(Untitled)

[due_caution]

Red Alert had briefly considered tagging along with Kitten Prime and Company, if only to make sure Rodimus stayed safe and out of trouble, but thought better of it after contemplation. Right now, at a glance, who would even know that the small orange Terran cat is the Autobot Prime, unless someone draws undue attention to him

Comments

[due_caution]

If anyone had been standing directly outside Red Alert's door as Starscream strolled away, they might have heard a single, solid thump. Red alert doesn't allow himself much time to recover with his head cradled in his arms on his desk, however. Starscream had raised too many concerns, and not all of them were even about him!

// Frostbite, // he transmits, opening a secure channel to the only other Autobot who might be as healthily suspicious as himself. // Do you have a moment? //

[due_caution]

// Very good. The door will be open for you. //

[due_caution]

"Something like that. Starscream's not as free in our systems as he was, though, at least," Red replies a bit wearily.

"Don't get too comfortable, though. We may have to leave, depending on what you can tell me about Drath and Spike. According to your notes, Drath expired of a cardiac condition? And then Motormaster reduced his remains to..." he pauses and inputs something to his console until the passage he's looking for pops up. "'Inflicted severe trauma to the point of reducing the subject to a thick, goo-like consistancy'."

Red turns to meet her gaze again. "Did anyone test the 'goo' to make sure it was really Drath? And did Spike submit to any medical checks after his release to ensure that he was really Spike Witwicky?"

[due_caution]

"Indeed," Red agrees with Frostbite's last observation wryly

[due_caution]

Red Alert nods thoughtfully. "Excellent," he agrees. "If you can find a way to get those tests rushed and flagged to get results sent to us as soon as they're complete... How long should that take?"

[due_caution]

Red Alert sighs with a frustrated nod.

"Well, at least that gives me time to finish securing our systems before the next potential crisis swamps us," he observes, eying his computer station with an air of distate and continued frustration.

"Speaking of which," he adds, pausing to pull out a datapad, onto which he transfers a page of information from his console. Once done, he slides the pad across his desk to her. "Your new security passcode information."

His expression shifts to one of aggrieved suffering. "The entire system. I know Ratchet isn't precicely a programmer or a security adjunct, but the whole system? Couldn't he have at least partitioned out the Medbay before he handed us over to Starscream with a big red bow?"

[due_caution]

Though it doesn't last long, a slow, tired smile spreads across Red's features. "That's fortunate," he observes before his humor fades.

He wishes that he could enjoy Frostbite's revelation more, however it just feels like there's a huge weight suspended over them, ready to drop without notice. He hates coming in at the middle of a crisis. Of course, that most everyone else considers the crisis over only exacerbates the problem.

Few mechs understand how badly and how often that Red Alert wishes that he is wrong. He distinctly recalls the last time he'd hoped as much and as fervently as he is now.

When they'd picked through the wreckage of the shuttle, and he'd seen just how right he'd been anyway, Inferno had had his hands full with the security chief for several nights.

"Too bad not everyone had had your foresight," Red remarks with a sigh.

[due_caution]

Red Alert eyes the high grade thoughtfully for a long moment. Really, he shouldn't. He's already skipped a few recharge cycles to deal with the system, though, and could very much use the energon to substitute for real rest. After a long moment of staring at the drum as if it would leap across the table and bite him, he finally sighs and accepts it. Just drink it slowly. Slow and steady, and you won't get overcharged. Yes. That will work.

"Chasing ghosts on Cybertron for Ultra Magnus," he answers wearily. "Ultra Magnus can go chase his own slagging ghosts from now on."