It hurt, not just physically, but emotionally. The one barrier removed by Arcee had returned, and Soundwave had never truly felt such a envelopment of silence such as this; it was unlike the respectful silent for his once spark mate Solarlight, it was more like a prison, with him chained away within a darkness that seemed endless. Megatron had ordered for his voice box to be disconnected, and his visor returned to its place. He had not even allowed the mech to have suffered the atrocities in stasis either. On examining the handiwork of the preposterous Knockout, he had concluded it may possible to repair his voice box, but knockout had fixed it so it was un accessible for him to attempt to repair it himself. His visor had been sealed on, and he was unsure if it could ever be removed.

Through the Cybertronians words of the Iacon database, he could see his smooth black visor. An empty blank void. No emotion. No reflection. No soul. He felt his spark cry out for Arcee. If she broke it once, she could break it again. Was she still online? The glimpse of her wounds he had seen in the recordings had not looked too severe. He felt anger grow towards Megatron, but then turned it to himself. How could he have been so careless? Now he was just another pawn in Megatron's war game, and he feared he had also dragged Arcee closer into it's more dangerous territories. Another thought considered the events, and its conclusion was painful.

With what happened...would she think I've betrayed her? The thought brought a deep sadness to his spark. If only he had realised sooner, he could have warned her. He would never have disclosed the information, not so soon anyway.

The doors opened with the familiar hiss that announced Megatron's arrival. Soundwave did not even turn around or acknowledge him. Most of the time, he never would have anyway, but Megatron was no longer on somewhat equal terms with him as before; Soundwave was nothing more than a silent slave.

"Soundwave, What is your progress on the Iacon database?" He spoke commandingly. Rather than a usual tone of voice, he made it clear who was the master here. Soundwave ignored him and continued to work as he had always done before.

"It is good to have the same old silent mech back." Megatron smirked. Soundwave felt the words eat at his processor, but he kept decoding. Megatron sensed his anguish, and decided to see how far he could push it.

" Guards shall escort everywhere on this ship, and Your energon rations will be reduced to that of mere sustenance."

Soundwave found it hard to focus.

" As well, no one other than me is to communicate with you. Of course, I can't sever such ties so completely." Megatron spoke, with hands beside his back, as he walked towards the door. Soundwave managed to keep his pose, but inside he was eager to hear what exactly this act of leniency entailed.

" Once we capture Arcee, I'm sure you will be a lot more than willing to return the mech you once were; at the cost of her spark if you refuse."

Soundwave waited a few minutes after Megatron had left the room, and suddenly slammed his fists on the keyboard, shattering the glass. If he has his voice, he would shouted in anger. how dare you...I will never let you hurt Arcee. That, I promise with my own spark. He swore, recomposing himself. He had to escape. He would not be a prisoner of Megatron, and here, if Arcee found herself in danger, he would not be there to protect her. He knew megatron was no fool. The amount of guards he would have posted, none as superior to him in fighting skills, could easily overwhelm him with there numbers. He needed an opening, and as he checked the clock, that opening was fast approaching.

He switched the monitor to it's screensaver mode, and waited as two Vehicons entered with there weapons raised.

He needed no prompting as to what to do. He would be surrounded by six Vehicons, each with the weapons at the ready. One would be infont, four by his side, and one at the back. Off course, along the way, more guards were posted along the route to his new quarters- a prison cell. He quickly fell into line, and proceeded to casually follow his part in the procession. He followed the route he had made once already that morning in mind, and he found the next crossroads was his best access to the ground bridge, and the only way off the ship. Silence followed the procession, all but the footsteps of their feet could be heard. They were getting closer as they turned around the corner, and the very crossroad he was looking for appeared. All he had to do was time it perfectly....

"Hey! Stop him!"

He suddenly broke out, heading right instead of left, using the turn to exploit a gap between the two guards that where on his right side. He easily slid through the two and ran for it. Laser shots fired behind him, but he quickly took a left avoiding a narrow hit. Moving fast down the corridor, he knocked more drones out of his way. He could hear the Vehicons coming out fast, and a sudden announcement erupted throughout the ship.

"The prisoner Soundwave has escaped- capture him at all costs." Soundwave grimaced at the words as his destination neared. Just one more corner-

BANG!

A sudden fist slammed into his chest, his minicon laser beak taking the worst of the hit, but very force sent him flying into the wall. He slid down to the floor, feeling his frame ache with the force of the hit.

"You do not know how long I've waited to that." Knockout grinned evilly, savouring the moment. Soundwave hauled himself up of the ground, and looked down to see Laser beak heavily damaged. Dents in his small wings were close to cracks, and thin trails of energon slowly began to run to the floor. The faithful little minicon had just given him another chance; without him, he wondered how much harder this task he had set himself would be. Laser beak...

" Now, now, Soundwave, as there's no use in crying over spilled energon. Especially something as pathetic as laser beak- I would save your tears for Arcee." Knockout smiled suggestively, taunting the mech as he heard the approaching enforcement. I am going to enjoy this. He thought, as he held his staff ready to strike- but he was beaten to it. Soundwave slammed him against the wall, and again against the other. Laser fire alerted him, and looking left, he saw the onslaught of Vehicons arriving. He quickly left behind Knockout, although he deserved worse for such words, he was fast recovering, and remaining out of a pointless revenge was going to land him in further dire straits than he intended. He quickly headed for the ground bridge, and on entering, stopped dead in his tracks.

Megatron stood before the ground bridge, blocking his way. He smirked. The silent mech that use to be so unpredictable was now the most predictable mech he'd ever seen. Soundwave steadied himself; he couldn't defeat Megatron in battle, that he knew all to well. Perhaps evasive manoeuvres? But that in itself was not likely to succeed.

" You are predictable, Soundwave. Do not take me for a fool." Megatron hissed. You are the biggest fool there is. Soundwave thought cynically.

" Here's the deal- you remain on board this ship, and I will bring Arcee to you. Of course, she will be a prisoner as well, but you will be allowed to see her when you wish."

No. I will not let you near her. You'd only torture her for information- and she deserves to be free, not a prisoner, not on my account. Soundwave shook his head defiantly, and Megatron's somewhat passive gaze gave way to utter hate.

" Then you have made your choice!"

Megatron quickly charged at him, raising the sword high. He brought it down with such force and speed, that cracked and dented the floor deeply below it. He only wished it was not the floor, but an extinguished Soundwave. Soundwave had seen the very simple move so many times he knew exactly when to dodge it. Stepping to the right, he quickly proceeded to the control panel, and entered a set of co-ordinates.

Megatron quickly swung his sword around for another attack, but Soundwave thanked primus as his evasive strategy worked. He quickly disappeared through the ground bridge, and it closed quickly behind him, a precaution he had added when he had entered the co-ordinates.

Coming out on the other side, he quickly transformed and set of in random direction. He knew it wouldn't be long before he was hunted down, and he needed to settle ground between the enemy and himself. I will not be a slave to you, Megatron. Those megacycles are over- now, and forever.

Megatron growled darkly. Despite the extra security- fate had let him escape. No. not fate. The incompetence of his subordinates had let him escape. He didn't'even stop him. Megatron turned to the ground bridge, and looking on the screen, saw the co-ordinates. Drawing up a map, he found they were the same place as were Soundwave and Arcee had encountered each other, and Soundwave's' life signal was fast moving north . Knockout walked in only to almost trip over the cracks in the floor.

" Guess I should watch where I step..." He muttered to himself. Megatron quickly turned to the mech, catching him of-guard.

" Soundwave has escaped- order a team to track him down immediately, and have me contacted as soon as they corner him. I want to personally drag his pathetic frame back to the ship."

" Surely it would be better to just extinguish his spark, Lord Megatron-"

Megatron looked at him angrily.

"HE is still of value, you clueless fool!- unless you know of any other who can do what he can?"

Knockout fell silent, taken aback.

" He may be more submissive after this little escapade, once we capture him, however if we truly want him to remain, and to finally break his desire of freedom, we must destroy the very thing he wants the most."

Arcee sighed deeply. She didn't know how long she had been crying for, but she didn't want to know. She lay still on her berth, tired physically as well as mentally. Her 'secret' was out, and now she was unsure of where she stood. In fact, she didn't know if she stood at all. Obviously, Ratchet was disgusted with her, Bumblebee would have awoken by now and been told, Bulkhead was probably more surprised than anything. And Optimus...something between disappointment, and concern for her. Of course, what would Tailgate and Cliffjumper say?

She turned to her left side, but then turned to lay on her back. She couldn't rest. Her spark ached, her frame ached, (particularly around her neck) and the sadness she felt refused to leave. Face it 'Cee, you were played for a fool.

But what if...?

No. it was all a lie. Something so unexpected, that even you or anyone else could have seen it coming.

Then...why do I still have feelings for him?

Her thoughts argued within her processors, and quickly she became wary of her confusion. Recharge came swiftly, ending her tumultuous processors, but leaving her with a more sombre dream that replayed itself again and again.

" How could you love a Decepticon?" Cliff asked. She looked at him shocked. What in primus's name had he just said? The shadows cast started to slowly loose their warmth and colour.

" What are you talking about? I don't love-"

" Don't lie Arcee. You hide the truth, but you don't lie." Tailgate said, silencing her. " You have fallen for the enemy, the very enemy that took us away from you." Arcee looked between them. What were they saying? She felt a gaze stare at her back, and she turned around. Soundwave stood, his visor gone, with the same sad optics. She looked back to see her partners where gone, and the sun had set. It now seemed so cold, isolated and lonely. She turned back to Soundwave. He approached her slowly, and she was frozen in place. He now stood so close, She felt his optics burn deep into hers. He raised his right servo, and gently stroked the side of her face. She didn't' know what to do. Suddenly, he looked back over his shoulder. A darkness seemed to grow, and as he looked back, she saw a tear fall. He suddenly walked into the darkness.

" Wait!" She called out, but he did not return. Tailgate and Cliffjumper suddenly appeared, flanking her.

" Leave what belongs in the darkness, in the dark, Arcee."

" Leave what belongs in the darkness, in the dark, Arcee."

" Leave what belongs in the darkness..."

"...No! not this time." She suddenly ran after Soundwave, the warm glow of the sunset disappearing to an icy cold darkness that surrounded her. She couldn't find Soundwave anywhere. She searched the bleak darkness for him, looking for the soft sombre glow of his optics, but there was none.

Then she saw him. He stood with his back to her, some distance away.

"Soundwave-" She made to step forward but found her feet chained, the chain itself disappearing somewhere in to the darkness.

" Soundwave! Look at me- I need to know, did you mean to betray me?" She demanded, trying to break the chains. He turned around, but his faceplates were once again obscured by his visor. He said nothing. The silence was almost suffocating, and it seemed the more Arcee tried the more chains would appear, now on her wrists, and another more tightly around her neck.

" Answer me!"

Soundwave stood silently, and then disappeared altogether. The loneliness that engulfed couldn't have been more harsher than before. The chains remained, and as she fell to her knees, she cried for Soundwave to return...but her voice disappeared in the darkness; just as Soundwave had.