The twins watched the door shut to the specific cell they occupied, and then turned to each other after they heard the Decepticon air commander leave down the hall. Sunstreaker broke the silence. "Do you think it worked?"

"Of course. Did you see his face?"

"But do you think he actually heard us? He shut off his audio receptors."

"I think he faked it. He's a whiney twit, but he's curious," Sideswipe gave a little laugh. "He acted like no one's ever told him he did a good job. It was priceless, I wish I had a camera."

Sunstreaker grinned despite himself. "So what now?"

"We need to find out just how willing he is to betray Megatron right now."

"When is he never ready to betray Megatron?"

"I would just like to know how well the sting of punishment has worn off. He usually doesn't try stuff after he's been mangled or threatened."

Sunstreaker was silent for a few ticks. "I'll threaten him if you want."

"Sunny…"

"And I'll follow through too. I could make a Starscream jigsaw puzzle with the little pieces left over."

Sideswipe grinned. They were silent a bit, the sound of damaged systems rasping in the air. When they had been captured, Sideswipe was well enough to get away, but Sunstreaker was not. There had been no way he was going to let his twin get captured alone, so he feigned severe injury to be taken along too. He had no doubt that now the Decepticons knew just how damaged he really was, but now they were both behind a force field, so it didn't matter unless they were able to get out.

Sunstreaker spoke softly. "But seriously, this is going to work right?"

"Of course. I've practically wheedled our way out of here already. We just need to lay out the specifics, but it's gotta look like he thought it up, or else it wont work. You know how it is, those egotistical types."

"Yeah, I kn…" Sunstreaker frowned and shot a glare at Sideswipe, who only grinned. "Knock it off, I am nothing like Starscream!"

The door opened just then, allowing Starscream to hear the last bit of the conversation. "Thank Primus you're not," Starscream added, setting the tray with the energon on the bench next to his data pad. "I'd hate to be associated with someone who picks yellow, of all ostentatious colors, for a paint deco. Although, it does make you easier to spot on the field, so I suppose I should thank you for that."

Sunstreaker's optics narrowed, and he jolted forward, as if ready to claw his way through the force field to get to Starscream. The pain in his knee sprang forth with life renewed, causing him to freeze up and bite back a howl of pain.

Starscream laughed. "Please, you couldn't stand a chance in your condition. I'd have you torn in two before you could get your balance," he picked up an energon canister and brought it to his lips, making a show of savoring it. "My, Megatron's giving out some very good blend today. I suppose it has to do with what he has planned for you."

"So you know what it is now?" Sideswipe asked, all mockery vanished from his being.

Starscream nodded and threw back the rest of the energon. "Mmmhmmm."

"Well?" Sunstreaker prodded. The twins watched as he picked up another container of energon and brought it to his lips. The air commander paused and grinned at them both. They both tried to mask their relief.

"You know," Starscream started, avoiding the question. "You both would probably be in the Autobot repair bay if you had only abandoned that junk heap you were protecting…who is probably already dead by now."

The twins both grew serious.

Starscream began drinking from the second canister. "The loss of two very competent warriors outweighs the loss of one silly little sharpshooter."

The Lamborghinis didn't flinch. Their expression was dry, with hatred radiating from their optics, which watched as Starscream drank more from the second canister.

Starscream laughed to himself, knowing the two were in desperate need of energy. "He was worthless on the field anyway. Not even worth the time given to train him, although I doubt any was dedicated at all, being how shoddy his mind for battle is compared to the rest of the Autobots."

He downed the rest of the second canister. He felt the fuel surge through his systems, refreshing him from the battle. If things went his way, he was going to need it. He made a show of scraping the canister with a finger as if trying to get the last precious drop, and then hung the canister upside down to show that there was, indeed, no more.

Sunstreaker's voice came out saturated with hate. "If you have something to say, Starscream, say it, because I'll remember this, and one day I'll shove those words right down your…"

"Calm yourself, Autobrat," Starscream said, grinning. He sat on the bench and held up the last can. He watched the two eye the canister with longing that was hardly masked. He moved it back, and then moved it again. Their optics never left the canister. It was like a set of begging puppies. "You want this, don't you?"

Sideswipe frowned. "That's hardly enough for one, and you want us to split it?"

"Of course, although if I were you, I'd give this to your brother. He's going to need it to get out of here alive. If you get out of here."

Starscream waited.

"You've got something else, don't you?" A slight smirk played on the red twin's features.

Starscream nodded. A grin more evil than any grin they'd ever seen traversed his face.

"I'm listening."