109/Salvage

**Swivel has posed:**
 There is an eerie quiet that holds the Ruins of Nyon captive. Eerie? No. Perhaps appropriate. With nothing left to scavange, there is little to no activity. What little activity that can be seen is very slight, but it is a splash of colour at the very least.
      Upon one of the higher piles of rubble Swivel is perched at advantage. However, she is not surveying the scene with hawk-like vigilance, but is rather seated cross-legged upon the junk heap tapping away at a datapad. She does occasionally stop and look about the area, but otherwise hardly moves, and certainly does not detract from the deathly silence.

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Funny who else she might run into here, sulking right at the base of the pile of rubble that Swivel is sitting on is none other than the former Nyonian rebel. Hot Rod picks gloomily at the bits of junk, tossing them in a detached fashion away from himself and watching as they bounce off of the heaps of scrap.

 He mutters some curses to himself quietly, shaking his helm and staring morosely out at the ruins of Nyon, full of regret.

**Swivel has posed:**
Rustle. Skip. Clatter. At first Swivel had looked about herself warily, almost alertly, when she first noticed the sounds. But as it became repetative, she had settled back to finish whatever she was doing. Once satisfied, the small femme tucks her knees beneath her and places her hands on the rubble, carefully crawling to the edge and peering down.
 ".....Oy.... a-ah! Zat you, O'Rod?"

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Hey... ah-hah! Is that you, Hot Rod?"*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
"Yeah, what the hell do you want? Leave me alone," he grumbles, too self absorbed and emotional to recognize Swivel immediately. He should really be in class right now, but he'd decided not to go today. Again.

 Suddenly, it seems to register in that teenaged cerebra-circuitry of his that he really only knew (knows?) one person who talks like that. He sits up straight, optics wide. "...wait a minute..."

 Then he leaps to his feet and turns around. "Swivel?!?"

**Swivel has posed:**
"Ya, tha's me!" Swivel responds with a large almost proud grin. However, it is not long lived. Swivel shuffle-shambles down the rubble pile, coasting on the wheels sprouting from her back until she slides into place beside Hot Rod. She peers up at the mech decked out in warm colours with a concerned expression. "Ya seem outter sorts."

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Yes, that is me. You seem out of sorts."*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod stares at Swivel in shock. "What the--how the---didn't you...!? Frag, where've you been all this time? Come here!" He laughs and kneels, encompassing her in a crushing embrace.

 "It's good to see you survived all the slag. Or...at least got away from all of it." He rubs his helm a bit regretfully, stepping back. "I'm alright." His optics dim and he turns away, arms folded. "How've you been?"

**Swivel has posed:**
Crushing embrace indeed. It's a good thing the femme is structurally sounds despite her slight frame. It's also good that Hot Rod is not a hulking mass of brute force. Swivel allows a light laugh to escape before she brings her arms in front of her to gently push off of the mech, just enough so she can look up and not just see his chin and under side of his nose. Even for Hot Rod, that isn't the most flattering angle.
 "Ah, ah, I's jus' bin off planet's all. But I got 'omesick 'n came back. Wellum, more 'n 'omesick. Gotter feelin' bad fer bailin'. 'N it's noice t'be 'round 'ard folks 'gain, spent mucher time with 'em squishier thingers."

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Ah, ah, I've just been off planet is all. But I got homesick and came back. Well, more than homesick. I got feeling bad for bailing. And it is nice to be around hard folks again, spent much time with them squishier things."*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
"Yeah, well, I'm glad you came back," Hot Rod says, "organics can be annoying." Even though he's never really been off world. They seemed annoying, from what little he's learned about them in textbooks.

 He looks around, glancing at the piles of rubble around them. "You still running around homeless and unemployed?" he asks, a hint of concern creeping into his tone of voice.

**Swivel has posed:**
With hands now on her hips, Swivel looks at the ground, and then around at the ruins. "Oh, more 'omeless 'n b'fore. Nuttin' much left o' th'place..." Swivel makes an arcing all-inclusive gesture with one arm, indicating the rubble. "But I guess I kinna 'spect things ta've bin th'same." Swivel then folds her arms over her chest. "I 'eard yer signed up wither 'bots."

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Oh, more homeless than before. Nothing much left of the place. But I guess I could not have expected things to have been the same. I heard you signed up with the Autobots."*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod's shoulder's droop significantly when she gestures at Nyon, his optics dimming and his demeanor growing tired. He sighs, his expression pained. "Yeah," he says softly, "damn shame, isn't it?"

 He glances back over at Swivel. "You working or...?"

**Swivel has posed:**
Rolling back her shoulders and placing her hands behind her back, Swivel paces a few steps, the sound of bits and scrap crunching and grinding under each step. "Oh... welllum, I do this or tha'. Been tryna keep ta mosly 'bot territory fer now since sumtin' 'appened in Rodion... but i's jussa temp sitch."

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Oh... well, I do this or that. Been trying to keep to mostly Autobot territory for now since something happened in Rodion... but it is just a temporary situation."*

**Prowl has posed:**
The fields of rubble have been fairly quiet thus far, aside from the two of them conversing. That is, until some commotion can be heard nearby. If either of them turn toward the noise, they'll find a group of mechs standing a short distance off, systematically picking through the wreckage of an Omega Destructor.

    One of them has a crane arm in his alt mode and is working on clearing away a large piece of building framework. The others are huddled around its detached arm, doing...something. It's hard to tell at this distance.

**Hot Rod has posed:**
"...yeah?" he says, arching a brow ridge at her, looking curious now. "Who'd you pick it up from? An Autobot? Or Decepticon?" He doesn't seem partial to either, but his body language says he's suspicious anyway, since Swivel has a knack for getting into trouble.

 The commotion not so far away catches Hot Rod's attention. When he notices they're leaning over the wreckage of an Omega Destructor, his optics widen, and he scowls, transforming. "What the hell..." he mutters. "I'll be right back," he says to Swivel. Then he burns rubber, heading for the mechs huddled around the Destructor's detached arm.

**Swivel has posed:**
"Oh, jus' Blurr..." Swivel began to respond when the commotion attracts Swivel's attention. She doesn't really understand the significance of any of it and just cocks her head to the side. More interesting, however, is Hot Rod's reaction, which she studies with piqued interest. "Kay, I'll be 'ere..." Swivel responds. Swivel is, however, curious by nature. She also has SOME ounce of self preservation, and thus she has little interest in following Hot Rod into what is most likely trouble. Instead she climbs back on to the pile of rubble she had previously perched upon to gain a vantage point. From here she watches.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Oh, just Blurr... Okay, I'll be here."*

**Prowl has posed:**
As Hot Rod draws nearer, he may be able to tell that they are indeed attempting to salvage some of the Destructor's parts, mainly the ones inside of the weapon attached to that arm. A few others can also be seen picking through parts of the body which lies a short distance off. Can't really tell from this distance who they are, at least not without enhanced sensors or something similar.The area looks to have been barricaded off. A security mech has spotted Hot Rod approaching and moves to intercept him. "Excuse me sir, but this area is off limits at this time. Please step away."

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Upon arriving, Hot Rod quickly decides he doesn't need to know anymore. It's very clear to him that they're trying to salvage some of the Destructor's parts. And it doesn't matter whether they're Decepticons or Autobots, that is NOT okay in Hot Rod's book by any means -- no one should have been trying to figure out how to reuse even parts of those monstrous beings.

 Hot Rod ignores the security mech and revs his engines, swerving to go around him and ram through the barricades.

 Meanwhile, Swivel will get an unexpected (and perhaps unwanted) visitor.

 "Hey!" the gold chromed seeker shouts at Swivel, transforming and landing on the pile of rubble next to her. "You have to tell me who you are supposed to give that package to, and what is inside of it!" Phantom says accusatorially, pointing.

**Swivel has posed:**
Perhaps one would imagine Swivel would be ruffled or startled by Phantom's arrival, but there is no such distress. Instead Swivel does not even tear her glance away from the salvage expedition and Hot Rod's speeding towards them. She waves, or rather flails, her hand in Phantom's general direction. "Ssssshhhhhhhhhh ssshhhh shhhh dun draw 'tention 'ere, I'm tryna see wot's g'won!"

*Swivel Speech Translation:* Hush. Don't draw attention here, I'm trying to see what is going on."

**Prowl has posed:**
"Hey! Stand down!" The security mech turns and transforms as well, attempting to swerve in front of him and cut him off before he can attempt to knock down the barricades. He quickly comms the rest of the team letting them know of the disturbance.

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Hot Rod is cut off by the security mech, but that doesn't stop him, nope. He plows ahead, ready to ram into the other Autobot if he doesn't get the hell out of his way.

 Phantom grabs Swivel's arm and shakes her a little, in a surprisingly gentle fashion, given his demeanor. "No!" he says adamantly, "Answer my questions! If you get my brother into trouble because you are bad, I will kill you!"

**Prowl has posed:**
The mech manages to get ahead of Hot Rod, swerving in front of him to try to cut him off. Unfortunately for him, the brazen cadet doesn't stop but plows right into him. He skids sideways across the ground and ends up sandwiched between Hot Rod and the barricade. Unfortunately, even though the security bot couldn't force him to stop, he still managed to slow him down enough to prevent him from breaching the metal barrier.

    Now, the rest of the team is approaching, their weapons ready. "Don't move!" They are shouting. "Oh Primus, what's he done to Vantage?!" They sound seriously concerned, even panicked.

**Swivel has posed:**
Upon having her arm shaken, Swivel turns and looks up at Phantom with not agitation or alarm but an open face brimming with curiousity, followed by incredulity. "B-bad? Me?" Swivel parrots in a hushed tone. She looks almost as if she were about to laugh from the absurdity of it all. "I'm guessin' by brother y'mean th'fella from Macadams. Dun worry, it ent traceable back t'im. I.... 'aven't 'ad th'opportuntiy ta d'liver it, though." Swivel tries to tentatively pull her arm free of Phantom's grasp and shoulder-checks on Hot Rod's progress before looking back to Phantom. "I normally woona d'this, but considerin' th'cricumstances, I'd be willin' t'letcha 'ave it. I dunno if ya'd wannit though. I dunno wot it is, an' it coo be dan---- yeeek!" Swivel looks back at Hot Rod's aggressive approach to being told 'no'. "Oy...."

*Swivel Speech Translation: "B-bad? Me? I am guessing by brother you mean the fellow from Maccadams. Don't worry, it is not traceable back to him. I... haven't had the opportunity to deliver it, though. I normally would not do this, but considering the circumstances, I would be willing to let you have it. I don't know if you'd want it though. I don't know what it is, and it could be dang--yeek! Oy..."*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Well, they manage to put a very large dent in it. The authorities back at the academy aren't going to happy, Hot Rod thinks to himself. He transforms, and peers Vantage, a bit grumpily. The damage isn't too bad, it would appear, he's dented and perhaps smoking a little, but otherwise unhurt. "Don't you know how to fragging get out of someone's way?" He growls angstily, but he offers the security mech a hand. "What the hell is this operation anyway," he snaps at the rest of the team.

 Phantom's optics widen. He seems surprised, although even he isn't sure whether it's pleasantly so or not. He pinches Swivel's cheeks gently, making her look at him. "Yes please," he says quietly, "please, give it to me. I am going to make my brother will be safe."
**Swivel has posed:**
Once Swivel's cheeks are free, she puts her hands on them and looks at Phantom, pushing out her lower lip and chin in an almost pouty expression. This passes however and she attends to retrieving the case with special care. She does not, however, supply the dataslug with the instructions. Merely the object marked for delivery. She handles the object with a great deal of care. "Careful w'it, ya migh'na wanner open it. All I'm sayin' is I was told ta 'ightail it outter 'ere affer d'liverin' it."

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Careful with it, you might not want to open it. All I'm saying is I was told to hightail it out of there after delivering it."*

**Prowl has posed:**
Hot Rod's attitude isn't sitting well with the rest of the team. One of them, who appears to be the leader, glares at him. "Of course he did, but if he had he would have been shirking his duties like a coward." He folds his arms angrily. "And what this operation is, is none of your fragging business, glitch."

    Vantage doesn't take the hand, because he's stasis locked, now. He won't die, but he'll need medical attention. "Who are you, anyway?"

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Ugh, he's passed out now? Vantage totally hadn't been passed out a nanoklik ago. Hot Rod hastily withdraws his hand, optics wide. He takes another look at the security mech, realizing the damage is worse than he'd originally though. His expression becomes pained and he radios for the nearest Autobot medic to come attend to the now passed out security mech.

 "N-Not like he's gonna stop me anyway, so why even bother!?" Hot Rod blurts regretfully.

 He glares back at the Vantage's other team member. "Frag you, don't you know who I am? Nyon's ... my turf!" Well, was. He clenches his fists. "Fine, whatever, I don't care anymore, just get the hell out. None of you have any damn business fishing around in that Destructor!"

 Phantom takes the parcel carefully, examining it with arched brow ridges. He wonders what it is. "Okay," he says, sounding a bit detached. However, when she mentions hightailing it after delivery, he frowns. "... that is not a good sign," he says more to himself than anyone else.

**Swivel has posed:**
There is a moment of silence from Swivel as she glances over at Hot Rod and the salvage team. While still staring at the scene beyond, Swivel says softly, "I'm not bad... I'm jus' scared."

*Swivel Speech Translation: "I'm not bad... I'm just scared."*

**Prowl has posed:**
The squadron leader frowns, then something seems to dawn on him. "Oh, heh! Aren't you that crazy insurgent who blew up this place, then went and joined up with Optimus?" He glances at the rest of the team. "Fancy -that-."

    "Well I've got news for you, pal--we don't take orders from -cadets-, and you are in -big- trouble. You do -not- just attack an officer and get away with it, and you do -not- get to tell us what is or isn't our damn business. Now get out of here, before we -actually- arrest you and get you expelled from the academy."

**Hot Rod has posed:**
A string of curses so obscene even someone like Repugnus might cringe at them spews out of the cadet's vocalizer. He clenches his fists, looking for all the world like he's about to punch the other mech's lights out. "Yeah, well, I didn't see you helping Nyon! Where were you, when Zeta went all cyber-hog wild with his Destructors, huh??! Fragger!" he hisses vehemently. "I'm not damn crazy, you all the fragging, strutless cowards!!" he growls.

 "Like I give a flying frag!" he mouths off at the other team members. He transforms and speeds off, muttering to himself, "I'll be back, losers. You can count on that for sure..." He zips past Swivel, having conveniently forgot in his teenage rage that he'd been conversing with her previously.

 Phantom frowns, shaking his helm. "No, you are," he insists, "everyone is bad." He turns to leave, feeling confused.

**Swivel has posed:**
"If everyone's bad 'en there is no bad, jus' normal..." Swivel murmurs. She holds back saying anything more. She might have said more if not being moritified by Hot Rod's cursing, which she could hear well enough. The femme has heard pretty bad language living on the streets, but it seems to nonetheless take the femme off guard. And when he zooms past Swivel, she throws out her arm in futility, calling out "OY! WAITERMINITDUNGO!" ..... Pointless. "Dun go..." Swivel says more quietly after seeing the speeder become a mere dot on the horizon.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "If everyone's bad then there is no bad, just normal... HEY! WAIT A MINUTE DON'T GO! Don't go..."*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Phantom's expression softens a little. He's still trying to figure out the little femme. "There is no normal," he says solemnly, "only levels of bad. There is bad, then terrible, then wicked." His brows furrow. "The Autobots are wicked. That is why you cannot be friends with that blue guy. He is very wicked." He turns away. "I think you just have not seen things that Autobots do."

**Prowl has posed:**
The leader smirks, having already commed HQ. "Kid's in big trouble now. Deserves it. In fact, he deserves to be in jail but since we're short on mechs guess we might as well give him a chance to shape up." Some medevac units arrive then, moving to take Vantage to the nearest medical facility. The security team them resumes its duties.

**Swivel has posed:**
Sagging her shoulders, the little femme turns away from staring mournfully at the horizon like a puppy watching their owner leave on a road trip. "If tha's yer def'nition, I'll take bad as a compliment," Swivel says as a rueful smile creeps onto her face. "Th'blue guy /IS/ oner the bad things th'bots did. But.... it 'ent fer me ta tell more 'en 'at. Wellum, ya got yer thing, now it's up t'ya ter try 'n keep tha brother-bloke outter trouble. Good luck on tha'." Swivel inches towards the edge of the rubble heap she'd been standing on and squats down, getting ready to slide down.

*Swivel Speech Translation: "Of that's your definition, I'll take bad as a compliment. The blue guy IS one of the bad things the Autobots did. BUt... it is not for me to tell more than that. Well, you got your thing, now it's up to you to try and keep that brother-bloke out of trouble. Good luck with that."*

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Phantom watches her curiously, optics surveying her carefully. He's never met anyone who responded in the like manner after being called 'bad'. "What do you mean?" he asks softly,

 When she wishes him luck, he seems slightly surprised. "...okay," he says, frowning a little. He still isn't convinced she's trustworthy, but his experience with her today has caused him to be more curious than antagonistic.

**Swivel has posed:**
The little femme just glances over at Phantom when he asks what she means and gives a subtle tilt of her head. She does not answer however, and quickly slides down the rubble, transforming as she does so. The small femme's alt mode rolls and flips and bounces a few times before zipping off into that same horizon.

**Hot Rod has posed:**
Phantom watches her leave, still apprehensive of her, yet intrigued. He shakes his helm, then transforms and heads back towards Kolkular, subspacing the parcel carefully.