Disclaimers: Transformers are owned by
Hasbro.
I make no monetary profit from my
fanfic/fanart.
Summary: Tempest's profile and story.
Author's Note: Tempest created by Seawave
and Equus.
Rating - PG
~~~~~~~~~
TEMPEST
ALLEGIANCE: NEUTRAL
FUNCTION: N/A
"Trust no one."
Profile: A cold, impersonal fighting machine, hides the
softer delicate interior. Long ago, on Cybertron, before the Decepticons,
Tempest used to be good friends with Soundwave. When Megatron began to form the
Decepticon army, Tempest wanted to join the Decepticons to be with Soundwave.
Soundwave knew that Tempest being a kind, compassionate, considerate and
childish was not suited for the Decepticons and told him that he did not want
to see him anymore. Soundwave did what he thought was best for both of them.
However, Megatron sought to destroy Tempest. Absolutely terrified, Tempest fled
into hiding and he was heartbroken at how someone he considered his best friend
could have betrayed him. For years he suffered from heartbreak at what he considered
Soundwave's betrayal, and years later began to feel immensely angry with
Soundwave and found it made him feel better to concentrate on hating Soundwave
than how much the Decepticon hurt him. Since then, Tempest has absolutely
despised Soundwave with a passion. He was embarrassed when he found that
thinking of brutal, painful ways to kill Soundwave made him smile. Tempest does
not consider himself a cruel person. He trusts absolutely no one, as he is
petrified of being betrayed and hurt deeply again. He now belongs to no
allegiance, but stays with Slipstream and Destroyer. He trust's them, but only
enough to watch his back in battle. He doesn't like fighting He would rather
not kill, no matter on which side he's fighting, although wouldn't pass up the
chance to have a go at Soundwave. Tempest loves his De Lorean mode and reverts
to it often as it provides him with an escape. He doesn't say much. He's
terrified of giving anything away. Six words is probably the most he's ever
used in a sentence since he was young (he was very talkative then). He's built
a strong imaginary wall around himself and encased his heart in a stronger
imaginary casing that even Unicron couldn't break. So far it has worked.
Optimus Prime is the only one that has ever broken through the wall and really
got to know Tempest. Tempest's former name was Peace.
Abilities: In De Lorean mode, his maximum speed is 390 mph -
Range 1000 miles. He's impervious to heat, artillery and beam/ray fire in both
modes. He can use his headlights as laser cannons. In his robot mode, he
carries a high-energy laser rifle. He's a brilliant fighter and is quite
strong.
Weaknesses: Sometimes his transforming mechanisms glitch,
putting him in a foul mood, until they're fixed, but his main weakness is he's
is terrified about others discovering about how he was, and how he is inside,
although he tries not to think about his past, sometimes it's unavoidable. He's
quite vulnerable inside and can be easily hurt.
-- TECH SPECS --
STRENGTH -- 8 INTELLIGENCE -- 7
SPEED -- 8 RANK -- N/A
ENDURANCE -- 8 COURAGE -- 10
FIREPOWER -- 8 SKILL -- 9
~~~~~~~~~~
TEMPEST
Tempest was a Neutral Transformer, neither
Autobot or Decepticon. He seemed to be a cold and impersonal fighter. An
excellent fighter, no matter on which side he was fighting. He never let the
enemy get the better of him. As a robot, He was efficient, manoeuvrable and
accurate. He was fast and manoeuvrable, not to mention an eye catcher in his
red DeLorean mode. Tempest hardly said anything. Destroyer and Slipstream
trusted him to a certain extent.
Tempest, on the other hand, trusted absolutely
no one. He trusted Destroyer and Slipstream enough to stay with them, but
that was all.
He was standing by the computer the
headquarters after one battle.
"You were excellent in battle,
Tempest," congratulated Destroyer.
Tempest said nothing. Destroyer knew his
friend was the silent type, and gave him a little pat on the back. "Good
work. Keep it up."
"You were real cool, Tempest,"
added Slipstream. "How 'bout pretending to fight us?"
Tempest lay his high-energy laser rifle
down. "Fight when need to." And he walked away.
To anyone else, he may have come across as
rude, but Slipstream and Destroyer knew better. Tempest never said much and was
extremely private.
*
* *
In the next battle, Tempest was fighting on
the Autobots' side.
After the battle, Optimus Prime came to him.
"Tempest," he said, "you're
an excellent fighter, but please, when you're fighting with the Autobots, try
and be less ruthless."
Tempest looked at Optimus Prime and said
nothing, but nodded, then flew back to his headquarters with Slipstream and
Destroyer.
"I saw Prime tell you off," said
Slipstream. "But he's quite cool, actually. Do you know much about
him?"
Tempest looked at Slipstream
"Intelligent, good fighter, strong, powerful, kind." He walked away.
Tempest did not like fighting, but he felt that's all he had.
*
* *
After the next battle, in which Tempest,
Slipstream and Destroyer fought on the Decepticons' side, Megatron had given
him Mindwave, a small Autobot captive and ordered him be interrogated. When
they arrived back at their headquarters, he ordered Tempest to perform the
interrogation him.
Mindwave began to regain consciousness. He
looked at Tempest and was a little frightened.
"Autobot plans" said Tempest.
"What? ..." asked Mindwave,
softly, a little unsure.
"Tell Autobot plans" ordered
Tempest.
"I ... I can't ... I-"
"Tell me."
"I can't."
"Tell."
Although Tempest had not hurt Mindwave or
threatened to hurt him, Mindwave was becoming frightened.
"Tell me."
"But you were fighting on the
Decepticons side - you'll-"
"Not tell 'Cons."
"Oh ..." Mindwave said, surprised.
"Optimus Prime hasn't told us any particular plans, but the Autobots are
going out on patrol."
"When?"
"Nine am tomorrow."
"Where?"
"Around our headquarters and the cities
nearby," replied Mindwave. "Why ... why did you want to know?"
"Might join them," Tempest said.
"Oh ... well ... Why didn't you say so?
I told you what you wanted to know. Can you please let me go now?"
"Don't know if can," replied
Tempest.
"Please ..." said Mindwave.
"Don't know."
Mindwave then put on his `doggy eyes.'
Tempest looked at him.
"Please let me go ..." pleaded
Mindwave, making his doggy eyes look more effective.
"Don't," Tempest said.
"Please, Tempest," said Mindwave,
"let me go ..."
Tempest said nothing.
Mindwave looked at him. "Tempy
..."
Tempest looked at Mindwave. "Don't
call me that."
"Sorry" said Mindwave, "but
can you please let me go?"
"Don't look like that..."
"They're getting to you aren't they?
..." asked Mindwave, smiling a little.
Tempest didn't want to admit it, but the
'doggy eyes' were.
"I let you go. Tell no one."
"I won't" promised Mindwave.
"Better not."
"I won't" said Mindwave again.
"Find out you tell ..."
"I won't ..." said Mindwave again.
"There's no need to threaten me. You can trust me."
"Trust no one."
"I promise I won't tell anyone."
"Better not" said Tempest again.
"Tempest, I told you, you could trust
me."
"Told you - trust no one."
"Don't you even trust Optimus Prime?"
Tempest shook his head.
"You can trust him, Tempest. Everyone
trusts him - even some of the Decepticons."
"Trust no one."
"Tempest, why are you like this? ...
Something must've happened to you a long time ago."
"Nothing."
"Something did, I can feel it."
Tempest was growing uneasy.
"I can read your mind, Tempest."
Tempest didn't believe Mindwave could
actually read his mind, but for some reason, didn't think he was lying either.
"Under your ruthless, cold, impersonal
exterior ..." began Mindwave, "you're kind, soft, understanding,
easily hurt ... and you were betrayed by-"
"Stop it ..." said Tempest, his
voice almost shivering.
"Sorry" said Mindwave.
"Didn't mean to hurt you."
"Know that " said Tempest. Better
not tell anyone - or else."
Mindwave jerked. Tempest's words frightened
him, even though Mindwave could sense somehow that Tempest did not want to harm
him. The young Autobot took a breath. "I promise I won't, Tempest. There's
no need for threats."
"Sorry." Tempest had not meant to
frighten the small Autobot. How he felt inside was important to him, and extremely
private. Not even Slipstream or Destroyer knew.
"Optimus Prime knows a lot about
you," he Mindwave said before he turned to leave.
"Knows ..." said Tempest, a little
scared and uneasy,
"how? ..."
"I don't know. He knows a lot of things
that I don't think anyone else does. I heard him talking about you about that
you were not always with Destroyer and-"
"Enough," Tempest said.
"Remember - tell no one."
Mindwave gave a reassuring nod and left,
leaving Tempest feeling both uneasy and a feeling he couldn't explain. If he
hadn't known better, he would say he felt a tad glad that someone else knew,
someone he may be able to talk to.
Later, Destroyer and Slipstream came to him.
"Where's Mindwave."
"Let him go."
"Did you find out any information from
him?" asked Slipstream.
"Patrol 9am. Cities near 'Bot
headquarters."
"Good," Destroyer said. "Now
we know, we'll be prepared if there's a battle."
The following day, Tempest asked Optimus
Prime if he could join the patrol with the Autobots.
"Sure you can."
"Thank you."
Tempest didn't feel like he fit in with the
Autobots, but enjoyed the drive in his red DeLorean mode, feeling the wind gush
past him. It gave him a sense of freedom, however short lived it was. He often
liked to drive around. After the patrol, Tempest went to Optimus Prime, feeling
quite uneasy and frightened.
"What is it, Tempest?" asked
Optimus.
"See you," said Tempest quietly.
"What about?"
"Private" said Tempest.
"Don't want anyone else ... hear."
Optimus Prime nodded and took Tempest into
his private quarters and locked the door. Tempest said nothing for a while.
"Mindwave said ... could trust
you."
"Yes, you can," Optimus assured.
There was a pause for a while.
"Trust no one."
Another pause followed.
"Mindwave said you knew."
"Knew what?" asked Optimus,
curious.
"About me ... How ... was inside
..."
"Yes, Tempest, I do."
"How?"
"It's just an insight I have into
certain people, and I had seen you briefly before the war, and then you
'disappeared.'"
Tempest was a little puzzled and uneasy.
"Anyone else know 'bout me ...
inside?"
"Just Mindwave and I that I know
of."
"Don't tell," said Tempest,
shivering inside.
"I won't" said Optimus Prime.
"I promise."
"Better not."
"Tempest, you can trust me."
"Trust no one."
"You can trust me, Tempest. I-"
"Trust no one."
Tempest paused for a while. "Mindwave
better not ... tell."
"He won't."
"Better not."
"He won't, Tempest," said Optimus
Prime, again, a little louder. "Listen, you can trust me. I don't
lie."
"Don't ... know ..." said Tempest
worriedly.
"Listen," said Optimus Prime,
gently, "I know you don't know much about me, but I assure you, you can
trust me, and Mindwave will not tell anyone."
"Hope so," said Tempest "His
sake."
"Don't hurt him. He won't tell and
neither will I."
"Not sure ..." said Tempest, his
voice shivering a little. "Tell Mindwave sorry frightened him."
Optimus Prime nodded. "I will. I
understand, how you feel, Tempest. You don't know much about me, I'll tell you
more about me. Can you tell me more about yourself? I don't know anything about
your history. I can tell you that you can trust me, but I want you to feel
that you can trust me."
"Don't know ... Can't ..." Tempest
shook his head.
"What happened to you, Tempest?"
asked Optimus Prime.
Tempest glared at Optimus Prime.
"Something must've happened to you in
the past a long time ago... What was it?"
"Nothing," lied Tempest.
"Tempest, don't lie to me" said
Optimus Prime gently. "I'll understand. What ... what happened?"
"Lots ..."
"What, Tempest?"
"Plenty ..."
"Plenty? ... Lots? I can't help you
unless you tell me more."
There was a long pause. Tempest wasn't sure
if he could trust Optimus Prime, but was grateful that Optimus Prime seemed to
want to help him. "Someone ..." started Tempest, then stopped.
"Who?" prompted Optimus Prime,
gently.
"Can't ..."
"Who was it?" asked Optimus again.
"An Autobot? Decepticon?"
Tempest paused for a while.
"'Con."
"Megatron?"
"No."
"What ... what did they do? Hurt you?
Betray you?"
Tempest looked at Optimus Prime, marvelling
at the Autobot's perception. "Both."
"Who was it, Tempest?"
"Can't tell."
"You can tell me."
"Don't know ..." said Tempest,
frightened.
"You don't know who betrayed you?"
"Don't know ... tell ..." A tear
rolled down Tempest's cheek.
"It's okay to cry," comforted
Optimus Prime, "You're being very deep with me, Tempest I thank you for
that and appreciate it, but I wanna help you. Who hurt and betrayed you?"
Tempest paused for a while, embarrassed that
he had let his emotions slip.
"S ... Soundwave ..." he replied.
"Do you know why?"
"Friend ..." said Tempest.
"Soundwave was your friend?" asked
Optimus Prime, very surprised.
"Before war ..." said Tempest.
"Best friend, but not now."
"And then? ... What happened?"
asked Optimus Prime, very curious, but more concerned.
"Loved Soundwave. Always together. Not
imagine ... without Soundwave."
"Did he care for you?"
"Thought so. He was kind." There was
a pause. "He joined 'Cons. I wanted join ... be with Soundwave. Soundwave
say no. Tell me, not want be friend anymore."
Optimus could almost feel how hurt Tempest
was.
"I upset and not understand. Soundwave
say I not suited to 'Cons and told him ... I like, inside ...
"
"Who did he tell?"
"Megatron."
Optimus gave a start. "Then what
happened?"
"Megatron ..." began Tempest, then
paused. "Hunted me ... All over ... Cybertron."
"It must've been terrible ..."
said Optimus, feeling very sorry for Tempest.
"Terrified ..." Tempest tried not
to cry.
"Why didn't you come back to the
Autobots?"
"Scared ... couldn't ... Hiding from
Megatron. And not trust - not even Autobot."
"I understand " said Optimus,
gently. "Has anyone else betrayed you?"
"Yes."
"Who ... who was it?"
"Scavenger," replied Tempest.
"Scavenger... " said Optimus,
surprised, "but he's not like the others..."
"Think Megatron tortured ... Don't hate
Scavenger."
Optimus nodded. "Anyone else betray
you?"
"Yes. Autobot... Skyfire."
"Skyfire?! ... But why did he
..."
"Not know" replied Tempest.
"Told Megatron where was. Megatron nearly got me."
"Do you hate Skyfire?"
"Don't know ... Why ... betray me?
..."
Tempest almost started to cry again.
"I'll speak to Skyfire about it"
offered Optimus Prime, comforting him. He saw that Tempest felt unsure.
"I'll find out why he betrayed you. It'll be all right."
Tempest nodded. "Thanks."
"It's all right ... So what happened to
you afterwards?"
"...Kept ... hiding everywhere."
"But now, you're Neutral and fighting
with both Autobots, and Decepticons aren't you still scared of Megatron?"
"Terrified."
"Has he done anything to you since
then?"
"No ... Don't think he knows who
am."
"What if he found out?
"Torture ... kill ... scrap parts ...
Even now ... looks at me... feel frightened ... uneasy ..."
Tempest started shivering. Optimus Prime
gently comforted him.
"You're welcome to join the Autobots if
you want to, Tempest."
"Can't."
Optimus nodded. "I understand. Do
Destroyer, Slipstream ... Shadow know about how you are inside?"
"No, but know something happened."
"How did you get to be with
Destroyer?"
"Hiding on Cybertron, from Megatron.
Terrified. He ... found me in Cybertron. Tried to escape - couldn't."
Tempest hesitated for a while. "Cornered me ... I shiver ... petrified ...
Cried. Beg not kill me. He not listen. Blast at me. Jump away. He blast leg.
Bleeding. Couldn't stand. Megatron come for kill. `No way out ...' he say. I
petrified. Then feel someone grab arm and pull me away from blast. I look up.
It ... it Destroyer. He saved ... life ..." Tempest flashed back.
Megatron had cornered him. The Decepticon
Leader's merciless reputation had already reached far and wide. The Autobot was
terrified, shivering, knowing there was no way for him to escape. Megatron had
wounded him and was about to deliver the final blast.
'Pathetic wimp...' he spat disdainfully at
the Autobot, and prepared to fire.
The victim looked away, terrified, then felt
himself being pulled up. A blast blasted Megatron. Tempest looked up at the
large Transformer who had pulled him out of the way and who had blasted
Megaton. Tempest started to struggle, but his strength was no match.
'Hey, easy, little one... I'm not going to
hurt you. I just stopped Megatron from turning you into a scrap ornament.'
The little Autobot seemed to calm a little,
but was still shivering.
'I'm Destroyer,' the large one said. 'Don't
let the name fool you, I'm really a nice guy,' and he smiled.
Destroyer took him to his hideout and locked
the blast doors. The Autobot tensed when he saw another Transformer.
'This is Slipstream,' Destroyer introduced.
'He won't hurt you either. He's my friend.'
The other winced at that word and felt his
insides ache.
'It's all right,' Slipstream, seeing the new
one's tension. 'What happened to him, Destroyer?'
'Megatron was about to turn him into sub
atomic particles.'
Slipstream looked sympathetic. 'Never liked
the bugger either, myself.'
If he were in another state of mind, the
little Autobot may have smiled.
Destroyer took inside a small room. 'It's
the spare room,' he had said. 'It's yours if you want it. You can stay here for
as long as you like, all right? You don't have to stay, if you don't want to,
but ain't safe out there, Kiddo.'
The Autobot knew that only too well.
'What's your name?' Slipstream asked.
Tempest wanted to tell them, but through his
pain and fear it difficult to speak. 'Peace ...'
"Your name was Peace?" Optimus
Prime asked.
Tempest nodded. "Changed ... Feel storm
raging inside now."
"I understand."
'It's all right, Peace,' Slipstream said.
'You can trust us.'
Shivering, Peace shook his head. 'No ... no
one trust...'
Both Destroyer and Slipstream knew that
Tempest had undergone a traumatic experience. They wanted to help him, but knew
they could, only when Tempest would let them. They let him be, in the room they
had given him. Destroyer gave him a small energon cube, which Peace slowly
drank.
'That's where the energy is if you need any
more,' Destroyer said, pointing to the energon storage compartment.
Peace looked at him and seemed to give a
small nod. He wanted to say something, but could not make his mouth form the
words or his vocal components make the sounds.
The following day, Destroyer and Slipstream
went to check on Peace and found the room empty.
'Oh no...' Destroyer said, feeling upset.
'He's gone.'
'Do you suppose he'll be all right?'
Slipstream asked, sympathetically.
'I sure hope so. The poor kid was so
scared..."
'No wonder with Megatron's badass cannon in
his face.'
'Somehow I think it's more than that.'
At that, Peace stuck his head out from under
the resting ledge. Destroyer smiled, grateful.
'Had me scared for a minute there, little
one. Thought you'd run off." The second he took a step toward Peace, the
little Autobot ducked back underneath.
'Hey, I don't bite, y'know,' Destroyer
smiled. He knelt down and stuck his hand under the bed. 'Ouch! I see you do,
though!' Destroyer managed to grab him, who screeched and kicked. 'Hey,' Destroyer
said, retrieving him from underneath. 'I told you, it's all right. Neither of
us are going to hurt you and I'm not gonna kill you just 'cos you bit my
finger. Look, it's still alive.' Destroyer wiggled his index finger and swore,
he almost saw Peace smile. He fed him a small energon cube and spoke to him.
'I know what you went through was very
frightening, needless to say very unpleasant. But both Slipstream and I are
here if you need us, okay?"
Peace nodded, but felt he could never trust
another again. He was always ready to leave Destroyer, but somehow began to
trust the two enough not to harm him. He changed his name and like Destroyer
and Slipstream, Tempest became Neutral, not wanting to be part of the Autobot
or Decepticon forces. To Destroyer and Slipstream's surprise, over the years,
grew in size, becoming larger and stronger than Slipstream, but they knew
Tempest would not hurt Slipstream - unless the other decided to hurt him,
physically or emotionally and Slipstream would not do that. Tempest always
admired the strong, unbreakable friendship between Slipstream and Destroyer and
to a certain extent felt jealous of it for a while, but that feeling passed.
Tempest's manner grew cold and impersonal. As always, he rarely spoke and only
did so when he felt necessary, but at one stage, many years later, he
approached Destroyer.
'Thank you,' he said
'What for?'
'Saving me, Megatron, taking in, caring
for.'
Destroyer smiled. 'Better late than never...
It's okay, Tempest. I'm a softie, at heart, I really am. If you need anything,
just ask.'
Tempest nodded, even though he didn't know
how.
Tempest brought himself back into the
present moment and looked at Optimus Prime. 'Been with ever since. Never told
about me... inside. Saved Slipstream's life too."
"Yes," said Optimus Prime.
"Slipstream told me about it."
"What say?" asked Tempest.
"I promised him I wouldn't tell
anyone."
"Please tell." Tempest decided to
test Optimus Prime's word.
"No, Tempest, I can't. Imagine how you
would feel if I told someone what you were telling me ... I gave my word to
Slipstream. I cannot and will not break my promise, and I will not break the
promise I made to you. You will have to wait until Slipstream tells you."
"Good," Tempest said. He respected
Optimus Prime's promise, but still wasn't sure whether he could truly trust
him.
Optimus then realised it was a test and
smiled.
"Not mean to offend," Tempest
said.
"I know. Perhaps you and Slipstream
could share your stories."
Tempest paused. "Maybe ...
someday."
"What do you think would happen if
Destroyer and Slipstream found out about how you were inside?"
"Probably kick out ... Laugh ..."
"No one's laughing at you,
Tempest."
"Hate getting laughed at ..."
"Everyone does, and I'm not laughing at
you."
"Know."
"When they found you, you were very
vulnerable and they knew that."
"Not now," Tempest said.
"They know... think not like that now."
"I'll tell you something private about
myself, which I haven't told many others," Optimus Prime said.
"Don't have to."
"I want to ... Once, I was very scared
of Megatron ..."
"You never scared ..."
"Everyone gets scared, Tempest ... Fear
is natural. Millions of years ago on Cybertron, nine million and six, to be
more or less exact, I was reconstructed."
"What ..." began Tempest, a little
confused.
"I was formerly Orion Pax, a brash,
young Autobot."
"You ... Orion Pax?" asked
Tempest, very surprised.
"Yes" replied Optimus Prime.
"I was reconstructed into who I am now, but as Orion, I made the same
mistake of trusting Megatron."
"But why? ..."
"I admired what he could do, his power,
but I failed to see how he used that power. He pretended to be friendly. Later,
he began attacking all my defenceless Autobot friends. He almost killed me and
my love Ariel. I was more than frightened. I was terrified. I begged him
not to hurt myself and my friends. I was too weak to fight back and he did not
care. I look back on that now and hope it never happens again. Megatron
blasted my friends and we all would have died if Alpha Trion hadn't
reconstructed us. I owe a great deal to him. He saved my life and gave me a new
one."
"He reconstructed?" asked
Tempest in surprise. "Means he's your..."
"My father."
Tempest was very surprised.
"Good looks must run in family."
Optimus chuckled softly. "Thanks."
There was a pause, then Tempest spoke.
"Must've been terrified when Megatron ..."
"Yeah ... I was ..."
"Yeah? ... Not ... affirmative?"
"I'm not so formal all the time."
Optimus smiled and looked at Tempest.
"Do you know Kamikaze?"
Tempest nodded.
"He's a little like you on the
inside."
Tempest looked at Optimus Prime, puzzled and
confused.
"He had two parents" began
Optimus, "both Autobots."
"Autobots? " asked Tempest,
in surprise, "Kamikaze was Decepticon ..."
Optimus Prime nodded.
"To Kamikaze's knowledge, both of his
parents were killed millions of years ago when a building they were in was
blasted in a battle and collapsed ..."
"Not killed?" asked Tempest,
quietly, feeling sorry for Kamikaze.
"One of them was," replied
Optimus. "His mother, Carah."
Optimus paused for a short while.
"Kamikaze knows now that his father's
me."
Tempest widened his optical sensors and
stared at Optimus Prime.
"What? You??"
"We both created him to be an
Autobot" explained Optimus Prime. "There was a battle ... I went
outside to assist the Autobots. Ironhide saw Megatron outside the building. He
blasted at him, but his blast hit the building. It ... it collapsed. Carah ...
was ... was killed, but Kamikaze escaped. I thought they were both killed. The
next time I saw Kamikaze, was millions of years later, fighting on the
Decepticons side. I couldn't believe it... Like you, he had been created on the
Transformer Growth Program, the GPD and he had grown, but I recognised him.
Later he told me he couldn't handle being an Autobot after what happened ... I
was grateful he was alive, and thankfully I got the chance to talk to him and
tell him I was his father ... and he rejoined the Autobots."
"Can't believe ..." said Tempest,
surprised.
"It's true, Tempest," said Optimus
Prime. "I don't lie, especially not to someone as vulnerable as you. I
..."
"Not vulnerable ..."
"You are, inside. I'm not trying to
insult you."
"I know. Meant can't believe amazing
sort. Kamikaze, he mind you tell?"
"No, like you, he used to be very
private about it, but now he feels more confident in himself and he's found
that telling others has helped him come to terms with it."
"Prime, I not join 'Bots."
"I'm not forcing you to join the
Autobots. That's not why I told you that story.
"Good."
"I could never force a friend to do
anything they didn't want to."
"Don't be friend."
"I want to be, Tempest. Even if you
don't like me, you'll always be my friend."
"Don't be friend ..."
"Why not?"
"Could never like you ... back
..."
"It's all right. It's what's inside
that counts."
Tempest gave a small nervous smile.
"Scared, O.P."
"Of what? " asked Optimus gently.
"Megatron? Someone else?..."
"Everything ..."
Tempest began to cry soundlessly. Optimus
Prime gently comforted him. Tempest wiped the tears away, trying not to feel
embarrassed.
"Scared about others finding out?"
he asked.
"Yes ... Megatron, Soundwave ...
Everything..."
Optimus Prime looked at Tempest. "You
hate Soundwave, don't you?"
"Like nothing in universe."
Tempest's voice was colder than in Winter on Pluto and it sent a shiver up
Optimus Prime's entire body.
"Do you want to destroy him?"
"Your name Optimus Prime?"
"I don't approve of killing. I ... I
understand your hatred for Soundwave and your motive, but don't expect me
condone your actions if you do."
"When, not if ... Don't expect
you to like, Optimus ... was like that before ... hated killing."
"And you like it now?"
"No. Still hate - only like kill
Soundwave ... Didn't like fighting ... do now."
"You don't like fighting on the inside,
Tempest."
"I know. Learned to fight ... protect
self from Megatron and others. Destroyer helped. Watch 'Cons, 'Bots in battle.
Watch you, Optimus Prime. You good. "
"Thank you, Tempest, but I fight only
when I have to I despise violence in any form."
"Know."
"Tempest, you've built up an imaginary,
invisible wall to shield yourself from everyone ..."
"Works."
"I know" said Optimus Prime.
"You're afraid I'm gonna betray you, aren't you?"
Tempest was silent for a while. "Yes
..." he admitted, his voice shivering. "Please not be angry..."
"I'm not. I would never betray anyone,
Tempest."
"Can't help ... Once betrayed - never
again."
"I understand ..." said Optimus
Prime. "Even if you hate me, I understand."
Tempest was surprised, but said, "don't
hate."
"Thank you."
"Don't hate anyone except Soundwave ...
Gonna kill him ... You hear?! Gonna kill
him!!"
"Calm down, Tempest..." said
Optimus Prime, gently. "How... how will you kill him? ..."
"Painfully. Shoot, then rip
apart ... Tear insides out..."
"Stop it ..." interrupted Optimus
Prime, not wanting any more gory details.
"Sorry" said Tempest, quietly.
"Sometimes only thing kept me going, thinking about that."
"Just make sure I'm not around when you
do it," said Optimus Prime. "It'll make me sick."
"Really don't like it ..."
"Hate it."
"Used to be same."
Optimus Prime nodded. "I know."
Tempest gave a small smile.
"I'll always be your friend,
Tempest" promised Optimus Prime.
"I'm ... fighter ... ruthless ... Need
to be."
"You're not like that inside. You've
made yourself like that on the outside. But it's a cover up."
"Sometimes hard to tell ... between me
and ... old me."
"I think the old you should come
out," said Optimus Prime. "Break down the walls."
"Can't now ...hard..."
"Do your best, Tempest ..." said
Optimus Prime, gently. "Omega Supreme was like you. He was betrayed
too."
"No one be stupid enough ..." said
Tempest. "Omega ... pretty... big ..."
"Yes, well he was still betrayed. The
Constructicons were once Autobots. They were close friends of Omega
Supreme."
Tempest widened his eyes in surprise.
"They were reprogrammed into
Decepticons by Megatron," Optimus continued. "They lied to Omega,
betrayed him, and destroyed his city -
Tempest felt sorry for him.
"He's staring to understand only
now," said Optimus Prime.
"Doesn't want revenge?" asked
Tempest.
"He did" said Optimus, " but
he discovered that revenge wasn't the way. In getting revenge, he almost killed
the ones responsible and almost let another city be destroyed and he severely
regretted it."
"Looks all right now," said
Tempest.
"He is all right now, but the terrible
memory is still with him, his friends, their betrayal ... the destruction of
his beautiful city ... Who knows? Perhaps it will be able to get rebuilt
someday ..."
"Hope so" said Tempest.
Optimus Prime smiled. "You see, revenge
isn't always the best alternative, but remember, I will always be your
friend, no matter what you decide to do."
"In ... battle ... on Decepticons' side
... could hurt ... or kill you."
"I know, Tempest, and I can't blame you
for that."
Tempest was very surprised.
"Never met anyone so understanding. No one understood me before... "
"I so, Tempest," said Optimus
"I ..."
Tempest started to cry. "I'm stupid
..." he sobbed.
"No you're not."
"Am."
"You're not. No one is stupid. Even the
Dinobots are not stupid. They're not very intelligent, but not stupid."
"Dinobots not stupid. I'm stupid."
"You're not, Tempest."
"Am."
"You're not."
"Well Not stupid ... acting with
stupidity."
"What do you mean?"
"Promised myself ... Millions years ago
... Never cry again ... complicate things. Now - complications ..."
"I'm sorry if I've upset you,
Tempest," said Optimus Prime. "I really am."
"Not your fault - Soundwave's."
Optimus said nothing to that. "I'll
always be here if you need me, even if you're fighting on the Decepticons
side."
Tempest was very surprised. "But ...
'Cons - enemies..."
"Yes, I know, but I always help my
enemies when they really need me and you are not my enemy."
Tempest was even more surprised. "Why
help enemies? ..." he asked, confused.
"Because, they're living ... they're
alive, sentient ... I can't bear to see anyone in pain and I couldn't stand
back an watch someone die, even if they were my enemy."
"I alive" said Tempest.
"Soundwave kill me - inside."
"Some don't care, Tempest, but I
do."
"Why? They ... don't."
"Freedom is the right of all sentient
beings. Everyone deserves a right to freedom and a right to live ... Even
Soundwave ..."
"Don't think so."
"I understand how you feel about what
he did to you, but Soundwave's sentient. He's alive. He ..."
"Not for long."
"Tempest, although, Soundwave hurt you
a lot and I understand how you feel, but Soundwave deserves-"
"To die."
"Tempest. I don't think you should kill
him. Revenge isn't-"
Tempest slapped Optimus Prime, hard across
his face. Tempest's hand was shivering. "Sorry ..." His voice was
shivering as well. "So sorry..."
"It's all right, Tempest," said
Optimus, rubbing his face. "You didn't mean it."
"Sorry ..." said Tempest again,
still shivering.
"It's all right" comforted
Optimus.
"No not. Slap me back - harder!"
said Tempest.
"No."
"Prime, slap back ... Deserve it."
"No you don't. I'm not like that. Just
because you slapped me, doesn't mean I'm gonna do it to you."
"Go on."
Tempest turned his cheek towards Optimus.
"No, Tempest." Optimus gently
turned Tempest's chin towards his face. "I don't want to slap you. You
don't deserve it. "
"Do."
"Tempest, you don't. I-"
"Do."
"I don't want to hit you."
"I hit you."
"You were angry, upset, Tempest.
Sometimes our actions cannot be controlled when we're angry. I am not angry
with you."
"Should learn control ..." said
Tempest. "Can't ..."
"You can only do your best."
"Have ... Can't ..."
"It's all right, Tempest," said
Optimus Prime gently. "You'll learn in time ...
"Hate Soundwave..." Tempest
growled.
"Look," said Optimus Prime,
"I don't want to get into you and Soundwave. That's your vendetta. Your
affair."
"I know, Tempest said.
"Sorry."
"It's all right," Optimus said.
"But, Tempest, I want to say, I'll always be your friend and I'll always
be here if you need me, no matter what happens."
Tempest looked at Optimus Prime and gave him
a smile. "I guess me too."
"Thank you, Tempest," said
Optimus, touched.
"Thanks O.P ... Best friend ... only
friend ..."
"Thank you, Tempest," said Optimus
Prime, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"What matter?" asked Tempest,
concerned.
Optimus Prime was silent for a moment.
"For what you've shared with me ... and
becoming my friend."
Tempest smiled.
"Do you trust me now?" asked
Optimus Prime, hopefully.
Tempest hesitated for a while, thought about
everything Optimus had told him, then nodded.
"Yes - Only you." Tempest
felt scared at first, but Optimus Prime's words, more than that, his feelings
and sincerity had won Tempest's trust - the first time he had trusted another
in over nine million years.
Optimus Prime smiled. "Thank you,
Tempest." His voice was sincere. He gave Tempest a gentle, friendly hug.
"No one ... hugged me before ..."
said Tempest, sounding a uneasy.
"Everyone needs a hug now and
then."
There was a pause. "Are you
hungry?" Optimus asked.
"... Yes, am, but not realise until
now."
Optimus smiled. "Neither did I,"
he smiled. "I'll get some energon."
Optimus brought back a box of energon chips.
"I would've brought us each an energon
cube, but there's none left. Only boxes of chips." Optimus offered some to
Tempest.
"Thanks."
Tempest took a handful. Optimus then took a
few and politely ate them. Tempest, without realising, ate much more than
Optimus, and finished the box.
"Sorry if seemed greedy ... You had
enough?"
"Yes, thanks, Tempest."
"Didn't eat much. How many chips you
have?"
"Eight."
"Eight! That all?! Not still
hungry?"
"No. I don't eat much."
Tempest looked at Optimus Prime's stomach.
"Can say that again. No wonder so thin!"
Optimus Prime smiled, then laughed gently.
There was a pause.
"Come with me. We'll go and see Skyfire
about-"
Tempest looked at the floor and nodded
nervously. "Thank you."
"It'll be all right Tempest. I'm sure
he did not mean to hurt you," Optimus comforted.
Optimus found Skyfire in his quarters.
"Skyfire, I wanna talk to you."
"Sure, Prime.
"It's about Tempest here. I've been
talking with him ... He says you betrayed him."
Skyfire was shocked as he flashed back. He
was silent for a few moments.
"Did you?" asked Optimus Prime.
"Tempest ... I never ... "
"Way back on Cybertron."
"Name was peace back then,"
Tempest said.
"Oh, back then ... Well ... sort of ...
I-"
"Why, Skyfire?" Optimus prompted.
Skyfire looked at Tempest and took a deep
breath. "You ... told me you were fleeing to hide in the city of
"Sorry ..." confessed Tempest.
"Fighting on 'Cons side ... Didn't know ...
"It's all right" forgave Skyfire.
"You're alive, aren't you?"
Tempest managed a smile. "Forgive
you..." he said
Skyfire felt immensely grateful. "Thank
you..." He thanked Optimus Prime again and felt vindicated.
"I understand, Skyfire," said
Optimus Prime, gently. "I'm sorry, I didn't know why you had-"
"It's all right, Prime. Thank you for
the opportunity."
Optimus smile, grateful to have put this age
old regret to rest. He left Skyfire's quarters with Tempest and returned to his
own.
"Thanks for everything, Prime," Tempest
said, sincere.
"It's all right."
Tempest started to leave. He then turned
around.
"Please not tell anyone."
"I won't, Tempest, I promised. It's up
to you to decide if you want anyone else to know."
Tempest smiled. Perhaps he would someday,
but not now. He didn't doubt Optimus Prime any longer and trusted him
sincerely, and he hadn't felt that he'd betrayed himself either. Long ago he'd
promised himself he would never trust again - but that was before he had met
Optimus Prime.
Tempest arrived back at his headquarters.
"Where the heck were you in the
battle?" demanded Destroyer.
"What battle?"
"We just had a small battle with the
Decepticons. There were seven of them and only three Autobots. Where were you?"
"Patrol with the 'Bots ..."
replied Tempest. "Then at 'Bot HQ."
"Took your time."
Tempest looked at him blankly. Destroyer
said nothing more. He knew how utterly useless to press Tempest. He may as well
be asking Starscream to be dainty and discreet. Tempest saw Slipstream, sitting
in the main chair, nursing a bleeding injured leg.
"What happened leg?" he inquired.
"I can't walk until it's fixed,"
Slipstream grunted. "I'm gonna kill that damn Soundwave!! He did
this!"
Tempest turned Slipstream's head towards his
face and looked him right in the eye.
"Soundwave - mine."
"Okay ... okay ... Soundwave's
yours" Slipstream said feeling uneasy.
"What's this with Soundwave all of a
sudden?" asked Destroyer.
All of sudden! HAH! Tempest clenched his fist and slammed it hard into
his hand. "My business. Soundwave - Mine."
"Okay" said Destroyer.
"Soundwave's yours. We won't even lay a finger on him."
"Good."
"Hey, Tempest," said Slipstream,
"blast him in his leg for me, will ya?"
Tempest looked at him. "Do much more
than that." He then walked away.
Destroyer then shrugged and decided to leave
Tempest be.
*
* *
In the next battle, Tempest, Destroyer and
Slipstream were fighting on the Decepticons side. The battle was quite long.
"Destroyer," called Megatron,
after the battle, "battle successful -- return to headquarters."
Megatron, before he left, picked up
Bumblebee, a small Autobot, wounded in the battle. He was unconscious.
"Take this Autobot to your headquarters
and destroy him" Megatron ordered.
"Yes, Megatron," said Destroyer,
somewhat grudgingly, taking the little Autobot from him.
He then flew to his headquarters with
Slipstream and Tempest. Destroyer tied Bumblebee's unconscious body to the
table with energon bands.
"Kill 'im, Tempest," he ordered.
Tempest looked at the helpless Autobot,
lying on the table.
"Don't want."
"Don't want what?" asked
Destroyer.
"To kill."
Destroyer was surprised.
"We fought on the Decepticons side
today, Tempest, " he said. "We ..."
"Don't like kill ..."
Destroyer glared at him. "I order
you to kill this Autobot."
"No."
"Do it now!!" yelled
Destroyer.
"I SAID NO!" screamed
Tempest, slamming both fists on the table, denting it, making everything on it
jump. "Since when follow Megatron's orders? Tell him stick up ass."
And then he stormed off in high dungeon, leaving Destroyer and Slipstream
utterly astounded. They almost fainted. That was the first time they'd EVER heard Tempest yell or say anything to that effect.
Tempest stormed into his quarters and locked the door. It was the slidey kind,
so he couldn't slam it. He sat on his bed, put his face in his hands and cried.
Destroyer decided let Bumblebee go. He too
wasn't keen to kill either. Tempest was right. Megaton was not their leader, so
why follow his orders? When Megatron radioed them to find if they'd destroyed
Bumblebee, Megatron wasn't too happy with Destroyer's answer and he told him
what Tempest had said - the former half, anyway. Again, Megatron was not
pleased, and Destroyer didn't particularly care.
After the next battle, in which Tempest,
Destroyer and Slipstream fought on the Decepticons side, Tempest returned to
the temporary Decepticon headquarters.
Later he saw Soundwave, outside, standing
near a large pool of sticky mud. Tempest grinned - he simply could not resist,
and threw a large piece of metal at Soundwave, causing him to fall into the
mud. Tempest quickly dashed inside the headquarters, before Soundwave saw him
and planned to humiliate the Decepticon. Soundwave stood up, seething, and
dripping with mud. He walked inside and was teased and insulted by the other
Decepticons.
"You know, I've heard of humans using
mud packs, for complexion, Soundwave," said Brawl, "this is
ridiculous... and do you think it's going to help you?"
That was followed by a chorus of raucous
laughter. Soundwave glared laser beams at Brawl, wishing he had his concussion
blaster, but he said nothing, ignored them, walked into the wash quarters and
started to wash the mud off himself. It was quite sticky, and took him some
time. Tempest secretly taped Soundwave cleaning himself, with a small
Cybertronic video camera, then secretly controlled an alarm to go off in the
main control room in Autobot, Decepticon and Destroyers headquarters, the
Decepticons, Autobots, Destroyer and Slipstream all rushed to the main control
room in their respective headquarters to see what the fuss was all about.
Tempest beamed the contents of the video to all of them. It played on the main
computers. All were puzzled, but most thought it was hilarious. Soundwave had
finished washing off the mud and drying himself off. He raced to the control
room to see why the alarm went off and was puzzled by what laughing was about.
He walked into the main control room and glanced at the computer screen. His
optical sensors widened as far as they could go. Soundwave couldn't describe
how embarrassed and humiliated he felt. He tried to turn off the computer, but
the others wouldn't let him. Unluckily, for Soundwave, Megatron and his
Cassettes weren't there to help him. The other Decepticons started making fun
of him. Some Decepticons didn't care for it, and let Soundwave be, others
however ...
"Singin' in the rain, eh,
Soundwave?" said Skywarp.
"Rub a dub-dub" teased Brawl.
Tempest was loving it. He knew what he had
done was a childish prank, but it would have to do for now.
Absolutely seething, Soundwave started to
walk away, but they grabbed his arms and held him tightly.
"Where do you think you're going?"
asked Brawl.
Soundwave felt frightened, but managed to
violently struggle free and leave. Luckily, only he and Megatron knew the
secret combination code to the door to his quarters. At first, he had suspected
Skywarp, as he was always the prankster, but this time Soundwave felt it was
not him. Soundwave sat on his resting ledge, wondering what he had done to
deserve this humiliation and swore to himself whoever was responsible and those
who had insulted him would pay dearly.
Later, he felt it was safe to open his door.
He cautiously peeped around, but everyone had left. He left his door open.
Soundwave was still feeling quite humiliated.
Tempest walked past his quarters and saw
Soundwave looking quite miserable. Gotcha, you bastard! He then walked
into Soundwave's quarters.
"What the matter?" he asked,
barely able to keep a straight face.
Soundwave jerked and looked up at Tempest.
"The others saw fit to humiliate
me." His voice was almost a growl.
Tempest could hear the anger and hurt in
Soundwave's otherwise monotonous voice and he pretended to be sympathetic.
"Not worry about what they say."
Soundwave looked at Tempest.
"They not know you like I know
you." Tempest marvelled at his ingenuity of twisting the truth. "You
not like them," he continued. "You different."
"I know," Soundwave said.
"Thank you."
"Pleasure," Tempest said. Pleasure
to humiliate you!
Soundwave seemed to smile.
"Not let them get to you," Tempest
said.
"I cannot help it. They hate me."
Tempest looked at Soundwave. Not blame
them!
"Except Megatron and the
Cassettes," Soundwave continued. "But they were not there."
Awwww... Tempest felt no sympathy at all for the navy blue
Decepticon and was glad Soundwave had not recognised him.
"You very private," Tempest said.
"Yes," Soundwave replied.
"The others would not understand - or care."
"They might." I won't.
"Thank you for your support,
Tempest."
Tempest almost laughed. "Fine," he
said.
*
* *
By the next day, Tempest made sure every other Transformer knew everything Soundwave
had told him and needless to say Soundwave became the centre of more insults
and humiliation.
Soundwave came to the room Tempest was in,
and found him sitting with his legs up on the desk.
Soundwave looked at him. "I trusted
you ..."
Tempest could tell Soundwave's voice was
hurt. Good.
"Trusted you, bastard,"
Tempest spat and glared at him.
All of a sudden, it came back to Soundwave.
"It's you, Peace..."
"Yes." Tempest let his feet
drop to the floor.
"You still remember ..." was all
Soundwave could say, after a long period of silence.
"All life, Soundwave ..."
Tempest said, voice colder than liquid nitrogen.
Soundwave began to feel extremely uneasy. He
turned to leave in a hurry, but with a remote control device, Tempest
controlled the door to lock. Very uneasily, Soundwave turned around.
"Coward," Tempest spat.
Soundwave said nothing. Tempest pulled out
his high-energy laser rifle.
Soundwave's mind was racing, but on the
outside he remained calm. Soundwave looked at Tempest. "You have hated me
all this time?" Soundwave's observation was half question.
The look of true bitter hatred in Tempest's
eyes answered him. Soundwave's uneasiness grew and he wished he had Megatron
and his Cassettes to help him, but they were not.
Another long, awkward silence passed.
Soundwave knew that if Tempest had survived, this confrontation would come to
pass sooner or later - it had happened later, but was still a massive shock.
"I did not intend to hurt you,
Tempest," confessed Soundwave. "I-"
"Bullshit as humans say! Who cares
what intend?! ... You did."
Tempest blasted Soundwave in is stomach.
Soundwave fell and Tempest blasted him again in the upper arm. Tempest
approached him. Soundwave's uneasiness grew. Tempest roughly grabbed him and
thrust him into the chair. Soundwave made to stand, but Tempest violently
pushed him back down, then grabbed a sharp, jagged metal dagger and held it in
a threatening manner. He saw the extremely uneasy look in Soundwave's optical
sensors.
"Scared?" he asked, sarcastically.
" How... think I felt when Megatron hunted?"
"I felt I had to tell him. You were not
suited to the Decepticons."
"Know that ... was young then ... very
young."
Before Soundwave could say anything, Tempest
stabbed him in the shoulder, then roughly jerked it out of him. Soundwave
gasped in pain. Tempest stabbed him in his other shoulder. Soundwave winced and
tried to grab the knife, but Tempest brutally bashed him in the face.
"This nothing compared to how
much ... hurt me, Soundwave."
Tempest didn't care how frightened his
ex-friend was. He stabbed him in the middle of his arms. Soundwave jerked with
pain, but trying to jerk away, only hurt him more. Tempest held the blood
dripping spike at Soundwave's neck. Soundwave tried to pull his head away.
"Don't ..." he said, uneasily.
"Why not?"
Soundwave couldn't think of an answer that
Tempest would understand or accept.
"Are cassettes out of chest?"
asked Tempest.
"They are on Cybertron with Megatron.
Do not hurt them..."
"Cassettes had nothing to do with
betrayal. You did."
Soundwave was grateful that Tempest wasn't
going to hurt the Cassettes, but frightened of what he was going to do to him.
Tempest stabbed him in his chest, shattering the cover. Soundwave yelped with
pain. Tempest stabbed him again.
"Stop ..." said Soundwave, weakly.
"Please do not kill me..."
"Why?"
"I do not wish to die."
"Think I did? ... Pathetic cheap
walkman... flat batteries."
Soundwave bristled at the insult, but said
nothing.
"Gutless," Tempest spat.
Again, Soundwave said nothing.
Tempest roughly jerked his arm, to which
Soundwave winced. "Stupid dumb bastard, would you be insulted..."
"There is no need for insults,"
Soundwave said, his voice cold.
"Ohh yes there..."
Tempest stabbed Soundwave in his stomach.
Soundwave gasped in pain and collapsed onto the floor. Tempest kicked him in
his stomach. Soundwave gasped with pain. Tempest kicked him again. He knelt
down to Soundwave and was about to stab him in his throat. Soundwave's
shivering became more intense.
"Please do not ..."
Tempest could hear Soundwave's voice
trembling, but he did not care. He grabbed his throat and then started to
strangle him. Soundwave gasped and tried to pull Tempests' hands away. He knew
there was no one who would help him and Megatron wasn't due back until tomorrow
morning. Tempest then grabbed his high-energy laser rifle and blasted Soundwave
twice in his stomach and then blasted Soundwave in his leg.
"From Slipstream" he said.
He then aimed his laser rifle at Soundwave's
head. He could see how frightened the Decepticon was.
"No" he said. "Won't
shoot."
Soundwave felt relieved.
"Want your death to be painful ... Like
how hurt me."
Soundwave's fear escalated again. Tempest
stabbed the dagger spike into Soundwave's stomach, in exactly the same place
he'd shot him, slowly twisted it around, then jerked it out of him. Soundwave
gasped and yelped with pain. His eyes showed the pain he was feeling. He tried
to grab the dagger from Tempest, but Tempest stabbed it through his hand, then
jerked it out. Soundwave was in immense pain and bleeding. His arms were in too
much pain to move and he could do nothing. Tempest seemed not to care. He aimed
his rifle at Soundwave's head and slowly started to pull back on the trigger.
Soundwave knew words would not save him and said nothing. His eyes showed his
fear. Tempest continued, then Optimus Prime's voice rang through his head.
'Because, they're living ... they're alive, sentient ... Everyone deserves a
right to live ... Even Soundwave ...'
"Nothing ... do to you can lessen my
pain. This," Tempest gestured to Soundwave's wounds, "nothing
compared to pain I suffered. Hate you" Tempest spat, "for what
you did, but I not a killer." He stood, kicked Soundwave and left, leaving
the Decepticon, quite relieved lying on the floor.
Through his physical pain, Soundwave felt
pity for Tempest, despite what the Neutral had just done to him. An he hoped
that Megatron got back soon.
Tempest was amazed to find much of his built
up anger had been released. He knew Megatron would repair Soundwave and he
didn't care. He honestly didn't know if he had meant to kill Soundwave from the
beginning or not. He had longed for millions of years to really hurt him and
now he had, even if he felt Soundwave's pain wasn't much compared to his.
Tempest felt Soundwave deserved every stab, every kick, every blast and more,
but why then did he feel so empty?
Megatron walked past a room and saw
Soundwave, sitting up, leaning against the chair, holing his arm across his
stomach and chest, wounded and bleeding.
"What happened?!" he exclaimed,
rushing in.
Soundwave looked up at him, immensely
grateful Megatron had arrived 5.4 hours early.
Megatron gently picked him up, carried him
to the repair bay and gently repaired his wounds. It took some time, but the
wounds were not fatal - they would have been eventually if they had not been
seen to. Soundwave's automatic repair systems may have compensated, but
Megatron was not going to leave him in pain, and Soundwave was grateful to be
free of physical pain. Megatron handed his friend an energon cube which
Soundwave gratefully and slowly drank.
"Thank you." Soundwave was still
rather weak, but with the energon, found his strength returning to it's usual
levels.
Megatron smiled. "Who did this to you?
..." he asked, a dangerous anger in his voice.
"Tempest ..." Soundwave replied,
starting to explain.
"I will kill him." Megatron
turned to leave.
"No, Megatron," Soundwave said,
clasping his hand around Megatron's upper arm.
Megatron looked at him, puzzled, also
demanding an answer.
"I must talk with him,"
Soundwave said.
Megatron nodded. "As you wish. It's
been a long time. But I will talk to him first."
Soundwave nodded.
Tempest was about to leave for his
headquarters, when he heard footsteps behind him.
"So ... You are Peace that I
tried to track down destroy so many years ago on Cybertron..."
Tempest froze, at the sound of Megatron's
voice. The Neutral was too frightened to feel embarrassed.
Megatron stood close to him. "I would
have killed you, but you escaped me ... I thought you looked familiar..."
Every sub-atomic particle in Tempest's body
was trembling, but he remained rock still and calm.
"Why did you join the Decepticons, when
you were not like the rest of us?"
"Should know," Tempest said,
disdainfully. "Soundwave told everything."
"Oh, yes ...I remember ... You used to
be friends with him, right?"
"Not any more. Wish never made friends with that scrap."
Megatron bristled at that. "You still
don't belong with the Decepticons."
"Not with 'Cons!" Tempest
almost yelled.
"But I must admit," Megatron said,
reluctantly. "You've become quite a warrior and gained a far more
respectable status."
"Thanks," Tempest said dryly,
turning to leave.
Megatron grabbed his arm and tightened his
grip, uncomfortably. His voice became dangerously low. "If you ever
harm Soundwave again ... I will kill more painfully than you can ever
imagine. If you think you suffered before, Tempest-"
"Can threats, Megatron." By the
tone of Megatron's voice, and the look in his eyes, Tempest knew that Megatron
meant business.
There was a pause.
"Soundwave wants to talk to you,"
Megatron said simply.
Tempest was genuinely surprised.
"Does?"
"Yes. He's in room AA-23. Do not
forget what I told you."
Tempest gave a nod and went to the room,
half expecting to be blasted by Soundwave, and so prepared himself. Tempest
entered the room. Soundwave, who's strength had not fully returned, hoped that
the violent anger would not surface again, and hid his nervousness well.
Tempest used his internal scanners.
"No recording devices," he said
aloud, the looked at Soundwave. "Expected you to attack, after what I
did."
Soundwave shook his head. "That is not
the purpose I called you here. Neither I or Megatron will harm you. Trust
me."
Soundwave instantly realised that was the
wrong thing to say.
Tempest exploded. "You think EVER trust you again? ..."
Soundwave shook his head. "I am
sorry."
There was a period of silence.
"Need talk," Tempest said.
"About everything."
"Yes," Soundwave agreed. "I
am glad you agree."
"Talk," Tempest said.
"It was a long time ago-"
"In galaxy far, far away," Tempest
added humourlessly. "Have any idea how much you hurt..."
"I do now," Soundwave said.
"I never thought it would effect you this-"
"Don't care what thought!" There
was another pause. "Hard, but I will talk ... normally ... this once."
It was hard for Tempest, as he hadn't spoken 'normally' for many, many years.
"... I'm sure you... remember our friendship."
Soundwave nodded.
"Back then you were my only friend. I
trusted you with my life, Soundwave. Often thought did something to upset
you-"
"You didn't," Soundwave said.
"Then what the hell was it? I've never
forgotten the friendship we shared. The time ..." Tempest paused, then
continued. "The time when I wasn't afraid to love someone - the time when
I was loved back. You think I haven't done my damnedest to forget it! I cared
about you more than life, Soundwave. I would never have hurt you. I only
wanted you to be happy. Damn it, Soundwave, I loved you more than I can ever
say. And you betrayed that, you son of a bitch! I will never forgive you for
that. How could you ever do that?... Why did you do it? Damn you! You owe
me an answer!" Tempest's eyes began to brim with tears. He thought he had
outgrown the pain, but he had only masked it with hate.
Soundwave looked at him. "I will tell
you the truth, Tempest. Whether you believe me is up to you."
Tempest said nothing, but knew Soundwave
would have very little to gain by lying now and now Tempest was older and
wiser, he could tell.
There was a pause before Soundwave
continued. "I never disliked you," he began. "I saw you as a
younger brother. Your innocence, playfulness, gentleness and naiveté was
unique. I wanted to protect you. I-"
Tempest couldn't help letting out a short
laugh, which Soundwave ignored, as he was half expecting it.
"How well do you remember our
friendship, Soundwave?"
"Very well, Tempest. I remember the
time you sliced your finger open. Do you remember that?"
Tempest nodded, inwardly surprised that
Soundwave did and they flashed back.
'Soundy...'
Soundwave turned around to see Tempest
crying and coming to him with a badly bleeding index finger.
'What happened, Peace?' he asked,
sympathetically.
'Sore finger. I cut it on that sharp metal
slab over there.' Tempest pointed.
Soundwave knelt down. 'It is not as bad as
it looks,' he said, inspecting the wound. He picked Peace up, and sat him on
the metal block. Soundwave took a silver Cyber-bandage and cloth out of the
storage compartment in his back and gently clasped the cloth around Peace's
finger, absorbing the blood, then took it away and wrapped the bandage around
it. 'It will hurt for a little while," he said, 'until your automatic
repair systems heal it.'
'Thanks, Soundwave.'
Peace hugged him.
Both Tempest and Soundwave returned to the
present. Tempest was half between crying and smiling. Soundwave had been so
kind to him at first. He looked at the Decepticon.
Soundwave continued. "You may be hurt
by what I am about to tell you."
Tempest folded his arms. "Nothing you
say can hurt me now. Besides, never bothered you before."
Soundwave was hurt by that, but said nothing
about it. "I felt myself growing apart from you. You clung to me, as if
you had no life of your own. You agreed with me about everything. I did not
want you forever clinging to me. I had previously met Megatron and agreed with
his philosophy. We had much in common. I could communicate much better with him
than anyone and I wanted to join the Decepticons. I needed to. You said you
wanted me to be happy. I am happy with the Decepticons. You were not suited to
us."
Tempest nodded. "Know that now, young
then."
Soundwave nodded. "I did not want to
abandon you. I told you I did not wish to associate with you any longer and
that people change."
"I remember that," Tempest said,
flashing back, looking at his young self, seeing the child's innocent blue eyes
filling with tears.
"I did not intend to hurt you, and at
first, I did not expect Megatron to want to destroy you."
"And expect me to believe you
cared?"
Soundwave continued. "I thought he may
give you a severe warning... I knew he would be angry-"
"What Megatron do to people angry
with?" It was a statement.
Soundwave knew only too well. "He has
been angry with me on the odd occasion and has not blasted me."
"You his pet - and good suck
up."
"Friend,"
Soundwave corrected, an edge to his voice. He knew it would not do to lose
his temper on this occasion, despite the fact he hardly ever lost it. He
allowed himself a moment to calm before continuing. "Megatron wanted to
destroy you ... You ran away, terrified."
"Blame me?"
Soundwave shook his head. "No ... I
felt I could not ... betray Megatron."
"So betray me instead. Really makes me
feel really wanted..." Tempest glared at Soundwave. "Knew
Megatron may want to kill me."
Soundwave paused. "It is a chance I
took. Megatron still is my best friend - one of my few friends." Soundwave
paused. He hadn't told many that, but felt Tempest needed to know and felt that
he knew the half of it anyway.
"You care about Megatron?"
"Yes."
"Said you cared about me too."
There was a pause. "I know."
"You don't care Megatron. Betray him
too if want to."
"I have never betrayed Megatron.
He is my closest friend."
Tempest believed Soundwave about that, from
the look in his eyes, despite the fact he found it hard to believe.
An awkward silence followed, then Soundwave
continued.
"Megatron sought to destroy all
Autobots. As you know he hunted you down. In his eyes, you were nothing - a
childish coward - a loser."
"Young ... inexperienced..."
Tempest said. Loser... Tempest thought to himself. Maybe I could have
done something more with my life than drown in my pain and anger ... but I
didn't know how to back then...
"I was with Megatron on the first few
occasions when he went after you," Soundwave said. "You fled inside
Cybertron. On one occasion, I saw you."
This surprised Tempest. "Told
Megatron?"
"No, I didn't."
This surprised Tempest even more. "Why
... not?"
"I saw you hiding behind a large
generator, crying softly. I felt I could not let him kill you and pretended
that I had not seen you. I hoped he never discovered, as I didn't want him to
feel that I was disloyal."
"Remember ... hiding, generator ...
thought didn't see."
Soundwave nodded. "After that, I never
saw you again, until recently. To tell you the truth, I thought you had been
killed."
"So did I, a few times. Megatron continued
to hunt for me, and other Autobots. Once cornered me. If not been for
Destroyer, hoisting me out of way, would have been killed."
"Megatron told me you had been rescued.
He gave up hunting for you. To be frank, he did not deem you worth the energy."
"Never liked him much either."
Soundwave said nothing to that. "I am
sorry my decision to leave you hurt you so deeply and isolated you. I realise I
was wrong to tell Megatron."
"Not sorry."
"I am."
"Not."
"Tempest, I did not intend to
hurt you this much."
"Well you did."
"I know."
"Never had a single friend after that.
Always scared be betrayed, so never showed true self again. Like this because
of you. ... Only nine million years later, made a true
friend."
Inwardly Soundwave was both surprised and
pleased, but he had a feeling Tempest was keeping this name of his friend a
secret. "Tempest, I cannot alter time, or go back and change things. I
realise my mistake and I've told you. I am not asking forgiveness. You may not
realise this, Tempest, but I have feelings too. And I am not responsible for
your feelings."
"Know, you can't change time,"
Tempest said. "Know you have feelings and I have made mistakes too."
Tempest thought back on his life. He'd
always hated Soundwave for what he had done, but now Soundwave had talked to
him, Tempest caught himself seeing it from the Decepticon's point of view. It
still did not make him want to forgive Soundwave, but Tempest felt a flicker of
respect for the Decepticon, and received an insight into him he never thought was
there, and knew that Soundwave had harboured an immense guilt about what had
happened and had longed to tell Tempest about it.
Tempest thought about what Soundwave had
told him after the 'mud bath.' Soundwave had confided in him, and Tempest had
purposely betrayed that trust. He felt guilty about that now. He'd hated
Soundwave all his life, as he felt the other had betrayed him, and Soundwave
didn't have many he could turn to, really only Megatron. Even if his small
cassette Decepticons were here, they couldn't do much if the other Decepticons
decided to really gang up on him, if Megatron was not here.
"Sorry," Tempest said.
"What for?" Soundwave was
genuinely confused.
"Push you in mud, tape you and betray
you."
"That was you?..." Part of him
wanted to feel angry, but Soundwave was not. "I deserved it," he
concluded.
"Perhaps."
"And if you had not done it, perhaps we
would not have spoken to each other."
Tempest nodded. "Thank you," he
said.
Soundwave cocked his head in a quizzical
manner.
"For telling truth."
"Thank you for listening."
"But do not expect me to forgive you,
Soundwave."
"I never have."
Tempest gave Soundwave a look of surprise as
he left. Soundwave watched him go, feeling grateful and as if a nine million
year old weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and that perhaps in another
lifetime, he and Tempest would meet again on happier terms.
Tempest left the temporary Decepticon
headquarters, and flew back on his way to his, feeling his pain and pain and
the hatred, lessen considerably. He no longer despised Soundwave, even felt
somewhat sorry for him. Much had happened to them in the past nine million
years and Tempest could not help feeling that perhaps in future he could find
it in his heart to forgive him, something he never thought possible in millions
of years. Tempest was surprised to find how good these feelings felt. As if a
nine million year old weight had been lifted from him. He felt lighter and
happier and thanked the Universe for letting himself find his peace. He spent a
little while driving in DeLorean mode, before returning to headquarters.
"Where have you been this time?"
asked Destroyer, expecting either an aloof reply or a snap.
"'Con headquarters" replied
Tempest, somewhat cheerily.
"What's amatter, Tempest? " asked
Slipstream. "You look ... different."
"Yeah. I feel different. Innit
great!" He spun around. "Oh, I blasted Soundwave the leg for
you." Tempest gave a small smile. "And sorted out some things with
him too and I feel grrreat!" And he kissed Slipstream.
Destroyer and Slipstream stared at
each other, then at Tempest, who only smiled. To their knowledge he had never
talked that way before - usually never more than six words in a single
sentence, and they had found him about nine million years ago.
Smiling, Tempest retreated to his quarters. Gotta
find something else to do than hate Soundwave, now...
Slipstream watched him go. "What do you
suppose's gotten into him? ..."
"Dunno," Destroyer said. "But
whatever it was, has been bothering him for a loooong time. I'd say he's just
sorted it out."
Slipstream smiled. "That's great. I've
often wanted to help him, but didn't know how. I worry about him, you
know."
"I did too and I knew whatever happened
to him was very private."
"Do you think he'll tell us about it?"
"He might, in his own time."
Slipstream smiled. "It's so great,
though. I've never seen him this happy."
Tempest overheard their conversation and
smiled too. He'd seen Slipstream as a younger brother, even though he was a few
years younger than Slipstream, and Destroyer more as either an older brother or
father figure. All this time, he'd never realised how much he cared for
Destroyer and Slipstream or how much they cared for him. They too were his
friends.
The next day, Destroyer's computer detected
a battle.
"It's a battle" he said, looking
at the computer screen. "The Decepticons are losing."
Destroyer then started to leave with
Slipstream.
Tempest wasn't in the mood for fighting.
"Hurry up, Tempest ..." complained
Destroyer.
Tempest reluctantly went with them. They
flew to the battle site and began to battle against the Autobots.
During the battle, Tempest saw Optimus Prime
get blasted by a stray missile. Optimus fell to the ground, in pain, wounded.
He was bleeding. Tempest felt sorry for him, but couldn't show it or do
anything about it. He then saw Starscream about to blast Optimus Prime.
I'm supposed to be fighting on
Decepticons side ... thought
Tempest. But ... cannot let Starscream kill one of dearest friends ...
Tempest carefully aimed his high-energy
laser rifle at Starscream and made sure no one was watching him, then
pulled the trigger. Starscream yelped and fell to the ground, then ran off when
Tempest blasted at him from his hidden vantage point. The Autobots pressed the
attack and the Decepticons retreated soon after.
Tempest waited until all Decepticons and
Autobots were out of sight and detection range and Destroyer and Slipstream had
returned to headquarters.
Tempest slowly walked over to Optimus Prime,
who was still in pain and barely alive. The Autobots hadn't noticed him as he
had fallen into a deep crater. Tempest took a vial of acetonium out of his
chest compartment and gently put some onto Optimus' wounds, which started to
heal them.
Optimus Prime began to open his eyes.
"Ohhh... that was some blast."
Tempest helped him to sit up.
"Okay?"
"Tempest ..." Optimus said,
surprised. "... But you were fighting on the Decepticons side
today..."
"I know, Prime ... But no matter what
side fighting on, you always my friend."
Optimus Prime smiled warmly, feeling his
strength returning. Tempest helped him up.
"Thank you."
"It's all right, Prime."
"I see you didn't kill Soundwave."
"Almost did - hurt him a lot. Was going
to kill him, but remembered what you told me and not sure at first if wanted to
kill him. We had very long talk. I understand him better now. Don't know if
forgive."
Optimus Prime smiled gently. "It'll
take time if you feel you can forgive him."
"Megatron found out who I was
too," Tempest said. "Said would kill me if hurt Soundwave
again."
"He cares about Soundwave a lot."
"I know ... now ..."
"Now that Megatron knows who you
are," said Optimus Prime, "are you still frightened of him?"
"A little."
"Tempest, you can join the Autobots if
you want to. You're most welcome."
"Thank you, Prime ... but don't want to
be part of any allegiance. Not mean to offend..."
"You haven't, Tempest."
"More suited to 'Bots than 'Cons,"
Tempest said, "but would rather not be fighting at all."
"Tell me about it. I understand, Tempest."
"I know, Prime ... even though not join
'Bots you always my dearest friend."
Tempest gave him a gentle, sincere hug,
which the Autobot leader returned.
Tempest returned to Destroyer's headquarters
and he decided it was time he told his friends about his past.
*
