110/Descent Into Confusion

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**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm has been very busy recently. He's planning the Toraxxis diversionary mission, he's kept up regular patrols from Vos to the Tagan Heights area and back, just to keep an optic on the Undergrid access tunnel which may become the Decepticons' answer to the fuel crisis...yes, things are busy, and decidedly looking up. Sunstorm feels exceptionally blessed as he races back toward Vos in jet mode to make a quick stopover at Starscream's personal quarters. He's managed to get into good-enough favor with the Air Commander that he's now allowed to keep watch over the posh facility. And sometimes, he'll even help himself to the top-shelf energex. It's all good. Sunstorm feels blessed, indeed.

As he nears Vos, he begins to make a circling turn, and begins heading upward, away from The Plate and toward the 'heights' of Vos.

**Windcry has posed:**
Behind the scenes things are changing, but on the surface the latest set of Academy graduates are just getting ready to finish with the life of learning and start the life of doing. Still, the tension at the halls of learing are palpable and sometimes a student just has to get away. Not that the 'real' world has much better to offer. In fact, the chaos out there is even worse, but at least it's not pretending to be serene while it's imploding in on itself. And at least Windcry's obeying that inner itch that all Seekers have, that itch to just fly. And, transforming, she does just that.

**Blurr has posed:**
And what is Blurr doing here? Probably searching for Starscream's private hab suite or at least one of them. There's a fair reason to believe he's got at least one here in Vos. There's a chance he might learn something valuable if he can sneak in there, or perhaps even catch Starscream himself off-guard. When he spots Sunstorm up there, he makes a note of the seeker's presence and tries to keep track of the direction he's heading.

    It's not an easy thing, navigating the areas above the Plate at least not for someone who can't exactly fly, but for Blurr it's not -as- hard as it would be for the typical 'groundpounder' as they would say. He finds it fairly easy to cling to the sides of buildings and leap from ledge to ledge, being as light and versatile as he is. He doesn't really pay much attention to Windcry, not being familiar with her, and given this city is one full of fliers anyway. If she spots him though, he might look a little bit out of place.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm hasn't yet spotted Blurr, but his upward trajectory is what he's focused upon at the moment...headed up toward where the Academy's buildings still stand, and the top spires where the ultra-privileged or tremendously-connected are fortunate enough to have fancy habsuites. When he spots Windcry on his trajectory, he modifies his flight plan slightly to avoid her, and tightbeams, "<< Are you gaining your wings, young one?? >>" Inquisitive, but not demanding.

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< I would say that I had them all along, >> is Windcry's initial, dry response. Though she sounds startled through the dryness, it wasn't enough to jolt her off course or anything. "<< I get your meaning though. I'm just on my last year at the Academy; so I'd say my wings and I are pretty used to each other by now; we just haven't been tested. Not where it matters in any case." >> She alters her course as well to remain within polite conversational distance if the other Seeker wishes to maintain it, but still allows each to veer off easily if distance is preferred.

**Blurr has posed:**
Blurr tracks Sunstorm's movement, and starts to scale the building upward toward where upper tiers are. He moves quickly but not so much as to draw unwanted attention. Keeping a low profile is key at the moment!

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< Ah, yes, the Academy! Such wonderful memories, >>" Sunstorm tightbeams back to Windcry in a wistful tone. The bright-orange tetrajet continues climbing upward. "<< Should you have any questions, my name is Sunstorm, and I'm an alumnus of a much older class. Do you have plans following your eventual graduation? >>" Sunstorm's friendly approach is somewhat self-serving; he's always looking for new disciples into his cult.

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< Plans right now are tricky with the current political climate. As a student, I have to be neutral. That's all there is to it. After graduation, it will be another story. Until then, my focus is strictly short term. Sorry if that's a disappointment. >>" The younger Seeker's tone is tight, almost as if she wanted to say more. "<< But thank you for the offer of guidance, I'm sure I will need it. My name is Windcry. >>"

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< It's a pleasure to meet you, Windcry. And I can completely understand why you wish to avoid the conflict, such as it is. But...a word of caution, if I may. >>" The jet soars to the very, very top of one of the tallest spires overlooking Vos, and then Sunstorm reverts to root mode as he disappears from sight. "<< There are difficult times ahead for those who choose to go it alone. And please, do not consider this a threat, it's simply an observation of the way in which this conflict is going. Right now, the Academy is safety enough, but once you graduate, there will be other considerations. Safe passage through polities. Even where you shall find fuel -- the reserves are nearly dry, as you probably have heard. >>"

Sunstorm continues conversing with Windcry, even as he gains access to Starscream's quarters, and checks that everything is in order before pouring himself some premium energex. "<< The world is rapidly becoming a different place for those who have nothing to fall back on. >>"

**Windcry has posed:**
In contrast, Windcry remains in jet mode, keeping to the sky and going through a few routine flight drills. There's something soothing falling back on routine when no one is MAKING you do it. "<< I have no intention on remaining passive. I just want to complete one task entirely before jumping onto the next. Most of the mechs are revving their engines hard enough for the brutal future. I want to absorb everything I can in the present so that I can carry it INTO the future with me. Ask me even a cycle after graduation and I can almost garauntee you I'll have a less passive answer. >>" Lazily she does a few rolls in the air. Did she just see something without wings down there? Or was it just a trick of the light at this angle?

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm peers at the decanter of premium fuel in Starscream's 'parlor' room, and he tries to get a little more out of it...how odd, it appears to be empty! Certainly, he didn't take THAT much on his previous trip here. Well, now he might need to locate some more, before Starscream notices. But /where/?? As he speaks with Windcry, he brings up a holographic map, and notices a new-ish enerwine shop on the list of possible places to remedy the situation. "<< You certainly sound like you have a good plan. If you have any questions about the Decepticons, feel free to ask. There is much...misinformation about them in the popular media. Things get very blown out of proportion. As a student, you certainly deserve the truth regarding such matters. >>"

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< The media is still mostly controlled by the Government. The Decepticons topple governments. It's really simple math that they wouldn't want to tell positive stories about them, >>" says Windcry dryly. "<< But I won't argue with you that truth is important. >> Soon even the air won't be a place that spells freedom. It will be as tightly controlled as everything else and will taste like fear. But not at this moment, and so Windcry will hold onto this moment, even as she calmly discusses media bias on her radio.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm wanders around Starscream's parlor, eventually placing the empty decanter behind a decorative statue of the Air Commander himself, and rearranges the parlor table so it's less conspicuous that anything is missing. "<< Exactly! See, I knew you were smart; only brilliant youth come from the Academy, they only graduate the best candidates, >>" Sunstorm exclaims. "<< And I will just say that it's no coincidence that many of them eventually become Decepticons. Consider the most revered trine: Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp. They understood the innate wisdom of following their destiny, and choosing a path that would lead them to use what they had learned at the Academy to attain a legendary status. Even the strongest Autobots fear them now. >>"

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< I'm completely aware of where most of my predecessors have cast their lot. And I can also tell you that the current batch coming up, is 90% committed to doing the exact same. You'll have another group of hot-headed mechs packed in, ready to prove that they are going to be the ones to turn the tides. Trust me. You might get more than you can handle. >>" Windcry laughs softly. "<< But they are proud of it. Not officially of course. That would be stupid. And as you said, the Academy wouldn't accept that. >>"

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm has a seat on Starscream's favorite scenic chair, which is thronelike, comfortable, and overlooks a large window showcasing the most amazing view of Vos above the plate. He's testing it out, of course, just making sure that it's suitable for Starscream to repose in. "<< Ah, but not all graduates have their strengths in speed and offensive attack or sheer power maneuvers. Some are quieter, their approach much more subtle in nature. And unlike what you might have heard, they too are more than welcome within the Decepticon ranks, >>" Sunstorm notes, making himself very comfortable as he gazes out the window. "<< I won't name any names for security purposes, but this is a TRUE story. There is this young mech who has recently joined with us. He is not a heavy hitter, in fact his strengths are in book-learning and reconaissance. In fact, he reminds me much of you. Youthful, a flier, very eager to understand his role in society, and we are more than happy to help him find purpose. >>"

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< I don't doubt it. >>" Windcry doesn't actually sound sarcastic. "<< I actually do believe if the Decepticons were ALL completely the thugs and rable the media claims the movement wouldn't have managed to get as far as it did. >>" At this point she starts making languid circles back towards the Plate.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< Exactly! Why, the things I've seen on the media upset me so much, they were so far from what I KNEW to be the truth, that I couldn't bear to watch it any more. Always remember there are two sides to every story, and you won't go wrong. >>" He pauses for a moment, then asks, "<< Windcry? Not to get too off topic here, but...do you happen to know of any good enerwine shops? >>"

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< Let me think. I usually didn't indulge, since we're not encouraged to seek out distractions. But some of my class mates were much more interested in looking for a thrill and I know they mentioned a few places. >>" By this point she's gotten close enough to the Plate to transform and land on her feet. Gracefully, of course. "<< Well, there's one place a few streets over the main thoroughfare by the Academy, but I don't know if it's still around, >> she finally suggests.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< Thank you so much for that recommendation, I shall have to check it out, >>" Sunstorm catches his reflection in a mirror opposite the ornate chair, and he begins gazing at his own reflection, somewhat enchanted by the illusion of sheer opulence all around him. "<< I am not typically a purveyor of such goods, but there is a function approaching where such goods may become mandatory, you see. So I'm trying to prepare ahead of time. >>" He begins pondering the energex, which is a bit out of his budget. Perhaps if he mixes it with some of the 'cheap stuff', Starscream won't even notice. "<< Feel free to contact me at any time, should you have questions. I always enjoy helping out Academy students, >>" he tells her.

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< I'll keep that in mind. >>" It sounds like sincerity. Then again, it can be hard to tell on just a radio. "<< And thank you for the interest. >>" Not that she's naive enough to believe that he's only concerned for her well-being. Resources are still being divided, and people are a resource. Windcry paces a little. There probably isn't a lot of foot traffic on this side of the Plate. Vosians typically only walk when they need to, which usually includes entering and exiting buildings. But she just finds joy in motion. And it gives her space.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm is currently inside Starscream's parlor room, which he let himself in to as part of his...patrol. He's just checking on it.

At the moment, he's testing out the very best chair in the parlor, the one with the best view in the entire city. And occasionally, he'll look across at a mirror, which shows...well, him, in all of his divine glory, reposing on a golden, sacred, shrine to his divine god...

Yes, he's allowing his maladaptive daydream to get the best of him.

There's no one else inside the suite; just Sunstorm. But he's been tightbeaming to Windcry, in an attempt to get the young flier to consider joining the Decepticons. "<< No matter what you choose, just consider one thing...a lot of where you go in life will be in who you know. Your contacts. Make them count for you. >>"

**Windcry has posed:**
Wow, this guy doesn't let up. Well, Windcry didn't stick to all her careful planning to throw it up in the air like confetti now. If only she had bumped into him after graduation. It won't be long now. "<< Did you manage to find that place yet? >>" she asks as a diversionary tactic. It might work, it might not. After all, he's far more experienced than she is.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"<< The enerwine place? Oh, no, I'm...that's an errand I /must/ do, but at another time, >>" Sunstorm admits, glancing toward the ornate statue of Starscream where he hid the empty decanter of premium. How could the decanter be empty so FAST?? He just couldn't understand it. "<< For at this moment, I am privileged to be on patrol. The nature of my work has me flying to many polities. But I took a brief break for a bit of refueling. >>"

**Swivel has posed:**
This was getting tiring, and not just because tshe was hugging a narrow ledge not far from one of the ladders leading up to the suites. It would be fine if her back were too the wall and she was facing the ladder she needed to get back onto. Alas, it was her front against the surface, her arms spread out gripping in futility for support, using mostly her weight to keep her from falling backwards. Now, if she had her back tot he wall, she would have fallen for sure, as the distance between the tires on her back and her feet were a greater length than that of the ledge.

 How did the small grounder femme end up in this predicament? It was simple. She was on her way to an address, when she saw someone above her arrive. Not wanting to be seen, she'd tried to hide and the only cover was a slight overhang. She's undercalculated the size though. So now the femme is stranded, and also wondering when the brightly coloured individual who had entered would leave again. She knew THAT wasn't Starscream. Swivel sighs as she remains plastered to the wall, terrified of the weight of her tires teetering her backwards enough to fall.

**Windcry has posed:**
"<< Ah, that makes sense, >> Windcry replies. "<< You'll have to let me know if it turns out to your liking. >>" Just a polite comment, really. It could mean she's actually interested to know, or just that she knows the ins and outs of inane conversation. But, it would be hard for a die-hard Decepticon-hater to continue on this way if they weren't also an extremely talented spy and master of self-control. Which is unlikely in a young seeker. So things are likely favorable as far as Sunstorm's pitch is concerned.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream got a message from his servent drone from his apartment in Vos that Sunstorm was rooting around inside. Just what the slag? The Air Commander wasted no time in leaving Kaon to head to Vos. Shortly the Seeker comes up on his landing, pulls up, transforms and walks inside. "What is the meaning of this, Sunstorm?" he asks heading toward where the drone told him the crazy seeker was.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
As Starscream enters the parlor room, Sunstorm leaps out of the fancy chair by the window and stands up. "Commander!!" he exclaims, looking very nervous. "Allow me to explain! Since the inconceivable injustice of your capture, the damage you sustained, the mockery of a trial they forced you to endure before we were able to bring you back to safety -- I took it upon myself to...to work a stop into your parlor into my patrols, for the simple fact that you could not be here to watch it yourself, and I wished to make it save from opportune bandits. So each day, I simply...check in here, and make sure that nothing is, in fact, amiss."

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Windcry may notice that she receives no reply from the talkative Sunstorm. Very strange.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Not far from all this, looking at a datapad in dazed wonder is a certain shuttleformer Combaticon. Brown and purple paint, violet optics, he leans against the rail of a walkway between some of the fancier abodes. It is Blast off, his aristocratic carriage fitting into this place nicely, even if he no longer can truly afford a place like this. Or could live here even if he could, given the bounty on his head. So what brings him back here? He looks at the datapad again- and tries to set up a delivery for the new wine shop he just inherited from a wine shop owner he tried to help once. Thanks to Blurr- in more ways than one. But let's not dwell on THAT.

He can still hardly believe all this. HIS is that new enerwine shop Sunstrm had heard of- though Blast Off isn't broadcasting the fact that it is Decepticon-owned- by him- at all. How IS he going to pull this off? He's far too stubborn- and intrigued- not to try though. Glancing up to sigh and sift through his thoughts again, he looks over and- wait. Is that someone standing on a ledge over there? What the frag?

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry notices a few things. She notices the radio silence first, but there's a lot of reasons why someone might suddenly stop talking on the radio, and that's BEFORE you take into consideration the war. When you throw that into the mix, it really isn't so strange. Eventually she comes across Blast Off standing there, and notices him staring. That's when she notices WHAT he is staring at. She does a double take. "Is this some sort of new extreme sport for the ground dwellers?" she asks in mild disbelief. Yes, she did note that he was an air borne alt. How nice.

**Swivel has posed:**
Four large tires, legs, and arms would be mostly what anyone sees really, but it's definitely a person. She shuffles a little to one side, then teeters a little. She throws her weight forward against the wall, barely keeping herself from falling. After this, the figure remains still. Very still.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream stares at Sunstorm for a long moment and then folds his arms. "Is that so?" he asks dangerously as he steps further into the room and closer to the bright Seeker. "And have you found anything amiss yet?" his voice is dangerously calm for some reason and thats not good.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"Well...no, Commander, that is, I don't believe I've seen anything at all that would be...amiss," Sunstorm says. A small noise outside suddenly gives him a much-needed distraction. "-- Did you hear that? It sounded like a thump."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off blinks as he realizes someone is addressing him. The Combaticon turns to look at this newcomer, optics quickly searching for an Autobot badge. Ah. Good. None seen, he lifts his face to look her in the optics before going back to staring at Swivel over there. "I..." Hmm. Is it? He hadn't heard about it, but then again he'd hate to seem BEHIND the times, or out of the loop, or anything. "Well...I..." Blink. He tries giving a noncommital shrug. "You know young bots these days. Trying all sorts of nonsense that those of us \*important\* Cybertronians are far too busy to bother with... But I can't blame a groundpounder for wishing they were one of us." Still, he notes with a slight tilt of his head, that groundpounder almost looks like she's going to fall....

**Windcry has posed:**
Well, technically Windcry IS one of those 'young bots these days'. But she's been spending her time in a military academy for flight hot shots, not hugging walls. "I'm not important...yet." The 'yet' is quite loaded. Ambition: she has some of that. "Still, it's probably a better idea to figure out if this is a prank, a delusion, a threat, or just some weird attempt to turn a set of wheels into a pair of wings..." she says and starts striding towards the imperiled individual hugging the wall, not looking back and checking whether or not the unknown mech will follow.

**Swivel has posed:**
Extreme sports? Hardly. But what Swivel does next might not help her cause. She cranes her neck to see her distance from the ladder. There is a moment of trembling as Swivel brings her arms closer to herself, but still keeping her palms against the wall. There is some swaying from side to side, and subtle shifting of the feet. Finally, the femme pushes with as much strength she can from the wall, launching off of the ledge. She tries to turn herself in the air, arms flailing and reaching for the ladder nearby. Her fingertips reach them and... CLANK! Her fingers are forced back beyond the range of movement intended for them from the force of momentum and gravity. Swivel misses the ladder and begins plummetting down to the nearest walkway, shrieking.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream listens to Sunstorm's explanation, his face totally neutral. Then he walks up to the Seeker's face and says. "Tell me the real reason why you're here -- it will be easier for you if you do."

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm gulps. "I...It's a nice place to take a rest. To rest between long trips. It is...peaceful, and there's a pleasing view, and...oh, Commander, please, don't be angry! I really WAS checking in on your place so it wouldn't be burgled! You can look through your personal rooms, and I swear on my life everything is all there! I would NEVER take advantage of you in your vulnerable state! You must believe me! Perhaps I...got a bit carried away spending time here in the parlor room...it's a lovely...room....but I've only ever been in this room!"

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off lifts an optic ridge at Windcry's \*yet\* comment. Ambition is a good thing- as long as you can live up to it, at least. And do the hard work. As she strides away, he doesn't immediately follow. He glances over towards Swivel but... not his concern. The aloof shuttleformer is perfectly willing to go back to his datapad when he happens to spot...is that a security officer over there giving him a lookover? He blinks...and then decides maybe looking like he knows people here and thus belongs here might be a good thing. Turning on his heel, he starts following Windcry. "Yes, very odd."

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry isn't so bold that she KNOWS she's going to make it big. She's just damned well going to give it a try. Glancing up she notes the femme fall from place. "That is a shriek, not a yell of excitement. I'm going to guess she's not a thrill seeker then." But she doesn't do more than glance before she moves into action, transforming in hopes that the broader back of her alt mode across her wings will break the fall better than an awkward attempt to catch the femme in her arms. She's doing it less out of kidnness than curiosity. Such a femme in the upper heights of Vos is an anomaly, and she wants to know WHY. With a burst of movement she goes forward, hoping to get under the distressed femme in time.

**Swivel has posed:**
The awkwardly falling femme is flailing in the air, wrenching her bbody this way and that until she is falling back first, hoping, perhaps, that her own tires might break the fall somewhat. It then dawns on the femme that perhaps she'd she less vulnerable if there were no up or down side of her. Mid-fall, the femme transforms.
 The small craft, with larger wheels than chassis, falls in a perpetual hood-over-aft flip until it lands on the back of the intervening seeker. With no arms to grab a hold of, well, anything, the bizarre little car bounces a bit then proceeds to roll off of Windcry. She tries to transform back to her root mod in time to grab a hold of something, but once again her reach just isn't enough. However, her trajectory is changed and Swivel is suddenly aware of being flung towards the ladder she'd initially tried to reach. Only partially transformed, the odd spectacle hits the ladder and seems to wrap around it and lmost fall off again - but then an arm reaches up and catches a wrung. Now, hanging there, once again in her root mode, is an addled but relieved groundpounder.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream studies the yellow Seeker for a long silent moment. Several things go through his mind but finally he seems to relax a bit. "Alright, Sunstorm I--" and then he hears a shriek and looks toward the direction it came from. Quickly he goes to the window and looks down. He sees a familar figure and sees the small femme get a rescue of sorts from another femme. <<What are you doing here, Swivel?>> he asks through his radio.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm is not usually an over-anxious mech, but he very nearly jumps high enough to hit the ceiling when he hears Swivel's shriek. "What?? See, I knew it! Someone /is/ out there!" He peers out the window in paranoid fashion.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off nods his head but doesn't say much further as Windcry tranforms and - oh, guess the other femme slipped and fell. He doesn't try transforming (turning into a space shuttle right here and now would bring a little TOO much attention to him. He does make it near the ladder Swivel manages to bounce off of and peer towards her. See? This is him being an involved citizen of Vos. Nothing to concern yourself with here, officer. "What were you doing?"

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry finally transforms again when the femme is finally reattached (sort of) to the ladder. "A very good question," she says, backing up Blast Off with a nod. "You looked rather precarious up there." She folds her arms across her chest, a glint running across her red optics. "Didn't look like you were there for the view." Her tone is a bit severe, but it's not quite harsh. Nor is it accusatory.

**Swivel has posed:**
Alright. Both hands on rungs. Feet also on rungs. The femme is not falling and is more or less standing on something solid. This is a vast improvement from her previous circumstances. She looks around herself, a bit unsure as to whether she just happened to land on a jet, or if it was someone trying to help her out. It's then she hears the tightbeam and she sighs, lightly banging her forehead against the ladder. And of course, she is aware of more then one set of optics on her. Shrieking and falling in the land of fliers is bound to attract attention, which is what Swivel had hoped to avoid. Too bad she isn't cool collected and completely inconspicuous like Blast Off.
 <<Wellum... long story 'volvin' a d'livery fer ya... dun 'AVE the d'livery enmore, but I'll 'splain tha' later too. Roight now I gotter get orff this blasted ladder... 'n do some damage control.>> she tightbeams to Starscream. She has more pressing matters to deal with, like people asking questions.
 Slowly, Swivel turns her head and looks down to where Blast Off and Windcry are. She'll deal with them first. That is, if certain Seekers down't swoop down demanding an explanation from her first. "Fallin'." Well, that was an unhelpful response.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Well... long story involving a delivering for you... don't have te delivery anymore, but I 'll explain that later too. Right now I got to get off this blasted ladder... and do some damage control." "Falling."*

**Starscream has posed:**
<<What do you mean you don't have it anymore?>> Starscream tightbeams. <<What happened to it? Get up here now!>> he then gives Sunstorm a rather dry look. "How did you not see them before you came in?"

**Sunstorm has posed:**
"They weren't here, Commander. None of them were," Sunstorm insists to Starscream. He's still internally planning on how he's going to fill that empty energex decanter.

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry actually gives a short laugh at Swivel's answer. "Well, it certainly wasn't FLYING. You don't have the equipment for it." Which isn't the worst thing a flyer has said to a groundpounder. "I guess we'll just have to check the building to make sure you didn't do anything to it. Then check your possible entry route and make sure you didn't do anything suspicious along the way," she says with a shrug. "I mean, technically I don't think there's any laws against hugging buildings." She looks sideways at Blast Off. "Do you know of any such laws?"

**Blurr has posed:**
All this time, Blurr has been lurking on a platform just above a neighboring window to the one where Starscream and Sunstorm are peering downward. He did see Swivel falling and considered moving to help her, but it seems someone else has beaten him to the punch (for once). Well anyway he can't fly so that seeker would have been a better candidate for such a task. Plus, he's busy searching for a stealthy way into Starscream's habsuite.

    As Swivel is standing there being questioned by her savior and Blast Off, she receives yet another comm. This one is from Quantum. << What are you doing? Why haven't you delivered the package yet? I told you this needed to get done quickly. >> He sounds desperate, almost...afraid?

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off glances over as Windcry lands nearby, then back to-- "Swivel??!!" Wait, what? He knows this femme. The shuttleformer takes a new interest in this, his optics ridges furrowing down. "But...\*why\* were you falling? What were you doing up there? You don't have wings." Returning to look at Windcry, he tsks. "No, but I wouldn't be surprised if there will be eventually, given who we have in charge these days."

**Swivel has posed:**
At this moment, Swivel is feeling a bit over stimulated. Still calming down after falling and NOT ending up a smashed pile of wreckage on a sidewalk in Vos, Swivel is having a hard time responding to various inquiries and demands. She closes her optics and her grip on the ladder tightens. "Jus... gimme... moment... ta..." and the rest is actually incomprehensible as opposed to barely comprehensible. Swivel remains with her optics closed for a moment longer, hugging the ladder tightly.
 First, Swivel has to respond to an impatient Starscream. Okay. She can do that. <<Jus gimme toim ta climb th'ladder 'n I'll 'splain t'ya.>> Okay. One message down. Still holding herself rigid, she responds to Quantum next over comm. <<I dun 'ave the package 'enmore. Yer friend from th'bar does.>> She'll let those two figure out whatever is going on between them. Finally, Swivel let's up on her grip and looks down again. She looks between Blast Off and the unknown femme. ".............Yeah it's me.... I was fallin' 'coz I was tryna get t'ther top o' this ladder w'out drawin' much notice t'me, so 'en some seeker blew in tha I din recognise, I jumped onter a nearby ledge... 'en realised I coona get back onter th'ladder." Looks like those speech lessons have been forgotten. "Now... I need ta get up there b'fore summon blows a fuse." Swivel looks up, and a sense of vertigo creeps over her. Funny, she wasn't scared the first time she tried to climb up....

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Just... give me... moment... to... Just give me time to climb the ladder and I'll explain to you." "I don't have the package anymore. Your friend from the bar does." "Yes, it's me. I was falling because I was trying to get to the top of this lader without drawing much notice to me, so when some seeker blew in that I did not recognise, I jumped on to a nearby ledge... then realised I could not get back on to the ladder. Now... I need to get up there before someone blows a fuse."*

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream flicks a wing impatiantly. "Sunstorm, go her, Swivel and bring her back.:

**Blurr has posed:**
Hmm, since Starscream appears to be present, getting inside without being seen won't be easy--there isn't any way to sneak in directly without alerting them. But there are some other windows below that particular floor, that look in to empty hallways. He moves as quietly as he can across the platform to start shimmying down a pipe along the outside wall of the building toward the hallway windows.

**Sunstorm has posed:**
Sunstorm is already pretty mortified by the fact that Starscream's ticked off at him, so his attention is only on making things right, now. He nods to Starscream, then exits the parlor and swoops down to pick up Swivel. "Pardon me, but my Commander would like to have a word with you," the orange Seeker says, as he carries Swivel up to the door step where Starscream is waiting. He places her down there, then transforms, and flies off.

Little does Starscream know, Sunstorm still needs to go on one more mission to set things 'right' again, and that trip just happens to be to a certain local enerwine store.

**Quantum has posed:**
Quantum's reply is swift and harsh. << Slag it! Why did you let him have it?! You--you have to get it back from him! This was YOUR responsibility, damn it! You had better get this done, or else I am going to make your regret this! >>

**Blast Off has posed:**
Uh. Blast Off looks up where Swivel is indicating. "Why? If you're expecting a ride, don't look at me." He looks back down again- and then does a double take. Wait, what? He shoots a look back up again- is that BLURRR??? The Combaticon stiffens, his hand already twitching for his ionic blaster...but probably better not to bring it out in public like this. "It seems we have someone \*snooping\* around where he doesn't belong," he comments drily. Sunstorm suddenly appears and Blast Off blinks in some mild surprise as he takes off with Swivel. Before he can even think to warn the other Decepticon, he's gone. Welp. Blast Off still pauses a moment before radioing Sunstorm, << You should know that Autobot Blurr is sneaking around here. Isn't Starscream's place nearby? >>

**Windcry has posed:**
Windcry keeps her arms crossed. "Well, that solved /that/ pretty neatly," she sums up. She does notice the mech stiffen beside her, but without the benefit of his keener observational skills, she doesn't notice Blurr. As of this moment, she has little to no investment in the welfare of Blast Off. But she doesn't fail to recognize how notorious he is. However, she sees less benefit in his bounty in the long run. Still...that doesn't stop her from wondering a few things. "You look like someone gave you some sour engex," she observes neutrally. She leaves it as a statement that could very easily turn into a question.

**Swivel has posed:**
The little femme didn't have much time for chit chat, but not by her own agenda. The femme is unceremoniously plucked from the ladder and brought up to the suite. However, she doesn't resist the mech; she knows better. Resisting seekers is just unwise. The way up she winces at the threats and harsh words she gets though her tightband. <<Oy, mebbe if ya dinna pull tha stunt back in the Macadams things wooda gone smootly. Yer lucky I dinna 'and over the slug AN' the package t'the Autobots. It's not loik I'd be bein' indiscreet by doin' so, they'd 'ave every roight ta take it from me 'enway affer yer less 'en subtle approach. Ya cooda let me leave 'n found me 'gain sometime later rather 'en yell at me, grab me, an' attract iffin more 'tention ta yerself 'n make it so obvious ya was up ter shenanigans.>> Wow. Swivel just let out a mouthful through to Quantum. Maybe he struck a nerve?
 Just before the end of her ride, Swivel catches notice of Blurr skulking around. By the time Swivel is deposited in front of an impatient Starscream, the femme is frowning deeply.

 "Er..... 'ello guv..." she greets meekly. Bad day. Bad, bad day. Swivel rolls back her shoulders and looks up at Starscream. She looks about herself, finding herself in yet another situation she does not favour. "I 'ad o' bit o' a fall.... but ya prolly saw that.... or 'eard it..." she mutters rather than get to the point. <<I kinna talk t'ya roight now, I think yer bein' watched. 'N I daren't say wot I was 'ere t'say now.>> she tightbeams to Starscream, hoping with all of her might that it won't be intercepted at such short range.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Hey! Maybe if you didn't pull that stunt back in the Maccadams things would have gone smoothly. You are lucky I did not hand over the slug AND the package to the Autobots. It's not like I'd be being indiscreet by doing so, they'd have every right to take it from me anyway after your less than subtle approach. You coulda have let me leave and found ma again sometimes later rather than yell at me, grab me, and attract even more attention to yourself and make it so obvious you were up to shenanigans." "Er... hello governor... I had a bit of a fall... but you probably saw that... or heard it. I cannot talk to you right now, I think you are being watched. And I dare not say what I was here to say now."*

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream rubs his forehead as Swivel speaks. How in Primus can Thundercracker understand what she's saying? <<No I won't let you talk me into a riot, femme. What is the matter with you? I want to know what the package was and from whom and then I want to know /why/ you don't have it anymore -- and who do you think is watching me?>>

**Quantum has posed:**
No, no. Swivel doesn't understand this situation at all. There was a reason...<< You don't understand, you idiot! Y-you don't know...I thought you said you were taught not to ask any questions! Clearly you haven't learned. I don't care what you have to say, you get that case back and you do your job, is that clear? >> Again, he seems to sound angry, yet at the same time desperate and frightened.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off tsks and looks to Windcry, not knowing his identity has been figured out. "Me? No. I..." He blinks, then glances down to his datapad, "I...well, \*I\* am just fine. Just rather... busy. As I stated earlier, I have important things to do." He glances back up where Blurr had been. Besides, right now he really doesn't want the Autobot to spot him here. He's warned those that he could- he's done what he can do, right? It's been awhile since he saw Swivel- hopefully she'll keep out of trouble. The Combaticon gives a nod to Windcry. "I should be off. Good day." And with that, he heads back to putting together this wine shop.

**Windcry has posed:**
It will be interesting when she picks a side of a fence and meets him again. Windcry is pretty sure which it will be, but she doesn't just want to be a statistic; she wants to be /convinced/. Not that it's going to be an equal opportunity matter, but a couple of hollow words and the rush of the other Seekers won't satisfy. With Swivel scooped up to who-knows-where, and Blast Off taking off, and Sunstorm gone, it's rather quiet, so she turns to go. Quietly she heads back to the Academy, back to the noise of mechs that are full of more hot air than sense. Back to a place that will soon be swallowed by the newest Government, or so the rumors go.

**Blurr has posed:**
Since Blast Off hasn't made any hostile moves against him, Blurr doesn't realize he's been spotted. He moves in front of the hallway window and proceeds to quickly blast at the window to attempt to blow a hole through it and jump into the corridor beyond. It's not exactly discrete, and anyone in the habsuite may have heard the sound of breaking glass below. He ducks into a maintenance closet, though.

    And wait, while he was out there he noticed Sunstorm grab Swivel and carry her up into Starscream's unit. What did the seeker want with her?

**Swivel has posed:**
Now it is Swivel's turn to rub her forehead. Except she doesn't. That would indicate frustration, and in some circles, might be considered rude. And she doesn't want to be rude to Starscream in his own home. That is tacky. And stupid. Even stupid for her. Instead she just looks down for a moment, and tries again. "I'm jus 'ere fer a d'livery," Swivel says and produces a dataslug, holding it out to him. Nothing suspicious here. Just a femme doing her job. A femme trying very hard not to break out crying while also trying to think on her feet. Her hand is shaking and her expression is forced neutrality while she listens to Quantum berate her. <<Sorry, no can do. I dun iffin know th'name o' tha' friend o'yours. 'E flew in an' was makin' demands 'n askin' questions. I jus gave it ta 'im 'coz I figger if e's yer friend e'd do wot's best fer ya. 'E seemed real concerned 'bout ya. So if wot's best is 'im deliverin' th'package, take it up with 'im - coz I dunno where t'find 'im. I'm done bein' bullied.>> No she isn't. She just can sound tough when Quantum isn't physically there.

 <<This is jus' me pretending ta deliver you sumtin'. I will try ta be clearer. We are bein' watched. All that I want ta be seen 'appening 'ere is me doin' a job. The dataslug was th'instructions I was given by summon 'oo wanted me ta deliver the package. But I got rid of it becoz I think it might be dangerous. 'N I din wancha gettin' blown up. Dunno if it WAS a bomb.... but being 'eld at gunpoint and demanded ta deliver sumtin means it wun gonna be a noice greetin' 'n a bottle o' engex.>> That is a WHOLE lot for the femme to say over the tightband and she fakes a dizzy spell just as a reason to delay and NOT leave immediately after delivering something, grabbing the side of a wall to steady herself.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "I'm here for a delivery." "Sorry, no can do. I don't even know the name of that friend of yours. He flew in and was making demands and asking questions. I just gave it to him because I figure if he's your friend he'd do what's best for you. He seemed really concerned about you. So if what's best is him delivering the package, take it up with him - because I don't know where to find him. I'm done being bullied." "This is me just pretending to deliver you something. I will try to be clearer. We are being watched. All that I want to be seen happening here is me doing a job. The dataslug was the instructions I was given by someone who wanted me to deliver the package. But I got rid of it because I think it might be dangerous. And I did not want you getting blown up. I don't know if it WAS a bomb... but being held at gunpoint and demanded to deliver something means it won't be a nice greeting and a bottle of engex."*

**Quantum has posed:**
<< N-no! He doesn't--! kkk--argghh!! >> Quantum -really- sounds terrified now, but he doesn't have a chance to finish what he was saying, since the comm suddenly cuts off with a burst of static. No further communication is heard from him.

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream takes the dataslug and listens to her intently trying to translate it as she says it. Then he watches her grab the table. "If I talked like that I'd be dizzy too." he glances at the dataslug and then looks around. <<Where did you see the one or ones watching me?" he looks around again, Did he just hear something? Maybe he's just being paranoid. He looks back at SWivel

**Swivel has posed:**
"Sorry, I'll get outter yer way... jus woz a bit dizzy wot with th'eights 'n all," Swivel says as she stands up straight again. <<Only one's millin' 'bout, I wun say 'oo. Look, I kinna give ya 'enmore infermation roight now. I jus' kint. Wot I need is ta get goin'. mebbe ya shoo ferget I said 'enthin' coz I'm not sure I iffin know wot I am doin'>> The poor confused femme has a lot to figure out. That and being around Starscream unnerves her deeply. She turns around and begins to leave, hoping that she doesn't get grabbed and yelled at. That has been happening a lot lately. Is she unnerved by Quantum's sudden silence? No. She's just relieved. The femme feels overtaxed. When she's had time to think back, a creeping sense of concern may come over her. But as of now she just wants to go.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Sorry, I'll get out of your way.. just was a bit dizzy what with the heights and all." "Only one is miling about, I won't say who. Look I can not give you anymore information right now. I just can't. What I need is to get going. Maybe you should forget I said anything because I'm not sure I even know what I am doing."*

**Starscream has posed:**
Starscream has no idea what the femme said but thinks she said something about leaving. "Very well." he waves a dissmissive hand and prepares to check out the dataslug. He also dismisses her statement of he being watched. He frankly doesn't beleive her.

**Swivel has posed:**
What a relief. Swivel leaves the habsuite with a long sigh as she heads to the ladder. It's a long and exhausting climb down, made longer by the thoughts pinging around her processor. "Wot am I iffin doin'..." she mutters to herself as she descends. DESCENDS INTO MADNESS. Well, less madness, more confusion. Welcome home Swivel.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "What am I even doing?"*