" Arcee- I know you are listening. I also know that you and Soundwave are somewhat attracted to each other- and since his very spark hangs in the balance, I would listen carefully to my next words."

" You choice is thus- switch your allegiance to the decepticons, and Soundwave shall be spared. If not, and you try to save him, know that his spark will be extinguished before nightfall."

The words replayed themselves too many times. Again. And again. He held them both by the throat, and Soundwave's spark, already in physical pain, suddenly felt weaker as the emotional pain joined the barrage on his frame. His left servo clutched his side, energon flowing out at a fast rate. But all he thought about was Arcee.

Please Arcee, don't be a decepticon for my sake...Behind his visor he felt the first tears of energon fall; the first in a long time.

No...I won't let you become a slave to him....

Megatron watched as all of a sudden, the once loyal mech attempted to stand. Megatron let out a deep laugh before quickly and heavily stomping him to the ground.

"Still strong after all these millennia, are you Soundwave?" Megatron mocked, seeing the mech so weak and easily overpowered.

Soundwave felt the rough dirt of the Earth against his frame, as Megatron kept his foot, applying pressure selectively to his wound, upon his back. Soundwave tried to twist his frame to a position were it wouldn't hurt, but that only made Megatron apply a greater amount pressure. It almost forced the energon out of him, crushing his circuitry and if could have spoken, he would have been crying out in agony.

"I also forgot to mention, Arcee, time is of the essence." Megatron duly noted, as dusk slowly began to become night.

Ratchet stared in disbelief. Those words...were only proof that Arcee had been right all along. None of them had believed her...if they had.... Ratchet turned to look at her, and saw her faceplates crossed with her conflictions. She seemed almost to stare into some non existent reality. Optimus's calm and steady voice brought them both back to Earth.

" Arcee...it is your decision to make. Do only what you feel is right." He said the words with a solemn attitude. Ratchet was completely dumbfounded, and though he tried, his own words of protest failed him.

" Arcee..." Ratchet finally managed to begin, but Arcee answered him almost as though her words were pre-recorded.

" Open the ground bridge."

" But Arcee-"

" OPEN the ground bridge." She said, reservedly forceful. She turned her back on him, and walked to the ground bridge. Ratchet looked at the ground bridge controls, then back to Arcee. Primus, this is not what I prayed for.. But there was nothing he could do, and she would not condemn Soundwave, especially with the feelings she had for him. Ratchet closed his optics for a brief moment, and again found himself saying a silent prayer for her.. Only praying that it would be answered this time.

As she stepped out of the ground bridge, she found everyone waiting for her. She looked over their faceplates. Bulkhead's somber amazement, Bumblebee's sadness, Optimus' stern yet melancholic look. The mood shifted when she turned to look at Megatron, evil happiness spread across his features, and then the harrowing site of Soundwave- forcing her to let out gasp in horror- Lying in a pool of his own energon. What was worse, was his visor had returned, how, she didn't know, but it almost felt as though a void had been placed between them.

Megatron watched the emotions cross her face with pure enjoyment; such torture was rare to see. It made him consider removing Soundwave's visor, just to see the same emotions within his faceplates. Yet the visor had its purpose, and would never be removed. However he could sense the pain he was inflicting upon Soundwave, and how this act was only going to bring him more. Surely you will have learned you lesson Soundwave. Megatron thought, but then again once some con or bot turned traitor, it was often for good. But that didn't matter- he only had to keep Soundwave and Arcee chained together, and Soundwave would follow his orders without question.

" Time is wasting, Arcee." Megatron repeated, pushing his foot down harder, causing Soundwave to gasp in pain. She spared one more glance as the rest of team Prime.

" I'm Sorry." She said, her head hung low. Optimus nodded in acknowledgement, but said no words. There was none that could help. Even Bulkhead and Bumblebee remained silent, there faces emulating sadness and confusion. She then walked forward towards Megatron, but he didn't release Soundwave.

Soundwave managed to look up from the dirt, and as he saw Arcee approach, he felt failure engulf him.

" Arcee, you don't have to do this- I will not blame you-"

" I'm not letting another partner die." Arcee said simply. She looked to Megatron.

" How noble- of course, I expect nothing less from an autobot- or even a lover." He mocked.

" You've got what you want- Soundwave needs medical attention." She said with urgency in her voice.

" In due time-" He looked over to Optimus and the others. " BUT before that happens, I need you to swear your oath to the Decepticon cause." Arcee looked horrified at him. He was asking her to says words that, although they understood why, would wound them all.

" I believe you have heard of the Oath one takes when joining the decepticons, have you not?" Megatron enquired. Arcee looked at Soundwave, and as he strained to look up to her, shaking his helm weakly. Everyone had heard the oath, whether they were decepticons or Autobots. In the early days of the war, it was almost chanted. She never thought in a million mega cycles she have to repeat them. She steadied herself, stood her ground, and her fists clenched.

" I...I swear by Primus, my Spark to the Decepticon cause, in life and death for the glory...of Lord Megatron."

Megatron smiled deviously, seeing the other Autobots look on in a powerless state. They could not defeat him; they could stop Arcee; they could not free Soundwave.

Soundwave felt the pressure upon his back finally release, and relief flooded his pain ridden frame. Arcee was by his side in an instant.

" Soundwave...." He looked up to her, as she looked to his wound, and he saw horror cross her face.

"You don't have to....turn back now...It will be alright...I promise....." He saw his vision blur, although he tried desperately to focus upon her.

"No, I'm not leaving you."

"please d..don't be a decepticon for my sake...he will..."

But the pain gently lulled him into stasis lock, and her face quickly faded from sight.

" Soundwave? Soundwave! Answer me!" Arcee asked, as she felt a sense of panic sweep over her.

Megatron smiled, satisfied.

" Open the ground bridge, and see to it Soundwave is taken to med-bay."

Arcee looked up as the ground bridge appeared. Instead of being the one sign of hope, of escaping, going home, in was nothing but a portal to a darker side of life. She looked down to the Stasis-locked frame of Soundwave, while she now held close to her. She wasn't going to abandon him, but it hurt to abandon her team...to abandon Jack...She closed her eyes as she supported Soundwave on her own, the vehicons just watching, ready to attack if she tried anything. She didn't look back, only forward, knowing weight would only be added to her spark if she saw their faces' again.

Optimus watched on with sadness, and instantly vowed to free them both, if it was one the last things he did. As he looked either side to Bulkhead and Bumblebee, He saw the same determination.

The ground bridge disappeared, and instantly danger filled the air. Megatron and a few Vehicons remained.

" Such an unfortunate twist of fate, but do rest assured, Arcee shall... enjoy her stay on board the Nemesis."

" If you so even hurt her-" Bumblebee threatened.

" Would you even know?" Megatron answered skeptically, and dismal atmosphere settled as the last light of day turned to night.

" Know that you will not get away this, Megatron." Optimus said darkly. Megatron laughed at his threat, seeing blindly nothing but empty words.

" How does it feel to have no protection over a member of your 'team', Prime? You should know there are expendables in war."

Optimus's optics narrowed.

" No-one is expendable."

" Then you will live with long and unending sense of failure- Now, since I have taken something away- it's seems only fair I should return you something. I have been dying to see what the true effects of this new energon is truly like- hopefully, you will provide a suitable test."

Arcee watched coldly as the Vehicons left the med bay. The hiss of the door seemed to shut the world away, leaving her and Soundwave alone in the small operating theatre. If only it was another place, at another time...

She looked around. The decepticons' medic seemed to be nowhere, not that she particularly wanted to see the obnoxious medic. The Vehicons had connected Soundwave to an energon line, and Arcee looked sadly as she saw his vitals, thankfully not dangerously low. As she looked back to Soundwave, she felt panic rise within. If I could only do something... She thought about everything she about repairing wounds- she'd done some herself when the situation called for it. This was beyond her. She gently wrapped her own fingers within his long ones.

"Everything will be alright...I won't leave you." She spoke gently, bringing her free servo to stroke the side of his helm. Her optics lowered to his wound, ugly and now covered with drying energon stains. She closed her optics only to open them again. If war taught you anything, it was that you could never look away, no matter how spark-breaking or disturbing the image was. Without realising, she gripped Soundwave's servo tightly.

Megatron will pay...

Knockout walked frustrated down the corridors of the Nemesis, back towards the med bay. Annoyingly, he has been summoned just before he was about to settle into recharge, and he was less than happy about it. He looked over a data-pad, mildly taking in the information, as he saw his own reflection within the data pad's screen.

While his own vanity consumed him, he only looked up as he entered the Med bay as he saw a sight he had not expected. A Vehicon turned, and approached him.

" Megatron's orders are to repair him."

" Repair who?"

" Soundwave." The drone said, as he left and walked out. The two vehicons with him also left. The only one's who remained were permanent assistants to him, which more than often were replaced at some point or other, due to obscure reasons...He looked bewildered as he turned to enter one the operating rooms within the med bay. His optics widened, as he saw Soundwave, heavily injured, lying motionless, while Arcee turned to face him. She looked shocked, then agitated.

" Help him. Now!"

She said, clenching her servos. Knockout took a second to register what she had said, while he observed the injured Soundwave, and he smiled inside. About time you paid for your treachery...yet Megatron STILL wants him alive...which means he is still of value...But what are you doing here?...He looked her up and down, noting why Soundwave would fall for such a femme, that plus the resemblance to his old spark mate. Arcee suddenly faced her blasters towards him.

" Are your audio processors not working, or should I call a medic?" She said with dark sarcasm, fearing she was going to loose Soundwave for good. Energon still dripped form his wound, although self healing systems had stemmed the flow to that of small drops. Knockout quickly held up his arms in surrender, realising an angry femme, one as such as Arcee, was not to be trifled with.

" Easy, I'll patch him up, just put the weapons down, if you please." He said, walking over as though she already had. She did so, but her mood remained the same. Knockout went to the other side of Soundwave, and began his work.

Shame Megatron missed your spark chamber... Knockout thought as he inspected the wound. He then set about 'repairing' it.

Silence hung in the air. As Knockout worked, Arcee sat quietly, watching every move he made. She had no trust in him, and she doubted he was working to the best of his ability. If Ratchet was here, she'd be more relaxed. But she was on the decepticon ship...and they back at the Autobot base....It felt as though she was at the opposite side of the universe to what she had considered to be home.

Knockout was the first to break the silence, his scientist's curiosity finally asking the question.

" Sooo...Arcee...care to tell me what happened, and how such a pretty little autobot femme as yourself is here on board the Nemesis?" He said, acting more nonchalantly as Soundwave's condition was stabled.

" If you want to keep your vocal processors, I suggest you keep your mouth shut."

" Ouch, please, your killing me." Knockout joked, but it was unappreciated by Arcee. Her Optics swept over Soundwave's body, and she felt sadness rise within.

"There, there, Soundwave will be fine." He said, stepping towards her. " Please, indulge me. Why are you here? Oh, of course, how stupid of me. Megatron did this, didn't he? He can be so temperamental at times-"

" Shut your FRAGGING mouth." Arcee growled. Knockout brushed her words away as though they were dust. He grinned evilly.

" He threatened to kill him, and you being all chivalrous, wouldn't let his spark get extinguished-" He laughed. He quickly began to approach closer. "How cute. ...Yet I do not understand why you would love such a weak mech like him? Surely a stronger, better looking mech would be more your taste-" She quickly pulled out her arm blade, and held it close to his throat as he came to uncomfortably close.

" And what would know about my 'tastes'?" She hissed angrily.

The hiss of the doors announced Megatron's arrival, while Knockout quickly stepped away from the femme.

" Greetings, Lord Megatron."

" Knockout. I see you are becoming well acquainted with our newest decepticon?"

Knockout looked at Arcee, as she stared angrily back at Megatron.

" Really?" He said, looking over her once more. Somehow, she seemed more appealing.

"And the Patient?" Megatron asked, looking down on the still frame of Soundwave.

" Stable. He should be fine, but his wound will take longer to heal." Knockout said, without care, waving his servo.

"Good. We need back to his usual duties as soon as he he is able." Megatron added.

Arcee felt the pain ease slightly, as she noted the words 'stable' and fine'. Her gaze turned to Megatron, her new 'leader'. She saw energon stains across his armour. Her spark seemed to catch in her throat. It wasn't his energon. Anger suddenly overtook her, as she stood up to confront him, her blade ready.

" You Monster! What have you done-"

" HOW dare you speak to me with such insolence-" He suddenly bellowed, but Arcee refused to give in, despite being taken aback by his words. He had already made her swear an allegiance to save Soundwave, and now he had hurt her friends. The last thing she was going to do, was give him any respect.

"Why when you give no respect to anyone else?!" She questioned back.

" Uh-oh.." Knockout said quietly as he watched the drama unfold with anticipation.

Megatron walked towards her, standing to his full height with the utmost imperialism and Authority, and suddenly he clasped her throat in his hands.

"Things, as I'm sure you will find, are not the same as they are in an Autobot base. Now you are a decepticon, You will give me respect at all times, and address me as 'Lord'. I am sure I need not to clarify what happens if I find your behaviour dis-satisfactory " He growled, looking over to Soundwave. Arcee followed his gaze, and felt a pull deep in her spark. Megatron did not release his grip, tightly wrapped around her throat.

" Do I make myself clear?" He watched her intently, until the quiet words fell out of her audio processors.

" Yes...Lord Megatron."

Soundwave watched as a vague blurry scene appeared before him. He saw a blue form, trapped in the clutches of a larger silver grey one. Anger rose but its energy was wasted; there was something weighing him down, and as he looked close at the colours, he made out Arcee's face, full of sadness, and temporary defeat. Darkness suddenly wrapped around him again, but his spark was already mourning; This was the last position he had wanted Arcee to end up in, and he felt, if he had approached this differently, this would have been avoided....but what could have been, was no longer a feasible reality.