Yeah... okay, some things that need to be discussed. Prowl doesn't hate females, and he doesn't think they're second-class... unless they're not officers. A subordinate is a subordinate. Em kind of came with him, so she's been his secretary for awhile now. More will be revealed about that.

"I don't understand it. How did no one notice this?!"

Once again, the officers were grouped around a gruesome scene, this one twice as bad as the first. The two cadets had worked in the General Mess hall refectory, both female, and best friends. Their names had been Filter and Data, and they'd been "mounted" on a wall in one of the corridors. They'd been there for several megacycles before a young femme named Dauntless had found them. She was in the Medical Bay being treated for shock. They, too, were left with a message.

Next Step: Sabotage

"What do you think?" Optimus Prime sighed.

"Serial killer," both Ratchet and Prowl said in unison, then looked at one another. "He asked me."

"I asked Ratchet."

"Thank you. Definately a serial killer, it was the same blade. Most likely a body-mounted blade or personal wepon, considering Prowl has not found a murder weapon. Plus, I found traces of Recon's paint and fluid in the slash wounds."

"How many members of the on-base staff have serrated, body-mounted blades?" Optimus asked. "Or use serrated blades as personal weapons?"

"Off the top of my mind? Fourteen. Six officers, three Minibots, four combat cadets and one personal assistant to an officer."

"Names?" Prowl chimed, nudging his assistant to write them down.

"Eject, Steeljaw, Ramhorn, Tailgate, Prowl, Ratchet, Elita-One, Chromia, Ultra Magnus, Ember, Firestar, Moonracer, Blades, and Overdrive."

"So, we have fourteen suspects, one of which is our Investigating Officer," Prime confirmed.

"Yes, and ignoring that ridiculous fact, I can eliminate most of them right now," Prowl said lightly. He and his assistant moved forward. "Ember, play back attacker notes confirmed in current session."

"With the force of the blows, attacker is most likely a mech. The femmes whose whereabouts cannot be verified do not have the arm strength to inflict some of these wounds. Height roughly falls between those of Wheeljack and Prowl."

"How were those confirmed?"

"Look at the force of the blows to the bodies, the plating is cracked around the stab wounds. He drew his arm back completely, and considering the amount of force, he had a long way to go before he connected," Prowl informed Ratchet, demonstrating the movement. "Because the femmes with access to serrated blades don't possess the height or arm strength, Ember, Elita-One, Chromia, Firestar, Moonracer and Overdrive are not possible killers."

"And as for the mechs?"

"Right now? I can knock out Tailgate, Eject, Steeljaw, Ramhorn and Blades due to height, which leaves you and Ultra Magnus as potential suspects."

"And you."

"I can account for my whereabouts, and I have a corroborating witness as to my location."

"Your little pet is not a reliable witness. She'll say anything you tell her to," Ultra Magnus butted in. "How do we know it wasn't you?"

"How do we know it wasn't you?" Prowl shot back.

:Highbrow to All Officers!: the Head of Intelligence's voice said desperately over the comm. links.

"What is it?" Optimus replied.

:You'd better get down here...:

*****
The assembly made their way to Highbrow's office, where Elita-One let out a shrill scream and clung to Optimus's arm.

Daubed on Highbrow's office door, in fresh fluid, was a more frightening message.

Get off my case, or you're all going to fry.
I know your secrets, won't believe your lies.
You know who I am, but never will see.
For you, my dear friends, will never catch me.

"... this is sick. A sick cadet joke. Someone go find Red Alert to get the security feeds from this corridor!" Ironhide yelled over his shoulder.

Optimus detached Elita from him. "Just what we need, a practical joker."

"I don't think it's a joke, sir," Prowl cut in, peering at the glyphs. "Ember, analyze. Prove the following: writing style is identical to that of the messages at the crime scenes."

"... Statement is true," the dark one nodded.