From Within The Sand (Sunstreaker and Sideswipe Bayverse)

Chapter 22

*With Team Alpha prior to their disappearance*

Ratchet leads the way. His orb finder out in front of him as he sweeps it back and forth. Optimus and the rest follow closely behind. Lennox holding out a GPS leading them to the location of when the orb was last seen. After the Osprey landed a few miles out, they drove most of the way until they were about half a mile out.

"We are reaching the coordinates." Lennox said, not slowing down his walk.

"Any readings, Ratchet?" Optimus asked the medic, taking larger steps to close in on him.

"A faint one. It's growing stronger the closer we get." Ratchet answered without looking up from the device.

They pass through a deserted town. Buildings decaying, windows broken with only darkness within. Overgrown vines climb up the sides of some of the desolate structures. Weeds have taken over the sidewalks, leaking into the streets. They found any crack and broke through, claiming the land for their own. Trash and other litter cake the street. Cars and trucks stay parked along the curb. Rust creeping along their bodies.

"The whole town seems deserted." Lennox wondered out loud, taking in the scene unfolding around them.

They continued walking until an open field came into view. The small town behind them and houses coming into view after the empty space.

"I'm getting a spike." Ratchet said picking up the pace towards the abandoned lot.

"These are the coordinates. There's nothing here." Lennox sighs and starts looking around.

Dirt filled pottery with rotting plants sit off to the side. Washed out cards lay unreadable next to them. Sunstreaker glances over them. He zooms in with his optics hoping to get an idea of what they may say. He can only assume they are some forms of memorial for the couple that disappeared there. His brother's side of their bond filled up with sadness. It makes him think of the ghost he left behind at base. Sideswipe and he haven't yet discussed what happened before they left. Every time he tried; Sideswipe would shut him down.

"Let's move forward." Optimus urged.

"Optimus, it's right in front of us." Ratchet stated, gesturing with his servo to the open space in front of them.

"There is nothing here, but dirt." Sunstreaker snapped.

"There used to be a house here. It looks like it was never here." Lennox said confused, his hand rubbing his chin as he looked over the area.

"So, why are we still standing here? Maybe there is a trap door or something." Sideswipe starts walking forward.

"Wait, Sideswipe!" Sunstreaker yelled as Sideswipe stepped across the property line and vanished from sight. "SIDESWIPE!"

"He's gone." Lennox gasped.

Sunstreaker didn't hesitate and raced in after his twin.

"Sunstreaker, no!" Optimus shouted as Sunstreaker too, vanished.

"They both just vanished." Mirage said surprised, his jaw dropped to the floor.

"Optimus, what do we do?" Ratchet asked, in shock like everyone else.

Optimus held his servo up, telling them all to stop. He put a digit to his audio receptor and pressed his comm link.

"Optimus to Sideswipe, to Sunstreaker. Do either of you read?" He called out, "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker."

He stopped, brought his servo down and his optics gazed over the area. They all wait and see if the twins will reappear. Seconds turn into minutes and still nothing.