Please read the intro before the story. The last chapter I posted was originally supposed to be filed in MERCY: One Shots. So if anyone is confused about the plot be sure to read the story branch off if you haven't already, because I decided not to switch it around and create an even bigger confusing mix up. Sorry for the confusion, but I'll do my best to make it up too everyone in future chapters and be more careful…

Of coarse that being said, this chapter is another short one standing in mostly to be filler. You'll all be able to see what happened to Steve, and Starscream finds a new way to cope with his depression… Booze.

Special shout outs to: vampgirliegirl and Cao dreams in books. To vampgirliegirl, thank you for reading and reviewing. Sorry if I scared you, but hang in there for Steve and Starscream, there's more to come. To Cao, I'm glad you like Antaeus, but I bet you any money later on you're really going to hate the guy. And I'll bite your coffee bit, but when you add sweetener, there's nothing artificial about it. ;)

Remember, don't be afraid to ask questions and leave a review. I love to hear from my readers!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any stocks, trades, or licensing from the Transformers franchise. All rights are reserved for HASBRO entertainment.

MERCY

Chapter 19

If you're going through hell, keep going.

-Winston Churchill

Something was wrong. Steve was conscious, but he couldn't open his optics. They were locked tight and his frame reacted the same way. No matter how hard he tried, the drone just couldn't move at all. He tried to open his oral cavity to speak but not a word was uttered. An abundance of questions flew through his processor. Where was he? How did he get here? Why couldn't he move? Why couldn't he speak? Why couldn't he… Remember anything? Nothing. Steve couldn't remember anything that happened to him, and somehow he couldn't even focus on the last thing he did. If he could move he might've panicked, but what exactly was there to panic about if he couldn't remember if anything terrible happened to him? Maybe he was dead? That wouldn't really be a surprise considering his battle filled function, but even drones believed they would one day become one with the All-Spark. So where was his bright light? Where was Primus? Why was he alone in the dark?

"Hold still!" A voice to the left of him ordered, reassuring the drone he was still alive. "If you squirm too much I'll end up taking out your other optic." Steve's optic was missing? He couldn't feel anything at all, so for all he knew it really was gone. Much to the drone's relief someone else answered the first voice.

"I can't help it! I told you the mesh around the patch is still tender!"

"Yeah, and I told you to come back in one piece! Not to leave a piece behind!"

"I didn't lose it on purpose! Ouch!"

"Don't look at me like that! I told you to hold still!"

The two voices bickered back and forward with each other until Steve finally had enough. Gathering enough strength in the core of his tanks he forced himself to grunt. He could finally feel the atmosphere around him, and it was apparent he gotten the two bickering mech's attention.

"He's up." The second voice stated followed by some rustling sounds.

"Don't think you're off the hook now." The first voice chimed in as it approached closer to wherever Steve was. "We'll continue your repairs when we get this soldier back on his pedes." After awhile it had become apparent that the first voice belonged to Medical Officer Knockout, which meant there was a good chance Steve was currently in the Med-bay. The drone was very, very slowly regaining his awareness. His strength on the other hand was taking even longer to resurface, but he still tried to move. He barely felt his arm rise above the berth he found himself lying on, before it was pushed back down by the top of his wrist.

"You hold still too." The medic addressed him with a softer tone then how he originally spoke to his partner, which Steve had concluded the second voice must be Officer Breakdown.

"Not that he can move much with a cordial patch." Breakdown remade himself aware behind the drone. "Give me a minute, and I'll unattached him."

A cordial patch? Why was Steve attached to a cordial patch? Had he done something wrong? He wasn't hiding anything. If he was asked for information that may have been useful to the war effort the Vehicon would've shared it without any hesitation. Why was he here at all?

"Hm-mm-mm…" Steve mumbled, still unable to formulate words. Soon he felt a soft pressure of someone's forearm over his chassis and a slight tug on the back of his helm.

"It's alright." Knockout soothed. "Breakdown is going to remove a cordial adaptor from the back of your helm and I'm going to hold you down. You're going to feel some pressure and then a sharp jolt, but it will pass quickly. On the count of three now. One. Two. Three!"

With a rapid twist and a pull Steve was free from his invisible bonds. Just as the doctor had explained to him there was an immediate jolt of pain searing down the base of his back struts. He tried to sit up and arch his back, but Knockout kept his promise and held the drone down. Steve choked on his gasps, feeling as if his intakes were going to burst, and his air vents were about to backfire. As his frame went rigid his servos reached up to clasp over his chest. He ended up grabbing one of Knockout's wrists by mistake and he squeezed it nervously. It was his none verbal way of desperately asking for answers since he still couldn't find a way to speak.

"Easy now." The red mech answered and even patted the servo on his wrist. "Try to relax and concentrate on your air intakes. Follow me if you can. In…" Knockout took a long drawn out breath and spoke sympathetically on the exhale. "And out… Again in… And out…"

He repeated himself indefinitely until he was certain the Vehicon was following his instructions. "Very good. Are you feeling a little better?"

Steve could only nod his response as he exhaled his wavering breath. His optical visor flashed online not too much longer after that and through a fuzzy haze he saw the look of mild contempt on the red mech's face.

"Good." He huffed with a half-smile. "Now get your digits off my paint job."

"S-sorry…" Steve whispered faintly while he slid his shaking servo back to his side. "W-w-where…? W-where…?"

"You're in the Med-bay." Breakdown confirmed what the drone had already suspected, but he wanted to be certain of it anyway. "You were in an accident and your comrades brought you to us."

"Don't try to speak yet." Knockout chimed in again and slid both his servos under the back of the Vehicon's neck to examine him closely. "I'm going to ask you some yes or no questions and I want you to answer me with a nod or a shake. Do you understand?"

The weak drone nodded and waited patiently for the round of questions to begin. "Very good. First question. Is your designation Vehicon drone ST-3V3? Also known as Steve?"

Steve nodded and waited again. "Okay. Do you remember the last thing that happened to you before you blacked out? Don't speak yet, just move your helm."

The drone sighed and paused a moment to concentrate on the last thing he had done. Images of the day before began to flash in his CPU. He was with someone… Or maybe a group of people, but it was still a bit of a blur. So with no clear answer he shook his head no.

"Alright." Knockout's servos left the Vehicon's neck and reached down to his arm. The medic grabbed the limb gently by the wrist and bent it upward by the elbow. "I'm going to check all of your joints and wiring now. While I do this you relax and wait for your vocals to come back online. When you feel like you can speak just tap your digits on the metal of the berth and wait for my attention. Understand?"

With nothing else to do but nod his reply, Steve bowed his helm and waited for his strength to return. He huffed irritated over the berth, frustrated with the whole situation. He just wanted to know what happened and find out why he couldn't remember anything. But what was bothering him most of all was the creeping feeling in his spark that told him he was missing something. Something that was once there was now either missing or just blocked off. Steve needed answers, and he couldn't wait forever to get them. Knockout had managed to get all the way down to the drone's pedes before he heard the tapping sound of a digit over the berth.

"Are you sure you're ready to speak?" He asked as he set the strut down.

"… Yes…" Steve spoke in a very wispy, raspy voice, and he coughed over a crackle of static.

"Don't force yourself." The medic placed a servo over Steve's chest and slid another behind his back. As he coaxed the Vehicon to sit up he gestured his helm at his partner to bring him something. "Breakdown is going to bring you a cube of coolant with some oil mixed in it. I know it's not the best tasting drink, but it will help lubricate your vocals. Drink it slowly, and don't worry about finishing it. Just swallow what you can."

In the middle of his instructions Breakdown had already given Steve the cube. The giant mech had actually taken the drone's servo and manipulated it to hold the glass. Then he held it under his faceplate so Steve could place the straw in his visor slit. The Vehicon was legitimately surprised by how gentle the large blue mech was being towards him. It was just as surprising by how kind Knockout was treating him. Steve never had the chance to really get to know the two higher officers, mostly because they wouldn't have given him a chance in the first place. But this wasn't what Steve was expecting at all if he ever found himself in their presence. Curiously, Steve took two sips of the bitter liquid and winced at the taste.

"Please," he finally managed to whisper, "can you tell me what happened."

"You were working on a damaged electrical circuit in the base of the ship. You can't even remember that?"

The violet mech covered his battle visor casually with his free servo and sighed. He took a minute to think about it, but he could vaguely recall something like that happening. A sudden recollection caught his attention and remembered he had seen Soundwave not too far from that last memory.

"I do remember that." He glanced up a little excitedly. "I remember that I found a small dirty Vehicon stuck in a crevasse. He was so tiny and covered in so much grease I thought he was a symbiote, and I brought him to Commander Soundwave then—." He stopped speaking and hissed over the sharp pain between his optics. It was like he was watching a video in his mind's eye and it just froze in place. He couldn't see anything beyond that, and he felt like there was more. He knew there was more, but he couldn't reach it. "There's more… I… I know there is… I—."

"Calm down." Knockout patted the tired drone some more. "Some memory blocks are to be expected after what you went through."

"What did I go through?" Steve asked. "How did I wind up in the Med-bay at all?"

"You were electrocuted Steve." Breakdown answered after he set aside the cube of coolant. "After Soundwave sent you away you returned to help with the remaining repairs, but you didn't notice the live cable that was sticking out of the wall when you got back. You tripped and accidently fell on it."

"I did?" The drone couldn't believe what he was hearing. His audios must've been damaged somehow, because nothing the two mechs in front of him made any sense. The part with Soundwave was right but the rest of it just didn't fit. Steve was either remembering something wrong… Or somebody was lying.

The Vehicon just refused to accept the higher officers' explanations and he pushed Knockout aside so he could stagger to his pedes. Breakdown took exception to Steve's physical aggression to his partner, and he pushed the drone back down onto the berth.

"Take it easy." He unintentionally growled. "We're just trying to help."

"Why?" Steve snarled and surprised both his higher officers with his attitude. "Why are you helping me? I am a drone. Why haven't you just sent me away to the double digits?"

"Oh please, don't lavish us with too much gratitude." The medic rolled his optics and swiped the spot over his armor where Steve pushed him. "You are registered as a battle sufficient drone. That means you are eligible for higher official care if your injuries are severe enough." Knockout rested his arm over the berth and then pointed at a charred burn mark below Steve's violet chest armor. "Your spark had stopped pulsing… Twice. If you were sent to the double digits, you most likely wouldn't be functioning right now."

The drone was glad he was still wearing his battle visor. He was able to hide the look of resentment over his face. Something still didn't sit right with him, and he was going to straighten this out even if it meant pushing the buttons of his superiors. Somehow it just felt that important to him, and he would even argue with Megatron right now if it meant he could get his answers.

"Why was I connected to a cordial adapter?" The Vehicon bowed his helm, trying to appear submissive. "If the problem was with my spark, why was my processor put under scrutiny?"

"It was just a precaution." Breakdown stepped in to answer this time. "If your spark had off lined long enough it could leave permanent damage to your CPU. We were just making sure your mind still registered activity."

Steve had heard enough. He pushed himself off the berth and this time he made sure he had enough momentum to push past both of the higher officers. "Thank you for your help and concern, but I feel fine now, and if you'll excuse me I would like to return to my duties!" He didn't add anything else, he didn't hesitate, and he didn't bother looking back. He just angerly ran out of the room and disappeared into the darkness of the battleship's halls.

Knockout and Breakdown stood in place for a time, bewildered by the sudden turn of events before them. The red mech broke the awkward silence first and he chuckled smugly. "I can see why Starscream likes this one so much. He's got quite the attitude on him."

"I really hope Starscream knows what he's doing." Breakdown sighed sadly, feeling a small amount of empathy for the Vehicon. "Blocking of his memories… And that far back in his past…"

"You heard what he said Breakdown." Knockout walked over to his partner in understanding. "The kid could easily become a target if Megatron finds out who he is. It's plausible deniability. If Steve can't remember the time he spent with Starscream, it won't sound like a lie if he denies being his lover."

"I still feel bad for the kid." The blue mech frowned as he wrapped his arms around his lover's shoulders. "I don't know if I could handle it if you suddenly forgot who I was."

"If he forgets Starscream." The medic shrugged his shoulders but allowed Breakdown to keep embracing him. "There was no way we could erase that many years of memories without disrupting the proper function of his CPU. All we can do is block off the memories and hope nothing triggers them." The snooty mech suddenly felt a dash a sympathy as well and pouted a little as he snuggled closer to his partner's frame. "That means Starscream will have to be careful and avoid the drone as best he can. I don't know what I would do if I knew you were so close, but I couldn't be anywhere near you."

"Knockout…" Breakdown bent his knees so he could tenderly kiss the red mech. He continued to kneel and when he rested on the floor, he aligned his helm with Knockout's silver abdominal plating. He gave the beautiful metal another chaste kiss before he nuzzled his fore-helm over it and cradled his servos around the sides of the slim waist. "Don't be sad my love… I'm not going anywhere. Not without you… Or our little one."

"Don't get ahead of yourself." Knockout smiled again, reveling in the sensation of ease his lover effortlessly placed him in. "We don't know if I have conceived yet, and even if I have there's nobody in there yet. Not for another three weeks."

"I know." The former wrecker sighed but stayed where he was. The medic however, furled his optic ridges and gently fondled the side of Breakdown's helm.

"I still need to tighten that optical panel."

"I know," Breakdown repeated, "but can we stay like this a little longer. I just want to hold you."

Knockout's smile widened and he wrapped an arm around the back of the larger mech's helm. "Okay…" He whispered warmly.

The Vehicon store room at the base of the ship was slow that evening and Starscream was glad to practically have the bar to himself. After he left Steve with Knockout and Breakdown, the seeker needed to find some place he could stay and keep his helm down for a while. He almost never spent time with the troops during their recreational time off, so it was an ideal place to hide from Megatron. The flier managed to turn a few helms as he walked through the handful of loitering Vehicons. But with a few quick and angry glances Starscream made it clear he wanted to be left alone. He found a corner of the makeshift bar to sit at and ordered a large glass of highgrade. He was hoping it was enough to numb him for the time being, but half way through the cube it only seemed to worsen his depression. Letting Steve go was the hardest thing he ever had to do, and the worst thing about this whole mess is that he knew he should've ended it sooner. If their trysts had ended sooner it might not have hurt so much to leave him.

Starscream finished the cube in front of him and ordered another. He finished that one and then ordered one more. Half way through his last cube he felt his equilibrium shift and unfortunately he could still feel his spark breaking, but at least he didn't really care about it any more… Or at least for a moment or two. The seeker wasn't exactly a light weight, but as his faceplate began to heat his helm felt heavy. Because he rested into his arms over the counter, Starscream didn't notice the drone behind him finally sit next to him.

"My, my, my…" The drone said tauntingly. "It's rare enough to find a flier drone in the store rooms at night, but to find a Commander cruising the troops usual haunt is a very rare gift."

"Frag off." Starscream didn't even look up from his arms. He wanted to be left alone and he wasn't going to budge from this decision. The drone, however, wasn't taking the hint. Or he was just refusing to acknowledge it.

"So tense." He snickered and reached his arm around the slimmer mech's shoulders. "Such anger doesn't suit a gorgeous mech like yourself…" The drone leaned in closer and whispered into Starscream's audios. "You know, the perfect cure to such tension is to spend a night with someone… If you desire Commander I can—."

"I said frag off!" The flier swung his frame with his clawed servo out right. He was so overcharged he missed his target entirely and nearly slipped off his seat. The drone, which Starscream now clarified was an Eradicon, had caught him under his injured shoulder. The slim silver mech winced from the pain, but he quickly composed himself and tried to push the Eradicon away. "If you don't step away from me this instant I will report your insubordination to Megatron!"

"Go ahead." The taller mech called his Commander's bluff. "In fact, may I join you? I have an interesting story to report to the warlord as well. You see, I saw the most interesting thing the other day. I saw a friend of mine enter your chambers… What was that Vehicon's name again? Oh yeah! Steve, I think it was."

"What…?" Starscream gasped quietly. "You… You saw…"

"Oh yes Commander Starscream… Not only have I witnessed such a tryst, I managed to record it on my visor cam." The Eradicon slid back the bottom half of his mask and smiled sinisterly. The look of utter shock over the second in command's faceplate was beyond arousing.

"My name is Antaeus by the way…" His free servo discreetly slipped slowly up Starscream's thigh. The seeker shivered, but allowed it to happen, now fearing he would upset the taller mech. Antaeus hummed while his servo traveled further up the seeker's leg and leaned closer to his helm again. "What do you say we continue this conversation in my personal quarters…? I have my own cask of fine highgrade. It's much better than this home stilled swill they serve here."

All Starscream was able to do was shake in distain. He was so disgusted he was on the verge of purging his tanks. After a long pause of staring into the distance and allowing the drone to manhandle him a little longer, he stood with his wings dipping in horror. On a deep sigh and an exasperated voice he answered his blackmailer.

"Lead the way… Antaeus…"

-END-