Knockout had no time to react before Starscream sprung forward shoving Soundwave and himself to the side just as the massive predacon launched itself right at them.

The three bots tumbled to the floor in a heap as the cave floor shook as the predacon landed in their previous spot. The beast spun around and snarled at them, swinging its claws in their direction while rocks crumbled around them.

​"Scatter!" Starscream squeaked and shot off to another portion of the cave.

Soundwave followed suit towards the entrance near the pouring rain outside. Knockout looked up and saw the massive claw coming down to swipe him straight across the face. The red mech quickly rolled to the side, dodging the blow.

He reached into his subspace and withdrew his electric staff, jerking it to life with a sharp crackle. Knockout turned on his knees and jabbed the staff right into the beast's side. The predacon roared in pain, thrashing around the cave, knocking down stalactites in its wake with large crashes.

​Knockout dashed across the cave to a safe distance near Starscream's position. They watched as the predacon angrily swung its body into the cave wall, dislodging the staff from its frame. The lightning bolts dissipated from its side, and the beast twisted its head toward Soundwave. The predacon swished its tail and swung it right into the silent mechs side, the metal colliding and scraping against each other as Soundwave was sent crashing into a stalagmite.

​"Soundwave!" Knockout cried.

The silent mech's already marred frame sparked with pain, but that didn't stop his visor's eye-less glare from looking straight at the predacon without an inch of fear. Soundwave got to his pedes, swaying on his stance, and shot out his tentacles at the beast's legs. The predacon slashed at the odd devices, slicing some in the midst of it. The remaining tentacles wound themselves around the predacon's back legs.

Soundwave wrenched them backwards, slamming the predacon to the floor with a growl of fury. The blow shook the cavern, and the predacon struggled to break its legs free.

​Knockout took the advantage of the moment by racing toward the fallen creature. He bent down to snatch one of the broken stalactites off the ground and leaped at the beast. He plunged the sharp point into the beast's other side, earning a furious roar of pain. The predacon swatted Knockout away with its claws, slashing across Knockout's chest plate, spraying bright blue energon into the air. Knockout was sent skidding across the cave floor in a heap.

​The medic's vision blurred for a moment as he slowly tried to sit up against the burning sting in his chest plate. Knockout glanced down to see three large gashes slashed across his chest plate, dripping with energon. Knockout clenched his servos, slowly getting to his peds despite the throbbing pain on his chest.

​"Bad call, beastie." He hissed, wiping his arm across his scratched face plates.

The predacon was tugging on its restraints flexing its claws and glaring at Knockout with a low growl.

"Someone should teach you not to ruin other's property." He sent a glance behind him, eyeing his weapon with a smirk.

​"You're gonna pay for laying one claw on my finish!" he shouted.

​"Starscream, now!"

​Starscream, who hadn't moved from his position, understood immediately.

The seeker raced across the cavern towards Knockout's frame, which was now crouched low with his servos placed firmly on the ground in front of him. Starscream dashed forward, stepping onto Knockout's servos with extreme grace as Knockout swung his arms upward, sending the light seeker through the air right at their target. Starscream twisted his thin body in the air, his sharp claws ready to strike and his wings flat against his frame. The predacon raised its helm as Starscream swung his leg around with a shrill cry and slamming it right into the beast's temple, the sharp heel grating into the thick metal making sparks fly. The predacon's head crashed to the ground as it roared ferociously, Starscream landing with a sharp clatter on top.

Soundwave quickly wrapped his remaining tentacles on the creature's fore-legs, preventing it from slashing or standing as Starscream stood up, a mischievous glint in his optics.

​The seeker swiped his claws together and fluttered his wings, stepping across the predacon's angry face with a devious chuckle.

"My, my, not so big and strong now are you, you oversized lizard." He mused.

​The predacon shifted suddenly in its binding, twisting its massive helm to face the seeker who jumped back with a yelp of surprise. From his view, Knockout could see the ominous orange glow beginning to form through the predacon's amour, the blazing heat already starting to reach his circuits.

​Not again.

​"Starscream, watch out!" he cried.

​Starscream spotted the orange glow and dove to the ground as the fiery blast erupted from the predacon's mouth. The beast thrashed its huge helm, burning the cave walls and leaving large scorch marks in its trail.

Starscream recovered quickly from the scare and raced to land beside the creature's moving head. The seeker raised his sharp claws and slashed them across the predacon's helm. The creature roared in pain and turned the flames toward the small seeker's frame. Starscream quickly ducked and rolled out of its path, but not before a section of the flames seared across the seeker's arm plating. He cried out in pain, clutching his scorched arm and rolled out of the way once again as the predacon tried to burn him a second time.

​The predacon let out a deafening roar that shook the cave floor. All three mechs reached to cover their audios at the ear-splitting sound. Soundwave was the most affected, as the thundering roar was loudest in his sensitive audio receptors. The silent mech threw up his servos to his audios and recoiled, his tentacles loosening ever so slightly.

​Slightly or not, the predacon noticed.

​The heavy beast rolled sharply to the side, its weight lifting Soundwave off the ground to slam into the cave wall in a crash of rocks, dazed. The predacon shook itself off and got to all four talons, growling. Knockout realized with a sinking spark that is golden optics were staring right at him, pulsing in rage.

The red mech re-evaluated his stance. This thing was too strong! It never stayed down long enough for any of them to land a killing blow! The red mech clenched his servos anxiously, watching as the predacon crouched down, tapping its claws against the rocks as if plotting the many different ways it could kill Knockout. He almost swore he saw the thing's jaw twist into almost a smile. Knockout swallowed.

How was he supposed to take on this beast of a transformer? No matter what they did, it always got back up. Why would this time be any different?

Knockout suddenly heard a small step beside him. He turned to see Starscream standing shakily beside him with his arms raised, though burned, and his claws flexed. The silver seeker gave a determined glance at Knockout, a smirk plastered across his face plates.

Always got back up.

The words echoed in Knockout's processor. He hadn't thought it for nothing. He then heard the steps on his other side, turning to see Soundwave's battered frame stand beside him too, poised and ready for another round. Soundwave turned his helm to give Knockout a brief nod before turning to face the reeling predacon once again.

The two seekers were at his side, ready to defend each other against the monster they had almost no match to.

The predacon seemed to know this too as the familiar orange glow began to arise deep within its throat, symbolling the blazing fire about to erupt from its mouth, pointing straight at them. The three mechs tensed, Knockout sent determined glances at his two comrades who held their stances in response.

Why would this time be any different?

Knockout smirked.

Because this time my team is beside me.

Bright orange fire exploded out of the predacon's mouth straight at them.

Both seekers reached to grab Knockout's wrists and yank him up in the air with them. Knockout felt the heat of the fire singe his ped-tips as it raged underneath him. Starscream and Soundwave looked down and Knockout and nodded.

With one large swing, they flung the red mech to land on the predacon's back. The beast's wings flared out as it tried to shake Knockout off, and the fire abruptly stopped. Knockout sunk his digits into the predacon's armor and heard it growl at him. He glanced up to see Starscream and Soundwave race past him overhead, aiming toward the cave entrance. Knockout felt the predacon shift its body to face the opening, its entire frame rattling in rage to destroy the pestering bots. The two seekers reached the entrance and swung around to face the predacon, hovering in mid-air. The predacon stared them down and crouched low, ready to spring.

Knockout watched as Starscream smirked with satisfaction at the beast's annoyance. The silver seeker did a small twirl in the air with a small laugh, fluttering his wings as he did so before turning around to face the predacon once again.

"What's the matter, Preda-pathetic?" he mocked, clicking his heels together, sparking up his damaged, yet functional thrusters. "Too scared to face two little seekers?"

The predacon snarled and scraped its claws across the cave floor, revving up its engines and spreading its wings.

Knockout gripped tighter on the metal. What was Starscream doing?Knockout thought, this thing was about to burst with anger and he was just making it madder! The next insult that comes off that glossa is going to make it give-

"Or are you afraid you can't catch us?"

- chase.

Oh Primus.

The predacon reared up on its hind legs and roared in fury making Knockout have to cling for dear life on its back.

The beast charged toward the entrance causing Soundwave to bolt to the dark, rainy skies, gaining a huge headstart before stalactites began to fall and crash to the cave floor. Starscream, on the other hand, lingered in the cave entrance, a devious grin plastered on his face plates as the ten-ton monster stampeded toward him, his ruby red optics tracing the beast's every movement, ever calculating.

Knockout saw the skinny mechs small form growing closer and closer as the predacon drew near. He was getting so close he could almost see into the seeker's optics and the predacon was not going to stop. They were inches from his position. He couldn't take this.

"Starscream, move!" he screamed.

Starscream immediately whipped his body around so his wings were facing the predacon and charged his thrusters to life, rocketing into the air with a huge sonic boom exploding right in the predacon's face. Knockout gripped the beast's back plates as tight as he could.

The predacon was blasted backward from the sheer force of the blow and crashed to the cave floor in a heap. Knockout about an inch away from being crushed by the predacon's huge shoulder plate. He felt the beast shift and get back to its peds, Knockout clinging onto its back. The predacon spread its wings once more and crouched its body low. With one swift flap of its massive wings, the predacon launched into the air and through the cave entrance into the pouring rain outside. Knockout yelped in discomfort as the cold raindrops splashed all over his finish.

Knockout opened his optics and took in the view before him. It was still dark out, with the heavy rainclouds still overhead. The rain was still pouring on them and the wind was merciless. Knockout could feel the predacon's body slightly sway against the airstream as it regulated itself against its force. The red mech jumped when a bright flash of lightning shone in the distance followed by a loud clap of thunder which rumbled deep within his circuits. He was actually quite high up on the predacon's back.

Knockout could just make out the cave's entrance from up in the air, and he could see the vastness of the unforgiving jungle he had spent so many days in. He did not know why the two seekers had thrown him onto the beast's back, but he knew he could do nothing about it now.

A sudden rush of wind swept across Knockout's frame with such force that caused the predacon to falter a moment before regaining its composure.

Knockout saw Starscream's lithe form skyrocketing through the rain. Air streaks were left in his wake as he twisted in the air to circle back at the predacon once more. The predacon roared at the little seeker and sped towards him. Starscream's optics widened and he spun around to the opposite direction. The predacon thundered after him. Knockout saw Starscream take a swift dive towards the trees. What was he doing?

Knockout felt the predacon dive underneath him too. The wind swept across his face as the ground was hurtling toward him. Rain splattered all over his face plates and he scrunched his optics, making out the fast-coming trees below him. The predacon beat its wings, staying on Starscream's heels the whole time.

Starscream came to an abrupt stop at the forest floor and lurched his body forward, disappearing under the canopies of the trees. Knockout gasped as the seeker spun out of the way of the incoming tree trunks in his way. What if Starscream crashed? He thought, worry growing in his spark.

The predacon then jerked to a stop making the red mech jump on top of him. The beast was determined to rip the silver seeker to pieces it seemed as the huge creature descended into the dense foliage as well. Knockout felt fear rise in his frame as the predacon's much larger body narrowly avoided the trees which whisked past Knockout's view. It was darker underneath the cover of the trees due to the lack of moonlight, only the flashes of lightning could brighten the beast's path following Starscream's small frame.

Forget if Starscream crashes, what if we crash? Knockout dreaded.

The predacon thundered after Starscream through the jungle, vines and low hanging branches slapped across Knockout's face in the dark as the red mech struggled to hang on in the bumpy ride. The wind roared in his audios, and the growls of the predacon did not cease. The red mech shut his optics, tightly gripping the metal underneath his servos.

How could this chase possibly stop this thing! He thought, I am going to die here in this jungle right here on this monster's back. I won't be able to return to the Nemesis. I won't taste the sweetness of energon again. I won't be able to buff my finish one last time. Knockout's processor reeled his misery in that one moment.

The hopelessness of his predicament made the red mech slowly re-open his optics. Knockout gasped as he looked up to see Starscream inches from the predacon's jaws. The little seeker blasted his damaged thrusters with all his might. Starscream was the fastest seeker in all of Cybertron, but injured, he was vulnerable to the perfectly healthy predacon.

Knockout sat up straighter on the predacon and tried to get a clear view of where Starscream was headed. The intense speed they were flying at made the scenery look like a blur. Knockout felt his spark pound in anticipation. He slowly began to notice the spaces between the trees becoming narrower and narrower and narrower...

Suddenly, the left wing of the predacon caught on one of the thick overhanging branches of a tree. The predacon's body came to an abrupt stop, and Knockout's hold on the beast's frame was yanked free, sending him flying off its back.

Knockout yelled in surprise as his frame was hurtled toward the forest floor. He braced his frame for impact, the furious roar of the predacon still ringing in his optics. He then felt two small servos grab his arm, and the direction of his falling geared upward to the sky. The rain became harder and he felt his frame be lifted above the forest trees. He opened his optics and saw the predacon struggling to rip free from the entangling vines under the tree canopy, growling in fury. He glanced up to see his rescuer.

"Soundwave!" he gasped, seeing the silent mech gripping his frame suspended in mid-air.

Soundwave nodded in response and glanced down to the predacon, calculating his next move. Knockout felt his frame sway in the winds of the rainstorm, and the medic slowly felt concern grow in his spark at the dangerous weather conditions. He shook it off as his processor returned to the conditions of his comrades. Where was Starscream?

Knockout squinted his optics toward the forest floor, until he thought he could make out the form of the small seeker racing out into the open air from underneath the trees. Starscream's frame shivered slightly through the pouring rain, and Knockout found himself shouting over to him.

"Starscream! Over here!" he called.

Starscream raised his helm at the sound of his name and spotted them. He did a little bounce in the air before dashing over to their position.

"It's tangled in the tree vines." He said coming to a stop beside them. "It may take a few klicks before it gets free. That gives us a chance to catch our intakes."

"No kidding." Knockout responded. "Oh, and thanks for the save, Soundwave." He said glancing at the silent mech. Soundwave nodded.

Starscream smirked.

"Did you enjoy your little ride, Knockout?"

Knockout frowned at him. "I almost died, Scream. If that thing comes after me because I was hitching a ride on its back, I blame you."

Starscream laughed. "Ooh, maybe next time we should have him feed the beast instead, don't you agree, Soundwave?" Soundwave lit up his mask to show a pink smiley face on his visor.

Knockout grumbled. Sometimes I can't believe I ever tolerate these two. He thought with a frown. Why do I even bother trying to keep them from hurting themselves.

Knockout glanced back at them. Soundwave was holding Knockout's arms with upmost care not to drop the red mech, slender digits not leaving a single scratch suspended in mid-air. The silent mech was nodding along, even without a face, he seemed content, no matter how mangled his frame was. Starscream was as bubbly as ever. The silver seeker twirled in the air, fluttering his wings against the rainy wind, raindrops sliding down his grinning face plates. Starscream was babbling about the thrilling flight through the dense tree canopies, as if it were the best thing that ever happened to him. Knockout could not pay attention to the words pouring out of the seeker's mouth as he was simply lost in thought about what he would do without his friends.

If he was the only one who survived this trip, the Nemesis would not be the same. After the loss of his partner, Breakdown, Knockout had felt so lonely and out of place on the Decepticon war ship. He was a flashy automobile enthusiast, much unlike the dark, gloomy drones which roamed the halls. Nobody wanted to talk to him.

Nobody, except Starscream.