Rebel Without Streak

AN: This is the request from Dragonstormgirl, who was the 1500th reviewer! Congrats again and I sure hope this lives up to expectation. :D

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"This is so cool!" Sideswipe crooned as the transport vectored in to the newly reconstructed landing pad.

"How so?" Sunstreaker asked sounding bored.

The twins were standing in loose formation, awaiting the arrival of the new base commander. Their base had been attacked a few weeks prior, leaving over half of their forces terminated. With some ingenious plan of attack, the twins had orchestrated a countermove that sent the Decepticons scrambling for cover. And every one of them unknowingly infected with a little virus Sideswipe had been working on to prank his now deceased comrades. The shuttle descended onto the platform and with a hiss of hydraulics and groan of overtaxed engine, the ship threw open its wings and regurgitated its crew.

The main shuttle door opened to reveal a tall mech, painted in red and blue flanked by a bot slightly larger than a minibot and painted in midnight blue. Those in formation instantly snapped to attention, having received word that their new commanding officer was very strict and by the book. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker didn't acknowledge the mech or his rank. They remained lax, observing the crew that was to come in under the pretext of 'leading' them. The twins doubted the broad shouldered mech even saw combat. He looked to be the kind to issue orders behind the safety of trained soldiers.

Pale blue optics regarded the surviving Autobots in turn, no doubt assessing and ranking the remaining soldiers in order of usefulness and possible weaknesses. When the optics alighted on the twins, they narrowed, but didn't linger. The troops stood silent scrutiny, allowing their worth to be assessed by the one who would judge who was to be fodder and who was allowed to gain rank. When the Decepticons attacked and decimated their numbers, many had fled, forgetting the reason why they had signed on. Those few who remained were on questionable ground as far as the Autobot high command was concerned. Everyone would have to undergo evaluations.

"My designation is Ultra Magnus and I run my base with the utmost efficiency and ensure all of those under my command are trained in the correct, standard protocol of tactics and proper chain of command. First, there will be no unauthorized use of base systems for personal use," the new base commander said without preamble. He knew he had to establish his dominance with this group lest he lose their respect. "Any hacking into the system will be investigated and the offending party will enjoy a lengthy say in the brig."

Sideswipe gave his brother a smirk from the corner of his optic. Everyone knew the last commander had experienced a glitch at his terminal. Thanks to Sideswipe's excellent hacking skills, though he never publicly admitted to such misdeeds. No one ever knew when or how he was going to strike.

"Second, any excursions outside of Polyhex are to be signed off by your superiors and any failure to report your itinerary will culminate with an extensive stay in the brig." Ultra Magnus didn't seem to notice his two worst offenders looking vaguely bored with his speech. He droned on. "NO one is going venture outside of base alone. You must be accompanied by at least two others and maintain radio contact at all times."

Sunstreaker emitted a sigh through his vents. It seemed to be too much trouble in his opinion. The war was just getting started. There were plenty of bots that needed to be taught a lesson in civility and public disturbance. The twins had been newly recruited and had barely been at the base before the Decepticon attack that culminated into half the command staff being terminated. Several of the recruits had fled, forgetting why they were there, but not Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. They ran headfirst into the pell-mell screaming like demons and wiping out a good portion of the Con armada that had broken through the base's defenses. Now, after having a young lieutenant in charge and subsequently having a break down over the weight of responsibility, a new base commander and staff had been appointed. The twins didn't think much of the new leader. He was large and full of hot air. Both doubted he would be of use on the battlefield. The new commander was going to learn the true ins and outs of the base and his instigators were casually standing in the front line. Typical placement for them. They gravitated to the front to see everything and if there was a confrontation, they'd be the first ones involved.

"There is to be no high grade except during celebrations," Ultra Magnus went on, pacing studiously before the neat squares of troops that numbered a paltry hundred.

Sideswipe's grin was infectious. Sunstreaker mirrored his brother and like two turbo foxes, they leered at the idea of being denied high grade. With their heavy duty frames, demanding jobs, and stressful situations, high grade was the only thing that kept their systems at normal, peak efficiency. They couldn't function on regular, rationed grade. To them, it was swill. Their frames needed the high octane to operate properly.

"Care to share with everyone on what is so amusing?" Ultra Magnus asked, coming to stand directly in front of Sideswipe.

The red twin offered a muffled snicker to his commanding officer. "We're adults. We're in the middle of a war. No way we're denied high grade."

"Need I remind you, soldier, that we must ration our supplies?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"We can brew with less ingredients than the typical filtered variety," Sideswipe offered a partial shrug as if that settled the matter.

"Soldier, when you address your commanding officer, you will use the proper formality and title."

"One of those," Sunstreaker sighed, rocking to the side and crossing his arms over his chassis. He looked annoyed and bored.

"Soldier, I did not give permission for you to be at rest," Ultra Magnus said, brow drawn down sternly.

"We are the front line. Cons rarely get passed us. When we're on the battlefield, we're primed and ready to terminate. While on base, we are at rest," Sunstreaker answered without batting an optic. He gave the bulky mech an unctuous leer before scoffing through his vents. He doubted the mech even knew hand to hand combat.

"Sir, this is Sideswipe and Sunstreaker," the timid little midnight blue mech said, sending the leader a databurst which was instantly opened.

Ultra Magnus frowned at the sheer volume of detailed information. The first thing that was tagged for inspection was the fact they were split sparks, and one could not be away from the other without suffering a form of spark depression. Which lead to spark destabilization and possible termination…. after suffering severe emotional distress that would probably mean both would be completely uncontrollable and highly destructive. They were effective on the battlefield for a reason. And it could quickly turn against the very ones directing their actions, as the previous field medic and base commander had made note. Magnus's frown deepened, finding the twins record of reprimand. Most was trivial offenses that ended up with menial tasks but some things that were on the list, Magnus certainly would not overlook. Brewing and consuming of high grade principal among them. He believed the distilled rations were sufficient to maintain the systems. Extra charge made one sluggish, reckless, and distinctly lacking in morals. Many a seasoned soldier had succumbed to the fading spirit of brewed octane. Not to his surprise, the twins' disciplinary records was already nearly twice as long as a career soldier, though their sign-on date was less than a vorn.

In essence, they were trouble. Big trouble.

"Soldiers, while you are under my command you will conduct yourselves according to standard military protocol," Magnus said, making sure to use their position instead of their designations. They had to learn he was in charge.

"Commander," Sunstreaker said, looking the mech in the optic. His voice was deep, rumbling, his lip curled into a sneer as he spoke the designation with disdain. "We go in first. We fight. We get slagged. We recover. We drink. That is the way we function. If this is a problem, I suggest you transfer us to another regiment because your rules do not apply to our proven methods of operation."

Ultra Magnus scowled. Never had a lowly soldier spoken so directly and with such blatant insubordination toward him. Apparently these two didn't respect authority.

They would learn.

"Soldier, you are confined to the brig for a joor," Magnus jerked his head toward the central base. "And I suggest you learn how to properly address a superior officer before you speak out of turn. I will not tolerate your flagrant disobedience."

Sunstreaker offered a smirk while looking the red and blue mech up and down. It didn't escape his notice that the bigger mech shifted uncomfortably against the scrutiny.

"Superior?" Sunstreaker slurred the word. "Only by rank, and that means little on the battlefield when we're the ones risking our plugs."

Magnus paused. So, the mechs didn't respect him because they believed him like his predecessor who hid behind his troops, and never scratched his paint with the scars of war? Well, these two had quite the lesson to learn. Magnus was not an easy push over, nor was he a cowering bot who directed others to fight his battles. He had no problem getting into the thick of battle. He may even show the unruly pair a thing or two.

Just as he opened his mouth to inform the golden menace who was in charge and the consequences for disobeying orders there came the cacophony of noise.

"Decepticons! Eastern perimeter! They have a combiner team!" the lookout shouted over the base comms.

Sunstreaker didn't wait for orders. Like a golden blur he was gone. Sideswipe stepped up to a stunned Ultra Magnus, his grin as broad as his ornery streak.

"We'll pick this up later. We have work to do." Without a backward glance he was racing after his twin. Sunstreaker was already gaining the front entrance where the door was starting to buckle with the weight of a heavy fist.

Magnus was hot on the twin's tailpipes, the rest of the soldiers shocked out of the stupor to come to arms. As Magnus approached the buckling door, much to his abhorrence, both twins were finishing glowing purple cubes of a high grade usually associated with seekers. Such octane should have knocked both ground dwelling frames on their skid plates but surprisingly enough, both tossed the empty cubes without care and stepped through a side entrance that had been barred to prevent infiltrators. The door only allowed one to exit, not enter, and the gap was barely wide enough to even allow the twins passage. Magnus shook his head. They were probably so overcharged they weren't thinking straight. Like cowards they had found a safe place to hide and allow the charge to wear off. Typical. It was why he banned all forms of high grade on any base he commanded. It only lead to ruin.

The lookout informed the troops below that the combiner team was staggering away, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker sitting on the mech's shoulders and firing into his neck. Shouts could be heard echoing over the wall, followed by laser blasts, errant steps of a giant, and rifle fire.

Magnus was impressed. They didn't retreat and hide. They slipped out and attacked the Cons when they least expected it. He could admire that.

"Prepare yourselves," Magnus shouted, subspacing a giant rifle and checking the magazine. Everyone followed his example and with a nod, he ordered the door to be opened. When he stepped across the threshold it was utter chaos.

Decepticons were shooting at their combiner team, hoping to strike the crawling red and gold forms that skittered along the plating like insects. Sideswipe slid behind the giant mech's shoulder, Sunstreaker dropping down in front. Together they fired simultaneously at the center where the spark chamber should be located on the mech who made up the upper torso. The combiner team fell apart with a strangled cry, fire erupting from the massive chest and engulfing the entire upper half. The titan teetered back and forth, the combiner team reeling in pain from losing their leader.

First the mechs who made up the arms fell off, landing in a heap, unable to transform back to root mode. The legs gave out, tossing the twins to the battlefield below. They landed gracefully, Sunstreaker making it look easy, and while running toward a cluster of Decepticons, he aimed at the stunned combiners. One was shot through the transformation seam, his helm exploding from the impact and scattering his circuits over the terrain.

Sideswipe headed in the opposite direction as his twin, his shots taking out two of the combiners. The fifth and last mech was already turning grey, his spark probably extinguished with the loss of all his kin. Sideswipe hooted and laughed, jumping on one Decepticon, then the next, his fists a flurry of motion.

Ultra Magnus ordered his troops to advance, following the twin's lead as they cleaved the middle of a thundering mass of violent machinery. Errant shots ricocheted off of the fortress wall that surrounded the Autobot complex.

Magnus barely glimpsed Sunstreaker before the golden mech sent two helms flying through the air. Much to the new commander's surprise, the golden mech's optics were white. Both twins were a blur of motion. Where one jumps, the other slides. When one shoots, another lands a punch that crushes helms or disrupts sensors to allow a death blow. A tide of Decepticons rose over the roadway, covering it, hoping to gain ground by sheer number. They were surrounding the complex to storm it. Magnus knew they were outmatched at least four to one. There was a very slim chance any of them would survive.

He caught a flurry of red in the midst of the Decepticon ranks and knew Sideswipe was now lost in the evil tide that swept him under. Sunstreaker was half a kilk to the west, bellowing like an organic beast and slaughtering everything in his path. Cons dropped all around him, making a fortress of the dead that he climbed and stood upon, jeering at the survivors below who tried to scale their fallen comrades

Magnus knew the twins couldn't take on all of the Con forces by themselves, but they could buy some time. Just as Magnus thought about the sacrifice the twins were making, he saw a ruby colored bullet escape from the middle of the Decepticon forces, heading back to the Autobot line that was protecting the entrance to the base. Magnus's first thought was that Sideswipe had decided retreat was in order and was abandoning the fight. Then Sideswipe waved to Magnus and those around him and yelled, "FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

Suddenly, all Autobots drop to their knees, their hands over their audios. Sideswipe skidded to a halt in front of Magnus. Without word he jerked the much bigger mech to his knees, Sideswipe's expression not one to argue with. Magnus barely had time to cover his audios as Sideswipe' indicated, when there was a deafening BOOM that rattled frames and set equilibrium circuits on edge.

A fiery ring erupted from the middle of the Cons where Sideswipe had just vacated a tall orange mech. The bomb Sideswipe planted had destroyed everyone in a wide arc and scorched the road to a crispy black. Magnus recovered his senses, looking up to find Sideswipe already standing and heading back to the downed Cons who had not protected their audios from the sonic blast. Sideswipe had trouble shooting the ones who wove drunkenly, but the snipers on the upper posts were able to pick them off, the distance aiding in their recovery of Sideswipe's favorite weapon.

Those who were familiar with Sideswipe's antics were up and running, dropping the stunned Cons who were unfortunately enough to be caught in the radius blast.

Magnus staggered to his pedes, his audios still ringing with the residuals from Sideswipe's sonic blast. He saw the ruby colored warrior jumping onto the back of a disoriented triple changer and fire two shots into his spinal strut.

The blue mech that arrived with Magnus gave his commander a grin before saying, "That evens the odds a little."

Indeed, at least two-thirds of the Decepticon forces were either terminated or severely wounded.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker ran helter skelter through the masses, downing those who had yet to recover their senses.

Magnus directed his troops with a logical procession, picking off any stranglers, but then the Cons brought in their secret weapon. A squadron of six seekers sliced through the sky and rained fire upon the Autobots. Magnus barely opened his mouth to order a ground to air assault when the twins jumped into the air.

Sideswipe ignited a jetpack, flew over the battlefield, grasped Sunstreaker's upraised arm, then shot up into the atmosphere. A cloud of ash hung suspended over the area and before Magnus could decipher what was happening, two jets fell out of the sky and landed with a sickening crunch to the pockmarked ground below. A white jet escaped the cloud, a yellow ornament adoring its back and firing into the cockpit before jumping free. Sideswipe caught his brother mid-fall before throwing him toward a red jet that crawled through the sky, no doubt suffering the loss of its trinemates.

"Retreat!" the Decepticon commander shouted.

Sunstreaker zeroed in on the ghastly acid green mech. He smashed the cockpit glass of the seeker he was riding and directed the hapless flyer toward the enemy. Sunstreaker barely jumped clear in time as the seeker crashed into the Decepticon commander who was shouting for an immediate retreat.

The resounding explosion was beautiful to behold. Parts flew everywhere. The acid green melted into a dross with the red seeker. A wing went flying and sliced two retreating Cons straight through. They fell apart, twitching in half as their spark chambers were breached.

With a mighty bellow, Sideswipe charged after the backs of the Cons, his fire matching the snipers who still took down their targets though they gained distance. Sunstreaker joined his twin and together, they chased the Cons a sufficient distance from the base. On the way back they fanned wide and took out any Decepticon survivors. When they returned to base, it was to find a substantial amount of dead Decepticons, but thankfully, few Autobot casualties. Ultra Magnus was overseeing the removal of the dead, the field medics ordered to strip the bodies for anything useful. There was a very short supply on certain parts and most of the Autobots were operating in less than optimal condition. But one couldn't be picky about their supply sources.

"Soldiers! Did you not hear me order your immediate retreat from the Decepticons?" Magnus asked in a barely controlled shout.

"Wasn't paying attention," Sideswipe offered a shrug. His optics were slow to return to normal.

Sunstreaker was taking a little more time to wind down. Hot air still gusted heavily from his vents and his fists remained clutching their assorted weapons.

"What possessed you to charge after the Decepticons after they began to retreat?" Magnus demanded. He stared between the two, his logical center already trying to figure out what the best possible disciplinary action. "One does not shoot an enemy in the back!"

Sunstreaker stepped forward, his gaze unfathomable. "It doesn't matter if they are attacking or retreating. The fact remains that if one of them gets back to their base, they can collect their friends and return with greater numbers."

"Shooting a mech in the back is a cowardly thing to do," Magnus said, losing his vehemence from the icy fire that was directed his way in Sunstreaker's gaze.

"For some. For a seasoned soldier is means you take out the person trying to terminate you and everyone around you, and ensure he doesn't make it back to his own base to gather reinforcements and possibly end more lives." Sunstreaker gave a little twitch. The blaster in his right hand leveled off and without looking, he fired, sending a shot through a Decepticon's chest. The injured enemy gave a few feeble beeps before extinguishing. Sunstreaker had not looked at his target. His gaze remained locked with Ultra Magnus.

"Kill them all the first time and they can't come back to try to kill you a second time," Sunstreaker added.

"I do not agree," Ultra Magnus stated.

"Why am I not surprised?" Sunstreaker quipped.

Sideswipe bounced on his pedes, the heat of battle still singing through his circuits. He had plenty of energy left and no more enemy. It was going to be a very annoying cycle until he could release all his pent up energy. A small part of him wanted to go after the Cons but by now they would have reached their own troops, and good as he was, Sideswipe didn't fancy going into the thick of Decepticon territory just to siphon off some of his happy charge.

Magnus regarded the obviously energetic frontliner, his optics narrowing. "I have never before witnessed such actions while on the battlefield. The both of you are to be commended for the lives you have saved for your fearless attack upon the enemy forces."

"It was nothing," Sunstreaker scoffed, knowing he and his brother could have done a lot better had they not been hindered by injured teammates and a commander who didn't understand how they operated. If Magnus thought he was going to change the way the twins operated while on the battlefield, he had another thing coming.

"However, I have reservations about high grade being consumed, especially before a battle," Magnus said, looking between the two.

"It's what's needed to keep our systems up and running while the rest of you retreat," Sideswipe said, cheeky grin back in place.

"I can, perhaps, overlook the occasional indulgence," Magnus said slowly.

"Don't really need your permission," Sunstreaker retorted, his optics following the field medics as they skittered about assisting the injured and triaging the damage.

"I may overlook the occasional indulgence, soldier, but I will not overlook your continued disregard for authority," Magnus snapped, his optics glaring at Sunstreaker, who returned the heated look with chilled fervor.

"Better get used to it, because we won't be changing to make you happy," Sunstreaker said with a smile that was dangerously wicked.

"I have no problem in enacting disciplinary actions," Magnus said, hoping the threat would be a good enough deterrent. He was wrong.

"Oh, Primus, more brig time," Sideswipe said, sounding ecstatic with the prospect of punishment. "We do enjoy the solitude."

"As I have noticed. Your disciplinary file is at least twice as thick as the entire base put together!" Magnus growled, staring at the two mechs who withheld his gaze without flinching. "And that is only for the short time since you transferred to this base."

"I know!" Sideswipe grinned, holding out his arm as a field medic hurried over to apply an emergency patch to his neural net. "Think what we are going to accomplish, given more time!"

"Out of the question!" Magnus barked.

Sideswipe's look somehow managed to become naughtily elated. He was taking the commander's orders as a challenge, not a restriction. This would not do.

"Soldiers, you are confined to the brig until you're transfers have been approved," Magnus said, knowing the only way he'd have order on his base was to eliminate the unstable elements. He had received word that Prime's unit needed some heavy hitters. And after seeing the two in motion, he knew he found exactly what their leader was looking for in front line defenders.

"You're sending us away?" Sideswipe gasped sadly. "But, there's still so much left to do!"

"People to prank," Sunstreaker amended, waving off the medic when he approached. Sunstreaker would patch up his minor wounds on his own. He didn't like to be touched by strangers.

"Effective immediately," Magnus said, pointing toward the compound where the twins were to march to the brig.

Sideswipe looked disappointed, Sunstreaker mutinous. Without further protest they entered the base and occupied two cells.

Magnus waited until the twins were gone before releasing a heavy gust of aggravated air. He just knew those two wouldn't make it to the end of the war. If the enemy didn't kill them, surely they're own side would do them in. Magnus shook his head in disgust and turned his attention to the removal of the dead and the repairs of the base.

He would let Prime's unit deal with the miscreants. As long as they were no longer challenging his authority, he could return the base to a proper, military installation.

Let the two troublemakers become someone else's processor ache.

Magnus did feel a small pang of pity for the mech who was going to be stuck dealing with the violent troublemakers. But that feeling was quickly squashed when a soldier announced Sunstreaker just put his fist through the brig wall and shorted out that section of the base.

Magnus growled oaths as he marched toward the base, every intention of expediting the transfers and eliminating the two troublemakers from his command.

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I felt like it was getting long winded, so I kinda chopped out some stuff. Does it still flow well?

HUGE THANK YOU to all reviewers. You have been greatly appreciated!

We're coming up on the 100th chapter folks. Its hard to believe the twins are still going strong. :D