Characters © Respective Owners
Look-Alikes
Jetfire took the twin elementals around the ship the Elite resided in. He introduced them to Perceptor, who immediately desired to discover how Thunder and Lightning could use their powers. Thankfully, Jazz intervened and properly introduced himself to the pair of Honorary Titans.
"So, you cats seriously took down Starscream by yourselves?" Jazz questioned as they walked along the bridge.
"We are not felines," Thunder interjected bluntly.
"Oh, sorry, I mean you fellas. I just talk differently, but there's not a problem with that." Jazz narrowed his eyes on them, arms crossed. "Right?"
"Of course. We were merely confused," Thunder replied hurriedly, raising his hands.
"If you were cats, you'd have fuzzy ears!" Jetfire added, chuckling. "Oh, Jazz, sir, what Jetstorm feeling now?"
"Red Alert fixed him up good as new," Jazz reported. "If ya want, you can go see him-"
Before Jazz could finish, Jetfire dashed off, running as fast of his mechanical legs could take him. Relief and joy exploded in his servos, an instant smile gracing his features. He activated his boosters, rushing towards the medical laboratory. Squeaking with hints of fervent laughter, he shouted back for the Storm Twins to follow him.
"A rambunctious kid, that one," Jazz snickered as they started walking to catch up. "So, Thunder and Lightning was it? What were ya doin' with the twins anyway?"
"We were locating the source of the destruction issued in a small Russian town when we found your wards being the cause of the harm," Lightning explained. "They are like us in appearance, abilities, and even personalities to an extremity."
"Well, lots of freaky stuff has been goin' around lately. I guess another set of twins isn't that crazy, now is it?" Jazz asked.
Thunder and Lightning paused, recollecting that they previously fought a brain in a jar, an ageless geezer, an intelligent ape, and a woman who could stretch her limbs. Identical robots suddenly did not sound so strange. They shook their heads and hurried to catch up to a half-worried, half-fuming Jetfire.
"Why you two be running so slowly?" Jetfire snapped, ripping open the medical wing's door. "Brother!"
"What?" Jetstorm asked, looking over to Jetfire. He was sitting on an examination table with Red Alert by his side like a doting mother. "I is fine now so you do no more worrying."
Jetfire squealed in happiness, suddenly catching his brother's chest in loving hug. Jetstorm gasped, shocked at the sudden glom. The blue robot rubbed Jetfire's head as the orange Autobot nuzzled into his chest. He smirked, telling his brother that he would be fine. Jetfire glanced over to his arm. It was completely refurnished. Blue metal replaced the shattered spots, and there was no more crackling electricity dancing out of his once-present wound. Smiling, Jetfire hummed in agreement and released Jetstorm.
"Aw, now ain't that cute, Red Alert?" Jazz sneered, rubbing the young Elite Guard members' heads.
"They certainly are," the nurse replied, smiling gently. She suddenly took notice of Thunder and Lightning staring at her. "Who are these two?"
"Oh, Auntie! They is our new friends, Thunder and Lightning!" Jetfire introduced, gesturing to them.
"You are a robotic nurse?" Thunder asked.
"I am," Red Alert replied. "Are you two hurt? We don't have anything for…humans, but I'm certain we could fix you two up."
"Uh, no thank you, miss," Thunder slowly answered, as he and Lightning were unsure as to how she could "fix" them.
"Speaking of robots, what will you do with the vicious purple one we defeated?" Lightning questioned.
"Sentinel just put Starscream away in the jail blocks on the lowest floor. He'll be interrogated and will probably remain locked up for a long, long time," Jazz informed.
"Well, our job here is done! Come, brother," Lightning ordered, grasping Thunder's arm. "We are to be leaving now. Jetfire, Jetstorm, if you ever did my brother or I…" From his pocket, he removed two spare Titans communicators that Robin had given to them in case theirs' ever broke. "…just call."
Both junior officers accepted them gladly, nodding their heads. After bowing to the Jet Twins, Thunder and Lightning stepped outside the medical bay. They decided to return to Kashin, the Russian village and report what truly occurred with Starscream to the villagers. However, Lightning noticed Thunder's saddened expression, gently grasping his shoulder and asked what troubled him.
"Brother, I did not think that cell will be able to contain the robot called Starscream," Thunder slowly whispered as he ushered Lightning into a deserted hallway. "He has escaped before, and I fear that he will do it again. I do not want for our new friends to become harmed."
Lightning paused, humming in thought. Looking back up to his twin brother, he nodded. "I believe your troubles are correct, unfortunately. I have the same peculiar feeling." Suddenly, Lightning snapped his fingers and laughed shortly. "Perhaps we should inspect to see if Starscream is truly in his cell! We could ensure that he is locked away and has no chance of escaping. That way, our concerns will be vanquished, and all will be well."
Thunder smiled broadly, accepting his brother's plan. They crept out of the corner, finding themselves lucky as there were no Autobots present on the main bridge. They could see the black space along with twinkling white stars above them from glass structures on the ceiling. While they gazed shortly, they quickly picked up their resolve and hurried along. Signs were around them, but in a language that could not fathom. Thunder and Lightning stared long and hard, attempting to decipher the messages along the walls, but luckily enough, they located a picture of a Decepticon being hauled into a jail cell by a set of stairs leading down. Thunder and Lightning rushed down with the latter flying.
They both stopped, landing on the final step and gazed out with dilated eyes. Multiple, captured Decepticons glared death into them. Growls of animosity reigned supreme. Fists cracked against metal palms. Thunder and Lightning carefully strolled out, trying to ignore the snarls of the Decepticons. Some were apparently new while others were battered and weakened, done in by cycles of torture.
Up ahead of them was Sentinel Prime, glaring down at Starscream from his cell. The Elite Guard member's head snapped over to them, and the Storm Twins noticed his massive chin. Lightning resisted the urge to burst out laughing while Thunder bit his lower lip in an attempt to control his jeers. Sentinel shouted at them to get out, but the stormy brothers casually approached him.
"Are you disobeying me, you pair of glitches? I said, get out of here!" Sentinel snapped furiously.
"You do not control Thunder and Lightning!" Lightning fiercely snarled.
"My brother and I have only come to ensure that Starscream has been placed into a cell properly," Thunder explained, hoping to halt the enmity beginning to surge.
Sentinel's eyes narrowed harshly, taking instant offense. "Are you two insinuating that I can't do my job right?"
"No, but I am feeling that-"
"Feelings, whatever! Look, it's great that you two helped Jetfire and Jetstorm, but you two are still annoying organics. Just get back to Earth, and I'll pretend that you never existed." Sentinel sighed, rubbing his chin as he cut Thunder off.
"You accursed robot! Your chin is the size of my brother's arm!" Lightning screeched, snatching Thunder's arm up for measure.
"Brother, please do not start a fight!" Thunder entreated.
"C'mon, all you guys do is whine." Starscream yawned, making his presence known. "It's bad enough that I got captured by some wannabe Elite Guard members and those two…things, but to listen to this argument is going to drive me nuts. Spark, help me!"
Indignant growls emerged from the back of their throats. Sentinel tapped on Starscream's glass, stating that he had no rights and that he would be interrogated first thing in the morning. Snatching the brothers' arms, he dragged them out. As they openly cried that Starscream would escape, Sentinel threw them towards the stairs, but instead of falling as he assumed they would, Thunder landed on a dark gray cloud and caught his brother in his arms.
"Annoying little pests aren't you?" Sentinel growled. "I don't care anymore if you did help the twins. You're fighting against me now!"
"Ha! How the Jet Twins could withstand that boisterous, booming voice of arrogance, I will never know," Lightning jeered.
Starscream smirked. With the fools in an argument, possible fight, his chances of escape were brightening. A distraction was the perfect opportunity to break out, blast into space and dash back to Earth to wreak havoc. However, he figured a little entertainment would prove enjoyable to kick back and relax for a few moments before lashing out along with the rest of the jeering Decepticons that shouted for the elementals to "beat the punk's skidplate".
Sentinel charged at them, and they realized that he was far larger and taller than they were. Thunder and Lightning leaped out of the way from his oncoming fist that plowed into the ground, dashing in opposite directions. Lightning's hands surged with electricity, firing off his namesake that slashed into the back of Sentinel's mainframe. The Elite Guard screamed, servos pounding, and the hostile pressure that built from within him. Electricity crackled into his body, but Sentinel proved more resistant. He grunted, bringing back his arm and swatted Lightning square across the face. The yellow elemental yelped, and his head smacked into the cold metal of the stairs.
"Brother!" Thunder cried, rushing over to him. He grasped the back of Lightning's head, inspecting him and found that his twin was no longer awake. Shaking him slightly, he realized that Lightning was out cold. Thunder's eyes widened fearfully, crying out of him once more.
"There, you two organics. I just beat you so-" Sentinel was suddenly caught off his the harsh, murderous glare Thunder threw at him. "Listen! I'm sorry about your brother, but I-!"
"I bet you would never do that to the Jet Twins," Thunder snarled menacingly.
"Sir? Organic friends?"
They both turned to find Jetfire and Jetstorm on the stairs, staring blankly at them before gazing down to Lightning. Red Alert stood behind them, kneeling down to Lightning and placed a hand on his temples. Stating he was going to have a large bruise on the back of his skull, she looked over to Thunder. She requested that he pick him up and assist her in bringing him back to the medical bay. Bewildered at her superior intellect and tone, Thunder hurried over and grasped the backs of his brother's shins and neck. Lightning moaned weakly, and he and Red Alert rushed up the stairs.
Jetfire and Jetstorm remained quiet, looking up at their receding forms. Being the more emotional twin, Jetfire's head snapped over to his leader in fierce and unruly insubordination. Jabbing a finger to Sentinel, he stormed over until he was right in his face.
"They is our friends! They be doing nothing wrong!" Jetfire screeched.
"Brother, stop!" Jetstorm shouted pleadingly, wrapping his arms around Jetfire's waist to control him. As Jetfire flailed in his arms, he cried, "Sentinel Prime, sir, why you hurt our friends?"
"They were acting completely erratic, stating that we couldn't hold down Starscream," Sentinel explained dryly. "Basically, they called us Autobots weak."
"B-but they is nice to us," Jetfire meekly crooned.
Sentinel patted Jetfire's head, smiling gingerly. "Forget about them. Once that yellow mutant gets bandaged up, they're gone."
Both twins nodded and smirked, saluting him. "Yes, sir, Sentinel Prime, sir!"
Sentinel was relieved that they agreed with him, wondering how lucky he really was to obtain such loyal subordinates. Usually, his underlings just glared at him or quipped back. Jetfire and Jetstorm did whatever he commanded without any sort of question. Sentinel was proud of them, even though he would never openly admit it. He waved them off as they both started up the stairs and turned back to Starscream.
Starscream was gone. The back of his prison was blasted open, and a speck of violet was seen off in the distance and speeding towards Earth. Maniacal laughter ruptured through soundless space.
"…Those two freaks were right!" Sentinel whispered in a high-pitched, hushed whisper. "Oh, what the spark? Why'd this happen? Magnus is going to destroy me!"
"Hm? What will I do?"
Sentinel inaudibly groaned in terror. Slowly turning around, he located Ultra Magnus' disapproving glower to him and then to the hole that once remained of Starscream's prison cell.
"This is an unexpected endeavor. You should have listened to the Jet Twins' new companions," Ultra growled, turning back to the stairs. "Call all Elite Guard members! I want every Autobot with a spark after him!"
"Will my brother heal quickly?" Thunder asked as Red Alert placed a large white piece of tape around Lightning's head.
"He'll be fine," Red Alert stated in exasperation for what seemed to be the hundredth time.
"Are you positive?" He leaned forward, gazing down at Lightning's blank, unconscious face.
"Does Swindle tell the truth?" Red Alert narrowed her eyes at the inquiring elemental in annoyance. "Oh, sorry, you don't know him."
"It is fine." Thunder continued to gaze at his brother's face before glancing up to the heartbeat monitor he was attached too.
"You know, you remind me a lot of Jetfire," Red Alert mused, taking away his attention and brought it back to her. "While you look like Jetstorm, your personality is reminiscent of Jetfire's. The opposite can be said for your brother."
"Auntie Red Alert?" Jetstorm called, stepping into the medical bay with Jetfire. He glanced uncertainly to Thunder then to Lightning, wincing visibly. "Uh, I do not know what to say."
Jetfire shrugged, a frown plastered on his face before turning to Thunder and demanded, "Why you say we is weak?"
"Weak? I have never said that," Thunder replied, thorough surprise written vividly in his voice.
"Sentinel Prime sir says so!" Jetfire argued, leering in.
"Jetfire, Jetstorm, Sentinel is full of hot servos," Red Alert interjected swiftly in hopes of stopping a brewing battle. "Jazz came in previously, overhearing your little plan, Thunder. He said that you and your brother only wanted to see if Starscream was really put in jail, correct?"
Nodding fervently, Thunder stated, "Of course! I would never want any harm to befall my new friends. My brother and I…we simply wanted to ensure your safety, but your leader took our offering in an…unpleasant manner."
Lightning groaned, squirming on the metal table he was placed on. Thunder gasped, looking back over to his brother and the Jet Twins contemplated on what they just heard. Grunting weakly, Lightning managed to squint as he gazed over to the fuzzy, blue face in sight. His forehead panged as he attempted to sit upright, but Thunder soothingly ushered him back down.
"Brother? What occurred?" Lightning asked softly.
"Patience, my brother. You are unwell," Thunder murmured gently, stroking the side of Lightning's face lovingly.
"That accursed robot, he struck my head," he growled, but Thunder smiled in response.
"You will heal. Just lie down."
"I want to electrocute him. The fool has no contemplation on what power Lightning really possesses!" Lightning pouted, crossing his arms as Thunder chuckled.
"Well, welcome back," Red Alert jeered, grinning. "You can leave whenever your brother feels fit."
"Why? Can I not decide for myself?" Lightning whined.
"No because you are injured and your recklessness could further your injuries," Thunder explained.
"Are you referring to me as weak?"
"No, he is just worried about you. It's a normal brotherly feeling," Red Alert interjected, tapping Lightning's shoulder when he started to struggle and sit up.
"Oh, I am sorry for doubting you," Lightning murmured as Thunder ruffled his hair. He immediately slapped his hand away, blushing furiously. "Not in front of people, Thunder!"
"Well, when you two be leaving?" Jetstorm asked. "Sentinel Prime sir does not have the warm feelings to you both."
"As soon as my brother is healed," Thunder adamantly replied.
"Stay! We like you two!" Jetfire entreated, pulling up a stool and sat.
"You two is like us! Only organic!" Jetstorm added mirthfully.
"And you two are the embodiments of us, but as robotic counterparts," Thunder snickered as Lightning nodded.
"We wish we could, but our home is in the clouds on Earth," Lightning informed. "We conjure up the rain, and-" He noticed they suddenly cringed, including Red Alert. "Is something troubling?"
"The rain is water. Water is…odd," Jetfire uncertainly mumbled.
"We do not like rain," Jetstorm blandly replied. "It is for making it harder to see when we is flying."
"Sorry, boys, Autobots and rain simply do not mix," Red Alert explained as they both shrugged.
"We take no offense," Thunder calmly stated.
"Feh, what, it is too wet?" Lightning mocked until Thunder glared at him to be silent.
At that sudden moment, a booming alarm sounded off. Gasps of surprise filtered throughout the medical bay. Ultra Magnus' voice echoed and weaved like a thunderstorm. He ordered all Elite Guard personnel to deploy immediately because Starscream had escaped. Jetfire and Jetstorm instantly leaped to their feet, hurrying off in a frantic rush.
"It seems we were correct all along, brother," Lightning snarled as the Jet Twins darted off, and the doors closed. He pushed himself to sit up, grunting in effort and sighed. "Come! We must aid them."
"But you are still injured!" Thunder protested.
"If we are their friends, then we assist each other in their time of need," Lightning argued heatedly. He suddenly felt Red Alert rip a few wires off his chest and cringed. "What was that for?"
"You should be fine, so long as you keep your head from any more injury," Red Alert explained. "Wait, are you two planning on going down there?"
"We are Titans. We go where we are needed," Thunder informed confidently. "If evil is present, we are sent to vanquish it."
Red Alert gazed at them inquiringly. A confused expression masked her faceplate, but she remained silent and a slow grin crossed her face. Rubbing their hair in a nurturing nature, she chuckled softly.
"What are you doing?" Lightning questioned, blushing bashfully.
"I'm certain that you two are the best out of the Titans," Red Alert admitted. Urging them along with a slight push, she stated, "Now, hurry up or the Jet Twins will leave without you."
"I can see now why the twins see you in a light similar to an aunt's," Thunder jeered, smiling widely as he and Lightning started for the door.
Red Alert chuckled, waving them off as the door shut behind them. Returning to her work, she located Perceptor who stared at her blankly to others, but she could decipher the curiosity in his gaze. Asking what the matter was, she noticed that he gestured at the spot where the Storm Twins once sat.
"Why did you encourage them to go after Jetfire and Jetstorm?" he asked, cocking his head slightly.
"They wanted to, and they could not be denied. It's clear that they would just go even if I said not to. A few words of kindness would definitely jumpstart them," she explained.
"I see…so it takes words of kindness to fully make an organic proceed with an objective. How interesting," Perceptor murmured. "I wonder if it is like that with the other organics like them."
"Hold, friends!" Thunder cried, flying on his cloud with Lightning clinging to his waist.
Jetfire and Jetstorm swerved around, hearing their new companions' voices. The former gazed as the Storm Twins landed by them. Elite Guard members of all ranks darted past them, and some stopped to glare directly at the twins before shouting at them to move with words like "cogs" and "Decepticon rejects". Hurt expressions crossed their faces, but Jetstorm nudged his brother to regain his composure.
"What was that? Discrimination is what Lightning would call it," Lightning growled, crossing his arms.
"Well, we is the first flying Autobots so lots of people be disliking us," Jetfire sadly cooed. "But Sentinel Prime sir and others do like us."
"But…why do you put up with that?" Thunder asked.
"It is not like we have a choice," Jetstorm snorted haughtily. "We is Elite Guard, but junior members. We is of low rank."
"And because of that and that we is flying and look like the Decepti-creeps, there is…bad talking about us," Jetfire added dejectedly.
"Then stand up for yourselves. They may be higher ranks, but to even insinuate any sort of hated towards you because of your background makes them utter trash," Thunder reasoned as they sighed. "What? Can you not defend yourselves?"
"We do, but it gets us nowhere," Jetfire explained with a morbid tone.
"Ha! Then we shall ensure that Starscream is defeated and captured by our hands! That way, respect will be bestowed on all four of us!" Lightning jeered cheerily.
"Yeah!" Jetfire jovially replied, clapping his hands excitedly.
"Wait, you two no get respect either?" Jetstorm asked in surprise.
Thunder sighed through his nose, shoulders slumping. "We may be members of the prestigious Teen Titans, but we get little appreciation for our deeds."
"Indeed. Once, we affliated ourselves, by complete accident, to this nefarious villain named Slade who used our powers for destruction before we were Titans. After, when we became Titans, that incident made people wary and give us missions that tested our loyalty each and every time," Lightning explained with a disheartened air. The yellow elemental straightened, eyes burning with confidence. "We do not want you two to suffer any longer by this lack of courtesy. We will help."
Jetfire and Jetstorm stared at the Honorary Titans in shock. Nobody, especially not a pair of elemental organics, ever showed them proper respect. Of course, they did receive kindness from people like Jazz and Red Alert, but others usually saw them as "rejected Decepticons" or "freaks of science". Sentinel and Ultra Magnus treated them like privates in an army, one being far gentler than the other was. They always wondered what it was like to be treated as an equal in the Elite Guard, even though they were inducted as junior members. They still had the same stature as any other Autobot along with the same infallible courage. Even when they acted like goofballs, they did so with pride and brought laughter to a somewhat dreary base.
In an instant, two metal arms were wrapped around Thunder and Lightning's neck. Jetfire practically tackled Lightning to the floor he was so happy while Jetstorm snickered and hugged Thunder. Both elementals were drastically confused and exchanged a quick look down towards the young Autobots.
"Okie-for-dokie! We will be taking you up on your deal!" Jetfire chuckled, releasing Lightning who was starting to lose oxygen.
"And we will help you be going higher on the Titans' ladder!" Jetstorm chimed in.
"Now, let us defeat Starscream once and for all," Thunder proclaimed. "Where has been seen last?"
"Ultra Magnus sir said he be going back to the town we fought in," Jetstorm explained.
"Excellent! Grab hold, friends, for a storm is about to brew!" Lightning jeered, clenching his fist.
The end is coming, so please review.