A/N

Been a while since I updated but saw the new TFP ep with Knockout in it and I was just focused on Knockout again! XD Good ep...

Anyway...new chapter. Things start going...downhill, so to speak. :3

XV

It felt weird going over the events again. Recalling the things he'd rather forget. It made them both consider things they hadn't before. When was the last time they sat and had a good conversation that wasn't nerve racketing to remember? When was the last time they slept for the full night, wrapping in the warmth on the blanket with each other just within reach? When was the last moment they had a breath of relief, of peace? It seemed like a lifetime ago, Kyle thought sadly. He could hardly visualize the times before. They were too far away to think about.

They talked about anything Kyle could remember. Optimus sat, listening, nodding. Kyle told about waking up with no memory what felt like long ago, going through the work of practicing a job and how he basically slid into his profession unnoticed, meeting Mary though skipping the falling in love part, and finally reached Starscream, Benny, Arcee, Airachnid and the chaos that developed by the sheer knowing of them.

"And…Knockout's memories?" Optimus finally asked.

Kyle stopped. He hadn't really considered how much of being Knock out he remembered. There were obviously something he remembered from back then otherwise he'd never recognized Airachnid or familiarized with Benny. The power to fight would be lost and most importantly, he figured, the choice of career that led him down this crazy path to begin with.

"I remember bits and pieces but nothing…full," Kyle mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "I knew to trust Benny…I mean, Breakdown but beyond that I'm fuzz on a whole lot of areas."

"If I might pop in," whispered Mary, glancing between Kyle and Optimus. "What it seems to me if that Knockout and Kyle are remaining separate just fighting for control."

"Agreed," Optimus answered.

"So we don't overflow into each other," nodded Kyle, barely speaking loud enough to be heard.

"Two strong personalities," added Optimus, not hearing Kyle's response.

"Can I ask something?" perked Kyle. "Who was Knockout…I mean what did he do? What was he like?"

"Well, I cannot answer about the personal aspects but I can say Knockout was the Decepticons main, if only, medical officer as well as an experimental technician."

"Interesting," whispered Kyle. "I'm not sure how I feel about that…"

"You want to be an Autobot?" Optimus offered.

"I want to remain human, sir," sighed Kyle. He glanced at Mary. "I want to stay Kyle and be with Mary…"

Optimus sighed but nodding. He turned away, looking down the hall leading to the main room. He knew his team was near the entrance, waiting for a verdict. It wasn't every day that an ex-Decepticon came walking in. Optimus nodded again, rubbing his chin.

"Difficult…"

"Difficult?" snapped Kyle. Mary quickly grabbed his hand.

"From what we've seen," Optimus explained, "it is only a matter of time before the…true Cybertronian nature comes out, as you have seen with your friend Benny and I'm sure you have suffered yourself."

Kyle groaned, pulling away. He turned away, facing the wall. He was trying so hard not to lose his temper. He knew it was only a matter of time…he just wished someone had a way to prolong it or stop it. He didn't want to lose what he built. He glanced at Mary. Above all, he thought, I don't want to lose Mary.

"There's nothing…" whimpered Kyle, shaking his head, "nothing to stop it…to prolong it even?"

"We don't know."

"Kyle, sweetie…" Mary whispered, turning toward him.

"I don't…" mumbled Kyle, eyeing the ground. "I don't know…what to…"

Mary placed a hand on his back, patting it slightly. She glanced at Optimus. He nodded, walking down the hall. Mary sighed, turning back to Kyle. He looked broken as if nothing was left in him. His eyes were wide, growing watery. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he looked up at her.

"I can't…" he choked.

"It doesn't matter," Mary hummed. "We're together right now, right?"

"But I don't want just right now," shouted Kyle, pulling away from her. "I want forever! I can't image life without you! I don't want to lose you!"

"Kyle," Mary whispered.

"No…You don't get it," snarled Kyle.

"Don't I!" she snapped, stomping down one foot. "I've crossed state lines for you, endangered myself for you…because I love you, sweetie…I can't imagine life without you either…"

"Then how do we let this go?" whispered Kyle, sighing.

"We enjoy today…" she nodded. "We enjoy the moments we do have together for as short as they may be."

Kyle shook his head. "That's not good enough for me."

Kyle marched passed her, traveling down the hall away from the main room. Mary stood alone, looking between the two ways. She sighed, covering her face. She collapsed to her knees, breaking down into sobs.

Meanwhile, Kyle had somehow found his way outside. He didn't stop there. He kept moving out into the desert alone. He couldn't think straight, but that seemed obvious. He had his mind and heart set on fixing his predicament permanently. He didn't want to be Knockout. He wouldn't give that Decepticon the satisfaction of winning. Kyle finally stopped, feeling the freezing desert surroundings turn warm with the rising sun. Kyle turned, watching the sun rise. He smiled lightly.

"Beautiful, huh?"

Kyle stopped, spinning around. A fist hit him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. Vision slightly blurred, it took a moment to see the approaching figure kneel over him, lifting him by the collar of his jacket. His sight slowly cleared revealing the figure's face. Kyle shook his head.

"What? Didn't you miss me?" hummed Breakdown, shoving Kyle back into the sand.

"Come now, Breakdown…we still need him."

Kyle turning his head, glancing over to his left. Airachnid stood, hands on her hip, with a look of displeasure. Kyle groaned, looking back to the sky. It was changing colors. The dark colors of night were beginning to run from the day. How strange that twelve hours earlier or later the day would run from the night.

"He still in there?"

Kyle had no strength to turn to his right. It sounded like Starscream though. Kyle cringed. Every Decepticon he knew was standing around him. Why?

"How hard did you hit him?" snapped Starscream, glaring at Breakdown. "He'll be of no use."

"We need him or you-know-who will make sure we're dead," Airachnid huffed.

"Don't you think I know that!" hissed Breakdown. He turned back to Kyle. "Knockout never did know how to handle a punch."

Breakdown lifted Kyle by the collar again. Kyle could make out a Benny's truck in the distance. He could also see Breakdown curling another fist. He cringed. Breakdown grinned.

"One more and he should be out," hummed Breakdown. "This shouldn't hurt much."

Everything went black. A few voices scattered about. He felt movement but couldn't respond. It was like being paralyzed. He couldn't make out much. His eyes opened once, seeing the inside of the truck and Breakdown in the driver's seat. Breakdown caught Kyle's wandering eye and smiled.

"Don't worry, buddy. We've got a friend who is going to be overjoyed to see you. He may not show it of course but that don't matter," Breakdown nodded. Kyle began blacking out again. "Yep, when you wake up…you'll get a nice like chat with Soundwave…"

A/N 2

Anyone happy to hear from one of the Decepticons I've been dying to introduce because I sure am... :D