Sparked Love

Chapter 3

The presence of Nightblade in base had been just short of a day. The children came school, but there was no new mecha around. Optimus took her out to show her around and make she understood Earth's rules. Or at least the rules in Jasper, Nevada. By the time that they had returned, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee had already taken the children home.

It wasn't so late but the next day was also a school day, and quite frankly, Ratchet wanted some kind of quiet on base. Nightblade, though new and he still found himself distrustful of her, was nearly silent all the time. Ratchet wasn't so bothered by this, but he still had a thought that she should make herself useful.

Optimus, to Ratchet's bewilderment, still allowed her to stay. He's completely fine with her being on base which makes Ratchet a little less up on his guard. But, as much as Ratchet hates to think like this, Optimus has been wrong before. However, Ratchet can't be too upset about the whole endeavour, Optimus is the only real leader that they've had that was not driven by an insatiable thirst for power and control, or the entire destruction or devastation of an entire race! He's a great leader, Ratchet is only a realist. He respects him but sometimes it would be great if Optimus knew that it wasn't only respect this medic had for him.

At the moment, Ratchet used the mostly human technology to search for another Energon source, perhaps catch sight of a Decepticon patrol. Even with them finding that one mine that is closer to base, the arrival of Nightblade and the Decepticons still on the move, they're going to need every last drop that they can afford. And if they don't, each time the Decepticons get mine, their power would only increase. Along with the danger level.

"Ratchet!" Smokescreen. He wasn't a quiet one, not in the slightest. "Have you seen the new mech?" The white sportster peeked around the medbay doors, an annoyed groan escaped the CMO's jaw. "I see everyone. What's it matter?" Ratchet did not hold back his snap, Smokescreen flinch but that was hardly a surprise. Ratchet was done hearing about Nightblade already, not even a week in, barely a day! Smokescreen straightened. "I wanted to show her some of my moves, you know! Well, if ya know what I mean," the last sentence was a grumble, though he still carried a smirk.

"I may be old but I'm deaf Smokescreen." Smokescreen knew how to pick terrible battles. Ratchet looked behind him, speak of the fragging devil, there she was. When she saw that he was looking passed the white sporty, she put a digit to her smirking mouth. One of her blades was out, Ratchet quirked an optic-ridge. With one swift motion, the blade was close to his neck cabling, he flinched back into her slightly. "Smokescreen is it?" He nodded. "I don't believe you're ready to see my moves. Why would you think you're ready to show me yours?" Her voice low, but there wasn't a sound of malice in her tone. She pulled back her blade with a gentle laugh. "You're still young. You do not have moves." Nightblade left without saying anything else, though Ratchet could hear the thin smile form on her lips.

Smokescreen looked majorly embarrassed and he had lost that smirk. Ratchet stole it. "Well, now you know where she is." The white sportster slunked out quickly, avoiding any optic contact.

Nightblade walked through base, each step quiet and sure. Her gaze travelling to the tunnel that she assumed that lead outside (because when Optimus and her had gone out for the 'drive', they went through a bridge). But right now, she was lost for what to do next. The shadow that covered her drew back her attention. "Nightblade," the same low voice rumbled. "What are you doing?" She shrugged, still in her Cybertronian form. Part of her wanted to respond smartly, but another part told her to think better of it.

"You can go when you want, just let Ratchet or I know." He half nodded to himself and half to her, as if going through a short list of things that had to be done. Nightblade blinked her purple optics, still something that even Optimus had to get used to. "And I would go out through there, right?" She pointed with her round head. He nodded again. "Then, with your permission, I would like to go and get a less cliché alternative mode." Her silver frame stood at attention, waiting for some answer. Optimus only gave a solemn nod before turning back to the computer screens on the far side of base.

With that Nightblade took her current alt. Mode and started her way out, but not before a certain speedster sauntered his way up to her. "Where you going?" He asked as if he wasn't in the room with Optimus and Nightblade, nevertheless, he asked. Nightblade, did not stop, knowing that he could keep up the pace with her small frame. She merely shrugged. "I'm going out for as change of scenery." She cocked her head towards him. "Were you not in the same room and Optimus and I? We covered this," she said with a stroke subtle laughter. Smokescreen shrugged with a small smile on his derma, and asked another question. "Wanna go for a drive?" Hopefulness in his voice, something that made Nightblade edge out a laugh. Maybe at the proposition or at him, neither was really sure.

"Nah, not right now. Smokescreen was it?" He nodded, his little smile faded a little. "How about when I get back sometime, we go for a drive. Dealio?" A large smile reappeared on his derma, optics crinkled at the corners. "Yeah! Okay." And with that she waved him off and made her way to town, she needed to get a ride of her own. Again. As she left, she could have sworn to have heard little profanities come from behind her. She ignored it.

It didn't take too long for her to make it to town being that she was running most of the way there. Jasper wasn't a huge town, so there may not be too much option for her here. Not right now. She just had to find her way around again, it certainly wasn't the first time she'd been in this little town and it won't be the last time either.

She took her time, continuing with her running pace, looking at passing and stationary vehicles. Nightblade passed a little joint called KO Burger, she thought it was an odd name. Reminded her of a red medic from Kaon. She never took him seriously, he was always preoccupied with his need for a shiny finish.

After some time, maybe a half hour, she passed the local hospital. There were more trucks than she was expecting and a few smaller cars. One caught her optic, it may have been an ecodiesel, it was still a handsome truck. Nightblade simply opened up her scanner, thin light coming from her optics as the specs of the frame came to her. Just like that she was in a new frame, she wasted no time either to use those specs.

Silver frame, she had found herself on the grass outside of the hospital. Oops. She should have paid more attention but it was too late now to care. Giving her engines a testing roll, it was a good feeling to have. With this, she left. It was a nice feeling to have something fresh adorn her once fleshy appearance, something that no one would recognise her for.

She gave her engines another testing push, trying not to disturb the grass that she had changed on. Oopsy. Once on the road, she was startled to hear the nearly non-existent Communication channel open up. A tired voice on the other end told her who it was, "Nightblade?" Ratchet, seemed to wait patiently on the other end. "Yes, Ratchet." There was no question, only a response. She waited at a light, when it turned green on her side, one red car sped passed. Nightblade sighed and turned the opposite of the direction of that speedster, and headed towards base as a leisurely pace.

"This is just a signal test," he said with a hum. She accelerated down the straight line of concrete, passing KO burger again, which had a full parking lot. "What are you doing?" She would have shrugged but, can't really do that in vehicle mode, and took the road that lead out of town. "I'm heading back. I did what I needed to," she said just over the sound of her engines. "I'll be back in a few minutes, give or take 7." She cut the line.

Ratchet's barely hidden annoyance shown through on base. The children had come and gone since Nightblade had left, so they may have only gotten a short leg of the information. He did not bother to hide his irritations about this new mecha on base. She wasn't useful! But if Optimus trusted her, perhaps he could try to get to know her too. But if she so much as does something that he doesn't like, he has no qualms with reformatting her into something that is always useful. A trash compactor perhaps?