AN: The beginning of this chapter probably won't make sense at first, but it will later.

"You failed."

Rax slid gracefully down on one knee, head bowed and weapons on the ground before him. His pale blue optics were fixed on the ground. "I promise it will never happen again," he said.

Sav did not look up. "We will not make the same mistake twice."

Quilia and Natrar looked on from the entryway in faint amusement. The twin femmes' spirits lifted when they noticed the quiet whimper in Sav's voice when he spoke.

Natrar stepped forward, lowering her gaze respectfully. "Master, perhaps they are not ready for this mission. You should send a more experienced team."

"No, Natrar. They only need pass one more test."

Quilia bared her denta, stalking up beside her white and purple twin. "But you promised us this mission," she said. "It is supposed to be ours."

"Silence! You four will all engage in the last test, and prove who is worthy."

The red and silver femme glared down at Rax and Sav, giving a silent warning.

The white and black mech, Sav, returned the glare, a challenge in his optics.

Natrar and Rax had a similar exchange, glowering and growling at each other.

"Enough. You four are supposed to be the perfect beings, incapable of such petty rivalries."

"No remorse," said Quilia.

"No fear," added Natrar.

"No mercy," continued Rax.

"And no weakness," finished Sav.

"Very good. Dismissed."

Sav could sense the strange mix of emotions floating about in his twin's processor - anger, a flash of blind rage, and... confusion? The young mech delved deeper into the bond he and Rax shared.

Get out of my head. Rax absolutely hated the fact that he and his brother could read each other's thoughts.

You're awfully upset today.

And I have every right to be. Get out of my head.

Sav's defiant voice was just as annoying in Rax's head as it was in real life. Make me. Now, spill it.

What on New Quintessa are you going on about?

I am not stupid, and do not even start to think you can hide anything from me.

Rax sighed. It is mildly embarrassing.

Sav shoved his twin into the wall, darting away as soon as he did so. I will not tell.

The navy blue and black mech gave chase, barely giving pause to the Allicons watching them. Um... well... I kind of like Natrar.

Sav froze, turning to stare at Rax. "You are kidding," he said out loud. "You have to be joking."

Rax tackled him to the ground. "Not a word to anyone about this, understand?" He drew his short sword and pressed the point to his twin's throat.

"Oh, but this is such excellent blackmail material," Sav hissed. His denta were exposed in a deadly smile.

Suddenly, Rax felt the cold metal of a pistol against his chestplate. "You would not."

"I most certainly would."

Quilia rolled her crimson optics as she passed by with Natrar. "I cannot believe he wants to send these immature younglings on such an important mission."

The white and purple femme next to her nodded in agreement. "They're just as bad as the imperfect Cybertronians."

"Should we tell them that if they kill their twin, they will die, too?"

Natrar grinned. "Let them figure it out for themselves."

Rax shoved the knife in.

Sav fired the pistol.

It only took that for the both of them to end up on opposite sides of the hallway, clutching at their respective wounds to stop the energon from escaping.

A pair of Allicons sighed and grabbed the twins, dragging them off toward the Medical Bay.

When Rax and Sav were fully repaired, they were sent back to the debriefing room.

What do you think the test will be? Sav asked excitedly.

Rax's fist connected with his twin's shoulder guard. Shut up and remember, we are not capable of emotion. Especially in front of the Imperial Magistrate.

"Emotion is weakness," Sav said, repeating what they had been taught since their creation. "Weakness is imperfection. Imperfection leads to termination."

Rax nodded somberly. "One must be perfection to survive."

Natrar's smug voice came from behind him. "We are perfection."

Quilia joined in. "And we will survive."

The four agents walked through the ornately decorated doors and bowed.

Their voices melded together in perfect harmony. "We are ready."

"Your challenge begins as soon as you board the shuttle."

Rax nearly choked. He hated flying, and he hated shuttles.

Sav sensed his brother's discomfort and tried to calm him. Show no emotion in front of the Imperial Magistrate, remember?

Get out of my head.

Undisclosed Location:

Rapidblast loved that memory. It really was excellent blackmail material that his brother had a crush on Natrar.

He grabbed a rifle, checking to see that Quickstrike was still in recharge. This part of the mission was not for his brother.

"Firebird, download the specs."

The computer buzzed softly.

"I'm sure."

Autobot Base:

Red Alert paced the room, unable to keep still as he shot wary glances at the monitors. Someone was coming, he just knew it. He'd made the mistake of saying as much to Inferno, and now he had a medical check-up later that week.

Ratchet was going to kill him; he always tried to, and now he'd do it! So he wouldn't go. Yes, yes. That was it. He wouldn't go.

He'd be safe from that crazy medic. Safe from them.

Oh, yes, them. They were out to get him. They were all out to get him.

Especially those annoying twins.

No, no, not those twins. Not the lambos. The motorcycles. What were their names?

Red Alert's head jerked back to the screen when he caught a flash of movement.

A deep blue mech was walking up to the door. He was- he was... defeating the security?

The Security Director slammed his fist down on the red button - yes, the one he was told only to push if there was a real emergency.

"And they call me paranoid," Red Alert said.

Inferno came running. "What happened?"

"I told you someone was coming! I told you!" Red Alert pointed urgently at the monitor. "Look! Look!"

The fire truck sighed. "I don't see anything, Red. No one's there."

"No one's where?" an icy voice asked.

Slowly, the two Autobots turned 'round to come face-to-face with the dark mech who had been at the entrance only moments ago.

"You!" yelled Red Alert.

"Miss me? Of course not."

Inferno could barely recognize the mech. He didn't look right.

The jagged edges framing the small mech's faceplate and running down his arms offset the neat corners on his shoulders and wheel wells.

Inferno didn't even have time to run. He was pinned to the ground and a rifle held to his spark chamber.

The dark mech grinned madly. "Don't you think it would be ironic if the fire truck died by fire?"

Inferno felt the pieces fit together. The crazed optics and smile. "Rapidblast," he spat.

Rapidblast's smile widened. "Goodbye," he said cheerily, redirecting the shot from his gun into Inferno's arm. He curled one hand into a fist as he holstered his blaster. An insane giggle escaped him when he saw the blade extending. "A gift from the Imperial Magistrate."

Inferno's scream rang out, waking some of the Autobots nearby.

Red Alert scrambled for the In-Case-of-Emergency button again.

"Sorry," Rapidblast said, optics blackening, "but I can't let you do that."

Later...

Ratchet came running when he heard the scream. Someone was injured.

When he entered the monitor room, he saw Inferno's lifeless husk against the wall and Red Alert slumped against the console.

The energon still spilling from Security Director's chassis was stained red, indicating some sort of poison.

A nauseatingly familiar figure was crouched in next to Red Alert's body, energon dripping from a closed fist. "You and the inventor are next," he said before disappearing.

Ratchet leaned down to inspect the fatal wounds, and saw a message carved into the white and red armor.

Greetings from New Quintessa.

Cybertronians are imperfection.

Imperfection leads to termination.