"Danger is careful how it hides. It could be anywhere, in a stranger, in a family member, in a lover, or even an old friend."

"Quickstorm!"

The femme turned around, confusion on her faceplates when she spotted the mech who had called her designation.

"Megatronus?" Quickstorm asked curiously.

The silver mech's faceplates scrunched up at the name, "I go by Megatron now," he told her.

Quickstorm nodded, "It's been a while," she commented lightly. 

And indeed it had. It had been a few stellar-cycles since the Kaon fights that Quickstorm had been in. She now had enough shanix and energon to last her whole life. 

"It has," Megatronus-er, now, Megatron agreed. 

Quickstorm's derma twitched into a small smile, "How's your "Decepticons" been going?" 

Megatron's optics widened at the mention of his "group", "So you've heard of us."

Quickstorm's mischievous grin made Megatron blink in surprise, "You guys aren't exactly quiet about your views on the council and how things work."

"Do you agree with them?" Megatron asked, a glint appearing in his optics. 

"In a way," Quickstorm agreed before grimacing, "Just not how you guys are expressing the way you want them to be put in action."

An odd expression appeared across Megatron's faceplates, "Would you come to one of our gatherings?" he asked, a hint of hope entering his voice. 

Quickstorm hesitated, "I probably shouldn't..."

"Soundwave will be there," Megatron promised. 

"Alright," Quickstorm sighed, "But if anything turns violent, I'm leaving."

"Sounds fair enough," Megatron nodded. 

🔮

Quickstorm wasn't one hundred percent sure that going to one of the "Decepticon" gatherings was a good idea. 

Majority of the Cybertronians there were mechs that were much like Megatron in frame type; bulky, and big(in height). The few femmes that were there, were complete opposites to what Quickstorm was like. The femmes fought because they wanted to fight, Quickstorm fought because that's what she had needed to do at the time.

"Quickstorm?" 

The femme startled at the sound of her designation, spinning around to spot the mech she had come to meet, "Soundwave," She smiled. 

"What are you doing here?" His recordings asked, and despite not being able to see his faceplates Quickstorm could tell that he was slightly confused and worried about why she was there. 

"Megatron invited me," Quickstorm said, tilting her helm, "I was really thinking about leaving soon anyway," her optics looked around nervously, "This isn't my sort of crowd."

Soundwave's robotic-like shoulders relaxed slightly, "You really should leave," He insisted.

"Why?" Quickstorm asked.

Soundwave was about to answer when Quickstorm found her answer in how the "Decepticons" reacted to Megatron standing on the stage that set him higher than the rest of them. 

🔮

Lethe was surprised when Sam appeared at her house one night, her foster-mother having welcomed him in then called from the front door. 

"Sam?" Lethe's voice seemed to make him relax, "What's up?"

One second, Sam was looking at her from just in front of the door, the next he had taken three strides and wrapped his arms around her, his whole body relaxing as he hugged her. 

Lethe was confused but welcomed the oddly comforting feeling, "Are you okay?" She asked him after a while. 

"I am now," Sam said, moving back slightly to gaze at her face, concern flashing over his, "Are you?"

Lethe nodded, confusion in her eyes, "Yeah, I'm good."

Sam's relief made Lethe narrow her eyes, "What's wrong?" she asked, "Did something happen?"

Sam hesitated, "Something," he said vaguely. 

Lethe frowned, "No details?" she asked, "Just "Something"?"

Sam's tight-lipped smile made Lethe's concern grow, "Sam, what happened?"

"It's a long story," he admitted.

Lethe's worried eyes glance from him to the door that kept the entrance room separate from the lounge and the kitchen, "There's plenty of time to explain," she insisted.

Sam nodded and Lethe grabbed his hand and led him down the hall to her room, "Kathrine, we'll just be in my room!" she called to her foster-mother. 

"Keep your door open!" Kathrine called back.

Lethe rolled her eyes, "What does she think we're going to do?" she muttered, "Have sex?"

Sam let out an awkward chuckle that made Lethe roll her eyes as she opened the door to her room, "Oh, shut it, you," she scowled at him.

Sam stood in the doorway as his eyes scanned Lethe's room.

Lethe's room was rather blank and empty, despite the lilac purple walls. Her double sized bed had plain black bed sheets and a wooden bedside table stood next to it with a rigid lamp and square black alarm clock. A desk that had a couple school books stacked on it and a black bag hanging off the back of the chair that sat in front of the desk. 

Lethe turned to look at Sam, puzzled as to why the male had stopped, then realization crossed her face, "I don't like decorating," was all she said.

Sam nodded, "I know," he said before he could help himself.

It was Lethe's turn to stare at him, "How?"

Sam grimaced, "It's a long story," he repeated his earlier statement. 

"We have plenty of time for you to explain," Lethe said as they sat down on her bed.

Sam sighed, hesitating for a moment, "I guess I start off saying that my designation isn't actually Sam."

Lethe blinked, "Assuming that "designation" is name...?"

He cracked a grin, "You're always the same," he said, making Lethe's eyes widen, "My designation, or name, is Soundwave."

Lethe gaped as his form flickered slightly, almost as if he was a hologram, "What the-"

"This is a holoform," Sa-Soundwave gestured to himself, "Something we use to blend in with other species."

"Species?" Lethe echoed, "You mean like intergalactic beings?"

Soundwave nodded, "At least you didn't say "aliens"," he muttered. 

Lethe gave him a sheepish grin, "I have to admit that was the first word that came to mind," she said apologetically. 

Soundwave rolled his eyes at her as she burst into giggles. 

"Then I guess you should apply that word to yourself," Soundwave paused before taking a great risk, "Quickstorm."

Here's Chapter Nine!

Good one, Sounders. Just throw QS's designation out into the air, shall we? I wonder what Lethe's reaction is going to be...🤐

Blame Elemental-Rider23568 for this triple update.😉, (just kidding).

Hope you enjoyed!
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