1367/Opening Pandora's Box

Cast of Characters: | Blurr, Swivel, Healthpoint, Starlock, Sinnertwin, Goth, 135

**Swivel has posed:**
It takes all of Swivel's self control not to emit a low whistle as she peers into the laboratory from the shadowy tunnels. Her jaunt through the tunnels had actually been somewhat long, with Starlock in heel. She'd decided to do some exploring in the area to find possible escape routes or alternate entries. While no alternate way into the lab was found, she had found a few points where it'd be easy to connect other tunnels to the one leading to it. But that was neither here nor there. She had Healthpoint to meet up with, and a laboratory to inspect.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock was not far behind Swivel, ready to throw hands if it came to it! she had her stave folded into a beton on her belt this time at arms reach should something go wrong. She was stepping lightly to keep her steps silent. Now unlike others, Starlock was having a bit of trouble seeing in the dark, but she didn't want to turn her chassis light on just yet, she was going to wait for that signal.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Yes. A somewhat nervous Healthpoint who had been guarding the lab with Sixshot still nearby. They couldn't just leave it to the Cons, but the combat part of her combat medic title was still mostly academic, so she is glad to get some reinforcements after Hammerstrike had to head off to be muscle somewhere else. She has also been ineffectually staring at these word puzzle locks for what seems like a mega-cycle to her and has made no headway. She considers herself pretty smart, but she just can't make a connection here.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Currently Sixshot is out of sight having gone down the tunnels after splitting off from Goth and the Autbots that were left. His optics scanning the tunnel as he tries to see if the trail went any further or if the Mimic did a quick patch. Shaking his head he emits a vent before turning around to make his way back to the lab and its hidden secrets. One hand idly reaching for his maglocks before pulling back, his current intent unknown as he goes to either guard the area or drive folks out.

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel pauses, seeing Healthpoint. But where were the Decepticons who were reported to have stayed nearby? Swivel freezes. <<"Healthpoint. We're just outside the lab. Starlock. On your guard.">> Swivel peers back down the tunnels, her optics switching to heat vision. Hearing movement that isn't Starlock, Swivel gestures for Starlock to go on ahead into the lab. <<"Whoever is here knows Healthpoint is here, and might expect reinforcements. Hate to ask you to be sitting ducks but... get a look at the lab. I'm going to lie in wait in ambush.">>

With that said, Swivel finds a small maintenance nook in the tunnel to crouch down and huddle in, optics going black. No biolights at all can be seen from her as she waits near the lab entrance.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "<<Copy that.>>" Starlock would say as she slipped into the room, glancing around, she was being mindful of the heavier pede steps, she was trying to be careful as not to run into anything but that was.. proving hard as she stepped on things and nearly tripped as she couldn't see.

      "<<Who said I'd be a sitting duck?>>" She'd ask with some slight amusement in a bid to hide and drown her anxieties.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint blinks as she hears the radio. She looks around, then radios back. <<"Sixshot is here somewhere. Both sides left a guard. I'm not sure where he wandered off to, but you can be sure he is nearby.">> she responds. <<"I'd say it is a miracle he didn't just shoot me sometime during the night.">> she adds. She waves to Starlock when the other medic finally appears. Healthpoint has her spotlights on, usually used to help locate injured but for now used to make the trap door room much less dark than before. <<"You may not be, but I'm pretty much a sitting duck.">> she responds to Starlock.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
"Half expected a lot more than this would have arrived during my hunt.", Sixshot is heard saying as he makes his presence known when walking back into the lab, "If it wasn't for you both being pests in the past. I'd be surprised that only the medic team is left here at this point.

 The sixchangers optics narrow as he has already pulled one of his blasters out of their maglocks, "So many options here. Perhaps see if one of you has the processor to solve this little thing. Course whether to keep your sparks ignited comes to question."

**Swivel has posed:**
So many options indeed. Swivel watches Sixshot returns, threatening the medics. Optics still dark, she focuses on his heat signature. Slowly, trying not to make a sound, she reaches for her whip. Gaging distance and timing, Swivel knows she'll only have one shot at this. She steps out, and there is the sound of crackling as she unleashes a surge of electricity along her whip, lashing out at Sixshot from the shadows.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock stares at Sixshot, not in far, but with this look of defiance, she wanted him to /try/ but she also knew Swivel was in the dark there... So when Swivel's whip hits it's mark she just gives a smug smile, before her pede boosters kicked in and she leaped onto Sixshot, her mag-locks on her pedes engaging that she normally used to stay attached to bigger-bots in-order to repair them.

      She made quick work of getting Sixshot bound to a nearby support on the wall, before quickly getting herself down and onto the ground once more, giving a two finger salute. "Nothing against ya' mate but I gotta job to do." Quickly making her way back to the others after ensuring the restraints where secure.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint eyes Sixshot as he reappears in the lab. "I don't know about your medics, but I'm pretty sure we could at least ensure that you didn't go home without plenty of sc-..." And suddenly there is a surge that hits Sixshot. Healthpoint blinks in surprise. Was that Swivel? And before she has really had time to process it, Starlock has started tying Sixshot up. Healthpoint blinks again, then moves quickly to help her, making sure he is secured with plenty of strong straps. "I mean, a little bit of something against you. You did just threaten to douse our sparks." she adds to what Starlock said.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot is unable to reply as he drops his blaster from the sudden shock. Systems lock up making it impossible for him to resist as he's restrained. For the time he is silent though his optics flash between red and green as his anger flares. No doubt the bots also made sure to disable his comms or the mech hasn't realized yet.

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel keeps her whip ready, waiting for it to recharge, watching cautiously lest her break out of the stun before the medics have a chance to secure him. She remains behind him, not exactly wanting to attract his ire needleslly. If Starlock wants to be smug and draw all the aggression, she'll let her.

Swivel looks up at the two. She comes up behinc Sixshot, now that hs is secured and begins to systematically remove any weapons that aren't integrated and disable his communications. Swivel looks up again, putting a hand to the side of her helmet. <<"Great work, you two. Healthpoint, drag him to the corner and make sure someone is watching him at all times. Now, I understand there is yet another one of these puzzle locks?">>

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint steps back as Swivel disarms Sixshot, then nods at the comm message. <<"I am not sure I really did much there, but thank you.">> she says, then motions to the support beam that Starlock chose as a binding post. <<"Moving him might be problematic at this point, but I'll keep an eye on him. I at least have a little more durability than you two, and I've been staring at that stupid puzzle all night with no success.">> she radios before looking to Sixshot. She starts to say something, but then thinks better of it and just takes up a guard position where she can watch the tunnels and Sixshot.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "<<Looks like!>>" Starlock reports back to Swivel and knits her ridges. "<<...Unfortunately, I don't do well with word puzzles.>>" She'd also report, also keeping an optic on Sixshot as she moved back. "<<Just.. need to move quickly before he gets loose, imagine he'll bring this whole place down once the electricity stops locking his servos.>>"

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshots optics shift towards Swivel as she takes his weapons, "A little turborat appears, do be careful with those." His optics linger on the sword for a moment before quickly looking towards the others. He lets out a vent as he waits for his systems to reset. Though for the moment he watches as the Bots get to work. Better to let them least get some progress before choosing a course of action despite his hurt pride.

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel looks Healthpoint up and down. Well. Mostly up. <<"Well, even if you can't move him, keep checking his restraints. There's no telling when the stun will wear off - and if he's clever, he will bide his time rather than alert us to his improved condition. It's what I would do.">>

Swivel looks at Sixshot for a moment or two. "I'll try." she says to him. And as such, she is very careful handling the weapons as she moves them across the room and out of reach of the mech. She'd hate to trigger some sort of security feature. She certainly isn't going to play with or try using them. <<"Alright, I want someone at the door in case he did manage to call for help, and someone watching him at all times. I'm going to see what I can do with these padlocks. I'm no genius, but I am pretty good with context.">>

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint nods at the order and gives a salute. <<"Yes, ma'am.">> she says, then looks to Starlock. <<"Door or him, ma'am.">> she asks. Healthpoint is after all the lowest rank here. She checks her weapons just in case, and keeps her eyes on Sixshot until she is assigned to the door or to him.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock pauses. "<<I'll handle him, you take the door, I can't see in the dark /nearly/ as well as you can.>>" She'd asmit, flicking all four of her chassis lights on as she made sure Sixshot was secure.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot is silent as he watches the three femmes, switching between the three for a few moments. He doesn't test the restraints as he attempts to record what he can.

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel goes silent. She paces a few times, tapping her chin before squatting down by the hatch again. She looks it over, occasionally muttering things under her breath. After a while or so, she begins to rearrange the padlocks. She has allowed herself to mostly become engrossed in this task, relying on Starlock and Healthpoint to keep Sixshot from getting free and destroying her.

Swivel sighs, looking almost like she is momentarily bothered by something. But then she stis up and grabs out a datapad. She sends a tightbeam over tot he two other Autobots. <<"What were the previous locations that Mimic has hidden in? I'm looking it up, but if either of you know them off hand that'd be quicker.">>

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint smirks just a bit. <<"I wouldn't say I can see in the dark. I'm just able to light it up a bit better.">> she says to Starlock before taking up post as door guard. She is a bit nervous about leaving the little Starlock to watch the fairly sizeable and definitely dangerous Sixshot, but she has her orders and will be right there if something happens.

      The question from Swivel draws a bit of a blank from Healthpoint. <<"I...would have to look them up. I wasn't on-site for any of the encounters other than this one.">> she responds.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "<<Outskirts of Polyhex, uhhh.. somewhere in the grav-glacer if I recall from past reports.>>" She'd rattle off as she kept watch on the bigger bot... She does find it slightly ironic she's been tussling with bigger bots then her, but then again she didn't think she'd be fighting as much back in the day, man she was wrong there.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot lets out a vent as he glances at Starlock, "Nothing to say, not even any questions? Missing opportunity here. Though do question, where has Quickswitch been lately? The mech doing well." He looks to Swivel then back as he pushes down the urge to just break free.

**Swivel has posed:**
Swivel nods. <<"Polyhex... Grav-haraan.... ah! Just gotta cross-reference and... AHA! Now let me try...">> Swivel mutters into her radio. She sets her datapad aside. She glances over to Sixshot for a moment or two. "No offense, but you seem too loyal and too intelligent to easily give up any information. And I'm not one for torture. Not that torture is all that reliable..." Swivel mutters. "I mean, if you'd like to prove me wrong, be my guest. But so long as you behave, you will be let go - no doubt to take your revenge on us later. But that's a problem for future me."

Swivel scoots around, so that all Sixshot can see is a bouquet of tires out her back, blocking his view of what she is doing. She begins to rearrange the tiles.

Lo, and behold, the cellar door slides open. "Well would you look at that!" Swivel says out loud, not bothering to mask her wonder and self-satisfaction. <<"I'm going to go ahead and take a look. Keep him bound. I'll come back and report what I find when I'm done.">>

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint is distracted from guard duty as Swivel mumbles and muses on the comms, but returns to looking down the tunnels as Swivel gets back to work. But, there's an unlocking and sliding sound and Healthpoint looks back quickly. "You got it?!" she exclaims, excited and impressed. She nods at the order over the comms and smirks as she returns to watching the tunnels. <<"Well, we might actually get a leg up on the Decepticons for once.">> she says over the comm.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "It really isn't." She'd agree with Swivel on the topic of torture... Then chuckled lightly. "Yeaah, that's.. normally what I think when I do crazy scrap like this too... Deal with it later!" She'd smile, trying to help redirect the conversation. "..He's fine." She'd say simply, and nods matter of factly.

 "<<Copy that Swivel, good luck, this is.. going to be interesting.>>" She'd report back, before whistling at Swivel getting it quickly.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
"If that is what you wish.", Sixshot replies as he watches Swivel, optics narrowing as she gets out of sight. Letting out a vent he adds, "Yes doubt you'd be doing anything like the senate." Looking between the three he ponders breaking out and grabbing one of the pair in attempt to force them to open the door. His systems are ready to go just needing the right moment.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      <<"Try not to take too long. We still don't know if he managed to get a message out or how long those bonds will hold.">> Healthpoint radios to Swivel. "Well, what we actually wish is that Mimic and the Decepticons would just give it a rest already. This war is going nowhere, and Mimic is either going to be defeated or find out that his plan didn't go as planned. He's the very definition of someone who has a screw loose." she says since Sixshot is actually talking. "...what do you mean doing things like the Senate? Optimus specifically formed the Autobots to stop that kind of thing. If Megatron wasn't such a backstabbing glitch who couldn't handle trusting someone, there wouldn't even -be- a war right now."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock just.. face palms at Healthpoint, yep.. Heeeeere they go! all she can do is let out a long-suffering sigh as she checked the restraints once more.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
"No surprise many wouldn't know the past of myself and Quick. Originally built for a different purpose, just took different paths.", Sixshot replies. He doesn't go into details as he waits for Starlock to get close before attempting to break loose and grab the mini medic.

**Swivel has posed:**
<<"Copy that. I'm done down here.">> Swivel says. It isn't long before the cellar opens again and Swivel emerges. And it's just in time to see that Sixshot has, as she feared, managed to get free from his restraints. Swivel looks between Starlock and Healthpoint. She has to make a quick decision. And she doesn't like the prudent option. Swivel's hands go up initially, away from her holstered whip to show she isn't about to attack. But she walks cautiously around Sixshot, never turning from him, and giving him a wide berth. "It's really not worth messing with Starlock, unless you relish the challenge of going up against Sky Lynx." Swivel warns. Is she... angling herself towards the exit? It looks like it.

<<"I'm going to head back and get help - and report my findings. Healthpoint and Starlock, all you need is to do whatever it takes to get free and back to base. If I don't hear from you, I'll send in the big guns. Healthpoint, do NOT aggravate him further while he has Starlock in his grasp.">> Swivel looks levelly at Sixshot. "This turborat knows when she's beat." With that, Swivel turns and flees, leaving the fate of the two medics in their own hands.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint blinks at the sudden sounds of scuffling and turns quickly to find...Starlock grabbed by Sixshot! Her green optics narrow and she aims her syringe launcher. "...let her go. I've been practicing my aim." she says, that gleaming surgical steel tip pointed at Sixshot's head. <<"Understood. We'll hold him off and then get out of here as best we can.">> she responds to Swivel. The comment about aggrivating him confuses Healthpoint somewhat. Has she become known as an antagonizer of Decepticons? Has she become known as someone who endangers teammates for no good reason? Either of the possibilities is troubling to the tall medic. She just stares down Sixshot. <<"Starlock...I should be able to hit him without hitting you, but...I won't take the shot unless you say so.">>

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock would yelp as she was grabbed, though this isn't the first.. /nor/ the second time someones done this to her, he's pretty used to being left behind so, weather if that's a good or bad thing, that would be for others to decide.

      She'd have to think fast.. HP is /way/ larger and slower then her so.. Rule of being a leader, your underlings before you. "<<Retreat ahead of me! I'll be fine!>>" She'd call as she twisted around and attempted to headbutt Sixshot as hard as she could.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
"Well there goes the one I needed.", Sixshot comments as Swivel makes a run for it. He turns back to Healthpoint, "Dare to risk it?" He's half tempted to just throw the mini femme at the larger Autobot but is suddenly interrupted as he's suddenly struck by Starlock in the head. Losing his grip as he stumbles back he yells out, "Little fragger!" He reaches but stops as he remembers his guns are laying elsewhere. Instead of going for them he immediately protoforms to beast mode and attempts to bite the medic.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint obviously doesn't like the order, but she does know that Starlock is quite able to handle herself. So, the bigger medic starts walking backward out of the room. "I'd dare, but she's the one to worry about!" she says as she steps out the lab door. She fires one of her syringes just before she ducks around the corner, then checks the route before slowly backing her way toward the exit. She isn't going to just leave Starlock there, no matter what the orders were. "We did warn you!" she calls to Sixshot. After all, Starlock isn't in his grip anymore.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock groans and quickly rushes out into the hall way to join Healthpoint yelling over her radio. "<<HP, GO!>>" She'd shout realizing now the danger in this situation of Healthpoint not listening she purposefully hangs back and transforms into her Alt-mode to let HP get a head as she flashes her headlights at the Wolf!

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot emits a growl as Healthpoint tries to shoot before Starlock blinds him, "Gah, blasted glitches." He grumbles a bit as he notices his t-cog is stuck again. He doesn't give chase as he instead heads over to where Swivel left his gear, "Rip out their sparks another time." He glances at the trapdoor, not doubting that the locks reset as he gets his comms back on.

**Blurr has posed:**
    Not long after the alert from Swivel on the comms, there is a streak of white and blue that comes zooming down the passage leading to the underground lab. It stops in front of the doorway from the lab to the corridor where Starlock and Healthpoint had begun their escape. Yup, there stands Blurr, TechVolt raised and ready to cover their retreat.

**Healthpoint has posed:**
      Healthpoint blinks in surprise as Starlock comes racing out. "I...I was going! I just wasn't going to go without you!" she says, looking a both confused and a bit hurt. It is a bit tight in here, so Healthpoint stays in her robot form and just runs for it. And almost trips over Blurr as he comes racing in to cover their exit. "Blurr?!" she exclaims in surprise, then just vents and keeps going. He definitely doesn't need their help to escape.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot activates his gears subspace container before he's suddenly hit by another familiar jolt, "What the slag!?" He turns to see Blurr as his systems freeze up again. More annoyed that he chose to let the others go.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "It's Blurr! He'll be fine!" She'd call as she sped after Healthpoint quickly, leaving the bunker as well in her Mini-bus mode, she almost hits a certain /bat/ on the way out who looks more then a bit offended but she doesn't' give pause to think about it.

**Blurr has posed:**
    Blurr grins as Sixshot is immobilized. It's always fun, paralyzing heavy hitters like that with a simple charge. "Oh, hey Sixshot. Nice to see you again." he says, still smirking as he sorts of walks right up to him. "Really wish I could stick around and chat, but got medics to take care of. But don't worry! I'll -definitely- be seeing you around on the battlefield sometime I'm sure! So plenty more where that came from." he says, petting the beast-like mode Sixshot is currently in on the head. Even a little rub behind the ears, too. "Later!"

    Then he transforms and zooms off after Healthpoint and Starlock, making sure they don't get shot in the rear on their way out.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth makes his way down the bunker tunnel.. By climbing a crossed the ceiling were he doesn't get run over by another /hover car/ again.. He'd eventually peek into the lab, familiar Green optics and dark red Biolights glowing. "Captain?" Goth chirps.

**Sinnertwin has posed:**
After all the slag he regularly goes through it's probably no surprise that Goth has brought a bodyguard along again. The Terrorcon isn't far behind him, just on the ground like a normal beast instead of crawling across overhead surfaces. Sinnertwin stops partway in the doors, each head turning to look in an opposite direction to scope out the lab.

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot doesn't reply as he just lies there. No doubt his spark is flaring up by now glowing as any belonging to a point one percenter. If it wasn't for the techvolt he would be screaming a long string of expletives as Blurr teases him before running.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth looks around to ensure he won't be attacked, and drops down to the floor and approaches Sixshot, moving well in the dark thanks to his advanced optics, and started checking him over and huffs, doing some quick field repairs to discharge the charge from Six's servos.

**Sinnertwin has posed:**
A small plume of smoke emits from the left head's nostrils as he snorts. "This place smells terrible." "And not in the terrible like Blot smells." "Terrible in the 'things that should not have been done here have been done here'." It's hard to tell if that's actually something to smell, or just how Sinnertwin sums up the general atmosphere of most of the Mimic's hideouts in general.

Despite the back and forth rambling the right head lifts, and finally catchs a familiar scent. "Ah, the familar twinge of destruction, dismemberment, and death." "Debilitation, decapitation, demoralizatrion, and defficati--" The right smacks against the left. "Too many words! Six modes, six words."

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
Sixshot lets out that string as soon as he's able. He stops before he truly gives Goth and Sinnertwin a audial full as he protoforms to root mode as the only good thing the techvolt did before the bat was to jolt into spinning, "Bah." For the moment he doesn't comment on events as he glances towards the trap door.

**Goth has posed:**
     Goth's fur (well what little there was in his root-mode) would fluff up when Sixshot starts cursing after Goth gets the quick repairs done with, mostly fearful he was gonna be collateral damage... But soon he relaxes. "Everything looks minor from what I can see." He'd comment, looking their captain over, before transforming back to his bat mode.

**Sinnertwin has posed:**
Sinnertwin in comparison looks slightly dejected when the potential vulgarity is cut short. But that does mean Sixshot is still in control to keep himself from flipping out, and that's good. "Enough small things." "Just as bad as one big wound."

**Sixshot (135) has posed:**
"Minor is acceptable though still a failure.", Sixshot replies as he heads over to the trap door. He attempts to open but fails as the locks are back in place, "Find someone to crack this code later or find me that little turborat Swivel. Let Vortex or someone find out what they know." He lets out a veny glad that the pair hasn't asked for details, "Heading back to base." He starts to walk out as he says this.

**Sinnertwin has posed:**
Details are irrelevant as long as Sixshot is okay to cause destruction and ruin amongst the enemy ranks another day. Typical simple yet practical Sinnertwin logic. Goth should probably keep an optic on Sixshot on the way home so the Terrorcon brings up the rear, to reduce the chances of them all being jumped from behind by some other unexpected danger.