"You WHAT?!" sputtered Starscream. "You can't be serious, Knockout! You go after that human and Megatron will offline you, permanently!"
"He can't offline me if he can't find me. I'm going to get her. All I'm asking is that you help provide a distraction, Screamer."
"If he can't find you? Where, pray tell, do you think you're going to go? You don't exactly blend in with humans."
"That will be my problem."
"It's a trap, Knockout!", Starscream yelled. He was exasperated with the doctor and his foolish plan. He was waving his arms about and venting. "Do you really think that the Autobots are going to just let you stroll in an take her back?"
"Wheeljack swore that he would be alone. He apparently wants to "settle the score." Knockout made air quotes with his servos while rolling his eyes. "Autobots don't lie, Starscream. But that's where you come in again. I would like backup, just in case."
"So, not only do you want me to help you sneak off of the Nemesis," Starscream said incredulously, "but you want me to help you fight a bunch of Autobots. Just for a squishy human? You're insane."
"So I've been told," Knockout said bitterly. He turned from Starscream, servos gripping the edge of the medical berth. Starscream could see the dents forming in the metal frame of the berth. "I'm alone, Starscream. I have no friends, no one I give a damn about."
"You're really making me want to help you, Doctor," Starscream said sarcastically, as he folded his arms across his chest and glared at Knockout.
"You know what I mean. You have your trine mates at least. You have others aboard that you at least interact with. I had Breakdown…but he's gone." Knockout's face turned sad and his eyes grew darker. "Kerri didn't love me. She didn't even like me. But in time, maybe she could have learned to. I was gentle and kind, usually. Once I had her broken, it would've been perfect."
Knockout turned to face Starscream again. "You don't understand. I'm not like you. I'm not like other Decepticons. I like being cared about. I like having someone to call my own."
Starscream stood quietly, studying the medic. He thought about Thundercracker and Skywarp, and how he felt not having them around. Starscream had never considered Knockout a friend, but under the circumstances, he really was the closest thing that he had to that aboard the Nemesis. And while the SIC didn't understand the obsession Knockout had with the human, he did remember how much happier he had been while she was stowed away aboard the warship. The doctor had been aimless and unfocused since the death of Breakdown, but the human woman had reenergized his spark. 'I can't believe I'm about to do this,' he thought to himself.
"Ok, Knockout," Starscream sighed. "Apparently Soundwave didn't detect Wheeljack's transmission. That's a start. He's been focused on Megatron's number one enemy right now: Arachnid. Here's how we're going to go this: I'm going on patrol, and one of my thrusters is going to malfunction. You, dear doctor, will need to repair it onsite. Where are you supposed to meet Wheeljack?"
Knockout gave Starscream the coordinates, and the seeker plotted them in his processor before asking another question.
"What are you going to do once you get her?"
"I'm…I'm not coming back, Starscream," the medic answered. "I'll be forever grateful to you, but this isn't for me anymore."
"You're not going to attempt to join the Autobots, are you?!"
"No, that would be impossible. I don't know where I'll go."
"Ugh," vented Starscream. "I don't know why I'm doing this, but…I know where you can go. I'll give you the coordinates to the Harbinger. Megatron still doesn't know about it. It isn't really functional, but it should serve your needs."
"Primus, thank you!", Knockout said brightly to Starscream before pulling him into a hug. The Air Commander was momentarily taken aback, but he didn't resist the contact. It actually felt nice to be appreciated. Knockout held on for several moments, and Starscream could feel him shaking in his arms, his EM field sending out waves of emotions: relief, gratitude, respect.
"Ok, Knockout," Starscream said as he gently pulled away from the doctor. "Let's put this foolish plan into action."