Knock Out did visit him the next day. And the next, and the next. At first, it irritated the seeker, but as time went by, he felt the anger towards the medic slowly decrease. He blamed it on the fact that Knock Out was the only visitor he got, besides the occasional appearance of Ratchet, to deal with the boredom. And the vain mech had been the closest thing to a friend he had during the war... Not that he'd ever admit it though.
"-and then I see this rookies aft disappearing into the distance with an angry horde of Vehicons coming after him."
Starscream laughed. Not in the evil, menacing sort of way, but instead in a happy, truly jovial manner. He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed like this.. He'd completely forgotten how good it felt. Knock Out gave a short laugh of his own.
"I'd never seen a bot run so fast before in my entire life! By the way.."
The medic suddenly tensed, the flier could only guess that he was checking his internal chronometer. Sighing, the red medic rose heavily to his pedes.
"I've got to go."
He left the room, but not before placing a servo on Starscream's shoulder plate and promising him that he'd come by later that day. Some part of the seeker was upset to see the medic go, but he quickly pushed that feeling away. Not long after Knock Out's leave, Ratchet came over with his midday rations. But something was wrong. That much was obvious from the saddened look he was given by the older mech. Fear gripped at his spark. He said nothing as he watched the red and white medic walk over to his usual spot at the monitors. Finally, Ratchet heavily ex-vented, turning slightly to the former decepticon SIC.
"The council.. have found out about you. Your trial is scheduled in about an orn. I did everything I could, I'm sorry."
Starscream shuddered and curled up on himself, his knees tucked against his chestplate with his servos over his head and his wings held low and tense.
"They'll execute me.." He whispered. "They won't risk giving me a chance.."
"-Starscream.."
The seeker flinched away when the older mech approached.
"I'll talk to Ultra Magnus, but you and I both know that even if I convince them not to kill you, you'll get a life sentence in prison."
When the silver mech didn't reply, the medic simply placed the rations on the edge of the berth and left with a heavy vent. Glancing at the cube of medical grade energon, Starscream flung it across the room, watching it shatter against the wall, leaving a blue stain on it as well as the floor along with the shattered bits of the cube. After everything he'd been through, after everything he'd done to remain among the living, he was going to die because of a stupid cave-in?! A servo gently landing on his shoulder tore him from his thoughts and he looked up, red optics meeting equally crimson ones.
"Starscream, I," - "Don't."
The smaller mech immediately fell silent, understanding the seeker's refusal to hear him out. Nothing he could say would be of any comfort for the silver mech.
"We'll figure something out, Starscream."
The flier glanced at him again, and Knock Out was relieved to see the small flicker of hope in his optics.
"I promise.."
Deeply troubled, Knock Out entered his dark apartment. Turning on the lights, he plopped down on his couch and flipped through the channels on his tele-console, but paid no attention to any of them, his processor fixed on only one thing: helping Starscream. But how to help the seeker?
He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, that he didn't immediately register the incoming call on his communications device, something akin to a human phone. When he lifted his servo to answer it though, he frowned. He did not recognize the number. Perplexed, he warily answered the call.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Irritation replaced his surprise. 'Must be some newspark messing with the communications again.' He thought.
"Look, I'm not in the mood for games, now what do you want?!"
He growled in annoyance. There was no reply. He waited for a few more kliks before deciding to hang up.
"Seriously, does nobody watch their sparklings anymore now that the war's over?"
Knock Out grumbled to himself as he headed for his washracks for a good shower and some buffing before sleep.
Across town, deep underneath one of the apartment blocks, a lone mech sat in front of a dusty handmade monitor. A transmission was displayed on it. As well as a map of Iacon city as the machine traced the signal.
"-for any games, now what do you want?!"
The form in front of the monitor did not reply. The irritated mech on the other side of the line waited for a few kliks before hanging up. But that was more than enough. The screen blazed red as the map scrolled up before zooming in on one of the buildings, the coordinates appearing on the top of the screen. The mech in front of the monitor smirked, his green optics tinged with yellow blown wide, an insane glint evident in them.
"I've got you now.."