Knock Out stepped back from the operating table, the soft hiss of life support machines filling the medbay. Anna lay unconscious, pale and unnaturally still, her small, fragile frame almost lost beneath the array of life-saving devices surrounding her. His optics lingered on her for a moment longer than he intended, a pang of unease twisting in his spark. She looked so fragile, so utterly human, and yet he couldn't shake the weight of Starscream's mocking words: "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?"
"Ridiculous," he muttered under his breath, forcing his focus back to the console displaying Anna's vitals. The numbers were troubling. Her body was failing to stabilize despite his best efforts to flush the excessive energon from her system. Every beep and flicker on the screen reminded him just how fragile she was, and how slim her chances of survival had become. The faint rise and fall of Anna's chest was the only sign she was still alive, and it was clear she was hanging by a thread.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered under his breath as he adjusted the life-support equipment, his voice low and sharp. "This is going to come back to haunt me. I just know it."
Knock Out's attention shifted back to Anna's pale face. Her eyelids fluttered slightly, and for a moment, he thought he imagined it. But then it happened again; a faint, almost imperceptible movement. Her lips parted, and a weak, barely audible sound escaped. He leaned closer, his optics narrowing as he tried to make out the words.
"...where...?" Her voice was faint and strained, the effort clearly taking a toll on her.
"You're awake," Knock Out said, his tone a mix of disbelief and mild irritation. "Of course you'd pick now of all times to wake up."
Her gaze locked onto him, a flicker of recognition breaking through the haze of exhaustion. Her brow furrowed weakly, as though trying to piece together how she'd ended up here, and why he was the one standing over her.
"You?" she whispered, her voice trailing off into a barely audible rasp.
"Yes, it's me," Knock Out replied, straightening his posture and crossing his arms in a mock display of nonchalance. "Try not to look so shocked. I am doctor, remember? Saving lives is sort of my thing... when it suits me."
Anna's lips parted, but no sound came out. Her green gaze weakly drifted to the monitors, then back to him. The faintest flicker of fear crossed her face. Noticing, Knock Out hesitated, his confident demeanor faltering for a moment.
"Relax," he said, his tone softening despite himself. "You're not in Megatron's stomach anymore, so there's that. You're welcome, by the way."
Anna's heart jumped and a small tremble rippled through her body. "Megatron…" she murmured, her voice barely audible.
"Yes, Megatron," Knock Out said, his optics narrowing as he glanced toward the door. "He's the reason you're in this mess in the first place. But lucky for you, I've got standards. I don't let my patients die. At least," he turned his head back around, mouth twitching into the smallest of smirks, "not the ones I like."
Anna's expression shifted, managing the faintest glare, but otherwise didn't respond as she continued to stare up at him. Unsure if she should feel more afraid, relieved, grateful or something else entirely. While glad to seemingly be out of Megatron's stomach, Knock Out wasn't the first person, human or Cybertronian, she thought she'd see. If at all. Her hand twitched, attempting to move in her limited strength but was stopped as Knock Out lifted one of his own.
"Don't bother trying to move," he ordered, his tone softening slightly despite himself. "You're in no condition to do much of anything right now. If you've got further questions, save them. You need to conserve what little energy you've got left."
Anna's lips moved again, but no sound came out. Her eyes fluttered closed, her body too weak to sustain the effort. Knock Out hesitated, his optics lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. He glanced at the door, the faint sounds of battle growing louder. The Autobots were close. Too close.
The Decepticon medic paused, mind racing as he glanced back towards the weakening human. The same one he'd encountered multiple times before. The one he claimed was nothing more than a nuisance. And the same one Starscream so elegantly accused him of having a 'soft spot' for. A notion that still made him want to laugh, or perhaps scoff, and yet...
He sighed, frustration evident as he pinched the spot between his optics, which he closed. Why am I even doing this? This isn't supposed to be my problem, he thought bitterly, removing his servo to once more glance down at the small human. This is a mistake. I know it.
"Listen carefully, Annabelle," he said, leaning closer so his voice was just above a whisper. "I'm not doing this out of the goodness of my spark. You don't breathe a word of this to anyone. Not your Autobots, not anyone. Understand?"
Anna's response was barely a twitch of her head, but it was enough for Knock Out to interpret as agreement.
"Good," he said, straightening and returning his focus to the monitors. "Now stay alive, will you? I've got a reputation to uphold, and I don't need you ruining it. So don't make me regret this."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ship, the Autobots fought their way through waves of Vehicons, their determination fueled by Anna's last desperate message. Bumblebee led the charge, his stingers firing with precision, while Arcee and Bulkhead covered his flanks.
"She's gotta be close," Bulkhead said, panting slightly as he surveyed the corridor. "That signal came from Megatron, didn't it?"
"Yeah, but there's no guarantee she's still with him," Arcee replied, reloading her blaster. Her tone was clipped, her worry bleeding through despite her attempts to sound focused. "We'll keep searching until we find her."
"Agreed," Optimus's commanding voice rang out, the weight of his presence cutting through the air. "We must keep moving. We cannot afford to waste any time."
The team nodded, moving forward in unison. Optimus, his optics scanning the dim-lit corridor, led the way with unyielding focus. He knew what was at stake. There was no room for hesitation.
Ratchet's voice crackled through their comms. "Be cautious, team. Megatron is not one to underestimate, and his traps are often more intricate than they appear."
"We'll stay sharp, Ratchet," Optimus replied. "We're not leaving without Anna."
As they pushed forward, a shadow loomed ahead, and the Autobots skidded to a halt as, instead of another barrage of Vehicons, it was Megatron's towering figure that emerged, blocking their path.
"Well, well," The leader of the Decepticon's deep voice resonated through the corridor, his optics gleaming with malice. "I see you've brought the entire party. How amusing."
Optimus stepped forward, his battle-scarred frame towering over the Decepticon leader. "Megatron," he said, his voice resolute. "Where is Anna?"
The Decepticon leader's expression twisted into a cruel smile. "Where indeed?" he mused, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "Perhaps you should focus on your own survival, Prime."
"Enough games, Megatron," Optimus demanded, his tone unwavering. "Release her. This does not have to end in further violence."
Megatron's lips curled into a sneer as he raised his fusion cannon, the energy surging in its barrel. "Do you think I'm afraid of your words? No, Optimus, I will not release her. And you will regret this interference."
Before Optimus could respond, Megatron fired, the blast splitting the air with a deafening roar. The Autobots scattered, diving for cover as the force of the explosion shook the corridor. Optimus, never losing his composure, returned fire, his ion blaster lighting up the hallway as he targeted Megatron's position.
"Stay together!" Optimus shouted, his voice carrying through the chaos. "Do not let him separate us!"
Arcee and Bulkhead followed his orders without hesitation, each moving with precision as they sought to flank Megatron. Bumblebee stayed close to Optimus, providing quick, accurate stinger shots to distract the Decepticon leader.
With a roar of frustration, Megatron shifted his position, trying to overpower the Autobots. He fired again, the blast narrowly missing Bulkhead as he charged forward, swinging his mace with force.
Optimus's optics flared with determination. "We will not stop until we have her," he declared, leading the charge with his energon blade drawn. The Autobots pressed forward, knowing that Anna's fate hung in the balance.
Megatron's sneer deepened as he began firing relentlessly, but Optimus and the team pushed on, refusing to let anything stand in their way. The battle was fierce, but the Autobots fought with the certainty that they would not leave the Nemesis without Anna.