Warpath || A Transformers Prime Fanfiction

~⚝Chapter Two - Medbay⚝~

       After a while, Gearshift decided to take a break. Setting her tools down, she sat against the jagged rocky wall, leaning her head back against it. Slowly, her optics began dimming as a strange wave of disorientation washed over her. Something was wrong—she could feel it in the way her circuits buzzed, in the way her mind felt clouded, distant. The darkness around her seemed to close in, and for a fleeting moment, she felt as though she was being pulled somewhere else, somewhere far away from this lonely, cold chamber.

       She blinked, and suddenly the dim, echoing cavern was gone. The oppressive silence of the underground base was replaced by the low, familiar hum of the Nemesis's engines. Gearshift found herself walking down a brightly lit corridor, the clanging of her footsteps on the metal floor ringing in her audios. There was a confidence in her stride, an energy that felt foreign to her now. She moved with purpose, as though she had somewhere important to be, something vital to do.

       The corridor stretched ahead of her, and as she turned a corner, a familiar scent hit her sensors—a mix of sterilized metal and something faintly sweet. The Medbay. She knew this place well, could navigate its sterile halls without even thinking. But why was she here? The thought slipped away before she could hold onto it, replaced by the sense of anticipation that quickened her steps.

       As the doors to the Medbay slid open with a soft hiss, Gearshift was greeted by the sight of Knockout and Breakdown. Knockout was busy polishing a set of tools, the gleaming metal catching the harsh overhead lights. Breakdown, on the other hand, stood nearby, arms crossed, his imposing frame relaxed but alert—like a soldier always ready for battle. A grin tugged at her lips. Typical Knockout, always preening, always obsessing over every detail. There was something comforting about it, something that made her feel... at home.

       "Look who decided to grace us with her presence," Breakdown rumbled, his deep voice carrying a hint of amusement. His optics flicked to Gearshift as she stepped inside, a faint smirk on his face. "Thought you'd be out there cracking some Autobot heads."

       "I'm a scientist, not a warrior. Besides, I couldn't resist the charm of this place," Gearshift shot back, her lips curving into her own smirk as she approached, leaning on a nearby doorframe. "Or maybe I just wanted to see if Knockout here has polished those tools down to nothing yet."

       Knockout didn't miss a beat, his optics narrowing in mock indignation as he turned to face her. "One of these days, you're going to trip over that oversized ego of yours and faceplant in front of Megatron," he shot back, feigning annoyance.

       Gearshift snickered, pushing off the doorframe as she strolled further into the Medbay. "Please, if I did, I'd make faceplanting look so fabulous, they'd think it was part of the plan."

       Breakdown chuckled. "As long as you're still standing after, I'd pay to see that."

       Gearshift could feel herself relaxing, the tension that had been knotting in her circuits unwinding. Here, in the Medbay, things were simple. There were no burdens, no endless tasks, just allies and the easy camaraderie they shared.

       "You know," Breakdown continued, his tone a mix of lightness and sincerity, "you've been running yourself ragged lately, Gearshift. Maybe it's time you took a breather before you burn out. No shame in it."

       Gearshift shrugged, though there was a hint of tension in her posture. "I'm fine. Just keeping busy, you know? Besides, someone's got to keep the Screamer in check."

       "Or at least keep him from making things worse," Knockout added dryly. "But don't overdo it, 'Shift. We're all in this together, but that doesn't mean you have to carry the weight alone."

       Breakdown nodded, his expression serious for a moment. "We've all got our roles, and we're strongest when we've got each other's backs. No need to take on more than you can handle."

       The words were meant to be reassuring, but there was something in them that unsettled Gearshift. A sense of... distance, maybe? As if she was just another Decepticon in their ranks, rather than a part of their circle. It was subtle, barely noticeable, but it nagged at her, a tiny thorn in the back of her mind.

       She brushed it off, not wanting to spoil the moment. "Wow, Breakdown, getting all profound on us. Just don't forget us little guys when you're giving speeches as a Prime."

       Gearshift doing her best to convince herself she was fine. There was nothing to be concerned about. But as the minutes passed, the nagging unease refused to fade... The Medbay was bright, almost too bright, and the sound of their voices seemed to echo in ways that didn't quite match the room. Everything felt slightly... off.

       The Medbay's lights flickered, just for a second, making her pause. But they returned to full brightness before she could question it, leaving her wondering if it had happened at all.

       Then, out of the corner of her optic, she saw it—a flicker of movement, just at the edge of her vision. She turned to look, but there was nothing there. Just the same clean, sterile Medbay, the same bright lights casting sharp shadows on the floor. There was a weird ringing in her audio receptors that was slowly becoming more noticeable, piercing into her head like a sharp, relentless drill.

       And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the moment shattered.

       The brightness of the Medbay dimmed, the comforting warmth of Knockout and Breakdown's presence faded, and Gearshift found herself standing in darkness once more. The hum of the Nemesis's engines was gone, replaced by the eerie silence of the underground base. The laughter, the banter, the light—all of it was gone, like a dream slipping through her fingers.

       She blinked, her optics struggling to adjust to the dimness of the cavern. Her hands felt cold, empty. The disorientation was still there, lingering like a bad taste in her mouth, and for a moment, she couldn't remember where she was, or why she was there.

       And Knockout—wait... who was Knockout? Where had that name come from? And what was the Nemesis? What was going on? She felt a brief flicker of panic and confusion. Those names; they were so familiar. But why?

       Gearshift shook her head, trying to clear the lingering haze from her mind. She didn't know what had just happened, didn't understand why she had been pulled into that memory—or whatever it was—or why it felt so real. But a flicker of something dark and unsettling wormed its way into her thoughts.

       Was she really alone here? Or was something else—something she couldn't see or understand—lurking just beyond the edge of her perception?

       With a shiver, she dismissed the thought, standing slowly to return to her work. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong.

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||First canon characters introduced!||
Total Word Count: 1188