Life always empty, but I will never change [OPEN]

[aircommanderp]

WHO: Starscream, [OPEN] To all! He's taking visitors.
WHAT: Starscream faces down the idea of being one of the first Decepticons to suffer a slow death, rather than a quick blaze of glory. He's waiting his last few days.
WHERE: Starscream's apartment.
WHEN: All day today and tomorrow.
WARNINGS/NOTES: Soundtrack start.

Comments

[inursatellites]

Soundwave touched down. It was without flourish, or loud announcement of thrusters. He was not here to make a show. He was here for a purpose. To maintain a tenuous alliance by virtue of repairs.

If that were even possible.

He was capable of creating and maintaining his lesser units -- Ravage, Rumble. The Reedman drone. The failed experiment that was 'Alice'. In-depth repairs were not beyond his capabilities. But, if these were... then data indicated it was not a total loss.

If he was correct, then his efforts would possibly strengthen the alliance -- such that it was -- once the alternate Starscream expired. And if not... well. He could mine the husk for data.

Soundwave didn't bother announcing himself. He simply let himself into the apartment without a word.

[aircommanderp]

It takes Starscream a good few cycles to realize he's there. When he does, it takes him at least another cycle to turn his head and open his dim optic.

"Hi." He greets quietly, barely lifting a hand to twitch his claws as a sort of half-wave.

He knows Soundwave can't help him, but it's nice to have people try to preserve his life. Odd, how many...

He'd never expected this.

[inursatellites]

Soundwave stands silently still, observing the scene. He cants his head to the side, his optical array dimming as he studies. After a lengthy pause, he steps forward, approaching the downed jet with his usual, impassive expression.

Cables coil out from their housing, winding around his arms, ready and waiting.

"SCANS: PREPARED," he says. To locate the damage, of course.

[aircommanderp]

Starscream just turns his head back, giving silent permission to proceed.

What Soundwave will find is a mech who should by all means be dead. Not withholding information leaves him open, without a spark. His internals beyond repair. He is a shell with programming.

Little more.

[inursatellites]

Soundwave moves forward again, and the cables perform their function in silence, save for the subtle whisper of cable over plating. It doesn't take him much time to gather his data. And when he does... He blinks, his head twitching back a fraction.

Not much of a reaction, unless you knew Soundwave. That was as good as a startled yelp.

Regaining his composure, Soundwave set to work. There isn't anything much he can do. Nothing major, anyway. But he can, at least, attempt to temporarily cool overheated components, replace small parts. It won't do much more than alleviate pain.

[aircommanderp]

It's nice, actually. It feels good, with every bit that Soundwave works, there is a fraction of his pain that slips away. Relieved for the time being.

He gratefully grazes his claws weakly over the nearest cable. It's hardly a ghost of a touch.

The brief reprieve from pain allows him to relax a bit, and he lets slip a relieved sigh.

[inursatellites]

There's nothing merciful about Soundwave's work. He is careful, certainly. But it's not out of any real desire to ease the other's suffering. It's a gamble, of sorts -- using valuable resources and effort to ensure the dying Starscream knows he's capable of repairs. And, perhaps, may trust him in the future.

... If there is a future. If Starscream returns like the others have. If his gamble is successful. A good many "ifs".

Still, he works. He might as well. He's here. But the touch and the sigh makes his head turn, blank expression almost accusing. Was there a problem?

"CONTINUE?" he asks.

[aircommanderp]

"Yes..." Starscream mutters, optic sliding shut. He almost feels like he can rest now.

"Continue." He winces, shoving the cable a bit, urging him to keep working.

[inursatellites]

Soundwave regards him with another silent stare, before he continues his work. There's a small pile of discarded components and wires at his feet.

The cable coils around Starscream's shoving hand, out of reflex, and the satellite pays it no attention.

"DAMAGE: SEVERE," he reports.

[aircommanderp]

He knows Soundwave isn't really capable of the desire to comfort anyone, and the fact that he does take comfort from any gesture makes him just a little bit sick at himself.

How pathetic he's become.

Maybe he should have Magnum come put him down...

"I know." Starscream grumbles.

[inursatellites]

"HOW."

It isn't really a question. Soundwave never really asks questions. Maybe it's the lack of vocal inflection. He's curious, though. How could someone keep functioning like this? For as long as this Starscream has?

It could be useful to know.

[aircommanderp]

"I haven't had a choice." It wasn't for lack of investigation on his part.

"It's. The Transtechs. They did this to me... I was offline on arrival. They picked up my dead shell." He says bitterly.

"Now it's just. A failed test."

[inursatellites]

Interesting. But that only reaffirmed the data Soundwave currently had. The Transtechs were capable of activating the dead once more. But the others hadn't shown any signs of problems. Nothing like this, anyway.

"DATA INDICATES: TRANSTECH REVIVAL UPON DEATH . . . LIKELY," he says calmly, while removing a piece of melted wire with deft claws. "SECONDARY RESTORATION: POSSIBLE."

[aircommanderp]

He'd really like to believe that- but the idea of nonexistence overwhelms him.

"Possible.. if they see fit. But what will they turn me into? Will I just repeat this cycle?" The Seeker looks away bitterly.

"I don't want to suffer like this."

[inursatellites]

Soundwave works in silence for a few minutes longer, processing that. It doesn't really matter to him whether or not the other Decepticon suffers. He's only here for his own reasons, after all.

But he doesn't want to continue to have to sit in the presence of another's pain. He can filter the data by now, sorting it into a space reserved for the thoughts of others. No longer does the influx of data particularly bother him... but this is something so alien to him that it nearly unnerves him.

Soundwave has never felt overwhelmed once in his life.

"TRANSTECH: SHOCKWAVE . . . A POSSIBILITY," he states. If Shockwave could warp individuals at his whim...

[aircommanderp]

Everything is in turmoil right now. Perhaps it's a new brand of data, but there are contradictions all over the place.

"So then I'm to be tortured. A possibility. They are all possibilities. In find it hard to believe I will return. Or return for the better." He sighs, letting bitterness overtake him again.