Chapter Four: Start of a War
Ok, in hindsight, maybe it wasn't the best idea to prank a Decepticon. (Ok, ex-Decepticon, but still.)
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker had realized this the hard way.
It was the dead of night. Above Diego Garcia, a waxing moon was surrounded by dozens of twinkling stars. A slightly eery blueish-white glow provided the only light.
Two pairs of blue optics pierced the night. The figures behind them were no more than large shadows in the dim midnight light. They seemed to be hunched over, and were carrying large buckets.
"This is going to be good!" the first shadow sniggered.
The second shadow cuffed the first upside the head. "Shut up, you slagger! You want us to get caught?"
"Primus, Sunny. Don't get your tailpipe in a twist..."
The second shadow – aka Sunstreaker – growled. "Just shut up and let's get on with it! And don't call me Sunny!"
…
It was pitch black in the hangar. Luckily, Cybertronians have built in night vision. Have you ever been to Cybertron? You'll know why.
The recharging form of Barricade was sprawled at an unnatural angle. His head was somehow tucked into his abdomen, while his arms and legs were sprawled out in different directions. It looked... rather painful, actually.
But it also gave perfect access to his form. This fact wasn't lost on Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker knelt down next to the recharging form. He wordlessly held out his hand. Sideswipe placed a paintbrush in it, and two cans of paint beside Sunstreaker.
Sunstreaker took a deep intake. "Here goes nothing..."
He popped open the first can of paint, and dipped the brush in.
…
Ah, morning on Diego Garcia. The sun's first golden rays were peaking the horizon, the sky was a serene pink-orange hue. Bird were chirping, leaves were rustling-
"TWINS!" a horrid howl cut through the serenity.
Barricade stormed out of his, Bolt and Bumblebee's hangar, optics glowing red like the fires of Hell. But the frightening effect was lost as the Autobots caught sight of Barricade. Or more specifically, his paint job. The white was now hot pink, the black neon green, and his Decepticon insignias(Barricade had refused to get rid of them) were now Autobot ones.
The first mech unlucky enough to face Barricade's wrath was Prowl.
Barricade pinned Prowl to the wall by his neck. "Where. Are. Those. Slaggers?"
The deathly tone made Prowl involuntarily shiver. "Sunstreaker and Sideswipe? I am unsure."
"You had better put them in the brig for this-" Barricade motioned to his new paint job. "-When you know!"
"They will be dealt with."
So now the twins were confined to the brig. But really, who would have expected Barricade to react to badly?
Well, everyone, actually.
Sunstreaker suddenly looked at his brother in the cell across from him. "Do you think he's planning revenge?"
"Well, Sunny-" Sunstreaker scowled at the nickname "-We'd better recharge with one optic open."
"We are so slagged."
"They are so slagged."
Bolt and Bumblebee sighed in unison. Barricade had been returned to his original colors, but was still positively pissed off.
"I'm assuming you want revenge?" Bolt asked wearily.
Barricade didn't answer verbally. Instead, a smirk spread over his face. A smirk that absolutely screamed "pain and suffering".
Bumblebee rubbed the back of his head. "I'm not so sure I like that look..."
Bolt put a hand on Bumblebee's shoulder. "'Bee... we're not supposed to."
Barricade's optics brightened, and he looked at his bondmates. "I have an idea. And you're going to help me." His tone left no room for argument.
Bolt and Bumblebee exchanged wary glances. What were they getting themselves into now...?
In two days time, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were released from the brig. The troublesome twins were constantly looking over their shoulders, just waiting for Barricade to get them back.
When they had approached the black and white mech, he had simply smirked sinisterly. "You'll just have to watch your backs, now won't you?" was all he had said.
So now, the day after their release, the twins were more paranoid than a conspiracy theorist. Or Simmons.
As they sat back to back in their quarters, a thought struck Sideswipe. "Maybe he won't actually prank us. Maybe this is his way of getting us back," Sideswipe offered tentatively.
Sunstreaker snorted sarcastically. "Yeah, right. And I'm not stunning."
Sideswipe crossed his arms. "Bro, I'm serious, here!"
Sunstreaker risked a glance over at his twin. Sideswipe had a small pout on his face, making him look younger than he actually is.
"You... might be right," Sunstreaker considered his red counterpart's point. "After all, he was a 'Con. They're known for mind games and slag."
Sideswipe nodded in agreement. Both twins relaxed, firmly believing that this was their punishment.
Oh, how wrong they were.
Neither Sunstreaker or Sideswipe thought much of the "Caution: wet floor" sign. The base was, after all, made of metal. Metal needed to be mopped, and mopping made it wet. As per usual, the twins just stepped around the proclaimed wet spot on the floor.
However, it seems that this was anticipated. Both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe's feet slipped out from under them on the very obviously wet floor. The sign had been in the wrong place, they realized as they crashed to the ground. The two warriors slid down the hallway, unable to stop themselves.
As they neared a closed door, it slid open. It was pitch black in the room, leaving no clue as to what was inside. Oh, slag.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe slid into the dark room, and Sideswipe felt something break as he slid by. What they couldn't see was that Sideswipe had broken a string. As the twins neared the wall, cold liquid splashed down on them from above.
They promptly crashed into the wall. "Oh, my processor..." Sunstreaker mumbled.
The lights suddenly flared on. The twins glanced around to see that they were in Barricade's hangar. Barricade himself stepped out from behind a crate, smirking widely.
"Please. You actually thought that I wouldn't get you back?"
The twins would have blushed if they had the ability to do so. "We were hoping..." Sideswipe muttered.
Barricade snorted. He reached behind him, and pulled out a mirror. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker screamed in horror. Their paint was dripping off of them in rivers! They were dull gray, completely ugly!
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe came to a unanimous agreement. They looked a smug Barricade in the optics, and spoke.
"This. Means. War."