1152/A Full Moon It Must Be

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex comes into repair bay, looking more like a patient then someone clenaing the place. His feet are torn up, the armor missing almost to the knees, yet hes still somehow walking. One rotor hangs on his back and the other is stabbed through his left hand. He is trailing energon everywhere but doesnt seem aware of it. He starts to prep one of the medbeds, growling as he cleans it, makes it a mess by bleeding, then cleans it again.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    Darkstar was already in the repair bay when Vortex arrived, the mech busy with his own projects that didn't involve fixing up any other mechs. With Dustoff away for the time being he found that it was quite welcoming as far as places to get some side work done are concerned. Datapad in hand, the spacer was busying himself with what few would have ever guessed... Mathematics! "I hate this fraggin' stuff... Always makes my processor hurt," he mumbles, while scratching at the back of his helm. "Hey Heli-Bot... C'mere an' help me figure this out real quick while we're waitin' for the Champs to get back from their play date."

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth would finally come into the medical bay, melted holes in his armor as he limped in, some sparks coming from damaged wires from said holes.. Interesting he wasn't on fire anymore, but it was very clear he was /recently/ on fire. He'd stop on seeing Vortex and his current state and his.. ridges knit, and he cringes a bit.

      "Vortex?" He'd ask going into a coughing fit from the smoke damage to his vent filters. "Chela sake, what happened too you?" He'd ask, going over to the Rotary to offer to help him up. He'd then glanced back at Darkstar, giving him a slight squint.

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex looks up at Darkstar and starts to come over. He doesnt seem very focused at all, his optics flickering off and on. "Okay." his voice is oddly flat. "What are we workng on?" then he sees Goth. "Get on the berth. You look like slag?" He blinks "Me?" he looks to himself. "SOmeone I know is hurt bad and I amke poor life decisions." He answers without his normal chuckle. Hes moving slowly, almost numbly.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    Darkstar glances over to Goth, a ridge quirking as he watches the mechabat take to Vortex as if the rotary was in some kind of trouble. "Oh, that's right... You haven't known Vortex for very long. He almost \*never\* looks like that, be it from battle or self-inflicted wounds," the spacer offers sarcastically with a laugh. "I'm workin' out how to use my FTL for short-range jumps. So's I don't end up offing myself by speeding right into the side of a mountain, or something... I need to have some presets in place. Need to take the speed into consideration to not harm myself when doin' this inside atmosphere, the distance so as not to ram myself into oblivion, and also factor in how long I can actually repeat the process in quick succession without overloading the FTL drive itself... You know, lotta that awful MATH stuff..."

    Shooting Goth another glance as he holds up his datapad for Vortex to take a peek at, Darkstar smirks. "Oh, congrats by the way... You usually look a whole lot worse when you're goin' up against Prowl. Guess you've finally managed to move up in the world."

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth is tempted to argue with Vortex, but Vortex's current state is.. one he recognizes, and his ears fall back and his optics glance around the medical bay as he attempted to process what to do... He'd get himself up on the berth though. "Blast off?" He'd ask Vortex with a raised, trying to get the Rotary to talk to him. "What happened?"

      He'd ask, before he then give Darkstar a dirty, half-lidded look, the spacer knows thats /not/ what Goth was talking about. He'd cross his arms and huff. "Did it without my cloaking device as well." He'd nod, looking up at the ceiling a bit snooty like... He dared not to bring up the fact he'd done the most damage in his /root mode/ of all modes for that matter.

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex nods "Yeah, I can help you with that." he acts like his condition is a normal thing. "Lemme run some numbers while Im workin on Goth. Now, Im no medic but I can glue wounds sh.." he grabs his temples for a moment. "Shut." He shakes hsi head to clear it. "Onslaught's real good at the spreadsheets too. The best." normally he'd be overexcited. But his voice is flat and emotionless. "Ask Sixshot and Soundwave. They were there. Rosy got killed by Juris but she almost died in the process." he says. "Go ahead and laugh but it bothered me. I went for a long long long walk. And kept wlakin until Ons and Boff got worried. Then boff told me I should squeeze a rotor to calm down and I did." he motions to the rotor in his hand and his almsot destroyed feet. "Im better now. Just a little dizzy. Keep leaking on things."

**Darkstar has posed:**
    "Without cloaking? Without CLOAKING!?" Darkstar looks to Goth, optics bright as his jaw hangs open in mock surprise. Then the spacer does what the spacer does... He laughs, and laughs hard. "Good for you! We'll make a real stand-up fighter outta ya' yet, Bats. Now, if you could just start usin' your robo-mode more often I'll hafta start sayin' I'm actually impressed," he notes with a grin before favoring Vortex with a nod.

    "Alright, sounds good ta' me, Heli-Bot. Crazy as you are you're probably the smartest mech I know... Funny how that works out, eh?" Darkstar says, and passes the datapad over to the combaticon. "You're really that broken up about what happened to that DA femme?" Whistling, Darkstar shakes his head. "And all those times you said you weren't inta' her..."

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex shakes his head and mutters. "I Know. I hate her for it too. I dont know. I want to hate her but she tries to look out for me. She called my name when she was being shot at and I had to go in and try to save her. I think theres somethin' broken in my head." he says with a chuckle. "But lucky for you the ma.." He coughs roughtly. "The math part works well." he takes the datapad in his good hand, dripping energon on it as he swipes with the blade hand.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth doesn't laugh, he just knits his ridges in concern, and let out a aggravated sigh, at himself... Whoops, Vortex did actually like Juris, and much like a exhausted parent, he reaches over and pats Vortex's helm. "May I see too your wounds? Your leaking far too much." He'd ask simply, and softly.

      He rolled his optics at Darkstar but mostly ignored him.. Mostly. "Yes, yes well I've found my drones are much dangerous than originally thought." he'd hint.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    Darkstar chuckles and gives Vortex a swat on the pauldron. "You're definitely broken... Emotional attachments are a weakness best lived above. Doesn't mean don't make...eh..friends, but if you ever find yourself actin' in strange ways that make ya question yourself and your priorities?" The space-alt shakes his head. "Glad the math part works anyway. That DA though... She's trouble. You know that better'n anybody, don't ya? You've got the combaticons after all. What'cha need HER for?"

    "When they don't jam on ya', I'm assuming," Darkstar replies to Goth with a snerk. "Don't worry... It happens to every mech once in a while." That's when the spacer lifts his fist to his mouth and coughs.

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex sighs "I don't really know what to think of her. I shouldnt but she understands me. She doesn't treat me like a protoform. She wants to make me stronger and kinda reminds me of Ons like that. And shes got some awesome rotors." he says. "You're hurt too. Anything bleeding? I wish I could do more but it never stuck with me. Medicine. I tried it just..it just won't." his optics are darker the normal and he has lost oa lot of energon. His hands being ripped up are normal but his feet? That's different. They are worn down to the nub "I just kept walking." He says, as he gives his blade hand to Goth. "I dont feel it. I dont feel anything right now. Normally that would upset me but...Im tired, Goth. I've been walking a long long time." he doesnt push away frm the tap like normal. He nods to Darkstar. "I Know. I'll get over it. You're right. I dont need the DA but I want the DA and I dont get it. I should just try to ignore things but its kinda hard t.." he snickers at Darkstar a bit, his rotor on his back spinning a bit. "World's kinda sideways right now. You guys mind if I sit down a minute?"

**Goth has posed:**
     "Well, why don't you go take a look at the undergrid base and tell me, Darkstar." He'd chuckle darkly, before looking back to Vortex softly, and started tending to the poor heli-bots wounds and just sighs out. "Vortex, you are... Experiencing, what I do when I fear I may lose Dustoff." His ears fall back, remembering the panic that one time his partner had returned severely injured.

      "....And what I did, when I lost the other four, we call it mourning." He'd nod as He'd keep attending to the rotary, despite being injured and dirty himself. "It's quite alright, don't have anything to apologize for." He'd nod, and gesture for Vortex to sit down.

      "...Vortex, you also may have what us older meches who've been in relationships, know as a crush." he'd explain, not to imply Vortex was young or dumb, but just not had the experience.

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex grunts "Well its horrible. I hope it stops soon." He says, his rotor moving closer to him in disgust. "Goth? Im gonna lay down. You should too." he says, shaking a bit now. "Im not feeling anything but I know thats not a good thing. I dont wnat to walk anymore so.." he sits down, going a bit limp in the chair.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    "Ahhh... She's your glory," Darkstar finally concedes, though there's a slight shudder within that concession. "I hope you get over it. Puttin' so much of yourself into somethin' as short-lived as an individual is typically what I'd call a bad investment. Still, if it makes you a better warrior overall then I can't say that maybe your...'fixation' isn't a good thing for NOW at least."

    "Yeah, yeah... Undergrid base. Nobody cares about that spot anyway. It's the aft of all bases if you ask me," the mech asides to Goth, while holding back a laugh. "Congratulations anyway. Anythin' that makes the Autobot SIC stew is somethin' I can applaud."

    "Soooo..." he trails a moment, as all of this mushy talk begins to make turn whatever passes for his stomach. "Goth, I'mma need your help with this project too. You're a smart mech jus' like Heli-Bot. Think you can take a look at the data with 'im? I wanna make sure that when I start testin' this evasion technique in the atmosphere I've got at least two of the best processors I know's approval of the data before I go experimentin' with my life."

**Goth has posed:**
     "Yes...It's one of the worst emotional feelings in the world, so I can firmly agree to that." He'd huff. "Rest..." Goth states softly to Vortex, getting him hooked onto an Energon drip as Vortex rested in the chair.

      He'd then look over and give Darkstar a dirty half-lidded look. "You mean like every other day when your not attempting to aft-kiss?" He'd ask, looking over at the datapad with a flinch, those burns really where getting to him, and he'd huff. "I suppose so." He'd sigh.

      "...In return I'd like your help with something actually, should be rather simple for you."

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex nods "You should really rest, Goth. You got beat up pretty bad and I have some numbers I gotta go through.." the combaticon has had one of those rough nights witha lot of energon loss. He limpens in his chair after a moment. "Just gotta shut my optics for the count of fi.." his optics flicker off and hes quite suddenly unconscious. His mind might be ok with the way he treats his body, but his body disagrees. Before he passes out he sneaks a pet of Goth's fur with his good hand. Juse becasue he knows Goth feels weird about it.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    "My aft-kissin' is a strategic endeavor, Bats. Sometimes I mean what I say... In fact, most times I do. Just happen to keep it to myself until I need something," Darkstar replies to Goth matter of factly before he retrieved an e-cig and began to smoke it while Vortex made himself comfortable.

    "Hate ta' see 'im like that..." he murmurs, pitying the emotional nature of some mechs. "I remember when all he wanted ta' do was hunt down Autobot medics and set things on fire... I miss THAT Vortex."

    "Fine. Something for something is the way I operate... Darkstar doesn't really do hand-outs. Makes one weak if you ask me. So, what is it that you want help with exactly?"

**Goth has posed:**
     It does weird him out, there was no denying that, but he can let it slide this time, and mostly chuffs out. "I'm sure he'll be back to his normal self soon enough, may just take a few solar-cycles." He'd nod, walking for his normal berth, groaning in pain.

      Once sitting on the berth he stares at Darkstar for a klik, before he removes the scope he'd scavenged from the Undergrid base, from his subspace to show Darkstar. "I'd appreciate the help in learning how to use this." He'd explain... It was a scope meant to work with his scouting system as an add on to improve accuracy.

      Goth just /waited/ and mentally prepared himself for the jokes, about the fact the bat couldn't hit the broadside of a Sky Lynx.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    Darkstar leans back against the countertop that he'd been working at, his arms folding as he looked across to where Goth sat back and produced the scope. "You...don't know how to use that?" he asks, a ridge rising. "What am I saying? Of COURSE you don't! HAHAHAH!" Yep, Goth knew it was coming so at least the mechabat had time to brace himself. "What do you wanna do with it? Attach it to a weapon..? 'Course you'd need ta' actually use something ranged for that, and I know that ain't exactly your forte`. It'd be smart... Just to diversify a bit."

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth rolled his optics, and placed the scope back into his subspace, and leaned on the berth. "It's meant to work with my internal scouting Systems Darkstar." He'd chuff in irritation. "Basically I'd be able to help myself, and others, take aim at our targets." he'd grumble.

      "I have a Gun, and my soundwave attack." He'd state, crossing his arms, staring at Darkstar. "Though I do need something to at least paralyze /a/ target."

**Phantom has posed:**
"You can practice on me," the elusive seeker scoffs, appearing suddenly, having phased through the repair bay wall.

"You should have seen him," he says to Darkstar. "There was this one time, he was throwing a tantrum about only Primus knows what. Couldn't hit me to save his own damned life," he sneers. His boosters engage, and he ascends to his usual perch on the windowsill.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    "Now that ya' mention it..." Darkstar begins, that smug expression fixed on his face. "A mech in my old unit had an optic-patch mod that used a scope," he offers, and takes another puff of e-cig before pointing at the device. "I'd reverse engineer the thing... Take it apart, and replace the cylinder with one that can extend and retract when not in use. He replaced his original optic entirely. Couldn't tell at first glance... But whenever he needed to take a longshot he'd activate the device, extending it, and then he'd pop off with whatever weapon he was usin'. Damn good shot he was... Took second place ta' me during trials."

    Darkstar grins at hearing Phantom before he saw the Seeker. "Ahhh, welcome to the party, Barely There... Your timing is impeccable," he'd add with a chortle. "You've seen 'em too then? Nobody throws a tantrum quite like Bats over here."

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth would give Phantom a half-lidded look and thought back. "Oh yes, when you suddenly attacked me on my first Mega-cycle on this planet." He'd roll his optics and huff out in aggravation as he recalled the whole ordeal.

      He'd then listen to Darkstar and nodded, it was an interesting concept, but he personally wouldn't replace his optics like that, as his innate scouting equipment was already pretty good as is for that... Buut, he'd then look at Darkstar and just.. Deadpans. "you've clearly not seen videos of Starscream." Low hanging fruit, but damn, Goth was /not/ the worst there was.

**Phantom has posed:**
Phantom laughs, amused by Darkstar's idiocy and Goth's irritation. "/Of course/ I have," he says in response to the spacer. "I've been around Cybertron longer than you."

 "Never seen him, never met him, don't want to," the elusive seeker lies, "and besides, no one would think of doing that in their spare time anyway."

**Darkstar has posed:**
    Darkstar scoffs at Phantom and then barks a single, "HAH!" A hand waves dismissively, "What Cybertron would THAT be? The imaginary one that you're supposedly from originally?"

    Starscream. Yeah, Darkstar just like most of the Decepticons knew all about that one by now. "He's a piece of work I'm told... Supposedly good in a fight in spite of all of the other slag that comes along with him personality wise." Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. "'Long as he can go servo to servo with me in combat I'd have to allow 'im a tantrum or two... Two's my limit though if it is as you say, and his are even worse than yours," says the spacer with a wide grin.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth would give Darkstar a rude gesture, but this was clearly normal between the two. "Please you actively antagonize me into them." He'd state to Darkstar as he leaned on the berth tiredly. "Though your team mae does sound like they had an interesting set up, while I rather not have to replace my optic, or optics, due to my scouting system being innate... i'll see what I can do with it." he'd hem.

      He'd then glance to Phantom, when Darkstar brings up.. That, and slowly inches away from Darkstar.

**Phantom has posed:**
A very strange expression comes over Phantom features and he slips off the windowsill and reaches forward wordlessly to grab Darkstar by the neck.

All traces of the former, lighthearted bullying mood he'd been in earlier has disappeared and has been replaced with the composure of someone who's about to go on a murdering spree.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    Darkstar chokes briefly when the Seeker's hand grips his neck, though the Spacer's surprise is quickly replaced by a flash of red optics and a smirk. "You...wanna remove that?" he suggests, with a raised ridge. "Would be...most healthy of choices." The space-alt had not seen Phantom this touchy often, if ever. Interesting that such a jab would produce this strong a reaction...

    "Yeah, he was a top shot for sure, Bats. Maybe you don't have to replace the optic entirely... Could just make it an attachment, hook it up when you're goin' into battle so you don't have to mess around with your neuralnet. Somethin' ta' think about, but for the time being..."

    Darkstar's optics had yet to look away from Phantom's. "I think I've struck a wire with this one here." Lifting his e-cig wielding arm, Darkstar moved it around Phantom's in order to take a puff before blowing the smoke into the Seeker's face. "What's wrong? Can't take a joke all of a sudden?"

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth's ears fell back, the Bat was not in a fight capable state at all, in fact that 'Low fuel' light on his ear was blinking rapidly. Goth readied himself encase a fight was about to break out in the medical bay and he would need to take cover. Sorry Darkstar! on your own until they could get more then two decepticon medics!

      "Indeed.. I'll need to speak with Dustoff on what maybe more appropriate.." He'd respond, opticing up Phantom and Darkstar as if a giant fire bomb was about to go off.

**Phantom has posed:**
Phantom doesn't let go of Darkstar, at least not right away. Shortly after that, a strange thing happens. Phantom starts talking to Darkstar in... what sounds like total gibberish. If it's a language, it's totally unrecognizable and nothing like anything Darkstar will have ever heard in his life.

 Then, abruptly, the glazed over look in Phantom's optics disappears, and he removes his hand, stumbling backwards. He looks confused, and dazed. His gaze sweeps the room, and he massages the wrist of the hand that was choking Darkstar a moment ago. "Sorry," he says with a frown. "I just needed to let off some steam. You ... know how I can be sometimes." And then he turns to leave, appearing .. remorseful? Worried? Scared, even, and perhaps also deeply grieved.

**Darkstar has posed:**
    Darkstar's optics flicker when Phantom starts talking to him in some weird gibberish language. Seemed like the Seeker was actually losing it... That definitely wasn't any language he'd ever heard before, and Darkstar had certainly been all over this side of the universe. When the hand is finally removed from his neck, Darkstar snorts. "You got issues... More than I thought," he points out before shaking his head only to laugh. "Whatever... Join the club, right? And don't go ruinin' our little moment with apologies. Makes ya' sound pathetic...and that's no fun at all."

    That Phantom seemed to be very inwardly shaken up isn't exactly lost on Darkstar as the Seeker begins to leave, as truth be told the spacer didn't really care as long as it didn't affect Phantom's combat performance. "Next time you wanna blow off steam you just ask. Be happy ta' meet ya in the training room for a couple of rounds... Finally see what you can do helm to helm." Blowing another plume of smoke in Phantom's wake, Darkstar chuckled.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth slowly raises himself up back onto the berth as he watches Phantom snap out of it, one ear folded back, the other upward like a confused canine, and he slowly raises a ridge, that was the second time he'd heard Phantom speak in... Whatever the frag that was.

      He was staring at both Darkstar and Phantom, he knew what /Darkstar/ was likely to say about Phantoms look, but, he hems, and eventually looks away, over to the passed out Vortex in the not to far away seat, and then back, he was silent, as he knew he could accidentally set Phantom off by speaking when he was not spoken too.

      He'd chuff out and add onto Darkstar's statement. "Indeed, we all are a bit... We all have our own issues..." He'd glance away then back.

**Phantom has posed:**
The grey and gold seeker inclines his helm at Darkstar, optics dimmed. He disappears through the wall again, without saying anything. However a few breems later, he tight beams Darkstar, "<Thanks>"