I hope you like this chapter guys <3 Sorry for the wait.

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"You can't do this, Soundwave. You can't." Lynlee was in so much pain. It hurt to breathe and she was unable to walk due to Megatron's attack on her kneecap the day she'd been taken. But still, the girl managed to shove herself onto one foot and lean against the cool glass the separated her from her sparkmate.

Soundwave forced himself not to lift his visor. If he did, she would see every single emotion. The hurt. The pain. The humiliation. He had gotten so close to his separation from the Decepticon cause- even his insignia had been changed. The mech had felt pride when Megatron had first spotted it. 

The pride fell when he hurt Lynlee again in his anger. Part of Soundwave wished he was normal again. Without feeling and dedicated to a single cause. Now everything has changed. He could feel. Soundwave was feeling every cry and plead of Lynlee, who was begging him not to do what Megatron said. But he couldn't sit still and watch her die. He was dedicated to her and her alone. 

He would do what was best for her, even if it meant she hated him afterward.

The mech glanced at the other Decepticons- Knockout, Starscream, and Megatron- who all held a large canister with the human children. Knockout was grinning while the human Miko yelled profanities and kicked the glass. Starscream looked smug at Rafael, who was in tears as his shaking hands adjusted his glasses. And Jack -Jack just stared up at Soundwave. Megatron was smiling cruelly as he held Lynlee's glass container in his servo. 

"I know what you're doing," Jack said softly. Soundwave glanced down at the boy, who was staring at Lynlee. The girl had a puddle of blood surrounding her but she remained standing. 

"Just know," Jack continued, "that I would do the same."

Lynlee watched from her container as Starscream waltzed up to Soundwave and not-so-gently shove his shoulder. 

"My my, how you have fallen Soundwave," Starscream chanted happily, "I see you are back again like a pest, back to his master. Megatron is greater than any bot in the galaxy! It seems you have forgotten that."

"Come on, Soundwave," Knockout joined in on the taunting, "talk to us. Megatron's orders, right?" 

Lynlee growled and pounded her fist onto the glass. She wasn't going to sit quietly like some damsel in distress. Megatron already knew this, and she would continue to let him know. Part of her wished she could be some Marvel or DC superhero and smash through the glass that held her prisoner.

"You don't have to say anything Soundwave!" She growled out. "They are just cowards!"

Megatron gave the container a shake, throwing her off balance and onto her bad knee. A small cry escaped her. Blood soaked into her clothing, but her eyes met Megatrons as her mouth turned into a snarl.

"You're just using me because you know you can't win against him without leverage."

"Enough!" Megatron growled. Soundwave had never seen Lynlee like this before. She was angry and screaming at the top of her lungs towards Megatron- a bot who wouldn't hesitate to kill her. Where had this defiance come from? 

Despite the current situation, Soundwave kind of liked it.

"Stop." 

Lynlee's lip trembled at Soundwave's word towards her. It wasn't fair. He had worked so hard, even if he was manipulated, to honor his parents. Now they were forcing them to talk. It wasn't the same with her- it made her feel special, when Soundwave wanted to talk to her. 

But now he was doing it for her so she wouldn't be killed.

Knockout's eyes widened in surprise and shock, but a grin soon followed. "That doesn't match your personality at all, Soundwave. I expected something a little deeper." 

Megatron suddenly began to walk forward and pushed through the small group. "Open a groundbridge, Soundwave. The Autobots will soon arrive." His optics glowed in warning as he continued, "I suggest you think wisely about your choices. I will not hesitate to eradicate this human." 

Lynlee swallowed the bile in her throat as Soundwave looked down at her. She wanted to see his face so badly- to know what he was feeling. Instead, her sparkmate simply nodded before opening a groundbridge. 

She swayed as Megatron walked through. As expected, the Autobots were also exiting their own groundbridge. What surprised the girl was their location. A gasp escaped her mouth as she stared into space. Literally.

"We're in freaking outer space?"  Miko screeched in surprise. Rafael peaked past his arms to look for himself. He looked more excited to see Bumblebee, who was whirring angrily from far away. Optimus Prime placed a servo on the scout's shoulder and shook his helm. 

Lynlee felt her body grow weak, but she tried to stand for as long as she could. As the group continued forward, she slowly felt her body fall. Feeling defiant, she managed to hold herself onto her good knee and rest her wrist onto it for good measure. Her ribs were screaming in protest, but the adrenaline was slowly washing away the pain as realization hit her.

This was where everything was going to end. The war was going to be over after this. Despite the want to hold onto her optimism, the girl felt like she already knew who would win. Her eyes glanced back to Soundwave, who was not looking at her. Instead, his eyes were on Optimus Prime. 

The Autobot leader held a grim look on his face as he stared at the children held in Decepticon hands. Megatron smiled and let his sharp denta show. 

"Optimus Prime. This is where you fall."

"Megatron. Release the children. We have brought the Omega keys, as you requested," Optimus replied back. Bulkhead, Arcee, Bumblebee, and the Autobot leader himself each held an Omega key. A giant structure Lynlee could not describe sat next to where the Decepticons stood. She could only imagine what it would do, from the looks of it.

"Bring your keys forward. One at a time," Megatron ordered.

Bulkhead went first. He was quick as he walked but slowly held out the Omega key when Knockout strutted forward and held out Miko. The wrecker snatched the girl back so fast she almost fell, and Knockout did the same with the Omega key. Soundwave watched as Bulkhead wrapped his arms protectively around the girl's container and moved back towards the others.

They want what I want. To keep their human safe, Soundwave thought to himself.

One by one, each Autobot went forward and received their human at the expense of one Omega key. That is, until there was only one left. Optimus Prime stepped forward, but Megatron held up his servo.

"This human remains with me. She will not be traded," Megatron smirked.

Optimus frowned. "I cannot allow an innocent human to remain in your hands, Megatron."

"Then you should be glad- you won't have to worry about this human for much longer." Megatron looked towards Soundwave and nodded. "Offline him and take the key."

Soundwave looked at his former master before looking at Lynlee, who began to cry. 

He will keep doing this- using her against me. For how long? When will she be free, if ever? When will I be free? 

Soundwave nodded his helm. "Yes, Lord Megatron."

"You will allow us to return the children to safety," Optimus demanded.

Megatron pondered the request for a moment before nodding his helm.

A groundbridge opened moments later, and Ratchet came out. His eyes were hard and unwavering as he looked at Megatron. "You cannot use her forever, Megatron. With those injuries, she may die within a few days." 

"Then so shall it be," Megatron snarled angrily. 

Ratchet glared as he took the children in their containers and walked them through the vortex once again. Optimus Prime turned at last to look at Soundwave. The previously silent mech vented softly before walking forward. Optimus did the same.

I would do the same.

Soundwave was beginning to understand the Autobot's connection with humans. They wanted more than to protect the weak and maintain justice. Megatron wanted tyranny and disorder. He snuffed out the sparks of these standing in his way and had his way with the weak.

Optimus' noticed the blue spread in Soundave's optics as he walked forward. The Autobots, he knew, wanted nothing more than to step forward and help their leader. But Optimus ordered them not to help. Not to step in. 

Just let the plan play out. 

Soundwave's tentacles and blaster came into view as he grew closer. Optimus pulled out his own weapons, aiming to offline. 

"Soundwave!" Lynlee shouted. 

Soundwave ignored his sparkmate. He hadn't known what to do before. Now, he did.

He was going to offline Optimus Prime, just as the Autobot leader ordered him too.

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I tried my best with this chapter. Sorry if it wasn't good. Let me know what you guys feel about it. I'll edit out mistakes later.

Feel free to vote and comment <3