Disclaimer: The Transformers aren't mine I just like to write about them.

When Life is a Battlefield

Chapter 1

It wasn't often that Sunstreaker took the time to on-line his systems slowly (usually he left it to the last possible moment before he brought everything up at once and used that energy to all but bounce himself off the berth) but the soothing weight in his arms told him that he should enjoy the moment. Unusually he and Bluestreak had his quarters all to themselves and for once neither one of them was expected to be on duty for a while.

He cycled the air through his systems and savoured the scent of his lover that came in with it, listened to the gentle hum of his partners engine and resisted the temptation to run his hands over the smooth bodywork encase he disturbed Bluestreak before he on-lined his optics and gazed down at the still recharging form next to him.

Bluestreak was the picture of innocence when he was like this and so at peace that it was hard to believe that the mech could be so tightly wired sometimes that Sunstreaker was sure something should snap.

With a sad smile he moved his head slightly to get a better look. He shouldn't be fighting in this war. He thought and not for the first time. He maybe only a few vorns younger than I but he should have stayed out of it.

He realised then that it had been a long time since he had just watched something, vorns earlier he had taken every chance he could to do that just to see if it would inspire him to create something beautiful but that life was gone now. He hadn't even picked up a drawing pad in what felt like an age. I would love to draw him like this but I doubt I could ever do him justice.

His lover on-lined his optics at that moment and slowly focused on him as he came out of recharge. "Hi." He said affectionately. "What's that look for?"

"Nothing for you to worry about. I was just thinking." Sunstreaker reassured him.

Bluestreak stretched out his body lazily and wriggled a little closer. "What about?"

"You?" Sunstreaker smiled. "And how cute you are when you're recharging. You're usually up before me so I don't get the chance to watch you much and seeing as we're alone and there's no chance of my aft-headed brother disturbing us I thought I'd allow myself the pleasure."

"So where's Sides?" Bluestreak asked.

"Somewhere else." Sunstreaker grinned and he bent his head to nuzzle his lovers faceplate playfully. Bluestreak responded as he had hoped by running a delicate hand down his thigh and for a while all thoughts of his absent twin or anyone else were shoved aside as the pair only had room in their processors for each other.

"Love you Sunny." Bluestreak whispered as they lay together to let their systems cool afterwards.

"Love you too Blue." Sunstreaker replied fondly. "But unfortunately it's time we made a move."

Bluestreak nodded in reluctant agreement and pushed himself off the berth. Soon after the two mechs arrived in the rec room and took a small table to sit and drink their rations of energon. They had almost finished when both of their comm systems activated and Optimus Primes commanding voice told them to report to his briefing room.

"So much for a quiet cycle." Sunstreaker shrugged and he tossed back the last of his energon as he stood up.

"What did you do now?" Bluestreak asked as they followed the corridors to their destination.

"Absolutely nothing." Sunstreaker snapped indignantly. "But I can't vouch for Sideswipe."

The red twin caught up with them as they reached the door to their destination. "You too huh?" he greeted them.

"What did you do Sides?" Sunstreaker asked.

"I'm innocent." Sideswipe protested.

Bluestreak gave him a disbelieving look and Sunstreaker laughed loudly. "Sideswipe you are many things but innocent isn't one of them." He said with a sly smile. "And before you say another word just remember who you share a spark with."

"Haven't heard you complaining." Sideswiped grinned back at his twin.

"Thought I heard something." Ironhide snapped as the door opened. "Get you're afts in here we don't have time to waste."

"Is it me or is he grouchier than usual?" Sideswipe asked his companions quietly as they entered. Neither of them answered.

Optimus Prime was sat at his desk, it was never easy to tell what their commander was thinking because his battle mask almost constantly covered most of his face but Sunstreaker could put only one word to the set of the big mechs optics. Grim.

Ratchet was stood in front of him; Mirage leant lazily on the far wall and Ironhide quickly returned to his position at his leaders shoulder. The three warriors joined the medic and the engineer and waited for the Prime to speak.

"A few breems ago we received a report telling us that the Decepticons are threatening the city of Kalis, I mean to stop them, we've given enough ground and that ends now." He said quietly but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his tone. "Our main force is currently mobilising for battle but I have a mission for the six of you that must not fail."

"It won't." Ironhide growled.

"Thank you Ironhide." Prime rumbled. "A group of sparklings and femmes are currently in the city, they are refugees, some of them are injured and all of them are exhausted. Your task will be to retrieve them and bring them safely back to Iacon."

"Sir?" Mirage said cautiously. "Why this group? If you intend to save Kalis then surely it would be better to send all the warriors in together."

"One of them is Chromia." Ironhide answered as if that explained everything.

Obviously seeing the several confused looks that were passed between most of his subordinates Optimus continued. "Chromia is Ironhides bond-mate, for several vorns now she has been working to get Autobots out of the cities we were unable to protect, she has also told Ironhide that she has some very valuable information for us. A battle of this size will have casualties; regrettably we cannot save everyone but we must get her out of there. Your shuttle is waiting for you. Move out!"

The small unit saluted as one and marched down to the shuttle bay. Once aboard Mirage and Ironhide took the helm leaving the others to get themselves ready.

"You okay?" Sunstreaker asked his lover as they sat together checking over their weapons.

"I'm wishing that Jazz or Prowl was here but other than that yes." Bluestreak answered.

"Prime needs some of his officers with him." Ratchet explained. "I have to be with you to see to the femmes and Ironhide refused to go anywhere other than to Chromia. I think that was the first time I've seen Ironhide say no to Optimus."

"Have you met her?" Bluestreak asked.

"Once." The medic answered curtly.

"And?" Bluestreak prompted.

"And what?"

"What's she like?"

"Impatient, ill-mannered and quick tempered." Ratchet snapped.

"Primus." Sunstreaker whispered as Ratchet went back to going over his own equipment. If Ratchet heard him, he ignored him but he seemed more irate than usual and the pair decided that it was for the best not to ask any more questions.

Some time later Mirage joined them. "We'll be landing soon." He told them. "Be ready."

Sunstreaker smiled at him. "Can't wait."

Bluestreak for once seemed to have nothing to say but Sunstreaker watched him shoulder his rifle and knew his lover was ready.

The battle was well underway as they disembarked, lasers arced into the sky and from it, several fires lit the horizon and smoke filled the air. Ironhide didn't give them much of a chance to look at it though before he marched them in to the chaos.

"Mirage take point, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker on the flanks, Bluestreak to the rear." He barked and the others quickly moved into formation and made a ring around Ratchet and their commander.

Sunstreaker hated situations like that one and not just because he could almost feel the ashes smudge his paint-job, he liked to be in the thick of the fight, preferred to know where his enemies were coming from and above all wanted his brother at his side rather than on the other side of what remained of the street simply because that was how they fought best, their shared spark meant that they could protect each other better than any other two mechs in any army and fight as one to beat any opponent.

Occasionally he glanced behind him to check in his lover, the younger mechs faceplate was a mask of concentration, his movements sure and determined and it never ceased to amaze him just how brave he could be when he needed to.

"Behind." Bluestreaks yell wrenched Sunstreaker out of his thoughts and he spun round to see him drop into a roll to avoid the first shots that were fired at them, come back up with his rifle at his shoulder and take down one of the Decepticons before the fight really began.

Sunstreaker raced passed him with his own gun blazing and flash of red told him that his brother had launched himself into the air to greet the pair of seekers that were coming in above them. One fell out of the sky almost immediately and landed with a crunch somewhere behind him but he didn't really have the time to think about anything else with a scream of fury one of the Decepticons lunged at him and Sunstreaker found himself grinning.

He was too close now for his gun to be much useful so in a spark pulse he sub-spaced it in exchange for a laser knife which tore through the chest plate of one of his enemies in the same action, the mech fell back with a cry of pain and started to run in the opposite direction.

A burst of blue laser fire missed his shoulder by inches and found its target in the other Decepticons weapon arm. "Thanks Blue." He called not needing to turn to know where the shot had come from. The last seeker crashed in a cloud of smoke a few yards away and he looked up to share a grin with his brother.

"Sunny." Bluestreak yelped and he spun round to see the first cone-head that Sideswipe had downed haul Ratchet out form behind his cover with a pistol to his helm. To his credit the medic did not go quietly, he snarled like something gone wild and struggled for all he was worth but all that really did was make it impossible for Bluestreak to get a clean shot.

Sideswipe solved the problem of how to approach the situation by turning off his boosters and using the 'con as a landing pad. Ratchet was thrown clear on impact and when Sideswipe tumbled off his opponent Sunstreaker ended to the fight with one round from his hastily retrieved rifle.

"Knew you'd come in useful one day." Ratchet said gruffly sharing his glare equally between the twins.

Sideswipe smirked and reached out a hand to help the medic to his feet.

"Everyone all right?" Mirage asked hurried up from his position at the rear of the fight.

Sunstreaker checked himself absently. "Nothing a trip to the wash racks won't fix." He answered gruffly. "Blue?"

"Fine." The young mech nodded.

"One of them got away." Sideswipe reported to Ironhide.

"We'd best get the femmes and get the pit out of here then before he finds some friends."

"Only place he's going is the med-bay." Ratchet said quietly. "I had time to scan his wounds and I doubt he'll get far."

The group retook their positions and continued on but it wasn't long before Ironhide called them to a halt.