Chapter Text
Soundwave had a raging helmache behind his optics. Work had been stressful as of late, and while he adorned working in communications and guiding weary travelers- as mortal, organic species seemed to be always getting lost in the sea of stars- something important had garnered his attention. Disappearances. Specifically, Rodimus Prime, the Captain of the Lost Light.
Over an entire solar cycle, Soundwave had been searching for any trace of the little brightly colored Prime, doused in an inferiority complex and a savior complex at once, riddled with anxiety and self-doubt. Not the kind of mech Cybertron needed to go missing. Rodimus had already been a target, shoved into politics against his better wishes, even with Ultra Magnus backing him acting as a guide and a mentor. Soundwave helped, naturally, it was his servos that truly brought Cybertron back together.
And now his custody battle with Ultra Magnus was brought to an abrupt end with Rodimus' disappearance. A kidnapping, perhaps? An assassination? Not to mention the chatter from several intergalactic empires of the Mad Titan's army seemingly on the move. Wherever they were headed certainly did not mean well for the poor planetary victim. Too many problems, too little time.
Another solar cycle passed, another problem arose. The Ravager duo, Star-Lord and Bumblebee were spotted on Earth, recorded, spread over the internet like wildfire. Trying to steal the declaration of independence, failing, and getting into a car crash.
Jazz and Prowl had been dispatched to investigate. They would be able to handle this, Soundwave had no doubt. The Spec Ops commander and the Enforcer with a TacNet? Perfect combination. Soundwave eagerly awaited their news of the trickster duo's capture, and inevitable return to Cybertron. While it would be easier to leave Peter Quill at the hands of Earth's enforcers, something struck every nerve in Soundwave's frame at the very notion.
The human governments knew they were from space. The Ravagers had rumors that Peter wasn't fully human. Leaving him on Earth would mean he would be captured, interrogated, experimented on, torn apart and inspected like a science project. Disgusting, revolting, downright barbaric practices. But curiosity and destruction was exactly what the ignorant did.
Look at their reactions to mutants! Just the slurs for them alone was enough to have the Energon running in Soundwave's lines heat up with rage. So no, they had to capture both, return them to Cybertron to answer for their crimes.
Things were supposed to be going smoothly. Soundwave's helmaches became more frequent, as did the lingering sense of dread. Something that could change the fate of the universe was potentially happening on Earth, and here he was answering half-assed distress calls because a ship's navigator had too much to drink. This was a waste of time. He was certainly wasting his time. He wanted some music.
Being a sound-system came with benefits of being able to play music without the need of external connections or speakers. If Soundwave could drown out his problems with enough bass, he would.
Soundwave didn't know how many soli cycles passed before Prowl finally sent him an update. He'd been engrossed in his work, the endless search and rescue, with breaks being demanded by Shockwave and Blaster. The scientist would drag Soundwave out of the communication room, using his bulk and strength to manhandle the upset Carrier to take him home. Just as embarrassing as it was millions of cycles prior.
"Soundwave, we've got… a few problems down here."
Prowl saying things were going wrong was the first nail in the coffin.
"Hey, Peter and Bee are missing, and they're really difficult to track, I found their ship though! Got past the humans, thankfully."
Jazz passing on their current failures was the second.
"There's someone on the planet trying to engage in mass mind control. He supposedly has done immense damage to a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility and has taken both a scientist and a covert Agent under his control."
Prowl's report of mind control left an uneasy lingering emotion cloying at Soundwave's processor. He didn't know how he felt, he knew how Earth viewed telekinetics and telepaths. He'd remembered what he helped Xavier do so long ago- by human standards, at least. Decades. Was the Professor still alive? Soundwave hadn't heard from him lately, and was growing concerned. Perhaps he had finally passed on.
Jazz and Prowl kept consistent communication. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s movements, their specialized team taking out H.Y.D.R.A. operations. Something Soundwave had interest in, from the last time he heard Megatron, the former Warlord giving him a warning. Apparently the demons in the shadows had either been meddling in affairs beyond their pay grade, or there had been external, extraterrestrial influence. The humans certainly had a habit with meddling in forces beyond their control.
The situation was tense, but bearable. Until Jazz slipped up and mentioned one teensy, tiny little detail Soundwave almost overlooked from recharge deprivation. He had mentioned the… Prime. The other missing Prime. The one from the start of the war, who Soundwave had nearly all but forgotten. Certainly, his memory wasn't going with his age, was it?
Jazz had only mentioned Optimus in passing, that he was collaborating with humans, with S.H.I.E.L.D., and a member of the X-Men. Optimus was no more than a glorified workhorse, and somehow he seemed fine with it. This only gave the trio more questions, determining that the information was to not be passed along any further than Soundwave. He regret not being able to speak to Blaster and Shockwave about this particular issue, but Blaster had a habit of running his intake and slipping up in conversation while out partying. That was an unfortunate habit.
Soundwave couldn't stop thinking about Optimus. Millions of stellar cycles of distaste rose to meet him, that old bias towards the Prime's sudden disappearance along with Megatron's bringing forth too many questions. Not to mention, Starscream's appearance, that he was supposedly also working with the Prime-
Either Earth had done something to them, or Jazz didn't have enough information. Investigating Optimus and Starscream wasn't his mission, but surely he would have caved in to curiosity by now, wouldn't he?
And then things got worse again, when Xavier finally reached out. The Professor was preoccupied with running his school, as was to be expected, but given that he had a personal request, help one more time, and sounded winded even through telepathic communication. Soundwave's abilities were needed to assist the X-Men, or rather, woman, on Optimus' human team. Break through the mind control of a prisoner there. Agent Clint Barton, and Xavier only had vague coordinates on Earth to give Soundwave.
A visit to Earth was long overdue, he had almost missed the planet in the time they had been apart, since he delivered Cerebro to Xavier. Even while being buried beneath a metaphorical mountain of paperwork, Soundwave agreed. They cut off communication after saying their farewells, one still busy, the other now with a new mission. A new directive to complete.
Soundwave would take his cassettes with him, give them a nice little vacation. They did like to travel, after all. They had liked Earth as well. What Soundwave hadn't anticipated, was Shockwave's interest in traveling to Earth. The scientist formerly had no interest in the mud ball of a planet, and Soundwave couldn't help but feel suspicious. He indulged the purple mech regardless, he couldn't say no to that bright yellow optic, wiggling finials and almost excited tone, now could he?
First mistake, Soundwave.
oOo
A space bridge had been built outside of Earth's solar system decades ago, and Soundwave intended to use it. Their ship had cloaking technology, they could enter the atmosphere and land, undetected. Their technology was leagues above a rusted Ravager vessel.
They landed outside of New York City. Not too far from the coordinates Xavier had given him, they were supposed to turn their attention to the ocean, where a little way's off the coast, was something called the helicarrier. On Earth, communication with Xavier was much easier, and the Professor sent over a mental image of the ship they were supposed to go to.
Soundwave and Shockwave both had limited flying capabilities, and wouldn't make it to the helicarrier without burning too much energy. So how were they…?
Shockwave had the brilliant idea of using his own weight to drag them to the ocean depths, and walk right up beneath the helicarrier. Sure, Shockwave, why not? An excuse to hold Soundwave's servo, more likely. And that they did. Ignoring the humans gawking at them walking towards the shore, into the ocean, and disappearing. At least, Soundwave did the ignoring, Shockwave stared longingly at some woman's chihuahua in a purse.
How they were supposed to get up to the helicarrier was another problem that needed to be solved, and hopefully, Shockwave wouldn't have any further, ridiculous plans. Of course, he'd claim it was logical, simple, and therefor, they should take the path of least resistance. The path of least resistance was apparently Soundwave entering his alt-mode, and being thrown, and hope he went above the helicarrier to use his limited flight to land on the surface.
It worked, by some miracle of Primus, and yet Shockwave was still at the ocean floor. Scrap, he'd just separated them. Soundwave didn't have the time to worry about what the scientist would get up to. He magnetized to the surface, raising to his full height. By the time he had arrived, the scene of Optimus and Megatron's coupling had already been erased, and most of the damaged scrap metal from their previous battle had been cleared.
That unfortunately meant that humans and Cybertronian on the surface of the helicarrier alike were now gawking at the intruder. Clad in dark blue, yellow accents, and white gauntlets. His visor shone gold, the light focused at the center before sweeping to his left and right, assessing their threats.
Starscream looked like he had seen a ghost, the light from his Null-Rays beginning to shine. He was poised and ready to strike, even if his faceplate gave him away- terror.
"Hello… humans. I'm here at Professor Xavier's request to assist Anna Marie." The humans faltered while Starscream hissed as his plating bristled, unsure whether their guest was truly a threat.
No one dared to make the first move. Soundwave waited patiently, helm angled downwards along with the slight tilt of his upper body- a slight bow as a greeting. However long the silence and Starscream's silent fury continued, only Primus and the Gods knew.
Minutes ticked by in apprehensive silence, only occasionally broken by the humans shuffling and speaking into the communication devices in their ears. Soundwave could hear it all. He was already in their system, listening, waiting, scanning.
"Ah, what are you all gawkin' at?! It ain't like you never seen one of them before!" Anna Marie- Rogue, a quick look into her mind told Soundwave all he needed to know. She was the one, she was on the phone with Xavier only hours ago. She approached Soundwave, almost too carelessly, the Agents on the deck tightening their grips on their weapons. They were prepared to shoot, even if their bullets would be useless.
Soundwave recognized her. Xavier had spoken of this one, how she had grown, learned to not hate her powers. Absorption could be terrifying, but she made the most of who she was- Xavier was proud of her.
Soundwave kneeled before her, offering a servo for her to take a step. Clothing prevented her access to his abilities, especially her gloves- that was a small comfort.
"Greetings, Rogue. Xavier has spoken about you often. I apologize for the delay. Also, do you… have a magnet?" Anna Marie blinked in confusion, looking over her shoulder once. Director Fury barely gave her a nod, but it was enough.
"Uh, yeah, apparently we do. Also, thanks for comin', hope the trip wasn't too difficult. How'd ya get here so fast?" How much information could Soundwave divulge? How much did S.H.I.E.L.D. know?
"Space bridge. We teleported to the edge of your solar system. I believe urgency was of utmost importance." That information came as a shock, apparently. Soundwave should have dug deeper, but time was of the essence, and he wanted to get Shockwave aboard before he could wander off. Luckily for him, he only had to politely ask for the magnet to be activated as soon as possible for the Director to give his orders.
Shockwave was pulled from the ocean depths, surprised with his finials in the alert position. He was, indeed, trying to get away. Soundwave communicated with him telepathically for his partner to come aboard, and the reaction was caustic-
The humans didn't expect that what they'd pulled from the depths was a mech bulkier and taller than Megatron, with an entire cannon for an arm, a glowing, singular optic that pierced through their paltry armor with the weight of his gaze.
Shockwave pried the seaweed off of himself and turned to Soundwave, already prepared to voice his complaints.
"I was not going to do anything. I intended to wait for you." His tone was defensive.
"Lie. You wanted to get a dog."
"Can I not have one?"
"No."
Shockwave's finials pulled back- upset. Anna Marie was looking between them both out of both confusion and wonder- it wasn't exactly every day she saw Cybertronians other than Starscream and Optimus. Soundwave made a note to dig through her mind, along with Remy, Lucia, and Eric's. They had the most contact with the missing Cybertronians.
"Fine. Then we can begin with your mission to break that human's mind control."
"…'We'…?" Defensive met interrogative, and to add the icing on the cake, Soundwave removed his mask, taunting Shockwave. His single optic locked onto Soundwave's exposed derma- hook, line, you sink.
"You. I wish to investigate as I did not have the time to accompany you last time you visited this planet." There was an underlying motive, and Shockwave didn't want to say it outright.
"No. You will stay." Shockwave's finials flicked at Soundwave's dismissal, optic glued to the human in his servo, even as Soundwave set Anna Marie back on the helicarrier's deck.
"But-"
"It will be over shortly and then we can take that long overdue vacation Blaster has been pestering us about." They bickered like an old married couple, and in some ways, they would be. Shockwave finally relented, turning his attention to Anna Marie, his optic cycling as he zoomed in on her body. Taking readings from afar, tracking her height, weight, body temperature. Humans had never been a subject of interest before, until mutants had been brought into play. Suddenly, the species as a whole had value.
If Shockwave could just get his servo on one biological sample, who knows the wonders he could create…
"Frenzy, eject." Soundwave pressed a button on his chest, the glass frame dropping to reveal a red and black cassette. Frenzy transformed to her root-mode almost immediately, doing a flip in the air and landing on her pedes with a flourish. She wasn't much larger than a human in comparison to her Carrier, but she was the right 'person' for the job.
Soundwave transformed into his alt-mode, and Frenzy caught him from mid-air, spinning on her heel to flash Anna Marie a fanged grin. She held the stereo system close to her chest, giving Anna Marie an unseen wink from behind her visor.
Frenzy had to duck to fit in the elevator, but the ride down to the holding cells wasn't the worst. Anna Marie kept in contact with Natasha with her comm unit in her ear, alerting her to their new visitors, and hopefully, them being able to help.
Natasha was waiting outside of Clint's cell, and nodded to the pair of heavily armored guards to dismiss them. She sized up Frenzy with her eyes, hovering over the purple accents (she got them to represent Shockwave) and the star-burst visor, split colors, the right side pink, the left blue, where in the middle they formed a gradient into purple. Frenzy gave goth girl in the 80's on the dance floor at disco reject. Somehow that was good enough in Natasha's book.
She withdrew a baton and kept it behind her as she unlocked the door to Clint's cell, exhaling shakily, despite her outward composed appearance. Frenzy entered with Soundwave in her arms as quickly as she could, in order for Natasha to shut the door behind them.
"Good luck. Nothing's been working." Natasha's tone held little to no hope, as she was at her wit's end. Capturing Clint had already been difficult enough, he nearly made off the helicarrier if there hadn't been a trail of agents beaten senseless for her to follow.
Frenzy set Soundwave down as carefully as she could, watching the human who looked ready to act defensively if there were any sudden moves. He was spouting nonsense, at least from her perspective.
"Boss, can I throw Ravage at him? Maybe if we pin him, this will be easier." Even if he couldn't do it currently, Frenzy could feel the optic roll in her direction. "Worth a shot."
She removed the guitar that had been strapped to her back, the neck parting to reveal the hidden mechanisms within- a carefully concealed weapon, all the better to take aim with. Soundwave was ready to begin.
Low density waves pulsed like a whale's song, which Clint dropped out of his stance to clutch his head, covering his ears.
"Ah. I recognize this Energy." An echo that tore through time and space itself, five others to answer the call. Creation and destruction, life and death, chaos and order. The cycle that was fundamentally the laws of the universe, that everything must follow. Only the traces here were weak, dulled, not as clear as the ones Soundwave had heard so long ago, rippling through the universe like a wave of total destruction. "I can dispel this."
Natasha pointedly ignored Clint's screams of agony, even as his ears began to bleed and his tears spilled forth from his eyes, tainted with the glittery blue essence of the Scepter's mind control. Soon he fell to his knees, every breath he drew more ragged than the last.
"Fuck, that… hurt." The blue was gone from his eyes. There was a weight at the back of his skull, like a metallic world baring down upon him- Soundwave hadn't fully disconnected from his subconscious, tendrils of energy slowly pulling away to allow Clint space to breathe.
Natasha opened the cell and rushed in before Clint had time to blink, wrapping her arms around him after smacking him in the head twice.
"You stupid, stupid bitch, oh god, I-" I thought I lost you. Natasha couldn't bring herself to tell Clint how she truly felt. He already knew. He was at peace in his best friend's arm, both of them struggling to not cry. Wearing their carefully curated masked from their training, he sighed, exhaustion wearing him down.
"I'm fine, Nat. I'm here."
oOo
Lucia had kept Starscream company after the debriefing with Director Fury. She helped some of the civilians on the helicarrier evacuate during the chaos, of both Optimus and Megatron's battle, and the Hulk's rampage. It didn't take her long to return to Starscream's side after hell had already been raised, and the flames died down.
Something was wrong with him. He had been quiet since leaving Optimus and Megatron to partake in their vices, he'd been quiet once Optimus introduced Megatron as an old friend that had recently escaped imprisonment by human hands. He had been quiet once Soundwave arrived, at Anna Marie's request.
Eric kept looking at Starscream from behind his shades, from the corner of his eye as his upper lip curled in a sneer. One not of disgust, but concern. Remy hovered after Anna Marie had comforted him, giving Starscream's leg an affectionate pat as the Seeker sat on the edge of the deck, pedes swinging over the ocean.
It would have been so easy to jump in, to succumb.
Shockwave watched Starscream from afar, shocked to see him there- on Earth, alive, functional if not mentally broken. He dared to not approach the unstable Seeker, even as he hastily wiped optical fluids with the back of his servos.
Starscream pressed his palms to his optics, begging himself to stop crying. They had meant nothing to each other. He hadn't been betrayed, there was no alliance or relationship to begin with. His vocalizer spat static as he choked on every vent he took. He wasn't crying over some lowly Prime.
"Why… why does this always happen to me?" He waved his servos in the air to shake off his own tears. Looking to the orange sky above, as the sun had already begun to set. As if Primus would ever answer him. Unicron would. He didn't want to hear the Unmaker's prattling at this moment.
Lucia had sat next to him, like she always would, when Starscream lurked too close to a physical and metaphorical edge.
"Star, what happened?" He couldn't look at her. Couldn't look into those eyes that could mirror his own agony and regret. His own stupidity. He could feel her warmth next to him. That was more than enough. She was there.
"For someone who used to be a scientist, I'm dumber than a box of toys." Not that he had ever used any. No, he had Skyfire, Thundercracker, the Prime for that. At least, he used to.
Lucia's mouth hung open for a retort, until she pressed her lips together in a thin line. She couldn't know what he was going through, what was playing on repeat in his processor.
"Why do you say that?" Her head tilted a fraction, Starscream running the calculations as he looked at her from the corner of his optic. A welcome distraction, no matter how small.
"I misjudged. I overcompensated, I placed my own value too high, and when the actual goods returned, I was tossed aside like the trash I am. Such is the life of Air Commander Starscream, the Fallen Prince of Vos." Starscream said his own title with such disdain, Lucia momentarily faltered.
[ERROR]
[EMOTIONAL MODULE CALIBRATING…]
Starscream reset the most annoying part of his processor, looking to the horizon as he ex-vented slowly. Quiet was only temporary, solace from his own raging thoughts would return, this he had no doubt.
"You're worth something, Starscream. Stop doubting that." Lucia sounded so confident, if she was older, Starscream might have believed her.
"My entire function is nothing but a series of failures. Failure as the bastard prince, failure as a student at the academy, failure as a scientist, failure as a soldier, failure as… whatever I am now. There can't be room to not doubt myself, given my history." He idly began picking at exposed wires with his claws, drawing Energon to ground himself.
Lucia could only sigh, awkwardly pat Starscream in an attempt to comfort him. His moods had become worse ever since they began taking on missions against H.Y.D.R.A., plummeting from his phase-shifting accident. She watched as he idly rubbed at his cockpit, expression half-torn between emotional and physical pain. His arm was trembling as he pressed his palm to the yellowed, cracked glass.
"As I've told Optimus, probably a dozen or more times now- there's always a new start waiting for you here on Earth. Only if you want it. You're more than welcome to stay, even if our planet does have… more than a few problems. You're not alone, Starscream." Lucia's voice was laced with her earnest opinion. She was only a human, unaware of the danger she was truly in, being so close to him. So close to the monster that tainted the Energon running through his lines.
"Just me being here is a risk to this entire operation, Lucia. If it isn't my luck that causes us to fail, it's… Ah." He closed his intake at the last second, turning his head away from her completely. He tasted acid on his glossa, scrunching his nasal ridge in distaste. "There's something… other about me. I fear it'll put us- you- at risk. Anna Marie, Remy, Eric… I don't want any of you to get damaged because of me."
"Because you wont be able to live with yourself?" She spoke as if she understood, for she too harbored demons just below the surface.
"That too. Mostly because I won't be able to stop it." Starscream was as collected as he could manage, turning to fully face her once again. Those dim red optics cycled several times, violet in between blinks of his optic shutters. "If I can't… promise me, one of you will stop me." Lucia knew what he was asking. Her eyes shone with recognition, bone-deep, just like she had asked Remy long ago. If I lose control, kill me.
It was a loaded question. It was a heartbreaking promise. But Lucia understood.
"I promise."
oOo
Clint was allowed to leave his cell, rejoining the others on the main bridge. Natasha had given him the run-down as quickly and accurately as she could, including his crimes, failed escape attempt, and introducing him to the mech and femme that assisted in breaking Loki's control.
Bruce, Helen, and Thor were recovered from shore, although it seemed that they had a very different vibe than before. Bruce was torn between horror and spouting more apologies than a Canadian running into a single piece of furniture, while Thor kept glancing at Helen from the corner of his eye. Anytime she would turn her head to address him, Thor would fix his posture and turn rigid, wearing the most awkward grin anyone had seen on him. Worse than when he first discovered Pop Tarts.
Steve spun a pen in his hand, occasionally stopping to chew on the cap. Tony was talking with one of the programmers on board, giving them advice, in his own condescending, but light-hearted way.
Everything was tense. Everyone was tense. Most dared not breathe too loudly once Fury entered the command bridge, his hands clasped behind his back. A single nod to Maria Hill was all it took for her to silence the small conversations happening.
"As I'm sure you're all aware, Loki has escaped with the Scepter. His last known location was the shore, where he disappeared by the time the Hulk and Thor arrived. We have recovered and confirmed Agent Barton is free from Loki's control, and gathered as much information on Loki's plans as we could."
Clint awkwardly shuffled on his feet, quietly clearing his throat as he hung his head.
"One of Loki's minions was seen in Europe, where they dispatched a mechanical engineer and stole his eye. We have reason to believe that he targeted them to gain access to Stark Tower. One of Stark's employees would have limited access to the system. As per the information from Agent Barton, Loki intends to make use of Stark Tower for his alien invasion."
That came at no surprise to anyone but Tony, who was offended that some greasy-haired God dared to turn his tower into their portal-opening, personal hell. Natasha gave him a pointed look to silence him before he could even begin to complain. Tony shut his mouth and looked away, suddenly finding someone playing Galaga on their computer rather than paying attention to the ship's data readings more interesting.
The debrief didn't last much longer. Plans were made, disbelief was dismissed. As the 'team' prepared to head into the city, Director Fury asked Steve to stay.
Every hair on his arms and the back of his neck stood at attention, as his spine snapped taut in barely concealed fear. Fear of what horrible news Fury might deliver, fear that Fury knew what he was-
"There's something I wanted to talk to you about, Rogers." Steve slowly looked over his shoulder after begging Natasha with the best puppy eyes he could manage for her to swoop in a save him. She only waved at him from the elevator, looking all too smug for Steve's liking.
"Yes sir?" Steve hated how small his voice made him sound.
"You're iconic, Rogers. As Captain America. Only, you're lacking your shield." Fury almost looked disinterested, after his gaze swept Steve from head to toe, barely resisting to roll his eye.
"Y-yeah?"
"So go take your shield. If you're going to be stepping into public eye, it would do you some good to have your signature weapon. We can't have the vanguard without his shield."
"It's in a museum in Brooklyn, sir." Steve wasn't going to deny he had felt naked fighting without his shield- especially since Tony had taken the time to help design him metal gauntlets to fight with. He liked them, damn it! Tony was a good suit designer, the darker colors looked really good on him, and he liked the way Tony looked at him-
"I want you to steal your shield from the museum. You need it before the invasion begins, if it does. S.H.I.E.L.D. will bypass and overlook this crime." Steve could only sputter in response, his cheeks tinted red in a mix of embarrassment and confusion.
"You want me to steal public property, sir…?"
"Government property, Rogers. You are government property, and only reclaiming a tool for the survival of this planet." Steve couldn't deny that. He could only swallow audibly, shaking off his nerves by digging his nails into his palms.
Without a word, Steve turned on his heel to leave once Director Fury had dismissed him. He entered the elevator and fought with the buttons, leaning against the cool metal to throw his head back and groan. This whole thing had been a living hell. He wasn't even needed to deal with the Hulk, to deal with Megatron, and all Fury wanted him to do was keep up appearances.
Remind him he was government property. Remind him he belonged to S.H.I.E.L.D., remind him that he was nothing more than a tool at their dispense. He wished alcohol still affected him.