Author Note: Little bit of swearing. Hope you are still enjoying the ride! :-)

Chapter 164 – The Source

Phoenix P.O.V

I rubbed my left wrist as I sat on the edge of my berth. It had never quite healed properly since that day with Galvatron.

A shiver of both rage and disgust travelled down my spine as I recalled what took place, and I squeezed my left servo into a fist. I sighed as the dull ache persisted. /Knockout is NO Rachet!/. I gave a small chuckle as I thought the 'Cons would be better off defecting to the Autobots if purely to have access to a superior medic.

Once again, the thought of all I had left behind came crashing down upon me and I slumped lower as the weight of my loneliness and regret settled about me. /Two months! For two interminable months I had somehow survived with these arseholes/. The problem was, I was still no closer to obtaining any important intel that would make this plan worthwhile. And, to make matters worse, Starscream was hell bent on exposing me as a spy to Galvatron. At every turn he tried to find ways to undermine me. /How the fuck Galvatron or Megatron put up with that prick is beyond me!/. I ex-vented out loud in frustration.

Rising to my pedes, I paced about the small space afforded me. /What was the point of all of this if I did not learn anything that might help prepare us for Unicron or give us an advantage against the 'Cons?/. It was clear the 'Cons were trying to build up their energon supplies. I had been involved in multiple missions to locate and obtain various forms of energy to be converted into energon. Whether it was to help them sustain their fight against the Autobots OR for something else entirely, I was unsure.

I also knew they were stockpiling some sort of crystal. I had seen them on some of our missions and helped to bring some back. They glowed a purplish, ruby hue and were highly prized by Galvatron. I had my suspicions as to what it was but again – I wasn't sure!

I ceased pacing and faced the door to my room. /Well, you certainly aren't going to learn anything of importance hiding away in here!/. I strode out of my room and decided to head to the Common Room. You could often catch someone hanging about there and, after they had partaken in some energon, they were more libel to engage in conversation.

Striding into the room, I gave a quick glance to see who was about. /Please – anyone but Starscream!/. To my great relief, he was nowhere to be seen but there was one mech in here I might be able to get some answers from. Grabbing a cube of energon, I walked over and sat down beside the red, white, and black mech whose paint work shone luminously. I sat opposite him and raised the cube in silent acknowledgement.

''Ah, Phoenix. To what do I owe the pleasure?'' Knockout's smooth voice drifted across to me and I couldn't help but smile. Of all the 'Cons here, he was the only one I could really tolerate.

''Knockout,'' I nodded my helm. ''Pleasure is all mine.''

He smiled brightly at me. ''Well, I can't say I disagree with you there. I am rather pleasurable.'' His optics gleamed with mischief, and I took a sip of my energon to hide my own smile.

I glanced about the room noticing the distinct lack of bodies. ''Where is everyone? Thought there would be more bots here about this time of day. Did I miss something?'' I cradled the cube in my lap and casually swung an arm over the backrest of the chair I sat on.

Knockout chuckled. ''Well, I guess the bots who matter are here. Besides,'' he smirked at me, ''I thought you'd be glad to have a moments peace from that megalomaniac Starscream.'' He took a sip from his own energon cube. ''Don't tell me you miss him already!'' Once again, his optics shone with mirth as he enjoyed his own twisted humour.

I snorted out loud. ''Like a colonoscopy!''

''Well, he is a pain in the aft,'' Knockout leaned back in his seat and mirrored my relaxed demeanour.

I laughed out loud. ''Oh, I hear ya, he's a real afthole!'' I shook my helm in wonder. ''I don't know how Galvatron hasn't ended his miserable life yet. Perhaps I do not give Galvatron enough credit. Come to think of it, I think even Optimus Prime himself would find Starscream hard to endure.''

Knockout leaned forward conspiratorially, ''Well, between you me and our energon cubes, since your arrival Galvatron has been even less tolerant of Starscream and the word is, if Starscream screws up once more, he will be shall we say – decommissioned permanently.'' Knockout gave a sadistic chuckle.

I blinked my optics as I processed what he had said, and what he hadn't said. ''I am not sure why my arrival would hasten Galvatron's decision to terminate Starscream. Surely Starscream is an asset to the Decepticons on some level?'' I feigned ignorance to fish for information.

Knockout sighed out loud and leant back against his chair, swilling energon in his cube. ''Oh, come now Phoenix! Surely you are not blind to the favouritism Galvatron affords you? He appreciates your,'' he flicked his optics over my form, ''talents.''

I felt myself bristle at the implication. ''My talents are not for Galvatron or anyone's appreciation.'' My voice was low and icy.

Knockout held up a servo in supplication as he downed the remainder of his drink. ''Oh, that is well understood – now. I can testify to the number of repairs I have conducted on Decepticons who have not yet grasped that concept.'' He placed his cube in his lap. ''However, Galvatron also appreciates your attitude and your skills. Suffice it to say Phoenix, it has been an age since I have made repairs to our leader that weren't inflicted by an Autobot.'' I refrained from laughing. ''Nice job.'' He smiled pleasantly at me and for a moment I wondered if mental instability ran rife amongst the 'Cons. /High chance that's likely/.

I returned the smile. ''Well let's just say I can be very persuasive when I need to be.''

''Duly noted,'' Knockout placed his cube down beside him and lounged back against the chair.

A moment's silence stretched out between us, and I chanced pushing for more information. ''I wonder when I will be sent on another mission to gather more energon and those crystals for Galvatron? I'm surprised he doesn't have me out there now, the way he has kept me busy lately.''

Knockout sighed. ''Who can say Phoenix. Galvatron has his plans, and we just work to carry them out.''

I nodded my helm. ''I am assuming he wants to put an end to the insufferable Autobots once and for all, guess that's why he is stock piling energon and those weird crystals like no tomorrow. I mean why else would he have need for so much energon?''

Knockout closed his optics and crossed one leg over the other, tapping his pede to a soundless rhythm as he gave a low chuckle. ''Oh, there are more threats out there than mere Autobots, I assure you.''

I sat forward intrigued by his comment. ''Really? I can't imagine what else could pose a threat to Galvatron apart from Optimus Prime – and me of course – should I change my mind and decide I need neither Autobot NOR Decepticons!'' A part of me internally winced at the conceit I was openly displaying. /Fake it till ya make it Phoenix/.

Knockout opened his optics and eyed me carefully, clearly weighing if he should divulge anything to me. After a moment he relented. ''Surely you have heard Galvatron or even Starscream talk about ''the Source?''

I shrugged my shoulders and shook my helm. ''What Source?'' I placed my energon cube by my side and leant further forward. ''I'm not in the habit of eavesdropping so I don't know what you are speaking about.''

A smile spread slowly across Knockout's face as he propped his servos behind his helm. ''Perhaps you should develop such a habit. It can be very – enlightening. The very walls seem to have audials in this place,'' he dipped his helm towards a wall as he spoke before his smile grew malicious. ''Mind you, it works both ways too.''

I regarded him carefully for a moment. /Did he know something?/. I decided to call his bluff. I snorted derisively. ''Hunh, well I have nothing to hide.''

He removed his servos from behind his helm and sat forward. ''Let's hope not – for your sake Phoenix.''

I raised an optic ridge and felt flickers of flame dance along my frame. ''Are you threatening me Knockout?''

The medic and scientist laughed out loud. ''Now why would I do that Phoenix. As we discussed earlier, I am aware of your skills and how persuasive you can be. If there is one thing I have learned being with the Decepticons, it is to pick fights you know you stand a better than average chance of winning.'' He rose to his pedes and gathered his cube in his servo before dipping his helm in acknowledgement. ''Phoenix.''

I nodded my helm in reply as I felt the flames die down and disappear. As I watched him disappear into the corridor, I knew what I had to do. /If I wanted to learn what ''The Source'' is, I need to head straight to the source/.

Rising to my pedes and discarding my own empty energon cube, I went in search of Galvatron. /Hopefully, he is in a chatty mood/.