Chapter 25: Scelero

(Latin: to pollute with guilt, with blood, etc.)

AN: So this chappie didn't turn out quite the way I wanted, but in the end it sort of… really fit. And now I like it. (Although Q is a creepy bastard.) ((But I still like him… sort of… Naw, I love my little bastard. He tries so hard.)) Oh, and I do not own Jace's ringtones. ;)

Jace rubbed his eyes, feeling the grit rub deeper against his sore eyes. It was hard to focus on anything. He probably had lines on the sides of his face from being on the computer all night, trying to hack into the alien base. They had really tight security – it had taken hours to get anywhere, and when he had done one wrong thing, he'd spent the next six hours fighting off an invading virus. At some point, he'd passed out with his face smashed against the keys. What had woken him? And how long had he been sleeping? Probably only a few minutes or so.

He'd been trying to get in so he could talk to his little sister, and had been too wrapped up in the job to think of calling Q. How could he have forgotten? Q could send a rescue mission there right now, and get her out.

His phone jingled out the special Q ringtone he'd installed. "Take this job and shove it, I ain't working here no more," Johnny sang. His fingers hit answer.

Feeling like he'd been run over by a truck, he answered. "Jace here. What is it?"

"Good to hear that you are awake and functioning, Jace. I was sorry to hear of your parents."

And with that, Q hung up. Asshole. He'd probably called just to wake Jace, and prove that he had surveillance on his apartment. He'd have to go through and remove all the bugs again. Or he could bring a girl home, and really let Q have it. He thought through the idea slowly.

Nah. Q had done it to make him angry about his parents again, for his own twisted amusement.

His fists clenched tightly, and he wiggled the mouse, starting the computer back up. It whirred to life swiftly. Anger bubbled up inside him. Those damn aliens had killed his parents, for no good reason, other than to prove that they could.

He'd kill them all.

But what about the other faction - what was going on there?

With a vengeance, he flung himself back into trying to hack into the base again.

It was likely that Q knew that Alex was in Germany as well. There was little to no chance that Q hadn't seen that Alex had a cell phone, and was tracing it. He needed to protect his only family.

Slowly, his brain came to the realization that he needed to talk to Q again, and get a rescue mission ready.

He called Q back, and the phone only rang for a few seconds before Q picked up. His stomach clenched as he nearly shouted.

"Alex is also in Hannover – we need to get her out!"

"With the failure of our last mission, it might be more advisable for us to wait until she leaves the base. However, I agree with you. We have no knowledge of when she will be out of the base again, and we know her location for the time being.

"I've already sent a team to extract her."

And with that, Q hung up again. Jace glared at his phone for a moment, before turning to his computer again, and trying to lose himself in the hacking, trying to ignore the pounding in his head and the repetitive, constant replay of his mother's body sliding down the wall, leaving a red trail behind her.

Q stood behind the young man, a hand resting on the back of his chair. He stared at the screen, feeling his attention waver for a moment. It had been too long since he had last slept, and his body was definitely feeling it.

Unfortunately, it didn't appear like he'd be getting much sleep for a while. The lead on the NBE's was too hot to just let it sit.

"How long until launch?"

The dark-haired boy shrugged one shoulder, eyes still focussed on the screen. "Her brother did not manage to infiltrate as deeply as I anticipated. This has been factored in. I require another seven hours."

Q steepled his fingers, wondering if there was enough time for him to nap.

No – he had too much to do still. The men to organize for the mission, sending instructions to the man at NEST, making sure they knew what to do. He'd have to talk to his research and development team; make sure they knew what to do when they had collected Alexandra Wells.

They'd have to ship her to a different base, one far, far away from those two. They seemed to always be the ones that the NBE leader sent after the girl.

Was there a reason behind that? He'd have to investigate more deeply.

Taking a sip of coffee, hoping to wake himself up, he looked down at the young man beneath him. He still had an ace in the hole, but it wasn't time to use it yet. Let the pot simmer a little more.

Without pausing his fingers, the man at the computer spoke. "I trust you have not forgotten my request to be part of the research revolving around Alexandra."

Q flicked an amused glance at the man. "I still find it hard to believe that you would like to be a part of that, considering your previous communication with her."

"My previous relations with her will not interfere or cause any…emotional outbursts."

"So cold," he teased lightly. "Don't forget that she cannot see you."

Dark hair bobbed slightly as the young man nodded. "I understand. Your ace in the hole, so to speak. First you must obtain her though. From what I've seen, you are consistently underestimating the aliens."

Q nodded slightly. "I agree; brute force is not working. We simply don't have the firepower to go head to head with them yet. But I feel that she has the key to allowing us an edge over them."

"That may well be true."

"Let me know when you have completed the decryption."

Another bob from the dark haired hacker.

Q smirked, ever so slightly. "I look forwards to hearing from you."

Jolt sighed, coming back from hacking the meager security the humans had posted on their cameras and computer consoles. He'd gone in and out without a trace, so they shouldn't have anything to trace back to here. Not to mention he didn't exactly have an IP address like the humans.

The Cybertronians should be safe.

But how was Alex going to take this? From what he knew of her, it would be devastating. And she'd most certainly blame herself.

Frag.

He started running simulations on how best to break it to her.

In the meantime, he went back into the system, looking for what offlined her parents. He'd noticed their names in the local paper – something about a tragic accident with the stove (a thing that was used by humans to cook food), and both had died.

He doubted that was actually the case. He'd looked up statistics on stoves, and for experienced cooks, they were relatively safe. The stove that the Wells had owned wasn't even a gas stove – the type to typically be more dangerous.

Had the Sector Seven agents done it? Or was something else at work here?

It sounded like the 'cons.

He managed to worm his way into the footage of the house – Sector Seven had been keeping close tabs on her family.

He watched the footage, and let a deep gust of air escape from his vents. Decepticons.

Immediately, he commed Prime and let him know. The Prime was silent on the line for a moment, before gusting. –I had hoped it would not end like this.-

-Me too. Prime, this means that Soundwave is definitely around. Ravage wouldn't be too far from his master.-

-Use discretion in speaking with her, Jolt. However, I do not feel that you will do badly. We will be watching for Soundwave.-

The line was dropped between the two.

Now, to tell Alex. The simulations had given him inconclusive evidence, but it appeared that just telling her straight out would be the best ploy.

Should he be the one to tell her? Or should he let Ratchet? No. Something was telling him that he should do it.

Hopefully that instinct wasn't wrong.

Jolt hesitated, and I knew, deep in my gut, that something was terribly, horribly wrong. Both of the twins were silent, listening.

"What is it Jolt? Just tell me, please," I begged, hoping that it wasn't as dire as my stomach was telling me it was. Maybe he'd gotten a speeding ticket in the mail, or his paint had chipped?

A girl could hope.

He hesitated again, and the swirling doubt solidified.

"Your parents…" he trailed off. I was about to start screaming, my body was so tense. My muscles were tight enough to snap like overwrought red threads.

"What?" I breathed, not strong enough to ask more firmly.

"The Decepticons killed them."

My heart broke.

"Why? How come? How did…" My breathy, frantic words were cut off as I felt my stomach clench and heart throb. "I did this – I led them right to my family. I killed my parents."

My head spun; the world suddenly brilliant and colourful. Streaks of grey walls, flourished with strands of candy apple red, vivid yellows, deeply rich greens, and intense blues, interwoven into bizarre and otherworldly tapestries.

Jolt was a silvery-blue, glowing form outlined by thin threads of blue, delicate as cobwebs.

My stomach clenched, and I threw up, choking and spitting all over the floor. Brilliant yellow stomach acid stained the grey floor.

"No, no, no, it can't be true!" I managed, wiping my mouth and staring at Jolt intensely, as if I could change the past. Change it back, so that I never went home, never led the Decepticons to my family. Stayed where it was safe, so I never hurt anyone.

"I'm sorry, Alex."

I sunk to the floor, arms wrapping around myself in a tight embrace. The knees of my worn jeans slipped into the pile of vomit, but I didn't care.

"How…" I cleared my throat, tears clogging my nose and eyes. "How did they… Did…" I couldn't finish my words, feeling my world rip and tear around me.

I was a murderer. I might as well have put a gun to their heads and pulled the trigger myself – it might have been easier.

This was all my fault. Because I had been stupid, and selfish, and near-sighted. Optimus Prime had warned me that this might happen. He had said that they couldn't protect my family very well; that they might be in danger.

I was a fool.

::Finally, you see the truth.:: Sunstreaker's dark, richly amused voice floated through my mind, scorching every thought I had.

::Sunny!:: Sideswipe instantly protested, a sharp tone to his voice.

::No, he's right,:: I immediately interjected, voice defeated and broken. In a stab of vindictiveness, of pure hatred for the alien that shared my mind, I spat at him, ::They were my Sideswipe, you…:: My voice trailed off again. My shoulders were shaking, mind snapping into a million pieces.

Tears spilled down my face, leaving me alone.

I'm a murderer.

The twins were silent for a moment.

My sobs were no longer silent – they filled the room, echoing in the great space. My face was tucked into my knees, arms wrapped tightly around my shins.

I killed my parents.

Jolt took a step, shaking the floor under me. "Alex, I'm-"

"No!" I practically shouted. "Do not tell me that you're sorry." My face was smashed into my knees as I mumbled, "It's my fault."

He said nothing, which I took as clear agreement that he thought I was to blame too.

I said it out loud, to see if it eased the pain of the guilt I felt.

"I killed my parents."

The searing wound in my chest only deepened, like admitting it had allowed the hurt and pain to have free reign.

Sideswipe felt like he was going to say something, but it was trapped, caught somewhere between his mind and mine.

I'd managed to escape Jolt by ducking into small hallways and through rooms. It had been easy – my vision had stuck around as long as I was running. I wanted to be alone, and Jolt seemed like he wasn't going to leave me alone.

So I ran.

I wasn't sure how long I'd been in the little closet. It didn't matter. My vision had faded hours ago, and my eyes were throbbing. They ached fiercely, and I was sure they were swollen. Little bits of grit moved around as I pushed my face on to my knees.

::Twenty-two hours. Ratchet's getting pretty antsy, Alex,:: Sideswipe supplied helpfully.

::I don't want to see him,:: I said in a monotone.

::Two more hours, and I'm telling Ratchet,:: he warned.

::Tattle-tale,:: I said blankly.

My face was crusty and covered with dirt. I shivered, tugging my legs in tighter. The tiny space I was in had a vent in it, causing cool air to wash over my face and body constantly, causing goose bumps to rise.

Selfish.

Greedy.

Murderer.

The twins were silent. A tiny part of me hated the fact that they didn't even try to say anything – and another was relieved that they didn't offer false platitudes.

My stomach muscles ached from the violent heaving I had done earlier.

The throbbing in my head matched the pounding of my heart. I still couldn't believe it. They were gone? Like, gone forever gone?

And it was my fault.

What should I do now? All I had left was a bond that was (most likely) killing me, trapped between two loud, psychotic alien robots that were cars. And Jace. I'd do anything to keep my brother safe now – which meant that I could never, ever see him again.

My throat tightened up again as more tears spilled over my damp cheeks. Surely I'd run out of fluid soon, and be a dry husk, trapped in a little closet. Like a shrivelled mummy.

Jace. At least my brother was safe – hopefully doing well in school, staying out of trouble.

I wanted to kill the Decepticons. I wanted to rip them into tiny pieces, shred and maim them, and burn their corpses in pyres of scorching white flames.

Clenching a shaking hand into a fist, I hissed as my nails dug into the tender skin of my palm. The pain was soon overshadowed by my thoughts.

This was less pain than they had felt when they died. I deserved no less.

::Woah, hold up an astrosecond. Don't hurt yourself, Alex.::

I didn't respond to Sideswipe's little thought. What would he know about losing everything that ever meant anything to you? What would he know about-

::Don't assume anything, foolish little meat-sack,:: Sunstreaker growled out. Sideswipe's mental tone was one of agreement.

::Look, I get the whole revenge thing, but I'm not letting you go off and hurt yourself, moron!::

::I need to get stronger,:: I thought. To protect Jace, I'd do almost anything.

I'd even be bait for traps for the Decepticons if that was what it took. That boy – I couldn't remember his name – had taken down the main Decepticon a few years ago. I wanted to take down the ones that had killed my parents. I needed to figure out which ones had done it. And then I needed to get stronger.

I needed to talk to Optimus Prime. Or his second in command – either would work.

But that would wait. I wasn't ready to start getting stronger yet. Right now, I just wanted to be a weak, twenty-year-old girl who had just lost her family to her own selfish stupidity.

My head pounded strongly, making my eyes crinkle in pain.

A wave of darkness washed over me, and I wavered, feeling my shoulder bump against the side of the closet.

::-Lex? Alex?:: Sideswipe was saying, sounding concerned.

::What?:: I managed, sounding groggy and confused.

::You were offline for a few astroseconds there.::

::How long is that in my time units?::

::Uh… a minute and a half,:: he calculated.

My head ached again, and I groaned. At this point in time, I wouldn't even mind the little voice commenting that it had fixed it if I didn't have to feel the pain from my parents.

No. I deserved the pain.

::Don't start this again, moron,:: Sideswipe groaned.

I ignored him. What would they know?

There was a harsh, dark feeling in my head.

::I've had enough of your whining, human,:: Sunstreaker growled.

I could feel a pulling on my mind, and the other end of that scared me. Sunstreaker was hauling on my mind, pulling me in with an angry, strong mental grip. My body quaked, and with that tiny distraction in the cool air, I was sucked in.

Immediately, I could see, and I recoiled instinctively.

A view of fire, and red-tinted vision filled my eyes. There was a massive alien coming towards me, blue streaking his body and an arm hanging on by a few sparking wires. He was clenching a blade in his other hand, red eyes gleaming. Blue was dripping liberally from his frame.

Threads of blue filled the ground, and the noise was incredible. But I couldn't look away from the monster charging me. I felt my face curl up in a bloodthirsty grin, hand clenching a fat blue-stained blade and other hand curled towards the other alien.

I launched myself at the other alien, feeling the roars of the crowds feed my soul, even as the other blade bit into my stomach, tearing deeply with a screech of metal.

Blue fluids dripped down my legs, staining the metal floor.

My free hand ripped into the other alien's chest, clenching on something that sparked hot energy through my hand and up my arm. Crackling blue light flared from the other's chest, and their face twisted into a fear-filled visage.

My lips turned up, and I tugged harshly, ripping out the little metal bag of energy. The other mech gasped, and spasmed harshly, before falling to the ground as I crunched the little flare of energy in my yellow fist. I'd never felt more alive, or more alone.

The roars of the crowds filled my head. I could see them shouting out words, but they were completely indistinguishable from the massive noise.

I was flung back into my own mind then, feeling like I'd been through a battle.

Sunstreaker was snarling harshly, and Sideswipe was silent.

I gasped, dragging in harsh breaths.

::What the hell was that?:: I managed, aiming my thoughts at Sunstreaker. Clearly, they were his memories, as he was the one with yellow hands. But killing someone (and that was obviously what it had been) was something he had done? In a ring, surrounded by… holy. Cybertron had had fighting rings?

::What was what?:: Sideswipe asked.

::Nothing,:: Sunstreaker growled, sounding extremely angry, and a touch defensive. I had the feeling that if he had been sitting beside me, I'd be a carbon smear on the ground.

Why had I been pulled in? He hadn't wanted me to see it, but his mind had sucked me in. What was going on?

Was this more meddling from the little voice?

I wasn't sure how much more I could take.

::How many…:: I trailed off.

::None of your concern, human,:: he said flatly. A number floated into my mind, ninety-two.

Wow. He was a lot more accomplished at killing than… than I was.

My stomach throbbed, and my heart ached. I had killed my parents.

As I threw up again, heaving sideways, I choked, and felt my mind go black for a second. It hurt so much – I wanted to sink into oblivion for a while. It was too much.

With my next heave, I felt my wish come true. I blacked out.

Q flicked a glance at the woman in contact with the infiltration team. The blonde nodded at him.

Another glance was flashed to the pale hacker. The dark eyes locked with his, and the young man nodded, pushing his glasses further up his nose.

"Ready on your mark."

Q smirked at the hacker. "Perfect."

He nodded at the hacker and the blonde. "Proceed."

This time, they'd get her for sure.

Sideswipe tried to speak to Alex, and felt his words bounce straight through to Sunny, lounging in the other cell, leisurely polishing a spot on his forearm armour. Ironhide had separated them after they had fought.

::Alex?::

::The human's offline,:: his twin growled, sounding defensive and rattled. It must be due to what had just gone on with Alex and Sunny – he wasn't an idiot, despite what Ratchet thought.

::Again?:: he sighed, wondering why the frag humans were so delicate and easily injured.

He commed Ratchet. –Hey Ratchet, Alex is offline.-

As the medic's enraged roar filled his audials, he winced. Perhaps he should have thought that one through a little more. At least he was telling Ratchet, right?

Obviously, Sideswipe had been replaced. He wasn't sure how he felt about that – it was clear knowledge that anything that Ratchet touched became his. So Alex's aft was his.

-What do you mean she's offline? And where is she? You scrap-heap, if you've done anything to that human, I'll offline you myself.- The medic sounded deadly serious.

-She's at this location.- He sent a data package with her current location, and the time that she had been offline for the first time.

-This happened before, and you didn't tell me?- Ratchet growled.

Sideswipe tilted his head at his cleaning twin, feigning innocence. –I was supposed to tell you? Whoops.-

-Sideswipe, you glitch, when I say "tell me if anything happens to the human," I mean anything! If she breathes differently, if she expels stomach contents, if she leaks fluids, frag, even if she feels muscle pain!-

He hesitated for a moment. -How about all of the above, plus a jaunt into Sunny's memory banks?-

There was silence, before the medic started spitting out a litany of curses – human and Cybertronian in an impressive display of fluency. Sideswipe was impressed.

-Woah, good for you Ratchet! Good to see that an old mech can learn new tricks!-

There was black silence from Ratchet. Sideswipe grinned, thinking of the medic's glowering expression. It was actually quite impressive – the grammar from Cybertronian to human languages was hard to preserve, but their medic had done so perfectly. Sideswipe was actually a little jealous.

Ratchet needed a little excitement in his life. That was what Sideswipe was for.

-You're due for a physical examination, Sideswipe,- the medic said darkly.

-But I had one just last orn!-

-And you're due for another one.- The medic's tone promised pain. He cut the comm. line.

-Frag.-

::Sometimes, I wonder how you could be my twin,:: Sunstreaker drawled, still sounding rattled. She must have been deep in his memory chips. He only knew of a few times that could rattle his twin to such an extent.

::Aw, Sunny, I knew you cared!::

::And then other times, I'm grateful you took all the stupidity with you,:: Sunny said in a deadpan voice, still polishing his arm.

He glared at his twin. Sunny was staring at the grey ceiling, a tiny smirk on his lips. You'd never see it unless you knew what to look for, but Sideswipe had known the other for as long has he'd been online – that little smirk was as obvious as a energon blade swinging at his helm.

Sunny didn't snark all that much, but when he did, it was brutal.

"Very funny, rust-heap."

Sunstreaker just waved the cloth lazily and resumed polishing the gleaming yellow armour.

Sideswipe started playing Tradewinds again, wondering how the human part of their bond was doing. Despite her words, he knew exactly what was going through her mind.

He hoped she was okay – injured Alex meant slower bond-fixing. And allowed Sunny and him free, uninterrupted time.

Maybe it was time to take a little walk around the base again – no Jazz to catch him meant that it was way easier than before. He'd already been out twice before – a bot could only stay so long in one place, after all.

He'd just pop down to the med bay, and check on her. After all, he'd do the same for …well, just Sunny, but he'd make an exception for the little creature wrapped into their minds. Avoiding Ratchet was a must, though. The medic sounded like he was going to strip all his armour off and melt it down.

He could feel Sunstreaker's glower. His twin knew what he was thinking (of course) and didn't like it, the jealous fragger.

"I'd do the same for you, you glitch," he said aloud, just to fill the silence.

::It's not me,:: Sunny shot back, fingers pausing in their polishing.

::I know that, Sunny. But I've figured some things out. If she feels comfortable with us, the bond feels better between us. I don't know about you, but I want it fixed. Now.::

::I don't like it.::

Sideswipe sent a blast of amusement at his twin, shot through with hints of exasperation.

::If she only lasts a vorn, tops, and then I can't feel you any more, I'm going to take advantage of that. Besides, she's a tough little human. Most would have died by now, and she's still online.::

Sunstreaker was silent for a few moments, before Sideswipe could feel reluctant agreement floating through the bond.

::But I want to make sure she's alright too – if she dies, does the bond die too? I can't risk that.::

::Still taking her side,:: Sunstreaker growled, falling silent. Sideswipe could feel his annoyance and jealousy floating through the bond.

He sent an exasperated feeling back at his twin. ::You fragged glitch, I'm doing it for you.::

::Better be careful, or she'll fall for you, Sides,:: Sunny deadpanned again.

A cocky smirk. ::I am charming, after all.::

Optimus opened a broadband communication to his Autobots in the Germany base.

-I've just been made aware that the Diego Garcia and Shanghai NEST bases have been fired upon by the United States of America.-

There was a sudden influx of chatter. –Our allies?- Part of Arcee asked.

-NEST has been in contact with the American government, and so far they can only confirm that they did not authorize this strike.- Optimus said.

-You think its Sector Seven?- Ratchet rumbled.

-That is my fear, old friend.-

-Do you think the troops at those two bases are all right?- Jolt said, thinking of the 'bots they had stationed at those two spots.

-I have been in contact with the Autobots. The only ones injured are Mudflap and Ironhide. Both were on the surface during the missile launch, and sustained damage. They are in transit here for repairs.-

-And our human allies?- Jolt asked, sounding concerned. He knew firsthand how delicate humans were.

-We have sustained losses of human allies,- Optimus Prime managed, sounding sad.

-How injured is Ironhide? And Mudflap?- Arcee asked, seemingly tacking Mudflap on as an afterthought.

Jolt felt amusement rev through his engine. She was so transparent – Ironhide was like a mentor to her, and his bond-mate Chromia.

-I did not get the full schematics of their injuries, but I am sure Ratchet will be able to repair both.-

Ratchet interjected. –Both were able to transform and get on a plane, so I'm not all that concerned.-

Sideswipe snickered. –Concerned about papa-dearest, Arcee?-

-Mute it,- she growled. –I'll kick your aft next time you're out. Which is… what, six orns from now?-

-You'll need that time to practice up,- Sideswipe rebuffed. –I'm not all that concerned.-

-Fragger.-

-Sideswipe, that's enough out of you,- Ratchet snapped.

-Yes sir, Doctor Hatchet sir,- the silver Corvette said cheekily.

Arcee jumped back on topic, seemingly relieved to be released from Sideswipe's relentless teasing. –Prime, are you sending anyone over to the other bases?-

-Not at this moment. If I remove any of the defences from this base, it could create a weakness at this base.-

-I understand.-

I was shaken awake, feeling my stomach ache from the extensive muscle use of before. They were gone. I killed them.

"Alex, we need to go!"

"Hmm?" I managed, wondering why I was being shaken and who was shaking me.

"Come on, go, go, go!"

"What's going on?" I asked, feeling my heartbeat accelerate. No flashes of vision accompanied it though.

"The base might be attacked, we're to move you to a more secure location. Prime's orders."

Well, if Optimus had authorized it…

A hand gripped me directly above the elbow, and helped me stand.

"Let's go, we're wasting time!"

"What about the twins?" I asked, wondering how this would affect the bond. It smelled like I was in the med bay – Ratchet must have hauled me out of my closet. Where was he?

"They are staying here," the man was quick to say.

This didn't seem bad.

Sideswipe spoke in my head. ::What's up?:: He sounded wary and dangerous. A dark edge coated his mind, sharpening every thought.

::Optimus Prime thinks this base might be attacked, he's moving me.::

::What?:: His voice was sharp. ::Stay where you are, don't move.::

::Why?::

::I'm talking to Prime,:: he said swiftly.

I was stumbling along the corridor now, the sound of shoes echoing against the concrete floor. They continued hurrying me along, each one less-than-gently shoving me along.

There was no way for me to stop them – I was like a feather washing downstream.

::Alex, stall them. Sunny and I are coming for you.:: He sounded deadly serious with an edge of thrill wrapped in.

::What are you saying?:: Were these people here to get me, again?

::I'm saying that Prime didn't authorize anyone to take you anywhere, and that those fraggers are trying again,:: he spit out quickly.

"Quickly, down this hall," one of the people said – a woman, this time.

I was steered down the hall. It sounded like a small hallway – the resonance of the steps was different.

Faintly, I could hear a crash from far, far away. It sounded like one of the people heard it too – an arm holding me tightened its grip, slightly.

"Sounds like we are being attacked. Hurry, hurry, we need to get you out of here!"

I was nearly picked up and dragged down the hall.

::You suck at delaying people.::

::Not my fault when they can pick me up!:: I growled back at him, feet barely touching the ground as I was rushed along.

::Don't worry. Sunny'n I'll get'cha back.::

I had no reply. He sounded far too excited for my tastes.

The woman spoke again. "Are you scared? Don't be, we'll take good care of you."

All I could hear was the menacing undertones of her voice and the memories of blades and pain and ripping metal out of me when I was still awake.

The idea of that happening again terrified me.

Part of me was intensely soothed by the knowledge that the twins were coming after me. They were strong, competent warriors who could kill people with one crunching step. I didn't want to rely on them though – I wanted to be tough enough to take care of myself.

I was so weak.

Someone nearly picked me up and stuffed me into a vehicle. The rumble of the engine below me made me think it was the back of a truck. The others clambered in with me, crowding all around me.

There was a loud bang, and suddenly the truck was moving. I could hear the twins bickering, Sunstreaker's slightly excited tones and Sideswipe's exuberant snarking.

::Sunny, you nearly crashed me into that wall!::

::Can't help it that I'm faster, glitch.::

::Are not!:: Sideswipe cheered, sounding happy. He was crazy. Perhaps I would be better off being saved by someone else (I wished I didn't have to be saved by anyone) who actually cared about me.

The truck rumbled forwards, jostling me into the man sitting next to me.

"Careful there, wouldn't want you to fall out," he said lightly. His frame was tight though, belying his tension.

I laughed nervously. "So, which base is Optimus Prime having me moved to?"

"Back to the States, more local."

I nodded, knowing that the information might be completely phony. Hopefully the twins got to me before we got to a plane or something like that.

::Man, you have no faith in us at all,:: Sideswipe pouted.

My ears were filled with a low buzzing sound that seemed to grow louder swiftly. I could hear the pattering of rain drops hitting the roof of the truck, and the sound of driving through water.

One of the men in the truck swore sharply.

The rumble of the truck grew sharper all of a sudden, and I started bounding in my seat more. We were speeding up.

I could feel Sunstreaker's smirk in my mind. ::Slow flesh-bags.::

The revving of two engines could be heard easily within the confines of the truck.

A tiny smirk touched upon the corner of my mouth – a side effect of the twins being so fired up.

The roof of the truck was ripped off, causing the truck to lift off the ground and drop back, jarring us. Rain spattered my face. We swerved sideways, and my heart rate spiked enough to make my vision come back.

::Found ya!:: Sideswipe exclaimed, and I saw his face above us for a moment, flying by. His hand was clenching the metal roof.

One of the men swore violently, and I felt an arm shove me down, pressing my face against the bottom of the truck bed. It was rough, and the grit and grooves were causing injury to my face.

I winced sharply as he pushed harder, and another person braced their knee on my back as she shrieked and fired upwards.

Sideswipe disappeared into a silver Corvette, and I could see the butter yellow Lamborghini racing beside us, hugging the ground tightly as it swerved beside us.

::Okay, when I tell you, jump, okay?::

::Jump?! Are you fragging crazy?!:: Well, of course he was – this was Sideswipe after all.

::Yeah, it's safest – Sunny or I'll catch you for sure!:: He was trying to kill me, I was sure.

::Don't call me that,:: Sunstreaker growled lowly.

I could feel Sideswipe roll his eyes (or whatever the mech equivalent to that was) and say patiently, ::Alex, if I wanted you dead, I could have done so ages ago.::

That was true, but… jumping out of a moving (and, boy, were we ever moving) truck was just insanity.

::Come on! Live a little! Then Sunny and I can blow the truck to scrap!::

::You better catch me, or I'm haunting you forever!:: I threatened.

The truck veered to the left, and I struggled to get out from under the woman and man holding me. Their outlines were shot through with faint blue, and the two transforming cars were also outlined in blue. Everything else had a weird red-purple tint to it.

::Pssh, don't even worry about it! I'll catch you, no problem.::

I caught some of his inner thoughts – it would be safer if I was out of the vehicle before they ripped into it. Very true.

The sun was setting, and the rain didn't help visibility one bit.

The glee that both the twins were feeling was infectious. I wiggled a little, trying to get the lady's knee from the small of my back. I was pretty confident that I'd be able to chuck myself upwards and out the back with not a lot of problems.

My head ached the longer I was forced down – I wanted to raise it desperately and ease the flow of blood to it. The man's hand was hot on my scalp, and the grit was becoming wet with rain beneath my face.

::Fine, let me know when.::

Sideswipe's snicker was discernible even in his car form. The Corvette rocked on its wheels, weaving erratically from side to side of the road, nearly living up to his name several times.

Sunstreaker was a gleaming golden streak beside the damaged truck, dodging the weapons the people were firing at him with ease. I was hoping that none would actually hit him so that he'd have no reason to become homicidal over his paint.

I had no fear that they would lose.

At this point it was namely the human casualties. The deep throbbing in the back of my head was stronger, growing stronger and more powerful.

::Hey, shouldn't you guys try to take them alive and get information from them?:: Isn't that what they always did in spy movies?

::Eh, we'll try to keep one online, but no promises.::

I felt giddy. ::Well, as long as you try.::

The silver Corvette seemed to be echoing the Lamborghini's movements in a strange and beautiful pattern – like two strips of precious metal, melted together and intertwined wonderfully. My brain hurt.

I barely had any warning as the two vehicles pulled in extremely close to the truck, forcing it down an off ramp, headlights bright in my eyes in the setting sun. ::Okay, in 3…2…1 – jump!::

Shoving upwards with all the strength I possessed (pitiful amounts), I managed to throw the man's hand off my face for a moment, and overbalancing him. The lady was easier – she was off balance to start with, and I used my natural momentum to chuck myself into space.

For a moment, I was weightless, flying through the air and watching the streaks of paint fly by in slow motion. The light was dimming, and I knew the sun was only a few minutes from setting completely.

Then gravity and the insanity of what I was doing caught up with me, and I barely had time to think, I'm going to die, Sideswipe, you asshole and I'll be with my parents soon, and then I don't want to die.

I was falling towards the silver Corvette, who was speeding towards me, and I was about to land on his hood and die.

Then the car opened up, and it was like I saw it in slow motion. All the pieces split apart slowly, and I saw his head rise up and a hand reach towards me. My head ached.

A massive, hot and dry hand clamped around my middle, leaving bruises that I was sure I'd feel in the morning (unless the little voice kicked in and fixed them).

::Got'cha,:: Sideswipe crowed, and there was another moment of insanity, and then I was tucked inside him, safe and dripping water all over his grime-filled interior.

They could turn around right now, and let the agents go. But I didn't really want them to, and I knew that neither of them were going to turn back, at all.

My vision faded, and I felt the world going black. Before I passed out again, my mind replayed what I had seen – the perfect symmetry of their movements, one moving like an echo of the other. They were like water, flowing together and creating beauty in their wake. A living heartbeat – two pulses, in perfect tandem.

Okay, I'm definitely overtired. Or crazy, or something.

Then I passed out.

Jace slammed a fist on to his keyboard. The happy face smiled at him from his crashed computers. There had been a latent virus that had activated when he had tried again, and crashed both his towers.

"Damn it!" he cried, standing and throwing a can at the screen. It cracked, and the happy face still gleamed at him from the screens.

He had been so close! Now he needed to get another computer, and start over again.

"Damn it," he repeated, swiping a hand across his face. It came away wet.

"Sir, we failed. Plan J still in effect?"

Q clenched his free hand briefly. Damn it. How were those two always aware of where she was? How?

There had to be more to the picture – did they have some sort of tracking device on her? He'd have to get someone to scan over her, and make sure that the next time, they removed everything from her. That had to be how those two had managed to find the exact truck she was loaded on to, and not fall for one of the decoys leaving.

They were proving to be a lot of trouble.

"Yes, Plan J is still in effect."

He shut his phone, and glanced at the pale hacker.

The young man didn't look up from his console, seemingly knowing that Q was looking at him.

"She will be feeling weak right now. Plan J preys upon that weakness – both figuratively and literally."

He smirked down at the man and leaned on his chair, tipping it back so he could see the man's purple-tinted eyes. "You are a valuable resource, aren't you?"

"I aim to please, Q."

His smirk widened. "You do."

AN: Gaaaaaahhhhh, Q, whyyyyyyy… Stop harassing the people who work for you, jeez! So I didn't mean for him to do that, he just did it, and now that's the tamest thing he does to poor purple-eyes… WHY ARE THEY ALONE, DAMN IT?! (I promise not to have nasty-nasty in here. I will kill Q myself before subjecting you guys to that.) And purple-eyes, stop being good at what you do, and he'll leave you aloneeeee….