Transformers (TFP) Stranded

Close Calls

Knockout awoke to the sound of ped-falls crunching through the forest in the early morning breeze of the tropical paradise of the rainforest.

He lazily blinked his optics, registering his surroundings while his blurry vision cleared.

He was surrounded by the all too familiar tall, thick trees that now haunted his every waking moment and the serene sway of the plants growing on the soft grass, grazing his faceplate. He relished in the soothing way the little Earth plants brushed against the metal. It was calming in a way. Gentler and kinder than the evil, scratchy metal floors of the Nemesis.

Wait a click.

Where in Primus' name am I?

The memories of the last couple of days came flooding back to him and Knockout's optics widened in realization.

We are trapped in the jungle, hopelessly lost, Soundwave is missing, and where is Starscream!?

​The red mech quickly shot up off the ground and immediately regretted it. Something on his back stung bad, making Knockout wince and hunch down to avoid angering it.

That can't be good.

Sitting up certainly didn't help, Knockout thought bitterly, but I must find them.

What if Scream was injured? How could he drag the seeker through the entire rainforest? He didn't weigh much, but Knockout certainly wouldn't find Soundwave quick enough dragging a half dead jet with him. Did Starscream already leave him? That scrap head wouldn't survive a day by himself. No, Knockout had to find him.

He honestly didn't even know why he cared what happened to those two. For all he cared he could just track down Soundwave, leave Starscream for dead, and ground bridge himself back home. All Starscream ever did was back-stab bots and boast, and Soundwave never cared about anyone in his life! The two cons were cold hearted and deceptive to the very end.

And yet...Knockout couldn't leave them.

The red mech had only thought of them as just two other Decepticons, until he had seen there was more to them. More than they cared to let on. He had seen the traitorous, selfish Starscream take a lightening bolt for him. He had seen the emotionless Soundwave not leave behind his friends like he could've, probably should've if he had wanted to escape alive, but instead drag them with him in the rain, shoving them up the tree first at the cost of his own safety.

There was more to these two than meets the eye.

Knockout snapped out of his thoughts with the sound of more ped-falls not too far away. Someone is here.

Knockout glanced around and let out a small sigh of relief when he saw the limp form of Starscream a few feet away. Knockout, still clutching his side, gasped and crawled over to his fallen friend.

Starscream was unconscious, with a few small dents to his frame, one heel severely burned and twisted painfully, and some bad claw marks and bites but nothing Knockout couldn't fix once they got back to the ship.

If they got back to the ship.

The red mech grabbed Starscream's arm and shook the seeker gently. His wings were sticking out awkwardly, making it hard for the medic to get a grip on his lanky commander.

"Starscream, you need to wake up. Someone's coming!" he whispered.

The seeker groaned softly and rolled over, showing his optics slowly blinking to life. The brilliant crimson shined in the morning sunlight, like tiny little rubies.