Author's Notes: Hi everyone! I meant for this chapter to be longer and with more plot elements, but then I realized if I just gave a lot of attention to one plot line I could get this chapter out faster without sacrificing quality. I've been mapping out plot points for this fic, and there's a lot more to come, so stick around for that. Until then, I hope you enjoy this chapter of "My Spark Still Shines", and please review :)
Chapter 31
Blast From The Past
It was the perfect moment, the moment Frenzy had been waiting for. Thundercracker was in surgery getting a new t-cog, meaning he wasn't in his quarters. Frenzy wanted Thundercracker's spark reader, so he left Soundwave's side and snuck into his superior's room to get the coveted device. He had to close off his part of the bond so Soundwave and Laserbeak wouldn't know what he was doing. He doubted they would understand.
If Frenzy could just have that spark reader, then he could figure out if PLX-7204 was really Eject. He suspected, no, hoped that he was. Eject had been the only symbiote besides his siblings he had ever met, and Eject was probably the only real friend Frenzy had ever had. Other than his own siblings, no one else wanted to put up with Frenzy's slag.
He used the tube in his wrist to open the door to Thundercracker's room, which fortunately didn't have a security alarm set up yet. With that task finished Frenzy ran inside, only to see a simple berth and a tiny nightstand with a single drawer. Well, that made things easy.
Frenzy checked the drawer first, but it was completely empty. Frowning to himself, Frenzy checked under the berth and even under the mattress, but there was nothing. Not only was there no spark reader, there was no anything. It reminded Frenzy that Thundercracker had been a drone just like him. It also made Frenzy really want some stuff for his shared quarters with Soundwave. If he had stuff, then this was real. Frenzy always looked for ways to prove that things were real.
That made Frenzy realize something else. He hadn't had a single hallucination since being returned to a symbiote frame. That meant Soundwave took the time to cure his processor glitch, which meant in all that time Soundwave had learned how to do so. He must have spent vorns studying the phenomenon and the medical procedure to reverse it. That thought brought a tear to Frenzy's visor, realizing his sire never gave up hope for him after all.
After a moment however Frenzy realized he couldn't waste time in Thundercracker's empty quarters anymore. The seeker might come back from surgery and see the little spy making trouble in there. But how could he find out PLX-7204's real identity? There was only one way, but it would require more subterfuge.
Knockout had finally cleared out his medbay, and he was exhausted. Megatron had used the arm of Solus Prime to work the forge of the titular Prime. With that forge, which to Knockout just looked like a big hammer, he crafted the Dark Star Saber; a sword of incredible evil power. Knockout watched, but only because Megatron and Dreadwing were taking up space in his medbay.
After Megatron perfected his weapon, Knockout finally got everyone out of there. Thundercracker was even kind enough to dispose of the Vehicon for him. Maybe not all Decepticons were selfish after all.
Knockout had planned to go back to his quarters and recharge, but he didn't have the strength, so he just sat down on one of the operating berths. The Forge of Solus Prime had been one of the missions he and Breakdown went on together. Breakdown had made a joke about using his hammers just to get Megatron another hammer, and Knockout had made a sardonic remark he couldn't remember anymore. It was strange how he remembered Breakdown's joke more clearly.
His optics wandered over to Cylas, who had finally passed out and stopped bothering everyone with his pathetic human noises. Breakdown's body in a fitful recharge and a forge Breakdown had helped procure. These reminders put Knockout in a foul mood, but he was too tired from the day to even be angry. Now he was just hurt, and somehow that felt worse.
/Knockout!/ Megatron's booming voice suddenly roared over the comm, /Get over here at once!/
Now that was odd. Knockout was sure Megatron had gone to Cairo to get a relic. He didn't want to upset his master though, so he respectfully replied /Um, where exactly are you, my liege?/
/The bridge,/ Megatron replied, this time sounding much calmer. Well, that shift seemed rather eerie.
/I'm on my way,/ Knockout quickly replied.
Knockout heard the comm shut off, and he blew out a ragged intake of air. He needed to look alert. He was tired, and he was sad, but Megatron couldn't be allowed to see that. Knockout was the medic and a Decepticon warrior. He would have to look competent for his master. After all, Megatron had been especially disappointed in him lately. He rushed out of the medbay with toolkit in hand, and before the door could even close he was halfway down the hall.
A few seconds later the door opened again, this time admitting Frenzy and a Vehicon behind him. Frenzy's trick of using Megatron's old audio clips had worked. He loved having access to Soundwave's voice library.
"Alright, he's gone," Frenzy said quietly as he made his way to the berth with the spark reader, "Just hop on this table."
The Vehicon did as instructed without objection. He was nervous on the inside, but also knew this tiny mech was Soundwave's symbiote. Nobody disobeyed an officer, especially one that held Soundwave's spark and audial in his servo. PLX-7204 was at least grateful that Knockout wasn't here. He didn't know why Frenzy didn't want Knockout present, but that was at least something they could agree on.
PLX-7204 laid on the berth with his visor looking at the ceiling, and Frenzy quickly attached some wires into the drone. The spark reader scanned the Vehicon for several kliks, and Frenzy waited anxiously for the results. The drone didn't speak or move the entire time, but Frenzy wanted so badly to talk to him. He wanted to tell Eject that he missed him, give his friend back his memories, and celebrate the fact that they both made it through together.
A tense and silent breem later the results were in, and Frenzy's spark sank at the news.
Blaster.
"Frag," Frenzy cursed softly to himself.
"Something wrong, sir?" The drone asked; having heard him.
This was the most ironic of luck. Frenzy and Eject were turned into Vehicons while looking for Blaster, and now here he was. Frenzy finally found him, but Eject wasn't there to reunite with him. That meant that Eject had to be PLX-7206. The one that the Autobots killed.
Eject was really gone for good.
"Sir?" PLX-7204 called out again, "Is something wrong?"
"Uh, no. Not at all," Frenzy lied, "I was just, uh, checking how healthy your spark is. Yeah, that's it! Your spark! And, uh, I decided to, uh...promote you!"
"Promote me?" PLX-7204 repeated, "I'm honored, sir. What's my new position, if I may ask?"
"You're my new personal assistant," Frenzy declared, "When I'm not with Soundwave you will accompany me everywhere I go. I'll see to it that you get everything you need for your new job. Just name it. Anything at all. Polish, more rations, tools, I can get all sorts of stuff for you."
"So, I'm a bodyguard?" PLX-7204 asked in confusion, "But I'm not a soldier. I'm an engineer. Surely you would prefer a drone with more combat experience."
"I didn't choose a soldier. I chose you," Frenzy replied firmly, "Look, don't worry so much. Being an assistant to an officer is a cushy job. You just show up when I tell you to, and we hang out for a while. Easy."
"Of course, sir. I will do my best for you," PLX-7204 replied in a professional manner.
"Oh, one more thing," Frenzy added, "I wanna give you a name. Do you mind?"
"No, sir. Not at all," PLX-7204 replied agreeably.
"Cool. From now on your name is Blaster," Frenzy told him, "Now, is there anything I can get you, Blaster?"
"Well...I can really make a request?" PLX-7204 asked just to be sure.
"Yep. I want you to know you can trust me," Frenzy explained.
"I trust you with my life, sir. That's part of my job," PLX-7204 replied, "However, if I can really have something of my own...I would like some...music downloads. SS-PLX-04 used to have a massive collection of contraband music before he was killed. I always wanted music of my own, but I didn't want to break the rules to get it. I know how Megatron has insisted that as property we cannot own property, but...would it be so wrong to have music?"
"You want music? You got it!" Frenzy exclaimed, "I think Soundwave has some recorded Cybertronian music, and we can also find some junk from earth. I always kinda liked that song 4 had about the supermassive black hole. I didn't get it, but I liked it."
"Wait, you know about 4's music collection? How is that possible?" PLX-7204 asked in shock.
"It's a long story," Frenzy replied, "And I'm not sure where to start. You see, Thundercracker-"
Before Frenzy could finish his thought however, the doors whooshed open and Knockout came storming into the room looking quite perturbed, with Dreadwing tailing right behind him. Frenzy had faked Megatron's call, and judging from the look on Knockout's face he knew that already. Frenzy backed up until he was under the berth, because despite no longer being a drone he was still very much afraid of Knockout.
"Care to explain what you're doing messing with my stuff?" Knockout asked with his hands on his hips, "You see Commander? It's just like I said! I bet this little ne'er do well came in here to booby trap my medical equipment, or maybe even to steal from me! Well I won't stand for it!"
"If you are having a problem with Frenzy, then why not go to Soundwave?" Dreadwing asked the doctor.
"Are you mad!?" Knockout shrieked, "I'm angry, not suicidal. Soundwave would weld me to the wall if I dared to speak out against his precious little stooge. Dreadwing, kick Frenzy out of my medbay."
"Eh, we're going, we're going!" Frenzy groused, "No need to get so dramatic. Come on, Blaster."
"Who?" Knockout asked reflexively.
The Vehicon visibly shrank into himself under the scrutiny, and Frenzy feared he might have put his late friend's sire in danger. He had to think of something fast to weasel his way out of this. Before he could say anything however...
"Pardon me, sir. Frenzy has given me the designation of Blaster," PLX-7204 explained, "He wishes me to be his personal assistant."
"Don't tell him, ya snitch!" Frenzy hissed quietly.
"Lord Megatron had been very clear on this matter," Dreadwing chided the symbiote, "Vehicons are not to have designations of their own. We cannot afford to get attached to our combat equipment, or else we may become careless."
"You traitor!" Frenzy snapped at Dreadwing, "I thought you of all people would understand! I told you Vehicons were alive but you didn't listen to me! I told you I used to be one but apparently you don't care! You were supposed to talk to Knockout, but judging from his shocked expression I'm guessing you didn't bother to do that either!"
"Frenzy, control yourself!" Dreadwing boomed in an effort to reestablish authority over the diminutive spy.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on!?" Knockout demanded.
"I looked into Frenzy's service record," Dreadwing explained, "He has the illusion virus, likely exacerbated by the loss of his twin brother."
"You looked at my private files, you glitch!?" Frenzy screeched; scandalized, "That's it, flyboy! You're dead! I'll have Soundwave rip you apart! Sleep with one optic open, because it won't help you! You're dead!"
"Frenzy, I know what you are going through," Dreadwing tried to assure him, "I too lost a twin brother. It is the most painful feeling in the universe, and it can cause a lot of confusing emotions. Replacing reality with fantasy won't help you, however. Vehicons aren't real."
"You're a fragging glitch!" Frenzy screamed, "I hope you see your brother again real soon. You hear me!?"
"Frenzy," Knockout called out, sounding much calmer than the symbiote.
"What do you want, Doctor Death?" Frenzy asked snidely as he crossed his arms over his chassis, "If you try to hurt Blaster I'll kill you, I hope you know that."
"I'm not going to harm your Vehicon friend," Knockout replied as he knelt down to be at optic-level with Frenzy, "Now Frenzy, why did you choose the name 'Blaster' for this Vehicon?"
"Um...because that was his name," Frenzy replied nervously; fearing retribution from the butcher of a medic, "He was an Autobot before he became a Vehicon. I was turned into a Vehicon too, but it was an accident. It's a punishment for Autobots and civies that refused to obey Megatron. I'm not saying it ain't fair, but this Autobot is the sire of my former friend. Doc...you gotta stop taking Vehicons apart. They're Cybertronians just like us, and repairing them is easy. I'll even show you how. Just stop killing them...please."
"Perhaps there is a way for you to treat Frenzy's mental illness," Dreadwing suggested to Knockout, "I understand you have experience curing the illusion virus."
"It's not a cure," Knockout corrected, "The illusion virus replicates within the processor. All that can be done is treating the condition with minor surgeries and talk therapy. I should know. It was my job to keep Breakdown from losing himself to his inner demons."
"I ain't crazy!" Frenzy cried out, "Soundwave fixed me! I'm fine right now! I'm not lying either. Vehicons are real mechs! I'll prove it if you let me!"
"We should contact Soundwave," Dreadwing said resolutely, "He will know how to handle a raving symbiote."
"I'm not raving!" Frenzy shouted, "Don't call Soundwave! He won't understand!"
"Dreadwing, belay that call," Knockout ordered.
"I am second in command, and it is my job to look out for the well being of this ship and its crew!"
"No, it's my job to look out for the well being of this crew," Knockout corrected, "And I know what I'm doing. The situation is under control. You can return to sharpening your sword or whatever it is you do when you're in charge of the bridge. Go on. Run along now. Shoo shoo!"
Knockout then waved his hands at Dreadwing in a scooting motion, and Dreadwing narrowed his optics threateningly at the red medic. Knockout was in his element however, and was not afraid of Dreadwing. A soft moan from Cylas in the background seemed to further confirm that this was Knockout's domain, and Dreadwing didn't really want to be here unnecessarily. The blue seeker left; leaving Knockout, Frenzy, and the Vehicon alone.
"Frenzy, I didn't want to say anything in front of Dreadwing, but I believe you," Knockout whispered conspiratorially, "You've convinced me. Vehicons are real and Blaster is your new best friend."
"Don't patronize me, Doc!" Frenzy snapped, "I know you're making fun of me!"
"No, I'm not," Knockout replied solemnly, "Listen, while Dreadwing's spark is in the right place he's not a medic. He is a good commander though, and he is hurting...just like the rest of us. I have a feeling your brother has more to do with this than you're letting on."
"Rumble's dead and I can't help him no more," Frenzy said bitterly, "Eject's dead too. Blaster's all that's left of Eject, and I've gotta protect him."
"I see," Knockout hummed, "And when did you meet Eject?"
"Uh...a few orns after Rumble died," Frenzy admitted.
"Mhm," Knockout nodded, "You needed a replacement for a lost bond, and you tried to find it with this...Eject, was it?"
"Yeah," Frenzy replied softly as he looked down at the floor, feeling drained from his outburst and hurt at old memories.
"And now you feel like Blaster is the best friend you need right now?" Knockout inquired.
"I dunno," Frenzy replied, "I just know he needs me, and I'm tired of letting down people who need me. Rumble died when we was on a mission together, and Eject died when we both got stuck in a spark extraction machine together. I hurt people. I don't wanna hurt Blaster."
"I understand," Knockout replied sympathetically, "I hurt people too. Ironic, given my chosen profession. How did Rumble die?"
"He blew up," Frenzy related, "A landmine got him. There was nothing left but a few pieces of scrap."
"That's rough," Knockout replied as he sat down on the floor next to Frenzy, "My brother was eaten by an Insecticon. Well, mostly. I did save part of the body."
"Yikes," Frenzy whistled, "I didn't know you had a brother."
"I don't like to talk about my past," Knockout told him, "In this case however it seems appropriate. Besides, you're a spy. You'll find out anyway."
Frenzy couldn't help but laugh at Knockout's wry smirk. This looming figure of doom suddenly seemed much more Cybertronian than he did before. Frenzy almost felt relaxed around Knockout, but then he looked over his shoulder and saw Blaster standing there silently waiting. What would happen if Knockout killed Blaster? Frenzy had to make sure that didn't happen.
"Hey Doc? You said you believe me, right?" Frenzy asked to be sure.
"Yes, I believe you," Knockout nodded.
"Then you won't kill Vehicons for no reason anymore, right?" Frenzy pressed.
"I won't," Knockout vowed, "If there is any chance at all of a Vehicon being saved, I will do my due diligence and repair them. Decepticon's honor."
"You mean it? Even though they all used to be Autobots?" Frenzy prodded.
"Oh, please! Autobot, Decepticon, the only difference between them is which part of 'the good old days' we prefer," Knockout said as he rolled his optics, "I'm only here because the Decepticons are winning. I don't care if the Vehicons used to be Autobots, civilians, or flying monkeys. They're here, and it's my job to take care of them."
"But you killed so many when you coulda saved them!" Frenzy suddenly screamed, "Why did you do that!?"
"Because I didn't know," Knockout replied easily, "And now I know. Don't worry Frenzy. I'm on your side, and for once I'm not just saying that because Soundwave would kill me otherwise. Blaster and every other Vehicon is in good servos. I promise. Just, um, don't call him Blaster in public. Until we figure out how to handle this situation it needs to be our little secret, okay?"
"Well...I guess so," Frenzy replied uncertainly, "If Dreadwing can't accept it I guess we still have a long way to go. Thanks for listening, Doc. You're not as bad as I thought you were."
"Gee, thanks," Knockout replied sarcastically, "Seriously though, if you need to talk about anything, I'm here. I'll recode Blaster as your assistant if you like."
"You can do that?" Frenzy asked in surprise.
"Of course I can. I am the medic," Knockout reminded him, "Now run along. Blaster will be sent to you as soon as the coding is complete."
"No tricks?" Frenzy asked suspiciously.
"No tricks," Knockout assured him.
Frenzy worried that Knockout could be lying, but at the same time if he acted too suspicious Knockout might harm the Vehicon out of spite. Besides, he knew he had Soundwave to use as a weapon against his enemies. Surely a coward like Knockout wouldn't betray him knowing that.
With these assurances Frenzy exited the medbay; leaving Knockout alone with the Vehicon.
"Sir?" PLX-7204 cautiously addressed Knockout, "Do you really think Frenzy is right? Do you think I'm a...real mech?"
"Hah! Of course not," Knockout dismissed, "However I have spent many vorns as a medic, and I understand both the illusion virus and the strain of twin and/or gestalt loss on a spark. What Frenzy needs right now is a friend and a supportive space to work out his feelings. If using you as a crutch is what his processor wants, then we'll let him have it. Just go along with whatever he says. You're basically his security blanket now. Hopefully he will eventually transition into real friends, and perhaps I may even be one of them. Until then, just let him play out this elaborate fantasy he's constructed for himself. Understood?"
"Yes, sir. I will be the best assistant I can be," PLX-7204 replied respectfully.
"Good. Now get on the berth so I can recode you," Knockout ordered.
"Yes sir," PLX-7204 replied, "Oh, um, pardon me sir, but...will you keep your promise? To not scrap Vehicons that can be fixed?"
"Of course I will," Knockout casually affirmed, "Frenzy needs an environment of trust right now, and I know how rare that is to find on a Decepticon warship. I want him to confide in me. Then perhaps I can wean him off his make-believe world. Now, this is going to sting a little..."