A/N: I hope this chapter clears up a few questions some of you have mentioned. It probably raises several more. Slow chapter but I figured I needed to give you guys a break after the last couple. ^_^ Again thank you so much for taking the time to read, comment, favorite and/or follow. You all make my days so much brighter. Just a heads up, I have a book signing this weekend, so I may not be able to update on Saturday. I will try my best to.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners (Hasbro et. al.). The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.
Knockout was exhausted. His servos shook as he carefully put away the last of his instruments. The surgery had lasted most of the solar cycle and had used up the last few remaining spare parts he'd managed to salvage. Glancing over at the table he shook his head. This was the last person he expected to saving. Especially after what had happened. But, it was what Megatron wanted. He's seen the message from their Master as relayed by Soundwave. And if Megatron wanted Optimus alive then Knockout would make sure he stayed alive. Whoever had done the emergency patch work had done a better job than he cared to admit. The wounds, while severe were clean and free of debris or fluid which could have created a secondary rust infection.
Megatron would be returning soon. Walking over to the table, Knockout looked down at the most hated Cybertronian in existence. He seemed so unobtrusive like this. As though there were nothing special about him at all. "Well you know what they say …"
Turning away he stumbled as a wave of dizziness hit. He ran a quick diagnostic growling at the readout. He need to recharge, badly. A clang brought his attention back to the operating table. Optimus had fallen unconscious several orn into the procedure. Knockout hadn't felt particularly bad about not using a pain blocker. Optimus deserved every bit of it. But, he seemed to be coming around, limbs twitching. Knockout noted that there was movement in his lower limbs now that he'd repaired the connection. As amusing as it might have been to have a crippled Prime, Knockout liked to be thorough. That and Megatron wanted Optimus fully functioning. Torture wasn't as fun when the victim couldn't feel half of it.
Heading for the door he looked back at the table. He had the strangest urge to go back and check on the Prime. Shaking it off he let the door close behind him.
He met Soundwave in the corridor. "What is it? I just finished and I'm going for a well deserved recharge."
Soundwave cocked his head and Knockout sighed. "Here, you can give this to Megatron. It's the catalog of injuries and what repairs I made as well as observations about the . . . Patient."
Soundwave took the datapad and stepped back, allowing Knockout room to continue down the corridor. Knockout shrugged and continued on to his chamber.
Soundwaved watched him go, noting the slight limp and distinct lack of pomposity on the medic's part. Normally he would have been bragging about his prowess as a medic and how flawless the surgery was. It would bear looking into. Such a change in behavior was noteworthy.
Opening the door to the medical bay he strode over to where Optimus lay. Blue optics were open, but glazed and full of pain. He received no reaction as he leaned down over Optimus. There was no visible sign he'd been injured other than a few narrow welding marks across his midsection. It looked as though Knockout had replaced the entire section with a new one. The knee servo had been repaired. They didn't have a model anything like Prime's in storage.
Reaching out he touched Optimus' helm just above his left optic. A flood of information assaulted him. The bitter tang of guilt and the deep ache of sorrow warred with the solidness of determination and brightness of hope within the Prime. There was another presence . . . A warmth that was neither light nor dark, an ancient wise mind. Soundwave jerked back shaking numb digits. Was Optimus truly in contact with Alpha Trion? Megatron would need to know this immediately. They had Alpha Trion in custody on Cybertron but if he was still able to contact Optimus they would have to rectify that situation. Megatron had forbade the execution of the Head Archivist. He wanted his victory recorded for all time and Alpha Trion was the only historian left.
"Soundwave?"
Whipping his head around Soundwave realized Optimus had fully regained consciousness. He stepped back, even though he knew the Prime was still bound. He didn't trust the bot for a moment. He hadn't since the first time he'd seem him in Kaon, back when he was still Orion Pax. He'd warned Megatron then that the librarian was not all he seemed.
"So I am to be kept prisoner then?"
Soundwaved nodded, one sharp jerk of his helm.
"I see."
Soundwave turned to go, unwilling to stay in Optimus' presence. He had duties to attend to.
"Can I speak to Megatron?"
Soundwave paused, his back still to Optimus. His time to speak would come. Whether it was to beg for his life or for the lives of his compatriots was yet to be seen.
"Please . . . Let me speak to him."
Without turning Soundwave sent a tentacle whipping toward the Prime. It's feelers clamped firmly on to Optimus' jaw forcing his mouth shut. The contact hurt. His pain and frustration spiking along Soundwave's mesh. He turned to look over his shoulder, meeting the blue gaze. The instant he felt the resignation and acceptance he let go.
Accessing a recording he played it back for Optimus to hear. "You are the worst kind of traitor . . . Those of us unwilling to pay that price."
He watched realization dawn in the blue optics. He stepped through the open door, not looking back as it closed.
###
From under a work bench almost as tall as a two story building, June watched the silent Decepticon leave. She was shaking, whether it was from the cold, the rage burning in her chest or the fear nagging in the back of her head she wasn't sure. Readjusting the backpack she headed for the table where Optimus lay bound. Thankfully, in that split second she'd had in the truck, she'd managed to grab the backpack she'd stuffed with emergency supplies. The silent alien hadn't even noticed when she'd hitched a ride on his foot or shoe, or whatever it was. He'd had a surprisingly smooth walk. Though she'd been temped to try and hurt him for what he was doing to Optimus. That would have only got her killed.
Looking up at the table she wondered how she was going to climb up it. It looked to have few foot or hand holds and there was no way to actually get up on the table itself. Looking up at the work station she decided that might be a better option. Several cables were hanging down that would provide her with something to climb. She was about half the way up one when the bandage on her right hand came loose. The cuts were bleeding again. Steeling herself she kept climbing. Pulling herself over the lip of a metal sheet she was shocked to realize it was a tray. A tray full of medical equipment. Alien sized. From here she could see the whole of Optimus.
"Optimus? Can you hear me?" She shouted. It was like being on the roof of one building trying to talk to someone on the roof of another.
There was no response. She sat down, holding her injured hand to her chest. Either he couldn't hear her or he wasn't responding. That one long-legged bot had said such horrible things to him, done such horrible things. She'd sat huddled in her dark corner watching him be tortured, knowing there wasn't a single thing she could do to stop it. Even now she had no idea what she was going to do. She couldn't free him. Couldn't help him in any practical way.
"What am I doing?" She couldn't tear her eyes away from the still form. Why had she made that split second decsion to try and go with Optimus? The best she could hope for was getting accidentally crushed or captured and killed. But, she just couldn't leave Optimus to face them completely alone.
She'd fallen asleep while the medic had worked. Ironically, she'd been glad she hadn't killed the smaller 'Con. When she'd woken he was finishing installing the new abdominal plating. He was definitely good at what he did. Much to her surprise he'd actually taken the time to buff out the worst of the scratches even though he himself still looked terrible. Her only conclusion was that he wanted to impress Megatron. She shuddered just thinking of that shark-faced tyrant.
Now she had to figure out what to do. Looking at the medical equipment a sudden thought occurred to her. The medic, Knockout, seemed very prideful of his appearance. Maybe she could take advantage of that fact. Looking back over at Optimus she noticed his servos moving. He was clenching his fists and pulling against the restraints. They sparked. There was a crackle of electricity and he cried out. June covered her mouth to contain her own scream. It wasn't fair! How could they treat him like this? He'd nearly died and had been suffering for days. Why heal him just to- a sob caught in her throat as Starscream's words came back to her.
"No, no. I won't allow it. I won't allow them to torture and kill you. Not after all you've sacrificed."
Taking off the backpack she started pulling out everything. It was an odd assortment of high energy snacks, some water bottles, a change of clothes, a car repair kit, a pair of gloves and a high tensile climbing rope. Setting aside the repair kit she pulled on the gloves. Much of the chemicals around her were toxic and she was tired of dealing with the cuts and burns. Looking over at the wall she noticed the tubes of energon. Knockout had used two while working on Optimus. She wondered if he would use one on himself when he decided to see to his own injuries. It was worth the risk.
There was gap of only a few feet between the workbench and the rack where the tubes were stored. Each tube was about ten feet tall by five feet wide or so. Tossing the car repair kit across the gap she then jumped across herself. Kneeling down beside the energon she opened the kit. Taking out the large flashlight she unscrewed the top. Four D sized batteries slid out.
"I wonder how you guys react to battery acid? Though I hope this isn't enough to do permanent damage, I just need to slow you down." Standing up she shoved the batteries into her pockets. It took several tries but she managed to climb to the top of the tubes. Choosing the one on the end nearest the door she pried the cover off the intake valve and slipped the batteries inside. There was a flash and a sizzle as each landed in the substance. It struck her that it was fortunate the whole thing didn't explode. Climbing back down she watched the batteries disintegrate.
"Now I guess we wait."