I managed to mess up the poll again last time. I appreciate votes, but unless I just get like 20 Frequency votes (nobody voted for her in the poll I had to delete, but I had several for brav) I'll be plowing into a sequel.

There is much talk of upgrades in this chap, mostly due to mentions of them in dixiegurl13's story The Claiming.

Warning- longest chapter I've ever put out by a lot. Over 11k words! I really wanted this to be the last chap : )

Who? I demanded.

Who else? It's me, Bravura. Primus, your legs are weird…

Hotrod? How?

No clue. You seemed pretty sure you were going to die, and I wasn't going to let that happen. So I was reaching…

And now you're here? What about your body?

Um. Well, I don't know. Mirage was with me, I'll be ok.

The whole conversation took barely more than a couple of sentences. Our thoughts were so tightly intertwined that we needed no time for comprehension, we simply knew as soon as the other thought it… But he was in control of my body completely.

Where now? He asked, sounding grim. Your leg's pretty bad, isn't it?

Pretty bad. And my chest, and something else in there.

Don't I know it. Think it's a hydraulic. You'll feel that in the morning. Jesus Crisis, I'm amazed you lasted as long as you did.

Do you mean Christ?

No, I thought it was pretty witty. You know, because it's a crisis.

How about we not think and just run?

Starscream was trying to follow, but he was struggling. Hotrod had gotten him right in the hip, and the top-heavy flyer was having obvious troubles.

Run where? He sounded so calm. Was he always like this when things got rough?

I didn't have an answer. Just run.

We glanced over our shoulder just in time to see Starscream stumble to a halt and begin clawing at one hand with the other. We focused in sharply and saw metal that didn't match his was glinting all over his joints. Apparently it was doing more than we could see, because he seemed pretty distracted by it.

I silently thanked whatever heavenly beings that might have been listening for the dead woman's apparent revenge. She deserved something for her suffering.

We cut down a hallway, another, another… No sign of Starscream. We barely missed getting spotted by pair of Constructicons as they worked on an airlock.

Airlocks. Broken, faulty airlocks.

Can we swim? I asked Hotrod.

Sort of… I don't know if your engines can, but most of us have the upgrades put in to propel us.

Will we drown?

We don't breathe, Bravura. We vent to help cool down. The things that shouldn't get wet are watertight.

Right, right. Ok. We have to find an airlock and get outside. We'll silence our signature and hide in the dark.

And who's going to fish you out?

I don't know. I'd rather have a shot on the bottom of the ocean than stump around until somebody spots us.

Me too… But where's an airlock?

Between the two of us we reasoned where the next airlock ought to be, based on shape and structure and plenty of other things we entirely guessed on.

We were wrong. We tried again, and again a third time after that. I was beginning to lose hope despite Hotrods dogged confidence when we stumbled on the airlock by accident. It squirted us in the face as we hop-slid by.

We recoiled from the thin jet of water, then turned to look at what we'd discovered.

Told you we'd find one, Hotrod gloated even as he powered our gun.

We got lucky.

I'm always lucky. He looked around for something to hold on to. It will happen fast. We can't get blown down with the water.

You're driving.

Good thing, too.

He positioned us against the outer wall, next to the airlock and opposite the leak. Our scalpel hand raised in the air, then to my shock stabbed straight into the wall. It bit deep and stuck even when he gave it a good pull. He nodded to himself, then pointed our gun at the airlock's seal and fired without warning.

The water exploded in like a cannon, bashing the airlock into the far wall of the hallway and sweeping our feet out from under us. The blade held, and soon Hotrod had transformed our gun back into a hand and pulled us into the airlock under the full strength of the rushing water. Our blade took some work, but with some wiggling that was free too.

He forced us out through the airlock and jammed the scalpel into the outside hull of the base, using that to lever our way out of the worst of the current. Using our blades like mountain climbing equipment we stabbed and levered our way down until the deadly sucking power of the broken airlock no longer threatened to carry us back into the base.

Then he let go. We sank fast, so fast that when we hit the bottom I was unprepared. We could feel the silt billow around us, but I was more interested in how the water intensified the pain in my leg. The pressure was pushing the wound closed, preventing some but not all of my fluid loss.

Hotrod offlined our optics; they were useless down here, and only served as spotlights. He was focusing on quieting our signature when the full force of where we were struck me.

A mile below the surface. No air. No help.

I tried to suck in a breath, but Hotrod's will overshadowed mine.

Calm down. Bravura, we're ok!

Drowning. I was drowning. The irrational human part of me was clawing to the surface, pushing at Hotrod's consciousness.

I can't breathe!

I gave one last mighty, vicious push and forced myself back into my limbs, demanding that my vents try to suck in water. The difficulty of it frightened me even more, and I stumbled blindly in the slimy cloud of mud.

Hotrod!

No response.

Where are you?

Then I realized what I'd done. I'd pushed him back into his own body. I could feel him, distressed and disappointed… and then a surge of hope and angry, resentful determination.

But I was alone in the dark. I had no idea what to do… Try to move, or stay? Could anyone but Hotrod hope to find me if I strayed away?

Stay, then. I lowered myself into the silt, forcing myself to focus on my signature. The silt was settling on me already, camouflage against unfriendly eyes. I tried not to think about the nasty black stuff getting into my leg.

I waited and waited, so long. My internal clock watched minutes creep by at a snail's pace, but then something broke my self-enforced silence.

Neutral Skywarp, a tinny fuzzy voice hissed to life on my emergency frequency. I could barely understand it. You've been betrayed. She's in dying in the mud.

Dying? I didn't feel like I was dying. I felt very peaceful. The invasive cold was having the same sort of effect it would've on a human body. Everything was pleasantly numbed, even my splintered leg. I onlined my optics and was awed by the faint cloud of glowing blue light curling at my feet. So pretty.

I trailed my fingers through it, sighing happily even thought it was hard to make my vents work. It liked my hurt leg especially. I leaned closer to look at the pretty blue and saw that little white trails curled through it like silky ribbons. I tried to lean closer and found I couldn't quite hold myself up any more. It was fine. I was so tired. Maybe a good recharge…

The water billowed, rocking me hard enough to tip my precariously balanced body on its side. I didn't fight it. If it was a shark… Sharks don't eat metal.

I could feel the shark moving the water all around me, then it struck me on the side. I flinched despite my exhaustion and onlined my optics, which had turned off on their own. The shark's glowing red eyes stared down at me hungrily.

Stupid shark, I said after reaching out to touch it. I will give you indigestion.

I'm so sorry, the shark said.

Don't be, shark. What kind of shark are you?

I'm a horrible failure.

The shark lifted me up in his big strong flippers, cradled me like someone I used to know.

The water churned, then everything was cold and I felt so heavy. I wanted to scream, especially when the warmth came, bringing the weight of gravity with it, and my leg hurt so much. I was jounced hard, repeatedly, but I couldn't scream.

"Stop! Don't move or we'll shoot!"

"It's me! The neutral. I have the femme. She's dying, look at her! You have to let me in."

"Femme? Let me see… Holy shit, it's Bravo! What the hell did you do to her?"

Is that Zeke? I asked the shark blearily.

"Whoa, stand down," a familiar voice yelled desperately from below. I could hear two engines.

"They're friendlies," another cried.

Mirage and Hotrod?

"Yes, it's them. Hold on, we'll get you help."

More jouncing, and too much pain to focus on anything else.

When I was able to focus again I was pinned to a table by several sets of hands. I tried to scream, but the noise couldn't make it past my chest and came out as a grinding, squealing moan. My leg was melting.

"Bravura, can you hear me? Calm down! We've given you a transfusion, but Ratchet's got to fix your leg. We can't knock you out, you're too traumatized already."

Hotrod! I mentally shrieked into every hand that was touching me.

"Yes, I'm here. It's me. Calm down, honey, calm down."

One of them leaned over me, and though my leg was still dipped in lava I felt better. Someone was singing to me, pulsing to a beat I knew better than I knew myself.

I latched onto that song for dear life, and it came closer, rang louder. Don't leave me, I murmured into all of the hands. Please, please don't leave me.

One pair of hands withdrew, but I couldn't pay much notice. All I could think about and stay sane was the music.

I woke up, not knowing when I'd fallen asleep. I hurt all over, but the music was still pulsing, albeit quietly now. My vents shuddered. Some water still pooled in the piping. A hand squeezed tightly on mine.

"You're awake," Hotrod said with relief.

I tried to speak, but nothing came out.

"Your vocal processors are disconnected for now. Starscream only managed to dislodge them. Ratchet's got everything fixed up. He just wants to let them heal for a few days before you use them. You're not allowed to try walking for a week."

How did I get here? I asked in confusion.

"I called Skywarp on the emergency frequency. He heard me, finally… What was he doing off planet? Anyway, I gave him the best clue I could without giving you away completely. He found you and brought you home."

Where is he now?

"He told me he was going to kill his brother. We're all rooting for him."

I struggled upright, something in my chest protesting against the sudden movement. I saw we were still in the repair bay.

"Relax. Calm down," my brother tried to gently push me down, but I pushed him away and glared at him urgently, then snatched his hand back into mine.

Starscream's been kidnapping human women and putting them under Skywarp's machine. He's trying to make a femme. He wanted me to help him. He's not going to give up, Hotrod!

Hotrod stared at me blankly. "That's why he almost killed you?"

I couldn't tell him anything. I didn't know anything, thank Primus. He gave me a bunch of high-grade, got Skywarp to leave…

I wanted to see my Seeker so badly. I wanted him to hold me together; I felt so broken.

How do I reach him? He needs to know what happened. Starscream will lie, trick him…

Hotrod shrugged. "He has to come back himself, unless you want everyone to hear on the emergency frequency. I don't know if he has any private channels running."

Private channels? Is that how you talk to the other Autobots?

"We're all fitted with the equipment for it when we sign up, but even then you need the right encryption programs. We try to change them every few hundred years."

I fell silent, letting myself relax and eased back down. I pulled my hand away from my spark twin and stared up at the ceiling. I worried about the Seeker.

Hotrod could feel that I wanted to be left alone. He was worried, but he got up and spoke quietly to Ratchet. After a few moments I listened to his feet quietly ringing against the floor as he left the bay.

I fell back into recharge even though I couldn't stop thinking about Skywarp.

I woke up what felt like seconds later when a loud crash filled the bay. I twisted onto my side, my optics sparkling to life, and saw a broad black and purple winged back as it deposited something on one of the repair bay's benches.

I tried to say his name, forgetting it wouldn't work. I made a frustrated, unhappy whining sound in my chest. It was enough, and the Seeker turned to look at me.

I winced. There was a long gash in the armor of his neck, and he had a few leaks under the plates in his chest.

"You could be a little more respectful of my patient's rest," Ratchet snapped as he came from the back. "What's all that slag?"

"Upgrades for Bravura. Starscream didn't need them."

"Decepticon equipment? You except me to install that in her?"

"It's not going to change her operating systems. They're regular old upgrades. Starscream had. a lot of them. I think he was hoping he'd have a small legion of femmes to give them to."

Ratchet growled, then began examining the equipment. "I'm going to do a full check on all of this. Nothing gets in her system before I clear it. Perceptor should look too, if he doesn't mind."

"I don't," the scientist said from his cluttered station. He was so focused at his work, I hadn't even noticed him.

Skywarp nodded, then stood there awkwardly. I whined again, and he looked at me. He looked so guilty.

I reached out to him with one hand, heaving a sigh of relief when he came to me. He took my hand, leaning over me. His shoulders sagged.

I worried about you, I told him.

I had to take care of something.

Whooping Starscream?

He tilted his head a little, so I reached up and stroked the plating on his chest. Hotrod told me. I hope you kicked his aft into the sun.

He smiled bitterly. Not quite, but it'll be a while before he flies again. I took some upgrades for you. I know you don't want to fly but… I got the smallest tetrajet blueprints I could find, as well as the flyer package. There's a ground-pounder pack too.

We'll see. I scooted over and leaned against the Seeker. You should have Ratchet look at you.

No, I'm fine. I few nicks I can fix myself. Oh, there's a field repair installation too, a laser gun, communications suite… Everything you'll need.

I didn't like the mood he was putting off. Can you ask Ratchet if I can go with you when you recharge? I don't like it here.

Skywarp looked away, sighing so quietly I wouldn't have noticed if I weren't pressed to his chest.

"Ratchet," he said softly. "Is she well enough to bunk with me tonight?"

Ratchet glared up at him from the fresh equipment. "Can't you control yourself until she's had a chance to recover from the shock? She's in no condition to be engaging in any kind of activity," he said, his voice full of meaning.

Tell him it's not like that. Tell him I asked. Please.

"She wants me to tell you it was her idea. She doesn't want to spend the night in the repair bay. We won't do anything but recharge."

Ratchet grumbled under his breath for a moment, then finally grouched out a "fine" before returning to his work.

I checked my clock and was shocked to see it was already late. I'd slept the entire day.

"Can I get some energon from you, or should I get it from the rec. hall?" Skywarp asked.

Ratchet waved to the cooler irritably, so Skywarp left me briefly to pluck out a couple of cubes. He gave one to me, and together we downed the fuel. He took the cubes back, then stood over Ratchet for a while.

"Anything I can help with?"

Ratchet looked up sharply, surprised. When he spoke he sounded much less grumpy. "I have things under control here. Just keep an eye on her leg. She's not to walk, so you'll have to carry her. Bring her in tomorrow afternoon so I can check on her progress."

Skywarp nodded, then returned to me.

"Ready?" He asked. I nodded, so he picked me up like I was made of fine china. As soon as he'd settled me in his arms I pressed as tightly to him as I could to listen to his systems. It took some of the edge off of the neediness I was feeling.

"Oh," Ratchet said as we walked out. "C-11 should be outfitted for someone your size."

On the way I heard a mech pass in the hallway, but I pressed my face against the Raptor's chest rather than look to see whom. I didn't look up until the door clicked shut on our dark quarters. Skywarp went straight to the berth and deftly slid down onto it without bumping me once.

I carefully pulled myself up until I could see him, my leg protesting faintly when I let it clink too hard against him.

He wouldn't look at me.

What's wrong? I asked.

He dragged his optics down to me as if it were painful. Let's just recharge.

My whole being flinched at the detached feeling that came along with the message. Did I do something?

No! He shook his head. It's just that… You didn't want to go. You told me not to trust him, and I ignored you. I left you alone when you were compromised. Do you realize how close you were to dying? Fifteen more minutes down there and Ratchet wouldn't have been able to bring you back.

I thought back to the bottom of the ocean. You were the shark, I said with a smile.

Yes, I was the shark. I understand that humans are generally afraid of sharks.

You're the handsomest shark I've ever seen.

And apparently the tallest.

I raised my head from his chest. What?

Nothing, something you said on the high-grade.

I thought hard, then laughed as I was finally able to dredge up the memory. Wow. Sorry you had to deal with that.

Not your fault. Little star, I'm sorry but I'm very tired.

Oh… ok. I smiled, relieved that we seemed all right. I laid my head back down against his chest and offlined my optics, but stayed awake for a long time listening to his natural hum.

The next few days were both awkward and extremely interesting. Skywarp let the other mechs take care of me now and then, oddly enough spending a lot of time with Ratchet and Perceptor. Hotrod was with me every chance he got, alternating with Mirage when he had to leave on patrol.

I'd quickly gotten used to being carried bridal style around the base, and the soldiers no longer gave us weird looks. Zeke had gone out of his way to see if I was ok, and I'd spent a few hours in the rec. hall chatting with him when Hotrod had been sent out with Prowl to help Highway Patrol with some kind of high-speed chase that was heading our way.

Since Skywarp had carried me in and apparently refused to leave for the first few critical hours of my treatment, the human soldier had been interested in what my relationship with Skywarp was. He wanted to know if we were 'official' and what that entailed to a Cybertronian. He asked if I would ever have babies with Skywarp, and I'd had to explain I'd been born with a faulty spark. It was true enough and it effectively put an end to that line of questioning.

Mirage had taken me to Optimus, and I'd told him everything I could about what Starscream was doing. The Prime already had the coordinates, which were being monitored via satellite, but very little was going on there. He was more concerned by the moon project but Skywarp was unwilling to tell him much, claiming it wouldn't create any danger to humankind.

I spent a lot of time thinking about the upgrades Skywarp had taken for me. Mirage had admitted I could upgrade at any time, since I was at the age of either an old youngling or a very young adult.

He also told me that if I did choose the flyer package I could still take on an earthbound vehicle, but I would never be happy in one. It was part of the upgrade programming to ease a youngling into their new form.

As a flyer I'd be fast an compatible with a wide variety of weapons. My frame was so small that he doubted I'd have much armor as a flyer, so I'd have to rely on speed and offense. If I chose the 'groundpounder' pack, I'd be much more solidly built with the usual array of weapon capabilities, unless I proved to have a special skill. I'd also have the benefit of being able to blend in with most Cybertronians and avoid suspicion.

My decision was difficult. I was tempted to choose the flyer package for Skywarp's sake, if only to make him happy. My fear of heights was driving me to choose the ground bound package. The added benefit of blending in was appealing; I might not be a fully functioning femme, but I looked enough like one to attract the wrong kind of attention in the wrong kind of company.

I'd gotten my voice back the next day, though Ratchet had advised me to take it easy for a while. Nothing above my 'inside voice.'

Despite this Skywarp and I didn't actually speak much. He had often been quiet in the desert, but it had been a satisfied, happy sort of quiet. Now he wore a grim, determined expression when he thought I wasn't looking. I should have expected what happened.

It had been six days since Starscream had mauled me. Prowl was watching me while Hotrod and Mirage were on Patrol. Skywarp was supposedly in the repair bay with Ratchet, who had grudgingly learned to like the ex-Decepticon. It was getting late, so Prowl took me back to the quarters Skywarp and I had been sharing.

"Goodnight, Bravura. Hotrod should be free tomorrow if Skywarp is busy again."

"Thanks, Prowl. I appreciate it."

He smiled to me and dimmed the lights on his way out, closing the door quietly behind him. I leaned back on the recharge bench to wait for Skywarp. I had trouble sleeping without him, but he always came to bed before it got too late.

I woke with a small shriek, groping for Skywarp. The big bench was cold and empty except for where I huddled in the corner against the wall. I'd been unconsciously replaying a memory involving Starscream and the dead woman. Her face haunted me.

Where was the Seeker? Should I go looking for him? It was three in the morning but I wasn't technically supposed to walk yet… I tried to wait, but after only a few minutes I slid off the bench and went out into the hallway, stepping gingerly on my weaker leg. I made a beeline for the repair bay.

The lights in the bay were dim. Ratchet and Perceptor were nowhere to be seen, and Skywarp was missing. I cut off the anxious whine in my chest and slowly made my way to the upper deck, struggling my way up the stairs. I stopped in the doorway of the deck and scanned the vast room, feeling a pang when he wasn't there.

Walking slowly to the curving glass wall I stared out at the sky, hoping I might see him taking a late night cruise over the base. No luck. I sank to the concrete, struggling to control the sense of foreboding that was building in me. Leaning against the cool glass, I tried to contain my fear, just in case Hotrod was awake on patrol. Skywarp was coming back. He had to…

Hotrod found me in the same position just after eight am.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, sitting down next to me.

"Do you know where Skywarp is?" I answered his question with another question.

He was quiet, then sighed. "Maybe… Maybe you should just… forget about him. There are plenty of mechs here in the City who care about you. You don't need-"

"You know something?" I hissed, turning to my spark twin.

He looked into my optics for a while, then stared out the window.

"Mirage and I saw him last night when we were trading shifts. He was heading for the mesa. He… asked us to take care of you."

I jerked to my feet. "What does that mean?" My vocal processors were shrill and scratchy as I raised my voice. When he didn't immediately answer I grabbed the plating near his collar and tried to shake him, though he barely moved. "Hotrod, tell me!"

"He left, honey. He's gone."

"Where did he go?"

"He left Earth. He said he had to make up for his mistakes." He winced as bewilderment and betrayal threatened to overwhelm me.

He felt truly sorry, and he was worried about me. I couldn't be angry with Hotrod. A sob shook through me, and I didn't protest when Hotrod gathered me against him and wrapped his arms around me. After a few moments I felt the song, the soothing sensation that had kept me calm in the repair bay.

"What-" my vents heaved involuntarily, cutting off my words. "What is that?"

"What's what?" He murmured, rubbing my shoulder gently.

"The music you're making?"

He stiffened, and the song stopped. "What are you talking about?"

"You did it before, too. After… he brought me back. It's like singing, but not something I can hear."

"I don't know," he said simply, continuing to stroke my back. I sighed and leaned against my twin, the nearness of his spark smoothing over some of my grief.

"How could he leave me?" I asked finally after the better part of an hour. "I thought… you know what I thought."

"Yes, I think so."

"If he felt the same way I did then how could he leave?" I shuddered again, and Hotrod squeezed me a little tighter.

"Maybe he didn't want you to get hurt out there. Maybe he plans on coming back someday."

"What if he gets hurt? What if he never comes back?"

"I don't know, honey." Hotrod lifted me up and carried me to the stone wall where it met the glass, then slid down the wall with me in his lap. I tried to figure out why this felt so familiar, and finally realized it was because we'd done this before. The only difference was that I'd been extremely uncomfortable with Hotrod and he'd been fighting the truth.

After a long time I fell into recharge in his arms, exhausted from my anxious early morning vigil. I woke up from my uneasy rest to the sound of lightly clicking supports, but didn't online my optics. Hotrod would know I was awake, but whoever was coming wouldn't.

"Is she ok?" Mirage whispered, sliding almost silently to the floor next to Hotrod.

"She didn't take it well. She's afraid he won't come back."

Mirage sighed. "I knew something like this would happen. She got to where she really trusted him, and not only does he let his brother beat her practically to death, he leaves her before she's even healed."

"Probably so she couldn't try to follow him." He stroked my shoulder soothingly as the sorrow trickled back into me.

"It's probably for the best," Mirage said. I felt an unusual dislike for my teacher. "With us she can see what it really means to be a Cybertronian. She can grow up with bots who will lead by example. Maybe she'll even join the Autobots some day."

"I wouldn't count on it. She's no fighter. She locked up down there. I hate to say it, but if I hadn't skipped into her she would've been a goner," Hotrod said. He didn't sound judgmental, just honest.

"Maybe she'd make a good medic? Ratchet might complain about her, but he really does like her. You know how he is."

"We'll see, Mirage. She has to jump this hurdle first, you know? She's pretty hurt, not just on the outside. It's a game of wait and see. Can I ask you a favor?"

"Of course," Mirage said. There was a question in his tone.

"She doesn't like to recharge by herself, and I doubt she wants to wake up alone. Can you take her with you when you go to your quarters?"

"I thought you had the day off," Mirage said.

"I do, but I think I should go talk to someone who knows how human females think. She looks like one of us, be she's still so human in there…"

"Oh. Don't worry, I'll take care of her."

Hotrod and Mirage stood. I flicked my optics on as Hotrod gave me to my teacher. I looked up at Mirage, then to Hotrod questioningly.

"What's going on?" I asked.

He smiled knowingly. I was putting on a show for Mirage. "Just going to go see some friends."

"Why can't I come?"

"I don't think you're ready for the road just yet. Don't worry, I'll be back before sundown."

I sighed and relaxed into Mirage's steady arms.

"At least pretend to be happy to see me," Mirage said with mock sensitivity. "I know I'm no fun, but at least I don't shoot imaginary Decepticons in my recharge."

"Hey, that was only once, and I probably sensed danger," Hotrod said with a laugh.

"Yeah, tell that to Tracks."

"Tracks had it coming. He was in my bubble."

"Your 'bubble?' You don't have a bubble."

"I do when it comes to Tracks."

"Who's Tracks?" I asked quietly.

"A good bot, and don't let Hothead tell you any different," Mirage said with a chuckle. "Now, I just got off of a ten hour patrol and would like a recharge."

The two mechs began to move for the door, Mirage's gait so smooth I barely felt the jolts from his footsteps in my leg.

"Do you think it's odd that we adapted to the sleep needs here?" Hotrod asked Mirage, letting the bigger mech go first down the stairs.

"Do you mean how we tend to want to recharge as much as the humans want to sleep?"

"Yes. I used to be able to stay up for orns without needing a break," Hotrod said smugly.

"You exaggerate. We just tune to the day-light cycles."

I stopped listening to the mechs then. I was still in shock over being abandoned so completely. What could he possibly want to do, where could he possibly go that I couldn't help him? I valiantly kept my sobs from bubbling out. I didn't want Mirage to see me crying. He cared about me, but this time he didn't really understand.

The next several days allowed me to adjust to Hotrod's schedule. I recharged when he did, curled against him on the berth that didn't really fit us both. He rarely spoke of Skywarp, so sometimes I was actually able to forget how sad I was. I spent a lot of time in the rec. hall, usually seeing Zeke during mealtimes, though we didn't usually talk about anything special.

Mirage seemed determined to get me involved in the repair bay. I reluctantly followed him to see Ratchet. The CMO could tell I wasn't very excited about learning his art, but I learned quickly enough so he didn't complain. After a couple of sessions with the gruff (but surprisingly patient) medic I began to realize how different and complicated my metal body was compared to my human one. In some ways it was much simpler.

Optimus Prime gamely volunteered for my soldering lessons. Ratchet had installed most of the equipment Skywarp had taken up for me, though the upgrade packages remained untouched. Once I got the hang of feeding out solder and melting it without causing extra damage to the line I was repairing I proved to be a quick but somewhat rough patch. Ratchet worked with me until I no longer caused the Prime unnecessary pain.

The medic even gave me a basic systems check drill and allowed me to interface into his system. He let a training virus loose into his own system to let me try and catch and kill it. It didn't do him any damage and he could easily snuff it himself, but it took me two days before I could kill the damn thing.

I realized the mechs were all doing their best to distract me from my unhappiness, but the first time I went to the upper deck alone I dissolved into a clattering mess of metal, shaking but refusing to cry. Hotrod was on patrol, but he sent Prowl after me as soon as he realized what was wrong.

I always felt petty when the tactician watched me. He'd lost a brother bond and he hadn't been this much of a mess. All I'd lost was a mech I had no true attachment to. Hotrod was aware of this, so when he went on patrol he preferred to leave me to Prowl rather than Mirage. I loved Mirage dearly, but I still couldn't quite forgive him for being happy the Seeker had left me here.

Apparently Hotrod had gone to visit Mikaela, who in turn had told Bumblebee and Sam what was wrong with me. The yellow Camaro came to visit me nine days after Skywarp left. I'd been sitting with Zeke and a few other soldiers in the rec. hall when the bright yellow paint job in the doorway caught my eye.

He posed a little for me in the doorway. He'd barely straightened before I raced right at him and leaped against him laughing. I hadn't seen him since I'd been human, and my perspective had shifted slightly.

"Damn, Bee! You're a hottie!"

The yellow bot chuckled and bent down to hug me, a song about milkshakes playing briefly over his radios. I stared at him in shock until he grinned and spoke. "My, my… you're a lot bigger than I expected."

"Yeah, takes some getting used to," I said with a smile.

"No, I expected you to be about-" he held his hand about where my chin was. "Have you measured yourself lately?"

"No. Ratchet said I was about nine feet when I came out of it."

"You're more like ten now."

I didn't believe him, so I made him come with me to see Ratchet and find out for sure. Bumblebee was right; I now measured a little over ten feet tall. Ratchet seemed surprised, but he didn't comment on it, just asked us to leave before we broke something.

"You'll grow out of that alt mode in no time," Bumblebee observed.

"Oh, yeah. I guess so. Maybe I'll get a Porsche next time."

"Sam would like that," Bumblebee said, punching in the door code on our way out. We were going to go for a drive.

"How is Sam? Why didn't he come?"

"He's getting ready for college. He leaves in a little over a week." The mech sounded pretty excited.

"Are you going with him?"

"Of course I am! Why would he leave me behind?"

"I don't know… Students don't usually drive much on campus. You might get bored sitting in the parking lot all day."

"We'll figure it out," Bee said confidently.

We left the dark tunnel, stepping into the hot sun. I looked back at the hologram that hid the entrance, then shrugged and transformed.

Bumblebee whistled. "Look at you! Nice bumper!"

I honked my horn, so he transformed and led the way down the mesa.

Eventually Bumblebee asked me about Skywarp. Hotrod had kept him up to speed, but he wanted the story from me. I also told him about my dilemma with the upgrades… to fly or not to fly?

"You know…" Bee said over my radio. "If you were a flyer, you could eventually go after him."

My engine sputtered. "What do you mean?"

"You could leave orbit. Most of us have to get a lift on a carrier mech to get into orbit, strip to our frames, then transform into our space-faring forms."

Hotrod felt the pulse of pure excitement from me. I was so rarely excited these days; he was pretty interested in what could've pulled me out of my melancholy. I opened the e-mail he immediately sent me. Happy to see Bumblebee?

Yes, of course. He's a nice mech, I sent back.

I think so too.

I puzzled over that one, until Bee burst out laughing over my radio.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Hotrod."

"What did he say?" I was getting a little irritated. These damn Autobots were such freaking gossips!

"He said I should take you out tonight."

I didn't see how that was funny, but I produced a short laugh anyway. "Maybe next time. We can still hang out for a while."

"I'll see if Sam needs me later," the Camaro said.

"Ok. While you're finding out, let's head back. I was going to get a lesson from Ratchet," I lied.

Bumblebee turned around in a cute little spin, so I tried to copy him with little success. We were soon racing each other back to base. He won.

Bumblebee headed for the upper deck so he'd get cell phone reception while he waited on me, and I practically ran for the repair bay.

"Ratchet, are you busy?" I asked as soon as the door opened.

"Not with anything urgent. Why?"

"I decided I want the flyer upgrade. And the tetrajet alt mode."

"Oh? And what made you choose that?" Ratchet eyed me suspiciously.

"I've always wanted to fly," I lied for the second time that day. "It sounds great."

"Hmm. Perceptor, did you hear that? Our resident youngling would like her upgrade."

The scientist was currently a cross between a telescope and a giant microscope, pointed at something on the table. "Yes, fascinating. If you need help to facilitate the modification feel free to solicit my expertise."

Ratchet sighed at the other mech, then motioned me to an exam table, heading to the cabinet where my upgrade was being stored.

"I'll need to shut you down for this, it's intensive."

I nodded and settled back on the table, waiting patiently. Ratchet opened my chassis and fiddled with some things. My waiting would soon be over.

I woke up to a strong sensation of stiffness. I didn't remember losing consciousness. Ratchet and Perceptor were leaning over me.

"How do you feel?" Ratchet asked.

"Like I haven't moved in a month," I said, slowly sitting up. It felt like my spine had been fused together.
"Most of your joints have been replaced for a new range of mobility. Your legs, your hands, your head, your neck, your chest, your engine systems… There isn't much that doesn't have a new part somewhere. Here, let me show you."

He took up my hand, which I noticed was stripped of it's blue plating. The Elise was gone. He jacked into my wrist, and gave me access to his optics. I peered out through them and saw a bright chrome femme I barely recognized. I had vestigial wings pointing up behind my shoulders…! I touched my face, noticing my wrist rolled a little more than it would have before. I was more angular, less rounded.

"Wow," I whispered, withdrawing from Ratchet's optics. He unplugged himself from me. "You're a miracle worker, doc!"

"Of course I am… though Perceptor helped."

I leapt to the floor, weaving a little when my upper body refused to bend as it should have. Ratchet offered a steadying hand, which I took gratefully with a questioning look.

"Part of the upgrade," he said apologetically.

"What about the alt mode?" I asked excitedly.

"You want it already? Aren't you tired?"

I shook my head. I was too exhilarated by the possibilities my new upgrade had afforded me.

"If I give it to you, you have to swear to be careful. No flying more than five miles from base."

I nodded, intending to break that rule.

Ratchet fed himself the data for the blueprints first and then passed them on to me.

In moments I'd begun the process of making 3d units out of the scan, and in seconds it was finished. I swayed, once again hanging on to Ratchet in order to stay on my feet.

Ratchet made a surprised sound. I lifted my head, which had drooped to almost my chest in my exhaustion. "What?"

"I didn't know you were shy, Bravura."

I sighed in irritation. "What has that got to do with anything?"

"Well, your wings aren't sticking out. Generally a flyer is fairly confident, and it shows. They display their abilities right up on the shoulders. Yours… Yours are folded down your back."

I twisted, trying to see them. I was surprised at the dark and stormy gray-blue metallic sheen that covered my new plating. I couldn't twist my neck enough to get a good line down my back, so Ratchet once again offered me his optics.

They were indeed folded down my back like a wasp's wings. The tetrajet didn't have big sensational wings like Earth planes, but mine were folded over so many times to fit down my back smoothly that they ended just before my knees.

"This is really different from what I expected," I said, leaning against the exam table.

"Well, there's no taking it back now. Your upgrades are installed and can only be removed at great risk to your wellbeing. Even then, the new programs you've been given would make you an unhappy land dweller."

"Oh, I don't want to take it back. I love it. Thanks for all the hard work Ratchet, Perceptor. I'm just really tired… Think I'm gonna hit the hay…"

Ratchet crossed to the cooler and fetched me an energon cube, which I downed appreciatively. He gave me a few more parting instructions I hardly heard, then I left for the berth Hotrod and I had been sharing.

"What the hell?"

I woke with a jerk, stymied when I had to use my arms more than usual to get my torso up into a sitting position.

"What? What's wrong?" I asked Hotrod, who was having emotions so mixed up that I didn't know what to think. I slid my feet to the edge of the berth, ready to jump down.

"What did you do?" My spark twin moaned. "You don't even like flying! You threw up the first time you got on an airplane!"

I crossed my arms over my slightly widened chest. "I really wish I could take all my memories back from you. But it's been a long time, and I've changed. The Seekers said I'd make a good flyer and I believe them."

"After everything they did to you, you actually believe those scumbags?!" Hotrod crossed the tiny room and grabbed my shoulders. "They tried to murder you! Doesn't that tell you something?"

"Skywarp wouldn't lie to me."

"He left you, Bravura. He lied to you every time he looked at you!" Hotrod shook me just enough to jerk my head back a few degrees. "He didn't love you."

He knew the moment he went to far. My spark felt like it imploded on itself. I wished it had.

He immediately had me in his arms, whispering apologies and placations that I didn't want to hear. I violently pushed the mech away, but he only went as far as my arms could push him. He didn't let go.

"Get off of me!" I snapped, trying to twist out of his grasp.

"Just calm down, we'll talk. You're tired, I know you are. We'll rest, then we'll talk."

Frantic, I shook my head. I had to get away, had to go somewhere to be alone. The click that escaped my throat betrayed how difficult a time I was having with coping, quickly followed by another.

I melted into Hotrod's arms as he slowly drew me back to his chest. He picked me up and cradled me as he'd done many times in the days since my Seeker had left, sitting on the bed and leaning against the wall of the berth. I hiccupped again, resigned to crying out my sorrow with an audience.

There was a knock at the door a little later. Hotrod left me on the berth to answer it. He blocked whoever it was, so I only heard that it was Bumblebee.

"I was going to spend some time with Bravura. She never came back from her lesson with Ratchet. Is she with you?"

"Yes. She got her upgrade and a new alt mode. She's worn out now."

"A new alt mode? You mean… she chose to be a flyer?" Bumblebee sounded shocked.

"Yes." There was a pause. "I know, I'm surprised too, but it's her body."

"Well… Ok. I have to head back. Sam needs me in the morning. Tell her I said goodnight."

"Will do, Bee. See you."

The door clicked shut and Hotrod came back to the berth, scooping me up and returning me to my preferred position, curled in his lap and leaning against his chest.

"Everything is going to be ok," he murmured to me. "I'll take care of you."

I whimpered. I didn't want a caretaker. I wanted what I couldn't have.

"You wanted the jet mode, you have to fly it," Mirage said, barely containing his amusement. We were standing on the road about a quarter-mile from the mesa, and I was having troubles.

"It's not that… Do I just… jump in the air?"

"Yeah, and try flapping your arms."

I growled. Skywarp had always jumped straight off the ground and transformed midair. Could I pull something like that off?

Without giving myself a chance to worry, I took a short running start and jumped as high as I could, transforming. I was in my alt mode quickly enough, but I was so thrilled with myself for managing that much that I forgot to power my thrusters. I clanked back to the ground with a thud.

Mirage burst into outright guffaws. I transformed back and stood up, glaring at my teacher. He had been unusually unsupportive about my new abilities.

I turned away from him, squared my shoulders, and tried again. This time, I gunned my engines as soon as I could.

I shot forward wildly, lost control, and hit the dirt yet again. Mirage's laughter cut off and he came running to check on me as I climbed to my feet.

"Are you ok?" He looked me up and down for anything serious.

I looked up at him, strangely exhilarated. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good! Yeah. Yeah!"

He didn't have a chance to question me before I'd leapt back into the sky to try again.

I took it easy this time, not overcorrecting or overreacting. I didn't do much more than fly in a straight line, but the rush I got from it was incredible. Absolutely the most life-changing thing I'd ever done.

Touching down didn't go so well. I had no idea how to slow down enough without actually falling straight into the dirt… Mirage helped me untangle myself from the mess I made of my landing.

"Mirage said you bit the dust a lot today," Hotrod said as I climbed up onto the berth next to him.

"Yeah, I did. But I flew. I really flew! I can go anywhere I want!"

"Hmm. Yeah, but I wish you wouldn't go far. There are too many Seekers on this planet."

I smiled to myself. "That's true." Only one was missing.

It took me a ridiculously short time to find Skywarp's old base in the Rockies. My imperfect human memories weren't much help, aside from a few jagged outlines of mountaintops I managed to catch riding with Thundercracker.

I'd completely forgotten the hangar built over the top, so at first I flew right by it. Something keyed into my memory and I did a slow turn, coming in low over the hangar. No sign of any activity for a long, long time. I came back around and slowed down until I could hit the ground on my feet with a heavy thud. There was a snowstorm coming in a few hours, but I wouldn't need hours.

I walked into the hangar. It was empty, lonely. The trapdoor leading into the base was ripped off its hinges, the entrance a dark maw. I wanted to go down, but I couldn't quite go that far. I went to the edge and stared down, finally settling to the ground, thinking of the day he and his brother had brought me back here. He'd gone through so much to get me back so many times. How could he let it all go to waste?

I lost track of time after all. The storm whipped in all at once, blowing sleet into the open ends of the hangar. A large bit splatted right into one of my optics, so I got up and went to check the skies.

I was grounded. I sighed to myself and turned to the dark entrance of the abandoned base. If I wanted to keep from icing over, I'd have to at least get below the surface. I resigned myself to reliving old memories, then went down the deep-cut stairs.

I expected it to get darker the deeper I got, but it actually got a little brighter, a sustained glow that was just barely enough for my sensitive optics. I slowed, more conscious of how I placed my feet. I slowed to a stop, leaning against the wall to feel for vibrations and scanning for signatures.

Somebody was here. They were moving, and they were big, but they were being just as careful as me. The tiny vibrations stopped.

"Hello?" I dared. "Is somebody here?"

They gave up all attempts at being covert and exploded from the closest room in the hall. I jerked back a few steps, serving up my gun and powering it. Two huge humming weapons glowed feet from me, framing angry red eyes.

We stared each other down, until I suddenly realized who I was looking at.

"Thundercracker?"

He growled. "Who's asking?"

I laughed nervously. "It's Bravura."

He snarled. "She's blue."

"It's me. I got my upgrade. I'm a jet now." I realized my gun was still humming, so I powered it down and got my hand back. "What are you doing down here? Shouldn't you be in Starscream's base?"

He still didn't look like he trusted me, but he lowered his guns anyway. "He's been touchy ever since Skywarp kicked his aft. I'm giving him some room until he gets over it."

"You know that Skywarp left, right?"

"Of course. He picked up some equipment from Starscream before he left. Told me he was going to do what Starscream couldn't."

I crossed my arms. "What does that mean?"

"How would I know? That guy has been weird ever since you came into the picture. You want to sit down?"

I nodded, following the Raptor down the hall to a tiny rec. hall, sitting next to him on a bench against the wall.

"You think it has to do with the femmes?" I asked after a while.

"Maybe. Maybe he's just going to unify the Decepticons. He didn't say much."

I looked at the Seeker, an idea taking form as I stared at the familiar lines of Skywarp's brother.

"Perceptor, can I ask you a favor?"

"Certainly, young lady."

"I was wondering where Cybertron is… You know, which star it's around. And where colonies are, and lots of other things."

"Really? Wonderful! Meet me on the mesa tonight, two hours after sundown. I'd be happy to show you."

"Zeke, can I ask you something?"

"Sure Bravo. What's on your mind?"

"Say I was looking for a certain kind of plane… do you know where I could find it?"

"Remember those landmines you used when we first met, Prowl? How would you know when to do something like that instead of fight? Are they hard to make?"

"How do you build a hologram generator, Ratchet?"

"Can you teach me how to use my communications suite, Mirage?"

"What are the Autobots about, Optimus? What about the Decepticons?"

It had been over a month since Skywarp left. I'd been busy. I felt as ready as I'd ever be. Hotrod felt the alertness in me that morning when I'd come out of recharge, but his questioning hadn't gotten anything out of me. I was driven, and nothing was going to get in my way.

The soldiers in the hallways gave me playful two fingered salutes that I returned with a grin. I'd made friends with many of them through Zeke, who'd turned out to be a pretty nice guy. I'd miss him.

I punched in the exit code with unusual seriousness.

"Watch that storm coming, Bravo," one of the guards said with a wave.

"Will do, Jenks."

I couldn't help but sprint up the roadway to the top of the mesa. I wanted one last look around.

The sun was getting low, already hidden by a bank of clouds rolling in. It was an unseasonable thunderstorm. I took the time to admire the power I knew was raging in those innocent-looking puffs.

I walked to the edge of the mesa and looked down. Skywarp had been right; I had never been afraid of heights. I'd been afraid of falling. Well, I had no fear of falling now. I was going up, and I wasn't stopping until I found what I was looking for.

Dialing up the Autobot special frequency, I prepared my goodbye.

Autobots of Autobot City, this is the Neutral Bravura. Thank you for all of your time and patience. Some day I'll make all the effort worth the while. For now, I have a mission. I'm leaving Earth. I'm going to the colonized sectors. Good luck here on my world. Take care of her. Goodbye.

Hotrod was panicked. He was down below, but I imagined he was already running for the exit. I wouldn't wait for him. A wave of bitterness lapped at the edges of my determination. Skywarp had finally opened the door into a world I'd never known existed, a world where I might actually be fast enough and strong enough to fend for myself, but he wasn't here to see it.

I leapt off the edge of the mesa, transformed, and began my climb to the heavens.

I'm coming, Skywarp, I murmured into the stars as they began to show through the atmosphere. I took my time as I became weightless, my whole body groaning as I cooled rapidly from extreme atmosphere-breaking heat to absolute frigidity. Mathematics, orbits, gravity wells and trajectories ran through my processors, but all I wanted to do was stare down at Earth. God, she was beautiful. I hoarded that last look deep into my memory core.

I spun end over end until I faced open space, orienting myself carefully. I waited for Thundercracker, broadcasting my signal for anyone to read. At first I thought he wasn't coming, but then I saw a glint of light off of his cockpit. He was already in orbit, slowly moving towards me.

I saw my as-yet unused Decepticon frequency blink to life and let the encryption program, which the blue Seeker had given me, do its job.

You sure you're going to do this?

Of course I am.

He's going to think you're crazy.

Of course he will. Point me, Thundercracker.

He slowly rolled on his axis, up and down, back and forth, until he seemed satisfied.

That way. Don't know how far.

I carefully pulled under him so that I could see exactly which star he was pointing at.

That's all I needed. Hey… can you try not to kill anybody when I'm gone?

Thundercracker's resonant laugh filled my receivers. It's a war, kid. I can't make any promises, but I'll try not to kill them if they don't try to kill me.

Thanks. Hopefully I'll see you again.

Be careful, kid.

I didn't answer, just slowly pulled ahead of him and rolled a little to the left. He wiggled back to the right in acknowledgement. I steadied my nerves, fighting the urge to look back at my home planet. If I looked now, I might never leave. I punched my thrusters to full burn and shot forward, leaving Thundercracker and everything I knew behind.

If fanfics had movie-style end credits 'Frozen Oceans' by Shiny Toy Guns would be playing right now. I hope you enjoyed First Impressions. If not, you're a glutton for punishment going this far and so I have no pity for you ; ) I have had an absurdly good time between the fun of doing the story itself and the feedback from an incredibly cool set of reviewers. I haven't decided if I'll look for a Beta for the sequel, but since I do tend to get sloppy I should consider it, eh? Let me know if it's something you'd wanna do.

xoxox