Final Warning
Let's continue.
…
Flashback
Selena POV
What...what are you doing...Knockout? Cold, metallic lips pressed to my mine. Soft...gentle...warm with longing. Knockout...why are you…? He's holding me close. So tenderly. Like a poet holding a delicate flower so not to bend the stem. This isn't...no...but...Starscream. I can't think. Someone will see. Starscream will see. This must stop. I scream no, but I do not push away. I allow him to envelop me. To deepen the kiss. Because...because...in a way...the pain pulsating in my heart...is subsiding. Then why do tears of guilt flow down my cheek? Starscream. And why do I persist to worry if he sees?
End of POV
Flashback end
…
"Starscream? Hey. Cybertron to Starscream!"
"Hm! What?" Starscream jolted out of a daze, spinning round to see Breakdown had joined him on the bridge. As if it weren't glaringly obvious he was troubled. He prayed Soundwave hadn't surreptitiously recorded his reaction. He was embarrassed enough. "Ugh-yes-AHEM-What is it?" He staggeringly recovered.
Breakdown was a little tempted to ask. Any questions he had answered themselves when Selena's name popped into his head. "Just came to tell you I got Megatron all cleaned up. His condition hasn't improved though."
Inward glee pulled Starscream's faceplate to stretch in a victorious smirk. "It'd be more surprising if it had. Not even Megatron can recover after suffering such devastation at close range." Starscream assured the wrecker con.
"No kidding." He shook his head, growling as glared at the ground. "The guy is nothing more than scrap metal. But Soundwave won't let me pull the plug."
"Soundwave may not show it, but his steadfast loyalty is actually form of admiration." Starscream said admiration with notable disgust. "Think of it as a bit of a crush fem bots develop for the gladiators." Breakdown shuddered. Starscream agreed. "Leave it be for the moment. We will revisit the issue when cooler heads are on the ship."
"Now that you mention it, I heard from the guys you and Selena were still at each others throats." Starscream's recollection of him striking her made him cringe. "Any changes?"
"None...worth mentioning." Knockout kissing Selena. Why were his circuits burning? I have to reconcile. "Speaking of Selena, have you seen her?"
"Not lately. Haven't seen Knockout either." Breakdown itched his pondering processor. "Maybe they went for a drive." Razor talons curled' nearly puncturing the steel palm plating. Drive meaning racing. Knockout is incapable of simply driving. "Uhh...Starscream?"
"Continue monitoring Megatron." He stomped past Breakdown. "I will deal with Knockout and Selena the second they return!"
The door closes automatically, but there seemed to be a frightening slam. "Was it something I said?"
…
Flashback
Hiding in the arch of the door, eyes gaping in shock and despair - hints of betrayal - Starscream watched Knockout break the kiss. Their lips meeting forever imprinted in his mind. He clamped a hand over his mouth as he twisted away, letting the slam of the door signal his legs to give. He sat there...shaking...trembling. Every urge pulled at him to scream. To howl in agony to the stars.
'Why him?' He thought venomously. 'Why Knockout?' Why? Such a foolish question. He knew why. The answer scarred Selena's cheek. What he should be asking is, "Why am I not surprised?" Regardless, the thought made his spark ache. "Selena…" He grabbed his spark, pained to speak her name, "Selena…"
Flashback End
Starscream trudged along, nudging the shoulders of passers by as he fumed angrily. He was certain Knockout abducted her on one of his ridiculous race outings. She did possess a taste for speed. The race between her and Knockout in Greece proved she enjoyed the rush. "I always assumed she adored flying." She seemed to have the time of her life when Starscream flew her. She only rides her bike when needing to traverse a vast distance. There hasn't been a time she didn't choose flight over driving.
"It would appear she loves Knockout more than me-FLYING!" He choked. "She loves DRIVING more than FLYING! How foolish to think I love her! SHE LOVES ME! Wait! NO SHE DOESN'T! DOOH!" What was he even talking about? He didn't know. He needed to breathe, calm down, think a little. "SHE-LOVES-KNOCKOUT!" The last word echoed for numerous hallways. A fragile portion of his spark cracked. "She…" His body went limp, sinking in defeat. Sadness dimmed his expression. "She doesn't love me." That killed him. Worse than any beating Megatron has dealt. Part of his spark died in saying those words out loud.
…
"Uh…" Selena sat up. Desert air blew tumbleweeds across the empty plain. She touched her chest, feeling a small tug. "I wonder what that was." Her thoughts were completely invaded by Knockout's bold move. Her whole face exploded in crimson. "UUGGGHHH!" Selena smashed her face, falling backwards to a dusty cliffside. Her hat fell. A cloud of dust ascended, outlining her figure. "Why…" She asked. Clouds drifted by in response. Lack of response. She ran fingers over her lips. Knockouts were cold...but very warming. She had chills running down her spine. At the same time her stomach curdled. "WHY! WHY! WHY! WHY!" She thrashed her legs. She pounded her fists. "WHY DID HE KISS ME? WHY DIDN'T I SHOVE HIM OFF? WHAT IF STARSCREAM SAW?" Then she stopped. The last words out of her mouth. 'What if Starscream saw?' She scrunched her nose. She folded her arms like the stubborn mule she was, turning her nose to the notion of displeasing the false king. "Why should I care if his feelings are hurt? He's a tough Con. He can handle it if there are other men in my life!" But you don't love Knockout. "I DON'T LOVE SCREAM EITHER!" Her heart painfully beat at her chest. Acids in her stomach radiated, making her muscles and nerves lose all feeling. I don't...don't I?
BRRNNGG! BRRNNGG! BRRNNGG! Selena growled. She's never hated a phone more than she does now. Why doesn't she just get rid of the thing? Because Starscream went through a lot of trouble to make this for me. That should be even more reason to get rid of it. She shuddered, stroking her wounded cheek. She could still feel Starscream hittign her. The rage behind it. 'You're not fit to be Lord!' "Oh man. I'd slap him too if he said I was a horrible Magnetic Kinetic." I really hurt him. I should apologize. She shook her head. Why am I thinking about this? Why am I feeling so guilty? Knockout's lips touching hers. The feeling Starscream was watching her. "GAAHHH! Why would it matter if he saw? He doesn't even love-" Love…? A cosmically powerful word. "Starscream…" She massaged the scar, "He doesn't...love me." Do I want him to? "SOMETHING PLEASE DISTRACT ME!" BRRNNGG! BRRNNGG! BRRNNGG! "ANYTHING BUT THAT!" She clenched her phone. "I swear if Miko's texting me…" She flipped the phone open. "Huh?" It was an alert from her social site. A video of a race was taking Youtube by storm. And it was of high school kids. "Hold on…" She zoomed in on the racers. She recognized the red head. "Vince Preston. Pfft. The Brad of racing. Now who is he-NO WAY!" Vince was racing a motorcycle. A CYBERTRONIAN, Jack riding motorcycle! "Arcee and Jack in a race?! WOW-HOW! Warnings of death and he's out racing Arcee thinking she'll keep his frail body safe. Boys." She laughed hysterically. "Oh man! Optimus and June are going to scream!" Which raised a question. "Are Primes even capable of feeling?" She giggled and watched the video further. No surprise Arcee won. Human speed vs alien speed is a little one sided. "I'd love to see Knockout smoke the two wheeler." Speak of the devil. Knockout sped right by her as if the devil was chasing him. "I absolutely love their impeccable timing."
…
Knockout was cruising the open road, minding his own businesses as he always did. He watched the midday clouds pass overhead, admired the array of sand, rock, and cactus passing by, and caught sight of a stray dog sniffing a coyote's behind. Meanwhile a small voice in the back of his processor nagged him relentlessly about the kiss. There was a jerk and screech of tires when he started veering off road. Her little frame in his hand, those soft lips, how pretty she looks when she's crying.
"GAAAH! DUNDERHEAD! IDIOT! GLITCH HEAD! OF ALL THE...OOHH!" If his arms weren't the doors he'd lunch himself. He barreled through a few street signs as compensation. "What did I think that would accomplish?" 'Has the pain stopped?' What a cheesy line! "She probably thinks I took advantage of her!" Her lips meeting his, his lips meeting hers. A long, tender - albeit awkward - moment of passion. The whole hood of his car turned an even darker shade of red. "WHY IN PRIMUS DID I KISS HER?" He couldn't drive like this. He pulled over fiercely, tumbling out of vehicle form and slammed his hands to a rock face. "IDIOT!" He smack his head in the rock. "GLITCH HEAD! MORON!" Two more times. "COMPLETE, UTTER, LOVE STRUCK, FOOLISH CON!" One, two, three, four, five. "Ugh...oww..." He massaged the crack leaking energon. It didn't stop the pounding of his humiliation. "I'm the worst."
"Are you done?"
"BWAH!" He jumped, aiming his blaster atop the rock. Then he lowered it. It was Selena. "Y-yeah..."
" She wiggled fingers in a wave. "What...when did you get here?"
"I've been following you for the last hour. Nice driving by the way." She smirked, pointing to the road a ways back. Knockout ran over everything, including a kitchen sink someone discarded. How they managed that will be beyond anyone's comprehension. Knockout hid his hands, laughing bashfully. The laugh died in a guilt ridden groan. Selena sighed, shaking her head with disappointment. "Why is it men are all the same regardless of species?"
"How do you mean?"
Selena rolled her eyes. "Yep. Exact doppelgangers." Knockout still didn't catch her meaning. She waved a hand, asking him to forget about it. She floated to his level, giving him the sternest and most unnerving glare he's ever seen. "As for the…" She cleared her throat. The blush she attempted to master concealing broke through, "I...I don't...Ugh. I had this planned in my head. Now it's falling to shambles."
Knockout laughed at her expense. She puffed her cheeks angrily. "Sorry. But...you really shouldn't read too much into it." Selena was taken aback. Knockout worried he said something wrong. "What I mean is...I'm not sure what I mean."
"It's okay. I know what you mean." She cupped both sides of his face and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "And thanks for cheering me up." Knockout laughed giddily, blushing idiotically. Then Selena punched him where his nose would be. "But if you ever kiss me like that again I'll bend and twist you into pretzel so tight, I'll be able to pour cheese on you and you'll be devoured by pimp faced human teens watching the FIFA cup!"
"I'm guessing that's bad."
She grabbed the crooks of his face plating, bringing him in so close her irritation made him shiver. "It-is-veerry-bad!"
"So…" He looked to the ground and back up to her, "Does that mean we're not going steady?" Selena shoved him off, deadpan in the face at the point he completely missed. Clearly not a yes. But not a no either. "Well what shall we do with the evening?"
"Let's just go for that drive before I go buy the cheese sauce."
"Ma'am, yes ma'am!" Well he tried. Knockout went into vehicle mode, letting Selena sit in the driver's side. "Where to, M'Lady?"
"Anywhere there's a race." She winked. "I'm in the mood for an adrenaline rush."
"One adrenaline rush coming right up!"
…
"GEEZE!" Jack gasped. "I can't believe how popular this is!" He was glued to Raf's laptop screen. Countless thumbnails sponsored Jack and Vincent's race. Hundreds of hits. There was an inward hope Youtube would delete the videos before Jack's mom sees. Or just let Raf get ahold of it. He'd be able to wash Youtube off the face of the internet. "You can make these go away, right?"
"Yeah. It'll take some time."
"Take all the time you need."
Raf took over the computer and began scrubbing. "Is racing the best coping mechanism?"
"Coping mechanism for what?"
"For Selena dumping us."
"Please! You think I'm doing this because of her?!" He scoffed, disgusted that Raf thinks Selena mattered in the slightest to him. "Stop flattering her, Raf! Selena's so far out of my life, I can't remember how we met!"
Raf lowered his head. He remembered. He doubted he could ever forget. He was sure Jack hadn't forgotten. Eager to change the subject, Raf returned focus on the racing images, sparking the next conversation. "Since you bring it up, I overheard you talking with Bumblebee. What about?"
Ice encased Jack's spine. Leave it to Raf to notice everything. Bumblebee is Raf's guardian. It wouldn't feel right if he just up and borrowed him without permission. "I wanted to talk to you about that. Can I borrow Bumblebee for...an hour." He guessed.
"Jack, you know racing is against the rules." Rafael whined.
"I know! I know!" Jack raised his hands. He'd hate to get Rafael in trouble. But it was a matter of life or death. "It'll be just this once. I promise."
"I don't know…"
"GUYS! GUYS! GUYS!" Miko ran in. "You'll never guess what I just scooped from Fowler!"
"Not his gun again!" Jack and Rafael panicked.
"I wish. But no!" The boys still kept back. Just in case. She scrolled through her phone's photos and showed them her top favorite photo. "It's a pic of those cars they found on the highway outside town! Check out the rims on this one!" She pointed to the spiked rims.
Jack partially lidded his eyes boredly. "Checking out new decorations for your room? Aren't you dangerous enough?" Miko kicked his shin. "OW!"
"NO MORON! LOOK!" She smashed the phone in his face. "Look how clean the spikes are! Rims don't bust like that! Not even when melted down and hammered!"
"Meaning?" Miko slapped her forehead, aggravated by how smart Rafael is and yet so dim.
"Think you guys! Who do we know who can make rims like that?" The boys literally thought for a moment. The same person came to mind. Miko smirked at their shocked expressions. "Exactly. Selena's part of the deathcon races."
"NO WAY!"
"WHAT!" Both boys gasped simultaneously. Bumblebee was just as shocked. Reports of racing were going on for weeks. "Selena's been racing? Close to Jasper?" Rafael beamed with hope. She's still close to town. "Jack, where are you racing again?"
"The circuit." Jack understood where he was going with this. "I wonder what the odds are she'll show up. And what she'll be driving." He isn't looking forward to seeing her. But hearing her tell him straight to his face to be gone may bring him some sort of weird closure.
"Only one way to find out." Miko winked.
Bumblebee beeped dismally, lacking confidence in their half baked plan. Especially when Optimus, Fowler, and everybody else made it abundantly clear - via the demands of Selena - too keep the kids away from her. Or else. Bumblebee was there when Selena said keep them back. Just by Selena's text they've been kept at bay. That barrier was weakening with this new ray of light.
Raf looked to Bumblebee with huge, pleading eyes. "Please, Bee. Just this once." Bumblebee was crumbling like the barrier. "Selena said in a text she wanted us gone. For all we know the Cons are making her do this." Bumblebee coveted to tell them that was far from the case. It would shatter them. But it would stop them. Which could he live with? "If she is there...and she...she doesn't want us…"
"We'll leave it alone." Miko declared in the most honest and sincere way. It blew Rafael, Jack, and Bumblebee's minds. "We won't talk about her. We won't ask about her. We'll stop trying to see her all together."
Bumblebee held doubts in her declaration. If Selena proves what they fear, there is a 10% chance they will accept it and walk away. The other 90% meant they'd go at her full force until she opened her arms to them. Unfortunately he couldn't turn them down without breaking their spirits. The Autobots were told by Selena to keep them back. It will kill them, but Jack, Miko, and Rafael needed to hear it for themselves.
After much deliberation Bumblebee nodded, earning a huge hug from Rafael and Miko. "THANKS/THANK YOU, BEE!" They cheered. Bumblebee urged Jack to hurry up before Optimus showed up to change his mind. "Bring our girl home, Jackson!" Miko encouraged. Jack was suddenly losing his nerve. Inwardly he wanted Selena to not show up. He really doesn't want to see her. Then again he needed answers.
She's not answering Miko. He gazed at his phone, intimidated by the buttons. I wonder...
…
"BRR!"
"Need a jacket?" Knockout mocked. He turned on the heater.
"No." She turned around, peering to the highway. "I just got the weirdest feeling. Like someone wants to twist my head off."
"Maybe Starscream is planning your punihsment." He laughed.
"Now I am sick." She slumped, holding her whirling head and stomach. "When did things become gruesome?"
"The day you chose my shoulder over Scream's." She stomped his radio. "YOW!"
"I didn't choose you! I partnered with you. Huge difference!" She grunted, turning angrily. "This little contest between you and Scream is becoming old."
Knockout choked, nearly driving off course. "CONTEST! What contest? I know nothing of a con-"
"Starscream told me." She added simply, leaving Knockout utterly speechless. Selena arched a brow, daring him to recover. The defeated groan signaled she won that argument. "Was it like kissing rust?"
"Huh?"
"EGH! Nothing!" She turned away blushing.
"Knockout. You there?" Breakdown came in through the radio.
"Yeah, I'm here."
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear your voice." Selena sighed.
"Selena? Good to hear from you. You okay?"
"I'm fine, Breakdown. Thanks." It warmed her to know he worried. Too bad Scream never really worries. "Sorry for the vanishing act. I've been out clearing my head."
"Well you may want to clear it for a while longer." An ominous tone unnerved Knockout and Selena. "Starscream's been looking for you guys again." Selena swallowed. He probably wanted to yell at them. "Where'd you guys go?"
"Out for a little drive." Knockout hummed. "We just drive town to town, minding our own business, until…" BEEP! BEEP! A car rocketed past Knockout, abruptly slowing in front then dashing off. Selena and Knockout beamed hungrily. "Until the next opportunity arises." Knockout threw the gears into 2nd shift and raced after him, crossing into Jasper.
"This outta be good. He's likely going to the circuit." The circuit was literally just a drive through the sewage line, across the highway, and ends at the city limit sign. Two miles, no holds barred, anything goes. For the sake of sport, Selena may spare the racers flat tires. Unless they scar Knockout again. 'Cock-a-doodle-doo!' "Jack?" She jumped grabbing her phone. "Whoa. Didn't expect to hear from him.
"Now the older boy is texting you? Man these kids are hard of learning." Knockout gasped, either amused or annoyed by their tenacity.
"Jack and Raf got the hint. Miko's the one who hasn't learned." Learning is wasted on that girl.
"Could it be-"
"You kidding? Jack wouldn't trust Miko with a garden hose." Knockout actually envisioned the human girl with a garden hose, laughing maniacally as she flooded the whole town. It made him shudder. Out of curiosity Selena answered the text. Skimming the contents a dark smile stretched her lips. "Well, well. He has become a racing enthusiast."
"A challenge?" Knockout purred.
"In so many words. Heard you like racing. The circuit tonight. Jack." She snapped the phone shut. The Autobots either didn't take her seriously, or Jack hasn't mentioned Selena received an invite. "Just think, I was craving seeing you smoke the two-wheeler."
"I thought you warned the bots to keep the kids back."
"Apparently Jack wants to make one last ditch effort. Appeal to that organ beating in my chest." She curled her fingers to the wheel. She wished it didn't have to come to this. "A shame to have to crush such a brilliant boy." She licked her lips. "Follow our friend. He'll lead us to the circuit."
"Aren't you going to reply?"
"Why spoil the surprise?" She shut the phone off entirely. "He'll know when we're there."
…
30 minutes until nightfall. Miko and Rafael paced the videogame area nervously. All Jack needed to do was win the race and be back before anyone else showed up. They had the run of the base while Optimus, Arcee, and Ratchet were out and about. Of course Bumblebee was out escorting Jack to possibly one of the most dangerous races of his life. Bulkhead was lurking. What the Bot lacked in brains, he made up for knowing when Miko was hiding something. He preferred not to ask. Plausible deniability and less chances he'd get his backside chewed out by Optimus and Arcee. Unfortunately it wasn't the absence of Bots scaring them.
"Do you think she got the text?" Rafael whimpered. Just one response. That's all he wanted. Just one.
"Who knows?" Miko rested against the couch arm. She puffed her bangs, gradually losing faith in Selena. "Why does she hate us?"
"She doesn't hate us!" Rafael boomed, startling Miko. "Selena doesn't hate us! She just...she can't afford having the Cons turn on us!"
"She's not with them 24/7, Raf. Even she has lunch breaks." It was a sign of the apocalypse when Miko started making sense. "If she doesn't hate us, why ignore us." Rafael opened and closed his mouth, receiving an answer that only dwindled to a pitiful excuse. "Well!"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Rafael panted. "I...just...don't know."
…
Night finally rolled around. The full moon barely a yard over the horizon and lighting up the rocky plains. Decked out cars from all over Jasper gathered in an old, dried us ravine. Racers showing off their engines, loving upholstery, bragging about the naus flowing through every pipe. One racer thought he'd have the race by making his car lighter. A smart move, but one hard smack and he was out. A few girls were admiring the rides, wanting little tours of Nevada. Others were girlfriends declaring their boys were going to win. Bets were made to make the race a little more entertaining. Winner gets car, winner gets engine, winner gets bragging rights. Meanwhile the loser loses everything but the shirt on his back.
All heads turned to the center lane when Bumblebee rolled in, revving his engine daringly at the other racers. Jack kept his head low in case Selena was lurking near. He didn't want a fight breaking out so soon. "I don't see her. Do you?" Bumblebee beeped sadly. Jack didn't need Rafael to know he said no. Then again he was looking for a purple haired girl on a bike. Selena could be wearing a disguise and driving any one of the cars he passed. "Keep your eyes peeled. She's here." Bumblebee bleeped confidently.
Seeing Vince at the starting line bolstered Jack's courage. At least one opponent bothered to show. Bumblebee pulled up alongside Vince's ride. He rolled the window down. letting Jack leer. The red head speed jockey was stunned by the Camaro. He half expected the bike. Not a full muscle car. "Bike's in the shop." Jack read Vince's - limited - mind. Vince gave half a smirk of respect. Jack met it with a glare.
As the cars gathered to their places, Knockout pulled up last. Selena tilted her hat up slightly, scanning the competition. "Nice cars. But not the ones I'm looking for. You see the two-wheeler?"
"Nothing less than four." Knockout grumbled, scouring the crowd. His scanners do detect an autobot energy signature. Just not which one. "How do we know he isn't riding the other bots?"
"Good point." Selena tapped her chin. Arcee would stand out, so obviously she was out. "Optimus and Ratchet are out. They'd never agree to this."
"The one called Bulkhead is fast but not fast enough. Which leaves..."
Selena's eyes widened to a yellow muscle car dead ahead. "The bug." She chortled, licking her lips. That splitting headache he gave her back at the gorge will pale to when she splits him in half.
"The Autobot they call Bumblebee." Knockout purred.
"And lookie here." She narrowed her sights to Vince's car. "Big bad Vince. Let's make this a blood bath."
"I thought you'd never ask." Knockout let his engine run wild. Selena's expression softened slightly. Sorry Jack. Knockout shifted into gear.
"Circuit drivers are you ready?!" The announcer riled the crowd. A redheaded girl took her place ahead of the cars, turning heads to the road ahead. Jack's jaw dropped seeing Sierra waving flirtatiously at him. He was in heaven. Vince practically gagged. Selena choked herself. "Make it mean, but keep it clean!" Not likely. Vince and Selena crooned mentally. "Fire 'em up in five...four...three..." Sierra raised her arms, "Two...ONE!" Sierra threw her arms down. The cars rocketed by. Sierra watched them vanish in the dark. The high beams lighting the ravine for four turns.
Jack and Vince were tearing for first place, ramming and bashing bumpers and doors, holding nothing back for that one victory. Knockout and Selena were swerving past every car that got in their way. Knockout wasn't going to lose sight of Bumblebee for a second. It would be aggravating if the other racers interrupted. Lest the surprise he and Selena had planned be ruined.
"How about a repeat performance?" Knockout hinted.
"With a slight alteration." Selena glanced back and flashed her eyes. The hoods of the other three cars crushed inward, demolishing the engines. The cars piled up, ending with disoriented drivers instead of dead ones. "Hm. Losing my touch."
"Not at all." Knockout put mettle to the pedal and raced for Vince and Jack.
It was a long drawn out stretch. Vince savored the small lead he barely maintained. This race was in the bag. Inevitably Bumblebee stopped playing around with Vince and passed him on the left, leaving the hot head in the dust. Vince slammed a fist on the wheel, pressing heavily on the gas. A shame human speed paled to alien tech. Jack and Bumblebee had a huge laugh at Vince's expense. After this Vince would definitely leave him alone. Unless he wanted the whole school to know they lost to a fast food junkie.
Knockout came up behind them, closing in fast. Vince gasped when Knockout was inches from his side of the door. Selena rolled down the window, having her eyes glow so to hue the darkness around her. "Hey there, sweetie." She chortled. "Up for some fun!" She bared her teeth in a vicious grin. Vince screamed at the top of his lungs, inadvertently turning the wheel when he jumped back. He quickly regained control, but not before Knockout pulled ahead. "Burn him!" Knockout swiped the front bumper, sending Vince spiraling out of control. "And one less annoyance to worry about."
"Now for the main event!" Knockout sped for Bumblebee.
…
Bumblebee had Knockout in his rear view. High beams growing brighter and brighter each second. The Con was gaining frightfully fast. Bumblebee couldn't punch it any harder with how sharp the turns were. He could tip and Jack could get hurt. Bumblebee beeped animatedly, desperately trying to warn Jack.
"What's that, Bee?" Jack instinctively looked back. What he wouldn't give to have Rafael with him right about now. He'd know what exactly Bumblebee was trying to warn him about. The cause for Bumblebee's worry was closing fast. "Wait...I know that car." From the museum. It was one of the Cons Selena was with. "Do you think-?" 'Swing a little more on the devil's dance floor!' Jack's phone rang. The adrenaline made him answer without looking at the caller ID. "H-Hello?"
"Still wanna race, Jack?" Selena's crooning made him pause. It was like a horrible dream. Bumblebee beeped angrily, going ignored by Selena. "Just to warn you, I PLAY FOR KEEPS!" The call ended.
"SELENA!" Too late. She hung up. Jack gaped at his phone, scared to think about what she meant by that. "Tell me you're getting that same horrible feeling." There was a single beep. "Thought so."
…
Selena transformed her phone, clipping the scouter to her ear. "Goodbye racing," She raised open palms, summoning balls of energy to the palms, "Hello demolition derby!" She threw one hand out.
…
A burst jostled Bumblebee's back tire, jerking him off course briefly. "WHAT THE HECK!" Jack cursed. There was another burst. Bumblebee bounced off a wall, painfully nudged back on course. "UGH! SELENA! IS SHE TRYING TO KILL US?" Selena cackled, throwing her hands wildly. "On second thought, I really don't wanna-WHOA!" Bumblebee bobbed and weaved to the best of his abilities. Only narrowly did the bursts miss. The tight space and sharp turns restricted his movements. He needed a new strategy. Bumblebee screeched in a turn, riding the slope halfway. He whipped his hind back around in the sharpest U-Turn, punched the gas and drove for Knockout head on. Headlights revealing Jack and Selena behind tinted windows. "BEEE!" Jack cowered behind his arms.
"WHAAHH!" Selena and Knockout screamed cringing. Vince, only yards behind, panicked and closed his eyes.
Bumblebee veered right, driving the slope and ditching Knockout. Selena and Vince were left wide eyed and confused. "WOO-HOO!" Jack cheered.
"Well that was clever." Knockout grumbled.
"GRR! THAT'S IT!" Selena opened the window. She sat on the sill and jumped.
Vince was dumbstruck when a girl flew right by and flew off like superman. "The Hell was that!" Vince shrieked. Knockout drove right by while he was distracted. Vince, refusing to be made a fool of, pulled off a daring U-Turn and went after the competition. "No WAY am I being left in the dust like this! NOT BY YOU, DARBY!"
…
"YEAH, BEE!" Jack hooted out of breath. Bumblebee shared in the praise, loving that move. "That was some fancy-" Bumblebee's rear bumper was lifted off the ground. Jack's face hit the wheel. The fore wheels rolled on the pavement, the bumper scraping here and there. Jack, to his utter horror, looked back to see an enraged - eyes glowing - Selena rocketing after them. "Hang on, Bee! I think-WAAA!" The whole car was sent flying in a flip. The seat belt restrained Jack as tight as they could. Thankfully Bumblebee landed on his wheels, staggering as he got back on track. "SELENA! Is she crazy? Don't answer that!" Jack warned. On the radio screen, digital eyes rolled at Jack.
"I warned you I play for keeps, Jack!" Selena came in on Bumblebee's radio link. He's never been so scared.
…
"You wanted a race! You're getting one!" Selena hissed in the mouth piece. She curled two tight fists. It'd be too easy demolishing Bumblebee. She flailing her hands. Three more bursts hit Bumblebee's back wheels. He weaved around them. He picked up the speed, hoping to rattle her aim in the upcoming turn. Selena drew both hands back and thrust them. A huge push sent the hind swinging up the slanted wall. Bumblebee spun his steering wheel hard, driving sideways and escaping flying out of the ravine. Several more bursts chased the out of control hind tires. Unable to straighten, Bumblebee drove across the wall eventually making the straightaway.
"WOO!" Jack cheered.
"Keep cheering, Jack!" Selena hissed.
HONK! HONK! "Get in! I'll drive!" Knockout caught up. Selena grabbed the window and sat in the driver's seat. Tired of the uneven ground, Bumblebee threw his engine into overdrive. He reared right on a left turn, launching off the slope and onto the main road. "HANG ON!" Knockout went into overdrive. Selena braced herself. He reared right on a left. He launched into the air. Selena's stomach went up with him. When he hit the ground, an overwhelming urge to puke brought a hand to cover her mouth. She lurched over the middle, becoming dizzy. "No expelling fluids! Just cleaned my interior!"
"No...promises…" Her face turned green. Knockout unsheathed blasters on sides and fired relentlessly.
…
"Okay, Bee! You win! Selena is now off limits!" Jack conceded. This was a losing battle from the start and he knew it. He just couldn't accept it. "Get us out of here!" Bumblebee beeped in response. "Oh I sure hope that's a yes, because I don't want to call the base for backup!" Arcee would kill him if she found out he joined a race to see Selena.
…
Miko and Rafael distracted themselves a majority of the night with video games. Ironic they were playing a racing game when they practically lived with lean, mean, racing machines. The appeal was too great the resist. Bulkhead watched them play like madmen, bumping and crashing into each other to win first prize. He'd play, only the controller was a little small.
Then Arcee strolled in and ruined the moment. "Anyone seen Jack?" The game was brought to a grinding pause. The two exhcnaged nervous glances. They didn't plan for Arcee to actually ask where Jack was.
"Not since...we last saw him." Miko smiled innocently.
Arcee gave her a glare. She noticed Bumblebee was missing too. "They're racing, aren't they?"
"Just this once." Rafael added nervously.
"Did you know about this?" She snapped at Bulkhead.
"NO! Maybe. A little." Arcee groaned irritably.
"Before you get mad, it was for a good reason." Miko expalined.
"Impressign a girl is not a good reason!"
"It wasn't to impress Sierra!" Rafael interjected. "Selena was going ot be there."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Arcee boomed. She flashed another glare at Bulkhead.
"Don't look at me! If I knew that part, I'd never have let Jack or Bee leave!" Arcee had to believe him. Selena warned them to keep the kids back. "How could you guys let them go? And how did you know Selena would be at the race?"
"We didn't. Jack sort of...texted her." Arcee and Bulkhead were smacked by infuriated awe every step of the way. Rafael brought up the accident photos from the highway, zooming in on the busted rims. "After seeing this, we figured she liked racing...so…"
"SO she killed the owners of those rims!" Arcee hissed. "What would possess you three to do something so stupid as to text Selena where you'd be?"
"WE WOULDN'T EXPECT YOU TO UNDERSTAND!" Miko barked back.
"Try me!"
"We wanted to hear, from her, why she's been ignoring us! You guys won't tell us anything! So how else are we supposed to learn why our best friend hates us?"
Arcee and Bulkhead backed off at that logic. Somewhere pigs were flying. Miko made a point. Anytime the kids asked why Selena was avoiding them, the Bots cleverly changed the subject. It worried them if Miko, Jack, and Rafael learned Selena demanded they keep the kids back, it would only drive them to go after her. They wound up going after her anyway.
"She doens't hate you." Bulkhead admitted, starting Arcee. She didn't stop him. "She's worried for you."
"What do you mean worried?" Rafael's voice waned. "Do you know why Selena abandoned us?" Before either bot could answer, Bumblebee radioed in on the communication's array. He went in a frenzy summarizing what was happening when, where and why. "You're being chased by...Knockout?" Bumblebee was nervous to do so, but he added one more key piece of information. It made Rafael's heart want to burst. "SELENA'S ATTACKING YOU? WHILE JACK'S INSIDE?"
"Doesn't she know he's inside?" Miko panicked. Bumblebee replied to her in beeps.
"Bee said...Selena knows...but doesn't care." He sank in the couch. "She doesn't care."
"BEE! DO NOT ENGAGE!" Arcee ordered. "Your first priority is to keep Jack safe!"
"Arcee! Wait!" Rafael ran up to her.
"You can't come Raf!"
"I know. Just...please...tell us why when you get back."
Arcee clenched her lips. Then she sighed in defeat. "When we get back. Let's roll, Bulk!"
…
Knockout was hot on Bumblebee's tail. The blasters shot at rocks and electrical towers, tripping him up as he desperately tried to escape. A victory like this shouldn't be savored alone. "Your stomach back yet?"
Dizzy swirls replaced the green of her cheeks. "10-4…" Selena gurgled. The world was spinning. "Sort of." Three blurry Bumblebee's were oscillating each other, then final focused on the one. "Oh yeah. That's better." She prepared to attack. Bumblebee was just a stone's toss away.
"Then I must know if you believe in turnabout play?" Knockout cackled.
"Of course!" Selena held her fingers together and swiped the air. Bumblebee was plowed off the road, sent tumbling on the harsh desert terrain. "Racing let's see you out run us now."
…
Jack fought to keep himself braced in the violent tumbling. He squeezed his eyes closed, screaming in his mind for everything to stop. He's glad the seatbelt never tore. When Bumblebee came to a skidding halt, he let a hiss expel from his exhaust pipe as he rested on his top. Jack let out a groan as well.
"Is it over?" Bumblebee transformed out of vehicle mode, letting Jack out for a breath of fresh air. Jack collapsed on his knees, letting feeling return to his tapped Jack's back, looking with worried eyes. "I'm fine, Bumblebee. I'm fine!" He coughed, regaining his wind. "I just hope Arcee and the others get here soon."
"Not soon enough!" Knockout connected a punch to Bumblebee's grill, crushing him into a boulder. "I'd hate for our fun to be spoiled!" Knockout drove two more punches, an uppercut, then finished Bumblebee off with a spinning kick. The muscle car bounced across the dirt, crashing into a tower. "I do so hate a finish more flashy than my own." Knockout sniggered, stalking Bumblebee.
"Bumblebee!" Jack moved for him. A hand yanked him by the bicep, bringing him to meet a smirking Selena. "You!"
"Be careful, Jack. I'd hate for Arcee to crumble at the loss of two partners." She crooned. Jack whirled around with a punch. Selena caught it effortlessly. The hatred in his eyes only widened her smile. "Methinks several nerves are struck sourly."
"SOUR?! Are you really clueless about what you've done?" Jack pressed harder, no match for her alien strength.
"Actually no." She pushed him back. "But for chuckles…" She tossed her hat aside, shifting to a fighting stance, "Remind me!"
Jack charged, throwing an amateurish punch. "You ignore us!" Selena stepped to the side. Jack recovered with a right elbow she caught effortlessly. "You desert us!" He rounded a left hook she guided past her, letting him stumble. "Then out of nowhere you try to kill me! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?" He threw wild, out of control punches. He went for Selena's face, stomach - anywhere he could hurt her. Selena saw the rage in his eyes that drove him to fight. "WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE...LIKE...like you hate us!"
Selena caught a punch by the wrist, then grasped sharply to Jack's neck. "Unable to take hints and hard of hearing. I thought I made it clear I played for keeps." Selena mocked indifferently. She pulled him closer, forcing the tips of their noses to touch. "And I had hoped my ignoring Miko's calls set the bar!"
"Well it didn't!" Jack struggled to get free. Where did her strength come from? "So why don't you gather some courage and explain it clearly?" He dared.
Selena was taken aback. She'd thought he'd be less surprised. Surely the bots told them she wanted them to keep away. Didn't they? Selena's eyes widened. She released Jack, completely stunned. This wasn't simple lack of common sense. "They didn't tell you."
"Tell me what?"
Selena grit her teeth. "I told the bots to keep you three away from me!"
"But why?" Jack's expression confirmed her suspicion. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?" Jack howled. Not the best time for questions, but it was likely going to be the only time. "What did we ever do to you?"
Selena wasn't too bothered by it. Miko would have ripped the world apart to find her again. At the same time it was a great annoyance to not have them learn. And how will they learn without a little harsh direction. "What part of 'I don't explain myself to humans,' do you not comprehend?"
"I know what you said! But after everything you've put us through, you owe us that much!"
It killed her how right he was. It hurt even worse that she pushed away such dear friend. Tarnished good kids. Unfortunately it had to be done. "Fine! You wanna know why?" She lifted him by the collar, boring glowing eyes into the pits of his soul. "Because I'm sick of you brats hugging my hip!" She threw him away.
Jack sat in the dirt, utterly devastated. "What do you mean?" His whole body went limp.
"It's time to face facts, Jack! My hatred for the Bots outweighs any love I have for your three! Conflicting friendships never last!" The Bots haven't told them. She needed to make it clear now. "If not by me, the Cons will kill you three just to clear the way! I won't be held responsible! Nor will I felt guilty because of the warnings."
"Just...please...answer two more questions…" His voice cracked on every word. The cracks in his heart were shattering, drawing tears to his eyes. Selena nodded. "Was it all fake? Our friendship. And...are the Cons making you do this?"
Selena closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. "No. And no." It was a bittersweet moment for Jack. "No one can make me do what I don't want to Jack." She grabbed a badge and flicked it out, summoning her chakram. Jack gasped, flinching. "And If I have to pound the reality into your head, I will!" Jack cowered behind his arms. Selena drew her arm back. "Please someone stop me..." Jack lowered the guard at whisper.
"LOOK OUT!" Heads snapped left. Knockout came barreling into Selena. She was smashed between him and a rock place. Bumblebee boastfully dusted his hands. Knockout collapsed first, then the crushed Selena on top of him. They let out dismal groans. "Sorry…"
"Selena...HEY!" Bumblebee scooped up Jack. Changing into vehicle mode Bumblebee tossed Jack in the drivers seat and sped down the highway.
Knockout pushed up on his elbows, watching angrily as their quarry widened the distance. "Have I mentioned yet how annoyed I am with today?" He groaned.
"I don't think so." Selena peeled her face off the paint. She scratched off a few flakes. Then she cringed fretfully. Maybe she won't mention the imprint she left in his paintjob. Nice likeness. Having both cheeks struck will be a pain. Please, Breakdown, buff that out. The red of Bumblebee's lights could still be seen. They weren't too far ahead. "Care to go after them?"
"BY...ALL...MEANS!" Knockout crawled to his feet. Selena summoned her. He sprang forward, transforming into vehicle mode around Selena, and sped after Bumblebee.
Jack and Bumblebee panicked by how quickly Knockout caught up to them. Bumblebee threw his engine into overdrive. Only gaining a brief lead before Knockout came within 10 feet. Clearly losing ground, Bumblebee opened a port and let loose greasy slick on the pavement. Knockout drove right into it. Instantly his wheels lost traction, steering out of control. He growled heatedly, fighting to regain control. The spinning only worsened Selena's stomach. She threw her head out the window. She felt her lunch coming. Knockout would slap her if she soiled the upholstery.
"Slick! Nice one, Bee." Jack snickered.
Knockout screeched to a halt, left in the darkness of the dust. Selena was out of commission, hanging halfway out his window. "I surrender…" She finally released her lunch on the street.
"NO TIME FOR THAT!" Knockout put mettle to the pedal. Left over slick wiped on the pavement, letting Knockout take off. Selena sank in the seat, dizzy with nausea.
…
Bumblebee made a sharp left, diving into the racing ravine. Downing his headlights he ducked under a bridge, quieting the engine. Knockout came driving overhead only seconds later. The speed the Con possessed was nothing short of terrifying. Jack and Bumblebee dared not to so much as breathe as Knockout put it in park. The purr of his engine rattled the nerves. A jungle cat and cub snarling as they waited for their prey to arise from hiding. A game of patience and intimidation.
Knockout and Selena did not see the Autobot and human. But their lead wasn't so great they could have disappeared. They were hiding. Selena put a finger to her lips, asking Knockout to stay quiet. She slithered out the window, hovering with her legs folded. She gave him a firm nod. Knockout's tires screeched as he sped off. Selena drifted down to the street and waited. They couldn't hide forever.
"I think we lost them, Bee." Jack sighed with relief. 'Please someone stop me.' Selena's words rang in his mind. "Why would she ask to be stopped?" That question had to wait. A sickeningly familiar set of headlights closed in. "Oh you've gotta be kidding me!"
Selena raised a perplexed brow. She saw the car coming too. The hard slammed brakes screeched the tires. And out came the Big Bad Blowhard Vince. "DARBY…!" He growled, pounding a fist in his palm. Selena smirked, glancing to the pavement. Trolls under a bridge. Knockout in the distance was heard coming to a halt too. He threw it in silent reverse. Selena wriggled her fingers. Smoothly the first bridge railing came unhinged.
"VINCE! You have to get out of here!" Jack pleaded. If the hothead only knew the danger he was in. "You win, alright! Now just go!"
"Nuh-uh! Start it up again, loser!" Vince planted his fists to Bumblebee's hood, glaring Jack down. "We're finishing this! Right here! Right now!" He let out a scream. Like a snake the railing constricted Vince shoulder to waist, reeling him in like a caught fish.
"VINCE!" Jack jumped out of Bumblebee.
Vince was hung upside down, meeting the female racer with the glowing eyes. Only her eyes weren't glowing this time. "For once, Vince, I agree with you." Selena chortled.
"Hey! I-I remember you!" Vince stammered in fright. "You trashed those three prep brats."
"Nice to be remembered by the second biggest blowhard." Vince would retort only he was too scared, and confused by the metal railing.
"Put him down, Selena!" Jack demanded from below. "He's got nothing to do with this!"
"While that's true, Jack, I've never held any sort of love for this moron." She had the railing shake him like a bell. "Besides he scratched up my bike freshman year. You know how testy I am about my bike."
"Selena, please! Don't kill innocent humans!"
"I don't plan to." Knockout pulled up just in time. "Can't say the same for him." Vince was flabbergasted. That was Selena's car. Who was driving? Selena tossed Vince in the passenger seat. The seatbelts restrained him good. A prob came from the glove compartment and zapped him in the eyes, rendering him unconscious. "Later, Jackie!" Selena swung through the window, and Knockout took off. Jack tried to chase him down, but Knockout was already gone.
…
"Breakdown, you'll never guess what we're packing." Knockout teased. "Bumblebee's human friend!" He'd been basking in his own glory for the duration of the drive while Selena caught a quick catnap. Listening to him take glory for a false capture. Wonder what he'd do if he knew this wasn't Raf. She inwardly laughed. "And when the Autobot attempts to stage a rescue…"
"He has a breakdown!" Breakdown cackled at the lame pun. "Selena. You sure you're okay wiht this?"
"Shh!" Knockout double checked Selena was still asleep. He exhaled in relief. "She's resting. Long day." Breakdown audibly covered his mouth. "She's the one that captured the human." He whispered. The silence on the other end confirmed Breakdown's surprise. "Send word to Soundwave. She's serious about cutting ties with the Autobot humans."
"Will do." The call ended. Selena twitched her ear. About time.
…
Jack was in hot water now. Not only was he stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bot he can't understand, but now he's stuck i nthe middle of nowhere after a race he shouldn't have entered in the first place. And to make things worse, a human who had no business being part of the mess was literally dragged into it. If he'd just said no to Vince from the get go he'd be safe at home, laughing himself to sleep at beating Jack. He'd live with that. He'd be the laughing stock of the school. But at least Vince wouldn't be hurt. And Selena. Holding no love for certain humans guarantees he'll be hurt.
"He's getting away!" Jack hissed at Bumblebee. The Bot only beeped in understanding. Jack was too steamed to tolerate the bleeps. "I CAN'T...understand you! I'm not Raf! Can't you just honk once for bad news, twice for good news?" Honk-Honk...HONK! Three honks? That only meant one thing. Jack peered across the bridge. Yep. Arcee and Bulkhead showed up. All three bots went into robot mode, glaring Jack down in disapointment.
"Jack, we need to have a little chat." Arcee scolded with hands on her hips.
"Later, Arcee! Vince got snatched by that slick, sports car Con!"
"You mean by Selena and Knockout, right?"
Jack stuttered over the impending doom Vince was in. "I see Raf and Miko told you. But, hey, you can't be mad at me for that one! If you'd have just told us Selena wanted you to keep us back, we'd have put two and two together!" All three bots raised skeptical brows. "Miko, maybe not. But Raf and I would. And none of this matters! Selena and Knockout nabbed Vince."
"What would they want with a random human?"
"Knockout must think Vince is Bumblebee's human friend. Selena…" He shook his head. He couldn't understand wanting to hurt Vince. The whole bike thing sounded farfetched, even for her. She only attacks humans who attack her. Previous race excursions aside. "Hold on…" 'I've never held any love for this moron.' 'If not by me, the Con will kill you.' "She did it for me."
"What do you mean?" Bulkhead asked.
"Selena said two things. One: The Cons would hurt me, Raf, and Miko. Two: she holds no love for Vince." He took a breath, losing it in the rush. "Selena's not being threatened, and she's not being coerced. She's being protective. She nabbed Vince so I wouldn't be snatched."
"Hmph. Again Optimus is spot on." Bulkhead hooted. "The kid really cares."
"That doesn't change the fact that Vince is still in trouble! Jerk or not, the guy is innocent! And…" He rubbed the back of his neck guiltily, "He wouldn't be in this mess if I'd just said no." Arcee saw Jack was sincere in his desire to save Vince. Humans always learn lessons the hard way. So long as he learned.
Arce shifted into vehicle mode. "Hop on."
…
Miko and Raf were huddled near the com, anxiously waiting for Jack and the others to contact them with the good news. They've been waiting for over an hour.
"They should've called by now!" Rafael stressed. "Do you think Bumblebee's okay?"
"Relax, Raf. Bulkhead won't let anything happen to Jack or Bee."
"I doubt Selena will make it easy." He groaned dismally. Miko was stunned.
"What! You don't think she'd hurt Jack, do you?"
"She's killed humans who have gotten in her way before! What's to say she won't-" Miko slapped him across the face. Rafael gaped at her hurt, holding the cheek.
"Selena won't hurt Jack! She'd never hurt him!" She roared. "She's our friend!" Raf wasn't so sure anymore. The stinging in his cheek died when he steadily believed Selena hated them.
To the two teens dismay, Optimus came trudging in. Once again an excuse to the base being empty eluded them. "We should just tell Optimus the truth." Rafael whispered, really wanting a plan to pop in his head.
"Abolsutely not! We made a deal! Just act completely normal!" Normal how?
"Raf. Miko." The two put on their most innocent - contorted - smiles. "Do either of you know where the others have gone?"
"Why no, sir, we do not know." Miko recited robotically.
"Miko is correct. We do not know."
"Why would we know?" Optimus's raise of brow proved he didn't buy their answer for a second.
…
Knockout's trail led the bots back into town. He'd sought refuge in the old storagehouse district. Populate diners and motels broke off three blocks back. After an incident during the Rat Pack Era, the whole yard was condemned and left to rot in the years. Only adding the that ominous, eerie feeling the Bots and Jack were waltzing right into a trap. Jack kept a close eye on the passing by scenery. Cars were known to drive through. But none of them come close to looking like Knockout.
A red light halted their advance. A pair of headlights lit up the street, and Knockout zoomed right by. Jack gawked, happy to see Knockout hadn't ditched them. "HEADS UP!" Jack looked up. A boot stepped on the faceplate of the helmet and kicked off. Jack shook it off in time to see Selena roof hopping after Knockout.
"GO! GO! GO!" The Autobots chased him down.
Selena caught up and perched on Knockout's hood. "Bumblebee brought company!" Knockout adjusted the mirror to see three Autobots in pursuit. As he made a sharp right turn, Selena threw her hands forward. Four cars went flying. The Autobots scattered like flies, evading the crashing cars, then regrouped.
"On your guard, boys. Could be a trap." Arcee warned. They slowed their speed. "Remember, Selena may have trouble with moving target, but there's enough metal here for her to compensate. And don't rule out backup."
"Remember, no shooting." Jack pleaded. Bumblebee and Bulkhead got the hint and took the lead. Meanwhile Arcee pulled over to let Jack off.
"Speaking of safety, here's where you get off." Selena wants the kids safe? The safest Jack is right now is to be far from where a fight will take place. Jack gave no argument. He hopped off and watched proudly as Arcee joined in the hunt.
…
Melted fencing told Bulkhead and Bumblebee they were on the right trail. Might as well be a giant welcome mat for a trap. Blasters ready they crossed into the realm of no return. In the distance Arcee scaled to the top of a water tower, keeping a bird's eye view on her boys in case of trouble. No sign of Knockout or Selena meant big trouble. The foreboding silence heightened that fear.
Bulkhead was trained to the lot ahead, spying every car that came within spitting distance. Bumblebee was primed and ready to fire, keeping blasters aimed for their exposed six. The slightest creek of metal made them flinch. Suddenly a pair of high beams grabbed their full attention. Then three cars drove up behind, blocking the exit. Bulkhead and Bumblebee paused. A blaster shot crumbled a building wall.
Breakdown came charged through the dust and drilled a downward punch. Bulkhead and Bumblebee leapt from danger. The fist striking the ground. The three cars levitated, revealing a glowing Selena, and they were launched. Bulkhead jumped and rolled out of the way. Bumblebee hand sprang back, regaining his stance. Breakdown connected a powerful suckerpunch. Then Bulkhead came around and landed two mean punches. Breakdown countered with a swift uppercut. The whole ground quaked as the gladiators duked it out. Vince, still unconscious, was rocked in the chaos.
Selena cartwheeled and landed on top of a car. She spun the other two about face, trapping Bumblebee in a triangle. He raised his fists. Daring her with a curl of his appendage. Selena accepted. She swiped her arms crisscross. The other two cars darted. Bumblebee dove, cars crossing over him, and rolled to his feet. Selena rode the third launched car. Bumblebee punched the hood, catapulting Selena. She twisted in the air, raising her hands and swiping them down on the landing. While Bumblebee focused on her, the other two cars came crashing down on him from on high. Selena mangled the thrid car in a spike and aimed for his head.
Energon bolts blasted the spike, then the two cars pinning Bumblebee. Bulkhead charged and slammed both wrecking balls. Selena sprang in the air just as they ruptured the ground. She landed on the balls drawing her chakrams, ran up Bulkhead's arms and dealt a flat foot in his face. Breakdown ricocheted him with a punch in the back. Selena went after Bulkhead. Bumblebee fired on the Wrecker Con. His bolts bouncing off. Breakdown turned on him. Bumblebee evaded a wild punch. Selena and Bulkhead connected and parried each other's punches.
As Knockout watched and savored the carnage, keeping their hostage safe, there was a nagging feeling he had forgotten someone. Arcee. "Where's the two-wheeler?" Arcee landed right on top of him. He plowed a devastating punch on his hood. "HEY! WATCH THE PAINT!" Knockout took off, leaving Selena and Breakdown to handle the unwelcomed guests. Arcee balanced on him as he tried to shake her off.
…
Jack was still waiting outside the fight, growing anxious by the blasts and crashes in the distance. Shrieking tires brought him back to reality. Arcee was riding Knockout, pounding away at him. He whipped in a turn, tossing her off. She folded into her motorcycle form and kept on his tail.
"That's mah girl!" Jack congratulated.
…
Selena met one more of Bulkhead's punches. Shocking pain split her arm. Bulkhead grabbed her and smashed her in the pavement. He hammered a few blows, burying her in an imprint in the ground. She groaned dazedly, out of commission again. Secretly Bulkhead was glad she was tough skinned otherwise his wrecking balls would be messy.
Breakdown whipped Bumblebee by the wrist, smashing him into cars, lamps, building beams, and the ground. Bumblebee beeped weakly, asking Breakdown, "You give up...yet?" One more smash Knockout his processor loose. Breakdown dangled a lifeless Bumblebee by the wrist. The bug stirred and popped two shots in his side. He dug his heels, charged for the staggering Con. Two punches to the chest and head, then ended with a backflip kick in the chin. Bulkhead held it then drove a punch right in the disoriented Con's face.
Selena peeled from the ground, shaking the stars off. She wiped away fresh blood. She opened her glowing eyes, growling venomously. She spread her palm flat and smacked the ground. A shockwave traveled the lot's lamps. Bulkhead raised both wreck balls over Breakdown's head. Three lamps restrained those balls, yanking him in the air. Selena flew and dealt, in kind to the punches, several kicks and finished the Wrecker Bot with a two handed pulse, sending him crashing through two buildings.
Breakdown, gathering his thoughts, went after Bumblebee with two hands clamped over his head. He brought them down. Bumblebee jumped to the side. Breakdown chased him with a second, missing again. Then he surprised Bumblebee with a swift back fist in the chest. The Auotbot skipped to a sliding halt. Selena and Breakdown regrouped, staggering in exhaustion. Were either by themselves it'd be easier. Selena was still disoriented by the nausea. As if that was all that was bothering her.
"Uhh Breakdown. Selena. In case you're looking for me, things got messy so I hit the road." Knockout announced casually over the comlink. "One scrape is enough for today."
"Well thanks for nothing!" Selena snarled. "Worst date ever."
"You were on a date?"
"So to speak." The lights flickered on and off. Breakdown and Selena turned. Bulkhead wrenched a lamp right out of the ground. He swung. Selena launched in the air. Breakdown gawked. The lamp sent him high flying into the next warehouse. Selena spat. She circled a hand. The lmap constricted Bulkhead, dropping him like a log. "Again. A bust." She pressed a button, extending the scouter screen. Knockout was two miles out. Arcee right behind him. And another who came out of nowhere. "Soundwave. Lock onto Breakdown's location and beam him out. I'm getting Knockout and we're calling it a night."
…
Knockout peeled the pavement speeding at dangerous proportions. Arcee was hot on his tail, never losing sight for a second. Getting closer, closer...closer. Knockout put on the gas and a huge gap jumped between him and Arcee. She growled in defeat, but didn't stop chasing.
"Eat my dust!" Knockout mocked.
"You've got company!" Selena shouted.
"Where?" Two honks blared on the other side of a rock side. From literally nowhere Optimus in truck form came driving alongside Knockout. "Oh." Optimus, full throttle, rammed into him. At his speed Knockout lost control, spinning until he was stuck halfway in a ditch. He revved his wheels in reverse and forward. He couldn't gain traction. He was stuck.
Optimus changed into robot mode, strutting cautiously over to the stuck Con. "Optimus. Knockout has a hostage." Arcee warned over the com.
"Understood." Optimus picked Knockout up by the back bumper. He identified Vince. The boy was unconscious but unharmed. He ripped Knockout's door right off, earning an agonized scream. Optimus retrieved Vince, accomplishing a long drawn out mission.
Knockout wriggled and transformed, escaping Optimus's grip. He stroked the de-paneled arm, horrified by the brutish removal of his personal property. "Do you know how hard that is to replace?" He snarled.
"Not as hard as a full body job!" Selena floated in, riding Knockout's door like a carpet. She pointed to the road. Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee arrived on scene. Knockout doubted their odds of winning. "Ready to call it quits, yet?" She thrust a thumb back. A ground bridge portal opened behind her. "Our ride is here."
"No arguments!" Knockout scrambled and dove through the portal.
Selena rolled her eyes. When the other Autobots arrived on scene, Jack peered out Bumblebee's window, eyeing Selena sadly. He knew what came next after she walks through that portal. He exited Bumblebee, wanting Selena to see entirely that he was prepared. It warmed and broke her heart. "He was spared by a miracle chance, Optimus. Do not take it for granted."
"Understood. You have our thanks all the same."
"Don't thank me. Thank Knockout for not knowing Jack, Miko, or Raf's faces. This could have been worse."
"Agreed. You have our thanks, all the same." Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee were relieved themselves. However, after this, Selena may not be so kind.
Selena bowed her head. Before exiting she met Jack's gaze one last time. It was worse than friends saying goodbye. It was a promise of a wall forever keeping them apart. "It was never fake." Jack's eyes widened. "It still isn't." Without another word she rode the door into the portal. It closed behind her, severing Jack's link to a good friend.
"Goodbye." He croaked. Optimus spared him the horror of how much trouble he was in. For now, he'd allow the boy time. His team, however, was in hot oil.
…
"KNOCKOUT! WAS I NOT CLEAR?" Starscream stormed the bridge, fuming at Knockout's constant defiance. "YOU have defied my orders yet again! And now you drag Selena into your mess!"
"My mistake, Commander Starscream." Knockout didn't notice he stepped on a landmine for the last time. "But I've learned my lesson. And...paid the price."
"IT-IS-LOORRD!" He bellowed in Knockout's face. "And you have paid when I say you have paid." He etenxed a daunting talon. "Do not worry. Your punishment shall be merely...cosmetic." The tip gleamed sharply.
…
"Here you go." Selena handed the door to the medical Cons. They analyzed it carefully. Considering it had been ripped off the hinges, it was in remarkable shape. "Will you be able to fix him?"
"Bring him here and it'll be fixed before ya know it." The Con guaranteed.
"Great!" Selena dashed from the medical bay, heading for the bridge. "Hope Starscream isn't laying into him too harshly." She barely came up on the bridge door when she heard voices.
"No. Not the finish! Anything but the finish!" Knockout was pleading for his life. Selena pressed her ear to the door, trying to hear. "NOOOO…!" An ear piercing screech followed by a horrified scream rattled her to the ground.
Selena timidly opened the door. Her jaw hit the ground. Knockout was on the ground with a huge scratch trailing his chassis. Selena hovered over him, concerned by the despairing moans. She looked at Starscream. He was picking red flakes from his talon. "Umm...they're waiting for him in the medical bay." Probably not the best idea to mention they can fix one problem when he's been violated twice. Breakdown tossed Knockout over his shoulder and made a hasty exit. "Soo...bad day?" She laughed nervously. Starscream gave her a glare. She went stiff. "Yeah. I'll just…" She inched back. Starscream pinched her foot, pulling her close. He turned her, getting a good look at the healing wound on her cheek. "What is it?"
"Nothing." He let her go. Reaching behind his back, he revealed of bottle of peroxide. "Clean that before it is infected. I shall deal with your defiance later." He gave her the bottle then turned his back.
Selena was surprised he went through the trouble of getting it. She honestly expected him to hit her again. "Does this mean...we're...good?" She added the last were carefully. Starscream said nothing. Not so much as a glance back. Selena didn't knock it. "Thanks, Scream." She left him alone.
He released a somber sigh, smiling tenderly. "You are welcome."
Next chapter is up. It should look familiar.
