118/The Customer Is Always Right

**Swivel has posed:**
Bumpity-bump-bump goes the little vehicle that is more wheel than anything else as it zips along off of the main roads, where things have fallen into some disrepair. The little grounder is heading north towards Rodion proper, coming from the direction of Dead End of all places.

**Quantum has posed:**
The Dead End is hardly the best place for someone like Swivel, especially in such turbulent times. So perhaps it wouldn't come as much of a surprise to her when her keen senses probably pick up on someone following her down the road.

    It's not quite as obvious at first, with the amount of other traffic around, but after a few breems it becomes evident that whoever this is, they're trying to keep her in their sights...

**Swivel has posed:**
It isn't paranoia when someone is actually out to get you. When going out of her way to avoid other traffic still keens her in on the sense that something or someone is following her, the little femme alters her course to a more direct path, even if it goes completely off road, to more populated areas, ones that are public enough that there would be enough witnesses to deter most minor thugs, but not so busy that one can get lost and easily shanked in a crowd.

**Quantum has posed:**
Unfortunately, it seems Swivel has gotten herself into trouble with someone who is a bit of a step up from a minor thug. Okay, that's an understatement.

    The stranger continues to follow her, though hangs back every once and a while. It seems they are waiting for her to arrive at her destination, or perhaps go somewhere a bit more isolated. Or...something. They are waiting for something.

**Swivel has posed:**
Becoming increasingly more aware that she isn't seeming to shake whoever is following her, the little vehicle begins to speed up. While dashing towards Rodion, the femme is also on the look out for any tiny nooks or tunnels that she would barely fit in herself, much less the average Cybertronian.

**Quantum has posed:**
There is a limit to how fast Swivel can go with this level of traffic, but given her small and versatile nature she is able to maneuver ahead of the flow. As she approaches the outskirts of Rodion, it would appear that she has lost the stalker. At least, he's no longer visible among the rest of the traffic behind her.

**Swivel has posed:**
This is not time to become complacent. Swivel does not lower her speed in the least, wishing to put as much distance between herself and her stalker (or her delusion if it comes to that) as possible. Using this level is speed makes Swivel a bit uneasy since she is badly in need of a tune-up. She knows she is pushing her body more than she had in a while, and knows, later on, she will likely pay for it.

**Quantum has posed:**
Nothing further happens yet, and Swivel is able to reach Rodion safely. No sign of the stalker...has he really gone?

**Swivel has posed:**
Exhausted (and probably exhuding some rather rank exhaust) and shook up, Swivel transforms into her root mode, heading towards the Maccadams. And experience like that certain requires a drink, and she has the shanix to spare. Odd how she is barely making ends meet and she always seems to have shanix to spare on engex these days. Swivel doesn't remember spending this much time in bars. Her mind ping-pongs between whether she imagined something following her or not, and trying to remember just how often she went to pubs before she left Cybertron.

**Quantum has posed:**
Maccaddam's looks as it normally does, fairly busy but not super packed at this time of the day. Maybe she had indeed been delusional about someone following her. There were a lot of people out on the expressways anyway, so perhaps she was just seeing a number of different people who happened to have similar looking altmodes.

    As she walks in, one of the bartenders asks the usual, "So what can I get ya?"

**Swivel has posed:**
WAlthough Swivel is usually more than happy to take her time and be indecisive about what she wishes to drink, the bartender barely finishes asking her before she blurts out an order of one of the cheapest items on the menu. Whilst Maccadams isn't always friendly, it is reletively safe since the owner has zero-tolerance policy on violence. Swivel imaptiently drums a rhythm on the counter as she waits for her drink, constantly checking over her shoulder just in case.

**Quantum has posed:**
"Got it, coming right up." He nods and moves to start preparing the drink. However, before he walks away, a maroon-colored mech suddenly slides onto the barstool next to her and waves to the bartender. "I'll take whatever she's having. But put 'em both on my tab." The newcomer says with a smile. She might notice he's the same color as the person who appeared to be following her earlier. It's hard to tell if he had the alt mode or not, though.

**Swivel has posed:**
Isn't it funny how when reality gets too real, we talk ourselves into believing that we're crazy, and while we are crazy, we try to convince others that we are sane? Sure the mech nearby might be maroon coloured, but surely, SURELY, Swivel is just being paranoid. Or at least, this is what she convinces herself of. She looks the mech up and down and gives him a nod. She can't very well ignore him when he's bought her a drink. "Uh...... thanks?"

**Quantum has posed:**
"No problem. Anything for the lady." The stranger smiles and nods. "Name's Ricochet, who're you?" See? He's friendly, no need to be paranoid, right?

    The bartender returns briefly with the two drinks, sliding them across the bar toward them. Ricochet grabs one for himself, then pushes the other toward Swivel. "You want something better after this?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"Rick-o-shay?" Swivel repeats. "Hnnn. Tricky name," Swivel remarks. She looks down at her drink, but doesn't immediately dig in. She just seems to stare at it, as if staring at it hard enough might reveal the secrets of the universe. Once no such secrets are discovered, she looks up at the mech once again. "Naaaaaah, I dun wanner get a taste fer better. Sides, I limit m'self t'one drink. So... uh.... why ya buyin' me a drink? There're plenty o' folk 'ere more worth yer time. I'm jus' a nobody."

**Quantum has posed:**
"Don't say that, everyone is a somebody, deep down. Why, because there is absolutely no one in the entire rest of the universe who is exactly like you in every way." Ricochet insists. "I try to make sure people remember that, especially people like you. People who deserve to be recognized after being trampled on all the time. You know, before they abolished the caste system and all." He glances at her untouched drink. "You going to drink that or what? I always wait for the other person to drink first." He shrugs. "Dunno why, just a habit. Too polite, maybe."

**Swivel has posed:**
"Hm?" Swivel had been letting her mind wander as Ricochet made his speech about the downtrodden and the like, and when he inquires about her drink, she is drawn back from her own inner thoughts. "Oh... sorry.... roight." Swivel takes a sip of the lack-luster product before putting it down again. "Yer na'ther only bloke I knows that talks loik tha'," Swivel remarks. "Bein' unique dun make ya any less a nobody. But 'en, it really depends yer point o' ref, I s'pose. So ya jus' 'ere coz I look loik a downtrodden loser ta try'n cheer up? Coz tha's awful noice of ya."

**Quantum has posed:**
"A loser, no. Downtrodden--yeah, maybe." Ricochet answers. Unbeknownst to Swivel, her new 'friend' had contaminated her drink with a sedative when he put his hand on it to slide it over to her. Therefore, she suddenly begins to feel drowsy and lethargic, on the verge of passing out. Perhaps that was why he prodded her to drink it. Hasn't anyone ever taught her never to trust strangers?

**Swivel has posed:**
That's some powerful and fast hitting stuff, for all it took was a sip. One of the femme's virtues is also a flaw, and that is her kind and trusting core. and in this situation, that kind and trusting femme is suddenly aware of her senses becoming murky. With her senses already very keen, this alarms her. She looks at the mech with wide optics, although they don't stay wide as they droop. "You....." she begins to say something, but her voice trails off. Swivel tries to get to her feet to try and get away as all of her senses are screaming at her that she is in danger. However, the action is futile and the most movement she can muster is stumbling off of her stool. Sadly, this isn't the first time she's had a dosed beverage. If only the femme would learn.

**Quantum has posed:**
Ricochet smirks as Swivel falls off of the stool. "Ah, poor girl!" He makes a show of catching her. "I'll take care of her." He reassures the bartender, and carries her out.

    When Swivel comes back online, she'll find herself in a darkened room somewhere. A minimal amount of light is coming through a small sliver of a window near the ceiling, and a heavy door is to her left. Across from her is...that mech who threatened her in Maccaddams' earlier. The one who had offered her the job. Except this time he doesn't look so tough. Someone's chained him to the wall and it looks as if he's been beaten pretty badly. She isn't bound to anything herself, but that door doesn't look like it's unlocked on the other side.

**Swivel has posed:**
"Gyurrrrrggg...blblblb...." The sounds of Swivel rousing are not the most dignified or comprehensible. Once Swivel is more or less cognitive, she glanes around at her surroundings. Her optics linger on the form of the mech she had began to simply refer to as the bar-jerk, and she cringes a little bit. She quickly looks away and then experimentally tries to stand up to see if whatever knocked her out was fully worked out of her system. "'Ello? I assume summon's watchin' 'n listenin'. Ya tryna scare be showin' me wot'll 'appen if I dun do wotever ya brought me 'ere? ..... Coz it's workin'!"

**Quantum has posed:**
The affects of the sedative seem to have worn off, and she is able to stand up just fine. A few moments after she starts talking, the door groans and slides open to reveal Ricochet standing there. "Oh, well what do you know, she's awake." He steps inside, the door shutting behind him. "Now, you're not going to act stupid and pretend you don't know what this is about, right? Am I right? Because I -really-, really don't have time for that."

**Swivel has posed:**
Acting stupid is actually one of those thing Swivel does on a regular basis. However, since Ricochet asks so NICELY, Swivel just shakes her head 'no', and continues to stare at Ricochet with wide optics. She doesn't say anything further, and just waits for whatever happens next.

**Quantum has posed:**
"Good, good." Ricochet sits down on an empty crate across from her, pulling out a case not unlike the one 'bar-jerk' had given to her earlier. He sighs. "Scrap, hasn't anyone ever taught you that once someone gives you a job and pays you for that job, you're supposed to actually -do- that job? You know? It's kind of common courtesy, common expectation. Polite, considerate. Everyone sapient in the galaxy understands that, yeah?" He thrusts the case at her. "So do the damn job." Then he nods toward the battered Quantum. "That is, unless you wanna end up like him."

**Swivel has posed:**
Once the case is brought out, Swivel raises her optic ridges - an anxious response. and then she scrunches up her face in distaste. She'd thought she'd gotten rid of it when she gave it to Phantom. The berrating doesn't help her mood either. Swivel considered protesting, saying she didn't actually take the money because she 'botched' the job, but instead she just nods meekly. Swivel takes the case and nods her head again, muttering "Th-thank ya fer givin' me another chance t-ta do it roight...." The customer IS always right, right? Wrong.

**Quantum has posed:**
Ricochet smirks. "You're very welcome. See, you're a quick learner. That's a good thing." He nods, affirming her choice. "And you'd better do it this time, because we're watching you. You don't waste any time, okay? Get it done." He stands up. "Oh, and one more thing. What did you do with the first one, hm?"

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel looks at the case carefully. Yup, it really does look like the other one. She glances at Quantum, cringing again. "....Someone.... Summon 'oo saw 'im offer me th'job innerfered. I dunno 'is name, but 'es a flier. B'yond tha, I kinna tell ya much 'bout 'im. 'Enway, 'e got the package from me." Swivel offers up a shrug. "....'En I git th'job done, wot'll 'appen t'im?" Swivel asks, tilting her head towards Quantum.

**Quantum has posed:**
"Okay first of all you don't let some stranger just take an important payload from you. Second," Ricochet arches an optic ridge at her question. "Why should you care what happens to him? He's not exactly your friend nor your responsibility, and plus he threatened you, didn't he? Tch," He scoffs slighty. "Slag you should be -happy- he's got what he deserves."

**Swivel has posed:**
"Um... I dunna think this is wot 'e deserves fer treatin' me th'way mos' people treat folk loik me. There's lotter jerks, tha's loif fer low caste. Caste system gone or not, tha's a loiftoim livin' it." Swivel shrugs. "An' if it is wot 'e deserves... 'en mebbe ya kin do th'world a favor 'n do tha' to jus' 'bout two thirds o' the population." Swivel puts the case delicately away. "Same target, roight? I kin get it ta Starscream no prob."

**Quantum has posed:**
"Ha, what you think you're the first and only person he's ever treated like scum? You really are naive." Ricochet scoffs once more. "He was, and still is professional killer, don't you know? That, and with a history full of swindling, exploitation, manipulation, pretense and all that just to serve his own agenda or that of his superiors." He grins wickedly. "It's the only reason he's even here right now, because he was willing to sell his loyalties in exchange for shanix. You going to keep defending him -now-?"

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel shakes her head, listening to the list of awful, awful things the mech has done. "'Ent my place t'defend 'im. Jus' sayin' /I'd/ be 'appy t'see 'im tha' way JUS' fer 'ow 'e treated me, well, yer not givin' me much credit." Swivel tilts her head. "Though.... there 'ent much I dun to give ya reason ta credit 'enthin' positive t'me." Swivel glances at the large door. "Well, yer th'one 'oo wants me t'rush this, so kin I go?"

**Quantum has posed:**
Ricochet makes a shooing motion and the door groans open, leading to a corridor that opens directly onto the street. "Yeah, fine. Get going. Same target, same instructions, okay?"

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel nods her head and scurries out. She could not see that there was anything she could do for the other mech in the room, and the second option was to get out of there as quickly as possible. Perhaps he deserved that treatment. Perhaps worse. But Swivel knows better than tot hink she ought to be the judge of that. So instead she focuses entirely on her job and tries to push the image of the battered mech out of her mind.