Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers
"Um-I was- I..." Magnia stuttered, but Knockout interrupted her, stepping forward.
"She was with me, my lord," he said smoothly, slipping a servo into Magnia's. "We were…otherwise occupied."
Magnia sent him a private commlink as Megatron raised an optic ridge, :What in Pit are you doing?:
:Just follow my lead.:
"What you mean to tell me is that you two were…." Megatron trailed off and shook his helm. "Never mind I do not wish to know. Just make sure it is not interfering with your duties."
Roulette's faceplates flushed an angry blue as she realized what he was saying, "You mean they-you two-" Her optics darkened and she glared at Magnia, "I'm going to kill you."
She stalked forward angrily until Megatron snapped, "Roulette! Control yourself."
Roulette stiffened and nodded, "Yes sir.", but continued to glare daggers at Magnia, who couldn't say anything, realizing that Knockout's lie had probably just saved her life.
Magnia tried to comm Roulette but she refused to accept it and instead turned to Megatron, "May I be excused, sir?"
"Fine," Megatron said, bored. He turned instead to torturing Ultra Magnus again and Roulette marched angrily out of the throne room.
:What was her problem?: Knockout commed.
Magnia winced, watching Megatron slice up Ultra Magnus, who was still refusing to talk, :Not allowed to tell you.:
:I just saved your life! Glitch, you owe me!: Knockout argued.
Magnia sighed, :She likes you….:
:She does?: Knockout positively beamed. :I never knew that.:
:Do you like her back?:
Knockout blushed, :I always thought she was a very, ahem, attractive femme, but I thought I had been friend zoned…She has an amazing finish.:
:Well then go after her and explain what happened!: Magnia commed. :She's probably in her quarters right now, crying her optics out.:
Knockout eyed Megatron nervously, :Do you think he'll notice?:
:Probably not,: Magnia winced again as Megatron drew more of Ultra Magnus' energon. :He's a little preoccupied with Ultra Magnus right now.:
Knockout nodded, :Magnia?:
:Hmmm?:
:Do you love him?:
Magnia sighed, :You don't know how much I wish I didn't.:
Knockout sighed too, :I forgive you then. But you owe me big time!:
Magnia agreed and Knockout snuck quietly out of the throne room, on his way to Roulette's quarters.
He paused outside the door and knocked softly, "Roulette?"
"Go away," a voice called from inside, followed by a sniffle that made Knockout's spark twist.
"Please come out and talk to me," he begged, but was met with silence. "Look, Magnia and me didn't interface."
There was a pause before she said accusingly, "You're lying."
"No, I'm actually not. Please, just come out?"
The door opened hesitantly and Roulette stood, refusing to look anywhere but the ground, "What is it, Knockout?"
"Roulette," Knockout sighed her name achingly. "I didn't interface with Magnia; that whole thing was a lie so she would have an alibi for where she was when the prisoner escaped."
"Why would she need an alibi?"
Knockout bit his lip, "Because she did help him escape; that's why I was so pissed off at her."
Roulette finally looked at him and Knockout saw how much redder her optics were than usual from crying, "She did? But why?"
"She's in love with him," Knockout sighed. "But if Megatron had found out, he would have killed her. So I lied to protect her."
"Bumblebee starts with B," Roulette mused to herself and then glanced at Knockout. "So…you didn't interface with her?"
"Of course not," Knockout slipped his servos into hers. "I would never do that to you, Roulette. I'm so sorry about that whole thing."
He brushed a few stray tears away from her optics and she sighed happily, "Knockout…"
"Roulette," he murmured, closing the gap between their lips. The kiss started off slow, but soon grew passionate. Roulette bit Knockout's lip impishly, and he moaned into her mouth.
When they broke apart Roulette said seductively, "Care to come in, doctor?"
Knockout grinned, "Don't mind if I do." They slipped, giggling, into Roulette's quarters and shut the door with a bang.
In the throne room, Magnia was killing herself on the inside, watching Megatron practically slice Ultra Magnus to ribbons, and not being able to help the poor commander at all.
Megatron suddenly received a comm from Shockwave, saying that all Autobots had been taken prisoner and he grinned ferally.
"Well, Ultra Magnus," he sneered. "It would appear all of your Autobots are defeated. Now, before I offline you, tell me, who is the traitor in my camp?"
Ultra Magnus glared at him, remaining silent and Megatron shrugged, "Suit yourself. Starscream, offline him." When his second in command failed to respond, Megatron turned to him questioningly, "Starscream?"
Starscream was staring at the horizon, "My lord…what is that?" He pointed and Megatron and Magnia followed his gaze.
A dark form was flying straight at the tower, and as it drew nearer, Megatron swore under his breath, "Frag it all; it can't be!"
"He can't fly…can he?" Starscream said in disbelief. Magnia would never admit this, but she had never been so glad to see Optimus Prime, zooming towards the tower, looking high and mighty as he always did. A few moments more and Ultra Magnus would have been a goner.
He landed in front of Megatron and immediately began beating the shit out of him. While Starscream was distracted, watching the fight, Ultra Magnus rose to his peds quickly and soundlessly. Before Starscream knew what happened, Ultra Magnus dealt him a harsh uppercut to the jaw, and the seeker sprawled unconscious.
Optimus smashed Megatron into his throne, rendering him unconscious as well, and then turned to Ultra Magnus, "Commander?"
Ultra Magnus stared bemusedly at Optimus' upgraded form, "Sir, you are looking…robust."
Magnia stood hesitantly, "Ultra Magnus."
Optimus jumped, not having noticed her and pointed his blade at the base of her neck. She froze as he studied her, "You are the femme Bumblebee saved a few months ago."
"Sir," Ultra Magnus interrupted, pushing the blade away from Magnia, "she is on our side."
"I am not!" she snapped. "This was a one-time thing, ok?" Then she sighed, "Thank you for not giving me away, though."
"You are welcome," Ultra Magnus nodded and then commed the Autobots. :Optimus Prime has returned.:
This was responded to with a rousing cheer as the Autobots overthrew their captors and continued fighting.
Soon Bumblebee and Arcee reached the fusion cannon control room and disabled the cannons. As Ultra Magnus received the comm that the cannons were down, and the Autobots began to fall back, to allow the humans to attack Darkmount, Megatron finally realized that they were defeated.
:Decepticons! Retreat to the Nemesis,: he commed reluctantly. In a panicked frenzy, the 'Cons began rushing for the ship, figuring that if Megatron was ordering a retreat, something must have been horribly wrong.
Roulette and Knockout barely made it onto the ship, because they had been busy, before the humans came in with their weapons and reduced Darkmount to a smoldering pile of ash.
As Magnia and the other Decepticons that had managed to get out in time stared angrily at their ruined tower, the Autobots celebrated. They returned to the Harbinger and Bumblebee happily hugged Optimus.
"Good to…have you…back," he said and Optimus smiled at the young scout and patted his back.
"It's good to be back, Bumblebee," Optimus said, deciding not to ruin the moment by asking about Magnia.
"Optimus!" Ratchet burst into the room and hugged the red and blue bot tightly. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick!"
"Smokescreen pulled me out of the wreckage of our base and has been taking care of me in a nearby cavern. I owe him my life; he used the Forge of Solus Prime to save me," Optimus stated
Ratchet sighed heavily, "So it's true the Forge has been drained of its power? Then any hope of rebuilding the Omega Lock has truly been lost."
"I…did what I felt was right," Smokescreen sighed.
"And your instincts once again have proven to be quite sound," Ratchet assured him and then gave Optimus a stern look. "You are most definitely overdue for a checkup."
Optimus laughed and said, "Yes I suppose I am." He reluctantly followed Ratchet into his makeshift Medbay.
The Autobots continued the celebration long into the night, enjoying a rare time of happiness for them before the war took a dark turn.