Something was off. Blurr was alone in the training room. Megatron had ended their session several breems ago but Blurr wanted to run through his katas a few more times. They were already very precise - he had worked hard on mastering them in the orns since Shockwave had left on his mission- but they weren't completely fluid yet. He wanted to have them perfected by the time the spy returned for his break next lunar cycle.

His watcher hadn't been there long. The creepy feeling of optics on his plating had alerted him to the other's presence a klik ago, but he gave no sign that he knew he was being watched. He continued to work through his current form, looking for all the world as though his attention was completely focused inwards.

Reaching the conclusion of the kata he launched into a complex set of movements, his blades mirroring each other perfectly. When he performed the final strike he paused, listening for his stalker's position. The mech was actually fairly easy to locate. He hadn't bothered to put his systems into stealth mode.

The blue mech debated calling Megatron for help, but he had his pride. Damaged or not, he was a former Elite. He would forever cement his reputation as a coward if he called for aid. No, he would deal with this himself. Blurr ignored the small part of his mind gibbering that he didn't want this to end up like last time.

The lithe mech sheathed his right dagger, moving slightly so his hidden watcher couldn't see his still extended left blade. As soon as he did a navy and gray mech lunged from the shadows. Murder was burning brightly in the Decepticon's optics. The blue mech fought back his panic - he remembered all too clearly the last time red optics had looked at him like that - as he brought up his dagger to block the deadly stoke from the slim sword. He wasn't going to be a victim this time. He had been trained, was still being trained, by Lord Megatron and Shockwave! He was NOT weak.

"What does he see in you!?" the larger mech screamed. He struck again, aiming to decapitate his opponent. Blurr flipped his dagger down to lay flat against his arm as he blocked the strike. The sword hit his dagger, pushing it into his circuitry but not causing any serious damage, and while the other race car was distracted Blurr drove his other weapon towards the other's spark. The older Decepticon managed to avoid a death blow but he didn't escape without a rather significant cut across his chassis. "You are nothing! How dare you steal Lord Megatron's attention?!" Blurr didn't answer. The mech was clearly deranged. Talking wouldn't help.

Unfortunately the mech's injury didn't seem to be slowing him down. The blows came faster and faster, forcing Blurr to focus on defense. He lost himself in the movements, letting his training take over. The Decepticon's decision to attack him clearly had been spur of the moment; had he spent any amount of time watching him he would have known that Blurr was not an amateur with his daggers. But that revelation came as a surprise, and his underestimation of his target cost him dearly. Blurr took advantage of that weakness and forced his way past his attacker's guard. Stunned, the larger race car didn't have time to defend himself before the deadly tip of the dagger pierced his spark. Blurr watched, as though in a daze, as the corpse fell to the ground, already gray. Calmly he wiped the energon off his dagger, finally noticing the crowd that had gathered. Voice steady, he commed Megatron.

Megatron studied the scene dispassionately. His racer stood in a circle with a body clearly slain by an energon dagger. The crowd was silent, contemplating the fight they had witnessed. Most had placed bets on the dead mech. Few had expected Blurr to survive.

Mechs and femmes parted easily before him as he made his way to the former Autobot. Blurr was holding together well, but he could see the faint tremors in his frame. Blurr had just made his first kill, ever. It was time to get him out of the crowd so the young mech could deal with it in private. Placing a large hand on Blurr's slim shoulder he simply said,

"Well done," and guided the mech from the training room. Pausing at the door he turned to his Decepticons and said,

"Let this be a lesson to you all. You know the punishment for attacking another Decepticon is death. That Blurr is not yet branded does not matter. There will be no punishment or revenge against Blurr, lest you want to deal with me. Someone get that," he gestured to the corpse, "cleaned up. This had better be the last time I hear of infighting."

"Yes Lord Megatron!"

They walked through the halls at an unhurried pace. The smaller mech kept his face neutral, showing none of the turmoil twisting in his spark. He had killed a mech. He. Had. Killed. A. Mech. He hadn't wanted to. Primus, he hadn't; his nameless attacker had left him no choice. He didn't notice as he was led past own his room to his lord's. Megatron guided him into the spacious quarters and got him settled in the room's only chair.

"Let it go Blurr. It is never a good idea to keep something as heavy as this bottled up inside." Bright blue optics looked up at him. Coolant began to pool before falling freely down stunning faceplates. Blurr didn't make a sound; he simply let his tears fall and shook.

Megatron let the young mech mourn. He knew that the racer has been irrevocably changed. How he dealt with the grief of losing a piece of his innocence would affect who he became in the future. Many became competent warriors, and learned to accept that death was sometimes necessary to protect their way of life. Others... Grew to love killing, thrived on it even. While mechs like that were useful in war, they were always a danger to society. He had made a mistake with that once, and he would kill Blurr himself before he let the little mech go down that road. Despite Autobot propaganda, Megatron was not a supporter of mindless slaughter.

It took half a joor for the speedster's tears to stop falling, and another half for the tremors to cease. Blurr was beyond exhausted. His optics flickered as he fought to stay online.

"Thank you," he whispered, voice hoarse. Megatron stood and scooped the tiny mech into his arms.

"Do not thank me Blurr. You handled yourself admirably. But know that if you ever start to enjoy killing I will crush your spark myself." Strangely, it was not fear that lit Blurr's optics but relief.

"I don't ever want to. I understand having to in defense of myself and others, but I don't think I'll ever forget the way the life left his optics as he died. Megatron's chassis rumbled with pride. Gently, he set Blurr down on the berth.

"Good." He placed a chaste kiss on the runner's lips. "Recharge now." Blurr obeyed, systems already halfway powered down. Another two nanokliks and he was deeply asleep. Megatron watched him for a moment longer before turning to his terminal. He needed to send Shockwave an update.