Knockout and a squadron of Vehicons return empty-handed to the Nemesis with the dismal news that they had all witnessed Third In Command Soundwave subdued and dragged off into a groundbridge by the Autobots. When they had arrived, it was already too late.

"...So, you mean to say that Soundwave has been captured by the Autobots!?" Megatron erupted in anger, stepping dangerously close to Knockout with a glare that could - and most definitely had - the motive to kill. The red mech flinched and cocked a small, apologetic expression faintly resembling a smile as he slowly raised a servo protectively in front of him and reeled backwards.

"With-all due respect, my liege, there was no ti-"

"I've no time for excuses, Knockout! We're losing valuable time every klik Soundwave is absent from his post to decode the Iacon Database. I want any available and current personnel to keep communications open at all times, in the case Soundwave escapes and calls in for a groundbridge, because Primus knows we aren't going to find the Autobot Base anytime soon with our sorry ranks." Megatron sharpened his gaze momentarily at the squadron in front of him before turning to leave with an aggravated frown spread thinly across his faceplate. Knockout bit down his rising frustration to prevent it from escaping his intake, and forced it all instead into one, tightly fisted servo. He should be used to this by now--what's the point in getting riled up if there's nothing to be done about any of it.

Knockout's optics flicked to the edge of his peripheral view when the emotionless Vehicons dispersed themselves in orderly fashion, leading the physician to find his own way back to the medical bay - dubbed as his frequented domain. His clunking metallic steps reverberated loudly against the walls of the otherwise quiet Nemesis, the only thing accompanying it being the single-toned drone of the lights above and the dampened hum of the engine thruster at the stern. His scarlet optics glanced casually over to the living quarters area he was passing by, nothing really crossing his mind until he subconciously stopped in front of a door. Soundwave's door.

It was like Knockout couldn't hardly pull himself away from it. There was a strong, panging curiosity inside of him that urged him to go into the room. He didn't want to pry, but if it was unlocked, well.. it was fair game, wasn't it?

Knockout creeped up to the door, glancing both ways quickly before getting himself startled by the pocket door whooshing open in front of him without any prior warning. He breathed out a slight huff of exasperation at the inanimate door, but entered through it nonetheless.

There, right in the middle of the floor, was the missing device he'd been searching for. Albeit drained of its original glow, still better to have it than not.

Almost instantaneously, Knockout swooped down and picked up the cube into his servos, gratefully relieved that it wasn't yet found but also incredibly bewildered at the fact that it had been stolen in the first place. That Soundwave, there's never any secrets around him.

Knockout looked back to the closed pocket door, the outside quiet without the sound of any approaching strutsteps. He needed to bring the cube back to the safety of his lab before anyone could spot him. Knockout approached the exit whilst opening his chassis compartment, his helm held down with his attention occupied. The sound of the door whistling open queued Knockout to step forward, only for him to bump into what felt like a metal wall. He tsked at first, believing the door to be faulty - adding reason to his first unpleasant encounter with it. Yet, when he looked up, he found himself to be greatly mistaken.

'Slag, why do I have to keep running into him all the time?' Knockout cursed mentally, straining to keep his faceplate from showing any sort of reaction as the stoic face of Megatron stared him down unforgivingly. Knockout coughed as an auditory misdirection and hit his halfway open compartment close, keeping the cubic device hidden behind his back while putting on a casual smile.

"Lord Megatron, what a pleasant surprise it is to see you again so soon." Knockout slipped a small bow before his leader. Megatron tilted his head marginally upwards, narrowing his optics with a scrutinizing gaze at Knockout's hidden servo.

"Likewise. And what purpose do you have here, Knockout? I don't remember Soundwave's quarters to be a part of your established sector." Megatron edged out in monotone sarcasm followed by a cold stare, keeping himself stationed at the doorway. Knockout let out a bit of a nervous chuckle, glancing briefly to the exit Lord Megatron was inadvertently blocking from escape.

"Just-had a feeling of sorts, to check and see if Soundwave had left anything behind noteworthy that was trackable. And, I happened- to come across this strange piece." Knockout twitched an irritated grin as he slowly pulled his arm out to showcase the dull, engraved cube. Knockout knew very well that things would end up significantly worse for him if he tried hiding his findings then - better to try and win a few brownie points where he could and stave off getting his paint shredded for another day.

Megatron's optics grew distant as he stared at the hexahedron, almost in a trance. In a flash, however, he stole away the cube from Knockout's grasp, observing it closer to try and convince himself that his optics were decieving him with the weighted object held in his servos. It couldn't possibly. It should have been rendered useless.

'But yet, on the off-chance...could it be?'

"He's remembered. Everything." Megatron stared up from the cube with blank, almost fearful dread in his optics that made his denta clench and grind uncomfortably against one another. Knockout stared openly at the Decepticon leader, practically in awe of this rare expression currently plastered against their faceplate. Quickly, Knockout blinked, regaining his composure and replacing his partly agape intake with a questioning glance directed at Lord Megatron.

"Remembered, who?" The physician prodded with a quizzical tone, but before he could prompt out an answer Megatron exhaled out a heavy vent with a thin line carved deeply into his lower faceplate, the emotions that flashed momentarily through his optics now appearing as only a fleeting illusion that perhaps never was in the first place.

"It is no exaggeration that all of the Decepticon's secrets and any classified information currently kept in Decepticon hands for over a millenia are now in grave danger." Lord Megatron began, somewhat to himself. "If what I believe to have occured is true, Soundwave very well might even side--" He stopped himself mid-sentence and turned to his medical subordinate sharply with an unblinking stare.

"Knockout. I must make an announcement. Soundwave is to no longer be trusted." Megatron pivoted swiftly towards the outside door with unease tainting his frame. Knockout nearly scoffed from disbelief.

"W-what? Surely you jest, my lord. Soundwave, of all Decepticons? Just moments before you were speaking informally of his return-"

"Do not question my actions, Knockout." Megatron snarled menacingly, the anger in his optics blazing red. Knockout backed down quickly, swallowing a lump of fear down his throat.

Just then, Ravage screeched in front of the room with his metal claws, still panicked and looking for answers to his Master's condition. Megatron glanced coldly at the mechanical beast, making the darkly painted creature flinch and halt.

"Knockout. Brief Soundwave's pet on the currently arisen developments of its master..." He said venomously, lingering his glare on Ravage until the last moment he left the room for the direction of the Nemesis bridge.

Megatron made his way down a few corridors, initially fuming with a wide mixture of convoluted feelings, notably anger, before the steaming rage and stomping pace of the Decepticon eventually funneled into him stopping in his treads to take a moment to reflect, as well as vent another deep sigh.

'Perhaps I was too hasty in my initial assessment of the situation. Announcing Soundwave as a traitor to the entire Nemesis right now may be too soon. Still, despite the lack of time to examine the affair of events and the undoubtedly Shockwave-crafted-creation, I am near certain Soundwave is no longer an ally of the Decepticons, but whether they are an enemy is yet to be determined. The cube is simply too strikingly similar to the device that effectively distorted Soundwave's memories, and although Shockwave never explained the cube to have any reversible effects on the afflicted party, Soundwave's recent behavior and the carbon-copy object left in his quarters leaves little room to speculate. I can only hope Soundwave finds enough hatred left in the Autobots and allegiance to the Decepticons that he will decide to keep his database of information held within him if he indeed regained his memories, until I can get my servos around his neck cables and ascertain the truth for myself...'

----

"--are you sure it's alright to keep the children around them when the three arrive?"

"I doubt that we could ever keep the tenacious human Miko from sneaking a peak, as I believe you and everyone know from experience."

Unfamiliar voices. And they were speaking of humans. Though the sound was muffled due to possible audio receptor damage, Soundwave knew he didn't hear wrong, and was no doubt in Autobot custody.

Scrap.

"Well--at least keep their charges at bay and away from the base until we finish interrogating him, then."

"I...shall do my best to come up with errands, then..."

The voices were becoming clearer, more distinct. It was the resident Autobot medic, and the Prime, speaking to one another about Soundwave's interrogation, at least from what he had been able to gather so far.

Although Soundwave no longer affiliated himself with the Decepticons, he wasn't going to immediately overturn all his knowledge to the Autobots like the flip of a crass switch. His memories being so recently pieced back together, it was still difficult to come to terms with the truth. All he wanted to do was get away from both factions and clear his processor, to finally step back from the several million stellar cycle-long war. But of course, that was a crude, unobtainable wish.

One way or another he would be tracked down, caught, and imprisoned by one side. He would also be questioned, similar to now. However, he'd much rather take his chances and run for it, despite the odds. The question now remains his way of escape.

All during his brief awakening, Soundwave had discreetly surveyed the area of the Autobot base. It was a relatively simple layout - comprised of an old, minimally renovated missile silo, with their entire base of operations coming from a singular working console. Lackluster, certainly, yet it only raised Soundwave's respect for them. How they were all still alive at this point was astonishing.

He switched his attention then to the restraints pinning him against the berth, sending a short chill down his bipedalism cord of the resurfacing memory tied to the feeling. It would be difficult getting himself out of them, if not impossible. However, with the right tecnique and timing, his tendrils might be able to render himself free of the bonds and allow a clear escape out of the nearby tunnel entrance he previously mapped out.

It was strange, though, as it was like his visor's usual inner readings had all but disappeared. He couldn't correctly scan the area either, which should have been working prefectly fine since he had fixed it just cycles ago.

The answer to his epiphany wasn't far behind, when a slight feeling of the cold air surrounding him brushed against his warm faceplate. He nearly choked. His visor. It was gone.

No, no, this has to be another dream. He's still dreaming. They wouldn't be so cruel as to pry open the mask of the infamous faceless Decepticon, would they? No one alive had seen Soundwave's actual face besides Megatron, and that was when the Great War on Cybertron was still waging on. He couldn't bear for anyone, let alone Autobots learn of his true, frightening appearance beneath the visor.

Yet, no matter how desperately he tried to wake himself from the dream, nothing worked. He tried hitting his helm back against the berth to jolt himself awake with the limited movement he had, only for it to sting in response. Pain. Panic started to sharply rise within him as the realization slowly settled itself into his processor. This was no dream.

Soundwave's eyes darted around the Autobot base, searching for his visor that was no longer covering his faceplate. His breath hitched when he saw one of the Autobots turn and look at him, locking optics.

No, no..don't look at me like that!

Soundwave forcefully pushed his helm the other way to avoid eye-contact with them. Yet, strutsteps nearing closer appeared in its place.

Soundwave continued snapping his optics around the space, feeling himself start to hyperventilate and his servos shake in their cuffs. He couldn't let anyone see his face. It was too soon. Never would still be too soon.

As a last resort, he ripped free one of his cord-like tentacles, then the other, before pressing them down heavily against his faceplate. He could hear the Autobots stir quickly in response, one of them transforming a servo into a weapon, and their stances tense up.

Would death free me of this terrible feeling?

Soundwave wondered, his tendrils trembling. The Autobots paused briefly, but it wasn't long after before their heavy steps resumed. They were coming closer again. They would see..

"S--op..st- p.." Soundwave's true voice rasped shakily, barely recognizable as coherant speech. The two Autobots left in the base exchanged glances, and slowly came to a stop at the Decepticon's request.

"V...or..vis..r-" Soundwave managed to creep out from his voicebox. Whenever he uttered any sort of audible sound, his long damaged voicebox and other moving parts that went into processing his voice scraped against itself and cut into Soundwave's inner cables, never allowing him to speak much of anything without incredible pain striking him.

Neither Autobot spoke, trying to interpret Soundwave's half words to the best of their abilities. One of them understood, and their optics widened before clearing their throat uncomfortably.

"I'm afraid I am to blame for your missing visor. I was simply repairing an injury to your helm when I brushed some mechanism that retracted it." The voice of the medic admitted carefully. Soundwave paused his breathing, and within less of a half second used his freed tendril to press the side of his helm and cast down his visor. Nothing else mattered to him in that moment. Pure relief flooded through him, if only for a nano-second. Soundwave let out a short exhale, ever so slightly allowing the tentacles to fall away from his faceplate. Yet, when the medic and the Prime stepped forward, Soundwave cognized for himself that it was all in vain. Ratchet, the Autobot's appointed medic, shifted in hesitance, dropping his optics to the floor.

"...When I saw the blatant remains of the high-heat flames that quite nearly charred part of the left half of your faceplate, I was...at a loss for words. I never initially intended to inspect you further than what I had already seen, but I knew there was more. Taking off your cable armor, there were significant burns along your neck cables as well. Even being the Decepticon that you are...it would be hard not to feel any sliver of emotion at all for such a fate." The medic, Ratchet, spoke plainly, his eyes void of anything but an icy, disgruntled stare of indifference--yet there was still a hint of some deep-seeded sympathy rooted in his words.

"I don't need your pity." Soundwave snapped with a recording of Knockout's as he turned his helm agressively towards them, suddenly infuriated that the medic delved even deeper into the long concealed traces of a disgusting event from his past. Optimus pursed his dermas together, otherwise unfazed as he held a calm stare.

"Soundwave. I still remember you before, in the early days of the war. It is disheartening to believe that something like this occured to you in that time." He said, his deep voice resonating gently. Soundwave grit down his denta.

"I remember it well." Soundwave spat, sarcasm lacing in the audio of the recording. "-Before I was ruthlessly tortured and brainwashed by my own-" Soundwave stopped himself from speaking further, surprised that he even revealed anything at all.

"..It is of no importance. All you must know is--I am no longer affiliated with the Decepticons." Soundwave stared to the ground emotionlessly. Both of them were immediately taken aback, the medic taking it a step further by intaking a quiet, bated breath.

"You are...speaking the truth?" Optimus questioned lightly, still in disbelief. Soundwave waited a moment, mulling over in his mind whether to provoke them with a retort comprising of 'If I were lying I would have made it sound believable' before reasoning his life was in their servos and settled for a simple nod. Ratchet looked to Prime's pensive stare before snorting a laugh.

"You can't be serious, Optimus. Soundwave, of all Decepticons to defect? He's practically Megatron's puppet." Ratchet cocked a crooked smile at the Decepticon. Soundwave rattled in his restraints angrily.

"Do not taint me with such insults. That--monster...will never be my superior again." Soundwave snarled, his recordings crackling to compile a response. Even still, despite the venomosity residing within him, his throat burned with guilt at such an insult to his former master. Ratchet reeled back in silent surprise, but Optimus kept his expression stagnant.

"Then, Soundwave. I give you this offer; to join and aid the Autobots, and leave the corrupted Decepticon cause." He said, outstretching an open-faced servo as if he was some sort of ambassador willing to make peace. Soundwave's attention perked when Prime spoke of the corruption of the Decepticon cause, but it still wasn't nearly enough to gain Soundwave's loyalty after being arch nemeses for thousands of mega-cycles.

"I must decline your offer--Optimus Prime. But you have my word--if I am allowed to leave--I will disappear from the war, for good. I shall provide the Nemesis' current location--as a sign of good faith." Soundwave countered, raising his long, striped tendril slightly.

"Ohoho. You'll be lucky if you keep your right arm if you don't cough up some real Decepticon secrets." Ratchet threatened, snatching the tentacle out from the air and crushing it with all his might. Soundwave made no notion of pain, but behind his visor, his optics squinted in pain, the after effects of being hit dead-on by Bulkhead coincidentally springing up simultaeneously in one single rippling wave of extreme discomfort. Optimus set a servo lightly onto the medic's shoulder with a fixed gaze. "Be more reasonable, old friend." Prime said in a smooth, yet stern baritone, relaxing the medic's arm before he returned to face the now questionable ex-Decpticon.

"I want you to first explain to us - without missing a single detail - the reasoning as to why one of the most devoted Leiutenants to Megatron would suddenly leave his ranks, and after that, hand over both the Decepticon decoded Iacon coordinates and the Nemesis whereabouts before we even discuss your pardoning. If you do not accept my terms, we may have to enforce other, more uncivilized means of interrogation.. along with your pardoning from here strictly off the table from here-on." Optimus Prime lowered his unwavering gaze on Soundwave, then glancing to Ratchet, his arms firmly crossed with a gruff scoff. He was silent in his opinions, for now.

Soundwave averted his optics away, knowing his choices were slim. Could he count on the word and honor of an Autobot, now knowing the truth that the Decepticons were the ones who truly lacked it in the end? He didn't even want to painstakingly recount his torturous past to himself, much less two Autobots - but for the chance of escape, and the reputable word of a Prime.. he would be willing.

______________________________________

You might be wondering about the view count, I'm guessing. *Ahem. Years back when I first started the story, I sort of majorly changed the entire plot; so the timeline had been thrown out of whack. Had to unpublish the chapter and save it for the revised story to catch up with it. (Yet I still had to rewrite the chapter entirely..) Anyway, we're all caught up now!