Deep within the woods, an Armet Balkan and Aston Martin drove. Darkness consumed the sky, stars and the moon broke the night. Breakdown heard the crushing of leaves beneath his tires. He kept sight of the cherry red car in front of him. Mud built up on the Aston Martin's tires. He'll start complaining soon. Breakdown chuckled, laughter hidden by the roar of his engine.
His engine, the rumble, each second passing by. It became strange to live again. He kept his focus on Knock Out. The pine trees subsided, opening to a large flat area. A grassy hill in the distance.
Nothing happened since their escape. Morning hasn't arrived. Both Aston Martin and Armet Balkan kept going. The muddy path ended, now asphalt of a proper road. Breakdown moved his mirrors to search for anything.
No sign of Autobots or Decepticons. The thought of both fractions caused a chill to appear in Breakdown's Spark. If they found out. He didn't want to think about it. The dark blue mech focused forward to notice the Aston Martin missing.
"Breakdown, where are you going?" Knock Out asked. (Breakdown hit the breaks; a loud screech from his tires. He transformed, sighting the medic. The hill next to him) "Sorry, just thinking about stuff." Breakdown apologized. "Lets take a break. I'm sure they won't find us." Knock Out sighed. (The bulky mech approached the medic)
"Is something wrong?" Breakdown asked. "Have mud on my tires. Can you help clean them?" Knock Out asked. (Breakdown chuckled. Knock Out turned, revealing the muddy tires on his back. Breakdown placed his fingers onto the visible mud. He brushed away the grime, leaving the seams filled)
"Got most of it off." Breakdown sighed. "More in the seams. Its always the seams." Knock Out chided. "Did you bring anything to clean this?" Breakdown asked. "Yes, let me check." Knock Out said. (He searched through his subspace. The medic gripped a small tipped object. He handed it to Breakdown. The bulky mech inspected the seams and dug the mud out.
Knock Out looked around as Breakdown did his work. He ignored the twinge on his tires. Breakdown always knew how deep the seams were. Knock Out smiled. How long was it since Breakdown cleaned his tires? That didn't matter; Breakdown still has the touch. He looked up to the stars)
"Cleaned your tires, want me to do your legs?" Breakdown asked. "Yes, please." Knock Out replied. (The twinge returned, this time, on the tires in his legs) "After this, you want to do anything?" Breakdown asked. (Knock Out's gaze returned to the sky; then to Breakdown) "Want to look at the stars?" Knock Out asked. "Sure, now stay still. I need to rotate your tires." Breakdown said. "Be sure to finish it before the sun rises." Knock Out ordered.
(The cleaning finished. Breakdown stood up; brushing the mud and dirt away from himself. He stared at Knock Out. The cherry red mech started to walk up the hill. Breakdown tagged along.
Reaching the top, Knock Out turned and lied on the grass. He exhaled, sighting Breakdown lying nearby) "This grass feels nice." Breakdown mused. (Knock Out laughed, his black and red optics focused on the stars)
"What do you see?" Knock Out asked. "Constellations, some of Cybertronian records." Breakdown said. "Show me." Knock Out said. (Breakdown lifted his arm, pointing towards a cluster of stars)
"See this one? That's a Petro-rabbit." Breakdown explained. "Where did you learn this?" Knock Out asked. "In the Allspark." Breakdown answered. "Do you regret leaving?" Knock Out asked.
"Never. (Breakdown's yellow optic focused on the medic) Because I get to see you again." Breakdown smiled. "Thanks." Knock Out whispered. "Want to see more constellations?" Breakdown asked. "I would like that." Knock Out said. "Alright, lets see." Breakdown mused. (He moved his helm to the right, letting his sole optic sight the stars. Knock Out returned to facing the stars)
"Its beautiful." Knock Out elated. "It sure is, knowing that your with me." Breakdown soothed. (Knock Out's optics widened. He turned, facing Breakdown) "Now I know why we stayed together after all these years." Knock Out choked. "Hey, don't cry." Breakdown soothed. "Sorry, just seeing you here, hearing your voice." Knock Out apologized. "I would act the same if you came back from the dead." Breakdown said. (The medic started laughing. Breakdown followed.
The laughter subsided, leaving both medic and assistant to stare at the sky) "You know your my best friend, right?" Knock Out asked. (Breakdown nodded, Knock Out focused on the bulky mech. A frown appeared on the medic's face) "Is something wrong?" Breakdown asked. "No." Knock Out lied. "I know when your lying." Breakdown chided. "I'm sorry." Knock Out whispered. "For what?" Breakdown asked.
"Your optic, I wasn't able to get you a new one." Knock Out answered. "Did you forget what I told you?" Breakdown asked. "No; I still feel ashamed that I couldn't do anything." Knock Out sighed. "I'd take life over an optic." Breakdown said. "That still bothers me. I'm able to bring someone back from the dead, yet I can't do optics." Knock Out choked. (He turned away, closing his optics. Breakdown sighed)
"Knock Out, listen, I know you failed to give me my optic back. I'm okay with that." Breakdown assured. "I still failed." Knock Out choked. "Who brought their best friend back from the dead? Crafted a plan to escape and succeed." Breakdown questioned. (Knock Out turned, facing Breakdown. Silver servoes landed on the grass)
"I did." Knock Out whispered. "And I'll take my life over an optic. Because I get to see you." Breakdown encouraged. "Maybe your right. Sorry, I beat myself up. I didn't want to see you looking, imperfect." Knock Out apologized. "I'm still Breakdown. Optic or no optic, I'm still a hundred percent myself." Breakdown assured. (Knock Out smiled) "Thank you." Knock Out whispered. "That's what friends are for." Breakdown elated. (Knock Out looked at Breakdown)
"Are you wondering why we're looking at the stars?" Knock Out asked. "No; you can tell me anything." Breakdown said. (Knock Out's black and red optics gazed at the darkness above)
"When I was a Youngling, my Sire and I would look at the stars. Since I was higher ranked in the caste system, we would always get the best of views. During the war, I never got to see the stars like this, until now." Knock Out explained. "Is that why I saw you on the Nemesis Deck a couple of times?" Breakdown asked. "Yes, I tried to relive the memories, they never came." Knock Out choked. (He sat up, holding his tears.
The voice of his Sire. Loving, encouraging, one who never let him down. Knock Out clenched his servoes. Ruins, his Sire gasping one last breath before passing on. A Servo landed onto the medic's shoulder. Knock Out turned, sighting Breakdown)
"I lost my Sire too." Breakdown whispered. (He gave a gentle squeeze. Knock Out raised his servo; gripping Breakdown's servo) "Did you." Knock Out paused. "Did I what?" Breakdown asked. "You were in the Allspark, right?" Knock Out asked. "Yes." Breakdown replied. "Did you, see my Sire and Carrier?" Knock Out asked. (Breakdown smiled)
"Yes, I talked to them. You don't know how proud they are of you." Breakdown elated. "I don't understand, I joined their killers." Knock Out said. "They understood and thanked me for being there for you." Breakdown said. "Did you get a recording of them?" Knock Out asked. (The dark blue mech nodded) "Before I left, they wanted to give you a message." Breakdown said. (His chest armor moved away to reveal his Spark Chamber. Knock Out stared at the pulsing Spark. He placed a servo onto the chamber.
Static filled his black and red optics. Everything became white; two figures appeared. Them. They both smiled at the medic) "Knock Out, if your hearing us, then Breakdown is giving you the message." Sire said. "Sire." Knock Out whispered. "Don't worry about us, everything's fine here. What matters is that you keep going." Carrier encouraged. "I joined the Decepticons, they deactivated you." Knock Out whispered. "We know your choice and understand. Go by what you want." Sire said. "Breakdown, your an excellent guardian for our Sparkling." Carrier said. "Thank you, now I've got to get going. Say one last thing and I'm off." Breakdown said. "Knock Out, we'll always love you." Sire and Carrier elated. (The white vanished, returning to reality.
Knock Out blinked, his optics refocusing onto Breakdown's Spark Chamber. The medic moved back; smiling) "I'm glad I was able to deliver the message." Breakdown soothed. "Breakdown." Knock Out whispered. "Is something wrong?" Breakdown asked. (He closed his armor plates; covering his Spark Chamber. The medic wrapped his arms around Breakdown) "Nothings wrong; because your back." Knock Out choked. "I know, and you're always my best friend." Breakdown soothed. (Knock Out closed his optics)
"Well, want to know of anymore constellations?" Breakdown asked. "Yes, please." Knock Out whispered. (The bulky mech pointed to the sky; telling stories of the stars)
"And that's the constellation of Unicorn; the long distant relative of Unicron. Knock Out?" Breakdown questioned. (He noticed the cherry red mech still wrapping his arms around the dark blue armor. The medic's optics closed; he snoozed. Breakdown smiled; rubbing Knock Out's back. He stared at the stars)
"I'm glad to meet your Youngling. I promise to protect him, no matter what." Breakdown promised. "And I promise to protect you." Knock Out whispered.
