When HighRoad walked back into the Ark's control room, he barely noticed Red Alert, until the security director spoke from behind him. "So, what were you doing meeting with the enemy?" he asked accusingly. HighRoad whirled. "Red Alert, you startled me."
"You still haven't answered my question. What were you doing secretly meeting with a group of mechs who are working with the Decepticons, hmm?" the ferarri narrowed his optics at the Optimus Prime mimic. "Red Alert, you know I'm not a spy. You know my record. You've seen me the entire time I've been here, my entire team has been here."
"So? that doesn't mean you're not a traitor. Or a spy." the security director folded his arms. HighRoad resisted the urge to roll his optics. "I'm not a spy or a traitor, Red Alert. Why would you even think that? I would never betray the Autobots."
Red alert still seemed suspicious, though. "Yes, well, your record may be spotless, but I still don't trust you or any of the Autobots." HighRoad raised an optic ridge. "You may look like Optimus Prime, but that does not mean you are him." Red Alert waved his arms to emphasise his point. "I don't trust any autobot! not even Optimus Prime!" HighRoad tilted his head and looked over the mech's shoulder. Prime walked past them.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Prime remarked, giving HighRoad a glance. That startled Red Alert, who stammerred. "Uh, Optimus Prime sir! I, Uh, we were just..." he glanced at HighRoad and got over the small shock. "I was just asking Highroad why he was spotted cohorting with the enemy." He gave the prime mimic an accusatory stare.
"Now, Red Alert, I doubt HighRoad was doing that. And even if he was, we have no proof that those new mechs are Decepticons."
"But-But, We saw them! they were building a new spacebridge! HighRoad was even there! He knows they were working with the Decepticons! You know what they are up to, don't you!" Red Alert pointed a finger at the mimic.
"Now, Red Alert." Prime put up a hand to make him stop. His rather neurotic Security director was going to give him a processor-ache at this rate.
"But I-" Prime cut him off "Please."
"But He-"
"Red."
Red Alert relented, practically pouting. Prime folded his arms and assumed his most "leadery" pose. "HighRoad and I will discuss this in my office immediately. You have no reason to believe was or is any wrongdoing on HighRoad's part. We will get to the bottom of this." Prime gave HighRoad a look to follow and made for a hasty retreat. Red Alert simply glared after them. "I'm keeping my optic on you, Pretender! he spat after HighRoad.
Once they were down the hall, HighRoad huffed and remarked "Pretender. He sounds like he's been talking to Prowl. That's what Ihe/I calls me." he meant it half-jokingly, of course. Prime made a sound. "Yes, but Prowl has much more faith on your capabilities as interrim leader." He gave his mimic a glance. "He probably believes in you more than a lot of the mechs in the Ark. He just doesn't show it."
"Really?" HighRoad knew that was a stupid question. Prime nodded. "You should have heard his report." he keyed in the code to his office and motioned for HighRoad to go first.
The crimson and Navy blue mimic took the seat in front of Prime's desk, and rubbed a hand across his temples. Prime took the other seat behind it, and moved aside some datapads. "I know how you feel." he remarked, in a humored tone. "He's almost too much to handle sometimes."
HighRoad chortled. "You don't say." he half-chuckled. Then in a "tired of it" serious tone, added "I don't know." he looked up. Prime was waiting for him to finish what he was saying. Or give an explanation why he was meeting one of the group's members out behind the Ark. "I wasn't meeting with one of their group's members, I mean, I was, but she's not a Decepticon..." he paused, then tried again. "It was Wyldkat."
"Wyldkat?" prime looked mildly suprised. "I thought you said Wyldkat had returned to your home-dimension." he leaned forward slightly. You don't suppose these people... that they're really... from your home world?"
HighRoad shook his head. "No, I don't think so. But Wyldkat, she's somehow gotten into their group." he leaned back in his chair. "I was meeting with her to find out what's really going on, who they are, where they're from." Prime nodded, HighRoad continued. "She said they're neutrals, but didn't say where they're from." he shrugged. "She didn't tell me a lot. Just that they're not Decepticons, and she's trying to get them to come over to our side, but they're not friendly. No, that's not the word. Careful? Thy're just not.. very trusting is all, Prime. You have to trust her. She knows what she's doing. Wyldkat would never betray me. She'd never betray the Autobots."
Prime nodded, sitting upright. "I see." He looked through his datapads, picked one out, and held it out to him. "This is the information you got last time?" HighRoad looked it over and nodded. "Yeah, that's it." he handed it back. Prime set it down. "You know I trust you HighRoad." His tone was honest. "And I trust your team, but please tell your operative to be careful. These new mechs may be more dangerous than they appear to be."
he stood, so did HighRoad. "And, perhaps it might be best if you avoid Red Alert for a while. "His optics got that twinkle in them again at the Security Director's mention. "Yes sir, I will." HighRoad saluted, and walked out.
Prime waited till the door slid closed after him and sat back down, reading over the datapad. "Hmm, interesting."
