"What do you mean, a reward?" Knockout huffed. "For you: a fleshy?"

         "Megatron said it was appropriate. I am equally as confused, as I only did my duty."

     The medic only rolled his optics. (Y/N) was clearly not acting her humble disposition, and it only irked him more than he already was. The longer she stayed on the war ship the more alike her and Soundwave became. What was originally a mild tolerance of her turned into a loathing of her ability to accomplish anything, even by accident. She was a human for Primus' sake, she shouldn't even be alive, in his opinion.

         "And this reward is?" He questioned slowly, not even bothering to hide his peeved mood.

         "I was not informed," was the frustrating answer, "as I was given to you for safe keeping, I'd assume it's being prepared."

     What on Cybertron would take any amount of time to prepare for a miniscule human, Knockout had little idea of. 

     He had already made the necessary scans, but all had to take time to register, as he was looking for Cybertronian energies in a human. The medic and surgeon wouldn't be surprised if the scanner overloaded during one of his check-ups of the woman, trying to separate organic from Cybertronian anomalies. Still, it's what Megatron wants, and at least the scans would take a while on their own, and it wasn't just Knockout's procrastination. Though the CMO guessed he'd still be blamed, somehow. 

         "Safe keeping is hardly the word I'd use when in my presence." The mech grumbled.

         "Perhaps, but when it is your task given by Megatron, you can hardly avoid it."

     He almost preferred it if she were as silent as Soundwave. 

     He imagined the Third in Command would speak quite similarly; straight, to the point and only facts. Rather monotonously as well but not so gratingly frustrating as the late Shockwave's low tones. At least this human held some sort of difference when she spoke. Sometimes curiosity could be counted within the small fluctuations in her voice, irritation (though slight) but not much else. Perhaps surprise, if she was caught off guard. Small fluctuations in voice aside, her habit of stating the obvious truth which could simply be left unsaid was very irritating. 

They were reality checks Knockout would rather do without.

     His frustrations were not solely aimed at his current charge. The loss of Breakdown had greatly impacted him, more than he wanted to admit. His friend and confidant was a breath of fresh air -so to speak- from the usual Decepticon depression constantly surrounding him. It didn't suit his style, truly, and even (Y/N) knew that, though said nothing. Knockout was now surrounded by darkness, with no pun loving heavy hitter to make him smile from time to time. His only enjoyment now was the occasional torture to the Autobots and street racing. His own job, which he often adored, seemed grey and useless. Dull, even. His recent failures only made his mood worse, and the seemingly constant praise from Megatron to an idiotically fragile human was not making things any better.  

     Sure, she was tolerable before but now her presence was ridiculous. And to think a human without a spark could have some sort of connection to the infamous Communications Officer? Preposterous. Utterly ridiculous and dare he say it: idiotic. 

         "Knockout," his attention was brought back to the human with an unamused expression, a deep frown covering his faceplate as he glared at the fleshy contaminating his working space. She pointed behind him, and the Medical Officer turned, only to shriek at the silent presence of Soundwave.

         "Well, you could have said something!"

     Whether that was an insult or his brainless, startled blathering, neither human nor silent Cybertronian knew. 

         "Actually," (Y/N) spoke, "that was him who used a recording of my voice. He was standing there for several minutes before."

     Knockout grumbled before moving out of the way for Soundwave to take the human, since that was more than likely what he was there for. The TIC did take the woman, using one of his useful extended appendages, but he also looked to the Chief Medical Officer, and pointed at the still working computers.

         "The scans will be awhile." Came the short answer. "It's difficult to scan for human and Cybertronian anomalies at the same time when she is both."

     Nothing else was said from any of the three in the room, and Soundwave left Knockout to his own devices. The medic felt the absence heavily as his shoulders slumped, and he stared at the computer that had yet to finish a single scan. He felt his existence had become rather moot by now. Alone with not a soul to speak to. No common interests, no crazy decisions to simply get away from the cruel atmosphere of the Nemesis. His best friend and partner in crime was gone. And so was his want to continue in this war. Only held down by oppression alone.

         "Knockout is depressed." (Y/N) noted to her new guardian, who was silent as ever as he walked with slow and calculated strides. He knew this as well, but there was little that could be done about it. Knockout was unlikely to find a friendship he and Breakdown shared and had likely decided to never let it happen again. Such was the cost of war, and Soundwave knew it well.

     (Y/N) grew curious as they bypassed the hallway that would lead them to one of Soundwave's usual destinations: a computer terminal. She quickly recognized the path he took instead however, as they turned in to a rarely used corridor. She wondered why she was being taken to his quarters. Sure, she would like to see her plants, how they were fairing so high up within the Nemesis. Soundwave took good care of them, from what she had eaten from the stock of fruits and vegetables. The ones she could eat without cooking, anyway. Other than seeing her plants she did not immediately draw a connection between her and Soundwave's personal quarters. 

     The mech, who had placed the human femme in his servo, flipped through the camera views before deeming it safe to enter without any prying optics once he reached the door. He had been busy decoding the Iacon database, so did not gather what supplies he needed for (Y/N)'s reward. He had sent a Vehicon instead, with his holographic form installed, to more or less steal the supplies. Where they were stolen from, Soundwave didn't quite care, as long as they were clean and swiftly collected. Among these items being clean clothes, bedding, and cooking utensils. He let himself admit that (Y/N)'s curious expression upon seeing the supplies neatly piled near her beloved plants was rather amusing.

     He set her near the pile, organized but never set up to create any resemblance of a living space. They were still in their factory packaging, including the small camping stove and propane bottles. She picked through them, optics glancing over the tags and brand names the Vehicon had apparently managed to collect without incident. She failed to hold any expression other than mild curiosity, organic brows furrowed when she found that the clothes were in her size. 

         "Wouldn't it be wise to have placed them in my cell?" (Y/N) questioned, holding up a pair of proper boots, meant for hiking. She then caught sight of the mattress on another shelf. It had been specifically placed across from where the assorted flora had been properly nestled, with a thin platform to connect them. It was smaller than the other and had no railing, but the mattress rested in the middle to prevent her from falling in her sleep, granted the war ship didn't jerk suddenly. (Y/N) connected two and two together quite quickly.

         "A very generous reward." She stated, earning a nod from the mech that stared. "I shall arrange my space accordingly."

     Nothing else was said as Soundwave stepped to his computers, smaller but still useful and granted access to everything. He paid little attention to the shuffling human who was as quiet as she could be, unzipping bags and tearing at others. Whatever Vehicon stole the items had a knack for interior decorating with the amount of purple and black littering the floor. The colors soon adorned the twin sized mattress, sheets to pillowcase, and the camping stove was set up near the wall of the shelf. There was one pan and one spatula, accompanied by a single fork and spoon. A measly set up but it was more than she needed. The two extra pair of jeans and black shirts were a surprise as well. These she tucked beneath the bed resting on the hard metal, so they were out of the way.

         "I suppose Megatron chose that I stay with you considering this connection." She stated, guessing she wouldn't have to form it into a question.

         -/Wouldn't her presence be a distraction, Soundwave?/- Came the wary rumble of Megatron's recorded voice.

     (Y/N) realized this was Soundwave's idea, then.

         "I see." She nodded. "I will remain quiet as to not disturb your work."

     Her occasional chatter was not a problem, Soundwave believed, considering it wasn't very often, and she did not speak without a reason like most humans have been proven to do. He appreciated the notation of her consideration, however, and for a moment the word 'cute' flashed by his processor. A quick strand of thought that died before he could linger on it, but it appeared, nonetheless.