Author's Note (Mini-Story): Allora crawled out of her tent and stretched. It was a beautiful day to head out on the tracks of the story.

Allora- "Good morning everybody!"

Everyone else- "Good morning."Allora turned to the readers, "Hey guys, yay an update on time. I'll answer reviews after this chapter. Now on with the show."

Ch.35 Here There Be...

Prowl- "That was really unsafe..."

My mind raced. Why would Ratchet use the device? The only reason why he would even use it would be to test the safety but that would require a chip to test it on. A medical chip with the anti-virus and malware installed.

"and why would you even use it..."

The very program that he was now offering to install into my helm. How does he even know that the program is safe? Unless.

"No!"

Ratchet startled and stepped back from my outburst. The fact that my doorwings where now straight up in anger probably helped him decide that it was safer to be far away from me.

My voice dropped to a whisper, "You didn't. Tell me you didn't do what I think you did. Please."

Ratchet- "What do you think I did?"

"You used yourself as a guinea pig," with each word that tumbled out of my mouth, my voice rose. "You took a potentially lethal program and downloaded it into your head. How could you! You know perfectly as well as I do that the programs in our processors could cause us serious mental harm. And you willy nilly plop one into your helm. You the only real doctor that we have on the team. You who are possibly the closest we are ever going to get to an actual Cybertronian Medic. Did you even stop to consider what could have happened? We could have lost you. Everything that you are could have been wiped out."

Ratchet- "Now Karen."

Prowl- "Oh don't you ,Now Karen, me Doctor Raphael. Don't you dare try to downplay this. Your mind could be gone and your body just an empty shell of the man that you are now. You are the only you that is ever going to be in any world. You would have been gone forever."

I whirled to face the presences that I felt was standing in the medbay doorway. It was Firstaid and Optimus standing the there gaping at me. Ratchet tried to take advantage of my momentary pause.

Ratchet- "Karen, I only did what I did to protect the team. You don't know..."

Prowl- "What do you mean you did it for the team! If you think sacrificing yourself for the team is noble, think again. It is selfish! You would have left everyone behind. You would have left as alone."

I as venting heavily, my frustration and anger trying to dissipate after my rant. I stared at Ratchet, but I didn't see the mech. I saw Doctor Raphael the man standing before me. His brown eyes pleading with me to understand.

Firstaid cautiously walked towards me and laid a hand on my arm. "Karen?"

I turned to look at Firstaid, but like with Raphael, I saw only Kaylie. The sweet red that I've gotten to know over the weeks before the Game truly started. My friend who looked out for me on and off the set.

Firstaid- "Doctor Raphael didn't test the program on himself. I was the first one to test it."

Prowl- "Wait. What? You! You were the test subject? How could you? We could have lost you!"

Firstaid shook his helm, "Karen, someone had to be the first. Ratchet tested the program on the computer and on our medical dummy droid over hundred times. He even fought with me on why I shouldn't be the one to test just as had as you are ranting to him right now. But someone had to the first if we want to be protected from viruses that could do worst damage. It was better that I was the one under the knife since Raphael actually had some understanding of what to do if something went wrong. Besides, the way the program is downloaded into the processor is designed to be the safest way possible. A dead program that your subconscious builds a working program around that can function with your metal processes.

My wings wilted, "But?"

Optimus- "Prowl. Karen. It was there choose. You shouldn't berate them for it. What's done is done. It's the past, it's time to move forward. *Optics turn up in amusement* Besides, I was also one of the test subjects for the upgrade."

Again, my wings shot up in anger, "Prime!"

Optimus put his hand in the "stand down soldier position". "Karen. Calm down. We all needed to get this upgrade eventually. It's better that Doctor Raphael had two willing mentally healthy individuals to test and observe the program at work. That was Thursday. Yesterday, while you were grounded, the rest of the Autobots came in and had the program installed. There was no issue for anyone. That's why we feel it's safe for you to download the program now."

I sighed and slumped on my perch, "I just wish you guys talked to me about this before going forward. After what happened to me, I at least feel like I should be included in these kinds of decisions."

Optimus- "And you would reject everyone but yourself to be the first test subject. Don't deny it. During Tuesday's meeting, you said that it was best that the accident happened to you. If the accident didn't happen, you would have wanted to be the first test subject."

Prowl- "I...conside on that statement, Prime. But that doesn't change the fact that I believe that I should have been included in the decision-making process."

Ratchet- "I'll think about it in the future. Now, the download of the program has to happen while you're logged in. The download pausing if you log out. The process takes a while, so do you want to lay down or use one of the new medical chairs Huffer whipped up?"

Prowl- "The chair would be preferable."

Firstaid- "Cool, I'll get it out of the storage room. Be right back."

The medbay was dead silent except for my still heavy venting. I had to wonder why Optimus and Firstaid had come in when they did. Did Ratchet call them while I was still shouting, so they could help explain the situation?

The side room door that Firstaid had disappeared behind, cracked open. A snow white chair with a red medical cross embroidered on the headrest wheeled out with Firstaid following with the orange shock blanket from before.

The chair looked just like my office chair. My doorwings were telling me that the fabric on the chair was designed for medical proposes. So if the chair was to be soiled, the medics could hose down the chair with water and sterilizer. Making the chair easier to clean and really efficient to do so. It was the perfect chair for the med bay.

The chair was wheeled over to a set of monitors. While Ratchet set those up, Firstaid helped me into the shock blanket so I would be comfortable during the download process.

Settling down into the chair, I got into the comfortable position of my legs being tucked up on the chair with most of my back in one corner. Ratchet gently took my right arm and laid it on the arm rest and strapped it down.

Ratchet- "Now Karen, I'm going to access the ports throughout your arm. One of the ports will be the place the medical chip will be inserted. The other ports will house the cables that will provide the monitors with information on your status. During the download, you will enter a semi-offline state. You will still be logged in but you will not be able to access any of your systems that you are using right now. It will feel like your falling asleep, like you are dreaming. Do you understand?"

Prowl- "Yes. How long does this normal take?"

Ratchet- "It varies for each individual. A couple of hours at best."

Prowl- "Alright. I guess I'll see you all when I wake up."

Optimus- "That you will."

Firstaid- "See you later, Karen."

Ratchet pressed my armor in different places that cause the armor to split and move out of his way. As he was putting in the monitor wires, I started the process of returning to my Dreamscape. I was boarding the edge of awareness when the medical chip was finally slipped in.

The fairy trail light up underneath my feet, beckoning me to return to my hidden meadow in the forest. But I had to wait for the program that Ratchet was downloading into my processor. The mist that separated the forest edge from awareness swirled from unseen wind currents. Suddenly, a shadow appeared in the mist.

Well, I guess that's the program. I better go get it.

Reaching into the mist, I grasped the object and pulled it into my Dreamscape. It looked like an egg.

Heading over to the glade, I observed the "egg." It was a simple thing. The size of a volleyball, it looked like a normal white egg you would find in a supermarket. But this thing was to be the basis of my anti-virus program. How?

Sitting down, I placed the in front of me. How could this thing fit into this place? The program was a bunch of 1s and 0s designed to keep out viruses and malware out of my head. How could this fit into my mind?

This program was designed to keep viruses from infecting me, to stop them before they even touch my mind. Thread.

Thread, an alien spore in the book series called Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. The Thread would travel from its home planet and seek out Pern, a planet full of life, to infect. The Thread when it touched the ground would borrow in, suck the life out of the earth, and decompose all organic matter.

The colonists of Pern found a way to beat this threat to their survival. They breed dragons to defend their home. The dragons of Pern could sense Thread and burn it out of the sky. With the ability to teleport to any place seen on the planet helped their cause to fight the threat. The dragons also had the ability to read minds for their intent.

Creatures like that could be the best type of anti-virus software for my mind.

With my decision made, the egg cracked. Out came two golden creatures. They both had compound eyes that changed color with their mood. Ear-like appendages on their heads that reminded me of Shrek. Leathery skin that would harden with time. Their wings that resembled bat wings. The only difference between the two was their sizes.

The first creature was the size of a Great Dane. I knew that she was a Queen Dragon and would produce the other dragons that would populate my Dreamscape and protect me from viruses and malware, the Thread of my mind. Her name was Ramoth, named for the Queen in the first book, Dragonflight.

The second creature was the size of a gecko. She was a Fire lizard, Queen. Fire lizards were the creatures that the dragons were bred from. This Fire lizard was going to produce more fire lizards which would then be the second line of defense. Their small size allowed them to get into places the larger dragons could not and case and Thread that manage to infect my mind. Her name would Gnall, named for the first Fire Lizard to be impressed by the Dragonriders after they had become nothing more than a myth.

Both Ramoth and Gnall will grow with time. This growth would be based on how well they knew my mind. Ramoth should grow to be the size of a draft horse while Gnall should grow to the size of a chihuahua.

Ramoth's voice sounded throughout the Dreamscape.

"Hello, Karen."

"Hello Ramoth, Gnall. Do you two understand why you're here?"

Ramoth answered for the both of them. "We're a program designed to protect your processor from viruses and malware. In your Dreamscape, these will that the shape of Thread. We are not self-aware. We are your mind's representation of accessing the anti-virus and malware program and implementing it. We are to scan anything entering your processor and destroy it if presents a danger. We will tell you of everything destroyed and ask if it is alright to destroy the program if we are unsure of its intent. We are not to explore your normal functioning state for future reference."

So basically, my new imagery friends. Cool.

"Alright then, I'll let you get on with your job."

"We won't disappoint you, Karen. We will defend you for as long as we are functional."

"Thanks."

Leaving Ramoth and Gnall in the glade, I followed the fairy path back to awareness. I onlined to find Firstaid staring me in the face plates.

Firstaid- "Ratchet! She's awake."

Ratchet- "Can't be. It's only been 10 minutes."

Prowl- "Well I'm awake, Ratchet. Sorry to burst your bubble."

Optimus was still the medbay, "Karen? How are you awake."

Prowl- "I'm done. The program's done."

Ratchet- "That can't be right. It should take at least 20 minutes."

Prowl- "You said yourself that everyone is different."

Ratchet- "A little too fast in my opinion."

Prowl- "In any case, am I free to go?"

Ratchet waved me off, "Yes, yes. Go."

"Thanks."

I handed Firstaid my blanket and headed for the door.

Prowl- "Oh, why are you here Prime? Didn't you already get your update?"

Optimus- "Yes, but I came for another reason. Now you go train Seaspray, I know that he has been looking forward to it. I'll see you later."

Prowl- "Yes sir. Goodbye Ratchet, Firstaid."

Firstaid- "Bye."

Ratchet was glaring at the monitors that recorded my time offline, "Just get already."

Hiding my grin, I headed towards my office while texting Seaspray that I was ready to begin his training. Right away a text popped into my vision screen.

Seaspray- Cool. I can't wait to get started. I'll meet you over at your office. Should I bring cubes for later?

Prowl- If you could bring a cube so I take my medication, that would be appreciated. I believe that cubes for lunch will not be needed.

Seaspray- Why is that, sir?

Prowl- You will see at lunch. Prowl out.

It had only been a few seconds when another text appeared.

Jazz- Hey Prowler. R U hanging with Seaspray during our date? :3

Prowl- Jazz it's Prowl. Seaspray and I will be training till lunch. We do not have a date.

Jazz- Prowler, it's a date if it's planned. ;3 See you lator gator.

I was real tempted to text back "after while crocodile," but thought it best just to text "Until then. Prowl out."

It was with a light spark that I made my way to my office. I finally had my anti-virus program, I was starting my combat training with Ironhide, Seaspray was going to help me out with battle strategy, and it was Sunday tomorrow. Life was good.

Bang!

The base shook as a mass comlink came up on my vision screen.

Perceptor- "Sorry everyone. Wheeljack tried to make so high grade. It didn't work. Perceptor out."

Yep Life was good and back to normal.

Author's Note (Mini-Story): Gang was stopped at an energon station for Deep Thought and Cliffhanger. Lancer was helping Allora answer reviews.

Allora- "CrackleShot-The- Sparkeater, the story does have a way of drawing us in doesn't it? *Grins* I can never get enough of this story."

Lancer- "Hey Allora look at this note from CybertronDefence."

Both the girls look, laugh, and turn to stare at Cliffhanger as he was sipping his cube. He paused mid sip and turn to face the gals wirily.

Cliff- "What?"

The gals- "CybertronDefence says hi."

Cliff- "Hi?"

Lancer- "You're in trouble."

Cliff- "What for?"

Allora- "Last chapter."

Cliff- "But that was a great ending and I was doing my job!"

Allora- "We know Cliff. We still love you. Keep up the good work. Hmm... CMDOBlitzin, same here but sad to say that only way it could happen is if we asked writers nicely and bound our own copies of fanfiction. "

Lancer- "Here's Mywinx14's, Allora. Oh wow, what a qua-inky-dink."

Allora- "Let's see. *Reads it quick* OH, you poor thing. :( I'm sorry about that, but don't worry they don't last forever. I had mine during my entire Junior High career. *Finds praxian's review* Good morning, praxian or if this reaches you before you go to bed, Good Night! Pleasant dreams about games. :)"