In the medbay of the Nemesis, Knock Out's patience was stretched to its limit. The distant rumble of the ship's weapons systems engaging only added to the pressure mounting in the room. He paced in front of the central console, his servos tightening and loosening in frustration as the holographic display flickered before him. The data on Anna's condition was minimal—infuriatingly so.
"This is absurd!" Knock Out snapped, his crimson optics blazing as he whirled to face Starscream, who leaned against the doorway with his usual air of smug detachment. The distant sound of blaster fire rattled faintly through the ship, a reminder that time was running out.
"I can't perform miracles under these conditions, Starscream! She's trapped in a situation that even I can't monitor properly. Her vitals are dropping, the data is inconsistent, and now we've got the Autobots breathing down our necks. At this rate, I might as well toss my equipment out the airlock for all the good it's doing!"
He gestured wildly at the console, his claws clenching as he scowled. "And you? You're standing there as though this is some casual inconvenience rather than a full-scale disaster!"
"You've made your grievances abundantly clear, Knock Out," Starscream drawled, his tone dripping with mock patience. He inspected his claws as if the chaos around them was nothing more than background noise. "But Lord Megatron has his reasons, and I, unlike some, am wise enough not to question them."
Knock Out's servos slammed against the console, his frustration boiling over. "Do you not understand the gravity of this situation, Starscream? I can't conduct a proper analysis if she's entombed in there!" He jabbed a finger at the display, where Anna's vitals flickered erratically, a clear sign of her deteriorating condition inside Megatron's stomach. "The data we're gathering is superficial at best. If the exposure becomes lethal before we glean anything useful, this entire endeavor will have been for nothing."
Starscream's smirk widened, his optics gleaming with amusement. "Oh, how touching. I never pegged you for having such… compassion for the human. Could it be that our esteemed medic has developed a soft spot?"
Knock Out turned sharply, his expression twisting into one of pure disdain. "Don't be ridiculous," he spat, his voice laced with venom. "My concern is purely professional. Let's not forget, Starscream, that when Megatron's grand plans falter, I will be the one held accountable." He straightened, his claws tapping a sharp rhythm against the console. "I refuse to be scapegoated because of an experiment that borders on the grotesque."
Starscream's laughter was soft but grating, like metal scraping against metal. "Oh, Knock Out. You're as transparent as polished chrome. But I'd be more worried about the Autobots than Megatron's temper at the moment. They're getting closer, and if they reach the medbay…" He trailed off, a pointed grin playing on his face.
Knock Out muttered under his breath, his optics darting back to the data. The truth gnawed at him, unwelcome but undeniable: this experiment was crossing a line. Anna's stubborn defiance had always grated on him, but seeing her reduced to this—trapped, helpless, her life ebbing away in service of Megatron's cruelty—left a bitter taste even in his refined sensibilities.
"She's barely hanging on," he muttered, his voice low enough that it was almost lost in the background noise of the Nemesis. "This isn't experimentation—it's torture."
Starscream, catching the comment, arched a brow. "Careful, Knock Out. Such sentiments might be interpreted as insubordination. Or worse—weakness."
Knock Out shot him a withering glare. "Don't lecture me on weakness, Starscream. If the Autobots breach this ship, none of us will have time for your gloating."
As if on cue, the ship rocked violently, the force sending a tremor through the medbay. The blaring of alarms filled the air as the Nemesis' automated defenses kicked into overdrive.
"They're here," Starscream hissed, his playful demeanor vanishing in an instant. He straightened, his claws flexing as he activated his comm. "Lord Megatron, the Autobots have breached the perimeter. They'll be here any moment."
Knock Out cursed under his breath, his servos flying over the console as he scrambled to extract what little data he could before they were interrupted. He had to finish the download—if only to avoid Megatron's wrath should the Autobots succeed in their rescue attempt.
"Starscream, if you're going to stand there doing nothing, at least make yourself useful and hold them off!" Knock Out barked, his optics not leaving the screen as the download bar inched painfully slowly toward completion.
Starscream sneered but turned on his heel, his voice carrying down the corridor as he strode away. "Try not to let your soft spot get in the way of your efficiency, Knock Out."
Left alone, Knock Out growled under his breath, his fingers tightening around the edge of the console. The alarms screamed louder, signaling the Autobots' approach. For a fleeting moment, he hesitated, his optics flickering back to Anna's flickering vitals.
"This is a slagging disaster," he muttered, his unease growing with every second. Still, he resumed his work, forcing himself to focus. No matter his misgivings, survival—both his and Anna's—depended on finishing this before all hell broke loose.