The corridors of the Ark were all but empty; Red Alert was aware of that as he still walked on, his footsteps clanking softly. It was almost dawn, after all, and it would be two hours more before most of the Autobots would come online to take up their duties once again. In fact, even Red Alert was supposed to be recharging, but he had to sneak away without alarming Inferno. The fire-truck had made it his personal charge to make sure that Red Alert had plenty of rest, even if it meant keeping him locked in the room they shared at all hours.

Red Alert was sure that Ratchet had something to do with that. The medic had also insisted that Red Alert should take it easy, so he relieved him from his duties for a whole day. He reasoned that Red Alert's cranial circuitry had taken quite the strain under Soundwave's mind probe, which meant he shouldn't push himself too much or too soon.

Red Alert heaved a sigh. Ever since the Negavator incident, everyone kept treating him like some fragile thing, ready to crack under the merest pressure. He didn't blame them for being concerned, by all means. He had given his companions quite the scare when he malfunctioned like that, and no one wanted such a thing happen again. But what none of them seemed to understand was that Red Alert couldn't afford to take it easy or relax. There was a war going on, and he had to do his job just like everyone else.

Red Alert stepped to the balcony across the volcano, his optics instantly locking on Faera's form. He wasn't surprised when he saw the Sadjen boldly sitting on her make-shift lodgings, regarding him quite curiously.

"Your footsteps are unfamiliar, yet your face isn't," she noted, tilting her head a bit. "Have we met?"

"Not officially," Red Alert answered truthfully. "My name's Red Alert. I'm the security chief in the Ark."

"I remember the name," Faera said, eyes reflecting her realisation. "Have your wounds healed?"

Red Alert blinked. He hadn't expected her to know about his injury, or even show concern about his welfare for that matter. "Yes, Ratchet has fixed them," he answered. "But that's not what I came here for."

"I thought as much," Faera said, and leapt forward. Red Alert flinched at that motion, but she only landed gracefully at his side. "So why are you here?"

Red Alert caught himself clearing his vocaliser, more out of embarrassment than anything else. "Well, as you've probably been informed, the base is on yellow alert."

"Yellow alert?" she echoed, puzzled; she soon caught on though. "You mean you're ready for battle."

"Yes, exactly," Red Alert said. "You know how the situation stands then."

She nodded. "What am I to do?"

Red Alert took out of subspace a datapad, switched it on and handed it to the Sadjen. "This is the battle plan Prowl suggested. Please have a look at it and tell me your thoughts about it."

Faera raised an eyebrow as she took the datapad in her hands. "Is this typical procedure?"

"Not really, no," Red Alert answered. "Then again, we're familiar with each Autobot's capabilities within these ranks, so we know what position they can fill best."

"Unlike in my case," Faera noted thoughtfully. "I believed those tests I had to take would provide you with some insight."

"They would; but we don't have that kind of luxury anymore. So, if you please…" Red Alert said, and pointed at the datapad.

Understanding, Faera looked at the battle plan for several minutes with quite the scrutiny. Red Alert watched the Sadjen as she read the whole thing calmly, a soft glow in her eyes while her gaze drifted on every line and page that was revealed before her; until she looked up at him again and nodded.

"Done."

Red Alert regarded Faera in a dubious manner. "Already?"

She seemed quite confused at that question. "Well… yes," she answered uncertainly.

Red Alert wasn't convinced. "And you have no questions?"

"None."

The security chief wished that he could just take Faera's word for it. "Could you check it again?"

She tilted her head, then shrugged. "All right," she said, and she read through the battle plan again. At least, Red Alert hoped she did; she looked as if she just skimmed through the text.

"Done," she said once more.

Red Alert wrung his hands nervously. She had read the datapad again too quickly for his comfort, but he wasn't sure if telling her to read it a third time was such a good idea. So, he decided to compromise things somehow.

"Have you read everything?"

She stared at him blankly. "Read?" she echoed.

Red Alert felt like his logic circuits were about to get fried for real this time, but she explained herself more clearly.

"Most information that we give or take is done from our fingertips. From the moment you gave me that datapad, all I had to do is activate it to pass the information from my hands to my core."

"So… you basically downloaded the information?" Red Alert asked.

"You can say that," she replied, and smiled knowingly. "That means repeating the procedure is redundant."

"I see," Red Alert said. "That's good to know." As a matter of fact, the security chief felt quite relieved, but he would never say that out loud. "Thank you for your time," he added, and took the datapad from Faera's hands.

"May I speak freely?" she asked at that moment.

Red Alert was surprised at that, nevertheless he nodded. "Go ahead."

"Why did you come down here to see me, instead of calling me to your office as it's expected from a superior officer?" Faera asked. "I doubt you didn't know that my transmitter works."

Red Alert raised an optic ridge. "I didn't consider it proper to give orders to a guest."

"This guest is also an Autobot recruit and a former soldier amid the Sadjen ranks. If there's anything that she knows well, is to follow orders," Faera pointed out. "So… may I inquire as to the real reason you came here?"

Red Alert didn't want to admit it, but he actually felt caught. Apparently, Faera had quite the shrewd mind, so the least she deserved was a frank answer.

"Handing you the battle plan was one of the reasons."

She nodded her understanding. "What was the other reason?"

Red Alert pursed his lip components momentarily, fingers drumming lightly the datapad in an absentminded manner. "This won't be easy for me to say."

"I'm still willing to listen," she said, eyes locked on him expectantly.

"All right," Red Alert crossed his arms, optics locked on Faera's gaze. "When you first came along, I really didn't know what to make of you. Sure, Prime said that you are a Sadjen and that you decided to join the Autobots but, other than that, you were a complete stranger. And… I was wary of you."

"And now you're not?" Faera asked.

Red Alert smiled wryly. "I still am. But a friend said that all it takes to trust someone is time and a few steps of good faith. After watching you, you've given me reasons to afford that time and those steps. So you'd better not prove me wrong."

"I don't intend to," she replied sincerely.

"Good." Red Alert said, and he patted her once on the shoulder before heading towards the interior of the Ark. At the last moment, however, he stopped in his tracks and looked at the Sadjen. "Oh, one more thing."

"Yes?" Faera said, regarding him curiously.

"Please don't activate the locks on your own. I don't think I'd be able to handle that."

Faera chuckled, seeing through Red Alert's tease, however mild it was. "Yes, sir."

Just as Red Alert was about to smile, accepting Faera's answer, a familiar voice rang through the corridor and made the security chief wince.

"Red!"

Faera looked down the corridor, then at Red Alert. "Friend of yours?" she asked.

"A mother hen, more like," Red Alert answered with a sigh. "Excuse me."

"Of course," she replied.

With that, Red Alert went down the corridor to the direction of Inferno's voice. Sure enough, the fire-truck was walking down the same corridor, optics drifting every which way in search of Red Alert. Red Alert didn't miss the expression of relief in his friend's features as soon as he caught sight of the security chief.

"Finally," Inferno said. "Where have ya been? I tried to contact ya, but yer transmitter was offline."

"Yes, I know. I wanted to settle some matters uninterrupted before taking up my duties again," Red Alert answered, waving his hand dismissively.

Inferno frowned slightly, and looked to the end of the corridor. Red Alert turned around as well, seeing what had caught Inferno's attention: Faera's retreating form.

"I see," Inferno said. He shook his head and poked his friend on the chest. "Ya could have told me, ya know."

Red Alert pinched the bridge of his nose. "I wanted to talk to her alone, Inferno."

"Yeah, I bet. I wouldn't want to feel someone breathin' down my neck when I'm talkin' to a lady either," Inferno said, grinning.

Red Alert snapped his head around and stared at his friend incredulously. Did Inferno just suggest…?

"My visit to her was strictly business!" Red Alert said, quite indignant. "I wanted to inform her about the battle plan!"

"You could've just called her to yer office," Inferno pointed out, his grin broadening. "Her transmitter works."

"Yes, I know, I just wanted… I mean…" Red Alert faltered, torn between telling the truth to Inferno and his wish to keep his conversation with Faera private.

Inferno, however, laughed out loud and clapped his friend on the shoulder.

"Relax, Red. I'm only messin' with ya," he said amid his laughing fits.

Red Alert groaned and cuffed the fire-truck on the arm. "Blast it, Inferno. That wasn't funny!"

"Well, consider it a lesson for goin' all secretive on me," Inferno said, winking. "I know you don't like being smothered, Red; but you have to remember I'm also yer partner and yer friend, okay? Have a little more faith in me."

Inferno had a point; Red Alert realised that. He probably had Inferno worried with that kind of disappearing act too, and the security chief couldn't help but feel slightly guilty now.

"Point taken. Sorry, Inferno."

"Nah, it's fine," the fire-truck said cheerfully. "Now, c'mon, we should head to our posts."

"Have Jazz and the others left?" Red Alert asked curiously.

"Yup. They should arrive at the plants soon," Inferno answered, and the two of them headed to the control room.

Jazz drove up a small hill to his left, then transformed so he could take a look at the horizon ahead. The sky was filled with clouds, practically covering the world in moody colours; yet the saboteur still managed to locate what he had been looking for: the coal-fired power plant just outside of Boardman. Smiling a bit, Jazz opened his communication frequencies to see how his other companions fared.

"Jazz to Mirage and Bumblebee. Do you read, guys?"

"Yes," Mirage answered from the other side of the link. "I've just got in position."

"Same here," Bumblebee replied. "And I'm glad to say that there are no Decepticons in sight."

"Things can change, Bumblebee," Jazz pointed out. "We should still keep a lookout on things."

"How can Prime be so sure that the Decepticons are going to attack today?" Mirage asked.

"He's not," Jazz admitted. "But Prime knows how Megatron thinks, and his instincts were never wrong before."

"Yeah, unfortunately," Mirage murmured wryly.

Jazz chuckled, for he had heard the Ligier only too clearly. "I know what you mean, man. But don't worry. We always kick the bad guys' cabooses in the end, and this time won't be an exception. Trust me."

"Speaking of which, did you guys hear about Ravage and Reflector?" Bumblebee asked at that moment.

"It would be hard not to, buddy; the entire Ark was buzzing about it," Jazz answered. "And I don't think I have to guess who they were spying on. It looks like Megatron has taken an interest in the lady of the house."

"That's strange. Why do you think he's after her when he has Ebon?" Mirage asked.

"Beats me," Jazz said. "I don't think he's happy that she joined us, though."

"But we won't let him hurt her, right?" Bumblebee said, his concern quite audible in his voice.

"Of course not, Bumblebee," Jazz said reassuringly. "She's a friend."

"Besides, she seems able to take care of herself just fine," Mirage added. "You shouldn't worry about her."

"I know, but…" Bumblebee fell silent.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Jazz asked; he realised that there was something troubling the minibot, but he couldn't imagine what it could be.

"Well, I… uh… I saw her last night, while I was heading to the common room," Bumblebee said. "I'm not sure, but the way she walked and looked straight ahead… I think she was upset over something."

"Did you talk to her?" Jazz asked.

"I did. I even suggested to her to join me to the common room; I figured she should have some company, at least," Bumblebee answered. "She just smiled in an apologetic way and said she'd take up on my offer some other time."

Jazz heard the slightly hurt tone in Bumblebee's voice. It was obvious the minibot had hoped Faera would have been more open to him.

"Hey," he said, wishing to sound encouraging. "If she said that, she most probably will. If there's something I got to learn from her these past few days she's been with us, is that she's a woman of her word. She'll come to talk to you when she feels ready."

Bumblebee didn't speak at once, taking in what the saboteur said. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I just… want her to feel welcome, you know?"

"Yeah, I do, Bumblebee," Jazz said, understanding. "Now, hush, we should get back to work."

Bumblebee remembered himself. "Yes, Sir. Bumblebee out."

"Jazz out," the saboteur said, and he ended his transmission. However, he still stayed in contact with Mirage, something that the Ligier noticed.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Nah. Just wondering," Jazz replied.

"About what?" Mirage asked curiously.

"Who does Faera's behaviour remind me of."

There was a mild huff from the other end of the link, and Jazz smiled inwardly. "I wasn't that bad."

True. You were worse. Jazz decided against saying that out loud, though. "Only because Hound got you out of your shell."

"You mean tricked me out of it," the Ligier pointed out in indignation.

"You're still glad that he did though, right?" Jazz replied.

Mirage didn't answer, which meant one thing: he agreed with Jazz, but the Pit would freeze over before ever admitting such a thing.

"Bumblebee is making a mistake, you know," Mirage said at that moment.

"What do you mean?" Jazz asked.

"He's becoming too attached to her."

"And you think he shouldn't?" the saboteur asked, raising an optic ridge. "I meant it when I said Faera is a friend."

"But for how long?" Mirage said. "Yes, she's joined the Autobots; but only because of Ebon. Once he's out of the picture, she won't have any other reasons to stay in the Ark anymore. She doesn't share the dream of a restored Cybertron like the rest of us."

"No?" Jazz said thoughtfully. "You never know, Mirage. Maybe she'll find more reasons to stay with us as the time passes by."

"I doubt that," Mirage said.

Jazz shook his head at the spy's pessimism. "We'll just have to wait and see then, man."

With that, both Autobots let the matter rest. Time would tell which of the two was right.

-------------------

Optimus crossed the small clearing, where his strike team hid in waiting, and let his gaze drift to the horizon to take in the sight of the setting sun that was unfolded before him. Though he had already been here for three years on planet Earth, there were still a lot of things that he never grew tired of watching. If anything, it gave him one more reason to fight Megatron and stop the destruction the Decepticon leader spread on his path.

Speaking of which… he supposed he should check on the second strike team that was out in the open.

"Optimus to Prowl. Do you read?"

"Loud and clear, Prime," the tactician answered from the other end of the link.

"Is everything going according to plan?" Optimus asked.

"Affirmative. Hound and Blaster have already gone onto high ground; they know what to do."

"Good work. Are there any news from Jazz and his team?"

"Nothing as of yet."

"Very well," Optimus said. "If anything happens, let me know at once. Prime out."

"It will be done. Prowl out."

Optimus ended the transmission, just in time to hear the sound of metallic footsteps approaching him. The Autobot leader smiled, for he recognised the heavy step and the subtle creaking of badly-oiled motion gears that could only belong to Ironhide.

"You really should let Ratchet check your joints," Optimus said, half-teasing, half-serious, and he faced the weapons' specialist. "Postponing things won't save you from his wrath."

If Ironhide was surprised that Optimus managed to detect his presence, he didn't show it. He just snorted. "He can't get angry with what he doesn't know. Besides, I feel fine."

"I hope so," Optimus said, his smile audible in his voice. "There's still a difference between bravery and recklessness, old friend."

"Yeah, I know," Ironhide replied, kicking an invisible stone in an embarrassed manner.

Optimus tried not to laugh. The veteran Autobot acted like a stubborn sparkling at times. "Alright. Now… what is it?"

"Red contacted me," Ironhide answered. "Teletraan-I hasn't detected any Decepti-clowns."

"We should still be at the ready," Optimus said. "Where is everyone?"

"Bluestreak is standin' guard. Trailbreaker and Cliffjumper went off to have a look around."

"What about Ratchet and Wheeljack?"

"They're with the Twins, waitin'."

"And Skyfire?"

Just then, the sound of engines filled the air. Optimus and Ironhide looked up, and they both caught sight of the familiar lights of a flying vessel in the sky.

"I think I've just got my answer," Optimus noted.

"Yup," Ironhide replied, a smirk tugging on his features. "We're ready for them."

At that moment, the sound of an incoming transmission cut into their conversation.

"Jazz to Prime. Do you read me?"

Alarmed, Optimus immediately opened his communication frequencies. "This is Optimus. Tell me the news, Jazz."

"The Decepticons have just joined the party. They're closing in fast, so you'd better hurry up!"

"Understood, Jazz," Optimus said, and switched off his transmitter before turning to Ironhide.

"Signal everyone. It's time to roll out."

"You got it, Chief," Ironhide said, a smirk on his features; he was itching for a good fight.

A/n: Okay, this is it. From now on it's gonna be pure, unadulterated action, so brace yourselves for quite the ride. :D