We all know Knock Out - he's vain, annoying, and quite frankly, could use a Unicron-sized smack upside the head. But, maybe we're wrong. Maybe he's changed. What if he wasn't always a Decepticon?
The Nemesis:
Humiliated. That one word said it all. He had been struck down by a single blow from the Autobot scout, and as if that wasn't enough, he lost the sample of the synthetic energon Ratchet had perfected.
"KNOCK OUT!" He heard Megatron roar.
The Decepticon medic stifled a metallic groan. Now he was going to get chewed out by his leader. Great, this is the last thing I need.
"KNOCK OUT!" The frustrated shout came again.
Gritting his teeth, Knock Out stalked into the Nemesis' command center. "Yes, Lord Megatron?"
"You miserable, half-witted excuse for a Decepticon!" The medic flinched as Megatron pointed the rifle he'd had modified at him. "You lost the sample!"
My paint job. That was the first thing that went through the medic's CPU. He cringed. Always worrying about his paint job. It seemed pathetic, even to Knock Out himself. He remembered with a shudder the time he came back from street racing and failed to address Starscream with the 'proper' title. He was still trying to get rid of some of those scratches.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself, Knock Out?" Megatron asked, directing an obvious venom at him.
"Only that I will not fail you again."
"See that you do not, or else..." Megatron left the threat open, firing his rifle just to scare the medic. Then, he turned around. It grazed the paint on Knock Out's head.
Knock Out's optics flew wide in outrage, his vocorder emitting an annoyed hiss. Now he would have to redo his entire topcoat.
"Again I ask, is there anything you would like to say, Knock Out?"
Fighting to keep from raising his energon prod, the medic contented himself with a sarcastic, "No, Lord Megatron."
"Then you may go," Megatron replied steadily, "And next time, I expect you not to fail me."
Once more, he had to restrain from blasting the back of Megatron's arrogant head. Things were so much simpler back then... He backed out, retreating to the relative safety of his Medical Bay. But it's over now. They hate me. I can never go back there - no matter how bad things get here.
Autobot Base:
"Good job, 'Bee!" Bulkhead complimented the small scout.
Arcee playfully punched his shoulder. "I've never seen Knock Out drive so fast."
Bumblebee beeped a series of high-pitched notes.
"It was impressive." Optimus agreed, albeit a bit stiffly.
Regardless, Bumblebee accepted the praise from his comrades. He let out a low beep when he saw his human friend, Raf, walk toward him.
"How'd it go?" Raf asked.
Another long string of complicated notes from Bumblebee.
Miko pouted from her perch on Bulkhead's shoulder. "I can't believe I missed the battle."
"Only because Jack warned me you were trying to run into the GroundBridge." Ratchet retorted easily.
She sulked even more, asking Bullkhead if he wanted to go 'dune bashing', whatever that was.
"Sure, Miko." The large green 'bot replied, setting her down so he could transform. "Just hold on a second, alright?"
All of a sudden, Miko gave a startled shriek. She ran out of the room screaming, arms waving wildly. Bulkhead looked confused, as did Arcee and Optimus. Jack and Raf merely smiled, casting bemused glances in the direction she'd fled. Ratchet rolled his optics, concentrating on his work.
"Spider." Explained Jack. "For some reason, she's terrified of spiders." He shrugged, not realizing Miko was doing her best to loom threateningly over him. Quite difficult for the small girl, considering she was at least a head shorter. But that didn't stop her from trying.
"I'm not scared of spiders!" She yelled, taking a deep breath. "And I'm most certainly not scared of you!"
Raf laughed, as did all the others. Even Optimus chuckled slightly. Ratchet stopped, looking confused.
"Where did you run off to?" He asked, glancing at Miko.
"I found an empty room." She said, making a gesture that communicated that this was a 'no duh' situation. "By the way, why is there a holoscan of Knock Out in your database?"
Ratchet froze, as if he'd been startled. "What holoscan?" He asked warily. "Knock Out is a Decepticon. Why would my database have a holoscan of him?" The medic seemed to get increasingly nervous as more 'bots turned to look at him.
Then, the comm station beeped, receiving a message. Relieved, Ratchet went to answer it.
"Hello, doctor," Came a smug voice, one that sounded very, veryfamiliar. "Care to have a chat, medic-to-medic?"
"I'd rather be back on the battlefield." Ratchet snapped back with ease.
"Be careful what you wish for, Ratchet," Knock Out growled over the static. "You may find yourself back in the fighting sooner than you think." A metallic sigh echoed in the confined space. "Just a brief conversation? I'll tell you how to fix your Autobots more efficiently if you help me with a little problem."
"A little problem, Knock Out?" Arcee scoffed. "With you, nothing is ever little."
"Ha. Ha. Ha." What would have been menacing in person sounded pathetic over the transmission. "Laugh it up, Autobot. I'll have you know Megatron is planning to kill your little human friend."
Arcee had to be restrained from destroying the screen. She had been increasingly protective of Jack ever since the MECH attack last month. Silas had been after the children because they stopped him from getting the DNGS.
Ratchet sighed. "Arcee, I would appreciate it if you refrained from causing the destruction of a device that might be of use to us later. As is, we need the screen."
The Nemesis:
Knock Out punched the wall in frustration, but that only succeeded in activating the pain sensors in his hand and arm. "Will you listen to me?" He shouted, instantly realizing that some other Decepticon might hear. That stupid Arcee wasn't understanding anything he said. He lowered his volume significantly, so that his voice carried only as far as the screen in front of him. "I need to talk to Ratchet... alone. I don't want to tell him anything, but I'm willing to, if he helps me with my little problem."
He heard Optimus Prime's distinctive voice pattern being distorted by the poor transceiver. "What guarantee have we that you are not planning an ambush?"
"This does not concern anyone but Ratchet and myself. I will say one word, and if he does not understand, then I will not bother you again."
"What in Primus' name are you blathering on about, Knock Out?" Ratchet demanded.
"One word, Ratchet - Socin."
"Start. Talking." The Autobot medic growled, much to the shock of his comrades. Apparently, they didn't know Ratchet could get that angry. You poor Autobots, you have no idea how much you don't know about your medic.
"Not so fast." Knock Out teased, smiling in spite of himself. "I'm sending you coordinates if you want to know more." He said, satisfied that he'd frustrated the Autobots, a cruel smirk twisting his faceplate.
"I'll go." This time, Ratchet did not hesitate.
"I'm coming with you." Arcee said.
"Agreed." Bulkhead added.
The scout beeped a complex string of high and low-pitched notes, obviously wanting to accompany Ratchet as well.
Knock Out nearly laughed at them, but he had to keep up his appearance. Instead he brandished his weapon, charging it with a swift swipe from a beam of pure energy. "Oh, and Ratchet, come alone."