Stuck Together
Arcee had no idea how had she gotten in such situations. All she knew was she was now hanging off a cliff with a pair of crimson optics looking down at her.
Disclaimer - I don't own Transformers Prime, which is property of its rightful owner.
Stuck Together by Skyhope.021
Part 1 of Hunters Series
23~05~2021
New fanfic, new series. I came with the general idea really long ago, and is finally starting to take shape. It was supposed to be a one shot, but right when I thought I had it finished, my mind started whispering new and better ideas, so, what it was supposed to be a short story turned out to be long. I always wonder why do I keep doing this to myself.
I don't know when I'll update, but shouldn't take me long.
As a writer who equally loves Arcee and Knockout characters, I do believe this series is a must in my account, so here I go. Let's see how it turns out!
Enjoy!
Stuck Together
1
Arcee dodged another shot at her, while she struggled to maintain balance on her rushing wheels as she zoomed at high speed. She adjusted her side mirror just to acknowledge six vehicles chasing her fast. She was running out of options, but she couldn't let herself bail out. Her spark depended on it.
30 minutes earlier
The blue motorcycle rode through the solitary road, following the signal few miles ahead. It wasn't supposed to be there, and of course she was supposed to call for back up, but yet, it could be just a trifle, so she had decided to explore on her own. Anyway, any help would take some breems to come.
That wasn't her usual patrolling area, but it was a special occasion. It was time for a global surveillance duty, what meant the team would be scattered all over the globe, making sure Decepticons weren't up to something, and why not, spot any energon mine around.
She had been lucky, or maybe was her rank what provided such location, but she had gotten Europe. She was glad with it, she got far less territory to survey than some of her partners. Yet again, she couldn't understand how did Smokescreen get Oceania. Of course, knowing him far too well, it meant he would not get into much troubles, they hoped, and now that was understandable. Anyway, she should focus back on her duties.
Arcee was patrolling a lonely area when a strange signal had popped up on her radar. That made her suspicious. She didn't hesitate to explore as her stealthy instinct kicked in. She didn't like the place she was getting into. Tall canyons were raising at both her sides as the signal intensified. She made sure there wasn't any human around and transformed, blasters ready. She proceeded cautiously, still unable to spot anything. Even if her gaze was set ahead, she always kept in mind to watch the top. It was the perfect place for an ambush, and she was getting right into the danger zone.
She made it to an intersection, were she almost went helm first against the enemy. Almost without thinking it she raised her blasters up, pointing towards the mech in front of her as he twitched his prod to life. She knew the 'Cons where behind that strange signal!
"End of the game, 'Con." Arcee retorted, angry yet firmly. "Surrender whatever plan you're carrying on."
"Odd! I was gonna ask exactly the same, Autoscum." Knockout replied, optics fixed on her, evil smirk on his features. "Besides, how very Autobot of you is to suspect of me... Or should I say how very Decepticon?" He added getting closer to her.
"Don't play me fool." She hissed, menacingly. "What are you up to?"
"I told you is not my doing. Use your processor, femme. Do you think if I knew, I would go with such caution? Or get any closer to a possible trap?" He cocked his hip to the side, theatrically. He knew that femme could make a real damage to him, so he hid his fear and used another tactic. "For your information, I was in leisure drive when I detected this signal. So logically I came here to explore it, not waiting to find you around. Now that we know it wasn't your nor my doing, I'm not willing to engage into a servo to servo combat, I do appreciate my finish way too much. So why don't you lower down your blaster and let me go?"
"And let you get there so that you can claim whatever it is as yours?" She scoffed. "Nice try."
"Then what do you suggest, huh?" He tilted his helm.
"You fold back."
"So that you can get there and take it?" He chuckled, shaking his helm a no. "Seems we're gridlocked. My solutions is, why don't we lower our weapons and go there together? If it worths it, we shall kill each other if you will. But it could also be nothing at all, and there would be nothing to fight over. Believe me when I say I wanna conserve my paint job." He said calmly, folding his weapon, yet keeping it in servo.
Arcee gave a thought about it. She hated to admit the 'Con was right. She retrieved one of her blasters and kept the other one, just in case. "Very well, but if you try something, I'll definitely terminate you."
"Femmes first." He bowed, mischievous. She simply fulminated him with her glare and proceeded to walk.
They advanced forwards side to side, keeping a distance between them, always alert. Knockout gave a look at the portable scanner he was carrying. "We're getting close." He let her know.
They got to a new corridor, where they found some sort of land marker emitting some kind of waves.
They looked at each other, kinda confused. "Now, what might this be?" Arcee inquired, frowning. "Doesn't look cybertronian at all..."
"... Yet produces same signals like ours." He finished, taking readings with the scanner. "Definitely not cybetronian." He frowned, subspacing the scanner. "Whatever it is, I don't like it."
"Me neither." She admitted. "Any idea?" Arcee wondered.
"Humm." He grunted distrusted, stepping back. "Let me try something. Back off."
He turned around and grabbed a rock. Arcee got out of the way before he threw it forcefully towards the device. The marker emitted an electromagnetic pulse before hitting the ground, off-lining. That pulse was lightly sensed by them, causing momentarily blurry sight vision, and made them feel dizzy for few clicks.
"Did you feel that?" He said holding his helm lightly, recovering his senses as he directed a narrow gaze towards the devise. She hummed in response, shaking her helm until her sight became clear again. "Electromagnetic pulse. Apparently inoffensive... But in the correct frequency a real knock out. Whoever placed this beacon was intending to cause much damage to anyone wondering closer to it." There was a faint sound coming somewhere over their helms. "Hey, is it just me and my audio receptors are deceiving me, or do you hear that too?" The red mech inquired, scoping the sky.
"We've gotta get out from here. It's a trap!" Her optics went wide in realization.
Just when she was about to transform and drive a way, a projectile impacted somewhere near her. Both cybertronains adopted an alert posture, still not locating their attackers. Soon an helicopter made its appearance, aiming again, and fired at the red mech. The Decepticon dodged, lightly confused about what was happening, but instead she knew well.
Arcee couldn't allow those butchers to have any of them. Without a second thought, she grabbed the wrist of the mech and motioned him to follow after her. It didn't took him much to understand the situation, and ran after her.
"Transform and drive as fast as you can." Arcee instructed, transforming into the motorcycle mid air, spinning wheels fast over the rocky soil. "That shouldn't be difficult for you." She caught Knockout on her side mirror doing the same, close to her. Land units of unknown make made their appearance right behind them, starting a persecution of their own.
"Any plan, 'Bot?" Knockout barely could move out of the way, avoiding another shot.
"Dodge and drive!" She stated, barely missing another projectile too.
"What do this fleshies want from us?" He demanded, zig-zagging. "How do they even dare to attack us?"
"No time to get you up to date now. Simply put. They want to tear us into pieces." She hissed. "So, if you want to survive we need to lose them."
"Lose..." Arcee could feel a dark smirk as the red Aston Martin took the lead, changing to a higher gear. "It was a pleasure, Autobot, but it's gotten late and I gotta rush. Have fun with your humans!" He singsonged before pressing the gas deep down.
He didn't reply anything else, he simply kept accelerating. She was one hundred percent sure he was gonna get away and leave her behind to deal with the problem. And that was exactly what he did. The femme couldn't follow his pace, and soon found herself on her own as he disappeared in the horizon. She had expected it, but yet again, Arcee cursed over the 'Con. She pushed that thought aside and concentrated on the situation.
The motorcycle had made it into the lonely road not few minutes ago had left to investigate, and she was now trying to communicate with the base, although she found herself unable to contact them. It seemed that the humans's beacon had affected her communications. She cursed again. Alright, if they wanted to play with her, she would provide then.
Arcee evaded another shot at her, while she struggled to maintain balance on her rushing wheels as she zoomed at high speed. She adjusted her side mirror just to acknowledge six vehicles chasing her fast. She was running out of options, but she couldn't let herself bail out. Her spark depended on it.
She accessed to a map of the place, and considered three, perhaps four, possible runaways. There was a dense rocky forest not far away. It wasn't the ideal hiding, but it was her best choice at the time. If she managed to get there, the helicopter wouldn't be able to track her between the tree tops, and she would oblige them to leave their land vehicles and continue on foot. She didn't know whether she could keep driving or not, but it would make an important difference. If not, she had a longer stride, and she was times faster. She could dodge them off and come out unscathed.
The azure femme revved up and exited the road, directly into the woods. As she had imagined, the humans came to a stop, while she kept advancing. At certain point, she had to transform and continue on pede, but she was gaining advantage, or at least that's what she believed.
The area was pretty rocky and soon found a grade on the terrain. Arcee descended it agile, till a decently flat surface. She was about to continue running, when something trapped her and pulled her backwards into a small nook, forcefully, keeping her in place. She had been taken by surprise and she didn't even had time to react. She tried to fight her way free, but she was held even stronger, this time a clawed servo covering her mouth. It wasn't until a well know deep voice talked that she stopped.
"You should better stay still or you will attract their attention." The red Decepticon talked to her audio receptors in a whisper. "They are waiting for us ahead. We cannot continue onwards." He removed slowly his servo from her mouth, still gripping her close against his chassis.
"How so certain?" She whispered back, glaring at him over her shoulder.
"My communications are down, I presume it was due to the EM shockwave we received back at the canyon. Because of it, I couldn't contact the Nemesis, so I had to make up a plan. The fleshies on the helicopter saw my getaway and predicted my next move. They posted more actives ahead, expecting us to go there mindlessly. But I spotted them further, and decided to go other way." Knockout resumed. "I guess the EM effect on us will wore off in some human hours. Till then, we're stuck here together."
"Together? And why should I trust you?" She retorted bitterly. "Barely few breems ago you abandoned me to my fate."
"Yes, that was before I needed your help. I need to know what exactly those vermins want from us and how to get rid of them." He admitted without shyness. "So, sounds like a team up situation to me."
"Team up, with you? Never!" She hissed again.
"Hey, I just have saved your pitiful aft, you know?" He complained. "I could have waited for them to have you, and walk away like nothing had happened at all. But I didn't."
"Just because it suited you."
"No... Well, yes. But you now owe me one." She was starting to feel the need of strangle him. "Besides, the fact that the best Autobot warrior owes me one is very advantageous for me. You never know when you gonna need some... Support from the other faction."
"If I don't recall it wrong, back at the canyon I saved your tailpipe. Makes us even." She was firm.
He simply huffed, but then gave up. "Whatever. So, now what?"
She didn't reply immediately. Instead, they got alert as they heard the humans in the distance.
"We need to get out from here before they get to us." She whispered, looking lightly upwards. "If they get down here they will see this nook. We will be an easy target here."
"What a shame. I was starting to feel comfortable with the situation." He smirked, running one of his servos down her abs. She reacted to it by grabbing his middle finger and pulling it back, causing him to pout. She rolled then to be face to face with him, piercing optics on his, still pushing his digit backwards, her other servo firmly placed on his wrist.
"Look. I'm not in the mood of bearing your fool arounds. You don't seem to get this people goes for serious. M.E.C.H. is a terrorist organization keen on getting the latest tech intel to turn it into weapons. Right here and right now, you and I are the most advanced tech laying around. And they will not hesitate to hunt us down, dissemble us and open us up to see what makes us tick, for later on using it against humans or even against our own kind." She silenced for a moment, watching him frown.
"They will do more than just scratch your finish, Knockout. They will dismantle you." She continued, hoping he would get it crystal clear, letting go of his servo. "M.E.C.H. has grown strong lately. You can continue with your behavior and get us both killed, or you can stop been a sparkling and start been the grown up mech you are. If we're about to team up, I'll need the shrewdest part of you, Knockout, I need you to put all your spark into it. I need to get us both outta here, and I need to know you're not gonna leave me behind when things get bleak."
His gaze was darted from her to the ground thoughtfully as a grimace appeared on his face plate. His expression darkened.
"M.E.C.H... Those tried to dissect Breakdown..." His optics seemed to be burning in anger, as they locked onto hers again, while his voice was venomous. "We should return the favor." The steps where now audible.
"Too risky." She whispered, shaking her helm. "They are too many, and they have resources to neutralize us in clicks. Just concentrate on escaping alive this time."
He finally sighed, letting it go. "Fine."
She turned around, stealthy, keeping her back next to the rock behind them. Knockout prepared himself too, crouching. They quickly judged their probabilities of getting away and the best route to follow.
"Get ready." Arcee instructed. "Once we're spotted, we will have no other choice than getting into action and run as fast as we can."
"We should hit the road."
"No. We will be an easy target there." The femme denied. "Between the vegetation they won't have a clear shot. We need to get a new nook to hide into. Shh, they almost over us."
Both cybertronians awaited mute, as their persecutors cut the distance. Arcee held her vents as she felt few stones rolling down, almost on them. A masked man peeked out, gun in hands. It took him a while until he talked over the radio.
"All clear. No sight of the robots."
Arcee could feel Knockout lightly relaxing, but she knew well. She directed him a gaze and pronounced the word 'trap' with her lips. He raised an opticbrow and bowed his helm, asking her if she was sure. The response was clear. She nodded.
"Proceed with caution. They couldn't have gotten far from your position." Silas' voice got to them.
"Understood." The M.E.C.H. soldiers started descending.
Arcee knew it was now or never. The grade was too high for humans, thus they would need both their hands. They would be compromised enough not to shoot immediately. Arcee gave a silent signal and both cybertronians rushed the rust out of them before the incredulous looks of their chasers. They could hear someone shouting something, but they didn't pay attention.
They didn't know where they were heading, but they didn't stop for a click. The first shock pin came somewhere from their left. It passed just grazing Knockout's forearm.
"Damn it! They are getting close!" The mech cursed. "We need to find a solution asap."
"I'm thinking!" The femme yelled back. "Move out! I'm shooting back!"
Knockout moved aside just when she turned towards the shot direction, and discharged two round of plasma beams. She turned again and caught up with her sidekick, transforming her blaster back into her servos. They descended an incline and reached a high cliff. The red mech skid to a stop just by the edge, barely taking a step back as few rocks fell down, his temporary partner not far from him.
They had reached a dead end, and they were trapped. At one side a huge fall, at the other side M.E.C.H. They faced their chasers, getting ready for what was about to come.
"Now what?" Knockout inquired, his processor rushing.
"Have no idea." She said backing off a little bit more, almost over the edge.
"How I wish I was a flyer." He grimaced, looking down to the fall before turning to face the fleshies again.
The humans approached even more, charging their weapons. Out of nowhere appeared the helicopter, with Silas leaning over the window. Arcee directed him a defiant look just when the ground under her pedes collapsed, falling into the void.
Arcee felt a strong grip on her forearm. She looked up just to see the red mech holding her with one servo while he dug his claws on the edge of the cliff. They were both hanging as the cliff had failed to support their combined weight. Without the ability to contact their factions and without being able to fight back, they were at their mercy. Knockout growled in pain and frustration, which echoed through the valley. Humans were walking closer, as the helicopter was now flying next to them.
"Sir, I got a clear shot." One of the soldiers informed. "Do I shoot?"
"No." Silas denied, angry. "If they fall now they will hit the ground and burst. There will be nothing left for us."
She fixed her optics on the aircraft, even if she knew it was a crazy idea, she aimed and fired. The plasma beam impacted on the secondary rotor, sending the helicopter to the ground, twirling. Arcee looked up once again to lock optics with the 'Con. He returned the gaze before looking down, measuring their chances. Then he formulated a question that took her by surprise.
"Autobot, do you trust me?" She didn't reply, she simply nodded.
He let go of the servo that was holding them both, as they both precipitated down the cliff.