Here's the next chapter, sorry its so short. My muse has decided to abandon me on this chapter and it was hard to write. Again thanks to everyone who reviewed, alerted or faved. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it.
Ratchet took the vial of energon from Jazz and received a data burst letting him know that Cahira could tell them apart by their spark energy. Cahira also explained why she had her entire life in a duffel bag and that she was leaving to find a job and apartment when Jazz convinced her to come to base and see if they could find some way of contracting her to work here as a civilian. Jazz mentioned that Ratchet once said he wished Cay was an Autobot so that they might have a second medic onsite. Ratchet and Jazz decided to talk to Optimus at first chance, Ratchet had almost jumped at the chance to teach Cahira, even if she was a human, there would be some procedures that would be much easier for her than any bot.
Optimus was very surprised when his CMO and Lieutenant came to him requesting to get Cahira clearance to learn to be a human medic for the Autobots. He listened to Jazz's story of what happened at the Lennox home and what Cahira told him. While it was true the girl could run circles around Earth tech, he was unsure if she would be able to handle an injured bot, but somehow the two convinced him she would be able to handle it.
As the two were leaving Ratchet said, almost as an afterthought, "If nothing else she would be good for detecting impersonators. She can tell us all apart by our spark energy." The two bots were out the door when Optimus finally processed what Ratchet had said.
Ratchet decided to see what exactly Cahira remembered from the impromptu lessons in Cybertronian anatomy and physiology when he would examine her. He was surprised at her almost total recall of the information.
"What? It was interesting and I do have a semi-photographic memory. It's not that surprising that I can remember that much. Add that to the work I've done on cars and the AP science classes I took in high school, it's all a matter of applying the knowledge." Cay gave a look that clearly said 'duh'. "Ok, now there is something you've mentioned a few times but I'm not sure what exactly is. What is a subspace compartment? I get that it's used for storage but how exactly does it work?"
Ratchet began explaining. Cay grabbed her bag and grabbed a notebook and pen out, and began taking notes. She was very glad she was an honors student and took physics and calculus, because she would be totally lost otherwise.
Ironhide came limping into the med bay, and was greeted by the unusual sight of Ratchet patiently explaining how subspace worked to a human, as if she were a sparking with the processing power to understand it. He wondered if he had a glitch.
Cahira was the first to notice Ironhide, and waved at him; causing Ratchet to look at the mech. Ratchet vented his tanks in an imitation of a sigh. As Ratchet went to see what Hide needed, she decided to make sketches of the bots and, if possible, make some sort of schematic, seeing as she had no hard drive to store it on. Maybe she should invest in a decent computer. She would have to talk to Will and see about getting one; that is if this apprentice thing went through.
Cay had a rough sketch of Ironhide with all sorts of little notes about things Ratchet muttered when fixing the damaged leg strut that was caused by one of the twins. When she had some free time she would make a better, more detailed one. Grinning she watched as Ratchet continued to fix Ironhide, giggling when Ratchet would threaten Ironhide with one of his wrenches when he would not behave.
Life really was starting to look up for Cahira Whelan.
The next couple weeks Cahira spent learning more about the Autobots and what made them tick. She made her sketches of each one and had requested a computer of some sort so she could process and store the information better. Once Optimus had recovered from his shock, he had thoroughly interrogated his CMO and second in command, then proceeded to ask Cay if she really wanted to do this. Cay convinced him this really was her choice and she wanted to do it. Will was surprised when Optimus requested Cahira become attached to the unit in some fashion as she would become Ratchet's apprentice. It had been an interesting time.
Currently Cay and Jazz were heading to the beach. Cay had always loved the ocean but it had been years since she had been to it. It had a calming effect on her, which was the reason she decided to head there before her run in with Barricade and Starscream.
Jazz had his holo active and pretending to drive, while Cay had her feet up on the dash. Jazz kept telling her to put them down, but Cay would just smirk at him.
Once they got the beach, they headed to the pier and Jazz kept commenting on how different Earth was to Cybertron.
"What was it like?" Cay asked.
"What? Cybertron?" at Cay's nod, he continued. "It's much different than here. Definitely not as much water. This world is so, I don't know how to explain it, other than its alive."
Cay snickered. "Well, duh, it's alive. Everything is biological based, whereas Cybertron I'm guessing is mostly mechanical based." She glanced back out over the water and watched the waves roll in. It was a wonder how something so unpredictable could calm her so much; just being near the ocean grounded her, strange as it sounded.
"What are you thinking about?" Jazz asked.
"Nothing important." She flashed a big grin at him. She turned and began walking back down the pier.
Jazz caught up to Cay, and turned her to face him. He was searching her face for something. "What were you thinking about? It was bothering you. You know you can talk to me whenever you need to." Jazz was almost pleading with her.
She was floored by the amount of emotion. It was nothing, right? No, she was fooling herself and burying everything again. She wasn't used to having people to depend on, and it wasn't easy to break habits born from necessity. She sighed.
"I was thinking about everything that's happened to me over the past six months, and how much my life has changed, for the better. I've lived my entire life fighting to survive and relying on myself, especially after my mom died. It's strange to have people to care for me and not expect me to do something in return. All the lessons I learned as a child are thrown out the window around you guys. I learned not to trust people and it's been hard but I'm slowly unleaning it. There's just something about being here that makes me want to trust, and finally be the 19 year old I am, instead of the jaded teen I became to survive." She gave a wistful smile. "I don't think I'll ever be as innocent as Sam, or even Mikeala, even if both of them have been exposed to the harsh realities of life, but I think I can be more myself instead of the mask I use to protect myself. Sometimes I wonder where the mask ends and I begin." She laughed to herself; it was almost bitter sounding, "Look at me baring my soul for you to see, I guess I really have changed," she paused, "maybe that's a good thing though."
Jazz stood there listening to her, it made him realize exactly how much his little femme had hidden from them. There was almost no indication that the person they knew was a mask. Her life had apparently been harder than any of them imagined, including Sarah. Emotion flowed over his face.
Cahira was looked for some response from Jazz. She watched the emotions flash across his face too quick to read, finally his face went blank. "I've said too much." She whispered, and took off running, mentally berating herself for revealing that much. She ran a while and found herself near the breakers and climbed out on the rocks, ignoring the sign. She sat on the rocks and watched to sun set and calmed herself down, there was no use crying over spilt milk, what's done is done and she just hoped that Jazz wouldn't be too angry at her.
After the sun began to slip below the horizon, she made her way off the breakers and was set on finding Jazz so they she could apologize and they could go home. She wondered down the road toward the town thinking that would be the best place to look for him.
A police cruiser pulled up behind her. She moved further off the road, but the cop stayed behind her. She was wondering what she could have done to warrant a cop following her. She continued to walk, and discretely observe the vehicle. It felt funny, almost as if…No, It can't be. She passed under a streetlamp and saw the words 'To punish and enslave' on the side. A Decepticon. She saw a walking path to the right and took off running down it.
She didn't get far. The Decpticon transformed and grabbed her, squeezing hard enough to leave bruises. It brought her up to its face. She stared into the red optics and was surprised not to feel more fear than she already did. It almost looked sad? It ran a scan on her, making her flinch, as much as she could in the vice grip, as the energy passed over her. It never said anything, just transformed around her.
She ended up in the backseat, and immediately grabbed the door handle to try to escape. No luck. She hit the door, momentarily forgetting she was currently in a Decepticon.
A gravelly, metallic voice came out of the speakers as it took off to whereabouts unknown, "Don't do that fleshbag."
"Then let me out." There was no answer. "Where the hell are you taking me?" she demanded. Still no answer, she crossed her arms and huffed.
Well, look at this fine mess you've gotten yourself into Cahira. You just had to run off by yourself and leave the safety of Jazz. Serves you right for running again.
She looked out the window in an attempt to determine where she was being taken. The windows darkened until she could no longer see out of them in the twilight. She smelled a sweet scent in the circulating air.
As the vision began to blackout she wondered how the Decepticons learned about chloroform.