Without further ado, enjoy!

Warnings: I do NOT own TFP or its characters I only own my OCs! Possible wrong grammar and misspells, please don't hate me.

Lets roll out!

Chapter 12: On the path we walk

….

Crossflare POV

I learned of Mercy's confrontation with Airachnid much later than should have. What bugged me more than the actual problem was that Mercy has already processed it and spoke of it with a calmer mind than I was used to at times like this. Whenever she crossed paths with that femme, Mercy came to me in tears, desperately questioning why Airachnid was against her so stubbornly.

The truth was that Airachnid had a problem with all of us but she found joy in satisfying her sadistic needs with terrorizing the emotionally weakest of us. That I warned the femme to keep her mouth shut didn't work of course. Now that she was the official second-in-command, I had to be careful with how I addressed her because she had authority over all of the crew. We weren't playing by the old rules anymore.

The worsening atmosphere in the ship had lightened only a few days later when a strange signal popped up on our radar. Almost all officers were sent out to retrieve whatever it was, but the Autobot team had reached it before we did and I watched the screens in concern in the Command Center, following Soundwave's industrious work to keep track of the events. I hoped Halo would be there but a Vehicon confirmed it negative and I sighed in disappointment. Halo might not have changed sides but that means she is locked inside the base, and we have no way of contacting her.

Knowing that there is not much to do about that, I focused my attention on the object in question. I rarely paid any mind to random signatures on the radar but this one was reported to be a Data Cylinder which probably stored hidden secrets of ancient times. It could be anything: technology, mythology, history, war related or any other information which could be to our advantage. If possible, I wanted to have the first look at its contents. You don't just stumble over a Cylinder any day so it would be a fortune to get our servos on this one. There was a reason why they were heavily guarded in the Vaults of Iacon after all.

Megatron has been drumming with his digits impatiently since a while and I could see how his optics darted from Soundwave's ever so calm figure to the screens, listening to the oncoming status reports. Every time the team on mission mentioned a bad turn, our Lord growled and labeled the whole squad 'good for nothings'.

"As requested my liege," Knock Out triumphantly held the Cylinder up when they stepped through the ground-bridge sent for them and I sighed in relief at the sight. Both him and Breakdown survived the clash unscathed and didn't fail this time. My unusual reaction to that made me realize that I felt concern when they were away and I immediately frowned mentally, knowing well what that meant.

Attachment. I started to care about them and their safety.

"Uh-uh. Top secret," Knock Out stopped me when I intended to follow them and upon seeing my affronted expression he just shrugged apologetically, "Sorry. Big M's orders."

Airachnid folded her arms in a similarly disapproving fashion and watched the three go. She was the second in command yet had no permission to see the Cylinder's contents either. I exchanged cold glances with her and left. There were plenty of reasons to not like being in her presence longer than necessary and ever since she hurt Mercy with things she knows by my fault, I've stopped trying to treat her fairly. If she wanted war, she will get it from me.

My thoughts still circled around the Data Cylinder later that day, even after it turned out it was empty and while I pitied Knock Out and Breakdown for receiving the extra duty to retrieve the info at all costs, there was that certain worry in my spark that almost made me uncomfortable. One of my bad traits was that whenever I started worrying about someone, it would become an obsession. I couldn't help it, I just like to know my things and my people safe but everybody around me has a knack for running into trouble.

Yes, I wasn't called helicopter-mom by Halo for nothing. Oh I wish she was here, then my worries would be focused on her and my attention wouldn't choose new targets like the medic and his assistant.

Maybe I just need to cut ties while I can. Knock Out has been persistent but I was unsure if he was just trying to seduce me or he was truly courting me for real, like Mercy suggested. Whatever the case was though, deep down in my spark I was aware that nothing serious will be able to bloom between us. It was just impossible and the party at fault was me, no matter how I looked at the matter. I recalled Mercy's encouraging words but even if I listened to her, I felt unable to open up my spark for anyone. There was nothing much left in there besides wounds, pain and self-hatred. Seriously, who in this world would like to have that?

It's time I got things cleared and had false hopes put an end to. There is no other way.

My spark stung at the thought, even regretted the decision immediately, but I stuck to my decision. I have to fix things. I have to rebuild my walls because I've ventured too far out of my comfort zone in the past few months and while I can't deny how I enjoyed certain moments, it was all an illusion.

I can't be like Mercy who builds nice and warm dreams then has them shattered by people who don't care.

In spite of how many times I've thought what I want to say over, I stood dumbly when opportunity rose to speak.

Knock Out had a short break before a transport monitor duty which he had to take over now that Mercy was relieved of the task - much to his annoyance - and I strolled into the med-bay rather confidently, only to have my courage fly away when I had to open my mouth.

"Is something the matter?" the medic has developed an ability to tell whenever he had to prepare himself for something bad coming from me and he clearly saw the I didn't come in the name of science. He rose from his seat and put his cleansing tools away.

Breakdown uncomfortably shifted in the background and slowly backed into the other side of the room, suspecting that whatever I intended to throw at his friend this time will be something he doesn't want to be part of.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath when I leaned against the side of the dissection table and repeated my monologue mentally once more.

"Knock Out," I started, his name alone halted him and he shot a questioning, cautious glance over his shoulder, "I think it's time we finally reduced our relationship strictly to simple collegiality and nothing more."

The tension in the air has become touchable when he turned in my direction, his expression a mixture of shock and offense at my sudden statement.

"What is that supposed to mean?" he visibly fought the urge to raise his voice but a deep frown settled on his face.

"That our relationship shall be void of emotions. No nicknames, no joyrides, no…tension. Just work."

"Hey, wait a click, where is my saying in this?" he snapped and threw his servos up in frustration, "You can't just come in here and announce such a thing out of the blue! I thought I've achieved something in the last few weeks!"

"You did and that troubles me," I replied with as little emotion in my voice as possible yet I still managed to keep the hope in his optics alive.

"Oh, so it's you again," the mech growled like I just said a personal insult, "You and your problems you don't talk about."

"Partly, yes."

"So you decided to stay blind to the obvious chemistry between us?"

"There is nothing between us Knock Out."

"Yeah well, I guess, if denying it helps you recharge at night."

Silence fell on us, angry and offended glares exchanged.

"So that's it? A final no?" he straightened his posture but looked away, almost in defeat. For him, it probably was.

My hard features softened briefly, the sting in my spark blaming me for not being brave enough to accept, for being afraid of feeling again, yet I had made my choice.

"It's what's best for you too, Knock Out. You shouldn't waste your potential on someone like me. I should've announced sooner. Much sooner. For that I apologize."

My gaze fell on Breakdown's concerned figure who rose from his seat in the back as if making an attempt to come and interfere but wasn't sure.

Knock Out raised a servo with the intention to say something and then changed his mind and closed his mouth tightly. I nodded to him and pushed myself away from the table then left towards the door.

"Crossflare..."

I ignored when he called after me and the door shut behind my back. Not the best way to end a serious conversation such as this but when have I ever finished my conflicts in a pretty way? Settling things badly was one of my common bad traits and I could do nothing against it.

Mercy POV

"It's not a tragedy," I patted Breakdown's shoulder in an encouraging way but it didn't seem to help much.

The mech lay on one of the medical berths, one servo hanging off, the other covering his optic as if hiding behind it in shame. Five other Vehicons were laid out in the med-bay, temporarily in stasis and taken care of. Knock Out had plenty of work to do after a certain ambush byRatchetof all Autobots. When I first heard about the incident from the witnesses I refused to believe. Ratchet was known for almost never leaving the base and even if he did, he liked to stay out of trouble. Knock Out couldn't stop repeating how the Autobot just punched Megatron in the face and sent him flying against the wall. I only stared at him with wide optics, baffled. Sometimes I questioned if I had ever known the Autobots or I've only seen what was on the surface.

"It is," Breakdown muttered, wishing that the ground would swallow him whole, "I was defeated by a simple medic in hand to hand combat within a blink of an optic!"

Shaking my head in pity, I couldn't offer him more than empathy and heartening words. What I've quickly learned among Decepticons was that the most important thing a Decepticon had was their reputation. No warrior could afford incidents such as this because it stained their pride. You have to keep your profile clean if you want others to respect you and find you useful.

"Look at the circumstances Breakdown. Ratchet was powered up by Synthetic Energon and you weren't the only one knocked out. Even Megatron got his share."

The mech fell into silence and moments passed before he dropped his servo on the berth and glanced in my way. I shrugged with a smile:

"We all have bad days in our lives."

My words fulfilled their purpose because Breakdown replied with a half-smile, a small thing his pride still allowed. It was an improvement. Then the momentary relief vanished when his expression turned into a frown and he rose to sit, a troubled look settling on his face. I didn't ask, suspecting what had changed his mood so suddenly so I just waited for him to speak.

"Have you heard?"

"Yes," I cast my optics down, focusing on my servos lying in my lap as I sat quietly for another minute beside him.

"I thought they are okay. I mean, they looked like they were getting along for a while," he admitted, a silent wonder hidden in his voice.

"This outcome has been evident from the start," I shook my head and continued to avoid looking him in the optic. As much as I pitied Crossflare for bringing such decisions, I still respected her choice and didn't want to sound like I'm talking her out, "CF is afraid of not being good enough for KO. So in order to protect herself she pushes him away."

"I never understood why femmes keep making things more complicated than they are," Breakdown sighed deeply and dropped his chin in his palm, "I don't think the Doc has any standards your friend wouldn't live up to. Okay, maybe the attitude. She could be nicer."

Before I could reply, the med-bay doors slid open and Knock Out walked in with a slower pace than usual, a troubled frown making his face look like he was pouting. Knowing where he had gone, I could guess what his problem was.

"What's with the formula?" Breakdown chose not to ask directly of CF and rather went onto the most interesting achievement of today's incident.

"The droplet was proven to be enough to produce more of the material. Acertainsomeonehad taken it under observationmore eagerlythan anything else," he pressed some of the words too much, emphasizing the grudge he still held and will certainly do in the future. I guess that means him and my friend had quite a bumpy exchange just minutes ago.

Breakdown and I glanced at each other from the corner of our optics but said nothing to that, hoping that Knock Out would eventually get over his rejection if the topic was left alone.

Halo POV

I can't really call our few days out in the wild a success. The terrain we have discovered was short on energon, which I could see from the start but Starscream of course wouldn't believe me. Out of the two of us I was the one with experience when it came to scavenging fuel out of Earth and this type of soil was not potent enough for energon crystals to grow. My dear ally on the other hand was desperate to show that he knows everything better and when I said A, he said B on purpose. No problem though, a few days of failure will teach him to be reliant on me when the need calls for it.

We walked quite a long distance from the cave we have used as shelter on that certain stormy night and I annoyed Starscream to the extreme, making him snap at me to shut up.

"Okay, but for the thousandth time: can't we just fly? We won't ever find any energon like this," I suggested as I bent a branch out of my way. This forest was just a pain in the aft.

"We can't waste fuel on flight. We have to cope with being grounded until we find resources," he growled and refused to even spare a glance over his shoulder, stubbornly going forward and pretending to be smart.

"You are low on energy, but I'm not," I pointed out, knowing that he had foolishly wasted energon on that fight with Arcee and hadn't refueled properly before he left the Nemesis. My fuel tank fortunately was almost full and I've never felt any better.

"That doesn't change the fact that you can't fly on your own. You have as much talent for flight as a stupid wrench."

My eyebrows twitched wildly and I closed my optics, mentally counting to ten before speaking up again, intent on avoiding a fight right at the beginning of our journey, no matter how unwilling this jerk was to show any sign of cooperation.

"Then, you could maybeteachme how to fly and I will make use of myself," I stopped with crossed arms and he finally turned towards me, halting his steps.

"We don't have time for that."

"If I remember correctly, you told Airachnid that I will 'learn along the way'. So, why not now?"

He opened his mouth to defy, quickly realizing that I've turned his own words against him and just muttered something to himself before turning on his heels and continuing his way.

"Fine. I will teach you. Are you happy?"

"Yesss!" I giggled and jogged after him with a big grin, to his greatest annoyance.

"Don't get so excited about it. We can start only if we find energon first."

Determination set, I stomped forward and increased the capacity of my sensors. I won't stop until I find him some energon, or he won't cease the whining otherwise.

A couple of miles later I stumbled upon a chunk of fuel and happily dug it out. With a little victory in servo there was no excuse anymore and Starscream couldn't chew it any sourer than when I poked his shoulder and suggestively wiggled my eyebrows.

"It's time to start!"

And reluctantly, but he agreed.

Starscream wasn't a nice and patient teacher and I didn't expect him to be. Every single time I made a mistake he eagerly hit me with his newfound stick that he picked up from the woods and lectured me like I was a useless youngling. I shrugged it off most of the time, knowing that it must be very annoying to him to waste time on me when we could put our energy into more important matters.

My upgrade had more potential than I could make use of at the moment and certain skills needed to be improved. I had problems with long distance flights, maneuvers and my landings were obviously unprofessional. All in all, these were completely new experiences to me, but to him basic knowledge. As an ex-commander he wanted achievements very fast but I as an ex-grounder barely met his standards.

"Where are you aiming? Can't you fire straight?" he snapped at me for the thousandth time after a week of practice without showing results because I was still unable to shoot a tree with my blaster for the fifth time in a row. And the tree stood only in a ten foot distance.

"It's not that easy!" I retorted, feeling ashamed of being so clumsy. My friends and I have been taking lessons in how to use our newly inserted weapons - courtesy of Knock Out - but out of the three of us Crossflare was the best in aim, Mercy was also quite punctual but rather unwilling to fire at anything and yes, I was the lamest. D7D6 always made a joke out of it and swore he wouldn't trust me to cover his back in a fight because I would shoot my own teammates sooner than the enemy. He was close to the truth, I have to admit.

"Argh, you never learn!" Starscream threw his servos up and I stared at the smoking spot on the ground in disappointment.

"Stop annoying me all the time and shut up for a second, then I will have a chance!" I snapped.

"Tch, I'm wasting my time here instead of searching for energon!" he muttered to himself as I continued to fire at the tree.

"It's not pointless! If we run into an enemy you won't be enough on your own and I don't want to be a helpless canon-fodder! You teach me how to fight and I will fight alongside you. It's just the matter of timeandyour attitude."

We continued my training for the rest of the week. Meanwhile we walked long miles in hope of finding more energon in the area but our environment remained fruitless. The few chunks we came across were still better than nothing though.

My skill in hand-to-hand combat improved faster than other abilities and while my strength still wasn't enough to beat Starscream, I had my own moments of victory at times. With constant training my frame collected scratches, scars, dust and dirt from all around and I often picked leaves out of my seams.

At recharge times we powered down under the stars when proper cover was nowhere to be seen. I remember my first attempt at trying to squirm closer to him and he immediately distanced himself as much as possible while growling threateningly at me as if I was trying to sneak up on him with murderous intentions. At first I laughed at his reaction, then I realized that this was only the start of getting to know Starscream's unhealthy recharge habits. The Seeker jolted me awake more than once when he got caught in horrible nightmares. Every second or third hour Starscream woke up and checked the area before going back to bystand mode. He never entered proper stasis and I started to get concerned with each discovered abnormal behavior.

Starscream was a bad recharger. And definitely paranoid.

"Have you always had these nightmares?" I asked on one morning after a short flight. He always looked relieved after a tour in the sky.

But talking about things that bothered him was not one of his strengths.

"None of your business," he focused on the path before us without minding me a glance but disapproval was evident in his features.

"I don't think it's healthy to keep this up for long."

"This?"

"Not entering stasis. Your systems won't thank you for that," I pointed out and he glared at me sideways before scoffing in an offended manner.

"I can't afford to shut all my systems down for a longer period of time out here. It's like letting your guard down in a dangerous environment," he explained like it was the obvious.

"We can have shifts at night if you feel threatened," I offered, not impressing him with the way I put that into words, "Now I see why you are so twitchy all the time."

"I'm not twitchy," he puffed his chest out and perked his wings up as if to emphasize his arrogant bouncy walk.

"You are. Because you are paranoid."

He said nothing to that, only grumbled something under his breath and walked onward more quickly. I giggled, just to ease the tension but he immediately looked back over his shoulder with murderous optics.

"Do not laugh at me like that because I will strangle your vocal box and will leave you...WAH!" before he could finish his threat, Starscream slipped on something and fell head-first into water with a loud splash.

I blinked in shock for the first few seconds, then ran after him, pushed the rich foliage of the trees aside and stared widely at a large lake's beautiful scenery in front of me. The setting sun painted the whole lake's surface orange and wine and the trees on the other side leaned over the water softly as if trying to reach it with their branches. No life could be detected aside from the frightened birds who escaped the area with quick flaps of their wings as the water swayed wildly from Starscream's rather ungraceful entrance.

"Wow," was all I gasped before my arrogant comrade started demanding attention for himself.

"Don't you just stare and gape! Can't you see I'm in need of...!" Starscream shrieked and spit the water out of his mouth like poisoned energon, struggling onto his knees while noting how the mud stuck to his armor annoyingly. Rolling my optics, I decided to have enough of his whiny attitude today. I waded into the tepid water and lowered to my knees, much to the mech's surprise who thought I will help him up.

"I see, but isn't this a great opportunity?" I purred and smiled mischievously at his reaction. I crept closer on four limbs, making him recoil once I reached far enough into his private space, my inner thighs brushed against his outer ones and I planted my servos right beside his thin waistline underwater.

"Why would it be..." he sat as awkwardly as a jet his size can while trying to figure out my intentions, which were obviously heading in a seductive direction.

"You just found a lake and we can finally wash this irritating dirt off ourselves. Good job Starscream, you just fulfilled one of my unspoken wishes," I leaned close, my gaze daring him to go and try to take the opportunity.

His optics opened ridiculously wide as his focus darted around my figure in an almost helpless, confused manner. It was funny how visible his messy thoughts were on his face, as he made a desperate attempt to come up with something smart like he always did. But I wouldn't let him have the opportunity to ruin the moment so I giggled and backed off, rising to my full height. No doubt I enjoyed the way how water droplets from my armor fell all over him, my body engulfed him in a shadow.

"Oh, just joking Star," I raised my servos innocently before he could have snapped at me for being indecent, "You've already declared that I'm not your type anyway."

His focus seemed to be distracted by something over my head, then he slowly processed what I had said and his expression turned into a grimace. There must have been something on his tongue he didn't vocalize but I enjoyed his undying attention for as long as it lasted and walked deeper into the tender waves, carefully making sure the sun stayed behind me. I think I had an idea about what grabbed his attention: he probably saw ahaloover my shoulders. Ha! It seems Knock Out really made a good job when I asked him to make my wings imitate the previous position of my doors and my nanites already reprogrammed the new material, making it possible to create a half halo from one shoulder to the other when standing in the right position in front of the sun. It looked pretty, but served no more purpose than momentary hypnotism.

Aaand it seems he quickly snapped back to his usual mood because he crossed his arms in a sulking manner and pretended to look ignorant.

"Not evencloseto my type. Have you ever seen arealSeeker femme? One of our warrior class? They are asightto behold," he scoffed and probably expected me to drop my confidence, but obviously didn't succeed.

"I can imagine. But where are they now?" I teased, earning a surprised blink from him. He didn't have an answer for that.

Grumbling something under his breath, the Seeker turned away with a significant pout like a big baby and I couldn't help but laugh at his display of discomfort. Starscream could act so theatrical at times, it was funny.

After minutes of him sulking alone, I returned to him and sat beside him with a much friendlier smile, this time honest and encouraging.

"Come on, don't you need a little help?"

"You will NOT touch me," he barked loudly but quickly fell back to silence when my expression didn't change. I knew he would break eventually if I stared faithfully for long enough.

"I mean...you will not touch mywings."

"Understood, sir," I saluted with a big grin and he huffed as if I had talked him into the worst deal he has ever made.

MercyPOV

I was meant to avoid Airachnid for the rest of my life ever since that certain day. And I did, until confused thoughts and morbid curiosity got the better of me. Although everybody believed that I've moved on from that confrontation already, the conversation repeated all over againinside my head during the following days. Even when I tried to recharge but only managed to walk around restlessly during the night. Crossflare hasn't noticed and I wanted to make sure she won't. She had her own problems to focus on, my inner battle was mine alone to fight this time.

Airachnid knew something I didn't and that bugged me more than anything else. Why would she call me a slut for no reason? my appearance can't be all that there is to it.

My spark raced wildly in my chest when I peeked out from the corner of the corridor and saw Airachnid heading in my direction with a datapad in her servo. She scrolled files on it with an annoyed grimace on her face. Just a few seconds and we will cross paths, I just have to step out and take the chance.

Am I brave enough to do that? Will this meeting end up with me running away in tears again? I would like to avoid that at all costs. Soundwave saw me in that state once already and it was embarrassing enough as it was.

Now or never Mercy.

Airachnid looked up in confusion and surprise when I stepped out and stood in her way, with forced confidence in my gaze as I stared at her.

"I-I want to know!" I demanded loudly but my voice obviously wavered and it didn't seem to escape her attention because she looked at me with clear disdain in her optics.

"What exactly?" her grimace turned sourer. It seems she wasn't enthusiastic to see me either.

"Everything you know! About me. I know you know something! You said all those things and referred to my function as well and I just want to know what you meant. Tell me!...Please..." my words flew out of me in one breath and I lost confidence at the end, the daring start turning into a failed attempt at being resolute.

Airachnid's sour expression turned into a superior smirk as she scoffed and passed by me without minding a glance back. I turned around to call after her now desperately for any kind of answer but the reply she threw back over her shoulder cemented me to the floor with million question marks:

"Ask your know-it-all friend you love and trust so dearly. She will surely provide you with all the answers you seek."

What would Crossflare know about my questions...? And why did Airachnid sound so sure while saying that?

My spark pulsed painfully at the thought and fear started creeping into my mind. What do they know that I don't?!

With my thoughts circling wildly, I absently walked away and regretted even talking to her. I've never ever doubted Crossflare and her truthfulness before. I shouldn't start doing now.

No, this must be another mind-game of Airachnid's. She wants me to lose trust in my dearest friend but she won't have any of it as long as I can see through her words.

But what if I'm wrong?

Worried voices from ahead of me pulled me back to reality, and I looked up to see some distressed Vehicons trying to help up Megatron, who had fallen on one knee and trembled all over his frame as if wild electricity had ran over him. He growled in pain and I automatically ran up to the group, catching my worried gaze from the Vehicons to Megatron whose optics glowed in sick purple instead of the healthy but lethal crimson red. The symbol on his chest also shone bright with a radiant purple light coming from his spark. What was happening to him?

Everybody seemed to be helpless and someone already commed Knock Out to hurry and come but a moment later the purple light vanished and Megatron's original colors returned. He looked around in confusion before collecting the strength to stand up. He shook all helping servos off and straightened to his full height.

"Um...are you alright my Lord?" a brave Vehicon came up with the question first.

Megatron stared down at his large servos and frowned, as if still lost somewhere in his mind, then his gaze sharpened as he looked over the concerned group around him.

"Unicron's blood...it's seething in my veins," he stated as if it was the obvious and we all exchanged perplexed glances.

What?

Without further explanation, he left our circle and walked away as if nothing happened and we were left in confusion and worry about the thing we had just seen. Everybody stared after him for long after he disappeared from view until the sound of his giant steps died in the distance.

This was the first time I saw him losing his mighty composure. For just a short nanoclick, he seemed vulnerable. But I had no idea, and I don't think any of the Vehicons knew either, that it was a foreboding sign of something darker coming in the near future...

As my previous readers can see I've somewhat altered the story of our dear CF and KO. The truth is, my perception on Knock Out's character has changed drastically since I've had the bad luck of experiencing a relationship with a real narcissist three years ago. It isn't a fun experience. Quite the opposite, it's very toxic. So I intend to explore that in my writing because while narcissists do need a lot of love, they do not give any in return, only superficially. And they are natural manipulators for their own benefit. KO checks all the toxic boxes, y'all.

Also, images of my OCs can be found here, feel free to browse the tag 'war paint': zsocca55/169222937011/redesign-of-my-main-three-tfp-ocs-background (put tumblr. and com at the beginning)

Thank you for reading! Write a comment/review if you feel like!