Soundwave typed away more Cybertronian commands. More failures. More than before. He paused. Recharge was summoning him once again, but the last few days had given him anything but. The memories of her death, and this Arcee that plagued him...None of it was going away. It tormented him relentlessly. His work wasn't helping either. Another set of incorrect codes.

" For Primus's sake!" He suddenly cried out as his fists slammed the keyboard. He froze. He had just spoke out loud...He had broken his vow of silence. All these eons, in her honour...and broken, broken by a simple frustration...Anger and confusion coursed through him. How could I have...? What is wrong with me?! He went to slam the keyboard again when he heard another voice.

" It has been along time since I heard your voice, Soundwave." Soundwave spun around fast, his new visor thankfully hiding shocked optics. " I had feared you had ripped out your voice box permanently." Megatron said, sounding as surprised as Soundwave felt. A quiet awkward silence passed between them, and Soundwave quickly turned back to the monitor. Megatron grinned. It had been along time indeed since he had heard his voice, as long ago as his old days in the cybertronian pits. He had never expected to ever hear his communications officers' voice again....and yet having heard it so, meant he had broken his vow.. something had shaken the ever silent mech seriously to have pushed him to such an outburst.

Megatron watched as Soundwave inputted more commands, but he noticed, some of the symbols were miss matched. This was definitely not normal.

" Any further advancements, my dear Soundwave?" The red flash signalled the obviously incorrect code...As though Soundwave wanted to say 'it's going as one would expect', and the great leader would leave him to his silence. But he wasn't.

" It seems you are not even as good as Optimus was..." He said, attempting to taunt the mech. Another set of wrong inputted codes. Megatron stood enjoying the frustration he could feel. Soundwave's emotions were penetrating the atmosphere, and as much as he was displeased at such uncharacteristic behaviour, he savoured watching the silent squirm. Soundwave's very vulnerability was fast becoming his lord's pleasure.

" Perhaps you should rest, Soundwave. It seems you have been working far too hard." Megatron suggested, as again another set of wrong codes flashed. Soundwave welcomed the reprieve, if only to leave the room and get away from Lord Megatron. He locked the screen and walked hurriedly past the large silver grey mech, leaving the leader wondering why his most trusted servant, acted so out of character.

Megatron mused over it.

Soundwave had spoken. Actually said words, rather than his simple electronically sent commands, or replaying various pieces of recordings. And his words had been of frustration. What, he wondered, could make Soundwave behave so uncharacteristically? He stood in the command room, staring out to the surrounding Earth. With his hands behind his back, he contemplated the very nature of events that could upset Soundwave so. Perhaps there was more to tell about his recent retrieval of the relic? Megatron turned to look at the blade, sitting safely on his hip. But what could have happened? What would have made him talk? None of it made sense. As he looked over a green landscape, he saw roadways carving there own way suavely through its greenery. They would have at once not even existed; in the beginning, the forest would have been undisturbed... Wait...the beginning...His thoughts darted back to the early days of the war, when Soundwave spoke freely of his support for his campaign. One other had fought beside him, his spark mate Solarlight...An intelligent but sarcastic young femme. Then, she had perished in the early wars between Autobots and Decepticons.

Soundwave made his vow of silence when his spark mate died in battle...the only reason it would be broken, would be if...he had found another...could it be...that Blue Autobot femme...Arcee...

His thoughts widened his mind as the strange idea of the most loyal decepticon falling for an Autobot femme. He almost laughed out loud at the ridiculous idea. Surely Soundwave, of all Decepticons, would never fall for an Autobot? Even if he did...why...? As he continued to play with what he still believed to be trivial idea, Knockout walked in, looking heavily frustrated. The blasted Insecticons had started another fight with the troops again, and, coincidently, the ruckus was right outside his lab. He doubted he would get much done at this rate. He stopped a few feet behind Lord Megatron, who appeared oblivious to his arrival. Knockout made the motion of clearing his voice processors.

" You asked to see me, my liege?" He asked, almost bored. Megatron turned to face him. The seriousness that scoured his scar ridden faceplates immediately got Knockout's attention.

" Ah, Knockout.... It seems you previous comment about not putting all one's trust in another was true to word, after all." He said, recalling the earlier conversation prior to Soundwave's return with the relic. Knockout looked at Megatron confused.

" Really? As I recall, you dismissed my advice, and called me a fool." Knockout spoke raising a brow.

" And you still are a fool, Knockout." Megatron spoke irritated. "However, it seems certain events have disturbed the ever loyal and silent Soundwave." He said, turning to look back over the scenery. The red mech ignored the earlier comment, and instantly sensed an opportunity.

" Ever silent...you mean to say-"

" He spoke his first words, for the first time in millennia..." Megatron finished for him, finding the words still very surreal. Knockout folded his arms.

" I never thought he even could speak...so, what has rattled the 'ever silent' mech? Some sort of embarrassment at Autobot hands he failed to mention?" Knockout laughed to himself as he considered the possibilities.

" At present...I believe it involves that Autobot femme, Arcee, and the events that took the place when he retrieved the relic...." Knockout looked questionably at his leader.

" What has the blue femme got anything to do with Soundwave?" Knockout questioned.

" That, is what I want you to find out."

" Well I suppose- Wait, you want me to spy on the eyes and ears of the decepticons?" Knockout suddenly blurted out. Megatron looked calmly on the red mech, seeing his shock written in his very armour.

" Are you really that mindless? Think you fool! If Soundwave is acting out of character, his very actions will be out of character!"

" Meaning that...he will be vulnerable...." Knockout said, as he slowly pieced the puzzle together.

" Exactly. And, as the leader of the decepticons, I can not have my most trusted acting so unusually." Megatron spoke as he spared a look back out over the forest greenery.

" Say no more, my liege. I shall carry the task out like a professional." Knockout said, as he bowed low.

" See to it you do, Knockout. Or I fear it may cause some severe disruptions...disruptions we can not allow."

If only shockwave was here...

Soundwave thought as he tried to fall into recharge, again. He would know what to do... Soundwave found himself thinking of his friend. It had been him who had introduced Solarlight to him in the first place. And, intelligent as he was, he had an answer for everything, even when it wasn't related to science. Soundwave closed his optics and tried to focus on Solarlight. The cool, take no scrap femme that had bewitched him....Her blue armoured features shining brightly in the Cybertronian sun...

" NO!" He suddenly sat upright. "Why can I not get that femme out of my mind?!" He cried out, holding his helm in his servos. It was getting worse. A constant recurrence, never ending, determined to win. The only way he could feel relieved was to speak...No, he couldn't speak. He had made a vow...

What's the point? Your vow Is broken. Some inner voice contested. It seemed as though someone was overriding the very memories of Solarlight and replacing them with the blue femme, and forcing him to speak with words rather than his beautiful silence. He fell back on to his berth, and stared at the empty ceiling. Sudden knocks at the door alerted him, and the familiar voice of Knockout rang through the metal.

" Soundwave, you in there? Open up! I have something I need to discuss with you." Soundwave quickly grabbed and placed his visor in place, and approached the door. Something told him opening the door was a mistake, but perhaps the strange company could take his mind of certain things. When the door opened, he prayed he hadn't.

" Soundwave! Good to see you!" Knockout asked as he barged his way into his room, not waiting for the non-existent invitation. " Hmm...Like what you've done with the place." he commented, staring around at the empty room, plain and grey, lit dimly by a few lights in the ceiling. hmm... never pegged Soundwave as an interior decorator. Knockout thought. As he looked to the berth, he saw a single holo-image. Before Soundwave could even react, Knockout was already walking over to the holo-image, and picking it up to have a closer look.

" Well, well, if it isn't Shockwave...Wonder what that mad scientist is up too...and hello...who is this lovely femme?" Knockout whistled, as his gaze fell upon the femme beside Soundwave. Soundwave walked over, and took the holo-image out of his servos, placing it back on the table with a louder thud than he intended to. He turned to look at Knockout, and though no expression graced the red mech, it was clear it was hostile rejection. Knockout feigned ignorance.

" Say, she actually looks very similar to a certain Autobot femme...what was her name?....ah yes, Arcee. Wouldn't you agree, mein freunde? I also heard you had a run in with her while you were collecting the relic-" Knockout said coyly, but Soundwave interrupted.

" Leave. Now."

Knockout felt taken aback as Soundwave's voice was as dark as a storm cloud. He hadn't even considered what his voice might sound like. He quickly composed himself, realising his little mission was done.

" Fine. Be so rude, why don't you." Knockout said indignantly, as he pretended to walk out slightly hurt by the sudden brashness of his words. Soundwave followed him until he pressed the door shut, leaving him alone in his own space, fuelled with annoyance, and a certain feeling of forlorn...and worry. Knockout never came to his quarters. Never. The only reason he would do so, was if Megatron had sent him. He knew his leader suspected something was wrong with him. He looked back to the holo-image. What Knockout had just said rattled him. What was worse, was he had practically given him his answer. But, the sudden question, had almost answered his own. His problems, were all because or Arcee. He focused upon Solarlight, and again saw the blue femme instead. He needed to find answers, find a way to address this problem...and the only way he could, was to do so directly.

Knockout stood with his back to Soundwave's quarters, and let out a large sigh. That wasn't too bad... he thought as he walked away. As he felt the distance between him and Soundwave's quarters increase, he relaxed, and smiled to himself. Soundwave's very attitude, the fact he had even spoken, revealed everything he needed to know...It had everything to do with that two wheeler Autobot, but just exactly what the link was, still eluded him. She had looked very similar to that femme though. He smiled to himself. All he had to do now, was watch Soundwave's moves carefully, and instead of the direct and in your face approach, now, he had to hide in the shadows. He shivered excitedly.

Life on board the Nemesis was about to get a little more interesting.