It started out as a perfectly normal day,

.

. .

. . .

But since when do days that start out like that ever stay that way?

In the med-bay…

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Knockout! No!"

"Why not?"

"Well, let's see…"

Outside the med-bay…

"What's going on over here?" Starscream asked as he approached the two bots standing on the hallway side of the observation window.

"Knockout's trying to convince Bumblebee to do something," Moonracer answered as she watched the argument unfold.

Starscream didn't bother to ask what; he didn't want to know, and knowing Knockout, it was probably something nobody else wanted to deal with.

"So, how long have they been at it?" Starscream decided to say instead.

"Mmm… about an hour, maybe longer," Steeljaw replied, taking a moment to check his internal chronometer. Starscream just scoffed and shook his helm.

"Well, I wish you luck with breaking them up anytime soon."

Starscream turned on his heel and walked away in the opposite direction.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"To my room for some recharge."

Not that it's any of your business.

"You know, we really should give him his own room," Moonracer admitted after Starscream rounded the corner. "I know he's a dangerous criminal and all, but I still hate how he's been so helpful so far, and yet…"

"He is still restricted to a cell if it's not an emergency or mission-related," Steeljaw interrupted. "I agree, – in my perfectly, non-biased opinion – but you want to try telling the others that?"

If Moonracer said anything else, Starscream didn't hear it; he was out of earshot by now, and personally, did not feel like sticking around the others.

I have nothing against Moonracer or Steeljaw. Knockout and I are working things out still, and most likely will be for a while. Bumblebee, however…

Starscream shook his helm with a growl.

The former scout considers me, as he so eloquently put it, a flight risk. Frag it all, he puts more trust in that beastly rival of his than me! Of course, I can't blame him; I don't think I could trust myself, either. Or, I could be looking at this all wrong, and he trusts the two of us about the same, which might as well be non-existent.

Being lost in his thoughts, Starscream didn't notice that he had already reached his cell until he slammed face first into the door. He recoiled a couple steps with a clang. He raised a servo and rubbed the point of impact.

"Grr… this day," the Seeker growled, opening the door with his free servo. He entered the room, still rubbing his helm.

Starscream was about to make a B-line for his berth, when something caught his optics. It was the spare Lightbender Knockout had given him after they left Velocitron. The dark purple orb, glowing bright blue/green, was resting on the shelf next to the cell.

Today, something about its aura drew him closer.

"Hmm… I think I'll keep you handy for a while," Starscream muttered, gingerly picking the Lightbender from its spot and turning it over in his claws.

As the Seeker was inspecting the object, he was reminded of Steeljaw's, and how the Lupicon turned his into a pendant that he would wear around his neck.

I haven't seen it in a while. I'm sure Steeljaw keeps something as valuable as a Lightbender close and hidden. He must have stored it in his room, or maybe it's concealed upon his frame somewhere. Either way, he hasn't used the thing in a while.

Starscream stopped toying with his Lightbender and looked down at it, entranced by its mysterious beauty.

But there hasn't been the need to use one since Velocitron, assuming we even needed to use one then. Well, better safe than sorry, I guess. Still…

"I can't help but think that something's going to happen," Starscream said aloud. His attention remained on the Lightbender for another minute before grabbing some material and retreating to his berth.

For however long it took, Starscream didn't care. The Seeker wasn't paying attention to time flying by as he carefully – artistically – crafted a wing clip for his Lightbender. Next, he gingerly angled it in a crease of his armor by his wings, between his collar and shoulder plate, so that it couldn't be easily seen, removed, or dislodged.

"Good, you're stuck there," Starscream said, flicking his wings. "Now, for the real test."

The Seeker quickly located a mirror, and activating the Lightbender, watched as he transformed in front of his very own two optics. Instead of sporting his old style of red, silver, and blue, Starscream now featured a beige and black color scheme, with maroon wings and orange optics.

"Hmm… not bad."

Starscream turned this way and that, doing everything he could to check out every square inch of his new appearance. Everything more or less remained the same, although he did notice that his frame is now more sleek, sharp, and stream-lined than his true form. His helm is short and jagged, a stark contrast to the tall and smooth one he's grown used to.

The disguise also comes with its very own accessory: flight goggles.

"Huh, these are an interesting addition."

Just as Starscream reached up to grab a hold of the goggles…

BOOM!

Something hit the ship, causing it to shudder and shake violently. Alarms were blaring all over the ship. Starscream, having been knocked to his pedes, struggled to get up while covering his audio receptors.

"What the Pits is going on?"

"Moonracer, let go! We can't leave!"

"I don't want to, Knockout, but we have to!"

The medics half ran, half limped down the hall to the room where the escape pods were, the mech unsuccessfully trying to get the femme to listen to him.

"Moonracer, listen to me!" Knockout pleaded.

"I am listening to you, but Bumblebee's right, we have to get you out of here!" Moonracer argued.

"But we can stay and help!"

"I can, you can't. You've only just gotten back on your pedes, and you're still unable to function properly! Besides, the others can take care of themselves."

"Yeah, I know that, but we have no idea what's going on!"

"Another reason why we're getting you out of here."

Knockout would have continued arguing, but he kept his mouth shut. He was well aware he wouldn't win this argument, and he hated the fact that he'll have to resort to the idea that's been forming within his processor since the moment they realized they were all in danger.

When they arrived at the room with the escape pods, Moonracer couldn't get the door open fast enough. Another blast hit, pushing the medics off balance and sending them into a wall. They picked themselves up and rushed over to an open escape pod.

"Wait here a nanoklik while I set a destination," Moonracer said, leaning Knockout against a closed pod next to the open one and ran over to a nearby console. She inputted coordinates for one of the more recent planets they've explored, which happened to make it onto their short list of Considerations. "Alright, that's all set. Let's get you out of here."

Another blast hit. Moonracer tumbled into Knockout. More alarms blared, and even louder than before. Lights above the closed escape pods were sparking and going dark.

"Scrap," Moonracer cursed, righting herself with Knockout's help. "That's not good. All those hits are doing a number on the power. If we don't get out of here now, our one working pod will be as good as useless."

"My thoughts exactly," Knockout whispered, voice taught with regret. Before Moonracer could make a move, the red medic tightened his grip on her and forced her into the escape pod.

"What the… Knockout!"

Moonracer scrambled to her pedes and lunged forward out of the pod, or at least she would have if the door didn't shut and lock on her first. She banged on the window, trying to get out, even though she knew it was pointless.

"Knockout, what the frag do you think you're doing?"

"What does it look like, Moonracer?" Knockout laughed, wearing a pained expression on his faceplates.

"You… you…"

"Call me all the names you want, it's not going to change anything."

"Why? Of all the stupid, stupid things you could have done! Please, Knockout, I just got you back! I don't want to lose you!"

"And neither do I, Moonracer. Why do you think I'm really doing this? It's because I don't want to lose you like I did Breakdown. I couldn't do anything for him, but I can for you and the others."

"Knockout…"

"I know, I know, I'm a self-centered idiot."

". . . I was going to say that you better not die on me because if you do I will find a way to bring you back to life then kill you again for being an absolute afthole."

"Don't worry, I've got the others watching my back. I promise we'll come get you as soon as it's safe, but I really do have to send you off now or else you'll be stuck here and I don't want that."

Knockout raised his servo…

"I need you all back alive, Doc," Moonracer said.

"Same here, Moony, same here," Knockout replied.

And slammed it against the eject button.

The last thing Knockout saw was Moonracer's pod being launched into space, hopefully somewhere safe and unnoticed by the attackers, before a final blast, this time an EMP, hit the ship and knocked him out, along with everyone else onboard.

When Knockout regained consciousness, his entire frame ached. He groaned as he attempted to move, his systems other than his pain receptors refusing to work properly. Despite the lack of movement, the act of waking up garnered some attention for him.

"Knockout?"

The red medic only had enough energy to open his optics. It took a couple minutes for them to adjust properly, and when they did, he couldn't help the relieved sigh that escaped him.

"Hey, Bee," Knockout rasped, still a little out of it.

"Thank Primus you're alright!" The yellow and black mech vented.

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't say alright. I mean, I have had better days."

"We all have," another, familiar voice retorted.

Knockout adjusted his vision to look beyond Bumblebee. He could just barely make out a blue/gray frame.

"Steeljaw, is that you?" Knockout inquired.

"Who else would it be?" Steeljaw lightly snapped.

"Okay, okay, I was just checking."

A tense silence fell upon the mechs.

Knockout was contemplating asking the others if they had any idea what was going on. They seemed to be more awake than him, and probably have been online for a while now, so it's safe to assume they may have an inkling of information regarding the whole situation. Like, why are Bumblebee and Steeljaw not moving? And why does Knockout feel numb from the neck-down?

"Aye, so they are awake."

The loud, booming voice and heavy, intimidating ped steps shook Knockout to his spark chamber. It reminded him too much of his former master and warlord, Megatron. So much so that, despite his fear, Knockout couldn't help twisting his helm to look up at the newcomer.

It was a large mech with white, blue, and gold armor. Gleaming red optics that held no mercy within them. A gray helmet perched atop his head and a beard-like plate of armor hung from his chin and the sides of his faceplate. In place of a normal leg was a metallic pegleg, reminiscent of Earth's pirates. A sword with a gold and silver hilt is attached to his waist.

"As you wanted to be informed, Captain Thundertron," a new mech said from off to the Captain's right.

This new one was pretty big himself, – around the same size as Bulkhead and Breakdown – with blue and silver armor and matching optics.

"I know, Cannonball, no need to repeat what has been said," Thundertron rumbled. He looked at the mechs in front of him, then turned to face the one behind him. "Now, where is your mate?"

Cannonball just stood there with a blank expression on his faceplates.

"Why're you askin' the forgetful one where I'm at?" Another mech questioned, approaching the group from out of nowhere.

The third newcomer was a beast-like mech with white, yellow, and magenta armor, his optics a more blood-thirsty red than those of the Captain's.

"Brimstone!" Cannonball cheered.

"Brimstone…" Thundertron growled at the same time.

Wow, deja vu, Knockout thought as he watched everything unfolding in front of him. It really feels like I'm back on the Nemesis. They kind of remind me of the old gang, sort of.

"There you are! I was wondering where you were!" Cannonball exclaimed, dragging Brimstone into a tight embrace.

"I was just around the corner ya idiot!" Brimstone snapped, though not as harshly as anyone would have expected him to.

"Will both of you idiots just shut up and go grab the others?" Thundertron ordered.

"There is no need for that."

Everyone turned their attention to three more newcomers.

First, is a small, rather grumpy-looking mech with brown, cream, and black armor. He is a flight-frame, possibly a helicopter by the shape and angle of his wings. A pistol is attached to his right hip, and – keeping with the pirate theme – a cutlass is attached to his left hip. He has yellow optics.

Next, is a sharp, well-built mech – very much raven-like in appearance – with dark gray, cyan, and magenta-marked silver armor. He has green optics, and his right arm sports a large gun, possibly a cannon.

Okay, now this really reminds me of the old Nemesis gang, Knockout thought, his gaze locked on the dark-colored mech. That one really reminds me of Soundwave. And I guess Megatron, too, if I count the giant gun on his arm.

"Ah, Sandstorm, Starquest, I trust the fugitive proved useful?" Thundertron asked. "Because if not, his life will be forfeit, just as these others will be."

Sandstorm and Starsquest exchanged a glance before nodding their helms in approval. A devious grin formed on the Captain's faceplates, sending shivers up Knockout and company's backplates.

"Excellent! Then I suppose you will live to survive another day, Dust Devil."

"Of course, Captain Thundertron," the final mech answered.

If Knockout's systems weren't already stuck in stasis lock, then they would be by now, and by the looks of it, so, too, would Bumblebee and Steeljaw. That voice, the voice of the one called Dust Devil, was all too familiar to them. Even when the maroon-winged Seeker was finally revealed, he still carried that air about him. His orange optics, holding the same sly confidence as his true red ones.

He looked different.

He sounded the same.

All Knockout and the others can do is hope and pray that Starscream puts on an act so grand that it won't backfire and blow-up in their faceplates.

Just this once, Screamer, Knockout mentally pleaded. Don't screw-up your plan.