Hawkeye Prime

The laboratory melted into the weary landscape of Athenia. Red Alert stood at the edge of the colony. The chatter of the crowd was to her back, separated by a gate that barred civilians from the Space Bridge. Before her was the desolate plain in front of said Space Bridge. She couldn't see any 'bot from this distance, and right now she was trying to remember the names of her new team mates. Her current source of aggravation was the fact that she didn't. Oh, well. Once she settled in at her new post she'd receive their medical records. And just as she thought this, one name returned to her.

Rodimus. Rodimus Minor. Stupid name. Sounded like an Academy 'bot who played by the book. While she knew some Academy graduates went on to command security crews, and she also knew first hand that most couldn't let go of their pride. This place, Rodimus, and any other bot' she was going to meet were completely below her standards. She was used to giving the Magnus follow-ups on his health. Not...Athenians. They were probably rust buckets who didn't know how to listen to a medical expert. No doubt the only other doctor around had to be ill-equipped and lacking in the proper certifications that were needed to be a doctor.

It was up to her to fix this place up.

Red Alert transformed and sped off towards the orange, forked structure springing out of the earth.

The soil underneath her wheels felt unfamiliar. It was strange to be back out in the field. Red Alert had thought she'd seen the last of it when she officially went into business with Perceptor and Wheeljack. Thought that she was going to spend the rest of her days living in luxury on Cybertron. Of course, that's what every 'bot hoped for. Making some sacrifice and hoping that society paid them back. Red Alert had been fortunate to receive this kind of treatment. Other Autobots? Not so fortunate. She was positive that the citizens of Athenia held a strong grudge towards the government for turning its culture inside out. Heck, she would react the same way if someone corrupted Polyhex.

But her job involved being pro-Cybertron Command. And that's what she was going to do.

She pulled up alongside the Space Bridge. Still, there wasn't anyone in sight. Frowning, Red Alert aimed for the nearest building. She ascended a flight of stairs and entered an atrium that extended straight upwards. At least this part reminded her of home.

It took her a few minutes to find their headquarters. It was on the first floor, with another exit that led straight out to the Space Bridge. It included a common room, a training room, a private laboratory, the office of her new commander, and holding cells. Again, characteristic of a security detail. But when she entered, she encountered something that was definitely not routine of any ordinary security crew.

She walked straight into the common room and found two 'bots wrestling on the floor.

One was short and old, the other tall and green. The older 'bot was currently had the other in a head lock.

'GIVE ME THE REMOTE!' the old green 'bot shouted. He reached for the remote, which the other was holding just out of his reach. 'Slaggit, Springer! I got fifty credits riding on the next race at the Iacon 5000! Either you gimmie th' remote or I break your arm off!'

'I want to watch Rosanna's concert!' yelled Springer.

'Why do ya wanna watch a concert? Rosanna's just a fad!'

'She is not! Rosanna is the best singer that ever existed and you know it!'

'I know that SHE LIPSINGS!'

'Take that back!'

'Pardon me,' Red Alert bent down. 'This is the security detail's headquarters, right?'

'Got it,' the old 'bot held out his hand. 'Brawn.'

'Red Alert,' Red Alert shook it briefly.

'Guess you're the medic?'

'No, I just enjoy looking at 'bot's internal systems.'

'Funny. SPRINGER! I WANT THE REMOTE!'

'Over my offline shell!' Springer rolled over, right on top of Brawn. He held out his own servo. 'Name's Springer. Nice th' meet ya!'

'Likewise,' Red Alert said without meaning it. 'Who's the boss?'

'That's Rodimus,' Brawn's muffled voice answered. 'He's not here right now; he's probably lookin' for the cutest femme on campus.'

'He could just change the channel to Rosanna's concert,' Springer grinned stupidly.

'I don't think so!'

Leaving the mechs wrestling over the remote, Red Alert stepped right over them and headed into the open door into the laboratory.

When the door closed and the fight on the other side, Red Alert examined her new headquarters. It was quaint. Small, but quaint. Two medical berths with propped up on one side of the wall, while consoles lined all the others. In the middle of a room was a circular table that projected holographic models. At the moment it showed a Space Bridge, but Red Alert soon changed that, bringing up the medical records of her new team mates. She was surprised that none of them mentioned "cocky" or "insanity."

She decided to start by organizing her personal possessions, although in her case most of her personal objects still somehow related to her work. By the time she was finished the formally naked laboratory now had a more lived-in feel to it. Some of her chemistry experiments – packed with painstaking care in a freezer for the journey – were now sounding their chorus of bubbles. Datapads were placed on a shelf and out of immediate views. She'd activated the computer systems so that the consoles now flashed random lights on her to show that they were working. If it wasn't for the fact that she was alone and it was so small, she'd think she was back at the Ministry of Science. Red Alert had to admit that Wheeljack may have been onto something when he said that this might be an excellent opportunity to pursue projects of a personal nature. Her team didn't seem to be the prying type anyways.

She could get used to this.


Or not.

Red Alert examined the specimen of Cosmic Rust underneath the microscope. It wobbled. Automatically, she reached out and caught a glass container that had fallen off the shelf.

'Mechs,' she muttered, turning towards the door. She was used to having a little chaos in her life, but this was ridiculous.

Fearless, Red Alert marched out into the common room. The television was on, flipping between a race and Rosanna's concert, flashing lights and on. She wasn't sure what was worse; the sound of screeching tires or Rosanna's high-pitched, highly irritating voice that somehow made her famous. In front of it, Brawn and Springer were at each other's throats.

She glanced at the 'bots, then went into the next room. It was a training room. She took a look around for Rodimus, but didn't spot him right away. Approaching the window, she saw that a range had been set up in the gully between the building and the Space Bridge. Here she spotted her target, who she recognized from the medical files. Rodimus was shooting at a distant target, in the company of two 'bots. One was a giant orange mech who she recognized from the personnel files. The other was a femme.

Red Alert rolled her eyes. She'd hoped Rodimus's reputation had simply been over exaggerating about his womanizing tendencies, but evidentially she was wrong. Exiting through a side door, she headed down to the location.

'So you designed that yourself, huh?' the femme asked Rodimus, no doubt referring to the bow he clutched in his servos.

'You will find that I'm very good at designing things,' said Rodimus.

'It's pretty impressive,' remarked the femme.

'Glad you noticed.'

'What else do you do in your spare time?'

'Plenty.'

'Well, I'm sure you will have plenty of fun without me,' the femme stalked off. 'Goodbye.'

'I'll talk to you later!' Rodimus waved.

'Let's hope that "later" never comes!'

As soon as the femme wasn't in earshot, he grumbled and turned to his giant orange companion. 'This is the fifth time I've been rejected. I hope being away from Cybertron isn't making me loose my touch.'

'Trust me,' the mech chortled. 'You aren't. But…'

'…But what?'

'Can't'cha keep yer optics in yer head for once?'

'What do you mean?' inquired Rodimus.

'I mean, can ya stop falling in love with every femme you see?'

'That's ridiculous, Ironhide! I don't call in love with every femme I – ' Rodimus stopped mid-sentence, eyes fixing on Red Alert. He shoved Ironhide aside and leaned against his bow. 'Hello, nurse! You're looking fine this beautiful orbital cycle! My name's Rodimus; I'm sure you've heard all about me.'

'My name is Red Alert,' Red Alert shoved a datapad into his servos. 'I have the unfortunate duty of being your team's medical officer.'

'Unfortunate? I'm flattered.'

'First off, those are my assignment papers, so you can report to Cybertron Command that I am officially here. I also apologize for the slight delay. There were some Autobots I had to murd – I mean, they there were some unsettled back on Cybertron that needed to be resolved before I went gallivanting around on the other side of the Commonwealth.'

'You're a doctor, right?'

'…What?'

'You're a doctor.'

'Yes.'

'Do you think you could give me a check-up?'

It had been a while since anyone had flirted with her, so it took Red Alert a few seconds to think of a reply worthy of this jerk. 'I can give you an autopsy.'

'Don't break my spark!' Rodimus placed his hand on his chestplate. 'We just met!'

'Precisely,' deadpanned Red Alert. 'Now if you excuse me, I have more important matters to attend to.'

As Red Alert headed back towards the main building, Rodimus looked after her with a forlorn expression. He rubbed his chin.

'Playing hard to get, I see,' Rodimus murmured.

'Uh, Hot Rod, I don't think she's interested…' suggested Ironhide.

'Don't be stupid,' he laughed. 'Of course she's interested! She's just the brainy type, and the brainy ones are always the hardest. Because they have the brains.'

'The brains to stay away from you,' murmured Ironhide.

'What was that?'

'I didn't say anything.'

As Rodimus contemplated his situation, there was the sudden sound of breaking glass. However, only Ironhide looked up in alarm as Springer and Brawn went crashing through the window that led into their HQ, too busy beating the heck out of each other to notice the change in scenery. Red Alert dived out of the way as they rolled down the hillside, then shook her head forlornly.