I

A small drip fell from Fusion's chin, landing on the Autobot emblem that was embossed on her chest plate. The luminescent liquid continued to slowly slide down her body. Already a small puddle had formed on the decking of the Nemesis's floor. It sat there, glowing up at her as though mocking her weaknesses, while she dangled from the ceiling by her bound wrists. They had not even bothered with energy bonds, her design didn't require such measures, she wasn't designed for war. And obviously Megatron's lackeys had noticed that.

It hadn't stopped them from hitting her, of course. That was what the energon was from. Apparently her lack of knowledge as to the whereabouts of the Autobots' base here on Earth was a little disheartening for the "mighty" Lord Megatron. Spitting a glob of energon to the floor, she tried to forget the face of the Decepticon leader. She had never expected to meet him face to face. Especially since she was just some little peon.

Yet she'd been caught while trying to make her way to the North American continent, which was where a 'bot named Interceptor had told her the Autobot signals were originating from. It didn't help that her own comm link was down and until she could find a capable medic, it would stay that way. It hadn't been hard for the 'cons to nab her.

Now, she was dangling, wondering where the only 'con she trusted was. And hoping she wasn't fooling herself by trusting him.

The door opened, spilling light into the chamber that served as her prison, causing her to shutter her optics against the brilliance. When the door slid back shut, a red mech stood before her, causing her hopes to rise, only to fall again moments later. The 'con medic noticed, a half grin gracing his faceplate as he regarded her silently. This was not the medic she was thinking of, nor was it her 'con friend.

"So, you were hoping for rescue already, were you?" Knockout reached out and forced her optics to his face, the grin still there. His red optics seemed to burn into her own blue ones.

"Can't a girl dream?" she growled, attempting to ignore how the energon dripped from the side of her mouth.

"Ha. Glad to know I've not broken that spirit yet," Knockout slid the tip of his sharp forefinger down along her chin, leaving a scratch in the side of her faceplate. She pulled her head away and swung out with one leg at the same time.

He easily caught the offending appendage.

"Ah ah, naughty little sparklet. You should know to behave better when you're at the mercy of another," Knockout tapped her leg lightly before letting it fall back to its place beside the other. He turned from her then and began shifting something around on a table that was hidden from her sight, in the darkness beyond the small circle of light that shone down on her at all times.

Narrowing her optics, she wondered what he was up to. She had fully expected him to break her leg, perhaps even remove it completely. With each passing nanoklick, she found herself growing more concerned, especially with how closely he was examining the objects on the table.

When he turned around, her optics flew wide and she tried to move away, forgetting she was tied above the floor. The smile that graced his faceplate caused her spark to go cold. The object in his hand sent shivers throughout her circuitry and she tried kicking him once more, anything to keep him away. He caught her right one, but she managed to dent him with the tip of her left one.

"Now, that was not smart, damaging my chassis like that," Knockout growled out, slapping his hand down on her leg, letting out a metallic ring. The tool he held was now resting against the pink of her armor, glistening like a venomous serpent. She pulled back, trying to get free of his grip, but it was of little use, as his grip merely tightened.

"Let me go..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, even to her own audio sensors. She felt pathetic and weak, unable to do anything but beg.

"What was that, sparklet?" Knockout made a show of cupping his free hand beside his right audio sensor, the tool still gripped between two long needle-like fingers.

"Please, let me go. I don't know anything!" Fusion was begging now, trying not to allow herself to slip into hysteria. She wasn't built for this.

"And why should I believe you?" Knockout demanded, moving forward with a sudden speed that caught her off guard. His right hand was wrapped around the side of her head, the fingers digging into the back of her helmet. The other still remained clamped around her right leg, as though he'd forgotten he was holding it.

Before she could answer, the door opened again, flooding them with a blinding light. Knockout demanded to know who it was without even turning around, his optics still holding Fusion's own. Her visor was down, covering them, a reaction from the earlier beating she had received. However, it was no protection against his ruby optics.

"Lord Megatron would like a word," the voice made Fusion gasp.

"Tell him I'm busy," Knockout's optics had widened slightly at the gasp, only to narrow again.

"You can tell him. Personally, I want to keep my wings attached," Downbeat growled out, his silhouette crossed the arms over his chest, the bombs on his shoulders barely visible.

With a final growl of irritation, Knockout dropped Fusion's leg and moved his hand away from her head. He turned to leave then stopped. Fusion's spark froze for a moment as he turned back to her, reaching out; a savage look on his faceplate. He grabbed her visor and ripped it from her face. The pain seared through her processor, causing her to cry out as the pale lavender fragments scattered to the floor, mixing with the energon that had already pooled there.

"You won't be needing that here," Knockout stated, dropping what was left of the visor to the floor. Larger pieces shattered, scattering on the gray plating. They glittered like snow in the bright lights from the doorway and the single one above Fusion's head.

Fusion could barely hear the intake of air from Downbeat over the pounding of Knockout's footsteps. Then the door closed once more and the room was dark, save for the single light above her head. With a cry of pain and frustration, Fusion collapsed, leaving her wrists to take the full weight of her body.

When would this nightmare end?