Little Things

Little Things








(Please see Artist's Notes for warnings and disclaimers)







Little Things


Soundwave put the finishing touches to his invention.
Finally, he thought, turning the containment chamber over, scanning that everything was in its precise order. It had been a long, delicate process, bringing all the components together but it was finally done, and he beamed with joy at his accomplishment.

How unfortunate Megatron never saw the value of certain native customs, he thought, seizing a fragment of his labour and studying it closely, considering sharing his discovery with his leader, before changing his mind. This was one of the rare, extremely rare occasions when he refused to divulge a particular piece of information with Megatron.

Would Megatron understand the value of it? How it would, in some minor way, improve the morale of his troops? He turned the fragment over in his hands, studying it, analysing it with a hungry expression he could no longer contain behind his mask. Without a second thought he signalled for it to retract and his lips parted, ready to ingest.

'Soundwave!' Starscream's shrill tones preceded him even before the laboratory doors had parted. 'Where-Ah! There you are!' He walked arrogantly towards the silent communications officer. 'I've been looking for you everywhere!'

Soundwave's battle mask detracted and he stood uncertain of what to do. Should he share his secret with the capricious Seeker or make some excuse and divert his attention somehow?

'Look at me when I'm talking to you!' Starscream snapped irritably. 'Why are you down here in the laboratory?! This is Shockwave's territory not yours! You belong-' Starscream's words were cut short as he noticed the cylindrical containment vessel was activated, and Soundwave was acting more secretive than usual. 'Why is that active? What are you plotting down here? Let me see!'

Soundwave's first inclination was to attack the Seeker, keep him away from his work, but he was wise enough to restrain his urge to knock the Seeker's helm off its supports and, wisely, stepped back so Starscream could see.

'What is this?' Starscream pushed past him, swatting him with his wings as his optics grew bright, partially from excitement, partially from the reflected brightness of the containment vessel. 'So this is what you've been up to.' He smirked, studying the object floating suspended in the particle field. 'Really, Soundwave.' He looked back partially, fixing the communications officer with an amused grin. 'I never thought you'd be the one to be more partial to this planet's savage customs. And I always thought Thundercracker would be the one.'

Soundwave made no reply, hoping the Seeker would simply continue to mock him and walk away, amused and uninterested. Instead his hopes waned as Starscream's hand reached through the chamber's energy barriers and sliced off a segment of his work for closer inspection.

'I think congratulations are in order, Soundwave.' Starscream began, looking it over in his hand, studying the layering and scattering of energy particles over the viscous, superheated energon. 'Most ingenious. I rather like the little tungsten pellets here and there. Let's try it out, shall we?'

Soundwave continued to remain silent, watching in horror as Starscream dared the unthinkable, and took a bite.

Starscream chewed in silence, optics fixed on Soundwave who was doing his utmost to keep his hands off the other's throat column. How dare Starscream savour that which HE had not even sampled?! His hard work, all of his hard work would be consumed by the rambunctious flyer if he didn't act quickly.

'Hey!' Starscream cried as Soundwave shoved him aside and stood between the Seeker and his creation. 'How dare you treat me like some lowgrade!'

Soundwave glared at the Seeker and was surprised when Starscream, instead of striking out and opening fire, returned his glare with an amused smile.

'Come now, Soundwave. No need to be like that.' He smiled, 'Here, I'll let you have the rest of this piece.' He held out the remnants of the piece. 'And if you must know the taste is incredible. In all my time I've never sampled anything like it, on this backward planet or on Cybertron.'

Soundwave was astonished. He'd never expected a compliment from Starscream.

'Compliment: acknowledged.' He uttered, and took the piece Starscream offered.

'I was angry at first but now I'm curious.' Starscream spoke pensively. 'Are you able to replicate this... what was it?' He gestured with his hands.

'Pizza.' Soundwave replied.

'Yes, that.' Starscream nodded. 'Are you able to replicate it? Enough for, oh, I don't know, three Seekers?'

Soundwave said nothing. He wasn't about to let his hard labour go to Starscream and his pack just like that.

'Fine! Three Seekers and one surly communications officer who doesn't know just how privileged he is to be in my good graces!' The Seeker snapped testily.

'Affirmative.' Soundwave nodded.

'Good. I'll be by every, let's say, every fifth solar cycle for five,' he paused, sensing disapproval from Soundwave's silence, 'oh! Very well, three of these. What do you say? And I won't tell Megatron, of course.'

Soundwave thought about this.

'Composition preferences required.'

'Composition? Hmmm.' Starscream steepled his digits thinking on this. 'I don't know. Let's keep everything the same for now. After a few we'll see who likes what and make changes.'

'Composition order acknowledged.'

'And no telling Megatron!' Starscream warned. 'I know you. Everything you learn you go and-well, it seems to me that this is one little secret we're both happy to keep from our beloved leader's attention, right?'

Soundwave nodded in agreement. He'd never lied to Megatron, but not divulging this particular piece of information wasn't lying, not really. It was of no military value, no weapon that could be used against the Autobots, so his failure to divulge it to Megatron was no disloyalty on his part, and he was content with this.

'Now, be a good Soundwave and let me grab another slice.' Starscream smiled his sweetest smile, the one he usually reserved for Megatron whenever he wanted to ask for a favour. 'Like the humans say, "Sharing is caring", right?'

His smile widened as Soundwave, somewhat reluctantly, brought his invention from the containment unit and presented it to the Seeker, urging him to take one slice.

'Don't mind if I do.' Starscream seized one and devoured it greedily before devouring another. 'You're such a pain in my diodes most times, Soundwave, but I admit, you do come up with some good ideas from time to time.' He looked to the slice in his hand, licking his lips at the sight of all the energon layers oozing lazily. 'Pizza. What an interesting invention.' He offered, and continued to ingest it.

'Affirmative.' Soundwave agreed and, not caring whether Starscream saw him or not, detracted his battle mask and took a large bite out of his own slice, savouring the simple delight of his work.

finis