"Why, (Y/N), you were human- are human. Your own species is at stake, and you act like you've never had a shred of humanity in you?" Ratchet was hesitant to take the energon ration, even after the femme double of Soundwave released him from his bonds so he could consume the liquified crystal without much difficulty. If he tried to escape, she would stop him easily.

     (Y/N) only stared at the medic behind her visor, optics passive as he waited for an answer. She didn't plan on giving him one. Not verbal, anyway. 

         "Please, whatever Megatron has promised, it's a lie, you should know that!"

         "The femme you knew, was a lie," Starscream slunk his way into the room, antagonistic smile taunting the older mech, "and your pleas fall on deaf audio. (Y/N) has been a faithful Decepticon since Soundwave discovered her little cave. M.E.C.H. did us a favor by driving her out."

         "M.E.C.H.?" Ratchet glanced at the femme again, connecting more dots. "When you said you recognized the name, you were alluding to working for them!"

         -/My division was known as Sector 7/- (Y/N) played her recording, a memory, actually. An ability Shockwave had yet to discover the source of. -/We were in charge of energy research. Energon was a primary subject, the only subject/-*

     Ratchet shook with rage, the cannister in his servo cracking from his grip. If he didn't consume it, then (Y/N) planned on taking it away from him. There was no use in letting perfectly good energon spill on the floor. She was satisfied when the medic downed the ration quickly before throwing the cannister at Starscream, who shrieked. The glass never touched the Seeker, however and the two watched as (Y/N) let her tendril hang with the cannister in its clutches. Mere inches from the SIC's faceplate. The femme was as still as stone.

     Starscream composed himself, sending a glare at the orange and white Autobot.

         "Your aim is off." He gestured to the femme with an arm, the other sliding behind his back plates. "Or do you not have the bearings to attempt to harm one who was once human?"

         "Simply testing her reflexes," Ratchet growled, "and how much of a loyal dog she really is." He glared at the femme, hatred, anger and betrayal simply pouring from his form in waves. "Congratulations, you've protected Starscream the loyal traitor."

     The Seeker took great offense, shrieking at the medic as (Y/N) cuffed him once more. Her movements revealed no anger or offense, merely a steady disinterest in Ratchet's insults. They simply glanced off her armor like pebbles. She had infiltrated the Autobot ranks as a spy, predicting their reaction if they ever found out, and she was not disappointed. His angered stare remained on her visor, blank and void of any trace of her facial features from beneath. She stared back, still close to the medic.

         "Congratulations," she whispered coarsely, startling the mech, who stepped back from the haunting, unfinished sound, "you failed to find the traitor in your own ranks."

     She stepped back and left the Autobot medic to brood, Starscream smirking behind her. His steps were obvious, obnoxious and filled with an overconfident pomp. She wondered why he was following her, watching from the cameras they passed to deduce his intentions. Starscream only appeared to be enjoying his superiority, however manufactured that feeling may be. He finally spoke after an annoying silence.

         "You're not so bad after all, (Y/N)." He complimented, at least, the femme believed that might be what he was doing. "I had taken you as a simple pawn for Ratchet's mental torture, but now I see you're more than just Soundwave's experimental play-thing."

     The femme's digits twitched, unnoticed by the Second in Command. Her optics flicked to look at the flier from the corner, still facing ahead. Her denta grated together as she silently warned him to choose his next words carefully. Starscream didn't feel the air tense around them however and continued talking.

         "From a fleshy waste of space to a formidable ally. I thought Soundwave had finally blown a fuse. I mean, donating his own CNA, taking you into his own quarters. I didn't think he would be as vain as Knockout. I'm surprised he hasn't fallen from his position, which I'm sure would be given to you."

     (Y/N) whipped around, holding the mech to the wall by his neck cables and squeezing dangerously. He squeaked and spluttered from shock as he clawed at her thin arm, trying to force his voice box to work beneath the pressure of her hold. He felt neck cables begin to cave in and bend, his panic forcing him to stare at his attacker's visor. A black void stared back, emotionless, but her actions were far from that. 

     A replica of the emotionless void appeared behind her, and a lithe servo rested on her shoulder. (Y/N)'s helm twitched toward her lover, who only stared back. He ordered her to release the mech against the wall, the femme nodding before letting Starscream slide to his aft on the floor of the war ship. He held his neck cables, glaring up at the femme and mech.

     Soundwave looked down at the SIC, visor lighting up as he replayed his words.

         -/I'm surprised he hasn't fallen from his position/-

         "I-I-," the Seeker spluttered hoarsely, "I meant nothing by it."

     The TIC knew that. Starscream simply thought he had gained an ally, as he had with Knockout when Megatron was in his comatose state. He had suddenly become comfortable around (Y/N), thinking she was at least tolerant of him. Clearly there was only so much she could tolerate at one time. 

         The threat of suspicion would keep the Seeker quiet about the incident, and that is what Soundwave wanted.

     Leaving the flier to his own devices, Soundwave stepped beside (Y/N), both in their usual synchronization. Laserbeak still clung to the femme, having been the one to alert his master of the dangerous situation. Starscream had struck a nerve, an already sensitive nerve after Soundwave had been captured. (Y/N) lost him, though for a short time, and was not planning on losing him again. Her connection to him, emotional and mysterious, was a dangerous thing to play with.

     She was quiet. Soundwave decided too quiet and brushed his servo against hers to show he was not mad. He received a message rather than a brush back.

         |My Apologies.| (Y/N) started through their shared private messaging system. |I am unsure what came over me. I will not lose control again.|

         |Forgiven.| Soundwave answered simply.

         |I will be punished properly for assaulting a superior officer?|

     The question startled him. According to protocol she should be, but according to his spark she was in the right, if not a little bit overboard in her outburst. Megatron had not contacted the lithe mech, so he assumed his leader did not look through the security footage as of yet. He contemplated deleting the incident from the ship's database, but that didn't seem right either. Would Megatron understand (Y/N)'s position in the matter if he was told? Perhaps his natural hate for Starscream would overshadow (Y/N)'s actions. It was a slim chance.

         |You are unsure.| Soundwave was certain the femme beside him would have sighed. |We may be together as a couple, known or not, but do not be biased. Megatron is bound to find out about the incident, and I would much rather he be informed by you.|

     He read the message, frowning behind his visor. She was right, he was being biased and would only prove Starscream's hidden point from earlier. The mech compiled the evidence into one message and sent it to his leader. He did not expect an answer for a while, knowing Megatron to be busy with his own duties.

         :Megatron has always favored you,: Laserbeak assured, still resting on (Y/N)'s chassis, :I wouldn't worry about it too much.:

         :Perhaps,: Soundwave answered, :but (Y/N) is not me.:

     Soundwave halted his travels, the femme beside him ahead one step before turning toward him. 

     He had not expected a reply so quickly. Either Megatron decided it was not worth the effort of mulling over, or his anger was kindled towards (Y/N). The mech hesitated to open the message link, biting his derma as he closed his optics and let it show at the inside of his visor. His optics opened and his spark nearly stopped.

         Megatron was going to let it slide.

     His remark about being amused was puzzling, but Soundwave's relief was felt by both his friend and lover as he forwarded the message to them both. 

         "I am glad." (Y/N) whispered coarsely, Soundwave nodding as they continued their walk once more. 

     The war lord chuckled as he stared at the cameras. He had sent Starscream about the time he assumed (Y/N) would be giving Ratchet his energon ration. A rather unneeded errand, but the demented being wanted to make sure of her loyalty to his Third in Command. He did not think it would be to that extent, assaulting the traitorous Seeker because of his foolish words, but it was a fruitful experiment. Yes, (Y/N) was far more faithful than he imagined. A loyal dog indeed.

         "I never took you as a ladies' man, Soundwave." Megatron chuckled darkly to himself, allowing the security feed to flicker off and both Cybertronians disappeared from the screen. "But I had my suspicions."

*Quoted from Chapter 5