Jack glanced overhead as him and Arcee in vehicle mode zoomed through Jasper. The recognizable jet-aka Megatron-wasn't far behind. "I don't like it." Arcee complained again. "It's just wrong." Jack shrugged.

"Sorry, Arcee. It's the only way to settle the tie." He could almost sense Arcee rolling her eyes.

"Whatever." They were coming up on the base.

"You know, if you don't like it, you could always just bow out." Knockout said innocently from behind them. "No one would judge you." His tone suggested an afternoon spent in the warship with all the Cons laughing their bumpers off at the Bot's cowardice.

"Quiet, Knockout." Jack said. "Don't let us distract you."

"Yes," Arcee agreed, "We'd hate to be responsible if you crashed and scratched your finish." The only response was a grunt. Jack chuckled as the motorcycle slowed to a stop. A mile or so away from the mesa that hid the Autobot base, the other Autobots, as well as Miko and Raphael, were waiting around the object of the tie-breaker.

A ping-pong table.

Jack fought back a laugh as he walked over to Miko, who was smirking. Arcee transformed with an eyebrow quirked at the sports table.

"Are you kidding me?" Jack whispered to Miko. "It'll be so small..."

"That's the point." She shrugged. Raphael grinned at Jack.

"Laugh now, because we can't in Megatron's presence."

"I can't. I can't I can't I can't..." Jack worked hard at hardening his expression to look serious. Optimus approached the three humans.

"What is so amusing?" Jack smiled a little.

"Oh, nothing. Just Miko's joke." He jumped when Megatron landed in front of them with a metallic clank.

"I am ready to duel, Prime." Megatron boomed.

"As am I." Optimus started towards the table. Megatron did the same. The Decepticon frowned a little in confusion.

"How does this game work? Explain, human." Miko stepped forward and took the paddles, holding one out to either side.

"You each have to pass the ball back and forth using only these paddles." Optimus and Megatron took a paddle. Miko momentarily shivered, trying to hide her giggle. The paddle was the size of one giant Cybertronian finger. She then pointed to the small white ball in the center of the table. "Each time someone passes, you have to hit it back to them. If they don't hit it, it's your point. Understand?" Both Autobot and Decepticon nodded. Prime looked at Megatron.

"What is it we're dueling for, Megatron?"

"For Earth." Optimus didn't appear too shocked.

"Very well. Miko?" She picked up the ping-pong ball and threw it in the air. The game began.

Five minutes later, the score was tied yet again. Everyone besides the competitors was nearly bursting with the effort not to laugh. Raphael had wide eyes and was absolutely still. Miko was twisting her hands behind her back. Jack was simply shaking. He didn't dare break his position. The scene before them was too odd for it not to be funny. The Cybertronians were dueling with a ball the size of their eye, and hitting with an equally tiny paddle. They had to barely hit the ball in order to get it to travel the small space between them and not the distance of a football field. It was like watching two humans hit a seed bead. Everyone watched as Optimus served the ball. His seemingly giant hand wobbled a bit, and the ball curved to the right. Megatron lunged for it and missed by an inch.

Miko jumped in the air.

"OPTIMUS WINS!"

Megatron scowled and threw his paddle on the ground. All the Autobots and humans alike cheered. The Decepticon leader clenched his fists and transformed, shooting into the sky. The second he was gone, the desert area was filled with ringing laughter. Everyone was nearly doubled over except for Optimus, who merely smiled. Jack, who had been on the verge of creating an earthquake, gasped.

"It was so tiny!"

"Best idea ever!" Miko practically shrieked. Raphael took off his glasses and wiped at his eyes.

"What. Was that?!" The sole Decepticon left among them said. Everyone turned to stare at Knockout incredulously. "What?" He said defensively. "You can't honestly expect me not to think that's amusing." Raphael raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe you should be an Autobot, then." To everyone's surprise, Knockout shrugged as he turned away.

"Can't say it's never crossed my mind. Until we meet again, Autobots." The Decepticon transformed and gunned his engine, disappearing into the desert. Miko and Jack stared after him.

"That could be a first." Miko said, looking over at Raphael. He lifted his shoulders.

"Just a thought."

"Better get back to base before Decepticons start asking for autographs." Jack walked towards his vehicle. "Let's roll."