Autobot Base:
Today marked the first time Jack and Knock Out had actually talked. Without yelling at each other, that is. It wasn't to last.
"So you were the hum- one who was street racing with Bumblebee that day…" Knock Out mused. He had just finished repairing his paintjob, but no one would tell him it looked the same as before he had 'fixed it.'
"Vince challenged me. What was I supposed to do, refuse?"
"Arcee probably would have liked it better."
"What do you know about it?" Jack snarled. Suddenly he lost his good humor.
Knock Out's optics flashed. "Hey, what do you mean what do I know about it?" He leaned down so he was on eye level with the human. "She's your guardian," he poked Jack with one finger. "And she doesn't want you to get hurt. It's simple. Of course I guessed. It's typical of Autobots to gain emotional attachments to their charges, and apparently, Arcee thinks of you as a partner rather than a weak human she has to take care of. She respects you. The other Autobots respect you. What other human could have restored Prime's memories? And yet you ask me what I know about it? Use that simple processor of yours. Think about it for yourself." Then he walked away.
Jack stood stunned for a moment. Knock Out had snapped at him before, but never like that. Then again, Jack had never indirectly insulted the medic's intelligence before, either.
Some Lonely Desert Road:
Knock Out kept his speed down; calming his rising anger by listening to a CD Miko gave him by a band that went by the name of Green Day. Personally, he didn't understand how a day could be green, and said as much to the Japanese girl, who simply told him that it wasn't supposed to make sense. This only succeeded in confusing the medic even more.
The song that was playing was called 'Know Your Enemy'. Not a bad song, when you considered the tune, but the words held a deeper meaning for Knock Out.
It was loud and barely understandable, but the music quelled some of his frustration.
After two minutes of listening to it, he gave up and turned it off. He'd tell Miko later that he'd listened to the whole thing, but for now, he had a lot on his mind.
Was it really a good thing that the Autobots knew he was one of them? Even more important to him, should he have left the message for Breakdown?
The answer was no on both counts. He could still be a good double-agent if the Autobots didn't know. He could have fixed Starscream on his own if he'd just thought a little more without getting so frustrated. If he hadn't left the message, then maybe his friend wouldn't be dead.
It was just in his nature to tease and taunt, to leave a challenge open for someone to take after he'd been discovered. It was just his way, like how sensitive he was about his paintjob. He couldn't have not done it, because to him that would have seemed like admitting that he wasn't good at his job.
All he had wanted to do was talk. He had planned to rendezvous with Breakdown and explain – twisting the story to make it seem he was still loyal to the Decepticon cause, of course – but that all fell apart when Prime insisted that he stay in base so as not to 'attract attention'.
He sighed. "Ratchet, what's the nearest deposit?"
"Just a click north of your current position, why?"
If he'd been in his main form, Knock Out would have been smirking.
"Figured I'd mind as well do something useful while I'm out here. You got a problem with that?"
"None, Knock Out. I'll inform Optimus. Be sure to call if you need backup."
"Ratchet, since when have you known me to need backup?"
"Stay away from any Decepticons that get in the way. I don't want to have to fix you again."
"I'll be fine. I'm not an apprentice anymore. Besides, I think I can handle a couple of Vehicons."
He ended the transmission there, not bothering to ask for exact coordinates.
Autobot Base:
"Knock Ou – he hung up. Why am I not surprised?"
"What's he done this time?" Bulkhead asked the now familiar question while Ratchet was still speaking.
"Do you mean what's he done, or what's he going to do?"
The former Wrecker thought about it. "Depends – which is worse?"
Ratchet sighed audibly. This was going to get interesting. "He's scouting an energon deposit."
"Think he'll welcome a little help?" Bulkhead hadn't really interacted with the newest member of their team, so that was probably what he was trying to do.
"He usually doesn't welcome any help. But if you're willing to put up with him, I can bridge you there." Ratchet decided to help him along.
"Nah, I'll drive," the green 'bot replied. "Uses less energon that way."
He transformed, using one of the many concealed exits to leave.
Energon Deposit North of Jasper:
This was the quietest he'd ever seen Knock Out. The red medic was usually talking someone's head off at this point, but right then, he was silent.
Bulkhead tried to match Knock Out's calm appearance, but couldn't quite get it.
"You're going to fall if you step there." Knock Out only spoke when he thought something was going to happen.
"Uh, right."
"If you want to help, you can scout the other side. Might be some Decepticon miners around. It's a pretty big deposit."
Bulkhead nodded, a bit put off by the other mech's curt tone.
Around an hour later, Bulkhead had found no energon where Knock Out had sent him.
"Knock Out," he called into his comlink. No response. "Knock Out, respond. Knock Out?"
He waited for a moment, but there was no reply. He switched his frequency.
"Ratchet, do you read?"
"Ratchet's busy, Bulk. What do you need?" Arcee's voice came through his comlink
"I'm not getting a response from Knock Out. Thought it might be an equipment malfunction, but I got through to base. You got a reading on him?"
"He's still there, Bulk. His signal's right near yours. You don't think…"
"Actually, I do. Could you send backup? I think our new friend's just gotten himself into a scrapheap of trouble."
Energon Deposit North of Jasper:
Knock Out had been drilling patiently for energon when he showed up. Starscream. Asking what the medic was doing in such close proximity to the Autobot Bulkhead.
Knock Out, of course, had no answer. What could he possibly say? That he was unaware there was an enemy warrior that close? The only logical thing he could say was to tell him that he was, in fact, an Autobot, which he did.
So he said it. That was his first mistake. Now he had an enraged seeker chasing him, and he had damaged his comlink when Starscream fired on him. So he couldn't call for the backup he was still sure he wouldn't need, or let his new comrade know what he had gotten himself into.
Of course, it didn't help that Starscream had brought a contingent of Vehicons with him.
He should fight back, but he couldn't. No matter how long he remembered that he was never a Decepticon, he couldn't see the Vehicons or Starscream as enemies.
Now he was backed up against a wall, staring down what must have been twenty Vehicons, plus the Decepticon Second in Command.
And that's when the Autobots showed up.
Knock Out had to admit, their fighting skills were good, but they hadn't spent most of their lives training for combat. The Decepticons had.
If he had his – wait, he did have it. He'd found his energon prod while he was looking for the buffer. Now all he had to do was join the battle.
He transformed, heading into the thick of things. He hoped being around the other Autobots would help keep him focused on which side he was on, but it didn't.
No matter where he looked, no matter who was fighting who, Knock Out could not see any enemies.
Starscream noticed his hesitation, and took the opportunity to strafe him with missiles. "Come on, coward! Forgotten your training already? The Autobots have made you weak!"
Knock Out closed his optics and did the only thing that made sense.
He attacked.
When he heard Starscream sound a retreat at last, he stopped. Then he opened his optics warily, afraid of the carnage he'd caused.
He balked when he saw who was under his prod.
Bumblebee.