Rain was now falling from the dark skies and lightning flashed in the distance. The rainforest was dark and damp as creatures scurried into their homes to escape the downpour.

Thunder rumbled overhead, the noise vibrated in Knockout's audios as he trudged through the muddy dirt. Starscream had spotted a cave when he had climbed a tree to get a better look.

Now, the two mechs were not that far from the hiding spot, but the rain had beat them to it. Luckily, the real storm had not reached them yet, and they were determined to reach the cave before then.

​Knockout glanced behind him through the rain over at his friend. Starscream was struggling to trudge through the thick mud which caked the ground. His slim legs were not very useful for pushing through thick substances and he had fallen behind the red mech.

Starscream visibly winced at the force the mud pushed against his damaged ankles making Knockout frown. Of course, Starscream was too stubborn to ask for help. He thought in annoyance.

The medic was originally planning to stay in place and wait for the seeker to catch up, until a flash of lightning illuminated in the distance followed by a clap of thunder appeared.

The image of Starscream's charred body sparking on the ground from the night of the flood flashed in his processor, and the red mech found himself rushing to Starscream's side.

I cannot let that happen again.

​Knockout reached Starscream quickly and roughly grabbed onto the seeker's arm and tugging on him to wade through the thick mud faster. The sudden movement seemed to startle the silver mech out of his concentration.

​"Whoa, hey, Knockout, what do you think you're doing?" he squeaked.

​"We have to get a move on, Scream." Knockout insisted, pulling on Starscream's arm harder, only slightly, "That storm is coming closer and closer."

​Starscream scowled and wrenched his arm out of Knockout's grasp, "I can take care of myself, doctor!" he hissed, "I am perfectly capable of- Ack!" The seeker quickly clutched his crushed side and grated his denta at the throbbing pain in his side shooting up his body.

Knockout rolled his optics and slowly reached out and wrapped his servos around Starscream's narrow waist, easily slipping the light slender mech into his arms. Starscream was too busy trying to keep his breathing under control to notice the red mech trudging through the mud with the seeker in tow towards their intended destination.

​Knockout smirked, "You are perfectly capable of what now, Starscream?"

Seeker shifted in Knockout's arms with a groan and looked up to glare at the red mech. Knockout laughed as he continued his path toward the cave. He swore he heard Starscream mumble, "This is humiliating."

​After a few klicks, Knockout reached the entrance of the cave. The inside was dark, with stalagmites and stalactites scattered across as deep as their dim optics could venture. The shadows casted by the moonlight made an ominous feeling settle in Knockout's spark chamber, but he knew they had no better chances of surviving outside.

​With a heavy intake, the red mech stepped through the arched entrance and found a place among the large rocks to settle down his cargo. He gently laid Starscream down, back against the wall with the seeker's helm resting back on the cavern. Knockout knelt down beside him, "Are you alright, Scream?"

​Starscream groggily opened his optics and blinked a couple times at Knockout, "Yes...yes, I just needed a rest is all...I am alright." The seeker said, beginning to wake and become alert once more.

Knockout felt relief wash over him. He did not want Starscream to become less and less aware or he would become as vulnerable as a flightless bird in a wolf den.

Starscream slowly sat up against the wall a bit more, scooting over to make room for Knockout. Knockout sent a grateful look and sat down beside his comrade.

​Knockout stretched his aching servos with a sigh, "You know, Scream, you're not so bad." The red mech smirked, "Besides your prickly attitude and huge ego, you're not as bad as everyone says! Which, of course, is pretty bad I must say." Knockout hoped sparking a conversation could keep Starscream from succumbing to his exhaustion before his systems got a rest first.

​Starscream scowled, "Is that so?"

​"Yep! You're the star topic aboard the Nemesis." Knockout laughed. "Makes things interesting for us...other mechs..." he trailed off.

​Starscream's scowl lightened up a bit into a confused frown, "Other mechs?"

​Knockout's expression looked almost...sad? The red mech continued, "Well, you see, us non-military models aren't really seen as...important mechs on the ship." He said quietly.

​Starscream was surprised, "Really? You? Aren't you, like, the most popular mech on the Nemesis?"

​Knockout smirked, "Well, I suppose that's true for me," he said, "but there are still those who believe us extra mechs to be inferior."

​Starscream swiped his optics away to stare at the ground, "Well," he started nervously, wringing his claws together, "um...if it's any consolation...I-I think you are very important to the Decepticon cause...to the soldiers..." he blinked and looked back at Knockout, "...to me."

​Knockout's optics widened in surprise. Was that...sincerity? From Starscream? Since when did Starscream ever care?

Knockout then remembered all the life-threatening incidents that had happened throughout their adventure. This seeker, the same seeker who had tried on countless occasions to overthrow Megatron no matter what stood in his way, was the one who had saved his life more than once and wouldn't let him die in all the past few days. Starscream did have the capacity for compassion. The red mech knew Starscream had suffered physical, mental, and emotional pain all throughout his life. His feeling to care had been covered by layer after layer of vengeance and self-hate. But, no matter what was thrown at the seeker, the medic knew that he would always get back up. Knockout smiled back at the silver seeker.

I knew there was a spark still in there. He thought.

​Knockout spoke, "Well, you know Starscream, I am not the only one with a lustrous finish every mech envies."

He smirked, "It seems I have some competition."

​Starscream smirked back, "Well, doctor, may the most capable mech of being leader of the Decepticons win."

Laughing, both mechs settled against the cave wall once more.

Knockout caught the sound of heavy rain falling outside the cave entrance. The sound almost was...relaxing. The relaxing pitter-patter of the raindrops and decent rumble of thunder outside created the perfect conditions for Knockout to rest his exhausted systems.

Knockout curled into himself and let his intakes slow, off lining his optics and simply listening to the outside noises.

He heard Starscream shuffle beside him, obviously the seeker was wondering if Knockout fell asleep.

The red mech then heard the seeker change position and try to recharge as well. The small drips of the cave echoed in Knockout's audios and soon enough, both Knockout and Starscream fell into a well-deserved recharge.

~later~

​Knockout awoke to a ground shaking clap of thunder accompanied by a blinding flash of lightning.

Yikes, he thought, the storm must have really rolled in by now.

The red mech sat up stiffly, and blinked his optics, taking in his surroundings. They were still in the even darker cave now, rain falling heavily outside with thunder booming almost every minute.

The blinding flashes of lightning illuminated the dark cave frequently, casting long shadows from the cave entrance to deep inside the cavern. Knockout glanced down to his comrade.

Starscream was curled into a tight little ball on the cave floor, with his knees tucked up to his chins and his wings flat against his back. The silver seeker was recharging peacefully, though, the occasional twitches from his small frame made him look as if he were dreaming.

Knockout smiled, Well, at least one of us is getting a good night's rest. It was almost instinct for the medic to value someone's health before their own, and seeing Starscream finally get a peaceful nap made the red mech feel almost relieved.

They say a mech's complexion can look better after rest. He thought, wishing he could get another ounce of sleep considering the marred condition his finish was in.

​Knockout was startled out of his thought with the sound of metal clanking coming from the entrance of the cave.

What was that? The red mech turned toward the sound, optics scanning the area around the cave entrance.

All he could see was the heavy rain outside falling and the bright flashes of lightning. Thunder boomed in the sky once again and Knockout had trouble picking out the noise.

Maybe I just imagined it. He thought, trying to calm his nerves.

​Metal clanging reached his audios once again and the red mech whipped his helm around to the deep end of the cavern. There it was again!

The echoing sounds were all jumbled together as the clanking mixed with the sound of the thunder, but from what Knockout could hear, it sounded almost like...

​"Footsteps!" Knockout gasped quietly.

The red mech got to his pedes immediately and frantically darted his optics around the cave looking for any attackers. Starscream heard Knockout's little outburst and slowly as up as well.

​"What's the matter?" he asked groggily.

​"Shh."

​"Knockout?"

​"Shh."

​Starscream caught the signal to be quiet and glanced around as well, wondering what Knockout was searching for when the sound of heavy metal footsteps reached his audios as well.

The seeker panicked, What was-

Movement caught his optic in the corner of the back of the cave. Through the inky darkness, Starscream caught sight of small yellow lights illuminating the cave walls, a massive form was covered in them, walking on four legs with huge wings spread on its back. Its massive head was decorated in sharp spikes, with two bright yellow eyes, full of menace staring right at him. It was crouched down with its long sharp claws against its chest, ready to spring. No, no it couldn't be...

​"Predacon!" Starscream shrieked, leaping to his peds and shoving Knockout across the cave just in time as the massive form of the predacon leaped toward their position.

The beast landed heavily on the cave floor and whipped its head around towards the two mechs. Knockout finally got his bearings and looked up at it with terrified optics. The predacon glared at him and threw back its head to let out a deafening roar, louder than the booming thunder outside, shaking the stalactites on the ceiling.

​Uh oh.

​Knockout only had a split second to think before the predacon swiped its claws at the two mechs, Starscream jumped just in time to avoid it, but Knockout was sent crashing into the cave wall. His helm hit the cave wall hard and his entire frame throbbed.

He blinked his optics and saw Starscream gasp and run toward him, but the beast had other plans. The predacon turned and growled at Starscream, swiping its tail. Starscream dropped to the floor as the tail swung right over him, barely missing his wing tips, and the seeker sprang up to run right under the predacon's feet. The beast stumbled on its feet and started stomping its legs, trying to crush the little seeker underneath. Starscream ducked and rolled from side to side, dodging the predacon's legs. He reached up and the raked his claws on the predacon's stomach, drawing bright blue energon and making the predacon roar in fury. The beast swiped one of its massive claws again, the talons ripped through Starscream's metal plating and flung the seeker into a nearby stalagmite. Starscream cried out in pain and clutched the fresh claw marks, denta and optics clenched.

​Knockout recovered from his blow and quickly reached into his subspace, drawing out his electrical staff, charging the deadly weapon and spinning it through his digits. The predacon heard the charges and shot its gaze at the red mech, flaring out its huge wings. Knockout held its stare.

​"Bring it on."

​The predacon charged at Knockout, reaching out its claws to strike him once again. Knockout jumped right as the claws swiped underneath him and Knockout landed right on its arm. The red mech ran up the beast's arm and onto its back as the predacon thrashed around in order to shake him off. Knockout gripped on of the predacon's back spikes and raised up his staff, plunging it straight into the predacon's back.

The predacon was immediately encompassed in electricity and it screeched in pain as the lightning bolts ran up and down its frame. Knockout felt a shock run through his system just before he leaped off the beast's back and slid onto the dusty cave floor.

He looked up to see the predacon stomping around thrashing, trying to shake the device off its back. Knockout smirked with satisfaction until his optics trailed upward to see the stalactites on the cave ceiling shaking with the heavy pedfalls of the beast.

He gasped in dismay when they began to crash to the ground near his position, one fell from the ceiling and landed right on the tip of his staff, dislodging it from the predacon's back.

Altogether, the electric charges stopped and steam rose from the beast's frame. It slowly turned its gaze to Knockout and growled, its helm shaking in rage.

​"Oh scrap."

​The huge beast swung its massive wing at Knockout, it colliding with the red mech and crushing him against the cave wall. The predacon increased the pressure, making the wing press Knockout harder against the sharp cave, the small sharp rocks digging into his frame. Knockout could feel the small metal plating give in and his systems cracking under the force making him cry in pain. He could feel his systems being slowly crushed between the heavy wing and the cave wall. His body was losing its strength and he could feel his own optics dimming.

​All of a sudden, the pressure was gone, and Knockout dropped to the cave floor in a heap, trying to steady his intakes.

What happened? He wondered in a daze.

The red mech quickly shook his head to see the predacon thrashing around wildly roaring in fury with something clinging onto its back. Knockout gasped at Starscream who was swiping his claws along the predacon's huge wings. The seeker gritted his denta against the large gashes still spilling energon in his side, and continued to attack the predacon's sensitive wings.

The predacon swiveled its massive head behind it to the point where its muzzle was inches away from Starscream's faceplates. The seeker immediately stopped raking his claws and gripped the predacon's back spike, optics wide with fear.

Knockout watched in horror as the beast opened its serrated mouth, a red-hot glow erupting from its throat, and blasted blazing hot fire over Starscream's small frame. The seeker had quickly flung his arms to cover his face, but that didn't stop the fire enveloping his body. Starscream screamed in agony as the fiery heat washed over him, there was nothing the seeker could do.

​Knockout felt his spark drop as he watched the predacon melting Starscream's frame.

"NO!" he screamed, and the red mech grabbed a broken shard of stalactite that had fallen to the floor in all the commotion. He charged up to the predacon's talon and jabbed the sharp point in the beast's paw. The predacon stopped the fire abruptly and snarled in pain.

Knockout saw as the predacon bucked up its back, Starscream swayed on its spine, servo slipping from its hold on the beast's back spikes, until he lost his footing, and the seeker was sent falling to the floor. Knockout sprang away from the predacon's blindly stomping feet and dived forward to catch Starscream before his battered frame could hit the ground. Knockout caught the scorching hot seeker in his arms and turned midair onto his back to save Starscream the blunt of the force. His back collided hard onto the stone floor and both mechs slid into the nearby cave wall with a crash. Knockout's whole back side throbbed and his helm was in a daze, but he paid no mind as he laid his worry optics over his friend.

Starscream's frame was covered in scorch marks and the recent claw marks were burned from within, steam rising out of his systems. Starscream's optics were dimly open, looking up at Knockout with fear written all over them, a slight whimper escaping his vocalizer.

Despite the intense heat emanating from the seeker, Knockout held his friend close to his plating, making sure the predacon would not be able to claw at the seeker with his frame as a shield. His poor, poor Commander! He could not let him die like this! Away from their home, with previous injuries still needing treatment, not being able to see the sky or feel the wind underneath his wings. No, Knockout could not lose another friend. A friend he was beginning to grow close to! It would be too much for Knockout to take. He had wanted to protect Starscream! The way Breakdown protected himself. And Knockout had failed him.

​"Knockout..." the whisper barely audible in Knockout's audios between his hyperventilating. The red mech quickly looked at Starscream, worry splayed all over his face plates.

​"Starscream," Knockout choked out. His spark swelled with grief, would Starscream, the mech who saved him only moments ago, and was beginning to trust despite the seeker's notorious past, die thinking that he was worth nothing to this world. "Starscream, what is it?" Knockout found himself trying to hold back fluid gathering in his optics.

​"If-If this is indeed the end...please...please know that...I am truly grateful for all the times we shared stuck in this Primus forsaken jungle." Starscream struggled to form words, the heat in his systems beginning to melt important components in his frame. It would only be a matter of time before the surging flames became too much for his spark.

"I-I want you to know how happy I am to know that you are...here with me." The seeker shuddered involuntarily and Knockout reached to grip his servo.

​Knockout remembered a similar conversation they had before back on the Nemesis, when they had accidentally set free vampire cons who sucked out all the energon of other cybertronians. Starscream and Knockout had hidden in a storage room, and said their last words. Knockout almost felt like he had been back with his partner again. Now, he was reliving the pain of losing another mech he cared about, only this time, this one was dying in his arms, struck down by a beast too powerful to destroy.

​"Starscream..." he whispered, tears beginning to flow from his dark optics, trailing down his scratched white face plates, "Please, please don't leave me too."

​"Knockout...I just want to say...thank you."

​Knockout found himself unable to breath.

​"Thank you for all the things you did for me...back on the Nemesis...out in the battlefield.... here."

​Knockout placed a servo on Starscream's chest plate, feeling the heat crawling under its surface as tears flowed freely from his optics.

​"No one deserves a mech as wonderful as you."

​Knockout squeezed Starscream's servo harder.

​"You are...and will always be..."