Updated - 26~09~2021

I found myself with a challenge while writing this chapter. It was quite difficult to knit all the ideas together. In fact, I had to cut it here because it was getting too long.

There are currently other matters that require most of my attention, and that's why is taking me longer to update. I want to thank you for being patient and kindly waiting.

I'm not sure when will I update again.

Hope you like it,

Enjoy!

3

Even if she tried to deny it several times, Arcee spent the following cycles pondering the idea of giving into the Decepticon's request. She had taken her time to think about it thoroughly, providing herself thousand of well-argued reasons why she should or should not team up with him. It took her a long human week, but after considering all options, she finally made a decision.

She would not help him.

The azure femme knew the crimson mech would be anxiously waiting for her response. Yet, what actually made her uneasy was not the fact he would get angry about it, but the idea he would refuse to listen to her. That left her with a new challenge. How was she supposed to convince him not to face Arachnid on his own?

She had no clue for that.

Knockout had promised he would wait for her, but she wasn't sure how long would he be willing to wait until he decided to act on solo, or if he would wait at all. The only temporary solution she found was to delay their meeting. Still, she doubted that would stop the mech.

Arcee had more important things that required her attention, and tired of overthinking about the issue, she had finally silenced the matter, letting it fade away at the back of her mind. Never again did she give it a thought.

Solar cycles were gone since then, and she had continued with her daily routine, as usual, except for her night excursions, which she had intentionally quit. She wasn't looking forwards to meet certain Decepticon just yet.

That concrete day had been unusually calm, without missions nor alerts, so Arcee and her protégé had taken advantage of it to have some time off by themselves. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually enjoyed a moment like that one.

She had driven Jack home by evening, and had gladly stayed for the night. It wasn't something she often did, mostly due to the lack of space to freely move, but from time to time, she made an exception and remained with her human family.

June had arrived no time later, and learning the femme was in, she so kindly had parked her car outside, as she used to do every time the cybertronian dropped by. Arcee had to acknowledge her gesture, as it granted her a very much appreciated extra room to comfortably stretch herself.

Evening had gone on, and after wishing her a good night, the Darby had eventually headed their beads, leaving the Autobot warrior alone in the barely lightened garage, keeping her thoughts and memories as her only companions.

Her back was rested on the wall behind, her left leg stretched out long, whilst her right was bent, her forearm rested on her knee. Her optics were fixed onto the gate she was sat in front of, yet, she wasn't paying it any attention. She was too lost in some of her old livings she had brought back to the present.

It was well into the night when her attention was dragged by the faint sound of the latch spinning. She immediately straightened up, alert. The door at her left opened smoothly, granting access to a slim figure that sneaked in, trying not to make any noise.

"Jack!" Her optics glinted for a brief moment, while her voice carried surprise. She hadn't expected her partner to show up. "I thought you were recharging…" She had added, lowering her voice.

"I'm sorry I disturbed you Arcee…" Jack's own came out in a whisper, although the trembling in his voice didn't go unnoticed to her. The femme took a moment to study him, as something told her he was not alright.

The dark haired boy, who was currently wearing a simple comfortable long pajamas Arcee had never seen before, still hadn't moved from the doorway. The nervousness in his body language only made her suspicions stronger.

"I… I just couldn't sleep and… I thought I could make you some company." His gaze was darted form the ground to the garage's entrance while scratching his messed hair, but never locking eyes with her. "Is it okay for you if I stay?"

"Are you alright?" She asked resting a servo on his much smaller shoulder, a hint of uneasiness in her expression. "You look startled." The boy laughed nervously, still refusing to meet her gaze.

"Nothing to worry about, really." He shrugged, shaking his head and embracing himself. "Just had a nightmare, that's… That's all." Sensing he needed to talk, she took the first step and made her suggestion.

"Tell me about it." His guardian said, hoping he would share it with her.

Jack wasn't sure if he should, but after debating it for a moment, he slowly wandered around his guardian and made himself comfortable at the red sofa by her right. He leaned forwards, his elbows on his thighs, his hands covering his face. He breathed deep and, letting his arms hang loose at both his sides, he proceeded.

"Everything was dark." He began, dubious. "Freezing wind howled aggressively around as a glacier cold enveloped me. All I could see was my breath mist leaving me." Arcee listened attentively, unconsciously learning towards the boy. "Slowly, I began seen something in front of me. It was the walls of the main corridor, back at base, which extended at both sides endlessly, getting lost in the infinite."

"Suddenly, a horrible high pitched metallic noise filled the hallway, setting my teeth on edge. I had to cover my ears because it hurt, while I writhed in pain. The noise became louder, coming closer and closer to me, but I couldn't be sure. The echo didn't let me located its source. It was deceiving." Jack continued, his gaze lost.

"The noise ceased, only to be replaced by the faint clicking sound. I thought they were steps." He described, his voice sounding disturbed. "A purple, or perhaps pink, light slowly lit one end of corridor. Cut out over it, a silhouettes began forming. I immediately understood I wasn't alone."

"An overly sweet laughter reverberated on the walls then." He paused, becoming quiet. "I knew that laugh way too well, but I desperately hoped I was wrong. I called out for you with all my strengths, yet it wasn't you who replied."

"'Arcee can't help you any more, my Jack. Really… No one can.' A venomous voice singsonged." He repeated, shuddering. " 'Come on, Jack, don't be shy. Come play with me.' "

Arcee's optics widened and her frame tensed in fear at the recognition of who those expressions belonged to. Yet, she forced herself to maintain her calm. The boy, instead, froze, lost in his recent memories. Unable to find the strength nor the courage to continue, he fell in a distant silence.

Noticing that, his guardian moved her servo to rest it on the sofa's armrest to try give her protégé some support. As soon as Jack had felt her servo near, he had grabbed one of her digits and held it firmly, afraid of letting it go.

"You don't have to continue if you don't want to, Jack." The azure femme softly told him, perfectly understanding what he was going through. It had been too much for him.

The boy slowly turned his gaze to finally meet hers, and it was in that moment when she saw the pure terror captured in his watery cerulean blue eyes. She could read his expression, and knew she had seen it many times before, reflected on herself every night she had so vividly rekindled the unwilling experiences.

Arcee opened her arms to him and pronounced just a single word.

"Come."

Her protégé hesitated for a second, but then sat up and launched himself to her. The femme placed both her arms around his shivering being, pulling him closer, before she carefully lifted him up. She nested him on her torso, his head now resting on her chest. That gesture had taken Jack by surprise, he wasn't expected it. Protected in the arms of his guardian, the dark haired boy finally broke down, letting his tears freely run.

"She was in our base, Arcee, and there was no one… All of you were… You were…" Jack's word came out in a stumbling as he sobbed, but could never finish his sentence. "It was so real… I can still see her face…"

"Shh… It's alright, Jack." She tenderly susurrate, trying to make him at ease. "You should never have had to face my same nightmares, and I wish I could have avoided it. I'm sorry…" She sighed heavily, silence settling between them again.

A forgotten suggestion slowly began crawling its way back to her mind, making her suddenly raise her gaze up, gradually becoming serious. She was his guardian. She could not spare him the nightmares, but she actually had a chance to do something with the source of them.

"Hear me out, Jack." Arcee set her optics on the teen once again, resolved. He managed to look up to her, his face wet. "As long as I am here, I will not allow anything bad happen to you nor anyone else. She will never again get any closer to you." She added, resting her forehelm on the boy's one for a brief moment. "I promise."

The dark haired boy hid his face away, venting all his fears. The azure femme kept whispering her partner some reassuring words, making sure he understood there was no danger now. After few long minutes in the comfort of her embrace, his tears finally dried out, leaving him faintly whimpering.

She carefully pushed some hair locks away from his face with her digit tips, and then rubbed one servo over his back, consolingly. The warmth of her metal plates, combined with her tender voice and gentle thump of his partner's sparkbeats, made Jack finally feel safe. The boy leaned onto the touch, his body slowly relaxing.

"Feeling any better?" She asked, tilting her helm to look at him. The boy nodded against her frame, beginning to feel sleepy. "I know it won't be easy, but try recharge a bit." She suggested. "Don't worry, I'll guard you."

"Thank you, Arcee." The boy stuttered in a murmur, his breath little by little becoming profound, drifting into a peaceful rest.

"Good night, partner." The azure femme replied almost inaudibly, her eyes still fixed on his now asleep form.

Arcee knew the nightmare Jack had had had been nurtured out of the encounters with Airachnid. Fortunately, they had been few, but enough to leave a strong mark on the boy. Just the thought of her partner alone in the woods with said psycho only made the her inner fears arise.

The Autobot warrior knew her archenemy would never cease until she claimed him as her trophy. Arcee shut her optics close as her mind flashed unpleasant memories she so hardly, yet unsuccessfully, had tried to bury for millennia. She had almost lost the boy twice to her. She couldn't allow Jack to suffer Tailgate's same fate.

The Decepticon medic's words came back to her louder than never before, and lurked around, appealingly luring her into his proposition. She vented deep. She had already made her mind about it, but for the first time in long, she was now reconsidering her decision.

She had many solid arguments against it, and everything in her shouted her she, under no circumstances, should cede. It had been just a single, yet strong, reason what had made her dither. And said reason had a name.

Jackson Darby.

Jack.

He was the only reason why she would leave the Autobot code aside, why she would take the risk of teaching Knockout, why she would dare to face her most feared enemy. Jack would never be safe unless the main threat was gone, and the only way to ensure that was deceasing Airachnid. She had a good opportunity laying ahead, and she wasn't gonna waist it. She would deal with consequences later.

The azure warrior reopened her optics once again, a determined gaze on them. Her mind had no longer doubts.

There would be a hunt.

Her cerulean optics wandered through the night sky above her, stargazing. The warm breeze caressed her frame, but she wasn't really at it. The sun was long gone, and she had been waiting since twilight had set so far. It was the third orn in row she had driven down the wore away road, she everyday traced, in hope she would finally meet him.

With no meanings of contacting him without arising suspicions from both factions, all she could do was patiently wait for him to come to her. Yet, it was taking him a while to show up. Time went on, but there was no sign of the mech.

In the beginning, she just imagined the Decepticon schedules had him tied tight. Of course, it did not surprise her at all. Then, she pondered the idea he might have forgotten about the matter, what somehow send a relieve sensation through her spark. There would be one less thing to worry about.

However, as solar cycles passed, uneasiness had slowly overtaken her spark, disturbing her. There were plenty of occasions where they could have met during battles, but he was no where to be seen. That only arose questions she didn't had answer for.

What if he had decided not to wait? What if he had let himself carry away by his rage and faced Airachnid on his own? What if she was too late?

Immediately, her mind mulled thousand of different outcomes, trying to fill the blanks spaces to figure out what had happened to the mech. The lack of communication and time gone since their last meeting only reasserted her initial thoughts. Everything lead to a single conclusion. Knockout was deceased.

The Autobot warrior closed her optics, deeply sighing, shaking her helm in disappointment as she turned to leave. Another one gone at Airachnid's servos. That lugnut should have waited.

Dust rose at both sides as the azure motorcycle of unknown making advanced through the solitary road. So little humans passed by that location that, for once in a while, she could afford not activating Sadie for the ride.

Another not too interesting cycle was gone, and after fulfilling her duties as a guardian, she had set course back into the desert. It had been few breems now since she had left the town, but she wasn't heading the base just yet.

She was halfway her destination when she descried some front lights emitted by another vehicle far away in the distance. She could not distinguish the kind of automobile it was just yet, but she wasted no time to deploy the hologram in order to keep her disguise up.

Arcee thought the driver would drove by without really paying her any attention. Instead, and for her surprise, the car coming closer from the opposite direction did something odd. Still protected behind the passing lights, it suddenly flashed its high beams twice to her. She did not know how to interpret that gesture, whether as a greeting or as a warning.

Only when the vehicle reached her side did she understood it.

A golden rimmed crimson sports car, covered in gradient decals, crossed paths with her. It was in that moment when she would have sworn she saw a ghost. It was Knockout.

The mech turned his steering wheel briskly left, forcefully pulling his brake lever up. The motion generated enough momentum for him to achieve a sharp turn over himself, effectively changing direction. Strong tyre marks were left on the asphalt as he completed the maneuver, positioning himself micrometrically right behind her.

"I was wondering if you would ever show up. I was even beginning to think you were ditching me on purpose, but is good to see is not the case, right?" The mech greeted with his seductive dark voice. Arcee could feel his usual arrogant attitude was back again, unlike their previous meeting, though his tone still carried an implied harsh hint. "It's the third time I've sneaked out sans permission to meet you. As soon as they find it out up there, I'll be in troubles. So, I hope you have good news for me, Autobot."

"You are the one to talk? You were the one who banished in thin air." She retorted back, distrustful. The idea of him driving so close was making her uncomfortable. "I've been waiting you for a vorn. Where were you?" An aloof chuckle was all she obtained.

"It's been a while since last had some fun…" He began talking around, never answering her question. "… And we still have some road left ahead." His left blinkers were brought to life, indicating his intention of overtaking her. "How about a little race to our meeting point before we get into serious matters?"

"I ain't racing you." Arcee denied firmly, not willing to get into his game. "And we should not…"

"Indulged me. Will you?" Knockout cut her off with a daring deep voice, which was soon replaced by the aggressive roars of his powerful engine, showing off his horsepower. He exited the lane and caught up with her just to wave his goodbye. "See you there, if you think you can follow me."

That was her only warning before he geared up and accelerated. It didn't took him much to easily outrun her, leaving her fast behind. The dust cloud that rose up after him made visibility difficult for her and got her braking, groaning in frustration. The azure motorcycle hated when the crimson car did that.

For an instant, the impulse of revving up and chasing after him looked quite appealing, but her most rational part of her knew he was faster. She wouldn't have a chance against him, and she wasn't in the mood of bearing his egotistic comments about it. It didn't worth it.

The oasis came soon into view, and parked by the shoulder, the Decepticon medic was already awaiting for her. The azure motorcycle took her time to reach him and came to a stop by his side. She quickly scanned the area, and once sure there were no curious eyes around, they both transformed.

"I quite left you in the dust, didn't I?" Knockout teased, cocking his hip to the side and resting a servo on it, while he gestured vainly with the other one. "I've seen you zooming past at real speed. What's wrong, did you forget how to gear up? Or am I too fast for you?" He received a sharp look from her, to what he replied by smirking widely. "Come on, femme, where's the fun on solo racing?"

"I'm not here for your entertainment." Arcee spatted bitterly, her optics narrowing. "Now, if you're done boasting yourself up, we should head a more guarded area instead of standing in open plains, where we are spottable." She added, signaling towards the forest with her helm.

"As you wish." He bowed elegantly, before getting on the move. She followed him with her gaze for a brief moment, thoughtfully, before stepping after him.

They got into the woods, calmly advancing through them, in silence. The crimson mech walked ahead, unaware of the azure femme's intentions, while she followed his steps closely. She maintained herself behind him on purpose, her calculating optics studying him. She had him right where she wanted him to be. It was then when she brought her question up again, distracting his attention away.

"So, mind telling me were have you been all this time?" She inquired, her voice sounding casual, but her mind setting on motion, measuring the situation. He snorted in response.

"Really wanna know? Take a guess!" His reply came out sarcastically, shortly looking over his shoulder. "Because that damn spider deceased my partner, some duties were left unattended. Of curse, someone had to take them up." He waved a servos, getting into carefree chatter.

Meanwhile, she discreetly gave a quick peek around, and descried the clearance not far away ahead. She scowled focused, bringing her blades out without making any noise. Knockout continued talking, not even noticing for a moment the menace at his back.

"… Since it's not appropriate for a high ranked officers, such as our beloved communication chief, our loyal second in command or our distinguished leader, to carry them out, guess who was granted said honor!" Knockout complained annoyed, raising his arms dramatically. He was completely oblivious to what was about happen to him. "Can you believe it? I'm now obliged to expend most of my time underground, surrounded by dirt and good-for-nothing vehicons!" Arcee found that intel interesting.

"Mining duties, huh?" She played along, slowing her pace and remaining behind, her penetrating gaze fixed onto him. The mech hummed in confirmation, finally walking into the clearance.

"Yeah." He brought a servo to his chest, fortuitously turning around to face her. "Big M doesn't seem to get I am a medic, not a…" Knockout never finished his sentence, becoming mute. He lowered his servo down, gazing around befuddled. "Hello? Femme? Where are you?"

There was no response but the delicate breeze swaying the leaves. Everything was too calm, except for him. Nervousness began spreading through his frame, adrenergon rushing in his veins. His spark picked a new pace, thumping hard in his spark chamber. There was something there he did not like at all.

The crimson mech tried to maintain his composure by summoning logic. It wasn't the first time he had been alone with the Autobots' second in command outside the battlefield and nothing had happened to him yet. She probably had seen something of interest and had stopped to observe it. Or maybe she was just mad because she had lost the race and was planning to return the favor by making him uneasy. Yeah, surely that was it. He didn't have to do a big fuss about it.

"Alright, you got me." He raised his servos up, chuckling nervously. "Can we stop playing and focus on important thing now?" No answer. His expression darkened, starting to lose his patience. As clicks passed, his annoyance was once again replaced by uneasiness, which slowly transformed into anxiety.

Knockout got alert. His audio receptors pricked, moving up and down trying to register anything that could indicate danger. His vents began overworking, making him silently pant, preparing him for a runaway. Right when he was about to speak up again, his attention was dragged towards the vegetations in front of him. He lightly narrowed his optics, frowning as he tried to distinguish something in the shadows.

Standing out bright, he spotted a pair of hunting cerulean optics fixed onto him, and few more biolights of the same color indicating him where she was. He exvented relieved, letting go a short chortle. He allowed his helm to hang loose, closing his optics for a moment.

"You almost scared me!" He shook his helm, slowly raising his gaze to look at her. "You even managed to make me believe you were gonna…" His words froze in his vocalizer as his smile immediately disappeared from his face. His frame paralyzed by fear, his optics going impossibly wide in awareness.

Everything was happening too fast, so fast he didn't even had time to process what was going on. Unable to find strength to move, all Knockout could do was witness how his fate loomed over him.