Chapter Text
“Starscream: analysis correct.”
Soundwave’s harmonic words lingered in the air for a second, before Starscream smiled in confusion.
“Excuse me?”
Starscream had been planning to desert the Decepticons for a good while, and his plan was running airtight. The last time Megatron had beat him, it wasn’t even for a reason Starscream could rationalize. He understood the violence of the many times he had attempted to usurp Megatron’s power. But the last time was over a battle plan disagreement. Megatron had found Starscream’s plan to be inadequate, and Starscream nearly bled all his energon out attempting to crawl to the medbay. He had never seen Knockout truly concerned about one of his patients before, and when he had come to, he had come to an epiphany
The Decepticons were not what they once were. They were tired, and damaged. The cause had long since been forgotten, and there weren’t even enough cybertronians left to truly rule. Starscream had failed at taking over power in every way possible. And he was tired. The only way to truly survive this massacre of war was to leave, like the bots he had called cowardly early on in the war.
The final group he remembered being able to escape Cybertron during the war was a decently similar story. A portion of the remaining Autobots and Decepticons had split off, deciding to unite as one and set out on some quest to find the original generation of Cybertronians that had disappeared eons ago. Starscream had laughed at them, especially as one of Megatron’s aides, Cyclonus, had been one of the deserters. Of course, despite Cyclonus being the one to betray Megatron, his rage was aimed at his favorite punching jet. He had heard some pretty high-up autobots had joined the ship, too, with Optimus Prime’s second-in-command leading the ship.
He doubted Optimus Prime was angry that his second-in-command had betrayed him.
He knew that Optimus Prime had not taken it out on the bots around him when it happened.
But they had left, nonetheless. And Starscream had stayed. But now he knew they had made the correct decision. As delusional as he believed their quest to be, he now knew his own of toppling Megatron was too.
So it was time to leave.
But Soundwave had caught him in the final steps of his plan. He’d slipped up and left a data pad with some notes about escape routes in the ship (and the timing of when it would be possible to steal a scout craft during a guard change) on top of his desk in his office. The nosy cassette player just HAD to be doing his little check-ins at the wrong time. Soundwave had put two and two together, confronting Starscream. But it hadn’t gone as he had expected.
“Excuse me?” Starscream looked incredulously at Soundwave. “I have got to get my hearing processors checked because if I heard you right…?”
“Starscream’s analysis is sound. The Decepticons are no longer fighting for the cause they once were. Megatron has failed.” Soundwave’s voice sounded weaker than normal, like it did after a particularly gruesome battle. But Starscream couldn’t see a single trace of damage, and there hadn’t been a battle for at least 50 cycles, since their last defeat on the Terran moon.
“Soundwave- you sound… Are you sure this isn’t a ploy of some kind?” Starscream squinted, attempting to rationalize Soundwaves play here. Starscream’s plan did not account for Soundwave finding out, and he was unsure if this was a positive revelation.
“Soundwave. Not damaged.” The infuriatingly stoic bot said. But Starscream, for all his flaws, could read people. He didn’t need some fancy brainwave scanner like the cassette carrier to know when someone was lying.
“Soundwave, you’re lying. And it better not be about the part where my analysis is correct, because that would be a downright stupid thing to lie about.” Starscream pointed a claw at Soundwave’s face. “Spill it.”
Soundwave hesitated. He said nothing. But after a few seconds, a loud "klik" sounded out and a soft biolight emanated from his chest. His cassette chamber opened, and slowly, he reached inside, pulling out a cassette.
A broken cassette.
Starscream could tell by the color that it was far gone. He never much cared for Soundwave’s creatures but he knew to never. Ever. Mess with Soundwave’s cassettes. He knew they functioned similarly to how his trine worked, a minor spark bond for communication, and a social bond that was stronger than life itself.
“Shockwave… I… who did this?”
He didn’t have to ask to know. Soundwave was loyal to Megatron throughout anything. There was only one thing that could have made him conclude that Megatron no longer was worthy of leading.
“Which one was it, Soundwave?”
“Designation: Ratbat”
“Ah. The fly ring creature that isn’t a bird. Well. That is quite a shame.” Starscream said with a tch. He paused, taking a second. “And I am… er… sorry for your loss. Ratbat was a good asset.” Soundwave put the cassette back in his chassis. Starscream saw the other 4 also nestled inside, and bristled at the sheer macabre of the fact that the other cassettes had to share space with a corpse.
“Now Soundwave.” He said pressing a finger to his temple. “What was the point of telling me this? I know you found the datapad, but if you aren’t going to snitch to Megatron about my escape, what are you doing by telling me you know?”
“Soundwave must request permission to come with Starscream. Decepticon cause is no more. Soundwave must leave to ensure the safety of himself and cassettes.”
“Come again?”Starscream now DEFINITELY knew he had to clean his audial. The most loyal bot in the Decepticon ranks was now looking to desert.
“Soundwave is unsure of Starscream’s likely brash and unfinished plan, but cannot risk another outburst from Megatron” Soundwave tilted his head slightly. “Authorized?”
Starscream stood, still processing the request. Then slowly, a smile crossed his lips. A less malicious smile than usual, but no less cunning.
“Welcome to the crew, Soundwave”