Transformers (TFP) Stranded

The jungle was peaceful in the morning breeze as the trees swayed and the flowers danced in the tropical expanse.The worms and beetles skittered across the rainforest floor, and the brightly colored birds soared in the ocean that made up the big blue sky.

Deep puddles littered the ground floor and plants were withered from the force of the raving rapids the day before. Some trees were burned to a crisp from scattered lightning strikes and patches of clearing were soaked to the very roots of the jungle's foundation, but other than that, there was no evidence of the devastating thunderstorm and flash flood that raged the day before.

​Knockout slowly onlined his optics, immediately regretting it as they were met with the blinding sunlight shining over the damp rainforest.

What happened?

Knockout had a blissful moment thinking he had woken up in the nemesis once again, ready to go grab some morning energon and meet a Vehicon in the med-bay who had just jammed a digit or something.

Reality quickly set in when he realized he was actually outside, feeling the warm breeze and humid air brush up against his faceplates. He became aware of the lanky, limp form in his arms.

Knockout woke with a start, dark red optics widening in surprise as he finally noticed at his surroundings and the events of yesterday came crashing through his brain.

This was definitely not the Nemesis.

He was on a tall, soaked tree with long fronds hanging over his head dripping perfectly rounded dew drops. His back was against the thick, solid tree trunk, with his frame barely squeezing onto a high hanging branch. The forest below him was lit with the sun and looked like a freshly watered tropical garden. The beautiful sight brought the red mech a sense of calm for the first time in the last couple cycles.

Something shifted on his chest.

​Knockout glanced down and saw Starscream had also fallen into recharge, his helm was leaning against Knockout's chest plate and one servo was pressed against the chassis while the other lightly held Knockout's other servo. His wings were folded down against his back, and his body was curled up small enough to fit in the medic's arms.

Knockout smiled. A genuine, relaxed smile. It had been so long since the seeker had looked so peaceful that he almost didn't want to wake him.

Almost.

The red mech placed his other servo on the silver mech's helm and gently tapped the delicate plating. Starscream was truly a stunning seeker compared to his fellow species' designs. He possessed a much slimmer, smaller frame, helping him to slice through the air at speeds others of his kind only dreamed of reaching. Maybe they should have a real race sometime. The most famous and most fabulous street racer around vs a true master of the skies.

And master of dozing off it seemed.

Starscream was a quiet sleeper, his systems barely made any noise as he recharged, which Knockout was grateful for since he hardly noticed the seeker drift off to sleep during the storm last night. The digits against Knockouts chassis twitched. He always was a twitcher in his dozing. Even when he was awake he fidgeted.

Dozing off. That was certainly something they didn't get to do back home.

The Nemesis was no casual workplace. No. It was cutthroat and cruel, and crawling with mechs that would sooner claw out their own optics before helping out a fellow officer. Energon rations were first come first serve, favors were nearly nonexistent, and recharge was more of a privilege than a necessity. Knockout hadn't gotten a full recharge in what felt like a whole human month.