[Video]

[vandalization]

[So this entry is tagged 'party progress', but when the video comes on it's very obviously not.

Everyone know that strange "guy" with the modulated voice always wearing the suit? Well, say hello to Vandal. She's not wearing the suit today. No helmet, no courier text. Turns out she's just your typical female human. But she's... not looking so good.]

Someone I-

Please. I don't feel right... I ca...

[Behind her, appears to be her little home, partially painted normally, but the paint job trails off into clusters of complex glyphs and symbols. The center looks like two pillars, spiraling up to two points, twisted like a helix.

Vandal is shaking, face coated in a fine layer of sweat.]

I'm turning into one of those things, I need to stop it I need to-

[Her hand is lifted. Sure does look like a normal hand, but she holds it out as though it were some grotesque limb.]

It's starting already! Please god- it won't go away this time! Someone please.

I need to cut it off before it spreads!

[Someone is obviously hallucinating.]

Comments

video

[percept]

Drift is coming. We'll help you, Vandal. [ He is. Really bad at this reassuring business. ]

video

[vandalization]

Nnnnngh god I want it out...

[Rest assured, she'll do her best to wait.]

video → action

[percept]

Just keep calm. I'll see you soon.

[ He rolls up a few minutes later, immediately transforming and approaching. ]

Vandal..?

action

[vandalization]

[Wow this place is a mess. The whole home she had built, and the ground surrounding it are all painted up in those strange symbols.

Vandal herself, is curled up near the door, plasma-saw at the ready. She looks like she's fixing to amputate her own arm.]

Perce...?

action

[percept]

[ Perceptor approaches cautiously, carefully kneeling down and holding out one hand. ]

Vandal, please give me the weapon.

action

[vandalization]

[She tenses when he moves, and the blade bites into her arm a little with a heated hiss. She winces, but she seems more intent on removing whatever infection she thinks she has.]

Perce I-

[After a moment she pulls it away, settling it into the dirt next to her, her shoulder starting to drool blood where the blade had barely touched.]

action

[percept]

[ As soon as Vandal has lowered the saw Perceptor is reaching down and scooping her up in his hands, where he hopes she'll be a little less inclined and/or able to attempt further self-harm. ]

What is going on, Vandal? What happened?

action

[winged_knight]

[All that talk of pushing limits and Wing is doing it for certain. He's hurtling at his top speed to Haven, screaming past the temples and into the junk pile, towards the map ping of Vandal's makeshit home. He comes in wide, air-brakes roaring as the jet cuts an arc around the clearing, trying to kill as much momentum as he can. It's reckless, and not the prettiest of maneuvers, but it gets him to a nearby mound of junk. Transforming in a whirl of spinning red and white metal he hits the ground running.]

[He notices Perceptor, then Vandal, then the saw. He's venting air and heat like mad and his breath hitches at the sight.]

Vandal... Perceptor--thank goodness.

[He doesn't have breath for much else yet.]

action

[vandalization]

[She allows herself to be picked up, but not without some mild panic and squirming.]

It's all happening again, the church-

[She jerks her head toward the noise as Wing arrives.]

action

[percept]

[ He has to resist the urge to stroke her like some sort of frightened animal. ]

What about the church? What--

[ His head turns as he hears Wing's approach, visibly relieved when he spots the jet. ]

Wing. [ Please tell him you have some idea what to do here. ]

action

[winged_knight]

[Wing approaches, both terrified and cautious, unsure of Vandal's status. There's no blood, which was a small relief. His optics flicker between her and Preceptor.]

I--I'm not sure... Soundwave said she was having bad dreams--nightmares?--a while back but... I don't know what about. [He shakes his helm, feeling helpless.]

Vandal, can you hear me. You're safe.

action

[vandalization]

Ngghhh-

[She strains a moment, looking at Wing, still obviously terrified.]

Wing? Where's Drift?

Where is he? I gave it to him! He has it he has it with him!

action

[percept]

We need a medic. Someone who can sedate her.

[ He keeps his voice quiet, although he's quite aware that their proximity means Vandal can hear him just fine. ]

She's a danger to herself like this.

action

[winged_knight]

[His attention is drawn back to Vandal at her words. He reaches out, placing his hand near her, aware that maybe that pushed his boundaries with Perceptor but at this point...he'd rather just beg forgiveness later. His frame is still venting heat flight, so he does not stand too close.]

Vandal, Drift's on his way. He's right behind me. What--what does he have that's so important?

[Wing makes eye contact with Perceptor.]

Do you think so? I-- [He shakes his head, wirelessly offering his personal comm channel code to Perceptor. Again, probably stretching boundaries, but again, he can make amends later and the other mech is free to refuse. He's more worried about Vandal's fragile state.]

action

[vandalization]

[At least she doesn't see that gunk on them. Which is semi comforting. She balls up in Peceptor's hands.

But when Wing asks, she points toward the stark red painting, dropping down the side of her home. The twisting helix with two prongs.]

The Marker.

action

[inferiordude]

[There's really just one downside to him about his vehicle mode. It's not as powerful or as fast as others, and in a case of an emergency, it would have been useful now.

Still, Soundwave arrives eventually, transforming into his robot self and marching over with intent, visor glowing.]

All righty, dudes. Lemme see if I can work some magic here.

Ain't had the practice I wanted to, but we'll have to roll with it.

action

[percept]

[ Perceptor only gives Wing the most fleeting of glances before accepting the comm code, hardly about to refuse something like that in a moment of crisis.

Before he can say anything more, though, Soundwave arrives. ]

You know what to do?

[ He's already turning, holding Vandal out like something incredibly fragile. ]

action

[winged_knight]

[Wing looks up at Soundwave's arrival, hoping that maybe he knows more about what's going on. The lack of information was the most dismaying, the unknown a frightening thing.]

[But there's one thing he can do. He still comms Perceptor as intended,]

//You're right that she needs to be sedated, I can go to to Solus's or Liege's and find a medic. I don't know what Soundwave can do, but having one here regardless may be a good idea.//

action

[vandalization]

[She just sits, curled in Perceptor's hands, shaking.]

Oh god I can see it...

[Obviously staring at something that's not there.]

Where's Drift I c...

Please make it be quiet.

action...the cavalry stumbles in

[sword_redemption]

[Drift had farther to go than Wing, and, you know, ground vehicle. But he got here as fast as he could.]

Vandal! Karrie. [And then he falters because, wow, what good is he going to do? She's--literally--in better hands.]

[winged_knight]

[Drift's arrival brings some relief with it, and it shows on Wing's face. He feels better about leaving Vandal now, knowing that between these three she'll be in capable hands. That only leaves the necessity of a medic, which he plans to see to, post haste.]

Drift, I'm glad you're here. I'm going to go fetch a medic...maybe they can help. I--don't think there's much I can do here now.

Vandal...Be Strong.

[Wing nods to Soundwave and Perceptor, assuming that latter will fill Drift in on what's happened if necessary. Then he turns and jogs a safe distance away, and with a leap his wings carry him swiftly off towards Solus Prime's temple.]

_{((For convenience sake I won't tag back into this thread unless asked for. It could be assumed that Wing returns later but hangs in the background, not wanting to be in the way. Whether he finds a medic or not depends on if one gets involved. ;) ))}

[inferiordude]

[Vandal is taken into his hands delicately as he looks down at her. The gaze is soft, his visor glowing dimly.]

Shhh, easy. Easy now.

[When Drift arrives, Soundwave looks up, visor flashing for a moment. He remains very still, saying nothing before he looks at Vandal again.]

I can help you, but you gotta listen to me. Very, very closely. Every single word, got it?

Drift, come closer. You're gonna be near her.

[vandalization]

[She winces as she's transferred off, hands not wanting to let go of Perceptor, the semi-safe space there, but Soundwave is there and then Drift comes and there's a lot of coming and going but he's here.]

Drift-?

[The presence of her friends, and her best friend, help soothe. Everyone is here now. Even as Wing leaves, she's comforted by knowing he'll come back. Despite the signal screeching in her brain.

They're all here now. She's never had so many people. Robots. Whatever. They're people to her.

It helps her sharpen. Helps her listen and she nods to Soundwave. Yes, okay, she can listen.]

[percept]

[ It's at this point that Perceptor becomes aware of just how useless he is at this moment. He lacks any medical knowledge that might help them in calming Vandal, lacks Wing's speed in seeking aid. All he can do is stand by and wait to see if his aid will become necessary again and hope that Soundwave and Drift can do something to ease her suffering.

With Vandal in safer hands he takes the opportunity to glance back at her handiwork, taking in the alien glyphs she's scrawled across her home. It's clearly some sort of language... ]

SHOW OF HANDS which idiot didn't track the thread o/ *the fail katamari continues*

[sword_redemption]

[Drift doesn't think Perceptor's useless here. If nothing else, the stoic calmness the other mech seems to exude is bracing, and he shakes off the last of his panic. He throws a glance toward the other mech, and what he hopes is a friendly nod.]

Vandal. I'm here. [Talk about feeling useless. He's here. Yippee.]

[He steps closer, into her range of vision, and then looks expectantly at Soundwave. Maybe not expectantly, more...pleadingly.]