Autobot Base:
"Surely you're not thinking of going to meet that…that Decepticon, are you?" Bulkhead's voice was somewhere between shock that Ratchet would actually go, and disgust that Knock Out would ask.
Ratchet ignored the question, packing his medical kit.
"It's most likely a trap." Arcee growled.
Bumblebee was too busy holding a discussion with Raf to notice the argument occurring behind him.
Optimus scowled doubtfully. "Megatron has played such tricks before. How can we be sure that he did not engage Knock Out in this one?"
"If it is a trap," muttered Ratchet, taking a brief second from organizing his things to answer his comrades. "I knew Knock Out before the war started - he wasn't as evil."
"Yet, you admit he was evil then." Bulkhead mused. One had to hand it to the Wrecker; he wasn't as dumb as he looked. "Who's to say he isn't planning to ambush you?"
"You heard what he said!" Ratchet yelled, snapping Bumblebee out of his conversation. "Socin - the former Decepticon capital - the one place where Insecticons run rampant. If you go there, there is no possible way to get out alive."
Bumblebee beeped once, turning to join the argument. He took a step forward, completely ignorant of Ratchet's medical kit lying in the way. A sickening crunch came from the metal tools. The scout moaned a quick apology, knowing full well what was going to come next.
"Bumblebee, I Needed That!"
The Nemesis:
"Check," Knock Out thought he would die if he didn't get away from there, "check – Hey, watch it you lumbering fool!"
Breakdown's massive frame had nearly succeeded in destroying two of Knock Out's favorite weapons – the null-ray he'd suggested for Starscream when the latter had lost his arm, and the sonic cannon he designed himself.
The medic snatched up another tool, saving it from being crushed. His assistants could be so clumsy. No wonder they didn't last long. "Breakdown, why don't you go boss around the Vehicons? Maybe harass an Autobot on patrol?"
"Uh… sure, Knock Out" Came the confused reply.
When Breakdown left, Knock Out checked on his newest patient: a Decepticon so stupid as to go visit Tyger Pax and Socin. Who else could it be, but the so-called master of flight himself, the traitorous second-in-command, Starscream? No change in the readings. Perhaps he could exchange the meeting with Ratchet for a much preferred ambush instead? Unfortunately, he had no such luck. Critical. Critical. Critical. That stupid diagnostic meter wouldn't shut up. Critical. Critical. Critical. "Would you quit that incessant beeping, you infernally useless machine?" It sounded like that ridiculous Autobot scout – what was his name? Right. – Bumblebee. But to no avail. Critical. Critical. Critical. Criti- Knock Out had had it with his new toy. After only a week and a half, he destroyed it.
"Knock Out?" said a Vehicon. "You in there?"
"Of course I'm in here, you moron!" Knock Out didn't even have to ask. Someone had heard him wreck his diagnostic meter, and came to see what all the commotion was about. But he asked anyway.
"We heard a racket," The drone responded. "Came to see if anything broke."
Knock Out groaned, leaning on the worktable. "If you intend on continuing to ask me absurd questions, then I advise you to leave before you become my next project." At that heavy footsteps retreated quickly from the doorway.
Autobot Base:
Ratchet angrily pulled out the tools he needed for a medical kit. Why was he stuck with the clumsiest 'bots in the ranks? Well, maybe not the clumsiest, but certainly the most accident-prone.
Bumblebee beeped apologetically – for what, the third time now? – trying his best to cheer the most distant of the Autobots up. He shrieked in surprise when Bulkhead and Arcee snuck up behind him.
"Okay, okay. Sorry!" Bulkhead raised his hands in the universal signal for surrender as his little yellow friend beeped furiously at him. Bumblebee pushed him, sending the bigger 'bot crashing into the wall of the silo. "Oh, that is it!" Bulkhead tackled his teammate, and the two wrestled on the ground, throwing punches and otherwise beating the other up.
Even Arcee, the most level-headed of the three, was startled by 'Bee's sudden change of mood. "Hey, calm down," She snapped, pulling the two mechs apart. "Hey, cut it out! Both of you!" Soon, she was engaged in the scuffle as well.
The medic stood, his faceplate twisted in an angry grimace. Where was Optimus when you needed him? The comm station chirped. Of course, on patrol.
"Ratchet, do you read?"
"Loud and clear, commander." Ratchet responded, bringing up another screen.
"Decepticons sighted dangerously close to headquarters. Inform the others."
"Affirmative." To the three fighting he yelled, "Are your audio receptors malfunctioning? There are Decepticons close by!"
They just stared at him – blank looks of confusion and complete puzzlement – they didn't understand.
"Well?" The medic snarled, "Don't just stand there!"
"Right."
"Thank Primus they got the message." Ratchet murmured, concentrating on finding his tools once more.
Somewhere in the Desert:
Breakdown had insisted that Knock Out come on the recon mission. Fun, he'd called it. Well, what fun it turned out to be.
"As much as I love our little skirmishes, hammer time." Ooh, surprise there – Breakdown knew the word skirmish, and used it correctly in a sentence. Although, he did make a mess of the ending.
"Not. A. Chance." Bulkhead growled, shooting a couple of Vehicons.
Knock Out laughed manically as he took out Arcee.
"I always knew you were crazy, Decepticreep, and the laugh proves it."
The femme hissed.
"Decepticreep?" Knock Out asked, mildly offended. "My, my, what a nasty quip. Perhaps it would have been better off if you lost your vocorder instead of your yellow comrade."
"Bumblebee… his name is Bumblebee." Arcee retorted, straining, still trying to get up.
"Was Bumblebee," commented a Vehicon, nodding to Breakdown, who was having fun repeatedly blasting the defenseless scout in the back.
"Rrrr… Shut up!" Then she noticed Bumblebee. Her jaw dropped, and she stopped struggling. "'Bee." Arcee's voice had dropped to a frightened whisper. "Bulkhead! Bulkhead, help 'Bee!"
The large mech seemed to realize that his teammate was in trouble for the first time. He barreled into Breakdown at full speed, pounding huge dents and tearing gashes in the Decepticon's armor. And guess who was going to have to fix that. Knock Out.
"Drive?" Knock Out asked, one again saving his partner from being pummeled to deactivation.
"Drive," agreed Breakdown.
"Scrap." Cursed the red medic when he saw the Autobots closing in fast on him.
"Uh, Soundwave, requesting GroundBridge back to base," He heard a nervous Vehicon say into a comlink.
The swirling blue-gold vortex opened up in front of them, and the swiftly entered, transforming at the last possible second.
Later…
"Did you hear them?" Breakdown laughed to Knock Out. "Those Autobots were screaming so loud I bet they heard them clear to the stars!"
Highly amusing. Knock Out remained silent, unable to share in his assistant's satisfaction. Then, something occurred to him. Screaming… Stars. Primus help me, I forgot about Starscream!
He rushed into the medical bay to find his patient in worse condition than before. Critical. Critical. Critical. Someone had replaced the diagnostic meter. Soundwave, no doubt.
Knock Out worked frantically to restore the second-in-command into a stable condition. Again, no change. The beeping increased in pitch and speed, until the noise seemed to deafen the medic.
"Any luck?" Breakdown called over the beeping.
"Megatron will have my head!"
"Apparently not. Sorry I asked." The lumbering 'Con backed out as quickly as he'd entered.
Undisclosed Location:
Two portals opened in close proximity with each other. As they closed, two mechs stepped out – one all red, the other mostly white with red stripes.
The red one pulled out an Energon Prod, pointing it at the other. Just as quickly, the red and white mech drew long swords, brandishing them with practiced ease.
Promptly, they both threw their weapons on the ground. The red one laughed.
"Good show, Ratchet, I didn't think you had it in you."
"Same goes for you Knock Out."
The two shook hands, saying at the same time, "Good to see you, old friend."