Chapter 25

Airachnid's POV:

I was nervously walking through my chambers. I was impatiently waiting for my comrades to finally arrive. I was just about to punch something to let my frustration out, as my chamber doors opened and Starscream, as well as Knockout, entered. Steve was not far behind them.

"Finally, there you are!"

"Well, excuse me, Airachnid, but I have patients to take care of!", snapped Knockout.

"And I have also work to do! So, why have you ordered us here?"

"I have summoned you, because we have to strike now!"

"Now? Are you serious? Why now?", asked Knockout.

"Because Shockwave has found a cure and our time is running out. In a few hours he Lord Megatron will wake up and be his old safe again."

"And what do you want us to do?"

"I fear, we have not many options, Starscream! We have to attack and kill Soundwave. As soon as Lord Megatron is back to his old self, we will not be able to kill Soundwave nor him and I fear it is just a matter of time, till Soundwave knows who caused these little 'incidents'!"

"So you expect us to just run up to Soundwave and shoot him? Are you insane?"

"As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with Starscream. We will never be able to defeat him!"

"Fortunately, we are four and Soundwave is alone!"

"What about Shockwave?", inquired Steve quietly.

"What about him?", asked Starscream.

"I guess Shockwave would help Soundwave as well."

"Then we should take down Shockwave as well. He will not expect a drone and me, the doctor, to attack him."

"So you and Steve will immobilize Shockwave while Airachnid and I distract Soundwave until you join us and then we will attack Soundwave!"

"This is the plan!"

"Good. Then what are you waiting for? Get going!", I ordered.

Knockout's POV:

Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into this time?

I mused as I made my way to Shockwave's laboratory, Steve close behind me. We have agreed that I ask Shockwave for his opinion on one of the patients and Steve would attack him from behind. We both weren't very fond of the idea of a combat fight with one of the few Decepticons who are a challenge to Megatron, especially since we would later attack one of them.

I took a deep comforting breath and entered the laboratory. Steve would wait outside and silently slip in a few minutes later.

"What do you want, Knockout?"

"Eh, well. I wanted your advice in one case?"

"Oh?", came the surprised sounding response.

As if I never ask for advice or help… now that I think about it… doesn't matter now!

"Would you take a look at these files for me and tell me, what you think about it?"

He nodded and I handed him the data pad. He immediately turned away from me and the door and I stepped next to him. The file was about one of my current patients. Actually I already decided what to do with him, but I was certain, Shockwave would think about it closely, weight all available options, before answering.

He was murmuring to himself while he was reading the file. I could see Steve stepping in from the corner of my optics. I motioned for him to take one of Shockwave's inventions. The blaster he uses on patients in pain or rampaging beasts of his. It would send everybot it hits into a deep slumber for quite some time.

"As I see it, you should-", Shockwave was interrupted by the sound of a firing blaster and a few second later, his optic went wide in realisation, before they went smaller and closed. I was barely able to dodge the fallen bot, who landed graceless on the floor, optic first.

"Good job!"

"Thank you, sir!"

"And now let us join Airachnid and Starscream, before they start the… fun, before us!"

The drone nodded and put down the blaster.

"You should take him with you or do you expect Soundwave to go down without a big fight?", I scolded him.

"The blaster needs time for another shoot and I thought, we have not enough time to wait till he is ready again."

"Damn Shockwave. He cannot make something useful without any other upcoming problems!", I huffed in annoyance. "Then just keep going!"

With that we left the laboratory, locked the door behind, so nobot would find Shockwave, and made our way to the control bridge.