Epilogue.

Soundwave tapped on the door to the medical bay, and, when he recieved no answer, entered it. There was no one in there, not even Knock Out, who'd not been seen for a quartex or so.

He looked around, scanning, for signs of life.

Observation: Knock Out is not present

, he mentally noted. He walked forward to check the medic's supply closet, when his foot grazed a rough spot on the floor. He looked down.

The tile had been moved. Soundwave raised his foot and stomped once, feeling for the vibrations beneath his feet. That was the problem. There shouldn't have been any vibrations coming back at all.

He leaned down, wiggling his fingers under the tile and moving it. It seemed to be a chute of some sort. What was this? It wasn't on any blueprints...

He found a crude ladder on the side of the chute and started to climb down, using his tentacles as security. When he got to the floor, he looked up at the pinprick of light that was the medical bay above. He detached Lazerbeak and sent it back up, in case whatever was down there was hostile, and he did not come back.

He spotted a soft purple glow at the end of the small tunnel, and walked toward it. He peered around the corner, and, were he capable, might've been shocked at the sight that met his optics.

Knock Out was down here, all right, but he did not appear to be alone.

"Yes, Breakdown," he murmured. "I'll fix this whole terrible mess very soon."

He was curled in the lap of a large, blue-plated corpse, which had been posed to be sitting. The limbs and head had been reattached in a style similar to that of "exploded" art, with rods stuck in them so that they were not fully attached to the body, there was a gap.

Knock Out had been reconstructing Breakdown's body, but for what purpose?

"I'll bring you back, Breakdown, it's just not the same. I need you," he purred, reaching between his body and the corpse. Soundwave didn't have to zoom in to know what was happening there. "It's not that I don't enjoy our little sessions now, it's just... you're no fun when you just sit here."

Soundwave turned away from the pair, making his way back up to the medical bay. Lazerbeak reattached itself to his chest, and Soundwave patted his drone. He exited the medical bay, bound for the residential sector.

~~
"What do you require, Soundwave?" Megatron growled, opening the door. "You know I do not like to be disturbed when I have a processorache."

"Response: Soundwave: Has discovered information. Suggestion: Soundwave: Should come in. Explanation: Information: Classified."

The warlord stepped aside, letting his most trusted soldier into his quarters and shutting the door. "What is it?"

"Answer: Knock Out: Not well."

"Well, of course he's not well, Knock Out is a narcissistic moron, who-"

"Interruption: Soundwave: Has misspoken. Apology: Soundwave: Apologizes for interrupting. Continuation: Knock Out: Involved with re-assembly of Breakdown."

"What." Megatron turned to Soundwave, optics narrowed. "What did you say?"

"Repeat: Knock Out: Reassembling Breakdown. Addition: Soundwave: Suspects necrophilia."

"That's... extreme, Soundwave, are you certain?"

Soundwave replayed the video he'd recorded of Knock Out in the hidden chamber.

"I'll bring you back, Breakdown, it's just not the same. I need you... It's not that I don't enjoy our little sessions now, it's just... you're no fun when you just sit here."

"Turn it off, Soundwave, I've seen enough." Megatron turned away in disgust.

Soundwave banished the image from his screen and looked up at his master. "Query: Lord Megatron: Intends to do what?"

The warlord turned to his fellow gladiator. "I fear, Soundwave, that our medic has gone around the bend. We shall need to keep an optic on him."