-I would install you in an environment suited to your abilities//̶

More grumbled words from their Warlord. Not as angry and intense as the previous ones, sourced from a more conversational environment. Despite it not being laced with ire and irritation, there was still a sense of power that hummed beneath it. Whatever the case, no more was said on what said directive would be exactly, the subject left rather hanging in the air as Soundwave's visor twisted then to look upon Coldwind.

/͘/̛Report /͟/ Involvement//͝

First word was a darker tone, an odd voice that skirted the edge between smooth and gravelly with an underlying roughness. The second was a femme, modulated more, pitched to a more even tone possibly from a happier sentence that the word was poached from.

[Ren]

Q would continue to remain as quiet and still as he possibly could.

If he didn’t move or draw attention to himself, maybe Soundwave would simply say what he had to say to Flamesnort and Coldwind and then go back to what he was doing, forgetting aaaaalll about Q!

At least, that was the plan.

And it was going well, at first! A directive to go to the Medical Bay was given - obviously this was for Flamesnort, he’d been stuck in a cave for Primus even knoooows how long, he was so completely overdue for a checkup that logically yes, it should probably be the first thing he did once they were done here.

But that second phrase- the one that used Megatron’s voice again... well, he didn’t even have to LOOK at Soundwave to know it was absolutely directed at him. But he looked anyway. And sure enough. Terrifying void of an inky black visor pointed his way.

Great.

Without even thinking, he’d do a hella cheery and over enthusiastic THUMBS UP! Just to show that he got the message loud and clear. Then- instant regret laced with soul-crushing dread. This wasn’t Reggie, or even Breakdown! He couldn’t do such cheery, casual gestures! This was Soundwave!

Oh no.

Keeping his arm held out awkwardly for a second (which felt like an eternity), it would take him another second (again, also felt like an eternity) to realize - and he lowered it quickly to his side in a hurried motion, averting his gaze once more and shuffling just a little so he was standing up extra tall and at attention. Making a point to once again stare behind Soundwave at that really neat rock.

Ohhh ground, please open up and swallow me whole.

Would this be where he was yanked away by those creepy tendril arms, never to be seen again? Or even thrown in some sort of Vehicon jail for those who didn’t pull their weight? He totally did pull his weight! He’d been going to the right mine system when everything had gone wrong, but now they had a new Decepticon in their ranks, so that was good, right?

Right?

Ohhh good. Good good good - Soundwave’s attention was not on him anymore. He didn’t recognize the voices used for the second phrase, nor did he dare ask.

This was awkward. He didn’t like being quiet, but at times it was needed. Better to shut the heck up than risk speaking and getting into way more trouble. Should he walk off? Go and find something to do? Wait until dismissed? Or wait until he was murdered right here on the spot?

Would Soundwave do that?

He hoped not!

[Coldwind]

Soundwave knew how to sort the Decepticons out. It did not matter if they were a Seeker Lieutenant, a Vehicon, or glorified pest control. Just now, this kind of reasoning, this facet of his personality, earned him Coldwind’s respect. While previously she had acted out of fear of what the spymaster might show to Megatron, should he return, or worse yet, to Starscream, right now she acted out of dignity. Getting Coldwind to do that was not a simple thing. Not unless you had the manifolds and authority of Soundwave, that is.

With a firm, strong voice she began to recount the events to him as if she was writing an official report. Though legal speech was never a strong suit of hers, at the very least Coldwind wrote enough dull status updates to know how to handle this situation.

“I followed QLC-972 under the impression that we are dealing with a possible security breach. It did not occur to me that we had a unit attempting to exercise what—I can only assume—was an attempt at stealth, for whatever reason.”

A blunt sigh. Even simply recounting the events leading up to this very moment was oh-so-very taxing. On that account, Coldwind side-eyed Q just to make sure the Vehicon was still there at all. He wouldn’t be running away from her, despite his best wishes.

“Regardless of his faulty reasoning, the Vehicon opened a bridge to Flamesnort’s location, whereupon he contacted me, once more via flawed logic, in hopes that I would rescue him…from our own soldier, no less.”

She stepped closer towards Soundwave, staring into the empty abyss in place of his face. Coldwind had hoped to divine so much as a mouth or a pair of optics behind it, but in the cold darkness of Blackridge, not even the most common identifiers of a humanoid helm were seen.

“I elected to pursue through the Groundbridge, unaware that QLC had been both the culprit and the source of my suspicions. We arrived at an untapped Energon deposit, guarded by the aforementioned sentinel. If I were to recommend a course of action, it would be to secure the Energon present therein and have the Eradicon’s neural circuitry repaired—thoroughly.”

That was a mouthful, but somewhat eloquently and skillfully spoken. Coldwind could be wordy if she needed to. Her superiors would find these qualities quite common, in fact. Her flaw was not that she wanted for intelligence or vocabulary, but that she did not regard those under her as worthy of the effort she had just now displayed to Soundwave.

[Deleted]

While Flamesnort never actually wanted a medical checkup for the large part of his existence - there were exceptions he remembered fondly - he was entirely pragmatic about his health. The places he’d been, the length he had gone to in his profession were not always conductive to good health. His Primus given ability to purify with heat and fire was not without cost. And after eons of war, good medicine was a rare commodity to not be missed. To Flamesnort’s reckoning, Soundwave had already decided upon suitable duties for him. He was curious but knew he would not likely find out until he got a clean slate of health from this Knockout, presumably the physician. Flamesnort knew his abilities made him versatile and competent in several fields, some with less dignity than others, he hoped this would not be such a case. But he would endeavor to prove himself nonetheless. He had but one simple question but waited his turn to speak.

As Coldwind recounted the event that had transpired all of ten minutes ago, he watched through his peripheral vision as he listened and stood still and alert. There was little doubt remaining that QLC was anything remotely resembling a competent soldier so maybe Coldwind’s feeling for the drone were not entirely unjust. But Flamesnort continued to just accept the vehicon for who he was. To do less was not his vision of the Decepticon Ideal. Coldwind, for all her mighty demeanor, spoke eloquently and fairly - except for her last few words - and Flamesnort found he had nothing to add.

Finding the moment right he asked of Soundwave in a similarly direct manner. “Would you have me immediately go to the medbay ?”

[Soundwave]

Paranoia was a peculiar little thing. The Vehicon was so preoccupied with his own fate and fear that he distorted Soundwave's statement to be directed at him rather than being a follow-up to add after Flamesnort's command. In truth, Soundwave hadn't even directly regarded him yet, far too busy with contending with the two soldiers that now stood before him, obtaining a proper report and dishing out appropriate directives. Or he was... before the Vehicon snapped attention to himself with an over enthusiastic thumbs up out of seemingly nowhere.

Soundwave's helm crooked over instantly to peer at the trooper. While before there could be some question if he had been looking his way or not given the gentle bow of the visor skewing where his focus was, there was now absolutely NO question behind it. Squared off directly with the Vehicon, pointedly staring out at his happy motion that quickly dissolved away into an awkward stand at attention.

For a moment, the Spymaster simply watched with a pointed gaze, an overly intense look before he gradually panned his vision over to Coldwind to get to task and ask what was needed to be asked.

Turning to fully angle with Coldwind as she approached, Soundwave's black visor crooked up to look at her head on, not shying back or away in any form or fashion to having a significantly larger Cybertronian square off with him. He was not ignorant to her piercing stare, an attempt that went beyond trying to make 'eye contact', one that he was far aware of and accustomed to. She had a fierce focus behind her to try to see beyond the shadows that concealed much, one that could make many others shy back self-consciously.

But of course not Soundwave.

She would find nothing within the abyss. No haze of shapes, no implication of raw connectors, wires, and mechanics of a truly faceless individual, nor hazing implication of an optic staring her back. No glint of teeth seen, and not even a sense of depth behind the glass itself as if it were a glossy black mired surface and nothing more. There had to be something in play though, some aperture for sight, some kind of THING... yet nothing discernible looked back.

Listening, Soundwave took the report in well.

It was an odd scenario for certain, it appearing some confusion and scrabbling happened to line up oddly well with a sleeper coming online. While the execution was unorthodox, it however ended at the same goal as if Flamesnort simply called for help and had been approached by someone else. A stumbled fall that ultimately got the reptile sent down the right path so he could get to work around Blackridge and eventually beyond its confines.

With this, Soundwave nodded once, a subtle motion showing Coldwind he acknowledged her words and recorded them down, before Flamesnort spoke again and he canted his helm somewhat to peer upon him.

Once more, a nod was offered, another affirmative but in different context. It was best he should seek medical aid sooner rather than later. Humidity on this planet could cause damage even beyond surface level, and there was no saying what sort of damage could be in play lurking beneath the surface from that alone. However, simply ordering Flamesnort to report to the Medical Bay was a futile endeavor, for he could end up aimlessly wondering the halls, potentially butting into Starscream's office to scare the Seeker by some random 'beast' being around.

As amusing on a dark level that may be, he would need to be shown the way.

Now Soundwave looked at the Vehicon directly.

/͘/Vehicon //̛ Stay Here/̵/͠

Starscream's words at first, swiftly followed by the more sophisticated edge of Pyrotech. The command was briefly given, Soundwave not waiting to witness the cowered response that undoubtedly would be there, not WANTING to see some half cobbled thumbs up again... He instead focused back up at Coldwind.

/̵/Guide//̡

An easy enough directive that should send them off to task... leaving him to deal with the Vehicon.

[Ren]

If Q could wish for anything right now, it’d be for his datapad back - the one that Soundwave had taken from him a while ago - the one that had all his games on it, including his high scores and chat logs. He missed that thing, and even though he’d managed to effectively jailbreak another datapad, it just wasn’t the same!

He’d- wait! No! Bad wish! No! All he’d wish for right now was for a hole in the ground to open up and swallow him - and only him - whole. It was one of those moments for him where you do an action - like waving to someone when you thought they were waving at you when it was someone behind you and hoooboy he’d done that a thousand times - except he’d given SOUNDWAVE a motherfraggin cheery as heck thumbs up. For no reason.

Soundwave’s attention and voice hadn’t even been directed at him.

He realized that now.

He realized it all too late, though. What was done was done and he knew for sure that these were probably going to be his last moments on this planet. Or at least, the last moments he’d remember.

Would he be sent to Knock Out to be reformatted? Would Soundwave do it himself to make sure the job was done properly?

Better make these last moments count! Time to think of cute things like glitchmice and think of heroic things like how he’d saved Vega when the Nemesis crashed! Think of how even with a new personality, Reggie would still be his friend!

Positive thoughts, positiveeee thoughts.

You're going to die. 

Only Coldwind started talking, and explaining things in depth. Far, far too much depth. Should he speak up? Defend himself? Explain how he’d been about to bridge to the correct mine when the comm had come through and redirected the coordinates? He didn’t know how to work the control panel here! The one in the super-secret-cave with the space bridge? Heck yeah! He could work that thing with his optics - uh, visor? - closed. But this one? He hadn’t noticed!

Wait- that last part?!

He wasn’t damaged!

A panicked, frantic glance was given to Soundwave. Then to Flamesnort. Then finally to Coldwind, before he went back to looking at behind Soundwave as to not stare directly at him. Fingertips pressing together nervously, he couldn’t help but fidget. This was it, he was dead. So super dead.

He wasn’t looking at Soundwave, but he saw the crook of his helm - that inky black visor staring directly at him now.

Eeeeeeeeeeek.

“Y-yes, Soundwave, Sir!” he nodded once - still not looking at the Spymaster though. He was trying to be strong. To not show even an inkling of fear. But how could he stay strong and remain composed when he was probable seconds from imminent death?!

[Coldwind]

Coldwind did not flinch even for a second in Soundwave’s presence. No matter what he ordered, she would do without a hint of hesitancy or any questions. When the simple command to guide escaped from whatever organ synthesized voices within Soundwave’s foreign, alien body, she simply nodded in acknowledgment.

“It will be done.”

Then she turned towards Flamesnort and beckoned him over with the twitch of a lifted index finger. The manner in which she had done so betrayed no pretense. It was very much alike in nature to how a master would beckon an obedient pet. She wanted Flamesnort precisely to know what the power dynamic will be like going forward—and just how powerless he was to stop it. It was not his place to question the way of things, yet he did. It was not his place to beg for a change, yet he did. It was not his place to speak up for a malfunctioning drone, yet he did.

She would allow no such business to continue. In all likelihood, Coldwind already pinned down Flamesnort as one to look out for, simply based on their short exchange back at the cave. It was always good to keep tabs on your friends and foes among the Decepticons, especially these days with so many conflicting ideologies floating around. Coldwind never cared about the cause, but if Flamesnort’s noble gallantry somehow came to stand in her way, she would not shrink from removing him. By the same measure, she expected Flamesnort to be wary of her.

All the more reason to keep your back well-guarded.

But for as long as he obeyed, she would simply do the same. Starting with the simple matter of escorting Flamesnort to the medical bay. She hoped that Knock Out would try to be less theatrical this time around. But the two of them mixed about as well as oil and water, and Flamesnort had some interesting quirks himself, which would hopefully not create another unwholesome scenario.

Coldwind had enough squabbles for one day.

“Come, Flamesnort, let’s not keep the good doctor waiting,” she instructed, proceeding towards one of the nearby halls, assuming that Flamesnort would follow without objection. Unless he decided to linger on the Vehicon’s fate, which would be unfortunate. Soundwave’s hands were capable, and he knew better than any of them what course of action would cause their faction the least amount of grief.

To question his capability would not paint a favorable picture of their draconic friend.