Summary: Twelve long years have gone by since the human and Cybertronian alliance. Decepticons roamed the world and humans have hidden their attacks with careful words and sneaky reporters but when one Stacy Collins gets a present in the form of former Decepticon medic, Knockout, she finds herself uprooted from her careful life and thrown into a life of deceit and war.
Chapter Two
Stacy woke up on her porch. She was very glad she asked for a three day weekend because it looked like it was already morning. She let out a groan as she sat up. What on earth had happened last night where she had passed on her porch when she had a perfectly comfy bed inside?
"You fleshies sleep a lot." The deep, thundering voice came from her driveway and Stacy slowly turned her head to look in horror at the giant robot calmly sitting down to her car. "Didn't expect that, or the surprise recharge you gave me."
"No." She whispered. "Please. I don't want to die."
"What?" The robot tilted his head curiously. "Oh, is it the optics? I'm FORMER Decepticon but slag happens. I switched to the good side, fleshy!"
"What good side?" Stacy stumbled to her feet, gripping her porch. "You're all bad!"
He squinted his "optics". "No, we aren't. Decepticons want to destroy your Earth, Autobots want to protect it."
"This is impossible." Stacy whispered and began to pace. "You're in my driveway."
"I am."
"A Cybertronian."
"Correct."
"You don't want to murder me."
"Truly."
"This is insane!"
"You're telling me."
"Will you shut up? I'm trying to think!" Stacy snapped. He quirked what she believed his eyebrow was and seemed to be laughing at her.
"You're funny, fleshy. Maybe I'll stay awhile. It's been a long time since I've seen a femme with fire." He paused, tilting his head. "Or at least one that didn't want to kill me."
"Please leave me alone." Stacy said to her, fear flooding her at the thought of staying in close approximant of this creature. "Go back to your friends."
The metal creature lifted his head to the sky. "I'm afraid, femme, that all my former colleagues hate me and I'm sure the Autobots will despise me as well. I have nothing...except for you at the moment." He leaned towards her, red optics serious, "I promise on my femme creator's spark, that no harm will befall you or those that you hold dearest to you."
Pity filled Stacy's chest. He had no one? That was...pathetically sad.
"Well...you can't just run around Liberty like that." Stacy finally said with a deep sigh. "Someone's gonna notice."
"Oh, sweetspark," He winked at her, "I know." The raw sound of metal on metal rose from his chest and she grimaced at the sound. She watched him as his body parts twisted and turned and before her stood a sleek red, grey and black sports car. "Nice, right?" His voice called from the car.
"That's convenient." Stacy settled on her steps and put her face in her hands. She felt the sound of metal grinding and looked up. He had transformed back and was looking at her. "Do you have a name?" Stacy asked him.
"I do, and I told you my designation, femme." He said with a small quirk of a smile. "My designation is Knockout. A pleasure. And you?"
"Anastasia Collins." Stacy said. "Everyone calls me Stacy."
"Stacy." Knockout murmured, almost like he was trying it out. "A strange name, but humans are different than Cybertronians."
Stacy nodded silently and inhaled sharply. Almost wanting to lose herself in her thoughts about her new companion, she was stopped in her tracks at the disgusting smell that filled the air. What once smelled like rotting food had twisted further into something that she couldn't even identify. All she knew was that it was utterly disgusting and it was coming from Knockout.
Stacy squinted and saw that bluish-purple gunk seemed to be dried against his armor, splashing violently against Knockout's red, black and gray paintjob. Stacy had no clue what the robot had stumbled into but whatever it was, it was absolutely disgusting.
"What is that smell?" She demanded, standing up, nearly stumbling.
Knockout blinked, red optics in surprise. "Oh..right. That, my dear, would be dried energon." He tipped his head down until they were optic to eye, "You wanna help me with that, darlin'?"
Stacy swallowed. "Help...you?"
"I believe you humans call it a car wash? It would be amazing and that nasty smell would go away." His optics were bright and mischievous as he spoke.
"Isn't that a bit- I don't know - invasive?" Stacy asked. She watched Knockout as his appearance changed. It was almost like he was silently laughing at her. "Well, isn't it?" She snapped.
"No, femme." He laughed. "If it get too "invasive", then I will inform you. Well?"
"Okay." Stacy said after a beat of silence. "God, this is crazy. I'm giving an alien robot a bath, what is wrong with me?!"
"Don't forget the sponges...!" She heard Knockout call behind her as she strode in her house to get changed in car washing clothing and to find equipment to wash the alien in her front yard.
"My lord." The click-click-click irritated Megatron to no end. Of course after the disaster on the disgusting American state called Ohio, Megatron wasn't in the best mood for talking and especially not with Starscream of all the 'Cons on the base.
"My lord." The high pitched, irritating voice made Megatron lift his helm to the sky as Starscream stopped in front of the metallic throne that Megatron was seated at and took an extravagant bow in front of the Decepticon leader.
"Yes, Starscream?" Megatron hissed out, glaring heatedly at the tall Cybertronian.
Starscream straightened up and his arms tightened to his side. "I believe Knockout has arrived on Earth."
Megatron froze. Knockout? Slaggit. They'd just gotten the broken message from one of their many bases. Knockout, the Decepticon's greatest medic and torturer, had betrayed them. He'd slaughtered their Decepticon forces on the base, deleted all of his studies and had allowed one of their Autobot prisoners to escape.
"Has he?" Megatron clacked his claws together, optics twisted in anger. "And where has the traitor landed?"
"Well-" Starscream cleared his throat, a nervous laugh coming from his throat. "-the thing about that, my lord, is that he went off the radar as soon as he entered Earth's atmosphere."
Of course.
"B-But!" Starscream stepped closer, a sharp grin on his face. "We do know he is in America."
"Beyond that?" Megatron asked coldly.
"Well...we aren't sure." Starscream looked uncomfortable. "But we will find him and when we do-"
"We destroy him, you pathetic worm." Megatron spat out, standing to his full height. "We destroy him, and when the Autobot prisoner arrives to Earth, we will destroy her as well."
"Yes, my greatness." Starscream bowed.
"Good. Now leave." Megatron waved him away and walked towards the large window that took up the majority of the wall. He heard Starscream hurry away, the door sliding shut loudly and Megatron was left in his thoughts.
He was unsure why Knockout, one of their most loyal soldiers, had betrayed their cause to the Autoscum, but he needed to know. Many Decepticons had always wondered in jealousy and hatred why Megatron had treated Knockout so well and the answer was simple. Knockout was Megatron's closest friend. He had known the Decepticon leader in sparklinghood, and they'd stayed friends through younglinghood and eventual adulthood. He'd stayed with Megatron even after Megatron had split Cybertron into two factions.
In all honesty, Megatron trusted Knockout immensely.
"Frag you, Knockout." Megatron snarled, slamming his fist against the glass. It trembled against him but didn't break. "If you wish this upon yourself, then I will bring you a war like none other."
