Transformers: Decepticon Island

ONE WILL ARGUE

"All right, Knockout, you can do this. You can so totally do this. You've done this before. You just need to go in there and..."

He quit pacing and brought a servo up to his faceplate, resting a pair of digits on closed optics.

"Talk to him."

The day went by so quickly, Knockout felt like he had little to no time to prepare for this moment, especially after what happened at the meeting...

As promised, Bumblebee arranged an early audience with the Council. Despite having Bee by his side, Knockout was still extremely nervous when proposing his idea. The Council members' reactions weren't far off from what was expected.

Bulkhead did not take too kindly to it.

Both Windblade and Jazz voiced their concerns calmly.

Ratchet didn't say anything and just sat there with an unreadable expression.

After hours of debating and getting nowhere, the Council decided to call Optimus Prime, believing that his decision should be the final one. Whether that was legal or not, Knockout didn't really know, and at this point, didn't really care.

Then, after mulling it over some, Optimus voiced his thoughts: It's risky, and many would do anything to prevent it from happening, but everyone deserves a second chance, and they wouldn't know how it will work out if they don't try.

Just like that, Optimus Prime, willing to give Knockout and Bumblebee a chance, gave the Council permission to greenlight the mission. Optimus, however, did express one condition: they are only allowed to colonize a planet that isn't ruled over by a dominant species. He doesn't want them taking over someone else's world like tyrants. They will colonize a new world, and hope it works out for the best...

Knockout smiled to himself as he recalled the events of the day, then frowned when he remembered Ratchet's own condition that he sprung upon him afterward.

"Okay, Knockout, just suck it up and go in."

The red medic showed his ID to the guards standing outside the building, and once they confirmed it was him, allowed him inside access. Knockout walked down a brightly lit hallway until he reached the end, which branched left and right, both blocked by a locked, heavy-duty door. He turned right and punched in the code for that wing while leaving his other servo on the accompanying palm scanner. A few seconds passed before a beep and a click sounded.

Knockout opened the door and stepped through, allowing it to slam behind him as he walked down another, darker corridor. He turned at a bend and arrived at his destination. Awaiting him is a small room with security cameras in every corner, illuminated by the glowing bars of an isolation cell, and behind the bars is a winged frame, lying on its side on a berth.

"I didn't think you were coming today, doctor."

"Turn around and look at me, Starscream. We need to talk."

"Oh, you're sounding a little different today. Do tell, what's the special occasion?"

Surprising Knockout, Starscream actually listened to him and turned around. He still couldn't get over how different the silver Seeker is now: bigger, stronger, not to mention more confident.

Unfortunately, Knockout is the only one who can deal with Starscream, and Ratchet did not hesitate to point it out. If he left, then they would have to find someone else to look after Starscream, and nobody wanted that position.

"I'm going on a mission, and you're coming with me," Knockout said.

Starscream just laughed.

"Oh, doctor, you must be joking! Surely you're not serious?"

It took a hot minute for Starscream to realize that that's exactly what Knockout is right now.

"Oh, you are serious. How did you manage that?"

"What, you think I tricked the Autobots into letting me give you even a hint of freedom? Why would I risk my plating to do something stupid like that?" Knockout snapped.

Starscream flinched, servos clenching tight and forming fists.

"How interesting."

"Hm?" Knockout perked, helm tilting to the side.

"You think like that now. Concerned for the repercussions of your actions. Where was that thought process oh so long ago, when you abandoned me to be with them? Remember that?"

Knockout didn't think he would care, but a cold sense of dread hit him square in the spark, making him lose his fire and confidence. Starscream's voice was full of hate, optics clouded by betrayal. How he never noticed, or cared to notice in the first place, was beyond him. He should've done something to help, and yet, he didn't.

Why was he feeling guilty about this now?

"Starscream..." Knockout reached out, but hesitated to continue. "I... I'm sorry. I know at the end of the War, we didn't part on the best of terms..."

"As I just pointed out, you two-faced fool!" Starscream snarled. "And to think, it was all because I simply lashed out at you. Pardon me for losing my temper with you in a life-or-death situation!

First Shockwave had to protect me from those unruly Predacons that he for some unfathomable reason decided to clone and bring to life, and then Unicron shows-up out of nowhere, possessing the body of my millennia-old tormentor, and resurrects his own army of undead Predacons to destroy Cybertron! I ran away from Shockwave... I just left him there... And then I found out where the rest of you were being held and freed you. I could've just left you all, but I didn't. I even tried to get us off the planet, but the Autobots wouldn't cooperate! That was when you decided to open your mouth and act like nothing was wrong! Meanwhile, I was standing right next to you, having a fragging panic attack! You're a medic! You should have noticed! You should have cared! You should have given a scrap about someone other than yourself for once!"

Knockout felt his spark twist in anguish. He didn't know what to say, how to respond.

"Starscream..."

"Don't, Knockout. Please. I don't want to hear it."

Starscream curled in on himself, attempting to keep the myriad of negative emotions at bay.

"Everyone has hurt me more times than I can count. Megatron abused and manipulated me for longer than I care to remember. Nobody ever listens to me. Nobody wants me unless they need to use me for something, more often than not against my will. No matter what happens, I always get the blame, even when I have nothing to do with it. I try to make connections. I try to do good, to be good for something.

I try...

And try...

And try...

But it's never enough.

While you were far from the most likable Decepticon around, Knockout, you were at least tolerable. Primus, you would annoy me to the Allspark and back, but I enjoyed your company. I figured we could be friends. I thought we were friends, for a time, but then that happened. You stabbed me in the back, and left me to rust. The longer I think about it, the more I realize that I should have stayed with Shockwave. In that case, I wouldn't have had to worry about him betraying me over a teeny tiny emotional outburst."

Both mechs reflected on all that has happened between them in the following silence. Knockout wanted to say something, anything, to make Starscream feel better, but he knew it would do no good. If anything, it would make things worse.

"Preparations are being made. Once everything is all set, an officer and I will come to collect you. See you then, Starscream."

Without another word, Knockout left.