"Won't there be a... slight disadvantage?" The Prime asked.
The dragon understood what Optimus meant: "Oh, yeah...You would stick out like a sore thumb; if you don't put much effort into your hiding methods." She explained
The bot cocked his head in confusion.
"I mean; you fooled me the first time!" Zucky chuckled.
It took Optimus a moment, but he understood she was talking about how Miko, Bulkhead and the rest disguised him as an old abandoned shack. "I had...assistance...and I would rather not have to pick out twigs from between my joints again. It is very uncomfortable."
"I didn't say you'd have to cover yourself in mud and plant material..." Zucky said.
She now worried Prime didn't know how to have fun at all; But if the unusual cube and Prime's knowledge of its corresponding game taught her anything...
"Lemme start first! You cover your optics and count to ten slowly...When you're done, you can open them again and remember to say: 'Ready or not, here I come!' After that you can try finding me. I won't go very far, I promise!"
Optimus still didn't trust it.
"Okay, if it makes you feel better, I'm going to hide...somewhere over there." The dragon pointed at an area in the woods with plenty of bushes. "If after five minutes you haven't found me yet, I'll reveal where I've been hiding, okay?"
Prime gave it a thought and chalked it up to research on human behaviour. "Very well."He answered as he then covered his optics and started counting.
Zucky ecstatically ran for the bushes before she quickly picked out a spot, hid and waited.
"Ready or not, here I...come." When Prime was done, he looked over to the area Zucky pointed out before and walked up to the bushes to start carefully pushing some of the branches aside and checking them one by one.
The dragon tried very hard not to laugh when the bot seemed to be searching the closest bushes, but not the one she was in, and it was getting close to the five minute mark, so she had to jump out soon anyway.
Optimus noticed one of the bushes move a bit, but he was unsure if it was because he accidentally touched it, or it might have been Zucky who moved. But just as he was about to reach for it, she jumped out! "Here I am!" She called out with her arms outstretched as if she was trying to scare him.
Optimus obviously didn't get scared, it did catch him off guard.
"You almost had me!" Zucky chuckled as she climbed out of the shrubbery.
"Indeed." Optimus agreed.
"And now it's your turn to hide."The dragon pointed at him.
The Prime still looked unsure of how he was going to accomplish that in these surroundings.
"Look, the main point is to have fun. I'll even count for longer this time, let's say...30? I'll count really slow, so you have enough time to pick a good spot." The dragon explained. "
"Won't you be exposed to danger?" Optimus worried.
"Prime...I'm 27! I wouldn't have survived this long, if I didn't learn how to fend for myself, you know?!" Zucky whined. "And I know you're worried about the cons, and whatever their deal is with me; but if I see any bots or vehicles I do not trust, you'll be the first to know."
"Now get to hiding already! Daylight doesn't last forever, you know!" She impatiently started attempting to shove his Ankle guard to get him moving, but obviously failing at it miserably.
This reminded the bot of his old friend Ratchet, which made him smile because she really did look like a tiny Ratchet at the moment. "Affirmative." He answered and started walking away in a random direction.
Zucky, who was still shoving, fell over when the leg started moving and when she looked up, Prime turned around and said: "Do not peek." As he wagged his digit at her.
The dragon chuckled and ran into the opposite direction to start counting with her head leaned on her crossed arms on the tree; she did so out loud, so Prime could be aware of her location and if she was okay or not.
Meanwhile...
After several hours out on the road, kicked out of several car washes (Don't ask me how XD) and having course, rough particles making their way into places the sun refuses to shine; Knockout has had just about enough of this meatbag-infested mudball of a planet and veered off the asphalt, looking for a hidden spot away from society where he could just be left alone for once!
Once he found a spot, he vented deeply and wanted to slip into recharge, when he heard someone counting.
["Primus have mercy on my spark, I beseech thee!"} He internally cried. {"These meatbuckets are everywhere!"]
It was slow and meticulous...but what for? He listened closely and for a moment he could have sworn he heard that voice before.
["Wait a minute...can it be?"] Knockout followed the sound of the voice to its source but stayed at a distance. ["It is!"]
He found Zucky facing against a tree, eyes covered, all alone counting slowly for whatever reason. He remembered what his mission was, before he got kicked off the ship; He was to deliver this creature back to Megatron in one piece and alive at that! The Warlord wanted to learn the secrets behind how she can teleport the way she does, without the need of a groundbridge.
But therein lies the problem; he has to catch her first, and there is no way in this world or others that the Autobots would leave their pets all alone like this! He didn't see anyone, and he made sure to look around as thoroughly as possible, at least from his current position.
["Is this a trap? Did she escape? Why is she counting anyway?"] Loads of questions plagued his processor, but he couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to secure his quarry, even if he tried!
["Well, Knockout...it's now or never..."] He thought as he carefully tip-toed his way as silently as was possible for him to get just close enough to grab her.
With Zucky seemingly distracted, he slinked closer and closer and for some reason she was finding sudden amusement in something he wasn't too sure of. Did he just walk into a clever trap?! He carefully looked around but didn't see anyone still.
["What in the name of Vector Sigma is so funny all the sudden?!"] He thought.
"Optimus, you silly bot...You have to hide from me, remember? And no, standing right behind me doesn't count!" Zucky reprimanded whom she thought was Prime standing behind her.
Knockout's sparkbeat almost stopped when he heard her say 'Optimus'! His thoughts raced for a possible way out and he settled on transforming into his vehicle mode. At least this way she won't recognise him, and maybe if he's lucky enough, she won't freak out and start shrieking like last time.
"No, Transforming into your vehicle mode doesn't count either, because I already know it's you, Prime..." The dragon complained
"..." Knockout remained quiet.
"Did you hear me?" Zucky asked
"..." Nothing.
"Oh, come on...at least try your best to..." She turned around and didn't find Optimus, but a pretty beat up looking Aston Martin just sitting there, as it seemingly has appeared out of nowhere, but she knew better than to believe that.
By now she's gotten used to the sounds of Cybertronian transformation, and that paint job's been etched into her mind at this point, thanks to a certain mad doctor she knows and hates, even under all that rust, grime and Barnacle infested mess.
Zucky had since fallen silent and her breathing had quickened.
Meanwhile, Optimus was having a considerably hard time finding a good hiding spot. But after dwelling quite a distance away from where Zucky was counting, but still within audial-shot. He found a decent spot behind a big boulder surrounded by huge trees.
["This should suffice, I believe..."] He thought as he got into position and was about to transform when he heard Zucky stop counting and started talking to...him?
It was a one sided conversation from what he could hear, then silence...Followed by a very loud, very shrill shriek that pierced right through the forest!
"NO! No, No, NO! Why can't you just leave me alone already?! First you kidnap me, then you try to invade my mind, my dreams, you even took over and puppeteered my body...Now this?! What part of my last warning, did-you-not-un-der-stand?!"
"Oh, for the love of... SHUT UP WITH THAT SHRIEKING ALREADY!" The red car suddenly yelled as it transformed into a shadow of the once handsome shiny red robot.
"It's your fault I'm even here in the first place!" He fumed. "I did what you asked, did I not?!"
The car suddenly transformed and the bot stomping closer and looming over her, made her lose her footing from fright and fell backwards. She kept backpedaling away from him until she hit the tree.
"Wh-what do you mean?" She asked.
"YOU!" Knockout pointed at her with his sharp digit. "You did this to me!"
The dragon whined as she leaned away from the sharp tip that almost sliced her snout.
"You're lucky Megatron wants you alive and in one piece..." He snarled. "But as soon as he's done with you... So help me Unicron, I'm going to make you pay for this, you sorry piece of scrap! I will make sure of it."
"But what did I even do?!" Zucky implored for an answer.
The Decepticon snatched her from the ground at a dizzying speed, which caused her to cry out momentarily before she slapped her hands in front of her own mouth to stop herself from shrieking and risking angering the Con even further.
"You made a fool out of me, that's what! Keeping me from properly doing my job, making me hop from one place to the next as if I'm some sort of trained monkey?! I'm lucky Lord Megatron, didn't rip my armour off, before KICKING ME OFF THE SHIP!" The sheer volume of his outcry at such a close proximity, made Zucky wish she could cover her poor ears, but her arms were secured to her sides when he snatched her off the ground.
"But I don't remember trying to make you...*gasp*" The dragon couldn't wrap her mind around how she could have done those things, until she had an epiphany. "Unless...I must have accidentally done it."
"Oh please, do you think me a fool, Fleshling?! I remember clear as day, you left me with a warning and what sounded like you were going to attempt to make it clear I understood you the first time." Knockout growled.
As soon as Optimus heard the screaming, he transformed and rolled as fast as his threads could stand, but only made it when the decepticon already had Zucky in his servo. The Prime transformed back to bot mode and was about to tackle the con when. Knockout turned around and held his sawblade too close for comfort at the Fleshling's throat.
"Another step, and she's minced meat, Prime!" He threatened the Autobot.
Optimus skidded to a halt and switched his servo out for his blaster and took aim. "Release her Knockout."
"Oh, is she yours? And here I thought I was dealing with a stray..." The red bot sneered.
"A stray?!" Zucky growled.
"Shut up, you furry Meatbag!" Knockout clamped her mouth shut between two digits. The dragon tried wriggling free, muffled grunting and whining coming from her, but it was no use.
["You're so lucky your servo's are made of metal! Otherwise I so would have bitten you!"] She thought.
"Your war is with the Autobots, not the creatures of this planet... Release her." Optimus said as he started powering up his weapon. "I mean it."
"Go ahead, I really don't give a scrap anymore; If you shoot, you might kill me alright, but do you really want to risk hitting her as well?" Knockout lifted her up as a reminder with an acid laced smile on his faceplate. "And guess what? These things pop like zits when they're hit with energon blasts... I should know; I checked."
Zucky's ears drooped when she heard of the popping part, as she internally cursed her imagination for showing her the gory details of such an event.
"You're bluffing." Prime answered. "Megatron wants her alive."
"Oh, no I'm not... I'd rather die than go on, looking like this. I promised to make her pay for this, be it after Lord Megatron is done with her, or If I don't deliver on my mission and end up falling by your hands, but she's gonna pay somehow." Knockout growled. "In fact..how about I finish my last procedure, hmmm?"
Zucky's eyes widened when she saw him aim the sawblade at her neck. She was never able to get the image out of her head and it's all come crashing back down on her when she eyed the torture device.
Activating the saw blade, Knockout gave her one last look: "Dissection time!" He roared.
"No!" Prime shot at him, when he saw what the mad doctor was about to do.
The red bot was just about to slice the dragon's head off, when Zucky panicked and with adrenaline taking over, she gave one last desperate push as she screamed the short moment her mouth was free: "Let me GO!"
Suddenly Knockout felt he lost control of his actions again, going stiff and at the mercy of an invisible force. His arms flew open and his servo released the fleshling, tossing her a great distance!
The saw blade arm somehow managed to deflect Prime's blaster shot into a nearby tree, scorching the bark clean off! Luckily it didn't catch fire.
Zucky who was tossed, frantically tried flapping her wings to somewhat regain control midair, but couldn't quite manage it while tumbling. Prime caught her right in the nick of time before she hit the ground, and skidded himself across the forest floor, only to stop when he hit a tree. Although it didn't fall over, he did make a mental note to brace it before they head back to the base.
"Are you okay, little one?" Prime asked worried.
"I'm fine, I'm..." Zucky looked herself over. "That was too close, Prime..."
"Stay here." Remembering there was Decepticon nearby, Prime placed her in a safe spot and faced the Con.
"That was very unwise, Knockout..." Prime said in a serious tone as he adjusted digit knuckles.
"I can't move..." The con mumbled.
"Of course not, I'm not letting you!" Zucky answered. "Although I'm not sure how..."
Optimus was thoroughly confused now, and Zucky offered an explanation.
"I don't know how it happened, but for some reason, I'm able to do the same as knockout was doing to me." she said and ended her sentence with a shrug, which the decepticon mimicked precisely.
"See?" She waved her arm up and down, kicked her legs up and started flapping her wings and hovering. "Of course, since he can't fly he'll just awkwardly move in place there."
"Please...stop..." Knockout mumbled forcibly.
"Not until you explained yourself; You said you've stopped dabbling in mind control, have you really, or did you just say that so you could keep blaming me for your recent misfortunes?" The dragon said as she came closer but stopped right next to Optimus, just in case.
The Con growled at her.
"Look, the reason I told you to stop is because since you're not used to this; at some point you will lose control of your own processor, if you insist to continue anyway...or have you forgotten about spewing bursts of energon out of your intake?" Zucky continued. " I'm gonna chalk today's events as strike number two. One more, and you're down and out, Decepticon!"
"What is it that Megatron wants with Zucky?" Optimus decided to cut in.
"Wouldn't you wanna know-AAH!" Knockout sneered only to flinch when he almost got punched in the face by his own fist!
"Tell him...or else..." Zucky threatened.
"Yeah, right..." The con scoffed.
"Yeah, you're right... I wouldn't punch myself in the face. However..." Zucky placed her claws on her chest, ready to rake them right across. "I have a few carvings I wanted to try out."
"You wouldn't dare..." Knockout worried.
Zucky put a little bit of pressure on her chest with a single claw to get the point over, which translated to Knockout's end.
"..." The red bot's optics widened.
"Three...Two..." The dragon counted.
"PRIME!" Breakdown seemingly showed up out of nowhere and charged at Optimus, effectively tackling the Autobot to the ground.
Zucky ducked and avoided being crushed in the process, but she forgot about Knockout, who was now free and loomed over her menacingly.
"Uh-oh..." Her ears drooped when she saw the large dark shadow engulf her and turned around to face him.
"C-mere, Scraplet!" He was about to grab her, when he felt someone tapping his shoulder pad from behind.
"Oh, what now?!" He growled and turned around to see who it was, only to see Bumblebee waving at him.
.:"Hello!...Good-bye!":. Bumblebee then Promptly punched him so hard he was 'knocked-out'. (Pun totally intended and I am not ashamed at all! XP)
Zucky who had covered her eyes carefully opened them to see the red bot laying on the ground with some energon leaking out of his intake.
.:"You okay, Zucky?":. Bee asked.
The dragon nodded and tried calming her breathing. "*panting* Yeah...What about Optimus?"
.:"Eh ^^; He's a big bot...":. The yellow autobot answered.
And sure enough, Prime had knocked the blue bot off and was beating the living daylights out of the con! Breakdown had no choice but to grab Knockout and make a run for a groundbridge he had called when he noticed more Autobots were appearing.
A few Vehicons had jumped out of the portal to make a diversion for him to flee. Bulkhead and Arcee have finally arrived, but a bit too late, they only managed to fire a few shots at the portal , but that was it.
"Scrap! And I had an alloy-Knuckle Sandwich with his name on it, that I wanted him to try." Bulkhead jokes.
"Heh, Sorry we're late to the party. We got stuck in traffic." Arcee added.
"Nevertheless I know I can always count on my team for backup." Prime answered.
"AWWWW! Did I miss another Showdown AGAIN?!" It was Miko...again.
"*sigh... Miko!" Bulkhead complained.
Optimus shook his head. "Autobots, let's head home."