1202/One Step At A Time

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock was leaned against one of the walls to the Atrium as she looked through the new reports, and vented a huff. "Why does this not surprise me." She'd roll her optics and bring up the file she'd been working on in her free time, documenting the whole case with Pharma.

      She'd glance up, and look around the room though... Noticing how relatively empty it was, that had been what she came here for after but... Still.. Felt rather lonely.

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    Tap-Out stands in the atrium, thoughtfully contemplating the statues of various Primes past. In the nearly empty lobby, Starlock's huff and muttering carries farther than usual. Tap-Out glances up. Spying a rare friendly face, Tap-Out crosses over to where Starlock in leaning. "Shanix for your thoughts," he says with a grin. "What's up?"

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock blinked and looked up to Tap-out, having not noticed him before and gave him a nod in greeting. "Alright, and a lot of things, mostly all referring to this mess with Pharma and Gallo." She'd frown, typing away on the notepad, her finials drooping despite the rest of her outward demeanor looking the same.

      "Suuure you wanna open that can of wires?" She'd ask with a quirked ridge.

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    Tap-Out chuckles, looking around. The squat Autobot smiles at Starlock. "Sure! I got nothin' to do. I'm still on 'stress leave' until I - I dunno. Find myself or something. I'm supposed to talk to Rung, but..." Tap-Out quickly changes the subject. "But now you have me curious! What's up? I am SO out of the loop!" he laughs.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock nodded, and tapped her finger on the datapad in thought, going through her processors about the whole sequence of events. "Basically, Pharma violated the tyrest accord, and basically made a bioweapon plague, tried to frame a number of people, and between I and a number of other bots, primarily Ratchet, Glyph, and First Aid, were able to prove such... He got 'transferred' off planet enlight of everything." She'd vent, clearly she felt he'd gotten away with it.

      "...And Jazz booted him from the Autobots, from my understanding... Just.." She'd frown. "...I don't know.. All the sneaky-dangerous stuff I did to prove such feels for-not, and unrecognized... Maybe I'm just being ungrateful." She'd wave her hand, trying to dismiss the thought.

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    Tap-Out's amber optics widen. "Really? Wow. I mean, I heard rumors, but with his reputation - why would he do something like that?" Tap-Out shakes his head. "Every time I think the Autobots are going to turn away from their past, stop thinking the ends justify the means... stuff like this happens, you know? You think Prowl knew about it and turned his head?" Tap asks conspiratorially.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "Dunno, why I sorta.. put off telling him, and instead went straight to prime, spend cycles in his office retelling the events and giving all the evidence I had." She'd respond with a huff. "...I don't know honestly, Pharma seems to have his hands in /a lot/ of shady things, Murder, Drug dealings, forging documents to basically shadowplay someone's memory processors."

      Starlock would look at the grown, feeling something starting to well at her optics, and would kick at the metal tiling of the floor lightly. "...Just gets away with it, with only a slap on the wrist.."

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    Tap-Out shakes his head, clenching one large fist. "I..." He pauses before continuing. "I dunno. I wish I believed in some fairness in the universe, but from what I've seen..." he shakes his head. "Yeah. I wish I could say I'm surprised. At least now I hope someone's keeping an optic on him and he won't be able to get up to his old tricks again, and is rep is besmirched for sure."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock would jerk her head over to the View-screen with the news reports. "Doubt it, pretty sure Deltaran and whoever is helping him, transferred him off world where he could continue such things." She'd frown and look away, unable to stop the angry tears that had welled up as she glared down at the datapad, gripping it tightly and started grinding her denta.

      "...Sorry I just.." She'd vent a sigh, still glaring down at the datapad. "...I feel like I did something /wrong/ for doing the right thing."

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    Tap-Out reaches out a hand to awkwardly attempt to reassure Starlock. "Doing the right thing is supposed to be its own reward, right? At least you tried, even if the results weren't what they should have been. You're a good person, Starlock, and I know you did everything you could."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock is still frowning, but she glances up at Tap-out, remaining silent as she mulled over what he'd said, and nodded. "Yeah... I.. accomplished what I'd wanted to do, which was prove Ratchet innocent of murder." She'd take a vent trying to calm down.

      "And those affected by the plague, are being treated." she'd keep her optic shutters low, a frown still on her face, but she nodded, that was what she'd set out to do after all, even if it did feel all bitter sweet, with the bad out weighting the good. "...Thanks Taps.. Sorry I.." She'd vent. "suddenly dumped this on you, I normally keep these things to myself, since It's.. Yeah" she'd knit her ridges and cringe. "once someone gets me talking though, that's it." She'd chuckle weakly.

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    "Hey --" Tap-Out laughs. "I asked! Besides, proving someone innocent, especially someone as necessary as Ratchet, ain't just spillin' hexnuts!" He slaps Starlock on the arm. "Justice for Ratchet is more important than punishment for Pharma. This many people affected by the plague, someone'll get Pharma eventually. I may not believe in a far universe, but you do have to live in the world you make."

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock did smile a bit, Tap-out's joyous demeanor was a bit infectus to her after all. "...I just.. hope I can help in making it a better place, where stuff like this.. Doesn't happen again, and is taken seriously, with no simple wrist slaps.. After all many cybertronians died because of this plague they unleashed." She'd frown at the thought.

      "..Many whose names will not be remembered." there was a pang of guilt on her face but she vented and smiled at Tap-out "...Small steps, yeah?" She'd smile.

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    A shadow falls across Tap-Out's optics at the mention of those killed who will never even be remembered. His reassuring smile, however, remains in place. "You do a lot of good, Starlock. In this instance and in general. We need people like you, who fight for justice and the little guy. We little guys have to stick together," he laughs, winking one optic.

**Starlock has posed:**
     "The smallest, little voice can make the loudest noise, right?" She'd smile, and even chuckle. "Thanks again Taps." She'd vent. "Hopefully you can get cleared soon, I'd enjoy working with you on the field." she'd nod, looking down at her datapad. "Who knows, if I ever get this finished, let you read the whole insanity of what happened with exposing the whole thing with Pharma, gods it took deca-cycles." She'd chuckle.

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    "I'd be interested if you wouldn't mind sharing," Taps grins. "And, yeah, I guess I should check in and see when I can make myself useful again. I've been volunteering at the shelter but handing out energon isn't making the full use of my skills - not that it's not worthwhile. But I was built to protect, and I should get back to that as soon as possible." Taps grins with renewed determination.

**Starlock has posed:**
     Starlock grinned. "Hey, I volunteer for Cybertronian aid whenever I get the chance." She'de chuckle, reaching into her subspace to half-way pull out a small, pauldron cape with the cybertronian medical cross on it, before she stores it away. "I can understand though, I don't want to hurt others, but I've long come to accept that, well that just isn't possible, and I need to be capable of defending others." She'd smile.

      "Also, I'd love to share, I've been gaged to long about it, and I definitely need to talk to someone." She'd chuckle. "Later though, alright?" she'd grin.

**Tap-Out has posed:**
    "Absolutely!" Taps replies, and heads off to find his contact with the Autobot army. It's time to get back to work.