1009/Medics, Guards, and Prisoners of War.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off sits on his berth, staring at nothing in particular. Vortex likely sleeps in the next cell... he's not exactly sure what's going on with the rotary but he's unable to see, either, so he has to just try and hope things are alright. At least he \*hears\* Tex in there sometimes, even read to him the other cycle. Mostly the hours just drag on and on and he sits, defeated and dull, staring into the void. Is this it? Maybe if he doesn't look at the walls they won't close in on him.

He keeps the datapad hidden, usually, not wanting the novels Swivel snuck into his armor to be confiscated. Usually it's the dead of night when he dares take it out, or when the gaurd just passed by and he knows he's got a few clicks before the next round. A finger twitches as he considers trying to take it out again and read a few more paragraphs... but should he? His hand starts reaching under the armor...

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid comes by to see what the fuss is with the prisoners and to check on thier condition. He nods to the guards. "Hi, I'm First Aid from medical." he says in a soft voice. "I'm here to do a medical check and evaluation on the high security prisoners we captured recently, if that's allright?" the meek voiced medic says from the hall.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock is with First aid, her battle mask in place, finials drooped, she looks tired, and... Well she's quiet, standing alongside First Aid, her ridges knitte, she'd wave to who was there, given this was her.. Third? trip here, and meeech, did she not want to be here, she was still trying to mentally cope with everything that had happened.

      "Corporal Starlock, Also with medical, and accompanying him." She'd nod.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Once again, Hammerstrike is a volunteer guard at the prison, just to fill the gaps due to the recent increase in security until more permanent staff can be hired. The mech walks steadily down the corridor that Blast Off and Vortex' cells are in, keeping his optics out for any violations. His heavy footfall can be heard from a distance, so at least there's no danger in him sneaking up on anyone.

The guard posted at that blocks checkpoint nods to First Aid, verifying his identification through their database. "Medic First Aid. No flags. Cleared to go, but you are not to ever be alone with a prisoner without a guard present. Do you understand?" The guard looks passed towards Starlock, running her through as well. It doesn't matter she's been there before or that he recognizes her. It's protocol. "Same rules apply to you. Always have a guard present." THe mech unlocks the door and lets them in, telling them the location of the prisoners. He then radios the guards on that floor to be expecting medical.

Hammerstrike pauses. It's an anomaly for his particular footsteps to pause unless there's something amiss. <<"Got it.">> Hammerstrike responds, turning to wait for the aforementioned medical staff to enter.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off hears those heavy footsteps in time and his hand whips back to his lap. Welp, will have to wait a bit. Ah well... he seems to have plenty of waiting time. An eternity, perhaps. The shuttleformer's arms rest on his lap, hands draped over his legs and fingers slightly touching as he stares, optic a dull violet-gray, at nothing in particular.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid nods to Starlock. "Godo to have you here. Im going to see how the prisoners are doing, and if they ahve been taken care of." he pauses by the first cell, lookingg in on the shuttleformer. "So this is Blast Off?" he asks. "Wow. He's..different up close."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock vented out a huff. "Hope so, Vortex should be resting, given how heavily I needed to repair his processors, and /hopefully/ the medical staff here have been following proper medication scheduling." She'd grumble in a low tone of voice, she wasn't going to hide she knew this place was... Well.. /known/ for things.

      Starlock unforntattly doesn't get to much further into her thoughts when she hears First Aid say that and just... places her hand over her goggles.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Hammerstrike sees the two medics enter. He nods to them both and walks over, stopping when they peer into Blast Off's cell. One hand unholsters a weapon, while the other hand hovers over the locking mechanism. "Do you need to check on this prisoner?" Hammerstrike asks. It doesn't hurt to double check. He looks between Starlock and First Aid, expression dour but otherwise unreadable.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off is staring straight ahead when the two medics arrive. He doesn't really acknowledge them at first, seemingly lost in his own little world. However, First Aid's mention that 'he doesn't look the same up close' causes the Combaticon to glance the medic's way. Exactly how \*should\* he look, he wonders? He looks away as Starlock mentions Tex's treatment. That's good to hear, at least. He still doesn't make much of an ackowledgement of the visitors other than a tensing in his frame when Hammerstrike steps up and asks if they want in the cell. Great.

**First Aid has posed:**
How should he look? he's a Decepticon. A Combaticon. He should look fierce, nasty. But he doesn't. "What happened to them?" he asks. "Injuries from the escape attempt? It..." He says. "Did anyone use non-lethal control methods?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock knits her ridges and while they can't see it, she's cringing. "Ye,s and...Uhhhhhh." is the only thing that escapes her voice box in response to non-lethal controls. "...Everything was... A mess." She'd simply state, taking in a nervous vent, trying to gently ease Aid into it.

      She'd then look up at Hammerstrike and give him a polite nod. "I'd like to check on 'em, ensure nothings come undone or... Been added." She'd state.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Hammerstrike shrugs his massive shoulders as he lets the medics in to examine Blast Off. Of course, he stays near by, keeping an optic on the sniper. Even if he doesn't appear as nasty as First Aid seems to think he should. He has nothing to say about how the prisoners were handled during their escape. He was not there. Speaking of non-lethal measures, Hammerstrike has a Garrus issue stun weapon at the ready.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off remains silent, though once they open the door he finally deigns to look at them for a moment. The sniper tenses and sits straight, hands balling into loose fists but still not otherwise moving or speaking. He stares into the middle distance ahead, not really focused on anyone in particular, waiting for what they're going to do. He does glance to the door- but he also sees the guard there, stun weapon ready.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid enters the cell "I'm going to eed a full scan of you, if that's ok." he says to Blast Off. He gives Hammerstrike a nod before saying to starlock. "I want to make sure Blast Off, here." he figures the shuttle is Blast Off and the rotary is Vortex. The other way around would just be a silly naming pattern. "Has the right energon and right repairs. He is our prisoner, but we do not torture, or let people starve."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock's frame relaxes a little when she hears First aid state that, but it doesn't make her feel or look any less rigid, because once more, she knows this place does not have a good rep. Once she's stepped into the cell, she would force her mask to slide back into her helm, and gives Blast Off a.. Sad, but soft smile, Before stopping in the center of the cell.

      "Is it alright, for me to approach?" She'd ask Blast Off.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
When First Aid mentions that Autobots do not torture or let people starve, Hammerstrike just looks at First Aid for a few solid moments. Yet, again, his expression is unreadable beyond his usual grim set of the jaw and mouth. He then goes back to watching Blast Off closely.

**Blast Off has posed:**
So now Blast Off's gaze goes to First Aid as he watches what the medic is doing. Full scan, great. Just great. He might find the datapad. Not that he can really stop the medic or anything. He does quirk an optic ridge at the niave medic, though... he doesn't REALLY believe that, does he? Neither can he stop Starlock, though the gesture of asking is nice, he supposes. The sniper raises both his hands in a gesture to show he's unarmed, obviously. That seems to be his way of saying 'sure'.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid looks very sincere. "I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with." he runs the scanner over Blast Off's body. He pauses when he detects a datapad, nods to the Combaticon as if letting hi know he knows he has it and hes not taking it "Its ok." He says softly. "This one's a model prisoner. I was expecting violence from these two. This is not at all what I expected out of Combaticons. Have they..been questioned? Has there been a trial?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock's closes her optics and gives an awkward smile to Blast off as FirsT aid speaks, as if it's an apology. She would approach though, once he gave her the okay, and nodded to him. She'd start checking on the wounds she'd patched up before, ensuring they had not gotten infected, or had their weldings break.

      She'd cringe again, and knit her ridges, glancing away from First aid, trying to hide her clear discomfort. "Uhhhh...."

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Hammerstrike tilts his head, perplexed at First Aid. "Prisoners of war don't need trials." Hammerstrike states flatly but firmly. It's the first time the mech as voiced any sort of opinion. His focus returns to Blast Off.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off watches the Protectobot, frame still stiff. Then he huffs and finally speaks with a tired but cultured drawl, "I'm not /comfortable/ with \*any\* of this." Not that it matters, of course. He freezes when it seems First Aid has detected his datapad, then dares relax eeeever-so-slightly at that nod. Then he has to sort of laugh at the last question about a 'trial', a bitter little chortle, really. "Trial? Really?" He glances towards Starlock, who's begun to look at his previous injuries. He ends by looking at Hammerstrike. "Do they even \*give\* trials in this place?"

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid nods "Of course not." he says softly. "Who would be. "Of course a trial. Tht's what civilized mechs..." he says. "Maybe they don't." He sighs and looks down "No one deserves to be held for life without at least having a trial for their crimes." He says. "It looks like you're haivng some gumming in your systems. Have you been fully repaired or cleaned after the escape attempt?" he asks, his face showing concern for the prisoner.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock gave Blast off a slight raise of her ridge, he was being treated better then she'd been in the other, but... She'd glance down, no, she didn't have a right to be feeling like that. She'd nod once she ensures his wounds of healed and nodded.

      "...I was the one that saw to everyone after what happened." She'd finally say in a coherent sentence. She did glance to First aid and then back to Blast Off as she stood up propper... She could agree with that.. There where other things she wanted to say in regards to that, but remained silent. "Seems your wounds are healing alright."

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Hammerstrike's optics narrow with a hint of a disapproving scowl when Blast Off remarks about not being comfortable about any of this. But after saying his piece, her just stands back and lets the medics work. He is listening though. Listening, and watching.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off remains sitting on his bench berth as the medics do their thing. His brow furrows down as First Aid speaks. "I will be surprised if I ever actually get a \*trial\*. More likely a visit to your \*Institute\* where I never get heard from again.... or I come back miraculously "cured" and suddenly loving the Autobots."

His gaze drops down, then up at Starlock. He meets her optics unabashedly... he \*is\* uncomfortable, it's the truth! Then he looks at both, "She repaired me, yes. And Vortex." Now his face is pinching aghain, and some of the attitude disappates as he asks quietly, "...What happened to Vortex?"

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid pauses. "Well, the institute is in use but its not the way you think it is. It's voluntary, and used to restore people to their right minds- but only if they want it." he says. "We don't reprogram people." He says softly. "its unethical." he nods to Starlock. "You did a great job on hi. These ceramic tiles look very fragile." he pauses. "Is your friend in a similiar condition?" he asks.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock knits her ridges and cringes again, her lip twitching up at the horror of that thought, which likely didn't help First aid's suspicions. She'd look down and away in shame... She had no proof, well, no blatant proof, but all of the little things, like /Soundwave/ trying to warn her away from digging, Siegebreaker, Blast Off's experience with Pharma, how /convenient/ it had appeared during one of her rougher states of mind, and not so long after she'd gotten the information regarding the Thinning plague from Rosie, and what Pharma himself had stated in that alie... It all had her, at least in her mind "Paranoid" of it.

      Her hands had started trembling lightly, and mentally, had to put up a shield to calm herself down to stop it, and took a vent and went on with her work, and looked back to Blast Off, thinking.

      "Normally, Doctor-patient confidentiality would be cited, but seeing as you are... in essence, family, I don't think I am violating anything by telling you." She'd state, glancing back to Hammerstrike as if double checking her assessment.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
FOr a moment, Hammerstrike's expression breaks into just the slightest hint of... fluster? THey widen and he jerks his head back a little when Starlock looks to him. His free hand rises, a gesture indicating he's about to say something, then it hangs there. He glances hither and thither, like someone trying to recall an important detail. Then he clears his vents, optics narrowing as he brings himself up to his full height, shoulders squared. "If he wasn't told about Vortex, then it was for a reason." Hammerstrike then nods, as if assuring himself that was the correct response.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off blinks and just... stares at First Aid. "..." Then he lets out a short barking laugh, quite unlike his usual quiet, dignified demeanor. "Ha! You \*really\* believe that?" He just... stares some more. "I've \*Been\* here before, been your...\*guest\* before, and if you really believe the Autobots are \*never\* unethical, then..." he starts shaking his head. "You can't \*possibly\* be \*that\* niave\*, can you?"

The rest of the dialog between Starlock and Hammerstrike causes the Combaticon's face to pinch in again. He looks to each in turn. "Yes, \*something\* happened to my 'friend'." He stares at Starlock, feeling more nervous about the rotary's condition after the guard's response. "What. Happened. to. Vortex." He again asks- empathically.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid pauses. "I'll be checking him next anyways, unless that's not the case?" he asks. "Autobots should not be unethical. I didnt say it never happens. Just that it shouldnt and if it has? You have my sincere appologies. I'm going to run scans on him next and if something happened to him, I will let you know ok?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock gave Hammerstrike a slightly a smile when she noticed the larger stoic bot become flustered for a moment, some reason she found that endearing, but his response would cause her glance up at the cell ceiling in thought, that would of been her job, wouldn't it? Back when she'd repaired them both? it had slip her processors while she was focused on repairing Vortex's.

      She'd vent a sigh at Blast Off and Aid's interactions and just settled herself into a stiff position, crossing her arms, and looked Blast Off in the visor, hoping he would understand just what she'd done.

      "Mm, Guess I forgot to say then in the Chaos of everything." She'd ven a huff. "....I was the one to repair him, he'd suffered a traumatic head wound which damaged his processors, I spend a few cycles repairing it... It's taking a few solar-cycles for it to re-sync properly, to ensure there is no damage or data corruption. He's suffering some paralyzation from it, but he should recover." She'd nod.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Hammerstrike, still holding himself at his fullest height, takes a menacing step towards Blast Off. However, he does not point his weapon at Blast Off, but it is in his hand. It has been the whole time. "You are in no position to make demands!" Hammerstrike then looks down at First Aid. He clears his vents noisily, and then leans down, speaking to First Aid quietly. "It's not your place to tell the prisoner anything. The other prisoner's well-being may be important when he's questioned." Hammerstrike then straightens up, glaring at Blast Off with even greater disapproval.

And that disapproval quickly turns on Starlock. Just as she finishes saying that she was the one to repair Vortex, Hammerstrike noisily clears his vents. "That is enough." He says loudly. "You've scanned him, his repairs have held. I think it's time you moved along."

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid frowns under his mask "Why do I get a feeling no one wants me to see what's going on here? I know violent force was used to contain the breakout and that it was probably necessary. What are you guys hiding from me and why are you being so dodgy? Am I out of line here?" he asks. "Am I violating some sort of protocol checking on these two?" he nods . At Hammerstrike's words, he nods "I understand. I should have asked in a more secure place. I am stepping out of line. My appologies." he seems like he wanted to continue, but the wind has been taken out of his sails. "Yeah. I scanned him. He seems to be healing well." He shuffles towards the door quietly, head low, thinking about something to himself. "Am I permitted to scan the other one and make private notes?" he asks, his voice sounding oddly numb and professional.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off settles down as First Aid responds and says he'll let him know how his brother is doing. He doesn't verbally reply but simply eyes the medic, then nods. As Starlock speaks he looks her way, expression (what's visible of it behind the mask, at least) turning tense and somber as he locks onto every word. And then- suddenly Hammerstrike lays down the hammer.

The shuttleformer stares up at the much bigger guard and for a second looks huffy and outraged, vents drawing in air as if he's about to protest.... but soon the guard's continuing forcible reaction has the shuttleformer leaning back instead, armor plates flattening. He... isn't in any position to protest, so his gaze suddenly drops down and he leans back against the wall, one hand coming to rest balled up against the other in his lap. "..."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock doesn't get as far as "I repaired him." When Hammerstrike shouts over her, flinches even, and... Her optics just darken, and a frown, a sneer even, twists into her face as Hammerstrike unfortunately hits an already weakening spot. She'd glare at the wall, and take a deep vent as her mask slams back into place to hide her expression, as she also forced back tears that where welling at her optics, and swallowed hard.

      She'd straighten her posture, balled her hands into tight fists behind her back, trying hard to not allow the talons to dig into her palms, and would leave Blast Off's Cell. "I'm done." She's state codly as she started leaving the Prison. "You need to calm down." she'd add as she passed Hammerstrike and continued on, not responding to Aid.

**Hammerstrike has posed:**
Hammerstrike squints at First Aid as he gets suspicious and high and mighty. He tilts his head, seeming more perplexed than annoyed. However, whatever question is on his mind, he does not voice. First Aid backs down and owns that he was out of line, which seems to sate the large mech. Hammerstrike brings out a datapad with his free hand, looking at it for a moment. "Yes." He then tucks the pad away, nodding to First Aid. "But you will need a guard with you for that as well."

When Starlock and First Aid agree they are done, Hammerstrike nods to them, gesturing for them to leave. However, again, he looks somewhat bemused when Starlock mentions that he needs to calm down. He glances over at the prisoner, then at the medics, reaching his free hand up to scratch the side of his helmet. However, he doesn't say anything in his defense. "This way." Once the medics are out, he leaves and locks the cell.

**First Aid has posed:**
First Aid sighs taking that last bit as directed to him. "I know. Im sorry. I ...I shouldnt have came." he says. "We take too much of a vested interest dont we." he sighs, reaching out for Starlock. "Lemme walk you back to the shuttle. Maybe buy you an engex."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off keeps his gaze on the floor, not moving or saying much as the guard and medics leave. "..." He glances up as he hears Starlock mention a 'shuttle', causing a soft, sad sigh from the shuttleformer. That's a FREE shuttle, who or whatever it is... one that gets to fly away from here. Something he'd sure like to do. He has a flickering, crazy impulse to loudly offer HIS shuttling services to the Autobots.... but nah. The crazy impulse fades and he's back in his cell, all alone. Still not sure how Vortex is doing.

One hand pushes into the other, just to \*feel\* something, then he relaxes again, starting to stare blankly out of the cell once more. He'll be like this awhile, but at least he still has his novels to read. He also wonders if that orange medic \*really\* is that niave. One hand lifts up and starts scratching a heat shield on his other arm, digging into the ceramic tiles. Maybe he can /feel/ enough for both him and Tex, right now. He keeps picking at them.