Sorry for the wait <3

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Optimus was kind enough to let Lynlee talk with Soundwave as the days passed by. He spoke very little with his own words, but when he did use his own voicebox, the girl had thought her heart would explode. 

It was all so very confusing. She didn't know every little detail about being a sparkmate, and Soundwave hadn't brought the subject up since his capture. Lynlee was left alone with questions that Optimus could only try to explain. 

The Autobot leader was fairly suspicious of the strange duo's relationship with each other. At first, he was cautious around Soundwave, making sure to keep him strapped and secured while the others talked about finding the last Omega key. Ratchet was slowly working on cracking the formula on Synthetic energon, and the others often went out to search for energon mines.

What was strange, was the Decepticon's retreat. There were several mines completely abandoned despite the mass supply of energon, and there were no unusual sightings that hinted towards a scheme or plan. 

Feeling more anxious than ever, Optimus Prime finally made an important decision without letting the team know. 

Which is what led the girl to the dilemma at hand- Lynlee sat on top of Soundwave's shoulder platings as he silently stood freely in the Autobot base, staring the other Autobots down. Arcee was the first to react, shoving an unsuspecting Jack as far away as possible before pointing her blaster. 

Bulkhead did the same, more cautiously and unsure, as Miko started to shout complaints toward her protector. Bumblebee simply whirred in warning towards Rafael, who was already hiding closer to Ratchet, who held his servo protectively over the young boy. 

"I would say I was surprised," the medical officer said, "but unfortunately I am not." 

Optimus stared at his team for a short moment before nodding towards Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee. "Take the children home. I am taking risks to win this war, but I will not place the children in danger."

Arcee glanced at me. "What about Lynlee?" 

The girl folded her arms and opened her mouth to speak, but Soundwave beat her to it. "Lynlee stays with... Soundwave."

Lynlee smiled at him while the others still looked uncertain. Ratchet finally broke the silence with a sigh. "You heard him. Take the children home. I will open a groundbridge." 

The groundbridge opened, one by one, and each bot transformed before allowing their charge onto their alt mode. Lynlee simply watched them leave. A sudden pain in her chest made her swallow. She'd almost forgotten that she didn't have a home to return to. Or family. 

Ratchet turned towards Optimus after closing the portal. "I trust you Optimus. While I think it is absurd, I know you will do what's best for the team."

Optimus smiled. "Thank you, old friend." he said before turning to Soundwave, "You mentioned the Omega key. Will you be able to locate it?" 

Soundwave nodded silently before moving towards the screens Ratchet stood at. The older bot did not flinch and simply stepped towards Optimus to give the silent mech more room. Soundwave gently reached up towards his shoulder and plucked Lynlee off of him before placing her next to the keypad and extending his metal tentacles. 

"While Soundwave pinpoints the location of the last Omega key, you will finish with the Synthetic energon, old friend," Optimus said to Ratchet. Ratchet noticed how his optics were focused on the two now working together at the screens. Lynlee pointed towards the screen as she asked Soundwave a question, in which the silent mech looked down at her and slightly shook his head. 

Lynlee's smile was large as she continued chatting, eyes bright. 

Ratchet glanced at Optimus. 

Optimus glanced at Ratchet.

The two stared at each other for a short moment before Ratchet shook his helm. "Those two are a strange... couple." he said, to which Optimus nodded in agreement. Ratchet carried on cautiously, "Am I to assume you know more than me about their current situation?"

Optimus turned away from Soundwave to face Ratchet. "It seems Primus has granted Soundwave with a reward more precious than anything Megatron could have ever presented him." 

Ratchet's optics widened in realization. "You cannot be suggesting-" he blinked and blinked again. 

Lynlee's giggle sounded through the air at something Soundwave said through his recordings, and Ratchet slapped the side of his helm with a servo. Optimus could tell the older bot was in distress, but he could manage nothing more than a smile. 

"I have seen a lot of strange things in my lifetime Optimus, but this- them- is probably going to be the end for me. I refuse to believe that Primus could- just, how is it possible? The stress it would put upon a human body to spark-bond with a cybertronian, especially Soundwave. It could kill her!" 

Soundwave, who had been listening in on the conversation without the two knowing, tilted his head before glancing down at Lynlee. While he knew Primus himself couldn't be wrong, there was still doubt in the back of his helm. 

He was a Decepticon. Well, he had been a Decepticon, for millennia. Megatron had used him to do his dirty work for thousands of years. Countless Autobot lives had been left to him, and he'd offlined them. 

He didn't deserve a sparkmate.

"What's wrong, Soundwave?" Lynlee questioned. She began to pull her long black hair out of her face and brush it out with her fingers. The girl had been lost in her own thoughts, dreaming about a nice hot shower, and hadn't even noticed Soundwave had stopped working. 

"Soundwave- is... functional."

Lynlee rolled her eyes. "I know you are functioning, Soundwave. I want to know if you're okay. There's a big difference."

Difference? If Soundwave was functional and could complete his duties, he was okay. 

But when Lynlee had been taken away and injured, he hadn't been okay. When Megatron threatened her life, he hadn't been okay. 

His optics widened behind the visor at the sudden thought. Maybe he wasn't okay unless he was with Lynlee. What if he needed her now? What would he do if she was gone? 

"The stress it would put upon a human body to spark-bond with a cybertronian, especially Soundwave. It could kill her!"

If he stayed away, he wouldn't be okay. If he became her sparkmate, she would die. 

"Soundwave?" her small hand tapped his metal plating. The mech shook his helm before continuing his work. 

"Soundwave is okay with- Lynlee." He finally concluded. 

But why did he feel so torn?

"The others are waiting." Ratchet suddenly said, stepping forward. His hand reached out to turn the portal on, but Soundwave was already pinpointing the Autobots location and opening a portal for them. It was an old habit. 

Ratchet raised an optic bridge towards Soundwave before talking to the Autobots who walked through. Arcee looked less tense to find Soundwave working quietly and not destroying anything. Bulkhead tapped her shoulder and grinned.

"See? I told you there was nothing to worry about. Optimus knows what he's doing." 

Bumblebee clicked and whirred, a sound almost imitating a laugh leaving his lips. Arcee eyes the Decepticon warily. "Yeah, Bee, it does seem unreal." 

Optimus nodded in greeting as Ratchet went to work with the Synthetic energon. 

"Soundwave is currently locating the last Omega key." he announced in his baritone voice, "but we need a plan to retrieve the other keys and keep them out of Megatron's grasp." 

Soundwave listened closely as he worked. He was sure the Autobots could come up with a decent plan- he'd always been disturbed at how everything worked out for them. But he knew the warship the best. He would only step in if their plan was completely idiotic or illogical. 

"Without knowing their location, it's almost impossible to even begin a plan." Arcee folded her arms. 

Optimus glanced at Soundwave. "Soundwave has informed me that he keeps track of the warship at all times, and can locate it past their cloaking shield."

"I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but doesn't that sound a little too easy?" Bulkhead asked. 

"Yeah, he could be leading us into a trap for all we know." Arcee grumbled. 

Soundwave said nothing as he worked, but Lynlee frowned at the team's distrust. Sure, she knew why, but this was possibly the best way to win the war. Would they throw that all away just because of Soundwave? 

"I understand your concern," Optimus stated, "but Soundwave has given up information that is most important in winning the war. There will be high risks, but we must gather those keys." 

They all stood in silence, and Lynlee couldn't take it anymore. 

"What will you now that you know where the warship is? Just waltz inside and ask politely? Megatron isn't stupid. He knows Soundwave has the advantage. He will be expecting you." she asked. 

"Bait." 

All helms perked up at Soundwave's recording. He turned slightly. "Megatron will... take advantage-of a hostage s-situation."

"Let me guess, you want one of us to be the hostage?" Arcee scoffed and rolled her optics. 

"That is i-illogical." 

"Then who?" Bulkhead asked. "I would volunteer, but it would seem suspicious if I were to be taken down by a few drones." 

Lynlee giggled quietly at his prideful remark, but stopped short when Soundwave said, "Me."

"W-what?" she stood and looked up at Soundwave, but he refused to look down at her. 

"You?" 

"Soundwave is- healing, and c-can be easily... overpowered." 

"No!" Lynlee smacked her hand against his metal plating and glared up at him. "You can't go back up there. Megatron will kill you!" 

But Soundwave knew better than that. He'd been with the warlord enough to know that Megatron's pride wouldn't allow him to be offlined right at the start. He would torture him, most likely, and gloat about his victory as he was oblivious to the battle ahead. 

Optimus stepped forward. "I understand your willingness, Soundwave, but we still require you to locate the last Omega key." 

Soundwave stepped to the side to reveal the screen and the tiny little beacon that blinked. Even Arcee looked shocked to see how quickly he had found the Omega key. It wasn't much trouble, really, since the communications officer had already decrypted over 85% of the coordinates beforehand, back on the Nemesis.

"Soundwave," the girl looked close to tears, "what if he kills you? You know he will try. I-I can't-"

Everyone watched as Soundwave placed a digit on top of Lynlee's head and gently pat her. He let her hug him and they stood there like that for a few moments. Soundwave looked back up at the screen and watched the blinking beacon. 

He was two steps ahead already, but Soundwave knew it wouldn't be easy. With the last Omega key and the Nemesis' location, he should have felt better, but his processor was on Lynlee as she wiped a few stray tears away before glancing at Optimus. 

"I'm just going to go take a shower," she said quietly, mostly to herself, before motioning for Soundwave to pick her up. He did so, and waited for her small peds to touch the ground before moving away and heading for the bathroom.

Soundwave wished would feel nothing as the girl walked away, but he couldn't take his optics off of her. He suddenly felt... not okay.

The others noticed the change in Soundwave as he watched her go. Ratchet, who now knew the true meaning of the situation, watched Lynlee leave as he silently wondered how everything would work out. 

Soundwave turned back towards the screen and typed a few things in before pulling up the location of the Decepticon warship. Only when someone vented, did he turn around. Arcee had an unhappy look on her face as she crossed her arms, but there was something in her optics that he hadn't noticed before.

"So- Soundwave- you're going to allow yourself to be captured. What then?" 

Surprised, Soundwave glanced at her, but she refused to look at him. He detected stubbornness, but all he needed was her cooperation. Feeling his spark beat faster, he almost let himself smile as he explained his plan. The silent mech had meant it when he said he would offline the Decepticon warlord. 

Megatron wouldn't know what hit him. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Word Count: 2,060

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I made it longer since I made you wait so long <3

Feel free to vote or comment!