re_alignment_logs | our love is real it's no mirage [ closed ]

The second shot earns a yelp from Soundwave; it forces him to fall entirely to the ground, his fingers curling against the pavement of the temple, battle mask scraping against the ground.

He doesn't understand. He honestly just cannot grasp what happened right away; Soundwave went out of his way to help someone. Why would this happen?

But then, there are the Autobots of his world. Who the smelt can explain them?

"Get... get away from me! I mean it."

Frag frag frag that hurts.

Preliminary scans showed a lack of organic physiology, although this individual seemed a fair bit more intellectually sporting than the simple drones he'd encountered upon his arrival. Once upon a time that would have made Soundwave safe from Prism.

Not anymore.

Prism needed something to fill his time. Soundwave just happened to be the poor unfortunate, rather gullible, soul who took the bait.

He doesn't bother answering Soundwave now. What point is there in attempting to explain scientific protocol to lesser beings? Prism simply summons the Gatherer, the monstrosity of tentacles and containment tank appearing from the depths of the temple. He doesn't speak to it, commanding it silently to wrap it's many tentacles around Soundwave's remaining limbs.

Ohhhh no. No no no no, this is reminding him distinctly of that other Soundwave that was large and pointy and full of tentacles, too. Pain or not, he's not looking to be dragged off in Tentacle Land.

The communications expert finds himself struggling against the mechanical tendrils, trying to tear himself out; as big as he is, he doesn't really have the bold strength of, say, Crasher.

"I said-- get off of me, dude! Most uncool!"

He can't think of anything else to do but to try to send out a temporary pulse at Prism directly from his own processor. Not to leap into a mind but to kind of ... shove his own at the AI. He has no idea how effectively that'll be, but if it's enough so he can get away? Just dandy by him.

The pulse catches him off guard. It's strange, not unlike being hacked, but enough that it disorients him slightly. Unfortunately for Soundwave the Gatherer, unsure how to proceed without Prism's direction, maintains a tight grip on him.

"How curious!" he eventually chirps, wavering slightly in his orbit.

"We'll have to take a closer look at you than I initially thought."

As soon as he regains full control of himself he has the Gatherer begin dragging Soundwave toward the temple.

No. No no no, he doesn't have anything else he can use at his disposal. He's afraid of using anything stronger, he can't risk that again. Soundwave struggles fruitlessly against the Gatherer.

"No! Prism-- let me go! Let me go, please!"

This is almost as bad as being under Ratchet's laser scalpel.

"I didn't do anything!"

Of course Soundwave didn't do anything. That was part of the reason why he made such an excellent subject. There were no emotional ties--negative or positive--to cloud his judgment.

"I will release you once I am finished. Your resistance will only cause the process to take longer."

Prism tuts softly, floating off ahead of the Gatherer to lead the way into one of the many labs that made up Liege Maximo's temple.

"Frag you, you shot off my legs! This isn't what I came here to do!"

Panic and anger floats to the top of his processor. No matter how much he struggles, it makes no difference; the grip is too strong on his arms, and he can't move anything else to get away. He can't display a signal to reach anyone he knows.

Everyone else is, after all, several miles away.

The rooms pass on by as they go in deeper, and it only serves to make him feel more frightened, more nervous. Bringing him back to recalling one of the Autobot bases, how its size intimidated him. The only factor that is different is the lack of flame pits.

Prism hums happily as they enter the laboratory he's temporarily set up shop in, the Gatherer dragging Soundwave along behind him. Lucky for Prism the examination table is cybertronian sized--perfect for hauling Soundwave up onto.

The Gatherer forces him onto his back, arms spread, so Prism can get a better look at what he's working with here.

Metallic, although somehow sentient, with a design that did not match any of his previous records. Fascinating. His holoform appears at the head of the table, pale and smiling, a laser cutter held in his hand.

"Now, I believe it's time we got to work."

He lowers the cutter, beginning to get to work on the broad plates of Soundwave's chest.

So he's more than just some floating orb guy. A hologram? He can't help but instinctively scan, finding that it's... more than that. Holomatter.

Very physical.

"W-wait-- Prism!"

It's too late. This is Ratchet all over again. He's cutting into him, and his nerves are still very much online. Soundwave screams and he thrashes against the tentacles holding his arms.

"STOP STOP STOP--!! Stop it, please I can't do this again PRISM!"

"Again?"

Well, that's certainly worth noting. He abandons the laser cutter for a moment, only to have it taken up by one of the many tentacles surrounding them, and moves to stand at Soundwave's head.

"You're such an interesting specimen. Cybertronian, correct? There were a few of your race, or at least some variety, on the station..."

His holoform leans in, smile still plastered in place, eyes narrow and curious, as he places his hands on either side of Soundwave's helm.

"I never did manage to acquire a proper sample from one of them. How fortunate that I have you to assist me in that regard."

Now his orb floats in to join the holobody, the bright blue of a hacking beam casting a pale glow across his 'face.' He pushes at various unseen barriers, his programming surging forward, seeking any crack in Soundwave's defenses. He's not even sure it'll work, considering the differences in physiology (did cybertronians function on a similar plane to AI? he'd have to find out), but this is nothing if not a learning experience for all involved.

He hadn't even meant for that to slip out, but. Nothing he can do about it now. As the tentacle takes over, he screams out briefly before degenerating to a pleading whimper.

There's still a part of his mind that's reeling, just not understanding why this is happening.

Station? What the frag is he talking about?

No questions to be asked right now. He feels him trying to hack into his processor. That's something no mech has been able to do, and that's not about to start with this insane piece of hardware.

His faceplates split and he snarls with his mouth, expression open with fear and anger. "NO! Get out!!"

Soundwave pushes back at him.

There it is again, that curious sensation of a foreign system pushing at his own programming. It's fascinating, although a little disorienting, and Prism responds with a hard shove of his own.

"You can't resist me forever," Prism purrs, still trying to force himself into Soundwave's mind even as his holo's eyes watch the tentacle breach the thick chest armor and begin pulling at it. Forcing it open.

"I think you'll find I can be quite patient."

The tentacle is joined by another, the pair of them working at the cut made by the first, prying at the plating in an attempt at exposing the components beneath.

The shove causes his processor to reel for a moment; he's never had this kind of resistance before. Granted, Soundwave doesn't really enjoy using this talent of his often, but he's never met someone who's been able to give him this kind of trouble before. It's so... alien feeling. Even the music is cold and distant.

A choked scream is pulled from Soundwave as his chest is pried open; he pulls harder at the tentacles, trying to pull his arms free. Do something. But his plating is forced back, revealing some of his components beneath.

The internals of a Cybertronian of his own universe, humming with warm energy from his ember and its casing -- as well as the alien upgrades of Shockwave's Transtech additions.

Although physically he shakes and can't help but whimper at the pain, mentally he doesn't back down. He keeps himself protected best he can against Prism's attempted hacking.

"Be patient-- all you smeltin' want. I'm not-- not letting you in!"

Soundwave is a great deal more resistant than the last AI he hacked--although in that case there had been a handy backdoor into said AI's programming. He's not particularly discouraged by this, keeping up his attack even as he turns more attention to Soundwave's chest.

This is the part he was most looking forward to. Strange parts and components all laid out for him, some more foreign looking than others. It's positively delightful.

"You'll let me in, one way or another. They always do."

Prism's holoform abandons Soundwave's head, although the orb still hovers there, sliding down to press his hands into the waiting chest cavity. The warmth of active machinery feels good under his palms, almost as good as the sensation of scanning foreign matter. His fingers curl around a particularly inviting tube and pull.

The obnoxious cheer of someone taking him apart, feeling his parts from inside -- that's terribly familiar. The smile and all. The newer part is someone trying to hack into his mind, something he's working on fending off.

He can protect his processor, but he can't put up a good fight about his body.

When he feels a part getting pulled, another scream is earned from him, shorter than before. Soundwave leans his head away, gritting his teeth as he yanks down with his arms again, his fight fruitless as he tries to get free.

His mind puts up a better fight.

When Soundwave shoves back, he's including a song to go with it. Shuffle and select, Van Halen seems like a good choice. He cranks the volume, trying to play it loudly into Prism's mind.

Prism delights in rooting around inside Soundwave, displacing tubes and hosing and strange, metallic components that look vaguely organ-like as he searches for the perfect attachment point for one of his tracking nodes.

Then the music starts.

"How positively obnoxious."

Prism sneers slightly, more than a little off-put by Soundwave's song choice. He's hardly a music snob, but the sheer volume grates on his nerves in an altogether unpleasant manner.

Soundwave grits his teeth as he feels the hands moving inside of him. He has no idea what the A.I. has planned, and he almost doesn't expect to even survive this (and if he does, would he even be better off for it). It's almost as if Prism is looking for something.

The remark just earns a bitter laugh from him.

"D-dude, as if I care-- as if I didn't pick it to bother you-- f-frag!"

He yanks hard with one arm being held back, his hand trying to reach out towards Prism's holomatter form, trembling. As if making contact will do something.

Prism simply looks up at Soundwave's hand, smiling broadly.

"Do you think touching my holomatter will accomplish anything?"

He twists his hands in Soundwave's chest, seeking out the perfect connection point for-- ah, there we go.

A tentacle extends from the Gatherer, plunging into the open cavity of Soundwave's chest to curl possessively over his ember chamber.

The Morale Officer snarls best he can, trying to reach out and maybe tear Prism away from his body. He can't just lay there and do nothing, though Prism is doing a very exceptional job of making sure he remains helpless.

Then the tentacle jams itself into his chest. His ember flutters in shock and fear, flaring within his chamber.

"Ah--! NO! Stop!" Soundwave screams out, his visor blazing. "You don't know what you're--!!"

Even Ratchet's never gone so far as this. No one's been close to his ember before.

"I'm sorry, is this component important?"

He sneers, the tentacle carefully winding itself around the chamber as best it can until finally the clawed tip settles on a location. A small, metallic device is produced from within the tentacle itself, pressed against the metal of the ember chamber and promptly welded into place.

"See now, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

Prism pats Soundwave's chest, all condescending smiles and gentle touches.

There isn't an immediate answer, just Soundwave screaming in both fear and pain, the casing to his ember far too sensitive. It eventually stops, the welding, but he has no idea what was just attached. What was placed there. Something feels off.

He stares down at Prism, then yells out again -- something in comprehensible -- and shoves his hand out to tear away from the tentacles best he can. His hand does not try to reach the holomatter form.

But at the hovering orb there.

As soon as the hand lunches for Prism's true body his laser fires again, ripping through Soundwave's hand. From Prism's tone, he's rather unbothered by the attack.

"Really now Soundwave," Prism sighs, optic still glowing hot from the blast.

"You're beginning to embarrass yourself."

The Gatherer begins to haul Soundwave up, off the examination table, dragging him back toward the door. Apparently Prism has acquired whatever it is he was seeking.

Another sharp scream comes through as the laser blasts through his palm. From there, all he can do is go limp. He's still awake, still aware, but after all that's happened, he can't give off much physical strength right now.

He feels himself being lifted, being carried away towards the door.

Soundwave can't help but wonder what was the point of it all. Being torn apart, examined, and the hot, burning pain that was implanted to the casing around his ember. Why?

And what did he do to invoke this, anyway?

No angry threats. Snarling and spiteful. More that he wonders how it turned out this way, and that he's going to need help very, very soon.

"Thank you for your participation, Soundwave. I only wish it could have been under more favorable circumstances."

Prism follows only as far as the door, optic tracking Soundwave's body as he's hauled away. It leaves simple orders with the Gatherer; dispose of Soundwave and his various disembodied parts, then return to Prism. Nice and straightforward. Prism doesn't care much what happens to Soundwave after that.

our love is real it's no mirage [ closed ]

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