Author's Notes: Hi everybody! Thank you to everyone who has read this story so far, and a big thanks to those who have left reviews. It is so cool to see that this offbeat story idea is being positively received. I love writing both Hook and Breakdown because I feel like their personalities make for an interesting contrast. Hook is stuffy and professional, and Breakdown is paranoid and wears his spark on his sleeve. I don't really know where this story is going, but I'm going to enjoy the ride and hope you do too. Please review, favorite, and follow this story if you are enjoying it :)


Chapter 3

Permission Slip Up

Dead End was sitting next to the porthole in the Stunticon common area reading a data pad containing among other things a book about human inventor Nikola Tesla. Dead End found it both fascinating and fitting that despite how brilliant the man was purported to be that he still died a relatively young miserable financially ruined failure. Dead End was certain this would likewise be his fate as a member of the Decepticon army. It somehow made him feel better to know others were as miserable as he was.

Dead End heard the door to the common area open and knew it would be Breakdown. Motormaster had come back a few hours prior and Wildrider and Drag Strip were out racing and wouldn't be back until late. That only left Breakdown.

At first Dead End didn't even look up from his ebook to greet his brother, but then he heard a loud scraping noise as Breakdown slowly walked, and was curious as to what was going on. When Dead End lifted his helm he saw Breakdown dragging a blank protoform across the room; leaving skid marks on the purple metal floor. Dead End, always looking for something new to distract him from the banality of life, decided to investigate.

"What are you doing, Breakdown?" Dead End asked as he approached his brother.

"Ah!" Breakdown yelped; startled, "Oh, uh, hi Dead End. I'm just taking this thing to my room. Nothing to see here."

"Why?" Dead End asked.

"No reason," Breakdown replied evasively.

"If this is about interfacing Drag Strip keeps some Corvette magazines under his berth," Dead End offered casually, "If you're more into planes I think Skywarp has some issues of Modern Pilot Magazine."

Breakdown dropped the protoform, mortified, and stuttered for a few seconds before he could form a coherent thought.

"It it, it's not that!" Breakdown shouted defensively, "I'm just going to take it apart and see if I can put it back together again!"

"That sounds like an utter waste of time," Dead End remarked, "Is this a new creative punishment Megatron is trying out? What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything!" Breakdown snapped as he crossed his arms and stomped his pede, "Hook told me to do it. I'm his printis."

"You're his what now?" Dead End asked in confusion.

"Printis. It means I work for him," Breakdown declared proudly, "I'm gonna be a medic someday."

"Oh, you mean apprentice," Dead End replied in understanding, "I see. Well then, you might as well give that thing back to him. You'll never be able to learn medicine, and there's no sense wasting a perfectly good protoform. Who knows when Megatron might need it to create another useless soldier? Might as well give up now and go lift some weights or something."

"No way!" Breakdown barked defiantly, "I promised Hook I'd do it. Besides, he says he sees something in me. He thinks I'll be a great medic someday. No one's ever believed in me before, so I'm not gonna let him down. I'll work hard, study my aft off, and finally have a job that's safe that I can be proud of."

"Trying to preserve your life and the lives of our ungrateful colleagues. What a waste," Dead End shook his helm disapprovingly, "Besides, you're Motormaster's peon same as I am. If you try to shirk your duties to go put bandaids on booboos then he'll kick your tailpipe from here to The Pit."

Breakdown gulped, not having thought about Motormaster. He would have to get his gestalt leader's approval, but he didn't know how to convince Motormaster to let him work for Hook. Hook wasn't even the leader of his gestalt, so Breakdown would be an underling working for an underling. That would be unacceptable to someone as proud as Motormaster.

"Dead End, you can't tell Motormaster I'm doing this!" Breakdown exclaimed hurriedly as he grabbed his brother's arms, "I mean it! You can't tell him, or anyone else!"

"The next time he breaks a strut he'll find out," Dead End pointed out.

"Let me worry about that," Breakdown replied, "Just promise me you won't tell him! Promise!"

"What's in it for me?" Dead End asked point blank.

"Uh..." Breakdown thought for a moment before he said, "I'll let you help me disassemble the protoform. I'll even let you keep the shell."

"Deal," Dead End replied immediately.

Breakdown smiled and they shook servos on the deal. For whatever reason Hook hadn't understood what a handshake was at first, which reminded Breakdown of just how different he and his brothers truly were on this ship. They were built from earth vehicles and had lived on earth for their entire short lives. Human customs and traditions were more familiar to them than Cybertronian history and culture. Breakdown wondered if that was one reason why so many other Decepticons didn't like them.

"I think I'll call her Lucille," Dead End suddenly said once they were in Breakdown's room.

"Who?" Breakdown asked.

"The Protoform," Dead End replied, "She looks like a Lucille."

Breakdown shuddered and turned his helm back to their subject. He and Dead End began to take the Protoform apart, all the while Breakdown tried to memorize what everything was and where it went. He also fantasized about one day developing a cure for whatever weird defect afflicted Dead End.


Hook and Scrapper went up to the control room where Megatron was stationed with his command staff. Hook wouldn't be allowed to have Breakdown as an assistant until he obtained approval from Megatron, and since Scrapper was the gestalt leader he would have to ask. Scrapper, thankfully, didn't get on Hook's case when he found out about the crane-former's idea to have a Stunticon work with him, though only time would tell if the other Constructicons would be so open-minded.

Hook normally didn't feel emotions akin to nervousness. A firm servo and a calm processor were both necessities to him as a medic. When that door swooshed open to reveal every set of optics staring at them in annoyance however it made Hook feel a little more wary than usual. He was glad he didn't have to do this alone.

"What do you two bozos want?" Starscream snapped obstinately, "We're in the middle of something!"

"Silence, Starscream," Megatron ordered his mouthy second in command, "Scrapper, this had better be important."

"Well, Lord Megatron," Scrapper began uneasily, "I would like to request permission for my gestalt kin Hook to have a medical apprentice."

"We don't have any more medics on this ship!" Starscream barked irritably, "Now leave!"

"Starscream!" Megatron snapped at his SIC, and Starscream flinched, "Now, Starscream is right. There are no other qualified Decepticons on board this ship."

"If I was right then why did you yell at me?" Starscream whined.

Skywarp and Thundercracker, who were also in the room, started laughing at their petulant air commander. Starscream glared at them, but it didn't make the laughing stop. If anything it only made it worse.

"Sir, we know that no one is qualified yet," Scrapper continued undeterred, "However, one of our soldiers has expressed interest in learning about the medical field and wants to be trained under Hook."

"Oh scrap, it isn't Vortex is it?" Skywarp asked nervously.

"No," Scrapper replied to Skywarp, though he sounded as if he didn't want to, "We would like permission for Hook to train Breakdown to be a medic."

Megatron raised a brow ridge quizzically, and Skywarp and Thundercracker started laughing all over again.

"Hahaha! Breakdown!?" Skywarp gasped in between fits of laughter, "You picked the stupidest mech from the stupidest combiner on the ship? BWAHAHAHAHA!"

"He'll probably see some energon squirt out of a wound and hide under the counter!" Thundercracker added in between his own laughter.

"Oh help me! Help me! The stethoscope is watching me!" Skywarp mimicked Breakdown with a high pitched girly voice.

"That's enough!" Hook shouted abruptly, this being the first time he said anything since entering the room, "I know I trust Breakdown in the operating room more than you winged clowns! He actually wants to learn and wants to heal, which is more than I can say for the rest of you. How does Lord Megatron tolerate your idiocy?"

"Why you-!" Skywarp started to stomp toward Hook, but Thundercracker stopped him.

"Don't, Warp. It isn't worth it," Thundercracker replied; suddenly serious.

Skywarp snorted in derision but stayed where he was. Hook couldn't help but smirk at the fact that Skywarp looked like a chained Cyberhound unable to chase a turbo rat that had wandered onto his yard.

"So, you want permission to make Breakdown a medic in training?" Megatron pondered, "That would take away from his combat training, and I need him to be able to form Menasor with his gestalt kin."

"My duties have never interfered with Devastator, sir," Hook pointed out, "Once a gestalt leader calls for the change, there is nothing that can be done. Breakdown will still be of use to you in battle, but if he works with me he will also be useful in getting more soldiers ready to take on the Autobots again."

Megatron put his finger on his chin and thought about the request for a moment. The other members of the command staff thought the idea was ridiculous, but Hook knew this could be vital for the Decepticon cause. He worried that Megatron would refuse however, since the warlord wasn't exactly known for caring about the scientific pursuits or putting any effort toward caring for others rather than using them.

Finally, Megatron looked at Scrapper and Hook and said "Fine. You may train Breakdown on a trial basis. If he causes you problems, you have my permission to punish him as you see fit. Just ensure that he does not miss his combat training and continues to serve Menasor."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," Hook replied formally.

"Oh, and I would also like to report that the new base will be ready on schedule," Scrapper added, "Thank you for your time, Lord Megatron."

"Fine, fine," Megatron waved them away, "You are dismissed."

Scrapper and Hook bowed slightly toward Megatron before leaving out the same door they came through. Once they were out in the hall both Constructicons exhaled a vent of relief.

"That went better than expected," Scrapper told Hook, "I gotta say though, the seekers, bratty as they are, do have a point. Breakdown is kind of an idiot. He also doesn't really have the right temperament to be a good medic."

"What is the right temperament?" Hook asked rhetorically, "Wheeljack of the Autobots qualifies as a brilliant medic and engineer, yet he also tests his inventions on himself and frequently causes explosions. Ratchet, if our intelligence reports are accurate, will actually beat his own patients with a wrench before operating on them. Tell me that isn't psychotic! All I'm saying is if they are good enough to be trusted to operate on their own Prime, then surely Breakdown is good enough to staple Starscream's aft back together after his millionth failed coup attempt."

"Fair enough," Scrapper shrugged, "Just don't let Breakdown work on anybody important. If Megatron wakes up to Breakdown screaming because he saw Megatron's onlined optics then we'll all be in trouble."

Hook chuckled along with Scrapper at that thought. The easy part was now over. He was now allowed to work with Breakdown. The hard part would soon begin; actually training the skittish brute to become a calm, professional, caring medic.


Breakdown showed up at the medbay around 10:00 hours the next morning. Hook had wanted him to be there by 8:00 hours, but Breakdown had to work on his defensive moves with Motormaster and Drag Strip before he was able to work with Hook. When Motormaster had asked Breakdown where he was going after their session was over, Breakdown of course lied and said Megatron had ordered him to scrape barnacles off the hull. That had been a close one, and now Breakdown was looking forward to his first official day of medic training.

"Good orn, Breakdown," Hook greeted him genially while sorting a tool cabinet; his back turned to the Stunticon, "Did you catalogue and reassemble the protoform?"

"Yes, sir," Breakdown replied, "I brought my full report. I stayed up all night working on it."

"Very good," Hook said as he turned around to face Breakdown, "Now hand over the- Um, Breakdown? Where is the cadaver?"

"The what?" Breakdown asked obliviously.

"The protoform," Hook ground out irritably, "Where is your homework?"

"Oh," Breakdown replied guiltily, "I, uh, I wrote everything down and recorded the autonomy, but I-"

"The what?" Hook interrupted him.

"The autonomy. You know, taking everything apart and looking for something wrong," Breakdown explained.

"You mean the autopsy," Hook corrected him, "That wasn't what I asked you, however. I asked you where the protoform is. Now, where is it?"

"Um...Dead-End-has-it," Breakdown muttered quickly under his breath.

"Excuse me?" Hook chided.

"I said Dead End has it!" Breakdown shouted too loudly, "I had to give it to him so he wouldn't tell Motormaster I'm working with you. I can't get it back."

"Motormaster doesn't know you're here?" Hook asked, and Breakdown nodded sheepishly, "Breakdown, you have to tell your gestalt leader what you're doing. I cleared everything with Scrapper and Megatron, so you should inform Motormaster of your new assignment."

"He can't know I'm here!" Breakdown exclaimed in a panic, "Motormaster would never let me do this! He can't know I wanna be a medic! Don't tell him, please!"

"Megatron has already authorized it, so there's nothing Motormaster can do to stop you," Hook pointed out.

"He could break my legs," Breakdown retorted, "You don't get it, Doc. Motormaster thinks we're the best combiner Megatron has. I know it isn't true, but that's what he thinks. Me wanting to work with another team would be seen as a challenge to his power. He especially hates Devastator. Megatron treats you guys like the strongest combiner around, and Motormaster hates that. I have to keep this a secret, sir. I promise I'll work hard though. It'll be worth it, you'll see."

Hook sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose cone in exasperation. He knew it was pointless to try to hide Breakdown's new position as his apprentice from Motormaster. Everyone else on the ship knew Breakdown was going to work here, and eventually Motormaster would know too. At the same time though, Breakdown looked so pitiful and nervous that it was hard to pull the rug out from under him. Hook acted aloof and haughty in front of the other Decepticons because he had a reputation to uphold as a force to be reckoned with, but at spark he cared about those he called his patients, and he understood that Breakdown was too young to have the responsibilities and worries that he had.

"Alright Breakdown," Hook sighed wearily, "For the moment, I suppose we can forgo telling Motormaster about your apprenticeship. Now, show me your report."

Breakdown heaved a huge sigh of relief before handing Hook the data pad containing his notes about the dissected protoform. Hook looked over Breakdown's work and noted several mistakes. It was a pretty decent first try, but Breakdown was still a long way from being more of an asset than a liability in the medbay. Hook realized training Breakdown would be hard, in more ways than one, but seeing how much Breakdown was risking just to be there made Hook want to encourage and teach him even more.