Disclaimer: I only own my OCs. Vox belongs to a friend.

Pandimala: *yells* Emergency situation! Everybot on deck!

*All friends run in*

Balm: What's wrong Pandimala?

Pandimala: *motions to monitors* Authoress got into the high grade!

Remcy: *sighs* This isn't going to end well.

Ch. 9: Medical Examinations

Balm's 1st P.O.V.

I sighed as I washed up in the wash racks. This was the solar. It was the solar of my medical examination work test. I had passed the written test easily last week, but this was what I was really worried about. To pass this test, I had to actually work on an injured bot. Who knew what bot that could be? But, I was confident in my abilities to fix whatever problem that I was presented with. However, I was nervous about how I would be graded. Ratchet had taught me many techniques, and some of those techniques were not very well looked upon by other bots, no matter how well it healed the bot.

So, I had just finished my final practice run on sealing up some lines on the practice drone and, in my opinion, I patched them up very well. Back when I had first become Ratchet's apprentice, I would not have been able to work on bots anywhere near this well. I had been so nervous the first few times that I worked on bots, after the incident with Pandimala, that I was sure that Ratchet would change his mind in having me as his apprentice.

But, he had continued as my teacher and I had learned a lot with him. Thirty stellar cycles have passed since that solar and, looking back, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the universe. I have made more friends than I could ever want, learned so much knowledge, and gained invaluable experience that have all gathered for this solar. I knew that I would not let my teacher down, no matter what.

Once I finished washing up, I quickly dried off before walking out to the doors. This solar, before my exam, I was supposed to meet with other medics in training who would be taking their final as well. It was a session to help us get to know our future work partners. Some of them had met before. That I knew. Ratchet told me how there were eight of us who were going to be taking our final exams this solar. Out of those eight, I was among the three femmes. Out of the eight bots, three of them had trained together as a group with their masters. I had nothing against that, but I had to wonder if that allowed the students to learn everything that they might need if they were off on their own. I wasn't sure but the tests this solar should show that.

Walking out of Ratchet's, I turned down the streets of Iacon and made my way toward Radar's Sturdy Blade, a high-end worker's restaurant not far from Guardian Headquarters. Originally, we were supposed to meet at The Charming Predacon, a new restaurant that most bots could afford, but one of the teachers, I think his designation was Hazard, said that his apprentice could not be seen at such a new and unsociable place. Ratchet got annoyed with that but didn't argue the change in venue for us…since the new choice was now Radar's.

Thanks to Tana, who was by now a very established member of the Guardians, I had met Radar personally and I counted him as a friend. He was able to get our group of eight in one of is VIB rooms and I was relieved. I wasn't sure how this meeting of the apprentices was going to go. I had never met any of the other apprentices, Ratchet telling me that he didn't want my teaching influenced by what other bots thought.

I agreed with that. I had to have my own opinion formed on a subject, especially, a topic that was debatable, before I met with others. I didn't just want to take their opinion as my own. Ratchet wouldn't even tell me his opinion on certain subjects until I had done research and formed my own opinion on the matter. One of those subjects, which was always a hot topic of debate when brought up, was the use of medic-assisted self-offlining. It wasn't an illegal practice but it was looked down upon by most and I knew how I stood on that subject. That would not be changed for anybot. But, until that subject came up, I would avoid it.

One thing that Ratchet did suggest for this solar was to not bring up controversial topics. It would just cause tension at this meeting, a meeting where we were to meet our potential future coworkers. Having that sort of bad air around us would not be very smart to start our potential careers. So, I just had to smile and try to hold conversations.

But, that in itself was going to be difficult. While I was not nearly as nervous as I used to be, I still had problems getting to know new bots. At one of the medical conferences I went to with Ratchet, I about had a spark attack when a bunch of new bots came up to me and started asking questions rapid-fire. But, thankfully, Ratchet helped me get through that.

However, he was not going to be here this solar. No, this was just going to be me facing the seven other medical apprentices. It was nerve-wracking, but I knew that I would be alright. I was going to be helped by the fact that we were going to be at Radar's…a familiar place.

It wasn't much longer before I arrived at Radar's. He seemed to have a full house this morning. Guess it was a good thing that he was able to squeeze us in when he did. Otherwise, we would have had to go to Maccadams instead and, while I didn't know what my fellow apprentices felt about the place, I didn't want to go in there ever again. I had to go there once to find a patient that was late for one of his physicals with Ratchet and things went downhill very fast.

"Balm!" I heard my name called as I entered Radar's. Turning, I saw the head bot himself walking toward me. "I'm guessing you're here for the medic apprentice meet and greet?"

Nodding, I motioned toward his VIB area. "Yeah Radar, I am. Thanks so much for fitting us in this solar."

The light blue car mech laughed at that. "It's no problem Balm. When I heard that you were in this class, I wanted to. A friend of Tana's and the Guardians always has a seat at my restaurant."

Slightly embarrassed, I chuckled and put a servo behind my helm. "Thanks Radar." I then motioned down the hall. "As much fun as this is though, I should go and meet the other apprentices. Should make this solar fun."

Radar nodded at my sarcasm…something I picked up from Vox. "Yes, and they seem like a very strange group. Try to straighten some of them up will you Balm? Some need to get the pipes out of their afts." Great, that wasn't helping my confidence for this meet and greet. "Don't worry though Balm, I have your usual on hold so once you get in there it will be made for you. Also, first drink's on the house."

He didn't have to do that! "Radar you don't,"

"It's fine Balm." Radar interrupted me. "Trust me this is fine. Just don't be telling the other medics in there or I'll have a big problem."

Since I knew that Radar was not the type to give in by this point, I let out a sigh. "Fine. But I will pay you back for this somehow."

The two of us arrived at the door to the VIB room that us apprentices would be using before he let out a laugh. "Sure you will. I have to go and make the rounds at the other tables and rooms. That lobbing tournament that's happening in two solars is causing visitors to come to Cybertron like it's going out of style."

Ah, so that's why it was so busy.

Once Radar walked off, I turned to the door and let out a vent before opening it. Inside, I saw seven other medic apprentices sitting around a round table. Since I saw an open seat near the door, I took it before really looking at the bots around me.

…Or trying to before the mech on my left spoke. "Hey, you're the last apprentice right?" He talked faster than most bots but he seemed like he was nice. His plating was mainly red and brown with light cyan highlighting, his optics were light blue, his faceplate gray, and he looked like he was about my height. For his alt mode, he looked like a half-track like vehicle. Would be good for going to organic worlds…if he had to.

Nodding to him, I motioned to myself. "Y…yes. My designation is B…Balm." I then held my servo out toward him.

He smiled and took my servo in his. "That's cool! The designation's Crossblaze. Nice to meet you Balm." He then motioned to my other side. "That's my friend Honeywhip."

I looked on my other side and saw the mech who was probably slightly taller than I was. He had light yellow and dark gold plating with gold highlighting. His faceplate was light gray and he had dark blue optics. The mech didn't waste time, at his name being mentioned, in turning to us. "So, you're the mystery apprentice no bot has met yet. As my friend Crossblaze said, my designation is Honeywhip. I've been apprenticed to Knockout for the past thirty-three stellar cycles."

"And I've been apprenticed to Droplock for the past thirty-eight stellar cycles." Crossblaze added onto his introduction.

Since they had given me introductions, I figured I should give them mine again, since Honeywhip wasn't a part of our conversation when I introduced myself to Crossblaze. "And as I t…told Crossblaze. M…my designation is Balm and I've been ap…prenticed to Ratchet for thirty stellar cycles."

"So, you're that old rust-bucket's new apprentice. Don't look like much."

A defensive growl slipped my throat at the insult to my teacher and I turned to see the femme who spoke. She was colored green and orange with purple accents, her faceplate was silver, and her optics were dark blue and narrowed at me. She was just shorter than I was but she looked confident.

"And who are you?" Honeywhip asked as he glared at her.

She took a glance at Honeywhip out of the corner of her optic before returning her sights on me. "I guess you will need to know it for the future. My designation is Artzin. I have been trained these forty stellar cycles by the femme medic Hera."

"Who?" Crossblaze asked her in annoyance. I wasn't liking her and knew she was the kind of femme that my friends wouldn't like either. Pandimala would have already put her a few steps down from her high pedestal.

I could see that Artzin was not happy about us not knowing who her teacher was. "Look here, Hera is one of the top medics at Iacon Central! You should show more," She reached for Crossblaze and started to pull him up to her.

My chassis reacted without a thought as I soon felt my right servo transforming into its buzz-saw mod. In an instant, I was holding it, unmoving, against her neck cables closely. "My teacher and I can handle being talked down by idiots like you, but don't attack others. We are medics, even if we are in training, and that means we are supposed to help the bots around us, not hurt them." I then removed the saw from her neck cables before transforming it back into a normal servo. "Now please, let's enjoy this morning. We have our tests coming up and I don't want this solar to be spoiled by unnecessary violence."

Artzin glared at me. "When my teacher hears about this you'll be sorry!" It was supposed to sound like a threat but, honestly, I wasn't worried.

"I'm sorry you feel that way." I started off with a sigh. "But, after this solar, I hope that I will never have to use my teacher's designation to get what I want. They are here to teach us but, after this solar, we will hopefully become full medics. I don't want to always be known as Ratchet's apprentice. While that is an honor, I want to evolve as a medic to the point where bots will be wondering what young bot will be lucky enough to be my apprentice." I then sat down.

The room stayed quiet for a few clicks before every other bot went back to their conversations…though I noticed some were glancing at me every so often. I didn't like the attention and I hadn't meant to make a scene. I just didn't want Artzin to get away with going after Crossblaze. "Balm…are you alright?" Crossblaze asked me as he and Honeywhip seemed to snap out of their own shock.

I felt a blush on my cheek-plates before I nodded. "Y…yeah I'm fine. Just don't l…like bots messing with other b…bots like that."

Honeywhip looked at me confused. "Don't take offense to this Balm, but you don't seem the type of bot to stand up like that. You seem really nervous about talking period."

He had a point but I knew how to answer him. "I get nervous around new bots and I talk with a st…stutter at times. But I am confident about defending other b…bots. I learned that f…from my friends in boot camp." I then looked at them curiously. "Who did you b…bots go to bootcamp with?" I was curious to see if I would know any of the bots since both Honeywhip and Crossblaze were older than me.

Honeywhip and Crossblaze smiled at that before Honeywhip said, "Well, we were actually together in boot camp along with a mech called Dunce, a mech called Stix, that mech over there called Comet," He motioned to one of the mechs in a group of three mechs. I couldn't tell which one he was motioning to and I didn't want to interrupt. "a femme called Chorale, and a mech called Breakline." Honeywhip then paused and smiled. "Actually, Breakline is Knockout's creation."

I knew by now that, when most Cybertronians said a bot was somebot else's creation, they meant that the sire and/or carrier figure adopted them straight from the well. I was an oddity in actually having been created by a sire and carrier through a bond. But still, even being a creation like the normal Cybertronian sense was something amazing. "Wow, so is that how you got noticed to be a medic?"

Honeywhip nodded. "Yeah, and Stix is Droplock's creation and that is how Crossblaze was connected with his teacher." He then glanced at me before asking, "Balm, there have been many of us who have been curious about something. But, it might be personal. Would you mind answering?"

While I doubted at this point that Honeywhip was trying to trap me, I had to be careful anyways. "It depends on the question."

Crossblaze laughed at that before taking over. "I think I know what Honeywhip wants to ask." He then grew serious. "For the longest time, it was thought that Ratchet would never take another apprentice after Joint, given his age and how he acts around most bots. That's what our teachers told us anyways. What we want to know is how you got Ratchet to accept you as his apprentice?"

That was it? It wasn't really personal to me and 'Mala already gave me her permission to tell the story if it came up…like now. "It's n…not that I asked him. Ratchet…he asked me."

The two mechs next to me looked shocked at that before Crossblaze asked, "Wait…he asked you?"

Laughing, I nodded before continuing. "Yeah. It was the first solar of boot c…camp. Before, I had done a good deal of studying to be a medic so I knew I wanted to b…be one. Well, it was put to the test after our first training exercise. The blasters had started firing real rounds and had really i…injured my fellow boot camp cadet. When I c…called the emergency band, the bots didn't believe me on the other side. But, Ratchet h…heard and he came to help. We needed to take my friend to his med bay and R…Ratchet asked me to assist him since he knew th…that I could work with and take the correct scans of the f…frame in question."

That caused looks of confusion to show on both of the mechs' faceplates before Honeywhip asked, "What do you mean? What kind of frame did you work with?"

I felt a blush come on my faceplate at his question. It wasn't the question itself that caused me to blush, but whenever I was asked that at the medical conferences Ratchet took me to, and I answered it, bots always looked at me in awe. It was kinda embarrassing having all that attention. "W…well," I started, "it was a triple changer frame."

The whole room got quiet at that and I glanced around to realize that everybot was paying attention to my story. Talk about embarrassing! A mech colored teal and tan with olive colored markings with a white faceplate and medium blue optics finally spoke. "Wait…you went to boot camp with Pandimala? The War Trap?"

I couldn't stop the chuckle from coming out of my vocals at Pandimala's nickname. It was a very deserved nickname but not the most flattering. She seemed to attract dangerous trouble no matter what group she was with. Five solars ago she had to go to Iacon Central to get shrapnel removed from an explosion from a 'dud' that wasn't really a dud.

But, back to the mech's question. "Yeah, 'Mala has always b…been a trouble magnet. But, she's very loyal and kind at sp…spark." I answered that seemingly well.

While the other four bots went back to their own discussion, the mech who asked me that pulled his chair over and sat by me and Crossblaze. "The designation's Comet, trained by the medic Fungus for thirty-four stellars."

"Balm, trained by the m…medic Ratchet for thirty stellars." I introduced myself to Comet.

The others must have introduced themselves to Comet and, since they seemed to be happy he was over here, then he must be an okay bot. "Since you were in the boot camp with Pandimala, that means that you were also with Remcy, Tana, Vox, Zarron, Optimus Minor, Elita-One Minor, and Sentinel Minor right?" Crossblaze asked.

I nodded at that and smiled. "That's right."

All three mechs looked surprised at that. "Frag. No wonder Ratchet got you when he did." Crossblaze started. "Almost everybot in that boot camp group has become well-known." He then put his servo on my shoulder. "I'm going to be sticking to you like a weld Balm. I bet you are going to go far."

My faceplate was burning with a blush and I felt awkward. "W…well thanks C…Crossblaze."

Honeywhip then motioned me onward with his servo. "So, how did Ratchet actually ask you to be his apprentice?"

"Wait, Ratchet asked her?" Comet asked in surprise.

"We already went over that Comet." Crossblaze answered him. "It's not our fault you went to talk to those idiots. You know they are pain in the afts." He then turned back to me. "So, continue please?"

I nodded and did that. "Well, after we worked together to fix up 'Mala, I was covered in energon so Ratchet l…let me use the wash rack that attached to his med-bay to get c…cleaned up. Once I was done, I came out and he asked me what I w…wanted to be when I got older. I told him I wanted to be a medic ever since I could remember and he then asked if I wanted to be his apprentice."

"What was it like," Comet started to ask me.

But, an internal alarm going off in my helm had me glancing at it and I about had a spark attack. There was only thirty clicks until the exams started! "W…we need to leave bots! We have thirty clicks until t…the exams start!" That got everybot moving and soon, they were all piling out behind me.

Knockout's 1st P.O.V.

I studied the yellow green femme curiously from the viewing area. My apprentice, Honeywhip, had already passed his final exam to be a medic. He had to re-attach a right servo that had been detached by a very angry femme in a bar. Not the normal exam but it was simple enough that he was able to pass it. Of course, I had trained the mech and I expected perfection out of the bots I trained.

But, this femme was taking on a very difficult task. Originally, this Balm was just supposed to replace a pede on a bot who had lost his doing dock work. But, before that bot could get in, emergency medics had brought in the triple changer; Pandimala. She had a blaster shot that had hit the side of her helm and the femme had been twitching all over the gurney.

Joint, who I had gone to boot camp with, had immediately wanted to go and take over the operation. Processor operations like the one that Balm was currently performing were no small task and usually was best for experienced medics to handle. However, Ratchet had stopped Joint from going down there and had said that his apprentice could handle this. He had trained her to handle these situations. I was skeptical but knew to keep an open processor. Ratchet might be old, but he knew how to train a good medic and he would not risk a bot's spark just to try and prove that his apprentice was the top of the crop this testing period.

The medics who did the best on their exams each stellar were asked to do high-standing occupations like working as personal medics to politicians. The teachers of those medics would receive high standings in their fields as well. But, Ratchet wasn't that kind of mech. He shunned every attempt to be put on a pedestal and just wanted to be the best medic to help bots. And, in Joint, that had been seen. She didn't strive for a high position but, instead, joined a team and went to the front lines; a very dangerous place for bots.

Now, we were watching as Balm worked on Pandimala. Her moves were so precise that I felt like I was watching Ratchet down there. I had been privy to watch a few of the old bot's operations and, like Ratchet, Balm was moving with a fluidity that almost defied what should be possible. As Balm worked, I realized that she had taken to Ratchet's training even better than Joint had. If she kept this up, I had no doubt that the femme could go far.

When Honeywhip had finished his exam and we were waiting for his final score, I had asked him how the apprentice meet and greet went. I knew that he went to boot camp with two of the mechs that were there; Crossblaze and Comet. However, he said that they had met the mysterious apprentice of Ratchet's; a femme called Balm. Her own resume was, from what Honeywhip could find out, already filling out well.

She had connections to the three major intelligence gathering agencies on Cybertron: The CIA in the form of Remcy, the CBI in the form of Vox, and the Scouting Academy in the form of Zarron. Also, she had connections to the only triple changer on the Autobot side; Pandimala. Finally, she had connections to Tana; the newest Guardian…something that hasn't happened in hundreds of stellar cycles. A new Guardian was something to be marveled at and, having a connection to one was a very good advantage to have.

And now, I had a loose connection to all of these bots through Honeywhip, who now had a connection with Balm. While I wasn't one to abuse my connections, I did like having them to request help from when needed. While Honeywhip had been offered to become the assistant to Alpha Trion's personal medic, Chainflow, I knew that Honeywhip would keep tabs on me. It was what I trained him to do. Never let a possibly good connection go to waste. Balm was a fragging excellent connection to have and the mech would have scrap-for-processor to waste it.

I mean, I had a connection with Ratchet through Joint and I did not waste that at all. It was how I got away with my little secret hobby; racing. It was an addictive hobby and, thanks to Ratchet's and Joint's influence, I was able to keep doing it and keep my license.

"That's a relief." Joint's voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.

Glancing down, I saw that Balm was just finishing up her check-up scans on Pandimala's processor and, from the copies we were all seeing, the scans showed that the operation was a complete success. "Wow Ratchet, looks like you finally got it right." I commented as a jab to both Ratchet and Joint.

They both turned to me with a glare and, while Ratchet didn't fall for my bait, Joint wasn't that smart. "What the frag do you mean by that? I am an awesome medic!"

I held up my servos in defense before continuing. "I am not doubting your skills Joint. But, let me ask you this; could you have done that kind of operation on your exam solar?"

She went to answer but, before any sound came out, she paused. Yeah, that was what I thought. While I knew that Joint was a good medic…great even, that femme Balm had absorbed Ratchet's teachings and seemed to be building on them. She was going to evolve into a spectacular medic that I knew I needed to keep my optics on.

"So, how did she do?" Ratchet asked the judges, who were in there with us.

Wheeljack was the first judge to answer. "My vote is that she passed, with the highest marks!"

Then, it was Brigadier, a war medic who was pretty well known off-world and on-world alike. Not as much as Ratchet but he was known. "I am very impressed with this femme's performance. She was able to stay calm under pressure while working on a serious injury on her friend. I vote that she passes as well."

Now, it was time for the final judge to put in his vote. Of course, with no emotional core, Perceptor was not going to be an easy judge to impress. "I see no flaws in her exam. The subject, Pandimala, has been healed and is on the way to a speedy recovery. The apprentice in question followed acceptable medical procedures and kept her composure in a stressful environment." He then paused. "My vote is that she passes as well."

Ratchet didn't waste any time in leaving the room to inform his apprentice.

Well, that was all three judges passing her. While my Honeywhip had also passed by all three judges, both Brigadier and Perceptor had found flaws in his exam that were acceptable to make. Their judgement of the femme here, though, reinforced my idea that this femme was going to be very important to Cybertron one solar. That was something that I knew.

Looking at the time, I realized that I had to hurry if I was to make my dinner appointment with Councilmech Alpha Trion. He had something he wanted to speak to me about and, when he asked for a meeting, it was smart for bots to go. Plus, he was paying so I didn't mind seeing what he wanted. It couldn't be that life-changing.

Zarron: *watches footage* Authoress doesn't seem to be stopping. Is the high grade the only thing she got into?

Pandimala: *shakes helm* I don't think so. All of the rest of my stores of energon are accounted for.

Balm: *optics widen* I think some of my Ultra Grade is gone! I saw the cabinet open this morning but thought it was one of you bots.

*all look at screen showing Authoress running around painted pink and green shouting for the fragging spiders to die*

Pandimala: *faceplate palms* This isn't going to be good.

AN: And here is the next exciting chapter to this story! I wonder if you were expecting events to go like this? The meet and greet was fun and we got to meet a line up of bots who are connected to Balm's field. Speaking of Balm though, I wonder what happened that time at Maccadams? Nothig good I can imagine but that will be a small unimportant detail...right?

I decided to throw a curveball and have it be Knockout's point of view for the test part of the story. He shows us, in a sense, how important connections can be on Cybertron. He seems to be very proud that his apprentice was able to get Balm as a connection. Something to look forward to in the future? Who knows? Knockout will just have to put it to the side for now as he goes to the meeting with Alpha Trion. It can't be that life-changing can it?

Well, this does end the brief interlude of having the dreams of Pandimala's friends shown. Now, we can get back on track with the main part of the story and It is going to be one crazy roller coaster ride after another! Many fun surprises await with each new turn of a chapter!

However, that is all I am going to say on that for now. Please leave a review, even to say hello, and I will greatly appreciate it! I enjoy reading the reviews! It lets me know that you all are alive! Flames will be used to warm up the Authoress' ice-cold hands. It is too cold right now. Anyways, I guess that's all from me. TTYL! *listening to 'You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth' by Meatloaf*