Monkey See 5

A Transformers Prime Fanfiction

Correspondence

Knockout returned to his quarters and carefully pulled out a sheaf of paper from a drawer. One hundred sheets of the finest cheap stationary that a small boy's allowance could buy. A bitter sweet smile twisted Knockout's faceplates as he ran a servo over the cellulose. Benny had been so excited when he had placed the gift on the car's faux leather seats. Tears had been slipping down the boy's cheeks as he had stammered out his simple thanks. Each drop an icy dagger to the Decepticon's spark.

Now he shuddered and pulled out the pen that had accompanied the gift. A few strokes revealed the cheap item useless and Knockout ruefully replaced it with a small laser torch. Thus armed he began to write.

Dearest Benny,

I am very sorry that I have not written to you sooner. I am very busy here in the southern part of Africa, having lots of adventures. But enough about me.

I trust those old bats are finally leaving you and your grandfather alone. How is the au pair working out?

Knockout clenched his fists and drew in a ragged vent. Was he really going to dare this? The impressionable young human didn't need him. Didn't need his baggage. Didn't need his enemies. Knockout had manipulated bank accounts, government databases, and even physically removed any Earthly threats to the boy. Benny was better off without him. And yet…the medic recalled the cold dread in his spark as the last of the family Gasket had put together had strode off never to contact him again. Servos shaking he took up the torch and began to write.

Hours later he waited by the biodome, his spark fluctuating between shame, hope, and fear. The sound of a lightweight two-wheeler reached his audials and Knockout stiffened, putting his signature smirk in place as Arcee came through the gates carrying Jack. They stopped next to him and Jack easily dismounted.

"So you decided to take Jack up on his offer after all?" Arcee asked with a smile that to Knockout's surprise held some genuine warmth in it.

"Perhaps," the medic offered, "but first I need a word with him. Alone."

Arcee stiffened, the warmth gone from voice and field but Jack nodded and waved her away.

"We'll be fine partner," he assured her.

Knockout folded into his alt mode without preamble and opened one door. Jack slid in and accepted the seatbelts that fastened deliberately across his chest before the door closed. Knockout eased away from the biodome and headed out into the vast stretches of undeveloped land outside of the small oasis of light that was New Iacon. They drove in silence for several minutes until they reached an outcropping of jagged metal ridges that sparked with electric discharge. Here Knockout paused and a shudder worked through his systems. All this time Jack had waited silently in the passenger seat, watching with that spark piercing gaze.

"Can you give me your word?" Knockout blurted suddenly. "Give me your word you won't tell anyone what I tell you here? That you won't let anyone else see the messages I give you."

"You know I can't do that Knockout," Jack murmured regretfully, resting his hand on the flashing dashboard.

"Yes," muttered the medic, "I know. Just, if you determine that this information harms no one, that it is completely private. What about then?"

Jack took a deep breath and shook his head. "All communication from Cybertron to Earth has to be monitored by Homeworld Security," he stated firmly. "I can promise you that it won't go any further than the censors."

"That's not good enough," Knockout spat out bitterly. "I can't risk his life on the whims of some political-" the mech cut off the sentence and went silent cursing his lack of control. He started his engine and turned back towards New Iacon.

Jack seemed to be considering him even closer now it that was possible and when he spoke next Knockout could have sworn he heard echoes of Optimus's deep bass in his voice.

"Why don't you just tell me a story," the human suggested. "To pass the time? No one ordered me to report stories."

Knockout gave a bitter laugh and rolled to a stop again. "Why not?" He demanded. "I can spin as good a yarn as any. Let's see how do Earth fairy tales start? Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away?"

"That sounds about right," Jack agreed with an encouraging smile as he sat back.

"Once upon a time there was a boy." Knockout began again. "He was a sad little boy because his parents had died of some pitiful human disease and he was left only with his old Grandpa. Now his grandpa had already outlived the average lifespan for a human and the big bad government, represented by two old bats who lived on Botox," Jack gave a snort of laughter at that and Knockout shushed him, "anyway it was trying to take the boy away from his grandpa. They said he was unfit." There was sudden bitterness in the medic's voice but he continued. "But the grandpa fought them off again and again but he was getting so very tired. Now the old man loved to take the boy to an old drive in theater near his place. One night they went and there they met," Knockout hesitated and then gave a snort. "There they met a scoundrel. He was a selfish scrap head who didn't care for a soul in the world but for some reason he took a shine to the boy. He visited when it was convenient for him and gave little thought to the boy's safety. He condescended to let the boy sit in his car with the grandfather and their dog on cold nights to keep warm when the heater in their truck failed. He chased off the Botox bats so they wouldn't take the boy away and for some strange reason the boy," Knockout's voice broke here and he cleared it in embarrassment and rushed on, "the boy came to love the scoundrel. They kept in contact until the scoundrel left without a word to the boy and never spoke to him again."

The car's interior fell silent and for a mercy Jack was no longer staring so searchingly at Knockout. The medic let out an exvent of relief and waited. Finally Jack looked up and murmured.

"I don't much like the end of that story."

"Neither do I but that is the way it has to end," Knockout stated curtly. "You see if any of the scoundrel's old friends found out about the boy he would be in grave danger," Knockout paused and lowered his voice, "and Cybertronian zombies are far more dangerous than the ones you meet in a drive in theater."

"Maybe," Jack conceded, "but there is danger everywhere. That boy could be hit by a bus or catch the same virus that took his parents. Maybe you could rewrite the end if you had help."

"You humans have a phrase," Knockout growled. "Monkey see monkey do. There are dangers other than physical ones. The scoundrel might have known this too and had just enough of a heart left that he didn't want to risk tainting the boy with his presence anymore."

"Was the scoundrel really that bad?" Jack asked with a smirk.

"He once told the boy he loved him," Knockout spat out, "and then spent the next few weeks actively trying to destroy the boy and everything he loved."

"Why did the scoundrel do that?" Jack pressed.

"Because he was a strutless coward who was only following orders," there was such fury and agony in Knockout's voice that Jack winced and fell silent for a time.

"If that were his choice people would have to respect it," the human reluctantly agreed. "Even if they didn't agree. Still he could keep in touch."

"Which brings them right back to the physical danger," Knockout muttered.

Jack nodded thoughtfully and spoke. "No electronic communications source is ever secure."

"No it isn't," Knockout agreed. "Especially not with old faceless out there still."

"But if someone were to carry written communication to the boy from the scoundrel," Jack suggested.

"On a completely separate note I have some excellent second hand stationary I could sell you," Knockout blithely offered with hope flaring in his spark. "Only used once."

He could sense the stress in his passenger and easily guessed its source. He was asking the cadet to risk his career, to tread a very fine line that bordered on treason, and Jack knew it. Given the nature of the request however Knockout also knew there was at least a small chance the human who called Optimus Father would grant the request. Finally Jack took a deep breath and nodded.

"I could use some stationary," he agreed and Knockout felt his spark skip a pulse. "Maybe that boy in your story could use someone who knew about the scoundrel to look after him too?"

"No!" Knockout stated flatly, then hastily explained when he saw the offended look on Jack's face. "That boy would like letters sent to him safely from an anonymous agent. The scoundrel was not the only one with a few too many enemies, nor the only one whose presence might be a danger to him."

A rueful smile twisted Jack's face and he nodded. "That is true enough."

*Jack? Where are you!* the comm suddenly snapped to life causing the pair to wince. * The ground bridge opens in less than an hour!*

*Coming Cee!* Jack assured her.

"Here," Knockout pressed the stationary into his hands. "The first batch is on the house."

"Thanks," Jack replied with a grin before tucking the letters into his shirt. "You know we should do this again."

"Do what now?" Knockout asked skeptically.

"Let me give you a wash down," the human clarified. "I am usually on Cybertron four or five times a year now."

"Well I have no objection after that first time," the medic admitted readily. "I mean after all you mangled my mesh more than once. Only fair that you put some time into repairing it."

They chatted all the way back to the meeting point with Arcee and Jack waved cheerfully at Knockout as the partners rode through the event horizon. The medic couldn't help the small feeling of satisfaction the rose up in his spark, nor the irrational fear that he was somehow dooming young Benny by this small contact. Look Primus, Knockout silently prayed, I know we haven't been on the best of terms lately, and I sure as the Pit don't know your policy on helping humans, but if you can find the time keep an optic on the kid. Earth isn't an easy place to grow up. Oh and thanks for hooking me up with Prime's kid.

Feeling both foolish and comforted Knockout folded back into his alt mode and raced off for Iacon Tower. He no doubt had a line of patients waiting for him and a new day to start.