Chapter 14

It had been two days since she had last spoken to Optimus, Ironhide, or Sunstreaker. Sideswipe has been periodically checking in on her and keeping her company to make sure she is not getting too bored. Kup had visited her yesterday with the promise of having lunch together and finishing the rest of his story. That was one of the things that she was looking forward to the most within the next coming days.
A loud, raucous thudding could be heard from just outside the doors to the med bay. Marie could feel her doorwings flutter as she anxiously mulled over which person—or rather, which mech—was causing such a ruckus outside. It mattered not to her, so long as they weren't coming inside; she didn't want to be at the receiving end of someone's tantrum.
Not a moment after that thought had crossed her mind did the med bay doors swing open and slam into the walls with a harsh bang, causing Marie to jump. Ratchet stomped through the corridor with his face twisted into a fierce scowl. Never had she seen the medic so enraged before, and she couldn't even begin to fathom what could have thrown him into such a foul mood. As Ratchet stormed over to his desk and took a seat, she mustered up the nerve to approach him.

"Is everything … alright, sir?" She inquired in a soft, hesitant tone.
Ratchet swiveled his seat to face her, and with a snarl he spat, "No, of course not! I have got to deal with the most fragged-up pieces of glitches on this slagging planet! It is common sense that someone who is recovering should not be out doing anything, let alone something dangerous, and yet he insists!"

"He?" Marie tried to ask, but her question served only to spur on the bot's ramblings.

"My job, my career, is dedicated to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of my patients, and yet here I am, putting bots together only to have them ripped apart again!" Marie flinched as the medic balled his servos and slammed it down harshly onto his desk. There was a deafening silence between them as the impact caused several pens and other small items to roll off the desk and clatter to the floor.

Despite her confusion at the bot's words, Marie didn't dare to speak another word for fear of making him even more irate. Surely what he was saying was an exaggeration, but if that were the case, where did all of that anger come from? She wanted answers, but she would have to wait until he calmed down. Her optic ridges furrowed as he turned his attention back to her. Upon noticing Marie's fearful expression, he let out a resigned sigh and explained, "I need more time to evaluate you. You are not ready."

"Me?" Marie quavered nervously. "What are you talking about?"

"Optimus decided to tell me today wants you to learn how to fight, and against my wishes, he wants you to start learning now. Naturally he has chosen the most ill-fitted for the job, at that." Ratchet's final words were exceptionally disdainful as Marie watched him once again clench his servos.
"When did he want me to start—?" Before Marie could finish her sentence, the med bay doors swung open once again. In strutted Sideswipe, obnoxious and confident, like a peacock displaying its tail feathers to a flock of pigeons. He chose to ignore Ratchet's scornful glare as he cast Marie a wide smile and waved.

"You'll be starting right now!" He boomed with enthusiasm.

Ratchet quickly intervened before Sideswipe could say anything more. "You will be going easy on her until I deem her healthy enough to go any further in her training. I do not want her to fall back on the progress that she has already made. If I find out that you are pushing her beyond her limits, I will reformat you into a slagging femme."
Sideswipe merely smirked at Ratchet before turning his helm towards Marie. He held his servo out towards her and wiggled his fingers inviting her to take it. Marie hesantly turned to peer at Ratchet before slightly grasping Sideswipes servos and jumping down from the medical bed. Sideswipe started guiding Marie out of the med bay. Before exiting the door, Sideswipe turned his helm. "I will have her back tonight. Don't wait up for her." Sideswipe snickered.

Right as the doors of the med bay closed, Marie could hear something heavy slam into it. Startled, Marie turned to peer at Sideswipe. Sideswipe simply smirked before guiding her further down the hallway and away from the med bay.

"Is Ratchet going to be okay?" Marie asked Sideswipe, and shortly muttered under her breath, "Am I going to be okay when I get back there later tonight?"

Sideswipe snorted and titled his head to the side as he stated, "Nah, you don't need to worry about the Doc Bot, he'll get over it."

"Do you live to annoy him?" Marie questioned as she jogged slightly to keep up with his long strides.

"Yeah, it helps to keep him young. If I didn't do this, then he would not have any excitement in his life." Sideswipe said as he slightly slowed down for her once he noticed her struggling to keep up with him.

"You do realize that he's your doctor, right? I don't think it's wise to mess with him like that." Marie said.

" It is completely wise. Not only does it bring me entertainment but it also gives other people entertainment." Sideswipe said

Marie shook her helm as she continued to follow Sideswipe down the hallway. They continued to stroll along safely evading stray human soldiers here and there. Marie could see a light at the end of the hallway that seemed to become brighter the closer she got to it. As Marie continued to look towards the light she failed to notice a small figure walking towards the two Cybertronians. It was not until a male voice called out to Sideswipe did she realize that he was there. She quickly turned her helm to peer down at the small male figure that seemed to be in his early thirties. He had short dark brown hair that was cut in a standard military fashion. His face though stern had laugh lines near his eyes indicating that he commonly smiled. He was dressed in a typical army outfit though there were some noticeable differences between his outfit and the common soldiers. The first thing that she noticed was a patch on the side of his sleeve that said NEST Global Alliance. The man had his head tilted back to look up at Sideswipe's face.

"Hey Lennox. What's up?" Sideswipe spoke down to the soldier

"I was told to let you know that you have training ground B ready for you. You have the training ground for one hour. Prime said he could only give you that long for today. Something about not wanting to aggravate Ratchet any further?" The man now known as Lennox stated.

Sideswipe let out a snort as he smirked down at the human. "Gee, you would think that Optimus is afraid of the doc bot."

The human let out a small smile as he shook his head. "He just knows better than to mess with Ratchet. Speaking of which, Ratchet wouldn't be aggravated due to you training the new bot would he? The same bot that had a gaping hole in their chest as you guys raced back to base?" He stated as he turned to peer at Marie.

"You know it." Sideswipe smirked

"Well it is nice to meet you new guy. What is your name?" Lennox asked Marie

Before Marie could answer the soldier Sideswipe cut in. "Hate to break it to you Will but she isn't a guy."

Will flinched before he started to apologize to her. "Sorry about that. We hardly ever get female autobots around here that I am just so used to seeing guys."

Marie smiled timidly to the man, "It is alright. I do not blame you for making that mistake. I have a hard time knowing who is a guy and a girl as well."

Will raised his eyebrow after hearing what she said. He opened his mouth to ask her a question but before he could get a word out Sideswipe cut in again. "Hate to cut this short Will but we are due for training and we only have a limited time." Sideswipe put his servos on Marie's back as he started leading her down the hall again.

Will nodded his to Sideswipe as he passed by. Will watched them leave for a little while before mumbling under his breath, "Since when did Sideswipe care about training so much?"

Hey Guys! Sorry for the long hiatus! I was not prepared to be gone for so long, but a lot of things have been happening. Thank you for reading! I should have chapter 14 part two out within the next couple of weeks. Happy Readings!-Spectra