A/N- It's clear from the city of Yuss in canon that some neutral cities managed to stay out of the fighting and remain relatively untouched for most of the war. Red Alert's home city was not one of those.
x-xx-x
The room was lit only by a single lamp on the desk, shadows throwing everything into sharp contrast. The computer monitor sat blank and silent next to a neat stack of papers.
Red Alert toyed with the container of energon in his hands.
Three days. Inferno had been gone just three days, out on a mission for Optimus Prime, doing what he did best.
Red Alert hadn't recharged in three days. He spent his off hours curled tightly on his bunk, trying desperately to not give in to the insistent feeling that he'd forgotten something, that they were right there, waiting on the other side of the door….
Hastily, he downed the high-grade. Normally he avoided touching the stuff, but when the choice was stumbling around in an over-energized fog or drowning in his own anxiety, he'd take the energon.
Going to Ratchet for a sedative was an option he'd considered and rejected immediately. The others already looked at him like he was going to snap; he didn't need to let them know how close he actually was.
He slumped onto his berth, curling up on his side and waiting for the high grade to do its work
Slowly, he slipped into recharge, and dreamt.
And remembered.
x-x-x
The building shuddered.
"What was that?" Rollbar demanded.
Red Alert shook his head. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out." He set his energon on the table and activated his radio. "Red Alert to Tower. Is there an emergency?" The security channel hissed static. He tried again. "Tower, what's going on? Was there an accident?"
"Pipeline explode?"
"I don't know," Red Alert said distractedly as another voice came over the radio, demanding to know what happened. "I'm going to head in and find out."
He didn't have to go far. The smoke was clearly visible from the doorway, rising over the buildings and covering the sky in a smothering blanket.
"What-" Rollbar started, following Red Alert out.
A high-pitched whine filled the air, coming closer.
"Missile!" Red Alert hit the ground, covering his head.
Another explosion rocked the street, raining debris everywhere. Red Alert lifted his head, peering through the smoke and dust. The building across the street was half-gone, its entire front blown away in the explosion.
"We're under attack," Red Alert muttered in disbelief. He turned back to his friend. "We've got get out of here, find the others and regroup..." Rollbar didn't answer. A shaft the length of Red Alert's arm was embedded in his chest. "Rollbar?"
"He's dead! Leave him!" A hand latched onto Red Alert's shoulder, dragging him away. Red Alert stared up at the old guard without comprehension. Hangtime shoved him around the corner into an alleyway, giving a hasty glance over his shoulder.
"What's going on?" Red Alert looked up at Hangtime desperately.
"Decepticons," Hangtime said shortly, herding the younger security officer down the alleyway.
"But... why didn't we see them coming? Our defenses should have detected their approach in time to give us some warning-"
"The scanners didn't pick up anything because welet them in," Hangtime growled. He huffed at Red Alert's uncomprehending expression. "The refugees, Red. They were Decepticon soldiers."
A scream rose in the distance, then was suddenly cut off. Red Alert shuddered. "Why?" he asked hollowly.
Cold laughter forestalled Hangtime's reply. "Because we wanted to," answered the Decepticon, stepping out to block the alley.
Hangtime shoved Red Alert back. "Run!" The old guard raised his weapon, firing on the Decepticon. "Go, Red!"
He ran. At the entrance to the alleyway, Red Alert turned back for just a moment, to see his old mentor lying at the Decepticon's feet, a ragged hole ripped through his chest.
Sadistic laughter followed him as he turned and fled.
x-x-x
Red Alert flattened against the wall as a tank creaked by outside. He was close enough he could see the sharp indents of the tank's brand.
Decepticons. It didn't seem real – there'd been no warning, no reason... His city had nothing they wanted, no strategic value at all. The city was officially neutral, and the city's leaders had been doing their best to avoid raising the ire of either side. The only contact they had with the war was refugees, and anyone displaying faction colors had been handed supplies and sent away at the gates.
At least the screaming had stopped.
He had to keep moving.
x-x-x
"Slag, the 'Cons sure did a number on this place," Inferno commented, eying the rubble that had once been the city's main gates.
Beside him, Firestar nodded. "I can't see any real value in holding this place, so there's not likely to be too many Decepticons hanging around." She gave her partner a steady look. "That's not an excuse to pull anything reckless, Inferno."
"Who, me?" Inferno asked innocently.
"Hmph. Yes, you. I've been your partner for too long to fall for that. Anyway, keep your optics on, there's no telling whether any of them stuck around."
Inferno waved off her concern. "Let's start at the main gates and work our way inward. That'll give us a straight shot to move out any survivors we might find."
Firestar gave a short nod of acknowledgment, and they moved out.
x-x-x
Gravel crunched. Red Alert froze, listening. Decepticons.
There was no one else for it to be. Everyone else was dead. For a while, there'd been the occasional sound of weapons fire, but it had been silent for a while now.
He wasn't entirely sure how long he'd been hiding in the rubble. His chronometer worked fine, but the display just showed incomprehensible numbers that no longer had any meaning or context.
Metal scraped against metal. Outside. Red Alert gripped his gun in a shaking hand and eased towards the gaping hole in one wall. I can't do this anymore. I can't keep hiding forever... He paused, gathering himself. If I go out there, they'll kill me. But is staying here, waiting to collapse from energy depletion really any better?
Decision made, Red Alert crossed the room in two quick steps, raising his weapon.
x-x-x
Inferno sighed, stepping away from yet another half-collapsed building holding nothing but corpses. He was beginning to think that there wasn't anything left in this city to save. Primus – thousands dead, murdered, and for what? He paused over a mutilated corpse, giving it a mournful look. I'm sorry, friend – this war had nothin' to do with you or yours. And I'm sorry we couldn't protect you.
"Don't move, Autobot." A gun barrel pressed against his back. Behind him, the Decepticon laughed, cold and sadistic. "Enjoying your stay? As you can see, we've made some improvements around town."
Inferno's grip on his rifle tightened.
"Oh, no, none of that. Drop the gun, Autobot."
Inferno readied himself. If he turned to fire, the Decepticon would shoot him – but the Decepticon was going to shoot him anyway. At least this way he had a chance of taking the arrogant slagger with him.
He spun, bracing himself for pain. There was the snap of a particle beam rifle. Inferno flinched.
The Decepticon slumped to the ground, a good chunk of his head missing. Inferno stared at the body for a split second, then cast about for his rescuer, expecting to see Firestar giving him that exasperated look. His partner was nowhere to be seen – but someone else was, standing in the shadow of a bombed-out building, holding a gun in a shaking hand.
Huh. Well, at least he can shoot, Inferno thought incongruously. The mech wasn't displaying faction symbols – A neutral, probably a survivor of the Decepticons' attack. Hastily, Inferno holstered his gun, stepping forward with hands open and empty. The rifle barrel snapped up to point directly at his face.
"Easy there," Inferno said soothingly, taking a slow step closer. "I ain't gonna hurt ya." The barrel wavered slightly.
Shellshock,Inferno thought, taking in the wide and frightened optics that were staring at him without any sign of understanding. He seemed to be listening to the tone if not the words, though... the gun barrel slowly drifted out of line as Inferno stepped closer, speaking quietly as he did. Reaching up, Inferno pushed the gun away with a gentle hand.
Shivering, the neutral looked up at Inferno for a moment. Then the gun clattered to the ground as he collapsed with a distraught whine.
Inferno caught the smaller mech before he hit the ground. "It's okay," he whispered, gathering him up, "I've got you. Jus' trust me..."
x-x-x
A familiar weight settled behind Red Alert, strong arms wrapping him in a comforting embrace.
"It's alright, Red," Inferno murmured, pulling him close "I've got you, and I ain't lettin' go."
Red Alert relaxed into the safety of Inferno's arms, drifting into a dreamless recharge.