Sunstreaker was angry, and an angry Sunstreaker was not to be messed with. He turned sharply down a hallway, and snarled wordlessly at the minibot that had bumped into him. Sideswipe hadn't been back after going outside, and he hadn't turned up all night. Sunstreaker had skipped his first shift to find his brother, but so far he hadn't had any luck, and his temper was flaring. He stormed back outside, and into the trees. He paused when he heard voices.
Sunstreaker frowned, and hid behind some bushes. He looked out from behind them, and saw two figures sitting together. He smiled gently when he recognized Sideswipe and Skywriter. His twin was holding her hand, and the two were talking softly. The sun was just coming up fully over the hills, and he could see their expressions. Good job, bro. Sunstreaker walked back to the base, smiling all the way. Mechs still got out of his way, because, normally, a smiling Sunstreaker was just as dangerous as an angry Sunstreaker.
He walked into the control room, fully intending to get his brother and Skywriter out of duty for the day, but was quickly swamped by a very angry Prowl.
"Sunstreaker, why didn't you report for duty this morning? And do you know where your brother and Skywriter are? Do you know how angry Optimus is?" He shoved the golden yellow Lamborghini into the Autobot leader's office.
Optimus Prime looked up from his desk, and gave the warrior an emotionless look. "Sit down, Sunstreaker." He waited until the other was sitting, the continued, "Why did you not report to your shift this morning?"
"I was looking for Sideswipe," he answered truthfully.
"Indeed. And did you find him?"
Sunstreaker was silent for a moment, then said, "Optimus, couldn't he have…erm…a…" He broke off.
Optimus looked amused. "You're asking for him to have the day off?"
"Ya, and…and Skywriter." He mentally slapped himself.
"I see. I would like to see them, to discuss this, but-"
"Oh no…Optimus, look. I can't bring them in. They're-"
At that moment, Sideswipe and Skywriter walked in, looking sheepish. "Sunny?" Sideswipe said in confusion.
"I'll be going now," Sunstreaker announced, and dashed out.
"Optimus, we're really sorry we're late, we just…um, stayed outside too long, and the time got away from us," Skywriter explained, all in one quick sentence, akin to Blurr.
Optimus sighed. "Very well. Go on to your shifts, but I want you both on the night patrol. And tell Sunstreaker to do the same."
The two nodded, and left quickly.
"That was too close," Skywriter said, a mischievous grin on her face. "You knew what time it was, though."
Sideswipe gave her a fake shocked look. "Who, me? I had no idea we were late."
"Oh sure. Even Sunny wouldn't fall for that one!" She shook her head.
Sideswipe grabbed her arms, and said, "You will never tell!" in an overdramatic tone. She rolled her optics, and pulled free. "Of course I won't. Now, we'd better go. We got off…in my opinion, easy now. Let's not stretch our luck, k?" She pecked him lightly on the cheek, and swept away. Sideswipe stood there, stunned. Sunstreaker peeked around the corner, and sighed. "Alright, bro, come on." He grabbed his red twin's arm, and yanked him along.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Huh?! Oh, nothing. Just…thinking, that's all. Thinking."
"You're a terrible liar when you're distracted, Sides." Sunstreaker chuckled softly.
Sideswipe shot him a glare. "Oh yeah? So what?
The golden yellow Lamborghini sighed. "Never mind." I wanted to tell him…what I heard…but I'll let him be happy. Sides deserves it. Sunstreaker clenched his fists in indecision. Before Sideswipe noticed him, however, he calmed his expression, and unclenched his hands.
Skywriter dashed down the hallway, glad that she had made excuses to get out of her shift. She'd claimed she wasn't feeling very well, and, luckily, Ironhide had attributed it to her recent landing, and a possible problem with the atmosphere. She pressed up against a wall, and listened intently to the voices coming from down the hall.
Once they disappeared, Skywriter slipped outside. She transformed into her F-18, and flew off. Earlier, she had detected a far-off landing, and wanted to go check it out. She had a sneaking suspicion she knew who it was, and didn't want the Autobots or Decepticons getting involved.
The landing site came into view, and the reddish-purple femme landed. She looked around, and saw, to her anger, the exact mech she had predicted.
"Sunspark," she said coldly.
He chuckled. "Skywriter. Long time no see, eh?" He stepped closer, and she stepped back.
"Oh come now, don't be afraid," he coaxed, reaching his hands out.
"You turned us out, to fend for ourselves, Sunspark. I'll never forgive you, you know that." Skywriter pulled out her gun, and aimed it carefully at the mech's head.
Sunspark laughed evilly. "And I also know you can't bring yourself to kill me. You've already had a chance, more than one chance, and you failed to eliminate me. You're a failure, just like your brother. Face facts, Skywriter. You are worthless, you and that brother of yours, and I had to turn you out, don't you see? What a disgrace you two were! Such good sparks… Sickening. I thought turning you out would harden your soft sparks, turn you two into true Decepticons! But no, you somehow managed to evade your fate, and become an Autobot."
"Shut your vocal processor! I found my true calling with the Autobots, and I'm glad. Maybe you had 'good' intentions, but what you did is unforgivable! We were only sparklings! If it hadn't been for a few kind sparks, I wouldn't be standing here. If it weren't for those few kind sparks-"
"If it weren't for those sparks, I would have been there, to prevent Lord Megatron's death! Optimus Prime and the Autobots would be vanquished, and the Decepticons in control of the Allspark! If it weren't for those sparks, all the dreams of the Decepticons would be fulfilled. The path to universal domination would be clear! The Autobots would be leaderless, and powerless to stop the mighty Decepticons!" Sunspark grasped Skywriter's shoulders, and brought his faceplate closer. "Skywriter, I am heading to the Decepticons! Come with me, join the powerful side!"
Skywriter tore free. "I already did," she said. Fighting to keep the Energon tears in her optics, she transformed into her Superleggera, and started off. Behind her, Sunspark cried, "You never told him, did you? He won't know! I can gain his trust, turn him against you!" She shut off her audio receptors, and drove off as quickly as she possibly could.
Skywriter drove into the small clearing in the trees, beside the Autobots' base, and transformed. She fell to her knees, and rested her head in her hands. Energon tears fell from her optics, and pooled in front of her. A gentle hand touched her back, but she pushed it away.
"Skywriter, you know I'm not one for comforting…"
She jolted up. "S-Starscream? Oh Starscream!" she cried, and clung to him. "I never told you! Why didn't I tell you?" Skywriter sobbed.
"Calm down, please!" He waited until she was somewhat composed, then continued, "Now, tell me what happened."
"S-Sunspark…he came, he's going to the Decepticons! Don't trust him, he-he…" She trailed off.
"I've heard of Sunspark, but…how did he upset you?"
"Star'…he-he's one of our creators," she whispered. Starscream lifted her up, but said nothing.
"I should've told you, but…I didn't want you knowing who turned us out. I was only protecting you… Starscream! No, don't go!"
But he didn't listen. He just flew off.
"Oh no…what have I done?" Skywriter whispered. She lay over on the ground, and curled up. After a while, footsteps came closer, but she ignored them.
"Sky? Primus…Sky, what happened?" Sideswipe knelt beside the distraught femme, shaking her arm gently.
"I've messed everything up, Sides," she whispered. "I've brought him back, I never should have come here! I knew it was trouble, I knew he'd come! But…I was foolish enough to think he wouldn't follow me… I was wrong. And now…everything's crashing down around us. He'll bring him back…" She trailed off, and whimpered. Sideswipe gently pulled Skywriter to his chest, into a tight hug. Her Energon tears fell again, and he didn't know what to do.
The sound of a jet jolted the two up, and said jet appeared over the trees. Sideswipe pushed Skywriter behind him, ignoring her saying, "Don't fire! Please, don't!" and took aim. Thinking quickly, Skywriter grabbed his arm, and the shot went off to the side.
"Sideswipe, no! He's not here to fight!" she cried, still holding his arm.
"Skywriter, you were right," Starscream said, transforming. "You did the right thing to keep Sunspark from me." He looked at the red twin, and narrowed his optics. "What's he doing here?" he asked coldly.
"I'd say the same, Screamer. Want a taste of jet judo?"
"No-Sideswipe, Starscream, will you shut your vocal processors?! Listen to me! Sideswipe, he's my-"
"No! Don't tell the Autobot!" Starscream hissed violently.
Skywriter groaned. "I take that as an insult, as well. And I'm telling him, because there isn't any other way to explain. Besides, it'll give you a better push to-"
"And I've told you before, I'm not going to!"
"Even though the Decepticons took every failure out on you?" Skywriter asked angrily. Starscream visibly winced, and looked away. She moved closer, and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Star', I didn't mean to bring that up. You didn't even know I knew that… I'm sorry."
"It's true," he said tonelessly. "They did."
Even Sideswipe was affected by his voice. "Woah…that's new." He caught a cold look from the Seeker, and said, "That came out wrong. Doesn't matter if you're a Decepticon, nobody should have to deal with that kind of thing."
"That's what I said! Will you listen to Sideswipe, if you won't listen to me? C'mon, Star', just think about it," Skywriter pleaded.
"No."
"Ok then…" She turned to Sideswipe. "The reason he's been coming here-"
"Coming?! As in more than one time?!" Sideswipe cried, almost hysterical.
"Yes. The reason is because he's my brother, Sides." Skywriter looked away, off into the trees. Sideswipe touched her arm. "When I found you the other day, he'd been here, hadn't he?" he asked calmly.
"Yeah…you're taking this way better than I thought you would," Skywriter commented. She smiled, and suddenly felt a terribly weariness weighing on her. She sat down, not hearing the exclamations from the two mechs. The femme lay over, and shut her optics. "'Night, guys," she whispered.
Not much to say here...R&R, please!!