Whenever Knock Out pressed Starscream for details about their upcoming defection the seeker was cagey and hard to pin down. Eventually Knock Out did pin him down, literally, and hissed, "My rooms. Now. We need to talk."

He hustled a grousing seeker back to his chamber next to the med bay, locked the door behind them, and spun Starscream to face him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Starscream spluttered.

"The meaning is I'm sick of being kept in the dark," said Knock Out. "Either you have a plan or you don't, and if you don't then maybe I'll just take my chances myself-"

"You're abandoning me?" Starscream's rage was like a bubble rising rapidly to the surface, about to pop. Knock Out grabbed his wrists before it exploded.

"No I'm not abandoning you, don't be so dramatic. But I might just make my own plans and you can follow along as you please. Whatever your idea is, we need to execute it sooner rather than later."

"Yes…" Starscream conceded. Megatron had been in an uncharacteristically lenient mood of late, but it was only a matter of time until Starscream committed some failure - real or imagined - that set the warlord off again. If only there were some convenient way to put the big mech back in a coma once again, that would be the best option. Then Knock Out could stay in the relative comfort of the Nemesis, well-fortified and familiar, and Starscream would be in charge and as safe as any Decepticon could be. Unfortunately, neither he, Starscream, nor Breakdown were in a position to render Megatron comatose - Knock Out had the best chance, but Megatron saw him so seldom even for a tune up that there was little chance of "accidentally" slipping him something that could induce a coma.

Besides, there was Soundwave to contend with.

Every day they danced on the knife's edge, and every moment they wasted they risked discovery. Even if outright mutiny wasn't on the cards, defection was bad enough, and Knock Out didn't know which prospect was more terrifying - Megatron pounding them all into a pulp, or Soundwave dealing with them himself to spare Megatron the trouble.

It wasn't that Knock Out was particularly disloyal to the cause. He had no great love for Megatron, but nor had he often been on the receiving end of his rages, as Starscream had. Taking the brand had seemed like the sensible thing to do at the time, given his preference to remain on the correct side of the conflict - the correct side being whichever side better guaranteed his survival - but if it no longer served his purposes he didn't have any ethical qualms about moving on.

Of course, there was the possibility of simply letting Starscream make his own way, and Knock Out wouldn't have to risk his neck at all. But that sparkling was his. He wasn't being sentimental, but what belonged to him he preferred to keep. The sparkling was his, and by extension he felt he had placed a claim on Starscream as well. He didn't see it as an obligation, just a fact.

But if they were going to go through with this, then there was one very important issue he had to talk to Starscream about.

Said issue chose that moment to poke his head out of the washroom and greet them both with an amiable smile. "Oh, you brought the Commander. Great. Does he know?"

"Know what?" Starscream had visibly frozen up the moment Breakdown appeared. Starscream hadn't expected to find anybot else in Knock Out's quarters, Knock Out realised. This was going to be interesting.

Breakdown emerged from the washroom, still with a few droplets on his plating from the shower. "You bots talking about our escape?"

"Our escape," Starscream said, prickly as Knock Out had ever seen him. "I wasn't aware until just now that you were involved in the equation."

Far from offended, Breakdown merely shrugged and then gestured to Knock Out, explaining, "I go wherever he goes."

Starscream hesitated, glancing between the two bots. Knock Out watched him, practically seeing the calculations running through his processor.

"I see."

Starscream didn't make any overt show of displeasure beyond his clipped verbal response, but everything about how he held himself had changed in an instant. His every strut was stiffened, his wings lying low against his back, and there was a visible tension in his shoulders. His face was a careful mask, but Knock Out could read his thin-lipped displeasure a mile away.

As much as he'd like to poke Starscream and watch him squirm, Knock Out chose to stick to the point for now.

"I was just telling Lord Starscream that we need to follow through with this as soon as possible," he told Breakdown. He wondered if he should tell Starscream that he was still giving off the same kind of "breed me" signals he had been when in full heat, and Knock Out had noticed even Megatron start to look at him funny a couple of times. The thought of Megatron of all people having his way with the needy seeker was enough to make Knock Out snarl. Diplomatically, he said, "You're not starting to show yet, but there are… other signs."

He paused to examine whether it wasn't simply the idea of any other mech moving in on Starscream that bothered him, but realised that thinking of, say, Breakdown in such a role didn't bother him at all.

Now that was an interesting thought. One that bore further investigation, preferably as soon as possible. But first he'd have to smooth some of Starscream's ruffled feathers.

"Starscream, surely you guessed that Breakdown would be coming too? You didn't think I'd leave him behind, did you?" There was nothing mocking in his tone - in fact he made an effort to sound as gentle as he could. He knew how sensitive Starscream could be, and it would be counter productive to rile him up just now. "It wouldn't be the first time he left his faction for a pretty mech. Is it a problem?"

Starscream looked away, folding his arms. "I didn't say that," he said peevishly.

Knock Out exchanged a look with Breakdown, who was hovering a little behind the seeker. Knock Out stepped closer, and his sensors picked up on the warmth of Starscream's electromagnetic aura. Whether Starscream realised it or not, he was sending out silent signals that contradicted his frosty demeanour. Even though Knock Out knew the cause, he still felt the effects. His expression softened into an asymmetrical smile.

"You always knew that we were…" He let his words trail off, unsure of quite what label to put on his and Breakdown's relationship. But one thing was for certain, and it was something Starscream ought to have known, and that was that Knock Out and Breakdown came as a pair, or not at all.


Starscream knew he had made a foolish error. Of course Breakdown would be coming too.

It wasn't that he disliked Breakdown - just that Starscream was usually only tangentially aware of him, other than as a vague shape with the tag "Knock Out's assistant" assigned to him in Starscream's mind. He was very aware of him now, though; even though he had his back to him, his sensors brushed against the bigger mech's in a way that made Starscream's exostructure tingle.

"I knew you and Breakdown were... something," Starscream muttered.

"Breakdown and I are partners, Starscream," Knock Out said smoothly. For a moment Starscream felt scolded and foolish, but the next moment Knock Out stepped closer, cradled the back of his helm in his hand and tipped his head back, exerting a control on him that had nothing to do with the strength of Knock Out's frame and everything to do with Starscream's willingness to be controlled. "And you are the mech who's carrying my young," Knock Out said, his voice a possessive purr that left Starscream breathless. How in spark's name had this happened? How had a medical inconvenience led to this? Just like that, he was disgraceful, weak and panting in the doctor's arms. His stiff awkwardness was gone in an instant, replaced by a stiffness of a different kind.

Knock Out spoke directly into Starscream's audio, vocals dialed low now and loaded with devilish promise. "I'm sure we can all get along wonderfully together." His hand slid down Starscream's front to his codpiece, behind which Starscream's rapidly hardening spike strained for freedom. Knock Out stroked him and then deftly opened him up. Starscream shamelessly didn't even object as he was exposed in front of not just the doctor but his assistant as well.

"Breakdown, why don't you put the Commander's fears to rest?"

"Happy to," Breakdown said amiably, and Starscream glanced at him to see a hungry look on his face he hadn't thought to see there before. The bigger mech cupped Starscream's face with one large hand. As he leant in to kiss Starscream, Knock Out stepped away, moving to a nearby chair and sprawling in it, pulling a cube of energon from his subspace and uncapping it. Breakdown kissed Starscream softly, and Starscream was running too hot to even think of moving away. His system was buzzing; he felt overcharged even though he hadn't had a drop of high-grade. Was there a danger his heat had returned? He distantly wondered if he should worry, but the idea was chased from his head in moments as Breakdown deepened the kiss, holding his head with both hands now and pushing his glossa into his mouth. The impression Starscream got from him was of power held back, brute strength firmly under control – but not Breakdown's control. No, he understood that it was Knock Out who held the reins. Knock Out and Breakdown's partnership suddenly made a lot more sense in Starscream's mind, given what he now knew about the doctor.

Breakdown guided Starscream down to the floor and came down with him. They kissed slowly, and Starscream realised they were putting on a show for Knock Out's pleasure. The thought probably shouldn't have sent an electric thrill of excitement through him, but that's exactly what it did.

"Good boy," Knock Out murmured. "You're both such good boys." Knock Out reclined in his seat and gave the cube of energon he was holding a swirl. Breakdown and Starscream, on their knees at his feet, looked up at him and then at each other. "Now, Breakdown. You have something for the Commander, don't you?"

Breakdown gave the seeker a dirty smile and unclipped his codpiece. His spike sprang out with a hydraulic hiss, and Starscream's optics focused upon its wide, slightly flared tip. His processor stalled for a moment, and a fresh wave of heat lent his faceplates a fetching glow. He had gone from barely giving Breakdown a second glance to being presented with his erect spike, and the strangest part was that he didn't even seem to mind.

"There you go," purred Knock Out. "Go on, Starscream. You can touch it, it's all yours."

Starscream bit his lip and glanced up at Knock Out once more before refocusing on Breakdown's spike, as though checking he really did have permission. Not that he needed it, but the game made things just that little bit more thrilling. His wings shifted their angle until they were sticking up almost vertically, and fanned back and forth like those of a butterfly sunning itself. He reached out and touched Breakdown's spike with the tip of one slender finger. Breakdown chuckled and took Starscream's hand in his, then placed it on his spike properly, ensuring the seeker wrapped his fingers around the thick pole. Then he dragged Starscream's hand slowly up and down the length. Starscream gave a little moan and leant closer, and Breakdown, satisfied Starscream could handle the rest on his own, let go of his hand. Starscream wrapped both hands around Breakdown's spike and flicked his glossa across the tip.

"Good," said Knock Out. There was a soft click as he opened his panel and extended his spike. He began to stroke himself while watching the other two mechs play. Starscream, now brilliantly aware of Knock Out's attention, dipped his head and took Breakdown's spike into his mouth. The tip was broad and he had to open his mouth as wide as he could, but he managed it. The little hitch of Knock Out's intakes that he heard made it worth the effort. Breakdown's large hand came down to caress Starscream's head, and his touch was surprisingly gentle for such a big mech. Starscream inched his way down Breakdown's spike, gradually taking more and more of the hot metal into his throat, until Breakdown halted his head and murmured, "Easy, don't force it." Starscream focused then on suckling on the tip while stroking the length with both hands.

"Turn around while you're doing that, Starscream," said Knock Out. "I want to see that pretty valve of yours." Starscream obeyed, angling his rear towards Knock Out and sliding his panels back. He felt something touch his valve, then realised it was the tip of Knock Out's foot. He teased the outer folds with his pointed toe, then pressed gently against Starscream's anterior sensor node. Then the touch was withdrawn, only to be replaced a moment later with something far hotter. Knock Out knelt behind Starscream, having left his seat and his energon behind, and slowly slid his hard spike into Starscream's valve. Knock Out and Breakdown kissed, each leaning over Starscream's back as they sank their spikes into each end of the seeker. Starscream's wings fluttered, and Knock Out soothed him by stroking the elegant appendages with careful hands. Breakdown started to thrust into Starscream's mouth – not too deep, but pushing further into his throat on each slow in-stroke than Starscream was necessarily comfortable with. Perversely, he enjoyed the sensation of having his inlet jammed, his jaw straining, taste and scent receptors overwhelmed with the big mech's signature. At the same time, he had Knock Out sliding smoothly in and out of his valve, which was luxuriantly wet at this point, giving the doctor a ride as smooth as silk. His innermost calipers widened, opening the way to his gestation chamber.

He moaned in abandon, muffled as his vocals were by Breakdown's spike; he was hungry for transfluid, for both of their transfluid, and as much as they could give him. It wasn't a conscious desire so much as it was an instinctive need. The newspark growing in his chamber would need a protoform to house it once the time was right. In order for his body to build that protoform he needed as much raw material as possible. Back in Vos, in the old days, this need would have been taken care of by his social group – it was just one of many reasons why Vosian family units tended towards trines rather than pairs. Here and now, he had to make do with what he had.

Not that he found this disagreeable; not at all. In fact, perhaps his frame communicated its hunger somehow – something in his EM field, maybe? - because just then Knock Out and Breakdown withdrew their spikes from him and re-positioned him. Breakdown lifted him bodily, his hands under Starscream's arms as though he were lifting a protoform. It made Starscream feel small and dainty, and foolishly pleased. Breakdown held him over his spike and then slowly lowered him onto it. Starscream's valve stretched wonderfully wide around the former Wrecker's girth. He squirmed as he was forced to take it in, shivering as it went deeper, deeper, its flared tip pressing now against the very deepest end of his valve. His intakes came in short, uneven breaths, and his valve tried to close up, making both he and Breakdown wince as it clenched around Breakdown's spike.

"Relax," Breakdown soothed. Knock Out rubbed Starscream's back, in between his wings. Starscream had both mechs pressed up close against him. It didn't feel claustrophobic; instead of trapped, he felt cradled, treasured. How ridiculous, he thought. It was probably just the newspark inside him that made them act so gentle toward him, so attentive. He was deluding himself to even enjoy it, but it was so hard to resist falling into such a tempting trap, especially when it felt so good. He grabbed onto Breakdown's chest for balance, and Breakdown slid his hands down to Starscream's waist. He was fully seated inside Starscream now, and the seeker stared up at him with sparkling, dazed optics and an open mouth, his glossa hanging out slightly as he panted for air. Breakdown looked smug, but there wasn't a hint of cruelty in his face. Starscream tried to cycle longer breaths and willed his internals to relax. Little by little the iron grip his valve had on Breakdown's spike eased, and Breakdown was able to move inside him. "There ya go. That feels amazing," Breakdown said, and Starscream practically glowed from the simple praise. Breakdown's hands moved down to Starscream's aft to better support the seeker's weight, and he carefully lifted him, then lowered him again, sliding Starscream up and down his cock with an agonising rhythm that left Starscream mewling and begging for more.

"Slag. He's not even in heat anymore," Breakdown remarked. "How's he still this hot?"

Behind Starscream, Knock Out smirked.

"The initial heat is over, that's true," the doctor said. "He's no longer in mortal danger, but his body still has needs. His base coding has protocols for this – we can expect him to be in this 'secondary heat' for as long as it takes to form the first building blocks of the newspark's frame."

"Huh. Weird..."

"Maybe so, but you can't deny the advantages."

Breakdown chuckled, and Starscream moaned as he felt the movement and vibrations through his whole body, centring in his valve.

"S-stop talking about me like I'm not here," he snapped. He looked over his shoulder at Knock Out. "You got me into this mess. It's your responsibility."

Knock Out arched a brow. He ran his hands down Starscream's wings, down his back, and to his aft, which he kneaded and spread.

"Oh, is this my responsibility, Starscream?" he said, reaching between the seeker's legs to gently rub Starscream's valve lips where they were rudely stretched around Breakdown's shaft. Starscream bit down on a moan and wriggled his hips, trying to grind down. "Is this my responsibility too?" Knock Out said, this time rubbing in the cleft of Starscream's exposed aft, teasing his delicious little rear port. Starscream made a wordless reply, too lost in pleasure to bother gracing Knock Out with a proper response. Knock Out slipped two of his slender digits inside Starscream's aft, forcing an undignified squeak out of the seeker's voice box. He curved them and pressed against just the right spot deep inside Starscream to have him seeing stars.

"You should know, Starscream, I take my responsibilities very seriously," Knock Out crooned. "At least, I do when they're this pleasurable..."

Before Starscream could even really get used to the dual stimulation of Breakdown's spike and Knock Out's fingers, Knock Out withdrew said fingers and replaced them with the sleek tip of his spike. It felt cool and slippery, and with a start Starscream realised he had poured some of the energon on it to ease the way. He dug his claws into Breakdown's chest-plates hard enough to make the big mech wince as Knock Out pushed into his aft, while Breakdown's spike remained jammed in his valve. Both mechs murmured soothing encouragements as he struggled to adjust to the intense sensation of being doubly stuffed. It was a tight, tight fit, but together they made it work. Starscream let himself be supported by their hands and bodies, allowed himself to be at their mercy and thereby lose himself to the luxury of abandon.

"It's all right, Commander," Knock Out whispered, stroking Starscream's wings as he thrust up into his aft. "We've got you."

It shouldn't have been so comforting to hear those simple, inane words, but Starscream felt himself relaxing, almost as if Knock Out had flicked a switch somewhere in Starscream's most primitive processor. His body opened up, allowing Breakdown and Knock Out to press deeper into him as he sank down on their spikes. He leant back against Knock Out's chassis, his head tipping back, his aft supported by Breakdown's hands. The big mech still dictated the pace by way of lifting and lowering Starscream's body, but he kept his golden optic on Knock Out's face to watch for unspoken direction. Knock Out's arms wrapped around Starscream's waist.

It was too much for Starscream to endure for long. Two thick, nice spikes inside him, moving in smooth and synchronised rhythm, the purring rumble of two powerful engines caressing his frame inside and out... He succumbed to a blistering overload, feeling at every moment as if he were burning up all over again. His body tightened up, gripping both spikes and earning himself some choked praise.

Breakdown eased his spike out of Starscream's valve and Knock Out carefully brought him down to the ground, all without removing his spike from Starscream's aft. He reclined flat on his back and encouraged Starscream to lie flush atop him, one hand coming to Starscream's throat. His touch was gentle, and Starscream surrendered without protest, tilting his head back against Knock Out's shoulder. Knock Out hooked Starscream's legs on the outside of his own and spread them. Breakdown sank to his knees between both mechs' thighs and guided his glistening spike back to Starscream's open valve. Starscream's body was looser after his overload, his internals more relaxed and supple, which made it easier for Breakdown to thrust inside him and continue thrusting.

"That's it, Commander," Knock Out was purring into Starscream's audio in that damnedly delicious voice of his. His hand tightened around Starscream's throat and Starscream momentarily tensed, but the doctor didn't squeeze like Megatron might have, only held. His other hand found its way to the centre of Starscream's chest and rested there, above the spark chamber where the newspark they had made burned. "Just relax. We'll take good care of you."

Breakdown was pushing the entirety of his impressive length into Starscream's valve now, moving slowly but with a relentless rhythm that Starscream was certain would drive him crazy. He felt impossibly full, felt like the pair of them were plumbing whole new depths of his body and stirring up parts he hadn't even known were there. Knock Out's movements were smaller as he relied on the squeeze of Breakdown's thrusts to massage his spike, which remained lodged deep in Starscream's aft. As Starscream's body continued to loosen up, however, Knock Out was eventually able to slide his length in and out of the seeker's tight passage. Starscream whimpered, now being well and truly fucked in both holes. He spread his legs wider, and Breakdown helped him out by grabbing his ankles and holding them wide apart, keeping him as open as possible, letting Breakdown and his partner get as deep into him as they possibly could.

"Why don't you show him?" Knock Out whispered in Starscream's audio. The hand on Starscream's chest scratched lightly. "It's okay. I want him involved in this. You're going to take his transfluid as well as mine, Starscream. It's going to take both of us to make this happen." Starscream tried to turn his head to look at the doctor, but Knock Out tightened his hold on Starscream's throat and held him in place. His vocals took on a delicious growling tone. "Show him the spark I put in you."

He moved his hand away from Starscream's chest, and Starscream hesitantly opened up his chest-plates and bared his spark for his lovers' inspection. There was a sound of awe from Breakdown, and his clockwork rhythm faltered. The three of them were bathed in blue light. Knock Out looked down at the strongly burning spark with its tiny satellite with possessive pride, while Breakdown regarded the sight with wonder. Knock Out wrapped his arm around Starscream's middle, and Starscream held onto him as best he could.

"Slag… Can I… Ahh, can I come in him?" Breakdown grunted. "I gotta-"

"Yes," said Knock Out. "Do it now."

Breakdown threw his head back, his face going slack with pleasure, and snapped his hips sharply, then again, and again… Starscream felt the wet warmth of fresh transfluid pouring into him, filling him up. Knock Out followed not a moment later, thrusting up into Starscream's aft and filling him there too. Starscream sobbed through a second overload of his own, and then the three of them collapsed into a tangled heap of hot metal. Knock Out closed up Starscream's chest-plates for him, and Breakdown thoughtfully rolled off the two smaller bots before he hurt either of them. They arranged themselves into a somewhat more comfortable pile on the floor, with Starscream cradled in between the other two, Breakdown and Knock Out's arms crossing protectively over Starscream's frame.


They were still no closer to a way out of the mess they were in, their plans to escape the Nemesis no more refined, but as the three of them returned to their duties for the rest of the cycle each of them felt a little happier about the developing situation. Starscream in particular felt strangely contented, as though there was something about walking around the command deck with the transfluid of two handsome mechs inside him that had a direct impact on his mood circuits.

"What are you smirking about?" Megatron growled at him when he had allowed his mind to wander for a moment too long while he was supposed to be analysing some battle plans. He started, and instinctively took a step away from Megatron, who seemed to have appeared out of thin air at Starscream's side. Of course that was impossible - one could usually tell Megatron was coming a mile away, since his footsteps shook the very ground he walked on - but Starscream had been distracted thinking up all manner of ways he could make the most of having not one but two indulgent, strapping lovers.

Beside him, Megatron drew in a deep breath, and then subtly angled his body so he was turned slightly towards Starscream. He was too close for Starscream's comfort, and to his frustration he recognised the moment his "secondary heat", as Knock Out called it, kicked into action.

"You smell different," Megatron murmured. Starscream gaped up at him, and realised Megatron likely hadn't meant to say that aloud. There was a thoughtful look on the warlord's face, and his crimson optics were darkly veiled. Starscream felt the lick of Megatron's E.M. field against his own, then felt it press into his without waiting for Starscream to yield. He shivered and bent forward, his hands pressed against the console he had been working at.

He was acutely aware of Megatron's presence, of his every move. The kliks crawled by, each second bringing more of that unwelcome heat to Starscream's frame. Megatron stood behind him now, close but not touching, although his electromagnetic field wove and pressed into Starscream's with an obscene level of intimacy. Of course Megatron felt entitled to push into another mech's space and sensors like that, to twine his signature around Starscream until it was all Starscream was aware of, until Starscream's sensornet pulsed with unwanted sickly heat.

It wasn't as if Starscream was doing anything to discourage him. No, all Starscream could do was hunch over the console with his back to Megatron, his aft no doubt invitingly angled while his wings fluttered and betrayed his fraying self-control. Megatron was close enough to feel the heat not just in Starscream's E.M. field but in his frame as well now, radiating out of him in a shimmering blur. Starscream felt an answering heat from Megatron, and knew that the warlord was bare inches away from him, knew that if Starscream swung his hips back just a bit he would press against the burning metal of Megatron's codpiece, feel the pressure of his hard, straining spike just beneath the armour…

The idea of Megatron's spike up inside him made Starscream's knees go weak. Megatron was a huge mech, his spike was probably massive as well. Starscream groaned and pressed his optics shut tight as another wave of lust rippled through him. His whole system was in meltdown, his every protocol pushing him to throw himself at Megatron and take what he so desperately needed.

Megatron would not be gentle. He would not be considerate. But he would, Starscream suspected, be thorough.

What the slag was he thinking? He grit his teeth and inwardly cursed himself, cursed Megatron, Knock Out, and whatever deranged mind had ever thought that a heat cycle was a beneficial design feature for a seeker. He despised Megatron, the last thing he wanted to do was frag him! He was being betrayed by his own treacherous body and if he succumbed to it he thought this time he really would go crazy. His internals were still soaked with Knock Out and Breakdown's come, but here he was, sliding his feet apart in a vain attempt to ease the heavy ache between his legs, overcome with need for a mech he would rather see dead.

"Leave us," he heard Megatron tell the other bots in the room. He only vaguely heard their footsteps as they obediently filed out; his audios were filled with the rushing of his own energon, the pounding of his fuel pump. This was it, he thought. This was the moment when he sank to a whole new low, and no amount of scheming would pull him out of the trench of self-loathing he was about to dive into.

Just as Megatron's pointed fingertips first scratched over Starscream's hip, the console in front of him chimed and lit up. Starscream was so startled by it that he jumped backward, straight into the hard wall of Megatron's body. He gasped, expecting Megatron to ravage him right then and there, but Megatron only pushed him aside and leant in to look at the screen instead. Starscream blinked, then followed Megatron's gaze. It was a message from Soundwave. Standing by Megatron's side, Starscream skimmed the message and then the attached maps.

"The Autobots have been spotted heading to one of our energon stores," Megatron said. There was an extra gravelly quality to his vocals, and Starscream shot him a sidelong glance. The warlord's E.M. field still raged with heat, but he was wrestling it under control now. It seemed there was one thing that could force the great Megatron to check his lust, and that was the prospect of getting one over on Optimus Prime.

"Allow me to deal with it," Starscream said. He used the console to request a ground-bridge and then, adopting a deliberately brusque and businesslike manner, said, "I'll go personally."

As he left the command deck, silently thanking Primus for the narrow escape, he opened up a comm line to Knock Out.

"It's time," he said tersely as he strode down the halls of the Nemesis, the clacking of his heels on the hard floor echoing. "I'm having a ground-bridge summoned within five kliks, be ready or I'm going without you. Oh, and bring Breakdown too…"

They intercepted the Autobots shortly after ground-bridging in. The energon store the Autobots were trying to pilfer was located at the base of a deep ravine, in a cave Starscream had had Decepticon workers dig out themselves sometime during the years Megatron was away. He was surprised the Autobots had managed to locate it at all, as it was one of the more remote and well-hidden of the many mines and stores he'd had scattered all across the planet during his too-brief time at the top. Megatron had more or less disregarded its existence, which was a blessing considering he had managed to destroy most of what Starscream had worked for during those years.

Starscream hadn't formulated a plan beyond getting there, having made the decision in the heat of a very uncomfortable moment, so when they first arrived it was a mess. The Autobots opened fire immediately, and the Decepticon trio were forced to take cover within the cave.

"What now, o great leader?" Knock Out asked through gritted teeth. He had taken a shot to his shoulder, which didn't look like it had done any actual damage but the mech's finish sported a smouldering black mark where it had hit.

Starscream checked his scanners. He picked up only three Autobot signatures in the area. He hadn't thought to bring any vehicons as back up, but he shouldn't need them.

"We separate them," he said. "Follow my lead." He knew the cave's layout, and drew up a map for it in his HUD. There were multiple exits, which would allow them to circle around behind their Autobot pursuers. "We'll split up-"

"Ah, ah!" Knock Out interrupted him before he could even get any further. "If you're about to suggest you go off and face Autobots on your own, you've got another thing coming, sir."

Starscream snarled. "I don't need you coddling me."

"Starscream, the sparkling-"

"I'm not arguing about this! I outrank you-"

"Not any more you don't!"

Breakdown gently separated them just as they were staring each other down, optics blazing and engines growling, and said, "Uh, guys?"

"What?" Starscream and Knock Out snapped in unison, turning to the bigger mech. Breakdown pointed, and they followed the direction with their optics.

"Hi boys." The Autobot Arcee stood at the end of the tunnel and gave them a wave, before lifting her blasters and firing on the crates of volatile blue energon stacked against the wall. They ignited at once, and the three 'Cons scrambled to get out of the blast. Starscream hit the ground as a wave of heat passed over his head, only to find himself pinned under the considerable combined weight of both the doctor and his partner.

"Get off me you oafs," he grumbled. "Are they insane? They're destroying the very energon they came to steal!"

"Come on," Knock Out said, grabbing Starscream's wrist and tugging him to his feet. They set off at a run down the tunnel, deeper into the labyrinthine cave. "It doesn't seem like the Autobots are in a talking mood."

"You bots keep going," Breakdown said. "I'm gonna go distract them."

"Don't kill them," Starscream reminded him as Knock Out pulled him away. "We'll have no hope if we kill any of them before we can surrender."

"I got it," Breakdown said, and took off at a jog in the opposite direction, into the lingering flames of the exploded energon.

"This had better not get any of us killed," Knock Out said darkly to Starscream. "Breakdown's the best assistant I've ever had…" His expression was pinched, and Starscream, knowing him as he now did, saw the worry writ plain across his face-plates and in the way he held himself. He knew there was more to it than that, but how much he wasn't sure the doctor would ever say. He didn't need to.

"Trust me?" he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

Knock Out pressed his lips into a tight line, red and black optics boring into Starscream's. "I will," he said. "This time."


Arcee knew she would be reprimanded for that. Energon was in such low supply, destroying any of the precious stuff was idiotic, and Optimus and Ratchet would be well within their rights to give her a slap on the wrist - but when she had seen Starscream, she had seen red.

Bulkhead appeared by her side, catching up after she had recklessly dashed ahead. "You okay? Heard a blast- Oh."

"Yeah," Arcee said sheepishly. "I have an impulse-control problem when it comes to Starscream."

Bulkhead's optics widened a little. "Starscream's here?"

Arcee nodded and said, "Looked like he brought some friends too."

"Like who?"

"Like me!" Breakdown emerged from the smoke-clogged tunnel. He bowled straight into Bulkhead and the two large mechs crashed into another stack of energon crates, sending them toppling and threatening to ignite.

"I got this one!" Bulkhead called to Arcee as he and Breakdown grappled. "Go after the others."

Arcee nodded sharply, transformed, and raced through the flames after the other two Decepticons.

"No you don't," Breakdown said. His fist drew back, and then drove into Bulkhead's heavily armoured jaw. The big green mech staggered, and Breakdown pressed his advantage. Bulkhead was surprised - his former friend must have been pulling his punches the last time they tangled because Breakdown fought like an unstoppable force now. What had triggered this change, he wondered fleetingly in between blows. He got a few good licks in himself, but in terms of power they were evenly matched, and Breakdown was fighting with an unprecedented ferocity - and that was before he had even made a move to draw a weapon. Something had changed to make Breakdown this aggressive, this driven, and Bulkhead didn't think a few energon cubes were enough.

"Why're you protecting them?" Bulkhead asked as they fought. His wrecking ball punched into Breakdown's side, but the other mech recovered in a moment despite the caved plating on his chassis. "You know you're on the wrong side."

Breakdown chuckled, even though is plating was singed and energon ran over half his face. "Yeah," he said. "About that…" He stepped back, and the two mechs circled each other. Breakdown wiped some of the energon from his face with the back of one hand. "What if I told you you're right?"

"What?" Bulkhead lowered his fists, staring at his old friend in astonishment. "For real? You had a change of spark?"

"More like a change of circumstance, but… there's a condition."

"Here it comes…"

"You gotta tell the femme to back off. You can have the energon if you want it, we're not here for that. Believe it or not, we're here to talk."

"Yeah, right."

"I mean it. But you gotta call her off."

"I wish I could believe you," Bulkhead said, shaking his head. Then, as he was about to say more, another explosion rocked the cave. Dust, smoke, and debris obscured his vision, and he swore out loud. "I shoulda known it was just a trick," he muttered, angry at himself for wasting time while Arcee was fighting alone.

"Sorry Bulky, but I don't have time for this," Breakdown said, just before he emerged from the cloud of smoke and smashed his fist into Bulkhead's face. Bulkhead crumpled to the ground in a massive crash, knocked out. Breakdown shook his hand out, then took off toward the sounds of combat.

It wasn't his sparkling in Starscream's chamber, but it was his partner's, and that made the kiddo family all the same. He'd sell his spark to the Unmaker before he let any harm come to that little thing. By extension, oddly enough, he was now forced to consider Starscream in the same light.

He didn't give himself time to ponder the odds of that particular twist.

He looped around through the main chamber to catch up with Knock Out and Starscream, who were, thankfully, unhurt.

"Where's the Autobot?"

"I think we lost her," Knock Out said, his vocals rough with impatience.

"I tried to talk some sense into Bulkhead but he didn't want to hear it."

"We will not abort this plan," Starscream said stiffly. His brows were drawn low in a determined frown, but his wings twitched - something Breakdown was beginning to recognise as a sign of heightened emotion, in this case probably fear. Starscream wasn't sure about any of this either, but he was too stubborn to admit it was a mistake now. Breakdown unconsciously shifted closer to the agitated seeker, and noticed Knock Out do the same. One thing was for sure - whatever they chose to do now, or where they went from here, they would do it together.

The cave rumbled around Arcee as she tracked her quarries. The exploding energon had damaged the cave's structure, and showers of falling rocks and clouds of dust filled the tunnels and caverns she stalked through. There was a chance the whole place could come down, but she wouldn't flee until she was certain Starscream was terminated.

She rounded a corner, and the tunnel she had been following opened up into a larger chamber stacked to the ceiling with energon. In the centre, illuminated by the energon crates' blue glow, was Starscream. He wasn't alone, of course - Bulkhead must have had some trouble with the big 'Con, because now Starscream was flanked by both Knock Out and Breakdown.

"Freeze!" Arcee shouted, leveling her blasters at the trio of Decepticons. She didn't let herself show any sign of fear over facing three Decepticon officers alone, which might be a little more than she was equal to. Staring down the sights of her blasters, her processor ran double-speed trying to work out a strategy that got her out of this in one piece. The odds weren't looking good.

The three Decepticons turned around as one. Arcee scowled, her focus narrowing on Starscream in particular. If she could kill him, then maybe it would be worth it, even if she died at the hands of the other two. Her blasters hummed as she prepared to take the shot that would finally avenge her fallen partner.

"Don't shoot." That came from Starscream, and to Arcee's confusion she watched him put his hands up. The other two followed suit. None of them aimed so much as a blaster in her direction, only stood motionless with their hands in the air. She hesitated. They had her outnumbered. She couldn't fathom the need for such a trick

Knock Out, palms facing her, shifted his weight to one hip and gave her an insouciant smile. "We surrender," he said.

Arcee glowered at all three of them and didn't lower her weapons. She approached slowly, watching all of them keenly for any sign of attack. It would be just like Decepticons to pull a stunt like that. "None of you move," she said. She opened up her internal comm and reached Bulkhead. "Bulk, you all right?"

"Yeah, Breakdown knocked me out for a second there," Bulkhead replied, sounding sheepish. "He kept saying something about wanting to talk."

"Wait," said Starscream, cutting through Arcee's concentration and looking around, hands still raised. "I thought there were three Autobot signatures."

Arcee's focus shifted to a tall figure that appeared silhouetted in the cave exit behind the Decepticons. A small smile tugged the corner of her mouth.

"Hello Starscream," said Optimus. Starscream yelped and turned around. Arcee raised a brow as she watched the red medic place a reassuring hand on Starscream's back, and some of Starscream's composure return as a result.

It was official - Arcee no longer had any idea what was going on.

"You will be bound and escorted via ground-bridge to our base, where we can discuss the full terms of your surrender," Optimus was saying. Arcee put her blasters away and pulled stasis cuffs from her subspace instead. Heavy footfalls behind her told her Bulkhead had recovered and come to lend a servo. If the 'Cons had been planning anything, the chance was lost now. As if realising this, she saw them huddle closer to one another, but beyond that none of them showed fear. Starscream kept his back rigidly straight as he allowed himself to be cuffed, in spite of Arcee glaring daggers at him.

She wanted to protest. She wanted to plead with Optimus not to allow this, wanted to yell that Starscream deserved to die. No Decepticon deserved their mercy. But he was the Prime… She would talk to him privately, later. Maybe she could get him to see reason.

"Ratchet, we're coming home," Optimus said into his commlink. "Have Bumblebee prepare the holding area. We're bringing prisoners."


"Secure the prisoners," said Optimus after they cleared the ground-bridge. They had emerged into a large indoor space, industrial in appearance, empty save some banks of computer equipment. Starscream looked around until he saw one of the Autobots glaring at him in disapproval. So this was the long-searched-for Autobot base? "Make sure they're comfortable." The Prime's masked face was hard to read, but his optics were wary. However, of the bunch of them, he seemed the least on-edge. The other Autobots looked like they were about to question their leader's decision, and perhaps recommend they slaughter the wayward Decepticons just to be safe, but they held their tongues. Interesting. Could it be that the Prime ruled with an even harder iron fist than Megatron himself?

"Sure we can't rough 'em up a bit first?" said an Autobot. Starscream thought the name was Wheeljack. The bot smacked his closed fist into his palm, making it clear he'd rather pummel the three of them into scrap than lock them up.

"That won't be necessary-" Optimus began to say, but Knock Out and Breakdown had already closed ranks between Wheeljack and Starscream. The look on the medic's face was feral, and Starscream stood in shock as both mechs snarled, even though they were unarmed and their hands were bound. In an instant the other Autobots' weapons were drawn and aimed at one or other of the 'Cons, and the air crackled with lethal tension. Prime broke the stand-off by carefully easing his body in between Wheeljack and the over-protective Decepticons, placing a hand on Wheeljack's shoulder, and saying, "Stand down. Everybot stand down. These mechs are in our custody, there is no need to assault them. Knock Out, Breakdown, step back. No bot is harming Starscream."

Knock Out growled quietly, and Starscream saw his clawed fingers flexing as though he were simply aching to disassemble the Prime with his bare hands. Flattering as that was, it wasn't helpful at present.

"My thanks, Prime," Starscream said. He didn't cower or scrape in the Autobots' presence. He had not been defeated, he was there by his own choice. "But while we're on the subject of my wellbeing, I might as well tell you why we're here."

"You're here because we beat you," Bulkhead scoffed. Starscream didn't grace him with a glance, instead focusing on Optimus Prime and the red and white bot who had materialised at his side.

"I'm merely suggesting you have your medic run a scan or two on me before you throw me in a cell and lose the key."

"Are you injured?"

Starscream drew in a breath, squaring his shoulders and fanning out his wings. Pulling strength from the two mechs who had crazily thrown their lot in with him, he said, "I'm carrying."