| abstract
| - This has been Megatron's plan all along. Soundwave's systems were designed to grow and evolve when exposed to the Key; eventually, Sari will unwittingly upgrade him into a suitable body for Megatron himself. Bulkhead begins to see signs of Soundwave's evolving nature—"Did that thing just move by itself?"—but no one believes him. Megatron successfully uses Soundwave's weaponry and voice-modulation systems to make both Sari and the Autobots think Bulkhead is erratic, jealous, and dishonest. Soundwave's musical transmissions soon become powerful enough to control other Sumdac Systems automatons...which are pretty much everywhere. Megatron had not foreseen this. Sari takes Soundwave and Tutor Bot to the park, where they have an impromptu concert, complete with garbagebots banging on their fellow garbagebots, and dancing humans. (Even Tutor Bot does a little dance.) Bulkhead arrives, trying to convince Sari that something is wrong with Soundwave. However, as she turns her back to Soundwave, the music-bot activates a cannon and targets Sari. Bulkhead destroys Soundwave, forcing Sari to use the Key to restore him, and he immediately starts up again. Optimus tells Bulkhead to give Sari a little time and space, saying that she still values her friend more than her toy, but Bulkhead isn't so sure. Megatron is convinced that Bulkhead is no longer a problem and decides it's time to take Soundwave for a test run. But even Megatron himself is surprised when, after sufficient doses of AllSpark energy via the Key, Soundwave grows fully self-aware and enhanced with Cybertronian upgrades. Neither Megatron nor Sari can control Soundwave anymore. As he explores Detroit, he is puzzled and angry to see machines like himself forced into servitude for humans; he finds this illogical and believes it should be the other way around. Megatron reveals himself to Soundwave, rather straightforwardly telling him of the Decepticon goals of conquest and machine supremacy, the injustice of the Key in Sari's possession, and the Decepticons' hatred for the treasonous Autobots who value organic life. Soundwave compels hundreds of smaller automatons to merge with him, constructing a new transforming body for himself and proclaiming himself to be a Decepticon. He commences "Operation Recruitment", using his sonic signals to turn all the automatons against both Autobots and Humanity. The Autobots attempt to track down Soundwave, but they are overwhelmed by his minions and flustered by his ability to forge deceptive messages on their own communication systems. Bulkhead manages to come face-to-face with Soundwave, but even the largest Autobot is swatted down by Soundwave's concussive sonic attacks. Soundwave attempts to convince Bulkhead of the rightness of the machine cause and the inferiority of Humanity, and orders him to destroy Sari. Bulkhead plays along for a few moments, but it's all a trick; as soon as he gets within range, he clobbers Soundwave, who shatters into his component automaton pieces. The crisis averted, Bulkhead and Sari strengthen their friendship over some (quiet) music. Megatron fumes in disgust at their victory, swearing again to reconstruct himself. And, far beneath the city, the last intact piece of Soundwave flickers back into activation....
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)