So I had said I could never write a real 'horror' fic. Blitz said that it was a shame. I ended up remembering a really nice conversation I had with someone on this subject though so I ended up happily telling them that I would indeed write one.

This is the product.

Needless to say Blitz and Stars, the lovely Trine Mates that they are, happily listened to my ramblings as I began writing. Just shower Blitz-Krazi with affection because she's the best. Go on, what are you doing? Find her. Love her fics.

0200- Patrol Route

No one liked the night patrol. He could be anywhere but here in all honesty. Preferably in the Rec Room with a nice cube of energon watching everything that was going on after a long day of patrols and shifts. Instead, he got to take the long route around Mt. Saint Hilary. He sunk down on his tires watching the landscape run past him. It was a warm night at least, with critters chirping and calling in the wild. The moon itself was dim- the stars speckled across the sky was a pleasant sight at least.

The moisture in the air was felt between all of his transformation seams, the last rain through this area has graced them with a lethargic feel in the air. Scuffling in the wooded area made his attention perk up from where he had simply zoned out and had been spotting all the moss on the moist bark of the trees. He slowed down cautiously, scanning far out to where the sound had originated from. A regular organic form registered, an elk rubbing his antlers against a branch in the otherwise still woodlands.

He sighed, he would have hoped that it was some fishy Decepticon activity. He chuckled quietly, the crackle of his tires going over gravel seemingly laughing along with him, the image of Decepticons being fish introducing itself to his processor. They'd be easier to handle at least. An angry grey fish floated past his imagination, the scowl the same match as ol' bucket head. He continued his still route through the woods, hoping to get back quickly. A ping from Red Alert for an update on his patrol made his attention come back to real life. And the road as he swerved, stopping in time to dodge a frozen deer. Primus, the wildlife was out to kill him.

He answered the comm. after sighing. He started driving once more, much slower than before- he ignored the pops of gravel between his tires and the dirt road he was on.

/Hey Red Alert./ He grinned, smirking when Red Alert squawked into his audio. /Don't just 'Hey Red Alert' me! You missed your last two updates! It's important to know that you aren't under attack!/

For once he really wished he could roll his optics. One Decepticon attack had him strung up to the power lines. Or well, he was tightly wound he corrected himself. That power line thought really didn't make that much sense. They were taller than them. /Yea, yea don't worry I'm fine. Oh wait!/ He sent a panicked frenzy of words at the Security mech. Red frantically asked him what, what was going on over there./I might die of boredom, send back up!/ He sunk lower on his tires as he grinned, waiting for Red Alert to reply. The line was dead for a moment and when the white lambo sent a reply he could practically see the scowl. /Don't. Do that. Go back to your patrol./

The comm. link went dead for awhile; he started lazily sending scanners across the woods as he passed them. He jumped with a start when Red Alert reactivated the comm. just to yell at him to remember to send updates back as they tracked his location. The link went dead for good after that. Silence permeated the air afterwards, the moon drifting in the sky with no rush to bring the daylight hours up once again. He noted some rather threatening looking moss collecting aggressively on a downed log.

'HQ we're under heavy attack, send back up! Moss advancing in alarming rates. We don't stand a chance out here!.' It was dark times when he resorted to doing this. Dark times indeed. A pleasant feeling of being faintly amused brushed against him.

Really, there wasn't much to do on a night patrol. While other mechs were collecting in the rec room or other places for a good time before going into recharge he was out here. In the chill, with moisture collecting in his seams alone with no one to talk to. He sighed sending a quick ping of an update to the Ark. Dry hissing sounded and he curiously wondered what type of organic it was. It stopped for a good minute before it started once again this time in several skips and bursts. It sounded a lot closer than before. He sent out another scan. Nothing came back. Just pure empty wilderness. The crackling hiss sounded again. He sped up, kicking gravel up behind him into the muggy air.

Not even a mile down to road he heard it again- this time barely a whisper against his audios. Sliding into a turn he sent a ping back to the Ark, the jovial feeling in his spark not even pausing. He frowned though when he heard a snap- loud enough to startle an elk into running away. In the rustle of the plants and the cracks of fallen twigs and branches he felt a tug at his back left tire. He jumped, kicking his speed up. Going into another turn he cursed his luck. Alone on a patrol. At night. He usually wasn't bothered by this sort of thing. Though he usually didn't have annoying cackling hisses sounding off around him.

There was a tiny drop of ill ease now nestled into his spark. It conflicted heartily with the amusement emanating. He sped up once more jerkily when another brush came upon him. Turning tightly into yet another turn and sending another scan. Nothing. Again. It wasn't his processor acting up, was it? He didn't have damage to his sensor relays. His engine roared into another jump when a crackling, ringing sound emanated from behind him once more. Slag it all. He wasn't imagining this. Just when the series of turns pop up, too. Transforming quickly he pressed his knees into the gravel, a hand coming down to help him balance as well. Bright blue optics flickered around. There was nothing. Completely empty. Not even a small organic scurrying about.

Glancing around didn't reveal anything either. When had his venting become so quick? He wasn't sure. He wasn't really sure he wanted to know. He glanced about once more. Not even a fern out of place. Transforming back into his alt mode he took off. Going into another turn in a mess drift he sent another ping back to the Ark. Clouds had gathered above him. The grey dingy clouds promised more rain. They also blocked any light he'd get from the stars as well. Not that it mattered. A tug at both of his tires. A scrape down his right quarter panel. Another scan revealed the same results. He sped through another turn- a cloud of dust left in his wake.

Frag all he wanted was to get to the Ark. Get this patrol over with. A questioning tug. Primus when had he started panicking. This wasn't good. He'd get teased. Big mech scared pantless. Well, if he had pants. His engine roared when heavier, more painful scratch came upon him once more. What the frag? It'd been over a mile. What was tailing him still? He never liked this area. Wasn't sure why Hound did. Yet again, a powerful surge to his engine. If there was a human in him they would have pressed back into his seats. Skidding into a 'S' turn he cursed. He was going fast. Way too fast. He skidded right off the turn into the woods down an embankment. He transformed as quick as lightning. Why was he so worked up? Primus was that a chuckle. Where the frag..?

Crashing into a tree trunk his spinal plating screamed at him. He flicked his helm around and about, one of his servos brushing the very real scratches. Panic encompassed him. What had happened to all his training? Oh yea, they never said anything about things they couldn't see. He gave a shuddering ex vent. He started backing up. The tree had fallen with an angry and resounding boom. He stumbled back over the wide trunk. He brought his servos up, fisting them. A snap to his left. His helm darted that way. Nothing. Empty. The same emptiness as everything. If everything was empty then what the frag was going on?

With a stumble he walked backwards. He sent scan after scan around him. Why did sound seem so heavy right now? He couldn't hear anything over his own vents. He brought one of his servos higher, he'd be ready to strike. The coarseness of a splintered tree dug into his back plates. Quickly he sent ping after ping to the Ark. he wasn't crazy. His processor wasn't messing with him. He had the injuries to prove it. He whirled in a circle. Optics almost over bright from the power he was sending to them in the dark. Something ran down one of his legs. A scream caught in his throat. He jerked away from the tree he had been pressed against. Whipping a blaster out of subspace he pointed it shakily. The hadn't been anything behind him. No movement. None at all.

What the frag was going on? Belatedly he realized he was whimpering. Not good. Ping after ping bombarded the Ark, so why wasn't Red Alert answering? He turned to run only to crash down to the wet floor. Leaves stuck to him, twigs found their ways into his plating. He shot a stray shot into the air. Had that been an amused laugh? Oh Primus he hoped not. Scrambling onto his feet a branch from a neighboring tree rammed into his helm. He shot two more rounds off, clamoring to get to the road. His pedes caught and he pummeled to the ground. His vents were caught from their scared influx. Swinging an arm out wildly as he turned he screamed. He screamed and kicked in an attempt to get away. Full bloomed terror spun his spark. Firing off another volley of shots he realized that they all missed.

Wrenching his arm back he threw his blaster instead. His spark felt like it was about to explode. He scrambled backwards. Clawing to get the the road. Where was backup? Anyone would do. Just. He choked out a sob. He really wished he could cry. He dug dirt up, leaves coming up with it. Coldness rested on his pedes. "Please," he shrieked. Whatever it was. The chill spread to his thighs. He struggled. His engine thrummed and rumbled. One of his servos grabbed part of the fallen tree. Right when he was about to pull himself forward he was flipped over. A rough scream came out of his throat. Unadulterated fear was the only thing he was really sure of. Gleaming yellow turned to slits. It was smiling. Whatever it was, it was smiling at him.

Another shriek. Cold spread once more. Upwards it trailed. Upwards and upwards, inch by inch. Desperately he tried to move once more. He was a wreck. A shivering, aching, terrified wreck. he screamed loudly and wailed with all his might. The pings sent to the Ark came to a stop. Birds nesting in the forest a mile away took off in surprise. Then, stillness and silence.

0200- Rec Room

Sunstreaker sighed into his cube. Swirling the pink contents he took another sip. He was just appreciative of the fact that he was the one that could be sitting in the warm haze of the Ark's lights. Calm chatter floated in the air while Jazz and Blaster seemed to be making it a karaoke night. The black and white mech has currently dancing along to a bass rhythm while Blaster relaxed into it. A saxophone began and Jazz grinned.

"She'll only come out at night," He sang, doing a simple dance.

Sunstreaker smiled gently as he watched the friendly TIC perform the song.

"The lean and hungry type!" Blaster belted out as he bobbed his helm up and down in time with the beat.

The golden twin sent a pulse of amusement to his twin. Sighing, he relaxed into his seat to watch the two mechs. Laziness came from his twin. Jazz spun, grinning at Ironhide as he watched as well. He tugged Blaster upwards, settling an arm across his shoulders.

Gently swallowing a mouthful of energon he rested the now empty cube on the table. Curiously he paid a bit more attention to his twin spark, a jolt of shock leaking through to him. The two mechs singing and dancing continued uninterrupted. He picked the empty cube up, lazily examining it in boredom. He smirked when Jazz came to the chorus and did a series of hand gestures to get Blaster to dance more.

"Ooh here she comes!" Blaster came in without hesitation, "Watch out boy she'll chew you up!"

Sunstreaker's smirk faded though when the shock turned into fear. He stiffened, paying more attention to the bond.

Something wasn't right. He sent a quick comm. to Red Alert questioningly. Sideswipe was sending regular updates at least and if so... nothing seriously wrong was happening, right? He turned back to the show hesitantly. Jazz came in once again to sing the same line. Earth songs tended to repeat a lot, he mused staring hard at Jazz. If something was wrong and if Sideswipe pinged them a request for help the TIC wouldn't be so happy. Right? Blaster leaned into a twirl,

"She's a maneater!"

The moment those words were belted out a shock of fear came from Sideswipe. The empty energon cube fell from between his fingers from the surprise of the emotion. He pinged Red Alert; another wave of fear coming.

He stilled, when a beat of quiet settled between the two of them. It startled him when a spurt of fear came and never left. Raising himself up from his seat in a flurry of movement he tried to get to the door. Growling at a mech who didn't move fast enough he lurched and leaned onto a wall for support. A sputter came from his vents as a huge wave of utter terror filled him. He clawed to get to his legs once more only to be hammered with terror once more. He growled, sending a comm. to Red Alert. Hunching his shoulders he tried to make it to the door again. He wasn't even aware of the music coming to a startled stop until Jazz grabbed him and helped straighten him up.

"Are you okay mech?" He asked concerned.

Sunstreaker's optics were wide, spiraled open as far as they could go as it was. He jerked in his grip, his field echoing strangely. Any remnants of a smile faded into a serious flat expression.

"Come on, we're getting you to Ratchet." He tugged at the gold frontliner gently trying to coax him from the death grip he had on the wall. Terror filled even his side of the bond and Sunstreaker tried once more to get to the door that lead to the hall.

"Mech?" His muddled processor popped out of the torrent of emotion. He grit his denta, hissing out a scream and growled out his twin's name.

Floundering once more he spasmed, all of his input coming in shorted out. He screamed, the panicked terror that was emanating from Sideswipe dominating everything. He reached out for the door once more, his knees buckling underneath his dead weight. Jazz's faceplates turned alarmed, and he sent his own question to Red Alert about what was going on with the red twin. The reply was a quick reply that no updates or notifications to his location was coming at all. The last one had been several minutes ago. Sunstreaker's vents stuttered to a halt, his body locking up, optics stared wide and unseeing in front of him. his faceplates were twisted into a scream, olfactory sensor scrunched up as well. He fell silent and eerily still. Jazz heaved his frame upwards and called for Ironhide to help carry the heavier mech to the Med Bay.

With his lips set in a grim line he sent a message to Prowl. Something happened to Sideswipe. Something terrifying judging from the way Sunstreaker had shrieked. With quick order, a party of mechs went off following the trail of Sideswipe. The priority came to Ratchet first, the moment his optics fell on the frozen twin he'd cursed and ordered them to lay him out.

Ratchet scanned his frame, as it twitched every few seconds and he vented heavily.

"Mech was just sitting there until he just got up and he was struggling to get to the door." Jazz paused, watching as Ratchet examined him, the white and red mech cursing when a terrible result came back from Sunstreaker's spark.

"What the frag happened out there?" He hissed, already getting ready to pop his chest plates open.

"Sunstreaker said something about his brother," Jazz said unhelpfully. His jovial mood was completely faded into business.

"First Aid," Ratchet yelled into his comm. unit. The sparklight shimmering from Sunstreaker's retracting chest plating was coming in pulses. The spark surged only to dim until a bare flicker. Angry optics came up to meet Jazz's visor. He took the hint and slipped out of the Med Bay. Nearly bowling over the second medic who had come running down the hall from his private quarters the Third in Command started making his way to where Red Alert was. Ratchet quickly set First Aid about to work as soon as he stepped through the door. The pulsating spark beneath their servos the most important thing at the moment.

First Aid jumped, a spark in such conditioned never was a good sign. He steeled himself, pulling out the necessary equipment. He handed it to Ratchet, who quickly covered the exposed spark, the spark chamber cover open, and cursed as a jolt of energy caused the warrior's spark to level out. Only for it to gutter once more into a shaky mess of energy.

Over and over Ratchet tried to keep his spark level. It continually continued to sputter about. First Aid flinched when he heard Ratchet mutter a prayer to Primus. He set the voltage higher a nick. Sunstreaker's spark had settled on a dim, but steady pulse. Suddenly it surged, gracing them with bright light directly in the faceplates only to fall dimmer once again. The golden mech's spark had settled at least. It was not in any danger of guttering out anymore. His spark lacked the luster it had once before, but Ratchet had stilled his servos, his shoulder falling down in relief. They had stabilized him at least. Sideswipe on the other hand, Ratchet thought, staring hard at the one twins spark. It was always Sideswipe.

There's the first little bit. I have two enablers and someone who just loves helping me bounce ideas right now though so there's no telling how long this will be. Because I'm really gonna have fun with this.