~Knocked-Out~

Family

"Ratchet, is there any way to return to base?" Optimus glanced at Ratchet, who shook his head.

"Unfortunately, which no one currently in base, and the kids away on the trip, there is no way to summon a ground bridge." He explained with slight disgust.

"So, we're stuck here." Smokescreen piped in.

"Technically speaking, yes." Optics met others, full of worry, and confusion. Optimus looked around at the vast field that would be their home for the next Primus knows how long, then landed on the trembling scout, who was currently on the ground, staring the grass. His optics were still moist from the tears, and his spark still ached. He felt Optimus' gaze on him, got up, and walked away from the group.

"Bee?" Smokey took a worried step towards the mech, but was held back by Bulkhead.

"Let Optimus talk to him."

~~~
"Bumblebee." The scout barely moved at the sound of the prime as he stared at the large blue moon in the sky that lit up all the glory of the world. He felt as Optimus walked up next to him, and gazed up at the magnificent glowing ball.

"Something is troubling you."

"Nothing."

The only sound of the sleeping world that filled this gap was silence.

"It is about Arcee." It wasn't a question. Bumblebee's optics filled with tears again, and he jerked his head away.

"Bumblebee, do you know why I have spared Megatron so many times?"  Slightly startled by the random question, Bee peeked up at Optimus' face, which was lit up by the light of the moon. It was distant, aloof. He shook his head slowly.

"It is because...I always kept hope that he would change, that his good side would prevail, drive the evil that consumed him out. And I still have that hope. I believe that all sentient creatures have the possibility to change."

Bumblebee blinked, perplexed. Optimus looked down at him, and smiled.

"You must not give up hope, you must believe that Arcee will be ok. She is a strong femme, capable of protecting herself. And I do not believe Knockout will let anything happen to her." Bumblebee looked up, and smiled slightly. Optimus nodded, then walked back towards the rest of the team. In reality, his speech has made Bumblebee feel better.
But honestly, he would expect nothing less from his adopted sire.

~~~

"So, what's the plan."

"Steve, for the last fragging time, I don't have one yet!"

A bouncing with excitement Steve jittered around, impatiently, while Knockout peeked our of the crack of the door, observing the trooper's patrol pattern. It being so long since he had been here, the schedule was very lightly etched in his head. Ever since Steve had agreed to help, he had been jumping around, excited to be on his first real mission, especially one with an Autobot. And he would'nt stop bugging him. Knockout listened to the echoing ped steps of another patrol as the marches by.

"Now?!" Steve whispered in his audio receptor, startling the medic, making him cry out in surprise.

"Primus!!" Then, he listened with horror as the ped steps paused, then started growing louder.

"Good job, Steve, now we'll get caught." Knockout hissed at the trooper, who looked back, apologetically.

"No we won't." Under his visor, Steve smiled mischievously. Knockout stared at him, raising an optic ridge.
~~~

Hearing a strange yelp coming from the closet, the troopers turned around, confused.

"Where did that come from?" One named Errol asked.