Virigo walked alone in silence, admiring the dusty red landscape. The sun was about to set, casting a red glow into the sky and onto the moons rising from the horizon. Her servos ached, it seemed that they always did these days. She sat down next to a large boulder, leaning against it. What was the point of fighting...? So much death, and yet so little progress was imaginable.
The sound of an activated auto gyro caught her processors. It was a comforting sound. The sound of the only one that she felt no need to fear. He landed beside her, perched on the boulder. He was quiet for a moment. "The master was very displeased at your latest outburst, Virigo."
Virigo gazed ahead of her, this was not news to her. It seemed that her creator was always displeased with her. She found doubt always consuming her. "Starscream."
"What is it?" Neither of them looked at each other. Both of them, optics locked on the horizon.
The femme did no hesitate, "You must see the futility of this all as well as I. What are we really fighting for?"
"We are fighting for Cybertron, for the survival of our race." Came his reply.
He brow plates furrowed as her low voice carried to his audials, "You are no fool, Starscream... logically it does not add up. Are we not essentially of the same race? The destruction of the autobots would severely deplete the Cybertronian's chances of survival as a species." The femme gazed up at him, visage thoughtful. "Would it not be beneficial for both parties to have a discussion and work together to rebuild our home world?"
"They care nothing for Cybertron or its inhabitants." He spat.
Virgo was silent once again. When she spoke once more it was slow and thoughtful. "Optimus Prime is the only one who can defeat the Fallen. You want that just as much as I. At least a temporary truce should be in order before we have finally located the Matrix of Leadership or the Allspark. We need both relics if we wish to rebuild."
Starscream narrowed his optics, glaring at her. "It is foolishness such as this that will destroy you." He told her darkly.
"It is foolishness to blindly fight in another mech's war." She murmured, returning her gaze to the horizon.
The decepticon beside her retorted with another question. "You would abandon your cause? Everything you know?"
"Is this truly my cause?" She said heatedly. "When did I get a choice in this? I am prevented from leaving this even if I tried!" Distress tinted her soft vocals. "I do not even know the world for which I am fighting for."
Starscream was livid. "Then I consider you a fool." Virigo said nothing, avoiding provoking him further. He continued, "Virigo, we are the key to our species' survival. We are fighting for Cybertron, the greater good. We cannot allow our feelings to get in the way of our goal." Those words ended their discussion.
She stood on the landing strip, gazing out into the horizon. "Nothing is quite so simple, Starscream." She murmured, visor plates narrowed in defiance. "And I do not care if I displease you anymore." Her hands clenched into metallic fists.
A voice from behind her disrupted her thoughts. "Talking to yourself, Vertigo?" She spun around to face Arcee. "That's not a very good sign, we might need to get Ratchet to check you out." The smaller female mused good-naturedly.
"I was just thinking out loud." Vertigo replied thoughtfully, low voice soothing.
"Calm down. It was just a joke." Arcee told her, obviously amused by the other's response. "So, what's all this about displeasing someone and not caring?"
The taller female tensed, wondering if she had heard. "It was nothing. Really." She said hastily.
Seeing her companion's discomfort, Arcee dropped the subject. She looked around quickly. "I'm surprised Sideswipe isn't here right now. I thought he would be spending every free moment with you."
Vertigo smiled letting out an exhausted laugh. "He finally needed to recharge. Thank Primus that he is in stasis right now."
"You must be enjoying that break."
"Indeed." She shook her head, "I just cannot understand why he is so persistent. I do not wish to mate." Vertigo confided exasperatedly.
A small grin flashed across Arcee's features, hand resting on her hip. "I wouldn't worry to much about it. He's lonely and stupid. He'll get it eventually."
The larger female laughed lightly, "Perhaps. Though I cannot say that I will enjoy the attention until that moment."
"You mean the vain, egotistical, 'better-than-you' thing or the persistence? Either way, just be happy that his twin isn't here."
"Dear Primus, he has a twin?" She asked, mortified, picturing another Sideswipe flanking her.
"Yeah, Sunstreaker." Arcee replied blandly, rolling her optics. Then as if to explain her reaction, she continued. "He makes Sideswipe look humble; he always thinks he's better than everyone else, he's a troublemaker, he's a complete asshole most of the time."
"Sounds charming." Vertigo said sarcastically.
"And he hates helping people, oh and did I mention that he thinks he's better than everyone? Complete sociopath if you ask me." She frowned as if recalling an incident.
"Good to know..." Sighed Vertigo, imagining an overly arrogant Sideswipe harassing her.
Arcee interrupted her thoughts once more. "Don't worry about him courting you though; supposedly no one is good enough for him. You just have to deal with him talking down to you and calling you an idiot."
The larger femme smiled, relieved. "Now that I can deal with."
The other shook her head, "You say that now." She muttered, then changed the subject. "So, I heard you got to sit through a meeting. How was it?" Asked Arcee, genuinely curious.
"... Not as bad as I had expected." Vertigo told her truthfully.
"That's good, I was just wondering what it was about since Optimus Prime hadn't broadcasted it to us."
The younger femme let out a nervous laugh. "Well, I made a bit of a mistake on the mission. We just needed to clarify a few things."
"Oh..." Arcee went silent. "I'm sorry."
"It is alright, it was not anything that really jeopardized the mission or anything of that sort. Lennox just thought that it should be brought to the attention of Ariella. That is all." Vertigo said softly. "I think I will head in now. See you later." She turned on her heel, casting a wave over her shoulder.
"Yeah," Arcee waved back.
Vertigo walked inside, she hadn't lied to Arcee. In a way, she had made a mistake during the mission. She had let Payload agitate her and had struggled too far to keep herself in check, nearly losing her the battle. She had nearly let the dam crumble, and she had not been able to prevent the wounds Payload inflicted on Ratchet. He was still recovering.
Surveying the hangar, she spotted Optimus Prime speaking with Lennox. Vertigo strode over to them, noticing their solemness she asked, "What is overhead?"
Lennox gave her a strange look, "What?"
"I am using one of your Earth colloquialisms. Soup?" She replied, mustering a half grin to try to lighten the atmosphere.
"... Soup?" The human looked at her blankly for a moment before realization dawned, and he cracked a wide grin, chuckling. "It's 'What's up?' and ''sup'."
The femme nodded, noting that to remember for future conversations before looking to the Autobot leader with questioning optics.
Optimus answered her. "There have been two decepticon sightings."
Her visor plates narrowed seriously. "Simultaneously?" Optimus nodded. "Where?"
"The first in the Andes mountains of South America. The other in Oombagoomba of western Australia." Came his reply.
"When do we leave?" She inquired.
The leader of the autobots shook his head. "You are not coming this time." He told her sternly.
Vertigo's mouth curled into a frown. "Is this regarding what occurred in Zambia? Because if so, then how can I prove my worth to NEST unless I am sent into the front lines?"
"It is concerning Zambia, but not about your past being brought before the humans. You barely made it out of there alive. I will not allow that to happen again so soon. Stay here and recover."
"But I am nearly fully repaired, Ratchet assessed my condition no more than four hours ago." She responded, optics locking with those of the Prime's.
"I think it would be best for you to remain at base for now."
Vertigo's face fell with realization. When she spoke her voice betrayed a mixture of grief and shame. "You think that I am incapable, and will endanger the mission." It was not a question.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, "No. That is not what I had intended to convey. I believe you are more than capable. I just do not wish to take the chance this time." Optimus replied gently.
"But I can do this, Optimus Prime. Please... this is something I must do." She pleaded, holding his gaze. As the femme waited for his response she could feel the electricity pulsing through her circuits. She longed for his approval, to know that she was accepted among the autobots as one of their own; fully functional and useful.
The Prime sighed, "If you must, then I will not stop you. You will accompany Longarm and try to keep Sideswipe and Knockout focused on the task."
Her optics widened. "I will be working with Sideswipe?"
"Yes." He responded, "It will be Knockout's first time engaging a decepticon in battle. Sideswipe will be beneficial for him to learn from. You will join them in the Andes."
Vertigo's fingers twitched nervously, a look of determination crossing her face. "I will do my best." she murmured softly.
He gave her a reassuring nod, "I expect nothing less."
She turned on her heel talons scraping against the concrete, though stopped as if thinking better of it. "Prime?"
"Yes?"
"I know it is not my place to pry, but, if I may, what were you and Ratchet discussing the other day?" The female inquired visor plated raised in curiosity.
The leader of the autobots stiffened visibly. "Please do not concern yourself with it, Virigo." He told her delicately.
She nodded her head, "As you wish." Vertigo said, wondering if she would be able to put it from her processors. "I shall see you once this is over and done with then, I supose."
With that she left, heading to the corner opposite of Sideswipe. Optimus watched her go, he hadn't wanted her to engage in battle so soon after their last mission. What he had wanted was for her to rest and recover. But Vertigo had her own reasons for needing to fight. Perhaps it was a need for revenge against those who had tormented her for most of her life. Either way, he knew that he had made the right decision in sending her along with Sideswipe. The young mech was overzealous, and Virigo would be able to reign him in if the need arose.
A/N: It is to my understanding that there has been some confusion regarding Vertigo's alternate modes. Yes she does have two as she is a triple changer. It is explained throughout later chapters.