Now Where's the Other Half?

[purajo]

*Sunstreaker left the control room and all the chaos inside, and headed down the hallway towards the medbay, determined to find out what exactly was up with Sideswipe and why the frag he wasnt answering his comm-link (he had no idea that Sideswipe had left the medbay and was possibly headed his way

Comments

[dualsides]

Likewise, Sideswipe has no idea that Sunstreaker is looking for him. Heading down the corridor he's in at a quick walk, he pauses at every junction for quick glances down other halls out of caution before continuing onward. Some areas are lit, others cast in pitch black shadows, setting a rather creepy mood over the place. If the Headmaster can find his way out to the front, he'll run for the great outdoors like his aft is on fire.

'I have no idea where the frag we're going, despite trying to map this madhouse as we go!' the red warrior grumbles internally. 'I just know I want out! I want someone to tell me that Hot Rod and Wheeljack got away from-'

His train of thought experiences a sudden meeting with a metaphorical brick wall as he turns a corner and sees someone coming their way. Someone with predominately yellow armor.

Hunter cringes. 'That's not who I think it is, is it?'

'It...it is... And it isn't...' It takes a second for Sideswipe to get over the shock before he backs up a step. 'Why?! WHY!? OF ALL THE BOTS

[purajo]

*Sunstreaker saw the red figure a few feet away and let out a sigh of relief*

There you are. Been looking all over for you, ya dumb fragger... the slag is wrong with your comm-link?

*He stopped when he noted Sideswipe's defensive posture and looked around to see what the threat was, coming up empty. He tilted his head with a curious frown*

What's wrong?

[dualsides]

Hunter accesses their shared communications link before Sideswipe can recover from being called a "dumb fragger." Though he's a bit clumsy with using it, he does realize the obvious quickly enough. 'Line's dead. Not even a bit of static. I mean, it works and the diagnostics are checking out, but we're not getting a signal on the frequency you have on memory for the Ark-19 crew.'

Sideswipe takes his partner's information with minimal internal acknowledgment. What the slag is he supposed to say to that? His gaze never leaves Sunstreaker, however.

"Everything," he finally answers, unable to keep a low growl from echoing up out of his engine. "Fragged if I know where I am! This isn't the Ark-19 and it's not the Machination Headquarters! There's some bot back there who looks like Ratchet--" he points with one hand back the way he came "--but he's just...he's NOT Ratchet! And Streetwise, Hound and First Aid... And you. YOU. Another 'looks like, but isn't' case. I don't what's going on, how I got here or if this is some sort

[purajo]

*Blinking in surprise, Sunstreaker took a bit of a step back. He hadn't anticipated this kind of reaction at all... and that last bit had definitely stung. Normally he would have come back with some caustic reply to it, but something told him that Sideswipe looked to be genuinely distressed, and adding onto his agitation would only make things worse.*

I am your brother, Siders, who else would I be?

*He kept his voice calm and level, and took a step forward again*

And that IS Ratchet back there, and the others. This is the Ark - though I dont think we ever gave it a number before - and I dont know who or what Machination is. All I know is that something weird happened and it may have messed with your memory.

Certainly did with mine. One moment we're hanging out together playing video games and next thing I know I'm waking up alone in the middle of the hallway.

*Another step* Had me worried for a while there when I couldn't find you.

[dualsides]

Sideswipe can only make a few sputtering, exasperated sounds in answer to Sunstreaker's question at first. He honestly doesn't know how to answer and the worst part is that the yellow bot's behavior is only lending credibility to Hunter's insane theory that this is some kind of wacky, Twilight Zone-ish mirror-verse.

Sunstreaker's attempts to move closer jar the red Twin back into defense mode again, however, causing him to take yet another step back. Unfortunately, that puts him against a wall. "My memory is fine! It's the only part of me that's been fine for weeks! I remember what came before the Machination clearly... You were never part of Prowl's detachment. That was MY duty! Our assignments had us separated by light years and that was fine."

'So...Ratchet's now a foul-mouthed grouch and the brother whose shadow you lived in for the longest time is now Mr. Nice Guy? This isn't even counting the dog and the human who have Autobot names. Sideswipe, I strongly suggest we get your not-brother to take us to someone with

[purajo]

What are you talking about? We signed up for Prime's unit together. Don't you remember? Cybertron was dying and Prime put together a group to head off planet and find a new source of energy. You and I were a part of it... and then we crashed on Earth.

*Sunstreaker stopped moving and frowned - Sideswipe's behavior was starting to not only upset him, but worry him as well.*

Are you sure you're alright?

*he sighed* I don't know where Prime is... I heard Blaster and Prowl talking and it seems Prowl's out in Portland. Jazz is in the command center with Blaster right now.

[dualsides]

'There's no point in arguing what did or didn't happen with him. If this isn't some trick or hallucination, you can both stand here and compare stories all day and nothing will really come of it.' Hunter makes the equivalent of an internal sigh.

'I questioned ever starting to feel this way, but...thank Primus for you, Hunter,' Sideswipe admits, his own "tone" rather depressed. 'If not for you, I'd start think there was something wrong with me. They'd be talking me into it right now. At least with you as some kind of anchor...'

"Okay, fine. Ya know, I'm really not all that alright," Sideswipe finally admits out loud. "But I'm not because I'm confused, lost and upset. Obviously. You don't know what I'm talking about, I don't know what you're talking about... Can you just...just take me to see Jazz? I'll talk to him, talk to you and maybe we can actually figure out what happened? The sooner I get some answers, the happier I'll be."

[purajo]

*Sighing, Sunstreaker pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded*

Fine. He's in the control room... this way *He started down the hall back the way he came* But I should warn you it's a little chaotic in there... We're still not entirely sure what happened.

[dualsides]

"Big surprise, there," Sideswipe grumbles as he follows Sunstreaker, unable to keep a low growl out of his tone. "I'm starting to think it might have been better if I'd gone off-line permanently back at the Machination headquarters."

'Easy, Sideswipe. If you're going to sulk, might as well wait until we get to talk to Jazz. Either this'll be third time's the charm or he'll be just as confused as the rest of us. ...in which case I say we find the door and let ourselves out.'

'I'm seriously running out of patience, Hunter. If it's safe, I'm going to let you do some of the talking when we meet up with Jazz. Besides, if we're stuck here much longer they're going to need to know that we come as a two-for-one deal.'

((Chatted it up with Shiribot and seeing as how the comm room is still something of a mess, might as well just keep our end of things in this thread and I'll have Jazz talk to the boys in the hall beyond the door.))

[purajo]

Don't...

*Sunstreaker paused a moment, but didn't look back.* Don't say slag like that, Sideswipe... You're still my brother, whatever happened... That still means something.

*He resumed walking till he got to the Command Center then activated his comm-link for Jazz's frequency*

[Jazz, Sunstreaker. I've got Sideswipe with me; gonna need your help on this one.]

((Heh... not a bad idea, but looks like you're gonna be playing with yourself here a little in Jazz and Sides... XD))

[dualsides]

One of Sideswipe's optic ridges arches a little bit, but he says nothing in response. On the inside, Hunter remains thoughtfully silent. Both of them are trying to process Sunstreaker's behavior... It doesn't match up that well with how their shared memories files portray the mech.

((Yep, although given where I've been playing the last year or so before RS started, I've gotten rather used to it. Heh. ^^;))

[recon_meister]

Inside the comm room, Jazz recieves Sunstreaker's message and frowns. [Scomm:Sunstreaker] "That doesn't sound promisin', but I'll see what I can do. Meet you two out in the hall so we don't crowd up the comm room again. Blaster's still workin' like a mad mech." [/Scomm]

Stepping out into the corridor, the black and white leans against one wall. He doesn't need to wait too long before the Twins come into side, Sunstreaker leading his brother.

"What's goin' on, bots? You wanted to chat with me, Sideswipe?"

The red warrior blinks at Jazz a moment; the mech is identical to the Jazz he knows, unlike the others who have either been completely different or just different enough to notice. He tries not to get his hopes up, but his response comes out more excited than he intends. "Jazz? Is that really you? You're...you ARE from Prowl's detachment, right? Ark-19? Finally someone who can tell me if Wheeljack and Hot Rod are okay and if Ironhide got the other two kids home safe

[purajo]

O_o

Wait... so you're saying this is IS my brother, but ISN'T my brother?... Huh... And that is a fragging good question, Sideswipe... where the slag is Sideswipe?!

*Yeah, he's not happy*

And where are the fragging science mechs who're supposed to be figuring this kind of thing out?! For all I know MY Sideswipe could be out there getting his head caved in, and I'm not fragging there to help!

[dualsides]

At the mention of getting one's head caved in, Sideswipe unconsciously reaches up and puts one hand protectively on his own head. "The less cranial breakage there is, the better!" He looks to Jazz. "Well? Are there answers to those questions or not

[purajo]

*Frowning in turn and working rather hard to keep his temper in check, Sunstreaker regarded this... other... Sideswipe carefully. He sure as hell looked like his regular Sideswipe, even if he didnt act like him*

Well? You up for a run... Sideswipe? Gotta be better than sitting in here and stewing, and if we're lucky maybe we'll find a couple of 'Cons to slag

*Oh yes... he REALLY wants to break something right now. Preferably something with a nice purple bullseye on his chassis. At least it'd give him something to do instead of walking around and feeling useless*

[dualsides]

Sideswipe glances at Sunstreaker, eying him for a moment and making yet another mental comparison to the brother he knows...and resents so damn much