1019/The Good Doc's True Colors

**Pharma has posed:**
    Blast Off may have been left waiting in that barren exam room for a while, maybe several cycles, before Pharma finally comes in, looking as pleasant as ever as if this were just a normal visit to the doctor for the Combaticon. He peers at a datapad, then over at his patient for today. "Blast Off, is it?" he asks. "I have to say, very brave, and loyal, of you to put your own life on the line for your allies. Smart, maybe not, but still, it counts for something." he says, as he opens a compartment in a cabinet next to the berth, and starts to get some tools out. Tools that do not look friendly at all.

**Blast Off has posed:**
This is exactly what Blast Off had been dreading all along, and now that it's actually \*happened\* the Combaticon feels a bit.... well, numb almost. Numb except for that lead weight flipping around in his fuel tank. He had just gotten himself venting air in and out regularly before Pharma finally showed, and now he deliberately keeps that steady venting rythm, trying not to panic.

The shuttleformer glares at the Autobot as he speaks, half tempted to ask him if he really doesn't remember him, but then again he wouldn't want to give him any ideas of unfinished business like spark extractions. "I've already emptied my subspace. There was \*nothing\* there. This is cruel and unusual treatment of a prisoner, is it not?"

**Pharma has posed:**
    Pharma laughs. "What cruel treatment, I haven't done anything to you yet." he replies. "But don't be silly. There is surveillance in every room. And according to the feed, -you- picked up a data slug that wasn't -there- before. We know that some mechs' alt mode is a data slug, as unfortunate as that is. So put two and two together, and you can see that yes, we -know- you are hiding the intruder. So let me make this clear. The sooner I find him, the more likely it is that you will leave this room in one piece. Does that make sense, Blast Off?" he says, smirking.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off stares at the medic, violet optics flashing a pale light that turns darker purple. The shuttleformer's engines reumble in disapproval but otherwise he says nothing.

**Pharma has posed:**
    "I'll take that as a 'yes'." Pharma chuckles and pulls up a stool, sitting down. He doesn't pick up any of the tools just yet, though. "Tell me, what has this individual--and I assume it's another Decepticon--done to deserve you -dying- for him?" he asks.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off would reaaaallly like to go now. The shuttleformer tugs at his restraints a moment, really wishing he could shoot the smug medic in his smug face and be gone to save Tex. "....." He tugs again. "I... don't know what you're talking about. ...Not that you care, I imagine you enjoy doing this sort of thing..." He mutters. He's not going to beg for mercy from someone who doesn't even \*have\* it. OR an Autobot! Yeah.

**Pharma has posed:**
    "No, I really do want to know. Honestly." Pharma admits, shrugging. "If I didn't care, I wouldn't have asked." he folds his arms. "I was always under the impression that you Decepticons would betray anyone to save your own aft if you thought you could get away with it. But it seems I'm wrong. Maybe some of you...do have -close- relationships?"

**Ravage has posed:**
Ravage beep-boop-beeeps...but not really. Just a data-slug. With...data-sluggy things. You know, like poorly crafted romance novels.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off eyes Pharma suspiciously. Of COURSE they do! Not that he's giving Pharma that information. "No. Actually, you were correct. I guess even a broken cyberclock is right once a cycle. Decepticons are just out for themselves. So obviously, there's no \*way\* I'd \*bother\* with such nonsense. I'm a shuttle, all I need- or care about- is myself."

**Pharma has posed:**
    "I'm not stupid, Decepticon." Pharma says, standing up then. "Even if I hadn't seen the footage, you're a terrible liar. Hmph." He picks up a laser cutter, fiddling with it absently. "Of course, I know how to force you to disengage your root mode subspace seal, so either way, we will find him."

    Then he scoffs slightly. "But, fine then. I'll humor you." he says, putting it down again. "If what you say is true, then let's do it this way." He pulls up a feed of the cell where Vortex is still lying mostly paralyzed and shows it to him. "I could easily order the guards to slowly dismember him until you cooperate. Just look at him, so helpless and paralyzed, he won't be able to fight back! One ally for another, who will it be, hm? Oh, wait. You don't care, do you?"

**Blast Off has posed:**
Frrrag. Blast Off stares at the feed, spark sinking. He was REALLY hoping Vortex wasn't going to be brought into this. He works to remain calm looking, a wing elevon starting to twitch and then forced still. "I... don't." He insists, hopefully convincingly. "He's my co-worker, nothing more."

**Pharma has posed:**
    Pharma shrugs. "Fine." He speaks into a comm, though he does it out loud as well, so that Blast Off can hear it. "Vantage, bring me the other Combaticon. I'm in exam room C."

    Meanwhile, a guard opens Vortex's cell, and drags the helpless Combaticon out. Yes, it seems he is headed toward medical, where Blast Off was just taken a few cycles ago.

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex 's limp form is dragged towards Medical. He comes along rather compliantly, not giving any of his normal snarls or biting or headbutting routines. "So where we goin'? Smelter time already? Or we gonna get to the good part and do some questioning?"

**Blast Off has posed:**
The shuttleformer tenses as he realizes Vortex is being brought there. No, no, no.... The sense of panic grows and Blast Off again squirms, trying to break free. "He doesn't know anything, either.... This is pointless!" If Ravage was going to 'come to life' and help break them free, this sure would be a good time, cat!

**Pharma has posed:**
    Pharma smirks as Blast Off squirms. "Oh, but why should you care if it's pointless? After all, he's just a coworker, right? That's what you said."

    Vantage does not dignify Vortex with an answer. He will find out, soon enough. And sure enough, he is taken straight to the exam room where Pharma and Blast Off are.

    The doctor smiles when they enter. "Ah, Vantage. There you are. Why don't you go ahead and hold him up against that wall for me?" he asks. Vantage seems to hesitate a little bit, but eventually does as he's told. "Perfect, perfect. Just like that." Pharma picks up the laser cutter again, and grabs Vortex's wrist. "We'll start with the left hand, how about that? Or should we start with a foot? What do you say, Blast Off?" He says, activating the tool and holding it against the rotary's arm.

**Ravage has posed:**
Timing! Timing is everything, isn't it...

If only Blast Off were like Soundwave, it would go so much better. Because then there'd be a really neat callout like... 'Ravage, break this fool' or 'Ravage, engage' or...something to that end.

But that's noticeably absent. What's not absent is, once Vortex and Blast Off are together in the medical room, a soft clatter of something falling and the appearance of, well, that darned cat.

This is going to be interesting...

And possibly...suicidal? Who knows. Either way, there's little the cat says before he's leaping at Pharma, claws first. "If you've got it in you to move, Vortex...now's a good time... Pharma has all kinds of fun tools out to play with."

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off is indeed squirming right now.... the shuttleformer desperately tries to not betray a fellow Decepticon, but if it becomes between Vortex or Ravage, Vortex comes first. Yet he doesn't trust Pharma not to harm all of them, ultimately. He's wrestling with all that, watching them string Tex up against the wall.... should he tell him where Ravage is??? Suddenly he feels a movement within his armor plates and CAT ATTACK! The sniper draws in a sharp vent, watching and exclaiming, "Let me loose and I'll be \*glad\* to find something to \*play\* with!"

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex 's limp body is dragged to the wall, and propped up. His systems make a odd sound as they reroute systems from non-essentials to his limbs! Not like he'll be transforming anytime soon without his rotors, who needs any energy to the cog or surrounding areas. Not Vortex anyways. He chuckles. "You should be glad I like that kinda treatment, Pharma. I could give you advice..." and then the cat launches at Pharma's face. "But you have a cat attached to your face so.. bye!" he chuckles as he tries to headbutt the guard. "Goodnight."

**Pharma has posed:**
    "Argh!" Pharma suddenly gets a Ravage in his face. He stumbles back, but it's not as if he wasn't at least somewhat prepared for that. A syringe launcher emerges from his arm, and he stabs at the beastformer with it whilst trying to throw him off and send him flying into the wall. "Ha, or I suppose the intruder could be a -complete- glitchead and reveal -himself-. I knew you saps wouldn't be able to keep up your facade for long!" he gloats, and suddenly the alarm is screeching again, and more security is quickly on its way. For now, though, Vantage gets headbutted by Vortex, although he manages to keep his grip on the Combaticon. "Resistance is futile, Decepticon. You're doing nothing but bringing more pain on yourself!" he exclaims, and brings his weapon to bear on the rotary.

**Ravage has posed:**
Ravage gets hit by...well, whatever that needle was. His systems tell him a few things, but there's other things to work on... namely, getting the odds shifted a bit in proper favor.

He smirks at Pharma before one of his sled-mounted weapons turns, aims, and fires...at the bindings holding Blast Off. It's...probably one of those shots the shuttle will hate him for later, but, come on, if someone's going to tilt odds a bit, then this is one way of doing it.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off is about to have a fit here, all this action going on, his brother in jeopardy, and he's still tied to the table! "Vortex!" He shouts when he sees the guard try to shoot the other Combaticon. "Get me OUT of these things!" He keeps insisting, "Get these OFF me!" He struggles against the restraints again, then looks up and sees ..."Wait, don't shoot ME!!" He flinches as the cat's attack strikes ...thankfully, it's accurate enough not to injure HIM but not enough to get them loose. "...." He huffs, still trying to break free. "On second thought, DO shoot me! It's loosening them, I can feel it!" He keeps squirming.

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex purrs at Vantage as he ducks the attack with more speed then the rotary should have. "Oh you are just fun, aren't you?" He purrs. "You don't know me do you?" he says. "Let me introduce myself." he tries to get the guard in a headlock and twist his head, trying to snap his neck with what strength he has. "Hi, I'm Vortex. And I love. Love pain." he says trying to get free still. "Bring it on, Autobots. Bring. It. On!" he challenges!

**Pharma has posed:**
    Pharma watches smugly as Ravage fails to free Blast Off from his restraints. "Ha, did you actually think that you could send one little -animal- to bust yourselves out of Garrus-1? You're stupider than I thought."

    Vantage still maintains his grip on Vortex. He gets his neck twisted, though it doesn't seem to faze him too much. "Fine, have it your way." He fires again, shoving his weapon into this opponent's chassis.

    Within moments, at least a couple of security details are in the doorway--the only way in or out of the room. Two of them actually enter, their weapons at the ready, while the rest guard the door. "Surrender or die." they demand.

**Ravage has posed:**
Oh, well, that was unfortunate... he frowns at the lack of results on that, and the sound of approaching...hrm. This is going to be interestingly tough, isn't it.

Right, well, the cat was there...

And then isn't there.

It's one of those moments where in...measured action is probably worthwhile here.

**Blast Off has posed:**
"Vortex!!!" Blast Off is getting panicked despite his best efforts as he helplessly watches Vortex get shot and can't do a thing to help him, much less Ravage. The shuttleformer struggles mightily against the restraints but strength isn't his forte'. "Get these OFF me!!" The shuttle has to get free, these walls are definitely closing in on him and he's had quite ENOUGH of this, thank you! Then Ravage just DISAPPEARS! "Get BACK HERE!!!" he yells in frustration as he and Vortex are left on their own- with THIS guy. "Fragging..." ARGH!! He jerks against the restraints again with all he can muster, but it's just not enough.

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex continues to keep going even after he gets shot pointblank in the chest. He hisses and tries once again to kick at his captor, trying to kick that gun out of his hands. "Haven't lost yet. As long as I can move I will fight you." He says, the fresh wound dripping energon. His optics dim and he sparks badly. Most sane mechs woudl be on the floor, but he's not sane. As a matter of fact, hes fighting like a very desperate animal. "Blast Off. Blast Off if you get free, run!"

**Pharma has posed:**
    Welp, there goes the cat. Ugh! Pharma groans. "You." he says, turning to one of the details. "Search the facility. Find him. The rest of you, take care of that psychotic glitchead and take the both of them back to their cells. I've got better things to do than deal with this -drivel-." Then he turns to leave, annoyed.

    As for Vortex, he can keep fighting as long as he can, but ultimately he is outnumbered and outgunned, and still beat to slag. So suffice it to say, that he is returned to his cell in even worse condition than he originally was. Well maybe that shouldn't come as a surprise...

**Vortex has posed:**
Vortex fights until his systems give out. He finally collapses, his systems going limp, his chest leaking badly atop of his other wounds. He murmurs something soft. "Blas.." Before his optics flicker out and he goes very still, looking for all intents and purposes to be dead or in stasis.

**Ravage has posed:**
Yes, he heard Blast Off yell for him, and yes, he heard Pharma's distaste at his vanishing, but there's other things beyond delivering intel to the eventual extraction team that need to be delivered...

Namely, a recording of, well, the mech that eventually turned into a puddle. As well as a few other things.

Still, a good backup plan is always handy, and he starts arming up a few of his signature explosives. You know...just in case.

**Blast Off has posed:**
Blast Off struggles as his brother is beaten right next to him, and yet can't do a thing. "VORTEX!" All his training and he can't get out of these stupid restraints and do something \*useful\*. "Vortex..." His voice starts breaking as he finally grows still, only moving again when the guards release him to accompany his injured teammate back to the cell. At least this time they get put together, surprising but not anything the shuttle complains about. He sticks close to his bro, not sure what else he can do besides maintain vigil and see if he can at least stop the bleeding. For once he doesn't seem to mind the mess. "..."