Clever Thing | TFP AU

Chapter 5

Much to Ratchet's dismay, Starscream wasn't quite finished with him yet.

It soon became apparent that the seeker just wanted to show him off like a trophy. Although it was much better than dying, the medic still wasn't too keen about the idea of being put on display solely for the purpose of gloating.

Soon enough, he found himself back in Starscream's throne room.

The seeker had chained him to his throne so he couldn't go very far and made it obvious that he could just take the chain off whenever he pleased. That only happened when he wanted something, though, which essentially made Ratchet his servant. Despite this, the medic clung to what dignity he had left, his fiery spirit still aflame in his spark.

"You know," Starscream drawled, twirling the end of the chain with his digits. "you're really ruining the mood with that scowl of yours. Is that the only face you can make?" He looked annoyed, but there was a teasing gleam to his scarlet optics. This was all just a joke to him.

Ratchet merely rolled his optics and looked elsewhere. "Around you, yes." He mumbled in annoyance, hunching his shoulders forward.

Starscream hissed and roughly yanked on the chain, forcing Ratchet to face him. He stared him down with a fiery glare, his sharp denta peeking out from behind his dermas. "Speak up. I can't hear you when you mumble like that."

"Maybe you should get your hearing checked." Ratchet growled, pulling back on the chain in retaliation.

A strangled gasp of pain escaped him when he felt the suffocating grip of the force squeeze his frame, threatening to crush it like a soda can. He struggled to take in air as the grip progressively became tighter, his vents becoming too compressed to circulate properly. While he stood there practically choking to death, Starscream seemed unamused.

"I really wish you'd be more cooperative. It makes things much easier for me." The seeker sneered, looking at Ratchet like he was the problem. "Then again, it's always been in your nature to be as defiant as possible."

Ratchet finally had enough.

Despite the fact that he still couldn't breathe, he managed to gather enough strength to pull as hard as he could on the chain. Starscream, not expecting the sudden move, was promptly yanked right off his throne and thrown to the ground. The crushing grip was released and Ratchet gasped, coughing as air rushed back into his vents. He had only been moments away from blacking out.

Seeing that the seeker was stunned from the fall, Ratchet quickly slammed his pede down on the chain to break off the long piece so that he only had a small part still attached to his cuffs. Before Starscream could realize what happened, Ratchet ran out of the room with a plan of escape in mind.

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"I thought you were afraid of bugs." Knockout teased as he brought out a tray of medical instruments he was going to use for the autopsy.

Ironhide was standing a good seven feet away from the table that the Insecticon laid on, a mix of denial and disgust on his expression. It was quite obvious that he didn't want to be there.

"I'm not afraid, I just... I just don't like 'em." He muttered, crossing his arms across his chest and shifting his pedes. "Prime's busy and apparently no one has free time on their servos, so I was the unlucky soul to be picked."

"Well I'm glad you're here. That means I have someone to talk to." Knockout said with a chuckle, beginning his usual procedure while keeping an optic Ironhide. He noticed how uncomfortable the mech got when he brought out a scalpel and couldn't help but snicker. "You don't have to watch if you don't want to."

Ironhide merely grunted in response, swallowing hard to keep the rising bile in his throat down. He wasn't about to look like some sort of wimp. He refused to.

Both mechs were silent for a majority of the procedure with Knockout occasionally humming to himself. There wasn't really much to talk about, that is, until Ironhide decided to break the silence.

"So, uh.. are you and Ratchet friends? Y'know, with you bein' an ex-con an' all." The red mech awkwardly said, rubbing the back of his helm.

Knockout paused for a moment, then shrugged and continued working. "We're working on it. I wouldn't say we're friends quite yet, thanks to his sour attitude, but I don't despise him as much as I used to. We sometimes get into quarrels, but not too often."

"Why'd you become an Autobot? If ya don't mind me askin'."

"It was time for a change. I wasn't respected enough for my position and skills, not to mention you guys were winning anyways." Knockout said, wiping his hands off with a cloth. He seemed reluctant to say anymore, so he changed the subject. "This has Starscream's name written all over it. I know a poorly executed murder when I see one."

"So yer sayin' Screamer killed the Insecticon? Why would he do that?" Ironhide asked, raising an optic ridge.

An amused smirk appeared on Knockout's faceplate. "Maybe he intended for it to do his dirty work for him, but the beast turned on him once the deed was done. Using an Insecticon is a gutsy move for someone like him. I wonder what he's is up to..."

Ironhide frowned. "Well whatever it is, it can't be good. I'll tell Prime."

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The plot thickens...

Will Ratchet escape? What is Starscream planning? All will be revealed soon enough! (hopefully XD)