Switchshade sat in a daze as the Autobots' most powerful warriors crowded around him, offering sideways hugs, clasps to his shoulderplating, and wide grins. Lord Prime remained near the doorway, but with his battlemask retracted Switchshade could see a smile of relief upon even his faceplates. Ratchet permitted the impromptu celebrations for far longer than Switchshade would have anticipated, and then quickly shooed Cliffjumper, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead back out of the doorway with promises that they'd have time enough to speak with the dark mech later.

Switchshade tensed slightly when Lord Prime made no move to follow, and glanced down to where his right servo had curled carefully around Ratchet's forearm plating in a desperate plea not to be left alone. The medic offered a huff, but quietly patted the trembling black servo reassuringly, and took a seat beside the 'Con. Lord Prime slowly approached then, pausing when Switchshade couldn't restrain a flinch, and when it appeared the younger mech was slightly calmer, continued to move closer. Several feet away, Lord Prime stopped and seated himself on the floor, and Switchshade's processor flew to static. Lord Prime, Chosen of Primus, Lord of the Autobots, chose to sit on the floor? Like any common mecha?

Flashes of wrong, wrong, wrong running through his mind at being seated above Lord Prime, Switchshade moved on instinct to the ground, dropping smoothly to his knees and bowing his helm low enough to brush the floor. Behind him, he heard Ratchet crumble and a few joint creak, then he felt the medic's bulk slowly settling beside him and the gruff command to, "Sit up, at least, kid." Slowly, cautiously, Switchshade obeyed, his optics locked on Lord Prime's pedes where they were crossed before him. Ratchet calmly reached over and pulled the dark mech off his knees, ending in a slight sprawl as he glanced to the medic in confusion. "Sit, not kneel Switchshade. If you insist on sitting on the floor, at least sit up, please."

The youngest mech glanced hesitantly between Ratchet and Lord Prime several times, the absurdity of the situation striking him suddenly. Here they sat, ancient Lord, renowned medic, and terrified soldier, on the floor like sparklings. Lord Prime and Ratchet both appeared quite calm, and willing to let him set the pace, which seemed to him the strangest aspect of all. Should he not have been reprimanded yet, if not for his many faults in the unfortunate street racing situation, then certainly for causing such strife and disarray in his cowardly attempt to retreat from a just and deserved punishment?

"Switchshade." The mech in question flinched when Lord Prime addressed him, hurrying to sit up and trying not to cringe at his disrespectful posture.

"M-my l-lord?"

"Are you willing to speak with me?"

Switchshade's optics flew wide, and in his astonishment he dared to meet the Prime's gaze. He froze in further surprise when he recognized the gentleness and quiet compassion in Lord Prime's optics. "O-Of course, m-my lord. I w-would n-not d-disobey y-your c-command. W-what do you w-wish to know, my l-lord?"

Optimus watched the trembling mech struggle to speak, glancing frequently at Ratchet for reassurance as he told them of his abilities. With slight prompting, the young mech went on to quickly and sincerely apologize for his actions the prior evening. Optimus struggled to keep his faceplates gentle and encouraging when in truth the powerful mech would have liked nothing more than to rage at the injustices that had clearly been heaped against the trembling youngling before him. For a mech raised among Decepticons to bear such a kind spark, it must have been nearly impossible for Switchshade to have reached adulthood, and yet the result sat in front of him. Shaking in fear and looking as though he expected to be beaten within an astroklik of his functioning simply for trying to help Jack and Bumblebee, for blindly running for his life when he was terrified.

Optimus would have dearly loved to reach out, to offer comfort in any way he could, but he knew Switchshade would likely see it as an attempt to attack. The Prime wasn't sure which would be worse to witness- the dark mech panicking and trying to run with that awful terror shining from his optics once again, or his simply giving up and surrendering to what he believed would be agony with quiet fear and despairing resignation. Wishing to witness neither of these, Optimus remained silent and still, simply nodding in encouragement for Switchshade to continue when it seemed the mech would falter.

Ratchet met his gaze a few times, equal rage at what had been done to the youngling he had taken under his wing burning in the medic's fierce optics, but he too chose to remain quiet unless needed. Optimus watched in compassion and concern as Switchshade finally began to falter, the continued silence from both his captors frightening him that he had said too much.

"…a-and then I-I woke i-in this r-room with M-M-Miko. She r-ran t-t-to tell y-you, a-a-and the r-rest you know, my l-lord." Switchshade managed to stammer in a whisper, his helm bowed to his chassis. The silence was unnerving, and he wondered if finally, finally Lord Prime would punish him for his failings and inadequacies.

"Switchshade, I am proud of you. I am honored you have chosen to be loyal to the mechs under my command and humans under my protection. You will not be harmed. We will never cause you damage, physical pain in punishment, or any other form of torture. I do not condone it, and will never permit it to be done to anyone when I have the power to prevent it. No mech here will ever harm you, and we all wish to see you recover from this. Your functioning has value, not for what you can do for us, not because you need to be 'useful', but because your spark holds intrinsic value as the life force of a fellow Cybertronian. I know not what horrors you experienced during your time with the Decepticons, but I swear to you, you will know no torment here."

Switchshade blinked in astonishment when Lord Prime paused, his wise blue optics searching the ex-'Con's own for indications of understanding or belief. Covertly, the dark mech drew a claw across the back of his knee plating, the sharp pain informing him he was not, in fact, in a ridiculous recharge dream. Lord Prime truly was before him telling him these wonderful things. But how could he mean it? Switchshade, valuable? He was only refuse, worth nearly nothing to anymech who did not have a use for him. Soundwave and his cassettes the exceptions, for familial bonds were quite a different story. But for Lord Prime, enemy of the Decepticons, to find a Decepticon underling's functioning to have value on it's own merit? Then…

"I can see this is a lot to take in. Autobots are taught from sparklinghood that freedom is the right of all sentient beings-that every life is sacred and of value. It is what we choose to do with our lives that define us. Regardless of circumstance, your choices define who you are, and you, Switchshade, have proven yourself to be a mech of great integrity and honor. I-"

"Ratchet, requesting Groundbridge."

Lord Prime blinked in surprise, and Switchshade turned to look at the medic as he rose quickly to his pedes. "Arcee and Jack-I'm sure they'll want to see you as well. I haven't had the chance to inform them yet of your continued survival." Ratchet explained, offering a broad gray servo to help Switchshade stand. Lord Prime accepted a servo up as well, and then offered an encouraging nod to Switchshade. "Take some time to try to accept you are safe here, Switchshade. If you have any questions, or are struggling to understand, please know that you are more than welcome to ask me. If you are uncomfortable with that, I am certain Ratchet will have no trouble explaining further as well. For now, I will let you go and reassure the others you are well."

As Lord Prime opened the door and prepared to lead the way back into the common area, he glanced back at Switchshade and offered a tiny smile. "And for what it is worth, I am very glad you are still alive and with us."