[Swindle, lingering again by the river, hears Vortex, and a sharp bolt of pain runs through his circuits. Instinctively, he reaches through the bond. It is still closed - yet, Swindle can feel the 'copter, faintly - which should be an improvement on before - except that it isn't. Because everything is horrendously wrong. The sudden conviction that this is so strikes Swindle with sickening force.]
[His optics widen, his fists clench. He whispers:] // Vortex?? \\
[In spite of all that has gone before, the excruciating times he's been through with the copter, the recent anguish, not to mention the unwelcome effect he knows it will have on his sparkbond, Swindle answers by instinct, unable to even attempt to stop himself from trying to reach his team mate.]
[At the sound of his team mate's voice, the urge to re-open his end of the bond intensifies. But that's wrong, so very wrong. Rage crackles through his circuits, darkening his vision for a fraction of an astrosecond.]
[Relief floods Swindle's systems at the sound of his team mates's voice. To be quickly replaced by that sickening chill which always strikes right into every synapse when the copter has a go at him.]
[He intakes sharply:] // Vortex ....
[Reaching out through the bond, and finding it still closed, another chill strikes. He says with a waver to his voice:] // You're alive, then? I thought you were ....
//What the frag? Don't try and change the subject! You know full well where I am!//
[He twitches as Swindle tried to reach him through the bond, as though physical movement will take him further from the effects of the programming.]
//Just answer me this, Swindle, WHAT THE FRAG DID YOU DO TO MY FACE? And where in the pit is my battle mask? And don't you dare tell me you welded it to my jaw, you facetious piece of scrap. I already know that. Where's the rest of it?//
[There's a moment of utter disbelief and incredulity where time seems to come to a halt. Then the words cut in, excruciatingly. All the usual righteous indignation and complete and utter sense of injustice explodes through Swindle. It's such an automatic response that he does not even stop to think before he yells:]
// WHAT THE FRAG ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? AND HOW SHOULD I KNOW WHERE YOUR PRIMUS DAMNED BATTLE MASK IS?
[He shakes with rage,] // AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE FRAG YOU ARE EITHER! HOW WOULD I KNOW?
//THEN WHO THE SLAG DID THIS? Was it that other Swindle? WHO WAS IT? And what the slag happened to my databanks?//
[He heaves on the chains. He needs to get free, find Swindle, beat the truth out of him. It must have been Swindle; why would he bother comming if not to gloat?]
[The pain which is suddenly all through Swindle is intense, and he sits down, clutching at his chest, his voice still shaking, but with sheer emotion now, and not rage.]
// Who did what, Vortex? I didn't do anything .... I called you because .....I haven't seen you .....and I can't reach you ..... not since ....
[But he can't finish. Because a sickening chill runs through his circuits. The other Swindle. Oh yeah - his counterpart is more than capable of doing a lot of damage, he knows. And would do it quite readily to the copter. And Swindle has gone and left the caves again - exactly what he told his AU self he wouldn't do.]
[Oh Primus - the thought of that is unbearable. He can't think it.]
[Intaking deeply, Swindle controls the sickening horror and swallows hard.]
[He strains against his bonds, but the chains just won't give.]
//I DON'T KNOW!//
[Oh slag. Wrong answer. Showing weakness in front of Swindle, what the slag is wrong with him? Think before acting, think before acting. Frag. He can do this around Autobots. He can do it around most Decepticons. Just not his team. He glowers at the energon bars, wishing they were closer.]
// WELL STOP SHOUTING AT ME!! Realizing he’s shouting, Swindle controls himself. With difficulty.
[Rubbing a hand over his helm, his intakes letting out a deep hiss, Swindle says despairingly:] // Look - Vortex .... I could have told something had fragged up, even even if you hadn't said anything. I’m your team mate, for frag’s sake! But I don't know what your problem is. Honest! \\
[Trying to ignore the dull ache which pervades all through him, Swindle swallows hard. Getting up, he starts to pace.]
// Look - I can help you. Perhaps. But not if you don't tell me anything! Now - if you can’t tell me - for Primus sake open the slaggin’ bond! \\
[A note of desperation creeps into Swindle’s voice:] // Please, Vortex! Open the bond! \\
[He never imagined that he would need to feel the copter so badly.]
[He takes a while to pause, riding out the rage in silence until he feels that he might be able to speak without exposing his weakness.]
[And when he finally does speak, his tone is smooth and calm, like ice about to crack.] //Don't ask that. Never ask that.//
[Another flare of anger. Do they want him weak? Is that it? It makes sense to him. Swindle more so than Blast Off - but both of them had done it, asking him to re-open the bond when they'd never condescended to recpriocate before. No reason they'd reciprocate now. It must be a trap, although he has no idea right now what kind.]
//What makes you think you have the right to ask that?//
[He vents slowly, forcing himself to relax]
//I want my battle mask back, I mean the rest of it. You want to help-// [He sniffs in derision, of course Swindle doesn't want to help, it's a ploy, nothing more] //-you'll fraggin' well find out what happened to it.//
[Another sickening, icy shard pierces Swindle, and his frame shudders. He hates me. He’s always hated me, but at least I had the bond. I was right, what I thought before. I’ve fragged it up. I could have made this all right but now the whole thing’s fragged, and its all my fault.]
[He says in a small, deflated voice:] I don’t have any right to ask you. I won’t do it again. But I’ll find your mask, if I can .....
[He hesitates,]
// Vortex, are you sure it isn’t on your face, and you just can’t feel it?
[He wonders vaguely what the copter looks without it. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen him - without it.]
[The rage returns; condescending heap of scrap metal... But a condescending heap of scrap metal who's talking to him, who's wiling to do things for him (although his exact motives remain unclear).]
[Still, he cannot help the growl which accompanies his words] //It isn't on my face. You think I can't look down? You think I don't know what my own nose looks like? It's not there. Someone tore it off.//
[Swindle stops his pacing, shuttering his optics and trying not to dwell on the sorrowful implications of the growl.]
[He figures if Vortex is hurt then he needs to be patient, and try not get too upset about the growl. Mechs get snarky when they're hurt - and it may even be due to the non face masked state, and not the existence in the universe of he, Swindle, at all.
[Swindle concentrates on mustering a 'soothing' tone. Even though this does not really come naturally to him. Especially with Vortex.]
// All right, all right! Shh~ \\ [he remembers Blast Off made that noise when they interfaced, and it had a calming effect and stopped him overloading straight away. // Hang in there. I'll find it. Trust me! \\
[Swindle clicks off the com and sits down, thinking hard. Having said that - well - how is he going to find the bloody thing? I mean - does he wander around the Nexus, looking in various 'locations' and asking anyone he comes across if they've seen it?]
[Swindle never had to do anything like this before
( ... )
[Blast Off still not in a full recharge, he is forcefully pulled out of his daze by Swindle’s comm. His systems would have ignored every other mech, but Swindle is team, and the fraggin’ gestalt programming causes a state of importance for every comm. of the other four.
He groans in annoyance and rubs his forehead.
Vortex’ side of the bond is still closed. Great. Well, whatever, he didn’t care anymore, right?
At least that is what he tells himself, because his side still isn’t completely closed.
When he answers, Blast Off sounds tired.]
// Yeah, I’m here… it’s not that I could go anywhere… //
[By the time Blast Off comms back, Swindle is in a state of agitation. Although he registers that the bond is open, he fails absolutely to register any discomfort on the part of the shuttle.]
[A barrage of words spew forth.]
// Blast! I need your help. There's kind of - a gestalt emergency. Vortex lost his battle mask. Yeah - he did! He reckons it got ripped off - he must've got in some kind of fight. Probably with the Autobots. He wants me to find it.
// I mean - I'm trying to be nice - you know! Even though - well where do I start? I mean - I'm a businessmech! I sell stuff like that - not look for lost ones! Can you imagine it? [He puts on his "sales" voice:] Say Rodimus .... Prowl .... I think there was a scrap - did you happen to see a Combaticon battle mask lying around? Say - I know this is out of order, but can I have it back? There is a truce on, after all
( ... )
[Too may words, like so often with Swindle… Right now it’s even worse because of his tiredness and low charge.]
// No, haven’t seen it anywhere… Swindle, I’m in the brig. And so is Vortex. I have no idea what happened to his mask, but he was in medbay a few joors ago… //
[Swindle, lingering again by the river, hears Vortex, and a sharp bolt of pain runs through his circuits. Instinctively, he reaches through the bond. It is still closed - yet, Swindle can feel the 'copter, faintly - which should be an improvement on before - except that it isn't. Because everything is horrendously wrong. The sudden conviction that this is so strikes Swindle with sickening force.]
[His optics widen, his fists clench. He whispers:] // Vortex?? \\
[In spite of all that has gone before, the excruciating times he's been through with the copter, the recent anguish, not to mention the unwelcome effect he knows it will have on his sparkbond, Swindle answers by instinct, unable to even attempt to stop himself from trying to reach his team mate.]
// Vortex ?? \\
Reply
[At the sound of his team mate's voice, the urge to re-open his end of the bond intensifies. But that's wrong, so very wrong. Rage crackles through his circuits, darkening his vision for a fraction of an astrosecond.]
//YOU! It was you, wasn't it?//
Reply
[Relief floods Swindle's systems at the sound of his team mates's voice. To be quickly replaced by that sickening chill which always strikes right into every synapse when the copter has a go at him.]
[He intakes sharply:] // Vortex ....
[Reaching out through the bond, and finding it still closed, another chill strikes. He says with a waver to his voice:] // You're alive, then? I thought you were ....
[In a 'strangled' tone:] // Where are you?
Reply
//What the frag? Don't try and change the subject! You know full well where I am!//
[He twitches as Swindle tried to reach him through the bond, as though physical movement will take him further from the effects of the programming.]
//Just answer me this, Swindle, WHAT THE FRAG DID YOU DO TO MY FACE? And where in the pit is my battle mask? And don't you dare tell me you welded it to my jaw, you facetious piece of scrap. I already know that. Where's the rest of it?//
Reply
[There's a moment of utter disbelief and incredulity where time seems to come to a halt. Then the words cut in, excruciatingly. All the usual righteous indignation and complete and utter sense of injustice explodes through Swindle. It's such an automatic response that he does not even stop to think before he yells:]
// WHAT THE FRAG ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? AND HOW SHOULD I KNOW WHERE YOUR PRIMUS DAMNED BATTLE MASK IS?
[He shakes with rage,] // AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE FRAG YOU ARE EITHER! HOW WOULD I KNOW?
Reply
//THEN WHO THE SLAG DID THIS? Was it that other Swindle? WHO WAS IT? And what the slag happened to my databanks?//
[He heaves on the chains. He needs to get free, find Swindle, beat the truth out of him. It must have been Swindle; why would he bother comming if not to gloat?]
Reply
// I DON'T SLAGGIN' KNOW!
[The pain which is suddenly all through Swindle is intense, and he sits down, clutching at his chest, his voice still shaking, but with sheer emotion now, and not rage.]
// Who did what, Vortex? I didn't do anything .... I called you because .....I haven't seen you .....and I can't reach you ..... not since ....
[But he can't finish. Because a sickening chill runs through his circuits. The other Swindle. Oh yeah - his counterpart is more than capable of doing a lot of damage, he knows. And would do it quite readily to the copter. And Swindle has gone and left the caves again - exactly what he told his AU self he wouldn't do.]
[Oh Primus - the thought of that is unbearable. He can't think it.]
[Intaking deeply, Swindle controls the sickening horror and swallows hard.]
// Vortex - what is going on?
Reply
[He strains against his bonds, but the chains just won't give.]
//I DON'T KNOW!//
[Oh slag. Wrong answer. Showing weakness in front of Swindle, what the slag is wrong with him? Think before acting, think before acting. Frag. He can do this around Autobots. He can do it around most Decepticons. Just not his team. He glowers at the energon bars, wishing they were closer.]
Reply
// WELL STOP SHOUTING AT ME!! Realizing he’s shouting, Swindle controls himself. With difficulty.
[Rubbing a hand over his helm, his intakes letting out a deep hiss, Swindle says despairingly:] // Look - Vortex .... I could have told something had fragged up, even even if you hadn't said anything. I’m your team mate, for frag’s sake! But I don't know what your problem is. Honest! \\
[Trying to ignore the dull ache which pervades all through him, Swindle swallows hard. Getting up, he starts to pace.]
// Look - I can help you. Perhaps. But not if you don't tell me anything! Now - if you can’t tell me - for Primus sake open the slaggin’ bond! \\
[A note of desperation creeps into Swindle’s voice:] // Please, Vortex! Open the bond! \\
[He never imagined that he would need to feel the copter so badly.]
Reply
[He takes a while to pause, riding out the rage in silence until he feels that he might be able to speak without exposing his weakness.]
[And when he finally does speak, his tone is smooth and calm, like ice about to crack.] //Don't ask that. Never ask that.//
[Another flare of anger. Do they want him weak? Is that it? It makes sense to him. Swindle more so than Blast Off - but both of them had done it, asking him to re-open the bond when they'd never condescended to recpriocate before. No reason they'd reciprocate now. It must be a trap, although he has no idea right now what kind.]
//What makes you think you have the right to ask that?//
[He vents slowly, forcing himself to relax]
//I want my battle mask back, I mean the rest of it. You want to help-// [He sniffs in derision, of course Swindle doesn't want to help, it's a ploy, nothing more] //-you'll fraggin' well find out what happened to it.//
Reply
[Another sickening, icy shard pierces Swindle, and his frame shudders. He hates me. He’s always hated me, but at least I had the bond. I was right, what I thought before. I’ve fragged it up. I could have made this all right but now the whole thing’s fragged, and its all my fault.]
[He says in a small, deflated voice:] I don’t have any right to ask you. I won’t do it again. But I’ll find your mask, if I can .....
[He hesitates,]
// Vortex, are you sure it isn’t on your face, and you just can’t feel it?
[He wonders vaguely what the copter looks without it. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen him - without it.]
Reply
[The rage returns; condescending heap of scrap metal... But a condescending heap of scrap metal who's talking to him, who's wiling to do things for him (although his exact motives remain unclear).]
[Still, he cannot help the growl which accompanies his words] //It isn't on my face. You think I can't look down? You think I don't know what my own nose looks like? It's not there. Someone tore it off.//
[He isn't about to mention the vocaliser.]
Reply
[Swindle stops his pacing, shuttering his optics and trying not to dwell on the sorrowful implications of the growl.]
[He figures if Vortex is hurt then he needs to be patient, and try not get too upset about the growl. Mechs get snarky when they're hurt - and it may even be due to the non face masked state, and not the existence in the universe of he, Swindle, at all.
[Swindle concentrates on mustering a 'soothing' tone. Even though this does not really come naturally to him. Especially with Vortex.]
// All right, all right! Shh~ \\ [he remembers Blast Off made that noise when they interfaced, and it had a calming effect and stopped him overloading straight away. // Hang in there. I'll find it. Trust me! \\
[Swindle clicks off the com and sits down, thinking hard. Having said that - well - how is he going to find the bloody thing? I mean - does he wander around the Nexus, looking in various 'locations' and asking anyone he comes across if they've seen it?]
[Swindle never had to do anything like this before ( ... )
Reply
[Blast Off still not in a full recharge, he is forcefully pulled out of his daze by Swindle’s comm. His systems would have ignored every other mech, but Swindle is team, and the fraggin’ gestalt programming causes a state of importance for every comm. of the other four.
He groans in annoyance and rubs his forehead.
Vortex’ side of the bond is still closed. Great. Well, whatever, he didn’t care anymore, right?
At least that is what he tells himself, because his side still isn’t completely closed.
When he answers, Blast Off sounds tired.]
// Yeah, I’m here… it’s not that I could go anywhere… //
Reply
[By the time Blast Off comms back, Swindle is in a state of agitation. Although he registers that the bond is open, he fails absolutely to register any discomfort on the part of the shuttle.]
[A barrage of words spew forth.]
// Blast! I need your help. There's kind of - a gestalt emergency. Vortex lost his battle mask. Yeah - he did! He reckons it got ripped off - he must've got in some kind of fight. Probably with the Autobots. He wants me to find it.
// I mean - I'm trying to be nice - you know! Even though - well where do I start? I mean - I'm a businessmech! I sell stuff like that - not look for lost ones! Can you imagine it? [He puts on his "sales" voice:] Say Rodimus .... Prowl .... I think there was a scrap - did you happen to see a Combaticon battle mask lying around? Say - I know this is out of order, but can I have it back? There is a truce on, after all ( ... )
Reply
[Too may words, like so often with Swindle… Right now it’s even worse because of his tiredness and low charge.]
// No, haven’t seen it anywhere… Swindle, I’m in the brig. And so is Vortex. I have no idea what happened to his mask, but he was in medbay a few joors ago… //
Reply
Leave a comment