Stigmata of Process
by SMYGO4EVA
Nickel wasn't sure that she was able to wrap her mind around all the things that happened in these past few cycles. She was used to the DJD's noise and chaos, but this was a lot to take in.
"I never realized that you cared for that creature as much as you do… Sorry—"
A sickening rip pierced the silence between them. Energon spilled freely from the torn head of Kaon. Soon, Tarn crushed it against a solid surface.
"….as much as you did…"
Horror wrought her entire frame. This couldn't be true. It couldn't.
Tarn had indeed committed some actions she knew were wrong. It was what they had to do. It was their job.
But those were nothing, nothing compared to what Tarn had just done.
Kaon was dead, and she witnessed it all.
Now it seemed that forever was a long time ago, from what the Decepticon Justice Division had done many times over. They suddenly weren't needed. Nickel had felt that those times had started from a single night, and then spun into a solar cycle, and then into countless cycles.
With the DJD, time seemed to blur all together. She had to keep them in line. She had to make sure that they didn't screw up on their mission. She tried so much; she gave them the what-for when they did make mistakes.
She especially tried to keep Tarn in check. It was hard to believe that a Decepticon that powerful chose her from above all else.
Tarn had her trust. Now he lost it. Nickel couldn't stop the scene from replaying in her mind, over and over and over; Kaon was lost forever, and it was by Tarn's hand.
By Tarn's hand…
Her spark felt cold, raw, and scorching all at once, a poison through and through.
We will never, never again…
They were far-flung from the stigmata of process they were accustomed to.