~Knockout's POV~

     I watched as (Y/N), well, Wildstryke, fell into recharge for the first time. Every once in awhile she would be startled by the lightning and thunder that sounded throughout the Nemesis, but she soon was recharging peacefully, curled up close to me as I stared. She looked so vulnerable, and fragile. So dainty and petite. Yet she could probably beat most of us on this ship, perhaps Megatron if she tried. She did nothing but astonish us all with what most assume to be bravery, though I know it to be a severe want. The want for adventure, that adrenaline rush she loves so much. The feeling of being free to do anything, and impervious to consequence. She makes the life of a Decepticon look like a piece of cake, yet so many suffer. How I wish Megatron hadn't ordered to go through the storm. He most likely is waiting right now, either for Wildstryke to announce her stay here, or, if he truly is that twisted, of which I have no doubt, for her to run to him like she did me, afraid and wanting comfort. Though I don't think he believes that she could be afraid of anything, so perhaps it was only a fleeting thought for him. Either way, it was cruel to trap her like this, not only on the Nemesis, but in her Cybertronian body. It still has the potential to harm her...

~(Y/N)'s POV~

     That night I experienced what it was like to sleep as a Cybertronian, or "recharge", as the Cybertronian term puts it. It's kind of like sleep, only... well... it's just different somehow. It can't quite be explained, it's something one has to experience to understand. But, odd mysteries aside, I could have cared less of what it felt like to sleep. It was when I woke up that I truly felt at peace.

     Onlining my optics, the first thing I saw was the cherry red finish of my Devil Car. He was holding me close to him as he recharged. I curled up into his chassis, smiling as I closed my optics again, wanting to recharge for just a bit longer. It felt as if we were one, or perhaps it was me still being sleepy, and my optics not quit focused as I tried to discern my red finish from his. Though at that moment I didn't really care. If we were truly destined to be one, then so be it, I wouldn't mind. As long as we were together forever, till death do us part. I started to wonder if Cybertronian marriages were anything like human ones, and if Knockout and I would last that long... Us being apart scared me... I don't know what I would do if our relationship suddenly fizzled out into nothingness... Or if someone else suddenly came into the picture...

     My waking nightmare disappeared as Knockout held me tighter. I looked up, seeing his bright red optics. He stared at me in concern.

         "Why are you crying?"

I hadn't even realized that I was, and wiped away energon tears.

         "Nothing," I coughed out, "Just... just a nightmare."

         "Mm, we should probably get up, and you need to change into your human form."

I snuggled into his chassis a bit more, "Can't we just stay like this for a little longer?"

Knockout chuckled, resting his helm on mine. I purred a bit when he said yes, and I stayed there, just listening to his spark-beat, the soft hum a lovely sound to my receptors.

     Of course, as much as I wanted to stay there forever, both of us had to get up. Me to change back to my human form, and him to get to work, what ever that was today. I waved goodbye as I trotted off to another room. I didn't think anything could ruin my day, until I ran into Megatron...

         "Oh, good morning." My smile had become forced now, and more formal.

         "Ah, Wildstryke, I had feared you took on that storm."

Memories of the lightening strikes flashed through my processor. Hiding a wince, I continued our conversation.

         "Even I have my limitations, though few they are. I was actually about to leave, sorry I wasn't going to say goodbye."

         "Indeed."

A long pause took up the hall. I shuffled a pede as Megatron stared, his gaze seeming to want to bore into my soul.

         "Is there anything you would like to tell me?" I was getting rather uncomfortable.

         "Just that you will be pleased to know that you won't be alone on this vessel."

Confused, I whipped around as Megatron started his way deeper into the ship.

         "I'm afraid I don't understand..."

         "We have a new recruit, her name is Arachnid, I believe you two will get along quite swimmingly." Why did that sound like a cover up?

     He left, and I started my journey once more, only with both a fear, and an excitement taking over me. Another femme? It's both exciting and terrifying. I then understood Knockout's nervous smile when he explained the trap door that hid my shelf in his berthroom. He was worried about Arachnid... but for what reason? Many possible scenarios played through my processor, some I hated to consider, while others seemed plausible. Closing my optics for a third time, I let my mind be transferred back into my human body. When I opened my eyes, I found the silent Third in Command hovering over me.

         "What is it Soundwave?" I sat up on the small pad that acted as a table of sorts.

Soundwave played a recording. It was Breakdown, asking for me, not Wildstryke, if I would like to go for a drive. Of course, my answer was yes as I jumped off the counter that my mat was on, being caught by Soundwave. He carried me to a secluded spot on the ship, and set me down on the floor.

         "Thanks Sounders!" I ran to the behemoth of a 'Con and waved, "Where to?"

Breakdown knelt as he smiled his goofy grin, though my own smile faultered as I saw his missing, and patched optic... he lost it while I was gone...

         "I was thinking the sands of Egypt!"

         "ALRIGHT!"

He transformed into his alt mode, and I jumped in. Soundwave opened a groundbridge as we sped off. Breakdown nearly sunk into the sand as he tried to find traction.

         "Don't try so hard!" I hollered over his engine, "Just let it flow!"

     He did, and soon we were drifting the corners of the pyramids, tearing up the sands that were once blemishless and almost tranquil. We only left when several cars started our way. I had guessed that it was Egyptian cops or something, but I wasn't to worried about it. Breakdown sped off before they could even see the spare tire on his rear door. We kept going for quite awhile until he came to a slow stop somewhere in the desert. The cops hadn't followed, so we both guessed that we were headed out into some sketchy area that not even THEY would travel through.

         "Wanna continue or are you to chicken to keep going?" I could here the evil grin that would have been on his faceplate.

         "Who are you calling 'chicken'?! Let's see what's out there!"

Chuckling, Breakdown continued out into the desert. We didn't understand what was so dangerous, until a sudden dry storm hit us...

         "I think the Egyptian pharaohs didn't appreciate us doing doughnuts around their tombs!"

         "No kidding! I can't even com Soundwave in this storm!"

Luckily I had my small data pad, and tried to send a message, but I only had a few second openings through the storm.

         "I can't type the message fast enough!"

         "Type the message then send it afterward! Don't start a new one!" Breakdown's reasoning skills suddenly surfaced, of which I was quite astonished, both in the fact he had reasoning skills, and the fact that I didn't try that earlier.

Once my message was typed, I waited for the two seconds of little interference, and sent it as fast as I could, though there was no guarantees.

         "Did you send the message?!"

         "No I sent a fragging gift basket! YES I SENT THE MESSAGE!"

     Much to our relief a groundbridge was activated not to long after, and we quickly went through. Sadly, I realized that I sent the message to the wrong Cybertronians.

         "Well look who it is." I heard Bulkhead snarl.

Breakdown transformed, making me end up in his servo.

         "Next time watch who you send the distress call to."

         "Well sorry for trying to make sure we weren't burried alive! Hi Bulkhead!" I waved, a sweet smile on my face.

         "If I may inquire," Ratchet spoke up, "What exactly were you doing in the Egyptian desert during a sand storm?"

Breakdown didn't answer, he was to busy glaring at Bulkhead, so I did.

         "Meh, just going around the pyramids, braking up the sand and bashing through some sand dunes."

         "Do you know how sacred those are to the Egyptian people?"

         "Oh, suddenly you're concerned with the human cultures? It's a tourist site now! Besides, we were run off by some cops, well, I think they were cops... whatever, anyways, thanks for saving our afts, now please bridge us somewhere far away from the base, but where we can get signal ya grump."

Ratchet huffed, and soon found a place that wouldn't disrupt our signal, so we could com for a groundbridge. I had to tap on Breakdown's chassis a few times to get his attention, but was successful later on, earning a sheepish grin as an apology.

         "Looks like you've gone soft, 'Con." Bulkhead chastised.

         "Said the wrecker with tiny pink hearts on his headlights."

Bulkhead looked down, "MIKO!"

I couldn't help but laugh as he stomped off to who knows where, the pink paint still a bit fresh as it dripped.

         "I was going to let him suffer." I said.

         "He's suffering more knowing that I saw it."

     Before we left, I thanked Ratchet for his help, earning a huff as his goodbye. I chuckled, shaking my head as Breakdown and I barely missed going off the edge of a cliff...

         "I think he hates us..." Breakdown observed, standing at the edge of the steep fall.

         "I think he hates everybody..." I slowly crawled to the middle of his palm, where I felt the most safe. "Let's head home..."

He called for a groundbridge.