—Nemesis, Lab—

"When will the sleeping giant wake up?" Caboose asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"I don't know..." Knockout replied with a sigh, setting down his tool with a hint of frustration.

Since Caboose had overloaded the Electromagnetic Shields, Starscream had put him on an enforced timeout, leaving Knockout with the unfortunate task of babysitting him. Usually, Vehicons would have taken on this role, but they were too busy scrambling to fix Caboose's chaos.

Knockout turned to check the monitor displaying Megatron's condition before walking from the monitor to the door as Caboose trotted alongside him, chattering away.

"Do you think he'll be happy or grumpy when he wakes up? I'd say gappy! You know, a mix of happy and grumpy! It reminds me of Church, though he was always usually angry."

"...Right." Knockout's tone was far from interested as he walked down the corridor, Caboose bouncing behind him like an excited puppy.

"I miss Church. He was my first best friend before I met Starscream. I hope he's okay up in heaven. After everything with Meta and Tucker, I wonder if he's living peacefully with all the other AIs. Delta, Tex—maybe even O'Malley, though I suspect he might be in hell... What do you think Wash, Carolina, Tucker, Simmons, and Grif are up to? I can't help but think Grif isn't around anymore since he left... and Sarge... well, you know..."

"Yes, Caboose, please keep talking more nonsense..." Knockout muttered, half-amused, half-exasperated.

"Okay! So there was this one time when a tank shot Church, but it definitely was no one's fault...!"

As Caboose rambled on, they strolled down the corridor, oblivious to the two figures lurking in the shadows cast by the flying buttresses lining the walls. With their backs pressed against the cool surface, the unknown individuals watched as the pair passed and walked down the corridor, oblivious to their presence.

—Nemesis, Bridge—

Inside the dimly lit bridge, Starscream stood by the ship's control panels, frustration etched across his face. Before him, two Vehicons shifted nervously, sensing the tension in the air.

"Why hasn't the electromagnetic shielding been repaired?!" Starscream's voice thundered, cutting through the low hum of machinery.

"The crews are working as fast as they can, Lord Starscream—," one of the Vehicons was cut off when Starscream slapped his servo across the Vehicon's faceplate, sending a shower of sparks into the air.

"We are leaking a trail! All the Autobots need to do is pinpoint our location and access the correct frequency wavelength! Accelerate your efforts!" !" His command was punctuated with a fierce glare.

A beat of silence hung heavy in the room. The two drones exchanged glances before the second Vehicon offered a reluctant reply, "Yes, Lord Starscream..."

They retreated down the walkway, leaving Starscream alone. He remained at his station, shaking his head in exasperation.

"Primus-dammit, Caboose," he muttered under his breath, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Starscream's frustration was reaching a boiling point. The electromagnetic shielding of their ship lay in ruins, all because of one reckless individual—Caboose, that blue buffoon!

"Unbelievable! How did it come to this?" Starscream seethed, his optics narrowing as he surveyed the chaos around him. Caboose had single-handedly turned a manageable situation into a catastrophic disaster by overloading their defenses. Now, they stood vulnerable, exposed to whatever threats lurked in the void of space.

"If that idiot wasn't a powerhouse, I'd have scrapped him myself!" Starscream fumed, tapping his foot impatiently as the Vehicons scrambled to restore the shielding. "And who in the name of Primus decided to leave that moron unsupervised?! Don't these Vehicons have a shred of common sense?!"

Taking a deep breath, Starscream tried to rein in his rage. "Alright, just breathe. No need to let this get under your circuits." Yet a nagging thought persisted: losing his temper at Caboose might not be the wisest course of action, even if it was deserved. The Vehicons seemed universally opposed to any anger directed at the blue fool, which puzzled him.

Despite his irritation, something about Caboose made it hard to stay angry at him.

For one, Starscream enjoyed basking in Caboose's admiration as his 'best friend'—his unwavering loyalty was a comforting constant in the chaotic world around them.

Second, It's the Blue Triple Chnager's anger.

Just a week ago, Starscream had stumbled upon a computer terminal battered and broken; the screen shattered as if it had been struck with unrestrained fury. The only inhabitants of that room were Caboose and a handful of terrified Vehicons who had been cowering in fear of whatever chaos had just unfolded.

Starscream was certain Caboose was the source of the destruction because he would do that. He could have unleashed a torrent of scolding, but the frantic pleas of the Vehicons had stayed his hand.

They warned him that provoking Caboose could unleash his anger.

According to the trembling Vehicons, Caboose had experienced an extraordinary surge of anger, transforming into someone unrecognizable. They had claimed that when enraged, Caboose transformed right before their eyes; his voice took on a sinister edge, and his optic glowed a menacing red. The catalyst for this anger?

All because of a blunder involving something called "Red Bull" and peculiar images of "Kittens with Spikes."

Skeptical but intrigued, Starscream shoved that thought aside for now. Perhaps there were indeed 'trigger words' he could exploit to reign in Caboose's unpredictable behavior when needed.

A few moments later, Knockout strolled through the doors, exuding a relaxed confidence with each step.

"Doctor in the house," he quipped, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

"Ah, Knockout..." Starscream turned to face the ship's medic, his tone dripping with mock concern. "How's our patient holding up today?"

"Same old, same old," Knockout replied, placing a servo on his hip, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement.

"How it's such an inglorious fate that our master must remain in this...vegetative state." Starscream mused, a hint of sarcasm lacing his words, clearly more interested in his own ambitions than Megatron's well-being.

"On the contrary, while Megatron's body may be scrap metal, his mind is still very much alive," Knockout rebuffed, tapping his helm for emphasis.

Starscream's expression darkened as he suddenly turned away.

"Keep that to yourself! That blasted Soundwave sees and hears everywhere." he warned, glancing around as if expecting the silent mech to materialize from the shadows.

"The ever-watchful eyes and ears of the Decepticons," Knockout replied with a grin. "But we don't need to worry about him. I've got him... otherwise occupied."

"Oh? Is that so?" Starscream arched an eyebrow, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face.

"Yes, and let's just say... he won't see our plans coming for a while," Knockout said, the glint in his optics hinting at secret schemes brewing beneath the surface.

—At Soundwave's Station—

Soundwave, the ever-watchful eyes and ears of the Decepticons, kept a vigilant gaze on his surroundings. He was acutely aware that betrayal lurked in the shadows and needed to be ready for anything. One scene caught his attention as he scanned the security feeds—a hushed conversation between Starscream and Knockout. The way Starscream dismissed the Vehicons from the room raised alarms in Soundwave's circuits. It wasn't just idle chatter; something sinister was brewing.

Memories flashed in his mind: Starscream's past manipulations, like when he attempted to sway Skyquake or when he had 'rescued' Megatron from the wreckage of their shattered space bridge. Starscream had muttered something about needing to "bear witness"—and Soundwave knew just how dangerous that could be.

Any exposed scheme could become leverage, especially when Megatron returned to power; he could use it to reveal Starscream's treachery to his lord.

But as he prepared to focus on eavesdropping or recording any evidence of his scheming, his attention was abruptly diverted when...

"Hey Sandwave! Starstream wants me out of the button room, and he said you'd be watching me..."

It was him.

Of all the Vehicons, it had to be this one! Soundwave felt a surge of frustration that threatened to shatter his vow of silence. He had never been this close to breaking his composure, not even once.

His instincts screamed to yell at this obnoxious bot, but Starscream had enforced strict orders: no harm would come to him. How could he possibly maintain his watchful vigilance with this annoying distraction?!

"Starstream wasn't happy because someone broke the shield thingy. But we know it's not anyone's fault!" Caboose spoke to him.

No, it's your fault! It's definitely your fault, you stupid Vehicon! Soundwave has never been so close to snapping and shouting at Caboose to tell him to shut up and stop talking! He would rather listen to Starscream's rant about being the leader of the Decepticons than listen to this... this...

"But he told me that I should stay out of the button shieldy room because he said it's not a good place to be in... though I like pressing buttons. Do you like pressing buttons? I love pressing buttons."

YOU ARE PUSHING MY BUTTONS BY MERELY TALKING TO ME, YOU FRAGGING VEHICON! Soundwave wanted to shout at him so badly that he could barely hold his emotions back. Heck, the fact that he managed to regain his emotions by Caboose talking to him, of all people, then it's fragging hell. Caboose is a miracle worker!

Soundwave can't get his job done, and he can't focus on Starscream and Knockout's private talk, and he's certain it's something not good—

"Hey, look, Starstream and Sockout! They seem to be done talking or something..."

What...

Soundwave refocused the cameras on Starscream and Knockout, and true to Caboose's words... they are finished with their talk, which means...

He missed their scheming and wasn't able to witness or heat any of their plans...

"Oh! Maybe Starstream wants to talk to me! Bye Sandwvae!" Caboose runs off.

Once Caboose was out of sight, Soundwave stood still and stared at the screen.

Then...

*SMASH*

Soundwave punched through the screen in rage as not only did he miss Starscream and Knockout's Private talk, but he didn't catch ANY of them scheming behind Megatron's back! He's tempted to yell out in anger and fury, but he (barely) manages to hold his emotions back and prevent himself from shouting and breaking his vow of silence.

He waited a couple of minutes to calm himself. Eventually, he does calm down.

After recuperating from his rage, he receives a communication link from Starscream, "/Soundwave. Knockout and I require you to be at the medical bay. We have some important matters to discuss regarding our fallen leader./"

Starscream cuts communication as Soundwave stands there to process the information before heading to Starscream's location...

...

...

...

Wait, does that mean that Blue Idiot will be present—

"Hi Sandwave!" He encounters Caboose on the way there.

FRA—

—Nemesis, Lab—

The entrance to the lab hissed open, and with a dramatic flourish, Starscream stepped in first, followed closely by Knockout, Soundwave, and the ever-enthusiastic Caboose.

"Knockout," Starscream began, his tone dripping with sarcasm as they gathered around Megatron's motionless form, "if you would be so generous as to lend your expert medical insight to Soundwave... for the history logs."

"Simply put," Knockout interjected, "...unaided, Megatron could remain in this deathless slumber forever."

Starscream let out a theatrical sigh, feigning disappointment. It was then that Caboose piped up, his innocence shining through, "Oh! Does that mean the sleeping giant is going to take an even longer nap?"

The Decepticons stared at him, exchanging incredulous glances, while a hidden pair of optics watched the scene unfold in silence. Finally, Starscream replied, his voice dripping with mock sweetness, "Why yes, Caboose, our dear master will be... enjoying an extended nap time."

"Oh... I love naps! They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside," Caboose reminisced.

"Yes, yes, yes..." Starscream interjected, desperately trying to regain focus, "...Our master wouldn't want to be seen like this. It's simply not... just, to be trapped in one's own body."

"Yeah, Church and Tex went through something like that! They became ghosts and possessed various folks..." Caboose rambled on cheerfully. "Even O'Malley did that. Not exactly a fun time being stuck while ghosts take over... I really miss Church..."

Starscream blinked, confusion etched across his face, as he and the others absorbed this unexpected tangent. "...what?" was all he could manage.

"What?" Knockout echoed, equally bewildered.

But just then, a faint, almost imperceptible voice whispered, "...what?" lingering in the air—unseen, unheard by all, including Soundwave.

As the silence hung heavy in the air, the Sileny Con stepped closer, thrusting a long talon toward the monitor displaying fluctuating brainwave activity.

"Brainwave activity, yes, but it's merely a flicker of a dream—not a sign of consciousness. Megatron may be trapped in an endless slumber," Knockout retorted.

"So... just a really long nap?" Caboose chimed in, tilting his head in confusion.

Knockout sighed, running a hand across his face in exasperation. "Yes, Caboose. A very long nap."

"Neat!" Caboose replied, enthusiasm unwavering.

A lull fell over the group as they stared at Megatron's motionless form.

"Soundwave, we can't ignore it any longer. Megatron is lost to us," Starscream declared, a feigned grim resolution in his voice.

"The only honorable thing left... is to grant him mercy," Knockout added.

"A quick flick of the switch," Starscream suggested, his gaze unwavering.

"Quick, painless... compassionate," Knockout echoed.

"Neat!" Caboose interjected again, oblivious to the gravity of the moment.

"Indeed, Caboose... quite neat," Starscream said with a sinsiter grin.

Silence enveloped the Decepticons as they awaited Megatron's fate, tension thick in the air.

"Soundwave, does your silence mean you agree with the doctors' verdict?" Starscream's voice sliced through the stillness, but Soundwave remained unyielding.

"Speak now or forever hold your peace," Starscream threatened, his fingers inching toward the cable, locking eyes with Soundwave.

"I am speaking. Does that count?" Caboose chimed in, oblivious to the gravity of the moment.

Starscream shot a glare at him. "No, Caboose, it doesn't count!"

"Neat..."

"Now, as I was saying..." Starscream turned back to Soundwave, his grip tightening on the ominous cable, "Going... going..."

Just as he prepared to pull the plug, Soundwave gestured toward a cable snaking away. The Decepticons perked up, all eyes on it—except Caboose, whose mind seemed adrift.

Starscream frowned, stepping around the slab to investigate the cortical physic patch cable linked to Megatron. Doubts gnawed at him.

"Caboose..." Starscream called, keeping his focus on the mysterious cable.

"Yes, Starscream?" Caboose replied, still lost in thought.

"Watch my back," Starscream instructed, his tone brusque.

"Okay... I'm always watching," Caboose nodded, his eerie demeanor making the moment even more unsettling.

A brief glance was all Starscream spared before he zeroed in on where the cable led. Crouching low, he felt a jolt of disbelief as he spotted a blue femme and a yellow scout.

"What?!" He exclaimed, his voice echoing in shock.

Before he could react, a swirling ground bridge portal roared to life behind the yellow bot and blue femme. The yellow one bolted through, leaving the blue femme poised, her blaster leveled at Starscream.

Caboose, meanwhile, crouched down, oblivious to the threat, and waved cheerfully, "Hello, Pretty Lady!"

Taken aback, the blue femme blinked at him. "Uh... hi?" she replied.

Shaking off his shock, Starscream scowled, his arm shifting into a blaster aimed directly at her. "Caboose, you idiot! She's the enemy! An intruder!"

With a smirk, the sleek blue bot aimed the cables connected to Megatron.

"Allow me," she said, her voice laced with confidence.

In an instant, her shot whizzed past Starscream, striking Megatron's chassis. Alarms erupted in an electric chorus, and with a swift movement, the female Autobot dove into the portal just before it closes behind her.

Caboose stared at the spot where the Autobot had vanished, while Starscream's gaze fixated on Megatron's lifeless frame. A sinister grin crept across his face before he donned a feigned expression of disappointment. "Alas, it was the inevitable."

Soundwave stepped forward, shooting a deadly glare at the silver seeker through his visor as he pointed at Megatron.

With an exaggerated sigh, Starscream replied, ""Of course it would be wrong to allow Megatron to die from an Autobot's hand." He turned his attention to the crimson medic. "Knockout?"

The crimson medic nonchalantly waved his servo at the two, then reconnected the cable to Megatron's spark chamber, silencing the alarms and clearing the error messages from the monitors.

Meanwhile, Caboose continued to gaze into the distance where the Autobots had disappeared. "Starstream?"

"Yes, Caboose?" Starscream replied, feigning patience.

"Who was that pretty lady who shot the sleeping giant?" Caboose asked, his curiosity genuine.

"Oh... her? She's an Autobot," Starscream responded, a sly glint in his optics. "And she's bad news."

"Oh... why is that?"

Starscream had to remind himself that Caboose was blissfully unaware of the ongoing Cybertronian conflict, so he decided to spin the story. "That Autobot's name is Arcee, and she's not a good person. Not like me."

"Oh... Arcee is a mean lady?" Caboose tilted his head, confusion evident.

"Yes, exactly! A very mean lady!" Starscream emphasized, gesturing dramatically to Megatron's battered body. "She hurt our friend here, and as your best buddy, I want you to be careful around people like her. Got it?"

"Okay!" Caboose nodded enthusiastically.

"Good, Caboose. Very good." Starscream beamed, patting Caboose's head.

"Thank you!" Caboose replied with a bright smile behind his mask.

"Now, why don't you lend Knockout a hand?" Starscream suggested, a mischievous grin on his face. Knockout's expression instantly turned to one of pure dread.

"Wait, what?!" the medic exclaimed, optics wide.

"Okay!" Caboose chirped, eager to help.

"No! I don't need his help! Starscream!" Knockout shouted in desperation.

Starscream only chuckled, relishing the scene as Caboose bounded over to assist Knockout, much to the medic's dismay.

—Timeskip—

As Starscream entered the lab, he spotted Knockout hunched over the monitor beside Megatron's berth, while Caboose stood by with an eager grin.

"Ah, Knockout! How's our patient faring?" Starscream inquired, a hint of mockery in his tone.

Knockout sighed dramatically. "Other than suffering from a headache thanks to Caboose..."

"Hello!" Caboose chirped, waving enthusiastically.

"...and his 'assistance'," Knockout continued, rolling his optics, "I'm not sure what the Autobots did in there, but Megatron is registering zero brainwave activity."

Starscream raised an eyebrow. "Meaning...?"

Knockout took a step back, scrutinizing Megatron's lifeless form. "Physically he's stable...but now there's...no one home."

Silence fell as Starscream processed this new information.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Like Caboose?" he ventured, a smirk creeping onto his face.

"Exactly like Caboose, only with a touch less idiocy," Knockout confirmed dryly.

"Neat," Caboose replied, completely missing the sarcasm.

Starscream chuckled, glancing at Megatron's motionless figure. "Indeed, Caboose. Quite 'neat' indeed."

"Neat!" Caboose echoed, still blissfully unaware.

"Alright, Caboose, that's enough,"

"Okay..."

—To Be Continued—

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and stay tuned!