Click

Swindle didn't have time to react to the click, nor the sudden pressure against the back of his helm. He flinched, involuntarily and the shot missed the target, luckily failing in off-lining him. It did, however, still badly damage his helm, and the attacked left him limp and sparking on the ground, struggling to keep his processor from forcing him into stasis lock. A stasis lock the damage wouldn't allow him to wake from. It came so swiftly, happened so fast and hurt so much he couldn't even scream. His voice lost, simply crackling into static as he opened his mouth in silent screams of pain.

It also left him unable to cal for help. Therefor he was practically already left for dead. Sparks shooting from the possible hole in his head - he couldn't quite see and was pretty sure he didn't want to see - his thoughts scrambled and multiple signals being sent throughout his body against his will, causing involuntary spasms and twitches. His optics shuttered on and off at random, hand twitching, moving here and there, nearly pushing himself off the ground at some point before they flinched again and he fell. The damage gave off sparks, a lot of sparks, which eventually - much to his despair as he managed to gather enough to be aware - set the surrounding grass on fire.

Oh great, not only had he lost control over almost his entire body and half of his processor, now he was going to be burned alive. He began to wonder which would actually kill him first. And which he would honestly prefer. He decided that - honestly - he'd prefer to have not gotten into this sort of situation at all, and had simply bailed on everyone like he usually did. Figures the one day he actually decides to have his "Brothers'" backs, he gets off-lined. In two ways. Sense the shot to the head was already causing circuits to fry.

In fact, why is he still aware? He'd prefer not to be. Honestly he would.

He began to wonder if maybe Primus would shine some light on him and allow his comm. to work. Trying, he found out that, no, Primus didn't like him. And thus, was greedy and decided 'No light fer Swindler'. The bastard. Swindle managed a groan as his arm twisted in a painful position on account of his glitching processor, he began to wonder if his joints would even allowed it to twist to the side and under, crossing over his back from where he lay face-first in the dirt. He doubted it. It wouldn't be hurting so slaggin' much if it did.

Then again, his processor may have shorted his pain sensors. It would explain the pain in his legs, he was pretty sure he hadn't damaged his legs. At least...he though. Finally - though he had this feeling he probably shoulder - he looked down to his legs. Optics widened, he would have screamed if he had control over his vocals. In fact, how did he have control over his head and nothing else? He'd probably loose that too. Shouldn't it have been the first thing, though? Oh whatever.

The important thing at the moment is that his legs appear to of caught fire.

Time to panic. Too late, already panicking. Though he didn't have control over any of his body now - even the head - thus that wasn't quite visible. He struggled to control something, anything, but failed. Until finally his body halted it's spasm, it's flinching, everything. And went completely limp. Oh great, yeah, that's so much better. Well...at least he isn't randomly hitting or hurting himself by accident on account of it.

Of course it also meant he had both feet in the scrap yard now.

Judging by the fact he didn't feel pain anymore, he began to guess that perhaps his pain sensors had gone offline as well. At least his optics were staying powered up now, flicking on and off was just downright annoying. Though, he wasn't quite sure he enjoyed the view. Fire surrounding him, inching closer and closer to his faceplate. No, quite sure he doesn't enjoy the view. Not at all. In fact, why did Primus hate him enough to stop when his optics were online rather than off?

As if to spite him, his optics suddenly went offline.

Surrounded by darkness, unable to see what was going on around him now. Oh, panic attack eminent. Take it back, take it back! He prefers being able to see what's going on! Online! Stupid optics! Online! If he could scream he would, just to curse out everything and everyone that came to his currently glitching processor. Starting with Primus, why did he hate him? Huh? What did Swindle ever do to him? What could he do to him? Did everyone - including Primus - just have it out for him? And Onslaught! It's his damn fault Swindle's even in this mess! Giving him orders to play decoy, he shouldn't have agreed. Leaving him out here with Brawl as back-up! He should have known Brawl would leave him, he could have given him Vortex at least! Vortex kind of likes him. Kinda. He wouldn't have left.

...Probably...

And speaking of Brawl! The aft had nearly shot him - twice - while shooting at Autobots! And just snickered about it! Then he had the "brilliant idea" to chase after one of the fleeing Autobots. Now likely in a bind himself. Or maybe offline in a ditch. It was First Aid he had chased after, and everyone knows how protective that medic's "family" is of him. Heck, if he crossed Ratchet's path he'd probably be dismantled for even thinking of hurting the kid!

Then, of course, there is Vortex. Who...well actually Vortex had yet to do anything today to piss him off. He had slept up until they got ordered to get ready to go fight. Though Swindle did have to drag him out of the berth, which had gotten him slapped in the face, and used as a teddy bear by the barley conscious Helicopter-former. So, frag Vortex for being lazy, hitting him, then snuggling him. And not waking up until Onslaught finally came in to find Swindle pinned under the Helicopter screaming for help.

And even that didn't wake him!

And lastly, Blast Off! Darn him for giving Onslaught the idea of pairing him with Brawl because he needed Vortex for an "aerial assault" to cause a "distraction". So yes, they had two distractions apparently. That makes sense. Total sense. Not like it left Onslaught to take advantage of the Distraction all by himself or anything, right?

Right. Bunch of idiots. Probably just lied to get him stuck with Brawl, knowing he would ditch him and leave him to get off-lined or something. By himself.

Alone.

Completely alone...

Always alone, it seemed. He seemed to never be there for his brothers, nor they for him. He began to tell himself he was never there for them because they weren't for him, but stopped himself. He knew it wasn't true. They used to be there for him, when he needed them the most. But he betrayed what little bit of trust they had. And it wasn't much, but it was still there. Until he sold them...why had he done that? It felt like instinct at the time, but was it really? It was just greed, wasn't it? Why so greedy? Why? He just couldn't control it...and even he hated himself for that. Even he hated himself for selling his family.

Swindle was snapped out of his thoughts as his optics suddenly powered back up. He would have yelped were he able, as he came face-to-face with the Autobot medic, Ratchet. Who gave him a less-than-friendly look. "Still online I see." He grumbled, Swindle would have flinched, again, if he were able. Of course, he wasn't. And his vocals still refused to work. "Can't move, can you?" How did the medic expect him to reply to that? Swindle blinked a few times. Somewhat afraid to glare.

The Autobot seemed to be making repairs on him. Which meant he's most likely in Swindle's head.

Right now. At this very moment. Messing with delicate circuitry.

While he's online!

He could only hope that the larger mech wouldn't turn on his sensors for a while...that pain would probably be unbearable.

Slowly he wondered why the medic was repairing him, and as if he read his mind - which he might be able to do sense he's in his head, though Swindle was sure he isn't quite sure if that's possible - the medic replied. "It's what any good Autobot would do. And you're just a kid." Just a kid? Seriously? He's not that young! Heck, some of the Stunticons are younger than him! And he doesn't seem to have a problem shooting them down! Heck, he's even shot Swindle down a few times before! Why let the damage be done if he's just going to repair him!

Damn confusing contradicting idiotic Autobots!

All morons! Peace loving, insane, idiotic, squishy loving, irritating, loyal to a fault, sons of glitches, processor lacking, preaching, annoying, irritating- At this point in his mental rant he began to repeat himself, adding a few more curses here and there. Eventually, Ratchet grumbled and whacked him in the head, sending Swindle sitting straight up with a yelp as he held his hands over the offended area.

It took him a whole five minutes to realize he was able to move again.

He quickly rounded, pointing his weapon at Ratchet, only to realize it had been prized from his arm and now lay at the medics side. Opposite of him. Ratchet - in all his bemused glory - simply glared for a moment. "Don't move around too much or you're going to glitch again. I suggest calling for help, if they are willing to save your sorry aft." Ratchet reached for his tools, setting them back into his medical kit and standing. He glared at the Combaticon.

"Try not to go into recharge until you're processor is fully repaired." He turned and began walking away, leaving Swindle's weapon on the ground. Not willing to so much as blink until the medic was gone, Swindle simply stared as the medic walked away, back towards him. As if he didn't considering Swindle a threat. Which he probably didn't. And honestly, Swindle didn't really care at the moment.

His comm. beeped, startling him into a jump. He carefully activated it, and watched as Onslaught appeared on screen. Seemingly ready to lecture him.

"Swindle! Where are you, I've been trying to comm. you for-" Onslaught stopped, staring at Swindle through the screen. Swindle would of asked what was the matter, if his head wasn't beginning to ache as a reminder. So Ratchet had turned his sensors back on! Damn medic...

"What happened?" If Swindle didn't know any better, and didn't have a headache worthy of Prime, he probably would had made some sarcastic remark. And probably would have found the strange tone in Onslaught's voice - resembling that of worry - surprising. But he did have a headache, and didn't quite care enough to pay attention to tones of voices that made the pain worse.

"Got shot. In the head. About to go into stasis, I thi-i-n-n-k." Oh great, his voice is starting to fritz again. Damn, those repairs didn't last long. Did that Autobot even know what he was doing? Warning started popping up, too many at a time, making his headache worse. He canceled all out and blocked any more from coming in. Headache too bad to read them anyways. Onslaught began to panic on his end, but didn't let it show.

"Where are you at?"

Swindle wanted to glare, oh he so did. But he couldn't manage it.

"Same place I was at the beginning of the battle." He managed, though it sounded more like he groaned the reply, rather than just spoke it. "Wait, what? Isn't Brawl there with-" "Of course he ain't!" Swindle flinched slightly as Vortex yelled over the comm. Visible standing behind and somewhere off to Onslaught's right side. "He never sticks around with Swindle! I wouldn't be surprised if that hole in 'is head was caused by Brawl, really."

He couldn't quite tell if Vortex was angry or not. He sounded like he might be angry, or choking down giggles. It's kind of hard to tell when it's Vortex. He may have been doing both. Choking down angry giggles? Wait, what? That's...that's not even...his processor is completely starting to fry.

"Ons, I think my logic chips are starting to crash...or glitch...or melt from the heat...or something..." He twitched, and watched as Onslaught relaying orders, most of which Swindle didn't catch. Something about not moving, holding something, finding something, and not going into recharge or something. A lot of somethings. Swindle twitched again at the buzzing sound as Onslaught ended the transmission.

Only one, logical thought went through Swindle's processor.

I hope they find me soon.

That, and he finally began to wonder how someone managed to sneak up and shoot him in the head as he stood in the middle of an open field.

He was never going to live this down.

Ever.

Authors Notes: To be continued! In the next chapter! Poor Swindle, he's my favorite character, really. Well, one of them. Practically top of the list! Which is why I decided to torture him in this fic. I torture the characters I love, it seems. Don't worry, things get better. At least, I hope they do. It all depends, really.

There is a surprise next chapter, though! So stay tuned. Also, I was thinking about going with Wheeljack instead of Ratchet, but I figured Wheeljack may be a little less suited to get Swindle up and running temporarily. He might have blown him up. Or Swindle might have thought he would. It might have been funny to scare Swindle like that, but I think I tortured him enough.

Angst.

Also, why no review and tell me some characters you'd like to see in later chapters? I'm a bit stuck on who I want to show up. Can be Autobots, Decepticons, and anything in between!

Disclaimer: Transformers does not belong to me, nor do any of it's characters.