Knockout and Moonracer – Steeljaw and Ramulus in-tow – arrive at and enter the med-bay. It is no longer hustling and bustling with frantic Vehicons, but a couple still remain, tending to Phantomjaw. Acid Storm is nowhere to be seen, most likely having been escorted by his siblings to their shared quarters.
"Is my brother alright?" Steeljaw asked. The Vehicons stopped working and looked to Dead End, who had his backplate to them all as he scanned the data being transmitted.
"I'm sure you can see for yourself, but if you're asking whether he'll live and go back to normal, then yes," Dead End answered.
That was a relief to Steeljaw.
"Good."
"In that case, mind taking a look at Steeljaw?" Knockout suggested. Dead End continued to not physically address them.
"Minor injuries will repair themselves with some good old fashioned recharge, and the same can be said for the bad leg once it's reset, but it isn't the physical damage that you should be most concerned with."
The Ex-Stunticon looked over a couple more things before pressing something on the terminal and turning around to face his visitors. His optics immediately landed on the new edition and remained there for a good minute. After making some sort of judgment of Ramulus, he let his optics wander to Steeljaw.
"I told you before, I ain't helping with the processor."
"I know. I didn't forget," Steeljaw huffed.
"Just making sure," Dead End shrugged. He gestured to a berth just a few spaces away from Phantomjaw. "Come on, then. Let's get that leg taken care of."
"And the neck!" Knockout added as Steeljaw limped over to Dead End, Ramulus by his side.
"I'm sure he's fine."
"But…"
"For someone who was so eager to pawn-off one of his own patients onto me, most likely to save himself the pain and agony of buffing himself for the dozenth or more time this chord, you sure seem persistent to actually do the job by ordering me around."
Knockout promptly shut up after that. He couldn't possibly come up with a retort that would rival, let alone beat Dead End's. To avoid any further embarrassment, or worse, Moonracer decided it was time to leave.
"Okay, then! I think Dead End has everything covered! Let's go!"
Knockout would have protested, if he wasn't still in a stunned silence. Moonracer grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the med-bay.
"You two may go as well," Dead End said, sparing the Vehicons a quick glance. The bots didn't waste time and made haste.
.
. .
. . .
"What happened to him?" Starscream asked, pointing to Knockout's limp frame.
"Dead End sassed him and he couldn't think of a good comeback so he just…" Moonracer explained, stopping and gesturing to the red form.
"Froze," Bumblebee said. Moonracer nodded, and the yellow and black mech just shook his helm.
Starscream found it quite funny, as did some of the others in the room, except for one, who seemed more… concerned? . . . than anything else.
"What's got you in such a rut, Thunderhoof?"
At Bumblebee's question, everyone present turned to the Cervicon.
Thunderhoof is leaning against one of the far walls, arms crossed, gaze solely focused on the same corridor that Moonracer just dragged Knockout through.
"Thunderhoof, are you even listening to us?" Saberhorn questioned.
No response.
"I think he's ignoring us," Underbite decided.
"Wonderful deduction, Underbite," Fracture replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"No need to be a smart aft about it! Why would he be ignoring us, anyway?"
"Probably because he finds us annoying."
"Hmm… perhaps he is worried about Steeljaw and is focused on his well-being," Saberhorn thought aloud.
"HA!"
"No way!"
"I was simply offering a possibility," Saberhorn grumbled, turning away from Underbite and Fracture.
"Well, I guess it's not that big of a stretch," Fracture relented.
"Especially after everything that's happened today," Underbite admitted. His fellow Ex-Cons nodded in agreement.
The group fell silent and waited patiently for news of the Lupicon brothers' recovery…
Which came nearly half an hour later, with the appearance of Dead End.
"Well? How are they?" Bumblebee was the first to jump-in.
"Stable and resting, so no visitors unless I say otherwise," Dead End curtly answered, pushing past the bots in his way. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have to check on Acid Storm and make sure Nova didn't accidentally make his injuries worse."
Despite their bevy of questions, comments, and concerns, no one dared to stop Dead End…
"Oh, and Moonracer?"
Except for himself.
"Yes?" Moonracer piped, vocalizer cracking as she was singled-out.
"Make sure nobody tries to get into med-bay. Not only do both Steeljaw and Phantomjaw need rest, but Steeljaw specifically wanted to talk to his friend in private. I'd hate to have to clean up any mess that will result from the interruption."
.
. .
. . .
"Is there any way we can spy on them without going anywhere near med-bay?" Knockout asked, startling everyone as they all thought he was still out of it.
"Of course that's the only part you heard!" Moonracer exclaimed, though completely unsurprised.
"Hey, I can't help it if I'm… um… what's the human phrase, again?"
"Being nosy," Bumblebee educated, already seeing where this was going and, despite not liking it, knew he couldn't do anything to prevent it as, not only Knockout, but Starscream and the Ex-Cons were interested in what's happening behind closed doors.
"Ah, yes, that! Thank you! And please, don't tell me you aren't the slightest bit curious, too?"
Bumblebee pouting in silence is enough confirmation for the red Neutral.
"Thought so! Okay, who has any ideas on how to eavesdrop without getting caught?"
"I might know someone who can help," Starscream spoke-up. He gestured for everyone to follow him and they all took off, leaving a disgruntled Bumblebee behind with Moonracer.
The yellow and black mech vented and turned to face the aquamarine medic.
"How come you didn't stop them?" Bumblebee asked.
"Probably the same reason you didn't," Moonracer shrugged. "Besides, Dead End told me to keep them away from the med-bay, and it sounds like they have another way of… looking in on things without actually being anywhere near there."
Bumblebee vented again, but nonetheless followed Moonracer out of the room.
"Just double-checking: you have as much of a problem with this as I do, right?"
"Of course!"
"But you're also letting your curiosity get the better of you because… I mean… I guess, why wouldn't it?"
"Precisely."
.
. .
. . .
A series of knocks at the laboratory door forces Shockwave to stop whatever it is that he's working on and address whoever disturbs him. He is both unsurprised yet unsettled by the two pairs of red optics staring at him with what humans would call puppy eyes.
"Starscream, Knockout," Shockwave said, looking from one to the other. "Logically speaking, whatever it is you two are up to, it is something disastrously illogical."
"We just need access to any sort of surveillance in the med-bay!" Starscream explained.
"We promise we won't be long!" Knockout reassured.
Shockwave did not like the sound of this at all, but he knew from experience that these two mechs together were basically chaos incarnate, and if he wanted to get back to peaceful, uninterrupted work as soon as possible…
"Very well, but don't touch anything."