Blackshadow

A frame taller than you remember approached you from the direction you were headed, crimson optics dimmed to a relaxed hue that contradicted his imposing presence.

Blackshadow, once a rookie you trained at the flight academy. Now outranking everyone but the Decepticon Elites.

There was no way he would recognize you.

Bowing your head respectfully as you passed him, the last thing you expected was for a servo to catch your shoulder.

"Not even a greeting? Long time no see, 'Captain.'" The Phase Sixer tilted his head down to meet your optics, though you could have sworn you used to be the same height.

"I hardly hold that title to the likes of you, Blackshadow, sir. Congratulations on your recent promotion." The respectful bow you attempted was interrupted. Instead, you were pushed back against the wall when he forced himself into your space.

"Been dreaming of the day we'd cross paths again, you know? Prove myself to my instructor." The smirk on his faceplate grew when you gave no resistance to his digit lifting your chin to look back up at him.

His optics were now a blazing red, their glow reflected off your paint from the proximity.

"Got time for a private word?"

Heretech

"Leaving so soon?" The imposing voice of the warrior elite nearly had you jumping out of your armour, already on edge, trying to escape the conference as soon as possible.

He was exactly the reason you were trying to get out quickly.

"Plenty to get done! You know, for the cause." Averting your optics from his, you looked longingly out the window to see the shuttle you were hoping to board had taken off without you.

"I've been trying to get in touch. I was beginning to think you might have been ignoring me." He was leaning over you, broad frame blocking you from any escape.

If you could melt into the cracks of the floor below you right now, you would have been.

"I sincerely apologize, Heretech. It was never my intention to—"

"I figured. You were never the type to be disloyal. I do ponder if that's changed." Finally stepping out of your space, he turned his back to you and began to move back into the halls of the ship.

Your hidden relief that the encounter was finally over was quickly ruined.

"Well? Hurry up and come with me. We'll talk more somewhere secluded."

Killmaster

A low growl stopped you dead in your tracks.

Slowly turning, you had to tilt your helm up till you nearly broke your neck cables to meet the optics of the weapons engineer you once oversaw the projects of.

You were—and still are-apart of the ethics committee on the research vessel he made most of his early discoveries in bidirectional weaponry on. You'd heard he was apart of the Warriors Elite now.

Didn't think that came with an entire frame remodelling. He was huge.

"You, committee member." His frame rumbled when he spoke. The fact that he had uttered anything was already unexpected.

You'd also heard he was a violent mastermind. A complete psychopath. At least more than before.

"Yes?" Your voice box glitched. You'd have been flustered if you weren't terrified that he was about to unleash years of rage from your constant nagging about his work back when you outranked him.

"Follow me." This time you could feel your spark tremble with his words. Killmaster left no room for argument, already heading into the halls leading to his new lab.

Overlord

"There you are!"

It wasn't the familiar road of a jet engine or the rotating clicks of tank treads. Nothing you could have heard from miles away and prepared to outrun.

He was right there beside you, throwing an arm around your waist and pulling you into the bulk of his frame.

"I was looking all over the galaxy for you. I appreciate the game of chase." His voice purred into your audials, his helm far too close to yours for comfort.

You knew from experience he bites.

"Just keeping you on your toes, you know?" Forcing a sense of familiarity into your words, you did your best to seem amused.

If you could go back in time and decide against becoming a paramedic, you would have. That, or tell yourself picking the purple badge meant tending to Overlord for years and still not escaping him.

"You know, you're the only person who knew about my losing streak with Big Bad. Isn't that interesting?" He was forcing you to walk with him, pulling at your waist and taking you away from the safety of the Medibay. "I'd hate for that to get out."

"I promise I would never tell a spark—"

"Promises are cute. But I have a more permanent solution in mind."

Sixshot

The silence was threatening to drown you.

Sixshot, somehow the biggest threat in the room, blended it perfectly when he wanted to. He'd gone unnoticed right up until he stepped beside you, joining you in the navigation room of a small cargo ship.

What little crew the ship had was scattered elsewhere. You were alone with him, the Decepticon who'd hailed for a ride.

"This is what you do now?" His voice was low, and though he'd intended for it to meet you in a casual manner, you'd taken it entirely judgementally.

Your trainee was now a Phase Sixer. Warrior Elite. Far beyond you. And you'd become a cargo ship captain.

"Just...Needed a change of pace. Everyone has a place in the cause." It sounded more like you were convincing yourself. The mech let out a mellow vent.

"You were supposed to become one of our best combatants. Fight alongside us Elite." He decided against saying himself. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think the cause meant nothing to you."

A shiver made its way through your plating, rising from the sharp edge of his voice. The muffle from the mask barely helped.

"You aren't here just for the ride, are you?" Your spark trembled, trying to remain steady as you battled the paranoia. Paranoia that had eaten you alive and forced you to step away from your old position.

"No. I'm here to sort this out."

Author's Note ── I assume you meant the Warriors Rlite fr and not the Phase Sixers but DAMN I am just realizing how little Killmaster or Heretech show up or talk at all in IDW.