KABOOM!

The artificially generated thunderclap rocked the main deck, originating from somewhere near the Repair Bay, which was confirmed a moment later to everyone within earshot of an almighty bellow of rage.

"SIDESWIPE! WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU WILL FRAGGIN' WELL BEG YOU HAD NEVER BEEN SPARKED!" The red and white medic roared. "DO YOU HEAR ME?"

The mech in question doubled over in a fit of laughter, leaning against his twin for support as his knees threatened to give way. Sunstreaker's reaction was much more subdued, the yellow twin merely chuckling.

Spikes listened as Ratchet's furious tirade degenerated into a colourful string of inventive threats and swear words. The human turned to the two Autobots. "Aren't you worried?" he asked.

"Nah." Sideswipe grinned. "Ratchet's never gotten us back."
"We know the game too well." Sunstreaker added with a flicker of a smile.
"Still, he does sound pretty ticked." Spike observed with a glance in the direction of the still yelling medic.
"Eh, he'll get over it." Sideswipe shrugged. "He usually does."

0o0o0o0

Several days later…

"You look far too happy for anything good to have happened." Wheeljack announced as he walked over to where Ratchet was leaning against one wall of the common room, a mischievous smirk plastered over the medic's face.
"And what makes you say that?" Ratchet queried in his best 'innocent medic' voice.
"The last time you wore that smile was when the twins hung Jumpstart from the ceiling by his feet." Wheeljack replied. "Therefore, you're up to something." The Lancia crossed his arms. "Now spill it."
"I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise." Ratchet grinned.

Manwhile, the twins had just entered the common room, identical scowls on their faces as they made a beeline for the energon dispensers. The sensible mechs quickly melted out of their path, but then Brawn wasn't one who could be accused of attaining that particular virtue. A fact proven when he deliberately stuck one foot out into the yellow twin's path.

Sunstreaker almost tripped but caught himself just in time. "Watch it you…"
"Sunstreaker!" Sideswipe hissed in warning, then abruptly stopped as he realised his mistake.

So did everyone else. You could have heard a feather drop in the ominously pregnant silence that followed as all optics turned to the twins. For what issued from the mech's lips was not the sullen growl they were used to, but something smoother, softer, and ultimately, feminine.

The twins bolted for the door like spooked deer, but not before throwing accusatory glares in Ratchet's direction, the medic smirking triumphantly in reply.

"Female?" Wheeljack turned to his friend "You re-modulated their voice prints to female!" He demanded incredulously.
"Yup." Ratchet grinned.
"Oh man, dude," Jazz shook his head in mock reprove, shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter, "that's a low blow. You're a cruel mech Ratch'."
"I aim to please." The medic replied, his cocky grin widening as he sketched a mocking bow.

"You do realise they are going to kill you for this." Prowl commented. Even the usually impassive tactician was having a hard time keeping a straight face.
"Ah, but that's the beauty of it." Ratchet smirked. "They know that if they try anything, I can and will re-modulate them again. Now," Ratchet pushed off the wall, "contrary to popular belief, I do have a spark so I had better track those two down and get them back to normal before they do kill someone."
"Happy hunting Ratch-man." Jazz grinned.

Fin