This chapter is a bit longer because breaking it up, it would have been too short.
I'm also aware 'Knockout' is mostly likely supposed to be written 'Knock Out' but I prefer it written as one word so that's what I went with.
Knockout hovered at Megatron's side as the ship came up on the coordinates Lazerbeak had provided, his arms folded. The only reason he dared stand so close was he knew Megatron wouldn't touch him at the moment – he was too important. And to Knockout, that was exceedingly gratifying… especially with all the Vehicons cowering at their stations. A smirk crept onto his face before he remembered to keep his expression neutral: It didn't pay to push it.
"Knockout!" Megatron suddenly bellowed, rounding on him and making the decepticon medic jump.
"Yes lord Megatron?" He blurted on instinct, thankfully just in time.
"You'll come with Lazerbeak and I to locate Soundwave. And doctor-" Megatron paused to grab the smaller con by one of his wheels, and Knockout flinched. The warlord leaned close, face mere inches from KO's: "I am warning you now: if he dies under your care, I'll have your spark."
"Y-yes, Lord Megatron…" Knockout shivered, trying to worm his way out of the leader's grasp. Alright, maybe being so important wasn't such a good thing this time.
After a few seconds of feeble struggling Megatron finally released him, tossing the medic back a few steps. Knockout flinched away as his master strode past him, almost expecting to be struck at now… He really was in a sour mood.
"Are you coming, Knockout?" He hissed, snapping KO out of his daze.
"Er… b-but the ship hasn't landed yet, sir…"
"And? Lazerbeak and I can fly." Megatron answered lazily, turning to leave. A few nearby Vehicons looked at each other, then at Knockout.
"But… L-Lord Megatron-!" the medic stammered, hurrying after the warlord, Lazerbeak zipping past him in the hallway. "Lord Megatron! I can't – "
"I'm sure you'll think of SOMETHING Knockout!" Megatron hissed, not even bothering to look at him. The medic followed behind him nervously, wondering if their leader would really let him stand there stupidly while he and Lazerbeak zoomed off through the sky… then blame the medic later if Soundwave didn't get prompt care. Cold dread was creeping into the con's thoughts – he didn't know what'd happened to Soundwave… what if their spy was damaged beyond repair? Megatron would have HIS spark for it! Even worse, if Soundwave's… expiration did end up his fault… Oh Primus. It had been a while since he'd done any emergency procedures. Putting Megatron on life support didn't count.
The bright red con continued to debate the predicament with himself until on the way to the upper deck, he caught sight of a flying Vehicon: grabbed it, and demanded it come along with them. He hated the idea of the ridiculous drone carrying him about, but it was better than having Megatron do it… or worse yet clinging to tiny Lazerbeak. Megatron only chuckled darkly, letting Lazerbeak fly ahead of him as they stepped out into the open air up top the Nemesis.
Megatron didn't spare another moment, jumping into vehicle mode and zipping toward terra firma… with Lazerbeak struggling to keep up, staying well out of his jet wash. Knockout glanced at the Eradicon, frown now plastered on his face. "Well?"
"Ratchet, send the groundbridge." Optimus ordered through his comm. Smokescreen followed excitedly behind him as they trekked back to the arrival coordinates. He was just about giddy – Optimus had praised him on a job well done, for snagging the armor from right under Starscream's nose. The seeker himself had gotten away however; when Optimus finally caught up with him, he hadn't put up a fight, and the Autobot leader wouldn't take prisoners. Smokescreen hardly cared though, too busy admiring the apex armor, turning it over in his hands.
"One moment Optimus." Came Ratchet's response. "Busy."
Back at base, Raf jumped up and ran over to his computer. "I've got it Ratchet." The human assured him, and seconds later the green flash of the groundbridge activating lit up the base.
Arcee tapped her foot, eager for Optimus to come through so she could ask him what the hell he was thinking. It was only a few Seconds later the Autobot leader stepped out of the vortex, followed closely by the rookie; sporting a prize. "An Iacon relic?" Arcee asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yea, check it out!" Smokescreen gushed, brandishing his spoils. "Snatched it right out of Starscream's hands!" He said proudly, grinning for the femme bot. Arcee just rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in her usual disapproving stance.
"Ratchet." Optimus slowly strode up behind his medic… whom was hunched over the still motionless form of the Decepticon, energon-coated hands working rapidly to stabilize him. "How is our patient?"
"That remains to be seen." Ratchet grunted, a bit annoyed at being distracted. "His build is so unique…" He mumbled: The medic was thinking out loud now, and Optimus decided it best not to bother him further.
"Optimus."
The Autobot leader turned at the small human voice: Jack looked up at him from the balcony, propping himself up on the railing. Optimus knelt down to his level on one knee, gazing at the human. "Yes Jack?"
"What are you going to do… with Soundwave?" Jack inquired apprehensively. "Ratchet will help him right? I mean… I don't think he's the worst con… he let us live back in Texas…" He trailed off, aware of his rambling.
Optimus nodded slightly, understanding the human's concern. "Do not worry Jack – Ratchet is fully capable. Though I am not sure where we will go from there -"
"Dude!" Miko interrupted, distracted from her video game by the spectacle with the decepticon. "Ratch, you should totally take off his mask thing and see if he even has a face under there!" She exclaimed, leaning far over the railing to get a better look.
Ratchet paused, looking up at the human with an unamused glare. "Miko, we're trying to FIX him, not dismember him, please." He grumbled to himself as he went back to work, sparks from his welding tool arcing through the air. It was somewhat unnerving to actually see his patient's spark flutter every time he re-sealed some component, but he was fairly sure the con wasn't awake to feel any of it… then he remembered he didn't really care. The decepticon spy's comfort was just about the last thing on his mind, plus the mech was offline…. Or appeared to be?
When the medic moved to work on his shoulder, Soundwave's fingers twitched, making a metal-on-metal scraping sound against the table. Ratchet paused, unnerved, before just attributing it to an automatic neural response and continuing his work with a scowl.
Poor KO. x3 And no Miko, Ratchet will NOT take SW's visor off, silly. Next chapter will probably be up before the end of the day because I just can't stand keeping people waiting.