Author's Notes: Hi guys! Well, this is an idea I've had floating around for months, but I didn't know whether or not I was going to post it. I love the idea of bringing Breakdown's G1 brothers into the Primeverse while giving them a creative spin to help them fit into this continuity better. The problem is I have no idea where this story is going. I like the experience of them being in a TF Prime story but it's going to take time for the story to take shape. Any suggestions will be considered. I also gave them slightly different physical features from their G1 counterparts to help them fit into the Primeverse better. Anyway, this is just a prologue, but I hope it sets the right tone. Please review, favorite, and follow to see more :)

Chapter 1

No Funeral

The Nemesis bridge was quiet except for the sound of Soundwave typing on the keyboard and searching for the Iacon relics. Things seemed to grow more intense each day between the Decepticons and Autobots. The Nemesis was a hotbed of activity, and yet the atmosphere seemed to be cold and automatic.

Knockout felt that cold indifference more than most, because this war had finally taken something from him more valuable than his beautiful paint job; his beloved friend and assistant Breakdown.

The truth was things were moving pretty fast considering Knockout hadn't even been on the Nemesis one solar year yet. First he worked for Starscream, then Megatron awoke and took command once more, then Starscream ran off and Airachnid was in charge, then Airachnid killed Breakdown and Dreadwing became SIC, and now they were looking for a bunch of ancient Autobot doodads...it was enough to make the poor medic's helm spin.

At the moment Knockout was in the medbay tending to Vehicon troopers. He was reattaching one's leg while two more gossiped in the corner. For the most part he ignored the inane conversation of the underlings, but then they said something that got the race car's attention...

"I was on the bridge when it happened, and I'm telling you it's true!" One Vehicon exclaimed to the other, "It was a call from a Decepticon ship. We're getting reinforcements, and not just more drone troops; actual officers!"

"Oh yeah? How many?" The other one asked while Knockout listened in as he continued to weld the leg.

"Four," The first one stage whispered, "All of 'em heavies. Apparently all of them grounders, too."

"Grounders? Too bad, only the guys with wings get any respect around here," The other one scoffed, "I don't know if Dreadwing is as much of a racist as Starscream was, but I wouldn't put it past him. He thinks he's better than everyone else."

"He's an officer," The first one pointed out, "They all think they're better than us."

Knockout stopped listening at that point. This was great news! Finally, other automobiles like himself with all the grace of cruise control, and all the prestige of a high rank. No more slagging Vehicons. No more fliers. He was still hurting from losing Breakdown, but Knockout was a flexible mech. He would make new friends from among the four new Decepticons, and finally not have to be alone on this abysmal ship.

When Knockout heard the small shuttle carrying the new recruits was in range he made certain to be out on the hangar with Megatron, Dreadwing, and Soundwave. The sky was pink and orange with clouds wafting below them. It was evening, but Knockout saw it as the dawn of a new day.

The medic never really felt like he fit in with other Decepticons. Despite his boasting about breaking things and hurting others he really wasn't a vengeful mech. He loved socializing and witty conversation. Other Decepticons didn't really care for him though. An automobile form was supposed to be for Autobots and drones, but Knockout chose to be a car-former. It made him an outcast among most, but then he met another Decepticon like himself; Breakdown. If nothing else, Knockout missed having a mech around that understood his priorities in life.

The shuttle came into view, and then quickly landed on the runway in a manner that was somewhere between an actual landing and a crash. Whoever was piloting that thing wasn't very good at their job.

Knockout noticed the small ship was old and cobbled together from pieces of other ships. He also noticed it was shaped like a crushed muffler due to how many mismatched parts were used in its construction. More than anything else though, he noticed the decals.

There were decals all over this ship! One was a Decepticon sigil split into five equal pieces with writing on the bottom that said "Combined We Stand". Another was a lewd decal of a motorcycle femme in a suggestive mid-transformation pose. Another was a comical Cybertronian glyph that read "Honk If You Like Aft Whoopings". There was even a decal of Optimus Prime's severed helm with neck cables sparkling out of the bottom. It was a tasteless art museum with thrusters! Knockout was starting to rethink this.

The door opened, and a large silver and black mech with purple LED pinstripes on his arms and legs strode down confidently from the ramp. This mech was as tall and broad as Megatron and twice as ugly! His helm was squared off like a hood, and his red optics were thinned in suspicion as he eyed every member of the welcoming party, but when he saw Megatron his face plate broke out into an excited grin.

"Lord Megatron, it is an honor to meet you!" The mech shouted in a gruff voice that carried despite the air whipping over the Nemesis, "You're a real hero, you know that? Ah, what am I talkin' about? Of course you do! Your skills in the Battle of Tyger Pax...Incredible! I wish we could meet under better circumstances, but I'm just glad I finally got to see you before I died. Hold on a klik, hey slag heaps! Get your rusty carcasses out here now!"

Knockout was not impressed with this mech, whoever he was. He was boorish, crude, and loud. Also, his hands were big enough to crush Knockout's abdominal struts as if he were an aluminum can. That would not bode well for Knockout's finish.

Three more mechs walked out of the ship upon the first one's command. The first had a dull grey color like Starscream, but had Breakdown's bulky body type and spikes on either side of his helm. His optics were yellow, and his grin was feral to the point of making him look foolish. The second was a bright yellow mech with a black visor over his optics and tires that were below his pedes; allowing him to skate everywhere he went. The mech's stride was confident to the point of being smug, and his body type reminded Knockout of a taller version of Bumblebee or himself. The third was dark red and had a lustrous finish that Knockout was immediately jealous of. His optics were yellow as well, but there was little to no light in them. In fact, everything about this mech just screamed 'I'm dead inside'.

Wait a minute... Knockout thought to himself. I've heard these descriptions before. Oh no! It isn't! They're not!

"Lord Megatron, I'm Motormaster, and these are my brothers Wildrider, Drag Strip, and Dead End," The large grey black and purple mech introduced himself and his crew; pointing to the grey, yellow, and red mechs respectively.

They are... Knockout thought with dread.

"I am pleased that you have come to earth to help us defeat the Autobots," Megatron replied smoothly, "I look forward to seeing you in action."

"You never said anything about helping them," Dead End griped to Motormaster.

"Um, I think there's been a miscommunication, Lord Megatron," Motormaster stammered awkwardly, "It's my fault, of course. You see, we're not here to join you. We're here to collect our brother's body."

"Your what?" Megatron asked flatly.

"Our brother, his name was Breakdown," Motormaster explained, "Well, we recently learned he died when the bond was severed, and we're here to collect his remains so we can hold a funeral for him. Just hand him over and we'll be on our way."

"Um, if I may interject?" Knockout stepped up nervously, "We don't actually...have Breakdown's body. You see-"

"What do you mean, you don't have him!?" Motormaster bellowed furiously, "Where's Breakdown!?"

"I'm truly sorry, but the body was never recovered," Dreadwing replied for Knockout, "I know how difficult this must be for you. I too have lost a brother in battle, and I must live with his loss every day."

"One brother? Yeah, that really prepares you for what we're goin' through!" Motormaster yelled sarcastically, "We're a combiner unit, you idiot! Just because we haven't actually combined in 49 vorns doesn't make that any less important!"

"In our subgroup a body is more important than a spark," Dead End explained, "Without a compatible body one cannot be a combiner. Oh, I had looked forward to this day for so long! The day one of us would have our first funeral. I had hoped it would be me. Now there is no body, no funeral, and no plan! Breakdown deserved better than this from you. You abandon him to die and then you cannot even bring back a decent looking corpse? Oh, for shame!"

Dead End continued to wail while Drag Strip tried to console him. Motormaster glared at the medic and SIC, but knew no amount of glaring or threats would change what had happened.

"I understand you have lost a brother, and the Decepticon cause has lost a valuable asset," Megatron rumbled softly, "However, there is something you can do. Honor your brother's memory, and stay here with us until you can avenge the body and spark that was lost. I am certain it is what Breakdown would have wanted."

"Do we get to blow stuff up?" Wildrider, who was still sitting by the shuttle, inquired without bothering to get up.

"Of course you do, slag heap!" Motormaster shouted back at his brother.

"Okay!" Wildrider shouted back, "Can I stay?"

"Yeah, we're all gonna stay!" Motormaster shouted at Wildrider, and then in a normal tone of voice said to Megatron, "We would be honored to serve you. We will stay here and honor the Decepticon cause as well as the memory of our brother," Then he turned to his brothers and screamed, "Alright you scrap piles, get your scrap out of the ship! We're movin' into the Nemesis!"

"Yay!" Wildrider and Drag Strip shouted gleefully, while Dead End walked languidly to get their stuff.

Of course Megatron didn't care about Breakdown or his memory, but he knew an opportunity when he saw one. Motormaster was incredibly powerful, and transformed into the same type of cargo truck as Optimus Prime. Yes, he could use that...

Knockout, meanwhile, was worried. Breakdown had only mentioned his brothers a few times in conversation. He had actually told Knockout one time that he reminded Breakdown of Dead End. Other than that though, most of the descriptions were not flattering. Breakdown said that his brothers were uneducated, parasitic, and liked to bully those smaller and weaker than them. Breakdown had left his brothers to go to medical school, and they never supported or understood him.

Now they were moving their tacky furniture and decal-littered ship into the Nemesis. Now Knockout was going to have to get to know his late best friend's annoying relatives face-to-face. It seemed lately he had become life's scratching post.