Trapped

chapter 5

"Don't worry about him." Breakdown spoke gently to miko, she looked up at him. With a slight glare at first, but it softened, a worried look filled her eyes, and she turned back to bulkhead.

Together the three bots were inching forward. Each time they moved forward the rock leaned backwards behind arcee, with the weight being uneven.

It didn't take to long for them to stand side by side, with enough space for the rock to be leaning heavily on arcee. Behind her it was almost touching the ground.

"Arcee, you first." Knockout said with his usual attitude.

"If you insist."

She slowly inched forward, her servos scrapping against the rock uneasily. She made it to the edge and slipped out quickly. The rock falling to the ground heavily, making the two mechs lose hold of it a little.

"Okie big guy, now we both move forward."

Bulkhead just knodded. They moved together, both getting to the entrance of the cave. Finally Bulkhead took the edge of the rock in his servos. Knockout stepped out, and bulk followed, holding the rock with one servo as he spun quickly, then grabbed it fully again. He slowly dropped it, trying not to set off more falling death traps.

They were free.

Knockout sighed, "I thought we would be stuck in there for sure, good work bots."

"It was your idea con." Arcee said mockingly, yet she did think it was a good plan, this was still her enemy.

"Good work guys!" Miko shouted, knockout got startled.

"Oh, I forgot you were here." Knockout looked over to her.

"Miko, evil cons, remember!" Jack tried to whisper, but failed.

"Hey! If it weren't for this 'evil con' your guardians would be toast! So a little thanks would go a long way!"

"Right - uh, thanks." Jack scratched his head, clearly scared.

"Well I think you all did great, thanks knocks." Miko pointed finger guns at him.

"Why your welcome tiny humans!" He placed his servo on his hip and smiled. Then he looked over at breakdown, who was waiting patiently for something to happen.

"Okay knockout, we get it. Can we get out of here now?" Arcee grumbled.

"I was about to say the same thing." He looked at bulkhead. "Transform so breakdown doesn't have to be dragged out of here."

He rolled his optics, but followed the medics advice. It took a second for breakdown to be propped up on his frame, soon he was holding on. Miko jumped up and pulled Jack along to get inside for a free ride. He didn't argue.

Arcee and knockout both transformed. It took a little bit to drive down the cave, bulkhead driving slowly for the kids and breakdown - which felt weird for him to drag his enemy around like this - but Knockout helped them so he just accepted it.

The drive was silent, yet peaceful. Miko didn't even ask to blast her usual rock music. Knockout wanted to speed out but drove close to keep an eye on breakdown. Arcee drove on the other side, keeping an eye on knockout to make sure he didn't do anything regretful. But nothing happened, they just peacefully sped down the rocky path.

Finally they made their way out, with knockout having to drill their way out. Arcee and knockout transformered. Though they were still on peaceful terms, arcee glared at him, not to hard, just as a warning sign.

The kids jumped out of bulkhead when he slid the door open. "Fresh air!" Miko shouted as she danced around for a moment. Jack just stood their awkwardly, rolling his eyes. They got breakdown off bulkhead, and propped him up against a tree.

"Alright, what now?" Breakdown asked cautiously. Arcee shrugged.

"Now we go back to the medbay and fix you up so you can fight again." Knockout smiled at breakdown, but he didn't smile back, just looked him over for a moment and nodded. Evading eye contact.

"Well we should go." Bulkhead awkwardly looked over his shoulder.

"I think thats best." Knockout said.

"Alright then." Arcee pulled her arm up to switch on her comms. "Ratchet, can we get a ground bridge.

"Coming up."

An awkward silence crept up on them all as they waited for the autobot bridge to pop up. They soon heard the sound of the ground bridge opening.

"Well, see ya." Breakdown said awkwardly.

"Yeah, hopefully you won't be so broken down next time too." Bulkhead smiled at him, a evil glint in his optics. "So I can do break you down for you instead of the rocks." He punched his hands together.

"Yeah, sure bulk. You can try but everyone knows I'll win." He grinned evilly.

"Yeah sure, whatever you say." Bulkhead said, then turned towards the bridge, grabbed miko, who looked back at the cons and smiled. Then he went through the portal. Arcee grabbed Jack and went through it silently, but waved a servo goodbye.

Knockout looked over at breakdown now that the autobots were gone, it was time to call Soundwave and get the vehicons help get the big mech back to the med bay.

Breakdown raised his arm to open the comm link, yet hesitated. Knockout raised his eyebrow.

"Well?"

"I don't know. . ." He couldn't find the words describe how he was feeling. Sadness? No, definitely not. Anger, at himself maybe? He wasn't sure why though. Regret? Maybe? He shrugged, looking knockout in the optics, "Honestly I'm not sure."

"Please, tell the doctor your symptoms." Knockout walked over to him, and kneeled, careful not to scratch his paint more than it already was.

"I. . . Um . . . Apologized. . to the human girl for threatening her. . And that just feels . . Strange?" He spoke slowly, despite this being his partner, he wasn't sure what he would say.

"Oh, I see," he looked lost in thought for a moment, "was that when you were stuck?"

Breakdown knodded.

"Hmm," Knockout stood up, "so you felt a little sympathy for the enemy? Isn't that normal for you?"

"Yeah," breakdown grunted, "but not this much. I mean bulkhead saved me! I said 'thank you' to him in the cave, but I don't know. . . I just don't know why he would do that . . its confusing."

"Ha, thats autobots for you. They never learn. That's one of the reason we're decepticons. We don't have to rescue . . . the . . enemy. . Wait?"

"Didn't we just save them?"

"No! That was for you, if we didn't help them you would still be stuck in the cave. And because we owed them for rescuing you from before!! Thats the only reason!" Knockout was trying to convince himself with his words now. He shook his helm. "It doesn't matter, I have to help you!"

"Alright then, I guess thats the end?"

"For now."

But in breakdowns mind questions still boiled to the surface, he was unable to be rid of them. A thought raced to the front. Did he feel trapped? Just like how he was in the cave, but he was stuck with the decepticons just because he had been with them for so long. Just like with the rocks, cons who he didn't want to disappoint held him down.

But no, he loved being a decepticon, he could fight as much he wanted. He didn't have to think about morals, he just had followed orders. That was what he wanted, right?

He shook his helm, this was useless to think about, he couldn't change paths now. Not that he had found a partner who would stick by him no matter what. Knockout literally resisted fighting the autobots to help him. No, he couldn't do that to his partner.

But the thoughts racing underneath the surface never left. and that feeling of being trapped was stuck in his mind.

Why do I have to make everything more complicated? Breakdown thought.