A/N: Still here! Vacation and a new job broke the schedule I was trying to keep, but I have a few chapters lined up and ready to go. 😁
Starscream straightened as he opened the doors to the command bridge. Megatron waited there at the helm, as did Airachnid, Knockout, and Soundwave; they all turned upon hearing the seeker enter, two fembots closely following him. "Lord Megatron," he announced, "I've returned with experiment 243. And an old ally." He stood aside so the two could step forward.
Blade Runner knelt immediately when faced with the Decepticon leader, motioning for Glitch to do the same. "My lord."
Megatron cocked his head briefly but seemed at least somewhat pleased to see her. "Blade Runner. It's been quite some time. How fortunate that you still function." He gestured for her to stand. "And what an interesting coincidence that it is you who returns with experiment 243, considering your background."
Blade Runner wasn't entirely sure what he meant by that, but concluded that it must've had something to do with Glitch's purpose. Now was not the time to ask questions, she would just have to look into it when she had an opportunity.
Megatron turned to the other femme before continuing. "I hear you've given yourself a name. Glitch, was it?" He looked at her seriously, finding no humor in the name like the others had. This bot was different from the rest; he all but exuded authority, so much that it changed the entire atmosphere of the room. She could almost feel his strength and wasn't sure if she should be in fear or in awe, but the one thing she immediately knew for certain was that Megatron could crush her in an instant. Glitch grasped her shaking appendages to steady them before nodding sheepishly.
The warlord looked her over briefly, then hummed to himself as he seemingly completed his assessment. "I hold no fault against you for the foolishness that occurred on the battlefield, young one." He cast a downward glance at both Knockout and Starscream that was sharp enough to pierce stone. "However, desertion as of this moment will not be tolerated. As a Decepticon asset, you will be expected to carry out your duties as such."
"But I don't—" Glitch began to say before her companion cut her off.
"Forgive my interruption, Lord Megatron," Blade Runner began, "I'm more or less aware of the situation and it is my understanding that Glitch failed due to misuse and lack of training. If it pleases you, I would like to offer up my expertise in order to amend that. She is of little use to you in her present state."
"Is that so?" The towering mech seemed to mull over her words. "I don't doubt your abilities, Blade Runner, but taking on an apprentice is both time and energy-consuming. You will still be expected to perform other duties, even if you accept such a task."
She nodded. "I understand, Lord Megatron. Training using traditional methods may be more time and energy-consuming, but I believe it to be much more effective than any... alternative means."
Megatron hummed again, but a small grin was beginning to form on his face. "Very well. She is yours to train and command." His smile then disappeared. "But understand this: you will be held responsible for her. Her every action, her every failure, will be on your head. Do not forget that it is I who owns her, and if she dies on your watch, you will face my wrath."
Blade Runner bowed in compliance; she knew what she'd be getting herself into the moment she set foot on this warship again, but for some reason she couldn't be compelled to leave Glitch to do this on her own. "It will be as you say."
"Knockout," Megatron addressed the red mech, who had remained silent up to this point but immediately straightened upon hearing his name. "Ensure Glitch and Blade Runner are in prime condition. This one appears to be running low on fuel," he gestured to Glitch.
"Yes, my liege," the medic nodded and lead the two from the command bridge.
The med bay wasn't much different than the laboratory that Glitch was borne from, other than it being smaller. Knockout had the two fembots sit on their own respective medical berths before connecting each of them to a small fuel line that pumped fresh energon directly into their systems.
Glitch sighed with relief as she felt her energy flooding back to her; she hoped she could overcome this issue quickly. She looked to Knockout, whose thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. He held a reserved expression, and Glitch wondered if he thought she felt resentment towards him for what had happened. It was true that she'd been upset about it, but she really didn't want to think the worst of him, as he'd been nothing but kind to her before, even if she hadn't known him long. Maybe she just didn't understand yet. Knockout probably had no choice, and Blade Runner said things like that would happen. She would need to ask her about that further because the concept of not having a choice just didn't make sense to her.
"Knockout," Glitch began, wanting to reassure herself but also make him feel better, "we're still friends, right?"
He seemed taken aback by her inquiry, and for a moment was unsure of how to respond. Was that really her first concern?
"If that's what you want." He received a short but enthusiastic nod, prompting him to smile. "Very well. I'm glad you're alright, Glitch." Knockout was about to say something in regard to the long stare he'd been receiving from Blade Runner, but two mechs barged into the room before that was possible.
"Gliiiitch! You're alive!" Steve embraced her with a sob. "I'm so happy! I thought you were a goner!"
"Naw, I had every bit of faith in you, kid," Breakdown said as he strode in with a grin.
Glitch removed her visor upon seeing her friends and giggled warmly. "Thanks, but I don't think I'd be here at all without Blade Runner's help."
Steve jerked his head up to see the other fembot, then transferred his hug over to her as his sobbing increased in volume. "Blade Runner! I thought you were dead!" He cried. "I missed you so much!"
"Good to see you, Blade," Breakdown chuckled.
Blade Runner stiffened at the sudden contact and seemed confused and slightly perturbed about being squeezed so tightly by a random vehicon that claimed to know her, but Steve didn't seem to notice or care. He continued his embrace until she had to physically pry him off. "Uh, yeah. Good to see you guys too."
"Back off, you tinfoil turkey," Knockout pulled Steve from between the two fembots. "You're smothering my patients!"
Steve whined, Breakdown laughed, and Blade Runner shook her head at the three of them, but she seemed familiar with their antics. Glitch suddenly felt like the odd one out, as she realized her mentor had history with likely every crew member on the Nemesis. And despite not having wanted to come here, Blade Runner did seem at least somewhat happy to see them, and she was glad of that.
Knockout began to ask them health-related questions, and Glitch mentioned her energon issue. The red mech scowled and muttered something about Starscream always rushing him, but didn't expound on it. He made some code adjustments, then told her the issue would resolve itself within the next few days. When he finished with her, Steve and Breakdown enthusiastically showed Glitch to her new quarters that she was to share with her mentor, leaving Knockout and Blade Runner alone in the med bay. The silence that followed was deafening.
Knockout tended to the other's injuries that had been poorly sealed with what she had handy in her survival kit. "I heard you were in quite the crash," he said finally. Blade Runner didn't answer. "Can I ask where you've been all this time?"
"No."
"Hmph. Well, excuse me," Knockout rolled his optics. She hadn't changed one bit, not her attitude at least. Two could play at that game. "Funny how people always leave only to find their way right back here. I suppose you're lucky Megatron likes you."
Blade Runner scoffed. "That's hardly the word I'd use."
"So you came back from wherever knowing full well that Megatron might reduce you to atoms?"
"I know what my skills are worth. And unlike some, I know how to gain people's trust," she said with a glare.
Knockout paused as he focused on his welder. "Is that what you're doing with Glitch?"
"Oh, fuck off. I still don't have any idea what the experiment is, so how am I supposed to benefit from gaining her trust?" She growled. Knockout narrowed his optics as if he didn't believe her. She sighed and pinched her olfactory sensor. "She's just a kid... I couldn't just leave her to rust, alright?"
His expression softened, but he said nothing. Knockout had known Blade Runner for eons, and he'd thought the war had calloused her beyond repair... especially after all she had lost. But maybe that hard exterior was just what she wanted everyone else to see.
She spoke again after a long silence. "Are the others here?"
Knockout hesitated briefly. "No. Last I checked they went Wrecker hunting back on Cybertron and we haven't heard from them since."
"...I see."
"I recall Influx saying something about team therapy," he chuckled, but Blade Runner didn't seem to share in his amusement. He cleared his throat, "They always were quite the wild bunch. I'm sure they're... somewhere."
"Right." Another silence. "The vehicon?"
"Long story... I'll tell you later." Knockout quickly finished his repairs. "There, all done here. We should catch up with Breakdown before he teaches Glitch how to lob grenades."
Blade Runner briefly examined his work and stood, before wordlessly exiting the room. Knockout shook his head as he followed her.
Airachnid watched the newcomers from a distance, a sort of hungry glimmer in her purple optics. She hadn't heard about experiment 243 until after its disappearance, but now that it was right in front of her, she could definitely sense something different about it. A sort of... earth taint. The scent of it filled her olfactory sensors. It was disgusting. Yet... one of a kind. It was a shame her collecting days were behind her.
Glitch, she thought. How fitting.
Blade Runner on the other hand... she knew Blade Runner. The two had never gotten along, even clashed in the past due to certain conflicts of interest. After so long, the small spider bot wondered if the slaghead still outranked her.
Probably not.
Runner's entire purpose in the Decepticon cause had been reduced to that of a simple foot soldier. Airachnid hated her, but she loved the idea of that pit spawned femme being lowered. Lower than her. She couldn't wait to take over the Decepticons, now more than ever. She could take all her revenge on everyone at once, no one deserved to be above her.
All she had to do now was play her cards and wait for the right opportunity.