The bridge was quiet except for the clicking of Soundwave's digits on the keyboard. He was still intent on decoding the database since there were only a few entries left. I stood to the side unsure where to stand or what to do. The Vehicons kept casting me pitying glances from their work stations. It was irritating. I wanted to snap at them to get back to work, but that might turn Megatron's attention to me sooner than I wanted.

The large grey mech stood at the command console, his back to me. I shifted my weight, unwilling to let him know I was here just yet. It was difficult enough to keep my head up and optics focused ahead knowing that my humiliation had been made public. Realizing I was rubbing my arm I let my servo drop. No sense calling attention to it. Straightening up, I glanced at Soundwave again, then at the data scrolling up the screen. Something was going on.

"Have you located the source of the signal yet, Soundwave?"

Soundwave nodded, a map appearing on the screen.

"And they want to talk." Megatron scoffed.

Who were they talking about? Someone had contacted the Nemesis, but for what purpose? I took a few steps forward trying to see the information more clearly.

"I see you finally decided to grace us with your presence Knockout." Megatron's deep voice cut through me.

"As requested, My Liege. How may I be of assistance?"

"I may have use for your medical skills. You will go with Dreadwing and see if this message is legitimate."

Shock flooded my processor. He was actually sending me out on a mission? Well of course. I was the only qualified medic after all. Megatron finally turned, the baleful glare making me back up a step. I ran into something and looked up to see Dreadwing looming over me. I hadn't even heard him enter. I looked back to Megatron.

"Yes, of course."

A heavy hand came down on my shoulder. I suppressed a shudder as Dreadwing spoke. "We will go at once Lord Megatron."

Dreadwing didn't give me a chance to say anything, pulling me around and shoving me toward the doors. Was he afraid I was going to try to desert him or say something untoward? Shaking off his hand I strode forward, heading for the launch bay.

The ground bridge opened as we entered the space. Trust Soundwave to know exactly when to activate it. I glanced up at Dreadwing, but he stared resolutely ahead, his visage grim. Then again it was always grim. He stopped and gestured for me to precede him. Why was I going first? What if it was a trap and we were ambushed? What if it was another mission like the one Dreadwing had went on with Breakdown? After a moment I shrugged it off and walked on through. There was no sense standing there debating the possibilities.

It was dark, not even the single moon lit the night. Even after all this time it was still jarring to see only a single luminary. Tossing aside those thoughts, I focused on my job. There was only one main reason Megatron would send me, someone was injured and needed medical attention. Maybe Starscream had finally swallowed his pride and called for help. Running through a complete sensor sweep I found an odd signature. It was not Starscream. He would have been yelling at us to hurry up and how dare we keep him waiting.

"Do you see him?" Dreadwing asked from behind me.

"I think so. There to the right just past that copse of trees."

"Stay here."

Oh sure, now he wants me behind him. Finding a convenient boulder I sat and waited. I didn't want to admit to how exhausted I was. I'd barely been back on the Nemesis for a complete orn since the racing incident. I refused to dwell on those few terrible joor. I glanced down at my still bare arm. I was going to look ridiculous if I had to transform into my altmode. But until I could find or manufacture a replacement it would have to do. I glanced up as foot steps approached and instantly sprang to my feet.

Dreadwing's visage was pained. "He requires your attention medic."

So that was indeed why I was here. The mech was injured. I nodded and followed him around the stand of trees. My headlights lit the area and I froze in my tracks as they shown on the supine form. Brandishing my energon prod, I glared. I didn't care if he was hurt, he was dangerous.

"What is this Dreadwing?" I hated the slight quiver in my voice that betrayed my apprehension.

He glanced over his shoulder at me. "Megatron's new recruit."

"That's no Decepticon! That's-"

"I am not." The gravelly voice of the new mech took me by surprise. I hadn't thought him conscious. "I just happen to have the same frame."

Bright yellow optics opened and raked over my frame, disturbingly similar to Breakdown's but without any of the warmth. If this mech was anywhere near as powerful as the Prime he resembled it was no wonder Megatron was so eager to bring him into our ranks.

"Put away the weapon. He is no threat to you." Dreadwing admonished.

"I will be the judge of that." I looked from Dreadwing to the Prime doppelganger. "You will submit to a full scan before I treat you."

He raised an optic ridge at me. "Bossy little thing aren't you."

I bristled. "I am Lord Megatron's Chief Medical Officer and you will submit to a full scan so I may assess the extent of your injuries."

He chuckled and waved a servo. "Sure, fine whatever you want doc."

Closing off the clamoring from my processor to stay as far from him as possible I walked over. The preliminary scan proved what I'd first thought when I'd seen the injuries. They were not fresh. A few of them looked nearly a fortnight old, old enough for his nanites to have tried repairing them.

"How long have you been wondering around injured?"

"Not sure. Processor is a bit glitchy when it comes to what happened."

I frowned and moved up his body to his chest. There was a long gash over his spark chamber, but in the dark I couldn't see how deep it was. Whatever had made it had not been sharp, the edges of the wound were jagged. It had to hurt like the Pitt. There were no fresh energon leaks, if there had been he would be dead.

"Hey, this isn't even a first date hot stuff." He ground out. I jerked back realizing I had been putting pressure on his side trying to see the wound. He was grinning at me. I narrowed my optics at him. Something was off with this mech. Nothing that my scan showed, but still there was something not quite right. I stepped back once my scan was complete. Glancing up at Dreadwing I shrugged.

"We need to get him back to my medical bay for repairs.. His spark has a slower than normal oscillation but nothing life threatening. He shows damage from recent battle, but it's mostly healed." Until I had time to do a more thorough scan it was the best I could do. My scanner was designed for battlefield situations, not deep scanning at the processor level. Which was what was needed to see what was causing those memory glitches.

Dreadwing nodded. "What is your designation?"

"You can call me Jinx."

"I am Dreadwing. Second in Command to Lord Megatron. This is Knockout, he is our medic as he stated."

Those disturbing optics turned me again and I stiffened as he laughed. "Wait, his name is Knockout? Did he name himself or something?"

Dreadwing frowned, "I do not see how his designation is amusing."

Jinx just shook his head still chuckling as he got to his feet. He turned to me, stepping closer. "I bet you live up to your name, huh hot stuff?"

I stared up at him. My processor completely failed to produce a single comeback that didn't involve spilled energon. Spinning around on my heel, I commed Soundwave and demanded a ground bridge. I was not going to stay here and be insulted and made fun of by a mech I had just met. I had enough of that from Megatron.

"What did I say?"

Growling obscenities I stalked toward the ground bridge. Megatron was waiting at the other end.

"Well where is he?"

I jerked a thumb over my shoulder. "He's coming. Where did you find that glitch anyway? He's a ringer for Prime."

"He mentioned something about being a clone." Megatron surprised me by answering.

I stopped dead in my tracks. That would explain a few anomalies I'd picked up on my scan. "Really? Have him come to the medical bay, he needs repairs and there are a few things I'd like to check out."

"Already back to issuing orders, hmm Knockout."

"I-I am just concerned. He could be a spy or-"

"Do not forget your place, Knockout."

I averted my optics, clenching my servos. "Yes of course, My Liege."

I wondered if I should leave or wait to be dismissed. I was so unsure of my place around Megatron now that I hesitated to anger him in any way. I'd seen too often the type of punishment he could dole out when angered. I couldn't afford to be in his ill graces. Now that Breakdown was gone, without Megatron I would be no better off than Starscream. Where ever that poor glitch had ended up. I stood to the side, arms folded over my chest as we waited. In a dark part of my processor I hoped that the so-called new recruit had blown a head gasket and was now dead in a pool of his own energon. A chance to do an autopsy on what was basically Optimus Prime would be a wonderful way to spend the next few orn.

My daydreaming was cut short by their arrival. In the light of the bay he was even more imposing. Nearly as tall as Megatron himself though not as broad. He looked exactly like Optimus Prime save for the optics and lack of distinguishing color to his mesh. The wounds looked about the same though he seemed to be moving fine. Venting softly, I turned away, looking to Megatron. From the look in his optics I knew a plot was developing in that malevolent processor of his.

"Lord Megatron, it is good to finally meet you."

Megatron simply nodded and stepping forward, walked around the injured mech. "Interesting. The resemblance is quite remarkable. How did you get injured?"

"I'm afraid I don't remember. My memory core seems to be malfunctioning."

Watching him I wondered if this was true. Most memory core issues came after head trauma or high voltage mishaps. He'd had neither. Megatron turned to me optic ridges raised.

"I am sure our good doctor can assist with that."

I inclined my helm, unable to stop the smirk. "Of course, Lord Megatron. I live to serve."

"I'll bet you do."

I jerked optics widening as the two of them laughed. Dreadwing let out deep vent. I nearly missed the slight shake of his helm. They were seriously making fun of me?

Blinking a couple of times to clear my processor I unclenched my servos and chanced a look at Megatron. "If you don't mind, I will go prepare the medical bay."

Megatron waved me away. Spinning around on my heel I made no attempt to hide my anger. I headed for the medical bay. I needed to get my tools out in case he actually showed up to be repaired. Not that I cared if he did or not. Needing to work out some of the urge to break things I turned to the most physical task first. Cleaning. Scrubbing dried energon off the medical berth, I tried not to think about Jinx. I did not understand this new mech's attitude toward me. I was used to Megatron's hostility. He was brutal and violent, as to be expected of a Kaonite gladiator. He and I couldn't be more different. I knew he bullied me because of my size. Only Airachnid had been smaller, barely. That and my former status as Seeker did nothing to endear me to him. I'd given up my wings for tires out of love for the sheer beauty of the form. There was something to be said for a vehicle mode that could go so fast while still being tied to the ground. Of course, now that Breakdown was gone, the only other crew on the Nemesis that had vehicle modes where the Vehicons. I didn't care that I was looked down on for it. I knew I looked good. No one on the entire ship looked as good as I did.

I looked around the room. Everything was clean and sanitized, all my tools laid out and still no Jinx. That was absolutely fine. In truth I was exhausted, recharge warnings flickering at the edge of my vision. Sitting down on the edge of the berth, I let my pedes swing free of the floor. Was the glitch going to make me wait all orn? I did have other things to do. After another joor I decided he wasn't coming. Putting everything away I decided to head to my chamber. I nearly collided with Megatron, having to backpeddle to keep from getting knocked down. He scowled down at me.

"And just where do you think you are going?"

"I-I was coming to see if something had happened. I expected him a joor ago …" My voice trailed off as I realized Megatron didn't believe me and nothing I said was going to change that.

He grunted. "As if you ever think of something besides your own finish."

I kept my face carefully neutral, but the comment stung. How many times had I proven otherwise? How many more times would I have to do so before I gained some modicum of approval from him? Truth was, I wouldn't.

I stepped back to allow him to enter, Jinx following behind. I watched Jinx look around, noting the way he studied every detail. He seemed especially interested in the vials of medical grade energon.

I gestured to the reclined berth. "Please have a seat, unless you enjoy looking like roadkill."

"I will return to check on your progress, Knockout."

I nodded focused on getting out the tools I would need. "Of course."

I waited until he'd left to turn back to the berth. Jinx was sitting, his unreadable optics following me. "Lay back."

As he got comfortable, I debated whether or not to ask if he wanted to be offline or just turn off his pain receptors. Deciding I would rather have him awake if anything went wrong I hooked up the computers. Watching the readouts I frowned. Something wasn't right. Maybe I should put him under. This was just odd. Adjusting the sensitivity on the monitors I read through the data again. There was a secondary murmur under his spark signature. It most definitely was not Cybertronian and then there was the odd interior structure. Nothing was where it was supposed to be and…I nearly dropped the handheld x-ray.

"No…"

"No what? Aren't you going to repair me?"

"No, get out of my medical bay you-you-"

"Easy doc," Jinx sat up, his oddly empty optics seeming to pin me in place. His voice was a low growl. "Megatron gave you an order didn't he? He wants me repaired and I suggest you do your job."

"My job is repairing and maintaining Cybertronians. I have no idea what you are!"

"I'm close enough."

"Get out."

He got up, the cables snapping free, to loom over me. I clenched my servos, knowing that he had the advantage if he decided to force the issue. I nearly trans-readied my saw, just in case. He peered down at me.

"No. You are going to do these repairs and you are going to keep quiet about what you think you've found. Got it."

I shook my head. "He'll kill you once he finds out and if he realizes I knew and didn't tell him, I'm as good as dead too."

"Then we'll just have to make sure he doesn't."

"I'm not taking that risk." I started for the door, wanting away from him. The sooner I informed Megatron of my findings the better. He wasn't going to be happy but it wasn't my fault the new recruit was a fake. I yelped as I was bodily lifted and tossed into the berth. I bounced off the side, stumbled and fell.

"You aren't going anywhere until I am repaired you little shit.