~Knocked-Out~

Interrogation

"Ok, spill it, screamer. Why are you really here?"

"I told you! I want to join the Autobots!" 

Smokescreen scoffed. "Listen, 'Con. I've only been with the Autobots for a short period of time, but I know enough about you to know that you can't change. So, talk!"

"Smokescreen, enough!" Optimus walked in, dismissing the rookie. "Allow me to talk to him."

"But...uh..." Smokescreen stuttered, receiving a look from Optimus. He sighed in defeat, then walked out. 

"Thank Primus! He was becoming such a pain in my audio receptors." Optimus stared at the table, which towered over him a few feet. After that faithful moment  when he had shrunken, he had grown a few millimeters every day. Still too short to perform many functions,  he required special needs. Climbing up the mini stairs Ratchet had made, he felt embarrassed to have the seeker see him like this. Though he didn't show it. At least he was able to pronounce Rs again.  Standing on the platform at the top of the staircase, he stared down Starscream, looking for any sign of deception, lies. He saw none. 

"Starscream, I will make this fair, but if required, I will use force. Do you understand?"

Starscream nodded, then gulped. Even in his little state, the prime was still terrifying. 

"Starscream, you claim to want to join our ranks, am I correct."

"Yes."

"For what reason?"

"I've had enough of Megatron's tyranny. The way he treats me like scrap, how I yearn to plunge a blade into his twisted spark. After Knockout committed treason, I wanted to believe he did the wrong thing, yet my mind always debated whether it was me who, in fact, was doing the wrong thing."

"Do you have any contact with the Decepticons?"

"Uh, yes, my comm, but it's currently turned off."

"Anything else."

"No."

Optimus looked at the seeker, who was obviously scared out of his mind. 

"How do you feel?"

"Excuse me?"

"How do you feel? You took quite a large fall, and I don't believe having your wing shot off is very pleasant. 

Starscream stared at the Prime in shock, his mouth wide open. Megatron would never treat his prisoners like this. By this time in the interrogation, the prisoner would already be begging for mercy. 

"Other than a sting in my shoulder area, and surprisingly tired, I'm...well."

"I will have Ratchet check it out." Optimus gave him a nod, then walked down the stairs, and out of the room. Moments later, Knockout walked in. 

"So, I just talked with Optimus."

"And?"

"Look's like you're good...for now."

"Thank Primus." Knockout nodded slightly, then turned to walk out, but froze. 

"How is she?"

"Who?"

"You know who. Darkshade." Knockout's voice broke upon saying the name. 

"She's...doing well." Starscream didn't know what to say, and watched as Knockout's helm hung low. 

"She probably hates me."

"She acts like she does, but she doesn't."

"How do you know?" Knockout snapped. 

"She said so, in her recharge."

"Were you watching her in her recharge?" 

"No! Listen, she hurt her shoulder, I was simply watching her while she recovered."

"She got hurt?!"

"She's fine now! Anyways, she said that you weren't the enemy."

Knockout turned and stared at the seeker, before turning back around.

"She's the reason I left."

"I highly doubt it." Knockout answered immediately. 

"It's true, it's true! It was when she was talking about how you weren't the "enemy" that I decided to leave. You must believe me!" 

"Why should I?" Knockout growled, before disappearing through the entrance way. 

"It's true!" Starscream yelled desperately, his voice echoing through the base. Knockout stormed into the main room, where everyone, except Arcee, was gathered. Optimus climbed up onto the computer, and cleared his throat. 

"I have an announcement. From now on, Starscream will join our team, under my supervision. He has proven he no longer holds his pledge to the Decepticons, and has proven to be a trust-worthy ally. Are there any objections?"

As much as they all wanted to spill their thoughts of this new ordeal, no one spoke a word. Optimus nodded. 

"Then it shall be done. Ratchet, please proceed in changing the insignia on Starscream. I would like to make this official as soon as possible."

Ratchet opened his mouth complain, then shut it and stomped down the hall. Bulkhead and Smokescreen walked to the training hall, and Bumblebee stormed off to his berth. The base was silent for a moment, then a faint beeping echoed from the computer, which now showed two purple signals approaching a blue one. 

"Arcee." Knockout muttered, before activating the Ground bridge to the coordinates, and running through against Optimus' protests. 

~~~

"Lord Megatron, please!"

"Enough! Darkshade, you will do well to follow my orders. I will go out to the felid."

"With all do respect, sir, I don't understand why I cannot go."

"You are injured, and unsuited for battle." Megatron smiled evilly. "Besides, I require you for another job. "

Sighing in defeat, Darkshade bowed down, wincing at the slight pain it brought. "Yes, my lord."

~~~

Hey!

I won't be able to update again until Sunday.

:-(

I'll make sure to make up for lost days when I get back. 

So sorry. 

-Star-