Author's Notes: This story is one that's been on my back-burner list for quite some time. I won't say how much time because frankly it's embarrassing. Finally though, I've finished it, and hopefully you guys will enjoy reading it. Thank you to everyone who continues to read and review my stories :)


12 Hours

By Madness Jones

The crisis began as a routine mission. A faint energon signal had been detected in a mine in Mexico, and Optimus ordered Bulkhead to check it out. Miko was allowed to go as well since there were no Decepticon life signs detected. It was just a simple task, yet like so many underground missions everything went horribly wrong.

Bulkhead and Miko were in an abandoned mineshaft searching for the energon crystals. The walls of earth were so beautiful with the faint blue glow of energon crystals and the pale yellow glow of Bulkhead's headlights. Miko twirled in place and took in the scene, and then ran ahead of her Autobot companion so she could be the first to see everything ahead. This was fairly typical behavior for the rambunctious Miko, and Bulkhead was a pillar of patience as he quickly walked after her to make sure she would be okay.

"I can't believe you guys can actually make rocks into something you can drink," Miko commented as she looked around the cavernous area, "Can you guys eat jewelry? Maybe that would help with the fuel shortage."

"Nah, diamonds are nothing like energon," Bulkhead chuckled goodnaturedly, "Energon is radioactive, for one thing. Don't worry though. In crystal form it doesn't leak out. Just remember to not touch the liquid stuff. I heard radiation is bad for humans."

"Yeah, yeah, I remember," Miko replied dismissively, "You've only told me like fifty million times. Anyway, what do you wanna do after we haul this stuff back to base?"

"I dunno. Dune bashing?" Bulkhead suggested.

"Awesome!" Miko agreed, "There's nothing like rolling downhill with the wind whipping by! You're the best, Bulk."

"You too, Miko," Bulkhead smiled.

As they turned the corner to where the main shaft was located, the Autobot duo were suddenly blindsided when a Vehicon rammed into Bulkhead! Miko screamed, and Bulkhead rubbed his helm and groaned. They looked around, and saw that there were at least a dozen Vehicons in the area, as well as a familiar face...

"Breakdown," Bulkhead growled threateningly.

"Been a while, Bulkhead," Breakdown quipped, "Didn't we throw down like, what? A week ago? Ah well, I can always use the exercise."

"You're the one who said it," Bulkhead snarked.

Rather than throw around more witty banter, Breakdown decided to cut straight to the point and turn his servos into hammers. He roared and charged at Bulkhead, and Bulkhead charged right back at him.

Bulkhead's wrecking ball fists were out on full display as the two titanic brutes delivered blow after blow with their massive weapons. Miko climbed onto a boulder so she could get a better view of the show, and started cheering Bulkhead on as he took on not only Breakdown, but several Vehicons as well.

"Woo! Go Bulk! You can do it! Yeah! Right in the face!" Miko shouted as she jumped up and down.

Bulkhead tried to comm the base, but his signal was being jammed by the underground interference. Sometimes he wondered if their comms ever worked anymore, since it seemed like they were always jammed by something.

The Vehicons fired shots and threw punches, but Bulkhead's armored frame took the punishment with little effort. Bulkhead rammed his wrecking ball fists into the helms of several Vehicons, and one by one they went down. He still wasn't able to take down his major foe however. Breakdown was holding his own, but kept backing away to allow the Vehicons their chance to attack Bulkhead.

As Miko hopped up and down on the boulder cheering, she accidentally slipped on a loose part of the rock and fell to the ground. She wasn't hurt, but she was still sitting when a shadow fell over her. She looked up to see the wickedly grinning face of Breakdown, and to see him lift up his large pede in preparation to squish her!

"Say goodnight, human," Breakdown said with relish.

"No!" Bulkhead cried out; being held back by several Vehicons.

Miko rolled out of the way as Breakdown's foot stomped down on the ground. That stomp, however, loosened the thin layer of rock and created a sinkhole. Breakdown's body fell forward, thus causing a larger hole to be created in the earth, and as he fell Miko fell in after him; too close to escape the rapidly forming aperture.

"Miko!" Bulkhead screamed.

Bulkhead pushed past the Vehicons in an effort to grab his friend and partner, but he was too late. She and Breakdown fell down into a pit that was so deep Bulkhead couldn't even see the bottom. Bulkhead's intakes were shaky as his arm remained frozen reaching out for Miko. There was no way she could survive that. Bulkhead's best friend was surely dead.


Miko awoke sore all over. Everything was dark, and her mouth was dry. She felt around the surface where she was laying, and it had the metallic feel of Bulkhead's hands. The grooves were in all the right places, so she figured Bulkhead must be holding her. She tried to remember the last thing that happened.

Oh, right. The sinkhole. She remembered falling, and the light of the surface getting smaller and smaller. She remembered the rush of fear, yet the feeling of exhilaration as her body freefell down the hole. She also remembered being grabbed by someone. Oh, right! Breakdown was falling too, and he...grabbed her.

"Wait a minute," Miko finally muttered to herself, "Bulkhead, this is you, right?"

"Guess again, fleshbag," Breakdown's disgruntled voice replied.

"Breakdown!" Miko exclaimed in alarm, "Are you the one holding me? Let me go, you Decepticon creep!"

"I would, but then I wouldn't be able to find you again," Breakdown replied, "My headlights were damaged in the fall, along with a few other key systems."

"Key systems? Like what?" Miko asked.

"Oh you know, the usual," Breakdown replied casually, "My legs, my spinal struts, my...optical sensors. I can't move, and I can't see."

"I can't see either. I think it's just that dark," Miko reasoned.

"No. Cybertronians have night vision installed. Well, we warriors do anyway," Breakdown explained, "If that was still online I'd be able to see. As it is though, we fell about 3 kliks. It's gonna take a lot of mech power and equipment to rescue me. Megatron probably wouldn't risk it, but Knockout can be pretty persuasive. He'll find a way to get me out of here."

"The Autobots will come first," Miko said with conviction, "Bulkhead will tell the others what happened, and they'll figure out how to get a ground bridge down here in no time."

"Hah! That's funny," Breakdown laughed bitingly, "The Autobots aren't gonna spend their limited resources rescuing Bulkhead's pet. They can barely keep themselves alive. They don't care about you."

"Yes they do!" Miko shouted angrily, "And I'm not Bulkhead's pet! We're best friends, and he would never leave me down here!"

"Friend? Hah! You're a hamster to Bulkhead," Breakdown scoffed.

"I am not!" Miko barked, "Also, how do you know about hamsters?"

"Internet video compilations," Breakdown shrugged, but then winced in pain at the motion, "Look human, I'm not gonna deny that Bulkhead has a soft spot for you. I once adopted a cyberhound, so I get it. You're cute, and you're fun to play with. He doesn't care about you enough to risk his life for you though. Why would he-?"

"Because he's my friend!" Miko interjected while he was still talking.

"Yeah?" Breakdown asked challengingly, "Let me ask you this, girl. How old are you?"

"15," Miko replied, "Why?"

"How long will you live? I mean like, on average?" Breakdown inquired.

"I dunno. Maybe 80, 100 years. Somewhere in there," Miko replied noncommittally.

"Okay, so 84 earth years is a vorn," Breakdown told her, "At least that's what Knockout told me anyway. A vorn is a Cybertronian year. That's not the whole picture though, because Cybertronians can live for hundreds of thousands of vorns. So, your entire lifespan to Bulkhead is nothing. Maybe about, I dunno, 12 hours. If you knew an animal was only going to live for 12 hours, would you die so that it could live?"

"Well...I, uh…" Miko stammered; feeling put on the spot.

"Exactly," Breakdown replied as if his point had been proven, "Your entire life is a blip to Bulkhead, and to me. An Insecticon's life is worth more than yours, so why would Bulkhead truly care about you?"

"You don't know anything!" Miko shouted defensively, "Bulkhead is my friend! My best friend! Not that you would know what that's like. You're just a stupid 'Con. You probably don't have any friends!"

"Actually, Knockout is my friend," Breakdown replied; unconcerned with Miko's ranting.

"What? You mean your boss? That's not a friend!" Miko argued, "He only keeps you around to polish his aft."

"You take that back, flesh bag!" Breakdown growled angrily.

Breakdown then tried to ball his fist so as to crush the insolent girl in his servo, but his motor skills were so shot that he couldn't even do that.

"Oh, you don't like that, huh? Well too bad!" Miko retorted, "You started this, and if you can't finish it that's on you. Bulkhead and I are far better friends than you and Doc Knock."

"Seriously?" Breakdown snorted derisively, "You're comparing a breem's worth of playtime to a millennia-old brotherly bond forged in the fires of war? You have no idea how deep Cybertronian friendships go."

"Methinks he doth protest too much," Miko quipped, "We'll see who has the better friend, by seeing who comes to rescue us first."

"You're on, meat sack!" Breakdown replied competitively.

Neither Miko nor Breakdown could see each other in the darkness, otherwise they might have glared at one another. Nonetheless their mutual hatred was understood. The sooner their friends came to rescue them, the better.


Neither Miko nor Breakdown knew how much time had passed in the darkness. Occasionally they would trade verbal barbs at each other, but other than that the cavern was filled with mostly silence. Breakdown was left to his misery as he struggled to even try to move a servo, and Miko was bored out of her mind. Overall a miserable situation for everyone involved.

Miko felt around the ground until she found some rocks, and then started throwing them one by one just to see if she could hear a wall beyond her. On one side she heard it skip along the ground and land anticlimactically a few meters away. With the second stone she heard a sound like the banging of an old pot.

"Hey! That's my chassis, you little brat!" Breakdown griped.

"Sorry not sorry," Miko said bluntly.

Miko then threw a third rock in the same direction, and it made a similar sound.

"Quit it!" Breakdown snapped, "Frag, you really don't listen, do you?"

"Hey, you're not my mom," Miko scoffed, "Besides, this is your fault. You just had to try to attack me, didn't you?"

"Yeah, and when Knockout comes I'll make sure he dissects you," Breakdown threatened.

"Yeah? Well when Bulkhead rescues us I'll make sure he bops you on the head for me," Miko retorted.

"Whatever, hamster," Breakdown taunted.

"Yeah, whatever yourself, hammerhead," Miko countered.

Once again the room was filled with silence as both waited to be rescued. Miko considered just running off without Breakdown, but if Bulkhead showed up and she wasn't there she might be trapped in the cave for the rest of her life. Besides, she couldn't see and therefore could easily fall down a hole.

Finally, after another round of pure silent boredom, Miko decided to turn to one of her favorite hobbies: relentless questions.

"Hey Breakdown, how long have you known Knockout?" Miko inquired, "Did you meet him first or Megatron? Has he always been such a glitch aft?"

"Ugh, shut up!" Breakdown roared, "Fragging pit you're annoying!"

"So? Which one did you meet first?" Miko asked again.

"I didn't meet Megatron until we came to earth," Breakdown replied, "Knockout and I have been friends for…a few centuries by your standards."

"Ha! You're old enough to be my ojiichan," Miko laughed.

"Pit, I'm probably old enough to predate your…orange chin," Breakdown fumbled.

"So how did you two meet?" Miko asked, "Did you save Knockout's life? I doubt he saved yours, being such a selfish aft and all."

"Actually it wasn't anything so dramatic," Breakdown recalled, "It was during the war though, when things were really starting to heat up. I had just joined the Decepticons, and I used my life savings to try to make sure I was the best soldier I could be. I bought a cheap gun extension for my arm, but it never worked right. I then used the rest of my money to go see a plate surgeon to get some upgrades."

"What's a plate surgeon?" Miko asked.

"You know, a medic that only works on surface level improvements," Breakdown explained.

"Oh. So like a plastic surgeon," Miko guessed.

"Nah. They use pure metal, just like a real medic. They just don't handle too many deep wires and fuel lines," Breakdown clarified, "Knockout was my surgeon, and I was there to get a chassis extension-"

"To get a what?" Miko interrupted.

"Chassis extension. The most obvious place for a soldier to shoot you is the spark, and with a chassis extension it's less likely that the enemy can damage anything vital."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Miko shouted, trying to suppress laughter, "So you're telling me that…you went to Knockout to get battle boobs?"

"It was a pretty common practice among gladiators," Breakdown replied, slightly confused, "Why? What's so funny?"

"Google it, dude," Miko snickered, "So anyway, you went to Knockout to get battle boobs installed. *snerk*. So…then what happened?"

"Not much really. We got to talking during the operation and it turned out he was also annoyed by the caste system," Breakdown recounted, "He was also impressed that I didn't want to use anesthetic. Well, that is until I told him I didn't want it because I couldn't pay for it. After the surgery was done I told him the Decepticons needed medics, and he agreed to it because he thought it would be good PR for his practice. It wasn't, but that didn't matter once the war really got going. We became friends when I was assigned to be his bodyguard, and we have been ever since."

"Wow, that's a pretty lame story," Miko commented.

"No one asked you," Breakdown groused, "Not that you'd get it. You don't know how hard it is to get close to another Cybertronian when so many of them die in battle. Knockout is a safe friend. We know what we want from each other, and he's the medic so everyone else protects him. That means I won't lose him. I don't know why Bulkhead would want something like you around. You're only gonna live for a vorn and then die like a dried out houseplant."

"Gee, thanks Mr. Sunshine," Miko deadpanned sarcastically, "Sounds to me like you picked a scrappy friend because you were desperate. At least Bulk and I have stuff in common. We like to fight, we like to party, and we love screech metal music. We do everything together! Monster movie marathons, rock climbing, dune bashing, and ditching school. Well, that last one is mostly my idea, but he's a good getaway car. Do you and Knockout even hang out outside of work?"

"There is no outside of work," Breakdown said bluntly, "The Decepticon cause requires every waking moment of our time and effort. Why do you think Knockout and I sneak away so often to race? We'd go crazy if we spent all day on the Nemesis."

"You guys sneak out too?" Miko perked up, "I would too if I were you. How fast do you guys go when you race?"

"Pretty fast," Breakdown bragged, "Knockout usually wins though. He was built for racing. I was built for heavy labor."

"Bulkhead said he was a laborer too," Miko noted.

"Yeah, he was," Breakdown replied bitterly, "I don't wanna talk about Bulkhead. That fragger will get his when the time is right."

"You can't kill Bulkhead," Miko dismissed him, "He's the best Wrecker this side of Cybertron! He'll win every smackdown you two get into. He's a 'Con crusher!"

"Hate to break it to you, pet, but the Wreckers haven't been a thing for vorns," Breakdown spat, "Bulkhead is a has-been just waiting for me to beat him. Who knows? Maybe even you'll outlive him."

Miko would have glared at him, if she could see where he was. As it stood, she settled for blowing a raspberry at the overgrown brute and sitting on the ground with her arms firmly crossed. She knew Breakdown was just jealous of what she and Bulkhead had. Bulkhead would save them, and then Breakdown would have to eat his words and Bulkhead's dust.


Miko and Breakdown had both fallen asleep to conserve energy. For Breakdown it was so he wouldn't lose more energon than necessary, and for Miko it was simply because the cave's air supply was running thin. Neither one even had the energy to fight each other anymore.

Suddenly the cave was filled with the sound of whirring drills. Miko woke up, and Breakdown soon followed. This was the moment…the rescue.

The sound was clearly that of an excavator drill. This was a Decepticon tool, so Breakdown was sure that his team had come to retrieve him. That thought was dispelled however when he heard that lousy human girl shout…

"Bulkhead!"

"Miko!" Bulkhead shouted joyfully, "I was afraid you'd be paste when we found you."

"You should've been more worried about Breakdown," Miko replied cheekily.

Breakdown couldn't see, and couldn't get up. He knew he was at his enemy's mercy, but he wouldn't beg for his life now. He would die with the dignity and defiance of a Decepticon. If only he could locate Bulkhead to give him one final swing of his hammer, but then again it wasn't like he could move anyway.

"Come on Miko, let's go home," Bulkhead said.

"Wait!" Miko shouted, "What about Breakdown? He can't call the 'Cons from down here."

"What do we care?" Bulkhead asked derisively, "It's Breakdown. He just tried to kill you."

"I know, but…he can't move, and he's blind right now," Miko faltered, "I mean, I don't like him or anything, but leaving him like this just feels…I dunno, like we shouldn't."

"Yeah," Bulkhead sighed, "I guess you're right. I just hope everyone else doesn't freak out about this."

Breakdown then heard Bulkhead walk toward him with purposeful steps. He was sure this was the part where Bulkhead would kill him to end his suffering. He braced himself for that moment, but to his surprise he felt himself being picked up and carried by the big lummox.

"Hey, let me go, you scrap heap!" Breakdown barked, unable to protest further.

"You're calling me the scrap heap?" Bulkhead chuckled, "You should see yourself."

Breakdown growled, but couldn't do anything more. His energy was too low, and his body was too broken. He would have to suffer the Autobots and whatever fate they decided for him.


Miko was in Bulkhead's passenger seat, going home after a long night in the cave. Her host parents were told by Fowler that she was at a sleepover, but she doubted they cared where she was. Breakdown was back at the base being repaired by Ratchet. Of course they would have to leave his navigation and optical sensors offline until he was returned to the Decepticons, but at least he was out of danger.

As the desert landscape slowly drifted by in the window, Miko played with one of her pigtails and let herself get lost in thought. Given how chatty she usually was, Bulkhead knew this wasn't right.

"You alright, Miko?" Bulkhead asked, trying to sound casual, "Breakdown didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Nah, I'm alright," Miko lied, "It's just…Bulkhead, do you know how long humans live?"

"Uh…is this a trick question?" Bulkhead asked sheepishly, "Arcee told me this once. Um…75 earth years?"

"Yeah, roughly," Miko replied, "But do you know how long that is in Cybertronian years?"

"We don't have years," Bulkhead replied, missing the point, "We have vorns."

"I know, Bulk. It's just…" At that Miko sighed deeply and asked the question that had been burning through her mind ever since her heated discussion with Breakdown, "Bulk, why did you save me?"

"What? You mean in the cave?" Bulkhead asked in confusion, "Because you would've died in there if I didn't. What kind of a question is that? I mean, am I supposed to let you die? I would never do that!"

"I know you wouldn't," Miko replied, smiling despite her melancholy, "It's just that…you know I'm not gonna live very long. why are you friends with me when you know we don't have much time together?"

"Well, I could die first," Bulkhead pointed out, "Why would you be friends with me when you know I'm a soldier in a war and could be dead any moment?"

"That's a stupid question," Miko retorted, "I knew we were gonna be best friends from the moment I met you. No one gets me like you do."

"Exactly," Bulkhead replied, "Everybody wants to make life complicated, but it doesn't have to be. We're best friends, and for however long we have we're gonna stay best friends. A Wrecker never leaves their own behind, no matter how dangerous the situation gets. Besides, the fact that we don't have long just makes every moment we spend together even more precious. I don't know which one of us will remember the other in old age, and I don't wanna know. All I want is what we have right now."

"Yeah," Miko smiled, "Me too."


Two earth days later Breakdown found himself in Knockout's medbay being checked over for tracking devices and viruses. The Autobots had haphazardly patched him up and then bargained for energon in exchange for his release. Megatron didn't want to comply, but Knockout was surprisingly forceful in his argument. Essentially, he threatened to stop doing his job if Breakdown wasn't returned to him at once. Even Megatron wasn't foolish enough to risk a botched surgery or two just because his medic was in a glitchy mood.

As Knockout scanned over Breakdown's back the blue brute just sat there in silent thought. He had been so sure that the Decepticons would rescue him. At the very least, he was sure the Autobots wouldn't show up first. How could Bulkhead care about a stupid pest more than Knockout cared about him, his best friend?

"All done," Knockout announced, "There don't seem to be any bugs on your person, and all it will take is a little extra work to get you back at 100 percent."

"Mm," Breakdown grunted.

"Hey, what's wrong, big guy?" Knockout inquired, "The Autobots didn't torture you, did they?"

"Nah, nothing like that," Breakdown replied sullenly, "I was just wondering…why didn't you look for me?"

"We did look," Knockout replied, "Soundwave scanned the caves and we couldn't find a signal. We just assumed you had been…well, let's just say I was very relieved to find out that wasn't the case."

"But why didn't you actually go down there and look for me?" Breakdown pressed, "Scans don't tell you everything, especially underground. You know that."

"Those caverns are hundreds of kliks of tunnels and crevices. We didn't know where to start. Honestly, Breakdown. I wish you wouldn't take such unnecessary risks. One of the Vehicons told me this happened because you tried to squash a human. You seriously put your life in jeopardy over an insect? Honestly Breakdown, sometimes I don't know what to do with you."

Breakdown knew Knockout's scolding was born out of concern, and strangely enough that made him feel better. Still, his thoughts remained on the human. If she was so insignificant, then why did Bulkhead care so much about her? If she was nothing, then why did Breakdown feel the need to kill her? He wasn't jealous of the misguided friendship between Bulkhead and his pathetic pet…right?

The End