Three weeks and four days had gone by of rounding up humans and deploying them to the correct transport vehicles. The task was monotonous. The more humans they found, the more Sunstreaker wondered, with as easily as they found the creatures, why the Decepticons were unable to.

But one of the first things he and his brother had been forced to do after their arrival on Earth was to study and watch the humans. They arrived before Megatron made himself known, long enough to view the humans in their normal environment. The attack on the planet was predicted, but occurred sooner then they were prepared for. Ordered to stay, the Autobots continued to watch the humans. The survivors fled and scattered, ran and hid.

Now, over two years later, they were more than accustomed to the indigenous creatures and their habits. But still not to being stuck with them. However, it was the first time since the unfortunate Trivolcoun incident that he and his brother had been given a command post. They couldn't deny Optimus' request, no matter how revolting.

The task of gathering and directing the humans to safety was redundant, but the further they got to completion, the closer they got to leaving the planet.

And that idea, of freedom, of leaving the Earth and its helpless insultingly weak inhabitants behind was the only thing that kept him focused on reaching and finishing their assignment. Sunstreaker passionately thought about the things he would do when they left. The list was steadily growing, and had been added to since his first arrival on the green and blue world.

He hated the planet. Despised the inhabitants and was ready to cleanse himself of his involvement. The planet was as good as lost. There was nothing more they could do. Nothing more except...

"Where's Cynthia?"

A male stepped up to the pondering Autobot, interrupting his contemplations. Venting air and showing his disapproval, he swiped his hand to the left.

"Your human mate is with Sides." He pointed, enjoying the frown that appeared on the male. But that was always as far as he took it.

Femmes always flocked to the twins. That was just how it had always been. And the human females seemed to be no different. The male was the female's... boyfriend, and it didn't take much observation to know which one of the couple was in charge. Ever since they rescued the pair from an abandoned warehouse, a long three days ago, the female had latched herself onto his twin.

The boyfriend watched but never did anything. And as the female got more obvious in her interest, he continued to watch. Usually the females went to him before his brother. Everyone knew, or saw that he was the more beautiful one, the better put together, the more fully equipped.

His brother was tolerating the female more than he would have. Probably just the novelty of having a female approach him first. And as she followed his twin around and gushed and heated up, Sunstreaker had the ever recurring fantasy of picking the female up and squeezing her until she broke. She had no idea who she was pursuing, no idea her insignificance. Neither he nor his brother would ever consider doing anything remotely intimate with a human. It was laughable; it was humorous and repugnant. It was amusing to watch the female try.

But she wasn't going to get anywhere with her brother. She wasn't his type, wasn't the right species.

"What kind of a male are you?" Sunny frowned with disgust.

The male's nose pinched with disquiet. "A realistic one. She always comes back to me. We have an... open relationship and..."

Sunstreaker cut him off, not wanting to hear it. "You are pathetic. An open relationship? You just mean you can't keep her in check."

The human shook his head. "I love her. I want her to be happy."

"You are weak."

"Only without her."

Sunstreaker laughed at that, laughed long and hard. A female being the deciding factor on a male's power? They were nothing but commodities, nothing but momentarily pleasure that was easily replaced and forgotten. Anyone who thought different was a fool and not worthy of his pity.

"You are just going to leave us?" Cynthia widened her eyes, moving her hand out to grab Jake's, her consort whom she suddenly realized was there.

Sunstreaker felt the impatience building in Sides, felt it spread and shift and bundle his brother's servos.

"I already explained," Sideswipe spoke slowly. "We won't be gone long. Stay here, stay out of sight, and we will be back by morning."

"Stop justifying our actions to these humans," Sunstreaker groused. He bent down, his slender digit pointed at each in turn. "Do as we say. Deviate from the instructions and the Decepticons will find and kill you."

"But..." the female began.

Her words faded away when the Autobots drove away.

"We are getting closer," his brother informed him.

They were going to be done soon. They were going to be leaving soon. But telling himself that wasn't helping like it usually did. For beyond his fantasy there was the reality of what that really meant and what it would bring.

In a way, they were still going to be stuck.

But at least this was going to be their last mission on Earth. And as they made their way deep inside Decepticon territory, made it past Sentinel drones and flying surveillance crafts, they continued to follow the signal. The transmission was outdated and weak, but it held Autobot origins.

The closer they got, the more curious it became. But they didn't have time to analyze and study; they only had time to act and find out.

Transforming and carefully stepping up a low hill, Sunny surveyed the area. The signal stopped. From a distance, he could see the Seeker's stronghold, a pretentious display of engineering that winded through and above a Con made mountain. A bustle of activity was apparent. And he knew why and what they were preparing for.

"Turn around slowly," a voice commanded.

Sunstreaker did as he was told. He felt the presence long before the words came. The vocals were unfamiliar as was the mech, but the Difler rod that was aimed at him was recognizable. Just a little squeeze from the delicate trigger and he would be blown straight to the pit. The weapon was outlawed among Autobots, but that hadn't stopped Sunny from coveting the destructive device.

"And now what?" Sunny asked with ease. He had been cornered before. Had been ambushed and even betrayed. But one thing he could count on, if not his own advanced skills was...

"Drop it!" Sideswipe ordered from behind them both, a blaster aimed at the mech.

A sneer drew along the curves of Sunstreaker's perfectly shaped features.

The weapon was thrown on the ground. Gleefully, Sunny picked it up. Winding and twisting the beautifully curved thing in his hands, he brought the Difler rod back upwards, aimed and ready to fire.

"You sent the signal?" Sunny asked, his digit caressing the trigger while his processor imagined and dwelled upon the chaos the weapon could cause. Electrified by the power he held in his servos, he motioned for Sides to check the mech.

A quick conversation occurred between the twins through their link. Unheard by the interloper, he wasn't to know of the unease Sideswipe felt about the weapon his twin held. Yes, his brother knew what he was capable of, knew how quickly things could get out of hand.

But there was no need for that. Not yet.

The mech that stood before him held no indicator of what side he was on. He was dull in both his paint work and overall appearance, nothing of any significance except the way he stood between the two twins with no sign of fear. But he was unknown, which in Sunny's book meant he was an enemy.

"You are Autobots?" the mech asked with incredulity.

"No." He pointed toward the insignia that was embossed on his chassis. "We got these for looks, even though they clash with our paint jobs and ruin our impeccable lines."

"What did you call us here for?" Sides cut in. The wariness in his twin was growing. Mindful that an ambush could be about to occur, his brother sped things along.

The mech took a step forward, the tires on his shoulders spinning lightly. All of them had scanned each other, and the Autobots now knew that he was a medical transport vehicle of some sort, although the design was not altogether borrowed from Earth, but another planet that wasn't easily pinpointed.

Sunny's digit increased its pressure from the medic's advancement. Aware of the slight movement on his part, the mech stopped, hands rising defensively before his curved chassis.

"I have something for you."

Sunstreaker scoffed with impatience and intolerance. "Whatever it is, you can..."

Again, his brother interrupted, a pointed look shot his way, "You have thirty seconds to tell us what."

The medic made the motion to move to the left again. His optics were planted on a large bush to the side. Indicating that Sunny was to stay where he was and watch the mech, Sides disappeared.

Surprise burst through their link from his twin, but not the kind that he was expecting. Sideswipe returned. But he didn't return alone. A small figure followed behind.

"This is what you have for us?" Sunstreaker looked down, not pleased.

"Yes, Autobot. Take her to safety."

"What of the other humans you kept as slaves?" Sideswipe questioned.

"The ones that didn't get away, it's too late for them." With those words of subtle remorse, the medic twisted his hand into a fist. The area was immediately filled with smoke. Sunstreaker was pushed and shoved and by the time the area cleared, the mysterious mech was gone and more disappointingly, so was his weapon.

They had several long hours before they returned to where they left the other humans. And if they were lucky, at least a day before the Decepticons were finished.

"Eat."

Alexis shifted inside his brother. Watching from where he drove beside him, he listened in.

But the girl wasn't saying much. She took the offered nutritional bar from the glove compartment but didn't eat it. The female was injured. Not recently, but still in a state of recovery. Every time she moved, a grimace laced her white flesh, water building in her eyes.

Just when he thought Alexis couldn't get any more pale, she pulled something out of a small bag she held and injected it into her shoulder.

"What did you just do?" His brother's words were terse with unease.

"The medic gave me this painkiller..."

Her skin infusing with color, she leaned back on the headrest, a long breath exhaled.

"My brother..." she whispered.

"Fine, he is waiting for us on our ship."

"Ship? I..."

"I have scanned the vile, and it is as you say. You should have informed me before using it," Sideswipe said brusquely.

The girl didn't seem to hear him. Alexis was looking out the window in Sunstreaker's direction but not at him. Her eyes were unfocused and cloudy. When they began to leak, she covered her eyes with her hand. Seeing that, Sunstreaker was glad he wasn't driving the human. His brother was more capable conversing with the creatures anyway. And he had more patience dealing with their grotesque habits.

"You are leaking. You need to stop." Sideswipe spoke, mindful of his fine leather interior.

She continued to sit there, hand blocking her face, a small trembling in her shoulders.

"I should," she finally said, dropping her hand. "It even hurts to cry." Alexis frowned. "And I can't seem to stop shaking."

"We will be out of Decepticon territory in less than three hours."

"I wish it was because of that," Alexis said with no further illumination on what she was speaking of. However, ever since they got the girl, she did have the odd habit of probing the sky above them.

Whatever she was afraid of, the Seekers were a part of it.