I stood up and gazed at my reflection in the window of a nearby building. So this was to be my Earth form. Deep metallic blue with white accents on my arms, legs, and head. I gazed over at my twin who had chosen these vehicular modes. Red and white, I thought, figures. She smiled at me, she was obviously proud of herself.

"Come on Clamp. We have to get back to Autobot City." I said.

Clamp was staring down at her hand, wiggling her fingers and rotating her wrist. She looked up at me, "Yea, I suppose Crash." She said dryly.

We both transformed and sped thru the city. Suddenly Clamp stopped, her tires leaving behind a long trail of smoke and rubber, and almost causing me to rear-end her. I quickly transformed and dove over her. I rolled head first, landing hard on my back. Clamp transformed and offered me her hand.

"What the slag, Clamp!?"

"Sorry," she replied, "but I think I saw something back there."

She pulled me up and we backtracked on foot.

"This had better be good. Kup's going to blow a fuse if we're late for initiation!"

"Will you pipe down!" she said in a harsh whisper.

Clamp put her back to the wall and peeked around the corner and down the alleyway.

"Ha," she whispered with defiance, "just as I thought."

"What is it?"

I ducked under her and peeked around the corner as well. "Hey, isn't that?"

"Rumble." She stood back and smiled, "Told you I saw something."

I shot her a strange glance then turned my attention back to the mini-bot. "Ok, ok. What do you suppose he's up to?"

"I dunno, lets find out."

We snuck around the side of the building and down the alleyway. We hid behind a large metal box that contained something that smelled so awful I had to deactivate my scent receptors. Clamp peered around the corner.

"Well," I whispered, "what are they doing?"

"That's weird."

"What!?"

"He's just standing there, and Frenzy's there too."

"Huh?"

"No wait, now their changing corners."

"What!?" I peered over my shoulder at Clamp.

"Now they're just standing there again."

Now I was frustrated. I slowly rose to my knees and crawled over to where Clamp was.

"See?" she pointed.

Well, I couldn't say she was lying. They were doing just as she said. They were standing in front of a large, open doorway. Periodically they would switch sides, peering inside as they walked past.

"Looks like they're guarding something." Clamp whispered, "What do you suppose-"

She was cut off as a small explosion rocked the building, sending out large billows of smoke, causing us to duck behind our stinky box for a moment.

"You incompetent moron!" came a familiar voice.

I felt Clamp's spark skip a beat. Great, I thought, so this is why she signed us up to come to this dirtball of a planet.

"Starscream." Whispered Clamp. There was a softness to her voice that made me feel ill.

I crawled back behind our box and stood up. I could hear the Decepticons arguing and yelling amongst themselves. Clamp crawled back and got up as well.

"Isn't this inter-ack."

I grabbed her shoulders and pushed her against the brick wall. "This whole crazy thing makes sense now."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me." I let her go and turned around. I wanted to hit her, but instead I clenched my fist as hard as I could. Maybe later, I thought to myself wickedly, when she was asleep. "You dragged me here so you could find Starscream, didn't you?"

Silence.

"I have no-" she finally started to say.

I turned to her.

"Ok! Ok, geez. Don't get your Torsion Bars in a tangle. Maybe that is why I signed us up to come here."

"Have you completely lost it? He's a De-cep-ti-con." I made sure to pronounce each syllable for her; she was obviously already confused enough as it was.

"So?"

"So!? SO!?" I wasn't sure what to say to that. I hated being frustrated. It clouded my mind to a point that it hurt to think.

"Look, just clam down, would you? I don't know why you're getting all upset. It's not like you've never dated a Decepticon before."

"That was different," I assured her, "he wasn't Megatron's right hand."

She scoffed. "Starscream is hardly his right hand," she smiled, "he's more like his caboose, you know?"

I was not amused.

"It's like, you know its there, you just don't like to talk about it."

I stared at her smiling face for a few moments. "I hope the day comes when you get described as my caboose." I quickly turned to walk away from this conversation and this entire situation.

Clamp quickly ran around and grabbed my shoulders. "Come on, you have to help me. I need to talk to him. Please?"

I wanted to say no. Primus knows I wanted to, but I hated when she looked at me with those pleading eyes.

"Fine," I finally said. I pointed my finger in her face, "but you are going to owe me big time, and I don't mean sharing your Energon either. Oh no, you're going to owe me SO much more than that."

She hugged me. "Oh thank you, thank you!"

"Ok, ok, now get off me." I pried her off of me.

Together we crept over to our spying spot. The Decepticons were still arguing.

"Megatron's going to be mad if we don't get this finished." Quipped Rumble.

"Megatron!?" yelled Starscream, "Who cares what Megatron wants? If he wants this thing built so badly, he can do it himself. This is hardly befitting such a noble warrior as I."

"Rumble, Frenzy, go get supplies." Came a monotone voice that belonged to Soundwave.

"Aww geez Soundwave," whined Frenzy looking up at the blue bot, "how come we have to run around this stupid city looking for YOUR supplies?"

Starscream pointed his laser gun at the small bot, "Because, I said so!"

"I'm shaking in my Proton Thrusters, Starscream." Frenzy replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Come on Frenzy," Rumble grabbed his twins arm, "we don't have time to play with him."

The two took off. Starscream and Soundwave headed back into the building.

"Now's our chance Crash. Come on!"

Clamp and I took off down the alleyway and across the narrow street. We quickly ducked behind the side of the building that contained the two Decepticons. I peeked around the corner, it was still clear. I turned back to Clamp.

"Ok," I whispered, "I'll get Soundwave's attention so you can talk to your precious Starscream. But I don't know how long I'll be able to hold him off. So whatever you have to say, make it count, ok?"

"Got it. Thanks." She smiled.

How do I get caught up in these things, I wondered. I knew this whole situation would bring nothing but trouble.

I had that odd feeling in the pit of my mid-section, like the nervousness one feels before going into battle. I wanted it to pass more than anything else, but I knew it would soon turn into excitement and exhilaration. I rose to my feet defiantly.

"Be careful." I heard Clamp whisper as I took my first step out into the open doorway.

My feet felt like lead weights and time felt displaced, yet I strode forward. For the honor of the Autobots, for the pride of my sister, I would not fail at my task. I stopped in the middle of the doorway.

"Soundwave." I said in my most defiant, booming voice.

"What the?" I heard Starscream mutter.

I turned slowly and faced them. I lifted my head so that my eyes were level with theirs.

"You," I pointed to Soundwave, my voice still defiant, almost characteristically heroic. I had a feeling that if Optimus Prime were here to hear this, he would have been proud.

"I have a message to deliver to you Soundwave," the Autobot symbol on my chest gleamed in the sunlight. I saw Soundwave's optic visor narrow slightly as he took a single step forward. I braced myself, "That's right." I said coyly as I cracked a half smile.

I slowly raised my middle finger.

"Slag you!" I yelled.

He replied by firing several shots in my general direction. I took off around the corner. I could hear Starscream yelling for him to stop. I peered over my shoulder and saw the blue bot several steps behind me. That's right, I thought, keep following me.

I had to hand it to myself sometimes. I definitely had a way with words. It was somewhere around the third block, with Soundwave still after me, along with the addition of an equally upset Ravage, that I began to wonder if my twin was making any progress.

* * * * *

Starscream looked up at the strange figure who now occupied his doorway. Now what, he thought to himself.

"Soundwave." It spoke.

A femme-bot? He thought, that could only mean-

The figure turned, the Autobot symbol gleamed across its chest plate.

More words were spoken, but Starscream ignored them, he was still focused on the Autobot symbol. A symbol he had come to hate more that anything else.

"Slag you!"

The words echoed off the walls of the building, bringing Starscream around. Soundwave fired several shots, and then took off on foot like a bullet from a gun.

"Stop!" yelled Starscream, "I ORDER you to stop!"

Starscream took off after him but it was too late, he was already gone. He clutched his head and screamed in frustration.

"I'm surrounded by morons!"

Today had not been his day. He was starting to regret even getting out of his recharge chamber this morning. He was hoping this day would end quickly.

"Hey Screamy, how's it going?" came a voice from behind him.

Another femme-bot, he thought. I'll be sure to end this ones existence permanently. Ruin his day, some circuits it had.

He quickly turned around to fire his laser guns, but found that was impossible, for the red and white femme-bot was only several inches away from his face! The femme jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Oh Screamy, I missed you so much!" it giggled.

Starscream felt ill.

"Get off of me!" he pried the femme's death-grip off of his neck.

The femme made several attempts to grab his face. No doubt an attempt to rip out his optics, he thought. Starscream batted her hands away, growling with frustration at its persistence. He finally managed to push the femme away from him.

The thing giggled again and put its hands behind its back. "What's the matter, Screamy? Don't you remember me?"

"I most certainly do not." He was offended by the thought that he would actually know an Autobot on a personal level.

"Oh?" it sounded disappointed. Suddenly, without warning, it lunged at him, its fingers clutching together under its chin. Starscream stumbled backwards but was able to remain on his feet.

"You have to remember! I'm Clamp, from Cybertron," as if that description would actually help, "You were once held prisoner and I let you escape, remember?"

Starscream's head hurt. Reminiscing was not top priority of "Things He Wanted to Do.' For the time being, he would just agree with it so he could end it quickly.

"Yes, I remember. Now I think I'll repay you the favor!" He raised his laser guns once again.

"Oh Screamy!" Clamp leapt at Starscream, her arms embracing his neck once again. Starscream was caught off guard and the two went tumbling backwards. He struggled desperately to get the femme-bot off of him, but this just caused her to tighten her grip.

"Get off of me!" he screamed.

She snuggled closer, "Just think of our children!"

"Children!?" he screamed with agony.

She released her grip and put her hands on his shoulders, pushing him to the ground. "Well sure," she sat back on Starscream's midriff, "of course they'll be Autobots. Primus knows I don't want that scuzball Megatron anywhere near them."

Starscream tried to lean up but found it useless. The more he struggled, the more she would entangle him, and the worse the pain in his head felt. He was desperate for help that was not around. He let his head fall back with a loud *thunk*.

Clamp continued to ramble, having already picked out names and vehicle modes for their soon-to-be offspring. She was cut off however, as a blue and white femme-bot came running around the corner screaming as if the world were ending. Soon after her came a second blue bot, followed by two smaller bots, a robotic cat, and two robotic birds.

* * * * *

I had more than enough of this. Soundwave was now flying, not to mention we had passed Rumble and Frenzy about five blocks ago and they joined in the chase. To make matters worse, Soundwave had ejected his two birdbrains, Lazerbeak and Buzzsaw. Of course, to top all of THIS off, Clamp was playing house with Starscream. Enough was enough! I made two lefts and headed back.

Soundwave was quickly gaining on me. I dove forward and transformed into my vehicular mode. I counted the number of blocks I had left to go. Three, I smiled. Suddenly, I felt myself jerk forward as Ravage slammed into my rear end. How was I ever going to explain THAT one to Kup and the others? Aww slag, that reminded me, we were late, REALLY late! We were defiantly going to hear it when we got back.

As I approached the end of the final alleyway, I was able to catch a glimpse of Starscream's head on the ground. Clamp doesn't mess around, does she? I thought. I don't think Soundwave saw his companion. His hand was inches away from my bumper. I transformed and rolled forward. I laid down and covered my head, screaming as I felt the breeze over my back as Soundwave and his lackeys flew over me. I looked up. They had landed and were now staring at the situation. I got up and snuck along the side of the building. I could now see why they weren't moving. I went into shock. There was Starscream, lying on the ground with Clamp sitting on his midriff. The Decepticons just stared at them. Starscream slowly rolled his head in our direction; I noticed his eyes twinkled with the slightest light of hope.

"Soundwave!" Starscream finally yelled, I could hear the desperation in his voice, "Get this insane Autobot off of me!"

Rumble and Frenzy fell over in a raucous laughter.

Soundwave took a step towards Starscream and Clamp. Clamp quickly stood up and braced herself as if she were going into battle. I quickly came up behind Soundwave and slammed into him. The big blue bot fell forward. Rumble and Frenzy laughed harder. Lucky for me, Ravage and birds were still in shock over the entire situation. I jumped over the prone Soundwave.

"Crash!" Clamp smiled.

I ran towards Clamp and grabbed her hand. "Let's go!" I ran across the street towards our stinky box, dragging Clamp behind me.

"Bye Screamy! Call me sometime!" Clamp yelled back.

Starscream began to yell orders, but he was drowned out by Rumble and Frenzy's laughter.

We ran for another two blocks before we stopped. I sat down on the ground, exhausted.

"Well that was fun." Clamp smiled at me.

I shot her and evil look. "Fine, then next time YOU run 30 blocks with a pack of Decepticons flying over your head."

"You don't have to be so dramatic."

I was beginning to wish I had left her behind to deal with the Decepticons. Clamp offered down her hand.

"Come on sis, we're going to be late."

I took it and she pulled me to my feet, "What do you mean "going to be?'"

She put her hands behind her head and began walking towards the general direction of Autobot City. I slowly followed behind her.

"You know, I was thinking-"

"That's the problem," I cut her off.

"You and Soundwave would make a cute couple."

I stopped and stared at her. I think now was a good time to collect. I clenched my fist. "I'm sure we would," I smirked.