Oh, its been FOREVER since I touched this fic. But been making myself sit down and write and behold! New Chapter! Yay! :)
Thanks again to everyone who reads and reviews, or favorites...its all very very greatly appreacited! Thanks! :)
Warnings: slash
"Vorn" about 1 year, "Stellarcycle" about 6 months, "Decacycle" about 1 week, "Cycle" about 1 day, "Orn" about an hour, "Breem" about a minute
Chapter 9
Spy Games
Red Alert directed a glare across the room.
The medic stood there, arms crossed over his chest, back straight, standing tall, mouth set in a determined frown, optics narrowed, returning a hard glare.
Were Red Alert a weaker mech he might have actually been intimidated. But he wasn't. He was, however, caught between being impressed at how the medic had so firmly stood his ground, not giving so much as an inch, and being acutely irritated for the very same reason.
"You have my records. Including my most recent examine, not two decacyles ago, signed AND dated by the attending medic at the outpost. What you ask is unnecessary."
The medic launched into a rehearsed explanation once more,
"Any new mech coming into this base is required to have an up to date examination -"
"I just told you, I already HAVE an up to date examination."
The red and white medic shook his head,
"Not by me."
Red Alert didn't like this. No matter what he said the medic wouldn't back down.
Red Alert huffed again,
"I have an up to date examination."
"Not by me."
The medic spoke with such an infuriating calm authority, Red Alert felt his temper inch up another notch.
"This is a waste of time! The examination in my records is perfectly fine! There's nothing wrong with it. Furthermore, if you continue with these ridiculous demands, I'll take this issue up with the Prime himself."
The medic simply shrugged,
"Your welcome to do so if you want. Though you'll be sorely disappointed since Optimus has no authority over Med Bay procedures."
What? Red Alert could only stare for a moment in shock.
The corner of the medics mouth tilted up in a small smirk,
"That's right, Optimus has no say here. This is MY Med Bay. MY domain. We follow MY rules."
"But…"
Red Alert hesitated, he was losing ground. This wasn't how things were suppose to go. This usually worked. Usually after enough fussing, a little fighting, and a few shows of temper the medics would give up, not wanting to deal with a glitch anymore than they have to, and sign off on the examinations just to get him out of there. This had to work, he hated being poked and prodded at.
He'd had enough of that as a youngling. Medics purposefully inducing his glitch so they could stand back and watch the effects while writing down useless ways to 'cure' him. And after all was said and done, there was no 'cure'. Just a bunch of unpleasant memories, all staring medics. As far as Red Alert was concerned medics were to be seen only when he DID glitch, not when he was perfectly fine. When he was perfectly fine, he stayed far far away from them. And the medic in front of him would be no exception.
Difference in height aside, they once again mirrored each others stubborn stance. Red Alert decided to switch tactics, if temper didn't work then maybe…
"Listen, this is a waste of time. For the both of us. I have a massive amount of work ahead me this cycle. I'm sure your busy -"
"Nope. You're the only patient on my schedule. So, please, continue on. Your work may pile up but I got all cycle."
Red Alert frowned, jerking his head to the side as he looked away. There was no way out of this, the medic was not going to back down. With an irritated sigh, Red Alert conceded,
"Fine."
Ratchet approached the mech slowly and with more caution that he would the average patient, Red Alert was too tense. He'd never had someone fight him for nearly two orns over a simple examination. For Primus sake, it was only a few hook ups, maybe 5 or 10 breems then the exam would be done. Then again, no other mech on base had the unique condition Red Alert did.
Ratchet gestured to the med berth,
"Please, sit."
He watched Red Alert hesitate then reluctantly sit on the berth. Assured his new and troubled patient wasn't going to put up anymore of a fight, Ratchet pulled a monitor over and took out the connector wires. He noticed Red Alert watched his every move with something akin to suspicion and with no small amount of disgust.
Ratchet heaved an internal sigh. Just what he needed. A mech with a glitch who's been mishandled by probably every medic he's come into contact with to the point he now trusts no one in the medical field. It was going to take a long time to build a bridge across this gap. Great. And here he'd thought the Twins would be his biggest challenge. Frag, had he been wrong.
Peace, for Red Alert, lasted two decacycles…two decacycles and then it happened.
He was being followed.
He wasn't sure for what purpose just yet but he was definitely being followed. Granted, it was one of the worst spy jobs he'd ever witnessed but he was being spied on none the less.
He failed to shake his pursuer as he weaved down hall ways and through doors. His pursuer was patient and no doubt processed a keen knowledge of the bases layout, most likely having been in residence longer. That could pose a threat. He needed to find a knowledgeable ally, one capable of identifying and maybe even restraining his pursuer, if need be. Drawing this spy game to a close.
Red Alert walked quickly to the rec room, all the time fully aware of the mech clumsily tailing him. Entering the rec room he got only a few feet before seeing the mech who might be able to help him, Jazz. He walked stiffly over toward Jazz, trying to look like he was going for the energon dispenser to get a cube of his own, before suddenly flinging himself sideways into the seat opposite Jazz and hunkered down in the chair.
Jazz gave him a odd look,
"Uh…Red? What was that all about?"
Sliding further down in the seat, Red Alert spoke quietly,
"I'm being followed."
A grin took up Jazz's face and he started to giggle,
"And was that, perchance, your 'evasive' maneuver?"
Jazz gave a snort before leaning forward hunching over his cube of energon, breaking out in full laughter. Though he atleast had the courtesy of not being too loud.
Red Alert frowned, feeling foolish, even as he glared at Jazz from beneath his helm,
"Shut up, I'm not Special Ops."
Jazz continued to laugh.
Red Alert's frown deepened,
"I'm serious, Jazz, someones following me. I've been spied on all cycle."
Jazz straighten up, still laughing quietly as he looked at Red Alert,
"And whose spyin' on ya?"
Red Alert bit his lower lip before chancing a quick glance over his shoulder then looked back at Jazz, speaking in hushed tones,
"He's two tables behind me, the large red mech."
Jazz leaned to the side, gazing past Red Alert, to get a look at the mech in question. Sure enough, described mech was in fact two tables away. Upon meeting Jazz's gaze the mech gave a big grin and a friendly wave. Jazz grinned back before straightening again.
"I hate ta put a damper on your claims, Red, but that mech couldn't spy on someone if his or anyone else's spark depended on it."
Red Alert frowned,
"Well…..that may be your opinion, but he's been following me around all cycle…..spying on me!"
Jazz took a drink of his energon,
"Why?"
The frown melted away as Red Alert gave him a blank look,
"What?"
Jazz leaned back in his seat,
"Whys he followin' ya?"
For a moment Red Alert was speechless, what kind of question was what?
"I don't know!"
Jazz made a slight gesture in the direction the mech sat,
"So, ask 'em."
Red Alert looked at Jazz in disbelief,
"One does not simply walk up to a mech whose spying on you and inquire as to why. Besides, I don't care why-"
Jazz leaned in toward Red, grinning,
"Oh, yes ya do. And th' solution's simple. Just call 'em over an' ask."
Red Alert shook his head,
"What? No! I can't do that."
Jazz set his cube down on the table,
"No? Well, I can."
Jazz leaned pass Red Alert and shouted,
"Hey, Inferno! Wanna join us?"
Red Alert's optics went wide as he gasped at Jazz in shock,
"Jazz! What are you….what are you doing? You can't just call him over here!"
Jazz grinned, shameless,
"Just did."
Red Alert looked panicked as he started to stand,
"I have to go. I have to-"
Jazz hooked a foot on one of the chairs legs and quickly pulled it forward, knocking Red Alert back into the seat.
"Sit. Stay. Relax. It'll do ya some good ta speak with a mech that's not myself, Optimus, or your assistant."
Red Alert stared at Jazz and shook his head,
"But-"
"Hey there, Jazz! Real nice of ya ta ask me over."
The tall red mech stepped up to the table, his bright gaze meeting Red Alert's uncertain one unwaveringly as he pulled out the chair and sat next to Red Alert,
"Always enjoy good company ta sittin' alone."
He smiled down at Red Alert, who quickly averted his gaze to the table top, shoulders hunched. Jazz grinned as he watched the two,
"Uh, Inferno, have ya had the honor of meetin' our newest Security Officer?"
Inferno rested an elbow on the table as he turned in his seat to face Red Alert, waiting with a grin for the new mech to introduce himself. Red Alert continued to stare down at the table, hands clasped together in his lap. Jazz once again spoke up,
"Inferno, this is Red Alert."
Inferno grinned and leaned forward a touch toward the smaller officer,
"It's a pleasure ta meet ya, Red Alert, Sir."
Red Alert discreetly slid his gaze over to Inferno, taking in the openly happy eager expression directed completely at him, on the taller mechs face before looking back down at the table and muttering something that sounded like 'Nice to meet you.' in a nearly inaudible voice.
Inferno leaned in a little more, trying to peer into Red Alert's downcast face,
"So, which base did ya transfer here from? Are ya finding yer way around here, alright? Ah remember haven' a heck of a time adjustin'. Ah' mean, this base is bigger than most. And Ah've seen ya around upgradin' the security system. Really impressive work. Puts Stripnine ta shame. Bet your former base wasn't happy ta see ya go. Ah'm sure they miss ya-"
Red Alert abrubty slid out of his seat and stood,
"Excuse me, I need to get back to work."
Inferno straighted, smile faltering, slipping away as he watched Red Alert walk quickly toward the exit, calling out after his retreating form,
"Ah'…oh, ok. Ah'll talk to ya later then…."
The security officer giving no reply as he disappeared around the corner. Inferno sighed and slumped down in his seat,
"Slag."
Jazz smiled at the dejected looking mech,
"Don' take any offense. Red Alert's just….work orientated. But, uh, in the future ya might wanna stay away from the topic of the base he transferred from. There were..…ill feelings between him and some of those at the base."
Inferno shook his head,
"Leave it ta me ta hit on the one thing Ah' shouldn't."
"Don' let it getcha down. Hey, next time ya see Red Alert, ask him if he'd like ta grab a cube with ya after shift. Ya know, somethin' nice an' simple."
Inferno's mouth quicked up in a slight smile as he stood to leave,
"Don' worry, Ah'm far from down, Jazz. An' thanks fer invitin' me over, openin' the door an' all. Ah' appreciate it. Been following 'em around almost all cycle trin' ta think of a good way ta introduce myself."
Jazz tilted his head to the side as he looked up at the mech,
"Ya been following 'em all cycle just ta think of a good way to introduce yourself?"
"Yeah."
"Why didn't ya just walk up to 'em and introduce yourself?"
Inferno gave Jazz a short laugh and a lopsided grin,
"Cause that would've been weird."
Jazz grinned and shook his head. Inferno gave him a wave as he made his exit,
"See ya around, Jazz. An' thanks again!"
Jazz gave a small laugh, still shaking his head slightly,
"Any time, my friend, any time."
Red Alert stood on a small step ladder, the camera hooked up to the wall in front of him was open, wires tumbling out as he carefully took it apart to find out why this one kept giving him static laced visual feed. Looking close, he found some of the wires were barely hanging on….as though they had been tampered with. Interesting. Made him wonder what made this hall so special-
"Hey!"
Red alert sucked in a startled breath, jerking back, almost ripping the wires out of the camera as his foot slipped, falling backward till a large, warm hand splayed against his back, stopping his fall, keeping him upright.
Red Alert turned a startled gaze to look down at the mech holding him up. Inferno. Even on the step ladder, Red Alert found he was only a head taller than the mech now. The red mech suddenly gave a sheepish grin,
"Sorry, Ah' thought ya heard me walk up."
Red Alert shook head dumbly,
"No."
Inferno gave him a cheerful grin, that happiness shining in his optics as they locked onto Red Alert's,
"Ah'll have ta remember ta announce my presence more loudly next time."
Red Alert opened his mouth to speak couldn't push anything out. The cheerfulness and out right happiness Inferno was directing at him, as though thrilled to see him, shocked him into silence. Red Alert couldn't help but find that kind, engaging smile Inferno was giving him, most disarming.
"I…..Y-….What are you doing here?"
"Oh, Ah' was just on my way ta my shift when Ah' saw ya. Thought Ah'd stop an' see if ya'd be interested in havin' a cube a' energon with me after shifts are over. If Ah'm not mistaken, yers is over 'bout the same time mine is."
Red Alert stared for a moment, suspicion raising in him as he scrutinizing Inferno's face. No one asked to spend time with him…and actually meant it. It was usually a prank, a trick, or an attempt to make him look stupid. He looked for it but couldn't find any trace of descent, nothing in his face, optics, or voice made him think Inferno was lying. In fact, the sheer undisguised hopefulness that shown up at him through bright optics as Inferno looked up at him, almost made him believe this wasn't a prank. That Inferno genuinely wanted to spend time with him. Red Alert wasn't sure how he felt bout that. He knew how to handle teasing and pranks….not genuine interest.
It was then he became aware of Inferno's hand still on his back, still holding him up. Warm fingers pressing firmly but gently against him. Red Alert jerked forward, looking away as he quickly righted himself. The hand against his back lingered for a moment longer before Inferno slowly drew his hand away. Coolness settling where warmth had been and Red Alert mentally berated himself for feeling bereft at the loss of contact.
That bereft feeling fueled his resolve. There was no sense in wanting something he knew he couldn't have. Red Alert was about to turn to Inferno with the response of 'No, I'm too busy.' because he was busy, and this would only end in disaster and rejection once Inferno found out about his glitch. Clearly the mech didn't know, cause if he did, he wouldn't be asking for any of Red Alert's time right now. Saying 'no.' was a mercy for both of them. But before his could answer his internal comm came to life at the same time Inferno cleared his vocalizer,
"So..?"
:Red Alert, Sir. I've finished checking the cameras on the outer perimeter. All are functioning as they should be. Is it alright if I end my shift?"
"Yes."
Red Alert froze at his slip. He hadn't meant to say 'Yes' out loud, not to Inferno, but before he could correct himself Inferno was beamed up at him a smile that could light up a room,
"Great! Ah'll see ya after shift then!"
And with that, the tall red mech turned and sauntered happily down the hall. Leaving Red Alert staring after him, a horrible sinking feeling in his tanks.
Frag.
:Sir?:
:Yes. Yes, that's fine.:
:Alright, thanks. You have a good evening, Sir.:
Red Alert stared after Inferno till he rounded a corner.
Have a good evening…yeah, right. Not when you've just taken your first step down the path of disaster.
****Authors Notes****
Inferno makes Red Alert nervous. Stupid nervous! :) Inferno/Red Alert will be noticeably cuter and fluffier than Prowl/Jazz…I don't know why, they just come off to me that way.
Side note: I've known people who will do what Inferno here has done. They go out of their way to follow around a guy they think is cute and want to talk to, waiting for just the right moment to introduce themselves. This can go on for 20-30 mins before the intro is made. My question, after all this running around, is always "Why didn't you just go say 'Hi." when you first saw him?". The usual response was "Cause that would be weird.". Yeeeah, it never occurs to them it might be weird to follow someone around for 20-30 mins. Always made me laugh.