So, some time ago I expressed interest to my TF friends about fic with the other Rainmakers and how they interacted with each other and their leader, Acid Storm. Before I knew it, things unraveled and this fic was born, as well as Cumulus and High Voltage. This fic is finished and is three chapters in length. A new chapter will be added tomorrow and the final on Wednesday.

I hope you all enjoy it. :]

Title: Alpha Kappa Eta: Brotherhood of the Rainmakers
Rated: R
- Chapter rating: PG-13
Warnings: General faggotry, profanity.
- Chapter warnings: Profanity, some sexuality.
Pairings: Acid Storm/Sunstorm, multiple hook-ups
Summary: Acid Storm and Sunstorm's perfect little life is about to be abruptly interrupted by the reunion of Acid Storm's former trinemates, High Voltage and Cumulus.
A/N: HV and Cumulus are based on two canon characters; only they, like AS, got made over with camouflage. Story takes place in the little AS/SS universe set up in previous AS/SS stories. This fic is dedicated to beebot, fujisaki-chan, midydoof and Lingering and would also pretty much be boring if not for their help. Especially the title of this story.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. :[ Well, wait, technically I've got a small claim on HV and Cum's personalities? They're canon characters with fanon minds, huhuhu! I do own Lotusrazor, though.

Nequil was a simple moon, orbiting a distant planet and yet independent. It was the color of a pale blue, a little aquamarine jewel in an ocean of diamonds and black velvet. The surface was bare, empty, devoid seemingly of life. But underneath the blue dirt of this small moon was a world thriving with activity, untouched and unseen for billions of years. Not until a lone scientist, a foreigner from a world from which he fled, discovered the ecosystem below and made this planet his new home.

He had been alone for years, but over time, he gained a friend of similiar origin and design much through accident. They lived together and searched the moon together and enjoyed its beauty together and they were alone. Nothing was thrown off balance, nothing was trashed, nothing about Nequil was harmed or destroyed. Two new guests, well behaved and generally good natured, were welcomed with open arms.

It had been years. Many, many years, and Nequil and Acid Storm and Sunstorm had lived side by side in peace.

It had been years and not once had Acid Storm ever been forced out of recharge by sudden anxiety as he was that night.

Acid Storm's chassis gave a violent jolt as his systems released a small hiss. His optics onlined instantly and he sat up before vision was coherent. A little dizzying for his rebooting processors, but it wore off quickly. Not that anxiety, though, no. Slowly, he swung his legs over the side of the berth, peering out the single, giant window spread across the far wall. Acid Storm saw what he saw everyday, every night, but something felt... off.

It was a creeping sensation, like a shadow slowly looming over his back. Nothing apparent, and yet he couldn't deny it was there. Everything seemed like it was in the ordinary, but the hitch in his circuitry... It was almost like the symptoms of sickness, or the calm before a storm. It registered by causing the energon-to-acid reformatting tanks to push more acid through his wiring. Usually these chemicals stayed put in their tanks, only releasing when he so desired. Acid Storm hadn't used his acid in centuries, simply because they were defense mechanisms and used for battles he no longer had to face.

The green Seeker winced as he slowly remembered the familiar heat the acid made as it moved through his systems. It stung a little after having been dormant for so long, but it wasn't painful. Just... surprising. Come to think of it, so was the sudden click and whirr of his weaponry core onlining. His arms had long since abandoned the detachable null rays, but they felt itchy now, strangely naked. His thrusters were sputtering for action and his wings were tipped forward, as if drawn like metal to a magnet.

Acid Storm knew what was happening. His systems were shifting into battle mode. But... why? That he could not understand. Sure, something felt off, but it wasn't threatening. It was like something old calling to him. Something that his programing had reacted quite excitedly to. Just the rest of him couldn't help but pin it as something uneasy, even a bit unwelcome.

There was a sudden strange desire to go for a quick flight. Just a few sweeps over the base. But then there came a sort of dissatisfaction that flying would bring. That is, flying alone. He wanted to fly, but he didn't want to fly by himself. No, that made no sense and yet... it did. He hadn't flown with others in such a long time, save the occasional one with Sunstorm. He didn't miss being in a... in a...

Acid Storm remembered being and feeling like this a long time ago.

Those days, however, were gone.

The camouflaged mech gazed down at the glowing Seeker beside him. Sunstorm slept on his side, wings flat against his back. He was in peaceful recharge, blissfully unaware of his partner's discomfort. It made Acid Storm smile and even a little sleepy. Sunstorm seemed to have picked up on this; his vocalizer gave a little chirp and his hand a little grope at the empty space beside him, as if it were looking for something that was now gone.

Whatever Acid Storm was feeling, it'd eventually go away. He laid back down, facing Sunstorm, feeling the acid burn hungrily through his circuits and wiring, his wings still tense, his chassis still restless, but his processors too tired to give them more of the attention they so demanded.

It'd go away. The anxiety was bound to leave. Offlining his optics, he forced the rest of himself into stasis.

It had been years since he last felt like this, but it had been years also since he last really cared.

The next day would be like any other.

Acid Storm usually woke up much earlier than Sunstorm. However, last night's anxiety attack gave him another hour to recharge. When he finally came online, Sunstorm was all ready up and about. He had done his morning prayers and cleansing ritual, now sitting in his private corner of the room, reading the Book of Primus, as usual. He didn't say anything when Acid Storm got up; didn't ask why he was still asleep, didn't ask if anything was wrong. Just sipped his special blend of energon and herbal tea and kept his optics glued to the steel sheets of scripture.

Even if he had asked, by the slightest or like some worried wife, Acid Storm wasn't inclined to share last night's restlessness. Sunstorm probably knew it'd be pointless. The scientist was a quiet fellow, not very personal and open about his feelings, not even when he was back on Cybertron with his... Acid Storm paused at the sudden memories of the past before shaking his head and getting ready for the day.

Some energon first, then a quick wash before it was off to the labs. The acid was still charging and his weaponry core was still thrumming with life. The anxiety lingered, but it was manageable. Acid Storm finished feasting and bathing and as he went to go fetch today's experiment---

There came a loud beeping coupled with the shriek of a siren from the security room, right next door to the bedroom. Sunstorm was in there first before Acid Storm popped in, shaken by surprise. The large screen that took up nearly the entire room was flashing in violent hues of red, showing a blueprint of the base and the surrounding area within a mile's radius.

"Three unidentifiable energy signatures have hit the ten mark," Sunstorm said. He pointed to the three blips of light within sixty feet of the building. "However, your security system has them registered as Cybertronian."

Acid Storm swallowed. Though the blips were unnamed, he recognized those signatures even as simple dots. He just never thought to register them into the program. "Vector Sigma..." he whispered, awed. Suddenly, everything was beginning to come together. The sudden anxiety attack, the shift into battle mode, the loneliness of flying solo...

"They appear to be drawing closer," Sunstorm stated. "Shall we go and handle them ourselves?" He turned to Acid Storm for approval, an optic ridge cocking at the slack jawed look of shock on his faceplates. "What is wrong?" Sunstorm demanded. He waved a hand across the other Seeker's face. Acid Storm winced and stepped back. "You blanked out there for a moment. Again I ask, what is wrong with you?"

"Nothing's wrong," Acid Storm grumbled. He cleared his vocalizer. "Look, they present no threat. I'll go and handle them myself."

Sunstorm stepped out with Acid Storm as soon as he cut the sirens and alarms. "Do you know who these creatures are?" he asked.

"Well..."

"It is a 'yes' or 'no' answer."

"I do," Acid Storm sighed. He rose a hand to Sunstorm just as he opened his mouth to speak. "And I can handle them myself. You don't need to come with me. They won't be here very long," he explained.

Sunstorm shook his head. "I wish to come," he insisted. "I do not see why not if they possess no threat." He sneered with pride so heavy it would make Starscream proud. "Even if they did, I certainly would have nothing to fear."

Acid Storm shook his head. "Just stay here, okay?"

"Tell me why you do not wish for me to meet your friends?"

"'Friends...'? It's just..."

Sunstorm pushed past him, taking lead. "If you will not answer me, I will not answer to you," he said firmly. He was stubborn and there was no way he'd be argued or begged out of this.

Acid Storm growled lowly. "Frag," he seethed. He cast the yellow Seeker a glare, who just gave him that shit eating smile and walked with him outside.

Slagslagslagfragslagslag...

Along with his flaring energy field, acid soaring in torrents in his circuits and wings twitching eagerly, Acid Storm felt extremely nervous. Something in his spark twisted and somersaulted. He wasn't afraid, no; upset, yes. He had not been prepared for this... reunion. Yes, that's what it was. Sunstorm wasn't supposed to know, but with him walking alongside him now, it wasn't like he could hide it.

Slagslagslagwhynow!?

"Well, looky what we gots here!"

Fuck.

Acid Storm and Sunstorm stopped, standing side by side. Sunstorm had not noticed what exactly was coming their way--three blurry shapes, one blue, one yellow, another a soft lavender. Then, the closer they got, Sunstorm was shocked to see they were tetrajets. Seconds later, the jets drew close enough to the ground, where they each transformed into Seekers.

At the lead was the camouflage yellow tetrajet. Typical Seeker build, he had sharp, suave red optics and a big grin of pearly white dental plates. Sunstorm didn't like him all ready. Behind him, a slightly more bulkier Seeker, sporting a blue camouflage paint job, with his tired but playful gaze and grin. Landing beside the blue Seeker was the lavender one--a femme, surprisingly; he had never seen female Seekers before. Hell, Decepticon femme Seekers, too, by the stickers on her white striped pale purple wings.

"Well, heya there, Ass!" the yellow camouflaged mech laughed. He and the others approached the quiet Seekers, Sunstorm noticing just how tense Acid Storm had gotten.

"Hello," Acid Storm grumbled, "High Voltage."

The other mech grinned. "Still gots the same enthooseeassum as before, I sees," he sniggered. From his fuselage, he removed something like a bolt--but placed it in his mouth, biting down on the end. "We ain't seen eachutha in vorns, kid, an' y'still act like yer a stranger." High Voltage gave the blue mech beside him an elbow jam in his shoulder. "Mehbe he'll be more nicah ta you. He liked you bettah."

The blue camouflage Seeker just smiled crookedly. "What's up, Acid Storm?"

"Good to see you, Cumulus," Acid Storm replied. That damp tone did not change.

High Voltage noted this and stuck out his glossa. "Booo."

"A-hem."

High Voltage and Cumulus gazed back at the purple femme. "'Eeey! How could I forget!?" High Voltage cackled around his bolt. He leaned aside, tracing a hand around the lean female's hips. "Dis here is Lotusrazor. She's-a good friend'a mine an' Cum's here, y'see." He winked one optic. "Cute, ain't she?" High Voltage gave her hip a little swat, causing Lotusrazor to giggle and playfully shove him away.

"Volt and Cum here told me lots about you," Lotusrazor purred. She sized Acid Storm up with her slim, radiant red optics and smirked those soft purple lips.

Sunstorm felt strangely bothered by this and stepped forward. "Acid Storm, who are these three?" he demanded.

Before Acid Storm could answer, High Voltage's optics shifted onto the other yellow Seeker. He was a much brighter coat, pure shining yellow. A dirty grin crossed his faceplates. "We-eeeell," Volt chortled, bolt rolling over to the other side of his stretched mouth. He swaggered over to Sunstorm, both he and the green camouflaged mech tense and standing straight. High Voltage did a small sweep around Sunstorm, just like a vulture on a kill. "What what whaaat d'we have heeere?" He stopped right behind Sunstorm, who cast a sharp yellow glare at him from over his shoulder.

High Voltage's optic ridges wiggled. "What's yer name, kid?" he asked, raising a hand and pinching Sunstorm's gray chin. Sunstorm reacted immediately, his entire energy field rippling brightly. He stepped back, wrenching off the offending hand. "Ee'yow!" the camouflaged yellow mech hissed, jumping back and shaking his sore wrist. "Firecracker, ain'tcha!" He laughed and that disgusting leer was back on his faceplates. "I like dat."

"My designation is Sunstorm, worm," Sunstorm spat. "Do not touch me, unless you wish for me to put the fear of Primus into you."

"I wouldn't mindja puttin' sumthin' in me," High Voltage purred. Lotusrazor and Cumulus sniggered, the latter leaning tiredly against the former. "Nice ta meetcha, Sunny." He gave a deep, low bow.

"Don't patronize him, Volt," Acid Storm ordered, stepping between the two yellow Seekers. He could tell Sunstorm was about ready to melt off High Voltage's smug face.

High Voltage's optics lit up. "Hey! Y'called me Volt!" he cheered, before swinging an arm around Acid Storm's shoulders and yanking him into a noogie. Acid Storm thrashed angrily; Sunstorm was about to unleash a can of radiated whoop ass before his bondmate quickly freed himself. "Still don't like bein' touched, ah'see," Volt sighed. He shook a finger at Sunstorm. "Well, y'gonna tell me who dis here kid is to you? Did ya make yerself a brother to replace us, huh? Needed sumthin' to pick apart er sumthin'?"

"I am the apostle of Primus!" Sunstorm spat. "I am no test subject!"

High Voltage blinked. "Oooooh." He slowly rose his hands, bolt hanging from his mouth.

"Sunstorm here is my partner," Acid Storm stated calmly.

"Pardner?" Volt echoed.

Cumulus added, "As in, 'bondmate'?"

Acid Storm's face turned hot. "That's none--!"

"Can't be! Not azzezual Ass 'ere!" Volt interrupted, placing a hand on the green mech's wing. Sunstorm twitched. "Y'ain't plugged or bonded with no one. Y'always were a prude. Ain't no way dis here pretty canary is yer interfacin' pardner." He gave a wink at Sunstorm.

Sunstorm released a small gush of flames that faded as soon as they sprouted. It made the three strangers wide eyed, though. "That is personal business!" he snarled. "Now how do you know Acid Storm and why are you here!?"

High Voltage gasped, throwing his hands to his face as the bolt nearly fell from his mouth. "How horrid-able!" he gasped. "You ain't told 'im!?"

Acid Storm heaved, annoyed. "Sunstorm," he seethed, "High Voltage and Cumulus were my former trinemates. Back when I was working as a Decepticon on Cybertron."

Sunstorm blinked. He knew Acid Storm had once been in a trine, but had mentioned nothing about who with. High Voltage swept up to the yellow Seeker, arms up and open. "We weren't jus' any trine, Sunny ole boy! We were da Rainmakers! Da most feared group-a 'Cons on Cybatron!" He finished with a proud smile, standing straight with hands planted on his hips, bolt in his mouth cocked.

"Next to Starscream's trine, that is," Cumulus added. One of his optics had offlined. "Always got the top spot."

Sunstorm bristled at the mention of his brother's name. "You knew Starscream?" he murmured.

"Eh, not too person-nully. We was always too busy t'mingle, y'see," Volt answered, shrugging. He stroked his chin as he moved his head forward, those blazing optics rolling up and down along Sunstorm's chassis. "But, y'know, dez'bite da fact we Seekers pretty much have da same build..." His optics narrowed mischievously. "I sees a bit-a Screamer's in ya. Y'two wouldint happen ta be related? At least, had da same creata?"

"My relationship to Starscream is, again, none of your business," Sunstorm spat. "And yes, we were created from the same being--the great and grand Primus!"

Volt tilted his head. "Heh, well," he chuckled a moment later. He stepped quickly behind Sunstorm, his hands and fingers curling over his hips. Both Sunstorm and Acid Storm jumped. "Primus done gone an' blessed ya wit' some of da nicest hips I've evah seen! Certennully a Screamer trait!"

Acid Storm quickly pushed Volt away before Sunstorm could melt off those hands. "I told you not to touch me, heathen!" the furious mech snarled. He rose his hands, yellow flames licking the tips of his fingers. "To test me is to test Primus Himself!"

"What's wit' all dis talk on Primus, 'ey?" High Voltage muttered.

Acid Storm helped him stand then shoved him back. "Sunstorm is very religious," he snapped, "and when he tells you not to touch him, don't touch him."

"I am Primus's own ilk! I was molded right from His very hands!" Sunstorm exclaimed.

Volt's jaw dropped, bolt about to fall out. He and Cumulus exchanged surprised glances, only Cumulus's was much more subdued. "Yer... bonded wit'... a Primus thumper?" the yellow camouflaged Seeker sneered before, nearly spitting out his bolt, he flew back into cackles. "Dat's rich! Dat is rich! Mistah Science-Is-Da-Origin-Of-All-Life bonded to-a Primus fanmech!"

"Shut up, Volt," Acid Storm scowled. He lowered his voice. "You're only making Sunstorm angrier. And trust me, when he's mad, he's dangerous. Not even as a trine would we be able to take him down."

"I can hear you," Sunstorm seethed. He was glowing in a bright yellow light. "But he is right. I carry Primus blessed powers that can deactivate you with a mere flick of my wrist, heathen."

High Voltage just turned around, rolling his optics. "Okay, okay, sar-rreee." He gave another over dramatic bow to Sunstorm. "Weren't my intention to frag ya off, Sunny."

"Sunstorm! Primus christened me with the name for a reason! Not so I could be called some ridiculous, childish nickname!"

"'Eesh," Volt croaked, biting into his bolt. "Y'sure got yerself a handful dare, Ass."

"That's enough," Acid Storm spat. He looked over the three. "What are you doing here, anyway? How did you find me?"

"Y'can't git rid offus dat easily, Ass," High Voltage purred, rubbing elbows and shoulders with the green mech. Acid Storm quickly moved away. "We were a trine for vorns. We're connected, y'know? Kinda like... 'sy-cally."

That could explain Acid Storm's anxiety attack. In fact, it explained everything. Acid Storm's energy signature had responded to theirs as they drew near, never forgetting the call of the trine. "So you found me. That still doesn't explain why you're here."

"We just wanted to see our old commander again," Cumulus said tiredly. His smile was just as lax. "You never did say goodbye when you left. We were disappointed, you know."

"Stung like-a sunnavaglitch, mech," Volt sighed, mocking a big sad frown. "Leavin' us high an' dry like dat. Ole Shocky was certainly pee-oh'd. Took it out on us, ya know."

Acid Storm winced when Volt's tone grew serious. He could only imagine the rage Shockwave must have felt, marooned, left with a broken trine that had been one of his best playing cards. What he did to High Voltage and Cumulus, he wasn't quite sure he wanted to know. "I apologize for that," he said slowly, "I really am sorry, but if I had said something, I knew Shockwave would get wind of it."

"You thought we were gonna tell him, didn't you?"

"Well, no, not exactly..." You'd just want to go with me. Though High Voltage spent a lot of time hanging out in Kaon, hitting on any mech or femme that came his way and Cumulus was often found tailing him or recharging, they had been very attached to their leader. Clingy, almost, and without Acid Storm, they probably wouldn't have been able to tell their heads from their asses. Acid Storm did get privacy, sure, but nowhere near enough as he desired. Though to the ignorant eye, they appeared to want nothing to do with one another, but in reality, they had a very professional relationship.

"We was missin' ya," High Voltage cut in. He leaned against one of his ex-commander's wings and Sunstorm again gave an annoyed grunt. "So we decided ta come an' visit ya."

"Yes, well, it was nice seeing you two again, but I'm busy. Both Sunstorm and I have been doing research on Nequil and really, we have demanding schedules--"

"Oh, wuteeeev!" Volt yawned loudly, bending backwards. "Y'know dat's bull. Y'always say yer too busy ta do sumthin'. Jus' an excuse ta go hide in yer li'l hole." His optics swiveled over at Sunstorm. "An' I doubt ole Sunstorm 'ere is interested in science."

Sunstorm spat at him. "It is obvious you are not wanted here!" he hissed. "So leave! Or I will throw you out myself..." Again, those optics were blazing, hands coated in flames.

High Voltage flew off the ground and over to Cumulus and Lotusrazor. "'Ey 'ey 'ey!" He rose his hands, landing again. "Ain't no need ta be so uppity." He smiled sweetly at his old trine leader. "We jus' wanted ta spend a few cycles witcha. Not too long, right?"

"We're also a little low on energy," Cumulus said around a tired heave.

"We can provide you with enough energon to return to Cybertron," Acid Storm assured.

Volt frowned. "Aw, c'mon, jus' let us stay a li'l longer, huuuh?" he whined. He clasped his hands together, putting on his best puppy dog optics. "Fer old time's sake? Eh, commander?" Cumulus joined in by offering his gentle little grin. Lotusrazor could care less, bending beneath Cumulus's weight. She had come to party, dammit.

Acid Storm frowned. Dammit, he had never gotten immune to High Voltage's pathetic puppy dog look. He always surrendered to that damn face. He looked uneasily over at Sunstorm, who was giving him a furious glare. A clear no. The green mech moved to his bondmate, whispering, "Look, we'll give them the energon they need to recharge. As soon as they're all refueled, we'll send them on their way. Okay?"

"Give them the energon to go," Sunstorm grumbled. "I do not like them. Especially that High Voltage fellow." He peeked over Acid Storm's wing to glare at the aforementioned Seeker. Volt saw him staring and blew him a kiss. It nearly sent Sunstorm into another fit. "Send them away!" he scowled back at Acid Storm.

"I will, as soon as they've had their energon," Acid Storm replied. He placed his hands to Sunstorm's arms. "High Voltage is harmless, really, despite how bold he talks. Cumulus is a good mech. Lotusrazor--well, she seems nice, I suppose. They won't cause any serious trouble. I've worked with them for eons."

Sunstorm grunted. It was apparent that even if Acid Storm wanted them gone, something inside him, nostalgia, did want them to stay. "As soon as they refuel," Sunstorm growled, his tone threatening and dark, "I want them gone."

Acid Storm sighed. Why did this day have to turn out so shitty? "All right," he retorted. He turned from Sunstorm, who was marching back to the base, leaving behind singed dirt beneath his heavy footfalls. "We'll give you energon, but as soon as you're refueled, you will have to leave," he told the group.

"We gotcha," High Voltage agreed, thumbs up. "Once we're all fueled up, we leave."

Acid Storm walked up to High Voltage. "Don't start anything, you hear me?" he ordered. He pointed to the fading yellow Seeker. "He will kill you with no second thought if you anger him enough. And if you succeed in making him that angry, I won't stop him from taking you down. Do you understand me, soldier?" His optics flew wide open at what he just said.

High Voltage beamed. "Yessir!" He then gave a salute; a rather sloppy one, however. His smile softened. "Nice ta see ya again, commander."

"Yeah, well... It's certainly... something... to see you two again as well."

"This is all nice and sweet and slag," Lotusrazor grumbled, trying to push Cumulus off of her. "But someone get this hunk of junk offa me! I think he's fallen into stasis!" she whined, about to collapse under the weight.

Acid Storm and High Voltage quickly plucked the sleeping mech from off the femme. "He still has narcolepsy?" Acid Storm mumbled.

"Unlike you, commander," High Voltage replied, slapping Cumulus awake, "we ain't changed." He gave the blue camouflage Seeker a shake. "Hey, wake up, lugnut! We're gonna go git ourselves some energon!"

"Wha, energon!? Party!"

Acid Storm frowned. This day wasn't going to get any better, he could feel it.

T/B/C

9u9 Hope it didn't suck. BTW, HV's accent is a mix of various accents, but Roddy said it best, "A hick in New York." The bolt HV is chewing on is based on Kup's little bolt chewin'; basically, it's like a cigar/ette.