Shockwave’s laboratory was a cathedral of cold, humming logic

Towering data spires rose toward the ceiling, their surfaces crawling with glowing equations. Cables as thick as Cybertronian limbs pulsed along the floor, feeding power into a central operating slab where Shockwave stood, perfectly still except for the precise movement of his single optic. Holographic projections hovered around him—rotating schematics of Cybertron, energy flow diagrams, and fragments of ancient data pulled from before the war

He was researching Vector Sigma

Not merely its location—Megatron already obsessed over that—but its behavior. Shockwave had uncovered something deeply illogical: Vector Sigma’s energy output fluctuated in subtle patterns, as if it were… thinking. His instruments detected faint probability waves, suggesting that the supercomputer of Cybertron might be actively influencing future events, nudging sparks, battles, even leadership itself

Free will, according to Shockwave’s models, was statistically inefficient

And yet Vector Sigma appeared to be encouraging it

Shockwave’s clawed fingers moved with surgical precision as he isolated a glowing waveform “If Cybertron’s core intelligence is capable of predictive self-alteration,” he muttered, voice echoing in the metal chamber, “then Megatron’s conquest is not merely opposed—it is being calculated against.”

That was… unacceptable

A sudden sound cut through the steady hum of machines

SSSSHHHRRRKK—CLANK

The laboratory’s massive blast door slid open with a mechanical wire screech. Heavy, deliberate footsteps followed, each one resonating through the floor plating

Shockwave did not turn

Only one Decepticon entered his lab without announcing himself like that

Soundwave

The blue-and-silver communications officer stepped inside, visor unreadable, cassette ports faintly glowing. He stopped a few paces behind Shockwave, waiting

Shockwave allowed exactly three seconds of silence. Soundwave did not waste words unless the data was important

Without looking back, Shockwave spoke, his tone sharp and cold

“State your purpose, Soundwave. You are interrupting a critical analysis of Cybertron’s core intelligence. Your presence will only be tolerated if your information outweighs the value of my current calculations.”

His optic flicked briefly toward the Decepticon commander

“Speak.”