Author's Note: Thanks to Riptide2 and I am Blueberry for reviewing the last chapter! Enjoy and I own nothing but my OCs

What It Takes To Live-Drag Racing and Diplomats

"You don't look a day over fast cars and freedom. That sunset riverbank first time feeling"-Fast Cars and Freedom, Rascal Flatts

It was common knowledge at Diego Garcia that Sideswipe and Sunstreaker simply did not know how to behave. They also had an obsession with speed. That was why it surprised no one when they decided to attempt drag racing on the same day a couple foreign diplomats were supposed to tour Diego Garcia. The result, not surprisingly, was a veritable nightmare. It all started out well. The diplomats arrived along with Keller who was here to help Ale smooth things over. They were making their way across the base when Laura Woodson hurried over.

Laura was twenty-one, Ale's personal assistant, and shouldn't have been in politics. She had long blonde hair and a curvy body and could have easily been a model. Instead she was helping Ale on Diego Garcia. "Excuse me for a moment," Laura said, taking my arm and pulling me to one side with a brilliant smile. "You might not want to go to the proving grounds," she told me in a softer tone. "We have a small situation."

"What is it exactly?" I asked her.

"Sideswipe and Sunstreaker," she said with a wince. "They decided to try drag racing. They crashed into a pine tree and are grumbling. Ratchet is swearing and Optimus is trying to keep him from murdering the twins."

"Oh," Ale said, her eyes widening.

"Exactly," Laura said. "You probably want to stay away from there."

"Got it. Thanks Laura," Ale said and the model perfect girl nodding before hurrying away with a wide smile.

Ratchet was indeed swearing as he worked on fixing up the twins. "Just calm down Ratchet," Optimus said for about the twentieth time in the last five minutes. Ratchet ignored his leader just like he had every other time Optimus had said this.

"Why do you idiotic glitch heads have to do something incredibly stupid every time someone important is here?" Ratchet asked, exasperated.

"It wasn't that bad Ratch," Sunstreaker protested, not even daring to complain about the scratches on his paint. "It was just a palm tree. Besides it could have been worse."

"How could it have been worse?" Ratchet snarled and Optimus shot the twins a look that said tread carefully.

"We could have slammed into Ironhide instead of a tree," Sideswipe admitted sheepishly. At that the medic froze.

"Come again?" he asked and the twins exchanged nervous glances.

"We could have run into Ironhide," Sunstreaker said tentatively.

"You're right," Ratchet admitted after a moment. "It could have been worse." The twins exchanged stunned glances but remained silent as the grouchy medic went back to working on them. They were all surprised when they head delicate laughter behind them. They all turned to see a slim woman with a wave of brown hair dressed in a peach colored sundress. She was standing next to Ale and John Keller was standing behind the two women shaking his head.

"Allow me to introduce the French Ambassador to the United States, Madame Lorraine Mercier," Ale said, motioning to the woman.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the French woman said. "It is good to know that Ale is still a good judge of character."

"A pleasure to meet you as well," Ratchet said before turning back to work on the twins again. They all stayed completely silent though until Lorrain Mercier and Ale were out of sight.

"Well," Optimus said finally. "That went well."

"I have to trust Ale when dealing with the French," Keller said with a sigh. "She suggested that Ms Mercier would not react badly to this and so I went along with it." Ratchet finished making the last adjustments to the twins and stood.

"How much are you telling them?" he asked.

"As little as possible for now," Keller admitted. "We don't want to shock them or cause them to run screaming from here."

"That's probably a good idea," Optimus said and Keller nodded, turning to look at Laura.

"You might want to catch up with the others before they leave without you," Laura informed him with a smile. Keller nodded.

"Nice to see you all again," he said before following her away. And so another day slid by in peace and relative tranquility on Diego Garcia.