Every part of Jack was screaming at him to run, but his bound limbs made it impossible. It left a sick to his stomach churning in his tank, spark pulsing so much it hurt. "Get away from me." There was no chokehold over him anymore, but his voice still came out as a whisper.

Knock Out smiled, lifting his other servo and placed it beside the one already on Jack's chest. The touch was searing, and it left a burning as the digits grazed down to the seeker's stomach. "It's so cute that you think resisting is still possible."

There was a height difference between Jack and Knock Out due to the former hanging off the ground. Though disgusted as the thought made him, Jack would have preferred the red mech kissing him on the lips than-than kissing him on the chest, and kneeling down to pepper more along his stomach.

When the ghosting feel of digits touched his panel, Jack twisted his legs. It sent shocks through him, and he gritted his denta when his knee just missed hitting Knock Out in the head.

"Tsk, tsk, Jack; that wasn't very nice." Knock Out drawled, and smirked as he grasped Jack's knee and pulled it open. He leaned in and Jack let out a strangled noise as Knock Out kissed the inside of his thigh.

"G-get off me!" Jack jerked his other knee to clock Knock Out, but the medic grabbed it and pinned it to the wall.

"Hmm," Knock Out looked thoughtful, and rested his head against his knee to peer up at him, "looks like our time apart has weakened my hold after all." his other servo snaked up Jack's knee, and dug into the seams along his interface panel. "We'll have to rectify that, after I purge Starscream's touch from you."

Jack's optics widened. Knock Out knew about what he and Starscream did? How? The pain in his seam drew his attention, and he vented sharply as he heard and felt the creaking of metal being bent. "No, no, no, no!"

Mercifully, the sound of the door opening made the creaking stop, but whatever relief Jack felt turned to terror as Megatron walked in. He hadn't seen the Decepticon since that day in the medical room, and Jack didn't like the look he was being given.

Megatron glared at him, but there was an unsettling sharp smile twisting at his mouth. "Welcome back, pest. You may have escaped the first time, but I can assure you," his smile turned into a snarl, "you will not be having a repeat performance."

Knock Out bowed to the taller Decepticon. "My liege, please allow me to quell my unruly pet-"

"No." Megatron said abruptly. Jack stiffened, thinking it was stupid to be relieved but he couldn't help it. Knock Out wouldn't be able to touch him for now. "You failed to do so previously, and since you've shown such...interest in him, I find it a fitting punishment to keep your distance. For now there's other things to be done..."

Jack leaned back as Megatron got closer, walking past a frozen in his spot Knock Out, but Jack couldn't get further away. He jerked back as the arm rose, flashes of phantom pain in his stomach, of his body on top of his. His wrists were yanked sharply, and Jack yelped as he felt his pedes hit the ground. He processed his wrists being chained together, and the ones holding his feet leaving.

Jack didn't think as he yanked himself away, but a servo clamped onto his wing, and he screeched. It twisted in Megatron's grasp, and he held the chain on his wrists with his other servo. Jack's body ached as he was dragged across the floor, his spark pulsing rapidly, burning hot in its chamber.

"...it's time to finally get the location of the Autobot base."

Jack's whole frame shuddered. No, this can't be happening.

June scrutinized the two lists, her brow furrowed in concentration. She could hear Arcee pacing in the background, while Bumblebee and Bulkhead were out with Raf and Miko. June had her problems with the Autobots, but agreed wholeheartedly that the children shouldn't be there to overhear anything.

There was a new Autobot who'd went with them, but June hadn't paid much attention. A lot more had happened here it seemed.

June knew Ratchet and Optimus were watching them closely, but the only one she looked at was Wheeljack who was examining the lists as closely as she was. He'd translated for her what he could, and with a lot of deliberation they both came to the same conclusion, a tentative theory.

Knock Out had done something to Jack, something to make him believe he was with Optimus.

June finally turned away from the console, and looked squarely at Optimus. "For now, I'll follow the evidence. Jack's mind was hacked the first time when you'd have been at an energon mine." She watched his expression carefully, because that's not where Jack said they were.

Optimus only nodded. "Yes, Bulkhead and Arcee were in attendance." June glanced at the femme, who reluctantly nodded.

"I see." the woman said neutrally. "Then I'll consider you were framed."

"At last you see reason." The medic muttered. A sharp blaring rang out and he frowned as he walked over to the console and brought up the perimeter map. Incredulity crossed his features as a large incoming of Decepticon signals were getting closer. "Optimus, the Decepticons-they-they found us!"

"How did those 'cons even know we're here?!" Arcee shouted.

June's eyes widened, and she looked up to meet Wheeljack's optics, the same suspicion gleaming back. "Jack. Can you see if Jack's back at your ship?"

"Hold on." Wheeljack turned away and held a digit up to his helm. "What time did he leave you?"

"Just before I came here, could he have been captured on the way back?" June asked worriedly.

The Wrecker scowled. "There's nothing, frag it."

"June," Arcee cut in, her voice sharp, "what do you mean you saw Jack before you came here?" her optics narrowed. "Have you...have you been in touch with him before?"

June blinked, and saw Ratchet and Optimus were drawing to the same conclusion Arcee no doubt had. She lied to them. No point in keeping it a secret. "Yes, he called me a few weeks ago, and we've been meeting up ever since."

"You mean you kept this from us? We could have helped Jack sooner if we knew!" Ratchet said.

"Can we not get into this now, Doc?" Wheeljack asked. "The 'Cons are about to bust down the front door."

"Ratchet, recall-" Optimus' order was cut off as a loud boom came from above them, the lights flicking and an explosion following. "No, tell them to stay back, and we will regroup with them," he re-ordered, "this is no longer a safe spot."

Another missile fire against the rocks of the cliff.

"If we go outside against Megatron's armada, we'll be blasted to pieces." Arcee said bitterly as Ratchet worked on getting in touch with the Autobots who were out. "Optimus, what now?"

Optimus' optics were serious, his frame tense. "We must abandon the base, and regroup with Agent Fowler. There," he glanced at June, "we will decide what to do next."

June stiffened. Everything had just gone straight to hell.