A/N: You ever get one of those chars that at first seemed easy to outline and then *smack* you find out how utterly difficult they really are once you sit down to do it? Yeah... Sunstorm... Hopefully I haven't fouled things up... :D

Enjoy, nonetheless!

He had done his job well while all the while watching his younger brother in the Decepticons. Even he could not figure out what the youngling had done to move so quickly in rank. Of course he envied Starscream's position, having wanting to tear him down to where he belonged, but he did not. Especially when he found out how well protected the youngling had been.

Watching was something Sunstorm did best. He was a Tracker Seeker, something Starscream should have been born because of their creators, but he was not. Instead, Starscream was born a bit different looking and never developed this ability; he developed intelligence and speed. Sunstorm sometimes referred to Starscream as 'Throwback'.

He watched Starscream rise and now he finally had his chance to pull everything out from under him. He had wanted to many vorns ago, but the opportunity hadn't come. The mech smirked to himself.

He would bring Starscream down to this level he believed he should be now that there was no one standing in his way. To him, Starscream did not deserve the Decepticons. Nor did he think Starscream deserved Thundercracker and Skywarp. And the youngling certainly did not deserve the last femme. If he could use Starscream's softness to his advantage, he would.

Starscream knew something was up with his brother. The leader could have sworn Sunstorm had a glow to him at times. Needless to say, Starscream started searching for answers to that. "Soundwave," he called.

"Yes, Commander?"

"Get Hook and come to my office, please."

"Already done." The CO replied.

The Tracker continued on, finding what he required not far at all. Of all the things to be expected, him feeding on nuclear waste was not one of them. He did so in secrecy, and could do so easily, given the humans of the planet dumped it. It wasn't too frequently he went through it and was pleased to know it was found on this planet. Doing the star thing was not as easy as one might think, which was his only other alternative.

His whole way of being had been erratically changed after a drastic accident that had nearly killed the Tracker. On one of his missions, there had been an explosion. His Spark had been exposed to high radioactivity that should have killed him. But it hadn't. His weapons became charged with this nuclear power, making them stronger. The downfall was that it also made him an unstable walking bomb. This information was not freely given and only one or two others knew about it as far as he knew.

After his visit and scaring the hell out of whoever was there, he went back to watching the femme. The mech had been keeping an eye on her for a while now, more so than the others, save for one. He was also watching Starscream and his interactions with her and Blacklight. Yes, Starscream had changed. But, his interest was on how the two acted together. At times they seemed to hate each other. Other times there was almost playful… courtship.

But that wasn't right. Decepticons didn't court one another. Femmes did what they were born for in the army.

He figured that since Starscream hadn't taken her – which he surely should have, then she was still open and he could approach her since none of the other mechs seemed they would suit her. He only waited until the opportune time had come, since she seemed quite annoyed when any mechs went around her.

She shouldn't get annoyed with him. He figured he was a far better suitor than Starscream could ever be, being as he never developed as he should have. Even if they were brothers, he always considered Starscream his lesser because of this, and never failed to tell him or show him when he could. And what better way to show him than to conquer the one thing that seemed unconquerable.

The moment presented itself while he had been listening on the Decepticon main spread-link and found that the femme was going to be close and he could stop her to talk to her before Starscream arrived. When she entered secluded space, he took the moment to land in front of her, halting her on her drive.

"Sunstorm," she said with some surprise, "what do you want?" She had expected him to approach her at some point. Most of the mechs did at least once. "Where's 'Screamer?"

"Well, I wanted to speak with you alone first. It seems that you're always with Starscream nowadays, and what I have to say does not involve him,"

Barricade transformed and glared at the Seeker, "Why not, isn't he the leader of you morons?"

"Because I wanted you to know that you have caught my attention."

Barricade snorted at him. "Well I would, I'm a femme."

"I thought you would like to know that I find that you would make a perfect Spark-Mate for me."

'Oh, here it comes.' Barricade rolled her optics as Sunstorm prattled on.

"I would be far better for reproduction than Starscream and all of his glitches – balance included. He comes from high end Seekers, you know, and he has major flaws. My heir would be smarter and better than his own. Would you possibly want his Sparklings with the glitches they would get?"

Either way, she didn't want him, but his words about Blacklight angered her, "You certainly validate any question I had about your sanity. Is that all you idiots think about? I'm not interested," she growled.

"Stop it, Barricade. I can tell you are interested in me,"

"You're absolutely right. I'm interested in you falling off a cliff."

"Aw, come now, Barricade. You certainly don't need someone as low as Starscream when there are others far better than him like me around. "

"You must be an experiment gone wrong with Artificial Stupidity and escaped Cybertron or something, I swear. I said no and I meant no. To any of you!"

Sunstorm smirked, "And I know how to please a femme. Starscream doesn't know how to be with a femme."

Barricade twitched at his remark, "Then it might delight you to know you can please me by dying a horrible death, idiot." Primus, this mech was stupider than she gave him credit for.

"Aw, don't be that way. And the only one stupid around here is that pathetic excuse of a brother and even more sorry excuse of a Decepticon Commander,"

"Isn't he like your brother or something?" she asked, annoyed he was still talking, Primus, did this idiot not know how to take a hint? "I have no intentions of what you are implying,"

"Yes, he is my brother. That has nothing to do with the fact that you have caught my fancy. I can be exactly what you need."

"Don't flatter yourself. The only thing I need that you could possibly provide is your death. Must I remind you that all of you mechs are up my aft?" Barricade hissed, "I am still not interested…" the femme snorted, "In any of you… that includes you or that crazy brother of yours,"

'Alright then,' Sunstorm smirked as he thought up the perfect lie. He knew she was worried the mechs would try to attack her. He figured he could use that to keep her away from Starscream as well, "There is something you should know about him. Something he's been hiding even from his trine."

Seeing as he was Starscream's brother, she entertained him, "What?"

"He's making plans behind your back, Barricade."

"He is a Decepticon," the femme muttered as her fists tightened, already tired of this mech's presence. "It wouldn't surprise me."

When she would not fall for it, he laid it on thicker and heavier as he went, "Oh, no. I have heard it in his Spark about how he has already claimed you because he is a Leader. He is only biding his time." Barricade perked slightly, interested in what he had to say. Whether she would believe it or not was a whole different story, however. "It seems he's scheming against you. I can help protect you from his dark clutches. You think his traitorous ways vanished all of the sudden?"

"Dark clutches…" the femme muttered in a disbelieving echo, then snapped her optics to his, "I don't – hell, I won't believe you. Go away."

"Why do you think he's been hanging around you so much? It isn't because he actually enjoys your company. Primus forbid, he complains about you all the time." Sunstorm put up a finger, "I'll bet he's waiting for the right moment to attack you and spark with you until you catch whether you like it or not,"

The femme stared at Sunstorm for a long moment, as if considering what he was telling her. Could Starscream really be plotting against her? Could he really be planning to breed her? He showed no outward signs, if he was. She knew he was devious, but was he really that sneaky? It couldn't be, "Why should I trust what you are saying? You wouldn't be the only mech trying to plot against him because he's an idiot. You must think I'm as stupid as him."

"You know how tricky he can be. I'm only trying to help. I thought I would say that I noticed it seems his interest isn't in what you think it is." He said with fake worry. "Just imagine what will happen once he allows his trine-mates to create Sparklings with you as well."

He smirked inwardly at her expression, whatever he was doing, it seemed to be working, "… And then you will belong to not only him, but to Thundercracker and that warped Skywarp as well. What kind of existence would it be to constantly be forced to mate with all three of them or if they wished all of the other mechs they deem fit for the rest of your life, which Starscream seems to be planning to do?"

She stopped, considering the notion of what he was telling her and she felt a pang of fear and betrayal. She shook her head viciously as if trying to chase away the thoughts and worries that crept up. She trusted 'Screamer. He was the only one she even remotely trusted besides Miles and Mikaela. She trusted that he wouldn't allow something like that to come to her. He even told her so when he found out himself!

"He spoke otherwise," She growled in a warning tone.

"Don't you know how he accelerated in ranks? He made his way there by deceiving others. You are mistaking your trust. You know my brother cannot tell the truth to save his life. Look at what he did to Megatron. He tried to assassinate him how many times behind his back? Does that really show you that you should trust him? If anything, I would be watching my own back, Barricade. He is not beyond using his rank and lies to get what he wants. Think about it."

"I still think you're blowing smoke."

"I'm not. I'm just saying… be careful around him." Sunstorm gave a hidden grin. And they said Starscream was devious… The Decepticons would learn quickly.

She knew very little about Starscream's past. A few things here or there and she knew about his ways on Cybertron. The femme twitched, and Sunstorm smirked. He had her. Barricade thought about everything that Sunstorm was saying. Sunstorm did have a logical point. If this guy could lie, he was as good as Starscream at it. But… what if he wasn't lying?

Perhaps Sunstorm was right and Starscream really was conspiring behind her back? It was well known within the Decepticon ranks that they couldn't trust each other and she was putting herself on one crazy limb for trusting Starscream as much as she did. Perhaps he was going to use her trust with him against her, and being the leader, no one would argue with him.

Starscream brought up that he was a leader quite often. It hadn't dawned on her that it was while they were arguing, and when he said it, it seemed more like he was being playful. She decided it was for her dignity and safety that she should remain secluded from any of them and save herself the aggravation.

"I'm leaving," Metal and gears shifted until a Black and White Saleen took the femme's place.

Sunstorm glanced to the sky and a smirk graced his features that Barricade hadn't seen. Quickly he took off in the other direction, making sure he would remain off Starscream's scanners. The seed had been sowed, and now he waited for it to grow. She would come around, given some time.

All she needed was to be reminded of Starscream and how he served under Megatron. Yes, distrust would run rampant in her with a little help from him. Personally he didn't care if she trusted him or not and he was surprised no one else had thought about this. He was very surprised she was that gullible.

Sunstorm figured he plotted this well. After he'd secured Barricade, while Starscream was still upset, he would take the Decepticons out from under him, which should prove rather easy. After all, Starscream was weak in his optics and obviously a very easy kill - they just had to know how to do it.

And that wouldn't be the only thing he was after as well. He would steal the empty place in the trine-bond between Thundercracker and Skywarp once he took down Starscream. Those two weren't at the top because they sucked at what they did. They had been there because they were just as ruthless as Megatron. Of course, they would be devastated and probably turn to him being the new leader anyway.

When he was done and put his brother in his place, Starscream would consider himself lucky to be a Deception, let alone alive. The other Decepticons would come around and Starscream would be crazy to try to undermine him with the Decepticon army backing their new leader. Then again, others had told Sunstorm he was nuts at times too.

Starscream slowed as he neared Barricade, preparing to land, but he hesitated. It confused him when he saw she was headed in the opposite direction. As he got closer, she suddenly floored it, boosting away from him as if she was running from him, "Barricade?" he asked as he gave chase.

"What? I am going back to Mikaela's." She replied curtly. Yes, it definitely would have been strange seeing a fighter jet keeping speed with a car through the desert. Or was the car keeping speed with the jet?

"Why? I thought Mikaela was with you? I thought you wished to speak to me about Blacklight?"

"Later," Another curt reply.

"Wait!" Starscream shot in front of her and landed, he put his leg out to sturdy himself in case she did not stop in time. Barricade slammed on the brakes when she saw him, kicking her ass end out beside her, she used the momentum of her center of gravity to roll her sideways as she transformed. The Mustang burst apart at the panels and rearranged just before stopping right in front of him.

Dust rose as she skidded to a halt. When her optics fell on him, he noticed she seemed more nervous than usual, "What do you want 'Screamer?"

"What is wrong, 'Cade?"

"What are you talking about? I want to return to my garage. No harm in that,"

Something in her stance was telling Starscream there was more to it, "No," optics furrowing at the femme, "Something isn't right here, I can feel it,"

Barricade grunted, "You're imagining things,"

"I don't imagine things-"

"Do,"

"Barricade," His voice pleaded, not wanting an argument with the femme right now.

"Get out of my way,"

"Tell me what's wrong,"

"No," she moved to step around him and he grabbed her wrist to stop her so he could find out what was wrong with her. He twitched when her optics flared dangerously at him with anger and fear. He hadn't expected this from her and jerked his head back in surprise at her actions.

"Barricade…" he stepped toward her to hold her there to get her answers, she took it as a threat. Perhaps Sunstorm hadn't been lying after all!

The femme looked down at how he had her there, then back up at him, "I don't want to hurt you, 'Screamer," she yanked her hand free defiantly, "back off," her optics darting for an escape. How hard would it be to evade a Seeker? Above all, him? He was the fastest thing even in Cybertron's skies. Fear rose up in her as she realized her position and she looked back at him. His optics were still furrowed at her.

Starscream was so confused by this point. Why would she attack him? What had he done to provoke her? He regarded her intently, "What is wrong, Barricade? Have I done something?" It wasn't like he had made it a point to anger this femme, Primus forbid; it wasn't like he particularly enjoyed sharp pointy objects or flails thrown at him.

"No… nothing," she looked again. It wasn't like she wouldn't give him the fight of his life if he did try something on her. She moved to step again and he followed her by stepping backwards in her way. The femme's optics watched his movement and how he had blocked her, "What are you doing?" She wanted to trust him. She wanted to believe that he wasn't planning on using her like Sunstorm had said. Blacklight rode on their trust.

An optic ridge shot up as he tried to figure out what had the femme so spooked, "I'm standing here. What's it look like?"

She deliberately looked at him from head to toe, "So you are,"

Starscream snorted at her, "I want to know what has you so upset, Barricade,"

"Why? What does it matter to you?" She asked defensively.

What was wrong with this femme? Had she gotten into something she shouldn't have? "Because it's my job as leader and mech creator of our sparkling, that's why!"

She stared at him a long moment. He was around her a lot, even Sunstorm could see it. Perhaps keeping the mech away would thwart him. She thought up a lie that would chase him away, "Don't you think you're being just a bit overly possessive of my time?" She then backed up from him, expecting him to grab her, but he didn't.

'Overly possessive?' He frowned, feeling more hurt than anything at her accusation. He only gave her a very confused look. "What?" it was the only word he could form from that absolutely random question. Where in the Matrix had that come from? He hadn't thought he was being too possessive of her; in fact, he didn't even have a leash on her. She was still free to do as she wished and it was her that wished to be around him so much! "What are you talking about?" He asked with confusion.

"You. Back off. End of story."

"But... Blacklight." Starscream said in a still confused stupor. If she wanted this, he would oblige her. She had best not be telling him he could not see his Sparkling? There would be very big problems then because she would find out what kind of an asshole he could be.

"Remain at a distance from me and it's not an issue."

"You're serious?" he still could not believe what she had said.

The femme only glared at him.

He shook his head, looking away, "Fine," came a nearly whispered growl. He turned from her abruptly and took off, leaving her standing there. For some reason he felt a pang of loss, but he quickly ignored it as he watched her, wondering what had gotten into her. If she felt he was being possessive then he would leave her alone. He would see how long she lasted without him on this crooked planet.

She watched him leave with a huff. Barricade stood there a long moment, looking out around her. Her optics zoomed more often as she looked to each and every possible hiding place for a mech. Every sound the desert naturally made, she flinched. Quickly transforming, Barricade turned on the road and headed for Mikaela's garage.

What she hadn't seen or heard flew over her head out of both of their sensor ranges. He could hear them, however, and frowned when he heard the exchange.

"Shouldn't you be with Barricade?" Skywarp asked. He knew Starscream had said something about her and Blacklight.

"No." the young Seeker didn't even look at his Trine-Mate.

"Are you alright?" Thundercracker leaned forward to get a better glimpse of Starscream's expression. His optic furrowed when he saw loss there. Unusual.

"No TC…" Starscream sighed, "I don't think I am."

"What's wrong?"

"Barricade," Starscream stated simply before heading for a place to sit.

"What's wrong with her?"

"Everything," the silver and black mech admitted incoherently.

Poor 'Screamer... just when you think you've figured her out... :P

So yeah, I hope I haven't confused anyone ;) And the Tracker Seeker idea came out of nowhere, honest!