Disclaimer: "Transformers" belongs to Hasbro, as much as I would like to own even a small part of them.
A/N: Again, I thank you all who have reviewed and faved. :) I probably would have posted this sooner, but I lost my memory stick where this chapter was (luckily, found it earlier today). This one's a bit longer than the others… Also, my finals are getting closer and I'll have to start concentrating on them. Expect updates, but not very often.
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Sideswipe stared.
"Sunny… I know I don't say this very often, but this time I gotta hand it to you. You're a genius."
Sunstreaker couldn't help the small smug smile that crept to his face. "Yes. Yes, I am."
Sideswipe leaned closer to the monitor. "This is so fun", he announced happily, a mischievous glint in his optics. "Can you imagine the possibilities of this?"
The twins were huddled together in front of a computer inside their shared quarters. It showed a picture of the communication center and its large screens that projected the surveillance feed from all parts of the base. Unfortunately, the view was from an awkward angle and partially obscured by the chair Red Alert used to sit in.
"Though you could have picked a better spot for the spy camera", Sideswipe murmured.
He earned a glare from his yellow brother. "I didn't exactly have the time to be picky. It serves its purpose well enough." Sunstreaker turned back to look at the empty communication center again. "I wonder why Red hasn't installed any cameras in his own office."
"Maybe he just doesn't like to be watched. How long do you suppose it'll take him to realize what we did?"
"Who? Red or the runt?"
"Red."
"What you did, Sideswipe", Sunstreaker reminded pointedly.
Sideswipe frowned at him. "You're mean. We're partners in crime now, you know."
"I haven't done anything worth punishing yet", Sunstreaker said with that self-satisfied smirk and leaned back on his chair. "So far, it's been only you who has planted the jammer in the camera network. And you'd better have planted it well – pray to Primus that Red won't find it or Prowl will ditch you in the brig."
"We don't have a brig."
"Prowl made sure that we do."
"Slag."
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A yellow Camaro sat parked outside in the command center's shade, a human boy laying on its warm hood and facing towards the road even though his eyes were closed. The soothing wind of a late summer swept over the yard and ruffled his messy hair.
Sam had been there for almost an hour now, ever since Optimus had sent Ironhide to fetch Will Lennox and his family from the airport. Ratchet had also volunteered to go and get Mikaela from Tranquility and to vent some frustration over the fact that he just couldn't find his missing tools. Sam hoped that she would understand to bring some essential supplies to the lounge room. Like a coffeemaker, he thought dreamily. Gotta keep it away from Sunny, though.
He couldn't tell if he dozed off on Bumblebee's hood, the car motionless beneath him. After some time that could be seconds or minutes, he was awoken by a soft purr of the Camaro's engine.
"They're coming."
"What? Who?" Sam sprang up somewhat groggily and almost tumbled off the car.
"It's Ratchet", Bumblebee replied. "He has Mikaela with him."
"Great", Sam yawned, stretched and slid off the hood. "I'll get to show her around the base."
"Sam", Bumblebee's voice that drifted from his speakers sounded slightly worried, "has your recharge cycle been disrupted? Your energy levels are running disturbingly low. Should I get Ratchet to have a look at you?"
Saw waved him off, blinking towards the road where a trail of dust told of an approaching car. "Thanks for the concern, 'Bee, but it's normal for humans, usually."
"Normal?" Bumblebee wondered aloud, and Sam nodded. "If you say so… here they come."
The CMO's bulky Hummer alt mode headed towards them. Sam saw a hand waving from the car's window at him, and he smiled. The summer had been good for his and Mikaela's relationship, and even though because of school they didn't get to spend as much time with each other as during the vacation, they enjoyed every moment they could be together.
Bumblebee shook under his hand, as if laughing. "Quiet, you", Sam grinned at his guardian and swatted his hood playfully.
Once the SAR Hummer had come to a halt, the driver side door opened and Mikaela hopped out, smiling broadly. "Hi, Sam", she said. "Fancy seeing you here." Her long dark hair was tied in a ponytail and her skin was as sun-kissed as ever. Only her blue eyes seemed to be sparkling brighter than before.
Sam still couldn't get over what a lucky guy he was.
"Mikaela", Ratchet said loud enough to cut off any greeting Sam might have had in response. "Before you two start socializing, please remove these 'supplies' of yours from inside me. I'm unable to transform."
"Sure, Ratchet." Mikaela went to the medic's passenger side door which had opened by its own accord, reached in and started tugging and pulling at the big, heavy sports bag there. Sam hurried to assist her. "What's this, 'Kaela?" he asked curiously, heaving the bag out of Ratchet, who instantly closed the door, backed away and started to transform.
"Supplies", Mikaela said vaguely, stretching her back and grimacing when she heard it pop. "I hear Will and his family are going to stay here for the night, so I thought maybe we could keep them company."
"They haven't arrived yet", Sam said, his attention on the bulging sports bag. "You didn't happen to bring coffee with you, did you?"
"No. Why? You know I don't like coffee."
"Just a thought", Sam replied sadly, looked up but flinched as he saw Ratchet in his bipedal form crouching behind Mikaela and staring at him. His optics were again flickering in a telltale way.
"Sam", the CMO said in the firm matter-of-fact tone that he used when addressing patients, "my scanners indicate that your energy levels are considerably lower than they should be at this time of your online cycle."
Sam understood that as a question and gave a resigned sigh. "No, Ratch", he started explaining patiently, patience being a major asset when trying to explain things to giant alien robots. "I'm not sick or in danger to keel over at any moment now. It's a common thing to feel a little tired now and then. No – no, Ratch, stop scanning!" Sam raised his hands to shield himself from the medic's intense gaze (as if it really helped). "I said I'm fine!"
"Hmm", Ratchet hummed. It was the kind of "hmm" that doctors always gave the patients on a checkup. "Maybe Mikaela's idea that you'd all stay for the night isn't that bad. I could monitor your sleep and make sure you get your energy back to an acceptable level."
Mikaela giggled. Apparently she could find some humor in this – Sam felt mostly embarrassed. He didn't need a baby-sitter! He frowned up at the medic. "Seriously – it's not a big deal."
"In my opinion as the Chief Medical Officer, we can't be too careful." Ratchet had stopped scanning, but was still regarding Sam steadily. "Especially after what happened in Mission City."
"You're overreacting. That was months ago."
Ratchet's optics narrowed. "I do not overreact", he snapped. "Drop the tough guy act and don't tell me how to do my job, kid."
"'Bee", Sam whined, seeking support from his friend.
The car vibrated from silent laughter again. "After all this time, you should know better than to cross Ratchet when he's wearing that expression, Sam."
"Mute it, youngling", Ratchet commanded, sending a glare in Bumblebee's direction. The Camaro slunk back sheepishly. "Primus help you if you frag that vocal processor again."
"Oops! I did it again…"
Sam groaned. "'Bee, please."
"Oh, come on, Sam", Mikaela laughed, taking one of the bag's straps and gesturing him to take the other one. "It's been ages since we last saw the Lennoxes. It'll be fun!"
"Just don't argue about it anymore", Ratchet grumbled and stood up. "I'm having a fragged up day as it is."
Defeated, Sam mumbled his agreement and something about calling his parents. Then he grabbed the hefty bag with Mikaela. "Bumblebee, open up. This thing weighs a ton and there's no way I'm dragging it all the way to our place."
As Sam and Mikaela hurled the bag into Bumblebee's backseat, Ratchet fixed his stare into midair, as if listening intently. Then he glanced down at the humans who by now were giving him strange looks. "A transmission from Ironhide", he explained. "He's bringing in the Lennox family, ETA approximately thirty-two Earth minutes. You, Mikaela, will have the time to settle into the human quarters and Sam may show you around if needed. I believe Captain Lennox will want to see you both when he arrives."
"Roger that, Ratch." Sam flashed a grin.
"We'll be there. Thanks for the lift, Ratchet."
Ratchet nodded curtly. "Good", he just said and turned, heading for his med bay. "Now where did those two hellions disappear again? I can feel it in my gears they're up to no good…"
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"Prowl to Red Alert."
"Red Alert here. Sir."
"Captain Lennox, his bonded and their sparkling will be arriving shortly. Find the twins, explain that to them and tell them to go with Optimus to meet them outside. Sam Witwicky and his… mate, Mikaela Banes, will be there too."
Red was already flipping through the cameras, looking for the Lambo twins. "They are in the rec room. Should I make it an order?"
"Yes. According to Ratchet they shouldn't have any urgent duties to attend to at the moment." There was a pause at the other end. "And for Primus' sake, tell them to behave themselves."
"Understood. Red Alert out."
"Prowl out."
The link closed with a click. Before trying to contact the twins, Red Alert took a moment to wallow in his disbelief. More humans? How many knew about the base anyway? It required only one blabbermouth… it was way too risky. Why could nobody see it?
Looks like his job just got a tad harder.
Resentfully he opened the com link. "Red Alert to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker…"
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"Is that his femme?"
If he could do that in his car mode, Sunstreaker would have rolled his optics in an exasperated manner. "Yes, Sides, it is", he replied through the private link.
The two Lamborghinis were in their alt modes, waiting side-by-side for the weapons specialist and his cargo to arrive. Bumblebee was there too, his charge and Mikaela Banes sitting on his vehicle form's hood enjoying the late afternoon sun, casually holding hands and chatting light-heartedly. Sam was doing an admirable job in ignoring the twins at the edge of his vision and keeping his eyes fixed on the road and occasionally, on Mikaela. Of course, he wasn't fooling either of the twins, but they weren't stupid enough to do anything in front of Bumblebee.
Sideswipe's scanners went briefly over the female. "But it's so small."
"They all are. And it's a 'she'."
"Have you ever met this 'Captain Lennox' before?"
"No. Everyone else has been here longer than us." Sunstreaker paused, and then continued, the smirk audible in his voice: "I hear Ironhide holds him in high regard. Captain Lennox and his team took Blackout down in Mission City."
"A human?" Sideswipe sounded incredulous, but also slightly curious. "I think I'm going to like him."
"Ironhide's here", Sunstreaker said distractedly, his scanners sweeping the road that led to the base.
"Great", Sideswipe said cheerfully.
Sunstreaker revved his engine, causing the humans to throw a glance at his direction – Mikaela surprised, Sam nervous. "What are you being so fragging excited for?" the yellow Lamborghini asked his brother, irritated. "I could think of dozens of things I'd be rather doing. Especially when the kid's here, too." His engine growled, and Sam quickly faced forwards again. "Trying to act as if he hasn't done anything, the little slagger..."
"Tone it down, Sunny", Sideswipe warned. "Not in front of 'Bee. Or Ironhide, for that matter."
They both fell silent and observed motionless as the humans got to their feet, watching the black Topkick as it drove up the road towards the waiting welcome committee.
"Where the frag is Optimus?" Sunstreaker grumbled as Ironhide's doors popped open and Captain Lennox climbed out, greeting Sam and Mikaela with a grin and a friendly handshake. Just another human thing the twins couldn't comprehend. They exchanged some words and then went to unloading Ironhide from their luggage, while Mikaela hurried to help Sarah to struggle something out of the front seat.
Sideswipe was already running his scanner over the Captain and his family. "Ironhide", he suddenly said aloud, laughter in his voice. "What is that?"
The Topkick's engine rumbled loudly. "Shut the frag up", Ironhide snarled, outright hostile.
Sarah Lennox's blonde head poked out of Ironhide's door, looking curiously at the red Lamborghini who had spoken. "It's a baby seat", she explained. "For Annabelle." Then she cocked an eyebrow and smiled politely. "You must be... Sideswipe, right? Ironhide told me about you."
A half-stifled snicker sounded from Sideswipe's speakers.
Ironhide shifted an inch forwards. "One word, Sideswipe-"
"Whoa! 'Hide!" Will's voice exclaimed from the back where he and Sam were hoisting the last bag out on the ground. "Stay still!"
Sideswipe snickered again, unable to contain his mirth. "Yeah, 'Hide. Stay still."
"Oh, you little - Sarah, get this... thing out of me!" Ironhide groused, trembling slightly.
Sarah blinked and plunged back into Ironhide's interior. "Right – Mikaela, dear, give me a hand… there." Mikaela dragged the baby seat out of the big pickup truck and Sarah took Annabelle in her arms. Sam and Will backed away with the luggage to give Ironhide the room to transform.
Ironhide started shifting and folding back into his robot form, and the Lamborghini twins followed his example. Bumblebee remained as he was, but reversed a few feet away from his three comrades.
Once his transformation was complete, Ironhide charged his oversized cannons, but kept his hands on his sides. The weapons emitted a high-pitched whirring sound as they rotated. The humans backed away a bit more.
He stared harshly at the twins. Sideswipe was eyeing the baby seat on the asphalt, and judging by the way he kept crumpling his faceplates oddly, still felt like laughing. His brother wasn't intimidated by the fearsome cannons, and if he was, it didn't show.
"What?" Sunstreaker asked bluntly after a long, uncomfortable silence.
"Introduce yourselves, you slaggers", Ironhide barked ever so nicely.
"I'm Sideswipe", Sideswipe said immediately and crouched down closer to the Lennoxes. He tilted his head curiously at Sarah. "Are you Captain Lennox's bondmate?"
Little Annabelle didn't seem concerned by the closeness of the red robot – she was occupying herself with the task of trying to shove a bunny plushie into her mouth. Sarah looked mostly lost. "I'm his wife", she managed to say before Sideswipe focused his attention on the baby girl.
"Is that your sparkling?" he asked even with more curiosity. "It's even smaller than you. Is that normal or a glitch?"
"Anna is our daughter, and she's completely healthy", Sarah replied, now frowning slightly and taking a step closer to her husband. Her gaze wandered to the yellow warrior questioningly, who noticed her look.
"Sunstreaker", Sunstreaker said curtly.
"But you can call him Sunny. He loves it." Clang. "Ow!"
Will looked at them strangely. "It's... nice to meet you. I guess." His expression changed into confusion and he sniffed the air. "Is that coffee I smell?"
Sunstreaker's optics hardened and he glared icily at Sam, who cringed.
Things could have easily escalated from there, so it was good that Optimus finally decided to show up, emerging from the command center with long strides that shook the ground.
"Captain Lennox", he greeted Will with his deep voice. "Sarah Lennox. Annabelle Lennox. Excellent to see your whole family arrived safely. Apparently you have already been… acquainted with our most recent arrivals." Optimus gave the twins an authoritative look. Sideswipe attempted an innocent smile while Sunstreaker merely folded his arms and defiantly returned the look.
"Yes, Ironhide – um – introduced us."
Optimus nodded and continued: "I apologize for the delay, Captain Lennox. I was held up by a matter that had to be secured before we could provide you lodgings inside the base."
Bumblebee opened a private com link to his leader. "Not Wheeljack again?"
"Red Alert", was Optimus' brief reply.
"Ah."
Will smiled up at the Autobot leader's tall form. "You know, my first name is not 'Captain'. I'm off duty, just call me Will."
"Very well. Sam and Bumblebee know the base and they will guide you to the human quarters. Once you've settled down, I would like to hear your opinion about the base and discuss some arrangements with your military." When Will nodded his acknowledgement, Optimus turned his attention back to the waiting Autobots. "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, report to Prowl. Ironhide, refuel and accompany Will to the command center when he's ready."
"Bumblebee, take the luggage, will you? I think we'll be walking this time", Mikaela said to the Camaro and lifted the baby seat from the ground as she watched Ironhide leave and follow behind Optimus, grumbling something under his breath.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker stood within a small distance from them. Sideswipe mimicked his brother and folded his arms. Sunstreaker stared blankly after the weapons specialist.
Then the foreboding grin appeared on the yellow warrior's face, the one that Sideswipe knew very well and which almost always had the result of them ending up in the brig. As much as he knew to be wary of that wicked, devious smirk, it tickled his sensors in a most exciting way. Slowly, he also grinned from audio to audio and shot a glance at the departing Topkick's back.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Sideswipe?"
"Looks like I am, dear brother."
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A/N: So… do I really need to tell what the song is?