Sweat ran down my spine beneath my black uniform. I should've changed into something more casual before I had the bright idea to do this. I made to the fourth day of working here and I was about to do something utterly unprepared and stupid. Well, not completely unprepared. My hand slipped into the pocket of pants, making sure it was still there.

     The guard stood near the metal door with his meaty hand resting on his holster around his hip. His other hand gripped a half-eaten donut. My nose wrinkled at the sight. From everyone at the base, they had appointed him to guard what was beyond the metal door? Fortunately for me, at least.

    I took a deep, steadying breath and looked over the bustling hangar. The third hangar was the second largest on this base, filled with vehicles and weapons. Weapons that had piqued my interest after Ironhide told us about them. Que had created them, tested them, and stored them here for humans to use.

    My eyes flicked to the steel door. It shouldn't be too hard to get behind them and distract the guard. He popped the last donut in his mouth and licked his fingers clean. Now was my chance. I forced myself to move and smile. Pretend. That was what I had been doing all my life. Pretend and people won't suspect I am different.

    The guard leered at me when I approached with a pleasant, seducing smile on my face. It wasn't that hard figuring out what men liked. They were, after all, all the same. His gaze dropped to the swell of my breasts, and I dropped my hands. "Good night," I said, inclining my head with an inch. He was too busy studying the curves of my slim body to notice my hand slip in the pocket of my pants. "Can I help you?" he asked, licking his lip over his plump bottom lip.    

    My hand fumbled in my pocket for the syringe I had stolen earlier from the MedBay. Some sedative that I hoped would be enough to knock this male out. I could always kill him if it didn't work, but what would be the fun of doing that if I never got the chance to inflict fear and get to know my victim? No, this was purely based on my need to access what lay beyond these doors.

    I swayed closer. "I am sorry to disturb you; I got lost." He took another step closer. He was a short man, shorter than I was, with thick, wavey red hair and a beard that refused to grow on his chin and parts of his upper lip. Some people are just better off shaving, this man included.   

"Where do you wish to go?" The knife at my thigh almost whispered my name. Use me. Kill him. Slice his throat. "My room, I just finished my night shift." Another step closer. "You need to head to the second floor, Miss. Walk down this corridor, then take two sharp turns. You should find the elevators on your right." I was close enough that I could practically see the pulse of his throat. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. My other hand flexed at my side as I suppressed that particular urge.

    "Thank you." I moved quickly before he could notice anything. The needle disappeared through the sleeve of his shirt, sinking into his skin and flesh. Please let this be enough. He blinked as if trying to register what happened, and I stepped back, tucking the syringe back in my pocket. The man stumbled, then slumped against the wall like a sack of potatoes. I curiously knelt before him, watching his eyes turn vacant and distant before they closed.     

      Minutes passed until I reached for his pocket and searched for his key card. I read the name and snorted. "Sleep well, Bob." Getting back on my feet, I slid the keycard through the entry system. With a soft click, the metal door opened. With one more glance over my shoulder, I slid through the door.

    The hangar was shrouded in shadows, with only a few lamps lining the walls as my light source. Vehicles were parked in the middle, and against those concrete walls stood large racks with all sorts of weapons. Some large, others smaller. Interesting. My eyes slid to the ceiling. Camera's. Scowling at myself, I stayed where I was. No one was allowed to enter except those qualified, and I certainly wasn't qualified. I should've considered them before I planned drugging Bob.

      I inhaled sharply and rubbed my temple to smooth the terrible ache that started to build up between my eyes. I might kill someone tonight. Until I found a way to turn off the cameras, I didn't want to risk getting caught, but now I have found a goldmine—all the things I could do with these. I could kill someone creatively.

    Turning away, I slipped back through the door and locked it behind me. Bob was now loudly snoring. The prick could wake up the entire base with that noise. I tucked the keycard back in his pocket, then strode off.

    Anger sliced my vision at my negligence. If I had only taken a few more hours digging into what was behind those walls, considered security cameras, I wouldn't have to drug another soldier soon.

***

     The following day, I was earlier than most soldiers. Being suffocated between them during breakfast was not doing much good for my mood. I sat in the corner, focusing on my beacon and bread as a shadow fell upon me. "Fleshy." The mech sat in front of me, glowering. "This table is taken," I gritted out, returning the glare. "Does it look like I care?" My knuckles cracked from how tightly I gripped my fork. "Fuck off!" I was not going to leave. This was my spot. My table. And I didn't care if I had to kill him for it.   
     "Leave yourself, fleshy."    
      "How's your throat?"

    His lips peeled back, and I laughed coldly. "What would happen if I told Lennox you have been stealing medicines and started drugging guards?" How the fuck did he know about that? I couldn't remember seeing him last night. He laughed lowly. "I have lived on this base for seven years, Little Serpent. I know exactly what is going on here." The nickname made me seethe. "I could give you access so easily..." he clicked his tongue once. "I don't need your fucking help, Autobot." He shrugged casually and poked around in his food. "But why are you breaking in on only your fourth day here? Seems like a great risk to take, isn't it?"   
     "And why would I tell you if you haven't even given me your bloody name?"    
"It's Sunstreaker, baby."
    I snapped and almost stabbed the fork in his forearm. Sunstreaker had grabbed my wrist and held it tightly. The metal merely grazed his skin. "Do all people get that response when they tell you, their names?"  
  "Only the ones that annoy me."

    Sunstreaker leaned in closer, his lip quirking upward in a smirk. "I wish I could say you annoy me, but I am strangely enough quite intrigued." I snarled and tried to yank my arm free, but he kept holding it. "I have never met someone like me." Neither had I, and I hated to admit that I was just as intrigued by him as he was with me. Seeing that on my face, Sunstreaker laughed lowly. "What's your name, Little Serpent?" I snarled and palmed the knife in my other hand. "Kayla." He angled his head. "Kayla..." he repeated after me, testing it out. "Interesting." He finally let go of my wrist and turned back to his breakfast.

    I kept standing, contemplating how quick I had to be to cut his artery. "Sit down." I bristled at the command. "I don't listen to peasants like you." His cold, emotionless eyes shifted to my face. "Peasant? I am an ex-gladiator. Do you want to test my limits, Little Serpent?" My heart thundered in my chest. Not fear. It was never fear. No, I got the thrill from his threat and was eager to test exactly where those limits were. "Sit down," he snarled, eyes darkening with each passing second. "No." The tension started to grow and clung heavy in the air.

Sunstreaker lashed out quicker than my eyes could track, and the force of his blow knocked me off my feet. My knees screamed in agony, still sore from my intensive training sessions the previous days. I leaped back on my feet, a knife palmed in my hand. Sunstreaker dodged every one of my attacks, moving as swiftly as a feline despite his size.

    Hot, red anger sliced my vision, and it fueled his own. With the next blow, he landed on my stomach; my knife found its mark right into his shoulder. Sunstreaker's eyes flashed with rage. I kicked him in his knee and used my body weight to knock him on his ass. Straddling him, I punched his jaw hard enough to snap his head to the other side and have my fist burn. Sunstreaker threw me aside, and my back slammed into a table.

    The few soldiers present scrambled to their feet, moving out of the way. We both had this red veil before our eyes, shutting out every shout and every movement around us. The drive to kill, mutilate, and hurt started to override every sense.

    Someone gripped my arm, pulling me away from him, and two men hauled him away from me. There was no space for two predators. "Enough!" A male stepped between, tall, with brown hair, and radiated authority. My lips curled back in a vicious sneer. The man behind me folded my arms on my back, immediately immobilizing me. I had no desire for two dislocated shoulders, so I forced myself to stop writhing.

    As the anger slowly slipped away, I took in the two men holding Sunstreaker, the blood staining both our bodies and the floor, the feral glint in Sunstreaker's eyes. No one had ever been able to make me snap the tight leash I had on myself, and that angered me all over again. "Take her out." The person holding me started dragging me across the cafeteria. Only when we were outside did he release his hold on me.

    I swirled and blinked. Standing in front of me was Sunstreaker's mirror image. It was eerie how alike they were. The only difference was warmth shining in his blue eyes. He was no psycho like his brother. Seething, I glowered. Sunstreaker's brother raised his hands at peace. "Just followin' orders." He had a slight southern accent, but Autobots could pick whatever they liked to blend in. He smiled and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Come." He started walking, not waiting to see if I would follow. Frowning, I set in a walk. "What are you doing?"     "Walking."

    I already appreciated he didn't question if I was okay. I wouldn't say I liked the question, and I hated answering it. He somehow seemed to pick up on that. "So, which one of you started it?" His question was the embodiment of innocence. Was he amused? The confusion must have shown on my face because Sunstreaker's mirror image started laughing. "I am Sunstreaker's twin brother. Do you think I don't know what another psycho looks like?" Valid point. I tilted my head up and squared my aching, bloody shoulders. "Sunstreaker and I share a spark and a mind, and you have caused him quite some restless days. Don't worry; your secret is safe with me."

    Secret. That's what it was supposed to be, and I failed miserably at keeping it like that. "And your name is?" I grumbled, gritting my teeth. "Sideswipe or Sides for short, whatever pleases you." Sideswipe was in stark contrast with his brothers and almost comical. "Usually, this is the part where you tell me your name."

    "Kayla."

    Sideswipe chuckled. "Well, Kayla, you and Sunstreaker have caused quite the stir. I rolled my eyes at that. "I think we need to get that shoulder checked." I looked at it. Funny, I don't even remember when he nicked me with a knife. "Probably," I muttered. "I'll take you to the MedBay."