Silenced

13 | A Test Of Faith

Something a little less precarious, he says...? A small scale test that could be considered overall low risk, without too many outlying variables--is what the Prime is inherently describing.

Soundwave hummed silently as he glanced up to meet the Prime's optics, shifting his gaze to the ground in thought after a few moments of the shared stare between them, raising a clawed servo to the underside of his chin.

In that case, I should suggest something that would be just enough to gain their trust - within a reasonable amount of time - to then be allowed my next plan of action to board the Nemesis and secretly get Ravage off the ship.

Soundwave affirmed this with a mental nod.

Unlike his other familiar Laserbeak, Soundwave was not able to privately communicate with Ravage, resulting in the surveillance officer being utterly and completely in the dark about Ravage's condition and how the Decepticons were currently treating him, which worried him. Additionally, Ravage had yet to have been implemented with a tracking signal, since there were no immediate plans to dispatch him, so there truly was no getting in touch with the beast unless Soundwave boarded the Nemesis himself. Which, for now, would still be relatively easy, but the longer they waited...it would only be all the more difficult to accurately calculate the correct coordinates on a moving target.

With all this in mind, Soundwave temporarily clenched the servo at his side into a fist of pure, determined will as the gears inaudibly turned in his processor, raising his helm back up when the solution finally clicked.

"I--could provide coordinates--to a mine that has not been fully stripped--of its resources." Soundwave offered, unfurling his other servo from his chin as such. Optimus tightened his dermas, mulling over the idea in his mind.

"Our energon reserves are...less than optimal." Ratchet chipped in a quiet grumble of added deliberation. Arcee's optics narrowed forcefully.

"What? Ratchet, this could easily be a trap waiting for us!" Arcee argued, clearly disturbed that Ratchet and Prime would even think to accept Soundwave's absurd proposal.

"I don't think we have the luxury to prepare for imaginary circumstances, Arcee. If we do not replenish our energon, we shall perish either way. This may be our only chance to significantly stock our resources, instead of always picking up after the Decepticon's scraps." Optimus responded back sternly, lifting his gaze up. "Besides, I believe this to be a satisfactory way for Soundwave to prove himself as a fully fledged Autobot, no?" Optimus looked to Soundwave, who initially caught his gaze, yet didn't keep the open optic exchange for long before he turned his helm away, not wanting to appear overly desperate for a chance to prove himself. Arcee tutted in frustration, whirling around when she realized she wasn't changing their minds and stepped away from the group as she muttered a bitter "Soundwave, Autobot? Ha. Don't make me laugh."

Jack watched her transform and leave the base, burning rubber marks onto the concrete floor as she raced off. He gulped down the nervousness building up in his throat before he looked to Soundwave, non-surprisingly completely unfazed by the entire interaction. Nevertheless; Jack, as Arcee's partner, felt the need to clear the air somewhat...for both their sakes.

"Uhm, a-ahem." He started, his voice a little unsteady. "D-Don't mind her. Arcee's just a little surprised by everything that's happened right now. She'll eventually come around, don't worry." Jack promised, a lopsided smile crossing his lips. Soundwave lowered the angle of his helm slightly in the boy's direction, but didn't show any other real sign of acknowledgment. Of course he, a previously high ranking Decpticon, would not rely on the word of some puny human as to the true intentions of his once sworn enemy, even if the two were supposed 'partners'. To him, they were more like miniature liabilities. Fleshy ones at that.