Breakdown watched his partner stare at his computer screen, hand on his chin and brows furrowed in deep thought. Or was it stress? Maybe it was both. "You seem tense. What's on your mind, Knockout?"

Knockout gave Breakdown a side glance before rubbing his eyes and sighing. "It's nothing."

"Is it about Glitch?" The blue mech asked as if he could read the other's mind. Knockout glanced at him again, then looked across the room where Steve and 243 were enthusiastically chatting away. She seemed genuinely happy; a pure, innocent soul. Blissfully ignorant to life's horrors. Knockout didn't remember what that was like.

"She's going to die..." he mumbled under his breath. "We're sending her to her death."

Breakdown paused and blinked his singular yellow optic, unsure why this was suddenly an issue, but immediately accepting that such an outcome was not what Knockout wanted. The obvious solution was reassurance. "Maybe she won't. You've taken a lot of preventative measures to make sure that won't happen."

"My preventative measures won't matter without experience. Look at her, Breakdown," he held his arm out to gesture in the direction 243 was sitting. "She doesn't have a malicious strut in her body. Does she look like she could survive a firefight, let alone win one?"

Another pause. "We could tell Megatron..."

Knockout sighed and pinched the bridge of his olfactory sensor. "If we do that, not only will all of us be in deep scrap for not informing him of this in the first place, but it could also endanger her of being terminated by Megatron himself."

"So we're fragged either way."

"We're fragged either way."

"But her chances of survival are higher with Megatron than with Starscream," Breakdown pointed out. "That's what you want, isn't it? For her to live?"

Knockout once again turned his eyes to 243, or Glitch, rather. Breakdown was right, he wasn't sure how he'd feel if he allowed her to be destroyed, especially right after coming online. He may not be able to preserve her innocence, but he sure as hell could give her the chance to live. He created her, he ought to have a say in what was to be done with her. Knockout was the only medic on the warship, the likelihood of Megatron inflicting a detrimental punishment upon him was slim to none. And he didn't really give a scrap what happened to Starscream, he'd been let off with a beating for worse acts of treachery than this. Besides all that, killing Glitch would just be a waste of resources, and he was certain their warlord leader knew better. Yes, this was the safest route. He made up his mind: he was going to tell Megatron.

Right as Knockout began to head for the door, it slid open, revealing the scrawny seeker leading a small squad of vehicon troopers behind him. He was too late.

Steve immediately stood upon the Commander's entry and gestured for Glitch to do the same. Starscream grinned and held his head high.

"Several cycles ago we intercepted a Cybertronian distress beacon. Further investigation revealed the crash site of a small craft, but there were no occupants and nothing worth salvaging. A fabricated Autobot signal was placed there in its stead," he looked at Knockout with pride in his optics at his own genius. "They've just arrived at the location. Prepare the unit for departure at once."

Knockout visibly hesitated. "Commander Starscream... perhaps we should reconsider sending her into battle so soon—"

"Nonsense, Doctor. There's not a moment to waste, the Autobots are at the location as we speak," the seeker said firmly. He sent Glitch a cursory gaze. "And I've waited long enough."

"Starscream, I must insist," Knockout pressed. He was immediately met with a scowl.

"Are you questioning my orders, Knockout? Need I remind you of the chain of command on this warship?" Starscream said darkly.

Knockout slowly turned his optics to Glitch, who was now looking at him with uncertainty. He didn't know what to do. Megatron may not do anything to him, but Starscream would. Maybe Glitch would get lucky like Breakdown said. Maybe the Autobots wouldn't even try to kill her. For the first time ever, he hated himself for having to choose between someone's life and his own metal hide. Knockout had to force his next words out.

"No, Commander..." He stood aside.

"Good." Starscream turned to Glitch. "You there, Numerical Designation 243. I am your superior officer, Commander Starscream. You will follow me to the ground bridge."

Glitch turned nervously to Knockout, who nodded. She replaced her visor over her face with the same mechanical hiss from before, then stepped forward to do as the seeker ordered. With that, Starscream led her out of the room, his squad following close behind them.

Knockout suddenly panicked. He'd just signed her death warrant.

Glitch followed Starscream down several hallways, all of which appeared identical to each other. She wondered how anyone could tell them apart and made a mental map of the turns in case she would have no one to lead her back. Eventually, they reached a room where a spectacular green and blue vortex appeared, framed by the metal ring of a large, humming machine. Glitch could only express amazement at the glowing display.

"243, you have one mission. Destroy the Autobots. Rain havoc down upon them! It is what you were made for!" Starscream pointed towards the vortex and one by one the vehicons began to disappear as they walked through.

Destroy? Havoc? She wasn't sure what he meant by that, but his demeanor made her feel uneasy about what was beyond the swirling light. But the thought of another person intentionally leading her to harm never crossed her mind. She was safe, as she didn't understand the meaning of danger. Trusting in her friends, Glitch followed the others through the vortex.

The scenery changed from the dim and dull colors of the Nemesis to a bright landscape covered in various shades of green and brown. Glitch barely had time to take it in as the sights and sounds of battle overtook her senses. A large green bot charged in and smashed a vehicon to pieces right before her eyes. A small blue one sliced the arms off of another. Lasers flew past her head and energon sprayed the ground.

For the first time ever, Glitch experienced fear. She didn't understand what was happening; why was everyone killing each other?! She had no time to stop and ask as a yellow bot began to fire his blasters at her. Out of reflex, Glitch transformed her arms into blades and deflected the bullets. She had no desire to participate in whatever was taking place here, so she turned to go back through the portal. But it was gone. Starscream had trapped them, doomed them all to an abrupt and painful end.

She suddenly realized her back was to her attackers and whirled around, only to be met with a fist in her face. Glitch tumbled backward, dazed. Her sense of self-preservation kicked in; bad things were going to happen if she stayed there. Her optics widened under her visor as she regained her focus. She didn't want to die yet.

Glitch stood as the yellow bot closed in for another attack, fists raised and ready for action. Battle programs came to the forefront of her mind and her body began to move almost on its own. She sidestepped as soon as he swung, then kicked the back of his knee hard. The bot fell forward but Glitch didn't attack again. Instead, she ran. She didn't stop running until she could no longer hear the sounds of the ongoing slaughter behind her. Screams of death rang in her audio receptors.

Eventually, her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, her untrained body rendering her unable to move any further. She began to cry as her mind flooded with questions. Why would people of the same kind kill each other so mercilessly? Why did Starscream tell her to do such a terrible thing? Why didn't Knockout, Breakdown, or Steve stop him? They'd claimed to be her friends but allowed all these people to die needlessly. What was the reason? Did they even care? Was it possible for someone to speak an untruth? Who were the ones they were fighting against and why? But perhaps most importantly, what was she going to do now? She felt terrible for abandoning the others, but if that's the kind of life she was destined for, she never wanted to go back.

The sky was dim by the time her tears had dried and she was finally able to stand. Trees surrounded her and the ground was a bit damp. Glitch wasn't sure where exactly she'd go, but she figured away was a good start. She picked the direction most opposite from where she had come from and started walking, the feeling of betrayal clinging to her back. Eventually, her shadow was overtaken by darkness. Glitch had never felt so alone.

"Starscream!" Megatron's booming voice reverberated throughout the command bridge. The lanky seeker flinched at the harshness in his tone. "Tell me, what are the whereabouts of Experiment 243?"

A shocked sound escaped Starscream's mouth. His leader wasn't supposed to know about that. "Experiment, Lord Megatron? I'm not sure what you—"

"Don't play games with me, Starscream! You would do well to understand that nothing happens on this warship without my knowledge," Megatron said with a knowing scowl. "Where. Is. The experiment?!"

It was all the smaller mech could do to maintain his composure. Had he really known about it the entire time? He chose his next words carefully. "My apologies, Lord Megatron. My intentions were in the interest of the Decepticon cause when I ordered her creation," he began as Megatron took several menacing steps towards him. "But it appears... that she has gone... off... the radar?" His wings drooped as the large bot's shadow loomed over him.

"Do even have the slightest notion about the kind of asset you have so thoughtlessly discarded?!"

"I-I um..."

"You're going to find her, Starscream. Or I will personally remove your optics so you never find anything again!"

Knockout listened in from the bridge's entrance in the hallway. Megatron was not happy about the situation when he told him, but the doctor didn't regret it. Hopefully, Glitch would still be alive when they found her.