Writing Transformers ~ my crazy dream!

These past two weeks I’ve been weaving Red Alert into the story. I really enjoy working with this character because he’s so wacky and fun!! Here’s something I whipped off today. I haven’t had time to do any heavy editing but that’s fine. I’ll do that later on down the road when I’m struggling with one of my dry days when the muse has left the building…</span>

Click here to read about Red Alert and see his picture.

(This takes place at the beginning of the Autobot/Decepticon war after Ratchet is rescued and while Sentinel is still the Prime.)

Somewhere on Autobot front lines
Western Iacon

The special forces troops had had to leave the scene behind as they carried on after the Decepticons that had laid such waste to the small town on the outskirts of Iacon City. Three Autobot soldiers had been taken down when a building fell and general Ironhide had immediately contacted Autobase One and requested help. It wasn’t long before Inferno had scrambled a search-and-rescue team but by the time they arrived the general and his troops had moved on.

Red Alert, Inferno and Firestar were carefully making their together way across a large swath of rubble within the burned-out remains of the small village. The stench of destruction clogged their olfactory sensors and made their oculars smart. “I just had Ironhide on the com link. He said the lads were buried but relatively unharmed.” Inferno reported as he led the rescue team deeper into the mess. Beside Red and Firestar there were twenty other bots fanned out in a familiar search pattern. “The old man said they were somewhere over there.” The fire chief was pointing ahead of the team and a bit to the right. “He managed to get a location fix before the ‘Cons jammed our communications frequency.”

“That’s good to know.” Firestar commented and her foot slipped. She would have tumbled down into parts unknown if Inferno hadn’t grabbed her arm. “You ok?”

“I’m fine.” Firestar said as she regained her footing and repositioned the rescue gear that had slipped from her shoulder. “I wouldn’t want to have to run across this junk!”

“Me either.” Inferno admitted as he placed his feet with care. “Watch that…” he said as he pointed at a jagged chunk of metal that waited to shred unsuspecting legs. Firestar shot the offending object with a spray of bright orange paint so that the rest of the rescue squad could avoid it.

“Was Sludge not available?” Red Alert wondered, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. Smoke, fire, death… Decepticons. One corner of his mouth jerked into a quiet snarl.

Inferno was shaking his head. “No. Sludge is on the other side of Iacon with the rest of his pack so there was no way to counter the frequency jam.”

Near the back of the group someone tripped and fell. Inferno made a signal and the crew came to a halt. “You ok back there?”

“Fine, sir!” the Autobot reported as he rose to his feet and retrieved his fallen gear. Inferno nodded and gave another signal. The rescue team surged forward again. The fire chief wished to avoid using communication links and scanners so that they could remain under the Decepticon radar…

“He has some nerve, you know?” Red Alert was muttering as he marched along. Like his mentor Ratchet, he was not a particularly strong bot and so he struggled with the enormous supply crate that balanced on one shoulder. He would rather die then admit it though. Especially in front of a girl.

As if she could read his mind, Firestar gave him a teasing grin and Red narrowed his eyes with mock aggression. She giggled and stuck out her tongue. “You are one cheeky lass.” Red told her.

“I know.” Firestar replied with a grin.

“Who has nerve?” Inferno wanted to know. “Sludge?”

“No, Sentinel Prime!” Red told him. “He denied my request to quit the security department.”

Inferno snorted. “Huh! Seeing as how he was the one that stuffed you in Security, why are you surprised?”

“I thought I had presented a decent argument as to why I don’t belong outside of the medical and rescue departments.” Red explained. He would have said more but one of the lads from the rear shouted, “INCOMING!”

The entire rescue team bolted for cover. From where they lay buried under the rubble the three special forces lads grinned at one another. “Sounds like they’re having a party out there!”

“Yeah and we’re not invited!”

“Are you kidding me?!” Firestar was growling topside as enemy fire rained down around them. She dove under a large section of twisted metal. “We’re here to rescue bots and the ‘Cons attack us?”

“All’s fair in love and war, m’dear.” Red told her as he also took cover under the same twisted fragment of what used to be the front wall of a small building. Probably an office or merchant’s store…  Red pondered as he stared up at the charred metal. He could just make out a few yellow letters. “Yeah, a store.”

“What?” Firestar yelled over the explosions.

“Nothing. Just talking at myself.” Red Alert yelled back and then something went off so close that he could feel his insides rattle from the blast. “Whoa! That had some kick!” he gasped.

“You’re telling me.” Firestar muttered as she rubbed her head. “Are all of my teeth still in place?” she joked.

“Freakin’ Decepticons…” Red growled. “Only they would sink so low as to attack a rescue team.”

“They probably don’t know that we’re a SAR squad.” Firestar suggested and Red made a face. “Yeah, right.” he retorted hotly. “The ‘Cons miss nothing.” His hand tightened around something and Red quickly let it go in case it was part of a dead body…

Inferno had disapeared somewhere over to the left and once the Decepticon artillery came to a halt he called out to Red Alert. “Hey! Instead of grumping about the ‘Cons why not use that fancy rocket launcher that Ironhide gave you?”

“Fine idea!” Red Alert called back and he slipped from under the impromptu shield. As he crouched down onto one knee he patted the rocket launcher that was perched over his right shoulder. “Yep, after ol’ Prime forced me into Security, Ironhide pimped my altmode – and added this thingamajig for good measure.” He moved his fingers along the base near where the weapon attached to his shoulder.

“Ironhide always knows how to outfit us for battle.” Firestar said as she admired the weapon from where she hid in the shadows. Red Alert was moving his hand along the rocket launcher. “Hmm. I can’t remember how to activate this thing.”

Inferno stuck his head out from within a heap of rubble. “You don’t know how to use it?!” he said.

“I just got it the other day!” Red pointed out as he continued to feel around for the activation switch. “For some reason it’s not responding to the prompting of my internal weapons systems.”

“Go figure.” Inferno muttered as he slapped a hand to his face.

“You’ll have to get back to Ironhide so he can work the bugs out.” Firestar noted.

“Indeed.” Red Alert agreed. “Ah! There we go. It’s all good.” As he spoke he was studying the small detatchment of Decepticons that had gathered along the crest of a hill so that they could enjoy a spot of Autobot harassment. “Just a bunch of punk kids.” Red said as he levelled the rocket launcher in their general direction. “One blast from this and they’ll run home crying for their batch-mamas.” He paused, rubbed his chin… “How do I aim this thing without my integrated weapons systems?”

“Ooo… good question.” Firestar was creeping forward on her belly. “You should find whoever built that thing and slap him good.”

“Wheeljack rigged it up out of spare parts.” Red Alert told her. “You’re welcome to try and slap him…”

“No thanks!” Firestar giggled and then she zipped back under the twisted metal as more enemy fire headed their way.

“Oh for Primus sake just shoot the thing and let’s get on with it!” Inferno shouted over the din. “We’ve got work to do around here.”

Red looked over at his friend. “You don’t say? And here I thought we were out for a pleasant evening stroll.” He manually initiated the launch sequence and a rocket burst forth with a loud SHWOOSH!  It flew towards the Decepticons while Red Alert flew in the opposite direction. With aplomb.

“RED!!” Inferno bolted from his hiding spot and gaped as Red Alert crashed through the remains of a wall and disapeared in a cloud of sparks and dust. The fire chief raced across the wreckage towards the place where his friend was last seen. “Red? Are you alive, little buddy?”

“I can see one of his feet sticking out.” Firestar said as she and Inferno stood there staring at the smoking heap.

“I’m…ok.” Red called weakly from within, his voice muffled by the pile of debris. Inferno grabbed the smaller bot by the ankles and dragged him out. “Geez! What happened?” the fire chief wanted to know. “Are you injured?”

“I’m going to have a speak with Ironhide about adjusting the settings on my rocket launcher.” Red Alert muttered as he sat up and coughed. “Ouch.”

Firestar and Inferno hauled their friend to his feet. “The rocket missed the ‘Cons but it sent them scrambling for cover.” the fire chief was saying.

“Good. They don’t need to be bugging us while we’re busy rescuing folk.” Red Alert told him and then he leaned over and spat a wad of mucky grit from his mouth. “Nasty!” He suddenly perked up, sniffed, looked around.

“What is it?” Firestar looked around as well.

“I’ll bet that was the work of the Decepticons!” Red declared. “I knew something like this was going to happen….”

Inferno was shaking his head. “I highly doubt…”

“…ever since Sentinel Prime put me in security!” Red was pacing now, back and forth with one hand on his hip. He paused and stared at the fallen supply crate and then resumed his pacing.

“That’s not what’s going on, Red.” Inferno countered. “It’s not unknown for a new weapon to malfunction.”

Red Alert wasn’t listening. “Yeah! I’m telling you, ever since Cougar advanced me to Security Director they’ve been after me! They want to take me out of the game and they almost succeeded today with my rocket launcher!” He laughed. “Imagine that! Taken out by my own weapon… Clever. Damn clever…”

“Cougar’s the Chief of Security. He’s the head honcho of Autobot security and you don’t see the ‘Cons trying to take him down. So relax.” Inferno was saying. Red spun around and shook a finger up at the fire chief. “They’re after him too!” he said. “Don’t be fooled for an instant, Inferno. The ‘Cons are not stupid – they know what the are doing!” His eyes darted from one thing to another. “That’s why I watch the old boy’s back when he let’s his guard down…”

“I’ve never known Cougar to let his guard down, Red.” Inferno said with a sigh. “I say leave it lay, bro. Your weapon malfunctioned and Ironhide will soon sort it out.”

Red Alert replied by flopping onto his face on the cold metal ground. “Ohhh… my noggin!” he groaned from where he lay.

“Sweet Primus! He’s fainted!” Firestar yelped as she bolted over to the fallen bot’s side. “Red? Can you hear me? Are you ok?”

Red forced one of his eyes to come back on line. “I beg your pardon but males don’t faint, my dear.” he groaned. “Neither do we swoon.”

“Then what did you just do?” Firestar couldn’t help but giggle as she gripped Red’s hand.

“I collapsed into an undignified heap.” came the answer and then, “I’m getting too old for this.”

Inferno was on his knees by his friend. “Are you going to be alright?” he asked. “Should I call for the medevac shuttle?”

“I’m fine.” Red spoke through gritted teeth. “Look, you folks carry on without me. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I dunno Red… the Decepticons might get you.” Inferno said and Firestar slapped him. “Inferno! That’s not nice!” she said but even she couldn’t help but laugh. Red was chuckling. “You’re such a brat…” he said as he tried to roll over onto his back.

“Tell me how I could resist that one!” Inferno protested with a mischievous grin. “Fine, Red. We’ll carry on with the search while you rest your head. I’ll leave one of the lads behind as backup in case things get hot again.”

“Thanks, bro.” Red groaned. “Ratchet will patch up my head when we get back to base.”

It didn’t take long for Inferno and the rescue crew to locate and extricate the trapped Autobots from within the tangle of fallen buildings. When they emerged, the three special forces bots danced a victory jig and had their brothers-in-arms (and one sister) screeching with laughter. Inferno, a skilled paramedic, quickly scanned the lads and then radioed for the medevac shuttle.

“We don’t need that.” one of the rescued bots protested.

“Doc says you’re to report to sickbay.” Inferno told them.

“Which doc?”

“Ratchet.”

“Oh… guess we’d better obey.” The special forces bots knew better then to mess with Ratchet.

Red Alert had spent the time lying on his back and watching the sky. “Fine day.”

“It sure is.” Red Hot agreed. “It’s good to see a break in the weather.”

“About time.” Red replied as he drummed his fingers against the metal ground. Inferno came into view. “How’re you holding up, little buddy?”

“I was just getting bored!” Red told him. “I was planning at taking a gander at the clouds, thinking maybe I might find some interesting shapes. But there are no clouds…”

Inferno crouched down onto one knee. “We got the boys out. They’re fine.” he said as he smiled at his friend.

“Fantastic!” Red Alert was pleased. “It’s turning out to be a fine Autobot day after all.” He made to sit up but Inferno jabbed one big finger against Red’s chest. “Nope. Stay.” he said. “The shuttle’s just landed and the crew is coming up with the body board.”

“Oh brother.” Red grumbled but he knew the drill and so he lay still as several of the rescue bots manoeuvred him onto the long body splint and strapped him down so that he could not move. Inferno walked with him as Red was carried onto the shuttle and secured to a metal stretcher that folded down from the bulkhead. “Are you hurtin’?” Inferno wondered.

“Yep.” Red admitted through gritted teeth. Pain wracked his head and his back and made everything throb so much that he felt as if he were lost in a red fog. “Ratchet will soon sort that out.” He said and he saw that Inferno was settling into one of the nearby seats and was glad of his friend’s presence. Firestar sat down beside her bond-mate and strapped in.

“All aboard!” one of the shuttle pilots joked from outside and the remaining bots marched up the ramp and took seats along the opposite bulkhead where they chatted while strapping themselves in with the thick four-point harnesses. “Ironic, isn’t it?” Red mused and Inferno leaned close. “What’s that?”

Red gestured around him with one hand but he dropped his arm because the movement caused too much pain. “We’re on a medical ship and it’s armed to the teeth.”

“This is war, little buddy.” Inferno said with a touch of sorrow in his voice. Firestar was staring at the deck and she frowned slightly at those words.

A moment later there was a rumble as the shuttle’s engines were brought to full power and then, they were airborne. Firestar looked away from the heavy machine guns and the missiles under the wings and tried to think of anything but raging battles and dying bots. Inferno gripped her dainty hand in his big mitt. “You ok?” he whispered.

“Yeah.” Firestar whispered back and then she leaned against her bond-mate and tried to ignore the fury that rose within her spark. Her eyes met the concerned gaze of one of the special forces bots and she couldn’t help but study his scarred face, the dust and grit that clung to every inch of his armour, the alert ready-for-anything way that he held himself… “Thanks for digging us out, little sis.” the bot said in the gruff manner of Ironhide’s troops. Firestar smiled and then closed her eyes so she could blot out all of these reminders of war. Especially the haunting memories of all those dead bodies she had seen while helping to rescue the trapped Autobots. The images of their twisted, tortured remains kept flashing through the back of her mind… so many civilians died out there today!

May Primus damn the Decepticons…

Inferno looped an arm around Firestar but he didn’t say anything. He knew that sometimes words were perfectly useless

Autobase One
Command/Tactical centres

“Duty officer, this is medic shuttle Alpha-Five.”

“Go ahead, Alpha-Five.” Hound took the call for Kup who was momentarily absent.

“We’re inbound for Autobase One. ETA five breems. Request permission to access hanger bay one.”

“Copy that, Alpha-Five.” Hound said as he typed a quick message for Ratchet. “Inbound to base, ETA five breems. Access to hanger bay one granted.”

“Copy that. Thanks, Hound. Alpha-five out.”

“No problem, bro. Duty Officer out.”

Ratchet had just returned some sterilized medical tools to their storage drawer when his internal communications system chimed. He downloaded the incoming message and gave it a quick read. “Gotcha, Hound.” he murmured under his breath as he shut and locked the drawer.

The shuttle pilot, a crusty old warrior that had lived through several wars, landed the heavily armed mini-transporter onto the ground with nary a bump. Red Alert had fallen into shutdown and so had Firestar but neither of them were disturbed until after the shuttle had taxied into the hanger bay and the access ramp had dropped. The rush of cool winter air jolted Firestar from her slumber and Red Alert stirred restlessly against the straps that held quite firmly against the body board. “We’re at base.” Inferno told the half-awake bot. Red tried to nod but his head was secured to the board as well. “Yeah, alright.” he whispered instead and then he danced between sleep and wakefulness while four battle medics came onto the shuttle and carried him down to sickbay.

When they arrived, Inferno helped the battle medics to lift Red Alert onto an exam platform and then they made short work of the straps and slid their patient off of the body splint. “Busy around here today.” Inferno noted as he watched the rescued bots taking to platforms amongst at least a dozen other Autobots. The triage bench was full and two injured lads were sitting on the floor while they waited for a Healer to tend them. “That’s it, lads. Sit tight and let Doc have a look at you before you report to Ironhide.” Inferno said to the three special forces soldiers. They immediately dropped into shutdown mode and enjoyed a nap.

“This is where I belong, Inferno.” Red was saying from where he lay on his back staring up at the metal ceiling. “I’m meant to rescue and heal, not … uh… do security stuff. Or whatever you call it.”

“Oh. You’re awake.” Inferno said and he smiled down at his friend.

“I finally managed to drag myself back on line.” Red told him.

“What happened to you?” Ratchet wanted to know as he came over to the platform and peered down at one very miserable bot.

“I blew myself through a wall.” Red told him.

“Blew yourself through a wall? How’d you manage that?” Ratchet was intrigued.

“It’s the Decepticons that did this, you know. They sabotaged my rocket launcher!” Red said as he lay on the platform with his eyes off line again. “Ohhhh my head!”

“You’re telling me that the ‘Cons somehow managed to sneak into Autobase One and mess with your rocket launcher?” Ratchet sounded rather doubtful.

“They want to take me out, Doc.” Red told him, his voice low and his eyes carefully studying their surroundings. “It’s this whole Security Director thing. It’s made me a target.” He was trying his best to sit up even as the room cheerfully spun around him.

“Here, lie still.” Ratchet said as he pulled an overhead scanner down and ran it from Red Alert’s head to his feet. “You have minor concussive damage to your neural processors and you sure did a number on your thoracic linkage.” Ratchet shook his head. “This is what we get for letting you go outside.”

“You’ve got to talk to Sentinel Prime for me.” Red was saying while he tried to sit up again. Rachet gave him The Look and the security officer took the hint. “He’ll listen to you. You’re old.” Red said as he lay back on the platform with a groan.

“He’ll listen alright but that doesn’t mean a thing.” Ratchet countered. “You know how it is when Sentinel has his mind made up about something.” He laid a hand on Red’s chest. “Quit moving or I’m going to tie you to the platform!”

“Do you promise?” Red teased and Ratchet laughed. “Shut up.” the Healer grumbled even as he chuckled.

“Doc, I’m a bot out of his element down there.” Red told him and then he pitched his voice low. “And guess what? Some of the guys down in Security think I’m crazy…”

Sickbay suddenly became dead silent and the other Autobots stared at Red Alert. Someone snickered.
Ratchet’s lips twitched. “Never!” he said, his expression a study of innocence. “Why would they think such a thing?”

“Oh, but don’t get annoyed, Doc! That’s my ticket out.” Red told him. “If you go to Sentinel and tell him I’m nuts then I can get transferred back to sickbay and the rescue squad!”

Ratchet was shaking his head. “Here, roll over. I need to have a look.” he said and his patient complied. “The thing is, Red, that you have to be nuts in order to be a security bot.”

“What?!”

“Do you honestly believe that a sane bot could do your job?” Ratchet wondered.

“Well…” Red considered this for a moment and then he twisted his head enough so he could look at Ratchet with one eye. “I guess you’ll have to tell Sentinel that I’m not crazy!”

“For pity sake Red what are you doing?!” Ratchet growled as he slapped a medical instrument onto the platform. “You come in here with injured linkage in your back and you’re twisting your body?!”

“Oh. Sorry.” Red cringed.

“You’re a Healer for Primus sake! Use your head, lad.” Ratchet grumbled as he snatched the instrument up and set about opening two access panels on Red Alert’s back. Once within he activated a medical program that released the thick protective membrane that not only kept filth from gaining entry into a mechanoid’s innards but also absorbed energy from blunt trauma. Red could feel the instrument poking around deep within his back. He gritted his teeth. “Nasty. Nasty. NastyNastyNasty…”

“You are one lucky bot.” Ratchet said as he slipped his fingers between a section of thoracic linkage and the thin flat linkage that protected the gaseous exchange sacs. “Just a fracture. Not a full break.”

“Good to know.” Red Alert grunted while forcing himself not to squirm. He felt a bolt of pain shoot through his back and down into his legs. “GAH!!”

Ratchet’s gruff tone immediately became gentle. “Did that cause pain, Red?”

“Quite a bit!” Red Alert grunted. Now he was clutching the edges of the platform as he squirmed. Ratchet backed off and withdrew the medical instrument. “I’ll download a pain management program and shut down some of your pain receptors before I continue.” he said.

Red Alert trusted Ratchet and so he was able to relax. Meanwhile the chief medic opened a compartment in Red’s forearm and connected a data pod to a port so that he could download the pain management program. He then set about placing long, thin pins into specific circuitry bundles and thus shut down various pain receptors. “All right, that should do the trick.” Ratchet said and he resumed his work at repairing the damaged linkage. “Do you feel pain?”

“No it just feels disgusting.” Red told him.

“Fine. I can live with that.” Ratchet said and then he fell silent as he concentrated on the delicate task.
When he was finished with the repairs, the chief medic had his patient moved into the main hospital area and Red Alert soon fell into shutdown mode. When he woke up again it was quiet and dark with only the occasional noise from a suffering bot disrupting the peace now and again. Red watched as a battle medic made his rounds amongst the patients and he couldn’t help but move restlessly as he pondered his fate. It had become apparent that there was no way out. Ratchet was helpless to influence Sentinel Prime and Cougar was not about to let him go.

When Inferno visited his friend the next morning he found a rather defeated-looking Red Alert staring up at him from the hospital platform. “What’s eating at you?” he wondered.

“I’m doomed.” Red told him.

“How so?”

Red Alert shook his head. “I’m never going to get out of Security. I’m stuck there for life.”

“Yeah, Sentinel Prime has spoken…” Inferno said with much sympathy.

“I do not belong there.” Red maintained. “Sure, my father was a magnificent security chief but that doesn’t mean I am automatically fit to walk in his footsteps.”

Inferno pulled up a chair and sat down beside his friend. Even still, he towered over the other bot. “Firestar had nightmares all night long. Poor kid never got any shutdown.” he said and that’s when Red noticed that Inferno looked weary and exhausted. He reached out and gripped his friend’s thick wrist. “Where is she now?”

“I told her to stay on the platform.” Inferno said and he flashed a tired grin. “I can do that seeing as how I’m her boss.”

“Convenient.” Red Alert chuckled. Inferno used to be his boss as well but not any longer. He pushed aside his personal gripes and talked with his friend about anything that he could pull out of his mind. After several breems had passed he saw the tension melting away from Inferno’s expression and his friend was soon grinning and back to his usual self.

Cougar came in then and Inferno stood up and gripped hands with the Chief of Security. The older bot’s son was with him and Prowl grinned at Red Alert. “I heard about how your rocket launcher betrayed you.”

“Blasted thing!” Red grumbled. “I see that Ironhide already snatched it.”

“He said he’s taking it back to Wheeljack for repairs.” Prowl told him.

“How do you know?”

Prowl gestured towards his Alpha-Father. “We were down here earlier but you were out like a lead boulder.”

Cougar moved closer to the platform and, reaching down, he gripped Red’s hand. “I’m glad to see you made it out of that mess alive.” he said. Red looked up a the Security Chief and he saw not only Cougar but also Inferno. The fire chief was hanging back a bit, just behind the other bot’s shoulder whereas before he had always been in the front taking charge and giving Red his marching orders. A changing of the guard… Red Alert finally had to admit to himself that his primary function in the Autobot army was no longer that of Healer and rescue officer. He was now a high-ranking Security Director and, like it or not, he was moving in a different totally different sphere. It was time to let go of what he used to be and accept what he had become…

Red grinned and Cougar returned the smile. “You look just like Prowl.” Red Alert said and then he chuckled. “I mean, your son looks just like you.”

“Every one of us looks exactly like our father.” Prowl said with a shake of his head. “We feel like a pack of clones. How many batch-brothers do I have and not one of them looks like mother?”

“Ratchet tells me that he’s taking you captive for a few days.” Cougar said as he gave one of his son’s flat horns an affectionate tug. “You’re batch-mother is still hounding me for a daughter.” he said and Prowl laughed.

“I’ll see if I can’t convince Doc to at least let me get off this platform and work on some medical records while I’m stuck down here.” Red was saying.

“I heard that.” Ratchet announced as he came into view. “And yes, you bet you can work on medical records.” He gestured around him at the droves of patients. “I’ve a backlog, like usual. I could use an administrative slave.”

“I’m all yours!” Red told him as he flashed a thumbs-up. “There’s nothing worse then laying around on a platform all day long.”

For the next three days Red Alert lost himself in the familiar routine of sickbay. He ran a detailed inventory through the medical supply closets, the emergency field kits and two of the medevac shuttles that happened to be in dry dock for repairs. He worked at filing medical records and did what he could for patients without straining his back linkage. When it finally came time for his release from light duty Red Alert couldn’t help but feel a heaviness in his spark. He and Ratchet stood together just outside of the hospital doors and Red tried his best to smile at his mentor. “Well, like I always say: don’t hesitate to call me if you need me down here.”

“I never hesitate.” Ratchet said as he and Red gripped hands. “It’s good to know that I can always call on you when I’m desparate.”

“Huh! You’re doing me a favour when you drag me down to my old stomping grounds.” Red told him. “I’m still a Healer even if that’s no longer my primary function in the army.”

“It might not be your first job here but it will always be who and what you are.” Ratchet told him and Red Alert realized that the chief medic knew what was going through his mind. “It’s true.” Red admitted. “I often worry that I’m going to change into someone I no longer recognize.”

“No. Once a Healer, always a Healer.” Ratchet assured him. “And when this war is over I’m sure Sentinel Prime won’t mind if you return to sickbay.” Ratchet smiled. “That is, if you remain on active duty.”

“I probably will.” Red told him. “I’ve been an Autobot for so long that I can’t imagine going on inactive status during peace time.”

A call came in – someone needed a Healer. Now.

“Don’t be a stranger, ok?” Ratchet said and then he and Red Alert parted company.

Upon arriving at the security department Red Alert had to endure the usual detailed security checks and then he passed through the doors into the main room. It was open and large and filled with not only security but intelligence bots as well. Red could smell energon cha, piping hot and freshly brewed in its dented old pot. He couldn’t help but smile as he walked across the room. This place is becoming as familiar as sickbay…

“Hey! It’s Red Alert!” someone called out and the morning silence filled with excited chatter as his fellow Autobots swarmed around him. “How you doing, bud?”

“How’s your head?”

“…about getting blasted through a wall!”

“Good to see you back, Red!”

“I had my service pistol backfire right into my face once.” Nightbeat was saying as he pushed through the mob and gripped Red’s hand. “It’s not fun when weapons malfunction.”

“He was blind for two weeks.” Ma`ax said and someone pressed a tumbler of cha into Red’s hand. The Security Director grinned and looked around at that sea of welcoming faces. Even Sapphire was there. Beautiful Sapphire with her iridescent blue armour. And here was Cougar looking through the door of his office. The security chief gave a quick wave and then returned to his work.

Red Alert smiled and nodded at his colleagues. “It’s good to be back.” he said. And he meant it.