I Have No Excuse

Part 14

Prowl was calm in most situations. He was wary of everyone else on some level yet. He had warmed up to Cliff rather quickly once he started bringing in plants from his trips underwater. I didn't understand his fascination with underwater plants, but it got Prowl to start seeing him as a friend rather than a stranger or a threat. Prowl even perked up when he came in that point. Barricade was as stubborn as ever, but even he was eyeing him with less malice. He still didn't like him near Prowl, but he tolerated him enough to not try and bite his hand off or snap at him when he set the plants in the water. Sometimes they were underwater flowers and other times they just looked like useless green leaves or vines. I had no clue what they were, but I'm sure if I asked Blaster he'd know what they were. I suppose it was nice to have something in the empty tanks with them and it only helped that it was something familiar. They had to be fished out every once in awhile, but they weren't as disturbed by it anymore since something new was brought in within a few days.

Prowl was cleared a week later and the act of moving them to a new tank was easy enough. Of course Barricade needed to be watched more closely within the new area, but hopefully the medication would prevent infection from anything that was in the main tanks. They made quick work in exploring the new area. Curiously circling around the structures that had allowed and encouraged the coral to grow on them. Examining the sand and plants that grew unhindered. Blaster and I found some amusement in that.

"That better? I figured you'd be sick of the quarantine tank by now."

They seemed to settle in fine. Moving them into a tank that mimicked the ocean life on some level always lowered the stress from being in quarantine from what Aid had explained at some point. Prowl had circled the main coral and rock structure several times now. Barricade had settled between some of the rocks and plants and was watching me like he was a lion hiding in the tall grass to stalk its prey. Still ignoring Blaster as per usual. Prowl had glanced around at the other tanks and the doors. I wasn't sure what he was looking for, but he seemed pretty focused. Then he circled around a few more times.

"What is he doing?"

"Uh... It looks like he's checking the area for danger." Blaster answered, but he didn't seem so sure.

With another glance around he seemed satisfied and sunk down into the flora along with Barricade. That had been the only time he had ever done that. However one morning we came in to find Barricade alone in the tank several days later. Barricade had been calm as ever as he lay curled up on the sand in front of the coral as he watched us freak out. Sure Prowl was smart, but he wouldn't just leave his pod member and there was no way he had gotten out without alerting the facility. Then of course Barricade would be pacing again, but he hadn't moved an inch yet.

"Shit. Prowl? Please tell me he didn't jump ship again."

"Blurr, go tell Randy to check the cameras." Arcee ordered as she looked through the glass at the tank.

"How come I have to deal with Red?"

"Go."

I searched the flora with her as Barricade watched us. He had a pretty smug look on his face. I really wish I could hit him. I mean he was at that point where Ratchet had given the ok for force feeding now so you'd think he would be less chipper. Especially with his pod mate missing. But no he was just laying there and watching us. No hissing or growling even. This was not normal.

"What the hell..." Arcee breathed in irritation. "He's Black and white it's not like he can blend in."

It was true. None of this made any sense. Mers don't just disappear and where could he have possibly gone if he did decide to escape? The front doors were locked so it wasn't like he could just leave and slip into the ocean and even then he would have taken Barricade with him, wouldn't he? I glared at the mer in question. He still hadn't made a move. He was just watching us lazily with a triumphant air about him. No matter how long I glared at him I knew I wouldn't figure out his game so I went back to scanning the tank.

"Ok so we need to tell Ratchet. Drug up Barricade. We need to search the tank. There's no way he could have just vanished." Arcee decided after another minute only to stop at the buzzing of her phone. "Tell me you have an answer to our vanishing mer?"

With that we were heading to the security office. Arcee practically threw open the door. Blurr was laughing and that didn't do anything good for her mood. However if he was laughing then things were fine. Prowl hadn't just up and vanished.

"It's fine, it's fine. They made a little hidey hole is all." Blurr waved off Arcee's questions as he passed.

We got our answer when we made the attempt to feed Barricade again. Barricade didn't move, but Prowl had slipped out from behind Barricade and through the seagrass. That was one heart attack causing mystery solved. That smug bastard was still giving me that look. Barricade one. Jazz one. That blasted fish.

When Barricade was taken out for treatment Mirage had investigated to find that they had dug a hole in the sand under the coral and made a well hidden nest. It was small, but Prowl fit fine and Barricade seemed content guarding the entrance. Apparently they had been digging at night when the other mers had settled and no one was around. That was new...