With a surprising amount of efficiency and in a rather short span of time Knockout had patched up the wounds of his master and Starscream, while the others constructed a series of constraints that would be used to hold the creature, made from the very parts of the ship itself. This creature after all was exceedingly strong and if it got loose it would be a disaster. Well, another disaster.
When they were finally prepared everyone got into position. Megatron and Dreadwing would have to be the ones to hold the beast down, while Knockout and Starscream would attach the restraints. The restraints being large arches of the strong metal made of the ship's interior armor plating that would be attached directly to the floor of the Nemesis.
Megatron nodded to Dreadwing, giving him the signal to open the doors.
The blue Decepticon typed in the command on the console before stepping back warily. The door slowly slid back, revealing the beast who stood directly on the other side, as if waiting for just this moment.
They all tensed, waiting for the attack, but the creature just stood there. All four 'Cons stared at the creature who starred forward but stayed purposely still.
"It knows it's a trap." Megatron grunted. "We'll have to lure it forward." He looked to Knockout and motioned for him to go.
The medic's eyes widened. "Why me? This happened on Starscream's watch."
"But you're the one who brought that thing on board. This is your fault!" Megatron growled.
Knockout cringed but slowly began moving forward, taking baby steps toward the beast, too afraid to make any real headway. A fourth of the way there he paused and turned to Megatron to beg to come back.
This was a mistake, for as he made himself vulnerable the werewolf saw its chance and lunged.
"KNOCKOUT DUCK!" Dreadwing shouted as the he and Megatron charged.
The red 'Con turned to see claws and fangs approaching. Knockout did exactly as he was told, his legs gave out beneath him and he briefly fainted, falling flat on his face. The beast sailed over and through the space he had just occupied, and landing right into the clutches of Megatron and Dreadwing.
They leaped upon it, trying to pin it down with their combined weight. For a while they struggled, wrestling the creature while constantly trying to avoid it's fangs and claws, until they managed to pin the werewolf to the floor. With its legs held to its sides and its jaws clamped down as both 'Cons sat on its back.
"Starscream! Knockout! Now!" Megatron shouted.
Starscream rushed forward trying to attach the restraints.
Knockout was still lying on the floor.
"Knockout!" Dreadwing roared.
The medic's life finally stopped flashing before his eyes and he came too. He leaped up, grabbed one of the restraints and joined Starscream in attaching them to the floor over the creature.
The beast struggled and tried to wrestle free but was kept relatively still and as more of the metal arches were fixed in place its movements were slowly stunted.
Finally the last arch restrained its jaws as it was bolted and then welded to the floor like the others. The two large 'Cons slowly released their grip and stepped back. The werewolf shook and growled as it tried to break free, but the restraints held firm.
Megatron smiled at their work. "Soundwave, prepare the space bridge. I think it's about time we reunite her with Optimus." He chuckled darkly.
Soundwave left and Knockout began cutting the floor around the werewolf so it could be moved for transport.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Optimus drove down the deserted dirt road, with the iacon relics in tow, towards the coordinates he'd been sent. His mind was a swirling storm of emotions, anger, fear, worry, hatred.
He was cursing Megatron, cursing the entire Decepticon army, cursing Knockout, cursing every deity he knew of for letting this happen, but most of all he was cursing himself. He'd known something was wrong. He'd known he should have stayed with Zelena or made her stay with him. This wouldn't have happened if he had.
He still had no idea why Zelena had left, why she didn't take her panic-button, or why she went out to the park where those killings had taken place. All he did know is that sometime after arriving there Knockout must have found her and had taken her.
His very spark quaked with rage and fear as he remembered getting the call from Megatron.
Megatron had taunted him, saying he was missing something and he felt his spark drop in his chest. Then he'd gotten the image of Knockout holding Zelena, the red 'Con's arrogant smile and Zelena wearing her brave face. Megatron ordered him to deliver all of his relics or else Zelena would be given to Starscream as a play thing. That thought alone terrified him. Starscream hated humans and he would torture her in the most horrible ways for his own sick amusement. Optimus would never allow that to happen to her.
But the decision was not his alone. Giving up the iacon relics would affect each of his teammates, so they would all have to decide.
He had Ratchet ground bridge him back and with everyone gathered at the base and explained the situation.
They had all heard that Zelena had gone missing earlier on, so it seemed less shocking when the news finally came that she had been captured by the Decepticons. Now each of them had to decide what to do.
Bumblebee had suggested that they all go and hide around the area and when Megatron had let her go they would all attack. But both Optimus and Ratchet knew that Soundwave would be scanning the area at all times to monitor if Prime kept his word. And they knew if they were found out Megatron wouldn't hesitate to killing Zelena.
Bulkhead suggested ground bridging onto the Nemesis and trying to find her, but that plan was deemed far too dangerous for both the Autobots and Zelena.
Finally it was decided that they had no choice but to surrender their relics and hoped Megatron kept his word.
He pulled into the spot where the exchange would take place. It was a box canyon, he expected this would be so that he couldn't try to cheat the Decepticons.
He transformed into his robot mode, the Iacon relics sealed inside a large metal container strapped to his back. Now all he had to do was wait.
It wasn't long until a large blue swirling portal opened in front of him. Optimus tensed and waited for the Decepticons. But only one Decepticon exited, it was Knockout and it looked like he was running for his life.
Knockout was bolting for Optimus. Before the 'Con could reach him, the prime rushed forward, capturing knockout by his throat and slamming him into the ground, face twisted in rage.
"Where is Zelena! Why did you take her!"
The con coughed clawing at the prime's wrist trying to get him to loosen his grip.
"You should thank me for getting that monster away from you!" He spat back, but stopped his struggling, his face the definition of fear and it soon became apparent why.
In front of them, where the swirling blue portal was, now stood an enormous beast.
Optimus's eyes widened as he looked at the beast, the only word that seemed to fit the creature's description. He let go of knockout, who quickly got up and tried to hide behind the prime. It was obviously in the pursuit of the Decepticon, its jaws snapping with vicious growls. The thing vaguely reminded him of one of Earth's wolves, but largely more vicious.