Shattered

Chapter Eight

"Oh hey," Steeldust said, quirking an optic ridge.

Sunstreaker stepped out of the passageway, followed by Skyshadow.

"We need to talk," growled the frontliner.

"Can it wait?"

"No." Skyshadow crossed her servos. "Unless you have a really good reason."

Steeldust flicked his doorwings. "This is just weird."

"We need to talk," repeated Sunstreaker, taking a menacing step towards the speedster. "Now."

"Sure. And I need to go take my shift on monitor duty," countered Steeldust, walking away from the couple. "Make it a rain check, Sunshine."

He didn't get very far before they caught up to him.

The speedster flinched but kept walking as the duo fell in step on either side of him.

"Sunstreaker tells me that you may have some information for us, Steeldust," Skyshadow said lowly. "It would be in all of our best interests if you shared what you know."

Steeldust kept his mouth shut, shooting her a sideways look.

"Or do we need to persuade you?" Sunstreaker growled in his audio.

"What do you two want?" hissed Steeldust lowly. "I said I'd talk to you later. I have to get to my shift."

"Then switch with someone," prodded Skyshadow, narrowing her optics as she glanced up at him.

Steeldust let out a loud huff of annoyance. "My shift starts in only a few minutes. Unless one of you two are volunteering, I don't have time. If you're not, I'll be on my way."

With that, the young spy sped up into a jog. Soon leaving them behind.

"Steeldust! Wait!" Skyshadow called after him, tone urgent.

"This is really weird," Steeldust thought, furrowing his brow. "If this is about Sides', they've waited this long to start investigating. Why the hurry all of a sudden?"

Meanwhile, Sunstreaker and Skyshadow exchanged a look.

"He's hiding something," growled the frontliner lowly.

Skyshadow placed a hand on his servo. "We don't know that. He's got in trouble for not showing up for a shift before. And we couldn't talk in the middle of the hallway. He knew that."

Sunstreaker let out a sigh. "I hope you're right."

With that he strode off, heading in the same direction as Steeldust had disappeared off to.

The purple and black frowned. "Where are you going?"

The frontliner didn't stop, just simply answered over his shoulder.

"He's good at multitasking. He can talk and stare at screens at the same time."

Running to catch up with him, Skyshadow caught hold of his servo again, stopping him.

"I know I said we should talk to him first," she whispered. "But is this really the best way? If he's on monitor duty, he won't be going anywhere. We could talk to someone else in the meantime."

"We checked the suspects' alibis," Sunstreaker replied, just as quiet. "Only one had one. It wasn't Steeldust."

"I know. But forcing him is going to make him suspicious," hissed Skyshadow. "And if he is guilty, we will lose him. We need to change our plan."

"You can wait if you want. But I can't."

Skyshadow watched as her courted resumed his march. Somewhat begrudgingly, she followed.