True to his word, Knock Out returned the next day, although it was late afternoon when he finally arrived. He found all the doors to Diana's shop wide open, probably to provide her with a breeze as she was bent over the front end of a car, buried under it's hood and working.

She hadn't heard him arrive, probably due to the noisy tool she had in hand, and Knock Out had to grin. "Oh too perfect." he hummed softly, a smirk in his voice as he ever so carefully rolled up behind her, halting mere inches from her heels before sounding his horn and shouting. "Hey pinkie!"

Diana shrieked, bolting upright and cracking her head on the hood, dropping her tool and staggering back from the car.

Regret instantly filled the Medic as she stumbled back and he did his best to catch her, letting her sprawl across his hood on her backside. "Squishy?"

"What the fuck was that for!?" she wailed, still laying on her back, both hands clinging to her head. "You won't be happy until you've split my head open, will you?"

"I didn't mean for that to happen, I just wanted to scare you." he spoke softly, sheepishly.

Diana had to laugh at his quiet tone. "Well, mission accomplished Knocks." She sat up with a groan, keeping her right hand against her head, sitting on the edge of his hood. "I'm not bleeding am I? I'd hate you get you all icky."

Knock Out was quiet a moment, first trying to process the little nickname she'd given him, and the affectionate tone she'd used to say it. Secondly, pondering the fact that she may have bled on him. "I sincerely hope not." he muttered, though he was still more concerned about her.

She chuckled softly, standing and turning to face him so she could inspect his hood. "All good, how about me?" she bowed her head forwards.

The bot transformed, ending the process in a kneeling position so he could examine her head. "You're leaking." he said in a hushed tone, worry in his optics. "We need to solder the wound before you lose too much."

He lifted his right hand and Diana watched with wide eyes as the appendage changed until it was the Cybertronian version of a soldering gun.

"Hey hey!" she re-grasped her head in her hands, her work gloves still covering the extremities. "Humans don't solder! We're squishy, remember?"

"Oh, right." he paused, letting his hand reform into its usual appearance. "Medic mode, sorry." he offered a slight grin.

She had to laugh. "Well, I appreciate the concern, but I think it's okay." she pulled her gloves off, carefully feeling the small cut on her scalp. "Yeah, not bad, it'll scab up and heal."

Knock Out tipped his head to the side. "Humans have self repair protocols?"

"I guess, it's natural though, not a protocol. You guys work like that?"

"Yes, we can initiate it if we have to, but if it's overly bad we go into stasis while our body attempts to repair itself." he gestured to himself with one hand.

"Stasis?" she arched a brow.

"Like, a standby mode. We use it to rest or sleep as you say, that sort of stasis we can wake from on our own, but if stasis is induced or forced it sometimes takes outside action to rouse us, like your human coma."

"So, if you can repair yourselves, why do you need doctors?"

He rolled his optics, as if she had asked something absurd. "Because repair can take a long time, and if it's a bad enough injury, it may not be able to fix itself at all."

"So it's like the doctors here, while we can heal ourselves to some extent, they can work faster and better." she nodded a little, turning to examine the engine of the car she'd been working on.

"Precisely, that is why I was put among the Decepticon ranks, field medics were in short supply during the war." he leaned forwards a tad, watching her intently.

"Well, that sounds noble, the desire to help others." her voice was muffled a bit, as she had ducked back underneath the hood.

He blinked at her words. Never had he considered himself or his actions noble, and certainly none of the Decepticons regarded him as such a mech.

A clang and curse from Diana drew his attention back to her as she pulled herself from under the hood.

"It's too corroded, can't get it off." she sighed, setting her hands on her hips and scowling at the vehicle. "I need to get that lift fixed, so I can get underneath."

Knock Out glanced about, noticing the lift she'd mentioned in the center bay. "What's the matter with it."

"I think the hydraulics are shot." she stepped around him and walked over to the lift, tightening the knot of her coveralls as she walked as she had only slipped into the legs, tying the sleeves about her waist.

"Hydraulics?" he hummed thoughtfully, following her and kneeling down again once she'd stopped. "I could fix that."

"Is there anything you can't fix?" she smirked, turning her azure gaze on him.

"If there is, I'm not aware of it." he grinned, nudging her gently with his elbow. "Aside from humans."

"Look who's not afraid to touch the squishy anymore!" she laughed, turning to face him.

"Eh, you're not so bad." he shrugged, looking away to avoid her gaze. He took to inspecting the lift, frowning a little. "All of your human tech is so slagging tiny though, it's difficult, I'd hate to see Breakdown trying to do this." he couldn't help but laugh at the idea of his partner, and probably last friend, trying to tinker with the tiny mechanics.

"Who's that?"

"He's, a very old friend, my partner." Knock Out glanced over to her, mouth working as he tried to find the right words. "He's my assistant, no where near as refined or skilled as I am, all he knows he learned from me."

"Friends sounded like a rarity when we talked yesterday, you must be glad you have him around." she smiled, reaching one of her feet forwards to nudge her boot against his leg.

"True, sometimes I think he's the only one who really, gets me, and he's the only one who covers for me when I sneak off the ship." he lifted his right hand, moving his index and middle fingers to mimic a pair of legs walking.

Diana chuckled. "I'll have to thank him."

Knock Out tensed a little, looking to her. "Meeting him, or any other bot would be, unwise."

"Why is that?" she arched a brow, stepping away from him and moving for the open garage doors.

"Well, let's start with the fact that the Decepticons despise humans." he rose from his kneeling position, following her out into the sunshine.

"Well isn't that too bad for them, this planet's covered with us." she grinned, undoing the knotted sleeves around her waist and wriggling out of her coveralls, a rather interesting task given she still had her work boots on.

"Well, if Megatron has his way." the Medic trailed off, deciding it better not to continue.

Diana didn't need him to finish, having a pretty good idea as to what Megatron's way was. "Well if he comes near me, I'll punch him in the throat."

Knock Out laughed at that, trying to imagine her taking on the monstrous leader. "That would be a bad idea."

"Hey, I'm a big tough girl, I can handle some robot." she tossed her coveralls back inside the shop, not caring where they landed.

"Right, how could I have missed that. Little human, seething with rage, it's terrifying, really." he lifted both his hands, feigning fear.

"You think you're so funny." she laughed, advancing on him with her hands raised, fingers curled to resemble claws. "Just wait until I get my hands on that paint job!"

"Primus forbid!" Knock Out wailed, falling over on his backside and squirming away from her, a laugh in his voice despite his mocked horror.

And then, to his surprise, she climbed his leg and scrambled over him until she was standing on his chest, staring down at him. "You're mine now bolt breath!" She still had her hands raised menacingly, a grin on her lips.

Knock Out was quiet, his face seemingly frozen as he just studied her. He finally spoke, his voice low, soft as velvet. "In that case, I surrender to you, my lady."

It was Diana's turn to freeze, her hands slowly lowering until they hung at her sides, her eyes scrutinizing his face.

He didn't miss the shade of pink that her cheeks flushed.

She eventually found her voice, clearing her throat and setting her hands on her hips. "In that case, I declare you my slave, for as long as I see fit."

Knock Out gave a soft hum, a rumble rising with it. "Mmm, and what would you have me do?"

"The obvious, we're going for a drive." she grinned, still trying to hide the blush on her face.

"If that is your desire." he sat up carefully, smirking as she squeaked at the movement. He moved his left hand to his chest so she could step into his palm and then stood slowly, being ever so careful with the creature in his hand.

Diana was a little surprised by his move, deciding that sitting on her heels was most comfortable. "This is, fun." she said carefully, a smile rising to her face as she glanced up to him, elated to see he wore a similar smile.

"And where does my lady desire to go?" he lifted his hand until she was even with his face.

"Hmm." she touched a finger to her lips, putting on a show of pondering. "I think we shall go to the mountains Jeeves."

"Jeeves?" he arched a brow at her.

"It's a joke, movies and stuff always call butlers and chauffeurs Jeeves, so it's just a funny thing to say." she smiled, studying his face again. "You know, you have really pretty eyes."

He went still at her words, blinking twice. "My optics?"

"Yes, I like them."

He'd never really considered his eyes attractive before, granted they were unique when compared to most other bots in the manner that they were more similar to a humans; a pupil, iris and a sclera, instead of the engulfing glow of the other Decepticons. "Well, I like yours too." he finally said.

Diana smiled, the crimson hue returning to her face. "Thanks."

"Really, they're surprisingly, vivid, when compared to other humans. As far as I can tell, very few humans have such brilliantly colored eyes, at least naturally."

"You looked that up?"

"Yes." he shrugged gently, a tad embarrassed that he'd just confessed to researching something solely about her.

If it bothered her, she didn't say anything, only wriggled in his hand. "Well, are we going to go or not?"

He gave her a wicked grin. "Hold onto your aft." With a laugh he tossed her in the air, leaping and shifting about her so she was seated in the passenger seat when he finished the process.

She had made no sound during it and only sat wide eyed in her seat, worrying him for a moment that'd he'd hurt her. He was about to speak when she laughed, tossing her hands above her head.

"That was awesome!" she squealed, cheering ecstatically.

Relief surged through him and he laughed, shifting gears and tearing out of the gravel lot, making sure to shut the doors to the shop as they departed. "So, the mountains, where are we headed?"

"It's a surprise." she winked.

Diana wouldn't tell him where they were headed, all he knew was that it was a much longer trip than their one yesterday. When she finally told him they were close, the sun was beginning to set.

"Now, it's a bit of a hike. we just need to be sure no one's around, but most hikers and tourists are in the more populated areas." she directed him to the side of the road, nothing but trees and rock on either side, giving way to mountains beyond that.

"I don't see anyone." he said, opening his door for her so she could skip out into the dusk.

"Alright, I think we'll be okay once we get to the peak." she pointed to one of the mountain tops.

"You want to go up there?" he balked, shifting into his regular mode and following her point with his optics. "It's a mountain! And you, you're so fragile."

"I hike a lot mister, I can handle it." she headed off into the woods, vanishing from sight with a few steps.

Knock Out sighed with frustration, following her into the trees. "If I get scratched."

"Yeah yeah, you'll smush me." her voice called from somewhere ahead. "Hurry up slow poke."

He scoffed, speeding his pace until he met her where the ground began to incline, leading up the mountain.

Diana took a few steps up the rock face, the loose stones shifting under her boots and sending her back down with a soft grunt.

"See, you're going to fall." Knock Out bent, without thinking really, and plucked her up in his right hand.

"I won't fall." she pouted, scowling up at him.

Knock Out shook his head, continuing upwards. While he too slid occasionally, he had a much easier time moving forwards and was able to move quicker than they would have been able to with Diana on the ground. "Why didn't you pick a more suitable path?"

"Because all the easy paths are crawling with people, and seeing you would cause a fuss." she had shifted in his hand so she was facing forwards, her legs dangling over the edge of his hand, her own hands on his thumb for stability.

"Fair enough." he agreed, smirking as they reached the plateau of the mountain top. "Alright, now what."

"Just sit and watch." she smiled, turning to look at him.

Knock Out rolled his optics but obeyed nevertheless, lowering himself to sit with her still in his grasp. He had found enough of a hill that he could lean back against it, reclining slightly. The mech rested his hand against his chest, Diana not bothering to move from his palm. "What are we waiting for?" A flicker of light caught his eye and he glanced across the mountain range before them, his voice catching in his throat at the sight.

The sun had almost slipped below the horizon, bathing the peaks in a palette of golds, pinks, oranges and reds. Enough of the mountains had snow on them that they glistened in the light, reflecting the colors amongst one another.

"I thought you'd like it." Diana said softly, sitting with her legs crossed.

He still couldn't find his voice, gaze transfixed on the glimmering spectacle before him. "It's, like Crystal City." he murmured.

"Probably not exactly like it, but, the best I could do." she smiled up at him, almost blinking in surprise to see he was staring at her, his expression stunned. "You okay?"

"No one has, ever done something like this for me." he spoke quietly, lifting her so she was near his face, eye to eye. "Thank you, Diana."

She smiled again, reaching a hand out to rest on his face. "Anytime Knocks."

He smiled as well, relishing the warmth of the late sun and her touch, logging away the sensation in his memory.

When the sun had finally set and the stars came out, they had taken some time to stargaze, Knock Out trying to explain where Cybertron was located when viewed from Earth. Only when Diana started shivering in the cold did they decide to head back down, Knock Out quickly shifting into the form of the Aston Martin upon reaching the road and heating himself so he could warm her.

"It must be so strange, to look up and see a completely foreign sky." Diana had taken her boots off, sitting with her legs curled underneath herself in her seat.

"Honestly, I'd never really studied the sky before, too busy with other things."

"Fair enough." she smiled, closing her eyes and sighing contentedly, her pale face illuminated only by the lights on his dashboard. She couldn't explain why she was so at ease with him, logic dictated she should be putting as much distance between herself and an alien robot, a bad team alien robot, as possible. But instead she found herself smiling whenever she thought of him, a warmth settling in her chest. She blinked her eyes open, did she have a crush on a car?

"Frag." Knock Out's disturbed voice jerked her back to reality.

"What is it?"

"Company." he growled, shifting his mirrors to focus on the two sets of lights behind him. "Oh this is so not good."

Diana blinked in confusion as he accelerated, faster than he ever had when with her. "What's wrong?"

"Just sit tight, alright? Stay down." his tone was serious, a hint of venom to his words.

She nodded, quickly pulling her boots back on and hastily lacing them up before glancing behind them at the lights. "One bike, one car."

"Arcee and Bumblebee, just my luck." he took a hard right, tearing off of the road and into the lower peaks of the mountains that gave way to the red of the desert.

"Who are they?"

"Autobots."

The pair of vehicles on their tail followed, both coming up quickly.

A flurry of curse words left Knock Out as the path he'd been tearing along ended, nothing but canyon walls before them. He skidded to a halt, whipping a one eighty to face the two Autobots. "Get out, hide, run when you're clear." he ordered, opening the door and all but shoving her out.

"I'm not going to run away!" she protested, getting out but staying beside him, almost shouting in a panic as she watched him transform.

"Just fragging do it Diana!" he looked down at her, a glare on his face.

She finally gave a slight nod, turning and running to some nearby boulders, ducking behind them and hiding.

The two Autobots slid to a halt a few meters away from Knock Out, both shifting into their own bipedal forms, weapons glowing bright blue and ready, trained on Knock Out.

"Knock Out." the smaller of the two, and obviously female, spat.

"Arcee." he glanced to the equally angry looking yellow bot. "Bumblebee, to what do I owe the pleasure?

Diana peered out from the rocks, watching the trio carefully.

"What are you doing out here 'con?" Arcee growled, she and her comrade holding their ground despite Knockout not moving.

"Just out for a little drive, lovely night for that sort of thing." Knock Out hummed, taking on his usual suave persona.

"You're out racing again, with the humans." the blue bot said, glaring. "We told you to stay away from them."

"Oh puh-lease, I'm beyond petty activities like that." the red bot scoffed, waving a hand about.

Diana had to shoot him a look, what a liar.

"I don't buy it." Arcee said, the yellow bot giving a soft beep, which seemed to be an agreement.

"Well, you have no proof I'm lying, so what are you going to do hmm?" Knock Out tilted his head to the side, watching the pair.

Without a word the female dashed forwards, her hands shifting from cannons into her regular hands, though two blades adorned her forearms. The yellow bot ran after her, leveling his own weapons at Knock Out, firing a round that slammed into the Medics chest to send him falling backwards.

"Don't!" Diana's voice rang out, the blonde darting from behind the rocks to jump between the Autobots and Knock Out.

"Diana!" Knock Out shouted, his optics wide as he watched the little female step before him, her hands flung out to the sides, protecting him.

Both of the Autobots skidded to a halt, their own optics as wide as Knock Out's.

"A human?!" Arcee seemed stunned. "What are you doing with a human Knock Out!"

Bumblebee gave a series of chirps, the sounds equally furious.

"He was taking me home." Diana spoke before Knock Out could, the Decepticon still lying on his backside, arms propping himself up. "Please don't hurt him."

The blue bot stalked forwards. "Look human, you have no idea what he's done, what he's capable of doing!"

Diana frowned, holding her ground, glaring right back at the female.

Arcee growled, shaking her head. "I can't leave you with him, he's dangerous! I need to get you out of here, now." she glanced to Bumblebee. "Call Optimus."

Knock Out leapt up at her words, dashing forwards to gather Diana in his hands. "No!"

The Autobots raised their weapons again, Arcee yelling at him. "Put her down Knock Out!"

The Medic back pedaled furiously, speaking to someone not present. "Anytime Breakdown."

A flash of green appeared behind he and Diana. The bot turned, running into the portal, Arcee screaming after him as the pair vanished in the emerald light.

Diana closed her eyes as the light swept over them, the sensation of vertigo overtaking her. She opened her eyes when the feeling passed and the light faded, trying to make sense of her surroundings. "Where, are we?"

Knock Out was breathing heavily, both hands keeping her tucked against his chest. "The Nemesis."