Knock Out had debated it with himself. He'd spent almost all his time patching Starscream up while thinking on his next move, cursing the seeker all the way-both Starscream and Dreadwing. There was a single piece of information he'd kept close to the chest, but now he had to think about saving face. Megatron already bought Starscream had sky hunger and was currently being locked in his room until he came too.
Knock Out nodded to himself, and cleared his vocalizer to catch the silver mech's attention. "My liege, I have something I feel I must bring to your attention."
Megatron narrowed his optics. "What is it, Knock Out?"
The red mech didn't have to fake his fidgeting, especially since he was still aware of how hideous his faceplate looked. "I never realized it until I was working on Starscream, but the seeker in his memories, it-it was Jack!"
The silver mech tensed, a scowl twisting his mouth. "What?"
Knock Out hurried to explain, less he get his leader even angrier at him. "I didn't realize it at first because he looked so different. But after thinking it over it came to me, and I remembered certain...aspects about him."
"Spare me your...predilections." Megatron sneered. "Get to the point."
"My lord, if Soundwave were to be on the look-out for a mention of Jack, we could retrieve him. I know I failed before, but please allow me to rectify this." Knock Out said pleadingly.
Megatron was silent for a moment, optics still narrowed and he scowled finally. "With Starscream...indisposed currently, you will be working twice as hard with the Omega Keys, and during such time Soundwave will occasionally search out for the pest. Do you understand?" he asked harshly.
Knock Out ducked his head, nodding rapidly. "Yes, of course, my liege!"
"Now get out of my sight." Megatron growled.
The medic turned and left, and when the doors closed behind him, he smirked.
The wind drafted over him, cooling his aerial body as the night sky twinkled above him. He tilted onto his 'back' and 'saw' the stars shining. He could check his chronometer, but wasn't interested in how long he'd been flying for. He'd been able to get a grip on himself, and that was the point.
I can do this, we're just gonna be sparring, nothing else. He told himself firmly. Jack rolled back over and nosedived lower to the ground, seeing the ship behind the rock mount get closer. Jack transformed, but unlike earlier his pedes tripped on the dirt, and he screeched as he fell onto his face. Crap, guess all my landings can't work out well.
Jack shook his head and got to his pedes. He dusted the dirt off on his way to the landing dock, and peered into the cockpit. Wheeljack was lying back on his seat, arms folded behind his head and optics closed. Jack's energon cube was still where he put it, and he quietly scooped it up. He sighed, and cracked it open.
Jack crashed to the floor, his cube sliding over the floor. Panic clenched his spark as a form straddled his hips and his wings were tightly squeezed. His wrists were free, and fear made him lash out. His claws struck something, and he rolled back onto his aft, vents heaving.
Adrenaline slowly worked its way out of his systems, and Jack's optics widened when he realized what happened. Wheeljack was bent down, his optics hazy as he held his bleeding shoulder.
"Scrap, you got some punch." he said wryly.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Jack exclaimed, and he would have moved forward but flinched back when he saw the blue liquid on his digits. "I-I-I thought-"
"No worries, just a scratch." Wheeljack interrupted, wincing as he shrugged his shoulder. "My fault, went into recharge before you got back." he grinned, but it was strained. "Guess your training's gotta wait 'til I get this patched up."
"Don't move." Jack instructed, focusing on the wound. "Where's your medical supplies?"
Wheeljack raised an optic ridge, but nodded to a crevice in the wall. "There. It ain't your fault, kid. Don't gotta feel guilty."
"I know, but you can't tell me how to feel. I've had enough of that." Jack didn't mean for the last bit to slip out, but he was glad he was turned away. He didn't want to know what Wheeljack thought of that. Jack pressed onto the crevice, and the wall slid up to reveal a medium-sized clear box. He really didn't know how to do patch jobs, and the knowledge he 'gained' with Knock Out wasn't something he wanted to dwell on.
"Thanks." The Wrecker grunted as he opened the box. He needed to move his servo, and Jack tensed when he saw the five gouges. They weren't long, but they were deep if the amount of energon coming out was any indication.
Jack's spark pulsed rapidly. He'd almost struck Wheeljack's neck line. "I'm so sorry."
Wheeljack paused, but didn't repeat his flippant dismissal. He wiped away the energon with a mesh cloth, and a large thin sheet of pliable metal was pressed against his shoulder. He leaned back against the wall, and Jack winced as Wheeljack didn't even flinch as he began to use the hand-held torch in the kit to weld the metal in place.
"Doesn't it hurt?" Jack questioned.
"Just need to turn off the pain receptors, no big deal." Wheeljack replied, but the reply made Jack's stomach tank churn.
"You can turn it off?" he repeated. How much could he do that Knock Out kept from him? Of course he wouldn't tell you. "How?"
"A program in the processors. Medics show ya how to get it right, cause I've heard it can cause damages if something gets messed with. Cables are a good start, but you need to undo the latch on your neck for the bigger stuff." The white and green mech explained.
Jack frowned, and his servos brushed against the back of his neck. His plating felt like it was crawling. Knock Out did do something with my head. What had he done though? "Is...is it possible to find out if you've...had something done? A-against your will?"
"Been hacked?" Wheeljack asked, and Jack nodded. "Yeah, your chronometer ticks off all points when altercations in your systems happen. I'm no medic, but I could show ya how."
"You said that before," Jack said, "and though I don't really know you, I think you did a good job with my neck." he traced a digit over the metal. "Can barely see the scar. In fact, I think it hurt taking the metal off."
Wheeljack snorted, and closed up the medical box. "If you say so." he picked up the pack and nodded to the console. "You can do it over here."
Jack rubbed his wrist as he let the cable port slide back. He watched as the windshield had a blue glow cast over it, and a plug on the console opened. "So I just put it in there?"
"Right, then let me do the rest." The Wrecker replied.
Jack nodded and pulled out the cable. He hesitated, but sighed deeply and plugged it in. He stiffened as his systems tingled, cables and filaments deep inside squirming as a humming ran through him. He had to admit it, this was more pleasant than his previous takes with a cable and plug.
He glanced to the side, where Wheeljack was typing away on the console. On the screen, glyphs appeared in a steady line, while there were few spikes in the lining. "Want a copy?" The Wrecker asked.
Jack frowned, his expression thoughtful. His mother's words came back to him, and he sighed deeply once more. A crush talk can wait, I need to find this out. "Yes." he said softly. "M-my mom told me she had a hard time reading the chronometer for-for Optimus." he cringed stumbling over the name. "I know it's a lot to ask, but could you match this list to his? I want to settle this once and for all."
Wheeljack gave him a long stare, but nodded tersely. "You got it, kid."
Jack smiled slightly, deeply relieved. "Thanks." he pulled out the plug and spooled it back into its casing. "I'm gonna tell my mom, not that I don't trust you, but she knows...the details to make sure Optimus can't weasel out of anything."
"You wanna use my comm?"
Jack shook his head, and headed for the entrance. "I got it, thanks anyway." he took a running start, and his spark soared as he transformed.
He hoped his mother was waking up soon. If not, then whoops.
Knock Out frowned down at the Omega Keys. They astounded him, and he deeply hated it. Oh, they were interesting in their design, but he needed to get something out of these keys. He couldn't spend all his time trying to figure out how to kill Starscream, then he wouldn't get anything done.
He frowned as he noticed Soundwave standing in the shadows of the dim lighting. "Yes?"
A clip played out, one which made Knock Out stand up straight. "Mom, I'm really glad your up, can't wait to see you."
"And...you've pinpointed his location?" Knock Out tried to keep his emotions in check, but he had trouble to stop the glee from showing.
Soundwave didn't reply, but his screen mask showed a location in Jasper, Neveda. Another clip played out. "...find...him."
"Oh, I will." Knock Out grinned. Full circle, back where it all started.
Jack shifted on his pedes, but smiled when his mother's car pulled into the construction site. "Sorry for calling you out here."
"You sounded like you had something important to say." June yawned, but her eyes were devoid of tiredness. "What did you need to see me about?"
"Wheeljack took a copy of my chronometer lines," Jack grimaced, "like with what Optimus showed you. I asked him if he'd check them both over, and was wondering if you could just double check with what I told you."
June smiled, both sad and relieved. "It's nice to see just how much you're progressing." she nodded, and reached forward to hug his shin. "Love you, I'll see you after."
"'Kay." Jack replied and patted his mother's back. "I'll call you later. Probably in the evening."
"Alright." June said. She gave his leg a final pat, and made her way back to her car.
Jack watched his mother leave, and turned away. He smiled softly. I...I think things are finally gonna be alright. That I'm going to be alright.
The seeker transformed, and flew over the construction site. He banked towards the cliffs, and checked his chronometer for once. It was still early morning, but Jack wanted to see the sunrise. He landed on a cliff, and after falling on his face again, he grumbled and walked to the edge.
His spark soared when the beginnings of dawn began to peek over the horizon. It entranced him, such a simple thing he'd always taken for granted. "It's so beautiful."
"Yes, you are."
Jack's spark seized, and his servo turned into a blaster before he registered that hated voice. He turned-but a sharp, searing shock went through him, setting every fiber on fire. "Ahhhhh!"
He screamed until his throat burned, and his systems gave out.
Pain tinged all parts of him, and Jack groaned as his wrists hurt. His optics peeked open, frowning as he found himself staring at his chained pedes-which were hanging just above the floor. He winced, just barely, as he found his arms were held over his head by the wrists.
What...? Slowly, Jack's entire being froze as it all came back to him. He began shaking, knees knocking together and back bumping against the wall. "No, no, no-"
"There's that word again." Pedes came into view, and Jack's optics widened in terror. Knock Out smiled at him, full of glee and a promise of pain. There was a set of deep slashes in his cheek, but Jack didn't care as his head banged against the wall when the red mech reached up to fondle his chest, claws gently grazing the metal, but his optics gleamed viciously. "I've missed you though." his smile transformed into a sinister grin. "And we're going to have so much fun."