Chapter Text
It has been five days since Soundwave lay inside the special glass tube filled with pure energon. His condition is stable, but there are no signs of him waking up yet. The glass tube is situated inside a large tent specially constructed to serve as a secondary lab. With the help of Shadowstriker and Soundblaster, Barricade and Astrotrain arrived first with several gallons of energon, sourced either by acquisition or raid, making the second tent ready for occupancy. The new glass tube was completed by the second day after all the necessary components were gathered, aided by all Decepticons including Terminus. The tube components were swiftly assembled with assistance from Wheeljack.
Upon learning that Soundwave needed more than just an operating table, Shockwave covertly contacted the Autobot scientist through private communication to avoid detection by other Decepticons. Fortunately, Wheeljack agreed to provide an unused glass tube from the Autobot base lab. Moreover, Wheeljack himself was responsible for the Nemesis lab explosion due to the bomb he dropped. Thus, Shockwave had no remaining glass tubes at the Nemesis lab.
Wheeljack determined the coordinates for his meeting with Shockwave around Paradale, where they conducted their transaction. Wheeljack supplied him with a complete glass tube equipped with operational monitors and several gallons of pure liquid energon to fill the tube. Shockwave provided Wheeljack with the latest information on the antidote liquid that Wheeljack had developed, administered to Ravage: the patient's cough symptoms reduced, but brown spots still persisted. He also offered some theories on refining the antidote liquid for Wheeljack's further development.
Megatron and the other Decepticons believed that Shockwave had flown far to Cold Mountain to retrieve the equipment, so they did not inquire further.
Meanwhile, for five days, Shadowstriker remained at the Decepticon base, even as she turned the pointed helmet ornament of Ramjet into her trusted additional weapon. Shadowstriker owed her life and gratitude to Soundwave. Had he not offered her to join the Decepticons, her vengeance would never have been avenged. Even though she knew Ramjet's death was not due to the Decepticons, at least joining them made her stronger in surviving.
Hence, Shadowstriker was often the one monitoring Soundwave's tube and ensuring the monitor showed stability until he woke up.
"Shadowstriker. It's dinner time," Terminus opened the tent flap.
"I'll eat here."
Terminus observed Shadowstriker's response without taking his eyes off Soundwave. He smiled faintly, then walked in with a handful of energon. "I figured you'd say that."
"Don't assume too much, Old Timer." Shadowstriker smiled back at him, taking the offered energon. "But thank you."
"Because I've seen this before."
"What do you mean?" She broke off the edge of the chunk and popped it into her mouth.
"When Slipstream was deciding whether to live with Skywarp. If she didn't have an important task, she would faithfully sit next to Skywarp until he woke up." Terminus pulled a chair near Shadowstriker and sat down.
Shadowstriker fell silent, thinking for a moment. "Wait. You mean, I'm like Slipstream harboring feelings for Skywarp? How is that possible? I argue with Skywarp all the time," she protested.
Terminus chuckled briefly. "Not Skywarp. But..." He glanced down, turning to the blue robot still lying in the glass tube.
Shadowstriker followed his optic direction. "Soundwave? You think I have feelings for him?"
"It's not taboo for fellow Decepticons to harbor—"
"Old Timer, I don't have feelings for him. My actions are purely out of gratitude," Shadowstriker interjected flatly.
Terminus smiled. "Alright. I'll convey your words to the others. Because many believe that. Especially Knockout. He was the first to spread rumors about you and Soundwave."
"Ah, why am I not surprised when you mention that name?" she grumbled.
"Maybe the base is too peaceful that Knockout got bored and made up those rumors." Terminus patted Shadowstriker's shoulder. "At least this peace is better than having to move around and shoot enemies."
Shadowstriker nodded in agreement. Then she remembered something. "What about Swindle? Any latest news on his whereabouts?"
Terminus shook his head. "The Seekers are still trying to find him, but there's no clue yet. He hasn't sent threats to the base either. But Megatron has prepared Blackarachnia, Barricade, Breakdown, Soundblaster, Astrotrain, and himself to strengthen defenses in case of any threat from him."
"And Octane? He's not causing trouble if we keep him here, right?"
"Shockwave managed to extract information from Octane's processor contents using his advanced tools. He obtained crucial information about Quintesson weaknesses and the Bounty Hunter. He also implanted trackers and bombs on Octane that would detonate if he showed treachery. So, it's safe to say Octane is quite secure at this base."
"Why trackers and bombs? Why not just kill him?" Shadowstriker wondered.
"Megatron made the best decision considering Octane's return as a Decepticon."
Shadowstriker's mouth formed an O. "Oh, yes. We lost many members. That's why he's recruiting Octane."
"Exactly. Especially since you've also clashed with the Autobots. Megatron doesn't want to face the Autobots with fewer Decepticons. They might send more troops to capture us all," Terminus explained. He sighed briefly before continuing, "Hoping for help from the Alchemy is also unlikely because they've helped us more than we've helped them. Pravin surely demands payment. Like a piece of Lazerbeak's corpse. No one knows what he's doing to that poor cassette's body."
"I've been gathering Alchemy information from fellow explorers. They've encountered the tribe around Cold Mountain and stayed there. They are very hospitable to visiting guests," Shadowstriker explained before devouring the remaining piece of energon in her hand. "I also got news from Hara that Buzzsaw feels comfortable there."
Terminus was stunned. "Buzzsaw is with the Alchemy? I thought he's been in Soundblaster's chamber all this time."
"No. He flew there to find out what Pravin is doing to Lazerbeak."
"And the answer?"
"Pravin is trying to revive him."
Terminus was increasingly wide-eyed. "Revive Lazerbeak? Is that possible?"
"I hope so. Soundblaster and Frenzy have already heard the news. But I don't know about the others."
"Good news."
"Not yet, Old Timer," Shadowstriker retorted. "I think it's better not to spread that news to others until Pravin shows us the results."
"Oh, right. I hope Lazerbeak can return. I hope Alchemy is also well and willing to continue accepting our help," Terminus replied as he rose from his chair. "If you're tired or bored, ask someone else to take over here."
"I don't easily tire just sitting here. Besides, Frenzy will be coming soon with his endless chatter from the base."
Terminus suddenly remembered that Frenzy was equally devoted to guarding the glass tube. "That's good. I'm stepping out. Octane hasn't eaten since morning."
"I thought Octane was free to roam the base."
"Not yet. He's still tied to a tree. He can only be freed once Soundwave wakes up."
"Oh, right. I agree with that too."
Terminus smiled and bid farewell before leaving the tent.
Shadowstriker redirected her optics to Soundwave's serene faceplate. She ran her hand along the surface of the glass tube around his face with her real hand, not the prosthetic hand of a larger enemy.
She had once harbored resentment towards Shockwave for merging her body with that of her enemy, although not as intensely as her hatred towards The Watchers. But now that The Watchers' leader was gone, there was no reason to resent Shockwave anymore, considering his crucial role in her survival. She couldn't be angry with Shockwave either, knowing he had successfully saved Soundwave.
Oh, Soundwave. It reminded her of the first moments she met him. Although Barricade was the first Decepticon she encountered, Soundwave was the one who offered her a home.
"They... they took Roulette, the only family I had. I... I won't forgive them. I will retaliate, eliminate them all until none are left."
"You can come to our place if you want," Soundwave offered.
"So... can I stay with you?"
"Yes. But I'll ask Megatron first. He's our leader,"
A relieved sigh escaped her mouth after hearing that answer. "Shadowstriker. That's my name."
"Soundwave."
The Decepticons were her home. Each member—though many were annoying—was her family. She promised to remain loyal and never betray her family.
Shadowstriker and the members of the Decepticon base knew well that severing Ramjet's head and recruiting key members of the Bounty Hunter was not the end. This was their first step towards finding a permanent place on the planet Keppler 246b.
The continents of Alter and Desire. There were still two continents they hadn't visited or inhabited. Surely there was a suitable place on this vast planet for their permanent settlement.
Stronger enemies like Swindle's group and the Quintessons were surely waiting for them to appear on the surface. Not to mention the Autobots who had the authority to capture and return them to Cybertron.
Ah, back to Cybertron...
Shadowstriker thought to herself.
I don't want them to return to their original home only to be imprisoned. It's better for them to stay here and not languish in jail. Although... Many enemies are lurking, at least we can face them together.
The tent flap opened. Frenzy appeared with his cheerful smile.
"Shadow! Do you know the prank Barricade and I pulled on Knockout? The prank worked!!"
Shadowstriker smiled and fist-bumped Frenzy. "He must be really upset."
"Yeah! Extremely upset! And I'm so satisfied seeing his frustration hahaha!" Frenzy chuckled.
Frenzy continued to recount other antics from the base, and Shadowstriker listened attentively.
May this peace... not be lost. I don't want to feel like I've lost a home for the second time. I've found my Roulette.
While listening to Frenzy's endless chatter, she glanced back at Soundwave. She imagined if Roulette were still with her.
Roulette, you often wondered if there were other lives, other destinies, in this infinite universe, and if you hoped to meet another version of yourself with a different life and destiny. Then you asked me about...
("What if we're actually walking on a destiny that we shouldn't be walking on, Sist? Like the opposite destiny. Like we shouldn't be siblings or living on Keppler, but on another planet like... Cybertron, for example? And I join the Autobots and you join the Decepticons. What if we were meant to be enemies and not siblings like this?")
Roulette's light and childish voice echoed in her mind. She couldn't find the answer before. But now, finally, she found the answer for her sister. She carved a sentence that became a vow for herself in the present and in the future.
"If you think we're walking on a path of destiny that we shouldn't, so be it, Sist. The Inverse Destine is our destiny. I accept everything and I will face it on this path."