Transformers (TFP) Stranded

A Test of Skills

The sun was sinking lower in the sky casting, the jungle with an ethereal orange pink glow. The shade under the canopy grew darker, but dim enough to see. The dusk air was crisp and a bit colder than the previous nights, with a slight breeze swaying the plants to the rainforest rhythm.

​Knockout was walking through the crisp, cool  air, unable to hold back a shiver. The sweltering heat they had suffered through only hours before had been replaced by a brittle cold wind that chilled the red mech to the core.

Fragging Earth weather.

He clutched Lazerbeak tighter in his arms to try and give some warmth to the minicon. Luckily, the sun had not set and painted a beautiful swirl of colors across the sky.

If there was one good thing about being stuck in this Primus forsaken jungle, it was its magnificent sunsets. Knockout had to admit he always found a bit of serenity in watching Earth sunsets, even if it was only through his small med bay window aboard the Nemesis. It was a paint palette the sky decided to gift him when Knockout was brainstorming new ideas for a finish paint job.

​Knockout looked up ahead to the Air Commander he was currently following.

Starscream was stepping nimbly through the underbrush with his wings lowered in an attempt to not catch them on any vines.

Knockout couldn't imagine how the slender mech could even stand the cold air with such a thin frame. The wind had to be blowing right through him.

​Knockout was too late to warn his commander when Starscream's heel suddenly caught on a weed, making him stumble - a sharp jolt of pain shot through his injured ankle. He buckled to the ground with a stifled cry. Knockout rushed over and offered a servo to his friend who was now clutching his heel with gritted denta.

​"Scrap that hurt!" Starscream hissed angrily.

​"Don't press on it too hard or you might rupture something." Knockout said pulling the seeker to his feet.

​"Yes, yes I know! That foul plant came out of nowhere." The seeker grumbled crossing his servos and stomping on the weed with his good heel, "I hate this place."

​Knockout laughed, "Now, Scream, don't fuss. We'll get out of here soon." He waved his servo in a dismissive manner.

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm serious," Knockout shot him a winning smile, "I promise, I'll get us out of here. After all, I have a medic's wit and the drive of a racer."

​"Don't talk to me like I'm some helpless sparkling." Starscream squeaked in a very sparkling-like way.

"Hmm, it's becoming difficult not to."

Starscream bristled, crimson optics seemingly growing redder.

"Look at you all fumed up." Knockout chided, his grin growing wider, "Such a petty thing you are."

"I am the Decepticon Second in Command and I will still be treated as such!" He snapped, taking a quick glance at his surroundings, "No matter where we may be."

​"There you go again with your position." Knockout gave an exasperated sigh, "You know, it would mean a whole lot more if our leader actually treated you as such too."

​Starscream scowled and clenched his servos. "I am a far superior leader to Megatron anyway,"

He spread his wings and preened proudly, the scuffed silver glinting ever so slightly in the dimmed skies.

​"Spare me the self-satisfaction, Scream. You'll never earn any respect from bots if you treat them like scrap all the time."

​"I do not!" Starscream hissed, "Even if I did, some still deserve to be treated as such with their attitudes. Quite possibly a certain vain, red four-wheeler I know." The seeker huffed. "Besides, some of those mechs don't even deserve to be called Decepticons."