Part 11

It was dark. Refuse crunched underfoot. Retro-rats trilled in alarm and scattered at their approach.

"What is this place?" Sideswipe wondered.
"Dunno." Sunstreaker replied, optics narrowed as he looked around, long golden fingers flexing slightly.
A scrape of metal against metal caught their attention. "Someone's coming." Sideswipe warned. Sunstreaker nodded his agreement, and both twins melted back into the shadows.

A slow, steady tread echoed down the alley, gradually rising in crescendo. The twins tensed as the walker approached, but remained concealed. The footsteps stopped, and there was another scrape as the unseen walker turned.

Some distance away, there was a resounding crash of a falling body. That was followed by a rapid stattico beat of running feet. It didn't take the twins long to figure out what was happening, and neither brother had the wish to revisit the event. There was a faint shout, the sharp report of gunfire, then silence.

Cautiously, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker emerged from the darkness and moved towards the mouth of the alley, as silent as predators on the hunt.

A seeker stood atop a mound of rubble, his back turned towards the pair. Sideswipe gestured to his twin, then stepped into the open with a deliberately loud footfall. The seeker turned, allowing the twins to get a better look at him. He was slightly shorter than average, dark green, with stubby wings and air intakes, but a build that suggested considerable upper body strength. A square of orange-tinted glass covered one optic, and the standard-issue Decepticon smirk of superiority was unmissable.

Sideswipe crossed his arms and in his most insulting tone asked "Whadda you doing here, runt?"
The seeker's smirk widened. "Simply enjoying the show." He replied urbanely, his voice carrying the educated inflections that Mirage used. "I suggest you wait for the replay to begin, I never tire of it."
"Then I suggest you find some new entertainment." Sideswipe replied, a threatening undertone marking his words.

"Doubtful." The seeker answered. "I happen to quite like it here. Ah, but where are my manners? I am designated Mindscape, an A.I construct downloaded by my original into your cerebral cores. You must be Sideswipe, and the viscous creature in the shadows there must be your twin. Don't bother trying to trick me. I've been living in your minds for quite some time now."
"Then you know that we've figured out your sick little game." Sunstreaker said as he came into view and stood beside his twin.

"Yes, but it will do you little good. I'm too well entrenched for even you to identify." Mindscape replied. "You may think you will defeat me, but I am like a Hydra. For every manifestation that you remove, more shall arise in its place. My first incarnation was crude and basic, a mere draft upon which vast improvements were made while you were dormant. Soon, I shall be able to amass the power to control your bodies and carry out my purpose. Every single Autobot on this planet will slowly die by your hands." The seeker indulged in an anticipatory chuckle. "Oh, how I long for the moment when I shall deliver the heads of your companions to Lord Megatron and receive my just rewards."

Sideswipe yawned.

"Are you done yet?" He asked.
"Huh?" The befuddled seeker was clueless. His proclamation should have at least incited outrage or fear, not boredom.
"I think he is." Sunstreaker replied, cracking his knuckles with a distinctly malevolent expression. "Let's have some fun with this one, shall we?"
"Let's."

0o0o0

The medics, Prowl and Jazz were waiting when the twins finally disengaged the link some 45 minutes later.

"Are you boys ok?" Jazz asked, staying just out of reach.
"Yup." Sideswipe grinned. "Scratch one A.I."
"A light-weight." Sunstreaker snorted. "Hardly worth the trouble."

"Well I'm glad you feel that way." Ratchet replied somewhat sarcastically. "Considering the merry hell you two just put us through trying to save your slaggin' hides, when it could all have been circumvented by simply telling me you had a problem in the first place!" He roared. "Now, get your fraggin' pretty-mech afts to the Repair Bay, IMMEDIATELY!"
"Yes Ratchet." The twins chorused meekly, then turned and bolted for the Repair Bay.

0o0o0

"Man, am I glad that's over." Jazz sighed as he propped his feet up on the table and rocked back on his chair, a glass of high grade in hand.
"As am I." Prowl replied. The two mechs were in the deserted Common Room, taking a moment to relax after a uniquely stressful series of events. "Ratchet said that he'll keep the twins under observation tonight and tomorrow, then give them a final diagnostic."
"Cool."

Jazz sipped his drink, then stared at the ceiling in thought. "Hey Prowl, how come th' twins did th' whole link deal? Woulda been easier t' just activate th' programs on their own."
"Perhaps it has to do with their status as twins." Prowl suggested. "They have something far more than brotherhood. An attack as postulated by Ratchet and the others would have had a deep psychological effect that may have been best remedied by eliminating the threat together."
"Makes sense." Jazz mused.

"Have you had word from your comrades yet?" The Datsun asked after a moment.
"You mean about th' sick-o? Yeah. Nightwatch an' his team picked the twisted littl' freak up a few hours ago." One corner of Jazz's mouth twitched in distaste. "'Parently he's been entertainin' th' boys in th' detention block with all kinds a' stories 'bout how he's gonna re-wire 'em t' go psycho an' rip all o' their friends apart with their dental plates. Personally, dudes like that should never 'ave been allowed t' function, but it seems ol' Shocky likes his scientists loony."

"Can you ask Nightwatch to send me the report of his interrogation?" Prowl asked. "I would like to ensure that this was not his only project."
"Sure. All th' data they pulled from his lab is gonna be on the next supply shuttle here too." Jazz said.
"Thankyou, it is appreciated." Prowl replied. "Prime will be able to deal with any discoveries before he must return to the Ark."
"I just hope that there aren't any." Jazz said. "'Cause if there are, it means that some poor folks out there didn't have the chance that our boys did."
"Agreed."

Fin