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"Sunstreaker, watch out for Thrust!"

The yellow Lamborghini looked up, just in time to see the Seeker was clearly aiming at him. Understanding the danger he was in, Sunstreaker transformed and drove behind the rocks which his brother had already taken cover.

That would have been easier if Thrust didn't keep firing at him the whole time - or if he actually missed.

"Damn it!" Sunstreaker exclaimed furiously, looking at his forearm.

"Are you hit?" Sideswipe asked, his optics wide open in concern.

"Worse! That slagger ruined my paintjob!" Sunstreaker said, pointing at the offending scorch-mark that currently marred his yellow plating. Feeling his rage surging through his relays, he aimed at Thrust.

At the next moment, Thrust was on the ground, smoke and sparks coming out of his chest plate.

Sideswipe stared at the damaged Seeker for a brief second; then at Sunstreaker.

"A bit on the overkill side, don't you think?" he asked, though his amused tone was quite audible.

"He had it coming," Sunstreaker said dryly before he continued on with his fighting. "Where are the rest of the guys?"

Sideswipe aimed and fired at Dirge, but he missed. "Optimus is exchanging insults with Megatron. Ironhide is fighting Soundwave. Ratchet is working on Bumblebee while Warpath is covering them. I think Hound is with Trailbreaker, fighting Thundercracker and Skywarp. As for Mirage... well, just follow the trail of footprints," he said, then ducked and pulled Sunstreaker with him before Dirge's rays hit either of them. "In short, doing their routine," he concluded.

Sunstreaker snorted. "It would be nice if Megatron did his routine and sounded the retreat already."

As though Primus himself heard the yellow Lamborghini and decided to indulge him, Megatron's voice was heard above the racket of battle.

"Decepticons, fall back!"

The twins exchanged a look of surprise. Deciding that they ought to check things out, they cautiously stood up and saw for themselves that the Decepticons were indeed flying away. Even Thrust had managed to take off, aided by Dirge.

Sunstreaker's whole face-plate seemed to light up at this.

"That's what I'm talking about!" he declared.

"Oh yeah! Score one for the Autobots!" Sideswipe seconded, smiling just as broadly. "Now we just have to hear Prime say--"

"Autobots, transform and roll out!"

Sideswipe froze mid-sentence, for that wasn't the real Prime's voice. Sunstreaker, on the other hand, crossed his arms and glared in mock indignation to his left.

"Very funny, Mirage."

The sound of chuckling filled the air. Moments later, the Ligier made his appearance right next to Sunstreaker, a mischievous expression on his features.

"Sorry, but I had to get your attention somehow," he said, though he didn't sound sorry in the least. "Come on, Prime has already given the order for us to go back to the Ark.'

And with that, Mirage transformed and drove off. The twins just shook their heads momentarily, both sharing the thought that the spy was almost impossible at times; then they transformed as well to join the rest of the Autobot group.

------------------

Sunstreaker had to admit that today's battle wasn't as bad as it was at other times. None of the Autobots suffered any life-threatening injuries, and they could all drive back to the Ark without problems. Even Bumblebee, who was sporting the worst wounds in the group, was back to his cheery self and driving without a care in the world.

Much to a particular medic's chagrin.

"I didn't fix you so you can bust another axle!" Ratchet cried indignantly. "Slow down!"

Optimus laughed and tried to reason with both Ratchet and Bumblebee, telling them to take it easy.

Sunstreaker listened to the conversation quite amused. Prime's job wasn't easy in the least, and certainly not when he had to act as a parent that scolded a couple of misbehaving sparklings.

That image was all too familiar to Sunstreaker.

"Now that brings back some pretty interesting memories, right, Bro?"

He didn't get an answer.

"Sideswipe?"

It was then that he noticed it.

Sideswipe wasn't driving beside him. Surprised, Sunstreaker ran a scan of his surroundings to look for his twin.

Though he was relieved to see that Sideswipe was still with the group, the yellow Lamborghini couldn't understand why his brother had fallen back to the end of the convoy. Sunstreaker slowed down significantly so that he was beside Sideswipe once again.

"Hey, what's up?" Sunstreaker transmitted. "Even Warpath has overtaken you; I hope you realise that."

The jibe didn't earn the dismayed response Sunstreaker had expected.

"I'm sorry," Sideswipe answered with a sigh. He accelerated, but not fully.

"Bro, are you okay?" Sunstreaker asked, not understanding. His twin was acting strange.

"Hmm?" came the absent-minded answer.

And that was downright peculiar.

"What's wrong with you? You sound kinda out of it," Sunstreaker said.

"I'm fine," the red Lamborghini answered.

"Are you sure?" Sunstreaker insisted.

"Are you deaf?" Sideswipe asked, his tone unusually snappish.

"Hey, it was just a question," Sunstreaker said, not expecting that sort of attack. "Lighten up."

"I don't want to lighten up," Sideswipe replied. "I want us back to the Ark already."

Sunstreaker huffed. "We're just five minutes away. You think you can survive that long?" He didn't bother hiding the sarcasm in his voice.

"Whatever," Sideswipe said. And with that, he sped up without looking back at his twin - or anyone else, for that matter.

"What's got into 'im?" Ironhide asked, driving at Sunstreaker's side. He had overheard the twins' argument, so it was natural that he wanted to make certain everything was fine.

Sunstreaker snorted. "Ask him. I didn't do anything."

And the yellow Lamborghini left it at that. If his brother wanted to act like a complete slagger for no reason whatsoever, it wasn't Sunstreaker's business.

But still... it was odd. Sideswipe was perfectly fine during the battle, which meant that something happened afterwards that made his twin so touchy.

What, though?

Sunstreaker's musings were cut off, because it was then that the Autobots reached the Ark. Sideswipe was the first one to enter, transforming at once and disappearing out of sight.

All right, Sunstreaker thought, transforming as well and heading in the same direction his brother went. Let's see why you were in such a hurry to get back.

What he didn't expect was to see Sideswipe walking into the washracks and closing the door behind him.

A bath?! The whole fuss was about a bath?! Seething, Sunstreaker got ready to barge in and give his brother an audioful.

It was mere common sense that finally stopped the yellow Lamborghini, for he suddenly realised something quite important.

Sideswipe wasn't the kind of mech who cared much about personal appearance and cleanliness. That was Sunstreaker's department. So why would Sideswipe want to use the washracks so badly?

Sunstreaker could think of one reason only.

He must have run over some animal. That certainly explained things. Blood and flesh parts on the chassis and tires was always an unpleasant feeling, after all; unpleasant enough to make one rush to the washrack and scrub themselves for hours on end.

Feeling that he finally got to the bottom of things, Sunstreaker decided to go to the common room and get a couple of energon cubes for Sideswipe and himself. It would serve as a peace offering so that Sideswipe would open up to him, as well as a sort of amends for the harsh words they exchanged before.

-----------------

More than three quarters of an hour passed, and Sideswipe hadn't appeared in the common room yet. Sunstreaker drummed his fingers on the table, resting his head on the palm of his other hand. He had taken only a couple of sips from his energon cube, and his optics were locked on the cube that was still left untouched at the other side of the table. He barely noticed the other Autobots that were in the same room with him, chattering pleasantly after a hard day's work.

That is, until a familiar, friendly minibot walked up to him.

"I'd never thought I'd see you here by yourself."

Sunstreaker faced Bumblebee and shook his head. "I wouldn't be if Sideswipe didn't decide to make the washracks his permanent residence," he said with a snort. "And to think I'm supposed to be the one that washes for hours on end."

Bumblebee regarded the yellow Lamborghini in a curious manner. "Sunstreaker... Sideswipe left the washracks about half an hour ago."

Sunstreaker stared at Bumblebee incredulously. "Are you sure about this?"

"I got in to have a shower the moment that he stepped out," the yellow minibot replied. "And I don't know what kind of prank he was up to, but he didn't have to set the water on the freezing cold."

But Sunstreaker didn't really pay attention to Bumblebee anymore. There were other, more disconcerting thoughts that preoccupied his mind. "That's odd..."

"What is?" Bumblebee asked, not really understanding.

"Sideswipe always comes to the common room after his missions, so he can have some energon with me," Sunstreaker replied. "It's a habit of his."

"Maybe he didn't feel like doing that today?" Bumblebee ventured, unsure what to think about matters.

"That's what worries me." Sunstreaker quickly got up, draining his cube in a single gulp. "Do you know where Sideswipe is now?"

Bumblebee shook his head. "He headed toward your dorms; that's all I know."

"It's good enough. Thanks." And with that, Sunstreaker left the common room, all kinds of thoughts crossing his processor.

In all honesty, Sunstreaker couldn't understand it. Sideswipe always wanted the two of them to have some energon as soon as their duties were over. It was the perfect time to discuss any plans they had for the rest of the day. They could also talk about what games they could play and decide whether any of the other Autobots would like to join them. Sometimes, Sideswipe organised his next prank and wanted Sunstreaker's opinion about certain details of said prank. Or, sometimes, Sunstreaker dragged his brother on a stroll around Portland to see how many humans would turn and gawp at their gorgeous - as Sunstreaker always put it - alternate modes.

In short, it was that time of day when the twins could forget that they were warriors and they could be together as brothers. Though he never admitted it to anyone but himself, Sunstreaker loved that.

But, apparently, Sideswipe didn't think their time together was that important for him to just disregard it in such a way. Sunstreaker couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed - even dismayed.

I really don't get you at times, Bro. And with that, he pressed the enter button and walked inside the room the twins shared.

Sideswipe didn't move a single gear when his brother walked in, and Sunstreaker soon realised why. The red Lamborghini was lost in deep recharge, sprawled face-down on his berth and his right arm dangling on the side.

It looked as though Sideswipe had veritably collapsed on his berth and shut down the moment that he landed on it.

Sunstreaker froze, looking at his brother quite puzzled. He hadn't realised that today's battle had proven so exhausting for Sideswipe. That was certainly something new.

Nevertheless, it wasn't that that concerned the yellow Lamborghini the most.

His brother's recharge mode didn't seem right for some reason. Perhaps it was because Sunstreaker had been living with Sideswipe ever since they were created; perhaps it was because the yellow Lamborghini was aware of his twin's quirks and oddities better than Sideswipe himself was; or perhaps it was mere brother's concern. Whatever it was, Sunstreaker couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Bro?" the yellow Lamborghini said softly.

He didn't get an answer, so Sunstreaker walked up to his brother and touched Sideswipe's cool cheek with the back of his fingers.

Sideswipe simply heaved a sigh and slept on.

You must be really tired, Sunstreaker finally concluded, and he decided to let the matter be. He lay down on his own berth and turned on the TV, making sure that the volume was low enough not to disrupt his brother's recharge.

Because, if it was only rest that Sideswipe needed, then things would be back to normal by tomorrow.

At least, Sunstreaker hoped so.

--------------------

It was already morning when Sunstreaker came online; the time reading on the computer screen nearby clearly said so. Feeling rejuvenated, the yellow Lamborghini sat up and stretched his limbs with a small rev of contentment.

It was time he and Sideswipe took up their duties once more, and Sunstreaker was actually looking forward to getting outside.

"Come on, Bro!" he declared with a smile, turning to Sideswipe. "Rise and--"

Sunstreaker's voice died in his throat at the sight of his twin. Sideswipe looked terrible. He was sitting listless on his berth, his head bowed and his hands on his lap as though there was no strength left in him; his gaze was unfocused; and his optics, which always sparked brilliantly with life, were now dull and half-closed.

He didn't even seem to realise Sunstreaker was there.

Horrified, Sunstreaker rushed at Sideswipe, kneeling in front of him so he could have a better look at his twin's face.

"Bro, what's wrong?!"

Sideswipe just blinked and didn't answer.

"Say something!" Sunstreaker cried. As panic took control of his actions, the yellow Lamborghini grabbed his brother from the shoulders and shook him violently. "Sideswipe!"

Only then did Sideswipe lock his gaze on his brother's, a weak flicker of recognition visible in his optics. And when he finally spoke, Sunstreaker almost flinched to hear it so soft, even pained.

"I don't feel well, Sunny."

At the next moment, the red Lamborghini slumped forward, leaning against his twin for support. Sunstreaker gasped at the contact, because it was then that he registered that Sideswipe was burning.

Before he even realised what he was doing, Sunstreaker activated his transmitter.

"Ratchet, you gotta help Sideswipe! Hurry!"

TBC...