Author's Notes- Hello all, here is a brief chapter to move things along a little bit.

This is iwanita's birthday present and dedicated to her.

Warnings- Future chapters will contain sexual and violent- possibly triggering- content (including descriptions of abuse and torture). These will be censored on this site- see my profile for a link to my archiveofourown account for full content.

Pairings- Knock Out/DJD, Knock Out/Stunticons, Knock Out/Breakdown, Megatron/Starscream, Thundercracker/Skywarp and others in the future.

Disclaimer- I do not own Transformers or its characters.

Units of Time:- Astrosecond- 1 second, Klik- 1 minute, Cycle- 1 hour, Orn- 1 day, Decacycle- 1 week, Meta-cycle- 1 month, Solar cycle- 1 year, Vorn- 1 million years.

Italics- Flashbacks/thoughts/memories/link speak.

Bold- Comm speak.

Unbetaed.

All mistakes are my own.

Hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter Three- The Beginning of the Patch

Two million years after the DJD had claimed Knock Out for their own, only losing him for a decade and a century here and there when Megatron, Starscream or other high ranking Deceptions had a greater need for the medic, the sports car stood with his rescuer outside of the tyrant's throne room. Shifting from pede to pede, holding his servos tightly in front of him to stop himself nervously grabbing at his helm, the crimson sports car froze as a strong hand came down on his shoulder to give it a gentle squeeze. He looked up the arm with a small smile that was returned in kind.

The other was worried too.

"You can do this," wings twitched upwards encouragingly, "You've done it before, you can do it again."

"But… they're going to ask about… everything…" Knock Out glanced away, trying to muffle distressed little revs of his engine. "I-I don't want to-"

A digit brushed over his lip components to quiet him, "You won't have to on your own. You help me out, I help you out, remember?"

"Lot of work for a mech you remember fragging once," Knock Out murmured, field giving the equivalent of shoulders slumping.

He gasped when he was suddenly grabbed off his pedes, a servo cupping his helm as a forehelm came to rest lightly on his. "They really pulled a number on you, didn't they?" The larger mech spoke softly back, not for the first time.

Knock Out couldn't hold his gaze and was quickly, but gently, put back on his pedes.

"Don't worry so much. If either of us should be nervous, it's me. Did kind of… kidnap you after all, didn't I?"

"Would have died if you hadn't," Knock Out pointed out, "It will go in your favour I'll make sure of it."

"Then-"

One of the double doors slipped open silently, Soundwave beckoning them and playing a sound bite of Megatron ordering them to enter before turning and walking back deeper into the room. Both mechs envied his confidence, though of course neither let it show. There were other Cons around and even the larger mech couldn't afford to be showing any weakness now.

"-in we go."

Things had been, in the light of the flier's substantial gifts and apparent genuine remorse and respect, surprisingly quite easily resolved between Megatron and Knock Out's companion. Pardon granted, rank reinstated, but neither of the two believed forgiveness had been truly given. Not yet, maybe not ever. And if it was given, then the former gladiator was still guaranteed not to forget the betrayal.

For the moment, though, what had been bestowed was more than enough.

The mech was no longer on the DJD's List.

However, for Knock Out it was not so simple; the topic of why he was no longer with the DJD being quickly reached once the other mech's issues were resolved…

Soundwave approached the medic, beginning to probe at Knock Out's processor before taking even a step towards him as he read something strange in the medic's frame language, something troublesome. The medic tried to keep himself calm as intensely private memory files were opened and laid bare in his helm for the telepath to view, and the more he viewed, the deeper he went, tentacles brushing over Knock Out's frame in a gesture not soothing but searching. Searching for damage, and when it wasn't found externally they slipped into seams to find the scars hidden by Knock Out's shining armour.

As Megatron and his exonerated soldier watched silently, Soundwave slowly withdrew from the medic's mind and looked to the Warlord, Shockwave's voice emerged from him. "The cortical psychic patch is recommended with this specimen."

A look passed between the Decepticon Lord and his third as the flier's servo came down on the trembling CMO's shoulder, not hard enough to hurt but firm enough to keep him from being able to move, familiar, strong calming field wrapping around the sports car to suppress the building panic.

I don't want to, please don't make me, I don't want to…

Vents came in shallow gasps before the larger mech began to draw glyphs over his back in the unique language of the Seekers, compensating for the smaller's lack of wings. Promises of protection, of companion and friendship, to be there... The medic looked up into newly self-assured optics, saw the reassuring smile and lifted wings, and felt his spark's pulse calm some.

You've done it before, you can do it again.

Knock Out raised a servo and squeezed the one at his shoulder in thanks. Even though he'd have to relive everything, as even if memories weren't touched they would be aroused by having their companions delved into, at least it wasn't alone this time. And… Tarn wouldn't be able to blame him for this. If Megatron disapproved of what was in his processor, it was on the DJD's helms.

This time, this once, it wouldn't be his fault.

Would it?

Doubt crept in as they made their way down the corridors towards the medbay some hours later having waited for Starscream and Shockwave to cross over from the Seeker's moon some way away. A gift from Lord Megatron or so Knock Out heard it whispered.

Staying close to the mech who had taken care of him for several years, frames not quite brushing, Knock Out settled on the indicated berth as the tyrant took the one beside him, optics immediately seeking out the other who had had to stay on the other side of the medbay while things were set up.

This was not his fault, it wasn't!

I didn't mean to Commander, I didn't…! Please?

Spark beginning to pound painfully in its chamber once more, the medic's gaze remained on his long-term companion, making sure the other kept the promises so lightly pressed into his plating.

Please don't hurt me…

He reached for the larger mech, wanting him closer…

And then the medbay was gone, leaving him alone in the dark with the mech that he had hoped for so long would send for him, would save him. Staring up at the imposing form looming over him, silver armour standing out in the shadow, Knock Out shrank back and hugged himself protectively, waiting for the order he knew had to be coming.

"If you wish me to believe, as Soundwave indicates, that my Justice Division have been disloyal,' Megatron caught Knock Out's chin in a way that painfully reminded him of a certain singer, "Then show me everything, the way you behaved and their treatment of you, so I can make my judgement."

Knock Out shuddered, distantly feeling his frame twitching on the medbay berth, and nodded. He was good, he was obedient, see? See?

Light filled their area as the medic's memories reluctantly came to life. Now he'd been ordered, he had to show them, had to show… how well-trained he was.

Optics closing tightly, Knock Out let Megatron see from his deal with Tarn and the DJD's claiming onwards, from the beginning to the end and how things had fallen to pieces leaving Knock Out scrambling, trying to catch sand slipping through his servos to put it all back together.

It hadn't worked, they hadn't wanted it to work, hadn't helped. In fact, they'd torn it all down even worse from day to day, but…

But hadn't that been his fault? The failure they had been trying to rescue that simply wasn't good enough, was too weak of spark and conviction; that should have been more grateful and respectful towards them for their help and superiority. Wasn't he the one who had let them down, not the other way around?

He supposed that was now Lord Megatron's choice.

Thanks for reading.