Rated: M for adult themes: language, violence, mental rape, character death, mech erotica, torture, gore, and suicidal ideation. This varies from chapter to chapter, so read at your own risk.

Important Note: I started this series of fics before Revenge of the Fallen hit the theaters. This is an A.U. 2007 movie verse fic, NOT a ROTF/DOTM/AE/LK/BB or whatever follows fic.

Disclaimer: The only thing I own in this work of complete fiction is Velocity/Sira and Hardcore. They are mine. Everything else is copyrighted and owned by some really rich people. I make no money from this but wish I could.

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Full Velocity: Finding Salvation

Chapter 36: Epilogue

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Velocity watched the shadows shift and turn as the day waned towards night. The harsh wind tapered off, and small animals scurried about, searching for any last morsels before bedding down.

She glanced at the colossus behind her, his head turned, and intense optics swept over her form. She suppressed a shiver and turned her attention back to the horizon, watching the coordinated chaos of military vehicles.

"Well," she said over her shoulder. "What did Prowl have to say?" The breeze made its way through the openings in her armor to tickle the protoform beneath.

Optimus moved beside her. "They are coming. He and Hound have contacted the refugees. They should reach this solar system within a month."

Velocity looked up at the mech; his optics focused beyond the horizon. "But? I know the tone, Optimus. There is a 'but' hidden in there somewhere."

Prime emulated a sigh and glanced down at her. He shifted his stance to face her. "But the Ark and her crew have sustained heavy damage while engaging a band of Decepticons. The ship is without orbital stabilizers."

Velocity remained quiet, waiting for the Prime to elaborate. A bird twittered in the distance, singing its bedtime song.

"Without the orbital stabilizers, the ship will quickly succumb to a planet's gravitational pull, and…."

"Crash. Yeah, gravity. So, land it on Earth." Velocity crossed her arms over her chest. "It's not like we don't have a whole desert to put it in." She waved her hand; a gesture offered the seemingly empty expanse of sunset-painted land.

A frown creased the mech's brow. "The space is not the issue. The Ark is an interstellar transport ship and not equipped to land on a planet. Also, I do not want to risk losing Teletraan1," worry rumbled through his words.

The femme watched the large mech for a few seconds as he brooded. All the what-ifs and maybes of the situation were playing through his processor. She hated to see him this way. The weight of his responsibilities continuously wore on him and darkened his moods. Not today, today, she wouldn't let him agonize over the maybes.

"They are coming, and that is good news, enjoy it. The other issues can be worked out later, but right now, enjoy the fact that others have survived and are joining you." She smiled softly at the Prime, and he gave a slight smile in return.

She knew that smile; he humored her. She despised being humored. Doing the only thing she could, she reached over and laid a hand on one of the tires that lined his legs. Giving it a good shove, she sent the pseudo-Goodyear spinning at a furious rate.

Optimus jumped, startled confusion brightened his optics and left his jaw hanging.

"Never had that happen, have you?" She started walking towards the entrance to the base and called over her shoulder, "The President's speech is about to start, and you are not allowed to stay out here and mope all night."

Heavy and rapid pedfalls thudded behind her. Turning, Velocity had half a second before Optimus tackled her. They both came to a sliding halt in a cloud of dust, the mech pinning her down.

"We have a few more minutes," Optimus whispered into her audios.

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FIN

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Authors Notes: Thank you everyone for reading, faving, commenting, following, and indulging me on this rewrite. I am going to polish Holding onto the Future and finish that fic next, but the third installment in already in the works (I cannot promise anything about it, I write slowly.)

If I have not responded to your comments, it is not that you are being ignored, I wanted FS completed and up for Thanksgiving.