This was something that wouldn't leave me, so I typed it out.
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"And that is why sir, that Red Alert shouldn't be the security director." The mech finished, laying the report infront of him.
Prime stared at the mech, as Ratchet's hands clenched visibly "So, you are suggesting that I am changing the data in order to keep Red Alert on as a member of the crew?" Prime asked in a rather soft, dangerous voice.
The mech quickly shook his head. "Of course not sir. What I am merely saying is that Red Alert is not fit to be security director upon our ship. It is no longer about you may feel, but many autobots are worried that you are not safely protected-" Prime snorted softly at that, remembering how three vorns back Red Alert had risked his life to protect the Arc and it's occupants "-and to give them better morale we wish to put someone better in Red Alert's place."
"We have already designed a plan sir, knowing that you might refuse this outright. How about you remove Red Alert for several vorns, and allow another mech to take his place. If he is unable to handle it, then it will be clear that Red Alert is the only one who can properly guard the Arc."
Prime thought it out, weighing the army against his own personal interests. He glanced over at Red Alert, who had sat quietly throughout the entire meeting, not raising a single protest in his own defense. Red Alert met Primes optics, and nodded, shrugging. He seemed unconcerned, but Prime could tell that it was truly eating away at him. Prime rumbled, "Very well. We will keep this one new mech for a third of a vorn. If he is unable to cope, then we will take Red Alert back. If he is, then…" Prime shrugged.
"Excellent. But sir, in order to make this a true test, we must ask that you do not tell anyone in your crew." The mech said smoothly.
Red Alert looked up at this, a slight frown on his face. Prime nodded, and said, "Very well, everyone is dismissed. Send this newbie to the Arc by 0800 tomorrow. If he's not their, well, I suppose our new security director is going to find himself stuck planet side."
Red Alert interrupted. "And what is going to happen to me?" His voice was mild, masking the deep pain he felt at being replaced.
The two mechs who had lain out the plan looked at each other, grimacing slightly. "Red Alert, you are to go to the planet Latnem where your glitch will be studied. After all, glitches are rare occurrences, especially paranoia ones."
Red Alert nodded, his optics once again returning to the desk in front of him. Ratchet was scowling at the two, and Prime could see the slight displeasure on Prowl's usually blank face. This was not a good idea. Prime thought, but he said nothing.
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The entire crew yawned loudly as they slowly got into ranks, jostling each other strait. Inferno looked around eagerly for Red Alert, and frowned as he realized that he couldn't see him. Prime stepped up to the front, followed by an unfamiliar mech. Silence fell as they stared at their leader in confusion. Who was this new mech?
Inferno whispered to Sideswipe who was standing right next to him, "Sides, do you see Red Alert anywhere?"
The giant twin looked around, optics scanning the crowd easily. "No, I don't."
"Huh, and he wasn't in the control room earlier." Inferno muttered, optics worried. "Where is he?"
Prime cleared his throat, commanding for attention. The Ark's crew slowly fell silent, staring at him. When total silence fell, Prime said without preamble. "Red Alert is being replaced with a new mech. His name is Waveshaft."
The Ark's crew stared at Prime, unable to believe their auditory receptors. Red Alert, quit? After all he had done? It just didn't seem possible. A mutter ran through the crowd, and optics fixed on the mech that was to replace Red Alert, evaluating.
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Waveshaft looked out among the crew, evaluating them. Surely they couldn't be that hard to handle if Red Alert managed it. His optics spotted a furious looking mech, a fire truck. He seemed to be madder, and more stunned then the rest.
Red and yellow Lamborghinis looked him directly in the optics, measuring and weighing what they could see. Waveshaft was supremely confident that he could handle this. Surely it would be easy enough.
O0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0
Red Alert watched them blast off, feeling very much alone and sad. His paranoia glitch was acting up, screaming that he go after the Ark, make sure that it would stay safe, but Red Alert ignored it, turning slowly to face the mechs behind him. They nodded, and a few breems after the Arc left, another, smaller ship blasted off in the opposite direction.
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Waveshaft paced through the hallways, being introduced to each of the Arc's crew members by Prowl. When he got introduced to Inferno, Inferno simply glared, optics smouldering with a burning rage.
Prowl murmured to Inferno, "Be polite." It sounded ridiculously like a mother chiding her sparklings or younglings into submission that Waveshaft nearly smiled. Nearly.
Prowl glanced up the hallway as he asked, "Is Wheeljack in his room?"
Inferno shook his head. "Nope, for once he went to the blast room. He was saying something about developing new guns, but I don't think that what was what he had in his mind, because he took Ratchet with him."
"Ah. Anyone else?"
"Bumblebee is off trying to hack his way into a virus. Apparently Red Alert had given him the brand new one he had just developed. I think he also pulled Mirage into it, or maybe it was Jazz?"
Prowl shook his head. "No, Jazz and the twins are off doing their rounds."
Inferno shrugged carelessly, and walked off, roughly brushing past Waveshaft. Prowl and Waveshaft watched him, go before Waveshaft asked, "Is there a reason he doesn't like me?"
"He and Red alert are sparkmates. Over there is the control room. Good luck."
Prowl left Waveshaft alone with those cryptic words.
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Oh myyyyy, Red Alert left! Well, It will all work out in the end, right? And poor Waveshaft. He has no idea what he's just gotten into.