It wasn't even two sols after their last talk that Smokescreen arrived in the medbay once more. First Aid didn't like the glint in his optics. "Please don't tell me you have another bad idea?"

"This isn't bad, it's brilliant!" Smokescreen was lucky the last patient left and Ratchet was taking his appointed break.

First Aid vented wearily as he leaned against his station. "What is it?" And was he going to regret asking?

"Let me start with a question; who here does Sunstreaker, without question, care about?" Smokescreen asked.

First Aid stared at him. What? "That's easy, it's Sideswipe."

Smokescreen's optics brightened. "Yes!" he grinned. "Since you vetoed the exposure method, I thought of different ways to get Skyfire to see what Sunstreaker's been doing. You might look down on me for being manipulative, but I get results-and the results I could get would be invaluable."

The medic tilted his head, already his mood turning even more wary. "You're not suggesting Skyfire talk to Sideswipe, are you?"

"Nothing like that." Smokescreen waved it off. "I'm suggesting we talk to Sideswipe."

"What?" What would that accomplish? Smokescreen looked so sure, but First Aid didn't want to rush into this. "Please, explain what it is you'd plan on doing?"

"It's been right there this whole time. Sideswipe's been with Sunstreaker their whole lives, lived through everything together, but there's something that caused things to change." Smokescreen said. "From what I've been able to gather, the two of them were gladiators, they hate minibots and they hate seekers-yet only Sunstreaker is a great deal more violent than Sideswipe."

"Being twins doesn't mean they'll have the exact same interests or personalities." First Aid came from a gestalt forged from a single spark and yet he and his brothers all had wildly different attitudes.

"I know that, this isn't being reductionist; I'm trying to establish the picture." Smokescreen said. "See, what you said about Sunstreaker keeping Sideswipe in the dark got me thinking; what if this isn't the only time they've kept things from each other? If they can let each other see things when they want, then whose to say Sunstreaker hasn't abused anyone like Skyfire before?"

First Aid's tank churned at the thought. "Are you certain?"

Smokescreen shook his head. "I can't be, but do you know who could?"

"Sideswipe." First Aid whispered.

Smokescreen snapped his digits. "Bingo! If Sideswipe was horrified like everyone else at what Sunstreaker did to Cosmos, then it's entirely reasonable to assume he'd want to know why, right?"

First Aid thought back, almost like it was cycles behind him, when Sideswipe expressed such confusion and bafflement over Cosmos' attack. First Aid started to see where Smokescreen was going. 'Manipulating Skyfire is wrong, but isn't doing the same with Sideswipe?' Still, time was pressing and Sideswipe wasn't going to be the one who paid once Sunstreaker was out to the brig.

"You're going to get Sideswipe to confront Sunstreaker about Cosmos, aren't you?" he asked.

"I can't do it on my own. Sideswipe is wise to my tricks, but you'd be an unexpected roadblock he can't gauge straight away." Smokescreen replied. "You wouldn't need to do much, we'll just pretend we're on a date and going about our business when we happen to see him. Small talk and I'll do my thing to get him to express doubt and question his brother's actions."

If there was one admirable thing about Smokescreen, he committed to his part. First Aid thought was leerier about it. "It's a better idea than the one who had before, but how will this help Skyfire?"

"I'm glad you asked. See, once I plant the seeds and Sideswipe starts watering them, he'll be to curious to just let it go. I mean, did you?"

First Aid winced. "No." He followed the trail until he learned the awful truth.

"Sunstreaker can't keep his defense up forever; eventually Sideswipe will hit too close to something, and hopefully that's when he'll see something. Maybe it won't be big, but enough to get him prodding for more answers." Smokescreen said.

"You're putting a lot of trust in maybes." First Aid said. He couldn't deny he'd done the same. His pede scuffed against the floor.

"Perhaps, but I'm just trying to think of the possibilities once it's out of my servos. Couldn't do my job right if I didn't." Smokescreen said.

The one, terrifying possibility First Aid always came back too caused his spark to thud. "What if Sideswipe doesn't believe it even with proof? What if he still takes Sunstreaker's side? You've said it yourself; they've lived through so much together."

A grimness entered Smokescreen's expression. "That is entirely possible." First Aid's tank churned again. "I can't say this will work the way I want it too, but this is the best option there is. If nothing else, I'm putting faith in your observation."

"What?" Confusion laced the medic's tone.

Smokescreen allowed a half-smile. "That you're right about Sideswipe having an actual spark. That the mech who could look at Cosmos, see what his brother did to him, and be shocked enough to wonder why. I want that to be the mech who sees past his brother's defenses at the truth, and be just as horrified by it."

First Aid deeply wanted that too. "I take it this will have the added effect of helping Skyfire?"

Smokescreen nodded. "We all know Sunstreaker only cares about Sideswipe, and I'm hoping if he condemns his brother's actions-it will not only help Skyfire but everyone else see just how terrible we've all treated him. That we allowed this by ignoring it and letting it fester."

"Skyfire is a mech, not a lesson for everyone to learn from." First Aid said.

Smokescreen's expression softened. "Then it's a good thing he's got a great friend looking out for him."

The medic's spark thrummed with discomfort. "Friends don't keep to secret plans behind each other's backs. I'm a medic looking out for his patient; I don't deserve to be his friend. Hopefully; Grapple, Hound, and Beachcomber can be what he needs once Sunstreaker's been exposed."

"You don't give yourself enough credit." Smokescreen said. "I go behind everyone's backs and report to Prime my findings and yet half of you call me friend."

"That's not exactly making this any better." First Aid said.

Smokescreen shrugged. "I'm already knee joint deep in a job of trying to make things better, so are you going to come help me with the next step or wait?"

First Aid checked his chronometer. Ratchet should be on his way back in another breem. "I'll sign out when Ratchet comes back. Though I question having why us being on a date would be the best course of action."

"Haven't you heard? Everyone already thinks we're going out. I expect your brothers to give me the shovel talk soon. Before I end up dismantled, I want at least a pretend date." Smokescreen said, completely straight-faced.

This was not the time for jokes and levity, but First Aid's shoulders slumped as he shook his helm. "You've all watched too many television programs to believe that bit about overprotective family members." He paused. "The only one you'd have to worry about is Blades."

Smokescreen laughed. "I knew you had a sense of humor deep down."

First Aid decided to enjoy the brief moment of humour while he could, because what happened next was likely not going to have any of it.