Jazz was jogging warily through the steep metal hills, following a small quick mech, with his  paint job being a warm assortments of reds, yellows and oranges. The spec ops commander was just glad they were safely inside the Autobot controlled area right now, this mech seemed a fragging neon sign!
'Ya go out in battle with those colors Rodders?' he asked, trying not to sound much like his best friend. He wasn't like Prowl, Primus! But that mech was hurting his own optics, even under the visor.
Hot Rod just laughed at his question.
'Sure, why not?' he asked "I do things with style! '
' Ya can do things with style without bein' a big red moving target for snipers mech." Jazz grumbled 'Ah' d be dead in a jiff if Ah tried. '
He often didn't trust his own paintjob, opting for a plain silver cloak, especially on Cybertron to blend in with the metal terrain. Even now he was wearing it, though for different reasons. He wished he could be as careless as this youngling, but after all he didn't want to die just yet.
" Aww I thought you were supposed to be the cool black and white, is that cloak hurting your spirit?" Hot Rod replied with a pout "I am doing you a favor, could you please not annoy me about my paintjob?"
Jazz huffed and then went silent as they arrived, finally, to the mine dug deeply in the mountain. The place was almost empty right now, only a few bots going back and forth. Unease crept in his tanks as he noticed many looked exceptionally young and fragile though they carried or pushed heavy looking crates and carts. They smiled and greeted Hot Rod cheerfully, but anyway looked exhausted. Jazz smiled and waved but when they left he looked at his companion.
"Roddy, 's that normal? Those... They're sparklets!' he said and couldn't hide his disgust and dismay. 'they shoulda be playin', not helpin' out here."

Hot Rod just shrugged.
"Jazz we need the mines. And most of the adults are fighting or on medical leave. You should know that better than me. ' he replied and looked almost amused like he was some sort of innocent dreamer. Jazz felt his frown deepen as sadness crept in his spark.
' Ah do. But that's not... Not Autobot. Ah know Ah should be the last speakin' but sparklets are too much even for meh.'' he muttered softly before looking at the metal bars piled up in a corner to try and distract himself. He could not do much there anyway, and had a job to do.

Kneeling beside the pile Jazz took a few bars of the metals he needed. They were heavy, but he made a point to bring them to the closest cart himself, while Hot Rod chatted with anyone coming too close. Good mech. Yeah he could pull rank with basically everyone if he took off the cloak. But it was a bad idea: if the bots started talking two very receptive doorwings would catch wind of it before he could say 'scrap'. So as long as the mechs just glanced at him from a distance while chatting with their friend, they could brush him off as a newcomer or a new fancy drone.
Okay no, he was too handsome to be a drone.
Anyway, it worked. Bots left him alone with his task, and he made sure to look as nonchalant as possible while trying to make sure he didn't overheat for the effort. Frag his sleek, small frame,  for once he wished to be Optimus' size. Could ask Knockout for some strength upgrades when he came back. That mech surely owed him big time.

It took far too long for Jazz's liking to get that , he started pushing the heavy stuff back up toward the entrance. He was cursing himself softly after a few steps. He wasn't made for this type of job! But he wasn't going to ask any of those younglings for help. Just hoping he would not hurt himself. That would be hard to explain.
When they finally arrived outside and far from the cave, Hot Rod having reached him in the meantime with a satisfied grin on his face, Jazz placed a holographic projector on the bars, which took reddish colors. Mimicking the colors of metals  they were scheduled to take to bring back on Earth.  Just before taking away his silver cloak and just going to bring the metal bars to their storage.
Sometimes Jazz loved the perks of his job.

Everything was so perfect and smooth! So when he finally entered the base, he was humming along the Earthen music echoing in his helm. Letting his visor shimmer at its highest setting.
'Bye mech, thanks again.' he said grinning at Hot Rod. The red mech waved back before leaving, and Jazz was truly singing once he arrived to his office, opening the door. Just to freeze at one white and black mech sitting at his desk.
"Prowler? ' he asked curiously, tilting his helm " Ya okay? Needed meh?'
Prowl's frown deepened.
'Sit down Jazz, some concerning news came as you were away.' he said quietly. Not even stopping to scold him. Jazz frowned as he sat down.

Not good.

- - -

Knockout thought things could not get worse than they already were. But as he stood, watching the whole high command inspect his quarters thoroughly, he realized he was probably mistaken.
'What the frag is going on?' he asked, only getting a glare from Ironhide and Ratchet. Optimus didn't reply, just looking through his things. Wheeljack too was there but looked distinctly uncomfortable, even with the mask covering his face. Knockout thanked Primus he kept the Shockwave projects in the labs' vault, having feared someone would catch a hint of his works before they could develop it enough to present it as safe. But other than that he had nothing! He knew it! His optics dimmed as all his few belongings were taken out of the shelves, examined and then if it was Ironhide simply thrown on the ground, while at least Optimus put them back on the shelf. Humiliated, he trembled with rage, but was too afraid to say anything. He was such a coward. But he could still feel the invading mind in his own, the memory never leaving him. He just couldn't go through that again. He could not do anything.

When they deemed there was nothing left to check, Knockout was left alone in a wrecked room, his expression blank. No explanation, no apology, not even a look. They just left and shut the door behind them. Like nothing had happened.
'Primus damn those Pit spawns.' he uttered while letting himself fall on his berth, trying to keep back the fury growing inside of him. He had done nothing wrong. Did they think he was involved in that stupid attack? He risked his spark to save the beeping bug! Probably should have left him to die. That would have been nice. After all he defected just to see Megatron get scrapped, not to save any of those bots' lives. If after that monster died everyone decided to shoot themselves, he would dance on their graying frames.
Knockout laid down savoring that image.
Maybe, one day.

The cherry red medic exited his quarters next morning, frowning deeply. He wished that he could avoid the main room, but his tanks were growling hungrily and truly needed fuel.
"Frag biology." he muttered softly as he walked inside the way too bright room, frowning. He went toward the cubes stock and took one, sighing. Boring plain middle grade. He could not even get drunk with that stuff. So he could only sit, drink a sip and imagine how good it would be if he was able to just lay giggling like a happy sparkling. Maybe if he focused enough he could almost feel it. The pink liquid so sweet, the wave of bliss overcoming his senses...

"Knockout."

The start of illusion shattered, his optics refocused on the plain, blue drink. The taste returning neutral, like it wasn't even there. And even more, the happy buzzing was replaced by steel cold words.
He had to force himself not to wince, or cower like a coward, at the venom in that simple name. He had done nothing wrong!
'Smokescreen. " he greeted frowning deeply, unable even put some of his usual charm in the voice. He was just done. The red and blue mech sat in front of him, always glaring at him his doorwings inching dangerously close to "angry Prowl pose" which was not good.
"You know you could have died too in the stunt you pulled?" the mech asked icily, and Knockout clenched his servos.
"I pulled no stunt. ' he snapped back, though all his instincts screamed at him to get up and run. " though everyone thinks I did. Without proof.'
Knockout knew he was wasting his time, especially as Smokescreen simply rolled his optics.
'There's no proof needed, you were already unhappy here and decided to turn on us as soon as our strongest assets left.' he replied nonchalantly. ' these are the basics of behavior. We, or Prowl even from Cybertron, will find the proofs, it's just a matter of time. Days even. Enjoy your last moments of freedom, you were lucky enough to be still alive right now.'
Knockout frowned, tensing up.
"You sent me to die when I went to rescue Bumblebee.' he hissed softly" it must be a disappointment you didn't succeed. "
The small smirk that flashed on Smokescreen's face as he got up said everything.

'Oh I'll have another occasion. My sire prefers fair, long trials. I think speed is the essence of life. You can understand me, as fellow racer. And like all of us, I don't like losing. "

Knockout watched Smokescreen leave, his frown going always deeper. He had hoped to convince him to be his test subject. Why did things always have to go to scrap? He put down the half empty cube. He didn't feel even hungry anymore. Better doing something.
He arrived in the med bay in a click or so and looked around. Good, no one was around but the patients laying on their berths. One in particular caught his attention, with his bright yellow and black colors. Knockout saw those big blue optics fix on him. No buzz leaving his voice box. Maybe if he showed to care about how he was recovering, they would understand he had done nothing wrong.
'Bumblebee.' he greeted approaching the mech, "how are you feeling? '
He took out his scanner, before focusing on the results coming in.
" Your wounds are-" he started, when suddenly he found himself flying his sensors going crazy for a brief moment before he hit hard what felt like a wall.
' Primus-" he gasped, raw fire bursting in his side as his helm started pounding like a beast was hitting it. He barely felt himself slide on the ground, trying not to whine. His vision swarming.
He didn't know how much time passed until his optics refocused. Refocused on a red armor, on a furious face.
"Stay away ye Decepticreep!" he managed to barely hear, over the buzzing of his audials. Knockout whimpered, not moving. He could not even speak, just shutting his optics.

- - -

"No 'Hide!'' Bumblebee beeped trying to sit up 'He did nothing wrong! Was just checking on me!'
He shuddered slightly when two burning, blue flames turned on him.
" he almost got ye killed, Bee! " he replied, glaring at him." why do ye even defend him? '
The  scout frowned under his mask, shaking his helm and ignoring the stinging of old scars that never healed.
'We don't know if he betrayed us, right? ' he asked quietly, receiving a snort that made him wince.
'We know it. It's obvious. I wish I had your innocence sometimes, kid. But it'll get you killed one day or the other.'
"But Hide-" Bee started replying but he was talking to no one, as the huge mech grabbed the medic and walked out, dragging him along.

'I don't understand why seeing the good in others would get me killed. That's what being an Autobot means. ' Bumblebee beeped softly, looking at his servos before raising his helm to meet the wise blue optics of his... Sire? Yes, sire. Feeling relieved as he noticed the warm look Optimus had.
"Youngling.' he started, and Bee immediately leaned in his touch when a servo landed on his helm, like he did when he was a little sparkling. " Ironhide probably just wanted to protect you. We don't have proof yet, and his behavior is out of line, but being too trusting isn't safe. I'd be more careful."
Bumblebee buzzed sadly.
"But I can't help it... ' he protested " it's just how I am. I want to help Knockout, and he may be innocent!'
He watched the mask Optimus wore retract, and his doorwings fluttered along with his spark as he saw his leader was smiling.
'You speak like a true Autobot. I am proud of you. But right now I just want you not to relax fully, okay? Treat him with the respect you would grant to any bot, but don't put yourself unnecessarily in danger. You risked too much already. "

Bumblebee sighed, it made sense. He leaned more in his touch, hugging him when he edged closer to his berth. His warm frame, and his spark beating against his audial, were so comforting.
" It's terrible to have a traitor among us. ' he beeped softly ' We should be able to trust each other..."
Optimus' hold tightened slightly, making him relax even more. The soft thrum against his audial starting feeling like a lullaby. It lulled him, his optics flicking off soon. In the calm darkness, just as he started not understanding where he was anymore, a soft whisper was the last sound he heard.
"Goodnight, Bumblebee. You are safe. '

Author's note.
Sorry this was terribly late. Life is busy. Hope you like it and it's not too boring or feel like filler. It will all be important stuff to see later.
Next chapter more Prowl! Also if you want to read some crazy stuff in this book's universe check out my "Chit-chat and medals" one shot in my one shots book.