Knocked out
Bumblebee and Sideswipe are chasing Thunderhoof through the woods. "Is it just me, or is he getting faster?" Bumblebee asked jumping over a log.
"Not faster then me!" Sides boasted speeding up. He pulls out his decepticon hunter and makes his sword. He gets close and... gets a surprise double roundhouse kick to the face. Sideswipe flies into a tree, then slides down with a groan. Bumblebee stops next to him, "Sides, are you okay?"
"Did someone get the license plate of that tractor?" Sides asked, clearly out of it.
"Bumblebee to Grimlock, Sideswipe got a face full of hoof. I need you to pick him up and take him to Fixit." Bee ordered into his com.
"I'll be there soon." Grim said. Turning off the com he adds, "After I punch out Underbite." he jumps and shouts, "Cannonball!"
Bee pats Sides on the shoulder, "Don't worry, Sides, Grimlock's coming." then gets back to chasing Thunderhoof. A dark figure with smooth features and a tail sees him leave and walks up to Sides. Sides blinks at him, "Get... away...from..." and passes out. The figure rolls his red and black optics, then gets to work.
Grimlock comes stomping through the wood, calling, "Sideswipe, oh, Sideswipe! Where are ya?" he looks around and sees a red bot standing over him, "Hey! What are you doing to Sideswipe?"
the bot looks at him and smiles, "Grimlock? Remember me? Now, come over here and help."
Grimlock smiles in recognition, "Okay, Doc."
Bumblebee catches up to Thunderhoof and huffs, "Okay... Thunderhoof... you know how... this works. Did Steeljaw... add something to your... energon?" he asked putting his hands on his knees to prop himself up.
Thunderhoof breathes heavily, "Youse be surprised on what Iz can do when Steeljaw ain't starvin' me."
"You do know we beat you before Steeljaw found you, right?" Bee asked pulling off the decepticon hunter from his back. It turns into his battle stick.
"That's before a friend of mine came." he said lowering his horns. They charge each other and fight.
Bee hears Grim talk through the com, "Grimlock to Bee."
"I'm busy. Is Sides okay?" he asked dodging.
"Sides is fine, but I was told to tell you that Thunderhoof has a weak spot. He says to hit him in the back of the neck, near the right shoulder until he falls."
"He who?" Bee asked dodging again.
"It's a surprise." Grim said quietly.
"I hope this works." Bee jumps from in front of a tree and jumps on Thunderhoof the second his antlers were stuck. He slams his fist in the spot until Thunderhoof passes out. He climbs off and holds on to his hand in pain, "Ow! Ow! Ow!"
Grim comments, "He says it's okay to say scrap if it helps."
"Wow, Thunderhoof's neck is thick." Bee said ignoring him. "Grim, get Strongarm to help you drag Thunderhoof to a stasis cell."
"Okay."
"And tell our new friend to follow."
"He says later." Grim said after a minute.
They lock Thunderhoof in a stasis cell. "Well, that takes care of Thunderhoof, now for the rest of Steeljaw's pack." Strongarm comments after the lid hissed shut.
Sideswipe walks over to Fixit, "Hey, Fixit, could you look up the name... Knockout?"
"Sideswipe, you'll have to tell me the destruction... distraction, description! Of the bot. Because, the name Knockout is the most common decepticon name on Cybertron." he said bringing up the files.
"Well, he had red paint, rounded shoulders, large feet, and pointy audio receptors." Sides said, "He ran off before I could say thank you."
"Got him." Fixit says when his picture popped up, "He's a decepticon medic, one of the few in existence. He belongs in no particular category, and has a criminal rap sheet the size of Cybertron's second moon. But his kill count is nil. He has a knack for back handed compliments and manipulation. He has had run ins with Thunderhoof, Megatron, Hook, Vertebreak, and has had over thirty assistants. Most of whom didn't stay longer then a year. This even has a list of who stayed for certain amounts of time. Here's three that didn't last three minutes; Asst-hound, Coral bite, and Backwater."
"I can see why." Sides say interrupting.
"He has been on the Alcamore once, along with twelve other..."
"Who are you talking about?" Bumblebee asked coming over.
"Some con named Knockout. Grim helped him fix my face."
"I know a con named Knockout who fixes bots. He turned Autobot at the end of the war. His best friend was Breakdown. I'm pretty sure that if he met the Stunticon Breakdown, he would've gotten punched in th..."
Fixit interrupts, "It says here that he stole the Stunticon named Breakdown, causing a ripple effect in Menasor."
"Wait! Our mystery friend is Knockout?!" Bee asked in surprise.
"I have met the medic Knockout, if it was not for him, I, and my minicons would have been stuck with Shadowraker." Drift said walking over.
"Knockout's here? On earth?" Bee asked, still confused.
"His file also says that he did send ex-decepticons to the Autobot side, but the decepticon recruits outnumber them ten to two. Mostly through brainwashing, or brain surgery."
It finally clicks, "Of course Knockout's on earth, he loves this place."
"Are you sure he's on our side?" Sideswipe asked looking at Bumblebee.
"He followed the instructions of those who were in power at the time. Now that he's an Autobot, it's Ultra Magnus, or Ratchet." Bee turns to Fixit, "Put in these numbers, 11-14-15-3-11-15-21-20, then use it to track him."
"Why not just find him by his signal?" Drift asked.
"Knockout doesn't have one, never did. Which is why he was so good at sneaking up on everyone and getting away without notice. I think Breakdown taught him that." Bee explained.
"Lieutenant, according to my readings, he's at the front gate." Fixit said pointing at the screen.
"Denny, I'll let him in." Bee told Denny as he passed him on the way to the gate.
"Okay." Denny replied returning to his box stacking.
Bumblebee opens it and puts on a large fake smile, hoping Knockout wouldn't know the difference. Knockout walks around Bee and checks him over for injury, then looks him in the optics, "Bumblebee. It's nice to see you again, despite the past." his face scrunches up in disgust, "And might I ask what happened to your... where do I even start? Face? Charming personality? Finish? Adorableness?"
Bee frowns, "Nice to see you too, Knockout."
Knockout smiles, "Well, you have a personality." he turns to Sideswipe, "I didn't formally introduce myself. I'm Knockout."
"I'm Sideswipe, the fastest and best looking team member of team Bee." Sides said puffing out his chest.
"Hmm, a sad thing really." Sides deflates. Knockout turns to Grimlock, "Oh, and thank you Grim. You were an excellent assistant back there."
"Your welcome, Knockout." he said with a toothy smile.
Bee pokes Knockout tail, "Did you weld the cortical psychic patch to your tailpipe?"
"I couldn't find my original tail, so I improvised. Like it?" he asked as it waves in his face, annoying him.
Bee pushes it aside, "Just don't trip anyone with it, okay?"
He lowers it to ankle level, then turns to Drift, "Deadlock, was it?"
"Drift now."
"Ah, yes. It helps to know what name you currently bare." he turn to his minicons and squats down, "And how are the little..." he looks up at Drift and points at Slipstream, "Where's his twin?"
"I do not wish to talk about it." he said defensively.
Knockout nods, then turns back to them, "Slipstream, and you are?"
"Jetstorm."
"Nice to meet you." he gets up and turns to the last member.
Strongarm salutes, "Cadet Strongarm of the Cybertronian police force."
"You're still a cadet? Hmm, looks like they're tougher then usual." he comments looking her over.
"If your are suggesting that I was kicked out, I assure you that I was not." she says as he played with her right arm, "What are you doing?"
Knockout smiles at her, "A half Stunticon cop, that's something you don't see everyday."
Bee pipes up, "Wait, she's a what?"
"Half Stunticon." he said with pride, "Bumblebee, she has untapped potential. Could I have your permission to I fix that?"
Bee rubs his optics, "Yes. But remember, she's my cadet."
Knockout turns to her, "Stunticon 101. rule one; use your full strength, or not at all. Come." he leads her away.