To Feel Sunlight On Your Face

Request from: DitzyMusicLover- I hope this is what you had in mind. It certainly didn't want to cooperate.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO REVIEWED AND FOLLOW THIS AND "DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS".

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"Polish yourselves up. You have a client," a gruff mech said, looking between the two gladiators that were sparring in the main training room.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker put down their weapons and followed their master to the preparation room. Without word they stripped off the heavy, battered armor they used for training. It fell to the floor without care or regard, the master giving them an annoyed sneer before taking his leave.

"Wonder who we're supposed to please this time,' Sideswipe sighed, stepping into the hot oil bath that was waiting.

"Just as long as they don't want us for the night," Sunstreaker said, easing himself into the large pool next to his twin.

Both were used to such requests by their master. Most of the spectators believed the gladiators just trained, and fought in the matches, but there was another side to the gladiators' lives. Between matches they were primed and buffed, ready to please whoever had purchased their wiles.

The first time they were used in such a manner, both had experienced a full range of pleasure and pain by a bonded couple. They had been tied down and whipped, then pleasured until their processors almost shorted out. Then the roles were reversed, and both learned the delicate touch of pleasurable chastisement.

Rarely were the twins separated when commissioned for pleasure. Most clients preferred to have the taboo twins to slake their assorted hungers. They had gotten used to it. Most purchased their wares before an upcoming match. After the games they were battered and broken, and usually too injured to entertain a partner for the desired results. Having a mech before his match also afforded the added thrill of his violent emotions. Very few clients had wanted a slow, attentive lover. Most wanted to be taken rough by gladiatorial standards and in return, to subdue, overpower, and overload a gladiator. It was a curious pastime between the social elite. They all tried to one up each other and inflate their tallies by improving their performances. Sometimes others would watch, just so a point could be proven.

When both twins were clean, they emerged from the bath and buffed the residual oil from their protoforms. When they were done they went to their shared quarters and removed their stage armor. It was much lighter than their arena gear. And both ensured their amour shone as brilliantly as possible. Clients paid high for well polished and groomed slaves to share their berth. If one was dented, dull and bulky, they lost their sensual appeal.

When both were sparkling like gems they exited their quarters and went to the masters office, where he was seated at his desk. His numerous datapads littered the surface, Sunstreaker's artistic optic catching the vast numbers on a ledger.

"Go to this location," the mech said, tossing a datachip. "Mech paid five thousand credits for the whole cycle."

Without a word the twins nodded and left, going to the transport that took the gladiators to their pleasurable destinations. The ride to the hostelry was long, given that it was seated on the edge of town. Most merchants frequented the establishment, but sometimes a Tower mech would use the seedy rooms for the illicit thrills they didn't want their social equals to be privy to.

"I will return mid-cycle tomorrow," the driver said before slamming the door and taking off.

The twins watched him go, their fuel pumps starting to hammer. They always got nervous when meeting their berth clients. One never knew if the evening was to be spent pleasuring a femme or bent over a table while a Noble pounded your valve.

"Room four seventeen," Sunstreaker said from the datachip. "Says here he's a sales mech."

"No tower brat?" Sideswipe asked, climbing the stairs. The place was well maintained, despite its location. "Slag. They have the best high grade."

"Just says he's a business mech and wanted the company for a full cycle," Sunstreaker recited, putting the datachip into his subspace pocket as they gained the fourth floor.

"Too bad," Sideswipe sighed, looking at the door numbers for their destination. "It makes this go so much easier."

When they found room number seventeen, Sideswipe knocked. The door automatically retracted, granting entrance. Without hesitation the twins stepped over the threshold, the door closing behind them.

"Come in," came a soft cultured voice from a small mech seated at a table. There were several cubes of high grade in front of him.

The twins went to the table and sat down in the available chairs. They had done this type of dance so many times, nothing fazed them. They had learned how to read a mech or femme's body language and take lead, giving them the fantasy they paid for. It was just another hard cycle of work for the gladiator life. At least they sometimes enjoyed themselves and were granted genuine release.

"Would you like some high grade?" the mech asked, polite enough to be a tower brat in disguise. Wouldn't be the first time the twins had entertained an incognito noble. The mech was small in stature. The twins doubted he could reach their shoulders if he stood. There were company logos adorning his arms and shoulders. His hands were large for his frame, showing his ability as a hard laborer. Dark green optics surveyed the two with polite interest behind a transparent visor that probably dimmed with whatever danger labor the mech engaged in for pay.

Sideswipe felt trepidation flood the bond. Sunstreaker didn't like minibots. Most were just rough, brutish and didn't allow him to find his release. There was nothing worse than being dismissed while frustrated.

The twins drank and to their astonishment, the grade was worthy of the Towers. As far as either knew, no minibot held such high station.

Intriguing….

"Do you know why you're here?" the mech asked, his tone soft as his emerald optics surveyed his guests with intent scrutiny. He poured the twins drinks, earning an appreciative optic from both gladiators. It wasn't often a client was amicable and poured drinks for their conquests. Most just wanted a fantasy acted out and then someone's valve was going to get a thorough workout.

"You wished for companionship," Sideswipe said in a seductive purr. The mech could pitch his voice in such ways, he'd been known to cause overloads just by the timber of his vocalizer. It was something of a pride that he shared with Sunstreaker. They had a running tally on their vocal conquests. Sideswipe's favorite combination was rumbling words over audios while his engine revved full throttle against a chassis, Sunstreaker working the clients interface panel and alternating rumbles to a chorus of screaming overloads.

"Satisfaction guaranteed,' Sunstreaker added in a deeper tone that made the mech shiver, despite himself. The twins exchange knowing smirks and triumphant pride through the bond.

"Do you enjoy this?" the mech asked, causing both twins to start and look to the mech with curiously stunned expressions. "Being used for pleasurable company, I mean."

"We do what we must to make our master happy," Sideswipe said, feeling a strange sensation tingle along his relays. Was this unknown mech trying to set them up?

The mech's attitude grew dark, foreboding, and a little scary. He looked both twins in the optics and asked in a deadly serious voice, "Do you enjoy being used for pleasure? And speak the truth. I do not want an answer you think I want to hear. I want the truth."

"No, " Sunstreaker said, gaining the mechs attention, his optic boring into his own. "We don't like it. We hate it."

"Why?" the mech asked, keeping his attention on the golden mech.

"It's degrading," Sunstreaker said, not bothering to soften his words. If the client wanted the truth and commanded honesty, then Sunstreaker would oblige. Course that may mean he'd be the one violently spiked in retribution to such harsh rebuke. He decided to give the mech the truth he wanted to hear. "It's horrible to be treated as property. Being forced to fight or kill so some Nobles can be entertained."

Sideswipe didn't want his brother to suffer the wrath of a temperamental client, so he picked up where his twin left off. "To have your life weighed by how well you fight and have strangers to cheer when you receive an injury."

"To be forced to take another mechs life, just so strangers can gamble on the length of termination and line the subspace pockets of those who think ending a life is fun." Sunstreaker said.

"To be commanded to berth a client who has paid enough," Sideswipe said, his optics turning dark with memories. "To be educated on different forms of pleasure, some cruel and violent and cause such pain, you fear you will lose yourself to it."

"Or that you may accidentally hurt someone that you care for," Sunstreaker said, oblivious to the mechs head jerking between the two as they spoke.

"To have your body violated by someone who cares nothing for you and laughs when you incur injury." Sideswipe added, downing his cube with a morose look.

"It's horrible,' Sunstreaker said, pulling his mind form the clouded thoughts. "But we are property. It can not be changed. It's what we are built to do."

"Did you have creators?" the mech asked.

"They were terminated during an uprising when a shuttle exploded. They were piloting the ship." Sunstreaker said, his tone returning to the seductive rumble to entice the client. He really didn't want to talk about his lost creators and the horrible life of an enslaved gladiator. He and Sideswipe were there for a reason, and the sooner they got to it, the sooner Sunstreaker could clean the mech's mark from his body and await transport home.

"And you were remanded to youngling centers?" the mech asked, trying to gauge the age of the two mechs.

"We never had the chance,' Sideswipe said, hiding a surprised expression as the mech poured more of the high grade into his crystal glass. He downed half of his high grade before added, "A bot showed up, said they knew our creators and they would take care of us and next thing we know, we're sold to a master."

"And outfitted with these," Sunstreaker said raising his chin and showing the small collar attacked to his throat.

"If we disobey our master, we receive a shock," Sideswipe said, his servo rubbing the offending equipment. "If we make him mad, or we don't win a fight, he disrupts our electrical relays, rendering us unconscious until we can reboot."

"They are trackers as well," Sunstreaker added, finishing his glass and grabbing the cube the mech offered. He downed the last bit of high grade, his optics glowing bright with the building charge. If he indulged a little more high grade, there was a chance he could overload and not be left unsatisfied.

"If you could escape, would you?" the mech asked.

Sideswipe offered a look of polite humor, thinking the mech was pulling his bolts and speaking in a hypothetical, joking way. Unfortunately, Sunstreaker didn't perceive it as such.

"Yes," Sunstreaker answered for the both of them.

Sideswipe cast his brother an anxious look while flooding the bond with incredulous terror. They didn't know this mech. He could be a plant by the master to gauge the loyalty of his gladiators. It wouldn't be the first time the twins were tested in such a manner, granted the last time didn't involve a potential client.

They sat in silence for a moment, the twins downing another full cube between them. The client sat, arms folded over chassis, regarding the two with his emerald optics. When the twins started to shift in awkwardness, the mech locked optics with Sideswipe.

"Stand up," the mech commanded after a moment.

Without hesitation, Sideswipe stood. His frame was relaxed, ready to please on command. When the mech stood in front of him, Sideswipe instinctively grabbed the mech's waist. But instead of amorous intention, the mech slapped Sideswipe's servos aside. His servo grasped Sideswipe's chin and turned his helm, affording the mech the vantage of inspecting the slave device.

Sideswipe thought it odd but held still. If the mech wanted to ensure his pleasurable company was legit, then he would perform whatever tests the mech demanded. Such compliance made Sideswipe's tank churn every time, but he had learned to quell the feeling. He felt the mech's fingers along the control device. If he wanted the thrill of berthing a slave, he was going about it in a strange way. Most clients already knew of their partners standing. It seemed odd that this mech was so interested in a collar he should already know existed.

Sideswipe remained immobile, a feat he had learned despite his fidgety nature. The mechs fingers were gentle, brushing along the cables and wires. Light, feathery, touches that seemed more intimate than what was expected to be performed in the berth.

Several minutes passed, Sunstreaker staring with curiosity. A client had never been so interested in their collars before. It seemed strange. Perhaps this wasn't a tower's mech afterall? They most certainly didn't care what a mech or femme felt about being enslaved and forced to do unspeakable acts to keep their masters appeased. Most didn't even bother to look at the slave collars. The only times the collars were acknowledged was to anchor a mech as he spiked his partner. Then the collars served as both immobilizing device and leash.

Maybe this was the mech's first time purchasing gladiatorial pleasures? Or maybe he was just ensuring that his partners were indeed a slave to his will.

Thinking he should be doing something instead of just standing there letting a client brush his digits across his throat, Sideswipe reached out, his hands caressing the mech's arms. With an annoyed huff, the mech slapped the hands away a second time and went back to his investigation.

Surprise filled the bond. Sideswipe stood ramrod straight, unsure what he was supposed to do or what was going on. Sunstreaker's handsome face turned dark as he surveyed the strange mech.

Something wasn't right.

The mech worked in silence for several minutes. When his digits retracted to display tools, Sideswipe jerked in surprise, his spark pounding in fear. Sunstreaker was in motion before the sensation could filter through fully. He was standing behind the strange mech, his hands at the ready to terminate the mech if he harmed his twin. Their master would have them beaten and probably separated in punishment, possibly assigning both to multiple death matches, but he would ensure they learned their lesson about terminating a client. A master couldn't have his servants out of his control. That would mean his ruin and many a mechs termination.

Click

"There," the mech said, then turned, jumping when he found Sunstreaker standing directly behind him. "You're next."

"For what?" Sunstreaker asked, his optics not straying from the stranger in case he tried an attack.

The bond was wide open, keeping both twins linked in their souls. Sideswipe's trepidation gave way to surprise when he felt the collar retract from its anchor and fall into his awaiting servo. His wide optics stared at the collar for a long moment before rising to look at his twin. Sunstreaker mirrored his brother's expression, both looking to the mech between them. Now that they were standing together, the twins easily dwarfed their client.

"May I?" the mech asked, nodding to Sunstreaker's collar.

Sunstreaker nodded, turning his head and giving the mech access.

It only took half the time to release Sunstreaker from his collar. The mech worked in silence, the twins unsure what to say. When Sunstreaker's collar fell free, he crushed it in his servo and sprinkled its components on the floor.

"Why did you do this?" Sideswipe asked, still holding his collar in frozen confusion.

"No mech or femme should be forced to do something against their will," the mech answered.

"Now what are we supposed to do?" Sunstreaker asked, clearly unsure on what was expected. He had been commanded all his life. To be given something as foreign as freedom, he wasn't sure he could handle such a concept.

"I have witnessed the skills you two possess fighting in the rings," the mech said, storing his tools used to free the infamous twins. "There is a faction who abhor such horrible venues of entertainment. They can use your skills, if you are so inclined to prevent such things from happening to others."

"Freedom…" Sideswipe muttered, staring at the collar still laying innocently in his servo.

"The choice is yours to make," the mech said looking between the duo. "If you wish to flee, you will not be hunted down nor persecuted for wanting to avoid the war."

"War?" Sideswipe barked in alarm.

"I thought the war was just a rumor," Sunstreaker said, looking to his twin in fear. "Something the master said to keep us in line."

"A war is upon us," the mech said, sounding saddened and sickened. "Megatron terminated the Prime and now a new Prime has been chosen."

"Megatron?" Sunstreaker hissed. His fists flexed at his side, his armor puffing against his protoform, displaying the raw power beneath the polished metal. "From Kaon?"

"He leads the others in a rebellion against the Prime," the mech said, going to the table and sitting down. He poured himself a cube of high grade while he continued, "But the new Prime isn't a Noble or Senator. He's a dock worker, well aware of the instability of the classes and the torment the Nobles have imposed upon the people. He's trying to free all classes."

"He wishes to end slavery?" Sideswipe asked in a breathless tone, sitting down opposite, his collar hanging loose in his servo.

"To stop the fighting circuits?" Sunstreaker asked, sitting next to his brother.

"The Senate is against him, but he has already proven he is serious by removing more than half from their office," the mech said. It just occurred to him that the mechs he just freed may not have been privy to the news broadcasts and current events. If they didn't even know the planet was in the beginning labor pains of a civil war, then they wouldn't know all the details.

"The Prime can do that?" Sunstreaker asked, optics wide in disbelief.

"He bears the Matrix," the mech said with an incredulous tone. "He can do whatever he wants and has the will of Primus directly speaking to his spark."

"Didn't do so great with the last Prime," Sideswipe said. "We've seen him at some of the matches. Had to berth him a few times as well."

"He was corrupt and not the true intended Prime," the mech said, suppressing the urge to gag at the idea of berthing the previous leader. "We found out through archives and personal logs that he took the Matrix from his predecessor and grafted the Matrix to his own spark. He was never meant to be its bearer."

"Why didn't it destroy him?" Sunstreaker asked, remembering all too well the numerous matches the old Prime had attended. His voice had rung the loudest when commanding Sunstreaker to terminate a mech for his disappointing loss. And he always wanted Sunstreaker to fight and scream as he was pursued by the randy Prime who luxuriated in the chase and subsequent claiming of a pseudo-sealed mech.

"According to the new Prime, Optimus, he said the Matrix allowed itself to be carried until it was time for it to choose its next bearer," the mech explained, downing the last of his cube. "In the end, the Matrix removed itself from the previous Prime's chest plates and went to Optimus."

"And he is really going to end the slave trade?" Sideswipe asked.

"He ordered all enslaved bots to be freed as his first command," the mech said. "And those of high standing who refused were immediately striped of privilege and property."

"So how does Megatron fit into this?" Sunstreaker asked, his hand flexing at the mention of his rivals name. Megatron was the only one who could defeat Sunstreaker. Something that still twisted his circuits.

"Megatron used the inequality to band some mechs together and storm several business, burning them to the ground," the mech explained. He felt like one of the newsbots from the information net but these two mechs needed to know. They had to know what lay beyond the walls of the Pit. "He's collecting followers, and they're getting more and more aggressive."

"But if the new Prime is eliminating the caste system, why continue with an uprising?" Sideswipe asked. Politics never interested him but the prospect of a mech amassing an army to do something that the most influential mech on the planet was already enacting, was overkill.

"There's been rumors that Megatron wants the Matrix for himself," the mech said, offering a lopsided shrug. "But I don't know if they're real or used as a smokescreen for a bigger agenda."

"Why are you telling us?" Sunstreaker said, giving the mech a critical look. He didn't trust easy and there was something about this mech that made his plating crawl. There was more to him than what the optics perceived.

"If you are to get away from the Pit, you need to know all the information so you can make your decision," the mech said, giving that half shrug again. "I just think the more you know, the better you can plan."

Sideswipe looked to the collar that was lying in his palm, a frown on his face. "I don't know if we can get away."

"I disabled the tracker from the collar," the mech said, looking in disgust at the enslavement device. "You are free to chose your own path and not worry about a master directing your movements."

"Why did you do this?" Sunstreaker asked. His optics were dark, his expression hard as steel. His fists rested on the table, showing the true strength within his golden frame. "And tell me the truth."

The mech gave a start, his optics blinking in shock at the tone and command behind Sunstreaker's voice.

"I wanted to help someone," the mech said, his voice sounding shaky. He cleared his vents before continuing, "War is upon us. Everyone needs to be prepared."

"War?" Sideswipe said, canting his helm. "But why save us? Surely there are others? Civilians? Someone else who would benefit from freedom."

"I can only do so much," the mech admitted, looking to the last remaining cube. It glowed a brilliant lavender, its taste reserved for seekers of premium grade. "If I can save one life, it's worth it." He looked up, his emerald optics glancing between the two before he added, "Or two in this case."

"Why do you feel as if you have to save us?" Sunstreaker asked. Having someone think about his well being as being paramount was a foreign concept. He was used to mechs trying to terminate him, not set him free. And most certainly not to giving him choices that he was allowed to make for himself.

"I took a life," the mech said softly, gaze back to the shimmering purple liquid.

"So? We do that all the time," Sunstreaker said, earning a sharp elbow from his twin and a flood of irritation over the bond. He scowled, sinking back into his seat and scowling at the mech opposite.

"I didn't want to, but he left me no choice," the mech admitted. His voice was strained, as if it was costing his resolve to speak the words out loud. "I terminated him. Without thought. Without hesitation. Without flinching. I just stabbed him straight through the spark, terminating him with one blow."

"Impressive," Sunstreaker said, earning another wave of annoyance.

"It's not who I am," the mech said looking at Sunstreaker with a desperate expression. "I have never attacked anyone before, let alone terminate someone."

"But you survived," Sunstreaker said, cutting off his brother's reprimand with a resounding kick under the table. Sideswipe grunted with the rebuke but remained silent to allow Sunstreaker to speak. "Someone attacked you and you terminated them. There was nothing to fault. It was either him or you. It takes struts to do what's necessary to survive."

"You make it sound so easy," the mech said, his gaze meeting Sunstreaker's. He slumped back in his seat, casting a miserable look to his guests.

"It is," Sunstreaker said, not breaking optic contact. The two stared at each other a few seconds before Sunstreaker added, "Is that why you freed us? To repay a debt for taking a life?"

The mech gave a soft smile before grabbing the last cube and cracking it open. He poured the contents between the three of them, his processor on overdrive. He wasn't used to such feelings. He wasn't used to conflict and clashing emotions. He wasn't used to war.

"I figured, if I take a life, I can give one back," the mech said, raising his crystal glass in a salute before tossing the liquid back. He coughed through his vents as the refined fuel struck his absorption relays. Ground frames definitely had to use precaution on the seeker blends.

"Well, now you're one up," Sideswipe said, tossing back his own drink without even flinching. The grade was smooth, making it go down easy into his cast iron tank. "So now you can terminate someone else and be even."

The mech allowed himself a smile at the absurdity of the suggestion.

"We should go," the mech said, storing the emptied cubes into his subspace. "It will take some time before you are missed and I'd rather you put distance between yourselves and this place."

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker rose and out of some strange need to do so, Sideswipe extended his servo. The mech who liberated them looked to the extension and cracked a smile before taking the offered greeting.

"How can we repay you for what you've done?" Sideswipe asked, sending a tingling energy field along the other mech's plating. It had a double meaning.

"Don't get yourselves terminated," the mech said, releasing Sideswipe's servo and taking a step away.

"Where will you go?" Sunstreaker asked, not offering a physical gesture of good will. He sent a soured feeling through the bond, letting his twin know he didn't appreciate the hidden offer to the strange mech. They were now free. They didn't have to share a berth with him.

"Away. Away from here, away from everything,' the mech said, looking toward the door, his optic's distant. "You're not the only ones who need a fresh start."

"Where should we go?" Sideswipe asked, looking to his twin with a lost expression. They had never experienced freedom before. It settled heavy on their consciousness.

"You can join Megatron, if you so chose," the mech said, letting the twins know it was their choice. He would honor it, even if he didn't agree. Thankfully, he received a hateful gleam from the golden mech.

"Do you wan to get slagged?" Sunstreaker asked in a rumbling tone.

"Or you can become neutral," the mech offered. It was nice to know he wouldn't see these two fighting on the wrong side. It would break his spark, if he ever admitted to such emotional slag.

"And not fight?" Sideswipe asked, sounding both surprised and hurt by the prospect.

"You can join the Prime and his Autobots and fight against Megatron," the mech offered, feeling his spark surge with the notion. He went to the door and opened it, checking to see if the coast was clear before the trio's joint escape to their new futures.

"Do you know where to find them?" Sideswipe asked.

"Two hundred kliks east, in Iacon," the mech said, standing in the doorway. "That's their main base."

"Thanks," Sideswipe said, stepping to the door, Sunstreaker trailing behind.

"Just don't get yourselves terminated, or my debt will have to be repaid," the mech said with a half smile.

"Don't worry. We know what we're doing." Sideswipe said, finally taking the bold step of crushing his collar. Its shattered remains fell through his fingers and tinkled on the floor. Now, he and his brother were truly free.

"By the way, what is your designation?" Sunstreaker asked.

"Meister, you can call me Meister." The mech said with a nod before disappearing out the door.

The twins followed and found the hallway clear of their savior's presence. They both gaped in awe, sharing a look between them as they set out for their first real taste of life as free mechs. Neither knew that Meister followed them in the shadows all the way to Iacon.

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Is that what you had in mind my dear?

Thought we'd dabble a bit more in drama since I want to show all aspects of the twins personalities and not focus sorely on the pranking, idiotic sots they tend to be only portrayed all the time.

Reviews are loved!

Next week... Request from Lady Nebkhat