Flame
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Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on May 9, 2011 16:39:03 GMT -5
It almost sounds as if Spinister wants to suggest that Flame is a Decepticon at heart, not an Autobot. But that's ludicrous, Flame thinks off-handedly, distracted from his confession. Here is one who would never accept him even if he defected this very instant.
"No," he says wearily, "but you've made up your mind already. Like they did." And that's that. Aequitas couldn't be swayed; why should Death, who wears a Decepticon brand? Flame lies still and shuts his eyes. He tried to tell his side once already to an audience that wouldn't listen. He's too tired to try again.
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Post by Spinister on May 9, 2011 17:05:16 GMT -5
"If I'd made up my mind, you'd be dead." Spinister states calmly. It's not a threat, just a fact.
He crouches by Flame, Singe still tracking, and he asks, "What would you do with Emirate Xaaron if you got your hands on him?
That name came up, and Spinister's curious.
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Flame
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Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on May 9, 2011 17:27:39 GMT -5
That… is quite the question to ask. Flame opens his eyes and simply stares at Spinister for a moment, a few cycles of the fuel pump, wondering why that matters. More ammunition for the argument?
"Kill him," Flame answers simply, honestly, unashamed. He remembers the self-righteous, gratified smile on that strange, stitched mouth at the trial. He remembers finding it painful and frightening – now, the memory pricks at his anger. Emirate Xaaron was glad to see him locked away and maybe would have preferred worse for all Flame knows.
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Post by Spinister on May 9, 2011 17:34:21 GMT -5
"Then you're not an Autobot, whatever you are," Spinister says. He half-straightens and reaches for Flame's chest one-handed. Spinister digs his fingers into Flame's chest, feeling for the panel latches. This is pretty thick plating!
He resorts to a scalpel and manages to tear off Flame's symbol. Then Spinister flings it away. He does straighten entirely now and looks at Flame expectantly. His move.
OOC: Tearing of Flame's symbol done with permission.
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on May 9, 2011 18:04:58 GMT -5
Flame, for all that he led a science vessel's crew, is still a tank and he still has the armour appropriate to his mode. It came in handy for more than one hostile environment; it serves now only to drag out this excision and he watches Spinister work with a vaguely shocked sort of detachment, a faint grimace for the dull pain of the scalpel blade cutting into his plating, as though this is happening to someone else.
Is he really not an Autobot? His brand has been stripped, but that's only a symbol. At least he thinks so. But he was condemned at his trial by other Autobots, who spurned him and cast him out, cast him down to live the rest of his life imprisoned and insensate, a soul in a jar, yet never took his brand from him.
It's then that he realises he feels nothing for its loss. He looks at it where it was thrown, then back to Spinister.
"I'm soon to be dead, I thought," he murmurs.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on May 9, 2011 19:26:45 GMT -5
"You're awfully down in the dumps for someone being offered a new lease on life," Swindle interjects. "Buck up, being a Decepticon isn't so bad! Merit is rewarded and you can desecrate all the corpses you want!"
//You've obviously never played a shell game with a version of me if you think all I'd be doing is 'scraping.' Speaking of which, are we sure Flame here is being entirely honest? I've never heard of a Transformer named Gideon. Doesn't sound like Cybertronian naming conventions to me.//
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Post by Spinister on May 9, 2011 19:46:36 GMT -5
//No,// Spinister answers Swindle. 'No' to both counts, actually. //Gonna see if Oil Slick has any truth serum.//
They ought to build a mind leech for times like this.
Spinister asks Flame calmly, "Do you want to die?" He fiddles with the dial on Singe, trying to estimate the temperature needed to melt tank armour. After Swindle's words, is it not perfectly obvious that Flame has an out, here?
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on May 9, 2011 20:21:08 GMT -5
Another question that Flame has to stop and consider in earnest. His life has neither worth nor meaning except as fodder at this point, from what he can tell. He is no Autobot and therefore useless as hostage or ransom; nor is he a Decepticon, to be of any value among them. What, then, is the point in continuing to live? Revenge? The ones he could revenge himself on likely aren't even here.
"I don't want to desecrate corpses," he says to Swindle with no small measure of disgust, leaving Spinister's question unanswered for now. He never did that he recalls. Oh, he did work with corpses on Klo, yes, but he wasn't the one calling it desecration. "The ethics committee called simple post-mortem examinations desecration." Perhaps he shouldn't have left body parts lying about once he was finished poring them over for any vesicant infection. It might have been tacky of him.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on May 11, 2011 15:57:26 GMT -5
//It's Oil Slick, he probably has three different kinds,// Swindle transmits back.
"Oh, hey, you don't have to make excuses to me, buddy! I know how it is. You take a couple mods and weapons off some folks who no longer need them and suddenly 'bots are throwing around phrases like 'desecrating corpses' and 'reprehensible ghoul.' A shell without a mind in it is just a fancy pile of metal, am I right?"
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Post by Spinister on May 11, 2011 19:48:45 GMT -5
Spinister decides he has to be blunt, instead of spooky and mysterious, and he says plainly, "Flame, I can offer you a pardon from Decepticon High Command, if you'll work for us."
There, is that not completely slagging obvious, now? Watch, Flame will find some way to mess it up.
All Spinister needs is one kind of truth serum that works, Swindle.
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on May 11, 2011 20:09:06 GMT -5
Flame gives Swindle the iciest of cold glares he has ever given anyone. It likely has little effect with him bound and lying awkwardly on the floor. He would correct the crude assumption made, but Spinister – Spinister brings his every thought process to a screeching, crashing halt with that moment of candour. His disdain and all its frost is gone; he watches Spinister with wide eyes and a stunned expression.
"…Why?" he asks in a dry voice, suspicious, too wary to hope it isn't a lie.
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on May 12, 2011 15:05:24 GMT -5
Swindle rolls his eyes. "Flame, (Can I call you Flame?) there is a Transformer standing over you with a gun offering not to kill you if you take a certain course of action. 'Why' should not be high on your list of priorities right now. Don't get shot now, ask questions later!" he says, throwing his arms wide.
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Post by Spinister on May 12, 2011 16:01:28 GMT -5
"If you'll do anything to save a worthy life, it may as well be Decepticon lives that you are saving," Spinister explains, voice cold enough to freeze magma.
That's all there is to it, really. Starscream wanted another medic. Scourge agreed. Spinister is just the messenger. Flame is lucky that Spinister is almost infinitely patient.
Spinister observes, "You should listen to Swindle. You owe him your life."
Spinister is sure that Swindle will find a way to collect, with interest.
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Flame
Rookie
Causam ago dementia
Posts: 198
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Post by Flame on May 12, 2011 16:34:19 GMT -5
So they have a use for him after all. Flame lowers his head to the floor again with a thin, ragged sigh.
"I see," he murmurs, answering Spinister and pointedly ignoring Swindle. He's still a little prickled over the corpse issue. "Very well."
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Swindle
Major
This space for rent.
Posts: 571
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Post by Swindle on May 12, 2011 19:23:53 GMT -5
"Oh, I don't go in for life debts and things like that. I'm just a practical 'bot. I hate to see a potential customer/supplier go to waste!" More crazy scientists means more crazy doomsday weapons. (Speaking of which, if Flame has problems with 'the corpse issue,' being part of the Decepticon Science Division is going to be all sorts of problematic for him.)
"Hey, welcome to the team, then, Flame!" Swindle looks over at Spinister for confirmation and is about to help the scientist to his feet when he realizes they're still waiting on Oil Slick. He just ends up looking at the door.
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