Shattered

Chapter Two

"Touch me and I'll cut you," came the hiss as Cliffjumper approached the only occupied cell in the brig.

The horned Autobot smirked. "Touchy today, aren't we?"

Steeldust glared up at him through the small, barred window. "You would be too if you were stuck down here."

Cliffjumper shrugged and with a chuckle, replied, "You wouldn't be here if you didn't run your mouth."

"Do ya got a reason for being here? Or do I have to look at your ugly faceplate just cause ya wanna taunt me?"

The red Autobot frowned, crossing his servos. "You're lucky I'm not command."

Turning back to face the wall, the younger 'Bot resumed carving lines into it with a knife. "Nobody would make you command. We'd lose half the ranks."

"Right. You want out or not?"

Steeldust paused midstrike, turning his helm to peer over his shoulder at the other Autobot.

Cliffjumper's faceplate split in a grin. "I can't believe you just fell for that. You thought I'd let you out?"

Letting out a huff, Steeldust went back to what he was doing as Cliffjumper cackled, walking away.

"It says gullible on the ceiling, Steeldust," he called over his shoulder.

"Sure does," retorted the speedster without moving. "Cause I wrote it there, right where you're standing."

"What? Hey-" growled Cliffjumper, falling for it.

Steeldust simply smirked, listening as Cliffjumper left the brig, cursing under his breath.

///

Smokescreen sauntered down the hallway, a wide smirk on his faceplate.

He had some news to give a certain someone.

Reaching one of the training rooms, the seeker paused, looking inwards.

A lone figure was using the room.

Leaning against the doorway, Smokescreen crossed his servos. He smirked as he watched.

The lithe femme threw punch after punch, kick after kick, into the training dummy.

"Such finesse and grace accompanied by strength," the mech thought to himself as he watched.

With a war cry, the femme withdrew a sword and made the final blow, plunging the blade into the dummy's midsection then wrenching it upwards. The stuffing poured out onto the floor as the two halves fell apart.

She stilled as she heard slow clapping behind her.

"Very impressive as always," Smokescreen said.

Without turning, the femme replied. "What do you want, Smokescreen?"

Smokescreen made a tsking sound as he shoved off of the door frame. Taking several steps forward he chuckled. "Skeptical as ever, aren't we?"

Sheathing her sword, the femme then leaned down to pick up the remains of the training dummy.

"You have to be around here."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Finally turning her helm to look at him, she sneered, "Because sometimes it is hard to tell who's your friend and who's just pretending so they can get what they want."

Smokescreen frowned. "I see."

Slinging the dummy over her shoulder, the femme strode over to the nearby closet, placing it inside with the others that needed repairing. The seeker walked up behind her, as she closed the door.