Predatory

Release The Panic

I did my best to keep my intakes and vents regulated, though it was difficult. The scanner was taking a bit longer than the normal time I had always experienced with normal medics. Perhaps this one was more thorough? I hope not. Even so, I was screwed, even a basic medical scan would show a few too many things about my biochemistry that I didn't want. I had always resorted to messing with the data shown on my scans from past field medics when they weren't looking, it was honestly the only reason I had survived this far. 

I honestly couldn't remember a time when I hadn't been hiding. My first memory was the day Flamecharge had given me my optical lenses, to hide my optic color. I hadn't understood why I needed them, but I knew it had been important...

"Echo!" called a tall, fair flame-colored femme. Her faceplate was twisted into a scowl, and one of her servos was clenched around an unidentified object. "Echosong! Come here! Now!"  

A small femme peered out from behind a corner of the lavishly decorated hallway. Her ashen faceplate glowing slightly from her bright amber orbs, which held something of hurt in them. 

"Come here! Come here!" the orange femme knelt down her face softening, and held her servos for the little sparkling. "I have something for you, sweetspark!" 

Though the sparkling was unconvinced, she shuffled her peddes nervously. But a small smile from the older femme gave her the courage she needed to make up her mind. She rushed over to the femme, and couldn't help giggling in spite of herself. 

"Hush!" The femme said quickly. She cast a furtive glance around her, then pressed a slender digit to her lips. The sparkling whimpered, her optics going wide with fear. "Shh! Sh-sh-sh-sh-shhhh! You need to keep quiet little one. Look at me."

The little femmeling did as she was told, lifting her optics to meet the gaze of the older femme. 

The flame-colored dancer smiled sadly and opened her servo. Two bright blue optical lenses glinted malevolently in the dim light of the torches that illuminated the ornamental red and Functionist gold hallway. 

"Hold still," She whispered.

The sparkling complied, though her optics were laced with concern and confusion. But also a trust that only a sparkling could have. The femme carefully slid the lenses into place, turning the amber glow, into a subdued sea-green. She blinked, trying to adjust to the sudden change. After a few moments, she began to rub them agitatedly, clearly irritated by the feeling.

"No! Don't do that! You must never take these off, you understand?" The dancer stared the tiny femme in the eye, her gaze fierce and piercing. "Do you understand me, Echo?" 

The sparkling gave a terrified nod, she was shaking a little from her fright.

"Good, good," The dancer pulled the young ashen-faced femme into a tight embrace. "I just hope it will be enough..." she whispered to herself, unaware that the femmeling was listening.

                                                                                                                                         ....they must never know. 

I had always been careful to hide my tracks, to hide myself, but now there was nowhere to hide.

I did my best to swallow the hard lump of sour energon that had risen in my throat. My spark was beating out of my chest, and my intakes were becoming labored. My anxiety rising with the scanning bar as it took in the secrets of myself I had tried to deny to the world.