1. Fastblade stood pacing outside the repair ward, her expression one of banked fury. "Fragging 'Cons. . .you'd think they'd have some sense of morals, some sort of honor. . .I can't believe they'd do this to one of their own. . .Primus, Slagging BASTARDS!" A loud clang sounded as she slugged the doorframe. She turned to see Optimus standing next to her and tilted her head to look at him, "Did I do wrong in saving his life? I know it's not going to be easy for him to adjust to being a ground-pounder, even temporarily."

Optimus shook his head slowly, his optics, a rich sapphire, glowing with compassion. "No, you didn't, 'Blade. It's in your nature to want to preserve life, as it is in mine. Life in itself is a precious gift, one not to be taken for granted." He patted her shoulder gently. "Now go recharge. ..I know you need it, you'd been up and moving since your last recharge cycle, and that was 20 hours ago."

Fastblade doesn't respond for several moments, then shakes her own head. "No. ..I can't leave. Considering who this is no one else is going to give a slag how he feels when he finds out his disability. I need to stay here." Her lips quirked up slightly. "Besides, someone has to keep him from killing the messanger when Ratchet breaks the news."

Optimus nods, gripping the shoulder he'd just patted in a way that said he understood. "Allright. ..but if you get tired enough that you absolutely must recharge I want you to call me. Is that understood? I will deal with the situation personally if the need arises."

"Thank you, sir."

A sudden yell and a loud crash sounded, followed by a harsh order from Ratchet telling Starscream to get his yellow-streaked backside back onto the bed, NOW, before he STRAPPED him down. Fastblade let forth a slight groan. Oh, Joy. ..Flyboy's awake. Well, might as well get this over with so I can have him murder me before killing himself now. ..No time like the present. With that she stepped through the med ward's double doors, pinning the grounded seeker with an intent stare.

"You heard him. ..back up on that bed. And don't think I won't help him hold you down. .. I will."

Starscream looked back at the newcomer. He was shocked that a FEMME, and an Autobot femme at that, would speak to him the way this one just had, but he wasn't about to let it show. "Oh, and just who died and made you Prime?"

Fastblade quirked a slight grin, her optics dancing in slightly malicious glee. "My creator will. ..eventually. Not that I'd want to be Prime anyway, it's too slagging much work. Now get your tailfins back up into that bed, NOW. You do NOT want me to put you back in it, trust me."

"And if I don't?"

She demonstrated what would happen if he didn't, showing surprising strength for her size she lifted him up, literally throwing him back down onto the bed and pinning him. "You just had to ask, didn't you?"
Starscream looked over at Ratchet. "And you're just going to let this Amazon manhandle your patient?"

Ratchet finlly let out the laugh that had been threatening. "Actually, yes. .. " then his face grew serious.

The injured silver and red seeker saw the change of expression and quailed, just a bit. "Come on, it's not like someone died. ..is it? What is with the solemn expression?"

Ratchet knew gentling it wasn't going to do a slagging bit of good, so he just spoke the words in a low, deadpan tone. "You're grounded, Starscream. .. .at the very least for 6 months. And if I can't find the parts for a full overhaul you will be grounded for the remainder of the time you function."

Starscream felt the words hit him, each one even harder than the physical blows Megatron had dealt him. "Come on, this must be some strange Autobot idea of a joke, right?" He looked from the Autobot medic back to the serious sky-blue optics of the femme next to him, but neither showed any signs of being anything other than completely serious. It dawned on him then that they were telling the truth. He simply began shaking his head in disbelief before leaping from the bed, running out of the med-bay, and then outside the base. As soon as he was alone, a loud, keening cry of grief, shock, and anguish rang out.

Both Ratchet and Fastblade heard the cry and shuddered.