"Hope you're ready for a game of hide-and-seek, fleshy." Knockout said mockingly.

'I could say the same to you.' Evelyn thought. He wanted to play cat and mouse? Fine.

She'll show him just how fast a mouse she could be.

Evelyn turned around and sprinted towards the abandoned ancient crumbling houses. 

Knockout may have been bigger than her but it also puts him at a disadvantage.

With Evelyn's small size and speed, she had tons of hiding spots to choose from. Hopefully she could find a stable one to wait out in. If she were to wait inside one that's too fragile and unstable, her strategy would backfire since Knockout could just bring the building down on her and she has no doubts that he wouldn't hesitate to do so.

"Wow, you're pretty fast for a fleshy." Knockout said as he strode towards her. He was in no rush as he was confident he could catch up with her. Sure, he could've just transformed into his alt mode but.....

'Where's the fun in that?' he thought with a smirk. The least he could do after coming all this way is get some amusement.

He was surprised to find another human associated with the Autobots. He thought the only ones involved was that agent, the girl with Bulkhead and the other two boys, one older while the other was obviously younger.

Looks like another human will be added to the list.

Evelyn began to run and weave through buildings sticking to walls and narrow alleyways and always peeking out of corners ever so slightly before turning.

She kept her taser out and ready. It was already on with electricity crackling through the metallic ends.

Evelyn heard footsteps and saw Knockout was only seven feet away from her! She turned around and ducked into the nearest entrance she could find.

She mentally cursed as she realized that there was no roof! If Knockout were to look down he would see her in plain sight. Evelyn was about to exit when she heard Knockout moving closer leaving her with no choice but to press herself against the walls and pray that he doesn't look down.

She heard Knockout stop and saw his pedes right in front of the entrance. 'Oh god he's right there!' she thought.

She held her breath and closed her eyes. She clutched the taser tightly with on hand while the other clenched around the energon crystal hanging around her neck for reassurance.

After what felt like an eternity, she heard him move on and his pede steps slowly became softer and softer as he moved away. Evelyn released a long breath she didn't know she'd held in. She kept the taser in her pocket and peeked out of the entrance ever so slightly......

And reared back in shock as a servo reached through it.

She lost her footing and landed on her butt. Before she could get back up or take out her taser again, the servo grabbed her leg and pulled her out.

Her hands scrambled for something to grab on but only found sand which slipped through her fingers. But it gave her an idea.

She yelped as she found herself hanging upside down as Knockout held her by her leg.

"Game over, I've found you~" Knockout taunted as he held her till she was eye-level. "Not bad, for a human."

"Don't count me out just yet." Evelyn said. She closed her eyes and threw the fistful of sand into Knockout's optic.

The red con cried out in surprise and dropped Evelyn. "Ow, slag it! That hurts!" Knockout said as he tried to wipe the sand out of his optic.

Evelyn twisted her body and performed the safety landing she's been taught so many times. She bent her knees and with that along with the soft sand, the landing wasn't too difficult. Evelyn thanked whatever lucky deity was upon her that she didn't twist her ankle before she sprinted off to find another hiding spot.

"Oh no you don't." Knockout said before giving chase.

Evelyn knew she couldn't outrun him, even though he wasn't as big as the other con, he was still bigger than her.

'I have to slow him down and buy Smokes some time.' She thought.

Evelyn looked ahead and saw another ancient house, except this one seemed sturdier with an actual roof covering it. Upon entering, she saw there were even pillars inside to support it.

She wasted no time in entering it and going up and up the remaining crumbling stairs till she reached the roof. As she stepped onto the stairs, she honest to god felt them shift down ever so slightly as she pressed one foot after another on it.

Evelyn reached the top and saw Knockout below her.

"You and I both know you can't hide up there forever. Why not save us both the trouble and turn yourself in? Who knows, I might be kind." Knockout said.

"Don't plan on it." Evelyn said and picked up a stone that was the size of her fist and hurled it at Knockout. She picked up stone after stone and hurled it at the red con, aiming for his faceplate and optics.

At first, Knockout didn't even care, if anything he was amused over how hard she was trying, until he felt a stone slam just above his optic. He looked down and saw scratches all over his body.

"Hey! Watch the paint! Ow!" he cried as a stone hit his optic. 'Why is it always the optic?!'

Evelyn threw and threw; she reached down for another stone and grabbed nothing but sand. She looked around and a pit formed in her gut as she saw no other stones left!

"You've gotta be flippin' kidding me." She hissed.

"Out of ammo?" Knockout said as he dusted himself off.

"Who said I was." Evelyn retorted before whipping out her slingshot and loading a metal ball in the pouch before taking aim.

"That's cute." Knockout sneered. Evelyn aimed for the optic but Knockout was well aware of her target and managed to block it. Then he whipped out a blaster.

Evelyn's eyes widened. She dropped into a side roll and managed to dodge a blast that would've surely killed her and ran back into the house for cover.

She peeked out of the window ever so slightly to see Knockout twirling the blaster casually.

"You know, guns aren't really my style. Quite cumbersome if you ask me." He said as though they were discussing about the weather. "But, under these circumstances, I might have a change of mind." He said with a smirk before taking aim and firing again.

"Oh $h!t." Evelyn said as he pulled the trigger and jumped down just as a chunk of the wall got shot off.

She landed and rolled to reduce the impact. Evelyn panted and saw Knockout making his way over. She pushed herself up and ran.

'There has to be a backdoor of sorts.' She hoped desperately. She looked around and saw no other door. "Oh no no no, c'mon." She said as she searched desperately for a way out.

Then she once again thought of an idea; a reckless, crazy, downright mad and even suicidal idea.

Then again, it was the only on she's got.

Briefly she wondered how she always came up with these kinds of plans in situations like this before she just accepted it.

She made her way to the rooftop again and found it, a hole in one of the pillars on the inside of the top floors of the house.

Evelyn took a deep breath and exhaled. She relaxed her body and tried to make herself as small as possible before squeezing into the hole. It was about a 3 feet wide and 6 feet high which was big enough for her.

She waited and briefly saw a red optic gaze into the area she was hiding in. For one horrible moment, Knockout's optic rested in the pillars and Evelyn thought for sure her goose was cooked.....then he moved on.

"Damn it." Knockout hissed.

'He can't find me.' Evelyn thought. 'He thinks I'm gone.'

'Where is that fleshy?!' Knockout asked himself in frustration. She was in here, he's sure of it! There's no way she could've just vanished into thin air and he highly doubts she could've just turned invisible.

He turned around and walked away. 'Maybe she found a way into another house, she couldn't have gone far.' He thought.

Evelyn didn't want to make the same mistake twice so she waited and counted to 30 before squeezing out. She looked left and right and released a breath of relief when she realized Knockout has moved on for real this time.

She made her way down and paused as she saw the red con's figure in the distance. Evelyn turned on her heel, fully intent on finding another hiding spot, but luck was not on her side as she kicked a stone and sent it clattering to a wall.

Evelyn prayed that Knockout didn't hear it but it turns out the con's hearing was sharper than she gave him credit for as he turned around and spotted her.

"So, wanna play tag now?" he asked with a devious smirk.

Evelyn turned around and sprinted off as fast as her legs could carry her but Knockout's had enough of games.

He transformed into his alt mode and drove after her.

Evelyn turned around and saw a red Aston Martin speeding towards her.

'That's his alt mode?' she thought. Judging by the red finish, she guessed she was right. Had circumstances been different, she would've thought it was a pretty cool choice.

Knockout closed the gap in a minute and transformed back before grabbing her in his servo.

"Tag, you're caught." Knockout said and smirked triumphantly as he held her in his fist.

Evelyn squirmed and kicked at him. "Let me go, you rust bucket! And in tag, you're suppose to let the other go and let him or her chase you instead you nitwit!" she snapped at him.

Knockout tutted. "You humans have no manners, shame." He said. He also noted now, that when she spoke, she had an accent of sorts to her voice similar to Miko, the human girl who hangs out with Bulkhead.

"Says the lad who tried to bloody kill me!" Evelyn retorted.

"Oh don't worry, I won't hurt if you cooperate." He said and transformed one of his servos into a buzzsaw. Evelyn tried to put on a brave front but her eyes widened ever so slightly as she saw the huge blade begin to whirl menacingly. Already she could picture it cutting through her like butter and gutting her like a fish!

"I've always been curious about the human anatomy." Knockout said with a smirk. "I am a scientist after all."

"I've got a few tricks up my own sleeve." Evelyn said as her free hand reached into her pocket and wrapped around the taser.

"Like what?" Knockout asked.

This time, it was Evelyn's turn to smirk. "This!" she said and slammed her taser onto his arm as hard as she could with it at full power.

Knockout yelled out in pain and dropped her. Evelyn landed and took off sprinting but she never got far before a shot went off beside her and behind her causing her to trip and roll through the sand. She closed her eyes as she felt the sand all over her.

"I tire of these games, fleshy." Knockout said and once again grabbed her, except this time, her arms were pinned to her side and he was squeezing a bit too tightly.

Evelyn gritted her teeth as she felt her bones reject against the pressure on them.

"You seem pretty close to the Autobot, perfect." Knockout said. He grinned proudly, the fleshy seemed close to the Autobot, with her at his mercy he could get all sorts of things out of this. "Megatron will be pleased." He said.

"Maybe we could chat some other day over tea. Not really in the mood to meet im' right now." Evelyn said and glared at him.

"You don't have a choice in this matter." He said. Then Knockout smirked deviously. "But before that....." his sharp digit pressed against her stomach. "Let's take a quick peek, shall we~" he said before he began to rip the fabric ever so slowly....

Then they heard a car horn. They whipped their heads around and saw an Indy 500 Mclaren MP4-12C racecar speeding towards them.

Evelyn hopes soared and she gasped in relief when she saw it was her guardian Smokescreen!

"Let. Her. Go!" Smokescreen cried before he transformed back and tackled Knockout. Knockout dropped Evelyn in the process.

As they rolled and tumbled on the sand, Smokescreen landed punch after punch on the Decepticon medic and tried to ignore the two punches from Knockout that sent a burst of pain on his lip.

The two of them landed some ways away and Smokescreen charged forward with his blade.

Knockout sprung back just in time to dodge a swipe that left a long horizontal scratch on his chassis.

"You scratched the paint!" Knockout said then had to dodge another swipe.

"Stay still and I'll make it asymmetrical!" Smokescreen said.

Knockout put some distance between them and took out his energon prod. He activated it and electricity crackled menacingly.

The two circled each other and contemplated their next move.

'He's not a fighter, I can take him. But I'm hurt and tired. Goanna have to end this quick. It'll be hard to land a hit on him with that energon prod, gives him a further reach though.' Smokescreen thought. His optics trailed to the signal scrambler. 'I have to get that scrambler out of the way to call for backup.'

'Scrap, if he's here he must've taken care of Breakdown. That's not something anyone can simply do. The rookie's better than I gave him credit for.' Knockout glanced back up to where Evelyn was no doubt hiding and spying on the fight from a safe vantage point. 'But, he's no Optimus. He's a rookie and I have a trick or two.'

"So, the knight in shining armor has come to rescue his princess." Knockout teased.

"And the medic is here alone without his bodyguard." Smokescreen said not taking his eyes off him.

"You and fleshy over there seem pretty chummy." Knockout said.

"Unlike you, I'm a decent bot that cares about his comrades." Smokescreen said.

"Big words, won't do much good once you can barely talk!" Knockout said before lunging forward with his energon prod.

Smokescreen was surprised that he was boldly making the first move and brought his blade up to block. He cried out in pain as he felt the electricity travel up his servo. Smokescreen pushed the red con back.

"Metal conducts electricity." Knockout said twirling the energon prod before going on to attack again.

Smokescreen swung his blade and it clashed against the metal staff of the energon prod. He pushed it down and socked Knockout across the faceplate.

Knockout transformed his servo into a buzzsaw and swung it at Smokescreen who ducked and tackled him to the ground.

He used the same tactic Breakdown used against him and rained blow after blow on Knockout. What he didn't expect was for Knockout to suddenly whip out a blaster and take aim causing him to get off him to dodge.

Smokescreen put his fists up and got into a boxing-like fighting stance bouncing on the balls of his pedes lightly. 'Looks like Knockout got himself a new toy. Let's see how well you are in close combat.'

Knockout took aim and fired.

Smokescreen ducked under the blast, feeling it graze the tip of his helm and rushed forward to close the distance.

He jabbed Knockout a good few times and kicked him in the chassis before retreating back.

"Not so tough without your bodyguard Breakdown, huh?" he taunted. Smokescreen sidestepped a lunge of Knockout's buzzsaw and pivoted on his pede before side kicking him in the midriff.

Knockout cried out in pain and shoulder slammed into Smokescreen and socked him across the faceplate causing energon to spill from Smokescreen's split lip. The Autobot retaliated with an uppercut.

Knockout lunged forward and the energon prod struck Smokescreen in the chest sending a wave of electricity through him. Knockout smirked and pushed it deeper until energon began to spill out. Smokescreen cried out in pain.

Knockout took it out and Smokescreen went to his knees. He tried to ignore the pain and get back up but Knockout slammed the energon prod onto his back sending another wave of pain and electricity through his entire body

"Smokescreeeeeeeeeen!" Evelyn cried from where she was watching. "Fight back goddammit! I know you can! Get up!" she encouraged.

"Aw, your little friend there believes in you, how cute." Knockout taunted.

But Smokescreen heard Evelyn's voice through the ringing in his audio receptors and through the pain.

'That's Eve, she's cheering me on....she's counting on me.' Smokescreen clenched his servos into fists as he was filled with new determination.

'She's counting on me.....'

He got back up.

'I'm her guardian.....'

He glared at Knockout who was shocked at how he was even able to get back up!

'What the heck?! I hit him at full power with this thing!' Knockout thought in shock. Even Optimus was left a bit discombobulated after being hit with his energon prod at full power.

'I can't let Eve down!' Smokescreen thought before he lunged forward with a battle cry. He tackled Knockout down and flipped back up before jumping up and activating his blade.

Knockout rolled out of the way and Smokescreen's blade plunged into sand.

"Not bad, rookie. So, you and the fleshy there must really be close if her voice can actually give you strength. I'm touched." Knockout said and put a servo on his chest in mock touched.

"She's a friend, a fragging good one that watches my back at that. Jealous?" Smokescreen asked.

They heard an engine roar and tires screeching. Evelyn squinted and saw a dark blue SUV heading towards Smokescreen's and Knockout's location. Her eyes widened.

"Big guy's heading your way!" she yelled.

Smokescreen and Knockout turned around and saw Breakdown transform mid-air and land heavily on the sand with a 'thump'.

Breakdown's body had a few dents and scratches and he did not look happy.

"You aren't the only one with friends, Autobot." Knockout said. "What took you so long?" he asked Breakdown.

"The rookie over there buried me under tonnes of rock." Breakdown slammed his hammer against his palm. "I say we return the favor."

"It's two against one, rookie. Give up already." Knockout said with a smug smirk.

"Yeah, pity I can't call for backup. Oh wait," Smokescreen held up the signal scrambler and this time, it was his turn to smirk smugly as he saw the two cons' optics widen and Knockout looking at his hip where the scrambler was in surprise. "I did." He said before crushing the signal scrambler ad dropping it on the ground before crushing it under his pede.

"Call for backup now Eve!" Smokescreen cried out before transforming his servos into blasters and opening fire on the two cons.

Evelyn heard Smokescreen from her vantage point and immediately whipped her phone out. She saw the two apps she was looking for on her screen.

One was the image of the Autobot logo with the letters 'SOS' in front of it while the other was a comm dispatch app with the Autobot logo on the corner and the phone calling logo in front.

One was for emergencies only, an SOS signal while the other allowed her to communicate with the others.

Evelyn pressed the comm dispatch and sent out the location with a message.

'Cons are here, two, Knockout and Breakdown. Smokes is holding them off but he's hurt. Need help ASAP.'

She pressed send and hoped they got here soon.

Meanwhile back at the Autobot base......

"What's taking them so long?" Miko asked from the couch.

"Knowing the rookie he's probably going around for a drive." Arcee said though deep down the Autobot femme was a bit concerned too.

"But it's just recon, shouldn't they be back by now?" Miko asked. Normally she wasn't so persistent but she was worried for her cousin and she had a gut feeling that's telling her something's wrong.

"You don't think the cons got them." Jack said.

"If so, they would've called for backup." Ratchet pointed out.

"Unless their comms are being jammed." Raf said.

"Rafael may be right. If Smokescreen and Eve do not make contact in the next half hour, I think it's best if we investigate." Optimus said.

Just then, a message popped up on the computer screen.

"It's from Evelyn!" Ratchet said and read it aloud.

"Cons are here, two, Knockout and Breakdown. Smokes is holding them off but he's hurt. Need help ASAP." He read and everyone's optics/eyes widened ever so slightly after that.

"Ratchet lock onto their position and acti-" Optimus was cut off.

"Hey guys, you there?" Smokescreen asked.

"Smokescreen, what's the status?" Ratchet asked.

On the other end of the comm, Smokescreen was engaging Breakdown in combat again. "I'm currently trying to *duck* not get my helm whacked off if that helps!" he replied. "We need a bridge, activate it when I say so. I hafta *grunt* put some distance between the cons first!" Smokescreen said.

"Understood. Autobots, prepare yourselves. Ratchet, lock onto Smokescreen's coordinates and prepare to activate the bridge on his command." Optimus said. Ratchet didn't have to be told though as he was already on it.

Meanwhile back in Egypt......

"Sorry guys, as fun as this is, gotta split." Smokescreen said with a two digit salute. He ran forward and flipped over Breakdown before transforming into his alt-mode and speeding towards Evelyn.

(A/N: He flipped over like this.)

He stopped beside her and opened his door. "Taxi?" he joked.

Evelyn jumped in and the seatbelt wrapped around her. "Less talking more driving." She said.

"Roger roger." Smokescreen said and pushed his gauge up.

Evelyn looked at the rear mirror and saw a red Aston Martin chasing after them with a dark blue SUV not too far behind.

"Boogie on your six! Two of them." Evelyn reported.

The cannon on top of Breakdown's alt-mode took aim and fired. Smokescreen swerved out of the way in time.

"Hold on, this is goanna get rough!" Smokescreen warned and shifted gears. 'Dammit! I have to shake them off before calling for a bridge.' He swerved and turned and spun barely avoiding the blasts...until one of them shot just inches away and sent him spinning through the air.

Things seemed to go in slow motion as Evelyn felt her world spinning before she was sent flying out of her seat as Smokescreen was forced to transform before his metal fingers grabbed onto her.

Smokescreen held her close to his chest for protection as he roughly rolled on the sand before coming to a halt.

He saw the two cons transform back some distance away. Smokescreen looked around and a pit formed in his gut when he saw no place to hide Evelyn leaving him with no choice.

"Eve, I'm goanna hide you somewhere but you have to trust me, ok?" he told her.

"I do, now shoot, where is this hiding place?" Evelyn asked.

Smokescreen opened up the compartments on his chest.

"In here. Sorry, desperate times call for desperate measures." He said.

"That's probably the safest place in this crazy fight at the moment." Evelyn said with a strained smile. "I trust you."

Smokescreen smiled and put her inside. Evelyn peeked her head out before going in. "You sure you can take those two on your own?"

"I'm tougher than I look." Smokescreen said with a cocky smirk in an attempt to reassure her. "Hang tight, *looks at the two cons coming* things are about to get bumpy."

"Be careful." Evelyn said before going inside. Smokescreen closed it off and turned around with his blade activated on one servo and the other transformed into a blaster, cocked and aimed, ready for fire.

"Using yourself as a shield to protect your princess? That's cute." Knockout teased then he held his buzzsaw up menacingly. "It will make tearing you up more...interesting."

"Not goanna happen." Smokescreen said before charging forward.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey readers! FP here with another chapter. I'm just here to let you all know that my mid-term exams are coming soon so I won't update for a while but I promise that I'll get back to it ASAP.

So, what do you think of the story so far? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

And just for fun, who do you think should become a guardian with a human charge?

A. Ratchet

or

B. Wheeljack

Let me know which you'd prefer in the comments. You all have until 30th June to let me know.

That's all I have to say. FP over and out. Peace!