"I can't believe he talked me into this."
Bumblebee and Steeljaw expressed simultaneously as they waited by the ship that the Council provided for them. Off the record, of course, because news of this mission is not meant to get out to the public. Not that Bumblebee's complaining. Last thing he wants is for everyday citizens to come up to him and ask why he is about to board a ship with Steeljaw of all mechs for company.
"What is taking Knockout so long?" Bumblebee muttered, growing antsy. He looked at his companion and noticed that he wasn't causing any trouble. "Steeljaw?"
"Hm?"
"Is something wrong? You don't seem to be yourself today."
Steeljaw laughed.
"Since when have I given you any reason to worry about me? Ah, wait, let me rephrase that: when have I given you any reason to worry about me, excluding all of the times I tried to make Earth my own while you and your team tried to stop me?"
Bumblebee didn't answer.
"Anyway, are the cuffs really necessary?" Steeljaw added, glancing over his shoulder plate at his bound servos.
"It was either that, or I could have thrown you in a stasis pod and rolled you onto the ship," Bumblebee mused, cracking a smile. "Knowing you, I kind of figured you would prefer to be awake."
". . . I guess I can live with them for a little while longer," Steeljaw said, seemingly sharing Bumblebee's amusement. "But as soon as I get on that ship, they're coming off."
"Once we're out of Cybertron's orbit, then they'll come off. Promise."
The unmistakable sound of shouting prevented Bumblebee and Steeljaw from continuing their banter. Both mechs turned in the direction from which the ruckus was coming from, and to absolutely no surprise, Knockout had finally arrived, with Starscream and Jazz in-tow. The medic and the Seeker were arguing, and as they got closer, Bumblebee noticed how completely done Jazz looked.
Once they reached the ship, Knockout took a controller out of his subspace, pressed a button, and entered, still butting-helms with Starscream. Jazz made it halfway up the ramp before wandering back down.
"Hey, Jazz," Bumblebee greeted. "You alright?"
Jazz stopped in front of Bumblebee and Steeljaw. He reached for his helm and pressed a digit against the side.
"You say somethin', Bee?" Jazz asked.
"Oh, you shut off your audio receptors."
"Yeah. I could only stand listening to them for so long before I wished I was offline. Since I don't want that to happen anytime soon, I went with the next best thing."
"Understandable. So, what were they fighting about?"
"I don't know. I stopped listening after only a few kliks."
"Well, why don't you go get a good rest, bud? Sounds like… I mean, it looks like you need it."
Jazz smirked at Bumblebee, then left.
"Why didn't you put the loud mouth in a stasis pod?" Steeljaw asked, causing Bumblebee to laugh.
"I don't know," Bumblebee chuckled, grabbing Steeljaw gently by the arm. "Come on, let's go."
.
. .
. . .
After Bumblebee and Steeljaw boarded, Knockout closed the door and plotted a course for a space bridge that will take them to a different part of the galaxy. However, there is one thing he still has to do, and has yet to tell the others. The constant bickering between him and Starscream made that impossible.
Well, too late to turn back now.
.
. .
. . .
"Knockout, where are we?"
"Velocitron, my home world."
"Why?"
"I need to pick up something real quick. I promise, I won't be long."
"What is it?"
"Nothing you need to worry about, I can assure you."
"Alright, so long as it isn't anything dangerous or illegal."
"Of course not! But, mind if I borrow Steeljaw? Just in case?"
"I don't know…"
"Please?"
". . . Fine."
.
. .
. . .
Within the hour, the ship touches down on the planet's surface. Bumblebee and Steeljaw look over the planet's landscape, surprised by how barren it is. If it weren't for the countless tracks marking the dust-covered ground, nobody would know that the planet is inhabited.
"Are you sure about this?" Bumblebee asked in a hushed tone.
"Don't worry, Bee, I'll be fine," Knockout reassured. "I'll do what I need to do and speed back here before nightfall."
"That's not what I meant."
The pair look at their surprise addition a few seats over, seemingly not listening.
"Eh, Steeljaw doesn't strike me as an idiot," Knockout shrugs.
"He's not, and that's what worries me," Bumblebee admits. "If he tries anything..."
"I'll call you. Got it, Bee. You worry too much."
"You remember my team, right?"
"Oh, yes, who could forget them? Come on, Steeljaw! We're heading out!"
Steeljaw didn't say anything as he left his seat and followed Knockout.
.
. .
. . .
Knockout and Steeljaw reached the former's old place of work with little to no fuss.
"Alright, this is just going to be a quickie," Knockout whispered as he transformed. "We..."
"Go in, get out, and attempt to avoid any sort of distraction," Steeljaw interrupted, transforming behind the red mech. "You've been saying that on repeat for the entire drive."
"I have? Sorry. That must have been annoying to listen to."
"You have no idea."
Steeljaw's tone made Knockout nervous, or rather, it just added on to his already huge pile of built-up anxiety. While a part of him is happy to be back home, another part is full of nothing. If anyone could call depression nothing.
"Is there a reason as to why we're not going in?" Steeljaw growled.
"It's just… It's nothing," Knockout whispered. Not turning around to look his comrade in the optics, the red mech entered the building.
Knockout could tell things changed for the better. It looked bigger, as if the building had recently been expanded. The metal was sparkling clean. Desks, benches, and tons of new-age technology were all over the place.
"Wow, the old place looks brand new!" Knockout gasped.
"A little flashy, isn't it?" Steeljaw muttered.
Knockout ignored the comment and walked over to the front desk.
"Can I help you?" The receptionist asked.
"I hope so," Knockout answered, his anxiety completely erased by his self-confidence and social skills. "My name's Knockout, and I used to be a medic here."
The mech stopped typing and raised his gaze to look at Knockout.
"Why are you here?" The receptionist hissed. "This better not have something to do with that damned Autobot/Decepticon feud. We already have enough trouble with gangs constantly fighting each other as is!"
"By the Primes, no!" Knockout half-lied. "I just want to grab a few things I left behind."
The receptionist stared at him, then shifted his attention to Steeljaw.
"Oh, yeah, this is my friend. He's just here to offer his assistance if it turns out I left behind more stuff than I thought."
The following silence is deafening.
After staring at the visitors for a little while longer, the receptionist reached under his desk and unplugged a pair of mini data pads before handing them to Knockout and Steeljaw.
"Temporary Medic and Medical Assistant passes. Both have a built-in map and tracking system, for safety and security purposes. This will allow you access to where you need to go, depending on where your old office is located."
"Thank you! I promise, we won't be long!" Knockout assured.
If only he knew.
.
. .
. . .
"Finally!"
"You found it?"
"Yes, yes I did! I knew the place wouldn't be the same, but who knew I would get lost on the way to my own office?"
"I have so many things I could say right now."
Knockout made a face at Steeljaw before entering his old office. To the medic, it didn't look any different. Everything's neat and tidy, and clean. Shelves lined with data pads, a work table and large video screen in the corner, and picture frames scattered all over the place.
"Okay, I will admit, you know how to keep a place looking good," Steeljaw admitted, entering the room after letting Knockout through first.
"Not just places, mind you," Knockout mused.
"So, remember where you put whatever it is that you need?"
"Of course I do!"
"Then why are we wasting time looking for something if you already know where it is?"
"I have my reasons!"
"You locked it away and forgot where you put the key, didn't you?"
". . . Yes."
Steeljaw laughed at the absolute sound of defeat and embarrassment in Knockout's voice.
"Um, excuse me, but what are you doing?"
Apparently too distracted to notice anyone approaching, Knockout and Steeljaw swerved around to see someone standing in the doorway.
It is a lean, turquoise femme – about half a helm shorter than Knockout – with blue optics, clutching a data pad to her chassis.
Staring at the young medic, Knockout could've sworn he felt his entire system freeze.
"Moonracer?"
"Knockout?"
.
.
.
.
.
Moonracer rushed Knockout and tackled him to the ground, wrapping her arms around him in an unbreakable hug.
"Blessed be the Allspark, you're alive! I thought you were dead! I didn't think I would ever see you again!"
Knockout returns the embrace, and waits patiently for Moonracer to get it all out of her system and calm down. She eventually stops crying and gets off of him, rubbing stray tears from her optics.
"Sorry about that."
"It's alright," Knockout chuckled. "How have you been, Moonracer?"
"Good, I guess. Better than when there was a war going on, anyway. Honestly, I was more scared of you going offline than I was of, well, myself going offline."
"Thank the Primes we're both still online!"
Wish I could say the same for Breakdown. I don't think I could have handled losing another partner.
"Well…" Knockout cleared his vocalizer, acting as if nothing is bothering him. "It's quite a relief to see you again, Moonracer, but I have a pretty tight schedule to stick to, so if you don't mind..."
Before Knockout could get up, Moonracer shoved an object into his servos.
"I didn't think you would want anyone touching your stuff until you got back, so I held onto it for you," Moonracer explained, looking at Knockout's key, back in its owner's possession.
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Moonracer."
The retrieval of the object – a Lightbender – was completed in silence. Knockout didn't say anything, while Steeljaw and Moonracer watched from the doorway. The mechs then returned their passes to the receptionist, waved goodbye to Moonracer, and drove off. By the time they reached the ship, darkness had fallen, and the silence was broken.
"Care to tell me what happened back there?" Steeljaw demanded.
"Nothing you need to be concerned about," Knockout grumbled.
"Considering how horrible you look, I highly doubt that. Besides, if it's affecting you this badly..."
"I know what you're thinking, and no, it won't impede the mission! I promise to deal with it later, when or if it does become a problem. Okay?"
Steeljaw did not look convinced.
"That's a load of scrap."
Knockout jumped back, startled by the voice. A sleek race car came to a quiet halt between him and Steeljaw. It transformed into Moonracer.
"And I know you know that."
Neither Knockout nor Moonracer's optics wavered from the other. Steeljaw didn't need to be told to give them some privacy. When the door to the ship opened, he rushed inside.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Moonracer, but what are you doing here?" Knockout asked.
"I'm coming with you guys," Moonracer answered, not skipping a beat. She didn't give Knockout the chance to deny her as she continued. "Before I left the clinic, I told my superiors that I would be taking an extended leave to travel with a patient. They don't know who you are to me. They didn't ask, so I didn't tell."
"Wait, me? You're calling me a patient?"
"You mean as a fully licensed medic, I can't help my former mentor? Nice try, Knockout, but you and basically every other medic I've ever met taught me not to take scrap from anyone if it means helping them get better."
"But there's nothing wrong with me! I'm fine! Better than fine, even. I'm..."
"Breakdown."
Knockout froze.
"Come again?"
"You heard what I said."
Moonracer vented.
"Listen, Knockout. When you guys left for the War, I was scared – terrified – of losing both of you. When news spread of the end of the Great War, I couldn't have been happier! And then I heard about Breakdown. I don't remember hearing anything about you. Maybe I did, but after Breakdown… I couldn't. I was too scared to know the truth. I believed it would be better to think you were alive than know for certain that you were dead. I just… I couldn't handle it. I wouldn't have been able to. Breakdown was my best friend. I loved him as if he were my split-spark."
The turquoise medic began to choke-up.
"However, despite all my emotional pain, and trying to distance myself from it, I am not the only one. I know what Breakdown meant to you, what he still means to you, and I couldn't possibly begin to imagine how..."
Seeing the pain and agony in her former mentor's optics, she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"I am sorry for your loss."