The Holiday Killer ✔️

Ch. 17 Multiple Attacks

Prowl's P.O.V.
"It's only ten in the fragging morning, and we have a shooting?!" I repeated to the officer who rushed into my office.
"Yes, sir."
The scene is reportedly already serious that all three of our medics and Blades have to come. Ratchet contracted First Aid to help. I can tell Blades is still struggling with failing to save the femme, but he knows it's pointless to argue. Even Jamie has to get involved.

We arrived at what looked like a battle scene without the bombs.
"Twenty shot," the chief informs us, "I have five ambulances dispatched. Trying to get help from nearby towns."
As the medics help the victims, I look for clues that hopefully lead to a manhunt and arrest. I collect a few stray bullets, but no one saw anyone firing a gun. I can tell right away that this isn't from our guns. Que and Wheeljack created bullets for our holoform's gun. Though not as effective as our Cybertron guns against cons, it's enough in case we need to get to our bipedal form to fight rather than be caught off guard and fragged. The bullets act as typical Earth gun bullets to anyone, human or holoform. O can't take one to show Ratchet. I take a picture before collecting the bullets. 
The current report is five victims died from being shot, and fifteen are going to the hospital, with seven in critical condition. So far, there are possibly five more murders for the holiday killer, or we now have a copycat.
"Sunstreaker," Ratchet whispers, but I choose to ignore him. We return to the base.

Ratchet's P.O.V.
"I haven't seen Sunstreaker all day," I hear Sideswipe talking to Prime.
"So he's responsible for all this!" I rage, "I warned you, and now look how many humans he killed!"
Before Optimus can argue with me, my pager goes off.
"An explosion and building collapse? What is that fragger doing?!"
I rush to get Jasmine, Jamie, and Jolt.

"No, they're not dead!" We hear Boulder argue.
"No one could survive that," the firefighter claims.
"The building blew up," another firefighter explains, "the entire building collapsed."
Boulder deactivates his holoform and moves the rubble. None of us bother to remind him he can detect if anyone is even alive. I can't believe Sunstreaker would do this. 
Boulder got to the humans, but most of the five humans were dead. He's more upset about the one human who's barely holding on. Shrapnel on several places on their body. Jamie dreads telling us her powers won't help this person. Jasmine, Jolt, and I get to work. Hoping our equipment will help them enough to even be taken to the hospital. Once I'm done doing all I can, I will find that fragger, Sunstreaker.

Boulder's P.O.V.
All I can do is watch the medics, hoping they can help him enough to get to the hospital. He is a total stranger, yet I feel like he's my friend.

Flashback
I was driving down the street, driving around the city, when I stopped at the coffee shop that's not as popular as Starbucks. I sit next to someone well known to the barista. 
"What's your name?" I ask.
"Patrick Cook."
"I'm—."
"Do you guys hear something off?" The barista asks.
I hear something strange but can't figure out what. I tell everyone to get out. The building blowing up near inches behind me.
End of flashback

"I should have made sure everyone got out first."
"You know you'd likely be dead if you didn't run?" Prowl asks, "and how's that better?"
"Five humans could be alive!" I argue.
"That's just it, could be alive, and you could be the one dead. That's not why better." 
I'm ordered to go back to base.

Sideswipe's P.O.V.
I try to distract Boulder until Ratchet returns. Hiding my concern that I can't feel Sunstreaker's side of the bond, questioning if I was right rather than denying that my brother is not the killer this time. We hear Ratchet cursing in cybertronian before telling Boulder the news he didn't want to hear. 
"Another one dead by Sunstreaker!" Ratchet tells Prowl and Prime, "he killed eleven humans in five hours!"
You didn't, Sunstreaker.
"Are you ok?" Boulder asks.
I feel weak, and everything goes black.

Ratchet's P.O.V.
Even though I don't think Sideswipe passing out is serious, I take him to the medbay before getting lectured. I can't believe Optimus still thinks Sunstreaker isn't the killer.
Sideswipe passing out for two hours isn't good, but there's nothing wrong with him aside from the shock that his brother is on a killing spree. I figured Sunstreaker blocked his side of the bond, and it's too early for the block to affect Sideswipe.
"I'm fine!" He rages and tries to leave the room.
"You passed out for two hours; that's not normal!"
"What do you care?! You want my brother dead, which means I die!"
Having Jamie hear this after yesterday's comment is not a good thing.
"Really shows your true colors, Ratchet! Or is Ratchet gone, and we're looking at Pharma with a new body?!" Jamie argues. There's a hint of sadness in her voice, believing she's right; that she failed to protect me from the humans, even if it's been three years since most of us came out of hiding, "let's go, Sideswipe, I think I can find Sunstreaker."
I watch the two leave the room before realizing that Jasmine and Jolt heard everything.
"You realize how serious this is?" Jasmine asks, "more in terms of your friendship for now, but how long before she hides a serious health issue? I know her condition causes loss of consciousness no matter how minor, but then what are you going to do when she wakes up, livid at you?"
"And if Crosshairs and Drift find out what Jamie's heard you say—," Jolt adds.
"All right! I get it, but Sunstreaker is killing humans, and that's serious!"
I watch Jasmine angrily walk out of my office and medbay.
Great, now this is tearing apart my love life.

Jamie's P.O.V.
"I can try to locate his Energon signature," I explain to Sideswipe, "but you need to be quiet."
I should be able to find Sunstreaker's Energon signature unless he's dead. Which I suspect Sideswipe would know rather than Sunstreaker is blocking his side of the bond.
"He's at an abandoned warehouse out of the city," I tell Sideswipe and take his hand, "we can get to him in seconds."

I don't know why I feel drained after using my powers. Searching for an Energon signature and instant transmission shouldn't take this much out of me.
"Are you ok?" Sideswipe asks.
"I'm fine; let's go."

We walk down the dirt road to the warehouse. The only light to guide us is my firebending, hoping this is enough to give us cover. A benefit of nightfall happening early.
There's no light in the warehouse. Either the killer is out or doesn't use much light.
Sideswipe is ready for a fight as I blast to doors off the hinges. It's pitch black inside.
"There's only one figure in here," Sideswipe whispers.
We go to the location, unprepared to find Sunstreaker caged and chained.
"Stasis lock," Sideswipe tells me, "I can wake him up."'
I sit on the ground by the cage.
Fucking shit, why now?

Sunstreaker's P.O.V.
My optics online to the sight of Sideswipe.
"Sideswipe?" I weakly ask, feeling uncertain if I'm dreaming. Until Sideswipe hugs me. My servos and legs are free from the chains, and I can hug my brother.
"How did you—?" I start before seeing Jamie laying on the floor, "move, something is wrong."
Sideswipe sees what I see, panic on his faceplate.
"Get her back to base!" I stress.
"Does it matter who goes? I'll be in trouble as well! You're coming home!"
There's no arguing as my scan shows this is a moderate flare-up, and those can quickly turn severe. I transform, activate my holoform, and carry Jamie to the passenger seat. Sideswipe tells me he alerted Ratchet, who'll likely inform Crosshairs and Drift. We're both going to be in trouble, but we can't deal with this ourselves until Jamie wakes up. I'm more worried about her and Lily than being thrown in the brig or sent to Cybertron for crimes I didn't commit.