Chapter 01- Pain

Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers

The door opened, letting in Grimlock.

The former Decepticon, Noctem, gazed around the Ark, confused. Grimlock huffed impatiently, and Noctem moved on.

"This is the base. Me Grimlock work here." Grimlock began.

Noctem stopped. "I came to see Prime, not to take a tour."

He's Megatron's son all right.Grimlock thought to himself.

"You no see Optimus today. He too imporatant for just any old thing. No offense." Grimlock said evenly.

Noctem sat down. "I wanted to join the Autobots." He muttered to himself.

Grimlock looked at the young Decepticon with a pang of pity. He knew how it felt to be snubbed.

"Me Grimlock would take you, but Optimus not here." He said, kindly.

Nox pulled out his tools, and began on his left arm.

"Red Alert can help you." Grimlock offered.

Nox looked up at him. "No. A warrior must fix his own wounds, and mistakes."

Grimlock grabbed the former Deepticon.

"We go see Prime." He said.

"But he's not here, you said." Nox protested.

Grimlock looked at him. "Me Grimlock get in trouble, but me help."

Grimlock then opened a door in the hallway, and dragged him in. It was a computer room, laden with communications as far as the eye could see. Grimlock began to push buttons.

The image of Optimus Prime appeared on a wide screen.

"Who calls this line?" Optimus asked, nearly half covered in shadow.

Grimlock got up to the screen. "Me Grimlock call, sir."

Optimus Prime leaned in, seeming to create an angry glare.

"Why? This line is secure. I was coming back to Earth tomorrow. What is it, Grimlock?"

Grimlock brought Noctem into the picture. "Sir, he like to join Autobots. He warrior. He.."

Optimus cut him short. "Why didn't he come to moonbase to sign up? Grimlock, this is pointless. Your impatience will be curbed when I return."

Noctem could not let this stand. It was almost as bad as when he had let Megatron bully the Decepticons around.

He got closer to the camera. "Sir, he called because of what I am and what I have."

Optimus leaned back, impressed a recruit had the Energon to stand up for himself and Grimlock, of all 'bots.

"Well, out with it." Prime pressed.

Noctem shiied for a second, but plucked up his courage and told what he knew.

"I am Megatron's son. I have valuable..."

Optimus cut him short. "Megatron's son! Why would you, of all 'bots, join the Auotbots?"

"Sir, I wish to bring peace and order to Cybertron, and wherever else needs it. I..."

Optimus interrupted. "Odd, for a Decepticon to believe such things. Oh well, what makes your message so special?"

"Sir, I have valuable information. Byte, feed it to him." Noctem said. A laptop in the cockpit of Noctem's arm transformed, got out, and linked up with the communications relay. He then transformed back, and fed in the information.

Optimus took a minute to read this.

"So, you want to be an Autobot?" Prime asked.

Noctem nodded.

"So be it. Grimlock, as usual, you're in charge while I'm gone. I've got to deal with this new info. Have Megatron's son trained and ready for missions upon our next contact." Prime said, then cut off his link.

Grimlock turned. "So, you train with Ratchet. Me Grimlock gotta go take care of Dinobots. Got it?"

Nox nodded.

---

Nox walked up to Ratchet. "Are you Ratchet?" Nox asked.

Ratchet nodded. "Yes, what is it?"

Nox twisted a bolt in his left arm. "Sir, I need you to train me. Optimus's orders."

Ratchet did a double take in surprise.

"What? Optimus said what?"

"You, sir, are to train me." Nox prodded.

Ratchet glanced at Nox, examing and estimating his abilities.

"First, we'll need you fixed." Ratchet began, leading the former Decepticon to the Infirmary.

--

In the Infirmary...

Noctem sat on the table.Ratchet sat next to him. "So, what's your name again?" The Autobot asked.

"Nox, sir." Noctem said.

"Well, the first thing we need to do is to put you on stasis lock." Ratchet began.

"What?" Nox asked before Ratchet got him with the tazer.

Nox dropped like a stone.

All he could think was, What a lack of grace on my part. Could have fallen better.

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AN: R&R!

Grimlock thought to himself.