SHHHHEEEEEOOOO - BOOOOM!
The explosion rocked most of the autobots off their feet, even Optimus Prime staggered onto one knee, but Sideswipe stayed up, ignoring the blistering wounds until he launched a missile at Soundwave. After witnessing the direct hit and confirming that Soundwave went down in a glory of sparks, Sideswipe allowed himself to collapse and evaluate his own damage. Not only did energon and oil leak in various places, but several pieces of his charred metal decorated the immediate landscape. He recognized a larger section as part of the protective shell around his waist, but some originated from deeper inside.
The Autobots started to recover and rise again, in time for Starscream's incoming attack. Sunstreaker popped up and rapidly fired high-energy electron pulses, managing to drive the Decepticon away, but not before Megatron scored a blast to his chassis, bringing him down.
Sideswipe ignored his own wounds and rushed over to his brother. None of the others were in a position to cover Sunstreaker, and the Decepticon army, spotting his precarious position, immediately unleashed a barrage of laser shots, most of which didn't penetrate his armor, but a few hit the open wound inflicted by Megatron and scorched deeper, causing searing pain to both twins.
With a battle cry worthy of the warriors in Braveheart, Sideswipe leapt in the air, fired three shots, and landed on top of his brother, shielding him from further attack.
"Arrrgg", Sunstreaker moaned weakly as Sideswipe maneuvered himself into a protective position over him, determined not to let another laser harm his sibling.
"Sorry about the rough landing, Bro", Sideswipe apologized, realizing he'd probably momentarily imposed more pain than the laser blasts.
"It's not that…you're leaking fluid all over me", Sunstreaker complained, "You're practically giving me an oil transfusion on the field."
"Yeah, well, it's probably keeping you functional", Sideswipe replied, taking a moment to shoot Rumble in the arm.
"You're getting dirt and paint and Primus know what in there. I'll never get it out of my system."
Sideswipe glanced down at his brother.
"It's good for you", he assured the yellow twin struggling to stay online under him, "I think it's the kind of thing that Sparkplug says puts hair on your chassis."
Sideswipe had been holding this human phrase in for almost a month waiting for the perfect moment to emit it. Like most human phrases, he wasn't sure if the cultural reference would carry over, but at the very least it would keep Sunstreaker's mind occupied with functioning and not dying. The idea of Sunstreaker growing hair served to keep his own mood up as well.
"Ohh, Slag me now", Sunstreaker declared, his eyes gaining some strength.