Knockout strode through the dim halls of the nemesis, a smirk splayed across his face plates and chin held high as his flashy, newly polished finish gleamed in the light making passing vehicons stare. In his arms were a stack of data pads he was delivering to the rec room, the red mech humming a little tune to himself.

It had been three days since he, Starscream, and Soundwave had returned to the warship.

It had been quite the commotion.

As soon as they had arrived Starscream had collapsed on his frame from energon deficiency, and Megatron had immediately scooped the small seeker into his arms and dragged the other two straight for the med-bay.

Simple drones tended to Knockout's wounds as he could do many of them himself. Then the red mech had tended to his friend's wounds.

Soundwave was particularly resistant as he insisted that Lazerbeak be treated first. Starscream was very difficult to fix as many of his parts were...obsolete.

After a few hours, he had stabilized both of them, and they had recovered rather well.

Knockout was woken from his thoughts as he reached the rec room doors and strolled inside. Vehicons occupied most of the tables, chatting amongst themselves and sipping energon cubes.

Knockout looked toward the back and saw Starscream sitting cross-legged at one of the tables, an energon cube pressed to his lips but not quite being consumed as his ruby red optics scanned a data pad in his slender servo.

Knockout smirked and walked over to slide into a seat across from the silver seeker. Starscream lifted his optics from the data pad and gazed at Knockout for a moment before putting down the energon cube and the data pad with an eyeroll.

"Hey, Screamer," Knockout drawled, "missed me?"

"Hardly." Starscream said, "Now, do you have the reports I requested?"

"I sure do, herr komandant." Knockout said handing Starscream the data pads. "how are your ankles doing? I saw you stumble a bit as I passed you in the halls this morning."

Starscream paused in his reading and glanced up at Knockout in slight surprise. "I suppose they ached a little but nothing I cannot handle."

The seeker dismissed the question with a wave of his servo. When he saw the unconvinced look the medic was giving him a hissed. "What is it to you?"

"I need to know if something's bothering you, Screamer, or else it will never recover properly." Knockout explained lowering the data pad in Starscream's servos.

Starscream raised an optic ridge with a scoff, "Why do you care what bothers me?"

"Because you're my friend, Starscream, and I truly do care. How many times do I have to tell you?" He smiled sincerely earning another surprised look from Starscream.

It seemed this whole 'friend' thing was still new to the silver seeker, but at least Knockout had gotten him be more open about his pains recently.

When Starscream had been recovering from his wounds, the seeker had actually knocked on Knockout's quarters to ask for some pain killers late in the night, not looking Knockout in the optics. Knockout had noticed Starscream's wobbling ankles and had of course said yes. The red mech even invited Starscream to spend the long night in his own quarters knowing that Starscream's quarters were not nearly as comfortable as his. The seeker had looked almost scared after being offered, but eventually agreed as his pains were seriously bugging him. Knockout had let Starscream sit atop the berth and he had given him the painkillers extremely gentle, sending the nervous flyer reassuring smiles every so often. Starscream had then relaxed and Knockout pulled out the blankets and pillows he had taken from ​the storage room, laying them across the floor of his quarters, creating a cozy place for Starscream to sleep. Knockout then helped lower the slowly drifting Starscream into the makeshift bed and let the seeker rest. Starscream had opened one glowing optic to look at Knockout as the gentle medic covered the seeker with a warm blanket. He smiled tiredly at the red mech as Knockout slowly stood up to make his way back to his own bed.

Knockout was preparing to climb in when he heard Starscream whisper, "Thank you, Knockout. You're a true friend."

And with that, the seeker had drifted off to sleep. Knockout had been stunned in place by those words.

Starscream was never one to openly admit he was hurting, and to thank the one who helped him? This was a whole new crazy situation. Knockout shook his head and climbed onto his berth to get a well-deserved recharge. He would never understand what went on in Starscream's scarred mind, but as long as the seeker felt like there was a least one bot who cared about him, perhaps he might have a chance to be accepted once more.

Starscream had come in to Knockout's quarters rather often after that night and even spent some more nights there if he was not feeling well. They had chatted for hours and hours and even into the night. Knockout showed Starscream some of his human horror films, which the seeker practically screamed like a girl every five seconds and curled up under the blankets like a scared sparkling. Knockout had to admit that he hadn't had that much fun since Breakdown was around. The red mech found that every moment he spent with Starscream, he was beginning to feel like he had someone to depend on once again. It was a feeling he hadn't felt for what seemed like centuries.

Now, he and Starscream were once again in each other's company, and Knockout was enjoying every second of it, even if it consisted with him mostly annoying the easily aggravated seeker.

Knockout was still smirking at Starscream and the seeker was glaring back. Though, his lips twitched up ever so slightly into the mischievous, world-renowned smirk of his own.

Both mechs jumped when a recording was sounded next to their table.

Knockout glanced up and saw Soundwave standing next to their table, his visor as blank as ever.

"Soundwave!" Knockout gasped, "You startled me! Do you need something?"

'Message from Lord Megatron' the pieces of his snatched recordings played.

"Oh, great." Starscream groaned, "What is it now? Does he need us to journey to the bottom of the ocean to pick up some seaweed?"

Knockout tried to hide his snicker.

Soundwave 'glared' at the seeker before playing more recordings, Megatron's voice reached their audios, 'I need you two slackers to go investigate an abandoned energon mine. It has come to my attention that there were some traces of synthetic energon signatures still hidden there. I need you to find the samples and bring them here. Knockout, don't bother fiddling with your petty finish as there will be heavy dust and it will be a giant waste of time. Starscream, don't even think about trying to play 'the leader' on this one as Soundwave will be commanding you, and try not to get crushed by a slagging pebble. That is an order. Go as soon as possible.' With that, the message ended, with some angry reactions.

"Excuse me! Petty finish? My finish is not petty I'll have you know, I take special time and effort into making it look absolutely perfect unlike all of you slobs around here!" Knockout yelled.

"Play leader! Play Leader! I deserve to be the leader! After all, my expertise surpasses every single one of you scrap-heads on this ship, and as your commanding officer I demand this be rethought! And what does he mean by getting crushed by a pebble? I am not some tiny sparkling!" Starscream hissed.

'Suggestion: Begin mission.' Soundwave interjected the two, not moving an inch.

Starscream hissed angrily, "Oh no, not before I set things straight and show Lord Megatron who the real leader on this ship is!"

Soundwave straightened taller making Starscream and Knockout cower.

'Objection: Was not a question.'

Then Soundwave turned and headed to a clear spot where he could groundbridge from. The familiar green portal appeared in front of him, and the silent mech turned back to the two mechs with a nod.

Soundwave seemed to hesitate for a moment before a new sound came from his frame. Not the sound of a recording, or an automated message...but the sound of a vocalizer that had not been used in megacycles...

'Soundwave...wants his friends...to go with him.'

And without another word, the silent mech disappeared through the groundbridge.

Starscream and Knockout glanced at each other. Had Soundwave just referred to them as...friends? Seemed the feeling was going around. Knockout felt his spark brighten at the thought.

Knockout glanced at Starscream. Starscream looked back at Knockout and smirked.

"Race you to the mine!" he called, transforming into his alt mode and blasting through the groundbridge.

Knockout ducked back from the boom of the thrusters. He glanced up as he saw Starscream's form disappear through the portal. Knockout laughed.

Here we go again.

Knockout transformed into his proud Aston Martin alt mode, revved up his roaring engines, and raced through the groundbridge.