(Untitled)

[due_caution]

Red Alert had briefly considered tagging along with Kitten Prime and Company, if only to make sure Rodimus stayed safe and out of trouble, but thought better of it after contemplation. Right now, at a glance, who would even know that the small orange Terran cat is the Autobot Prime, unless someone draws undue attention to him

Comments

[attair_al_fada]

A bit later, Starscream took a break from the fabrication of Slingshot and retired to his console. He did not, in fact, do anything at the console. It was simply an excuse to focus his concentration elsewhere.

// Duskwing? Come to me; I have a mission for you. //

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing doesn't quite appear in Medbay--he's there, but not there, just the other side of the veil between this world and the spirit realm. Invisible and intangible... but not to Starscream. And not imperceptible to the sensitive.

Whaddaya want, Commander? Duskwing asks, genuinely curious. Starscream never before had a mission for him, personally.

[attair_al_fada]

Starscream smirks very slightly.

I hear you've met Red Alert, the Autobot Security Chief. Do me a favor, and go keep an eye on him. I want to know who he meets with and what secrets he learns. Report back to me when he goes down for recharge, or in a day, whichever comes first. Call me if things get exciting around him.

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing salutes his Air Commander enthusiastically, if a bit sloppily.

A spying mission! You got it, boss!

With that, Duskwing goes flitting through the walls to find Red Alert at work...

[stupidityinblue]

(( Over here, to be precise. ))

[attair_al_fada]

Starscream was back at work on Slingshot's circuitry when Duskwing turned up in a state of considerable agitation--agitation enough that the lights in Medbay began to dim for no obvious reason...

Starscream looked up sharply, discerning the invisible and upset source of the descending gloom. Duskwing! Stop that and tell me what's going on!

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing focuses on Starscream, a scowl on his face.

Drath wasn't Drath! Not the real Drath, anyway, Means Drath got away, and he might do it again! Duskwing shifts his imaginary weight from one thruster-foot to another.

Starscream does not show the sigh he feels inwardly; he's still working on Slingshot to all outside appearances. Full report, Duskwing. From the top, including how you found out.

Duskwing calmed down slightly. They done did some tests on Drath's scrap, and it wasn't Drath, so Drath is still alive, see? An' they got guards watching Daniel's house, and I don't think they were givin' me the straight dope on why. Oh yeah, Frostbite was with Red Alert, and she was talkin' secret-like with someone on the comm--all encrypted, I couldn't get the sense of it. Looked like deal-making talk, though. Dunno with who. Red Alert looks real unhappy 'bout somethin'. Frostbabe's worried, too.

Starscream's optics narrowed slightly as he studied a complex arrangement of hydraulic lines that needed to be positioned just so... They

[attair_al_fada]

Starscream freezes. Frostbite can sense ghosts... and those odd little turns of phrase she used when they spoke...

She knows! 'Rest in peace', indeed! She knows--but does she know enough? If not... there's room for some very bad misunderstandings.

He glances at Duskwing's invisible, spectral form. Duskwing, they suspect that Spike is not actually Spike--and he probably isn't, if Drath wasn't Drath. 95% certainity. And if he's aware he's been detected, there's no doubt contingency programming that will kick in.

[stupidityinblue]

Duskwing also freezes, and turns slowly.

You mean the kid's designer ain't really himself? But the kid thinks so! He was so happy to see Spike! Daniel nearly-- Duskwing shuts up; Daniel had nearly given up the fight before he found out his dad was there, but that's too personal to be telling the Air Commander.

It won't be good for the kid, to find out his dad ain't real. A thought occurs to Duskwing. Contingency programming? Like he might hurt the kid, or the kid's builder?

Starscream looked at Duskwing. That's entirely possible. Or kidnap them.

The lights start to dim again. Prior obligations, boss. You're gonna have to get someone else to keep an eye on Red Alert. I made some promises I gotta keep.

Duskwing salutes, and transforms, turning and flying away behind the veil.

[attair_al_fada]

Curiously enough, Starscream is not angry with Duskwing's apparent desertion.

And a promise made is a debt unpaid. He understands the bonds Duskwing is under.

He's got a few of his own.

[attair_al_fada]

Hmm, now what? Starscream muses as he threads Slingshot's hydraulic lines into place. Red's going to be watching his systems like, well, a paranoid security chief, and my secure reconnaissance just turned out to be not-so-secure. 65% chance she's told Red, but if she hasn't, he's going to be even more suspicious of me.

As he carefully screws a connector into place, Starscream continues to consider the matter. Getting tossed in the brig out of general paranoia would not do. Red or Frostbite, then? Red picked up on my advice about Spike--smart move to check Drath's remains--but Frostbite knows. She's up to something, as well. Slag, we underestimated her for years!

Starscream secures another hydraulic line. Duskwing will protect the younger brat of his own accord--and possibly the girl as well, whether I want him to or not. Not my problem, in any case. If Drath starts playing games with Transformer sparks again, though...Starscream carefully tightens the last connector; Slingshot's hydraulics are complete. He turns his head toward

[attair_al_fada]

Starscream replies drily, //Nothing's exploding down there? You're not in the middle of a firefight or someone having a psychotic breakdown, are you? Galvatron isn't gracing one of Red Alert's guest chairs is he? None of the above? Sounds like I called at a good time.//

// Shall I come up there, or do you prefer to meet elsewhere? It was just brought to my attention that I underestimated you yet again... not to mention that we all were criminally incompetent in underestimating Drath! //

[attair_al_fada]

Starscream finished putting away his tools and headed for the Medbay door.

// Part of what I want to talk about involves Drath and this concept of intelligence-sharing I'd like to explain to Red Alert! // Starscream's tone is such that if he were human, Frostbite would be able to hear teeth grinding.

// I think I got it through Steadfast's head that you Autobots are allies and assets when it comes to external enemies like the Quintesson and people like Drath. Please don't tell me Red is as petty-minded as Onslaught. I'll be terribly disappointed in him. //

// As for the other matter... I put the odds at 60-40 you'd already told Red. You surprise me. If you do find it necessary, I ask that you do me the favor of telling him securely and privately. It's not information that needs to be hanging out on a security log. //

Hesitation. // If Red knew... would it help or hinder, do you think? I'll see you in Red's office in any case. //

[due_caution]

Oblivious to the comm conversation between Frostbite and Starscream - or rather, ignoring it for the moment, as Frostbite seems to have whatever it is she is working on well in hand - Red Alert is busy pouring through the security logs and communications from his security detail. What he is finding should be impossible. Utterly, and completely impossible.

How in the ever-loving slag does anyone, even a human trying to be inconspicuous, manage to vanish from the confines of Autobot City!? HOW!?"We need to speak to Starscream again," Red observes tiredly, apropos of nothing. Or at least nothing he's said aloud yet, although it's clear from his tone and his expression that when he says "speak to Starscream," he doesn't mean "politely interrogate" so much as "grudgingly collaborate