Rhythm & Hues: Carry on Dancing

Author's note: For those that don't like them, this is a fancharacter warning.

Chapter 1

Wednesday

No humans strolled down the normally busy road. No cars waited at the lights. Bluestreak quietly stuck his grill around a corner. Starscream's dulcet tones had reached his audio receptors while patrolling the streets. Which would explain the lack of humans. Sometimes the little creatures did have some sense.

Optimus, though he really thought it had been Smokescreen, had suspected the attack on the research facility out in Nevada to be a diversion. Especially when Mirage had been finding Soundwave's flunkies slinking around Portland the past week, nowhere near their current target. Which was why the Datsun was currently patrolling the city rather than fighting in Nevada.

The resonance off the buildings distorted the Seeker's voice, so Bluestreak had no idea what Starscream was saying, or rather, screaming. He transformed and put his back against the brick wall of an office building and peeked one bright blue optic around the corner. He held his rifle up, ready to rush in and start firing.

Starscream stood over two very beat up little sports cars- one blue, one red-orange-demanding to know where "it" was, whatever "it" was. Bluestreak tightened his grip on the butt of his rifle. While he wasn't exactly that eager to engage anyone in battle, least of all Starscream, he could see two human females cowering inside their vehicles. He couldn't stand by while Starscream followed through on his threats. The Datsun tightened his door wings and swung around the corner, firing off two shots before ducking into an alley.

Starscream let out a loud and long string of curses. He looked around in confusion trying to pinpoint the origin of the shots. "I know you're there, Autobot! I'm no fool!"

Could've fooled me, Screamer. Bluestreak kept that particular thought to himself.

One of the Lotus Esprits, the blue one, backed away a few feet before Starscream turned his attention back to the cars. "Where do you think you're going flesh creature? I want to know where you're hiding it!" He leveled his arm cannon at the little car.

The other car's engine revved, and if Bluestreak didn't know any better, he'd think that it was growling at the Decepticon. Bluestreak stepped out and fired another shot from his hand rifle. Then he added two more from his shoulder rifles. "Why don't you pick on somebody your own size, Starscream. Leave them alone!"

Starsscream hissed, touching the three holes Bluestreak had opened in his chassis. "You fool, Autobot! Facing me by yourself!" Starscream easily hefted the Esprit that had tried to escape him. "Surrender or I will crush this stupid little car and the flesh creature inside it."

"YOU LET MY SISTER GO!'

No Transformer should be surprised when a perfectly normal-seeming car turns into something more. But when the red-orange Esprit rose and transformed, both Autobot and Decepticon sure came close to it: Starscream nearly dropped the car in his hands; Bluestreak nearly fired all three of his guns.

A femme bot rushed Starscream and started beating the jet with her fists. Bluestreak blinked his optics. She made it look so… cute. Which is something, considering her little fists were putting small dents in the Screamer's arm. Starscream shrieked an objection and threw the car in his hands at the femme. Bluestreak managed not to be as surprised when the blue car popped into another femme bot. The red-orange femme grabbed the blue one and danced out of Starscream's stunned grasp.

Bluestreak gathered up the remains of his wit and chased the Seeker into the air and out of sight. Which wouldn't normally have been possible, except that Starscream was clearly in shock from surprise.

The Datsun turned to the two femmes. They looked at him, though their optics flicked toward his weaponry. Then they both transformed and screeched away. "Wait!" Even as he shouted Bluestreak transformed and took off after them. He followed their taillights through the sharp corners of the city until they reached the highway. Here he put the figurative pedal to the metal and overtook the two slim cars.

"Wait a minute! Won't you stop?"

The blue Esprit's pop up head light lifted briefly, but the other remained firmly closed. When the blue's lowered they both sped up. Fast they might be, but with no obstacles, it appeared he was faster still. "Why won't you talk to me? Where did you come from? How did you get here? How long have you been here?" While he threw out his questions he took in their condition.

They looked pretty bad off. Dents and scorch marks marred their coloring. They were covered in what looked like bad welding marks. They had sounds coming out of their engines that could not be healthy. Bluestreak wondered if that was from living off earth fuel, without it being converted to energon.

An F-1 race car shimmered into existence, cruising along beside them. "Bluestreak, is there something amiss?"

The two Esprits fishtailed, revving their engines at his sudden appearance.

"You know, you're about to hit traffic. In less than a mile, I'd say," the spy told them.

"Mirage! You've got to help me. Primus knows, we've got to stop them. You just won't believe it!"

"Bluestreak calm down. What are you talking about?" Mirage idly turned his wheels, swerving gently on the road.

"Just help me!"

"Hmph." But the former Towers resident pulled up alongside the blue Esprit. "Excuse me miss," he told the human that had appeared at the wheel. "Would you kindly pull over? I'd hate to see you or your friend get hurt with the traffic jam up ahead. See now, there's an exit coming up. Why don't we pull off." Despite all his genteel manner, Mirage added a little force to his words . He would not move out of the car's way; he was forcing the Esprit onto the ramp. The red-orange Esprit acted confused, edging forward than slowing down. Finally she, too, headed onto the ramp, before it was too late.

"Now then, Bluestreak." Mirage 'guided' the blue car into a parking lot. "Tell me, why are we scaring these two nice humans? Not to mention the dent we're putting in their schedule."

Bluestreak stuttered, unable to get the words out clearly. Then he transformed and gently shook the little blue Esprit. "Show him!"

The woman vanished from the driver's seat. Slowly, reluctantly, the hood folded down and a silver head, crowned in black, popped up. The doors slid up, and behind the shoulders that folded out, to form door wings. The red-orange Esprit also transformed, though faster and the face that folded up scowled fiercely. While bigger than a minibot, they were still shorter than the two mechs. And neither of them bore any faction markings

Mirage's engine died and he transformed, shock written on his white face. "Well I'll be." But that was all he said for a long moment.

Bluestreak crossed his arms over his chestplate, doorwings held high. "Now do you see why I needed to stop them?" The Datsun turned to the two femmes and extended his hand. "My name is Bluestreak. I'm really really sorry if I scared you."

Mirage reached his own hand out to the red-orange femme. "I am Mirage. Forgive my rudeness."

The blue Esprit stared at his hand before reaching out her own. "My name is Rhythm."

The red-orange femme snorted but put her hand into Mirage's. "Hues."

"So why did you run away from me? I just saved you from Starscream. You should have known I meant you no harm."

Mirage frowned at hearing this, but opened another circuit. "I'm more interested in where you came from. It seems odd that you two appear out of nowhere."

Rhythm turned her purple optics on the noble mech."Well we've been active for only about 1825 solar cycles. Our memory circuits are kinda scrambled so we're not entirely sure about just how we came to be on this planet."

Hues crossed her arms. "We ran because no Cybertronian has ever tried to kill us before. And I thought he called you an Autobot," she shot at Bluestreak.

Bluestreak and Mirage exchanged a brief glance. Where the slag had these two been. "I am an Autobot, and so is he. Starscream is a Decepticon. Unfortunately him threatening somebody is nearly a daily occurrence. But I won't hurt you."

Mirage eyed the slowly growing crowd of humans. "Why don't you two come back to the base with us. It'd be a lot safer, and you look like you could use some repairs.

The two femmes smiled and tittered with embarrassment. Then all four of them transformed and headed for the Autobot base, with Bluestreak leading the way and Mirage making sure neither of them bolted.

The four transformers pulled up to the Ark. The femmes transformed and stared up at the giant boosters sticking out of the mountain.

"Welcome to the Ark," Bluestreak said as he transformed. Mirage followed suit, though he remained silent.

"Wow, so this is the Ark?" Hues cooed, her head tilted back, her purple optics glinting in the sunlight.

Bluestreak grinned. "You've heard of it?"

"Only that they were planning on building an exploration ship that would hold specimens from other worlds."

Mirage frowned at them. "That was its original intent, at least before the war."

The two femmes jerked around. "What war?" they both asked.

Bluestreak's jaw dropped. "I just saved you from a Decepticon. Don't you even know who they are?"

Hues tapped a finger on her thigh still admiring the Ark. "I seem to recall some bots going by that name. They started a war? For how long now? Orns? Vorns?

"Try over 100,000 vorns." The two identical femmes turned to stare at Mirage. "Let's get inside before Red has a malfunction."

"That's quite alright Mirage. 'Red' can have a malfunction just fine with them right there." The aforementioned Red stood at the entrance, underneath the orange boosters. "What are you doing bringing them here? Did you ever think it might be a Decepticon trap?"

Bluestreak lifted his hand toward the femmes. "But I saved them from Starscream."

Red Alert snorted derisively, his fists planted on his hips. "Aren't you supposed to be on patrol?" Red's blue optics turned to Mirage. "And you're supposed to be in Nevada?"

Mirage tilted his head. "The battle was almost over. They didn't need me anymore."

Bluestreak touched Rhythm's shoulder. "Come on, we should get you inside and cleaned up a little."

"Absolutely not! Not until I'm one hundred percent certain that they pose no security risk outside of what they see and hear, which is bad enough in itself. You," he pointed to Bluestreak, "are in the way. Go back to patrol. And you," he turned to Mirage, "get down to Perceptor and have yourself repaired. I'll tend to these two."

Grumbling the two Autobots did as Red Alert commanded.

The Security Director turned to the two femmes, the sensors on his head blinking as he looked them over from a distance. "I don't see anything initially alarming. Hold your arms parallel to the ground."

Stunned at being so succinctly ordered around, Rhythm and Hues did as they were told. Red Alert walked around the two, pausing every so often to poke or prod a suspicious crevice or fold. The Security Director ordered them to widen their stance and he ran his hands down their slim legs.

"You don't have any weapon storage?"

They shook their heads silently.

He turned their arms this way and that, and peered into their optics. "You two are as bare as a protoform." Red Alert finally declared. "But I'm still putting you in a holding cell until Perceptor or Ratchet get a chance to properly scan you."

"Will that be for long?" Rhythm asked, a plaintive note in her singsong voice.

"It will be as soon as possible, but still might not be until nightfall. Come with me."

The two femmes obediently followed him into the Ark, optics wide with wonder.

Mirage lifted a piece of heavy equipment while Perceptor moved a piece of delicate machinery.

"How far away are Ratchet and Ironhide?"

"I calculate they will be here in 10.386 klicks as of now." Perceptor angled the surgical arm just right over the gurney. "But Red Alert wanted me to examine our unexpected guests. Therefore, I need to prepare the med bay quickly."

"Who's Ratchet bringing in?"

"Really, that should be a logical conclusion. Who else would need emergency repairs except for the twins." Perceptor ran a test scan. "There that is ready." He wiped his hands clean with a cloth that he tossed into a recycle unit. "Now then, let us go examine these femme bots Red Alert is clamoring about before Ratchet arrives." He grabbed a hand held scanner and they headed for the brig where Red Alert waited for them.

"It's about time you got here, Perceptor." Red Alert opened the bars to permit Perceptor, though he wouldn't let Mirage set foot in the cell. "I want you to run a full spectrum analysis on these two for any spy equipment or hidden weapons, plus check for any possible viruses or detonation devices.

Perceptor knelt down next to the red-orange femme, quietly introducing himself through Red's litany. He ran his hand scanner over Hues while he answered the Security Director. "Red Alert, that is entirely impossible, unless you would have them brought up to med bay." The scientist paused before he switched to Rhythm to look at Red Alert. "I postulated that you would not." Perceptor stood and stepped out of the cell, double checking the results of the scan.

Red Alert put up the sound dampeners, so the femmes couldn't hear what they discussed. And he nearly exploded. "You don't understand! They could sabotage the equipment. They could kill the wounded or worse take hostages. The med bay doesn't have the necessary facilities for the threat they represent, and we don't have the personnel to counteract that lack right now."

Perceptor lowered his datapad. "A threat that I cannot detect. What my scans do show are appallingly clogged fuel systems, damaged ventilators, and that's just their shared problems. They need to be in the med bay."

"No. There's too much of a security risk. They can wait until Ratchet is able to come down here and see them." Red paused and his sensors flashed. "They're here."

Perceptor tried again. "But-"

Red Alert shooed Perceptor and Mirage out. "No. Go help unload Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. Mirage go with him, then return to guard our guests."

Perceptor shot a helpless look at the two pairs of watching optics. Then he turned and trudged down the corridor for the main bay doors with Mirage.

Ratchet impatiently flashed his siren lights at Perceptor and Mirage . "Perceptor, get Sunstreaker out and help me get him to the med bay. His ventilator has been punctured."

Perceptor lifted Sunstreaker out of Ratchet. "There is a small matter you should be aware of, Ratchet."

Ratchet transformed. "Is my med bay damaged?" He picked up Sunstreaker's feet.

"No."

"Then it can wait. Mirage, help Ironhide with Sideswipe." Ratchet and Perceptor started for the ark.

Mirage pulled Sideswipe out of Ironhide as gently as he could. "Ratchet, you really do need to hear this."

Ratchet looked over his shoulder. "I said later."

Mirage sighed as Ratchet disappeared into the ark. Ironhide transformed and together they carried the large warrior in.

They set the twins close to each other and Perceptor and Ratchet immediately set to work repairing the holes that had been blown through them.

Mirage frowned. "They were fine when I left. What happened?"

"Starscream's what happened. Skywarp teleported him in." Ratchet glanced up, perpetual scowl in place. "And where were you?"

Mirage stiffened and lifted his chin. "I left to check on Bluestreak. Prime knew I had left."

"Whatever. Just get."

Mirage and Ironhide turned and walked out of the med bay. The spy headed toward the brig, while Ironhide turned the opposite way. The big red van stopped when he realized Mirage wasn't following him. "Where d'ya think yer goin'?"

"Red sent me to the brig," Mirage replied noncommittally.

Ironhide frowned. "Whatcha do ter earn that?"

Mirage didn't look at the Security Officer. "He's sending me as a guard."

"Ah, well, okay then."

Mirage continued on his way until he heard heavy footfalls coming up behind him.

"Wait just an astrosecond. If the Twins are in repair, who's in the brig?"

Ironhide took in the condition of the two femmes. They sat touching shoulders, warily watching the new mech. Ironhide deactivated the sound dampeners.

"Mirage explained what happened. I'm sorry, ladies, if ya give me a cycle, I'll clear those scan results and let you out. Can I get ya anything in the meantime?"

Rhythm smiled up at him. "We are feeling a little depleted."

Ironhide returned the smile brightly. "That's a problem we can solve. I'll be right back." The old mech went to the brig dispenser and poured two cups of energon. He returned and opened the bars to hand the cups over. "Just sit them on the floor when yer done. I'm gonna go straighten out the datawork."

He headed straight for the monitor station, where, sure enough Red Alert sat. He had the brig on five different screens, each at a different angle. "I'm surprised ya weren't down there waiting fer Mirage ter return."

Red Alert frowned at the big red mech. "I'm not going to fret about two things when there are so many more potential security breeches. Besides I can watch them just as well from here."

Ironhide harrumphed. "Anything from that scan of Perceptor's?"

"According to his scanner, they have nothing except for the need of repair." Red's blue eyes never left the screens in front of him, but he pushed the relevant datapad toward his superior. "I'd really much rather have them both deep-scanned."

Ironhide picked up the data pad. "Good. Then I'll just get them up ter med bay and have Ratchet look at them."

Red Alert sputtered in indignation. "I'd really much rather be there myself."

"I'll let you know how it goes then. I'm goin' ter see them to the med bay then catch a recharge. I'll be back by 23:30."

Ironhide strode out, ignoring Red's protests.

When he returned to the brig, he found Mirage carefully and quietly breaking his gun down. "They're in a deep recharge. I did try to wake them when I heard you coming."

Ironhide grunted. "I'm off ter recharge myself. I'll leave instructions fer Bluestreak ter take over after he comes in from patrol. If they wake up, have Red let them out and see them ter med bay. If he gives ya trouble, then ya hail me." With that Ironhide turned and left.

Mirage turned his attention back to cleaning his gun, ready to while away the cycles in that manner.

Mirage's chronometer read a few minutes before midnight when Bluestreak waltzed in. The spy was just pitting the last of his rifle back together. "You got some recharge I see."

Bluestreak quirked an embarrassed grin. "Yeah, I'm sorry, but I made sure it was really quick. They haven't stirred have they? I was hoping they would be online when I got here. I was so hoping to chat with them."

Mirage subspaced his rifle and stretched out his legs before he hopped up. "Well, I'm due for a morning patrol. I'm off to catch a few hours myself."

"Do you want me to let you know if they wake-"

Mirage cut Bluestreak off with a hand on his shoulder. The spy turned his blue crowned head. What was that noise? He looked long and hard at the inactive femmes. Then he heard it again. A gargling. Mirage turned all his focus on the femmes. His keen eyes caught the thin stream of pink and brown fluid seeping out of Rhythm's mouth. Hues had an eerie silence about her, but she too had a mix of pink and brown fluid running down he slack chin. Then Rhythm began shaking, though her optics remained off.

Mirage whirled and slammed his fist on the alarm button.

Author's Afternote: I've always promised myself that I wouldn't create Mary Suebots for Transformers... But we see how that went. At the same time, this is a bit of a chance to have some fun with unexplored aspects of Cybertronian culture.

Edit: Recalculated the vorns to reflect 9 million years instead of 5 million. Also, just realized ffnet been eating my asterisks that I used to separate POV/scene changes. Have fixed with lines. Additionally I have corrected Ironhide and Red Alert's titles (I accidentally had them switched around in my head)