And we're back again! I give you the next chapter *bows out*

Chapter 21

Violetwind carefully made her way through the Nemesis. She didn't want the others to know of her presence until they were in the thick of battle and weren't going to do anything about it.

It was possible that Rachet had already alerted the others to her escape, but it only meant the others would be looking for her. She just had to be more careful in order to make sure she wouldn't be found. Even if they knew she was aboard, before they could do anything, they had to find her first.

Peering around the corner of the grey wall, the femme scoped out the hallway. Once again it was clear and she let out a sigh of relief. Walking forward she kept to the walls, glancing about, her audios alert for any noise.

Vi, I think I have it.

"The cure?" she whispered, pausing in the middle of hallway.

Yes. We need to get to a computer terminal. I'll tell you what to type and hopefully Ratchet can use it to fix us.

"If you already know it, why can't you use it to fix us now?"

No, I slagging can't! It needs to be downloaded, something that can only be done when we're unconscious. Something only an experienced medic can do.

"Ok... It's safe though, right?

Slag it, Vi! Nothing about our mind is safe! Everything we do is untested and never should have been done!

She was quiet a moment. "Do you... Do you regret your decision to rescue me?"

Windy sighed, Maybe. At first. But only 'cause if I knew what was going to happen, I would have prepared better, instead of blindly jumping in. But I grew to like you and know it was worth it. I wouldn't have swapped doing it for anything in the universe.

Smiling Violetwind nodded. "Me either. Even if it's to be for this short time, I wouldn't change it. I've met some incredible people. I wouldn't want it to be any different."

Let's hope this thing I've prepared works, so I doesn't have to end.

"I guess we'd best find that computer then. There should be one around here somewhere..."

Passed the next corner held the set up they were looking for. Rushing up to the terminal, the femme punched a few keys to bring up a file to store the cleansing code Windy had created.

"Alright, now you're sure this will work?"

It's not like we have much of a choice. I don't see anyone coming up with anything better.

"Right. Feed it to me."

Her fingers flew over the Cybertronian keyboard as Windy explained what to type in. It took a some time to complete but it was soon done, Violetwind saving it to the warship's systems.

"I sure hope Ratchet can make sense of this later," the femme muttered.

Me too. We'll be fragged of he can't but he's a good medic. I trust that if anyone can do it, he can.

With a nod, Violetwind moved off. "So we'll be ok then?"

You should be fine. You just might need a bit of rest.

"Windy, I didn't ask about me. I asked about us."

Well... she wished she could duck the question.

"What is it?" Violetwind asked more firmly than she intended.

If it works... There's the possibility that I might not survive. Not as an actual conscious entity anyway...

"Windy!" Tear sprang up in her optics again. "No. This can't be happening. It can't be. There has to be another way."

But there isn't. Not with the little time we have left. We don't have enough time to find any other way. Being tipped over the edge just once more might result in us going offline for good... Better that we risk my life than for that to happen and take yours as well. Not to mention we risk killing anyone else nearby if we go crazy again.

"But to lose you..." she sobbed, still stumbling forward.

Windy tried to give her feeling of comfort, a sort of mental hug. You'll be fine. The other Bots will take care of you. Besides, you're stronger than you think. Never forget that.

Choking back another sob, Violetwind wrapped her arms around herself. "I'll never forget you..."

Just remember that I'll never really be that far away. I'm right here in your spark. If you'll think of me like that I'll never truly be gone.

"Windy..." she muttered but before she could continue she rounded the corner to come across an unexpected sight that caused her to halt in her tracks.

What the slag?

Partially enclosed in the wall was Smokescreen. His head, hands and a knee we're poking out but the rest of him was stuck firmly, surrounded by the wall. Surprised to see him like that she could only stare.

The silence was broken when the mech noticed her. "Vi!" he grinned, "Ratchet told us you'd gotten aboard."

Walking over she reached out a hand to grasp what was sticking out of his arm. "Smoke... How did this happen?"

Frowning his gaze turned to the ground. "Starscream came and busted out his buddies. Knock Out took my phase shifter. Guess leaving me like this is some kind of payback..."

If the moment wasn't so serious right now I'd laugh. Actually, I might do that anyway. Not sure how much longer I'll have to do it. Windy burst into a fit of giggles.

Ignoring her inner friend, Violetwind kneeled down in front of the mech. Her gaze followed the wound on his helm, the one caused by her own blade. Touching his helm near the cut, her vocalisers choked up.

"Vi, don't worry about it," he smiled.

"I-" The femme choked thinking about what might have been. Regaining control she whispered, "I could have killed you..."

"But you didn't."

"I'm so sorry, Smokescreen..."

"It's ok. Really. I'm fine. The others could be in trouble right now though. Starscream was headed for the bridge. He's got the immobilizer."

Slag. Not my immobilizer.

"I'll go see what I can do but they might be expecting me."

But then again Starscream may be the usual dumb-aft he is and not even have noticed.

"Alright," Violetwind stood, "I'll be back. Don't go anywhere."

The mech smirked. "I could hang around here all day."

His carefree attitude lent her some peace. "I'll get you out of there."

"I know," Smokescreen said.

She smiled and headed off down the hall but not before calling out, "I'll be back as soon as I can!"

Making her way through the ship, Violetwind arrived at the bridge. From behind the door she could hear blaster fire indicating that a fight had broken out.

Throwing caution to the wind she burst in, weapons drawn. But before she could get off a single shot, the fight was over. She just caught sight of Knock Out hitting Starscream over the head with the immobilizer, shattering the weapon and knocking out the Decepticon.

Resting a hand on his hip, the red medic grinned at Bumblebee. "Now will you believe I'm joining the winning team?"

"Knock Out," the mech stared at him in disbelief, "We needed that!"

"Wait," he looked at the broken piece that remained in his hand, "It really was the immobilizer?"

"Yes!"

He slagging broke my immobilizer!

I don't think now is the time to get upset over it, Violetwind replied as she transformed her arms back into hands and walked into the room.

Elita One was the first to spot her. Frowning she chided the femme, "Violetwind! What do you think you were doing running away from Ratchet like that? You were supposed to remain behind with him and Ultra Magnus. And most importantly, remain out of trouble."

Lowering her gaze, she rubbed a pede on he floor, "I just wanted to help..." Lifting her helm to look at the femme, she grew more confident. "I'm not incapacitated so I'm not about to lie around and let Cybertron be destroyed again. Wi-" Violetwind caught herself before mentioning Windy in Knock Out's presence, "We've done so much to restore it and I want to keep being a part of that."

The room was quiet all waiting on the commanding femme's response. Elita One sighed. After the meltdown the purple femme had suffered earlier,endangering the rest of them, she could not risk it happening again. Next time someone could be more seriously injured. She decided that Violetwind could be sent to the medical bay where she would remain for the direction of the battle.

Yet before she could reply, someone else spoke up. "I say she stays." Everyone turned to Arcee who shrugged her shoulders. "We need everyone we can get. And if she's willing, I say let her stay."

"It's not like we have time to drop her back with Ratchet," added Bumblebee, purposefully not mentioning the ground bridge.

"He's right," Bulkhead agreed.

Moonracer hopped up and down. "Oh please, Lita. Come on. Please."

Greenlight joined in, "Logically we do need everyone. And somehow I do not believe she would remain in place if she were put elsewhere aboard the ship."

The femme in question looked up at the commander with hopeful optics.

Come on Elita, Windy willed her to let them stay.

Elita One sighed. Each of them did have a point. "Alright," she relented, "Violetwind you may stay. But remain in check of your emotions."

Can do!

Grinning she nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

"So where's Smokescreen?"

~oOo~

Fetching the mech from the wall and returning his favoured phase shifter, Arcee, Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Violetwind took their new prisoner back to a cell. Starscream was conscious again, kneeling on the floor of his new room; his unhappy pout the result of his latest failure. He groaned as he hung his head in shame.

The four of them just smiled in triumph at his pitiful state. Closing the door they walked away, Knock Out wiping his hands in a gesture of getting rid of the filth that was the Decepticon seeker.

From behind the closed door they could hear Starscream cry out, "Fine. I hope Unicron destroys you first!"

Windy snorted, Yeah whatever, fly boy.

Arcee glanced at the red mech, "Why'd you do it, Knock Out? Why'd you turn on Starscream?"

Tuning her audios toward him, Violetwind was curious as well. She would never have expected to actually be walking the halls of the Nemesis with him. If anyone had said she would do so she certainly wouldn't have believed them.

"Even if I'd helped him seize this ship he would have probably just fired me out of the first airlock," he replied. "Oh. And he's rude."

Smiling Violetwind said, "Well you won't find that kind of company here, Knock Out."

"Only as long as you don't betray our trust," Smokescreen warned.

"Mwah?" he replied innocently.

Rolling her eyes, Arcee snorted but didn't say anything.

They didn't get a chance to say anything more as they walked into the bridge, Smokescreen calling out, "We there yet?"

"Right on schedule," Bulkhead replied, standing at the controls.

"And so is Unicron," Bumblebee pointed out the army of terracons beneath them.

All of a sudden the army below took flight.

Seeing the undead Predacons coming their way, Knock Out's optics widened, "Maybe Starscream had the right idea..."

"You're not gonna let a few beasties frighten you, are ya Knock Out?" joked Violetwind.

Just then one hit the window near where they were standing. Both of them jumped in fright as it opened its mouth to let out a shrill call, revealing glowing purple lines of dark energon in its throat.

The femme let out a squeal while the mech gave a yell and scrambled backwards.

"Ahh! Zombicon! Zombicon!" Knock Out screamed, trying to get away but tripping over his own pedes in the process.

Bumblebee and Smokescreen were quick to jump in front of the pair, weapons at the ready. However, before they had the chance to attack, a stream a fire hit it, knocking the beast off the ship.

Hoping for the return of their leader, Elita One asked, "Is it Optimus?"

"Predaking," Bulkhead corrected.

"Oh Primus! You means those big old beasties are actually helping us?" Moonracer clapped her hands together. "This is great!"

Smokescreen grinned, folding his arms, "Predacon allies. You called it, Bee. And to think Optimus almost passed down the matrix to me."

A second passed before Bumblebee and Violetwind looked at him in surprise, the mech uttering, "Wait, what?"

"When was this?" asked the femme, moving to stand beside him.

"Yeah, I said it. But right place, right time, doesn't mean right Bot. I know that now. In a way I'm glad. I'd rather have the big guy here with us than trying to lead myself."

"You gave it up when you saved Optimus' life, didn't you?" Violetwind said.

He nodded a sad smile on his face.

Slag. Respect... Windy uttered in surprise and awe.

"You did good, Smoke," the black mech patted his back.

Their conversation was cut short as their enemies attack damaged the ship. The engines lost power and the Nemesis started to go down.

"Brace for impact," yelled Bulkhead, gripping the main console to stay upright.

"This is just great," grumbled Coriolis, bracing herself against the wall.

Everyone else also prepared themselves for the impact. Unfortunately it wasn't enough. The warship hit the ground, jolting them all out of place. It scraped along the ground, the Omega Lock structure destroyed under the weight of the ship. It screeched to a stop just before the edge of the Well of AllSparks. Any closer and it would have fallen in.

After it came to a halt, the Autobots groaned, suffering from the crash landing.

The motherly call of Elita One rang out, "Is everyone alright?"

First to pick himself up, Knock Out wiped the back of his hand to reply, "Nothing a little car removal wax won't fix."

"Is your finish all you think about?" muttered Arcee, slowly rising to her pedes.

"No, sometimes he thinks about what tools he's going to us to keep it buffed," joked Smokescreen as he sat up.

"Good to see you've still got you're sense of humour."

"You're just jealous yours isn't as nice," huffed Knock Out.

What are they? A bunch of kids?

Violetwind chuckled, forgetting about the bump of the landing. "Don't get too attached to it, Knock Out. I've ruined it once and I'll do it again if I have to."

Not you too...

The mech gasped. "You wouldn't dare."

"Guys," Bulkhead interrupted, pointing outside at the approaching army.

"Quit the funny business and get your heads on straight," growled Coriolis.

Moonracer frowned. "Tall, dark and scary is getting closer..."

Exiting the ship, the nine Autobots and one ex-Decepticon gathered under the overhang of the front of the Nemesis. Dropping from the sky, the three Predacons transformed and landed with heavy thuds behind the group. They all turned to glance at the new arrivals. Violetwind, for one, was intimidated by their larger stature and hostile looks.

In the distance Unicron's army took flight, and they turned back to them. The masses of undead Predacons lunging forward at the order of their puppeteer.

Clenching a fist, Bumblebee declared, "We're the last line of defence."

"I would recommend leaving that to those more suited for the task," said Predaking. Nodding at each of his Predacons, he barked, "Skylynx. Darksteel. Allow nothing to enter the well."

Transforming, the trio leapt over the Bots and ran forward to take on the dark energon driven army.

The Predacons fought fiercely against their enemies but ultimately they were overpowered by their sheer number. The terracons swept them up and carried them over the edge of the well.

The Autobots and Decepticon peered over the edge, shocked by the quick loss. The last of the terracons quickly disappeared from sight.

"Well, that was short lived," grumbled Coriolis.

"Really? This is how it ends?" Bulkhead looked over at his companions.

Bumblebee narrowed his optics, turning back to Megatron's possessed body. "We're not losing our planet. Not without taking Unicron with it."

"Then what are doing standing around here!" the seeker yelled. Jumping up she transformed, flying towards the dark lord.

"Cor, get back here!" Elita One called after her, but the femme didn't listen. "Scrap."

She's gonna get herself killed, stubborn idiot.

Running forward with the rest of the group, Violetwind smirked, Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same if you could.

Yeah, well, I fragging suppose so.

Ahead, Coriolis had already engaged with Unicron. The seeker was darting in and out, using her alternate mode's guns to shoot at the possessed mech. Yet even giving all she had, the Chaos Bringer suffered no damage.

The enraged Unicron let flames engulf his arms which were go within a few seconds. In their place were a pair of spiky purple blasters. Lifting his arms he aimed at the femme.

With a twirl and a roll she avoided the shots, quickly coming around for another run. She got off a few shots before he fired back. However, this time she did not dodge them. One of the shots hit her wing and she let out a screech. Damaged she dropped from the sky.

The seeker crashed to the ground and was unable to hold her alternate form. Heavily injured by the impact Coriolis did not move, adding to her friends worries. To make things worse, Unicron was approaching her position with a predatory gleam in his optic. He transformed an arm into a long purple scythe, resting it in his other hand as he walked. "Now to rid myself of a pest."

"Cor!" shrieked Moonracer.

"No!" Violetwind cried out. Transforming into her vehicle mode she raced toward the femme.

"Violet, wait!" Bumblebee called after her.

Transforming, Smokescreen followed her, "Vi!

But the femme was not about to be stopped. Coriolis was in trouble and whether the seeker liked it or not, she was going to help. Speeding up, she made a transformation leap as Unicron brought down his arm. Hands outstretched, Violetwind grabbed the wounded seeker, and using her momentum tumbled out of the way. But she didn't make it away unscathed. The femme's door wing was sliced off, energon now leaking from her back.

Unicron gave a roar as he missed the kill.

On the ground, Violetwind lay on top of the seeker from their tumble. Tears wet her optics as she vented heavily from the pain that flared from her back.

Of all the slagging things-

With a groan, Coriolis looked up at her. "You- you saved me?"

Gritting her denta against the pain, she smiled, "That's what friends do."

"But I tried to kill you..." confusion shone from her face plates.

"Everyone makes mistakes."

One more chapter to go guys! Excitement!