Red Alert entered Primes office, and Prime gestured for Red Alert to sit down

Red Alert entered Primes office, and Prime gestured for Red Alert to sit down. The red and white Lamborghini did so, uneasily poking the chair. "There has been several complaints against Cameralift."

Instantly anger flickered in Red Alerts optics as he said, "Why?"

"They claim that he's been invading their privacy."

Prime watched, slightly interested as Red Alerts hands clenched in anger. "Red Alert, what is Cameralift to you?"

"My teacher and my mentor sir." Red Alert said, optics switching over to Prime.

"There is still the problem of him trying to take over your job."

"He's reteaching me sir. I've grown lax while on Earth."

Prime wondered for a moment how Red Alert could say such a thing with a straight face. Then he remembered the conversation. I have to find some way of saying this without tipping him off… "Red Alert, if given a choice, would you choose the army, or Cameralift?"

Red Alerts optics widened as his CPU struggled with having to make a choice between them. "I-I don't know sir." Red Alert at last said, optics dark and stormy.

Prime stood up, and began walking out of his own office. When he reached the door, Prime turned to look at Red Alert gravely. "You're making that choice now Red Alert. I suggest you figure it out. You found an equilibrium with the Army. They are used to and are agreeable with the security you have now. If you try to tighten it, and the mechs don't like it, then theirs nothing that I could do to save you."

The door slid open as Prime walked out. "You might want to think about that Red Alert."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Red Alert knew he was supposed to be recharging. But his CPU was in a riot over what Prime had said. Which is more important? Cameralift or the Ark? The war won't last forever. Sooner or later it'll all end. If Decepticons win, I'll be killed. If Autobots win, I'll be laid off, as a much more sane mech is brought in to take care of things, and once again I'll go back to monitoring some base on the edge of space. And Inferno…

All thought process stopped at the idea of Inferno. Inferno won't look at me twice. Theirs no way he could look at me after the war. After all, war breeds desperateness.

Red Alerts inner struggle came to a screeching halt as the door slid open to reveal a tired Inferno. "Red, you're already getting some recharge?"

"Trying to. Unfortunately…" Red Alert trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Inferno slid onto the berth beside, him, and Cameralifts words came back to haunt Red Alert. "You're not supposed to have a private life!"

Red Alert shook his head, rubbing the edge of his helm tiredly, fingers unconsciously touching his horns. They were sparking a faint blue, and Inferno placed one hand on Red Alerts hand, and they lay like that for a precious breem.

"Red, I'm just wondering. What is Cameralift to you?"

"Cameralift was the first mech to ever believe in me Inferno. Believe that I could do something. Before, I had only thought that as a glitch I'd be taken care of by the government money, placed in some hospital where I'd eventually die as a doctor conveniently forgot to give me my checkup."

Red Alerts optics burned into Infernos. "That was the only choice I thought I had. I had signed up for the classes in mechanics simply because I wanted something to do. Cameralift gave me a test, and then proclaimed me to be a natural and demanded that I join his school immediately."

A slight smile appeared on Red Alerts face as he remembered how stunned and shocked he had been. He was still shocked, especially when he learned that Cameralift had managed to get through all of the red tape to pull Red Alert into the academy. From there, his life… "He was like a creator Inferno. I could tell him anything, and he'd help me. I had a problem with fixing a camera, he'd help tutor me through. If I was frustrated at others because they made fun of my glitch, he stayed with me. He told me it was alright to have a glitch, and that I could do something with my life other than being a burden."

Red Alert looked at Inferno. "It was the first time I had ever been wanted Inferno. How am I supposed to tell him that what he's doing is wrong? How am I supposed to fail him?"

Inferno lay quietly, shaken and stunned by the revelation. "Red, would you leave me and the Ark for him?" Inferno asked in a small voice, optics worried and troubled. Infernos optics met Red Alerts, searching for some sort of reassurance that Red Alert wouldn't leave him.

Red Alert turned, voice pained. "I don't know Inferno. I just don't know. Either way, it's a no win situation for me."

Inferno opened his mouth to say something when his comm. link crackled into life. "Inferno, I need you now." Came a voice Red Alert didn't quiet identify. Inferno scowled, and left the room, casting one lingering glance at Red Alert.

Red Alert waited until Inferno was gone, and began crying.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Cameralift scowled and cursed himself as he futilely scrubbed at his paint job. Prowl had taken him to his office, and both had sat down, when a stink bomb had gone off, effectively chasing Cameralift out. I wonder what Prowl wanted. Ah well, he has his own private wash rack, so he shouldn't have any trouble with getting the smell off.

He paused in his scrubbing as a weary set of feet entered the washroom, followed by a lighter, bouncier pair. "So, Inferno, what did Red Alert tell you?"

"He doesn't know." Inferno muttered.

Cameralift lips curled with disgust. Red Alert might claim all that he wished that Inferno understood the problems of his job, but Cameralift seriously doubted it. After all, he had said the same thing about his own wife, and she had taken their son and disappeared.

Inferno continued on, not realizing that the mech in the next booth was Cameralift, "Red admitted he was torn. And I know that if the war ends he'll find himself out of a job. Whether by death or by asking to step down with full honors so that way they can get someone sane up there; Red Alert will leave his post by the end of the war."

Inferno was quiet for a few moments, turning thoughts over in his head. "Jazz, he told me that Cameralift was special to him. He's really torn right now. He can't decide whether between Cameralift or the Ark. And, I'm scare of what he'll pick. Nobody should be asked to pick between that."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa Inferno!" Jazz said quickly. "Who said anything about those being his only options?"

"If Red tries to tighten security like Cameralift is suggesting, he'll have a riot on his hands. It's taken us this long to break him of such habits. Nobody wants to go through such things again. Red Alert knows that as well Jazz. So he's got two choices. Stay with the Ark, or follow Cameralift."

Well Red Alert? Cameralift wondered. What are you going to choose?

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Red Alert stared unseeingly at the cameras, noticing that the twins were attempting to prank Cameralift. And failing miserably.

Every time they got near, Cameralift would suddenly stop, look around, searching for what had tipped him off. And the twins were forced to pull back and wait. Finally, Red Alert got sick and tired of them sneaking around. "Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, come to my office please."

Scowling, they abandoned the ten pounds of mech sized fireworks and began making their way to him. "Yeah, what is it Red?"

"What exactly do you have against Cameralift?" Red Alert asked, glaring. "I've been watching you tying to prank him, so don't you dare act innocent."

Sideswipe was about to say something as Sunstreaker elbowed him in the side. "We listened in on your conversation when Cameralift first got here."

Rage clouded Red Alerts face as he looked like he'd gladly strangle both of them. "We broadcasted it to certain members of the Ark."

The idea to strangle them was replaced with taking them apart. "And we don't like what he said to you. Everyone in the Ark doesn't like what he's doing Red."

Red Alert sighed. "I know twins. I know."

Cameralift entered at that moment, scowling. "Red Alert! I wish to speak to you for a few moments in private."

Red Alert made a shooing motion at the twins, who left unwillingly. "Sir?"

Cameralift regarded Red Alert. "Well, it's time to make your choice. Which will it be Red Alert, will you follow what I've been tying to pound in your brain, or will you follow what you have already established?"

Red Alert took a deep breath, attempting to find what to say. The twins leaned against the door, and didn't even twitch as Prime came by. "What-"

"SSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH! Red's making a decision."

The datapad in hand forgotten, Prime pressed his own auditory receptor against the door.

0o0o0o0o0

Red Alert was silent, struggling with his own inner thoughts and wishes. "Cameralift… Everything I ever did was to make you proud."

Something flickered in Cameralifts optics, quickly erased. Red Alert missed it, too busy trying to put what he thought into words. "However… I have to say your wrong about how the Ark should be monitored."

Cameralift was about to say something, when Red Alert shook his head. Cameralift settled back, waiting. "Everyone here isn't exactly sane. Even those who are certified glitchy have to work hard not to look sane compared to the Ark."

Jazz laughed silently at that from where he and Prowl were listening in. "Ratchet will weld mechs to the wall, Jazz will prank well enough that I can only barely catch it, and even then the evidence points to the twins… Prime will make his long boring speeches, only to surprise everyone with a sudden comment that will be the true reason why they are motivated. The Aerial mechs will fly inside, yelling duck as their warning. Mirage will walk invisible even on battlefields, so you have to learn when and where to shoot… There is no such thing as a sane mech on the Ark."

Red Alert took a deep breath, ready for the fall that he was sure to come. "That is why sir… I do not think I can do the security like you say."

Cameralift nodded, smashing the bug and leaning over to whisper in Red Alerts auditory receptor. "You chose well Red Alert. Congratulations, your last test is passed."

"What?"

"Remember, I sent you off without having completed the last test. This was the last test. Who are you most loyal too, the Ark which is under your protection, or the ones you haven't seen in vorns. For all you knew, I could've turned over to be a Decepticon."

Cameralift laughed inwardly at Red Alerts shocked optics. "You did well Red Alert. Hesitated a bit too long, but… after the war, I'll be glad to have you back. You have flexibility, and that in the end is the most important part of being a security director. I am proud to know you, and I am proud to have been the one to teach you."

Red Alert gaped at Cameralift, feeling as if he had been whacked repeatedly over the head by Megatrons plasma cannon. "Sir?"

Cameralift smothered a chuckle, "Red Alert, I have taught plenty of students who go by the book too much. When that happens, they become predictable and easy to get around. As security directors, that is our worst nightmare."

Red Alert only nodded dumbly, no clue as to what was happening. Cameralift sighed dramatically. "Well, I have to be going now. Here's your badge to say that you've graduated from my academy."

Red Alert numbly took the smooth metal plaque, and Cameralift strode out briskly. Red Alert lifted up the plaque, reading it, and then he slowly shook his head, sinking down into a chair. "Did this really happen?" He wondered, looking at the plaque.

The door slid open to reveal Inferno. He had heard the news. "Red?"

"It's fine Inferno. It looks like I finally graduated from the academy."

Red Alert shook his head, and was about to say more when they were interrupted with a loud explosion.

Both heads tuned, and Red Alert groaned. The twins had set off the fireworks inside the Ark. "TWINS!"

SsSsSsSsSsSsSs

Ok, I hope you all liked this better then my last story. Especially since the 'r' key kept sticking. Plot twist? definatly. But I had such fun with this chapter... shorter then I would've liked.