-"Uh, Jack?" He heard Miko say, turning to find the girl right beside him "Might want to reconsider running...Duck!" She and Jack jumped back as a massive blue hand swiped at them.

-He leaned against the tree, his heart racing as he heard the spider-femme calling him. "Man, I hope this works or I'm dead."

-He looked down at the strange object in his hand, feeling a weight on his shoulders with the knowledge this was no mere space bridge key.

-He did it! Optimus' memories had been restored successfully, the Prime resting on a nearby berth as Ratchet removed the Decepticon insignia. It hasn't been easy, but they're leader was worth it.

-Red optics peered from a freshly dug hole, head turning with great difficulty. Of all the- how had he dug out Megatron before everyone else?!

-Jack frowned at the mirror. As usual, this was as good as it was going to get...ugh, he'd never get Sierra's attention at this rate!

-Falling out of the sky was not an experience he wanted to relive anything soon. His newly crafted body scrapped against the ground, and Jack couldn't help but why Primus would deposit in several feet in the air. If he was going to change the past, wouldn't the god want him in prime condition?

-He felt the anger and resentment of having been tossed in the mine, told to work without any reason.

-He stared at the silver mech, looking so different yet similar to the Megatron he was familiar with. This bot helped him, it was an odd thought to come to.

-Despair came over him, terrified as he stared down at the dark purple crystal, even more worried when he saw Megatron looking at it too.

-He whimpered as he was forced to lay on Shockwave's front, giving the mech full view of his valve before the mech continued to violate him. He hated this, hated it-!

-He scrubbed his plating raw, washing away the fluid, the disgusting touches of the previous night. Despair and terror filled him as he thought of what would happen if he didn't escape.

-The lock cracked, the door opening, and Jack ran for his freedom. He escaped with Knock Out's aid and hid for several orns before daring to go back outside. Back to Megatron, to change this corrupted world.

Jack slid down the wall when Soundwave released him, optics staring out, their depths vacant, mind numb from the intrusion

"What did you do to him?!" Knock Out demanded angrily from his place on the floor.

Soundwave did not look at Knock Out as his face screen kept locked on Jack. "Assessing level of corruption." he intoned. "Possibility of Shockwave modifying him: high."

Jack managed a groan, squinted his optics just slightly to show his displeasure for the accusation. His head hurt beneath the numbness, and his healing factor couldn't soothe it quick enough.

"He hasn't been! I would have noticed-!" Knock Out countered, but groaned as the pressure increased.

"L-let him go." Jack wheezed out, struggling to stay up. "Don't hurt him; he's only here...because he owes me a favor." he continued. "And if you really did just tear through my memories," Jack didn't know how much Soundwave saw, but he steeled himself and glared up at him, "then you know how much I hate Shockwave; through all the surviving, my constant thought was to escape, to come back here." he found the strength to stand, even if he wobbled with the alternating pain and numbness in his struts.

Soundwave nodded after a few seconds of waiting, then released Knock Out. He turned his visor to face the medic. "You: wait outside." He commanded with no room for argument. "Remain there. Failure to comply: punishment severe."

Knock Out looked genuinely terrified as he nodded, wincing from the damage done. "Right, no escaping." he ducked out of the room.

Jack did feel guilty about dragging him into this. 'It was just supposed to be a simple surgery, not all this.' he thought. "So, do you believe me or not?" he asked, but Soundwave didn't reply. Jack snorted, realizing that it wasn't the right question. "Fine, do you still think I'm a danger to Megatron?"

"Yes." Soundwave answered coolly. "Cybertronian: you were not."

Jack sighed, because he wasn't really surprised that Soundwave caught it. "You're right, I wasn't." he replied. "You've already seen the truth, so if I tell you what happened-despite how crazy and weird it was-you'll hear me out about how I came to be this way?"

Soundwave remained silent, watching him attentively. Jack supposed that was his cue to start, even though he had no reassurance that Soundwave would keep this to himself.

Venting deeply, Jack gathered his thoughts as he tried to think of where to start-of how much he was willing to explain. 'I guess I should start with the most unbelievable part just to get it out of the way.' he thought. "I...was not a Cybertronian, that's true." he said. "I was-well, turned into this," he faltered, but kept going, "by...by Primus.

"At least I think it was Primus. I'm...I'm not so sure anymore." Jack spoke truthfully, the acknowledgement of that fact more terrifying than anything Shockwave could do. He tried so hard not to think about the dark energon. "That's not even the strangest part- I'm...from the future."

Soundwave only tilted his head, not saying anything and Jack felt like he was talking a wall. A very dangerous wall, albeit.

"I-I'm from a planet called Earth-it doesn't exist yet, but I was originally one of the inhabitants there." Jack explained. "I was sent back here to-to...change how things are." he rubbed his arm. "That healing I can do-it's one of the abilities I have from Pri-whatever caused me to be this way."

"Megatron: was your enemy." Soundwave stated simply through the unbelievable story. Jack didn't know if that meant he believed him or thought he was crazy.

Jack didn't know how the truth would be perceived, so he'd better have a good explanation ready. "Yes," he said honestly, "he was. It might be harder to believe, but somewhere along the road, Megatron changed and cared less about equality and peace, and more about his own power-which plunged Cybertron into a civil war that left it an empty husk, dead and uninhabitable.

"Which is why I'm here now." Jack insisted, pleading with the mech. "Cybertron does need change- I know that better now than ever. Megatron wasn't wrong about that. I want to help him- I'm going to help him, but I also want to keep him from going down the wrong path."

Soundwave was silent through it all, never once giving away whether he believed him or not. Finally, he said, "Query: why you?"

Jack blinked, but lowered his optics. "I-I don't know. I've been asking myself that ever since I got here. I'm not sure why-maybe it was because I was some third party, or something. I came here without any real knowledge of Cybertron and I can admit I still don't know a lot but some of what I do is horrifying-and that it shouldn't be this way." he said, tensing his frame. This was it. "But I've told you everything, so what are you going to do with it?"

"Information: highly improbable." Soundwave stated bluntly. Jack's shoulders slumped when he continued speaking. "Memories: unhacked. Cannot discern your processor without direct contact."

"Didn't you tearing through my memories give you enough?" Jack asked, unable to help not feeling frustrated. Soundwave was silent, and Jack sighed as he rubbed his brow. "Fine, if it'll put this rest- just don't make it hurt this time."

Jack turned, and not even a moment passed before Soundwave made the connection again, though this time there was much more clarity. Maybe because Jack wasn't trying to mentally fight the bot to get out of his head or Soundwave was being moderately 'gentler' this time.

There was no blacking out, thankfully. Jack did wince during certain parts of the examination of his memories, because he could still feel the emotions in them as though reliving it. Especially the recent memories that made his tank churn violently as he wanted to throw up. Jack sighed when the connection ended, and turned around again for the verdict.

"Conclusion: your name is not Wayward."

Jack found despite himself, an incredulous snort forced its way out. "That's what you focus on? No, that's not my name; though with all the scrap I've gone through it's a pretty damn fitting one."

"Designation: ...Jack." Soundwave took a moment to say, the word alien on his glossa. Jack realized he said it in English.

"Yeah." Jack said, nodding. "I...would prefer it if Megatron didn't know about any of this. The past, the future, who I really am...I doubt he'd be impressed by a tiny organic."

"Affirmative." Jack didn't know what part that for, but he decided not to be offended it were the last.

"So, am I still a threat? Or can we finally get this surgery planned out?" he asked.

"Threat: high possibility." Soundwave said and Jack couldn't help the growl of frustration. "Malicious intent: Negligible."

"So that means...?" Jack perked up, almost unable to believe it.

"Surgery: begins now." Soundwave ordered, opening the door to allow Knock Out entry once more. The red mech look positively rattled in his plates.

"You two sure took your time talking things out!" Knock Out snapped, optics flickering to the door and shuddered. "That guard stared at me more than I would have liked."

Jack grimaced, remembering the stares he'd received too. "Then you'll be glad to know that things have been...settled." he said carefully. "And you can perform the surgery."

Knock Out looked relieved. "Finally." he paused, and frowned slowly. "Last time I checked-a T-cog required not only the donor, but the recipient. Where's this Megatron anyway so we can get started?"

"Completing transactions."

"Oh- for that thing?" Jack realized after a moment what he was talking about. The Lysken crystal felt so far away now. "Did you get a good price for it?"

"300 million credits."

Jack stared at him, blinking rapidly as he tried to reconcile the value to the junk he saw. "R-really? For that?"

"Quality: decent. Form: clear cut." Soundwave replied.

"I guess so." Jack said faintly, but he did make him remove the mesh cloth from his plating. "Knock Out, while you're doing the surgery-take these out too." he gestured to the blue crystals on him. "I want all reminders of Shockwave gone. And after all he did to me, I'm going wring whatever price I can out of these things."

"Fine." The medic stated gruffly, too ruffled to make a witty comeback as he eyed Soundwave warily and with no small amount of fear.

"Don't worry, I'll still give you the credits I owe." Jack said. "Just think of it like-uh, buying Breakdown something nice with them."

Knock Out managed to snort. "More like I'll have him buy me something nice with it."

Jack tilted his head. "Wouldn't that defeat the purpose-never mind." he said, and crossed his arms. "While we wait for Megatron to get back, you can take the T-cog out of me first. That way there won't be any waiting around after."

"Then where am I supposed to perform the surgery?" Knock Out looked around the office.

"The floor? I don't really care as long as it gets done." Jack suggested with a shrug. "Though uh...would you happen to have brought a clamp with you?"

Knock Out stared at him, glowering as he reached into his subspace and pulled out a kit. "You are so lucky I am always prepared for a call." he said, and took out a collapsible clamp. "So, I'm guessing this is to keep your wound open?"

Jack nodded. "While my healing takes longer when the receptors are off, they still heal quickly-too quick for you to extract the T-cog at any rate." Jack looked around for a suitable spot, and found it near a movable cabinet. He wriggled the edge enough to see if he could move it. Nodding to himself, he pointed to the floor in front of it. "Here. We can do this here."

"And the cabinet?" Knock Out asked.

Jack shrugged. "If we can't clean the energon up before it dries, then the cabinet can cover the stains."

Knock Out stared at him, brow raised. "You are much more morbid than I realized."

"You tend to be less bothered by things when you've died a handful of times." Jack retorted darkly, laying back on the cabinet once it was in place. "Speaking of which, please don't do anything that might kill me- coming back from death is painful."

Knock Out looked shaken, but quickly covered it up with a haughty expression. "I have assisted my mentor on several surgeries. I'm not some green trainee who's liable to nick something important."

"Good, see that you don't." Jack quipped, and felt the medic switch off his pain receptors. "Oh, and don't mind the weird anatomy once you cut in."

Knock Out furrowed his brow, but glanced back at Soundwave who kept his screen locked on him. The red medic grimaced and Jack stared down at the scalpel as it precisely slid into his plating, opening the cavity where his T-cog lied.

Knock Out carefully pried the plating apart, using the clamp to keep it from healing as Jack had said it would. His optics widened on seeing the inside- the likes of which he had never seen before, strange and alien to his eyes.

"What in the world-"

"Focus." Jack said sharply, trying not to dwell on it either. "Just work on getting the T-cog out."

"This is different though! I have no idea what wire to cut safely or which is going to offline you!" Knock Out snapped. "You could have warned me better about this at the very least."

"I don't know what Shockwave cut before- just do it to the best of your ability!" Jack said impatiently.

"If I mess up, you'll die!" Knock Out retorted.

"Don't you think I know that? Do it!" Jack snapped.

Knock Out gritted his denta, and proceeded to hesitantly slice into the wires holding the T-cog in place.

Jack was infinitely grateful that Knock Out never failed to turn off his pain receptors because he was certain this would be a living hell if he could feel it, given the amount of energon that seemed to spill from his lower chest. Knock Out, surprisingly enough, seemed greatly concerned about the leaking, that he could die. Jack honestly hadn't considered that the mech actually cared about him, but apparently, he was wrong.

Jack just hoped the purple energon didn't affect Knock Out. He'd seen the effects it had on dead bots and live ones, and even the smallest samples of it had made Arcee in his time woozy. Was his just different in a way? More diluted because it was apparently a part of his 'bloodstream?'

Jack watched critically as the lines were cut, each one falling limp as he waited to see if the next would send him crashing into the cold void, and wake to find his 'dead' body being freaked out over. Seeing him come back to life was not a pleasant experience, for Jack or the bot who saw it as it were.

And before long, Knock Out heaved out a vent as he pulled the T-cog loose, energon dripping over it as he quickly handed it to Soundwave before reaching for small tacks-likely to seal the wiring.

"The worst of it over, doc. My healing will do the rest." Jack said, waving Knock Out away from his kit. "Just clean that T-cog off and make sure there's no contamination when you transfer it to Megatron."

Knock Out looked at him incredulously. "You're still bleeding out!"

"It'll stop in a minute or two- don't worry about it." Jack assured the bot, touched by the concern. "You can remove the clamp now too."

With visible reluctance, likely both the concern he felt and as a medic to watch his patient, Knock Out undid the clamp keeping the wound open. Jack even now found the plating stitching itself together disturbing, coming together until all that was left of the open cavity was a scar running down the front where the plates closed together.

Jack sighed heavily. "And the scars keep on coming." He grumbled as he sat up, the pain receptors still off.

"I can remove it later- for a price." Knock Out quipped, albeit a little shakily. He seem to distract himself by briskly removing the blue crystals from Jack's chest plates.

Jack grinned. "Sure. Standard fee?"

"Of course, I'm nothing if not consistent." Knock Out retorted.

Jack snorted, standing on his numb pedes, but wasn't willing to let the switch be flipped just yet-that would likely send him to the ground to writhe in pain. He glanced down at the crystals that lied in a small pile, those were surprisingly easy to have removed. Just a quick pluck and his healing smoothed out the denting. "I'm gonna be starving once the receptors are back on; Soundwave, where's the energon?"

"In the stores." The blue mech pointed at the hidden staircase, Jack nodding in understanding.

"Do we have any Engex? I could really go for a drink right about now."

"Engex?" Knock Out repeated.

Jack glanced at him. "Uh, you can't have any-you gotta be sober for when Megatron gets here." he said, and saw Soundwave gesture to the hidden staircase again.

"By the stairs to the right."

"Got it." Jack said, and opened the latch before carefully, more cautiously than before, went down the steps, pausing before each step to let his night vision adjust so he didn't go falling. He saw the box by the steps though, and he grabbed a cube out of it. The energon glowed the same bright color he remembered from the conference, and he climbed back out, cube clutched tight in his grasp as he closed the hatch.

"Isn't your healing just going to take care of your buzz?" Knock Out asked, somewhat gruff for being denied the same liquid.

"You'd think that, but no." Jack replied, and leaned against the wall, taking a sip as he felt the Engex slid down his throat, the taste sweet and strong in his mouth. "And now we wait for Megatron get back here."

"And now we wait." Knock Out repeated, Jack tracking another sip. He sighed, relaxing a bit as his tank warmed.

Jack glanced to the side as Soundwave went back to working on datapads, while Knock Out busied himself with cleaning the T-cog. Jack felt odd, his plating still numb but his insides pleasantly hazy as the Engex was beginning to do its job. He would likely get a hangover just like before, but he was free so what did it matter to him?

"My receptors aren't on right?" He asked Knock Out quietly.

"Frag no, you still got at least a klik before I'm turning them back on." Was the reply, a stern frown on his smooth face.

"I see." Jack said, touching the scarring as he'd wondered about the discomfort that would undoubtedly come from the cavity. It probably wasn't empty anymore, his healing having likely taken care of it by now and the Engex dulling him further. He took another sip. "The T-cog clean?"

"Like a brand new gear." Knock Out held the device up, the plating the strange color most of his insides were now, but thankfully nothing out of the ordinary than the first one plucked out of him.

"Good." Jack said. He closed his optics as he felt the Engex's influence spread through his frame even further, but through it he caught the heavy footsteps outside and couldn't help perking up. 'Is he finally back now?'

"Well, I certainly hope that's Megatron because I want this over and done with." Knock Out muttered lowly.

Jack snickered, the buzz getting to him. "Aw, I thought you liked me." he pouted.

Knock Out's optic twitched. "You're being ridiculous, my concern was purely from a medical standpoint."

Jack huffed, taking another drink from his cube as he slowly walked over to the door, keeping his audios open to hear Megatron's voice through the door. Or would he just come right in? 'How's he gonna react to me being here?' he thought. Jack hiccupped, a little sway in his gait when he moved off the wall. "This stuff is good." He said through another drink, the cube half gone now.

"Uh, I think you've had enough." Knock Out tried to take the cube from Jack, who scowled and pulled it away.

"Nooooo, I'm okaaay." he protested, but he held his hand against the wall for support.

"You're swaying on your pedes!" Knock Out retorted.

"'M fine." Jack muttered, avoiding Knock Out as he wobbled on his pedes the closer he got to the door. Just then the door opened, revealing a hulking silver mass. Jack grinned widely at the swaying Megatron. "Hey! Long time *hic* no see!" He greeted casually, stumbling forward.

Megatron caught him by the arms, but when he got a look at his face, his optics widened. "Wayward?" he questioned, sounding a bit disbelieving.

Jack giggled, because he didn't think he'd ever get tired of the concern Megatron tried not to show. "Yup!" he chirped, optics too bright with overcharge. "Did you miss me?"

Megatron held the little mech out in front of him, stabilizing him with servos on his shoulders. "Wayward- are you drunk?" he asked, quite surprised by the state of the smaller mech.

"No," Jack said, but ducked his head and snickered, "maybe? Yeah?" he lifted the cube. "This is really good. It's helping me relax."

"And losing all your inhibitions as well." Megatron said, and more forcefully was able to pry the cube from Jack's grip. "You've clearly had enough. Someone with your frame type shouldn't drink so much."

Jack growled, but it came out less threatening than he hoped. "I haven't drunk that much," he hiccupped and gestured to the cube that was almost empty, "there's still some left!"

"One mouthful." Megatron stated, narrowing his optics while Jack shrugged.

"'S not so bad." He grumbled as Megatron led him to his seat, the gladiator eyeing the red mech who smiled weakly in his presence, a strange thing in his hands. Jack was set down, then stared back up at his friend, optics squinting now. "There's two of you...when did you get a twin?" The mech placed a hand to his forehead wearily. "Hope it's not the evil you."

Knock Out cringed, still looking wary and eyeing the door while Soundwave slowly looked over at them.

Megatron thought scoffed gruffly. "Clearly too much to drink." he said, then turned his gaze to the other two. "Since Wayward is out of his wits, one of you tell me what is going on here. How the pit did he get here?"

"I believe that's my cue." Knock Out said nervously. He vented when the silver mech looked at him. "See, er, Wayward you called him? Well, he escaped Shockwave and has been hiding out at my apartment. Came here to do the surgery." he lifted the strange device.

Realization dawned on Megatron. "A T-cog."

Jack nodded, tilted his head up at the mech. "Kept my promise."

"Yes, you did. Now lay your head down before you purge everywhere." Megatron ordered him, and Jack reluctantly doing so.

The small mech watched Megatron with a sideways view as he approached Knock Out and took a hold of the T-cog, examining it. Jack was struck with the notion the mech really hadn't likely seen one before. Megatron handed the T-cog back to Knock Out before taking several medium sized boxes from his subspace and put them on the desk by Soundwave.

"Add these to the stores." he said, and the silent mech nodded. Megatron paused, his optics narrowing as he noticed the small pile of crystals. "Where did those come from?"

"Wayward's plating, he wanted them out so he wasn't reminded of Sh-" Knock Out was cut off by Jack hissing in warning.

"Shut up! I don't wanna hear his name!" Jack growled. "I don't even want to think about that fragger unless it involves the police checking to see if I'm hiding here!" Jack said scowling. He gestured roughly to the crystals. "Just get those priced as soon as possible-looking at them makes me sick."

"Soundwave, add these to the list of items still needing to be processed." Megatron said, and Soundwave nodded as he walked over to pick them up before returning to the desk.

Knock Out shifted, trying to keep his bravado but still looking awkward. "So, can we get the rest of this surgery underway?"

"Once Wayward is properly taken care of." Megatron stated firmly, the mech in question groaning.

"I may only be an intern, but even medical science hasn't come up with a cure for a hangover." Knock Out replied. "Which by how much Wayward drank, he's definitely going to have."

"My healing should be able to take care of that at least." Jack said as he tried to keep his head from spinning. Even lying down, it was difficult to keep still. "I'll be fine," he waved it off, hand swaying more than he'd liked, "just do the surgery. You got the T-cog, the medic, and the longer we stay here the more someone Knock Out knows notices he's gone and gets the police involved-and I'd like to avoid that."

"And you trust this medic?" Megatron asked Jack, before giving Knock Out a wary leer.

'Much as I can.' Jack thought, but knew that was petty, even in his overcharged state, and that he shouldn't say that after everything he was having Knock Out do. "Yes." he said. "He's done a good job on me, always professionaaaal," he slurred, squeezing his optics shut for a moment, "and he didn't stab me in the back when he the chance and sell me out."

"Well, I did owe you." Knock Out muttered.

"Not helping your case." Jack replied. "And while true, I still saw the concern when you thought I was bleeding out."

Knock Out grimaced, looking away. "Please, go back to being drunk and stop embarrassing me."

"And Breakdown!" Jack murmured, slumping back, optics unfocused. "Great buffer rigghtt? Make sure he doesn't..." Jack yawned widely, head lolling a little. "Doesn't lose his optic again, mmmk?"

"Again?" Knock Out asked in disbelief. "What, you know him or something?"

"No." Jack muttered. "Meant don't let him lose an optic-yeah, that's what I meant."

Knock Out stared at him, but then snorted. "You are one delirious drunk."

"And he only had one cube of Engex?" Megatron asked Soundwave, finding himself beginning to smirk despite the goings on and happenings in the past few orns. A simple nod was his response, Knock Out sliding a hand down his face.

"I'm never letting him drink again," The medic muttered, crossing his arms irritably.

Jack snickered. "Then you'd better keep your Engex locked up."

Even with his amusement, Megatron still levelled a distrustful gaze on Knock Out. "And why would he be going anywhere with you to let that happen?"

Knock Out tensed up, but vented heavy to calm himself. "Because until it's safe for Wayward to come back here at any time, he's stuck with me." he said, as if it were a great burden he was taking on. "Plus, he still owes me money for the paint job and getting rid of his scars."

"Does he?" Megatron glanced at Wayward, then back to Knock Out, frowning slightly. "Soundwave will provide the funds for however many credits your work cost-"

"No." Wayward cut over him, shaking his head in a vain attempt to remove the double image. "I'm gonna pay with my money that I earned."

"You will be free to remain here once your debt is paid." Megatron countered raising a brow.

"Nah. Gotta lay low at Knock Out's. This is the firssst place Shockwave would come running to." Jack replied lazily.

Megatron shook his head, venting wearily. "You certainly haven't gotten any less stubborn."

Jack smirked despite how his head pounded, processor aching. "I wouldn't be me if I weren't." he said, and rubbed his brow. "Plussss, I'm right." his optics gained a faraway look. "I get caught here- he said you'd go back to the mine, and he'll use me like he wants to now."

"'Use you'? As in the experiments due to your accelerated healing?" Megatron asked, but his spark grew hot when Jack shook his head.

"Not jus' that. Stickin' his fingers where they don't belong. Forcing...forcin' me..." Jack mumbled out, optics slowly shuttering until they closed completely. "And he said the next time," Jack deeply wished he could have finished off that Engex cube, "it wouldn't be his fingers. Why I escaped when I did." he murmured.

After that, Jack's head fell to the table, slipping deep into recharge and leaving the rest of the room in silence as they stared at his sleeping form.

Slowly, Knock Out grimaced. He'd thought it was odd for Shockwave to even ask about a modification that made the wearer want approval from the one tuned with it. Though it was said, the longer they were here the more suspicious things would look. The red mech looked over at Megatron, but stiffened when he saw the scowl the other mech was sporting.

"I uh...I think we should get the surgery underway." Knock Out suggested meekly, flinching when that fierce glare turned toward him- and Wayward was right; He'd never forget that frighteningly fierce visage for as long as he lived.

"Megatron," Soundwave said suddenly, almost shocking Knock Out as he nearly forgot he was there, "thought: rash. Actions: unwise. Fallout: high."

Knock Out was slightly amazed at how the words seemed to just ease Megatron's temper. Only a little, as the silver mech turned away and glared at the wall on his way to the table.

"Yes," the silver mech growled, "a swift end would be too good for that mech." he sat on the table, and Knock Out stiffened back up when that gaze locked on him again. "Let's get this over with."

The red mech nodded. "R-right." he said, and briskly made his way over to the table as well.

"Know if you try anything funny that I will ensure you never leave this room." Megatron promised the mech almost casually as he laid down in a vulnerable position, Soundwave watching over the pair.

Knock Out never felt more threatened than he did right now. "Yes, no funny business." he tried to play it off cavalierly, but he couldn't hide the shake in his voice. He switched off Megatron's pain receptors, and tried to ignore both the faceless stare and calculating glower, then got to work.