The base was full of tension in the air as the I, the children, and Ratchet, all anxiously waited for Optimus to comm back. The team had all gone to an abandoned research facility to investigate suspicious activity. It was highly likely that the Decepticons were scouting it, but for what reason was still unknown to us. I could see that everyone hoped that they would learn more from this mission, but as of yet there had been no communication. Optimus had suggested that they keep radio silence until they learned something important.

Ratchet finally grew to impatient. "Scrap this. I'm hacking into the lab's mainframe," he grumbled after another pause. 

Raf perked up. "Need any help?"

The medic shook his helm as the security cameras began to show their feed on the screens. Several empty rooms dotted the screen, but our eyes quickly flickered to where we could see our team hiding around behind a corner. Optimus and Arcee were in the front, blasters ready. Bee was motioning for the others behind him to remain still and quiet. 

"Someone's there..," Ratchet realized, tapping away at the console. I noticed that where there was supposed to be another image from a camera on the screen above us, but instead there was darkness, like the line had gone dead. "As it turns out, I may need your help after all, Rafael," Ratchet said, his helm turning to the young boy. 

He instantly perked up again. "Really?!" Quick as a cat, he pulled out his laptop and flung it open. His fingers were going nearly as fast as Ratchet's digits as he typed away furiously, his face scrunching in determination. The older kids and myself looked upon him proudly and fondly, like we would a brother. He was adorable when he got like this, and the smartest out of all four of us humans. That earned him much respect from everyone.

"Aha!" Ratchet cried triumphantly as the dark screen flickered, finally revealing an image.

The room was obviously the one that the Autobots were wary to enter. We couldn't see them from this angle, but we could knew just by the way they had been hiding previously that it had to be this one. Inside was a large lab room, computers and machines everywhere. It looked more like a electronic library. Another reason we all knew that this was the reason Optimus hadn't called back was because there was a slim Cybertronian standing right in the middle of it all. He had a slim build, dark purple plates and a visor over his faceplate. Long, glowing cords outstretched from his body, clinging to the super computers like spiders. Information flew across the screens and into the cords, and evidently into the mech. My eyes widened as I looked him over once more, and I gulped with a shiver.

It was him. 

"It's Soundwave!" Miko cried, a threatening tone in her voice.

"He seems to invade research labs a lot..," Raf added, an obvious edge of nervousness in his.

I looked over everyone's facial expressions and felt my heart sink. All of them screamed fear and hate, something I hadn't felt towards him in a long time. Jack took a protective step towards the other two kids, a brotherly instinct. Ratchet's chassis stiffened and his facial expression turned hard. It seemed to them, this Soundwave was a threat, and a dangerous one at that. This wasn't what I had expected, honestly. The Con had seemed pretty harmless...

"Who's Soundwave?" I asked quietly after a pause. I had actually never learned his name before.. I wondered if he was ever going to tell it to me, or anything for that matter.

Ratchet's optics went dark. "Megatron's servant. He is the information gatherer and chief of communications. He never speaks, never makes a sound, and only leaves the ship if it's important." He turned back to the screen, glaring at the Con as though he wished he could burn holes right through his helm. "He isn't the kind of Con you ever want to meet. He used to be a gladiator along Megatron, as well."

Raf gulped. "We've... had a couple encounters with him before."

Miko shuddered. "He's creepy. It's kind of cool."

"Not when he is trying to kill you," Jack retorted. 

I pretended that this was all new information to me. It kind of was, in a way. It wasn't like I knew much about him. I hardly knew anything at all, really. It just seemed so hard to believe.. he had seemed so mellow and kind every time I had been with him. Even when I had discovered him, he had been calm and unthreatening. That was the version of him I knew, not this evil monster to be scared of.

Which one was real?

The mech, Soundwave, stiffened slightly and slowly looked behind him. Our hearts jumped to our throats as we realized that he knew the Autobots were there. Optimus seemed to catch on as well, because a moment later he stormed the Con. Soundwave quickly took the cords from the computers and used them to shock him. Everyone jumped as the Prime fell to the ground. There was no sound, but we could tell that he was crying out in pain. My hand flew to my mouth while Ratchet looked panicked. The other Autobots all rushed in, Ultra Magnus shouting orders while the others took different directions. None of us could tell what they were saying, but we could see that Soundwave was holding most of them off easily. His movements were nearly effortless, but after a few minutes, to which near the end Ratchet almost turned on the GroundBridge and went himself, he started to lose his game. The Con staggered as Ultra Magnus took him on, with Smokescreen at his side. He quickly realized he couldn't win this fight, and after sending his attackers back, Soundwave jumped right through the roof. He transformed into a skinny jet in a second, shooting away the next. 

My heart hammered in my chest as I stared in the screen in blank silence. Everyone else had frozen as well, looking at the screen in shock. It took us all a few moments for us to catch up with everything that had just happened. 

My mind was falling in so many directions. All the emotions made it hard to keep my powers in check. I could feel the surge within me, like fire wishing to burst. I closed my eyes and took several shaky breaths. 

Was that the real mech I thought I knew? Was he truly Deception?

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I

HAVE

FINALLY

UPDATED

THIS

BOOK!!

Thanks to those who gave me support and encouragement. You have inspired me to continue writing this book! I was happy to update for you!

I hope you enjoy!