re_alignment_logs | THE SHOW MUST GO ON [open]

Entry tags:

THE SHOW MUST GO ON [open]

WHO: Soundwave & OPEN
WHERE: Medbay
WHEN Some hours after Barricade & Driller find him/repair him.
WHAT: Eventually, Soundwave wakes up from repairs in a very unfortunate location for him. Visitations, anyone?
WARNINGS: Trauma, mention of robotgore/robotdeath.

Dreaming is a difficult thing for him.

Usually, Soundwave is in the company of someone, and adopts their memories, their dreams into his own. It's sort of nice, because he feels as though in that way he can improve his techniques as the Decepticon Army's Morale Officer. He knows how to help his fellow soldiers, help his friends keep upbeat. Not just with sing-a-longs with Dead End or Bombshell's therapy sessions, but he himself needs to help the others find a will to carry on.

Here in the medbay, when he's resting, he gets flashes. Some dreams his own, some not. A mix of what he's taken, and what he trembles in the wake of.

There's a sharp smile, a cheerful giggle, and a laser scalpel digging into his face as it's removed, torn from his head You just look so much more interesting this way! and how his mind burns when he knows the truth that he failed one of his adopted kids he's dead he should have rescued him red eyes burning at him This doesn't concern you, Decepticon and he hears Rodimus screaming and he's too late and the black sucks him down and he's never been able to escape it and in his arms it's cold metal just so cold and
he remembers
something new to all of it
this isn't what I want stop stop stop stop and the tired sigh of it's not as if you will remember this, Soundwave, your struggling is getting tiresome and stop stop stop don't open that there's just no choice.

The dust kicks up under his feet, the expansive desert, and Soundwave stares in confusion. Twin stones twisting around each other, a fierce glow, and it screams in his head.
MAKE US WHOLE

Soundwave jerks awake from recharge, his intakes gasping to vent out hot, anxious air, trying to cool himself off. Looking around in a panic, he almost doesn't remember being here.

The medbay.

Frag, he hates being in medbays.

"Ugh, so bogus," he groans to himself, rubbing his helm. Glad he has hands to use again.

It's rare to dream something for himself. Not all of it his, but enough of it was, and that bothers him. Soundwave shudders to himself, shaking his head. No, no. He's okay, he just needs to roll it off his shoulders. He can deal with it.

It's okay. It's okay.

Soundwave folds his arms over his midsection, hugging himself.

Right. He'll be okay.

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He'd only caught flashes, bits of information here and there, which really just made it that much worse. Regarless, someone whom he'd swiftly developed an affection for had been through something horrible, and Wing was of a mind to help bring pleasant things back into the forefront of this mech's life.

Wing enters medibay and after a glance around, spies Soundwave. He approaches, an air of gentle warmth about him, and greets the Decpeticon.

It's been a long day of visitations and reassurances from friends, in both old faces and new. It's comforting to know that for certain he is not alone, though that had never really concerned him before. It's just warming to know that he can count on others should he need.

It's left him drowsy, the length of the day and all that's happened before.

Soundwave glances up, visor flickering as he sees Wing. Under his mask, he smiles.

"Yo, Wingthing. What up, dude?"

The jet gives a congenial nod as he approaches, reaching out with a smile and a hand in friendly greeting.

"I heard you had some trouble. You're no doubt receiving excellent care for the medics here." He puts is lightly, not to dismiss the gravity of the situation but to prevent it from weighing down the mood.

"'Cade took care of me. Even Ratchet's been keepin' an eye." The Decepticon lowers his helm faintly.

"Eh. Just... a light bit of trouble. Some A.I. named Prism's outta his processor. Hit me up a bit."

More than a bit, but who is Soundwave to openly complain like that?

"'Cade did? I didn't know he had those skills." It comes as a pleasant surprise to Wing. Barricade in general had been a pleasant surprise in fact.

"Prisim?" After a klik or two he recalls a similar name popping up on the Link a bit ago. He'd been so busy with the party though he'd not been able to give it much notice. The thought dismays him more than a little. "A.I...? Is it dangerous to anyone you think?"

Wing is going to guess yes, at least potentially. And if Soundwave is still here under Ratchet's watch, then the jet will also guess that he had more than a bit of trouble.

"Didn't start out initially like that." Soundwave shakes his head. "Known him for a bit. 'Cade developed the skills in a city we both lived in for awhile. Got pretty good at it. Better than he started out."

Right. Prism. Not a topic he'd been hoping to focus on. Soundwave dips his head a bit. "...Plenty dangerous," he admits quietly. "So I don't really suggest goin' out of your way to visiting him, yeah?"

"So you hail from the city?" Wing certainly finds that curious. He'd gotten the notion from Barricade that they knew each other, but at the time he'd not know about either of them to to think it noteworthy. "But, and forgive me for making assumptions, it's looks as if you both have different origins?"

He nods gravely at Soundwave's response. He wasn't here to linger over dark subjects but if others might be in danger... "Prisim may need to be dealt with then." There's a firm set to his lipplates. "I'll look into it. But not alone, I'll be careful."

"We do, we do. Sorry," Soundwave says with a quiet laugh, raising his hand to assure Wing. "Lemme clarify. 'Cade and I met in a place called Axiom Nexus. It's worlds away from here, trust me. We ain't from the same place, but we've met and became friends."

It's history and he's glad for it, but he's still trying to decide if this place is better than Axiom Nexus or not. It seems about the same, but Prism's certainly soured it.

"N-no, you don't ... have to do that. I already asked Blurr to help." Soundwave looks genuinely fearful. "Frag, I didn't even wanna ask him, but he's an Elite Guard dude. S'what he does, so I figured he should be okay."

"No need to apologize. We're all still getting familiar with each other." Soundwave's story about Axiom Nexus is a fascinating one. "So there other ways to traverse different dimensions, other than the Lambda? Or did the Lambda have something to do with you two meeting up there originally?"

It was starting to sound like the universe, or the multiverse rather, was far bigger than he ever expected. It was awe inspiring.

Wing gives the Decepticon an understanding smile and a reassuring touch on his hand. "You're a caring mech Soundwave, I know it must be hard to see others in potential danger. But that is also why I must act. I may be away from my order but the duty to preserve life remains strong."

"Teleporter accident was the official story. There was a version of Shockwave there; pretty sure it was actually his fault that we ended up there." Soundwave shrugs. "Maybe he knew about the Lambda. No idea."

The warm expression and touch is well appreciated. It's good to see and have someone else as expressive as Soundwave in this place.

"Y'know. Guess we ain't so different," he muses quietly. "I'd probably do the same thing. Jus', you know, less finesse. Heh."

"I'm only vaguely familiar with that designation, but I suppose it matters little. Overall it sounds like a complicated bit of circumstances. And you were pulled here against you will because of the Lambda like the rest of us?" That seemed the case all around. Only the First Forged were here of their own free will, or so it seemed.

Wing is happy the gesture is appreciated on its simplest level. He'd spent centuries living and socializing with the same mechs. Here he has to constantly remind himself that people have greater boundaries. Any exception to that came as a welcome surprise.

A smile borne of camaraderie at those next words. "Oh, I think you have a style all your own Soundwave. I wouldn't have it any other way honestly."

"Sounds 'bout right, dude. On one hand, at least I'm far from Shockwave. On th' other..." Well. There's this. There's Prism and there's probably going to be worse things after him.

A soft laugh emits from Soundwave. A tilt of his head to better look at Wing and somehow, along the way, he manages to look abashed. "Sure, I got style, I s'pose. Ain't so fancy like you, but I'll take it."

His head rests back down to the berth. "Hey. You can do me one favor, though, okay?"

"Well I'm happy there was some benefit in the relocation for you." It helped to look at the benefits in these strange situations, of which Wing was enjoying a rather healthy one.

Wing returns the look with an expression of idle curiosity. He chuckles softly at Soundwaves's candor and humility, feeling perhaps a bit abashed himself. "Fancy can only get you so far though. It's the spark and the will that matter." Another chuckle, "Besides, this is a pretty typical style where I'm from."

The jet quirks his head at Soundwaves's request. "Just name it."

"Ember for us," Soundwave adds with an amused laugh. "But close 'nuff, I guess. Attitude an' soul goes far. I agree."

He gets as comfortable as he can on the berth, all things considered. Soundwave tilts his head to look up at Wing, laughing sheepishly. "Well. I need some recharge... but. I feel awkward by myself. Would you be all right if y'stayed for a couple of minutes? Just until I dozed off."

"Ember? Huh." An intrigued chuff of air. "So you have embers instead of sparks. Interesting." He nods in agreement. Regardless of the words used, the sentiment was the same.

Wing smiles warmly at the request. "I'm touched you'd ask." He can only imagine that some kind of trauma was involved, and Soundwave's willingness to put his trust in Wing is an honor. He gives the other mech's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'd be happy to. I'll stay a while and keep watch."

"Opposite polarization is how Screamer put it to me. Never seen a spark to tell ya what the difference is."

Behind his mask, he smiles and holds onto Wing's hand and squeezes lightly in return. The sheer amount of kindness in Wing seems so strangely rare outside of his own universe, but he knows he's made that comparison before. It's just nice to be able to have someone that behaves in a way that he understands.

"Thanks, dude." Soundwave shuts off his visor. "It'll be nice... to feel safe for awhile."

"I'll leave it to the those better versed in science to question it, but that sounds like a good enough explanation for me."

Wing exudes as much of a reassuring air as he can. He understands this feeling more the Soundwave knows, though for different reasons.

"It's my pleasure really. Rest easy now."

The jet hooks a foot under a nearby stool to bring it closer, settling himself beside Soundwave's berth. He was of a mind to stay a while, for he knew falling into recharge was not always the easiest thing, and he had plenty to do with Link access through his HUD. This might even be a good time to contact Blurr about Prisim.

There's a small nod from Soundwave in acknowledgement. It should feel safer, having a presence nearby that comforts him. He'll be okay, or so he hopes. Lightly, he squeezes Wing's hand before relaxing his grip and turning his head.

Calming himself, he turns off his optics and works on slipping into recharge.

It's nice, at first.

Minutes pass, though, and there's a shudder in Soundwave's frame.
all the tendrils prying in, tearing him open, hands groping around inside where they don't belong, passing over his ember casing, his face is torn out and he drips with energon, sputters static and droplets of fuel as he bleeds, limbs being taken apart and he's helpless to it all and Ratchet smiles and Prism smiles and he feels the creeping darkness of him and
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
the desert gapes open, hissing sand, and the statue stands there, both welcoming and horrifying
Soundwave whimpers in his sleep.

It's not the first time Wing's done bedside duty. There were plenty of refugees at the beginning of the war who needed medical treatment and tending afterward. He'd even been one of them. Though he had no talent for true healing, care givers were always needed and welcome, and it was a role he fell into well. Sometimes the spark and mind needed healing as much as the body did.

That's why Soundwave's restlessness, though a concern, is not a surprise. Wing boosts the idle of his engines up a notch to a comforting hum, then matches the tone with a harmonic of his own. It's not singing, he's no talent for that either really, but it is a gentle reminder of a comforting presence.

Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

The hum seems to briefly quell whatever discomfort Soundwave is experiencing in his recharge. He settles, momentarily, thought there's still a small quiver running through his frame.
Prism's promising smile that they will meet again getting opened up the bounding around his ember and claws are changing him around inside and it's not Prism anymore just a bright glowing yellow optic and cold cold logic and it's never mattered how he screamed and
suddenly there are fleshy monsters with blade-like bones coming out of them snarling to tear into him her them
the pressure of something welded inside, it could make you go insane could make you attack your friends it's to track you oh you can hear it that's so interesting
Then he jerks, visor flashing online and he keens loudly before giving a scream.

And he lashes out, just not in the physical sense. A projection of his mind pushes out violently, because in his mind, he's trying to strike down Prism or something.

"G-GET OUT!!"

The sudden jerk, the sound of distress and terror, gives Wing a great start. Then it's instinctive, reaching out, one steadying hand on Soundwave's shoulder while the other squeezes his hand, calling his name.

He doesn't get past the first syllable before the psychic wave hits him, a staggering blow in the most metaphysical sense. Wing hears Soundwave's verbal exclamation only in the vaguest way, but the brunt of the notion hits him full force.

The sudden attack from Soundwave's mind is like an electromagnetic force combined with sound. The intent is in part to harm and mostly to confuse, reaching out to scramble Wing's processor; main lines of coding and processes, the ability to walk, talk, and even think properly should be temporarily disabled.

What lingers with Wing, no doubt, is Soundwave's fear and panic of the pain endured.

It isn't until the act is done that Soundwave realizes, too late, what just happened.

It's unlike anything Wing's experienced before. Pain, confusion even fear erupt as instinctive responses. A flash of sympathetic horror in the brief moment Wing realizes some of that is not his but Soundwave's. It melds together like a storm in his mind, buffeting him into unconsciousness.

A cry of shock and pain that comes out as a harsh crackle from his vocalizer. The jet reels, jerking away from the source of the attack instinctively but his balance is gone. Gyros unable to compensate, he goes crashing to the ground.

When Wing collapses, Soundwave struggles to sit up and stare down in horror. Frag frag frag, what'd he do--?!

"W-Wing!" The Decepticon forces himself from the berth, falling off and hitting the floor roughly. Dragging himself over, he hesitantly touches him on the shoulder.

Scrap, no. He did this. He... he needs to fix it!

"Wing, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry--" he rambles quietly, his voice quivering as he places both of his hands on Wing's helm.

What if he makes it worse?

He draws his hands back sharply. No. He can't just hop in and try to fix it. That's not right.

"Ratchet... Ratchet?!" Soundwave tries to call out.

[If he could hear it, Soundwave's distress would pain him. But as it is, Wing is deep in his own mind, cut off from all external input, the last sliver of his awareness fleeing the residual pain.]

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THE SHOW MUST GO ON [open]

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Feel free to describe Wing's experience. ;)

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Do you want to have a medic tag in here or is 'Wave gonna panic and run soon?