I'm not part of your machine... | Transformers Prime | Soundwave Centric

16 - If You're Lucky You'll Be Surrounded By The Ones That You Love

Starscream would have scoffed and said something back to Shockwave, but the bot currently getting dangerously close to groping him is preventing that.

Starscream interuppted the tyrant, "My lord!"

"What's it Starscream?" said the tyrant responding just as intoxicated as before.

And it's time for him to use manipulation at its finest... er, close to finest. "It's essential we have a capable leader, yes?"

"I suppose."

"And a leader can't function on low recharge, correct?"

The bulkier bot nodded along like he understood what Starscream was saying.

"Then, you should head off to your berth now. The Decepticons need a well-rest leader now, don't we?" He felt like he was attempting to persuade a sparkling to go take their scheduled nap.

"...you speak sense."

Starscream held back a grimace at the deplorable condition of Megatron both mentally and physically; instead deciding to gently push the mech off him under the guise of taking him to go lay down. "You should go then. Your processor won't work the same by the day cycle, my lord."

Without warning the silver mech, stubbornly holding his grip on Starscream, started to drunkly walk in the direction of his own berth. Starscream--mentally scoring this interaction around the usual hastily bumped it up to a near-death experience-- was panicked. He couldn't predict Megatron, the only thing he expected to get from the terrible leader was a harsh beating. Megatron began to ramble on about something or another, but his second-in-command was too distracted to understand it.

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Oblivious to what the seeker may ultimately end up doing, Shockwave watched on from the many, many cameras, he--for as omnipotent he may seem-- was unsure what to do. Along with Knockout pacing in the medbay, only picking up Shockwave's silent uncertainty and Starscream's silent terror from the other end of the comm.

Starscream's comm crackled to life, though only the distant and garbled sound of Megatron got through. Clicking came in response from Shockwave's comm. 

Knockout sighed on his end, "Starscream, I'm coming to get you."

Silence from the screamer.

Shockwave sputtered at his end, struggling to put his words together, "Knockout! That is going to ruin--"

Knockout, for as much as he didn't mind Shockwave's structure, ignored the purple bot's words. He quietly exited the medbay, determined to get that damned seeker before Megatron did anything worse than he already has.

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"--and that's how I--"

Knockout could hear that silver tyrant's vocalizer the closer he got.

"--but Optimus--"

He wished he shut off Megatron's life support when he could have. They wouldn't be here then.

"--Megatron, please--"

Starscream! Knockout is going to kill that bot if he gets himself hurt.

Knockout turned the corner sharply. He stopped to take in the sense.

Starscream holding his servos out in front of him holding Megatron a distance away from him. Then... Megatron... was practically trying to crush Starscream with how much he was leaning on the poor seeker. 

He was relieved to see the seeker before anything worse happened. "Starscream!"

Starscream perked, looking ready to beg Knckout to get Megatron away from him. Megatron paused, but then otherwise disregarded Knockout's presence.

"Starscream, I'm--" Knockout quickly fake-coughed and readjusted what he was saying to cover for themselves. "I require your help in the medbay for a moment. A quick test for treatment for sick fliers, if you're not busy?"

Starscream followed Knockout's excuse surprisingly well, "Ah! Of course, I was on my way just a moment ago. Lord Megatron interrupted me."

Knockout hummed, pretending to have not known before this, "Of course. My liege, if I may?" He gestured vaguely at Starscream.

Megatron nodded, and his speech completely devolved into overcharged gibberish. Knockout took this as a yes and gently removed Starscream from the lord's grip. He guided himself and Starscream away from Megatron and reported back to Shockwave, who immediately set to telling them his new plan of action.

Soon the two officers were running down the halls of the Nemesis to make up for their lost escape time, and practically jumping out the back of the ship with little preparation. They knew Shockwave was close behind them and would surely be at the rendezvous spot.

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