"And that's how Blurr and I met here on Earth." Knockout drawled, happy to talk about himself with an interested party. 

     Mikaela had already become bored in the driver's seat. She wasn't allowed to touch anything, meaning she couldn't even touch the door handles. Knockout had already warned her about getting mud on his floor mats, seats and she was certainly not allowed to touch any button, gear shift or the steering wheel. She was even made to wash her tennis shoes; twice. Being able to convince him to talk about himself wasn't hard, so the young woman let him drone on wherever he went in the conversation to keep her brain occupied

         "Why didn't you stay in Paris?" Mikaela asked, amused. "I mean, when a human says 'fashion' and 'glamour', that's usually where we think of."

         "If I had a hologram to activate, I would have." The sports car admitted. "To be frank your species disgusts me, so I'd rather not be here on your planet at all, but Paris is a quaint place. Plenty of supplies to steal for my lustrous needs."

         "You could have gotten a job as a fashion or luxury car designer." She noted with a shrug. "No need to steal anything that way."

         "You think I'd give your lackluster species the honor of Cybertronian design?" Knockout guffawed. "I don't think so!"

     Mikaela only rolled her eyes, spying what time it was on her phone. 

         "Besides," the cherry red mech continued, "your technology doesn't allow for Cybertronian design to be used to its full capacity. Even this form isn't as aerodynamic as my old alternate form."

     The suggestion of speed made the young woman smile deviously. What better way to combat boredom than release her speed-demon self? Knockout being the perfect candidate and absolutely full of himself, she was sure it wouldn't take much convincing to make him put pedal to the metal. Ironhide wouldn't approve, but he wasn't a speedster, either. In fact, none of the Autobots would approve, but she was curious about Knockout and Blurr's top speeds.

         "So." She began in a rather taunting tone. Knockout was immediately wary. "You can't go that fast after all?"

     His pride at stake, any caution the mech would have considered was thrown out the window. He spluttered, wavering on the full highway. He received a message from Blurr asking if he was alright, which Knockout ignored. 

         "How dare you insult and question my abilities! Not even inadequate aerodynamics can hinder me."

         "I don't know." Mikaela hummed, hiding her ecstatic giggles with an unbelieving 'snrk'. "You keep downing human technology. I mean, I know it can't hinder your natural ability, but better design helps with physics and all that."

         "Regardless," Knockout huffed, "I can race circles around your puny Autobots even if I had to take the form of a disgusting Volks Wagen Beetle!"

         "Prove it." Mikaela challenged. "You don't even have to be a Beetle."

     Her challenge accepted, Knockout opened a comm between him and Blurr. The mech waited for Blurr to stop rambling about being ignored when he asked about the other's status. Like waiting for a flood gate to empty, the stream of quick words ebbed to nothing. Knockout asked if he was done 'nannying' before informing the other mech of his planned joy ride.

         :I need to burn some rubber is all.: The haughty racer explained. :Going at a pace of 65 miles per hour is practically numbing.:

         :Hard to believe you've forgotten about a certain human in your subspace.: Blurr's quick speech rang, almost alarmed.

     There being so many Autobots, Knockout taking off would certainly cause a stir. Going on a joy ride in the middle of a busy highway would definitely lead to some accidents. Trying to explain that he had to play by the Autobot's rules was fruitless, Blurr already knew, but he had hoped having a human would deter the mech from such a stunt. Since she was Ironhide's charge, he thought maybe this human was less likely to egg the racer on. He feared he may have judged a book by its cover. 

     Of course, someone who enjoys vehicles would enjoy how fast they might go too. 

         :A certain human has decided to challenge me.: Knockout confirmed Blurr's fear. :Therefore jaws must be dropped in due course.:

     Blurr groaned. This was not what he had planned to do with his evening, but alas, he would have to babysit two speedsters, one just doesn't have the natural means of getting her adrenaline high. Not that he complained about being able to relate to a human with a love for speed, but finding out in this way was not ideal.

         :Alright, I'll tell Prime-:

         :He'll know!:

     Before Blurr could say more, Knockout broke out of formation and passed the alarmed Ironhide, Ratchet and trailer-laden Optimus. All three attempted to contact the racer as he ignored them and powered forward, leaving a hole in the line quickly taken over by Barricade, who was between the two speedsters. 

         :What is he doing?: Ironhide demanded once Blurr opened his own comm link. 

         :Burning rubber, what's it look like?: Blurr chuckled. :Your charge challenged him, so he's not abducting her, don't worry about that.:

         :Blurr, he's risking the lives of more than just Mikaela.: Ratchet joined the party-line. :There are hundreds of humans using this highway!:

         :You did not attempt to stop him?: Optimus questioned, making the sky-blue mech feel a trifle guilty about not chasing after the mech, but being around if Barricade bolted (an idiotic thing to attempt) was a bit more important. 

         :Thought hanging around to avoid Barricade escaping was a bit more pressing.: His speech slowed, meaning he knew trying to stop his fellow speedster was useless and had thought about going after him. :To be frank, you're lucky I'm not babysitting Knockout instead. My wheels itch just as badly. Not to mention I have Mr. Faireborn in my subspace.:

         :Staying was indeed wise, Blurr,: Optimus admitted, :but Knockout will have to be reprimanded for this.:

         :Trust me on this, Optimus,: the smaller mech hummed, :he doesn't care.:

         "What was that all about?" Marrisa leaned forward in her seat as she watched the taillights of the red racer disappear in the heavy noon traffic. "Doesn't he have Mikaela in his cab?"

         "Velocitronians can't stand staying still." Barricade explained curtly.

         "We're going 65 miles per hour." The woman deadpanned.

         "Same thing to them."

     Leaning back comfortably in Barricade's driver's seat, she passed her eyes over his mirrors, taking note of Blurr's hesitance to pass Barricade. He ultimately stayed, but Marrisa wondered how long the other racer would last going at a snail's pace (to him, anyway). 

         "Will Blurr bolt too?" She questioned. 

         "That's fifteen minutes of silence."

         "Just answer the question, I know how to count." Marrisa huffed, folding her arms.

         "Not likely." Barricade replied, not willing to admit his amusement at her attitude. "Knockout isn't an Autobot or Decepticon. He's a traitor to both factions, so he does what he wants."

     Marrisa only nodded, staring out the window. She had decided to count how many police cars zoomed by her vision, ones she could identify, anyway. Knowing some were more or less undercover with 'mom van' designs made it difficult. It passed the time long enough to reach a few minutes, but there weren't many cop cars on a freeway. So, she changed to looking for Starscream in the clouds. 

     The Seeker tended to dip below the clouds after every other circle he'd make to fend of his own boredom. If she caught sight of the mech, Marrisa would wave, wondering if he even saw her. Barricade never made any remark about the idiotic show of friendliness, so she guessed Starscream could see her. He apparently made some notation of Knockout being up ahead because Barricade chuffed out loud.

         "The cherry fool finally had to turn back."

         "Oh?" His human charge snapped her attention to the steering wheel. 

         "There's a four-vehicle pile-up at an intersection." The interrogator explained. "It'll likely be cleaned up by the time we get there."

     Marrisa wondered how the Aston Martin was going to return to the team, or if he was just going to wait wherever he and Mikaela ended up. The unsaid question was answered after a red blur passed her peripheral on the opposite side of the road. It was several miles before Knockout could change to the right side of the road, but Marissa doubted it would take him all that long. Another 'plip' confirmed her theory, even giving an exact time to when he'd be back in his place in front of Barricade. 

         'Would you like a countdown?'

         'Nah,' Marrisa thought, having determined that Vector Sigma could hear her thoughts, 'but thanks, anyway.'

     True to Vector Sigma's timing, Knockout appeared beside Bumblebee. Sam had his window down, clearly having been informed of Mikaela's little adventure with the flaky 'Con and looking for any sign of her. The woman waved from Knockout's front seat after the mech rolled his own window down, making her hair fly in her face. Sam was clearly frantic as he attempted to yell profanities at the racer, but his girlfriend only rolled her eyes at him before the mech continued to pass Blurr, then Barricade.

    He waited patiently for his spot to be returned, the three bots behind having to slow down to make a hole. With an egotistical chuckle, Knockout slowly took his place and drove like nothing happened.

         "I can't believe him!" Sam hit Bumblebee's steering wheel, making him apologize after the sports car complained with a 'watch it!' from his radio. "The minute we stop for a gas station I'm convincing Optimus to let her ride with us."

         -:She seemed - Alright to me:- Bee didn't see any sign of distress from the older teenager. If anything, the human femme appeared to be having fun. Optimus warned Sam about what was going on to hopefully ease the boy's mind. It didn't help but Sam was certainly taken back by the idea of Mikaela egging a Decepticon, of all things, into a racing spree.

         "Mikaela likes fast, sure, but Knockout's not even an Autobot! You think she'd be more careful. If it was Blurr, I wouldn't mind, but what if she doesn't want to hang out with us anymore?"

     Bumblebee gave an exasperated whirr. 

         Why on Cybertron would Mikaela just up and ditch her boyfriend for an egotistical speedster with a loyalty problem? 

Sure, the mech is flashy, but he had always been a literal red flag since his creation, the yellow and black warrior was sure of it. Knockout could race circles around him any day, but the aft couldn't keep a friend, let alone a femme, for the life of him. Bee was surprised Blurr could stand the mech for as long he did already. 

         -:You - worry too much:- He decided to state.

         "How are you so nonchalant about it?" Sam huffed, still trying to appear as if he were actually driving the sentient being to passersby as a silver Chevrolet passed going at least 70 MPH. The sight of the false police car made the human slow down to a respectable pace, however.

         -:Knockout - hates all - organic:- Bee explained. -:But loves - his - eggo:-

     Sam chuckled at the lack of the proper Cybertronian lingo, and the use of a waffle commercial to say 'ego'. He got the point, either way, and was thankful that his best friend was able to make him laugh even amongst his spiraling thoughts and anxieties. He wondered if maybe the 'eggo' part was just to make him laugh, knowing there were plenty of radio dramas. He didn't plan on asking, though.

         "Alright, I get it. Mikaela never liked big guys with egos to match."

         -:That's why - she went - smaller!:-

     Feeling called out, Sam disagreed. He wasn't that much smaller by human standards. Football players were just descended from giants. 

     Bumblebee continued to tease the boy as they drove, looking forward to returning to their home base in Tranquility. He was a bit disappointed that their peace hadn't lasted as long as they hoped in the tiny town.