Time terms used throughout the story

Groon - hour
Orn – day
Tex – week
Quartex - month
Vorn - year

Chapter 14

Upon returning to the group after their escapade with the spiderbots, Smokescreen, Silverbolt, Violetwind and Coriolis rejoined the others to find the doorway now open. While they were gone, the Dinobots had taken the opportunity to break down the door and continue onward. Hubcap, loyal as always, remained behind with Jazz to wait for the others to return. The Predacon kept his enthusiasm to rubbing his head against Violetwind and Smokescreen's legs and the occasional slobbering lick to their hands.

Regardless they were all happy to finally be leaving the caves. The end was in sight and everyone was in a much better mood, if not also completely exhausted.

Grimlock and Slug bantered amongst themselves, the other three Dinobots occasionally contributing to the fun. Silverbolt and Coriolis chatted about finally stretching their wings when they reached the surface. Jazz boasted about one of his adventures during the war to Smokescreen and Violetwind. They were happy to let the ex-spy do most of the talking, the femme resting heavily on her sparkmate in weariness. Hubcap trotted beside them, just happy he hadn't lost his two best friends.

This went on until they spotted some light up ahead. Filled with hope, they raced towards it. The tunnel let out into the cool Cybertronian air. The sun was just rising as daylight began to make its way over the metallic planet, Cybertron's two moons still visible above the horizon.

"Freedom!" cheered Coriolis. Running forward, she jumped and transformed, soaring into the sky.

Silverbolt and Swoop also let out twin cries of delight, transforming into their alt modes and joining her acrobatic display.

The lumbering T-rex let out a roar proclaiming his return to the land above ground. His team joined in with a chorus of roars that could surely be heard for miles around. Even Hubcap joined in, though his own voice was nothing in comparison to their undamaged vocalisers.

Jazz laughed, transforming into his alt mode to spin his tires and playing loud music through his speakers.

Smokescreen let out a whoop and scooped up Violetwind, dancing and cheering as he span them around. She couldn't help but laugh along with him. The euphoria of finally being free of their underground entrapment chased away her exhaustion. For now, things were perfect.

~oOo~

As the sun rose into the sky, the group called for an emergency ground bridge and soon found themselves back in Iacon for a much needed refuel and recharge. The next orn they gathered in the Celestial Spires to debrief the rest of the council about the failed trip.

Another fight almost broke out between Coriolis and Grimlock as they recounted their time in the tunnels. Thankfully, Ultra Magnus prevented the squabble from becoming a full blown argument with a commanding shout and a harsh glare.

Violetwind also told them about her meeting with Optimus. They deserved to know he wasn't completely gone.

As she spoke, Violetwind couldn't help but watch Elita One's reaction. Tears of joy threatened to spill from the pink femme's optics but with a hand pressed against her mouth, she managed to hold it together for the sake of the meeting. And while the message was hopeful, she couldn't help but detect a tinge sadness in the femme's optics.

The meeting soon disbanded, nothing more of interest to be said. Violetwind said goodbye to everyone and headed off to see Meltdown, Hubcap by her side. It was a little later than they'd planned thanks to the incident at Vos, but she was going to get a scanner installed. Or as Windy liked to put it, 'Become a proper medic.'

The pair walked down the street, Violetwind lost in her thoughts as they travelled. Noticing her distraction, Hubcap transformed to bot mode to speak in his broken voice.

"You. Ready?"

She glanced up at him, a nervous smile on her lips. "Yeah, I've been looking forward to this, right? A full time medic."

He raised an optic ridge at her.

'Oh yeah, you're totally fine...' Windy chipped in sarcastically.

Violetwind sighed. "Yeah, okay. I'm not fine. I'm starting to have second thoughts. I don't know if I really want to become a full time medic. Like, what if I screw up? What if I let someone die? Or worse, if I actually mess up and cause their death. I don't want to be responsible for someone else's life like that. I don't- I don't know if I could handle it... I broke down when Knock Out was left for dead. What if I do that again and next time it costs someone their life?"

"You be. Fine," the Predacon said.

"But-"

"You. Be. Fine," he repeated more firmly.

"I just-"

This time he stopped, grabbing her shoulders in his claw like hands, forcing her to look at him. "Trust. You be. Fine. I not lie. You."

'He's right you know. You need to trust that we can do this. Besides, don't you know by now that I've got your back?'

A feint smile pulled at her lips. "You're right. I'm not alone and I need to trust myself."

"Yes," he nodded once and let her go.

"Thanks, Hubcap. I needed that." Letting out a breath she forced herself to relax. "Well, I guess we can't stand around here forever. Let's get going."

He smiled and folded down into his beast mode again, a slight wag in his tail. Violetwind smiled, once again reminded of how dog like he seemed despite his more reptilian appearance. A femme's best friend, she thought to herself as they continued.

They wandered down a few more streets when a hand darted out of the alleyway, grabbing Violetwind and pulling her into the shadows. She shrieked in surprise before being throw against the wall. Slightly dazed, she looked up into the blue optics of her attacker, fear clawing at her spark.

"M- Moscardo..."

'What does that slagging mech want now?'

Hubcap ran into the alley after her with a growl, baring his sharp denta at the mech. The armoured plating along his back rose up, making his appear twice his size.

The off-white mech backed away, his hands up. "Hey now, I don't mean the femme any harm."

The Predacon stood protectively in front of Violetwind. There was no way he was going to let Moscardo hurt her again.

Gaining confidence from Hubcap's presence and stirred to anger by Windy, Violetwind glared at the mech. "What are you doing here, Moscardo?"

"Me?" he feigned innocence. Receiving glares for his troubles, he grinned, slipping into his smooth way of talking. "Well, I just wanted to congratulate you on that most successful trip you made to Vos. Simply everyone is talking about it."

Windy growled. 'I wouldn't be surprised if you were behind the whole incident.'

A chill ran down Violetwind's spinal struts. "Everyone knows about that?"

Ignoring her question, Moscardo continued, "That of course wasn't my only reason for wanting to meet with you. What else did I want to speak with you about?" He tilted his head back, tapping his chin with a finger, though he was fooling no one.

'Maybe you were finally going to hand yourself in for an aft kicking,' grumbled Windy.

"Ah yes," he waved a hand as if he recalled his thought. His countenance darkened, optics narrowing towards the femme. "You've only a single quarter of a quartex left to meet my demands, or..." a wicked grin appeared on his faceplates as he shrugged, "well, I'd hate to see anything happen to any more of your little friends." He glanced at Hubcap. "It would be a shame to have to attend any funerals."

A low growl rumbled from the Predacon, a dangerous orange light forming in his chest. Afraid he might do something foolish, Violetwind rested a hand on his back with a whisper, "Don't..."

He glanced back at her, wanting nothing more than to tear out this mech's spark. Yet he couldn't go against her wishes. Instead he turned his glare back to Moscardo, just daring him to try anything.

"It's just a warning, my sweetspark. No need for you pet to be so upset," he smirked at Hubcap as he bit down another growl. "You just never know what some mechs might do. Not me, of course. I would never hurt someone such as yourself."

'Of course not,' purred Windy. 'You've already done that once. And besides, we wouldn't want your little hands to get dirty. That really would be a shame.'

Violetwind kept a hand on Hubcap, drawing strength from the Predacon as well as the comfort flowing through her bond. Smokescreen had likely chalked up her fear to being for the surgery that would begin soon, not the danger she was in. She wasn't about to let him think any differently. Feeling a little safer, she said, "Is that all? If you're not here to hurt me, can I leave now?"

"There was just one more thing before we part ways. One more word of warning. You really should take my advice and put a halt to that new symbol project of yours. It will only end in disaster."

"I can't," she replied, holding her door wings a little higher. "The unification of Cybertron is worth more than your petty threats."

Moscardo frowned, a dangerous light in his optics. "I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you." He quickly slipped back into his smooth smile. "I'm afraid my time has all but been eaten up. I must take my leave of you. Goodbye, my sweetspark. Beasty," he nodded at each of them. "I bid you good orn." He turned to leave, "Oh, and I hope the attachment of your new scanner goes well."

With that, he was gone.

Violetwind felt a chill run through her veins. He knew entirely too much about her life.

'I wouldn't be surprised if that mech has a finger in every oil cake.'

"I'm starting to think that his network is more dangerous than we realised..."

~oOo~

Although they were disconcerted over Moscardo's appearance, Violetwind and Hubcap continued to the medical centre. Once they arrived, they didn't have to wait long before they were admitted into Meltdown's office. Hubcap found himself a place in the corner to curl up, while Violetwind spoke with the medic.

"Are you ready for this?" Meltdown asked. "You know that this is entirely optional. You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"I- I know."

"I understand that this might be a little frightening, but we don't have to proceed if you don't want to. It is perfectly alright for you to carry an ordinary scanner with you, rather than one built into your frame. Not every medic needs to be built like a medic."

'Oh come on. You don't want to back down now, do you? We've been through so much to get here. Let's do it!'

Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "I know, but I can do this. I want to do this. I want to be a medic and I'm not about to let my fear stop me. I've done crazier things than this before, so I'm not going to let a little operation get in my way."

The old mech smiled. "That's the way to do it. You'll make a fine medic, my dear."

"Thanks, Meltdown."

"So? Are you ready?"

'So ready,' declared Windy.

"Yeah," Violetwind nodded. "I think I am."

"Then let us proceed."

Small reminder that Meltdown in this is the Autobot medic from the cancelled Transformer Universe game, not the Decepticon bounty hunter. :)