Chapter 7! Sorry for the delay! I have no excuse for it.

So guys go check out EasternWolf23. She's only got two stories, but I promise it is worth it!

Anyway, on with the story!

Warning(s)-

Slash

Important OCs

Cursing

The same bitchy girl from the first story and the "Freaks" from last story

Possible (probable) gore

General teenage themes

Death and explosions

Dismemberment and robotic replacement limbs

Possible OOC-ness, but I'll try to keep that to a minimum

Is that all? I think so. If you don't like any of the above, kindly click the back button. Consider yourself warned.

Things you Need to know...

:comm. link:

[Bumblebee's speech]

"Sonar using her powers"

Disclaimer- I don't own Transformers Prime, but Lae is mine, and so are the rest of the Freaks! (With the exception of Miko)


Pain Is My Medication

Chapter 7

When he finally onlined again, everything was hazy. There was a fog clouding his processor, and he had no idea where he was or what had happened. The last thing he remembered was talking to Mirage, and then...nothing. He didn't even remember ending the transmission.

Finally, all his statistics came back positive, and he drew himself upright, bracing himself up against the wall, onlining his optics, and looking around in confusion. Somehow, he'd gotten locked in a cell in the Autobot Outpost. The energy field of one of the two holding cells they had was activated. However, that didn't make any sense. If he had gone offline, he would be unable to lock himself in. Why would he lock himself in a holding cell anyway?

"So you're finally awake then. Took you long enough," a new voice spoke, and Ratchet snapped his helm around to gape with wide-opticed shock at the Decepticon medic in the only other cell across the hall from him.

"Knock Out," Ratchet snarled. Suddenly it made sense. He'd been knocked out by the other medic, and the Decepticon had thrown him in this cell, biding his time, waiting until Ratchet would finally come back online and then he would gloat, and contact the other Autobots about a ransom. Although, why had he locked himself in the other cell if that was the case? "I don't know what your game is, locking me in here, and then locking yourself in the other cell, but whatever it is, it won't work," the medic snapped, and Knock Out looked decidedly unimpressed.

"What would I have to gain by locking either of us up? No, this was not my doing, this was the work of those...Freaks," Knock Out spat. The medic had definitely seen better days. His normally pristine paint job was dull and a little scuffed, his optics were glazed, and he looked overall defeated. He sat with his back against the wall, knees drawn up to his chest plates, and arms wrapped around his legs. It was a decidedly human position, and Ratchet wondered just how long the Decepticon medic had been stuck here to have adopted that pose. "I've been locked here for three earth years," Knock Out stated, making Ratchet realize he'd spoken the last part aloud.

"So Miko and Lae are behind this," Ratchet muttered, and Knock Out snorted. Ratchet gave the other medic a questioning look, and was surprised to see an amused smile attempting to cross his face plates. "Care to enlighten me on what you find so amusing about this situation?" Ratchet knew he shouldn't be snapping at Knock Out. It wasn't the narcissistic con's fault they were in this position, but he was feeling slightly betrayed and felt he had a right to lash out.

"Your little human pets aren't the ones that locked us up, but they are the ones who practically destroyed half of this planet. There are more Freaks out there, and they're...kind of like the Freak version of the Decepticons. They have no morals, and they want to kill whoever won't stand with them, or who they see as less than them. They've been trying to get into my systems for sometime, trying to reprogram me. They were doing the same to you while you were in stasis, or attempting to anyway. Apparently the systems of the legendary miracle medic are too advanced for them to figure out," Knock Out drawled sarcastically. Ratchet sighed and shook his head. A long time ago, 'bots used to call him that. He'd always hated it. No matter how many he saved, it wasn't enough. He was no miracle worker, he was just a slightly above average skilled medic who often got lucky. He hadn't been able to save those who mattered most to him.

"So, any ideas on how we can get out of here?" Ratchet finally asked, and Knock Out snorted as though he was being ridiculous.

"I've tried everything. Despite how primitive these cells are, they've been reinforced with some strange metal that I've never seen before. That goes for every holding facility they've moved me to. And even if we could get out of these cells, that's not even the worst of our problems. We wouldn't make it very far before the Freaks brought us back. They're stronger than they look," Knock Out said, and Ratchet couldn't believe his audios. It almost sounded like...Knock Out had given up! That wasn't possible, though. Knock Out was the most confident, vain mech this side of the galaxy (with the exception of Sunstreaker). No way would he ever give up...right?

"Knock Out...you're not, giving up, are you?" Ratchet asked incredulously. The look the other gave him was all the answer that Ratchet needed. It was as he feared. Knock Out had actually given up, yielded, admitted defeat! What kind of alternate universe was this? As much as he wanted to rant and rave and ask a million questions, he settled for the one settled at the forefront of his processor. "What happened to you?"

~P

"What choice is there? We can't just let this go unsolved! We have to get to the bottom of this and I'm the only one who can! Trust me, trust my skills if nothing else! I'm not some rookie anymore, and I'm not made of glass! I'm not going to shatter if you let me out of your sights! Don't deny it, you have been hovering!"

"What do you want from me?! How many times do I have to remind you: You offlined! You weren't a rookie then, and you offlined! You were gone, I felt you leave for the Well! If you had been in my position at that time, you wouldn't be bitching at me right now! I won't lose you again! You're not going, and that is that, I don't care if I have to knock you into stasis lock, no solo missions!"

"You have no right to do that! You agreed when we bonded that you would not interfere with my missions! That should still apply now! I'm still Special Ops!"

The argument carried on, and all the 'bots tried their hardest to ignore it and go about their business rebuilding. Jazz played music to drown out the bickering couple, and Prowl sought refuge with his mate. While he didn't particularly like the music, he would do anything to get away from that screaming. Soon other 'bots migrated towards the music to escape the screaming match as it escalated.

Swoop, servos over his audios, took off from the base, preferring to see if perhaps Grapple and Hoist needed help with construction rather than listen to the screeching volumes Mirage's voice could reach. His older brother followed hot on his heels, knowing if he stayed much longer he would lose his temper and go on a rampage. No one wanted that.

"How long have they been fighting about this?" Rumble asked his twin as they retreated to their quarters, which were luckily on the opposite side of the compound compared to Mirage and Cliffjumper, dulling the sounds of their argument somewhat.

"Six breems. Nonstop," Frenzy complained, plopping down on his berth and clapping his servos over his ringing audios. "Primus, I never thought there was any 'bot who could out-screech 'Screamer," he continued, and Rumble nodded in agreement as he pulled out the datapad Soundwave had loaded with Earth video games for them. Their creator hadn't said why he had the games before Rumble and Frenzy had returned, and the twins chose not to ask, instead feeling grateful for it. It kept them from pranking others when they were bored (which was often) and thus kept a bull's-eye off their backs.

"I don't know why Mirage even bothers. You know Cliffjumper's going to win this argument and then command will be back to square one," Rumble commented, and his twin hummed in agreement, scooting over to make room for Rumble to sit next to him. For a while they just sat there, Frenzy advising his brother on what to do as he played the game and Rumble occasionally smacking the younger for giving him advice he felt he didn't need. Suddenly, Rumble perked up, pausing his game, and Frenzy gave his brother a questioning glance. "I got an idea!"

That was all Rumble had to say, and his twin peered into his processor, smiling broadly at the idea that, in his opinion, was simply brilliant. Before they'd been separated from their creator and Lazerbeak, before Buzzsaw and Ravage and Ratbat were lost, all of Soundwave's symbiotes were used for recon and gathering Intel. Why not keep this purpose alive now that the war was over? Of course, they'd have to keep Lazerbeak out of the loop or else she'd snitch on them. However, if they played it right, they could gather the info they needed from her and be gone before Soundwave could stop them.

"Rumble, that's brilliant! ...Are you sure Lazerbeak didn't plant the idea in your processor? It's not like you to come up with good ideas," Frenzy commented as the two exited their quarters.

"Well thanks, bro, I was a little...wait a minute! Slagheap!" Rumble cursed, and smacked his twin upside the head. Frenzy just laughed as his brother finally caught the insult. Rumble was pouting as they made their way to the deck where the console that controlled the Space Bridge was kept. "Ain't funny Frenzy. I've got brains, I'd just rather shake things up than use my processor power," Rumble grumbled as he lifted his more intellectually inclined sibling to reach the console so he could type in the coördinates. Frenzy hesitated for a moment, and then shrugged, figuring the last set of numbers was where they needed to go. He gave a quick glance towards the video feed from the cameras left behind in the base that Soundwave had hacked into. Everything looked clear, no sign of any enemies. With that assurance, Frenzy confirmed the coördinates and the Space Bridge swirled to life.

Rumble dropped his younger brother and whooped, racing through the portal with reckless abandon. Alarmed, Frenzy leapt to his feet and raced after his twin and moments later the Space Bridge closed behind them. "Rumble, we have to stay together!" Frenzy shouted as he stepped out at the base on Earth, only to run smack into his twin, causing him to fall on his aft. "What's the deal, bro?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing, just thinking this place is a dump," Rumble commented, turning around and offering his twin his hand. Frenzy stared at his brother, knowing that wasn't what he'd been thinking, but Rumble was blocking the twin bond for some reason. He decided to let it go just this once, and let Rumble pull him to his feet. "So, what exactly are we looking for?" Rumble asked, scratching the back of his helm as he glanced around the base. At first glance it looked abandoned, but paying close attention revealed that someone had been there. Something that might be an Earth radio sat on a box near the ground, and the equipment for the Ground Bridge looked decidedly less dusty and dilapidated than the rest of the base, undoubtedly Ratchet's handiwork.

"First things first. We need an alt. mode so the hostiles won't be suspicious of us...I call the radio-thing!" Frenzy exclaimed, shoving his brother out of the way and scanning the slick silver radio. Rumble gave the Cybertronian equivalent of a sigh. This might be harder than he thought.


Rumble and Frenzy are up to no good! Poor Ratchet and Knock Out. Their fates are in the hands of some troublesome younglings...

Anyway, sorry again for taking so long.

Now, I'm sorry to tell you all that I'm leaving for vacation...right now. I'll be back the sixth of July! Until then!

Review!