Megatron surveyed his scientist and medic with a face of stone. Honestly, he might have died under all that armor and scowling, and Knockout would never know.
Knockout tried not to show his impatience. He'd been this close to an extremely satisfying operation with a bot who he was hoping might become a mentor to him.
That assumed mentor in question was as silent and dignified as Megatron. Well, slag. What a bunch of stiff-corded geezers.
"I have called you here because of your noticeable absence aboard the Nemesis." Megatron turned from them to the window which showed a quickly darkening sky, tinged with dim golds and purples. "I do not object to you spending time together, but Soundwave tells me you have done nothing but bend over a medical table and play doctors. What exactly have you been doing?"
Knockout kept quiet, knowing that Shockwave, with his powerful voice and quick thinking, was probably the best at defending them.
"Lord Megatron, Knockout located a homo sapien aboard the Nemesis. He took it to his laboratory and has asked me to assist him in dismantling it. We were just about to burn off its metal appendage with acid Energon."
Alright, maybe he shouldn't have left all the talking to Shockwave. He had made it sound like it was entirely Knockout's idea! Which was…true, technically.
"I am aware of the human's presence, Shockwave," Megatron said, the usual note of irritation surfacing in his voice. "Breakdown delivered a most thorough report." He paused there and glanced at Knockout with…amusement? Frustration? Knockout had no clue. "But I am confused as to how you received instructions that permitted the removal of the human's metal."
Shockwave made no response. A dignified version of panic, Knockout assumed. He decided to step in. "But my Lord, metallic properties could be potentially dangerous when laced with human D.N.A. We could be facing an entirely new species! One that was as strong as a regular Cybertronian!"
"And your ingenious plan is to remove the metal before we've discovered anything about its engineering or resources? Really Knockout, you're too smart for your own good."
Knockout looked down at his pedes uncomfortably.
"Take the human to the cells, you inferior fool!" Megatron roared.
"Yes, my Lord," Knockout muttered, turning to leave with Shockwave.
"And…"
Knockout looked up, shocked at the soft tone in Megatron's voice. "My Lord?"
Megatron's face was passive. "Spend some time with your assistant, Knockout. You neglect him."
Knockout stared, open mouthed, at his master.
WHAT.