"Tuneup give it back!" The green mech shouted.
"You'll have to catch me first!" The blue one laughed.
"Not fair your faster!" The green mech stopped. "I'll tell!"
"Oh come on Switchboard, its just a game." The blue mech frowned at the other. "You shouldn't get so worked up."
"It is NOT a game! I need that!" Switchboard. "And your going to break it!"
"Fine, ruin my fun." Tuneup scowled here's your.. thingy." He held out the device.
"Thank you." Switchboard said angrily grabbing the device. "And its not a THING. Its an energy modulator."
"Primus, some time I can't believe that we're twins." Tuneup looked at his brother. "It's not MY fault your a glitch head." Switchboard said as he turned away.
"HEY! Your the one whose wasting his childhood building energy modu-thingies." Tuneup followed his brother.
"Just because you lack the brain power to understand doesn't make it weird." Switchboard shot back, inspecting his device for damages.
"Well I don't see any other younglings building things like that." Tuneup sniffed.
"So? You also don't see any others wanting to save lives. Everyone just wants to help fight in the war when they grow up. Everyone wants to take life. I want to preserve it." Switchboard looked at his brother beside him. "Kind of like you."
"No, I don't want to just fight in the war like all those other glitch-heads. I want to fight to protect everyone. All the others just want to take part in the war. I want to end it." Tuneup said proudly.
"So, in our own ways we want to help people." Switchboard smiled.
"Yeah, I'm going to join the Autobots and make those Cons wish they never started this war!" Tuneup laughed.
"I'm not. I am going to Praxus to assist with medical." Switchboard frowned at his brother.
"The neutral area?" Tuneup looked shocked. "Why would you go there?"
"Because there I can help the most. Man y have not chosen a faction yet, and they need medical assistance too. I want to help them." Switchboard kept walking. "We better get home now, it's getting late."
"Oh yeah, it is." Tuneup glanced at the darkening sky. "Lets go."
Tuneup raced into the recreation center, Switchboard following behind. "Hurry up Switch!" Tuneup shouted, stopping for a moment.
"Why? Whether I speed up or not I am still going to get there." Switchboard sighed. He never did like coming here. He much preferred to stay at home at work, but Tuneup loved it here, and the two didn't like being apart for too long.
"Wow. You really are boring." Tuneup sighed. He just wanted to go play with the other younglings, but his brother didn't like going anywhere. However he was uncomfortable being away from him.
"Right. Well we're here. You happy?" Switchboard looked around. "Now, I am going to go over there, and make some adjustments to the energy modulator you took yesterday."
"What ever. I'm going to have REAL fun." Tuneup raced toward a group of younglings while Switchboard headed towards a corner.
"Just a bit more..." Switchboard whispered to himself. He was almost done adjusting the power output of his energy modulator. Tuneup was off with the other younglings that hung out at the recreation center, so he did not need to worry about his annoying brother coming to bother him. Tuneup was the only one who could really frustrate the mellow young mech. He never snapped at anyone but his brother. But his brother was annoying, and therefore deserved it. "Finally!" Switchboard said, relieved it was finally done, now he just had to go home and connect it to the- His thoughts were suddenly cut short by a large explosion. Alarmed, Switchboard looked up to see a large crater blown in the ground. Looking up he saw a group of mechs approaching through the air. Suddenly Tuneup was beside him shouting "Switchboard we have to get out of here now!"
"Those are Decepticons!" Switchboard cried.
"I know! now run!" Tuneup cried, pulling his brother away.
Suddenly a large black and purple mech landed in front of them. "Going somewhere?" He sneered. Another blue and black one landed beside the first. "Come on kids, you need to come with us." The blue one grabbed Switchboard while the black one grabbed Tuneup.
"NO!" Tuneup shouted, trying to break free.
"Hold still ya brat!" The mech cried.
"Having trouble Skywarp?" The blue one laughed.
"Shut it, Thundercracker!" Skywarp shot back.
They were carried to a large shuttle and put inside with the other younglings.
"All right I think that's all of them. All right lets get going." A Crimson mech said. The shuttle took off, taking all the younglings with it.
All around younglings were crying. They were being guarded by the majority of the Decepticons. "You alright?" Tuneup looked down at his frightened brother.
"Yeah... I just wish I had something to work on. I all ways feel better when I'm fixing something." Switchboard leaned against his brother.
"It's ok, everything is going to be fine. We are going to get out of this." Tuneup tried to sound reassuring.
"Ho? They are bigger then us. The have weapons, and armor. We are just younglings." Switchboard whispered, his voice wavering.
"The Autobots will save us, you'll see." Tuneup whispered back.
Switchboard just shook his head. Suddenly the shuttle shook violently, causing renewed cries of fear from some of the other younglings.
"Whats he doing up there? Thundercracker shouted.
"HEY DIRGE! FLY STRAIGHT!" Skywarp shouted.
Suddenly they felt a drop as the shuttle began to descend rapidly.
"Oh slag." Another blue Decepticon cried. After a few moments they hit the ground hard, throwing the Decepticons, who were standing, to the ground. As they guards picked themselves up off the ground a white Decepticon came into the cargo area. "Dirge what was that!" The crimson jet cried upon seeing his ally.
"It wasn't MY fault Thrust! We lost an engine!" The deep blue Con shot back. "Told Megatron this thing wouldn't make it."
"So what do we do know?" Thundercracker asked.
"We abandon the shuttle and go back to base." Thrust turned.
"What about the younglings? If we don't bring them back with us-" Skywarp began "Then grab as many as you can carry!" Thrust shouted.
"We can't just leave the rest here." Thundercracker looked around at the frightened younglings.
"Then we terminate any we can't carry." Thrust turned to grab some of the younglings, as cries of fright erupted from the them.
"WAIT!" Switchboard cried, suddenly leaping to his feet. "WAIT!'
"And why should we?" Thrust turned and walked up to him.
"I.." Switchboard began, his voice failing him as the crimson jet towered over him.
"Switch what are you doing?" Tuneup hissed grabbing his brothers arm.
Switchboard shook his brother off. "I can fix the engine. Then you don't have to try and carry everyone."
"What!" Tuneup jumped up and grabbed Switchboards shoulders. "Are you crazy! Their kidnapping us! You don't help them!"
"Either I fix the engine and we all go, or I don't and half of us die right here. I can't let that happen Tune." Switchboard looked at his brother with pleading eyes.
"You? You can fix the engine?" Thrust laughed.
"Well, I might be able to. I don't know whats wrong with it yet, but if I look at it I can tell you." Switch looked up at the towering Con.
"Alright, lets see what you've got." Thrust grabbed Switchboard and carried him off the shuttle.
"SWITCH!" Tuneup cried, trying to follow his brother. "Whoa! You stay here." Thundercracker grabbed Tuneup by the arm and pushed him back again the wall. "Just wait."
Out side Switchboard was examining the engine.
"So?" Thrust called. "can you fix it?"
"Yes, but it will take me a bit." Switchboard called back. "Then hurry it up." Thrust turned as Ramjet walked up. "What?"
"Why are you letting this child fix the engine? Why don't we just grab who we can and go?" Ramjet glanced at the young mech.
"Because, if we get back on time with half the younglings Megatron will be far angrier then if we return late with all of them." Thrust explained simply. "Plus, if that kid can fix the engine, then he may just be the mechanic we need."
"There, it's done." Switchboard looked over at Thrust. "It will work again."
"Took you long enough. Now, Get back on board." Thrust gestured at the open hatch. Switchboard obediently scrambled in and ruched to his brothers side.
"Are you ok? Did you really fix it?" Tuneup whispered quickly.
"Yes." Switchboard stared at the floor. "I-I had to. If I didn't they would have killed so many of us. I-" "I know. You did what you thought was right." Tuneup relented.
"But," Switchboard dropped his voice down lower. "I tried to go as slowly as possible. So that the Autobots could have a chance to catch up."
Tuneup stared at his twin in disbelief. "Nice!" He whispered. "I just hope it was enough time."
"Yeah." Switchboard whispered. "Now we just wait."
"Alright we are here!" Ramjet shouted loudly, waking Switchboard from the light recharge he had fallen into.
"What!" Switchboard looked around. "Nothing?"
"Nothing." Tuneup replied quietly.
"Oh." Switchboard felt defeated.
"This way now" Thundercracker gave them a push towards the hatch. "Everyone out."
All the younglings were herded out into the hangar then out down a hall into a large room.
"Wait here." Skywarp ordered, then all the Cons left, locking them in.
"What do you think is going to happen?" Switchboard whispered to Tuneup.
"I-I don't know." Tuneup turned towards his brother. He had always been larger then his brother, and as such always felt responsible for his safety. But he just did not know what to do.
Suddenly the door opened. A large gray mech entered, followed by a large blue mech and Thundercracker and Thrust. The grey mach carried an aura of fear with him. "So. Which is the child that had to fix the engine?" He inquired.
"This one, Lord Megatron." Thundercracker walked over to Switchboard and Tuneup.
"Bring him here." Megatron ordered.
Thundercracker gently pulled Switchboard up and motioned for Tuneup to stay put. He then gently pushed Switchboard toward the menacing mech. "So. You fixed the shuttle." Megatron looked down at the cowering child. "How are you able to fix things like that."
"I-I like repairing things." Switchboard stammered.
"Well, how about if you join the Decepticons, we could you someone with your skills." Megatron smiled.
"What about everyone else? What will happen to them?" Switchboard looked around at the other frightened younglings.
"What does it matter? We are talking about you." Megatron waved off his question.
Switchboard turned and looked back at Tuneup, who was silently pleading that his brother refused.
"I-" Switchboard thought for a moment. Then stood up straight and looked into Megatron's eyes. "If I do, if I join the Decepticons, you have to let them all go. Every single youngling here gets to go home safely."
"What?" Even Megatron was shocked by the child's forwardness.
"You heard me. They go free, and then I will be your medic." Switchboard continued to stare defiantly at Megatron.
Suddenly Megatron laughed. "Alright, they go free. But you are mine." Megatron glared at the young mech.
"SWITCH NO!" Tuneup screamed, running to his brother. "You can't!"
"I have to." Switchboard looked at his brother, sadness filling his optics. "It's the only way to make sure that everyone gets out ok."
"But everyone won't get out ok, you won't get out!" Tuneup cried.
"I know. But its something I have to do." Switchboard hugged his brother. "I'm sorry."
"Get them out." Megatron ordered. Thrust grabbed Tuneup and pulled him away from his brother. "NO! SWITCH! Let go! SWWIIITCHHH!" Tuneup screamed as he was taken away from his brother.
Switchboard stood silently on the bridge and watched the screen as it showed the shuttle carrying the younglings landing near Autobot controlled territory. The Decepticons pushed the younglings out and took off, leaving them there. Shortly after some Autobots appeared and rushed over to the younglings and began guiding them toward the city. "There, you see? I held up my end of the bargain." Megatron came up behind Switchboard.
"You did." switchboard continued to watch the screen. He could see his brother.
"What is your name." Megatron asked.
"Switchboard." He replied, still watching his brother.
"Hmmm. That will not do." Megatron looked down at the solemn child. "That name is not a Decepticon name. I think you will find Turncoat will suit you new life much better."
"I- Ok." Switchboard shuddered.
"Now, it is time to make you into a true Decepticon." Megatron smiled as the screen went dark.
Tuneup stared blankly at the wall. The Autobots had picked them up shortly after the Decepticons had pushed them out of the shuttle and left them. There was no way to get his brother back now. He felt empty without the comfort of his sibling. They had never been alone. Now his brother was gone. But the Decepticons would not get away with it. Tuneup was going to make them pay for taking his brother. But not as Tuneup. He was no longer Tuneup. Now, he was Hellbound, and the Decepticons would curse the day they stole his brother. They would all pay.