Bluestreak onlined his optics, only to shut them again with a groan when the light practically hit his face. His other sensors picked up a shifting motion to his right, and he soon felt a soothing hand resting on his shoulder.

"Bluestreak?"

Bluestreak knew that voice. He onlined his optics, slowly this time, and he directed his gaze to First Aid. The young medic was indeed at his side, an odd mixture of concern and something else in his visor as he stared down at him. Confusion maybe? Mortification? Bluestreak wasn't sure.

"Hi…" Bluestreak winced to hear his voice so off, so he cleared his vocaliser in an attempt to fix the problem. It didn't seem to do any good, though. "I'm at the medbay, right?"

First Aid nodded.

"What happened?" Bluestreak asked.

"What do you remember?" the young medic asked instead.

Bluestreak frowned as he searched his memory databanks. "There was this mission to deliver some energon to the Femmebots on Cybertron," he finally said slowly, as one image after another came back to him. "Optimus said Hound, Inferno and I should take the energon there."

"Go on," First Aid said, trying to sound encouraging.

"Everything went fine," Bluestreak answered. "At least… I think it did." In the next moment, however, the memories really caught up with him and he gasped. "Shockwave detected us on our way back to the spacebridge! He attacked us with about a dozen of his minions, who started firing at us, pinning us down! Inferno blasted five or six, maybe even seven, of them down; while Hound used his holograms to make it look like Omega Supreme was with us and--"

"Hey! Slow down, Bluestreak!" First Aid exclaimed, and Bluestreak could have sworn that he heard the young medic mutter something like some things never changed at least. "So you don't recall the explosion?"

Bluestreak blinked and stared at First Aid blankly.

"I'll take that as no," the young medic said, heaving a sigh. "Yes, all three of you fought bravely, but Shockwave also had control of the security systems. He set off one of the cannon-turrets that surrounded the space-bridge."

Bluestreak winced. He knew only too well the kind of damage the cannon-turrets were capable of. "Are Hound and Inferno okay?"

"Yes, don't worry," First Aid said reassuringly. "Unfortunately, you took most of the hit from that explosion."

"Oh… I guess that explains why I'm here," Bluestreak noted.

First Aid actually hesitated for a moment. "Sort of. You were in a very bad shape, Bluestreak; you needed immediate care or you probably wouldn't survive. That was why Hound and Inferno carried you to the Femmebot Base instead."

"That's right," Bluestreak said, remembering. "There was a femme there who served as medic."

First Aid nodded. "She fixed you and, once she decided that you were fit enough for the trip through the spacebridge, Hound and Inferno returned you back to the Ark." He paused, regarding Bluestreak closely. "So… uh… how are you feeling?"

"Quite good, actually," Bluestreak admitted. "I think my vocaliser is set at the wrong pitch, though. Can you check it?"

First Aid couldn't denote many expressions, since most of his features where covered with his visor and his battle-mask. Even so, Bluestreak could still tell that First Aid was currently feeling very, very uncomfortable.

"First Aid? What's wrong?"

"Nothing! You're fine!" First Aid answered at once. "Too fine actually," he added under his breath.

Bluestreak didn't believe that for a second. "It's bad, isn't it?" he asked, almost panicking. "Did something go wrong with the repairs? Am I scarred? Paralysed? Dying? What does Ratchet--?"

Probably deciding to go for the direct approach and get it over with, First Aid held up a mirror in front of Bluestreak. Bluestreak practically froze and stared at the face before him; or rather… her. For there was indeed the darker line in the upper optic seam to signify what humans called long eyelashes; the smaller, more refined nose; and the full lip-components that officially defined Bluestreak as… female.

The scream that Bluestreak let out rang throughout the Ark, scaring the birds at the nearby forest away.

TBC...