The Assassin and the Engineer

Conditioning

Crossblade paced outside Knockout's office, crunching on energon candies to stop herself from biting the tips of her servos. She had been kicked out for asking to many questions. Megatron had already moved on, but Starscream lingered around.

After a long while, Goldenclaw's optics slowly blinked open. The first thing she saw was a bright light, before her optics got used to it and she slowly got up. "What....happened...?" She murmured, forgetting for a moment how she got there.

Knockout leaned over her, finishing up the final welds on her frame. "You we're trapped when the cave fell in on itself. Crossblade rescued you." He helped her into her feet, and led her outside. "Lord Megatron requests your presence."

"She did?" The femme was a little surprised before it all came back to her. "Oh..." She murmured while letting the male help her. At the mention of her superior's name, she stiffened for a moment. ".....Oh. Well....I should see why then." She let herself move away from Knockout before walking on her own. There was a slight limp on her walk, but she didn't let that bother her.

Crossblade's optics widened when she saw GoldenClaw come out, and she rushed up and embraced her. "Claw! Thank Primus you're okay!" Crossblade squeezed Claw gently, her optics shining with leaking coolant.

The femme winced and endured the sores, but pat her friend's head. "I'm alive, don't worry. I owe you for saving my life, Cross. Quit leaking." She sighed with a little smile, but it was wiped away. "But I'm not out of the ruins just yet."

She backed off immediately, and wiped her optics. "Yeah... Lord Megatron was pissed at me for abandoning my post." Crossblade began to walk slowly to headquarters, slow enough for GoldenClaw to keep up. "You had me worried sick, Claw."

"You shouldn't have abandoned your post, in the first place." She scolded mildly, then sighed, looking a little emotionally exhausted. "Then again, I did lie to you when I said I would be there with Starscream and Soundwave. I guess we're both even, in a way."

Crossblade patted GoldenClaw's arm, pressing the buttons to open the door to HQ. She took a deep breath, and walked forward, bowing to Megatron.

Walking up to her leader, Goldenclaw bowed without wavering. "You called for us, master?"

Megatron glared at the two femmes, Crossblade especially. "Crossblade, need I remind you that you have left your post more than once without my permission. The next time you leave your position for an insignificant task, you will not be granted mercy. Do I make myself clear?"

Crossblade bit back the urge to retort, and allowed herself to reply respectfully. "Yes master. My emotions got the better of me." She bower her head, her biolights dimming. Starscream smirked from behind Megatron, amused at their predicament.

"I pray you don't let those emotions cloud your judgement next time." Megatron kept his glare, but it moved from the small femme to Goldenclaw. "You are dismissed." He ordered Crossblade to leave.

Goldenclaw didn't show it, but panic was pulsing from her spark. She was at the complete mercy of her leader, and if she's learned anything from being the top assassin,

Lord Megatron would not show mercy to his elites.

Crossblade turned and walked out, but waiting by the door and listened as well as she could through the thick metal plating. "Claw..."

Starscream stepped forward, bowing his head to Megatron as he glared at GoldenClaw. "Master, perhaps we should not allow GoldenClaw and the engineer to go on missions together." He motioned at the door, a sadistic tone poisoning the mask of sweetness over his words. "The shut-in got attached after only after a few weeks."