Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. And the world is grateful for this. Though if I did, Mirage would be able to turn invisible in RID just like in the original series .. ~nods solemnly~

A/N: Upon reading this the other day I had a horrible thought .. is Sai too much a mary-sue? o.o

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There was nothing to imply to Optimus Prime that his day was going to be any different from any other but, nevertheless, it was. Bwahahah.

He yawned, stretched and clanked out into the computer room of the Autobots' secret base to start watching for any Decepticon activity, and there she was - lying on her stomach on a couple of cushions, legs in the air, headphones on, reading a car magazine. He was so surprised he just stopped and stood there, then finally reached over and tapped a key on the computer to wake T.A.I up. She materialized, saw the girl, and returned his confused look. After a minute, he reached down and tapped her on the shoulder with one finger. The girl glanced over at him, yawned, took off her headphones and sat up.

Long raven black hair fell over one sapphire blue eye, and her eye-brow, ears and probably tongue were pierced. She wore a black crop top and small black jean jacket, along with baggy cargoes. Her feet were bare.

"Hello," said Optimus finally, after critically taking in her appearance.

"Hi," she replied, a cold tinge to her voice.

"I'm Optimus Prime," he began, but she sharply cut him off with

"Leader of the Autobots. Yeah, yeah, I know. You're on T.V. enough." He blinked, then asked

"I see. Who are you?" [I'd also like to know how you got in here, but we'll get to that later]

"My friends call me Sai."

"Can I call you Sai?"

"No."

"Okay... How - "

"Did I get in here? I don't think I really want to tell you that just yet." A smirk appeared on her face at his confused expression, and when he just stared at her, she rolled onto her stomach and went back to her magazine.

The Autobot Brothers reported in half an hour later to find their leader still in the same position. T.A.I looked just as shell-shocked.

"Well looky here," said X-Brawn, a little amused "How'd you get in here, little lady?" At the voice, Sai rolled over. On seeing him her jaw, and magazine, dropped.

"X-Brawn!" she exclaimed, stating the obvious. He laughed at her mock shock.

"You know her?" asked his leader.

"Of course, Optimus. This here is Sai. We had a ... run in ... a while back." He got a look demanding him to elaborate, and returned one strongly suggesting he wait.

"Then maybe -you- can get some answers out of her. She doesn't seem to want to talk to me."

"Sounds about right, she's not a talkative person. 'Cept I doubt she'll tell me anything either." X-Brawn paused, thinking. "But she's not a threat, and she wouldn't have come unless she had to, I'll stake my spark on it."

"Mistake number one," Sai smirked flatly, taking offence to being spoken to like she wasn't there, and making it clearly known, but they both laughed.

Prowl and Sideburn exchanged a look, which Optimus caught. They too had had a 'run in' with Sai, and while they liked the fiery street rat, they didn't completely trust her. Their older brother knew something they didn't, and never questioned her, so they gave her the benefit of the doubt. Come to think of it, Prowl pondered, she was the same with X-Brawn ... and gave him and his little brother the same wariness they gave her.

"So what are you doing?" asked Sideburn finally, when silence had settled in.

"Ask no questions and you'll be told no lies." This time, Sai's smile was forced, and it wasn't just a retort. X-Brawn noticed what was happening and interrupted with

"I'm about to go on patrol. You wanna hitch a ride?" She snorted, but stood up and sauntered out. As she passed, Sideburn took the poster she held out to him, and she smiled at his surprised exclamation at the sight of such a huge cherry red, sleek, shiny sports car. The smile turned into a smirk at what Prowl would do. Ahhh the fun of tormenting giant robots that could squash you with one finger if they so desired ^_____^.

X-Brawn, oblivious, transformed to vehicle mode and she leapt in, leaning back as she remembered just how comfortable his seats were. He was silent as they traveled through the Global Space Bridge and came out on a huge off-roading track in the middle of nowhere. His worried face appeared on the screen, but before he could say a word, she did.

"Nice patrolling, can I join the squad?"

"What's going on?" X-Brawn didn't even acknowledge her question as they shot along. Sai turned her head

out the window. This Autobot was one of her best friends, along with another of his race, but now she was here and could confide in him what was wrong, and what her plan was to fix it, it didn't seem that smart.

"Megatron took my car," she said finally.

"WHAT?!" He skidded, righted himself, and shot on.

"I was driving along and he surprised me. Before I could wake Burn up, these guys had my car and I wasn't in it anymore. There was nothing I could do."

"What do you mean, 'these guys'?"

"What do you think I mean? There were five of them, plus Maggie. One of them was a mini me of Prime, but black."

"Scurge," the car spat "Keep out of his way."

"I plan to." She brushed her hair back, and it fell over her eye again. She sighed.

"What did Megatron attack you to start with? I know he hates you and all, but surely he's over his wanting to kill you obsession."

"I have something Scourge wants, and he needs."

"And what exactly would that be?" [Here comes the truth]

"I dunno?" she suggested, somewhat lamely.

"You're lying." [Stupid intuition]

"And you and your brothers lied to your leader about me."

"We didn't lie," he corrected her, "We just didn't tell him every mundane detail of our day."

"Is my trust in you really worth pissing off your oh-so-great-and-important leader, and dampening his trust in you?"

"Optimus knows we do what we do for a reason, that includes withholding information." He paused. "But yes, it is." A brief smile flitted across her face, now that she knew he still held some loyalties to her.

[I wish I could tell you what's going on, X-Brawn] she thought [but I can't. The Autotbots don't need to be in my fight anymore.] He caught the look on her face.

[When you're ready to talk, I'll be ready to listen. We all will]