1121/Investigating a small Quickswitchuation

**Rung has posed:**
Rung is admittedly a little curious about Quickswitch and looking forwards to meeting him, after giving the six-changer's file a quick read. He's left the door to his office ajar and he's seated behind his desk, arms folded neatly on its surface and his fingers interlaced.

 Sitting behind a stack datapads and other office knick-knacks on his desk is a model ship. It's unpainted and half-assembled, and it looks like Rung simply forgot he'd left it out.

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch hasn't ever seen the Autobot psychiatrist and, if asked, he would state there was nothing wrong and no need for such a visit. Nevertheless, he pushes the door open and sees the very small therapist. Sees the half-made ship on his desk, takes tock of everything, "Hello.. Are you Rung? It's Quickswitch.. Starlock sent me.." The large Autobot looks for a place to sit, and finds one, considerately fitting his size. Uncertainty bathes his facial features, ever tumultuous with emotion. He sits, rests an elbow on the chair and his face against his hand.

**Rung has posed:**
Rung greets Quickswitch with a warm smile. "Yes, I'm Rung. It's good to meet you, Quickswitch."

 He gives the six-changer some time to get comfortable in his seat, and studies the much larger mech quietly. That uncertain expression is a dead giveaway that there's something troubling Quickswitch - then again, it's a little obvious, since it's usually troubled people who seek out a psychiatrist in the first place.

 "How are you?" Rung asks. "Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
The six-stranded thoughts weave and flow within the mind of the Sixchanger. There's a very slight delay--all but the most practiced observer wouldn't notice--while the thoughts parley, war, and finally decide. Throughout this, the sixchanger's face threatens a twitch, "It's, um, fine," he says in a crisp voice, "It's /fine./ I don't know why Starlock would refer me to you, I mean really." --he's trying to help-- -- with what?-- --so much emotion-- --I--

**Rung has posed:**
Rung nods understandingly. "I'm glad to hear that. I would guess that Starlock referred you to me because she's concerned for you, and believes that you would benefit from speaking with me. Do you know why she might be concerned for you?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch's optics flare for a moment and then shutter as his thoughts tangle together. Finally, Quickswitch speaks, calm, contented, "Woke up injured deep in the undergrid. Don't remember how I got there," he shrugs and smiles, "I appreciate her concern, but I haven't experienced anything like that since then."

**Rung has posed:**
Rung frowns a tiny frown. "Let's try to rule out physical damage. Were your memory banks altered or damaged in any way?" He pauses, then continues, "I imagine Starlock and any other medic who treated you would have made note of it if your memory banks were damaged, but I would like to be certain."

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch shakes his head, fins moving with the certainty he feels, "No, my memory banks sustained no damage," Quickswitch tells Rung, "I cannot account for this."

**Rung has posed:**
Well, not like he hadn't been expecting that response. Rung adjusts his spectacles. "Do you remember what you were doing and where you were before the incident?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
"Yes," the friendly sixchanger offers, "I was in battle, fighting Decepticons," he nods, "Then, I woke up in darkness, far below the surface. I couldn't tell you how much time had passed, man."

**Rung has posed:**
Rung blinks. "Might you have been knocked out and then dragged down to the undergrid and abandoned there?" he suggests. "I apologize if my questions are obtuse. I'm still trying to rule out all of the simple causes for what happened."

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch considers this possibility, "I suppose it could be possible..." he trails off, "But there are no reports of me being dragged from the battle..." he sounds confused, "I--I don't know what to believe!" he throws his hands up and wails.

**Rung has posed:**
"It's alright," Rung says gently, trying to calm Quickswitch down. "Let's try to solve this together." He goes silent for a bit as he thinks. "Have you experienced anything like this in the past?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch's brows draw close together, "..I don't think..." he scours his memory banks, "..at first...at first.." he says in a near whisper, "Then my mentor taught me..." His face is intense with a maelstrom of emotion.

**Rung has posed:**
Rung leans forwards, eyebrows knitting, trying to catch every one of Quickswitch's whispers. He doesn't prompt the other mech to repeat himself or continue, though. Better to let him say his piece without interruption or interference.

**Quickswitch has posed:**
"I learned to focus," Quickswitch continues, "Then, everything was... don't know..." his headfins droop, "Can you help me, doctor..?" he asks quietly.

**Rung has posed:**
"I will do my best to help you," Rung promises promptly. "If I may ask, what do you mean by 'learned to focus'?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
"Sixshot taught me," the sixchanger explains, "He taught me to acknowledge the voices, while focusing beyond and with them," Quickswitch looks uncertain if that makese sense, "If--...that makes sense..."

**Rung has posed:**
Rung blinks in surprise. He hadn't expected such an answer. Something he'd read in Quickswitch's file nags at him, and he decides to risk prying further.

 "Voices?" he asks. "Could you tell me more about them, please?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
"Voices," Quickswitch repeats, "Inside your head." he speaks as if this is common sense, yet he's growing agitated at the question, "Everyone has them," he insists. He stands, towering over Rung, "Don't tell me otherwise!"

**Rung has posed:**
Rung remains calm - on the outside, that is. There's that automatic surge of fear when Quickswitch looms over him, but he maintains composure.

 "I wasn't going to," he answers evenly. "I'm merely curious about your voices. What are they like?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
"The voices.." Quickswitch continues, "They're..inside my head..they're me... but not me.." Quickswitch shakes his head, headfins drooping, "..Focus is to concentrate on a single center.." he tries to articulate to the psychiatrist, "Sixshot said to focus past them.. on a single concentrated point.."

**Rung has posed:**
Rung taps his chin thoughtfully. Voices that are him, but also not him. An idea pops into his head.

 "Do these voices have distinct personalities of their own?" he asks. He briefly considers mentioning some of the bits he's seen in Quickswitch's file, and decides not to bring it up. No point making the six-changer any more distraught.

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch considers, beginning to tremble as he does, thoughts growing into a thick tangle, optics growing wider and wider, brighter and brighter, "They--I--we--are all different.." he whispers, "But that's normal.. isn't it?"

**Rung has posed:**
"With how diverse minds and personalities are, who truly knows what 'normal' is?" Rung asks. He pauses, then frowns. "May I ask why you are so concerned with 'normal?"

**Quickswitch has posed:**
"Because I'm so different," Quickswitch says readily, "Everyone else has two, sometimes three, modes," he taps his digits together, "I have six," he says, "Sixshot and I have six." he sounds uncertain, "We're freaks."

**Rung has posed:**
Rung feels a pang of sympathy for Quickswitch and can't help but wonder what the more zealous functionists might say about someone with six altmodes. Probably nothing pleasant or polite. "Quickswitch," Rung replies gently, "Your altmode, or altmodes, do not define you. You are an individual, first and foremost."

**Quickswitch has posed:**
Quickswitch's headfins twitch, "..for so long..I've been 'the sixchanger.'...out in public they want to see me transform.. or they see Sixshot, or they /don't/ see Sixshot," his tone turns jagged and crisp, "Denouncing me as his inferior." the sixchanger's hateful tone grows.

**Rung has posed:**
"Not everyone has the tact or the mindfulness to see past another's oddities..." Rung trails off thoughtfully to ponder the sudden sharp change in Quickswitch's tone. Hmm. He makes a few notes on his datapad before continuing, "Remember, you are not beholden to passers-by. You do not have to entertain their requests, and if they won't take no for an answer, you are not obligated to remain in their presence."

**Quickswitch has posed:**
"Nor do I oblige them," Quickswitch answers crispy, "Idiots all. If they won't take no for an answer they risk my wrath," Quickswitch gives an insufferable sigh, "This is hardly how I wanted to spend my time, talking incessently and uselessly like this, you know," and the assault unit rises from the chair, "...This conversation," it utters in a dread voice, "Is over..." without waiting for Rung to answer, Quickswitch heads for the door and abruptly leaves.