Walking out into the rainforest was like stepping into a furnace. The humid, moist air surrounded the three bots, making small droplets form on their chest plates. The dense, tropical foliage towered over them like buildings, casting shadows over the dim scenery and places yet to explore. Wildflowers and vines snaked all over the moist area and climbed the tree trunks like veins on a human being.

​Knockout was the first to speak. "Yuck! This air is making my paint all sticky!" He brushed off some leaves stuck to his finish with a flick of his servo.

​Soundwave was currently trying to wipe off the mist collecting on his mask, only smearing it in the process. With a frustrated shake, the silent mech crossed his arms in annoyance.

​Starscream was surveying the area with a skeptical look on his faceplates. "Hmmm," he hummed, "I think we should make our way to the location where Unicron emerged from. I believe it should look like a large crevice in the Earth." He took out his scanner from under his chest plate and examined the data.

​Knockout scoffed, "Shouldn't we move away from the danger zone? Come on, Screamers, you know that place is probably crawling with weird mutated plants and who knows what else."

​Starscream rolled his optics, "The most energon is likely to be there, if we find it, our mission will be over faster. Faster mission, faster we get out of here. Besides it was you who volunteered for this blasted mission!" His wings twitched in annoyance at this ridiculous task. Megatron was honestly only trying to make them work for no reason and Starscream knew it. There was probably not even an Energon vain anywhere, just a 'wild goose chase' as the humans liked to say. He knew from experience. Megatron's 'tasks' were only fancy titles for punishments.

Starscream's scanner chirped, signaling the location of a massive disturbance in the jungle terrain. Starscream pointed, "It's that way."

Soundwave only nodded his head. The silent mech turned towards the direction of the crevice and began their long trek through the jungle. Starscream and Knockout followed him without hesitation into the dense air of the tall trees.

​As they walked, beetles and butterflies of all shapes and sizes decided to take interest in the strange creatures and swirled around the three in little flocks. Blue ones and red ones, yellow ones and orange ones, flew up from the flowers as the bots disturbed their mid-afternoon sun bathing.

Starscream smiled slightly at one blue and pink butterfly who came to a stop on his helm. The seeker had to admit, though he despised this retched planet, some parts of its nature were quite beautiful. He glanced up and snickered when he saw Soundwave covered in the little insects.

​Knockout heard the seeker and glanced up at the sight too. "I think they like you, Wave. I bet that-AYEEEEE!" A large horned beetle landed on Knockout's faceplates making the red mech scream in disgust. "Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!"

He started swatting at his face and stumbling around in circles, uprooting the unfortunate plants below him.

​Soundwave brought a servo up to his mask as if to laugh. Starscream burst out in laughter, nearly falling over onto the ground himself.

Knockout whirled on the two bots in fury. "Stop laughing and help me you scrap heads!"

Starscream wiped a tear from his optics, "Ok ok, calm your circuits." He laughed. The gray mech hopped over and swatted the beetle of Knockout's face, all but slapping him in the process.

​"Ow!" Knockout snarled, shoving Starscream aside. "Watch the paint!"

Soundwave mimicked Knockout's outburst in an irritating tone earning him a scornful glare. "Soundwave I swear, I will tear your recorders in half."

​"Oh relax," Starscream said rubbing his arm where Knockout pushed him. "you just panicked like a little sparkling and completely humiliated yourself in front of two high ranking officers, that's all!"

Knockout turned and shoved him into a tree.

​"Ow!" Starscream yelped. "Calm down, I was just joking!" He put his arms up in a defensive manner with a smile that deceived his innocent tone. Knockout frowned.

​"There's nothing funny about this! That bug could've stung me, or bitten me, or worse, dented my faceplate!" He reached up and felt his faceplate as if to make sure it was still pristine. "Can you imagine? I'd have to get the entire face job redone!" He dramatically draped an arm over his forehead.

​Starscream rolled his optics. "Oh please, it was a slagging beetle. It couldn't have ruined your faceplate even if it wanted to. All you think about is your stupid finish. Maybe it serves you right to have it roughed up a bit." He smirked.

​Knockout tensed. "Was that a threat?" he balled his servos into fists. Starscream scowled and spread his wings and claws, suddenly looking rather intimidating.

​"Please," he taunted, "You really think you can take me, four wheeler? With that scary beetle still flying around?" Starscream purred, fluttering his wings making Knockout furious.

"I can run circles around you before you even begin to twirl into your prissy little jet." Knockout smirked as Starscream gasped.

"At least I'll actually take the risk of flying circles even if I might dent my precious finish, Primus forbid!" The seeker shot back, dramatically pretending to faint.

​"Mine at least isn't in danger of getting ripped to pieces every time Megatron so much as looks at me."

​Starscream hesitated for a minute, memories of Megatron's fists hurtling at him in that Primus forsaken deck flashing through his mind for only a moment before he regained his composure. The seeker quickly replaced his look of shock with one of seething anger.

​"Oh, now you've done it." Starscream hissed, "At least I'm actually high enough in the ranks to even speak to Lord Megatron rather than being some washout medic who doesn't even bother to do his one job!"

​"Oh shut up. I do my job better than you, who, if you've forgotten, is a complete disappointment in literally everything you do." Knockout seethed.

​"I am the fastest seeker around and Megatron's second in command so don't tell me I fail at my job. At least mine is worthwhile!"

​"What?! You don't even command anything! Your job is as lame as one of those lifeless surveillance drones!"

Both mechs froze.

Knockout's optics widened. They both turned to the spot where one surveillance mech in particular was standing moments ago.​

"Where did he go?" Knockout whispered. They turned to each other. The rainforest was eerily silent. No insects were fluttering around anymore and the birds had quieted down.

​"You don't think he abandoned us, did he?" Starscream peeped up. Knockout was about to answer when a rumbling roar rang through the jungle.

Starscream jumped in surprise and ran over to grab Knockout's arm in fear.

"Hey, Screamer what's – " A huge black panther leaped out of the dense jungle, interrupting the red mech and landing right in front of them.

The panther was enormous, much too big to be the size humans were accustomed too. The beast had midnight black fur, with limbs that looked powerful enough to knock down a telephone pole. Its tail swished back and forth, while it's ears flattened against its head as the creature let out a low growl, gleaming white teeth as long as Knockout's digit revealing themselves in its snarl. It's eyes were an eerie purple, a purple that looked oddly familiar to Unicron's optic color. It's claws looked like massive meat hooks, and before Knockout knew it, they were flexed and ready to tear.

Starscream squeaked when the large creature launched itself at the seeker, latching on to the small mech's chest plate. Starscream let go of Knockout and tried to claw the creature off, only making it angry. The beast slashed at his faceplates.

Metal grating noise reached Knockout's audios as Starscream stumbled, struggling to keep the weight of the huge creature from dragging him down. Starscream screeched loudly in pain, making Knockout flinch.

He had to do something.

Knockout grabbed at the panther, who in turn growled and leaped at the red mech instead. Knockout screamed and jumped back as the creature stalked toward him. Out of the corner of his optic, he could see Starscream stumble backward and go to lean on a tree, his frame was raked in claw marks leaking bright blue energon. He raised frightened optics to something behind Knockout and let out a pitiful squeak.

Knockout turned and saw a whole pack of the vicious cats. Now what? He thought, as the creatures started to stalk around the two mechs.

"Do you see the size of these things?" Knockout shouted to Starscream as he backed up closer to the seeker.

"This...isn't normal." Starscream's breathy voice reached his audios behind him, "This jungle...Unicron's essence has done something to it."

The jungle cats ever so slowly stalked closer to them, that purple glow burning into Knockout's optics with every step.

Knockout prayed that they at least spared their spark chambers while they tore them apart.

The medic was ready to face their fate when he felt small claws gingerly touch his arm. He turned and saw Starscream shaking, his wings quivering, warily eyeing the panthers.

Knockout flinched seeing all the large, deep bite and claw marks littering his small frame. The thin seeker looked at Knockout and Knockout saw the raw fear in his optics.

He'd seen it before, many times.

In fact, Starscream's whole clawed up appearance, bleeding and shaking, looked eerily familiar as well.

He'd seen that too many times too.

Megatron.

The name clanged in his mind like a gong. That tyrant was the reason they were here in the first place. They were here - Starscream was here - on purpose. The seeker was bleeding and quivering, just like Megatron liked him to be. And Knockout was here to watch, watch and be able to do nothing, just like Megatron knew he hated.

It's not that he cared about the pathetic thing. No. Never. It was Starscream they were talking about.

Said seeker's talons gripped Knockout's arm plating tighter, his shaking digits clicking together. His wide, crimson optics blinked at Knockout in pure panic.

"Knockout..." Starscream's voice wavered.

That look. That slagging look. Knockout hated it. He hated the absolute fear in Starscream's optics. He hated the way the mere mention of Megatron's name made that crimson glow dull. He didn't know why he hated it. Why he should even give a damn at all. But he did.

And here they were again.

They might as well have been back in the Nemesis, with Starscream quivering and bleeding on the floor, Megatron towering over him, the seeker's own energon covering his fists and spilling from his talons. The warlord flashed the seeker a sinister grin and Starscream could only crouch to his knees. Knockout watched from the crowd, unable to do anything as Starscream pleaded for mercy again and again and again. The warlord only laughed at him. The crowd laughed. They all laughed. Starscream looked right at Knockout, crimson optics crazed with panic. They screamed for help. Help the medic couldn't give as a mech was dying in front of him. The fist swung again -

"Knockout we can't die like this!" Starscream's hoarse voice reached his audios.

Suddenly Knockout was in the Nemesis no more. He was in the jungle. He was surrounded my mutant panthers. He had that seeker clinging to his arm.

No he wouldn't let him die like this.

Knockout whipped around at the surrounding panthers, whom were ready to leap. The red mech drew out his electric staff and struck the nearest one, making it roar in rage and drop to the ground.

The opening was all Knockout needed to grab Starscream's servo and sprint into to the dense jungle foliage away from the panther mob.

The vines and trees slapped them in the face as they raced to find any way of hiding. The jungle cats were hot on their trail as they trampled the small plants. One leaped into a nearby tree and jumped from branch to branch, gaining distance. It let out a bellowing roar and launched off the branch straight toward Knockout, there was no way out this time.

Knockout pushed Starscream to the ground and crouched down around the seeker, shielding him from those hook-like talons.

He waited a few clicks, but the blow never came.

He opened his optics and looked down. Starscream was trembling and holding Knockout's arm in a crushing grip, optics tightly closed, but he was safe.

Then what...?

The red mech turned and gasped. The panther that had jumped was tightly tangled in vines, but the vines didn't look right. They were sturdy and purple...

Knockout's optics widened.

Soundwave was perched in the tree behind the animal, his tentacles tightly wound around the creature. The other panthers were growling at the silent mech and they all turned to strike him.

​"Soundwave! Look out!"

But Knockout's warning was unneeded. The purple mech jumped down from the tree, landing on the ground, barely making a sound. He threw the panther he was holding at one, knocking the beast to the ground in a burst of dust.

Two charged at Soundwave, one swiped at the mech's visor while the other bit down on his winged arm, making energon bubble. Soundwave's helm snapped back as claws impacted with the screen, leaving large scratch marks. Soundwave batted the panther away and smashed it into the one biting his arm. They roared in fury but Soundwave was not having any of it.

He shifted his arm into a small, elegant blaster and shot the area in front of the two beasts, making them jump in surprise and scamper into the plants.

Soundwave was then struck from behind by the other two panthers. Energon flew from the lanky mech as he regained his posture, the two cats raking his back, ripping at the sensitive wing parts.

Soundwave actually looked pained by this, surprising Knockout. His slender digits flexed and clenched as if he were trying to hold back a scream. The silent mech then roughly turned to the side, throwing his attackers off.

Knockout saw blue streaks of energon flash by on Soundwave's back. Soundwave turned to the two cats, who had gotten up, ready to jump again. The silent mech's visor cracked a bit more. Knockout was almost intimidated, Soundwave looked infuriated even with no face.

Soundwave slowly looked at the beasts, including the ones he hit away, and lifted his head.

An audio splitting noise erupted from the mech's visor.

Knockout threw his servos to his audios and Starscream followed suit.

Sound waves. Knockout thought.

Clever.

The beasts roared in anger and sprinted off into the rainforest, leaving scuff marks in the dirt. Soundwave abruptly shut off the deafening noise and turned to the other two mechs.

Knockout saw he was clawed up a bit but not too bad. Nothing he couldn't fix, at least.

Knockout smiled. "Good to see ya, Wave."

Soundwave only nodded in response.

Knockout looked down to see Starscream still covering his audios with his optics squinted shut. Knockout chuckled to himself at the comical sight, gently nudging the seeker to relax.

"Hey, Scream, its ok now. Soundwave scared off those Earth pests."

Starscream turned toward Knockout's touch, optics and audios still covered.

"WHAT!" he yelled in his prickly voice. Knockout and Soundwave cringed at the sound.

"I said, we're safe now!" Knockout tried louder.

"WHAT WAS THAT?"

"I SAID, WE'RE-"

Soundwave reached down and yanked Starscream's servos from his audios.

"Ouch! Hey what's the big idea!" The small mech yelped. He glanced around noticing the danger was indeed a thing of the past.

"Oh." He laughed nervously, "I knew we were safe. I was only making sure you both knew what to do should Soundwave do that little trick again." He grinned at the two mechs who rolled their optics.

Silence settled over Starscream as the seeker tapped a slender digit to Knockout's chest plate.

"You can get off me now."

Knockout flushed as he realized he was still all but lying on top of Starscream's lanky form. The red mech scrambled to feet. Starscream sat up, rolling his shoulders.

Knockout cleared his throat, "Alright, I think we're in the clear for now. Thanks, Soundwave." The silent mech nodded in return.

Knockout smiled, "Ok, Scream, let me see your wounds."

Starscream shivered and was clutching his side but he shook his head. Knockout frowned, crouching down to Starscream's level.

"Come on, Scream just cooperate."

Starscream only shuffled away further, shaking his head. The medic's frown deepened. The seeker's trembling was almost unnoticeable, but Knockout wasn't a fool.

Starscream turned his helm to the side, avoiding Knockout's gaze, "No ... don't touch me, four wheeler."

Knockout sighed and reached a out a servo.

Not this again.

"It's ok, Scream, I'm not going to hurt you." Knockout said quietly, "I mean . . . he's not here to stop me. Just let me have a look."

"No ... not... not yet." Starscream gripped his arms. His gaze was hard, but it disguised his apprehension.

Knockout only waited, servo outstretched.

Starscream was quite possibly the most difficult patient he ever had the misfortune of treating. Quite possibly, because he was also the most frequent. Jumpy, stubborn, and loud. Yes, the commander was the whole package deal for worst patient on the planet. But Knockout knew where it came from. Where the attitude problem came from. He decided he would give Starscream what he needed.

Time.

After a few moments, the small seeker slowly reached out his own servo and grabbed on to Knockout's. Knockout only held it gently.

Eyeing the medic for any sudden movements, Starscream crawled close to Knockout and let the medic inspect the claw marks leaking energon. Soundwave stood watch as the two mechs got their bearings. If Starscream took notice of the way Soundwave and Knockout made no comment on his little...delay, he didn't show it.

​After a few clicks, Knockout stood up, pulling Starscream along with him.

"Starscream, you'll be ok, just a bit sore." Starscream nodded weakly, hanging to Knockout for support.

"We should probably find some shelter before it gets too dark." The red mech reasoned. "Let's go."

He walked into the forest, not exactly knowing where he was going, but leading the two seekers all the same. The red mech felt like he had to take care of them but he didn't really understand why.

"You know..." Starscream drawled from beside him, "I think those kitties really shook something in you."

Knockout kept a servo on Starscream's waist as Starscream's steps grew a little unsteady, "Oh yeah? And what did those kitties shake in me that they didn't already shake in you?"

The silver seeker smirked at Knockout, leaning in close to the red mechs audio, startling him.

"Your concern for your precious finish."

Knockout all but stopped dead in his tracks.

"SCRAP!"