Ultra Magnus stared at Kerri in stunned silence. For the first time in a long time, he was at a loss for words. The woman sat on the ship's console, shoulders slumped, body wracked with heaving sobs. She had never told the whole story to anyone. Not even Wheeljack. But she had poured out her heart to Ultra Magnus. And he didn't know what to do.

They sat that way for several minutes. Magnus felt glued to his seat, afraid to move or say a word. Finally, Kerri's sobs subsided, but still she said nothing. She was embarrassed by her breakdown.

"Kerri, do the others know?", he asked her softly.

"About Knockout? No. I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone. When Wheeljack brought me to the Autobot base, Ratchet realized that I had energon poisoning. I told him that Shockwave had experimented on me. They had no reason to believe otherwise."

She felt dead inside inside. She had ripped the scab off of the cut and it was bleeding again.

Magnus laid his servo on the console. "Kerri, please." She climbed into his palm but wouldn't look at him. Magnus put his finger under her chin and lifted.

"You don't have to keep this inside. Tell Optimus, please," he begged her.

"I can't Magnus. I'm so ashamed. I can't face Optimus-". The tears were beginning to form again.

Dammit!" You haven't done anything wrong! That monster raped you, and he deserves to be torn limb from limb!" Magnus slammed his fist into his ships console. He was shaking with fury.

He knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that if and when he got to Knockout, he was going to rip his spark out with his bare servos. He realized that they were fighting a war, but what the Decepticon had done was inconceivable. Rape under any circumstances was not acceptable, even in war. But to commit such a vile act on a defenseless human, especially his friend, was more than Ultra Magnus could bear.

"I'm taking you to Prime, now!"

Kerri wanted to object, but she knew the Commander was right. Optimus needed to know.

"Ratchet should be there too," she said softly. "He needs to know."

"Ok," he answered. Holding Kerri protectively in his palm, he stood and exited his ship.

Magnus strode into the base and towards medbay. On the way, he commed Optimus Prime.

:Sir, can you come to medbay?

:Of course. Is there a problem?

:Something that needs your attention, sir.

:Very well, Commander. I'm on the way.

Ultra Magnus walked into medbay and sat Kerri on the bed, giving her a pained smile before turning his attention to Ratchet. He could hear Optimus coming down the hall towards him. He waited until Prime entered the room before he began to speak.

"Optimus, Ratchet, Kerri has some most…unpleasant information to share with you."

All three Autobots turned and looked at her expectantly, and Kerri wanted to curl up into a ball. Sensing her extreme discomfort, Magnus sat on the berth beside her and ran his finger along her back assuredly.

"Please, Kerri," he said gently. Tell them what you told me."

Optimus got down on one knee so that he was eye level with the woman.

"Kerri, you can tell me anything," he said soothingly. "Please trust me. Whatever it is, it will go no further if you wish."

She took in a deep breath and sighed. This was it. There was no turning back.

"I didn't tell you the truth about what happened to me on the Nemesis."

Fear gripped Optimus' heart. He didn't like where this was going.

"Kerri, what happened?" He asked slowly, dreading her answer.

"Shockwave didn't experiment on me. Knockout…Knockout, raped me. He used mass displacement. He shrank himself down and he raped me. That's how I got energon poisoning."

Ratchet swore under his breath and looked away, anger swelling up in his chest. "Why in the hell didn't you tell me Kerri?! What were you thinking?" His voice was rising, and Optimus put a servo on his shoulder.

"Easy, friend," he said, voice quavering. He was shaken to the very core by this bombshell, and wasn't exactly sure what to do next. Ratchet stood up and quickly walked out of medbay.

Optimus sighed and turned back towards Kerri, who was sobbing again.

"I'm sorry Optimus. I didn't mean to lie. I just didn't know how to tell you. I didn't know what you would think."

"You have no reason to apologize for anything. I don't have any w-words to express to how sorry I am that this happened." Optimus' voice was still shaking. He stood back up to his full height and looked at Magnus. "Commander, please stay with her. . I-I need to get Ratchet back."

The truth was that he needed to get out of there too. His head felt like it was spinning. He was not prepared for what the woman had told him. Nothing in his experience could have prepared him. Of the millions of thoughts that ran through his processor, that was not one of them. How could a fellow Cybertronian, Decepticon or not, do such a thing? How could Megatron allow something like this to happen? He knew that the Decepticon ruler was brutal and cruel, but even he could not be ok with rape.

Optimus saw Ratchet standing at the base entrance, servos clenched into fists. He approached him and put his hand on the doctor's shoulder. "Ratchet, we-"

Ratchet spun on his heels and stared at Optimus, he face a mixture of rage, pain, and grief.

"For Primus sake, what in the hell is going on Optimus?! Why didn't she tell me? Why didn't I check her when she was brought in? I never thought that they would rape her!" Ratchet looked at Optimus wildly.

"Why would they do that?" He asked.

"I don't know, old friend," sighed Optimus. "This is most disturbing. But I need you to come back inside with me. Kerri needs us now more than ever."

The two walked back into medbay, where Ultra Magnus was comforting the woman. Ratchet would have rather been anywhere but there. He cleared his throat and looked at the woman sitting on the berth.

"My apologies, Kerri. I didn't mean to get upset. I-I just wasn't prepared." Ratchet sighed. "I need to examine you. Prime, Commander, if you please."

Both Autobots looked down at Kerri as she nodded. "It's ok," she said quietly. They turned and walked out of medbay.

Ratchet turned back towards the woman. "I know that this isn't comfortable for you, but I need to perform an examination. We need to make sure that you don't have any internal damage. Try to relax. I'll take good care of you," he smiled assuredly.

"I know, doctor. You always have."

Thirty minutes later Ratchet came out of medbay and was instantly confronted by Optimus and Ultra Magnus.

"How is she doing, doctor?", asked Magnus.

"She's ok. I didn't find any physical damage. Her body has healed itself, although she must have been in pain for the first several weeks," he said, with a pained look on his face. "Psychologically it's a different story. She is understandably traumatized by what happened and has never properly processed it. But I am in no way capable of helping her."

He looked at Prime. "I know you promised her, but we may need to inform Agent Fowler. I'm certain that he can get her the help that she needs."

Optimus sighed heavily. "I gave her my word. I can't talk with Fowler without her permission. May I speak with her?"

"No, she's resting. I gave her some medicine to help her relax during the exam and she went out like a light. Who knows how long it's been since she's gotten a proper night's sleep. It will have to wait until morning."

"Very well, Ratchet."

"Doctor," said Ultra Magnus, " I think you can use recharge. I would like to stay with her tonight. In case she awakens."

Ratchet suddenly felt exhausted. "Yes, Commander, that would be fine. Thank you. She should sleep soundly, but comm me if she awakens."

"Of course, doctor. Goodnight. And..thank you." He turned to face Ratchet and Prime.

"Both."

Both Autobots smiled and headed towards the corridor to their berths. Ultra Magnus walked into medbay and looked down at Kerri. She looked peaceful. He stroked her face while staring down at her.

"Sleep well, my friend. I will watch over you. Nothing will ever hurt you again."